Drivers in China have a reputation for being both awful and crazy, but could you pass this ridiculous Chinese driving test? Find out below. More »
Friday, December 31, 2010
How to boot Ubuntu on the Cr-48 Chrome OS netbook
It was only a matter of time: a page on the Chromium Projects website has emerged, detailing how to install Ubuntu on a Cr-48 netbook. The process is, understandably, a little risky -- but it's not like there are any tech bloggers out there that don't know how to use Linux, right?
Snarkiness aside, the process is actually very easy. You have to hack at the SSD's filesystem a little and fiddle with the Chrome OS kernel, but if you do everything right, you should be rewarded with a dual-boot system capable of running both Ubuntu and Chrome OS.
The best bit, though, is that you have to enable 'developer mode' to escape Chrome OS's 'verified boot' security measure. To do this, you need to flip a switch on the back, under the battery, as per the hilarious instructional photo shown after the break.Continue reading How to boot Ubuntu on the Cr-48 Chrome OS netbookHow to boot Ubuntu on the Cr-48 Chrome OS netbook originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Snarkiness aside, the process is actually very easy. You have to hack at the SSD's filesystem a little and fiddle with the Chrome OS kernel, but if you do everything right, you should be rewarded with a dual-boot system capable of running both Ubuntu and Chrome OS.
The best bit, though, is that you have to enable 'developer mode' to escape Chrome OS's 'verified boot' security measure. To do this, you need to flip a switch on the back, under the battery, as per the hilarious instructional photo shown after the break.Continue reading How to boot Ubuntu on the Cr-48 Chrome OS netbookHow to boot Ubuntu on the Cr-48 Chrome OS netbook originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Sears Enters the Movie Download Arena with Alphaline Entertainment
Sears has launched a new entertainment download service called Alphaline Entertainment. �The new service is powered by RoxioNow, and offers purchase and rental of movies and TV shows. �Sears is already selling a line of televisions, DVD, and Blu-ray players that are Alphaline-enabled. �Sears also says that many internet-enabled devices you currently have may be [...]
Todo.ly is a to-do list manager for Chrome and the Web
To-do lists are pretty important for getting things done; and much like text editors, every person has their own favorite flavor, and it seems like every developer has a slightly different idea of what an ideal to-do manager would look like.
Todo.ly is one take on the do-do list manager. It also comes as a Chrome Web app, so if you use multiple synchronized Chrome browsers (or Chrome OS) and install the Web app, you instantly get the same to-do list manager across all of your machines. Just that may be reason enough to set it up.
In terms of functionality, Todo.ly is pretty much what you'd expect. It supports due-dates and filters (Inbox, Today, Next). It also lets you divide your work into projects, which may have sub-projects. A task can also have sub-tasks.
One area where Todo.ly is lacking is linguistic processing: If I enter "Do something tomorrow", it doesn't set the due date accordingly. It also doesn't support hash tags, which is too bad (at least for me - I love hash tags).
Todo.ly is not team-oriented at the moment: You can't assign tasks to other people, or receive tasks. I guess they're saving that one for a future paid version.Todo.ly is a to-do list manager for Chrome and the Web originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Todo.ly is one take on the do-do list manager. It also comes as a Chrome Web app, so if you use multiple synchronized Chrome browsers (or Chrome OS) and install the Web app, you instantly get the same to-do list manager across all of your machines. Just that may be reason enough to set it up.
In terms of functionality, Todo.ly is pretty much what you'd expect. It supports due-dates and filters (Inbox, Today, Next). It also lets you divide your work into projects, which may have sub-projects. A task can also have sub-tasks.
One area where Todo.ly is lacking is linguistic processing: If I enter "Do something tomorrow", it doesn't set the due date accordingly. It also doesn't support hash tags, which is too bad (at least for me - I love hash tags).
Todo.ly is not team-oriented at the moment: You can't assign tasks to other people, or receive tasks. I guess they're saving that one for a future paid version.Todo.ly is a to-do list manager for Chrome and the Web originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Adblock Plus for Chrome now available
We told you it was coming soon, but we didn't know precisely how soon: Wadlimir Palant has already pushed the first beta version of Adblock Plus for Google Chrome. It was just four days ago that TechCrunch reported that Palant had changed his mind about never releasing a Chrome port -- citing reasons like not wanting to maintain two unrelated projects and the availability of capable alternatives like AdThwart.
That's all changed, however, and AdThwart has become the foundation of Adblock Plus for Chrome. The first release includes improved filters, updated code to bring the extension more inline with its Firefox cousin, and better XHTML support.
Those of you who already had AdThwart installed should be automatically updated, and new users can install ABP from the Chrome Extensions Gallery.Adblock Plus for Chrome now available originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
That's all changed, however, and AdThwart has become the foundation of Adblock Plus for Chrome. The first release includes improved filters, updated code to bring the extension more inline with its Firefox cousin, and better XHTML support.
Those of you who already had AdThwart installed should be automatically updated, and new users can install ABP from the Chrome Extensions Gallery.Adblock Plus for Chrome now available originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Instagram for Android under development
Platform envy is pretty common with smartphone users. It's pretty much inevitable that popular apps will eventually make the jump from one mobile OS to the other, but the waiting game can often be frustrating. Still, at least you know it's coming -- and that's now the case with Instagram, the immensely popular photo filtering and sharing app for iOS.
Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom confirmed to TechCrunch that an Android version of the app is in the works, though the company isn't specifying a release date at this point. After amassing a userbase of over one million in just three months on iOS, though, the company's priority is on getting an API put together. So until that happens, Android users, you'll need to content yourselves with an alternative app like Vignette.Instagram for Android under development originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom confirmed to TechCrunch that an Android version of the app is in the works, though the company isn't specifying a release date at this point. After amassing a userbase of over one million in just three months on iOS, though, the company's priority is on getting an API put together. So until that happens, Android users, you'll need to content yourselves with an alternative app like Vignette.Instagram for Android under development originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Robbery with a Giant Stick Is Way Funnier Than It Should Be [Video]
If you were a convenience store clerk faced with a robber wielding a comically large stick as a weapon, you probably wouldn't think it was too comical. But after the fact, the security camera footage is pretty ridiculous. More »
5 perfect computery Christmas gifts for your mother, father or family elder
Let's be honest: if you're reading Download Squad, you're in the 99th percentile when it comes to computer technology. You probably know how to touch type, or send a file across the world at the speed of light, and in all likelihood you own one of the big three video game consoles. Like all things that you've grown up with and come to rely on, though, you don't realize just how lucky you are to have high-tech gadgets in your life.
Don't worry, I'm not going to go on about the malnourished kids in Sub-Saharan Africa and how you ought to feel thankful for food and good health this Christmas. Instead, just take a moment and think about what life would be like without a computer, without an Internet connection -- without LOLCATS.
The sad truth is, only the last couple of generations have attained computer mastery. Your parents might use computers, but as a means to an end, not as a tool. I don't think I've ever heard my mother say she likes Microsoft Word, but it gets the job done. You and I both know that technology can be so much more than that. It can become an extension of our everyday life -- and there's no reason your older relatives should miss out on the fun!
I've compiled a list of five items that can all massively improve a nascent computer user's enjoyment of technology. Some are cheap, and some are expensive -- but do your parents a favor and buy them something from this list this Christmas.Continue reading 5 perfect computery Christmas gifts for your mother, father or family elder5 perfect computery Christmas gifts for your mother, father or family elder originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Don't worry, I'm not going to go on about the malnourished kids in Sub-Saharan Africa and how you ought to feel thankful for food and good health this Christmas. Instead, just take a moment and think about what life would be like without a computer, without an Internet connection -- without LOLCATS.
The sad truth is, only the last couple of generations have attained computer mastery. Your parents might use computers, but as a means to an end, not as a tool. I don't think I've ever heard my mother say she likes Microsoft Word, but it gets the job done. You and I both know that technology can be so much more than that. It can become an extension of our everyday life -- and there's no reason your older relatives should miss out on the fun!
I've compiled a list of five items that can all massively improve a nascent computer user's enjoyment of technology. Some are cheap, and some are expensive -- but do your parents a favor and buy them something from this list this Christmas.Continue reading 5 perfect computery Christmas gifts for your mother, father or family elder5 perfect computery Christmas gifts for your mother, father or family elder originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Rumor: AT&T to announce the Motorola Olympus at CES
The unsourced rumor du jour is that Motorola and AT&T will be announcing the Motorola Olympus during CES next week. The long rumored 1GHz dual-core Tegra 2 processor has been making its rounds on the web for the past few months now. And that's basically it, not much is known about the device. Judging by the few leaked photos, the phone looks like it will sport a screen larger than 3.7 inches. It's also worth mentioning that this is the first time we'll see Motorola bringing a high-end Android powered phone to another carrier outside of Verizon. Head into the Rumored Devices forum to see what others are chatting about. [via IntoMobile]Update: We've independently heard that the Olympus definitely is in testing on AT&T, with a 4-inch screen with 480x854 resolution.Rumor: AT&T to announce the Motorola Olympus at CES posted originally by Android CentralSponsored by Android Cases and Accessories
Centro Media Rakes In $22.5 Million
According to an SEC form D filed today, the Chicago based Centro.net has just raised a whopping $22.5 million in equity only funding. Listed on the SEC form are Centro CEO Shawn Riegsecker and FTV Capital Partner Eric Byunn as Director.
Centro is a digital media and technology services company founded in 2001, serving over 350 ad agencies world wide . The company's recently launched platform Transis automates and centralizes the media buying and selling process so agencies can save time and money.
Centro is a digital media and technology services company founded in 2001, serving over 350 ad agencies world wide . The company's recently launched platform Transis automates and centralizes the media buying and selling process so agencies can save time and money.
Freemake Video Converter adds Blu-Ray support, Web video downloading
Freemake's free Video Converter was already a very solid app, handling more than 200 import formats and able to output converted videos for playback on a wide array of devices. In the recently-released version 2.0, however, one major piece of missing functionality has been added.
Freemake 2 now supports Blu-Ray burning, allowing you to output dozens of hours of downloaded video to a single disc. If you don't have a Blu-Ray burner, no worries -- Freemake claims their media conversion kung-fu lets them cram 20 hours onto a single-layer DVD.
The upgrade doesn't stop there, however. Freemake 2 also adds the ability to download and convert videos directly from popular sharing sites like Facebook, YouTube, and Metacafe. Beyond sharing sites, Freemake can also grab video from Hulu, South Park Studios, The Daily Show, Megavideo, and several others -- including a good number of sites in the red light district. There's also a more full-featured preset editor, giving you advanced control over your default conversion settings.
The .Net 4.0 framework is required, but Freemake will install it for you if it's not already on your system.
Download Freemake Video Convertor 2.0Freemake Video Converter adds Blu-Ray support, Web video downloading originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Freemake 2 now supports Blu-Ray burning, allowing you to output dozens of hours of downloaded video to a single disc. If you don't have a Blu-Ray burner, no worries -- Freemake claims their media conversion kung-fu lets them cram 20 hours onto a single-layer DVD.
The upgrade doesn't stop there, however. Freemake 2 also adds the ability to download and convert videos directly from popular sharing sites like Facebook, YouTube, and Metacafe. Beyond sharing sites, Freemake can also grab video from Hulu, South Park Studios, The Daily Show, Megavideo, and several others -- including a good number of sites in the red light district. There's also a more full-featured preset editor, giving you advanced control over your default conversion settings.
The .Net 4.0 framework is required, but Freemake will install it for you if it's not already on your system.
Download Freemake Video Convertor 2.0Freemake Video Converter adds Blu-Ray support, Web video downloading originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Fiabee releases companion apps to share, sync files between Chrome and Android
Fiabee is a relative newcomer to the cloud-to-mobile storage game, having only released its iOS app [iTunes link] back in June. The company has now begun focusing on Google's platforms and has made beta versions of the Fiabee app available for Android devices and Google Chrome.
The Fiabee Chrome app is no bookmark -- it's an extension app (all its HTML, JavaScript, CSS, images, and fonts are stored on your system) that provides a much different experience from the Fiabee website. Install the app and create an account, and you're given 1GB of cloud storage which you can use to share files from your desktop Chrome browser to your Android handset. Open your favorite file management app, find the file you want to upload, and then drag it on to the appropriate drop zone -- the blue box saves it to your cloud storage, while the green box takes the additional step of notifying your Android device that a new transfer is available.Continue reading Fiabee releases companion apps to share, sync files between Chrome and AndroidFiabee releases companion apps to share, sync files between Chrome and Android originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 18 Dec 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
The Fiabee Chrome app is no bookmark -- it's an extension app (all its HTML, JavaScript, CSS, images, and fonts are stored on your system) that provides a much different experience from the Fiabee website. Install the app and create an account, and you're given 1GB of cloud storage which you can use to share files from your desktop Chrome browser to your Android handset. Open your favorite file management app, find the file you want to upload, and then drag it on to the appropriate drop zone -- the blue box saves it to your cloud storage, while the green box takes the additional step of notifying your Android device that a new transfer is available.Continue reading Fiabee releases companion apps to share, sync files between Chrome and AndroidFiabee releases companion apps to share, sync files between Chrome and Android originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 18 Dec 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Thursday, December 30, 2010
LucidLogix virtualization tech enables AMD and NVIDIA GPUs to play together with Sandy Bridge
It's baaack. We've gone well over half a year without hearing a peep from black magic makers LucidLogix, but here on the doorstep of CES 2011, the company has resurfaced just in time to ride on the coattails of Intel's forthcoming Sandy Bridge platform. Sandy is expected to take over CES when companies start to introduce new PCs in just a few days, and thanks to Lucid's virtualization software, we wouldn't be surprised if a few are served with NVIDIA and AMD GPUs. This here technology enables the two to play nice, making the outlandish fantasy of using a multi-GPU, multi-vendor setup a reality. DirectX 11 is also supported, with the only real requirement being to "connect the display screen directly to the motherboard's Sandy Bridge display output." We'll be taking a closer look at the peacemaker once we land in Vegas, but for now, go ahead and prepare yourself for a beta version of 'Virtu' -- it'll hit at some point next month.Continue reading LucidLogix virtualization tech enables AMD and NVIDIA GPUs to play together with Sandy BridgeLucidLogix virtualization tech enables AMD and NVIDIA GPUs to play together with Sandy Bridge originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Dec 2010 08:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Feeding Your E-Book Habit: Feedbooks
So I had this series all laid out in my mind. Start with borrowing current books, then into free books, and finally into sources for paid books. Thing is, Feedbooks has mucked it up by adding a store for selling e-books. I have been a big Feedbooks fan for years. They are a great source [...]
TinyOgg lets you quickly convert YouTube videos to Ogg format
It's fairly easy to download YouTube videos, but they usually come in FLV or MP4 format when you grab them right off YouTube. TinyOgg is a lightweight service that lets you grab those same videos, or just the audio, in the open source Ogg format.
It couldn't be simpler to use: you just feed it with a YouTube URL, and hit Convert. You then get a short URL; after a few minutes, this URL contains a link to an Ogg file you can download and watch at your leisure. By default, this link is made public and can be seen in the queue.
There's also a more detailed form that lets you keep the link private (so it doesn't show up in the public queue), download the file in the highest quality from YouTube (so the converter gets the best raw material to work with), and rip just the music, with no video content at all. That last one is somewhat dubious on the copyright side of things, but is very handy nonetheless.TinyOgg lets you quickly convert YouTube videos to Ogg format originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 03:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
It couldn't be simpler to use: you just feed it with a YouTube URL, and hit Convert. You then get a short URL; after a few minutes, this URL contains a link to an Ogg file you can download and watch at your leisure. By default, this link is made public and can be seen in the queue.
There's also a more detailed form that lets you keep the link private (so it doesn't show up in the public queue), download the file in the highest quality from YouTube (so the converter gets the best raw material to work with), and rip just the music, with no video content at all. That last one is somewhat dubious on the copyright side of things, but is very handy nonetheless.TinyOgg lets you quickly convert YouTube videos to Ogg format originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 03:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Open a Champagne Bottle with a Saber [Video]
There are multiple ways to pop New Year's champagne: the Super Bowl air-spray, the casual Diddy pour-on-the-floor, or, if you're feeling awesomely Napoleonic, you can slice the damn thing open with a sword (or good kitchen knife). Here's how. More »
Chinese Scientists Invent Electro-Abs For Women's Chests' [Video]
In yet another example of China being on the cutting edge of technology, witness the Top Charming Breast Stimulator. It's Electro-Abs for your chest, for all you ladies out there that have always wanted those chiseled, 6-pack boobs. More »
Chopsticks That Repeatedly Snap Open [Chopsticks]
Like the bubble wrap toy, the edamame and the endless chocolate bar, this Stickpecker lets you repeatedly do an activity you usually only do once. It works with magnets! But costs $44. [Stickpecker via Book of Joe via Wired] More »
XBMC 10.0 released with new add-on system and a ton of improvements
XBMC is a fantastic media center application, and while it works well for dedicated HTPCs, it also plays nice on desktop computers, alongside your other software. But now XBMC has hit the version 10.0 milestone with a plethora of changes and improvements. Here's a small sample of the goodies you can look forward to in 10.0:
Add-on support: The biggest change -- add-ons can now be browsed, installed, and updated from within XBMC itself, making it easy to change XBMC's look-and-feel or give it new functionality.
WebM/VP8 codecs: You can now watch videos encoded using Google's latest open-source video format right from within XBMC.
Hardware acceleration added for Windows Vista and Windows 7.
Linux improvement: VDAPU support improved and VAAPI support added.
There's a comprehensive changelog with much more, but why not just take the new, free, XBMC for a spin?XBMC 10.0 released with new add-on system and a ton of improvements originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 05:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Add-on support: The biggest change -- add-ons can now be browsed, installed, and updated from within XBMC itself, making it easy to change XBMC's look-and-feel or give it new functionality.
WebM/VP8 codecs: You can now watch videos encoded using Google's latest open-source video format right from within XBMC.
Hardware acceleration added for Windows Vista and Windows 7.
Linux improvement: VDAPU support improved and VAAPI support added.
There's a comprehensive changelog with much more, but why not just take the new, free, XBMC for a spin?XBMC 10.0 released with new add-on system and a ton of improvements originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 05:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Samsung's phone division now also in charge of PMPs, Galaxy Player coming in Q2 2011
Yes, CES 2011 will be graced by the presence of Samsung's new 4-inch Galaxy Player, but our pockets, it would seem, might have to wait for it quite a bit longer. The Wall Street Journal today reports that, while Samsung intends to roll out the new Android PMP in its home market of Korea shortly after CES next week, the rest of the world is unlikely to be able to buy it until "the April to June period." Aside from its lack of phone functionality and a Super AMOLED panel, the new Galaxy Player is an almost identical replica of the company's wildly successful Galaxy S smartphone, which apparently has been no accident. The WSJ also lets us in on the knowledge that Samsung's phone division has taken over responsibility for building and selling its portable media player range, hence why we're now seeing such major overlaps between the two categories -- something that might very well continue into the future.Samsung's phone division now also in charge of PMPs, Galaxy Player coming in Q2 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 13:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Wall Street Journal | Email this | Comments
Free games for your new Windows computer
Right now, Steam is running all kinds of crazy year-end deals and there are loads of games you can buy at crazy low prices. But maybe you're all tapped out right now -- and you'd like to get your hands on some fun games without having to shell out your remaining hard-earned cash?
No worries! We just pointed out 20 great free programs to install on your new system, and it's just as easy to find plenty of free games. First, some good news about your new Windows 7 computer: it's got some really great free games installed like Mahjong Titans and the much nicer-looking Solitaire.
Now, onward to the free games!Continue reading Free games for your new Windows computerFree games for your new Windows computer originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
No worries! We just pointed out 20 great free programs to install on your new system, and it's just as easy to find plenty of free games. First, some good news about your new Windows 7 computer: it's got some really great free games installed like Mahjong Titans and the much nicer-looking Solitaire.
Now, onward to the free games!Continue reading Free games for your new Windows computerFree games for your new Windows computer originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Archos 28, 32, and 70 now available, do not combine to form mythical Archos 130
Archos' line of inexpensive (dare we say "cheap," at times) Android tablets aren't necessarily on your wishlist, but for the budget-conscious, they're hard to beat. And now three new models are on sale, including the 2.8-inch Archos 28, the 3.2-inch Archos 32, and the 7-inch (of course) Archos 70. The first two will put you back $99.99 and $149.99, respectively, while the biggun' comes in both 8GB ($274.99) and 250GB ($349.99) options. What are you waiting for? Honeycomb? You're adorable.Archos 28, 32, and 70 now available, do not combine to form mythical Archos 130 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 18:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Archos 28, 32, 70 | Email this | Comments
Skype's Giving Up to 30 Minutes Free Talk Time To Those Affected By the Outage [Skype]
Skype went down last week! It was a harrowing 24 hours for VoIPers forced to scramble for a landline, and to make up for the trauma the company's apparently offering credit vouchers worth around 30 minutes of talk time in some parts of the world. Apparently Consumerist reader Marti received the following message from Skype's CEO: More »
WordPress introduces new HTML5 sandbox theme, calls out to CSS artists
By now, I hope you've felt the early rumblings of an HTML5 revolution. It's still early days, however; most HTML5 sites are tests, or niche Web apps that only a small fraction of surfers will use. What HTML5 really needs is a huge, pipe-hitting champion; a website that grabs HTML5 by the gonads and slams it down front and center. A champion such as WordPress, for example, which has just released a rather lovely HTML5 theme for both WordPress.com blogs, and self-hosted solutions.
Like the HTML4 'Sandbox' theme, this new theme, called Toolbox, is a semantic, clean-slate dream. You can leap right in and design a new theme just by modifying the CSS, while making the most of new HTML5 tags like article and header. Take a look at the Toolbox test site and, if you're a blogger, you'll certainly conjure up some cool custom creations. If you're already adept at the art of CSS artistry, you know what to do; and if you've never played with CSS, now's the time to learn!
WordPress.com users will need the Custom CSS Upgrade to make the most of the Toolbox theme, while self-hosted WordPress.org users can leap right in and install the Toolbox theme.WordPress introduces new HTML5 sandbox theme, calls out to CSS artists originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Like the HTML4 'Sandbox' theme, this new theme, called Toolbox, is a semantic, clean-slate dream. You can leap right in and design a new theme just by modifying the CSS, while making the most of new HTML5 tags like article and header. Take a look at the Toolbox test site and, if you're a blogger, you'll certainly conjure up some cool custom creations. If you're already adept at the art of CSS artistry, you know what to do; and if you've never played with CSS, now's the time to learn!
WordPress.com users will need the Custom CSS Upgrade to make the most of the Toolbox theme, while self-hosted WordPress.org users can leap right in and install the Toolbox theme.WordPress introduces new HTML5 sandbox theme, calls out to CSS artists originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
China tightens hold on rare earth exports, markets soar
If you own a flat screen TV, a hybrid, a PC, or any number of cell phones, chances are you own a small but very sought after piece of China. The country accounts for 97% of the world's rare earth production, and it recently announced plans to scale back exports by 10% in 2011. The move probably won't have a big impact on the average consumer, but it's certainly gained a lot of attention on the world market: the US threatened action in the World Trade Organization, stocks for rare earth mining companies spiked significantly, and Sony Corp. vowed to decrease its dependence on the minerals. It's not like the rest of the world is lacking for rare earth resources -- American's are actually sitting on 13 million metric tons of the stuff, which companies in the US and Canada are making a made dash to mine. Trouble is, just getting the stuff out of the ground isn't enough -- China still has a monopoly on rare earth processing, and US companies are reluctant to spend the eight years and minimum $500 million necessary to construct a chemical separation plant. So what does all this mean for you? Well, not a whole lot, unless you happen to be China's Minister of Commerce, in which case you should probably stop surfing the web and get back to work.China tightens hold on rare earth exports, markets soar originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Dec 2010 01:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Yahoo! | Reuters | Email this | Comments
Kube Tiny MP3 Player
ThinkGeek has a tiny, little MP3 player that almost disappears in the palm of your hand. �The Kube is about 1″ on a side, weighs less than an ounce, and can hold thousands of MP3 files. �The Kube comes with a 2GB microSD card, but you can supply your own 32GB microSD to hold about [...]
Daily Crunch: Grid Edition
The Porsche Design Bobsled Is Here, Hope You Brought Your Credit Card Tron: Legacy Review Round-Up: A Mixed Reaction (At Best) Android Gifts For Your Favorite Android Lovers Dropbox Hits 1.0, Adds Features Scientists Successfully Store Information In Atomic Nucleii
HP slashes Envy 13 price to $999 with $450 rebate
First it was the Adamo, now it's the Envy. HP has joined Dell in deeply discounting its aging 13-inch ultrathin, though unlike its Round Rock competitor, it hasn't bothered to give it any spec bumps. Consequently, even with this interest-building $450 rebate, the Envy 13 loses out to the Adamo 13 in a straight spec fight -- a 1.6GHz CPU, 3GB of DDR3 RAM and a 5400RPM hard drive are all either slower or smaller than Dell's offering -- but it does still have a pair of aces up its sleeve to get latecomers to part with their cash. Those include an external SuperMulti DVD rewriter and a discrete ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4330 GPU with 512MB of dedicated memory. Sure, it's not much, but then neither is the new price.HP slashes Envy 13 price to $999 with $450 rebate originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 04:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink CNET | HP | Email this | Comments
Turn Your Book into This Lamp's Roof (And Save Your Spot) [Design]
You could fold the page's corner, stick in a tacky bookmark, or just throw your latest read to the floor in frustration—or, you could park it atop this lovely lamp. Reading progress, saved (and illuminated). More »
Google TV gets a big update, adds Netflix support
While tech pundits don't seem ready to give Google TV the thumbs up, yesterday's update certainly makes Google's home entertainment platform a bit more compelling. For starters, there's built-in Netflix support and a better movie search function -- which makes it easy to find your favorite Terry Gilliam flicks (if you're in the US, anyhow) and watch them on Netflix or Amazon Video on Demand.
Google has also turned your Android smartphone into a device which can play both Angry Birds and take full control of your Google TV box. The demo video is after the break, as is the QR Code to help you grab Google TV Remote from the Android Market.
Multitasking fanatics will appreciate the improved Dual View feature, which now allows users to drag and resize the video window which floats atop the Chrome browser. This makes it much easier to actually do things in the browser while you watch -- since the non-movable window could easily get in the way of form elements and links.Continue reading Google TV gets a big update, adds Netflix supportGoogle TV gets a big update, adds Netflix support originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Google has also turned your Android smartphone into a device which can play both Angry Birds and take full control of your Google TV box. The demo video is after the break, as is the QR Code to help you grab Google TV Remote from the Android Market.
Multitasking fanatics will appreciate the improved Dual View feature, which now allows users to drag and resize the video window which floats atop the Chrome browser. This makes it much easier to actually do things in the browser while you watch -- since the non-movable window could easily get in the way of form elements and links.Continue reading Google TV gets a big update, adds Netflix supportGoogle TV gets a big update, adds Netflix support originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Why I Ditched iTunes For Amazon MP3s [MP3s]
Confession: I still buy my music online instead of torrenting it. And after years of enduring an unfulfilling relationship with iTunes, last month I finally broke things off. I headed over to Amazon. I haven't looked back yet. More »
Just got a BlackBerry? The best apps, accessories, and tips
So you just got a BlackBerry, huh? First off, welcome to the world of glorious hardware keyboards and the holy grail of mobile messaging we mortals call BBM. Once you get past the novelty of sending the obligatory "mypin" texts to everyone you know, you're probably thinking to yourself -- what now? Luckily for you we've compiled a list of our favorite apps and accessories, as well as some veteran tricks of the trade, so head past the break for a crash course in doing more than just playing BrickBreaker on a BlackBerry.
Hey Android friends, we got you covered, too! Did you get an iPad? Check out our guide here! Found an iPhone in your stocking? Read our list of must-haves!Continue reading Just got a BlackBerry? The best apps, accessories, and tipsJust got a BlackBerry? The best apps, accessories, and tips originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Dec 2010 15:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Hey Android friends, we got you covered, too! Did you get an iPad? Check out our guide here! Found an iPhone in your stocking? Read our list of must-haves!Continue reading Just got a BlackBerry? The best apps, accessories, and tipsJust got a BlackBerry? The best apps, accessories, and tips originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Dec 2010 15:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Will The PSP2 Look Like This? [Rumor]
Note these images are not from Sony. They're mock-ups. But since they're mock-ups of an image that claims to be of a real PSP2, they're still worth looking at! More »
CrunchGear Week in Review: Training Edition
Here are some of last week’s stories on CrunchGear: Five Days of Festivus Contest: Win $500 To Spend On Presents TDK?s Retro-Futuristic Boomboxes Look Sweet Gift Guide: The 10 Worst Toys Of The Season If This Model Train Was Much Bigger, They?d Just Call It A Train Nooka?s Zub Zayu, Another Tasteful Abstact Wristwatch Five [...]
TechCrunchTV?s Funniest Videos From 2010 (TCTV)
During the holiday season, there's a newsroom tradition to look back at the year's funny and memorable videos. At TechCrunchTV, we don't want to disappoint. TechCrunchTV launched this June and since then, we've produced around 1,000 videos. We've asked tough questions to CEO's, entrepreneurs, VC's, and angels. We brought you exclusive interviews with new start-ups and top tech companies. We provided live coverage of Disrupt. And, as you can see in this video, we've had our share of funnier moments.
Highlights include a backstage moment with our new AOL boss; Jason Kincaid and MG Siegler turn into their favorite smartphones; John Biggs vs Four Loko; Michael Arrington as a robot; and two famous words from Yahoo's CEO Carol Bartz.
Highlights include a backstage moment with our new AOL boss; Jason Kincaid and MG Siegler turn into their favorite smartphones; John Biggs vs Four Loko; Michael Arrington as a robot; and two famous words from Yahoo's CEO Carol Bartz.
Skyfire For iPad Arriving Soon
Many iPhone users have been enjoying the Skyfire web browser since November and a lot of people have been patiently waiting for an iPad compatible version. If all goes well Skyfire should be available for the iPad very soon, perhaps before Christmas which is a good possibility according to a Skyfire spokesman. The iPad version [...]
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Cowon D3 Plenue PMP runs Android, looks like a phone, totally isn't
Ever find yourself wanting a phone that, you know, couldn't make calls? Welcome to the Cowon D3 Plenue, an Android-having PMP that looks so good we want to press it to our cheeks and say "Hello." Sadly there'd be nobody there, nobody but up to 32GB of Britney, Katy, Mandy, and whoever else you'd like stored on microSD and played back over a 3.7-inch, 800 x 480 AMOLED. That display isn't capable of doing your 1080p files justice, but the PMP itself is, and with HDMI output it can send that footage to an external panel. There's also WiFi, a T-DMB tuner, Bluetooth, and even an accelerometer. In case you're wondering it's Android 2.1 hiding behind that skin and, while Cowon promises "Apps," we're a little doubtful they'll be of the Market variety.Cowon D3 Plenue PMP runs Android, looks like a phone, totally isn't originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Dec 2010 17:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink OLED-Display.net | Cowon | Email this | Comments
CCTV cameras help solve 'six crimes a day' in London, says Metropolitan Police
Been questioning the value of having omnipresent surveillance cameras tracking your every move? Well, if you're an outlaw, you still won't like them, but for the rest of us law-abiding types, London's Metropolitan Police has a comforting stat to share: almost six crimes a day are being resolved with the help of CCTV footage. It's being used primarily to aid the identification of perps on the run, and the number of suspects identified as a result has gone up to 2,512 this year. There is a bright light for criminals, however, as the Met admits digital recordings aren't kept around as long as VHS ones used to be, meaning that if you slip the dragnet once, you'll probably be alright. So good news for everyone!CCTV cameras help solve 'six crimes a day' in London, says Metropolitan Police originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Dec 2010 05:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | BBC | Email this | Comments
Dashwire Raises Another $1 Million For Mobile Services Platform
Dashwire, which offers a mobile services platform for carriers, handset manufacturers and retailers, has raised $1 million in debt financing, according to this SEC filing.
Dashwire's Dashworks platform (PDF) is a "mobile-plus-web app" solution that helps people setup their phones, migrate from one device to another, backup everything on the phone, keep it in sync online and share photos and videos with others through social networking services.
Dashwire's Dashworks platform (PDF) is a "mobile-plus-web app" solution that helps people setup their phones, migrate from one device to another, backup everything on the phone, keep it in sync online and share photos and videos with others through social networking services.
Keen On? Erick Schonfeld: Will 2011 Be 1999 All Over Again? (TCTV)
Only four more days of 2010; four more days till we get to 2011. So what to expect in the new year? What do we most hope for and fear about 2011?
For TechCrunch co-editor Erick Schonfeld, 2011 might be the year that touch becomes central to the computing experience. It may also be the year when both mobile and social ? John Doerr?s third wave - grows up to finally become the dominant sector of the tech industry.
Could 2011 be 2000 all over again? Could we see a collapse of all the optimism now surrounding mobile and social? Were Fred Wilson's warnings about tech?s current irrational exuberance correct? Not according to Schonfeld who, while acknowledging that there are too many me-too companies, believes that the established players driving the current boom ? Facebook, Groupon, Zynga and Twitter ? are for real.
Is Schonfeld right? Should we be partying like it's 1999? Or could 2011, like 2000, be remembered as the year when the music died?
Video ahead.
For TechCrunch co-editor Erick Schonfeld, 2011 might be the year that touch becomes central to the computing experience. It may also be the year when both mobile and social ? John Doerr?s third wave - grows up to finally become the dominant sector of the tech industry.
Could 2011 be 2000 all over again? Could we see a collapse of all the optimism now surrounding mobile and social? Were Fred Wilson's warnings about tech?s current irrational exuberance correct? Not according to Schonfeld who, while acknowledging that there are too many me-too companies, believes that the established players driving the current boom ? Facebook, Groupon, Zynga and Twitter ? are for real.
Is Schonfeld right? Should we be partying like it's 1999? Or could 2011, like 2000, be remembered as the year when the music died?
Video ahead.
Hands-on: Pinboard is a great Delicious alternative
So, Yahoo! went ahead and announced it doesn't like Delicious anymore. This is pretty much the dumbest move I've seen Yahoo! do in recent memory, and Delicious is going to fight for its survival outside of Yahoo!.
I really hope Delicious is going to make it, and I have every reason to believe it will. It's an incredible service, and one of the cornerstones of the Internet. Still, since I rely so heavily on Delicious, as soon as word got out about Yahoo! trying to kill it, I started looking for alternatives.
One of the most-hyped alternatives is called Pinboard, a paid service with an interesting pricing model: you pay a one-time fee determined by the current number of users * $0.001. This means the more users sign on, the more expensive it becomes. When I signed on a couple of days ago, the price was around $7. Now it's $8.65, and will probably keep rising.
Still, it's not a lot of money to pay for a safe home for all of my bookmarks, away from a big company that may make questionable decisions about a service critical to so many users.
But what did I get for my $7? I made a comprehensive gallery that you can see after the jump, and I'm going to walk you through it. Read on for the details!Continue reading Hands-on: Pinboard is a great Delicious alternativeHands-on: Pinboard is a great Delicious alternative originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
I really hope Delicious is going to make it, and I have every reason to believe it will. It's an incredible service, and one of the cornerstones of the Internet. Still, since I rely so heavily on Delicious, as soon as word got out about Yahoo! trying to kill it, I started looking for alternatives.
One of the most-hyped alternatives is called Pinboard, a paid service with an interesting pricing model: you pay a one-time fee determined by the current number of users * $0.001. This means the more users sign on, the more expensive it becomes. When I signed on a couple of days ago, the price was around $7. Now it's $8.65, and will probably keep rising.
Still, it's not a lot of money to pay for a safe home for all of my bookmarks, away from a big company that may make questionable decisions about a service critical to so many users.
But what did I get for my $7? I made a comprehensive gallery that you can see after the jump, and I'm going to walk you through it. Read on for the details!Continue reading Hands-on: Pinboard is a great Delicious alternativeHands-on: Pinboard is a great Delicious alternative originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Todo.ly is a to-do list manager for Chrome and the Web
To-do lists are pretty important for getting things done; and much like text editors, every person has their own favorite flavor, and it seems like every developer has a slightly different idea of what an ideal to-do manager would look like.
Todo.ly is one take on the do-do list manager. It also comes as a Chrome Web app, so if you use multiple synchronized Chrome browsers (or Chrome OS) and install the Web app, you instantly get the same to-do list manager across all of your machines. Just that may be reason enough to set it up.
In terms of functionality, Todo.ly is pretty much what you'd expect. It supports due-dates and filters (Inbox, Today, Next). It also lets you divide your work into projects, which may have sub-projects. A task can also have sub-tasks.
One area where Todo.ly is lacking is linguistic processing: If I enter "Do something tomorrow", it doesn't set the due date accordingly. It also doesn't support hash tags, which is too bad (at least for me - I love hash tags).
Todo.ly is not team-oriented at the moment: You can't assign tasks to other people, or receive tasks. I guess they're saving that one for a future paid version.Todo.ly is a to-do list manager for Chrome and the Web originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Todo.ly is one take on the do-do list manager. It also comes as a Chrome Web app, so if you use multiple synchronized Chrome browsers (or Chrome OS) and install the Web app, you instantly get the same to-do list manager across all of your machines. Just that may be reason enough to set it up.
In terms of functionality, Todo.ly is pretty much what you'd expect. It supports due-dates and filters (Inbox, Today, Next). It also lets you divide your work into projects, which may have sub-projects. A task can also have sub-tasks.
One area where Todo.ly is lacking is linguistic processing: If I enter "Do something tomorrow", it doesn't set the due date accordingly. It also doesn't support hash tags, which is too bad (at least for me - I love hash tags).
Todo.ly is not team-oriented at the moment: You can't assign tasks to other people, or receive tasks. I guess they're saving that one for a future paid version.Todo.ly is a to-do list manager for Chrome and the Web originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Zynga?s CityVille Now More Than 25 Percent Bigger Than FarmVille
We knew Zynga's Facebook game CityVille was a hit if the company ever had one (and it's had several already) but the growth that it is displaying is simply mind-blowing.
Last week, the Sim City-esque game logged about 61.7 million monthly active users, effectively eclipsing its other hit game, FarmVille. Today, CityVille is at close to 72.5 million monthly active users, which means that it has already outgrown FarmVille (which boasts roughly 57,4 million monthly active users) by more than 25 percent.
Last week, the Sim City-esque game logged about 61.7 million monthly active users, effectively eclipsing its other hit game, FarmVille. Today, CityVille is at close to 72.5 million monthly active users, which means that it has already outgrown FarmVille (which boasts roughly 57,4 million monthly active users) by more than 25 percent.
Griffin Lightboard for iPad
Do you have young kids that are fascinated by your iPad? �They want to play with it, but you fear for it’s safety? �The LightBoard for iPad case from Griffin encloses your iPad in a shatter-resistant polycarbonate shield for protection. �Combine this case with the LightBoard Trace app and you can turn your iPad into [...]
iPad Soon To Go On Sale In 9 More Countries
Most people around the globe have heard of the iPad by now, even in areas where it’s not yet being sold. The iPad no longer needs an introduction but it will become available in 9 more countries this Friday. Apple’s trend setting gadget, tablet computer, or whatever you’d like to refer to it as, is [...]
Deal of the Day ? HP Pavilion dv7 Select Edition with $100 Discount Coupon AND Free Memory and Blu-ray Upgrades
The LogicBUY deal for Friday features the HP Pavilion dv7 Select Edition laptop.� You?ll get a $100 discount coupon when you purchase this redesigned laptop.� The HP dv7tse has an aluminum body, Altec Lansing speakers with Beats Audio and HP Triple Bass subwoofer, and TruVision HD webcam. HP is giving free 8GB RAM upgrades and [...]
Mercedes Terminal Mode partnership comes to fruition with internet-connected 2012 C-Class
Last year Nokia made something of a telematics coup, partnering with just about every major European manufacturer and doing everything it could to get its Terminal Mode in-car smartphone integration into more autos. Mercedes was one of those partners and now we're getting a glimpse of the result in the new C-Class. Merc has made some minor exterior updates to the car (not necessarily for the better, in our opinion), but on the inside comes an updated Mercedes COMAND infotainment system that, for the first time, offers full internet access. Using Terminal Mode the car interacts with a smartphone to provide the data, allowing dashboard surfing (while stationary) and the transmission of Google Maps points and directions right to the vehicle. There's also Bluetooth for streaming your tunes through the car's sound system and a USB port in the armrest to keep things charged while you decimate that slab. PR is below if you're looking for more details, or you can just wait for our impressions when we get to Detroit in a few weeks.Continue reading Mercedes Terminal Mode partnership comes to fruition with internet-connected 2012 C-ClassMercedes Terminal Mode partnership comes to fruition with internet-connected 2012 C-Class originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 21:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Telematics News | | Email this | Comments
What People Searched For On BitTorrent In 2010: Mostly Movies, Porn
TorrentFreak has released the BitTorrent Zeitgeist 2010, a list of the 100 most searched-for phrases and keywords in 2010 on one of the most popular public BitTorrent indexes, KickassTorrents.com.
Movies are super popular of course, with ?Inception? topping the overall ranking. Also in the top 10: ?Iron Man 2?, ?Avatar?, ?Despicable Me? and ?Clash of the Titans?. According to TorrentFreak, "Avatar" was also the most-pirated movie in 2010.
And evidently also in the top 10 of the BitTorrent Zeitgeist 2010: searches for ?xxx? and ?porn?.
Movies are super popular of course, with ?Inception? topping the overall ranking. Also in the top 10: ?Iron Man 2?, ?Avatar?, ?Despicable Me? and ?Clash of the Titans?. According to TorrentFreak, "Avatar" was also the most-pirated movie in 2010.
And evidently also in the top 10 of the BitTorrent Zeitgeist 2010: searches for ?xxx? and ?porn?.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Maxthon browser for Android now available -- and it's good
Android users already have a number of capable mobile browsers to choose from: Dolphin HD and Mini, Opera Mobile, Firefox, Skyfire, and even the stock browser are all quite good. Now there's a new challenger: Maxthon. The Chinese makers of the popular-even-though-most-of-the-west-has-never-heard-of-it desktop browser has released a version for Android, and it's a very nice app.
Out of the box, be prepared for Maxthon's geographical lean. The default speed dial pages and start page are in Chinese, and the default search engine is set to Baidu (Google and Bing are available -- and familiar to Western users). You'll also want to jump in to the browser options and go through the default settings: Maxthon's default browser box is checked by default, and you'll likely want to untick that until you've had some time to play with it.
Maxthon packs an array of handy features, including a tabbed interface, cloud sync, orientation lock, speed dial, gesture support, and a download manager. Tapping the overlapping windows icon will display a thumbnail strip which allows you to flick through your open tabs -- just tap one to switch to it. Maxthon also detects RSS feeds, which you can add to the app's built-in reader. While the feed reader displays titles and snippets, tapping an entry will load their URL in a new browser tab (rather than displaying in the reader itself). Tapping the back button on your phone eventually causes the reader window to disappear altogether -- forcing you to tap your Maxthon icon again to re-open the browser. The reader is also pre-populated with feeds: tap and hold to display the context menu to remove them.
Apart from the back button annoyance with Maxthon's reader, I did experience some other glitches while browsing. Some elements -- like Flash embeds -- had a tendency to bleed over the browser toolbar at the bottom of the screen. Locking screen orientation to landscape sometimes caused the page to rotate 180° before actually locking. At times, scrolling could be a bit choppy. The biggest miss with Maxthon is its lack of pinch-to-zoom support. Tapping works, but it's not nearly as flexible as multitouch control.
Overall, however, Maxthon performed quite nicely on my HTC Incredible and the browser itself is very solid -- the RSS reader just isn't for me. Check out the gallery after the break for a closer look, and scan the QR Code to try Maxthon out on your Android device.Continue reading Maxthon browser for Android now available -- and it's goodMaxthon browser for Android now available -- and it's good originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Out of the box, be prepared for Maxthon's geographical lean. The default speed dial pages and start page are in Chinese, and the default search engine is set to Baidu (Google and Bing are available -- and familiar to Western users). You'll also want to jump in to the browser options and go through the default settings: Maxthon's default browser box is checked by default, and you'll likely want to untick that until you've had some time to play with it.
Maxthon packs an array of handy features, including a tabbed interface, cloud sync, orientation lock, speed dial, gesture support, and a download manager. Tapping the overlapping windows icon will display a thumbnail strip which allows you to flick through your open tabs -- just tap one to switch to it. Maxthon also detects RSS feeds, which you can add to the app's built-in reader. While the feed reader displays titles and snippets, tapping an entry will load their URL in a new browser tab (rather than displaying in the reader itself). Tapping the back button on your phone eventually causes the reader window to disappear altogether -- forcing you to tap your Maxthon icon again to re-open the browser. The reader is also pre-populated with feeds: tap and hold to display the context menu to remove them.
Apart from the back button annoyance with Maxthon's reader, I did experience some other glitches while browsing. Some elements -- like Flash embeds -- had a tendency to bleed over the browser toolbar at the bottom of the screen. Locking screen orientation to landscape sometimes caused the page to rotate 180° before actually locking. At times, scrolling could be a bit choppy. The biggest miss with Maxthon is its lack of pinch-to-zoom support. Tapping works, but it's not nearly as flexible as multitouch control.
Overall, however, Maxthon performed quite nicely on my HTC Incredible and the browser itself is very solid -- the RSS reader just isn't for me. Check out the gallery after the break for a closer look, and scan the QR Code to try Maxthon out on your Android device.Continue reading Maxthon browser for Android now available -- and it's goodMaxthon browser for Android now available -- and it's good originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Gorillaz iPad album now available, as are the apps used to make it (video)
Recording music on iOS? Been there, done that. A major artist recording its latest album on an iPad? That's something new, and that's what Gorillaz has done for its latest release: The Fall. Anyone can listen to the album for free, but members of the fan club can give it a download and archive it for future posterity. How'd the band make it? We can't say, but surely there was some cell-shading involved, and here's the list of apps that were said to be used:
Speak It! / SoundyThingie / Mugician / Solo Synth / Synth / Funk Box / Gliss / AmpliTube / Xenon / iElectribe / BS-16i / M3000 HD / Cleartune / iOrgel HD / Olsynth / StudioMiniXI / BassLine / Harmonizer / Dub Siren Pro / Moog Filatron
We've included one track below for you to listen to yourself and hear what the pinnacle of modern iPad harmony sounds like. We're no music critics, but it seems safe to say it's no Tomorrow Comes Today -- which we also embedded, purely for comparison purposes.Continue reading Gorillaz iPad album now available, as are the apps used to make it (video)Gorillaz iPad album now available, as are the apps used to make it (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 07:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink CNN | Gorillaz | Email this | Comments
Speak It! / SoundyThingie / Mugician / Solo Synth / Synth / Funk Box / Gliss / AmpliTube / Xenon / iElectribe / BS-16i / M3000 HD / Cleartune / iOrgel HD / Olsynth / StudioMiniXI / BassLine / Harmonizer / Dub Siren Pro / Moog Filatron
We've included one track below for you to listen to yourself and hear what the pinnacle of modern iPad harmony sounds like. We're no music critics, but it seems safe to say it's no Tomorrow Comes Today -- which we also embedded, purely for comparison purposes.Continue reading Gorillaz iPad album now available, as are the apps used to make it (video)Gorillaz iPad album now available, as are the apps used to make it (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 07:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink CNN | Gorillaz | Email this | Comments
2011: The Year Android Explodes! Killing Innocent Women, Children, And iPhone Users
The top headlines today got me thinking back to 2008. Back then, I was writing for VentureBeat, and we used to talk quite a bit internally about iPhone versus Android. Yes, even back then it was a hot debate. And yes, back then, I was obviously in the iPhone camp. And this annoyed those who saw the promise of Android. "But Android will eventually become much larger than the iPhone," was the basic argument used against me. But it wasn't really against me. Even back then, I would openly acknowledge that Android would eventually far surpass the iPhone in terms of units shipped. I mean, how could it not?
And so Fortune's headline today that "2011 will be the year Android explodes", has been a long time coming. In his article, Seth Weintraub brings up a number of excellent points about how exactly Android is poised to grow even faster in 2011 than it already did in 2010. Though I suspect a number of his points paint too�rosy�a picture in terms of the outcome of such downward pressures on costs. I find it very hard to believe, for example, that the carriers (in the U.S., in particular) won't find a way to screw us in 2011. It's an artform they've perfected over the past two decades.�But on paper, at least, it all sounds great.
And so Fortune's headline today that "2011 will be the year Android explodes", has been a long time coming. In his article, Seth Weintraub brings up a number of excellent points about how exactly Android is poised to grow even faster in 2011 than it already did in 2010. Though I suspect a number of his points paint too�rosy�a picture in terms of the outcome of such downward pressures on costs. I find it very hard to believe, for example, that the carriers (in the U.S., in particular) won't find a way to screw us in 2011. It's an artform they've perfected over the past two decades.�But on paper, at least, it all sounds great.
AMD Radeon HD 6950 can be turned into an HD 6970 using a BIOS hack
Ah, the joy of getting something for nothing -- that's what this time of year is all about, right? The techPowerUp! guys seem to think so, and they've got the perfect gift for all you thrifty PC gaming enthusiasts: a BIOS flash for the Radeon HD 6950 that unlocks the full potential of its hardware (in other words, it turns it into an HD 6970). We already knew the two retail SKUs were built on the same Cayman core, but this hack confirms that all the 6950's performance handicaps have been enacted in software rather than hardware, leaving you all to flip a switch, click a few confirmatory dialogs, and get your game on. You should be aware that the retail 6970 card uses an 8-pin and a 6-pin connector for its auxiliary power whereas the 6950 only has a pair of 6-pin intakes, which might cause trouble under extreme loads, and there's also the fact that you'll most likely be hacking your warranty away together with your GPU's limitations. But hey, you can't make eggnog without cracking a few eggs.AMD Radeon HD 6950 can be turned into an HD 6970 using a BIOS hack originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 04:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | techPowerUp! | Email this | Comments
The Unwelcome Return of Platform Dependencies
Editor's Note: The following guest post is written by a Silicon Valley CEO. Frank Dupree is a pen name
In the late 1990s, the rise of the browser was supposed to usher in an era of unprecedented opportunity for startups. A great part of that increased opportunity came as a result of the significant reduction in platform dependencies. No longer did the users' operating system dictate their access to services or information. Even a behemoth like Microsoft was fighting hand-to-hand combat with small startups for the first time in decades. Fast forward ten years, and it's 1985 all over again.
But even as the risks of dependencies become better understood by startups and investors, the ascent of Facebook and Twitter seem to point to an ever increasing number of startups with significant business dependencies. Recent changes to both Facebook and Twitter show that neither startups nor their investors can assume much when it comes to support for a given API in the future. Today, even the OS seems subject to dramatic shifts in record time. One only need look to Apple?s iOS to see how dramatic and unpredictable developments can change the landscape for startups, customers and investors.
Today, most startups build with significant external platform dependencies, whether it is Facebook, iOS, Google Apps or Twitter. There are a few types of dependencies. A simple distinction might be to call a dependency on a platform symbiotic or parasitic. Symbiotic dependencies are those for which both sides agree to terms of the dependency and for which both sides seem to derive a benefit. Developers on Facebook?s platform, for example. The most successful here being Zynga, which grew completely and?probably for the team and its investors?nervously within the Facebook ecosystem.
In the late 1990s, the rise of the browser was supposed to usher in an era of unprecedented opportunity for startups. A great part of that increased opportunity came as a result of the significant reduction in platform dependencies. No longer did the users' operating system dictate their access to services or information. Even a behemoth like Microsoft was fighting hand-to-hand combat with small startups for the first time in decades. Fast forward ten years, and it's 1985 all over again.
But even as the risks of dependencies become better understood by startups and investors, the ascent of Facebook and Twitter seem to point to an ever increasing number of startups with significant business dependencies. Recent changes to both Facebook and Twitter show that neither startups nor their investors can assume much when it comes to support for a given API in the future. Today, even the OS seems subject to dramatic shifts in record time. One only need look to Apple?s iOS to see how dramatic and unpredictable developments can change the landscape for startups, customers and investors.
Today, most startups build with significant external platform dependencies, whether it is Facebook, iOS, Google Apps or Twitter. There are a few types of dependencies. A simple distinction might be to call a dependency on a platform symbiotic or parasitic. Symbiotic dependencies are those for which both sides agree to terms of the dependency and for which both sides seem to derive a benefit. Developers on Facebook?s platform, for example. The most successful here being Zynga, which grew completely and?probably for the team and its investors?nervously within the Facebook ecosystem.
Firefox Friday: On life after Aza, making your own browser, beta 8, bigger bug bounties, and more!
The open source community shudders with equal measures of saddening loss and anxious anticipation. Mozilla Firefox, one of the most important open source projects, has lost a very big player, and no one quite knows how extensive the repercussions will be.
Aza Raskin, the creative lead behind most of the magic in Firefox 4, resigned earlier this week to pursue the humanization of health care with startup Massive Health. Few details of the new venture have emerged yet, but Aza has reassured me that he is leaving "on great terms" with Mozilla, and he's positive that his beloved Panorama will be well looked after.
As for what Raskin's leaving means for the long term health of the open source and open Web movements, it's hard to say. Mozilla, in general, has always been one of the most important, humanist Web advocates, and Firefox 4 was a major proponent of this year's frantic we're-more-hardware-accelerated-than-you cockfight between Mozilla, Google and Microsoft. Without Aza to drive innovation in Firefox 5, will Google and Microsoft be left to battle it out for the crown -- and will the Web as a whole be less innovative?Continue reading Firefox Friday: On life after Aza, making your own browser, beta 8, bigger bug bounties, and more!Firefox Friday: On life after Aza, making your own browser, beta 8, bigger bug bounties, and more! originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Aza Raskin, the creative lead behind most of the magic in Firefox 4, resigned earlier this week to pursue the humanization of health care with startup Massive Health. Few details of the new venture have emerged yet, but Aza has reassured me that he is leaving "on great terms" with Mozilla, and he's positive that his beloved Panorama will be well looked after.
As for what Raskin's leaving means for the long term health of the open source and open Web movements, it's hard to say. Mozilla, in general, has always been one of the most important, humanist Web advocates, and Firefox 4 was a major proponent of this year's frantic we're-more-hardware-accelerated-than-you cockfight between Mozilla, Google and Microsoft. Without Aza to drive innovation in Firefox 5, will Google and Microsoft be left to battle it out for the crown -- and will the Web as a whole be less innovative?Continue reading Firefox Friday: On life after Aza, making your own browser, beta 8, bigger bug bounties, and more!Firefox Friday: On life after Aza, making your own browser, beta 8, bigger bug bounties, and more! originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Best of Smartphone Experts, 26 Dec 2010
Get a new Android phone for Christmas? Here's where to start! Motorola updates its upgrade roadmap HTC Incredible HD/Mecha/Thunderbolt" pics show up all over the damn place Official OS 6.0.0.415 for the BlackBerry Bold 9650 now available from Sprint Review: OtterBox Commuter Series case for BlackBerry Pearl 3G Verizon BlackBerry 6 Upgrade Guide spotted in retail store Have a Nokia N8 and want to fly? Palm Pre 2 available on Rogers webOS 2.0 to feature Voice Dialing 5,000 webOS apps officially available in the US TiPb TV 10: So you just got a new iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad? Dear Santa Jobs: What TiPb readers want for iPhone 5 and iPad 2 iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and Apple TV help forums Browser To WP7 steps up the features for link & text sharing Petition asking for a Worldwide Marketplace WP7 launches In Thailand, then flies off shelves Best of Smartphone Experts, 26 Dec 2010 posted originally by Android CentralSponsored by Android Cases and Accessories
Eutelsat's Ka-Sat blasts off for adventure and good uplink speeds (video)
Oh, look at you Europe, with your white Christmas blizzards and your fancy satellites. All proud and bragging as your second internet-beaming vehicle in as many months rockets off into orbital oblivion. Following November's Hylas 1 is Ka-Sat, using the same spotbeam technology to rain down limited, focused areas of connectivity that are a couple-hundred kilometers across, allowing better management of overall satellite bandwidth. Hylas 1 used its beams to cover areas across the UK and Eastern Europe, while Ka-Sat will cover more areas of Europe and also hit parts of the Middle East. Maximum speeds offered to subscribers will be 10Mbps down, 4Mbps up, but with only 900Mbps on tap total per beam we're thinking that could get a little slower on Saturday nights. Obligatory countdown and blastoff video below.Continue reading Eutelsat's Ka-Sat blasts off for adventure and good uplink speeds (video)Eutelsat's Ka-Sat blasts off for adventure and good uplink speeds (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 09:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | PC World | Email this | Comments
New solar machine could generate hydrogen fuel, food for your future vehicle
We're hesitant to file this one in the folder marked "Awesome Things That'll Never Happen," but it's definitely on the watch list. A new prototype solar device has been concocted to convert sunlight into fuel, much in the same way a plant does. Eco-minded folks will probably understand that conventional photovoltaic panels "must use the electricity they generate in situ," and thus, cannot deliver energy at night; this here device takes a rather unorthodox approach, using the sun's rays along with ceria (a magical, marvelous metal oxide) to "break down carbon dioxide or water into fuels which can be stored and transported." In theory, at least, the device could be used to create hydrogen and / or carbon monoxide, with the former being obviously useful for fueling up hydrogen-based cars of the future. Sadly, the existing prototype is horribly inefficient -- only around 0.7 percent of the solar energy can be converted into fuel -- but researchers are adamant that they can boost that to nearly 20 percent in time. We'll check back in a decade or so to see how things are progressing.New solar machine could generate hydrogen fuel, food for your future vehicle originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Dec 2010 02:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | BBC, UPI | Email this | Comments
Choosing Between a laptop and an iPad: A guide
One of the big questions many consumers are faced with today is whether to purchase a laptop or an iPad. We hope to take some of the pressure off and help make that decision easier for you in this guide. Since many of you are already more than well aware of what laptops can be [...]
Daily Crunch: Lost at the Expo Edition
A Massive iPhone Comprised Of 56 iPads Hits London, Advertises Ms. Croft?s Latest Adventure Toshiba?s Green Copier Produces Erasable Documents Dutch Art Project Helps Prepare For Zombie Attack The Nightmare Of Anti-Net Neutrality: Carriers Mull Charging Fees Per Service Thanko?s USB Ninja Gloves Warm Your Hands
Today Is The Last Day For Crunchie Nominations!
The Crunchie Awards, which are co-hosted by TechCrunch, GigaOm and VentureBeat, are pretty much my favorite part about TechCrunch. That being said, today is everyone's last day to nominate your favorite companies, products and people (yourself included) for one of the 20 different awards categories.
Act fast, because at 11:59PM PST on Christmas Eve (tonight) our developer Vineet Thandar is going to flip the switch from his makeshift office in Lake Tahoe and you'll miss your chance to have a say in who deserves to be celebrated for the best tech accomplishments of 2010.
Act fast, because at 11:59PM PST on Christmas Eve (tonight) our developer Vineet Thandar is going to flip the switch from his makeshift office in Lake Tahoe and you'll miss your chance to have a say in who deserves to be celebrated for the best tech accomplishments of 2010.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Windows May Get an ARM Twist
Microsoft may unveil a version of its Windows operating system that runs on the ARM chip platform at the Consumer Electronics Show to be held in Las Vegas in Jan., according to anonymous sources who said the software will be tailored for battery-powered devices such as tablet computers and other handhelds.
AirPlay Hack Streams Non-iTunes Video Between Mac, Apple TV
Apple’s AirPlay streaming feature enables the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad to stream video and audio to the Apple TV 2. But why stop there?
Wired.com’s friend Erica Sadun has been hard at work hacking away at AirPlay to expand its powers. About a week ago she released AirPlayer, a Mac app to stream video from [...]
Wired.com’s friend Erica Sadun has been hard at work hacking away at AirPlay to expand its powers. About a week ago she released AirPlayer, a Mac app to stream video from [...]
How would you change Nokia's N8?
There's no need to tell you that a lot was (and still is, in a way) riding on Nokia's N8. It was said to be the outfit's first dead-serious smartphone to rival the giants of today, and it was also Nokia's first chance to truly reveal Symbian^3 to the world. We've already churned out our two pennies on the matter, but for those of you who bought in, now's the time to get really real. Are you satisfied with where Nokia's going with the N8? Do you seriously see a long and lively future when looking at Symbian^3? If someone (read: UPS) accidentally delivered the keys to the Finnish kingdom to you, how would you go about tweaking and / or reshaping the N8? Would you have selected a different operating system? Added a few more hardware buttons? Thrown in a different processor? Made it available on your carrier of choice? Let us know down in comments below, and keep it sensible -- it's Christmas Eve and all.How would you change Nokia's N8? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 22:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
No Lock for Android disables "slide to unlock" keyguard
My Android device has a tiny power button, and it's usually in a holster. Really, what are the odds of me turning it on accidentally?
If you purchased previously reviewed power-tool Tasker, you can use it to selectively disable the slide to unlock feature, amongst the myriad of other things it can do.
However, if you didn't purchase Tasker, or are just looking for a quick and free solution, No Lock might be right up your alley.
This no-frills app presents a huge button you can press to toggle the keyguard. When the keyguard is off, you need only press the power button on your device to start interacting with it - no sliding involved.
There's also a handy 1x1 widget you can put on your homescreen and tap whenever you want to toggle the keyguard. The only feature I wish it had is a "dual button" unlock, whereby I can press the power button and then the camera button to unlock; I think that could definitely keep me from switching the device on accidentally. Still, for most cases, No Lock gets the job done. You can find its QR code after the jump.Continue reading No Lock for Android disables "slide to unlock" keyguardNo Lock for Android disables "slide to unlock" keyguard originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
If you purchased previously reviewed power-tool Tasker, you can use it to selectively disable the slide to unlock feature, amongst the myriad of other things it can do.
However, if you didn't purchase Tasker, or are just looking for a quick and free solution, No Lock might be right up your alley.
This no-frills app presents a huge button you can press to toggle the keyguard. When the keyguard is off, you need only press the power button on your device to start interacting with it - no sliding involved.
There's also a handy 1x1 widget you can put on your homescreen and tap whenever you want to toggle the keyguard. The only feature I wish it had is a "dual button" unlock, whereby I can press the power button and then the camera button to unlock; I think that could definitely keep me from switching the device on accidentally. Still, for most cases, No Lock gets the job done. You can find its QR code after the jump.Continue reading No Lock for Android disables "slide to unlock" keyguardNo Lock for Android disables "slide to unlock" keyguard originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
NuStand Alloy Desktop Stand for iPad and Mac Mini
Sometimes I think folks spend more money on�accessorizing�their iPads than the devices themselves. NewerTech has just�released�a new accessory for the iPad called the NuStand Alloy. The stats from the site claim: Aircraft-grade aluminum body holds iPad vertically or horizontally. Rubberized black finish is soft to touch, yet highly scratch resistant. Silicone center gently and securely [...]
iPad 2 Rumors
With the new year approaching very soon more and more rumors are beginning to surface regarding the next generation iPad, or iPad 2. Only time will tell what Apple really has planned. Not all of these rumors have been officially verified by Apple, however around March of 2011 it’s expected that a newly redesigned version [...]
Santa Brings Bump Its Biggest Day Of Sharing Ever, Swapping 20 Photos A Second
As every iPhone developer knows, Christmas Day is the busiest day of the year, as millions of people unwrap their shiny new iPhones and promptly go on an app download spree (I'm sure Android sees a similar phenomenon). Which means it isn't terribly surprising when Bump, a Sequoia-backed startup that makes it easy to share data between phones, says that today is the biggest day of traffic it's ever had. Then again, the fact that people are currently sharing 20 photos per second is quite impressive.
Bump CEO David Lieb says that Bump's traffic is currently 2.4 times as high as it was a week ago, and that the service is on pace for 2 million shared items today, with a peak load of 30 items per second (in addition to swapping photos, you can share music, contact information, and calendar events using Bump).
Bump CEO David Lieb says that Bump's traffic is currently 2.4 times as high as it was a week ago, and that the service is on pace for 2 million shared items today, with a peak load of 30 items per second (in addition to swapping photos, you can share music, contact information, and calendar events using Bump).
TinyOgg lets you quickly convert YouTube videos to Ogg format
It's fairly easy to download YouTube videos, but they usually come in FLV or MP4 format when you grab them right off YouTube. TinyOgg is a lightweight service that lets you grab those same videos, or just the audio, in the open source Ogg format.
It couldn't be simpler to use: you just feed it with a YouTube URL, and hit Convert. You then get a short URL; after a few minutes, this URL contains a link to an Ogg file you can download and watch at your leisure. By default, this link is made public and can be seen in the queue.
There's also a more detailed form that lets you keep the link private (so it doesn't show up in the public queue), download the file in the highest quality from YouTube (so the converter gets the best raw material to work with), and rip just the music, with no video content at all. That last one is somewhat dubious on the copyright side of things, but is very handy nonetheless.TinyOgg lets you quickly convert YouTube videos to Ogg format originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 03:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
It couldn't be simpler to use: you just feed it with a YouTube URL, and hit Convert. You then get a short URL; after a few minutes, this URL contains a link to an Ogg file you can download and watch at your leisure. By default, this link is made public and can be seen in the queue.
There's also a more detailed form that lets you keep the link private (so it doesn't show up in the public queue), download the file in the highest quality from YouTube (so the converter gets the best raw material to work with), and rip just the music, with no video content at all. That last one is somewhat dubious on the copyright side of things, but is very handy nonetheless.TinyOgg lets you quickly convert YouTube videos to Ogg format originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 03:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Podcast Predictions: Tablets, High-Powered Processors and 3-D to Dominate CES
This week Brian X. Chen and I get all giddy and excited about the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show, aka CES. Gadget Lab will be there blogging what we find at the weeklong preview of what kinds of gadgets you'll see in 2011 from January 4-9.
Dell's Adamo 13 ultraportable slips to $899, gets a spec bump
It's been awhile since we've heard any news from the Adamo camp, but for those looking to blow a bit of that Santa cash on something thin and light, the timing here couldn't possibly be better. Nearly 1.5 years after the 13-inch ultraportable was let loose -- for $1,999 and up, no less -- a new low-cost configuration has emerged at Dell's website. These days, $899 gets you a 0.65-inch thick machine, complete with a 13.4-inch WLED display (1366 x 768 resolution), 2.1GHz Core 2 Duo SL9600 processor, a 64-bit copy of Windows 7 Home Premium and 4GB of DDR3-800 memory. You'll also get a 128GB SSD, 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and a 40 WHr Lithium Polymer battery, and if you're down for spending a bit more, you can grab an internal mobile broadband module as well. Or, you know, you could wait and see what kind of treasures CES brings. Your call.Dell's Adamo 13 ultraportable slips to $899, gets a spec bump originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Dec 2010 18:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink CNET | Dell | Email this | Comments
Why Martian sunsets are blue [Video]
This stunning video of a Martian sunset was captured by the Mars Rover Opportunity. Although most movies code the Martian color scheme as red, the sunset shines blue. Find out why. More »
IOne Chip is All-in-One Android Phone and Camera
See that wafer of silicon above? That’s the chip that will turn Android phones into video and photo powerhouses, and cameras into mobile studios. The iOne system-on-chip, from Amabarella, is both image processor and Android CPU, and is designed to bring internet connectivity to cameras.
Inside, there is a Dual-core 1-GHz ARM CortexTM A9 CPU for [...]
Inside, there is a Dual-core 1-GHz ARM CortexTM A9 CPU for [...]
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Nikon patent app details lens with manual and electronic zoom, videographers rejoice
We reckoned it was only a matter of time, and sure enough, it seems as if the engineers at Nikon are already one step ahead of everyone else. For those who've attempted to shoot video on a conventional DSLR, they've most likely ran into one problem in particular: zooming. It's fairly difficult to manhandle a D3S under ideal circumstances, but try holding it steady while also keeping a firm grip on the zoom and focus dials. Without a camera rig, it's essentially impossible to get anything more than novice captures, complete with oodles of blur and more Jellyvision than you could shake a butter knife at. If all goes well, the next Nikkor lens you purchase may make the aforementioned tragedy just another comical part of history. Nikon is apparently dreaming of a single lens that can be zoomed both manually (for still photography) and electronically (for video), and better still, there's nothing stopping this from also supporting the outfit's sure-to-be-forthcoming EVIL line of mirrorless cameras. Then again, it's not like a patent application dictates a near-term release, but if we all cross our fingers in unison and pledge allegiance the Big N, who knows what kind of magic could happen.Nikon patent app details lens with manual and electronic zoom, videographers rejoice originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Dec 2010 23:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Electronista, Nikon Rumors | Egami | Email this | Comments
Review: XtendPlay Works For Extended Gaming Sessions [Video]
Game for thirty minutes or so with a regular controller, and you'll be fine. But gaming for hours on end, and you might get hand cramps or sore arms. XtendPlay is here to help. More »
Daily Crunch: A Series of Sneaks Edition
Review: Onaroo Personal Baby Assistant Help Identify A Guy Who Stole Game Consoles From A Children?s Cancer Ward Physical Avatars For MP3s May Be The Vinyl Of The Future Video: Constructing A Working NES Coffee Table Latest Kinect Hack Takes Your Air Guitar Fantasy To A Whole New Level
A Vintage Bus Is Being Used in New York City [Video]
The NYC MTA has been using a vintage, 1950's era bus (and train) on some select routes. No, it's not because the budget deficit is that bad, instead it's a neat throwback gesture by the MTA for the holiday season. More »
Windows for ARM processors is coming; but is it 7, 8, or something else?
Microsoft is to announce a new version of Windows designed to run on ARM processors at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January. It is not yet known whether this will simply be a port of Windows 7 to the ARM architecture, or an entirely new species of Windows OS.
ARM chips, due to their lower power consumption and smaller footprints, are used in almost every mobile phone and tablet on the market, including the iPad. With Windows Phone 7 (which runs on ARM chips) already making inroads into the smartphone market, Microsoft is now turning its eye to the tablet pie. An ARM build of Windows 7 would be nice, but surely too cumbersome for low-powered tablets.
To be honest, we have no idea what Microsoft will demonstrate at CES in January. A cut-down version of Windows 7 that can booted from firmware would be the most obvious candidate, but at the same time, it could easily be a tablet version of Windows Phone 7 (Windows CE). Either way, one thing's for sure: it will have to be awesome.Windows for ARM processors is coming; but is it 7, 8, or something else? originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
ARM chips, due to their lower power consumption and smaller footprints, are used in almost every mobile phone and tablet on the market, including the iPad. With Windows Phone 7 (which runs on ARM chips) already making inroads into the smartphone market, Microsoft is now turning its eye to the tablet pie. An ARM build of Windows 7 would be nice, but surely too cumbersome for low-powered tablets.
To be honest, we have no idea what Microsoft will demonstrate at CES in January. A cut-down version of Windows 7 that can booted from firmware would be the most obvious candidate, but at the same time, it could easily be a tablet version of Windows Phone 7 (Windows CE). Either way, one thing's for sure: it will have to be awesome.Windows for ARM processors is coming; but is it 7, 8, or something else? originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Porn in the United Kingdom to become opt-in
Not one to let the hyperconservative Australian government walk away with the censorship crown, the UK government plans to make the surfing of Internet porn opt-in. Next month, Communications Minister Ed Vaizey will meet with major UK ISPs to discuss a blanket block of porn. Rather than porn being available to all, UK surfers will have to contact their ISP to be allowed on a 'porn surfing whitelist.'
In customary political masquerading style, this is being pushed through as a "think of the kids!!" measure. It recently emerged that as many as one-in-three children under 10 in the UK has seen pornography on the Internet, and the government, spearheaded by Conservative MP Claire Perry, wants to protect those kids at all costs. The irony is, it's not like 10-year-olds have their own computers and Internet connections -- they are either viewing porn at home, at a friend's house, or at school. If dad, or mom, opts into the porn whitelist, we're back at square one.
Of course, the other option is that mom and dad swear off the porn altogether, for the sake of the children. But is that really a fair system? Isn't that just censorship, dressed up as something else?
"Oh, yeah, we're making alcohol opt-in too. Most children are abused by drunken parents... and you don't want to abuse your kids, right?" While we're at it, how about a special ID card that lets you buy pornographic magazines and DVDs from shops? Why should the Internet be treated differently?
Seriously, the reasoning behind this program is that porn is damaging to children. As in, on a mental health level, children are being scarred by the early viewing of porn. Why porn, instead of violent imagery? Is porn really more perverse than the face-planting, gonad-thumping masochism readily available on YouTube? Will video games be next, and will you have to carry them in brown paper bags?Porn in the United Kingdom to become opt-in originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
In customary political masquerading style, this is being pushed through as a "think of the kids!!" measure. It recently emerged that as many as one-in-three children under 10 in the UK has seen pornography on the Internet, and the government, spearheaded by Conservative MP Claire Perry, wants to protect those kids at all costs. The irony is, it's not like 10-year-olds have their own computers and Internet connections -- they are either viewing porn at home, at a friend's house, or at school. If dad, or mom, opts into the porn whitelist, we're back at square one.
Of course, the other option is that mom and dad swear off the porn altogether, for the sake of the children. But is that really a fair system? Isn't that just censorship, dressed up as something else?
"Oh, yeah, we're making alcohol opt-in too. Most children are abused by drunken parents... and you don't want to abuse your kids, right?" While we're at it, how about a special ID card that lets you buy pornographic magazines and DVDs from shops? Why should the Internet be treated differently?
Seriously, the reasoning behind this program is that porn is damaging to children. As in, on a mental health level, children are being scarred by the early viewing of porn. Why porn, instead of violent imagery? Is porn really more perverse than the face-planting, gonad-thumping masochism readily available on YouTube? Will video games be next, and will you have to carry them in brown paper bags?Porn in the United Kingdom to become opt-in originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Phosphor World Time Curved E-Ink Watch Review
As an amateur horologist, my interest jumped up a tick when Julie posted the news item on the recently-released Phosphor World Time Curved E-Ink Watch.�� Though I favor rather largish, shall we say ‘robust’ watches, the Phosphor E-Ink watch line’s appearance, with its unique display technology and case style, was intriguing, so I was happy [...]
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