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Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Marco Arment Leaves Tumblr To Devote Himself To Instapaper
Tumblr CTO and notable blogger Marco Arment announced today that he would be leaving his position at Tumblr to focus on more independent projects. What many in the tech world are curious about is what this means for Instapaper, a service which allows you to "save" web pages in order for you to read them later. Thus far Instapaper has only been a side project for Arment.
When asked to confirm speculation as to what he'd be up to after the Tumblr gig, Arment responded, "I'll be devoting most of my time to Instapaper. It has a very healthy future, hopefully."
When asked to confirm speculation as to what he'd be up to after the Tumblr gig, Arment responded, "I'll be devoting most of my time to Instapaper. It has a very healthy future, hopefully."
The Original Excellent Android Twitter App, Twidroyd, Previews Live Web Pages [Android Apps]
Twidroid was the first Android Twitter app worth downloading. There's a ton of alternatives and it's called Twidroyd now, but with the latest version, it's the first Twitter app to preview linked web pages, along with photos and videos. [Twidroyd] More »
Report: Nintendo 3DS Hardware Specs Revealed [Nintendo]
Nintendo's next handheld game machine, the Nintendo 3DS, will be significantly more powerful, thanks to hardware specs that represent a vast improvement over the Nintendo DS and its more powerful successor, the Nintendo DSi. More »
Imagining A Lego Mega Man [Art]
What do you get when you cross Mega Man with Lego? Graphic artist Raphael Phillips twists those two worlds together in his first Mega Man Lego collection over at The 8-bit Cubist. More »
Scribd Posts A Public Apology To Vocal Critic, Then Takes It Back
A few days ago Law professor Eric Goldman wrote a vehement blog post entitled, "Scribd Puts My Old Uploads Behind a Paywall and Goes Onto My Shitlist" denouncing the recently enacted paywalls around documents older than two months on the popular document sharing site.
"[Scribd's]�value proposition always has been open access to the documents--freely shared with everyone and indexed in the search engines. The paywall destroys that value proposition. They've taken the documents that I wanted to freely share with the public (many of them public documents like court rulings and filings) and made them inaccessible."
"[Scribd's]�value proposition always has been open access to the documents--freely shared with everyone and indexed in the search engines. The paywall destroys that value proposition. They've taken the documents that I wanted to freely share with the public (many of them public documents like court rulings and filings) and made them inaccessible."
DLS Review: My experience with the updated Grooveshark
Filed under: Audio, Utilities, Web services
I'm a long-time Grooveshark fan. I was a VIP subscriber for a few months, too, and I was generally impressed with the service. So naturally, when Lee told me yesterday that they've undergone a revamp, I was stoked.
There appears to be no post on Grooveshark's own blog covering the update, so I decided to take the service on a random spin and just cruise around the interface in order to look for some of the changes.
In case you're unfamiliar with Grooveshark, it's one of the coolest Internet radio services around. All-you-can-eat music, full albums, great quality, no audio ads - it's generally pretty kick-ass. However, I must admit that this current iteration left me somewhat ... underwhelmed. After the fold you can find a ton of screenshots showing some of the changes (and issues), as well as a widget that I made for you with a bunch of Ben Folds a cappella cover versions (just because I love you guys). So, ... here we go!At first, I tried to log on. I tried to use an incorrect username, and I got the following error message (with Chrome):
All I can say is that it's
pre
tty
inter
esting.
Finally, I recovered my login info and logged on with my normal account. Then, just about any new feature that I tried to use (i.e, fullscreen mode, crossfader) popped up this dialog:
So, yeah, it's great to be a VIP and everything, but I just wish that I could try out the VIP features for a limited time before paying. Alas, ... that is not to be. Still, at $3/month it's very affordable. Okay, so off I go to register for a VIP account.
Now, here's something I like: the typography on the registration form boasts epic proportions. It's seriously massive. Grooveshark's design is pretty slick, and something about using huge typography makes the whole form feel simpler. It's very nice.
Another cool thing about the form (and Grooveshark's policy) is that you can easily uncheck the box that says "Make subscription recurring." That's great, and it's something other monthly sites should really have. Grooveshark is confident enough that you'll like the service that they don't feel a need to automatically renew by force. I like the attitude.
Okay, so I fill in the simple form and submit it. At which point, I got this:
Yup! An "unexpected error!" It wasn't the "expected" error that I've come to know and like over the years. This one's totally unexpected, and what's more -- it's apparently inexplicable, too. I tried a couple more times. I suspect that it has something to do with my bank refusing to authorize the $3 for some reason (which is a matter for another post, really), but that's just my speculation. At this point, I actually got a friend to pay for the service (!), and then it worked. It's a good thing that they have that "non-recurring subscription" box.
Alright, so now I was finally a Premium member, and I set out to discover what insanely cool things Grooveshark had in store for me. Here's one of the features that I was unable to use before: the crossfader. Clicking this button adds a nice, leisurely crossfade effect between songs. Even when I added a new song to play immediately, the last song did not cut off; it elegantly faded away while the new song started playing. It's not a three-second crossfade, either, and you can't configure the duration (this isn't Foobar2000, after all). It feels more like a five or seven-second crossfade.
The other major new feature (for Premium members only!) is the full-screen mode. I was actually so disappointed with this one that I had to take three different screenshots just to show you that it's not a coincidence. First, let's start with the "CoverFlow" mode, which is the first view that pops up when you go to full-screen:
As you can see, most of the songs in my playlist did not have album art, which is fine, and I don't completely fault Grooveshark for it. But this mode is the default -- it's always the first one you see, and many of the tracks on the service don't come with album art. If you can see past the non-images, when you try scrolling, you'll find out how un-CoverFlow this thing is. The scroll feels jumpy and jagged, and there's no zooming or flipping whatsoever. I've seen smoother scrolling created in JavaScript, much less in Flash. It was very, very meh.
Disappointed, I switched to the next mode. This is a "vis" (music visualization). This first one is called Spores. As a vis, it's okay looking, but it's tiny. I don't have a huge screen; it's a 22" wide-screen monitor, and the visualization took up a tiny space in the middle. I took a screenshot of the whole screen so that you could see what it looks like. What's the point of a full-screen mode if you have to squint to see anything?
I thought maybe it was the music I was listening to. Maybe Ben Folds doesn't have what it takes to make the Spores dance wildly all over the monitor. Okay, so I tried another visualization. This one's called Electric Fadeout, and here you can really see that the app simply doesn't use your monitor. I mean, there's a "window" in the middle of the screen, and that's it. It's not a large window, either. And this is a VIP feature that I was unable to see before subscribing. That's rather on the lame side.
On with the tour! This is the Community feature; it lets you follow people and see what they're playing. You can also see who's following you. It's actually very nice, especially since you can subscribe to people's playlists.
Once you have a playlist up on the screen, there's a live-search bar at the upper-right corner. Live search works very well. It's super-fast, and it does exactly what you expect it to (narrow the list down according to your criteria). It filters by artist, album, and track name, so entering "yo" gave me both a Yo La Tengo track called "Green Arrow" and a track by Guitar called "Tokyo."
Multiple selection is another nice feature (possibly new). You can select multiple contiguous songs with Shift or specific songs by Ctrl. You can then add all selected songs to your playlists, share them, like them, etc.
Here's another handy improvement: The Radio feature is easier to spot now. I tried the Bluegrass radio, and it's quite neat (if you happen to like Bluegrass, which I do). They put it on the bottom-right toolbar, so you really can't miss it.
The song progress bar now has five different sharing buttons: email, widget, Facebook, StumbleUpon, and Twitter. One amusing UI quirk is that the panel keeps moving as the song is playing, so you have to chase it with your mouse to click whatever sharing option you want. Amusing, but it might get old after a while.
You can also share any track on the search results/playlist page using its menu. This doesn't involve chasing any UI element with your mouse, and it's really quite straightforward. The Friends option provides you with a direct URL for the song (on Grooveshark, sadly, rather than on the much cooler, Grooveshark-powered tinysong) as well as an email form. You also get Widget, Twitter, Facebook, and StumbleUpon buttons, even though there are already menu entries for Facebook and Twitter.
Alright, that's it for now! The main reasons for upgrading to VIP are supporting the service itself and making the banners disappear. Don't expect too much from the VIP-only features (unless you really like crossfading your music).
And last but certainly not least, I present you with a respectable collection of a cappella cover versions for Ben Folds classics. It's awesome stuff! Just hit play, leave this tab open, and move on with your day.
DLS Review: My experience with the updated Grooveshark originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 12 Sep 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
I'm a long-time Grooveshark fan. I was a VIP subscriber for a few months, too, and I was generally impressed with the service. So naturally, when Lee told me yesterday that they've undergone a revamp, I was stoked.
There appears to be no post on Grooveshark's own blog covering the update, so I decided to take the service on a random spin and just cruise around the interface in order to look for some of the changes.
In case you're unfamiliar with Grooveshark, it's one of the coolest Internet radio services around. All-you-can-eat music, full albums, great quality, no audio ads - it's generally pretty kick-ass. However, I must admit that this current iteration left me somewhat ... underwhelmed. After the fold you can find a ton of screenshots showing some of the changes (and issues), as well as a widget that I made for you with a bunch of Ben Folds a cappella cover versions (just because I love you guys). So, ... here we go!At first, I tried to log on. I tried to use an incorrect username, and I got the following error message (with Chrome):
All I can say is that it's
pre
tty
inter
esting.
Finally, I recovered my login info and logged on with my normal account. Then, just about any new feature that I tried to use (i.e, fullscreen mode, crossfader) popped up this dialog:
So, yeah, it's great to be a VIP and everything, but I just wish that I could try out the VIP features for a limited time before paying. Alas, ... that is not to be. Still, at $3/month it's very affordable. Okay, so off I go to register for a VIP account.
Now, here's something I like: the typography on the registration form boasts epic proportions. It's seriously massive. Grooveshark's design is pretty slick, and something about using huge typography makes the whole form feel simpler. It's very nice.
Another cool thing about the form (and Grooveshark's policy) is that you can easily uncheck the box that says "Make subscription recurring." That's great, and it's something other monthly sites should really have. Grooveshark is confident enough that you'll like the service that they don't feel a need to automatically renew by force. I like the attitude.
Okay, so I fill in the simple form and submit it. At which point, I got this:
Yup! An "unexpected error!" It wasn't the "expected" error that I've come to know and like over the years. This one's totally unexpected, and what's more -- it's apparently inexplicable, too. I tried a couple more times. I suspect that it has something to do with my bank refusing to authorize the $3 for some reason (which is a matter for another post, really), but that's just my speculation. At this point, I actually got a friend to pay for the service (!), and then it worked. It's a good thing that they have that "non-recurring subscription" box.
Alright, so now I was finally a Premium member, and I set out to discover what insanely cool things Grooveshark had in store for me. Here's one of the features that I was unable to use before: the crossfader. Clicking this button adds a nice, leisurely crossfade effect between songs. Even when I added a new song to play immediately, the last song did not cut off; it elegantly faded away while the new song started playing. It's not a three-second crossfade, either, and you can't configure the duration (this isn't Foobar2000, after all). It feels more like a five or seven-second crossfade.
The other major new feature (for Premium members only!) is the full-screen mode. I was actually so disappointed with this one that I had to take three different screenshots just to show you that it's not a coincidence. First, let's start with the "CoverFlow" mode, which is the first view that pops up when you go to full-screen:
As you can see, most of the songs in my playlist did not have album art, which is fine, and I don't completely fault Grooveshark for it. But this mode is the default -- it's always the first one you see, and many of the tracks on the service don't come with album art. If you can see past the non-images, when you try scrolling, you'll find out how un-CoverFlow this thing is. The scroll feels jumpy and jagged, and there's no zooming or flipping whatsoever. I've seen smoother scrolling created in JavaScript, much less in Flash. It was very, very meh.
Disappointed, I switched to the next mode. This is a "vis" (music visualization). This first one is called Spores. As a vis, it's okay looking, but it's tiny. I don't have a huge screen; it's a 22" wide-screen monitor, and the visualization took up a tiny space in the middle. I took a screenshot of the whole screen so that you could see what it looks like. What's the point of a full-screen mode if you have to squint to see anything?
I thought maybe it was the music I was listening to. Maybe Ben Folds doesn't have what it takes to make the Spores dance wildly all over the monitor. Okay, so I tried another visualization. This one's called Electric Fadeout, and here you can really see that the app simply doesn't use your monitor. I mean, there's a "window" in the middle of the screen, and that's it. It's not a large window, either. And this is a VIP feature that I was unable to see before subscribing. That's rather on the lame side.
On with the tour! This is the Community feature; it lets you follow people and see what they're playing. You can also see who's following you. It's actually very nice, especially since you can subscribe to people's playlists.
Once you have a playlist up on the screen, there's a live-search bar at the upper-right corner. Live search works very well. It's super-fast, and it does exactly what you expect it to (narrow the list down according to your criteria). It filters by artist, album, and track name, so entering "yo" gave me both a Yo La Tengo track called "Green Arrow" and a track by Guitar called "Tokyo."
Multiple selection is another nice feature (possibly new). You can select multiple contiguous songs with Shift or specific songs by Ctrl. You can then add all selected songs to your playlists, share them, like them, etc.
Here's another handy improvement: The Radio feature is easier to spot now. I tried the Bluegrass radio, and it's quite neat (if you happen to like Bluegrass, which I do). They put it on the bottom-right toolbar, so you really can't miss it.
The song progress bar now has five different sharing buttons: email, widget, Facebook, StumbleUpon, and Twitter. One amusing UI quirk is that the panel keeps moving as the song is playing, so you have to chase it with your mouse to click whatever sharing option you want. Amusing, but it might get old after a while.
You can also share any track on the search results/playlist page using its menu. This doesn't involve chasing any UI element with your mouse, and it's really quite straightforward. The Friends option provides you with a direct URL for the song (on Grooveshark, sadly, rather than on the much cooler, Grooveshark-powered tinysong) as well as an email form. You also get Widget, Twitter, Facebook, and StumbleUpon buttons, even though there are already menu entries for Facebook and Twitter.
Alright, that's it for now! The main reasons for upgrading to VIP are supporting the service itself and making the banners disappear. Don't expect too much from the VIP-only features (unless you really like crossfading your music).
And last but certainly not least, I present you with a respectable collection of a cappella cover versions for Ben Folds classics. It's awesome stuff! Just hit play, leave this tab open, and move on with your day.
DLS Review: My experience with the updated Grooveshark originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 12 Sep 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
The Science Behind the Art of Delicious Craft Beer [Beer]
Craft beer. It's delicious. Brewing it is an art. But it's also a science. Our friends at Eater visited Colorado's Great Divide Brewery, and explain how it's done, in 10 easy steps. [Eater] More »
Sharp To Buy Solar Project Developer Recurrent Energy For Up To $350 Million
Sharp is to acquire 100% of Recurrent Energy, a San Francisco-based independent power producer and developer of distributed solar projects, for up to $350 million in cash.
The acquisition is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, provided authorities approve the transaction.
The acquisition is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, provided authorities approve the transaction.
Adobe Posts Record Revenue, Up 42 Percent To $990 Million
Adobe posted record revenue for its third quarter, seeing sales of $990.3 million, compared to $697.5 million reported for the third quarter of 2009 (revenue also increased from $943.0 million reported in the second quarter of 2010). Revenue jumped 42 percent from the previous year.
Net Income also remained strong for Adobe. Adobe?s non-GAAP diluted earnings per share quarter were $0.54, compared to $0.35 reported in the third quarter of 2009. Non-GAAP net income was $284.0 million for the third quarter, compared to $186.1 million from the previous year.
Net Income also remained strong for Adobe. Adobe?s non-GAAP diluted earnings per share quarter were $0.54, compared to $0.35 reported in the third quarter of 2009. Non-GAAP net income was $284.0 million for the third quarter, compared to $186.1 million from the previous year.
Olympus Zuiko-equipped compact camera eyes-on: optical zoom, HDMI spotted
Olympus' PR branch left us digging for details when announcing the outfit's new Zuiko-equipped camera, a concept piece that's actually on track for the real world in early 2011. It seems as if this, along with Fujifilm's FinePix X100, is carving out a new niche in the compact space. It lacks the flexibility of Micro Four Thirds / mirrorless, but it packs a bigger quality punch than any other point-and-shoot on the market. At least with this guy, though, you'll be getting an optical zoom. During our gaze session at Olympus' Photokina booth, we spotted "optical zoom" labeling as well as a toggle switch for pulling the lens in and out, and we also found an HDMI output, video record button, hot shoe accessory port and a pop-up flash. Join us as we go round and round in the video after the break. Gallery: Olympus Zuiko-equipped compact camera eyes-on at Photokina 2010Continue reading Olympus Zuiko-equipped compact camera eyes-on: optical zoom, HDMI spottedOlympus Zuiko-equipped compact camera eyes-on: optical zoom, HDMI spotted originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 19:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Droid X Froyo update available now! (Update: Plus, root instructions)
The Droid X Froyo update is now available, folks! Go to Settings>About phone>Check for updates, and it's all yours. It's a hefty 67.6-megabyte update, so pop on your Wifi and pop open a cold one. It's going to take a few minutes.We've already discussed what's new in Froyo, and what's new for the Droid X specificially. So get your update on, and hit the Droid X forums to discuss what we've got. Thanks to everybody who sent this in!Update: For those of you who worry about root access, the Droid 2 root method works after this official update. Instructions on that here.Posted originally at Android CentralSponsored by Android Cases and Accessories
CE-Oh no he didn't!: Anssi Vanjoki says using Android is like peeing in your pants for warmth
You've been asking and imploring, so Anssi Vanjoki -- straight shooter, that he is -- now has an answer. Why doesn't Nokia switch to Android? Because Google's software represents only a short-term solution that will lead to bigger quandaries down the line, says he. Anssi was even graceful enough to illustrate this point with a vivid example, saying that mobile manufacturers who go the Android route are doing no better than Finnish boys who "pee in their pants" for warmth in the winter. Yeah. We don't know where to go from here either. To be honest, there's a legitimate point behind this trash talk, as the FT notes some analysts agree with Anssi that relying on Android as the universal OS may lead to "permanently low profitability" with users failing to distinguish among different brands if they all offer the same experience. Then again, tell that to HTC.
[Thanks, Maark]CE-Oh no he didn't!: Anssi Vanjoki says using Android is like peeing in your pants for warmth originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 09:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Financial Times | Email this | Comments
[Thanks, Maark]CE-Oh no he didn't!: Anssi Vanjoki says using Android is like peeing in your pants for warmth originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 09:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Financial Times | Email this | Comments
Daily Crunch: Telephoto Edition
Let Uncle Walt Mosspuppet Teach You How To Make An iPad Stylus Video: System Instantly Generates 3D Head Models From 2D Photos Build-A-Bear Workshops Now Doing The Star Wars Thing Pepsi Mont Blanc: Very French This Prototype Sony Telephoto Lens Has More Switches Than Your Camera
Droid X Froyo update available now! (Update: Plus, root instructions)
The Droid X Froyo update is now available, folks! Go to Settings>About phone>Check for updates, and it's all yours. It's a hefty 67.6-megabyte update, so pop on your Wifi and pop open a cold one. It's going to take a few minutes.We've already discussed what's new in Froyo, and what's new for the Droid X specificially. So get your update on, and hit the Droid X forums to discuss what we've got. Thanks to everybody who sent this in!Update: For those of you who worry about root access, the Droid 2 root method works after this official update. Instructions on that here.Posted originally at Android CentralSponsored by Android Cases and Accessories
How Ginormous, Genetically Modified Antifreeze Salmon Will Change the Future of Your Food [Taste Test]
This week, the FDA will likely decide that AquaBounty is safe for you to buy and eat. Aquawhat? AquaBounty is a salmon—a genetically engineered anti-freeze powered Hulk salmon that will change the future of what you eat More »
Lifeline Energy distributes solar powered radio / media players to the villages of Africa
Everybody know that the big money's in pain rays and various other wargadgets, so we really like it when someone at least tries to do a little good in the world. Lifeline Energy is a UK-based NGO that works to bring folks in emerging markets (mostly sub-Saharan Africa) items like solar-powered radios and lights, and it has just announced the launch of the Lifeplayer self-powered MP3 player and AM/FM/SW radio. This device features 64GB storage, microSD card slot, 3G connectivity, audio recording capabilities, and the ability to act as a sort of PA system -- according to the organization, groups of sixty can hear the thing clearly. It's powered either by a hand-crank or through its solar panel, and contains a USB port for charging devices such as cell phones. At present, Lifeline Energy is distributing over a thousand of these bad boys in Haiti and it's accepting donations to distribute them in Pakistan as well. Hit the source link to see how you can help. PR after the break.Continue reading Lifeline Energy distributes solar powered radio / media players to the villages of AfricaLifeline Energy distributes solar powered radio / media players to the villages of Africa originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 09:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Lifeline Energy | Email this | Comments
Motorola Droid X now getting OTA Android 2.2 update
Good way to start Wednesday, indeed. Right on schedule (and not a minute too soon), the over-the-air Android 2.2 (aka Froyo) update for Motorola Droid X has started propagating the radio waves. We've received dozens of tips already, from those who both checked manually and received notification in the status bar. In addition to a new Android, there's also improves visual voicemail with Bluetooth support, a refreshed mobile hotspot app, and a fix to prevent data connections from dropping as you move between WiFi and 3G coverage. Go on, check your phone now -- and don't forget to pick up the new Gmail when you're done updating.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]Motorola Droid X now getting OTA Android 2.2 update originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 00:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]Motorola Droid X now getting OTA Android 2.2 update originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 00:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Protect Your iPad With iShine Microfiber Sleeve
Every iPad owner understands the importance of keeping their device both protected and clean. It takes very little time for oil from your hands to build up on the iPad’s screen, leaving plenty of unwanted smudges. There is an affordable solution though thanks to the iShine Microfiber iPad Sleeve. The iShine Sleeve is a must [...]
F1 Fanatic round-up: 21/9/2010
I noticed some sites commented on Sunday’s very late-breaking story about Jerome d’Ambrosio joining Virgin, questioning whether the unusual timing of the press release was significant. Maybe there was, but it’s hardly likely anyone would expect something as obvious as that to go unnoticed. It’s probably just as likely someone set the distribution time on [...]
TrackDropper for Android combines geocaching and music 'piracy'
Filed under: Games, Internet, Android
TrackDropper, or 'Piracy', is a tiny, open-source Android app that is a proof of concept more than anything else. In essence, it is simply geocaching but with digital music files.
Like geocaching, TrackDropper lets you leave something in a place that you've visited -- but instead of a keepsake in a Tupperware box, you leave digital tracks in a virtual space. Other TrackDropper users can then visit the location of your musical 'booty' and listen to it -- and leave another song in its place! There's a cute video of it in action after the break.
Unfortunately, I can't get TrackDropper to work on my phone -- it might be for Android 2.1 or later -- but I don't think it works by uploading MP3s to a centralised server. Instead, you store the unique ID of the song which, when someone finds it, is then played back using the 7digital API. Of course, should Google or Apple introduce a similar service (and they surely will), they will have their own streaming APIs in place.
Incidentally, TrackDropper was one of the many hacks output by Music Hack Day London -- if TrackDropper isn't your kind of thing, check the huge list of other hacks.
[via CNET]
TrackDropper for Android combines geocaching and music 'piracy' originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
TrackDropper, or 'Piracy', is a tiny, open-source Android app that is a proof of concept more than anything else. In essence, it is simply geocaching but with digital music files.
Like geocaching, TrackDropper lets you leave something in a place that you've visited -- but instead of a keepsake in a Tupperware box, you leave digital tracks in a virtual space. Other TrackDropper users can then visit the location of your musical 'booty' and listen to it -- and leave another song in its place! There's a cute video of it in action after the break.
Unfortunately, I can't get TrackDropper to work on my phone -- it might be for Android 2.1 or later -- but I don't think it works by uploading MP3s to a centralised server. Instead, you store the unique ID of the song which, when someone finds it, is then played back using the 7digital API. Of course, should Google or Apple introduce a similar service (and they surely will), they will have their own streaming APIs in place.
Incidentally, TrackDropper was one of the many hacks output by Music Hack Day London -- if TrackDropper isn't your kind of thing, check the huge list of other hacks.
[via CNET]
TrackDropper for Android combines geocaching and music 'piracy' originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Google Updates Google Earth for iPhone, iPad ? Contains Ocean Layer Content!
Google updated it’s Google Earth app for iPhone and iPad this morning, including Retina Display support and oceanic layer content that was previously unavailable to iOS users. With this new update, you can now zoom in below the surface of the ocean and view the deep trenches and geography of the ocean floor.
Taking a [...]Google Updates Google Earth for iPhone, iPad – Contains Ocean Layer Content! is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store. TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog
Taking a [...]Google Updates Google Earth for iPhone, iPad – Contains Ocean Layer Content! is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store. TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog
AT&T Not Concerned About iPhone Defections ? CEO Boasts That 80% Are Basically Trapped
At this point, my head is spinning. Earlier tonight, I wrote about how Verizon is still full-steam ahead on destroying the fabric of Android. Meanwhile, on the other side of the aisle, we have AT&T playing up the fact that they got a "D-" on a coverage test instead of an "F". I seriously just can't decide which carrier is worse.
Earlier today, a study by Credit Suisse was released stating that 23 percent of iPhone users currently on AT&T would switch to Verizon if that carrier offered the phone. That number is slightly off from the 34 percent that was previously reported, but is still pretty massive. In total, that represents about 1.4 million customers that would jump ship from AT&T to Verizon without hesitation. But speaking today at the Goldman Sachs media and technology conference, Communacopia (yes, awful name), AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson had something interesting to say about possible defections.
Earlier today, a study by Credit Suisse was released stating that 23 percent of iPhone users currently on AT&T would switch to Verizon if that carrier offered the phone. That number is slightly off from the 34 percent that was previously reported, but is still pretty massive. In total, that represents about 1.4 million customers that would jump ship from AT&T to Verizon without hesitation. But speaking today at the Goldman Sachs media and technology conference, Communacopia (yes, awful name), AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson had something interesting to say about possible defections.
Massa: ?down? races hurt title hopes (Video)
Speaking in a video released by Ferrari, Felipe Massa said his three consecutive races out of the points put him out of contention for the championship: We had some up-and-down races during the championship. I had a very bad three races where I couldn’t score points which was Canada, Valencia and Silverstone. We could have [...]
redsn0w beta Jailbreak for iPhone 3G, iPod touch 2 on iOS 4.1, 4.0
The Dev-Team have released a redsn0w beta Jailbreak for iPhone 3G, iPod touch 2 on iOS 4.1 and iOS 4.0.
It uses the same pwnage2 DFU-mode exploit that we?ve been using since the 2.x days. It does not include the SHAtter exploit developed by pod2g. Nothing new is revealed to Apple [...]redsn0w beta Jailbreak for iPhone 3G, iPod touch 2 on iOS 4.1, 4.0 is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store. TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog
It uses the same pwnage2 DFU-mode exploit that we?ve been using since the 2.x days. It does not include the SHAtter exploit developed by pod2g. Nothing new is revealed to Apple [...]redsn0w beta Jailbreak for iPhone 3G, iPod touch 2 on iOS 4.1, 4.0 is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store. TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog
Sony VAIO laptops start getting PS3 Remote Play update in the US
It's been available for some VAIOs in Japan, and some intrepid individuals have even gotten it working on non-VAIO computers, but it looks like VAIO users in the US can now finally get some official PS3 Remote Play support. We're still trying to track down a complete list of the computers supported, but it looks like the update at least covers the VAIO EA series, and includes all the functionality you'd expect -- streaming, Bluetooth keyboard support, etc. Be sure to let us know in comments if the update has hit your VAIO.
[Thanks, Adam]Sony VAIO laptops start getting PS3 Remote Play update in the US originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 18:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
[Thanks, Adam]Sony VAIO laptops start getting PS3 Remote Play update in the US originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 18:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
BodyGuardz Dry Apply for iPhone 4 Review
Are you paranoid that your shiny new iPhone 4′s display will get a nasty scratch on it? Maybe you’ve thought about protecting it with a case, but didn’t want to deal with the bulk? Or you might have considered a screen protector but installing it seemed a little intimidating. I’m not really paranoid about scratches, [...] Filed in categories: Reviews, iPhone, iPad, iPod relatedTagged: iPhone, Screen ProtectorBodyGuardz Dry Apply for iPhone 4 Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 20, 2010 at 8:39 pm.
Are you TiPb?s next top blogger?
TiPb needs bloggers.
If you’re obsessed with iOS and devices like iPhone and iPad, if you absolutely, positively just won’t stop until you’ve found every last story, then you just might be who we’re looking for. If so, head on over to our forums and find out if you have what it takes to join our [...]Are you TiPb’s next top blogger? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store. TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog
If you’re obsessed with iOS and devices like iPhone and iPad, if you absolutely, positively just won’t stop until you’ve found every last story, then you just might be who we’re looking for. If so, head on over to our forums and find out if you have what it takes to join our [...]Are you TiPb’s next top blogger? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store. TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog
Teac goes retro (again) with CD burner-equipped SL-D920 radio
It may not boast some of the more newfangled features like built-in WiFi, but we're guessing that Teac's new SL-D920 radio packs enough retro flavor to attract plenty of interest nonetheless. In addition to that familiar throwback design (available in red, white or black), the radio packs a built-in CD burner to either play CDs or record from the radio, a USB port to connect an MP3-filled storage device, and a line-in jack to accommodate the media player of your choice -- plus a pair of 5W speakers and a 10W subwoofer. Unfortunately, there's no word on a release over here, but this one's available in Japan right now for ¥20,000 or about $230.Teac goes retro (again) with CD burner-equipped SL-D920 radio originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 15:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Coolest Gadgets | Teac | Email this | Comments
Twitter for Android updated, loses some of its UI coolness
(Twitter pre-update, left, and post-update, right)The official Android Twitter app -- cleverly named Twitter for Android -- just got another updated. There's no changelog just yet (it'll be here, and apparently we skipped the 1.3 update), but the cool little trending topics cloud is gone, the icons have gotten less attractive, and we kinda miss the bird looking at us. We have to hope there's something more than that in this update, and we're not alone in our disappointment. If you spot something, sing out in the comments. Thanks @macprv and Pepito141.Posted originally at Android CentralSponsored by Android Cases and Accessories
Gmail for Android updated, becomes Market app
We've always said the native Gmail app is one of the best parts of Android, and it just got even better: it now supports Priority Inbox, has a "show quoted text" button, and features a floating message actions toolbar like the browser-based mobile Gmail webapp. The bigger news, though, is that Google's releasing Gmail directly to Android Market, where it'll be a separate download that can be revved with new features independently of Android itself. That's a pretty great move, as anyone still waiting for a carrier-approved Froyo build can attest, but there's irony afoot: the new Gmail won't run on anything less than 2.2. Wah-wah.Gmail for Android updated, becomes Market app originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 15:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Google | Email this | Comments
CrunchGear Week in Review: Bike Ride Edition
Here are some of last week’s stories on CrunchGear: Twee Altoids Tin BBQ Grill For Micro-Cookouts I Want A Complete Set Of These Excellent Puma Cargo Bikes Round-up: Our Take On Apple?s New Media Devices Skitterbot Is A Creepy Electronic Cockroach Why Is There A Pony In The Apple Store?
Three words: Boba. Fett. Backpack.
Okay, five words: Boba. Fett. Plush. Rocket. Backpack.
ThinkGeek has already sold you a pair of Lightsaber chopsticks, and you bought the adorable Tauntaun sleeping bag for your kid. But think ahead now, to when your son first goes off to school. Where will a geek’s offspring carry his lunch? How will he wear his (father’s) [...]
ThinkGeek has already sold you a pair of Lightsaber chopsticks, and you bought the adorable Tauntaun sleeping bag for your kid. But think ahead now, to when your son first goes off to school. Where will a geek’s offspring carry his lunch? How will he wear his (father’s) [...]
Visible III is a challenging, confusing platformer - Time-Waster
Filed under: Fun, Games, Time-Wasters
Look at the screenshot. Do you see how, on the top part, there's a landmine to my right? I'm not very close to it, though, so I can still pick up a bit of speed and jump over it.
Now look at the bottom of the screenshot and see the reflection. I'm actually right on top of a landmine there and if I move even a couple of pixels over to the right, I'm done for.
This is the basic premise of Visible III. It's very, very easy to die. I constantly had to stop in place and look at both halves of the screen before attempting anything. It's not just the traps, either. Sometimes the walls are shaped differently on each of the two parts of the screen -- which makes the game part brain teaser and part platformer. Like most other platformers I enjoy, respawning is fast here and you don't lose a lot when you die. There are multiple checkpoints on each level, and you respawn at the last checkpoint whenever you die.
Reflection isn't everything here, though; there are lasers, which you avoid by becoming invisible (by holding down Shift). But you can't be invisible forever. There's a bar that rapidly runs out when you're invisible, so you need to be quick. The same goes for scaling walls and grabbing the ceiling. It's possible (and sometimes vital), but only for a short while.Visible III is a challenging, confusing platformer - Time-Waster originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Look at the screenshot. Do you see how, on the top part, there's a landmine to my right? I'm not very close to it, though, so I can still pick up a bit of speed and jump over it.
Now look at the bottom of the screenshot and see the reflection. I'm actually right on top of a landmine there and if I move even a couple of pixels over to the right, I'm done for.
This is the basic premise of Visible III. It's very, very easy to die. I constantly had to stop in place and look at both halves of the screen before attempting anything. It's not just the traps, either. Sometimes the walls are shaped differently on each of the two parts of the screen -- which makes the game part brain teaser and part platformer. Like most other platformers I enjoy, respawning is fast here and you don't lose a lot when you die. There are multiple checkpoints on each level, and you respawn at the last checkpoint whenever you die.
Reflection isn't everything here, though; there are lasers, which you avoid by becoming invisible (by holding down Shift). But you can't be invisible forever. There's a bar that rapidly runs out when you're invisible, so you need to be quick. The same goes for scaling walls and grabbing the ceiling. It's possible (and sometimes vital), but only for a short while.Visible III is a challenging, confusing platformer - Time-Waster originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Scosche Wants to Boost your Flip Video Camera?s Audio Too
Not sure what’s going on, but all of a sudden it seems that everyone thinks that the Flip Video camera has crappy audio and needs to be fixed. Ok, not everyone… But just yesterday I posted a news item about the Mikey Mic from Blue Mic and now today we have news from Scosche with [...] Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, News, Spotlight GadgetsTagged: Flip Video, microphoneScosche Wants to Boost your Flip Video Camera’s Audio Too originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 21, 2010 at 8:53 pm.
Ask Mozilla a question
Filed under: Mozilla, BrowsersInstead of my usual abode deep in the lush green forests of south England, I'm currently in San Francisco. I was here for the Internet Explorer 9 beta launch (which was very cool!) Yesterday I visited Google -- and later today I will be seeing the wonderful people at Mozilla.
I have a lot of things I want to ask them, but I figured you guys might also have a few clever questions up your sleeves! So, if there's something you've always wanted to ask Mozilla, leave a comment and I'll do my best to pose your questions to the right people.Ask Mozilla a question originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
I have a lot of things I want to ask them, but I figured you guys might also have a few clever questions up your sleeves! So, if there's something you've always wanted to ask Mozilla, leave a comment and I'll do my best to pose your questions to the right people.Ask Mozilla a question originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Sony 'Advanced Model' (Alpha A77?) DSLR emerges at Photokina, E-mount firmware coming soon
We've heard Sony use the term "Advanced Model" when dealing with concepts before, and it seems that it's using said code once more to disguise what may end up being the A77. Rumors have been flaring over the past few weeks, noting that this particular Alpha DSLR would be showcased at Photokina before being officially unveiled at CES 2011. Few details were given, but we're able to tell that it'll shoot HD video in AVCHD and will be compatible with a vertical grip. Moreover, it'll ship with a translucent mirror (as found in the A55 and A33) and an Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor. At the company's Photokina press conference, an executive noted that the cam will be "far more powerful than the a55," and that it'll be aimed at "serious enthusiast photographers."
A slew of concept / prototype lenses were also encased (including a comically large 500mm f/4 cannon) at Sony's booth, not to mention a few that'll definitely be available from 2011 and 2012. Back at the presser, we were informed that a grand total of ten A-mount (Alpha DSLR compatible) lenses will be on sale by 2012, and it's also considering working with a number of partners in order to develop third-party E-mount lenses for the NEX range. Moreover, a firmware update is slated for mid-October to bring autofocus support to A-mount lenses used on E-mount cameras, aperture control in video mode and customizable keys, while the NEX-VG10 Handycam will see an A-mount lens firmware update in November. Speaking of E-mount cameras, Sony's also developing its own micro flash for use in low(er)-light situations, and considering that it recently grabbed a full 50 percent of the mirrorless market share in Europe, we'd guess it's nowhere near slowing down on the innovation. Smiles all around, right? Gallery: Sony's concept box at Photokina: 'Advanced Model' Alpha DSLR, flexible flash, lenses Gallery: Sony's Photokina 2010 press conferenceSony 'Advanced Model' (Alpha A77?) DSLR emerges at Photokina, E-mount firmware coming soon originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 11:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
A slew of concept / prototype lenses were also encased (including a comically large 500mm f/4 cannon) at Sony's booth, not to mention a few that'll definitely be available from 2011 and 2012. Back at the presser, we were informed that a grand total of ten A-mount (Alpha DSLR compatible) lenses will be on sale by 2012, and it's also considering working with a number of partners in order to develop third-party E-mount lenses for the NEX range. Moreover, a firmware update is slated for mid-October to bring autofocus support to A-mount lenses used on E-mount cameras, aperture control in video mode and customizable keys, while the NEX-VG10 Handycam will see an A-mount lens firmware update in November. Speaking of E-mount cameras, Sony's also developing its own micro flash for use in low(er)-light situations, and considering that it recently grabbed a full 50 percent of the mirrorless market share in Europe, we'd guess it's nowhere near slowing down on the innovation. Smiles all around, right? Gallery: Sony's concept box at Photokina: 'Advanced Model' Alpha DSLR, flexible flash, lenses Gallery: Sony's Photokina 2010 press conferenceSony 'Advanced Model' (Alpha A77?) DSLR emerges at Photokina, E-mount firmware coming soon originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 11:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Fernandes enters Team Air Asia in GP2
Lotus team principal Tony Fernandes has started a new GP2 team. Team Air Asia has been accepted to compete in GP2 and GP2 Asia from 2011 to 2013. GP2 series boss Bruno Michel said: Team Air Asia [...] is a new team built on a strong relationship with a current Formula One team presided by [...]
Take Me To a Future Where Books Act Like This [Future]
Books aren't going to go away any time soon. But, like magazines have started to, they're going to evolve. And if that evolution looks anything like these concepts, we're in for a pleasant literary future. More »
Samsung Innovates Again With New Galexy Tab
There’s a lot of buzz surrounding Samsung’s new Galexy Tab, the company’s first attempt at a tablet device which is scheduled for launch this month in Europe. Many people have been wondering what companies would be the first to rival the already famous Apple iPad which was launched back in April and the Galexy Tab [...]
CodeBurner puts Web language reference information at your fingertips
Filed under: Developer, Search, web 2.0
CodeBurner is a neat tool for rapidly checking a ton of CSS and HTML reference information, including compatibility, functionality, and more. It's available as a Firefox add-on or a Firebug plug-in, and as an Adobe AIR application, OS X Dashboard Widget, or Opera add-on.
I tested the Firebug variant, because I use Firebug for all of my Web debugging needs. And indeed, CodeBurner adds a nice, comprehensive reference layer. I click any page element (or search for an element), and get a list showing the selected element and telling me about it, showing what are the attributes defined for this element, what other attributes may be defined for it (i.e, are valid but aren't specified in the site markup), and what styles and selectors apply to this element.
Next to each of these, I can see browser compatibility information for select browsers. For example, I had no idea the "text-align" style is considered "buggy" under IE7 - now I know.
Each style and attribute gets just a single line of text, but if you want more information, just click the more link. You will then be taken to SitePoint's reference section for the selected attribute - here's color for example. The reference page contains a verbose description, an example, and complete compatibility information. If all of this sounds a bit too comprehensive, you can always dial it down a bit and filter your search so that it only returns HTML Elements, for example.CodeBurner puts Web language reference information at your fingertips originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
CodeBurner is a neat tool for rapidly checking a ton of CSS and HTML reference information, including compatibility, functionality, and more. It's available as a Firefox add-on or a Firebug plug-in, and as an Adobe AIR application, OS X Dashboard Widget, or Opera add-on.
I tested the Firebug variant, because I use Firebug for all of my Web debugging needs. And indeed, CodeBurner adds a nice, comprehensive reference layer. I click any page element (or search for an element), and get a list showing the selected element and telling me about it, showing what are the attributes defined for this element, what other attributes may be defined for it (i.e, are valid but aren't specified in the site markup), and what styles and selectors apply to this element.
Next to each of these, I can see browser compatibility information for select browsers. For example, I had no idea the "text-align" style is considered "buggy" under IE7 - now I know.
Each style and attribute gets just a single line of text, but if you want more information, just click the more link. You will then be taken to SitePoint's reference section for the selected attribute - here's color for example. The reference page contains a verbose description, an example, and complete compatibility information. If all of this sounds a bit too comprehensive, you can always dial it down a bit and filter your search so that it only returns HTML Elements, for example.CodeBurner puts Web language reference information at your fingertips originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Sony 'Advanced Model' (Alpha A77?) DSLR emerges at Photokina, E-mount firmware coming soon
We've heard Sony use the term "Advanced Model" when dealing with concepts before, and it seems that it's using said code once more to disguise what may end up being the A77. Rumors have been flaring over the past few weeks, noting that this particular Alpha DSLR would be showcased at Photokina before being officially unveiled at CES 2011. Few details were given, but we're able to tell that it'll shoot HD video in AVCHD and will be compatible with a vertical grip. Moreover, it'll ship with a translucent mirror (as found in the A55 and A33) and an Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor. At the company's Photokina press conference, an executive noted that the cam will be "far more powerful than the a55," and that it'll be aimed at "serious enthusiast photographers."
A slew of concept / prototype lenses were also encased (including a comically large 500mm f/4 cannon) at Sony's booth, not to mention a few that'll definitely be available from 2011 and 2012. Back at the presser, we were informed that a grand total of ten A-mount (Alpha DSLR compatible) lenses will be on sale by 2012, and it's also considering working with a number of partners in order to develop third-party E-mount lenses for the NEX range. Moreover, a firmware update is slated for mid-October to bring autofocus support to A-mount lenses used on E-mount cameras, aperture control in video mode and customizable keys, while the NEX-VG10 Handycam will see an A-mount lens firmware update in November. Speaking of E-mount cameras, Sony's also developing its own micro flash for use in low(er)-light situations, and considering that it recently grabbed a full 50 percent of the mirrorless market share in Europe, we'd guess it's nowhere near slowing down on the innovation. Smiles all around, right? Gallery: Sony's concept box at Photokina: 'Advanced Model' Alpha DSLR, flexible flash, lenses Gallery: Sony's Photokina 2010 press conferenceSony 'Advanced Model' (Alpha A77?) DSLR emerges at Photokina, E-mount firmware coming soon originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 11:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
A slew of concept / prototype lenses were also encased (including a comically large 500mm f/4 cannon) at Sony's booth, not to mention a few that'll definitely be available from 2011 and 2012. Back at the presser, we were informed that a grand total of ten A-mount (Alpha DSLR compatible) lenses will be on sale by 2012, and it's also considering working with a number of partners in order to develop third-party E-mount lenses for the NEX range. Moreover, a firmware update is slated for mid-October to bring autofocus support to A-mount lenses used on E-mount cameras, aperture control in video mode and customizable keys, while the NEX-VG10 Handycam will see an A-mount lens firmware update in November. Speaking of E-mount cameras, Sony's also developing its own micro flash for use in low(er)-light situations, and considering that it recently grabbed a full 50 percent of the mirrorless market share in Europe, we'd guess it's nowhere near slowing down on the innovation. Smiles all around, right? Gallery: Sony's concept box at Photokina: 'Advanced Model' Alpha DSLR, flexible flash, lenses Gallery: Sony's Photokina 2010 press conferenceSony 'Advanced Model' (Alpha A77?) DSLR emerges at Photokina, E-mount firmware coming soon originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 11:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Google to make Apps accounts more secure with two-factor authentication
Filed under: Security, Google
Keeping your online accounts secure is a must, and Google will soon begin rolling out an improved authentication system to its Apps customers. Beginning with Google Apps Premier, Education, and Government users, you'll soon be able to utilize a smartphone-generated verification code as a second layer of account security.
It's a bit like the dedicated RSA SecurID fobs some enterprises use for VPN authentication. Sign in to your Google account via the usual login screen and you're then prompted to verify your account. Launch the Google Authenicator app on your smartphone and enter the code it displays to complete the sign-in process. Google Authenticator will be available for Android (image after the break), Blackberry, and iPhone users. Don't have a fancy smartphone? No problem -- Google can also call you or send an SMS message to provide you with a code.
Apps administrators can currently enable two-factor authentication in their control panels. Free apps domains will receive the feature in the coming months -- but here's hoping Google also rolls this out as an option in Gmail. My password is plenty strong, but why not add a little extra protection if it's available?
[Google Enterprise blog]Google to make Apps accounts more secure with two-factor authentication originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Keeping your online accounts secure is a must, and Google will soon begin rolling out an improved authentication system to its Apps customers. Beginning with Google Apps Premier, Education, and Government users, you'll soon be able to utilize a smartphone-generated verification code as a second layer of account security.
It's a bit like the dedicated RSA SecurID fobs some enterprises use for VPN authentication. Sign in to your Google account via the usual login screen and you're then prompted to verify your account. Launch the Google Authenicator app on your smartphone and enter the code it displays to complete the sign-in process. Google Authenticator will be available for Android (image after the break), Blackberry, and iPhone users. Don't have a fancy smartphone? No problem -- Google can also call you or send an SMS message to provide you with a code.
Apps administrators can currently enable two-factor authentication in their control panels. Free apps domains will receive the feature in the coming months -- but here's hoping Google also rolls this out as an option in Gmail. My password is plenty strong, but why not add a little extra protection if it's available?
[Google Enterprise blog]Google to make Apps accounts more secure with two-factor authentication originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Google Deciphers The Balance Of Power Across The U.S.
Google has consistently offered consumers useful ways to interact with election and politics online including "In Quotes," maps of where to vote, and town hall meetings on YouTube. Today, the search giant is helping you see where the balance of power lies between Republicans and Democrats in the House, Senate and Governor races across the U.S.
As midterm elections draws near (Nov. 2), Google has published an interactive map that tracks blues and reds across the the 500 seats up for grabs in the U.S. Google is mashing up data from various political publications, including Cook, Rothenberg, CQ-Roll Call and RealClearPolitics.
As midterm elections draws near (Nov. 2), Google has published an interactive map that tracks blues and reds across the the 500 seats up for grabs in the U.S. Google is mashing up data from various political publications, including Cook, Rothenberg, CQ-Roll Call and RealClearPolitics.
Motorola Droid X getting Android 2.2 update starting tomorrow
Motorola's teasing that it's "still on track for a summer launch of Android 2.2 for Droid X," and considering that tomorrow is the last day of summer (sadly), that lines up nicely with new information on Droid Life today that Moto's beast for Verizon will get blessed with the update starting tomorrow at noon Eastern Time. Verizon's actually already posted the update document, and it's a doozy: besides 2.2, you get improves visual voicemail with Bluetooth support, a refreshed mobile hotspot app, and a fix to prevent data connections from dropping as you move between WiFi and 3G coverage. Looks like you'll be able to grab this of your own accord rather than having to wait for Verizon to bless you with the OTA, so gear up and enjoy one last evening with your Eclair-based Droid X. Go ahead, take it out somewhere nice, it's treated you well.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Update: Verizon has independently confirmed that the update is indeed available tomorrow. Good way to start your Wednesday, we'd say.Motorola Droid X getting Android 2.2 update starting tomorrow originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 14:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Verizon, Droid Life, Motorola Owners' Forum | Email this | Comments
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Update: Verizon has independently confirmed that the update is indeed available tomorrow. Good way to start your Wednesday, we'd say.Motorola Droid X getting Android 2.2 update starting tomorrow originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 14:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Verizon, Droid Life, Motorola Owners' Forum | Email this | Comments
Wisconsin Dropped $25 Million in Tax Breaks on Harley-Davidson For Staying Put
Through an Enterprize Zone tax credit, the Wisconsin Department of Commerce has handed Harley-Davidson a $25 million tax break for coming to terms with its labor unions in the company’s Tomahawk and Monemonee�Falls production facilities. In a move that saw unions cave to Harley-Davidson’s ultimatum, the Bar & Shield brand has disclosed to the SEC [...]
Imagining A Lego Mega Man [Art]
What do you get when you cross Mega Man with Lego? Graphic artist Raphael Phillips twists those two worlds together in his first Mega Man Lego collection over at The 8-bit Cubist. More »
Google: No comment on official Google Voice app for iPhone
When contacted Monday by Apple Insider, Google declined to comment on whether it would resubmit its native application, which Apple refused to accept into the App Store last year.
“We currently offer Google Voice mobile apps for Blackberry and Android, and we offer an HTML5 web app for the iPhone,” a Google spokesperson said. [...]Google: No comment on official Google Voice app for iPhone is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store. TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog
“We currently offer Google Voice mobile apps for Blackberry and Android, and we offer an HTML5 web app for the iPhone,” a Google spokesperson said. [...]Google: No comment on official Google Voice app for iPhone is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store. TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog
The Inhuman Anatomy of RoboCop [Robocop]
Well, that answers a burning question: There is no RoboCock. More »
NVIDIA CEO: Tegra 3 almost done, Tegra 4 on the way, expect a new Tegra annually
Though NVIDIA's GPU Technology Conference is primarily about the applications of GPU computing, CEO Jen-Hsun Huang hasn't shied away from revealing new silicon, and he just promised something quite unexpected to attending press: new Tegra chips. Though the Tegra 2 has yet to leave a single dent on the consumer marketplace -- the Boxee Box famously tossed it out -- Huang told us that not only is a Tegra 3 almost done and a Tegra 4 currently underway, but that we should expect a new Tegra SOC "every single year." Forgive us for being a mite skeptical of the company's ability to attract customers, but the only notches we see on Tegra's belt are the Zune HD... and Microsoft's failed Kin.NVIDIA CEO: Tegra 3 almost done, Tegra 4 on the way, expect a new Tegra annually originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 15:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
London, New York on track for subway cellular coverage?
After nearly three years of setbacks, if New York City isn't careful it looks like London just might win the race to extend cellular service to its underground transit system. The plan laid out by London Mayor Boris Johnson calls for the UK's big five wireless carriers (Vodafone, O2, Orange, T-Mobile, and 3) to cover the cost (some "hundreds of millions of pounds," according to the Telegraph) for a system that should hopefully wire the Tube by the 2012 Olympics. Meanwhile, the New York plan came back to life recently when Broadcast Australia purchased a majority stake in Transit Wireless, which was awarded some $46 million to wire subway platforms and select tunnels back in 2007 -- and which apparently threw in the towel shortly thereafter. Unlike the New York plan, London's won't be limited to the platforms, which is great news for Britons who like to listen to obnoxious strangers' cellphone conversations.London, New York on track for subway cellular coverage? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 16:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Tech Radar | Bloomberg, Telegraph (UK) | Email this | Comments
Wolfram Alpha now processing U.S. retail sales data
Filed under: Search, web 2.0, Education
When I was a kid and used to fantasize about what the future was going to be like, I didn't envision a Google-like search engine. If anything, I thought the future would hold something more along the lines of Wolfram Alpha - an omniscient search box that would slice and dice numbers and facts in all sorts of crazy ways and spit out a bunch of cool graphs.
And now, Wolfram Alpha has added one more key data source to its growing arsenal: U.S. Department of Commerce reports about retail sales in the States.
This is significant, because there's so much hype about "the economy" and how it's all crashing and burning -- or how it isn't. And really, the best antidote for hype is data. With Wolfram Alpha making this data so compelling and accessible, there's really no reason not to find out for yourself how the U.S. economy is doing. It's also smart enough to seasonally adjust the data in order to compensate for spikes and drops that are due to purchasing habits typical to that time of year rather than actual market anomalies.
Some of the queries you can chart:
Seasonally adjusted retail sales jewelry stores vs U.S. unemployment (Their idea, not mine)
Seasonally adjusted retail sales vs US military spending - This one doesn't give you a graph, but is still quite interesting.
April 2010 retail sales computers vs April 2010 retail sales - To see how large the computing industry's direct role is in U.S. economy.
Bottom line: Wolfram Alpha keeps adding more and more data sources - we just need to figure out how to use them.Wolfram Alpha now processing U.S. retail sales data originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
When I was a kid and used to fantasize about what the future was going to be like, I didn't envision a Google-like search engine. If anything, I thought the future would hold something more along the lines of Wolfram Alpha - an omniscient search box that would slice and dice numbers and facts in all sorts of crazy ways and spit out a bunch of cool graphs.
And now, Wolfram Alpha has added one more key data source to its growing arsenal: U.S. Department of Commerce reports about retail sales in the States.
This is significant, because there's so much hype about "the economy" and how it's all crashing and burning -- or how it isn't. And really, the best antidote for hype is data. With Wolfram Alpha making this data so compelling and accessible, there's really no reason not to find out for yourself how the U.S. economy is doing. It's also smart enough to seasonally adjust the data in order to compensate for spikes and drops that are due to purchasing habits typical to that time of year rather than actual market anomalies.
Some of the queries you can chart:
Seasonally adjusted retail sales jewelry stores vs U.S. unemployment (Their idea, not mine)
Seasonally adjusted retail sales vs US military spending - This one doesn't give you a graph, but is still quite interesting.
April 2010 retail sales computers vs April 2010 retail sales - To see how large the computing industry's direct role is in U.S. economy.
Bottom line: Wolfram Alpha keeps adding more and more data sources - we just need to figure out how to use them.Wolfram Alpha now processing U.S. retail sales data originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Adobe acts quickly to patch latest Flash vulnerability
Filed under: Security, AdobeThanks to F-Secure, we have just learned that Adobe has responded quickly to the most recent critical security flaw in Flash, which Lee reported on a week ago. According to Adobe:
Chrome users are already protected! Versions above 6.0.472.62 are patched. This version number refers to the Stable channel, but the latest Beta channel update also has the same update (with a different version number).
Patches for all other operating systems (including Android) are to be available today.
Adobe Reader isn't protected yet - the patch is due around October 4. On the plus side, there isn't a known exploit in the wild for this vulnerability in Reader.
[Photo: acoustickyy)Adobe acts quickly to patch latest Flash vulnerability originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Chrome users are already protected! Versions above 6.0.472.62 are patched. This version number refers to the Stable channel, but the latest Beta channel update also has the same update (with a different version number).
Patches for all other operating systems (including Android) are to be available today.
Adobe Reader isn't protected yet - the patch is due around October 4. On the plus side, there isn't a known exploit in the wild for this vulnerability in Reader.
[Photo: acoustickyy)Adobe acts quickly to patch latest Flash vulnerability originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Microsoft Tells WinPho7 Devs to Build, CDMA Carriers to Wait
Microsoft released the Windows Phone 7 software development kit on the Web Thursday, just over two weeks after the WinPho7 platform had been released to manufacturing. This release is in English only, but versions in French, Italian, German and Spanish will be available in "the next couple of weeks," Brandon Watson wrote on the Windows Phone Developer Blog.
Apple Approves VLC Video Player for iPad
Well, color us surprised (and delighted). Apple has approved VLC Media Player for iPad, an app that plays a multitude of movie formats unsupported by the tablet’s built-in video player.
VLC has been a popular open-source app on the desktop, capable of playing a wide range of media formats at high resolutions, making Apple’s standard iTunes [...]
VLC has been a popular open-source app on the desktop, capable of playing a wide range of media formats at high resolutions, making Apple’s standard iTunes [...]
2010 Aragon Moto2 Race Result - Another Flag-To-Flag Blow-Out
Results and summary of the Moto2 race at Motorland Aragon:
read more
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The most common words used in 1-star and 5-star App Store reviews
Filed under: Fun, Apple, MobileI'm not quite sure if this one counts as 'news', and you'll probably want the 30 seconds of your life back afterwards, but anyway: Marco Arment (of Tumblr and Instapaper fame) has compiled a list of the most commonly used words in 1- and 5-star App Store reviews.
In true American style, awesome and worth are at the top of the 5-star list. As Marco points out, it's very nice to see simple so high in the 5-star list, but words like ever, never and done are a bit odd. I don't have an iOS device, so I can only guess, but are people writing reviews that read 'This app is awesome. I don't know how I ever got along without it. I will never leave home without it'? And where does touch figure into positive reviews? I hope it comes from 'it also works on my iPod touch!'...
The bad-review list reads like a litany of woe: waste and money come first, quickly followed by crashes, useless, deleted and stupid.
Interestingly, both lists emphasize cost and value: i.e. when an app works well, it's 'worth its weight in gold', but when it doesn't work, an app is 'a useless waste of money'. As Marco highlights, though, talking about the price when you've paid hundreds of dollars for the device itself is a little silly.
My favourite word, if you're wondering, is right at the end of the 1-star review list: Apple.
The most common words used in 1-star and 5-star App Store reviews originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
In true American style, awesome and worth are at the top of the 5-star list. As Marco points out, it's very nice to see simple so high in the 5-star list, but words like ever, never and done are a bit odd. I don't have an iOS device, so I can only guess, but are people writing reviews that read 'This app is awesome. I don't know how I ever got along without it. I will never leave home without it'? And where does touch figure into positive reviews? I hope it comes from 'it also works on my iPod touch!'...
The bad-review list reads like a litany of woe: waste and money come first, quickly followed by crashes, useless, deleted and stupid.
Interestingly, both lists emphasize cost and value: i.e. when an app works well, it's 'worth its weight in gold', but when it doesn't work, an app is 'a useless waste of money'. As Marco highlights, though, talking about the price when you've paid hundreds of dollars for the device itself is a little silly.
My favourite word, if you're wondering, is right at the end of the 1-star review list: Apple.
The most common words used in 1-star and 5-star App Store reviews originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Giant Motherf*cking Spiderwebs Stronger Than Kevlar [Spiders]
Don't be surprised if you see the US Army sporting fine garments made from Madagascan bark spider's silk in the future. It's "10 times better than Kevlar," which itself is "5 times stronger than steel on an equal weight basis." More »
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 [...]
Sachsenring tipping contest scores
A quiet week at the top of the standings, with @daveminella just inching away from the pack by a single point. Shouts out to @Brian_GP, @danzero and @ducatinewstoday for pulling off their Minellas. Had you guys been around earlier you would be pushing the top spots. The good news is, there is plenty of time [...]
Why On Earth Is Samsung Bundling Girly Lotions With Its Cellphones? [Samsung]
Samsung's bundling its Galaxy S phones, some lotions, and a 4GB MicroSD card in a pink kit dubbed Galaxy S Femme. Do they not think that guys might want lotion to go with their big-screened phones, too? [Akihabaran via Engadget] More »
Would You Ever Buy a Peek? [Question]
Earlier today, in the wake of the announcement of the Peek 9, the latest and greatest in a series of truly baffling gadgets, Brian Barrett asked "Who In Their Right Mind Would Buy a Peek 9?" Well, would you? More »
BitTorrent Mainline 7.1 now has uTorrent's apps
Filed under: Internet, P2P
BitTorrent Inc's Mainline client (i.e. the one you can download from their homepage) now has the ability to use apps that, until now, were only usable with uTorrent. These apps allow you to augment your BitTorrent client much in the same way that Firefox add-ons or Chrome extensions alter your browser.
Built using JavaScript, HTML and CSS -- the same 'Open Web' technologies that Mozilla has been harping about -- these apps are free, and easily downloadable from within the new BitTorrent client. Having said that, only 11 apps are available at the moment (including the rather cute 'Torrent Tweet' and a BitDefender-powered virus scanner) -- and I'm not quite sure how developers go about having their apps indexed by the client's built-in search engine (which might be why there are only 11 apps...) Still, if you want to have a go at developing your own app, there's an official SDK and some tutorials to get you started.
I'm a little baffled by this feature coming to BitTorrent Mainline before uTorrent -- but perhaps BitTorrent Inc wants to try it out on Mainline's 'paltry' 14 million users before rolling it out to uTorrent's 60+ million users. Incidentally, if you're a uTorrent user, apps should find their way to a stable release before the end of the year.
[Direct BitTorrent 7.1 download link]BitTorrent Mainline 7.1 now has uTorrent's apps originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
BitTorrent Inc's Mainline client (i.e. the one you can download from their homepage) now has the ability to use apps that, until now, were only usable with uTorrent. These apps allow you to augment your BitTorrent client much in the same way that Firefox add-ons or Chrome extensions alter your browser.
Built using JavaScript, HTML and CSS -- the same 'Open Web' technologies that Mozilla has been harping about -- these apps are free, and easily downloadable from within the new BitTorrent client. Having said that, only 11 apps are available at the moment (including the rather cute 'Torrent Tweet' and a BitDefender-powered virus scanner) -- and I'm not quite sure how developers go about having their apps indexed by the client's built-in search engine (which might be why there are only 11 apps...) Still, if you want to have a go at developing your own app, there's an official SDK and some tutorials to get you started.
I'm a little baffled by this feature coming to BitTorrent Mainline before uTorrent -- but perhaps BitTorrent Inc wants to try it out on Mainline's 'paltry' 14 million users before rolling it out to uTorrent's 60+ million users. Incidentally, if you're a uTorrent user, apps should find their way to a stable release before the end of the year.
[Direct BitTorrent 7.1 download link]BitTorrent Mainline 7.1 now has uTorrent's apps originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
This Doghouse Is Nicer Than Your House House [Doghouses]
It's one lucky pooch whose gets to live in this 2.5-meter tall replica of Matsumoto Castle, with one impressively handy owner. Won't you please join me on a guided tour? More »
T-Mobile's Grand Anti-Pot Text Blockade [Censorship]
T-Mobile is catching flak for abruptly banning its customers from receiving text updates from WeedMaps, an opt-in service that points you in the direction of the nearest legal medical marijuana dispensary. Does T-Mobile have the right to stifle legal smokers? More »
Daily Crunch: Other Metroids Edition
Listen To A Drawing With The Rec & Play Pens Very Clever: USB Porto Skitterbot Is A Creepy Electronic Cockroach Video: Move Over Tamagotchi, Here Comes Pet Robot U.bo Buy Metroid: Other M And Get $20 Off MotionPlus Bundle
Silicon carbide sensors developed for transmitting inside volcanos
There's one serious obstacle to volcano research: volcanos, like, shoot lava. Sure, you could aim a thermal camera at one from a safe distance, but where's the fun in that? On the other hand, researchers at Newcastle University are developing silicon carbide-based components for a device that they say will be able to withstand 900° Celsius temperatures -- just the thing to sense what's going on inside a volcano and transmit the info in real-time. Not only will this allow researchers to better understand conditions leading up to an eruption, it might also someday signal an eruption before it occurs. "At the moment we have no way of accurately monitoring the situation inside a volcano," says NU's Dr. Alton Horsfall. "With an estimated 500 million people living in the shadow of a volcano this is clearly not ideal." Since silicon carbide is more resistant to radiation than plain ol' silicon, the tech can also be used inside nuclear power plants or even as radiation sniffers in places that might face a terror attack.Silicon carbide sensors developed for transmitting inside volcanos originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 05:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | TG Daily | Email this | Comments
Daily Crunch: Retro Launcher Edition
The EPA?s Proposed Vehicle Window Stickers Give Cars A Letter Grade Video: Hello Kitty iPod/iPhone Speaker Dock Now On Sale In Japan: Hand-Knitted Super Mario Sweaters 2-Kilovolt Washer Launcher Makes The Greatest Noise Ever Retro City Rampage Will Have The Sweetest Swag At PAX
Should Schumacher quit in 2011? (Poll)
Speculation surrounds the future of Michael Schumacher in Formula 1. Officially, his contract at Mercedes runs on into 2011. But after a bruising comeback season, in which he’s been out-scored by team mate Nico Rosberg 112-46, will he want to? Pro The explanation for Schumacher’s difficulties this season begin with the shortcomings of the W01. [...]
BlackBerry Bold 9780 in the wild one more time, still looks exactly like a 9700
Look, we know that every new BlackBerry model is going to bear a striking resemblance to the model it replaces -- that's just how RIM does things -- but isn't this getting a little out of hand? The BlackBerry 6-equpped Bold 9780 has been leaked a few times at this point, but we're seeing it now for the first time totally unshackled from Mr. Blurrycam's surly bonds... and yeah, if you had any doubts as to whether it was a dead ringer for the 9700 it'll likely be replacing, you can put those doubts to rest. Of course, when you've got a keyboard as good as the Bold series does, sometimes it's best to leave well enough alone, we suppose -- just makes that lucrative early upgrade market a little tougher to tap.
[Thanks, Dion]BlackBerry Bold 9780 in the wild one more time, still looks exactly like a 9700 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 01:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | @Jon4Lakers (TwitPic) | Email this | Comments
[Thanks, Dion]BlackBerry Bold 9780 in the wild one more time, still looks exactly like a 9700 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 01:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | @Jon4Lakers (TwitPic) | Email this | Comments
Mail.com Media Sells Mail.com To United Internet Group
We've just learned that Jay Penske, the man behind Mail.com,�has sold off the email portal side of the business (Mail.com) to Germany's United Internet Group, in order to focus on the company's more content driven sites such as Nikki Finke's�Deadline.com, Bonnie Fuller's�HollywoodLife.com, Movieline.com and OnCars.com.
VLC For iPad Heralds A New, Friendlier App Store Era
Good news for people who think outside the iTunes box, multimedia player VLC hit the Apple store today, meaning you can now play AVI and Quicktime movies without having to convert them to iTunes first, and also meaning that the app will presumably be taking at least some eyeball traffic away from the iTunes store. Does this generous decision on behalf of Apple mean that the kinder gentle App store is here to stay?
Yes, the same app store that approved Google Voice, and Opera is now giving the thumbs up on an open source multimedia player, an odd reversal from the strict polices of the app store of yesteryear. On September 9th Apple released a series of guidelines making clear what is and isn't allowed ("no fart apps"), and told developers it would consider apps built using whatever languages they wanted including Flash and Java. And it looks like it's keeping it's word.
Yes, the same app store that approved Google Voice, and Opera is now giving the thumbs up on an open source multimedia player, an odd reversal from the strict polices of the app store of yesteryear. On September 9th Apple released a series of guidelines making clear what is and isn't allowed ("no fart apps"), and told developers it would consider apps built using whatever languages they wanted including Flash and Java. And it looks like it's keeping it's word.
CrunchGear Week in Review: Diving Bell Edition
Here are some of last week’s stories on CrunchGear: The Woogie: Why, God, Why? Egg-Bot Machine Threatens To Put The Bunny Out Of Business NES Coffee Table Is Both An NES And A Coffee Table Fact: CD Spindle Cases Make Excellent Bagel Sandwich Holders A Massive War Is Approaching As The Tablet Market Cannot Sustain [...]
YouTube begins trial of live streaming platform, crowd goes wild
Filed under: Internet, Video, GoogleFrom the oh dear Lord, it's about time department: YouTube, over the next two days, is conducting a trial of its new live streaming platform.
This first test will see live content streamed by four of its partners: Howcast, Next New Networks (Barely Political), Rocketboom and Young Hollywood. Admittedly I haven't heard of any of them -- and I'm more interested in watching the season finale of True Blood -- but looking at their channel pages, they all seem to be popular.
The test will run for two days, after which live streaming will presumably be rolled out to the unwashed masses. While I'm sure there'll be tons of user-generated content, I'm more interested in whether YouTube can strike up broadcast deals with real broadcasters. TV shows, live music, news... this could be massive.
The live broadcast schedule for today is below -- see if anything catches your eye!
YouTube begins trial of live streaming platform, crowd goes wild originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 04:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
This first test will see live content streamed by four of its partners: Howcast, Next New Networks (Barely Political), Rocketboom and Young Hollywood. Admittedly I haven't heard of any of them -- and I'm more interested in watching the season finale of True Blood -- but looking at their channel pages, they all seem to be popular.
The test will run for two days, after which live streaming will presumably be rolled out to the unwashed masses. While I'm sure there'll be tons of user-generated content, I'm more interested in whether YouTube can strike up broadcast deals with real broadcasters. TV shows, live music, news... this could be massive.
The live broadcast schedule for today is below -- see if anything catches your eye!
YouTube begins trial of live streaming platform, crowd goes wild originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 04:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Leaf's 80MP Camera Backs Are the Highest Resolution Yet [DigitalCameras]
Things are getting freaky over at Photokina, where Leaf's showing off their new Aptus-II 12 and Aptus-II12R digital camera backs. The price: $32,000. The pixels: 80 million, the most of any camera back to date. Good stocking stuffers. [PopPhoto] More »
Stevie Wonder Continues to Be Awesome In the Name of Copyright Sanity [Blockquote]
Normally, we couldn't think of anything more thrilling than a song dedicated to you by Stevie Wonder. Unless you're the World Intellectual Property Organization, and your policies are making it harder for the disabled to access and appreciate information. More »
Sony looking to hire Android game devs?
Remember when it broke that Sony might be working on a Playstation-branded Android 3.0 gaming phone? Well, it seems now that Sony is actively seeking game developers with Android experience, as seen from the job posting screen shot above. This could mean nothing, but my money is that Sony is looking to bolster it's internal game development teams with some Android mojo to ensure they have some launch titles for that Android 3.0 PSPhone. But, we will all just have to wait and see when (or if) this whole thing becomes official. [Sony via DroidGamers]Posted originally at Android CentralSponsored by Android Cases and Accessories
Official Etch-A-Sketch iPad Case Makes "Shake To Undo" More Obvious [Ipad]
Remember when the iPad first came out there were all those Etch-A-Sketch jokes? Now you can own the punchline for only $40. Sadly, the knobs do nothing. Even more sadly, the official Etch-A-Sketch app has iffy reviews. [GetAHeadCase.com] More »
Protect Your iPad With iShine Microfiber Sleeve
Every iPad owner understands the importance of keeping their device both protected and clean. It takes very little time for oil from your hands to build up on the iPad’s screen, leaving plenty of unwanted smudges. There is an affordable solution though thanks to the iShine Microfiber iPad Sleeve. The iShine Sleeve is a must [...]
What F1 Fanatics say about? Singapore
From looking at the comments left by F1 Fanatic readers who’ve been to the Singapore Grand Prix it’s clear this recent addition to the Formula 1 calendar is a popular one. If you’re going this year, or have ever thought about a trip to Singapore for the Grand Prix, find out what people who’ve been [...]
M�dek's DJ Table Will Have the Laydeez Requesting Even More Beyonce [DJ Equipment]
So you've got your decks, your MacBook and a few CDJs, but they're sat on a couple of beer crates—or a desk from IKEA, if you're lucky. $1,300 is a sound investment for your DJ skillz, surely? More »
Why Our Schools Suck, The Movie
Whether it?s this post or Oprah, today may be the first time you hear of the movie ?Waiting for Superman? but it won?t be the last. A flood of pissed-off parents, Charter Schools and reformers and deep-pocketed billionaires and millionaires will make sure of that.
But the other reason you?ll keep hearing about this documentary on the state of America?s public education system is that it?s just a really great documentary.
I?ve never quite understood how the public school system of the wealthiest country in the world--one where every President pledges to ?fix? education and one where education spending continually goes up--could be so intractably horrible. The problem seems too big, bloated, complex and confusing to even have a smart debate around, much less try to fix. Fortunately, since I'm not a parent, it?s an issue where I can just throw up my hands, assume any politician saying they?ll fix it is lying, and start saving for the private school I?ll one day need when I do have kids.
But the brilliance of ?Waiting for Superman? is in how it breaks the problem with education down into mostly one simple problem: Bad teachers can?t be fired, good teachers can?t get rewarded for being good, whether that?s promotions or merit-based raises.
But the other reason you?ll keep hearing about this documentary on the state of America?s public education system is that it?s just a really great documentary.
I?ve never quite understood how the public school system of the wealthiest country in the world--one where every President pledges to ?fix? education and one where education spending continually goes up--could be so intractably horrible. The problem seems too big, bloated, complex and confusing to even have a smart debate around, much less try to fix. Fortunately, since I'm not a parent, it?s an issue where I can just throw up my hands, assume any politician saying they?ll fix it is lying, and start saving for the private school I?ll one day need when I do have kids.
But the brilliance of ?Waiting for Superman? is in how it breaks the problem with education down into mostly one simple problem: Bad teachers can?t be fired, good teachers can?t get rewarded for being good, whether that?s promotions or merit-based raises.
DLS Review: My experience with the updated Grooveshark
Filed under: Audio, Utilities, Web services
I'm a long-time Grooveshark fan. I was a VIP subscriber for a few months, too, and I was generally impressed with the service. So naturally, when Lee told me yesterday that they've undergone a revamp, I was stoked.
There appears to be no post on Grooveshark's own blog covering the update, so I decided to take the service on a random spin and just cruise around the interface in order to look for some of the changes.
In case you're unfamiliar with Grooveshark, it's one of the coolest Internet radio services around. All-you-can-eat music, full albums, great quality, no audio ads - it's generally pretty kick-ass. However, I must admit that this current iteration left me somewhat ... underwhelmed. After the fold you can find a ton of screenshots showing some of the changes (and issues), as well as a widget that I made for you with a bunch of Ben Folds a cappella cover versions (just because I love you guys). So, ... here we go!At first, I tried to log on. I tried to use an incorrect username, and I got the following error message (with Chrome):
All I can say is that it's
pre
tty
inter
esting.
Finally, I recovered my login info and logged on with my normal account. Then, just about any new feature that I tried to use (i.e, fullscreen mode, crossfader) popped up this dialog:
So, yeah, it's great to be a VIP and everything, but I just wish that I could try out the VIP features for a limited time before paying. Alas, ... that is not to be. Still, at $3/month it's very affordable. Okay, so off I go to register for a VIP account.
Now, here's something I like: the typography on the registration form boasts epic proportions. It's seriously massive. Grooveshark's design is pretty slick, and something about using huge typography makes the whole form feel simpler. It's very nice.
Another cool thing about the form (and Grooveshark's policy) is that you can easily uncheck the box that says "Make subscription recurring." That's great, and it's something other monthly sites should really have. Grooveshark is confident enough that you'll like the service that they don't feel a need to automatically renew by force. I like the attitude.
Okay, so I fill in the simple form and submit it. At which point, I got this:
Yup! An "unexpected error!" It wasn't the "expected" error that I've come to know and like over the years. This one's totally unexpected, and what's more -- it's apparently inexplicable, too. I tried a couple more times. I suspect that it has something to do with my bank refusing to authorize the $3 for some reason (which is a matter for another post, really), but that's just my speculation. At this point, I actually got a friend to pay for the service (!), and then it worked. It's a good thing that they have that "non-recurring subscription" box.
Alright, so now I was finally a Premium member, and I set out to discover what insanely cool things Grooveshark had in store for me. Here's one of the features that I was unable to use before: the crossfader. Clicking this button adds a nice, leisurely crossfade effect between songs. Even when I added a new song to play immediately, the last song did not cut off; it elegantly faded away while the new song started playing. It's not a three-second crossfade, either, and you can't configure the duration (this isn't Foobar2000, after all). It feels more like a five or seven-second crossfade.
The other major new feature (for Premium members only!) is the full-screen mode. I was actually so disappointed with this one that I had to take three different screenshots just to show you that it's not a coincidence. First, let's start with the "CoverFlow" mode, which is the first view that pops up when you go to full-screen:
As you can see, most of the songs in my playlist did not have album art, which is fine, and I don't completely fault Grooveshark for it. But this mode is the default -- it's always the first one you see, and many of the tracks on the service don't come with album art. If you can see past the non-images, when you try scrolling, you'll find out how un-CoverFlow this thing is. The scroll feels jumpy and jagged, and there's no zooming or flipping whatsoever. I've seen smoother scrolling created in JavaScript, much less in Flash. It was very, very meh.
Disappointed, I switched to the next mode. This is a "vis" (music visualization). This first one is called Spores. As a vis, it's okay looking, but it's tiny. I don't have a huge screen; it's a 22" wide-screen monitor, and the visualization took up a tiny space in the middle. I took a screenshot of the whole screen so that you could see what it looks like. What's the point of a full-screen mode if you have to squint to see anything?
I thought maybe it was the music I was listening to. Maybe Ben Folds doesn't have what it takes to make the Spores dance wildly all over the monitor. Okay, so I tried another visualization. This one's called Electric Fadeout, and here you can really see that the app simply doesn't use your monitor. I mean, there's a "window" in the middle of the screen, and that's it. It's not a large window, either. And this is a VIP feature that I was unable to see before subscribing. That's rather on the lame side.
On with the tour! This is the Community feature; it lets you follow people and see what they're playing. You can also see who's following you. It's actually very nice, especially since you can subscribe to people's playlists.
Once you have a playlist up on the screen, there's a live-search bar at the upper-right corner. Live search works very well. It's super-fast, and it does exactly what you expect it to (narrow the list down according to your criteria). It filters by artist, album, and track name, so entering "yo" gave me both a Yo La Tengo track called "Green Arrow" and a track by Guitar called "Tokyo."
Multiple selection is another nice feature (possibly new). You can select multiple contiguous songs with Shift or specific songs by Ctrl. You can then add all selected songs to your playlists, share them, like them, etc.
Here's another handy improvement: The Radio feature is easier to spot now. I tried the Bluegrass radio, and it's quite neat (if you happen to like Bluegrass, which I do). They put it on the bottom-right toolbar, so you really can't miss it.
The song progress bar now has five different sharing buttons: email, widget, Facebook, StumbleUpon, and Twitter. One amusing UI quirk is that the panel keeps moving as the song is playing, so you have to chase it with your mouse to click whatever sharing option you want. Amusing, but it might get old after a while.
You can also share any track on the search results/playlist page using its menu. This doesn't involve chasing any UI element with your mouse, and it's really quite straightforward. The Friends option provides you with a direct URL for the song (on Grooveshark, sadly, rather than on the much cooler, Grooveshark-powered tinysong) as well as an email form. You also get Widget, Twitter, Facebook, and StumbleUpon buttons, even though there are already menu entries for Facebook and Twitter.
Alright, that's it for now! The main reasons for upgrading to VIP are supporting the service itself and making the banners disappear. Don't expect too much from the VIP-only features (unless you really like crossfading your music).
And last but certainly not least, I present you with a respectable collection of a cappella cover versions for Ben Folds classics. It's awesome stuff! Just hit play, leave this tab open, and move on with your day.
DLS Review: My experience with the updated Grooveshark originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 12 Sep 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
I'm a long-time Grooveshark fan. I was a VIP subscriber for a few months, too, and I was generally impressed with the service. So naturally, when Lee told me yesterday that they've undergone a revamp, I was stoked.
There appears to be no post on Grooveshark's own blog covering the update, so I decided to take the service on a random spin and just cruise around the interface in order to look for some of the changes.
In case you're unfamiliar with Grooveshark, it's one of the coolest Internet radio services around. All-you-can-eat music, full albums, great quality, no audio ads - it's generally pretty kick-ass. However, I must admit that this current iteration left me somewhat ... underwhelmed. After the fold you can find a ton of screenshots showing some of the changes (and issues), as well as a widget that I made for you with a bunch of Ben Folds a cappella cover versions (just because I love you guys). So, ... here we go!At first, I tried to log on. I tried to use an incorrect username, and I got the following error message (with Chrome):
All I can say is that it's
pre
tty
inter
esting.
Finally, I recovered my login info and logged on with my normal account. Then, just about any new feature that I tried to use (i.e, fullscreen mode, crossfader) popped up this dialog:
So, yeah, it's great to be a VIP and everything, but I just wish that I could try out the VIP features for a limited time before paying. Alas, ... that is not to be. Still, at $3/month it's very affordable. Okay, so off I go to register for a VIP account.
Now, here's something I like: the typography on the registration form boasts epic proportions. It's seriously massive. Grooveshark's design is pretty slick, and something about using huge typography makes the whole form feel simpler. It's very nice.
Another cool thing about the form (and Grooveshark's policy) is that you can easily uncheck the box that says "Make subscription recurring." That's great, and it's something other monthly sites should really have. Grooveshark is confident enough that you'll like the service that they don't feel a need to automatically renew by force. I like the attitude.
Okay, so I fill in the simple form and submit it. At which point, I got this:
Yup! An "unexpected error!" It wasn't the "expected" error that I've come to know and like over the years. This one's totally unexpected, and what's more -- it's apparently inexplicable, too. I tried a couple more times. I suspect that it has something to do with my bank refusing to authorize the $3 for some reason (which is a matter for another post, really), but that's just my speculation. At this point, I actually got a friend to pay for the service (!), and then it worked. It's a good thing that they have that "non-recurring subscription" box.
Alright, so now I was finally a Premium member, and I set out to discover what insanely cool things Grooveshark had in store for me. Here's one of the features that I was unable to use before: the crossfader. Clicking this button adds a nice, leisurely crossfade effect between songs. Even when I added a new song to play immediately, the last song did not cut off; it elegantly faded away while the new song started playing. It's not a three-second crossfade, either, and you can't configure the duration (this isn't Foobar2000, after all). It feels more like a five or seven-second crossfade.
The other major new feature (for Premium members only!) is the full-screen mode. I was actually so disappointed with this one that I had to take three different screenshots just to show you that it's not a coincidence. First, let's start with the "CoverFlow" mode, which is the first view that pops up when you go to full-screen:
As you can see, most of the songs in my playlist did not have album art, which is fine, and I don't completely fault Grooveshark for it. But this mode is the default -- it's always the first one you see, and many of the tracks on the service don't come with album art. If you can see past the non-images, when you try scrolling, you'll find out how un-CoverFlow this thing is. The scroll feels jumpy and jagged, and there's no zooming or flipping whatsoever. I've seen smoother scrolling created in JavaScript, much less in Flash. It was very, very meh.
Disappointed, I switched to the next mode. This is a "vis" (music visualization). This first one is called Spores. As a vis, it's okay looking, but it's tiny. I don't have a huge screen; it's a 22" wide-screen monitor, and the visualization took up a tiny space in the middle. I took a screenshot of the whole screen so that you could see what it looks like. What's the point of a full-screen mode if you have to squint to see anything?
I thought maybe it was the music I was listening to. Maybe Ben Folds doesn't have what it takes to make the Spores dance wildly all over the monitor. Okay, so I tried another visualization. This one's called Electric Fadeout, and here you can really see that the app simply doesn't use your monitor. I mean, there's a "window" in the middle of the screen, and that's it. It's not a large window, either. And this is a VIP feature that I was unable to see before subscribing. That's rather on the lame side.
On with the tour! This is the Community feature; it lets you follow people and see what they're playing. You can also see who's following you. It's actually very nice, especially since you can subscribe to people's playlists.
Once you have a playlist up on the screen, there's a live-search bar at the upper-right corner. Live search works very well. It's super-fast, and it does exactly what you expect it to (narrow the list down according to your criteria). It filters by artist, album, and track name, so entering "yo" gave me both a Yo La Tengo track called "Green Arrow" and a track by Guitar called "Tokyo."
Multiple selection is another nice feature (possibly new). You can select multiple contiguous songs with Shift or specific songs by Ctrl. You can then add all selected songs to your playlists, share them, like them, etc.
Here's another handy improvement: The Radio feature is easier to spot now. I tried the Bluegrass radio, and it's quite neat (if you happen to like Bluegrass, which I do). They put it on the bottom-right toolbar, so you really can't miss it.
The song progress bar now has five different sharing buttons: email, widget, Facebook, StumbleUpon, and Twitter. One amusing UI quirk is that the panel keeps moving as the song is playing, so you have to chase it with your mouse to click whatever sharing option you want. Amusing, but it might get old after a while.
You can also share any track on the search results/playlist page using its menu. This doesn't involve chasing any UI element with your mouse, and it's really quite straightforward. The Friends option provides you with a direct URL for the song (on Grooveshark, sadly, rather than on the much cooler, Grooveshark-powered tinysong) as well as an email form. You also get Widget, Twitter, Facebook, and StumbleUpon buttons, even though there are already menu entries for Facebook and Twitter.
Alright, that's it for now! The main reasons for upgrading to VIP are supporting the service itself and making the banners disappear. Don't expect too much from the VIP-only features (unless you really like crossfading your music).
And last but certainly not least, I present you with a respectable collection of a cappella cover versions for Ben Folds classics. It's awesome stuff! Just hit play, leave this tab open, and move on with your day.
DLS Review: My experience with the updated Grooveshark originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 12 Sep 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
LG Optimus One may be headed to Verizon as the Vortex
It was just a week ago that LG announced the Optimus One and the Optimus Chic, and it looks like the former might be headed to Verizon as the Vortex. That's according to this image handed to the Droid Guy. The picture doesn't give much away, but the rumored specs are a 3.2-inch touchscreen and a 600 MHz processor (and the usual sundries you'd expect on any phone these days). So that'd make it mid-level phone, along the lines of the Optimus One. So that's that. It's good to see at least one more player in the U.S. market, but we'd still much rather see one of its high-end phones, like the Optimus Chic, or the Optimus Z, which we reviewed previously. But we'll take what we can get, we reckon, and just keep our fingers crossed that something untoward doesn't happen to what may be an otherwise decent mid-level Android phone. [The Droid Guy] Thanks, Paul.Posted originally at Android CentralSponsored by Android Cases and Accessories
40 Years Ago, Robots Started Doing Our Dirty Work For Us In Space [Techversaries]
Earthlings had scored moon rocks before 1970. NASA's Apollo 11 and 12 missions successfully hauled them back to study—immense scientific accomplishments, of course. One problem. It cost $142 billion in today's dollars. Russia's solution? Send a robot instead. More »
New BMWs To Sport Apple Interface, iPad And iPod Out Integration
The Paris Motor show is going on now. The usual car unveilings are a given, but also the shows are becoming a place for automakers to showcase and release exciting new tech. Take BMW for example, they are known around the globe for making the ?ultimate driving machines.? Now, they are entering the realm of being the ultimate connectivity machine.
Updated: VLC for iPad hits iTunes App Store
VLC for iPad has hit the iTunes App Store, bringing with it support for a far wider ranger of video and audio formats than are natively supported by Apple.
They don’t state exactly which formats are supported by VLC though we’re guessing those AVI and MKV files so popular on the internet will be among them.
[...]Updated: VLC for iPad hits iTunes App Store is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store. TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog
They don’t state exactly which formats are supported by VLC though we’re guessing those AVI and MKV files so popular on the internet will be among them.
[...]Updated: VLC for iPad hits iTunes App Store is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store. TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog
Gears of Bender [Image Cache]
At first I thought this just was pretty great Futurama - Gears of War mash-up Then Jason told me the same guy provided the voice for both Bender and Marcus Fenix, and my world collapsed in on itself. More »
Best of Smartphone Experts, 19 Sept 2010
Samsung Galaxy Tab/Media Hub event: Coming to all 4 major U.S. carriers; Wifi-only Galaxy Tab is coming; [...]Best of Smartphone Experts, 19 Sept 2010 is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store. TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog
Verizon Fivespot mobile hotspot launch materials hitting stores
Well well, what's this? We haven't heard much about the Verizon Fivespot global mobile hotspot since we saw it hit the FCC after first leaking out in July, but it certainly seems like it's about to get official -- we just got this shot of Verizon's "launch kit" for retail outlets. No word on when it'll actually hit, but it's bound to be soon -- and if Verizon sells this thing cheap with some of those new prepaid data plans it's going to be awfully hard to resist.
[Thanks, Wildkat]Verizon Fivespot mobile hotspot launch materials hitting stores originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 14:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
[Thanks, Wildkat]Verizon Fivespot mobile hotspot launch materials hitting stores originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 14:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
How the iPhone Helped a Blind Person See Color [Stories]
"I have seen a lot of technology for the blind, and I can safely say that the iPhone represents the most revolutionary thing to happen to the blind for at least the last ten years." More »
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