SKA radio telescope to pump out more data than the internet in 2020, spot ALF before he lands
July 12, 2011 No Comment
Unfortunately for Desmond Dekker fans, this SKA telescope has nothing to do with the Jamaican music sensation. No, the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) radio telescope has much more otherworldly concerns, and according to the director of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR), Peter Quinn, it should have the internet beat in terms of data when it goes online in 2020. The telescope, which will end up in either Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa, is aimed at searching for Earth-like planets, extraterrestrial life, dark matter, and black holes, and will require a central supercomputer with “the processing power of one billion PCs.” What’s more, it is expected to be 10,000 times more powerful than any telescope in existence and “generate the same amount of data in a day as the entire planet does in a year. ” We say anything that gets us closer to having our very own hairy, Hawaiian-shirt sporting alien on hand is well worth the $2.1 billion it will cost to create. Willy! SKA radio telescope to pump out more data than the internet in 2020, spot ALF before he lands originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 19:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …
Earlier today, AT&T announced that the HP TouchPad is coming to its 4G network, complete with a processor bump to 1.5GHz (up from 1.2GHz) and an HSPA+ radio. The carrier wasted no time getting its latest slate out in the public, showing it off at an event in NYC this afternoon. There aren’t any cosmetic changes to speak of, but that faster connectivity and notable processor boost are certainly nothing to shrug at. We had a chance to see the tablet in action, and it performed fairly well, especially considering the poor connectivity environment AT&T selected to host its event. Jump past the break to see it in action in our hands-on video, or check out our full review of HP’s slower, WiFi-only TouchPad. Gallery: HP TouchPad 4G for AT&T hands-on Continue reading HP TouchPad 4G for AT&T hands-on (video) HP TouchPad 4G for AT&T hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 17:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Ramona Fricosu case to determine if decrypted laptop files are safe under Fifth Amendment
July 12, 2011 No Comment
So far, we’ve pretty much decided that the Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution covers those zany thoughts within your skull. But when it comes to more tangible things, it’s hardly as clear. In the past, convicted persons have been forced to cough up keys to what eventually becomes evidence, and in the case of one Ramona Fricosu, the US Department of Justice is assuming that a computer passphrase is no different. But that assumption is causing shock waves throughout the tech community, as the decrypting of one’s laptop files is arguably causing someone to become a “witness against himself.” Of note, no one’s asking that Ramona actually hand over the password per se , but even typing in the unlock code while not being watched results in effectively the same conclusion. The San Francisco-based Electronic Frontier Foundation is clearly taking a stance against the proposal, noting that this type of situation is exactly one that the Fifth was designed to protect. Only time will tell if Fricosu’s offered immunity as a token for complying, but the precedents that are set here are apt to be felt for decades to come. Tap that CNET link for an in-depth report. Ramona Fricosu case to determine if decrypted laptop files are safe under Fifth Amendment originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 17:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …
Apple has proven, time and time again, that it is not shy about dragging its competitors before the ITC over patent disputes. And, while its fellow smartphone makers have never held back from defending themselves, HTC’s general counsel Grace Lei had some particularly pointed words for Jobs and co. regarding Cupertino’s latest volley of suits . In a statement Lei said that, “HTC is disappointed at Apple’s constant attempts at litigations instead of competing fairly in the market.” This is the second time Apple has attempted to block the import of devices from the Taiwanese manufacturer, and the purveyors of all things i are also currently on the offensive against Samsung , GetJar, and Amazon in patent and trademark disputes. At this rate the company is probably spending almost as much on legal fees as it is engineers and designers tasked with whipping up its next generation of mobile products. HTC tells Apple to try competing, rather than suing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 16:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …
Did you hear? Now you don’t have to strain to eavesdrop on your colleagues who are gabbing in the break room. The website Office Leaks provides workers nationwide a virtual haven to anonymously discuss the ups and downs of their jobs. Most of the posts, organized by company, are private and can only be accessed
Continue reading …Microsoft unveils new Windows Phone 7 Mango handsets from Samsung, Acer, Fujitsu and ZTE
July 12, 2011 No Comment
Generally Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference is a relatively low key affair, but today it caught a few in the tech world off guard by unveiling not one or two, but four new Windows Phone 7 handsets running Mango. Acer and ZTE both have models on tap, as does Fujitsu — which slathered its mobile in pink and gave it a waterproof seal. The biggest news though was Samsung. Microsoft pulled out what is believed to be the SGH-i937 , a version of the Galaxy S II that sports the Redmond mobile OS instead of Android. From the screen cap above it appears as if the phone is sporting a front-facing camera, something that has been missing from WP7 handset until now and is rumored to be supported in Mango. It’s only a brief glimpse but you can catch it in the video after the break. [Thanks, Simon] Continue reading Microsoft unveils new Windows Phone 7 Mango handsets from Samsung, Acer, Fujitsu and ZTE Microsoft unveils new Windows Phone 7 Mango handsets from Samsung, Acer, Fujitsu and ZTE originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 15:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Transparent graphene speakers printed with inkjets, lo-fi musical windows are on their way
July 12, 2011 No Comment
Add that magical material known as graphene to the list of things you can make with inkjet printers alongside OLEDs , solar panels , and light-bending metamaterials . Scientists at the Seoul National University used printers and a technique known as vapor deposition to leave a thin film of the graphite-based conductor on sheets of PVDF (poly vinylidene fluoride). By sandwiching the the PVDF between graphene electrodes and applying a current from a sound source researchers were able to create a flat and transparent loudspeaker that could be integrated into windows or screens. Don’t expect this low-power sound source to replace your hi-fi though — since it relies on the distortion-prone piezoelectric effect, it probably won’t sound much better than the earpiece on your cellphone. Transparent graphene speakers printed with inkjets, lo-fi musical windows are on their way originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 13:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …
Remember when Google acquired Slide way back in 2010? A year after coasting smoothly down the chute into Mountain View , the social gaming company has finally begun to make a splash, launching Prizes (beta) last week, and now teasing Photovine, a social networking app that lets you connect with people through photo-driven themes. You could participate in a vine about your crazy weekend at the lake, join other users in a thread of kitten shots, or share unboxing pics of a new gadget while comparing regional discrepancies with users from around the world. For now, Photovine is little more than an amateurish three-page website with a brief FAQ and a somewhat-hidden reference to Slide and Google, but the service’s objective seems to be on-point, and it has potential to attract a diverse group of users. We look forward to watching the vine bud and grow after its yet-to-be-announced public launch, but head over to the source link for a more detailed look in the meantime. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] Google teases Photovine, slides back into image sharing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 11:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …
It looks like the BlackBerry Bold 9930 just finagled its way through the FCC, indicating the touchscreen, portrait QWERTY handset may be nearing release. This globe-trotting sibling of the 9900 comes packing a dual-band CDMA radio and a quad-band GSM tuner — in addition to the standard WiFi and Bluetooth antennae, and the increasingly popular NFC. Of course, being an FCC filing in which most identifying information has been removed, this is a bit of a guessing game. But, judging by the radios on board and the sketch of the label placement, it sure seems like the BlackBerry 7 OS -toting 9930 to us. BlackBerry Bold 9930 blows through the FCC, GSM and CDMA on board originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …AT&T shipping HSPA+ / LTE USBConnect Momentum 4G and Elevate 4G this summer
July 12, 2011 No Comment
So, summertime it is. Not only is the livin’ e-zee , but staying connected at an even higher rate of speed should be as well for those situated on Ma Bell’s network. AT&T has just confirmed that a duo of HSPA + / LTE WWAN devices will be shipping within the next few months, with the USBConnect Momentum 4G offering plug-and-play access to both high-speed networks and the Mobile Hotspot Elevate 4G acting as a liaison for up to five nearby WiFi devices. The former is nothing more than a rebranded Sierra Wireless AirCard 313U — the same oversized (and we mean oversized ) device that launched on Rogers’ own LTE network just days ago in Canada. Aside from being large enough to double as a cricket bat, the dongle features a microSD card slot, works with Mac and PC platforms and supports roaming in over 200 nations — not that you’ll be silly enough to actually take advantage, though. Moreover, those using the card will get gratis access to AT&T’s growing WiFi network if using a post-paid data plan. Moving on, the carrier’s first 4G LTE mobile hotspot device (yeah, that’d be the AT&T Mobile Hotspot Elevate 4G) will include a 1.77-inch display for showing just how few megabytes you have left on your plan, support for five simultaneous connections and the ability to seamlessly hop between HSPA+ and LTE. AT&T will begin selling the AT&T USBConnect Momentum 4G for $49.99 with two-year contract after a $50 mail-in-rebate, while the Mobile Hotspot Elevate 4G will be available for $69.99 with a similar deal. The company’s not going any further than stating a “summer” ship date, and despite our pleading, we can’t get anything more solid out of ‘em. Naturally, it’ll be folks in Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Atlanta and San Antonio enjoying the LTE spoils first, with ten more cities to be blessed by the end of the year. Too bad it’s still not saying what kind of scratch will be required on a month-to-month basis. Continue reading AT&T shipping HSPA+ / LTE USBConnect Momentum 4G and Elevate 4G this summer AT&T shipping HSPA+ / LTE USBConnect Momentum 4G and Elevate 4G this summer originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 09:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …