We know how Mozilla must feel. It spends every waking hour tweaking and perfecting Firefox to eek out as much performance as possible, only to see it all ruined by lousy add-ons that weigh the browser down like a block of cement. It’s apparently now had enough, however, and has gone as far as to publish a list that exposes the worst offenders. As of this writing, the two biggest drags on the browser by far are the FoxLingo translator / dictionary and Firebug developer tool add-on which, according to Mozilla, each make the browser 74 percent slower to start up. That list is just part of a broader crackdown on poor performing add-ons. Mozilla says it’s also instituting automated performance testing of the top 100 add-ons in its gallery, and that it will begin reaching out to developers directly to get them to improve performance (and even provide them with some new tools to help out). Hit up the link below to see how some of your favorite add-ons stack up. Mozilla shames developers with list of slow performing Firefox add-ons originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 23:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Well look here! You can have your cake and eat it too — and by cake we mean that landscape QWERTY smartphone known as the Nokia E7 . The latest and greatest (?) Communicator has caught up with its European twin and is shipping unlocked and contract-free from Amazon right now. It can be yours for $649, which is somewhat cheaper than the $679 pre-order price we mentioned last month. This buys you a 4-inch 640×360 ClearBlack AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, an 8 megapixel EDoF camera with dual-LED flash, a pentaband 3G radio, and the coolest hinge mechanism on the block. So visit the source link, and get your Symbian on. [Thanks, Andrew] Nokia E7 now shipping from Amazon for $649 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 00:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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As souvenirs go, a miniature replica of yourself — striking a pose of your choosing on Barcelona’s La Rambla street — is a far sight more original than a bullfights-and-senoritas snow globe. This past January, the hilariously titled BlablabLAB enlisted three Kinects and a RepRap machine to snap passersby and render them into personalized tchotchkes, in a project called Be Your Own Souvenir. Subjects stood atop a small platform, mimicking the human statues on La Rambla, as the Kinects captured their likeness in full 360-degree glory. The resulting images were then processed as a mesh reconstruction, saved as a G-code file, and then fed through a 3D printer — and voila, out popped the tiny statuettes. If you’re a fan of flashy editing and Kinect-based street experiments, check out the video after the break. Continue reading Kinect hack turns tourists into 3D souvenirs (video) Kinect hack turns tourists into 3D souvenirs (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 19:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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We’ve seen still photos shot in the round , but wouldn’t it be nice to snag some panoramic moving pictures every once in a while too? Well, the folks at EyeSee360 certainly think so, which is why they’ve given the iPhone 4 some 360-degree video recording capability with the GoPano Micro. Comprised of a plastic case for your handset, a detachable 360-degree lens, and a GoPano app, the system lets iPhone fanboys do a circular pan with the swipe of a finger. That put you in the moviemaking mood? Well, you can’t get your hands on one just yet, but the venture has already reached its $20,000 funding goal, so those willing to invest $50 can head over to Kickstarter to reserve one of the first GoPano Micros off the production line. Before plunking down your hard-earned cash, however, check out all the full-circumference cinematic fun after the break. Continue reading GoPano Micro brings 360-degree video recording to the iPhone 4 (video) GoPano Micro brings 360-degree video recording to the iPhone 4 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 22:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Toshiba shows off 2011 HDTVs with the most local dimming LEDs, facial recognition, 3D and more
April 5, 2011 No Comment
Toshiba’s focus at CES was glasses free 3D displays , but it highlighted more conventional HDTVs today at an event in Rome. Its new TVs and laptops all tie in to Toshiba Places , which sorts out access to different types of apps for video, social networking, music and other areas and is ready to launch this month. Separating Toshiba from the competition is a slew of new technology and the top of the line 55ZL1 model checks all the boxes: Seven core CEVO CPU for image processing, a Pro-LED512 panel that is the world’s first with 512 zones of dimming among 3,072 LEDs, Personal-TV facial recognition that picks up on which user is watching then personalizes to their preferred settings and active shutter 3D glasses. The edge lit LED VL863 series will come in 47- and 42-inch versions featuring LG’s FPR passive glasses 3D and four pairs of glasses, while the 32- through 46-inch UL863 drops 3D for built-in WiFi and Personal-TV. The SL863 series is the final step down, nixing built-in WiFi. Prices weren’t listed but the new models should be shipping soon, until then you can find more details in the press releases linked below — no word on the US-bound models yet. Toshiba shows off 2011 HDTVs with the most local dimming LEDs, facial recognition, 3D and more originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 21:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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It ain’t a mind-bending concept, but the Keyport Slide solves a problem that far too many humans have. Put simply, this multi-key tool allows users to store both key imprints and digital files in a single device, and for those on the hunt for something to match their Sunday best… well, look no further. The outfit has just introduced a foursome of new Slide colors: Gunmetal, Zircon Gold, Copper, and Champagne. Starter bundles are still listed at $79, and if you believe the outfit’s CEO, there’s “much more on the horizon.” You know, like the initial shipments of its $10 Mini-LED , which was also revealed today. Tap that source link if you’re gushing with joy (and we know you are). Continue reading Keyport ships Mini-LED, offers Slide in four splendiferous new hues Keyport ships Mini-LED, offers Slide in four splendiferous new hues originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 20:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Seven months ago, Motorola unveiled a dual-sided, QWERTY-laden TV remote control: the NYXboard . It was never heard from again. Today, we’ve learned why — the open-source community will be selling a version specially redesigned to control your XBMC rig. The folks behind the Xbox Media Center tell us they actually talked Motorola out of bundling the remote with set-top-boxes in favor of their nefarious plan, which means you’ll be able to buy an IR and RF remote that natively supports XBMC for a penny under $60 this June. While we don’t have any real pictures of the unit quite yet — just the renders you see above and below — developers say it will work with installations on Mac, Windows, Linux and the original Apple TV on day one, and will actually turn off the side of the remote that’s face down to avoid accidental inputs thanks to a inbuilt motion sensor. You’ll find the NYXboard up for pre-order now at our source link, with the first shipments slated for around June 27th. Then again, you might want to wait, as we’re told there are more surprises in store: a second version that can control the Apple TV 2 , and a secret method which would allow the remotes to control your home entertainment center without pesky line-of-sight infrared . The best laid plans and all that… but it sounds like Logitech’s Harmony may finally get some competition. Gallery: Motorola NYXboard Hybrid renders Motorola NYXboard surfaces from the dead, XBMC reclaims it originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 19:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Sir Richard Branson may have already branded his Necker Nymph aero submarine with the “Virgin Oceanic” moniker, but he’s now finally taken things to the next logical (and ambitious) step. He’s just announced a new, full-fledged venture of the same name, which promises to do to nothing short of dive to the deepest part of each of the Earth’s five oceans — all within the next two years, no less. That will be done with the one-manned sub pictured above, which was designed by Graham Hawkes and will be piloted by Chris Welsh on its first dive to the bottom of the Mariana Trench later this year — those two are Branson’s partners in the venture, and Branson himself is set to pilot the sub on its second mission to the Puerto Rico Trench. Not surprisingly, one of the team’s goals is to set a few world records, but they’re also planning to conduct some scientific research along the way, and are already musing about future vehicles that could collect samples and allow for more extensive research. Head on past the break for a teaser video, although we’re told it should not be assumed to reflect an actual mission. Continue reading Richard Branson launches Virgin Oceanic to explore the ocean’s depths Richard Branson launches Virgin Oceanic to explore the ocean’s depths originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 17:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Tired of apps always getting in the way of your ads? There’s an app for that. Apple releases iAd Gallery app: all ads, all the time originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Engadget interviews Dwyane Wade: the technology behind the Fly Wade (video)
April 5, 2011 No Comment
It’s not all that difficult to peer at some gadgets without fully understanding the wizardry and magic that assists in driving them from concept to reality. It’s always enjoyable seeing teardowns of our favorite gadgets that reveal working internals and appreciate a nice helping of factual heat, but did shoes ever cross your noggin as being technologically eye-opening? Sure, a few pairs of kicks have caught our attention over the years, but could a pair of sneakers be more than just that? We dug deep into our soles to answer that question, with help from a certain someone who now shares his court with a certain someone else who brought his talents to South Beach. If you’re interested in becoming familiar with the Fly Wade, head past the break to allow Dwyane Wade , designer Mark Smith and ourselves to introduce your brain to the latest in shoe technology. Gallery: Engadget interviews Dwyane Wade: the technology behind the Fly Wade Continue reading Engadget interviews Dwyane Wade: the technology behind the Fly Wade (video) Engadget interviews Dwyane Wade: the technology behind the Fly Wade (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 15:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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