Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Withycombe
Monday, October 29, 2012
iPhone Tips and Tricks That Are Easy to Do and Set Up
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Withycombe
Sunday, October 28, 2012
How cell phone cameras ruin real moments
On a recent episode of Leo Laporte’s podcast This Week in Tech, panelist Dwight Silverman spoke briefly about a concert featuring David Byrne and St. Vincent. Prior to the performance, Byrne told the audience that smartphone photography was encouraged, but that they should put down their iPads.
As anyone who has ever seen a 10-inch screen held aloft in a concert can attest, iPads can be a severe distraction, making Byrne prescient as ever. However, I don’t think he goes far enough. As great as ubiquitous camera access is, we might all be better off if we used our camera phones less often. Here’s why – whether you’re at a concert or just out for a walk in the woods.
It distracts others
Getting close to one of our favorite performers can make us want to document that experience. But no one wants an iPad screen blocking their view. Concerts are best enjoyed when there is little inhibiting the interaction between performers and audience. An iPad between you and the performer on stage will be a significant impediment to appreciating a performance. Bravo, David Byrne, for dissuading the inconsiderate from ruining things for the rest of the audience.
I would actually encourage him to go further, and ban all mobile devices. Phones may not be as large a disruption as a tablet, but they are a distraction nonetheless. Plus, where do you draw the line? “Phablets” like the 5.5-inch Samsung Galaxy Note 2 make the distinction so difficult, it would be far better to simply ban them all.
It distracts you
Not only is shooting video at a performance going to distract others, it will distract you as well.
Shooting video also prevents you from physically engaging with the performance. If you go see The Hives, you will want to dance or jump around far more than you will want to have a camera in your hands. Trust me.
Audio is better
Nobody wants to see that grainy cell-phone video that you shot from the 40th row. Bootlegging communities for bands like Phish and The Grateful Dead indicate that someone may want to hear an audio recording, though. In that case, you will need better microphones than those in your smart phone.
his can add a lot of overhead, and most non-photographers don’t have good workflows to get it done. For example: Why do I have a photo of the last pork tenderloin sandwich I had when last in Indiana? There was no reason to take it in the first place. Now it is a useless piece of digital clutter. Plus, it made my phone greasy when I took it, and now I really want a pork tenderloin sandwich — both big negatives.
It makes us worse people
Yes, your friend’s compound fracture is fascinating in a horrifying sort of way, but I might be better off if I didn’t have opportunities to see things like that online. There would be a lot less fodder for /r/wtf (not to mention even less-savory sub-Reddits) if we didn’t all have decent-quality phones in our pockets. And that’s to say nothing of the feelings of the injured party.
We may be at our very worst as a species when we’re rubber-necking for a longer glance at the suffering of others. Ubiquitous camera access feeds this behavior directly, as we take more time to get photos and personally appreciate them later, and vicariously, as we encourage others to enjoy another’s pain with us. Sites like Reddit make this even worse, as the most gruesome injuries will also be rewarded with viral attention.
If we were more restrained with our camera phones, perhaps there would be a little less celebration of the terrible things around us.
Conclusion
David Byrne would never get away with banning cell phones from his performances. The uproar would be too great. This one has to be on us.
The next time you are at a concert, put down the camera phone. Focus more on the performance and you might just enjoy it more. If you are hiking or camping, leave your phone in your pocket. Don’t miss the point of the whole endeavor. And, for goodness sake, if you happen to be at the scene of an injury, accident, or tragedy, have some decency and don’t snap a shot to share online. We might just all be better off.
Source: http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/stop-instagramming-and-get-a-life-how-cell-phone-cameras-ruin-real-moments/#ixzz2AcBsf2LU
Apple’s Phil Schiller on the State of the Mac
But this newsiest of tech news weeks also turns out to be a reasonably significant one for the Mac. Much of Apple’s Tuesday event was devoted to new models, including a substantial overhaul of the 13″ MacBook Pro with a Retina display, two absurdly thin new iMacs and an updated Mac Mini.
The profusion of new models was good news for Mac fans who have been known to fret that the Mac is being neglected as the iPhone and iPad become ever more important to Apple’s bottom line and future.
As usual, Apple teed off its announcements with happy recent stats. I was aware that the Mac has outpaced the rest of the PC industry in sales growth for years, but I didn’t know that the MacBook is the best-selling notebook line in the U.S., and the iMac is the best-selling desktop. Those achievements are more evidence that Apple’s Mac strategy — build premium machines, sell them profitably and don’t obsess over market share — doesn’t mean that it can’t end up with impressive market share anyhow.
Getty Images
After the Tuesday presentation, I sat down with Apple Senior VP of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller, who did the presenting of new models on Tuesday, and chatted with him about today’s Macs, and how they got that way.
I began by asking him about the streamlining of Mac hardware that’s been going on for years now. Apple has put its computers into unibody cases, sealed in the batteries, removed the optical drives, dumped hard disks when possible and either shrunk or eliminated many once-standard connectors. Rather than adding new features with abandon, as tech companies usually do, it’s whittled the Mac down to its elegant essence.
Many of these changes have been controversial, at least briefly, at least among some observers. But they don’t seem to have hurt Mac sales. What was the overarching strategy, I asked?
“This is what Apple has always been about, and the Mac has been about, from the first Mac and first iMac,” Schiller said. “It’s always been about making the best Mac we know how. Among the many benefits are making it easy to use and affordable, with great features. This high level of integration is part of delivering on that.”
Schiller pointed out some of the downsides of the technologies it’s removed or downplayed: rotating hard disks, for instance, use more power and are more likely to have reliability issues than solid-state storage.
“These old technologies are holding us back,” he said. “They’re anchors on where we want to go.”
“We find the things that have outlived their useful purpose. Our competitors are afraid to remove them. We try to find better solutions — our customers have given us a lot of trust.”
Apple began removing DVD burners from portable computers, where weight and thinness are paramount — at least to Apple — years ago. But the new iMacs are the first ones without optical drives. I asked Schiller if that was a more difficult decision.
“It actually comes from similar thinking as with the portables,” Schiller said. “In general, it’s a good idea to remove these rotating medias from our computers and other devices. They have inherent issues — they’re mechanical and sometimes break, they use power and are large. We can create products that are smaller, lighter and consume less power.”
Schiller pointed out that one major application for optical drives, software distribution, has gone largely digital. As for video, he said that “Blu-ray has come with issues unrelated to the actual quality of the movie that make [it] a complex and not-great technology…So for a whole plethora of reasons, it makes a lot of sense to get rid of optical discs in desktops and notebooks.”
His preferred Blu-ray alternative? iTunes, of course, which lets you buy a movie and then watch it on all your Apple devices.
Once upon a time, people assumed that Macs’ lack of Blu-ray was a delay, not a permanent decision to fast-forward past it. I told Schiller that I imagined folks don’t ask about it much these days. “Correct,” he said.
I noted that for years, pundits thought Apple would, or at least should, start making much cheaper Macs. I said that drumbeat seems to have come and gone, and asked Schiller if everyone finally understood that Apple was content with its strategy of sticking with the high end of the market.
“Our approach at Apple has always been to make products we’re proud to own and use ourselves,” he told me. “…We wouldn’t make something cheap or low quality. When the economy is difficult, people care a great deal about the things they spend their money on. Customers have come to understand that Apple’s products aren’t priced high — they’re priced on the value of what we build into them.”
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Format Factory 3.0 Free Download Full Version
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Format Factory is a functionalism media converter.
Provides functions below:
All to MP4/3GP/MPG/AVI/WMV/FLV/SWF.
All to MP3/WMA/AMR/OGG/AAC/WAV.
All to JPG/BMP/PNG/TIF/ICO/GIF/TGA.
Rip DVD to video file , Rip Music CD to audio file.
MP4 files support iPod/iPhone/PSP/BlackBerry format.
Supports RMVB,Watermark, AV Mux.
Click to download
Format Factory's Feature
1 support converting all popular video,audio,picture formats to others.
2 Repair damaged video and audio file.
3 Reducing Multimedia file size.
4 Support iphone,ipod multimedia file formats.
5 Picture converting supports Zoom,Rotate/Flip,tags.
6 DVD Ripper.
7 Supports 62 languages
Friday, October 26, 2012
A Look at the New iOS 6 Features
iOS 6 Video Review: A Look at the New iOS 6 Features
In Sept, Apple upgraded its iPhone OS with a new release that is more of an evolution than revolution, but did offer a handful of improvements and new features. Some of the important key features in the iOS 6 upgrade include a more intuitive Siri, the ability to use Apple's FaceTime video conferencing over 3G as well as shared Wi-Fi networks, more flexibility in taking and sharing digital photographs, and the addition of the PassBook digital wallet.
On the flipside, some features were also included in the release that seemed to be not quite ready for primetime, such as the Apple Maps app that replaces Google Maps on the iPhone.
TechnologyGuide assistant editor Mike Wall spent some time with the new OS and filed this video report on what works and what still needs some work in Apple's iOS 6.
Welcome to the first look of iOS 6 for iPhone. So, the iOS 6 upgrade is kind of strange. It doesn't really have that many unique features it's bringing to the table. Of course, there is the notorious Apple Maps, which has already been criticized numerous times for being inaccurate, and it certainly does have those flaws.
Unfortunately, it's really tough for us to show that to you because it's really just a bunch of different minute inaccuracies. It's not like these overarching problems can easily be highlighted. In our area, specifically, when I was testing out iOS 6, it actually worked quite well. That's not to disregard that there are some serious problems with this application. If you want to find out everything that's wrong with it and what you should be concerned about, be sure to check out our full review where we highlight in more detail what's wrong with Apple Maps.
Kind of getting past, though, just Apple Maps and talking about iOS 6 in its entirety, it actually brings a lot of what you would want to an upgrade. I think the most understated thing that this brings to the table is increased performance.
Everything that you're going to do on your iPhone is going to feel faster and it's going to feel smoother. Launching applications is much faster. There are almost no load times now. Using specific apps, such as Twitter, there's a noticeable difference. When I used to use Twitter, I'd wait a while to kind of update my tweets. It would take a long time for them to load. But now even if I have 100 tweets or even more in my backlog, I simply just swipe my finger and instantly they're all there.
Also, going to websites and stuff like that from Twitter is much easier. So, using things like that and Facebook, in particular, are going to feel much smoother. But really, across the board in all applications, the device just feels cleaner, smoother, and has more utility. Honestly, the experience just feels better, and I think that's probably the major thing of what anybody should be looking for in an operation system upgrade.
So one of the new functions that comes with iOS 6 is pretty welcomed as it actually allows Siri to interact with all the apps that you have on your phone. So, if you wanted to launch Pulse, for instance:
[Speaking to phone: Launch Pulse.]
Siri reply: It doesn't look like you have an app named Pulse.]
Of course, Siri still has the terrible speech recognition that she does, but try one more time. [Speaking to phone: Launch Pulse.]
There you go, nice and easy. I can instantly get into anything. If you're hands-free it's a lot easier to do than simply clicking. Additionally, Siri will also be able to access certain types of information on the fly, such as sports games, movie times, and even help you make reservations at restaurants. While this isn't a great depth of information, these nice little features actually come in handy.
[Speaking to phone: What was the score of the Packers game?]
Siri reply: The Packers lost a close one to the Seahawks yesterday. The final score was 14 to 12.]
It doesn't really capture everything that happened in that game, but still you can see you get the basic information rather quickly.
Okay, so in the same light of a photo stream, users will also be able to take panoramic pictures. Again, this is something very simple, but it is quite satisfying, and it's a feature that they didn't have before. So, while Android has had it for a while, it's still a joy to have and I think iPhone users will be happy to have it.
Source:brighthand
Microsoft's next big job: luring users to Windows 8
The moment Microsoft has been building toward for years has finally arrived: the launch of Windows 8, the radical overhaul of the company's flagship operating system and its great shining hope for the rapidly expanding mobile market.
Now comes the really hard part: getting people and businesses to buy it.
Windows 8 became available for sale via download, on software discs and on new Windows 8 devices starting at 12:01 a.m. Friday.
Microsoft's challenge is not only to convince longtime Windows users they should use an operating system with an interface very different from what they're used to. It's also to convince those in the market for a mobile device that they should give Windows 8 a go.
Microsoft has not said how much it's spending on advertising and marketing for Windows 8, but estimates have placed the figure at more than $1 billion.
Microsoft executives at Thursday's launch event, held at Pier 57 by the Hudson River in New York, gave their best shot at making a convincing case for the new operating system.
"Windows 8 shatters perceptions of what a PC really is," Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said.
Ballmer talked about the different form factors inspired by Windows 8 — from tablets to ultrathin ultrabooks to convertible/hybrid devices that can change from tablets to laptops.
He talked about how the new Windows 8 interface "lights up" users' lives and keeps them connected by displaying on the tiles in the start screen everything from friends' social-media updates to news updates.
And he talked about how Windows 8 works well with Microsoft services, including Xbox music and games and its SkyDrive personal online storage service.
At Thursday's event, Microsoft also showed off Surface, the company's first branded computing device, which also is available starting Friday. This version is called Surface with Windows RT, a "lite" version of sorts of Windows 8 that's meant for devices with ARM-based processors. (Such processors are notable for conserving battery life.) The Surface starts at $499 and goes up to $599 and $699 for versions that include super-slim covers which double as keyboards.
Microsoft executives Thursday made a point of highlighting some positive reviews about Surface — especially regarding its software — but made no mention of the negative reviews, especially over the Windows RT software.
They also reiterated some of the highlights of Windows 8, from its swiping gestures to features such as "snap," which allows more than one app to be on the screen at any time, and the ability to easily share items within an app. None of that was new to people who've been following the development of Windows 8, but may have been new to some in the audience of 600 bloggers and media attendees from around the world.
The explanations from Microsoft execs are a way for them to shape the story around Windows 8.
"Microsoft's idea is that they want to create one seamless user experience across all devices," said Americus Reed II, an associate professor of marketing at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business. Reed teaches a class that has focused on marketing challenges with Windows Phone, a device platform that shares a common user interface with Windows 8.
Microsoft's biggest challenge, he said, is "making sure you're communicating a consistent brand identity across these different delivery platforms."
The company will have to "figure out exactly what the right story is to tell people about what it represents as a brand, when people think about this new way of interfacing with Windows."
Apple's iPhone, for example, is "about creativity and being hip and about being easy to use and intuitive," while Google's Android devices are about "customization and 'you can do what you want to do with it,' " Reed said.
But the challenge for Microsoft right now, he said, is that for most people, "it's hard to identify what Microsoft is beyond productivity software."
So if Microsoft wants to expand its footprint in the mobile arena, it needs to focus more on what in its Windows 8 user interface is different and how those changes "allow people to have a more enhanced life," Reed said. "If they can tell that story, in a consistent way, over time, across multiple devices, then they have a chance."
How crucial it is to get people to buy in to Microsoft's story — and buy its products — is evident in some figures recently released by research firm Garner.
Currently, Windows is the dominant operating system across devices (including PCs, tablets and mobile phones) worldwide, operating on about 1.5 billion. But Garner predicts that Windows will lose that lead to Google's Android by 2016, when Android will be installed on 2.299 billion devices and Windows on 2.284 billion.
That's why Gartner analyst Michael Gartenberg says that the real challenge for Microsoft isn't about what happened Thursday: "It's tomorrow, next week, next month, next year."
For Microsoft, the challenge now is the marketing and getting consumers to understand how Windows 8 is different.
"This is about evangelizing and educating," he said.
Source:
http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2019526277_microsoftwindows26.html?prmid=4939
Thursday, October 25, 2012
How to Transfer Media to Your Android Phone
Method 1: Kies Air—Wireless Transfer
Works for: Music, photos, recorded videos, other files—non-DRM protected content only
Overview: Kies Air makes it simple to transfer and manage multimedia content, text messages, bookmarks and more between your mobile device and a PC or Mac when they share the same wireless access point or router.
Why this way is great: Kies Air doesn’t require any additional software to be installed on your computer or mobile device while providing a powerful and intuitive tool for managing your content.
Requirements:
Windows
Internet Explorer 7 or higher
Mozilla Firefox 3.5 or higher
Google Chrome 9.0 or higher
MacOS
Safari 4.0 or higher
Mozilla Firefox
Google Chrome
Step-by-step Instructions:
1. To connect to Kies Air from your Samsung device, touch Applications > Kies Air > Start.
2. If not already connected to a Wi-Fi® network, you will be asked to connect, or (if available) turn on your device’s Wi-Fi hotspot capability. Note: Your Samsung device and computer (PC or Mac) must be on the same Wi-Fi network in order to connect.
3. Kies Air will display a URL. Enter that URL in your computer’s web browser.
4. On the Samsung device, touch Allow to grant access to the device.
5. Download or manage files from the web-based interface on your computer’s browser.
6. Touch Stop on the handset to end the syncing session.
Method 2: Drag & Drop—USB Wired Transfer
Works for: Music, photos, recorded videos, other files—non-DRM protected content only
Overview: Just plug your device into your computer using a USB cable, adjust some settings and start dragging and dropping files and folders.
Why this way is great: This method is great when you’re used to working with files and folders or just have a few files that you want to move.
Requirements: USB Cable that shipped with your Samsung device or a USB Cable that fits both your computer and Samsung device.
Note: The method described below applies to newer Samsung smartphones like the Galaxy SII and Galaxy Note running Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). For device-specific instructions, visit samsung.com/support and click Mobile. Search for your specific device and instructions for USB connecting.
Step-by-step Instructions:
1. Attach your Samsung device to your computer (PC or Mac) using the USB cable. If this is the first time you’ve connected your device to your computer, it will install the necessary drivers on your computer.
2. On your Samsung device, touch Applications > Settings > Wireless and network > USB utilities.
3. Remove the USB cable from you Samsung device.
4. On your Samsung device touch “Connect storage to PC.” You will see a warning: “USB utilities / Connect USB cable to use mass storage.” Insert the USB cable into your Samsung device while the message is still on the screen. Do not touch “Cancel.”
5. The screen will change to “USB mass storage” with a picture of a green Android and a message that says “USB connected.” Touch “Connect USB storage” at the bottom.
6. Your Samsung device is now connected to your computer. The device’s internal storage will appear on your computer as an external drive. If you also have a microSD card installed, this will show up as a second external drive.
7. You can now drag and drop files directly from your computer or iTunes to your device. You can create folders on your device as necessary to organize your files. Your device will automatically index these files and make them available in your media player.
8. IMPORTANT NOTE FOR MAC USERS: Before you disconnect your device from your Mac, you must eject the disks on your Mac, just as you would eject any disk or flash drive. After the drives have been ejected, touch “Disconnect storage from PC” on your Samsung device.
9. When you’ve moved all of the files you need to, disconnect the USB cable.
Method 3: DoubleTwist—USB Wired Transfer
Works for: Music, photos, recorded videos, playlists—non-DRM protected content only
Overview: Manage and sync your iTunes music, photos and videos with this popular and lightweight software. It’s easy to use and completely free. Also supports wireless sync with the Air Sync client ($4.99 on Google Play).
Why this way is great: This method not only syncs your media, but also your playlists and track ratings.
Requirements: Visit doubletwist.com for additional details.
Step-by-step Instructions:
1. Download DoubleTwist from Google Play on your Samsung device.
2. On your computer (PC or Mac), use your browser to go to doubletwist.com, and use the link to download DoubleTwist. Follow the installation instructions.
3. Follow the instructions on the app on your device and the computer to set up synchronization between DoubleTwist on your computer and Samsung device.
4. NOTE: If DoubleTwist has trouble recognizing your Samsung device when it is attached to your computer’s USB port, follow the instructions below to connect your Samsung device as a storage drive. Once complete, try the synchronization process again.
a. Attach your Samsung device to your computer (PC or Mac) using the USB cable. If this is the first time you’ve connected your device to your computer it will install the necessary drivers on your computer.
b. On your Samsung device, touch Applications Settings > Wireless and network > USB utilities.
c. Remove the USB cable from your Samsung device.
d. On your Samsung device touch “Connect storage to PC.” You will see a warning: “USB utilities / Connect USB cable to use mass storage.” Insert the USB cable into your Samsung device while the message is still on the screen. Do not touch “Cancel.”
e. The screen will change to “USB mass storage” with a picture of a green Android and a message that says “USB connected.” Touch “Connect USB storage” at the bottom.
Method 4: Google Play Music—Wireless cloud service
Works for: Music—non-DRM protected content only
Overview: Google Play stores all your music purchases and up to 20,000 songs from your personal collection for free. Listen on the web and your mobile devices without the hassle of wires.
Why this way is great: This method stores all of your content in the cloud and makes it available to stream or download to almost any device. It also plays music already loaded on your device, and allows you to purchase new tracks.
Requirements: Visit play.google.com/music for more details.
Note: Streaming music is only available through the Google Play Music app and not the native device Music Player. For devices that do not have the Google Play Music app pre-installed, it may be downloaded from Google Play.
Step-by-step Instructions:
1. On your computer (PC or Mac), use your browser to go to play.google.com/music/.
2. In the upper-right corner of the Google Play Music page, click on the “UPLOAD MUSIC” link.
3. From the “UPLOAD MUSIC” tab that appears, click on the “Download Music Manager” link.
4. Follow the instructions to upload your music to Google’s Music cloud. This process will take some time and will vary depending on the number of songs you choose to upload. You only need to complete this initial upload once. This initial upload process could take a few days, continuously uploading, or even longer, depending on how much music you have and the speed of your Internet connection.
5. Once your music has been uploaded, open the Google Play Music app on your Samsung device. Touch Applications > Play Music.
6. NOTE: You must be logged into a Google account to use Google Play Music. The first time you open the app, you will be asked to select your Google account.
7. Google Play Music may take a few minutes to synchronize your playlist to your Samsung device. Once your music appears, you can start playing.
Source
Exploring The Many Benefits Of Changing Your Desktop Wallpaper
People spend so much time on their computers or laptops these days that they don't seem to worry about the television anymore. Some stay on the computer a lot because of their work. But others just love to hang around in the cyber world even more than in the real one. They spend hours and hours each day surfing the net, playing games, or just loitering in social networking sites. Of course, there are also those who run businesses online so they have a legitimate excuse for their addiction. The only problem is that spending too much time in front of the computer or laptop can lead to a lot of eye strain. So how do you remedy this?
Apart from the usual medical tips that you should take a few minutes off for every hour you spend in front of the computer, there is also another way to ease your eye strain. This is choosing a soothing desktop wallpaper or background so that you can still sit in front of it without stressing your eyes. There are so many kinds of high-quality desktop wallpapers you can choose from that can soothe and stimulate your visual senses. For example, try nature photos in bold, beautiful colors that will make you feel as if you're really sitting near a waterfall or lying on the grass. Landscapes are good, too, particularly movie scenes of beautiful places like the city of Paris or cherry blossom festivals in Japan.
Now this is not the only benefit you can get out of a great, high-definition desktop wallpaper. Did you also know that just changing your wallpaper can actually change up the look of your computer or laptop as well? Even if it isn't really a new unit, you can still make it appear attractive by switching your desktop wallpaper for a more eye-catching one. Anyone wanting to use your laptop will be intrigued at the lovely images. And of course, you also feel better about it yourself! Moreover, changing your background also allows you to explore your creativity. How is this so? Well for one thing, lots of people these days have taken to making their own wallpapers for their desktops. Using simple Photoshop programs, it's pretty easy to blend images to create better ones. Or, you can really make your own from scratch.
Last but not least, changing your desktop wallpaper has been proven to reduce stress, not just on your eyes. Take for example if you're feeling really depressed. It won't help if your old wallpaper sports gloomy colors or scenes of gore and despair. Just by picking a new one that showcases happier and more hopeful images can initiate a difference in your mood. If this doesn't convince you, why don't you try it out sometime. For example, if you're feeling particularly irritated, why not put up a wallpaper of that celebrity crush or lead singer in that band you've been drooling over for practically forever. Somehow, you will feel even just the slightest change of mood for the better!
You can download hd wallpaper with different themes like nature, movies, sports, and more for free from numerous sites online.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Edgar_Pharo
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Edgar_Pharo
How Accessible Is 3D Printing?
For a product to get to that store in the first place without 3D printing, quite a few things must first happen. First off, a bunch of material must be mined. This material will be mined with heavy machinery, and the logistics for moving the material itself to the actual refining facility costs money, and uses gas! The refining facility will then work to refine the material to a usable material from manufacturers to use. This material will be refined using various machinery, gasoline, generators, electricity, etc. After the material is made, it will then be transported to another facility, where the actual product will be developed. The process of transporting the material without 3D printing will burn man hours, energy, gasoline, and money. When the material is actually converted into the actual product, quite a bit usually has to occur. Lots of man hours will be spent just moving the material around. Machines will be used to organize the material, and more machines will be used to convert the refined material. After the final piece is made, it will then be transported again - burning more gas, energy, and money. If this product has to be flown or sent oversea, there are more logistics to face, more employees to be paid, and more gas to be burnt. The port will then unload the product, which uses machinery, gas, and man hours. It will then be transported to a holding facility, which burns more gasoline and man hours. After that, it will then be shipped out to a superstore or specialty store. After that, you will then have to get in your car and drive up to pick up the product. 3D printing may offer a different opportunity.
3D printing gives its users the possibility to produce parts in a much quicker manor, and these parts are made individually, rather than mass produced. Well, some printers can produce a "bed" full of the same part, but each individual part could be done differently. There are tons of possibilities as to what could come about through this technology. 3D printing gives consumers, product developers, designers, artists, and engineers a new way to promote their designs, products, and ideas.
Through 3D printing, anyone has the power to create something. 3D printing has the manufacturing capabilities to produce virtually anything you want, and at the same time it is accessible to almost anyone. If you can spare around a hundred bucks, you could be in business. Many people produce product for less than 40 bucks through printing services. Leasing allows for the creation of as many parts as you need over a certain period of time with some material restrictions. Overall, 3D printing has the power to change the way that we get things manufactured.
Source
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Android tips
How to Switch between Open Apps
When running an app, you can minimize it by simply tapping the Home icon. Getting back to it is not just one click on the task bar like the way you do in Windows. But the Android way is pretty straightforward too.Tap the Recent Apps icon to reveal the apps that you recently opened. (Note 2)
Slide down to see more recent apps.
Tap a screenshot from the list to instantly switch to the app.
Note 1: You can clear the recent apps from the list by swiping them sideways one by one.
Note 2: On Android 2.x, touch and hold the Home button to reveal recent apps.
How to Close a Running App
The Android system doesn't need you to close a running app for every instance. But in some cases you may need to force stop an app that's misbehaving, or like playing a game, you may need to actually close the app in order to start a new level rather than continuing the last. Here are the steps to follow:Run the Settings app and tap Apps under DEVICE.
Select the app you want to close.
Tap the 'Force stop' button and tap 'OK' to confirm.
How to Set and Clear a Default App
In Android, you can set a file to open with a certain program by default as you do in Windows. For example, if you have installed an image viewer such as QuickPic, the system will ask you to select an app when you try to open an image file (See the screenshot).To set a default app to open the file, check 'Use by default for this action' before you tap that app.
The next time you tap an image file, it will always open with the app you've selected without asking you again.
What if you need to clear the default app?
Run the Settings app and tap Apps under DEVICE.
Choose the app you do not want to launch by default.
Tap 'Clear defaults' under LAUNCH BY DEFAULT.
How to Uninstall an App
Installing apps from the Google Play store to your Android device is convenient, likewise removing them is pretty straightforward.Tap the All Apps icon on the tray and select the Apps tab on the top.
Touch and hold the icon of the app you want to uninstall.
Drag and drop the app icon over the Uninstall icon then tap 'OK' to confirm. (The Uninstall icon appears only for the app that can be uninstalled from the system.)
Alternatively, you can run the Settings app, tap Apps under DEVICE then select the app you want to uninstall from the list.
How to Add and Remove Icons from Home Screens
When you install an app, the system often adds an app icon on your home screen. This icon works as a shortcut to run the app. In case you need to manually add an app icon or a widget icon yourself, it's pretty easy.Tap the All Apps icon on the tray.
Select the Apps or Widgets tab on the top.
Touch and hold the icon you want to create a shortcut.
Drag and drop the icon on a home screen you like.
To remove an icon from your home screen:
Touch and hold the icon of apps, widgets or shortcuts until the Remove icon appears on the top.
Drag and drop the icon over the Remove icon.
Note: On Android 2.x, you can add a shortcut icon by touching and holding an empty location of a home screen or press Menu then tap 'Add'; On Android 3.0, touch the customize button at the top right of a home screen to add a shortcut icon.
How to Re-arrange Icons
When you install new apps to your Android, the system stacks up the icons automatically without asking you to select a home screen. But you can subsequently re-arrange the icons on the home screens and on the tray.Touch and hold any icon on your screen for a second.
Drag the icon to a different spot on the screen, or even to or from the tray, except for the permanent "All Apps" icon.
You can also drag an icon to the left or right edge of the screen until it starts sliding, then drop the icon to another screen.
How to Create, Rename and Remove Folders
Other than the apps on the tray, sometimes it's difficult to quickly look for an app to open if you have many icons spreading across a few home screens. Why not create a folder to group similar apps together? It's much easier than you might think.Touch and hold any icon for a second.
Drag the icon over the top of another. The system then automatically groups two app icons in a folder.
Touch the folder, then tap "Unnamed Folder", key in a name for the folder and tap "Done".
You can rename a folder at any time—tap a folder then tap its name to rename.
While the system auto creates a folder for you, it does the same to removing a folder automatically—tap a folder to expand it, then clear all grouped items inside the folder—just touch and hold, then drag them out from the folder one by one.
Note: Older Android system doesn't support this feature, but you can rely on a third-party app such as GO Launcher EX to achieve almost the same effect.
How to Type Faster with Multiple Spaces
Instead of typing a period at the end of each sentence and follow by a space, you can tap the space bar twice to get the same result.
How to Type Special Characters
If you often need to switch between the on-screen Alphabet and Number keyboards just to type a comma in a sentence, then why not check out below to find out more?While on the Alphabet keyboard:
, (comma) => touch and hold the Full-stop key (.)
' (single quotation mark) => touch and hold the Full-stop key, and slide to choose the single quotation mark (')
" (double quotation mark) => touch and hold the Full-stop key, and slide to choose the double quotation mark (")
Turn caps lock on/off => double-tap the Shift key to lock, single-tap to unlock.
Special letters not on the keyboard? => touch and hold a key, then slide to choose a variation (See the screenshot).
Need just a digit or symbol from the Number keyboard? => touch the ?123 key and slide to a digit or symbol key, and you're back to the Alphabet keyboard automatically.
While on the Number keyboard:
Symbols not on the keyboard? => touch and hold a key, then slide to choose a variation, or tap the #\< key to find out more.
Often type an equation? => touch and hold the #\< key, tap a sign and you're back to the Number keyboard when you release the #\< key.
Need just a letter from the Alphabet keyboard? => touch the ABC key and slide to a letter key, and you're back to the Number keyboard automatically.
How to Cut, Copy and Paste
This looks simple but can be tricky sometimes when you use different apps. In general, these steps can be used in Email or some other apps:Double-tap or touch-and-hold to select a word.
Drag the handles to adjust the area if needed, then tap Cut or Copy.
Tap an insert point, and drag the handle to adjust it if needed.
Select Paste (Hint: tab the handle when the 'Paste' button doesn't appear).
Note: When working in a web browser such as Android's Browser, use touch-and-hold to select a word since "double-tap" has been used to enlarge or reduce a webpage.
How to Turn Off Auto-Correction
When you're typing through, the system checks your spelling and suggests a few words. Unless you've selected one of them, the highlighted suggested word overwrites your word when you finish typing it followed by a space, punctuation mark or return character. If you feel that's annoying, you can turn off Auto-Correction.Open the app Settings and select 'Language & input' under PERSONAL.
Tap the Quick Settings icon next to 'Android keyboard'.
Select 'Auto correction' under TEXT CORRECTION.
Select 'Off' to turn off 'Auto-Correction'.
Note: As an alternative, whenever a word is replaced not to your liking, you can tap the Delete key immediately after which and the system returns the word you've typed.
How to Lock Screen Orientation
The Android screen switches to either the portrait or landscape view in response to the way you hold the device when you run certain apps. What if I want to lock the screen orientation to one view so that the screen doesn't rotate to another? Easy.Run the Settings app.
Tap Display under DEVICE.
Uncheck "Auto-rotate screen".
Your screen will then lock to the portrait mode. To unlock it, check the above option.
How to Print Screen
Where’s the PrintScreen button when you need to take a screen shot of your Android device? Instead of using one button, try a combination of two:Press and hold down the Power and Volume-down buttons simultaneously.
Open the Gallery app, and you can see your screenshot already saved in the Screenshots album.
Note: Older Android system doesn't support this feature, but it has a more complicated way to take screenshots using Android SDK such as this without rooting the device.
How to Select Wallpapers for your Android
You can easily select a wallpaper from a collection of a few in your system and set it as wallpaper for your Home screens.Touch and hold an empty location of a home screen.
Choose either Gallery, Live Wallpapers or Wallpapers from the pop-up menu.
Select an image and set it as wallpaper.
Alternatively, you can run the Settings app, then go to DEVICE > Display > Wallpaper, and continue with the step 2 above.
How to Access Notifications
At the top of your screen, you will see notifications which report calendar events, alarms, incoming mails or other ongoing events. Swipe down from the top of the screen to reveal the list of notifications, then swipe up from the O-sign to hide it.Depending on the notification type, you can swipe a notification sideway to dismiss it, or tap the X-sign to dismiss all from the list.
To access a notification, tap it and you're taken to the related email, reminder, message or app. The notification then clears automatically from the list where applicable.
Note: When you slide down from the top of the screen, you can also see this Quick Settings icon. Touching this icon is equivalent to running the Settings app.
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windows 8 best tricks
Windows 8 is coming, and the recent Consumer Preview showed it's very different to what's gone before.
Out goes the Start menu, in comes the new touch-oriented Metro Start screen, new apps, new interface conventions - even experienced PC users may be left feeling a little lost.
Don't despair, though, help is at hand. We've been investigating every part of Windows 8 Consumer Preview, uncovering many of its most important tips and tricks, so read our guide and you'll soon be equipped to get the most out of Microsoft's latest release.
1. Lock screen
Windows 8 opens on its lock screen, which looks pretty but unfortunately displays no clues about what to do next.
It's all very straightforward, though. Just tap the space bar, spin the mouse wheel or swipe upwards on a touch screen to reveal a regular log in screen with the user name you created during installation. Enter your password to begin.
2. Basic navigation
Windows 8 launches with its new Metro interface, all colourful tiles and touch-friendly apps. And if you're using a tablet then it'll all be very straightforward: just swipe left or right to scroll the screen, and tap any tile of interest.
On a regular desktop, though, you might alternatively spin the mouse wheel to scroll backwards and forwards.
And you can also use the keyboard. Press the Home or End keys to jump from one end of your Start screen to the other, for instance, then use the cursor keys to select a particular tile, tapping Enter to select it. Press the Windows key to return to the Metro screen; right-click (or swipe down on) apps you don't need and select Unpin to remove them; and drag and drop the other tiles around to organise them as you like.
3. App groups
The Start screen apps are initially displayed in a fairly random order, but if you'd prefer a more organised life then it's easy to sort them into custom groups.
You might drag People, Mail, Messaging and Calendar over to the left-hand side, for instance, to form a separate "People" group. Click the magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to carry out a "semantic zoom", and you'll now find you can drag and drop the new group (or any of the others) around as a block.
Right-click within the block (while still in the semantic zoom view) and you'll also be able to give the group a name, which - if you go on to add another 20 or 30 apps to your Start screen - will make it much easier to find the tools you need.
4. Simplified Start menu?
The Windows 8 Developer Preview had a very basic Start menu which you could access by swiping from the right side of a touch screen, or moving the mouse cursor to the bottom left corner of the screen. This has changed a little in the Consumer Preview: now you need to right-click in the bottom left corner (or hold down the Windows key and press X) for a text-based menu which provides easy access to lots of useful applets and features: Device Manager, Control Panel, Explorer, the Search dialog and more.
5. Find your applications
The Win+X menu is useful, but no substitute for the old Start menu as it doesn't provide access to your applications. To find this, hold down the Windows key and press Q (or right-click an empty part of the Start screen and select All Apps) to reveal a scrolling list of all your installed applications. Browse the various tiles to find what you need and click the relevant app to launch it.
6. Easy access
If there's an application you use all the time then you don't have to access it via the search system, of course. Pin it to the Start screen and it'll be available at a click.
Start by typing part of the name of your application. Windows 8 Consumer Preview makes it more difficult to access Control Panel, for instance, so type Control.
Right-click the "Control Panel" tile on the Apps Search screen, and click "Pin to Start".
Now press the Windows key, scroll to the right and you'll see the Control Panel tile at the far end. Drag and drop this over to the left somewhere if you'd like it more easily accessible, then click the tile to open the desktop along with the Control Panel window, and press the Windows key to return you to the Start screen when you've done.
7. Shutting down
You've finished your first Windows 8 session, and would like to close your system down - but with no Start menu it's not exactly obvious how this can be done.
It's easy enough when you know the secret, though. Just move the mouse cursor to the bottom right corner of the screen, click the Settings icon - or just hold down the Windows key and press I - and you'll see a power button. Click this and choose "Shut down" or "Restart".
Some of the tricks available in previous versions of Windows still apply. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del, for instance, click the power button in the bottom right-hand corner and you'll be presented with the same "Shut down" and "Restart" options.
And if you're on the desktop, press Alt+F4 and you'll be able to choose Shut Down, Restart, Sign Out or Switch User options.
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best laptop model 2012 (MacBook)
Performance 9.4/10
The MacBook Pro boast a powerful, Intel Quad-Core i7 processor designed to run any level of software. This third-generation processor gives you a faster and smoother transition between programs. It also has lower power requirements and better cooling. In addition, the turbo Boost 2.0 makes the device even faster (3.6GHz), giving it the extra push which truly enhances your experience.This laptop features excellent graphics and sound capabilities. First, the NVIDIA GeForce GT integrated graphics card will handle a multitude of programs and you won't have to worry about the GPU overheating if you spend time editing video or photos. The second part of this multimedia duo is the speakers. Custom, high-definition speakers provide high-fidelity sound with a wide range of treble and bass.
This 15-inch laptop computer offers 8GB of RAM and 750GB of hard drive space. This is definitely plenty of hard drive space and provides a large amount of space for storing all your important files.
The Macbook Pro offers up to seven hours of battery life on a single battery charge. Battery life can fluctuate however, depending on your use of the device
Design
The Apple MacBook Pro has small dimensions, even with a large screen. This computing device is only 0.71 inches thick, making it one of the thinnest laptops available on the market. It also weighs 4.46 pounds, so it is easy to carry from one place to another. Even with the smaller body, this laptop is still sturdy and strong. It is built from a single piece of aluminum, which prevents small pieces from breaking off the device.
This laptop features a display with 1280 x 800 resolution at 220 pixels per inch with support for millions of colors. This gives you stunning images and makes the color on the display screen pop. It also is an Energy-Star qualified device, meaning it has met the specifications proving it is an energy-efficient device.
Feature Set
This laptop computer features Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology. This allows you to connect to the internet easily and in more areas. There are several ports located on the side of the laptop, including an Ethernet and FireWire port, two USB ports, a SDXC slot and a headphone jack. The HDMI port allows you to connect this device to any HDTV or HD monitor, and there are also two ultrafast Thunderbolt ports. Another benefit of this laptop is the 8x SuperDrive that reads and writes both DVDs and CDs.
This laptop has an HD camera for capturing widescreen HD video. The camera, along with the built-in, dual adaptive microphones, makes it possible to place video calls from one computer to another through Apple’s FaceTime software.
Support & Warranty:
The MacBook Pro comes with a one-year warranty. Apple provides phone support for your apple products, but it is time consuming. The site also offers user forums, and you can submit a support ticket requesting them to call you back. There is no email support from Apple, so you are likely better off going into a local store and talking to a specialist.
Summary:
The Apple MacBook Pro is an excellent computer with a sleek design, sharp display and fast performance. This device offers several multimedia features, including an HD camera and FaceTime software for video chatting. It also boasts up to seven hours of battery life on a single charge. This MacBook is something to brag about. With a powerful graphics card, excellent design and a quick processor, this laptop will do just about anything.Source
Popular Android apps leaking sensitive data, report finds
Most mobile users trust that apps from legitimate, high-profile companies - like banking or shopping apps - will handle their sensitive data with care, but a new study says that even encryption technology might not be enough to secure your favorite apps.Researchers from Philipps University and Leibniz University in Germany examined 13,500 free apps from Google Play and found that about 8 percent contained encryption technology that was vulnerable to "Man in the Middle" (MITM) attacks - where the scammer intercepts data as it travels between the user and its intended target.
The researchers picked out 100 apps for manual audit and were able to successfully carry out MITM attacks against 41 of them, despite them being protected by encryption technologies like SSL/TLS.
"From these 41 apps, we were able to capture credentials for American Express, Diners Club, Paypal, bank accounts, Facebook, Twitter, Google, Yahoo, Microsoft Live ID, Box, WordPress, remote control servers, arbitrary email accounts, and IBM Sametime, among others," the researchers said in a paper that described their experiment.
They were also able to "inject virus signatures into an anti-virus app to detect arbitrary apps as a virus or disable virus detection completely."
Their report did not specify which apps were examined, except to say that they focused on popular apps and those that were perceived as secure.
"Instead of malicious apps, we investigate potential security threats posed by benign Android apps that legitimately process privacy-related user data, such as log-in credentials, personal documents, contacts, financial data, messages, pictures, or videos," the paper said.
Researchers concluded that the cumulative install base of apps with confirmed vulnerabilities against MITM attacks was between 39.5 and 185 million users. "This number includes 3 apps with install bases between 10 and 50 million users each," the report said.
Furthermore, researchers conducted an online poll of 754 app users and found that half were not able to correctly judge whether their browsing sessions were encrypted.
Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But researchers acknowledged that "Android software development and the Google Play Market are relatively open and unrestricted." Unlike Apple's App Store, Google does not have an approval process in place, allowing any developer to publish their app on the store. This creates more openness and app options, but can make users vulnerable to spammy or malicious apps.
In February, Google unveiled Bouncer, which automatically scans new and existing Android apps as well as developer accounts without requiring an application approval process. It then alerts the developer to possible problems with their apps.
Last week, meanwhile, there were reports that Google is developing a built-in malware scanner for Android devices. It appears that Android devices might one day be able to check out the apps you have installed or are going to install on your phone and warn you if it finds something suspicious.
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Apple has revealed that Samsung is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Apple has revealed that Samsung is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The company announced the investigation in a filing with the U.S. International Trade Commission on Monday, saying that the "Department of Justice has opened an investigation into the manner in which Samsung has used -- or misused -- its declared-essential patents."
The Justice Department has not confirmed that and has stayed tight-lipped on the matter, but Dow Jones Newswires is reporting today, citing a source, that the investigation has been going on for months.
FOSS Patents' Florian Mueller was first to report on the investigation.
Standard-essential patents are handled differently than regular patents. When a company's patents are deemed standard and essential, it must offer them on a fair, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory (FRAND) basis. Apple has argued time and again that some of Samsung's wireless patents, which have been deemed standard-essential, are being offered on unfair terms, stifling competition.
In January, the European Union's European Commission announced that it had launched a formal investigation into whether Samsung was using its essential wireless patents as an anticompetitive tool, and thus violating a commitment it made to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute.
"Samsung sought injunctive relief in various Member States' courts against competing mobile device makers based on alleged infringements of certain of its patent rights which it has declared essential to implement European mobile telephony standards," the Commission said in January. "The Commission will investigate, in particular, whether in doing so Samsung has failed to honor its irrevocable commitment given in 1998 to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) to license any standard essential patents relating to European mobile telephony standards on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms."
In other words, the European Commission wants to ensure Samsung isn't hurting competition by limiting competitors' use of technology that has been deemed essential in mobile products.
The Department of Justice has taken aim at standard-essential patents before. Earlier this year when it approved Google's acquisition of Motorola Mobility -- a move driven mainly be the search giant's desire to own more patents -- the Justice Department made clear that it would pay close attention to the handling of essential patents across the mobile space. The Samsung investigation might have been a response to that.
CNET has contacted both Apple and Samsung for comment on the investigation. We will update this story when we have more information.
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T-Mobile is first carrier to sell the Galaxy Note 2
T-Mobile is the first carrier out of the gate to bring its customers the much-anticipated Samsung Galaxy Note 2. As of today, any T-Mobile user can snap up the device.
Rumors floated this week that the carrier was already receiving shipments of the "phablet" in its retail stores. Samsung had planned a Galaxy Note 2 launch event today, but until T-Mobile's announcement it was unclear when exactly users would be able to get their hands on the device.
T-Mobile will sell the phone for $369.99 with a new, two-year service agreement. That makes it the priciest initial cost of the phone among the carriers so far. T-Mobile's "value plan" costs $249.99 up front with 20 equal monthly payments of $20, along with a new service agreement.
The Galaxy Note 2, sometimes called a "phablet" for its extra-large size, sports a 5.5-inch screen, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, an 8-megapixel camera, and will be the second U.S. phone to pair a quad-core processor (Samsung's Exynos brand) with 4G LTE (LG's Optimus G for AT&T and Sprint got those honors first.) The device is notable for its immense display, its S Pen stylus, and the productivity and creativity software that goes with it. It will ride T-Mobile's fastest HSPA+ 42 network.
T-Mobile's Note 2 will differ from versions on other carriers with a few preloaded apps and services, including the full version of Electronic Art's Need for Speed game.
In addition to offering the Note 2, T-Mobile also announced that it'll offer the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, which runs Android 4.0, in "the coming weeks."
Five carriers will get the Galaxy Note 2, including U.S. Cellular, Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Besides T-Mobile's release today, Sprint has confirmed an October 25 launch and AT&T will start selling the device on November 9 for $299 with a two-year contract.
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unlocking Huawei USB modem FREE!!!!
I regret having abandoned this blog for quite sometime now. I have been busy and I don’t think I can easily go back to blogging right now or even in the near future. So now, I just want to make this blog a place for putting some quick helpful tips and links that have been asked from me to share from time to time. A lot of friends and online pals have been asking me various solutions to different problems they have online or when just simply using their computer. It’s just getting a lot of my time responding to those queries of having the same topics over and over. I am not a computer geek or an internet wizard, but I can sometimes find solutions based on experiences and researches.
One of the problems that most people have asked me about lately is where to download the tool for unlocking Huawei USB modem. So without further ado, you can download the tool below absolutely free.
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One of the problems that most people have asked me about lately is where to download the tool for unlocking Huawei USB modem. So without further ado, you can download the tool below absolutely free.
Click to get code
To unlock, you just need to remove the original sim from the modem and replace with a new sim from another network provider. The new sim will then prompt you to enter an “unlocking code” or “unlock number”.
To get the “unlock code”, check your Huwaei modem stick and look for the IMEI code/number. You will need to enter this number the Unlocking Tool software and it will give you the “unlock code”.
Now there’s no need for you to buy separate USB dongles for different network providers! But remember that you have to make few changes in your connection settings each time you change your network provider. You can readily find the proper settings for these providers using Google searches. Enjoy!
To get the “unlock code”, check your Huwaei modem stick and look for the IMEI code/number. You will need to enter this number the Unlocking Tool software and it will give you the “unlock code”.
Now there’s no need for you to buy separate USB dongles for different network providers! But remember that you have to make few changes in your connection settings each time you change your network provider. You can readily find the proper settings for these providers using Google searches. Enjoy!
iPad Mini Fist look
Apple's iPad Mini will bring a lot more excitement and a little more confusion to the holiday shopping season.
It only takes a few minutes playing with the iPad mini to realize the scaled-down tablet computer will be a sure-fire hit with longtime Apple disciples and potential converts who've been looking for a more affordable entree into the mobile computing market.
With a 7.9-inch screen, the iPad mini is perfectly sized to be stuffed in Christmas stockings. Recipients who will discover the pleasure and convenience of being able to take pictures, surf the Web, watch video, read books and listen to music on an exquisitely designed device that's pancake thin.
As enticing as that all sounds, the iPad mini also causes a dilemma, albeit a pleasant one.
The new option will make it even more difficult for holiday shoppers to figure out which mobile device to buy for their loved ones -or for themselves.
I felt the pangs of indecision within a few minutes of picking up the iPad mini for the first time.
As the company usually does at its product unveilings, Apple Inc. only provided reporters with limited, strictly supervised access to the iPad mini on Tuesday. That meant I could only experiment with it for about 15 minutes, but as an experienced user of the iPad 2, I could quickly see that the smaller tablet does just about everything its bigger brethren does.
Even though the mini's screen is 1.8 inches smaller than the standard iPad, the movie "The Avengers" looked lush, even in a side-by-side comparison with the larger tablet. When I pulled up the latest issue of the New Yorker, I didn't have to strain to see the text or pictures on the smaller screen. A quick check of other websites verified that the mini's screen isn't so tiny that it's going to cause a lot of squinting. After I took a very crisp picture of another reporter testing out a mini, I decided to email it to her to test how easy it was to use the keyboard on the smaller screen. No problem there. Best of all, the iPad Mini can be held in one hand and is about half the weight of the larger iPad.
The Mini worked so much like my standard iPad that it immediately caused me to have second thoughts about a decision I thought I had already made. I like my iPad 2 a lot, but it's just too big to carry with me wherever I am. But there have been times I really wish I had it with me, like when I spot something that would make a great picture or when I've needed to check something on the Web. For various reasons, I didn't want a smartphone that would require a data plan, so I had my mind set on buying the latest iPod Touch, which has an iPhone-size screen and superb camera.
Now, the iPad mini has me vacillating. Apple isn't making it easier with its pricing strategy. The latest iPod Touch with 32 gigabytes sells for $299. An iPad Mini with 16 gigabytes of storage sells for $329. I'm tempted.
Like others who will no doubt be weighing the same decision, I'll have to make up my mind. Do I want something that can fit in my one of pant pockets like the Touch? For starters, it comes in more colors than the black-or-white Mini and offers more storage capacity for a cheaper price.
Or do I want to pay a little more for another tablet computer that can slip into a coat pocket and offer a richer experience with a screen nearly two times larger than the new Touch?
The iPad mini is so mighty that I can't believe the iPad 2 will be on the market too much longer. The iPad 2's $399 price now looks like too much, given that the iPad mini can do just about everything it does on a slightly smaller screen. The iPad 2 still may have some appeal for people who want a larger tablet at a lower price the newest iPads, but I can't see too many consumers buying Apple's second-generation tablet now that the mini is available.
Consumers who aren't set on buying one of Apple's devices will have even more choices to make. The iPad mini is clearly aimed at siphoning sales away from the Nexus 7 tablet that Google Inc. began selling four months ago and the longer-established Kindle Fire from Amazon.com Inc. Figuring out which one is best-suited for you (or that special someone on your shopping list) will likely come down to weighing price against performance.
Amazon is sells a Kindle Fire HD with 16 gigabytes of storage and 7-inch screen for $199 and a similarly sized Nexus 7 goes for $249. That means an iPad mini will cost $80 to $130 more, a price that Apple believes is justified because it boasts more features, such as front and back cameras. The mini's reliance on aluminum instead of plastic for its exterior also makes it look more stylish and more enjoyable to hold.
If the speculation on technology blogs pans out, Google might make things even more interesting and dizzying for holiday shoppers by introducing a $99 version of the Nexus 7 in the coming weeks.
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Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Google's Schmidt set to testify in smartphone trial
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Google's former chief executive, Eric Schmidt, is slated to testify on Tuesday as Oracle's final witness in the first part of a high stakes trial over smartphone technology, attorneys said in court.
Oracle sued Google in August 2010, saying Google's Android mobile operating system infringes its copyrights and patents for the Java programming language. Google countered that it does not violate Oracle's patents and that Oracle cannot copyright certain parts of Java, an "open-source," or publicly available, software language.
The trial, expected to last at least eight weeks, has been divided into three phases: copyright liability, patent claims, and damages. The first phase over copyright began last week, with both Oracle Chief Executive Larry Ellison and Google CEO Larry Page taking the stand.
In court on Monday, attorneys for both Oracle and Google confirmed that Schmidt would appear on Tuesday, after Google's Android chief, Andy Rubin, completes his testimony.
Schmidt was Google's CEO for 10 years before assuming the role of executive chairman last year. He previously worked as chief technology officer at Sun Microsystems, which developed Java. Oracle acquired Sun for $7.4 billion in 2010.
Schmidt is expected to testify about negotiations with both Sun and Oracle over Java, along with his awareness of Sun's Java licensing practices due to his tenure there, according to a witness list filed in court.
Early in the case, estimates of potential damages against Google ran as high as $6.1 billion. But Google successfully narrowed Oracle's patent claims and reduced the possible award. Oracle is seeking roughly $1 billion in copyright damages.
After Schmidt, Oracle is expected to rest its copyright presentation, and Google will then have an opportunity to present witnesses. The jury will deliberate solely on copyright liability before moving on to hear evidence about patent infringement.
U.S. District Judge William Alsup may also decide some of the copyright issues. However, Alsup has not yet formally ruled on which questions will ultimately be sent to the jury and which ones he will decide.
The case in U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, is Oracle America, Inc v. Google Inc, 10-3561.
(Reporting By Dan Levine; Editing by Phil Berlowitz)
View the original article here
Read more ►
Oracle sued Google in August 2010, saying Google's Android mobile operating system infringes its copyrights and patents for the Java programming language. Google countered that it does not violate Oracle's patents and that Oracle cannot copyright certain parts of Java, an "open-source," or publicly available, software language.
The trial, expected to last at least eight weeks, has been divided into three phases: copyright liability, patent claims, and damages. The first phase over copyright began last week, with both Oracle Chief Executive Larry Ellison and Google CEO Larry Page taking the stand.
In court on Monday, attorneys for both Oracle and Google confirmed that Schmidt would appear on Tuesday, after Google's Android chief, Andy Rubin, completes his testimony.
Schmidt was Google's CEO for 10 years before assuming the role of executive chairman last year. He previously worked as chief technology officer at Sun Microsystems, which developed Java. Oracle acquired Sun for $7.4 billion in 2010.
Schmidt is expected to testify about negotiations with both Sun and Oracle over Java, along with his awareness of Sun's Java licensing practices due to his tenure there, according to a witness list filed in court.
Early in the case, estimates of potential damages against Google ran as high as $6.1 billion. But Google successfully narrowed Oracle's patent claims and reduced the possible award. Oracle is seeking roughly $1 billion in copyright damages.
After Schmidt, Oracle is expected to rest its copyright presentation, and Google will then have an opportunity to present witnesses. The jury will deliberate solely on copyright liability before moving on to hear evidence about patent infringement.
U.S. District Judge William Alsup may also decide some of the copyright issues. However, Alsup has not yet formally ruled on which questions will ultimately be sent to the jury and which ones he will decide.
The case in U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, is Oracle America, Inc v. Google Inc, 10-3561.
(Reporting By Dan Levine; Editing by Phil Berlowitz)
View the original article here
Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Coming to AT&T November 9 for $299, Pre-orders Start October 25
AT&T just announced that they will begin selling the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 on November 9. If you want to give them money early to reserve one, you can pre-order on October 25 (Thursday). The price of the device is $299 on 2-year contract, a price we are expecting to see from every carrier.
The two remaining carriers that have yet to announce a date are T-Mobile and Verizon, but T-Mobile will likely drop word any day now. In fact, they have been dropping hints on Twitter over the last couple of days. With Verizon, it’s tough to tell, however, it doesn’t make sense for them to sit back and let the rest of the industry inform their customers. We’ll hopefully know it all by the time Samsung wraps up their big NYC party tomorrow night.
Nokia 808 PureView 2012
When the Nokia 808 Preview was announced earlier this year its 41MP camera sensor (for a maximum output resolution of 38MP) made headlines all over the tech industry. Not only does it feature the highest-resolution sensor of any mobile phone camera, but at the time of writing, the 808 PureView features the highest-resolution sensor of any current camera outside of highly specialist (and very costly) medium format equipment.
We've been eager to gets our hands on an 808 since the phone was announced, and a loan sample finally arrived in our Seattle office recently. We've been using it ever since. Please note though that this article doesn't touch on the 808 PureView's performance as a phone. That's not what interests us. We want to see what it's like as a camera...
Key Photographic/Video Specifications
38MP maximum resolution (in 4:3 aspect ratio - output size: 7728 x 5368 pixels)
1/1.2" CMOS sensor, pixel size: 1.4um
ISO 80-1600 (+ auto)
Five white balance presets (including auto)
Exposure compensation +/-4EV in 0.3EV steps
Carl Zeiss F2.4 8.02mm lens (26mm, 16:9 | 28mm, 4:3 equiv)
Focus range: 15cm – Infinity (throughout the zoom range)
Construction:
• 5 elements, 1 group. All lens surfaces are aspherical
• One high-index, low-dispersion glass mould lens
• Mechanical shutter with neutral density filter
1080p HD video (up to 25Mb/s) with 4X 'lossless zoom'
Stereo recording with Nokia Rich Recording - rated up to 140db
Features
The Nokia 808 PureView's large CMOS sensor has 41MP total, outputting a maximum of 38MP (resolution drops to 36MP in 16:9 aspect ratio). Such a high resolution sensor would be little more than a stunt if the camera specifications aren't up to scratch, but Nokia has designed the 808 to be a serious photographic tool. As well as some pretty impressive hardware, Nokia has also included a raft of enthusiast-friendly photographic features in the 808 including manual control over white balance, ISO and exposure (via exposure compensation and bracketing). Exposure compensation is as good as it gets though, in terms of manual exposure control - the 808 does not offer PASM modes (not unsurprisingly).
While it might sound counterintuitive to shoot a 38MP camera at 3MP, it actually makes a lot of sense in a device of this type. Apart from anything else, if you are one of those people whose first reaction to this product was to scream 'you don't need 41MP in a camera phone! The world has gone mad! The sky is falling in!' in a sense you were right - most people simply don't need to capture such high-resolution images on a phone.
But what you probably do want from a cellphone camera is good image quality, decent speed and responsiveness, and wouldn't it be nice to have a zoom, too? That's what the 808's lower-resolution PureView modes are designed to allow.
PureView (3/5/8MP)
Putting optical zooms into cellphone cameras is hard. Really really hard, which is why manufacturers tend to include digital zooms instead. Effectively just cropping and upsizing, conventional digital zoom kills image quality. Normally, the instinct of any serious digital photographer would be to run away from 'digital zoom' features for precisely this reason. But the 808 is very far from conventional.
In Nokia's words, 'pixel oversampling combines many pixels to create a single (super) pixel'. In theory then, at 28mm (equivalent) - i.e., without any 'zoom', the camera's 3MP PureView output should give the best critical image quality, followed by 5MP, then 8MP, and then 38MP. When fully zoomed in, all four output modes will give the same pixel-level image quality, since at this point there is no oversampling going on -as incated by '1:1' in the graph above.
PureView 'Zoom'
How much you can 'zoom' using the 808 depends on what output resolution mode you're in. If you're shooting at full resolution you can't zoom at all - you're stuck with the lens' native 28mm (equivalent) focal length. In 3MP PureView mode you get the equivalent of a 3.6X 'zoom' - this drops to roughly 3X in 5MP mode, and about 2X in 8MP mode. The table below shows four images, taken at the 'longest' extent of the 'zoom' in each of the 808's output resolution modes.
source:http://www.dpreview.com/
Read more ►
We've been eager to gets our hands on an 808 since the phone was announced, and a loan sample finally arrived in our Seattle office recently. We've been using it ever since. Please note though that this article doesn't touch on the 808 PureView's performance as a phone. That's not what interests us. We want to see what it's like as a camera...
Key Photographic/Video Specifications
38MP maximum resolution (in 4:3 aspect ratio - output size: 7728 x 5368 pixels)
1/1.2" CMOS sensor, pixel size: 1.4um
ISO 80-1600 (+ auto)
Five white balance presets (including auto)
Exposure compensation +/-4EV in 0.3EV steps
Carl Zeiss F2.4 8.02mm lens (26mm, 16:9 | 28mm, 4:3 equiv)
Focus range: 15cm – Infinity (throughout the zoom range)
Construction:
• 5 elements, 1 group. All lens surfaces are aspherical
• One high-index, low-dispersion glass mould lens
• Mechanical shutter with neutral density filter
1080p HD video (up to 25Mb/s) with 4X 'lossless zoom'
Stereo recording with Nokia Rich Recording - rated up to 140db
Features
The Nokia 808 PureView's large CMOS sensor has 41MP total, outputting a maximum of 38MP (resolution drops to 36MP in 16:9 aspect ratio). Such a high resolution sensor would be little more than a stunt if the camera specifications aren't up to scratch, but Nokia has designed the 808 to be a serious photographic tool. As well as some pretty impressive hardware, Nokia has also included a raft of enthusiast-friendly photographic features in the 808 including manual control over white balance, ISO and exposure (via exposure compensation and bracketing). Exposure compensation is as good as it gets though, in terms of manual exposure control - the 808 does not offer PASM modes (not unsurprisingly).
While it might sound counterintuitive to shoot a 38MP camera at 3MP, it actually makes a lot of sense in a device of this type. Apart from anything else, if you are one of those people whose first reaction to this product was to scream 'you don't need 41MP in a camera phone! The world has gone mad! The sky is falling in!' in a sense you were right - most people simply don't need to capture such high-resolution images on a phone.
But what you probably do want from a cellphone camera is good image quality, decent speed and responsiveness, and wouldn't it be nice to have a zoom, too? That's what the 808's lower-resolution PureView modes are designed to allow.
PureView (3/5/8MP)
Putting optical zooms into cellphone cameras is hard. Really really hard, which is why manufacturers tend to include digital zooms instead. Effectively just cropping and upsizing, conventional digital zoom kills image quality. Normally, the instinct of any serious digital photographer would be to run away from 'digital zoom' features for precisely this reason. But the 808 is very far from conventional.
In Nokia's words, 'pixel oversampling combines many pixels to create a single (super) pixel'. In theory then, at 28mm (equivalent) - i.e., without any 'zoom', the camera's 3MP PureView output should give the best critical image quality, followed by 5MP, then 8MP, and then 38MP. When fully zoomed in, all four output modes will give the same pixel-level image quality, since at this point there is no oversampling going on -as incated by '1:1' in the graph above.
PureView 'Zoom'
How much you can 'zoom' using the 808 depends on what output resolution mode you're in. If you're shooting at full resolution you can't zoom at all - you're stuck with the lens' native 28mm (equivalent) focal length. In 3MP PureView mode you get the equivalent of a 3.6X 'zoom' - this drops to roughly 3X in 5MP mode, and about 2X in 8MP mode. The table below shows four images, taken at the 'longest' extent of the 'zoom' in each of the 808's output resolution modes.
source:http://www.dpreview.com/
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