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- Swype gets a new beta, adopts Dragon Dictation for speech to text (video)
- So, what'd you get?
- Refresh Roundup: week of December 19, 2011
- Bell Canada will stop throttling your P2P traffic, might charge instead
- Navteq traffic to launch on Garmin devices using HD radio technology
- HTC Fireball and LG Spectrum may bring global awesomeness to Verizon's LTE lineup
- Ultrasonic screwdriver sniffs out carbon fiber damage, planes book a check-up with The Doctor
- Device warns of catastrophic failure in lithium-ion batteries, robots celebrate
- Ask Engadget: best quick-shutter camera for under $700?
- Western Digital releases Android app to control set-top boxes remotely
- MOTOACTV torn down and rooted, turned into a tablet for ants
- Plex media app: streaming soon to Nook Tablet and Color
- MIT researchers locate genes that help underlie memory formation, zap some mice
- GoPro HD Hero 2 review
- Pure swings by the FCC with Contour 200i-Air(play) dock
| Swype gets a new beta, adopts Dragon Dictation for speech to text (video) Posted: 25 Dec 2011 08:55 AM PST  |
| Posted: 25 Dec 2011 07:11 AM PST  When you're done, check out what people got jazzed about in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. |
| Refresh Roundup: week of December 19, 2011 Posted: 25 Dec 2011 06:00 AM PST |
| Bell Canada will stop throttling your P2P traffic, might charge instead Posted: 25 Dec 2011 04:14 AM PST  |
| Navteq traffic to launch on Garmin devices using HD radio technology Posted: 25 Dec 2011 02:16 AM PST  NAVTEQ Traffic over HD Radio™ is the only 30-second traffic service commercially available for Personal Navigation Devices today CHICAGO, Dec. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- NAVTEQ, the leading global provider of maps, traffic and location data enabling navigation, location-based services and mobile advertising around the world announces the delivery of NAVTEQ Traffic™ over HD Radio™ used to power the launch by Garmin International, the global leader in satellite navigation, of Garmin Digital Traffic. NAVTEQ can now deliver Traffic updates approximately every 30 seconds over 270,000 miles of the HD Radio™ broadcasting system across the United States. The ultra-rich transmission is 4 – 10 times faster than other traffic services making this the world's most extensive and fastest traffic service a consumer can find. The enabled technology is given that NAVTEQ Traffic is now transmitted over a wider radio frequency spectrum broadcasted over 3,400 HD Radio towers. Available on Garmin's nuvi 3490LMT, NAVTEQ Traffic over HD Radio™ brings a superior navigation experience to the user interface of Garmin devices. By providing unprecedented live traffic coverage, with more detailed information about traffic incidents and road conditions, it allows consumers to experience the freshest and most up-to-date information around them by reducing latency. "Garmin, with NAVTEQ's technology, brings the next generation of navigation to users of the nuvi 3490LMT for the first time in the U.S.," commented Dan Bartel, Garmin's vice president of worldwide sales. "Our new Digital Traffic technology powered by NAVTEQ not only offers the highest quality map experience but can also tell drivers which areas to avoid and how to navigate around any congestion even faster than before." "The decision by Garmin to offer NAVTEQ Traffic data over the new HD Radio technology is a great step forward in meeting consumer demand in the industry today," commented Dave Dale, vice president North America sales, NAVTEQ. "We strive to bring enhanced navigation experiences to as many consumers as possible and with Garmin's capabilities, we are making it a reality." NAVTEQ Traffic over HD Radio™ is included with the Garmin nuvi 3490LMT, and is also compatible with other selected nuvi devices via the Garmin GTM 60 adapter (sold separately). |
| HTC Fireball and LG Spectrum may bring global awesomeness to Verizon's LTE lineup Posted: 24 Dec 2011 11:54 PM PST  Separately, the HTC Fireball and LG Spectrum have made their appearances in Verizon's internal system before. But together, in the screenshot above, they're actually much more than just a couple silly names -- they're responsible for ushering in the beginning of an era (potentially). We have yet to see an LTE device on Big Red's lineup that can double as a world phone, but these two phones appear to have the international roaming capability. We're expecting to see them show up at CES, so we'll keep our fingers crossed. In the meantime, we'll just assume the "O" listed in the Global Phone category stands for ohhhh yeah. |
| Ultrasonic screwdriver sniffs out carbon fiber damage, planes book a check-up with The Doctor Posted: 24 Dec 2011 09:44 PM PST Lighter planes means less fuel, means less money and, hopefully, lower ticket prices. Carbon fiber reinforcements are a major part of this plan; both Boeing's latest bird and the double-decker Airbus make liberal use of the light and strong composite. However, they're not without their own dangers; minute amounts of water can get into the carbon fibers, which then form ice at high altitude, damaging the fiber structures. This sort of miniature damage is -- unlike aluminum versions -- very difficult to spot. Embarrassingly, the engineers' best bet to detect the ruined fibers until recently was to tap on the composite structures with a small hammer and listen for a hollow noise that would signpost water damage.
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| Device warns of catastrophic failure in lithium-ion batteries, robots celebrate Posted: 24 Dec 2011 07:54 PM PST  "Catastrophic lithium-ion battery failure" are five words Malfunctioning Eddie never wants to hear, and may not have to, thanks to a new sensor developed by the folks at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. Despite the popularity of lithium-ion batteries in everything from consumer electronics to hybrid and electric vehicles, they have been associated with a phenomenon called "thermal runaway" -- known to cause overheating and potentially, fire. The newly developed device measures the electrical parameter of the cell, which is an indicator of whether the internal layer temperatures are getting too toasty. The best part? The warning comes before the heat can reach the surface and cause catastrophic failure, perhaps saving our electronics from a fate like the one in the video after the break. APL Discovery Gives Advance Warning of Catastrophic Failure in Lithium Ion Batteries Scientists at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Md., have developed an inexpensive sensor that can warn of impending catastrophic failure in lithium-ion batteries. The sensor is based on the researchers' discovery of an intrinsic relationship between the internal temperature of lithium-ion cells and an easily measured electrical parameter of the cell. Due to their high energy density, lithium-ion batteries power millions of consumer electronic devices and are the most common type of battery used in hybrid and electric vehicles. They are also growing in popularity for power grid, military, and aerospace applications. But safety concerns remain a challenge to the industry. Battery malfunction and fires in electric vehicles, mobile phones and laptop computers have been reported in the media. Such failures typically result from thermal runaway, a self-perpetuating condition that occurs once a cell reaches a critical temperature. "An abnormally high internal cell temperature is a nearly universal manifestation of something going awry with the cell," says Rengaswamy Srinivasan, a chemist in APL's Research and Exploratory Development Department and one of the inventors. "These changes can occur within seconds, leading to a potentially catastrophic event if corrective measures are not taken immediately. When things start to go wrong inside the cell, time is not on your side." Srinivasan and his colleagues discovered that a very small alternating current, when applied to a lithium-ion battery at specific frequencies, is modified by the cell in a way that is directly related to the temperature of the critical electrochemical interface between the electrodes and the electrolyte. "We discovered that we can measure the temperature of the protective layers between the electrodes and the electrolyte of the battery during normal operation," Srinivasan says. "These layers are where the conditions that lead to thermal runaway and catastrophic cell failure begin. This discovery enables us to detect potentially unsafe thermal conditions before surface-mounted temperature sensors, which are the current state of the art, are able to register that any change has taken place." The sensor operates through a simple electrical connection at the positive and negative terminals of the cell and can operate using power from the battery it is monitoring. With multiplexing circuitry, a single sensor can monitor multiple cells in a battery pack. "Ultimately, the new sensor enables battery management systems to more closely manage battery performance and, more importantly, detect unsafe thermal conditions at the critical moment when they occur and before the cell vents or sets itself and the battery on fire," Srinivasan explains. "By integrating this technology into their products, manufacturers of batteries, battery management systems, and battery solution providers can increase both the safety and performance of their products." APL has applied for U.S. and international patents for the sensor and is pursuing licensing opportunities. "At the heart of lithium battery safety is not only the development of safer battery chemistries, but also the availability of accurate and reliable technologies that measure the actual battery cell temperature," says Michael Hickman, APL's technology commercialization manager for the sensor. "This technology provides the most accurate and immediate method available for measuring the true temperature of a lithium-ion cell; and, it is the only method for measuring a cell's temperature where it counts: inside the cell where temperature changes originate." |
| Ask Engadget: best quick-shutter camera for under $700? Posted: 24 Dec 2011 06:20 PM PST  We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Travis, who is soon to become a father (congratulations!) and wants to capture the baby's life with a new camera. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. Camera experts, baby owners, people who balance objects on your pets, what's the camera you can rely on to catch those split-second moments of cuteness? Our thoughts lead us toward the Nikon J1's motion snapshot, or the Sony NEX-C3, but perhaps someone out there knows the perfect baby-snapping camera? Dear friends, the floor -- by which we mean the comments feed below -- is yours. |
| Western Digital releases Android app to control set-top boxes remotely Posted: 24 Dec 2011 04:16 PM PST  This week, you'll be able to control your Western Digital set-top box with a free Android app. And you'll love it. Only days after releasing an equivalent app for iOS, Western Digital has just released WD TV Remote, a free Android app that connects to your Western Digital set-top box over a WiFi connection and allows you to control it from any Android-based device. The app includes one-touch access to every online service available, keyboard entry using Android's on-screen keyboard, a gesture pad for quick navigation and the ability to connect multiple Android devices at once. WD TV Remote requires Android 2.1 or later to install, as well as a WiFi network and third-generation WD TV Live Hub or TV Live system to run. In other news, development on an Android app to paint your house via gesture controls is proceeding quite nicely. |
| MOTOACTV torn down and rooted, turned into a tablet for ants Posted: 24 Dec 2011 03:43 PM PST  |
| Plex media app: streaming soon to Nook Tablet and Color Posted: 24 Dec 2011 03:07 PM PST  |
| MIT researchers locate genes that help underlie memory formation, zap some mice Posted: 24 Dec 2011 02:17 PM PST  Over time, the neurons in your brain are going to change. And that's only natural. When you experience a new event, your brain encodes the memory by altering the connections between neurons, which is caused by turning on several genes within these neurons. Recenty, a team of neuroscientists at MIT published their findings in the Dec. 23rd issue of Science in which the group was able to pinpoint some of the exact locations of memory formation within the brain. The team, led by Yingxi Lin, found that the Npas4 gene is especially active in the hippocampus, a brain structure known to be critical in forming long-term memories. Once engaged, the Npas4 gene turns on a series of other genes that modify the brain's internal wiring by adjusting the strength of synapses, or connections between neurons. The findings were obtained by studying the neural activity of mice which underwent mild electric shocks when they entered a specific chamber. Upon receiving the shock, researchers noted that Npas4 is turned on very early during this conditioning. The research is still in its early stages and while the researchers have identified only a few of the genes regulated by Npas4, they suspect there could be hundreds more that help with the memory formation process. The lesson learned: stick to it and if you have any questions, mildly shock some mice. |
| Posted: 24 Dec 2011 12:00 PM PST  Hardware Once you unbox the Hero 2, you'll be greeted by many of the same accoutrements as before. The packaging is the same Perspex-crowned cardboard box, the camera pride of place, while all the accessories are tucked away down below. The kit you get depends on which edition you buy, with three available at launch: Outdoor, Motorsports and Surf. We've been testing the Outdoor set, which is little more than a new name for what was previously known as the Helmet Hero. In the box are four adhesive mount clips, an elasticated head mount, a padded helmet mount, three pivot arms, a waterproof case, a non-waterproof case door (for better audio), a battery and of course the camera. All very familiar if you own any GoPro gear, so much so that the new camera itself is almost identical too. There are subtle differences in the size of the recording LEDs, HDMI port, 3.5 Mic input and of course the product name emblazoned on the front, but aside from that they're identical, meaning that their cases are interchangeable also. What is new with the HD Hero 2 is what's going on beneath that unassuming little case. According to GoPro, the Hero 2 is two times as powerful in every way. That means "two times sharper image" (however that's measured); 11MP Photos, up from the original's five; ten photos per second, up from three; time lapse down to 0.5 second increments, previously 1 second; max fps 120, up from 60; and 170 degrees FOV all the way up to 1080p, previously 170 stopped at 960p, dropping to 127 degrees at full resolution. Fortunately you won't be expected to pay double price for all this extra spec, but more on that later. MountingAccessory-wise, the pivot arms are there to let you position the HD Hero 2 in a number of different positions, but they are somewhat fiddly, and limited in the number of angles. You have enough to get the camera extended, away from helmet obstructions, and change the mounting angle should you need to. As before, the adhesive clips cling to anything with vigor; because of this you have to be committed to whatever you are sticking it to. If you want to film your friend snowboarding, pray that she doesn't mind you slapping one of these on her board, as it'll be there almost permanently. Sometimes clipping the camera in and out of these mounts can be difficult, especially if space is limited, or your fingers are gloved / wet / cold, which might be quite often considering this is an action sports device. Likewise, the pivot arms are screwed in place, and the little plastic screw heads can be extremely difficult to loosen manually with weather beaten fingers, mercifully the caps have an exposed Philips-head screw, so you can get a screwdriver in to do the job when your fleshy digits fail.  The tie-up helmet mount pad is great for those lids with air vents, and means you don't have to use up one of your four adhesive clips, but it does leave itself more open to loosening or coming undone, so a little bit of a trade off. The head-mount makes you feel wonderfully self-conscious when you adorn it, like some sort of techno-miner, but it's fairly comfortable and practical, which is by far the most important thing here. In useOnce you've worked out how you're mounting it, the rest of the set-up is a cinch. Like its elder sibling, the front button controls power and cycles through menu options, while the top button selects, and of course, sets the camera rolling. Once again you have to contend with a tiny LCD screen for navigating through menus, but the interface is a little more friendly than before, with slightly clearer icons and text replacing the calculator-esque codes of before. Kicking off basic filming is easy: simply select movie mode and press go. Once you're rolling the camera beeps and red LEDs on the front and top flash to let you know it's still going. The previous model suffered from not beeping loud enough to be heard over engine noise, and it's still the case with the Hero 2, meaning you aren't always sure it's shooting unless you can physically see it. Annoyingly, there is still no way of viewing what you've just shot until you either get home and upload it, or buy a the BacPac accessory at an extra cost. As a middle ground, if you have an iPad with a camera kit, the GoPro files play back just fine right off the bat. Other tablets should also handle them without a problem.  The resolutions available are the same as on the HD Hero Original, just with more frame rate options and FOV angles (in a forthcoming firmware update), which expands the number of stylistic possibilities. For example, WVGA mode will be able to be shot at 60 and 120fps; 720p gets three FOV options: 90, 127 and 170 unlike before where you just had the wide 170 setting; 960p gets a 48fps setting and up at the top 1080p again the two additional FOVs are now available. The 1,100 mAh battery should see you through a good 2.5 hours of use according to its claims and in our tests it barely registered a loss of over half on the indicator while out and about, shooting regularly. Outputting the video you shot is now possible over HDMI which usurps the component cable offered with the last generation, but you'll need the lead already, as it's not supplied in the box like previously. Video qualityThe first thing you'll notice if you have the luxury of having both cameras is that the HD Hero 2 is noticeably clearer. Many people tend to think in pure numbers: megapixels, resolution and so on, but then forget that a lot of it really depends on the piece of glass the image is coming through. We noticed that images were generally sharper, but this was most visible with more complex textures such as asphalt, grass and so on. The additional resolution settings and FOV options are more of a luxury than a necessity, but combined with the higher level of sharpness do give the device a more complete and professional feel. Audio still suffers dramatically when inside the waterproof case, and fares mildly better with the more sound-friendly door. The color balance between the two models is also notably distinct, with the HD Hero 2 reproducing much more authentic tones compared to the Original's slightly brasher levels. Performance under lower-light levels also seemed to have enjoyed a marked improvement. There are still times when you can sense that this is ultimately a click-and-go camera. For example, some jaggies are still noticeable at times, and white balance can be a little off on occasion, but all things considered, it generally puts in a solid performance. The videos below were taken in two very different light situations, but give you a good understanding of how well the camera might perform under different weather conditions. The first was shot on a cloudy winter day about an hour or two prior to sundown and it holds up pretty well. Next is some on-board (heh!) footage, we took on a brighter day. Pay close attention to the pavement, and you can see that at times definition of the asphalt isn't always crisp, but given the amount of movement this is forgivable. It's worth noting that the rocking back and forth is not due to the camera mount, but the rocking of the board it's attached to. Sudden movements such as this can make the resulting material a little unpleasant to watch, so it's worth bearing in mind when you consider your mount points. Wrap-up  The main one, we found, is that the camera itself is quite heavy, especially when cased and mounted. Heavy enough that when you've got one slapped on your helmet, you definitely know about it, and sudden head movements can cause you to feel a tip in the balance – somewhat off putting when mid-action. Likewise, the mounts themselves might lend themselves to larger, smoother surfaces, but if you want to attach it to something less regular, you might struggle. Sure you can buy different mounting kits and tools, but it soon adds up. Not to mention how fiddly it can be to get set up just right too. If you need to change the camera position on the go, you might find yourself missing some of the action. This can all be negated to some degree with the right preparation, but worth considering if prep-time isn't a luxury that you might have. For the most part, GoPro has improved on what was already a popular product, so we expect newcomers to be pleased, but upgraders might want to consider if there is enough net benefit. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Pure swings by the FCC with Contour 200i-Air(play) dock Posted: 24 Dec 2011 11:07 AM PST  Remember Pure's Contour iPhone dock / WiFi radio that debuted last year at CES? Between us, you and the wall, we suspect a sequel is on the way in the shape of the Contour 200i Air that's just been escorted out of the FCC's underground bunker and dumped unceremoniously on a Washington highway. It's packing the same setup as this year's model, except now it's packing Airplay chops for when you wanna stream music from your couch-based iDevice. Stay tuned, we'll try to get our hands on one of these in a fortnight's time. |
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