Sunday, December 26, 2010

Firefox 4 Awesome Bar gets a bit of Googleesque 'Instant' magic

Mozilla Labs Prospector, Instant Preview
Muddying the waters with yet another 'Instant' product, and with only one letter differentiating it from one of Google's new features, Mozilla Labs has just launched the next step in the Prospector experiment: Instant Preview. Now, as you scroll through possible results in your Awesome Bar, the target page will begin to load. Instead of having to guess if it's the right page, you'll be able to glance down and check... instantly!

Mozilla Labs points out that you can also use it for 'temporal' information, such as weather and stocks news, or a Web comic. Type the first two letters of your favorite comic into the Awesome Bar, and the comic automatically loads. Read it, then simply press Esc and the Web page you were looking at before instantly re-appears.

Of course, you could use the same technique to check Download Squad regularly, too.

Download Prospector - Instant Preview add-on (only for Firefox 4)

Firefox 4 Awesome Bar gets a bit of Googleesque 'Instant' magic originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/08/firefox-awesome-bar-gets-a-bit-of-googleesque-instant-magic/

MOBILE TELESYSTEMS NANYA TECHNOLOGY NII HOLDINGS

Apple Remote gets AirPlay video streaming support

Apple has updated its free Apple Remote app for iOS devices, adding in AirPlay video support. The app [iTunes link] now allows you to choose from video media stored on your computer and control its streaming to an Apple TV. Meanwhile, there’s also control over internet radio playback, along with access to rented TV shows [...]

Source: http://feeds.slashgear.com/~r/slashgear/~3/o4Di7FqyrvM/

LSI LINEAR TECHNOLOGY . LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS

Opera 11 RC 2 now available for download

opera 11
Opera's developers have been pushing hard to finalize version 11 of the do-it-all browser. After just releasing the first Opera 11 RC only yesterday, they've already shoved the build aside to make way for RC2.

While you won't find any new functionality in the RC, the RC builds are more stable and usable than previous snapshot releases. Extension support has been improved as well, and there are are now around 200 you can add to your Opera 11 install. Opera's mail client has also been greatly improved, with drag-and-drop ordering of accounts and folders and a navigation panel which hides itself automatically when you're using a non-mail tab in browser.

You'll also find Opera 11's tab stacking more solid now, with RC2 landing several crash fixes for the clutter-busting feature. Like comepting browsers, there have also been tweaks made to the address bar -- which now shows more detailed security information about the site you're browsing. Search suggestions are now supported as well, using Google's prediction API.

If you were waiting for hardware acceleration, it looks as though you're going to have to wait for a future version. There's no sign of HWA in Opera 11 RC2 and ECMAsciprt 5 support is still somewhat lacking. Hopefully both those shortcomings will be addressed in the near future.

Check out the screenshots after the break, or go grab Opera 11 RC2 and take it for a spin yourself!

Download Opera 11 RC2 for Windows, Mac, or Linux

Get Opera addons

Continue reading Opera 11 RC 2 now available for download

Opera 11 RC 2 now available for download originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/15/opera-11-rc-2-now-available-for-download/

TECHNITROL TAKE-TWO INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE SYNTEL SYNTAX-BRILLIAN

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Hyper Facts for iOS: A powerful and fun database query app

It's amazing what you can find with your iOS device. With the whole internet in your hands, vast databases are yours to explore with a couple of taps.

Hyper Facts is a new way to more easily manage these searches, and overall it works pretty well. You type in a search term, a name, or an event (like a historical event) and off goes the app to do a search. The app searches 4 different databases, although the ones used aren't specified, and there are also links to Wikipedia.

If you click the 'nearby' icon, the app gets your location via GPS and tells you interesting things around you, with links to articles.

Continue reading Hyper Facts for iOS: A powerful and fun database query app

Hyper Facts for iOS: A powerful and fun database query app originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.tuaw.com/2010/12/24/hyper-facts-for-ios-a-powerful-and-fun-database-query-app/

GOOGLE FORMFACTOR FISERV FIRST SOLAR

Google and NORAD's Santa tracker is another victory for terrorists

Google and NORAD should rethink their annual Santa tracking service. Do we really want the evil doers to know the exact whereabouts of Mr. Claus on Google Maps and Earth from any PC or smartphone? A man so old that he's ineligible for a driver's license in some states yet pilots a 353,000-ton missile around the globe at a rate of about 650 miles per second? For shame.

Google and NORAD's Santa tracker is another victory for terrorists originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 06:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Google Blog  |  sourceNORAD Tracks Santa  | Email this | Comments


Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/rgdFY6zJ1bU/

L-1 IDENTITY SOLUTIONS KINGSTON TECHNOLOGY COMPANY KEY JDS UNIPHASE

Nanopore DNA sequencing technique promises entire genome in minutes or your money back

Scientists refine speedy nanopore DNA sequencing technique, entire genome in minutes or your money back
Those vaguely affordable DNA tests that promise to tell you just how likely you are to be stricken by some horrible and unavoidable genetic affliction in the future? They only look at a tiny fraction of the bits and bobs and bases that make up your genetic code. There's a race on to develop a quick and inexpensive way to sequence a human's entire genome, a process that costs about a million thousands of dollars now and takes ages but, via the technique under development at Imperial College London, could be done in a few minutes for a couple of bucks in 10 years. The process relies on nanopores, which are the go-to tech for companies trying to pull this off. Basically, a DNA strand is pushed through a 2nm hole on a silicon chip and, as it moves through, that chip is able to use an electrical charge to read the strand's coding sequence. That is then spit out to a supercomputer to crunch the numbers at a speed of 10 million bases per second and, within minutes, you too can have some hard data to make you freak out about the future -- and maybe a place to put your iPod, too.

Update: As many of you pointed out, there are multiple places to get your full genome scanned now for prices in the mere thousands of dollars. Pocket change, really.

Nanopore DNA sequencing technique promises entire genome in minutes or your money back originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 08:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceImperial College London  | Email this | Comments


Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/_rH5u_vud4o/

COGNIZANT TECH. SOLUTIONS COMCAST COMMSCOPE COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS

Firefox 4 beta 8 now available for download

While the main download link hasn't updated yet at getfirefox.com/beta, the latest beta release of Firefox 4 is ready for download from Mozilla's FTP servers. With Beta 7 already being feature complete, Beta 8 is all about squashing bugs and shining up the browser in anticipation of its release. It was a little slow in the coming, but frankly we're just glad to see FF4b8 surface before time ran out on 2010.

Check out the full build notes here, or click one of the following links to download:
Other languages and builds are available on the Mozilla FTP server. Full release notes can be found on the Mozilla wiki.

Firefox 4 beta 8 now available for download originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/21/firefox-4-beta-8-now-available-for-download/

IXYS ITRON IRON MOUNTAIN INORATED IOMEGA

Nokia N8 vibe motor shows its strength in bizarre refrigerator stunt [Video]

It’s not entirely clear why you’d want to prove that the Nokia N8‘s vibration motor is capable – with some suitable gearing – of lifting a 60kg+ refrigerator, but that’s just what some Chinese engineers have decided to prove. As you can see in the video after the cut, having dismantled the Symbian smartphone (something [...]

Source: http://feeds.slashgear.com/~r/slashgear/~3/Rd6Q5biun2E/

SES SHAW COMMUNICATIONS SIEMENS ZORAN

Opera 11 downloaded 6.7 million times on day one -- thanks to the power of bacon

While Opera 11's warm reception had a lot to do with a greatly improved browser and a very loyal fan base, the boys in Oslo had one clever trick up their sleeve which they saved for launch day. And with nearly 7 million downloads in 24 hours, you've got to hand it to Opera: they know how to tempt a geek.

How'd they do it? By dangling delicious bacon in front of Reddit users. You've got to admit, the Opera 11 Web advert is at least as enticing as those Evony ads -- you know which ones I'm talking about.

As for those of us who already tried Opera 11 and knew it was a solid browser... well, if you're like me, you're probably just craving some sizzlin' hot bacon right about now.
Curse you, Opera!

Opera 11 downloaded 6.7 million times on day one -- thanks to the power of bacon originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/17/opera-11-downloaded-6-7-million-times-on-day-one-thanks-to-bacon/

MICROSOFT MICROSEMI MICROS SYSTEMS MICRON TECHNOLOGY

Friday, December 24, 2010

Archos 70 and 101 Internet Tablet review

We've seen our fair share of budget tablets from the Augens, Cobys, and Viewsonics of the world over the last six months, but let's not forget that before everyone and their mother jumped into the cheap-o Android tablet pool, Archos was already in the shallow end with its own sub-$200 tablets. But, while the company was first to market, products like the Archos 5 and 7 Home Tablet certainly weren't anything to wait in line for -- they both packed slow processors, resistive displays, and ran outdated versions of Google's mobile OS. Whether it was the mediocre reviews or the competition coming up behind them, the French company knew it was time to step it up, and its Archos 70 and 101 attempt to right all those wrongs. The 7- and 10-inch tablet both have Android 2.2, 1GHz ARM Cortex A8 processors, and capacitive screens. Oh, and don't forget the front-facing VGA cameras. With each ringing up at $299, has Archos finally mastered the art of the cheap tablet? Find out in our full review!

Continue reading Archos 70 and 101 Internet Tablet review

Archos 70 and 101 Internet Tablet review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 12:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments


Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/n1nUG9GvHfw/

YAHOO! YAHOO XILINX WESTERN DIGITAL

Three password apps to protect yourself from trouble like the Gawker database hack

Sure, it's fun to post comments on websites and converse with your fellow readers, but there's always a little danger involved. Why? Because sometimes the sites where you post those comments rile up the wrong people and wind up with a big security breach -- like the one at Gawker.

One of the biggest lessons to be learned from the Gawker fiasco is this: don't use the same password everywhere.

But remembering all those different passwords is hard, yo!

Yes, it is -- but there are secure tools you can use which make it so you don't have to do the remembering yourself. Apps like LastPass, OnePassword, and KeePass make creating and utilizing complex, secure passwords a trivial task. All you need to do is pick an app, create an account, and set up one really good password you can remember to protect it. Your password manager will take care of the memorizing.

Take the jump to see how easy it can be to better protect your logins online!

Continue reading Three password apps to protect yourself from trouble like the Gawker database hack

Three password apps to protect yourself from trouble like the Gawker database hack originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/13/three-password-apps-to-protect-yourself-from-trouble-like-the-gawker-hack/

COGNIZANT TECH. SOLUTIONS COMCAST COMMSCOPE COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS

Windows Phone 7 "Mango" may add HTML5, Silverlight support to WP7's browser

Over at ZDNet, Mary Jo Foley has been speculating about the future of Windows Phone 7. According to Foley, a major update is due around Jan/Feb 2011, adding copy/paste functionality and two major browsing enhancements: HTML 5 support and a Silverlight plug-in. Foley also wonders whether enterprise tweaks might be part of the game plan as well. Microsoft, of course, doesn't comment on rumors -- so we'll have to wait for someone to score some hands-on time with the WP7 update.

Despite the update's appetizing codename, Microsoft doesn't seem to be converging on a single food-related theme for its Windows Phone OS. The next release, Windows Phone 8, is codenamed "Apollo". We can only hope 8.5 will be codenamed "Starbuck".

Bear in mind this is all sheer speculation; however, after Windows Phone 7's somewhat lackluster launch, any sort of improvement could be exciting.

Windows Phone 7 "Mango" may add HTML5, Silverlight support to WP7's browser originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/16/windows-phone-7-5-mango-may-add-html5-better-silverlight-supp/

TAKE-TWO INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE SYNTEL SYNTAX-BRILLIAN SYNOPSYS

redsn0w iOS 4.2.1 untethered Jailbreak ?backup plan? looking for testers

With Comex not able to finish his planned iOS 4.2.1 untethered Jailbreak in time for Christmas, MuscleNerd and the iPhone Dev-Team are pushing ahead with a redsn0w “backup plan” and are looking for a few good, qualified testers. To keep things manageable, this will be a Mac-only test program. We also request that [...]

redsn0w iOS 4.2.1 untethered Jailbreak “backup plan” looking for testers is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/XBhu1pE6mts/

CDW CHINA MOBILE CISCO SYSTEMS COGNIZANT TECH. SOLUTIONS

Skype slowly beginning to recover from massive outage

If you were lost without your Skype connection yesterday, the company's official blog has some heartening news for you this morning. Skype's engineers have been working hard to re-build the network of supernodes -- which had failed due to a software bug -- and have started seeing some encouraging signs.

Users in various locations have been able to sign in again, and Skype reports that around 5 million users are current connected. That's less than a third of what they normally see, but it's certainly better than hearing crickets. Skype isn't sure when the service will return to full capacity, so we'll just have to wait patiently.

You may also still have trouble accessing the Skype website -- either all its Web services have been affected, or the servers are simply being hammered with user requests.

Update: the Skype blog now reports that the number of connected users has doubled -- 10 million people are back online!

Skype slowly beginning to recover from massive outage originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/23/skype-slowly-beginning-to-recover-from-massive-outage/

MICROS SYSTEMS MICRON TECHNOLOGY MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY METHODE ELECTRONICS

ASUS 12-inch Windows 7 'Eee Slate' EP121 and more teased for 2011 (updated)

It's been awhile since we've heard anything official from ASUS about its 12-inch EP121 tablet announced back at Computex in May. That changes today as ASUS Chairman, Jonney Shih, promises an "Eee for everyone" at CES 2011 -- and that's not an exaggeration what with 7-, 9-, 10-, and 12-inch Armdroid and Wintel tablets expected. While the video doesn't show the physical EP121 first revealed as a prototype in Taipei, it does call it an "Eee Slate" (not an "Eee Pad" like before) while demonstrating pen-based input on the multitouch display riding Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system and a Core i5 processor. Naturally, ASUS is also promising better performance and more flexibility than existing tablets. Don't worry, we'll be getting hands-on with this beast in a few weeks before it hits retail sometime (somewhere) in January. Until then, you can watch the teaser after the break.

Update: DigiTimes claims that the EP121 will target enterprise customers when launched. Additionally, two 10-inch Eee Pads (one with Windows 7 on Oak Trail and one with Android on Tegra 2) will hit retail as early as March for $499 to $599. Meanwhile, 7-inch Android models will also launch as early as March featuring either Tegra 2 or Qualcomm chipsets with at least one model featuring a "3.5G" radio for "phone functionality."

[Thanks, Sal]

Continue reading ASUS 12-inch Windows 7 'Eee Slate' EP121 and more teased for 2011 (updated)

ASUS 12-inch Windows 7 'Eee Slate' EP121 and more teased for 2011 (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 04:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Tech in Style  |  sourceASUS (YouTube)  | Email this | Comments


Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/LXEyXiEdz0Y/

VIRGIN MEDIA VIEWSONIC VERISIGN VERIFONE HOLDINGS