Motorola XOOM Android Tablet ? Love at First Swipe?

Google's Native Client updates to Pepper API, looks set to fragment the Web

Native Client (NaCl), Google's attempt at bridging the gap between pure JavaScript Web apps and installed programs, creeps ever closer to a stable release, and ultimate inclusion in other browsers, including Firefox. The plug-in, which allows the browser to safely execute native compiled code, has retired its NPAPI interface in favor of Pepper (PPAPI), and now has a much-improved SDK.

NaCl, as a concept, is awesome. It allows for untrusted code to be executed natively, which is perfect for processor-intensive tasks like games and data analysis. The ultimate goal is to have NaCl modules that you can plug into a website, just like JavaScript is used at the moment -- a physics module, a maths module, a graphics module. JavaScript would still manage the easier bits, while NaCl would be leveraged for meatier tasks.

Ultimately, however, NaCl could cause immeasurable damage to the Open Web paradigm. NaCl is an open source project, but it still brings the same risks of fragmentation as Flash, Silverlight and Java applets. As it stands, only Chrome supports the Pepper interface that NaCl requires -- and with IE9 and Firefox 4 only weeks away from release, it would be a long time until support for the plug-in could improve.

If NaCl gains enough traction, Chrome could become the next IE6...

Continue reading Google's Native Client updates to Pepper API, looks set to fragment the Web

Google's Native Client updates to Pepper API, looks set to fragment the Web originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 06:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/02/21/google-native-client-readying-for-prime-time-fragment-web/

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Firefox 4 beta 5 for mobile released, available on Android, N900, your computer

Tired of using the default browser on your smart phone to browse Engadget? Got a thing for Firefox? Great, 'cause Mozilla just pushed out the fifth beta of Firefox 4 for mobile. You might be familiar with the on-the-go version of Mozilla's creation, but if not, here's your chance to grab the latest (and probably) the most stable build to date. In addition to the Android and Maemo version, the company has released a Fennec build for use on Windows, OS X and Linux.

We tinkered with the OS X build of the browser on our Macbook Pro and although pages appear to render quickly, we can't quite figure out how to navigate backwards. You can pinch-to-zoom with the trackpad and scroll with the d-pad, but once you've loaded a page, it seems you need to be on a mobile device do any further navigation. Of course, as you'll see in the gallery below, the beta comes packed with the usual -- preferences, downloads, add-ons, bookmarks and Firefox Sync. If you want to give the software a whirl, hit the source link to grab the build of your choice.

Gallery: Firefox 4 beta 5 for mobile hands-on

Firefox 4 beta 5 for mobile released, available on Android, N900, your computer originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 10:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/25/firefox-4-beta-5-for-mobile-released-available-on-android-n900/

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World's first robot marathon gets off to a slow start, will likely stay that way

It might take them a good 92 hours longer than the fastest human runners, but a group of five pint-sized humanoids have officially embarked on the world's first full-length robot marathon. The Robo Mara Full, put on by Japanese robotics company Vstone, kicked off today in Osaka, Japan, and will see the mechanized competitors through a 42 kilometer (26 mile) race, estimated to last at least four days. During the marathon, entrants will circle a 100-meter indoor track a total of 422 times with little help from their human coaches -- contact is only permitted during battery and servo replacement. Vstone's Robovie-PC led the pack at the outset, but with three days left to go, it's still any robot's game. You can check out a live feed of all the, uh, slow and furious action at the coverage link below, and get a full overview of the race, complete with embarrassing translation, by following the source link.

World's first robot marathon gets off to a slow start, will likely stay that way originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 13:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/25/worlds-first-robot-marathon-gets-off-to-a-slow-start-will-like/

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Motorola Xoom and Thunderbolt-equipped MacBook Pro get torn down

The Xoom's big attraction may be the ethereal Honeycomb that oozes within it, but it's still a gadget made of metal, silicon and plastic, so we're as keen as anyone to see what its insides look like. iFixit has dutifully performed the task of tearing one down to its constituent components and found an Atmel touchscreen controller capable of picking up 15 inputs at a time, a Qualcomm MDM6600 chip capable of 14.4Mbps HSPA+ speeds, some Toshiba NAND flash memory, and of course, NVIDIA's beloved Tegra 2 dual-core SOC. The conclusion reached was that the Xoom is relatively easy to repair, though you should be aware there are no less than 57 screws holding the thing together, so free up a nice long afternoon if you intend to disassemble one yourself.

Aside from Moto's flagship tablet, iFixit has also gotten to grips with Apple's latest MacBook Pro, the one that can do Thunderbolt-fast transfers with as yet nonexistent peripherals, though discoveries there were predictably few and far between. The wireless card now has four antennas instead of three and there are some changes made to the cooling systems, but the real reason you'll want to see this is the quad-core Sandy Bridge CPU lurking within -- it's as big and imposing as the performance it promises to deliver.

Motorola Xoom and Thunderbolt-equipped MacBook Pro get torn down originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 12:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/25/motorola-xoom-and-thunderbolt-equipped-macbook-pro-get-torn-down/

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Daily Crunch: Sea Comb Edition

Video: Connected Medical Devices At The GSMA Embedded Mobile House A USB-Powered Aquarium, Alarm Clock, Thermometer, And Desk Light Honeycomb Ported To The Nexus One New Amazon Kindle Commercial: ?The Book Lives On? A Very Happy 25th Birthday To The Legend Of Zelda

Source: http://www.crunchgear.com/2011/02/22/daily-crunch-sea-comb-edition/

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Google Targets Content Farms With Major Search Algorithm Tweaks

Google made a substantial revision to its search algorithm today, the company says. And while no one in particular is being called out, it's clear that the big losers are content farms and related spammy-content producers who have been having an absolute field day on Google over the last couple of years. 11.8% of search queries have been "noticeably" updated, says Google - meaning there have been changes in the top 2-3 results. Google is also making it clear that they have not used user data from a recent Chrome extension they released which lets users block specific sites in Google results that annoy them. Google is saying they've compared the data they've collected from that extension to the sites most impacted in the new search rollout. 84% of the most blocked sites via the Chrome extension were impacted, they say.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/pHIDWiBAL08/

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Google pulls Recipe View out of the oven

Okay, so this Google announcement doesn't come with some dessert-themed upgrade, but we guarantee you'll be able to find recipes for cupcakes, gingerbread, and maybe even ice cream. Yep, those always-hungry folks in Mountain View are rolling out a new Recipe View tab, which will not only narrow your search results to show cooking recipes, but will also provide some pretty awesome ways to filter down your inevitable query for spaghetti and meatballs. The image above pretty much explains it all -- you can filter down by your ideal ingredients, cooking time, and even the calories count. Google's even making it easier for recipe website developers to add markups to their webpages so that content can eventually appear all nicely sorted on the new search pages. It should all be rolling out as we speak in the US and Japan, which really means you have no choice but to cook tonight.

Google pulls Recipe View out of the oven originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/24/google-pulls-recipe-view-out-of-the-oven/

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New MacBooks Torn Open, Thunderbolt Chip Revealed

The little pinky nail sized chip you see up there, inside the green square, is almost certainly the controller chip for the new MacBook Pro’s Thunderbolt port. The chip, and its tasty thermal paste topping, were found inside the new MacBooks by the teardown experts at iFixit.
The Thunderbolt (nee Light Peak) controller IC is what [...]

Source: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/02/new-macbooks-torn-open-thunderbolt-chip-revealed/

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Xtreamer Prodigy features AirPlay support, USB 3, and a GUI that will delight fans of Flash (and fans of GUIs)

Looks like the folks at Xtreamer have a few tricks up their sleeves! Following hot on the heels of the company's Ultra HTPC comes Xtreamer Prodigy, a Realtek 1185-based media player and streamer that sports USB 3.0 connectivity, 256MB RAM, 512MB NAND flash, HDMI, an integral IR remote control, a multi-card reader and a 3.5-inch HDD bay. But the real fun here (or so we've heard) is the Adobe Flash GUI, as well as support for such services as Apple AirPlay, Mediafly, Google Talk, Last FM, Pandora, Facebook, and more. The rumored price is €119, which will have to suffice until we find something more concrete (which should be about five days from now). Get a closer look below.

Gallery: Xtreamer Prodigy

Xtreamer Prodigy features AirPlay support, USB 3, and a GUI that will delight fans of Flash (and fans of GUIs) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 20:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/24/xtreamer-prodigy-features-airplay-support-usb-3-and-a-gui-that/

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If there was any doubt in peoples' minds that Apple intends to kill off the optical disc, it was put to rest today. This morning's unveiling of the OS X Lion Developer Preview came with the news that it would only be available one way: through the Mac App Store. And while Apple wouldn't say if they intended to release the final version of Lion to consumers this summer in the same way, it's pretty clear that they're going to do just that. But this important push into the post-optical disc era hasn't exactly been smooth sailing for all so far.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/MQCND77Katk/

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Deal of the Day ? Sharp AQUOS 46? 1080p Edge-lit LED HDTV

Today?s LogicBUY deal offers 27% savings on the 46? Sharp AQUOS LC-46LE620UT 1080p HDTV. This 120Hz edge-lit LED TV has ATSC/QAM/NTSC tuners and a 5.5ms response time. This TV has 4 HDMI and 2 HD component inputs, two 8W speakers, and a tabletop stand. $1299 – $500 coupon code = $799 with free shipping. This [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2011/02/21/deal-of-the-day-%e2%80%93-sharp-aquos-46%e2%80%9d-1080p-edge-lit-led-hdtv/

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CrunchBoard Jobs: TechCrunch Is Hiring

Would you like to be a Product Lead for TechCrunch? How about a Sales Marketing Manager? Maybe an Executive Assistant? We have positions open and we are currently looking for qualified applicants. If you would like to work for TechCrunch, please find current job listings below:

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/yd5SglSbIXw/

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Facebook Messenger iPhone app lets you voice chat with your friends

Vivox offers a Facebook app which allows you to voice chat with your friends as you browse the site from your desktop, but what about while you're out and about? A mobile option would be nice, too. That's what the developers at Crisp App think, too, and its iPhone app lets you do just that.

Grab Facebook Messenger for $2.99 in the App Store, and you'll have a convenient way to voice chat with your Facebook friends on-the-go. Select a friend's name from your contact list, tap the call button, and they'll receive a link to complete the connection in their current Facebook tab. Once your friend clicks through, your VoIP chat session is ready to go. GigaOm reports a slight delay on both the desktop and iPhone app, but overall reviews are very positive so far.

Curious to see how it works? Check out the video demo after the break.

Continue reading Facebook Messenger iPhone app lets you voice chat with your friends

Facebook Messenger iPhone app lets you voice chat with your friends originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/02/22/facebook-messenger-iphone-app-lets-you-voice-chat-with-your-frie/

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Store Your Data in Retro Style

Motorola XOOM Android Tablet ? Love at First Swipe?

Firefox 4 beta 11 released, more bugs stomped, beta 12 still to come

While the main Firefox beta website has not yet been updated, Firefox 4 beta 11 is now ready to be downloaded from Mozilla's FTP site. [en-US build / en-GB build]

As far as we're aware, this is just another milestone on the way to the release candidate; in other words, it's a bug-stomp release, so it'll be both faster and more stable than beta 10. If you're still holding off because of its beta moniker -- stop it! Download it! Try it out! You may even prefer it to Chrome (really).

Incidentally, there are no release notes for this build yet -- but we'll update this post when Mozilla provides some.

Firefox 4 beta 11 released, more bugs stomped, beta 12 still to come originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/02/08/firefox-4-beta-11-released-more-bugs-stomped-beta-12-still-to-come/

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Android Market?s Web Store Gets Bookish

Microsoft details Windows Phone 7 update problem, 'small number' of Samsungs affected

Redmond is opening up and offering a few facts, stats, and tips around its first update to Windows Phone 7 -- an update that didn't go smoothly for everyone -- and it sounds like there are at least three distinct failure modes, two of which are pretty simple to fix. The company figures that somewhere around 10 percent of users attempting the upgrade encountered a problem, but of those, "nearly half" failed because they lacked a proper internet connection or enough disk space (turns out the update process takes a backup of the phone's contents just in case something goes horribly awry). Most of the remainder may have been swept up in the issue affecting "a small number" of Samsung devices, an issue that the company says it's working to fix as quickly as possible -- and in the meantime, they've turned the update off for those models.

Put simply, when you get prompted to install the update, Microsoft simply recommends that you've got plenty of hard drive space on your PC (you can't do this one over the air) and a solid connection to the interwebs; some 90 percent succeeded in installing the new code, which isn't too shabby considering this is the very first update to the platform they've attempted so far. Let's just hope that brick rate is down to zero by the time the good stuff comes, right?

Microsoft details Windows Phone 7 update problem, 'small number' of Samsungs affected originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 23:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/23/microsoft-details-windows-phone-7-update-problem-small-number/

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The Amazing Wooden B-Bit Violin

There’s not much to say about the 8-bit violin, other than it looks absolutely retro-gorgeous. The instrument is playable (although if you skip down to watch Make’s Bre Pettis scratching away, you’ll see its just as hard to conjure sweet sound from as is a regular analog violin), and every part except the fingerboard and [...]

Source: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/02/the-amazing-wooden-b-bit-violin/

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