Jan 16

AIM 6.8: Real-Time Instant Messaging

Posted in: Freeware, Pre-Release, Screenshots, Software, Today's Chili

This article was written on January 11, 2008 by CyberNet.

AIM Real Time Messaging AOL is embarking on new ground with their next milestone release of the AOL Instant Messenger (AIM). Just yesterday they released AIM 6.8 Beta to the public with a new feature that I’m guessing more people will hate rather than love. That’s why it’s a good thing it’s optional!

The new feature is real-time instant messaging with your buddies. If you and your friends are all running AIM 6.8 Beta you’ll be able to see what the others are typing before the messages even get sent. As seen in the screenshot, when the user is typing the message it is highlighted and the timestamp reads “typing.” After the message has actually been sent the highlighting will be removed, and it will look like any other message.

Naturally both parties have to agree to the real-time chat session before AIM will activate it. It can be initiated by going to the Actions Menu at the top of the IM window, or by pressing Ctrl+R on the keyboard.

Now I want to hear what everyone thinks about this. Would you use it? Think about how many times you’ve typed a message and in the end decided not to send it. Would you want to reveal your poor spelling before you have had time to re-read the message?

And yes, ICQ did have this feature back in the day.

AIM 6.8 Beta Homepage

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Jan 16

NAMM Show 2009 round-up highlights: keytars and more!

Posted in: live, Music, Today's Chili

The big NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) show is going on through this Sunday in Anaheim, California, so we thought we’d bring you a few of the highlights debuting there. Among the beauties on offer is Native Instruments’ Maschine Groove Production Studio, a hard / software combo loaded with 5GB of samples, 16 illuminated pads for making beats and patterns, two high resolution displays, and eight rotary encoders. The Stealth Pedal maraudes as a wah, but acts as an assignable expression pedal, with a double footswitch and the option to add a third pedal via USB, with a 24-bit USB audio interface and software. The Akai APC40 is a MIDI control surface designed in conjunction with Ableton to work out of the box with Live on a PC or Mac. Last (but surely not least) Roland’s resurrected the AX-7 with the updated and delicious AX-Synth “shoulder keyboard” AKA keytar. This bad boy’s got 49 keys, 7 LEDs, tons of control options, and a 128-voice polyphonic sound engine which is editable with included software. Check the gallery of each glorious item — and yes, we know that Edgar Winter’s not playing an actual keytar in the video (it’s just a giant keyboard strapped to his insane body), but seriously, who cares?

Gallery: NAMM Gallery

Read – Maschine Groove Production Studio
Read – The NAMM Show
Read – Stealth Pedal
Read – Akai APC40
Read – Roland AX-Synth

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NAMM Show 2009 round-up highlights: keytars and more! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jan 16

Blockbuster’s MediaPoint player reviewed: unsurprisingly disappointing

Posted in: review, reviewed, Today's Chili

C’mon — you could tell from the product description that the 2Wire-built BlockBuster MediaPoint player would be a disappointment, now couldn’t you? A full month and change after getting unboxed, the latest entrant in the surprisingly meaty movie set-top-box arena has been reviewed by the AP. You know things are headed south when the reviewer starts off by stating that “three similar devices he tested over the past two years were all better than the MediaPoint.” In fact, he straight up called BlockBuster out for not being at least as good as units that came out years ago. What could possibly be so wrong, you ask? You can’t fast-forward or reverse content until a download is complete. The on-screen interface is downright “unattractive,” and it even looks blurry on HDTVs. The remote is said to be “cluttered with cryptic buttons.” Oh, and the critic couldn’t even figure out what content was in HD and what was in SD. We’d elaborate further, but there’s really no need.

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Blockbuster’s MediaPoint player reviewed: unsurprisingly disappointing originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jan 16

Gadget Lab Podcast #58: Steve Jobs and CES

Posted in: Today's Chili

Gadget Lab Podcast logo

We’re back! After a several-week hiatus imposed by the holidays and the Consumer Electronics Show, the Gadget Lab team returns to bring you 15 minutes of enlightened commentary about the biggest tech news of the week. Top of the headlines this week, of course, is the news that Steve Jobs will be taking medical leave, and that Apple COO Tim Cook will be running the company until June — or perhaps longer.

Then there was CES 2009, the massive tradeshow that the Gadget Lab crew spent most of the last week covering. We talk about some of the show’s coolest gadgets, including the Palm Pre, the new Sony Vaio Lifestyle PC, and an interesting new touchscreen netbook from Asus. Then, of course, there was Windows 7, which looks pretty good.

This week’s crew includes Dylan Tweney, Danny Dumas and Brian Chen, with audio production by Fernando Cardoso.

If the embedded player above doesn’t work, you can download the Gadget Lab podcast MP3.

Use iTunes? Subscribe to the Gadget Lab Audio Podcast in iTunes. Do it now!

Like video? Aim your browser at the Gadget Lab Video Podcast — available on iTunes and the Gadget Lab blog.





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Jan 16

Sapient’s touchscreen Coke machine brings pop into the 21st century

Posted in: Today's Chili

Man, it just isn’t fair — we keep seeing all these kick-ass new vending machines, but when we want a can of Mr. Pibb or RC Cola we’re stuck feeding quarters into something that looks like it was last serviced whenever Pac-Man Fever went storming up the charts. Then again, that’s probably what we get for spending all our time in pool halls and bowling alleys. If you’re lucky enough to head to one of the 190-plus (and growing!) malls owned by the Simon Property Group sometime in the not too distant future, you just might have the pleasure of getting your cold, satisfying beverage from one of the new-fashioned touch screen Coke machines from Sapient. The screen is pretty much the entire front of the machine, and the interface is simple (as you’d expect), but pretty cool nonetheless — select your pop bottle, spin it around, take a look at the ingredients, and vend — quasi-Minority Report-style. “Futuretistic,” no? This thing takes cash and plastic, and it should be out in the US soon enough — readers in Europe and the UK will have to wait until sometime in 2010 to get in on the action. Video after the break.

Gallery: Touchscreen Coke Machine

[Thanks, Trent]

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Sapient’s touchscreen Coke machine brings pop into the 21st century originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 19:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jan 16

An in-car GPS built for walking: Ask the Editors

Posted in: Today's Chili
Garmin Nuvi 200

The Garmin Nuvi 200 is a good choice.

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CBS Interactive)

Q: If you had to pick a walking-tour-guide GPS for a first-timer walking in New York City, but wanted to use a basic GPS auto navigation system, what would you buy? Are crossover systems any good? We …

Originally posted at Miss Direction

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Jan 16

Panasonic’s new, cheap, auto-everything compact camera

Posted in: Today's Chili

(Credit: Panasonic)

If the announcement of the new FS-series cameras from Panasonic wasn’t enough for you, the company announced the Lumix DMC-LS85, too. If you have a penchant for digital cameras that run on AA batteries (and I know you people are out there), you’ll want to pay …

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Jan 16

All Your Circuit City Questions Answered

Posted in: sale, Today's Chili

I was sitting at my desk refreshing circuitcity.com’s temporary placeholder page, hovering like a vulture to see if there would be any crazy online deals, when instead, up popped a helpful FAQ page with details on the grim liquidation proceedings.

For example, yes, those gift cards you got for Christmas will be honored (a truly noble move for a Chapter-11 company). Yes, your extended warranties are still good. The company will offer HDTV home installations, but not car audio installations, during the liquidation sale.

These and many more helpful answers are to be found at circuitcity.com/closed.

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Jan 16

Panasonic goes ‘Intelligent’ with new FS cameras

Posted in: Today's Chili

(Credit: Panasonic)

This here is the 10-megapixel Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS7. I know that not just because it says so on top of its skinny, 0.8-inch body, but because it’s the only one of the two newly announced FS-series cameras that comes in this love-it-or-hate-it green that seems to …

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Jan 16

Valli Arredobagno Hi_Mirror lets you check the weather and your hair

Posted in: Today's Chili

It’s not quite as elaborate as some mirror / display combinations, but Valli Arredobagno’s new Hi_Mirror looks like it’ll at least get the job done, and with a good deal more style than some other setups we’ve seen. Unfortunately, the Italian design firm isn’t all that forthcoming with technical specifications just yet, but it appears that the mirror contains a touchscreen-based device of some sort, which will let you check the weather, watch some TV, and enjoy a few other multimedia features while you check your hair or makeup. There’s no word on a price either, but it does appear that the mirror is more than just a concept, with the firm’s website promising that it and some other luxury housewares are coming “soon.”

[Thanks, sk]

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Valli Arredobagno Hi_Mirror lets you check the weather and your hair originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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