Speculation mounts regarding the tablet from Apple, expected to be announced next week. Among the rumors: publishing partnerships with McGraw-Hill and Hachette. pOriginally posted at a href=”http://news.cnet.com/8301-31021_3-10438335-260.html” class=”origPostedBlog”Circuit Breaker/a/p
Google’s Nexus One phone has gained kudos for its vivid OLED screen and slim design. But the lack of multitouch support for its gorgeous display has left some users frustrated.
Now there’s a hack for it. A developer has modified the Android 2.1 operating system running on the Nexus One to enable multitouch for the device. Though it enables the feature for the Nexus One browser, for now, it is likely to soon become a part of other applications, such as maps.
Earlier this month, Google launched Nexus One as the first smartphone that would be sold by the search company itself, rather than a manufacturing or carrier partner. The Nexus One is designed by HTC and is currently available on T-Mobile’s network for $180 with a two-year contract with T-Mobile. An unsubsidized version of the phone costs $530.
But the lack of multitouch on the Nexus One has left many users puzzled. Nexus One has a touchscreen but users can only tap on it with one finger. So none of the two-finger pinch-and-zoom gestures that are popular among iPhone users are available. Google has said it will consider adding the feature in future updates.
The Android community, though, isn’t holding its breath. Steve Kondik, a developer who goes under the nickname Cyanogen, has offered a few files and instructions on code to add multitouch to the device.
“You will initially lose your bookmarks and browser settings by doing this,” he warns. Hacking the phone could also void its warranty.
But as this video shows, getting multitouch in the Nexus One browser could just be worth it.
Photo: pittaya/Flickr
[via PC World]
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In typical 404 fashion, this morning’s show started later than usual, mostly because we couldn’t shut up about all the things that made the 1990s one of the best decades ever.
Some of the conversation leaks into the beginning of the episode, including a chat about the evolution of video games since the ’90s. It’s hard to imagine a time before you needed a toy chest to hold all the plastic instruments you need play a simple game!
You can get your 404 fix every day of the week (thanks to Nick for the image above!), but the most random stories always end up on Friday. Today is no different, with Wilson’s first story about mysterious cookies that offer “natural supplemental endowment.” Called the F Cup Cookie, the treat is quickly gaining popularity in Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore, because of their promise to increase bust size in three weeks or less! Rest assured, we’ve already ordered three boxes to test the claims ourselves.
No child was harmed in this stickering. (Click for larger image.)
(Credit:
Cheryl Dollar )
Should the film industry provide heart health warnings prior to showing movies with heavy 3D imagery? It might be worth the discussion, especially after a 42-year-old Taiwanese man died after watching “Avatar” in 3D.
The man started to feel uneasy during the screening of “Avatar” in 3D and was quickly taken to a hospital where a scan showed a brain hemorrhage. Sadly, the man died 11 days later. Doctors reported that “the over-excitement from watching the movie triggered his symptoms,” a claim that opens up our conversation about possible preshow warnings.
We’ve spent all week stuffing your SASEs full of 404 stickers, and if you already got yours in the mail it’s YOUR turn to do some work for US! Take a picture of where you stuck your 404 sticker(s) and tattoo(s) and send it to us at the404(at)cnet(dot)com. If you do, there’s a good chance we’ll show it on the air! Take a cue from Cheryl, the Official 404 Grandmother who sent us a picture of her grandson fully covered in them! Nice work, Cheryl!
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Originally posted at The 404 Podcast
If you read the tea leaves–or between the lines of Amazon’s recent announcements–signs point to the possibility of new Kindle hardware arriving in the near future. pOriginally posted at a href=”http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-18438_7-10438764-82.html” class=”origPostedBlog”Fully Equipped/a/p
What does a superpowered Transformer do in his spare time — you know, when he’s not too busy starring in some of the worst written pieces of escapist cinema? Well, for one Taiwanese fella, there’s nothing Optimus Prime likes doing more than supporting a bamboo stick used for hanging washed clothes. Seriously, the dude spent $1,600 on scrap metal, built a 14-foot model of his son’s favorite mech superhero, and now has it serving as a spectacularly ornamental pivot for his washing. Classy. Oh, and video after the break.
Richard Lai: [pumps up hydraulics] “Why hello there, cute little red car…”
Tim: “Autobots, spin cycle!”
Thomas: “Transformers: Revenge of the Snuggle Bear.”
Darren: “Man, it’s chilly out today. Wait — these aren’t my threads! RAWWRRRR!”
Paul: “Oh, sure, Shia said he’ll be ‘right back.’ I hate that kid.”
Josh F.: “Do these windows make me look fat?”
Laura: “Get Michael Bay on the phone. Immediately.”
Joanna: “Mommm, bathroom!”
Chris: “After nine years, Johnny 5 finally admits that he’d been juicing.”
Joe: “There’s not much more to this than meets the eye… sadly.”
Don: “You think this is impressive? Wait until you see Voltron mowing my lawn.”
Josh T.: “I need something to do until Transformers 3 rolls around. This cocaine isn’t going to buy itself.”
Continue reading Caption contest: Optimus Prime moonlights as clothes dryer
Caption contest: Optimus Prime moonlights as clothes dryer originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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We’re still patiently waiting for Endless Ideas to launch a 3G-equipped e-reader to compete with the masses, but ’til then, we suppose we’ll have to be satisfied with the WiFi-toting BeBook Neo. Boasting a 532MHz Freescale CPU, Vizplex display (800 x 600 resolution), 512MB of internal storage, 3.5mm headphone jack, USB 2.0 connectivity and an SD expansion slot, the 6-inch, February-bound Neo brings to the table very little that we haven’t seen elsewhere — in fact, it’s a dead ringer for Onyx International’s Boox. Naturally, you’ll find support for a multitude of file formats (ePUB, PDF, HTML, JPG, PNG, etc.), and the internal battery is good for 7,000 page turns on a full charge. The company is also playing up the unit’s ability to access a wide variety of third-party ebook venues, which gives you the option of purchasing books from any given outlet rather than a predefined store. There’s also WACOM tech built in, which should delight those who love to annotate and add text mark-ups. We’re told that future software updates will add a multitude of new features, but it’s tough to say if that promise is enough to coax you into dropping $299 on a pre-order.
Gallery: BeBook Neo 6-inch e-reader
BeBook Neo e-reader launches with WiFi and WACOM capabilities originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Handset maker will release the Xperia X10 smartphone in Japan in April. It will sport a 4-inch touchscreen, 8.1-megapixel camera, and social networking features.
If only every keyboard had the helpful extras of the Adesso AKB-520. One side holds a data card reader capable of reading SD, MMC, and Memory Stick Pro cards. You’ll also get two extra USB 2.0 ports, something that’s always in short supply. That makes mounting digital cameras and flash drives much faster.
The button layout also has some extras, including seven dedicated multimedia keys and seven Internet keys. Use them to quickly call up favorite programs or control music or video playback. This low-profile keyboard offers a built-in wrist rest, but otherwise lacks a hand-friendly ergonomic shape. It would be a good buy for Mac owners who could use a multi-card reader, but, alas, it only runs on Windows 7, Vista, XP, and 2000 systems. Pick one up for a low $29.99.
Years from now, you will remember where you were when you first heard about Adidas’s Original Augmented Reality Pack line of sneakers. This line consists of five different pairs of shoes, each in one bold color, ranging from $64.99 (yellow) to $94.99 (red). They’re standard wearable sneakers, but with a little extra: each one has a code on its tongue. Show this code to your webcam to call up the 3D Adidas Originals Neighborhood through your browser.
At this point, your shoes are now game controllers, as your Webcam translates your shoes’ movements into the virtual world. Walk the neighborhood and choose one of three games to play. A Star Wars storm trooper game, where you use your shoes to aim and fire paintball balloons, will launch February 10. Two more games, a skateboarding game and a DJ Hero-style game, will follow this spring.
The line of shoes is available online at Eastbay.com (search “Adidas augmented reality”) or at Champs stores. Here’s a video to show you more about the augmented experience.
InstaPaper for Kindle now more Kindle-like originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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