Vizio Co-Star offers Google TV and OnLive for $99.99

Back at CES 2012, Vizio revealed that it wouldn’t just be pumping out affordable televisions but also Google TV set top boxes. One of the devices at the time held the uninspired VAP430 moniker, but the company has today announced that the box has officially launched, and is now called the Vizio Co-Star. The box uses the latest version of Google TV, features support for the full Chrome web browser as well as apps, and has brought OnLive along for the ride too.

Vizio say that the Co-Star has support for Flash and HTML5 in the web browser, allowing users to make full use of the internet without encountering any problems. The box can be plugged in to exisiting satellite or cable boxes via HDMI as well, allowing customers to use Google TV while keeping an eye on live television. If you’re trying to cut the cord, then all the relevant streaming services as onboard, such as Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, and YouTube.

On top of all of that, Vizio has partnered with OnLive to bring streaming games to the box. You’ll be able to control everything using the provided Bluetooth remote, or by using a separate QWERTY keyboard. Connectivity for the box includes 802.11n WiFi and a USB port for hard drives and other accessories. DLNA support has also made the grade, allowing you to wireless pipe media to the box from DLNA enabled devices.

Pre-orders for the Vizio Co-Star begin in July from Vizio’s website. The box will cost $99.99, and the company will throw in free shipping for a limited time.


Vizio Co-Star offers Google TV and OnLive for $99.99 is written by Ben Kersey & originally posted on SlashGear.
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Firefox for Android Gets a Speed Boost, But Still Needs Work [Firefox]

Firefox, the ubiquitous browser for desktops, has been on Android for a while, but well, it was pretty slow. An update that just went live brings it some much needed speed, but there are still some nuts and bolts missing. More »

Native Firefox Android browser adds speed, Flash, HTML5 and a fresh look (hands-on)

DNP Native Firefox Android browser adds speed, fresh look, Flash, HTML5 and, er, speed

After a brief stretch in beta followed by some vague teasing, Firefox’s native Android app update is finally set to hit Google Play. While there are a raft of bells and whistles — a new welcome page, curvy Australis tabs, Flash and HTML5 support, for starters — it’s the browser’s newfound speed that is getting the MVP treatment. That rapidity is as good a place as any to start a quick hands-on, especially since the native browser lag on one of our older handsets, a Galaxy S, often makes us want to hurl it through a pane of glass. Mozilla claims it built Firefox to a new benchmark it developed called Eideticker, resulting in an overall browser experience twice as fast as the stock Android one. As advertised, initial loading is quasi-instant, and navigation, zooming and tab switching seemed smooth as well, even on the two-gen-old phone.

Feature-wise, preferences and other desktop settings imported easily with Firefox Sync’s shared password system, and the unfortunately named “Awesome Screen” is the new home page shown above, from which it’s fairly simple to launch your preferred sites. Flash and HTML5 generally displayed correctly despite a few minor rendering bugs, and the curved tabs and other design touches make it one of the more elegant Android browsers we’ve played with. Unfortunately, many sites display in full because they don’t yet detect Firefox as a mobile app, but the installation of the Phony 3.2 add-in lets it impersonate other smartphone browsers, and it seemed to work well. We also didn’t like that tabbed browsing now requires two taps to get to another page, unlike the previous version, but we imagine that was needed for the increased speed. Overall, Firefox is a welcome addition to the Android ecosystem — we bet you’re just as eager to start browsing as we are, so stay tuned for the app to hit Google Play later today, or jump past the break for a quick speed demo from the kind folks at Mozilla.

Update: The new version is now available at the source link below.

Continue reading Native Firefox Android browser adds speed, Flash, HTML5 and a fresh look (hands-on)

Native Firefox Android browser adds speed, Flash, HTML5 and a fresh look (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jun 2012 09:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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QR Code Tattoos – it was Just a Matter of Time

Have you guys noticed QR codes turning up everywhere. Whats with these little suckers? They are on my groceries, newspapers, fast food packaging, they can be seen in shopping malls, on posters and on postcards. I guess we should have known it wouldn’t be long until someone started inking these codes onto their bodies.

Check out what may be the worlds first QR Code Tattoo, no longer are you stuck with a single image of the skull and crossbones you got in college, with a QR tattoo you can change what your body art links to, every single day, or simply animate your tag, by linking to a cartoon that imparts movement to your still life, make your skull sing, or that rose on your shoulder blade bloom.

The process is simple enough, tattooed in the location of your choice in the same way any other tattoo would be created and the QR codes function just as you would expect, allowing you to point your scan to anything you would like… a stock market ticker, breaking news report, social media status, joke of the day, or maybe just a picture of a different tattoo du jour… that could be ironic.

I suppose QR tattoos are slightly interesting, and I guess if I had thought about it, I would have realized they were coming, but then I wondered if there could be some real usefulness here, could doctors someday scan our tags for medical histories in case of an emergency? or could we permanently be marked with our identification or blood type. Will QR tattoos become commonplace or is this just a passing fad? Check out what most consider to be the first ever QR code tattoo HERE.

Source: www.llns.com

 

[ QR Code Tattoos – it was Just a Matter of Time copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]


Vizio’s Google TV box emerges as the Co-Star Stream Player, goes up for pre-order in July with OnLive gaming

Vizio Co-Star hands-on

Remember the Vizio VAP430 Stream Player that we tried during CES? Half a year later, the Google TV hub is getting full launch details, just in time for Google I/O. Along with receiving the much more elegant title of Co-Star Stream Player, the set-top box now bakes in OnLive streaming game support — the Co-Star could, in theory, replace a game console for any American with a good broadband connection. Whether or not playing Just Cause 2 on a TV is in the cards, the hub ticks all the 2012 Google TV checkboxes, including a hybrid keyboard and remote, 3D-capable 1080p video and DLNA media sharing. Before you rush to the local big-box store to pick one up, be warned that pre-orders don’t start until July, and then only on Vizio’s website. The $100 price, however, will make it considerably easier to wait.

Continue reading Vizio’s Google TV box emerges as the Co-Star Stream Player, goes up for pre-order in July with OnLive gaming

Vizio’s Google TV box emerges as the Co-Star Stream Player, goes up for pre-order in July with OnLive gaming originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jun 2012 09:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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QR codes on apparel share information about yourself to others

I guess business cards are no longer relevant in the future, not when companies start to catch on the idea of printing QR codes on shirts, suits and jackets sometime down the road. Of course, this idea might just occupy a niche market, but only time will tell. What QRTribe apparel has in mind, is to custom print a QR code on your apparel of choice, so that whoever scans this code will be led to a page that shows off a slew of private information – basically, a Wikipedia on yourself. This page which the QR code directs people to will also be able to show links to your Facebook account as well as other social network pages, in addition to essential contact information such as your phone number.

No idea on just which gender would be more partial to such an idea – I guess girls would generally prefer to avoid being a walking, open encyclopedia, as they tend to want to maintain that sense of mystery which drives us guys nuts when we pursue the girl of our dreams. Depending on where you want QRTribe to print your personal QR code, it will cost anywhere from $40 all the way to approximately $100. It is not that weird an idea actually, as a cow already has  her own QR code, so why not humans?

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Lady Shamrock cow gets her own QR code , Rock the Vote parades t-shirt with QR code design ,

Space X successfully test-fires Merlin 1D engine, forgets to buy marshmallows

Image

SpaceX has added another string to its now weighty bow by successfully test firing the Merlin 1D engine, which will propel future craft into the thermosphere. The 1D is the sequel to the Merlin engines used to convey the DragonX to the International Space Station, with an improved thrust-to-weight ratio that reportedly makes it the most efficient booster engine ever built. It’s hoped that the gear will be ready to make the jump to full use in time for the sixth flight of the Falcon 9, currently pencilled in for 2013. If you’re the sort who enjoys watching a big pile of fire being pushed into a concrete chamber, you’re really gonna love the video after the break.

Continue reading Space X successfully test-fires Merlin 1D engine, forgets to buy marshmallows

Space X successfully test-fires Merlin 1D engine, forgets to buy marshmallows originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jun 2012 09:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Facebook kills off “Find Friends Nearby” feature?

Facebook logoDo you think that Facebook has a penchant to do things quietly on the side? After all, it was reported earlier that Facebook did introduce a “Find Friends Nearby” feature on the quiet, and not only that, there were whispers of discontent across the Internet when Facebook started to change the email address displayed without getting permission from the user. Well, for those who missed out on the “Find Friends Nearby” feature, chances are you would have missed out on it completely, as it is no longer available. Perhaps this has something to do with the social networking giant being worried about the kind of privacy issues that might arise. (more…)

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Designer comes up with Facebook-themed ice cream concept, Friendthem sues Facebook over “Find Friends Nearby” feature,

Apple beefs up security with Security Update for Mountain Lion Developer Preview 4

With the recent malware attack on Macs a couple of months back, it seems that the illusion of Macs being immune to viruses and malware has been shattered. That being said, it seems that Apple is at the very least doing something about it, at least for its upcoming OS X Mountain Lion update. The Cupertino company has released a new Security Update for the Mountain Lion Developer Preview version that introduces a couple of new security features which will hopefully protect OS X users from future malware attacks.

According to the reports, the new update will now automatically check for security updates on a daily basis which will help keep OS X users on their toes and up to date with the latest virus definitions and protections. It will even come with the ability to install the updates automatically or when the user restarts their computer, thus saving users the trouble of installing the updates themselves. If you are running the Developer Preview 4, the update is available via the Mac App Store and will be a 1.16GB download.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: OS X Mountain Lion rumored for 19th July release, Skype 5.8 arrives for Mac and is OS X Mountain Lion-ready,

San Diego Unified School District purchases 26,000 iPads to be used in classrooms

It seems that tablets being used in our education system are becoming more commonplace these days. To that effect, the San Diego Unified School District has recently purchased about 26,000 iPads that will be making its way into the hands of its students this fall, thus making it one of the largest programs to date. This is part of a voter-approved funding program known as “Proposition S”, which basically sets funds aside that will allow technology in the classroom to remain up to date. No word on what sort of software the district will be utilizing, but some are speculating that it could use Apple’s iBooks 2 which has been enhanced for textbooks. The iPads will mainly be utilized in 5th and 8th grade classrooms as well as some high school classes. So if you’re a parent whose kids are attending any of the schools in the San Diego Unified School District, it looks like your kids are in for a treat this fall.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: LectureTools is an iPad app that hopes to make lectures a more engaging and intimate experience, City schools considering purchasing 6,000 iPads in place of desktop computers,