Sep 20
Sep 20
Raspberry Pi, the tiny computer that has struck a chord with the programmers and tech geeks around the world, is getting a very significant upgrade from Raspberry Pi Foundation.
The new upgrade is being touted as the ‘turbo mode’ upgrade and quite rightly so since it allows you to squeeze another 50% extra performance out of this credit-card sized computer. (more…)
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: The Dark Pi Rises in the form of a drone, Chromium browser for Raspberry Pi beta released ,
Sep 20
Amazon Introduces Storefront Billboards To Help Select Kindle Fire, Fire HD Apps Stand Out
Posted in: Today's Chili
App discoverability is a constant thorn in the side of developers. It’s also an obvious annoyance for consumers who have to spent time sifting through app store chaff to find the bits of software really worth downloading. Amazon looks to be considering both sides of this problem with a new feature — called Billboards — it’s just added to the Kindle Fire and Fire HD app store.
Announced on its blog today, Billboards aim to act like posters for apps by announcing their existence and enticing people to download them.
Billboards appear at the top of Amazon’s app store when Kindle Fire and Fire HD users view the store. Tapping on a Billboard will jump straight into the app info page, where there’s also an option to buy or download it.
Amazon’s blog post includes some guidance for the kind of imagery it deems suitable for Billboards — encouraging developers to create simple, bold, eye-catching imagery. It also warns them off from listing specifics such as price or advertising discounts on the Billboards.
When creating your image, we recommend that you strive for an engaging image that speaks to what your app is all about. Make your image colorful to catch the eye of customers, and choose imagery that promotes the essence of your app and brand. Text on your promotional image should be large, simple, and readable. Do not add the price to the image ($0.99) or any discount call outs (50% off).
We recommend developers use promotional images that visually communicate the essence of their app. The promotional image should speak to what your app is all about, your brand and should entice customers to simply check out your great app.
App developers wanting to add a Billboard image to accompany their app should submit a 1024 x 500 pixels graphic (PNG or JPG format) via Amazon’s Mobile App Distribution Portal.
Of course there are no guarantees your Billboard will appear atop Amazon’s store — since Amazon is the one doing the picking. “Promotional images will be curated from our selection of apps and highlighted in the billboards placement,” it notes.
Sep 20
Space Shuttle Endeavour has undertaken its final journey today, blasting off not into space but to its new retirement home at the Dryden Flight Research Center in California. The NASA craft hitched a ride on the back of a modified Boeing 747, the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), and conducted low-level flyovers across a number of important sites including NASA’s Johnson Space Center and Houston.
Endeavour flew as low as 1,500 feet – with the full permission of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), naturally – over crowds of well-wishers, including the home of retired astronaut Mark Kelly. The Tucson, Arizona, fly-by was a special request by Kelly, ABC News reports, who was the last person to command a mission aboard the shuttle.
Although Endeavour’s final resting place was a hotly contested matter, California does have some history with the shuttle. It was built in Downey by Rockwell International, Space reports, a company later absorbed into Boeing, and manufactured to replace Challenger after the 1986 accident.
During its operation service with NASA, Endeavour flew 25 missions and a total of 123m space miles. It is expected to complete its sightseeing tour and land at the Dryden Flight Research Center at approximately noon PDT today.
NASA’s Endeavour begins final journey is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Sep 20
You can do some amazing things with 3D printers. You can make toys and all sorts of cool things. Look what Joaquin Baldwin created with one. This is a Möbius strip showing the first level of Super Mario Bros.
Mario can run his little legs off as fast as he can in order to save the Princess, but he will still be trapped in a never-ending hell level for all eternity. Well, unless Doctor Who comes to his rescue or something.
What’s most impressive is the level of detail. Every mushroom, turtle, cloud and star are there, all carved at different heights, which makes it look amazing. Best of all, you can order one for yourself over on Shapeways for $24 (USD). Great job Joaquin.
[Reddit via Nerdcore via Neatorama]
Sep 20
Did you preorder an iPhone 5? Waiting can be agonizing. You just want that pretty, shiny LTE smartphone in your hands NOW. To help you out in the patience department, Conan O’Brien has put together a tongue-in-cheek primer on how to pass the time. And the solutions sound strangely similar to symptoms of deep depression. [Team Coco] More »
Sep 20
Navigon and StreetPilot Onboard update adds public transport, Apple Maps and iPhone 5 support
Posted in: Today's Chili 
Navigon’s gearing up for tomorrow’s big day by updating its, erm, Navigon and StreetPilot Onboard apps. The refreshed software adds support for the iPhone 5‘s new 4-inch display as well as baking in public transport listings to Cupertino’s presently underwhelming mapping offering. It’s also gaining the promised “last mile” function to record the location of your car when finishing your journey on foot, sparing you the embarrassment of getting lost in the multi-storey lot when you return. The company’s offering a $10 discount on its apps if you pick ’em up before October 3rd, while the in-app purchase of Urban Guidance has been reduced from $5 to $3 for the same period.
Update: We’ve had a note from Garmin to say that while Navigon update is now available, StreetPilot Onboard has been slightly delayed.
Filed under: Cellphones, GPS, Mobile
Navigon and StreetPilot Onboard update adds public transport, Apple Maps and iPhone 5 support originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Sep 2012 10:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sep 20
Just when you thought the whole “let’s take each other to court” thing was fading out in the tech world, Samsung confirmed that it plans to sue Apple over eight patents relating to its implementation of LTE tech in the iPhone. Ugh. More »
Sep 20
Casio’s not always the first name you think of when you’re shopping for a digital camera, but occasionally the company comes up with a neat feature that might have you reconsidering that Nikon or Canon. Such is the case with its new Exilim EX-ZR1000, which makes it extra easy with not only a flip around LCD display, but also a built-in stand keeping it propped up in either portrait or landscape modes. More »
Sep 20
Photokina 2012 wrap-up: Canon, Nikon, lust-worthy Leicas, a full-frame Sony compact and more
Posted in: Today's Chili 
The sun is setting on Germany’s monster of a photo show, but Photokina didn’t come and go without shaking up the industry. The biennial trade show drew all the big names — Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Sony and many more manufacturers all had their latest wares on display for tens of thousands of photographers, journalists and local attendees — with each company releasing a suite of impressive products. Canon and Nikon made an impression with their $2,100 6D and D600 full-frame DSLRs, while Olympus, Panasonic, Sony and Fujifilm each upped the ante with new mirrorless lineups, and Leica demoed its new M, which for the first time brings live-view and video capture to the high-end rangefinder series. The fun doesn’t stop there, though — there was plenty more to explore, and you’ll find it all in our wrap-up just after the break.
Gallery: Photokina 2012 wrap-up
Filed under: Announcements, Cameras
Photokina 2012 wrap-up: Canon, Nikon, lust-worthy Leicas, a full-frame Sony compact and more originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Sep 2012 09:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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