Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by e_expert

Technology: Human heart used as iPod battery?

e_expert — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 14:26:20 +0800

Wow… read this:

“The human heartbeat could be used to power an ipod after scientists developed a tiny chip which uses the body's own movement to generate power. (…) Hailed as a milestone, it can use tiny movements such as the pinch of a finger to generate power.”

Amazing much?
‘
BBS team, add this link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/appl...uman-heart.html

Color

e_expert — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:15:19 +0800

Has anyone already tried the app ‘Color’? I’ve been reading about it everywhere, but still not sure what the fuzz is about.

3DS useless for the 3D blind

e_expert — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:59:11 +0800

So apparently there’s a small percentage of the population that can’t see 3D. Interesting. And sucks…! Do you guys know anyone who’s 3D blind?http://gizmodo.com/#!5784920/nintendo-distancing-itself-from-the-3d-in-3ds

App that blocks outgoing calls

e_expert — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 18:43:19 +0800

Does anyone know an app that blocks certain incoming calls? Thanks.

Magnify Your iPhone to be a Kindle Sized Tablet wi

e_expert — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 15:38:32 +0800

Big phones and small tablets are en vogue but the iPhone and iPad are still stuck with a 3.5-inch and 9.7-inch screen. Apple won't make something in the middle for you so take it upon yourself and strap on a magnifying lens case to your iPhone. Nulogia's Tarsier 2.0 is a flat lens that hangs over the iPhone and magnifies the iPhone screen to about 6 inches big. Not shabby! Of course the damn thing is unwieldy but the added screen size could be incredibly helpful for those with old eyes and for use as a stationary reading tablet. $25 - Gizmodo

http://gizmodo.com/#!5784406/magnify-y...-this-lens-case

XXX Domain Names Pass Final Approval

e_expert — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 13:00:09 +0800

Despite thinking it was done in June of last year, the ICANN (no, no I can't either) registry has OFFICIALLY approved the dispatch of .xxx domains for use by pr0n sites. *pre-registers fetish site www.bangingdinoassro.xxx*
On Friday in San Francisco, the California nonprofit that oversees Internet addresses gave the green light to the virtual red-light district. The vote comes after several years of clashes and deliberations by the Internet Corp. for Assigned Names and Numbers.

Adult-entertainment sites will still populate the .com space and every other corner of the Internet. But now, many pornographic sites can also join a specialized domain that instantly telegraphs its content with the infamous suffix. ICM Registry, a Florida-based company that will run .xxx, said the domain's Web sites will be the Internet's most trusted place for adult entertainment: ICM will monitor the sites to ensure that they prohibit spam, viruses and any other illegal behavior. And it says it will use some of the registration fees for an affiliated foundation to promote free speech and combat child pornography.
But the dirty domain has a slew of critics. The Obama administration and some foreign nations say the domain's offensive material will only encourage oppressive regimes to block .xxx entirely.
Eh, I kind of like getting my credit-card info stolen by shifty pr0n sites. And then tracking down whoever's responsible and beating them within an inch of their life.It's kind of a hobby of mine. Some people make model airplanes. I just sniff the glue and make necklaces out of teeth. - Geekologie

http://www.geekologie.com/2011/03/xxx_doma...nal_approva.php

Trap rainbows in a cage

e_expert — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 07:25:54 +0800

I read a mighty interesting article today how some scientists managed to ‘trap’ a rainbow. In short, this is what they did:

‘They etched grooves into a tiny piece of silver, each groove slightly deeper than the last. They then shone light over the surface, letting some of it interact with the plasmons on the silver. They found that the grooves trapped different wavelengths of light from 500-700 nanometers.’

Whoa… can you just imagine you get to have some rainbow creator in your garden or living room WANT!
http://io9.com/#!5782366/someday-youll...inbow-in-a-cage

For The Apocalypse: Submarine Tanks

e_expert — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 09:30:00 +0800

Submarine tanks: they just make sense. No, no they don't. But they do make claustrophobics shit their pants just thinking about them!
It wasn't necessary to invent an entirely fake challenge for the basis of this concept, but Phil Pauley Interactive went and did it anyway. It's the Transatlantic Seafloor Research Challenge, and (if it existed) it would promote oceanic research by tasking submarines equipped with wheels or tank treads to drive all the way across the Atlantic ocean, because why not?
Ah yes, what better way to undertake oceanic research THAN DRIVING OVER EVERYTHING WITH A TANK? "Look -- a new species of *SQUISH!* nevermind." OMG, the mermaids are gonna be piiiiiiiiiiiissed. Even more so than the time I went snorkeling with a 'show me your tits' sign (I accidentally harpooned one in the fin).
On another, much more serious sea-related note: my heart and thoughts go out to all those affected by the recent earthquake and tsunami.
Hit the jump for another shot of this model and another one with wheels. Underwater monster truck FTW!
- Geekologie

http://www.geekologie.com/2011/03/for_the_...submarine_t.php

Apple patent application for 'Dynamically Generate

e_expert — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:31:20 +0800

Ever wish life was like a movie, that theme songs went to highlight your every dramatic action? Thispatent application from Cupertino isn't quite like that, but it's close, basically creating dynamic music videos for your friends when they call. It describes a means of stitching together video and audio sequences of the caller and dynamically composting them to create a beautiful little ditty celebrating your BFF -- or your mother in law, as it were. Such sequences are to be generated by so-called "seed" songs or videos, content that can either be stored directly on the recipient's phone or pulled from Genius data stored in the ether. There's potential here for great stuff, but we already dread a future where data comes from browsing habits and instead of cool tunes and video sequences we're served jingles and McDonald's commercials.. - Engadget

http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/10/apple-p...ted-ring-tones/

Are Apple and Canon Working Together On A Secret P

e_expert — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 12:32:11 +0800

Any partnership made with Apple is sure to net the other party a lot of profit and exposure, and I'm willing to bet that even if rumors of a Canon and Apple tie-updon't come to fruition, Canon will still benefit from their name being thrown into the ring.
Website CanonRumors has heard that Canon and Apple could be collaborating in the field of photography, perhaps with Aperture of the next Final Cut Pro. According to TechCrunch's sources who were privy to an early showing of the next Final Cut Pro, it will be the "biggest overhaul to Final Cut Pro since the original version was created over 10 years ago." What could Canon's products have to do with it?
Something related to their cameras is obvious, but don't forget they also make printers and copiers. I can't imagine anything groundbreaking could occur in those fields, but would Apple let Canon license a mini version of their video-editing software for use on their cameras? I'm just speculating here, but what do you think could come of this partnership?
AppleInsider has a few ideas, with their MobileMe Photo Stream sounding quite possible. We know Apple's MobileMe is due for a large shake-up this year—and might even go free—but could Canon's Wi-Fi equipped cameras support the transfer of photos and video to the cloud? Or maybe a sort of AirPlay transfer to Macs and Apple TVs?
Whatever it is, we can't imagine Canon's competitors will be too happy hearing these whispers. - Gizmodo

http://gizmodo.com/#!5780499/are-apple...-secret-project

What gadget dealer do you use?

e_expert — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 17:39:34 +0800

I’m doing some small research for a study project about gadgets e-commerce in China. Have you guys bought from these companies, and if yes, which ones? 1. Miniinthebox.com, 2. Dealextreme.com, 3 Chinavasion.com.

Motorola Xoom Review: The Future of Tablets (Wheth

e_expert — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:16:38 +0800

It's taken almost a year to get here. The first tablet to matter since the original iPad. The Xoom is the first real Android tablet, arriving ahead of the iPad 2 by a hair. Since it's living in the "year of iPad 2," as Apple put it, it seemed only fitting to wait to drop judgment until we'd seen everything the iPad 2 had to offer. Frankly, there's no way the Xoom could live up to everything it needs to be. It's not even done yet, really. It has problems. But it's still very good. It's the first non-iPad tablet worth buying. And it'll get better. - Gizmodo

http://gizmodo.com/#!top/5773009

Wii-Swords

e_expert — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 14:14:28 +0800

I read that the new Zelda is coming out (The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword) somewhere this year, and the preview got me so excited!! I was just wondering whether they have swords for the Wii, then I found this oneon Amazon. But I think it’s a bit pricey for what you get. There must be tons of Wii swords out there no? Anyone purchased any?

Motorola Xoom Review: The Future of Tablets (Wheth

e_expert — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 12:33:34 +0800

Blackberry Messenger coming to iPhone & Android

e_expert — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 16:07:47 +0800

Even though I’ve used a Blackberry for years, I never gotten around to purchase Blackberry service on it. So I never used the Blackberry Messenger. BB users keep telling me how awesome it is and how different that normal IM/texting. Now it’s coming to iPhone & Android. Won’t take away the exclusivity of it to BB users? Or am I on a wrong train of thought?

Gmail backup methods

e_expert — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:45:39 +0800

Gmail’s e-mail loss last week gave me a bit of a scare and made me realize I actually don’t back my e-mail up that much. I used Thunderbird in the past and there’s a bunch of Windows-based back-up programs available, but I’m a mac user. Also made me think about whether to choose about cloud-based backups or local backups. What do you think?

DIY micro sim?

e_expert — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 16:25:30 +0800

Does anyone of you know whether it works if just cut a normal sim card and make it into a micro sim to use in my iPad? My mobile phone provider says I can’t…

Spotted: Megatron Tank… The Decepticons really ARE

e_expert — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:21:51 +0800

Just as I hoped suspected…the Transformers are real, and that scene from Transformers 2 that takes place in Shanghai was actually documentary footage. Conspiracy I say, CONSPIRACY! Those doctors won’t be able to dispute my sanity with this kind of proof on my side! OK, maybe I’m getting a tad ahead of myself…
This monstrosity is actually a 1:1 replica of Megatron in Tank mode designed and built by a man who calls himself Steel Legend (well deserved). He didn’t post much information about his project, so no word on the cost, but he does say that all told the model weighs more than 5,000kg (~5.51 Tons)! Honestly, this is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen, but it’d be a million times better if you could drive it. - GadgetsRepublic

http://gadgetsrepublic.com/spotted-megatro...hiding-in-china

Android Phone Gets Driver Out of a Ticket

e_expert — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 14:54:24 +0800

College student Sahas Katta was able to beat his speeding ticket in traffic court using…drumroll please…his Android smartphone, and a handy app. Katta was pulled over and charged with going 40mph in a 25mph zone. But he wasn’t going 40, only 26mph. His word against the officer’s right? Not so much, since he was running My Tracks by Google in the background on his Motorola Droid phone.

The free app records and visualizes GPS data on a map, tracking distance, average speed, average moving speed, and max speed. Katta downloaded this information to Google Docs and brought it with him to the courtroom. He was able to convince the judge that the officer might not have been using his radar gun correctly, introducing enough reasonable doubt that he was declared “not guilty”. Nice!

– via Engadget

http://www.slashgear.com/android-phone-get...icket-22135241/

Google: All of Honeycomb’s Features “Will Come to

e_expert — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 15:44:16 +0800

Worried that the tablet-optimized version of Android, Honeycomb, has features your phone will never see the light of day of? Dan Morrill, the Android Open Source and Compatibility Tech Lead, has tweeted that "Honeycomb runs all existing Android apps; all the APIs & features will come to phones in some form. Just a matter of time."
Sure, not all Android phones will receive the Honeycomb features—helloooooo, G1 owners!—but it's likely Morrill is referring to the next minor step in the sweet-tasting Android update adventure. It's been rumored that it'll still be called "Gingerbread," and not Ice Cream—which Eric Schmidt pretty much confirmed will be the next major version of Android, likely Android 4.0.
Android 2.4 will combine Gingerbread and Honeycomb, and also address the segregation issue between tablet and phone. One device running Android 2.4 out of the box has already leaked: the HTC Revolver, which is supposedly launching on AT&T. We also have it on good authority that HTC's Facebook-tweaked phones, the ChaCha and Salsa, will be launching with 2.4 as well. - Gizmodo

http://gizmodo.com/#!5762841/google-al...es-in-some-form