Venue Pro makes brief appearance on Dell's website: $150 on-contract, December 14th launch?

There's no sign left of it now, but it looks like none other than the Venue Pro made a brief appearance on Dell's website earlier today, complete with a few key details about the device. Namely, that it will apparently run $150 on a two-year contract or $500 off-contract (which is a bit different than the asking price was at Microsoft stores), and that it will start shipping on December 14th. Of course, it's entirely possible that Dell pulled the page in order to make some changes to those details -- and considering the Venue Pro launch so far, that might even be likely.

Venue Pro makes brief appearance on Dell's website: $150 on-contract, December 14th launch? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 17:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/30/venue-pro-makes-brief-appearance-on-dells-website-150-on-cont/

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The Fingerist turns your iPhone into an iKeytar, available now

Remember The Fingerist, the guitar headstock-themed speaker and case for your iPhone or iPod touch? You know, the one with the shoulder strap for public (and private) performances with all of your favorite music making apps? Well, it seems that it's finally available in the states. Indeed, there has been so little fanfare behind this announcement that the company responsible, Evenno, hasn't even acknowledged it on its site. But don't worry: we found this bad boy for $150 on Amazon. And if that's not enough, iLounge has done a series of hands-on photos (see the More Coverage link, below). Or, if you're like us, you can skip the thing altogether and groove to Rick Wakeman after the break. We do have one more thing to say about the Fingerist, however: at least it's not endorsed by this guy.

Continue reading The Fingerist turns your iPhone into an iKeytar, available now

The Fingerist turns your iPhone into an iKeytar, available now originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 14:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/30/the-fingerist-turns-your-iphone-into-an-ikeytar-available-now/

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Dell Inspiron Duo review

When Dell first demoed the Inspiron Duo and its vertically rotating screen on stage at IDF in September, our mouths nearly hit the floor. It looked like a plain old netbook until its 10.1-inch capacitive touchscreen did a magical backflip and folded down over its keyboard to morph into a tablet. It was like nothing we'd ever seen before. And we actually figured it would be the sort of system that would stay locked up in Dell's labs, but when its specs were revealed -- a dual-core Atom N550 processor, 2GB of RAM, and Broadcom Crystal HD accelerator -- it became evident that the netbook / tablet hybrid was the real deal. Running Windows 7 Home Premium and Dell's new Stage interface, the $550 netvertible has the potential to successfully straddle both the netbook and tablet world. It also has a real shot at being the perfect device for those wavering between buying a netbook and a tablet. Indeed, the Duo is filled to the brim with potential, but what's the thing really like to use? We've spent the last few days with the Duo (and its Duo Audio Station) to find out, so hit the break for the official Engadget review!

Editor's note: The review unit Dell sent us was a hardware production unit, but we were told the software was about 95 percent done. We will update this review with our impressions of the final unit when we receive it.

Gallery: Dell Inspiron Duo review

Continue reading Dell Inspiron Duo review

Dell Inspiron Duo review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 15:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/mXS3otwHYg8/

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Play a Game of Billiards On This Incredible Kinetic Sculpture [Sculptures]

Made from colorful junk, Andrew Smith's sculptures all perform amazing kinetic feats. I like how this one in particular resembles a donkey, or some other four-legged creature which has billiard balls running up and down its length. [AndrewSmith via DesignBoom] More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/HRke5YITXoQ/play-a-game-of-billiards-on-this-incredible-kinetic-sculpture

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Speed up Firefox page loading time without using a RAM disk

Yesterday we wrote about moving the cache of Firefox or Chrome onto a RAM disk. Instead of loading cached images and data from the hard drive, it loads from memory, which is a lot faster. It turns out, though, that Firefox can do this without using a RAM disk -- you can simply do it with about:config.

Just follow these instructions -- and don't worry, if you mess it up, you won't break anything.

• Type about:config into the address bar
• Type browser.cache into the Filter field
• Set browser.cache.disk.enable to false (double click it)
• Set browser.cache.memory.enable to true (double click it)
• Right click > New > Integer; type browser.cache.memory.capacity; press OK
• Type in 100000 (this is equivalent to 100 megabytes); press OK
• Close all Firefox tabs and windows, and then restart the browser

If you want more than 100 megabytes of cache -- if you have lots of spare memory, or you're prone to mammoth browsing sessions -- type in 500000 instead for 500 megabytes of cache. To confirm everything is working, visit about:cache and you should see some 'Memory cache device' information.

I'm currently unable to benchmark this change (Firebug doesn't work with FF4 Beta 7!) but in theory it should be just as fast or faster than the RAM disk approach.. Lee has been using it for a few hours and he says page loads are much faster. If you use Firefox, try it out and let us know whether it feels faster or not!

Thanks to commenter danielkza for the tip!

Filed under: Browsers

Speed up Firefox page loading time without using a RAM disk originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 11 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/11/speed-up-firefox-page-loading-time-without-using-a-ram-disk/

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Foki vacuum footwear concept lets you walk in Roomba's shoes

They may not be the first vacuum shoes to emerge in concept form, but these so-called Foki shoes from designer Adika Titut Triyugo are certainly the most stylish -- at least in an ASIMO chic sort of way. They also boast a few new tricks not seen before, including an LED display on top that indicates how much dirt you've picked up, and a unique deign that allows them to be completely folded up when not in use. Of course, "concept" is the key word here, but we've got to guess there's an untapped market out there for wearable appliances. Dust Buster gloves, anyone?

Foki vacuum footwear concept lets you walk in Roomba's shoes originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 05:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/7glhcaNj-28/

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DIY: How to replace the back casing on an iPhone 4

YouTube Link Replacing the back casing of an iPhone 4 is by far the easiest hardware modification for do-it-yourself types. Even the most casual user shouldn’t have a problem performing this one. If having not only a glass front, but a glass back makes you nervous, or you just want to switch it up [...]

DIY: How to replace the back casing on an iPhone 4 is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/NMJ2d3N3-6I/

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The Tech Bubble Is Now On Twitter

While it seems as though every other post we've written lately can be taken as evidence that Silicon Valley is currently in a very optimistic phase, "Facebook Now Worth $50 Billion In Secondary�Trading" pretty much took the cake, until this one. Perhaps a better marker of the "good times" tipping point than the rumored Groupon acquisition (AND the subsequent Groupon for Groupon spoof), the highly contested Tech Bubble of 2010 now has its own Twitter address at @the_tech_bubble.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/qacwQG09SxU/

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Orange Offers �200 iPad in UK

Over in the UK, Orange will sell you a brand new 16GB 3G iPad for just �200 ($311), compared to the usual retail price of �530, or a whopping $826. There’s a catch, of course: To get this low price, you need to sign up for a contract.
If you’re planning on using the 3G part [...]

Source: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/11/orange-offers-200-ipad-in-uk/

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Clean your Market search and browsing history on Android with History Eraser

It's never a bad idea to clean up history files on your devices -- especially your smartphone. As Lifehacker points out, you might have friends constantly wanting to check out your sexy new Android phone, and they don't need to know how many Hotel Mario videos you've been watching on YouTube.

Enter HistoryEraser, which cleans more than just your browsing tracks. This handy little app can also remove search histories for the Android Market, Google Maps, YouTube, and Google Earth. It'll even empty out your call log if you like.

HistoryEraser has garnered a lot of comments for the ease of removing market history alone, so it's worth checking out.

Download History Eraser for Android [AppBrain]

Filed under: Utilities, Android

Clean your Market search and browsing history on Android with History Eraser originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/18/clean-your-market-search-and-browsing-history-on-android-with-hi/

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Daily Crunch: Fortress Edition

The Future Of Paywalls: Microtransactions, Buy-Ins, And Content Wars GameStop: We?re Seeing Wii-like Levels Of Demand For Kinect What Actually Goes On In Your Microwave? Find Out In This Insane Video This Is Something You Put On Your iPhone Watch John Biggs Get Blasted On Four Loko Live

Source: http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/11/20/daily-crunch-fortress-edition/

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Google branches out into machine-curated high-fashion with Boutiques.com

Representing its first chic service, Google has just launched Boutiques.com. In true Google style, Boutiques parses hundreds of thousands of products to produce a personalized shopping experience that's tailored just for you. Interestingly, there's no sign of an accompanying Android app -- only an iPad app [iTunes].

Boutiques uses 'fashion rules' garnered from high-fashion taste-makers -- designers, fashion bloggers, stylists and celebrities -- to produce a wardrobe of clothes just for you. Have a quick step through the Stylyzer to discover your favorite style of clothes -- or take a look at the wondrous array of dress styles that you can choose from.

Of course, the ultimate goal is to shoehorn you into buying merchandise. Once you're done filling in your loved (and hated) styles of dress, top, bottom and shoes, you're shown to your storefront, which is full of perfectly-picked items of clothing with all the right accessories. Take a look at my storefront, if you can't be bothered to sign up and click through each of the steps.

Sadly, Boutiques only offers female clothes at the moment -- and the products it lists are all from American stores. Still, it's early days -- I'm sure Google has lots more in store.

Filed under: Google, web 2.0

Google branches out into machine-curated high-fashion with Boutiques.com originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/17/google-branches-out-into-machine-curated-high-fashion-with-bouti/

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Better Pop Up Blocker for Chrome blocks pop-ups -- better

Who doesn't love pop-ups? Really, I mean, it has to be the world's most effective and well-respected mode of advertising. You're browsing along, reading something on the Web, and suddenly your screen explodes with color and NSFW video clips. Seriously, how can you not enjoy that?

If you're one of the odd few who aren't enthusiastic about pop-ups, you might appreciate Better Pop Up Blocker. While Chrome already features some pop-up blocking measures, they're not very serious. Even when you add the popular AdBlock extension, Chrome's blocking abilities still leave something to be desired. This point is made quite convincingly by the Better Pop Up Blocker homepage. If you're using Chrome, just click the image that says Click me, I'm an image, and see what I mean.

By default, Chrome allowed three different huge pop-up windows to appear. After installing Better Pop Up Blocker, no pop-up appeared when clicking the image. I was still able to see what pop-ups were blocked using the extension's menu and open them if I did want to access them. The browser action icon will every time it blocks a pop-up, just to let you know it's working.

All in all, it's a welcome addition to my Chrome installation - and one that will remain installed on my system.

Filed under: Google

Better Pop Up Blocker for Chrome blocks pop-ups -- better originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 28 Nov 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/28/better-pop-up-blocker-for-chrome-blocks-pop-ups-better/

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Toshiba's 32-inch Power TV runs for 2 hours on integrated battery

You read that headline correctly, Toshiba just announced its new Power TV family of battery-powered LED TVs. Mind you, these aren't tiny portables. Toshiba's PC 1 sets are pushing 32- or 24-inches and are the world's first (according to Toshiba) to integrate a rechargeable battery good for about two hours of power. Why? Because even people lacking clean, consistent power desire the mind-numbing escape afforded by a large televised soccer football match. The sets feature "auto signal booster" tech to enhance viewing in areas with weak signal coverage and "auto view" to optimize the picture based on ambient lighting conditions. Tosh is also announcing its new 55-inch 55ZL800 3D LED flagship TV with new multiprocessor CEVO Engine as well as its 29-mm deep WL700 series of slim LED TVs available in 46- and 55-inch models. See the full press release after the break.

Continue reading Toshiba's 32-inch Power TV runs for 2 hours on integrated battery

Filed under: Displays, HDTV

Toshiba's 32-inch Power TV runs for 2 hours on integrated battery originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 04:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/29/toshibas-32-inch-power-tv-runs-for-2-hours-on-integrated-batter/

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CrossLoop brings remote desktop control to Android

If you use CrossLoop to remotely access your desktop computer -- or assist friends, family, and clients -- you've now got one more way to get connected. Those of you who also own an Android device can beta test CrossLoop's new app, which brings a good bit of the desktop app's functionality to your smartphone (or tablet).

New users will need to create a CrossLoop account to try out the app, and you'll need also an annual subscription to keep using it (a free trial is available). Subscriptions start at $19.95.

Download Android VNC (prerequisite) [Android Market link]
Download CrossLoop for Android [Android Market link]

Filed under: Utilities, Android

CrossLoop brings remote desktop control to Android originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/18/crossloop-brings-remote-desktop-control-to-android/

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Microsoft Kinect controlling Windows 7, exciting proof of concept

While hackers were quickly developing open-source drivers for Microsoft's new, depth-sensing motion capturing Kinect, it seems like Microsoft has an official partner in the shape of Evoluce, the multi-touch gesture experts. In a video (after the break), you can see two people using Kinect and Windows 7 to rotate and zoom 3D models, paint on a canvas, and browse websites.

The video, for the most part, isn't particularly impressive, but as always it's a proof of very exciting concepts. Instead of two people playing with banal holiday snaps, imagine some kind of interface that can be manipulated by multiple people at the same time -- a war game, perhaps. If you had Kinect on top of your computer monitor, you could lean back in your chair and surf sites with tiny hand gestures, rather than controlling a mouse or keyboard -- sign me up!

The most exciting thing, though, is that -- hopefully -- the software won't be too expensive. With an open-source driver in the wild, Evoluce can't charge too much. It's obviously in Microsoft's benefit to sell Kinect directly to Windows 7 (and 8!) users, too, so the software might even be bundled!

Continue reading Microsoft Kinect controlling Windows 7, exciting proof of concept

Microsoft Kinect controlling Windows 7, exciting proof of concept originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 07:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/22/microsoft-kinect-controlling-windows-7-exciting-proof-of-concep/

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Don't Go to War with This Aliens Replica M41A Pulse Rifle [Props]

Movie prop replicas are a luxury item for many aficionados, sure, but for $900 an Aliens replica M41A pulse rifle better have a working ammo counter, spring loaded triggers and a strap so we can recreate the fateful finale! More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/y1Bl4ESwjGE/dont-go-to-war-with-this-aliens-replica-m+41a-pulse-rifle

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