Apple TV update reportedly causing screen flicker issues with HDMI to DVI adapters

We've seen reports of strange video behavior with Apple TVs before, and it looks like a new problem has now cropped up with the most recent update. According to a growing number of reports on the Apple support forums, those using an HDMI to DVI adapter to connect the device to their TV seem to have been hit with an annoying issue that causes their screen to flicker every few seconds. That's apparently happening with a wide range of TVs, and at least some are also reporting the same thing happening even if they aren't using an adapter. A few folks have apparently been able to fix things in the interim by simply pulling their HDMI cable and plugging it back in, but most are stuck with the annoying issue -- or worse, a downgraded 480p signal. Having some similar issues? Let us know in comments.

Apple TV update reportedly causing screen flicker issues with HDMI to DVI adapters originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink iLounge News  |  Apple Support  | Email this | Comments

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/eMhR2aiot6E/

QUANTUM QLOGIC RED HAT STANDARD MICROSYSTEMS SRA INTERNATIONAL

Motorola Atrix 4G SBF leaks out

     

Looks as though the Motorola Atrix 4G SBF file has leaked out around the Internet. Not exactly something of interest for everyone but if you're ever needing a quick way to get your device back to stock or know how to recover it from being an expensive brick then this is the file you're gonna want to have laying around. Now we just need a magic 4G switch. [Brief Mobile]

Motorola Atrix 4G SBF leaks out posted originally by Android Central

Sponsored by Android Cases and Accessories

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/-IVmYpee3v0/motorola-atrix-4g-sbf-leaked-out

NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS Android MOTOROLA MOODYS

Daily Crunch: Unplugged Edition

The Loog Three-Stringed Guitar: You Know, For Kids Power Pod, A Practical, Pellet-Shaped Power Strip Yamaha Creates Voice Masking System To Quiet Discrete Conversations Blackbird?s Travel French Press For Good Coffee In The Woods Has HP Lost Its Soul?

Source: http://www.crunchgear.com/2011/03/10/daily-crunch-unplugged-edition/

Synology Hawking Technology Techsmith Lexmark Hewlett Packard

WinZip releases new System Utilities Suite, we go hands-on

Most people know WinZip for its compression products, but with more and more people using Windows's built-in file compression utilities, WinZip is expanding into previously unexplored territory with the new System Utilities Suite. The system optimization tool, debuting today, packs 20 separate utilities, each with its own UI, own Start Menu entry, etc, though the Suite fortunately pulls everything together into an easily accessible 'master utility' that I explore in the video below.

The master utility serves as a desktop or start screen for the package's complete tool set, and offers quick access to a three-click process that optimizes the registry, removes temporary ("junk") files, scans and updates drivers, and more. This would be the first thing new users would run, and once that's done, they could use each of the other tools as needed (or according to their comfort level) to optimize specific aspects of their Windows PC. System Utilities is aimed both at novice users and more advanced nerds; it leans more towards the "advanced" end of the spectrum, as the sheer wealth of tools it offers may appear daunting. There's a tool for just about every purpose, starting with a Duplicate File Remover, through a Registry Cleaner and Optimizer (packaged as two tools), all the way to a Secure Encryptor for sensitive files. There's even a 'Game Optimizer,' which is a full-fledged virtual machine (a "computer in a computer") running your game as its single application, with support for custom keymaps and other goodies. Some of this may sound similar to what CCleaner offers, but as you can see, System Utilities is far more comprehensive.

As you may have noticed, System Utilities uses short, descriptive names, so that even non-expert users would be able to find the right tool at the right time. This is a step in the right direction, but I think for many users, just seeing so many Start Menu entries could be quite confusing.

For $39.95, System Utilities is good value for money, but only for users who are not afraid to dive into the wealth of different tools and find out what each does. For novice users who want to take things to the next level, it's a good gateway from a trusted company. Advanced users who like to keep their PC in tip-top shape could certainly cobble up a collection of loose freeware utilities, but they might also enjoy the cohesive feel of one well-built suite. I know I do.

You can watch me taking my first steps with System Utilities after the jump.

Note: We're going to be running a 10-license giveaway of WinZip System Utilities later on today, so keep your eyes peeled and your RSS reader open!

Continue reading WinZip releases new System Utilities Suite, we go hands-on

WinZip releases new System Utilities Suite, we go hands-on originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/02/14/winzip-releases-new-system-utilities-suite-we-go-hands-on/

Nikon NINTENDO Apple computer Nokia nVidia

Xperia Play set to launch in the UK on March 31 with six games

Sony Ericsson's Xperia Play, the first PlayStation-certified Android smartphone, will launch in the UK on Mar. 31 with six games pre-installed, according to reports on UK gaming site MCV. The Xperia Play will come pre-loaded with Bruce Lee Dragon Warriors, Tetris, Star Battalion, Crash Bandicoot, FIFA 10 and The Sims 3, with a further 50 games available through the PlayStation Suite online store. 

The phone is currently available for pre-order via many British online retailers, with SIM-free prices hovering around £500 (~$800). Subsidized on-contract prices should be competitive, as the Xperia Play is being offered on all major UK networks. Be sure to check out our hands-on coverage of the Xperia Play for more details. [MCV UK]

Xperia Play set to launch in the UK on March 31 with six games posted originally by Android Central

Sponsored by Android Cases and Accessories

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/nNktg-lDhA0/xperia-play-launches-uk-march-31-six-games

Autodesk Sony Toshiba FIRST SOLAR SANDISK

Nintendo rolls a 3DS Demo Pod across US, gets gamers salivating for March 27th launch

The perks of living in a big city, eh? Citizens of Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco are being treated to some three-dimensional March madness from the guys and gals at Nintendo. For the remainder of this month, Ninty's 3DS handheld will be available to try and play in so-called Demo Pods (see above) at strategic locations in each marquee city. The Mii Maker app, nintendogs + cats, Madden NFL Football, Aslphalt 3D, and a selection of other games will be preloaded and waiting for you, letting you have a taste of what's to come on March 27th. See Nintendo's PR after the break for the full details.

Continue reading Nintendo rolls a 3DS Demo Pod across US, gets gamers salivating for March 27th launch

Nintendo rolls a 3DS Demo Pod across US, gets gamers salivating for March 27th launch originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 09:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Joystiq  |   | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/11/nintendo-rolls-a-3ds-demo-pod-across-us-gets-gamers-salivating/

Amazon Logitech International Business Machines CDW Cisco Systems

Purdue researchers make solar cell manufacturing cheaper, more efficient with lasers

Is there anything lasers can't do? We only ask because they seem to be improving everything from microphones to railroads, and now researchers from Purdue University have leveraged the power of light to better manufacture solar cells. Using an ultrashort (as in quadrillionths of a second) pulse laser to more precisely scribe the microchannels connecting thin-film solar cells -- as compared to current mechanical stylus methods -- the Boilermakers were able to improve energy transfer efficiency between cells and significantly reduce manufacturing time. Having demonstrated the process works, research continues to better understand and prepare it for use by manufacturers -- sooner rather than later, we hope.

Purdue researchers make solar cell manufacturing cheaper, more efficient with lasers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 07:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Daily Tech  |  Purdue University  | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/11/purdue-researchers-make-solar-cell-manufacturing-cheaper-more-e/

D-Link MICROSOFT Twitter SYBASE SUN MICROSYSTEMS

Twitter to developers: we want to own the pipes, water, and faucets, but feel free to make soap

An announcement by Ryan Sarver, a member of the platform team at Twitter, could spell bad news for makers of third-party apps that access the growing social network and new ones looking to get in on the action. In a move that will inevitably cause quite a ruckus among developers and tweeters alike, Twitter has essentially decided that no new apps should be developed "that mimic or reproduce the mainstream Twitter consumer client experience." He goes on to say that existing apps will continue to function, but that the bar will be raised in terms of quality and consistency. Specifically, he cites differences across apps in terminology for core functions like @-replying and trending topics as confusing to users and at the root of the change.

According to Sarver, over 90 percent of Twitter users access the service through official Twitter apps, so for many the change won't be drastic. The company hopes developers will shift their focus to other areas of the ecosystem that "focus on areas outside the mainstream consumer client experience" such as publishing tools, curation, and social CRM (consumer relationship management). Still, it's incredibly interesting -- and frankly, disheartening -- to see a Web 2.0 company making such an un-Web 2.0 move. Of course, this could all be part of Twitter's plans to eventually monetize the service, but for now we'll have to take the company at its word, even if that means our choice of clients becomes a little less diverse in the future.

Twitter to developers: we want to own the pipes, water, and faucets, but feel free to make soap originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 23:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Twitter API Announcements Google Group  | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/11/twitter-to-developers-we-want-to-own-the-pipes-water-and-fauc/

Techsmith Lexmark Hewlett Packard Canon Nikon

Tesla Death Ray is an addictive tower defense game

Last week I wrote about Xeno Defense and this week I found Tesla Death Ray, which is almost as addictive, but is clad in a somewhat different costume.

It's a tower defense game in which you have to zap your enemies to oblivion. Much like in Xeno Defense, at the end of each level you get to the store and can use your hard-earned points to purchase upgrades and repair your tower.

Unlike Xeno Defense, you only get to the store if you pass the level. This makes the game much harder, because it means if you've made some wrong choices in terms of upgrades, now you're stuck with a level you simply cannot pass, and need to start the game all over again.

I should at least be able to sell off some of my equipment between retries of the same level, I think. But despite this one flaw, the game manages to be addictive, fun, and fast. I like it, and probably would have finished it if it hadn't been for the upgrade problem.

Tesla Death Ray is an addictive tower defense game originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 13 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/02/13/tesla-death-ray-is-an-addictive-tower-defense-game/

FINISAR Adobe Mashable Amazon Logitech

Will the Wi-Fi Galaxy Tab Only Cost $400? [Unconfirmed]

It may still only be 7-inches and running Android 2.2, but the wi-fi only version of the Galaxy Tab is rumored to hit stores on April 4 for $400, making it cheaper than the iPad by $100. [DroidLife via Phandroid] More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/GlTa8Dvn_rc/will-the-wi+fi-galaxy-tab-only-cost-400

RADISYS RACKABLE SYSTEMS QUEST SOFTWARE QUANTUM QLOGIC

Speedtest.net overhauled with new look, new features

Speedtest.net is pretty much the go-to site for quickly figuring out how fast (or slow) your connection really is and comparing the numbers your ISP boasts with what it actually delivers. And now it's got a new coat of paint and a couple of neat features. In brief:

• New UI: The map widget is much improved; it actually looks like a map now, and it's easy to see where you are.
• Smart server selection: If there are several test servers nearby, Speedtest will now ping each to see which has the least latency and use that for the test. You can still specify servers manually, too.
• User accounts: You can sign up for a free account and aggregate results from several computers/connections.
• Speed Wave: This new feature lets you add your test results to the results of many other users, and get a nice composite view.

All in all, you get some nice, new functionality and a snazzier interface to boot. Nice!

Speedtest.net overhauled with new look, new features originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/07/speedtest-net-overhauled-with-new-look-new-features/

Sony Toshiba FIRST SOLAR SANDISK SALESFORCE COM

Firefox 4 also crashing due to outdated graphics drivers

After reading a new post from Mozilla, it appears as though Google isn't the only browser maker having a hard time with outdated graphics drivers. As Mozilla inches closer and closer to the final release of Firefox 4 -- which, of course, packs hardware accelerated rendering kung fu -- the company's Benoit Jacob has posted a plea to its users.

Please update your graphics drivers.

Like Google, Mozilla has noticed higher volumes of crash reports from Firefox 4 users who were running stale drivers. In addition to offering a general reminder to update your drivers, Mozilla has also posted a listing of the video card drivers which have been added to the Firefox 4 blocklist. If your driver is listed, it's imperative you update if you want to get the best performance out of Firefox 4.

Firefox 4 also crashing due to outdated graphics drivers originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/07/firefox-4-also-suffering-from-outdated-graphics-drivers/

NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS Android MOTOROLA MOODYS

The best Windows Twitter clients: from TweetDeck to tweetc

With more than 190 million users, and less than half of those using Twitter.com to post updates, the installed Twitter client market is massive. There are literally hundreds of Twitter clients spanning every desktop and mobile platform, and even a few cross-platform Web apps thrown into the mix.

Even if you narrow down the search to just one platform -- Windows -- there's still a dizzying amount of choices to pick from. There isn't even an official Twitter for Windows that scared newbies can pick up.

Well, good news: We've whittled down the choices so that you only have to choose from the best of the rest. From the typographically beautiful and slimline MetroTwit, to the heavy-hitting tour de force of Seesmic, and a handful in between, we have a Twitter client for you.

Continue reading The best Windows Twitter clients: from TweetDeck to tweetc

The best Windows Twitter clients: from TweetDeck to tweetc originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/03/the-best-windows-twitter-clients-from-tweetdeck-to-tweetc/

Techsmith Lexmark Hewlett Packard Canon Nikon

Sony, Subaru, and Toyota close factories in wake of earthquake, other companies check in

Our thoughts this morning are with the folks in Japan and the other Pacific areas affected by the massive 8.9 earthquake that struck about 230 miles East of Tokyo. Reports of damage are flooding in from the country, and indeed many familiar manufacturers are checking in. Sony and Toyota have both stopped operations in their factories due to damage. Tragically, one Honda worker lost his life after a wall collapsed, while several Panasonic workers are said to have suffered minor injuries. It remains to be seen exactly what impacts this will have on consumers, but Sony's closed factories were responsible for the production of Blu-ray discs and batteries, while the numerous automotive shutdowns could result in short-term shortages. This bad news sent stocks downward, with German share prices for Sony dropping 2.5 percent and Honda 4.5 percent. We're still watching with concern to see what other impacts the resultant tsunamis could have, but for now we'll keep hoping for the best.

Update: Some further news from Smarthouse, which indicates that Sharp's new 10G LCD plant in Sakai City shut itself down automatically upon first signs of a quake. Hooray for technology.

Sony, Subaru, and Toyota close factories in wake of earthquake, other companies check in originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 09:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Bloomberg, Smarthouse  | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/11/sony-subaru-and-toyota-close-factories-in-wake-of-earthquake/

SANDISK SALESFORCE COM FINISAR Adobe Mashable

StubHub Lets You Buy Tickets from Your Android Phone [Apps]

Whenever I want to see the Knicks play, I have only one routine: check StubHub. Sometimes I explore eBay or delve off in the deep end of Craigslist or even screw myself on the team website but I always, always use StubHub first to see what the prices are like. And after having their app available on iPhone, StubHub finally decided to bring it to Android with all the features I use: buy tickets, search calendars, browse lists, determine by location, select favorite teams, check seats and all ticket related options. Great for those who like to catch a game or rock out to a concert every now and again. [Android Market] More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/CeAKcrhuKQE/stubhub-lets-you-buy-tickets-from-your-android-phone

RADISYS RACKABLE SYSTEMS QUEST SOFTWARE QUANTUM QLOGIC