Tech Today w/ Ken May

We got to feeling a bit curious about how exactly HTC’s latest Android superphone, the Sensation 4G, stacks up against its fellow dual-core competition, so we did what every geek does in such situations, we compiled a chart. Included in this list are the finest and brightest Android handsets from each of the major manufacturers that have gone dual-core so far: the Galaxy S II, the Atrix 4G, the Optimus 2X / G2X, and HTC’s own EVO 3D. As it turns out, there are quite a few commonalities among these phones (besides the benchmark-crushing performance). They all boast screens of either 4 or 4.3 inches in size, the minimum amount of RAM among them is 512MB, the smallest battery is 1500mAh, and yes, they all have front-facing video cameras. Basically, it’s the future of smartphones, reduced to a stat sheet. As such, it must also come with the warning that specs aren’t everything, and user experience will most often depend on the software available on each device and on the preferences of the human holding it. With that proviso fully digested, join us after the break for the data.

Continue reading HTC Sensation versus the rest of the dual-core world: smartphone spec sheet smackdown

HTC Sensation versus the rest of the dual-core world: smartphone spec sheet smackdown originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 09:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A child’s coloring book, dedicated “to daddy” and mailed to a New Jersey inmate, included colored crayon scribblings made from a paste containing drugs, officials say.

Link:
Smugglers hide drugs in kids’ crayon drawings

Hisense is still betting on the WHDI horse for wireless HD. The standard’s standard-bearer AMIMON announced its chips would be powering a new line of accessories from the Chinese manufacturer at the Global Sources Electronics & Components World Expo (GSECWE?), including a transmitter for laptops (above), a case for iPhones, and a receiver for TVs (both below). Obviously beaming a round Super Mega Worm to your big-screen is enticing, but we’re sure you’re most excited by the ability to stream Hulu from your laptop to your TV while reclining on the couch. And if you’ve got a 3D set, fret not, WHDI can push polarized pixels thanks to support for HDMI 1.4a. Sadly, info on pricing and availability is nonexistent, but we wouldn’t expect to find these in your local Best Buy. Yet.

Continue reading Hisense unveils new consumer WHDI accessories, cable haters rejoice

Hisense unveils new consumer WHDI accessories, cable haters rejoice originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 09:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Upending a theory of physics maintained for over a century, researchers at the University of Michigan have discovered that magnetic fields coming from light waves are 100 million times stronger than previously believed, creating new possibilities for harvesting solar power. More

Milk it! The already-full Alienware notebook line is soon getting a new big brother in the form of an 18-inch gaming monster. The M18x briefly appeared on Dell’s Canadian site and listed all the pertinent information including the pricing and specs. Yeah, this big boy doesn’t come cheap, but it’s certainly a mobile powerhouse just like the M17x.

Inside the M17x-ish casing is a Core i7 Extreme that’s overclockable to 4GHz, either AMD CrossFireX or Nvidia SLI GPUs, and up to 32GB of RAM. Of course with that much real estate on the massive casing there’s enough room for HDMI 1.4 port, dual headphone jacks, four USB jacks, VGA, Ethernet, eSATA, and an SD card slot. Alienware even included the impressive WirelessHD magic for cable-free fun.

The Canadian site listed the starting price at $2,000 CAD ($2,088 USD) but add in all the fun parts and that’s likely to skyrocket. The launch is likely immanent since the product page is clearly ready. The little delay is probably for the best. It should give you enough time to clear some room on your credit card.

Read More:
Alienware M18X Gaming Notebook Leaked, Crazy Specs And All

For the cost of listening to one or two audio ads, 20 seconds or less each, you can make a free international phone call. It only lasts 10 minutes, but for certain types of phone users, that’s more like a feature than a restriction. And it actually works. More

KQED QUEST teaches us about Banana Slugs, detritivores that scarf up dead leaves, poop, and even dead animals in California’s old growth redwood forests. Science on the SPOT: Banana Slugs Unpeeled

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Secret life of Banana Slugs

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Comcast is about to nationally roll out its 105Mbps (!) Internet service. The ISP hopes to have the service in several of its top markets, including Boston, Chicago, Denver, and Miami, bringing the total number of potential subscribers up to 40 million. Considering so much of legitimate media consumption these days is based on streaming, having a super fast Internet connection will only help to a point.

I remember when I ordered Cablevision’s 101Mbps service two years ago, and the tech that installed it told me flat out, “You’re going to be faster than the services you’re trying to tap into.” YouTube was still dog slow, for example. In fact, the only time I’ve regularly topped out the connection, which costs $99 per month (to Comcast’s $105 per month), is when using BitTorrent or Usenet.

Comcast says a 4GB iTunes download takes about four minutes with the service. That sounds about right, given my own experience.

The only issue, of course, is if Comcast decides to implement bandwidth caps. What’s the point of having a 105Mbps connection if you’re given a ceiling?

See the article here:
Comcast’s 105Mbps On Deck For National Rollout

The FBI received a court order, which today allowed them to kill the hell out of a massive botnet by taking out a piece of malware called Coreflood. Usually, when someone wants to shut down a botnet, they just, you know, shut it down by taking the servers that host it offline. But this recent action allowed them to really salt the earth, shutting down the actual software behind it. The feds haven't been permitted to do this before—because the old idea was that any group behind such an act would be just as guilty of hacking as those big, bad botnet guys. [Ars Technica] More

You may want to rethink posting those Mad Men episodes you downloaded on YouTube—unless you are interested in spending five minutes of your life watching an animated PSA. YouTube is going to make anyone who posts a copyrighted video watch it and take a short quiz, or you won't be able to upload any more videos. Users with good standing can also erase a strike from their record by watching the vid. [YouTube Blog via Mashable] More