Google Chrome uses graphics card to accelerate SVG and CSS

Vector-based SVG graphics as well as CSS filters are now accelerated via the GPU and can be activated via chrome://flags in a recent nightly build. The feature is mainly for developers as there are very few websites that could take advantage of accelerated CSS filters. Chromium supports SVG and CSS acceleration on Mac, Windows, Linux, and Chrome OS. Additional experimental GPU acceleration features include GPU accelerated painting as well as GPU compositing on all pages.

2DayBlog.com, Google Chrome uses graphics card to accelerate SVG and CSS

New car seat concept uses your butt print as identifica- ppprrrrffffffff~!

If Fido can distinguish people and other pooches by their backsides, why not a seat. When students at the Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology in Tokyo, Japan asked that question, they came up with a car seat fitted with 360 sensors that makes a map of the pressure applied by your posterior. Among the six rumps tested, the seat was 98 percent accurate at sorting one from another. The ultimate aim is to work with automakers to develop an anti-theft solution that would be available in the next few years.

2DayBlog.com, New car seat concept uses your butt print as identifica- ppprrrrffffffff~!

Apple has idea for fuel cell battery that would last weeks

Claiming to have determined a way to eliminate “the need for a bulky and heavy battery,” Apple has made public two patent proposals, originally filed in 2010, that combined would enable the manufacture of fuel-cell batteries that could boost the life of handheld device batteries by a matter weeks. “Such fuel cells and associated fuels”, the proposals promise, “can potentially achieve high volumetric and gravimetric energy densities, which can potentially enable continued operation of portable electronic devices for days or even weeks without refueling.”.

2DayBlog.com

See also:
newgadgets, Apple has idea for fuel cell battery that would last weeks

Verizon explains recent outages

Verizon claims to have the largest and most advanced 4G LTE wireless network in the world, so a lot of customers were upset when the network went down again this week. Today, to justify the network's downtime, Verizon issued a press release with an explanation about what has been going on. According to the carrier, these problems are happening because Verizon is a pioneer when it comes to LTE, and so there are a lot of problems that are unforeseen. However, Verizon claimed that each incident of outage has been different and any problem that has been fixed has yet to re-occur - which can only be a good thing.

Ubergizmo

See also:
gadgetsdaily, Verizon explains recent outages

Sony Announces ICS Updates for Tablets, Tablet P SDK Now Available

Sony Ericsson has announced that the Sony Tablets – we assume both the S and the P – will be getting upgrades to Android 4.0 in due time. They didn't have anything to announce regarding a timeframe but we're glad they've committed to bringing it. In addition to that, they've made the SDK for the Sony Tablet P available online so developers can take advantage of its gaming roots. We'll be right here with a post for you guys whenever those updates start rolling out (but I wouldn't wait for one in the near future).

Android Phone, Sony Announces ICS Updates for Tablets, Tablet P SDK Now Available

Motorola ATRIX 2 & Motorola DROID Bionic Fastboot Files Available for Download

Motorola ATRIX 2 and Motorola DROID BIONIC users can now download fastboot files for their devices as XDA has made them available for you guys, just as they did for the DROID RAZR. Fasstboot files are basically like the SBF files of yesteryear, allowing users to bring their devices back from the brink of death should they happen to brick their device in the process of flashing new ROMs, radios, kernels and more. Developers and users like will appreciate this as it gives everyone a safety net of sorts – as long as you don’t do anything to break your hardware then anything can be fixed.

Android Phone

See also:
dailygadgets, Motorola ATRIX 2 & Motorola DROID Bionic Fastboot Files Available for Download

Facebook Messenger client for Windows slips out for download

We've already had an early peek at Facebook's yet-to-be-released Messenger client for Windows, and now you can give it a shot yourself courtesy of a leaked copy that's turned up on the TechIT website. Not much in the way of surprises here, but if you're the sort that prefers desktop applications to websites or mobile apps, you'll be glad to know that it provides access to not just Facebook chat, but status updates and notifications from your friends as well.

2DayBlog.com, Facebook Messenger client for Windows slips out for download

Photos of Intel's Medfield Android developer tablet emerge

. Intel's upcoming Medfield mobile processor will most likely be the focus of the company's Consumer Electronics Show keynote next month. The Medfield has been reported to outdo NVIDIA's Tegra 2 and even Qualcomm's S3 dual-core processor. An Android Community tipster recently got his hands on a Medfield developer tablet, the site reports, and he raved about the quality of the device. According to the tipster, the 10.1-inch tablet is thin and the weight feels good without giving the device a cheap feel. The device runs Android 3.x Honeycomb and is powered by Intel's 1.6GHz dual-core Medfield Atom processor.

Boy Genius Report, Photos of Intel's Medfield Android developer tablet emerge

A look at the average Android user [infographic]

. Bluestacks, the team behind the Android app player for Windows, has released the company's first “Mr.Android” study. Ever wonder what the average Android user may look like. Pretty normal, apparently. Using data collected from Nielsen Media Research along with a survey of Bluestacks's 145,000 Facebook fans, the company created a composite of what the average Android user looks like and even what kind of clothes typical Android users might wear.

Boy Genius Report, A look at the average Android user [infographic]

Verzo Kinzo unboxing and impressions

Yes, the Verzo Kinzo is real. That Americano-Czech Android smartphone with mid-range specs that went on sale in November with a ludicrous $459 price tag only to be hastily relaunched earlier this month for a slightly more digestible $359 is not a giant farce. (Well, maybe it is.) It left the ethereal world of rendered computer graphics and landed in our mitts just in time for the holidays. To be specific, we received the pricier $384 Verzo Kinzo Plus GPS package, which includes a voucher for Sygic's off-line navigation app and a gaudy, Star Trek-inspired carholder.










Engadget, Verzo Kinzo unboxing and impressions

LG to Show Off 84-Inch 3D LCD TV for CES 2012

Apart from the 55-inch OLED TV screen, LG will also bringing in a gigantic 84-inch “ultra definition” (3,840 x 2,160 resolution) 3D LCD TV for CES 2012. The “4K LCD” television comes with LG's Cinema 3D and Smart TV features, as well as support for an upgraded Magic Motion remote and voice control. The 3D UD TV from LG boasts 8 million pixels and four times the resolution clarity of current full-HD TV panels. Cinema 3D offers a most convincing 3D viewing experience outside a movie theater. The 3D effect can even be customized via 3D Depth Control.

Gadget.com, LG to Show Off 84-Inch 3D LCD TV for CES 2012

LG to unveil 84″ 3D Ultra Definition TV at CES 2012

After announcing that it was going to show off its 55″ OLED at CES 2012, it looks like LG has another ace up its sleeve. The company announced in a press release that at CES next year, it will be unveiling the world's largest 3D Ultra Definition (UD) TV. It is 84″ in size and boasts a resolution of 8 million pixels (3840 x 2160) - four times the resolution clarity of existing full HD TV panels. It will also features LG's Slim and Narrow Bezel Design and is touted to provide the most convincing 3D viewing experience currently available outside of a movie theater.

Ubergizmo, LG to unveil 84″ 3D Ultra Definition TV at CES 2012

Microsoft job opening hints at forthcoming backup / restore features for Windows Phone

The current state of performing backups for Windows Phone is far from ideal, although a new job posting from Microsoft suggests that a better solution may be coming to the smartphone platform in its next major software release. According to a job posting from the monolith in Redmond, the company is seeking a talented employee to join its Windows Phone Backup, Migrate and Restore team.

2DayBlog.com, Microsoft job opening hints at forthcoming backup / restore features for Windows Phone

HTC Makes All Handsets Released Since September 2011 Unlockable

It turns out the HTC Rezound wasn’t an anomly when it was discovered that HTC’s official bootloader unlock tool worked with little effort. HTC has updated the page to announce that all handsets released since September of this year are now unlockable via the method provided at HTCDev.com. “All HTC Android devices launched after September 2011 are unlockable. The website will be updated accordingly to reflect this in the coming weeks.

Android Phone, HTC Makes All Handsets Released Since September 2011 Unlockable

Ghost Camera for Nintendo 3DS releases new trailer, looks scary

For those who are fan of horror movies or horror games, you may be interested in an upcoming Nintendo 3DS game called Ghost Camera. If you're wondering why that sounds so familiar, it might be because you have heard of a game called Fatal Frame, and yes it appears that the same minds behind Fatal Frame are the ones responsible for Ghost Camera as well. The game would basically make use of augmented reality through the 3DS's camera, and much like Fatal Frame, Ghost Camera would entail the gamer going about snapping some spooky photos while uncovering clues and what not, all of this in glasses-free 3D, mind you.



Ubergizmo, Ghost Camera for Nintendo 3DS releases new trailer, looks scary

Microsoft job opening hints at forthcoming backup / restore features for Windows Phone

The current state of performing backups for Windows Phone is far from ideal, although a new job posting from Microsoft suggests that a better solution may be coming to the smartphone platform in its next major software release. According to a job posting from the monolith in Redmond, the company is seeking a talented employee to join its Windows Phone Backup, Migrate and Restore team. The listing goes on to state, "Our goal is to ensure that no matter if someone loses their phone, drops their phone in a lake .

Engadget, Microsoft job opening hints at forthcoming backup / restore features for Windows Phone

Subaru promises BRZ, Impreza STI concepts plus rally return at Tokyo Auto Salon

Unlike most cities, Japan's capital city plays host to two major automotive exhibitions: the Tokyo Motor Show and the Tokyo Auto Salon. While these terms may be interchangeable when it comes to European expos, in Tokyo, they connote two different shows altogether. The first is the Motor Show, where new concepts and production models are unveiled by the world's automakers. The Auto Salon is more of a tuner expo along the lines of the SEMA show in Las Vegas.

2DayBlog.com, Subaru promises BRZ, Impreza STI concepts plus rally return at Tokyo Auto Salon

Samsung Galaxy S III Will Have 3D Functionality – To Be Unveiled At MWC 2012 [Rumor]

Alright, so we know Fridays’ “leaked” renders of the Samsung Galaxy S III turned out to be nothing more than fan-created concept art but now we’re hearing rumblings around the net that Samsung could be planning to introduce the device at MWC 2012. Okay, so that shouldn’t come as much of a surprise given Samsung’s yearly refreshes, but the kicker is that a Korean website is reporting not only will the GSIII be unveiled but that Samsung may incorporate 3D into the device. This would help give Samsung a leg up on the iPhone and also complete their 3D ecosystem adding functionality with their 3D televisions.

Android Phone, Samsung Galaxy S III Will Have 3D Functionality â€" To Be Unveiled At MWC 2012 [Rumor]

London's New Hybrid Double Decker Public Transport Bus

London has long been known for its red double-decker public bus transport. You can even say that it has somewhat become a part of the city's identity. But it has been 50 years since the buses have been given some much needed updates. Fortunately, the City of London has decided to come up with a new and modern fleet of buses to catch up with the times. And it has recently launched the new Hybrid Double Decker Public Transport Bus that will start plying the streets of the capital.

The New Hybrid Double Decker Public Transport Bus is designed by Thomas Heatherwick and built by Wrightbus.

Gadget.com, London's New Hybrid Double Decker Public Transport Bus

Snapkeys 2i to be demonstrated at CES 2012

Remember the magical typing interface that was introduced back in February, the Snapkeys 2i. Well, it's been almost one year since we heard about it, but now it looks like it's almost ready for primetime. Snapkeys announced today that at CES 2012, it will be giving the public a taste of its 2i typing interface with an app that visitors can try out. In case you forgot about the Snapkeys 2i (invisible interface), it is designed to be an alternative to the QWERTY keyboard that is used on mobile devices today.



Ubergizmo, Snapkeys 2i to be demonstrated at CES 2012

Motorola DROID RAZR Gets Clockwork Mod Recovery

The biggest thing holding the DROID RAZR development community back was the lack of a custom recovery for the device. Without a recovery, you can't flash custom ROMs. Well, that's no longer an issue as a recovery has been worked up for this specific phone. It applies to all versions of the RAZR currently available so those of you with the Motorola RAZR need not feel slighted this time.

Android Phone, Motorola DROID RAZR Gets Clockwork Mod Recovery

Concept watch design based on Grand Prix race tracks

Fans of motor sports might be interested in checking out this concept watch by UK-based designer Peter, who has modeled the faces of the watches based on select GP (Grand Prix) race tracks, such as Suzuka and Silverstone, and uses the "position" of the cars on the track in order to tell the time. As you might have already surmised from the photo above, the "red car" tells the time in hours, the "blue car" tells the minutes while the "green car" tells the seconds.

Ubergizmo, Concept watch design based on Grand Prix race tracks

Acer to Stick in Smartphone and Tablet Game, Will Limit Yearly Releases

Rumors were apparently running rampant that Acer would quit the smartphone and tablet game cold turkey but it's not true according to the company themselves. Acer states that they will continue to attempt to break into the fast-growing tablet and smartphone markets, though it won't pursue the frequent release model that we're seeing major manufacturers have a little success with. They'll be going the Apple route, opting to deliver only a few devices each year.

Android Phone, Acer to Stick in Smartphone and Tablet Game, Will Limit Yearly Releases

txtRng could be next generation stylus

Just how many of you use a stylus with your iPad or Android-powered tablet. I suppose only folks who perform some rather pressure sensitive tasks that need precision as well do, and as we all know, the majority of stylii out there tend to look and work the same way. Not with the txtRng though, as this particular accessory might actually change the way the stylus industry works if it catches on with the imagination of the masses.

Ubergizmo, txtRng could be next generation stylus

Dutch Engineer Develops “Wings” for Humans

A mechanical engineer from the Netherlands has been developing a project that he hopes would eventually enable humans to have their own set of wings. Jamos Smeet's Human Birdwings project uses a combination of HTC Wildfire S, a Wii remote, and his knowledge on software development to create a pair of wings that can be controlled by a human as he wave his arms as if flying. The project stemmed from Smeet's dream of being able to fly and so far, it looks promising.

Gadget.com, Dutch Engineer Develops “Wings” for Humans

PowerAMP Celebrates New Version 2.0 Of Their Hit Music Player With Twitter Contest

Max MP is celebrating the release of PowerAMP 2.0 by throwing a contest on their brand spankin’ new Twitter account. If you haven’t of PowerAMP — it’s arguably the most popular and full featured music player in the Android Market. Offering full control of EQ settings, crossfading, stereo “eXpansion,” lyrics support, scrobbling and a wide array of visual themes to customize the look of the player however you like — PowerAMP just about does it all. The contest is set to begin on Friday, December 30th at 12PM CT and will end on Sunday, January 1st 12AM CT.



Android Phone, PowerAMP Celebrates New Version 2.0 Of Their Hit Music Player With Twitter Contest

Looking back at 2011: ‘The year of the tablet' falls flat

. Apple rocked the consumer electronics industry when it launched the “magical and revolutionary iPad” in April 2010. It wasn't the first media tablet aimed at the consumer market by any means, but it was the first that consumers actually wanted. Following the iPad's unveiling, Apple's rivals scrambled to build tablets of their own and market research firms were quick to herald 2011 as “the year of the tablet.” More than 100 different tablets were unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in 2011, the bulk employing Android to power their user experiences, and the year of the tablet was upon us.

Boy Genius Report, Looking back at 2011: ‘The year of the tablet' falls flat

Apple kicks off 12 Days of iTunes, offers a dozen freebies to last into 2012

Find yourself something Apple-flavored underneath the Christmas tree yesterday. Need some gentle coaxing into using iTunes. Well, you're in luck; Cupertino's annual download giveaway starts today and runs through January 6th. The free gifts kick off with some Coldplay tracks and videos from the band's latest Apple-sponsored festival appearance. But don't let that put you off; we expect to see more music, some apps and even books over the next few days. Each one's available for just 24 hours, so it could be worth checking the dedicated app daily. It's up for grabs at the link below.

Update: The app appears to be Europe-only at the moment.

Engadget, Apple kicks off 12 Days of iTunes, offers a dozen freebies to last into 2012

LG Fantasy with Windows Phone Mango caught in the wild

First seen in a render way back in July, the unannounced LG Fantasy has now appeared in some live photos which, of course, confirm its existence. According to this thread over at the XDA forum, the Fantasy was "bought from a tester developer in Romania." It should be released in the first quarter of 2012, coming with a 4 inch IPS display, Windows Phone Mango, and a 5MP or 8MP camera. Unfortunately, there are no other details on the handset for now.

The LG Fantasy might be officially announced at CES 2012 or MWC 2012.


Unwired View, LG Fantasy with Windows Phone Mango caught in the wild

LG reveals Android Ice Cream Sandwich update schedule

LG promised us an upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich for their phones released this year and they plan to keep that promise. To assert this, they have just announced a release schedule for the Ice Cream Sandwich update. The updates will start rolling out in two waves.

GSM Arena, LG reveals Android Ice Cream Sandwich update schedule

Find out just where Santa is with Google and NORAD

Santa Claus is one of the most beloved characters in the human psyche, where he has been called the busiest man in the North Pole. Well, watching Arthur Christmas might have planted some ideas in your head as to how he managed to send presents all over the world in just one night, but how about the rest of you out there who have a very different take on the situation. Google and NORAD have teamed up together, where the latter boasts of a tradition that tracks Santa on Christmas Eve which kickstarted in 1955.

Ubergizmo, Find out just where Santa is with Google and NORAD

Plex media app: streaming soon to Nook Tablet and Color

Well, well, if it isn't the famed iOS and Android media jock (read: Plex) making its way to the Nook universe. The application's now gone through yet another good-to-go regime, and if all goes according to plan, it should be hitting Barnes & Noble's virtual stores in the coming days. For those of you out of the loop on Plex's offerings; the service acts as a media server ready to stream online and locally stored content, which are great features to have - especially when someone limits how your internal storage can be used.

Engadget

See also:
bigcrunch, Plex media app: streaming soon to Nook Tablet and Color

L. L. Bean Auto Safety Kits

Winter snows will soon be here for many parts of the country – assuming you haven't been hit already.  Keep the Auto Safety Kit and Sport Utility Shovel in your car's trunk, and you'll be ready for emergency snow removal if you get stuck somewhere away from home.  The kit comes from L.L.

The Gadgeteer, L. L. Bean Auto Safety Kits

Violent games don't compel gamers to commit violent acts, researchers say

. A recent study published in Frontiers in Psychology by three Florida State University psychologists suggests that playing video games won't make people smarter. The study also argues that violent games such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 don't damage gamers' brains or compel them to commit violent acts, the Associated Press said Friday.

Boy Genius Report, Violent games don't compel gamers to commit violent acts, researchers say

Porsche Design BlackBerry P'9981 now on sale in the UK, yours for £1,275

The Porsche Design BlackBerry P'9981 was announced in October. This is clearly not a phone for those on a tight budget. It's probably for those of you who think Vertu is a cool brand, but can't really afford any of its products. Or you can, but you're simply addicted to your BlackBerry (apparently there still are some of you like that in the world).
See, the BlackBerry P'9981 is basically just a redesigned BlackBerry Bold 9900, touchscreen and all. And it's for the design (and the Porsche brand) that you pay a hefty premium.

The P'9981 is now available to buy in the UK at Harrods. The price being asked? £1,275.

Unwired View, Porsche Design BlackBerry P'9981 now on sale in the UK, yours for £1,275

Motorola Droid Xyboard 10.1 hands-on impressions (video)

Don't call it a comeback, it's a Xyboard - Motorola's rebranded (for the US, anyway) Xoom 2. A 10.1-inch attempt at sidestepping the original Xoom's notoriety. With baked-in LTE of the Verizon variety, a slimmer waistline and a distinctive design, this Android 3.2 tablet could very well inject a dose of excitement back into the company's flagging category appeal. But with the spotlight-stealing ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime already on the map and dazzling consumers with its notebook-like functionality, will anyone even notice Moto's second swing at Honeycomb.









Engadget, Motorola Droid Xyboard 10.1 hands-on impressions (video)