Category: GReader

Default results for Google Search have been updated to show users more images up front when it appears that they’re actually looking for images. If a user types “pictures of monkeys,” “monkey photos,” “monkey imagery,” or something similar, a grid-layout block of Google Images results for monkeys will take the entire top section of the search results. [The Official Google Search Blog] More »

Only about one in 10 plugged-in Canadians are viewing internet content on their televisions but the trend could soon
“grow rapidly” since it’s finally becoming easy to do, suggests a new report.

Windows only: If you like to keep your wallpaper changing all the time, Windows’ Aero Glass might look a little weird if its color doesn’t match your wallpapers. AeroWallpaperChanger is a simple app that cycles through your wallpapers and changes Aero’s color scheme to match. More »

If you work for Sony you might want go watch TV right now — there’s something on Discovery about ostriches and sand. Meanwhile, Microsoft just let us know that it’s sold 55 million Xbox 360s globally, which is very probably enough to maintain its lead over the PS3. Moreover, 360 sales in the US are still accelerating six years into its life-cycle, thanks largely to updates like Kinect — and Microsoft boasts that “no other console in history can make that claim.” Huzzah. Now, we’re not ones to snatch the pen from the victor’s hand, but remember: this claim is based on US stats, whereas the PS3 has generally been doing better in other regions. What’s more, neither the Wii nor the PS3 has yet reached its sixth birthday, so the story isn’t over. Nevertheless, the chart after the break does make Microsoft’s performance look damn impressive. Why is it that when you’re down, life just keeps on kicking?

Continue reading Microsoft sells 55 million Xbox 360 consoles, claims that’s console history

Microsoft sells 55 million Xbox 360 consoles, claims that’s console history originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 13:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Major Nelson  | Email this | Comments

From the navel-gazing department of legitimacy: The Oxford Dictionaries Online has added the term “lifehack” to “the world’s most trusted dictionary” (along with other internet-y words like ZOMG, NSFW, and newb). Their definition: More »

We were expecting some news out Archos this month and sure enough, here it is. The company has just announced that it will unveil its new Generation 9 Honeycomb tablets at a Paris event, on June 23rd. The company’s third Android slate, as you may recall, was originally expected to launch at September’s IFA trade show, but that date was later pushed up — meaning we’ll be able to catch a glimpse of its shiny 1.6GHz ARM A9 dual-core chip and so-called “revolutionary” 3G modem in just a few weeks. Archos certainly seems to have high expectations for the device, as well, having scheduled its debut at no less a prestigious venue than the Ritz Hotel. We’ll be there (in our finest threads) to cover the event as it unfolds.

[Thanks, Marien]

Archos puttin’ on the Ritz for its Generation 9 Honeycomb tablets, coming June 23 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 11:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  ArchosLounge.net  | Email this | Comments

Creating well-organized meeting minutes can be time-consuming, yet the best time to send those minutes is ASAP after the meeting has ended. Minutes.io simplifies this task very nicely. Pop open the webpage when the meeting begins and add clearly defined minutes as you go along. More »

THR Staff
The History Channel star and his wife reportedly stopped arguing after their 9-year-old son screamed at them to “stop fighting!”

read more

Hamilton will be the next city to be hit by a 48-hour rotating strike by Canada Post workers at midnight Friday ET.

We know that Intel is gunning for ARM with its Oak Trail platform, and indeed there were a few early tablets at Computex following that very path to Honeycomb. The question on everyone’s minds, of course, is how well this dual-core 1.5GHz platform can compare to the Tegra 2 competition. If you believe the results from a suite of tests that tweakers.net ran on a prototype Compal unit, then the answer is “not very well.” On benchmarks like CaffeineMark, Linpak, and Quadrant the platform was largely left in the dust by ARM competition with bigger biceps, but the Oak Trail machine did clean the floor with everyone else on the SunSpider browser benchmark. What does it all mean? Not a heck of a lot at this point, we’re afraid. It’s far too early to be drawing performance conclusions about a platform based on a prototype fresh out of the fabricator, and we have our doubts that these benchmark apps are optimized for the new platform — so don’t give up on ‘ol x86 just yet.

Honeycomb on Oak Trail gets benchmarked on prototype Compal tablet, numbers ensue originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 09:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  tweakers.net  | Email this | Comments

Facebook is great for connecting with others, but you probably don’t want to share all your news, photos, and other profile information with everyone you’re connected to on the social networking site. Here’s a primer for Facebook beginners on organizing friends into lists that give you more control over what you share and with whom. More »

Next week, for the first time ever, you’ll be able to watch a TV show on a game console at the same time it’s being broadcast on TV.

read more

A tornado was spotted in southwestern Saskatchewan amid a number of severe weather warnings.

A 73-year-old man shot and killed five people, including the lawyer who represented his ex-wife in their divorce, in a rampage that rattled the Arizona border city of Yuma.

The owners of Winnipeg’s new NHL team say they have sold more than 4,000 season tickets in just over a day. The as-yet unnamed team wants to sell 13,000 season tickets before the June 21 NHL board of governors meeting where the Atlanta Thrashers move to Winnipeg will be approved.

Whoa!  This is something so cool, you knew it had to come eventually — an Android powered watch that connects to your smartphone (Android, iPhone 4, future BlackBerry devices) via bluetooth.  We've seen similar products, but they were more mundane things, and simply a data pipe back to your phone.  The i'mWatch runs its own custom version of Android, and comes bundled with a set of apps that you can run right on the 1.54" TFT display.  Not only can you make and receive calls and texts, but you have access to Email, weather info, stock prices and market data, Foursquare, Facebook, Twitter — the list goes on. 

All this is running on a Freescale ARM9 IMX233 CPU, with 64 MB of RAM and 4 GB of storage.  In other words, it should do everything listed really, really well.  Combine that with a 600mAh battery for 2 hours talk time or 48 hours standby time, and you have one of the coolest accessories you're likely to run across.  It's not cheap — it checks in at €249 (about $360 US), and that price is only good until June 30, but the good things in life never are.  Check out the source link for more details and ordering info.

Source: i’mWatch.  Thanks, Baconater!