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Scientists figure out how to see through walls, sort of

We all know that light can’t exactly pass through solid objects — unless of course, you’re using a laser or something. Yes, X-rays allow us to look into suitcases at the airport and broken bones in our bodies, but there’s a new kid on the block that claims to have done the impossible in a novel fashion. Jochen Aulbach and his colleagues of the FOM Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics out in Amsterdam have developed a technology that allows scrambled light to remain focused as it passes through ultra-thin layers of paint. You see, when light is sent through opaque material, it becomes muddled and lost in the space-time continuum. Aulbach and his crew used a spatial light modulator, or SMT, to control a 64-femtosecond long laser pulse that’s passed through a thin layer of paint. The SMT emits pulses that last long enough for only a machine to see and the data is sent to a computer for calibration. NewScientist claims that with this technology, it might be possible to hone in on cancerous cells and blast them to oblivion without damaging the healthy tissue surrounding them.

Scientists figure out how to see through walls, sort of originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 07:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceNewScientist  | Email this | Comments

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Internet Explorer 9 expected on March 14th, definitely released by March 24th

The IE9 Release Candidate came out on February 10th, so you might think it’s about time it stepped its game up to a final release and Microsoft seems to be of the same mind. Download Squad reports insider sources have pinpointed the South by Southwest gathering in Austin, Texas, this month as the launch platform for the non-beta, non-RC Internet Explorer 9, with a direct download becoming available around 9PM ET on March 14th. That’s highly specific, though still unconfirmed, information. For some more official word on the matter, we have to go to the Indian branch of the Microsoft Developer Network, which has tweeted out the announcement that IE9 will launch on March 24th at Tech.Ed India 2011. We imagine that’s a launch party specific to India itself, however it does provide an official date for the latest time we can expect Microsoft to take the training wheels off its newest, shiniest browser.

Internet Explorer 9 expected on March 14th, definitely released by March 24th originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 04:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink windows 8 beta  |  sourceDownload Squad, @msdnindia (Twitter)  | Email this | Comments

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Microsoft to demo Windows 8 tablet interface in June?

At this point, the only thing keeping Microsoft in the tablet conversation are rumors of its Windows 8 or Windows Next, and lo and behold we’ve got another one to add to the pile. While we heard last week that Microsoft could release the beta of Windows 8 for tablets at PDC in September, “sources at Microsoft” have now told Business Insider, that the company is hoping to show a public “design demo” of the operating system’s tablet UI as early as June. The timing is interesting — and it actually lines up very well with Computex, where the company does have a big presence — but we’re also intrigued by the part that says Microsoft’s taking “a more Apple-like approach to interface design” and that it will use Metro UI pieces. That’s obviously similar to what Microsoft showed us at last year’s Computex (picture of that above) — except it was using Windows Embedded Compact 7 underneath. The article also mentions that it will draw on some Media Center-like styling, which also syncs up with some other whispers we’ve heard. Yep, there’s a lot of rumors, and well, with this talk of summer / fall it looks like we’ll be dealing with plenty more before we hear anything official.

Microsoft to demo Windows 8 tablet interface in June? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 22:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceBusiness Insider  | Email this | Comments

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Gawker 2.0.1 [Redesign]

I should first explain the radio silence of the last couple of weeks. We'd wanted to respond to feedback not with promises of future improvements but with actual fixes. So that's what I'm doing now—but I regret any impression that we weren't listening. Without more verbiage, the main changes you wanted: More »







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Samsung’s 8.9-inch Galaxy Tab likely to launch at CTIA

Torn between the 7-inch and 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab? Well, it looks like Samsung is about to solve that problem for you come March 22nd. According to an invite making the rounds, the Samsung Mobile team is planning to hold a Mobile Unpacked event at CTIA in Orlando, and as the graphic suggests, the focus will be a new sized Tab. We’re assuming it will be an 8.9-inch version, since the invite shows an 8 and 9 flanked by a 7 and 10. That sure lines up with what we’ve heard before, but we have to admit, it does seems like a lot of tablet offerings for one company. For some odd reason, we haven’t received this invitation yet, but we’re assuming we’re invited (obviously, it’s not a party without Engadget!) and thus will be there covering all the action live. Stay tuned.

Samsung’s 8.9-inch Galaxy Tab likely to launch at CTIA originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 18:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceElectronista, FoneArena  | Email this | Comments

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Tablet shocker! MSI WindPad 100A packs Tegra 2 and will ship with Honeycomb

At this point, MSI has been showing off its 10-inch Android tablet for a good half a year, but at least this time it’s coming clean with some specs, and they’re actually not half bad. Yep, the company brought its WindPad 100A to CeBIT and has announced that it, like most of the others, is powered by a dual-core Tegra 2 processor and will get some sweet Honeycomb when it hits the market in late May or early June. The model on hand at CeBIT was running some 2.X version of Android, and the hardware was identical to the one we saw back at CES. MSI’s told us that pricing hasn’t been set yet, but hopefully, like Moto’s Sanjay Jha just proclaimed, these tablet prices will be dropping come the second half of the year. Hit the gallery below for some closer hands-on shots.

Tablet shocker! MSI WindPad 100A packs Tegra 2 and will ship with Honeycomb originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Showcasing photos from people you care about

Posted by Ping Chen, Software engineer

Over the past few days, we’ve been testing a new Picasa Web Albums layout that does a better job of of updating you with new and inspiring photos. Based on the positive response we’ve received, we’re now rolling out this new homepage for everyone.

This new design centers around photos that are interesting to you. We wanted to give you faster access to the newest photos from your family and friends along with some great photos from the talented Picasa community.

When you log in to Picasa Web Albums, you will not only see your own albums, but albums that have been shared with you, the latest public albums from people you follow, and featured photos from the Picasa community right on your home page.

Go to picasaweb.google.com now to begin exploring your new homepage.