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.

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

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Google Voice updated, provides fix for delayed SMS and voicemail notifications

 

The Google Voice app has been updated in the Android Market. The updated includes, among other enhancements, a new widget and a fix for delayed SMS and voicemail notifications.

Here is the full list of changes --

• Does not require data connectivity for making calls to all numbers you previously called
• Warns you when no data connectivity before you compose/send text messages
• Fix for bug that required to click the voicemail play button twice
• Fix for notifications delays for SMS and voicemails

There's also a new widget included with this update -- a larger Inbox widget displays your most recent text messages is available now. It's always great to see an update for Google Voice so head on to the Market to get the latest version, or use our links after the break.

read more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/ELirWPFUZOk/google-voice-updated-provides-fix-sms-and-voicemail-notification-delays

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Toyota smashes EV record on Nurburgring, speed rivals gas-powered cars (video)

Last week, Toyota's racing team set out to break the current EV record on the Nordschleife track, part of Germany's infamous Nürburgring -- and they've done it, clocking a swift 7:47.79 seconds with the P001 electric racing car. The Peugeot EX1 EV's previous 9:01.338 record seems like a distant memory as the new contender shaved more than a minute off the time, giving even gasoline-powered vehicles a run for their money. Toyota's car is no slouch as it can reach 260km/h (174mph), with a track time that rivals the Radical SR8 LM's record breaking time of 6:48. Beating its predicted goal of eight minutes, Toyota hopes the victory will bring new awareness to electric racing and perhaps to help sell custom race cars in the future -- yes, you too might be able to cop a car with the same guts (albeit different body and chassis) as a Radical Sportscar some day. Check out the full PR after the jump.

Continue reading Toyota smashes EV record on Nurburgring, speed rivals gas-powered cars (video)

Toyota smashes EV record on Nurburgring, speed rivals gas-powered cars (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/31/toyota-smashes-ev-record-on-nurburgring-speed-rivals-gas-powere/

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Shot Shot Pirate is a fun, simple physics game

Shot Shot Pirate is very satisfying, because each level is short and to the point. You know what you have to do and you just do it.

As you may have gathered from the name, you're cast in the role of a pirate. Your goal is to shoot at a diamond and make it fall off a tower of bricks. The height of the tower changes as you progress through the levels. It's not enough to just make the diamond fall off the tower of bricks - it has to fall below a certain line (drawn on the screen) for the level to be completed.

There are also different kinds of bricks, with some heavier than others, and different kinds of ammo. You only get a certain amount of ammo for each level, and when it's gone, you lose. But don't worry! If you don't make it on the first try, it's very easy to restart the level and just give it another shot (or three).

All in all it's a cute game. I've seen similar games with better graphics and music, but the game delivers on its main promise - a few minutes of pure time wasting!

Shot Shot Pirate is a fun, simple physics game originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/02/24/shot-shot-pirate-is-a-fun-simple-physics-game/

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Siemens shows off iPad-controlled homeConnect appliances

You use your mobile device for pretty much everything these days, right? So why not the kitchen? That was part of Siemens' pitch today at IFA -- the ability to control your cooking and dish washing from afar. The company debuted homeConnect, a "networked kitchen," which lets homeowners check on their energy consumption, shut down appliances remotely, receive notifications when the washing is done and view the contents of their fridges in real time -- with the help of internal cameras trained at the food. By downloading recipes from the internet, users can also import temperature and cooking times. This isn't the first time we've seen some kitchen-based connectivity, of course -- LG debuted the similar smartphone-based Thinq line at CES earlier this year.

Gallery: Siemens homeConnect

Continue reading Siemens shows off iPad-controlled homeConnect appliances

Siemens shows off iPad-controlled homeConnect appliances originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 08:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/31/siemens-shows-off-ipad-controlled-homeconnect-appliances/

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Chrome 11 beta adds new experimental APIs for proxies, Web navigation

Google Chrome 11 -- which just recently made the move to the browser's beta channel -- has received a minor update that gives developers access to two new APIs.

The first is a full-featured proxy API, which will, for example, allow users to set different proxy servers for normal browsing and Incognito mode. Proxy auto-config scripts are also supported by the API.

The second -- Web Navigation Extension -- is a bit more expansive. This API will allow devs to build everything from more powerful safe browsing extensions -- like Traffic Light -- to data analysis and reporting extensions.

Both APIs are currently experimental, so you'll need to enable them on the about:flags page to try out any relevant extensions. Apart from a proxy example built by Google and shipped with the Chromium source, we're not aware of any examples just yet, however. We'll let you know when we spot any slick, new extensions which do surface.

Chrome 11 beta adds new experimental APIs for proxies, Web navigation originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/05/chrome-11-beta-adds-new-experimental-apis-for-proxies-web-navig/

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Galaxy S II for Sprint, AT&T, and T-Mobile hands-on (video)

If you've been wondering just when you'll be able to get Europe's hottest smartphone from last year, wonder no more: tonight the Samsung Galaxy S II was formally (and finally) announced for US release. Sprint, T-Mobile, and AT&T all will be receiving variants, with the first two getting a 4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, the AT&T unit being stuck with the same 4.3-inch display as the earlier GS II. In fact, the AT&T model looks indistinguishable from the European version that we compared it against, while the other two look a bit different.

Sprint's model, aka the Epic 4G Touch, has that larger 4.5-inch screen, plus a slightly more rounded profile than the AT&T model. The T-Mobile version, meanwhile, is the most rounded of the three, but otherwise we were hard-pressed to find any differences between 'em, as you can see in the video below. All are powered by 1.2GHz dual-core processors, 16GB of storage, eight megapixel webcams on the back, batteries that are said to be at least 10 percent larger than the previous version, and "4G" wireless -- either in the form of HSPA+ or WiMAX.

Only Sprint has announced formal pricing and availability, September 16th for $199, while the others will be available in the always ambiguous "soon."

Update: We got curious about those battery sizes and popped the backs off the two phones that we could get our hands on. The AT&T model has the exact same battery size as the European Galaxy S II (6.11Wh), while the Sprint version is indeed about 10 percent larger (6.66Wh). We presume the T-Mob one is bigger too, but that's locked up. In a box.

Gallery: Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch for Sprint

Gallery: Samsung Galaxy S II T-Mobile

Gallery: Samsung Galaxy S II AT&T

Continue reading Galaxy S II for Sprint, AT&T, and T-Mobile hands-on (video)

Galaxy S II for Sprint, AT&T, and T-Mobile hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Aug 2011 19:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/bgTy5f4ga1M/

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Hands-On: Samsung?s Galaxy S II For AT&T, T-Mobile, And Sprint

Since February, we've been waiting for our turn with the Galaxy S II. With the handset floating around Europe and Asia, it's been hard to remain patient. But today is the day: the U.S. versions of the Samsung Galaxy S II are here and we're ready to get up close and personal at Samsung's media event in NYC. Just how different are the U.S. versions from the international? Has resolution been forfeited for size on that Super AMOLED Plus display? Does it feel as good as it looks? What about that new and improved TouchWiz UI? Is it actually any better? No worries. We're here to answer all those questions and more.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/GvgSlkfnVDI/

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iTunes Match and why streaming vs downloading isn?t supposed to matter

Apple released iTunes Match, their iCloud-powered music locker service, into beta yesterday and immediately — and rightly — it’s been Zapruder-ed by every eyeball online, especially when it comes to whether it downloads music, streams it, or both. And confusion and conflation have followed.



Sure, technically there’s a difference...

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/1ndWoExj8aw/

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O'Reilly helps Japan, offers entire e-book catalog for 50% off, today only

O'reilly make some of the best computer books in the world. They also sell them as DRM-free e-books in a bunch of formats, including PDFs and Mobi for Kindle.

They usually offer one "Deal of the Day", which is a 50% discount code for a book chosen for that one day. But just for for today, they've created a discount code -- DDJPN -- that gives you a 50% discount on their entire catalog, and they give a part of the proceeds to aid Japan relief efforts.

So far they've raised over $60,000, and the day is still young. So if you've been recently hankering after some nerdy book (or three), now would be a great time to grab one.

O'Reilly helps Japan, offers entire e-book catalog for 50% off, today only originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/22/oreilly-helps-japan-offers-entire-e-book-catalog-for-50-off/

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Izon Spy Camera Streams Video to iOS Devices

Izon is a “remote room monitor” which beams video across the Internet and onto the screen of your iPad, iPhone or iPod. It might also be described by a more cynical person than myself as a kind of lifestyle spy camera.
The Izon is a white plastic stick which swivels on its dome-shaped magnetic base to [...]

Source: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/08/izon-spy-camera-streams-video-to-ios-devices/

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Twist ?n Sparkle ? Make your own soda without cluttering the counter

I was watching a rerun of Dr. Oz yesterday, which had a segment on kitchen gadgets. One of the products that caught my attention was the iSi Twist ‘n Sparkle beverage carbonation system. Instead of using a kitchen counter cluttering appliance like the SodaStream product that I reviewed 2yrs ago, it just uses an easy [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2011/08/30/twist-n-sparkle-make-your-own-soda-without-cluttering-the-counter/

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Switchblade Adroit controller for gamers with disabilities

The Razer-sharp "Switchblade" was first pulled on us at CES, and since then we've been prodded by a new product under the same sharp name from Evil Controllers and AbleGamers. Released as part of the "Adroit" line for gamers with disabilities, the 19-port controller comes standard with two joysticks and allows for personal positioning of sticks, buttons and rumble packs dependent on individual need. Originally designed for Xbox 360, it can be adapted for playing on PCs and PS3s, as well. Although there's no official launch date or price, Thrifty Nerd says the device will set you back "a few hundred dollars" -- probably a value compared to calling Hack-King Ben Heck.

Switchblade Adroit controller for gamers with disabilities originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 23:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/29/switchblade-adroit-controller-for-gamers-with-disabilities/

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Opera 11.10 gets HTML5 File API support, IMAP improvements

The crew in Oslo keeps plugging away at Opera 11.10, and the latest snapshot build includes a number of improvements to Opera's built-in email client -- as well as HTML5-related additions.

On the IMAP front, Opera now supports special folders like sent items, spam, and trash. It also better handles duplicate items in Gmail -- such as those which appear in all mail and under your custom labels.

Opera 11.10 now partially supports the HTML5 File API as well, which means your favorite Web apps (like Gmail) may soon begin adding Opera to the list of supported browsers.

You can download the latest Opera 11.10 snapshot for Windows, Mac, or Linux from the official release post.

Update: The Opera 11.10 RC is now available, as pointed out by SlashZaku in the comments. Thanks!

Opera 11.10 gets HTML5 File API support, IMAP improvements originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/06/opera-11-10-gets-html5-file-api-support-imap-improvements/

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Steve Jobs' Exit: The Day the Magic Died

It is amazing to me the number of people I know who are basically saying Steve Jobs (some wonderful quotes from him here) leaving Apple will not change Apple. Most saw what Apple was like with Jobs, have seen that no similar company has been able to repeat what Apple has done over the last decade, and have seen both Microsoft after Gates and Disney after Walt. They even saw what happened to Dell during the short time Michael stepped down.

Source: http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/73157.html

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Microsoft details Windows 8 Explorer tweaks, adds ribbon UI

Lots of things are getting tweaked, if not completely overhauled, for Windows 8. That includes the ever-present Windows Explorer. Just like many other Microsoft apps, the file manager will be adopting the slightly more finger-friendly ribbon interface. But don't freak out about your precious screen real estate, the next version of Explorer will actually display more files than Windows 7 could by moving the details pane to the right-hand side and tweaking the padding. The up button has also returned and a slew of new keyboard shortcuts are being introduced. Check out the source link for more detail and a demo video.

Microsoft details Windows 8 Explorer tweaks, adds ribbon UI originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 17:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/29/microsoft-details-windows-8-explorer-tweaks-adds-ribbon-ui/

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AVG launches LiveKive cloud sync and backup tool

A while back, we told you about AVG's new LiveKive service, a new cloud synchronization and backup tool which appears to have been named after a vat in which mash is made during the brewing process. But enough about AVG's odd choice of monikers -- LiveKive has launched and is now ready to accept your files into the AVG cloud.

LiveKive takes aim at services like Dropbox and SugarSync, though at the moment it's lagging behind in terms of features. As it stands, LiveKive is only compatible with Windows and OS X. There are no mobile clients yet, though with AVG's strong presence on Android we wouldn't be surprised to see an app arrive in the near future.

The company is offering a heck of a deal right now, however. If you sign up for a paid account during the launch phase, you can score unlimited storage for $80 for a whole year. You can't even score 50GB per year at that price from Dropbox, so if cost and space are more important to you than cross-platform availability, LiveKive might be worth checking out.

If you're not interested in ponying up any cash at the moment, you can still get a 5GB account free of charge. Just head on over, and create a LiveKive account.

AVG launches LiveKive cloud sync and backup tool originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 10:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/07/avg-launches-livekive-cloud-sync-and-backup-tool/

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