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      USB 3.0 gets a CES debut

      January 9, 2010 /

      USB SuperSpeed 3.0 cable.One of the most expected tech releases at CES this year was USB 3.0. It wasn’t really a release in the typical sense of the word, but it was the first time the public had a chance to see the transfer tech in action. And it’s fast. Really fast. Fast enough to make using an external hard drive to run anything from your operating system to your games completely viable.

      Consider the numbers. As Engadget tested, USB 3.0 supported passthrough of 135 MB/second on a platter drive. That’s incredible. Hook up an SSD and things only getting better, reaching transfer speeds of 200 MB/second or greater. Basically you’re looking at a transfer tech that, for the time being, is limited only by the media on either end of the cable.

      For now, USB 3.0 support is extremely limited. As you can see from the connectors, things get a little bulky on either end, so you won’t be using 3.0 cables on 2.0 devices. You can, however, plug that thumbdrive you’ve got into a 3.0 port, just don’t expect 3.0 speeds.

      Computers, News

      Qualcomm has a 1.5GHz Dual-Core Snapdragon

      January 8, 2010 /

      Qualcomm Snapdragon chips are TINY!Go ahead and read that one more time. Yes, the same line of chips that drives the Nexus One has been updated, pushed all the way to 1.5GHz with the help of a dual-core infrastructure.

      It always sounds a little trite to talk about technology in this way, but I am, honestly and truly, a little blown away here. That kind of power was hardly available in laptops just a couple years ago. Less than half a decade ago. I know a LOT of people still running computers on slower chips than that. Madness.

      Qualcomm’s announcement wasn’t just for the dual-core technosex. Luis Pineda, a Senior VP at Qualcomm, also wanted us to know about the single-core update, bringing chip model 8X50A up to 1.3 GHz. In case you were wondering, the dual-core chip is indeed for smartphones, not just netbooks, and can handle 1080p video. Let the drooling begin.

      Mobile, News

      Keep your cables away from your kids

      January 8, 2010 /

      USB cables can be dangerous.I saw this over at Gizmodo this morning and had to pass it along. A toddler from Longmont, Colorado got a little too curious around the family laptop this week. She managed to get a hold of the business end of a USB cable that was still plugged into the computer and, as toddlers are prone to do, put the thing in her mouth.

      Here’s the text from the original article:

      Trinity remains at Children’s Hospital with third-degree burns on her tongue, palate and lips. She is on sedatives and paralyzing drugs to prevent her from moving and disturbing her breathing tube, Jeffrey Anderson said. She needs the tube because her tongue is so swollen it blocks her airway.

      Anderson said he feels helpless as he watches his granddaughter in her hospital bed.

      “I want to make it better, and there’s nothing I can do,” he said.

      Anderson said doctors plan to allow Trinity to regain consciousness in the next day or two to assess how much neurological damage occurred. The little girl wasn’t breathing for several minutes, and her heart nearly stopped beating.

      Anderson said doctors expect Trinity to recover from her burns, though she may have lasting cosmetic damage. Right now, the family’s main concern is that the happy, laughing little girl does not suffer serious brain damage, and they hope she is young enough that she can recover any lost capabilities.

      That’s some serious damage from a cable that typically carries around 5 volts. So please, unplug cables you aren’t using and keep them away from your toddlers.

      Source: Colorado Daily

      News

      Gunnar to release 3D line of lenses

      January 7, 2010 /

      Gunnar i-AMP 3D specs.I did a review a while back for a pair of Gunnar Optiks and was pleasantly surprised at the results. It seems the company has entered the market at just the right time, a year or so before the release of the world’s biggest 3D experience. That’s positioned it well to take on 3D glasses, a sector that is historically plagued by poor aesthetics and a dearth of options for prescription wearers.

      The first pair of designer 3D eyewear will be available in Q2 this year, a month or so later for the prescription versions, starting at $90. It’s a big price tag, but they’ll keep you from looking completely ridiculous, and if you’re just buying them for yourself I think it’s a justifiable cost.

      In case you need a little more reassurance, here’s Joe Croft, the company’s co-founder: “While typical 3D eyewear is stamped from a flat sheet of plastic, GUNNAR lenses are shaped, formed and cut to provide distortion free optics.”

      Gaming, Lifestyle

      iPhone’s Facebook gets push notifications

      January 6, 2010 /

      Facebook push notifications.The Facebook iPhone app got a nice update today: push notifications! It took awhile, but considering the application’s most prominent developer recently quit, it’s not much of a surprise.

      The update seems small, but it’s a pretty serious change in the way you can use the app. You no longer need to be working in the app to see updates. They’ll get pushed straight through, just like a text message. If you have friends like mine, that kind of up-to-the-minute response can be crucial. Incriminating photo gets tagged? Now you know instantly.

      The update also included some handy contact syncing. Your Facebook contacts can now be linked up to your contact list, photos and all. It’s a nice way to get pics of those people you might not otherwise have in your phone. It also feels slightly less creepy than copying a picture from Facebook and using it. Yes, I’ve done that. Yes, I am ashamed.

      Image: TechCrunch

      Apps, iPhone

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