Friday, July 5, 2013

Camino web browser for Mac meets a quiet end

Camino web browser for Mac meets a quiet end data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 315};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20595024' !== '') ? 'bsd:20595024' : ''; var postID = '20595024'; var modalMNo = '93319229', modalVideoMNo = '93320648', modalGalleryMNo = '93304207'; when.eng("eng.omni.init", {pfxID:"weg",pageName:document.title,server:"acp-ld39.websys.aol.com",channel:"us.engadget", s_account: "aolwbengadget,aolsvc", short_url: "",pageType:"",linkInternalFilters:"javascript:,",prop1:"article",prop2:"internet",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"", prop22:"jon-fingas", prop54:"blogsmith",mmxgo: true }); adSendTerms('1')adSetMOAT('1');adSetAdURL('/_uac/adpagem.html');lab._script("http://o.aolcdn.com/os/ads/adhesion/js/adhads-min.js").wait(function(){var floatingAd = new AdhesiveAd("348-14-15-14d",{hideOnSwipe:true});}); onBreak({980: function () { adSetType("F");htmlAdWH("93319229", "LB", "LB"); adSetType("");}}); EngadgetMenu NewsReviews Features Galleries VideosEventsPodcasts Engadget ShowTopics Buyers Guides Sagas Store HD Mobile Alt Announcements Cameras Cellphones Desktops Displays Gaming GPS Handhelds Home Entertainment Household Internet Laptops Meta Misc Networking Peripherals Podcasts Robots Portable Audio/Video Science Software Storage Tablets Transportation Wearables Wireless Acer Amazon AMD Apple ASUS AT&T Blackberry Canon Dell Facebook Google HP HTC Intel Lenovo LG Microsoft Nikon Nintendo Nokia NVIDIA Samsung Sony Sprint T-Mobile Verizon About UsSubscribeLike Engadget@engadgettip uswhen.eng("eng.nav.init")when.eng("eng.tips.init") onBreak({980: function () {htmlAdWH("93308280", "215", "35",'AJAX','ajaxsponsor');}});Camino web browser for Mac meets a quiet endBypostedJun 1st, 2013 at 4:07 AM 0

Camino browser for Mac meets its end, 11 years later

When Camino's web browser launched in February 2002 as Chimera, it rescued many Mac users caught between a dying Internet Explorer and the distant launches of Firefox (Phoenix) and Safari. It's unfortunate, then, that the Camino team has just laid their once-heroic browser to rest. There's little surprise as to why, though: Camino hasn't been keeping pace with its rivals, which makes it both obsolete and a security risk. We won't mourn when there's now an abundance of alternatives, but we'll certainly pay our last respects.

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Prancercise Guru Teaches Al Roker to Prance

Prancercise guru Joanna Rohrback — whose gleefully galloping fitness video went viral on YouTube this week — appeared on the Today Show this morning to teach Al Roker and Natalie Morales how to prance. She also explained the genesis of Prancercise:

I started by doing a very intense exercise routine, it involved power walking with ankle weights, and one day I was hearing a really good tune, and I started to stretch my limbs very rhythmically forward, and the rest is history.

Joanna Rohrback is a treasure. If you haven't seen her original Prancercise video, click here and prepare to be dazzled.


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TechShop CEO Mark Hatch on his Toshiba T1100 Plus and radio tech magic

Every week, a new and interesting human being tackles our decidedly geeky take on the Proustian Q&A. This is the Engadget Questionnaire.

In the latest installment of our high-tech queries, TechShop CEO Mark Hatch discusses annoying reboots, the ka-chunk of classic tech and much more. The full gamut of answers -- from Leatherman to Siri -- await your perusal on the other side of the break.

TechShop CEO Mark Hatch on his Toshiba T1100 Plus and radio tech magicWhat gadget do you depend on most?
iPhone 5. It allows me to always be on.

Which do you look back upon most fondly?
My Toshiba T1100 Plus running DOS 2.11 with a whopping 640KB of memory. Configured with a RAM disk and dual floppies... I was all that.

Which company does the most to push the industry?
In our segment I would have to say Autodesk clearly understands the potential of the maker movement, maker spaces and the future of manufacturing best. And they are putting money into the segment faster than any other company.

What is your operating system of choice?
Red Bull.

What are your favorite gadget names?
I've always been partial to "Leatherman."

What are your least favorite?
Dell Inspiron IM5030-3413B3D... It makes the AS400 sound inspired.

Which app do you depend on most?
I live on email of all forms.

What traits do you most deplore in a smartphone?
Siri. And other voice-recognition systems. They're terrible. I used a voicemail service in the late '90s called Wildfire. It rocked. I call on Rich Miner at Google Ventures, who co-founded Wildfire, sold it and moved on, to resurrect it and save us from Siri.

TechShop CEO Mark Hatch on his Toshiba T1100 Plus and radio tech magic
Aaron Kuffner's Gamelatron, which merges robotics and Balinese musical tradition, sits on display at TechShop SF.

Which do you most admire?
Some people forget how revolutionary visual voicemail was; for those of us who grew up on voicemail and getting stuck with 30 to 100 calls waiting... and no idea who called or why... or what urgency.

What is your idea of the perfect device?
Sox. Perfectly intuitive, allows for self-expression, easy to use and comfortable.

What is your earliest gadget memory?
Electro-mechanical TV channel changer. I loved the sound of the "ka-chunk," as the channel changed.

What technological advancement do you most admire?
I think electricity had the most profound change on the world. Radio technology up through and including RFID is as close to pure magic as we are likely to ever see (or not see). The first time a tech described RFID to me, I kept asking where the battery was. He kept saying it didn't need one. Huh? Devices with no power?

"Radio technology up through and including RFID is as close to pure magic as we are likely to ever see (or not see)."

Which do you most despise?
Needles.

What fault are you most tolerant of in a gadget?
I used to tolerate configuration and setup issues as just the cost of being an early adopter ... and then I started getting Apple products.

Which are you most intolerant of?
Gadgets that have to be rebooted consistently drive me nuts. Somehow I now have a printer that has to reboot. Really? Shouldn't a printer just work?

When has your smartphone been of the most help?
This is like asking, "When has your right hand been the most help?" I meet people, get deals done, plan trips, find the nearest hospital, locate a good restaurant.

What device do you covet most?
Gulfstream G550. But I would settle for a HondaJet.

If you could change one thing about your phone what would it be?
I think Samsung is headed in the right direction. The iPhone 5 screen is simply too small. Thankfully I now carry an iPad mini ... but it will not fit in any of my pockets.

What does being connected mean to you?
People who want and need to get to me can, and I can meet with people who I want or need to connect.

When are you least likely to reply to an email?
I've never responded to an email while in the shower.

When did you last disconnect?
I bought my first acoustic coupler around 1985. In 1991, I took a cruise to Mexico; I couldn't connect for two days. It almost killed me.


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IK Multimedia intros AmpliTube 3.0 with timeline editing, ships iRig HD

IK Multimedia releases AmpliTube 3.0 for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch

The complete mobile guitar studio adds timeline audio editing and new models

May 30, 2013 - IK Multimedia, a leader in mobile music-creation apps and accessories, is proud to announce the new version of the highly acclaimed AmpliTube® App, which now adds a complete multi-track Studio with timeline audio editing and new gear models, making it the most comprehensive guitar and audio production app available. Now users can play, practise, compose and record complete songs from start to finish, anywhere inspiration strikes, on their iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

The new release of AmpliTube completely changes the game for mobile music production and offers everything musicians need to quickly and easily record complete songs: a full guitar/bass rig; a multi-track recorder with effects; a new timeline audio editing suite for arranging, editing, mixing and mastering; a built-in programmable drummer; professional export features for sharing creations with the world; and the possibility to work simultaneously with other audio apps.

When used with the IK Multimedia iRig® line of guitar interfaces (like the new high-quality iRig HD, iRig STOMP or the iRig adapter), microphone products (like iRig MIC or iRig PRE) AmpliTube 3.0 provides an all-in-one solution with unmatched sound quality, guitar tone, recording flexibility and ease of use for the professional mobile musician.

The New AmpliTube Studio - Timeline Audio Editing Suite

The newest feature in AmpliTube 3.0 is the Studio, where users will see their audio tracks on a timeline with a waveform display, much like they are used to on their DAW (digital audio workstation) software on their computer. Audio regions can be manipulated with a full set of commands and controls: cut, copy, paste, delete, normalize, split (at playhead), create fades and crop clips.

Clips can easily be moved and adjusted with a simple gesture for precise alignment with other clips, and a grid feature provides "snapping" of regions to the timeline for easy positioning. Recording into a track is as simple as touching it, arming it and hitting record. AmpliTube Studio makes recording, arranging, editing and perfecting a complete song from start to finish a breeze, and once again revolutionizes the way musicians create on the go.

The new Studio is an extension of the AmpliTube recorder,which starts as a single-track recorder, and can be expanded to 4-track (iPhone/iPod touch) or 8-track (iPad) putting a full multi-track recorder with mastering effects the fingertips of the user. The multi-track recorder has features rivalling even the most sophisticated studio setups, like effects send and master multi-effects, which can add that professional feel to any recording. The recorder with the new Studio section is designed to allow players to quickly and easily get their musical ideas recorded, polished and ready for prime time.

A Complete Guitar Rig with New Gear

At its core, AmpliTube continues to be all about outstanding guitar and bass tone, and offers a full guitar/bass rig including tuner; selectable stomp box effects; amplifiers from the world's top amp manufacturers like Fender®, Ampeg®, and Soldano®; collections from artists like Jimi Hendrix™, Slash and others; plus selectable speaker cabinets and microphones.

Exclusively for iRig HD users, AmpliTube 3.0 now also offers four new free gear models that address the tone needs of the most demanding metal and rock players - the Metal 150 and Metal W amps, and the X-Flanger and Wharmonator "Whammy" pedals. Never before has such a massive and comprehensive collection of tone machines been offered to mobile guitarists, right at their fingertips.

A Drummer Always in the Pocket

With AmpliTube's built-in Loop Drummer, players will always have a professional drummer with them. Loop Drummer features complete groove "building blocks," including intros, fills, main and alternate rhythms, and outros. It's extremely flexible and easy to use, and covers virtually every style of music. Start with the free Rock style installed, and add more genre packs via in-app purchase, covering most musical styles, including Metal, Funky, Blues, and many others.

The Perfect Rehearsal Tool

AmpliTube also features a robust Song section that allows you to load pre-recorded material into it, change the tempo if desired, and practise along. This is a great tool for learning new material, or simply creating new riffs over existing material by using the "No Voice" centre-cancel button that mutes audio panned to the centre of the stereo field.

Supports Other Favorite Mobile Music Apps

AmpliTube is also Audiobus compatible, which means that it can be used simultaneously with up to 4 other compatible audio apps. Players can use other IK apps like SampleTank®, iLectric™ Piano or iGrand™ Piano; record material directly into the AmpliTube recorder or studio section; or use the AmpliTube signal chain as a tone generator, effects processor or recorder for other apps like GarageBand.

Price and Availability

AmpliTube 3.0 is a free update for all previous users and it's available now on the App StoreSM both as a free or paid app for iPhone/iPod touch or iPad for only $19.99/€17.99 for new users. The new Studio feature is available as in-app purchase for $9.99/€8.99 on iPhone and iPod touch and $14.99/€13.99 on iPad for users who have already purchased the multi-track recorder, or at a special bundle price that also includes the multi-track recorder for new users.

The four new gear models are exclusively available to iRig HD interface users, by simply connecting the interface to the app.

IK Multimedia ships iRig HD - rock out anywhere with studio quality sound

Now practise, play and record guitar and bass on any iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Mac, with superior digital quality sound

May 30, 2013 - IK Multimedia, a leader in mobile music creation apps and accessories, is proud to announce that iRig® HD, the highly anticipated guitar and bass premium digital interface for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac, is now available from electronic and music retailers worldwide. Guitar players around the globe can now plug into their iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Mac, and rock out with studio quality sound. The new iRig HD also comes with IK's AmpliTube App and software for a complete "out of the box" playing experience.

iRig HD is a high-quality, compact digital interface designed so that guitar and bass players can easily plug their instrument into an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac, and rock out with studio quality digital sound. iRig HD features a compact ultra-slim design, fits in any gig bag, backpack, computer case or pocket, and comes with interchangeable adapter cables to provide universal device compatibility. As with many other IK accessories, iRig HD is manufactured in Italy using only premium components and rigorous quality standards.

Lightning compatible - all cables included

iRig HD is a Lightning compatible mobile guitar interface that comes with all the cables you need to make the right connections with your devices. It is a simple "plug in and play" interface, featuring a 1/4" instrument input jack, and plugs directly into the digital input of any iPhone or iPad via the included cables. Not only is the iRig HD perfect for mobile guitarists, but players can also use iRig HD with a laptop or desktop Mac computer, thanks to the included USB cable.

Supports your favourite mobile music-making apps

While iRig HD offers great performance with any digital audio processing app, it comes with the AmpliTube App, a superior sounding "ready to go" expandable guitar rig complete with virtual effects pedals, amplifiers, speakers and a recorder, plus four new virtual amps and effects available exclusively for iRig HD users. AmpliTube FREE can be greatly expanded via in-app purchase with the entire range of AmpliTube apps including officially licensed versions based on Fender®, Jimi Hendrix™ and Slash sounds. Guitar and bass players now have the widest range of amplifiers and effects at their fingertips with over 55 outstanding mobile gear models for jamming and recording on the go. iRig HD is class compliant, so it can be used with any mobile app, like Apple's GarageBand, that supports digital audio processing.

Supports your favourite studio setup

Not only is iRig HD the perfect interface for guitar and bass players on the go, it can also be used on Mac laptops and desktops and take advantage of the superior processing power of the Mac OS platform. For Mac users, iRig HD comes with AmpliTube Custom Shop**, IK's free amp and effects application and DAW plug-in, which allows players to choose from hundreds of top quality amplifiers and effects from world's top manufacturers like Fender®, Ampeg®, Orange®, and Soldano®. Players can purchase this gear à la carte, as they need it, thus creating a truly customisable software rig.

Plus, exclusively for iRig HD users, AmpliTube Metal**, the definitive collection of the world's best high-gain amps and distortion stomp boxes for every imaginable metal tone, is also included for free. AmpliTube software can be used as a standalone amp and effects processing powerhouse, or as a plug-in with many popular digital audio workstation (DAW) programs, such as GarageBand or Logic.

iRig HD at a glance:

* High-quality instrument-level 1/4" Hi-Z input jack
* Detachable cables for Lighting, 30 pin and USB connector compatibility
* Preamp gain control
* High-quality, low-noise, high-definition preamp
* High-quality 24 bit A/D conversion
* Powered by the iOS device or USB
* Ultra-compact and lightweight
* Comes with AmpliTube FREE* app plus 4 new HD exclusive gear models - The Metal 150, the Metal W, the Wharmonator "whammy" pedal and the X-Flanger
* Comes with AmpliTube Custom Shop and AmpliTube Metal** software for Mac laptops & desktops

Price and availability

iRig HD is available now from music and electronics retailers worldwide, and costs €79.99 (excluding taxes). For a complete set-up, also check out the other IK mobile products including the iKlip™ iPhone and iPad supports for stage and studio, the soon-to-be-released iRig® BlueBoard wireless foot controller and the iLoud® range of musicians' portable speakers.


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Razer Blade Pro and 14-inch models hands-on

Razer Blade Pro and 14-inch models hands-on data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 315};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20592998' !== '') ? 'bsd:20592998' : ''; var postID = '20592998'; var modalMNo = '93319229', modalVideoMNo = '93320648', modalGalleryMNo = '93304207'; when.eng("eng.omni.init", {pfxID:"weg",pageName:document.title,server:"acp-ld39.websys.aol.com",channel:"us.engadget", s_account: "aolwbengadget,aolsvc", short_url: "",pageType:"",linkInternalFilters:"javascript:,",prop1:"article",prop2:"gaming",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"", prop22:"michael-gorman", prop54:"blogsmith",mmxgo: true }); adSendTerms('1')adSetMOAT('1');adSetAdURL('/_uac/adpagem.html');lab._script("http://o.aolcdn.com/os/ads/adhesion/js/adhads-min.js").wait(function(){var floatingAd = new AdhesiveAd("348-14-15-14d",{hideOnSwipe:true});}); onBreak({980: function () { adSetType("F");htmlAdWH("93319229", "LB", "LB"); adSetType("");}}); EngadgetMenu NewsReviews Features Galleries VideosEventsPodcasts Engadget ShowTopics Buyers Guides Sagas Store HD Mobile Alt Announcements Cameras Cellphones Desktops Displays Gaming GPS Handhelds Home Entertainment Household Internet Laptops Meta Misc Networking Peripherals Podcasts Robots Portable Audio/Video Science Software Storage Tablets Transportation Wearables Wireless Acer Amazon AMD Apple ASUS AT&T Blackberry Canon Dell Facebook Google HP HTC Intel Lenovo LG Microsoft Nikon Nintendo Nokia NVIDIA Samsung Sony Sprint T-Mobile Verizon About UsSubscribeLike Engadget@engadgettip uswhen.eng("eng.nav.init")when.eng("eng.tips.init") onBreak({980: function () {htmlAdWH("93308280", "215", "35",'AJAX','ajaxsponsor');}});Razer Blade Pro and 14-inch models hands-on Hands-onBypostedMay 30th, 2013 at 7:10 PM 0

Razer Blade Pro and 14inch models handson

It wasn't all that long ago that we first got our mitts on the Blade 2.0, and today we came to grips with two new third-gen Razer gaming laptops: the Blade Pro and a fresh 14-inch model. On the outside, both of these Blades favor their elders -- both sport matte black anodized-aluminum shells with Razer's trademark Slimer-green accents and diminutive power bricks. Where they differ from previous Blades is in what lies beneath that familiar facade.Razer Blade 14-inch and Blade Pro hands-on See all photos 27 Photos

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Each will come with Intel's fourth-generation Core-i7 quad-core silicon (a 47W chip in the Pro and a 37W CPU in the 14-incher) and a freshly revealed NVIDIA GTX 765M GPU, plus bigger batteries than ever before. If it wasn't already obvious, let us spell it out for you: a big reason for these changes is electrical economy. One of the biggest complaints with any portable gaming rig is its battery life, or more accurately, lack thereof. A more efficient CPU and GPU, plus an extra 10 to 14 Wh of juice means that Razer is acutely aware of the problem and is taking steps to fix it. Razer ran the MobileMark 2007 battery test on the new 14-inch Blade and it lasted six hours. Of course, we'll have to wait until we review these new rigs to discover real-world battery life, but at least on paper, the two new Blades will be a bit more miserly.

Razer Blade Pro and 14inch models handson

In person, the Blade Pro is nigh indistinguishable from its predecessor. The 14-inch version, however, aside from appearing like a shrunken version of the bigger Blade when closed, actually has a few distinct differences. First off, the power button's much smaller than the Pro's, though it is still centered above the keyboard. Next, the 14-incher borrows its speaker design from the MacBook Pro, as its noisemakers are situated on either side of the keyboard instead of being centered beneath the screen. It also lacks an Ethernet port, though it has a trio of USB 3.0 ports and a single HDMI 1.4 socket like the Pro.

It turns out, Razer was able to shrink down the Blade to 14 inches and make it a scant 0.66 inches thick because it designed it twice. That's right folks, the original plan was to out the smaller Blade with the second generation version, but CEO Min-Liang Tan wasn't happy with how thick that first 14-incher wound up. So, the design team at Razer scrapped it and started over -- leveraging the lessons learned from the first go-round to make the necessary improvements.

In our brief time using it, we found that it's a stoutly built machine. There is a teeny bit of flex if you press on the lid, but the keyboard deck is as solid as can be. Furthermore, we found the trackpad to be hyper accurate both with single-finger movements and taps -- among the best we've ever used on a Windows machine. That's not some accidental happenstance, either. Razer put a custom microcontroller and firmware in the Blade to intercept every signal coming from the Synaptics pad and ensure that it's good enough to game on. The buttons just beneath that pad, however, were a bit squishy and less precise than we would have liked them to be.

Because of the identical form factor to the Blade 2.0, there's not much new to talk about with respect to the Blade Pro's hardware. However, Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan did reveal that a few new productivity apps are coming to its Switchblade UI. That's right folks, Adobe Premiere and Photoshop, GIMP, Autodesk Maya and a viewer for the Unreal Engine UDK will all be getting apps built for the Switchblade UI -- and you can get a glimpse of how they work in the video above.

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