LG Optimus F5 and F7 smartphones now official with LTE and Jelly Bean

LG Optimus F5 and F7 smartphones now official with LTE and Jelly Bean:

Based on this morning's leak, you already knew that LG's smartphone lineup was about to become more diversified, but now we're able to share concrete details of the Optimus F5 and F7, which will be unveiled at Mobile World Congress. As the naming scheme suggests, the Optimus F7 is the larger of the two with a 4.7-inch (312ppi) True HD IPS display, a dual-core 1.5GHz CPU, an 8-megapixel primary camera, 2GB RAM and a 2,540mAh battery. Meanwhile, the Optimus F5 will be targeted at those who prefer a more compact smartphone, as it wields a 4.3-inch (256ppi) IPS display, a dual-core 1.2GHz CPU, a 5-megapixel primary camera, 1GB RAM and a 2,150mAh battery.
Common among both devices are Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean), support for LG's QSlide and Live Zooming software features, a 1.3-megapixel front-facing shooter, 8GB built-in storage, microSD support and LTE connectivity. The Optimus F5 will come to market first in Europe during the second quarter, which is to be followed by the Optimus F7 "in select markets." Sadly, pricing has yet to be announced for either smartphone. For those curious, we've included the complete list of known specs after the break.
Filed under: Cellphones, LG
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Source: LG

Chrome gets app launcher on Windows dev preview, OS X and Linux to nab it soon

Chrome gets app launcher on Windows dev preview, OS X and Linux to nab it soon:

Chromebooks have had the luxury of an app launcher for quite a while, but now Windows users can get in on the action too, provided they download the latest version of Chrome from the browser's dev channel. In order for the launcher to appear in the taskbar, however, those running the fresh release will need to install a Chrome packaged app -- an application written in HTML, CSS and JavaScript that opens outside the browser and works offline by default. Packaged programs aren't searchable on the Chrome Web Store just yet, but folks can code their own or head to the Chromium Blog for a pair of software suggestions. Linux and Mac OS X are penciled in to receive the launcher soon via the dev channel, but there's no word on when it might find its way into a mainstream release of Chrome. Ready to take the feature for a spin? Hit the source link to let Mountain View point you in the right direction.
Filed under: Google
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Source: Chromium Blog

Hulu Plus gets 'Kids Lock' feature on iPad, enhances the experience for little ones

Hulu Plus gets 'Kids Lock' feature on iPad, enhances the experience for little ones:

Hulu's Kids Lock has already been implemented on Android, and now it's time for the children-tailored, itty-bitty feature to make its way to iOS -- well, at least to the iPad. It's rather simple, really: Kids Lock essentially comes in the form of a virtual button on the app, allowing parents -- or whoever's in charge -- to easily secure their tiny loved ones into the Hulu Kids experience. Meanwhile, getting back to the TV shows and movies watched by the bosses of the house is fairly uncomplicated -- all there's to do is enter the account password and bam, all is golden and everyone can go back to watching Parenthood. Aside from Kids Lock, v2.7 doesn't add too much more, save for a few bugs being fixed and some backend enhancements to make Hulu's iOS application more stable overall.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, Software, HD
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Source: Hulu Plus (iTunes)

Red sues Sony over patents, wants disputed F-series cameras 'destroyed'

Red sues Sony over patents, wants disputed F-series cameras 'destroyed':

We reported that Sony was going "Red hunting" with it's new F-series pro camcorders, but it looks like Red has flipped that scenario. It's suing Sony for allegedly violating two of its patents -- asking for an injunction to stop sales plus an award for damages, and even that that the F5, F55 and F65 models in question be "delivered up and destroyed." The Hobbit camera-maker claims the video cams have "resulted in lost sales, reduced the business and profit of Red, and greatly injured the general reputation of Red." The patents involve Red's implementation of RAW video, but no details were given as to how it thinks those processes were infringed. Anyway, you can now add high-end video cameras to the growing playbill of patent follies.
[Thanks, Andrea!]
Filed under: Cameras, HD, Sony
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Via: Sony Alpha Rumors
Source: Scribd.com

Archos releases free version of Android Video Player, placates penny-pinching cinephiles

Archos releases free version of Android Video Player, placates penny-pinching cinephiles:

While there's no dearth of video playing apps available on Android, French outfit Archos' $5 offering stands out as an especially feature-rich option. For those that shied away from the Archos Video Player just because of the outlay involved however, there's now a free version up for grabs. Supported by ads, it provides all the functionality of its premium cousin, including hardware-accelerated encoding, ability to play network content and online retrieval of movie information like posters and subtitles. Entertainment aficionados can snag the goods at the source link for the unarguable cost of zero, and likely spend the saved scratch on some high-definition bird-slinging action instead.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets
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Via: Android Central
Source: Google Play

Satechi releases $40 mini router that fits in a purse, works as a repeater

Satechi releases $40 mini router that fits in a purse, works as a repeater:

If you've ever found yourself stuck in the only corner of a hotel room where the WiFi actually works, then Satechi may be able to get you back to the desk. Its Multifunction Mini-Router not only gives you a private, 300 Mbps WiFi access point from a hotel's wired internet, but functions as a repeater that can distribute a weak wireless signal elsewhere in the room, too. It also works as a standard home router, of course, and even has a bridge mode which lets you take an existing WiFi network and re-transmit it with a different name (and security), useful for combo networks like those in a cafe, for instance. Finally, the client mode lets you plug the Satechi box into a wired device like a Smart TV or set top box to give it WiFi capability -- letting you dodge the hefty freight of proprietary WiFi dongles often not included with such devices. That's a lot of functionality for $40, but if we had you at "WiFi repeater," check the PR and video after the break.
Filed under: Peripherals, Internet
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Source: Satechi

Autodesk 123D Creatures lets you create monsters on your iPad

Autodesk 123D Creatures lets you create monsters on your iPad:

Love Spore's robust creature creator tool? Got an iPad? Autodesk has something for you. The company's latest iPad app, Creatures, is a streamlined monster maker -- allowing users to create the monstrosity of their dreams with relative ease. Abominations start as a simple stick figure, molded, thickened and textured with a suite of tools and lighting effects borrowed from Autodesk 123D Sculpt. Completed works can be exported for a more professional polishing Maya and other Autodesk programs, or sent to Sculpteo for 3D printing. The iPad exclusive app will eventually sell for $7.99, but will be available for $2 during its initial launch period. Skip on over to the rightmost source link to check out the app on iTunes, or read on for Autodesk's official press release.
Filed under: Tablets, Software
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Source: iTunes