Nanocade turns your netbook into a lap-friendly arcade cabinet

We'd all like our own personal arcade like Flynn's, but sadly personal finances and a lack of square footage can make that a challenge. The Nanocade is much more affordable and, conveniently, much smaller too. It's a kit from designer Rasmus Sorensen that enables you to turn a netbook or mini-ITX motherboard and 10.1-inch display into a wee MAME cabinet. If you have such a donor machine when this kit starts shipping in March all you'll need is a little adhesive and technical know-how to make your own. Oh, and $349 plus shipping.

Gallery: Nanocade

Nanocade turns your netbook into a lap-friendly arcade cabinet originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 15:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/675n-LviHEc/

Melissa George Melissa Howard Melissa Joan Hart Melissa Rycroft

CorelDRAW video tutorial: Add detail to any image using the Mesh Fill tool

This is the third of four weekly CorelDRAW demos/tutorials. The previous two were about making a Polaroid-like image and vectorizing a simple logo.

This week's video is more of a simple demo than a tutorial: One of CorelDRAW's coolest features is the Mesh Fill. Those of you familiar with Adobe Illustrator will recognize the tool instantly: It allows you to add a great level of detail to otherwise simple vector objects. You can take a simple oval and make it into a photorealistic water droplet using nothing but the Mesh Fill tool.

This tool requires a great deal of practice to master - it's not a simple technique. Rather than attempt a complete drawing, I elected to simply show what it can do. If you've never used a vector drawing application before, this video will give you a good idea of what can be done using the Mesh Fill tool. Take the jump to watch the video.

Continue reading CorelDRAW video tutorial: Add detail to any image using the Mesh Fill tool

CorelDRAW video tutorial: Add detail to any image using the Mesh Fill tool originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/01/31/coreldraw-video-tutorial-add-detail-to-any-image-using-the-mesh-fill-tool/

Ana Beatriz Barros Ana Hickmann Ana Ivanovi Ana Paula Lemes

Google Spent $5.2 Million On Lobbying In 2010; Up 29 Percent From 2009

Google's Q4 lobbying spend is in; and the search giant continues to spend more money on influencing policy and lawmakers than in previous years. In the fourth quarter of 2010, Google spent $1.24 million on lobbying, which is up from $1.12 million in the same quarter in 2010. In total, Google spent $5.16 million on lobbying efforts in 2010, which is up from $4 million in 2009. You can find the reports from the U.S. Senate?s lobbying database here. For Google, this quarter?s lobbying efforts were slightly higher than Q3's spending ($1.2 million) but lower than Q2's lobbying bill ($1.34 million), and Q1's spend ($1.38 million). In the fourth quarter of 2010, Google's lobbying strategy for this quarter focused on online advertising regulation including privacy and competition issues, patent reform, cyber security and online privacy, renewable energy, freedom of expression and censorship, tax reform, free trade, Congressional Internet service usage rules and broadband access.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/k3IQaftkvb4/

Alicia Witt Amanda Bynes Amanda Detmer Amanda Marcum

Hands-On With T-Mobile?s 7-Inch Tablet, Due Feb. 2

For those of you with lengthy tech-toy wish lists and not-so-deep pockets, T-Mobile’s new tablet offering may provide the answer you’ve been waiting for.
Beginning Feb. 2, the Dell Streak 7 tablet will be available for $200, after a $50 mail-in rebate and two-year contract, T-Mobile has announced. Off-contract, the tablet will retail for $450.
The new [...]

Source: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/01/t-mobile-dell-streak-seven/

Vitamin C Vogue Whitney Able Whitney Port

Power-One Opens First U.S. Factory To Make Inverters, Turn Renewables To Grid Ready Electricity

Power-One, Inc. (NASDAQ:PWER) ? a large manufacturer of power inverters for the renewable energy industry and provider of software to manage power harvesting and distribution ? opened its first North American manufacturing facility in Phoenix today, where they plan to employ 350 people full-time. According to a company press statement, the facility will primarily produce photovoltaic and wind inverters that convert renewable energy into a usable form of electricity for distribution on the utility grid. The chief executive of Power-One, Richard J. Thompson, explained ahead of the facility's opening ceremony on Monday...

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/sjLhIgEcy3k/

Sara Spraker Sarah Gellman Sarah Michelle Gellar Sarah Mutch

SHIFT: Freedom! is a fun, intelligent platformer -- Time Waster

Creating a good casual game is not a simple task: On the one hand, people want to "get" the game instantly, and just start playing without having to read lengthy tutorials or figure out complex controls. On the other hand, you don't want the game to be too one-dimensional.

And really, the first thing I noticed about SHIFT: Freedom! is that learning how to play was fun. The built-in tutorial walks you through a couple of levels, but you still have to think a little bit, and it's very fast.

As you might have gathered from the title, this is one platformer that doesn't emphasize crazy speed and agility. It's more cerebral - you have to figure your way out of every level using just what you see on the screen (no extra "tools" or anything like that).

It's a lot of fun to play, and due to the way it "teaches" you, you keep finding out new things you can do during the first few levels. And by the time you're done with those, you might just be hooked!

SHIFT: Freedom! is a fun, intelligent platformer -- Time Waster originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/01/26/shift-freedom-is-a-fun-intelligent-platformer-time-waster/

Malin Akerman Mandy Moore Maria Bello Maria Menounos

Access files on your Android via Wi-Fi with Samba Filesharing

Want a nice, simple way to access files on your Android smartphone over a wireless network? Check out Samba Filesharing, an easy-to-configure app which lets you browse your SD card contents in your favorite desktop file manager.

After you install the app, launch it and create a password -- the default username is SDCARD, though you can change that if you wish. Once your changes have been made, tap your Back button to return to the main screen and then tap Menu to bring up the four action buttons. Disable and re-enable SMB services, and you'll receive a notification with the path to your device -- such as \\192.168.0.100 and \\ANDROID.

You can also configure the NetBIOS name (the ANDROID bit) if you want to use something a bit more personal. The app also features a 'wakelock' which keeps your Droid from dozing when you're trying to access files.

Root access is required, and you'll also need Superuser or Superuser Permissions installed (find one with a quick Market search).

Download Samba Filesharing for Android [AppBrain - QR code after the break]

Continue reading Access files on your Android via Wi-Fi with Samba Filesharing

Access files on your Android via Wi-Fi with Samba Filesharing originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/01/31/access-files-on-your-android-via-wi-fi-with-samba-filesharing/

Reese Witherspoon Rhona Mitra Rihanna Robin Tunney

BBM 6 to add social gaming, SDK access coming

BlackBerry Messenger is one of the cornerstones of RIM's mobile platform, and it may be getting a major overhaul in version 6. According to leaked information, BBM6 will feature social gaming integration -- including achievements and in-game chat. It sounds a bit like Xbox LIVE-meets-Blackberry, with your BBM name appearing as your 'GamerTag'. A BBM SDK is apparently also in the works. While we hope that might enable someone to finally build BBM capabilities into a desktop app, we're not going to hold our breath.

BBM 6 will likely only be available to devices running OS 5 or newer, at least in the beginning -- we'll have to wait and see if RIM releases a version for older BlackBerry models.

BBM 6 to add social gaming, SDK access coming originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/01/27/bbm-6-to-add-social-gaming-sdk-access-coming/

Poppy Montgomery Portia de Rossi Rachael Leigh Cook Rachel Bilson

Chrysler shows off Ram plug-in hybrid electric truck, won't sell it to you

There's already a few hybrid trucks on the market (most notably from GM), but true plug-in hybrid electric trucks are another matter altogether. Chrysler now looks set to change that, however -- at least in a small way -- with its new Ram plug-in hybrid that's set to roll out to fleet operators this summer. It was just unveiled at the Washington D.C. Auto Show, and it pairs a 12 kWh battery pack from Canadian battery-maker Electrovaya with Chrysler's own 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine, which Electrovaya says will allow for up to 20 miles of driving on electricity only. Unfortunately, there's no word on any plans to actually make the truck available to individual consumers, but Chrysler does seem to at least be optimistic about hybrid trucks in general, with a company spokesman noting that half-ton pickups are naturally much better at carrying a battery pack than a car, and that trucks work better as hybrid vehicle platforms.

Continue reading Chrysler shows off Ram plug-in hybrid electric truck, won't sell it to you

Chrysler shows off Ram plug-in hybrid electric truck, won't sell it to you originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 30 Jan 2011 10:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Shakara Ledard Shakira Shana Hiatt Shania Twain

Runkeeper Pro fitness app now free for life

When Runkeeper Pro was made free for a limited time earlier this month, downloads of the app went through the roof. If you were worried that you missed your opportunity to grab one of the most popular mobile fitness apps ever at no charge, we've got good news. Yes, Runkeeper Pro is going to remain a free download.

According to the official announcement, there are other big things coming in 2011 which will "benefit all of you." Well, all of you who enjoy (or at least tolerate) running, that is.

Download Runkeeper Pro for iOS or Android

Runkeeper Pro fitness app now free for life originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/01/27/runkeeper-pro-fitness-app-now-free-for-life/

Penélope Cruz Pink Piper Perabo Poppy Montgomery

Google Cloud Print comes to iPhone, Android via Gmail mobile website

At long last, Google has finally connected one of its apps to the much-anticipated Google Cloud Print service. You can now print from any mobile phone -- as long as it's Android 2.1 or iOS 3 or later -- to any printer that you have successfully connected to your Google Cloud Print account.

The service only works via the Gmail mobile website for now -- just visit www.gmail.com on your phone -- but presumably Google could also activate it for desktop users. An updated Android app with Cloud Print integration must surely follow, too.

If you want to set up Google Cloud Print, check the Google FAQ -- or if you just want to see what it's like, check our hands-on review.

Google Cloud Print comes to iPhone, Android via Gmail mobile website originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/01/24/gmail-mobile-website-now-supports-google-cloud-print/

Amy Cobb Amy Smart Ana Beatriz Barros Ana Hickmann

Web of Trust (WOT) brings Web trust, safety, and privacy ratings to Opera

Web of Trust has been a trusted browser privacy and security add-on for Firefox, Chrome, and Internet Explorer for quite a while. Now, Opera users can take advantage of WOT trust ratings as well! Just head over to the Opera Extensions gallery and install Web of Trust, and you'll have access to the same drop-down ratings panel we've shown you before for other browsers (we suspect it was probably re-spun from the Chrome extension).

Remember, Opera 11+ is required to use extensions, so upgrade first if you're on a previous version. Don't forget to check out other great extensions for Opera, like LastPass and our collection of other handy add-ons.

Web of Trust (WOT) brings Web trust, safety, and privacy ratings to Opera originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/01/28/weboftrust-wot-brings-web-trust-safety-and-privacy-ratings-to-opera/

Sophia Bush Stacy Keibler Summer Altice Summer Glau

Insidia is a dark-yet-forgiving platformer -- Time Waster

So you're an alien, tooling around in free space in your little spaceship... when suddenly, disaster strikes! Your craft is hit by a meteor, and you're forced to crash-land on an unfamiliar, dark planet.

That's where Insidia starts off. Now that you're on the planet, you have to navigate its complex maze of rooms and corridors in search of repair kits for your craft. Once you find all ten repair kits, you'd be able to leave the planet (and win the game).

Unlike many other platformers, Insidia is not linear. As you progress through the game, you reveal more and more passages and rooms, but you also go through some places more than once. When you hit M you get a nice map that shows everywhere you've been so far and gives you a sense of how much is still to be explored.

As you walk around, you find items that improve your abilities (a double-jump power-up, for example). And when something kills you, you just respawn at the last "save point", with all of your items and abilities intact. I love that, because it means dying is not a big deal - it's just a part of the game, and it doesn't make you feel like you're failing.

All in all, this is a platformer I could certainly spend some time with.

Insidia is a dark-yet-forgiving platformer -- Time Waster originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/01/27/insidia-is-a-dark-yet-forgiving-platformer-time-waster/

Brittany Snow Brittny Gastineau Brody Dalle Brooke Burke

T-Pain Got a Facebook 'Like' Button Tattoo [Odd]

Rapper T-Pain introduced this new tattoo he got in Hawaii with a tweet: "I think this ones pretty sweet, unless facebook shuts down soon 0_o". That's what the guy who tattooed MySpace's Tom on his back said in 2002. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/ZjDRIYL9J_k/t+pain-got-a-facebook-like-button-tattoo

Tyra Banks Uma Thurman Vanessa Hudgens Vanessa Marcil

Monitor Security Cams From Anywhere With Your iPad

No matter where you are in the world you can easily monitor your security cameras from anywhere with your iPad using the uNetCams Multiple IP Camera Viewer app. This app streams MJPEG video feeds from your IP network cameras in real-time and has many useful features. Whether you have just one camera or hundreds of [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ipadbuzzblog/~3/9mjBx8M9TSY/

Cristina Dumitru Daisy Fuentes Dania Ramirez Danica Patrick

Aaron Rodgers Broke a Photographer's Monopod to Score a Touchdown [Photography]

Scott Kelby, an excellent photographer, was taking pictures in the end zone during last week's Packers game when Aaron Rodgers decided to run and dive in his direction. Rodgers scored a touchdown but accidentally broke Kelby's $350 monopod in the process. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/H59U1dPgKjw/aaron-rodgers-broke-a-photographers-monopod-to-score-a-touchdown

Josie Maran Joss Stone Jules Asner Julia Stiles