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Cellphones

Swype Beta For Android Is Open, Temporarily 104

FyreWyr writes "In 2008 we discussed Swype, which allows a mobile (phone, e.g.) user to draw a path over a virtual keyboard to enter words, rather than requiring precise tapping to accomplish the input. Using this software, a Swype intern (Franklin Page) beat the Guinness record by about 6 WPM for the Guinness-standard phrase: The razor-toothed piranhas of the genera Serrasalmus and Pygocentrus are the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world. In reality they seldom attack a human. (Unfortunately the video at that link is marked private.) TechCrunch reports that Swype is presently in open beta, and will be available for 'a couple of days,' supporting English, Spanish, and Italian entry. Finally, while the deadline has apparently passed, I was able to retrieve the Android beta for testing a few minutes ago. I'm posting it here for the benefit of Android-enabled Slashdot readers."

Comment Doesn't matter what the term actually means (Score 1) 476

The important part is how consumers interpret and respond to the idea of a 'retinal display'. No doubt it will conjure all kinds of wild assumptions and capabilities in the mind of the buyer, compelling them to buy it. Furthermore, no amount of logic/reasoning will be convince them that their assumptions were wrong: "how can I be wrong - just look at that display!"

Comment Droid has usability issues? (Score 1) 670

I tether my Moto Droid to my laptop (really handy when hotels wants to charge for Wi-Fi). I can listen to Slacker, Pandora, etc while using other apps. I can install any kind of Android app from any vendor regardless of whether Google approves of it or not. And once I update to Froyo, I'll be able to visit Flash websites that iPhone/iPad can't (despite Apple's claim of having the 'entire web in my hands'). If those are usability issues, then by all means, keep 'em coming.

Comment It will help, but not in the way intended (Score 1) 1

People will go back to eating french fries because they have less fat and calories than a side salad. Example: At Wendy's, a side salad with thousand island dressing has double the calories and fat of a small order of fries. There is more to selecting nutritious food than examining fat and/or calorie counts, and it certainly doesn't fit next to the price on a menu board.
Medicine

Submission + - Obamacare Puts Calories On Menus - Will It Help? (singularityhub.com) 1

kkleiner writes: The recent US healthcare reform bill has a lot on its plate. Then, again, so do Americans. One of the provisions of the bill will give the FDA one year to develop standards by which all chain restaurants with 20 or more locations will be required to post calorie counts on their menus. More than 200,000 establishments will be effected, with the hope that this will help reduce rates of obesity in the US. Will it really help?

Comment Thanks for the tip! Installing it now! (Score 2, Funny) 375

I'd never had known about this script if Facebook had left well enough alone. I'm installing the script now, and encourage everyone else to do the same. I do know how to block FB apps, but am still annoyed by the occasional status update or event invite that includes stuff I don't wanna see. Yippee Skippee! (Don't you just love the Streisand Effect?)

Comment Re:Uh...Avast? (Score 1) 896

Registration is once a year, and is *not* new in Avast 5. About the only time I get a call from friends and neighbors whose PC's I've decrapified (and installed Firefox, Avast, and Spybot) is when the Avast registration reneweal comes around. After the first year, they know the routine and do it themselves. The only people I've had to do repeat decrapifications were for those who went back to using IE, or, just didn't understand the basic principles of avoiding phishing attacks and sneaky links.

Comment Re:ORLY? (Score 1) 520

I have to agree. I have 5 phones on my family plan. I changed the shortcuts assigned to the buttons on my phone, and forget that if I pick another phone on the plan and accidentally launch the crappy web browser. Have never received the minimum $1.99 charge on those phones. ever.

Comment Other things that fall under that standard: (Score 1) 584

Many cars require you take your hand off the wheel to do the following:

  • Activating the turn signal
  • Activating the hazard signal
  • Activating the emergency brake
  • Activating the wipers (front or rear)
  • Activating the window defroster (front or rear)

God forbid if there's a cop nearby when it starts pouring rain, near dusk, and you have a lot of mouth breathers in your car fogging up the windows.

Comment Re:iPod touch with camera (Score 0, Redundant) 521

I already have a Nano, and would like to upgrade to iTouch, but only if/when it has a camera. How difficult could this be? (iTouch + Camera = iPhone - phone, right?) It seems that is Apple making consumers choose between running a huge a library of applications and games, or having a camcorder/pedometer? Whatever.

Comment This movie has to be confounding Hollywood (Score 4, Interesting) 705

  • It takes place in Johannesburg, South Africa.
  • The characters have un-American, un-pronounceable names.
  • The actors are normal-looking, middle-aged people.
  • The special effects take a backseat to everything else.

I suppose Peter Jackson's name was the only thing that kept this from being laughed out of Hollywood. 'District 9' and 'Moon' are the best sci-fi movies I've seen in awhile.

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