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- Xperia arc and neo get the Android 4.0 treatment, Sony makes good on its upgrade plans
- Xbox 360 250GB Racing Bundle totes Forza and a wheel, driving talent extra
- Amazon Instant Video streaming is now live on the Xbox 360
- Editorial: Sony needs more than Sorcery to resurrect the PlayStation Move
- Sprint sets a best-before date for iDEN push-to-talk: June 30th, 2013
- NuForce compresses a rechargeable speaker, USB DAC and headphone amp into a $119 Cube
- Stitcher Radio debuts The Stitcher List, a new way to discover podcasts worth listening to
- The CZC U116T: it's an Ultrabook, it's a hybrid and it's hopefully coming to Computex
- Engadget Giveaway: win one of two pairs of Sync by 50 wireless over-ear headphones!
- Supposed new iPhone casings show up with tall body, tiny dock connector, tons of mystery (update: a bit of the front too)
- WWDC 2012 schedule confirmed, adds keynote details and companion app
- Insert Coin: Modkit Micro asks us if we're ready for six-year-olds coding Arduino boards
- Google patents view augmentation method and glasses, sees what you cannot
- Dell adds XPS One 27 with 2560 x 1440 screen to its all-in-one lineup, prices start at $1,399 (video)
- Dell announces Inspiron One 23 and One 20 all-in-ones (video)
- CyanogenMod 9 add-on gives your Galaxy Nexus a glass slipper, it will go to the GS III ball
- Scalado Photobeamer for iOS brings rapid photo sharing to any web-connected display (video)
- Kogan intros 10-inch Agora tablet with ICS in Australia, ships next month starting at $179
- Insert Coin: Twig, the tiny iPhone cable that's also a tripod (video)
- McGill University student plan provides healthcare to rural areas with Windows Phone and Win 8
- PSA: Resetting your phone risks upsetting Google Wallet, unless you do it right
- Olympus creates world's thinnest industrial videoscope, packs HDR (video)
- Explay Crystal revives transparent display phones with dash of color, low price
- Samsung's Music Hub launches in UK, France and Germany, offers 100GB storage, unlimited streaming
- Microsoft lands an official software outlet in Iraq
- LG launches new pair of TVs: DM2752 and M2752 can both double-up as your PC monitor
- Sharp Pantone 5 ICS phone has 8 color choices, 3.7-inch screen -- oh, and a radiation detector
- AGA's iTotal Control range cooker packs GSM connectivity, lets you pre-heat via SMS or web
- Futulele goes live for iPad, ukelele serenades just went multi-touch (video)
- Samsung's 'human centric' Galaxy S III launches around the globe, says what delays?
- LG launches 'upgraded' SP820 Smart TV Upgrader box in June for about $170 US
- Amazon offers prepaid 4G LTE data in Japan, gets you online 500MB at a time
- Lenovo ThinkPad Edge S430 readies to enter Euro market, gets priced at €809 on German site
- Precise Biometrics' Tactivo for iPhone, iPad locks data by fingerprint and smart card, is overkill for your diary (video)
- Volvo's driverless road train in Spain is public mainly on the plain (video)
- Smart Pebble robots replicate objects the way a good hive mind should (video)
- Must See HDTV (May 28th - June 3rd)
- Flame malware snoops on PCs across the Middle East, makes Stuxnet look small-time
- RIM's Chief Legal Officer is latest exec to leave the company
| Xperia arc and neo get the Android 4.0 treatment, Sony makes good on its upgrade plans Posted: 29 May 2012 10:56 AM PDT Sony's been pretty forthcoming about its Ice Cream Sandwich rollout, informing users of certain instabilities (see: Xperia Play) and mostly abiding by its planned upgrade schedule. In line with its announcement from last week regarding second round refreshes, Xperia arc and neo handsets have now begun to receive that Android 4.0.4 update, no doubt delighting owners and invoking the ire of their Gingerbread-toting friends. It's a rare moment of reversal that should see owners of those two elder devices from a bygone SE-era enjoying a temporary leg up on their faster, better, flashier brethren. Hit up the source below to see if your phone made the cut. |
| Xbox 360 250GB Racing Bundle totes Forza and a wheel, driving talent extra Posted: 29 May 2012 10:33 AM PDT Most Xbox 360 bundles focus on shiny colors over extra features. We'll take them any day, but we prefer functional pack-ins like that in the just-unveiled 250GB Racing Bundle. On top of Microsoft's higher-end console, you'll find a copy of Forza Motorsport 4 to build your racing chops and a Wireless Speed Wheel to give a slightly more faithful driving experience. The effect won't match that of a Motion Simulation TL1, but at $299, you'll have money left over to buy a real car when the Xbox bundle arrives in mid-June -- and only a slight premium over the usual 250GB console's $249 price tag. |
| Amazon Instant Video streaming is now live on the Xbox 360 Posted: 29 May 2012 10:09 AM PDT If Amazon's video store is going to compete with the other online sources like Hulu and Netflix, getting on as many platforms as possible is key and it made a major expansion today by launching on the Xbox 360. The app launched on the PS3 back in April, and just like that version, this one includes access to Amazon's video on-demand and Prime all-you-can-eat subscription based streaming. Unique to the Xbox 360 app is support for the console's Kinect peripheral and its ability to recognize control by gesture or voice, plus a brand new feature for Amazon -- a queue. The Watchlist lets customers preselect programming they're interested in for easy access on the devices later, just like Netflix's implementation, however Amazon's VOD store means access to newer and higher profile content is just a click away. There's more details in the press release and video after the break, or you can just check out the app on your console right now (if you're in the US and have Xbox Live Gold, of course -- even if you don't have Prime, there's a one month free trial offer). AMAZON INSTANT VIDEO NOW AVAILABLE ON XBOX 360, WITH ACCESS TO 'YOUR VIDEO LIBRARY' AND PRIME INSTANT VIDEO · Instant streaming of thousands of high-definition movies and TV episodes that start and resume in just seconds. · Watchlist for Amazon Instant Video – allows customers to create a list of things they want to watch, and find those movies and TV episodes easily. · Whispersync – lets customers seamlessly switch from one device to another. Customers can start streaming a movie on Kindle Fire, then pick up right where they left off on their Xbox 360 console and avoid the frustration of having to find their spot. · Your Video Library – customers can access their purchases from Amazon Instant Video on the Xbox 360 or any of the hundreds of other devices enabled for Amazon Instant Video. For a list of compatible devices click here. |
| Editorial: Sony needs more than Sorcery to resurrect the PlayStation Move Posted: 29 May 2012 10:01 AM PDT The first time we saw Sony's PlayStation Move, it didn't even have a name: we only knew it as the PS3 motion controller. The newfangled prototype was Sony's response to the success Nintendo found in the Wii, a motion-sensitive "me-too" that hoped to one up the competition with better tracking, more "core" games and a curious glowing ball perched on its top. Its first outing showed a handful of tech demos, flaunting gameplay concepts that we'd eventually see in Sports Champions and Medieval Moves: Deadmund's Quest. Since then, the Move has seen its fair share of exclusive and compatible titles, but none quite engaging enough to make the peripheral a must-have accessory. With the next generation just around the corner and Sony's portable cards already on the table, E3 2012 is looking a little light on the hardware front. If Sony's going to give the Move one final push, now is the time. How does a two-year-old peripheral keep it fresh? Well, if Microsoft's attitude about Kinect is any indication, it's all in the software. A PlayStation Move push means showcasing the best the wand has to offer at E3, and what better way to speculate about the motion-sensitive lollipop's future than to look at its recent past -- we're talking about Sorcery. As we said, most of the ideas from the controller's 2009 technical demo came to fruition in retail games, but one gem was skipped over for three years: magic. From the very beginning, Sony's E3 press conference evoked the idea of a magic wand, suggesting that the controller's illuminated sphere could match hues to the on-screen wizardry. A novel idea, to be sure, but it didn't actually surface until the firm's 2010 keynote, in a demo of Sorcery. Fast forward to today and the game is finally out, two years later. Does it live up to Kevin Butler's dated promises? Not exactly. Yes, Sorcery realizes the 2009 suggestion of a magic-spell-powered light-up lollipop, but all games come down to how they play, and this game plays like a run-of-the-mill waggle fest. While the Move's camera does require a bit more direction from the player than generic Wii-like flailing, the game's auto-aim seems to do most of the work. To an extent, this software assist is necessary, but its weak execution robs the player of the notion that they are actually in control of their arcane powers -- aiming the wand directly at an on-screen baddie simply doesn't work. Attacking from the low ground? Players need to fling spells at the empty space above their own head -- rather than at the target itself -- to land a hit. Similarly, targeting enemies on the ground is a exercise in trial and error. This kind of flick-and-flail gameplay is a common pitfall for motion-controlled action titles, to be sure, but it's one the Move needs to overcome if Sony hopes to garner attention this late in the game. Sony CEO Kaz Hirai already took the PlayStation 4 off of the table for the show and the Vita has been in stores for months, making 2012 a year of software. If Sony intros just one excellent Move title, it just might reel in the attention of folks who aren't sold on Nintendo's tablet-esque wonder. E3 is almost upon us, Sony. Make the most of it. |
| Sprint sets a best-before date for iDEN push-to-talk: June 30th, 2013 Posted: 29 May 2012 09:47 AM PDT Amidst all of Sprint's eagerness to phase out its iDEN network, the carrier hasn't given us a hard cutoff date to mark on our calendars until now. If you're still rocking that Motorola Titanium, you may have to drop your Nextel push-to-talk dreams as soon as June 30th, 2013, the earliest possible date Sprint says it could shut down the legacy service. Government customers will be getting a friendly paper reminder on June 1st of this year to make sure they're using CDMA Direct Connect phones like the Admiral well in advance. The switch-off will mark the end to a long and troubled chapter in the Sprint Nextel era, but if it helps bring about 800MHz LTE sooner, we're all for it. Sprint to cease service on its iDEN network as early as June 30, 2013; Company continues to facilitate migration of iDEN customers to Sprint Direct Connect Service OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), May 29, 2012 - Sprint today announced plans to transition business and government customers from its iDEN (2G) Nextel National Network onto Sprint® Direct Connect® -- its next-generation, push to talk service, which operates on Sprint's 3G CDMA network. Sprint also announced that it plans to cease service on the iDEN Nextel National Network as early as June 30, 2013 as part of its Network Vision plan -- a series of network updates designed to offer next generation network capabilities to customers. Sprint will send written notices to business and government customers beginning June 1, 2012 regarding the iDEN Nextel National Network shutdown. The company will continue to notify customers of favorable offers designed to facilitate a smooth migration to Sprint® Direct Connect®. Additional notices are planned for distribution to the iDEN base multiple times over the next year as the shutdown of the iDEN Nextel National Network becomes more imminent. Sprint launched Sprint Direct Connect, the industry's newest PTT gold standard, in October of last year. The service provides broadband data capabilities, familiar push-to-talk features, and rugged and reliable handset options. Sprint Direct Connect coverage is expected to broaden throughout 2012. Over the past eight months, Sprint has announced four rugged Sprint Direct Connect handsets catering to push-to-talk users including the Kyocera DuraMax, Kyocera DuraCore, Kyocera DuraPlus and the Motorola Admiral™. Last month, Sprint made International Direct Connect? available on its Sprint Direct Connect devices, expanding the reach of push to talk capabilities to and from Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Chile. Network Vision represents a nationwide update of the Sprint network using the newest, most-advanced equipment in the industry. Sprint plans to consolidate multiple network technologies into one seamless network with the goal of increasing efficiency and enhancing network coverage, call quality and data speeds for customers. Network Vision is expected to add net economic value for Sprint from reduced roaming costs, cell site reduction, backhaul efficiencies, more efficient use of capital, and energy costs savings. Sprint anticipates that iDEN Nextel National Network push to talk functionality will become inoperable as early as June 30, 2013; however, Sprint CDMA voice and data services on PowerSource devices (dual mode iDEN and CDMA devices) will still be available. The company has already discontinued selling iDEN devices in certain channels. It will discontinue selling iDEN devices in all channels and all brands carrying iDEN Nextel products over the next several months. Sprint will continue to support customers with iDEN devices during the network transition and will work with those customers to ease their transition to Sprint's CDMA service. |
| NuForce compresses a rechargeable speaker, USB DAC and headphone amp into a $119 Cube Posted: 29 May 2012 09:21 AM PDT For better or worse, your options are plentiful when it comes to palm-sized speakers aimed at improving the audio of your gizmos. While many simply tout Bluetooth or USB connectivity, NuForce is hoping to shake things up a bit with its new Cube. This micro-speaker isn't wireless, but it's got the unique ability to also function as a headphone amp and USB DAC -- all in a footprint of 38.5 x 58.5 x 60.0mm (2.30 x 2.30 x 2.36 inches). Aside from giving you multiple ways to add more kick to your tunes, the Cube packs a rechargeable battery that'll last for up to eight hours. Sadly, however, it doesn't appear like you'll be able to daisy chain units together for a tiny stereo rig. On brighter notes, you'll have a choice of silver, red, blue or black, and an iPod Nano adapter is available to make it pretty much the smallest dock we've seen. It'll cost you a spendy $119 to get the Cube within your ears' vicinity, and you'll find more details in the press release below NuForce Introduces its All-In-One NuForce releases Cube: a portable speaker, headphone amp, and audiophile-grade USB DAC with extraordinary sound Battery: Rechargeable Lithium Battery |
| Stitcher Radio debuts The Stitcher List, a new way to discover podcasts worth listening to Posted: 29 May 2012 09:00 AM PDT If you like to remain informed and entertained while on-the-go, you're no doubt familiar with the deluge of live radio broadcasts and on-demand podcasts accessible from your smartphone -- the selection is awesome, but it can also be a bit intimidating. Now, the creators of Stitcher are looking to bring a bit of insight to the discovery process with a new service known as The Stitcher List. Here, users may browse 15 different categories to find weekly updates of trending shows, along with the most popular and the most shared broadcasts of the week. The Stitcher List is set to go live on the company's website today, and the wheels are already in motion to integrate it with Stitcher's multi-platform smartphone apps. So, if you've been meaning to find a reason to untangle those earbuds, consider this your sign. |
| The CZC U116T: it's an Ultrabook, it's a hybrid and it's hopefully coming to Computex Posted: 29 May 2012 08:42 AM PDT Remember that Compal franken-gadget reference design we saw at CES? Well, something quite similar looks to be heading to Computex and thence to market, courtesy of Chinese manufacturer CZC Tech. The company has loaded up its Transformer-style 13.3-inch U116T with Ivy Bridge and HD 4000 graphics, the world's favorite resolution, 4GB RAM and a choice of SSD capacities. On the connectivity front you'll get one each of USB 2.0 and 3.0, a memory card slot, audio jacks, SIM slot and an optional fingerprint scanner for people who don't like sharing. What's more, all that technology is housed in the display component -- the detachable keyboard itself will apparently only add an extra battery. On the software side, CZC is promoting Windows 7 alongside a bit of future-proofing, which means the only thing left to discover is the price, availability and whether this device will have anything like the astonishing lightness of that fiber glass Compal. |
| Engadget Giveaway: win one of two pairs of Sync by 50 wireless over-ear headphones! Posted: 29 May 2012 08:15 AM PDT This week we're once again bringing the audio goods to you, and today's giveaway should be incredibly tempting. 50 Cent's brand, SMS Audio, wants to hook you up with a pair of its premium wireless over-ear headphones, Sync by 50. Priced at $400, these cans are spendier than a fair number of smartphones, but it offers Kleer technology with CD-quality lossless audio and will work up to 50 feet away from your device. And just for kicks and giggles, SMS Audio is also throwing in a snapback hat, shirt and a backpack to go along with your prize, so it's definitely worth heading below the rules and leaving a comment to enter. Good luck! The rules:
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| Posted: 29 May 2012 08:06 AM PDT When it rains, it pours -- after a tiny drizzle of tall iPod touch leaks, we're suddenly faced with a deluge of photos of what might just be the next iPhone's back plating. If that's what we're looking at through photos supplied by a historically reliable uBreakiFix, talk of bigger iPhone screens might just pan out, as it looks decidedly taller than the iPhone 4S we use today. Apple may likewise be going all old-school iPhone on us, with a modern twist: we could be reverting to an aluminum back with more receptive materials (likely glass) at the ends, just in a much thinner form that keeps the steel antenna band. Perhaps the most intriguing bit is at the bottom, where rumors of a much smaller dock connector may have been validated along with a shift of place for the headphone jack. There's still a chance we're looking at an elaborate KIRF or an early engineering prototype that could change, but given that 9to5 Mac just got very similar images with black trim, there's a real possibility that we've just been given a sneak peek of what to expect from Apple later this year. Update: A handful of extra photos have surfaced at 9to5 that show a bit of the front, as well as better views of the back. It's looking like the new model won't quite be as skinny as some photos suggest, and we're digging the different-hued, two-tone design a bit more now that it's not being subjected to Mr. Blurrycam. We've included the more choice shots in the gallery. [Thanks to Brandon and Steven from uBreakiFix] |
| WWDC 2012 schedule confirmed, adds keynote details and companion app Posted: 29 May 2012 07:35 AM PDT Apple has revealed a little bit more on what's going down in San Francisco next month. The big keynote has been penned for June 11th, at 10am PT (1pm ET), but if you're likely to forget that, Apple's already prepared an app to keep you clued in. Too busy for these midday conferences? Then be assured that we'll be there to unfurl everything Mr. Cook has to offer next month. For now, you can download the app and consult the full schedule at the source links below. June 11, 2012 1:00 PM EDT |
| Insert Coin: Modkit Micro asks us if we're ready for six-year-olds coding Arduino boards Posted: 29 May 2012 07:01 AM PDT In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line. What does microcontroller programming have in common with Tetris? Quite a bit if you're doing it with Modkit Micro from a Kickstarter project out of Cambridge, MA., which allows almost anyone to visually set up their hardware using graphical blocks to write the code. The partially-hooded trio behind it promises that the software is ideal for use with protyping boards from Arduino, Evil Mad Science, Lilypad, Seeed Studio, Wiring and SparkFun, and they even claim that elementary school students have used it to "take their projects from concept to reality in just a few hours." Purists should have no fear either: you can still get into a code view to see what's going on behind the scenes. A web-based Modkit Micro is being offered online starting June 1st for $25, and there'll be a desktop variant for Windows, OSX, and Linux as early as July if they reach their funding target. Check out the video after the break and then try to get your kids to wait for college before inventing version 2.0 of this.
Previous Project Update: The PressurePen stylus is a bit short of its $10,000 goal, but that could change since the campaign won't come to a close for another solid two months. |
| Google patents view augmentation method and glasses, sees what you cannot Posted: 29 May 2012 06:29 AM PDT Google continues to keep our friends down at the US Patents and Trademark Office busy with its latest filing, involving augmented reality and a pair of relatively staid (at least by these sketches) pair of glasses. The patent outlines a system where a view-finder could identify what we're gawking at, adding in extra factual details and also outlining new points of interest -- including those that aren't necessarily within the view of our own eyes. The glasses would then be able to notify us with a medley of visual indicators and cues (including the slightly awkward notion of light-up frames), guiding our gaze to something we'd hopefully want to take a look at. There's more to Google's latest idea than simple tourist-centric finger-pointing though, also looking to augment how we read. The device would detect when someone is reading from a digital display and even feel out the rest of the information currently out of view. It would then direct readers to points of interest; possibly pictures, possibly those important factual nuggets -- the patent still plays loose with the specifics. But if you're into such vague and fanciful product description, you can take a look at the full filing at the source below. |
| Posted: 29 May 2012 06:00 AM PDT HP, Sony and Toshiba have already outed their new offerings for the back-to-school season, and now Dell is stepping up to the plate with announcements of its own. First up is the XPS One 27 all-in-one. As the name would suggest, it has a 27-inch screen, and the resolution is an impressive 2560 x 1440 pixels. All configurations are going to ship with Ivy Bridge processors (Core i5 or i7) with up to 16GB of memory, and the standard 1TB 7,200RPM hard drive can be swapped out for a 2TB HDD or 32GB SSD. Meanwhile, Waves MaxxAudio 4, Infinity-branded speakers, a Blu-ray drive and optional 2GB NVIDIA GeForce GT640M GPU memory (upgradeable from integrated Intel graphics) up this machine's multimedia cred. An optional internal TV tuner will also be offered. Wrapping things up, there are four USB 3.0 sockets, two USB 2.0 ports with power charge, audio out, HDMI, VGA, mic and headphone jacks and an 8-in-1 memory card reader. The XPS One 27 starts at $1,399, and while it's available in Asia starting today, it's not expected to hit the US for a few weeks. Dell Reimagines the All-in-One Computer for Consumers ROUND ROCK, TEXAS, May 29, 2012 – Dell is reimagining the all-in-one computer, with a new portfolio of solutions for consumers who desire beautifully designed systems for multimedia creation and entertainment. The new computers include the XPS One 27, Dell's largest ever all-in-one and part of the premium XPS performance family, and the Inspiron One 23 and Inspiron One 20 all-in-one computers for families. The three desktop computers are slim and stylish and reflect Dell's design aesthetic that places a premium on unique materials, form factors and experiences. Featuring a simple, single cord set-up, the new space-saving Inspiron all-in-one computers make life easy and deliver powerful entertainment for the whole family. The latest Intel processors and optional powerful discrete graphics allow parents and kids to stay connected to each other and to enjoy the things they love, such as music, movies and casual gaming. A result of direct customer feedback, the Inspiron One 23 now features a new sleek pedestal stand that supports a Full HD 1080p WLED 23-inch display. With an optional Blu-ray disc drive and optional internal TV tuner, as well as ample storage for music, movies and photos, the Inspiron One 23 is an attractive addition to the family living room. The XPS One 27 (starting at $1,399), Inspiron One 23 (starting at $749) and Inspiron One 20 (starting at $529) all-in-one computers are available today in select countries in Asia and will be available in the United States and additional countries in the coming weeks. Detailed Information: XPS One 27 Inspiron One 23 Inspiron One 20 |
| Dell announces Inspiron One 23 and One 20 all-in-ones (video) Posted: 29 May 2012 06:00 AM PDT In addition to the XPS One 27, Dell just unveiled a pair of Inspiron all-in-ones that will launch in the US in the coming weeks. First up, there's the One 23, the larger version of the two with more robust internals, and then there's the One 20, which has a 20-inch display and a more budget-friendly price. Starting at $749, the Inspiron One 23 is available with either second- or third-generation Intel CPUs, ranging from a 3.3GHz Core i3-2120 processor at the entry level to a Core i7-3770s in top-of-the-line models. It comes standard with 500GB of storage, though that can be upped to 2TB. You can also add an AMD Radeon HD 7650A graphics card with 1GB of video memory, if the standard Intel HD 4000 graphics aren't going to cut it. The port selection is similar to what you'll find on the new XPS One 27: four USB 3.0, two USB 2.0 with power charge, audio out, VGA, mic and headphone jacks and a card reader (HDMI-in is optional). Other features include Waves MaxxAudio 3 and an optional Blu-ray drive. While the XPS One 27 and One 23 both offer Ivy Bridge processors, the more competitively priced Inspiron One 20 has only Sandy Bridge options: a 2.2GHz dual-core G620T processor on up to a 2.6GHz Core i3-2120T CPU. Starting at $549, it leaves out discrete graphics, with Intel's HD 2000 solution being the only option. Its 20-inch screen has a pixel count of 1600 x 900, and optical media fans can add a Blu-ray reader. Storage-wise, you're looking at 500GB up to a 1TB 7,200RPM drive. Ports include five USB 2.0 connections, mic and headphone jacks and an 8-in-1 media card reader. Check out the galleries past the break for a closer look. Zach Honig contributed to this report. |
| CyanogenMod 9 add-on gives your Galaxy Nexus a glass slipper, it will go to the GS III ball Posted: 29 May 2012 05:26 AM PDT If the arrival of the GS III has placed a dent in your "latest Galaxy" street-cred, help is at hand. Once again it's the fine folk at XDA-Developers who come up with the goods, in the form of a CM9 add-on pack for the apparently passé Galaxy Nexus. Included in the bundle are all the leaked goodies from Samsung's latest flagship so far (including a working S Voice), as well as a TouchWiz launcher for added authenticity, plus a few other treats for good measure. While designed for CM9, it's believed it may also work with other, similar ROMs. It's available just in time for the real-deal release, so no one (well those with a very untrained eye, at least) need ever know your dirty little secret. |
| Scalado Photobeamer for iOS brings rapid photo sharing to any web-connected display (video) Posted: 29 May 2012 05:00 AM PDT Scalado's latest 99 cent app for iOS only does one little thing, but it does it well. Its singular mission is to let you share an image from your Camera Roll to any web-connected display in front of you, without having to navigate through a more sophisticated file-sharing platform or use extra hardware on the receiving device. That recipient can be anything -- a smart TV, tablet, PC, Mac, games console, whatever -- so long as it has a browser pointed at the Photobeamer homepage. That page displays a QR code, which provides all the clever linkage you need: you simply load up the app on your mobile, pick the image you want to share, and then point the rear camera at the QR code to beam the image across via the web. Having given it a quick test, we'd say it's definitely up to regular domestic challenges where you just want to display a few photos rather than perhaps videos or presentation slides, and where there's no need to print or store shared images. You can swipe left and right between different pictures in your gallery, and also choose whether you want those images to be fitted to the recipient display or resized to fill it. There's a video after the break to help you decide if that's worth a dollar, while the Photobeamer app itself waits patiently at the iTunes link below.
Scalado takes image viewing "out of the mobile" Scalado, a world-leading provider of high-performance imaging technologies, applications and services for the mobile industry, have today announced it will continue releasing innovative applications for download on App Stores. After the success of the newly released Scalado Album on Google Play, Scalado releases Scalado PhotoBeamer for iOS. Scalado PhotoBeamer is a new innovative approach for instant viewing of photos, by pointing the iPhone on any screen previewing the Photobeamer site, without any needs for pre-configurations or pre-registrations. It's a simple to use photo viewer with a clean and smooth user interface, built on top of Scalado's latest innovative technologies for maximum performance and user experience. "End users will love this application and use it frequently with friends and families to make their photos available anytime, anywhere on any screen!", says Fadi Abbas, CMO, General Manager APAC and Co-founder of Scalado, -"The user experience is unique and satisfying." "We're really excited to release our first app for iOS and let Apple users use our innovative technologies", says Sami Niemi, CTO and Co-founder of Scalado, -"We are excited to get the users feedback on this." About Scalado Launched in 2000, Scalado is a world leader in the mobile imaging industry, thanks to a long history of developing innovative platform-independent imaging solutions. Based on Scalado's unique Random Access JPEG and more than 50 patent and patent pending technologies, these innovations are currently being used by the world's leading global telecom and platform players in over 1 billion devices to date, a figure that is growing with 500 million devices each year. For this reason, Scalado has become the centre of gravity of imaging. The company is at the heart of the imaging pipeline network of industries, and is committed to working with global leading industry players to bring the best imaging user experience to any device. Scalado is headquartered in Lund, Sweden, and has regional commercial and development facilities in USA, Korea, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan. For more information, please visit www.scalado.com |
| Kogan intros 10-inch Agora tablet with ICS in Australia, ships next month starting at $179 Posted: 29 May 2012 04:47 AM PDT The sea of budget-friendly slates just keeps on comin' -- and hey, we're certain you won't mind it in the least. This time around it's Kogan bringing its own sub-$200 Agora tablet to folks living in the land of Oz. Those near 200 bucks will give Aussies a taste of Android 4.0, as well as a 10-inch, 1024 x 768 display, one rear 2-megapixel shooter, a 1.2GHz Cortex A8 CPU under the hood and 16GB of built-in storage (expandable via microSD). Meanwhile, those looking to keep spending to a minimum can look towards the lesser-priced $179 slab, which is identical in every bit, save for the lower 8GB of internal storage. Barring any major mishaps, Kogan says it expects to start shipping the new Agora on June 25th, with pre-orders being taken as we speak at the source link below. |
| Insert Coin: Twig, the tiny iPhone cable that's also a tripod (video) Posted: 29 May 2012 04:09 AM PDT In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line. Imagine an iPhone cable that was only four-inches long, doubled as a tripod and could bend to your every whim? That's the idea behind Twig, designed by former WIMM engineer Jason Hilbourne, who wanted something studier, smaller and more portable than Cupertino's "limp noodle." In partnership with an iOS accessory maker, the cable's three sturdy prongs will transform into a dock, wrap around objects or create a free-standing tripod for your FaceTime needs. It needs $50,000 to turn from dismembered action-figure prototype to reality, with an $18 pledge enough to secure you one of the first to leave the factory. After the break we've got the pitch footage, which includes what happens when you start prototyping with your Speed Racer dolls. Previous Project Update: PressurePen's pressurized stylus is mere dollars away to reaching its $10,000 goal, but is coming up achingly short with time running out. |
| McGill University student plan provides healthcare to rural areas with Windows Phone and Win 8 Posted: 29 May 2012 03:44 AM PDT Those of us living in metropolitan areas don't think twice about our ease of access to medical care, but those in rural areas don't enjoy such easy access to a doctor. Abhijeed Kalyan and Shravan Narayan from McGill University in Canada are aware of this problem, and came up with a way for doctors to diagnose and treat patients from afar. Called Project Neem, it's got a hub and spoke organizational structure that puts a healthcare worker in every village and leverages the power of Windows Phone to connect them with medical staff in distant cities. Participating healthcare workers are given basic medical training and a handheld loaded up with a custom app that identifies patients by scanning their national ID card and stores their pertinent medical info -- from temperature and blood pressure readings to a variety of symptoms. The app has a virtual human body on board that lets users tap parts of the anatomy to bring up a series of symptoms that can be selected to provide treating physicians with the info they need. That information is stored in the cloud and accessed by doctors through a Windows 8 app, who then can relay appropriate treatments to the local healthcare worker. Now all we need is someone to make a real-world tricorder, and we'll truly be able to bring medical care to the masses, wherever they may be. |
| PSA: Resetting your phone risks upsetting Google Wallet, unless you do it right Posted: 29 May 2012 03:20 AM PDT Spare a thought for Google Wallet users who have learned this the hard way, but at least you won't have to fall into the same little-known trap. Essentially, if you have a Galaxy Nexus, HTC EVO 4G LTE or any other compatible handset and you perform a factory reset, there's a high chance you'll spoil the secure element that is designed to protect your NFC chip from tampering. This disables Google Wallet and it seems there's no fix once that happens, other than calling up a friendly (and hopefully interactive) customer service agent. However, there is a way to prevent it: before factory resetting, you have to go into the Google Wallet app, choose 'Menu' then 'Settings' and 'Reset Google Wallet'. There it is -- simple enough, but evidently not advertised enough by Google or the phone manufacturers themselves. |
| Olympus creates world's thinnest industrial videoscope, packs HDR (video) Posted: 29 May 2012 03:02 AM PDT Though its medical brethren are considerably slimmer, at 2.4mm in diameter, Olympus says its iPLEX TX is the most slender industrial videoscope on our big blue marble. Rather than using traditional fiber optics to capture footage reminiscent of comic book print, the iPLEX TX houses a miniature CMOS atop one end of the scope and an HDR image processing technology called WiDER to preserve detail and brighten images. The eagle-eyed scope is also 200 times more resistant to frictional wear than fiberscopes and has over double the slip strength. If you're itching to poke inside impossibly cramped and complex pieces of machinery, jump past the break to catch a glimpse of the video-enabled snake in action from DigInfo.tv. |
| Explay Crystal revives transparent display phones with dash of color, low price Posted: 29 May 2012 02:23 AM PDT If you've been lamenting the passing of transparent display phones like the Sony Ericsson Xperia Pureness as those vile, opaque smartphones took over, you'll be happy to know that Russia's Explay has taken up the mantle with the Crystal. The basic song remains the same, a numberpad-driven dumbphone with a display that will help you avoid the lamp post up ahead, but it's remixed through colors that render the experience a lot less monotone. We saw this in the Lenovo S800, but the dual SIM card slots and Bluetooth 3.0 at least see the Crystal keep pace with more recent phones in its category. By far the biggest advantage Explay has over its ancestors is pure cost: at 7,000 rubles ($218), it's less than half the $500 that Lenovo wanted and that much more palatable for a handset that isn't running a sophisticated OS like Android or Windows Phone. Russians have to wait until July 1st to pick up the Crystal, but wouldn't count on the see-through phone seeing its way to the US through official channels. |
| Samsung's Music Hub launches in UK, France and Germany, offers 100GB storage, unlimited streaming Posted: 29 May 2012 01:50 AM PDT We already knew Samsung was dipping a toe in the music market, and now it's officially landed. Music Hub will launch with the GSIII in the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. It's fair to say the electronics giant will be trampling on a fair number of toes, with Music Hub offering both streaming -- from 7 Digital's catalog of 19 million -- as well as recommendations, and a 100GB iTunes Match-esque cloud service. You'll need to trump up £ / €9.99 (about $16) if you want the premium features (unlimited streaming from the catalog and the online storage of your library,) while the free option will let you listen to matched / purchased tracks anywhere (from your phone or the web interface). Samsung's clearly taking a holistic approach with Music Hub, and it'll be a standard feature on its phones going forward (plus potentially Smart TVs and even Fridges). It might not just be restricted to its own hardware eco-system either, with some talk of it coming to other mobile devices in the future, officially, this time. Samsung Launches Music Hub, Offering the Ultimate Mobile Music Service New service integrates all your music experiences in one place: Millions of songs, your own music stored in the Cloud, a music store and radio discovery Open Mobile Summit, London, U.K., (May 29, 2012)- Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, today announced the arrival of the much anticipated new Music Hub – the first completely integrated, all-in-one mobile music service. Initially available on the Samsung Galaxy S III and hitting European markets today, Music Hub vastly simplifies and enhances the everyday experience of listening to music. Whether you're an avid collector wanting easy access to your own music collection, someone with ever-changing music tastes, someone who likes to sample a broad selection of music and genres or a passive listener who prefers radio, Music Hub provides a richer music experience for everyone. Based on the technology services of mSpot, a leading mobile content service provider recently acquired by Samsung, the new Music Hub service will initially be available on the Samsung GALAXY S III and will soon be offered on a wider selection of devices. "When you ask yourself, 'what do I want to listen to?' there is now one simple answer, for every mood, every place and everyone," stated TJ Kang, Senior Vice President of Samsung Electronics' Media Solution Center. "With the new Music Hub, we're bringing the joy back to music – listening, collecting and sharing." "We believe that today's mobile market must have an open mobile music system – one that offers all kinds of services across different devices. Music Hub removes all the barriers to your music," stated Daren Tsui, CEO of mSpot. The new Music Hub service will be offered for free and also in a Premium version: Music Hub Store: (free) Music Hub Premium: (€/£9.99 per month) Music Hub features include: Scan & Match Cloud Locker: Upload your music to the cloud so you can play it anywhere. Music Hub utilizes scan & match technology to decrease upload time and ensure high-quality playback. Any unmatched songs are directly uploaded from your library so you can access rare or personal recordings (100 GB of storage for all unmatched songs). When you edit playlists or purchase music, your collection stays automatically updated across all authorized devices. Catalog of millions of songs: Enjoy full access to our entire catalog to stream or purchase, with unlimited plays and no advertisements. Search for new music, create playlists, share songs with friends, and view lyrics and album information. Radio: Relax and listen to the music you like with personal radio and programmed stations. Create personal stations based on songs and artists you love, or browse genre stations recommended and tailor-crafted by the Music Hub team. Hear a song you like? Tag it so you can find it later and play it again whenever you want. Recommendations: Discover great new music all the time with customized recommendations for songs, artists, albums and radio stations. The more you listen, the better recommendations you'll get. Optimized for Mobile: Music Hub is optimized specifically for your Samsung device. Advanced streaming and downloading options let you save storage space, play music when offline, and cut down on cellular data usage. Audio settings are designed to prolong battery life and ensure smooth streaming even under spotty network coverage. Web Player: In addition to the mobile app, users can access their music library and the Music Hub catalog/store online at www.musichub.com. The Web Player allows users the freedom to play their music easily on any PC. N.B.: Users must initially register on a Galaxy S III phone using a Samsung account. |
| Microsoft lands an official software outlet in Iraq Posted: 29 May 2012 01:07 AM PDT Believe it or not, there hasn't been an official distributor for Microsoft software in Iraq in the near-decade since it's even been an option; if you wanted Windows or Office in the past several years, your choices were limited and seldom legal. Baghdad's Legend Lands is filling those big shoes through a deal with Microsoft that will see it provide both official copies, support, and other help for Iraqis that want to take the honest path. Stores across the country will take care of everything from large-scale government orders down to a Tikrit family's first home PC. The move won't completely quash piracy concerns, but it's a big step towards normalcy in technology for the desert nation. [Image credit: Shbab4ever] |
| LG launches new pair of TVs: DM2752 and M2752 can both double-up as your PC monitor Posted: 29 May 2012 12:21 AM PDT If your PC / media-hub combination is starting to strain the structural integrity of your desk, you might be interested in the latest TV sets from LG. Offering picture-in-picture functionality, both the 24-inch DM2752 and M2752 can embed one visual input from the HDMI ports on top of another, like your favorite episodes of your TV show of choice windowed as you gun your way through Max Payne 3. The IPS-screened DM model throws in some 3D capability (with glasses) and will arrive in July, while its dimensionally-challenged brother is already available now in several countries in Europe. The press release for the pair is right after the break. LG UNVEILS PREMIUM PERSONAL TV SERIES "With the integration of multimedia entertainment and the internet, LG is at the frontier of cutting-edge TV technology," said J.J. Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of IT Business Unit of LG Home Entertainment Company. We are developing unique personal TVs designed to meet the needs of changing consumer habits, whether that customer's passion is 3D gaming, internet browsing or simply watching their favorite sitcom." The personal TVs boast Picture-in-Picture (PIP) capabilities, enabling viewers to open multiple screens simultaneously and watch TV while working on their PC. The personal TVs also feature Infinite Surround Sound for a full-depth surround sound experience. Two HDMI ports are included, making it a snap to connect game consoles, set-top boxes and more. In addition, a USB Quick View feature eliminates long computer boot-up times and enables users to view content such as movies, video clips and pictures quickly and easily. LG personal TVs are equipped with In-Plane Switching (IPS) panels instead of conventional Twisted Nematic (TN) panels. IPS boosts color consistency and reduces color fluctuations, enabling the personal TVs to reproduce the most lifelike colors. Smooth Color Change eliminates blur generated by rapid motion in action scenes, sports or video games resulting in extremely sharp and clear images. Thanks to an impressive wide viewing-angle (178 degrees), viewers can enjoy high quality images without any color shift – sitting, standing or lying down. The combination of all these technologies provides a rich, comfortable viewing experience. With the newest in CINEMA 3D technology, the DM2752 premium personal TV offers comfortable 3D viewing with extremely light, flicker-free glasses. And the DM2752 includes an easy-to-use 2D to 3D conversion engine so viewers can watch unlimited high-quality 3D content on the fly. The 3D Effect Mode sharpens the converted images to offer a clearer and more immersive 3D experience. The conversion function works with or without a PC and engages automatically for games, delivering the ultimate 3D gaming experience. What's more, LG`s Dual Play function enables competing gamers to see two different full screen images at the same time on the same TV, making for incredible head-to-head action. Europeans have taken notice of LG's line-up of personal monitor TVs for their technology and versatility. According to a review conducted by CHIP, one of the most widely read computer publications in Germany, LG's 23/24-inch premium M2382 was recognized as the top choice among all monitors reviewed with TV capability. LG DM2752 will be available starting in July while the M2752 is now available in select markets throughout Europe. |
| Sharp Pantone 5 ICS phone has 8 color choices, 3.7-inch screen -- oh, and a radiation detector Posted: 28 May 2012 11:13 PM PDT Color us shocked and jealous at the new Android 4.0 phone from Sharp -- strange and wonderful even by Japan's highly elevated standards. The eight colors of the 3.7-inch Pantone branded phone from carrier Softbank are nice for sure, but the ability to sense between .005 and 9.99 μSv/h of radiation is in a new category altogether. Though Sharp has hedged a bit by describing the detector as "non-compliant" with Japan standards at this point, the possibilities seem endless for such a feature -- the ability to constantly report your location and radiation level to Facebook comes to mind, for instance. It will be offered -- in Japan only, we presume -- with a 4-megapixel rear camera, eight Pantone colors, 0.3-megapixel front camera, 854 x 480 resolution, and will be dust-proof and waterproof. The price hasn't been discussed yet, but we can't imagine too much quibbling whatever it is, for a phone that could keep you gamma-ray safe. Update: We have an image after the break showing how Sharp reduced the radiation circuits into a tiny package needed for the Pantone 5. The phone even has a dedicated button for the feature. |
| AGA's iTotal Control range cooker packs GSM connectivity, lets you pre-heat via SMS or web Posted: 28 May 2012 10:04 PM PDT There are many options available if you want to control your appliances over WiFi, but how about an oven with its own SIM card and phone number? That's exactly what AGA has done with its latest kitchen-oriented offering, the iTotal Control range cooker. Regardless of whether you're cooking in one, or all three of its ovens, sending an SMS message to this smart appliance lets you control each one. It even texts you back to confirm whether your commands like "baking oven on" successfully initiate. The cooker naturally works over WiFi as well, giving you an on-screen emulation of its control panel on either your computer's web browser or AGA's iOS and Android apps. An external GSM remote access device -- basically a router / modem -- connects to the appliance to make it all happen, with cellular service provided by Orange. Ready to get cooking? The iTotal Control is set to sell for a hefty base-price of £10,090 (~$15,826), and you'll also be tied to a one-year contract with Orange for £5.95 (~$9) a month to enable the texting functionality. Simmer over the details at the source link below. May 21st, 2012 AGA iTotal Control - the all new on-off AGA you can control wherever you are If you grew up in the 70s, it was tempting to imagine the home of the future would be decidedly space age, with robots running everything and us sitting back doing very little. This, of course, isn't quite how things turned out - but things are getting decidedly more techie in the kitchen. AGA has taken things a step further by launching the AGA iTotal Control cooker. Owners of this innovative new range cooker will be able to control it wherever they are, using a mobile phone, smartphone, PC, laptop, iPad or tablet. The AGA iTotal Control cooker's three ovens (roasting, baking and simmering) are remotely operated, so you can ensure the cooker is warm and supper will be cooked at exactly the time you need it - wherever you are in the world. Essentially, you can sync your AGA at the touch of a button. Those AGA iTotal Control owners who don't have a smartphone, tablet or laptop can still take advantage of this technical revolution - simply by sending a text message to the AGA. The AGA can also be controlled via the web, so even if you have no phone signal you can use a wireless network to ensure the cooker is doing exactly what you want it to. Everyone knows AGA food tastes better and now however hectic your life is, the world's most famous cooker works for you. Using your AGA iTotal Control BY TEXT USING THE AGA APP VIA THE WEB |
| Futulele goes live for iPad, ukelele serenades just went multi-touch (video) Posted: 28 May 2012 09:21 PM PDT Futulele has come a long way since we saw it in March; it's now on the App Store and has put on a lot of sheen in return for slipping past the original April release target. Along with a few more flowers to reinforce the Hawaiian vibe, Amidio's definitive ukelele app has since gained the requisite support for the new iPad's graphics and a fully automatic mode, just in case you're not yet a virtual Jake Shimabukuro. If your ambitions do involve playing for yourself, you still have access to the promised maximum 132 chords (12 per set) with the flexibility to adjust chorus, delay, EQ and reverb in addition to recording those plucky creations. We're still waiting on the Futulele Remote app (and matching case) to choose chords more like we would on the real deal, but you can do it all on the iPad for now if you're willing to spend a fiver at the App Store. A flower necklace and an impressionable young lover are optional. |
| Samsung's 'human centric' Galaxy S III launches around the globe, says what delays? Posted: 28 May 2012 08:17 PM PDT Despite carrier and retailer indications of delays for certain editions of Samsung's new Galaxy S III, the company triumphantly announced its launch right on schedule tonight. Of course, here in the US we're sadly on the outside looking in at the launch action going on in 28 countries as a new day dawns for the 29th, but at least there's rumblings that our localized editions aren't far off. In July, its world tour is expected to have swung through 145 countries and 296 carriers. As long as you're looking for a 16GB Marble White quad-core Exynos juggernaut, you should be able to find it right away -- if the machine translated Korean press release is too tough to bear, remember we've got all the launch details (and a review) right here. |
| LG launches 'upgraded' SP820 Smart TV Upgrader box in June for about $170 US Posted: 28 May 2012 07:52 PM PDT Should you have the impulse to turn your dumb display into a full-fledged Smart TV, LG has revealed the second iteration of its Smart TV Upgrader box is ready to hit the marketplace. The original ST600 box was released last year, and this new SP820 was announced earlier this year at CES. It adds LG's Smart TV experience complete with Magic gesture and voice controlled remote to any HDTV with an HDMI input. There's access to both 2D and 3D streaming content from the internet, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct and any new apps LG rolls out for its platform. Similar to Apple's TV box and the Roku family, it's a palm sized device intended for easy installations. An even smaller, stripped down SP520 version that supports fewer apps is already on shelves with a $120 MSRP, although sale prices range from $80 to $99. The SP is shipping in June for 199,000 won ($169 US), while there's no word yet on a US release, we'll probably wait to see if LG can add enough apps to compete as a third party before jumping in. |
| Amazon offers prepaid 4G LTE data in Japan, gets you online 500MB at a time Posted: 28 May 2012 06:23 PM PDT Amazon has decided that offering 3G-capable Kindles isn't enough of an involvement in the cellular world -- it's now getting into the business of offering the bits themselves. Through a tie-up with NTT DoCoMo-using MVNO Japan Communications, Amazon is selling prepaid SIM cards for LTE data. Each slice of plastic and circuitry will provide a 500MB block of sweet, sweet 4G for ¥1,980 ($25). There's a very good chance we'd burn through that in a day, but it'll let you get an NTT DoCoMo-ready smartphone or Arrows Tab online in a pinch. The Japanese can snap up the cards later in the month, while those of us in the US will just have to hope that Amazon can make a similar (if hopefully cheaper) deal closer to home. |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Edge S430 readies to enter Euro market, gets priced at €809 on German site Posted: 28 May 2012 05:11 PM PDT A lot has happened since Lenovo unveiled its biz-oriented Edge S430 back at this year's CES, but after months of staying under the radar, it's finally looking like the laptop's ready to hit a few shelves around the globe. If a product page on Geizhals.at is to be believed, the Thunderbolt-loaded, 14-inch S430 is set to carry a €809 (about $1,015) price tag on one of the higher-end models, with this particular one showing a hot-off-the-press Ivy Bridge CPU (i5-3210M), NVIDIA GeForce GT630M graphics, 4GB of RAM and two USB 3.0 ports, among other things. Of course, this kind of cash is a slightly larger amount than, say, the $749 we heard when the machine was announced -- though, that's likely caused by the souped-up specs and could, as usual, vary depending on configuration. Either way, we have a feeling it won't be too long before we find out its official pricing and release date. |
| Posted: 28 May 2012 04:16 PM PDT iOS device security has regularly been a concern of the government, but locking down one of Apple's devices for the government is still fresh. Precise Biometrics hopes to have the problem licked through the Tactivo, a combo fingerprint and smart card reader for the iPhone 4 / 4S (and the iPad, in the summer). Either method keeps data inside an app away from prying eyes, and while they won't tighten the security around the built-in apps, they do make sure a third-party app's data meets US and international government privacy specs without having to use a BlackBerry. We're not surprised that the Tactivo needs to engulf the iPhone in a full case to work its magic, although there's a micro-USB port to keep it powered and synced up. It's all a bit much if you're just trying to make sure your list of high school crushes stays a secret, and the price reflects that -- at $249 a pop, the Tactivo is really meant for agencies and companies for whom losing the data on an iPhone would cost a lot more. Still, if you're running an outfit encouraging BYOD phone use or just really, really want your secret passions to stay private, both the iPhone case and a BioSecrets app are ready today. Precise Biometrics Kicks Off Global Launch of Tactivo™ for iPhone and iPad STOCKHOLM--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News: Precise Biometrics' (http://www.precisebiometrics.com)(STO:PREC) product for mobile security for smartphones and tablets, Tactivo (http://www.precisebiometrics.com/tactivo), has now been certified by Apple. The first delivery of Tactivo for iPhone has already arrived from the company's new production partner, Flextronics, in the United States. Precise Biometrics estimates that the first orders for Tactivo will come during the summer 2012. The launch of "Tactivo represents a unique milestone in our company history. We have repeatedly, through extensive innovation, worked to identify additional commercial opportunities where our core technology and skills could be successfully applied outside our traditional customer base. Early indications from customers, even outside government agencies, suggests that we are on the right track and may have found a significant new growth opportunity," says Thomas Marschall, President and CEO of Precise Biometrics. Tactivo is a smart casing for tablets and smartphones that includes an embedded fingerprint and smart card reader. Together with different types of apps, Tactivo enables government agencies and companies to maintain a high level of security when employees use mobile units to access sensitive information. The first generation of Tactivo is being launched for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4. Apple has now certified Tactivo in its Made For iPhone (MFi) Program. Precise Biometrics will also be launching Tactivo for iPad after the summer. Tactivo offers a unique enhancement of the security features already available in iPhone and iPad devices. There is substantial interest from government agencies, enterprises and healthcare customers worldwide to use iPhone and iPad devices to access and share data more securely outside of a traditional office setting. Precise Biometrics is experiencing this global trend toward increased productivity via the level of interest that Tactivo has already attracted from these segments. Precise Biometrics has committed additional sales and marketing resources to effectively reach these segments over time. Customer and partner presentations are in progress across various geographic markets as the first shipments of Tactivo are being delivered from the company's production partner, Flextronics, in the United States. Precise Biometrics' own app, BioSecrets, is now available in Apple's App Store. Together with Tactivo, this app enables passwords and other sensitive information to be safely stored in iPhone 4S and iPhone 4. New apps, developed both in-house and by partners, will be launched at regular intervals over the near future. "We are expecting substantial sales of both Tactivo for iPhone and Tactivo for iPad in 2012", says Thomas Marschall, President and CEO of Precise Biometrics. "We have increased substantially our level of sales and marketing resources, and we are delighted to announce the launch of our new corporate profile and new website today. Our Web shop www.idapps.com/ will also open for purchases, initially it will only support the U.S. market. idApps (http://www.idApps.com) has been created to support the strong BYOD, or "Bring-Your-Own-Device" trend worldwide, and thus allow people to buy smaller Tactivo volumes directly from us. These smaller volumes are then expected to inspire the employers that are not covered under our initial sales and marketing efforts to buy larger quantities over time," concludes Thomas Marschall. |
| Volvo's driverless road train in Spain is public mainly on the plain (video) Posted: 28 May 2012 03:38 PM PDT It's been awhile since we saw Volvo's SARTRE (Safe Road Trains for the Environment) project, which was last running out of harm's way on a test track near Gothenburg. Volvo has just taken a big step forward in fostering confidence by conducting its road train on public asphalt. The 124-mile Spanish test both proved that the cars could stay driverless without posing a threat and upped the ante for what the cars could do: the lead truck, an S60, a V60 and an XC60 all moved along at a brisk 53MPH with a tighter gap between vehicles than there was in the original test, at just 20 feet. SARTRE was so successful in the public run that Volvo is now focusing on far less contentious issues -- like making sure fuel use drops by the promised 20 percent. There's still the looming question of making a viable business model, though Volvo's dream if realized will make sure no driverless car has to go solo. SARTRE road train premiere on public roads The project aims to deliver improved comfort for drivers, who can now spend their time doing other things while driving. They can work on their laptops, read a book or sit back and enjoy a relaxed lunch. Sitting in a car just six metres behind another one while travelling at 85 km/h and relying totally on the technology may feel a bit scary. But the experiences gained so far indicate that people acclimatise very quickly. "We've focused really hard on changing as little as possible in existing systems. Everything should function without any infrastructure changes to the roads or expensive additional components in the cars. Apart from the software developed as part of the project, it is really only the wireless network installed between the cars that set them apart from other cars available in showrooms today." NOTES TO EDITORS The SARTRE project stands for Safe Road Trains for the Environment. Part-funded by the European Commission under the Framework 7 programme, SARTRE is led by Ricardo UK Ltd and comprises collaboration between the following additional participating companies: Idiada and Tecnalia Research & Innovation of Spain, Institut für Kraftfahrzeuge Aachen (IKA) of Germany and SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden, Volvo Car Corporation and Volvo Technology of Sweden. |
| Smart Pebble robots replicate objects the way a good hive mind should (video) Posted: 28 May 2012 03:16 PM PDT Art imitating life (T-1000, anybody?) or yet another evolutionary step towards the subjugation of mankind? For now, let's just shift focus to the immediate and soak in this novel feat of robo-replication engineered by a team from M.I.T. Headed up by Professor Daniela Rus, the Smart Sand project looks nothing like it sounds and that's because the tech in question is currently more cube than grain. Measuring 12mm per side, these intelligent pebbles work in unison to recreate an object by first surrounding it and then building a shared 3D map that's used as a blueprint for duplication. Eventually, the researchers hope to shrink the units down to just 1mm in size, effectively creating a "sand" that could completely engulf and actually clone objects (think: tools) as needed, in multiples or even enlarged versions. That promise of an ultra-portable bag of 3D-printing fairy dust is still safely a ways off, so in the meantime, content yourself with video footage of the mini-modules first cyborg steps after the break.
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| Must See HDTV (May 28th - June 3rd) Posted: 28 May 2012 02:42 PM PDT Game of Thrones Blu-ray & Games
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| Flame malware snoops on PCs across the Middle East, makes Stuxnet look small-time Posted: 28 May 2012 02:07 PM PDT Much ado was made when security experts found Stuxnet wreaking havoc, but it's looking as though the malware was just a prelude to a much more elaborate attack that's plaguing the Middle East. Flame, a backdoor Windows trojan, doesn't just sniff and steal nearby network traffic info -- it uses your computer's hardware against you. The rogue code nabs phone data over Bluetooth, spreads over USB drives and records conversations from the PC's microphone. If that isn't enough to set even the slightly paranoid on edge, it's also so complex that it has to infect a PC in stages; Flame may have been attacking computers since 2010 without being spotted, and researchers at Kaspersky think it may be a decade before they know just how much damage the code can wreak. No culprit has been pinpointed yet, but a link to the same printer spool vulnerability used by Stuxnet has led researchers to suspect that it may be another instance of a targeted cyberwar attack given that Iran, Syria and a handful of other countries in the region are almost exclusively marked as targets. Even if you live in a 'safe' region, we'd keep an eye out for any suspicious activity knowing that even a fully updated Windows 7 PC can be compromised. |
| RIM's Chief Legal Officer is latest exec to leave the company Posted: 28 May 2012 01:04 PM PDT |
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