Saturday, February 01, 2014

APPLE'S NEXT MOVE: The iWatch Will Monitor Your Health And Fitness Too

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-exploring-health-tracking-iwatch-2014-1

Apple iWatch concept design

Apple is planning to make a push into health-tracking and medical devices according to two reports in the New York Times and 9to5Mac. It's likely that these efforts will eventually work their way into Apple's so-called iWatch, an wearable wrist-computer that Apple is expected to launch later this year.

Let's start with the New York Times report, which says high-level Apple executives have met with the FDA to talk about bringing medical devices and apps to market. Nick Bilton, who co-bylined the NYT report, was the first person to break the news that Apple was working on the iWatch.

Then there's the 9to5Mac report from Mark Gurman, the best Apple reporter in the world. Gurman says Apple's next version of iOS, the operating system for iPhones and iPads, will have a new app called "Healthbook" that will be used to monitor stuff like calories burned, steps taken, and weight lost. 

It's sounding more and more like Apple's iWatch is going to be a breakthrough product. Right now, smart watches are pretty dull with limited features and clunky designs. Many have compared the current state of smart watches to what smartphones looked like before the iPhone launched. 

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Friday, January 31, 2014

How the Super Bowl Turned the NYC Macy's Building Into a Massive Screen

Source: http://gizmodo.com/how-the-super-bowl-turned-the-nyc-macys-building-into-1512709552

How the Super Bowl Turned the NYC Macy's Building Into a Massive Screen

There's endless Super Bowl hoopla happening in New York right now, what with the big game just days away. But you might miss one of the coolest if you don't look up: The projection-mapping specialists Moment Factory have turned the grand Herald Square facade of Macy's into an orgy of light. It's incredible. Here's how they did it.

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Sony upgrades smartphone-pairing QX10 and QX100 lens cameras with higher ISO and 1080p video capture

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/01/31/sony-qx10-qx100-firmware-update/

Shutterbugs who shunned traditional point-and-shoots in favor of Sony's QX10 and QX100 lens cameras can now take even better images and videos. Thanks to a firmware upgrade, both smartphone lens attachments are now capable of recording clips with a higher resolution (1,920 x 1,080) than before (1,440 x 1,080). It also cranks up the clip-ons' max ISO settings from 1,600 to 3,200 on the QX10 and from 3,200 to 12,800 on the QX100, which is bound to please those especially fond of nighttime photography. Other than these two feature boosts, folks with the more expensive QX100 get an extra shutter speed mode for their devices. Unfortunately, users can't upgrade over their phones and will have to download the firmware on a Windows (XP/Vista/7/8) or a Mac computer.

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Via: SonyAlphaRumors, Softpedia

Source: Sony (for Mac), Sony (for Win XP/Vista/7/8)

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Thursday, January 30, 2014

Japanese 'smart clothing' uses nanofibers to monitor your heart-rate (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/01/30/ntt-docomo-toray-smart-cloth/

Japanese mobile carrier NTT Docomo and materials developer Toray have been working on joint projects for a while and now they're publicly announcing one. Welcome Hitoe (Japanese for "one layer"), cloth that contains Toray's nanofibers that are coated in a transmittable layer. It's not the orange cloth (that's just standard material), but the nicotine-patch sized square you attach to it that does the sensing.

Place two of these on you and they'll act as electrodes, measuring your heartbeat and even offering metrics resembling a cardiogram. The plan is to connect this cleanly non-invasive health monitor to NTT Docomo's health app platform that's already on its smartphones, developing practical... soft... hardware for sale alongside it. The pitch didn't just include sports clothing, however, with pajamas and other sleepwear planned for launch. Look! There's even a little hat! The sensors will apparently survive tumbles in the washing machine and, having seen an earlier prototype late last year, we can confirm that the patches are suitably lightweight and flexible -- now the work is down to reducing that lumpy hub sensor that we also spotted. Wearable gadgets might finally be going subtle. There's a quick video from our allies at Engadget Japanese after the break.

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Source: Engadget Japanese

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Facebook announces Paper: a 'distraction-free' news reading app for iOS

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/01/30/facebook-paper-news-app/

Facebook is making its own play in the news app category, going up against incumbents like Flipboard and Google's own Currents service. It's called Paper and it promises a "full-screen" distraction-free layout, with the app separating out your own Facebook News feed to begin with. You can then add to that, picking from Facebook's curated themes that'll include photography, sports, food, science and design. If you feared this would be populated exclusively by giant media corps, Facebook is promising that articles will come from from well-known sites as well as "emerging voices," although it says it'll also ensure that trusted publications will be easy to spot within the mix.

Navigation from article to article is done through swipes. and you'll be able to tilt the phone and arch across bigger panoramic pictures. From the early screens that Facebook's been sharing, the social network is going heavy on the visual appeal: pictures dominate the navigation, with soft white icons laid on top of pictures for navigation -- there's certainly flashes of iOS 7 in places. Videos, full-screen, will also auto-play (we're hoping there will be a toggle for that). The app launches February 3rd and marks the premier release for the social network's Creative Labs department: more apps are promised from the team going forward.

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Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Dell's new Android HDMI dongle turns screens into virtualized desktop computers for $130

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/01/29/dell-wyse-cloud-connect-android-hdmi-dongle/

Dell's betting that a bunch of businesspeople want to be able to carry their work computer around in their pocket. Not literally, of course, but with the release of the company's $130 dollar Wyse Cloud Connect dongle (formerly known as Project Ophelia), you can do just that. It connects to any TV or display with an HDMI or MHL port, and hooks up to mice and keyboards via Bluetooth or mini-USB. There's also a microSD slot to give you up to 32GB of local storage, should you want it. Plus, you can access your desktop using yours or your company's choice of virtualization technologies: Citrix, Microsoft or VMWare. Once plugged in, users can access a full Jelly Bean Android experience or their Windows and Mac machines via the aforementioned remote clients, and see them in 1080p resolution (on compatible displays, of course). Dell's pitching the dongle as primarily an enterprise solution, but the company also thinks it's well-suited as an educational tool, too.

We got to see the Cloud Connect in action today at a launch event in Silicon Valley, and in our limited time with the device, it worked just as Dell said it would. The dongle itself is a bit bigger than your standard flash drive... it's roughly the size of an Apple TV remote. Installing the thing really is as simple as plugging it into a monitor, which turns said monitor into a fully fledged Android device. That means you have access to any compatible app from Google Play (or at least whatever apps your company's IT department allows). Speaking of, the Cloud Connect management dashboard allows IT administrators to easily set permissions and access for the dongles with a straightforward and simple interface.

As for consumer applications, Dell's VP and GM of cloud client computing, Steve Lalla, told us that his focus is on b2b for now, but regular folks are certainly on his radar. "It'll bleed into the consumer space," he said. "It's just that businesses already understand the value proposition of the technology." When we inquired about the possibility of building the Cloud Connect directly into monitors (essentially creating Android desktop computers), Lalla said that he has nothing to announce, but we get the feeling we'll see one from Dell before too long.

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Source: Dell

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This Machine Perfectly Filets and De-Bones Fish with X-Rays and Water

Source: http://gizmodo.com/this-machine-perfectly-filets-and-de-bones-fish-with-x-1511542681

Machines that can accurately and efficiently filet a fish have been used for years now to speed up processing plants—though only with farmed fish that are all the same size and weight. Fish caught in the wild usually have to be processed by hand given they vary in size, but a new machine that employs x-ray vision and precise water jets can finally automate the filleting process.

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Twitter's adding new search features for web users: filter results by videos, photos, news, or peopl

Source: http://gizmodo.com/twitters-adding-new-search-features-for-web-users-filt-1511760075

Twitter's adding new search features for web users: filter results by videos, photos, news, or people. You can also filter only results from those you follow. [Twitter via The Verge]

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Twitter tool tells journalists what's BREAKING!

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/01/29/twitter-dataminr-for-news/

We've known for sometime that Twitter is looking to make a move in the news game, but what that would look like was still unclear. Today, the blue bird's intentions are starting to look a bit more concrete, with the announcement of Dataminr for News, a tool that pinpoints and alerts journalist of breaking news before every Joe with a dot com is tweeting about it. The tool, created in partnership with NY startup Dataminr, uses machine learning algorithms to identify big and reliable stories and alert journalists via email, mobile alerts, and other means. It will also provide detailed information about the origins and sources behind the information. According to The Verge, CNN has used Dataminr tools for months and is already seeing some payoff: it claims to produce at least two stories a day sourced from the service.

The new initiative feeds into the "me first" media culture that has seen hoaxes rise to the top of Twitter as quickly as real breaking news stories. However, Dataminr claims that its algorithms cut through the bull shit by looking beyond the first tweet to find "corroborating sources on the ground" among other factors. According to TechCrunch, Dataminr CEO Ted Bailey said Dataminr for News will become available to all journalists for an undisclosed price later this year.

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Via: The Verge, TechCrunch

Source: Twitter

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drag2share: A first glimpse of the new 'multiOS' handset from Geeksphone

source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/01/29/geeksphone-revolution-images-boot2gecko/?utm_source=Feed_Classic_Full&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget&?ncid=rss_full

Though we were able to tell you all about the Geeksphone Revolution's specs last month, the gestation-themed stock photo gave no clue as to how it actually looked. Now, we finally have pictures of the Firefox OS/Android dual-boot handset (there's another after the break) and a further description of how it'll work. First off, Geeksphone is now referring to the Firefox OS option as "Boot2Gecko by Mozilla," harkening back to the original (awful) name for some reason. Nomenclature aside, it'll come with Android installed (a version hasn't been specified yet) and you'll be able to choose Boot2Gecko or "any other community-supported ROM" -- but it won't be dual-boot. You will get OTA updates for whichever OS option you choose though, along with the previously reported dual-core 1.6GHz Intel Atom CPU, a 4.7-inch 960 x 540 screen, 1GB of RAM and 8-megapixel rear/2-megapixel front cameras. There's still no s! ign of a release date and, more importantly, the price -- that'll no doubt weed out those willing try the MultiOS device from those who prefer the devil they know.

Update: Geeksphone has told us that "Boot2Gecko" is how Mozilla is now branding Firefox OS for carriers, but is otherwise identical. The more you know...

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drag2share: Scribd takes on Amazon, brings its subscription e-book service to Kindle Fire tablets

source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/01/29/scribd-e-book-subscription-kindle-fire-app/?utm_source=Feed_Classic_Full&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget&?ncid=rss_full

The whole point of owning an Amazon tablet is that you're eventually gonna buy stuff. Want movies? Amazon's got you covered. Music? Time to check out Amazon's MP3 store. And then, of course, there's books: Amazon expects you to buy lots and lots of reading material through the built-in Kindle app. Now, though, another company is trying to get in on the action. Scribd, which already runs a $9-a-month e-book subscription service, is opening up shop on Kindle Fire tablets. As on the existing apps (Android, iOS and a web version), the Kindle version offers unlimited monthly access, allowing readers to share what they're reading and embed books onto websites. The catch? Scribd only has a deal with one major publishing house, HarperCollins, with the rest of the catalog comprised of titles from independent publishers. So, while you'll enjoy authors like Michael Chabon and classics like Sh*t My Dad Says, you'll be missing out on things like the Game of Thrones! series. Then again, if you read even two books a month, that $9 fee could pay for itself.

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drag2share: Android climbed to 79 percent of smartphone market share in 2013, but its growth has slowed

source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/01/29/strategy-analytics-2013-smartphone-share/?utm_source=Feed_Classic_Full&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget&?ncid=rss_full

Smartphone market share in both Q4 and all of 2013

Android may have quickly reached the top of the smartphone world, but there are signs that this red-hot growth is cooling off... if only just. Strategy Analytics estimates that the platform claimed nearly 79 percent of smartphone market share in 2013. While that's both a record high and a big step up from almost 69 percent in 2012, it also represents Android's slowest annual growth rate since its birth. As the analysts note, Google is facing an increasingly saturated market; there are only so many more customers it can reach.

Not that things were rosy for other mobile operating systems last year. Apple shipped more phones in 2013, but not enough to avoid a dip to 15.5 percent market share. Windows Phone grew to 3.6 percent share, although its one-point improvement over 2012 wasn't going to make Apple or Google nervous. And for smaller platforms, 2013 was downright ugly. BlackBerry, Symb! ian and others fell from a collective 9.1 percent in 2012 to just 2 percent. The smartphone market in 2014 is effectively a three-horse race, and it's doubtful that the rankings will change any time soon.

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Sony add-on will let you graft a giant camera to your tablet

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/01/29/sony-add-on-will-let-you-graft-a-giant-camera-to-your-tablet/

Sony SPA-TA1 lens camera add-on for tablets

Whether you like it or not, tablet photography is here to stay -- it's only fair that slate owners get a fair chance at taking nice pictures. Sony certainly thinks so, since it has unveiled a new mount, the SPA-TA1, that attaches its QX lens cameras to tablets. The peripheral isn't just for small devices, either; it includes six adjustable arms that accommodate larger hardware, like the Xperia Tablet Z and VAIO Tap 11. Sony ships the camera accessory to Japan this April for a suggested price of ¥3,675 ($36). There's no word of a US release, but we wouldn't rule out an eventual stateside launch.

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Via: Xperia Blog, Talk Android

Source: Sony (translated)

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LG G Pro 2 pics leak out, show the G2's rear button setup mounted on a larger phone

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/01/29/lgs-g-pro-2-leaked-pics-indicate-it-will-steal-the-g2s-rear-bu/

LG only just announced that it's launching the G Pro 2 phone next month, and now two pictures that claim to show the device have surfaced on a Korean forum, DC Inside. Following up on last year's 5.5-inch Optimus G Pro, the pictured device features a rear-mounted button setup mirroring LG's most recent flagship phone, the G2. The pics lack accompanying details, although Android Central mentions rumors have hinted at a size bump to 6-inches, support for faster LTE-A networks, a Snapdragon 800 CPU and 1080p screen -- it's also unknown if the G Pro 2 will follow the G2's software tweaks with "knock on" and QSlide multitasking. Check after the break for one more picture -- we should have all the details confirmed by the time the Mobile World Congress 2014 event begins in Barcelona on February 24th.

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Via: Android Central

Source: DC Inside

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drag2share: Mark One 3D printer creates carbon fiber objects, costs $5,000

source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/01/29/mark-one-3d-printer-carbon-fiber/?utm_source=Feed_Classic_Full&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget&?ncid=rss_full

There's a new 3D printer in town, and unlike other models that use plastic, rubber or even chocolate, this one prints out objects using a far tougher material: carbon fiber. The printer, named Mark One, was designed by creator Gregory Mark as a way to reduce carbon fiber manufacturing costs. He sees Mark One as a way to make useful things like tools, replace! ment parts or even home fixtures, though nothing would stop you from printing out super-durable toys and knick-knacks, too. Of course, carbon fiber raw materials my not be so easy to come by, so Mark's creation also works with other composites, like fiberglass, nylon and PLA plastic. Those who want to make tough little trinkets (and have $5,000 to spare) will have to wait until March to pre-order the Mark One, but folks in San Diego can see it in person right now at the SolidWorks World convention.

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