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Friday, May 23, 2014

drag2share: BlackBerry's ultra-secure chat gives each message its own security key

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/05/22/bbm-protected/

BBM Channels on BlackBerry 10 and Android

Chat systems like BBM and iMessage are typically very secure, since they're encrypted end-to-end. However, they still have a glaring flaw: if intruders do crack the code, they can see everything you've said. That's where BlackBerry's soon-to-launch BBM Protected comes in. As the company showed at its BlackBerry Experience Washington event (CrackBerry's video is below), the new service makes it extremely difficult to spy on an entire conversation. Each message has its own random encryption key; even a very clever data thief would only get one tidbit at a time, so it could take ages to piece together a full chat.

BBM Protected will only be available for corporate-controlled BlackBerry devices when it launches as part of an enterprise suite in June, although that will include anything running the now-ancient BlackBerry OS 6 or higher. The chat client won't be available for personal phones running BlackBerry Balance until early fall, while Android and iOS users will have to wait until late fall or early winter. All the same, it might be worth holding out if you're really, truly worried that someone is watching your private discussions.

Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile, Blackberry

Via: BGR

Source: CrackBerry

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drag2share: Drone equipped with Google's 3D-sensing phone won't be deterred

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/05/22/project-tango-equipped-drone-wont-be-deterred/

Google wants to put its Project Tango handsets in orbit, but researchers from the GRASP Lab at UPenn are keeping things on the down-low with one of their already-clever quadrotors. If you'll recall, Tango has a depth sensor, motion tracking camera and two Movidius vision processors to create an internal 3D map of its surroundings. That should, in theory, keep the drone aligned with pinpoint accuracy and no GPS signal. Judging by the video below, it worked perfectly -- the quadrotor stuck to a fixed point and pre-programmed flight path despite some healthy shoves. That should help future autonomous drones react better to their environment if we decide to send them out for, say, delivery duty.

Filed under: Cellphones, Transportation, Alt, Google

Via: IEEE Spectrum

Source: Vijay Kumar (YouTube)

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drag2share: Go Inside The Futuristic NYC Hotel Where Practically Everything Is Controlled By Tablet [PHOTOS]

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/citizenm-times-square-hotel-tour-2014-5

citizenm times square CitizenM, a new hotel in New York City's Times Square, is a beautiful combination of high tech and high design.

Guests check in using a station of touchscreen computers, and each room can be customized using a sleek Samsung Galaxy tablet. Artwork by Andy Warhol and David LaChapelle line the walls.

CitizenM operates branches in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, London, Glasgow, and Paris. In April, the boutique hotel chain opened the new location in Times Square, its first in the United States.

The brand's emphasis is on affordable luxury. Each of the 230 rooms has the same layout, and rates start at $199 a night.

The hotel is both artistic and futuristic, with some stunning design details and impressive technology.

Welcome to citizenM Times Square.

Even before you enter the hotel, you'll see a wall full of art and knickknacks.

There's no reception desk at this hotel. Instead, guests use this kiosk of touchscreen computers to check in, though hotel 'ambassadors' in red shirts stand close by if you need help.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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Thursday, May 22, 2014

drag2share: Researchers Figured Out How To Make Robots That Can Assemble Themselves Into Any Type Of Furniture

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/roombots-2014-5

May 22, 2014 09:40

Above is an animation of how small robots might recombine themselves to form a chair! Here's what they look like in real life:

May 22, 2014 08:05

Researchers at the EPFL — that's École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne — have built awesome modular robots called "Roombots" that can join together to make mobile structures, even furniture.

Each ball-shaped robot is capable of rotating in two diagonal halves, so this makes some curious movement possible. Check out how they can form a figure that waddles across the floor:

May 22, 2014 08:12

The balls can connect to each other (each has several green-tinted "joints"), but they can also pair with passive, non-robotic "plates" to introduce surfaces to the equation. Here's an animation of how they might come together to form a table:

May 22, 2014 08:15

The real value here is in mobile furniture that can accommodate the elderly or disabled. Watch how this table, outfitted with Roombots, can adjust its height and move into position for someone with limited mobility.

May 22, 2014 08:10

Auke Ijspeert, head of the EFPL's Biorobotics Laboratory, said, "Eventually, all you'll need to do is program the layout of a bedroom or a conference room, then let the modules do the work."

A full video demo appears below:

Join the conversation about this story »

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Article: Storehouse, the iPad storytelling app from a former Apple designer, raises $7M

Storehouse, an iPad app that lets users create and share digital stories from photos, videos and text, has raised $7 million in Series A funding, the company announced Thursday. Storehouse's cofounder and CEO is Mark Kawano, Apple's former user experience evangelist and iPhoto and Aperture design...

http://gigaom.com/2014/05/22/storehouse-the-ipad-storytelling-app-from-a-former-apple-designer-raises-7m/

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drag2share: First Unreal Engine 4 mobile game built in a week with no coding skills

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/05/22/unreal-engine-4-tappy-chicken/

Epic Games can crow all it wants about how easy its next-gen development toolset is to use, but until we actually see results, those words are pretty hollow. That changes today with the release of Tappy Chicken, the first Unreal Engine 4 game released for Android, HTML5 browsers and iOS. Yeah, it's a far cry from the fiery demon we've come to associate with anything UE4-related (and it looks more than a little bit like another flying fowl), but the key here is that Epic says it's the work of exactly one person using a sort of simplified scripting system called Blueprints. What's more, the developer isn't even a coder -- he's an artist by the name of Shane Caudle. Caudle designed the game-play loop for the procedurally-generated game in an evening and spent around a week on the menus and squashing bugs. Epic says that it could even be ported to consoles pretty easily. The reason for the free game? To show how easy it is to mod and add-on with UE4 even by someone who doesn't know a lick of typical programming languages like C++. If you want to give it a go for yourself, all it takes to start is $19.

Filed under: Gaming, HD, Mobile

Source: Google Play, Apple App Store

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Wednesday, May 21, 2014

drag2share: Using Explosives to Put Out Wildfires Is Actually a Great Idea

Source: http://gizmodo.com/using-explosives-to-put-out-wildfires-is-actually-a-gre-1579732658

Using Explosives to Put Out Wildfires Is Actually a Great Idea

Picture this: a drought-fueled wildfire is heading for Los Angeles, and fast. Millions of lives are at stake, and water can't stop it. When suddenly, a helicopter—armed with what can only be described as a giant cannon—flies straight for flames and BOOM. There's an explosion, and the fire's gone.

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drag2share: The virtual reality cameras are coming: 360Cam passes Kickstarter goal in a day

source: http://gigaom.com/2014/05/21/the-virtual-reality-cameras-are-coming-360cam-passes-kickstarter-goal-in-a-day/

The 360Cam, which hit its $150,000 goal on Kickstarter today, isn't the first 360 degree camera to pop up on a crowdfunding site. But the team behind it at Giroptic pitches a more unusual application: virtual reality. For $249 to $329, anyone can shoot 360 degree video for Oculus Rift and the coming range of competitors.

Last month I wrote about Jaunt, a startup that wants to create beautiful cinematic film for Oculus Rift. Their demo made a compelling case for film as a virtual reality application; like gaming, it just works in 360 degrees.

But Jaunt's camera and editing software will be aimed at professionals at first. Models accessible to individuals could be years away. In the meantime, Oculus Rift and other competitive virtual reality headsets could find their way into consumer's hands in the next year.

The 360Cam can shoot video or photos. It uses three microphones to capture 360 degree sound. It is also waterproof; for an extra fee, buyers can purchase tiny goggles that correct the cameras' lenses underwater. It's not meant for only virtual reality; photos and videos can be viewed on mobile devices and desktop computers as well.

A sample view of the 360Cam app. Photo courtesy of Giroptic.

A sample view of the 360Cam app. Photo courtesy of Giroptic.

The 360Cam won't shoot nearly the same quality of video as Jaunt and some of the existing ball cameras as it relies on just three cameras lenses, distorting the resulting image. But it's a cheap option that could satisfy the curiosity of early venturers into virtual reality video.

The Kickstarter campaign runs through July 4. The cameras will ship in November.

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drag2share: World's smallest nanomotor can pump drugs into cells at 18,000 RPM

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/05/21/worlds-smallest-motor-can-pump-drugs-into-cells/

Scientists at the Cockrell School of Engineering in Texas have created a nanomotor less than one micrometer in diameter, smaller even than a cell. Powered by electric fields, it consists of a nanowire, magnet and electrode and can spin at a terrifying-sounding 18,000 RPM for over 15 hours (see video below). That's as fast as a jet engine, but don't worry (much). During testing, it showed the ability to pump fluids at hyper-fast speeds and to move around freely in other liquids. That opens up beneficial applications like highly controlled insulin delivery, or devices that could specifically target malignant cells. Of course, that would mean you'd have to let intelligent nano-devices with mini-saws roam about your body -- I guess you're allowed to be a bit terrified.

Filed under: Science, Alt

Via: CNET

Source: Journal of Nature Communications

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drag2share: Facebook app will soon identify songs and TV shows just by listening to them

source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/05/21/facebook-audio-recognition/?utm_source=Feed_Classic_Full&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget&?ncid=rss_full

If you've ever wanted to tell your Facebook friends what you're listening to -- say, REM's "It's The End of The World And We Know it (And I Feel Fine)" -- without having to spell the whole thing out, well, now you can. Facebook has just announced a new option in its mobile app that can detect the song, TV show or movie that's playing in the background just by using the phone's microphone. Once it names that tune (or show), you can simply insert that info into your post with just a few taps -- no typing required.

Songs will appear as 30-second previews linked to Rdio, Spotify or Deezer depending on your preference (if you don't have a preferred service, Facebook will select one at random), while TV shows will indicate not just the name of the program but also metadata like the season number and episode title. Once you choose to turn the feature on -- and yes, it's opt-in -- the microphone will kick in whenever you're in a compose window. You'll know it's working when you see a blue audio bar animation either in the top right corner or over the smiley icon at the bottom.

Having the app listen in to your environment sounds like a rather creepy proposition, but Facebook assures us that the app is only scanning for song and TV info and no sound is ever recorded or stored on its servers. You'll also always have full control over your posts and can decide not to share what it detects. In other words, you don't have to reveal that you were just watching My Little Pony if you don't want to.

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drag2share: Motorola contest pegs the price of a Moto 360 smartwatch at $249

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/05/21/moto-360-may-cost-249/

Motorola Moto 360 smartwatch showing the weather

If you've been at all interested in Motorola's Moto 360, the biggest question has likely been the price: how much will that swanky circular smartwatch set you back? Not that much, if you believe the company's rules for a watch face design contest. The legal details set the average retail value of a Moto 360 at $249; that's as much as a relatively posh smartwatch like the Pebble Steel, but less than the $300 you'd pay for tech-laden wristwear like the Gear 2. Before you start budgeting for a timepiece, though, remember that this still isn't official. While Motorola's figure gives at least some idea of what to expect, we wouldn't rule out a higher price tag when the Moto 360 reaches store shelves.

Filed under: Wearables, Google, Lenovo

Via: Droid-Life

Source: Motorola (Google Drive)

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drag2share: SmartThings brings a truly connected home closer to reality

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/05/21/smartthings-update-certification/

The connected home is an inevitable reality, but it's a market still in its infancy. SmartThings wants to be at the forefront of this expanding realm and today it's announcing a number of updates and initiatives that it thinks will give it an unquestionable lead. The first piece of the puzzle is an updated app with a streamlined UI that exposes more functions and simplifies the setup process. For the company the new apps is about trying to polish the rough edges further and remove the last few obstacles to adoption. It will also give more exposure to third-party developers by making Labs, which was debuted at CES, far more visible. The new app is available today on iOS, but Android users will sadly have to wait until early June to enjoy it. But this is just a small part of a much bigger effort that marks the official launch of the "SmartThings Platform."

Reducing the clutter and noise for consumers is essential, but so is empowering its over 5,000 developers and hardware partners. SmartThings is looking to take the app store approach to the whole thing. While you'll still be able to manually control your switched or set up your own automated triggers, the focus will be on pre-programmed recipes. Those will be sorted in a number of different ways to simplify discovery, for example you can browse by device, action or the type of alert your looking for. Surfacing these apps is the first of a two pronged attack, the second is find hardware solutions to the problems you're looking to solve. So, if you want to get a notification when someone walks down the driveway the app will point you to a compatible motion detector if you don't already own one.

The final element is a certification program that will launch with over 100 approved devices and will also apply to apps. Devs can even submit apps for approval with a single click from within SmartThings developer tools. It will let the company guarantee a level of compatibility to all customers and quietly move away from producing its own hardware. And, the fewer resources it spends on building sensors the more it can throw at building a truly consumer friendly connected home platform.

Filed under: Household

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Article: Oppo Find 7a camera shootout

The Oppo Find 7 is, for all intents and purposes, one of the most technologically advanced smartphones ever made. It features ultra fast charging which enables it to reach 75% battery life in 30 mins. It's Find 7 counterpart features a 2560×1440 5.5 inch display. It also packs a 13 megapixel IMX2...

http://www.androidauthority.com/oppo-find-7-camera-shootout-384012/

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drag2share: Lenovo overtakes Apple in US PC sales for the first time

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/05/21/lenovo-earnings-pc-sales/

Apple has rightly made a big deal of the fact that its Mac sales have continued to grow, in spite of a contracting PC market. But Cupertino certainly isn't alone in having figured out how to win at desktops and laptops: Lenovo has just reported big gains in its full-year revenue and profits, and it claims that its PC shipments in the US overtook Apple's for the first time, grabbing the No. 3 spot behind the more stagnant giants, HP and Dell. This claim is based on data for the last three months, likely with a bit of help from analysts at IDC, although it's worth pointing out that Gartner still had Lenovo in fourth place in the US as recently as April. Whichever pundits you listen to, Lenovo has now dominated the PC market globally for around a year, thanks to its ever-expanding ThinkPad line, while also growing its non-Windows tablet and smartphone sales -- with the latter soon to become a lot more prevalent in the US now that the company owns Motorola.

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Tablets, Mobile, Lenovo

Source: BusinessWire

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drag2share: Google makes your photos even Awesome(r) with new Android GIF and collage tools

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/05/21/google-plus-android-gif-collage/

It's great that Google+ can now automatically make photo albums, but if animated GIFs and collages are more your jam, then this news will sound loads better. Google+ Photos for Android just got updated with a bunch of new features, including two more Auto Awesome tools that you can use to manually create animated images and collages of any pictures in your album. Unlike the social networks' old GIF maker, the new features let you choose the photos you want to include instead of automatically grouping related shots. In case you've already got latest G+ app update, just click the new plus (+) option to find these tools and to flood your friends with GIFs of your beloved pet.

Filed under: Misc, Google

Source: Google+ Photos

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