Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

FocusTwist app for iOS gives you Lytro-esque refocusable images

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/23/focustwist-iOS-app-lytro-refocusable/

Arqball has just released the FocusTwist app for iOS that lets you selectively focus after taking an image -- without investing $400 in a Lytro light field camera. It works by automatically taking several shots with different focus points from your iPhone's camera, delivering the best results if you hold very still and have subjects in the near foreground and far background. You can then change focus by clicking different parts of the resulting image, which is hosted on the company's server and can be shared via a link. After playing with the app ourselves for a bit (see More Coverage link), we've got to admit we're stupidly hooked -- you can grab it at the source for $1.99.

Filed under: Cellphones, Cameras, Software, Mobile, Apple

Source: Focus Twist (App Store)

FocusTwist: The Closest to a Lytro Camera Your iPhone Can Get

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5995231/focustwist-the-closest-to-a-lytro-camera-your-iphone-can-get

While we'll still have to wait a bit for Lytro powers to come to our smartphones on a hardware level, we can at least approximate the neat little camera's refocusing powers with what we've already got. And this is where FocusTwist for iOS steps in.

What's it do?

Lytro employs light-field technology when it takes a photo, basically absorbing every possible ray of light and merging the images together, letting you refocus the photo anywhere you want. FocusTwist uses a similar idea: take a photo within the app, hold still for a few seconds while FocusTwist goes to work snapping multiple images with differing focal planes, and come away with a photo that you can readjust as you please.

Why do we like it?

Because FocusTwist has to work with iPhone's camera, the results obviously won't be as drastic as they would with a Lytro. But if you frame your pictures carefully (the app works best when you frame your shot with a very close object in front and a larger subject off in the distance), you'll likely have a blast Twisting and refocusing to your heart's content. So while this won't be too useful for quick shooting at a moment's notice, if you're looking for a neat little trick that makes use of the camera you already have, the $2 you'll be shelling out is definitely cheaper than buying a Lytro.

FocusTwist

Download this app for:

iOS, $2

The Best

iPhone-cum-Lytro

The Worst

Framing shots just right

BeagleBone Black packs 1GHz ARM CPU, 512MB RAM for just $45 (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/22/beaglebone-black-1ghz-cpu-512mb-ram-45-dollars/

The BeagleBone might be just the piece of kit for the DIY set itching to boot Linux in 10 seconds, but the freshly unveiled BeagleBone Black packs an even greater punch -- and the same speedy start times -- at just half the price of its predecessor. The $45 credit card-sized package totes a 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor, 3D graphics accelerator, a pair of PRU 32-bit RISC CPUs, 2GB of built-in storage, a microSD slot and 512MB of RAM. Connectivity-wise, the canine-themed board carries support for USB, Ethernet, micro-HDMI and two 46 pin headers. Those pining for hardware flexibility can make use of the platform's existing "cape" hardware add-ons. Though it ships from Texas Instruments with Angstrom Linux on board, it's also tuned to support Android and Ubuntu, and arrives pre-loaded with the Cloud9 IDE. BeagleBone Black is already up for grabs in limited quantities, but it's expected to ship en masse by the end of May. Hit the second source link to start ordering, or head past the break for a video tour of the pint-sized computer.

Filed under: Misc

Source: BeagleBoard, Texas Instruments

Samsung Galaxy S 4 coming to AT&T stores April 27th, pre-orders arrive April 25th

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/22/samsung-galaxy-s-4-coming-to-atandt-stores-april-27th/

Pre-orders of the Samsung Galaxy S 4 have already begun at AT&T, but the operator has been oddly silent about the actual date customers can expect to purchase one in stores and online. Now that T-Mobile and Sprint have both announced specific launch dates (April 24th and 27th, respectively), the largest GSM carrier in the country has followed up by declaring its intent to sell the flagship Samsung device on the 27th of this month. This is four days earlier than the anticipated pre-order shipment date, which means the HTC One has merely a full week to bask in the spotlight by itself. What's more, if you simply couldn't wait and jumped on those pre-orders, you'll get yours a full 48 hours early (read: April 25th). As expected, the GS 4 will be offered for $200 (16GB) and $250 (32GB) in both black and white.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Samsung, AT&T

Source: AT&T (Twitter), AT&T

Ultra Mobile debuts $19 calling plan with unlimited international SMS

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/22/ultra-mobile-19-dollar-plan/

If you're living on a tight budget but still need to keep in touch with loved ones who live abroad, you'll be glad to know of a new calling plan from Ultra Mobile. The upstart MVNO offers discounted access to T-Mobile's network, and for $19 per month, you'll fetch unlimited text messages to 194 countries, 250 voice minutes (with $1.25 toward international calling), and 50MB of data usage. For comparison, Simple Mobile offers a $25 plan that includes unlimited international texting and domestic calling, but if you let your thumbs do most of the talking, Ultra Mobile brings a lot of value to the table. You can snag its $19 plan starting tomorrow, which might be the perfect match for whatever Nokia has up its sleeve.

Filed under: Wireless, Mobile

Source: FierceWireless

Preva Mobile for iOS aims to track your workouts, keep you going to the gym

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/22/preva-mobile-fitness-tracker-for-ios-keeps-you-going-to-the-gym/

Dragging yourself to the gym in the wee hours of the morning already takes a heaping helping of dedication, but fitness equipment manufacturer Precor is betting that it can provide additional motivation with its new iOS app: Preva Mobile. By wielding the software, users can monitor and set goals for calories burned, distance and duration, and even log their actions outside the gym for activities ranging from rollerblading to skiing. What's more is that the application acts as an extension of the firm's Preva fitness tracking console built into its 880 line of cardio equipment, and keeps data synced between devices and exercise machines through the cloud.

In addition to helping folks keep tabs on their activity, the digital logbook rewards users with points and badges, which they can ~~brag about~~ share on Twitter and Facebook. There's no sign of an Android version just yet, but we doubt your personal trainer will buy that as an excuse to stray from your workout regimen.

Filed under: Software, Mobile

Source: Preva (iTunes)

AMD reveals G-Series X embedded chips, drops a little ARM-powered bombshell

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/23/amd-reveals-g-series-x-embedded-chips/

We're no strangers to AMD's embedded processors, designed for specialist applications such as casino gaming and dashboard infotainment systems. But this latest announcement of an updated G-Series processor reveals something totally unexpected. It's not just that the chip contains four Jaguar cores of PlayStation 4 fame, or that it also includes a Radeon 8000 GPU and I/O module on a single piece of silicon -- although that's all interesting enough. The key thing is actually the "X" in the lower right corner of the logo, which signifies that this is an x86 chip of the type we'd normally expect from AMD. The question is this: Why bother even mentioning the "X" when everyone knows AMD is an x86 stalwart already? Read on and we'll explain its true significance.

Filed under: Laptops, Tablets, AMD

Monday, April 22, 2013

Acer Iconia W3 reportedly leaks, mates an 8-inch tablet with Windows 8

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/22/acer-iconia-w3-reportedly-leaks/

Microsoft has repeatedly told us that we'll see smaller Windows 8 tablets, but all that talk has amounted to precious little walk. If the latest rumor is accurate, though, Acer might be the first to take action: French site Minimachines claims to have images and details of the Iconia W3, which could be the first 8-inch tablet on Microsoft's newer platform. The slate wouldn't be a barnstormer with a 1.8GHz Atom Z2760 and 2GB of RAM, but performance also wouldn't be its selling point -- the W3 would be small enough to fit in one hand while carrying the full software support of a PC. It will reportedly include front and rear cameras as well as a possible microSDHC slot, and the accessories we see in the purported leak involve both a tiny keyboard dock and a cover that doubles as a kickstand. We don't know if there's any truth to claims of a launch around the back to school season in September, although that would certainly be appropriate timing for what could be a welcome backpack companion.

[Thanks, Pierre]

Filed under: Tablets, Acer

Source: Minimachines.net (translated)

Cricket intros $40 per line family plan with unlimited talk, text and data, updates iPhone plans

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/22/cricket-wireless-new-family-plans/

Cricket's already firmly established itself as one of the more budget-minded carriers in the US, and it's now tweaking some of its plans a bit further in the hopes of attracting more customers. Leading those changes is a new family plan that will give you two lines for $40 apiece per month, each with unlimited talk, texting and data -- the catch, as is becoming increasingly common, is that the data gets throttled to a slower speed after 1GB. On top of that, the carrier has also now brought its iPhone plans in line with its Android offerings, giving folks the same options as that family plan for $50 a month. More demanding users can also opt for 2.5GB of unthrottled data for $60 or 5GB $70, both of which also add unlimited international messaging to the mix.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

Via: Phone Scoop

Source: Cricket

Huawei A199 outed with 5-inch 720p display, 1.5GHz CPU, 2GB RAM

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/22/huawei-a199/

Huawei kicked off the year by introducing its 5-inch Ascend D2 and 6.1-inch Ascend Mate flagships, and after a few months of catering for smaller hands, it's revisiting larger screens with the A199. The new handset shares a handful of specs with the Ascend D2, and although it's not as equipped, you wouldn't call it a low-end device. Behind the 5-inch, 720p IPS display, you'll find Huawei's own quad-core 1.5GHz K3V2 CPU paired with 2GB of RAM and eight gigs of internal storage, expandable via a microSD slot (up to 32GB cards supported).

Weighi! ng in at roughly 160g (5.6 ounces) with a 2,150mAh battery on board, the 8.9mm (0.35 inch) thick handset has an 8-megapixel main camera, a 1.3-megapixel shooter up front, and runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean as standard. We're inclined to believe the A199 will be destined for China and emerging markets only given the phone's dual-SIM support (GSM / CDMA / EV-DO), a feature popular in these regions. The device does, however, bear similarities in both specs and design to an Ascend G710 that was detailed in a leak back in February. Maybe, then, the A199 will make its way to the US eventually, albeit with a fresh name and brushed metal disguise.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

Via: The Droid Guy

Source: Huawei

'Eye gestures' spotted in Google Glass app code, hints at wink-based photography

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/22/eye-gestures-code-google-glass/

While perusing the code for Google Glass's companion Android app, Reddit user Fodawim chanced across several lines of code that could offer up some interesting navigation options for your Glass. Titled 'eye gestures,' it looks like the wearable's built-in sensors should be able to detect eye activity and integrate that into device input. Two lines of code mention enabling and disabling eye gestures, suggesting it'll be an optional feature, while other lines hint that it would have to be calibrated to your wink before use. Get your well-timed slow-wink at the ready, however, as the final line spotted suggests that a wink gesture can command the 5-megapixel camera to capture whatever you're looking at. Google was already granted a patent for unlocking a screen using eye-tracking information, although wink-based commands sounds a shade easier to deal with -- as long as it doesn't think we're blinking.

Filed under: Wearables, Google

Via: Glass-apps

Source: Reddit

Google Earth gets Leap Motion support, lets you explore the planet with touch-free control

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/22/google-earth-leap-motion/

How are you celebrating Earth Day? If you're one of 10,000 Leap Motion devs with an early unit, you could very well be exploring Mount Everest or venturing through the Amazon, just by waving your hands. Google's Earth app, which has reportedly been downloaded more than a billion times, just scored a refresh today -- version 7.1 -- delivering Leap Motion gesture control to your desktop. Both the free and paid versions now support touch-free navigation through the USB desktop device, which is expected in stores next month. The update, however, available for Windows, Mac and Linux, is yours for the taking now.

Filed under: Peripherals, Google

Source: Leap Motion (YouTube)

Photojojo's telephoto lens brings up to 12x of optical zoom to your iPad

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/22/photojojo-ipad-telephoto-lens/

After creating the Photorito lens wrap that makes your zoom like a burrito, Photojojo has pulled off another feat: making iPad photographers look even wackier than normal. But the company's iPad telephoto lens is pretty useful if you're willing to hold a slab to your face to grab images. It brings a useful 10x zoom to the iPad 3 and 4, and 12x to the iPad Mini, giving you un-pixelated closeups along with "slight vignetting, a lo-fi look and all around interest to your photos." You're not going to make your iPad any less conspicuous as a camera than it already is, so you can grab the wee lens for $25 at the source.

Filed under: Cameras, Tablets

Via: Cult of Mac

Source: Photojojo

Acer teases May 3rd reveal of a tilt-screen laptop deemed worthy of Star Trek (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/22/acer-teases-may-3rd-reveal-of-a-tilt-screen-laptop/

Our eyebrows are officially raised. Acer has revealed that it's going all-in with a promotional connection to Star Trek Into Darkness, and it's hinting at the May 3rd unveiling of a "unique" laptop that it believes would be at home in Captain Kirk's universe. We doubt that many people will still use Windows 8 in the 23rd century, but there may be some truth to the claims of novelty: a brief clip shows a clamshell design whose display can tilt outward like that of a desktop monitor, most likely to improve the comfort of touchscreen input without going the full convertible route of PCs like the Dell XPS 12. We'll know soon enough whether or not Acer's PC is the stuff of sci-fi or remains firmly grounded in reality.

Filed under: Laptops, Acer

Source: Acer

LG's NYC press event aims to 'share the genius' of the Optimus G Pro

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/22/lg-nyc-press-event-optimus-g/

LG's just shed some much needed light on its May 1st New York event. Turns out the "genius" the company will be celebrating stands for Atlas Genius -- as in the band -- and the star of this fete: the Optimus G Pro. We've already seen and very favorably reviewed the global model of LG's performance flagship (for the G's successor, you'll have to wait until Q3) and now it looks like the US is in store for a potential carrier-branded version of its own. If it arrives internally unmolested, we're looking at a 5.5-inch 1080p True HD IPS+ display, Snapdragon 600 and a 2.1-megapixel / 13-megapixel camera setup capable of dual video recording. We'll be on-site for this stateside debut, so stay tuned for the fully monty.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, LG

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