Collapsible Input Pen Lets You Draw 3D Images On a 2D Surface [3D]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5587136/collapsible-input-pen-lets-you-draw-3d-images-on-a-2d-surface

It's difficult to create 3D images on a 2D surface because, well, you're missing a whole dimension. Enter Beyond, a collapsible input device that virtually extends the pen into the screen to create the 3D effect.

Beyond was created by the MIT Media Lab and is a pretty genius, glasses-less way to create 3D on a 2D surface. The 3D on 2D surface magic uses the collapsible pen, a tabletop display, an infrared position tracking system to track the pen, and a camera to track the user's face so it can tweak the angle of the 3D effect. The collapsible pen is actually rather simple, with only basic electronics and 2 infrared markers behind the magic.

The idea is that whatever you push in physically with the pen is rendered virtually on the screen, letting you draw all the crazy shapes, objects, and dongs you want. However, as 3D continues its takeover of the world, we're pretty sure tools like Beyond will find better uses than dong drawing. [DesignBoom]

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Acer said to be launching 7-, 10-inch Android tablets before the end of the year

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/14/acer-said-to-be-launching-7-10-inch-android-tablets-before-the/

Acer's already offered some indication that it planned to launch at least one Android-based tablet before the end of the year, and it looks like we're starting to get few more tidbits of information. According to DigiTimes (reasonably reliable when it comes to Acer rumors), the company is planning to launch both 7-inch and 10-inch tablets sometime in the fourth quarter of this year, both of which will reportedly be ARM-based and run Android 2.2 (complete with Flash support_. Details are otherwise still pretty light, but DigiTimes is backing up earlier talk that Acer's looking to partner with mobile carriers on the devices, which we presume means they'll both at least have a 3G option.

Acer said to be launching 7-, 10-inch Android tablets before the end of the year originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlayOn for iPhone brings a wealth of streaming video to iOS, we go hands-on (update)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/14/playon-for-iphone-brings-a-wealth-of-streaming-video-to-ios-we/

It's ugly. It's buggy. It requires a Windows PC. But PlayOn for iPhone actually works, slinging Netflix, Hulu, CBS and more to your waiting Apple device over WiFi and (occasionally) 3G. Using the same PlayOn desktop client that presently redirects video-on-demand to your game console or a media streamer attached to your TV, subscribers can download an app on July 15th that transcodes content for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad as well, and is today the only way to get Netflix on your phone.

We spent some quality couch time with the program over the last couple of days, and with a powerful PC, fast internet and WiFi connection, we found video quite watchable on our iPhone 4, and there's no knocking PlayOn's breadth of content available, with loads of TV, a good deal of anime and your entire Netflix streaming queue available on the phone. The interface is barely there, though, just a series of poorly-spaced nesting menus, and it can take quite a few touchscreen presses and a bit of thought to find what you want to watch. There are a few bugs too, like one that kept shooting us back to the main menu randomly upon a button press, and another that locked us into a particular piece of content until both app and desktop server were restarted. Some content could have looked better on the 3.5-inch Retina Display if only we'd had the option to press the HD button, but the only controls Media Mall provides are forward, backward and volume, and even with full bars we're afraid we couldn't get 3G playback to work reliably. Since the company still offers a free 14-day trial of the service, the software's definitely worth a try, but if you want Hulu or Netflix on the go (or even around the house), we imagine you'll eventually end up using their dedicated apps instead.

Update: PlayOn's PR team tells us some of the exact bugs we found have already been fixed for tomorrow's launch, including crashes that return the user to the main menu, and system states that chain the user to a previously selected video. That's an impressive turnaround!

Gallery: PlayOn for iPhone hands-on

PlayOn for iPhone brings a wealth of streaming video to iOS, we go hands-on (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SanDisk's elusive 32GB microSDHC card on sale tomorrow at Verizon: $100 with a Droid X, $150 without

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/14/sandisks-elusive-32gb-microsdhc-card-on-sale-tomorrow-at-verizo/

Oh, sure -- SanDisk's 32GB microSDHC card has been "shipping" since late March, but have you actually tried to find one? It's been a lesson in frustration for many, and while a few e-tailers have shown stock off and on, the card has generally evaded archivists who simply need an insane amount of available storage on their handset. Starting tomorrow, however, that should change. Verizon Wireless -- of all companies -- has somehow managed to become the "only retailer that offers customers the 32GB SanDisk microSDHC card." We're assuming it's referring to brick and mortar retailers, but at any rate, the gem will be on sale tomorrow at VZW outlets for $149.99, or just $99.99 if you purchase one alongside Motorola's Droid X. The only trouble with that? You're stuck figuring out what to do with the 16GB microSDHC card that ships inside of the phone. Thank heavens for the Bay, right?

Continue reading SanDisk's elusive 32GB microSDHC card on sale tomorrow at Verizon: $100 with a Droid X, $150 without

SanDisk's elusive 32GB microSDHC card on sale tomorrow at Verizon: $100 with a Droid X, $150 without originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 21:02:00 EDT. Please see ou! r terms for use of feeds.

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Atheros and Wilocity embrace 'tri-band' wireless wares, 60GHz wireless PCIe

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/14/atheros-and-wilocity-embrace-tri-band-wireless-wares-60ghz-wi/

The amount of dual-band products (you know, those that support both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands) is slowly growing, but already a pair of companies are thinking about the next big thing: tri-band. Atheros and Wilocity have both been eying that 60GHz stuff that the WiGig Alliance is pushing around these days, and now they're announcing a collaboration to "build tri-band wireless solutions that combine the ubiquity and coverage of WiFi with the multi-gigabit performance of the Wireless Gigabit Alliance's 60GHz technology." The new gear would enable all sorts of backwards compatibility, and while there aren't too many details being shared just yet on exactly what kind of kit is in the pipeline, we do know of one particular tidbit. That tidbit, of course, is wireless PCI Express, or wPCIe. Developed by Wilocity, this black magic would essentially enable PCIe devices to be docked outside of the desktop and have their signals beamed to a receiver card within the desktop. Think external graphics, storage arrays, etc., all sans cabling. It's being reported that wPCIe can push data at up to 5Gbps, and if all goes to plan, the spec should scale easily to 7Gbps. Be sure to give the links below a visit for a deeper dive, and get ready to give that SFF machine you've often overlooked... well, another look.

Continue reading Atheros and Wilocity embrace 'tri-band' wireless wares, 60GHz wireless PCIe

Atheros and Wilocity embrace 'tri-band' wireless wares, 60GHz wireless PCIe originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 23:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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