PrimeSense and ASUS team, bring Kinect-like Wavi Xtion to your living room TV (update)

PrimeSense is the brains behind Microsoft's Kinect, and wants a bigger piece of the pie; ASUS has a reputation for announcing wonderfully wacky peripherals every year. At CES 2011, the Wavi Xtion will check off both boxes nicely. In a nutshell, the Xtion is a PrimeSense 3D depth camera built exclusively for PC, but with an important twist -- it connects to the pair of ASUS Wavi boxes you see immediately above, which wirelessly streams its data to your living room PC between your TV and a Windows PC over the 5GHz band. Oh, and should ASUS attract enough developers, it will even pull down applications from an Xtion online store. ASUS says we'll see the package commercially available around the world in Q2 of next year -- with a UI and selection of apps and games on board -- but they'll release an Xtion PRO developer kit in February to tempt all you Kinect hackers into coding magical things for the platform. No more details for now, but there's an event in Vegas this week where ASUS is all but guaranteed to show it off. PR after the break.

Update: Did we say HTPC? Turns out it doesn't quite work that way -- the Wavi are actually a pair of boxes that wirelessly sling data between them. You put the Xtion sensor on top of your TV, connect it to Wavi #1, then plug Wavi #2 into a PC up to 25 meters away. Disappointingly, it looks like the Xtion may not be quite as capable as Microsoft's unit, as there's only a infrared camera inside -- it should be fine for gesture control, but don't expect any augmented reality lightsaber fights. See some mockups below!

Gallery: ASUS and PrimeSense Wavi Xtion and Xtion Pro press images

Continue reading PrimeSense and ASUS team, bring Kinect-like Wavi Xtion to your living room TV (update)

PrimeSense and ASUS team, bring Kinect-like Wavi Xtion to your living room TV (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 13:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Build a Fiber Optic Star Map for Out-of-This-World Ambient Lighting [Astronomy]

If you're looking for ambient lighting so unique you'll likely be the only person in your part of the country to have it, this amazing DIY fiber optic star map is tough-to-beat choice.

Instructables user MrTick wanted a unique light source and an impressive surprise for his wife. He accomplished both ends by building a fiber optic star map that's actually a representation of the night sky visible from his home. His DIY guide includes all the hallmarks of awesomely geeky DIY work: dismantling consumer products to make new things, fiber optics, schematics, LEDs, soldering, and heat shrink tubing. Unlike many awesomely geeky DIY projects, however, this one came with a high wife-acceptance factor.

Hit up the link below to see how he transforms fabric, a fiber optic Christmas tree, and some miscellaneous parts like LEDs, wire, and heat shrink tubing into an absolutely awesome fiber optic star map for his bedroom.

Star Map [Instructables]

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MSI Wind Top AE2420 3D all-in-one review

When MSI builds an "all-in-one" PC, it doesn't mess around -- the MSI Wind Top AE2420 3D has everything but the kitchen sink ensconced in a plastic frame. Where most consolidated computers aim for the lowest common denominator with low-power components, MSI's dropped a high-end multimedia bomb here -- a 23.6-inch, 120Hz, 1080p, LED-backlit touchscreen LCD panel paired with a desktop-grade 2.53GHz Core i7-860S processor, Mobility Radeon HD 5730 graphics, a Blu-ray drive, 4GB of RAM, and a terabyte of storage. Active shutter glasses spit out 3D images to your eyes while THX speakers (and a built-in subwoofer) pump out jams, and 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth and USB 3.0 sockets round out a connectivity laundry list. It's got a spec sheet to die for and an equally lethal $1,800 price -- but is the AE2420 3D more than a bucket of primo parts? Is it worth your cash?

Gallery: MSI Wind Top AE2420 3D unboxing and hands-on

Continue reading MSI Wind Top AE2420 3D all-in-one review

MSI Wind Top AE2420 3D all-in-one review originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 02 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vizio reveals Via Tablet and Phone with Android, sub-$300 3DTVs ahead of CES

Vizio made its name by packing high end features into value-priced HDTVs and it's taking that mentality to new areas, revealing the tablet we spotted in last night's Rose Bowl ad as the 8-inch Via Tablet and a 4-inch Via Phone. Both will be running Android and while CTO Matthew McRae didn't spill any OS details to the Wall Street Journal, the combination of confirmed Market access and odd button configuration has us thinking Honeycomb is in the works when they are released this summer. The only Via Phone details mentioned are screen size and its front and 5MP rear cameras, while the tablet promises a "high resolution" screen, WiFi, three speakers, HDMI out and front facing camera -- but no cellular service.

Expect TV manufacturers to be on their toes as well, since Vizio says it will bring 3DTVs to market that start at less than $300. The new mobile products will also tie into its TV business through the Via Plus internet service, which sounds a lot like Samsung Apps by allowing access to Netflix, Facebook, Twitter, Android market access (to go along with its new Google TVs) and even a new Vizio On Demand movie services across all of its devices. We'll temper our excitement slightly remembering the new TVs and iPhone app shown off last year that never quite made it to shelves, but this trip to Vegas has already gotten even more interesting.

Vizio reveals Via Tablet and Phone with Android, sub-$300 3DTVs ahead of CES originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 02 Jan 2011 17:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MSI details Sandy Bridge, Fusion all-in-ones ahead of CES, teases a sliding screen

We just finished reviewing a feature-packed MSI Wind Top, but come CES next week we'll have three more to try: the AE2410, AE2210 and AE2050, each with the very latest silicon inside. Notebook Italia reports that the Taiwanese computer company's using Intel's new Sandy Bridge CPUs in each of its 24- and 22-inch rigs, and grabbed a low-power AMD Brazos APU for the likely budget 20-inch model -- which will reportedly still include a Blu-ray drive like its Core 2 Duo cousin. All three will sport 1080p touchscreen displays and USB 3.0 ports, but also a spiffy new feature called Super Charger that will charge attached USB gadgets even when the computer is off. Innovations, to be sure, but perhaps not as exciting as the concept items pictured above and below -- up top is the MSI Butterfly, which reportedly has a sliding multitouch screen with ten points of contact, and after the break, see the luxurious MSI Angelow. Here's hoping for prices, specs and high-res pictures once we get to the show.

Continue reading MSI details Sandy Bridge, Fusion all-in-ones ahead of CES, teases a sliding screen

MSI details Sandy Bridge, Fusion all-in-ones ahead of CES, teases a sliding screen originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 02 Jan 2011 19:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use! of feed s.

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HTC Thunderbolt has 8 megapixel camera and video chat, according to the ad up there

HTC's slogan is "quietly brilliant," and the company's living up to it right now -- it snuck new details about its mystery handset directly under our nose. What you see above are three screencaps from a banner ad running on the pages of Engadget even as we speak, hinting at an 8 megapixel imager, a sizable screen, and perhaps even 4G video chat. Why, hello there HTC Thunderbolt / Mecha / Droid Incredible HD, and hurray for controlled leaks!

[Thanks, Taylor S.]

HTC Thunderbolt has 8 megapixel camera and video chat, according to the ad up there originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 02 Jan 2011 20:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DIY Coffee Table Folds Into a Dining Table [DIY]

If you have limited space in your apartment, you can save some space by making a coffee table that converts to a high dining table when you actually need it.

DIYer Noëlle used a Vika Amon tabletop from IKEA, a trestle and some adapted curtain rods (both of which you can get at a hardware store) to create a sliding mechanism not unlike the one that folds your ironing board in and out. Now it's a low coffee table during the day, but can be folded up into a high dining table when needed:

It's actually a pretty quick and simple mod, but sure to save you some space and make the room feel more open by getting rid of the need for a separate table. Hit the link for more pictures.

Lift Coffee Table | IKEA Hacker

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New image of Olympus E-PL2 leaks, shows off macro spotlight

We've already seen leaked images of the Olympus E-PL2, the much talked about follow up to the E-PL1. The Micro Four Thirds is expected to boast a new 14-42mm f/3.5 - 5.6 kit lens, a 'direct movie' button, a high-resolution 3-inch display, and an optional Bluetooth model. From the new image above, however, we can see that there will also be an optional 'Medusa' version of the cam with a closeup spotlight for all those insane macro shots you'll undoubtedly be taking. The adjustable LED will also not require an extra battery, so this is one add-on we'll definitely be seriously considering.

New image of Olympus E-PL2 leaks, shows off macro spotlight originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Dec 2010 14:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LucidLogix virtualization tech enables AMD and NVIDIA GPUs to play together with Sandy Bridge

It's baaack. We've gone well over half a year without hearing a peep from black magic makers LucidLogix, but here on the doorstep of CES 2011, the company has resurfaced just in time to ride on the coattails of Intel's forthcoming Sandy Bridge platform. Sandy is expected to take over CES when companies start to introduce new PCs in just a few days, and thanks to Lucid's virtualization software, we wouldn't be surprised if a few are served with NVIDIA and AMD GPUs. This here technology enables the two to play nice, making the outlandish fantasy of using a multi-GPU, multi-vendor setup a reality. DirectX 11 is also supported, with the only real requirement being to "connect the display screen directly to the motherboard's Sandy Bridge display output." We'll be taking a closer look at the peacemaker once we land in Vegas, but for now, go ahead and prepare yourself for a beta version of 'Virtu' -- it'll hit at some point next month.

Continue reading LucidLogix virtualization tech enables AMD and NVIDIA GPUs to play together with Sandy Bridge

LucidLogix virtualization t! ech enab les AMD and NVIDIA GPUs to play together with Sandy Bridge originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Dec 2010 08:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Media Link DLNA streamer review

Apple's AirPlay might be getting all the attention lately but it's hardly the first solution for wirelessly streaming media to the television. Far from it. In 2003, the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) formed with its first set of interoperable products hitting the market in 2004. Since then, the alliance has certified thousands of products supported by more than 245 member companies, 29 of whom are listed as "promoter members" including such heavyweights as Sony, Nokia, Samsung, Toshiba, Verizon, AT&T Lab, LG, Qualcomm, Cisco, Microsoft, Panasonic, Intel, HP, and Motorola. Pretty much everyone but Apple. Recently, HTC joined the DLNA ranks with the introduction of two smartphones -- the Desire Z and Desire HD -- and a tiny media streamer known as the HTC Media Link, HTC's first attempt to gain a foothold in the living room. Over the last week we've been testing the Desire Z (a Eurofied T-Mobile G2) with the Media Link, lazily streaming video, music, and images around the house using a myriad of sources and controllers from Apple, Samsung, Microsoft, and Western Digital. How did it perform? Click through to find out.

Gallery: HTC Media Link

Continue reading HTC Media Link DLNA streamer review

HTC Media Link DLNA streamer review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Dec 2010 11:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint's 3G / 4G MiFi 4082 revealed?

Wasn't long ago that we found hard evidence of a WiMAX-capable MiFi from Novatel in the FCC -- and now, we might have the first press shot of it. Of course, press shots are always prettier than the actual devices, but even if you beat this image with the ugly stick for a minute or two, we're pretty sure it'd still be a good deal more handsome than the first-gen 3G MiFi that Sprint, Verizon, and others are using currently. No word on when this might launch, but with FCC certification under its belt, it's plausible that we'll see it next week at CES -- probably without the tipster's own professionally-Photoshopped status light below the battery indicator, we'd bet.

[Thanks, r0fl]

Sprint's 3G / 4G MiFi 4082 revealed? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Dec 2010 12:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Skype video calling for iPhone is official, available now (update: hands-on)

All signs have been pointing to this release for a few days now, but we'll admit: we expected Skype to wait until CES next week to pull the covers off what could become its crown jewel service over the coming months. Skype's official iOS client has finally sprouted the ability to make video calls, allowing iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and fourth-generation iPod touch users to share real-time video amongst each other and users of Skype's Windows, Mac, and Linux clients along with the ASUS Videophone (obviously, 3GS users won't have the convenience of a front-facing camera, but they'll still be able to broadcast video from the rear-facing one). Additionally, you'll be able to receive video from others if you're using an iPad or a third-generation iPod touch. The service is free and works over both WiFi and 3G -- and considering Skype's existing PC footprint, we'd argue this stands a very real chance of putting the hurt on FaceTime usage. No word on when Skype will be making video-capable clients available for Android or other mobile platforms, but Skype says that there'll be "plenty more" announcements in Vegas next week, so we wouldn't be surprised.

Update: So we just gave 3.0 a spin, calling iPhone-to-iPhone (both WiFi), iPhone-to-desktop (both WiFi), and again iPhone-to-iPhone (both 3G). The first two worked great, although the desktop camera produced better quality. As for the worst-case scenario, 3G-to-3G video calling, well... we wouldn't recommend it unless absolutely necessary. Video after the break, and be sure to note the battery life -- after about 10 minutes of use, we dropped from 66 percent to 61.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Gallery: Skype video calling for iPhone is official, available today

Continue reading Skype video calling for iPhone is official, available now (update: hands-on)

Skype video calling for iPhone is official, available now (update: hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Dec 2010 00:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gigabyte slips out Atom N550-based M1005, Q2005 netbooks

We're guessing we'll see a more official announcement about these soon enough, but for now we'll have to make do with some product pages that have quietly turned up on Gigabyte's website for two new Atom N550-based netbooks: the M1005 and Q2005. As Netbook News notes, the latter of those (pictured above) looks to be remarkably similar to the Jolicloud Jolibook, also based on the same dual-core N550 processor, while the M1005 appears to be a relatively minor update to the company's M1022 model, right down to the same docking station (check it out after the break). Still no indication of pricing or availability for either of them, but you can find the complete specs for each at the links below.

Continue reading Gigabyte slips out Atom N550-based M1005, Q2005 netbooks

Gigabyte slips out Atom N550-based M1005, Q2005 netbooks originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Dec 2010 02:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG ST600 Smart TV Upgrader brings DLNA, apps, and a web browser to formerly dumb displays

If you buy any of LG's latest HDTVs, you're pretty much assured it'll have a big sticker saying "Smart TV" somewhere along its fascia assuring you of its internet connectivity and compatibility. But, if you're still rocking some old school piece of visual tech that isn't yet past its "watch by" date, you'll be needing a set-top box of some kind to get on the web without leaving your couch. Naturally, LG would like to be the one to Smarten up your viewing habits there too, and so it's just unveiled its new ST600 sidekick for older television sets. It adds DLNA connectivity for some wireless media transfer fun, grants access to a "vast range" of premium content as well as local programming, throws in a web browser, and finishes things off with LG's TV Apps selection. Of course, this is the week of the pre-CES announcement, hence we've no pricing to share yet, but the way the company's talking about it, the ST600 sounds like it might make an aggressive MSRP its standout feature. Sadly, that's a bit of a distant hope for now as this Upgrader isn't expected in shops until Q2 2011. Who knows if we'll even be watching TV by that time?

Continue reading LG ST600 Smart TV Upgrader brings DLNA, apps, and a web browser to formerly dumb displays

LG ST600 Smart TV Upgrader brings DLNA, apps, and a web browser to formerly dumb displays originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Dec 2010 03:19:00 E! DT. Ple ase see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sharp Galapagos media tablets will bring 3G and EPUB content to US e-reader market in 2011

We like a bit of ambition around these parts and Sharp's plans for entering the US e-reader battlefield reek of the stuff. The Galapagos tablets that recently enjoyed their Japanese debut are going to be retooled, according to the Mainichi Daily News, to include new 3G radios for the internet-addicted US consumer, while the primary content format will also be switched from the proprietary XMDF in Japan to the almost universally compatible EPUB. Content partnerships are said to be brewing as we type, because, quite naturally, Sharp intends to have its own e-bookstore for Americans as well. After the Yanks, the company's said to be looking into bringing its 5.5- and 10.8-inch tablets to China, India, and Brazil. Highly ambitious indeed.

Sharp Galapagos media tablets will bring 3G and EPUB content to US e-reader market in 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Dec 2010 05:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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