Bunnie Huang building an open, ARM-based laptop, might even sell you one if you ask nicely

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/17/bunnie-huang-is-building-a-laptop/

How do you follow-up creating Chumby, exposing illicit microSD card production and building an open-source radiation detector? If you answered "go to Disneyland," then you aren't Andrew "Bunnie" Huang -- who is now designing and building his very own laptop. Powered by an ARM Cortex A9 and running Linux, the hardware is NDA-free and as open as he can make it, with documents already online for you to study. He's expecting to finish validation and testing in the next few months, and may even offer a few for sale on Kickstarter -- although he does warn that it won't come cheap, so if you're looking for a machine to noodle around on, just get an EeePC.

Filed under: Laptops

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Via: Boing Boing

Source: Bunnie Huang

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Create Your Own Lytro-Style Changeable Focus Photos with the SLR You Already Have

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5968678/create-your-own-lytro+style-changeable-focus-photos-with-the-slr-you-already-have

Cameras like the Lytro are great because they let you snap photos and then adjust the depth-of-field and focus after the photo's already been taken. It does this by collecting all of the focus data it needs at the time the photo is taken, which is great, but Lytro cameras are close to $400. If you already have an SLR you love, there's a way to get the same effect right now without buying anything extra, thanks to the folks at Chaos Collective.

The trick is to use your SLR to take video of the space you want to capture, slowly changing the focus on your camera as you go. This way your camera collects the same data the Lytro does, just over time. The Lytro works because it actually takes tons of images at once thanks to its micro-lens array, and each of those images includes different focus and DOF data, so you can refocus the image whenever you want, long after you've taken the photo.

Chaos Collective notes that the best cameras for the job here SLRs and lenses with wide apertures, and walks you through the process of collecting your video and uploading it to their tool at the link below. You'll probably need a tripod, but aside from that, if you have the camera already you're good to go, and the process takes just a few seconds—much better than dropping $400 on a shiny new camera. Hit the link below to try the tool out, and see examples of the kinds of images we're talking about.

Camera HACK: DOF-Changeable Photos with an SLR | Chaos Collective via TechCrunch

Photo by Lai Ryanne.

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Will Wild OLED Installations Like These Be The Light Fixtures Of Tomorrow?

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5968779/will-wild-oled-fixtures-like-these-be-the-lights-of-tomorrow

OLEDs have a lot of potential for awesomeness, like putting a flexible screen on your holiday sweaters. Well, maybe that's a bad example. These prototype light fixtures developed by Philips, on the other hand, are significantly better ones.

As Dietmar Thomas of Philips Lumiblade explains:

OLED is the first light source that is a surface light source. All other lights sources are point light sources, starting with the flame, the candle and going up to the light bulb and the LED. For the first time you don't need a system to spread the light. The system is built-in.

And that fact, along with the thin form factor allows for all kinds of weird installations you couldn't (or wouldn't want to) make with strandard light bulbs. Everything from pulsating light walls to fixtures that actually are your ceiling.

For the moment, OLED lights tend to be prohibitively expensive, especially if all they're doing is acting like a light bulb and looking cool, but Thomas is confidant the prices will fall quite a bit in the next five years, making these kinds of setups far more affordable. The sooner we can all get trippy, flashing light displays for living room raves, the better. [Dezeen]

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How to Get Siri to Provide Google Maps Directions, No Hack Required

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5968968/how-to-get-siri-to-provide-google-maps-directions-no-hack-required

Ask Siri for directions, and by default she'll throw up an Apple Maps solution. Which means you'll get lost. But it's actually really easy to get her to give you directions using Google's maps—and it doesn't even require a hack.

As JailbreakNation shows in this vide, adding the phrase "via transit" to the end of your Siri voice command forces the software to use Google Maps instead of iOS's native cartographic car crash. So instead of saying "take me to the nearest [INSERT DESTINATION]", just say say "take me to the nearest [INSERT DESTINATION] via transit", and you're golden. Easy! [YouTube]

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Homemade self-balancing unicycle uses an Arduino to keep upright

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/16/homemade-raptor-unicycle-uses-an-arduino-to-keep-upright/

On the whim of a coin flip, Nick Thatcher once decided between building a homemade Segway, or a self balancing unicycle. Even though the powers of fate chose the former, Thatcher's thirst to build wasn't quenched -- he built the one-wheeled scooter anyway. The Raptor looks a lot like a Ryno unicycle built from spare parts -- a chain driven wheelbarrow wheel powered by a 350w geared motor, a pair of batteries wired in series, some PVC and polycarbonate, an IMU gyro and an Arduino UNO -- all hobbled together to form a one-wheeled electric mount. Thatcher says the scooter can push 10mph safely, but faster speeds tend to outpace the gyro's corrective efforts. Still, the bike promises between 90-120 minutes of face-plant free fun, provided the rider is at least a little balanced. The motorized unicycle isn't for sale, but peek on over to Thatch Industries for a parts list, or scoot on past the break to see the bike in action.

Filed under: Misc

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Via: Hackaday

Source: Thatch Industries

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Oppo previews sample shots taken with Find 5's Sony-made Exmor RS sensor

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/16/oppo-previews-find-5-13-megapixel-exmor-rs-sensor/

Sony pulled the plug on the original specs for its next-gen Exmor RS sensor, pushing a rollout for those modules into the new year. So while that move, made for quality control purposes, guarantees that a new batch of Xperias outfitted with the tech won't appear until 2013 at the earliest, imaging fanatics curious for a preview can get a sneak peek courtesy of Oppo. Baked into the Chinese manufacturer's newly announced Find 5 -- a quad-core S4 Pro Android Jelly Bean handset with a 5-inch 1080p display -- is the top shelf 13-megapixel version of Sony's sensor tech. Oppo's provided a few curated snapshots taken with the camera on its site and, as you'll see, the resulting images are rich with color and exhibit a fine level of detail. We'll reserve judgement until we can get our hands on a review unit for extensive testing. Until then, feast your eyes on the samples at the source below.

Filed under: Cellphones, Cameras, Mobile, Sony

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Via: Xperia blog

Source: Oppo

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Bloomberg: HTC backing away from plan to build a five-inch Windows Phone

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/17/htc-windows-phone-screen-size/

We've been fans of super-sized live tiles ever since the OG Titan came around, but maybe we can't count on HTC to push things any further. According to Bloomberg's sources, the Taiwanese manufacturer has given up on a project to create a Windows Phone with a display larger than five inches. Instead, it'll focus all its big-screened efforts on Android, much as it's already doing with the Droid DNA (shown above) and Japanese Butterfly.

The reason? Well, that bit's unclear. Microsoft mobile OS doesn't currently play nice with 1080p, which puts a limit on the pixel density of any big device -- but then there's always the potential for software updates, and besides, the 5.5-inch Galaxy Note II is hardly being held back by its 720 lines. Bloomberg does mention another, more plausible reason, which is that HTC simply believes the WP market is too weak to haul a juggernaut.

Filed under: Cellphones, HTC

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Source: Bloomberg!

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Google tests Flight Explorer tool, offers more visual and powerful ticket searches

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/14/google-flight-explorer/

Google may have updated its flight search tool for tablets just a couple of months back, but it's been a while since its desktop counterpart saw a refresh. Currently being tested under the call sign "Flight Explorer", the outfit has a new offering that provides a more customizable and visual interface to help root out a suitable plane ticket. While the filters are pretty much the same as the existing Google Flights search engine, there's a new slider to choose trip length, an upfront indication of the best available ticket price for the selected timeframe, along with handy graphs that show price over time, and which yield up specifics when you hover over them with your mouse pointer. There's every chance that these new additions will be merged into Google Flights once any crinkles have been ironed out, but in the meantime there's nothing to stop you using it at the link below. And hey, send us a postcard!

Filed under: Internet, Google

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Via: WebProNe! ws, The Next Web

Source: Google Flight Explorer

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Lava Xolo A800 reaches India, delivers big screen and dual SIMs on a budget

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/14/lava-xolo-a800-reaches-india-delivers-big-screen-and-dual-sims/

Most of us who know Lava's Xolo badge will associate it with one of the first Atom-based smartphones, the Xolo X900, but it's branching out to models that don't require an Intel Inside label. Its just-launched, India-oriented Xolo A800 is all about keeping the cost of a big-screened phone down through a low-cost ARM processor: the Android 4.0 smartphone combines a 1GHz, dual-core MediaTek MT6577 chip with a 4.5-inch, 960 x 540 IPS display that you won't often find in this device class. There's a few other surprises in store. While the dual 2G and 3G SIM slots aren't unusual given local market tastes, the A800 also stuffs in a very modern backside-illuminated 8-megapixel rear camera, a front VGA camera and a total of 12GB of storage out of the box. The grand total for Indians buying today is just 11,999 rupees ($220) off-contract -- a good deal that makes us hope Lava takes the A800 abroad.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

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Source: Infibeam

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Free online tool creates images with adjustable depth of field from standard DSLR video

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/14/dof-changeable-images-using-DSLR/

We've seen a couple of ways to change the depth of field (DOF) in pictures after they've been shot, but those methods have all featured specific hardware for the job. Knowing that most aren't inclined to fork over the notes for such luxuries, online auteurists The Choas Collective have released a free online tool for creating DOF-changeable images -- and all you need is a basic DSLR that shoots video. Instead of fancy in-camera tech that captures all the focal range data in one instance, their method requires you to shoot a short, steady video of the subject scene while you manually change the focus from one extreme to another. Upload the clip, and the Collective's neat tool cuts each frame into a 20 x 20 grid and works out what's in focus. The result is an embeddable image which allows you to play around with depth of field on the fly. We know you're probably eager to try this out right now, but before you go looking for your camera, head to the source link for full instructions and tips for shooting the clip. Alternatively, if you're sans DSLR, check out the example of a DOF-changeable image we've hidden below the fold.

Continue reading Free online tool creates images with adjustable depth of field from standard DSLR video

Filed under: Cameras, Internet, Software

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Source: The Chaos Collective

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Acer Iconia W700 review: a Core i5 Windows 8 slate that doesn't skimp on battery life

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/14/acer-iconia-w700-review/

Until PC makers figure out what consumers want in their Windows 8 PCs, they'll be throwing different designs at the proverbial wall to see what sticks. One thing's for sure, though: laptop / tablet hybrids have already made it. So far, we've seen a mix of models, some with low-power Atom processors, and others with laptop-grade Core i5 CPUs inside. Basically, a choice between amazing horsepower and long battery life.

In Acer's lineup, specifically, we've already had a chance to play with the Iconia W510, an Atom-powered device with a keyboard dock. Now we're taking a look at the Iconia W700 ($800 and up), an 11-inch tablet that's essentially an Ultrabook with no keyboard attached. Based on that brief summary you'd think it had the same form factor as the smaller W510, but you'd be wrong. Whereas the W510 has a keyboard dock with a built-in battery, the W700 has a cradle with a modular kickstand you can use you to prop up the tablet in landscape or portrait mode. There's no battery inside the dock, and the keyboard is a standalone product; you'll have to pack it separately if you decide you need it on a trip. So is there any advantage to having a design with so many different pieces? And how does that Core i5 processor fare, anyway? Let's see.

Gallery: Acer Iconia W700 review

Continue reading Acer Iconia W700 review: a Core i5 Windows 8 slate that doesn't skimp on battery life

Filed under: Laptops, Tablets, Acer

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Facebook for Android 2.0 arrives with much faster load times, in-feed photo browsing

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/13/facebook-for-android-2-0-arrives-with-much-faster-load-times/

Facebook users running Android have been clamoring for speed updates, and it looks like they'll at least get some of what they desire today. A version 2.0 revamp moves partly to native code and is purportedly twice as fast at loading the Timeline and photos, on top of simply being faster to start. The upgrade also lets us quickly flip through photos without having to shift attention away from the news feed. Google Play isn't yet carrying Facebook 2.0 as of this writing, but it's promised within hours -- check the source link at the right time and you may get a speed kick that many have been craving for months.

Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile, Facebook

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Via: Facebook (1), (2)

Source: Google Play

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Microsoft may turn to mobile gaming for crowdsourced mapping data

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/13/microsoft-mobile-gaming-crowdsourced-mapping-data/

Keeping map data relevant's a full-time job -- just ask Nokia, Google and, yes, even Apple. Which is why Microsoft may be gearing up to offload some of that heavy lifting to users in the augmented reality guise of mobile gaming. Or at least that's one possible future outlined by a recently surfaced patent application. The USPTO doc, filed back in June of 2011, clearly lays out a crowdsourced "data collection system" whereby users sent on virtual missions to specific real-world targets would aid in the gathering of up-to-date geo-location data. With its thriving Xbox gaming arm and reinvigorated inroads into the mobile space, it wouldn't be much of a stretch for Microsoft to leverage a bit of corporate synergy to make its own mapping service more accurate, or simply license the data. Whatever the case may be, it's all up in legal limbo for the time being. So, for now, you'll have to content yourselves with AR missions of the Ingress kind.

Filed under: Cellphones, Gaming, Wireless, Mobile, Microsoft

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Source: USPTO

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University of Bath develops efficient vector-based video, says pixels are old hat

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/13/university-of-bath-develops-efficient-vector-based-video/

The pixel does the job for most digital imagery -- it sure makes for a fine shirt -- but it's not so hot for video, where growing resolutions chew up gobs of bandwidth. There may be a wiser strategy coming from the University of Bath, whose researchers have developed a more efficient approach to movie codecs. Their new format uses vectors to render footage with colored contours that demand fewer resources than a dot-by-dot approach. While vector-based rendering isn't original in itself, the researchers' method is supposedly unique in filling the gaps between the contours with the kind of visual quality a pro videographer would crave. The university team is confident enough that it's talking to major companies about using the codec for post-production tools, and sees it spreading to mobile devices where connection speeds and storage are at a premium. It could take years for vector-based video to catch on; if the technology ever upsets the pixel's reign, though, more than a few Vectrex owners may see it as poetic justice.

Filed under: Science, Software

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Via: Popular Science

Source: University of Bath

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Amazon Cloud Player arrives for Roku boxes, Samsung Smart TVs

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/13/amazon-cloud-player-arrives-for-roku-boxes-samsung-smart-tvs/

So you've embraced Amazon Cloud Player to the point where you want it at the center of your living room. Amazon is more than happy to oblige with newly launched apps for both Roku media hubs as well as Samsung Smart TVs. The two apps will stream Amazon MP3 purchases and uploaded songs for everyone in the living room, although they share the same limitations: uploading music is clearly off the table given the lack of local storage, and we'll have to manage that party playlist elsewhere. When both apps are free perks of an existing service, though, we won't grouse too loudly.

Continue reading Amazon Cloud Player arrives for Roku boxes, Samsung Smart TVs

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Samsung, Amazon

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Source: Amazon (1), (2)

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