Augmented reality table lets you explore a book without opening it (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/20/gensler-the-hive-multi-surface-experience/

We've seen touch-friendly tables before, but they're rarely so slick as the Multi Surface Experience, a newly launched collaboration between design firm Gensler and ad agency The Hive. The installation lets guests explore Gensler's architectural portfolio (the book you see above) just by walking up to a wavy table. An overhead projector, Kinect for Windows and special software present an interface wherever people stand; when users choose to learn more about a project, it pops up on a wall-mounted 4K display. The current experience is sadly confined to Gensler's Los Angeles office, but it's also the start of teamwork that could lead to commercial designs. Don't be surprised if company lobbies are much livelier in the future.

Filed under: Displays, Alt

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Source: The Hive

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Garmin prepares for battle with sensor-packed VIRB action cam (hands-on)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/20/garmin-virb-action-cam/

There are more than enough action cams on the market, but that's not stopping Garmin from jumping head first into that saturated space. The GPS maker hopes to bring something fresh to the table with its $299 VIRB and $399 VIRB Elite, a pair of ruggedized camcorders that do more than simply snap footage from within a clear protective shell. Both models can shoot 1080p clips at 30fps and 16-megapixel still photos (while recording video) for up to three consecutive hours with one 2,000mAh cell, but they offer a variety of features that some competitors can't match, including a low-power 1.4-inch transflective LCD for navigating menus and previewing footage, optional (digital) IS and the ability to sync up with a variety of other Garmin devices through ANT+.

That last feature is perhaps the most compelling here -- VIRB's ANT+ chip lets you add on accessories like a heart rate monitor while also pairing with the company's Fenix watch, logging GPS coordinates and other stats with each captured clip. The pricier Elite flavor brings positioning sensors on board, however, along with an altimeter and WiFi, which you can use to connect the cam to a dedicated Android or iOS app. That software component lets you see a live preview and control basic settings (video start/stop and still image capture) remotely -- eventually, you'll be able to send content from the device to your phone or tablet, though that functionality isn't included just yet. A tiny remote will also be available as an add-on, should you opt to leave your smartphone at home.

It's easy enough to operate the water-resistant camera without a remote though, even with it mounted on your helmet or attached to a surf board. A large sliding record button lets you power up and start shooting video right away, even when the camera's turned off. There's no built-in storage, but you can slide in your own microSD card under the battery. The Garmin VIRB ships next month for $299, while its Elite counter part will ship around the same time for $399. Check out that base model, along with some of the many optional straps and mounts, in our hands-on photos just below.

Filed under: Cameras, GPS

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Microsoft shows off next-gen Kinect motion and voice capture in Xbox One's Project Spark

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/20/microsoft-says-project-spark-beta-launching-in-october/

Microsoft just flaunted some of Project Spark's gaming powers at Gamescom 2013 in Cologne: motion and voice capture. If you'll recall, the platform enables gamers to create their own digital spaces for games using the Xbox One's integrated Kinect sensor and the upcoming SmartGlass. Microsoft's Team Dakota group showed how to use facial capture, body motion capture and voice and sound to create animations, dialogue, cut scenes and more. You'll be able to try it yourself on Windows 8 at the end of October 2013, or by January 2014 for the Xbox One. Check the video after the jump to see the fruits of their labor, but maybe turn the volume down a hair. Just sayin'.

Filed under: Gaming, Microsoft

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Source: Xbox

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This Flexible OLED Camera Can Snap One-Shot Panoramic Photos

Source: http://gizmodo.com/this-flexible-oled-camera-can-snap-one-shot-panoramic-p-1166231075

Taking panoramic photos was once a time consuming process of carefully snapping a series of shots and then manually stitching them back together in Photoshop. Today it's as easy as just panning across a vista with your digital camera or smartphone, but researchers at Queen's University's Human Media Lab have come up with an even easier solution: a flexible camera that captures panoramic images in a single snap.

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Samsung Galaxy Mega hitting AT&T, Sprint and US Cellular this month (updated)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/19/samsung-galaxy-mega/

Duck and cover -- Samsung announced this morning that its latest monster handset, the Galaxy Mega, will be arriving on our shores this month. The 6.3-inch monolith will be coming to AT&T, Sprint and US Cellular. Beyond that, availability information is one thing about this phone that's still on the small side -- as the company explains in a press release this morning (which you can find in all of its PRy glory below), "each carrier will announce their specific availability, colors and timing." We do know that it'll have Android 4.2.2 and a 1.7GHz dual core processor. Expect more info on the only smartphone visible from space to follow soon from each of the aforementioned carriers.

Update: As expected, the carrier announcements have begun trickling in. You can find Sprint's below. It adds...a little information to what we already knew, namely the fact that the Now Network will be offering up unlimited data with the handset.

Update 2: More info now from the AT&T camp, and this time out, it's stuff we can really use -- namely price and date. The carrier's got the massive handset arriving the 23rd, priced at $150 (with, you guessed it, a two-year contract). The rest of that release is after the break -- beneath all the other releases, naturally.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung

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Oppo's 4.7-inch R819 arrives with svelte 7.3mm profile, stock Android option

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/19/oppos-4-7-inch-r819-arrives/

Oppo has just announced the R819, a 4.7-inch smartphone that's likely to have high appeal to lovers of stock Android. The Chinese firm will release the handset with its Oppo Color ROM, but users will also be able to install stock Android through a relatively simple sideloading procedure. Hardware wise, it's also decently spec'd, considering that Oppo seems to have tried to cram as much as it could into the sleek 7.3mm thick (.29 inch), 110 gram (3.9 ounce) shell. You'll get a quad-core MediaTek CPU, 720p IPS display, 1GB RAM, 16GB ROM, a Sony Exmor-equipped 8-megapixel f/2.0 rear camera with an LED flash, a 2,000mAh battery and dual-sim capability. There's no word on availability or pricing yet, though unlike some China-based handset makers, Oppo's devices often wind up in the US.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

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Ceton ships InfiniTV 6 PCIe tuner, crams six HD channels into a home theater PC

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/18/ceton-ships-infinitv-6-pcie-tuner/

Ceton vowed that it would release a PCI Express equivalent of its InfiniTV 6 ETH box, and it's delivering on that promise (if belatedly) by shipping the InfiniTV 6 PCIe. The adapter still lets Windows Media Center users watch or record up to six HD cable TV channels through one CableCARD, but in a form factor that slots neatly into a dedicated home theater PC. The board is in stock at Amazon and Newegg today at its expected $299 price. While that cost puts the InfiniTV PCIe at the high end of the TV tuner spectrum, it may be worthwhile for viewers who just can't afford to miss a show.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Peripherals, HD

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Source: Ceton, Amazon, Newegg

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AirCast for Android sends local or cloud videos to Chromecast, test it out now

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/18/aircast-android-chromecast/

ClockworkMod dev Koushik Dutta has teased us with a few interesting ways to get our own media streaming on Chromecast, but now he's actually releasing one to the public. AirCast runs on your Android device and streams video from the gallery, Dropbox or Google Drive to Google dongle, with playback controls available in the app or from the notification bar. So why is this ready for release now? According to the developer, he's reverse engineered the protocols and is no longer using the SDK. Still, the app is just in testing now and he warns that the button doesn't appear in gallery apps on some devices, including the HTC One. It will stop working on its own after a couple of days while Dutta works the kinks out, look below for links to the download or more information, and check out a video demo after the break.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD, Mobile, Google

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Source: Koushik Dutta (Google+), AirCast APK download

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Watercolor Paintings Can Be Made With Code

Source: http://gizmodo.com/watercolor-paintings-can-be-made-with-code-1162418254

Watercolors are a compelling medium because their aesthetic is the product of multiple variables. The pigment, the surface and, of course, water play into every unique stroke. But design engineer Kenichi Yoneda is using openFrameworks to create digital watercolors. And they look organically beautiful.

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Researchers Snuck Malware Onto the App Store By Making It a Transformer

Source: http://gizmodo.com/researchers-snuck-malware-onto-the-app-store-by-making-1158847317

No one really knows exactly how Apple makes sure the apps that wind up in its store are safe. All we know is that the App Store has a comparatively better track record than its Android counterpart. But nothing is ever totally safe. Researchers managed to sneak malware onto the App Store with ease by giving their app the power to transform.

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Google+ for iOS adds Drive integration, replaces Messenger with Hangouts

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/16/google-plus-ios-update/

A mere couple of days after the latest version of Google+ arrived for Android, iOS users are finally getting a taste of it courtesy of today's version 4.5 release. The latest update brings a number of notable features, one of which is integration with Google Drive, which lets G+ fans view, edit and share images via the cloud service. Like the Android version of the app, Hangouts has replaced the Messenger function for messaging and calls, and you can now start a Hangout with someone directly from the person's profile page. Domain-related features for Apps for Business users are also supported. Those itching to find out what else is new can go ahead and download it from the App Store link below.

Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile, Apple, Google

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Source: Google+ (App Store), Frank Petterson (G+)

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LG Optimus G Pro leaks in white for AT&T

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/17/lg-optimus-pro-leaks-in-white/

Seems that one of the better smartphone values on the market today is about to reintroduce itself to AT&T's customers, as @evleaks has just tipped the LG Optimus G Pro in white. Up until this point, the carrier has sold the phone only in black, but its large 5.5-inch, 1080p display, Snapdragon 600 SoC and 13MP camera seem to grab all the attention. AT&T currently sells the Optimus G Pro for $100 on contract or $440 outright, but there's no definitive arrival date for this pearly creation.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, AT&T, LG

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Source: @evleaks (Twitter)

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Leaked NSA audit shows privacy violations in cellular and fiber optic surveillance

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/16/leaked-nsa-audit-shows-privacy-violations-in-cellular-and-fiber/

The NSA insists that it respects American privacy, but documents leaked by Edward Snowden to the Washington Post suggest that the agency has trouble maintaining that respect. A May 2012 audit, buried in the documents, 2,776 incidents where the NSA's Washington-area facilities inadvertently obtained protected American data through a mix of human errors and technical limits. Among its larger gaffes, the NSA regularly had problems determining when foreign cellphones were roaming in the US, leading to unintentional snooping on domestic calls. The agency also spent months tapping and temporarily storing a mix of international and domestic data from US fiber lines until the Foreign Intelligence Surveilliance Court ruled that the technique was unconstitutional. NSA officials responding to the leak say that their agency corrects and mitigates incidents where possible, and argue that it's difficult for the organization to avoid errors altogether. However, the audit also reveals that the NSA doesn't always report violations to overseers -- the division may be interested in fixing mistakes, but it's not eager to ! mention them.

Filed under: Cellphones, Networking, Internet

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Via: GigaOM

Source: Washington Post

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Google gives the gift of server-side encryption for Cloud Storage

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/16/google-cloud-storage/

There's little doubt Google knows a thing or two when it comes to encrypting its own data, and now the company's kindly sharing some of that cryptographical love. Starting now, data uploaded to the Cloud Storage platform will be encrypted on the server side of things before being uploaded. The company's promised that the added safety won't impact performance, and no additional setup will be needed on your end. Also, once you, the authorized reader, are ready, that data will be auto-transferred and decrypted. The company's also going to start encrypting older data, but that migration is likely to take a few months.

Filed under: Google

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Source: Google Cloud Platform Blog

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ASUS VivoBook X102BA leaks with 10.1-inch screen and Win 8, reportedly launching next month

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/16/asus-vivobook-x102ba-leaked/

Families are all about growing -- an honest case of "the more, the merrier," if you will. Now, according to our friends over at SweClockers, ASUS is getting ready to make its own Vivo family a little larger by introducing the VivoBook X102BA. This leaked Windows 8 PC reportedly packs some pretty run-of-the-mill specs, including a 1.0GHz, dual-core AMD A4-1200 CPU (with Radeon HD 8180 for graphics), 2GB of RAM and a 320GB hard drive. What's also of interest here is that ASUS is said to be bundling it with Microsoft Office Home & Student 2013, which would certainly be a useful tool to interested parties. Per the report, the ASUS VivoBook X102BA will launch sometime in September for around 330 euros, or about 440 bucks if you're this side of the pond.

[Thanks, Jacob]

Filed under: Laptops, Microsoft, ASUS

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Source: SweClockers

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