Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Google confirms Android Wear will support custom watch faces

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/17/google-android-wear-custom-watch-faces/

Since its beginnings, the Android platform has been known for being heavily customizable. As such, it's not exactly a surprise to hear Google say its new smartwatch ecosystem, Android Wear, is due to support watch faces from third-party developers. However, having actual confirmation makes for perfect peace of mind. In a Google+ post, Android's VP of Design Matias Duarte affirmed this would be the case, stating that the Wear team is already working on a custom watch face API. "Customization has helped Android thrive, and the same will be true for Android Wear," he wrote. The incoming API will make it "as simple as possible" for devs to make all-around great watch faces, ones which can look good, not drain a battery and blend well with the watches card-based UI. Duarte said "some" of these things won't be available until later this year, but that they are, without a doubt, on their way. So, don't worry, soon enough you'll have better choices to deck out that fancy, smart tick-tock wearabl! e of yours.

Filed under: Misc, Peripherals, Wearables, Google

Via: Android Police

Source: Matias Duarte (Google+)

Text your friends even when you don't have service

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/17/text-your-friends-even-when-you-dont-have-service/

Ever needed to send a message to a friend from the boonies? A company called goTenna has just launched a device that connects to your phone via Bluetooth and turns it into a low-frequency radio with a range of several miles (up to 50 miles). Using an iOS or Android app, that'll let you text or share GPS locations (no voice calls) over an unlimited, free ad hoc network with other goTenna users. The team behind it says that everything is encoded, and the app will automatically retry until your message goes through -- in case you're hiking in difficult terrain, for instance. The company's planning on selling a limited number for $150 per pair on its site to raise $50,000 in funding -- after that, it'll run $300.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

Source: goTenna

NVIDIA's Shield tablet leaks with Tegra Note styling

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/17/nvidias-shield-tablet-leaks-with-tegra-note-styling/

We've been hearing rumblings about NVIDIA's slate-style Shield successor, and now we have a face to go with the info. Thanks to noted leaker @evleaks, we're given a glimpse of the gaming tablet's front side. From the looks of it, speakers line the top and bottom (or left and right in landscape) of the display with what appears to be a front-facing camera as well. All told, the gunmetal gray color scheme drapes a design that resembles last year's Tegra Note. As far as internals go, previous rumblings point to 7.9-inch screen with 2GB of RAM and a quad-core Tegra K1 CPU, complete with Unreal Engine 4 abilities. What remains to be see is if that controller we got a peek at a while back is an accessory to wrangle traditional controls or if the new NVIDIA slate will also double as a home console for PC title streaming. We shouldn't' have to wait long for a proper introduction though, as the company has already hinted that the official reveal will happen before the end of 2014.

Filed under: Gaming, Tablets, NVIDIA

Source: @evleaks

A Robot Swarm descends on NYC's Museum of Math

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/17/a-robot-swarm-descends-on-nycs-museum-of-math/

Roboticist-in-residence James McLurkin offered an advanced preview of his Robot Swarm at NYC's Museum of Mathematics this week. The presentation detailed the background and programming concepts of these sensor- and speaker-laden bots -- which have a habit of spitting out 8-bit-style tunes while they work. The digital creatures exhibit group behaviors much like ants and bees, working together to map out their surroundings and communicating with each other -- and there's a definite hierarchy to their organization. The Robot Swarm exhibit will be open to the public when it's completed later this year and will be displayed beneath a transparent floor so you can watch the action happen from your own god-like perspective. Head on down to the gallery for a closer look at how the Robot Swarm will organize itself when robopocalypse finally arrives.

Filed under: Science

Amazon testing Netflix-style subscription service for e-books

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/16/amazon-kindle-unlimited/

Ever heard of Kindle Unlimited? Us either, at least not until now. Originally spotted by kboards, a forum site that welcomes Kindle chatter, this previously unknown service appears to be an upcoming all-you-can-read subscription service from Amazon. For $9.99 monthly, as described by the image above, Kindle Unlimited is said to offer access to more than 600,000 books and "thousands" of audiobooks. Not surprisingly, that healthy digital library doesn't appear to include any of the major US publishers (Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin Random House and Simon & Shuster) -- something e-book subscription service Scribd is very familiar with, since it only carries titles from one of the "Big 5." Amazon has yet to announce Kindle Unlimited, but after seeing these ads slip through the cracks, we can safely say it's only a matter of time before it becomes official.

Filed under: Internet, Amazon

Source: Kindle Boards, Gigaom

Google's Wallet apps now handle your gift cards

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/16/google-wallet-gift-card-support/

Google Wallet app handling gift cards

Gift cards are supposed to be pleasant surprises, but they can frequently be headaches; assuming you remember to bring them in the first place, you have to keep tabs on any leftover credit. They should be easier to manage after today, though. Google has just rolled gift card support into the Wallet apps for both Android and iOS. All you have to do is either snap a photo of a card or type in its info. After that, you can safely leave the plastic at home. Some merchants, such as AMC, Best Buy and Whole Foods, will also show the remaining balance on their cards.

If you aren't fortunate enough to have any gift credits on hand, don't fret -- there are a few upgrades for people who still have to pay with their own money. You can now ask for payments from friends through either the app or Gmail, and you can send your own payments using a debit card. Spanish-language users will also be glad to know that the app now works in their native tongue. The new features are US-only at the moment, but we wouldn't rule out expanded availability in the long run.

Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile, Google

Source: Google Commerce, App Store, Google Play

Here's what it looks like to ride in the Tour de France

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/16/tour-de-france-on-bike-video/

The world of sports is actively finding ways to adopt new camera technologies. Namely, to help determine if a ball has crossed the goal line or, why not, to broadcast a player's point of view from a pair of glasses. In the case of the Tour de France, cycling's most celebrated competition, its governing body finally took the plunge and began allowing riders to mount a camera on their bikes. Thanks to that, Le Tour's 2014 edition, which is now at about its halfway point, has been giving us a great, inside look at the experience. Surprisingly, as Gizmodo points out, GoPro seems isn't the main choice for Tour de France teams, which is a bit strange given the popularity of the Hero line of cameras. Instead, most bicycles at the event are equipped with a CM-1000 from Shimano, a large manufacturer of cycling gear. Regardless, this is still a perfect chance to see what it's like inside the Tour de France pack, nev! er mind who's providing the cameras.

[Image credit: AFP/Getty Images]

Filed under: Cameras, Misc, Wearables

Via: Gizmodo

Source: Shimano

Samsung's Level 'premium' portable audio line makes its US debut

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/16/samsungs-level-premium-portable-audio-line-makes-its-us-debut/

We were privy to Samsung's premium portable audio plans a few days before the rumblings of an Apple/Beats affair surfaced. The Level series of portable audio gadgets goes on sale tomorrow (July 17th) with appropriately-named options for over-ear, on-ear, in-ear and Bluetooth speaker listening -- covering the same bases as Dr. Dre's outfit. Level Over, the set of over-ear cans, is the priciest of the lot, asking $350 for its active noise cancellation, on-board controls, wireless connectivity and stitched leather-esque accents. There's also a Level App that's designed to tune the set to the environment or content you're consuming. As evidenced by their monikers, the Level On and Level In are the on-ear and in-ear entries, priced at $180 and $150 respectively. For those who prefer a wireless speaker, the $170 Level Box packs one-touch NFC or regular ol' Bluetooth pairing for its 15 hours of service. Unfortunately, we're waiting to judge the group with our own ears, but you can rest assured we'll offer up detailed observations when we do. The entire line goes on sale at Gilt.com tomorrow, with Amazon, Samsung.com and Best Buy's Samsung Experience Shops stocking them all before the end of next week.

Filed under: Portable Audio/Video, Samsung

Source: Samsung

New fighter pilot helmet delivers night vision without goggles

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/16/bae-striker-ii-helmet/

BAE Systems' Striker II helmet

Fighter pilots have access to helmets with amazing abilities. However, they still have to strap on heavy night vision goggles to fly in the dark -- an all too literal pain in the neck. Much to aircrews' relief, BAE Systems wants to make that clunky headgear a distant memory. Its brand new Striker II helmet includes a night vision camera that projects its footage on to the visor's high-resolution display, giving the pilot a good look at the outside world without the need for extra equipment. The tech should be far more comfortable during lengthy missions, especially in sharp turns where G-forces make any added weight feel that much worse.

That's not the only party trick, either. An array of lights on the back of the Striker II help guide a head-tracking system that keeps projected information in close sync with head movements; a pilot caught in a dogfight won't have to wait crucial moments for flight info to drift into view. The gotcha for any aspiring aces? BAE hasn't said just when it expects the Striker II to go into service, or who might be a customer. The original Striker is currently in use by air forces flying Eurofighter Typhoons and Saab Gripens, though, so it makes sense that they'd be some of the first to line up.

Filed under: Transportation, Wearables

Via: The Telegraph, BBC

Source: BAE Systems

Scuba divers get their own underwater comms network

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/17/aqwary-smart-console-dive-communications/

Most teenagers would probably tell you that they'd die if you took away nonverbal communication, but one subset of our population actually could: scuba divers. They can't exactly send texts via smartphone to one another because saltwater, and water in general, makes it hard to transmit information between dive buddies using traditional methods like electromagnetic waves and even sound waves. And as The Verge points out, hand signals only work if the other person is paying attention to you. One company, however, thinks it has the solution for scuba-lives less frightening, and no, it isn't a subaquatic version of Snapchat. Aqwary's Smart Console system uses ultrasonic hydrophones to create a local network between divers (and those in the boat on the surface), where vital data like location info, air supply status and even temperature of up to 70 divers within some 328 feet is shared automatically and viewable via a colorful OLED screen. Should the oxygen tanks run low for any of said divers, the Smart Console will send an alert to everyone in the area.

Further on the safety side, if a Scuba Steve gets trapped underwater he can send an alarm out manually so a rescue can happen in short order. However, if coral reefs or shipwrecks become passé and you'd rather catch up with Piper Chapman or beam out a tweet while under the sea, that'll have to wait for now. The company says there isn't enough bandwidth for the former, but the latter could show up next year -- FOMO, much?

Via: The Verge

Source: Aqwary

LG's G3 Beat has laser autofocus and a smaller screen, but it's still pretty big

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/17/lg-g3-beat/

Now that LG's marched out its latest flagship smartphone, its time to repeat the process for smaller hands. That's where the G3 Beat comes in, folding in laser-guided camera autofocus, that self-learning keyboard, LTE and a removable 2,540mAh battery. What it doesn't get, however, is that ridiculously sharp quad-HD display found on the G3. Given that LG's positioned as a mid-range phone, it's not going to apologize for that -- it was most likely the priciest part of LG's bigger flagship smartphone. We would like the company, however, to explain exactly why it's called the G3 Beat, because we have no idea. That's what the phone will be called at launch tomorrow in Korea, but when it launches globally later this year, it'll be called the G3 s. Tame? Sure, but that second name makes a lot more sense.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, LG

Source: LG

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

This is the weirdest engine I have ever seen

Source: http://sploid.gizmodo.com/this-is-the-weirdest-engine-i-havee-ever-seen-1605020251/+jesusdiaz

This is the weirdest engine I have ever seen

According to Duke Engineering, their axial engine is the most efficient and lightest engine you can put in boats, light aircrafts, and generators—the mechanical engine of the (near) future! Maybe. I don't know if their claims are true and I don't really care. I just love watching it in action in this eternal gif.

Google prepares modular phone dev kits (but your idea had better be good)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/14/google-takes-project-ara-module-kit-requests/

Project Ara prototype up close

If you're a developer eager to start tinkering with Google's Project Ara modular phone technology as quickly as possible, it's time to get in line. The company has started taking requests for test boards; if you fill out the form before July 18th and meet Google's expectations, you could have (very) early hardware in your hands before the end of the month. Latecomers can get in on a second wave if they sign up no later than August 18th. Just don't assume that you can pick up a kit purely out of curiosity. Google is prioritizing the board requests based on your know-how and the "strength" of your proposed module concept -- it wants signs that there's a real device in the works. You'll have to sit tight if you're simply a fan of the build-your-own-phone concept, then, but it's apparent that Project Ara is quickly becoming a tangible reality.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google

Via: Pocketnow

Source: Eduardo Ruiz (Google+), Project Ara

Monday, July 14, 2014

drag2share: Verizonâs FIOS Netflix speed tanks as finger-pointing by both companies continues

source: http://gigaom.com/2014/07/14/verizons-fios-netflix-speed-tanks-as-finger-pointing-by-both-companies-continues/

Verizon FIOS subscribers continue to see buffering Netflix streams, and the situation is apparently getting worse: Netflix's latest ISP speed index saw the average speed of Netflix streams watched by FIOS subscribers decline to 1.58 MBPS in June, down from 1.9 MBPS in May, and well below average speeds seen on other ISPs. The average speed of Netflix streams requested by Cablevision customers was 3.1MBPS in June, and Comcast customers got their Netflix fare with an average of 2.61 MBPS.

Verizon actually used to fare a lot better in Netflix's ISP speed index. Last fall, Netflix streams to FIOS customers were still averaging up to 2.22 MBPS, but speeds have been in freefall since January.

Both companies continue to blame each other for the reason behind the slow-down, with Verizon public policy VP David Young once again arguing last week that Netflix was deliberately choosing a transit route without enough capacity to serve FIOS customers.

Netflix executives have been countering this by saying that Verizon has chosen to limit interconnection capacity in order to get Netflix to pay for peering. Both parties reached a commercial agreement, which includes such payments, in April — but the results of that agreement have yet to be felt by Verizon customers.

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Home Depot begins selling MakerBot 3D printers

Source: http://gigaom.com/2014/07/14/home-depot-begins-selling-makerbot-3d-printers/

Now for sale at Amazon, Radioshack and Staples, 3D printers are getting less and less difficult to find. Home Depot became the latest retailer to offer 3D printers today when it began selling MakerBots online and in 12 stores nationwide. The store is selling three printer models, plus MakerBot’s 3D scanner and filament. The 12 stores are located in California, Illinois and New York. “Imagine a world where you can 3D print replacement parts and use 3D printing as an integral part of design and building work,” MakerBot CEO Bre Pettis said in a release.

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