Airbnb launches dedicated portal for business travelers

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/28/airbnb-for-business-travelers/

It's not that business travelers have chosen to shun Airbnb -- in fact they make up a decent chunk of the short-term subletting business. But now the startup is making a concerted effort to lure those customers in with Business Travel on Airbnb. It's dedicated portal with tools specifically designed not just for travelers, but for companies to manage employee travel. The company has even partnered with Concur, which builds travel and expense systems like Triplink, which is used by a vast majority of Fortune 100 companies. Not every listing will be displayed through the new portal. Odd ball listings like tree houses will be filtered out, as will any shared rentals -- such as a room in a larger apartment. Courting business customers is going to be essential for Airbnb to continue to grow. And considering how much money investors have pumped into the it, growth is certainly high on its list of priorities.

Filed under: Internet

Comments

Via: CNET

Source: Airbnb

Read More...

Summary only...

âNVIDIA found a way to quadruple display performance in low-res LCDs

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/28/nvidia-LCDs/

Face it, the tech industry is obsessed with resolution; we want every display to be high definition, regardless of size. We also want our devices to be affordable, leaving device manufactures with an interesting problem: how do they manufacture low-cost products with high-resolution screens? NVIDIA researchers have one solution -- stack two low-resolution panels on top of each other to increase pixel density on the cheap. The solution is so simple it sounds ridiculous, but apparently, it works.

Researchers disassembled two 1,280 x 800 LCD panels and rebuilt them into a single display with slightly offset pixels, a filter to weed out polarization conflicts and a bit of customized software to force the display components to work in tandem. NVIDIA calls the resulting prototype a "cascaded display," and in tests it has quadrupled the spatial resolution of the original panels (thanks, in part, to how the pixel offset crams an additional four pixels behind every one of the first panel's visible pixel).

The images produced by the cascaded display aren't quite as good as the full resolution target image, but it's leaps and bounds ahead of the capabilities of the original 1,280 x 800 panels. It's also a comparatively inexpensive way to build higher resolutions screens for head mounted displays like the Oculus Rift. These hobbled together panels aren't perfect, of course -- the cascaded display is less bright than a typical screen and apparently has poor viewing angles -- but the research could lead to a better way to build affordable, high definition electronics. Check out the video below to see the technology in action.

Filed under: Displays, NVIDIA

Comments

Via: ExtremeTech

Source: NVIDIA

Read More...

Summary only...

Amazon Just Opened A 3D Printed Products Store To Bring You Countless Customization Options

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-opens-3d-printed-products-store-2014-7

Dying to customize some cufflinks?

Amazon just launched a new store for 3D printed products, which has over 200 listings that can be customized by material, color, style, text, or size.

The marketplace includes jewelry, toys, iPhone cases, home-goods, personalized bobble heads, and, yes, cufflinks, among other things. 

Amazon isn't actually printing anything itself, but merely connecting consumers with companies that specialize in 3D printing, like Mixee Labs, Sculpteo, and 3DLT. 

Price-wise, there's quite a range: You can get a small, metal T-Rex head for nearly $200, but a 3D bobble-head designed to look like you will only set you back $30. 

"The online customer shopping experience will be redefined through 3D printing," Clément Moreau, CEO and co-founder of Sculpteo, said in Amazon's press release. "With 3D printing, a customer’s wants are no longer limited to what is in stock but instead by what they can imagine."

Amazon's new store closely follows eBay's efforts at breaking into the 3D printed space. The company launched the eBay Exact app in early July, but it only offered roughly 20 products to customize. 

SEE ALSO: 9 Easy Tips For Finding Exactly What You Want On Google

Join the conversation about this story »

Read More...

Summary only...

Build Your Own Voice Controlled TV Unit with an Android Phone

Source: http://lifehacker.com/build-your-own-voice-controlled-tv-unit-with-an-android-1611103727

Taking a little time to be a couch potato is sometimes just what the doctor ordered. If you want to maximize your laziness, this DIY setup from Jayvis Vineet Gonsalves lets you control your TV with your beautiful voice.

Gonsalves calls his project "Aergia," which is the name of the Greek goddes of laziness and sloth—fitting. With Aergia, you can control your TV, set top box, stereo, or any other device that uses an IR remote. All you need is an Arduino Uno, a Bluetooth module, some IR receivers, and a few other electronic parts. If you have an Android device, it only costs you $20 to build, requires minimal electronics knowledge, and just a little skill with a soldering iron.

Using your Android touch screen device you can power the TV on and off, change the channel, navigate menu settings, turn the volume up or down, and it has 12 additional buttons you can program for whatever you like. The best button of all, though: the speech recognition button. Tap that button and you can control the whole setup with your voice. For a list of parts, thorough instructions, and more information regarding voice commands, check the link below. Happy channel surfing!

Aergia: Android controlled TV Remote (with Speech Recognition) | Instructables

Read More...

Summary only...

Next-generation lithium cells will double your phone's battery life

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/27/lithium-anode-battery/

The lithium ion batteries in your mobile devices are inherently limited by the "ion" part of their name; they can safely use lithium only in the part of the cell that supplies ions, wasting a lot of potential energy. It's good news, then, that researchers at Stanford have developed a new lithium battery that could last for much, much longer. The technique allows for denser, more efficient lithium in the battery's anode (which discharges electrons) by using a nanoscopic carbon shield that keeps the unstable chemical in check -- uncontrolled, it can quickly shorten the device's lifespan.

The result is a power pack that lasts considerably longer on charge, won't decay quickly and remains relatively safe. Stanford's Steven Chu (the former US Secretary of Energy) reckons that a cellphone equipped with these advanced lithium cells could have two to three times the battery life, and automakers could build cheap electric cars that still offer a healthy driving range. There's more engineering work required before you see any shipping products, but it's entirely possible that future portable gadgets will run for more than a day on a charge without resorting to giant battery packs.

Filed under: Cellphones, Laptops, Tablets, Science

Comments

Via: Phys.org

Source: Nature

Read More...

Summary only...

This floating 3D video shows 'Star Wars' holograms are closer than we think

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/28/floating-3d-video-art-exhibition/

Thanks to Princess Leia's famous Star Wars plea, true holograms rank just behind flying cars as tech we want, nay deserve to have in our lifetimes -- and Tupac-style flimflam won't cut it. Now, an exhibition from artists Chris Helson and Sarah Jackets whimsically called "Help Me Obi" projects objects as large as 30cm (12-inches) in space. Visible from any angle in the room, the subjects include a newborn baby and NASA's Voyager 1 space probe. The creators are quick to point out that the machine doesn't create a true hologram, but rather a "360-degree video object." We take that to mean that it's more like a floating 3D movie that looks the same from any angle, rather than a true holographic object you can study from all sides. Since they're seeking a patent, Helson and Jackets are coy about exactly how it works, but say that there's nothing else quite like it (that they know of). If you're in the Edinburgh, Scotland area between July 31st and August 30th, you can judge for yourself at the Alt-W exhibition.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Science, Alt

Comments

Via: CNET

Source: Helson and Jackets

Read More...

Summary only...

UV-Powered Blood Test Could Make Universal Cancer Detection Possible

Source: http://gizmodo.com/uv-powered-blood-test-could-make-universal-cancer-detec-1611341681

Early detection is the best tool to fight cancer, but biopsies can be painful and inconclusive. New research shows a simple blood test can detect cancers by blasting white blood cells with UV and seeing how they respond. Painless, universal cancer detection could be a drop of blood away.

Read more...

Read More...

Summary only...

Amazon Fire Phone Teardown: So Many Cameras in Such a Small Space

Source: http://gizmodo.com/amazon-fire-phone-teardown-so-many-cameras-in-such-a-s-1610773376

The Amazon Fire Phone's tricks are pretty sophisticated, even if they're never really put to good use . And its innards are complicated to match, according to a teardown by iFixit. But damned if they aren't pretty to look at.

Read more...

Read More...

Summary only...

âSpeed-Optimized Browser Pale Moon is Now on Android

Source: http://lifehacker.com/speed-optimized-browser-pale-moon-is-now-on-android-1610070974

Android: Pale Moon is a speed-optimized version of Firefox that we love on the desktop. Now it you can get it—and all of its performance improvements—on your Android phone or tablet.

Pale Moon is optimized for speed and efficiency. Like the desktop version, it supports add-ons from the Mozilla Add-Ons catalog. This Android port comes from XDA developer cyansmoker, and it can be personalized with add-ons from the Firefox add-ons catalog. The browser is free to download and use, but it's not available in Google Play, so you'll need to enable third party app support and sideload it.

The download link below is for a copy of the file hosted on Mega. If it proves problematic, take a look at the thread on XDA Developers for mirrors. It's also worth keeping an eye on the thread if you run into problem with the app itself. It is currently in alpha and not guaranteed to work with every device.

Pale Moon (Free) | XDA Developers Forum via XDA Developers Blog

Read More...

Summary only...

A High Intensity Video Light Lets Your GoPro See In the Dark

Source: http://reframe.gizmodo.com/a-high-intensity-video-light-lets-your-gopro-see-in-the-1610333385/+ericlimer

Just because the sun has set doesn't mean your action-packed antics are over for the day. So an Aussie company called Knog has created the Qudos, a high-intensity camera light that sits next to your GoPro, and other popular action cams, pumping out up to 400 lumens of brightness so you don't miss a single wipeout, even in the dark.

Read more...

Read More...

Summary only...

âGoogle is reportedly buying Twitch for $1 billion

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/24/google-is-reportedly-buying-twitch-for-1-billion/

What's the internet's most popular game-streaming service worth? About $1 billion, if VentureBeat sources have their story straight. Earlier this year, Variety and the Wall Street Journal reported that Google was in talks to acquire Twitch, but conceded that the two companies were only just starting negotiations. Now, sources familiar with the deal say an agreement has been reached, though its unclear when the reported acquisition will be officially announced. Naturally, there are some concerns that a Google acquisition of Twitch would stifle competition for rival services, but the tried and true platform could certainly bolster Mountain View's own streaming efforts. If nothing else, perhaps the deal will validate emerging market shared gameplay in the eyes of its doubters.

Filed under: Gaming, Internet, HD, Google

Comments

Source: VentureBeat

Read More...

Summary only...

LG sells a record 14.5 million smartphones as profits nearly triple

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/24/LG-q2-2014-earningsi/

LG has just reported a record quarter for mobile phone sales, showing that it's taking advantage of a slump from arch-rival Samsung. LG sold 14.5 million handsets over the last quarter, its highest total ever and 20 percent more than last year -- with more than a third of those LTE models. It chalked up most of the success to its well-reviewed top-of-the-line G3 handset, along with strong sales of its mid-range L products. LG's mobile division scooped up KRW 3.6 trillion ($3.5 billion) and put an end to three straight quarters of losses. Home entertainment also performed well, climbing 3 percent on the strength of higher-margin UltraHD 4K sets. All that resulted in an operating profit of KRW 412 billion ($599 million) -- not nearly Samsung-level numbers, but at least LG's are going up, not down.

Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, Mobile, LG

Comments

Source: LG

Read More...

Summary only...

Future phones could house a terabyte of storage

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/24/future-phone-terabyte-storage/

You may think that the 3GB of memory in your new smartphone is hot stuff, but that pales in comparison with what Rice University has in store. Its scientists have detailed a form of resistive RAM (RRAM) that can be made using regular equipment at room temperatures, making it practical for everyday gadgets. The trick is the use of porous silicon oxide where metals (such as gold or platinum) fill the gaps. Using the silicon material doesn't just give manufacturers something familiar to work with; it requires much less power than previous techniques, can last through 100 times as many uses and isn't fazed by heat. It's also far denser than earlier RRAM, storing nine bits per cell where even conventional flash storage stops at three. The result should be an easy-to-make RAM chip with the kind of capacity that you'd normally expect from much larger permanent storage, like an SSD -- as the company Crossbar hinted when it first discussed this approach, you could stuff 1TB into a component the size of a postage stamp.

That's just about ideal for mobile devices, and could mean that future phones and tablets won't have to worry about low memory errors for a long, long time. Crossbar's technology is due in later this year in chips destined for embedded uses like appliances and cars, so the breakthrough won't be noticeable at first. Research lead James Tour tells MIT that he expects a deal with an unnamed manufacturer in the next couple of weeks, though, so it's entirely possible that this super-capacious memory will become commonplace.

Filed under: Storage, Science, Mobile

Comments

Via: MIT Technology Review

Source: Rice University

Read More...

Summary only...

Pilot one of the robots from 'Pacific Rim' with Oculus Rift at Comic-Con

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/24/pacific-rim-jaeger-pilot-oculus-vr/

We're not sure how many of the new Oculus Rift VR kits have shipped out to developers already, but it looks like a healthy amount are in San Diego right now. That's where Comic-Con is happening this week and, following the X-Men VR demo we already heard about, Legendary Pictures and Oculus have teamed up for Pacific Rim: Jaeger Pilot. It lets attendees take control of the 250-foot tall Jaeger "Gipsy Danger" (no drift connection necessary) and do battle in a virtual reality combat simulator against the kaiju Knifehead (the first one you see in the movie). The whole experience is built in Unreal Engine 4 using the same assets Industrial Light & Magic worked with for the movie. Sure, you've seen the movie, and maybe even in IMAX 3D, but we're pretty sure even Guillermo del Toro's directing tricks can't add up to feeling like you're there, fighting an 8,700 ton monster off the coast of Alaska. It's all in Legendary's booth #3920 for all four days the show is open, from Thursday through Sunday. Don't have a ticket? There's a video preview embedded after the break, but it can't compare to diving into a VR world with Oculus -- maybe we'll be able to enjoy it at home by April 2017 when Pacific Rim 2 arrives.

Join the fight! 'Drift with the Rift' exclusively at the @Legendary booth (#3920) & prepare to pilot a 250ft Jaeger. http://t.co/C6CeXE7ldp

- Legendary (@Legendary) July 24, 2014

Filed under: Displays, Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD

Comments

Source: Legendary Pictures (YouTube), Legendary.com

Read More...

Summary only...

Google banks on its own tech to protect Chrome users from another Heartbleed

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/24/google-boring-ssl-chrome/

Last month Google said that it was tired of mashed-together bug fixes for OpenSSL and decided to create its own fork called BoringSSL. It has now implemented that variant in the latest Chromium build, the open-source software that eventually arrives in Chrome. OpenSSL is software used for secure connections -- created largely by volunteers -- and an overlooked code problem recently caused the infamous Heartbleed bug. When BoringSSL was first announced, there was some grumbling from the security community about yet another flavor of SSL. But Google said that with over 70 patches now in OpenSSL, it was becoming much too unwieldy to implement in Chrome. It added that it wasn't trying to replace OpenSSL and would continue to send any of its own bug fixes to that group. It'll likely be implemented in the next version of Chrome, but you'll be able try the beta soon here, if you're feeling lucky.

[Image credit: AP/Mark Lennihan]

Filed under: Internet, Software, Google

Comments

Source: Google

Read More...

Summary only...