Apr 15
From the What-Took-So-Long Department comes Fahrenheit, a terrific 99-cent weather app that displays the current temperature on its icon badge. Genius!
Originally posted at iPhone Atlas
Apr 15
Kinect-driven ‘Jellybean’ armchair hands-on (video)
Posted in: hack, hands-on, interface, kinect, mod, robot, Today's Chili, video
Yes, this is what happens when you combine Kinect with a recliner on a motorized platform — perfectly normal people doing awesome zombie impersonations! This week at Microsoft’s MIX 11 web developer conference, the enterprising Clint Rutkas of Coding4Fun / Channel 9 fame showed off his Kinect-driven “Jellybean” armchair on stage during the keynote, and later let our very own Sean Hollister take it for a spin. Sadly, we missed our chance to capture this special occasion on video for posterity when the laptop used to control this armchair overlord ran out of juice in the final stages of our practice run. The motorized platform uses eight batteries, four omnidirectional wheels each with its own motor, and a pair of motor controllers connected to a laptop which interprets the input from Kinect (using the new SDK for Windows) and provides visual feedback to the driver. A gesture interface brings the entire contraption to life and even includes a hand signal to recline the armchair. Take a look at some closeup shots in our gallery below and watch our video of the recliner in action after the break.
Gallery: Kinect-driven armchair hands-on
Continue reading Kinect-driven ‘Jellybean’ armchair hands-on (video)
Kinect-driven ‘Jellybean’ armchair hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 11:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Apr 15
The company, best known for tires, is targeting businesses with large, color e-paper displays on tablets up to 21 inches.
Apr 15
Apple patent application reveals more projector possiblities, including a projector-equipped laptop
Posted in: Apple, laptop, laser, patent, patent application, PatentApplication, pico projector, PicoProjector, projector, Today's Chili
We’ve already seen a few patent applications that suggest Apple is at least mulling over the idea of using projectors for one purpose or another, and another newly published one has now offered a bit more fodder for speculation. Described as a “display system having coherent and incoherent light sources,” the patent application suggests that the projector would be laser-based, and be both cheaper and more power efficient than conventional light projectors, while also overcoming the so-called “speckle” problem sometimes seen with laser projectors. What’s perhaps most interesting, however, is that the patent application also suggests the projector could be integrated into other devices — in fact, one of the claims specifically mentions a laptop with an integrated projector, as artfully illustrated above.
Apple patent application reveals more projector possiblities, including a projector-equipped laptop originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 11:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Apr 15
Nasa is getting ready to throw a Mini Cooper-sized mobile science lab up into space. Curiosity, as the rover is affectionately called, is headed toward Mars with a payload of lasers and mass spectrometers and multi-million dollar robotic drills—basically all the stuff needed to prove fourth planet conditions are capable of supporting microbial life… conditions depending, of course. But in order for Curiosity to even get the chance at an alien discovery, it can’t show up dressed as a multi-million dollar fireball. More »
Apr 15
Canada to introduce recyclable, polymer-based ‘plastic cash,’ dragons and PC users rejoice
Posted in: awesome, canada, green, money, science, Today's Chili
See that guy right there? His world is ending. Dragons are swallowing his neighbors, snatching his peoples up. Rather than make an effort to hide his kids, hide his wife or hide his husband (too), he’s celebrating uncontrollably. Why? Because his homeland is preparing to make the shift to plastic cash. You heard right — Canada is scheduled to introduce a polymer-based $100 bill in November, and in March of 2012, a recyclable $50 bill will follow. From there, smaller notes will be phased in over the next dozen months or so, providing citizens with legal tender that holds up better to Yellowknife’s winters. Sure, Australia has been doing something similar for over a decade, but have you ever seen a DinoPark Tycoon rise up and use only non-digestible money? Exactly.
Canada to introduce recyclable, polymer-based ‘plastic cash,’ dragons and PC users rejoice originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 10:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Apr 15
T3 Motion’s three-wheeled R3 is real, has in-dash Galaxy Tab (video)
Posted in: car, electric vehicle, ElectricVehicle, ev, galaxy, GalaxyTab, ipad, samsung, tablet, Today's Chili, Transportation, video
Since 2009, T3 Motion has been waving computer-created images of three-wheeled electric vehicles in our face and taunting us with the idea of a dashboard built around an iPad. Now, it seems the company is finally ready to deliver a real product, and you can pre-order yours now for a $500 deposit. Besides existing in the really real world, the big difference between the R3 and previous concepts is that the in-dash iPad has been replaced with a Galaxy Tab. When it finally hits the market, T3 Motion claims this three-wheeled EV will have a range of between 80 and 100 miles, a top speed of 70MPH, and that it will be classified as a motorcycle. Unfortunately, it will also have a rather hefty price tag of at least $25,000 — an awful lot to pay for the luxury of riding in the carpool lane, even if your ride looks like a cross between a Nissan GT-R, a Mini, and Batman’s tank-like Tumbler. PR and video after the break.
Continue reading T3 Motion’s three-wheeled R3 is real, has in-dash Galaxy Tab (video)
T3 Motion’s three-wheeled R3 is real, has in-dash Galaxy Tab (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 10:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Apr 15
Korg’s Wavedrum Mini has sensors that can clip onto an endless number of objects and turn them into an electronic drum ready for tapping.
Apr 15
Yesterday, while cruising through my normal tour through the darkest, most bizarre corners of the internet, I came across a jarring (albeit established) little tech phenomenon. People love dancing in Apple Stores. Like, dancing like maniacs. Why? Why not? Brilliant. More »
Apr 15
Watch Windows 8’s new Metro login while this creepy guy watches you (video)
Posted in: Microsoft, operating system, OperatingSystem, os, Today's Chili, video, Windows, windows 7, windows 8, windows phone, windows phone 7, Windows7, Windows8, WindowsPhone, WindowsPhone7, Wp7
Remember that leaked build of Windows 8 that hit the torrents just a few days back? Already old hat. That was build 7850. Today we’ve got a peek at what claims to be a newer build, 7955, of the upcoming OS and it’s starting to show a few of those Metro flourishes we’ve all been anticipating. In the video after the break you’ll catch a glimpse of a new Windows Phone 7-inspired login screen and the (somewhat perplexing) ability to set a video as your user tile. It’s not a drastic overhaul — it still looks a whole lot like Windows 7, as you’d expect at this stage of the game — but it’s nice to think Microsoft is moving quickly to bring its stunning Metro UI to the desktop.
[Thanks, Vygantas]
Continue reading Watch Windows 8’s new Metro login while this creepy guy watches you (video)
Watch Windows 8’s new Metro login while this creepy guy watches you (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 09:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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