Bing Maps just added 165TB of new aerial images—more than doubling the 129TB previously available. The update covers 15 million square miles in North America, South America, Africa, Australia, Europe and Asia. Besides satellite imagery, additions include exclusive aircraft photography. You can explore the whole release and get more details from the Bing Maps World Tour App. [Bing Blog via The Verge] More »
What to get the homeowner who has everything? Perhaps a robotic vacuum styled in the fashion of an RC toy will fit the bill. Here at a gdgt event in New York City we happened upon iRobot’s Roomba 790, which comes with a touchscreen remote for manually controlling where the bot goes. The controller — make that the “Wireless Command Center” — has an interface matching the one on the 790 itself, so there’s no second set of menus to master here. In addition to deciding where it moves, you can also schedule daily cleanings or tap a “Clean” button to push the robot into action.Though this isn’t the first time iRobot’s dabbled in remote-controlled vacuum cleaners, previous models tended to rely on infrared sensors, meaning you could only control the Roomba if it was in your line of sight. This guy, though, uses a proprietary technology that allows you to program that 4pm scrubbing from up to 25 meters away.
As for battery life, it runs on four AA cells, and is rated for three to six months of runtime, depending on how compulsively you plan on cleaning. Interestingly, despite the change in wireless standards, the 790 is compatible with older 700-series Roombas, though it’s not as is the controller would be sold separately. If you happen to be the kind of fabulously wealthy family who can afford (and has a need) for multiple Roomba cleaners, you can only pair the remote with one robot at a time anyway. Don’t have the budget for a $700 robotic vacuum kit? We’ve got hands-on photos below and a demo video after the break.
Continue reading iRobot Roomba 790 with Wireless Command Center hands-on (video)
iRobot Roomba 790 with Wireless Command Center hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 18:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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I don’t know much about violins, but this one looks like it belongs in a heavy metal band. It is the Stratton Skull 5-String Electric Violin by Stratton Violin, and it is completely bad-ass.
The price tag for such a violin? Well, it will cost you $3,000.(USD) That’s a lot of money, but on the other hand, if you have a violin like this, you will probably end up having some adventures. Like getting into a violin duel with the devil. In Georgia. Where you have to defeat him and send him back to hell. Sorry. This thing reminded me of that song.
The in-your-face appearance of this five-string Stratton electric violin is more than just bravado; a Barbera Twin Hybrid bridge provides a rich, full tone, focused and strong. The Barbera works great with acoustic styles, but is uniquely well-suited for use with effects, performing exceptionally well in high-volume situations.
Are there any violinists out there who would rock this thing on stage?
[via Likecool]
Louie
Comedian Louis CK’s offbeat comedy show returns to FX this week for its third season, and while it’s not distributed via a PayPal-supported downloadable honor system, we’ll watch anyway. The show’s been among the funniest selections out there for the last few seasons and we expect it to remain there. The only difference is the packed lineup FX has arranged around it, with fellow returnee Wilfred and new series premieres from Charlie Sheen in Anger Management and Brand X with Russell Brand.
(June 28th, FX, 10:30PM)
Weeds
Nancy Botwin is back (?). After the up and down last few seasons, that statement isn’t at interesting as it used to be, but after the cliffhanger finale, we’ll tune in to at least see what’s going on. Drugs are bad, kids, mmmkay?
(July 1st, Showtime, 10PM)
XIII
We don’t point out that ReelzChannel HD is reairing this French / Canadian thriller series from last year because we think it will be good — we have no idea. We’re just pointing it out because we’re in it (well, our source code is). Flattery will get you everywhere.
(June 29th, ReelzChannel HD, 9PM)
Continue reading Must See HDTV (June 25th – July 1st)
Must See HDTV (June 25th – July 1st) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 18:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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It’s June, meaning it’s high time you got your fat ass in shape for beach season. No one likes working out, because, you know, paying a boatload of money to run around like a hamster on a wheel isn’t exactly fun. But Teemo aims to make getting off your butt a lot easier, and you don’t even need any fancy equipment. More »
It appears that Mojang‘s turn-based battle game Scrolls is really, truly about to get off the ground as they’ve launched their first trailer to the web, complete with gameplay. What you’ll see here is a game not unlike a smashing together of Final Fantasy Tactics, Chess, and Pokemon, with a game-board being the center of everything for the next-generation strategy app. You’ll find that this game is on the cuff of starting its first closed alpha, with a beta release coming later this year.
This game has had several comments released by folks such as Jakob Porser, co-founder of Mojang, who notes that the first alpha of the game will have multiplayer matches, single player vs computer, and deck-building features. Your “deck” is a collection of scrolls which will be able to be played like a game of Magic: The Gathering, with characters, spells, and actions dominating the gameplay.
Scrolls will be moving along the same path that the ultra-popular cult-classic game Minecraft did, with a non-final version being released well before a perfected version is unleashed. This early version will be available for purchase and will be upgraded to a final version for free as development takes place. Have a peek at our Scrolls timeline below to find out more!
“Keep in mind, that the beta will not be feature complete. We will still have a big bag of goodies that we plan to include over time, such as an auction house where you may buy or sell scrolls from each other and additional features in the world such as character customization, items, quests and so on. If you’re wondering why we would release a game that’s obviously not finished, the reason is simple: We want your feedback in good time to help us shape Scrolls to be the next big online Collectible Card Game!” – Mojang
Mojang’s Scrolls game gets real with first trailer is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
The convenience of shopping at Amazon just got bumped up a few notches in the Northern Virginia sector of Washington DC. Folks who swear their delivery person never rings the bell before dropping off packages will be pleased to know that Amazon Lockers have popped up at multiple 7-Elevens around the region. As Zatz Not Funny notes, Amazon has yet to officially list the market under the service, but at least four locations are searchable — and the site did find one more that’s currently off the radar. If you’re eager to get a glimpse of the P.O. Box-esque units for yourself or get access on your account, you’ll find more info at the source links below.
Amazon Lockers hit 7-Elevens in Washington DC, let you grab your parcel and a Slurpee originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 17:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Astronaut Don Pettit doesn’t have the name recognition of Ansel Adams, but his work transcends cultures and borders around the globe, literally. Pettit is the photographer behind the amazing timelapses coming from the ISS and here he is with his cameras; all 10 of them. More »
The Xbox 360 pilot program’s breaking out of its Microsoft Store-only confines and heading to more ubiquitous electronics retailers Best Buy and GameStop starting today. If you’ll remember, Redmond intro’d this subsidized plan last month, giving prospective buyers within reach of one of its 16 participating locations the ability to purchase a 4GB version of the console for $99 with a two-year commitment. In exchange for those contract chains, gamers forking over the $15 monthly fee not only get the privilege of owning the console at a discounted, upfront cost, but also Gold level membership to Xbox Live. We’d caution you to think twice and do some hard math before you hand over the plastic, though. Tempting as that low-price barrier to entry is — in total, a $460 value — you might be better off grabbing this console outright at $420 or less.
Microsoft’s Xbox 360 $99 on-contract deal expands to Best Buy, Gamestop originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 17:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Microsoft is adamant: it has no plans to make its own Windows Phones, and anything to the contrary is baseless speculation. The Surface tablet announcement had hardly crossed the wire before rumors of a home-grown smartphone began to proliferate, culminating in a clear denial of any “going it alone” intentions earlier on Monday. Have no doubt, though: Microsoft may be denying own-brand Windows Phones today, but that’s not to say it won’t announce them tomorrow.
Let’s not forget, this is the same Microsoft that roundly denied any phone plans whatsoever… until it revealed KIN. The teen-centric handsets may not have been sales successes, but they nonetheless confirmed the dirty little secret in the tech PR game: that any denial, no matter how earnest sounding at the time, is usually only valid until the end of the day.
Surface is a misdirection, if you’re using it as evidence that Microsoft is planning a more aggressive attack on the hardware market. If the rumors are true then only WiFi Surface models are on the cards to begin with; no tricky carrier negotiations to deal with, no awkward positioning rivalries with cellularly-enabled iPads to confuse store shelves.
“Microsoft will do what it needs to to do make Windows Phone a success”
Microsoft will do what Microsoft believes it needs to do to make Windows Phone a success, even if it means throwing OEM partners under the bus to achieve it. So far it has a strong, easily moulded brand already in the smartphone ecosystem in the shape of Nokia, a company now so dependent on Windows Phone that it, more than even Microsoft itself, is primarily reliant on the platform becoming a sales success for its future. If Windows Phone stalls, Microsoft will find itself without a foothold in the smartphone space; for Nokia, meanwhile, it’s game over.
Whether that makes a Nokia buy-out more likely is the stuff of endless rumination. There are compelling arguments either way – greater control and an existing manufacturing base on the positive; responsibility for what’s clearly a struggling company, and the risk of alienating other OEMs currently onboard on the negative – and, if Surface really is the tell, then we’ll need to see how Microsoft reacts to the Windows market to get an understanding of its longer-term intentions. Opinion is split as to whether Surface is a short-lived motivator to spur OEMs into imaginative action or a longer-term commitment to own-brand hardware.
Nonetheless, while the denials may come thick, fast and obstinate today, be under no illusion: all that could change in an instant if Microsoft’s soothsayers decide the company’s fortunes are better served with an in-house product.
Forget Denials, Microsoft’s Windows Phone is still a contender is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
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