Hasta La Gadget!

LG was all about the tease yesterday, with its mysterious, alphabetic MWC warm-up video. Today, the covers have potentially been unceremoniously whipped off from at least two of the forthcoming offerings. The ever fruitful evleaks comes up with the goods again, and claims that what you see are the Optimus F7 (left) and Optimus F5 (right). There’s little to go on specification-wise, other than these are undoubtedly Android devices, with a design language not quite in keeping with the recently spotted Optimus G Pro behemoth. So, while you try to join the dots on what might be underneath those displays, we’ll keep an eye out for any remaining L-series and V-for Vu “surprises.”

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

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Source: @evleaks (Twitter)

CyanogenMod 10.1-toting photography fans are in for a treat: the latest version of the modified Android OS now packs an HDR mode, which was in development for three months, within its stock camera app. When a user snaps a photo with the function, a total of three pictures (one at minimal, neutral and maximum exposures) are taken and combined into a single HDR image with the help of an algorithm. Differences in shutter speed, sensors and optics means quality will vary across smartphones, but the CyanogenMod team says that mid- to high-end devices outfitted with decent imaging hardware — especially those with zero shutter lag — should perform admirably. Of course, the group also recommends using a stand or tripod to thwart movement and vibration from fouling up photos. Android Central points out that a few handset builds haven’t received the update, so a handful of CyanogenMod-wielding photogs will still have to get their HDR fix elsewhere.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

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Via: Android Central

Source: CyanogenMod (Google+)

Google has spilled a fresh batch of Google Glass details, with a new video detailing what the wearable can do – including video, Google searches, photos, voice translation, and more – as well as showing the latest hardware. The new footage is apparently a far more realistic demonstration of Glass’ potential than Google’s original concept video, putting a preview pane of the Glass eyepiece in the upper right corner of the screen, and showing how the headset can react to spoken commands previewed with the order “OK, Glass.”

So, to take a photo you can merely wake the headset with the “OK, Glass” command, and then say “take a picture” complete with a preview in the corner of your vision. The same is true for video – “Start Recording” – and you can trigger Google+ Hangouts too, giving friends a live streaming view through the headset’s front-facing video camera.

There’s also support for directions, with overlays of which roads are coming up, what path to take, and ETA, together with the ability to Google for information such as “how long is the Brooklyn Bridge.” Glass even supports voice-dictated messages, and translations, so you can ask “how do you say bread in French?” and have the headset whisper the answer to you.

Google Now-style features, such as flight information cards, are also included, popping into your vision when relevant rather than forcing you to manually ask for them.

Meanwhile, there are new images of the Glass headsets, including five different colors – charcoal, tangerine, shale, cotton, and sky – and seemingly confirming that the wearable will be water-resistant. Considering it’s designed to be worn all the time, that’s probably a good idea. A version with sunglasses lenses attached is also shown, and we know Google is thinking about prescription lens support too. Finally, the headband itself is seemingly made from flexible metal, for better resilience.

Google is yet to delivery the first batch of Glass Explorer Edition headsets to Google I/O 2012 preorder customers, though that hasn’t stopped it opening up for a second round of orders. Developers who can give a sufficiently interesting use-case will be invited to preorder one of 8,000 more Glass units.

New Google Glass video demos true potential of water-resistant wearable is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Automotive manufacturers aren’t the only companies in the transportation industry electrifying their vehicles for more efficiency and to reduce pollution. There are number of electric motorcycle manufacturers out there making various types of motorcycles that run on battery power. One of those electric motorcycle manufacturers is called Zero Motorcycles.

The company’s entire 2013 Zero line feature Bluetooth capability. That Bluetooth capability combined with a new smartphone application allows owners of these motorcycles to interact with their bike for the first time using a smartphone. The smartphone application is available for both iOS devices such as the iPhone and Android devices.

The app gives users the ability to control the performance characteristics of the motorcycle. The main feature of the app is the ability to give riders a customizable dashboard for statistical data about their bike. The app can show statistics such as the percentage of charge in the bike batteries, torque, drivetrain component temperatures, battery amps, and more.

The app also allows users to access statistics showing them how much money they’ve saved in gasoline and how much CO2 they have prevented from being released to the atmosphere. The app also allows users to send diagnostic reports to the technician for easy review if they are having a problem or concern. The app is available at no cost to owners of Zero Motorcycles.

[via Zero Motorcycles]

Zero Motorcycles offers the first smartphone app for controlling a motorcycle is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Google has re-opened preorders for its Glass wearable computer, though it’s not just a case of opening up your wallet to the tune of $1,500: you’ll need to have some good ideas as to what exactly to do with the wearable to qualify. First put up for sale at Google I/O 2012 as the limited edition Glass Explorer Edition, still yet to ship though promised sometime in early 2013, the new round of orders extends the net to developers across the US.

They’ll have to convince Google that they’re worthy customers, however, using either Google+ or Twitter to do that. In the space of a fifty word or less outline, accompanied with up to five photos and up to a fifteen second video, they’ll need to explain what they’d do if they had a Glass headset.

Applications are being accepted up until February 27, which basically means a week to come up with a killer idea. Of course, since the applications are all being made publicly, the longer you wait, the more likely it is that someone else might figure out your idea and detail it first.

Only three applications are allowed per person, and they can’t be modified after being submitted. Google will be judging them via an independent jury, based on creativity, compelling use, originality, and “social and spectrum”; there’ll be 8,000 headsets to be had in this new round of orders. Collection will be made in person, at one of three special “pick-up experience” events held in New York, Los Angeles, or in the San Francisco Bay area.

If you’re not a developer, but would still like to keep abreast of some of the ideas people are coming up with, you can follow along on both Twitter and Google+ using the #ifihadglass hashtag. More details in the FAQ.

[via The Verge]

8,000 more Google Glass wearables on offer for creatives is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.