Apple has been incredibly successful with its retail stores that are located all around the world. Apple currently has a number of stores, including locations in Japan. A source who claims to be familiar with the plans at Apple claims that the technology giant plans to open a new retail store in the upscale Tokyo […]
Nintendo’s announcement of the Nintendo 2DS is one of the most surprising developments in the gaming world this year. As an entry-level variant of the Nintendo 3DS, the 2DS can play all 3DS games and thousands more DS games. But unlike the 3DS and the 3DS XL, the 2DS can’t be folded. It’s upper screen also can’t display stereoscopic 3D, hence the lose-lose situation regarding its name. It’s an honest name, but for some people it will be like being told that a Honda Bivic exists. And it’s a Civic.
According to Kotaku, the 2DS’ screens are the same size as the ones on the 3DS. The lower screen is still a touchscreen and the 2DS will also come with a stylus. But as you can see its Circle Pad and face buttons are on the upper half of the device. I think the buttons were shifted up so that the shoulder buttons – which are at the top of the device – will still be within your index finger’s reach while your thumbs are on the Circle Pad and face buttons.
Aside from the “slate” form and the lack of a stereoscopic 3D display, the 2DS has a few other deficiencies compared to its big brothers. For one, it only has a mono speaker, but you can still get stereo audio via its headphone jack. It also has no physical Wi-Fi switch; you’ll have to toggle that from within the menu. So it’s a lesser device, but that means it also has a lower price. It will only cost $130 (USD), $40 cheaper than the 3DS and $70 cheaper than the 3DS XL.
*Update: Kotaku also shared Nintendo Europe’s nifty comparison chart (pdf) between all three 3DS models.* The Nintendo 2DS will be available on 10/12/2013, which is also the day Pokémon X and Y are released. That timing should help push units right from the get go; it will be enough for many people to see that the 2DS can play the latest Pokémon game. But only time will tell if Nintendo’s questionable naming scheme and hilarious yet also depressing decision to ditch their system’s main feature will pay off.
Will customers think that there are 2DS games? Or that the 2DS can’t play 3DS games? Will developers still care about the quality and functionality of stereoscopic 3D in their 3DS games? Will Nintendo finally realize that they have to come up with a practical naming scheme for their devices? Seriously, why didn’t they just name it the 3DS Jr.?
Ideally, your smart device of the future anticipates your needs and adjusts itself to suit them without requiring input on your behalf. Two newly published patent applications (spotted by AppleInsider) from Apple describe systems that could help do just that for future iPhones and iPads, via selective screen brightness control and auto camera switching during FaceTime video calls.
The first patent application describes a way for a user to selectively adjust brightness and contrast of different user interface elements independently of one another. Essentially, this could work in practice by doing things like selective lightboxing as you might see on a photo-focused website, foregrounding elements that contain active content and providing enhanced visibility as well as offering some battery savings.
This is something that some apps already offer, giving users control over what elements are darkened or made brighter within their specific software. Apple’s invention would have the advantage of making this a system-level feature, and one that works automatically in some cases, lightening the load on developer resources and making it so that users can reasonably predict how any given app will use it. This could have big impacts not only in general usability, but for specific accessibility advantage as well.
The other patent application new today describes a way in which Apple devices might be able to switch automatically between front and rear-facing cameras on the fly, based on cues from the user and what’s being captured by each camera lens. This would require devices to capture both streams at one time, but Apple says in the patent that advances in mobile processor tech have recently begun to make that possible without too much excess demand on system resources.
In practice, such a system would be able to work with live calls via services like FaceTime, so that when a participant says something like “Look what Bruno’s doing” and the rear-facing camera detects a dog-like shape in frame, it switches automatically to broadcasting that feed to the receiving party. This could also work for locally-recorded video, the patent application says, doing things like switching between front and back cameras depending on if it detects the person doing the filming is talking or not.
Both of these are the type of next-gen tech projects that likely won’t make it into hardware for the immediately incoming generation, but they’re logical enough additions to existing features that we could well see them in a couple of years’ time.
When you are traveling it is important to protect your valuables — cash, traveler;s checks, passport. For many years people have relied on money belts which are not always very comfortable. The Clever Travel Companion may have just the thing for you — undergarments with hidden pockets to keep those important necessities out of sight from pickpockets and any other would-be thieves.
Garmin is a name that pretty much everyone closely associates with GPS navigation. Garmin is also a significant factor in cycling computers for bicyclists. The company has announced two new GPS devices designed specifically for navigating via bike called the Edge Touring and the Edge Touring Plus. Both are preloaded with maps that are bicycle […]
Netflix has been making some big moves lately, outgrowing its days as a virtual Blockbuster (remember Blockbuster?) to offer some seriously
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If you’ve ever looked into how much the hardware costs to become a DJ, you may be shocked at how expensive DJ gear can get. Some DJs spend thousands of dollars on single components to help mix their own custom tunes. Pioneer has a new DJ controller aimed squarely at the budding DJ with a […]
There’s a problem with Smart TVs — they really aren’t all that smart. While having WiFi-equipped sets that can run apps and stream content from the web might make them seem smart, TV’s don’t actually know what content is onscreen when they’re showing, you know, regular broadcast television. (Which is still what those TVs are most used for.) Cognitive Networks, however, has figured out how to make those televisions aware of what’s happening onscreen, and LG is the first manufacturer to leverage the technology with its LivePlus service. LivePlus was first revealed at the launch of Showtime’s Sho Sync app last week, but the Cognitive Networks’ technology powering LG’s platform can do so much more than just display character backgrounds, trivia and other info. To fully appreciate the breadth of possibilities the tech provides, however, it’s important to know how it actually works.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, LG
One thing that most notebook users have in common no matter the brand of machine they use is the need for more storage space. When your typical Windows-powered notebook runs out of space adding a larger hard drive is relatively straightforward but things can get tricky if you use a MacBook. A company called OWC […]
Being able to print out photographs, e-mails, and other documents is something that we take pretty much for granted. This task has been easily accomplished from your computer for decades. However, it can be much more difficult to print out photos and other documents from your smartphone without having to share what you want to […]
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