Hasta La Gadget!

When the Nintendo Switch was first announced, there was no doubt that it intrigued many due to its design and its hybrid design which allows it to be taken on the road as a handheld console, but at the same time it can be docked and plugged into a TV that turns it into a home console.

Unfortunately it seems that the Switch’s design might be in dispute because the US International Trade Commission (ITC) has announced (via CNET) that they will be investigating Nintendo over alleged patent infringement over the console’s design. This is due to a complaint by a company called Gamevice who claims that the Switch’s detachable controllers infringe upon a patent of theirs, which presumably would be the Wikipad which are a pair of detachable controllers designed for smartphones.

Gamevice has also asked that the ITC to ban Nintendo from importing the Switch into the US, but for now the ITC has stated that they have yet to make a decision so it seems that it will be business as usual for now. If you’re wondering why this case sounds familiar, it is because last August Gamevice had sued Nintendo over the same thing.

However the company later dropped the case voluntarily so it is unclear as to why they are bringing it up again. Maybe there was some kind of settlement agreement that went awry, or maybe Gamevice thinks that they now have a stronger case, either way we’ll have to wait and see how this one plays out.

ITC Investigating Nintendo Over Alleged Switch Patent Infringement , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

For a while now WhatsApp has supported both voice and video calls, but what if you wanted to speak to more than one person at once? Sure, there are group chats but sometimes hearing someone’s voice and seeing them might be preferred, and the good news is that a group calling feature will be coming soon.

This was announced during Facebook’s F8 keynote where the feature was confirmed to be coming in the next few months. “Voice and video calling are very popular on WhatsApp, and we’re excited to share that group calling will be coming in the months ahead.” In addition to confirming group calling, Facebook also announced that WhatsApp would be getting stickers as well. “Stickers are also coming to WhatsApp soon.”

The stickers feature was spotted earlier this month in a WhatsApp beta where it was revealed that there would be a sticker store where users could get more stickers. At the moment Facebook Messenger already supports stickers so we guess it’s not a stretch to think that WhatsApp would as well.

Stickers, for those unfamiliar, are essentially souped up emojis. Messaging apps such as LINE have made a pretty good business out of selling them and allowing users to create their own stickers and sell them as well. We’re not sure if WhatsApp’s stickers will be headed down the same path, but given that Messenger’s stickers are pretty much all free, chances are WhatsApp’s stickers will be as well.

WhatsApp To Get Group Calling & Stickers Soon , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

Mobile apps may be more widespread because of the ubiquity of smartphones but web apps are the hot thing in the software market these days. They bring with them the promise of cross-platform availability on anything that can run a modern web browser. But they also bring the risks associated with any web page on the Internet. Short of having … Continue reading

Augmented reality seems to be pretty popular at the moment where we’ve seen companies like Apple, Google, and Snap take advantage of it to boost their offerings. This is also why it doesn’t come as a surprise to learn that Facebook is also looking to leverage the technology as well for its Messenger platform.

Announced during Facebook’s F8 keynote, it seems that the company will be introducing AR tech to Messenger where companies/brands will be able to use it to interact with their customers. “We’re launching the ability for brands to integrate AR camera effects into their Messenger experience. This feature, launching in closed beta, helps people get valuable, instant feedback about purchases, and more.”

Facebook adds, “Developers will be able to build experiences that let people virtually customize or try on merchandise, walk through new products, or simply express themselves in a fun way.” Some of the companies that have been involved with the initial launch include ASUS, Nike, Sephora, and Kia.

It is an interesting idea as it combines both customer service with AR tech. Right now quite a few companies have developed AR apps to let customers “try” out new products, but by integrating it with Messenger, customers will also be able to ask questions at the same time.

Facebook To Bring Augmented Reality Onto Its Messenger Platform , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

When we drive we sometimes take the view we can see outside the window for granted. For some of us we might instead choose to bury our noses in our phones (assuming you’re not the one driving), but it’s these small pleasures in life that we take for granted that others, such as the visually impaired, might not have the luxury to experience.

However the folks at Ford are hoping to change that because they have unveiled a prototype of a smart car window. This is a window that lets those who are visually impaired to “see” their surroundings. According to Ford, “Feel The View takes pictures that are turned into high-contrast monochrome images. These are then reproduced on the glass using special LEDs. By touching the image, different shades of grey vibrate with a range of 255 intensities, allowing passengers to touch the scene and rebuild in their mind the landscape in front of them.”

This concept was developed by Ford’s team in Italy and GTB Roma in collaboration with Aedo, a local company that specializes in creating devices for the visually impaired. No doubt that this is an interesting concept but whether or not it will materialize as an actual product like an optional add-on accessory remains to be seen, but for now you can check it out in action in the video above.

Ford Designs A Smart Window That Lets The Blind ‘See’ , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.