Apr 12
The allure of having a smart watch like the Pebble is more than just having a watch with more display options: it’s apps. Now, with the release of the Pebble SDK, the apps can start to flow. More »
Apr 12
A certain demographic of home theater connoisseurs has fretted for a few weeks over talk that Panasonic might end plasma TV production and research — would viewers have to resort to anything so vulgar as… an LCD? No, Panasonic says. Despite earlier claims of frozen development, the company’s merchandising VP Henry Hauser is emphatic that there remains “room for further improvement” in the plasma realm, and that Panasonic fully intends to develop upgrades. The Viera ZT series we saw at CES will be a launchpad for future work, according to the executive. Hauser’s full statement awaits after the break if there are any lingering doubts; for now, it appears that Panasonic values plasma’s distinct qualities as much as the next basement movie maven.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Source: Panasonic
Apr 08
Microsoft to build first innovation center in China, has software development in mind
Posted in: Today's Chili 
Microsoft’s relatively often finding ways to encourage software development in various fields, and the company’s latest venture has it setting footsteps near the Great Wall. According to a report by news agency Xinhua, the software (and hardware) company has reached a deal with China’s Hainan government that will see it build an innovation center in this territory. Focusing on IT development and skills in tourism and agriculture, this new property will be the first of its type in China, and Microsoft has high hopes that the joint efforts can, aside from becoming a crossroads of knowledge, also “boost the region’s efforts to become a major international tourist destination.” Frankly, seeing as how the highly populated nation doesn’t appear to be slowing down its all-around growth anytime soon, it wouldn’t surprise us if Redmond decides to start setting up more of these in the years to come.
Via: ZDNet
Source: China Daily
Apr 03
Disney halts game development at LucasArts, moves to licensed Star Wars titles
Posted in: Today's Chili 
If you’re old enough to have played PC games for more than a decade, LucasArts (originally LucasFilm Games) likely has a permanent place in your heart after a string of legendary adventure and flight combat releases. You’ll unfortunately have to put the company as you knew it squarely in the past — Lucasfilm’s new owner, Disney, is ending internal development at LucasArts. The software house is shifting to a licensing model for Star Wars games, reportedly “minimizing the company’s risk” while expanding the range of games on offer. There’s a chance that in-progress titles like Star Wars 1313 will survive with outside help, according to a spokesperson in touch with GameInformer, but talk of layoffs from Kotaku dampens any chances for direct follow-ups to favorites like Grim Fandango. We won’t mourn too much when personas like Ron Gilbert, Lawrence Holland and Tim Schafer have long since moved on to other companies — still, it’s unquestionably the end of an era for game and movie fans alike.
Via: Joystiq
Source: GameInformer (1), (2)
Mar 28
The next-generation of video game consoles will usher in some amazing visuals, which we already caught a glimpse of during Sony’s PlayStation 4 unveiling. Activision’s R&D department took center stage yesterday during the company’s GDC panel called “next-generation character rendering,” which after you see their tech demo, will have you wondering if it’s creepy or super awesome.
The real-time character demo is a 2-minute long video that highlights a number of amazing improvements in regards to a character’s facial gestures. The demo, which is all running in real-time, captures the actor’s face, eye movements, skin imperfections and nearly every emotion the actor could think of. (more…)
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Assassin’s Creed 4 First Gameplay Trailer Shows Off Underwater Exploration, Splinter Cell: Blacklist Video Highlights ‘Ghost’, ‘Panther’ and ‘Assault’ Play Styles, 
Mar 12
Google Now seems another step closer to arriving to the Chrome browser on Windows and Chrome platforms, thanks to yet another code spot by Chromium savant François Beaufort. He previously noticed hints that such a feature might arrive, and this time he espied it in a full-fledged Chrome beta release — sadly, sans the server address necessary to run it. Despite that omission, it looks ready to eerily track your life anew on non-Android devices, so if you’re in the mood to look at (but not touch) the new add-in, grab it at the more coverage link after the break.
Filed under: Internet, Software, Google
Via: The Verge
Source: Chromium Code Reviews
Mar 10
Nowadays, we take most of our photos digitally and they stay digital. Photo paper and bulky albums are dead. So if you are compelled to print you photos for some reason, you might as well try to make it interesting, like printing them as tactile wood reliefs with the Photocarver. More »
Mar 02
We know you’ve got questions, and if you’re brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here’s the outlet to do so. This week’s Ask Engadget inquiry is from Nikunj, who wants to produce his own apps for both sides of the smartphone war. If you’re looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.
“I’m a C++ student and I was wondering what’s the best language to develop apps in both Android and iOS? Is C++ enough, and if not, could you all suggest some other languages? Thank you.”
Your humble narrator isn’t a developer, but has scratched out the knowledge that neither platform’s SDK is that germane to C++. iOS, for one, uses Objective-C or Cocoa, while Android at least does provide a C++ developers kit, it’s apparently not as nice to use as the Java equivalent. Beyond that? That’s where we’ll turn this question over to those developers who proudly call themselves members of the Engadget fraternity.
Filed under: Mobile
Feb 07
Samsung, tired of its own-brand app store playing second fiddle to Google Play, has decided to throw some of its considerable cash at the problem. It’s appealing to indie app developers in the hope of finding the next Angry Birds big thing. In partnership with Chillingo, EA’s mobile games division, Samsung is launching “100 percent indie,” offering bedroom coders commission-free sales on any of their apps for the first six months of its life. After which, Samsung will take a 10 percent cut, with that fee rising to 30 percent after two years — matching the fees charged by Google and Apple’s services. Now all we need is a Simon Cowell-type to judge which new apps have that… je ne sais quoi.
Filed under: Gaming, Software, Samsung
Source: 100 Percent Indie
Jan 20
I’ve long thought that one of the coolest technological innovations in recent times is 3D printing. The technology originally allowed manufacturers to rapidly prototype parts and products. 3D printing technology is far from inexpensive, but the cost has come down as more consumer oriented 3D printers have hit the market. Nokia is now helping people who have access to a 3D printer and might want to create custom shells for the Lumia 820 smartphone.
Nokia has offered new detail on the Lumia 820 3D printing community project. As part of the project, Nokia has offered up 3D templates, case specs, recommended materials, and best practices for individuals to 3D print their own customized shells for the Lumia 820. Nokia calls the materials its 3D Printing Development kit or 3DK for short.
The idea is that individuals can 3D print their own cases for the smartphone or businesses can begin taking orders for customized Lumia 820 shells. I think this is a very interesting idea, not that I expect this to make Nokia’s Windows Phone 8 smartphones any more popular with most users.
Some smartphone manufacturers let users hack the software on their devices, so it’s nice to see someone allowing users to hack the hardware to suit their needs.
Who's in charge here?
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.