Hasta La Gadget!

SwiftKey must be keen to finish its bout with Swype, as it just went for the knockout. It’s launching SwiftKey Flow, an extension of its Android keyboard that blends SwiftKey’s familiar word prediction with the hold-and-swipe gestures we most commonly associate with the company’s arch-rival. Speed-minded typists now just have to glide across the virtual keys and let go as soon as Flow makes a correct guess. They don’t have to pick a typing mode and stick with it, either, as both gestures and the usual taps will work at the same time. Prospective testers will want to sign up today for the SwiftKey Flow beta starting in the next few weeks. Everyone else, though, might want to watch from the bleachers — the new parallels between SwiftKey and Swype just made this fight infinitely more entertaining.

Continue reading SwiftKey Flow keyboard takes the fight to Swype with predictive gestures (video)

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

SwiftKey Flow keyboard takes the fight to Swype with predictive gestures (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you’ve been desperate for new Gmail on your Android, a leaked APK obtained by Android Police — that may or may not have come from one of those LG E960 Mako (alleged) Nexus phones that it seems everyone has — is sporting some fresh tweaks. As seen in this demo video, the update adds pinch-to-zoom on individual messages, as well as swipe to delete or archive. The app itself is labeled as version 4.2, and while the APK isn’t widely available, the site reports that if it is released you’ll need to be rooted and running Android 4.0 or higher to get an early taste of the future.

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Google

Apparent Gmail for Android 4.2 leak shows off pinch-to-zoom, swipe features originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Oct 2012 01:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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An AR heads-up display wasn’t the only navigation hardware Pioneer showed off at CEATEC 2012. The firm also took the opportunity to tear the wraps off a new line of gesture-controlled Raku Navi GPS units. With the infrared-powered Air Gesture feature, drivers can wave their hand in front of a device to pull up a menu with commands such as setting their home or a personal haunt as a destination or skipping to the next tune on a playlist. Once a hand is retracted, the menu will be replaced with the usual map interface. Though the solution isn’t completely hands-free, horizontal hand waves can be assigned one of ten different functions. Japanese store shelves will be lined with two dashboard-embeddable units by mid-October, while four console-independent models will join them in early November. As of now, there’s no word if the hardware will make the pilgrimage stateside.

Filed under: GPS, Transportation

Pioneer’s latest Raku Navi GPS units take commands from hand gestures originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 07 Oct 2012 04:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve seen Microsoft’s Kinect used in countless ways, but 3Gear Systems means to better these predecessors with the beta release of its SDK, which turns all the subtleties of hand movement into actions. In addition to using two Kinect cameras for accuracy, the software compares hand poses against a pre-rendered database so gesture commands are executed with little lag. It offers complete control of a virtual 3D environment from the comfort of your natural desk position, so you won’t have to worry about flail fatigue after long stints. A free public beta is available now until November 30th, at which point bigger companies will require a license, while individuals and small enterprises will continue to get complimentary access. We know what you’re thinking — it’s just another Kinect hack — but we suggest you reserve judgment til you’ve seen the demo below, showing examples of how the API could be used for CAD, medical, and of course, gaming applications.

Continue reading Akimbo Kinect hack offers precise control with minimal effort (video)

Filed under: Misc, Software

Akimbo Kinect hack offers precise control with minimal effort (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 00:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What you’re about to see, should you choose to click the source link below, is far from perfect. On the other hand, it’s clearly had a lot of effort and expertise put into it — not only by HTML5-savvy coders, but also by a troupe of performers from the Cirque du Soleil. It’s called Movi.Kanti.Revo, which is a fancy way of saying Move.Sing.Dream, and it involves navigating through an ethereal and slightly laggy landscape using only swaying gestures, your singing voice (mournful sobbing sounds also worked for us) and a bunch of APIs that conveniently fail to work on FireFox, Safari or Internet Explorer. It’s well-suited to those with a mic and webcam, preferably sitting in a open-plan and bully-ridden workplace, and if you don’t like it there’s always Bastion.

Filed under: Internet, Software, Alt

Chrome experiment explores new types of navigation, degrees of embarrassment originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Sep 2012 10:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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