Hasta La Gadget!

It’s hard to deny that online advertising has grown a bit stale, with most ads being some take on ye olde banners. Google obviously has a vested interest in keeping us clicking — so it’s launching its Art, Copy & Code project to liven things up. The initiative sees Google experimenting with partners to see which concepts garner the most interest. Among the early field tests is the “useful marketing” of Volkswagen’s Smileage app, which uses a Google+ Sign-In to share media from a road trip; there’s also an upcoming internet of things experiment that may involve talking shoes, among other wireless-aware objects. The full scope of Google’s advertising outreach will have to wait, although the search firm plans to show and discuss some of its plans at South by Southwest this week. Companies that haven’t been getting much attention from old-fashioned, picture-based pitches may want to give the project a closer look.

Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile, Google

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Via: Google Official Blog

Source: Art, Copy & Code

In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you’d like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with “Insert Coin” as the subject line.

It’s been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Improving on a good idea, however, is truly the ultimate homage, according to the makers of the new Pinoccio microcontroller. Inspired by the Arduino, the brain trust behind the Pinoccio decided to take the stuff they liked about the popular platform — ease of programming and low cost — and add some features to make it even better. These include a rechargeable battery, a temperature sensor and a built-in radio that allows one Pinoccio with a WiFi shield to communicate wirelessly with other Pinoccios. The microcontroller also delivers performance that stacks up well with an Arduino Mega but at a smaller size — the Pinoccio only measures a couple of inches long and an inch wide. The project is currently trying to raise $60,000 at Indiegogo, with supporters netting the standard Pinoccio by pledging $49 and a microcontroller with a WiFi shield for $99. For more details, feel free to check out the video after the break or peruse the project’s Indiegogo page by clicking at the source link.

Previous project update: The Lomography Smartphone Film Scanner was apparently ready for its closeup. The Kickstarter project more than tripled its $50,000 goal with two more weeks to go.

Filed under: Misc

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Source: Indiegogo

The idea of the “internet of things” is fine and well, but when was the last time your smartphone had a chat with the fridge? Technicolor is aiming to solve those communication breakdowns with Qeo, a software system to bridge connected devices of all types and brands. While you may be thinking, “Technicolor? That company at the end of the movie credits?” it turns out that the post-production outfit also does items like set-top boxes and DSLR routers through its acquisition of Thomson. Qeo will allow those types of devices, along with smartphones, computers, tablets and even “dumb” systems like intercoms or appliances to all communicate, regardless of the OS or protocol used by each. That’ll create scenarios where your doorbell can notify your smartphone that someone’s waiting to be let in, or allow you to switch a video call from your Android tablet to a Qeo-enabled TV screen, according to Technicolor — providing the right manufacturers, software developers or network operators are using the protocol, of course. Fortunately, the company claims that it’s already signed up a bevy of companies in all those categories, meaning a device-agnostic connected home may be soon within your grasp. Check the PR after the break to see all the details in glorious, er, Technicolor.

Continue reading Technicolor’s Qeo software aims to let connected devices speak the same lingo

Filed under: Internet, Software

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If a Bluetooth sensor doesn’t already have iOS support, pairing it up will often involve a patient wait for an official app or some not-quite-official tweaking, at best — Apple won’t allow just any old unauthenticated device through the gates. Byte Works’ TechBASIC 2.3 update takes those barriers down. The mobile app lets those of us with a new iPad or iPhone 4S create programs that talk to, and read from, a wide range of Bluetooth LE devices without having to write any Objective C code on a Mac. Only a TI key fob has a fully ready example program, but large swaths of devices will communicate with help from intrepid programmers — whether they’re heart rate monitors, home theater gear or seemingly anything in between. Existing TechBASIC owners can add the Bluetooth LE support through a free update; it’s a relatively pricey $15 to buy the app if you’re new to Byte Works’ world, although it may be worthwhile to give any unused sensors a new reason for being.

Continue reading TechBASIC 2.3 links iOS to world of sensors through Bluetooth, no pesky computers in the way (video)

Filed under: Cellphones, Wearables

TechBASIC 2.3 links iOS to world of sensors through Bluetooth, no pesky computers in the way (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 04:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel’s announced a new system-on-chip that jams a 3G power amplifier directly onto radio circuits for smaller, cheaper cellular modems. SMARTi UE2p is designed for entry-level 3G phones and machine-to-machine modules that’ll let your fridge talk to your oven. The Santa Clara chip foundry will be offering the gear to interested parties toward the end of the year, so if all the Microwaves released next Summer suddenly have the ability to access Twitter, you’ll know Intel’s to blame.

Continue reading Intel’s SMARTi low-cost 3G systems show off their wireless prowess

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

Intel’s SMARTi low-cost 3G systems show off their wireless prowess originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Jul 2012 10:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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