Jun 17
Jun 15
Plenty of people out there have a serious phobia of public speaking and there are tons of other disorders, such as Asperger’s, that severely limit a person’s ability to handle even simple social interactions. M. Ehsan Hoque, a student at the MIT Media Lab, has made these subjects the focus of her latest project: MACH (My Automated Conversation coacH). At the heart of MACH is a complex system of facial and speech recognition algorithms that can detect subtle nuances in intonation while tracking smiles, head nods and eye movement. The latter is especially important since the front end of MACH is a computer generated avatar that can tell when you break eye contact and shift your attention elsewhere.
The software then provides feedback about your performance, helping to prep you for that big presentation or just guide you out of your shell. Experimental data suggests that coaching from MACH could even help you perform better in a job interview. What’s particularly exciting is that the program requires no special hardware; it’s designed to be used with a standard webcam and microphone on a laptop. So it might not be too long before we start seeing apps designed to help users through social awkwardness. Before you go, make sure to check out the video after the break.
Via: Far East Gizmos
Source: MIT
May 06
Final X-51A WaveRider hypersonic mission achieves Mach 5.1, record flight length
Posted in: Today's Chili
With the third X-51A WaveRider failing to reach hypersonic speed due to a fin failure last August, it seemed the United States Air Force would possibly forgo the fourth (and final) run. On the morning of May 1st, however, that last X-51A got its chance to soar, successfully reaching Mach 5.1 during a record 370-second flight. According to the Wright Patterson Air Force base, the aircraft’s rocket booster helped it hit Mach 4.8 about 26 seconds after being released from a B-2H at 50K feet, at which point its air-fed scramjet brought it to 60,000 feet while achieving hypersonic flight. The USAF notes that “it was the longest of the four X-51A test flights [230 nautical miles] and the longest air-breathing hypersonic flight” — surely taking some of the sting out of the $300 million program’s previous shortcomings. Past flights aimed to hit Mach six, with the first and second tests only sustaining Mach five.
The aircraft made destructive splashdown landing into the Pacific as planned, but data from the whole flight was recorded. The USAF isn’t planning a follow-up to the X-51A anytime soon, though the program will likely serve as a reference for future designs. You can dig into the official rundown at the link below.
Filed under: Misc, Transportation
Via: Slashdot
Source: USAF
Feb 05
It looks like Skype users in Russia can now purchase additional credits for making calls around the world. Apparently Skype has entered into a partnership with mobile billing company Mach to come up with a new mobile payment option in at least three markets, for now. Russia will be the first to support the feature. The U.S. and Canada are expected to follow soon. Using Mach’s direct operator billing service, Skype users will be able to buy Skype credits from their mobile devices through a browser-based transaction that is secure and convenient. (more…)
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Death Star Kickstarter Campaign Seeks $850 Quintillion To Fully Fund, Dell Goes Private, Receives $2 Billion Loan From Microsoft, 
Feb 05
As data bundles become more prevalent, it’s natural to see Skype as a thorn in the side of mobile operators’ voice offerings. A new direct billing deal with carriers announced today, however, could prove that the two can play nice. While it’s not a full embrace, it effectively means that operators could sell you Skype credit directly, and not be cut out of the loop completely. There are no details on what arrangements between operators and Skype will look like, but from the user’s perspective, it’s another welcome payment option. The service has been on the cards for some time now, with some operators expressing an interest for even longer. Skype tells us that the service is live today with an unnamed Russian operator, with promise of it coming to the US and Canada soon. As GigaOM points out, Mach — who the VoIP provider is partnering with — lists T-Mobile, Telus and Verizon Wireless among its client list. So, while nothing is confirmed, there’s a heads-up over which operators might get the facility first.
Nov 01
LG Mach reaches Sprint on November 11th at $100, Optimus G pre-orders begin today
Posted in: Today's Chili 
That was quick — not long after launch details of the LG Mach were caught lurking in Sprint’s catalog, the carrier has confirmed them. Fans of the Korean firm’s aesthetic who also like their QWERTY keyboards can buy the mid-range smartphone for $100 on November 11th, the same day its bigger Optimus G cousin reaches stores. Just be sure to avoid the Sprint website during the wait for the newly dated device; Optimus G pre-orders have started at the source link, and a click on LG’s flagship could be mighty tempting.
Continue reading LG Mach reaches Sprint on November 11th at $100, Optimus G pre-orders begin today
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Sprint, LG
LG Mach reaches Sprint on November 11th at $100, Optimus G pre-orders begin today originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Nov 2012 13:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Oct 10
If you were given the choice, would you prefer a smartphone with a physical QWERTY keyboard, or would you prefer one that came with a full touchscreen instead? Well if you have chosen the former, it seems that Sprint might be your carrier of choice as the company has recently announced the LG Mach. The phone will be released this fall and is expected to be compatible with the carrier’s 4G LTE network.
According to David Owens, Vice President of Product at Sprint, “People actually like the comfort of a physical keyboard and say there are fewer errors. They want a two-handed device.” The LG Mach will feature a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, a 4” display and will come with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich preinstalled. No word on whether it will be bumped up to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean but for the physical keyboard lover, you can expect to fork out $100 for the LG Mach together with a new two-year contract.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: LG Optimus G headed for AT&T and Sprint with different cameras, LG Cayenne LS860 spotted in the wild again,
Oct 09
Sprint adds LG Mach, Optimus G, Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 and tri-mode USB dongle to fall LTE lineup
Posted in: Today's Chili 
If simple vanity trinkets don’t excite you, Sprint has something else to tempt you in — four new LTE devices. The new line-up includes two phones, a tablet and a USB dongle, so hopefully something for everyone. The phones? The 13-megapixel toutin’ Optimus G (as we suspected) and Mach (a cheaper, 1.2GHz dual-core, 4-inch, 1080p capable QWERTY ICS phone), both by LG. If you need a little more screen real-estate, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 will be joining the other Koreans with its 1.5GHz dual-cores and 1,200 x 800-screened ICS on the good ship Sprint too. Happy with your notebook, and just want the service? Sprint’s adding a Plug-in-Connect USB dongle to the menu also. No deets on cost and dates we’re afraid, with “fall” being all the info we’ve got right now. Feel free to delve into the PR after the break, in the meantime though.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung, LG
Sprint adds LG Mach, Optimus G, Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 and tri-mode USB dongle to fall LTE lineup originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Oct 2012 12:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sep 26
Mach inks carrier billing deal with Everything Everywhere, O2, Vodafone and Three in the UK
Posted in: Today's Chili 
Not a month after Mach’s last carrier billing deal, UK network providers Vodafone, Three, O2 and Everything Everywhere are getting in on the action. The company’s direct billing solutions will initially allow the networks to charge app and online purchases straight to your bill, with in-app sales joining them at a later date. Don’t expect this to be implemented immediately, however, as the agreement covers the back-end processing — the individual carriers will be responsible for turning it on customer-side. They’ll likely inform you when they hit the switch and your phone bill becomes a monthly surprise.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Software, Mobile
Mach inks carrier billing deal with Everything Everywhere, O2, Vodafone and Three in the UK originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Sep 2012 02:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Sep 06
Skype strikes deal with Mach to expand direct carrier billing for credit purchases
Posted in: Today's Chili 
Skype is always finding new ways of making it easier for users to spend money, and now it’s extending its carrier billing options in a new deal with Mach. From October, more users than ever will be able to buy credit for the VoIP service then forget about it — at least until the phone bill arrives. Purchases will initially be available through a web browser, but in-app functionality is expected in the future, although there’s no word on exactly which network providers will be involved. We hope, however, that sometime next month, at least a few of those who enjoy Skyping on the move will appreciate sending the bill to their carrier.
Continue reading Skype strikes deal with Mach to expand direct carrier billing for credit purchases
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Software
Skype strikes deal with Mach to expand direct carrier billing for credit purchases originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Sep 2012 07:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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