Hasta La Gadget!

Truly a new beer gadget like no other, the I.C Can from Tempra Technology and Crown Holdings is set to put a smile on the faces of beer drinkers everywhere. Yep, when a new beer invention takes 20 years to perfect, you know that good, and insanely cold things are going to happen. Sick of waiting for what seems like an eternity for a cold beer? Prepare to be sick no longer!

Ebooks are pretty fantastic. Granted, there’s nothing better than reading an actual, physical book, but being able to squeeze a handful of books on an reader or tablet is a good deal. However, the problem with ebooks is the same problem with digital gaming distribution services, where you can sell your copy once you’re done with it. However, Amazon filed for a patent that hints at the possibility that the online retailer may start up a used ebook marketplace.

The patent in question here covers a technology that’s used to power an “electronic marketplace for used digital objects.” Essentially, it would take Amazon’s Kindle marketplace to the next level, and would cater towards those looking for second-hand goods, even though they’re digital copies. Basically, it could change the way how we buy ebooks.

At the moment, users simply can’t just buy an ebook and own it outright, doing whatever they want with it, and we doubt that Amazon would give that up, so the patent basically means that Amazon could still own the rights to the ebook, but they would let users resell the ebook in a controlled marketplace specifically for used ebooks.

The concept at first sounds pretty silly, and the thought of selling a digital object for less than what you bought it for may sound weird, especially since there’s nothing that would depreciate the price, but we could see users easily take a slight loss just to get their ebooks out of their hands and onto another reader. Of course, we’re keeping the salt nearby since a lot of patents usually never see the light of day, but it’s a concept at least worth thinking about.

[via ITProPortal]

Amazon patent hints at used ebook marketplace is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
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The modern world of smartphones tend to favor full touchscreen models with extremely slim bezels a whole lot more compared to QWERTY models, but with the recent introduction of two new BlackBerry devices running on the BlackBerry 10 operating system, perhaps BlackBerry (previously known as RIM) is looking into the future by filing for two patents that would help hide the keys within a phone’s main body. Just how does that work? Well, look at the image above and you will have a better idea, as it more or less resembles concertinas in practice.

The concepts will pivot the relevant keys into place the moment you pull out a retractable segment of the device in order to begin typing. BlackBerry claims that this idea might just work out for both conventional smartphones in addition to the less practical design that sees keys located on opposite sides of a display, just like how the LG Doubleplay works. Will such slim phones with a keyboard built-in be part of the future? Who knows, it might just be way ahead of its time at the moment.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: LG Optimus 4X HD, Optimus L7 And L9 To Get Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, BlackBerry Sales To Cease In Japan,

Apple had a new patent application published by the USPTO today, describing an unlocking method for digital devices that uses image identification to properly recognize an authorized user. The system would present a user with photographs from their iPhoto or iCloud collections, and then ask them to identify who or what the subject is in order to unlock the device. The item in question could also be an object or series of images.

The authentication process would work by displaying at least one image to be identified from the user’s library, though it could also display a number in succession if users are looking for more security. It’s highly likely that someone close to you will recognize another individual depicted in photos on your phone, for instance, but if you’re worried about granting access even to that inner circle of acquaintances, it becomes increasingly unlikely they’ll be able to identify each of a series of more than one picture.

Different means of input are also described in the patent, from a multiple selection list of choices for one-tap entry, to using an on-screen (on an iOS device) or physical keyboard (on a Mac) to type in the exact answer, to just speaking the name of the person or object aloud. Combined with voice recognition, you can see how the third option would provide yet another layer of added, personalized security, which would be very hard to beat via conventional machine-based security workaround tools.

If the system uses objects instead of people, the patent describes a process by which users would offer up unique, alternative nicknames for recognizable monuments and landmarks. So, for example, a picture of the Eiffel Tower could actually be linked to the phrase “The Big Stick.” Since no one else is likely to use quite the same idiosyncratic alternate names for highly recognizable objects, the system should remain fairly secure.

In most cases, Apple’s current passcode unlock system is probably sufficient for the needs of users, but should the company want to meet the needs of privacy sensitive users, a method like this that’s highly personal and hard to hack could be of considerable benefit.

To say that Apple is an innovative company is an understatement, and Cupertino shows off their ingenuity yet again with the very real possibility of your iDevices lasting a whole lot longer in the future. Sure, a solar-charging screen on an iPhone is not exactly groundbreaking news as it has been presented before back in 2011, but what makes this bit of news exciting is this – Apple is going through the process of obtaining a patent for an integrated solar charging capability within the touchscreen itself, which will not rely on layers as what was shared back in 2011. In lieu of layers, the new panel’s electrodes will function as both touch sensors and solar power collectors, which means the current slim devices like the iPod touch, iPhone and iPad will still be able to remain just as svelte, albeit sporting sun-charging capabilities to boot.

There will also be a smart management unit available which decides whether the harvested energy will be sent over to the phone directly on the spot, or should there be enough energy reserves, said harvested energy will be stashed away in the battery for future use.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: iPhone Overtakes Nokia For Global Mobile Internet Usage, iPhone 5, iOS 6 Untethered Jailbreak Now Available For Windows, Mac & Linux,