Hasta La Gadget!

By combining a camera that detects surfaces with one that perceives motion, Canadian university researchers and Autodesk have made a sensor that reads finger gestures based on which part of your body you swipe. The first camera can detect pre-programmed materials like clothing, which would allow finger movements made across your pants or or shirt to activate commands that call specific people or compose an email, for instance. Autodesk sees this type of input as a possible compliment to smartphones or Google Glasses (which lack a useful input device), though it says the motion detection camera isn’t accurate enough yet to replace a mouse. Anyway, if you wanted that kind of device for your digits, it already exists — in spades.

Continue reading Autodesk researchers develop ‘magic finger’ that reads gestures from any surface (video)

Filed under: Displays, Wearables

Autodesk researchers develop ‘magic finger’ that reads gestures from any surface (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Oct 2012 08:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft’s Surface for Windows RT appears to be flying off the virtual shelves, however it seems some of the customers who’ve pre-ordered will be waiting about a week longer than they thought. We’ve received several tips from readers in Canada and the UK indicating they’ve received emails (as seen above, check after the break for similar reports from Twitter) explaining that their tablets will be shipping on November 2nd, instead of October 26th as originally scheduled when they put their requests in days ago. There’s no reason currently listed for the delay, however we have contacted Microsoft for further comment on the situation. Currently the Surface is listed as completely sold out on the UK and Canada Microsoft Store sites, and in the US all three variants are no longer promised for delivery on release date. It’s been reported that Microsoft is building up to five million of the devices for launch this fall, hopefully they can all find their way to good homes sooner rather than later.

Update: A Microsoft spokesperson has responded, informing us that the emails sent out were incorrect, so “all customers should expect their devices by the original date given.” It will be following up with customers to let them know their shipping date has not changed, and you can read the full statement for yourself after the break.

[Thanks to Jack, everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Microsoft Surface pre-orders in Canada, UK are not delayed (Update)

Filed under: Tablets, Microsoft

Microsoft Surface pre-orders in Canada, UK are not delayed (Update) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 20 Oct 2012 03:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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According to reports on WPCentral, Microsoft is allowing members of the public to wander into official stores and pre-order its new Surface tablet. More »

When it comes to the tablet market, right now it goes without saying that Apple’s iPad (and perhaps, the iPad mini that will be announced later this coming October 23rd) is the undisputed king of the hill, although there are pretenders to the throne from the Android camp which are best represented by Samsung. What happens when there is a third player in the tablet operating system, and that player goes by the name of Microsoft? We all know that Microsoft’s Windows 8 operating system is about to be released very, very soon, and along with it, their highly anticipated Microsoft Surface tablet that was specially designed to be the ultimate stage for Windows. More details on the Surface tablet has been revealed today, including pricing. Is it worth your hard earned money?

Basically, the Microsoft Surface which was unveiled all the way back in June this year, will come in two flavors – one with 32GB internal memory, while the other will have 64GB of internal storage space. The Surface with Windows RT will arrive to the masses in three different configurations, where a 32GB model costs $499 to directly challenge the iPad, a 32GB version that comes bundled with a black Touch Cover which will cost you an additional Benjamin on top of that, and a 64GB version that comes bundled with a black Touch Cover, where it will set you back by $699.

Not only that, Microsoft wants to make sure that the Surface gets off on the right footing, and to do so, they will introduce a range of accessories along with the Surface tablet, including Touch Covers in five more vibrant colors – black, white, magenta, cyan and red, which are priced at $119.99 a pop. Hey, if you know you are so going to get the Touch Cover in the first place, just pick up the bundle (if you don’t mind black, that is) and save $20 in the process. Out later this October 26th in North America, the Microsoft Surface tablet will also arrive in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom via online sales channels.

Press Release
[ Microsoft Surface tablet details revealed copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

In a rather zany demonstration on just how strong and tough the upcoming Surface tablet from Microsoft is, it seems that a certain Steve Sinofsky decided to wear a helmet, while using his modified skateboard where he stood on a Surface tablet for a spin. Of course, I would not expect Steve to perform all the crazy kinds of parlor tricks that skateboarders do, including ollies and hand plants with this Surface-based skateboard, but it does seem that the magnesium case as well as display of the Surface is rigid enough to take on the whole weight of an adult, and then some.

Well, at least we now know that should the entire Surface tablet gig goes south, perhaps Microsoft might want to open up a new streetwear range that merges failed tech alongside traditional street sports. How about an Xbox coffee table while they’re at it?

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Microsoft Surface RT 32GB models sold out, back order pushed to 3 weeks, Microsoft Surface tablet gets priced – starts at $499 and could be released 26th October,