2014 Chevrolet Impala Protects Your Gear and Data in a Hidden Cubby

Chevrolet has announced an cool new protection feature available in properly equipped 2014 Impala sedans. The feature is available on vehicles that have the Chevrolet MyLink system installed it features an eight-inch center stack display supporting touch. Behind that screen is a hidden storage locker that is large enough for items such as your smartphone, wallet, or iPod.

impala hide

The driver can set a four-digit PIN that prevents anyone from being able to see or access the items placed in the cubby, which is hidden behind the eight-inch touchscreen. Not only does that PIN number protect your items stashed away in your secret hiding place, it also protects the data stored in the infotainment system. When you enter your pin number, the system locks down your contacts and addresses preventing unauthorized people from viewing them, which provides additional protection when valet parking.

hidey hole 545x600

Chevrolet says that the idea is to make the hidden storage container similar to a hotel safe. When you enter the code, the screen slides up allowing you to access the storage space. Chevrolet says that the storage cubbt was made possible by moving the electronics for the MyLink system from behind the touchscreen to another part of the vehicle.

Tech Deals of the Day: 2/20/2013

Our friends at TechBargains.com compile a list of daily deals to help you save money. Keep in mind that as with any good deal, products are limited in quantity and can sell out quickly – so don’t hesitate to check them out now.

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3Doodler 3D Printing Pen: Your Sketch is Your Concept is Your Final Product

If you’re a fan of the Naruto manga or anime series, you’ll be familiar with Sai, a ninja whose specialty is making ink drawings come to life. WobbleWorks’ 3Doodler isn’t as awesome as that, but it still comes close. It’s a pen-shaped 3D printer that’s as easy to use as an ordinary pen. And although it’s not quite as cheap as a pen, it’s also the cheapest 3D printer yet.

3doodler worlds first 3d printing pen by wobbleworks

The 3Doodler works like a hot glue gun, except instead of glue it heats up ABS plastic, which quickly cools down as it exits the tip of the 3Doodler.

Pledge at least $75 (USD) on Kickstarter to reserve your own 3Doodler. This wonder gadget is one of the first big Kickstarter hits of 2013. It hit its target of $30,000 within hours and as of this writing has already garnered almost $600,000 in pledges and is still going strong. It’s easy to see why; this is undoubtedly a major breakthrough in bringing 3D printing to the masses.

With people as smart as the folks at WobbleWorks I am 100% sure that Sai’s technique will become real before I die. And that that technique will kill me.

[via Enpundit via Design You Trust]

 

Google Glass Pre-order Contest: Get Your Schizophrenic on

Want to be part of the very possible future? Google has just announced that they will be giving U.S. residents the chance to be the first to own a Google Glass, the company’s much-hyped wearable computer. But don’t belt out God Bless America just yet. You have to prove to Google that you really want to own their computer.

google glass

Aside from being a resident of the United States, in order to be eligible to pre-order (yes, you’re going to pay) the headset you have to be at least 18-years-old, and finally you have to answer a simple question: “What would you do if you had Glass?” You must answer the question in 50 words or less and send your answer to Google via a Google+ or Twitter account with the hashtag #ifihadglass. Google will then choose 8,000 applicants to become “Glass Explorers.” If you’re one of those people, you’ll still have to fork over $1,500 (USD) to finally get a Glass. So what do you get in exchange for all that trouble? Watch Google’s new video to find out:

Head to the Google Glass website for the full instructions of the contest. Be sure to read the FAQ and Terms as well so you don’t screw up your application. If any other company required you to join a contest for a chance to give them $1500 of your money, that company would have been laughed out of business. But this is Google we’re talking about, and the Glass looks like no mere product.

[Google via Acquire]

Lytro Light Field Camera: Focusing Not An Issue

Lytro CamerasHate getting out-of-focus images? The Lytro camera lets you shoot first, worry about focusing later.

FIFA to use goal-line tech at 2014 World Cup

The 2014 World Cup will be held in Brazil next year, and FIFA has confirmed that goal-line technology will be used for all the games. After a successful trial at last year’s Club World Cup, FIFA has decided to use the new technology during this year’s 2013 Confederations Cup and the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

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Of course, while the implementation of this goal-line tech, which will help referees to see if a ball crossed the goal line, has been a debated subject for a long time now, mostly because it could undermine the authority of referees, but many are advocating for the technology as well, saying that it could reverse bad judgement made by an official.

Unlike American football, though, soccer (or known as just “football” everywhere but the US) doesn’t use replays to reverse calls, so if a referee disallows a goal, and the replay later on shows clearly that it was a goal, the call can’t be reversed. The same system is implemented in baseball, but as far as MLB rules go, umpires can only reverse calls that deal with home runs.

A final decision as to what contractor FIFA will go with will be finalized in April. From there, all the decisions will be made, and goal-line technology will be a go. It’ll be interesting to see how it works out and what the reception will be like when finally introducing the tech in games. It should make the World Cup a fairer game and reduce the number of human errors from the referees, but we’ll see how it plays out.

[via The Next Web]

Image via Flickr


FIFA to use goal-line tech at 2014 World Cup is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
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Mycestro Wearable 3D Mouse: Cursor Conductor

Wearable mice have been done before, but Nick Mastandrea’s Mycestro might be the best implementation of the form factor yet. Like other wearable mice, Mycestro – it’s pronounced “mice-tro”, get it? – is designed to be worn on your index finger. But instead of a small trackpad, Mycetro lets you control your cursor by waving your finger around.

mycestro 3d mouse by nick mastandrea

If it seems like a stupid idea to you, temper your cynicism. Mycestro can be calibrated and it’s sensitive enough to read even small movements. You don’t have to emulate an orchestra conductor to move your cursor around. Aside from tracking motion, the Mycetro also has touch-sensitive left-, right- and middle-click buttons. You can swipe your thumb along those three buttons to scroll up or down.

Mycestro is also designed to activate only when your thumb is touching it, so you don’t have to worry about your cursor running wild while you move your hand about. That smart feature should also help conserve its battery, which lasts up to 8 hours and can be recharged via USB.

The Mycestro can also be used with devices that support Bluetooth 4.0. Here’s a brief demo of the Mycestro being used to control an Internet-connected TV:

Here Nick shows how it can be used to control Solidworks CAD software.

Pledge at least $79 (USD) on Kickstarter to reserve a Mycestro. It seems like a decent alternative to the traditional mouse, but I am curious if the Leap sensor – which is cheaper yet more versatile than the Mycestro – will render it obsolete. Then again it is more portable and has its touch-sensitive hardware going for it.

[via Digital Trends]

Autodesk 123D Creature 3D Character Design App: from Your iPad to Your Pad

In case you’ve forgotten the power and versatility of today’s mobile devices, Autodesk’s 123D Creature app will be one hell of a reminder. The app has all you need to create your own 3D character, from building a skeleton to sculpting and painting and even ordering a 3D print of your creation. Now you can create alien genitalia monsters wherever you are.

autodesk 123d creature ipad app

Watch the demo to get a better idea of what you can do with the app:

How awesome it that? Seriously. It’s like reverse Skylanders. Can you imagine showing this to a kid who loves to doodle and draw monsters? You’ll vaporize his very soul with this revelation. Good luck explaining that to his parents. Unfortunately for Android users, Autodesk 123D Creature is only available for the iPad. Get it from the iTunes App Store (link opens iTunes) for $1.99 (USD).

[via Autodesk via SketchBook]

Tech Deals of the Day: 2/19/2013

Our friends at TechBargains.com compile a list of daily deals to help you save money. Keep in mind that as with any good deal, products are limited in quantity and can sell out quickly – so don’t hesitate to check them out now.

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Vacuum Tube Flash Drives Combine Old School, New School Tech

I’ve already got more flash drives than I know what to do with, but every once in a while I’ll see some that I need to add to my seemingly endless collection anyway. With these cool flash drives made out of old vacuum tubes, you’ll be able to send your data back in time.

red vacuum tube flash drive

They’re made by Latvian steampunk artist Slava Tech, and use old Pentode tubes as containers for USB flash memory. The coolest part is how they glow from the red, green or blue LED inside. It would be really cool if he made one with an orange LED for a more authentic look, though the red one is pretty close.

blue vacuum tube flash drive

Each one is based on a high quality SanDisk flash drive, set into an old Russian vacuum tube from the 1980s, and accented with copper details.

green vacuum tube flash drive

Prices for the vacuum tube flash drives range from $69 to $79(USD), and they’re currently available in either 8GB or 16GB storage options.