Viper SmartStart Siri Support Lets You Start Your Car with Your Voice

Viper is one of the better-know automotive accessory companies out there when it comes to keyless entry systems, remote starting systems, and car alarms. One of the coolest products the company offers is its Viper SmartStart system that uses your smartphone as the controller.

The system supports the iPhone and various Android devices. Viper has announced a new update specifically for iPhone users that adds compatibility with Siri.

smart start siri

The update only works for users that are using an iPhone 4S or an iPhone 5 running iOS 6. If you’re running a supported iPhone and the latest version of the operating system, you get Siri interaction that allows you to start your car using your voice. The update allows the user to launch the app using the phrase “SmartStart” and the app can be set to execute specific commands such as start the car when it opens. The updated app is available now.


Tech Deals of the Day: 10/18/2012

Our friends over at TechBargains.com compiled a list of daily deals and we wanted to share them to help you save money.

Keep in mind that as with any true deal, the products are limited quantity and can sell out quickly – so don’t hesitate to check them out now. Also if you’re looking to buy a product from a specific store, you save money with updated and verified coupon codes here.

Computers & Peripherals:

Home Entertainment:

Personal Electronics:


Hacked Pacemaker Transmitters Could Turn Pacemakers to Literal Heartstoppers

Pacemakers save millions of lives, but a security researcher has shown that they can be used to kill on a massive scale as well. Speaking at the Breakpoint security conference, Barnaby Jack of IO Active reverse engineered a pacemaker transmitter – a device like this one used to monitor installed pacemakers – eventually enabling him to wirelessly deliver 830v shocks to a pacemaker using his laptop. Yikes.

no pacemaker sign by library mistress

Image Credit: Library Mistress

Even worse, Jack warned that a hacked transmitter could control all pacemakers within 30ft. Aside from jolting people, the compromised device could also be used to read and write patient data or load infected firmware into a pacemaker. These infected firmware could even be made to jump and infect other pacemakers, extending a malicious attackers’ range and possibly resulting to mass murder. Jack says he demonstrated this flaw in order to warn pacemaker manufacturers to step up the security of their device. Let’s hope they do.

[via SC Magazine via DVICE]

 

 


Attention Economy: Driver Behind Twitter’s Acquisition of Video Firm Vine?

Attention Economy: Driver Behind Twitter's Acquisition of Video Firm Vine?Remember the political refrain “it’s the economy, stupid!” first uttered
in the 90′s by Bush the First and probably more applicable today then
it was then, as evidenced by the vitriol spewing all over the current
contentious presidential election campaigns?

Sensus iPhone 4/4S Touch Sensitive Case: iPhone Vita

The rear touch-panel is one of the most unique features of the Sony’s PS Vita. Now, a Minnesota-based company called Canopy wants to bring that same feature to the iPhone 4 and 4S with the Sensus, a protective case with built in capacitive touch sensors.

canopy sensus iphone 4 4s touch sensitive capacitive case

A rear touch-panel won’t be beneficial in all apps or situations because iOS apps weren’t made with this hardware in mind. That said, it could make some games more fun or playable and make it easier to look at documents. Canopy says the Sensus also has two built-in microprocessors to handle the gestures and touch input on the case, so there’s no additional burden on the iPhone’s own CPU.

If you pre-order Sensus right now you’ll only pay $39 (USD) (plus $7 shipping), significantly discounted from its $59 retail price. It seems like a product with a lot of potential, but still If I were you I’d hold off my purchase until we see more details, demos and support from app developers. Also, they need a version for the iPhone 5.

[via Joystiq]


Finger-Mounted Sensor & Camera: You Got the Touch

The explosion of touchscreen devices have not made the mouse obsolete. But what if you could use your finger as a mouse on any surface? That’s the point of Magic Finger, a concept device made by a team from Autodesk Research and the University of Toronto that can sense touch, motion and texture.

magic finger autodesk research

The Magic Finger is basically a micro RGB camera, an LED and an optical mouse sensor cobbled together. Talk about ripping off the mouse. Contrary to its name, the magic here seems to be in the software. Aside from letting you point and click on any surface, the camera can also recognize different textures, which the researchers use in a variety of ways, such as reading data, launching applications and controlling other devices. Watch the dorky demo in the video below:

I’m not too sold on the Magic Finger for a couple of reasons. First of all the Magic Finger is intrusive; the finger or hand wearing the device will be of limited use because you don’t want to damage the Magic Finger. Second, I don’t think the data matrix or the Morse code transfer is practical. That said, the shortcuts and its use as a mouse could be very practical. Perhaps those two functions could be integrated in a less intrusive device like Google Glass or Digits.

[via Autodesk Research via MAKE]


ContourROAM2: An HD Action Cam on the Cheap

Being an avid road racer, I own several cameras that are designed to use suction cup mounts and stick to a car when you’re racing on the track. One thing about those cameras is that they are generally $300 and up to get a decent HD resolution camera. Contour has announced a new camera called the ContourROAM2 that is a basic action camera costing under $200.

contour roam2 action cam

The lightweight (5.1 oz.), waterproof camera is available for pre-order in black, blue, red, and green for $199.99(USD). The main differences between the ROAM2 and its more expensive ($399.99) sibling, the Contour+2 is the lack of Bluetooth, GPS and HDMI outputs. It offers the ability to record full HD 1080p resolution video at 30 frames-per-second or 720p resolution video at 60 fps for slow-motion playback. It can also snap 5MP still photos at pre-determined intervals, ranging from 1 to 60 seconds. It’s also got a handy laser level built in for ensuring straight shots.

roam2

The ContouROAM2 is designed to be very easy to use with no power button and a sliding instant-on record switch. I can tell you from experience that trying to find the power button and hit record on an action camera can be a pain when you’re wearing gloves and cinched into a racing harness.

The camera ships with a 4 GB microSD card included, as well as a rotating and a flat-surface mount. The only downside is that this camera doesn’t include a suction cup mount for use in vehicles. The suction cup mount accessory is available for an additional $39.99.


Tech Deals of the Day: 10/17/2012

Our friends over at TechBargains.com compiled a list of daily deals and we wanted to share them to help you save money.

Keep in mind that as with any true deal, the products are limited quantity and can sell out quickly – so don’t hesitate to check them out now. Also if you’re looking to buy a product from a specific store, you save money with updated and verified coupon codes here.

Computers & Peripherals:

Home Entertainment:

Personal Electronics:


Bose Solo TV Puts Room-Filling Sound Under Your TV Set

A few years back, sound bars were a fairly uncommon way to listen to home theater audio. But recently, they’ve become as plentiful as any other low-cost home audio option. The problem with most soundbars is that they don’t offer much in the way of low-end, and they also have to sit in front of your fancy thin flat-panel TV. Bose has a new option which aims to solve both of these problems.

bose solo tv 1

The Bose Solo TV is an all-in-one home theater audio system that fits in a single box. By going with a deeper, sturdier cabinet than soundbars, the Solo TV has better bass and can be used as a stand for medium-sized TVs (up to 37-42″ max.) Or to be more precise, it’ll hold any TV with a stand no larger than 20″(W) x 10.25″(D), and no heavier than 40 pounds. It’ll also sit nicely on a console table underneath your larger, wall-mounted flat-screen.

bose solo tv 2

Under the hood, the Bose Solo has multiple full-range drivers and a dual-ported bass enclosure. Early reviews say that it does great with filling a reasonbly-sized room and offers crystal-clear dialogue. While bass isn’t as good as a dedicated subwoofer, it also takes up much less space. In terms of inputs, don’t expect the Solo to take over the job of an A/V receiver. It’s an audio-only device, and offers only digital optical, coax and analog RCA connections. Bose wants you to use your TV as the switching device, and leverage the audio output found on most modern HDTVs.

Keep in mind that this isn’t a surround-sound system – it’s just designed to give you much better sound than what’s built into your TV. If you’re in the market for a clean sounding living room home theater system, and don’t want to spend an arm or leg or have wires running all over the place, you can find the Bose Solo TV now for $399 (USD) over on Amazon.


Microsoft Surface Windows RT Tablet Price, Release Date and Specs Announced

Microsoft today announced the official details on availability and pricing for their hotly-anticipated Surface tablet. The first model available is the Surface RT, which runs Windows RT, and will initially ship in three configurations.

microsoft surface tablet

The 1.5 pound Surface RT tablet comes with a large 10.6″ ClearType HD screen at a 1366×768 resolution, offering 5-point multitouch input. Under the hood is a speedy NVIDIA T30 CPU, with 2GB of RAM. Connectivity is provided via 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi (with dual MIMO antennas) and Bluetooth 4.0. It’s got a pair of 720p cameras (front and rear-facing), as well as dual microphones, and stereo speakers. Ports include USB 2.0. a microSDXC card reader, a headphone jack and an HD video output port. Hardware also includes the requisite ambient light sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope and compass.

microsoft surface tablet 2

All that’s all loaded into a sexy and durable VaporMG case in dark titanium color, and a built-in kickstand. The OS that comes installed is Windows RT, and it comes pre-loaded with plenty of useful apps, including Mail, Messaging, Word, Power Point, Excel, OneNote, Internet Explorer 10, and apps for media playback, including Xbox Music, Xbox Video, and Xbox Games. Keep in mind that the Office 2013 apps are still a Preview edition, but you’ll be able to download the final Office Home & Student edition down the road. Also, you should know that the big limitation to Windows RT is that you can ONLY install apps downloaded from the Windows Store. If you want to run all your existing Windows desktop apps, you’ll want to wait for the more powerful and expensive (and heavier) Windows 8 Pro Surface, due out “soon”.

microsoft surface tablet 1

The Surface with Windows RT is available in limited quantities for pre-order starting today over at the Microsoft Store, and is priced at $499(USD) for the 32GB version, $599 for a 32GB version with a black Touch Cover keyboard, and $599 for the 64GB version, also with a black Touch Cover. Optional Touch Covers are available in black, white, magenta, cyan or red for $119.99, as well as a $129.99 black version with moving keys for a more tactile feel.

The first Surface RT tablets are expected to start arriving in homes as early as October 26th, and will be available at all U.S. and Canada Microsoft Stores starting on that date as well. Online sales will be available at the same time in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom.