Hasta La Gadget!

We don’t often jailbreak our iPhones to test apps, but a facial recognition unlock tool seemed a worthy excuse, so we gave it a shot. RecognizeMe uses the front-facing camera in your iPhone 4 (and iPad 2, eventually) to unlock the phone for its owner. Unfortunately, it also unlocked the device for Brian Heater (center), our resident 900 number enthusiast, and Bianca Bosker, Huff Po‘s tech editor and our only other friend in the newsroom. The app includes a setting for verification threshold, so we played around with that, trying a dozen times to get the app to ignore Brian, but even at 80 percent it was recognizing both of us (65 percent was the cutoff for Bianca). Bumping the threshold up to 100 percent finally locked Brian out, but at that level, the device wouldn’t unlock for anyone, making it totally secure — and totally busted. Verification took a full 25 seconds to timeout (compared to 5-15 seconds to grant access at lower levels, depending on lighting conditions), so using this app requires p-a-t-i-e-n-c-e. At this point, RecognizeMe is a $7 gimmick that might impress your grandmother (assuming she doesn’t ask to try it herself), but if you need to keep your device under lock and key, a tried-and-true passcode is still the way to go.

Continue reading RecognizeMe unlocks your jailbroken iPhone using your face, anyone else’s (video)

RecognizeMe unlocks your jailbroken iPhone using your face, anyone else’s (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 May 2011 12:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple customers with Macs, displays, and iOS devices that were directly damaged in the Japan earthquake and tsunami may be eligible for free repairs. The offer, posted on the company’s Japanese website, excludes iPod classic, nano, and shuffle, and only applies to customers living in areas covered by the Ministry of Health’s Disaster Relief Act. Originally posted in March, Apple’s announcement joins Softbank’s offer to replace lost iPhones registered to its network, and free calls to Japan from U.S. carriers, among others. Considering water and other accidental damage typically voids a device’s warranty, you’ll want to give AppleCare a call soon — the acceptance period only runs through June 30th.

Apple offers free repairs for iPhones, other products damaged in Japan quake originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 May 2011 12:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yup, it’s here — the moment all (eight) of you have been waiting for. The Apple iPad 2 finally hit the ColorWare config tool, so you can play around with that palette and make something just as hideous as we have here. And, if you feel so inclined, you can even add the thing to your cart, hand over $910 (for the base 16GB WiFi config) and wait “about 4 weeks” for your creation to arrive in the mail. While you’re at it, pick up a pair of limited edition chrome Beats. We’re shocked to see that they’re still in stock, given that modest $1,000 price tag.

Continue reading ColorWare takes the green from your wallet and puts it on your iPad 2 (video)

ColorWare takes the green from your wallet and puts it on your iPad 2 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 May 2011 17:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Given Apple’s track record of adopting newfangled technologies — you know, like SD slots — we’re going to go ahead and assume Steve Jobs & Co. aren’t planning on adding a 3D display to the iPad anytime soon. Now that you’ve swallowed that distasteful dose of reality, NewSight Japan is inviting you to mod it yourself in a way thankfully doesn’t involve performing open-heart surgery on your magical slate. The solution — whose name we can’t decipher on the company’s Japanese website — combines software with a film placed over the display (not to worry, this won’t impede mulltitouch gestures). Unfortunately, it doesn’t flip 2D images to 3D, so those operating sans a 3D-enabled camera or conversion software are apt to be sorely disappointed. That said, it’d fit right into a utopian universe where 3D movie downloads were the norm.

Continue reading NewSight Japan uses film, software to give the iPad a 3D display… sort of (video)

NewSight Japan uses film, software to give the iPad a 3D display… sort of (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 20:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The new Cablevision iPad app is out, taking on broadcasters (Fox, Discovery, Viacom) attacking Time Warner’s live TV streaming TWCable TV app by offering subscribers the same channels as their iO TV package and video on demand. The Optimum for iPad app also includes the ability to set up DVR recordings, delete recorded shows and browse TV listings, although it doesn’t act as a direct remote for the cable box. The last time Fox and Cablevision squared off subscribers couldn’t watch their shows on Hulu or two games of the World Series which, along with a long battle over network DVRs, suggests the cable company is prepared to dig its heels in deep on this issue. Multichannel News points out subscribers need at least one cable box to make use of the new app and the TOS states it can only be used within the customer’s residence. Subscribers suitably equipped can grab the app at the iTunes link below, check out pics in the gallery or a video demo by a user embedded after the break.

Update: Now we have the press release and fact sheet from Cablevision (included after the break) so here it is by the numbers: 300 channels, can be registered on up to three iPads per account and used on any two simultaneously. Remote control functions are scheduled for the summer, and the company states that since it is delivering channels over the digital cable network and not the internet (no ‘net service required) it believes this use is covered by existing carriage agreements.

[Thanks, johnnydop, jcdesimp & Michael]

Continue reading Cablevision Optimum for iPad app now available, streams hundreds of TV channels plus VOD

Cablevision Optimum for iPad app now available, streams hundreds of TV channels plus VOD originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 02 Apr 2011 12:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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