Google TV team focuses on third party content, second screen apps as I/O approaches
The slow-starting
Google TV project has gotten a lot of attention at the
last two Google I/O conferences, so what do the folks at Mountain View have up their sleeves
this time around? Judging by recent updates to the Google Developers support pages, a major focus will be on helping third party devs create apps full of content, as well as control and information apps for mobiles or tablets. Recently the Anymote Android library for remote apps and related documentation was published, which the developer of the popular Able Remote app confirmed could assist devs in expanding upon Google's existing app, while subsequent additions to the FAQ library address HTML5 and more. On deck for Google I/O sessions are Bring Your App To The Big Screen, Get Your Content On Google TV and Command and Control in Your Living Room: Building Second Screen App for Google TV. Recently, apps like the one for Al Jazeera have been updated to bring more video to Google's platform, so with the rumored SDK (and HDTV) from Apple still missing in action, we'll wait and see if the third time's the charm for Google TV.
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Nokia Reaction Bluetooth headset slips out: 'acoustic' design packs ear detection, noise reduction (video)
While it hasn't gone public on Nokia's own site, its YouTube channel has thrown up a video of a new Bluetooth headset. The device,
like previous Nokia inventions, can be paired to phones through NFC and also automatically transfer and answer incoming calls when it senses it's near your ear. It packs in three separate mics, background noise cancellation and "automatic volume control" that aims to forgo screaming into the earpiece. We'll update with more details once we hear from Nokia. Take a peak at the device after the break -- and sigh at the sight of the ill-fated
Nokia N9.
Continue reading Nokia Reaction Bluetooth headset slips out: 'acoustic' design packs ear detection, noise reduction (video)
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Samsung says Facebook project rumor 'groundless'
Samsung has stated that it's not planning to offer a social network along the lines of Facebook. Previously referred to as
Samsung Facebook, the company reiterates that it'll continue to offer its own Family Story service on its devices -- and its working to upgrade the experience. However, this will remain "far from a Samsung Facebook."
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FCC says it's running out of identification codes, promises to make room for new devices
All those fancy slabs
sneaking their way through federal inspection take their toll, and the friendly folks at the FCC are starting to feel it. According to an official statement from the Federal Communications Commission, it's receiving applications for more wireless device authorizations than ever before, and it's exhausting its pool of identification codes. In addition to expanding its allotment of identifier codes for companies requesting equipment authorization, the feds also considering new ways to improve the authorization process, such as clarifying administrative requirements. The bottom line? We won't see any shortage of devices breaking through the federal lines any time soon. Check out the
FCC's official statement after the break.
Continue reading FCC says it's running out of identification codes, promises to make room for new devices
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Sharp Labs Europe develops portable microfluidic chip that completes blood tests in minutes
In partnership with the University of Southampton, Sharp Labs Europe is developing a mobile
lab-on-a-chip that spits out results in minutes, potentially putting the test result waiting game to an end. Using microelectronics found in LCDs, the programmable microfluidic square splits microliters of blood -- and potentially other fluids -- into smaller droplets which it subjects to controlled chemical reactions. A single blood sample can be used for multiple tests, so there's no need to endure a
barrage of pricks. Folks anxious for snappier lab results may need to sit tight, however, as it could be five to ten years before the device settles into your doctor's office. In the meantime, head past the break to get the scientific lowdown from Sharp Research Supervisor Ben Hadwen.
Continue reading Sharp Labs Europe develops portable microfluidic chip that completes blood tests in minutes
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Nikon debuts new 18-300mm VR lens, brings highest zoom range yet to its DSLRs
The latest telephoto zoom lens from Nikon packs in the highest zoom ratio we've seen on an APS-C or DX lens. The
Nikkor 18-300mm f/3.5-5/6 G ED VR cranks up the zoom to 16.7X, but pairs this with the aperture range of its existing telephoto lenses, ready for some bokeh-heavy close-ups. You'll be paying for that
superzoom privilege, however, as the lens is set to arrive later this month, commanding a $1,000 premium. It's joined by a new standard-zoom lens, the FX-compatible Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 ED VR, which also arrives later this month, priced at $600.
Continue reading Nikon debuts new 18-300mm VR lens, brings highest zoom range yet to its DSLRs
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Nokia to acquire Scalado, build a better Lumia (Updated)
Scalado has more than a few
tricks squirreled away in its mobile imaging bag, tricks that have served the likes of
HTC and
RIM well. Now,
Espoo want those tricks all to itself. After working with the Swedish firm for years, Nokia has decided to take its partnership with Scalado to the next level: acquisition. The imaging outfit will be turning over its developers, intellectual property, technology and moniker over to Nokia in the third quarter of 2012 -- although the terms of the deal are confidential. Finland's favorite smartphone manufacturer plans to use Scalado's technology to enhance "imaging experiences for
Nokia Lumia devices." Sounds good to us. Check out the official (and brief) press release after the break.
Update: Nokia has contacted us to amend its original statement somewhat. While it's acquiring the imaging company's developers, technologies and IP portfolio, it's not buying the company outright. We suspect that this is more a quirk of company law -- since Scalado still has obligations with HTC and RIM, it can't leave them in the lurch. We've included the follow-up statement after the jump.
Continue reading Nokia to acquire Scalado, build a better Lumia (Updated)
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Nokia 'sharpens strategy' by dropping three executives, laying off 10,000 and dumping Vertu
Nokia is still trying to turn things around after a
slew of losses, and has made some tough decisions about how to move forward by announcing it will reduce staff by up to 10,000 people before the end of 2013. That's all part of a plan to close factories in Finland, Germany and Canada. as well as refocusing its marketing efforts, streamlining support staff and reducing "non-core" assets. Also on the outs are three executives including chief marketing officer Jerri Devard, executive VP of mobile phones Mary McDowell and executive VP of markets Niklas Savander who will step down from the company's Leadership Team effective June 30th. Replacing them July 1st are executive VP of mobile phones Timo Toikkanen, executive VP of sales and marketing Chris Weber and senior VP of communications Susan Sheehan.
Additionally, it has sold the luxury brand
Vertu to private equity group EQT VI in a deal that is expected to close during the second half of the year leaving just 10 percent of it in Nokia's hands. That's not the end of the bad news either, as Nokia will take a charge of 1 billion Euros ($1.3 billion) by the end of 2013 as a result of the restructuring and its efforts to return to profitability. Investments going forward including
buying imaging company Scalado, extending its mapping technology to "multiple industries" and pushing more Series 40 and Series 30 devices. Check the press releases after the break for all the numbers and details currently available before it reports Q2 earnings July 19th, and we also may be able to glean more info from a call scheduled for 8AM ET.
Continue reading Nokia 'sharpens strategy' by dropping three executives, laying off 10,000 and dumping Vertu
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Bose SoundLink Air speaker with WiFi spoiled by the FCC, bank accounts brace for impact
Bose's ventures into wireless audio for mobile devices have so far either been
proprietary or
portable -- and often expensive. We're not sure if
Bose will ever dodge that last claim, but an FCC filing has just revealed that a more standardized approach to wireless speakers is on the way. Not much more is known about the speaker other than its SoundLink Air name; that said, an unmistakable mention of WiFi on the early label suggests a speaker that could potentially play well with others. We're hoping that it's an allusion to
AirPlay, DLNA or another format many of our devices already use. Whatever technology it runs, the new SoundLink will be comparatively close to a launch after passing through the FCC, even if our bank balances aren't ready for the hit.
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Motrr Galileo nets $700k in Kickstarter pledges, available to pre-order now for $117
Perhaps you were discouraged by the uncertainty that
comes along with a Kickstarter pledge, or you simply missed your chance to give Motrr's Galileo
an $85 kick before the deadline hit. Whatever the reason, you're still in luck -- the iOS-controlled iPhone platform is now available for a proper pre-order, with a 10-percent discount and free shipping in tow. Galileo, which netted a whopping $702,427 in
Kickstarter funding, could soon be on its way to a nursery or conference room near you, for the slightly increased sum of $116.99. That Benjamin and change will buy you one 360-degree rotating platform, complete with a rechargeable battery, USB cable, tripod screw and user manual. There's no word on when this latest round of pre-orders will be filled, but the company did confirm that it plans to ship the first batch this summer. Full deets (and pre-order option) are at the source link after the break.
Continue reading Motrr Galileo nets $700k in Kickstarter pledges, available to pre-order now for $117
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Condition One immerses iPads and iPhones in 180-degree video, shakes up dreary apps (video)
Video in
tablet magazines and similar apps sometimes -- okay, often -- comes across as a grafted-on extra. Condition One, a startup by war photographer Danfung Dennis, wants to make video an intrinsic part of the experience by taking advantage of the motion sensors in smartphones and tablets. Video shot from a
DSLR or similar camera is converted into a 180-degree format that you can swipe or tilt through on an iOS device to get a more involving look. It's a lot more lively than plain movies, and Dennis sees the technique being used for documentaries and tours where it would help to put viewers directly in the action. Producers only need off-the-shelf hardware and software, too. There's a show-off app at the source link to get an overall sense of what the footage is like, but if you're looking for the first official projects, a pilot project has just started that's bringing apps from Discovery,
Mercedes-Benz,
Popular Science (below),
The Guardian and XL Recordings.
Continue reading Condition One immerses iPads and iPhones in 180-degree video, shakes up dreary apps (video)
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Time Warner Cable starts rolling out lightly refreshed guide with new color scheme, cloud VOD search
While it's definitely good news that Time Warner Cable is revisiting its Navigator guide
again, the bad news is that at least in terms of appearance, very little has changed. The screenshots above show the
old guide (left) next to the new one (right) and as you can see, other than a color scheme adjustment to match its new
apps, things are almost entirely the same. In terms of functional adjustments, names have changed for some of the menus, and now the A button on the remote pulls up channels listed by category, the B button searches by title and the select button lets you know if features like
Start Over,
Look Back or VOD are available. According to
CED Magazine, the guide's (slight) facelift also goes hand in hand with a new cloud-based video on-demand portal that includes with richer graphics and metadata, as a prelude to more
cloud-provided navigation and IPTV set-top boxes. So far we're seeing notes that the new guide is being delivered in Syracuse and Charlotte, if you haven't received it yet Time Warner Cable says it will be running newspaper ads ahead of the change in each area -- people still read newspapers, right?
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Redesigned YouTube rolling out to some users, reflects the influence of Google+
From the looks of this screenshot posted by one of our readers, it appears
YouTube is testing a new homepage styled more like the look that
recently rolled out on Google+. The current default look
rolled out last winter with more focus on channels and social integration, while this new facade features more white space and list of channels and friends to the side. We asked YouTube about the new look and a spokesperson issued a boilerplate statement about experimenting with ways to help users find the videos that are important to them. The statement in full is after the break, however the key part is that they're listening to user feedback so take a close look at this pic and the rest at the source link below then let us (and Google) know what you think.
[Thanks, M.B. Goro]
Continue reading Redesigned YouTube rolling out to some users, reflects the influence of Google+
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HTC drops federal appeal of ITC complaint exonerating Apple, more arrows remain in the quiver
HTC was understandably upset when its first ITC complaint against Apple was
tossed out. The company must have since decided that it has bigger fish to fry, as it was just granted a motion to dismiss its federal-level appeal. The choice isn't a defeat so much as an acknowledgment that
other disputes are underway which stand a better chance of surviving scrutiny. As it stands, HTC already has more appeals either on deck or in progress that it will more likely want to pursue, such as the
dispute over using Google's patents as well as its
off-again, on-again acquisition target S3 Graphics' loss at the ITC last year. Apple, naturally,
hasn't been waiting around.
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Microsoft details the People app, its cloud-connected address book for Windows 8
If you've yet to try the Release Preview of
Windows 8 for yourself, fear not, because along with
our detailed impressions, Microsoft is catering to your trepidation with a series of blog entries on its MSDN site that explore the nitty-gritty details of its latest OS. In the latest installment, we're given an in-depth preview of the People app, a cloud-connected address book that promises to be one of the many centerpieces in the Metro environment. For starters,
Windows Phone users are bound to feel right at home, as the address book relies on cloud services to populate the entries from sources such as Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Microsoft and Twitter. Not only does this ensure that one's address book is always accessible and up-to-date -- friend removals come to mind -- it also brings quick access to social feeds via the "What's new" section and lets you keep tabs on specific contacts via live tiles on the home screen.
By leveraging APIs known as contracts, Windows 8 makes the address book available to other apps such as Mail and Messaging, along with other programs written to take advantage of the service. One of the hurdles
Microsoft is working to overcome with its cloud-connected services are the inevitable duplicate contacts. Currently, Windows 8 does a pretty good job of identifying and linking multiple accounts to one individual, but for the rare exceptions, the company will soon add the ability to manually edit and link various accounts to specific contacts. Naturally, with such a connected approach, security could be an issue for businesses, and for this reason, one's Exchange contacts will not be synced with their Microsoft account. In this scenario, users must manually add their Exchange accounts for each device they use. Take one look at the length of the MSDN blog entry and you'll be left wondering how Microsoft employees find time to code, but it makes for a worthwhile read.
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Developer teases iOS apps running on BlackBerry PlayBook, stops short of releasing the software (video)
Sometimes, it's much more rewarding simply to appreciate a technical achievement rather than worry about its legal or practical implications. That philosophy couldn't be more true for the travails of businesscat2000, whose handiwork has made it possible to run
iOS apps on the
BlackBerry PlayBook. The developer likens his project to WINE, which doesn't do hardware emulation, but rather relies on a custom set of APIs to make the wheel go round. While the software was initially greeted with a heavy degree of skepticism, businesscat2000 has since risen to the challenge of
CrackBerry, and not only has he personally demonstrated the software, he's shown its ability to run a wide array of apps -- one specifically at the behest of
CrackBerry, which belongs to its sister site,
iMore. For the moment, the implementation isn't perfect, particularly if the app relies on Apple's UIWebView or CoreData frameworks. For those curious, businesscat2000 has yet to make the software publicly available, although he's expressed a bit of interest. It remains to be seen whether this project will ever see the light of day, but feel free to peek the videos below and scour the
CrackBerry forums, where you can learn more of the technical details and dream of what may never be.
[Thanks, @mosologist]
Continue reading Developer teases iOS apps running on BlackBerry PlayBook, stops short of releasing the software (video)
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Yamaha gets Fuji TV into InfoSound, to bring acoustic data transmission apps to tablets and phones
Remember Yamaha's InfoSound technology? If not, well, it's a bit of black magic that shoots data wirelessly to devices using an inaudible (to humans, anyway) 18kHz signal emitted from a speaker and received via microphone. Yamaha came up with the idea back before the ubiquity of
WiFi-enabled TVs, and now it's partnered up with
Fuji Television Network to develop apps for phones and tablets that use the tech. Keep in mind, InfoSound has a fairly short range (33 feet) and maxes out with a data rate of only 80 bits per second, so you won't be streaming sound or video. That said, it's a fat enough pipe to send out hyperlinks, so the apps seem destined for use in retail outlets and in conjunction with digital signage to make it easy for folks to navigate to websites or receive store coupons. Further details are few and far between for now, but what info we do have can be found in the PR after the break.
Continue reading Yamaha gets Fuji TV into InfoSound, to bring acoustic data transmission apps to tablets and phones
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MIT engineers develop glucose-based fuel cell to be used in neural implants
We've seen fuel cells used in a variety of gadgets -- from
cars to
portable chargers -- and while medical devices aren't exactly at the top of the list, they're yet another application for these mini power sources. MIT engineers are turning to sugar to make fuel cells for powering brain implants. The scientists developed cells that use platinum to strip electrons from glucose molecules found in a patient's cerebrospinal fluid to create a small electric current. The fuel cells are fabricated on a silicon chip so they can interface with other circuits in a brain implant. The prototype can generate up to hundreds of micro watts, which is enough to power neural implants used to help paralyzed patients move their limbs. Mind you, this technology is years away from making it to market. The next step will be proving that the devices work in animals, which reminds us of one
Ricky the rat, who survived a biofuel cell implant back in 2010.
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Skype rolls visual ads during some Windows calls, wonders what the hang up is
Skype has been raising the prospect of ads during calls for some time, and has already been running
between-call ads before that, but now it's taking more definitive action. As of today,
Skype for Windows users who don't have any credit their accounts will see -- thankfully, not hear -- ads during pure Skype-to-Skype voice conversations. The
ads won't disrupt calls or take over the interface, but the company's attempt to spin location-targeted sales pitches as a way to "generate fun interactivity" between callers isn't exactly leaving us warm and fuzzy. There's no mention of whether or not Mac or mobile users will get the ads as well -- not that there's exactly a rush to embrace them or the "additional commercial experiences" coming in the future.
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Twitter brings expanded news tweets to the web, makes skimming articles all too easy (update: Lytro too)
While
Twitter has had expanded tweets for photos and videos, it's been necessary to click through to full news articles to see any of their content, sometimes even for the headline. A newly-launched update to the desktop and mobile web versions of Twitter is making that at-a-glance reading easier. Major traditional outlets like the
New York Times,
Der Spiegel or
Time now show a brief snippet of an article when the linking tweet is given a click. More Internet-focused sources such as
BuzzFeed and
TMZ are also in the batch, and videos from the likes of BET and Dailymotion will play in-line. Android and iPhone users will see the same expansion from their native apps in the near future, although we're already weeping quietly for attention spans everywhere.
Update: If you're craving shots taken with a
Lytro camera, the company has
revealed that its interactive, infinite-focus photos are included in the expanded tweet collection.
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Rascal Micro hands-on (video)
Not far from the bustling labs of
Northeastern University is the even more bustling hacker space known as Artisan's Asylum. The roughly 30,000 square foot complex is home to more than 100 makers, tinkerers and artists who building all sorts of crazy contraptions. One of the less ostentatious projects being worked on within its cavernous halls though, is the Rascal Micro. This tiny board is home to an ARM-based SOC and has its hungry, open-sourced eyes on competitors like
Arduino and Beagle. Brandon Stafford, the creator, boiled down its primary selling points to this: "it's maybe 25 times faster, has 1,000 times more storage." Where as the Arduino excels at making things blink, move or Tweet, the Rascal Micro has enough power to function as a full-fledged web server.
Continue reading Rascal Micro hands-on (video)
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Google shows off high-res Chrome browser for Retina MacBooks, hitting Canary channel first
As we noted in our
review, the downside of the super high DPI displays Apple is shipping in its
latest MacBook Pro is that non-retina display friendly apps don't look so good, but Google's already working on changing that for its
Chrome browser. In a blog post the team showed off the image above with a comparison on what the high res edition will look like compared to its current counterpart based on "early results." Users on the bleeding-edge Canary channel should see the upgrades first, with more rolling out over the next few weeks and eventually reaching wider audiences as they go along. Of course, if you couldn't wait to pre-order the absolute latest Mac hardware after it hit the stage at
WWDC (and aren't diving headlong into the refreshed world of
Safari), we're figuring jumping on a somewhat untested version of this popular browser is hardly out of the question.
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Orbitsound announces T9 iPhone-friendly soundbar, we go ears on
You may remember seeing Orbitsound's T12 iPod dock / soundbar pop up in our
summer buyer's guide. Today, the firm's just unveiled the latest in its product family: the Orbitsound T9. As you'll see, it's a very similar deal, but with an obvious difference -- its size. At 300mm (about 12") across, it's almost exactly half the length of its bigger brother (605mm) -- but not everything is a straight cut down the middle. Power-wise, this diminutive dock has a power output of 140W RMS (split 80 on the subwoofer, 35 on the front speakers and 25 on the sides,) and carries the same in- and output options. That means optical, line (phono and 3.5mm) and an iDevice connector going in, and a composite video (for piping those movies on your iPhone to your telly) in the other direction. The included subwoofer helps the device perform the dual roles of iPod dock, and TV soundbar. It's launching in mid-July in UK retailers, and internationally online for £200 / $249. Luckily, we managed to get our hands on one of the first production models, and took it for a spin, so boogie on past the break for our impressions.
Continue reading Orbitsound announces T9 iPhone-friendly soundbar, we go ears on
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Vodafone creates a signal-boosting, solar-charging umbrella to juice your cellphone whatever the weather
Vodafone has created the Booster Brolly, an
umbrella that boosts your signal, charges your handset and can even keep you dry during the traditionally aqueous British summer. Developed by Dr Kenneth Tong at
University College London, it's designed around a
carbon fiber skeleton which holds a heavy-duty canopy in place. On top, there's 12 hand-stitched silicon solar cells which charge a battery stored in the handle. It'll reportedly charge your handset in around three hours via the handle-mounted USB port, while on top, a pair of high gain antennae enhance the signals of any cellphone within a meter radius. It'll be unveiled to the public at large at the Isle of Wight festival on June 22nd, where hordes of people will hope that the company starts selling this
publicity and electricity generating canopy.
Continue reading Vodafone creates a signal-boosting, solar-charging umbrella to juice your cellphone whatever the weather
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Nintendo's Miyamoto: we're focused on a 3DS sequel, not a refresh
Every gamer knows the
Nintendo handheld routine: there's always one major new model followed by
endless revisions as the console legend improves whatever was flaky in the original. Right? If so,
Mario maker
Shigeru Miyamoto may be breaking that streak. He tells
IGN that he's "satisfied" with
the 3DS' hardware and that current thought at Nintendo is swinging towards a true replacement. That puts at least a momentary damper on
Nikkei's claims of an
extra-large 3DS coming soon, but it's good news for gamers used to waiting several years between major platform generations. With Nintendo
taking a bruising from smartphones and tablets, new hardware likely can't come quickly enough.
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NASA's black hole-hunting NuSTAR mission launched today
The
black hole-hunting telescope NASA announced last month launched from Kwajalein Atoll in the central Pacific Ocean today. The $165 million NuSTAR mission will spend two years scouring the universe for black holes by scanning X-ray light at higher energies than its predecessors. According to
Space.com, NuSTAR will especially target high-energy regions of the universe where "matter is falling onto black holes, as well as the leftovers from dead stars after they've exploded in supernovas." Head on past the break for a video of the launch and click through to the source link for more details and images.
Continue reading NASA's black hole-hunting NuSTAR mission launched today
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Nokia 808 PureView arrives fashionably late in India, 41MP in tow
After initially
announcing it would come in May, and then dropping a countdown
red herring, the PureView is finally opening its big 808-eye in India today. The 41MP camera (and phone!) lands with a 33,899 Rupee ($600) MSRP, depending on your barter skills. The PureView might not be a spec heavyweight, with its single-core 1.3GHz chip, 512MB RAM and 360 x 640 display, but we still
found it hummed along smartly with its nimble Symbian Belle OS. For those of you who've already set the cash aside, might be time to call that Indian friend.
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Dual GamePad support won't be coming to Nintendo Wii U until 'well after launch'
Contrary to
what we'd heard, it seems as if you and your friends won't be able to enjoy some of that dual GamePad play on
Nintendo's upcoming Wii U -- at least not until some time
after the novel gaming console launches later "
this holiday." During an interview with
Gamasutra,
Reggie Fils-Aime (Nintendo of America President) said, "Games need to be built that can take advantage of the two GamePad controllers" and that "it's going to be well after launch for those game experiences to come to life." According to Fils-Aine, developers will have to first place all their focus on "asymetric gameplay," before eventually adding support for two GamePads on their titles. Notably, the revelation comes shortly after he himself confirmed the Wii U GamePad
won't be featuring any multi-touch capabilities. Not all is lost, however, you'll just have to wait it out a little longer than expected, or make due with one of those Wii remotes you have laying around in the meantime.
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Amazon updates Kindle app for Android with improved tablet support
It's not exactly the biggest of updates, but Android tablet users who do a lot of reading in the Kindle app will likely be pleased with what the latest version has to offer. The big addition is the ability to view two pages side-by-side in landscape mode (as seen above). Otherwise, you'll now find additional options for margin and spacing controls, along with a number of bug fixes (including one for a pesky problem that required you to re-register when returning to the app).
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Linus Torvalds shares Millennium Technology Prize with pioneering stem cell scientist
It's not often we see Linux creator
Linus Torvalds in a tux (as opposed to with a
Tux), but he had a good reason to ditch the casual look this week. He was just named as the co-recipient of the 2012 Millennium Technology Prize (often referred to as the "tech Nobel"), an award that he shares with pioneering stem cell scientist Dr. Shinya Yamanaka -- the two will also each get an equal cut of €1.2 million prize fund. Torvalds was of course recognized for the creation of Linux itself, with Dr. Ainomaija Haarla of Technology Academy Finland (the prize's organizers) noting that Torvalds' work "has kept the web open for the pursuit of knowledge and for the benefit of humanity -- not simply for financial interests." What's more, Torvalds also sat down for a fairly in-depth interview with the BBC for the occasion, in which he talks about Linux at length and offers a few thoughts on Google, Microsoft and Raspberry Pi -- you can find it at the link below.
[Image credit: Millennium Technology Prize]
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Kodak can't dismiss Apple's claims on patents, gets clearance to sell those patents regardless
Apple might have been
denied a lawsuit against Kodak while the former camera maker is in bankruptcy, but that hasn't kept it from winning in court. A Manhattan judge has tossed a Kodak attempt to dismiss Apple's claims that it, not Kodak, owns 10 of those patents through collaborative work back in the
QuickTake days. The ruling explicitly clears Kodak to
sell the patents to the highest bidder and gives it a quicker path to recovery. However, the compromise also sends a warning to any potential buyers that Apple might have a stake in patents that change hands -- a decision that will either push
Kodak to set some money aside or risk sticking a potential buyer with the bill. While who owns what is still up for debate, Kodak likely isn't eager to have another Sword of Damocles over its head that risks scaring away much-needed patent buyers.
[Image credit: Pittaya Sroilong,
Flickr]
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HTC: we won't delve into low-end smartphones in the near future
If you were hoping that
HTC would dip into the realm of budget smartphones -- the kind that make a
Desire C look precious -- you'll have to look elsewhere. In a chat with the
Wall Street Journal, CEO Peter Chou has drawn a line in the sand that will keep his company building mid-range and high-end smartphones like the
One S for the time being. The kind of material compromises needed to hit those bottom-range prices would sully HTC's good name, he says. Not that Chou has reason to be worried. Shipments in mainland China, where a sub-¥1,000 ($158) price helps companies like
ZTE, are expected to triple in 2012 and just might prove HTC right. That's still a considerable gamble given that it's having trouble
keeping its high-end phones in stores for reasons other than sheer demand.
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Wall Street Journal |
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Insert Coin: The Aviator Travel Jib lets you crane on the go (video)
In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line.
The Aviator Travel Jib can give you the smooth camera moves to make your spectacle go from meh to marvel, while still being light enough to schlep around. At less than 3.75 pounds and 24-inches compacted, the device will tote anywhere but support up to six pounds, thanks to its sylphlike but rigid carbon fiber construction. It'll take your
cinema cam or
DSLR rig out to around six feet, and with its built-in fluid pan base, let you crane, track or truck to your heart's content. Pledge $400 and you'll get the jib, ballast, mounting hardware and a bubble level, while students can get the jib alone for $300. If that sounds like it could hit your mark, move fluidly past the break for the video.
Continue reading Insert Coin: The Aviator Travel Jib lets you crane on the go (video)
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Kickstarter |
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My Xbox Live update for iPhone brings direct remote control, Android users join the party too
As much as we liked the
My Xbox Live app on iOS, it left out any practical control of a real, live
Xbox 360 -- and left Android users in the cold. The 1.5 update to the app puts those issues largely to bed. iPhone and iPod touch owners now have access both the Quickplay content browsing from the Windows Phone version as well as a direct, button-for-button remote. Android users are unfortunately denied full-on navigation, but they can now at least check their Xbox Live profiles, friend statuses and the highlighted games
du jour. Microsoft is silent on when Android and iPad fans will be steering their Xboxes without gamepads, though everyone else is free to jump in today.
Permalink Major Nelson |
App Store, Google Play |
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ICANN shows the full generic TLD application list, Google's bidding splurge
ICANN told us that June 13th was
the golden day that we'd get to see all of the initial applications for generic top-level domains (gTLDs), and the full list has surfaced on cue. The early roster shows a lot of competition for certain domains -- we're seeing a baker's dozen in companies trying for .app alone. Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and other companies are understandably trying to protect their brand names, but we're just now seeing the full extent of
Google's gTLD madness: we're counting 101 instances in which the search firm has tentatively pulled the $185,000 trigger. ICANN still has to settle on which bidders get the domains they want, though, and there's no certainty that Google will fulfill its dreams. When even the cherished .lol domain has a challenger, you know the competition is getting fierce.
Permalink Rory Cellan-Jones (Twitter) |
ICANN |
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Windows RT licenses reportedly costing $85, sends OEMS hunting down the back of the couch
Windows RT, which we're obliged to remind you is the version that runs on
ARM hardware, will reportedly cost between $80 and $95 for
OEMs to license. Whilst at Computex,
VR-Zone asked various companies the cost differences between building
Android slates (which
Google offers for free) and Microsoft's latest variant. The anonymous enterprises responded with figures between $80 and $95 -- averaging out at $85. If true, then Metro-powered tablets will cost several hundred dollars more than their Android-running rivals -- which would certainly hamper its entry into the market.
[Image Credit:
Time / Reuters]
Permalink PhoneArena, Daring Fireball |
VR-Zone |
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Aviary launches photo editing application on iOS, turns Android plugin into an app
Last we heard, Aviary
was being chosen to replace the deceased Picnik as the main photo editor on Flickr, and now the startup is getting ready to launch its first iOS app and give its previous Android offering a major boost. The
Jeff Bezos-backed company has just announced its entry into the application game, giving iOS and Android folks access to an array of its image editing tools -- much like
Apple's iPhoto on Cupertino devices or Photoshop Express on ones powered by Google's OS. Naturally, you'll be able to do run-of-the-mill tidbits such as cropping, rotating, sharpening and blurring, which are bundled alongside others like cosmetic tools, one-tap auto enhance and "gorgeous effects." It's also worth noting Aviary was once present on
Google Play as a plugin, but has now made the change to a full-on, feature-packed application. Those interested in taking the fresh app for a spin can hit either of the source links below, where a mighty free download awaits you.
Continue reading Aviary launches photo editing application on iOS, turns Android plugin into an app
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iTunes, Google Play |
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iCRAFT robotic feeding arm (eyes-on)
We're back for another day of exploring the
Northeastern University labs. We checked out a handful of projects yesterday, including the
HyCycle, a runner-up in the school's Capstone award. Today we checked out the winner:
iCRAFT -- that's short for eye-Controlled Robotic Arm Feeding Technology. The project was developed by a group of seven electrical and computer engineering students looking to create an inexpensive solution for helping the disabled and elderly feed themselves at home. As the Apple-esque name implies, the project utilizes eye-tracking to help the user feed him or herself.
The hardware side of the project involves a robotic arm and controller (which run a combined $640), a hacked Creative webcam and IR light (around $114), three bowls, a water bottle and a custom built power supply. On the software side, the team used the open-source ITU gaze tracker software, combined with a custom GUI. The whole thing is designed to be simple to use right out of the box -- though, being in prototype stage, there were naturally a few hiccups in the process. It didn't work perfectly when we demoed it today, but it certainly wasn't much more buggy than what many companies try to pass off as finished products.
Continue reading iCRAFT robotic feeding arm (eyes-on)
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ARM vows Mali-450 graphics will liven up mid-range smartphones
ARM is still cooking its next-generation
Mali-T604 mobile graphics, but it has what could be a massive lift to performance coming considerably sooner through the Mali-450 family. The architecture is almost almost literally two Mali-400 chips (the same that powers the
Galaxy S II) grafted together, and the maximum eight cores accordingly run up to twice as quickly as what we saw just a year ago. The real achievement might be just be targeting the Mali-450 at a more down-to-Earth audience: where the 400 was all about conquering the high-end,
ARM wants the 450 to focus on mid-range and even entry-level phones. Design work for the new
Mali video should be done before the end of 2012, although it'll be up to chip manufacturers to carry the torch and finish work that likely won't show in phones and tablets until 2013.
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EETimes |
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Galaxy Note 10.1 up for pre-order on Amazon US: $549 with quad-core CPU in tow (update: pulled)
Samsung's Galaxy Note 10.1 was recently
caught on camera, which indicates that it's well along the production pipeline. Further evidence: the ICS tablet is up for pre-order on Amazon US. The asking price is $549, and the retailer says it will be available "within 3 to 5 weeks." In line with
earlier rumors, it looks like Samsung swapped the Note 10.1's original dual-core processor for a quad-core CPU, though as
Unwired View points out, Amazon probably meant a Samsung Exynos processor rather than the Intel Xeon currently listed. Ready to shell out for this S Pen-equipped slate? Click on through to the source link to see the product page.
Update: We've received word from Samsung that Amazon published the page in error, and has since taken it down. The Galaxy Note 10.1 is in fact not available for pre-order at this time.
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Amazon |
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