Impossible Instant Lab mobile photo booth ships August 29th for $299
There's a certain irony to the Impossible Instant Lab taking a long time to develop, but we won't mind (much) now that it has a solid release date. The instant photo kit ships to stores on August 29th, when it will cost the same $299 that The Impossible Project promised during its crowdfunding campaign. Compatibility hasn't changed much since then -- you'll need to use at least an iPhone 4 or fourth-generation iPod touch, and there's no immediate support for devices using Android or other platforms. If that's no barrier, however, you can bring your digital photos to the analog world in a matter of weeks.
Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals
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Source: The Impossible Project
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Nissan shows off 185 mph ZEOD RC electric prototype, plans to race it at Le Mans
Nissan's just pulled the covers off its fancifully styled ZEOD RC race car that may eventually hit speeds of up to 300km/h (about 185mph). Though the acronym stands for "zero emissions, on demand," the vehicle could end up being a hybrid model that switches between gas and EV modes (as opposed to a pure electric car) by the time it hits Le Mans in 2014. Regardless, the company's Nismo racing division (creator of the all-electric Nismo RC) plans to enter it in the so-called Garage 56 class of the famed race, reserved for vehicles that showcase breakthrough technology. While the company flaunted the design at Circuit de la Sarthe in France today, the car won't start trials until later this summer, after which the final drivetrain will be chosen. Prior to hitting the track, though, it'll have its work cut out just to top Toyota's P001, the current EV lap-speed champ.
Filed under: Transportation
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Via: Pocket Lint
Source: Nissan
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Google celebrates the Manchester Baby and the birth of computer memory (video)
As part of its efforts to promote the unsung heroes of computing history, Google is celebrating the Manchester Baby's 65th birthday. Despite the cutesy nickname, the Manchester Small Scale Experimental Machine was the first computer to use electronic memory rather than punchcards for programming, heralding the software revolution. The secret was in the Williams-Kilburn cathode-ray tube, which could store a (then) staggering 128 bytes worth of data. Of course, that's not much by modern standards, but given that the 5-meter machine weighed in at over a ton, we still think it could take your fancy laptop in a bar-room brawl. If you're curious to learn more and hear the immortal quips of Professor F.C. Williams, head on past the break for the video.
Filed under: Desktops, Google
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Source: Google
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Nissan launching $100 per month Leaf battery replacement program in 2014
How much would a Leaf owner pay to banish range anxiety? If your answer was "$100 a month," then Nissan's got a proposition for you. The car maker is gearing up to launch a domestic battery replacement program for its EV in 2014 that'll set you back that aforementioned sum. Similar to Nissan's setup in Europe, if your battery can only hold nine out of 12 bars worth of charge, it'll replace the unit with a new or reconditioned unit. The company insists that very few will ever actually need to replace the battery, but hey, squeezing $1,200 a year out of its existing customers is a sure-fire way to inspire loyalty.
Filed under: Transportation
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Via: Autoblog.green
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iPhone 5 heading to Virgin Mobile on June 28th
Contract-averse consumers itching for an iPhone 5 fix and wary of T-Mobile's brave new ways can now look to Virgin Mobile. The prepaid carrier has just announced plans to bring Apple's aluminum-bodied smartphone to its lineup starting next Friday, June 28th. The iOS device will be paired with Virgin's Beyond Talk plans, netting subs unlimited data (3G / 4G LTE) and messaging for $35 per month on the base tier. Only the 16GB model will be sold online and in-store for $550, so if you're in the market for larger storage, you'll have to head to the carrier's site where the 32GB and 64GB units -- priced at $650 and $750, respectively -- will be available. If you're tempted to go all in and plunk down the cash, just keep in mind, there's another better, potentially bigger and definitely 'S'-ier iPhone waiting just around the corner.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Apple
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Sony teases new smartwatch announcement for next week
Sony's got us waiting on a super-sized Xperia smartphone, but it could have a new wearable to show Mobile Asia Expo attendees in Shanghai next week. In recent days, its Sony Xperia account has been tweeting cryptically about its existing Smartwatch, the demand for smart devices and (well, it is Sony) the company's portable tech heritage. Sony is set to host a Shanghai-based media event on Tuesday next week, and we'll be there to cover it.
One in three smartphone users want smart wrist wear. #itstime #MAE13 pic.twitter.com/yOD0v7P2GJ
- Sony Xperia (@sonyxperia) June 21, 2013
Filed under: Cellphones, Wearables, Mobile, Sony
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Via: Xperia Blog
Source: Sony Xperia (Twitter) (1), (2)
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Distro Issue 96: PrimeSense tackles life after Kinect on its quest to make technology disappear
PrimeSense brought the Kinect to life with its 3D sensor tech and a four-year cooperative effort back in 2010. When it comes to the new tracking peripheral, though, Microsoft kept matters in-house and the Israeli startup set out to prove that its ready to break from those gaming roots. In a brand new issue of our weekly, we examine the outfit's post-Microsoft aspirations that include the Capri chip. Eyes-On cleans up with Dyson's latest, Weekly Stat dials in streaming radio numbers and Visualized examines BioRob's feline-esque robot. All of that and much more awaits via those trusty download repositories just down below.
Distro Issue 96 PDF
Distro in the iTunes App Store
Distro in the Google Play Store
Distro in the Windows Store
Distro APK (for sideloading)
Like Distro on Facebook
Follow Distro on Twitter
Filed under: Announcements, HD, Mobile
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Source: iTunes, Google Play, Windows Store
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Bing Boards introduce curated content, alliteration to search results
Bing might not yet have achieved true verb status, but it's definitely making all the right moves to get there. The latest twist on search? Curated content in search results. It's an experimental feature at the moment -- live in the US, but possibly not all territories just yet -- that delivers collections of images, videos or links relating to your query a-la Google's Knowledge Graph, but curated by a person (not an algorithm). Microsoft's testing the waters with a hand-picked selection of food and lifestyle bloggers right now, but hopes to expand this to more topics as the idea grows. Head to the more coverage link if you want to see what these cards might look like, in the meantime, time to dust off that abandoned spreadsheet blog?
Filed under: Internet, Microsoft
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Source: Bing
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Volvo demos smartphone-enabled self-parking car prototype (video)
Volvo's no stranger to autonomous vehicles -- it's been working on SARTRE for several years now -- but yesterday the company shared some info about a new self-parking concept it plans to demo next week. The prototype car (a V40) is able to find a space and park in it without a driver on board, all while avoiding pedestrians, vehicles and other obstacles. What's most interesting is the level of integration Volvo is showcasing here -- sensors, electronics and controls are seamlessly built into the car, making the tech look production-ready. Vehicle to infrastructure communication is used to alert the driver when the service is available, and the car is smartphone-enabled for easy drop-off and pickup. You'll recall that Audi showed a similar self-parking concept at CES, so it certainly looks like the space is heating up. Hit the break for Volvo's video and PR.
Filed under: Cellphones, Transportation, Mobile
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Via: Autoblog
Source: Volvo
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HTC reportedly enlists Robert Downey Jr. in $12 million marketing deal
After shedding several senior execs
over the last few weeks, it looks like HTC is looking to recruit,
albeit for a different role. In a bid to capitalize on the positive
momentum behind its excellent One smartphone, Bloomberg reports that HTC will be recruiting no less than (an actor who plays) Iron Man. Robert Downey Jr.
will allegedly feature in promotional campaigns as himself (not the
aforementioned Avenger or even a time-travelling Holmes) and will even
claim final say over creative elements -- hopefully ensuring any
appearances Downey Jr. does make aren't as awkward as some recent efforts.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, HTCComments
Source: Bloomberg
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Fujifilm's X-M1 interchangeable camera leaks out, doesn't mess with retro success
Fujifilm's about to extend its line of mirrorless shooters packing manual dials and vintage looks, if a leak from Digicame Info is to be believed. The Japanese rumor site has flaunted pictures of a purported X-M1 model, which bears a strong resemblance to X-E1 we saw last year, minus the electronic viewfinder and shutter-speed selector dial. In place of the latter is a general mode selector, along with a tiltable LCD screen and WiFi, judging by the pictures above and after the break. While all that points to a cheaper model aimed at more casual shooters, there's no word from the company about specs, pricing or a release date, obviously. As soon as we hear, of course, you'll be the first to know.
Filed under: Cameras
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Source: Digicame Info (translated)
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Court documents reveal secret rules allowing NSA to use US data without a warrant
NSA's information gathering practices have been further detailed in court papers revealed by The Guardian. While the agency has continued to reiterate that it doesn't collect its data indiscriminately,
the leaked papers detail several loopholes that allow it to gather data
from both American and foreign origins without the need for a warrant.
If you use data encryption or other privacy tools, your communications
are likely to receive extra attention, and the agency can indefinitely
keep any information assembled for "crypto-analytic, traffic analysis or
signal exploitation purposes" -- in short, if the NSA believes may be
relevant in the future.
One reason to hold
onto said files could simply be the fact that the data is encrypted and
NSA wants to be able to analyze its protection. The security agency can
also give the FBI and other government organizations any data if it
contains a significant amount of foreign intelligence, or information
about a crime that has (or will be) committed. Any data that's
"inadvertently acquired" through the NSA's methods -- and could
potentially contain details of US citizens -- can be held for up to five
years before it has to be deleted. The Guardian's uploaded the leaked papers in full -- hit the source links for more.
Filed under: InternetComments
Via: The Guardian, Forbes
Source: The Guardian (1), (2)
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Apple publicly charts iOS fragmentation to prove it barely exists
Apple surely loves its third-party app developers, but it doesn't love them equally. The company reserves special affection for those who optimize their apps for the latest version of iOS and its integrated services (Passbook, Game Center, Maps etc.), and we guess that's why the official iOS Dev Center has published the chart above. Based on two weeks' worth of recent data, it shows that 93 percent of iOS users who visited the App Store were on iOS 6, while just one in a hundred were on something lower than iOS 5, implying that fragmentation isn't something for devs to fret over. Of course, as Appleinsider points out, Cupertino may have had other reasons for choosing this specific style of presentation, since it begs to be compared against Android's fortnightly pie chart (shown below).
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, Apple
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Via: Appleinsider
Source: iOS Dev Center
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Hack a Day modder builds a custom controller for disabled gamers
Sure, when tinkerer Caleb Kraft found out that pressure switches marketed at the disabled were massively overpriced, he got mad like anybody else. But then he decided to get even the best way he knew how: by building his own, and posting the plans for all to follow on Hack a Day for free. The project came about via a kid with muscular dystrophy named Thomas, who enjoyed Minecraft but may eventually lose the ability to hold a controller or use a mouse and keyboard. Caleb's idea was to build low-pressure switches using a 3D printer and simply map them to the Minecraft keyboard and mouse commands using a $20 Teensy board. He posted his plans online, but since he feels they could be improved on, also created a site called the Controller Project (see the More Coverage link). From there, those in need of a custom device can make a request, other modders can post their own plans and builders can use them to make controllers for donation. Since more is always merrier for such things, if you have those skills or know someone who needs them, hit the source for more info.
Filed under: Gaming
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Source: Hack a day
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Stanford's Cookie Clearinghouse adds another layer of security to web browsers
People are becoming more vigilant when it comes to online privacy, so Stanford University's new initiative couldn't have come at a better time. The project, called Cookie Clearinghouse, will curate catalogues of websites whose cookies browsers should or shouldn't allow. As designed, it works along with a Safari-like patch Mozilla is testing for Firefox that allows cookies from sites you've visited but blocks third-party cookies from sites you haven't. Theoretically, that'll prevent advertisers or other entities from tracking you around the web, but the method isn't foolproof -- having a centralized list will prevent your browser from saving the cookies of an ad or a spam website you've accidentally clicked on.
To establish which sites are kosher and which aren't, the folks at Stanford are slated to meet up with an advisory board. It will be comprised of privacy researchers, law pundits, small business experts, as well as reps from Mozilla and Opera. Unlike Do Not Track -- another Stanford initiative from which this one later evolved -- advertisers don't have to opt in for inclusion on either list. It's just up to developers (other than Mozilla) to integrate this more thorough solution into their browsers' privacy options.
[Image credit: Brian Richardson]
Filed under: Misc, Internet
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Via: Ars Technica
Source: Brendan Eich, Stanford
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iPhone 5S with dual-LED flash, slightly bigger battery spied in blurry rumor-gram
Did you back out of an iPhone 5 because it didn't have a dual-LED flash? If this leaked image from MacRumors turns out to be real, that may not be a problem for much longer. Inside and out, these blurrycam snaps purport to show an iPhone 5S which is nearly identical to its predecessor -- the only obvious differences being a slightly larger 5.92 Whr battery and the aforementioned dual-LED flash. Given that the internal layout is consistent with the iPhone 5 (pictured, after the break) and we were expecting an incremental revision this year, we're marking this one down as "plausible."
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Apple, Acer
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Source: MacRumors
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WSJ: FAA will soon ease in-flight restrictions for some electronic devices
We've been hearing rumblings that the FAA wants to start letting you use certain gadgets on airplanes through the "terrible 10,000 feet," and according to the WSJ, it's about to do just that. A 28-member industry and government panel's draft report strongly recommended relaxing blanket rules against electronics that have been in place since 1966 due to massive changes in technology since then. The committee also cited reports showing that passengers often forget to turn off gadgets without any consequences and that airlines, left to enact their own rules, are much too conservative. If it goes along with the document, the FAA will likely allow the use of certain devices, like e-readers and music players, during all phases of flight -- though the ban on cellphones is expected to continue since the panel wasn't authorized to broach that controversial issue. As for other devices, the details are still being bandied about, and the FAA is unlikely to announce a formal decision until the end of September. Still, now might be a good time to start fortifying that music and book collection ahead of your next big trip.
Filed under: Misc
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Source: WSJ (subscription)
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Tokyo court rules in Apple's favor in patent battle, Samsung has deja vu
In case you forgot, Samsung and Apple's legal squabbles didn't end in US federal court last year: the litigation rages on in international courts. Stop us if you've heard this one
-- Samsung and Apple are caught up in a lawsuit focusing in part on
Cupertino's bounce back patent, and things aren't looking great for
Sammy's lawyers. It's a familiar story, but this time it's playing out
in a Japanese courtroom, with a Tokyo judge deciding that a number of
Samsung devices are in violation of Apple's scrolling technology. What's
this mean to the consumer? Nothing yet -- the court still hasn't
calculated damages or approved an injunction, and this isn't the only legal battle
the firms are waging in the country's court system. Feel free to brush
up on your kanji and check out the source link below for more details,
or skip on over to Bloomberg for a more digestible account.
Filed under: Cellphones, Apple, SamsungComments
Source: Bloomberg, Nikkei
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Tesla's 90 second battery swaps will power EVs faster than gas pumps fill tanks (video)
Tesla founder Elon Musk has mentioned battery swap service stations as an even faster alternative to charging for EV drivers, and tonight the company showed just how efficiently it can be done. In a demonstration at its design studio, it beat what it claims is the fastest gas pump in LA by exchanging a drained car battery pack for a fresh fully charged one in just 90 seconds. When the $500,000 stations start rolling out, owners will stay in the car the whole time then either swap the battery back for their original on a return trip, or get a bill for the difference based on how new their battery is. According to Reuters, the exchange is expected to cost owners between $60 - $80 each time or about the cost of 15 gallons of gas
Of course, failed outfit Better Place proposed a similar service before it shut down, but Tesla is betting that it can make it work this time. The first service stations are coming to busy corridors, with some planned for I5 in California. Still need more proof? Elon Musk tweeted that video of the event will be available in "about an hour," so check back then.
Update: We're still waiting on the official video, but reader Weapon sent in a link to video shot by an event attendee, which can be viewed after the break. Take a peek and see a pair of Tesla's Model S sedans get quick battery service, one after the other in less time than a fuel pump can deliver one tank of gas.
Update 2: The official event video is up, check it out embedded after the break.
Filed under: Transportation
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Source: Tesla Motors (Twitter), Tesla
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Cox TV Connect live TV streaming app now available on Windows, OS X
Cox already debuted its live TV streaming app on iOS and Android, and now it's ready for computers. Available as a downloadable app for Windows and OS X, it offers access to 90 cable TV channels, but still has the same restriction as the mobile version in that it only works when the user is at home. Also as usual, users will need the right mix of cable TV and internet packages for access, check for details after the break.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
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Source: Cox
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Google to help open Android Nation retail stores throughout India
Google may not be planning its own retail stores, but the truth is that it already has a semi-official footprint: it's been teaming with Indonesia's Erafone on a series of Android Nation shops. That physical presence is about to spread, as Google is partnering with Spice Global to open Android Nation stores across India later this year. The alliance should see Spice open new locations in addition to rebranding 50 of its existing Hotspot shops to accelerate the rollout. Google is also helping Spice bring CoolPad phones to the country. The two haven't said exactly where the first Indian Android Nation store will be, although the Times of India hears that it may open at New Delhi's Select Citywalk -- not that we'd recommend lining up months in advance.
[Image credit: Erafone]
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, Google
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Source: Times of India
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Vizio ships 11.6-inch Windows 8 Tablet PC for $600
While Samsung may be dominating the Windows tablet news lately, it isn't alone -- Vizio is now shipping its promised 11.6-inch Windows 8 Tablet PC. The slate is selling for $600 with the same specs we saw back at the January unveiling. Unfortunately, they haven't aged gracefully in the past half-year. While we like the 1080p display, 64GB SSD, front-facing 2MP camera and stereo speakers, the launch also preserves the slightly older AMD Z-60 processor, 2GB of RAM and five hours of battery life. Where's our Temash upgrade, Vizio? The tablet still has more audiovisual oomph than usual, though, so it may be worth swinging past Vizio's site for a closer look.
Filed under: Tablets, AMD
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Via: Vizio (Twitter)
Source: Vizio
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Zeebox can now listen in, automatically identify what you're watching
Zeebox is making good on its cooperation with Gracenote today with the announcement that the second screen app can now automatically identify what you're watching through analysis of the show's "audio fingerprint." Several second screen TV apps use similar technology to sync up with what's on TV, although this implementation is more closely matched to what we've seen from IntoNow. Naturally, use of the latest feature is entirely optional, which includes the ability to automatically listen in when you start the app, along the with ability to manually activate the function by tapping a microphone icon. Gracenote reps tell us that Zeebox records a short, Vine-length audio clip, and then generates an audio profile based on that, which is recognized by Gracenote's Entourage system -- the audio recording itself never leaves your device. The new functionality is available on all versions of Zeebox, which includes Android, BlackBerry and iOS, but the ability for Gracenote to automatically identify shows is limited to programs that've aired in the past seven days.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Software, HD
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Source: Zeebox (App Store), Google Play, BlackBerry World
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Mt.Gox Bitcoin exchange freezes US dollar withdrawals for two weeks
It's easy to see that the Bitcoin market is under stress when there's rising overall activity and tighter oversight. However, it's now so hectic that the Mt. Gox exchange has trouble fulfilling even basic transactions -- and the institution is freezing US dollar withdrawals for two weeks to keep things in check. Mt. Gox's team will use the downtime to upgrade its trading system and (hopefully) address the heavy workload. Deposits and transfers in American currency should still be good to go. Let's just hope that Mt. Gox manages smoother transitions in the future -- after all, not everyone can afford to leave their money in limbo during a tech refresh.
Filed under: Internet
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Via: Ars Technica
Source: Mt. Gox
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ARKYD space telescope reaches its funding goal, new add-ons await (video)
And communal space astronomy is go. Planetary Resources has successfully hit the $1 million crowdfunding target for its ARKYD telescope, which should now be on track for its promised 2015 launch. The project has also racked up 11,000 backers, and that means a new round of add-ons for the extra-committed. Backers can buy a special mission patch ($7), additional selfie photos (from $25) and even a half-size ARKYD replica ($650). There are a few more pragmatic reasons to invest, of course -- the company has stretch goals that could bring a second ground station, selfies during the beta phase and even hunts for undiscovered planets. Would-be researchers who still want to pitch in can visit Kickstarter by June 30th.
Filed under: Science
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Source: Kickstarter
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