Disney Research's AIREAL creates haptic feedback out of thin air
Disney Research is at it again. The arm of Walt's empire responsible for interactive house plants wants to add haptic feedback not to a seat cushion, but to thin air. Using a combination of 3D-printed components -- thank the MakerBots for those -- with five actuators and a gaggle of sensors, AIREAL pumps out tight vortices of air to simulate tactility in three dimensional space. The idea is to give touchless experiences like motion control a form of physical interaction, offering the end user a more natural response through, well, touch.
Like most of the lab's experiments this has been in the works for awhile, and the chances of it being used outside of Disneyworld anytime soon are probably slim. AIREAL will be on display at SIGGRAPH in Anaheim from Sunday to Wednesday this week. Didn't register? Check out the video after the break.
Filed under: Gaming, Science
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Via: Gizmodo (Australia)
Source: Disney Research
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Ask Engadget: best MSN TV replacement?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Seth, who needs to replace his grandpa's MSN TV2 box. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.
"Many years ago, I bought my grandfather an MSN TV2 box as his first exposure to the internet. We were worried that the gift would be a flop, but he loves it, and is now emailing his old friends and even has a Facebook profile. Of course, Microsoft will close the service a few days before his 91st birthday, so I'd like to know what would you suggest as a replacement? As antiquated as it was, it's been rock solid from a reliability perspective and that's going to be key to determine what we get him next."So, what's it to be? What web technology have you adopted for your elderly relatives that you think Seth could use? Why not head down past the break and let us know.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Microsoft
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Mobile Miscellany: week of July 15th, 2013
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week, Samsung added two new colors to its GS4 LTE-A lineup, Motorola teased its manufacturing facility for the upcoming Moto X and @evleaks spilled the beans on a new smartphone for Verizon. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of July 15th, 2013.
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Moto X leaks in more press shots, this time in white
And the saga continues! Hot on the heels of this morning's leaked renders comes a couple more press shots of the Moto X, courtesy of @evleaks -- this time in glorious unicorn white. There's not much more to mention here other than it's a lot easier to spot the mics front and back and to get a feel for the texture that adorns the rear. It looks very much like the svelte handset Eric Schmidt recently flaunted at the annual Allen and Co media conference. Not a fan of the existing hues? Motorola's been pretty clear the phone will be available in custom colors -- we're longing for a beautiful shade of purple ourselves. With the official Moto X launch slated for Thursday August 1st, we're only days away from getting all the details, so stay tuned for more.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google
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Source: @evleaks
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Alt-week 7.20.13: 5D super-memory cards, space snow and the tar drops!
Alt-week takes a look at the best science and alternative tech stories from the last seven days.
You know, we're done with the whole three dimension thing. It's waaaay to restrictive. That's why we're adding not one, but two more to the list this week. Now we've got a little more breathing space, we can consider some of science's bigger questions, like how comets might form, and how long until the results of an 85-year old experiment might finally be caught on film. This is alt-week.
Filed under: Science, Alt
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Engadget Podcast 352 - 07.20.13
The Mobile Podcast had the pleasure of beating us to chatting about the Lumia 1020, but that didn't deter us. Aside from that taking up half of this week's episode, we'll discuss the new plans from AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile and the HTC One mini. Get to streaming below, because this one's dedicated to Tim Stevens.
Hosts: Peter Rojas, Brian Heater, Terrence O'Brien
Producer: Joe Pollicino (akaTRENT)
Hear the podcast:
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Chrome OS beta update brings 'immersive' mode, smarter app search and UI tweaks
If you're running Chrome OS betas like it's not even a thing, we're pegging you as a bit of a maverick. The latest update (29.0.1537.32) rewards your non-conformity with a bevy of small, but useful new features. There's Kernel 3.8 for the Pixel and Samsung 550 users, but likely you're more interested in the new "immersive" full screen mode that hides the shelf and tool bar. Or, what about the ability to pin apps to the shells with drag and drop? There's other tricks, too, such as wallpaper sync (across all your machines), UI scaling and a smarter app launcher. There's a full list at the source, but knowing you, you already went there, right?
Filed under: Laptops, Internet, Software, Google
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Source: Google Chrome Releases Blog
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Firefox OS 1.1 now available for Geeksphone devices, users report faster boot times, bug fixes
Betting on Mozilla's mobile operating system? There's a good chance, then, that you're kicking around a Geeksphone, one of the few devices known for running Firefox OS. Owners of the company's Keon and Peak handsets can now manually upgrade their devices to Firefox 1.1, which -- according to enthusiasts on the Geeksphone forums and Twitter -- speeds up boot times, patches an assortment of bugs and tacks on minor navigational and display improvements. Naturally, users interested in trying the build will have to download and flash it themselves. Unsure how to proceed? Check out the Geeksphone forums link at the adjacent source link for tips.
Filed under: Cellphones
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Source: GeeksPhone, Twitter
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Comcast's X1 availability widens, mass-deployment still planned by year's end
Comcast's advanced cable-box footprint keeps getting bigger. While currently you can only get the X1 set-top box in 18 of its service areas, that's growing, as it's come to several new markets recently. A company spokesperson recently told us that the cable giant is still on track to have the new unit as an option for all of its customers by year's end. As of now, new and current Triple Play subscribers in Nashville and Knoxville, TN; Jacksonville, Sarasota and Naples, FL; Baltimore and Frederick, MD and Brunswick, GA can snag the hardware as a free upgrade with select programming packages. Or, if you're patient, you could wait for the X2.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
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Source: Comcast X1
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ShopTV 't-commerce' app for Samsung Smart TVs peddles items seen on shows
Recovering shopaholics better steer clear of Delivery Agent's new app for Samsung Smart TVs -- if it actually does what the firm says, that is. It claims the inanely named ShopTV ties into a huge database of items and makes merchandise on the shows or commercials you're watching available for purchase. An update rolling out later this year will supposedly let you simultaneously watch and shop in an effort to empty your wallet (or worse, your life savings) even faster. If you're the type who goes gaga over HSN, we suggest installing some games to distract yourself from the temptation.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Samsung
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Moto X waves hello, again... in leaked press render
All signs suggest that the Moto X will become official on August 1st, but if snapshots and videos of the real thing aren't enough to satiate your curiosity... well, now there's a press render from @evleaks and partner site TheUnlockr. Naturally, stock Android has been key to the Moto X for some time now, but it seems that we might find subtle interface tweaks from Motorola, such as the transparent navigation bar, which is now highly visible. In all, there aren't many startling revelations in the latest leak, but one thing is for certain: the phone's face sure looks a lot cleaner now that Motorola's logo has been scrubbed away.
Update: A render of the phone's right side profile has now emerged from @evleaks, which you can see in the above image. At first glance, the Moto X might appear to be a rather chunky handset, but appearances can be deceiving; if you'll recall the Eric Schmidt incident, the Moto X actually sports rather sleek curves.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google
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Source: TheUnlockr
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Galaxy S 4 for Verizon spied in Brown Autumn
History might be repeating itself. Just as Samsung launched a red Galaxy S III for AT&T and followed up with black and brown Verizon models, a new @evleaks image hints that AT&T's red Galaxy S 4 could be matched by a Brown Autumn equivalent on Verizon. The product shot doesn't reveal more than the color, mind you -- we don't know when this GS4 could ship, or if Blue Arctic would tag along. If the past is anything to go by, though, customers won't have to pay a premium for any additional Verizon hues.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung, Verizon
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Source: @evleaks
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UK government receptive to bill that would pardon Alan Turing
Many in the UK recognize Alan Turing's contributions to computing as we know it, but attempts to obtain a pardon for the conviction that tragically cut short his career have thus far been unsuccessful. There's a new glimmer of hope, however: government whip Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon says that the current leadership has "great sympathy" for a bill that would pardon Turing. As long as no one calls for amendments, the legislation should clear Parliament's House of Lords by late October and reach the House of Commons soon afterward. While there's no guarantee that the measure will ultimately pass, the rare level of endorsement suggests that Turing's name could soon be cleared.
Filed under: Misc, Science, Alt
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Source: The Guardian
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The Daily Roundup for 07.19.2013
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
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DPD to let UK shoppers track home deliveries in real time (video)
If you're like us, you want a better sense of where your packages are than "on truck for delivery." So does the UK's DPD, apparently, as it's rolling out a Follow My Parcel service that will let online shoppers track their goods in real time. The feature gives customers a web link that lets them see both the delivery vehicle's live position and a package's place in the queue. The new system is accurate enough to narrow the delivery window to 15 minutes -- in theory, recipients won't be caught off-guard again. There's also options for giving the shipment to a neighbor or rescheduling the shipment altogether. Follow My Parcel should be available through Interlink Express on August 5th, and British retailer ASOS already plans to offer the service to its customers.
Filed under: Cellphones, GPS
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Via: The Verge
Source: DPD, Interlink Express (Twitter)
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Apple reportedly buys HopStop (updated)
Don't let it be said that Apple isn't working to improve its once-maligned mapping app. We're still in the rumor stages here, but Bloomberg is reporting that Cupertino has managed to acquire popular navigation tool HopStop, to help improve its own simply-titled Maps. The deal comes hot on the heels of Apple's Locationary buy -- we wouldn't quite qualify it as a shopping spree yet, but it's certainly a start. No surprise, the sources for this one are anonymous, due to the non-public nature of the deal. That said, we'll still be reaching out for comment, because that's what we do. More info when we get it.
Update: Apple seems to have confirmed as much -- albeit in a fairly roundabout way, telling All Things D that it, "buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans," a similarly cagey response to the one the company issued post-Locationary.
Filed under: GPS, Software, Apple
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Source: Bloomberg
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Motorola schedules Moto X launch for August 1st in NYC
So when exactly will the Moto X make its formal debut? August 1st is the date, according to a Motorola teaser announcing the launch. There's been no shortage of leaks for the new flagship smartphone, which we know will be assembled in the US and will ship to customers in a variety of colors. So far, our best look at the device has come courtesy of Eric Schmidt himself, who was showing off his own sample at the Allen and Company Conference earlier this month in Sun Valley. He declined to provide any specification details, but some attendees did sneak a peek at the handset's carbon fiber-like back and sleek curves. We'll surely be back with more, live from the August 1st launch event in New York City.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google
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Source: Ina Fried (Twitter)
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New Jersey now requires search warrants for cellphone location data
For all the worries about sweeping US surveillance programs, Americans are claiming at least a few victories in the fight for privacy. Just look to New Jersey's Supreme Court for an example -- it has ruled that police need search warrants to obtain tracking information from cellular carriers. Citing a ruling that requires warrants for GPS tracking devices, the court has decided that attempts to obtain cellphone location data represent searches and fall under constitutional oversight. Cellphone users can expect a reasonable level of privacy when they sign up for service, according to the Supreme Court. While there's no law on the books to restrict tracking, like there is in Montana, the ruling sets a precedent for police monitoring that could extend beyond New Jersey's borders.
[Image credit: Jeff Schuler, Flickr]
Filed under: Cellphones
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Via: New York Times
Source: New Jersey Supreme Court (PDF)
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Jeff Bezos expedition finds proof that recovered F-1 engine belongs to Apollo 11
Jeff Bezos' expeditionary team already believes that it's recovering Apollo 11 engines from the ocean, but it now has firm evidence that it's on the right track. The group has just found a serial number (pictured above) linking a salvaged thrust chamber to the fifth F-1 engine on Apollo 11's Saturn V rocket. While there's more identification work to go, the discovery shows that Bezos' conservation project is paying off. The timing is also rather convenient -- it gives us a fitting tribute to the NASA explorers that reached the Moon 44 years ago.
Filed under: Transportation, Science, Alt, Amazon
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Source: Bezos Expeditions
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This week on gdgt: Galaxy S 4 Active, Blade 3rd-gen, and smartphone usage habits
Each week, our friends at gdgt go through the latest gadgets and score them to help you decide which ones to buy. Here are some of their most recent picks. Want more? Visit gdgt anytime to catch up on the latest, and subscribe to gdgt's newsletter to get a weekly roundup in your inbox.
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Google brings new full-screen compose window to Gmail
It looks like those not satisfied with the recent Gmail redesign will soon have a new option to make things operate in a slightly more familiar manner. Google announced today that it's begun rolling out a new full-screen compose window that gives you more room to work with than the current option that's pinned to the lower right corner. What's more, you'll also find that the formatting toolbar is now on by default instead of requiring an extra click as it does now, and you can choose to make the full-screen view the default if you prefer it. If you don't have the new option already, Google says you should within the next couple of days.
Filed under: Internet, Google
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Source: Gmail (Google+)
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We're live at Comic-Con; join us tonight in San Diego!
Comic-Con
may not be a vital venue for launching new gadgets, but for many
attendees later today, the intersection of tech and art will be just up
the street at 6th and Island Ave. -- the location of tonight's Engadget + gdgt Live event.
We're on the ground in San Diego for this evening's festivities, and
we've already spent some time exploring the convention center, too,
including a mandatory stop to check out Rovio's hardware-equipped Angry Birds Star Wars 2.
As for tonight, you can expect to see lots of hot products from
companies like Microsoft, Nokia, iRobot and Western Digital at the
Stingaree lounge in the Gaslamp Quarter. As always, we'll have giveaway
items up for grabs, so there's always a chance that you'll head home
with some awesome gear. And best of all, the event is free! Everything
kicks off at 7PM. We hope to see you there!
Filed under: Announcements
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Source: gdgt
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Goodspeed flat-rate hotspot service now supports China Unicom
Uros' Goodspeed hotspot service offers sanely priced international data, but it hasn't been available in China so far -- that's not much help when visiting friends in Fuzhou. Travelers won't have to fret, however, as Uros just unveiled a network agreement with China Unicom. Goodspeed's €5.90 ($8) daily rate now supplies a modest-but-usable 500MB of 3G data throughout large parts of China. Visitors will also need to pay Goodspeed's usual €9.90 ($13) monthly fee and buy the €269 ($353) hotspot, but they're still looking at big savings over conventional data roaming. Those planning Chinese expeditions will likely want to give the service at least a cursory look through the source link.
Filed under: Wireless, Networking, Mobile
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Source: Goodspeed
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Next3D CEO David Cole on his first PalmPilot, gadget hell and the Oculus Rift
Every week, a new and interesting human being tackles our decidedly geeky take on the Proustian Q&A. This is the Engadget Questionnaire.
In the latest installment of our weekly collection of queries, Next3D CEO David Cole -- also know as the gentleman making 3D TV and movies for the Oculus Rift -- chats up punitive email measures and iPhone dependence. Join us for the full gamut of responses residing on the other side of the break.
Filed under: Misc
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This is the Modem World: We know too much
Each week Joshua Fruhlinger contributes This is the Modem World, a column dedicated to exploring the culture of consumer technology.
I was enjoying a post-wedding celebration in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo just a few days ago, late-night ramen that turned into later-night karaoke until we were kicked out of the place around 4 AM. A good night, to be sure.
As I was collecting my things, I checked my iPhone for the best route home -- I am perpetually lost in Los Angeles as it's a city that has no compass. It suggested a jaunt through Hollywood and on to La Cienega. In an effort to keep myself from sounding like an episode of SNL's "The Californians," I'll leave it at that.
Filed under: Misc, GPS, Transportation
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