Color abandons app independence for Facebook, hopes you’ll pay someone a ‘visit’
September 22, 2011 No Comment
Color launched to a fair amount of fanfare back in March, and it’s not surprising, really — the company was spearheaded by Lala founder Bill Nguyen, with ten of millions in backing from some top venture capital firms. The hype surrounding the photo-sharing app didn’t take long to die down, however — over the past several months, we haven’t heard much from the startup. Turns out the Color team was rethinking the project from ground up. The company used f8 this week to launch a new version of the app built entirely around Facebook. The new Color harnesses updates to the social Network’s Open Graph protocol to introduce the concept of “visits,” a social gesture that prompts a user to request a live video feed from a Facebook friend upon seeing an interesting photo in their feeds on the social network or in the iPhone / Android app. The brief video stream can be attended by multiple users, becoming something of a mini UStream built into Facebook. The new Color is currently in a closed testing phase, though interested parties can sign up to take part below. Color abandons app independence for Facebook, hopes you’ll pay someone a ‘visit’ originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 13:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Facebook partners up to bring music and videos to your profile through Open Graph
September 22, 2011 No Comment
Facebook’s f8 developer conference is going on today, and Andy Samberg Mark Zuckerberg has just revealed another part of his master plan for the social network. Open Graph will now integrate many of your favorite music services, including Spotify , Rhapsody , Rdio and MOG onto your Facebook page with custom apps, and will also bring video from Vevo, Netflix, Hulu and many more. Update: Unfortunately for Facebook users in the US, Netflix has confirmed that its Facebook integration will only be available in Canada and Latin America initially, due to a US law that “creates some confusion over our ability to allow U.S. members to share what they watch.” That doesn’t apply to the music services, however, and you can get an idea how Spotify will work in the video after the break. Continue reading Facebook partners up to bring music and videos to your profile through Open Graph Facebook partners up to bring music and videos to your profile through Open Graph originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 14:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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One sure fire way to make sure you never lose your iPad ? Stick the thing in your wall. Now available in North America from Bracketron, the iRoom iDock is a motorized dock for your Apple tablet that can be flush-mounted into your wall. Once connected to your power supply, the system’s proximity sensor will open up when you’re around to accept your tablet into its docky clutches, for some serious wall-charging action — and if there’s a power outage, the thing will open up automatically, so you can grab your slate back. The dock is available in landscape or portrait orientation and comes in black, aluminum or white — or you can get a custom color to match your home’s walls, because why not go all out with your wall-mounted iPad dock thing? Press release after the jump. Continue reading iRoom iDock imounts your iPad to your iwall iRoom iDock imounts your iPad to your iwall originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 12:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Oh yeah, we’re here, live at the f8 developers conference in San Francisco, and we’re going to give you a blow by blow of what’s in store for all you Facebook-loving folks. The streets is talking and the rumor mill’s churning at full bore about what we can expect, but Mark Zuckerberg’s keynote is mere minutes away, and all will be revealed soon. So, check back here to get the scoop on all the new social-networking goodies as he dishes them out. We’re live from Facebook’s 2011 f8 developer conference! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 12:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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An LTE handset on Verizon’s network that doesn’t feature a 4.3-inch display or a price tag that starts with a two or a three? Why, that would be the Pantech Breakout . The latest 4G phone on Big Red has finally been welcomed into the fold , available and ready to persuade more people to experience blazing-fast mobile broadband without frantically digging themselves out of debt. To recap, the Breakout features Android 2.3, a 1GHz single-core CPU and 512MB of RAM, 5 megapixel rear camera accompanied by a VGA front-facing cam and 720p HD video capture, a 4-inch WVGA (800 x 480) TFT LCD and a 1,500mAh juicepack. Worth a Benjamin? You make the call. Pantech Breakout now available to bring LTE to the light-walleted originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 11:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Virtu-LIMB lets prospective patients take upgraded Touch Bionics hand for a spin
September 22, 2011 No Comment
It looks like Touch Bionics is bringing the classic “try before you buy” racket to the world of bionic hands. Say hello to the Virtu-LIMB, a simulation and training setup for myoelectric upper limb prostheses. This little yellow dome tethers to a patient’s arm and transmits their myoelectric signals to a nearby computer via Bluetooth — the data is then used to either control an i-LIMB Ultra prosthetic hand or, failing that, a PC simulation of one. The rig was shown at the American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association National Assembly this week, and can be used to help clinicians fine-tune prostheses for their patients, train patients to manipulate their bionic digits, or even demonstrate the Touch Bionics’ i-LIMB to a potential user. The i-LIMB Ultra itself is an upgraded replacement for the outfit’s i-LIMB Pulse , featuring a new variable digit-by-digit grip mode, increased flexibility, extended battery life (and low battery audio warning), and the ability to create custom gestures. The new unit even returns to a natural resting state after a period of inactivity, keeping the devil out of your idle hands. Virtu-LIMB lets prospective patients take upgraded Touch Bionics hand for a spin originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 10:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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HTC has now launched itself into the clouds, confirming that its latest Android phones will get an extra 3GB of storage with Dropbox . According to Pocket-Lint , the extra space will extend to all HTC devices running Sense 3.5, which at the moment means it’s limited to the forthcoming HTC Rhyme . We probably won’t see the Dropbox deal extend to HTC’s Windows Phones though — Microsoft reckons it has the whole file-syncing thing covered . HTC strikes Dropbox deal, will offer 5GB free on Sense 3.5 phones originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 09:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Okay, we’ll totally admit that we’ve got something of a phone crush on LG’s successor to the Optimus One lineup. Sure, it hasn’t debuted in the States, and its specs already look a bit tired, but there’s tons of goodwill attached to this family of devices. Should LG properly execute, the handset promises to be an iterative improvement for all smartphone buyers that need to save some coin. Now this sexy creation is making its way though the FCC, and while it’s difficult to tell whether this is an international model or is bound for our domestic shores, it’s easy to realize that we’re one step closer to its much anticipated release. After a bit of digging, we can tell you the phone supports the 1900 and 850MHz bands, which is common to networks such as AT&T, Bell, Telus and Rogers. With all the names being tossed around , it’ll be interesting to see how the individual carriers choose to brand these devices, but it seems that we won’t have to wait much longer for those details. LG Optimus Hub (aka Univa / Optimus Two) earns its stripes at the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 08:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Not much of a surprise here, but today it finally becomes official: Henry Tirri has been appointed CTO of Nokia, nearly four months after assuming the position on a temporary basis. Tirri, who joined the company in 2004 and previously served as head of its research center , will permanently replace former CTO Rich Green, who took an indefinite leave of absence from Espoo back in June, citing “personal reasons.” At the time, some local media outlets reported that Green’s absence would be permanent, due to disagreements over CEO Stephen Elop’s smartphone OS strategy . Reportedly a one-time Meego advocate, Green will now return to the US to “pursue new opportunities” and, as of today, is no longer a member of the Nokia Leadership Team. Tirri, meanwhile, will be responsible for designing “Nokia’s technology agenda both now and in the future, and driving core innovation to enable business development opportunities.” We’ll have to wait and see where that path leads, but you can find more details about the appointment in the full press release, after the break. Continue reading Henry Tirri appointed CTO of Nokia, permanently replacing Rich Green Henry Tirri appointed CTO of Nokia, permanently replacing Rich Green originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 05:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Microbial fuel cell produces hydrogen from wastewater without wasting energy
September 22, 2011 No Comment
Back in 2005, Bruce Logan and his team of Penn State researchers developed a microbial fuel cell capable of converting poop into power . Now, Logan has refined his system to the point where it can produce hydrogen from wastewater or biodegradable organic materials without using a drop of grid electricity, and without emitting even a hint of carbon dioxide. His approach, outlined in the September 19th issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, involves something known as reverse-electrodialysis (RED) — a process that harvests energy from the ionic discrepancy between fresh and salt water. Logan’s bacterial hydrolysis cell (pictured left) features a so-called RED stack that’s comprised of alternating positive and negative ion exchange membranes, which it uses to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. Normally, this process would involve about 25 pairs of membranes, but by using RED technology in conjunction with electricity-producing exoelectrogenic bacteria, Penn State’s team was able to extract hydrogen with just five membrane pairs. All told, Logan’s cells proved to be about 58 to 64 percent energy efficient, while producing between 0.8 to 1.6 cubic meters of hydrogen for every cubic meter of liquid that passed through the system. The researchers’ results show that only one percent of that energy was used to pump water through the cells, which are completely carbon neutral, as well. According to Logan, this breakthrough demonstrates that “pure hydrogen gas can efficiently be produced from virtually limitless supplies of seawater and river water and biodegradable organic matter.” Somewhere, the US Navy is taking scrupulous notes . Full PR after the break. [Image courtesy of Penn State / Bruce Logan] Continue reading Microbial fuel cell produces hydrogen from wastewater without wasting energy Microbial fuel cell produces hydrogen from wastewater without wasting energy originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 07:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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