CSI Virtual MasterCard app bringing mobile payments to iOS, Android and BlackBerry
June 27, 2011 No Comment
Shortly after MasterCard announced plans to become entangled with Google Wallet (and a few months after those ambitious Isis plans were shelved ), it looks as if the aforesaid company is diving into yet another mobile payment arena. And this time, it’s personal. MasterCard and CSI Enterprises already offer a smattering of customized business cards for those with highly specific needs, and soon that partnership will extend to iOS, Android and BlackBerry OS. We’ve confirmed that the CSI Virtual MasterCard app is currently scheduled to launch in July, presumably enabling folks with a GlobalVCard to use their mobile device of choice to make payments. What’s interesting here is the inclusion of RIM; there’s no BlackBerry device on the market today with NFC , which leads us to believe one of two things: that’s either changing by July, or this here service won’t rely on NFC at all. Needless to say, we’ll keep you posted — nothing like another way to more easily indebt yourself. CSI Virtual MasterCard app bringing mobile payments to iOS, Android and BlackBerry originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 11:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Apparently, kids aren’t at all put off by the air of misadventure and notoriety that surrounds hacking. In fact, they’re so eager to partake in lock-picking workshops, clue-deciphering seminars and social engineering round-tables, that Defcon in August will have a side event totally dedicated to proto-hackers aged 8-16. The focus will be strictly on well-intentioned hacking and cyber-security, so there’s little risk that your progeny will be set on a life-path that ends in a lengthy jail term . Nevertheless, the organizers warn that the main adult event will be going on all around the kids’ areas, leading to a risk of exposure to bad language, possible nudity and an “assortment of philosophies.” And if that doesn’t deter them, nothing will. Defcon Kids event invites hackers to bring their genetic back-up units originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 10:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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That super thin Eee PC X101 that we manhandled back at Computex is just about ready to make its retail debut. Starting in July you’ll be able to pick one up one of these MeeGo -running crimson clamshells for $199 or, if you’re a fan of desktop apps, Windows 7 versions (X101H) starting at $310. Inside the base model you’ll find a 1.33GHz, single-core Atom N435, a six-cell battery, and a small SSD (probably of the 16GB variety). Unfortunately, the two most important details — can it cut a cake and will it blend — remain unanswered. Slim ASUS Eee PC X101 to hit shelves next month originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 09:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …KinectNUI enables Minority Report style interaction in Windows sans gloves (video)
June 27, 2011 No Comment
When Microsoft released its Kinect SDK we marveled at the impact it could have on desktop interaction; sure enough, Kevin Connolly’s Kinect Natural User Interface has made our geeky pipe-dreams a reality. His inspiration for project? Not surprisingly, the Minority Report UI (aka g-speak). Similar projects like MIT’s hack do exist, but it’s brilliant knowing that another emulation has been made rather quickly with Redmond’s tools. In a brief video using the Kinect on Windows 7, he demos various ways of manipulating on-screen content with hand gestures and body tracking — neglecting his mouse in the process. It’s still a work in progress, but the results are already quite striking, so take that ancient input device and click past the break for the full demo. Continue reading KinectNUI enables Minority Report style interaction in Windows sans gloves (video) KinectNUI enables Minority Report style interaction in Windows sans gloves (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 08:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …More Mango features uncovered: in-browser audio streams, Xbox Live voice chats, and more (video)
June 27, 2011 No Comment
While we wait (rather impatiently, we might add) for Mango to make its official debut others are still playing with test builds, pouring over code, and digging up interesting tidbits about Microsoft’s mobile OS update. That WP7 will be getting improved HTML5 support is nothing new but, that it will specifically support in-browser audio and continue to stream even if you navigate away from the browser or lock the screen, is music (literally) to our ears. Snippets discovered in a recent Mango dump have also turned up mentions of Xbox Live Voice chat, parties, multiplayer gaming, and tighter integration with the 360 for pushing Live content to your big screen. If you hit the WPSauce source link you’ll find a whole host of other fascinating things in the WP7 code, and some details about just how deeply Facebook will be tied to the OS. But, before you go, check out the video of the HTML5 audio support in action after the break. [Thanks, Charlie] Continue reading More Mango features uncovered: in-browser audio streams, Xbox Live voice chats, and more (video) More Mango features uncovered: in-browser audio streams, Xbox Live voice chats, and more (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 08:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …More Mango features uncovered: in-browser audio streams, Xbox Live voice chats, and more (video)
June 27, 2011 No CommentWhile we wait (rather impatiently, we might add) for Mango to make its official debut others are still playing with test builds, pouring over code, and digging up interesting tidbits about Microsoft’s mobile OS update. That WP7 will be getting improved HTML5 support is nothing new but, that it will specifically support in-browser audio and continue to stream even if you navigate away from the browser or lock the screen, is music (literally) to our ears. Snippets discovered in a recent Mango dump have also turned up mentions of Xbox Live Voice chat, parties, multiplayer gaming, and tighter integration with the 360 for pushing Live content to your big screen. If you hit the WPSauce source link you’ll find a whole host of other fascinating things in the WP7 code, and some details about just how deeply Facebook will be tied to the OS. But, before you go, check out the video of the HTML5 audio support in action after the break. [Thanks, Charlie] Continue reading More Mango features uncovered: in-browser audio streams, Xbox Live voice chats, and more (video) More Mango features uncovered: in-browser audio streams, Xbox Live voice chats, and more (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 08:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …More Mango features uncovered: in-browser audio streams, Xbox Live voice chats, and more (video)
June 27, 2011 No CommentWhile we wait (rather impatiently, we might add) for Mango to make its official debut others are still playing with test builds, pouring over code, and digging up interesting tidbits about Microsoft’s mobile OS update. That WP7 will be getting improved HTML5 support is nothing new but, that it will specifically support in-browser audio and continue to stream even if you navigate away from the browser or lock the screen, is music (literally) to our ears. Snippets discovered in a recent Mango dump have also turned up mentions of Xbox Live Voice chat, parties, multiplayer gaming, and tighter integration with the 360 for pushing Live content to your big screen. If you hit the WPSauce source link you’ll find a whole host of other fascinating things in the WP7 code, and some details about just how deeply Facebook will be tied to the OS. But, before you go, check out the video of the HTML5 audio support in action after the break. [Thanks, Charlie] Continue reading More Mango features uncovered: in-browser audio streams, Xbox Live voice chats, and more (video) More Mango features uncovered: in-browser audio streams, Xbox Live voice chats, and more (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 08:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Scientists study orca ears, employ lasers to create hyper-sensitive underwater microphone
June 27, 2011 No Comment
There are plenty of reasons to want to monitor what’s going on in the ocean, from whale migration, to the recent stylistic resurgence of hot crustacean bands. There are certain inherent difficulties, however, in creating a powerful underwater microphone, namely all of that water you’ve got to contend with. A team of scientists has taken cues from the design of orca ears, in order to develop a powerful microphone that can work far beneath the waves. The researchers developed membranes 25 times thinner than plastic wrap, which fluctuate as sound is made. In order to operate at extreme depths, however, the microphone must fill with water to maintain a consistent pressure. So, how does one monitor the minute movements of a membrane hampered by the presence of water? Lasers, of course! The hydrophone can capture a 160-decibel range of sounds and operate at depths of 11,000 meters, where the pressure is around 1,100 times what we’re used to on earth. So if the orcas themselves ever master the laser, at least we’ll be able to hear them coming. Scientists study orca ears, employ lasers to create hyper-sensitive underwater microphone originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 05:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …iOS 5 beta 2 blocks Gevey SIM Unlock, brings photo album curation to iDevices
June 27, 2011 No Comment
It’s only been a few days since Apple released iOS 5 beta 2, but we’ve already received a bevy of tips from developers who’ve spent some quality time with the update and uncovered a few of its more salient features. Here are some highlights. It looks like Apple has blocked Applenberry’s Gevey SIM software, which allowed users to unlock devices running iOS 4.3 or iOS 5 beta 1 without having to jailbreak. ( Read ) According to Dev Team member MuscleNerd, iOS 5 beta 2 can still be jailbroken using the RedSn0w 0.9.8b1 tethering tool, released earlier this month. ( Read ) The beta refresh also brings a few tweaks to iOS 5′s notifications system. Traditional alerts and reminders now pop up on the lock screen in larger typeface, alongside their appropriate icon. If left unattended, the notifications will eventually be added to the Android-like banner menu, at the top of the lock screen. ( Read ) Users can now create and curate photo albums directly from their iDevices, though the feature isn’t without its quirks. A tipster informs us that photos added to new albums remain in the original collection, as well. If you migrate an image from one album to another and delete the original, both pics will disappear. The next beta release might be issued over the air. When a tipster checked for updates on an iPad running beta 2, he received a “No updates were found” message, suggesting that users may be able to find future refreshes without syncing their devices with iTunes. (Screenshot after the break.) [Thanks to everyone who sent these in] Continue reading iOS 5 beta 2 blocks Gevey SIM Unlock, brings photo album curation to iDevices iOS 5 beta 2 blocks Gevey SIM Unlock, brings photo album curation to iDevices originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 06:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Up till now, the ranks of 3D-capable smartphones were neatly organized by territory: Japan had the Sharp Aquos SH-12C , the US had the HTC EVO 3D , and Europe had the LG Optimus 3D . Now it’s all getting a tiny bit messier (and more competitive!) with HTC’s announcement that the EVO 3D has boarded a transatlantic liner and is en route to the green shores of Europa. Available “broadly” across the old continent, this Android 2.3 handset touts a 4.3-inch display with qHD (540 x 960) resolution and an added parallax barrier layer that allows it to deliver a glasses-free 3D effect. We call it an effect because real 3D it ain’t, but at least it’ll allow you to review the three-dimensional pics you snap with the included pair of 5 megapixel autofocus cameras. There’s also a 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon purring within for the performance obsessives and a generous 1730mAh battery — perhaps the biggest advantage that we can see for this phone over the similarly specced (but 3D-less) Sensation . Jump past the break for the full spec sheet and PR or hit up our review to learn just how awesome the EVO 3D’s shutter button really is. Continue reading HTC EVO 3D landing in Europe next month, two-stage shutter button and all HTC EVO 3D landing in Europe next month, two-stage shutter button and all originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 06:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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