Water buckets and rocking chair become spiffy interactive art projects (video)
December 28, 2010 No Comment
Cameras and wands may be the game controllers du jour , but it seems there’s still room in the world for virtual reality experiences a bit more concrete — like these buckets, filled with water, that let their user physically paddle through a digital dreamscape. “Channels” uses a pair of flex sensors attached to plastic spoons to monitor the flow in each bucket as a projector throws the minimalist 3D environment up on a nearby wall. Meanwhile, “Cadence Chair” uses an antique rocking chair outfitted with an accelerometer to align ribbons of light, and if you do it in the right rhythm it plays a hidden video. Both are student projects from New York University’s Interactive Telecommunications Project, and as you’ll see in videos after the break, both look pretty darn cool. We’re having this sudden urge to go back to school. Continue reading Water buckets and rocking chair become spiffy interactive art projects (video) Water buckets and rocking chair become spiffy interactive art projects (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 22:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Mercedes Terminal Mode partnership comes to fruition with internet-connected 2012 C-Class
December 28, 2010 No Comment
Last year Nokia made something of a telematics coup , partnering with just about every major European manufacturer and doing everything it could to get its Terminal Mode in-car smartphone integration into more autos. Mercedes was one of those partners and now we’re getting a glimpse of the result in the new C-Class. Merc has made some minor exterior updates to the car (not necessarily for the better, in our opinion), but on the inside comes an updated Mercedes COMAND infotainment system that, for the first time, offers full internet access. Using Terminal Mode the car interacts with a smartphone to provide the data, allowing dashboard surfing (while stationary) and the transmission of Google Maps points and directions right to the vehicle. There’s also Bluetooth for streaming your tunes through the car’s sound system and a USB port in the armrest to keep things charged while you decimate that slab. PR is below if you’re looking for more details, or you can just wait for our impressions when we get to Detroit in a few weeks. Continue reading Mercedes Terminal Mode partnership comes to fruition with internet-connected 2012 C-Class Mercedes Terminal Mode partnership comes to fruition with internet-connected 2012 C-Class originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 21:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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We don’t know much about it yet, but it’s looking like we might be getting a taste of 3D on the go after all at CES . We’d hoped it would be with Nintendo’s 3DS , but that report turned out to be a bust , and now LG is apparently going to pick up the slack with a new mobile digital TV that has a 3D display. We know virtually nothing about the set at this point, but we’re thinking it will be glasses-free and are speculating that, after its appearance in Vegas next week, it’ll never be seen in the US again. LG looks set to unveil mobile 3DTV at CES originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 20:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Google’s next Android Music app leaks out, gives hints of a 3.0 UI overhaul
December 27, 2010 No Comment
Remember at Google I/O this year when Google showed off “something beyond Froyo” in the music realm? The demo included an all-new music player (boy, wouldn’t that be nice!), along with magical features that let you push web-purchased songs to your device, and allowed you to browse your PC’s music library from your phone as if it was on the device itself. Well, none of that showed up in Gingerbread , unfortunately, but the new music player itself has just leaked out. It’s super buggy, and of course doesn’t have any of those fancy wireless features we’re waiting on, but it could offer a bit of a glimpse into 3.0, at least as far as UI tweaks go. The differences seem minimal but aesthetically pleasing, with blurred background images behind frosted glass widgets as far as the eye can see. One important thing to note is that there is a menu button on the top right, at least in some views, and we went back and watched Andy Rubin’s tablet time at D : there’s clearly the same menu button on each app. [Suspenseful strings begin to play]. It seems Google might be getting rid of its hardware buttons entirely, or at least making menu functionality a more obvious part of its relevant applications, instead of the “surprise!” button it currently represents. There are also points in the video where tapping the application’s icon in the top left takes you to the “home” of the app, and we also found similar icons on the top left of each application Andy demoed at D — and we’re guessing they have the same functionality. Check out a video after the break, or hit up the source link to grab the APK… if you dare. Continue reading Google’s next Android Music app leaks out, gives hints of a 3.0 UI overhaul Google’s next Android Music app leaks out, gives hints of a 3.0 UI overhaul originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 19:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Panasonic AF100 Micro Four Thirds video camera ships today, right on schedule
December 27, 2010 No Comment
As you probably know, we’re big fans of DSLR video around here at Engadget. From shooting product demos , to producing the Engadget Show , if we shot the video, it was likely done with one of these single-lens cameras: they’re convenient and capable of beautiful moving images but often leave much to be desired by way of form factor when it comes to video . While Canon and Nikon are slapping on articulating LCDs and calling it a day, Panasonic has upped the ante with its new AG-AF100 camera. Teased way back in April , Panny just dropped a press release announcing that its newest piece of video hardware is now being delivered, making a nice late holiday gift for any wannabe filmmakers that you really, really like. Basically, the AF100 is what happens when you stuff the innards of a DLSR into the body of a video camera and slap some interchangeable lenses in front of it. Listing at $4,995, the AF100 rocks a Micro Four Thirds sensor that records to dual SD cards in AVCHD and outputs 8-bit uncompressed 4:2:2 video to an external recorder via an HD-SDI connection. It also attempts to solve the audio issues plaguing DSLR video shooting (namely, the difficulty of getting pro-level audio to play nice with a camera designed only for imaging) with its two phantom-powered XLR audio inputs and built-in stereo microphone. Panasonic is also claiming to have lessened aliasing and the dreaded “jellycam” found in DSLR video with an optical low pass filter and faster scanning, while still boasting the wide viewing angle and shallow depth of field that movie-makers (and Vimeo users) know and love to death. We’ll be doing a full review of the AF100 as soon as we can get our hands on it; in the meantime, head on past the break for the full PR. Continue reading Panasonic AF100 Micro Four Thirds video camera ships today, right on schedule Panasonic AF100 Micro Four Thirds video camera ships today, right on schedule originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 19:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Konami’s 3DS dating simulator uses facial recognition to block virtual cheating
December 27, 2010 No Comment
We may still not have an official price for the Nintendo 3DS , but it looks like you can now at least count on yet another unique gaming experience not found on other handheld systems. Konami recently announced that its “Project Loveplus” dating simulator for the system will not only take advantage of the system’s 3D capabilities, but that it will also include a so-called “boyfriend lock” that uses facial recognition to prevent any virtual cheating. Apparently, if someone else picks up your 3DS and tries to play the game, your virtual girlfriend will act confused and respond with phrases like ” who are you?” — which, incidentally, is a question you might also want to ask yourself before looking for ways to import the game from Japan (yeah, don’t count on this one being released over here). Continue reading Konami’s 3DS dating simulator uses facial recognition to block virtual cheating Konami’s 3DS dating simulator uses facial recognition to block virtual cheating originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 19:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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So, Santa stuffed an iPad into your stocking on Christmas (insert mythical figure / appropriate receptacle / holiday of choice), and you’re wondering what to do with the thing? First of all, congratulations! The iPad can be a wonderful, loyal companion and friend, but it can also take a while to warm up to. As we always say, a device is only as good as its apps, both literally and figuratively: it’ll take some time to figure out what you want to get from the iTunes Store that will flesh out your experience, but it will also take some time to see which nooks and crannies of your life the iPad can fill, and what roles you’ll want it to take over from your laptop and phone. Follow along after the break as we show you how to wring the most out of your shiny new tablet. Continue reading Just got an iPad? The best apps, accessories, and tips Just got an iPad? The best apps, accessories, and tips originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 18:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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It was a bit too late to fend off a more than 3% drop in its stock price, but Logitech has finally come out and refuted those rumors that it was asked to halt production of its Google TV hardware until a significant update could be rolled out. As VP of corporate communications Nancy Morrison explains, Logitech “has not been asked by Google to suspend production of its Google TV products,” and that such a suspension wouldn’t even be necessary as “every Logitech Revue companion box will receive free over-the-air updates whenever Google and Logitech release software enhancements.” That statement has now also been backed up by Logitech’s official blog, which assures customers that “all’s well with Logitech Revue,” and that Logitech will be out in force at CES next month to demonstrate “how Google TV is transforming the TV-watching experience.” Logitech says Google hasn’t asked it to halt Google TV production originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 17:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Taking a smartphone out of the box for the first time can elicit a wide spectrum of emotions, starting with unadulterated excitement that can quickly devolve into panic, chaos, and confusion: what do you now? How do you make it awesome? How do you emanate an air of “cool” on the subway by using apps specifically designed to make you look like a badass? Well, fear not, newly-minted Android smartphone owner: as always, we’ve got your back. Read on for all the apps, accessories, and tips you should be investigating right this very second. Continue reading Just got an Android phone? The best apps, accessories, and tips Just got an Android phone? The best apps, accessories, and tips originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 17:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …8mm Vintage Camera app will make your vids look older, more retro, and way, way cooler
December 27, 2010 No Comment
You know who you are, hipsters. You’re the kind of person who isn’t satisfied with merely taking a photo of your Pabst Blue Ribbon with your iPhone 4 : you have to make it old timey before you Tweet it, Facebook it, Instagram it, print it out and mail a physical copy of it to your best friend from the third grade… oh wait, that last one’s just us. Well, you’re in luck: you can now pretend like your brand new, high def videos are also from the olden days, just like your faux old timey photos. The new app, called 8mm Vintage Camera will add dust particles, scratches and age for you in seconds via a fun set of ‘unique’ filters. Sounds like a hoot, right? It’s available for $2 in the app store right now for iOS devices. You know you want it. Video demo after the break. Continue reading 8mm Vintage Camera app will make your vids look older, more retro, and way, way cooler 8mm Vintage Camera app will make your vids look older, more retro, and way, way cooler originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 16:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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