Researchers at the German institution Technische Universitat Darmstadt have published a paper demonstrating a technology that could eventually bring complex, physical object-based control to pico projectors. Were the technology, dubbed LightBeam, to be integrated with smartphones, it could engender a much wider array of interactions and methods of navigating data.
In a move that signals a greater commitment to hardware design and manufacture, Google has purchased industrial design firm Mike and Maaike. Mike and Maaike is a studio that worked on the first Google Nexus phone, and the purchase seems to indicate a greater focus for Google on hardware design in the wake of its acquisition of Motorola Mobility.
At its annual investor meeting, Nvidia unveiled a new platform, known as Kai, which the company hopes will allow for the production of quad-core Android 4.0 tablets that are priced comparably to Amazon's Kindle Fire. The Kai project is both a reference tablet design, which could be turned into a consumer product, and a roadmap for the development of similar low-priced but powerful tablets.
The Acer Iconia A510 Olympic tablet will be reaching the UK in June through Carphone Warehouse. The special-edition tablet shares the specs of the Iconia Tab A510, with the main differences being an engraving of the Olympic rings on the back and a pre-loaded trial of Eurosport Player, to watch the broadcaster's Olympic coverage.
Images of Samsung's forthcoming Chromebox desktop appeared briefly on the Internet today, as retailer TigerDirect posted a video featuring the device. The video has since been taken down, but it confirmed details Samsung had previously released when it revealed the device in January. The desktop computer, similar in its form factor to Apple's Mac mini, will be one of the first desktop PCs to run Google's Chrome operating system.
The latest release of the Amazon Appstore allows owners of selected Android smartphones to try out some apps for free before buying them. Users can interact with select apps as though they had been downloaded, running them through Amazon's store. Amazon is planning to roll out the new feature for a wider selection of phones in the coming months.
Nuance, maker of the technology that partially powers Apple's Siri digital assistant, has announced that it is bringing its natural language technology to cars. Dragon Drive will allow drivers to compose text messages, get directions, and find traffic information by speaking to their cars. Nuance's voice-command technology is already featured in Ford's Sync application, but the company looks to bring the capability to a wider range of manufacturers with Dragon Drive.
Meta Watch has officially released a new smartwatch development system with Bluetooth 4.0, capable of integrating with both iOS and Android devices. A previous beta was limited to Android only. In iOS, an app pushes basic notifications to the watch for things like calls and messages. Developers have access to an API, though, which will let their own apps push virtually any information.
New numbers out from market research company NPD Group suggest the average mobile device holds 12 apps targeted at kids. The payoff from the popularity of kid-friendly apps is uncertain, though, as NPD estimates that nearly nine out of 10 of those apps are acquired for free. In news that could prove troubling for traditional game-console makers Nintendo and Sony, the report finds that gaming on mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, is a particularly popular activity among children.
Verizon Wireless will begin offering the ZTE-made Jetpack 890L 4G LTE hotspot online and in stores on May 24. The device was introduced at CES in January and was since approved by the FCC. It is made for world travelers thanks to support of multiple bands, including CDMA, EVDO, 3G, and Verizon's 4G LTE.
Yesterday's 2012 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas replaced the traditional "red envelope," instead using a Sony Tablet P model to read the names of winners. Because the tablet uses a folding design, it was ideal to recreate the "reveal" moment while giving it a digital update. The awards were hosted by Modern Family's Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell, and featured noteworthy tributes to Whitney Houston and Donna Summer, the latter of whom died unexpectedly just last week. UK pop star Adele was the biggest winner, collecting 12 of the 46 awards given out. The Sony Tablet P sells for $399 with a two-year AT&T contract.
Microsoft has updated the software development kit for its Kinect sensor, adding facial expression recognition and other capabilities to its 3D camera system. The update comes ahead of Microsoft's release of the Kinect for Windows SDK, which will bring the Kinect's feature set from the Xbox 360 to Windows desktops and notebooks. The update is largely in keeping with what Microsoft previously revealed as forthcoming features for Kinect.
Tizen, the operating system developed as a partnership between Intel and Samsung, may finally debut on smartphones in the second half of this year. The scalable OS, sources tell Digitimes, will be appearing on smartphones, tablets, and notebooks from a number of different manufacturers.
Nintendo may have slightly redesigned the tablet-like controller for its forthcoming Wii U console. A photo of a more ergonomically-designed controller appeared briefly on the Twitter feed of a developer, before vanishing shortly thereafter. The Wii U is expected to be showcased in full at this year's E3 being held early next month in Los Angeles, and likely will be released either over the summer or in the fall.
Sony has confirmed to CNet that Sony tablet owners in all regions will receive an over-the-air update to Android 4.0 by the end of May. Sony had previously announced the coming availability of Android 4.0 for all of its tablet models, though the company had not announced a specific timeline until now.
Google has applied for a patent on an input system that relies on a finger ring to control for technology such as Project Glass. The application, made public by the USPTO on Tuesday, describes a “wearable marker for passive interaction” in the form of a ring, artificial fingernails or other wearable items that could interact with a head-mounted display, following another recent application for the glasses design.
Amazon may delay the rumored 8.9-inch Kindle Fire and launch a 10.1-inch model instead. According to DigiTimes, sources speculate that the larger screen will help compete with the iPad, whereas the 8.9-inch variant was said to be designed to go against the Samsung Galaxy Note.
Amazon is engaged in talks with a number of advertising agencies in the hopes of getting them to sign on in backing an ad-supported version of the retailer's Kindle Fire tablet, a source familiar with the discussions has told AdAge. If implemented, the ad-supported model could push prices even lower for Amazon's already budget-priced tablet.
Toshiba has launched its Regza tablet line for the Japanese market, releasing four tablets ranging between 7.7 and 13.3 inches. All four offerings will launch running Android 4.0, and come with 1GB RAM, a two-megapixel front camera, and a five-megapixel rear camera. All models will also have Wi-Fi capability, Bluetooth compatibility, USB2, and an SD card reader.
Amazon is preparing to release a front-lit version of its Kindle e-reader and a new, bigger version of its Kindle Fire tablet, a source tells Reuters. The source claims to have seen prototypes for the devices, and says they will likely be released in July. A front-lit Kindle e-reader would allow users to read in the dark without the need for an external light attachment.
Comcast has made its Skype on Xfinity system available in Boston and Seattle in the first stage of a nationwide rollout. The previously leaked Skype camera allows users to perform video calls through the service, with instant messaging available while watching TV at the same time.
Venstar has outed its Skyport Wi-Fi key for the ColorTouch thermostat. The key connects the thermostat to Skyport Cloud Services, run by the company, allowing users to monitor and adjust the thermostat from a phone or tablet. The key is a $100 upgrade to the $300 thermostat, with iOS, Android, and Blackberry apps free to download.
Google has admitted that its Project Glass wearable display interface currently does not resemble what is shown in the demo video. The admission comes the same day the search giant patents the design of the Project Glass prototypes, showing what a prescription variant would look like.
Netgear has released its first 802.11ac router using the new Wi-Fi specification. The R6300 router, which is said to be capable of combined Wi-Fi speeds of up to 1750Mbps, ships at the same time as announcements for a more budget-conscious R6200 router and the A6200 Wi-Fi dongle, aiming to be the first 802.11ac dual-band USB adapter to market.
AT&T has stopped sales of the U-verse bundle for Xbox 360, citing work to “improve and enhance” the functionality, according to a message on its website. The bundle will not be up for sale again until the new functionality is added, a representative has told Multichannel.
LG is showing off its new line of G2 Google TV models in New York this week. The smart TVs feature redesigned user interfaces and beefed-up internals to make for a smoother Web-browsing and television experience. The new sets feature LG's new L9 dual-core chipset, which is based on ARM architecture, and a quad-core GPU.
The FCC has revealed details of a new seven-inch 3G tablet from NEC. The filing with the regulator offers very little information on the device, going by the model number KMP7R4D1-1A, with the only detailed image supplied being a sketch showing microphone and speaker placement.
The Mozilla Foundation, maker of the Firefox web browser, is calling out Microsoft for anticompetitive practices with regard to browser capabilities on the upcoming Windows RT. In a blog post, Mozilla's General Counsel Harvey Anderson takes Microsoft to task for programming decisions that will limit the power and feature set of non-Internet Explorer browsers in the next version of Windows.
Despite the popularity of Apple's iPad and competing tablets such as the Kindle Fire, some consumers still pine for color e-readers. Amazon, maker of the Kindle, top seller among e-readers, has flirted with the idea, but previously maintained that the technology wasn't ready yet for a quality color reading device. Now, sources tell Digitimes, color E Ink technology may finally have reached a satisfactory level of sophistication, and Amazon is said to be preparing to roll out a color Kindle in the second half of 2012.
Sprint and Sierra Wireless have announced the availability of the first mobile router to combine LTE and WiMAX 4G connections alongside 3G connectivity. The Sierra Wireless 4G LTE Tri-Fi Hotspot will connect to Sprint's 4G network and will become available to customers starting May 18.
Bang and Olufsen has unveiled the BeoPlay V1, the first television from the high-end audio manufacturer's brand B&O Play. The television uses self-contained speakers set in a Scandinavian-industrial style powder-coated steel cabinet, contrasting with the previous TV releases. The manufacturer also noted an iOS docking station, called the BeoPlay A8, which adds Apple AirPlay support as an update to the original BeoSound 8.
Today, Facebook announced its new App Center, a portal on the social network designed for app discovery. The new portal, meant for socially-oriented apps, features an in-depth rating system, providing developers with demographic information on user ratings. Apps highlighted on the App Center cover both iOS and Android, making the App Center one of the only places one can find apps from the competing stores side by side.
In light of a steady decline in the cost of integrating 3G hardware, AT&T President of Emerging Devices Glenn Lurie believes tablet makers will eventually stop producing Wi-Fi only models, instead opting to make only tablets featuring both 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity. Speaking at the CTIA Wireless trade show, Lurie said he believes this sort of wireless consolidation would work out well for carriers, consumers, and manufacturers.
Earlier this year, Archos confirmed the release of its Child Pad, a child-oriented, seven-inch tablet that undercut Amazon's Kindle Fire by $70. The low price was possible due in part to the tablet's utilization of resistive touchscreen technology in its display. Now, an Archos product roadmap seems to confirm the existence of a new version, the Child Pad 2, implementing a capacitive touchscreen but still likely retailing at a low price.
The 10-inch model of Toshiba's Excite tablet line is now available for order. The Excite 10 comes in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB models. All models feature a 10.1-inch, 1280x800 Gorilla Glass display and are listed at about 10 hours of battery life.
Although most hardware makers have focused on new cellphones and related accessories at the CTIA expo this week, ZTE also brought its new V96 tablet. The 10.1-inch device brings a standard set of Ice Cream Sandwich tablet features, along with multi-band radios for GSM and LTE networks.
A budget-level seven-inch tablet from Chinese device maker Ainol has appeared for order online. The Novo7 Aurora II, due to launch later in May, represents perhaps the most ambitious offering from the Chinese company to date, at a price point that could make the device competitive with Amazon's Kindle Fire.
Two new, as-yet unannounced Garmin GPS units have just surfaced at the FCC. The Zumo 340 and Zumo 350 are meant for use on motorcycles, and their model numbers suggest they are mid-level offerings, though pricing can only be guessed at so far. The units are also a little different in shape than the current flat form factor of Nuvi devices.
The record-setting growth of the Pebble watch concept on Kickstarter is continuing, and the team behind the smartphone companion device is continuing to rack in the support dollars. When the project gathered $3 million, designers announced they will make the case waterproof, and now that the $9m mark was breached, they said they will add Bluetooth 4.0 functionality to it. This shouldn't affect the launch date, and the functionality will be enabled after launch thanks to a software update.
Escort late last year introduced Escort Live, providing basic integration between the company's radar detectors and Android or iOS smartphones. The company has continued to embrace smartphone capabilities with SmartRadar, a new detector that discretely monitors radar and laser signals while diverging from form factor of existing dash-mounted radar detectors. Electronista had a chance to check out the new device this week at a special event ahead of CTIA's New Orleans gathering.
Amid the rumors and speculation surrounding Nintendo's forthcoming Wii U console, leaked screens from Blockbuster UK purport to show the 25 games likely to accompany the Wii U when the system launches later this year. The supposed lineup shows a range of offerings, from party games, to fitness titles and big franchises appearing for the first time on a Nintendo system.
VeriFone will release a new card reader that plugs into the iPhone or iPad's 3.5mm headphone input to process payments. A step up from its PayWare solution for hardware, the new device, called SAIL, will be very close to Square's hardware. VeriFone already makes card payment hardware for larger businesses and stores, and is trying to protect this client base from smaller up and comers like Square, BusinessInsider reported.
Budget electronics maker Ematic has just detailed specs of a new 10-inch Android-powered tablet, the eGlide XL Pro 2. It shares many of the hardware specs with the smaller 7-inch eGlide Prism introduced in mid-April. It runs on Android 4.0 as well and sports a 1GHz CPU and 400MHz GPU, along with 1GB of RAM.
Clarion has introduced a new device for iPhone owners, the Next Gate. It's a 7-inch, GPS unit-like device that will attach to a vehicle's windshield using a suction cup and provides a larger, more convenient control over a wired iPhone. Unlike the recently introduced Mirage head unit that's powered by Android, the Next Gate doesn't support handsets with the Google-made OS.
Lenovo will build a new production, R&D, and sales facility in Wuhan, China, the PC maker announced on Monday. Called the Lenovo (Wuhan) Industrial Base, the facility will focus on smartphones and tablets while employing several thousand employees. The company will invest about RMB5 billion ($792) over the next five years, with a scheduled opening date of October, 2013.
A team at Disney Research and Carnegie Mellon University have developed touch technology that could one day see everyday objects become as smart and responsive as the touchscreens people carry in their pockets today. A video on Disney Research's YouTube page shows off the technology, dubbed Touché, as well as a few proof-of-concept applications.
Samsung has filed a patent some time ago with the USPTO for a phone with built-in biometric scanners that is hooked up to the Internet. The so-called biological analysis device would monitor a user's health and could send that data to a hospital, diagnosis service, or a doctor located in another city, country, or continent.
Swivl, maker of the self-titled mount for smartphones with digital cameras that pans to follow a speaker during a voice conference, has introduced a basic version of the gadget, Swivl-it. Unlike the $179 full-blown version, the $129 model doesn't have a digital wireless microphone included and is missing one motor that allows for vertical adjustment. Users can still tilt it by hand, however, but it won't adjust itself as they get up or sit down.
New research shows that sodium rechargeable batteries could replace lithium-ion batteries in electronics and some electric vehicles, Nature reported. This would require using a new electrode material that contains iron rather than nickel and cobalt. Sodium and iron is widely available, and using them would drive costs down while creating similar energy density to electrodes in lithium batteries.
The Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 may be less expensive than originally believed if the latest pre-order listing from the Office Depot is to be believed. While the pre-order page is likely encountering lots of traffic and couldn't be loaded at this time, Engadget did manage to share a page capture. While it reveals that the $400 price point remains, it's for a 16GB tablet rather than the 8GB one seen before.
