KitKat-based CyanogenMod 11 M2 Snapshot builds now available for numerous devices
CES 2014 is almost upon us where there will be lots of new tech toys unveiled, including Android phones and tablets, but that doesn’t mean you should give up on your current device just get.
If you were hoping to breath some new life into your device with the latest version of Android 4.4 KitKat, but your device hasn’t received an update yet, or may never get it, you may be in luck with one of the best aftermarket firmwares, CyanogenMod.
While it’s been about a month since the CM team released its first “Snapshot” builds of KitKat for Nexus devices, now the M2 Snapshot builds or second “Snapshot” builds are available, but also for a multitude of other devices as well.
As I’ve mentioned before, if you’re not familiar with the M releases, they’re builds done roughly once a month that have had some testing to make sure things are mostly working and they’re the first builds that allow official bug reports on the project manager site. M builds are a step above nighties and are basically safe to use as your “daily driver.”
Officially joining the ranks of the Nexus devices, are the Galaxy S3 and S4, HTC One, Kindle Fire, LG G2, Motorola Droid Razr and the aged Samsung Galaxy Nexus, among many, many others.
Check out the download page to see if your device has a CM 11 M2 Snapshot build available and check out the official Gapps page for the most up to date Google apps.
Downloads via CyanogenMod
The post KitKat-based CyanogenMod 11 M2 Snapshot builds now available for numerous devices appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Orbotix rolls out Sphero 2B
Orbotix, makers of the ridiculously fun Sphero, are back with a new gadget with the introduction of Sphero 2B. Designed with interchangeable parts such as tires and hubcaps, he’s deft, fast, and comes with plenty of maneuverability. Like its predecessor, this guy comes with accessories, apps, and will only get better with time. The sad part? We’ll have to wait until fall of 2014 until he rolls our way.
Sphero 2B is also made for open play and is designed to inspire future inventors like Sphero’s young co-founders. We’ve added built-in infrared technology that will offer interactive player vs. player and multiplayer games.
The post Orbotix rolls out Sphero 2B appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Sculpteo makes factory-like 3D printing much easier with its Batch Control option
If you’re in need of a few 3D-printed parts for that next project or business venture, Sculpteo now has a production method to help bring home the bacon. The company has just announced 3D-printing Batch Control to output as many figurines, drone parts or whatever it is that you may need. Using Sculpteo’s software, customers can view the order inside the printer, compare pricing in real time and control both axis and orientation all while nabbing multiple units in a single batch. As far as customization goes, 11 colors, three finishes and two resolutions are offered for orders in an effort to cut production costs, allow for limited editions and more — like 168 pigs, for example. While the 3D-printed items we saw here at CES are connected in cube form, orders don’t arrive that way by default, but it sure does make for easy transport.
Sean Cooper contributed to this report.
Filed under: Misc, Peripherals
PrioVR full-body mocap suit promises accurate motion tracking in VR gaming
Sure, Kinect’s done a bang-up job of bringing full-body motion tracking closer to the mainstream, but it hasn’t exactly fulfilled the dreams of futuristic gaming that Hollywood (and our imaginations) promised. PrioVR, a motion-tracking suit meant for virtual reality games, aims to bring us closer to that future with accurate full-body motion-capture abilities without a camera array in the mix.
The demo on hand today was pretty impressive: A rep was decked out in the upper-body suit, complete with Wii nunchuks, playing a first-person shooter. Sensors on his chest, back, head, arms and hands translated his movements to the screen with little latency, showing up on the display in a fraction of a second. We did notice an ever-so-slight choppiness — which could have more to do with the game engine than the hardware — but how much it affects gameplay remains to be seen. Though only an upper-body rig was being shown off, a full-body getup promises to capture everything from walking to kicking.
YEI Technology, the company behind PrioVR, originally launched a Kickstarter effort late last year, but after only raising $111,237 of its $225,000 funding goal, the firm’s giving the prototype another go, with a new campaign launching on February 14th. The upper-body suit will reportedly go for about $300, while the full-body version will come in under $400. Obviously, this type of tech opens up a world of possibilities for developers, especially when paired with likes of the Oculus Rift and other head-mounted displays. Expect a few compatible games when the PrioVR makes its way to Kickstarter backers this summer, and a proper hands-on as CES continues.
Sarah Silbert contributed to this report.
Filed under: Gaming
Cobra Electronics demos power pack that can jump-start your car
Cobra Electronics is a big player in the automotive world, largely thanks to its line of radar detectors. What a lot of people don’t know, however, is that the company has also been dabbling with products that jump-start your car. At this year’s CES, Cobra is introducing the JumPack, which it says is a game-changing device for jump-starting — an odd-sounding statement, no doubt, but we have to agree. The 7,500mAh portable JumPack (CPP 7500) looks suspiciously like your run-of-the-mill external smartphone/tablet charger, and it’s the smallest jump-start power pack we’ve come across. It features a 200A starting current and gets up to a peak current of 400A, which is enough to give your car’s battery a few jumps — given that it only takes three to four hours to recharge, it should be more than enough to manage those unfortunate situations in a lonely parking lot. It also comes with a built-in flashlight as well as USB output (2.1A) in case you want to give your smartphone a power boost. When it makes its way to stores in March or April, you’ll be able to pick one up for $130.
Sean Cooper contributed to this post.
Filed under: Transportation
Square and Griffin unveil merchant case at CES, gives sellers a place to store their card readers
Need a place to put that Square card reader when you’re not making the small-business bucks? Griffin has a case for that. Teaming up with Square for CES 2014, the case manufacturer has announced an iPhone 5 case designed specifically for businesses on the go. For the most part, the Merchant Case is little more than your standard durable silicone phone sleeve, but a few minor tweaks make it particularly suited to Square users. The case’s bottom edge, for instance, is designed specifically to hold the reader in place, while also providing a credit-card shaped groove to help glide customer plastic into the Square. The backside of the phone also has a recessed storage area that can hold on to the reader when it’s not in use, making it easier to carry around. The case looks a little bulky, but it does seem to be a simple solution to a simple problem. The cost? $20 on Griffin’s website. Not bad.
Filed under: Misc
New Apple Store in Beijing to Open Friday at China Central Mall [Mac Blog]
Apple is set to open a new retail store in China on Friday, January 10 at the China Central Mall in the Chaoyang District of Beijing, approximately two miles from the existing Sanlitun Apple Store in Beijing.
The China Central Mall is an upscale shopping center with more than 70 shops and restaurants, including stores like Gucci, Prada, and Chanel. It’s also flanked by two major hotels, the Ritz-Carlton and the JW Marriot Hotel.
News of the new Apple Store first surfaced in May of 2013, and according to reports, the store spans 500 square meters over two separate floors. The store opening comes just a week before China’s largest carrier, China Mobile, is slated to begin iPhone 5s and 5c sales.
Apple’s new China Central Mall retail store, its fourth in Beijing, will open at 10 a.m. on Friday. The store has already begun accepting reservations for workshops and Genius Bar appointments.
(Image courtesy of Go Shop Beijing)
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CES 2014: Griffin Debuts ‘PowerMate Bluetooth’ Controller for Mac [Mac Blog]
Griffin today announced a new version of its PowerMate wireless controller for the Mac, bringing wireless Bluetooth 4.0 capability as well a redesigned PowerMate app for easier user configuration.
Like its predecessor, the PowerMate Bluetooth acts as a programmable wireless controller that is designed to replace keyboard shortcuts with twist gestures and clicks. The controller also comes with presets for programs such as iMovie and GarageBand out of the box, as users can add custom commands to any Mac application with the included PowerMate app.
Users can also control the behavior of the pulsing LED on the device to provide system status, and are also able to pair multiple PowerMates through Bluetooth in order to assign specific commands to each.
The PowerMate Bluetooth will be available Summer 2014 for $59.99 through Griffin’s official website and various retailers. 
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Lenovo trots out a 4K Android-powered all-in-one, with a standalone monitor to match
So Lenovo announced a whole bunch of all-in-ones, you say? You’ll have to be a little more specific than that. In addition to unveiling a trio of Windows-based models, the company announced two more that run Android. These include the consumer-friendly N308 and the ThinkVision 28, a 4K machine destined for the workplace (pictured above). Starting with the consumer model (this is CES, after all), it costs a reasonable $450 and, accordingly, comes with some fairly middling specs — notably, a 19-inch, 1,600 x 900 display and a spinning hard drive with up to 500 gigs of space. That big display aside, you’re basically looking at an oversized tablet, with Android 4.2 installed and a quad-core Tegra 4 SoC running the show. Like other all-in-ones Lenovo’s released over the past year, this one’s portable, with a battery rated for three hours. At 10 pounds, though, give or take, it’s actually a good deal lighter than that other portable desktop Lenovo just announced.
As for the ThinkVision model, it’s crowned by a 28-inch, 3,840 x 2,160 display, allowing you to poke around Android 4.3 at a screen density of 157 pixels per inch. Note that the OS interface is actually upscaled from a 1080p resolution, but we were told that all 4K content is played in its native resolution. Additionally, the machine uses NFC and a “tap to connect” feature to pair devices, though you could also hook them up using one of the four USB ports, three HDMI sockets or the micro-USB connection.
Want the same screen quality, but can do without the NFC and Tegra guts? Lenovo is also selling the ThinkVision Pro2840m, which has a similar 28-inch, 3,840 x 2,160 screen (and a staid, less flexible design). As it turns out, the monitor arrives first, priced at $799 with shipments expected to begin in April. The ThinkVision 28 will follow in July, with prices starting at $1,199.
Richard Lai contributed to this report.
Pure delves deeper into multi-room audio with higher-end Jongo and Evoke systems
Pure first set foot into the multi-room audio space at last year’s CES with its frugal Jongo line; in 2014, it’s targeting slightly more affluent listeners who would otherwise go for Sonos gear. Its $299 Jongo T4 speaker (above) is reaching the US for the first time, and carries enough oomph at 50W to fill a living room. The $229 Evoke F4 (below), meanwhile, is the company’s first internet-savvy radio with Jongo support built-in. There’s also a pair of big software upgrades on the way, including SiriusXM streaming (for subscribers) and a developer kit for third-party app support. Both the T4 and F4 reach the US this later this month, while the software should arrive during the first quarter of the year.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Source: Pure
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