Jeri Ellsworth talks castAR’s accidental beginnings and its augmented reality future (video)
By now, followers of castAR already know that Jeri Ellsworth created the projected augmented reality glasses back when she worked for Valve Software. But not everybody knows that its invention was, well, an accident. “I was trying to figure out why people got sick when they wore virtual reality rigs,” said Ellsworth to us as we chatted in the tiny castAR booth tucked away in the corner of Moscone North during GDC 2014. “I put a reflector in backwards so that it wasn’t projecting into my eye … There was a piece of reflective fabric in the room, it bounced an image back to me, and it was beautiful.”
Intrigued, she started cobbling together projector headsets (she affectionately calls them “head crabs”), began analyzing and exploring the technology and slowly became a huge proponent of it within the company. “I was like, ‘Oh boy, this is really going to take off!’,” she says. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite fit within Valve’s master plan and she and her team were let go. Still, Ellsworth has fond memories of her time at the company. She tells us how she was wined and dined to join Valve’s hardware team due to her long history as a chip designer and a hardware hacker. Indeed, Gabe Newell flew down to talk to her himself, and they even brought her to the Valve office, telling her that she could build her own space however she wanted. It was a wonderful place to work, she says. “I love the folks at Valve. The team we assembled was awesome.”
The good vibes continued even after she was laid off, it turns out, as Newell happily let her keep working on the project on her own, fully divorcing the company from it. And so she did, along with former Valve engineer Rick Johnson under the company name Technical Illusions. After months of developing the castAR rig and bringing it around to trade shows, they eventually launched what turned out to be a highly successful Kickstarter campaign, and were at GDC 2014 to show off what they’ve been up to thus far.
“Now we’re heading towards manufacturing,” she says excitedly. She humorously pointed out that her new engineering partners were rather taken aback with the previous castAR rig that she built herself, and promised her they could do it much better. Indeed, Ellsworth tells us they’re just a few weeks away from getting new projectors and cameras, which are supposedly of much higher quality than what they have now. “The next step is to get the plastics built for the early dev glasses,” she says, hoping to have them done by summer of this year. She also wants the Kickstarter deliverables shipped by Q4 at the latest. But fulfilling that initial Kickstarter isn’t the end of it. “For 2015, we’re seeking out more funding through Series A, VC funding, angel investors, so that we can make it more commercial.” It’s clear, then, that even though Valve didn’t believe projected augmented reality would take off, Ellsworth and her team certainly do.
Video shot and produced by Emily Price
Filed under: Gaming
This is what Facebook could look like on Oculus Rift (video)
This week, much of the world met Oculus Rift for the very first time. And now that millions of consumers are at least somewhat familiar with the VR gadget, it’s not unreasonable to assume the device will eventually become mainstream, serving to create a much more immersive internet experience. That’s at least one theory, demonstrated today by Chaotic Moon, the Austin-based firm behind the stun copter and SharkPunch. That latter concept employs the same gear Chaotic’s using for today’s demo: the Oculus Rift Dev Kit 1, with Leap Motion mounted front and center.
With this particular third-party concept, users browse an e-tailer using the Rift. After a few moments of browsing Facebook on an iMac, an individual clicks over to a product advertised in the sidebar. He’s prompted to put on Oculus, at which point he’s able to explore a virtual Facebook marketplace, where he picks a designer bag off the shelf and turns it about as if he’s actually holding it, with Leap Motion recognizing hand movements and the software responding accordingly. It’s of course just one company’s early vision — it’s possible that Facebook hasn’t even seen this mock-up, let alone provided any input to the developers. Still, it’s a slick implementation after just a couple days’ work. Check it out in the video below.
Filed under: Displays, Gaming, Household, Peripherals, Internet, Facebook
BlackBerry taking ‘serious look’ at bringing BBM to desktops
Remember when BlackBerry was hesitant to let BBM wander to other platforms? So do we, but now that the company has committed to cross-platform support by pushing its messaging service to ecosystems like iOS and Android (including the Nokia X series), it isn’t stopping there. Recently we’ve heard that it’s heading to Windows Phone in the coming months, and in an interview with Reuters BlackBerry CEO John Chen mentioned that his team is “taking a very serious look” at bringing the service to the desktop as well. Such a move would make it possible to start a conversation on your PC and finish it on your mobile — or vice versa. It’s a logical strategy for BBM, which enjoyed an uptick of 20 million new users when the service launched on iOS and Android, but has stayed stagnant at 85 million monthly active users in the past month. It’s hard to say if the addition of desktop support will trigger new growth, but given the breadth of platform availability, it will at the very least give users more incentive to stick around.
Filed under: Cellphones, Desktops, Wireless, Mobile, Blackberry
The Engadget Podcast is live at 12PM ET!
Oh Oculus, we hardly knew ye and now you’re a part of the Zuckerborg. Whither goes your Rift? Is Virtual Reality now just a shill for status updates, virtual walls you can poster and an even more immersive way to experience other people’s vacation photos? Shudder. This isn’t how it was meant to be — how we thought it would be — but then again, we’d pretty much do anything for $2 billion, too. So, who are we to judge? Oh, that’s right, we’re the Engadget Enemigos! And we’re here to sip some coffee and talk you through the surprise of Palmer Luckey’s lucky stroke of Facebook fortune. We might even touch upon HTC’s slippery and brand spankin’ new One — if you behave.
It’s all happening at noon today, so turn on, tune in and loves us, won’t you?
[Image credit: Denelson83 / Wikimedia Commons (Test Pattern)]
Filed under: Podcasts
Verizon LG G Pad 8.3 LTE review
When you first pick the device up, before turning it on, you’ll swear it’s no bigger than any 7 inch tablet you’ve used before. Just know that your mind is playing a trick on you, or you’ll be truly surprised when you turn on the tablet and you’re greeted by the gorgeous 8.3 inch, full HD display.
Hardware
A slightly taller slate than the 7 inch tablets to which we’re accustomed, this version has the Verizon badge top center on the front balancing the LG symbol at the bottom. The device has a flap on the top under which you can find the SIM card and insert a 64 GB or lower microSD card.
Aside some the Verizon badges, the hardware is basically identical to that of the original G Pad. The software seems to be the same as well. Although it’s still on Android 4.2.2, the device has a lot to offer. My personal favorite feature from the LG G Flex, knock to wake, is present here as well. Only, on a tablet, when carrying it without a case, the screen will almost always pop on due to contact with my palm or fingers. The software is strikingly similar to that of the G Flex, only bigger. The back of the device is cool metal with a Verizon badge top center, their 4G LTE symbol 2 inches below and the LG symbol toward the bottom. The right hand side about 2 inches from the top and bottom you’ll find the stereo speakers, and one inch in from the left side all the way to the top is the 5 megapixel camera, which performs rather well for a tablet.
Software
Key things to note would be, even though there is a navigation bar, they’ve replaced the multi-tasking button with a menu key (long-pressing home summons the recent apps.) There is a very basic alternative app launcher which you can activate in the notification menu called “QSlide” through which you are able to launch movable window versions of the Calender, Video, Email, Richnote, Voice Mate, File Manager, and Calculator apps. At the top of each, you can control the opacity or elect to maximize the app. The bottom left corner allows you to change the window’s size.
Overall, the software is very well done, if it does feel a bit familiar to Samsung users. I really enjoyed how intuitive it is.
Verizon LTE
Let’s talk about having 4G LTE on your tablet. I admit, up until I reviewed this unit, I was one of those people who preached against tablets with dedicated data lines. “Just use your phone as a hotspot!” I would say. But I have to say, having that data connection all the time has won me over. How best to do this? Numbered list!
Reasons to have a dedicated Verizon data line on your tablet
- No hotspot set-up
- Lower drain on your phone’s data plan (might even be able to save money by switching plans)
- Lower drain on your phone’s battery
- If you don’t have a Verizon phone, your tablet will get data when your phone might not.
- Verizon’s LTE speeds have improved a lot (33 Mbps down 3 Mbps up)
- Only $99 on a 2 year contract ($299 without)
Basically, if you’re a tablet user, and you constantly find yourself switching on your phones hotspot, but don’t use the hotspot for much else, this could be a great alternative for you.
In summary, I would recommend this device to anyone who either knows they want a tablet with its own data plan, or is opened to the idea of switching over. The G Pad 8.3 is a wonderful size, and it my opinion, a size that should have been common before 7 inch displays became popular. The device is plenty quick, with a gorgeous display that makes even complex games look great, and Verizon’s 4G LTE is the icing on the cake. Highly recommend this tablet.
The post Verizon LG G Pad 8.3 LTE review appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Get This Look: ‘Flat’ Zooper Widget
We’re huge fans of changing the home screen around a bit and creating a new user experience for our Android. So much so that we present our ongoing series of Get This Look posts. In a nutshell we show you a new layout, app, widget, or icon set for your Android handset and tell you which apps you’ll need to mimic the feel.
Some of these are a little easier to create than others and many of them can be tweaked to no end. The following details are but the ingredients to which you can create your own delicious Android dish; your results will vary. Which is awesome! If nothing else, this is a great way to discover new apps, widgets, icons, and more!
Flat by Guanaco77
Why we love this look:
We’ve covered a lot of Zooper widgets over the past few weeks, and Flat is another great looking widget that includes a clock, agenda, notification, music, and lock screen widget. As the name suggests, the design is extremely minimal and looks very nice, especially against a blurred background. Give it a try, and you will not regret it.
What you’ll need:
The post Get This Look: ‘Flat’ Zooper Widget appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Apple to Open First Turkish Retail Store in Istanbul on April 5
Apple is ready to open its first retail store next week in Turkey, with a grand opening gala that may feature Apple CEO Tim Cook and Turkish President Abdullah Gül. Located in Istanbul’s Zorlu Center Shopping Center, the retail store will open at 10:00 AM on Saturday, April 5, 2014, reports Elma Dergisi.
The Turkish store occupies approximately 20,000 square feet in the heart of Istanbul’s popular, multi-use shopping center. The Zorlu Center store is thought to feature a cubic glass ceiling, glass sides and in-store services such as a dedicated “Family Room” floor and dual Genius Bars, reports 9to5Mac. The structure is currently hidden behind barricades until its official debut.
This Zorlu Center store is the first of several retail stores planned for Turkey as Apple makes inroads into this new market. Apple also met with Turkish government officials to equip Turkish school children with 10.6 million tablets in a new education initiative to bring cutting-edge technology into schools.
Though negotiations appeared to be favorable for Apple, this bid eventually was awarded to Turkish company Telpa, which is providing tablets from General Mobile, a Turkish-owned company operating out of the United States.
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BlackBerry loses its bread and butter as Bold and Curve sales finally collapse
In commercial terms, BlackBerry’s much-hyped BB10 phones barely made a dent. The manufacturer’s financial health has actually been propped up this whole time by sales of its older classics, Bolds and Curves running on BB7. It’s pretty incredible how long those models have lasted, but BlackBerry’s latest earnings report reminds us that nothing lasts forever: BB7 sales have fallen 50 percent year-over-year to 2.3 million units, which is double BlackBerry 10 sales but not nearly enough to help the company stay in profit. Of course, the collapse of legacy hardware isn’t news to the CEO, John Chen, who has promised to support BB7 devices “for as long as there’s demand” but who has also set about rebuilding BlackBerry as fast as he possibly can.
Fortunately, the earnings report also gives us a glimmer of hope for Chen’s efforts. 54 percent of revenue is now coming from selling services rather than phones, and Chen also claims that BlackBerry has achieved its “expense reduction target” a whole quarter ahead of schedule. The CEO says he expects the company to be profitable by 2016 if it can succeed in providing secure communications for large corporations and government agencies. He also said there are plans for further smartphones, going back to BlackBerry’s business-focused and QWERTY-equipped roots, but right now that still seems like a long shot.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Blackberry
Source: BlackBerry
Om Nom returns to Android in Cut the Rope 2
After spending the last few months as an iOS exclusive, the popular ZeptoLab character Om Nom returns in Cut the Rope 2. By popular we mean over 500 million downloads of Cut the Rope franchise titles thus far. Offered in the Google Play Store immediately, the new game will also touch down in the Amazon Appstore on Sunday, March 30.
What can you expect in the sequel? More of the same great stuff found in the first edition, plus a bunch of other goodies. We’re talking new adventures, characters, missions, locations, and hats! What’s more, we get to meet five of Om Nom’s friends, the Nommies.
MEET OM NOM’S NEW FRIENDS, THE NOMMIES!
- Roto can carry Om Nom to the best candy catching locations
- Lick can make small bridges with his tongue to help Om Nom reach his goal
- Blue can lift Om Nom to new levels of candy hunting fun
- Toss can throw objects, including candy
- Boo can scare Om Nom to jump to new heights
Cut the Rope 2 for Android introduces even more candy-collecting fun through 120 levels, with new features including:
- An additional “fruit” mission for every level that adds a new, challenging layer to each puzzle.
- An interactive map for exploring extraordinary locations and visualizing progress through the Cut the Rope 2 adventure.
- More fun with new in-game power-ups, hints and customizations.
The post Om Nom returns to Android in Cut the Rope 2 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Concept Drawings of Alleged 4.7-Inch and 5.7-Inch iPhone 6c Models Surface [iOS Blog]
Long-running Japanese magazine MacFan has published alleged drawings of what appear to be 4.7-inch and 5.7-inch iPhone 6c models in its latest issue, reports Mac Otakara [Google Translate]. The images appear to show a flat, bezel-free device with rectangle-shaped volume controls like those found on the current iPhone 5c, as well as a Touch ID home button on the front of the device and a camera with a single LED-flash on the rear.
While the validity of the drawings are unknown, iPhone 6 rumors have suggested that Apple will continue with the dual iPhone strategy, producing the iPhone 6 in two different sizes. The most recent report from Japanese newspaper Nikkei said that the iPhone 6 could launch “as early as September” in 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch sizes. Other reports have suggested that Apple will cease the production of a plastic iPhone in favor of using metal casings for both phones.
Ultimately, it is unlikely that a lower-end 5.7-inch iPhone 6c would be released alongside a higher-end 5.5-inch iPhone 6. However, having two iPhone lines and two sizes would allow for Apple to continue with its current pricing strategy, offering a full-priced flagship device, a mid-tier lower-cost device, and an older device at an even lower cost. Mac Otakara also published a report [Google Translate] last month on the possibility of an expanded iPhone 5c line-up with 4.7-inch and 5.7-inch models.
Apple is expected to unveil the next-generation iPhone sometime in Fall, which is likely to incorporate a durable sapphire display along with expected processor and camera upgrades.
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