Garmin’s new GPS watch wants to keep you moving on and off the track
Running watches are great when you’re headed out for an afternoon of training, but are typically pretty useless when it comes to day-to-day activities. Garmin is looking to change that by combining two of its most popular wearables, the Forerunner 10 and vivofit, into a new device called the Forerunner 15. The device does everything you’d expect from a GPS watch, such as tracking your distance, pace and calories burned during a big run, but it’s also meant to be worn all day. Also an activity tracker, it’ll encourage you to get up and move if you’ve been lounging around too long.
For those who want a little more, Garmin is offering an optional chest-worn heart rate monitor for the Forerunner 15, as well as a foot pod for treadmill running. While you’re working out at the gym, the small pod will ensure that you’re getting credit for every step you take on the treadmill, despite the fact you’re not actually going anywhere. And when you’re back at home post-workout, Garmin Connect, the company’s online fitness community, can help you analyze your progress and offer challenges to keep you motivated. Anxious to grab one for yourself? The Forerunner 15 will be sprinting onto store shelves this spring for $170, or bundled with the heart rate monitor for $200.
Filed under: Wearables
Source: Garmin
US to start testing universal internet IDs to combat fraud
In 2011, the government started concocting a plan to issue Americans one online ID they can use across multiple agencies’ websites — sort of like an OpenID for the government. Now, that plan’s wheels are turning, and pilot testing’s slated to begin this May in Pennsylvania and Michigan. The initiative, called National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC), was originally devised as a means to prevent fraud and make it easier to verify identities quickly. This initial rollout only involves websites for those applying for government assistance, as it’s merely meant to test whether the idea’s feasible. But the government hopes this universal ID can replace people’s logins for various places on the internet in the future. Obviously, not everyone will be thrilled by this development; after all, we’re now very much aware of the NSA’s love for snooping. Plus, it’s risky using just a single log-in for various services like banking and social security. If you’re one of those people, then cross your fingers and hope that NSTIC’s completely voluntary, like what the government promised during the project’s inception.
Filed under: Internet
Via: TechDirt
Source: GCN
Volvo’s self-driving cars tackle merging, braking traffic in first road tests
Volvo has now joined Google and others by testing autonomous cars on public roads, in its hometown of Gothenburg, Sweden, no less. This is the first phase of its “Drive Me” project, and will be limited to semi-autonomous vehicles on 50km (30 miles) of set commuter routes. The vehicles have progressed to where they can now adapt their speeds, follow traffic and deal with merging vehicles, according to Volvo. That means drivers still need to give their undivided attention, but eventually, the automaker intends to have 100 fully autonomous vehicles on the road operating in full “Autopilot” mode. Volvo hopes to avoid the kind of collisions that its cars are famous for surviving by eliminating the main cause — us.
Filed under: Transportation
Via: Gizmag
Source: Volvo
Tesco to launch an Android smartphone alongside the Hudl 2 later this year
After accumulating more than 500,000 sales of its first ever own-brand tablet, the Hudl, supermarket giant Tesco is to expand its device line-up by launching a high-powered Android smartphone. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, chief executive Philip Clarke confirmed that the company’s upcoming handset will feature hardware comparable to Samsung’s Galaxy S5 and, like the Hudl, come preloaded with Tesco apps and services. Speaking of the tablet, Clarke also said Tesco will release a refreshed version of its discount slate, appropriately named the Hudl 2, in September. While the tablet has been priced at the low end of the market at £119 (even less if you used ClubCard vouchers), Tesco’s smartphone is expected to command a higher price to match its specifications. That might make the handset less of an impulse buy, but Tesco says it will still price the handset aggressively, allowing shoppers to pop a couple of Android devices into their trolley alongside their bread and milk.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile
Source: BBC News
Orange is the New Black renewed for a third season before the second even debuts
We’re still a month out from the next level crazy of Orange is the New Black‘s second season, but Netflix has already ordered a third. The show’s writing team took to Twitter (later confirming with Variety), breaking the news with a picture of possible names for episodes and some are enough to make an Engadget editor blush. “Hot For Janitor,” “KIDS: YUM!” and “Et Tu, Luschek” might seem a bit tame, sure, but trust us, there’s a reason we didn’t embed the picture itself after the break. Considering Netflix called the show its most watched original series ever, the renewal news isn’t entirely surprising but it’s welcome nonetheless. There aren’t any spoilers on the pictured whiteboard (as far as we can tell), so if you click you should be safe for the June 6th premiere, Dandelion.
We’re back. #OITNB #season3 pic.twitter.com/kyyNKEr0wJ
– Orange Writers Room (@OrangeWriters) May 5, 2014
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Source: OrangeWriters (Twitter), Variety
Don’t touch this toilet
If there’s one thing we can all universally agree on, it’s that toilets can get pretty gross. Sometimes to a point you don’t want to even get near them to flush. Kohler feels your pain, and has created a solution with its new electromagnetically-activated touchless toilet. The next generation of your home’s most-used chair, it allows you to wave your hand above the commode to achieve the perfect flush without you ever having to make contact with the porcelain. The sensor will come built into several of the company’s new thrones, and will also be available as a $99 standalone kit you can retrofit to your current bowl. It’s a cool trick that has a lot of technology behind it.
Any self-respecting bathroom connoisseur knows that self-flushing toilets aren’t anything new. Commercial seats, however, use a beam-based technology that decides you’re done with business when you move, breaking that beam. If you’re just shifting to get a better position, then you run the risk of a premature flush situation. Instead of beams, Kohler is using an emerging sensing technology on the top of your toilet that “projects an electromagnetic field that is both extremely accurate and reliable.” The result is a precise system that only flushes when you wave your hand into that field. If only Kohler could come up with the same technology for lifting the seat…
Filed under: Alt
Source: Kohler
HTC One M8 Gets a New Update. Android 4.4.2 Hits the T-Mobile LG G-Flex. – Device Updates
Monday is almost over my friends, so let’s see if your device is getting an update. Not too many updates this week. The unlocked and developer edition of the HTC One M8 gets a nice little update, while the T-Mobile LG G-Flex gets some tasty Android 4.4.2. So keep on a lookout for those.
Device Updates
Developer and unlocked HTC One M8 gets an update
T-Mobile LG G-Flex gets Android 4.4.2
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Engadget Daily: #AmazonCart, Oculus VR denies IP theft, and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours — all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Add items to your #AmazonCart directly from Twitter
Remember that fresh new pair of kicks you just tweeted about? Well, thanks to Amazon, adding them to your virtual shopping cart can be as simple as sharing a link with the #AmazonCart hashtag.
Scientists can trace your ancestors to within 30 miles using DNA
Modern science opens new possibilities every day, including the ability to locate your ancestor’s village of origin. And thanks to researchers in the UK, all it takes is an Ancestry.com account and simple DNA test.
Oculus denies John Carmack stole VR tech from his former employer
After just recently being acquired by Facebook, Oculus VR is already under fire. Zenimax Media, John Carmack’s previous employer, says the Oculus CTO used stolen intellectual property to build the Oculus Rift. Obviously, the company is denying the assertion.
ESPN makes it easy for you to watch the World Cup anytime, anywhere
The FIFA World Cup begins in just over a month, and thanks to the WatchESPN and WatchABC apps, you can catch the action most anywhere. What’s more, the sports network is also launching a redesigned ESPN FC for mobile and desktop, making it much easier to keep track while at work. Amirite?
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Filed under: Misc
Lenovo outs two more Chromebooks, one has a folding, Yoga-like screen
When Lenovo gets into something, it really gets into it. Exhibit A: the company’s recent Chrome OS kick: it just announced two more Chromebooks, after having released two kid’s versions last month. Today’s new additions include the N20 and N20p, two 11.6-inch machines with basically the same specs. The difference? The N20 is a classic clamshell laptop with a non-touch display, whereas the N20p has a touchscreen that folds backward — yep, kind of like on the Yoga line. We say “kind of” because in this case, the screen only folds back 300 degrees, as opposed to the 360. That’s still fine for watching movies and such; just don’t expect to use this as a proper tablet replacement.
Under the hood, both models pack a quad-core Intel Celeron processor with an eight-hour battery, two USB ports, up to 4GB of RAM and an industry-standard 16GB of local storage. According to a Lenovo rep, it’s also possible the company will release a 3G model, though probably not in the US (sorry, dudes). Of the two, the non-touch model will arrive first — sometime in June, we’re told. That one will cost between $250 and $279, depending on how much RAM you get. The convertible version, meanwhile, will cost between $299 and $329, and will ship sometime in either late June or early July.
Filed under: Laptops
Google Hangouts Updates to Version 2.1.100 [Download]
Google Hangouts updates to version 2.1.100! Okay, too much excitement for a barely there update. Yeah a new update is rolling out for Google Hangouts, but there seems to be no major feature update, so most likely bug fixes and performance enhancements. If you haven’t received the update yet, we have the download for you over on our Gapps Early page. Hit the link, and let us know if you see anything significant with this update.
Download Google Hangouts 2.1.100
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