Students build a robot arm you control with the wink of an eye
Want proof that you don’t need big, specialized equipment to produce a mind-controlled robot arm? Just look at a recent University of Toronto student project. Ryan Mintz and crew have created an arm that you control using little more than a brainwave-sensing headset (which is no longer that rare) and a laptop. The team’s software is smart enough to steer the arm using subtle head movements, such as clenching your jaw or winking your eye; it also knows when you’ve relaxed.
The hardware is designed primarily with mobility and prosthetic limbs in mind. The current head gesture system could be used to steer a wheelchair, for example. In the long run, the students hope to improve the accuracy to the point where just thinking about an action is enough to get it done; you wouldn’t need a physical connection to muscles or the nervous system, like some of its rivals. The University of Toronto effort still faces stiff competition, but it shows that quadriplegics and others with little body control could eventually claim some independence with easily accessible (and hopefully affordable) technology.
Filed under: Robots, Wearables
Source: University of Toronto
Google Play Newsstand version 3.2.1 makes it out all on its Lonesome
This Update Wednesday has been somewhat of a disappointment with no sizable updates to any of Google’s apps, but thankfully, Google Play Newsstand version 3.2.1 is rolling out today to make sure it’s not a complete loss. While it’s only an incremental update, Google claims they have included a whole host of changes; as per the Play Store page, these changes are:
- See headlines on your Home screen with the Newsstand widget
- Scan more headlines quickly with mini cards (Menu > Mini cards)
- Organize magazine issues (where available) by publication date
- Translate news sources instantly
- Support for RTL languages
- Bug fixes
The update should be rolling out gradually, as always, but if you’re hankering for the updated APK, we’ve got it available to download below:
Google Play Newsstand version 3.2.1 APK download
We haven’t noticed much else different about the new version of Newsstand except that “Remove” in the 3 dot menu has been updated to read “Remove Topic”; if you spot any other changes, please let us know in the comments.
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Google Glass tempts travelers with new apps from Foursquare, OpenTable and TripIt
Now available to one and all (but still in beta, only for US residents and priced at $1,500), Google Glass is adding another selling point: travel accessory. That’s thanks to new Glassware from Foursquare (we hope a Swarm patch is included), OpenTable and TripIt, adding to other services that support the device like Google’s own Maps and Field Trip. TechCrunch also points out that the augmented reality app Word Lens launched a Glass app last fall that lets it superimpose translations over whatever you’re looking at — handy if you don’t know the language. The TripIt app keeps your flight info in view, the Foursquare app can do checkins by voice and OpenTable of course brings easily set up reservations. Will this push you into ordering a headset? Maybe not, but if you need one more way to look slightly out of place while on the road, we think we have an answer.
[Image credit: Michel Porro/WireImage]
Filed under: Wearables, Mobile, Google
Source: Google Glass (G+)
HTC One Remix tipped by Evleaks for Verizon, Samsung SM-N910 pegged for Sprint and U.S. Cellular
A good leak or tip can certainly get the juices flowing. They also get the mind spinning off in a multitude of potential directions. One the more reliable tipsters out there, @Evleaks, does a killer job at keeping various images and tips rolling out of his, obviously, insanely connected world. Today he pushed out a few nuggets of info that certainly got our brains spinning in circles. Of course these are only leaks, but @Evleaks has a great track record so we believe that they are fairly likely.
Earlier this morning he put up a simple little image that said “HTC One Remix” with the text reading “Coming to Verizon.” It would seem that Verizon will be picking up another variant of the HTC one. Sprint did it with the HTC One Harmon-Kardon edition, so why shouldn’t Verizon have their own “special” edition of the device too? The name certainly sounds music related, but we are doubtful it will be a Harmon-Kardon build, but it could be. Beat’s is certainly out of the question at this point and the only other real “thing” going on in sound is the new Samsung headphones, so that is out, and the old standby of Dolby Digital. We know there was a red HTC One image tipped as a Verizon version, it is possible that could turn out to be the Remix, but the color change wouldn’t be enough for a rebranded name change. PhoneArena dug in a little more and found the above image attached to a trademark filling with the USPTO. It doesn’t offer up much info though.
If we go beyond the HTC One in general, a finger could be pointed towards the remix being the HTC One Prime. That could make a little more sense really. We certainly hope that is doesn’t point to the HTC One Mini 2. Then again, with all the missing things in the smaller HTC One Mini 2, a music addition to spice it up could make for a solid ‘Remix’ platform. A lot of questions come from this and not a lot of answers can be had easily until Verizon makes the announcement.
The second bit of info from @Evleaks today tipped towards a Samsung SM-N910. It is supposedly showing up for Sprint and U.S. Cellular and is being point towards as the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. It lines up based on the previous Note 3 listings being N900A (AT&T), N900T (T-Mobile) and so on. He also mentions that it is headed to AT&T also and that all three are swinging in with 32GB storage capacity too. hopefully that is the base and and not the high side option. Personally I am over 16GB devices, 32GB needs to be the standard.
So, have at it. Speculate and chat about the info and have fun with it.
Source: G+ @Evleaks 1 / 2 and Phonearena
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Apple’s Purchase of Beats May Not Be Finalized Until Next Week
Following reports last week that Apple had purchased Beats Electronics, it was thought the deal would be finalized and announced this week. However, Re/code is reporting the deal may not be finalized until next week.
Apple’s planned deal to buy Beats Electronics for $3.2 billion may not be finalized until next week, according to people familiar with the transaction. That’s a longer timetable than some people expected as recently as a few days ago.
Once the deal is completed, Beats co-founders Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine are expected to take on senior roles at Apple, with Iovine potentially becoming Apple’s new music chief. In addition, Iovine and Dre’s first official appearance as Apple employees is expected to take place at June’s Worldwide Developer Conference.
Log your fabulous life with this $663 designer handbag
What do you get when you put Autographer, creator of that lifelogging camera we saw in 2013, and quirky British designer Lulu Guinness together? If you guessed a zany handbag for wannabe spies and fashionistas obsessed with documenting their every move, then you’d be right. Guinness took time away from making oversized lip bags to design one with an eye that houses an Autographer camera, which can snap up to 2,000 images per day without you having to lift a finger. If you see tremendous potential in the bag for stalking, spying and creeping on an ex, uh, reasons you’d rather not disclose, you may want to start saving up now. It will be available for a limited time starting on July 30th from Lulu Guiness’ stores for £395 ($663).
Filed under: Wearables
Source: OMG Life
Minnesota beats California to the punch, signs smartphone kill-switch into law
The Governor of Minnesota just signed a bill that could change the cellphone industry forever: a mandatory kill-switch law. The bill was written as a criminal deterrent: if a stolen phone can be remotely disabled, stealing smartphones may become a less lucrative crime. A study conducted at Creighton University suggests that such a measure could save consumers upwards of $2.5 billion a year, but it could prove expensive for carriers. The law has the potential to gut profits from selling cellphone insurance, sure, but implementing a feature for a single state isn’t cost effective — Minnesota’s kill-switch requirement might bring the feature to the entire nation.
Minnesota’s law closely mirrors an active bill in California, but it goes a step beyond adding carrier features. When the law goes into effect next July it will also limit how retailers can pay customers for their second hand devices, making cash transactions illegal. Stores will have to pay sellers by check, store credit or electronic transfer, securing a paper trail for used (and possibly stolen) devices. With any luck, these measures will make smartphone-focused muggings a thing of the past.
[Shutterstock / Scott Prokop] [Thanks Dustin]
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Source: NBC News
Sony’s finance chief explains why it’s been hemorrhaging cash
Further heavy losses for Sony: electronics sales (minus phones and gaming) stand at half of the peak seven years. The company’s latest financial report is grim reading for its investors — and its fans. So what happened, Sony? It’s new CFO Kenichiro Yoshida gave a starkly honest assessment of his employer’s missteps at a conference late on Wednesday. “2014 is the year to finish off our restructuring measures.” However, it’s not the first time a Sony exec has mentioned rejigging the entire business and that’s been one many issues. Changes apparently never cut deep enough. The company was also sluggish to adjust to trends, resisted major changes, had hulking overhead costs and ever-continuing TV troubles –these were all part of the problem.
According to Yoshida, Sony’s cost cutting up until now focused on manufacturing, but really didn’t affect sales and HQ divisions: tied in with pricey Tokyo real estate and locations. From now, cuts to sales will be around 20 percent, while HQ will see a 30 percent reduction over the next few years. There’s no bonuses for CEO Hirai and other top-level executives, which will apparently translate to a 30-50 percent drop in annual pay totals. (Gotta love those bonuses.)
“Since we’re in a very difficult situation … we must not get the priorities mixed up.”
Sony’s TV arm has apparently totaled losses of around 790 billion yen over the last 10 years, despite annual promises of a profitable turnaround. The head of the arm has changed five years in that time, and the CFO says that steps taken to improve the business simply weren’t consistent. Previous restructuring had also stopped short of selling or terminating significant electronics businesses, like TV and PCs — something that’s certainly changed in 2014.
Perhaps the most damning comment from Yoshia was that the entire company had been slow to respond to consumer trends, as financial and entertainment arms continued to provide stable profits. Restructuring only occurred as electronics sales began to falter. Turning Sony into a more cost-effective company comes first, and only then can the company focus on its smartphone imaging and games strategy, said the CFO. “Since we’re in a very difficult situation … we must not get the priorities mixed up.”
[Image credit: AFP/Getty Images]
Want to be a race car driver? Start playing video games
The Nissan GT Academy is a racing competition that sees winning drivers transition from Gran Turismo‘s digital realm to an honest-to-goodness race car. Lucas Ordóñez was the very first GT Academy winner and he not only went on to race outside the virtual realm, but grabbed some podium finishes, too. Fast forward five competitions (and as many years) and Road & Track reports that four Academy grads will be racing at Le Mans for 2014, proving that this feeder route is the real deal. Nissan’s own entry in the famous 24-hour event, the hybrid electric ZEOD RC, will be driven by Ordóñez and 2012 winner Wolfgang Riep with Satoshi Motoyama as the third in the team. The Lotus entry in the gruelling full-day race will see 2011′s victor Jann Mardenborough — now actually racing in GT3 — and 2012′s Mark Shulzhitskiy competing with F1 commentator and ex-driver Martin Brundle’s son Alex Brundle. So next time your mom gives you grief for wasting all your time and rotting your brain playing video games, let her know you’re training for your future career as a professional race car driver.
[Image credit: Nissan]
Filed under: Gaming, Transportation, Sony
Via: The Checkered Flag
Source: Road & Track
Sprint had legal details of the NSA’s bulk phone data collection in 2010
The public only started learning about the legal justifications for the NSA’s collection of bulk phone records last June, but we now know that at least one telecom received notice much earlier. Both declassified info and Washington Post interviews have revealed that the White House gave Sprint the secret reasoning behind the NSA’s surveillance in 2010 to fend off a threatened court challenge over the program’s legality. Sprint dropped its formal opposition after that, but it pushed for the declassification last year as a retort to Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court claims that there had been no court challenges. There might not have been a legal battle, a government official tells the Post, but there were still doubts.
Sprint isn’t directly confirming its role, but it says in a statement that it wants “substantive legal grounding” for any customer data requests and will refuse orders that it believes are violating the law. While those are important policies, the revelations suggest that the company isn’t all that heroic — unlike civil liberty advocates, it didn’t contest the NSA’s snooping after getting an official explanation. Still, the newly public information confirms that Verizon isn’t the only major US phone provider in recent memory to have had qualms about the government’s large-scale data collection.
[Image credit: AFP/Getty Images]
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Sprint
Source: IC on the Record, Washington Post
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