These high-tech headphones will livestream your next gig
Let’s face it, most headphones pack a pretty short features list, and the majority of us are just fine with that. There’s wired and wireless, on-ear and over-ear, with all of them coming at a range of prices and catering to varying sonic sensibilities. We’ve seen social-minded cans pop up as of late, and now, a new offering looks to pack even more into a set of headphones. SoundSight packed in a 1080p camera, six microphones, voice control and an accelerometer into its wireless set. Not only does the audio add-on capture video from the wearer’s point of view, but it also offers livestreaming capabilities from the stage or studio.
Thanks to the companion app for Android and iOS, you can wrangle edits before broadcasting on social networks of your choosing. The smartphone-based toolbox enables adding music to clips when you need to swap out the audio, futzing with filters and sorting recording controls. If you’re concerned about having to hold your head just so to get a good angle, don’t be: the camera portion is mounted to the outside of the earcups, rotating 270 degrees so allow for proper adjustments. In addition to the requisite 3.5mm cable, a USB option is also included to those who favor that connection.
Remember we mentioned these are wireless? Won’t all of that extra stuff drastically cut into the battery life? Well, the company claims that with all of those features activated, you can expect around four hours of action from the 800mAh cell, getting bumped up to 18 hours when only the active noise cancellation is switched on. That may not be enough to broadcast your entire day, but it should certainly last for an entire set. The 1080p camera can capture 720p video at 30 fps, with Bluetooth streaming clocking in with 640p at 24 fps. If having all of that tech in one place sounds too good to pass up, SoundSight goes up for limited pre-order tomorrow at $349, with an official launch coming in next spring at the full $499 retail price.
Filed under: Portable Audio/Video
Source: SoundSight Headphones
Apple Cuts Some iTunes Song Previews From 90 Seconds to 30 Seconds
Back in 2010, Apple extended iTunes song previews from 30 seconds in length to 90 seconds on songs longer than 2 minutes and 30 seconds, to give users a longer listening period before making a purchase.
It appears that some songs have now reverted to 30 second play lengths rather than 90 seconds, with many popular songs offering previews that are only 30 seconds in length on both the mobile and desktop versions of iTunes.
For example, previews of all songs on Sia’s new album are only 30 seconds despite all of the songs being longer than the 2 minutes and 30 seconds, a length that used to result in a 90 second preview. Many other popular albums are also demonstrating the same short 30 second previews. Coldplay’s entire discography, for example, has only 30 second previews instead of the 90 seconds of preview time that was previously available.
According to one MacRumors forum user, some songs that are only available for 30 second previews were available in 90 second lengths just hours ago. User complaints on Twitter also suggest that the shift is recent.
As early as a few hours ago these were all 90 seconds! If you remember, Apple made a big deal about switching to extended previews, now a lot of songs are reverting back. Seeing more 30-second previews now than 90-second on most albums I’ve checked.
Though most songs at the current point in time seem to be limited to 30 second previews, there are some exceptions. Certain albums continue to offer 90 second previews, as do all of the songs listed on Apple’s Top Charts. For example, Leela James’ album “Fall for You” continues to offer 30 second previews, suggesting the shift may be limited to certain artists or labels.
Back when Apple first made the switch to 90 second song previews, it experienced some delays due to licensing agreements, and it is unclear if licensing has once again become an issue. It is unknown at this time if the shift to 30 second previews is a simple glitch or a more permanent change.
(Thanks, MichaelSD!)
Engadget Daily: Google’s 3D-mapping tablet, Cuphead’s hand-drawn world and more!
Today, we take an in-depth look at Google’s 3D-mapping tablet, virtually tour Adam Savage’s man cave, explore the hand-drawn world of Cuphead and learn about a potential new purpose for plain copper wire. Read on for Engadget’s news highlights from the last 24 hours.
Two years to Tango: the race to finish Google’s 3D-mapping tablet
Two years. That’s exactly how much time Google’s ATAP division was given to develop Tango, a first-of-its-kind 3D-mapping tablet. Read on as Brad Molen digs into the project’s ambitious start and race toward the finish line.
Cuphead: Bringing 1930s style to 21st century games
Cuphead, you say? At first glance, this upcoming, hand-drawn 2D shooter might appear to be a long-lost game from the 1930s, but it’s only meant to look that way.
Tour Mythbuster Adam Savage’s collection of collections with Street View
Mythbusters fans, it’s your lucky day. Thanks to Google’s indoor Street View, you can virtually tour serial tinkerer Adam Savage’s San Francisco workshop in all its gadget-filled glory.
Researchers get record broadband speeds out of old-school copper wire
You know those old, colorful cables in your telephone line? They might not be so outdated after all. Researchers from Alcatel Lucent’s Bell Labs claim they’ve achieved a world record of 10Gbps through standard copper wire.
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Filed under: Misc
Amazon asks the FAA for permission to play with its drones outside
Keep laughing at Amazon’s Prime Air drone delivery video if you want to (cough, Netflix), but the company is moving forward as though it’s serious. Bloomberg points to a letter filed today with the FAA asking for permission to take its unmanned flying machines out of their test facility, “to do what
thousands of hobbyists and manufacturers of model aircraft do every day.” The FAA is still putting tight controls on the commercial use of drones, but Amazon Global Public Policy VP argues that one day its Prime Air drones will be as common a sight as mail trucks on the road are today. He says that the company’s indoor tests in Seattle have brought its “highly automated” small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS, for short) to ninth-gen vehicles — CEO Jeff Bezos told shareholders it was on the 5th and 6th gen in April. They can travel at 50mph carrying 5 lb packages (which covers 86 percent of Amazon’s deliveries) easily, and have been tested for agility, flight duration, redundancy plus other factors. The FAA has yet to respond to the petition, but who knows, maybe soon area residents can keep an eye on the sky and go Blu-ray hunting.
Filed under: Transportation, Amazon
Source: Regulations.gov (PDF), Bloomberg
OnePlus Two “Lettuce” is in the works?
This might sound a bit insane considering OnePlus One is still a relatively new device. People are still struggling to get their hands on invitations in order to buy that phone. OnePlus One is as high-end as they get and the sequel is allegedly already in the works.
Usually we’d just say “hell no!” to a rumor like this, but considering the source it’s worth a peek. @evleaks has a great track record as we’ve said numerous times and this time the leaker posted the following sentence on his page:
“OnePlus One:Bacon::OnePlus [Two]:Lettuce”
This is a huge tease by @evlekas. According to him OnePlus One’s codename was “Bacon” while the OnePlus Two’s is “Lettuce”. Unfortunately we don’t get any more information here, that’s it. As I’ve said, this is one huge tease when it comes to OnePlus One’s sequel, nothing more. It’s up to you if you’ll believe it and we’ll make sure to pass along new information as it comes to us.
Source: @evelaks
The post OnePlus Two “Lettuce” is in the works? appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Bic boils down the world’s handwriting into one average typeface
As time marches on and the world grows smaller, we’re left with the understanding that we – you, me, and folks across the globe – are more alike than we realize. Except, you know, when it comes to handwriting. To commemorate selling billions of pens you’ve seen countless times in your life, Bic has set out to create what it calls the Universal Typeface: a series of characters created by basically averaging thousands of writing samples from people across the world.
You can check out the typeface in its current state right here, but be warned: Bic is taking submissions through August so what you see now isn’t necessarily the final product. If we’re being honest, the Universal Typeface doesn’t look entire like one of the handwritten examples you’d find one of those of hit-or-miss-but-mostly-miss free font sites. What’s perhaps more interesting is seeing how the “average” look of a letter differs from country to country; Japan’s capital “G” has a distinct, free-floating tail, while India’s is one single line with an aquiline hook. And Egypt’s “G”? it barely has that tell-tale tail at all. You can drill down to compare between genders and occupations too, but (as Smithsonian Magazine points out) the differences are far less satisfying. Itching to add your own chicken scratch to the mix? Feel free to contribute, but you’d better not mess with Antarctica’s brilliant E unless you actually live there.
Filed under: Internet
Via: Smithsonian Mag
Source: The Universal Typeface
iTunes Extras now available on Apple TV, will launch with iOS 8 in the fall
Apple’s iTunes Extras feature has offered customers a behind-the-scenes look at rented movies for some time, but up until now it only existed on the desktop. Thanks to an update that went out today, you’ll now be able to view iTunes Extras on your Apple TV. To get the additional content, your device must be running software version 6.2, which was released last week. The iTunes Extras material, including deleted scenes, images and director’s commentary, will automatically be added to your previously purchased HD movies. Additionally, movie studios will now be able to add more content to extras at any time. This update is good news for film buffs who use Apple’s set-top box, but it still leaves iPhones, iPads and iPods devices out in the cold. That will change when the company releases iOS 8 this fall, though, so iTunes Extras is slowly making its way to every important platform.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Mobile, Apple
Source: iTunes Extras
‘Minecraft’ for iOS Gets Major Update With Infinite Worlds, New Blocks, and Tons of Other Content [iOS Blog]
Minecraft – Pocket Edition, a game that has managed to stay on the App Store’s top charts for several years running, has received a major update that Mojang calls “the biggest update to Minecraft – Pocket Edition so far.”
Today’s update introduces infinite worlds and caves for the first time, plus it includes new blocks and items like Monster Eggs and mushroom blocks. It’s now possible to tame a companion with the addition of wolves, and the game also includes new flowers.
New monsters, like spooky endermen and Mooshrooms have been introduced, and the iOS version now offers biomes from the PC version of the game including mesas, jungles, swamps, and more.
0.9.0 – biggest update EVER!
Infinite worlds!
Caves!
Loads of new blocks and items including Monster Eggs and huge mushroom blocks.
Wolves! Tame a loyal companion.
Loads of new flowers! So pretty.
New mobs, including the spooky endermen and less spooky Mooshrooms.
New biomes from the PC version, including mesas, jungles, swamps and extreme hills.
Abandoned mineshafts, villages, and many other cool places to explore.
A brand-new “interaction” button. Never accidentally punch a sheep again!
New feature generation, including lakes, vines and monster rooms.
Many bugs fixed, and possibly a few added.
First released for iOS devices in 2011, the initial version of Minecraft – Pocket Edition was highly limited, lacking online play and devoid of animals and creepers. Since its debut, though, the game has been updated countless times, adding a slew of features that put it more on par with desktop versions of Minecraft.
Minecraft – Pocket Edition can be downloaded from the App Store for $6.99. [Direct Link]
Claimed iPhone 6 Front Frame with LCD Shielding and Home Button Bracket Shown in New Photo
Purported parts for the iPhone 6 are continuing to surface, with Apple.club.tw sharing a new blurry photo [Google Translate] of what appears to be the front LCD frame of the device, complete with metal shielding that would separate the LCD itself from the remainder of the internals, as well as a metal bracket covering the home button.
While it is not confirmed that this part is indeed from the 4.7-inch iPhone 6, it is consistent with similar parts seen on previous iPhones. Apple.club.tw claims that it is the proper size for the larger iPhone 6, and that certainly appears reasonable based on how it looks in the hand.
The front panel seen in several recent photo and video leaks would attach to the opposite side of the frame shown in the new photo, covering the LCD and providing the smooth look of the device’s front. That entire assembly would be fitted to the rear shell also seen in recent leaks, sandwiching around the battery, logic board, and other internals of the iPhone 6.
Elon Musk pledges $1 million to help build Nikola Tesla Museum
Nikola Tesla just scored a very generous birthday present. The “father or electricity” was born 158 years ago today, and several fans are trying to preserve his legacy with a museum, to be built on the site of his final laboratory in Shoreham, New York. A 2012 Indiegogo campaign helped raise more than enough to cover purchasing the land, but nowhere near the $8 million that’s needed to refurbish the property and actually build a museum. Fortunately, Elon Musk, the father of the modern day Tesla, has pledged $1 million and has promised to install a supercharger in the parking lot. That’s still not enough to complete the project, but you can help out my making your own contribution here.
[Image credit: Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe]
Filed under: Household
Source: The Oatmeal
AIVAnet 