FKA twigs calls on Google Glass for dance tips in her latest music video
FKA twigs already has a reputation for using technology to make artistic statements in her music videos, and her latest takes this to its logical extreme. The two-minute #throughglass promo has twigs using Google Glass to seemingly influence a music video as it’s being shot — she looks for vogue dance tutorials to start things off, and switches to looking for anime-style eyes, gymnastics and “dominant krumping.” She records some of the video from Glass’ camera, too. The production is decidedly off the wall and probably won’t have you rushing out to drop $1,500 just to emulate some slick moves, but it’s proof that you can still look vaguely cool with a computer on your head.
Filed under: Wearables, Google
Via: Slate
Source: FKA twigs (YouTube)
Michigan’s new law ‘clarifies’ ban on Tesla’s direct sales model
If you’re hoping to find a Tesla Motors store in Motor City, you may be waiting a long, long time. Michigan Governor Rick Snyder has signed House Bill 5606 into law, explicitly banning Tesla’s direct sales model in the state. Snyder contends that the measure only “clarifies” existing legislation. It was already illegal to sell cars outside of franchised dealerships, he argues — this new law just eliminates any room for confusion.
Snyder is quick to add that politicians should reexamine the existing business model and make changes if the status quo doesn’t serve the public interest. If nothing else, he’s open to Tesla stores at some point down the line. However, it’s no secret that dealers (and to a lesser degree, Tesla’s competitors) wanted to see this bill pass. Tesla accused Senator Joe Hune of adding anti-Tesla language to the bill to please the Michigan Automobile Dealers Association, one of his chief campaign contributors and a frequent opponent of Tesla’s. GM, meanwhile, officially endorsed the bill with claims that it would make all car makers “follow the same rules;” the company may not like dealerships, but their requirement prevents Tesla from gaining an advantage. Whether or not the accusations are true, it’s easy to see the economic incentives for keeping Tesla out. All of the US’ automotive giants are headquartered in Michigan, and the state might not want to see the dealers for its best known business undermined by a handful of electric vehicles from California.
[Image credit: Emile Wamsteker/Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Filed under: Transportation
Via: Autoblog
Source: Governor Rick Snyder, Michigan Legislature
Engadget Daily: a real-life hoverboard, a TV show for Vine celebrities, and more!
Yes, it’s true: Our own Sean Buckley rode a real-life hoverboard. But that’s not all we have for you on this fine day — read on for the rest of our news highlights from the last 24 hours, including the Avi-on Bluetooth light switch, an app that solves math problems, and more.
HP to show off its 3D-scanning ‘Sprout’ PC next week
HP is synonymous with mass-market PCs and notebooks, but according to a report from Re/code, HP is trying it proverbial hand at something new. According to the usual slew of unnamed sources, the company (which is currently undergoing some business mitosis) will show off a novel new Windows PC called the Sprout at an event in New York next week. We’re not using the word “novel” lightly here, either: the Sprout is comprised of a big flat screen display paired with an expansive surface for touch input and a combination projector/3D scanner that hangs above it.
As you might imagine, that surface is where the magic happens. Sure, you’ll be able to interact with images beamed down by the projector, but popping something like a Rubik’s Cube onto the surface prompts the overhead scanner to do its thing. Once the cube touches the surface, it gets scanned (it’s not clear if you have to start this process manually or not) and integrated into whatever it was you were working on. You’d be forgiven for having a little trouble imagining what the Sprout is like in real life — we are too — but at least we won’t need to wait long to find out. And the icing on this particularly crazy cake? Re/code’s Arik Hesseldahl notes that the first version will run Windows, but subsequent models could run Google’s ChromeOS.
[Image credit: Don Diebold/Flickr]
Source: Re/code
Staples Begins Accepting iPad Air 2, iPad Mini 3 Pre-Orders [iOS Blog]
Staples today announced that it has begun accepting iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 pre-orders on its website, allowing customers to place early orders for a Wi-Fi only iPad Air 2 or iPad mini 3.
Staples will also be accepting in-store pre-orders for Apple’s new tablets beginning on Saturday, October 25. The retailer expects the iPad Air 2 and the iPad mini 3 to be available in Staples stores on Monday, October 27 at the earliest, but exact timing of in-store availability remains unknown.
In addition to accepting pre-orders for the new iPads, Staples is also offering trade-ins for old devices, giving eCash cards that can be used towards the purchase of a new device. Staples’ trade-in deals aren’t quite as good as those available on other sites, so it may be worthwhile looking into other options.
Several other retailers, including Apple, Best Buy, Target, and more, are also offering pre-orders of the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3. Some early orders from Apple have begun shipping out, but it is still unclear when the devices will be purchasable in stores.
Apple and GT Advanced Reach Deal to End Partnership, GT to Sell Furnaces to Pay Debt
GT Advanced and Apple have reached a deal that will see the two companies dissolving their partnership, according to documents submitted to the court earlier today, reports The Wall Street Journal. According to GT Advanced attorney Luc Despins, the agreement between the two companies marks an “amicable parting of the ways.”
Under the terms of the deal, GT Advanced will sell off more than 2,000 sapphire furnaces, with some of the proceeds going to Apple as repayment for the $440 million loan the company gave GT to purchase the sapphire equipment.
Mr. Despins said the proposed settlement allows GT Advanced to try to sell the furnaces at the Mesa, Ariz. sapphire-manufacturing facility, and give the money to Apple, which financed the equipment. GT Advanced would surrender its claims against Apple, under the deal, and agree not to disparage the technology giant, Mr. Despins said.
There was some speculation that GT Advanced was aiming to force Apple into taking over the sapphire operation, but it appears that Apple is not interested as both parties seem to want out of the deal. With GT planning to sell off all of the furnaces, it is unclear whether Apple will be able to source enough sapphire from other suppliers in order to incorporate sapphire into the iPhone display in the future.
Apple and GT Advanced have also agreed to file a revised explanation for the company’s bankruptcy filing, which will be provided to the court at a November 25 hearing, but the original court papers remain sealed. If approved, the settlement between GT Advanced and Apple will see original court papers stricken from the court record, keeping the details of what went wrong between the two companies quiet.
Rumors have suggested that the deal between GT Advanced and Apple began falling apart early on, with GT Advanced missing technical milestones as early as February. A failure to produce high-quality sapphire led Apple to withhold a final $139 million loan payment, which may have been the reason behind GT Advanced’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing in early October.
GT Advanced will begin winding down operations at its sapphire plant in the near future, eliminating the jobs of more than 727 employees in the coming weeks. GT Advanced plans to prepare existing sapphire boules for sale, clean and sell furnaces, and then close the plant for good by December 31.
FXNOW iOS App Gains Support for ‘Simpsons World’, All 552 Episodes of The Simpsons Available [iOS Blog]
FXNOW, an on-demand video app that features hit movies from Fox networks FX, FXX, and FXM, was today updated to add support for Simpsons World, an FXX feature that allows users to watch all 552 episodes of popular television show The Simpsons.
FXNOW is an on-demand video service featuring Simpsons World, as well as the biggest and best lineup of critically acclaimed dramas, hit comedies and blockbusters movies from 3 networks, FX, FXX and FXM. With the addition of Simpsons World, FXNOW delivers a one-of-a-kind Simpsons experience with access to Every.Episode.Ever. and more, at your fingertips.
Accessing the FXNOW app and the Simpsons World content requires a cable subscription from one of the following TV providers: AT&T U-Verse, Bright House Networks, Comcast XFINITY, Cox, Midcontinent Communications, Optimum, Suddenlink, Time Warner Cable, or WOW!.
Along with airing old episodes from the past 25 seasons, Simpsons World will allow users to watch new episodes of The Simpsons 24 hours after they first air on television.
There’s also an FXNOW channel on the Apple TV, which is rumored to be gaining Simpsons World content as well, but thus far, Simpsons World content has not been added to the channel.
FXNow can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
The Nexus 6 Ambient Display resembles Moto Display
One of the most loved features of the Moto X (2013) and the new Moto X (2014) is the active display, or now dubbed Moto Display. This feature allows you to glance at incoming notifications without powering on the display, and for the new Moto X, without even touching it. I have a 1st Gen Moto X, and I don’t think I can ever go to another device because I love this feature too much… until now.
Ambient Display on the Nexus 6
Above is a picture of a Nexus 4 with Ambient Display being used (the Nexus 4 has the system from the Nexus 6), a new feature Google has included on the Nexus 6. This feature is included on the Nexus 6 spec sheet, but it was unclear what it was. It’s also not clear whether this will be included on other devices with Android Lollipop or not. We will update when we have more info.
It’s worth noting that the standby time of the Nexus 6 is reduced from 330 hours to 250 hours with this feature turned on, but it is most likely not a big issue in day-to-day use.
Excited to have another device with a feature similar to Moto Display?
via Android and Me
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The post The Nexus 6 Ambient Display resembles Moto Display appeared first on AndroidGuys.
FTC appoints privacy consultant as its new Chief Technologist
The Federal Trade Commission has just appointed Ashkan Soltani, an independent consultant on privacy and security matters, as its new Chief Technologist. Soltani’s most recent accomplishments include contributing to the Washington Post‘s coverage on Edward Snowden and assisting the paper on technology topics. He has also provided insight for the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal on similar stories. Soltani had already spent time at the FTC as a staff technologist in 2010 and 2011, so this will be his second stint at the agency. This appointment of Soltani, according to the New York Times, could signal a stronger push by the FTC to keep an eye on online privacy and security as concerns about those topics continue to surface.
I’m excited to return to @FTC as Chief Technologist and help the agency in protecting consumers’ privacy and security http://t.co/dIgX1fR5uL
– ashkan soltani (@ashk4n) October 21, 2014
[Image credit: ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy]
Filed under: Misc
Source: FTC, Washington Post, New York Times
Vine for iOS now lets you follow channels to get their best videos
Vine is full of video creators talented enough to score TV deals, but keeping up with them has usually meant either following them one-by-one or browsing channels for ages. You have a much easier way to catch up on those clips as of today, though: Vine’s iOS app now lets you follow channels, which puts featured videos in your feed alongside everything from people you follow. If you’re a space buff, for instance, you can add the Science & Tech channel in hopes of seeing some orbital footage.
The upgrade also brings Vine into the iOS 8 era. There’s now a sharing extension that lets you send clips from your camera roll straight to Vine, and both iPhone 6 and 6 Plus owners should see better use of their larger screens. The Vine crew hasn’t said when channel following will come to Android or Windows Phone, but it’s likely that there’s at least an Android update in the pipeline.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile
Via: TechCrunch
Source: App Store
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