We carved a custom bottle opener with the free Easel web app
Inventables’ Shapeoko 2 desktop computer controlled (CNC) milling machine just got a whole lot more attractive. The company’s new Easel tool is a free design and fabrication web app designed for the $650 open-source kit, which launched last October. The new duo will enable you to design objects in 2D with a real-time 3D preview, then “print” your creation using a USB-equipped CNC milling machine (such as the Shapeoko) with wood, plastic or soft metal. Best of all, Inventables has whipped up an interface so straightforward even an Engadget editor could figure it out. Creating designs, such as the bottle opener we tossed together is a simple drag and drop affair, and requires no prior experience. While you should be able to design basic objects in less than five minutes, assembling a Shapeoko can take considerably more time. Fortunately, Zach Kaplan happened to have one ready to go, so we caught up with the Inventables CEO to try out the new cloud-based design tool here at SXSW.
Greetings, from Joystiq
My Dearest Friends at Engadget,
With this letter I have enclosed a large, slightly frayed chunk of styrofoam that we all thought resembled the prominent “t” in the Engadget logo – you know, the one wearing the cute Wi-Fi hat. We have no use for this item here at Joystiq, so we thought you might hoist it above your reeking desk-beds, or use it in another story about 3D printers.
Assuming this part of my missive isn’t covered in little white bits, I’d love for you to once again consider my proposal for publishing select content from Joystiq, your sibling website that covers the video game industry in a more granular fashion than your folks do. We review everything in the spectrum between indie and AAA, find the best in the worst games, stream upcoming releases twice a week, and have no qualms about making an MIT professor talk about massively multiplayer Pokémon. That does not happen twice a week, but we can work on it.
Of course, the last thing I want to do is inundate your loyal audience with gaming detritus that they already know, so we’ll pick the most relevant and comprehensive articles for Engadget. How’s this one to start? “How many megapixels was the camera in BioShock? The answer will shock you.”
Kind regards,
Ludwig Kietzmann, Editor-in-Chief of Joystiq
P.S. Please do not publish this letter verbatim.
—
Hello LUDWIG KIETZMANN,
We regret to inform you that delivery to the following recipient failed permanently:
ENGADGET STAFF
Technical details of permanent failure:
Google tried to deliver your message, but it was rejected for being “too game-y.” We recommend fewer references to goombas and headshots to avoid this error in the future. The error that the server returned was: 1UP LOL 1337 No relaying allowed – psmtp (state 13).
That said, we’d, uh, love to have you over some time. Not sure when we’re available just yet, but we’ll get back to you really soon. In the meantime, why not just drop those hot Joystiq pieces directly on Engadget so we don’t have to surf all the way over. Surfing is tiring. Uh oh … we’ve dropped the facade, haven’t we?
Filed under: Announcements, Gaming, Meta, Software, HD, Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo
Pebble’s smartwatch appstore finally comes to Android
iOS users had a bit of a head start in receiving access to the new Pebble appstore. Thankfully, the Android crowd won’t have to wait for this feature any longer, since what’s known as Pebble 2.0 is, at long last, available on Google’s platform. Sure, it took weeks and weeks of testing, but Pebble promises it was all for the best and expects its smartwatch owners to be delighted by the changes. Aside from the long-awaited appstore, this Pebble for Android update also features a completely redesigned interface (pretty similar to the one found on iOS), a new locker for apps and notification improvements. You’ve waited long enough, though — so go on, grab the update and deck out your Pebble some more.
Filed under: Misc, Peripherals, Software, Mobile
Via: Droid Life
Source: Google Play
‘Milk Music’ launched by Samsung, offers free radio for Galaxy Users
Not that long ago we heard talk that Samsung was going to be bringing a streaming music service to their device. The service was to be called ‘Milk Music’ and would find its way to users who have and use a variety of Galaxy series devices. Samsung has officially announced the service and have released the app to the Play Store.
The new service is free for users, and for a limited time will be ad-free as well. It currently offers more than 200 ad-free radio stations and 13 million songs. It is fully customizable. You are able to “fine tune” your streaming station experience by popularity, novelty and song favorites.
“Milk Music introduces a fresh approach to music that reflects our innovation leadership and our focus on creating best-in-class consumer experiences,” said Gregory Lee, president and CEO of Samsung Telecommunications America and Samsung Electronics North America Headquarters. “We’re offering consumers amazing, rich music experiences built around what matters most to them and their lifestyle.”
The Milk Music app is on the Play Store, but is only available for a select list of Samsung Galaxy devices.
- Samsung Galaxy S4
- Samsung Galaxy S3
- Samsung Galaxy Note 2
- Samsung Galaxy Note 3
I find it interesting that none of the Galaxy tablets were listed in the Press Release.
It will be available for the Samsung Galaxy S5 when the device is launched. If you meet that criteria and want to give it a shot then hit up the Play Store badge below. Let us know what you think of it.
Source: Samsung
Via 9to5Google
Livr is my most fav app 4va LOL im drunk
If you’ve heard one too many gripes about your boozy postings, don’t fret — there’ll soon be a like-minded social app for you. It’s called “Livr,” and you won’t even be able to log in without a smartphone breathalyzer confirming you’ve tippled enough. In fact, the higher your BAC, the more app features are unlocked. Those include a crowdsourced “truth or dare” game and hotspot map that shows the location and sobriety of other users. You’ll even be able to drunk-dial random Livr folks, simulating the types of encounters you’d normally have at a bar (sans the possibility of getting punched). After a questionable evening, whatever happens on Livr can stay on Livr, thanks to the “Blackout” button that deletes all evidence of your misdeeds. We’re not sure if this is one of the best or worst ideas in recent memory, but in any case, prepare your actual liver — the app will arrive to Android and iOS sometime in the spring.
Filed under: Software
Via: TNW
Source: Livr
Android 4.4.2 OTA update for the HTC Butterfly S rolling out Now
HTC appears to have been working quite hard lately to get its Android KitKat update out to all its HTC One handsets, only narrowly missing its promised target. The job of updating the rest of its devices, however, isn’t over yet and today we’ve been told that the Android 4.4.2 OTA update for the HTC Butterfly S is starting to roll out today.
The 737MB update brings the Butterfly S all the KitKat goodies as well as cloud printing support, Bluetooth profiles and security enhancements. If you’re not one to wait for OTA updates to get to you, you can head over to this XDA forum page where the update has been captured and ready for your download.
Presumably HTC is going to continue pushing out Android 4.4.2 updates, and the next in line could be the HTC Butterfly, A.K.A the HTC Droid DNA; I guess we’ll just have to see. Any Butterfly S users seeing the update yet? Let us know if you do in the comments below.
Source: XDA
Charter customers can finally access Showtime on their mobile devices
If you thought Time Warner Cable was late to the Showtime party, think again. Charter subscribers have been waiting for access since 2011, and now it’s finally here. Starting today, customers can join in with the the rest of the cable crowd and stream live (or past) episodes of their favorite Showtime production on its Showtime Anytime app, which is available on iOS, Android, Roku and the web. As long as you have a Showtime subscription, getting your Homeland fix is as easy as signing into the app with your Charter username and password. Additionally, the same programming from Showtime Anytime will be available from Charter.net and the company’s TV app in the near future.
Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, Tablets, Internet, Software
Source: Charter
[New Game] Physics game, Smash Hit, released by Mediocre
Mediocre has a pretty good track record for creating fun games using physics and a little bit of comedy. Many of you should be pretty familiar with the Sprinkle series and Granny Smith. Endless hours of good clean fun right there. Mediocre has announce the release of a totally different style of game today though called Smash Hit. As the name would suggest, it will be a Smash Hit. Well, hopefully anyways. In reality, you get to break a whole lot of stuff with metal balls. Being a man that likes destruction, I am definitely intrigued.
You will explore 50 different rooms with 11 different graphic styles. Audio effects create a crashing atmosphere filled with echoes and reverb. The games music is set to play in connection with what you are seeing, meaning that glass object movements will play into the music of each room you are gliding through. To keep you coming back, the levels are randomized. The trailer has a hint of Star Fox 64, with much better graphics, and a rather eerie look and feel. Check it out.
Looks pretty great doesn’t it? How can throwing metal marbles at glass not be a good time waster?
Smash Hit is FREE to install, but the Play Store does list ‘In-app purchases’, so that might turn some of you away. Feel free to hit the Play Store Badge below to go check it out and give it a try.
Music intelligence company, Echo Nest, bought by Spotify
Spotify has gone and spent a little money today. They announced this morning that they are buying music intelligence company Echo Nest. Echo Nest powers Web radio, recommendations and playlists for a large number of media firms, including some of Spotify’s competition such as iHeartradio, MOG ( Beats Music), Rdio and Sirius XM.
The purchase will obviously help Spotify curate a better listening experience for the end users since Echo Nest is already doing a great job of that. The purchase will also give Spotify another kick in the revenue department. We know that listening, for the most part, can be free, and the radio function was just made free for tablets a few months ago. Echo Nest already licenses it technology to outside partners to create playlists, detect buzz around a particular artist and recommend similar songs. With Spotify in the wheelhouse, those licensing fees will help Spotify greatly.
In a statement, chief executive and founder Daniel Ek said the company has “been fans of the Echo Nest for a really long time” and that the takeover will help Spotify’s “quest to play you the best music possible.”
Details surrounding the purchase price, or the terms or the buy out weren’t released. In the long run, it should help keep those random songs that don’t fit what you are listening to from popping up and it should help make some better playlist options as well.
Don’t have Spotify yet? Why not? It is free, for the most part, pick it up via the Play Badge below.
Source: Cnet
Yahoo Maps adds indoor navigation powered by Nokia Here
Google Maps has offered indoor floor plans for quite some time, and now Yahoo is doing the same. Thanks to Nokia Here, Yahoo Maps now packs building layouts, directories and contact info for places like shopping malls, train stations and airports. This means you’ll be able to locate restrooms and ATMs across multiple levels of football stadiums and other places in advance. The Finnish company introduced venue mapping back in 2012, and has since amassed info on over 75,000 venues. The Here integration should come as no surprise, though, as Yahoo and Nokia have been collaborating on cartography since 2010.
Filed under: Software
Via: SlashGear
Source: Yahoo, Nokia HERE
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