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Potternavi: Pioneer Announces 3G-Equipped GPS For Bikes

Posted: 26 Oct 2011 04:26 AM PDT

pioneer feat

Pioneer yesterday announced the so-called Potternavi [JP], a GPS for bicycles that will be available in white or black. Buyers can expect a 2.4-inch color LCD with 240×320 resolution, ANT+ support, an acceleration sensor, a USB port, and 10 hours of battery life.

Pioneer says that the Potternavi not only shows maps and directions but also lets users look for popular spots, for example the nearest restaurant or store. It also gives tips for healthy biking, indicates which actions burn how many calories etc.

What’s interesting is that it supports 3G provided by Japan’s biggest mobile carrier NTT Docomo (the first 2 years are free of charge).

Pioneer plans to start selling the Potternavi in Japan in February next year (price: US$527). The Nikkei is reporting that the 100g device will hit the US and European markets sometime “next summer”, too.

Via AV Watch [JP]



Video: This Robot Is Walking On Its Own (Without Using Motors Or Electricity)

Posted: 26 Oct 2011 03:14 AM PDT

Picture 3

And we’re one step closer to the Robocalypse: a research team at the Nagoya Institute of Technology has developed a passive robot that can walk on its own. All it needs to get moving is a gentle push – no motors, sensors or even electricity needed. Its legs and ankles are powered by potential energy only.

The makers says the robot is made of aluminum and took 100,000 steps in a row during a test (which lasted 13 hours). The robot is able to carry a payload of “10-20kg” and could be used by people who have trouble walking, for example (it’s possible for humans to “wear” the robot on their legs).

The robot is 90cm high and walks at 3.3km/h. A commercial version is expected to become available in 1-2 years.

This video from Diginfo TV (shot in Tokyo, in English) shows the robot in action:



Nokia Upgrades Its Augmented Reality Browser ‘Live View’

Posted: 26 Oct 2011 02:26 AM PDT

liveview

One of the minor but noteworthy things Nokia announced today at its Nokia World event in London is the release of an updated version of its augmented reality browser Live View, previously available in early beta. You can download the app here.

Note that the app is still in beta, but the updated version brings many goodies if you’re into the whole augmented reality thing (and if you use a compatible Nokia phone).

Live View, like other augmented reality browsers like Layar, uses your phone's camera viewfinder to spot nearby places and shows what's around you: landmarks, ATMs, restaurants, bars, shops, public transport stations and more.

These are the new features introduced today:

  • Live View is now available in several views – Camera viewfinder view, List view, Maps view. Accessible via screen navigation circles on the menu bar
  • Settings to configure the distance in Miles vs. Kilometers
  • Search and My Stuff – Search for a place and access previously searched items from My Stuff
  • Places grouping – when many places are located at the same location they are grouped and can be accessed by expanding the group
  • Browse through the Famous Places around the world
  • Scrollable List view sorted by distance with places details and orientation
  • A single click access to Call, View Ratings, Walk, Drive or Share the place
  • Layout, UI and performance improvements

For other announcements on the apps/services side of the equation, click here.


Company: Nokia
Website: nokia.com
IPO: NYSE:NOK

Nokia is a Finnish multinational communications corporation. It is primarily engaged in the manufacturing of mobile devices and in converging Internet and communications industries. They make a wide range of mobile devices with services and software that enable people to experience music, navigation, video, television, imaging, games, business mobility and more. Nokia is the owner of Symbian operation system and partially owns MeeGo operating system.

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Exhibit 4G II Is T-Mobile’s First No-Contract 4G Android Phone, Launches Oct. 27th For $200

Posted: 25 Oct 2011 09:20 PM PDT

Exhibit 4G II

I’m no proponent of cheap phones (after a few years of monthly dues, that money you save up front is a drop in the bucket) — but if you insist, T-Mobile’s got a new one for you. They’ve just announced the Exhibit 4G II, a mid-range Android handset that’ll set you back just $30 with contract — or, if you’re looking to steer clear of commitments, a still rather-wallet-friendly $200.

While no powerhouse, the specs don’t fall too short for the price. Hell — a year ago, these would’ve been edging toward top tier. The Exhibit 4G II has a 3.7″ display (800×480), with a 1Ghz Snapdragon CPU tucked inside. It’s got a 3 megapixel camera on the back, and a camera of unspecified resolution (presumably VGA) around front. It’s all powered by Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) for now, with no word on whether or not they’ll ever bump it up to the just announced Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich).

The Exhibit 4G II will hit the shelves on November 2nd, though Walmart has a few days of exclusivity beginning on October 27th.


Company: T-Mobile
Website: t-mobile.com
IPO: DT

T-Mobile is a mobile telephone operator headquartered in Bonn, Germany. It is a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom. T-Mobile has 101 million subscribers making it the worlds sixth largest mobile phone service provider globally.

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Macworld Expo Metamorphosizes Into Macworld|iWorld

Posted: 25 Oct 2011 04:56 PM PDT

mac

It wouldn’t be right to say that the ever-popular Macworld Expo has been struggling, exactly, but ever since Apple stopped being an official attendee, they have perhaps been struggling for identity. The old de facto Apple conference and expo has become a second-string event, with Apple focusing on retail and much of the ecosystem revolving around software.

With this in mind, the expo has decided to dig in and rebrand. First, a change of clothes: “The brand is evolving from Macworld [Expo] to Macworld|iWorld to illustrate that the show is about the whole ecosystem of Apple products,” says the expo’s general manager, Paul Kent. The pipe and double name are, I’m guessing, a temporary compromise designed to introduce the new name without spooking longtime attendees.

As Kent says, though, the event will be embracing more of the Apple ecosystem. They’ll be highlighting music, art, and film that has used Apple software and hardware, for instance. That of course includes the many productions that were edited in Final Cut Pro, but they also want to have shows and movies that were entirely shot and/or edited on the iPhone and iPad. That might be a little rough the first time around, to be honest, but the intention is admirable.

There will be talks and panels, of course. I think the RapidFire session sounds like fun: five-minute presentations back-to-back, kind of like the Hackathon presentations at our own Disrupt. Great place to show off tricks, effects, techniques, or new games and apps, without taking up too much time.

A new focus on apps (desktop and mobile) will bring the expo a bit more in line with the market, as well. And then there will be the usual suspects hocking cases, keyboards, and various white or silver accessories. You can register to attend here.



Just Look At My Beautiful, Working Pocket Cannon

Posted: 25 Oct 2011 04:44 PM PDT

If you’re like me, I’m sure you spend your evenings idly stroking the decommissioned artillery at the local WWII memorial, dreaming of the day you can ride a white-hot shell over the heads of your friends and family and land into a herd of cattle, leaving this world in a blaze of guts and glory. However, since that opportunity will probably never present itself, I’d like to introduce you to the Pocket Artillery, a CNCed lug of metal that, with the help of a BB and a little black powder, can shoot a hole in a soda can.

These $29 pocket rockets are currently available for pre-order and should ship before Christmas. They are hand-finished and come in multiple bright colors – your choice, of course. Obviously you’ll probably shoot your eye out with these things so the folks at Pocket Artillery want no truck with your frivolous lawsuits. The legalese is actually longer than the text on their web page.

For best results, do not use this in the glass-enclosed conference room at work.

Product Page



And Makerbot Said: Let There Be 3D-Printed Shells For Pet Hermit Crabs

Posted: 25 Oct 2011 02:00 PM PDT

IMAG0305_display_medium

We’re big fans of the home 3D printer here. It’s a truly disruptive technology, though for now the cost is still a bit too high, and the uses aren’t quite practical enough, for it to be a household item just yet. But that hasn’t stopped people from putting it to good use.

Project Shellter is one of the most interesting applications of the technology I’ve seen. The project aims to produce artificial shells for hermit crabs using a MakerBot, which would otherwise have to be supplied by harvesting spare shells from the ocean. It sounds a bit precious, yes, but it’s indicative of a promising trend of using fabrication tech for novel and helpful purposes.

Hermit crabs, you see, don’t actually make their own shells. Carapaces, yes, but the shells they live in are scavenged from sea snails, nautiluses, and other miscellaneous mollusks. And when they outgrow their home, they find another. Apparently there is a bit of a shortage in shells, however, and crabs are fighting over such inadequate homes as aluminum cans, bottle caps, and other bits of trash. Not good.

Miles Lightwood (as TeamTeamUSA) is working out of MakerBot headquarters to see what can be done to address this problem. And before anyone starts complaining that there are bigger problems to solve, consider that small problems are also worth solving if you have the means at hand. You may not be able to solve the homeless problem, but if you can spare a buck, you might solve one guy’s problems for a day. Same here: the proliferation of trash on the sea bed and the disruption of habitats isn’t going to be figured out by a couple guys and a home fab machine. But they might make the lives of a few sea creatures a bit better and it’s essentially research in wildlife prosthetics, which believe it or not is a real and important field.

Also worth noting: these shells are not being manufactured to dump in the ocean, but are for domestic use. If, however, a biodegradable material were to be developed akin to normal shell material, they could be added to natural habitats. But to continue.

The project is looking for designs that will accommodate the crabs. Many things need to be considered; for example, hermit crabs need a shell using a right-handed helix because that’s the way their body curves naturally. And a commenter points out that the crabs do ingest bits of the shell now and then, so it will need to be made of something non-toxic and possibly nutritious. Furthermore, the porosity of natural calciferous shells may be difficult to replicate using a fabricator.

It’s a slightly strange project, but mainly just because it’s so specific. If a dozen other people started projects as specific, they could be counted as a larger trend, and indeed Project Shellter is part of the trend of expanding the applications of domestic fabrication machines.

You can see and download the first design here, and if you have any suggestions or designs, they are looking for submissions and participation.



HTC Rezound To Debut At November 3 Event?

Posted: 25 Oct 2011 12:18 PM PDT

htcinvite

Move over Motorola and Samsung. It’s HTC’s turn to send out invites to a mysterious press event, and we’re fully expecting to see the HTC Rezound (a.k.a. the Vigor) take the stage come November 3.

The Rezound, for those of you who have missed my near-obsessive coverage, is HTC’s next Verizon-bound LTE device. It’s slated to be the first stateside device to pack Beats audio technology, but it also confirms its geek cred with a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and a 4.3″ 720p display. Here’s hoping that the battery is up to snuff.

Though its specs put it firmly in Verizon’s top tier of devices, it’s a chubby little guy and the design may not win many fans. Still, it’s what’s on the inside that counts (or so I keep telling myself), so we’ll hold off on passing judgment until we get to play with it.

Nothing is set in stone yet, but there’s almost no way the Rezound won’t take center stage next week. The timing does seem awfully suspect — leaked Verizon documents have pointed to a spate of new releases on the 10th, with the Rezound being one of them. If the leaks hold true, then Verizon fans will have much to be thankful for next month.

We’ve seen some of the other big carriers prepping for a big November push, but between the iPhone 4S, the Droid RAZR, the Galaxy Nexus, and HTC’s Rezound, it looks like Verizon’s got the holiday lineup to beat.



New Touchscreen From SMK Designed To Work With Gloved Hands

Posted: 25 Oct 2011 11:46 AM PDT

2

SMK Electronics has put together a new capacitive touchscreen that’s designed to work not just with those wonderfully conductive fingers of yours, but also with gloved hands and perhaps more. SMK developed a new sensor panel structure that is noise-resistant, allowing for a clearer signal to be detected at high sensitivities.

This isn’t the first touchscreen we’ve seen that works with gloves. At this year’s Mobile world Congress, we saw an incredibly impressive demo by Synaptics showing off their new touchscreens, which can detect a gloved hand or even the head of a pin. They achieved it in a similar way: by reducing noise, though their approach was different. They integrated the touchscreen controller with the display controller running the screen beneath it, allowing them to work together and avoid interference.

Synaptics’ screens are aimed at mobile phone use, but SMK’s are specifically designed for dash panel systems in cars. With more and more functions being centralized there, access at any time is important, and many people wear gloves while they drive. Resistive screens avoid this problem but lose out on sensitivity in general. This new screen, which will first appear in 6.5″ versions but can be made larger, might be the best of both worlds.

Hopefully they work with real gloves and not just those flimsy parade gloves. People who live in cold regions don’t wear flimsy cotton.



Leaked: Are These Nokia’s New Windows Phones?

Posted: 25 Oct 2011 11:33 AM PDT

Nokia Lumia

We’re but a mere 14 hours away from the long-awaited unveiling of Nokia’s first ever Windows Phone 7 handsets, and it seems they just can’t keep the spigot plugged. A set of images seemingly detailing not one, but two of the handsets set to be announced has just leaked out.

The photos were obtained by WinRumors. They appear to be of an interactive display of some sort, such as a touchscreen kiosk (like you might expect to see at Nokia World) or a site set to go live shortly after the announcement.

Of course, it’s still entirely possible that Nokia still has another handset or two up their sleeves. We’ll be on the lookout for any and all further details during tonight’s keynote (which, for the curious, begins at around 1 a.m. pacific, as Nokia World takes place in London.)


Here’s what we can parse out of the images (they’re a bit blurry):

The Nokia Lumia 800 (Previously known as “Sea Ray”, and modeled after Nokia’s N9):

  • Dimensions: 116.5 x 61.2 x 12.1 mm
  • Weight with battery: 142 grams
  • 512mb accessible RAM
  • no microSD slot

The Nokia Lumia 710 (Previously known as “Sabre”):

  • 119 x 62.4 x 12.5mm
  • 8GB internal storage, no microSD slot

You can find another pair of images, mostly showing a rather tough to read spec list, over at WinRumors.


Company: Nokia
Website: nokia.com
IPO: NYSE:NOK

Nokia is a Finnish multinational communications corporation. It is primarily engaged in the manufacturing of mobile devices and in converging Internet and communications industries. They make a wide range of mobile devices with services and software that enable people to experience music, navigation, video, television, imaging, games, business mobility and more. Nokia is the owner of Symbian operation system and partially owns MeeGo operating system.

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Adidas Launches The SPEED_CELL Workout Tracker

Posted: 25 Oct 2011 10:16 AM PDT

miCoach SPEED_CELL

Not content to let Nike hog the spotlight, Adidas has launched the SPEED_CELL, a miCoach compatible shoe dongle that senses your foot’s speed, acceleration, and distance travelled. The SPEED_CELL works with multiple sports and fits right inside the shoe’s outsole.

Unlike the Nike+ gear, the SPEED_CELL is more focused on general sporting rather than solely on running. It offers a window on the athlete’s performance and works with the miCoach virtual coaching service to allow weekend warriors to get fit without depending on a fireplug-shaped man yelling at them through a bullhorn.

With the miCoach SPEED_CELL, athletes of every level will be able to track their unique stats including average speed, maximum speed, number of sprints, distance at high intensity levels, steps and stride during play. The on-board memory then stores seven hours of an athlete's metrics and wirelessly transmits the on-field performance data to their smartphone, tablet, PC or MAC.

Shoes for soccer, basketball, football, and tennis will support the SPEED_CELL. It will be available on December 1st for $70. MiCoach Running will launch at the same time, followed by apps for basketball, tennis, and football.



Siri Gets Scary With ThinkGeek’s IRIS 9000

Posted: 25 Oct 2011 09:56 AM PDT

eb7d_iris_9000

It’s been proven again and again that Siri has a peculiar sense of humor, but what if there was something more sinister hiding beneath that jovial facade? Well, dock your iPhone 4S into ThinkGeek’s new IRIS 9000 voice control module, and you may soon find out.

On paper, the IRIS 9000 is pretty straightforward — once the iPhone is in place, just carry around the included remote, and go about your business. Whenever you need Siri to schedule an appointment (or sing a song), hit the button on the remote and let your request fly.

Sure, it’s essentially just a glorified speaker dock, but actually looking at the thing is another story completely. Combining Siri’s unwavering desire to be helpful (even when murder is involved) with the HAL’s iconic red eye is bound to send a chill down the spines of even the hardiest sci-fi fans.

My only regret? That the speaker doesn’t distort Siri’s voice into something a bit more akin to the original. Then again, for the sake of my mental wellbeing, I suppose that’s probably for the best. Sadly, the IRIS 9000 isn’t quite ready to ship yet, but that just means ThinkGeek has time to work out all the (homicidal) kinks.



Monster Miles Davis Trumpets In-Ear Headphones Review

Posted: 25 Oct 2011 08:49 AM PDT

IMG_4525

I was at the CES press conference where head Monster, Noel Lee, unveiled the Miles Davis Trumpet Headphones with much fanfare. He said something to the effect that these headphones are for those that listen for nuances within music. These are for professionals, he said. That was code to me that they probably sound like garbage to the average listener. But after several weeks of testing, I’m pleased to report that I was mostly wrong.

Monster markets the Trumpets as “musicians’ headphones.” They praise the detail and clarity and I agree for the most part — if you can get can them in your ear correctly and don’t care about lossless audio.

These in-ear headphones are designed slightly different. The drivers are placed closer to the tips and actually sit within the canal rather than outside. This removes the natural tendency to pull out on their own as most of the weight is inside your ear. It’s not uncomfortable. The design is just a bit unconventional upon first inspection but they feel great when you start wearing them. The thicker ends, along with the gel-filled tips, makes for a tighter fit but are a tad difficult to insert. I have to twist and push the earphones like a Q-tip. If I didn’t, they don’t sit correctly, resulting in a sound free of low bass. The headphones ship with 10 different tips and none of them really fit me well.

In fact, during my first testing session I hated the earphones. They fully lived up to my expectation that they would sound like overpriced garbage. There simply wasn’t any low-end response and I quickly wrote a review with that message. But then the following week while I was A/B testing the Logitech Ultimate Ears TripleFi 10, the Trumpets suddenly sounded dramatically better. There was plenty of bass and clarity. They were finally fitting in my ear properly and “Smack My Bitch Up” by The Prodigy pounded like it should.

The Trumpets strongest attribute is the immense virtual soundstage they can produce. The music is wonderfully spread out. Wilco’s “I’m Trying To Break Your Heart” sounds amazing through these headphones. The vocals are neatly placed in the center while the large virtual soundstage seemingly puts the accompaniment on either side. This visualization is why would you buy these headphones. Close your eyes and it sounds like Tweedy is 8 feet in front of you, surrounded by the rest of the band.

I question Monster’s tag line that the Trumpets are the musician’s headphone. The headphones simply didn’t justify their price when playing back lossless audio. There was very little difference between a FLAC encoding and the same track from RDIO. There wasn’t the sudden awakening that usually happens when listening to lossless audio. The Trumpets, in a sense, failed the most important test.

The Trumpets have amazing audio imaging and produce a huge soundstage. The audio is tight without being overly harsh, and, if they’re properly seated in your ear, they produce solid bass. But when fed high-quality audio, the Trumpets do not light up. There’s nothing here, in short, to warrant a $350 price tag. I guess the Miles Davis Trumpet earphones are for musicians who listen to MP3s and don’t care about quality source material.



T-Mobile Outs Release Dates For The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, Huawei Springboard

Posted: 25 Oct 2011 07:56 AM PDT

T-Mobile Springboard

If you’ve had your eye on the Galaxy Tab 10.1 or Huawei’s new Springboard tablet, the sign-up pages for both devices have just popped up on T-Mobile’s site. On November 7, you’ll be able to pick up a new Springboard tab for no more than $200. We’re still unclear on exact pricing, but TmoNews seems to think it’ll go for $179.99 with a two-year contract. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, on the other hand, will be available on November 2 along with a number of other handsets.

As far as GalTab pricing goes, things are still a mystery. The Wifi-only editions are priced between $499 and $599, so a two-year agreement could bring that down to around $299 or $399. But we’ll have to wait for official word to be sure.

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 sports a 10.1-inch 1280×800 WXGA LCD display, a 3-megapixel rear camera ready for 720p video capture and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera for video chat. The slate runs Android 3.2 Honeycomb over a 1GHz dual-core processor in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB memory options.

The Springboard tablet from Huawei is a little 7-inch tab with Android 3.2 Honeycomb running the show. Under the hood, you’ll find a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, along with a 5-megapixel rear camera (720p video capture) on the back and a 1.3-megapixel front-facing shooter for video chat. Both slates support Adobe Flash.

If you’re looking for more information on either slate, head here for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and here for the T-Mobile Springboard.


Company: T-Mobile
Website: t-mobile.com
IPO: DT

T-Mobile is a mobile telephone operator headquartered in Bonn, Germany. It is a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom. T-Mobile has 101 million subscribers making it the worlds sixth largest mobile phone service provider globally.

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Apple Joins Oreos And Capri Sun As Most Popular Youth Brand

Posted: 25 Oct 2011 07:12 AM PDT

capri_sun_logo_favor

In a poll of 5,077 US youngsters ages 8-24, Apple came out on top over all over computer, phone, and tablet makers as the number one electronics brand. Apple joins the ranks of Nintendo, Oreo, and Sprite as some of the most popular brands in America today.

Pollsters Harris Interactive asked questions about brand preference and loyalty. They note that “Apple has built a powerful equity base among their customers of today and their customers of tomorrow,” which ensures that the brand will have resonance over the next decade.

The poll found that Apple Computers, iPads, and iPhones are the highest ranked electronics in the computer, tablet, and phone space. Hewlett Packard, Motorola Xoom, and HTC are in second place in each category.

Apple must be quite proud to be up with some of the nastiest juice in the constellation of junk food although, to be fair, Oreos are pretty darn good.



Asus, Acer Android 3.0 Tabs To Eventually Get Updated To Ice Cream Sandwich

Posted: 25 Oct 2011 06:52 AM PDT

android_ice_cream_sandwich

Now that Ice Cream Sandwich is real, manufacturers can start talking about the roll out. The good news is that ICS looks Tegra 2 friendly so it should run on most of the first generation Honeycomb tablets. Asus and Acer have both confirmed that their respective tabs will get the update but haven’t detailed the launch schedule. That’s the bad news, which really isn’t all that bad in and of itself.

Asus released several a statement across its social media platforms indicated that yes, the entire Eee Pad family including the Transformer and Slider will eventually see an official Android 4.0 release.

Via Asus Facebook

Here’s the official word on Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich:

“Google recently announced the latest update for Android, Ice Cream Sandwich, which brings some exciting new features and capabilities. At ASUS, we pride ourselves on delivering a great experience with our products, thanks to frequent updates that further enhance our products’ capabilities. We’re delighted to confirm support for Ice Cream Sandwich on the ASUS Eee Pad Family – our aim is to bring the latest Android update to the Eee Pad Series, but at this time we are unable to set a date for its release. Please stay tuned for more news on our Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade plans.”

Tablet-online.pl received a statement from Acer Poland indicating that Ice Cream Sandwich will hit the Acer Iconia Tab A100/A101 and the A500/A501 sometime in mid-January. That’s CES time, folks.

So far Samsung and Motorola haven’t released info concerning its Honeycomb tablet update schedule although Motorola recently tweeted that it would release ICS updates 6 weeks after Google hands them the code. However, most of the current Honeycomb tablets run the same hardware, which should make porting an unofficial release to the tablets a non-issue.


Company: Acer
Website: acer-group.com
Launch Date: October 26, 1976

The Acer Group is a family of four brands – Acer, Gateway, Packard Bell and eMachines. It ranks as the world’s third-largest company for total PC shipments, is No. 2 for notebooks, and has a global workforce of more than 6,000 employees. Revenues in 2008 reached US$16.65 billion. The successful mergers of Gateway, Inc. (October 2007) and Packard Bell, Inc. (March 2008) by parent company, Acer, Inc., completes the group’s global footprint by further strengthening its presence in the U.S....

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Company: Asus
Website: asus.com

ASUS is well known for high-quality and innovative technology. ASUS offers a complete product portfolio to compete in the new millennium.

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Video: World’s Largest 3D Display Boasts Full HD Resolution, 200-Inch Screen Size, 57 Viewing Angles

Posted: 25 Oct 2011 06:25 AM PDT

Picture 2

Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications (NICT) and JVC Kenwood have developed what they say is the world’s biggest 3D display. The device boasts a screen size of 200 inches, offers 57 different viewing angles, and best of all, it doesn’t require you to use glasses to view pictures in 3D.

The auto-stereoscopic display is based on 57 projectors in an array, produces 3D pictures in full HD and weighs 500kg. It was first announced by the NICT in January this year but appears to have been altered since (the earlier version used 64 projectors, for example):

This video, recently shot by Diginfo TV in Tokyo, provides more insight on the newest model (in English):



Garmin Launches Fit App Just In Time For Holiday Feasts

Posted: 25 Oct 2011 05:58 AM PDT

Garmin Fit

If you’re looking to get preemptive with holiday weight watching, Garmin’s got an app for that. The company today released the Garmin Fit app, which tracks speed, pace, distance, time, calories, and with the addition of Garmin’s ANT+ accessories, heart rate and cadence. The app also maps out the user’s workout and uploads it directly to Garmin Connect, all for $.99.

We’ve seen devices that perform almost all the same functionality, though they tend to be much smaller dedicated fitness devices. The FitBit, the Striiv, and even Motorola’s new MotoACTV smart watch take the same metrics, but force you to carry around an extra device. That said, it may be much easier for most to pop a small pedometer/fitness tracker in their pocket or wear a watch than it would be for someone to carry around a 4.3-inch smartphone.

The upside to the Fit app is that it never stops working, even if you have to take a call or write a text. A single tap displays all your basic metrics, including time, distance, pace and calories. Users will also be able to control their music from within the app.

Once you’ve thrown in the towel on your workout, the Fit app will let you give notes on the experience and input details, at which point all the information is sent straight to Garmin Connect. From there, users can track their overall performance and improvements over the last 30 days.

The Garmin Fit app is available now as a $.99 download from both the Apple App Store and the Android Market.


Company: Garmin
Website: garmin.com
Launch Date: October 26, 1989
IPO: GRMN

Garmin is a producer of GPS devices.

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