I think this is a logical move on Google’s part. Certainly this will improve the look of Google Glass, but there’s only so much you can do without reducing the footprint of the Glass module itself.
Hardware
The rig used in Jimmy Fallon’s iPad duet with Billy Joel
Nice job by Apple Insider’s Neil Hughes to pull together the details on the hardware used by Jimmy Fallon and Billy Joel on their fantastic duet.
If you missed it, our servers were rocked yesterday when Tim Cook tweeted our blog post sharing the performance. Yesterday was a lot of fun.
Imogen Heap, her incredible music controlling gloves, and SNL
[VIDEO] I remember the moment I discovered Imogen Heap. I was watching Saturday Night Live and one of Andy Samburg’s Digital Shorts came on, called Dear Sister. It was crazy weird, funny as hell, and the music grabbed me immediately. If you are interested in this part of the story, watch the second of the embedded videos. The song is called Hide and Seek.
The real point of this post is Imogen Heap’s new Kickstarter project. If you play an electronic keyboard or any sort of MIDI controlled device, watch the first of the embedded videos.
The Mi.Mu gloves are MIDI and Open Control-savvy and allow you complete control over your sound. To me, this is a phenomenal development and just the tip of the iceberg of what’s coming down the pike for musicians.
iBeacons used to nudge people in the nosebleed seats to upgrade
Some fans who bought nosebleed-seat tickets to see the Golden State Warriors received a friendly suggestion from their phones when they stepped off the escalators at Oracle Arena: Wouldn’t they like to spend a few extra bucks for a seat where they could actually distinguish Stephen Curry from Andrew Bogut?
See any downside to this? All good?
Google wearable videos and interface details
Take a look at the two videos embedded in the post. The first one is more of a commercial, showing different aspects of life with a Google watch. The second one is more detailed, a bit more of a mission statement. The linked blog post lays out four keys to Google wearables
New camera tech takes pictures from inside your heart, changes surgery forever
Heart surgery is a big deal. Doctors frequently have to use a reciprocating saw to cut through your breastbone, often have to flip over your heart to get at the backside of it. Any tech that makes this unnecessary, or even a bit easier, is a real boon.
This camera is threaded to your heart via an artery and produces high resolution images in real time.
Google watches and wearables will not run developer code, are notification devices
From Seeking Alpha (free reg-wall):
In effect, the watch is a device for using Google Now and cards that apps on the phone send to it.
This is an interesting model. It means that a Google watch is a satellite device that locks you in to the Google ecosystem. Since the watch without the phone is just a wrist-watch, or less, if it does not have the built in smarts to do its watch and alarm thing without its master.
The birth of desktop publishing
Professor David Brailsford takes you on a walk down memory lane with Apple’s introduction of the Laserwriter.
The Computerphile videos are a bit low tech and homespun, but I find them both charming and informative.
Secret Service seeking bids for new presidential limo
The presidential limo is definitely an awesome and unfortunately necessary piece of engineering.
The Secret Service is proceeding with development of a new presidential limousine to replace the Cadillac model currently used by President Barack Obama, according to a new General Services Administration contract posting. The new vehicle is expected to be ready for the inauguration of the next president—whomever she or he may be.
Classified armor development for the new rolling Oval Office has been underway since last year. The government is now seeking bidders to integrate that armor into a new design for “The Beast,” as the heavily-protected vehicle is popularly known, with options for the final construction stages. Details of the new design, like the old, are highly classified and contractors must meet strict security requirements just to get a peek at what they will be asked to build.
Just one suggestion: Make sure it comes with CarPlay, and let Apple furnish the touch screen.
Sir Tim Berners-Lee’s Next Cube computer goes on display in London
THE COMPUTER used by Sir Tim Berners-Lee to write his proposal for the World Wide Web has gone on show at the Science Museum in London to mark the 25th anniversary of the web.
The Next Cube computer arrived at the Science Museum on Tuesday, having been shipped from CERN in Switzerland, where Berners-Lee used to work as a software engineer. Berners-Lee wrote his proposal for the World Wide Web that he submitted on 12 March 1989 on this computer.
I find it amazing to think that the origins of the web were created on a Next machine. If you missed it, be sure to read the story of Steve Jobs and Tim Berners-Lee’s narrowly missed connection, as masterfully told by Stephen Fry.
Neil Young to launch his high fidelity audio device, Pono Player, at SXSW
The Pono Player has been making noise in the audiophile space for a few years now. Neil Young has campaigned against audio compression and the Pono Player is his vision of what the music listening experience might be.
Apple files for True Tone trademark in China
This is a trademark filing, not a patent. True Tone is the dual LED flash on the back side of the iPhone 5s. One LED is amber, one white.
How to create a data recovery external drive
We’ve all had that sinking feeling when we realize we might just have lost all our precious data.
I knew something was wrong when I booted my 2012 MacBook Pro, walked away to get coffee and returned to find the computer had turned off. When I booted again, the grey screen appeared and the MacBook Pro booted part way before powering down. An attempt to boot into Safe Mode revealed that the CPU was halting, killing the processes, then shutting down.
If you own a Mac, there’s certainly a good chance this will happen to you someday. Read the post, and don’t forget to do a backup. Apple really makes it all so very easy.
Apple TV Updated with Revamped Channel for this week’s iTunes Festival at SXSW
In preparation for this week’s iTunes Festival at South by Southwest (SXSW) 2014, Apple has expanded its Apple TV lineup to include a revamped iTunes Festival channel that allows users to live stream the concert’s shows as well as view lineups and artist information.
The channel showcases artists who will be performing at the festival such as Kendrick Lamar, Coldplay, and Keith Urban, complete with artist bios and concert showtimes. Direct iTunes links to artist albums are featured as well, along with full details on opening acts.
Nice.
Apple’s “Mobile Emergency Attack” patent
Apple filed a patent whereby a mobile device can automatically summon help when it detects that a user is in distress.
RadioShack to close 1,100 stores
One person’s take on the loss of a RadioShack near me.
Conflict over being recorded by Google Glass in public space turns violent
[VIDEO]I’m not bashing Google Glass, I certainly see the value of a heads up display that is hands free and connected to the internet. But this situation is inevitable. Who wants to be recorded without their permission? The 10 second video is in the post.
The Samsung fingerprint scanner at work
[VIDEO] Follow the headline link for another walkthrough of the Samsung Galaxy S5. More importantly, watch the video below the post to see the fingerprint scanner setup and performance. As has been widely reported, the scanner only works when you scan your finger straight down, towards the bottom of the phone, making it difficult, if not impossible to unlock the phone with one hand.
Ford said to drop Microsoft Sync for in-car, move to BlackBerry’s QNX
If this is true, this is a big deal for both Microsoft and BlackBerry.
Ford Motor Co., struggling with in-car technology glitches, will base the next-generation Sync system on BlackBerry Ltd.’s QNX and no longer use Microsoft Corp.’s Windows, according to people briefed on the matter.
Google unveils phone designed to build 3D map of your surroundings
This is fascinating technology.
The device’s sensors allow it make over 250,000 3D measurements every second and update its position in real-time.
Google said potential applications may include indoor mapping, helping the visually-impaired navigate unfamiliar indoor places unassisted and gaming.
Watch the video in the post to get a better sense of this. I think this is a great idea, long time coming. The question is, can Google make this useful and usable. The potential is huge.
The differences between Bluetooth Low Energy and NFC
Follow the link to an infographic that compares Bluetooth Low Energy and NFC, side-by-side. Pretty interesting.
The right way to implement iBeacons
This year, we’re going to hear a lot about iBeacon technology. Some of it will be good, some bad. It all comes down to thinking of ways to benefit the consumer.
Seventh grader builds a braille printer with $350 worth of Legos
Banerjee noticed that braille printers can cost more than $2,000 and wondered if he could drop the price, according to his father, Niloy. A Mindstorms kit is $350 and easily modifiable, giving Banerjee most of the parts he needed to build the printer.
Big fan of Lego Mindstorms. We have several in our house. This is one talented kid.
Apple patents MacBook with illuminated touch controls in chassis, bezel & frame
In anyone else’s hands, I would worry about the user experience with touch controls embedded in the chassis. The potential for bad experience is huge if major changes are made to the keyboard, trackpad and screen. But Apple has consistently delivered in this area. Looking forward to seeing what the future holds for laptops.
What to do if you’ve cracked your iPhone screen
Lauren Goode takes you on a detailed walk through your options. Good article. Lots of detail.
Major League Baseball completes iBeacon install at first two ballparks
The installation of 65 iBeacons at Dodger Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and San Diego’s Petco Park, home of the Padres, will be followed by similar work at more than a dozen and a half other MLB stadiums, the league said. The plan is to have more than 20 ballparks in total equipped with the technology by Opening Day in late March. The Padres host the Dodgers on Opening Night on March 30.
I’m really looking forward to giving these iBeacons a try.
In ear, wireless headphones deliver heart rate info, can work in water, much more
Great design, with secure fit, built in biometrics, wireless, noise isolating, can be used in water. Terrific Kickstarter.
Lumo Lift: iOS tech that helps your posture
Another example of the evolution of mobile tech and its interaction with the human body. The Lomo Lift catches you slouching, buzzes to let you know, communicates all this to your iOS device.
Interesting, though not surprising, that this is available for iOS devices at launch, with a promise of Android support in the future.
Awesome air hockey robot made from 3D printer parts
This is a great bit of home-brew robotics. Jose Julio built this air hockey robot for his daughter. Embedded video.
Baxter, the easy to train, affordable, industrial robot
Baxter is a fascinating step in the evolution of industrial robots. Baxter is relatively inexpensive (far cheaper than the previous generation) and is easy to train to do most physical things a human can do. Targeted at smaller companies who need to do small mechanical assembly line runs, Baxter is to assembly line robotics what the 3D printer is to large die-cut manufacturing.
Be sure to check out the embedded video as well as the linked writeup.