WebProNews

Tag: Technology

  • Microsoft Talks Unified Application Store

    Microsoft Talks Unified Application Store

    Microsoft is reportedly forming an Super Store to offer apps for Windows 8 computers as well as Microsoft phones and tablets.

    According to ZDNet, Microsoft has been busy creating a single, new app depot for the upcoming new versions of the company’s operating systems. Those would be Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1.

    The move, if done right, could seriously help Microsoft change the general perception of the company’s app stores. As it is, Microsoft trails its rival, Apple, in the sheer numbers of available apps.

    Obviously, a unified Windows store with apps that are able to run on all Windows 8.1 platforms could ultimately boost the total number of programs available for all devices running Windows, as well as help boost Windows RT and Windows Phone acceptability with both application developers and the computer and smartphone consumer .

    Microsoft execs have been hinting lately, that in the future there will be “One Windows” and one Windows API. In fact, at the company’s Financial Analyst Meeting last week, Executive VP Terry Myerson restated that, “We should have one set of developer APIs on all of our devices. And all of the apps we bring to end users should be available on all of our devices.”

    Attendees said Myerson told the thousands of gathered employees that both the computer and smartphone versions of Windows software will receive a “special” coordinated updates to accomplish the change. The updates could come as early as next spring.

    According to CNet, Azure is also likely playing a role in this scenario. Maybe something to do with cloud compilation of applications?

    This would involve Microsoft compiling developers’ applications for them, like they did with the Windows Phone during the move from Windows Phone 7 to Windows Phone 8. That move was meant to help with portability and performance. It could also be that the back-end code for certain apps runs on Windows Azure and is streamed to phones and PCs. That would give users the impression that Halo 4 really is running natively on their Windows Phone or Windows RT tablet.

    In addition to happy developers it could also result in happy customers! Ultimately, a single store that included both Windows 8 Metro-Style and Windows Phone 8 apps would definitely help with the never-ending complaints about shortages of Windows 8 and Windows Phone apps.

    Image via youtube

  • Windows Updates: Microsoft To Merge To One App Store

    Windows is looking at a major update to its systems. Microsoft is reportedly planning to make it simpler for its users by creating a single app store that would encompass all of the company’s various devices including PCs, tablets and phones. With all of the success that the new iPhone is having,

    Microsoft certainly needs to do something in order to appeal to their consumers. Technology seems to be what makes the world go round in the consumer culture of today’s society, and this is the latest news in that trend, as Microsoft tries to keep up with Apple’s success.

    Combining the two stores that are currently separated into the Windows and Windows Phone app stores into a single unit could help lead to more apps and would also make it easier for people, since they will no longer have to shop in two different places. It has not been determined when the two stores will merge, but it sounds like the date may be closer than previously imagined. The Verge mentions that Terry Myerson, head of the operating systems group, has committed to the next releases of Windows and Windows Phone, which will likely be Windows Phone 8.1 and a special update that they have planned for Windows 8.1. These are both due to be released in the spring of 2014.

    We have still yet to find out how the single Windows Store would work, and whether Windows Phone apps will run on Windows in the new model. As it currently stands, users must download apps for their Windows and Windows Phone devices through separate stores, and apps can’t currently run across both systems, according to PC Pro. This creates confusion for people and also prevents them from using apps that they download from one device from operating on the other. For example, PC World states that the game Halo: Spartan Assault, is available on Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8, and while the game does allow people to carry over saved progress, they are forced to pay for it on both platforms because the purchases made on the different devices do not carry over.

    Some people have voiced their opinions on the dislike of the current store.

    There are still several unanswered questions that exist with this new information, but there often is with any new type of technology. Windows customers will anxiously await the answers to questions such as how these cross-platform apps would function and what would happen to the apps that people already have downloaded.

    Image via Youtube

  • YouTube Comments Are Getting Cleaned Up

    Anyone familiar with the internet is familiar with the infamous titan that is the YouTube comments section; full of terrible grammar, angry rants, confused relatives, and the occasional, waxing-on-philosophical question about the meaning of life, YouTube comments are one of the symbols of the internet, representative of both its terrible way of corrupting everything it touches while simultaneously breaking out new, revolutionary ideas that have the ability to change the world for the better. (That may be a bit of a stretch, but the point still stands.)

    Google, and, consequently, YouTube, seem to be rolling out the carpet for a fresh change of pace, however. Starting with a limited amount of YouTube users today, YouTube will be featuring priority for comments based on relevancy rather than how recent they are. The change is being powered by Google+, and features a slew of other nifty tools that may just change how the internet and world views YouTube comments sections.

    Nundu Janakiram, product manager at YouTube, said that, YouTube comments will have three main factors considered when determining their relevancy; “community engagement by the commenter, up-votes for a particular comment, and commenter reputation.” This also means that comments flagged as “spam” or “abusive” are more likely to be buried, while posts from popular, active YouTubers will be elevated.

    Since the tools will be powered by Google+, there are predictions that the relevancy and usefulness of Google+ accounts will rise. After all, who wouldn’t want the ability to filter through the racism, misogyny, and hatred so embedded in YouTube comment culture in order to get straight to the good stuff; relevant conversations concerning that adorable video of a kitten in a box.

    Image courtesy of the comment’s section on this adorable YouTube video of a tickled kitten.

  • Android Tablet: How Miracast Works

    Android Tablet: How Miracast Works

    More and more often, as of late, devices are supporting “Miracast.” Making its way into the mainstream, Miracast is a magnificent feature that could possibly wipe out other video streaming standards in a very fragmented Android market. Miracast acts like a wireless HDMI cable in order to mirror your Android device onto your TV screen in high def with audio. According to CNET, Once Miracast is enabled, everything, from the general interface, to apps and videos, is duplicated on the big screen, no need for a cable connecting the two devices. The thing that sets it apart is, it doesn’t rely on your home’s Wi-Fi network. Here’s how Miracast works:

    Miracast is built on the underestimated Wi-Fi Direct technology, which was first introduced in Android 4.0. It allows a user to create a private (ad-hoc) network that allows other users to connect and share files. The technology didn’t easily catch on in the mainstream, but it paved the way for Miracast.

    With Wi-Fi Direct as the foundation, Miracast doesn’t need to rely on your home’s network, becuse it creates is own. Your television creates the ad-hoc network, which is discovered by your Android phone or tablet. The two devices are paired, and data can flow freely between them.

    The options are seemingly endless when it comes to what you can stream to your TV, and Miracast uses the H.264 codec to mirror videos in 1080p and 5.1 surround sound audio. Here’s the kicker, thanks to a DRM layer, even copyright-protected materials like DVDs and music can be mirrored.

    To make Miracast work, you need a Miracast-compatible device and a Miracst TV or dongle. If your device runs Android 4.2 or later, you have Miracast, also known as the “Wireless display” feature.

    Now, you set up your Miracast receiver. Though the tech is relatively new, a number of TV manufacturers like Sony, LG, and Panasonic, are integrating Miracast into their televisions, but, unless you purchased a TV in the last year, it’s probably not going to be Miracast-ready. In that case, you’ll need a dongle. Head to Amazon and you’ll see a myriad of Miracast dongles, and also, Best Buy creates one under its brand, Rocketfish. Most of these dongles cost around $40-60, and are only designed to do one thing, mirror your Android device.

    Connect your Miracast dongle, switch your TV to input. Then, on your Android device, go to Settings > Display > Wireless display. Of course, this might vary a bit depending on your device. Now, turn the wireless display feature on, and wait a moment while the device searches for the Miracast dongle or TV. When it appears in the list, tap to connect, and a few seconds later, you’ll see your Android device duplicated on the big screen! Be aware that locking your Android will also black out your TV, so if you’re watching a movie, hook your Android up to its charger.

    Now, I know some are thinking, “Isn’t this like Chromecast?”. Not at all, and here’s why:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxSJ57Q3zak

    With Miracast, your TV or dongle is dependent on your Android device the entire time the devices are paired, for example, if your Android goes to sleep, your TV’s screen blacks out, too. This co-dependency is a great advantage, but just remember to plug that thing in if you’re going to be a while.

    In contrast, Chromecast only relies on the mobile device for a moment during the initial setup. Once the Chromecast receiver knows what content you want it to play, the mobile device holds none of the load, in which case you’re free to multitask, lock your device, or queue up the next video.

    However, for this very reason, Chromecast is not nearly as dynamic as Miracast. It only works with compatible video and music apps and will not play DRM-protected content on your device. Now as for mirroring, Chromecast let’s you mirror you Chrome browser (in beta). That’s it.

    Image via wikipedia

  • iPhone 5S Will Start Under $200 at Walmart

    iPhone 5S Will Start Under $200 at Walmart

    Want to upgrade to the iPhone 5S when it is released on September 20, and want to get the best bang for your buck? You can pick up the iPhone 5S at Walmart on the release date starting at $189, which will save you $10 over the retail giant’s competitors. Walmart announced their slightly lower prices on the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C (starting at $79) on Thursday.

    An $10 savings doesn’t sound like much–and isn’t considering how much you will spend on accessories, apps and the contract until the next upgrade–but those few extra bucks should get you a screen protector or will at least cut down on the sales taxes you will pay. Walmart is undercutting Apple and other carriers such as AT&T and Verizon with their lower iPhone prices. While undercutting the competition isn’t anything new for Walmart, offering a reduced price on the new iPhone this quickly is slightly surprising.

    As usual, getting a new iPhone for under $200 will require you to sign a 2-year contract. If you can wait until a day after the launch, September 21, to purchase your new iPhone 5S, Walmart will also accept a trade-in of your old smartphone and apply the credit towards your iPhone 5S purchase.

    Walmart will be offering its other iPhones at substantially reduced prices, should you need an upgrade but want to skip on getting the latest and greatest (that last part is up for debate). Skip the crowds that may resemble the Walmart Black Friday madness in the electronics section if you opt for an older iPhone. Starting September 16, you can get the iPhone 4 for only 10 cents, and it comes with a $100 gift card. The 16GB iPhone 5 is now $79, which is about a $20 markdown.

    The iPhone 5S will have new features such as Touch ID (fingerprint identity sensor), the iSight camera and the M7 processor, plus it will be available in three colors–silver, gold and space gray.

    Will you be in line at Walmart on September 20 to get the iPhone 5S or will you go elsewhere? Leave your comments below.

    Image via YouTube

  • iPhone Fingerprint Scanner IS Coming

    iPhone Fingerprint Scanner IS Coming

    Apple is expected to release a new iPhone in this month, and new reports indicate that the next version — assumed to be called the iPhone 5S — will have a fingerprint reader.

    In photos leaked by Nowhereelse.fr the photo showcases the bare hardware component for the fingerprint reader. The picture shows the home button flex cable but its a much more complex version of the same hardware that is found inside the iPhone 5. As noted the new flex cable features a “mysterious square element” which likely points to the iPhone fingerprint option.

    The photos seem to show the scanner located near the home button. iPhone fingerprint reader rumors for the 5S heated up after references to a biometric fingerprint sensor showed up in the code for older iOS 7 beta versions. While we are running on rumors and speculation at this time the iPhone 5S will be officially revealed during Apple’s September 10 press conference.

    While Apple will almost definitely release the iPhone 5S with the highly touted iPhone fingerprint reader the company has to hope that people will care about the new technology. On the one hand the fingerprint reader can make for a more secure mobile device and will be a temptation for those that must have the newest toy on the block. On the other hand, only a handful of customers may care about the new feature and the general public may not find it to be reason enough to upgrade from their already capable iPhone 5 devices.

    The invitation for the big September 10th release date yesterday, and was welcomed by eager Apple fans everywhere.

    image via nowhereelse.fr

  • iPhone 5C: Welcome to the Apple Family

    iPhone 5C: Welcome to the Apple Family

    On September 10, Apple Inc. will introduce two new iPhone models. The iPhone 5S, the high end phone and the iPhone 5C, with plastic packaging, aka “The Budget iPhone.” The rumored release date is September 20. According to the Apple employee calendar, employees were unable to take time off between September 15 to September 28. T-Mobile also limited their employees vacation days between September 18 through September 22. Verizon did not comment when asked about blackout dates for employees. But, Apple and Verizon stores are preparing for a busy iPhone 5S release.

    The drive behind the iPhone 5C is to offer an iPhone to people who are currently Apple’s untouched markets, the lower income brackets, including China and India. Tim Cook, Apple CEO, has made visits to the largest telecommunications carrier in the world, China Mobile Ltd., with over 703 million subscribers. Coincidence? I think not. If Apple is able to create a cheaper iPhone, they can make a deal with China Mobile.

    Here’s some features to be unveiled on September 10:

    1. We finally have a choice of color! What?! It will likely be available in five “candy” colors: red, green, yellow, blue, and white. Basically pastels. The alleged photos show a black front face on all models, regardless of rear color, but it will likely be different for the white colored shell. Heck, sources are even predicting color front-face options when it is released.

    2. It will likely be that the iPhone 5C will have the same specs as the iPhone 5, with the 326 ppi Retina display, an A6 chip, a FaceTime HD camera and an 8-megapixel rear side camera. Rumors have predicted a faster processor and better Retina display. The 8-megapixel camera has already been rumored to have been on the leaked photos of the iPhone 5C. The aluminum shelled iPhone 5S will come with a dual-LED flash, which is meant to capture naturally looking pictures. A fingeprint sensor meant for user security is predicted be included on the device, after Apple purchased Authentec.

    3. The new iPhone 5C will come pre-loaded with iOS 7. This system will be released most likely on September 18, a few days before the new phone. Though the actual hardware typically gains more attention, the new iOS system is just as important. Apple has revamped the style, making changes to icons, textures, and features of the iOS system to bring a familiar, yet, new experience. This of course comes with a variety of new tools and features.
    The coolest features include :
    – the revamped Control Center that allows quick access to more important settings.
    – a way to Multitask apps.
    – the AirDrop feature for sharing pics and documents with other iPhones in your area.
    – the ability to shift the background image in response to one’s movements.

    Some surprise features were discovered in the very first iOS 7 beta release.

    4. Plastic – This is a major difference from previous iPhones. This is cheaper, but sturdier and more scratch proof than the iPhone 5 anodized aluminum body. Jeremy Horwitz, iLounge editor-in-chief spoke in January that the iPhone being a love child between the existing iPhone 5, the 5th Generation iPod Touch and the iPod classic. They’re going old school and I like it. The iPhone 5S features a 4-inch screen like the iPhone 5, with a tapered bottom like the 5th Generation iPod touch, and the rectangular shape inspired by the iPod classic. The iPhone 5C will be made mostly of plastic, but also manufactures with a hybrid plastic and metal chassis. The same locations of the camera, microphone of the iPhone 5, but the rear flash similar to the iPod touch.

    5. It will be cheap. (That’s what she said.) This selling point was the driving point behind the new exterior shell. On-contract: $99. Off-contract: between $450 and $500 (via MacRumors).

    The iPhone 4S from 2011 may sell for the same price of the plastic iPhone 5C at $0 on-contract. Apple may eliminate the iPhone 5 from the iPhone family altogether, or drop its price to $99. But perhaps it won’t be discontinued yet, due to having the same specs. The iPhone 4 after being on the market this long, may be endangered.

  • March on Washington becomes Interactive

    March on Washington becomes Interactive

    “I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.”

    Powerful words from the civil rights leader and American icon, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. King predicted that the March on Washington would go down in history, and it did as well as his famous speech. One could only imagine that even he could not conceive in his wildest dreams, that a dedication to him would be featured on the largest search engine, Google.

    With the help of modern technology, you can be apart of history. Just as gains have been made in the advancement of civil rights, technology has progressed as well. Once we used to show our support by marching, today we can show our support by clicking. Thanks to Organic and Google on behalf of the National Parks Foundation, you will be able to join the anniversary of the March on Washington, even if you can’t physically take part in the event. When you visit http://www.wearestillmarching.com/ not only will you will be able to listen to the speech, you will be able to record yourself via the site. Then in a united effort, you will be able to hear yourself among others, who have also recorded themselves reciting words from the historic speech that King delivered fifty years ago today at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

    Fifty years since that monumental day, your only a screen away; a word away, from joining an epic day where a man and his words changed not only the United States of America, but the world as we know it.

  • Starbucks Partners With Google For Faster Wi-Fi

    Starbucks Partners With Google For Faster Wi-Fi

    Starbucks recently made a deal with Google to offer their customers Wi-Fi connections that are considerably faster then they are today. Starbucks has been a long-time hang out spot and trendy temporary workspace for many around the world. However, those that choose this workspace option have been faced with limited connectivity speeds. From my personal experience in many of the different Starbucks stores, the current Wi-Fi seems to be noticeably unreliable and considerably slow. This change is going to most likely end up being a profitable business move for Starbucks to keep customers in their store longer which entices them to buy more coffee and food.

    The new Wi-Fi service will start to make its entrance to more than 7,000 of its Starbucks locations within the next 18 months. The transition to this service will begin this month. The Wi-Fi service has been said to enable customers to surf the internet 10 times faster than the current service. So, if you are looking to download that movie, while streaming audio and sending a massive Excel spread sheet to your boss, you are in luck! Starbucks improvements will impact their clientele greatly and give a much better experience to all who visit and use their Wi-Fi network. Students and remote business entrepreneurs all have reacted very positively about this change.

    So you are probably wondering. how do I know if my Starbucks has been upgraded? Kevin Lo, General Manager for Google Access says “We appreciate your patience if it’s still a little while before we get to your favorite Starbucks—you’ll know your new network is ready to go when you can log in to the ‘Google Starbucks’ SSID [service set identifier].”

    Starbucks has always been an innovative company so this change comes as no surprise. By teaming with Google to offer a higher speed Wi-Fi they are securing their place as not just a place to get coffee, but a place to hang out and stay a while. This puts them head and shoulders above their competition and reinforces them as an American staple.

  • Only 9% Are Honest Enough to Admit They’d Do It with a Sex Robot

    Over the past few years, humanoid robot technology has gotten better and better at, well, making robots seem more human. We’re talking the look, the feel, the movements, and the AI. And this technology is only going to get better in the coming decades.

    Of course, if there’s anything we can count on humanity to do, it’s sexualize things. And naturally (unnaturally?), the evolution of androids means that eventually, people are going to start having sex with robots. Duh.

    It’s not like this isn’t already happening, but the future could open up so many more opportunities for robot sexy times. The Huffington Post and YouGov recently conducted a poll about Americans’ attitudes toward the future of robots, and our interactions with them.

    And the results concerning sex robots tip my bullshit meter all the way to maximum bullshittery.

    When asked if they would use a sex robot for its (his/her’s?) designed purpose, only 9% said yes. Nine. As in less than one in ten. Ok, sure.

    18% said that they think sex robots will be available by 2030.

    Last year, a New Zealand study published in Futures magazine painted an interesting picture of the pay-for-sex world in the next few decades. Researchers envision a version of Amsterdam’s red light district that’s completely run by android prostitutes by the year 2050.

    “[They] are clean of sexual transmitted infections (STIs), not smuggled in from Eastern Europe and forced into slavery, the city council will have direct control over android sex workers controlling prices, hours of operations and sexual services,” they said.

    These sex robots could be fully customizable and offer a wider variant of body type, ethnicity, age, language, and various sexual features. In their future, it’s goodbye sex trade and hello clean, safe, sex robots.

    And there’s obviously no emotional toll to be taken on sex robots, that is of course until they become sentient. But we don’t have to worry about that for at least a few hundred years. Probably.

    HuffPost’s poll also asked about whether or not sex with a sexbot is considered cheating. 42% said that it would be. And the younger the respondent, the more likely they were to say it’s not cheating.

  • Android Smart Watch In The Works [Report]

    In recent months the rumors have been picking up that both Google and Apple are working on smart watches. A new report from the Financial Times indicates that Google is indeed working on one, and it has its Android unit developing it.

    To be clear, this is still in going to have to be filed in the rumors department, and the report is careful to make note of that, but it does say:

    While Glass is being created in its X Lab, home to experimental “moonshot” projects such as the self-driving car, Google’s smart watch is being developed by its Android unit, according to a person briefed on the project, to act as an extension to the smartphones using that operating system. The project is separate from Samsung’s efforts, the source said, although there is no indication of when it might launch.

    Google has been going to great lengths to build buzz for its “moonshot” Glass concept, but if the Android team is working on a smart watch, such a device getting into consumers’ hands (or on their wrists, rather) in the near future seems like a real possibility – particularly with Apple (allegedly) and Samsung getting into the space. It looks like Sundar Pichai has quite a bit on his plate.

    Two months ago, reports came out that Google was “actively exploring the idea of making its own smart watch,” and “looking at ways it might be able to market” it.

    Google secured a patent for such a device last fall.

    A smart watch would be one more device Google could sell in a retail store should it ever decide to open a chain.

  • Here’s Eric Schmidt’s Entire Cambridge Speech [Video]

    Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt continues to make headlines. In fact, though he handed the CEO reins to Larry Page in 2011, he may still grab more headlines than page thanks to things like his imaginative speeches (like the one where he talked about replacing himself with a robot at parties) and a recent trip to North Korea.

    His latest speech took place at Cambridge, and is his latest look at the future. Business Insider referred to Schmidt’s vision as “a chilling drone-filled future.”

    The speech is about 45-minutes long, so if you have some time to spend, and want to have your mind blown by one of the most powerful executives of one of the most powerful companies in the world, hit the play button. By the way, he also talks a little about North Korea again and about Genghis Khan.

  • These Guys Want to Launch a Reality Show on Mars in 2023

    A human settlement on the Red Planet is only about a decade away, according to the folks at the privately funded space project Mars One.

    “Mars One will take humanity to Mars in 2023, to establish the foundation of a permanent settlement from which we will prosper, learn, and grow,” they say. “Mars One has developed a precise, realistic plan based entirely upon existing technologies. It is both economically and logistically feasible, in motion through the aggregation of existing suppliers and experts in space exploration.”

    Their model is fairly simple, in a way. The first crew will take a 7-month journey to Mars, and a new team will join the settlement every two years. Mars One says that there could be over twenty people living there by 2033. The first team of astronauts will be limited to four.

    Of course, something like this must be privately funded – and it would cost a pretty penny. Mars One estimates that putting the first team on the planet and establishing the colony would figure to run them about $6 billion.

    In order to help with funding, Mars One has an interesting idea. Basically, they want to turn the whole thing into a reality TV show.

    “Following the landing, huge audiences will tune in regularly to see how our people on Mars are doing, how the relationships are developing between the astronauts, how they are dealing with the conditions and daily challenges, and how the scientific and habitat development work is progressing,” they say.

    “From a business perspective, the media spectacle approach is interesting, because it makes it possible to generate revenue, and solicit interest from sponsors, before actually going to Mars.”

    But no fake drama here, they say. The experience of living on Mars would be thrilling enough. They wouldn’t need to resort to manipulations like The Real World or The Bachelorette. Seriously, watching people live on Mars would probably be good enough.

    Mars One has a giant FAQ section that covers the financials, mission specs, technology, health concerns and ethics, and well as information on participation. It’s definitely an idea that sounds far out to most people, but man is it exciting to think about. With the Curiosity rover just touching down on the Martian surface last week, space exploration is on everyone’s mind.

    And that’s a good thing.

  • Folding Battery Developed By KAIST Researchers

    Researchers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have developed a flexible battery, which is capturing some media attention, and could be used to make electronic devices more bendable.

    The important thing to note is that when the battery is bent, it does not interfere with the flow of electricity.

    Here it is in action:

    A paper from the researchers available (paid) from Nano Letters discusses the battery. The abstract says:

    High-performance flexible power sources have gained attention, as they enable the realization of next-generation bendable, implantable, and wearable electronic systems. Although the rechargeable lithium-ion battery (LIB) has been regarded as a strong candidate for a high-performance flexible energy source, compliant electrodes for bendable LIBs are restricted to only a few materials, and their performance has not been sufficient for them to be applied to flexible consumer electronics including rollable displays. In this paper, we present a flexible thin-film LIB developed using the universal transfer approach, which enables the realization of diverse flexible LIBs regardless of electrode chemistry. Moreover, it can form high-temperature (HT) annealed electrodes on polymer substrates for high-performance LIBs. The bendable LIB is then integrated with a flexible light-emitting diode (LED), which makes an all-in-one flexible electronic system. The outstanding battery performance is explored and well supported by finite element analysis (FEA) simulation.

    While there are certainly already flexible electronics already in existence, such a battery could remove some of the restrictions of even these, enabling more actual area of the devices to be flexible.

  • This Enormous Robot Comes With Twin Gatling Guns, Can Be Controlled With A Phone

    Japan’s Suidobashi Heavy Industry has created this monster. It’s a 13-foot tall robot that shoots water bottles like rockets, comes with twin BB-shooting gatling guns, runs on gasoline and a diesel engine, and can be controlled with a phone or facial expressions.

    Yep.

    The company warns, “‘Kuratas’ is an art piece. It is not a normal vehicle, so it doesn’t guarantee you safety and comfort. However, it makes your dream of becoming a robot pilot comes true.” (sic)

    Check out this demo:

    Kuratas runs on a next generation robot operating system called V-Sido, according to the video. You can operate the robot with a phone via 3G if you pay the $1.3 million it will cost you.

    It goes about 10 kilometers per hour, and can be driven in low and high positions.

    Did I mention it comes with twin gatling guns?

    A couple of additional looks:

    [Via Discovery News]

  • Someone Thought a Robot that Swims Like a Human Was a Good Idea

    I no longer feel the need to preface anything about robots with the phrase “it’s my belief that,” because it’s now a mathematical certainty that humans are slowly but surely engineering our violent and imminent overthrow by continuing to make smarter, faster robots.

    Google’s busy making spider robots, some scientist with a death wish is teaching them how to learn from prior actions. Other are making sure they can perform like SEAL Team Six – it’s insanity.

    But the one thought that has allowed me to sleep at night was the hope that during the violent robot uprising, I could simply swim out into the ocean and await my fate at the hands of a shark or something.

    Apparently no, I won’t even have that option.

    Japanese engineers (surprise) have developed Swumanoid, the prototype swimming robot.

    The robot overall has a special-purpose drive using four struts, and the force the robot receives from the water can be measured. Because the robot is currently at the prototype stage, its swimming speed, corrected for size, is 0.64 m/s or approximately three times slower than the current world record for the 100m freestyle. From now on, the researchers are planning improvements to make it faster.

    Yes, let’s make it faster…

    Zombies? Hah! You’re looking at the end right here folks.

    [via Geekologie]

  • Short Film “Sight” Shows Us The Dark Side Of Project Glass-Like Technology

    Much of the talk around the tech world recently has been focused on Project Glass – aka Google Glasses – the wearable heads of display that many think could revolutionize the way we interact with apps, photos, video, and really the internet in general.

    But Google’s not the only company that’s dying to put a computer on your face. Even Apple seems to have joined the fray, recently patenting their own little version of Google Glasses.

    It definitely feels like this type of technology is the future, as companies everywhere are rushing to get in on the ground floor. But before we go turning everyone’s life into one giant computer interface – should we pause and think of what could happen in the not-so-distant future…if things took a turn for the darker side?

    At first, this type of technology will come in the form of glasses. Then, perhaps, contact lenses. This amazing short film from Eran May-raz and Daniel Lazo takes it a step further.

    Check out “Sight” below:

  • This Robot Trashcan Will Catch Your Inaccurately-Tossed Empty Beer Can

    Is it necessary? No. Wildly inventive? Yes. Do you wish that you had one? Absolutely.

    That Q&A session is indicative of many products we see that are created in the minds of the Japanese. And now, those crazy innovators have just created every college student’s dream dorm room item.

    It’s called the “Smart Trashbox,” and its “smartness” comes from the fact that it can anticipate where you are about to toss your empty beer can, or that wadded up piece of paper, or whatever you may be disposing of.

    The hack looks to have involved a motorized base connected to a circuit board and a modified PS2 controller control system. The Kinect on the wall gives the trashbox the ability to know where you’re throwing your trash. It’s a pretty impressive project, as it appears that the guy built it entirely from scratch.

    Check it out below:

    Ok, I take back everything that I said. It is necessary. Shut up and take my money.

    [via Geek]

  • The Most Amazing Pair Of Robot Legs You’ll See Today

    Engineers are getting better at robot building every day, it seems. Check out what LiveScience calls the “first pair of biologically accurate robot legs,” that “mimic how babies walk.”

    Before we go any further, just look:

    These legs are a product of the Florida Institute For Human & Machine Cognition, and are reportedly funded by the U.S. military. The project is called FastRunner. Here’s how the institute describes it:

    FastRunner is a new bipedal platform inspired from the fastest biped animals, and developed at IHMC. A novel leg design is being developed to enable FastRunner to achieve unprecedented efficiency and speed while being self-stabilizing. The FastRunner project is funded by the DARPA agency through the Maximum Mobility and Manipulation (M3) program.

    And when they say speed, they mean speed – as in the speed of an ostrich (they even have a team member described as an “ostrich investigator”). This will give you a better idea of what they’re going for:

    Yes, the legs above are also reminiscent of what we imagine a velociraptor’s looked like.

    Currently, they’ve got FastRunner going up to 22mph from stop in less than six seconds. Sleep well, ladies and gentlemen.

  • Weather Underground Moving Under The Weather Channel Umbrella

    Popular weather data site Weather Underground is bring acquired by the best-known weather news source in the U.S., The Weather Channel Companies.

    Although the specifics of the acquisition have yet to be released, we’ll known pretty soon as they expect the deal to close in several weeks.

    WU has been around for 17 years, having been founded by meteorologist and PhD Jeff Master back in 1995. Although WU is known by most for their online presence, they actually became the official weather provider for the AP back in 2005. WU is also the weather provider for Google.

    Jeff Masters talked about the merger on his blog:

    [I]n the past three years, Weather Underground entered into a rapid period of growth that saw our staff more than double to 57 people. With a swelling user base around the globe, and with demands for our services to be made available across so many new digital platforms like mobile phones and tablets, the board recognized the need for an even greater injection of resources, and the decision was made to merge with The Weather Channel Companies.

    The Weather Channel is committed to keeping the Weather Underground brand and the web site in its current form. Weather Underground CEO Alan Steremberg will remain in charge, and our meteorologists and developers will continue to create the ground-breaking weather products that we’re renowned for. The plan is to make both wunderground.com and weather.com stronger, by sharing content and infrastructure. Many Weather Underground features, such as our Personal Weather Station data, WunderMap, and my blog, are scheduled to also appear on the weather.com web site in the coming months.

    Weather blogging has always been a big part of WU, and it;s good to see Masters say that really won’t change.

    “Everyone in the weather space is familiar with the strength of Weather Underground and its innovative method of presenting weather data. Weather Underground will add a great complementary, brand to our portfolio, a brand with a distinct, loyal, and active user base that will enable us to reach a unique segment of users,” said TWCC CEO David Kenny. “Most importantly, this acquisition will grow the weather expertise that is central to everything we do and will result in better forecasts and weather data for users on all of our platforms.”

    Hopefully, the merger will help bring better weather to the growing majority of people who get their weather fix online. Long-time WU fans should be happy to learn that, at least as of right now, the site they know and love shouldn’t change.

  • New Compete Data: Top Business And Tech Sites

    Compete has released its new analytics numbers for May. Following is a list of some of the web’s popular destinations for tech, business, search and social media news, and what Compete lists as their unique monthly visitors (US Only).

    This is not a complete list of all publications covering these areas. Still, while some may cover other areas of interest, each is rooted in one of them primarily. The list doesn’t include the more general news sites, such as The AP, Reuters, The New York Times, etc., many of which do cover these areas extensively as part of their overall products. The list is not meant to be the state of the news industry or anything, but just a quick look at our industry’s unique audience landscape. Not all of these sites are necessarily in direct competition with one another. Some are much more niche than others. It’s not about comparing a site that only writes about Facebook, for example, with a site that covers the entire tech industry (or even more than that).

    I’ve included a few popular sources of such types of news, which are more aggregators than publications, yet seemed worth including for perspective.

    It’s also worth noting that Compete’s numbers are just that – Compete’s numbers. They’re often much lower than what sites’ internal analytics will reveal, and will differ from those of other products.

    Finally, I want to stress again, that these are unique visitors. Not pageviews. If we were talking pageviews, the list would no doubt look much different. For example, Reddit announced earlier this year that it hit the 2 billion mark.

    But anyhow, on with the list:

    Website Unique Visitors (U.S.)
    CNET.com 13,486,109
    Forbes.com 9,449,089
    WSJ.com 5,969,016
    Bloomberg.com 5,036,418
    BusinessWeek.com 3,192,967
    BusinessInsider.com 2,681,606
    Mashable.com 2,244,083
    WebProNews.com 2,239,178
    PCWorld.com 1,930,292
    BizJournals.com 1,827,123
    Reddit.com 1,684,897
    TechCrunch.com 1,660,121
    PCMag.com 1,586,938
    Gizmodo.com 1,511,785
    Wired.com 1,505,012
    Engadget.com 1,067,846
    MacRumors.com 780,441
    ZDNet.com 717,523
    TechTarget.com 765,059
    DigitalTrends.com 684,963
    Economist.com 576,800
    Entrepreneur.com 551,489
    Inc.com 550,359
    FastCompany.com 530,499
    ComputerWorld.com 522,378
    ArsTechnica.com 424,854
    MacWorld.com 382,234
    SlashGear.com 356,398
    TheVerge.com 354,331
    Geek.com 330,427
    ReadWriteWeb.com 309,871
    VentureBeat.com 304,361
    MarketingPilgrim.com 251,146
    AllThingsD.com 227,963
    Slashdot.org 223,023
    TorrentFreak.com 222,383
    GigaOm.com 219,288
    TechnologyReview.com 200,324
    BGR.com 182,691
    SERoundtable.com 176,793
    SearchEngineLand.com 170,178
    AdAge.com 151,725
    TheNextWeb.com 150,228
    AppleInsider.com 136,356
    TechDirt.com 136,015
    SearchEngineWatch.com 120,709
    AllFacebook.com 116,388
    9to5Mac.com 105,323
    PaidContent.org 82,786
    PandoDaily.com 82,687
    ClickZ.com 69,098
    InsideFacebook.com 56,379
    MarketingLand.com 54,748
    GeekWire.com 53,169
    Electronista.com 52,336
    Techmeme.com 42,930
    SearchEngineJournal.com 24,771
    DaringFireball.net 24,045
    9to5Google.com 8,182
    Betakit.com 6,928

    Compete lets you look at the data for any domain free of charge here, though they do require a sign-up these days.