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Monthly Archives: June 2012

ViewMaster-Like Device Lets You Watch Youtube Vids In 3D

By David Ponce

To say that it “lets you watch” YouTube videos in 3D might be an overexageration, since it won’t actually convert regular videos to 3D. What the above device by Sanwa does is make it easier to watch YT videos that are already in 3D. What, you didn’t know such a thing existed? Well yes, there’s been 3D vids on there since 2009 and several devices exist to enable you to see them. This is another one of those, albeit one that yields a brighter and larger viewing area than some of the other options out there. You simply insert your iPhone in the slot and you’re good to go; each eye only sees the image its meant to see, resulting in the 3D effect. It’s 1,980 yen or roughly $ 25 in today’s money.

[ Product Page ] VIA [ Engadget ]




OhGizmo!

Bringing Google’s Nexus Q to Kinetisphere

During the annual Google I/O 2012 Developers conference, one of the most impressive display shown was a big black ball of pure amazement.

The Kinetisphere mimics the Nexus Q’s image and its interactive functionality. As the Nexus Q was considered Google’s first social streaming player that measures at around 4.6 inches, Kinetisphere is a hundred times bigger that weighs at least 300 pounds at 8-foot tall. Just like the Nexus Q, its middle consists of a huge LED ring that flashes millions of color visualizations that is synced to its music platform.

Kinetisphere at Google I/O 2012

The sphere is controlled and powered by Nexus Q and Nexus 7 tablets on three stations where one controls its angle, the other for its height with the use of its robotic arm and of course one for the ring’s LED lights.

It was created by the guys behind Bot & Dolly from San Francisco and they surely did quite a handsome display.

Kinetisphere at Google I/O 2012
Kinetisphere at Google I/O 2012
Kinetisphere at Google I/O 2012
Kinetisphere at Google I/O 2012
Kinetisphere at Google I/O 2012




Latest Gadgets | Gadget News | Gadget Specifications | Gadget Reviews

Week In Review: Input/Output

We’re trying a new format for this week’s Week In Review post. What do you think? While you decide, find out what was making news this week.

This Is The Nexus 7:
Gizmodo Australia scores a world exclusive on the Nexus 7 launch after a leak.

Google I/O 2012 Keynote:
An awesome keynote from Google saw Google Glass thrown out of a plane with some skydivers attached.

Supersonic Jets Are Making A Comeback:
This supersonic jet will get you from Sydney to London before you have time to pee on the plane.

Telstra Snoops On Its Next G Customers:
It’s not been a good PR week for Telstra, nor has it been a great few months for Telstra customer privacy. Here’s to it getting better.


Gizmodo Australia

Shimi: Your own musical robot

From the creators of Georgia Tech’s Center for Music Technology, born a robot, an interactive musical buddy called Shimi.

It’s a foot-tall docking station but smart enough to give music a new meaning, moving it to a whole new level with its listeners.

Shimi makes a perfect companion for Androids. When it’s docked, it’s as if it works the other way around making Shimi a delightful surprise.

Shimi Georgia Tech's New Robotic Musician

This musical robot has sharp ears just like a puppy’s that can follow its master or a listener in that case through the phone’s camera with its face-detecting program. It can move its ‘speaker ears’ to where the person is at a certain moment, focusing its sound performance.

With just a clap of a beat, Shimi figures it out and searches the song that is best matched from the phone’s playlist, tapping its feet and grooving to the beat. Soon, a listener will just shake their heads ‘no’ or wave a hand and Shimi will know its cue just when to stop and skip to the next track. Wow.

Shimi Georgia Tech's New Robotic Musician
Shimi Georgia Tech's New Robotic Musician

Shimi Georgia Tech's New Robotic Musician




Latest Gadgets | Gadget News | Gadget Specifications | Gadget Reviews

Russian/English Dictionary on sale today

30% off Russian <-> English Dictionary today only

I haven’t tried this app so can’t vouch for it personally (although it is rated well on the Play Store), but thought it might be of interest to our Russian readers. There’s 30% off the app today, which still prices it at just under £11, but that does mean a saving of £5. The app is available to purchase here on the Play Store. Let us know how it is if you do pick up a copy.

Russian <-> English dictionary


Clove Technology’s Blog

Google Nexus 7 tablet

 

A new budget tablet by Google is coming and expected to be presented soon at the Google I/O. The name of the tablet is Nexus 7. It comes with 7-inch IPS matrix display with a resolution of 1280 by 800 pixels.  Tablet is powered by a quad-processor 1.3 GHz processor, has a gigabyte of RAM, built-in 1.2 megapixels camera and could run on battery for up to 9 hours.  It will run on Android Jelly Bean operating system and have pre-installed Google Wallet software.

Google Nexus 7 will be manufactured by ASUS and available in two versions with eight and sixteen gigabytes of internal memory and the price of $ 199 and $ 249 respectively.

Google Nexus 7 will be a direct competitor to Amazon Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet.

Popular Gadgets 2012

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ETOS Electric Tool for Object Sketching by Daniel Kussmaul

Another incorporated multi-tasking tool for all you artists out there. Dubbed the ETOS or the Electronical tool for object sketching, architects and the like can create and see their work from a 3D point of view without the need for 3D glasses.

ETOS Electric Tool for Object Sketching by Daniel Kussmaul

ETOS is like a foldable tablet. Its covers can be used as a stand. Along with it comes a pen that serves as a drawing tool that you can cut, move and erase a sketch that you’re doing. The drawing board itself features a touch screen display for a more convenient functionality. Motion tracking makes it possible for you to move or turn a virtual 3D object that you have created right on your hands!

ETOS Electric Tool for Object Sketching by Daniel Kussmaul
ETOS Electric Tool for Object Sketching by Daniel Kussmaul
ETOS Electric Tool for Object Sketching by Daniel Kussmaul
ETOS Electric Tool for Object Sketching by Daniel Kussmaul




Latest Gadgets | Gadget News | Gadget Specifications | Gadget Reviews

New Firefox for Android now available

Mozilla announces Android update for its popular Firefox browser

Mozilla has just announced a new version of Firefox for Android on its blog. The updated version of its mobile browser is available to download here from the Play Store. Mozilla’s browser competes with the likes of Dolphin Browser (new Beta available here) and Google’s own Chrome browser, which could see some enhancements announced at Google I/O 2012, which starts tomorrow.

Mozilla Firefox Android Browser

Improved Experience

Naturally, speed and user experience are the main areas that Mozilla has focused on for the upgrade of its mobile browser, as the blog post tells us: 

You’ll notice dramatic performance improvements that make Firefox on your Android phone super fast with everything from startup and page load times to panning and zooming and Web app performance

Of course, the figures shown on the Mozilla Blog (and pictured below) suggest its new and improved Firefox Browser is nearly 20% quicker than its nearest competitor (Opera Browser) in terms of rendering time on a Galaxy Nexus, but we’ll wait to see some independent speed tests come out before we make judgement.

As well as improved speed, a range of new features have been added to Firefox for Android. New HTML5 capabilities are now included, as is support for Flash. Mozilla has made a complete redesign of the user interfacem including a new personalized start page. A range of bugs have also been resolved. Let us know in the comments if you decide to give the update a try, or which browser you’ll be sticking to instead.

Firefox for Android benchmark results


Clove Technology’s Blog