Konstruct for iOS creates generative augmented reality art with your voice

If you have an artistic temperament, but you weren't blessed with steady hands or an eye for color, Konstruct might be the app for you. Not only does the iPhone app let you produce generative art using words, warbles and whistles, but it also uses augmented reality to bring your artistic creation to life.

To get started, you first need to print out the Konstruct marker and place it wherever you'd like to create your AR sculpture -- it could be on your living room wall, or on the floor of your bathroom, it doesn't matter. Open the app, point your iPhone at the marker, and start making some noises! Once you're done, you can save your creation, or simply wipe the slate clean and start again.

The volume of your voice affects the size of the shapes that are drawn on the screen, and you can move your head around to alter the path of your 'brush' -- but to change the shape of your brush or modify the color palette you have to use a menu. Without knowledge of the app's internal workings, it's hard to say what the actual difference between whistling, talking and singing is -- and judging by the developer's affinity for whistling in the demo video (after the break), the app probably doesn't perform that much analysis on your input.

Still, Konstruct is just a prototype! A later version could do away with menus and rely entirely on the location, tonality, quality and amplitude of your voice -- and judging by the the words of the developer, James Alliban, there is definitely more in store for Konstruct: "The idea of transforming entire cities into user generated virtual art galleries really appeals to me. I see Konstruct as an early prototype that will hopefully be realised in this form in the future."

Download Konstruct for free from the App Store (iPhone 3GS and 4 only)

[Thanks to Richard for the tip!]

Gallery: Konstruct for iOS: create generative augmented art with your voice

Continue reading Konstruct for iOS creates generative augmented reality art with your voice

Konstruct for iOS creates generative augmented reality art with your voice originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/05/konstruct-for-ios-creates-generative-augmented-reality-art-with/

IMS HEALTH IMATION IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS IDT IBASIS

BlackBerry Messenger 6.0 screenshots leak

A leaked early version of RIM's upcoming BlackBerry Messenger 6 has been making the rounds since late February, but images of the new app are just now beginning to appear. Over at CrackBerry, the crew has shared a handful of images of BBM 6 in action. Unfortunately, you won't get a glimpse at a chat or file transfer -- only the profile screens (after the break) and what you see above. All that's really revealed so far is the option to set custom contact and chat colors and BlackBerry OS 6.1-style icons.

CrackBerry also warns against installing the leaked BBM 6 app. There's no guarantee this app hasn't been tampered with, and BlackBerry devices are becoming a more common target for cybercriminals.

Continue reading BlackBerry Messenger 6.0 screenshots leak

BlackBerry Messenger 6.0 screenshots leak originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/06/blackberry-messenger-6-0-screenshots-leak/

MICROSOFT MICROSEMI MICROS SYSTEMS MICRON TECHNOLOGY MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY

Apple once again rumored to be readying an iRadio subscription music service

Once again, just like clockwork, rumors are swirling around an alleged Apple "iRadio" subscription music service, similar to the likes of Pandora and Spotify. These rumors always seem to crop up right before an expected announcement period from Apple -- like spring, summer, or fall, and then disappear when music executives leak that they haven't come to terms on licensing agreements. Which brings us to the latest incarnation, according to the Verge:

Much has been written about Apple's plan to launch a Pandora-esque service this year. Now multiple music industry insiders have told The Verge that significant progress has been made in the talks with two of the top labels: Universal and Warner. One of the sources said "iRadio is coming. There's no doubt about it anymore." Apple is pushing hard for a summertime launch.

Streaming radio services have long been struggling to make a profit and manage revenue streams. According to the sources inside the industry, Apple is in talks with Warner and Universal on streaming agreements:

When and if iRadio happens, it'll be interesting to see how Apple implements it and how pricing would work. It probably isn't likely that record labels would negotiate free deals unless they're advertisement based, which Apple may not be a fan of. How much would you pay to have native streaming on your iOS devices and Apple TV? And how much content would Apple have to have to make you switch from your current streaming service?

Source: The Verge

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/OtIiKNy6Op8/story01.htm

FIRST SOLAR FINISAR FEI COMPANY FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR INTERNATIONAL FAIR ISAAC

Google Introduces Same-Day Shipping to Compete With eBay and Amazon

The people who brought you Android and Gmail now want to bring potato chips and diapers right to your home with a new same-day delivery service.

Source: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2013/03/google-delivery/

SES SHAW COMMUNICATIONS MCAFEE MAXIMUS MANTECH INTERNATIONAL

Internet Explorer 9 nears 4% share on Windows 7, IE6 extinction countdown picks up steam

Microsoft has shared some news about the state of its most and least loved Web browsers -- Internet Explorer 9 and 6, respectively. Even with IE9 only recently exiting beta, Microsoft reports that 3.6% of Windows 7 users are now running the new browser (no mention of Vista... what's with that?). The post also reveals that the adoption rate is almost five times what IE8 garnered in the early going.

It's also interesting to note that there are now more than 1,000 sites utilizing Internet Explorer 9's Windows 7 integration features -- like the new desktop notification support we showed you in Hotmail.

But perhaps the best news of all is that Microsoft's IE6countdown.com now has more than 400 partners and is generating nearly two million pageviews per month, helping to lure users away from the woefully out-of-date browser. Can the end come soon enough, DS readers?

Internet Explorer 9 nears 4% share on Windows 7, IE6 extinction countdown picks up steam originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/01/internet-explorer-9-nears-4-share-on-windows-7-ie6-extinction/

ASUSTEK COMPUTER ATandT AUTODESK AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING AVNET

New Firefox Nightly and Aurora logos unearthed, and how to enable channel switching

Later today, Firefox will undergo its biggest developmental upheaval ever. Mozilla-central, the source of nightly builds, will be renumbered to version 5 -- and at long last, after years of wallowing around version 1, Mozilla's rendering and layout engine, Gecko, will also have its version number updated to match Firefox.

Shortly thereafter, Firefox's new channel system will be implemented. Firefox 5a2 will be introduced as the first Aurora build, and we should also see a Firefox 6 Nightly build. While we we're not sure where they came from, one Sören Hentzschel seems to have unearthed the new Nightly and Aurora logos (see above), along with new About Firefox dialogs (after the break).

In other news, if you want to take a sneak peek at the new 'channel changing' technology that will be introduced in upcoming Firefox builds, head to about:config and create a new string called app.update.desiredChannel -- the value doesn't matter. Then open Help > About Firefox and you'll be able to switch channel, but it doesn't do anything just yet (image after the break). Here's hoping that Firefox channel switching is smoother than Chrome.

Continue reading New Firefox Nightly and Aurora logos unearthed, and how to enable channel switching

New Firefox Nightly and Aurora logos unearthed, and how to enable channel switching originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 07:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/11/new-firefox-nightly-and-aurora-logos-unearthed-and-how-to-enabl/

ELECTRONIC ARTS ECLIPSYS EASTMAN KODAK CO EARTHLINK DST SYSTEMS

New iPad Battery Life

The new iPad has the same battery life as the iPad 2. This may strike some as peculiar because the iPad 3 has a new more highly-powered battery. However, although the battery does carry more juice, this is offset by the new features of the iPad 3 which require more power, for example the high-definition Retina display and the 4G connectivity. That said, the new iPad battery life is still perfectly reasonable and is suitable both for casual at-home use and for intensive use on the move.

New improved battery = a thicker iPad?

While the actual battery life on the iPad 2 and new iPad is around the same, the ipad 3′s battery is a much better one. The iPad 2 battery was approximately 6930mAh, whereas the new iPad’s battery is 10,000mAh – an increase of around 44%.

As the battery produces more power, it is also larger than its predecessor. This meant some slightly cosmetic changes to the new iPad. At 9.4mm thickness, it’s 0.6mm thicker than the iPad 2 – nothing to write home about, in other words! The iconic sleek design and tapered shape of the iPad is still there.

Battery Life

In benchmark tests the new iPad 3 battery life lasts for around 10 hours. However, if you’re using 4G connection, you can expect to see that go down to around 8 hours. This is average for most iPads and realistically mean that you can get a full day’s work out of the new iPad 3 without having to recharge it.

Drain on Battery

Although the battery is larger and more higher powered than the iPad 2 battery, the new iPad 3 lasts the same amount of time as the iPad 2. The new features available in the iPad 3 can really drain the battery quickly – and when you think about the innovations in the camera, sounds quality and Retina display, it’s easy to see why. If Apple hadn’t included this new battery then we’d have been seeing battery life reduced probably to around 4-5 hours.

Tips to Increase Battery Life on the New iPad

There are a number of ways to improve the battery life of the new iPad 3. The first port of call is to turn off the notifications and location services for most (if not all) of the apps that you use. This will immediately save the iPad having to dedicate battery power to these unnecessary functions.

You can also reduce the screen brightness to 50-70% – this will decrease the amount of power that goes into the screen display. As long as you’re working indoors this setting should be fine, although you will need to increase brightness in strong sunlight.

Set the iPad to auto-lock after a short time period, say 30 seconds. This will automatically turn off the display when you’re not using your device.

Bottom Line – Is It Worth It?

The battery life in the new iPad 3 may be the same as the iPad 2, but the battery itself is much stronger and more powerful, and is absolutely necessary to handle the more power-draining new features that make the new iPad 3 such a desirable piece of kit.

Source: http://tabletbuzzblog.com/new-ipad-battery-life/

OPENWAVE SYSTEMS ON SEMICONDUCTOR NVIDIA NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS NOVELLUS SYSTEMS

How a Pope's Chalice Is Made

I don't know why I find something so mundane so fascinating but I can't get enough of watching Argentinian silversmith Juan Carlos Pallarols create a chalice for Pope Francis. It's incredible just to see his hands and tools shape what will be the cup for the holiest man in the world. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/_4z_c4y7HSI/how-a-popes-chalice-is-made

ASML HOLDING ASUSTEK COMPUTER ATandT AUTODESK AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING

Keep your passwords handy with the myIDkey

If you are anything like me, (and you should be in this case) you have many different passwords for many different websites. My husband has three pages of passwords in a notebook for all of his accounts. So, when I was browsing Kickstarter, I was pretty stoked about seeing the myIDkey by Arkami, Inc. My first thought was how annoying it is when I log into another computer and no longer have my passwords saved, and how I have to struggle to figure out what a long ago used password is.

Using fingerprint identification, you can unlock the myIDkey and then speak into its microphone to search for the password you want. The password then is displayed on the screen. To manage your passwords you can either plug the myIDkey directly into the computer via USB, or connect with Bluetooth. What happens if it gets stolen? Multiple failed attempts to unlock the device results in the deleting of all passwords stored, keeping them safe. If you need to retrieve your list of passwords you can easily restore all passwords from the Cloud or your PC.

For $99 you can reserve your own on Kickstarter and they are estimated to be delivered in April. Would you trust your passwords to a device like this or stay with your current method of password storage?

Filed in categories: Bluetooth Gear, Crowdfunded, News

Tagged: Secure password storage

Keep your passwords handy with the myIDkey originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 31, 2013 at 10:00 am.

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/03/31/keep-your-passwords-handy-with-the-myidkey/

ASUSTEK COMPUTER ATandT AUTODESK AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING AVNET

Mozilla Messaging reintegrates with Labs, unifies focus on Web-based communication

Mozilla Messaging, citing Mozilla's increased focus on Web-borne communications, will be reintegrating with Mozilla Labs.

The Messaging subsidiary was formed in 2008 to focus on Thunderbird, but given Mozilla Labs' current focus on identity and contact management, it now makes sense for the groups to be merged. Thunderbird will be unaffected by the change -- some URLs might change, but that's it -- and presumably Messaging's F1 and Raindrop will thrive in the Labs playground.

What this means for the end user -- for the hundreds of millions of Firefox users -- is that the next big additions will be communication- and messaging-oriented. Contacts and F1 will be almost certainly be baked into Firefox 5 or 6, both of which will be released this year -- and, who knows, there might be something else even more exciting up Mozilla Labs' sleeve!

Mozilla Messaging reintegrates with Labs, unifies focus on Web-based communication originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/05/mozilla-messaging-reintegrates-with-labs-unifies-focus-on-web-b/

MOODYS MISCROSOFT OFFICE MICROSOFT MICROSEMI MICROS SYSTEMS

Get free MLB.tv access during April with MLB.com At Bat app

If you're a baseball fanatic, the MLB At Bat app is a must-have. It's packed with live updates, scores, stats, news, and videos -- and right now there's another great reason to pick up At Bat. Pony up for At Bat and you'll get to enjoy MLB.tv free for the entire month of April.

The service streams games in HD to just about any connected device you can imagine, from iPhone to PS3, and even Roku boxes and LG Internet-ready televisions. The basic subscription will set you back $99 for the season, and a Premium sub is an extra $20 (and adds DVR functionality, multi-game PIP, and more).

MLB At Bat is available for Android and iOS and both apps run to $14.99 US.

Get free MLB.tv access during April with MLB.com At Bat app originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/04/get-free-mlb-tv-access-during-april-with-mlb-com-at-bat-app/

MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY METHODE ELECTRONICS MENTOR GRAPHICS IMS HEALTH IMATION

Meteor Strike: The Complete Story of Russia's Cosmic Fireball

Thanks to the crazy prevalence of dash-cams in Russia, we got an amazing, multi-viewpoint look at last month's monster meteor strike just hours after it happened. But there's more to see than just the flashes in the sky. PBS's Nova dug in deep to figure out the details of the incident, and the disaster it could have been. The disaster it might be next time if we don't keep a close watch on the skies. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/ZynWV96AIHM/meteor-strike-the-complete-story-of-russias-cosmic-fireball

STANDARD MICROSYSTEMS SRA INTERNATIONAL SPSS SPANSION SONUS NETWORKS

HTC One 64GB will arrive as AT&T exclusive (video)

Planning to snag that maxed out HTC One in the US? AT&T is where you'll have to go, then. The 64GB variant of the device is an AT&T exclusive, as revealed by a recently uploaded video to the service provider's YouTube channel. The 32GB One will also be on offer, though there's no word on exactly how much either will be priced at or an exact arrival date -- April is the most specific we've heard from HTC. Verizon is also expected to carry the device, of course, but AT&T will certainly be "the one" for folks needing that doubled storage space on a two-year agreement. Check out the video for yourself after the break.

Filed under: Mobile, AT&T

Comments

Via: Techno Buffalo, Droid-life

Source: AT&T (YouTube)

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/_eU3XWIIfO8/

ORACLE POWERCHIP SEMICONDUCTOR PRICELINECOM QIMONDA QUALCOMM

These Awesome Floating Vases Are Practically Invisible

An expensive, ornate vase can be as much of a centerpiece as the flowers that are in it. These floating vases designed by the Japanese group oodesign take things in the opposite direction by making them look like water ripples. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/S6Esb1T4g1U/these-awesome-floating-vases-are-practically-invisible

EMC ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING ELECTRONIC DATA SYSTEMS ELECTRONIC ARTS ECLIPSYS

How Many Peeps and Cadbury Easter Eggs Can a 50 Cal Rifle Shoot Through?

You probably never wondered this before but the Internet is always about answering questions you never knew you had. Like, how many Peeps and Cadbury Easter Eggs can a 50 cal rifle shoot through? Rated R on YouTube decided to give it a try and blasted through your favorite Easter treats so you don't have to. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/zKcXBbdol2w/how-many-peeps-and-cadbury-easter-eggs-can-a-50-cal-rifle-shoot-through

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY SCIENTIFIC GAMES SANDISK SALESFORCE COM SAIC

PowerSkin announces battery case for the BlackBerry Z10

Just as the title says, the PowerSkin for BlackBerry Z10 is available now from PowerSkin.  The one-piece shockproof, anti-dust silicone skin protects your Z10, and it contains a 1500mAh rechargeable battery that gives your smart phone up to 60% more talk or standby time.  It weighs only 3 ounces and measures 5.39″ X 2.89″ X 0.79″.  Lights on the back of the case inform you of how much power reserve remains in the case’s battery.  The PowerSkin for BlackBerry Z10 is available now for $79.99.

Filed in categories: Cables, Batteries, Cases, Covers, News

Tagged: Battery case, BlackBerry z10

PowerSkin announces battery case for the BlackBerry Z10 originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 28, 2013 at 10:00 am.

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/03/28/powerskin-announces-battery-case-for-the-blackberry-z10/

ACCENTURE ACER ADOBE SYSTEMS ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS

Amazon Cloud Player review: functional, not mind blowing, and still US-only

It's hard to believe: our world-spanning network, our Internet, which is the cornerstone of free speech and free society -- which, on a good day, is capable of causing populist revolutions -- is still crippled by banal geolocation restrictions. We are, of course, talking about Amazon's two latest offerings, both of which are only available in the United States. Last week it was the excellent Android Appstore for Android, and today it's the Amazon Cloud Player for Web and Android.

Along with Cloud Player, Amazon also launched Cloud Drive, which is basically just like any other cloud storage digital locker. It's not particularly feature rich, and there's no real reason to use it over something like SugarSync or SkyDrive -- it does work outside the US, however.

Its primary purpose, as far as we're concerned, is that it stores your your Cloud Player music in a subdirectory. You get 5GB of Cloud Drive storage for free, and then it's $1 per gigabyte per year if you need more space.

The Amazon Cloud Player itself will not, to put it bluntly, blow your mind. It works, but it's very much an early, and possibly rushed, release. Let's dive in to the Web and Android players for a closer look.

Gallery: Amazon Cloud Player and Cloud Drive: on Web and Android

Continue reading Amazon Cloud Player review: functional, not mind blowing, and still US-only

Amazon Cloud Player review: functional, not mind blowing, and still US-only originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/29/amazon-cloud-player-hands-on-review-functional-not-mind-blowin/

NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS MOTOROLA MOODYS MISCROSOFT OFFICE