NewerTech Power2U Dual Socket Wall Outlet with Two USB Ports $28 (Buy) at tekserve.com
No but wait. Think about it.
Hidden Radio
Mobile music. That’s the name of the game–at least for two industrial designers and friends who came together to create the Hidden Radio. Powered by bluetooth technology, this tiny speaker packs a powerful punch when connected to any compatible device. Music, movies, games - no problem. With over 30 years of combined Fortune 500 experience these two designers approach their work by creating designs that are both useful and aesthetically appealing. The project was funded by the some 5,000 people on kickstarter who pitched-in to make this happen. – Thanks Phillip H.
Bottom Line: $99+
Dave Veloz’s Mac Mini Mod, Monitor, & Keyboard | The Steampunk Workshop
…what more can I say. If they looked like this out of the box, I’d own two already.
This super slick Phone Size tool that compares the hottest smartphones against one another in as close to “meatspace” size as possible. You just plug in a few phones that you would like to compare, set the size and ratio of your screen and you’re off. (via A Slick Web Tool to Compare Real-Life Sizes of Smartphones)
Phones and tablets to identify users by sight and touch
Trawling through possible password combinations could become a distant memory in the future as new smartphones and tablets will allow access to users at the sight of their owners face or a single touch.
Google and Apple are introducing phones that identify users through sight and touch recognition.
Last week, Apple applied to the US patent office to register facial recognition software, so instead of sliding to unlock the iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, one could simply point it at one’s face.
The patent entitled ‘Low Threshold Face Recognition’, was picked up by Apple Insider blog, who said that “using a forward-facing camera to recognise an individual user, future iPhones and iPads from Apple could automatically customise applications, settings and features to a user”s personal preferences once they pick up the device.”
The website explained that Apple’s application stated rather than analysing a user’s entire face which can drain the battery, Apple’s concept would rely on a “high information portion’ of a human face.
It is understood that their system will scale the distance between a users eyes and mouth and once it has measured that against the image originally captured, it will be able to confirm that it is the same person and unlock.
The patent also details that each user could customize their personal profile with unique wallpaper, applications and settings, and that profile would be immediately accessed once the iPad recognizes a user’s face.
New phones using Google’s Android platform already have a face recognition tool that uses the inbuilt camera.
However, this new technology may not yet be effective to completely eradicate passwords in favour of facial recognition.
Within days of the Google Android facial recognition tool being launched, there were reports online claiming that it could be fooled by holding a photograph of the owners face up to the device.
Some of the best features of the iPad aren’t listed anywhere. Luckily, our secret instruction manual will help you make the most of your tablet without a trip to the Genius Bar.
NASA iPad Visualization Explorer
In addition to hurtling people and expensive equipment into space, NASA does a ton of basic scientific research to help us learn more about this rock we call Earth. And much of that research gets turned into amazing visualizations, because stuff is always easier to learn when you make it look cool.
Now you can explore them via an iPad app. For free! Check out the NASA iPad Visualization Explorer for a constantly updated collection of interactive imagery beamed straight from their fleet of research spacecraft right to your hands.
(via Chart Porn, image at top is of ocean surface currents off the East Coast of the U.S. as captured by NASA satellites)
iPad 3 with retina display ‘coming in February 2012’?
Just when it was getting a little too quiet…Apple is reportedly planning to launch a next-generation iPad, called an iPad 3, as early as February 2012.
According to a report by Business Insider and PCMag, analyst Richard Gardner revealed that the device would be similar to the iPad 2, but includes Apple”s high-resolution retina display technology found on the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S by doubling the iPad 3”s screen resolution.
Gardner reportedly said that “several sources” told him that Apple could launch the iPad 3 in February.
The first iPad hit stores in April 2010 after being unveiled the month before, and the iPad 2 was unveiled and released in March 2011, so it stands to reason that the #3 would come out in March of next year after a reveal in February.
Once upon a time … check out this infographic on the history of recycling!
The nice thing about the very imperfect Fire, which will hopefully be improved over the next few months, let alone the next few years, is that it begins to sketch out the place in between iPads and phones, just like iPads sketched out a place between phones and laptops. This isn’t an iPad killer; that’s like asking whether a Holiday Inn is a Four Seasons killer and putting it down if it isn’t. It’s a new piece of real estate entirely. (Monkey See : NPR)
"Investors want to see growth and a return on the investment,” Arment said. “It would lead to the kind of job that I don’t want right now."
Nice bit from the Mrs. on Marco, Instapaper and other single-owner startups.
(via markcoatney)
(via markcoatney)
The Myriad Uses Of The iPad In The Operating Room - Better Health
An exploratory article which mentions a number of areas where the multi talented iPad could be used in surgery is discussed and exemplified with a number of existing apps:
- Communication - communicating and sharing images, data and knowledge between patients and specialists
- Intraoperative visualization - visual presentation of vital signs and images that can increase the overview of the situation or add specific crucial details
- Intraoperative measurement - supporting measurements and navigation during the operation
- Augmented Reality in the Operating Room - supporting situation by adding complementary views (3D X-ray et al), information and specialist knowledge and advice as well as providing visual tools directly in the visual field of the surgeon in action
The article concludes by saying:
The iPad has the potential be a game changer in surgery because of its small size, built in sensors and wireless networking capabilities. The only restriction is the imagination of future surgical innovators. Even if the above predictions fail to materialize, it is safe to say what the future holds is only barely imagined today.
I love this! Sci fi always predicts the future. From mashable: Samsung fights Apple on patents, claiming that the iPad was a concept first seen in Kubrick’s 2001, A Space Odyssey.
(Source: Mashable, via popgoespop)
How Tablets Looked Before and After the iPad
Since Apple introduced the iPad in January of 2010, the rest of its competition has been trying desperately to play catch-up. If you’re curious, here’s how tablet design looked before and after the iPad was introduced. As you can see it’s pretty self-explanatory. Apple innovated, everyone else reiterated.
(via: iDownloadBlog)
(via thenextweb)
