CrunchGear |  |
- Vitamin D video surveillance system is out of beta, multiple camera versions cost $49/$199
- CrunchGear Week in Review: Bee One Edition
- Toner-, ink- and paperless printer (video)
- Megan Fox introduces Motorola DEVOUR and looks face-slappingly good
- Sketchpad in HTML5: Why Flash is no longer relevant
- HTC Incredible leaks, is as red as Mr. Incredible’s suit
- Multi-touch display maker FlatFrog gets $18m in funding – a credible adversary for Surface?
- Dentists to replace drills with plasma jets
- We’re back! Hope you missed us.
- Super Bowl Cheat Sheet
| Vitamin D video surveillance system is out of beta, multiple camera versions cost $49/$199 Posted: 08 Feb 2010 05:30 AM PST
Vitamin D Video has officially gone out of beta and is now available in 1.0. The basic, single camera version of the software is available now for free while a two camera version costs $49 and unlimited cameras costs $199. The software watches a web-based camera – including many popular models from Linksys and D-Link – and records motion as it it happens, even alerting you when humans step into the frame. I’ve been using the beta for months now with a Linksys WVC54GCA and I consider the software an early warning system for the home. Since I work up in the attic I can’t always tell if I’m facing a friend or a foe at the front door so I rely on Vitamin D to ping whenever someone comes into the frame. Special motion sensing systems also pick up lights and other activity outside while the system can also email clips to a mailbox whenever an event occurs or ring a chime. Generally this is a great solution for home and small offices as well as individuals who may be in the middle of a zombie, dinosaur, or vampire uprising. Because you can easily assign regions of motion you can also train the camera on the skies, capturing dreaded pterosaurs and alien craft in flight, thereby preventing livestock theft and/or damage. The possibilities, like the waves and waves of slavering undead Vitamin D will help you detect and neutralize, are endless.
|
| CrunchGear Week in Review: Bee One Edition Posted: 08 Feb 2010 12:00 AM PST |
| Toner-, ink- and paperless printer (video) Posted: 07 Feb 2010 11:40 PM PST
A Japanese company called Sanwa Newtec has developed a printer that works without toners, ink or (copy) paper. ThePrePeat RP-3100 is rather based on a line thermal head and special paper that’s made of PET plastic and can be reused over and over again. In other words, if you have a sheet that you don’t need any longer you can insert it back into the printer (where it gets “cleaned”) and immediately print out a new document in one go. Each of those special sheets can be used 1,000 times, saving not only the costs for 1,000 sheets of copy paper but also 5.7kg of CO2 for the environment. The printer prints in black and white only, but at least you need neither toners nor ink (look here for a detailed price comparison with conventional printers). One sheet costs $3.35, while the PrePeat itself is priced at $5,600. It’s already available in Japan (people living outside Japan can make an inquiry here). Obviously, Sanwa Newtec is justifying this price with the low running costs and the eco-friendliness of the device. This video shows the “green” printer in action:
|
| Megan Fox introduces Motorola DEVOUR and looks face-slappingly good Posted: 07 Feb 2010 08:24 PM PST
For me, the best part of the Super Bowl is the commercials. And after you see this one, you may have to agree. Just note that you’ll have to play the video several times over before you realize there’s a phone there – the Motorola DEVOUR with MOTOBLUR, to be exact. So, what happens when Megan Fox uses her DEVOUR to send out a hot, wet image via a social network? Read the rest of this entry at MobileCrunch>>
|
| Sketchpad in HTML5: Why Flash is no longer relevant Posted: 07 Feb 2010 06:06 PM PST
As you see loading is instantaneous and the ability to create rich interfaces all within the browser is amazing. I’m sold.
|
| HTC Incredible leaks, is as red as Mr. Incredible’s suit Posted: 07 Feb 2010 05:52 PM PST  This is the so-called HTC Incredible running on Verizon. It has a Snapdragon CPU with 256RAM and a bold and beautiful screen a la the Nexus One. Interestingly, it has two rear LED flashes and appears to be clad in a red backplate which reminds me of butterscotch pudding although a video, now unavailable, shows it is really red. Click through for a UI shot. Also, can I just say that I am more in love with Android every time I see it? It just seems fresh.
|
| Multi-touch display maker FlatFrog gets $18m in funding – a credible adversary for Surface? Posted: 07 Feb 2010 01:00 PM PST
The lack of major differentiating features (that it works is the most important feature anyway) doesn’t seem to have discouraged investors, however: FlatFrog has raised $18 million in funding from Promethean and Invus, with Sunstone Capital participating in the round. According to them, the money is for R&D and commercialization:
The question now is whether FlatFrog will be able to distance themselves from the pack. With money they can build a substantial suite of programs and promote their product, but there’s a lot to do if they’re to outpace Microsoft, which just last year put $24m into touchscreen startup N-trig and continues to invest heavily in the project. There are no visible results yet, but I feel confident that the money is not going to waste, and MS may actually surprise us in this particular corner. If FlatFrog is smart, and I’m thinking they are, they’ll put some of this money towards serious usability research; MS has done thousands and thousands of hours of work on foolproofing and streamlining the Surface interface, and that’s something that will need to be matched either with careful design or through user feedback.
|
| Dentists to replace drills with plasma jets Posted: 07 Feb 2010 01:00 PM PST
The benefits are huge. The drill is not only loud, but it’s extremely invasive and damaging, and can actually cause more problems then it solves. Researchers have discovered a way to make something called “cold plasma” which will actually sterilize a tooth instead of grinding out the damaged tissue. To be honest, researchers aren’t entirely sure exactly how the plasma works to destroy the bacteria, but they are able to determine that a burst of about 12-18 seconds will completely eliminate the problem. It would also be painless, so to a wuss like me it sounds like a great solution. The researchers working on this technology expect that it could be available in a general dentistry application in about 3-5 years. I know I can’t wait. [via Slashdot]
|
| We’re back! Hope you missed us. Posted: 07 Feb 2010 10:54 AM PST
|
| Posted: 07 Feb 2010 05:00 AM PST
You read tech blogs and, as such, you may not care much about professional sports. And that's okay. That's okay. But the Super Bowl is an event that even non-sports-loving people tend to watch every year since anyone who actually likes football always throws a Super Bowl party. So even though you're not into the game at all, here's a little cheat sheet you can use at your Super Bowl party this weekend. Background: There are two "conferences" that make up the National Football League, the AFC (American Football Conference) and the NFC (National Football Conference). Each of those conferences is split up into four divisions; North, East, South, and West. The winner of the AFC plays the winner of the NFC after 2-3 rounds of playoffs at the end of the 17-week season. The New Orleans Saints won the NFC this year. The Indianapolis Colts won the AFC. The Super Bowl is played in a neutral stadium every year, almost always in a warm climate (unless the stadium in a cold climate has a dome). This year it's being played in Miami. The Super Bowl is always followed by Roman numerals. This year it's Super Bowl XLIV – Super Bowl 44, the 44th Super Bowl since Super Bowl I was played back in 1967. Kickoff is at 6:25 PM on Sunday, February 7th 2010. It will be televised on CBS. The half-time show will be a live music set by The Who. The game lasts forever so get a good seat. Teams: The New Orleans Saints, led by quarterback Drew Brees, will make their first Super Bowl appearance in team history. The Saints almost went undefeated during the regular season until a loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 15. They finished 13-3 overall and then beat the Arizona Cardinals and the Minnesota Vikings in the playoffs. Players to look out for: Drew Brees, Pierre Thomas, Reggie Bush, Devery Henderson, Marques Colston, Jeremy Shockey, Darren Sharper. The Indianapolis Colts, led by quarterback Peyton Manning, won Super Bowl XLI (41) in 2007. Like the Saints, the Colts almost went undefeated during the regular season as well. They lost their first game in Week 16 against the New York Jets. Colts Coach Jim Caldwell was criticized for resting most of his best players during that game since the team had already clinched a spot in the playoffs. The Colts finished the season 14-2 and beat the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets in the playoffs to get to the Super Bowl. Players to look out for: Peyton Manning, Joseph Addai, Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, Dwight Freeney (may not play due to injury). Things to say if you want to impress people: "Man, this should be interesting. Neither of these teams particularly cares about establishing the run. But if you've got a gunslinger like Manning or Brees, that's probably not an issue." "This oughta be a good game. These teams have only played each other ten times and they've split the wins 50-50." "This game may come down to defense. Or lack thereof." "New Orleans' offensive line has to protect Brees. Indy's defense is too quick." Crash course in American Football: The playing field is 100 yards long, populated by perpendicular white lines every five yards and two ten-yard deep scoring areas on either end called end zones. Teams (11 players per side) are given four opportunities, called "downs" to progress the ball forward a total of ten yards. If successful, the downs are reset and the team must go another ten yards. That process is repeated until the team scores a touchdown, kicks a field goal, or punts the ball drop kick-style (often done on fourth down when the team can't move the ball ten yards after three attempts) away to the other team. Any player who carries the ball into their opponents' end zone or catches the ball while in their opponents' end zone scores a touchdown. Touchdowns are worth six points. After each touchdown, the scoring team has a chance to get 1-2 extra points. One point for kicking the ball through two upright goal posts 18.5 inches apart and 10 feet elevated above the ground. The team may also attempt to run or throw the ball back into the end zone from the two yard line which, if successful, nets the team two extra points. Most often, teams opt for the one-point kick since it's less risky. If a team is unable to make it to the end zone, they may opt to kick a "field goal" from wherever they are on the field. Similar to an extra point kick after a touchdown, but often attempted from greater distances, a field goal is worth three points. If the team is not close enough to the opposing end zone to attempt a field goal, they must punt the ball away to the other team or attempt to obtain a first down by moving the ball the remainder of ten yards. If unsuccessful after fourth down, the ball is turned over to the other team. There are four 15-minute quarters per game. If a game ends in a tie, a 15-minute overtime quarter is played. The first team to score in overtime wins. If neither team scores, the game ends in a tie during the regular season. For playoff games and the Super Bowl, the teams keep playing additional overtime quarters until one team scores. Which team to cheer for: Follow your heart. You'll probably like the cut of one team's jib more than the other. Or maybe you'll like the colors of one team's uniform better than the other. If you like to root for the underdog, go with the Saints. It's the first time they've ever been to the Super Bowl. If you're looking for more of a dynasty-type atmosphere, go with the Colts. Peyton Manning will probably be their quarterback until he retires and he's good at football which means, in turn, the Colts are always pretty good every year. Saints for show, Colts for dough.
|
FlatFrog doesn’t appear to offer any revolutionary features, although they claim to be the only current solution for large-scale displays (40″ and above). This video demonstrates that the display, which is 10cm thick all-inclusive, can handle multiple touches (up to 24, we’re told) and seems reasonably precise and responsive. It’s an in-glass solution they call 
I can’t believe how great this idea sounds. Instead of using the old-school (as in patented in 1875) drill technology to remove cavities, researchers are developing a method of using something called cold plasma to destroy the bacteria. I love the idea because I absolutely hate the sound of that damnable drill.
| You are subscribed to email updates from CrunchGear To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment