Augmented reality has never been nearly as cool as its name suggests. Even when it isn't gimmicky, it's virtually useless, in large part because your mobile camera's version of "reality" is short one dimension. Scanning and computer vision company Occipital, however, wants to add real depth to your tablet's vision with the Structure Sensor, a Kickstarter- backed product that shipped to backers late last year. The $349 Structure Sensor is a Kinect-like camera that fits on the back of an iPad or, with some hacking, any other device. With the bracket on, your tablet doesn't just see objects, it can figure out how far away they are, doing anything from turning an object into a 3D model to measuring the distance of a room. http://vrge.co/1lGoBVh
Technology
iPhone case uses electromagnetic radiation to power its LED notification lights /
The Lune case, developed by gadget startup Concepter, does just that. With no battery or power connection to your iPhone, the case can light up when you receive a call. Concepter was showing off the case at Eureka Park, the early-stage startup section of the International CES.
ZTE Eco-Mobius modular smartphone /
To compete with Motorola's Project ARA, Chinese company ZTE has announced their very own modular Smartphone concept. Eco-Mobius is on display at ZTE's booth in Las Vegas, and the concept phone looks very similar to what Motorola had shown us months ago. Modules such as CPU core, RAM, camera, battery, etc. are all fixed to one another using magnets, allowing for easy replacement. Upgrading components of a phone rather than changing the entire phone can turn out to be both cheaper and more environmentally friendly...
http://www.nextpowerup.com/news/6670/zte-shows-off-eco-mobius-modular-smartphone-concept.html
Fridges Sing and Countertops Find Recipes /
LAS VEGAS — Whirlpool is showing off an interactive cooktop concept at 2014 International CES that not only turns a typical kitchen surface into a stovetop, but also a place to check the weather, find recipes on Pinterest, research cooking tips and post pictures to Facebook. Although the concept isn't a reality just yet, Whirlpool is calling it the "kitchen of 2020," which could integrate hands-free devices and touchscreens into the kitchen itself.
Tiny cube camera /
Polaroid's Socialmatic isn't the only surprise to come from the faded photo brand at this year's CES. The company also showed off a line of four action cameras, including an adorable new 35-mm cube camera called the C3. It will ship for $99 later this summer. For its small size, the camera is packed full of a surprising degree of features, including a 120-degree wide-angle lens capable of capturing HD video in 1280 x 720 and 640 x 580 resolution, and still images up to 5 megapixels. It's waterproof up to 2 meters (6.6 feet), and contains 2MB of internal storage, and a micro SD slot expandable up to 32 GB. It also has a microphone and an LED light. http://vrge.co/K0kLao
Smart Sleep System /
Withings Aura is a cleverly designed system that both monitors and positively impacts your sleep experience.
iOS: A visual history /
Apple's Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone to the world on January 9th, 2007. In the five-plus years since then, the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch have literally redefined the entire world of mobile computing. That world is moving so quickly that iOS is already amongst the older mobile operating systems in active development today. That certainly doesn't mean it's underpowered or underfeatured — quite the contrary. Through what can only be described as relentless and consistent improvement over the years, Apple has made iOS one of the most feature-rich and well-supported platforms on the market. http://vrge.co/vd6Fhb
robotic cube /
Cubes aren't usually the go-to shape when creating an object that's meant to move around, but researchers in Switzerland have created one that can do just that — along with a handful of other surprising talents. Called the Cubli, it measures nearly 6 inches on each side and can walk around by continually flipping itself over. Perhaps more impressively, it can also balance on any of its sides or even just a single corner. As the research team from ETH Zurich's Institute for Dynamic Systems and Control demonstrates in a video, the cube can even remain balanced while a surface is raised up at an angle beneath it. http://vrge.co/1gKKrX7
Mac Pro /
It's astonishingly reflective — I can see the screen clearly, and anyone who walks by is immediately recognizable — and it picks up fingerprints really easily. But it's beautiful, understated, and looks great on a desk next to the 4K Sharp monitor we've paired it with. It's particularly good-looking with its case off, exposing the Mac Pro's machinery, but the case is required to dissipate heat. You can't even use the Mac Pro with it off...
4 Reasons Why Apple’s iBeacon Is About to Disrupt Interaction Design /
You step inside Walmart and your shopping list is transformed into a personalized map, showing you the deals that’ll appeal to you most. You pause in front of a concert poster on the street, pull out your phone, and you’re greeted with an option to buy tickets with a single tap. You go to your local watering hole, have a round of drinks, and just leave, having paid—and tipped!—with Uber-like ease. Welcome to the world of iBeacon.
http://www.wired.com/design/2013/12/4-use-cases-for-ibeacon-the-most-exciting-tech-you
Square launches thinner credit card reader with better swiping accuracy /
Square is today shrinking down its iconic credit card reader with a new design that's thinner and more accurate than the original. After teasing a pending announcement yesterday, Square has made the latest revision of its hugely popular card reader official. The new design is 45 percent thinner than the original, essentially matching the thickness of an iPhone 5S. Square says that it's also enhanced swiping accuracy on the new model — which required replacing a number of existing components with custom-designed parts... http://vrge.co/J735L0
The War For Your Wrist /
The past decade has seen the consumer electronics war grow more furious and more personal: your living room is a battlefield, as are your desks and your pockets. Now, more than a year-and-a-half since the Pebble (née Allerta) team saw its e-Paper smartwatch concept shatter a $100,000 Kickstarter funding goal, gadget purveyors of all stripes are vying for a spot on your wrist. http://techcrunch.com/2013/12/08/the-war-for-your-wrist/?
Meet The First Flexible Smartphone /
The moment you’ve all been waiting for it here — possibly. LG Electronics has rolled out what it says is the first mobile device that can be bent out of shape or pressed flat onto a desk. It’s a neat party trick, but LG along with that other flexi-phone frontrunner Samsung, will be carefully watching how consumers take these devices up before spending more to make them bend any further.
The world's most elegant physical activity monitor /
The Misfit Shine is, in a word, gorgeous, like a sci-fi movie prop from a Minority Report future. It’s clear that many people want to exercise and look good at the same time- witness high-end yoga pants and other accessories. But most folks are resigned to a dongle, a hunk of plastic or an unappealing watch, because they are simple and effective and easy to understand. The disc-shaped Shine upends these conventions, and is certainly the most stylish activity monitor that we’ve seen. http://www.misfitwearables.com
The Psychology Behind Information Dashboards /
With data-driven decisions gradually becoming the norm in every industry, the information dashboard has an important role. With its interactive and intuitive interface and its ability to visualize data in a single screen, it’s becoming a critical tool in the hands of the business user. Moreover, the information dashboard is also making its way into apps used by laypeople for managing day-to-day activities like budget tracking and fitness management...
http://uxmag.com/articles/the-psychology-behind-information-dashboards
How much does it cost to build the world’s hottest startups? /
Could $100,000 and the right developer skills make you an overnight billionaire? How much does it really take to build a product like Twitter or Instagram? With mobile development agencies and product incubators on the rise and more corporate “labs” spinning out each day, there’s no shortage of talent to help you build the next great Web or mobile app.
http://thenextweb.com/dd/2013/12/02/much-cost-build-worlds-hottest-startups
Amazon Prime Air /
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos took to 60 Minutes to reveal the company's latest delivery method: drones. In what is likely a cunning reminder of the e-tailer's upcoming Cyber Monday sales, these bots will apparently be capable of delivering packages up to five pounds (86 percent of orders are apparently less than that), with the aim of getting them to your house in under half an hour...
Hands-on with Jolla /
Jolla, a splinter group of former Nokia employees, has taken on the task of keeping the N9's legacy going. It's a project that immediately engenders goodwill through its refusal to simply abandon all that good work in favor of economic practicalities — but that same bravado is also what makes it distinctly utopian. A small and unheralded startup aims to succeed where the formerly giant and resource-rich Nokia didn't dare tread... http://vrge.co/1goJyAG
From A Breakthrough Museum... /
THE REINVENTED CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART IS A CASE STUDY IN BLENDING THE PHYSICAL AND VIRTUAL WORLDS, THANKS TO BRILLIANT WORK BY LOCAL PROJECTS Museums today compete for attention in a wildly difficult environment: If you’re a youngster, why stare at a Greek urn when you could blow one up in a video game? One institution thinking deeply about the challenge is the Cleveland Museum of Art, which this month unveiled a series of revamped galleries, designed by Local Projects, which feature cutting-edge interactivity. But the technology isn’t the point. "We didn’t want to create a tech ghetto," says David Franklin, the museum’s director. Adds Local Projects founder Jake Barton, "We wanted to make the tech predicated on the art itself."
http://www.fastcodesign.com/1671845/5-lessons-in-ui-design-from-a-breakthrough-museum
Game on MOGA! iOS 7 compatible game controller /
MOGA have been making gamepad accessories for Android devices for a while. Today, they have announced on their website an adapted version compatible with iPhone and iPod touch. The company is the first to officially announce availability of an accessory that works with iOS 7′s GameController API... Read more at http://9to5mac.com/2013/11/19/game-on-moga-officially-announces-its-ios-7-compatible-game-controller-available-tomorrow/#xgM588WhiLKyRc1v.99