Saturday, August 31, 2013

SPRAYABLE ENERGY Lets You Absorb Caffine Through Your Skin

SPRAYABLE ENERGY Lets You Absorb Caffine Through Your Skin

Many people rely on a cup of coffee or two to wake them up in the morning or pick them up during the working day, but now a chemist has come up with a speedy alternative to crafting a cuppa.

U.S. biochemist Ben Yu has created 'Sprayable Energy,' which claims to be the world's first caffeine - based topical energy spray.

The people behind Sprayable Energy claim that the product delivers just one active ingredient, caffeine, into your body by way of the topical application of a "clear and unscented liquid." Each time you want a caffeine hit you spray the product onto your skin for 2-4 times depending on your how much energy you need.

Caffeine naturally enter your body through the skin by passing through cell membranes (caffeine is very structurally similar to nicotine - which also easily passes through cell membranes).

The science of sprayable energy

The innovation behind Sprayable Energy is the delivery system, with the caffeine being made more soluble by pairing it with "a simple derivative of a naturally produced amino acid, tyrosine."

The advantage of this method is the removal of calories and coffee breath, and the time saved on making and drinking the caffeinated drink. It is small enough to fit in your pocket, a purse, or a glove compartment, and lets you take your energy anywhere you go.

Sprayable Energy will come in any one of a number of different colored bottles

One bottle of black aluminum bottle of Sprayable Energy (which contains around 160 sprays) costs US$15 through the Indiegogo campaign, with free shipping to anywhere inside the United States. The project had a goal of $15,000 but has already sailed well past that target.

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RC News

Pressy, An Android Accessory Adds A Physical Multi-Function Button To The Devices

Pressy, An Android Accessory Adds A Physical Multi-Function Button To The Devices

Pressy, a new third-party Android accessory will now be able to do works like open up your camera app and fire off a shot with just one simple click, filling the requirement of seeing fewer physical buttons on smartphones.

Pressy is a tiny physical button that fits into your phone’s standard 3.5mm headphone jack. Simply plug it in, download the Pressy companion app, and you can activate different functions by simply clicking the button.  Out of the box it comes with three preset actions, allowing you to turn on your phone’s flashlight with one short click, toggle silent mode with a long click, and snap a photo with a double-click.

The PRESSY

The Pressy app is designed to work on all Android devices running version 2.3 and up, which should include nearly every user out there at this point. Using the app, you can assign different actions to different button sequences, instantly turning on your flashlight, taking a picture or doing pretty much anything else you phone can do. Pressy also offers an API so developers can use the button within their own apps, and comes with a keychain holster for when you want to use your headphone jack for your actual headphones.

With Pressy you can assign different actions to different button sequences, instantly turning on your flashlight, etc.

Pressy is described by its creators as the “almighty Android button,” quickly hit its $40,000 goal, raising $60,000 in its first day. With 45 days left to go, Pressy has already raised over $200,000.

Many of the “early bird” Kickstarter deals for Pressy are already sold out, but you can still grab one for as little as $17, or $20 if you want the convenient key chain holder as well. With funding in place, the Pressy team should have no issues getting the product manufactured in the 4 month time-frame they have set for themselves.

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Specs And Images For HTC Z3 “Zara Mini” Smartphone Leaked Online

Specs And Images For HTC Z3 “Zara Mini” Smartphone Leaked Online

Crafting variants and mini versions of high-end devices seems to be an ongoing trend among manufacturers. Now, it seems to be rubbing off on mid-range phone too. Around 10 days back, we’d seen leaked specs and image of the mid-range HTC Zara, known to be a mashup of HTC One and Desire. Now, yet another rumour has surfaced, showing the alleged specs and images of the HTC Zara mini (also known as HTC 301e).

SPECIFICATIONS:

>> 4.3-inch TFT display 
>> 480 x 800-pixel resolution
>> 1GHz dual-core processor
>> 8GB of expandable storage
>> Snapdragon 400
>> 512 MB of RAM
>> 5-megapixel rear camera
>> 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera
>> Dual-SIM support
>> Android 4.1.2

Specs And Images For HTC Z3 “Zara Mini” Smartphone Leaked Online

Photos and specs for the Z3 were published today by Chinese leaker ICTech. This will be a mid-range handset that is rumored to cost $212 and will reportedly come in black and white models. But there is no word on its availability

The full-sized HTC Zara is also leaked earlier this month. For specs visit GADGETSCRINE.

A Tiny Mexican Village Creates its Own Wireless Network

A Tiny Mexican Village Creates its Own Wireless Network

After being ignored for wireless service by a company owned by the world's richest man Carlos Slim, a tiny Mexican village, Villa Talea de Castro has developed its own mobile network with international connections.

The local service costs 15 pesos ($1.2) per month which is 13 times cheaper than what’s available to residents who reside in Mexico City with access to larger carriers. The carrier is called Red Celular de Talea and was a joint initiative through residents and a local University, AFP explained, and appears to operate with a single antenna on the roof of a local building. Residents can even place international calls, including to the United States, for low rates that cost a few cents each minute, though those use VoIP technology over the Internet.

Red Celular de Talea already has 600 customers and has plans to expand its service to other villages with similar desires for a more connected future.

The village of Villa Talea de Castro, dotted with small pink and yellow homes, has a population of 2,500 indigenous people. Tucked away in a lush forest in the southern state of Oaxaca, it was not seen as a profitable market for companies such as Slim's America Movil. The company wanted at least 10,000 subscribers to bring the village into its mobile coverage, AFP said.

Sony’s Leaked “Smart Shot” Lens Cameras To Start At $250

Sony DSC-QX10

A few weeks ago, we got a rumour about a new camera attachment from Sony that appears to put an entire camera on the back of your mobile device, in addition to the existing camera. Today, a few new images – as well as some details about about the gadgets has been revealed: price, specs, colors, etc.

Here is some information about them:-

1) The name of these cameras is actually “Smart Shot“. It’s a mix between Smart-phone and Cyber-Shot.

2) The SmartShot lenses have in lens stabilization!

3) Again, it’s compatible with all Android and iOS devices via Playmemories APP (the new version will come out soon. My sources tested the BETA version). Connection via Wi-Fi/NFC

4) Videos in HD video 1080/30p, format MP4. Can be recorded with low noise even in dark places.

5) The captured image is saved automatically in both the smartphone and memory in the camera.

6) You can control zoom, exposure, white balance, and focus on your mobile device.

Sony’s QX10, which is said to sport the same 1/2.3-inch 18-megapixel sensor and f/3.3-5.9 lens as the company’s WX150 camera, will allegedly run for $250. On the higher end, the QX100 costs $450 that will reportedly come equipped with a 1-inch 20-megapixel Exmor R sensor and f/1.8-4.9 Carl Zeiss lens—the very same you’d find in Sony’s RX100 II.

Sony DSC-QX100

If SonyAlphaRumors' sources are correct, the Smart Shot mobile phone attachments will allow users to snap better high quality images with their iPhones, and may be one of the more interesting products Sony is set to announce this year.

Sony is expected to announce the DSC-QX10 and DSC-QX100 “lenscameras” at the IFA trade show in Berlin in September.

Friday, August 30, 2013

Samsung Galaxy Gear Specs Unveiled

Samsung Galaxy Gear Specs Unveiled

The Executive Vice President of Samsung Mobile has confirmed earlier this week that on September 4 they will reveal their new Smartwatch called the Samsung Galaxy Gear. Days ahead of Samsung’s Sept. 4 announcement at IFA, specs for the company’s Galaxy Gear smartwatch have supposedly leaked online.

SPECIFICATIONS:

>> 2.5-inch OLED touchscreen display 320×320 resolution
>> 10 hours of battery life on a single charge
>> 1.5GHz dual-core chip
>> 1GB of RAM
>> Android Jelly Bean
>> Bluetooth 4.0
>> 4-megapixel front camera 720p
>> Accelerometer
>> speakers in its strap

The device will supposedly be Samsung’s big surprise flagship product heading into the busy holiday season. Two models of this smartwatch will reportedly be offered, one with 8GB and the other with 6GB on-board storage.

Pricing and availability information about the device has not been rumored right now, previous rumors suggest that the release might take place in October.

Skype To Develop 3D Video Calling

Skype To Develop 3D Video Calling

Microsoft's corporate vice-president for Skype, Mark Gillett, told the BBC in an interview, that Skype had lined up a version of the messaging programme capable of 3D video calling but was waiting for widespread adoption of consumer technology capable of making good use of the feature.

He said: "We've done work in the labs looking at the capability of 3D-screens and 3D-capture.

"We've seen a lot of progress in screens and a lot of people now buy TVs and computer monitors that are capable of delivering a 3D image. But the capture devices are not yet there. We have it in the lab, we know how to make it work and we're looking at the ecosystem of devices and their capability to support it in order to make a decision when we might think about bringing something like that to market."

He said the same issues would be true of shooting 3D footage from mobile devices.

"I can imagine a day when you have a 3D-cellphone screen that doesn't need 3D-glasses to use it. It's less clear to me that we're close to having 3D cameras on cellphones.

He added: "You'll see much more penetration of 3D on TVs, on computers and ultimately in smartphones, probably, ahead of seeing it for sending a video call."

Don't expect to see the option popping up on Skype screens soon, though. Quite apart from persuading people that buying 3D-friendly TVs or computer monitors is worth it, there's also the problem of how 3D videos can be made at home.

3D, an emerging technology is believed by many to be the driving feature in future of media consumption and entertainment but has suffered from a false start. TV programmers such as the BBC and ESPN have already halted 3D broadcasts.

According to many industry watchers 3D movies and broadcast television had turned out to be something of a flop. The BBC gave up on plans to use 3DTV technology for its programming, on weak demand which did little to justify the massive cost related to filming and airing 3D content. Sony also seemed to have discontinued support for dedicated 3D display for PlayStation gaming, even though 3D gaming had been a near ideal use case scenario for the tech.

Gillett added that Skype was looking in the near-term at more practical improvements, like bringing 1080p video calls to hardware beyond the upcoming Xbox One console.

According to me, it seems this technology will no doubt be impressive when used once and then promptly ignored for the rest of time – 3D video calls.

RC News

Nokia Reveals "HERE Auto": A Connected Car Navigation System

Nokia Reveals "HERE Auto": A Connected Car Navigation System

Nokia on Friday announced a complete connected driving experience “HERE Auto” for cars, that will offer end-to-end driving assistance in navigation and more. That includes HERE Auto, HERE Auto Cloud and HERE Auto Companion in addition to improvements to HERE Traffic. The offering includes an embedded in-dash navigation system and the HERE Auto Companion app for Windows Phone devices.

It could come pre-loaded in your car. You won’t need access to a cellular network because, like some embedded systems today, everything is already stored in your car’s dashboard. It includes turn-by-turn directions in 95 countries and street view support. Nokia’s also releasing a software development kit so developers can add their own apps – it hopes to see social networking and music included from third party sources, which means we could see Pandora or Spotify pop up, for example. HERE Auto should roll out in the coming months, Nokia said.

HERE Auto  includes turn-by-turn directions in 95 countries and street view support

HERE Auto Cloud is a connected solution, which means you’ll need some sort of cellular service. It will offer real-time traffic updates and provide access to points-of-interest, such as gas stations or restaurants. Used with HERE Auto Companion, which will exist as a mobile app, drivers can pre-plan trips, keep track of their car and make sure that their vehicle is in working order – it will provide feedback on how much gas is left in the tank and information on tire pressure, washer fluid levels, trip length and more, Nokia said.

There's no word on when it HERE Auto will be available, but Nokia is working with parts supplier Continental to recruit automakers willing to integrate the software into their systems. For the time being, the app works exclusively with Windows Phones, but it should be available to iOS and Android later.

Nokia Reveals "HERE Auto"

Nokia has partnered with Continental (the same parts supplier working with Google and IBM) to find carmakers willing to integrate Here Auto into their navigation systems. It might take a while before we see the system hit the market, but it'll be demonstrated at the International Motor Show in Germany on September 10th.

New Asus Padfone Infinity A86 Leaked With Snapdragon 800 In Black And White

New Asus Padfone Infinity A86 Leaked With Snapdragon 800 In Black And White

Asus is planning to release a new version of the PadFone Infinity which will include a Snapdragon 800 processor. Today we’ve got our first look at the refreshed handset thanks to ePrice, which posted a handful of leaked photos showing off the upcoming device.

The original PadFone Infinity, which Asus unveiled earlier this year at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, packed a Snapdragon 600 CPU and was listed under the model number A80. According to ePrice, the refreshed A86 had a similar design as the Padfone 2, but it came with an upgraded hardware including a Snapdragon 600 processor and full HD display. Now images Padfone Infinity A86 has surfaced that is expected to pack a Snapdragon 800 processor. As you can see in the leaked images, the phone would be completely white, unlike the current Padfone Infinity smartphone that comes in black color.

On the specification front, the new Padfone Infinity A86 is expected to come with a 5-inch display with a resolution of 1080p, 13MP rear camera, 2GB RAM and 64GB of internal storage.

It would be interesting to see the smartphone in white color and with an upgraded processor. The new PadFone Infinity is expected to be priced at 10,009 Chinese Yuan and is expected to go on sale late September. The company is also planning to release its first U.S. smartphone sometime in 2014, but it seems unlikely the mystery device will be the A86 PadFone.

BlackBerry Z30 Phablet Shown Off Again In New Video

BlackBerry Z30 Phablet Shown Off Again In New Video

BlackBerry’s first phablet has once again been caught in a new video has popped up this week that shows off the upcoming BlackBerry Z30′s casing, its unlock screen, its home screen and its swipe-based menu functionality. The rumored Z30 leaked earlier this month in a YouTube video that was recently removed from the site, but 4Leaks quickly responded by posting a video of its own, revealing just how many working copies of the BlackBerry phablet are already out there. we expect it to be the biggest BB10-powered handset yet.

SPECIFICATIONS:

BlackBerry Z30 Phablet Shown Off Again In New Video

>> 5-inch 720p display
>> 1.7GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor
>> 2GB of RAM
>> 8-megapixel rear camer
>> 16GB of storage expandable by microSD card
>> LTE connectivity
>> 2,800 mAh battery
>> NFC
>> BlackBerry 10.2

The device also features a sleek design somewhat similar to the HTC One in the front, but with a woven plastic material for the back panel.

According to recent reports, BlackBerry will release the Z30 sometime in November. By then, the handset will have to compete with Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Note III as well as the two new iPhones Apple is expected to unveil in September.

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BBM Landing Page Hints At Imminent Android And iPhone Launch

BBM Landing Page Hints At Imminent Android And iPhone Launch

Recent leaks have suggested that Android and iPhone users will be able to use BlackBerry Messenger very soon, and a brief appearance of the app’s landing page further confirms its imminent arrival. But before the service officially launches, the company has set up a landing page to help familiarize Android and iPhone users with what BBM has to offer. The initial launch will likely include messaging only, with BBM Voice and video coming at a later date, likely later in the fall or early winter.

The landing page isn’t accessible anymore and instead redirects to a sign-up page for being notified about BBM’s official launch, but in the brief time it was up, it had a lot of placeholder graphics, along with not-working links to download the Android and iPhone apps.

 The landing page redirects to a sign-up page for being notified about BBM’s official launch

Despite struggling to really gain any substantial market share this year, the company’s messaging platform is still regarded as one of the best, even with services such as WhatsApp on the market.

The company is also considering making BBM a separate company BBM Inc. Some executives already moved to the new subsidiary and are working on feature beyond basic messaging that will be introduced in BBM.

We know BBM is a solid service; what we don’t know is whether folks on Android and iOS even care to use it. Apple users already have access to iMessage, while Android users have a handful of messaging clients as well, including Hangouts. Even if you are excited to use BBM, you still have to convince your friends to hop on board and ditch what they’re currently using. Not an easy task, but we’ll find out soon just how interested people are.

RC Apps, News
Thursday, August 29, 2013

Flip From Bicycle To Stroller With Vagabond

Flip From Bicycle To Stroller With Vagabond

We could say that all bicycles are environmentally friendly, healthy and fun, but what makes Vagabond from Spanish company SmartBikes different from others is that it does double duty as a bicycle with integrated child seat and a stroller.

In bike mode, the vehicle adopts a two wheels front and one wheel rear configuration. The two front wheels and split handlebars are positioned either side of the child seat with the rider sitting behind.

The Vagabond in bicycle mode

To convert the Vagabond to the stroller mode, the rider lowers their seat, removes the child seat and folds the frame in half by way of a centrally-located hinge. The child seat is then reattached with a single wheel now at the front and two at the rear. The whole conversion process takes less than a minute.

The Vagabond in stroller mode

SPECIFICATIONS:

>> 16-inch wheels
>> Aluminum frame
>> 73 cm wide x 165 cm long x 102 cm high (28.7 x 64.9 x 40.1 in) in bike mode
>> 73 cm wide x 120 cm x 102 cm (28.7 x 47.2 x cm x 40.1 in) in stroller mode
>> Shimano Nexus 3-speed gears
>> Mechanic disc front brakes
>> Shimano Roller rear brakes
>> Weighs from 20 to 29 kg (44 to 64 lb)
>> Support maximum rider weight of 100 kg (220 lb)
>> Can carry a single child of 25 kg (55 lb) and another child of up to 20 kg (44 lb) with the optional double       child seat in bike mode
>> Can take one or two children weighing 15 kg (33 lb) each in stroller mode

From edgy design, and with three wheels, Vagabond makes you feel safety and comfort, which offers maximum stability, even allowing you to not have to put his feet on the ground when standing.

The Vagabond is available for order online for €999 (US$1,330) with a €40 (US$43) delivery fee.

RELATED VIDEO:

Leaked New Photo Reveals Nokia Lumia 1520 “Bandit” Phablet

Leaked New Photo Reveals Nokia Lumia 1520 “Bandit” Phablet

The Nokia Bandit leaks just keep on coming. Nokia’s rumored Windows Phone phablet made another appearance today, popping up on The Verge forums in a new photo. The device, which was initially called the “Bandit,” but is now being referred to as the Lumia 1520.

The gossips have been suggesting that the phone will compete with the Samsung Galaxy Note and tout a 6-inch screen with 1080p high def resolution, come with a 20 mega pixel camera and a Quad-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor.

To accommodate the 1080p display, the 1520 would come preloaded with a new version of Windows Phone 8, GDR3, that will bring support for larger and higher density displays. As seen in the leaked image above, the Start screen will support a three-column grid of Live Tiles, and other changes are expected.

The image above was leaked to us and while we cannot confirm it, we have a suspicion that is accurate. For one, it comes with what looks like an optional back case with a front cover to protect the display. We also wouldn’t be surprised if it adds Qi wireless charging capability as well. It's placed next to what appears to be a Lumia 1020 for size comparison.

Nokia will reportedly announce this device at an event in New York at the end of September. It will allegedly be seen alongside Nokia's upcoming 10.1-inch Windows RT tablet, codenamed 'Sirius', that was recently spotted in leaked images.

It'll be interesting to see how the devices compete in increasingly crowded tablet and phablet markets, alongside big guns like the iPad and Galaxy Note.

Smartphone Camera Magnification Boost up by Stick-on Lens

Thomas Larson inspire a new generation of scientists with the Micro Phone Lens, an adhesive add-on lens that offers 15X optical magnification from a tiny footprint.

The Micro Phone Lens

The lens is made using "platinum catalyzed silicone technology," which basically means it uses soft plastic instead of glass. This makes it flexible and scratch-resistant and according to Larson it is optically identical to glass.

The Micro Phone Lens trades off the performance of larger devices like the ProScope Micro against the convenience of being so small that you hardly notice it.

The Micro Phone Lens on an iPhone

It is of only 1/4 inch (6 mm) in diameter, the device is essentially a tiny sticker that goes right over the camera's lens. It is washable, removable and reusable, so you won't have to lock it into one specific smartphone or tablet.

A photo taken with the Micro Phone Lens

The actual lens is able to achieve a magnification of 15X, but it can achieve higher magnification in the order of 60X with the assistance of the smartphone or tablet's digital zooming capability. Larson recommends using it with a 5 megapixel cell phone camera as a minimum.

In the future, Larson plans to bring a 150X version of the lens to market. This would essentially create a portable microscope. Unfortunately, "unfinished design problems" are holding off the development of that model.

The creator is seeking funding for his Micro Phone Lens on Kickstarter and has already blown past his goal of US$5,000.

The Humble Dice Is Dragged Into The 21st Century By DICE+

Dice+ is designed to bring the age-old device into the digital age

Dice+ stays true to the six-sided form factor of traditional dice, but it adds the ability to interact with smartphones and tablets using Bluetooth to deliver a blend of old fashioned game playing on a new fashioned platform.

Dice+ is designed to work with iPad 3 and 4

The device packs quite a bit of technology into the space behind its six LED displays. An in-built magnetic field sensor allows Dice+ to detect its orientation while a proximity sensor lets it know when it is being touched and an accelerometer allows it to detect movement and acceleration. These sensors allow for accurate rolls as well as helping prevent cheating (because it knows if it has been rolled properly).
It is compatible with Android 4.0 and newer, as well as the iPad 3, Dice+ has a range of up to 15 feet, which seems like more than enough, since most gamers will be playing near the device to which they are connected.

Playing a game while using Dice+

For the time being, the list of supported games available on Apple's App Store and Google Play is modest, with staples like Backgammon included alongside less well-known games such as This Way Up, Bella & Max, and others. The company plans to release more games throughout the year, and it is calling for developers to create more games for the device.

Rolling Dice+ on a tablet


Dice+ is priced at €$39.99. A battery designed to last about 20 hours is included.

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RC Gadgets

First Lab-Grown Human ‘Mini Brains’

Researchers create the first lab-grown human ‘mini brains’

A new three-dimensional culture system for growing mini brains in the lab is developed by Researchers in Austria. They began with a custom blend of human stem cells growing inside a spinning bioreactor, and coerced them to assemble into complex structures they call “cerebral organoids.” After two months of growth, these unassuming tenderloins reached their maximum size i.e. one far shy of an actual human brain — but they have persisted ten months now, and their survival appears indefinite.

In beginning, the researchers mixed together embryonic stem cells, ultimately derived from fetal tissue, and a smattering of cells known as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells), which are extracted from more refined adult tissue. The agglomeration was encased in gel which acted as a mechanical scaffold to provide some structural integrity to the soft tissue. After transfer to the spinning bioreactor (pictured below), which facilitated nutrient delivery, a continuous sheet of tissue, known as neuroepithelia formed around a fluid cavity just as in the development of the ventricles of real brains. After a few weeks, specific brain regions like the cortex, and even a retina, began to form.


The researchers were able to tailor unique cerebral organoids that can be used to investigate particular human diseases. In one set of experiments they used iPS cells from the skin of a patient with a condition known as microcephaly (a condition where the brains fails to fully grow). The resulting organoids had much reduced proliferative capacity as a result of the cells adopting mature forms far too early on, reminiscent of the condition in actual development of the disease.

Growing whole organs in the lab is an essential tool to understand how they grow and differentiate, or specialize. The heart, for example, has a tough extracellular matrix which can be enzymatically extracted and used as a seed structure for stem cells to grow on.
 A major limitation here, and with any cultured organ, is the lack of blood supply. The researchers attribute the lack of growth after two months to the inability of nutrients to diffuse to cells once a critical size is reached.

The vasculature also supplies a more subtle organizing influence in real tissues, namely pressure. By virtue of their elaborate connections, brains naturally have the most advanced nutrient supply system of any organ. In fact the very basis of their construction is that of directed flow and exchange of molecular currency across improbably vast distances under the direction of various pumps and meters. But without the pressurizing influence of the heart-primed vasculature, developing neural tissues are, in effect, unable to self-inflate beyond a certain limit.

In real embryos, a rapidly mineralizing skull threatens to dome up the works prematurely if the brain doesn’t supply sufficient counter force. Fortunately, the heart eventually gets its act together and comes online, together with oxygen bearing blood cells which begin to permeate the fluid now being pumped around the embryo.

If a blood supply, and corresponding capillary bed system, can eventually be sourced to developing organoids, perhaps these size constraints can be overcome. The full complexity of the adult brain far exceeds that of the structure of these primitive buttons of tissue. 

Track Baby's Health by 'Smart' Socks

Now baby's heart rate and oxygen can be monitored from your smartphone, a US baby product company claims to have created the world's first 'smart sock' that lets parents monitor their baby's vital signs through a smartphone while he sleeps.

Track Baby's Health by 'Smart' Socks 

"Every parent knows what it's like to lay in bed and stress about whether your child is breathing," said Jacob Colvin, founder of the company.

According to the company, ”The sock transmits a child's heart rate, oxygen levels, skin temperature, sleep quality, and sleep position (rollover alerts) to a parent's smartphone or other Internet-based device”.
The monitor continues to work as long as it fits the child's foot, and it has been beta tested on infants up to two years old. Heart rate and oxygen levels are found using an innovative four sensor pulse oximeter.

"A hospital pulse oximeter costs parents around a thousand dollars. We are so excited that we can offer peace of mind to parents at a financially feasible price," said Kurt Workman Owlet Founder/CEO of Owlet Baby Care Home.
Additional features include Rollover Alerts, skin temperature, and sleep-quality tracking.

This monitor is also the first "wearable technology" in the infant space and is especially unique because it applies a safe, proven hospital technology in a new way: utilising multiple sensors, so it can grow with your child.

Hospital pulse oximeters only allow for one combination of light and sensor, making Owlet's monitor a vast improvement over current technology. The new design allows the Owlet monitor to automatically adjust data read for foot growth, movement, and various levels of ambient light," said Zack Bombsta, Chief Engineering Officer.

Video


Livestream Operation Procedure To Medical Students Via Google Glass

Livestreams Operation to Medical Students via Google Glass

A routine surgery has been performed recently by a surgeon at Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center while wearing Google Glass. This technology allowed Dr. Christopher Kaeding to live stream the procedure to a group of students on the other side of town and collaborate with a colleague during the process.

The surgeon performed an ACL repair on a woman that injured her knee while playing softball. It might be think that after wearing a connected piece of technology like Glass, it would hinder the task at hand or at the very least, add a bit of pressure. But once Kaeding got started, he said he often forgot the device was even there.

Livestreams Operation to Medical Students via Google Glass

Kaeding added that it was a privilege to be part of the project as we explore how the technology might be incorporated into the everyday care of patients.

Ohio State University is now looking into other ways that Glass could be used to enhance the learning experience of students.  Dr. Clay Marsh, the medical center's chief innovation officer, said they were very excited about the opportunities the device could provide for education. 

Glass could also be used by doctors to call up X-ray or MRI images using voice commands, meaning their hands could stay busy at work.

Apple Acquires AlgoTrim, Mobile Media And Data Compression Swedish Firm

Apple Acquires AlgoTrim, Mobile Media And Data Compression Swedish Firm

Apple has acquired a firm called AlgoTrim, a Swedish company that specializes in compression algorithms for mobile phones. According to the company’s site, it builds codecs and designs solutions that maximize performance of data, mobile imaging, video and computer graphics while minimizing memory requirements.  Apple could potentially build the technology into its products to decrease the required power of a task, possibly extending battery life, making the overall software experience quicker and build more efficient media deliver for mobile devices, that use less bandwidth while preserving quality

AlgoTrim also has the technology required to improve imagery, which could be applied to camera sensors on future iPhone or iPad devices. AlgoTrim can help Apple improve the quality of images taken by the iPhone’s camera. AlgoTrim promises to deliver “modern computational photography” to mobile phones, which uses a combination of technologies like actuators, computing and sensors to move beyond the traditional limitations of digital photography. In other words, AlgoTrim might be able to help Apple develop its own imaging technology similar to Nokia’s PureView pixel oversampling.

Apple hasn’t yet confirmed the purchase, so we don’t know the terms of the deal. It’ll be interesting to see how Apple decides to incorporate AlgoTrim’s technology, but it’s likely a win for iPhone users all around.

RC Apple, News

Recently Granted Apple Patent Could Turn The iPhone Into An Intelligent Universal Media, "Smart Home" Remote Control

Recently Granted Apple Patent Could Turn The iPhone Into An Intelligent Universal Media, "Smart Home" Remote Control

Recently Apple is granted a patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday describes how the iPhone or a similar device could be used as a remote control for a futuristic smart-home, controlling entertainment as well as lighting and temperature. The iPhone app could also save specific “scenes” allowing the user to quickly switch from “Study Scene” to “Dinner Scene” or “Relax Scene” by simply tapping a button on your phone.

Recently Granted Apple Patent Could Turn The iPhone Into An Intelligent Universal Media, "Smart Home" Remote Control

The new patent, number 8,519,820, is titled “Systems and methods for saving and restoring scenes in a multimedia system,” was first filed for five years ago by the developer who coded the first iTunes Remote iOS app, Alan Cannistraro. Cannistraro’s app is still around, and now works with Apple TV as well, but his new design takes the concept a step further, allowing the user to control everything in their house.

The system also has some neat automated components, like suggesting themes and whole home settings based on metadata associated with content being watched. This means that you don’t have to sit down with intent aforehand to watch something and choose the appropriate theme – while you’re browsing or channel surfing, and if you happen to light upon something you seem to like, the system could suggest an appropriate mode to go with it. So if you get sucked into Spartacus, for instance, Apple’s iPhone-based multimedia concierge could offer to change your system over to the idea setting for classical epics with a single tap.

Recently Granted Apple Patent Could Turn The iPhone Into An Intelligent Universal Media, "Smart Home" Remote Control

The patent application says that the app and device would interface with various AV components and smartphone devices using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or other wireless protocols. The patent also shows ways of intelligently suggesting television, stereo, and lighting settings. The software also supports the information sent from devices on their operating state and can save those statuses for later retrieval making the operation of devices faster and easier in the future.

Nokia Asha 503 Lanai And Asha 502 Pegasus Images, Specifications Leaked

Nokia Asha 503 Lanai And Asha 502 Pegasus Images, Specifications Leaked

According to eveleaks, which has a fair record of leaking gadget information, Nokia Asha 503, codenamed Lanai, will be similar to Asha 501 in appearance.

Asha 503 is concerned, reports say that the phone might have 3.5 inch gorilla glass display and it would be powered by a 1.5 GHz processor with GPU. It may come with a 128 to 512 MB RAM. The cell phone may also feature a dual SIM facility and spot 5MP rear camera with a LED flash.

At the global launch of the Asha 501 in New Delhi in May, Nokia CEO Stephen Elop had told BGR India that Nokia was working on an 3G variant though he was reluctant to give any timeline. “This is the first in a family of Asha phones and a 3G model is coming. It was all about optimizing resources and getting the first product out as soon as possible,” Elop had then said. Probably, the launch is close.

The Nokia Asha 502, Pegasus will feature a polycarbonate design with a 3.2 to 3.5-inch scratch resistant display which is said to be better than that of the Asha 501, though the source is not sure about the screen resolution. It is likely to be slimmer and lighter. The RAM could be in the range of 128 to 512 MB while the processor is expected to be clocked at 1-1.2GHz. The Asha 502 is said to support 3G connectivity, the feature that was widely missed on the Asha 501. It could sport a 5-megapixel rear camera with the new Nokia Camera app for Asha devices. The site also claims that the device could support dual-SIM.

So far, there has been no official statement from Nokia about the pricing or the availability of the phones. Both of the alleged Asha phones could be launched in Q3 or Q4 of 2013.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Water-Resistant Phone "Kyocera Hydro ELITE" Hits Verizon Aug. 29 For $99

Water-Resistant Phone "Kyocera Hydro ELITE"  Hits Verizon Aug. 29 For $99

Kyocera’s Hydro Elite is the latest “waterproof” phone to hit the Verizon Wireless,  announced on Tuesday that it will begin selling the Kyocera Hydro ELITE Android smartphone beginning on Aug. 29 . The device features both PIX5 and IPX7 certifications.

SPECIFICATIONS:

>> 4.3-inch 1280 x 720-pixel display
>> Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
>> Dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8960 processor clocked at 1.5GH
>> 16GB of expandable storage
>> 1.5GB of RAM
>> Qi wireless charging
>> 2,100mAh battery
>> 1.3MP FFC
>> MHL support, DLNA support

Kyocera Hydro ELITE Phone's Back View

The Hydro ELITE is not exactly a high-end smartphone, but its size will make it a great option for people tired of phablets, and it tosses in a degree of ruggedness that makes it a solid choice for outdoorsy people. Its body is built to withstand a depth of 3.28-feet of water for up to 30 minutes and a Kyocera “Smart Sonic Receiver” should make it easy to hear voices in loud environments.

Rather than using a typical speaker, Kyocera replaces it with a ceramic actuator that actually picks up the vibrations from your voice and transmits a clearer and cleaner sound, much like the Jawbone headsets that get their sounds from the vibrations in your jawbone.

The Kyocera Hydro ELITE will cost $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year contract.

RC Mobiles

Neptune Pine Smartwatch From Neptune Available For Pre-Order Starting At $335

Neptune Pine Smartwatch From Neptune Available For Pre-Order Starting At $335

Neptune Computer Inc., a Canadian tech company based in Montreal,  entry into the increasingly crowded smartwatch market with the Neptune Pine. The Neptune Pine comes with its own SIM card and offers full 2G and 3G connectivity (though it can’t do 4G LTE for now).

SPECIFICATIONS:

>> 2.4-inch QVGA capacitive touchscreen
>> 320 x 240-pixel display
>> 1.2 GHz Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor
>> 5-megapixel camera
>> 512MB of RAM
>> Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
>> Built-in 3-axis accelerometer and gyroscope

The Pine smartwatch is in a class all on its own. First, it is a completely independent communications device. With the full power of the Android OS and support for 2G/3G, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4.0, the Pine can make and receive voice calls, browse the web, check and respond to emails, Facebook posts, tweets, and text messages- Bluetooth- tethering not required.

The Pine is also an extremely powerful fitness tracker. With built-in GPS, pedometer, and compass, it tracks steps, pace, time, laps, location, direction and calories burned. With the help of the included Neptune PulseCounter, it becomes a real-time heart rate monitor. Additionally, the Pine handset can be attached to mounts or other accessories where it becomes a wearable, point-of-view (POV) video camera, shooting in 720p HD video with its rear-facing 5 megapixel camera.

The Neptune Pine is now available for pre-order at neptunepine.com in either Jet Black or Polar White starting at a suggested retail price of $335  for a 16GB model and an additional $60 for twice the storage. With unparalleled connectivity and an extensive set of features, the Pine does it all, without tethering to a smartphone. The Pine is expected to ship to US and Canada in December of 2013.

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"Galaxy Tab 3 Kids": Samsung's Colorful Learning Tablet For Children

"Galaxy Tab 3 Kids": Samsung's Colorful Learning Tablet For Children

Electronics giant Samsung has launched a new 7-inch tablet, called the Galaxy Tab 3 Kids. It offers a durable design and comes pre-loaded with added safety and education features. The tablet is a bright and colourful variation of the Galaxy Tab 3 and comes preloaded with apps, parental controls and content for children.

The Galaxy Tab 3 Kids comes pre-loaded with all of the most popular kids apps currently available for Samsung devices, and includes a new Kid’s Store filled with games, educational apps, as well as child-appropriate videos, e-books and other content. The tablet also comes with a special Time Management feature that lets parents limit the amount of time their kids use the device.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Specifications For Galaxy Tab 3 Kids

>> 7-inch display
>> 1024 x 600 pixels resolution
>> 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera
>> 3-megapixel rear shooter
>> 1GB of RAM
>> 8 GB of internal storage expandable via microSD card slot
>> Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n on the 2.4 and 5GHz bands
>> 1.2GHz dual-core processor
>> Specially designed C Pen stylus
>> Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS
>> Li-ion 4000mAh battery
>> Exynos 4 chip


The company has crafted a yellow exterior with an orange rubber casing. The Galaxy Tab Kids has a child-friendly grip that protects the tablet. Samsung has also added a C Pen with the tablet which is like the S Pen and lets children draw on the tablet’s screen without damaging it. The tablet will be launched with a number of different stand options that are comfortable for kids.

The Galaxy Tab 3 Kids will be available in Korea starting early next month, and roll out worldwide soon afterward. The company doesn’t say how much the device will cost, but we expect a point slightly below the usual $199 price attached to other 7-inch slates.

The Galaxy Tab 3 Kids will be launched in September in Korea, and later on in the U.S., Europe, South America, China, Africa and Southeast Asia. The pricing of the tablet has not been revealed yet, but we expect a point slightly below the usual $199 price attached to other 7-inch slates.