Before | Thats Bad Ass! Tech News and Reviews

Posts Tagged ‘Before’

Pandora launches ‘Premieres,’ will stream albums before they go on sale

|

Digitalmusicrights_large

Fast payday loans For Every One

Internet radio site Pandora is launching a new station called “Pandora Premieres.” Unlike its regular service, which creates custom radio stations based on your preferences, Premieres will preview upcoming album releases from “upcoming and established artists” in their entirety before they go on sale. The model is similar to that of iTunes, which recently streamed both Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories and the new David Bowie album free of charge prior to their release. The main difference between the two services is Apple’s iTunes previews are presented as a continuous stream, whereas Premieres allows users to play any track in any order.

The first albums to be previewed through Pandora Premieres will be John Fogerty’s Wrote a Song…

There Was A ‘Glass’ Before Google Came Along, And It Was Used In Antarctica In 2001

|

Author: jos

Whether or not you think that Google Glass is something that you’d wind up using one day, you have to admit that the technology is impressive. Packed inside of the pair of specs is a computer running android, camera and all of the wireless capabilities you’d need. The idea of wearable computers is nothing new, and a team that explored Antarctica actually had their own pair of “Glass” long before it was en vogue.

In a blog post chronicling the team’s experience, Tina Sjogren fondly remembers what it was like to pull together a wearable computer running Windows 98, paired with a “finger” mouse for controls and a glass screen as its display. It sounds a lot like an early version of Google Glass, but this was truly a technological marvel, considering that it was built and used at the South Pole in 2001.

The specs of the device, which was called “South Pole Wearable,” are nothing short of amazing, including custom built software to share information and post photos. It was also solar powered, something that Google Glass could really use. It didn’t use 3G, 4G or WiFi, relying on satellites:

Finger Mouse
Wrist Keyboard
HUD (VGA Heads Up Display, Eye-trek Glasses by Olympus)
Wearable Windows 98 computers
Daylight flat panel display
Customized Technology vests
Shoulder Mounted Web Camera
Bluetooth near person network
Iridium data over satellite
Power converters
Solar cells
Control and Command voice software
CONTACT blogging software
Image editing, word processing

The entire kit weighed 15 pounds, which is almost double what the original Google Glass prototype weighed, about 8 pounds. It now weighs about as much as an average pair of sunglasses.

Tina and Tom Sjogren set forth to build something that allowed them to transfer all types of information as they skied through the snowy South Pole. Sharing this type of information in real-time was not something that many could wrap their brains around, therefore the pair didn’t get the type of attention for their device that Google is getting for Glass today. Tina says:

We wore a computer on our hips, a mouse in our pocket, and the glass was our screen. We did it not to show off but because we had no other choice.

She also sees a future for Google Glass and regular consumers: “New technology often needs time to catch on and I can see a future for Google glass today. It will come down to how sleek and useful they are. A stylish design paired with all the wonders of augmented reality – what’s not to love?”

“Cool, maybe the time has come for this tech”

Wearing Google Glass wasn’t the experience that Tina and Tom had back in 2001, as Tina refers to their display as “too bulky to wear all of the time.” The eye piece on their device had greenish text which, much like Google Glass, didn’t obstruct your view. It even had voice commands. The two even slept in their gear at nights, to keep it warm and protect it from the elements. In 2002, they became the first to broadcast live photos and sounds from the Antarctic ice cap.

The trekkers counted on Ericcson as their sponsor during the mission, and here’s a drawing they made of a “future explorer” wearing their device:

I spoke with Tina Sjogren today and she told me that the reason for building the device was based on their love of exploration: “Our specialty is to find and marry software and hardware for unique situations such as extreme expeditions, military, security and other.” The purpose of building the device was simple, yet profound: “We had a story to tell. There had never been live dispatches done from a skiing expedition on the continent before. We also helped General Dynamics with feedback on how this could work on aircraft carriers.”

Twelve years after the Sjogren team set out on their adventure, Google is trying to make the world around us equally as interesting with Glass. It’s too soon to know whether it will catch on with consumers once they’re made available to people other than developers.

If we’ve learned anything from Tina and Tom Sjogren, it’s that good ideas have this way of coming back year after year, getting better and more polished each time:

As Google Glass has gotten more publicity, Tina summarized her feelings about it succinctly, capturing the true mentality of someone who loves to see new things, explore new places and share experiences: “Cool, maybe the time has come for this tech.”

Samsung says the Galaxy S4 design is ‘like nothing you’ve ever seen before’

|

Author:

Gs4_13-875_large

If the Galaxy S III was gently mocked for its design, the S4 has been the unwitting focus of a full-on roast. In a video explaining its design choices, Samsung explains that while the Galaxy S III was inspired by nature, this time it decided to ask the question “how can we change people’s lives for the better?” It concluded that it should be more rational with the S4′s design, toning down the curves and eliminating some of its predecessor’s flourishes. This focus apparently helped the company make the phone thinner while including a larger display. The product designers say they still managed to introduce “emotional elements” through CMF (color, material, and finish) choices, though.

This is the Modem World: Nothing is new. It’s been done before.

|

Author: Randy Miller

Each week Joshua Fruhlinger contributes This is the Modem World, a column dedicated to exploring the culture of consumer technology.

It’s funny how things come back around. When I was growing up in the ’80s, music was looking back at the ’50s and ’60s and re-creating it into some of the best bands the world has seen. Paul Weller wouldn’t have become the songwriter he is had he not grown up on the Beatles. Likewise, Paul McCartney wouldn’t have become the genius that he is had he not been raised on Little Richard. And now, bands are looking back at the ’80s and re-doing that explosive era – with both good and bad results that I will not go into here lest I make new enemies.

Culture is cyclical, and we’re beginning to see that technology is bound to follow that same rinse-and-repeat formula.

Filed under: Misc

Comments

Nokia was working on a kickstand-equipped tablet before Surface launch

|

Author: Jack Schmidt

Nokiatabletpatent_large

A newly revealed patent application has unearthed images of a Nokia tablet. While we’ve known Nokia has been working on a tablet, the patent application shows how an old design included a keyboard cover with a kickstand. Sources familiar with Nokia’s plans previously detailed Nokia’s Windows tablet to The Verge in December, describing it as a device with a special cover that envelops it like a book. The cover was said to include a keyboard and a kickstand for Nokia’s tablet.

While the patent application might not be directly related to a Windows Nokia tablet, it was filed months before Microsoft revealed its own Surface tablet to the world — similar to how third-party case manufacturers created an iPad cover before Apple’s own Smart…

Incoming search terms:

Calm before the swarm: domestic drones are here, but the law’s still catching up

|

Author:

Drone-lede_large

It was a muggy springtime morning in South Texas virtually one year ago when Gene Robinson got to the swampy waters near Sam Houston Lake Estates. All that week the location had been a hive of activity, as authorities browsed along the banks, diving underwater with scuba gear, and flying overhead in helicopters. 150 search-and-rescue workers aided by 40 pet dogs had actually criss-crossed the thick forest around the lake on foot, ATVs, and horseback. Texas Rangers stood guard with rifles, securing search celebrations from alligators, feral hogs, and huge predatory cats.

The missing out on boy was Devon Davis, a two-year-old who had relocated with his household to the location just a couple of weeks prior. While his mother was napping, Devon had wandered out of the house and …

Continue reading & hellip;

Incoming search terms:

Google Keep note-taking app spotted in Drive before disappearing

|

Author: Tiffany Shoman

Keep_large

Everyone might be focused on the services Google is scrapping as part of its spring cleaning, but it looks like there’s at least one new (or rather, renewed) service on the way. Android Police reports that a new note-taking app called Google Keep will let you take notes, which you can color-code and add picture to, as well as use to build checklists. The idea is reminiscent of Google’s failed Notebook service and products like Evernote, although with a seemingly trimmed-down feature set. The news was first uncovered by Google+ user 1E100.

The new site was reportedly up briefly at https://drive.google.com/keep but has since been removed, so all we’re left with is Android Police’s screenshots (above) and some official images for…

Incoming search terms:

Should I wait a few weeks after Mango comes out before updating?

|

Author: Rod Sutherland

Question by Lazyitis: Should I wait a few weeks after Mango comes out before updating?
I’m new to smart phones and updates and such. This Samsung Focus running Windows Phone 7 is my first smart phone. Is it better to wait a few weeks after the update comes out to see if it causes people problems then get it after any last minute issues have been remedied?
Or “it is what it is” and I should install it as soon as it comes out?

Best answer:

Answer by Nucopedia
you should wait a while. When microsoft issued a minor update before some samsung phones had issues and some where bricked (made useless) and while I believe the carrier issued replacemnts it was still an inconvinence. So yes, I think you should wait just to make sure that there aren’t any bugs that could make your phone malfunction.

Give your answer to this question below!

Incoming search terms:

Samsung Galaxy S IV Gets Picked Over Before The ‘Unpacked’ Event In Exhaustive Review

|

Author: Melissa Shroeder

Times Square is where Samsung is gearing up to unveil the Galaxy S IV tonight at a special press event, but the leaks won’t stop coming. The latest, from the same Chinese source that brought us videos of key features earlier today, is a long, extensive review of the supposed SGS IV hardware, laying bare all of its secrets and even going so far as to take a microscope to the new smartphone’s screen.

The review is, as mentioned, exhaustive (and also in Chinese), but there are some key elements worth drawing specific attention to. In the disappointing column, that metal-look border surrounding the phone does indeed appear to be plastic upon closer prodding. On the good side, it looks like the plastic backing for the device actually doesn’t feel like plastic, according to the reviewers, thanks to micro-perforations in the surface.

Taking the scope to the screen reveals improvements to the sub-pixel arrangement which help increase density and maximize the rendering of deep blacks, with changes that also help it improve its ability to render fine detail. The screen is reportedly better able to render images clearly, making it impossible to discern pixels with the reviewer’s naked eye. The camera also looks improved, in side-by-side comparisons with the iPhone 5, though the reviewer says accurate color rendering isn’t up to par with Apple’s smartphone.

The Samsung Galaxy S IV tested in the leaked review had an eight-core Samsung Exynos Octa processor on board (the one rumored for the international version, which makes sense), which led to it blowing away the competition in AnTuTu benchmarking tests. Users definitely won’t be disappointed by the GSIV’s performance if these leaks prove legit.

The review notes that Samsung has focused a lot on adding and refining screen transition animations and tap action effects, which are likely made possible by the big bump in processing power. It also supposedly has Smart Scrolling, Smart Pause, and Smart Rotation features onboard, which is in keeping with earlier reports about Samsung enabling eye-tracking interaction on the handset.

The leak may disappoint some who were hoping for more surprises later tonight, but Samsung likely isn’t too concerned: this phone will sell well, regardless of how much it has to demo to the press tonight has been publicized beforehand. Check out the full review at it168.com for all the poorly translated spoilers your heart could desire, and then follow along with our live coverage to get the full scoop.

Incoming search terms:

Galaxy S IV Now Leakiest Launch Ever before, As Videos Of SmartPause And Floating Touch Characteristic Area

|

Author: Jack Schmidt

Samsung will unveil the Galaxy S IV today at its event this evening at 7 PM ET in New York, however the cat is very much out of the bag at this point, and brand-new videos have actually appeared(by means of SammyHub) to try to ruin any remaining shock. The Galaxy S IV videos depicts Floating Touch, SmartPause, the brand-new unlock display and the GSIV ’ s brand-new web searching experience.

Floating Touch works basically like its name would suggest, allowing an individual to get tooltips and various other info by hovering a finger over the area of the screen, as opposed to with direct touch input. In the video, it ’ s revealed being utilized to raise image sneak peeks, for instance, without opening the image completely. Appears like it ’ ll take some getting utilized to, however we ’ ll delay until hands-on time to pass judgement.

With the Net searching experience, Samsung aims to have integrated not head monitoring features, but complete hand motions. The person making use of the phone in the video is seen utilizing his hand to scroll the web page he ’ s seeing up and down, and likewise to browse back and forward in the browser. It looks pretty cool, but again there ’ s some question about how helpful it ’ ll be in day-to-day applications.

The SmartPause feature looks like it can be all of what really launches with the Galaxy S IV that makes up supposed “ eye tracking, ” according to a Bloomberg report yesterday. Still, it looks impressive. Essentially, it can pause a video when an individual turns away, which is beneficial if you ’ re seeing something on your mobile gadget and get interrupted by an irritating colleague asking you to really do something connected to your “ job. ”

Lastly, there ’ s the new open display. Very little to say about this one, other than that it appears to have Tinkerbell-style shimmer impacts for tapping, and it unlocks with a swipe motion.

Samsung had much better have some things it tried to keep extra near to the chest at this upcoming event tonight, otherwise it ’ ll face the wrath of a thousand tech bloggers who feel ‘ dissatisfied ’ since they weren ’ t amazed by anything. Still, a few of these features could go over huge with developers, depending on whether third-parties can access and make use of these functions: hand motions and Floating Touch in certain may be really beneficial for game and app makers wanting to include some secret sauce to their Google mobile software providings for Samsung device owners.

Posts Tagged ‘Before’

Pandora launches ‘Premieres,’ will stream albums before they go on sale

Related Posts:

There Was A ‘Glass’ Before Google Came Along, And It Was Used In Antarctica In 2001

“Cool, maybe the time has come for this tech”

Related Posts:

Samsung says the Galaxy S4 design is ‘like nothing you’ve ever seen before’

Related Posts:

This is the Modem World: Nothing is new. It’s been done before.

Related Posts:

Nokia was working on a kickstand-equipped tablet before Surface launch

Incoming search terms:

Related Posts:

Calm before the swarm: domestic drones are here, but the law’s still catching up

Incoming search terms:

Related Posts:

Google Keep note-taking app spotted in Drive before disappearing

Incoming search terms:

Related Posts:

Should I wait a few weeks after Mango comes out before updating?

Incoming search terms:

Related Posts:

Samsung Galaxy S IV Gets Picked Over Before The ‘Unpacked’ Event In Exhaustive Review

Incoming search terms:

Related Posts:

Galaxy S IV Now Leakiest Launch Ever before, As Videos Of SmartPause And Floating Touch Characteristic Area

Incoming search terms:

Related Posts: