At Finetech Japan 2010 in Tokyo, Newslight demonstrated a series of 3D naked-eye displays. Yes, this technology allows you to see in 3D without wearing glasses.
The displays included a 70-inch model which the company claims is the largest in the world. According to DigiTimes, Newsight’s parallax barrier technology “subdivides the LCD image into complex repeating segments that, when viewed and then integrated by human binocular vision, presents 3D views.”
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The iPad is Apple’s latest gadget release that has gadget geeks across the country salivating with excitement. For those contemplating between an iPad and a Kindle, here’s a look at iPad vs. Kindle and which one is better.
The main advantage for the iPad is its flexibility. It can be used as an e-book reader like the Kindle but it does much more. You can surf on the web, you can listen to music like an iPod, you can download games and apps like an iPhone and you can watch video on the iPad. The iPad also has a bigger screen than the Kindle (9.7 inches to 6 inches).
As for the Kindle, it has its advantages. First of all, the Kindle is about half the price of the iPad. The Kindle also weighs less, its battery lasts longer and its screen is better suited for reading e-books. The Kindle also makes it much easier to download e-books than the iPad.
So what do you think? Does the iPad have enough features that it really tops the Kindle? Or should we weight for the next edition of the iPad to come out before we judge?
Image: Apple
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What if you could turn your skin into a touch-interface? That’s the idea driving Skinput, a system that takes advantage of the vibrations generated when we tap our body. The prototype is accurate enough that different parts of the body can be turned into switches that control a variety of functions, as the video below demonstrates:
Using a tiny projector embedded in the armband that captures taps on the human arm, Skinput can even display a dynamic graphical interface to present information and options to users. I wonder though if Chris Harrison of Carnegie Mellon University—and his partners from Microsoft Research—can find a way to integrate swipes, and reduce the response time between presses.
Both would make Skinput much more versatile, and make it easier for that killer app to build demand for the system. The possible applications of Skinput are endless, so let’s hope this is a research project that makes it into retail or B2B channels.
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I suggest you jump straight into Mass Effect 2, even if you haven’t played or finished the first game. Like its predecessor, Mass Effect 2 plays like a movie, where you are its star attraction, the best hope of the galaxy, and a fearless leader all in one.
From the opening portion you will find yourself taking your time enjoying the scenery. Mass Effect 2’s world is a very-detailed and realistic one, even on a computer with relatively weak 9500 GT graphics (at 1152 x 864). The high-production values also extend to the music and sound effects, creating a compelling world that you’re happy to be a part of. While there’s not that much to do in the beginning, that changes the first time you find yourself under enemy fire.
Even the character creation system is well thought out, a logical progression from the opening scenes. That’s the general idea I got from this game. While RPG staples such as package delivery and find the X are prominent, the whole experience seemed quite integrated and quite new to me. The overarching story arc is simplistic at points, merely a clear path you have to take, but the variety of locations and situations you find yourself in keep things interesting. Whether you’re leading your team against an enemy squad, or negotiating your way to ultimate victory, Mass Effect 2’s gameplay is the kind that keeps you playing “for just one more mission”.
And, in the tradition of past Bioware RPG epics like Knights of the Old Republic, and Dragon Age, your teammates feel like living breathing colleagues, instead of cookie-cutter minions suited for specific tasks. As you prepare your team for the suicide mission, earning your subordinates’ loyalty by completing missions where they have a personal interest flesh out their profiles.
It will take a few marathon sessions to get through this game, at least if you want to prepare enough to get everyone out alive. But the fun doesn’t stop after you’ve won the final battle and make a decision that will most likely affect what happens in Mass Effect 3. The different character classes all have their own way of killing enemies, but it’s different enough to merit several playthroughs.
In fact, Bioware shrewdly structured Mass Effect 2 as an advertisement for Mass Effect 1; certain storylines in the second game are dependent on what you did on the first, based on the save game files your import at the beginning. Make certain choices in Mass Effect 1, and you’ll be rewarded with content in Mass Effect 2 that expounds on your old decisions.
And the choices you make within Mass Effect 2 have their own consequences. Fail to win an allies’ loyalty or prepare adequately, and you may find yourself mourning loss in the final battle. Yet more reasons to involve yourself with Bioware’s creations.
Mass Effect 2 is the complete package. From great visuals and involving sound effects, to missions that never seem to get old, this is a game you should spend your hard-earned money on. It will totally be worth it.
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But not big enough that you’ll have a hard time carrying it around. The HTC HD2 is easily the best example of the slate smartphone form factor, which is all screen and pretty much nothing else. It’s also the smartphone with the biggest display I’ve ever seen. Nothing I’ve ever used comes close to the HD2’s 4.3 inches of portable visual eye-candy. Few things amaze me nowadays, but seeing HTC pull his off—on a unit that’s barely a centimeter thick—did.
Unfortunately, I have at least one bias against this phone. As someone who never really adapted touch screen keyboards, typing on the HD2’s virtual QWERTY was a bit cumbersome. Tapping keys does provide some haptic feedback, but users who’ve gotten used to physical keys (like me) will take their time typing.
It also takes a while to familiarize yourself with the interface. HTC’s Sense UI is pretty intuitive when you’re browsing the home screens. Just swipe to the left, or to the right, or drag your finger across the icons on the bottom of the screen to access what you need. Navigating menus or looking for applications is another story however, until I realized that, as a Windows Mobile 6.5 phone, pushing the Start button was the first thing to do.
The HD2 clearly enjoys the power of its 1 GHz CPU, blazing through every screen I opened, never slowing down. This isn’t a phone I’d buy, but only because I like tapping out text on an actual QWERTY. Still, based on my 10 minutes with the HTC HD2, few phones are as fast and responsive, and no other has a huge 4.3-inch 480 x 800 display. That means a bigger space for fingerprints to land on, so be sure to have a screen protector ready if you buy an HD2!
View the HTC HD2 specs at Spectograph
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Here’s something to try out, Android users. Gesture Search has made an appearance on Google Labs, and is available as a download for devices running Android 2.0 or later.
Do you find it hard to find a contact or locate an application from a list of hundreds of items on an Android phone? Or do you find it stressful to search for an item by typing in its title while on the go?
Gesture Search from Google Labs lets you search your Android-powered device by drawing alphabet gestures on the touch screen. It allows you to quickly find a contact, a bookmark, an application, or a music track from hundreds or thousands of items, all in one place. It is fast and fun to use.
Gesture Search currently supports English and requires Android 2.0 or above.
Visit this page for the download link, and access to the discussion groups and FAQ.
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