| Samsung patents using a phone as a pointer while wearing a head-mounted display Mar 14th 2012, 14:54 We're not sure how many head-mounted displays you've had your follicles on, but generally the answer around the Engadget compound is, " quite a few." If you've ever played with such a wearable gadget though, you'd know that head-tracking, while intuitive, isn't always the most accurate way to control a device. Samsung has patented an alternative method that lets you keep wearing those silly goggles, but uses your cellphone almost like a gyroscopic mouse to pilot a pointer. Rather than use a gyroscope or accelerometer (both of which are present in many modern smartphones), Samsung's patent turns to the camera -- a feature found in even the lowliest dumbphone. The primarily software-based solution would require that both the phone's sensor and the display have an agreed upon background marker to help line up the motions. If you're the type that loves to dig through the minutiae of patents there's something seriously wrong with you, but you'll find what you're looking for at the source. Samsung patents using a phone as a pointer while wearing a head-mounted display originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 10:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink |  USPTO | Email this | Comments | | Samsung researching Android-based digital camera Mar 14th 2012, 14:33 Android on a mainstream digital camera? Yes, you will live to see the day. We're at Samsung's Korean headquarters this week, where we had an opportunity to sit down with the company's research and development team to talk about the past, present and future of digital imaging. Much of those discussions were off the record, but we have secured permission to touch on one detail that we found quite fascinating: an "open" camera operating system. One rep offered up that "we are considering Android-based because our smartphone is Android-based," which means that the OS could (and likely will) be Android. The company shied from flat-out confirming that an Android-based camera would be hitting the market later this year, but they did hint at such. What we know is that Samsung R&D has been researching bringing Android to its digital cameras -- a move that would be far from shocking, considering that development teams do tend to collaborate, and the company clearly has experience with the Google OS. And while there are likely to be such "open OS" prototypes buried deep within Sammy HQ, they're mere experiments at this point -- at least from a production perspective. What exactly would an OS like Android mean for digital camera users? It could be a major breakthrough from a usability standpoint, opening up the in-camera ecosystem to third-party developers. We could see Twitter and Facebook apps that let you not only publish your photos directly with a familiar interface, but also see photos shared by your friends. A capacitive touchscreen would let you type in comments directly as well. You could publish to web-based services, utilize apps that enable post-capture creativity or receive firmware updates directly over WiFi. That hotshoe or USB port could accommodate a variety of different accessories, like a microphone or 4G modem that could be used with several models, including those from other manufacturers. While there's nothing making Android integration impossible from a technical standpoint, there are obvious disadvantages as well -- especially for camera makers. Stability would become an issue -- your camera could need a reboot just as often as your smartphone -- and such a powerful imaging device could theoretically cannibalize tablets and smartphones, though on a limited scale. Sadly this is merely educated speculation at this point, pending a product announcement from Samsung, though we wouldn't be surprised to come to fruition -- perhaps even before the next CES. Samsung researching Android-based digital camera originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 10:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Google+ updated with photo album organizer, batch delete and sorting functionality in tow Mar 14th 2012, 14:11 Suffice it to say, if you're still using Google+ you've probably noticed that it hasn't exactly had an expansive feature set for organizing photo albums. According to Isaac Sparrow, a self-described "engineer on the Google+ Photos team," a great number of folks have expressed the desire for better functionality in this area. Thankfully, in response, he also announced some a quartet of features that have just been set live on the site to help you keep your candids in check. Within the Options menus of your albums you'll now find an Organize tab which'll let you select and delete a multiple images, move and copy them to other albums and resort them by date or any order you choose. Sure, it's far from the likes of Facebook's Timeline, but we'd imagine anyone with backlog of photos on the site will surely appreciate the new digs. You know the drill -- hit the links below for all the details. Google+ updated with photo album organizer, batch delete and sorting functionality in tow originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 10:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink  @stsshank (Twitter) | Isaac Sparrow (Google+) | Email this | Comments | | Discovery shows hit Amazon Prime Instant Video, because it's 'Dirty Jobs,' but someone has to stream it Mar 14th 2012, 13:49 Amazon today announced a deal that will bring a slew of content from Discovery Communications to its ever increasing selection of streamable Prime videos. The partnership includes content from such properties as the Discovery Channel, TLC and Animal Planet, amongst a handful of others, with shows like Dirty Jobs and Whale Wars coming along for the ride. At present, the total selection of videos on the service is up to more than 17,000 titles, which can be viewed for free by Amazon Prime members in the US. Press info can be found after the break. Continue reading Discovery shows hit Amazon Prime Instant Video, because it's 'Dirty Jobs,' but someone has to stream it Discovery shows hit Amazon Prime Instant Video, because it's 'Dirty Jobs,' but someone has to stream it originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 09:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Engadget HD Podcast 290 - 03.14.2012 Mar 14th 2012, 13:32  The new iPad and Apple TV are not only finally official, they're also both full HD-ready for the first time. As such, they're leading off this week's (slightly late-arriving, hopefully that hasn't completely ruined your scheduled listening plans) podcast, while we round out our Apple coverage with a look at the new iCloud-enabled wrinkle applied to the iTunes Digital Copy feature. Samsung and Panasonic are rolling out their newest HDTVs, Blu-ray players and audio systems, while Plex and MythTV continue to push new versions of their media player software. Of course, we're still not sure what the future could hold for Netflix and Big Cable, or Google's plans for Motorola's cable box business, but we'll consider the possibilities and much more in this week's podcast.
Get the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3).
[RSS - AAC] Enhanced feed, subscribe to this with iTunes.
[RSS - MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace
[MP3] Download the show (MP3).
Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh (@bjdraw), Richard Lawler (@rjcc)
Producer: Trent Wolbe
00:08:30 - The new iPad is official, with Retina display
00:15:45 - Super High Aperture: it's why the new iPad's Retina display is so dense
00:17:55 - Apple reveals 1080p Apple TV: $99, arrives March 16th
00:25:00 - Netflix on new Apple TV supports 1080p, all boxes get integrated signup and pay via iTunes
00:29:00 - Apple TV update takes Digital Copy to the iCloud
00:37:50 - Fox and Universal titles blocked from Apple TV's iCloud, HBO is the culprit
00:48:19 - NCAA March Madness Live app comes to iOS, Android by tourney tip-off
00:53:15 - Panasonic details US availability for 25 of its 2012 HDTVs
00:57:34 - Panasonic prices 2012 Blu-ray lineup, high-end units due in May
00:59:00 - Samsung details pricing and availability for its 2012 Smart TV lineup
01:00:17 - Samsung unleashes Smart Touch Remote and Wireless Keyboard
01:06:10 - MythTV turns 0.25, is actually ten in human years
01:08:03 - Netflix is in talks to partner with cable providers for bundles
01:17:30 - Google Play replaces Android Market, new source for apps, books, movies and music
01:19:27 - Plex Media Server upgraded, Google TV app gets a reboot
01:23:11 - Google reportedly considering sell-off of Motorola's set-top box business
01:28:26 - Must See HDTV (March 12th - 18th)
Hear the podcast
LISTEN (MP3)
LISTEN (AAC) Engadget HD Podcast 290 - 03.14.2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 09:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | New iPad still coming to Apple Stores at 8AM on Friday, don't worry Mar 14th 2012, 13:16 Getting a little bit antsy in your respective Apple Store queue? Don't worry, Cupertino let it be known that its new iPad is on-track for an 8AM debut this Friday. The "resolutionary" (Apple's fault, not ours) tablet will be reaching Apple Stores on March 16th at 8AM local time in ten countries: the US (including Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands), Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland and the UK. Here in the States, the iPad will also be hitting a number of retailers, including Best Buy, Radio Shack, Sam's Club, Target and Walmart. The tablet starts at $499, the line starts around the corner and the relevant press info starts after the break. Continue reading New iPad still coming to Apple Stores at 8AM on Friday, don't worry New iPad still coming to Apple Stores at 8AM on Friday, don't worry originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 09:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | |
