| Augmented reality browser Junaio offers less 'clunky' apps, new API for developers (video) Jun 20th 2012, 19:00  Remember Metaio? Back in February we reported on the company's rather neat brand of markerless augmented reality, and now it has some fresh news: a major revamp to its Junaio AR browser for iOS and Android. The browser is an open platform for a myriad of smaller AR apps coded by independent developers, and the new version includes both a new UI and API to give those devs additional tools in HTML5 and JavaScript. Right now, the app is worth a peek for the various curiosities demo'd after the break -- such as the ability to see other people's Instagram photos overlaid on the view from your rear camera, showing the direction and distance to the point where they were snapped. In time, though, we're really hoping that developers will latch on to platforms like this and take AR to where it needs to be: something that let's us recognize and augment people and objects naturally and instantaneously, without pre-conceived markers. In fact, Junaio really needs to have coffee with Project Glass. Continue reading Augmented reality browser Junaio offers less 'clunky' apps, new API for developers (video) Augmented reality browser Junaio offers less 'clunky' apps, new API for developers (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 15:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | iFixit rips open new 15-inch MacBook Pro and 13-inch Air Jun 20th 2012, 18:24  You've got to admire the ferocity with which iFixit tears into a new gadget. Sure, there might not be much new to look at inside the non-Retina-packing MacBook Pro or updated Air, but that didn't stop the site's dedicated hackers from ripping open the laptops and spreading their guts around a table. So, how does the standard Pro differ from its pixel-packed sibling? Well, in almost every way imaginable. In fact, there's not a lot separating the mid 2012 Pro from the 2011 model. Sure it's got some mildly updated internals, but it's still got the original MagSafe connector, a single Thunderbolt port and it is much easier to upgrade or repair than the spotlight-hogging version. The Air, on the other hand, does get a slight physical facelift, though it also remains largely the same as last year's model. The SSD has a tweaked connector and a new Sandforce controller, but otherwise, it seems like the biggest visible changes are some rotated labels and stickers. To see the full teardowns check out the source links. iFixit rips open new 15-inch MacBook Pro and 13-inch Air originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 14:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink |  iFixit 1, 2 | Email this | Comments | | Windows Phone Marketplace has 100,000 published apps, counts Words with Friends and Draw Something among 'em Jun 20th 2012, 18:07  It's not quite App Store numbers, but the Windows Phone Marketplace has finally managed to break the six-digit published apps barrier (making good on the promise of all those app submissions) as Microsoft just announced that its mobile users now have over 100,000 apps to choose from. And, while it may not be as big a deal as multi-core proccessor support, a new Start screen, or turn-by-turn navigation, Microsoft just told of two more apps that'll be popping up in the Marketplace soon. That's right, a duo of Zynga's most popular titles, Words with Friends and Draw Something, are coming to Windows Phone. Congratulations, all you Microsoft mobile aficionados, your time-wasting can now reach levels previously seen only by your iOS and Android-toting friends. Windows Phone Marketplace has 100,000 published apps, counts Words with Friends and Draw Something among 'em originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 14:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Windows Phone 8 updates coming over the air, early access to 'registered enthusiasts,' 18 month support program announced Jun 20th 2012, 18:05  Tired of plugging your Lumia 900 into your PC or Mac in order to apply software updates? Tough luck -- you'll still be doing it while future buyers snack on Windows Phone 8. Harshness aside, Microsoft made clear at today's Windows Phone Summit that all WP8 updates will be delivered over the air, with an available program to give "registered enthusiasts" early access prior to broad consumer pushes. The real kicker, however, is this line: "Devices are supported with updates for at least 18 months." For those keeping count, the Lumia 900 shipped here in the US on April 8th. Two months later, it's already confirmed that the flagship WP7 handset in America won't get Windows Phone 8. We'd also like to take this opportunity to remind you just how poorly an identical promise from Google went over in May of 2011. You may remember Andy Rubin confessing that an 18 month Android update program was being put into place at Google I/O 2011, and here we are -- halfway through 2012 -- and we've still heard zero details on how that's being policed. Pardon our skepticism, but we'll need to see it to believe it. To check out the latest updates from Microsoft's Windows Phone event, visit our liveblog! Windows Phone 8 updates coming over the air, early access to 'registered enthusiasts,' 18 month support program announced originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 14:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Windows Phone 8 to start on HTC, Huawei, Nokia and Samsung devices with support for 180 countries Jun 20th 2012, 18:02  When Windows Phone 8 arrives in the fall, it will have a relatively narrow slice of hardware makers: HTC, Huawei, Nokia and Samsung will represent the first wave. That's excluding some significant partners that have surfaced even over the past year, including ZTE. When they do ship, though, all of them will be using new Qualcomm processors; we have a hunch that's code for Snapdragon S4 variants. There certainly won't be any shortage of regional support with apps available over 180 countries and 50 languages accounted for -- more than Apple mentioned as attached to iOS 6, Microsoft is keen to add. While the number of hardware launches isn't likely to come that close anytime soon, it does mean that phone designers will have considerable more flexibility as to where they launch. To check out the latest updates from Microsoft's Windows Phone event, visit our liveblog! Windows Phone 8 to start on HTC, Huawei, Nokia and Samsung devices with support for 180 countries originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 14:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Nokia to bring range of new and updated apps to existing Lumia lineup Jun 20th 2012, 17:58  That Nokia would be joining Microsoft on this day of Windows Phone 8 revelations is no surprise -- the companies long ago inked their blood pact on the back of Mango. Now, at today's summit in San Francisco, Espoo's Kevin Shields just announced a slew of new and updated apps to currently available Lumia handsets starting next week. Spreading the love to Mango and above, existing users will be treated to a new DLNA app dubbed PlayTo that allows for video, music and photo sharing wirelessly, Nokia Counter to monitor and manage data usage, My Commute which utilizes Drive to compute travel time and arrange routing and a 3.0 update to Nokia Music. And, given that this is the company behind PureView, current Lumia devices running Windows Phone will receive an imaging facelift of sorts, augmenting the baked-in optics via Camera Extras. This suite of apps will effectively upgrade the core photo-taking experience with the addition of a self-timer, action shots, panorama and a Smart Group Shot setting (likely built upon Scalado software). So, while your eagerness to adopt that cyan Lumia 900 may not pay off with an upgrade to WP 8, at the very least Nokia is adopting a policy of no Lumia user left (that far) behind. To check out the latest updates from Microsoft's Windows Phone event, visit our liveblog! Nokia to bring range of new and updated apps to existing Lumia lineup originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 13:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Microsoft brings true, background multitasking to Windows Phone 8 Jun 20th 2012, 17:47  Well, Microsoft has officially left Apple as the only player in the Mobile field to not support real multitasking. With the next version of Windows Phone, background multitasking will be opened up to all devs, thanks to libraries provided directly by Redmond. During today's presentation two different background tasks were demoed, VoIP and location. The VoIP integration allows users to have calls come in, preferably via Skype if Microsoft has its way, without having the app running in the foreground and have them appear the same as a standard phone call. While watching for incoming calls is nice, a more commonly used feature is location monitoring. Now apps will be able to monitor location in the background while you perform other tasks. One by one, Microsoft is checking off boxes on our list of complaints about Windows Phone. Microsoft brings true, background multitasking to Windows Phone 8 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 13:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Microsoft partners with Audible to enhance Windows Phone voice recognition, available for WP 7.5 and up Jun 20th 2012, 17:44  Siri, S Voice -- well, now Microsoft's got its own answer to those rival voice services (sort of) and it's coming in the form of a partnership with Audible on the Windows Phone platform. The company's very own Kevin Gallo took to the stage at today's Summit in San Francisco to demonstrate the enhanced feature running on Windows Phone 8. Though the Redmond-made OS has supported voice commands since the platform's seventh iteration (née Mango) by allowing users to launch applications, it can now also help users search, as well as play audiobook files. In the demo, Gallo was able to skip a chapter ahead, pause and resume listening to his selected Game of Thrones title. And lest the WP faithful feel left behind with the seemingly endless spate of Apollo-only features, the company's making this integration available to handsets running WP 7.5 and up starting later today. To check out the latest updates from Microsoft's Windows Phone event, visit our liveblog! Microsoft partners with Audible to enhance Windows Phone voice recognition, available for WP 7.5 and up originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 13:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Microsoft details deep Skype integration in Windows 8 Jun 20th 2012, 17:41  Microsoft's been letting loose all of Windows Phone 8's secrets this morning, and the latest tidbit is all about VoIP calling. Turns out, the team in Redmond's really putting that money it spent on Skype to good use by integrating the video chatting/VoIP service deeply in its new mobile OS. From a user perspective, incoming Skype calls are treated like cellular communications, meaning that they appear as regular calls and are integrated with standard phone features -- like call waiting -- to maintain a seamless calling experience. The VoIP apps continue to run in the background, of course, thanks to WP8's new multitasking capabilities, and VoIP integration will be available to all developers. To check out the latest updates from Microsoft's Windows Phone event, visit our liveblog! Microsoft details deep Skype integration in Windows 8 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 13:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | |
