| Alpha Range iOS game requires a pico projector and laser pointer, we go hands-on (video) Aug 20th 2012, 23:41  Granted, a magical little smartphone is all the gadgetry most casual gaming fans require to get their fix, but when LaserVR's Travis Haagen popped by our informal meetup at Portland's Ground Kontrol to talk about Alpha Range, we couldn't help but be impressed by the project. The game has a classic Asteriods / Space Invaders feeling to it, but Alpha Range is more than just another bit of mobile nostalgia. For one thing, you're going to need a lot more than just your phone, including a projector (pico will do fine for your needs) and a tripod. You project the game field onto a the wall (in the case of Ground Kontrol, we taped up a few pieces of paper, which worked fine) and interact with objects using a laser point. When your iOS device is facing the wall, its camera monitors the field, using computer vision algorithms to detect your laser shots in real time, finally discovering a novel use for laser points that doesn't involve annoying rock bands or cats. Hitting the circular enemies will cause them to vaporize or perform other functions like opening up a black hole, depending on their color. The game was pretty responsive and incredibly addictive -- in fact, we were a bit bummed when we finally had to put the laser point down. Such fun isn't cheap, however -- it'll run you $8 from iTunes, on top of the price of all the accessories involved it getting it off the ground. Still, it's nice to see an innovative take like this on a classic gaming scenario. We've got a video of the Star Trek: The Next Generation-inspired game after the jump. Continue reading Alpha Range iOS game requires a pico projector and laser pointer, we go hands-on (video) Filed under: Gaming Alpha Range iOS game requires a pico projector and laser pointer, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Aug 2012 19:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink |  iTunes | Email this | Comments | | Liquidware team crafts laser tripwire that tweets intruder alerts, keeps fake sharks at bay (video) Aug 20th 2012, 23:17  Laser tripwire security systems can be expensive propositions that don't always work as planned -- just ask Raytheon, which saw its $100 million Perimeter Intrusion Detection System for JFK International Airport undermined by one wayward jet skier. Taking that as a form of dare, Justin Huynh and teammates at Liquidware have devised a much cheaper (if also much smaller) tripwire of their own. Any interruption of a laser pointer's beam is caught by an Arduino light sensor that promptly sends the alert to an Android-running BeagleBoard xM; if a toy like Bruce the shark dares cross the line, the BeagleBoard sends a Twitter message to let the authorities, or at least Huynh, clamp down on the trespasser. The invention won't replace Raytheon's handiwork anytime soon, although Huynh notes that additional or more powerful sensors could theoretically catch real, muscle-bound sharks and not just their plastic counterparts. The supply checklist and source code are waiting on the company's project page below, so those who'd like to ward off miniature invasions can get started today. Continue reading Liquidware team crafts laser tripwire that tweets intruder alerts, keeps fake sharks at bay (video) Filed under: Misc. Gadgets Liquidware team crafts laser tripwire that tweets intruder alerts, keeps fake sharks at bay (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Aug 2012 19:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink  CNET | Antipasto Hardware Blog | Email this | Comments | | Microsoft opens $14.99 Windows 8 upgrade registration for purchasers of Windows 7 PCs Aug 20th 2012, 22:46  Normally the early bird gets the worm, but in the case of Windows 8, purchasers of Windows 7 PCs will have until February 28th, 2013 to snag their promotional upgrade. The Windows Upgrade Offer, which provides upgrades to Windows 8 Pro for a mere $14.99, is now open for registration to all those who purchase a Windows 7 PC between June 2nd, 2012 and January 31st, 2013. All those who wish to take part will need to provide their 25-digit Windows 7 product key as part of the online registration process, and beginning October 26th, Microsoft will send out promo codes via email, which can then be applied upon checkout within the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant. Now the only question that remains is whether you're willing to fork over $14.99 for the privilege of losing your Start menu. Filed under: Software Microsoft opens $14.99 Windows 8 upgrade registration for purchasers of Windows 7 PCs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Aug 2012 18:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Windows Upgrade Offer | Email this | Comments | | IEEE pushes for Ethernet standard between 400Gbps and 1Tbps, hopes to head off big data crunch Aug 20th 2012, 22:40  Ethernet might seem passé to those of us toting Ultrabooks, but it's important enough to provoke a crisis for internet providers and many of those who depend on high-speed computing networks for a living: based on the rises of streaming video and social networking, the IEEE is worried that many of those large-scale networks will need 10Tbps of total bandwidth just to avoid a logjam in 2020. To that end, the standards body has formed a Higher-Speed Ethernet Consensus group that's mulling a new, breakneck-speed format reaching either 400Gbps or 1Tbps, depending on whose approach you'd favor. Fight the urge to pick the 1Tbps option on instinct, however. Both options would depend on bonding multiple connections together, and the faster of the two formats could lead to some expensive and very ungainly cables if it's not handled well. A meeting is scheduled for late September in Geneva to at least begin hashing out the details. Although we won't be wiring our homes with terabit Ethernet anytime soon, the standard should come quickly enough that the Googles and Netflixes of the world can satisfy our data addictions for a good while longer. [Image credit: Justin Marty, Flickr] Continue reading IEEE pushes for Ethernet standard between 400Gbps and 1Tbps, hopes to head off big data crunch Filed under: Networking IEEE pushes for Ethernet standard between 400Gbps and 1Tbps, hopes to head off big data crunch originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Aug 2012 18:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink CNET, The Verge | IEEE | Email this | Comments | | Must See HDTV (August 20th - 26th) Aug 20th 2012, 22:23  Welcome to the summer doldrums between the Olympics, and later in the fall when new shows premiere and the box office hits get their home releases. There are a few things to keep an eye out for with some premieres and finales, plus a series of Disney combo packs on Blu-ray. Look below for the highlights this week, followed after the break by our weekly listing of what to look out for in TV, Blu-ray and videogames. WarGames
The 1983 hit starring Matthew Broderick as a young hacker who takes the US to the brink of World War III is finally here on Blu-ray. Judging by the descriptions we're not seeing a lot in the way of extras above and beyond the 2008 25th Anniversary release on DVD, but we'll take what we can get and hey, it's currently on sale for less than $13.
($12.86 on Amazon) The Newsroom
Already renewed for a second season, Aaron Sorkin's drama about the daily life of a fictional cable news channel wraps up season one this week. Whether you think the show's style is smug and self serving or witty and sophisticated, there's at least been plenty of time in the ten episodes to make up your mind. Reportedly internet trolling will play a big part in the season finale, not that we'd at all be familiar with that phenomenon.
(August 26th, HBO, 10PM) The Inbetweeners
Since Skins did so well in its transition from the UK to the US, MTV is apparently trying again with The Inbetweeners. A series focused on a group of high school boys making the transition to adulthood, it seems hard to see this following the path of The Office and not other ill fated shows. Of course, the US version of Being Human wasn't all bad, so maybe there's a chance?
(August 20th, MTV, 10:30PM) Continue reading Must See HDTV (August 20th - 26th) Filed under: Home Entertainment Must See HDTV (August 20th - 26th) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Aug 2012 18:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | |
