Gesture-recognition interfaces for cell phones are closer to reality with technology from the University of Tokyo that lets you operate your phone or mobile device without laying a finger on it.
Researchers at the Ishikawa Komuro Laboratory have created a "vision-based input interface for mobile devices" through which users can type words by pointing in the air. There's no dialing demo in the video below, though that would presumably be just as simple.
(Credit:
Video screenshot by Tim Hornyak/CNET)
Unlike gestural interfaces such as MIT's SixthSense, the system does not require special colored finger markings to track gestures.
A single high-speed camera running at 154 frames per second embedded in the device follows finger positions in 3D, while a frequency filter isolates "clicking" gestures.
By clicking on a virtual keyboard displayed on the screen, users can type. This would seem a lot slower than typing on a cell phone keyboard, but faster than old-fashioned letter selection on a keypad.
Another application, seen in the video, is 3D fingertip painting. Midair finger movements are translated into lines projected on a 3D space.
The system currently can only track one finger, but five is theoretically possible, according to a report by the Nikkan Kogyo newspaper.
Japanese companies including Toshiba and Pioneer have also been developing gesture-recognition interfaces. At the Ceatec 2009 gadget show, Hitachi demonstrated a prototype Gesture Remote Control that lets users change the settings on a TV screen by waving at it.
(Via Gigazine)
(Credit:
Cory O'Brien via Twitter)
We know that one of the hottest Google Android phones out there is the one you can't get yet. Well, unless you're a Google employee of course. So the question remains, when will the general public be able to get a Nexus One of their very own? Well, according to the latest rumor, it could be as early as January 5.
A tipster told Engadget Mobile on Wednesday that the Nexus One will be available on that date but by invite only. The invitations will be sent out by Google but the tipster didn't have any information as to how the company is deciding who to send the invites to and no word on pricing. It seems a little suspect to us, but hey, we know Google likes to pull surprises.
In addition to a possible release date, Engadget Mobile posted full specs for the smartphone:
- Android 2.1
- Support for T-Mobile's 3G bands, quad-band GSM/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS
- 3.7-inch WVGA AMOLED touch screen
- 5-megapixel camera with LED flash and video recording
- 512MB RAM/512MB Flash; expandable up to 32GB
- 1400mAh lithium ion battery
Thoughts?
Sony Ericsson Xperia X10
(Credit: CNET UK)This post was updated on 12/21, 1:17 p.m., PT with information about a second version of the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 getting FCC approval.
The FCC has given the green light to Sony Ericsson's first Google Android phone, the Xperia X10. Filed documents show that the quad-band GSM smartphone supports T-Mobile's 3G network, though it remains to be seen whether the carrier will offer the device or whether it will be sold unlocked.
The Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 looks to be a powerhouse with a 4-inch, 854x480-pixel touch screen, 1GHz Snapdragon processor, a 8.1-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth.
CNET UK got a first-hand look at the device when it was first introduced in early November and was disappointed to see it running Android 1.6 instead of 2.0, but hopefully it'll get a nice upgrade before it hits the UK in February 2010 and whenever it lands stateside.
Update: It looks like a second version of the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 was was approved by the FCC on Monday, this time supporting AT&T's 3G network. The plot thickens. (via Engadget Mobile)
(Source: Phonescoop)
RIM BlackBerry Curve 8530
(Credit: Sprint)Right in the nick of time for the holidays, the RIM BlackBerry Curve 8530 is now available from Sprint for $49.99 with a two-year contract and after a $100 mail-in rebate.
Though an entry-level phone, the Curve 8530 comes with a pretty decent feature list, including Wi-Fi, an optical trackpad, GPS, a 2-megapixel camera, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. In addition, it will support the Sprint Navigation, Sprint Music Store, and Sprint TV.
If you're feeling it, you can purchase the smartphone in stores or through Sprint's business channel or telesales. The carrier will offer the smartphone in black, red, and royal purple.
(Credit:
Josh Miller/CNET)
On Thursday, Sprint revised a tweet it sent out last week regarding an Android update for the Samsung Moment and HTC Hero. Both smartphones won't be getting an Android 2.0 update; instead, they will get Android 2.1. (Pause for applause.)
The carrier made the announcement via its Twitter account, but unfortunately didn't provide any more specific details as to when the updates might be rolled out other than it would be sometime in the first half of 2010.
Currently, only the Nexus One is running Android 2.1. While features of this version of the operating system are still largely unknown, some people have spied enhancements including a Palm WebOS-like Deck of Cards feature, more home screen panes, and additional 3D items in the app tray.
(Additional sources: Engadget Mobile, Gearlog)
(Credit:
Screenshot by Bonnie Cha/CNET)
On Thursday, Palm made its new browser-based mobile development platform available to all developers as a public beta. Dubbed Project Ares, developers can now create programs for Palm WebOS simply by firing up their browser (Firefox, Safari, and Chrome are supported) and signing into their account where they will then have access to all the tools they need to build apps.
Project Ares includes such features as:
- Drag-and-drop interface builder, code editor, visual debugger, and log viewer
- Access to full library of Mojo UI widgets
- Push-button project and scene creation
- Drag-and-drop file upload
- SMS and MMS messaging delivery is improved
- Ability to run apps directly on the WebOS emulator or device
Palm's believes that the future of mobile will be built on the Web and hopes that Project Ares will open the door to more developers creating apps for WebOS. Of course, one of the criticisms about the OS and Palm's current devices, the Palm Pre and Palm Pixi, has been the sparse app catalog, but it's been making progress. Hopefully, Project Ares will speed things along just a bit more.
To find more information on Project Ares or to sign up, you can check out Palm's Web site.
(Credit:
Microsoft)
Snigger as you will over Microsoft's decision to call Bing, its overhauled search engine, a "decision engine," but those giggles should dissolve when you start up Microsoft's brand-new Bing for iPhone (and iPod Touch). As a search app goes, Bing, which debuted Tuesday in the iTunes App Store, is the real thing.
The Bing app has a slew of expected features, including voice search, maps, directions, search suggestions, and location-awareness. That's no surprise. Besides these being features common to Bing.com and to the Bing application on other mobile platforms, they're also necessary to compete with Google Mobile App for iPhone.
Bing's stylish layout is a pleasant surprise, and one that adds up, screen by screen, to a cohesive search experience. Opening Bing, you see the image of the day as your background (this doesn't appear to be customizable,) with the search field and voice search button at the top of the app. A rounded, six-panel grid of buttons jumps you to Bing's image collection, movie listings, maps, directions, business look-up, and a news feed. A drop-down menu on the search bar lets you filter your searches in all those categories, save directions. The semitransparent navigation strip below has a Home button and back and forward arrows, plus a button to hide the button panel, and an icon that pops up settings to clear your search history, set your search filter, and so on.
Bing gives you directions for your car and for navigating on foot, but it doesn't yet include directions using public transit, as the Google Mobile App does. Bing, however, has a neat feature that lets you swipe a transparent ribbon to advance through each direction, which moves the satellite, hybrid, road, or shaded map along in turn. We like that tapping a search result on the map brings up a tag with ratings and with icons to call the business or launch into directions.
Another difference to keep in mind between Bing and its Google rival is that Bing smashes a map and search app into one, whereas Google's mapping program is also the iPhone's default map app. When you access maps from Google Mobile App, you'll wind up opening up the Maps app for the actual search.
The Bing app for iPhone still isn't complete. As far as we can tell so far, it lacks some of the extras of other mobile Bing apps, like the capability to lay down pushpins on the map and save locations, and the capability to view multiple locations on the map. The absent features in the iPhone app indicate the direction of Microsoft's plans for Bing's growth on iPhone.
While Bing's performance during our initial testing was good, individuals may notice fluctuations based on their data and Wi-Fi connections. There may be other areas where Bing might not match up: for instance, Google claims its iPhone app can detect British and Australian pronunciation in addition to U.S. and Canadian accents. Do our international friends notice parity with Bing's voice search?
Although Bing may not match every bell and whistle that Google Mobile App and Maps apps do combined, Bing 1.0 for iPhone does offer a viable alternative to Google's searching and mapping dominance.
(Credit:
Corinne Schulze/CNET)
It's hard to believe, but the year is quickly ending and 2010 will be here before you know it. However, before we shut the door on 2009, we thought it be nice to look back on the year and highlight some of our favorite tech gadgets. It's been a particularly good year for smartphone lovers as numerous models debuted in the past 12 months, and not all were just next-generation models of previous devices--some were real game-changers.
In the collection below, you'll find our picks for best smartphones of 2009. Different from our most popular list, we hand-selected these devices as the top 10 (in no particular order) smartphones of the year for various reasons, whether it be for their sleek design, solid performance, or innovative feature set. Of course, you might not agree with our picks (or maybe you do), so share your thoughts in the comments section. Here's to another exciting year of tech in 2010!
So you've got a new BlackBerry smartphone. You power it up, download BlackBerry App World, and find a gallery of apps waiting to fill up your phone. There's only one problem--figuring out which programs to download first.
Let us introduce you to our BlackBerry Starter Kit. We've assembled our top recommendations for productivity, communication, music, and business--if you intend use your BlackBerry for work as well as for play.
Keep in mind that our list of essential BlackBerry apps is far from exhaustive. We steered clear of games, and of applications for hobbyists and specialized communities in an effort to make our app suggestions applicable to as many new BlackBerry owners as possible. If you've got must-have suggestion of your own, you know the drill--leave 'em in the comments.
(Credit:
Josh Miller/CNET)
Verizon announced on Thursday that it has begun pushing out a software update to HTC Droid Eris users.
Like the upgrade for the Motorola Droid, the over-the-air update (specifically, ROM version 1.16.605.1/Radio version 2.32.40.11.09) will be delivered to small group of customers first and then slowly rolled out to everyone within a week. Users will receive a notification on their smartphone alerting them when the update is ready for download.
Highlights of the update include:
- While on a call and the device is in screensaver mode, pressing the End key now takes the device out of screensaver mode, and a second press will end the call
- Device now switches effectively from 1x mode to 3G
- Device no longer requires users to reselect a default e-mail after power-cycling
- SMS and MMS messaging delivery is improved
- Eighty-character MMS/SMS message subject lines are now allowed
You can view a full list of feature enhancement and bug fixes here (PDF) and for step-by-step instructions on downloading the update, please check Verizon's support page.
