Sleeping on the sidewalk outside an Apple Store is totally worth it if Tim Cook shows up. The Apple CEO stopped by the Palo Alto store Friday morning to pose for selfies with intrepid line-dwellers. Cook was also there to, you know, welcome the iPhone 6 or something like that — but selfies, right?! Selfie with Tim Cook. @CBSSF pic.twitter.com/j0Kdms5IiN — Kiet Do (@kietdo) September 19, 2014 After posing for photographs, Cook went inside to open the store doors for everyone pumped to get their hands on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus (remember to use two hands, people). Photobombing a #timcook #selfie at #paloalto #iphone6 line pic.twitter.com/PViuhSbXu2 — Bob Redell (@BobNBC) September 19, 2014 Selfie with man behind this craze. Apple CEO Tim cook. interviewed him at Palo Alto store. @kron4news @KRON4APero pic.twitter.com/SQOwSabGUI — Will Tran (@KRON4WTran) September 19, 2014 @tim_cook apple store palo alto #iPhone6 #AppleStore pic.twitter.com/Czi1npfmGU — Phil Buckendorf (@pbuckendorf) September 19, 2014 This is why you wait in line at the Apple store in Palo Alto. Tim Cook selfie. #iphone6 pic.twitter.com/5w4jhzIEPE — Mariel Myers (@producermariel) September 19, 2014 In iPhone 6 line with my man @tim_cook pic.twitter.com/MNojGlRgyD — Kalpesh Kapadia (@kalpeshkapadia) September 19, 2014 .@tim_cook You made my day by showing up at the Palo Alto Apple Store on University and taking a picture! Thanks! pic.twitter.com/CmFcPrUOuh — Jeff Kell (@jeffreykell) September 19, 2014 Just don’t ask Cook to say cheese after you pull out a Samsung. Amateurs. Some guy asked Tim Cook to take a selfie and pulled out a Samsung phone. Cook looked at him and said “we need to get you a new phone.” — Sal Castaneda (@sal_castaneda) September 19, 2014 And for anyone who doesn’t want a side of Tim Cook and long lines with their iPhone, just visit a Best Buy. Redditor inebriusmaximus posted that his local Best Buy opened two hours early on iPhone 6 day, and this is what the excitement looked like inside: window._msla=window.loadScriptAsync||function(src,id){if(document.getElementById(id))return;var js=document.createElement(‘script’);js.id=id;js.src=src;document.getElementsByTagName(‘script’)[0].parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}; _msla(“//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js”,”twitter_jssdk”); Read more: http://mashable.com/2014/09/19/tim-cook-palo-alto-apple-store-selfies/
Product Name: The Impossible Instant LabPrice: $299Who would like this? Retro photographers, lovers of good design and anyone who still decorates their fridge/desk/walls with prints. Digital photography has decimated film, but that doesn’t mean no one likes to print photo anymore. Now we’re just more selective — it used to be that you needed to print out all your photos to get just the one or two you really wanted. Now photo printers and printing services let us get prints on demand. That’s great, but for those who like the look of analog film, prints from ultra-precise inkjets and laser printers can sometimes lack flavor. That’s why a group of people launched the Impossible Project in 2008. After a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2012, the company brought to market its Impossible Lab: a curious-looking tabletop gadget that turns your iPhone photos into prints — analog, instant prints. Image: Impossible Lab, Kickstarter The lab can do this because of the work Impossible put into creating instant prints that works just like the old Polaroid ones, which ceased production in 2008. Keep that in mind if you buy the Lab as a gift — the owner will need to occasionally replenish the film supply at $20-$25 a pop. To anyone who appreciates the retro feeling of Polaroids, though, that’s a small price to pay. Paired with the iOS app, the Lab (which is battery-powered for easy portability) will pop out an instant print of any iPhone photo, which will develop in seconds once it ejects. Just hearing that click and whir will certainly bring back fond memories for lots of people. The lab folds up and is light enough (just a pound) to throw in a bag, so you can even take it to parties to show off your retro chic. For novelty’s sake along, this is a great gift for anyone who appreciates history — and great design. Image: Impossible Read more: http://mashable.com/2013/12/14/impossible-lab/
Looked at objectively, the images on Samsung’s curved, Ultra HD TV sets do live up to their name. When Samsung streams custom-made 4K content, which is four times more detailed than 1080p, on any of the sets (which range from 55-inches to a room-swallowing 105-inches), the effect is surreal (or perhaps, “hyper real”). However 4K content is still in short supply, even with all the 20th Century Fox content Samsung is promising to deliver on a 1 terabyte drive ($299). What about Joe T.V. Watcher, sitting at home with his HD feed from the local cable company? How will his picture look? We posed that question and a few others on some pressing issues facing the next big wave of HD TV technology to Samsung SVP Joe Stinziano, who spoke to Mashable shortly after the company gave a closer and more detailed look at its upcoming Ultra HD TV line, including a group of curved displays, some new 4K content options and a few new sound devices. Stinziano was also, famously, Michael Bay’s counterpart at the CES keynote that will go down in history. Standing in the cavernous Guggenheim Museum atrium, right above where Stinziano made his presentation to press, the Samsung exec promised that, thanks to some pretty intense upscaling technology, the 1080i content from your cable or fiber company will actually look better on Samsung’s UHD TVs. That sounds great. Of course, there’s no way for us to know if that’s true (Samsung has never shown the sets running a standard HD feed) until we get a UHD TV in at Mashable HQ and hook it up to a Time Warner Cable feed. Image: Mashable, Christina Ascani Stinziano also shared the based prices for the smallest UHD TV, a 55-inch $2,500 model and talked a bit about the sound limitations of these ultra-thing devices. Samsung spent some time on Thursday talking about the Shape sound system it introduced last year (they have a new design option) and the new Sound Stand, a 1.5-inch audio device that can sit under 55-inch UHD. Joe admitted that sound really needs air to be powerful and these flat TVs simply don’t provide the space. Hence, the sound systems. You can hear more of Stinziano’s comments and get a closer look at the new UHD TVs in the video above. Read more: http://mashable.com/2014/03/20/samsung-uhdtv/
The Muse headband, made by the interdisciplinary team at InteraXon, is currently seeking funding on Indiegogo to bring brain-controlled computing to the mass market. While wearing the brainwave-sensing headband, users can focus their attention on simple commands to control their electronic devices, apps and games. Muse sits across your forehead and rests behind your ears. EEG sensors make contact on your forehead, while reference sensors rest on the back of your ears. Muse connects wirelessly to your devices via Bluetooth and uses the sensors to pick up the electrical outputs generated by your brain’s activity, detecting any subtle changes. InteraXon is looking to use these brainwaves to interact with devices in the real world–devices that respond to your thoughts like turning off your smart phone when you are asleep or turning off the TV. But just as important is how seeing your brainwaves can help you learn more about yourself and improve yourself while strengthening your brain. Early birds can get their hands on a Muse headband for a pledge of $135. This article originally published at PSFK here Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/10/23/muse-headband/
If an adorable robot asked you a series of personal questions (“Who do you love most in the world?” “What really scares you?”), would you be more inclined to answer than if asked by a human? As a part of a documentary project affiliated with the TriBeCa Film Festival, cute robots with video cameras for eyes have been filming people as they answer various sensitive questions. Called “Robots in Residence” and created by robot company BlabDroid, the footage collected from Friday until Sunday, April 21 from festival attendees will be pieced together for a short film. It will become the first documentary filmed entirely by pre-programmed robots. The concept is based on the “ELIZA effect,” a theory from a computer scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who believes people are more likely to engage emotionally with artificial intelligence than others. The robots are small and unassuming, with a sweet smile and the voice of a seven-year-old boy. “Tell me something you’ve never told a stranger before,” it asks. From deep secrets to confessions of only visiting a dentist once, here’s a trailer of what to expect: The robots are intended to be comforting and non-judgmental, so people can have real interactions with them. The company also launched a Kickstarter project this week to help bring the robots into the consumer market. Robots in Residence is a part of the TriBeCa Film Festival’s first annual Storyscapes exhibit, which features five transmedia projects that embrace telling stories in a creative, unique way. One project will be named the winner. What do you think of the project? Would you feel more comfortable telling personal information to a robot? Let us know in the comments below. Images via Mashable Read more: http://mashable.com/2013/04/19/robot-documentary/
Are you ready to view the most remarkable video you’ve seen all month? Strap yourself in, because Making View created the world’s first spherical 360-degree video of a Formula One racer screaming around the Rudskogen facility in Norway. The video was shot using Making View’s ViewCam 360, a spherical lens and video technology that lets viewers watch the video in any direction (except up). You can even take an especially dramatic look straight down at the vehicle as it flies around the track at breakneck speed. It’s easy to control, either with your mouse or with the arrow keys on your keyboard, and you can hit the space bar to stop. We immediately went for the highest quality, but even with an unusually fast broadband connection, we needed to wait for the video to buffer for a while before it will stream smoothly. Oh, and be sure to click the full screen icon for maximum thrillage. Making View is a veteran at creating these 360-degree views, but now it’s venturing into video versions with its ViewCam 360, teaming up with Red Bull for this technological demonstration. We’d say it’s a smashing success. Not only is the video delightfully crisp from all angles, but the audio is dramatic enough to get your heart pounding. It’s been a dramatic few weeks for Red Bull, the caffeinated sugary drink company that can’t seem to get enough of sponsoring way-cool technological extravaganzas. Even this jaw-dropping video doesn’t quite match Red Bull’s previous stunt, the harrowing leap of Felix Baumgartner from the edge of space, 24 miles high. How on earth (or in space) will Red Bull be able to top these two stunts? [via Autoblog] Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/11/01/f1-360-degree-video/
In what looks like a robot scene pulled from The Terminator, a government agency has released a video of a search-and-rescue robot that can do everything from climb stairs to crossing narrow passages The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) — which is a part of the U.S. Department of Defense — uploaded the video to YouTube to bring attention to the DARPA Robotics Challenge (DRC). The contest is looking for robots who can maneuver and assist during dangerous and disaster relief situations. The winning team will be rewarded $2 million. The robot in the video — which is called Pet-Proto and is the predecessor to DARPA’s Atlas robot — undergoes a series of obstacles similar to what robots will face in the challenge. The robot has decision-making abilities to determine the best route to go, when to jump and what to avoid. Do you think robots like this will be the future of search and rescue missions? How would you like to see robots used? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. 5 Household Robots For Easier Living 1. Neato XV-11 In a market where consumers have plenty of vacuum robots to choose from, the Neato XV-11 really stands out. Unlike many, the Neato doesn’t need to bump into a wall to know it’s there. Rather, it maps out the room before deciding a path to take. Its nimble movements prevent it from scratching your furniture while cleaning room after room. We were fond of the charging plate that sits against the wall, instead of protruding from it. Price: $399.99 2. iRobot Looj 330 Featured once before on Mashable, the Looj is a gutter cleaning bot. From the makers of the popular Roomba, this relatively small robot sits in your gutter and uses augers and brushes to remove leaves and other clutter. You’ll need a ladder to position Looj, but once it’s in place you won’t need to do more than press a button. Price: $299 3. Robomow Forget spending money on gas to fill your lawn mower, and eliminate the pain that comes with pushing one. Robomow is the only robotic mower on the market that mulches your lawn for a professional-looking cut. Simply install wire around your lawn’s perimeter — then the robot will cut your grass on a schedule that you set. Price: From $1,000 4. Windoro WCR-I001 Attached to your windows by four large magnets, Windoro cleans windows small to large. With adjustable magnets, you can fit the window cleaner bot to single or double pane windows. Price: $539 5. Nanda Home Tocky We included the Nanda Home Tocky not only because it’s cute, but because we can all agree that waking up can be a chore. Once the alarm goes off, this robot jumps from your nightstand and starts rolling away from your bed. What’s worse than having to chase your alarm clock around your bedroom? Realizing you forgot to buy coffee. Watch a video of Tocky in action here. Price: $69 […]
The Pebble smart watch, which was made hugely popular when it raised more than $10 million on Kickstarter last year, can finally display real-time fitness information related to workouts. RunKeeper announced Tuesday an app update for iOS and Android that fully integrates with the Pebble watch, allowing runners to keep track of their activity and providing a detailed analysis of their performance. The companies have been teasing this news for a little over a year now; in fact, RunKeeper was Pebble’s first app partner. The blending of these two companies could be powerful. There’s already an immense interest in the smart watch, and teaming up with RunKeeper will give users a way to stay connected without constantly needing to check their smartphone. “Pebble integrates tech into people’s daily lives in a fashionable and unobtrusive way. We’re excited that RunKeeper will be among the first apps to showcase our smart watch’s capabilities and how we support your day-to-day interests and activities,” said Pebble CEO Eric Migicovsky in a statement. “With the RunKeeper app, fitness enthusiasts can benefit from Pebble to track their workouts, get motivated and meet their goals.” Pebble users can also control music and manage incoming messages, calls and notifications directly through the device. Developers can get their hands on a software developer’s kit (SDK) to introduce more apps to the device. Image via Pebble Pebble Hands-On Rock On Music controls on Pebble are intuitive and easy to use. Email Scrolling through email is as simple as pressing the down button on the side of the watch. Custom Watch Faces Pebble has a number of unique watch faces available. Fuzzy Time This Fuzzy Time watch face spells the time out for you. Time to Party You can select between a number of watch faces, including this clock face. Power Up The Pebble is charged using a magnetic charger similar to the magnetic power connectors on MacBooks. Rainbow Colored There are a number of different colored Pebble watch faces and bands, including an all white and all black model Kickstarter Edition The Kickstarter edition of the watch has “Kickstarter Editon” on the back of the watch face. Read more: http://mashable.com/2013/05/07/pebble-runkeeper/
When standard dominoes don’t provide adequate entertainment, get a bit creative. In a short YouTube video from F Stop Lounge, Fujifilm Australia Digital Training Specialist Warwick Williams and his daughter arranged 200 colorful digital cameras into one perfect line of dominoes. Watch the clip above to watch the the cringe-induced topple. BONUS: 12 GIFs With Unexpected Endings to Surprise Your Senses Unexpected GIFs Image: Tumblr Image: Imgur, Piezy Image: Imgur, Sir_Octopus_Dangle Image: Imgur, ayd1n Image: Imgur, Imgur Image: Imgur, clevknife Image: Imgur, StickleyMan Image: Imgur, Imgur Image: Imgur, ThePeanutBuddha Image: Imgur, Imgur Image: Imgur, ThePeanutBuddha Image: Imgur, Imgur Read more: http://mashable.com/2013/09/10/camera-domino-line/
No one really wants to be on an airliner that loses cabin pressure, but if it happens to you, rest assured your iPad will continue to work. The Jeppesen division of Boeing, which creates digital flight charts and sells iPad-based electronic flight bags used by commercial and military pilots, said it recently completed a rapid decompression test of iPads, including the new mini. The test was conducted in an on-ground pressure chamber that simulated a quick drop in flight altitude from 51,000 feet to 8,000 feet, and the gizmos just plugged along. Of course, a paper chart also would function just as well in such a test. But who uses paper anymore? Your Router Could Be Behind Lizard Squad’s Attacks The Man from Google Who Came to Fix Federal IT Still Doesn’t Have His Own Website Why Republicans are Desperate for a Net Neutrality Compromise Federal Cybersecurity Spending is Big Bucks. Why Doesn’t It Stop Hackers? This article originally published at Nextgov here Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/11/15/ipad-rapid-decompression/
