Livescribe, the company whose magic smartpen makes taking notes a whole lot easier, is back with completely revamped capabilities and cloud integration that almost makes you want to be a student again. The company’s new Sky Wi-Fi smartpen has been recording what you hear and synchronizing it to what you write since it launched in 2008, but it now digitizes and syncs notes across iOS and Android devices via the cloud. The new pen – which is available starting Monday at retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy and Livescribe.com — is a huge leap forward for the company who already makes the note-taking process that much more painless for students and business people. If you’re not familiar with how it works, here’s a quick rundown: When taking notes with a Livescribe pen in its accompanying black notebook – which features high-tech dot paper for digitizing the content — the pen records everything you write and hear. To replay the audio, users can tap a word in the section of notes and the recording will begin playing from that exact spot. Now, the updated pen takes it a step further with cloud capabilities, so it’s possible to access content remotely via smartphones, tablets and PCs. It also launched a full integration with social networks and Evernote, allowing users to wirelessly send digitized notes directly to their accounts. Although notes could be sent to Facebook, Twitter, Dropbox and Evernote in the past, mobile integration in the cloud for the first time. (The connector buttons for the social networks will be available starting early 2013.) The new cloud capabilities shine via the service’s existing Pencast feature in Evernote, a note-taking app which helps users keep track of to-do lists, save ideas and stay organized. Similar to watching a movie, a Pencast relives exactly how notes were taken: After pressing play, audio starts and notes that were taken at that time will appear on screen in sync. Evernote, which already has more than 40 million subscribers, is a natural fit for Livescribe because its userbase is already note-taking savvy and looking for new ways to stay organized. The news about the partnership comes just a few days after Evernote announced more than 100 new features to its platform. Developers will be able to integrate content created with the Sky Wi-Fi smartpen into apps and services too. The company announced on Monday the pre-release of the Livescribe Mobile SDK (0.9), with limited availability starting in December. A launch for Android is expected to debut before the end of the year, while iOS is planned for early next year. Because the Mobile SDK will allow the smartpen to connect directly with tablets and smartphones via Wi-Fi, new opportunities will undoubtedly open for developers looking to integrate the pen into platforms. The Sky Wi-Fi smartpen comes in various models with different pricing options: 2GB (200 hours of audio recording time), $169.95; 4GB (400 hours), $199.95; 8GB (800 hours of audio, plus a one-year subscription to Evernote Premium), […]
If you’ve been following Mashable over the past 24 hours, chances are you know pretty much everything you possibly could about the iPhone 5. But you really don’t know anything until you’ve heard this song. Set to a funky track that sounds like an Eminem beat, jazzman Paul the Trombonist raps and recites all the iPhone 5’s key traits and specs. Paul, you’ll remember, is also the man who brought the world the techie hit “Playing With Your Phone While Sitting on the Toilet” last February. Check out his latest offering above, and let us know what you think in the comments. Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/09/13/iphone-5-song/
You can do anything with emojis. Revisit your favorite TV shows or condense great works of literature. Like hashtags and GIFs, emoji is a language unto itself. But we’ve noticed this language is lacking some key phrases and ideas. The emoji library is vast, but it still has a way to go. There’s no emoji for hot dogs yet? Get on it! You know what? We’re tired of waiting. Mashable decided to create emojis to fill the gaps. After all, you’d be surprised how often we bring up robots in daily conversation. What new emojis would you want to see? Let us know in the comments. Mashable graphic. Design by Emil Lendof, Illustrations by Bob Al-Greene Homepage image courtesy of Flickr, bobaliciouslondon BONUS: 5 Emoji Meanings That Might Surprise You Read more: http://mashable.com/2013/06/26/missing-emojis/
Microsoft has launched a new ad for Windows Phone 8, and it features none other than Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. Narrated by Ballmer, the ad focuses on the platform’s personalization capabilities, and also features Bill Gates — if only as an image — who gives some Surface-related design advice to Ballmer. The phone featured in the ad is the powerful HTC Windows Phone 8X — a bit of a slap in the face of Nokia, who is Microsoft’s biggest Windows Phone partner. As far as Ballmer starring in a Microsoft video ad, the last time that happened was 1986, and the product being advertised was Windows 1.0. Check out the result here. How do you like the new ad? Share your thoughts in the comments. Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/10/30/steve-ballmer-shows-off-his-windows-phone-in-new-ad-video/
Video-sharing platform Vimeo launched on Wednesday a new iPhone app with the ability to uploaded recorded videos faster and easily share them to social networking sites. The free app — now available in the Apple App Store — allows users to record videos and upload them directly from the app. Users can pause uploads and start them again when needed. Social sharing is a major focus in the redesign, making it simple to share clips with others via Facebook, Twitter, email or iMessage. The platform carried over some existing features to its new look, such as the option to like, comment and add videos to a Watch Later queue. A nice new perk is that now you can watch clips while uploading your own at the same time. “We redesigned it to be smarter and more intuitive so you can do what you want, when you want, really easily,” Vimeo said in an official blog post. “You can take your feed on a road trip (just not while you’re driving), relax in the park with your Watch Later queue or catch a Staff Pick or a friend’s video while in line for lunch.” Although the update is only for iPhone users now, the company is reportedly working on new iPad and Android apps, according to VentureBeat. To coincide with the launch, the company released a quirky video to demonstrate why one might want such an app. Be sure to check it out above. The news comes just two months after Vimeo announced a program called Tip Jar, which gives creators the ability to monetize their films and videos. Instead of enabling ads on videos, viewers can “tip this video” by donating anywhere between $0.99 to $500 after watching a clip. Image via Flickr, roland Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/11/28/vimeo-app-iphone/
Here is a list of devices from which you, dear readers, claim to send emails: Commodore 64, carrier pigeon, homing pigeon, courier pigeon, fountain pen, rotary phone, hammer and chisel, tin can via the string network, typewriter, abacus, Apollo Guidance Computer, Atari, car phone, shoe phone, 1984 Samsung car phone, difference engine, Game Boy Color, IBM Selectric, pocket rocket, Remington SL3, souped-up TV remote, steam powered digital telegraph, TI-83 Plus, TI-89, toaster, UNIVAC, Coleco Adam computer, Moleskine notebook, Pony Express, Skynet, space-age phonograph and smoke signals. Phew. That’s a lot of retro. And a lot of Wikipediaing for the uninitiated. This data derives from Thursday’s request for edits to that line of text that phone companies so gauchely added to mobile emails: “Sent from my iPhone” and the like. I know I promised you a best-of list, but… Instead, I wrote you an essay breaking down the data! (Bum trade, sorry.) What really caught my attention is that people saw a basic grammar to iPhone signature witticisms. You put a single line of text in front of millions of people, and they start — en masse — to decompose it into playable components. Here’s the general form of the message (explicit stuff is in brackets): Apology/Location/Status [Communication] from [My] [Device] The surface content of the message is that you’re receiving a message from a device. But the type of device conveys an implicit status message, while the presence of the line provides an in-advance apology for any errors as well as an indication you’re mobile out there in the world (or at least not at your computer). Using this general form, we can create a loose taxonomy of the signature edits. (Yes, I know I’m taking this too seriously. Sent from a nerd in data heaven. Expect overthinking.) Sent from a rotary phone. Image: Alexis Madrigal Look, you can check for yourself (I’ve scrubbed the names and backstories): Image: Alexis Madrigal Most people only played with one of the elements. Obviously, the list at the top of this post shows people toying with the idea of the device itself, which (unintentionally or not) also changes the status message that gets delivered. They get all the other benefits of the line, but get to associate with a device that’s “more them.” Others liked to highlight the device’s “deviceness,” as in Nathan Tsoi’s “I typed my text above on a smallish quadrilateral of aluminosilicate glass, a task that would have been unimaginable to most people even a few short years ago. Mistakes are inevitable” or Marcus Himmel’s “Sent from a toy that has more computer power than all of NASA back in 1969 when it sent two astronauts to the moon” or Don D in Peoria’s, “Sent from the first great invention of the 21st century.” The other popular way to personalize the signature was to play with the implicit apology. These come in two flavors. The first is to actually apologize with words: Typed with big thumbs on small phone iPhone. […]
Want to buy a specific camera for someone for the holidays, but can’t find it in your budget range? A new website called Greentoe is bringing price negotiation to the consumer electronics world — think Priceline for gadgets. The website, which launched in October, allows shoppers to name their price on anything from brand name TVs to camera lenses. Here’s how it works: After finding a product, users can submit an offer for what they would pay. Greentoe then notifies its network of retail partners to see if a merchant will accept. If a deal is made, the item ships to consumers directly from the retailer, which can be anything from a small to big-box company. “When you walk into a Best Buy, you can’t haggle with employees for the price you want,” Joe Marrapodi, CEO and co-founder Greentoe, told Mashable. “There wasn’t a way to ask for a lower price, so we wanted to develop a way to do it digitally.” One example highlighted on the e-commerce site is that a shopper recently shaved $50 off a Fujifilm camera, bringing the price from $263 to $213. Not a bad deal. So could this be the new Priceline for the tech world? Maybe. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below. Image via SevenWafflz Gamer Gifts 1. Triforce Lamp Know a Zelda fan in need of some power, wisdom and courage? This beautiful wood and acrylic lamp can be hung or shelved. The pixelated carvings on each side warm the room with dappled light. Price: $95.00 2. Portal 2 Graphic Poster The best part of this stylish turret-themed poster is the tiny print at the bottom: “hello.” It’s impossible not to hear that depressive little robot voice. Price: $32.82 3. NES Moleskine This hand-stamped stocking stuffer is great for students or journos with retro roots. Price: $10.00 4. Skyrim iPhone Stats Case Elder Scrolls fans will enjoy adding this clever case to their inventories. The iPhone obviously has magical properties. Using it will add +10 to your speechcraft skill. Price: $37.20 5. Xbox 360 Bullet Buttons Hardened shooter fans (think Call of Duty) might enjoy this Xbox controller hack. Etsy seller DiselLaceDesign provides bullets that fit perfectly, but you’ll need a special screwdriver to put it all together. Price: $11.98 6. Chrono Trigger Zeal Mousepad SNES time travelers will recall the floating kingdom of Zeal and the abuses that lead to its downfall. Memorialize the mysterious realm with this snazzy mouse pad. Price: $14.00 7. Goomba Cufflinks Perfect for that Nintendo-themed wedding you have coming up. Or something. Price: $28.00 8. Neil deGrasse Tyson’s Punchout! This pixelated print packs a one-two punch in terms of geeky cultural references. The Internet’s favorite astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson was memeified last year as a “reaction face,” used to mock Internet arrogance. Mix that with a reference to the 1987 Nintendo game Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!, and you’ve got one hell of an Internet inside joke. Price: $11.00 9. The Reterners (Final […]
We’ve all been to a party or barbecue where the music is just awful. And of course, being the polite guest that you are, you can’t just unplug the host’s smartphone and swap yours in for a better playlist. On a quest to save your sanity and make the music at your next gathering more interactive, Internet Explorer and Nokia launched a new music platform called Mix Party, making playlist creation collaborative. Here’s how it works: The host of the party can open Mix Party on his Xbox using Internet Explorer. Although the host needs an Xbox with Xbox Live subscription, anyone with a smartphone can play along. First, download the accompanying smartphone app, which requires scanning a QR code to join the Mix Party. Then vote on which songs to play next. The service is free through the month of July, and at the end of the offer, you will be prompted to sign up for Nokia Music, an ad-free service that launched in September 2012, exclusive to Lumia smartphone users. The concept actually builds off Nokia Music, which lets you to download up to four one-hour music mixes. Users can upgrade to the platform’s unlimited access plan for $3.99 a month, which gives Mix Party users access to Nokia’s full library, so you can hear any song at your next gathering. Nokia has been creeping further into the music game over the past year. The mobile manufacturer has also built Nokia Mix Radio, a free service that lets you skip songs and save playlists for offline use (like when you’re underground on the subway). What creative ways do you manage playlists at parties? Let us know in the comments below. Image via Gilles Mingasson/Getty Images Read more: http://mashable.com/2013/07/02/nokia-mix-party/
Nokia expanded its apology over faked video and photos used to publicize the company’s newest flagship phone. Unveiled on Wednesday, the Lumia 920 features the “PureView” camera, which has a “floating lens” optical image stabilization (OIS) technology that Nokia claims lets users take sharp photos and video. Earlier this week, Nokia admitted a video that purportedly demonstrates the benefits of the 920’s OIS capabilities was “a simulation” and not shot using its PureView camera. It later revealed on Saturday that promotional photos were also faked. “The video was produced while the Nokia Lumia 920 was in early prototype and still not ready to show the full benefits of the amazing innovation it contains,” spokesman Brett Young told Mashable in an emailed statement. “While there was no intention to mislead, the failure to add a disclaimer to the video was obviously a mistake.” Nokia also apologized for misleading photos that were taken from the video. Set in Helsinki, Finland, they show the same actress in three different scenarios: riding a bike, sitting on a carousel and standing in the street at night. A photo posted to Hacker News on Thursday reveals sophisticated camera and lighting equipment at a photo shoot for the Lumia 920. In both cases, independent bloggers denounced Nokia for false advertising. The Finnish telecom giant issued an apology on its “Conversations” blog Thursday. “We should have posted a disclaimer stating this was a representation of OIS only,” wrote spokeswoman Heidi Lemmetyinen. The video is now marked with a “Simulation of OIS technology” disclaimer, which you can see above. Nokia said it posted genuine images of the Lumia 920 being used in low light conditions, alongside similar photos taken by a competitor’s smartphone, on Wednesday. They use a Lumia 920 prototype and “no artificial lighting or stands,” the company told Mashable on Thursday. Check out what Nokia claims to be the 920’s photo, followed by its competitor’s photo, below. An industry report suggests Nokia will start selling the Lumia 920, which features a 4.5-inch 720p curved-glass display, this November. Are you less likely to buy the Lumia 920 in light of this controversy? Does it change your perception of Nokia? Discuss in the comments below. Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/09/08/nokia-lumia-920-misleading/
