Ubi-Camera: Frames photos with fingers

We know you’ve done this several times, framing shots with their fingers, pairing L fingers that forms square with their hands. And it’s interesting to know, that researchers at Japan’s Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences are working hard to make this finger framed camera shoots to life.

However, at the moment the prototype seemed to be far from its commercial product. Dubbed as the Ubi-camera, the device fits over an index finger. It boasts a camera lens and sensor, along with an IR range finder. “You simply move the focal point around by moving your fingers away or towards your face: nearer to your face for wide-angle shots or further away for close-ups. Press a button and the shot is snapped.”

Unfortunately, there are still few hurdles for this project like the range finder getting out of whack by lighting conditions and also there’s no zoom; zoom is entirely done in post processing.

So before this finger loving camera, I just watch the video of Google Glass, and it seems that was way futuristic, though both seemed to be really cool when it hits the shelves in the near future.

Source: Engadget via OhGizmo!

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First Intel-powered smartphone due this week

Intel CEO Paul Otellini couldn't have made it any clearer: The first smartphone to use an Intel processor is due "later this week."
"Expect to see another important milestone for our business later this week. The launch of the first Intel architecture-based smartphone," Otellini said during his opening remarks in today's first-quarter earnings conference call.

That phone will likely be from Lava, according to a source familiar with the India-based smartphone maker's plans.
Specifications include an Intel Z2460 Atom chip, a 4.03-inch screen (1024x600), 8MP camera, HSPA+, and 16GB flash memory (see chart).
Smartphones running on Intel processors from Lenovo, Orange, Motorola, and ZTE are also due soon. While the launch of Lenovo's K800 is imminent -- and probably the next Intel-based phone to become available -- all of the others are slated for later this summer or in the second half of the year.
Intel, the world's largest chipmaker, is trying to refocus its chip design and manufacturing efforts on smaller devices like smartphones and tablets, markets where it has been virtually absent.

Via CNET

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Scan Hand For ATM cash,No Card Required

In a move that seems like it should have happened in the year 2000, a Japanese bank announced it will be installing about a dozen automated teller machines that can read customers' palms to identify them. Ogaki Kyoritsu Bank will be the country's first to introduce the system.

 

First, Ogaki Kyoritsu Bank (Japanese site) customers will register their biometric information at a branch, according to Gizmag's Darren Quick. Then they'll be able to go to one of the new ATMs and get cash simply by scanning a hand, typing in their birthdate and a four-digit PIN.

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Lenovo ThinkPad T420

ThinkPad T420: A Classic Workhorse

No one ever got fired for buying a ThinkPad, as the saying goes, and without a doubt no one will get fired for buying the latest Lenovo T420. This scintillatingly fast Sandy Bridge refresh of the familiar business-black, boxy-but-impressive, all-purpose laptop remains a reliable 4-pound workhorse, and you won't find a better keyboard anywhere. It's not pretty, as members of the IdeaPad series are, but it can do the job and then some.

Normally, Lenovo laptops earn an A+ for their ergonomics. The T420 comes close, but the rough surface of the T420's touchpad might be off-putting to some users. Nevertheless, the touchpad's texture makes it easy to locate by feel, and the placement and feel of the buttons are excellent.

The T420 scored a 124 on our WorldBench 6 test suite--an impressive score for an all-purpose laptop, even with an Intel Core i5-2520M, 4GB of DDR3 memory, and a 500GB, 7200-rpm hard drive on board. The frame rates sustained by the unit's Nvidia NVS 4200M GPU in our gaming tests were less impressive: The T420 is playable at low detail in resolutions up to 1024 by 768, but it's a near miss at higher detail settings.

At Lenovo's default power settings, we noticed a slight stuttering in high-bitrate video when the unit ran off of its battery. The stuttering didn't occur when the unit was plugged into the wall, or when we switched to less miserly power settings. On the other hand, choosing a different power profile means that--if you watch movies without the plug--you probably won't get the outstanding 8 hours, 37 minutes of run time that we recorded in our battery test.

The T420's audio is loud and clear, but lacking in bass through the speakers. The picture from the 720p webcam is outstanding, but while 720p is fine for taking photos or recording, unless you're on a local network, you should use a lower resolution for smooth video conferencing or calls.

The port selection on the T420 has a slight legacy bent. You get four USB 2.0 ports--one of them a combo eSATA/USB, and another always-on--but no USB 3.0 port. There's VGA and DisplayPort video output, along with SD/MMC and ExpressCard slots. Connectivity includes 2.4GHz and 5GHz (optional) wireless, plus gigabit ethernet. Bluetooth and WLAN antennas are integrated , but neither technology was on board our test unit.

The T420 is available with either a 1366-by-768-resolution or a 1600-by-900-resolution 14.0-inch display. Our $1249 test configuration came with the latter display, which proved crisp, bright, and flawlessly backlit. A DVD-RW burner comes standard, but there's no Blu-ray option to show off the screen to best effect.

Also available are a plethora of docking stations and accessories, a fingerprint scanner, and Smart Card reader. The many T420 configurations all seem to be on sale, all of the time. A barebones unit costs $799 (as of August 25, 2011) while one with the full panoply of extras, including an SSD, runs about $1600.

The T420 is available with Windows 7 Home Premium or Professional; a number of other software packages are available. Our test unit shipped without antimalware software, but Microsoft's Security Essentials is free for the download.

The T420 is solidly constructed and offers racehorse performance. It's highly configurable with multiple warranty options, as befits a business laptop. Just about every IT person we know swears by the T series--for their clients and themselves. That should tell you everything you need to know about the long-term reliability of these laptops.

Display

Display size	14 inches
Maximum resolution	1600 x 900
Display type	Matte LCD with LED Backlight

Processor

Processor class	Intel Core i5
Processor model	2520M
Processor speed	2500 MHz
Number of Cores	2
Cache size	3 MB

Graphics

Graphics Type	Switchable
Integrated Graphics Chipset	Intel
Integrated Graphics Chipset Model Number	HD Core i5
Discreet Graphics Chipset Model Number	NVS 4200M
Graphics Memory	1024 MB

Memory

Installed memory	4 GB
Maximum memory	8 GB
Memory technology	DDR3
Memory Speed	1333 MHz

Storage

Hard Drive Type	Hard Disk Drive
Total HD Size	500 GB
Hard Drive Speed	7200 RPM
Number of hard drives included	1
Other Storage	SD/MMC Card SDHC Card
Express Card	Express Card 34

Optical Drives

Optical Drive Speed	8 x
Optical Drive Loading Type	Tray

Networking

Ethernet Type	10/100/1000 Mbps
Wifi Type	802.11 n/b/g

Interface Connections

Number of USB 2 Ports	4
Number of Firewire Ports	1
Video Interfaces	DisplayPort VGA
Additional Interfaces	Bluetooth eSATA

Dimensions

Weight (min)	5.2 pounds
Weight (with accessories)	6.1 lbs
Width	13.4 inches
Depth	10 inches
Height	1.4 inches

Software

Operating system	Microsoft Windows 7 Professional
Included Software	Corel: WinDVD SD, DVD MovieFactory (Lenovo Edition); Lenovo Utilities

Other Features

Built-In Speakers	Stereo
Docking Station Port	Yes
Devices	Built-In Microphone Built-In Webcam Fingerprint Reader Keyboard Light
Input devices	Keyboard Touchpad (multitouch)

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2014 Chevrolet Impala gallops into the New York auto show

NEW YORK--The 2014 Impala debuts with a new, muscular design that calls on equal parts Malibu and Camaro to create a look that Chevrolet says "looks much more expensive than it is." Classic Impala design cues, such as the leaping Impala emblem on the C pillar and the raised Impala lettering on a rear chrome bar, blend with the more modern Chevrolet design language to create a large sedan that, while a bit visually busy from certain angles, is athletic and muscular.
Chevrolet's MyLink infotainment system will grace the Impala's dashboard with its large 8-inch color touch screen, keeping the driver and passenger informed and entertained. Skip the MyLink system and you'll still find yourself looking at a smaller 4.2-inch display. And keeping the passengers safe are a selection of new safety features, including full-speed-range adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation braking, forward collision alert, lane-departure warning, side blind-zone alert, and rear cross-traffic alert. There's also an industry first front-center side airbag that, aside from being a mouthful, inflates between the front seats in a side collision to keep the front passengers from re-enacting an episode of the Three Stooges and knocking heads together.
The new Impala will be available with the driver's choice of three engines, all of which featuring direct injection technology. The most powerful option is a 303-horsepower 3.6-liter V-6 engine. A new 2.5-liter Ecotec four-cylinder is the middle-of-the-road option, outputting 195 horsepower while delivering an estimated 30 mpg on the highway. At the most fuel efficient end of the scale is a 182-horsepower 2.4-liter Ecotec engine with the e-Assist mild hybrid system, which nets an estimated 35 highway mpg. Regardless of which engine you chose, the front wheel-drive Impala will feature a single-option six-speed automatic transmission delivering the power to the front wheels.
The 2014 Chevrolet Impala will go on sale in early 2013 in LS, LT, and LTZ trim levels. No word on whether we're ever going to see another Impala SS model, but I'll keep my fingers crossed.

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Viper comes back, teeth sharpened

At the 2012 New York International Auto Show, Chrysler's SRT division, a new breakout group, showed off its latest work in the form of the 2013 Viper.

NEW YORK--Fans of the old Dodge Viper may be disappointed in its rebirth. While still driven by a ridiculously powerful engine, and maintaining its cabin far to the back of the car, the 2013 SRT Viper comes with unforeseen refinement.
Instead of strict power to the wheels with no electronic interference, the new Viper comes with traction and stability control. An active suspension system lets the driver choose between street and track modes. Body work around its side pipe should even protect the legs of passengers getting out of the cabin.

But it would be foolish to lament the previously unfettered Viper, as technology has proven itself again and again in performance cars. The traction system on the new Viper enables launch control, making it possible to actually use all of the car's massive torque. The suspension system's street mode should also make possible to enjoy a Sunday drive, rather than seeking out a chiropractor the next Monday.
With the 2013 Viper, it looks like the new SRT group was challenged to build a world-class super car, able to hold its own against the Ferraris and Lamborghinis of the world. And it may have well succeeded
The new Viper gets many refinements over the old model. While retaining the same basic body design, new aerodynamic touches reduce drag. The hood and rear deck are made of carbon fiber, while the doors are made of aluminum, all helping to shave 100 pounds of weight off the car.
Even the badge got a new design, suggested by Viper fans.

The seat shells are molded from carbon fiber and Kevlar, also helping to hold down weight. SRT raised the roof over the driver and passenger seats to accommodate helmets. But the cabin is also more spacious than on the previous version of the car.
What might really bother old Viper fans are the electronics used in the cabin. The LCD instrument cluster is more GT-R than Barney Oldfield, letting the driver configure the information display using steering wheel buttons. SRT even makes Chrysler's UConnect navigation head units available for the car.

Despite all the niceties, SRT still throws big displacement under the hood with an 8.4-liter V-10. Made of aluminum, it generates 640 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque, the most torque of any naturally aspirated production engine, according to SRT.
Throwing any notion of fuel economy to the wind, SRT shortened the ratios of the Viper's six-speed manual transmission. As the car hits its top speed in its top gear, every gear is given its full potential, occupying its own distinct place in the powerband. SRT has not yet said what sort of fuel economy the Viper will get, and it's probably best not to ask.
The new Viper comes out in base and GTS models late this year.

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Intel's Windows 8 tablet: Checklist goes public

Chip giant proposes a long list of specifications for upcoming Windows 8 tablets.

Intel is offering more specifics on the features of future Windows 8 tablet at a conference in Beijing. It's a laudable goal, but can Intel make it happen this year?
Underneath the glass will be beat an Atom Z2760 "Clover Trail" chip: dual-core capable with "burst mode" (for quick bursts of performance when needed) and Hyperthreading -- the latter allows a dual-core chip to behave in quad-core-like fashion in some cases.

 

Two basic tablet designs: The tablets themselves, as proposed by Intel, fall into two basic sizes: pure 10-inch tablets and hybrid 11-inch designs with physical keyboards.
Battery life: More than nine hours. That's just on paper of course. So, final products will tell the real story.
3G/4G: That's a must for tablets, of course. And Intel bought the wireless business of a little chip company called Infineon. So it can supply its own silicon here if necessary.
Weight/thickness: Under 1.5 pounds. No surprise here. The gen 3 iPad is 1.44 pounds, by the way. Thickness, as proposed, is under 9mm. Again, as a yardstick, the gen 3 iPad is 9.4mm.
Miscellaneous: NFC (near field communication) and Wi-Fi Direct.
All of the above is predicated on Windows 8 being commercially released in the second half of the year. That seems to be the plan.
And Intel is pretty adept at getting its satellite of customers and partners to make things happen. It should be an interesting fall for tablets.

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