Thursday, July 25, 2013

Hands-on with Meta 1, a 3D augmented reality headset with a natural UI (video)

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Handson with Meta1, an 3D augmented reality headset with a natural UI video

Augmented reality is the future, or at least the proliferation of AR apps and hardware seems to indicate that'll be the case. Meta revealed its own augmented reality device, called Meta 1, in January and is currently in the midst of a Kickstarter campaign to ramp up manufacturing and get it to the people. If the headset looks familiar, that's because its hardware is: it's comprised, in no small part, of Epson and SoftKinetic gear. It utilizes the 960 x 540 binocular 3D displays from Epson's Moverio glasses and the depth sensor sitting atop them comes from SoftKinetic. Of course the glasses you see are but a first generation and are wired to a battery pack worn around the waist -- the company's currently working on slimming things down with customized eyewear that'll be revealed later this year, however. For now, the dev kit and the still-in-development Unity-based SDK are slated to ship in September, but we got to see some of what Meta 1 can do a bit early.


Like Atheer Labs, Meta is aiming to create an AR system that provides users with a natural interface. That means you can reach out and interact with three dimensional graphical objects, as opposed to using just gestures and voice to navigate the OS. We demoed Meta-1, and found it a similar experience to our time with Atheer's prototype device. Grabbing objects by making a fist and moving them around in space is an interesting computing experience, but the accuracy of the system is far from ideal. We found it difficult to tell how far we needed to extend our hand to interact with an object at times, and the functionality at this point is rudimentary.

Of course, the SDK isn't finished yet, and the UI is still in its infancy. While the SDK has several layers of abstraction to make coding for Meta easier, the company's software stack is open -- so more advanced devs have access to and can utilize all of the depth data coming from the cameras. We'll get a better idea of Meta 1's capabilities when we see what kind of experiences developers build once they get their hands on it.

Company founder Meron Gribetz informed us that he has been working to find the right UI paradigm for AR for over two years now. With Meta 1, he thinks he can deliver a better AR experience than ever before thanks to the advanced depth sensing and surface tracking technology his company is working on. Plus, Steve Mann, the father of wearable computing, has recently signed on as Chief Scientist for the company and will be heavily involved with developing the platform moving forward. We don't know what the full Meta experience will look like when it arrives, but we are looking forward to finding out.

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Facebook for Android update brings favorite apps tray to Home users

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Facebook for Android update brings favorite apps tray to Home users

Now that Facebook Home is a practical reality, Facebook has to support both a full launcher and its traditional app at the same time -- and an update to Facebook for Android reflects that newly expanded focus. The big addition comes to Home, which gets its promised (and frankly needed) favorites tray for heavily used apps. Those relying on the traditional Android experience will mostly notice improved sharing: they can send multiple photos in one message, and it's easier for them to filter the visibility of shared content. No matter how committed you are to Facebook's vision of our mobile future, there's just one upgrade to grab at the source link.

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Diablo 3 bedevils consoles on September 3rd, heading to Xbox 360 as well

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Diablo 3 isn't a Sony console exclusive anymore, it seems, with Blizzard Entertainment today announcing it's heading to Xbox 360 as well on September 3rd. The game will arrive for the PlayStation 3 on the same day as the 360 version, with the PlayStation 4 version arriving at an unknown point afterward. It's unknown if the game is also headed to Microsoft's next-gen console, Xbox One, though Blizzard told our friends at Joystiq, "We don't have any further platform announcements to share at this time." Not exactly a straight up "no!" The console version of the game is said to contain all the updates that PC / Mac users have enjoyed thus far, not to mention much needed relief for your clicking finger.

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Xbox One gamepad goes into low power sleep mode during movies, when you step away

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The Xbox One controller isn't full of new bells and whistles, but it does have a few new tricks up its sleeves. The new gamepad can apparently go into a low power sleep mode, "if you're watching a movie or need to step away from the TV," according to a feature at Microsoft's official Xbox site. The controller will then re-awaken "the moment" it's picked up, the piece claims, and won't require resynchronization.

Aside from this new feature, the controller will apparently feature a the micro USB we've seen on prototypes in its finished form, so that it can be plugged in and used without batteries should the need arise (though with only one USB plug anywhere near the front of the console, it's not the most reliable solution for multiple people). This is in addition to the revamped thumbsticks and so-called "impulse triggers," as well as the more depressed battery compartment. For the full run down, check out our intro piece right here, and head through the source link below for more from Microsoft directly.

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See All of Karen Elson’s Off-the-Runway Photos

All it took was some red hair dye, shaved eyebrows, and the genius of Steven Meisel to launch Karen Elson's career. After she appeared on the cover of Vogue Italia in 1997, Elson went on to walk in shows like Fendi, Dolce & Gabbana, and Alexander McQueen and front campaigns for everyone from Chanel to Versace.  Also known for her music career and ill-fated marriage (and resulting divorce party!) to Jack White, Elson's indie-rock style makes her one to watch for insane personal style. Below, browse the off-the-runway looks of the woman Karl Lagerfeld once called a “beauty for the new millennium."


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The New Scent to Unite All One Direction Fans

The smiley, ever-loving boys of One Direction have regrouped their pretty faces and seemingly endless trove of talents for yet another venture beyond viral pop tunes. This time around, they've tapped into their collective olfactory prowess to concoct their first fragrance, titled Our Moment, both inspired by and dedicated to their adoring, screaming fans. Set to launch this fall, the scent is housed in a sleek glass bottle (complete with a pink mesh flower on top) that will not only enable fans to splash themselves in a juicy blend of pink grapefruit, berries, jasmine petals, and musk, but will also come packaged in a light-pink box stamped with soulful, dapper portraits of Niall, Zayn, Liam, Harry, and Louis. Designed by boys and made for girls, we think — or at least anyone who wants to help the One Direction Our Moment moment sustain itself until one of these guys becomes next decade's Justin Timberlake.


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