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Oculus Rift’s Tuscany demo scores unofficial support for Razer Hydra (video)

Published April 14, 2013 | By

Oculus Rift’s Tuscany demo was built with a good ol’ fashioned keyboard and mouse setup in mind, but now it’s unofficially scored support for motion controls. Sixense, the outfit behind Razer’s Hydra, has cooked up a custom version of the Italian-themed sample for use with their controller, and it gives gamers a pair of floating hands to pick up and manipulate objects. Originally shown at GDC, the tweaked experience is now up for grabs, and can even be played by those who don’t have a Rift — albeit with just the controller’s perks.

Booting up the retooled package offers users a new 3D menu, giving them options for arm length, crouching, head bobbing and a crosshair. It’s not the first project to combine Rift with Hydra, but it certainly helps illustrate the potential of such a setup. Sixense says it plans to release updates and the source code, and it recommends folks sign up for their project-specific email list and keep an eye on their forums for word on availability. Hit the source links below for the download, or head past the break to catch Road to VR’s hands-on with the Hydra-friendly Tuscan villa.

Filed under: Gaming

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Via: Road to VR

Source: Sixense (1), (2)

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Posted in Gadgets | Tagged demo, Hydra, Oculus, Razer, Rift's, scores, support, Tuscany, unofficial, video |

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Detune’s Korg M01D for Nintendo 3DS sparks nostalgia, lands in May (video)

Published April 14, 2013 | By

This isn’t the first time a Korg synth has been re-imagined in software form, it’s not even the first (or second) time on Nintendo’s DS. But, when Detune releases its M01D for the handheld console, it’ll spark more than a little nostalgia for synth enthusiasts. Why? Because it’s heavily inspired by Korg’s legendary M1 synth, complete with all its sounds (and yes, the famous piano patch included), plus some new ones thrown in for good measure. The DS version includes a step sequencer (eight tracks with up to 64 steps per sequence) that you can compile together in “scenes.” Borrowing from other parts of the Korg family, the M01D app also offers a KAOSS mode, too, no doubt using one of those screens serving as the touchpad. You can preserve your creativity by saving to SD card, or the usual internet sharing options, and heck there’s even a 3D viewing mode too. Lordy! How that will actually look, we don’t know, or at least we won’t until its May release in Japan. Let’s just hope they do the right thing and bring it to the rest of the world. Pretty please.

Filed under: Misc, Gaming, Nintendo

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Via: Joystiq

Source: Detune

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Posted in Gadgets | Tagged Detune's, Korg, lands, M01D, Nintendo, nostalgia, sparks, video |

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Moog’s Paul Vo takes his Vo-96 “acoustic synthesizer” prototype to Kickstarter (video)

Published April 10, 2013 | By

Moog’s LEV-96 Sensoriacuator was a prototype tool that magnetically altered the vibration of an acoustic guitar’s strings to extract 96 simultaneous harmonics. While the company seemingly passed on a commercial release, inventor Paul Vo decided to press on with the unit as a solo project. Vo, the man behind the Moog Guitar and Lap Steel’s infinite sustain, has gone to Kickstarter to raise $50,000 necessary to manufacture the first production run, since renamed as the Vo-96 “Acoustic Synthesizer.” At a price of $1,450, it’s not aimed at the general public, but hardcore strummers with fat wallets can head on past the break to see how the hardware can turn your finger plucking into a demented Boards of Canada b-side.

Filed under: Peripherals, Portable Audio/Video

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Via: Oh Gizmo, Gizmodo, MoogMusic

Source: Kickstarter

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Posted in Gadgets | Tagged acoustic, Kickstarter, Moog's, Paul, Prototype, synthesizer, takes, video, Vo96 |

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XYZbot’s Fritz offers a cheaper robot head, free trips to the uncanny valley (video)

Published April 2, 2013 | By

It’s been relatively easy to get your hands on an expressive robot face… if you’re rich or a scientist, that is. XYZbot would like to give the rest of us a shot by crowdfunding Fritz, an Arduino-powered robot head. The build-it-yourself (and eerily human-proportioned) construction can react to pre-programmed actions, text-to-speech conversion or live control, ranging from basics like the eyes and jaw to the eyelids, eyebrows, lips and neck of an Advanced Fritz. Windows users should have relatively simple control through an app if they just want to play, but where Fritz may shine is its open source nature: the code and hardware schematics will be available for extending support, changing the look or building a larger robot where Fritz is just one part. The $125 minimum pledge required to set aside a Fritz ($199 for an Advanced Fritz) isn’t trivial, but it could be a relative bargain if XYZbot makes its $25,000 goal — and one of the quickest routes to not-quite-lifelike robotics outside of a research grant.

Filed under: Peripherals, Robots

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Source: Kickstarter

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Posted in Gadgets | Tagged cheaper, free, Fritz, HEAD, Offers, robot, trips, uncanny, Valley, video, XYZbot's |

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EA reveals Battlefield 4 headed to PC this fall, refuses to confirm next-gen (video)

Published March 27, 2013 | By

This year’s Battlefield series entry — Battlefield 4 — is headed to PCs this fall. The game wasn’t given other platforms, but logic dictates it’ll arrive on the PlayStation 4 and Microsoft’s Xbox 360 successor. Apparently, since only Sony’s next-gen console is a known quantity and Microsoft’s staying mum, EA isn’t sharing other platforms yet (but hey, it’s probably PlayStation 4 and the next Xbox). The game’s being built on the latest iteration of DICE’s Frostbite engine, though no other details were given about the engine just yet.

Like previous Battlefield entries, EA-owned Swedish game studio DICE is at the helm, and Battlefield 4 remains planted in current times (unlike the pseudo-future of Call of Duty‘s latest entry, Black Ops 2). A beta for the game will go live some time this fall, and folks who bought last year’s Medal of Honor: Warfighter are automatically part of said beta. We’ll have more info as EA offers it up, but color us not surprised if Battlefield 4 makes a reprise appearance at Microsoft’s still undated Xbox 360 successor unveiling.

Update: EA also released a 17-minute gameplay demo of the game’s prologue section, played on a PC. It features a squad of four soldiers on the run from Russian spec-ops militants in the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku. You’ll find it just beyond the break.

Filed under: Gaming, Software, HD

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Posted in Gadgets | Tagged Battlefield, confirm, fall, headed, nextgen, refuses, reveals, this, video |

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Nokia accuses Google of ‘forcing’ VP8 video codec on the world, uses patent system to resist it

Published March 25, 2013 | By

Just when Google thought everything was going swell with its open source VP8 video standard for the web, up pops one last hurdle. And it’s a big one: Nokia has suddenly decided to use the patent system to try to prevent VP8 from being adopted as a free (or at least free-er) alternative to the license-laden H.264. Why would it do such a thing? Because, according to a statement given to FOSS Patents, the Finnish manufacturer believes VP8 isn’t truly open. It describes the codec as a “proprietary technology” that offers “no advantages” over H.264 and that Google is “attempting to force” on others as part of its WebM project. What’s more, Nokia claims VP8 infringes on its own intellectual property and says it isn’t prepared to license any patents that may be required to let VP8 flourish. Oh dear. This problem may now need even more money thrown at it.

Filed under: Internet, Software, Mobile, Nokia, Google

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Via: The Register

Source: FOSS Patents

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Posted in Gadgets | Tagged 'forcing', accuses, codec, Google, Nokia, patent, resist, System, uses, video, world |

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Microsoft’s Bob Heddle backstage at Expand (video)

Published March 17, 2013 | By

Bob Heddle, director of Kinect for Windows, took to our stage today to talk about the evolution of Microsoft’s gaming peripheral. After turning our editor-in-chief into a rather rubbery looking 3D rendering, he headed backstage for an interview with Brian Heater where the two talked about Kinect’s effect on Microsoft’s business as a whole and the possibility of an embedded future. For the full interview, check out our video after the break.

Follow all of Engadget’s Expand coverage live from San Francisco right here!

Filed under: Gaming, Microsoft

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Posted in Gadgets | Tagged backstage, Expand, Heddle, Microsoft's, video |

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Minimalist Warsow Home Evoking Lightness and Relaxation [Video]

Published March 15, 2013 | By

contemporary house Warsaw Minimalist Warsow Home Evoking Lightness and Relaxation [Video]
This tasteful and cozy house designed by Chalupko Design studio is located near Warsaw, Poland, in the Konstancin-Jeziorna district. With a dominant natural wooden palette, the overall impression is that of warmth and lightness. The bottom floor hosts an open plan living and dining space, the kitchen, a large bathroom, guest room and plenty ingenious storage solutions. The private area is located upstairs and consists of the bedroom, working space and wardrobe.

modern house Warsaw 5 Minimalist Warsow Home Evoking Lightness and Relaxation [Video]

The aim of the project was to create a real home that would evoke good and relaxed feelings. The space is calm, neutral, but also warm and pleasant. The beige palette is contrasted with wenge wood and dark blue colors, especially in the living and guest rooms. It brings up a little bit of a marine style, completed by terrace and large garden – spaces for leisure. Check out the video of the project, for a more detailed understanding!. [Photos and information provided via e-mail by Chalupko Design studio]

interior modern house Warsaw Minimalist Warsow Home Evoking Lightness and Relaxation [Video]

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Posted in Architecture | Tagged Evoking, Home, Lightness, Minimalist, Relaxation, video, Warsow |

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Versatile Faz Daybed Equipped With Built-in Speakers and LED Lighting [Video]

Published February 28, 2013 | By

modern FAZ daybed outdoors Versatile Faz Daybed Equipped With Built in Speakers and LED Lighting [Video]

Inspired by the polygonal shape of minerals found in nature, Spanish architect Ramon Esteve has designed the Faz daybed for VONDOM. The resulting outdoor furniture piece mixes an elegant design with a practical ability to protect its user from harmful sun rays. Moreover, the lounge chair is equipped with wheels, making it easy to move from one place to another and create a versatile relaxation platform for sunbathing. Just switch the daybed around in order to get an optimum amount of sunlight!

contemporary FAZ daybed Versatile Faz Daybed Equipped With Built in Speakers and LED Lighting [Video]

The project also makes use of a hydraulic system, allowing its users to open and close it when not in use. A light top translucent fabric acts as a large protective umbrella. By connecting smartphone and bluetooth technology to the built-in speakers, you can play your favorite music by the pool. For a general idea on how the daybed works, have a look at the video placed at the end of the post!

contemporary FAZ daybed Versatile Faz Daybed Equipped With Built in Speakers and LED Lighting [Video]

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Posted in Architecture | Tagged BuiltIn, Daybed, Equipped, Lighting, Speakers, Versatile, video |

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Canon MREAL Mixed Reality headset hands-on (video)

Published February 21, 2013 | By

Thought Google Glass cost a pretty penny? Well, try this head-mounted display on for size. It’s that Mixed Reality wearable from Canon that we’ve been hearing so much about. As previously noted, it’s set to hit the States the first of next month, carrying a decidedly gigantic $125,000 price tag (plus an estimated $25,000 in annual maintenance). But before you go writing a brashly worded letter to the bigwigs at Canon, remember: this isn’t really for you. That is, unless you’re an automotive manufacturer, research university or museum display curator. This is a heavy-duty, industry-facing device.

That said, the camera maker did give a few of us non-industry folks the chance to play around with the display at an event in Manhattan last night, while the rest of the tech world was fawning over that fancy new PlayStation thingamabob. Having spent some time with Sony’s HMZ-T1, we’ve got to say that the experience of wearing this far, far more high-end product wasn’t all that different from a hardware perspective: slip it over your head, place it on the bridge of your nose and tighten. It’s possible to get it snug without being too uncomfortable — and when it’s time to take it off, a flip of the lever will remove it in one go.

Gallery: Canon MREAL Mixed Reality headset hands-on