Sandboxr lets us easily make custom-posed, 3D-printed figurines (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/08/sandboxr-lets-us-easily-make-custom-posed-3d-printed-figurines/

Where was Sandboxr when we were kids? Instead of dragging our parents around on a hunt for the perfect figurine, we could have used the company's new web app to easily manipulate a virtual model and get a 3D printed statuette in the exact pose we wanted. There's compensation for the lost opportunities of our childhood, however. The creation tool allows for customized accessories, scenes and sizing, and it's expected to have reasonable prices of about $12 for a 2.5-inch character and over $20 for a 3.5-inch version. The best news may simply be the likelihood of a figurine existing in the first place -- Sandboxr sees itself as a platform for everyone from 3D animators through to game developers and dedicated toy companies, many of which can use existing 3D models to start a collectible line. The printing service is currently invitation-only and plans a Kickstarter fundraising drive to scale larger, but it's easy to see an end to the days of limited edition figurines -- much to the delight of our inner child.

Filed under: Misc, Household

Comments

Via: Wired

Source: Sandboxr

Read More...

Summary only...

Google aiming to build $82 million aircraft facility at SJC, probably launch more Project Glass demos from it

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/08/google-82-million-SJC-aircraft-facility/

It's no secret that Google has an interest in the automotive industry, but over the years the popular search engine has also managed to amass quite the collection of aircrafts. So much in fact, the company is in the process of inking an $82 million construction deal that would bring its fleet to Mineta San Jose International Airport. Pending city council approval, the privately funded facility would generate an annual $2.6 million rent lease, around $400,000 in fuel revenues and create 236 jobs. If agreed upon, the 29-acre Googleport will take up to two years to build and will include an executive terminal along with hangers to house the company's private Boeing 737 and 747 jets. Google currently parks its jets at Moffett Federal Airfield, where the company has offered to renovate NASA Ames' Hanger One in exchange for two-thirds of its facility space to house its planes. There's no word if either deal will affect the other, but as it stands San Jose's city council is expected to vote on its proposal sometime in April.

Filed under: Misc, Google

Comments

Via: Gizmodo

Source: Mercury News

Read More...

Summary only...

The Future Of Smartphones: New Report Says Samsung's Next Galaxy Phone Will Have Touchless Gestures

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/samsungs-galaxy-s4-touchless-gestures-2013-2

Samsung's next flagship smartphone is on the way.

The latest rumor says the Galaxy S IV can be controlled by touchless gestures instead of regular taps and swipes. 

The report comes from the Korean publication DDaily.

So what do we mean by touchless controls?

One example is you'll be able to answer your phone just by holding it up to your ear when it rings. There's no need to tap an "answer" button.

The touch-free system is supposed to mimic the Galaxy Note II's Air View, a sensor that recognizes when the stylus is over the screen, but a newer sensor would eliminate the need for a stylus, reports Phandroid.

Here's a list of the gestures from Geeky Gadgets blog:

 

The rumored 5-inch smartphone's standard features are said to include a high-quality 1920 x 1080 resolution screen, 13 megapixel camera, lightning fast 8-core processor, and 2 GB of RAM.

Don't Miss: Samsung May Announce The Next Galaxy Phone On March 15 >

Please follow SAI: Tools on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »

Read More...

Summary only...

Hundreds of Full-Length Movies Are Reappearing on YouTube

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5982721/hundreds-of-full+length-movies-are-reappearing-on-youtube

The Wall Street Journal points out an interesting trend: loads of illegally uploaded, full-length movies are finding their way on to YouTube, and studios are doing nothing about it.

And you know what? It's right. A quick Google throws up full versions of The Three Faces of Eve, Misery, Battle Royale, The Illusionist... we could go on, but you can use a search engine by yourself.

The Journal suggests that most of these films are from Walt Disney, Columbia and Tristar studios, and—as of yet—they're not doing anything about it. From the WSJ:

Why the movie studios didn't block the films by using a special YouTube program-called Content ID-for identifying their copyrighted content is a mystery.

Google in late 2007 launched Content ID, which helps identify copyrighted material so content owners can block the content from appearing on the site altogether, or in certain geographical markets. Alternatively, content owners can choose to let YouTube sell online advertisements that appear next to or on top of the videos while they play.

Clearly, this isn't a situation that will last for very long; those studios are bound to wise up sooner or later and pull that content. But in the meantime, you can probably find yourself a fine evening of free movie viewing on YouTube—if you don't find the idea morally troubling. [WSJ]

Update: As Giz reader Giant Speck points out, there is a Reddit page dedicated to pointing out full movies on YouTube.

Image by Pinkcandy/Shutterstock

Read More...

Summary only...

DropTag tells phones when packages are bruised before they're opened (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/08/droptag-tells-phones-when-packages-are-bruised/

Many of us have had the misfortune of receiving a package that has been roughhoused in transit, and we might not have even realized it until we burrowed through the cardboard and tape. Cambridge Consultants' upcoming DropTag might just serve as the insurance we need. The badge can detect a drop or other violent motion, like earlier sensors, but carries Bluetooth 4.0 to transmit data and alerts in real-time to a mobile app, whether it's on the courier's smartphone or a tablet at home. As one watch-grade battery could power the sensor for weeks, we could know whether the box took a tumble at the warehouse or at the door -- a help not just for customers wanting their items intact, but for companies that can avoid delivering already-broken goods. At less than $2 in raw costs, DropTags would be cheap enough to slap on many packages. We just need Cambridge to line up clients to make this a reality and, just possibly, prevent a few overly hasty couriers from long-bombing our orders.

Filed under: Misc

Comments

Source: Cambridge Consultants

Read More...

Summary only...