Thuraya's SatSleeve docks your iPhone onto its satellite network, charges it too (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/21/thuraya-satellite-iphone-satsleeve/

Despite the Gorilla glass, we're not sure if it's a great idea to bring that iPhone to K2. Still, if you can fire it up, you can now make satellite calls from Apple's iPhone 4 and 4s handsets thanks to Thuraya's SatSleeve. Always-on globetrotter types can slip one of those models into a cradle, dial their pals from virtually anywhere via the company's own satellite network and even place emergency calls without the handset. The device also includes a built-in battery pack to stretch call times by charging your phone -- though given satellite rates, you may get charged more than you think. Thuraya said that an iPhone 5 version's also in the works, but if you're okay with Cupertino's prior models, hit the break for more.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

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HP Labs builds a glasses-free, portable 3D display with wide viewing angles (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/20/hp-labs-builds-a-glasses-free-portable-3d-lcd-with-wide-viewing/

Typical attempts at a glasses-free 3D display have trouble with viewing angles; we're all too familiar with having to sit in a sweet spot to get the effect. HP Labs might have just solved this last problem with a prototype 3D LCD that would better accommodate the real world. The display's backlight has nanopatterned grooves that send blue, green and red in multiple directions, letting the LCD show only the light that would be seen from a given viewpoint. Those positions are set in stone, but they're both abundant (200 for photos, 64 for video) and can spread across a wide 180-degree viewing arc. At a thickness of as little as half a millimeter, a production LCD could easily be thin enough for a mobile device, too. The catch isn't so much the screen as the content. Producers need an image for every possible viewpoint, which could create a fair share of logistical problems: even though footage wouldn't necessarily require 200 cameras, it could limit fully immersive 3D to computer-generated visuals or else consume a massive amount of bandwidth. If those are the biggest barriers, though, we're still that much closer to the holographic smartphone we've always wanted.

Filed under: Cellphones, Displays, Science, HP

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Via: MIT Technology Review

Source: Nature

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Canon unveils EOS T5i and Rebel SL1, the world's smallest DSLR (hands-on)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/21/canon-eos-rebel-sl1-t5i/

If you haven't already come to grips with the fact that Canon won't be releasing a mirrorless camera with DSLR-like performance, you might as well cut your losses now. Instead of replacing the sluggish EOS M with a compelling shooter, the company has decided to focus on shrinking its DSLR. The result, the EOS Rebel SL1, is the world's smallest Digital SLR. SL stands for "super lightweight," which seems appropriate, given that it tips the scale at just over 14 ounces, yet the camera still accommodates EOS lenses, such as the new EF-S 18-55mm IS STM optic that ships in the box. There's an 18-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, DIGIC 5 image processor, a 1.04M-dot fixed touchscreen, a new hybrid autofocus and standard 9-point AF. It offers sensitivity ranging from ISO 100-25,600, can capture 1080p video at 30 or 24 fps, and it includes a built-in mono mic, along with a stereo mic input jack on the side. Jump past the break for our hands-on.

Gallery: Canon EOS Rebel SL1 and T5i hands-on

Filed under: Cameras, Canon

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Canon announces PowerShot SX280 HS with WiFi, ISO 6400 and 20x lens, we go hands-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/21/canon-powershot-sx280-hs-hands-on/

How do you justify splurging for a pricey point-and-shoot when your smartphone takes "good enough" pictures on its own? A 20x lens, for starters. Canon's new PowerShot SX280 HS is small enough to tuck away in a pocket, yet it packs a 25-500mm f/3.5-6.8 lens. That's old news for SX260 owners, though -- last year's model offered an identical range. There's plenty of new features, however, including a 12.1-megapixel CMOS sensor, built-in WiFi, a DIGIC 6 processor, 1080/30p and 60p video capture, a sensitivity range of ISO 80-6400 with significantly improved image quality in low light, a 14 fps Burst HQ mode and a 260-shot battery rating in Eco Mode (compared to 210 shots under normal conditions). Those features are joined by a 3-inch 461k-dot LCD and GPS, both of which shipped on the SX260.

During our hands-on, we quickly noticed the SX280 HS' significant speed boost -- it's 50 percent faster than its predecessor when it comes to focusing and shutter lag, and it definitely shows. The Burst HQ mode was also quite impressive, though you're unfortunately limited to just seven consecutive shots. The camera has a solid feel, though it's not terribly heavy. A very slim pop-up flash on the top, compact dedicated mode dial on the rear and a slightly extended front grip help to distinguish this model from lesser-equipped point-and-shoots, though both the red and black matte finishes convey a premium look on their own. You can catch both colors in person when the camera hits stores in April with a $330 MSRP, or you can sneak a peek right now in our hands-on gall! ery atta ched to this post.

Gallery: Canon PowerShot SX280 HS hands-on

Filed under: Cameras, Canon

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NY approves Cornell Tech's applied sciences campus on Roosevelt Island

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/21/ny-approves-cornell-tech-campus-roosevelt-island/

While Cornell has given its researchers the resources to build spider-like robots and move Pong paddles with the power of the mind, students more interested in the software side of engineering have not been getting as much love. That's about to change, however, with the recent City Planning Commission approval of Cornell Tech, a project to build an applied sciences campus on New York City's Roosevelt Island. Now the next step would be to get a blessing from the City Council. After all is said and done, we'll hopefully see the 12-acre site break ground in 2014, the campus opening its doors in 2017 and a full build-out by 2037. As they await their new home, Cornell is holding classes for aspiring computer whiz-kids at Google's Chelsea campus, where we're sure they'll get an inspiration or two. To see what else Cornell Tech has in store, check out the source link below.

Filed under: Science

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Via: < a target="_blank" href="http://thenextweb.com/us/2013/03/20/nys-cornell-tech-campus-approved-by-city-planning-commission-for-2014-groundbreaking/?utm_medium=Spreadus&utm_campaign=social%20media&awesm=tnw.to_a0WQu&utm_source=Twitter">The Next Web

Source: Cornell Tech

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