Nokia to invest in 'array' mobile cameras that use small lenses to capture big images

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/30/nokia-to-invest-in-pelican-camera-tech/

If the name Pelican Imaging rings a bell, it's possibly because we covered the company's array imaging camera prototype back in 2011. The technology uses multiple lenses that are relatively tiny in terms of how much space they take up in a mobile device, but which work together to capture an image of the same quality as a much larger camera -- just as array telescopes replace the need for one huge telescope. Now, it appears we weren't the only ones taking an interest, because Nokia's investment wing has revealed to Bloomberg that it's been watching the startup since 2008 and is currently planning to invest in it. Bo Ilsoe, of Nokia Growth Partners, describes Pelican's technology as being "on the cusp of being commercialized" -- so who knows? One day, a future Lumia might house 41 megapixels, image stabilization and the voodoo known as plenoptics. In the meantime, there's a video after the break which sort of explains how the technology sucks in enough data to allow for focus to be adjusted after a picture is taken -- a trick which also sounds rather familiar.

Filed under: Cellphones, Cameras, Mobile, Nokia

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Source: Bloomberg

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Eyes-on: MIT Media Lab's Smarter Objects can map a user interface onto... anything (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/29/eyes-on-mit-media-labs-smarter-objects/

While patrolling the halls of the CHI 2013 Human Factors in Computing conference in Paris, we spied a research project from MIT's Media Lab called "Smarter Objects" that turns Minority Report tech on its head. The researchers figured out a way to map software functionality onto tangible objects like a radio, light switch or door lock through an iPad interface and a simple processor / WiFi transceiver in the object. Researcher Valentin Huen explains that "graphical user interfaces are perfect for modifying systems," but operating them on a day-to-day basis is much easier using tangible objects.

To that end, the team developed an iPad app that uses motion tracking technology to "map" a user interface onto different parts of an object. The example we saw was a simple radio with a a pair of dials and a speaker, and when the iPad's camera was pointed at it, a circular interface along with a menu system popped up that cannily tracked the radio. From there, Huen mapped various songs onto different positions of the knob, allowing him to control his playlist by moving it -- a simple, manual interface for selecting music. He was even able to activate a second speaker by drawing a line to it, then "cutting" the line to shut it off. We're not sure when, or if, this kind of tech will ever make it into your house, but the demo we s! aw (see the pair of videos after the break) seemed impressively ready to go.

Filed under: Tablets, Science

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Your Skype Account Can Be Easily Hijacked, Says A Guy Who Was Hacked Six Times In One Day (MSFT)

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/spammers-can-easily-hijack-your-skype-account-says-a-security-researcher-who-lost-his-account-six-times-2013-4

It is painfully easy for hackers to hijack your Skype account and then use it to spam your Skype contacts, says a guy who had his Skype account stolen six times in one day.

Over the weekend, "Dylan," aka @TibitXimer on Twitter, a self-proclaimed security researcher/hacker, contacted Skype when he discovered his account had been hijacked. Skype asked him a few basic questions and then reset the account.

The problem is that those same easy-to-answer questions are what allowed spammers to hijack his account in the first place.

When someone contacts Skype to say they want a new email address and password, Skype asks people to tell them things like naming three to five Skype contacts, giving them an email account used with Skype, or giving a first and/or last name, Dylan explained.

He says it's easy for a hacker to learn those things, call Skype and gain control of the account.

After the sixth time he had his account stolen on Saturday, Dylan posted a message to the Skype help forum and started Tweeting about it: 

@skypesupport my skype was given away to over 6 people in one day due to them just knowing my email, name, and 5 contacts on my account

— Tibit (@TibitXimer) April 25, 2013

Other people tweeted about getting their Skype accounts hijacked, too.

@tibitximer @skype My account was hijacked and they changed/add! ed email . Can't reset password bc the token expires. Support's terrible.

— Jana Veliskova (@jveliskova) April 29, 2013

Skype fixed the problem with Dylan's account, it says, but it's unclear if they will change their support policies to make it harder to get a Skype account reset.

We've reached out to Skype PR and Microsoft PR for comment.

SEE ALSO: The 10 Most Important Companies In Cloud Computing

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Olympia Circuits' Arno Shield lets Arduino newcomers bring their own board

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/29/olympia-circuits-arno-shield-lets-arduino-newcomers-byob/

While there have certainly been attempts at easing the Arduino learning curve, many of these still demand a new board or simplify just one aspect of a much larger universe. Olympia Circuits' new Arno Shield could help strike a better balance between starting fresh and diving into the deep end. It includes all the buttons, lights and sensors needed for 40-plus educational projects, but grafts on to existing boards such as the company's LeOlympia or an Arduino Uno. Owners don't have to add parts or wires; they just remove the shield once they've learned enough to create their own masterworks. The shield kit won't be cheap when it arrives on May 2nd for $60, but it may prove the real bargain for tinkerers who want a full-fledged Arduino board as soon as the training wheels come off.

Filed under: Misc

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Source: Olympia Circuits

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HTC 608t spied, brings dual speakers to a One SV-like design

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/29/htc-608t-spied-brings-dual-speakers-to-a-one-sv-like-design/

HTC might be gearing up for a wider audio assault. Just days after the 606w made a pass through China's TENAA with stereo sound, a 608t cousin has made the agency rounds carrying its own pair of front speakers. If the 608t looks familiar, it should -- it's effectively a spin on the One SV body (or rather, the somewhat similar One ST from China) with both the reworked audio as well as the same navigation layout that first appeared on the One. While we can't verify rumors that the 608t will step up to Jelly Bean, a quad-core chip and an 8-megapixel rear camera, the TENAA report does show that it will include TD-SCDMA for China Mobile as well as GSM and WiFi. However subtle an upgrade the phone will be, about all that's left is for HTC to orchestrate a formal launch.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, HTC

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Via: Blog of Mobile (translated)

Source: TENAA (translated)

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