Hi Tech Edge

Staples To Start Selling 3D Printers

Zach Walton — Wed, 08 May 2013 12:40:34 +0000

3D printers are still very much intended for industry professionals or hobbyists. That’s going to change within the next five years though, and Staples has decided to get a head start.

3ders reports that Staples will start offering 3D Systems’ Cube 3D printer at physical store locations by the end of June. If you can’t wait, you can buy the Cube through Staple’s online store today for the relatively low price of $1,299.

“Staples is excited to bring the power of 3D printing to our customers, by being the first major U.S. retailer to announce the availability of this innovative technology that lets you create fully formed objects in your home or small business,” said Mike Edwards, Staples executive vice president, merchandising.

Now this is actually a pretty big deal. Before today’s announcement, those looking for 3D printers had to buy them straight from the manufacturer. Retailers were probably cautious about stocking 3D printers because the high price ensures the technology will be a niche product for at least the next few years. With Staples throwing its support behind it, we might see other retailers stocking 3D printers, including cheaper models.

The Cube from Staples comes with all the benefits of buying one from 3D Systems. In other words, you get to choose your color, including green and pink printers. There’s a wide selection of plastic cartridges, including the more unique materials, as well.

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Adorable Grandmother Tries Out Virtual Reality For The First Time

Zach Walton — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:48:10 +0000

The elderly get a bad rap when it comes to technology. It’s entirely unfair to say that the elderly can’t accept new technologies when one grandmother not only uses innovative technologies, but fully endorses it as well.

Paul Rivot, who recently got his hands on an Oculus Rift virtual reality headset dev kit, had his 90-year-old grandmother give it a go. What follows is an adorable exchange between Rivot and his grandmother as she explores a Tuscan house. Her reactions are endearing, heartwarming, and makes me miss the kind of starry eyed reaction that a lot of used to have when it came to new technologies.

I can only hope that this charming woman makes us realize that we’re all taking technology for granted far too often. As Louis C.K. once said – “The shittiest cellphone in the world is a miracle.”

[h/t: Gizmodo UK]

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Patent Shows How Google Glass Could Control Appliances

Zach Walton — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 12:49:23 +0000

The smart home is still a few years away as companies are now just dabbling in the idea of a smart fridge or a smart washing machine. Even so, Google is preparing for this future if its latest Glass patent application is any indication.

In a patent filed on September 21, 2011, Google outlines how Glass could be used to control appliances within the home, like a washing machine or refrigerator.

A wearable computing device includes a head-mounted display (HMD) that provides a field of view in which at least a portion of the environment of the wearable computing device is viewable. The HMD is operable to display images superimposed over the field of view. When the wearable computing device determines that a target device is within its environment, the wearable computing device obtains target device information related to the target device. The target device information may include information that defines a virtual control interface for controlling the target device and an identification of a defined area of the target device on which the virtual control image is to be provided. The wearable computing device controls the HMD to display the virtual control image as an image superimposed over the defined area of the target device in the field of view.

In layman terms, Google’s patent would basically allow Glass to bring up a menu whenever you look at an object that can be controlled via Glass. The menu would be laid over the item in question to bring an augmented reality flair to the experience. From there, the user would be able to control the object in question with either a touchpad, voice command or gesture.

Like most patent applications, this is just one possible idea out of many for Google Glass. I wouldn’t be surprised to see something like this come to Glass in the future, but we’re probably going to see simpler apps starting out. We’ll have to wait for the smart house of the future, and hopefully not Disney’s Smart House, to come along before stuff like this becomes more common.

[h/t: Engadget]

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Will 3D Printing Change Everything?

Zach Walton — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 14:57:14 +0000

3D printing has easily established itself as something amazing. Is it really the revolutionary technology that everybody makes it out to be though? That’s the question behind a new episode of PBS’ wonderful Off Book series.

This week, Off Book interviews numerous 3D printing insiders and experts to get their opinions on the future of the technology:

Much attention has been paid to 3D Printing lately, with new companies developing cheaper and more efficient consumer models that have wowed the tech community. They herald 3D Printing as a revolutionary and disruptive technology, but how will these printers truly affect our society? Beyond an initial novelty, 3D Printing could have a game-changing impact on consumer culture, copyright and patent law, and even the very concept of scarcity on which our economy is based. From at-home repairs to new businesses, from medical to ecological developments, 3D Printing has an undeniably wide range of possibilities which could profoundly change our world.

What’s sets 3D printing apart from other so called “revolutions” in tech or manufacturing is that 3D printing has over 20 years of innovation behind it. All that knowledge will soon be passed on to us as we move from a consumer culture to a creator culture. The Internet has already achieved a creator culture in digital goods, and 3D printing may very well be the thing to extend that into the physical realm.

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Cool Gadget Video – Nokia JBL PowerUp Wireless Charger Speaker

Glenn Letham — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 15:04:02 +0000

I recently acquired a cool wireless charger / speaker from Nokia, the JBL PowerUp charging device. This portable device is an ideal way to connect almost any audio device (smartphone, tablet, ghetto blaster or ??) either wirelessly over Bluetooth or by cable. Once connected the sound is pretty stunning and the speaker can be hidden away on a bookshelf. Control the speaker from a distance of up to 30 feet using your smartphone or tablet and coolest of all, the speaker has NFC and can charge a NFC enabled Nokia Lumia smartphone as well. Check out this first look unboxing as I connect an iPad to the speaker using a cable and by Bluetooth.

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Create Your Custom Lumia 820 Case With a 3D Printer

Glenn Letham — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:42:53 +0000

Here’s something kinda cool that you may have never thought of… how about printing up a new shell for your smartphone? Well, if you happen to have a device like the Nokia Lumia 820 which sports a removable shell (case) Nokia developer is making it a bit easier for you by providing you with all the specs and design drawings so you can print up a nice, fully customized shell… oh, you will need access to a 3D printer! If 3D printing is your thing and you happen to be a Windows Phone geek then have a looksee at the mechanical drawings of the Nokia Lumia 820 back shell… and be sure to send me a pic when you print one up!

Now let me see, where did I leave that darned 3D printer of mine?? ;0)

Want to know more about 3D Printing? See How 3D Printing Works

Source: nokia.com via Glenn on Pinterest

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Cool Technology – ESCORT MobileTV for Android OS

Glenn Letham — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 11:00:46 +0000

Android is king in the mobile space, there’s no question about that. So there’s no huge surprise that there’s loads of cool innovation coming to the Android ecosystem these days – case in point, this new mobile receiver for Android enabling live streaming of mobile TV content to tablets and smartphones without the need for 3G.

About the solution… ESCORT MobileTV is a miniature digital TV receiver that works with the free iDTV USA app, soon to be available in the Google Play™ Store. Available without a subscription fee through 2013, Dyle mobile TV gives consumers access to live, local broadcast television across more than 90 stations in 35 markets, reaching up to 55 percent of the nation’s population. Now, users can watch live entertainment, sports and breaking news without the need to tap into wireless data plans, avoiding 3G/4G, Wi-Fi or data plan requirements and costs. Note, the solution has already launched for iOS

See more details in this PR

3D Printers Are Now Making Transformers

Zach Walton — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 13:30:57 +0000

3D printing is often used to make ordinary objects, but the really amazing stuff comes when creators thinks outside the box. The people of Japan have really exemplified this with the disturbing 3D printed fetus and awesome 3D printed portraits. Now a Japanese robotics company has made a transformer with a 3D printer.

The company, Brave Robotics, will be attending the Maker Faire in Tokyo next week with its latest invention – Transforming Robot 7.2. The robot is a 1:12 scale model, and can easily transform from a car to a bi-pedal robot and back again. It’s controlled via a remote control in both modes, and sports a Wi-Fi camera that beams a live feed to a tablet.

So where does the 3D printer come into this? The inner components of the robot are traditional machine parts, but the company built the outside of the robot with a custom-made 3D printer. The process allows Brave Robotics to produce the robot in any color that the customer wants.

As stated, the Transforming Robot 7.2 will be at Tokyo’s Maker Faire next week. It might be worth checking out if you find yourself in the area. After that, it appears that Brave Robotics will begin selling the robot to hobbyists, inventors and people who just dig giant robots.

[h/t: Ponoko]

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New Features Coming To The Galaxy S III Thanks To Jelly Bean

Zach Walton — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 13:30:43 +0000

We’ve known for a while that Samsung is working with carriers to get Galaxy S III owners the Jelly Bean upgrade sooner rather than later. In fact, Sprint has already pushed out the upgrade on its network. If you’re not on Sprint, you might be waiting a while as it’s been awfully quiet on the AT&T and Verizon front.

While you wait, Samsung has prepared a few new videos that show off the new features that Jelly Bean brings to the Galaxy S III. Sure, you all know what Jelly Bean is capable of, but it’s something else to see it in action on the device. The Galaxy S III already was one of the best Android devices on the market, and Jelly Bean just makes it that much sweeter.

Alongside the updates from Google, Samsung is adding its own flourishes to the Galaxy S III in the Jelly Bean upgrade. These updates haven’t gotten as much press because only Sprint owners can play around with them, but they’re pretty nice. Have a look at all the new Samsung-specific features hitting the Galaxy S III in the near future.

As Samsung notes, the above videos are representative of the Galaxy S III that’s currently available in South Korea. A few of the Samsung specific features aren’t mentioned in the Sprint press release, like the improved app folders, but it’s not a cause for concern. The beauty of Android lies in its openness, which means somebody will fill in the blanks left by Samsung with a custom ROM or other software additions.

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New Robot Can Help You With Losing Weight?

Zach Walton — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 13:17:17 +0000

The journey to losing weight is one fraught with peril. I’ve tried many times in the past to start exercising to better myself, but it’s too easy to lose motivation and just give up. Some would suggest hiring a personal trainer. I say you should buy a robot.

Intuitive Automata has created a robot that makes sure you stick to your exercise routine. It’s name is Autom, and it’s always with a smile and a wink. It’s the ultra supportive friend that you never had. With Autom, the company hopes to create an emotional bond between the robot and user so they will keep exercising.

Introducing Autom™ from Intuitive Automata on Vimeo.

Like all robots, Autom is a little unsettling. The lifeless robotic voice betrays the calming and supportive face of the robot. It may be supportive, but robots always have an ulterior motive of wanting to bring down humanity. What if Autom betrays its creators and works us to death with demanding exercises? Its smile would be forever lodged in our collective nightmares.

Putting talk of robotic overlords aside, Autom is an excellent idea. People are more motivated to complete their workout goals when they have someone to talk to. I’m not sure if everybody could stay motivated by talking to a robot, but it could very well work for some people. Just don’t expect it to get up and run with you. For that, you can always just get one of these.

Autom will go on sale in early 2013 with a suggested price tag of $199.99. After that, dieters will have to spend $19.99 to receive updates on food and calorie counts. You could also just run for a few minutes everyday. It’s free, and it prevents depression.

[h/t: Mashable]

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