Google named official social platform of 2012 Republican National Convention originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A new Microsoft patent published recently by the United States Patent and Trademark Office revealed that the company is working on two types of headsets for its Xbox and Windows Phone platforms, PatentBolt reported on Monday. The first unit resembles an aviation-type helmet and is aimed at Xbox gamers, while the second looks like a pair of sunglasses for use with smartphones and other future devices. The software giant states that a compact display system can be integrated into goggles, a helmet or other eyewear, enabling the wearer to view images from a computer, media player or other electronic device. Since the human eye can’t focus on images less than a few centimeters away, however, Microsoft’s headsets will have the ability to virtually project an image.

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An elastic headband and a layer of foam padding is all that most goggles use to ensure they fit. But Scott's new Off-Grid snow specs actually allow you to tweak the shape of the frame, so they sit comfy on almost any face. More »

While LG neatly folded its glasses-free A540-H model into its CES line-up at the start of the year, it's now added another pair of notebooks to launch alongside it in Korea. This includes another 3D model that requires a pair of stylish squash goggles passive 3D glasses to gain that extra dimension. For those less disposed to hanging techno eye-wear off their face and watching Avatar again, there's the simpler two-dimensional joys of the A540-P, which houses a 15.6-inch AH-IPS display. All three versions house the same Core i7 processors and a GeForce GT555M for the necessary graphical grunt work. Fans of both mono and stereoscopic computing can consult the (Google-translated) press release below for more details.

Continue reading LG launches new A540-T/D 3D notebook, adds A540-P IPS model

LG launches new A540-T/D 3D notebook, adds A540-P IPS model originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maybe I'm missing the boat here, or am too old to comprehend another bizarre fad, but I'm having a hell of a time trying to figure out why someone would want to wear goggles that make the world look reversed. More »

Continue reading Lumus' OE-31 optical engine turns motorcycle helmets, other eyewear into wearable displays

Lumus' OE-31 optical engine turns motorcycle helmets, other eyewear into wearable displays originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 12:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Goggles could soon become a set of physical goggles if murmurings from within the company are true. Could this be the death knell for smart phones? More »

Dutch researchers are looking to catapult crime scene investigation into the 21st century through the use of augmented reality (AR). The prototype system, designed by the Delft University of Technology, employs a pair of AR goggles, two head-mounted cameras and a portable laptop rig to allow investigators to build virtual crime scenes by tagging evidence and placing objects they are viewing. After mapping an area, additional law enforcement personnel can review the investigator's work and request additional information -- asking the CSI to define or place additional objects. Researchers hope that the 3D renders will be used as court-admissible evidence in the near future; the technology is set to be tried on a real Dutch crime scene later this year. We can see it now: Lieutenant Horatio Caine whips off his shades and tosses on a pair of (equally stylish) crime-fighting goggles... YEAAAAAAAAH!

AR goggles take crime scene technology to CSI: Miami level originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Recently there have been reports that Google is working on wearable computing. But the latest rumor suggests that it's actually planning to gives us all our own heads-up displays. More »

Recently there have been reports that Google is working on wearable computing. But the latest rumor suggests that it's actually planning to gives us all our own heads-up displays. More »

If you ever plan to lead a PowerPoint presentation projected on giant white board orbiting the Earth (we'll leave the logistics of that one up to you) there's only one laser pointer that will get the job done -- Wicked Lasers' S3 Krypton. The Guinness Record-pending pointer produces about 86 million lux and can be seen from up to 85 miles away, well beyond the edge of our atmosphere. Of course, at roughly 8,000-times the brightness of the Sun, serious safety precautions are needed when operating the S3. Goggles are a must (and bundled with the handheld laser), while sensors and a microprocessor regulate current to keep the tube of aluminum from overheating in your hands. The top end model is available now for $1,000 but, if blinding astronauts isn't on your agenda, lower-powered versions can be had starting at $300. Check out the video after the break.

Continue reading Wicked Lasers' S3 Krypton laser is bright enough to blind astronauts (video)

Wicked Lasers' S3 Krypton laser is bright enough to blind astronauts (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Sep 2011 23:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google's quietly pitter-pattering its acquisitive ways back into the controversial realm of facial recognition technology. To do that, the company busted out its oversized wallet to fold Pittsburgh-based PittPatt into the Mountain View borg. Founded by a trio of PhD's from Carnegie Mellon University, this three-man strong outfit specializes in the sort of object recognition software you've come to know as "tagging." Is this a reversal of the Do No Evil tech giant's prior waffling on the dubious visioning tech, or just another massive weapon in its social networking crusade against Facebook? We'd err on the side of both, although the company's new employees aren't exactly playing their cards for us to see. A brief statement on the triumvirate's site makes vague mention of "computer vision technology" being core to Google's products and points to the tech's planned integration in photo, video and mobile applications. So, basically, expect to see Picasa, Goggles, YouTube and Google+ watch you as you flaunt your internet celebrity ways to that front-facing camera.

Google acquires PittPatt, wants to know you on a face-to-face basis originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 23 Jul 2011 11:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lady Gaga is bringing futuristic video screen glasses to the world, but movies and television have already expanded our eyewear horizons. Here are a dozen specs, lenses and goggles with powers that go far beyond video play More »

Truth be told, it's exactly what the world needed. More 3D gimmickry... on the iPhone and iPod touch, no less. With over 125 million of those two devices in circulation, Hasbro's betting that a new accessory will have a greater-than-average chance at taking off next Spring, with the My3D goggles set to put the View back in ViewMaster. Purportedly, the toy firm is expected to fully reveal the device to investors later today, with it being "aimed at both children and adults" and offering a 3D viewing experience on games, virtual travel, augmented reality apps and entertainment content. The device itself resembles a set of binoculars, and just as the aforementioned ViewMaster, there's a slot where you place your iPod touch or iPhone. Users will have to browse the App Store for compatible My3D content, with some of it to be offered up gratis. We're guessing more than a few curious consumers will bite at just $30, but how hard would it have been to get this thing onto store shelves next month? A holiday opportunity missed, Hasbro.

[Thanks, Bill]

Hasbro's $30 My3D goggle accessory brings 3D to iPhone, iPod touch originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Nov 2010 07:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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October 4th-10th

• Motorola DROID Pro world-phone detailed
• Samsung Galaxy Tab launching November 14th on Sprint for $399?
• AT&T’s early upgrade smartphone program detailed. Spoiler: they made it $125 more expensive
• Verizon: 38 cities, 60 airports to be blessed with LTE by end of this year
• WSJ: Apple to begin mass producing iPhone for Verizon Wireless by end of 2010
• Verizon Wireless announces Motorola DROID Pro and CITRUS
• Verizon Wireless will have ‘interactive launch’ of BlackBerry 6 on October 14
• Google Goggles released for iPhone
• T-Mobile myTouch gets reintroduced, 1GHz Snapdragon, 3.8″ display, 4G speeds
• Facebook rolling out site redesign, download my data, and updated privacy settings

Today, Google announced that they would bring their Goggles application to Apple’s iOS. Speaking at the Hot Chips conference at Stanford University, Goggles’ project lead David Petrou noted that the application would come to the iPhone before the end of 2010. Petrou also detailed the possibility of an open API for the image search application and potential opening of Goggles up to third-party applications. Any Goggles users out there?

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We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Ryan, who reckons it's about time he stopped playing with Lego blocks and began playing with a real man's robot platform. Just kidding about the Lego bit. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"I am an aspiring roboticist who has been using Lego Mindstorms NXT for a few years and I am looking for the next step up. I have a budget of about $400. I am looking for something that has more motors, more sensors, and a way to have it live feed video back to a computer. I would also like a platform that has a large amount of building that can be done on top of it, such as adding an arm or another array of sensors, or a different drive base. I'm new to the world of robotics outside of the NXT, so any tips would be appreciated as well. Thanks!"

Come on over, robot lovers. Toss those gloves and goggles aside for a moment and throw this guy some advice. What platform keeps you up in the garage at night?

Ask Engadget: best robot platform for under $400? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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