The White House responds: phones and tablets should be unlockable

The White House responds: phones and tablets should be unlockable: The system looks like it's working. We the people signed a petition on We The People. We wanted our voices heard on the topic of being able to legally unlock our carrier-locked cell phones, and the White House has responded. And, interestingly, the White House fully agrees with our complaints, and wants to go a step farther and make sure that tablets are free to be unlocked as well...

Galaxy S4 expected to use your eyes to scroll pages

Galaxy S4 expected to use your eyes to scroll pages:
Your eyes are a big deal to Samsung. The Galaxy S3 brought about the ability to keep a Samsung phone awake if the software could see that you were reading something on the screen. How do you one-up a trick like that? Using nothing but your eyes to scroll around on a screen. There are [...]

Fujitsu's PalmSecure readers about to be seen in the wild (if you use UniCredit bank)

Fujitsu's PalmSecure readers about to be seen in the wild (if you use UniCredit bank):

If Google is correct (and it usually is), Engadget has been covering Fujitsu's PalmSecure palm-reading technology since the Peter Rojas days. In that time, we've seen these security readers built into prototype laptops, and various corporations have begun testing it out in pilot programs. So it's hardly a novel concept, but it's only now becoming likely that you'll see it in the real world: Fujitsu announced today that its palm readers will soon be installed in bank kiosks, building lobbies, and other places where you might need to verify your identity at a checkpoint of some sort.
So far, Fujitsu's signed on Italy's UniCredit bank, which kicked off a test program late last year. As we've reported in the past, you don't even have to touch the sensor; you can merely hover over it. Which is good news if you're paranoid about swapping germs with all the other nose-pickers passing through security. If businesses choose, they can opt for single-factor authentication, though two-factor security is also an option -- as unique as the veins in your palm are, it's still possible for the reader to register a false positive. If you're curious we've got a quickie demo video waiting just past the break. Unfortunately, though, we still can't vouch for how tedious it'll be when HR demands palm prints for everyone in the office.
Filed under: Misc
Comments

Moshi Digits Touch Screen Gloves hands-on

Moshi Digits Touch Screen Gloves hands-on: We’ve been checking out the Moshi’s Digits Touch Screen Gloves, which at $30 a pair proves to be a worthy investment for those intent on constantly using their devices in these chilly conditions. First and foremost, we enjoy the comfortable feel of the Moshi Digits, seeing that it’s lined...

Nokia dominated coverage of MWC says study

Nokia dominated coverage of MWC says study: In 2013, many manufacturers decided to wait for MWC to make their big announcement so as not to be knocked off the front page by a television or some other non-mobile consumer product; a study of tweets containing hashtags of #MWC, #MWC13, "Mobile World Congress" and #MWC2013 had Nokia mentioned the most followed by Samsung...

Microsoft shows a new futuristic vision with huge touchscreens & Siri-like voice interactions (video)

Microsoft shows a new futuristic vision with huge touchscreens & Siri-like voice interactions (video):

Microsoft has debuted a new video that shows what it imagines the future of technology will hold in the next five to 10 years, and it includes massive touchscreens, Siri-like voice controls, and Microsoft’s Surface tablet.
While Microsoft has shown us several astounding visions of the future before, this video is more of a practical take on what we will actually see rather than what can be imagined. And because this Microsoft, it has cameos of Windows Phone and Surface as devices that interact with large touchscreens and voice commands.
The video was put together to showcase the opening of Microsoft’s Envisioning Center, which focuses on making improvements to our daily lives with technology. Microsoft writes about the Envisioning Center in a blog post:

The facility encompasses scenarios at home, at work and places in between, and is inspired by our product teams, Microsoft Research and by the trends across the industry. I like to think of it as a concept car that allows us to share what it might be like to experience future technologies with visitors, get their feedback, tweak, remix and discuss. It’s all part of advancing the trends we think have the greatest potential.
As part of today’s opening, we put together a short video that gives a sense of what’s inside – and while none of these ideas are meant to be predictive about our products, they do highlight some of the key trends we’re investing in, such as machine learning and NUI. They also give you a sense of where these technologies could lead us over the next five to ten years.

Check out the video above to see Microsoft’s latest vision of the future.

Filed under: Gadgets

Wacom teases upcoming HD mobile tablet for 'creative uses'

Wacom teases upcoming HD mobile tablet for 'creative uses':

Wacom's dipped its electronic quill in a lot of stylus-enabled tablets, but hasn't yet done what many of its creative pro users would like: build one of its own. It looks like that's about to change as the Bamboo maker has posted a teaser on Facebook saying it'll bring a mobile tablet "this summer" with a pressure-sensitive professional pen, multi-touch capability and an HD display. There are no other details like what OS such a device may boast, but if it offers its own functionality as well -- say, Cintiq-style input on a desktop machine -- then Wacom could be onto a winner.
[Thanks, Mark]
Filed under: Tablets
Comments
Source: Wacom (Facebook)