Humans have been putting technology on their wrists for a long time—and not just to tell the time. The Apple Watch is just the latest in a long line of wrist-borne devices, so here’s a brief history of watches that were smart for their time, too. Read more…
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The Fantastic Vintage Wrist Gadgets That Came Way Before the Smartwatch
ErnieKey writes: Carbon3D, a startup based in Redwood City, CA. has just announced a new breakthrough 3D printing technology called Continuous Liquid Interface Production technology (CLIP). The process works by using oxygen as an inhibiting agent as a UV light rapidly cures a photosensitive resin (abstract). “Conventional 3D printers usually take several hours to print an object — because with most printing methods, they need to individually treat each new layer of material after it’s put down so that the next layer can be put down on top of it. The new method is much faster because it works continually, instead of in layers, eliminating this step. As a result, it works in minutes, rather than hours — 25 to 100 times faster, its creators say, than conventional 3D printing.” The company has just emerged from stealth mode and announced that they have raised a staggering $41 million to further develop the process and bring it to market. Read more of this story at Slashdot.
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New 3D Printing Process Claimed To Be 25X Faster Than Current Technology
Remember those Dropbox badges we heard about in December? The ones that’ll tell you when someone else is editing a shared file? Well, after a period of early access for some, that handy feature is now ready for the masses. If you’re in need of a refresher, the badges allow you to see who is viewing or editing a file, and how long they’ve been at it. They can also nab the most recent version of a file with a single click and grab a link for you to share the document. But that’s not all: Dropbox is adding another tool for enhanced collaboration. Comments are available for folks in that early access program, which means that Dropbox now offers a similar system for adding feedback as Google Drive and others . When you open a file, the collection of notes will appear in the sidebar on the desktop and iOS (Android is still in the works). Anyone that you shared the file with can comment, and if you need to get a specific contributor’s attention, an “@” followed by their email address will send both email and mobile notifications. Hopefully the commenting feature will arrive for all soon enough, just like the badges did. If you don’t want to wait, though, you can sign up for that early access right here . Filed under: Storage , Software Comments Source: Dropbox
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Dropbox badges and comments ease collaboration headaches
Although Google has tightened app policies on the Play Store over the years, the company thinks it can do more to protect users. One way to do that is to crack down on the amount of malware and bad apps on its marketplace , so it’s begun reviewing apps before they become available to download. The new policy, which is similar to Apple’s approach on the App Store, has been in effect for a couple of months and uses a mix of algorithms and human intervention to weed out rogue apps. But that’s not all it’s doing. Google has also launched a new rating system for Android apps that will spell out which apps and games are appropriate for certain age groups. It’s teamed up with a number of independent bodies including the ESRB, PEGI, USK, ClassInd and the Australian Classification Board, the same groups that classify video games like GTA V before they go on sale. The idea is to help developers better target users and educate parents about the apps and games they are being asked to download. The ratings will cover the usual topics: sexual content, violent content, drugs, alcohol and gambling. According to Google, if users aren’t in one of the supported countries, it will deliver an “age-based, generic rating” that has been awarded after developers have completed a content rating questionnaire. If developers don’t comply, downloads could be blocked in certain regions. It’s a far cry from the early days of Android, when developers could submit whatever they like. The Play Store is now a $7 billion-plus business, so Google needs to better protect users as hardware gets more powerful and apps normally reserved for desktops and consoles come to mobile devices. Filed under: Cellphones , Gaming , Internet , Software , Mobile , Google Comments Source: Android Developers Blog
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Google is now reviewing apps before they reach the Play Store
itwbennett writes In the course of trying to find out how many servers and devices are still vulnerable to the Web security flaw known as FREAK, researchers at Royal Holloway of the University of London found something else of interest: Many hosts (either servers or other Internet-connected devices) share the same 512-bit public key. In one egregious example, 28, 394 routers running a SSL VPN module all use the same 512-bit public RSA key. Read more of this story at Slashdot.
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Researchers Find Same RSA Encryption Key Used 28,000 Times
It should come as no surprise to hear that Nintendo is working on a new console. Fresh hardware takes years to develop, so engineers are always working on future systems while the rest of us play on the current generation of consoles. What we didn’t expect, however, is for Nintendo to talk about its next system so soon . In today’s press conference , where the company detailed its plans to make mobile games with DeNA, it also teased a new system codenamed “NX.” Few details were disclosed, other than it’ll involve fresh hardware and gameplay concepts. The NX symbol appeared on a slide alongside the Nintendo Wii U, 3DS and other mobile platforms, which suggests it could launch as a complimentary system, rather than an immediate successor to its current home system and handhelds. The NX will also tie into a new membership service that Nintendo is developing alongside DeNA. It’s a replacement for Club Nintendo, and will incorporate multiple devices including the Wii U, 3DS and non-Nintendo hardware such as smartphones and tablets. It’s no secret that Nintendo’s Wii U has been struggling . Despite some standout titles, including Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U , the platform hasn’t resonated with consumers like the original Wii or the latest hardware from both Sony and Microsoft. Many have wondered how long it will take before Nintendo decides to cut its losses and shift focus to a new console entirely. That would, of course, disgruntle existing Wii U owners, so a new system that sits alongside Nintendo’s existing hardware, at least to begin with, makes sense. Chief executive Satoru Iwata said more details about NX will be shared “next year, ” so don’t expect any grand announcements at E3 or the next Nintendo Direct. “As proof that Nintendo maintains strong enthusiasm for the dedicated game system business, let me confirm that Nintendo is currently developing a dedicated game platform with a brand-new concept under the development codename ‘NX, ‘” he says. Why is Nintendo making this announcement now? Its decision to develop new smartphone games with DeNA is sure to rile some of its most dedicated fans, which feel the company’s characters should be protected from outside developers, especially those in the mobile space. Teasing the “NX” today should reassure gamers that Nintendo is still committed to “hardcore” titles and won’t be abandoning its hardware business anytime soon. Filed under: Gaming , Nintendo Comments
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Nintendo’s next-generation console is codenamed ‘NX’
For the past 30 years, if you wanted a masterclass in video-game level-and-objective design you needn’t look any further than a Mario title from Nintendo. That didn’t change any with 2013’s stellar Super Mario 3D World or last year’s spin-off Captain Toad Treasure Tracker , either. As Pocket Gamer ‘s Mark Brown dissects in the video below, the ingenuity lies in how the former communicates wrinkles and tasks to the player — not with a series of terrible tutorials, but gameplay. This is something the game’s director Koichi Hayashida draws from four-panel Japanese manga. The structure’s called kishoutenkesu , and it comes directly from Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto’s time spent drawing comics ; it’s always been influential in how the company has approached game design. The first portion takes place in a safe spot where you can’t exactly fail while learning it. Next is further developing the idea, then “twisting it” in an unexpected way and ultimately throwing it away after mastery for the next new mechanic. In 3D World , Brown notes, it all happens in about five minutes. It’ll be interesting to see how much of the community follows this sort of idea once Mario Maker (presumably) hits sometime later this year. Should you want to pick up some pointers before then, perhaps check out this in-depth interview Gamasutra did with Hayashida a few years back. Filed under: Gaming , Home Entertainment , HD , Nintendo Comments Via: Polygon Source: Mark Brown (YouTube)
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This is why ‘Mario’ levels are brilliant
Nintendo today announced it would partner with Japanese mobile game giant DeNA to create new games based on the company’s brands. Read the rest
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Soon, you’ll finally be able to play Nintendo games on your smartphone or tablet
Biometric security is a feature already found on lots of mobile phones and tablets and it’s getting better and better , but Microsoft wants to bring the tech front and center on Windows 10, using fingerprint, faces, and even your irises to completely kill the password once and for all. Read more…
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Windows 10 Could Mean Never Typing a Password Again
Two years ago, Nvidia announced its original Titan graphics card , a bad-boy built on the company’s Kepler technology and for a time the most powerful card out there. Now, the Titan X is here and it’s ready to reclaim the throne. Read more…
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GTX Titan X: Nvidia’s Absurd New $1,000 Graphics Card Is a Beast