Author Archives: Anthony Verrecchio

United Nations launches My Life as a Refugee Android app (video)

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DNP New Android app designed by the United Nations asks if you could survive as a refugee video

As the great Tom Petty once said, you don't have to live like a refugee, but one UN agency is hoping you'll at least download its new app to see what it could be like. My Life as a Refugee is designed to raise awareness about the plight of millions of people living in conflict-ridden places around the globe, and it's available right now for free on Android (coming soon to iOS). We found the app to be only marginally interactive, with users simply encouraged to click through a litany of facts. However, you do get to choose one of two possible options before time runs out as each situation unfolds. You can only "play" a certain amount each day, which means you get some cliffhangers, and of course you can "share your experience" on Facebook right from the app. You can learn more there in the source link.

Continue reading United Nations launches My Life as a Refugee Android app (video)

United Nations launches My Life as a Refugee Android app (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Jun 2012 00:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon 4G LTE service arrives in 46 new cities, expands coverage in 22 others

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DNP Verizon enters into 46 new cities, and expand coverage in 22 others

Unlike many of our friends in Europe, loads more Verizon Wireless customers are about to get turbocharged in time for their new Galaxy S III smartphones to arrive. Big Red is deploying its latest 4G LTE network tech in 46 new cities and expanding coverage in 22 others -- and it's all going down tomorrow. That'll bring VZW's total up to 304 cities across the land of the free two full weeks ahead of the July 4th holiday, giving many people one more reason to celebrate a Hump Day without work. And really, couldn't the world use more reasons to celebrate? Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Verizon 4G LTE service arrives in 46 new cities, expands coverage in 22 others

Verizon 4G LTE service arrives in 46 new cities, expands coverage in 22 others originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 23:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canon overhauls Mixed Reality platform with new head-mounted display

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Canon's been fiddling around with augmented (or mixed) reality for some time now, but the company just took things to the next level. A new AR headset announced today is less stylish than that other soon-to-be-released wearable tech you've likely heard about, yet certainly more sophisticated than its bigger brother. The controller sees visual markers through dual on-board cameras and projects virtual objects onto two corresponding displays set right above the eyes, marrying the virtual world to the desert of the real. You can gaze from any angle and even manipulate the virtual projects with what looks to be a plastic, magic ice cream cone. The glasses are set to release next month and, while Canon hasn't assigned a price, all the planned applications are decidedly industrial, making us think they won't be cheap. So, you probably won't be using em' to scope out the various Layars around your hood.

Canon overhauls Mixed Reality platform with new head-mounted display originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jun 2012 17:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink PC World  |  sourceCanon (Translated)  | Email this | Comments

Google Street View’s WiFi snooping triggers renewed scrutiny in the UK

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Google's Street View cars WiFi snooping triggers renewed scrutiny in UK

You remember that little Street View privacy problem that Google had back in 2010? Authorities in the UK sure do and Mountain View's gonna have some serious splainin' to do if the Information Commissioner's Office has anything to say about it. Big G initially denied that its cars were used to willfully snatch up personal info from open WiFi networks, but a recent investigation by the FCC, coupled with earlier accusations, has prompted renewed scrutiny. The report from the US even suggests that "investigators in France, Canada and The Netherlands found that Google intercepted complete email messages, instant message conversations, video, audio, medical and legal information," which could lead to a big headache for the company. We really don't want to imagine the possible consequences of a nationwide Street View ban.

Google Street View's WiFi snooping triggers renewed scrutiny in the UK originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 18:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Layar Creator sees an interactive future for print media via augmented reality (video)

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http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/05/layar-creator-printed-media-augmented-reality/

Heavy hitters across several industries have tried to find the perfect balance between the old and the new to breathe some life into what's been described as a dying medium. Layar "wants to make the world clickable" with its augmented reality software and doesn't plan on letting paper-based media go the way of paying for long distance or total privacy. Instead, it's opted to fully welcome it into this brave new digital world by letting publishers embed videos and interactive buttons onto existing printed materials. A mobile app can then display superimposed content that pops right up on the page when viewed through a device's camera. The new web app, Layar Creator, is free if you can get your stuff published and all Layared up before August 1st, but if you're a procrastinator, a 100-page bundle will run €999 ($1,242), or €15 ($18.65) per page. You can see the Layar Creator and AR app in full effect right after the break.

Continue reading Layar Creator sees an interactive future for print media via augmented reality (video)

Layar Creator sees an interactive future for print media via augmented reality (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 22:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OLPC to bring Little Pim language teaching videos to XO laptop, underpriviledged children

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http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/01/olpc-little-pim-affordable-language-learning-laptop-xo/

One Laptop Per Child is tag-teaming it up with foreign language learning company Little Pim to teach English to underprivileged children. The initiative could help to blur the line between work and fun and lead to future opportunities for kids in an ever-increasingly global economy where English is the lingua franca of many multinational groups and companies. Getting educational videos onto OLPC's affordable XO laptop is consistent with the new partnerships' philosophy that "learning should be a joyous experience and that children learn best when learning and play are seamless activities." There's no word on when the package deal will be available, but we'll be on the lookout for further info. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading OLPC to bring Little Pim language teaching videos to XO laptop, underpriviledged children

OLPC to bring Little Pim language teaching videos to XO laptop, underpriviledged children originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 10:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Shopping to change formats, charge merchants

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http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/01/google-shopping-charging-vendors-new-format/

It's just about closing time for Google Shopping's free merchant listings. The iconic search engine has traditionally shown us products regardless of a commercial relationship with sellers, but they'll be required to fork over some coin if they want to join the party after the fall. Currently called Google Product Listings, the platform's name and format have evolved several times since the Froogle days. Google says the older model can lead to some shady and obsolete info, whereas charging vendors will "encourage them to keep their product information fresh and up to date." New shopping formats are already being tested with a small population of users and include bigger pics and the ability to fine tune the search based on brand or product type. As the song goes, every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.

Google Shopping to change formats, charge merchants originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Jun 2012 17:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon to buy Hughes Telematics for $612 million in cash

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http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/01/verizon-buys-hughes-telematics/After a recent round of good, and potentially not so good news for residential customers, Verizon plans to show a little love to its enterprise clients. Big Red is about to spend $612 million of its spare pocket change to buy Hughes Telematics, a company that primarily works within the realm of automotive communications. The board-approved purchase should be wrapped up by Q3 of this year and Hughes' management team will remain intact. The premium offer by Verizon works out to $12 per share for a stock that was trading at just $4.35 as of yesterday's closing bell. Facebook investors: eat your hearts out.

Verizon to buy Hughes Telematics for $612 million in cash originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Jun 2012 16:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hubble reveals unavoidable collision between our galaxy and Andromeda

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http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/01/hubble-milky-way-andromeda-collision/

The Hubble team over at NASA has confirmed what it's suspected for a while: that our galaxy is destined for a direct collision / love fest with Andromeda, culminating in the birth of "Milkomeda." But don't go lobbying Virgin Galactic for ring-side tickets just yet because the fireworks won't go off for another four billion years -- and last another two billion after that. Scientists also predict that the earth won't be threatened thanks to the sheer amount of empty space between stars, but we could lose the sun as its flung out to some other part of the new system. You hear that? We could lose the freakin' sun!!

Hubble reveals unavoidable collision between our galaxy and Andromeda originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Upscale London borough says no no no to BT’s broadband revolution, ugly green boxes

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http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/chelsea-kensington-council-reject-bt-broadband/

Between all of the delays, disappointment and a general lack of availability, many Brits can't seem to catch a break when it comes to getting fast internet -- but this time it could be their own fault. BT's fiber optic rollout plans came to a screeching halt in Kensington and Chelsea after a staggering 96 of 108 applications for big green street cabinets housing the fiber were flat-out rejected. The local council just isn't prepared to clutter its pristine streets with the "ugly" boxes. The telecoms provider now says it'll concentrate on nearby areas that "have shown a greater eagerness to enjoy the benefits of broadband." It's a good thing there are no plans to paint their famous telephone booths green, or those might be out of a job as well.

Upscale London borough says no no no to BT's broadband revolution, ugly green boxes originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Jun 2012 01:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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