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The Engadget Show 42: Expand with OUYA, Google, DJ Spooky, robots, space, hardware startups and more!
Listen, we're not going to promise you that watching an hour-long episode is the same as going to Expand. The good news for those of you who were unable to attend due to scheduling or geography, however, is that the ticket price is a bit lower, and many of our favorite moments have been saved for posterity. We've done our best to whittle a weekend at San Francisco's beautiful Fort Mason center into one bite-sized chunk of Engadget Show goodness. We'll take you behind the scenes at the event and show you what it takes to run your very own consumer-facing electronics show. We've got conversations with Google's Tamar Yehoshua, OUYA's Julie Uhrman, Jason Parrish and Corinna Proctor from Lenovo, Chris Anderson, DJ Spooky, Mark Frauenfelder, Veronica Belmont, Ryan Block, plus folks from NASA, 3D Robotics, Oculus, Google Lunar X Prize, TechShop, Lunar and IndieGogo. We'll go for a spin on ZBoard's latest electric skateboard and show off the da Vinci surgical robot, the Ekso robotic exoskeleteon and the latest UAV from 3D Robotics -- we'll also be taking you out on the town in a Tesla Model S. And for a little bit of high drama, there's our first-ever Insert Coin: New Challengers competition, including conversations with the semi-finalists and the big moment of truth. All that plus kids, dogs and your favorite Engadget Editors. Join us after the break for a warm and fuzzy Engadget Show, won't you?
Engadget Expand San Francisco panel discussion: Has Apple lost its groove?
Over the weekend, our sister site Engadget held its first consumer expo. Engadget Expand featured a two-day conference and exhibits held at San Francisco's Fort Mason Center, with demonstrations of some astounding technology as well as panel discussions with some of the big names in the business. TUAW Editor-in-Chief Victor Agreda, Jr. was joined by Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster and TechCrunch columnist MG Siegler yesterday for a spirited talk about Apple's products and what we can expect in the future. Engadget Editor-in-Chief Tim Stevens was the moderator for the discussion, which is viewable below.
Engadget Expand wrap-up: Google, Kinect, electric cars, robots, makers and more!
Not all that long ago, we were staring at spreadsheets, table layouts and sketch-ups, squinting our eyes and attempting to wrap our brains around all of it. On Friday, we popped by Fort Mason in San Francisco, to test drive ZBoard's latest and greatest electric skateboard, and things were already underway, the stage was being erected and banners with our familiar logo were draped everywhere. That moment, however, had nothing on the surreality of the following morning, when, bright and early, the companies began setting up tables. Outside, a Tesla Model S was parked for test drives, and inside were a pair of electric Toyotas, one sporting a giant, decorative plug on its roof. There were big booths from Lenovo and Nokia, an Indie Corner jam-packed with and impressive displays like the the Ekso Bionics robot exoskeleton and Da Vinci's truly awe-inspiring surgical robot. Next to that, was Insert Coin, a gathering of all the semi-finalists for our first-ever startup competition, who had flown from all over to show off a truly diverse and impressive selection of innovation. On stage, an equally diverse array of panelists joined us, from reps for companies like Google, Microsoft, Toyota, and OUYA, to 3D printing companies, roboticists, futurists, sci-fi writers, space explorers, indie gamers and a multimedia DJ / philosopher. Frankly, we're exhausted. And we can't wait to do it again. See you in New York!
Lenovo ThinkPad T431s Ultrabook: refined exterior, widened trackpad, shipping in April for $949
Lenovo's taking the wraps off of its newest ThinkPad here at Engadget Expand, but in fact, the T431s represents more than just a minor spec bump. It's actually the first ThinkPad borne out of Lenovo's latest "clean sheet" development initiative -- an 18-month process that the company briefed me on here. Regarding the laptop at hand, the 14-incher boasts a slimmer, sexier and more understated design, all while remaining very much a ThinkPad. It's being classified as an Ultrabook, yet it still meets the Mil-SPEC 8 standard for rigidity and durability. In other words, the weight loss isn't coming at the expense of ruggedness. As for specs, it's rocking a 1,600 x 900 matte display with 250 nits of brightness, integrated Intel HD graphics, a 720p front-facing webcam, 4GB of RAM (with optional upgrades boosting it as high as 12GB), a 47WHr (three-cell) sealed battery, an optionally backlit keyboard, Bluetooth 4.0 and built-in support for both WiFi and WWAN connections. It measures in at 13.03 x 8.89 x 0.8 inches while weighing 3.6 pounds, and it's easily one of the sturdiest Ultrabooks we've had the pleasure of wrapping our paws around.
Live from Expand: Toyota's Sheldon Brown (video)
We'll be joined on stage by Toyota's executive program manager, product development Sheldon Brown to discuss the car's company's presence in the hybrid market, and the RAV4 EV, which furthers its focus on electric vehicles. March 17, 2013 12:00 PM EST For a full list of Expand sessions, be sure to check out our event hub.
Live from Expand: What's Next? A Glimpse Into the Future of Technology (video)
Sick of the present? Good, us too. We've gathered together a number of futurists and other thinkers to prognosticate on what's coming next in the world of technology. Let's meet back here for Expand 2 and see who got what right. Deal? March 16, 2013 8:15 PM EDT For a full list of Expand sessions, be sure to check out our event hub.
Live from Expand: Robots, Lasers and Replicators: Making Science Fiction a Reality (video)
Science fiction? Or science fact? We explore the connection between fantastical technologies of the past and their real world analogs, along with Tekzilla's Veronica Belmont, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America's John Scalzi and Robopocalypse author Daniel H. Wilson. March 16, 2013 7:30 PM EDT For a full list of Expand sessions, be sure to check out our event hub.
Kinect for Windows SDK version 1.7 includes 'Kinect Fusion' 3D modeling, available March 18
An updated version of Kinect for Window's software development kit will be available from the device's official site on Monday, March 18, Microsoft's Bob Heddle announced today during Engadget's ongoing Expand event in San Francisco.Perhaps most importantly, SDK version 1.7 will include "Kinect Fusion," Microsoft's at-home 3D modeling solution that allows the Kinect to capture and fabricate real-time 3D models of people and objects. We first saw this technology in action way back in August of 2011, when the concept surfaced as a Microsoft Research project.Additionally, the new SDK also includes "Kinect Interactions," which adds support for new gestures such as "push-to-press" and "grip-to-pan," as well as "support for smart ways to accommodate multiple users and two-person interactions," according to Engadget.
Live from Expand: Insert Coin New Challengers Demos (video)
You've seen plenty about our Insert Coin competitors on this very site -- and now it's time to see them in action. We've got some stage time with the finalists, who will be arguing for why they think they deserve that $20,000 grand prize. March 16, 2013 6:00 PM EDT For a full list of Expand sessions, be sure to check out our event hub.
Live from Expand: Reprogramming: How Technology is Changing the Way We Watch TV (video)
March 16, 2013 5:15 PM EDT What's next for television? We've got reps from Boxee, TiVo and Sling on hand to discuss the ways in which technology is evolving in the early 21st century.
Live from Expand: A Conversation With Google's Tamar Yehoshua (video)
We'll be joined by Google's director, product management Tamar Yehoshua, to discuss the ways in search is adapting to an ever more mobile-centric world -- and the role voice is playing in that transition. March 16, 2013 4:15 PM EDT Follow all of Engadget's Expand coverage live from San Francisco right here!
Nest's Matt Rogers backstage at Expand (video)
Hot off his interview on the Expand main stage, Matt Rogers, Founder and VP of Engineering at Nest, saddled up to the rather more temperate seat in our backstage interview room with Joseph Volpe. Among other things, Matt opened up about design in the 21st century household and Nest's ultimate plan to take over the whole home. Check out the video after break for the full interview. Follow all of Engadget's Expand coverage live from San Francisco right here!
Kickstarter's Yancey Strickler backstage at Expand (video)
He's just taken the title of inaugural speaker here at Expand, now Kickstarter co-founder Yancey Strickler is giving us even more face time in our first ever backstage interview. Since its launch in 2009, the crowdfunding powerhouse has become a household name, bringing us success stories like the Pebble smartwatch. Myriam Joire sat down with Yancey to talk about Pebble, OUYA and the future of Kickstarter. Check out the video after the break to watch our backstage interview in its entirety. Follow all of Engadget's Expand coverage live from San Francisco right here!
Live from Expand: Redesigning Mobile (video)
March 16, 2013 2:30 PM EDT Yes, ladies and gents, it's time to talk mobile. We'll be sitting down with big wigs from some of the top companies in the space, including HTC's VP design Scott Croyle, Samsung's Design America's head of design studio Miloseski and Sprint's director of product development Ryan Sullivan.
Live from Expand: A Conversation with Nest Co-Founder Matt Rogers (video)
Nest answered that age old question: how to make the thermostat exciting? The startup has managed to bring the sleek and cutting edge technologies of mobile devices to the world of home temperature control, helping us to rethink the way we think about home automation in the process. March 16, 2013 2:00 PM EDT For a full list of Expand sessions, be sure to check out our event hub.
Live from Expand: 3D Printing Goes Mainstream (video)
Is 2013 the year that 3D printing goes mainstream? The technology is already decades-old, having been used to great effect in the world of industrial prototyping, but as more and more companies enter the fray, the world of consumer-facing printing seems less and less of a pipe dream. Is the world ready for a 3D printer on every desk? Join us as we speak to Hod Lipson, Professor of Engineering, Cornell University; Max Lobovsky, Co-Founder, FormLabs; and Avi Reichental, President & CEO, 3D Systems. March 16, 2013 1:00 PM EDT For a full list of Expand sessions, be sure to check out our event hub.
ZBoard rolls out the San Francisco Special for the hilly city by the bay (video)
The guys at ZBoard made quite the splash at SXSW Interactive earlier this week -- riding an electric skateboard around the streets and conference halls of Austin will get you all sorts of attention, after all. Still, for all the love they got at the event, the startup opted to hold its latest announce until the kickoff of Expand -- for an important reason: this electric skateboard is a tribute to the hills and winding streets of the city by the bay. ZBoard's San Francisco Special ups the game for the Kickstarted company, extending the board's range to 20 highway or 14 city miles. The wheels also got an upgrade to high-traction 110mm models, while the braking system got a nice bump, as well. Of course, with along all those improvements comes a bit more weight -- the already hefty board now clocks in at 32 pounds. Those who were hoping for a lighter-weight solution akin to the Boosted Board will have to keep holding their breath -- according to the ZBoard's creators, its community said it wouldn't mind adding a few pounds to increase range, and as such, there's a four-pound jump from the ZBoard Pro. But, you know, if all goes according to plan, you shouldn't carry this thing around too much. For when you do, however, there's that padded handle.
Live from Expand: A conversation with Kickstarter Co-Founder Yancey Strickler (video)
Crowdfunding has completely changed the startup game, and nowhere is the site impact more felt more strongly than in the world of hardware manufacturers. Where launching a new piece of hardware once felt insurmountable, the charge lead by Kickstarter is helping to bring on a new era of platforms and innovative devices that have industry-changing potential. We'll be speaking with the site's co-founder and head of community, and you can join in, after the break. March 16, 2013 12:30 PM EDT For a full list of Expand sessions, be sure to check out our event hub.
Expand is tomorrow! Here's what you need to know
It's hard to believe, but Expand is now nigh upon us. We hope to see many of you in San Francisco this weekend! Please note: if you are planning to come to the show, and want to save yourself a few bucks on the ticket price, be sure to buy them in advance today before 5pm PT. We will be closing advanced sales at that time, and offering tickets at the door at $60 for a full pass, $40 for Saturday (includes the after-party) and $30 for just Sunday. Read on to get all the last-minute details you need to know...
Come drive a Tesla, see a storm-chasing tank, watch DJ Spooky perform and more at Expand!
We're only two days out from Expand (get your tickets here -- or at the door this weekend!) and the trucks are arriving as we speak to transform historic Fort Mason into a gadget lover's hall of wonders. By now you already know we have an agenda you won't want to miss, and an inaugural crowdfunded hardware competition putting 10 awesome projects head-to-head for $25,000 in prizes, but what about the smorgasboard of other cool things that will be going on at Expand? We're glad you asked...
