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Facebook is working on its own operating system
In an attempt to free itself from other tech giants like Google, Facebook is developing its own operating system (OS), The Information reports. In the future, Facebook's hardware products, like Oculus and Portal devices, could run on the OS, Facebook exec Ficus Kirkpatrick said.
Thalmic axes Myo gesture armband to make 'entirely different' product
Thalmic has enjoyed a fair amount of success with its gesture-controlling Myo armband, which found uses in everything from DJ sets to prosthetics. However, the company is trying something radical: it's getting rid of its star product in favor of something new. Co-founder Stephen Lake has announced that Thalmic is discontinuing the Myo to make an "entirely different" product that demands the firm's "full attention and focus." Existing owners will still receive support.
Light-powered armband monitors your vitals without tethering you
When you've got a fever and the only prescription is... regular medicine, a wearable from the University of Tokyo could help. Researchers developed a flexible, autonomous armband that notifies doctors when you have a fever or erratic heartbeat. The heartrate and heat sensors are built from printable, organic electronics, with solar cells for power and a beeper-style piezoelectric speaker. It's also cheap enough that it can be disposed of following patient usage. The team says it's the first printable organic circuit that can run on relatively dim room light, and figures it could also be adapted to provide continuous vital sign feedback as well as alerts. No plans for a cowbell synth chip, however.
Muscle-sensing Myo gesture armband will be on Amazon this quarter
About a year after getting our first taste of the Myo, Thalmic Labs has announced that it's reaching out to the masses by way of Amazon this quarter. As with its pre-order on the company's website, this muscle-sensing gesture control armband will be available for $199. But even before that, Thalmic Labs has already sold 50,000 pre-orders (with about half of them shipped to buyers so far), which is a nice nod of approval to some of the use case examples showed off by Thalmic Labs and its several partners.
Thalmic Labs' Myo armband does gesture control with muscles (video)
2013 saw the rise of gesture cameras for TVs and various smart devices, but Canadian startup Thalmic Labs thinks its Myo armband is the way forward. During our meeting at CES earlier, co-founder and CEO Stephen Lake explained that his Bluetooth 4.0 device features a new type of biosensor, which can pick up minute electrical impulses in our arm muscles. This allows any wrist movement, finger twitch or fist clenching to be interpreted as a gesture, so long as the inner side of the Myo has skin contact. There's also an accelerometer, a gyroscope and a magnetometer, so arm and body movements are accounted for as well. The idea of Myo traces back to the co-founders' university days, where they explored various wearable technologies while working on a navigation aid for the blind. Lake said since brain control isn't quite there yet, his team found muscle sensing to be the next best thing. From what we saw and tried today, Thalmic Labs seems to be on the right track: We watched co-founder Aaron Grant play Call Of Duty: Ghosts using just a pair of Myos, and he was able to make his avatar run, crouch, jump, fire weapon and reload. Lake also gave a demo on music playback control and slideshow presentation on an iPad, both of which worked just fine. But it doesn't stop there; the CEO also sees opportunity in industrial robotics, space application and even gesture-based authentication. The retail version of the Myo will arrive within the first half of 2014, and not only will it be half as thick as the Myo Alphas shown today, but it'll also feature at least two core applications that will make full use of the armband. Lake said he'll be showing the final design in the next couple of months, but if you're game, you can now head over to Thalmic Labs' website to pre-order a black or white one for $149. Need more convincing? Then check out our in-depth demo video after the break. Update: We also got to see how you can fly a Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 with a Myo! Check it out.
Scosche's new heart rate armband helps you leave the smartphone at home
Forgotten about your New Years' resolutions yet? Don't worry; Scosche is announcing another fitness wearable that'll help you make up those lost days. The company is unveiling the Rhythm Smart+, an armband designed to optically monitor your blood flow and heart rate that's apparently much more accurate than a traditional chest strap. The unit is able to pair with both smartphones and sport watches over Bluetooth or ANT+, and will work with the usual bunch of apps including RunKeeper and Strava. If, however, you prefer to leave the other gear at home, embedded memory will track your stats for upload later. It'll arrive at some point between April and June, priced at $99.
Runtastic brings a GPS watch, fitness monitors and more to the US
Most app developers have few incentives to build their own hardware, let alone the resources. With 25 million mobile users, Runtastic has both -- so it only makes sense that the company is bringing a slate of complementary exercise gear to the US for the first time. The initial catalog won't shock cyclists and runners who have ever toyed with tracking their progress, but it's certainly complete. Along with Runtastic's take on a GPS watch ($150), there's also an app-friendly heart rate monitor ($70), a speed sensor ($60), an armband and a bike mount. While the peripherals only truly make sense for Runtastic loyalists, they're available today through Amazon -- and they might seal the deal for athletes who want a harmonious blend of hardware and software.
Myo senses your muscles, brings yet another way to control devices (video)
With visions of Minority Report, many a user's hoped to control gadgets by wildly waving at a Kinect like a symphony conductor. Now there's another way to make your friends laugh at you thanks to the Thalmic Labs' Myo armband, which senses motion and electrical activity in your muscles to let you control your computer or other device via Bluetooth 4.0. The company says its proprietary sensor can detect signals right down to individual fingers before you even move them, which -- coupled with an extremely sensitive 6-axis motion detector -- makes for a highly responsive experience. Feedback to the user is given through haptics in the device, which also packs an ARM processor and onboard Lithium-Ion batteries. Myo is now up for a limited pre-order with Thalmic saying you won't be charged until it ships near year's end, while developers can also grab the API. If you're willing to risk some ridicule to be first on the block to grab one, hit the source.
Withings WiFi scale syncs weight with BodyMedia site, won't let you hide from the truth
Are you using a Withings WiFi Body Scale to monitor your weight-loss efforts? Are you also using a BodyMedia FIT Armband to track your activity and calories burned? Get ready for a body-stat explosion, because now you can pair the two devices to streamline all that info on your progress. Instead of manually entering your weight into the BodyMedia activity manager, just step on the Withings scale and it will be imported into your BodyMedia online dashboard via WiFi. That's all well and good, but it reminds us an awful lot of Fitbit, which sells a less-expensive body scale that integrates with the company's wearable fitness trackers. The full Withings / BodyMedia press release is after the break, but shouldn't you be out running or something?
Patents for multi-touch, iPad dock and MacBook Air awarded to Apple
Apple has been awarded several patents by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, one of which could be valuable ammunition in the flood of intellectual property lawsuits that has been swirling around the company lately. PatentlyApple is reporting that Apple now holds the patents for one of the primary elements of multi-touch; two or more controllers operating in a master/slave configuration. Apple's patent appears to indicate that the company could be interested in licensing the technology (found in most multi-touch devices made by Apple, including the iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, and possibly the Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad) to others, as they state that it can be used in ATMs, point of sale systems, e-ticket terminals, and so on. Apple also received a patent for the hinged I/O port and housing that was found on the original MacBook Air models. Even though that hinged port is not on the most recent MacBook Airs, it could be used in future products. The company now has design patents on the iPad dock, on the Universal Dock and Dock Insert, and that slick armband that the company sells for the fifth-generation iPod nano.
H2O Audio's Amphibx Grip waterproof armband keeps your new iPod nano, shuffle dry
Yep -- the same folks that enabled your iPod nano 5G to become an underwater camera have just created yet another underwater armband for Apple's latest. H2O Audio's Amphibx Grip is specifically designed to keep the latest iPod nano and iPod shuffle shielded from the harmful, oftentimes fatal effects of liquid, promising a "100 percent watertight and secure seal that provides waterproofing up to 12 feet." We're told that the ClearTouch Window allows for full operation of touchscreen and button controls, and if you're wondering, the company would be more than happy to sell you a set of waterproof earbuds to go along with it. Check it right now for a penny under $60. Michael Phelps would.
Skinput: because touchscreens never felt right anyway (video)
Microsoft looks to be on a bit of a hot streak with innovations lately, and though this here project hasn't received much hype (yet), we'd say it's one of the most ingenious user interface concepts we've come across. Skinput is based on an armband straddling the wearer's biceps and detecting the small vibrations generated when the user taps the skin of his arm. Due to different bone densities, tissue mass and muscle size, unique acoustic signatures can be identified for particular parts of the arm or hand (including fingers), allowing people to literally control their gear by touching themselves. The added pico projector is there just for convenience, and we can totally see ourselves using this by simply memorizing the five input points (current maximum, 95.5 percent accuracy), particularly since the band works even if you're running. Make your way past the break to see Tetris played in a whole new way.
Belkin's iPhone accessory salmagundi now shipping
What better way to cap off a recent $600 or so purchase than to spend even more money accessorizing it? The myriad of Belkin wares we spoke of a short time ago has hit the market just in time to grab your attention (and dough), and users itching to wrap their precious toy up in a clear acrylic case ($29.99), armband ($29.99), or slim-fit holster ($29.99) can now pick up any of the three. Additionally, a number of 3.5-millimeter stereo cables and headphone adapters are also available, but they aren't likely to perform any differently than the bargain variety already out there. Check 'em all out below in glorious high-resolution.[Via I4U; thanks Doom!]%Gallery-4492%
