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Researchers found the manual for the world's oldest surviving computer
It should give them a better understanding of how the Z4 works.
Set up your own Stingray cell dragnet with these leaked docs
The Stingray has been a controversial tool that police departments and government agencies have used to track mobile phone locations and monitor the metadata they send to cell towers. Its maker Harris Corporation has repeatedly denied requests to explain its inner workings, citing terrorist and criminal security concerns despite their frequent use without warrants. But The Intercept has acquired over 200 pages of documentation detailing several communication-intercepting setups of the company's hardware and software.
'Hyper Light Drifter' special edition comes with a SNES cart
I know what you're thinking -- another special edition for an indie game? Sure it's been done before, many times, but the Hyper Light Drifter Collector's Edition looks pretty sweet. It comes with a cyan "SNES cartridge," a 24-page manual, a 24-inch by 18-inch world map poster, a box to store it all in and a digital code for the game. That manual is particularly welcome; a full-color booklet with information on enemies, drifters, and tons of beautiful artwork. The SNES cartridge is in quotes because it's just a non-functional piece of art. Also it's a North American-style SNES cartridge, so if you owned a European or Asian console, it won't look very familiar to you.
Hyundai makes owner's manuals more interesting with augmented reality
Augmented reality showrooms are one thing, but Hyundai using that tech to make learning about your new car more interesting. This week, the automaker announced its an augmented reality owner's manual app for Android and iOS. The Hyundai Virtual Guide plays nice with both smartphones and tablets, offering details on repairs, maintenance and vehicle features. Hyundai says the app will only provide reference materials for the 2015 Sonata at first, but other models will be added soon after. There's 82 how-to videos, six 3D overlay images for areas like the engine bay and over 50 guides to serve up all the details in a format that's should be engaging that flipping pages. This isn't the first time owner's manuals have gone digital, and despite Hyundai's claim, it's also not the first to include augmented reality. The apps are available now, free of charge, via either iTunes or Google Play.
Manual app brings DSLR-like control to your iPhone snapshots
Thanks to the expanded third-party integration in iOS 8, app developers are able to take advantage of things like extensions for that Photos library. It also allows access to the iPhone's camera settings, and a new piece of software offers another option for sorting just that. Manual, a $1.99 add-on for Apple's handsets, allows you to tweak variables in a similar fashion to how you would with a DSLR. There are options for controlling shutter, ISO, white balance, focus and exposure bracketing. On top of all that, a rule of thirds grid keeps compositions in order, a live monitor eyes exposure and a fill flash mode tackles lighting woes. All of that may sound complicated, but the interface is quite simple, so you should be easily making your tweaks in no time -- as long as you have the latest version of iOS, of course. Other apps, like Camera+, tackle manual controls too, so you'll be able to take your pick when it comes to fine-tuning those photos.
ASUS user manual confirms VivoTab Note 8 Windows tablet
ASUS has just verified that a VivoTab Note 8 slate is imminent after it published the manual on its own site. According to leaks we saw earlier at the FCC and elsewhere, the Windows 8.1 device will be powered by an Intel Atom Z3740 quad-core CPU and have 2GB of RAM, up to 64GB of storage, a 1,280 x 800 touchscreen (which may include Wacom digitizer support), a dedicated stylus, front and rear cameras and a microSD slot. Though the reported specs and $300 price position it closely to the Dell Venue 8 Pro, the VivoTab seems to include the pen, unlike its competitor. All that's left now is a formal launch with availability and final pricing, which is probably set for a certain little Vegas show.
More Nexus 5 details break cover in leaked LG service manual
It appears that nothing about the hardware of Google and LG's next Nexus smartphone will be left to the imagination by the time it releases. Android Police just got its mitts on what's claimed to be a 281-page draft of a service manual for the DE21. Surprise! The product specs match up nicely with the DE20 that went through the FCC a month ago -- and then some. This leak reveals the best shots yet of both the internals and the exterior, as well as a through listing of every spec. To refresh your memory, we've known those to include a 4.95-inch display, a 2.3 GHz Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM, inductive charging and NFC. This particular model's LTE bands (1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 20) are optimized for Asia and Europe. Let's move on to the notable new bits. There's an eight-megapixel camera with OIS on back and a 1.3-megapixel shooter on the front. Storage is capped at 32GB and the battery tops out at 2300 mAh. The IPS display has a 1080p resolution and screen tethering is supported via Slimport (just like the Nexus 4). While it's packing the usual array of sensors for a phone (gyroscope accelerometer, compass, proximity and light), there's also one that detects pressure. Lastly, there's the obligatory notification light and a Micro SIM slot. Be sure to be slightly wary of all this, however -- as Android Police notes, there are some oddities in the document (Bluetooth is now listed as 3.0 instead of 4.0, for instance). You'll find the full manual embedded after the break and you can hit the source link for further insight. We'll update you if we discover any other juicy bits.
Volkswagen develops augmented reality service manual for the XL1
After developing an augmented reality car manual for the Audi A3 and similar software for wearables like Glass, Metaio certainly knows a thing or two about the AR space. It's no surprise then, that Volkswagen has collaborated with Metaio to develop an augmented reality iPad app for the 2014 XL1 hybrid diesel that debuted earlier this year. Called MARTA (Mobile Augmented Reality Technical Assistance), the app uses the iPad's camera to view the internals of the vehicle and label the various parts and elements so that VW service workers will know what they're working on. MARTA also shows step-by-step instructions on how to repair and replace certain components, right down to which direction mechanics should be facing. You can even use the app to test out different design elements like a new hood or a different color. And just in case all that AR doesn't prove to be useful, the app provides a good ol' fashioned text service manual as well. Seeing as the MARTA is an AR app for a very limited edition vehicle, we don't expect it to be of much use outside of certain VW specialty shops. Still, it's yet another sign that incorporating augmented reality into digital car manuals just makes sense.
Sony RX100 sequel leaks in Japanese manual images, adds tilting screen, hot shoe and WiFi
We were more than a little smitten with Sony's original RX100, a high-end Cybershot point-and-shoot housing a notable 1-inch 20.2-megapxiel CMOS sensor alongside a f/1.8 Carl Zeiss lens. It looks like there were enough customers that thought the same, because SonyAlphaRumors has gleaned several images from the manual for a sequel device. The site has more to share, but it's checking its translations first. In the meantime, these initial images already point to some notable hardware additions. Alongside a screen that can tilt up and down (plus a light sensor to adjust brightness automatically), the mark two RX100 will apparently catch up with Sony's NEX series, adding built-in WiFi too. There's also the addition of a hot shoe for mics and other peripherals, but fear not: there's still the built-in flash to the left of it. Naming, pricing and availability are still unknowns, but according to the site's mole, the camera will get formally announced later this month on June 27.
EVE Evolved: Could EVE use twitch controls?
A few weeks ago, the EVE Online community went nuts for EVR, CCP's exciting new virtual reality dogfighter developed for the upcoming Oculus Rift gaming headset. The game demo was produced by a team of just a handful of developers in just seven weeks using nothing but their spare time, but attendees and press at EVE Fanfest 2013 were nevertheless blown away during test sessions. Though EVR isn't going to be integrated with the EVE universe, Senior Producer Andie Nordgren stated in her Keynote address that CCP will be looking into more immersive flight and combat mechanics for some the game's ships. This comment has sparked a lot of discussion over the possibility of finally getting some direct flight controls in EVE. The lack of direct twitch-based controls in EVE is often cited by gamers as a big part of the reason they can't get into the game. There's no active dodging of missiles, manual ship targeting, or really complex tactical maneuvers in EVE, but that's kind of the point. Most ships in EVE are colossal lumbering hulks more akin to today's seafaring battleships than fighter planes, and combat with them is more a game of strategy and teamwork than a battle of reaction speeds. But that isn't exactly true of all ships; interceptors and fast microwarpdrive frigates move at several kilometres per second and are so agile that pilots can already pull off some interesting tactical maneuvers. So isn't it about time we made the combat for those ships a bit more visceral and immersive? In this week's EVE Evolved, I look at the fast-paced world of interceptors and explore how twitch controls and weapon aiming could possibly be implemented without killing the server.
iPhone User Guide for iOS 6 now available as an eBook
Always nice to see something free from Apple, and the timing couldn't be better. The iBooks version of the iPhone User Guide for iOS 6 is available on the iBookstore. Apple isn't much on paper manuals these days; most Apple products come with a thin little guide, so many users get their tips from websites like TUAW and others. This Apple e-book is quite complete, with chapters explaining all the new features in iOS 6. I found the chapter on Siri and changes in the camera app most helpful. The book is illustrated, and every bit as good as something you'd buy online or at a book store. This is a good idea, but it's certainly not being trumpeted by Apple; you just kind of have to know it's there. That's what we're here for, so get over to the iTunes and download it. Apple is also offering free user guides for the iPhone, the iPad, and iOS 5.1 if you didn't upgrade. There's a few screen grabs in the gallery. The book can only be viewed on an iOS device using the iBooks app. %Gallery-166352%
Sony's NEX-6 satisfies the FCC with paperwork, guts
Still hungry for a closer look at Sony's WiFi-packing NEX-6 despite perusing our hands-on? Apparently the FCC feels the same, so it's used its government-granted authority to inspect the camera first-hand, and tear it apart in the process. This isn't the only time the 16.1-megapixel shooter has been given the ruler treatment, but a full copy of its user's manual has notably come along for its US visit. Check out the gallery below to view this NEX's guts, or hit the source link to gloss over a PDF of the instruction manual -- might as well get the boring stuff done before the package arrives in November.%Gallery-165226%
American Airlines becomes first FAA-friendly carrier to use iPads through whole flights
You don't have to wait for an FAA rethink to use your iPad on an airliner below 10,000 feet -- if you're part of an American Airlines crew, that is. As of this month, the air carrier is the first cleared by the FAA to use iPads in the cockpit at every point during a flight. The program starts just with Boeing 777 pilots at first, but it should eventually grow to save $1.2 million in weight-related fuel costs per year across the airline, not to mention a few trees and the strain of 35-pound flight bags. American is confident enough in the tablet switchover that it plans to stop handing out any paper updates to its charts and manuals as of January, just days after its entire fleet gets the regulatory nod for iPads at the end of this year. We just wouldn't anticipate Android or Windows tablet rollouts anytime soon. American isn't opposed to the concept, but it's only promising that slates beyond the iPad will be "evaluated for use" if and when the FAA applies its rubber stamp.
How to be an Apple Genius: A look inside the manual
Gizmodo has gotten its hands on an Apple internal training manual for its retail Geniuses, and it's just as Apple-like as you'd expect it to be, complete with very structured, high level how-tos for creating and pushing the always unique Apple brand. It all makes sense, really: Apple is now the most valuable brand in the world, and Apple's Geniuses are the (lowest-paid) ambassadors of that brand, so this manual is an attempt to codify just what it is that's so special about this company. To that end, Apple's made use of strategies like empathizing with customers almost to a fault, and even using special acronyms (Approach, Probe, Present, Listen, End for "Apple," or the three Fs: Feel, Felt, Found, for how a customer's feelings should be adjusted while chatting about discovering new tech options in the store) to smooth out the whole experience. Apple's Geniuses are asked never to use words like "crash" or "hot" -- instead, computers may "stop responding" or iOS devices may be "warm" at best. Perhaps most interesting, Apple Geniuses are encouraged to "surprise" customers instead of correct them. Using the phrase "turns out" (as in, "it turns out the iPad has up to 64 GB of memory") is specifically mentioned as a way to surprise customers with Apple quality. The manual sounds like a fascinating read. At times, it can get a little robotic, especially when Apple talks about Geniuses giving feedback to each other. But it's interesting to see Apple try and codify all of the "secret sauce" it's put into its very popular brand over the years.
Guild Wars 2 posts online manual, talks economy and art
One of the unsung heroes of MMOs is the economist -- the guy or gal in charge of making sure that supply and demand doesn't get all wonky. Whether you think about in-game economy or not, its function impacts everyone. For ArenaNet, the man in charge of keeping Guild Wars 2's money ship float is John Smith, and he's created an interesting infographic showing the state of the economy from the beta process. From the chart, Smith deduces many interesting trends that may or may not play out in the live game. The largest sources of income during the beta were rewards, followed by dynamic events and tasks, while the most frequently traded items were crafting materials. He notes that an abnormal percentage of players gravitated to jewelcrafting as a profession, although he speculates that this was because of the temporary nature of the beta. Smith even compares the rate of gems to gold to Facebook's recent IPO and finds a similar pattern therein. Keeping up with the information reveals, ArenaNet has released the online manual for Guild Wars 2 that covers everything from "getting started" to "competitive play." If the economy and manual don't interest you, perhaps art does. MSNBC interviewed Art Director Daniel Dociu about the look of Guild Wars 2, and you can watch it right here after the break.
iFixit produces repair manual for MacBook Pro with Retina display, tests DIY's limits
While we've been fans of the MacBook Pro with Retina display, iFixit hasn't been so keen -- a company based around DIY repairs isn't fond of a system where most components are glued or soldered into place. That hasn't stopped the team from developing a repair manual for those who want to give maintenance a try. A total of 16 guides show us how to disassemble or remove those parts that stand a realistic chance of leaving the system unscathed. While that does include some key components, iFixit continues to fly some caution flags: getting to one part often requires taking apart others, and removing the battery carries the very real possibility of permanent damage. If you'd still prefer to upgrade the SSD yourself (when an option) than pay Apple more for a custom order, there's now a helping hand for your thriftiness.
Samsung Galaxy S III manual goes online, teaches you wax-on, wax-off
As you can imagine, we love nothing more than sitting next to a roaring log fire and diving into a good owners manual. As luck would have it, we'd just finished the last one, and then this lands in our laps. Yes, if you've already decided that you will be treating yourself to Samsung's latest mobile darling, you can start boning up on all those new features, and see the specifications for yourself in black and white. At the very least, you can start getting to grips with those new "use motion" gestures. Our favorite? The "Palm touch" media pause move. Hit the source to find your own fave.
Dear Aunt TUAW: Help me get user guides for iBooks
Dear Aunt TUAW, While it is possible to track down Apple user manual .pdf files on their support site and then import them to iBooks, why doesn't Apple simply make them available for free in a special section of the iBooks app? Your loving nephew, Jeremy Dear Jeremy, They do. Just search for Apple in the iBookstore. For example: iPhone User Guide iPod touch User Guide iPad User Guide Hugs, Auntie T.
BlueSLR dongle arrives for BlackBerry and (some) Android phones
Offering to play matchmaker between your high-end camera and smartphone, XEquals has extended support for its BlueSLR remote control beyond iOS. Yes, Blackberry and Android users can now download their respective app and pair this Bluetooth dongle to their (still Nikon-only) DSLR. The compatible dongle and free app will land later this month, but before you lay down the requisite $149, it's worth checking that both your camera and phone models are supported. As it stands, compatible Android phones are limited to some HTC or Samsung models. While Android support is likely to expand in the future, there's no word on a Pre 3 version.
Skyrim manual leaks, reveals details about the game
If you see every rotation of this heavenly body we inhabit as one more step in a dance leading to the release of Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, you're probably hungry for every info-morsel you can dredge up. Here's a relatively big one: Someone has uploaded the entire instruction manual for the game onto Imgur, revealing a few details about how integral game mechanics will function in the final product. Which is to say, how does cooking work? There are also some salient details about the new follower command system, as well as some explanations of Skyrim's unique UI. Check it out now, because come November 11 you're not going to waste any time on reading.
