Engadget

HP teases new Envy all-in-one printer, glass and metal dotted all over (video)

Richard Lai — Fri, 11 May 2012 18:03:00 EST

We all love teasers, so it's rather swell that HP decided to tease its next Envy-branded all-in-one printer at the Global Influencer Summit in Shanghai -- almost two years after introducing the Envy 100. As you can see in the above slide and the extremely brief video teaser after the break, this time round the design will feature a glass control panel, as well as a metal scan bar and a metal hinge under the scanner's see-through lid. Pretty hot, we'd say, and looking back at the Envy 14 Spectre which shares similar elements, this certainly sets a good example of how the new Printing and Personal Systems Group is already bringing a better design consistency across what used to be two different groups. For now, stay tuned for more info.

Gallery: HP teases new Envy all-in-one printer, glass and metal dotted all over

Continue reading HP teases new Envy all-in-one printer, glass and metal dotted all over (video)

HP teases new Envy all-in-one printer, glass and metal dotted all over (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 May 2012 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canon unveils PIXMA MX892 wireless all-in-one, prints from the cloud for $200

Billy Steele — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST

If you're in the market for a new wireless printer for that fancy new home office, Canon has a new model that may suit your needs. The PIXMA MX892 wireless all-in-one boasts copy, scan and fax features for those official docs that still have to be sent over the wire. Prints employ the ChromaLife, 5-ink system for high quality images at a resolution of 9,600 x 2,400 dpi. The printer also features a 3-inch LCD screen for last-minute adjustments and will have your 4 x 6 inch borderless Yellowstone photos printed in around 20 seconds each. Built-in effects, such as toy camera and fish-eye, offer quick photo customization in the event of an extreme time crunch. Through software like Google Cloud Print and PIXMA Cloud Link, you can send those documents or photos to the MX892 directly from online albums and your mobile device -- should you be on the move. No word on a shipping date as of yet, but the unit will set you back $199.99 when it hits shelves. Check out all the details in the PR below, should you be in need of a few more.

Continue reading Canon unveils PIXMA MX892 wireless all-in-one, prints from the cloud for $200

Canon unveils PIXMA MX892 wireless all-in-one, prints from the cloud for $200 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Look the business with PlanOn's super-slim receipt scanner

Sharif Sakr — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 07:59:00 EST

Receipts. You request them every time you make a claimable purchase. Then you put them in your pocket, the washing machine, the dryer, an old envelope, until they've been everywhere except where they need to go. Sure, you can use a smartphone app, but wouldn't you be so much more diligent if you had a $140 dedicated portable scanner like PlanOn's SlimScan SS100? It's taken a while to come to market since we went hands-on, but it's finally available with immediate effect. You swipe the credit card-sized stainless steel device over your receipts and store the images -- up to 600 of them -- on its built-in storage. Then you hook it up to your PC over wireless-schmireless USB, auto OCR the images, correct any inaccurate fields and export the data straight to your spreadsheet. Then you wash it, dry it, put it in a drawer...

Continue reading Look the business with PlanOn's super-slim receipt scanner

Look the business with PlanOn's super-slim receipt scanner originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scientists produce stronger T-rays, bring Tricorders closer to reality

Amar Toor — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:22:00 EST

A group of scientists from Imperial College London and Singapore's Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) have developed a new technique that could have far reaching impacts for Star Trek fans everywhere. It all involves something known as Terahertz (THz), or T-rays: electromagnetic rays that have already been used in full-body airport scanners and have the potential to be used across a much broader range of medical and environmental applications. Because every molecule can be uniquely identified within the THz range, these T-rays can be used to pick up on cancerous cells and other biological matter, perhaps even within a Tricorder-like scanner. Now, Imperial College's Stefan Maier and his team of scientists say they've found a way to create a stronger beam of T-rays, using so-called "nano-antennas" to generate an amplified THz field. In fact, this field can produce about 100 times more power than most other THz sources, which could allow for sharper imaging devices. "T-rays promise to revolutionize medical scanning to make it faster and more convenient, potentially relieving patients from the inconvenience of complicated diagnostic procedures and the stress of waiting for accurate results," Maier explained. "Thanks to modern nanotechnology and nanofabrication, we have made a real breakthrough in the generation of T-rays that takes us a step closer to these new scanning devices." For more details, check out the links below.

Scientists produce stronger T-rays, bring Tricorders closer to reality originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OrcaM sphere constructs detailed, digital 3D models of wares while you wait (video)

Billy Steele — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:50:00 EST

Ever wanted a 3D digital copy of all those Little League trophies? Well, the NEK has whipped up something to lend a hand that's a bit larger than another recent scanner. Enter the OrcaM, an Orbital Camera System capable of producing an accurate, digital 3D model of objects up to 80cm (about 31.5 inches) wide and weighing up to 100kg (around 220lbs). Making use of seven shooters simultaneously, the system photographs the object while projecting various light and shadow combinations in order to determine the ware's geometry. The OrcaM is able to reproduce high-quality digital reproductions with a geometric accuracy less than millimeter (nearly .04 inches). As if that wasn't enough, it produces complete color, texture and reflectivity maps so that every minute detail is accounted for. Once your to-be-copied object has been loaded, the OrcaM takes over and is automatic, churning out the completed rendering shortly after the requisite photos are taken. Hit the video up top for a look at the beast in action.

OrcaM sphere constructs detailed, digital 3D models of wares while you wait (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NYPD begins testing long-distance gun detector as alternative to physical searches

Amar Toor — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 07:08:00 EST

As part of its ongoing effort to keep New York City safe, the NYPD has begun testing a new scanning device capable of detecting concealed firearms from a distance of about 16 feet. Developed in conjunction with the Department of Defense, the technology uses terahertz imaging detection to measure the radiation that humans naturally emit, and determine whether the flow of this radiation is impeded by a foreign object -- in this case, a gun. During a speech Tuesday, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said the device shows "a great deal of promise as a way of detecting weapons without a physical search." Kelly went on to say that the technology would only be deployed under "reasonably suspicious circumstances," though some civil liberties activists are already expressing concerns. "We find this proposal both intriguing and worrisome," New York Civil Liberties Union executive director Donna Lieberman said in a statement, adding that the scanner could all too easily infringe upon civilian privacy. "If the NYPD is moving forward with this, the public needs more information about this technology, how it works and the dangers it presents." For now, the NYPD is only testing the device at a shooting range in the Bronx, and has yet to offer a timeline for its potential deployment.

NYPD begins testing long-distance gun detector as alternative to physical searches originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 07:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scientists scan damaged audio discs, resurrect fresh beats

Sean Buckley — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 02:40:00 EST

Digitizing your analog archives? Vinyl to CD / MP3 / iPod turntables might do well enough for your old 45s, but the folks at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory prefer to listen to their old beats by taking pictures of them. More specifically, restoration specialists are using a system called IRENE/3D to snap high resolution images of damaged media. The cracked discs -- often made of wax on brass or composition board -- are then repaired digitally, letting researchers play the digitized discs with an emulated stylus. So far, the team has recovered a handful of 125 year old recordings from a team in Alexander Graham Bell's Volta laboratory. The all digital system gives researchers a hands-off way to recover audio from relic recordings without running the risk of damaging them in the process -- and no, they probably won't let you use it to listen to that beat up copy of the White Album you've had in your closet since eighth grade. Hit the source link to hear what they've recovered.

Continue reading Scientists scan damaged audio discs, resurrect fresh beats

Scientists scan damaged audio discs, resurrect fresh beats originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 02:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IRL: Spotify, Fujitsu ScanSnap S1300 and Oakley's AP backpack 3.0

Engadget staff — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST

Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.

In this, our last edition of IRL before worldwide eat-Chinese-food-and-go-to-the-movies day, we're unpacking our gifts a few days early. Darren replaced his document scanner after his old one went to wherever it is that deceased scanners go, Joe finally settled on a gadget bag stylish enough to go with his skinny jeans and Brian's given himself the gift of a Spotify premium account. So how's it going, here in real life? Head past the break to find out.

Continue reading IRL: Spotify, Fujitsu ScanSnap S1300 and Oakley's AP backpack 3.0

IRL: Spotify, Fujitsu ScanSnap S1300 and Oakley's AP backpack 3.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Doxie Go portable scanner creates searchable PDFs without a PC, syncs to almost anything

Terrence O'Brien — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:51:00 EST

As far as scanners go, Doxie makes some of the more interesting products on the market. There's one problem though... the bright trail of hot pint hearts splashed across the front. Thankfully, the upcoming Doxie Go dons a more conservative shell that will look just as at home in a CEO's office as it would in a 16-year-old girl's bedroom. The Go is a portable scanner with built-in memory for up to 6,000 pages, and you can even add on more storage through the USB port or SD slot. All scans are automatically fed through OCR software and turned into searchable PDFs. To get the scans on your PC you actually sync the Doxie Go to your Mac or Windows machine. You can also sync with your iPhone, iPad or send your documents straight to Dropbox, Evernote or Google Docs from the Doxie 2.0 desktop app. You can pre-order the Go now for $199 and it'll start shipping in late November. Check out the gallery below and PR after the break.

Gallery: Doxie Go

Continue reading Doxie Go portable scanner creates searchable PDFs without a PC, syncs to almost anything

Doxie Go portable scanner creates searchable PDFs without a PC, syncs to almost anything originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SWYP concept printer combines good looks with touchscreen editing

Mat Smith — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 10:32:00 EST

A concept printer from Seattle-based designers Artefact wants to bring those touchscreen editing skills learnt from smartphones and tablets to the not-so-electrifying world of printers. The streamlined SWYP (See What You Print) has a pretty striking design -- for a printer. The paper tray even folds away flush on top of the touchscreen in a very (very!) familar way. That contraption shown above would be able to connect directly to your camera or phone, foregoing the PC step with editing and collating all done on-screen; there's even an augmented reality interface that visualizes ink levels and those inevitable printer woes. At present, these guys aren't gunning to take out the only thing HP hasn't flubbed lately, but hopefully the glossy concept vid after the break will tide you over till commercialization (prayerfully) hits.

[Thanks, Gene]

Continue reading SWYP concept printer combines good looks with touchscreen editing

SWYP concept printer combines good looks with touchscreen editing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 10:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG announces LSM-100 Scanner Mouse, saves valuable desk space

Billy Steele — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 06:17:00 EST

You may recall, back at CES, we got our hands on LG's LSM-100 mouse scanner and were able to try it out for ourselves. Well it appears that you may have that same opportunity soon. The company has announced that it will be "opening a new era for scanners" at IFA in a few days with its mouse that boasts a built-in scanner. Simply by holding the Smart Scan button, you'll be able to save or drag and drop scanned images as large as A3 paper size in a variety of formats -- PNG, JPEG, TIFF, and PDF, just to name a few -- by swiping the mouse over it. If that wasn't enough to entice you, the peripheral also features Optical Character Recognition that converts text from said images into an editable Word document. Perhaps lost in all this is the fully functioning mouse bit... which you'll probably need as well. No word yet on pricing or availability, but hopefully soon, you'll have room on your desk for one of these.

Update: Apparently this bad boy is already available the UK for £89.98 (around $148), via the coverage link below. Also, we added a promo video from the folks at LG showing the peripheral in action -- which you can check out after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading LG announces LSM-100 Scanner Mouse, saves valuable desk space

LG announces LSM-100 Scanner Mouse, saves valuable desk space originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 06:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Comscore finds 6.2 percent of smartphone users scan QR codes

Donald Melanson — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 07:55:00 EST

QR codes may be turning up in more places than ever these days, but are people actually using them? According to market research firm Comscore, at least some of them are -- 14 million in June in the US alone, to be specific, or about 6.2 percent of all smartphone users. As for who makes up that slice of the smartphone market, Comscore says that just over 60 percent are male, 53 percent are between the ages of 18 and 34, and 36 percent have a household income of $100k or more. Folks are also apparently more likely to scan QR codes at home than at a retail store, and magazines and newspapers edge out websites or product packaging when it comes to the top source of the QR code being scanned. So, not exactly an explosion in use, but still fairly impressive for a weird-looking barcode that was rarely seen outside of Japan until a few years ago.

Comscore finds 6.2 percent of smartphone users scan QR codes originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 13 Aug 2011 07:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Visualized: 3D3 Solutions scans our face in two seconds flat

Darren Murph — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:41:00 EST

See that bloke? That's Darren Murph. Well, a digital representation of the human version, anyway. That image was captured in two painless seconds at the hands of 3D3 Solutions, which was on-hand here at SIGGRAPH to demonstrate its newest FlexScan setups. The rig that snapped our face rings up at around $10,000, and relies on a Canon DSLR (strictly for capturing textures), a projector and a secondary camera. As you've likely picked up on, this is hardly designed for average DIYers, but these solutions are also far more detailed and flexible than using Microsoft's Kinect. We're told that the company recently started to support Nikon cameras as well, and for those who'd prefer to use their existing cameras / PJs, a hobbyist-centric software package will allow you to do just that. The only problem? Figuring out where the $2,700 (for software) is going to come from. Head on past the break for a demonstration vid, or peruse the gallery below if you're feeling extra creepy.

Gallery: 3D3 Solutions scans our face in two seconds flat at SIGGRAPH

Continue reading Visualized: 3D3 Solutions scans our face in two seconds flat

Visualized: 3D3 Solutions scans our face in two seconds flat originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flatbed scanner becomes multitouch panel in five-fingered DIY documentary (video)

Tim Stevens — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 21:30:00 EST

Few things do a better job at decimating desktop real estate than a bulky old flatbed scanner. Skinnier replacements are cheap these days, but what's one to do with the old ones? An enterprising hacker who goes by the handle Sprite_tm, the same bloke who brought us a knock-operated door, has managed to create a multitouch panel out of his. He extracted the single-line CCD and mounted that below the display. He then attached five LEDs above it to shine light down. When his finger touches the screen it casts a shadow on the CCD and, with a little (probably a lot) of custom software he's able to triangulate the position of the touch. The system even works with multiple fingers, though we're guessing should they overlap vertically the system might get a little finicky. Check out a demo below and then click on through the source link for one heck of a detailed how-to.

Continue reading Flatbed scanner becomes multitouch panel in five-fingered DIY documentary (video)

Flatbed scanner becomes multitouch panel in five-fingered DIY documentary (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Woman tries, fails to smuggle 44 iPhones into Israel

Vlad Savov — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 06:18:00 EST

Sigh. We don't know whether to congratulate the enterprising spirit of this venture or to bemoan the sad state of a world where a 60-something-year old lady feels compelled to turn into an iPhone smuggler. Either way, Israel's Ben-Gurion International Airport has given us a pretty good reason for the use of full body scanners, which revealed the woman in question was strapped with 44 iPhone 4s all around her body. Dressed in traditional Georgian attire, the lady had some struggles walking around, which raised suspicion and got the officials to run her through the machines. Guess this gives us a whole new definition to the phrase "stocking stuffer," eh?

[Original image credit: buystoreshelving.com]

Woman tries, fails to smuggle 44 iPhones into Israel originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 06:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG's CES 2011 booth tour

Myriam Joire — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 18:47:00 EST

If there is one booth at CES this year that is going all out, it's arguably LG's. The massive, supermarket-sized chunk of show floor real estate showcases everything from the manufacturer's latest phones -- like the Revolution, Optimus Black and Optimus 2X -- to SmartTV devices, network Blu-ray players and HDTVs. You'll also find smart appliances linked with WiFi and smartphone apps using LG Thinq, and even a scanner mouse -- not to mention a mesmerizing display wall. Sample the insanity in the gallery below, and in the video after the break.

Gallery: LG's CES 2011 booth tour

Continue reading LG's CES 2011 booth tour

LG's CES 2011 booth tour originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 09 Jan 2011 18:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ion Book Saver hands-on

Vlad Savov — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 22:28:00 EST

Treading on the brink of being another CES crapgadget, here's Ion Audio's venture into the book-digitizing business. The Book Saver promises one-second color scans of both pages of a book and comes with OCR software and the ability to export to PDF or JPEG formats. Plans aren't quite finalized and the unit before us wasn't functional, but a 2GB SD card is expected to be included while there's also a USB connection to hook up straight to your PC or Mac. The big problem here is that there's no automation for page turning, and worse yet, you'll need to lift the entire, somewhat fragile, scanner in order to flip to the next page. That's done using that fetching Wiimote KIRF up at the front of the device and there are a pair of cameras embedded in the bottom of the overarching plastic casing. MSRP is set at $149 and availability is coming in June at places like Barnes & Noble, Staples, and Office Depot ... you know, in case you actually want one.

Gallery: Ion Book Saver hands-on

Ion Book Saver hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 08 Jan 2011 22:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planon Slimscan, world's slimmest scanner, hands-on (video)

Vlad Savov — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 22:49:00 EST

Been needing a credit card scanner to execute your superspy data collection with? Say hello to your new best buddy, the Planon Slimscan. This teeny tiny unit is equipped with a 600dpi optical scanner, though it shrinks images down to a 300dpi resolution to get a reasonable number of them to fit within the 64MB of onboard memory. Intended primarily as a collector of business card and receipt data, the Slimscan will come with Abbyy and PaperPort software along with the ability to export your stuff out to an Excel spreadsheet. Pricing is set at $120 and shipping is expected to commence any time now.

Gallery: Planon Slimscan, world's slimmest scanner, hands-on

Continue reading Planon Slimscan, world's slimmest scanner, hands-on (video)

Planon Slimscan, world's slimmest scanner, hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 22:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nightstand tweets, scans, prints, and presumably makes some sort of artistic statement (video)

Joseph L. Flatley — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 09:23:00 EST

Whether tweeting from trees or providing the catalyst for zany conceptual art projects, people love to make Twitter do silly things. Is this simple whimsy, or is it something deeper -- say, some sort of high-minded juxtaposition between the way people live now and how they lived pre-Internet? Hell if we know, but maybe John Kestner can explain it to us. You see, this artist and designer has created something called the Tableau, a networked nightstand that has two functions: scanning and posting images to Twitter, and printing out photos that pop up in your Twitter feed. And that's it. The thing is made from recycled (read: old) materials, and even features an alert in the shape of a light-up drawer pull for notifying you when you receive pics. It's all very clever, cool looking, and potentially heartwarming (unless you have us in your Twitter feed, in which case all you'll receive are pictures of KIRF cellphones). But don't take out word for it -- see for yourself after the break! Currently on display at the Saint-Étienne Biennale 2010, the designer has plans to bring the devices to market sometime next year.

Continue reading Nightstand tweets, scans, prints, and presumably makes some sort of artistic statement (video)

Nightstand tweets, scans, prints, and presumably makes some sort of artistic statement (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 09:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Viewsonic rolls out 3DV5 pocket camcorder, other gadgets of 2D and 3D varieties

Donald Melanson — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 11:36:00 EST

Viewsonic has been touting a whole range of 3D gadgets since IFA this summer, and it's now finally brought a few of them to North America. That includes the $180 3DV5 pocket camcorder, which was already released in Europe and does 720p video along with 5 megapixel stills (in both 3D and 2D), and the also-$180 3DPF8 8-inch digital photo frame, which will let you view 3D videos and photos without the need for 3D glasses. Joining those are the $330 DVP5 pocket camcorder, which isn't 3D but does pack a built-in projector, and the $150 DPF8-CAM Digital Photo Copier, which is actually an 8-inch digital photo frame with a built-in scanner to let you easily convert your snapshots to digital copies. Head on past the break for the complete press release, and hit up the gallery below for a closer look at the whole lot.

Gallery: Viewsonic 3DV5, 3DPF8, DVP5, and DPF8-CAM

Continue reading Viewsonic rolls out 3DV5 pocket camcorder, other gadgets of 2D and 3D varieties

Viewsonic rolls out 3DV5 pocket camcorder, other gadgets of 2D and 3D varieties originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Nov 2010 11:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lexmark intros Genesis all-in-one printer with camera-based scanning, we go eyes-on

Sean Hollister — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST

You've probably seen quite a few flatbed scanner bars in your lifetime, but the $400 Lexmark Genesis printer doesn't have one of those -- it's got a 10 megapixel digital camera with a fish-eye lens that produces nigh-instant images. 750 milliseconds after you close its front-facing scan bay, the CMOS sensor generates a preview on the 4.3-inch color touchscreen, and 2.2 seconds after that, it's got a full 300 dpi image saved on your USB-connected computer or winging its way across 802.11n WiFi. The company's calling the system FlashScan, and the raw speed was definitely impressive when we saw it in San Francisco this week, even though other parts of the print system left something to be desired.

The printer uses special algorithms to translate the fish-eye image back into a flat sheet and reproduces text quite well, but the twin RGB flashes it fires to reproduce color didn't always do an accurate job, and we were disappointed to find a number of features (including some obvious oversights like image rotation for copies) weren't accessible via the touchscreen. It does have a number of neat web apps for completely untethered use, however, including the ability to scan right to Evernote and Photobucket and Box.net, and Lexmark told us it's working with a number major photo hosting services, Twitter and Facebook to let Genesis users directly upload. See it in action on video after the break, along with the full press release.

Gallery: Lexmark Genesis camera-based AIO printer, hands-on

Continue reading Lexmark intros Genesis all-in-one printer with camera-based scanning, we go eyes-on

Lexmark intros Genesis all-in-one printer with camera-based scanning, we go eyes-on originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Conceptual airport identifier skips your naughty bits, scans straight to the bone

Tim Stevens — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 10:13:00 EST

Not sure how you feel about those airport scanners that reveal your bits and pieces to under-paid guards? We think they make air travel rather titillating, but perhaps you'll be more comfortable with a conceptual scanner that skips your fleshy bits entirely and looks only at your bones. Being developed by a team of researchers at Wright State University, such a scanner could use existing technology to detect the skeletal structure of a person. The idea is that a person's bony bits are unique and, unlike one's face, impossible to disguise (short of some serious surgery). If a database of registered criminals and suspects could be created they could be identified with such a scanner, in theory even at a distance, far more reliably than via facial scan. Right now it's just a concept, but the idea is to have a working prototype by next year. After that, nobody's clavicles will be safe.

Conceptual airport identifier skips your naughty bits, scans straight to the bone originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Aug 2010 10:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pandigital PhotoLink portable scanner review

Darren Murph — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:13:00 EST

If you're anything like us, you may find yourself in need of scanning in a few last-minute receipts for reimbursement. Or maybe your oldest youngster left his essay sitting on the kitchen table, and you need to shoot him / her over a PDF on the double. Or maybe you've just got way too many tax-related documents cluttering up your basement. Point is, just about anyone could find a reason or two to invest in a scanner, and Pandigital's making things a lot easier with the PhotoLink personal photo scanner / converter. The $149.99 device was launched last week, and we've been toying with it a few days here at Engadget HQ. If you've been on the fence about buying a portable scanner, join us after the break for a few impressions along with a riveting video of this thing... well, scanning.

Gallery: Pandigital PhotoLink portable scanner

Continue reading Pandigital PhotoLink portable scanner review

Pandigital PhotoLink portable scanner review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Camera-equipped digital billboards scan humans in Tokyo, serve up tailored ads

Darren Murph — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 10:12:00 EST

Marketing managers, you best take a seat. This right here is your future, like it or not. According to a new report from one Earth's most mesmerizing cities, digital advertising billboards are being trialled in Japan that are not only equipped with cameras, but with an ability to scan passers-by for gender and age group. Once that data is collected, the billboard then flashes an advertisement that best fits the type of human walking by. So, anyone care to guess which ad gets shown when the 6PM central station train lets out?

Camera-equipped digital billboards scan humans in Tokyo, serve up tailored ads originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 10:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pandigital Personal Photo Scanner/Converter cuts the cable, writes to memory cards

Tim Stevens — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 08:26:00 EST

The act of scanning a photo generally entails something along the lines of placing the photo onto a device, loading some photo software, waiting while the scanner groans away, cropping the resulting image, and then shuffling the resulting bits off into a folder somewhere. Pandigital's latest, the Personal Photo Scanner/Converter, helps to cut down on that process -- a little bit, anyway. You can simply feed documents through it (up to 8.5 x 11 in size) and have them written straight to memory card (SD, Memory Stick, etc.) at 600dpi resolution, which could certainly speed up your workflow and let you run through reams of photos without lugging that dusty 'ol album to your computer. (You can still connect it via miniUSB and do it the old fashioned way, if you like.) The one thing we're not seeing in the specs is a battery, which would make this thing truly portable, but for $149.99 you can't have everything. It is, at least, available now.

Update: We've updated the post to include a pic of the new model.

Continue reading Pandigital Personal Photo Scanner/Converter cuts the cable, writes to memory cards

Pandigital Personal Photo Scanner/Converter cuts the cable, writes to memory cards originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 08:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP Photosmart e-All-in-One with ePrint now on sale: iPad printing, solved

Thomas Ricker — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 05:13:00 EST

We don't cover many printers on Engadget because, frankly, they're boring. So there must be something really special about HP's Photosmart e-All-in-One D110a, right? Indeed, it's the first of a new line of web-connected printers from HP to feature ePrint, the ability to email messages with attachments (Microsoft Office documents, PDFs and JPEG image files to name a few) to the printer from any device including smartphones and tablets -- no driver or app required. That's a pretty big deal. The $99 802.11n WiFi inkjet features a 2.36-inch touchscreen and prints at a rate of up to 29 ppm black (at up to 600 dpi) and up to 23 ppm color (at up to 4800 x 1200 dpi on photo paper). Scans are captured at resolutions up to 1,200 dpi (optical). It also prints directly off the web or via USB and SD / MemoryStick Duo cards if that's your thing. Sorry, no fax in this all-in-one but it is PC and Mac compatible and will work with Google's forthcoming Cloud Print service when Google sets it free in the fall. Expect to see higher-end printers from the e-All-in-One series launch in the next few months including the $149 Plus e-All-in-One with 3.5-inch display (worldwide in August), $199 Premium e-All-in-One with 4.3-inch display (worldwide in September), and $299 Premium Fax All-in-One (worldwide in September) with, you guessed it, integrated fax.

HP Photosmart e-All-in-One with ePrint now on sale: iPad printing, solved originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 05:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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L'Artisan Electronique ushers in the era of the virtual pottery wheel (video)

Vlad Savov — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 16:44:00 EST

Want to reenact Ghost but don't care for all the messy bits? Let lasers do the work for you. L'Artisan Electronique uses a laser scanner to detect your hand-sculpting gestures, transfers their gently urging instructions over to a computerized 3D model, and -- should your production exhibit sufficient creativity or je ne sais quoi -- prints it out using a 3D ceramic printer. This is part of a Design by Performance exhibition taking place over in Belgium and is seriously one of the cooler things you're going to come across today -- or any other day, for that matter. See it on video after the break.

Continue reading L'Artisan Electronique ushers in the era of the virtual pottery wheel (video)

L'Artisan Electronique ushers in the era of the virtual pottery wheel (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 05 Jun 2010 16:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel Reader hands-on

Vlad Savov — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:14:00 EST

Making our all so stealthy escape from the Intel booth today, we came across the Reader -- the big chipmaker's text scanning device which reads aloud and provides a high contrast, large-sized reading facility for people with visual or mental impairments. We tried it out on a real quick and dirty scan from a newspaper, and while it picked up plenty of text bits from articles outside the one we cared to read, it was a pretty robust little setup in our opinion. The readouts were pretty robotic, but this isn't really intended as an ebook reader with vocal chords, so we'll give it a pass for that. We still cringe at the $1,500 price tag, though on the whole it looked like a well thought-out device with a very specific use. Check out the pictures below and a video awaits after the break.

Gallery: Intel Reader hands-on

Continue reading Intel Reader hands-on

Intel Reader hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony's FVA-U1 reads veins, coming to Japan this month

Vlad Savov — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:43:00 EST

Sony has finally delivered on its Mofiria promise with what it claims is the world's smallest and lightest finger vein reader. That assertion may be challenged by Hitachi, whose 3mm-thick scanner promises to be even smaller, but the critical difference here is that the FVA-U1 is about to go on sale in Japan come December 18, whereas Hitachi's hardware is nowhere to be found. The Sony scanner weighs a measly 33 grams, hooks up via USB, and adds an extra layer of biometric protection for your most precious data. Whether carrying around an extra dongle just to protect some Excel spreadsheets and your Outlook account is worth it, we leave up to you.

Sony's FVA-U1 reads veins, coming to Japan this month originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel Reader reads books to the lazy and infirm (video)

Vlad Savov — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:59:00 EST

While we're busying ourselves with arguing about how to replace the perfectly usable book gadget, Intel is right to point out that plenty of people, for whatever reason, can't read at all. Presenting its Reader as a necessity rather than luxury, Intel has shown off its vision for how visually impaired and dyslexic people can obtain access to the written word. Combining a text-scanning camera with a text-to-speech engine (powered by an Atom inside) is certainly no bad idea, but as the video beyond the break will show you, Intel's execution isn't exactly stellar. The arrhythmic, robotic reading from Alice In Wonderland left us shaken, but what floored us was the $1,499 asking price. Yes, it's a customized niche device, but we reckon we could build something similar for a third of the price. Full PR and video after the break.

Continue reading Intel Reader reads books to the lazy and infirm (video)

Filed under: Digital Cameras, Handhelds

Intel Reader reads books to the lazy and infirm (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DocuPen X hits earth for all your pen scanner needs

Laura June — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:02:00 EST

Thinking maybe you can't live another day without finally breaking down and purchasing a pen scanner? We can sympathize. There are plenty on the market, but the newly hatched DocuPen X Series is mildly more interesting than most out there. They've managed to cram 64MB of memory, Bluetooth, a tiny OLED screen and a lithium ion battery all in that tiny package, and if you're the sunflower seed-eating, alien-hunting type, you probably want one of these for scanning your files at up to 600 dots per inch. DocuPen's teensy X Series scanners start at $370.

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

DocuPen X hits earth for all your pen scanner needs originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mice run through Quake, Princeton neuroscientists scan their brains for traces of evil (video)

Vlad Savov — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:54:00 EST

Want to know just how prevalent technology has become in our lives? Now even lab mice get Quake-derived virtual reality playgrounds to navigate instead of their old school wooden mazes. In all honesty, this appears a significant and praiseworthy advancement, as the Princeton team have succeeded in mapping brain activity right down to the cellular level, with real-time tracking of single neurons now possible. The Orwellian-looking setup above is necessary in order to keep the mouse's head immobile, and thus capable of being studied, while the animal moves around and its brain performs motion-related tasks. Go past the break to see a schematic of the scanner and a quite unmissable video of it in action.

[Via Switched]

Continue reading Mice run through Quake, Princeton neuroscientists scan their brains for traces of evil (video)

Filed under: Science

Mice run through Quake, Princeton neuroscientists scan their brains for traces of evil (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Spider pill' bowel scanner will be ready within a year

Vlad Savov — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 07:29:00 EST

Endoscopy, or the examination of a person's bowels via a tube-mounted camera, is not exactly the most pleasant medical procedure one could undergo. In 2004, we noted the early stages of a project to alleviate the (literal) pain of the procedure with a spider pill, which -- once swallowed by the hopefully willing patient -- can be remotely controlled and positioned inside the human body. Yes, it's a tiny, wirelessly communicating robot with a camera for a head crawling inside you. Hit the read link for the full BBC report, it really is worth seeing, and start your Innerspace jokes ... now!

Filed under: Portable Video, Robots

'Spider pill' bowel scanner will be ready within a year originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 07:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Z Corporation debuts "world's most affordable" portable 3D scanner, still more expensive than your car

Donald Melanson — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 06:19:00 EST

Sure, you might be able to get by with a home-built, even Lego-built 3D scanner in a pinch, but those looking for a truly portable, off-the-shelf solution have so far been limited to pricey options like Z Corporation's ZScanner 700. Well, it looks like good 'ol Z Corp has some good news and some bad news for you. The good news is that it's knocked over $10,000 off the price for its new ZScanner 600 model. The bad news? It'll still cost you $28,900. That'll get you a sampling speed of 18,000 measurements per second, however, along with an XY accuracy of up to 80 microns, resolution down to just 0.1 mm, a depth of field of 30 cm, a FireWire interface, and Z Corp's own ZScan Lite software (Windows only). It also uses an eye-safe laser, so there's nothing but hefty credit card bill standing between you and a trip to the uncanny valley.

[Via SlashGear]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Z Corporation debuts "world's most affordable" portable 3D scanner, still more expensive than your car originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 06:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Movie Gadget Friday: Weird Science

Ariel Waldman — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:31:00 EST

Ariel Waldman contributes Movie Gadget Friday, where she highlights the lovable and lame gadgets from the world of cinema.

We last left off on the cyberpunk streets of LA in Strange Days. This week, in honor of the loss of the man behind so many 1980's icons, Movie Gadget Friday is paying homage to filmmaker John Hughes with a look into the 1985 cult-classic Weird Science. Tapping into the geek-fiction fantasies of most tinkering teenagers, real-life gadget specs are stretched to surreal capabilities to create the ultimate female bombshell. It's without surprise that the character's name, Lisa, was inspired by the Apple Lisa, Apple's first GUI computer.

Continue reading Movie Gadget Friday: Weird Science

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Movie Gadget Friday: Weird Science originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Book scanning gets a 1,000 fps turbo mode

Vlad Savov — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:46:00 EST

No matter how fly or flashy modern scanners become, there's no getting away from their page-by-page assembly line style of operation. Or so we thought. The Ishikawa Komuro Lab at Tokyo University has demonstrated a prototype scanner capable of recording the contents of pages as they turn. Using a laser range projector to estimate page geometry, the camera adjusts for light and movement distortion as necessary and retains faithful copies of the original. At present it's more a proof of concept for the underlying vision processing unit than a commercial venture, but all it needs is one major manufacturer to pick it up and the paperless revolution can finally get started in earnest.

[Via Plastic Pals]

Filed under: Peripherals

Book scanning gets a 1,000 fps turbo mode originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Arduino finds yet another use in homebuilt 3D scanner

Donald Melanson — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 08:34:00 EST

The Arduino has long since proven itself to be one of the biggest boons to DIY heads since the soldering iron, but that doesn't mean it's not still able to impress, as amply demonstrated by this simple but effective homebuilt 3D scanner. While there's not exactly much to guide the rookies out there, the project does seem to be straightforward enough for anyone with a bit of experience, with the scanner itself comprised of nothing more than the Arduino, a couple of servos, and the Sharp GP2Y0A02YK Long Distance Measuring Sensor -- plus the necessary code, of course, which is conveniently provided at the link below. Once you've got everything pieced together, you should all set to make polar coordinate scans of your surroundings and watch the time fly by.

[Via Hacked Gadgets]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Arduino finds yet another use in homebuilt 3D scanner originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 08:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: GE bringing 3D HD baggage screening to airports

Darren Murph — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:19:00 EST

Certain airports have already taken the whole "walk through the metal detector" thing to the next level, but things are about to get stepped up once more thanks to TSA certification on a new product from GE Security. The CTX 9800 DSi, which happily sits in the company's explosives detection systems (EDS) line, is now free to waltz into airports in order to "protect travelers with advanced high-definition 3D imaging baggage screening technology." We're talking 360 degree, finely-detailed views of baggage contents, which will undoubtedly cause immense embarrassment when a given TSA agent sees your prime selection of underwear, nose hair trimmer and pink nail polish. Here's hoping this won't slow security lines down even further, and if you're interested in seeing what all this thing can do, just mash play on the video above.

Gallery: Video: GE bringing 3D HD baggage screening to airports

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Video: GE bringing 3D HD baggage screening to airports originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: GE bringing 3D HD baggage screening to airports

Darren Murph — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:19:00 EST

Gallery: Video: GE bringing 3D HD baggage screening to airports

Filed under: Other formats, Other hardware

Video: GE bringing 3D HD baggage screening to airports originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In-car fingerprint scanner keeps drunks, thieves from starting your car

Darren Murph — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 08:11:00 EST

How's this for dual purpose? Zhao Wencai and Li Zhoumu, two graduate students at the China University of Geosciences, have concocted a prototype device which checks for two important bits of information before allowing a car to start. First, it scans your fingerprint to make sure you're on the authorized driver database; second, it takes a long, hard look (okay, so maybe 20 seconds isn't all that long) at the sweat on your digit to determine just how sober or inebriated you are. There's no telling when this will hit motorcars en masse, but we'd say the whole thing needs to get a whole lot smaller before it's a viable option.

[Via Wired]

Filed under: Transportation

In-car fingerprint scanner keeps drunks, thieves from starting your car originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 08:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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