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Gel-filled touchscreen creates real buttons on demand
There's just something about the feeling of physical keys that haptic feedback simply can't replicate on touchscreens. It's part of the reason people buy keyboard accessories for tablets, or Ryan Seacrest's strange iPhone case. It's also inspired some to try to figure out a happy medium between the freedom of touchscreens and the tactile joy of real buttons. Tactus' fluid pocket approach showed promise (the company makes an iPad case that gives the on-screen keyboard a physical presence), but it's ultimately limited by a predefined layout. Now, though, a group of researchers at the Technische Universität Berlin have come up with a way to create soft, temporary buttons of pretty much any shape and size, anywhere on a touchscreen display.
Guy hoverboards across a Canadian lake and into history
No, this isn't some guerilla marketing campaign for Back to the Future's upcoming pseudo-anniversary. It's a world record-setting flight by Canadian inventor Catalin Alexandru Duru aboard a homebrew hoverboard. He recently piloted this prototype nearly 1000 feet across a Quebec lake to set the record. "The prototype can be used anywhere," Duru explains in the video below. "But is usually tested over water because of how dangerously high it can fly (which is ironic considering that the movie joked that it can't)." There aren't many details about the device available though it would appear he controls it by shifting his bodyweight back and forth like a geeky Green Goblin. There's also no word on when (or if) the device will ever make it to market -- no matter how hard you wish for it.
Olympus' new lens camera can be (incredibly) upgraded
This is no DSLR. It's not even a bridge camera. This is actually Olympus' recently announced Air lens camera, tricked out to a (some would say excessive) degree. While the accessories on show here were only for internal testing, we admit we'd like to do some external testing with it. Alongside the DSLR-esque handle and controls (the Air camera handles any micro four-thirds lens), what you see on top is Olympus' eagle-eye viewfinder that projects a laser bullseye that will hover between you and your long-range target of choice. That also explains the telephoto lens which is attached to what was, originally, a petite camera upgrade for your smartphone. Naturally some extra framework is necessary simply to support all that attached glass. Check its ridiculous backside -- where your smartphone would sit -- right after the break.
Pentax is finally getting a full-frame DSLR
Pentax has fallen off the DSLR radar of late, unless you're looking for a medium-format camera or a hot pink K-series model. Parent company Ricoh has just pricked up the ears of the brand's many fans, however, with long-awaited news of its first ever full-frame K-mount Pentax DSLR. All we know so far is roughly what it looks like (the prototype is shown above), that it'll work with Pentax's DA APS-C lenses using image cropping, and that it'll pack a full-frame 35mm sensor. The cropping part is unfortunate, since enthusiasts would want a full-frame Pentax camera for the extra resolution and depth-of-field. Some DA lenses may already be compatible without cropping, however, and we'd hope that Ricoh is also working on new full-frame DA lenses.
City of Titans explains its prototyping process
The developers behind City of Titans haven't been shy about praising the Unreal Engine 4 at the heart of development. A new design article gives some insight into one of the major elements of design that makes it so useful to the team, a feature that offers rapid progress between brainstorming, prototyping, and testing: blueprints. While the article doesn't contain the nuts-and-bolts of the programming elements, it demonstrates how the team was able to build and test a tile-based map system (akin to Skyrim) as an independent element to be tested. The result is that instead of spending a great deal of time brainstorming the idea, the team can drop the prototype in for testing and it can be evaluated as an actual option instead of simply a theory. Take a look at the full article for more details on the map system and the test process. [Thanks to Byron for the tip!]
HTC's next flagship appears to flaunt 20MP camera in leaked shots
Leak happens, and poor HTC might have just become the first victim out of the MWC lot this year. What we're looking at here are two alleged spyshots of the company's upcoming flagship, the "Hima" aka "M9," courtesy of Nowhereelse.fr, who has since removed the images. While the French blog has a mixed record of credibility when it comes to leaks, we're struggling to find signs of tampering in these photos, but that's not to say we're convinced just yet. For one, the amusingly large camera hump on the back (remember the M8 Prime?) is a total eyesore on the familiar-looking but seemingly slimmer body; and it even reminds us of the Huawei Ascend Mate 7's own imager. If real, then HTC better have a very good justification for this. Maybe some love for a stealthy optical zoom feature? Or a larger sensor for bigger pixels? As for the pseudo-depth-sensing camera normally positioned at the top, the tipster may have cropped it out just to irritate us all.
This iPod prototype will set you back $4,495
Prices on classic iPods saw a bit of a spike once Apple silently put an axe in the beloved media player but you might need to take out a loan if you're hoping to bring home this particular piece of Apple history. Currently up for bids on eBay is a supposed 4th generation iPod test unit, complete with its tracking stickers still in place. The iPod, which is currently priced at a hefty US$4,495, is engraved with the letters "DVTS" which, according to the seller, stand for "Design Verification Testing." The labels affixed to the unit supposedly helped to track the iPod's progress through assembly and testing. The photos included on the listing show that the iPod is functional, but even if it is a prototype test unit, at the end of the day it's just a 4th generation iPod, and an extremely beat-up one at that.
Google has some new friends working on its self-driving car
Apparently following the adage about keeping your friends close and (potential) enemies closer, the Automotive News World Congress in Detroit hosted Elon Musk last night and followed up today with Chris Urmson of Google. He's the director of its self-driving car project, and while there are no big-name car manufacturers lined up as partners yet, he did call out seven particular industry friends providing various parts for the latest prototypes. That includes LG (battery), Bosch (LIDAR), ZF Lenksysteme (steering gear), RCO, Continental and FRIMO, while Roush is helping to actually put it together here in the Detroit area. There are also NVIDIA chips inside, which Urmson said run mostly Linux software "with some other stuff happening." He confirmed that Google has talked to the usual list of big names (GM, Ford, Toyota, Daimler, etc.), and hopes cars are ready to go by 2020.
Google unveils the first complete version of its self-driving car
Google had a (not very well-kept) secret when it unveiled its experimental self-driving car: that first example you saw was just a mockup that lacked many of the basics. At last, however, the internet giant has unveiled a complete prototype of the car that has everything it needs to hit the road, including the autonomous driving system and typical mechanical parts like braking, lighting and steering. Yes, it still looks like a koala on wheels, but this motorized marsupial is now ready to hit the test track. It'll also reach Northern California roads sometime next year, so don't be surprised if you see a cutesy driverless vehicle puttering around your local streets.
Take a look, Lionhead prototype Inkquest is in a book (and free)
Fable Legends isn't the only game that's been cooking in the labs of Lionhead Studios. A game called Inkquest, which told the story of a girl trapped inside a book, was revealed back in September - though it was only a prototype and not destined to become a full-fledged game. Still, the concept and gameplay were at a point where the project was playable, so Lionhead has released the unfinished build for free to PC users. "This is the exact build that was featured in the [September] video - we haven't developed it any further," the company posted to their blog this week. "As such, there's bugs and rough edges, and none of the gameplay, visuals or features should be considered 'done.' That's the caveaty bit. Please do let us know what you think all the same – just bear in mind it's little more than a 'sketch,' and should be viewed as such." Inkquest comes from Lionhead Incubation, a department within Lionhead aimed at giving players a better look at the inner workings and incomplete projects of the studio. "We want the community to share in our failures-that-are-not-failures, and so over time we're going to be sharing some of those ideas with you, hopefully evolving into a regular cycle of interesting things for you to see or play," the company wrote in September. [Image: Lionhead]
Rayman Legends concept video showcases scrapped NFC features
While Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and its Amiibo army are currently dominating store shelves, Ubisoft's Rayman Legends was once slated to be the first Wii U game to offer figure-powered nearfield communication (NFC) features, Unseen 64 reports. The concept trailer above, intended for internal use within Ubisoft, shows players summoning new elements into levels by placing figures (including a Rabbid toy) on the Wii U gamepad. The footage features a prototype Wii U controller that hadn't finalized its NFC technology, so figures are placed on the gamepad's screen, rather than on the NFC badge present in the final version. Ubisoft eventually scrapped its plans for NFC support, and Rayman Legends figures never made it to retail. Unseen 64 additionally shows off concept art for levels that didn't make the cut for the final version of Rayman Legends, including a recently unearthed "Dracula's Castle" world. A concept video showcasing these levels is available here. [Video: Ubisoft / Liam Robertson]
Killer Instinct prototype throws punches on the Xbox 360
The Xbox One's flagship fighting game Killer Instinct didn't begin life on Microsoft's latest hardware, as two newly-unearthed prototype videos demonstrate. The clips, one above and one below the break, come to us from the prototype sleuths at Past to Present Online and depict an early-in-production version of the game, when it was still in the hands of developer Double Helix. Despite using a relatively underpowered Xbox 360 as a test bed, this version of Killer Instinct retains many of the hallmarks of the Xbox One game, from its basic combo system, to character designs, to certain graphical flourishes. Granted, there are parts of the game that are obviously not finished and the Xbox One's Killer Instinct is far more littered with particle effects than its Xbox 360 predecessor, but otherwise this game is immediately recognizable. While this demonstrates that Killer Instinct probably could work on the Xbox 360 without losing much of its core gameplay, it's most likely that this prototype was built in an era when the Xbox One hardware wasn't quite finished but Double Helix needed a way to test its new fighter. You'll notice that the game even features references to the Xbox One's Menu button, despite the Xbox 360 having no such functionality. Sorry Xbox 360 owners, but after all the money Microsoft's poured into Killer Instinct to promote the game as an Xbox One exclusive, it's unlikely to appear on any other hardware - even one of Microsoft's own machines. [Image: Microsoft]
Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen shows off early development screenshots
It's been a little while since Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen shifted over to an entirely volunteer-based development team, which has nevertheless resulted in further development, albeit slowly. A new set of teaser images have gone live on the game's Facebook page, showing off some of the sample areas and interface elements of the game as a preview ahead of an expected video footage release. Needless to say, some of the models (including the player avatar displayed) are still using placeholder assets rather than final versions, but there are enough screenshots to get a sense of where the game's development currently is at. You can take a look at the pictures yourself and decide if the game is coming along well despite its troubles or looks rough even for early demonstrations.
'Dorothy' lets you click your heels to hail a cab
What if you could click your red heels to get home, like Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz? A new wearable concept -- aptly dubbed "Dorothy" -- might let you do just that. It consists of a small clip called "Ruby" that attaches to your shoe and communicates with your phone via Bluetooth. The clip has an accelerometer and, when you tap your heels together three times, it sends an alert to the companion app. What the app does with that alert is up to you, but the company behind Dorothy, iStrategyLabs, is working to integrate the Uber API to automatically call an Uber to your location.
eBayer selling alleged iPhone 6 Prototype for over $90,000
eBay seller kimberlyk1018 is auctioning an iPhone 6 model that appears to be a prototype device. The auction for the phone was posted last week and has more than US$94,000 in bids from 36 bidders. According to the auction description, the seller claims to have received the prototype iPhone 6 instead of a consumer model from Verizon Wireless. The prototype is a 64 GB iPhone 6 model and contains a pre-installed suite of testing and developer apps that are similar to previously leaked prototypes. Apple does NOT let these phones out of their possession yet I was accidentally sent one upon renewing my contract. As you can see from the photos, iOS 8 has not been placed on this device, rather it is in the true developer mode. There are no FCC markings on the rear of the device or a model number. This is the real deal!!! The auction still has three days left to accept bids, but it may not be allowed to finish if Apple decides to put a halt on the auction as it has done in the past. [Via The Guardian]
Hands-on with the Tintag rechargeable item tracker
As part of our continuing coverage of the world of connected devices and of crowdsourced projects, I see a lot of item tracking devices. These are usually little Bluetooth tags that connect to something you want to keep track of - keys, backpacks, computers, cats, you name it - that work with an iPhone app to notify you when the tag is over a certain distance away or beep and flash when you want to find the item. To date, most of the tracking tags have either required a replaceable battery, needed to be charged up via micro-USB every once in a while or simply stopped working once a non-replaceable battery ran out of juice. Now there's Tintag, an item tracker that recharges via a small wireless dock. Tintag is still seeking funding through Indiegogo, but is just about there with 93 percent of funding with over a month to go. The Tintag team decided that the best way to get the word out about their product was to send out a prototype unit and beta app so that I could really get a feel for how it works. The charging base station and tag are obviously prototypes, with rough edges and none of the product markings we're accustomed to seeing on electronic devices, but Tintag has a lot more technical polish than some item trackers that are currently being sold. The first thing you'll want to do with a Tintag is charge it. For this purpose, you take the tag - a little 1.5 x 1.1 x .24 inch (39 x 28 x 6 mm) rectangle - and drop it onto the 3-inch (76 mm) diameter charging dock. A series of white LEDs flash to let you know that the tag has been placed in the proper place, and then a red LED on the tag flashes to let you know that charging is underway. Once Tintag is charged up and the app is loaded on your iPhone, you can begin to have fun with it! The app is surprisingly polished for a beta, and is one of the more well-designed tracker apps I've used. The app prompts you to pull down on a splash screen to add a Tintag, name the tag, and then add a photo of whatever it is that you're going to track - say, a backpack or a tool. Once that is done, the app displays a screen showing your Tintags. Tap one of the Tintags, and the app begins searching for the device. The location is marked on a map (I found that the beta app had the wrong location by about a quarter mile), and there's an indication of the status of the device. If it's on the charging dock it will show that the battery's charging, and once it's off the dock you get an idea of the charge level in the battery. The approximate distance to the tag is displayed as well, and there are app buttons to let you make the tag beep (it's quite quiet, like most tracking tags) or flash (it lights up a series of bright white LEDs around the exterior of the tag). You can also define a safety range for your Tintag. In other words, if you're over a certain distance away, the app notifies you that you'd better go back and pick up whatever it is that you're tracking. That feature seemed a wee bit buggy in this beta software, but then again, it is a beta. The battery life of the Tintag is about four months, after which you just drop the device on the dock again for a six-hour recharge. One very cool feature is that the Tintag can be attached to multiple phones, meaning that family members can all search for the same tags. The developers of Tintag expect to send out 500 functional prototypes like the one I tested by November 2014, so beta testers (those who pledge US$65) won't have to wait long at all. From what I see from the prototype, Tintag is the item tracker you've been waiting for.
Oculus starts shipping latest Rift VR headset prototype this month
Were you one of the over 45,000 to pre-order the latest prototype VR headset from Oculus? Well, if so you could be seeing the $350 Rift Dev Kit 2 rather soon. The company recently announced that the first round of new hardware has left the production facility and should be hitting your doorstep the week of July 14th this year. The thing is, this initial run will only cover some 10,000 orders and there's a "high chance" that the remaining 35,000+ units won't ship until August. However, Luckey and co. promise that they're working to ramp up production for the remaining orders -- something that influx of Facebook cash likely makes easier. As TechCrunch points out, Oculus had 12,500 pre-orders within the first 36 hours of the DK2 going up for sale. Meaning, that unless you were an incredibly early bird, it'll be a bit longer before you can zoom around EVE: Valkyrie in your own living room, sans pants.
Mythical Primal Rage 2 cabinet appears, playable to all
Remember that footage of Primal Rage 2 that showed up on YouTube about a year and a half ago? You know, the one that broke our inner 12-year-old heart because we knew we'd never get to play it? Well, if you can make it to the Galloping Ghost Arcade in Brookfield, Illinois, a functional arcade cabinet containing the game is waiting just for you. Not sure what all the fuss is about? Here's the skinny: released in 1994 by Atari, Primal Rage was a fighting game where players controlled gods who took on the form of giant prehistoric creatures. Besides being ported from arcade to several home consoles, it was also adapted into a toy line and comic series, and was basically just one of the most '90s things ever. Development began on a sequel that replaced the monstrous fighters with human avatars, but only a handful of prototypes were reportedly ever made. Those that were produced have only been spotted a handful of times more often than Bigfoot. Seriously, there's not a lot of information out there about Primal Rage 2, and most of it is unverifiable. Hence, the addition of the game to an arcade where any visitor can play it without having to pass a velvet rope is pretty surprising. So, who wants to take a road trip to Illinois? [Thanks, Aaron!] [Image: Galloping Ghost Arcade]
Bloomberg built a virtual trading terminal using Oculus Rift
No matter how many screens they add to their setup, traders are limited to a finite amount of display real estate. To solve that problem, Bloomberg LP's turned to the virtual-reality headset Oculus Rift. Don't expect to see a room full of Oculus-equipped traders anytime soon, though; it's just a prototype, albeit one that Bloomberg's showing off at its Next Big Thing Summit this week.
New images, details surface for Valve's VR headset
Valve made an appearance at last week's Boston VR Bender event, showing off an updated version of its in-development VR technology to attending developers. Captured images show a new prototype of Valve's polka-dotted VR headset, which likely features a new method of precise positional tracking, according to VR Focus. A previous prototype, showcased prior to the departure of R&D team leader Atman Binstock, reportedly required its own dedicated floorspace at Valve's HQ to function. More images of Valve's prototype VR hardware are collected in this Imgur album, and Reddit users have compiled additional shots here. Valve has not announced any plans to release a consumer version of its VR headset. [Image: dcarrigg]
