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MSI ships its Mac Pro-like Vortex gaming PC
Do you like the Mac Pro's concept of stuffing a lot of computing power into a small cylinder, but wish there was a gaming PC inside instead of workstation hardware? You just got your wish. MSI has started shipping the Vortex, a riff on Apple's formula that crams a full-on game rig into a tube that's just 10.6 inches tall. It uses similar vertical cooling and includes Thunderbolt ports (Thunderbolt 3 in this case), but it's clearly aimed at a crowd that's more interested in Far Cry Primal than Final Cut Pro. The mini desktop is billed as relatively upgradeable, and there's even customizable lighting if you think the system isn't attention-grabbing enough.
Engadget giveaway: Win a pair of Vortex robots courtesy of DFRobot!
Since most kids have already mastered the art of iPad password cracking and in-app purchasing, we should probably give them something productive to do. The arduino-based Vortex from DFRobot is a STEM-reinforcing plaything that can help kids learn to code. It comes with preinstalled programs, so you can have fun racing, bumping and spinning right out of the box, but the variations are endless. Open-source hardware and the WhenDo app's graphical programming interface mean the sky's the limit with Vortex. These little bots are laden with proximity and ground sensors, LEDs and speakers — not to mention all the optional add-ons — to help bring them to life. DFRobot has given us a pair of two-robot packs for a couple lucky Engadget readers this week. All you need to do is head to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning this hackable robot duo.
Vortex lets kids program their own robot buddy
Sphero, the ball-shaped robot, inspired a new generation of toys that aren't only fun, but can also be used as educational tools for kids. Vortex, pictured above, is one of these. Created by DFRobot, a company that's been selling open-source hardware since 2008, Vortex is being revealed today via Kickstarter, with the goal being to raise $50,000 through crowdfunding. Vortex, which is small enough to fit on the palm of your hand, is described as a smart and responsive device that's meant to inspire incredible fun and creativity -- and that it does. It's not nearly as fast as the Sphero 2.0 or Ollie, but Vortex wants to shine in other specific areas, namely its multiplayer and Arduino features.
Hands-on with Disney Research's AIREAL haptic feedback technology (video)
If you're hoping to get some more tactile feedback out of augmented reality environments, the folks at Disney Research have devised the AIREAL system that could end up doing just that. The team is showing off the project at SIGGRAPH's Emerging Technologies space, so we made sure to stop by for a look and feel. As quick refresher, the technology reacts to the user's gestures by churning out a vortex of air to provide tactile feedback in real space -- thanks to an almost entirely 3D printed enclosure and a smattering of actuators and depth sensors. In the demo we saw, hovering our hand just over a display summoned a butterfly. Once it landed, that small bit of air offered up the physical sensation that it was actually touching us. As we moved closer to a virtual open window, wings went a flutter and the whole sensation increased a bit. Sure, what we saw was a fairly simple use scenario, but there are aspirations for this to enhance gaming experiences and other augmented environments (likely within the confines of a Disney park, of course) with the addition of haptic feedback. Looking for a bit more info? Consult the video after the break for just that. %Gallery-194620%
Disney Research's AIREAL creates haptic feedback out of thin air
Disney Research is at it again. The arm of Walt's empire responsible for interactive house plants wants to add haptic feedback not to a seat cushion, but to thin air. Using a combination of 3D-printed components -- thank the MakerBots for those -- with five actuators and a gaggle of sensors, AIREAL pumps out tight vortices of air to simulate tactility in three dimensional space. The idea is to give touchless experiences like motion control a form of physical interaction, offering the end user a more natural response through, well, touch. Like most of the lab's experiments this has been in the works for a while, and the chances of it being used outside of Disneyworld anytime soon are probably slim. AIREAL will be on display at SIGGRAPH in Anaheim from Sunday to Wednesday this week. Didn't register? Check out the video after the break.
Modern Warfare 3's July content for Elite PS3 and Xbox 360 subscribers
Call of Duty Elite members on Xbox 360 will get a new content drop in Modern Warfare 3 on Tuesday, July 17: three new multiplayer maps and a Spec Ops mission.The multiplayer maps include a graveyard of derelict ocean liners called Decommission, an oil rig built for sniping called Offshore, and the remake of Modern Warfare 2's Terminal map, available to Elite members on Tuesday and free for the rest of Modern Warfare 3's Xbox 360 players the following day. In the Spec Ops mission, Vertigo, players must take down enemy troops and helicopters while perched atop the Oasis hotel.On Thursday, July 19, Call of Duty Elite subscribers on PS3 get to tussle with three new Face-Off maps and a Spec Ops mission, content released on Xbox 360 back in June. Multiplayer maps include a tornado-rocked town called Vortex, a dilapidated middle-eastern highway in U-Turn, an urban NYC-based map called Intersection, and the Spec Ops mission, Arctic Recon, which tasks players with assaulting a Russian warship.%Gallery-160351%
LG Vortex puts a Verizon spin on budget Android -- yes, Bing's there, too
It's not exactly the Optimus T / S we saw hit T-Mobile and Sprint, respectively, but for all intents and purposes, it's a fraternal twin. The LG Vortex for Verizon brings with it Android 2.2, a 3.2-inch touchscreen, 3G Mobile HotSpot capability, Skype, Swype, a suite of pre-installed carrier / manufacturer apps (e.g. VZ Navigator), and as you might've guessed from it being a non-Droid Verizon Android phone, Bing Search and Bing Maps. Despite being a later arrival, this one's actually the most expensive of the three -- $80 on contract after $100 mail-in rebate. November 18th, if you want to mark a calendar.
LG Vortex to be free on contract with Verizon (update: T-Mobile's Optimus T free in black now, too)
Thought the Optimus S was a good deal at $50 on contract? Or the Optimus T at $30? Well, Verizon's got its own version of the LG Android device in the wings -- the rumored (and now official) Vortex -- and they'll be charging a big fat zero for it. Well, that's not quite true -- you'll need to pay $100 upfront, it seems, then get mailed a $100 debit card, but at the end of the day you're no better or worse financially than when you started. Of course, the big downside with this one is that it's expected to feature Bing in place of Google services, but if you can tolerate that, this could be a good way to get Android-ified on Big Red's airwaves for minimal cost. [Thanks, Devon] Update: Though you're paying $30 still for the fancy burgundy shade, it seems T-Mobile's running a special where you can get the black version for free -- which makes it an obvious choice over the considerably lower-end Comet.
LG Vortex for Verizon spied again: Bing, no FM radio
We've got a little more detail on Verizon's low-end Vortex that leaked earlier this week, and pretty much everything we know confirms the phone's place toward the bottom of the lineup. First off, it's all done up with Bing apps just like the Fascinate, further suggesting that non-Droid Android devices are going to be bearing the brunt of Verizon's search deal with Microsoft. Secondly, unlike the earlier leak, there's no FM radio -- makes sense, considering the general rarity of that feature in the US market. We can confirm that it'll be shipping with Froyo installed, and our tipster tells us that it performs pretty admirably for what it is (especially in light of the fact that it's got a mere 600MHz core). Follow the break for one more shot!
LG Vortex for Verizon in the wild?
It might be a little early to cue the "vortex of suck" jokes, but this spy shot definitely says it all: the phone -- claimed to be called Vortex -- is decidedly on the lower end of Verizon's Android spectrum. The Droid Guy, source of the photo, says that the specs include a 600MHz core, 3.2-inch display, FM radio, and Froyo; that basically matches up with the recently-announced Optimus One's spec sheet, and considering the similarity in industrial design, it's reasonable to follow the site's conclusion that this little more than a CDMA port of the device. To be fair, the Android handsets in Verizon's present-day lineup are definitely weighted toward the pricey side, so phones like this and the Motorola WX445 should help balance things out a smidge when (and if) they ultimately end up launching.
The Queue: Shields, forums, and more on raid difficulty
Welcome back to The Queue, WoW Insider's daily Q&A column where the WoW Insider team answers your questions about the World of Warcraft.I have an extra-special request for all of you! We've had a few people asking for recommendations on other class-specific blogs, and I think that's a good thing to light the Reader Signal for. So in addition to your questions and feedback, recommend class-centric blogs in the comments below! Personally, I read A Dwarf Priest and World of Matticus when I'm looking for something Priestly. Now, to the questions... shadowsun asked...I have yet to get Wrath (I know, "PRAISE BE") although I am getting it this Thursday. I was wondering about the new raiding system. Which is harder, 10-man or 25-man? For example is the 10-man easier in the point that you need less players but harder as in they need to be more well geared? Or is the 25-man harder?
Breakfast topic: The best parts of patch 2.4
Good morning, and welcome to the second day of the rest of your life. For better or for worse, patch 2.4 has gone live. I must say that progressive testing has made it a pretty wild ride. I look forward to the weekend when I'll have more time to explore the changes. We've all had time to read the notes and tinker around with the new changes. My plan for the day was to check out the notes and then head on in the battlegrounds. I must admit that I didn't get a chance to try out the new Warsong Gulch. I'm sure I'll get to it soon once the queue settles down. I did get a chance to arena, and that queue was popping incredibly fast.Apparently Bornakk spoke the truth about queue relief.
Vortex's wall climbing robot peeks in windows
While not the first wall climbing machine we've come across, Vortex's VRAM Mobile Robot Platform (VMRP) machine weds ascension and undercover surveillance in fine fashion. Aimed at law enforcement tasks, military missions, and fanatical hobbyists, this clinger is remotely controlled with the capacity to add "onboard intelligence and sensors to monitor VMRP status and health." It utilizes a vortex vacuum to suction itself to vertical surfaces, and then relies on the wheels to get it movin'. Moreover, this bot was built to withstand mild weather hazards and communicate wirelessly back to the user, and its ability to wield microphones, video cameras, and proximity sensors make this the ultimate eavesdropping tool. Sadly, we've no idea how much it'd take to get one of these in your needy palms, but free free to indulge in the video waiting after the break.[Via OhGizmo]
New vortex generators could mean better underwater travel
Scientists from the University of Colorado, Boulder have just presented a new design for "vortex generators" that they say can make it easier to maneuver slow-moving underwater vehicles. This new setup, which is inspired by the motions of squid and jellyfish, would make long and sleek submarine vessels able to hover and turn better, which traditionally have been somewhat tricky. The team, lead by Dr. Kamran Mohseni, apparently was able to design an unmanned underwater vehicle that can parallel park (really), although we're not sure what he's worried about, given that as far as we know, meter-mermaids don't exist.[Via PhysOrg]
Vortex entertainment system promises simulated 3D, real headaches
Australia's 3D Visual is looking to bring the wonders of 3D a little closer to home with its Vortex home entertainment system, providing an ample supply of hype to go along with it. So what exactly does this " portal into the future" consist of? Well, at the core is a fairly decent Windows XP-based PC, packing a 3.2GHz Pentium 4 processor, 2GB RAM, NVIDIA 6800 GTOC graphics card, and two generous 300GB hard drives spinning at 7,200 rpm; a projector provides the display. The 3D part of the equation comes in the form of some apparently standard issue shutter glasses -- the very same technology that's been kicking around since the days of the Sega Master System. To round out the set , 3D Visual's also seen fit to include a couple of wireless controllers and a ton pre-loaded PC games (either 90 or 150 depending on the paragraph you read), which either means that you can look at paying quite a premium for that convience (they haven't announced a price yet) or 3D Visual's going to be hearing from some dissapointed customers when they discover they've got a hard drive filled with demos. [Via Slashdot]
Every iPod game reviewed
If you're trying to decide between paying your electric bill and buying all nine of Apple's $5-each iPod games -- and who isn't? -- this GamePro article can help sort the good from bad. The eight-page rundown with interstitial ads after every click -- we're not the only ones with an electric bill -- provides a "Fun Factor" rating for each iPod title along with an overview of the action.GamePro most likes Vortex with a 4.25 Fun Factor, seemingly out of a maximum five of fun, while Mahjong was worth only 2.0 of fun. All nine launch games are rated.The article also mentions how the controls work on the titles without circular, wheel-ready gameplay; change directions in Pac-Man by tapping the corresponding side of the wheel, and use the buttons to rotate Tetris blocks. We're looking forward most to new games developed for the wheel, rather than old ones that try to graft their controls on the iPod. Bring on plate spinning, virtual hula-hooping, and competitive record scratching. Also, we want driving.
Nanomagnetic vortices could lead to bigger hard drives, faster RAM
You know, we were sitting in our editors' meeting the other day, and we all came to a very serious consensus about our reportage these days. There's been a serious dearth of vortices in our articles, and so we're going to do our darndest to bring you more coverage of these truly awesome swirling clouds. Fortunately for us, those egghead physicists down at Rice University know how to read our minds. A team over in Houston used a scanning ion microscope to create and measure "ultra-thin circular disks of soft magnetic cobalt" ranging in diameter from one micron to 38 microns. According to a press release issued by the university, the six micron wide (about the size of a red blood cell) magnetic vortex is "a cone-like structure that's created in the magnetic field at the disk when all the magnetic moments of the atoms in the disk align into uniform concentric circles." (Whatever that means.) Lead researcher Carl Rau, professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University, said that this new advance may lead to storage densities "in the range of terabits per square inch," and went on to say that "magnetic processors" and "high-speed magnetic RAM" may also be in the works. Now that we think about it, this is probably what would happen to the offspring of Storm and Magneto too.
