Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Lazy Road Trip: Man Traverses Britain Using Google Street View]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/17/lazy-road-trip-man-traverses-britain-using-google-street-view/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/17/lazy-road-trip-man-traverses-britain-using-google-street-view/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/17/lazy-road-trip-man-traverses-britain-using-google-street-view/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Matthew PartridgeWalking the entire 1,200 mile length of Britain is no easy feat, but using Google Street View to "travel" the same stretch of land is just plain boring. Matthew Partridge, however, has embarked on this adventure, going pixel by pixel from Land's End to John O'Groats in ten days. Honestly, we'd rather go the actual distance than stare at a screen for 240 hours, but, hey, at least the bright line in the middle of the road will keep him from getting lost. Let's just hope he doesn't veer off his set path, because we're pretty sure the onscreen farmer off to the side of the road won't be able to get him back to the highway. [From: The Sun, via: Gizmodo]

SwitchedLazy Road Trip: Man Traverses Britain Using Google Street View originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>britainenglandgooglegooglemapsGoogleStreetViewlazyRoadTripstreetviewtravelweirdTue, 17 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Drug Vending Machines Dispense Prescriptions in U.K.]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/16/drug-vending-machines-dispense-prescriptions-in-u-k/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/16/drug-vending-machines-dispense-prescriptions-in-u-k/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/16/drug-vending-machines-dispense-prescriptions-in-u-k/#commentsFiled under:

Prescription vending machines

In the U.S., most vending machines provide only corn syrup confections. Vending machines in the U.K., however, may soon deliver something substantially more healthy: medicine.

Sainsbury's, a U.K. supermarket chain, has already begun testing one drug delivery machine in its Essex stores. In order to use the device, customers have to use a unique ID or fingerprint, along with a special PIN code to identify themselves. Once they've entered their prescription information into the machine, a real-life pharmacist will scoop it up, fill it out, and put the goods back in the machine for the patient to retrieve. The machine doesn't seem to do a whole lot, other than create more distance between pharmacists and sick people, but Sainsbury's customer Roy Swift seems to find it useful. "The first time I used it, it was a little bit unfamiliar," Swift told the BBC. "But after I got used to it was very easy."

Continue reading Drug Vending Machines Dispense Prescriptions in U.K.

SwitchedDrug Vending Machines Dispense Prescriptions in U.K. originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drugsDrugStoreenglandhealthhospitalmedicinePharmaceuticalCompaniespharmaceuticalspharmacytopvendingVendingMachinesMon, 16 Aug 2010 16:05:00 EST<![CDATA['Star Wars' Coming to Blu-ray in 2011, Deleted 'Jedi' Scene Unveiled]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/16/star-wars-coming-to-blu-ray-in-2011-deleted-jedi-scene-unve/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/16/star-wars-coming-to-blu-ray-in-2011-deleted-jedi-scene-unve/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/16/star-wars-coming-to-blu-ray-in-2011-deleted-jedi-scene-unve/#commentsFiled under: ,

star wars blu-rayIn celebration of 'A New Hope,' whose 35th birthday is next year, the always anniversary-conscious George Lucas will unveil all six of his beloved 'Star Wars' films on Blu-ray. Lucas, who personally announced the 2011 release plans at the recent Celebration V event, promised that the new editions would be formatted with the "highest picture and audio quality," along with extended special features. The space opera auteur also unveiled a deleted scene from 'Return of the Jedi,' which will be included in the Blu-ray set. Unfortunately as Engadget points out, it's still unclear when the films will be released, or how much they'll cost. It is clear, however, that only the special editions of the films will be restored [Ed. Note: Ugh, so Greedo shoots first?] , since remastering the original versions would be too costly -- even, apparently, by Lucas's Daddy Warbucks-ian standards. [From: Engadget]

Continue reading 'Star Wars' Coming to Blu-ray in 2011, Deleted 'Jedi' Scene Unveiled

Switched'Star Wars' Coming to Blu-ray in 2011, Deleted 'Jedi' Scene Unveiled originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 09:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Blu-RayBluRayfilmGeorgeLucasgreedolucasartslucasfilmmoviesrecessionReturnOfTheJediStarWarstopMon, 16 Aug 2010 09:23:00 EST<![CDATA['Digi-Bike,' A Darling Contraption to Help Stop Brit Crime]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/12/digi-bike-a-darling-contraption-to-help-stop-brit-crime/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/12/digi-bike-a-darling-contraption-to-help-stop-brit-crime/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/12/digi-bike-a-darling-contraption-to-help-stop-brit-crime/#commentsFiled under: ,

digi-bikeThe town of Dudley in West Midlands, England has just deployed a crime-fighting vehicle that's more cute than it is fearsome. According to the BBC, after a "slight increase" in the number of robberies since April, the Dudley Bobbies decided that a pedal-powered contraption in the shape of a giant, sideways apostrophe would help make civilians more protective of their valuables. The 'Digi-Bike,' as it's called, plays videos on either side of its broad exterior, showing surveillance footage of nasty old hoodies filching a bit from strangers' cars.

The bike will also send out messages via Bluetooth to passersby, encouraging them to register their cell phones with the police so that, if stolen, they can be more easily tracked down. What an adorable crime-fighting strategy! Here in New York, we just shoot people. Check out the non-lethal bike in a video here. [From: BBC]

Switched'Digi-Bike,' A Darling Contraption to Help Stop Brit Crime originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bicycleBicyclesbikebluetoothcrimeCrimePreventiondigi-bikeenglandpolicerobberytopukvideoWestMidlandsThu, 12 Aug 2010 13:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Keiichi Matsuda's 'Augmented City': A Cluttered, Vague Dystopia]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/11/keiichi-matsudas-augmented-city-a-cluttered-vague-dystopia/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/11/keiichi-matsudas-augmented-city-a-cluttered-vague-dystopia/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/11/keiichi-matsudas-augmented-city-a-cluttered-vague-dystopia/#commentsFiled under: ,

screenshot of keiichi matsuda's 'ar city'
We were very impressed (and only slightly disturbed) by architecture grad and filmmaker Keiichi Matsuda's 'AR Kitchen' video earlier this year. Matsuda has been exploring a possible future of augmented reality interfaces with his videos, imaging a world when AR is less a gimmick than an integrated part of daily life. Matsuda has said, "The architecture of the contemporary city is no longer simply about the physical space of buildings and landscape... more and more it is about the synthetic spaces created by digital information that we collect, consume and organize," according to IMTech.

In Matsuda's latest video 'Augmented City,' presented at London's 3-D Film Festival at the Barbican, the perspective shifts from the cloistered first-person of 'AR Kitchen' to a third-person that allows us to see multiple characters interacting in an AR-filled landscape. Created for 3-D viewing, the video may give you a headache if you haven't already invested in some snazzy glasses -- and, apparently, there is no sound in the future, either. (We're looking for a better version, but we've embedded the muted one after the break.)

Continue reading Keiichi Matsuda's 'Augmented City': A Cluttered, Vague Dystopia

SwitchedKeiichi Matsuda's 'Augmented City': A Cluttered, Vague Dystopia originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EPIX + Netflix

Thanks to a deal with Epix, Netflix's Watch Instantly catalog will soon see a windfall of new online content, consisting of both new movies and classic franchises, such as 'Star Trek' and 'James Bond.' Epix, a joint Paramount-MGM-Lionsgate network for video content, will also eventually grant access to box office winners like 'Iron Man 2' and 'Dinner for Schmucks.' Under the five-year agreement, films will hit Netflix 90 days after they debut on premium subscription services, which means newer movies won't be available anywhere near their DVD release date. We've never really been wowed with the Epix selection of streaming content (as last we checked the site was still heavily promoting 'Cloverfield'), but anything that boosts the size of available content on Netflix is a welcome development. [From: Engadget]

Continue reading Netflix and Epix Deal Brings MGM and Paramount Movies to Instant Streaming

SwitchedNetflix and Epix Deal Brings MGM and Paramount Movies to Instant Streaming originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 12:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EPIXEpixHdmoviesNetflixStreamingVideotopWatchInstantlyTue, 10 Aug 2010 12:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Token Multitouch Surface Could Be the Future for DJing]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/08/token-multitouch-surface-could-be-the-future-for-djing/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/08/token-multitouch-surface-could-be-the-future-for-djing/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/08/token-multitouch-surface-could-be-the-future-for-djing/#commentsFiled under:

Token dj

We have seen the future of DJ equipment, and it comes from Chile. According to Engadget, a guy named Rodrigo posted a video demonstration of this Token multitouch surface setup for DJs. A rear-mounted projector beams video from a computer onto the giant sheet of glass, which lets users touch and swipe across the surface of the digital control board to create different beats, sounds, effects and even trippy light shows. The touch input appears to be surprisingly responsive, and a similar system has been functional since at least 8 months ago. Running around with a giant piece of glass at a rave is bound to cause trouble, but it's still probably cheaper than buying physical versions of all the synths, inputs and mixers. [From: Vimeo, via: Engadget]

Continue reading Token Multitouch Surface Could Be the Future for DJing

SwitchedToken Multitouch Surface Could Be the Future for DJing originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 08 Aug 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ChiledancedancingdjMultiTouchmusictokentoptouchscreenvideoSun, 08 Aug 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dish Network to Stream Live TV to Its Free Mobile Apps in September]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/08/dish-network-streams-live-to-its-free-mobile-app-this-fall/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/08/dish-network-streams-live-to-its-free-mobile-app-this-fall/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/08/dish-network-streams-live-to-its-free-mobile-app-this-fall/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Dish Network AppIn an effort to combat other satellite companies and cable providers, Dish Network Corp. will begin streaming live content to subscribers' smartphones and mobile devices next month, without extra charge. Currently, Dish's mobile apps only allow a subscriber to browse shows, set them to record and use their cellular device as a remote control. With the new app installed, however, a subscriber will be able to remotely change channels and watch live TV, as well as view whatever content is stored on their DVR. Fortunately, if you already subscribe to Dish, you likely have a Slingbox or HD DVR, so you'll only have to download the free app available on the iPad, iPhone, iPod touch and BlackBerry once it becomes available in September (Android phones will get the app in October). [From: AP, via: Yahoo! News and Engadget]

SwitchedDish Network to Stream Live TV to Its Free Mobile Apps in September originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 08 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidappblackberrydishdishnetworkdvripadiphoneipodtouchmoviesremoteslingboxsmartphonestreamingstreamingvideotoptvSun, 08 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[We're Excited for the Dancing Indian Robot Movie 'Endhiran']]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/05/were-excited-for-the-dancing-indian-robot-movie-endhiran/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/05/were-excited-for-the-dancing-indian-robot-movie-endhiran/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/05/were-excited-for-the-dancing-indian-robot-movie-endhiran/#commentsFiled under:

poster for 'endhiran'
Forget 'The Social Network,' 'The Expendables,' 'Piranha 3-D' and 'Charlie St. Cloud'; the big-budget, dance-crazy, sci-fi flick 'Endhiran' will quite obviously be the best film of the year. Starring the inimitable Rajnikanth (who also happens to be India's highest paid film actor) and the former Miss World Aishwarya Rai, 'Endhiran' follows a scientist who has created a robot for his son. The robot, which looks like the lovechild of a sinister 'bot from 'I, Robot' and Björk's droid-avatar from the 'All Is Full of Love' music video, is either chased by nefarious interests, or decides to turn on his master. (io9 is conflicted.) But, really, who cares? Check out this possibly evil robot's delicious moves, keyed to the fist-pumping, iTunes-topping soundtrack and among the gloriously CGI sets. Mark your calendar for the September release. The unfortunately tiny and tinny trailer (which really requires headphones and full-screen) is after the break. [From: io9, via: The Awl]

Continue reading We're Excited for the Dancing Indian Robot Movie 'Endhiran'

SwitchedWe're Excited for the Dancing Indian Robot Movie 'Endhiran' originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rdio

After about two months of invite-only beta testing, the music-streaming service Rdio has cast aside its invite-only status and opened up to paying music fans (and a 3-day free trial). Users that sign up and pay the $9.99 monthly subscription feel get Rdio access on the Web and mobile devices -- including iPhone, BlackBerry and Android. There's also a cheaper option, at $4.99 per month, that gives users Web-only access to the service -- a good choice for the scant few who don't own one of the aforementioned phones.

As we've previously reported, the subscription cost gives you access to about 7 million songs from major labels like Warner Music and indie-label distributors like EMI. Rdio also lets users store songs on their phones and play them while offline, and comes with the requisite list of social networking features, like playlist sharing, song suggestions and Facebook and Twitter integration. With MOG, Rhapsody and now Rdio introducing mobile offline listening, Spotify will definitely have some competition when it finally launches later this year in the U.S. [From: Rdio Blog, via: Tech Land]

SwitchedRdio Ends Beta Testing, Becomes Available for Monthly Fee originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betacloudmogmusicrdiospotifystreamingStreamingMusicStreamingRadiothumbplaytopWebTue, 03 Aug 2010 16:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Arman Bohn's 'Brain Games' Music Video Made on a Nintendo DSi]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/03/arman-bohns-brain-games-music-video-made-on-a-nintendo-dsi/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/03/arman-bohns-brain-games-music-video-made-on-a-nintendo-dsi/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/03/arman-bohns-brain-games-music-video-made-on-a-nintendo-dsi/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Armahn Bohr's 'Brain Games'

Musician Arman Bohn has created his newest music video with a decidedly fun piece of technology: the Nintendo DSi.

To create the video for his song "Brain Games," Bohn drew images in the DSi's 'Flipnote Studio' program, and then exported them to 'After Effects' for editing and animation. In the video, anthropomorphic letters and numbers cavort as they watch Bohn perform on a TV monitor, which displays fuzzed out video shot on a Canon T2i. While the "Brain Games" video is lovably simplistic, its development took inspiration from the Atari game of the same name and "and the slow grind of accumulating knowledge using the scientific method." Regarding the use of the 'Flipnote Studio' app, Bohn writes, "I thought it would be fun to use video game hardware to make a music video for an album inspired by video games."

Continue reading Arman Bohn's 'Brain Games' Music Video Made on a Nintendo DSi

SwitchedArman Bohn's 'Brain Games' Music Video Made on a Nintendo DSi originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 08:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aftereffectsArmanBohrBrainGamescanon t2iCanonT2idsiFlipnoteStudiomusic videoMusicVideonintendonintendo dsiNintendoDsitopvideogamesTue, 03 Aug 2010 08:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Brazilian Detergent Knows Where You Live, Thanks to Bizarre GPS-Enabled Boxes]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/02/brazilian-detergent-knows-where-you-live-thanks-to-bizarre-gps/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/02/brazilian-detergent-knows-where-you-live-thanks-to-bizarre-gps/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/02/brazilian-detergent-knows-where-you-live-thanks-to-bizarre-gps/#commentsFiled under: ,

omo detergent with gps device
Brazil -- land of caipirinhas, Carnival and one of the world's highest crime rates per capita -- will be a bit more like the world of 'The Running Man' starting next week. In one of the scariest advertising schemes known to us, Unilever's detergent line Omo will be placing GPS devices in select boxes of suds throughout the country.

According to Advertising Age, "consumers who buy one of the GPS-implanted detergent boxes will be surprised at home, given a pocket video camera as a prize and [be] invited to bring their families to enjoy a day of Unilever-sponsored outdoor fun." And "surprised" may be a bit of an understatement for the unaware, since Omo will have teams in 35 cities ready to track down each of the 50 boxes as soon as they are removed from store shelves. The SWAT-style soap trackers may even get to your place before you do.

Continue reading Brazilian Detergent Knows Where You Live, Thanks to Bizarre GPS-Enabled Boxes

SwitchedBrazilian Detergent Knows Where You Live, Thanks to Bizarre GPS-Enabled Boxes originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adAdCampaignsbrazilbulletgpsmarketingomoOmoDetergentpromotiontopunileverMon, 02 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Carmen Electra Will Wish You Happy Birthday on Facebook... For $3]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/02/carmen-electra-will-wish-you-happy-birthday-on-facebook-for/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/02/carmen-electra-will-wish-you-happy-birthday-on-facebook-for/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/02/carmen-electra-will-wish-you-happy-birthday-on-facebook-for/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

cameo stars facebook page screenshot of carmen electra
A new Facebook-based start-up called Cameo Stars is hoping to turn itself into the next viral craze by having celebrities wish you a happy birthday. Cameo Stars features A-list football players Reggie Bush, Tony Romo and Drew Brees -- along with the perpetually irrelevant Carmen Electra -- shot on green screen and expressing generic platitudes for you to post on your friends' Facebook pages.

Some of the videos are free -- like the one featuring Tony Romo psyching you out with a feigned pass -- while the birthday greetings will run you 30 Facebook credits, or $3. It's unclear whether or not the videos can be made truly personal -- the paid videos we previewed were not much more than Carmen Electra in full sexpot mode popping through the top of a CGI cake, squealing, "Happy birthday, baby!" According to the New York Times, the company "promises that more movie and television personalities are on the way."

Continue reading Carmen Electra Will Wish You Happy Birthday on Facebook... For $3

SwitchedCarmen Electra Will Wish You Happy Birthday on Facebook... For $3 originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 11:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>birthdayCameoStarsCarmenElectraDarenHornigDrewBreesfacebookReggieBushSocialNetworkingstartupTonyRomotopwebweirdMon, 02 Aug 2010 11:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Augmented Reality Cookies, Anyone? We're Stuffed, Thanks.]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/07/31/augmented-reality-cookies-anyone-were-stuffed-thanks/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/31/augmented-reality-cookies-anyone-were-stuffed-thanks/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/31/augmented-reality-cookies-anyone-were-stuffed-thanks/#commentsFiled under: ,

the meta cookie system
We understand that SIGGRAPH frequently exhibits the most outre and ridiculous tech experiments -- the ones that could be useful on a larger scale and within a different context. But Takuji Narumi of Tokyo University may be the winner of the Most Insane Research award for his Meta Cookie System, which seems to serve no purpose but to advance the idea that our future lies in a simulated reality matrix. Nerds, you do yourselves no favors by inventing contraptions like this.

First, you strap a giant augmented reality headset around your skull as you are fed a plain sugar cookie, marked with an L-shaped symbol, which the system's camera will detect as it comes near your confused face. On the helmet screen, you'll see a virtual cookie headed toward you, while tubes funnel synthetic cookie fumes into your nasal cavity. Allegedly, this will make the plain cookie taste like snickerdoodle, or whatever your helmet has programmed.

Continue reading Augmented Reality Cookies, Anyone? We're Stuffed, Thanks.

SwitchedAugmented Reality Cookies, Anyone? We're Stuffed, Thanks. originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AugmentedRealitycookiesfoodMetaCookieSystemOnlyInJapanresearchSIGGRAPHSiggraph2010TakujiNarumiTokyoUniversitytopweirdSat, 31 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Redbox Taking $1.50 Blu-ray Rentals Nationwide]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/07/30/redbox-taking-1-50-blu-ray-rentals-nationwide/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/30/redbox-taking-1-50-blu-ray-rentals-nationwide/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/30/redbox-taking-1-50-blu-ray-rentals-nationwide/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Redbox Logo
We're sure you're familiar with Redbox's kiosks, which offer DVD rentals for $1, and can often be found on your way out the door of your local mega-mart. Now the company is updating its services to offer high-def Blu-ray rentals. Of course, the HD discs will set you back slightly more than the $1 DVDs, but, at $1.50, the price bump is hardly a deal breaker. Roughly half of the company's 26,000 kiosks are now offering the Blu-ray rentals, and the remaining machines are scheduled to be upgraded by the fall.

Even though discs are going the way of MySpace -- as streaming services from Netflix, Blockbuster and even Hulu are replacing traditional rentals and DVD purchases -- plenty still get their video fix from a disc. While we're sure Redbox customers appreciate the HD option, renters had better not get too cozy; the company hopes to rapidly shift to streaming video in order to be a competitor, and not a relic of a bygone, disc-laden era. [From: Engadget]

SwitchedRedbox Taking $1.50 Blu-ray Rentals Nationwide originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu-rayhdhigh definitionHighDefinitionmoviesNetflixredboxStreamingVideotopFri, 30 Jul 2010 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Titanic to Be Mapped in 3-D]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/07/29/titanic-to-be-mapped-in-3-d/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/29/titanic-to-be-mapped-in-3-d/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/29/titanic-to-be-mapped-in-3-d/#commentsFiled under: ,

Titanic 3-DJames Cameron might not have had the chance to film his famed blockbuster 'Titanic' in three dimensions, but a research team is set to do the next best thing: create a 3-D map of the wreck.

On August 18th, an assemblage of scientists, including archaeologists and oceanographers, will embark on an expedition to map the ship's wreckage and debris field in 3-D. Expedition leader David Gallo told the Associated Press that the mission has two objectives: "One is to preserve the legacy of the ship by enhancing the story of the Titanic itself. The second part is to really understand what the state of the ship is." In the 98 years since the ship's sinking, it has been subjected to brutal undersea conditions, and doubt remains as to how long its structure will hold together.

Continue reading Titanic to Be Mapped in 3-D

SwitchedTitanic to Be Mapped in 3-D originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3-d3D3dImagingexplorationJamesCameronshipwrecktitanicTitanicMovietopThu, 29 Jul 2010 07:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MOG Mobile Sets Itself Apart: Hands On]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/07/28/mog-mobile-sets-itself-apart-hands-on/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/28/mog-mobile-sets-itself-apart-hands-on/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/28/mog-mobile-sets-itself-apart-hands-on/#commentsFiled under: ,

MOG
Until recently, if you wanted to listen to music on your smartphone through a premium-paid service, you only had a few options, such as Rhapsody and Rdio. Fortunately, MOG, another music-streaming service, comparable to Rhapsody and Rdio, has just appeared on the scene with apps for both iPhone and Android. Read on to see how MOG sets itself apart.

Continue reading MOG Mobile Sets Itself Apart: Hands On

SwitchedMOG Mobile Sets Itself Apart: Hands On originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidappCloudComputingfeatureshandsoniPhoneMOGMusicMusicStreamingrdiorhapsodytopWed, 28 Jul 2010 16:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft's 'Street Slide' Brings Panoramic View to Virtual Maps]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/07/28/microsofts-street-slide-brings-panoramic-view-to-virtual-maps/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/28/microsofts-street-slide-brings-panoramic-view-to-virtual-maps/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/28/microsofts-street-slide-brings-panoramic-view-to-virtual-maps/#commentsFiled under: ,

screenshot of street slide
Microsoft researchers may be looking for a way to best Google Street View, and, we admit, its Street Slide project comes close. Google and Bing utilize what are known as "bubbles," discrete units of perspective that allow you to virtually explore a 360-degree view for a given chunk of space. But, as most seasoned Street View users know, you must click through each "bubble" to advance your perspective in one way or another.

Microsoft's Street Slide combines panoramic views of streets with the 360-degree capabilities of Street View, allowing you to see whole (and even multiple) city blocks at a time. The downside is that you get a very thin panoramic slice when you zoom out too far, for which the researchers have tried to compensate by adding business logos, street numbers and directional information. A pretty interesting development to be sure, but, unless you're a Thomas Pynchon fan or an astronomer, all the talk of parallaxes may put you to sleep. We suggest that non-nerds only listen to the snooze-worthy narration if you're interested in "efficient browsing of building façades." Check out the demo of the project, which is still in the early development phase, after the break. [From: Microsoft]

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SwitchedMicrosoft's 'Street Slide' Brings Panoramic View to Virtual Maps originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GoogleMapsGoogleStreetViewmapsmicrosoftmicrosoft streetslideMicrosoftStreetslidepanoramaStreetSlideStreetViewtopWed, 28 Jul 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Awesome Cool-Guy Justin Bieber Rides a Segway, Flees Horde of Teenage Girls]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/07/27/justin-bieber-rides-a-segway-flees-horde-of-teenage-girls/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/27/justin-bieber-rides-a-segway-flees-horde-of-teenage-girls/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/27/justin-bieber-rides-a-segway-flees-horde-of-teenage-girls/#commentsFiled under: ,

Justin Bieber rides a segwayTween heartthrob Justin Bieber has learned to be spry! In case you haven't already brightened your days with videos of the boy (and his haircut) walking face-first into more than one glass door, it seemed for a while that the Biebs was unable to master the simple act of perambulation. So, naturally, he turned to the coolest and most enviable set of mechanical legs this side of Gob Bluth: the Segway.

We suggest turning down your volume before watching the video after the break. Bieber emerges, scooting along the back lot of a concert arena in Glendale, Arizona, and is suddenly Bieb-sieged [Ed. Note: Heyooo!] by an exponentially growing piranha-swarm of screaming young girls. Luckily for 'Baby' fans, and for his growing base of lesbian emulators, he escapes unscathed. A close call for the Biebs, to be sure: we can only imagine that, had they caught him by his signature tresses, he would've been torn limb from limb like the last earthly survivor among a horde of the undead. [From: New York Magazine]

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SwitchedAwesome Cool-Guy Justin Bieber Rides a Segway, Flees Horde of Teenage Girls originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BiebiansfunnyGobBluthjustin bieberJustinBiebernerdysegwaytoptweensTue, 27 Jul 2010 15:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Japanese Researchers Invent Holograms You Can Touch]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/07/27/japanese-researchers-invent-holograms-you-can-touch/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/27/japanese-researchers-invent-holograms-you-can-touch/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/27/japanese-researchers-invent-holograms-you-can-touch/#commentsFiled under: ,

Holograms you can touch
We're still waiting for flying cars, laser guns and teleportation devices, but it looks like we can scratch one childhood dream off the list: touchable holograms. According to the NTDTV report posted after the jump, researchers at Japan's Tokyo University have managed to concoct holograms that not only react to touch, but that also create the sensation of touch, itself. Apparently, and not surprisingly, an integral part of the system is Nintendo's Wiimote technology, which senses user input. That's right nerdlings, with this contraption, you could not only talk to that Princess Leia hologram, but you could actually lovingly caress her cinnamon bun-like tresses. If that ain't progress, we don't know what is. [From: LiveLeak, via: Billionaire Boys Club]

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SwitchedJapanese Researchers Invent Holograms You Can Touch originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 09:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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