Microsoft unveils Windows Phone 8

The Windows Phone 8 experience mirrors that offered by the desktop and tablet versions of Windows 8

Microsoft has certainly been keeping us all on our toes as of late, and just a couple of days after its big Surface tablet reveal, the Redmond-based team are back in the headlines – this time appearing at the Windows Phone Summit to spill the goods on Windows Phone 8, due for release sometime in the final quarter of this year. So what's new? Well, quite a lot actually.

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The most immediate change apparent in Windows Phone 8 is a re-designed Start Screen, which now more closely resembles the user experience (UI) offered by the desktop and tablet iterations of Windows 8. However, these similarities go more than skin deep and Microsoft states that each device running Windows 8 will share a common Core – essentially enabling developers to write apps for each device easier than before. This unification of the Windows platform on all devices appears to be a primary goal for the company going forward.

In addition to the new UI overhaul, Skype will be more fully baked into Windows Phone 8 in order to offer a better experience to users of the VoIP service recently acquired by Microsoft. Incoming calls from Skype and other VoIP services are said to "feel like any other call" and, from the screenshots we've seen thus far, the implementation of this does indeed look very slick.

Bing Maps has been jettisoned in favor of Nokia Maps and Navigation. The new navigation system will feature turn-by-turn instructions and also boast 3D-Mapping and an option to store maps offline. The general consensus seems to be that Nokia's existing mapping capabilities are very good and so this will hopefully prove to be a smart move by Microsoft.

Aiming to leverage its vast office-based market, Microsoft will ship Windows Phone 8 with several business-friendly features which include device encryption, remote management and an all new Company Hub – allowing you to take the job home with you more fully than ever before. In a good way, of course ...

The Wallet hub will support NFC payments as well as the ability to store credit card information, membership cards and so forth. It looks much like a mash-up of Google's NFC payments and Apple's Passbook, and signals the big push coming from the mobile technology sector for this kind of modern wallet-free technology to become commonplace.

Existing Windows Phone users may feel less cause for celebration, as there will not be an upgrade path available to those using Windows Phone 7. The sting is taken out of this somewhat by a promised software update for users of the older devices, which will bring the mobile operating system much of the sheen of its younger replacement, including the redesigned Start Screen.

We reached out to Microsoft for a comment regarding the lack of upgrade possibility for Windows Phone 7 users and a representative confirmed that it simply wasn't feasible to bring the features to the older hardware, stating:

"Many of the new capabilities in Windows Phone 8 are hardware related; things like multicore support, near-field communication (NFC), even the graphics elements rely on hardware that is simply not present in existing Windows Phone devices. So doing the work to get the full Windows Phone 8 release as an upgrade to existing devices just didn’t make sense. Multicore and NFC support don’t add any value to a phone without the hardware to use them. We decided instead to focus on making Windows Phone 8 the best release for the upcoming generation of hardware AND bring some of the marquee features (like the new Start Screen) to existing devices."

The following technical details leaking in from the Summit further cement this notion:

Multi-core processors will now be supported

Larger screen resolutions, up to high definition 720p

Removable Micro-SD cards for the storing of media files

NFC wireless sharing to be implemented

Clearly Microsoft feels that to catch up with the big players in the smartphone scene like Apple and Samsung, some hard sacrifices are going to need to be made. We'll get to decide for ourselves if the company is right later this year.

Source: Windows Phone Blog via The Verge

driSuit case keeps your iPhone "dri" underwater

The driSuit Endurance smartphone case allows people to access all of their iPhone's touchscreen controls while underwater

People just love their iPhones ... sometimes to the point where they don’t want to stop using them when they enter the water. That’s why the driSuit Endurance was invented. It’s a water- and shockproof case for the iPhone 4 and 4S, that allows users to still take advantage of all of the phone’s touchscreen controls – even when underwater.

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Needless to say, there are tons of rugged and/or waterproof smartphone cases already on the market. One of the things that sets the Endurance apart, however, is its proprietary fluidic touchscreen. This consists of transparent inner and outer membranes with a clear inert fluid sandwiched between them. It sits in place over top of the phone’s existing screen, allowing users to access all of its features – although they may have to press a bit harder than usual. Additionally, when used underwater, the iPhone may take up to 20 seconds to “electronically acclimate” to the fluidic touchscreen.

Besides allowing for touchscreen functionality, the Endurance’s screen also provides the phone’s display with some protection against impacts and scratches. Shocks and vibrations are soaked up somewhat, by a soft plastic lining inside the case.

Should underwater users not be content with things like taking photos and checking their email while below the surface, they can also use the case’s waterproof headphone receptacle to listen to music ... assuming they have waterproof earphones, that is, which driSuit Technologies also sells.

The staff there inform us that the Endurance is rated to a depth of one meter (3.28 feet), although they factory test their units down to five meters (16.4 ft) for one hour. That sounds good for people like snorkelers and surfers, although scuba divers might want something that can go considerably deeper, such as the TAT7 iPhone Scuba Case – although that case only allows users to take photos, using mechanical button controls.

The Endurance is available now for US$59.95, and can be seen getting put through its paces in the video below.

Source: driSuit Technologies via Photojojo

iPhone-enabled Kick photography light reproduces light in any color

Featuring full spectrum LEDs, the Kick boasts adjustable color temperature and can be used to add any color to your photos

Lighting is possibly the single most important aspect of good photography and filmmaking, yet it's frequently overlooked and considered the reserve of professionals. This is a shame, because you don't need a professional lighting setup to see a marked improvement in your shots. The Kick is a budget full-spectrum lighting studio which can fit in your pocket and is controlled by your iPhone.

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The Kick, from Rift Labs, is a lightweight photo/video light which promises to help you take better pictures and make better videos with anything from your smartphone to DSLR. Featuring full spectrum LEDs, the Kickstarter project boasts adjustable color temperature and can be used to add any color to your photos. It can even be used to produce animated light effects for your videos.

While at first glance the Kick (which is available in two versions) looks like any other LED photo light, closer examination shows it's anything but. Buttons around the frame allow for adjusting brightness and color temperature, and the Kick can also be controlled by an iPhone. Well, technically it can be controlled anything with a WiFi connection … but there's currently only an iPhone app.

Using the iPhone app to control the Kick, users can select LED output with a color picker, and adjust brightness or color temperature. Typical uses for photography would be adding a color hue or combating nasty lighting conditions. The Kick, which can hold an iPhone in a slot on the rear while leaving the camera lens exposed, also features a tripod mount so that it can be positioned without causing unnecessary strain to your arm.

The iPhone app can also be used to take photos or record video, all while still giving easy access to the functions of the Kick. A menu allows users to adjust the light output, select colors, control multiple Kick lights and access animated lighting effects. Effects could simulate the color of a lightning storm, or the flickering of a fire - things which would be harder and more expensive to add in post-production.

The Kick, which is currently heading towards a Kickstarter goal of US$115,000, can also sample light from any video, or directly from the iPhone camera itself. Users move the cursor over the light effect they want to sample and it will stream it directly to the device. A pledge of $149 will currently get you a Kick Plus (the full version) while $89 gets you the Kick Basic Early Bird, which only has white lights and does not include WiFi.

Source: Rift Labs via Kickstarter

Here's the Kickstarter video of the Kick photography light.

LumaHelm: A bright idea for head protection

The LumaHelm, minus its translucent cover

The trio of Wouter Walmink, Alan Chatham and Floyd Mueller started with an off-the-rack bicycle helmet. They made sure not to modify its basic structure, so that the finished product would still meet safety standards. They did, however, proceed to cover it with strips of LED lights, which were wired together and hooked up to an onboard Arduino Uno microcontroller board. The entire outer surface of the helmet was then covered with a vacuum-formed translucent shell.Some readers may recall the Torch T1, a prototype bicycle helmet we recently featured. It incorporates light panels on the front and back, to make sure that cyclists get noticed by drivers when riding at night. Well, while it may seem to offer quite the light display, it's decidedly subtle compared to the LumaHelm. Designed by a team of researchers at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology’s Exertion Games Lab (which previously brought us the Joggobot), it’s a bike helmet covered with an array of 104 multicolored programmable LEDs.

Using the Processing open-source programming language on a linked computer, the Arduino can be programmed to create almost any lighting pattern – moving or static – that the user wishes.

The LumaHelm also contains an accelerometer, which allows the wearer to control the lights via head movements. Presently, this lets users activate flashing “turn indicator” light patterns by purposefully tipping their head left or right, or activate a solid rear “brake light” by tipping their head back.

Down the road, the team hopes that the technology could also be used on other types of helmets, allowing people such as construction workers or rock climbers to communicate non-verbally, giving freestyle skateboarders another avenue of self-expression, or perhaps even allowing athletes to display their heart rate.

There’s no word at this point on the possibility of a commercially-available product. In the meantime, however, you can see it in action in the video below.

Source: Exertion Games Lab via The Age

Smart TV alliance formed in attempt to forestall another format war

A Smart TV Alliance was formed so apps can be developed that run on all compliant TVs

Smart TV manufacturers are making a smart move. Instead of offering competing technologies for connected TVs, they're looking to partner and form a universal platform. While manufacturers are currently pushing Smart TV technology as a way to sell more sets, the competing platforms being developed by individual manufacturers leads to consumer confusion and requires developers to customize their apps for different platforms. In order to develop a standard that can create a thriving ecosystem for developers, a number of TV manufacturers have established the SMART TV Alliance and are looking to bring competitors into the fold.

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The problem is clear. With TVs becoming more and more connected and integrating more online features such as content delivery services and apps, each consumer electronics manufacturer developing its own Smart TV platform could be the dawn of a new format war. We've seen this several times in connection with the TV. In the late 70s and 1980s it was Betamax versus VHS and more recently we had HD DVD and Blu-Ray facing off. In both cases, the latter won out, but if manufacturers stand off against each other, it's not only the manufacturers but also the consumers that ultimately lose.

The mission of the Smart TV Alliance is to create a platform that will operate across all Smart TVs, which would ultimately result in a greater amount of content for all devices. The Smart TV Alliance was formed under the motto "build once, run everywhere," which means that developers interested in creating apps for Smart TVs can create one app that will run on all compliant Smart TVs.

Founding members of the Alliance are LG Electronics and TP Vision, which represents Philips TV. A handful of Japanese TV manufacturers are also said to be making steps to join.

"Before today, the Smart TV industry was a very difficult market for both TV manufacturers and application developers as TVs from different brands used different platforms and technologies," says Bong-seok Kwon of LG Electronics and president of the Smart TV Alliance. "Smart TV Alliance creates a larger playing field which encourages developers to create more and better TV applications at the same time giving manufactures and consumers the richest source of movies-on-demand, music services, games, social networking and more."

While developers would appreciate a unified ecosystem for developing apps for the Smart TV platform, the Alliance also clears any confusion that consumers might also experience. Each Smart TV manufacturer might still have its own app store, but in the future, there could also be one general Smart TV app store. There won't be an issue of whether a particular app will work on a particular TV.

Manufacturers will also benefit from reduced development costs associated with creating their own platform. "Instead of spending valuable time on porting and testing on different platforms, developers can focus their creativity solely on realizing apps that consumers will enjoy. Now we can really make it interesting and fun for everybody," says Alain Perrot of TP Vision, and a Smart TV Alliance Executive board member.

In an effort to attract new partners to join, the organization has established Smart TV Alliance Consortium. The consortium's primary objective is to help define technical specifications that will enable application developers to create their applications once and run them on multiple TVs regardless of the platform.

An initial goal of the Alliance is to make the first version of its SDK available for free on its website so developers can get started on applications. The SDK is based on open web technologies such as HTML 5, and allows for developed web applications to run on Smart TVs from participating members. The first version, SDK 2.0, is expected to be released at the end of the year, in order for developers to create applications for 2013 model TV sets from participating Alliance members. Registration for the SDK is currently open on the Smart TV Alliance website.

While it remains to be seen if all major manufacturers will get on board, developers and consumers should be crossing their fingers they do.

Source: Smart TV Alliance

Samsung TecTiles: User programmable NFC stickers automate smartphone functions

Samsung's TecTiles are programmable NFC stickers that can be used to automate various smartphone functions

Working in conjunction with the free TecTile programming application running on an NFC-enabled Android smartphone, Samsung envisages individuals automating everyday functions, such as launching an app, sending an “at home” text message when walking in the door, putting the phone on silent, or dimming the display and setting an alarm when climbing into bed. Businesses, meanwhile, would be able to let customers check-in on Facebook or foursquare, or connect to Wi-Fi to download content or discount offers.Despite increasing numbers of smartphones sporting near field communication (NFC) functionality, the technology hasn’t really set the world on fire just yet. The simple fact is that, apart from the limited rollout of cashless transaction systems from the likes of Visa, Google and Orange, there’s still not a hell of a lot that these NFC capabilities can be used for. Samsung is looking to change this with the introduction of NFC stickers called TecTiles that can be programmed to automate various smartphone functions.

While Samsung has said it would like to offer cross-category programming in the future, initially the programming will be limited to combining functions within four separate categories. These are:

Settings & Applications

• Change phone settings (Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi, ringer/media volume, screen brightness, etc.)
• Launch an application
• Join a Wi-Fi Network
• Show a message

Communication

• Make a call
• Send a text message
• Start a Google Talk conversation
• Share a contact or business card

Location & Web

• Show an address on a map
• Open a web page
• Foursquare or Facebook check-in

Social

• Automatic Facebook "Like"
• Update Facebook status
• Post a tweet or follow a contact on Twitter
• Connect on LinkedIn

Once a TecTile has been programmed, it can be read by any NFC-enabled smartphone, including non-Samsung devices such as the HTC One X or LG Optimus Elite. Individual TecTiles can also be reprogrammed, however, the programming can be locked to prevent nefarious types from making changes.

Launching alongside the Galaxy S III, Samsung is selling TecTiles in packs of five for US$14.99.

Source: Samsung

EnerPlex could be slimmest solar case for iPhone yet

The EnerPlex solar charger for iPhone 4/4S incorporates a thin, flexible CIGS PV module from Ascent Solar

In comparison to some of the bulkier solar panel-packing iPhone cases we’ve seen, such as the AQUA TEK S and Solar Surge, the EnerPlex solar charger case is positively Kate Moss-like. Made by Colorado-based Ascent Solar using its ultra light, thin and flexible CIGS solar panels, the EnerPlex for iPhone 4/4S adds just 72 g (2.53 oz) to the weight of the phone, while providing the ability to top up the battery from the sun’s rays.

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Judging by the available pics, the EnerPlex looks to add less than a centimeter (0.39 in) of depth to an iPhone, while incorporating a battery alongside Ascent Solar’s flexible CIGS module, which it claims is the lightest and thinnest photovoltaic module in the world. The case has been designed to provide clear access to the iPhone’s buttons, speakers and charging port, and leaves the rear camera unobscured,

Ascent Solar claims the EnerPlex will provide up to an additional 170 hours of standby time, 3.5 hours of internet surfing, 5.6 hours of Wi-Fi, 19 hours of audio playback and up to 5.6 hours of video playback on a full charge.

The company has already received a purchase order of 50,000 EnerPlex units from its Asian distributor ahead of an early August 2012 retail launch there. The company says it plans to expand its EnerPlex line to support smartphones from other manufacturers, such as the Samsung Galaxy S III, in the near future. No word on pricing, but a wider global release is set for the fourth quarter of this year.

Here's a video from Ascent Solar showing off the EnerPlex's sleek lines.

Source: Ascent Solar