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Microsoft readying Kinect for Windows PCs
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, USB, Microsoft, PC / Laptop, Video Games
Microsoft is adjusting firmware and optimizing certain hardware components to ready its Kinect motion-sensing input device for PCs running Windows, the company said Tuesday. Microsoft currently sells Kinect as a peripheral for its Xbox 360 game consoles, but has announced a Kinect for Windows commercial program that begins in early 2012.
"Coupled with the numerous upgrades and improvements our team is making to the Software Development Kit (SDK) and runtime, the new hardware delivers features and functionality that Windows developers and Microsoft customers have been asking for," Craig Eisler, general manager of Kinect for Windows, wrote in a blog post.
"Simple changes include shortening the USB cable to ensure reliability across a broad range of computers and the inclusion of a small dongle to improve coexistence with other USB peripherals," Eisler elaborated. "Of particular interest to developers will be the new firmware which enables the depth camera to see objects as close as 50 centimeters in front of the device without losing accuracy or precision, with graceful degradation down to 40 centimeters. 'Near Mode' will enable a whole new class of 'close up' applications, beyond the living room scenarios for Kinect for Xbox 360. This is one of the most requested features from the many developers and companies participating in our Kinect for Windows pilot program and folks commenting on our forums, and we're pleased to deliver this, and more, at launch."
The announcement comes the same day that Microsoft acquired VideoSurf for $70 million with an eye towards integrating the San Mateo, Calif.-based company's online video search technology into its Xbox Live ecosystem.
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Black Friday 2011: Apple
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Apple, Handhelds, Hot Deals, Music, PC / Laptop
Apple is set to discount some of its most popular products for Black Friday 2011. No word yet on if the stores are opening early, but you can get all the deals online as well as in-store, which is nice. Discounts on items like the iPad 2, iMac, MacBook Air, and iPod touch are just the tip of the iceberg, as Apple is also discounting a bunch of third-party accessories, including the Jawbone Up. We've got the best of the sale listed after the break, along with links to take you directly to the products!
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2011 Holiday Gift Guide: Crayola ColorStudio HD
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Apple, Kids, Under $100, Under $25, Under $250, Under $50, Under $500
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The next featured gadget in our 2011 Holiday Gift Guide is the Crayola ColorStudio HD. It includes iMarker, which looks and feels like a standard Crayola marker, but is safe to use on the iPad display. Paired with the ColorStudio HD app, you've got a marker, pen, crayon, and paintbrush all in one device. The app has interactive and animated coloring book pages that combine sound, touch, interaction, and special effects. You can print out the works of art, email them, and post to Facebook, all from within the app. You can get the ColorStudio HD on Amazon for $24.99.
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| Crayola ColorStudio HD
2011 Holiday Gift Guide: Twelve South PlugBug
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, USB, Apple, PC / Laptop, Techies, Under $100, Under $250, Under $50, Under $500
The next featured gadget in our 2011 Holiday Gift Guide is the Twelve South PlugBug. It's a device that's so simple that it's hard to believe no one has come up with this until now. The PlugBug snaps onto your MacBook, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air wall charger, giving you a powered USB port in the process. The results? You can then charge both your Apple notebook, and a USB device (like an iPhone or iPad) at the same time, using just one outlet. Genuis! This means that when you're on the go, you can carry one less charger, and you'll have one less outlet to try and find. You can get the PlugBug on Amazon for $34.
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320 GB Xbox 360 hard drive now available for pre-order
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Hardware, Microsoft, Xbox 360
If you've got one of the newer Xbox 360 S consoles and are starting to feel the squeeze of having a lack of hard drive space, perk up! Microsoft is getting ready to release a 320 GB hard drive for the console, a 70 GB improvement over the 250 GB drive that ships with the console. You can pre-order the new drive from Amazon now for $126.
Logitech Harmony Link turns iOS and Android devices into full-fledged remote controls
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Apple, Home Entertainment
Logitech is releasing a new product that will turn users' iPads into Harmony remotes by Halloween. The Logitech Harmony Link is the company's newest Harmony remote product, but it's not a device you hold and manipulate to control your home theater. It's a wireless device that can connect to your iPad, iPhone, or Android smartphone to let it function as a universal remote.
The Harmony Link is a disc-shaped device you place near your home theater to control all your devices. It functions as an infrared blaster, sending remote commands to your HDTV, Blu-ray player, set-top box, or compatible game console. The device itself can send infrared commands, and it comes with an infrared blaster so you can keep it in a cabinet with your other home theater devices and still send commands to your HDTV. It then connects to your Wi-Fi network, and can be controlled by any iOS device or Android smartphone through the Harmony Link app.
Belkin selling all products for 50% off through September 30!
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Hot Deals
Belkin is selling their entire catalogue of products and accessories for 50% off, today only through September 30th. Since this is such an amazing deal, the Belkin site keeps going down...but if you can make it in and find anything you'd want to buy, add the items to your cart and use promo code FB50 during checkout to nab the discount.
Bleeding Edge TV 390: Microvision Pico Projectors
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Full Episodes, Gizmatic, Accessories, Cell Phones, Features, Home Entertainment, Podcasts, Videocasts, Videos
We talk to Microvision about their Pico projector line of products at GDGT Seattle. Get a look at devices like the Microvision ShowWX series - these projectors are about as thin and small as your smartphone, but yet project images up to 100-inches in size, while remaining in constant focus.
Big thank you to GoToMeeting and JackThreads for sponsoring the show - be sure to check them out! As for JackThreads, we've got exclusive invite codes that give you $5 to use towards anything you'd like.
Top 10 Tech Deals of the Day
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Hot Deals, PC / Laptop, Portable Audio / Video, Video Games
We've got your latest list of items that fall under the best tech Deals of the Day for you, separated out into laptops, desktops, monitors, gaming, and home entertainment. The laptop deals are right here, but be sure to click through to get a look at all the rest of what we determined to be today's top 10 deals in tech, including that lovely Xbox 360 Kinect bundle up there!
Laptops
- 17.3" Dell Vostro 3750 Core i5-2410M 2.3GHz "Sandy Bridge" Latpop w/6GB RAM, 320GB 7200RPM HDD, Backlit Keyboard & Fingerprint Reader for $649 with free shipping (normally $899 - use coupon code R975$?FPRF?31X)
- 17.3" HP Pavilion dv7t Core i7-2630QM 2GHz Quad-core "Sandy Bridge" Laptop w/4GB RAM & 500GB HDD for $700 with free shipping (normally $999 - use coupon code NBP61449)
Don’t forget, if you’re looking for other deals, be sure to check out our Newegg Promo Code thread. Oh, and if you're on Twitter, be sure to follow @TechPromos for the latest deals, or you can Like TechPromos on Facebook.
Click to continue reading Top 10 Tech Deals of the Day
Top 10 Tech Deals of the Day
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Hot Deals, Microsoft, PC / Laptop, Portable Audio / Video, Video Games
We've got your latest list of items that fall under the best tech Deals of the Day for you, separated out into laptops, desktops, monitors, gaming, and home entertainment. The laptop deals are right here, but be sure to click through to get a look at all the rest of what we determined to be today's top 10 deals in tech, including that lovely Xbox 360 Kinect bundle up there!
Laptops
- 17.3" Dell Inspiron 17R-2nd Gen Core i7-2630QM 2GHz Quad-core "Sandy Bridge" Laptop w/8GB RAM, 640GB HDD, 2GB GeForce GT 525M & Blu-ray for $900 with free shipping (normally $1,444 - use coupon code 4J4XPNDZ1PKR2B)
- 17.3" Dell Vostro 3750 Core i5-2410M 2.3GHz "Sandy Bridge" Latpop w/6GB RAM, 320GB 7200RPM HDD, Backlit Keyboard & Fingerprint Reader for $649 with free shipping (normally $899 - use coupon code R975$?FPRF?31X)
- 17.3" HP Pavilion dv7t Core i7-2630QM 2GHz Quad-core "Sandy Bridge" Laptop w/4GB RAM & 500GB HDD for $700 with free shipping (normally $999 - use coupon code NBP61449)
Don’t forget, if you’re looking for other deals, be sure to check out our Newegg Promo Code thread. Oh, and if you're on Twitter, be sure to follow @TechPromos for the latest deals, or you can Like TechPromos on Facebook.
Click to continue reading Top 10 Tech Deals of the Day
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