Work From Home With The iRobot Ava 500
Being able to wear what you want and not dealing with a commute are a couple of the advantages of working from home. Cell phones, computers and the Internet make it easy to stay in constant communication with your coworkers or boss. One thing lacking is interpersonal interaction with the people you work with. A collaboration between iRobot and Cisco has changed that. The two have created the iRobot Ava 500, allowing you to work from anywhere and still be seen in the office. It features a "rolling base with a 21-inch HD screen, video camera, and WiFi connectivity all controlled from anywhere using an iPad." It's an interesting concept but I find it hard to believe anyone would want to have this in their apartment. Regardless, if your interested check out the iRobot Ava 500 here.
[Via Uncrate]
Samsung Unveils the World’s First Smartphone with a Curved Display
Samsung keeps on adding products to their Galaxy lineup with their newest smartphone, the Galaxy Round. The name alone gives you a hint of what to expect from their latest product, and one thing that sticks out is that it's the first smartphone with curved display. The phone doesn't actually bend like the product LG is currently working on; the phone just has a curved shape. There is a "Roll Effect" which users can simply tilt the phone in opposite directions "to check missed calls, remaining battery life and more." I'm not really sure if this going to catch on with people immediately, but for those that might be into this, I hope you have a connect in Korea, that's the only place it's been confirmed to release in.
[Via Highsnobiety]
Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic Camera
There was a time when people used film prints and polaroids to share their photos with each other instead of uploading them directly to their favorite social media site. Recently, there has been a growing interest in going back to analog film, and if you're one of those people, you might want to check out the new Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic Camera.
It might look like the rest of the new breed of instant cameras, but this one has a lot more features to play around with to explore your creativity. The camera has a lot of modes to choose from, and there's one for every occasion from macro and double exposure modes, a speed mode, and even a party mode, as well as a bulb mode for long exposures when shooting at night. The best part is when you finish taking a shot, it's developed and printed instantly for you to hold.
[Via Uncrate]
LG Display is working on a bendable, unbreakable smartphone display
LG Display announced today that they are going to mass produce the world's first flexible OLED smartphone display. The new, 6-inch panel will be built on plastic instead of glass, giving the screen its flexibility. The screens will be concave, meaning the phones using the display won't simply be flat devices. Given the use of plastic, the new displays will only weigh 7.2g and with a thickness of 0.44mm.
The next step in smartphone technology is upon us. With these new flexible OLED displays, screens won't crack when dropped (although some minor scratches might still be visible); however, the new screens will only be used with LG phones. Samsung is rumored to be using a flexible screen for one of their next upcoming phones, while Apple hasn't revealed their plans to adopt the new trend.
More on the new LG displays will be revealed soon.
[via Engadget]
Microsoft may sell your Kinect data to third-party advertisers
It's no secret to anybody that I'm an anti-Xbox gamer. For close to a decade, I've scoffed at Microsoft's entry to the gaming industry. While I acknowledge (and admire) the company for revolutionizing online gaming, there have been way too many missteps made for me to ever fully embrace the Xbox line. While the Xbox 360 has spent the past four years near the top of the gaming industry, due in no small part to Sony's own missteps with the PlayStation 3's first few years, Microsoft's handling of the Xbox One has been more than enough proof to show just how conniving and money-grubbing the company can be.
While they reversed their pro-DRM policies back in June, there was still the worry of the Kinect camera's ability to detect everything from the user's voice to scanning the items and objects in the room. After all, Microsoft is a known supporter and backer of the National Security Agency (NSA), and with their penchant to make money any way they can, the latest news that they're considering selling Kinect data to third-party advertisers comes as no surprise.
Microsoft's Vice President of Marketing and Strategy made a speech at this past weekend's Association of National Advertisers Masters of Marketing Conference about the future of advertising and the "gamification" of it all, stating:
"We are trying to bridge some of the world between online and offline. That's a little bit of a holy grail in terms of how you understand the consumer in that 360 degrees of their life. We have a pretty unique position at Microsoft because of what we do with digital, as well as more and more with television because of Xbox. It's early days, but we're starting to put that together in more of a unifying way, and hopefully at some point we can start to offer that to advertisers broadly."
With the Kinect camera,the Xbox One has the ability to detect everything from the aforementioned voice commands to even a consumer's heart rate. Based off of a gamer's trends, Microsoft can compile data and send that to third-party advertisers, leading to a potential in spam, targeted ads within the Xbox One dashboard, etc. Of course, users can opt out out of this, but at what cost? Simply not signing an agreement? Not actually playing an Xbox One? You're all better off getting a PlayStation 4; this news just helps affirm why the PS4 is a more consumer-friendly console than the Xbox One.
[via Advertising Age]
DigitalRev Reviews The Innovative Sony QX100 Lens Camera
When I first learned about the Sony QX100 lens camera, I was really interested in checking it out. It was being branded by Sony as the new photography gadget to have because it boasted a Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T lens with a 3.6x optical zoom that attached to your smart phone. The only camera I have on me all the time is my iPhone, so when I heard I could enhance the quality of my photos, I wanted to see what this lens camera was all about. The guys over at DigitalRev have released a video reviewing the Sony QX100, giving me second thoughts about this so-called innovative lens camera. Check out the video and see all the pros and cons of this new product by Sony.
http://youtu.be/H3jgKD2ascc
[Via Hypebeast]
KnowRoaming SIM Sticker to End Roaming Charges
The worst thing that can happen is coming home one day and seeing the roaming charges on your cell phone bill after traveling abroad. The charges add up quickly, and it gets quite expensive getting your phone to work internationally. KnowRoaming has developed a product that will end those roaming charges and help you use your phone internationally without having to pay a fortune. Whether you have an iPhone or Android, all you have to do is take a sticker and apply it to your sim card, and KnowRoaming takes care of the rest. Instead of paying your network's roaming rate, you would only have to pay local rates as if you lived where you were visiting. KnowRoaming makes it easy, and all you need is your phone, their app, the sticker, and you're good to go. To learn more on how it works and all of the features, make sure to visit the KnowRoaming website.
[Via Uncrate]
The Weekly Swarm: 9/30 - 10/6
Derrick Rose made his preseason return this past weekend. Despite the rust over sitting out the entire 2012-2013 season, D. Rose is looking great. With Jimmy Butler starting in the back court with him, Taj Gibson looking extra strong, and Joakim Noah wearing some actual basketball shoes, this season's looking extra promising. Just remember: we're just one season away from Nikola Mirotic coming in to wipe the Booze(r) off of our tongues and out of our memories.
This past week at Ruby Hornet featured the new trailer for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, a teaser trailer for the Godzilla reboot, our review of Gravity, Vic Mensa's INNANETAPE (alongside a review of the mixtape and a in-depth feature on the rapper), Melt-Banana's fetch, Treated Crew's Gzus Piece's new mixtape, Banksy's return to the streets, EA settling a lawsuit with NCAA athletes, and much more. Check out the week's content below.
Weekend Box Office: 9/27 - 9/29
First cast photo for Transformers: Age of Extinction
Two years separate Captain America: The Winter Soldier and The Avengers
[Trailer 2] The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Josh Trank’s Fantastic Four reboot to be re-written by Simon Kinberg
Saoirse Ronan has read for Star Wars Episode VII
Alamo Drafthouse not expanding to New York City's Upper West Side
Elizabeth Olsen unofficially confirmed for The Avengers: Age of Ultron by Samuel L. Jackson
Mark Millar's next book, Kindergarten Heroes, to receive a film adaptation
[Trailer] CZ12
New poster, film stills, and interactive panoramas for Ender's Game
[RH Review] Gravity
[Video] Guillermo del Toro's couch gag for The Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror XXIV
New American Hustle posters are '70s chic
[Trailer] Godzilla
Aaron Johnson will kick ass as Quicksilver in The Avengers: Age of Ultron
[Mixtape] Gzus Piece: "Gzus Luvs You"
[Album] Danny Brown: "Old"
[RH Interview] White Mystery
[Mixtape] Meek Mill: "Dreamchasers 3"
[Album] Vic Mensa: "Innanetape"
[Video] Pyyramids, Neak, ShowYouSuck live at Township
Drake Named Toronto Raptors' Global Ambassador
[Album] Melt-Banana: "fetch" + 2 do what 2 fetch North American Tour dates
[Album] C. Rich: "Certified Organic"
[RH Contest] Win a pair of tickets to see The Geto Boys in St. Louis on 10/6
[RH Feature] Vic Mensa Takes Over The Innanetape
AfroJack: "The Spark"
Scheme: "The Crooked Ones" (prod. The Analyst)
[Video] The Avett Brothers on Jimmy Fallon
Smoko Ono: "Pass The Flame" (Feat. Jarred AG, Saba & Sterling Haze)
[Video] Toro y Moi: "Rose Quartz"
[Album] Nasim Williams: The Symbiote
[Video] Michael Christmas: "Michael Cera"
Arcade Fire, Eminem, Lady Gaga to headline Youtube Music Awards
[Video] Derrick Rose Commercial ft. Common, Big Sean, 2 Chainz & More
[Video] Migos: "Versace"
[Video] Sasha Go Hard at Mad Decent
[Mixtape] Cam'ron: "Ghetto Heaven"
Tyler, The Creator: "Look" (feat. Hodgy Beats, Domo Genesis, & Earl Sweatshirt)
[Video] Angel Haze: "Echelon(It's My Way)"
Major Lazer x Zed's Dead: "Turn Around" (Feat. Elephant Man)
[Video] ShowYouSuck: "Big Gulp"
the Dead Weather: "Open Up, That's Enough"
[Album Stream] Pusha-T: "My Name Is My Name"
Roman Flowrs: "No More" (Feat. Thomas Davinci and AJ Peace)
[Video] Rihanna: "Pour It Up"
[RH Interview] Josh Caterer: Smoking Popes
[Album] Phantogram: "Phantogram EP"
[RH Review] Vic Mensa: "Innanetape"
[Video] Pusha T talks with Life + Times
Add-2 Signs with JAMLA, 9th Wonder
[Video] Cults: "High Road"
[Video] Juicy J: "All I Blow Is Loud"
[Video] Gianni Blu: "Hotel Infinity"
[Album] Four Tet: "Beautiful Rewind"
[Video] Decoded: Pusha T's "King Push"
[Album] Wes P.: "Blow Your Mind"
[Video] Trinidad James can't freestyle
Fun Fun Fun Fest Releases Ultimate Smooth Pass
[Video] Pusha T: "Nosetalgia" (Feat. Kendrick Lamar)
Dom Kennedy: "Dominic"
Lauryn Hill: "Consumerism"
Danny Brown announces tour with A-Trak
[Album] Jay Dot Rain: "Memoirs of a Young Dreamer"
Chuck Inglish: "Came Thru/Easily" (feat. Mac Miller & Ab-Soul)
[Video] Fredo Santana: "No Hook"
YP: "Hold Me Down"
[Sunday Coffee Sipper] Deciphering Drake
Sudan Blacks Out Internet To Hide Brutal Suppression Of Protests
Stussy Deluxe Fall 2013 Lookbook
Banksy Kicks Off a Month Long Residency in New York
"Playing For Time" A GQ Watch Guide for 2014
IG Weekly: Magnolialoves
Banksy Gives Random Graffiti The Broadway Makeover
EA settles for "tens of millions" in NCAA lawsuit
Google tests Google Play vending machines in Tokyo
Microsoft top brass wants Gates out
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