Tag Archives: SmartphoneApp

Boy Scouts of America go thoroughly modern, make designing videogames a badge-worthy affair

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Boy Scouts of America goes thoroughly modern, makes designing videogames a badgeworthy affair

Obvious truths: Boys love videogames. Videogames are fun. Earning awards for loving videogames and wanting to make them is ridiculous and pretty darn sweet. It's also now entirely possible if you're a Boy Scout (Cub Scouts have enjoyed this privilege for some time now). The organization that made khakis, neckerchiefs and canteens fashionable has now officially added Game Design to its array of merit badges. The new badge, devised in conjunction with several industry members and enthusiasts, requires young scouts to conceive, test and build a game prototype using such traditional methods as cards, die or a smartphone app. Yes, you read that right. Incredibly ambitious model-citizens-in-the-making can put all their 21st century knowledge and native digital know-how together to build a mobile gaming app to help them climb the ladder to Eagle Scout status. It's definitely a modern step for the century-old youth group. We just wish the "reward" were a little more substantial than a cloth cut-out.

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Via: Polygon

Zipcar CEO talks mobile app improvements, predicts connected vehicle future

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We wondered why Zipcar CEO Scott Griffith was slated as a keynote presenter at CTIA's MobileCon -- after all, what does renting cars have to do with mobile? Apparently, quite a lot. Griffith stated in his keynote that Zipcar's app and mobile services have taken a much more central role in the organization. The company is developing its own in-car device holder so that customers can hook up their phones for hands-free functions, and more importantly, the Zipcar smartphone app is due for a major update. The current version can be used to schedule rentals and remote unlock vehicles, but future iterations will transform it into more of an "in-car assistant." It'll let you know more information about the car, help you around town with a personal recommendation service, stream your iTunes playlist, and detailed trip feedback like fuel-levels and car conditions will be far easier to report. Zipcar hopes to add new members through the app as well -- just take a photo of your driver's license and get an approval "in minutes." According to Griffith, the connected car will change our urban landscape, especially with the combination of services like Lyft, Uber, bike sharing, and public transit. It's not quite the flying car, but the nerd in us is sufficiently pleased.

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Zipcar CEO talks mobile app improvements, predicts connected vehicle future originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Oct 2012 03:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Connected To The Case to use Facebook for crowd-sourced crime solving

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Connected To The Case to use Facebook for crowd-sourced crime solving

Ready the spandex and decide on a name for your alter ego, because come October 16th, you'll have the chance to fight crime from the comfort of your computer. On that date, the "Connected To The Case" website goes live with the aim of crowd-sourcing tips from its users to help the cops solve active investigations. You'll use your Facebook login for access, as the service pulls data from your profile to prioritize cases with which you might have a connection. Morgan Wright, CEO and Chief Crime Fighter of Crowd Sourced Investigations, told us its system looks at five key areas when digging for pertinent triggers: "date, location, time, relation and demographics." It then uses that data to tailor notifications of unsolved crimes based on -- for example -- proximity to your school, or where you used to work. Rest assured that you control the privacy settings, and if you've got useful info to share, you can do so anonymously.

Law enforcement agencies can register to include their cases from today, with the initial roll-out targeting the US. The plan is to expand first to other English-speaking countries, with foreign language support in the future to build a global network of internet do-gooders. Including data from other social networks is also in the pipeline, starting with Twitter and later, Foursquare and Pinterest. A smartphone app is also on the agenda, so get your detective devices ready -- we can be heroes, if just for one click.

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Connected To The Case to use Facebook for crowd-sourced crime solving originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Oct 2012 20:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GE launches eye-pleasing WattStation Wall EV charger in Europe

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GE launches eye-pleasing WattStation Wall EV charger in Europe

Every EV needs juice, but GE likes to dispense it in style, and it's sticking to that mantra with its new, wall-mounted version of the WattStation. The weather-resistant charging point has been launched in Europe, and is available for your home or business in a buffet of custom colors. The WattStation Wall plays nicely with type 1 / 2 plugs and type 2 / 3 sockets under the supervision of GE's smartphone app for monitoring usage and remote charging. A networked version is also due in early 2013 for businesses that want greater control and billing options through the WattStation Connect platform. The PR mentions it supports connections common to Europe, USA and Japan, so we assume it'll also be sticking to walls outside the Continent before too long. If you're not sold on the design, maybe the saving on garage floor space will persuade you -- unless you're set on a Hiriko, of course.

Continue reading GE launches eye-pleasing WattStation Wall EV charger in Europe

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GE launches eye-pleasing WattStation Wall EV charger in Europe originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Sep 2012 12:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flickr Android app gets updated, touts refreshed UI and camera selection

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Flickr Android app gets a muchneeded update, touts refreshed UI and camera selection

Flickr's Android app has been around for nearly a year and was due for a tune-up to perform like its iOS sibling. First, a retooled UI touts a new navigation menu and the Explore section now does a better job of sorting shots according to nearby location and level of interest. In addition to the aforementioned photo library search, notifications, profile, camera and upload options fill out the rest of the main menu's tabbed options. Throughout the application, a pull down to refresh function keeps the most recent notifications and uploads at the top of the window. When the camera tab is tapped, you'll now be prompted to choose your camera or camera app of choice in order to capture the shot. Rounding out the improvements are improved overall search, the ability to edit details / metadata on pictures and HTML content in comments and descriptions. If you're looking to give the overhauled software a go, hit the source link below to snag it.

Gallery: Flickr Android app update

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Flickr Android app gets updated, touts refreshed UI and camera selection originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 02:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Next Web  |  sourceGoogle Play  | Email this | Comments

The Joy of remote-controlled Cooking: LG’s Lightwave oven makes mealtime mobile-operated

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LG Lightwave oven

Advances in oven technology are more the province of Jack Donaghy's former GE overlords, but over in South Korea, LG's taking a real-world stab at making the fictional CEO proud. An update to its Lightwave line, this new, next-gen kitchen appliance employs halogen heaters to cut down on traditional cooking time, a range of menu pre-sets to accommodate your meal-making and, most worrisome of all, a wireless connection for smartphone control. With that last tidbit of information, you should be either horrified by the opportunities for absent-minded, accidental pants pocket activation or pleased and at ease with the convenience it affords (which means you likely have children and can now tend to that bottle of red undisturbed from the couch). So, what exactly can you do from the comfort of your own phone? For starters, you can set the timer while you're away, adjust the temperature and even activate the steam cleaning feature. It's not clear if all of this remote action's restricted to the company's own devices, but if you're living in the company's home territory and have a fancy for haute-tech cuisining, this one's for you.

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The Joy of remote-controlled Cooking: LG's Lightwave oven makes mealtime mobile-operated originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Jul 2012 17:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Galaxy S III replaces check-in, keycard, TV remote and AC control in Olympic hotel

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Samsung has turned the Galaxy S III into the ultimate hotel accessory in preparation for the Olympics. It's equipped 40 rooms in London's Stratford Holiday Inn to use the official smartphone of 2012 to check in and out, order room service, unlock doors and control the TV without moving. VIPs staying at the hotel for the games season will get first dibs on the technology that'll let them call up a snack whilst tweeting -- just as long as Cody Brocious doesn't work out how to intercept it.

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Samsung Galaxy S III replaces check-in, keycard, TV remote and AC control in Olympic hotel originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Jul 2012 07:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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