As you begin juggling more and more devices in your daily life, running all of your text and picture messages through your smartphone can become a real chore. To help subscribers keep up with the times, Verizon Wireless has introduced a unified messaging solution known as Verizon Messages, and unlike services like Google Voice, it works through your primary number. The free service is accessible via Android smartphones and tablets, iOS tablets (but not the iPhone) and an online web app, which keeps all messages in sync and stored in the cloud for up to 90 days. As another nice touch, the app offers an auto-reply feature for times when you need to disconnect, and it also allows you to archive messages to an SD card. You'll need to enable the service within your Verizon account, but for a peek of the new Verizon Messages, just hop the break for a video tour.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Software, Mobile, Verizon
Source: Verizon Wireless
While it's nothing more than a placebo, believe it or not, some people actually argue over which color M&Ms taste better. If the latter speaks to your spirit and you're tired of manually filtering unwanted sweets from your holiday spread, then you might be in luck. A crafty tinkerer who goes by the YouTube handle "Nxt1engineer" has shared a clever contraption that sorts M&Ms by shade. Using tone-detecting sensors, this Lego-powered machine separates and dispenses the popular candy-coated snack, ensuring that everyone receives their favorite hue without any fuss. It's not entirely clear how you might be able to bring this awesome apparatus home, but you can at least see it in action -- check it out in the video after the break.
Continue reading Lego-powered M&M sorter pleases your palate's imagination (video)
Via: Gizmodo
Source: Nxe1engineer (YouTube)
How was your week? We got to spend a couple of days trekking around the Carnegie Mellon campus in Pittsburgh, PA to check out some of the latest projects from the school's world renowned Robotics Institute -- a trip that culminated with the bi-annual induction ceremony from the CMU-sponsored Robot Hall of Fame. Given all the craziness of the past seven days, you might have missed some of the awesomeness, but fear not, we've got it all for you here in one handy place -- plus a couple of videos from the trip that we haven't shown you yet. Join us after the break to catch up.
Butlers, lunar rovers, snakes and airboats: the best of Carnegie Mellon's Robotics Institute originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 27 Oct 2012 12:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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What do you get when you attach a point-and-shoot, display, microphone, RFID reader and a bunch of big buttons to a clear plastic box and stick it all in a classroom with a bunch of three- to five-year-olds? Carnegie Mellon's CREATE Lab calls the creation Message from Me. It's a way of engaging early education students with technology, developing language and social skills and helping keep parents abreast of their school day activities.
The tool encourages kids to record a thought or take a picture and send it to a parent by pulling a card with their face on it down from the wall and scanning on the RFID reader. Parents can get updates via text message or email from kids who are often unable to pass along such information at the end of the day. According to the lab, the machines have already been installed in nearly a dozen schools in the Pittsburgh area -- and from the looks of the boxes on the floor in the CREATE Lab, plenty more are on the way.
Continue reading Message from Me offers dispatches from early education, we go eyes-on (video)
Filed under: Displays, Networking
Message from Me offers dispatches from early education, we go eyes-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 00:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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The FCC first outlined its intention to allow texting to emergency services back in 2010, and since then despite more talk of accepting photo and video messages, nothing official came to be. This week, however, Verzion has taken the initiative, and announced its own plans to enable text to 911 for its customers. Working with TeleCommunication Systems, the big red hopes that it can facilitate the sending of SMS messages to emergency call-centers as soon as early 2013. Texting isn't just about adding communication options, it also provides a valuable tool to the deaf, hard of hearing and situations where talking is dangerous, or not possible. The service will use existing CDMA and SMS networks, and therefore should be available to all customers once finally rolled out.
Continue reading Verizon takes the lead on text to 911 services
Verizon takes the lead on text to 911 services originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 05 May 2012 19:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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One of your favorite, dock-worthy iOS apps just got a tad bit better. We're talking 'bout Line2, who's just hit version 8.0.0 and is bringing with it a slew of long-awaited traits. Of these, the most notable is the inclusion of MMS, which now allows users to send out pics to other folks using Line2's service. That said, you can share media with people outside the Line2 network, but due to carrier restrictions, the MMS being sent will only show up as a link on the receiving end. To go alongside that Multimedia Messaging Service, the app's also adding a new location sharing feature (for those who don't mind the occasional stalking). As of now, the fresh goods are exclusive to the iOS crowd, while an update for the Android variant is said to be in the works. As usual, you can grab the app straight from the App Store on your device or via the iTunes link below.
Line2 for iOS now offers MMS support within its network, adds location sharing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 07:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Continue reading Mobile Miscellany: week of March 26th, 2012
Mobile Miscellany: week of March 26th, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 31 Mar 2012 21:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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