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    Projecteo projects your Instagram photos on any surface, is as big as a matchbox

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    Ever miss going through your snapshots using a slideshow projector? Mint Digital product designer Benjamin Redford does, and it is for this reason that he developed a tiny projector that flashes your Instagram photos on any flat surface.

    The Kickstarter campaign is ongoing for the creation of this interesting product that caters to the modern photographer who shoots with his mobile phone. Mint Digital also supplied a promo video, which provides a demonstration of the product.

    “The prototypes and the design for manufacture are done. We just need your help with tooling costs and to find out how many we should order on the first production run,” says Redford in the promo video.

    Projecteo is not an accessory to your mobile phone; it’s an entirely different device. This means that you don’t hook up Projecteo to your phone when you want to project your pictures. Here’s how it works:

    Redford said that they are hard at work on Projecteo’s web component, which will allow you to select the Instagram photos to be placed on a slide reel. Each reel will have nine images. Your photos will be  “melted” onto a 35mm Kodak film strip and will be developed in the way regular photographs are processed, only in full color. Then, using a circle cutter, the reels will be cut away from the strip, and each of them will be placed inside a tiny wheel.

    When your wheel is done, just pop it into your Projecteo, hit the power switch, turn off the lights in your room, and enjoy the view. You can flick through the photos by turning the wheel.

    Another interesting thing about Projecteo is that it’s made for people to disassemble. Redford says in Kickstarter, “This will not only make them easier to recycle but it means you can pull it open and see what’s going on inside. There, you will find a super bright LED, capacitors and resistors, a switch, a decade counter and three batteries. Feel free to hack away! We can’t wait to see your creations.”

    Redford claims that if things go as planned, they may be able to roll out the Projecteo units to the project backers in late February. “With successful funding, we will be able to make Projecteo between mid-December and mid-January. After manufacturing, units will be drop tested to the American standard and EU/FCC certified, which should take a maximum of two weeks. We’ll then need to test our fulfilment process to make sure the Instagrams you choose on the site are matched with the physical wheels,” he says.

    The Kickstarter project currently has a total of 94 backers with $2,332 worth of pledges (the goal is $18,000) and only 34 days left. If you like what you see and you want to support the project, head on over to the Projecteo Kickstarter page.

    Asus finally makes 32GB Nexus 7 available for the Philippine market, available at stores for Php 13,995

    After an excruciatingly long wait, Asus Philippines has finally released the Nexus 7 to our shores. This particular device is an upgrade from the previous 8GB and 16GB versions that were first offered in the US market, and for the price that they’re asking for it, it’s not bad at all. We initially said before that we might have to pay a higher price for the device since we won’t be getting a subsidy from Google, and it seems that’s still the case with the new version of the tablet. Asus Philippines will be selling the 32GB version of the Nexus 7 for Php 13,995, which is higher than the $249 (roughly Php 10,300) asking price of the device in the US before taxes and shipping. We initially reported that they will only be selling the 16GB version but Asus has said that they opted to wait for the 32GB version instead, which is pretty understandable.

    Source: Asus Philippines (Facebook)

    Microsoft releases DirectX 11.1, makes it Windows 8 only

     

    Microsoft has just released the newest update to DirectX 11, DirectX 11.1. The new update isn’t as significant as the previous one and basically just adds Stereoscopic 3D support to games that use DirectX, something that both NVIDIA and AMD graphic cards are capable of. However, Microsoft has said that the new update will only work for people who have Windows 8, and will not be made available for people who have Windows 7 and below. While we’re not overly concerned about our chances at seeing some native 3D using our notebooks, we are a bit concerned at the possibility that games may start to ship in the future that use DirectX 11.1 as a baseline, which has already happened with DirectX 10 and Direct X 11 with both Vista and Windows 7. That can’t sit well with the general PC gaming populace.

    Source: Neowin

    Gadgets Magazine and Discovery Channel Magazine: A match made in glossy heaven.

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    We announced that our November issue is out, and it is, but we were saving more news for you, our loyal readers. This month’s issue of GADGETS comes bundled with a copy of Discovery Channel Magazine! It’s a great little twofer, and yet another amazing reason to drop everything, fake illness, skip work and rush over to your nearest bookstore! Because of all the rabid support, we don’t expect there to be many copies of either for very long, so make sure you get your copy before the looting and rioting starts.

    Vuzix’s Smart Glass M100 wants to challenge Google’s Glasses

    It looks like Google’s going to be getting competition in the smart glasses market come 2013 courtesy of Vuzix. Their Smart Glass M100 is a wearable Android computer which has pretty much the same function as Google’s miracle peepers. The hardware on the M100 on paper looks impressive – virtual display eyepiece, WiFi, 720P HD camera that can also take pictures, voice command capability and the ability to link up with your Android or iOS device for augmented reality duties. The M100 is also capable of tracking your head’s movement via a 3-axis system, and can figure out your current location using GPS.

    The display on the M100 has WVGA resolution, and approximates the screen of a 4-inch smartphone viewed at a distance of 14-inches away. The display is capable of around 2,000 nits of brightness, which should be useful once you take this hybrid device outdoors. The M100 is setup in a way that it can be worn either on either eye.

    As for the internals, you’re looking at a 1GHz OMAP4430 processor with 1GB of RAM and 4GB of flash storage, running on Android 4.0. The Android build that will run on the M100 won’t be your typical build of course – Vuzix will be tweaking the OS to suit the unique demands of this particular product category, which would probably include apps and an interface unique to the device. Speaking of software, Vuzix will be sending an SDK for the M100 to any developer that’s interested so that they’ll be able to use their software with the M100. No price has been set for the Vuzix, though the company is offering a developer kit that has a Windows-based emulator, sample code, access to a private coders portal with assistance from Vuzix, and the promise of an early production M100 when it becomes available for the price of $999.

    Source: Slashgear

    HTC phones with 512MB RAM won’t get Jelly Bean, One X and One S on track to get upgrade soon

    If you’re an owner of an HTC Desire C or a One V, we got bad news for you. HTC has said on its website that you won’t be getting that fantastic Android build, Jelly Bean, on your device. HTC isn’t doing this to spite you of course – the company is saying that phones generally need more than 512MB RAM to be upgraded to the next version of Android, which means you’re pretty much stuck on ICS (unless you want to root your phone yourself). One X and One S owners are fortunately on track to receive the Android update, although the company has sadly not said anything about when exactly that particular update is coming.

    Source: HTC

    Man uses Linux on a calculator to access the Internet

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    Have you ever wished you could somewhat make use of your old gadgets again instead of letting them sit around and collect dust? Feel like experimenting around for a little bit to find out? This man has modified his calculator to run the Linux OS and access the Internet, albeit a crude text version of it, but nonetheless, the Internet in its most basic form.

    As you see in the background of the video, a calculator doesn’t really have a wide range of connectivity options. He has used a series of workarounds and adapters to plug in his keyboard and connect the calculator to a router. Modifying calculators to do things such as run an operating system isn’t exactly new, but this is an interesting look at how one can use their older or inferior gadgets to at least do some functions that some of the more expensive gadgets can do.

    Sapphire invites you to catch a flick when you buy selected graphics cards

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    Looking for a new graphics card for the holidays? Why not make it a Sapphire? The card manufacturer is giving away movie tickets to customers who buy their AMD based graphics card on November 16 and 17. That’s not all – people who grab a HD7000 series card will also get Sapphire freebies as well, so it’s pretty much a win-win for consumers. The promotion applies to HD5000, HD6000 and HD7000 series card purchases, and can be redeemed  at the ground floor of the Gilmore I.T. center.

     

    Halo. Is it me you’re looking for?

    It apparently is. Microsoft has released the figures, and Halo 4 has blown previous sales records out of the water. In the opening day alone, the game has sold over USD 220 million globally. This puts it well on-track for the expected USD 300 million in sales for the first week. This makes this Xbox title the biggest entertainment launch this year, and puts it near the top of the pile of the biggest launches in the history of all entertainment. Lifetime sales for the title are well on their way to 3.5 Billion dollars. Yes. Billion. With a “B.”

    From the press release: “Halo 4 has garnered universal acclaim as one of the top-rated video games of 2012, and sparked a worldwide celebration when it released on Nov. 6. More than 10,000 retail stores in more than 40 countries worldwide, including Seattle, Paris, London, Berlin, Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai and Sydney, opened their doors at midnight to commemorate the highly anticipated return of the Master Chief.”

    We’re pumped about this game and can’t wait to get some playtime with the Chief, and if these numbers are any indication, neither can the rest of the world.

    Overly attached computer wants you to buy her an SSD upgrade courtesy of Samsung

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    If you’ve spent time at Reddit or 4Chan at all, y’all probably know who Laina is, the cute girl more commonly known as the overly attached girlfriend. Well, she’s now the overly attached PC, and she wants you to give her an SSD upgrade or else she’ll somehow sabotage your social life, release your passwords and make your browsing history known to the world. While the commercial is a bit overly creepy for our tastes, it’s still a pretty cool concept. So if you guys will excuse us, we have this hankering to buy Samsung SSDs, lest our horrible extremely average search history gets out somehow due to mysterious circumstances.

    Source: YouTube

    Team GADGETS’ early holiday treat: THE NOVEMBER ISSUE!

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    ‘Tis the season for holiday wishes! We know that as early as now, you’re already putting together your Christmas wishlist. Allow our Wishlist Issue to provide you with some suggestions and options so that you can find the perfect holiday gift for yourself and for your chums.

    As always, we have the hottest smartphones, tablets, laptops, mobile chargers, cameras and speakers in our Parade section. We also have in-depth reviews in our GadgetsLab so you can find out which gizmo is right for you. This issue, we have a special section called the Wishlist, where you can find the most coveted gadgets from Samsung, Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Coloud, Pioneer, Starmobile, Toshiba, Cherry Mobile, and Sony.

    We have a whole range of devices to choose from in our tech sections, but perhaps you have something more specific and lifestyle-oriented in mind. How about something for the kitchen, like the Nescafé Dolce Latte Piccolo? Perhaps you’d like some music gear, like some of the gadgets that electropoprock band Runmanila uses? Or maybe you’d like a holster for your shooter, like the ones Kydex Manila makes? What about an electric motorcycle, like the Bizmo? Whatever you have in mind, we’ve got something cooked up just for you in our latest issue.

    If you’re buying a gift for someone else, fret not. Our Cover Story can give you a leg up as we present a quick guide on how to buy gifts for your friends and relatives—whether they’re music lovers, photographers, sports buffs, executives, fashionistas, gamers, or moms.

    As an added bonus, we’ve thrown in our own holiday wishlists in our Staff Corner—the magazine’s newest section which will help you get to know Team GADGETS a little more.

    Young teleserye star Andrea Torres graces our cover. In our exclusive interview with her, not only does she give us her holiday wishlist— she also shares why she believes that wishes come true.

    Other features included in the issue are an interview with famed fashion photographer Sara Black, our chat with advertising art director Dennis Nierra, an interview with premier indie band Taken by Cars, the success of the Boracay Beach Management Program, and our tour of the Jump Experience Center at SM Megamall.

    Grab a copy from a leading bookstore near you!

    HP releases SpectreXT locally, priced at Php 55,990

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    HP’s Spectre lineup of notebooks is the company’s premium offering, combining top-notch hardware with sexy styling. The newest member of that prestigious lineup is the SpectreXT, which as you see in the pictures above, is one fantastically sexy notebook. The SpectreXT sports Intel’s latest Core i7 processor (Ivy Bridge) although it can also be had with the lower specc’d Core i5 processor. It has about 4GB of DDR3 memory, has a 13.3-inch BrightView LED display and has Beats audio inside.

    It’s overall thickness is only 17.7mm, and as you can see, it’s body is made from tough aluminum and not cheap plastic. The entire notebook exudes a nice, premium feel, and the overall build quality is pretty awesome.

    The device shown during the launch was still running Windows 7, though HP’s Business Development Manager, Kathryn Wong assured us that it would have Windows 8 when it ships to customers this month. Want this bad boy? Of course you do. Expect to pay Php 55,990 for the privilege of owning one.

    Azkals aim to scale new heights in AFF Suzuki Cup

    The Philippine Azkals will have the opportunity to improve on their record at the ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup that had recently kicked-off their Qualifying Rounds early October in Bangkok, Thailand and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Azkals reached the semi-finals in the 2010 edition, losing 2-0 on aggregate to Indonesia, but are seeking to overcome that hurdle when the tournament gets underway on November 24.

    “There is much excitement as we send off the Azkals for this edition of the Suzuki Cup. Much hard work has been poured for the improvement at this semifinal appearance in 2012. Our country today proudly participates in the competition,” said Philippine Football Federation president Mariano Araneta Jr. Wednesday night at the November send-off dinner for the squad sponsored by Suzuki Philippines. “I hope they reach the semifinals again so they will have a home game. I am looking forward to that,” said Suzuki Philippines President Satoshi Uchida.

    “Our opponents no longer consider us underdogs but the dark horse in the tournament. Everyone is expecting a hard fight from us and we have to live up to expectations as well, not only from our Filipino fans but also from the competition,” said Azkals team manager Dan Palami.

    Their coach, German national Michael Weiss, has turned the Azkals from unknowns into a force to be reckoned with in international play, reaching an all-time high of 147th worldwide in the FIFA rankings, 21st in all of Asia, and 3rd in Southeast Asia behind Thailand and Vietnam. They are a blend of outstanding homegrown talent and Filipino players based in the US and Europe, some of whom have decided to play in the Philippines, adding bite to the Azkals’ arsenal for a more fluid and attack-oriented playing style that the German mentor prefers.

    A year ago, the Filipino footballers became the first Philippine squad to reach the third round of the World Cup Asian qualifiers and attained another milestone last March in capturing the bronze medal in the AFC Challenge Cup in Kathmandu, Nepal. Striker Phil Younghusband, who plays for the Loyola Meralco Sparks, took home the Golden Boot with six goals in the competition. The Azkals ended a 99 year trophy drought by capturing the Philippine Peace Cup last September at Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

    Will Arnett for Lumia 920

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    While this isn’t really meant for our market here in the Philippines, it’s interesting to see the approach Nokia is taking with the advertising for their Windows Phone 8 (WP8) device, the Lumia 920. They’ve given US consumers an interesting little TV ad with “international/regional” star Will Arnett of Arrested Development and 30 Rock fame. It’s pretty nice to see that Nokia is taking this direction with their campaign, as the world could always use a little fun, and this is a great lead-up to the return of Arrested Development in 2013. It also gives us a little hint as to what they’re doing to push the brand (celebrity endorsers aren’t cheap) as well as how their approach varies from the competition. And while Nokia isn’t alone in this ad campaign (AT&T has a big hand in it, we’re sure), it’s also great to see that they’re alive and kicking overseas. We’re all hoping for a similar push here at home; it’s a great phone with a nice OS and it would be a shame to see it go south. Hit the link HERE for the video.

    Performance group turns old printers, fax machines, copiers and modems into musical orchestra

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    The end of every gadget’s life is pretty much the same – they all get chucked to the landfill, which they silently await either being recycled or buried in tons of earth. A performance group backed by printer company Brother found another way to use old gadgets though – use them to make music.

    Yes, folks from Is This Good? found a way to connect old gadgets like fax machines, printers, copiers and modems to a MIDI controller to make their rendition of the Bob Dylan song,  ‘The Times They Are A-Changin’. The concept isn’t new – a cursory search at YouTube reveals a couple of other similar projects, but this one is unique because of the scale of the products used, which includes old hard drives, dot-matrix printers and old baud modems. If you have two minutes to spare, you should totally check it out the composer’s Vimeo channel here. The fun starts at around :30.

    Source: Chris Cairns (Vimeo)