Tomorrow started years ago

E3 Amazed by 3 dimensions.

2010-06-13T15:35:00.000-03:00

It is considered the greatest american videogame exhibition. The E3 is an indispensable date for the big hardware and software manufacturers of the sector and it's useful to measure the temperature of a industry obliged to surprise year after year.

Microsoft will shoot the start bang to the show week with two previous presentations that will take place today and tomorrow and will spin around the flaming Project Natal, a gaming platform which will enable the user to interact directly with the software using their bodies and with no need o use devices to handle it.

The official presentation of Project Natal, which saw the light in the 2009 E9 only in exhibition mode, will join the "sun circus", in what promises to be a shocking show over the virtues of a system that appears to be thought to call the attention of the players attached to the Nintendo Wii .

Microsoft will reveal the details on this platform, just like the final name and/or the price, with the sight set on marketing the product on next fall.

The analysts point out that the computer giant will surely announce new video channels for the Xbox console, of which could even be shown a new finest and lighter edition, just as Sony did with the Playstation before.

In the other hand, the japanese company will launch the final version of their "PlayStation Move", their Wii-style wireless control proposition, shown in the E3 2009 and brought to the last San Francisco Game Developers Conference (GDC) on April.

The Sony's "Move", just like Project Natal, works thanks to an eye-toy style camera that captures tridimensionaly the movements of the user and bring them to the screen.

After the announcement of the launch in july of the new BRAVIA televisions capable of emitting in 3D, it's reasonable to think the Sony will perform a demonstration of the potential that offers the Playstation 3 in a stereoscopic world, starting out with the game "Killzone 3D".

Althought the domestic 3d will need by the moment the regular polarized glasses used in cinemas, Nintendo will try to revolve the market with the anticipated version of their portable console DS capable to project images in three dimensions that can be seen at simple sight.

The Wii creators, the best-selling videoconsole worldwide, informed in March that they're taking the Nintendo 3DS to the E3, scheduled to hit the market on spring 2011.

Even so, it is expectable that this company brings some new device that increases the uses of the popular Wii, just like the Vitality Sensor.

"Rock Band 3" brought us great expectation in the gaming ground, which includes a more professional interpretative mode and adds a new instrument, the keyboard, to the already existing ones, the drumset and the guitar.

Between the expected titles for the E3 we can found "Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood", "Fable III", "Gears of War 3", "Halo: Reach" o "Cal of Duty: Black Ops" for Xbox, and "Killzone 3", "Gran Turismo 5", "God of War: Ghost of Sparta" or "Star Wars: The Force Unleashd II" for Playstation 3.

The new delivery of "Zelda" will arrive for the users of Nintendo that will be offered "Conduit 2" or "Metroid: Other M".

The E3, a festival closed to general public, gathered more than 300 exhibitors and it was visited for 41.000 people coming from 78 countries.

Samsung Kalmia: New netbook with LTE connection.

2010-06-08T13:32:00.000-03:00

Samsung launched to the market the version of the Netbook N150, the first in its kind with LTE technology (Long Term Evolution), which make it able to gain access to the net from anywhere at high speed.

The new netbook was baptized as Kalmia, for being equipped with the LTE modem of the same name that lets you download files 100 Mbps. If we recall, the earlier versions of the Samsung N150 had only HSPA 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity.

LTE is a data transmission technology near to 4G, which makes the user reach major speed and superior spectrum then 3G nets.

The Samsung N150 Kalmia has a low-consumption LED screen and 10.1" anti-reflex that reduces the issues with the light. This gives you the chance to watch videos and pictures with high clarity, even under intense light.

Thanks to a 6-cell battery, Samsung N150 Kalmia can make it up to 8 hours and a half with energy, meaning the user can keep sending e-mails and uploading pictures without having to worry about their machine shutting down.

The Samsung N150 Kalmia is design over an integrated hinge. This means that the screen joins the keyboard in a continuous way, even when it's open, letting adjust the screen a lot easier.

The construction of the Samsung N150 Kalmia foresees an intensive utilization, that is why the case is desing to resist knocks and falls. Inside we can find installed an Intel Atom 2 processor at 1.66 GHz, a 250 GB hard drive and 1 GB of RAM.

South Korea runs for the 5G technology prize.

2010-03-14T12:43:00.001-03:00

No surprise, nowadays saying "Asians" is to say top technology. Japanese devices are of great quality, Chinese devices are.... well, not that great... buuut they've been improving through the last years. Now it's the time for Korea to shine again, working on the future 5G technology (man, yesterday they talked about 4G, now they're planning on the 5G, and I'm still trying to get me a 3G phone).

As you may know well, Samsung and LG plan on becoming heavyweight champions in mobile communications (I guess they plan on becoming even heavier). Now, listen up. This country's idea is to invest around 60 million won (which is to say around 58.449.293 USD) in the next years for 5G technology development.

What could we expect from 5G? I don’t want to go sci-fi but I feel pushed to do so, because everything I can think of is already featured in a phone. It will certainly bring us amazing stuff, but probably only improved services. The day phones (and basically any computer) are able to deliver coffee by transferring material via internet, that day ladies and gentlemen I will be ready to rest in peace.

Xbox Project Natal: Much more than just gaming.

2010-03-13T08:51:00.001-02:00

Now, THIS is what I call future. If Project Natal actually is what we think it is, we're talking about real progress. When Nintendo launched its Wii and the Wiimote it was like "wow, the console understands my movements!". Sony is now ready to launch the PlayStation Move, an improved and personal version of the Wiimote. But now all of this could look old if you hear the Project Natal promises. Let's see what the guys form Microsoft and its Xbox have to say.

You Are the Controller.

Introducing Project Natal, a revolutionary new way to play: no controller required. See a ball? Kick it, hit it, trap it or catch it. If you know how to move your hands, shake your hips or speak you and your friends can jump into the fun -- the only experience needed is life experience.

Essentially, the camera sensors project radar-like beams that hit objects in the room and bounce back, allowing the machine to build up an accurate picture of what is in front of it. Such systems have a surprisingly fine level of detail, even able to recognize different hand signals or small movements. Add the capability to incorporate facial recognition, and it's the sort of development that has not only gamers salivating, but also games producers.

So if you play action games with lots of frenetic moves, you will actually sweat... a lot ;D. Maybe gamers won't live sedentary lives anymore!

It seems to be really easy to use, and let's face it, the idea is totally attractive. I'll wait a few weeks after the launch and I'll check the customers reviews, and if everything is running fine, I'll get me one (if I don't have to sell my vital organs to buy it, of course).

You can find more information and many good videos at http://www.xbox.com/en-US/live/projectnatal

Don't be shy, leave a comment :).

PlayStation Move: Not just a copycat.

2010-03-12T22:02:00.002-02:00

After a long time, Sony presented yesterday, Thursday March 11, in San Francisco the final design for the PlayStation Move, which is scheduled to be launched in fall 2010, and it will be sold at less than 100 USD (Japan and USA), including the PS Eye Camera and one game.

Sony has pointed out that this is the most advanced hardware of this generation, for it's extremely accurate. It's design with advanced motion sensors, including a three axes gyroscope, a three axes accelerometer, a ground magnetic field sensor and even a color-changing sphere (which is what the camera tracks). It can track very well the gamers actions, either they are fast actions (like a drive while playing tennis) or slow (while painting carefully). It's also said that the PlayStation Eye Camera can capture the user's voice or image, letting them experience reality on its own.

Now we've got the device, cool. What about the games? The following companies are committed to release games for PlayStation Move: 505 Games, Activision, AQ Interactive, Arc System Works, Atlus, Bigben Interactive, Capcom, CCP, Crave, Cyberfront, Disney Interactive, Electronic Arts, FromSoftware, Game Republic, Gust, Hudson, Irem Software, Koei, Konami, Majesco, Marvelous Entertainment, Namco Bandai, Ongakukan, Oxygen Games, Paon Corp, Q Entertainment, Q-Games, SEGA, Sony Online, Spike, Square Enix, TECMO, THQ, Ubisoft, Warner Bros and Zoo Entertainment.

The Move itself. (named sub-controller). The control is (very) similar to The first thing to know? Well, I think you already noticed the first thing. Yes, we think (know) it's a Wii controls copy, just improved. You get a main control (named Move) and a nunchuckWii's, but with significant changes. For instance, there are as many buttons in the Move as in the DualShock, the response is a lot better, and the use of the PS Eye is really good, making a real difference between Sony and the big N.

Let's be fair, copying and improving the Nintendo franchise doesn't deserve a reward for innovation. Besides, Sony's making (or probably will) the same mistake as Nintendo leaving the hardcore gamers apart. Let's just pray they get to be really creative with this new stuff. But let's be fair again, the only thing the Wii had over the PlayStation 3 was the Wiimote. Now that PlayStation has its own Playmote (?), only the real fans will be behind Nintendo. This will force Nintendo to make new high quality hardware really soon, or start thinking of a new version of Wii. Would you try out this new stuff or are you the biggest Nintendo fan ever?

Samsung 3D LED TV: 3D Hyperial Engine

2010-03-10T16:13:00.001-02:00

Samsung launched in Korea its first 2 3D LED TV with the 7000 and 8000 Series available in 46" and 55”. Sold at 3900€ for the C8000 55” model, these TVs will also be available Worldwide and in the USA around March at around $3299 USD (what? technology is never too expensive... o.0").

But, what is 3D Hyperial Engine? Well, 3D Hyperial Engine is a system by Samsung, which automatically adjusts the image quality. With these guys, you can play videogames, watch movies or your daily TV shows, all of them in 3D... I could really use that xP.

Wow! So you just turn it on and you're in 3D world? Well, no, we're not THAT advanced. Obviously, you still need to wear special glasses in order to experience the 3D quality. These glasses are 2D and 3D capable, just by pressing one button. Not new enough for you? How about connecting to internet and making video calls? Now it is getting awesome uh? ;D.

Would you buy one of these tough guys? I don't know if it's worth the wallet pain... Well, you can always try it out at a showroom :).

Skinput: the future in your skin.

2010-03-08T04:59:00.000-02:00

Have you ever imagined glowing figures on your skin? maybe... a tattoo? Nnno, dynamic glowing figures. Mmmmaybe a moving tattoo? Well, no, we're here to talk about technology, so take a seat, and see how tomorrow you could be playing tetris on your own skin.

The name is Skinput. It uses the body as an input surface, so your own skin can be used as a keyboard, as the buttons of your gamepad, as a tactile screen... you are the display.
The concept is by Chris Harrison, a researcher at Carnegie Mellon University. He worked on the project in conjunction with Desney Tan and Dan Morris at Microsoft Research.

Skinput uses the body as an echo chamber, detecting sound trends, so when the user taps a particular part of their body, a sensor worn around the upper arm can tell if the tap-point was at a particular spot on the forearm or on one of the individual fingertips, by assessing the vibrations sent throughout the body by the tap.
The real significance of this invention has to do with the improvement for security tactic teams. With this tool, they can have more control of their equipments on the field.

This device is 95% accurate about dots detection, and most important, works even when the user is in movement.
"Skinput" is schedule to be presented at the 28th Annual SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems at Atlanta, Georgia, from April 10 - 15, 2010.

Maybe this is not new for you, or maybe you feel amazed right now. How do you think we could take advantage of this technology? What can you see in our future with things like this? I'm sure you've got something to say, so leave a comment and let's talk about it ;).