RouteScout

Is Rugby really that tough? You decide?

2012-02-27T00:33:00.000-08:00

The Samsung Rugby certainly lived up to its namesake – after all, it was one rugged phone back in 2010, but how has the years treated the device? Obviously, Samsung is not going to rest on their laurels as we have seen with past smartphone iterations, and has announced a spanking new rugged smartphone under the Rugby name as well – the Samsung Rugby Smart. It is officially available over at AT&T, and will launch this coming March 4th for $99.99 a pop – coupled with a 2-year contract, of course. Just how tough is the Samsung Rugby Smart? For starters, it was specially developed to cater to military specifications (810F standards), enabling it to shrug off stuff like dust, extreme temperatures as well as sport the ability to be submerged in up to 1 meter of water for up to half an hour.

As for the other hardware specifications, the Samsung Rugby Smart will feature the following under the hood – a 3.7″ WVGA Super AMOLED display, a 5-megapixel camera with 720p video capture ability, a 1.3-megapixel front-facing shooter, 4GB of internal memory, a microSD memory card slot, a 1,650mAh battery, HSPA+ connectivity, all running on Android 2.3 Gingerbread. No idea on whether Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is in the pipeline for this, but for folks who feel that they do suffer from butterfingers, the Samsung Rugby Smart does seem like a (excuse the pun) smart deal.

Source

GPS Watch

2012-02-26T09:36:00.000-08:00

Epson GPS watch

from NaviGadget by Tim Robbins

Seiko Epson just announced they have developed world’s lightest GPS watch designed for runners. It is capable of providing runners with performance data in real time including distance, pace, and speed. This new slim designed GPS watch also boasts a long battery life which can last up to 12 hours on a fresh charge with GPS tracking on.

Some more facts about the Epson GPS watch:
weighs no more than 50 grams
13 millimeters in thickness
water resistant up to 5 bars, or 50 meters of water

Brought to you by your GPS navigation site NaviGadget.

Hard-Droid... totally awesome Tablets for battle

2012-02-24T16:18:00.000-08:00

Harris Corporation Chooses Android To Power Ruggedized Tablets For Defense And Public Safety Communication

from Android Police by Liam Spradlin

Harris Corporation, an international communications/IT company catering specifically to government and commercial markets, officially unveiled their own 7" Android-powered tablet today, meant to provide a rugged tool for the transmission of "mission-critical" communication for defense and public safety. The tablet is specifically aimed at military personnel and first responders, who "require secure real-time information at their fingertips to execute their missions."

The tablet has been graded as a ruggedized device, meaning it can stand up to extreme heat, cold, or other rough environments and still provide critical functionality to its users. Dana Mehnert, group president of Harris RF Communications ...

Motorola Working On Ruggedized Android Tablet, Presumably For Rugged Individuals

NSA And Google Developing Hardened Android Kernel For Government Communication; Will Be More Secure Than BlackBerry

Drones versus Unions?

2012-02-20T06:00:00.000-08:00

Commercial Drones Taking To the Skies in the U.S.

from Slashgeo by Satri

During the weekend, Slashdot discussed the stiry named Commercial Drones Taking To the Skies. And the reason why I'm sharing it is the inevitable impacts of ubiquitous commercial UAVs will have on remote sensing.

Their summary: "A new federal law, signed by the president on Tuesday, compels the Federal Aviation Administration to allow drones to be used for all sorts of commercial endeavors — from selling real estate and dusting crops, to monitoring oil spills and wildlife, even shooting Hollywood films. Local police and emergency services will also be freer to send up their own drones. But while businesses, and drone manufacturers especially, are celebrating the opening of the skies to these unmanned aerial vehicles, the law raises new worries about how much detail the drones will capture about lives down below — and what will be done with that information. Safety concerns like midair collisions and property damage on the ground are also an issue."

What's that? A Multi-channel High Definition in your Pocket or are simply glad to see me?

2012-02-19T10:05:00.000-08:00

While we already know that Qualcomm's Snapdragon S4 will offer a quad-core variant, incorporate LTE and use a 28nm manufacturing process, the company posted an article to its media blog ahead of Mobile World Congress showcasing the new features provided by the chipset's Image Signal Processor. You're likely familiar with some of the imaging functionality available in Qualcomm's existing Snapdragon processors -- technology like Scalado's Rewind (pictured above) which we've covered before. The new SoC cranks things up a notch with support for up to three cameras (two in the back for 3D plus one front-facing), 20-megapixel sensors and 1080p HD video recording at 30fps. In addition to zero shutter lag, the Snapdragon S4 includes proprietary 3A processing (autofocus, auto exposure and auto white balance) along with improved blink / smile detection, gaze estimation, range finding and image stabilization. Rounding things off are gesture detection / control, augmented reality and computer vision (via Quacomm's FastCV). Want to know more? Check out the source link below, then hit the break for video demos of the S4's image stabilization and gesture-based imaging chops.

Connection to the Edge - Emergency or Otherwise

2012-02-16T09:12:00.000-08:00

DARPA TO DEVELOP MOBILE MILLIMETER-WAVE BACKHAUL NETWORKS

February 10, 2012

Advanced communications backbone envisioned to support dismounted warfighters in austere locations

Providing high-bandwidth communications for troops in remote forward operating locations is not only critical but also challenging because a reliable infrastructure optimized for remote geographic areas does not exist. When you introduce additional needs, such as communication support for data feeds from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) transmitting information to troops on patrol in remote areas, you face a host of new challenges where dropped signals can create a serious threat to a warfighter's situational awareness.

DARPA's recently announced Fixed Wireless at a Distance program seeks to tackle the problem of stationary infrastructure designed specifically to overcome the challenge inherent with cell communication in remote areas.

To overcome the challenge of data transmission in remote areas outside forward operating locations, the Agency's Mobile Hotspots program intends to develop and demonstrate a scalable, mobile, millimeter-wave communications backbone with the capacity and range needed to connect dismounted warfighters with forward-operating bases (FOBs), tactical operations centers (TOCs), intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) assets, and fixed communications infrastructure. The backbone should also provide reliable end-to-end data delivery among the hotspots, as well as from ISR sources and command centers to the hotspot users. In essence, Mobile Hotspots seeks to provide cell-tower-class performance without the infrastructure.

The program envisions air, mobile and fixed assets, most of which are organic to the deployed unit, that provide a gigabit-per-second tactical backbone network extending to the lowest-echelon warfighters. To achieve this, the program seeks to develop advanced pointing, acquisition and tracking (PAT) technologies, not commercially available, needed to provide high connectivity to the forward-located mobile hotspots. Advanced PAT technology is key for connectivity to small UAVs, for example, enabling them to serve as flying nodes on the mobile high-speed backbone.

"While some advanced commercial millimeter-wave components can be leveraged for this program, the technical challenge is more complex given the infrastructure and terrain challenges of a forward-operating locations," said Dick Ridgway, DARPA program manager. "Mobile Hotspots will require the development of steerable antennas, efficient millimeter-wave power amplifiers, and dynamic networking to establish and maintain the mobile data backhaul network. We anticipate using commercial radio protocols, such as WiFi, WiMax or LTE [Long Term Evolution], as a cost-effective demonstration of the high-capacity backbone. However, the millimeter-wave mobile backbone developed during this program will be compatible with other military radios and protocols."

Additionally, the program seeks novel technologies to increase the transmission power to provide adequate ranges within the small size, weight, and power (SWAP) constraints required for company-level unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

To view the Broad Agency Announcement, go here.

Sony Mobile Arrives...

2012-02-16T09:08:00.000-08:00

DoD gets a Modem too?

2012-02-16T08:59:00.000-08:00

Satellite web surfing at 40Mbps with ViaSat SurfBeam 2 Pro (video)

from Engadget by Zach Honig

If you've been relying on a satellite modem for your daily dose of the Internet, you're probably all too familiar with sub-1Mbps download speeds and an overall painful experience. That's exactly why we've been so impressed withViaSat and its new 12Mbps down, 3Mbps up Exede residential satellite broadband product. Yesterday, we journeyed deep into Camp Pendleton near San Diego to test out those 12/3Mbps speeds on the go-anywhere SurfBeam 2 Pro Portable, and now we're back to play around with the enterprise setup's more stationary sibling, the SurfBeam 2 Pro. The modem functions in much the same way as ViaSat's less-expensive household version, though there's a bit more horsepower under the hood.

The sample we saw at the company's Carlsbad, CA headquarters is also provisioned for faster service, delivering throughput in excess of 40Mbps down, letting you transfer files from the web at speeds you'd typically only be able to meet with a fiber connection. That may be a bit excessive for regular web use, but if you need to download software, movies or other large files in remote areas, that extra speed will likely be more than welcome. Join us past the break for a quick look a Exede, followed by a demo of the enterprise version and its 40Mbps downloads.

ArcGIS On-line - the almost that is too late?

2012-02-15T19:10:00.000-08:00

The GeoDesign Little Red Book is ready to teach a generation of students what won’t work in the
commercial sector.

Let's Call Esri's ArcGIS Online What It Is -- A Spade

from James Fee GIS Blog

Cutting edge maps have pushpins on them.

Basically Esri’s ArcGIS Online is Google My Maps, but with $10,000 client software. Creating a map to share with Esri’s online APIs doesn’t make it content management. There is no geneology of data, no lifecycle to the product. Just some simple polygons or pushpins on a map that at its core isn’t what customers want. The biggest reason why Esri is pushing ArcGIS Online so much is that Google Earth Builder is a direct play toward some vision that Esri has to where GIS may go in 2012/2013.

Tablets for Flight Bags

2012-02-10T15:43:00.000-08:00

Air Force Could Buy Thousands Of iPads And Android Tablets

from TechCrunch by Devin Coldewey

The Air Force’s Air Mobility Command will be putting in a request for the purchase of a number of tablets soon in an effort to lighten their pilots’ loads. Many commercial airlines are already taking this step, and American Airlines has already gotten FAA approval. The Air Force is feeling the sting of jealousy, and in consequence may be requesting as many as 18,000 devices.

The number could also be as low as 63; the Command was not forthcoming on this point. The lower number would probably indicate a pilot program, so to speak, for a few devices, to determine which should get the big order.

Which tablet would actually be ordered is also not specified. Bloomberg cannily plays up the iPad angle in its report (U.S. Air Force May Buy 18,000 Apple IPad 2s), but the spokesperson they talked to, Captain Ferrero, said the request might also be for Playbooks, Galaxy Tabs, Xooms, or Nooks.

If these were to be general-purpose tablets, this little menagerie would be hard to winnow down. But the fact is they are going to be used as virtual flight bags, and the iPad is the only one that has the thousands of hours in the air that the Air Force will require. In a year, maybe, Android tablets will have a little more experience under their belts, but for now it’s probably safe to say that any tablets purchased by the government for the purpose of being electronic flight bags are going to be iPads.

Eventually, these platform issues will have to be settled, though: if part of the military is going with Android for security purposes, and others are going with iOS for EFB and, say, general communication, there’s going to be a reckoning sooner or later.

NEX SONY E Lens

2012-02-09T12:41:00.000-08:00

Sony promises eight more NEX E-mount lenses by the end of 2013, doesn't elaborate

from Engadget by Zach Honig

Have you been holding out on that NEX purchase because of the currently limited E-mount lens selection? Well, Sony's got some good news for you -- there will soon be eight additional lenses to choose from (for a total of 15), with all models making it into circulation by the end of 2013. That's still no match for the hundreds of optics available for Canon or Nikon DSLRs, but you'll at least be able to build a collection that covers (almost) all of your bases. Sony hasn't detailed any of these upcoming models, but the company's chart above lists a few categories, including a High Performance Standard Zoom in the pricey Zeiss category, along with High-magnification, Standard, Wide Angle and Mid-magnification Zooms. There will also be a trio of prime lenses, including a Large Aperture Standard lens, a Middle Telephoto and a "Snap" (pancake) optic. We're just as anxious as you to find out exactly what Sony has in mind for each of these categories, but you should at least take some comfort in knowing that the E-mount collection is far from complete.

GPS promised faster, more fuel efficient landings

2012-02-08T19:44:00.000-08:00

Congress clears bill to let FAA move from radar to GPS

updated 07:05 pm EST, Wed February 8, 2012

The US Congress has passed a bill to give the FAA operational stability and to enable it to modernize how it handles planes in the air. The provisions of the bill will accelerate the migration from radar-based to GPS-based air traffic control. The act also makes it easier for unmanned drones to take to the skies.
The bill gives the FAA a $63.5 billion budget over the next four years. Its passage represents the end of a five year battle over funding of the agency and provides it some stability. Its last long term financing plan expired in 2007. Since then, it has been operating through 23 stopgap funding measures.

About 17 percent of the budget, $11 million, will go to modernizing the FAA's air traffic system. Currently the agency uses radar to show an aircraft's position. The radar refreshes the plane's location every six to twelve seconds. This means that the aircraft must use a stairstep method for its landing approach, where they stay at set altitudes for long periods before diving lower. It also means that planes must leave a significant distance between other planes on landing approaches. Either measure inefficient both in terms of time and fuel consumption.

The modernized GPS system gives air traffic controllers new aircraft position information every second. As such, aircraft can descend more gradually and steeply with their engines idled. It can space aircraft closer together, even in bad weather. If fully realized, the changes should lead to better capacity, less fuel consumption, and fewer needs to divert to another airport.

The bill requires that the 35 busiest airports in the US must have GPS-based landing systems in place by June 2015.

A separate provision of the bill gives non-manned drone aircraft access to US airspace. Currently, only the military, the US border patrol, and selected government agencies are authorized to use unmanned aircraft in specific areas outside of normal commercial airspace. The new guidelines, which must be in place by the end of September 2015, will allow the military, commercial and privately-owned unmanned airborne devices to fly the skies currently restricted to manned aircraft. [via AP]

Read more: http://www.electronista.com/articles/12/02/08/gps.promised.faster.more.fuel.efficient.landings/#ixzz1lquKAmWP

Totally Chrome...

2012-02-07T10:52:00.000-08:00

Introducing Chrome for Android

from Official Google Mobile Blog by A Googler

In 2008, we launched Google Chrome to help make the web better. We’re excited that millions of people around the world use Chrome as their primary browser and we want to keep improving that experience. Today, we're introducing Chrome for Android Beta, which brings many of the things you’ve come to love about Chrome to your Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich phone or tablet. Like the desktop version, Chrome for Android Beta is focused on speed and simplicity, but it also features seamless sign-in and sync so you can take your personalized web browsing experience with you wherever you go, across devices.

Popout

Speed With Chrome for Android, you can search, navigate and browse fast—Chrome fast. You can scroll through web pages as quickly as you can flick your finger. When searching, your top search results are loaded in the background as you type so pages appear instantly. And of course, both search and navigation can all be done quickly from the Chrome omnibox.

Simplicity Chrome for Android is designed from the ground up for mobile devices. We reimagined tabs so they fit just as naturally on a small-screen phone as they do on a larger screen tablet. You can flip or swipe between an unlimited number of tabs using intuitive gestures, as if you’re holding a deck of cards in the palm of your hands, each one a new window to the web.One of the biggest pains of mobile browsing is selecting the correct link out of several on a small-screen device. Link Preview does away with hunting and pecking for links on a web page by automatically zooming in on links to make selecting the precise one easier. And as with Chrome on desktop, we built Chrome for Android with privacy in mind from the beginning, including incognito mode for private browsing and fine-grained privacy options (tap menu icon, ‘Settings,’ and then ‘Privacy’).

Sign in You can now bring your personalized Chrome experience with you to your Android phone or tablet. If you sign in to Chrome on your Android device, you can:

View open tabs: Access the tabs you left open on your computer (also signed into Chrome)—picking up exactly where you left off.
Get smarter suggestions: If you visit a site often on your computer, you'll also get an autocomplete suggestion for it on your mobile device, so you can spend less time typing.
Sync bookmarks: Conveniently access your favorite sites no matter where you are or which device you’re using.

Chrome is now available in Beta from Android Market, in select countries and languages for phones and tablets with Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich. We’re eager to hear your feedback. Finally, we look forward to working closely with the developer community to create a better web on a platform that defines mobile.

Posted by Sundar Pichai, SVP, Chrome and Apps

Nikon D800 - Blue2CAN and VMS Ready

2012-02-07T10:12:00.000-08:00

For professional and broadcast applications that call for outboard digital recorders or external monitors, users can stream an uncompressed full HD signal directly out of the camera via the HDMI port (8 bit, 4:2:2). This output signal can be ported into a display or digital recording device or routed through a monitor and then to the recording device, eliminating the need for multiple connections. This image can also be simultaneously viewed on both the camera’s LCD and an external monitor, while eliminating on-screen camera status data for streaming purposes. The D800 also includes features concentrated on audio quality, such as a dedicated headphone jack for accurate monitoring of audio levels while recording. Audio output levels can be adjusted with 30 steps for precise audio adjustment and monitoring. The D800 offers high-fidelity audio recording control with audio levels that can be set and monitored on the camera’s LCD screen. A microphone connected via the stereo mic jack can also be adjusted with up to 20 steps of sensitivity for accurate sound reproduction. What’s more, recording can be set to be activated through the shutter button, opening a world of remote applications through the 10-pin accessory terminal.

Camera Control Pro v2.10.0 is also released with Nikon D4 support

Support for the following D4 features has been added.
Shooting at a shutter speed setting of Bulb
Exposure Preview for Photo live view
White Balance (LV) for Photo live view
Specification of Shutter Speed, Aperture, Exposure Comp. and ISO Sensitivity for movie recording
The Movie sub-tab is now an independent camera control tab.

JVC makes a great AVCHD

2012-02-07T09:55:00.000-08:00

JVC jumps on feature rich AVCHD high-def handicam. Not only a sensitive CMOS sensor but and excellent lens for wide angle recording. It can handle continuous high speed image capture as well as 300fps slow-motion recording as well. PLUS built-in Wi-Fi allows Live Monitoring via Smartphone, videos and stills to be emailed, and wireless transfer of files to an Android device or iPhone/iPad.

Just like the motor drive equipped on SLR cameras, this mode allows you to record stills in rapid succession. Get sharp, crisp images for every split-second of movement. Capture even fast-paced action as high quality digital stills. (Available with V/VX/GX Series)

300fps High-Speed Video Recording for Super Slow Motion Playback

High-speed recording enables super slow motion playback, so you can analyze movements that may not be visible to the naked eye in real time. Use it as an effective tool for sports technique analysis and nature studies. (Available with EX/V/VX/GX Series) Note: Saving may take some time after recording many continuous shots.

JVC camcorder connects to, controlled by phone

from (title unknown) by Paul Worthington

JVC launched seven new Everio camcorders, four of which have built-in WiFi to tether to Android and iOS devices, enabling wireless transfer to the smartphone for internet sharing — and for the phone to serve as a remote control for the camcorder’s video capture.

“With Wi-Fi models, JVC fills the gap between a traditional camcorder and a smartphone by combining great image quality with advanced photographic features, such as a powerful zoom and excellent communication capabilities,” the company says.

Live Monitoring allows real-time viewing on a smartphone or computer of images taken with the Everio.

Auto Photo Email automatically emails stills taken using the Everio’s movement detection function to a computer or smartphone.

All the new Everio models record in 1920 by 1080 HD in AVCHD format. However, video clips sent from camcorder through the phone’s data connection are limited to 15 seconds long, and 640 by 360 in resolution.

The E/EX series has a 40x optical zoom. The V/VX series’ Super LoLux optics has F1.2 lens assures, and the camcorders capture hi-speed and super slow video. The GX series’ lens was “developed specifically to yield optimal results together with the 1/2.3-inch 10 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor.”

Prices range from $230 to $900.

360 Degree ProPhoto

2012-02-07T09:28:00.000-08:00

Google offers businesses “Trusted Photographers”

from (title unknown) by Paul Worthington

Last year Google officered “Street Views” of indoor businesses: click in a web browser to see inside a stores or restaurant. Now the company is connecting businesses with pro shooters who can make the 360-degree images for them.

When it first announced the Business Photos pilot program, “we wanted to give business owners an easy way to get customers in the door online using interactive, high-quality, 360-degree images,” Google says. “With thousands of businesses under our belt — from salons to gift shops — we’ve been hearing the same question again and again from both business owners and photographers alike: How can I participate? Well, with the overwhelming success of the first pilot, we’ve decided to unveil a complementary initiative that will help us reach more interested business owners, more quickly.”

The “Trusted Photographers” program lets anyone use phone or email to set up a photo shoot. “This self-serve model makes for easier scheduling and quicker turnaround, while also supporting the local photographers in your community,” Google says. The photographer will upload the images, “and shortly thereafter, you’ll see 360-degree panoramic views of your business on Google.com, Google Maps, and your Google Places listing.”

“Trusted Photographers” are now available in 14 cities. “Don’t see a photographer in your area?” Google asks. “Let us know, as that will help us determine where more Trusted Photographers are needed.”

Android Open Reasoning

2012-02-05T10:48:00.000-08:00

ANDROID SMARTPHONES FOR SOLDIERS?

SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2011 AT 6:00AM

Danger Room has an article about the Army exploring the use of Android smartphones and apps as soldier devices.

If I had a nickel for every time a soldier in theater asked why the Army can't come up with a tactical version of a Blackberry or iPhone for battlefield use, I'd have a lot of nickels. So it is good to see the Army experimenting more with this sort of soldier-level commercial technology, particularly after the history of failures and half-successes that has been the Land Warrior (now Nett Warrior) program.

As an open-source application, Android has a huge advantage for government adoption, since it doesn't rely on a closed, proprietary interface which means many developers can contribute. The military is starting to use Linux on a number of platform applications for that reason, so Android is a logical extension into the mobile computing domain.

It isn't as simple as just buying a bunch of smartphones and whipping up some military-specific Android apps, though. Let's examine a few of the challenges facing military mobile computing:

(1) The network itself. In a lot of places the military goes, there is no network to tap into. The military has to bring its own. We take for granted our cell phone and data services with their wide coverage areas, because we have a huge investment in the fixed infrastructure that supports it. Imagine you need to buy not only phones, but mobile cell towers, routes, and all the communications and power devices to go with them, be able to deploy them, set them up, and operate them in an austere environment. That's what military mobile computing is up against. There are some work-arounds. If you deploy to an area with infrastructure, you can use that -- even Afghanistan is starting to get ubiquitous Roshan cell phone towers and service. Of course, you need to make sure the other side doesn't turn the service off on you (see point #2). You could use your vehicles as mobile hot spots, eleveraging their long-range communications and satellite comms to serve as your network. That might be more workable -- provided you can bear the cost of outfitting each vehicle to serve as a network hotspot, with its own electrical power and bandwidth challenges.

(2) Information assurance and security. You want your information to travel unmolested, arrive intact, only be usable to you. If you find dropped calls annoying, imagine it in the middle of a firefight. And you don't want the enemy to be able to easily eavesdrop on your network, use it to track your troops, or otherwise compromise your information -- something we're so good at, the Taliban makes cell phone providers in Afghanistan shut their services off at night so they can't be tracked. Now, admittedly, we in the military do tend to overclassify things. There's not much in a squad level action that is tactically exploitable except in real time, but over time many of those actions show patterns that good intel analysts can exploit. So your mobile network needs a way to both mask itself and effectively encrypt its data.

(3) Hardening. The commercial cell phone isn't designed to operate in a military environment, with the dust, high and low temperatures, moisture, shock, vibration, dropping, getting kicked, getting hit by other equipment, or getting beat up carried around in an ammo pouch. While with a little care my iPod Touch survived my last eployment just fine, I wasn't using it for tactical communications.. That environment it why military equipment tends to be a bit big and clunky (the need for it to work when the user is wearing gloves or a chemical suit is another big reason), as well as expensive to develop. In theory, if the military were to adopt a disposable view toward smartphones -- just replace instead of repair -- it could forget about all that hardening and just make do. It might be cost effective -- provided you can live with dropping your smartphone on a rock and having it inoperative just as you need to call in the artillery to protect your position.

(4) Obsolescence. The military likes to be able to maintain its own equipment, and have some means of training standardization. Cell phones tend not to last more than 6-12 months in the marketplace before they become obsolete, replaced by the next model. The military can't evven field or train equipment in that time. That doesn't mean the idea is unworkable, but it does mean that the military would require a bit of culture change -- not everyone will have the exact same model; the user might have a responsibi,ity to self-train on the newest equipment; and instead of having a logistical support system they might just plan a periodic replacement upgrade.

None of the issues highlighted make the use of commercial standards or technology unworkable, but they do require careful thought to mitigate and a change of military operational culture to adopt.

Although ... if Apple's success in bringing out a white iPhone is any nidication, I wouldn't expect a camo-themed smartphone any time soon

Android Army - iPhone too secrete?

2012-02-05T10:45:00.000-08:00

US government close to custom Android use, denied iOS source

updated 02:00 pm EST, Fri February 3, 2012

US near federal Android use

A handful of new tips have hinted that the US government's custom Android work is going beyond just military use. After soldiers, federal agencies and contractors would get the devices, CNN heard. The platform would be locked down enough only to store the documents at first, but it could be cleared send them over the cellular network in a matter of a "few months" if the sources were right.

The phones themselves would be off-the-shelf devices, but government contractor and George Mason University IT security director Angelos Stavrou said that the federal implementation wouldn't be victim to the months-long delays and denied updates that define Android for most users. Government phones would have a portable firmware that would allow for updates within two weeks of an Android update and could port it to new phones, although presumably only on devices with unlocked bootloaders like the Galaxy Nexus.

Apps would be tested separately in labs before reaching devices to prevent them from giving out more data than they need or should. Personal apps would still be an option, but they would have to be vetted.

Apple has been under consideration, but reportedly blew its chance, Stavrou said. Apple wasn't willing to give out the source code for iOS to let the government modify the platform, preventing the changes the military and federal staff would want.

Other organizations are believed to be looking at the custom Android build. The NSA has quietly launched its own version, SE Android, as of early January. Private companies are said to be interested as well, although they may run headlong into a preference for iOS at work.

The lack of cooperation from Apple wasn't unexpected. The company has never divulged source code for iOS and has regularly been willing to forgo special access to governments and corporations to preserve what it sees as a valuable advantage.

Read more: http://www.electronista.com/articles/12/02/03/us.near.federal.android.use/#ixzz1lLue4OVm

Secure Android and the Army Universal Remote

2012-02-05T10:30:00.000-08:00

U.S. Government & Military To Get Secret-Worthy Android Phones

from TechCrunch by Greg Kumparak

The amount of stuff we trust to fly in and out of our smartphones is astounding. Just look at what happened when a couple of reporters got access to an unwitting (and rather unlucky)Apple employee’s iMessages alone — within days, they learned more about him than most people know about their closest friends.

Now, imagine all the stuff that could fly in and out of a government official’s phone, or that of a highly-ranked member of the military. Forget saucy texts and booty pictures — we’re talking about state secrets, here.

Looking to keep their secrets underwraps while on the go, the U.S government is working on a build of Android custom-tailored to meet their security requirements.

Word of the project comes from CNN, who notes that U.S. officials/soldiers aren’t currently allowed to send any classified data over their smartphones. If they need to transmit anything that might sink ships (so to speak), they currently need to find a secured (generally meaning hardwired) line hooked to an approved device.

Here’s the gist of the project:

A limited number of soldiers will get the phones first, then federal agencies, then possibly contractors
The U.S. won’t be building their own hardware — that’d be too expensive. Instead, they’ll be buying commercially available devices and reflashing them.
They hoped to be able to offer iOS devices, but it’s not going to happen. CNN notes that federal officials met with Apple to request that they share their source — as you’d probably guess, Apple wasn’t too cool with that idea.
Surprisingly, users of the handsets will be able to install new applications, though the handsets will put a specific emphasis on exactly what information the application can access and what it’s currently sending. Seems unlikely that they’d give these things full Android Market access, though — that’d be rather silly.
The project is being funded by DARPA, with the NSA evaluating it as they go (while working on a version of their own, curiously.)

Most of the project’s details are still underwraps, but this is all still rather interesting. What hardware might they use? If DARPA makes any substantial security improvements to Android’s kernel, might that work make it back to the official branch? Might this work eventually be monetized (remember, Siri was born as a DARPA project) and offered to enterprises looking for a locked-down version of Android — and what does that mean for RIM/BlackBerry?

Army Tests ‘Universal Remote’ forFuture Troopers

from Danger Room by NathanHodge

Onfuture battlefields, the Army wants to have an all-seeing array of drones,robots and sensors that will be tied together over a common network. But thereal challenge will be bringing all that digital information down to the lowestlevel: The individual soldier.

That’sthe idea behind a recent series of tests pairing Land Warrior, a controversial array of infantrygadgets the servicehas trialed in Iraq and Afghanistan, with the Common Controller device, a developmental system thatfunctions something like a “universal remote” for different robotic devices.

TheCommon Controller controls the Class I Unmanned Aerial System (a.k.a. the “flying beer keg“), theMultifunctional Utility/Logistics Equipment vehicle (a robotic cart) and the SmallUnmanned Ground Vehicle (a portable, tracked ‘bot). It can also connect toUrban Unattended Ground Sensors (U-UGS), which are a fancy, networked versionof the intrusion detection sensors you might find in your household alarmsystem. Problem is, this networked central controller works only at thebattalion level and above.

This new experiment — called theCommon Controller & Manpackable Network Interoperability and Network Evaluation Experiment — is supposed to bring sensor datafrom these unmanned systems to smaller units equipped with Land Warrior gear.

Anexample: In the experiment, a Common Controller operator sent out a robot torecce a building. The ‘bot spotted a someone exiting a vehicle that appeared tobe loaded with explosives. The operator then snapped a pic of the suspect’simage and sent it — along with a text message — to a Land Warrior-equippedplatoon. The digital grunts then set up a checkpoint and snared the bad guy.

Inreal life, things probably won’t be that simple. But the experiment did testthe ability to pass information down to the individual soldier on the ground.Instead of just sucking up information from networked vehicles or robots into atactical operations center, this kind of system has the potential to distributeit to individual troopers.

Lt.Col. James McNulty, product manager for the Common Controller team, said in anArmy news release the experiment proved out three things. “First, we were ableto push data and imagery collected by networked sensors down to small unitleaders at the company and below level,” he said. “Second, we connectedplatoons and companies together and finally we were able to send data and realtime information up into the network.”

The PhotoPhone by Kahn

2012-02-03T14:07:00.000-08:00

Ouch?

2012-02-02T09:46:00.001-08:00

DARPA Creating Virtual Reality Contact Lenses for Viewing Aerial and Sensor Data

from got geoint? by USGIF

Rather than equipping the warfighter with bulky helmets and goggles to provide vital battlefield data, DARPA is moving forward with an innovative program where contact lenses with built-in systems would allow soldiers to focus on distant targets and overlay their vision with tactical information. According to DARPA, the goal of the effort is to provide individual soldiers with data from aerial drones and battlefield sensors in real-time — which was previously a capability challenge.

DARPA’s Soldier Centric Imaging Via Computational Cameras (SCENICC) program is leading the charge on this new effort. Innovega iOptics is the partner working with DARPA to actually develop the contact lenses. Check out more here.

Clearly, this is the next step for delivering vital GEOINT data to the warifighter.

Sorry no Geotagging in China?

2012-02-02T06:23:00.000-08:00

Panasonic disabling GPS in their cameras to please China

from GPS Tracklog by Rich Owings

A couple of days ago, Panasonic unveiled some new cameras with GPS for geotagging photos. Nothing surprising there. What did get my attention was this footnote:

GPS may not work in China or in the border regions of countries neighboring China. Depending on the locations, it may not be possible to correctly receive the signals from GPS satellites. In such cases, positioning may not be possible, or a significant positioning discrepancy may occur. Information measured on this unit is only a rough indication. Do not use it for technical purposes.

Now I’ve been scratching my head ever since trying to figure out why this is. GPS works in China; after all, it is a GLOBAL positioning system. I haven’t heard anything leading me to believe that there is country-wide jamming. And as far as I know, the Chinese haven’t started levying tariffs on non-Beidou compatible products, like the Russians did to jumpstart the GLONASS market. Maps often have huge errors in China, but that wouldn’t give you imprecise coordinates. In a back and forth conversation on Twitter yesterday, Stefan Geens suggested that they may just be trying to get around the fact that mapping requires a license, and that perhaps the Chinese equate geotagging to mapping. This is the most plausible explanation I’ve heard, although at least one other brand does seem to work in China…

The GPS in my Lumix camera is disabled when in China. The camera gives an information message that it disables the GPS while in China. i was pleasantly surprised that Nikon does not disable the GPS in China but places some limitations on its use. The locations using the GPS in China seem to be off by about 500 ft to the west. In addition, the map function does not work in China and there are not location points for China in the database. (Via NikonUSA)

It turns out that geotagging is indeed illegal in China, and Nikon either isn’t in compliance or has found another way to deal with the situation (perhaps by generating an offset error). Clearly though, the Chinese haven’t banned the use of cell phones with GPS, which are quite capable of geotagging, though you may want to be careful where you go with them.
Finally, despite reaching out to Panasonic, I still don’t have a definitive answer on all this. It does seem clear that they are intentionally disabling the GPS in their cameras to satisfy the Chinese, but what’s posted on their websiteis deceptive and dumbed down:

Silverlight versus Windows Phone 8.0?

2012-02-01T14:15:00.000-08:00

WP7 Upgrades and WP8 - Silverlight or C++http://www.i-programmer.info/news/83-mobliephone/3703-wp7-upgrades-and-wp8-silverlight-or-c.html

Written by Harry Fairhead

Tuesday, 31 January 2012 15:28

Microsoft has a problem with Windows Phone 7 (WP7) that doesn't seem to be widely understood and it has placed itself into a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation.

Various tiny bits of news are finding their way into the wider world from a developer camp in India, among other sources. The slow announcement of new features are probably a build up to the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February where WP7.6 aka Tango will very likely see the light of day.

So far details that are relevant to developers have been few and far between, but one is particularly important. As well as mentioning support for another 120 international languages, it is claimed that one of the speakers mentioned C++ support. However it isn't clear if the comment related to Tango, or a future update, or even the next version of the SDK.

From the point of view of the future, the exact timing doesn't matter because C++ native app support probably means the start of the move away from Silverlight as the fundamental developer environment for Windows Phone.

That Windows Phone needs a radical system change is plain for all to deduce, yet Microsoft isn't saying anything much about it. Recently Brandon Watson, Windows Phone 7 director, tweeted a rebuttal to rumours that WP8 (codenamed Apollo) wouldn't run WP7 apps:

"Rewatch Mix11 keynote. We were pretty clear on this. Any app built today will run on next major Windows Phone version."

You could pick up on the fact that the promise only extends to the next version, and not however far into the future you want to consider, but there is a much more important problem.

The Windows 8 tablet OS will make use of WinRT/ Metro style apps. Now while Metro might look a bit like WP7, it isn't the same environment at all and it doesn't support Silverlight. Hence it doesn't support WP7.

So can Microsoft really have one OS/API for the desktop, one OS/API for the tablet and yet another for the smart phone?

Well yes it can, but developers aren't going to like having to create everything three times over. We want unity. To an extent you can forgive the desktop/WinRT split because it is mostly unreasonable to expect a desktop environment to work on a tablet - but the split between tablet and phone is less tolerable. More to the point, it doesn't exist in the Android or the iOS world. You may have screen size problems but you can write an app for Android/iOS and target both phones and tablets.

So when asked if WP8 is going to run WP7 Silverlight apps, if the answer is "yes" then, unless there is a plan to support WinRT C++ native apps as well, there will be disappointment. Put simply, programmers working on WinRT apps want to be able to run them on WP8.

On the other hand, if Microsoft says that WP8 is going to support both Silverlight and WinRT, then all of the WP7 programmers will realize at once that the future isn't Silverlight but WinRT. They may be able to run their apps on WP8 but they will be legacy apps...

It is a complicated situation but what is clear is that Microsoft can't say anything that will please everybody. In this sense dropping Silverlight from Windows 8 Metro was a really bad decision simply because it either signed the execution warrant for Silverlight on WP8 or created a very unattractive platform split.

More information will most likely be available later in February.

Nikon Smart Cameras

2012-02-01T10:38:00.000-08:00

Its all about the smart lens right??

Nikon 1 future plans revealed: 4K video, brighter lenses, picture effects

from Engadget by Daniel Cooper

Tetsuya Yamamoto, Nikon's head of development was at CES talking up the future plans of the company's 1 system cameras after strong holiday sales. The 10.1 megapixel sensor inside the 1 body is sufficiently capable of shooting 2 and 4K video and bringing that functionality into the unit is planned for a future edition. There's a need for a set of brighter lenses with faster auto-focusing, although we're not sure how much bigger you can get on that petite body. It's also kicking around the option of letting V1 (i.e. more professional) users get at manual AF control and in-camera RAW editing -- while J1 users can expect plenty of features they won't use much, like in-camera effects. It's exciting stuff, but let's hope these new features don't cause the price to climb any higher, eh?

Totally Wow!!

2012-02-01T10:26:00.000-08:00

Garmin etrex 20 - a MidNight Mapper Picker

2012-02-01T09:41:00.000-08:00

Hands on with the Garmin eTrex 20

The Garmin eTrex 20 is the mid-range model of three new units that bring a long-awaited update to the popular eTrex series, which now offers paperless geocaching, new customization options and BirdsEye aerial imagery capability.

Garmin Track Logs

2012-02-01T09:10:00.000-08:00

Reply to GPS loggers: recommendations and regrets

from GeoTagging Flickr by 9MacGyver9

9MacGyver9 posted a reply:

I use a Garmin Oregon 450. A while ago I created an Instructable that shows how to setup a separate profile just for geotagging: GeoTagging with a Standalone GPS Unit & GeoSetter. www.instructables.com/id/GeoTagging-with-a-Standalone-GPS...

I use the unit with my Nikon & Canon cameras and with my wife's PS. I keep it attached to my camera bag all of the time so it's always handy. The unit is loaded with maps I downloaded (free) for the entire US from GPSFileDepot and put on one 4G micro-SD card. Once I started using with geotagging applications I was hooked and have been geotagging ever since.

The Oregon units can be pricy, but they have several other functions that come in handy - especially the POIs function. I've found many photo-ops that some of the local people didn't even know existed!

The unit uses the same high quality NiMH batteries as my speedlites, so I carry a couple extra just in case I forget to recharge before leaving. The unit specs say they are good for about 15 hours, but I've used mine 16 & 17 hours - just a matter of how you configure the display and use the functions.

Nikon - GPS Hopeful?

2012-02-01T05:59:00.000-08:00

I am quite fascinated in how the increasing professional cameras are moving to an integration to their GPS position. Over the years, this process has had some weird turns. Nikon success in large measure is ability to change attitudes and make steady progress model to model. The model just below has GPS. For this class of point and shoot, I have some experience. There are three short coming IMHO for how Nikon implemented GPS in this camera range. SO in the near future I plan to pick up their top-of-the-model CoolPix S3XXX models and I will contemplate perfection? I anticipate this Nikon to fall into $300-350 range?

New Nikon COOLPIX S9300 Packs Power, Plus GPS

from About.com GPS

Camera makers continue to distinguish their compact digital cameras from each other, and from the competition of smartphone cameras, by packing a punch. The COOLPIX S9300 ($349 list) just announced by Nikon certainly fits that description, with a 16-megapixel sensor, 18X optical zoom, full 1080 HD movie recording with stereo sound, six frame-per-second burst, and macro, panorama, and 3D shooting features. Wow. The camera also makes innovative use of GPS technology. "A high-performance GPS chip records location data for each shot, and can also log your movements, even when not taking pictures. An onboard database of approximately 1.7 million POI (Points of Interest) lets you confirm and record the name of the location when shooting. There is also an electronic compass function that displays the camera's orientation when shooting and records the location for later viewing on your personal computer," states Nikon. Image © Nikon

Nikon adds Coolpix S9300, S6300, S4300 and S3300 to point-and-shoot lineup

from Engadget by James Trew

It's not been all that long since Nikon last augmented its Coolpix S-series, and now the camera maker's at it again, adding another four to the point-and-shoot range. Starting at the bottom end is the S3300, which definitely keeps things simple: 16 megapixels, 6x zoom, 19 picture modes and 720p is what you'll get for the $140 asking price. An extra $30 lands you the S4300, which adds touchscreen control. Stepping up the ladder, we have the S6300 at $200, which includes a 16 megapixel CMOS sensor, 10x zoom and an Easy Panorama mode for those 180- and 360-degree vistas. Video also jumps up a notch to a full 1080p. Assuming a $350 price tag doesn't seem too lofty, you might like the S9300 -- it has the same 16 megapixel CMOS sensor as the S6300, but also throws in GPS for geotagging, and a generous 18x zoom, giving it a 25-450mm range. There's a limited range of colors for each model, and availability is pegged for February, but hit the PR after the break if you want the full rundown.

Motorola Razr Unlocked

2012-01-30T15:07:00.000-08:00

Meet the Motorola Unlockable Bootloader

Motorola has recently expanded the number of devices that allow developers to unlock the bootloader and allow customization of the software image.

Motorola XOOM™ Wi-Fi and UMTS devices equipped with an unlockable bootloader are currently available in several regions. Now we’ve added a smartphone to the mix:

In Europe, the Motorola RAZR™ Developer Edition is now available for pre-order through theMotorola Shop.
In the U.S., we plan to make an unlockable developer device available through MOTODEV in the coming months. Keep an eye on the MOTODEV blog for updates.

IMPORTANT

Motorola strongly encourages you to thoroughly review the Bootloader FAQ so that you fully understand the risks and consequences of unlocking the bootloader. Motorola strongly recommends against altering a product's operating system, which includes the rooting of a device, unlocking the bootloader or running any operating software other than the approved versions issued by Motorola and its partners. Certain functions in your phone might cease to work. You may also damage your phone permanently. Unlocking the bootloader may cause your device to be unsafe and/or cause it to malfunction resulting in physical injuries or significant damage. Developer editions sold with an unlockable bootloader are sold "as is" with no warranty. Any other device which has had its bootloader unlocked, or whose operating system has been altered, including any failed attempts to unlock the bootloader or alter such operating system, are not covered by Motorola's warranty. Please read more about the risks associated with unlocking the bootloader.

We are continuing to explore the possibility of offering additional devices with unlockable bootloaders in the future, in other markets across the globe, as allowed by our carrier and regulatory obligations.

Shoe GPS

2012-01-30T14:53:00.000-08:00

These Boots Are Made for Tracking: GPS Technology Comes to Shoes

from All Things Digital by Lauren Goode

A shoe that blends wearable comfort with GPS technology has made its way to the market. The tech-enhanced footwear is aimed at those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia whose caretakers may want to monitor their whereabouts.

The GPS shoes have a tracking device implanted in the right sole, with a GSM/CDMA antenna snaking up behind the heel so that the GPS signal is not blocked by the body; the shoe also includes a USB port, primarily for charging the product’s battery.

Made by footwear company Aetrex, with GPS technology provided by GTX Corp., the shoes cost $299.99, with the added monthly cost of a tracking plan. Caretakers can opt to have the wearer’s location recorded every 10 minutes for $30 a month, or every 30 minutes for $40 a month.

Customers can visit the Aetrex Web site, set up an account for the shoes and, using Google Maps, create a “geo-fence” encompassing what’s considered a safe distance around a wearer’s house or living community. The caretaker can opt to have messages sent via email or receive simple SMS text messages on a cellphone when the wearer wanders outside of the geo-fence.

The caretaker can then access the online portal to find the wearer’s location on a Google Map. There’s also an emergency backup system the caretaker can call for additional help; that requires the caretaker to share the GPS information with the emergency-care provider.

Aetrex began planning and designing the GPS shoes two years ago; the product was certified by the Federal Communications Commission in September of last year and began shipping in late December. Only a few hundred pairs have sold so far, but Aetrex president Evan Schwartz said the companies have done little marketing at this point, and have been focused instead on a strategic rollout of the shoes.

Schwartz also said the company will begin shipping to Canada and other countries soon, and that Aetrex and GTX have struck a deal with an international SIM card provider to make the tech available internationally.
For now, Aetrex and GTX are selling the shoes directly to consumers, but they have been in talks with the Alzheimer’s Association and the Veterans Benefits Association to explore partnerships for marketing the shoes to assisted-living communities and geriatrics departments.

While the GPS shoes could give caregivers some peace of mind if a family member is prone to wandering, the concept of trackable clothing could raise questions from both a technical and legal standpoint.

Aetrex says the battery life of the shoes lasts two days on average, but the shoes would be rendered ineffective if a caretaker wasn’t around to charge them, or the wearer forgot to do so. Also, if the person monitoring the shoe-wearer opts in for more frequent pings, the battery will die more quickly. Aetrex says the GPS shoe system does send email or text notifications to remind the caretaker when the battery is getting low.

There’s also the possibility, of course, that the wearer could remove the shoes, or simply refuse to wear them.
When someone purchases the GPS shoes and goes to activate the online monitoring system, he or she has to sign off that they are a designated caregiver, and that they have the authority to monitor the wearer of the shoes and make those kinds of decisions for the wearer. But, as with many of the technologies we have at our fingertips, there is always the possibility of misuse.

A recent Supreme Court case involving law enforcement officials’ use of GPS to track a drug-trafficking suspect has also raised some questions about the rights civilians have when it comes tracking others using GPS technology (our Wall Street Journal/SmartMoney colleagues did a good rundown of some instances where it can be done legally). Stories like these indicate that we’re still in the early stages of setting privacy standards when it comes to digital tracking.

“It’s all kinds of good and bad and ugly popping up when it comes to GPS tech these days, and that’s definitely a concern,” Schwartz said. “There are enough people who make jokes about tracking a spouse, or what if you threw the shoe in the trunk of someone’s car and they never know it’s being used for that, that sort of thing.”
“But at the same time,” he added, “this shoe has been designed to serve a purpose, and it’s to help caregivers, so we have a hard time believing someone would abuse this.”

FinePix with GPS

2012-01-30T14:48:00.000-08:00

FujiFilm FinePix F770EXR with GPS

from NaviGadget by Dave Rubert

Fujifilm just recently introduced the FinePix F770EXR which will be available in March 2012 for $380. The most outstanding feature for us is of course the GPS capabilities of this camera. In addition F770EXR features 16MP EXR-CMOS, 20x optical zoom, 1.5 seconds start up time, and 1 second between shots.
As far as the GPS features, FujiFilm FinePix F770EXR has a route log, where the camera creates a map showing where you’ve been and photo navigation which shows the distance and direction to the place a certain photo was taken. You can record and edit your favorite places in the camera, and even tell you what nearby landmarks are and their distance.
Some other specs:

3.0-inch LCD with 460,000 dots and Monitor Sunlight mode
Full 1080p HD movie
ISO 100 – 12800
RAW file capture (FinePix F770EXR only)
Film simulation modes
Macro focusing down to 5 cm
Optical image stabilization
Motion Panorama 360 mode

Brought to you by your GPS navigation site NaviGadget.

WiFi - Bluetooth - WIGig 7Gb/sec at 3 meters!

2012-01-30T13:31:00.000-08:00

WiGig: Panasonic Tablet Wirelessly Transmits A Full DVD Video In 60 Seconds (Video)

from TechCrunch by Serkan Toto

WiGig, a multi-gigabit speed wireless communications technology, was first announced back in 2009, but it’s taking companies like Panasonic quite a while to come up with applications that make use of it. Via WiGig, devices can communicate with each other at multi-gigabit speeds using the 60 GHz frequency band.

Panasonic has developed a prototype system, in which WiGig is embedded in a tablet that can wirelessly transmit data like photos or videos to displays mounted in the passenger seats of a car. That car has to be nearby: while Wi-Fi typically has a transmission range of about 30m, WiGig’s range is just 1-3m (Bluetooth: around 10m).

The tablet you can see in the video embedded below transmits a “full DVD video” in 60 seconds, according toDiginfo TV (which shot the video). WiGig, in the 1.1 specification, boasts a data transmission rate of up to 7 Gbit/s.

Panasonic is currently in the process of developing WiGig SD cards that are supposed to be commercialized in summer next year. WiGig-compatible phones are apparently on their way, too.

Map Cache - Off line with Google Maps

2012-01-25T11:57:00.000-08:00

Get Maps on Android Devices for Offline Usage

from xda-developers by PoorCollegeGuy

It doesn’t matter what carrier someone uses, there is always the possibility of ending up somewhere where there is no signal and no roaming. In times like those, it is not comforting knowing that your only source for navigation requires a data connection of some sort.

Well, XDA Senior Member .xxx. has written a method that allows people to download maps off the web and store them on your Android device so you can access an atlas in case of emergencies or lack of data signal.

The process is pretty straightforward and completely free and just requires a little patience as it requires creating an atlas, rooting around on your sd card and placing files in specific places. .xxx. also has a method for Google Maps users where they can Precache a map in the labs menu. However, the drawback is that the precache map is only good for up to ten miles around the selected area. So if you need a wider range than that, it’s recommended that the first method be followed.

If an offline atlas is something you’d like to have, and it’s recommended if you intend on traveling to the boonies anytime soon, then you can find the method and information in the thread along with a list of apps that support user defined maps.

Adding Vectors to Google Maps

2012-01-25T11:56:00.000-08:00

Google Vector Layers (Project)

*This is an open source project so enhancements and patches are encouraged.

Google Vector Layers allows you to easily add one or more vector layers from a number of different geo web services to a Google Maps API based application.

Overlaying custom vector layers (CartoDB) on-top of Google Maps - An excellent use of geojason

How it works?

Google Vector Layers works by listening to map events (pan and zoom) and then fetching features within the map bounds after each event. This method works great for data sets with lots of features that you want to interact with, but not load all at once.

Features:

Multi-Provider Support - Current support for ArcGIS Server, Arc2Earth, Geocommons and CartoDB (with more in mind)

Easy InfoWindow Templating - Create InfoWindow templates with a simple string with property names {mustached} or with a function that gets passed feature properties, and should return valid HTML for the InfoWindow

Dynamic Data Support - Easily visualize live data that auto-updates at an interval that you set (and makes sense for your data’s update frequency)

Simple, Powerful Symbology - Style your layers with a single symbology, a unique symbol for specific attribute values or set symbols to display if a feature’s attibutes are within a specific range. Or …

Use Your Current Styles - If you’re using an ArcGIS Server layer you can use the styles you’ve already

spent time creating in ArcMap

Scale Dependent Rendering - You wouldn’t want to show lots of features with complex geometries at lower zoom levels - UsingscaleRange lets you set the minimum and maximum scales a layer should be visbible

Planned Layers
Google Fusion Tables
GISCloud.com

Examples with code
http://geojason.info/google-vector-layers/demos/
Created by
Jason Sanford
http://geojason.info/

Smarter than Feature Phones

2012-01-25T11:36:00.000-08:00

Stat Alert: More connected phones than computers in key markets, says Google (updated)

from Engadget by James Trew

There are obvious stats, bizarre ones, and then the good old informative ones. New data from Google revealed by Ad Age, falls into the latter category. According to Goog's numbers, more people have a mobile internet-capable device than a PC or laptop in the five key markets it tested (US, UK, Germany, France and Japan). In the US, this figure is nearly 10% more, some 76% against 68%. The numbers were taken in September and October last year, which means any impact Christmas may have had won't be taken into account. The trend away from feature phones towards smartphones is also drilled home, but that won't be news to many people 'round these parts. No matter how you connect these days, any savvy netizen will tell you: it's quality, not quantitythat counts anyway.

Update: The complete report is now up online and, while smartphone and tablet use is skyrocketing, it doesn't appear to be eating into PC sales. Check out the more coverage link for all the slides.

Stat Alert: More connected phones than computers in key markets, says Google (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Chinese cleaning up...?

2012-01-24T06:02:00.000-08:00

Chinese 'attack US DOD smart cards' with Sykipot malware

By Sophie Curtis, CSO
January 14, 2012 11:05 AM ET

http://www.itsj.com/launchpage.aspx?CID=338769&NUOSID=101009762

A new strain of the Sykipot malware is being used by Chinese cybercriminals to compromise U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) smart cards, a new report has revealed.

The malware has been designed to take advantage of smart card readers running ActivClient -- the client application of ActivIdentity -- according to unified security information and event management (SIEM) company AlienVault.

ActivIdentity's smart cards are standardised at the DOD and a number of other U.S. government agencies. The cards are used to identify active duty military staff, selected reserve personnel, civilian employees and eligible contractor staff.

As with previous Sykipot strains, the attackers use an email campaign to get specific targets to click on a link and deposit the Sykipot malware onto their machines. After identifying the computers that have card readers, the attackers install keystroke logging software to steal the PIN number that is used in concert with the smart card.

"When a card is inserted into the reader, the malware acts as the authenticated user and can access sensitive information," explained AlienVault's lab manager Jaime Blasco. "The malware is then controlled by the attackers and then told what -- and when -- to steal the appropriate data."

So far, AlienVault has seen attacks that compromise smart card readers running Windows Native x509 software, which is reportedly in commonplace use among a number of U.S. government and allied agencies.

This new strain is thought to have originated from the same Chinese authors that created a version of Sykipot in 2011, which distributed a variety of spam messages claiming to contain information on the next-generation unmanned "drones," developed by the United States Air Force.

In an investigation into that earlier strain last year, Blasco suggested that the team behind Sykibot was working with an information "shopping list" that included semiconductor, medical and aerospace technology.

In a report released least year, security consultancy Mandiant identified several cases where determined attackers were able to get onto computers or networks that required both smart cards and passwords. Mandiant called this technique a "smart card proxy."

SE_Android

2012-01-20T17:56:00.000-08:00

NSA Releases ‘Security Enhanced Android’, Offering Government Level Protection For Your Device

from Droid Life: A Droid Community Blog by Tim-o-tato

Do you sometimes feel that your phone just isn’t as secure as it should be? Then allow me to introduceSecurity Enhanced Android (SEA), brought to you by the wonderful folks over at the National Security Agency (NSA). Taken from the AOSP and then beefed up to withstand any type of security breach, SEA is invulnerable to most types of malicious 3rd party apps that most people would fear.
Security Enhanced Android offers:

Per-file security labeling support for yaffs2,
Filesystem images (yaffs2 and ext4) labeled at build time,
Kernel permission checks controlling Binder IPC,
Labeling of service sockets and socket files created by init,
Labeling of device nodes created by ueventd,
Flexible, configurable labeling of apps and app data directories,
Userspace permission checks controlling use of the Zygote socket commands,
Minimal port of SELinux userspace,
SELinux support for the Android toolbox,
Small TE policy written from scratch for Android,
Confined domains for system services and apps,
Use of MLS categories to isolate apps.

Feel like learning more about Security Enhanced Android and maybe even loading it onto your device? Then check out the source right here.

250 million Androids - Is that platform enough for you?

2012-01-19T14:39:00.000-08:00

250 Million Android Devices Activated, 11 Billion Apps Downloaded

from TechCrunch by Greg Kumparak

We’re tuned in live to Google’s Q4 2011 earnings call, where they’ve just disclosed a few details they left out of this morning’s big ol’ data dump. Amongst them: a progress update on Android’s growth.

According to Larry Page, Android has now been activated on over 250 million devices. That’s up 50 million since just November of last year.

Meanwhile, the Android Marketplace has managed to cruise past its 11 billionth download. (For the curious: Apple’s App Store, which is around 3 months older, passed its 18 billionth download in December of last year.) Alas, no word on how many of those were free/paid.

Can you sue a Drone?

2012-01-18T10:20:00.000-08:00

Domestic Drone Programs Spark Civil-Liberties Lawsuit

Updated: January 11, 2012 | 3:47 p.m. By Josh Smith

January 11, 2012 | 12:13 p.m.

AP PHOTO/ERIC GAY

A Predator B aircraft lands at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas, after a mission last November.

Remote-controlled aircraft have become a staple of the war in Afghanistan, but a civil-liberties group wants to know exactly who’s using drones in the United States.

In a lawsuit filed on Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the Electronic Frontier Foundation argues that federal agencies have been slow to publicize the expanding use of drones to watch Americans.

(VIDEO: Drones of the Future)

"The use of drones in American airspace could dramatically increase the physical tracking of citizens – tracking that can reveal deeply personal details about our private lives," EFF staff attorney Jennifer Lynch said in a statement.

The lawsuit against the Transportation Department and its Federal Aviation Administration comes after Freedom of Information requests failed to provide the requested information, EFF said in its complaint.

The FAA restricts recreational unpiloted aircraft, such as remote-controlled airplanes, to below 400 feet. For more high-performance aircraft, like those used by law enforcement, the FAA requires a special permit.

According to the FAA, as of last year about 50 companies, universities, and government agencies were developing and producing roughly 155 different kinds of unpiloted aircraft.

The Homeland Security Department uses at least nine drones to patrol the U.S. border, but EFF says state and local law enforcement now often use them routinely.

"Drones give the government and other unmanned aircraft operators a powerful new surveillance tool to gather extensive and intrusive data on Americans' movements and activities," Lynch said.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the FAA plans to propose new rules governing unpiloted aircraft as soon as this month.

The 50 members of the Congressional Unmanned Systems Caucus, which calls unmanned vehicles "exciting and existing technology," have successfully pushed DHS to use more of the drones along the Southern border.

Humpty-Dumpty - Not a fragmented Android Solution

2012-01-17T12:38:00.000-08:00

Is Android fragmented? Google argues otherwise

January 16, 2012 — 8:19pm ET | By Jason Ankeny

Android is not fragmented--it's differentiated. Or at least that's the opinion of Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) executive chairman Eric Schmidt. "Differentiation is positive, fragmentation is negative," Schmidt said during the Next Big Thing SuperSession at last week's Consumer Electronics Show, PCMag.com reports. "Differentiation means that you have a choice and the people who are making the phones [are] going to compete on their view of innovation, and they're going to try and convince you that theirs is better than somebody else." Fragmentation, on the other hand, means that you have an app and it runs on one device but not the other, Schmidt added.

Whatever adjective you choose to define the Android landscape, it's definitely no model of consistency. The Android Developers Platform Versions page indicates that the new Android 4.0--which delivers the tablet-optimized innovations introduced in version 3.0 to all devices in an effort to streamline the platform--currently powers just 0.6 percent of Android products; 55.5 percent run a version of Android 2.3, followed by Android 2.2 at 30.4 percent. That's a headache for developers, but Schmidt insists that "what people really care about is if there's an interoperable ecosystem of apps... We absolutely allow [manufacturers] to add or change the user interface as long as they don't break the apps. We see this as a plus; [it] gives you far more choices."

While Google waits for manufacturers and operators to catch up to Android 4.0, it's taking steps to forge a more consistent and user-friendly experience by launching a new web-based Android Design portal offering developers insight into creating more stylish and sophisticated applications. Android Design encourages developers to create apps with an emphasis on aesthetics (e.g., faster transitions, crisp layout and stylish icons), intuitive interfaces and more empowering user experiences. The site spans multiple style and pattern components developed to foster more visually compelling and consistent apps that look and run the same across different Android devices. Android Design also features basic software building blocks, promising an inventory of ready-to-use elements essential for superior app experiences.

The Android Design portal represents Google's latest salvo against the perception that Android apps are significantly clunkier and less visually appealing than their counterparts on Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS. Google recently announced that inclusion of its unmodified Holo theme family is a compatibility requirement for all devices running Android 4.0 and forward, a move designed to ensure a more consistent user interface and application development environment. Writing on the Android Developers Blog, Google Android Framework engineer Adam Powell explained that Holo guarantees developers building new and forthcoming Android applications can rest assured that the app's look and feel will remain consistent on devices with a custom skin.

"For developers, new system themes mean more design targets for their apps," Powell explains. "Using system themes means developers can take advantage of a user's existing expectations and it can save a lot of production time, but only if an app designer can reliably predict the results. Before Android 4.0 the variance in system themes from device to device could make it difficult to design an app with a single predictable look and feel." No matter whether you call it "fragmentation," "differentation" or something unprintable in this publication, 2012 is shaping up as the year Google does something about it.--Jason

Read more: Is Android fragmented? Google argues otherwise - FierceDeveloper http://www.fiercedeveloper.com/story/android-fragmented-google-argues-otherwise/2012-01-16?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=internal#ixzz1jkYS2M3S
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GeoGoogle... Geo-zilla Arrives

2012-01-16T09:24:00.000-08:00

Google Charging for Google Maps API Access? So What?

OCTOBER 27, 2011 10 COMMENTS

Something happened that is not to surprising:

Introduction of usage limits to the Maps API

To assist in evaluating whether your site is exceeding the usage limits we will shortly be adding the Maps API to the Google APIs Console. Once available you will be able to track your usage in the APIs Console by providing an APIs Console key when you load the Maps API. If you find that your site does exceed the usage limits each day you can opt to pay for your excess usage by enabling billing on your APIs Console project. We will then start billing excess usage to your credit card when we begin enforcing the usage limits in early 2012.

You know what? Good for them. I’d like to think that proving good-looking map tiles with a great API is a good business model. When Google gave away the farm, there was no business model. Everyone just used Google’s tiles and thought nothing of it. The rest of the world who tried to price their tiles so that they could build a business around it were beaten down (Remember something called deCarta?).

Now I suspect we’ll see some great creative choices out there that will give users with many options. I think back to this great blog post by Paul Ramsey many years ago. Now there is hope for everyone in this space to succeed because free beer isn’t sustainable.

Googlezilla's foot seems to not be coming down just yet.

Google GeoEnterprise - Will it be worth it??

2012-01-15T09:27:00.000-08:00

Open Source Maps Gain Ground as Google Paywall Looms

By Caleb Garling
Email Author
January 9, 2012 |
6:30 am |
Categories: Mobile Computing,Software as a Service

WIRED.com

Nestoria is one of those companies that was told it would have to start paying real money for Google Maps. When Google couldn’t tell it exactly how much, Nestoria kicked Mountain View to the curb and switched to OpenStreetMap, a free, collaborative effort to map the globe.

But that’s only part of the story. Nestoria’s “free and open” map data is actually served up by MapQuest, the once and future mapping outfit that ruled the web before Google Maps stole its thunder. At Nestoria — a popular UK-based real estate website — the online mapping game has come full circle.

OpenStreetMap, or OSM, is yet another example of a project that manages to compete with a massive tech company simply by crowdsourcing a problem. Much like Wikipedia challenged Encyclopedia Britannica and Linux took on Microsoft Windows, OpenStreetMap is battling Google Maps, and at least in some cases, it’s winning.

OpenStreetMap founder Steve Coast says the project is “still waiting for the big one.” But in addition to Nestoria and so many other small outfits making the leap to OSM, some bigger organizations have taken note. The White House employed OSM to track its Change campaign, and in 2008, the popular photo-sharing site Flickr adopted the project.

And like many an open source project, OSM has been commandeered by companies looking to catch up with the market behemoth. MapQuest isn’t the only one backing the project. So too is Microsoft.

Where The Streets Have a Name

By day, Steve Coast is one of the lead architects on the mobile version of Bing, Microsoft’s search engine. By night, he founded and still chairs OpenStreetMap, a UK-based non-profit that runs on an annual budget of less than $100,000. As it happens, OSM receives hardware donations from Coast’s daytime employer.

Coast started the “free and open” project seven years ago. He was looking for an alternative to the maps offered by the British government and large companies such as NavTeq. The big aggregators housed almost all of the good map data, he says, and they knew how to render it, using “tiles” so you could move around a map without having to reload the entire page. And because of this, they could charge an “astronomical amount” for their maps.

OSM was designed to reduce map licencing fees to zero — a concept that Coast gives credit to Google for landing on first — but it was also meant to improve the accuracy of maps. The project was seeded with satellite imagery, and then the world-at-large was invited to put labels and borders on the images, otherwise known as “volunteered geographical information,” or VGI.

Soon, volunteers were using GPS units attached to bicycles and car to improve the VGI. Towns and cities began as islands of data, but eventually, the catalog of data spread to the far corners of the globe. Today, the project houses about 19 GB of compressed XML data, and when expanded, it reaches into the terabyte range. Google was actually an early contributor, and both Microsoft and MapQuest are now providing data. Many assume that MapQuest is dead, but it was bought by AOL and relaunched in July 2010 as “the first major mapping site to embrace and encourage open source mapping at scale.”

According to Pat McDevitt, the vice president of engineering at MapQuest, the company still gets about 40 million unique visitors each month to its site, and it has invested about a million dollars in OSM in an effort to undercut the map licensing fees levied by NavTeq and Tele Atlas (owned by TomTom). “The hyperlocal detail that a motivated community adds is way beyond a commercial provider,” McDevitt tells Wired.

A 2009 paper from University College London said that on average, OSM’s VGI is within six meters or a street or landmark’s actual position. Two years later, a second paper, from the University of Heidelberg and the University of Florida, found that OSM provides 27 percent more data in Germany with regard to the total street network and route information for pedestrians than TomTom’s commercial dataset.

“We went through a bubble period where we were [just] this free and open alternative — but not nearly as good [as competitors],” Coast says. “But with companies like Microsoft and MapQuest contributing now, it’s way more sustainable than it was four years ago.”

GreenInfo Network — a non-profit outfit that builds maps for (often cash-strapped) public services and environmental groups — started using OSM base maps in 2009 because it provided information the organization couldn’t find anywhere else. OSM’s data is not confined to streets. GreenInfo pulled data on park trails for its ParkInfo application.

“For our purposes, base map tiles available from OSM easily rival, and oftentimes surpass, commercial offerings,” Tim Sinnott, a GIS specialist at GreenInfo, tells Wired. “And if we find holes or errors in the data, we can edit information along with the rest of the world.”

Google's take on San Francisco. Click to enlarge.

OSM's take on San Francisco. Click to enlarge.

Satellite's take, via Google Maps. Click to enlarge.

Google Erects Paywall

In April, Google told the world that it would charge companies that exceed certain amounts of usage when adding Google Maps to their sites via Mountain View’s API (application programming interface). Though Google has yet to actually erect this pay-wall, Nestoria made the preliminary list of those who would have to fork over the cash.

Nestoria co-founder Freyfogle says he was already considering OSM and had been for some time. He felt the quality of OSM’s data was at least on par with Google’s in the eight European countries Nestoria served. But when the Google sales rep called this past fall, it put him over the edge.

The problem was that when Freyfogle asked the sales rep how Nestoria would be charged — by API calls, map loads, a licensing fee? — the rep had no idea and ended up quoting an unqualified stand-alone price that would have “bankrupted” Nestoria, according to Freyfogle. He decided then and there to switch to a free OSM setup, and Google hasn’t called back since. “The experience was poor,” he says simply.

Google has since published clearer prices on its blog, and a spokesperson for the company tells Wired that only the top 0.35 percent of sites will be affected by the new pricing structure, which charges for more than 25,000 map loads per day. But no doubt others will make the switch as well. That’s just what happens when a previously free product is not completely free anymore.

But Freyfogle makes it clear that the switch to OSM wasn’t made as some sort of anti-Google statement. “That’s Google’s business, and they need to run it. I completely understand that,” says Freyfogle, a Fullbright scholar with an MBA from MIT.

Since Nestoria made the switch to OSM, he says, the company has received almost no complaints about the change in its map background. Some users in remote areas of Europe, he adds, have even praised the new interface for the details it provides on their little towns. What’s more, in making the switch to OSM, Nestoria gained some flexibility it never had with Google.

With OSM, developers can manipulate and update map data as they see fit. With Google, they can merely build on top of what’s received in a call to the API, Freyfogle says, and they must render what Google wants them render — a criticism Google did not address when we asked the company for clarification. “You can make your maps look however you want. Rivers can be red instead of blue if you wanted…. With Google you’re not getting any data. You just get a map on your page.”

When Microsoft Lurks

With OSM, the rub is that you have to find a way of organizing your map tiles and serving them up. You can serve your own — a doable but difficult task — or you can go to a third party that will serve them on your behalf, including MapQuest and CloudMade, a company Coast founded but has since left. Nestoria uses MapQuest, who does the tiling work for free.

But don’t mistake MapQuest for OpenStreetMap. Coast says that because the project is open and so easy to access, OSM actually interacts very little with MapQuest, or any other large contributors, other than a few emails now and again. They’re just part of the community.

The same goes for Microsoft. “We wondered if Microsoft would become what Red Hat has to Linux,” says MapQuest’s McDevitt. “[But] no big company has gone full-tilt with the responsibility for managing the OSM code.” But that could change. Microsoft is contributing data, hardware, and cash to project. And it’soffering OSM maps on its own Bing Maps service.

Asked whether he thinks Microsoft is helping OpenStreetMap because Redmond knows it can’t beat Google on its own, Coast pauses. Then says he’s not paid enough to answer that question.

Photo: senorhans/Flickr

Trimble Accuracy...

2012-01-15T09:06:00.000-08:00

Best of Breed - CES Cameras 2012

2012-01-15T07:29:00.000-08:00

Three Cameras in Focus at CES

from All Things Digital by Lauren Goode

Smartphones are munching at many industries, including cameras. And while some camera makers are looking to compete by making their digital cameras “smarter” — which means adding more Wi-Fi capabilities and apps — others are focusing on their core capabilities: Taking pictures. Here are three cameras that stood out at the Consumer Electronics Show last week:

Canon PowerShot G1 X
The Canon PowerShot G1 X follows the PowerShot G12, which will stay in Canon’s product lineup; the G1 X adds the largest sensor to date for a Canon PowerShot model. Bodywise, it’s not as chunky as a DSLR, but it’s larger than the PowerShot G12, and still has a pretty solid composite-material body, weighing in at 19 ounces and measuring 4.98 x 2.93 x 2.12 inches.

The camera uses a 1.5-inch, 14.3 megapixel high-sensitivity CMOS sensor, which is 6.3 times larger than the G12’s sensor. A representative for Canon says it works especially well in low light.

Interchangeable lenses aren’t an option — the G1 X does have a 28mm-to-112mm (4x) optical zoom lens — and for hobbyists, this will be just fine. But for fans of the Canon 5D, 7D, and 60D, the lack of lens options could be what makes them stay true to their DSLRs.

The G1 X also captures 1080p HD video, with optical zooming and auto-focus features. It’s got a pop-up flash, and a fully rotating view screen. While some consumers might prefer not to have an extra view-screen “arm” hanging off the camera, regular video shooters might prefer this to an embedded view screen.

The Canon G1 X will cost $799, and is expected to hit the market at the end of February.

FujiFilm X-Pro 1
Fujifilm’s new flagship product will stoke the fires of your inner photo freak, but will likely leave a big, gaping hole in your wallet.

Fujifilm is touting a brand-new proprietary sensor that is supposed to set this device apart from other cameras. In fact, the new sensor is establishing the X-Pro 1 as the new flagship camera of Fujifilm. The X-Pro 1 has a 16.3 megapixel CMOS sensor, sized 23.6 mm x 15.6 mm. Fujifilm says this new sensor allows for the removal of additional low-pass filters within the camera, and still captures high-resolution images and true colors.

The X-Pro 1 supports three interchangeable lenses, captures 1080p HD video, and has a hybrid multi-iew finder that switches between electronic and optical view.

The body of the camera has a vintage look, which camera buffs will appreciate, and it’s palpably heavier than Fujifilm’s X100 camera.

With the X-Pro 1, Fujifilm is targeting an advanced photographer, and likely one that is focused on taking still images, rather than video. The price point hasn’t been set yet, but it will likely retail for more than the FinePix X100, which retails for $1,200. Fujifilm is aiming for a March 2012 launch of the X-Pro 1.

Nikon 1 Series
The belle of the CES ball this year was Nikon’s D4 camera, which won various awards throughout the week. But the D4 is geared toward professionals — and costs $6,000.

For consumers, the Nikon “1″ series cameras may be the way to go. These cameras actually hit the market last October, but were still getting attention at last week’s big show in Las Vegas.

The Nikon 1 V1, at $849, is slightly bigger than the J1, and has an electronic viewfinder and one other feature that I feel is a real bonus. Otherwise, the V1 and J1 are almost identical. The 1 series cameras are not full-fledged DLSRs, but offer some of the same advanced functionality, and support interchangeable lenses. They pack in a 10.1 megapixel, 13.2 mm x 8.8 mm high-speed AF CMOS sensor, and have a 2.7x lens focal length. Like many digital cameras on the market, they capture 1080p HD video.

There’s one dial on the back for toggling between the four functions of the camera: Still images, video, motion snapshot and smart photo selection. For some users, this makes the V1 and J1 simpler to navigate than other compact cameras; others might not like some of the limits on customization. Bounce-flash accessories, like the SB-N5 speedlight for the V1, are available for purchase, and offer a bit more illumination than built-in pop-up lights.

But there’s one small feature on the Nikon 1 V1 that makes a big difference, in my opinion — the external audio input. Very few point-and-shoots or DSLRs come with a microphone jack; in order to capture good, isolated sound on many cameras, you’d have to slide an accessory into the “hot shoe” at the top of the camera. With the Nikon 1 V1, you could attach a stereo mic and stop apologizing for the bad audio and ambient noise in your videos.

The Nikon 1 V1 retails for $849; the Nikon 1 J1 costs $699.

Android Fractures ?

2012-01-15T07:24:00.000-08:00

OK, MG, I Take It Back

from TechCrunch by Jon Evans

A few weeks ago, I wrote: A couple weeks ago, MG wrote: “Android development itself remains a huge pain in the ass. I hear this again, and again, and again.” Which took me a bit aback. I’ve developed numerous Android and iOS apps (though not games, so I can’t speak to the differences there) over the last few years, and neither set of developer tools seems to me to be hugely superior: both have their strengths and their really irritating failings.

I stand by what I said, to a point: the developer tools for the two platforms are comparable. But Android’s fragmentation has become a giant millstone for Android app development, leaving it worryingly behind its iOS equivalent. It’s not the panoply of screen sizes and formats; the Android layout engine is actually quite good at minimizing that annoyance. It’s not the frequent instances of completely different visual behavior on two phones running exactly the same version of Android; again, annoying, but relatively minor. Device fragmentation is just an irritation.

OS fragmentation, though, is an utter disaster. Ice Cream Sandwich is by all accounts very nice; but what good does that do app developers, when according to Google’s own stats, 30% of all Android devices are still running an OS that is 20 months old? I sure would have liked to stop caring about Android 2.2 bugs fixed in 2.3. It would have been awfully nice to be able to use the animation libraries from Android 3.0, described in thisalmost-a-year-old blog post, to say nothing of Ice Cream Sandwich’s features; but at this rate, Android developers aiming for a mass audience will have to wait another year, if not longer, before they can actually build apps that take advantage of all the shiny new featuers.

More than two-thirds of iOS users had upgraded to iOS 5 a mere three months after its release. Anyone out there think that Ice Cream Sandwich will crack the 20% mark on Google’s platform pie chart by March? How about 10%? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Read on...

AGPS Patch for Android Handsets

2012-01-15T07:13:00.000-08:00

Popular AGPS Patch Now Available on HTC Desire S

from xda-developers by PoorCollegeGuy

For those who are unfamiliar with AGPS Patch, XDA Senior Member crypted gives a brief explanation:

This patch was created to provide quick GPS locking across North America. But, it has been ported into a worldwide solution for multiple devices. Using a general ROM without this has resulted in 10+ minutes of GPS delay. Also, GPS lock kept being lost. By using this patch, most people experience a GPS lock within 10 seconds (2 – 20 seconds range can be expected). Typically, a device using this patch will lock onto 7 – 9 satellites. Users have reported up to 11 satellites being locked at once. Without this patch, the average satellite count is 4.

Well, now users who own a HTC Desire S join the already impressive list of supported devices who can utilize this patch. With three ways to install the device, including ClockworkMod, ADB Push and just copy/paste the files into the correct directories, users of all knowledge bases will be able to find the way that suits them best.
Additionally, scripted’s original thread contains pro tips for getting your GPS to work better and an FAQ that has virtually every possible reason why your GPS isn’t functioning from the case getting in the way of signal to a rare bug that prevents usage entirely.
While there’s a list of supported devices, scripted says:

you can use any build with any phone. You may have good luck with specific builds that do not fit your phone or carrier criteria. If you’re curious, test it and see.

So for anyone who’s interested, check out the thread linked above.

High Res Baloon Mapping with Android

2012-01-14T17:17:00.000-08:00

What about rastergeodata? -- http://mapknitter.org and http://publiclaboratory.org/tool/balloon-mappingshow you how to collect, composite, and publish your own raster maps. I thinksome people at first wonder why, but you only have to look at some of the mapspeople are making to see why mapmaking is a lot more subjective than wethought:

* A map of OccupyOakland days before it was shut down (a perspective you won'tsee up on Google...): http://publiclaboratory.org/map/occupy-oakland-10am/2011-11-2
* A map of pollution plumes in urban waterways: http://mapknitter.org/map/search?q=newtown,http://mapknitter.org/tms/2011-08-06-brooklyn-newtowncreek/openlayers.html
* A map of illegal logging in Sumava, Czech Republic: http://mapknitter.org/map/search?q=sumava

(I should mention that if you want to get started balloon mapping quickly, youshould get in on the Kickstarter to get your own balloon mapping kit: http://kck.st/x5vsyA)

Beyond that, what about multispectral raster mapping? Public Lab folks havebeen replicating NASA earth observation techniques by hacking cameras forinfrared vegetation analysis, landfill monitoring, etc:

http://publiclaboratory.org/tool/near-infrared-camera
http://publiclaboratory.org/wiki/mapknitter-multispectral

There's a world of geodata out there which doesn't come from big corps orgov'ts, and tells a very different story.

Balloon Mapping the Oil Spill Proves Responsive, Open Source

In a recent Idea Lab post from the Center for Future Civic Media, Jeff Warren wrote about using inexpensive balloons and cheap cameras to make pseudo-satellite imagery of a given area. He had been using it to help people in poor areas establish title to their land (Google Maps satellites don't map poor areas as fast as these areas actually grow).But then the Gulf oil spill happened...

Phone calls and emails started coming in from suddenly out-of-work fishermen who were frustrated with British Petroleum, and also flummoxed by the lack of imagery explaining how and where the oil slick was spreading. Warren has since made multiple trips to the Gulf Coast, primarily to the Chandeleur Islands, where these same fishermen are taking him out to map the disaster. The resulting images, after being rectified and stitched together, are humbling. You can also read his recent Idea Lab account of his work there.

THE VALUE OF CHEAP MAPPING

You might ask, "What's the point of 'cheap' mapping?" Warren's work is proving to be invaluable for three reasons besides cost:

It's responsive. You don't have to schedule a satellite flyover; you can just do it, multiple times if needed.
It's open source, if you want it to be. You don't need a vendor's permission to use the images as you wish.
It's high-res. And there's the key in a fast-changing situation like the one in the Gulf: you can overlay a high-resolution balloon-mapping image on a low-res Google Map and know exactly how dramatically the situation is changing...

Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best ones. What other applications of balloon mapping can you imagine? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Standard Temperature and Pressure = 20 degrees C and 760 mm Mercury

STP = 760 mm pressure and 20 C

Weight of air per liter at STP      =     1.20 gr/l
Weight of helium per liter at STP   =     0.18 gr/l
Net lift per liter of helium at STP =     1.03 gr/l

A typical balloon should provide from 4 to 5 mm of overpressure and
reduce lift to .9935 of these figures.

For small spherical helium balloon sizes:

Dia. inches  Vol. Liters  Lift/gr    Lift/lbs

       6        1.85       1.90      0.0042 
       8        4.39       4.51      0.0099 
      10        8.58       8.81      0.0194 
      12       14.83      15.22      0.0335 
      14       23.55      24.17      0.0533 
      16       35.15      36.07      0.0795 
      18       50.04      51.36      0.1132 
      20       68.65      70.45      0.1553 
      22       91.37      93.77      0.2067

Dia. Ft.  Vol. l     Lift gr.    Lift Lbs.

   1      14.83       15.2        0.03 
   2     118.62      121.7        0.27 
   3     400.34      410.9        0.91 
   4     948.96      973.9        2.15 
   5    1853.45     1902.2        4.19 
   6    3202.76     3287.0        7.25 
   7    5085.86     5219.7       11.51 
   8    7591.72     7791.5       17.18 
   9   10809.30    11093.7       24.46 
  10   14827.58    15217.7       33.55 
  11   19735.50    20254.8       44.65 
  12   25622.05    26296.2       57.97 
  13   32576.18    33433.3       73.71 
  14   40686.87    41757.4       92.06 
  15   50043.07    51359.8      113.23 
  16   60733.75    62331.8      137.42 
  17   72847.88    74764.7      164.83 
  18   86474.42    88749.8      195.66 
  19   101702.34   104378       230.12 
  20   118620.61   121741       268.40 
  21   137318.18   140931       310.70 
  22   157884.03   162038       357.24 
  23   180407.11   185154       408.20 
  24   204976.41   210369       463.79

At a WiMM - Nikon Camera Control and Geotagger

2012-01-14T15:59:00.000-08:00

MediaMapper Mobile

WiMM We’re not just launching a product.
We’re launching a movement.

There is a paradigm shift toward information immediacy. Consumers want digital experiences faster, easier and more relevant to their daily lives. The WIMM Platform delivers that shift. It is a comprehensive set of ready-to-go hardware, open-app development possibilities, web services and manufacturing resources designed to launch you into this new market—without having to invest in an extensive technical engineering team or manufacturing facilities. From sports and fashion to healthcare and finance, see how the WIMM Platform is driving the connected wearables and Micro App movement.

Play video »

Nikon Camera Area Networking

2012-01-13T09:52:00.000-08:00

The Nikon D4 body is aprox $6000-$7000?

AutoCAD Aligns Spatially with MapInfo

2012-01-11T15:04:00.000-08:00

Cloud Data Store Proves Central to Pitney Bowes and Autodesk Alignment

by MATT BALL on JANUARY 11, 2012

More details regarding the impetus behind the alignment came through today in a call with Rich Humphrey, director of the civil infrastructure line at Autodesk, and James Buckley, senior vice president and general manager of customer data and location intelligence, at Pitney Bowes Software. One of the more immediate customer-focused advancements will be the delivery of seamless connectivity to authoritative data sources for better modeling within Autodesk’s Infrastructure Modeler and other products.

Pitney Bowes Software has been delivering and managing data via the cloud through their Geosk product for some time, with direct connections to their own GIS software, MapInfo Professional. This data offering allows users to take targeted cuts of map data to integrate within their projects. For instance, they can purchase Pitney Bowes own StreetPro data for a county instead of an entire state, and download that directly as opposed to the delivery of CDs or DVDs in the past.

This access to data deployed in the cloud, or as an appliance on premise, solves a major pain point of creating realistic 3D city models within the Infrastructure Modeler 3D city modeling tool, where quality and authority of data is critical to accurately represent the project space. The technical challenges of integrating this cloud-based capability within pull-down menus in Autodesk products isn’t much of a technical challenge, so you can expect to see this data connectivity feature added quickly.

Enhanced Analytics

There are definite gaps that are filled through the infrastructure lifecycle - plan, design, build, and manage – with this alignment. Pitney Bowes has analytical tools for master planning and for policy and strategy decisions that don’t overlap with the design and modeling focus of Autodesk. Autodesk aggregates information into BIM or CAD engineering environment, but has been a bit weak in terms of GIS analytics and business analytics to make better decisions on that information.

Pitney Bowes Encom Engage 3D combines 3D spatial technology with conventional GIS analysis to provide new solutions to infrastructure asset problems. The product has been successful in the mining and oil and gas, as well as environmental monitoring arena. Both companies see a strong benefit to combine this capability with Autodesk’s planning and design tools for infrastructure, where the combination provides a compelling data flow.

Simulation Synergies

Another area that stands to benefit is the integration of transportation planning and simulation within the early phases of design. The Pitney Bowes product Quadstone Paramics simulates transportation and crowd movement to take into account the best traffic engineering of intersections, the mix of public transport and routing, pedestrian modeling, environmental impacts and emissions, and the modeling of people within infrastructure.

As the Building Information Modeling advances to the broader infrastructure space, this ability to automate the performance of infrastructure design with traffic simulation becomes really compelling. Paramics provides the ability to test out different scenarios regarding traffic patterns to optimize design in real time. This adds to the intelligent modeling capabilities of Autodesk by taking the design, combining it with traffic data, and visualizing it within a real-world context.

Managing Assets

Autodesk’s Map 3D and Topobase products have a records management and industry data models for utilities, but what isn’t there is the delivery of strategic asset management solutions. Pitney Bowes Confirm product is a solution for the maintenance and management of public infrastructure assets such as roads and highways, lights, structures, grounds, trees and waste systems that delivers reporting and optimization tools as well as contract management. The tool essentially performs a geo-accounting function to assign values and costs, assess risks, and perform valuation across the full infrastructure lifecycle.

The Confirm strategic asset management system is a market leader in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, and through the Autodesk relationship it will be pushed across the globe. The tool has a full set of maintenance management, budget planning, and contracting tools that provides detailed condition data that ties back to each asset as well as built-in GIS capabilities based on MapXtreme. There are real opportunities within the transportation market, where public private partnership and multi-agency initiatives, are creating larger scale and longer term projects with a need for more detailed cost accounting. These tools give those organizations the ability to better manage those long-term projects well.

Sales Execution

This announcement coincided with a Pitney Bowes global sales meeting in Florida this week, where representatives from their offices across the globe meet yearly to discuss offerings and targets. Pitney Bowes has a strong direct channel sales and services presence in countries across the globe. Autodesk’s VARs are well positioned to take this on too, and the two companies are busy making decisions on which channels will work best to ensure that those best positioned to drive value are included.

Talks about aligning operations have been ongoing for the past four months. The announcement has received universal excitement from the sales force where there is strong enthusiasm that many companies will make buying decisions based on this alignment. Where there is increasing call for close alignment of design tools, analysis and data management for large infrastructure-related tenders, this alignment will prove fruitful.

Garmin Smartphone Linker

2012-01-11T14:49:00.001-08:00

Details emerge on Garmin Smartphone Link app

from GPS Tracklog by Rich Owings

Garmin has posted some FAQs on their Android Smartphone Link app, and we’ve got the highlights for you…

While the NAVTEQ traffic data may be the same as what you already receive, since you are getting it via your phone instead of over FM, you mayexpand your coverage area (many smaller metros have traffic coverage, but no FM-TMC reception)
Find where traffic cameras are currently available
Is it coming to the iPhone? Maybe
Basic (free) weather gets you “current localized weather, temperature and forecasts,” while Advanced Weather adds “severe weather alerts, notifications of weather along your current route, and animated radar images on your Garmin navigator” (see image below)
Garmin estimates “an average monthly data usage of around 2 MB per month…very heavy users might use up to 20 MB per month”
But they also say that “an unlimited data plan is recommended when using the premium servicesavailable through Garmin Live Services”

And a few other items:

A step-by-step look at using Garmin Smartphone Link
While Twice is reporting Garmin Tracker integration, my contacts are saying only that they are looking into it for the future (and we don’t know if that means GTU-10 tracking or nuLink 2390 style tracking)
You can find more info on Garmin Smartphone Link in our previous post

ComCam - Non-Traditional Media?

2012-01-11T07:02:00.000-08:00

Written on JANUARY 11, 2012 AT 7:48 AM by JTOZER

Retired Combat Photographer Reflects on Career That Spanned Three Wars

By Randy Roughton
www.airman.dodlive.mil

Nearly a decade before he captured motion pictures of bombing missions over Nazi-controlled Europe, a 12-year-old aspiring photographer was in a tree house with his Kodak Brownie.

When retired Chief Master Sgt. Douglas W. Morrell was a boy growing up in Nebraska, he photographed family vacations. One day, a small-town attorney offered to pay him for a picture to help him fight a lawsuit. The lawyer believed the plaintiff wasn’t as hurt from an accident as he’d pretended, so he asked the boy to climb into a neighbor’s tree house until just the right moment.

“I heard the front door slam, and this guy comes out and takes off all of his harnesses, pads and braces,” Morrell said. “Then he gets his shovel and starts digging potatoes in his garden, and I’m catching all of this. That was the start of it all.” Morrell’s love of photography was rivaled only by an obsession to fly, so he joined the Army Air Corps just before World War II. He began a combat photography career that included 32 combat missions and four months as a prisoner-of-war in Romania.

Morrell, who received two Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star, bailed out of three airplanes during World War II and in Vietnam after they were hit by enemy fire. The first time he bailed out, he had to evade capture for 25 days.

“That particular mission was practically a milk run for me, compared to the others,” said Morrell, now 92 and living in Highland, Calif.

To read the rest of the story, click here.

Simplex Only... ? Darn!

2012-01-11T06:52:00.000-08:00

SD ASSOCIATION ADDS STANDARDIZED WIRELESS COMMUNICATION TO WORLD-LEADING SD MEMORY CARD STANDARDS

New Wireless LAN feature extends SD memory card convenience so consumers can transfer pictures and videos wirelessly from their cameras

LAS VEGAS – CES Booth South Hall 4 #36231 -- Jan. 9, 2012 – A new SD memory card standard can transform millions of everyday consumer electronics into wireless LAN devices with portable storage and communications. The Wireless LAN SD standard announced today is the SD Association's first wireless SD memory card standard combining storage and wireless capabilities. Consumers will be able to transfer pictures, videos and other content wirelessly from most existing digital cameras and digital video cameras to web-based cloud services and between SD devices over home networks.

The Wireless LAN SD standard combines the world-leading memory card storage standard with the ubiquitous wireless standard IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n, part of the Association's strategy to expand SD services and features by incorporating other global standards. This standard is applicable to full size SD/SDHC/SDXC and microSD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards. It taps into a billions-strong SD standards market for which manufacturers can develop products and consumers can reliably use Wireless LAN applications.

"As cloud servers and wireless technologies continue to penetrate the consumer experience, wireless accessibility will become increasingly more important," said Michael Yang, senior principal analyst, memory and storage, IHS iSuppli. "The addition of wireless capability to the existing SD memory card standard, will enable SD memory cards to remain relevant to shifting market demand, and add value to consumers and manufacturers of new cameras, tablets, and mobile phones."

With wireless communication capabilities in their familiar SD memory cards, consumers around the world will be able to:

· Upload family, vacation or sports photos and video wirelessly from a camera or video camera to a computer or server for sharing or backup.

· Wirelessly download pictures from servers with cameras and video cameras using Wireless LAN SD memory cards. Consumers can share pictures and videos without email or physical card transfers, including peer-to-peer picture and video transfers from cameras to smart phones and tablets wirelessly without an access point.

· Use Wireless LAN SD memory cards as wireless control points for other devices, such as TVs, in a home network.

The Wireless LAN SD memory card standard defines two interface types:

· The Web interface, designated by a symbol, supports server upload and peer-to-peer functions;

· The home network interface designated by a symbol, supports server upload and home network communication functions.

· A Wireless LAN SD memory card can provide both of the wireless communication types, designated by both symbols.

"Wireless LAN SD offers you a standardized approach to transfer pictures, video, documents and other content easily with most existing cameras and video cameras," said Norm Frentz, chairman of the SD Association. "The Wireless LAN SD memory card standard demonstrates how SD Association innovation continues to respond to market demand and improve consumers' digital lives."

For more than a decade, SD standards have increased the value, usefulness and longevity of consumer electronics by allowing consumers to easily upgrade storage instead of replacing devices and creating more electronic waste.

JVC Video does geotagging

2012-01-10T14:33:00.000-08:00

JVC's 2012 Everio 1080p camcorder lineup gains WiFi, enables geotagging and remote control via smartphone

from Engadget by Darren Murph

JVC's 2012 Everio lineup was just launched, containing seven new models with 1080p recording based on the AVCHD format. There's also a UXP mode with a 24Mbps sampling rate, an HDMI output and a built-in WiFi module in four of the units. We've seen wireless support pop up on cameras in recent months, and even a few pocket camcorders have managed to get cozy with 802.11b/g/n, but it's not everyday you see a legitimate, Full HD shooter with the stuff. We're told that a free app will be made available for Android and iOS devices, enabling users to wirelessly transfer video and stills to a smartphone for quick sharing via the internet.

It also allows the phone to be used as a remote control for the Everio and offers geotagging of video and photo files in conjunction with the smartphone's GPS. Not surprisingly, the video email function only allows clips of up to 15 seconds (and the resolution is capped at 640 x 360) to be sent directly from the Everio to up to eight email addresses, but at least the Live Monitoring functionality allows real time monitoring on a smartphone or computer of images taken with the cam. Prices for the lineup range from $229.95 to $899.95, with the whole lot shipping in Q1 of this year; the real question, however, is whether or not there's still a meaningful market for these things.

2012-01-10T14:08:00.000-08:00

CES 2012: BlueStacks Brings Android Apps to Windows 8

BlueStacks’ app player will bring Android apps into Windows 8,
enabling more than 400,000 apps to run on Microsoft’s Windows OS.

The start-up showcased a functional demo that featured Android
apps appearing almost indistinguishable from Windows-based apps
in the Metro interface.

BlueStacks’ app player may help Microsoft clear one of the biggest
obstacles to its fledgling platform: the lack of available apps.

“The Metro UI is beautiful, but the number one thing Windows 8
is missing is apps,” said BlueStacks CEO Rosen Sharma in a
statement today. “This changes all that.”

BlueStacks’ app player emulates Android apps on Windows, and
supports both traditional desktop and tablet interfaces. The
Campbell, Calif.-based company’s ability to transform Android
apps for Windows 8 easily may end Microsoft’s urgency to create
thousands of apps for Windows 8, expected to launch later this year.
If successful, the technology will bring a huge amount of apps to the
Windows platform, giving it a leg up in a competitive market.

Bluestacks may be betting on Windows 8′s ability to grab a large
share of the mobile market, which would be a boon for the company
itself. Still, some call the start-up’s plans lofty for a company that
doesn’t yet have a stable version of its product on the market.

For its part, Microsoft may applaud the development, but at the
same time work hard to make sure it doesn’t discourage other
developers from making apps directly for its platform.

BlueStacks debuted the software last year and released a version
for Windows 7, but this latest news hints at bigger mobile ambitions.
In addition to the demo, the company mentioned discussions to
have its app player software preloaded on new PCs in addition to
exploring agreements with several unnamed hardware manufacturers
to ship the program, pre-installed on their devices.

The company is also reportedly targeting Windows 8 Ultrabook
manufacturers to pre-load its Android app player, and it has already
landed a deal with Taiwanese manufacturer InHon. Finally, Bluestacks’
Sharma said a version for Mac fans is also in the works.

SONY's Next-gen Image Stabilization

2012-01-10T13:52:00.000-08:00

Sony unveils new family of Handycams: HDR CX760V/B steadies your hand with balanced image stabilization (hands-on)
By Mat Smith posted Jan 9th 2012 8:00PM

Hands-On

We hope you're in the market for a camcorder, because Sony's cranked out a pile of new models to capture your favorite moving moments of 2012. We were particularly taken with the HDR CX760V/B Handycam. Its Balanced Optical SteadyShot image stabilization feature moves the entire optical block, which significantly helped to maintain image stability during our hands-on. There's ample storage, with 96GB already baked in, while, like the rest of Sony's Handycam range there's also a back-lit Exmor R sensor.

The HDR XR260V/B manages full HD video capture, 8.9 megapixel stills, optical image stabilization, a wide-angle G lens capable of 30x optical zoom. Storage is provided by a 160GB hard drive. Other models arrives with a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar and a 2.7-inch touchscreen, available in both 8GB (CX210/B) and flash storage-only (CX200/B) models. The CX190/B follows the same vein, although it's limited to manual controls.

The TD20V/S packs two sensors able to record high-definition 3D content at 1920 x 1080, or 24.1 megapixel stills. The 3D lens can also manage 10x optical, while there's a built-in glasses-free 3D display to showcase your content immediately. 64GB should ensure there's plenty of space for the data-hungry content.

The PJ760V/B (96GB) and PJ710V/B (32GB) forgoes the 3D bells and whistles in favor of a built-in projector. There's balanced optical steady shot and a wide-angle Carl Zeiss Lens. The projector itself is capable of expanding your content up to 100 inches. Sound quality is cared for by a 5.1 surround mic. The PJ580V/B (32GB), PJ260V/B (16GB) and the removable storage-only PJ200V/B lists similar specs, but carries the more standard optical stabilization. Prices aren't yet announced, but expect the family to arrive before the end of the summer.

Zach Honig contributed to this report.

Sony Intros Bloggie Live, Bloggie Sport Pocket Cams To Combat Camera Phones

from TechCrunch by Jordan Crook

Now that most of our smartphones can take crisp images and stunning video, the digital imaging sector is having a tough time holding on to its market share. Still, a few players are up for the challenge, including Sony which has today announced the latest in its line of Bloggie pocket cams: Bloggie Live and Bloggie Sport.

Bloggie Live is all about what’s happening right now, as it’s able to shoot video and broadcast it live to another device courtesy of the Qik platform. All videos taken with Bloggie Live are in 1080p, and are uploaded in the mp4 format so you can share quickly to Facebook and YouTube. Speaking of, Bloggie Live has built-in WiFi so whenever you’re connected to a network, you’ll be able to share directly to your favorite platforms without plugging anything in. On the still images front, Bloggie Live still has your smartphone beat with a 12.8 megapixel sensor.

Bloggie Live sports a 3-inch touchscreen, along with a flip-out USB arm for charging/uploading, 8GB of memory, and an HDMI-out port. Sony’s also loaded this little guy up with some software including its PlayMemories online platform, which lets you view pictures and videos from your iOS or Android devices once you’ve downloaded the PlayMemories mobile app.

Then there’s the Bloggie Sport, Bloggie Live’s ruggedized little brother. It still shoots in 1080p and has a 4x digital zoom like the premium model, but Sony opted to offer this guy with 4GB of memory instead of 8GB, bringing its video shooting time down to two hours instead of three. Still images will be 5MP instead of 12MP, and the LCD touchscreen has been reduced from 3-inches to 2.7.

However, there is some added functionality there, including the ability to take this thing 16 feet under water (with full touchscreen control). Bloggie Sport is also shock resistant. It’s got a rubberized finish, and has special locks to prevent any seepage on that flip-out USB arm. Like the Bloggie Live, you’ll also find an LED light on the back to help with low-light shots.

Bloggie Live will hit shelves today and has an MSRP of $249, while the Bloggie Sport won’t be available until mid- to late February for $179.

SONY Shows off their FIRST SONY-Phone

2012-01-10T13:34:00.000-08:00

Sony Xperia S – 4.3″ screen, Android 2.3, due Q1 2012

from EuroDroid by Gary_C

So we’ve just seen the US-only Xperia Ion revealed at CES, now it’s time for something for us. The Sony Xperia S is a 4.3″ model with a BRAVIA Engine Reality Display running at 720×1280 resolution, with the pixels pushed about the place by a dual-core MSM8260 processor running at 1.5GHz.

There’s a 12megapixel Exmor R camera inside the Xperia S just like there is within the Xperia Ion, with a similar 1.3MP front-facing chat camera, while it’s also PlayStation Certified for gaming, has 32GB of onboard storage and includes NFC support. And here it is…

…which you may recognise as the phone we’ve seen many times before and the internet used to call the Xperia Arc HD. But it’s not that. It’s the Sony Xperia S. Officially. It’ll launch at the back end of Q1 2012, so ought to beat the new 2012 Samsung and HTC models to market.

Here’s the full press release, which confirms the “first quarter 2012″ launch window, also stating the Xperia S will arrive with Android 2.3 onboard – with an update to Android 4.0 planned for Q2. The full spec sheet is available on the official Xperia S site.

First smartphone from the new Xperia NXT series – next generation smartphones from Sony

Xperia™ S, the first smartphone from the new Xperia NXT series – next generation smartphones from Sony*, was today announced at Sony’s press conference ahead of the 2012 International CES show in Las Vegas. The new Xperia S is an Android™ smartphone that delivers a stunning viewing experience with a high resolution screen, Sony HD experiences and a 12MP camera that takes pictures in just 1.5 seconds from standby. Xperia S also comes with a powerful 1.5GHz dual-core processor for faster performance.

Xperia S within the world of Sony

The new Xperia S enables easy connectivity with multiple screens for consumers looking to share and enjoy content on whichever screen best suits their situation, whether it’s TV, smartphone, laptop or tablet. Consumers can watch their favourite content from the Sony Entertainment Network by connecting their Xperia S through HMDI to TV or share photos wirelessly with just one touch. Xperia S is also NFC (near field communication) enabled to allow consumers to share content with each other as well as enjoying an increasing number of NFC applications and services.

Biggest and best entertainment experiences from Sony

Xperia S will be able to access the richest entertainment experiences from Sony Entertainment Network**. Music Unlimited offers a global catalogue of 12 million unique songs while Video Unlimited has the latest Hollywood blockbusters and TV shows from all major studios***.

Xperia S is also PlayStation™ Certified, guaranteeing a high quality smartphone gaming experience and access to the PlayStation® Store****.

Instantly Recognizable Design

Xperia S showcases a new design approach referred to as “Iconic Identity”. The design will be replicated across the Xperia NXT series and creates a simple strong look that is instantly recognizable. The transparent element at the base creates an iconic silhouette where the display is emphasized and underlined. In addition, it provides illumination effects and integrates the antenna components.

The user interface has been redesigned to match the minimalistic design of the hardware. The home screen has a new colorful flow background making full usage of HD Reality Display and dual-core processing power.

Availability

Xperia S will be available to consumers globally from the first quarter 2012. Launching on Android platform 2.3 (Gingerbread) Xperia S will be upgraded to Android platform 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) during the second quarter 2012.

We've got movement... COT

2012-01-10T07:16:00.000-08:00

Small 3lb Radar Changing the Game for Video Surveillance Systems

SpotterRF introduces an innovative small 3lb radar system for perimeter security and force protection.

“The M80 represents a game-changing solution for force protection. With this type of SWAP (Size, weight and power) it is now possible to get a miniature G-BOSS system in a backpack.”

Orem, UT (PRWEB) January 09, 2012

SpotterRF unveils production units of the M80 - a breakthrough small radar system that will revolutionize the world of military and commercial surveillance. The 3lb radar is roughly the size of a large paperback novel and has proven to accurately track moving personnel in range and angle out past a distance of 500m within a coverage area of nearly 40 acres.

The M80 is specifically designed to be employed by the individual warfighter to increase their situational awareness while in hostile territory when it is difficult to know what is taking place around them. Captain Dan Kearney aptly addresses the problem faced by small expeditionary units in the documentary, Restrepo. “While it’s pitch black and the helicopters can’t see anything, they can’t engage cause they don’t know who’s who. Airplanes can’t tell who’s who, Predators can’t tell who’s who, nobody knows what the hell’s going on.”

The U.S. Military has recognized the need for integrated force protection systems that include IR cameras and radar. Several heavy-duty systems have been developed such as the BETSS-C, used by the Army, and the G-BOSS, used by Marines, in an effort to support the surveillance needs of the warfigher. Each of these systems combines large radar (GSR) and high-power IR cameras to detect threats. While these large systems have proven to be effective in many areas such as forward operating bases (FOBs), many smaller groups in Combat Outposts (COPs) and firebases have been unable to use these large systems because of cost and support requirements.

The emergence of new technologies like miniature IR cameras from companies such as FLIR, RVision (a subsidiary of Cobham), Indigo Systems and General Dynamics, as well as small surveillance radars from Plextek and SpotterRF are making lightweight portable camera and radar systems a reality.

Logan Harris CEO of SpotterRF stated, “The M80 represents a game-changing solution for force protection. With this type of SWAP (Size, weight and power) it is now possible to get a miniature G-BOSS system in a backpack.”

As well as integration with current video surveillance systems, the M80 is capable of being a stand-alone surveillance option. Specifically optimized for deployment in more dense environments, such as locations near cities or other urban environments, the M80 provides live information of each moving target within it’s wide field-of-view. This information includes range, azimuth angle, velocity and location. The M80 outputs KML, JSON, as well as Cursor on Target data, an XML protocol developed by Mitre for the Department of Defense. Moving tracks of each target can be viewed on multiple platforms such as Google Earth or FalconView using any laptop or via a web browser on any mobile device.

The M80 can be quickly deployed using a standard CAT5 Ethernet cable, and calibrated for use in minutes with a built in web-based user interface. SpotterRF claims that the system is so easy to deploy that anyone who is familiar with using the Internet can setup and use the radar within 30 minutes. To aid in carrying less, the compact radar has a very low power consumption of 9W, and can run on a single BA 2590 battery for 17 hours.

SpotterRF is located in Orem, Utah, and is the industry leader in a new class of radar called Compact Surveillance Radar (CSR). To find out more please visit http://www.spotterrf.com.

US UAS Test sites get funding...

2012-01-09T09:08:00.000-08:00

Defense bill calls for domestic UAS test sites

FAA directed to establish six pilot sites to test unmanned systems for use inside the United States

By Amber Corrin
Dec 22, 2011

Under provisions in the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act, six new pilot test sites for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) will be established by the Federal Aviation Administration. The Defense Department and FAA will use the test sites to integrate UAS into national airspace use for a variety of different applications, rather than the current functions essentially limited to military use overseas or in restricted U.S. airspace.

The bill provides for a five-year program in which test sites will be used for the FAA to coordinate with DOD to determine how to safely operate UAS in shared national airspace. The test program will explore uses for the aircraft outside traditional military applications, and also for enhanced military operations.

In the domestic setting, UAS might be used for law enforcement, such as crime investigation and traffic applications; agricultural uses, including treating crops with pesticides; or monitoring utilities including pipelines, proponents of the measure said. UAS are already being used domestically for applications in border patrol and disaster relief, according to media reports.

The measure has support from some industry organizations and also members of Congress.

“The creation of these test sites will mark the first step in what will undoubtedly be a long process eventually leading to a common-day occurrence – manned and unmanned aircraft flying safely and seamlessly together in the national airspace,” Peter Beale, chairman of the board at the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, said in a statement. “I applaud Congress’ foresight on the important role UAS can play for our economy and public safety, and I encourage the FAA to expeditiously set up these test sites with the input from the unmanned systems community.”

The test sites have yet to be designated, but the language in the bill orders that potential sites “take into consideration geographic and climatic diversity…and ground infrastructure and research needs,” and are selected under consultation between DOD and NASA.

Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) also supports the legislation and is pushing for North Dakota to be a regional UAS command center. Hoeven coordinated with Congress to insert the bill’s language about geography and climate in consideration of test site locations, according to his website.

Better get one....

2012-01-08T09:21:00.001-08:00

Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 full details leaked, 720p camera and new flight modes?

from Engadget by Tim Stevens

It was hard to miss the "2.0" branding over at Parrot's little aerodrome here at CES, but with nary a detail we were left speculation what the new major version number means. Now, though, we have some more details. A lot more details, actually. Over at AR Drone Flyers we've spotted what looks to be an official press release detailing everything about the new UAV, most notable being an improved 720p camera. You can apparently use this to record footage from the drone and even program it to fly in any direction automatically. In other words, this could be the low-cost aerial camera DIY extreme sports filmmakers have waited for. And, at $299 when it ships in Q2, it'll be quite close to affordable. You can check out a picture of the new drone above and read the full details in the seemingly official press release below.

Underwater Video

2012-01-08T09:00:00.000-08:00

Underwater cam runs deeper, longer

from (title unknown) by Paul Worthington

Fitness Technologies offers what it says it the first underwater video camera that can run for eight hours, and is “100 percent waterproof.”
The line of Uwater Action Cameras is rated at 30–60 meters underwater, and have all-metal cases.
The base model’s 5 megapixel camera captures 720p video. Higher end units have 8MP sensors and 1080 video. Pricing ranges from $200–$250.

HDMI Dongle = Android-TV?

2012-01-08T08:43:00.000-08:00

The simply-titled HDMI Dongle is effectively an entire system on a ~~chip~~ dongle (and yeah, it looks a lot like Roku's Streaming Stick), boasting a Cortex-A9, between 256MB and 1GB of RAM, inbuilt WiFi / Bluetooth, an NFC module and even an accelerometer. The goal here is to convert your completely vanilla HDTV into an internet-connected device; just plug it into your HDMI port, grab the bundled RF remote and start enjoying Android on the big screen. It's capable of streaming content at 1080p, and accessing Hulu, Netflix or Amazon's video store shouldn't cause a fuss.

http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/07/always-innovating-hdmi-dongle-android-tv-video/

An Interesting Read

2012-01-08T08:35:00.000-08:00

Sharing Sights — in 6Sight Magazine

from (title unknown) by Paul Worthington

The December–January issue of 6Sight magazine, the voice of the Future of Imaging Conference, is now available.
In this 32-page issue:

Ericsson Advances Imaging:
An interivew with engineer Mats Wernersson.
Flixab Automates Edits:
CEO David Slater’s algorithms analyze video.
Trover Discovers Images:
CEO Jason Karas finds fun with photos.

From Film to Phone:

Jack Hollingsworth transitions from high-end shooter to mobile enthusiast.
The Future Of Photography:
Joe Byrd at the CES Press Preview.
All Photography is Shared:
Commentary by Paul Worthington

Imaging News:

A digest of the latest important photography information.

Your Electronic Halo - Monitor It

2012-01-08T08:15:00.000-08:00

Quick Look: Network Monitor Mini Is A Small, Unobtrusive App That Monitors Bandwidth In Real-Time

from Android News, Reviews, Applications, Games, Phones, Devices, Tips, Hacks, Videos, Podcasts - Android Police by Cameron Summerson

There are many reasons why you may need to keep an eye on what's going with your bandwidth at any given moment, especially while on a cell network. Perhaps you need to monitor a download that's going on in the background, or maybe you just need to make sure that no apps are hogging data without permission. Whatever the reason, if you've been searching for an easy to way to address this issue, we've found the solution: Network Monitor Mini.

Network Monitor Mini is one of the simplest, yet most useful apps we've ever used - it displays both upload ...

Most Elegant - Microsoft's Windows Phone Race for Relevance?

2012-01-08T08:01:00.000-08:00

When You Have To Buy Their Love, You’ve Lost

from TechCrunch by Greg Kumparak

Over at WindowsITPro, Paul Thurott outlines some details of Microsoft/Nokia’s (purported) marketing plans for Windows Phone in 2012. Amongst them: a $10 to $15 commission for retail sales people who sell Windows Phone handsets over Android or iOS.

In turn, John Gruber asks: “If this strategy was on the table, why didn’t Microsoft start this a year ago?“

Here’s why: because it’s an admission of failure.

Microsoft’s obstacle isn’t an easy one. When people walk into a phone store in search of a new smartphone, the sales dude generally offers up two choices: iPhone or Android. Meanwhile, the only people being handed Windows Phones are the ones who asked for them right off the bat.

Now, why is this? Is it because Apple and Google are coughing up piles of cash to get the sales reps to push their phones? Nope — while carriers and specific OEMs might offer spiffs for the sales of certain handsets, I can’t find evidence that Apple or Google themselves ever have. (I’ve been asking sales folks and carrier reps if they ever got a cut from either company all morning, and the only answer I got besides a bunch of “No way”s was a “Hah! If Apple paid me a special commission, I’d be rich.”)

It’s because, for the time being, Windows Phone just isn’t good enough.

That’s not to say that Windows Phone isn’t good, period — it is! But it also came out incredibly late in the game. When you’re the last one off the line, you have to do something so amazing, something so much better than what the folks leading the pack are doing, that you change the race entirely.

iOS did this by making smartphones simple, embracing the concept of “Apps” better than anyone else had before, and by riding that massive wave of momentum that comes from being Apple’s next shiny thing.

Android did it by becoming the anti-iPhone. One handset? “Heck no! Put it on all of them!” said Google. A tightly monitored, “walled garden” for an App Store? “Nope! Do what you want!” Google did everything that Apple would not (for better or worse), for the consumer and everyone else in the industry.

Windows Phone, meanwhile, has very few tricks that anyone could inarguably say that it does better. Oh, it does plenty of things — and it does them all differently. But different isn’t better; it’s just different.

When phone guys sell phones, they’re selling whatever they think will be the easiest sale and make their customer (and their managers) happiest. They do this not necessarily because they’re wonderful people who have deep compassion for everyone who sets foot in their store — but because dealing with angry people (and their returns) sucks. For now, this means iPhone or Android. Both do all of the snazzy things people see in the commercials. Both have a bazillion apps. Both have such massive user bases that few would ever look out into a crowd of people all with smartphones in hand and think “Crap. Did I pick the wrong phone?”

By offering up a chunk of change for each sale — especially when it seems that no one else is — Microsoft is essentially saying “Yeah, we know you don’t really want to sell this. We know that we don’t really have any killer features yet. How about some cash?”

Find your killer feature, Microsoft. Don’t just buy love.

RouteScout

Is Rugby really that tough? You decide?

GPS Watch

Hard-Droid... totally awesome Tablets for battle

Drones versus Unions?

What's that? A Multi-channel High Definition in your Pocket or are simply glad to see me?

Connection to the Edge - Emergency or Otherwise

Sony Mobile Arrives...

DoD gets a Modem too?

ArcGIS On-line - the almost that is too late?

The GeoDesign Little Red Book is ready to teach a generation of students what won’t work in the commercial sector.

Tablets for Flight Bags

NEX SONY E Lens

GPS promised faster, more fuel efficient landings

updated 07:05 pm EST, Wed February 8, 2012

Totally Chrome...

Nikon D800 - Blue2CAN and VMS Ready

JVC makes a great AVCHD

300fps High-Speed Video Recording for Super Slow Motion Playback

360 Degree ProPhoto

Android Open Reasoning

Android Army - iPhone too secrete?

Secure Android and the Army Universal Remote

from Danger Room by NathanHodge

The PhotoPhone by Kahn

Ouch?

Sorry no Geotagging in China?

Silverlight versus Windows Phone 8.0?

Nikon Smart Cameras

Totally Wow!!

Garmin etrex 20 - a MidNight Mapper Picker

Garmin Track Logs

Nikon - GPS Hopeful?

Motorola Razr Unlocked

Meet the Motorola Unlockable Bootloader

IMPORTANT

Shoe GPS

FinePix with GPS

WiFi - Bluetooth - WIGig 7Gb/sec at 3 meters!

Map Cache - Off line with Google Maps

Adding Vectors to Google Maps

Smarter than Feature Phones

Chinese cleaning up...?

Chinese 'attack US DOD smart cards' with Sykipot malware

SE_Android

250 million Androids - Is that platform enough for you?

Can you sue a Drone?

Domestic Drone Programs Spark Civil-Liberties Lawsuit

Updated: January 11, 2012 | 3:47 p.m. By Josh Smith

January 11, 2012 | 12:13 p.m.

Humpty-Dumpty - Not a fragmented Android Solution

Is Android fragmented? Google argues otherwise

GeoGoogle... Geo-zilla Arrives

Google Charging for Google Maps API Access? So What?

Google GeoEnterprise - Will it be worth it??

Open Source Maps Gain Ground as Google Paywall Looms

Trimble Accuracy...

Best of Breed - CES Cameras 2012

Android Fractures ?

AGPS Patch for Android Handsets

High Res Baloon Mapping with Android

At a WiMM - Nikon Camera Control and Geotagger

Nikon Camera Area Networking

AutoCAD Aligns Spatially with MapInfo

Garmin Smartphone Linker

ComCam - Non-Traditional Media?

Simplex Only... ? Darn!

JVC Video does geotagging

SONY's Next-gen Image Stabilization

Sony unveils new family of Handycams: HDR CX760V/B steadies your hand with balanced image stabilization (hands-on)By Mat Smith posted Jan 9th 2012 8:00PM

SONY Shows off their FIRST SONY-Phone

Sony Xperia S – 4.3″ screen, Android 2.3, due Q1 2012

We've got movement... COT

US UAS Test sites get funding...

Better get one....

Underwater Video

HDMI Dongle = Android-TV?

An Interesting Read

Your Electronic Halo - Monitor It

Most Elegant - Microsoft's Windows Phone Race for Relevance?

The GeoDesign Little Red Book is ready to teach a generation of students what won’t work in the
commercial sector.

Sony unveils new family of Handycams: HDR CX760V/B steadies your hand with balanced image stabilization (hands-on)
By Mat Smith posted Jan 9th 2012 8:00PM