Forget crosswords and Krugman, because the New York Times has created a new bathroom companion that looks infinitely more entertaining than either of them. Like some of its Snow White-style predecessors, the Times‘ “magic mirror” prototype uses Microsoft Kinect to detect and follow your movements, while deploying voice recognition technology to execute your commands. With this omniscient slab affixed to your wall, you can surf the web, flip through your wardrobe and send reassuring e-mails to your teenage daughter, whom you should have driven to school a good 30 minutes ago. An RFID reader, meanwhile, can recognize tagged pharmaceuticals or other products, allowing you to instantly access information on your prescription meds by placing them in front of the reflective LCD. You could also use the mirror to browse through the Times‘ full slate of articles and video content, meaning you can read about extravagant weekend getaways and urban gentrification from the standing comfort of your sink. Unfortunately for all mankind, the magic mirror is still in the prototype phase and the NYT‘s Research & Development Group has yet to offer a timetable for its release — but you can see it in action for yourself, after the break.

Continue reading New York Times’ magic mirror helps you get dressed, puts the ‘wall’ in ‘paywall’ (video)

New York Times’ magic mirror helps you get dressed, puts the ‘wall’ in ‘paywall’ (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Sep 2011 20:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It currently works with Google Maps and Yelp, but could theoretically be used with any site that uses URIs, or those lengthy URLs that contain search details, such as the origin and destination addresses you sent to Google Maps. You could also “transfer” a site in its “current state” by emailing the URI, or by using an app to seamlessly share it over WiFi or Bluetooth with a “send to mobile” button — which is likely what Deep Shot is doing here anyway, just with an extra step thrown into the mix. Care to visit a land where you can swim with the Loch Ness Monster and ride a pink unicorn? Head past the break for Deep Shot’s coming out video, which curiously makes no mention of the required desktop software.

Continue reading Deep Shot transfers open websites from desktop to mobile, sans wizardry

Deep Shot transfers open websites from desktop to mobile, sans wizardry originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 12:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Marco Tempest’s magic show uses iPods to deceive and delight originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Jun 2011 20:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Marco Tempest’s magic show uses iPods to deceive and delight originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Jun 2011 20:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The original gangster of Android, T-Mobile’s G1, just refuses to quietly fade into the annals of history. Even in spite of its long overdue end of retail life last summer, the handset continues to see support from grassroots modders and tweakers, with the latest project being the most ambitious of them all: an Android Honeycomb port. A pair of xda members have succeeded in splicing Android’s most senior hardware with its very latest software and the results are available to see on video after the break. As usual with these builds, half of the phone’s functions have still to be enabled and the UI lag seems like it’ll be a permanent feature whatever happens, but still — it’s Honeycomb on the G1!

Continue reading HTC Magic / T-Mobile G1 gets Honeycomb port, Android past and future fused together (video)

HTC Magic / T-Mobile G1 gets Honeycomb port, Android past and future fused together (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 04:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canadian carrier Rogers has announced that the HTC Magic + (that’s the name they have given their refresh of the venerable HTC Magic) is now receiving the Android 2.1 update via OTA. Yes, it happens to be the same 2.1 update they have been talking about since February of 2010.  Good things happen to those who wait.

To jumpstart the OTA process on your Magic +, head to menu, settings, about phone, system software updates and select to check now.  This will fire off a ping to the server, and if you’re lucky, you get a tasty eclair dessert in return.  [@RogersMary]

Posted originally at Android Central

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If you use a custom ROM on your Android phone, you should know about CyanogenMod.  If you don’t, go hit Google now, then come right back.  (pretty freakin’ sweet, huh?) With the drop of the Froyo (Android 2.2) source code everyone is patiently waiting for the code wizards behind the CyaongenMod project to give us the kind of custom goodness we’ve become used to.  To quell the mountain of inquiries, Cyanogen himself has updated the CyanogenMod homepage with a progress report.

The condensed version? Things are going well.  The Nexus One and Droid ports "just work," the Dream/Sapphire port has everything but one minor issue working, Wes Garner has the Slide (MyTouch 3G slide) port well underway, and ports for the Desire, Incredible, and Evo have no status report as of yet.  Also, we’re told to expect some experimental releases (for the Nexus One and Droid most likely) by the weekend.  (YAY!)  Hit the source link to read the post and take a minute to thank Steve and the whole crew for their hard work! [CyanogenMod]

Posted originally at Android Central

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Stories have been going around that a botnet was being spread by the HTC Magic on Vodafone. Specifically, it was Panda Security that sounded the alarm after they plugged in said Android phone and had all kinds of alarms go off. However, it turns out it was an infected memory card that was the culprit, and not a bad batch of phones, as original post author Pedro Bustamante later points out in the comments.

It’s the memory card for sure, not the actual Android filesystem. It could be a malicious employee, a bad batch, provided by the manufacturer, lack of QA or a returned and refurbished unit. But as you said, either way Vodafone needs to better QA these before shipping out to customers.

Pedro’s right, there should be better Q&A to keep this from happening. But there also should be a little more discretion used before we see headlines such as "Vodafone distributes Mariposa botnet." (And the post itself hasn’t been updated?) An infected memory card is bad, but one bad apple does not an outbreak make. The sky’s not falling, folks.

In an interesting move, Vodafone UK has discontinued sales of the HTC Magic. According to a Vodafone rep:

Unfortunately the HTC Magic is now end of life, and we don’t have stock of that phone.

Vodafone UK’s decision to stop selling the HTC Magic contrasts with T-Mobile and Rogers’ stance with the HTC Magic. T-Mobile still heavily advertises the myTouch 3G and has recently introduced a myTouch 3G 1.2. Likewise, Rogers has offered free Magics to Dream users and will even add Android 2.1 to the Magic. Funny how one carrier sees the phone as end of life while others keep on pushing, right?

In any case, Vodafone probably needed to clear way for the Desire anyway. Discontinuing the Magic is a step in that direction. Though it does leave Vodafone UK’s Android offerings pretty bare right now..

[vodafone forums]

Just when we thought the Rogers Magic was out of the spotlight, Rogers has rebranded it as the Magic+. So what does that + bring? Reports are that it’s basically the same, with the new Sense UI with multitouch to the device.

Yeah, it’s not the new Sense, but it’s Sense nonetheless. Oh, yeah, and reportedly the Magic+ will be receiving its own 2.1 update toward the middle of the year. With the addition of Sense UI and the hopes of 2.1 on the horizon, for $79.99 it seems like a pretty good deal. [MobileSyrup]