Philips’ new LED light strap lets you treat skin disease at home
A skin disease like psoriasis is bad enough by itself, but it's made worse by the frequent need to visit your physician just to alleviate the pain and all-too-visible symptoms. Thankfully, Philips has just unveiled a wearable device that will let most psoriasis sufferers treat themselves. Its new BlueControl strap uses its namesake blue LED lights to slow down cell division (and thus painful inflammation) on your arms and legs; in tests, it cut the severity of symptoms in half without any side effects. The light therapy equipment will require a prescription when it reaches Germany, the Netherlands and the UK this October, but it will likely be worth the effort if it helps you avoid the doctor's office and get on with your life.
Article source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/30/philips-bluecontrol/?ncid=rss_truncated
Researchers want to make tech more accessible for animals, too
Studying human-computer interaction is certainly nothing new. With a growing trend of using gadgets to work with animals though, a new conference aims to further research into our furry (and not so furry) friends' tech tendencies. In November, scientists will attend the International Congress on Animal Human Computer Interaction for presentations on how the use of cellphones, tablets and more can further research, becoming more useful for creatures of all kinds. As Popular Science points out, many of the uses we've seen so far are touch-based, so it'll be interesting to see what new methods of interaction attendees can devise. For now, here's an orangutan using an iPad to decide on lunch.
[Photo credit: Aaron Davidson/Getty Images]
Article source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/30/gadgets-for-animals/?ncid=rss_truncated
Smart yoga mat helps you perfect your poses
Yoga can be a great way to stay healthy, but it's hard to refine your technique at those times you can't see an instructor. SmartMat may have a solution for when you're stuck at home, though. Its self-titled smart yoga mat gives you feedback on poses by sending pressure data to an app on your Android or iOS device. On a basic level, it helps you perfect your poses by suggesting corrections to your alignment and balance; you can also teach yourself new moves through downloadable lessons, and there's a "Zen mode" if you'd prefer to enjoy the moment and get feedback later.
If you like the idea of a mat that doubles as a tutor, you can pledge $247 or higher to SmartMat's crowdfunding project to set aside a unit for yourself. Otherwise, you'll pay $447 to get the mat when it ships next summer. That's a long time to wait and a lot of money to spend, but this fitness gear might pay for itself if it lets you skip the occasional yoga class without feeling guilty.
Article source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/30/smartmat-yoga-mat/?ncid=rss_truncated
Ozz takes the guesswork out of mixing cocktails
It takes time to hone your cocktail craft. Thanks to Ozz, the learning curve isn't quite so steep. The device visually guides pouring and mixing so that you don't have to worry about eyeballing the notches on a shot glass. A companion app for iPhone and Android sorts recipes and ingredients lists, allowing you to fine-tune proportions to fit your taste. Once you've settled on a beverage, the geometric Ozz base lights LEDs around the rim of a glass to let you know when you've added enough of that particular ingredient. Load sensors and lights are guided by that smartphone via Bluetooth, and after a marathon martini session, a built-in micro-USB jack handles charging. Ready to opt in? Early Kickstarter backers can secure one for €69 ($87), but those who hold out will have to fork over €99 ($125). Of course, if you choose to make that Old Fashioned with Old Crow and cheap bitters, you'll still end up with a shitty drink.
Article source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/30/ozz-cocktail-mixer/?ncid=rss_truncated
Hackers plead guilty to stealing code for unfinished Xbox games, military software
Surprise, surprise: the government doesn't take kindly to being hacked. The United States Department of Justice announced today that four members of an international hacking group have been indicted for stealing over $100 million of software and intellectual property, and two of the accused have already pleaded guilty. Using a mix of SQL injection and stolen passwords, the group reportedly hacked into internal networks owned by Microsoft, Epic Games, Valve, Zombie Studios and the U.S. Army. Their target? Video games and specialized pilot training software.
In addition to collecting data on company employees and internal dealings, the group is said to have stolen source code and technical specifications for the Xbox One, pre-release versions of both Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Gears of War 3, as well as an Apache helicopter simulator designed for the Army by Zombie Studios. The DoJ says the group is accused of conspiring to sell the proprietary information. "The American economy is driven by innovation," explained Assistant Attorney General Leslie Caldwell. "But American innovation is only valuable if it can be protected."
Hacking happens all the time, but the DoJ says this case is a little unique-- marking what may be the first conviction of a foreign hacker for stealing business trade secrets. Even so, the defendant isn't that far away: David Pokora, who is pleading guilty, hails from Mississauga, Ontario in Canada. He hasn't specifically been convicted yet, either -- but a guilty plea pretty much secures that, doesn't it?
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Article source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/30/hackers-steal-apache-simulator/?ncid=rss_truncated
More to expect at our free Engadget Expand event in NYC!
If you're keeping score, we've announced a bunch of great speakers heading to this year's Engadget Expand (such as RJD2 and the head of DARPA, Arati Prabhakar). Of course there's plenty more where that came from and we're excited to announce what else you'll see at the Javits Center on November 7-8 in New York City!
Even more speakers at Engadget Expand!
Today we're adding 5 speakers to our already awesome slate of technology leaders coming to Engadget Expand:
- Michael McAlpine, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Princeton University
- Paul Eremenko, Technical Project Lead, Project Ara, Google ATAP
- Alexander Reben, President CEO at BlabDroid Inc.
- Bas Lansdorp, CEO Co-founder, Mars One
- Alex Gruzen, CEO, WiTricity
You can flip through the gallery above to see who we've already announced and there's much more to come soon. But Expand isn't just about speakers, it's about letting you get hands-on with the future of technology and for that, we've got a few awesome exhibitors to announce.
OnePlus
Our friends at OnePlus will let Expand attendees go hands-on with the elusive OnePlus One smartphone. The company's mission is to never settle and deliver a premium-looking smartphone with top of the line specs. The flagship One starts at $299, unlocked and free of contract.
Suitable Technologies
Suitable Technologies has a lot planned for Expand, not least of which is letting attendees move around and experience the show floor from the comfort of, say, their Santa Monica beach bungalow. The company's Beam device makes the typical conference call experience much less lame.
GizmoSphere
We met GizmoSphere and its Gizmo development board at Engadget Live in Boston this summer. The company is bringing its experience down to Expand, where you can battle your friend for victory in the ultimate, "immersive" deathmatch. No, no, there won't be blood, but still -- this isn't your typical game, either.
There's much more to announce soon, but in the meantime -- grab your free tickets right here. Also, our 'In The City' sweepstakes runs through 11:59PM ET on October 7th, the winner of which will score themselves and a guest a free trip to Expand on our dime!
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Article source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/30/engadget-expand-speakers-exhibitors/?ncid=rss_truncated
Crackdown on spying apps leads to StealthGenie CEO’s arrest
Apparently, the US government is now on a mission to bring down mobile applications offering spyware services -- which, for a variety of well-documented reasons, simply seems kind of ironic. Controversy aside though, the Department of Justice revealed today that Hammad Akbar, CEO of StealthGenie, had been arrested in Los Angeles and charged with conspiracy, advertisement of a known interception device, advertising a device as a surreptitious interception device and sale of such a device. StealthGenie, which had been available on iOS, Android and BlackBerry, was known for providing an app capable of monitoring someone's calls, texts and photos, as well as tracking their location and more. StealthGenie wasn't shy about doing that either; a quick glance at a StealthGenie promotional video, found after the break, sums up the ideals behind the application and the consumers it targeted.
"So you want to keep an eye on your loved one or your employees, because you suspect they're hiding something and it might get too late?" the video asks. "How do you know where they are or what they're doing right now? Maybe they're not really telling you the truth about their activities or whereabouts." Eventually, after a few seconds, StealthGenie claims to be the solution for those needs: "You are worried, so you wonder if the only way to find out is to know what they do on their cellphones right away," says the message. "You know that's the only way to give you all the answers. What you need right now is a solution that lets you uncover the truth by secretly monitoring all the activities of your loved one or employee, and let you know their location at all times."
As the DOJ points out in its briefing of the situation, the app was undetectable by users who were likely being spied on, which made it rather easy for StealthGenie's creepy magic to go untraced. Interestingly enough, Akbar's criminal case is the first one ever having to do with the advertisement and sale of a mobile spyware app -- and something tells us we're going to see more of this type as people adopt new technologies like smartphones and tablets.
"People ought to be able to control who can access their sensitive information, and stalking apps on cellphones directly violate that principle," outspoken Sen. Al Franken said regarding StealthGenie and the arrest of its CEO. "Currently, there is no federal law banning the secret collection of location data. That's why we need to pass my legislation to ban stalking apps once and for all."
"My commonsense bill will help a whole range of people -- including victims of domestic violence," he said. "My bill would finally put an end to GPS stalking apps that allow abusers to secretly track their victims, and it would also give consumers more control over their very sensitive location data."
Article source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/30/crackdown-on-spying-apps-leads-to-stealthgenie-ceos-arrest/?ncid=rss_truncated
Playdate: We’re livestreaming ‘Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor’ on PS4!
Welcome, ladygeeks and gentlenerds, to the new era of gaming. The one where you get to watch, and comment, as other people livestream gameplay from next-gen consoles. Because games! They're fun!
Emerging like a Nazgûl in the night this fall is Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. You could easily dismiss the game as a licensed cash-in on the likes of the Assassin's Creed or Batman: Arkham franchises, but the truth of the matter is that Shadow of Mordor is better than the most recent entries in either of those series. Sure, there's clambering up walls in very assassin-like fashion and rhythmic combat that'd make The World's Greatest Detective blush, but the team at Monolith (perhaps best known for the F.E.A.R. and Condemned series of first-person horror games) outclasses the competition in nearly every aspect with this incredibly violent take on J.R.R. Tolkien's classic source material. Until recently, it was fairly underhyped and that seems to have been its best asset; allowing the game's quality, not its PR machine, to do the heavy lifting. Still on the fence about picking it up today, though? Well, we're going to be streaming it on PlayStation 4, right here starting at 7 p.m. Eastern / 4 p.m. Pacific.
Watch live video from Engadget on www.twitch.tv
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Article source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/30/playdate-shadow-of-mordor-ps4/?ncid=rss_truncated
MSN’s simpler, mobile-savvy homepage is rolling out to everyone
Well, that was quick -- after just a few weeks in preview mode, the revamped MSN homepage is rolling out to everyone. You should see Microsoft's simple, desktop-like web portal in your browser sometime within the next three days. If you're using Windows devices, you'll also see updated Bing and MSN apps that draw on the site's many services; the Food Drink app will keep track of your recipes, for instance. Windows Phone users get a few perks on their lock screens in the process. The Health and Fitness app will show pedometer stats if you're using a Lumia 630, 635 or 1520, while Weather will show your local forecast. You'll still have to wait for MSN apps on Android and iOS, but all the other pieces of Microsoft's grand vision are otherwise in place.
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Article source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/30/msn-redesign-reaches-everyone/?ncid=rss_truncated
Engadget Daily: Windows 10, the $200 laptop you’ve been waiting for, and more!
It looks like Microsoft's new OS will be called Windows 10. Who'd have thunk it? Read on for Engadget's news highlights from the last 24 hours -- we go hands-on with Here maps for Android, break down Facebook's battle with drag queens and more.
Engadget Daily: Windows 10, the $200 laptop you've been waiting for, and more!
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Article source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/30/windows-10-the-200-laptop-youve-been-waiting-for/?ncid=rss_truncated