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Sprint’s Android users get carrier billing in Google Play

Jon Fingas — Thu, 17 May 2012 01:38:00 +0000

American Android users started getting carrier billing in Google Play early this month through T-Mobile (and later AT&T), and now Sprint can join the party. Any app, book, music or video purchase can be tacked on to the monthly bill for your EVO 4G LTE instead of going through Google. The move leaves Verizon as the only major US carrier without a carrier billing option, so you'll have to sit tight if you own the original US Galaxy Nexus and hate the thought of a separate download bill. We've also heard nothing about regional carriers being on the roadmap, but we'll keep you posted.

Sprint's Android users get carrier billing in Google Play originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 May 2012 21:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TED-Ed website launches in beta, lets teachers customize video lessons

Sarah Silbert — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 04:50:00 +0000

Last month, TED announced its new education initiative -- fittingly named TED-Ed -- with a YouTube channel showcasing teachers' lessons presented as animated videos. Today, the program moved forward, as TED opened up a beta version of a website meant to complement those lessons. Though there are plenty of study aides here, ed.ted.com is really about the grown-ups on the other side of the classroom. The site lets teachers with a TED account "flip" videos from TED-Ed and YouTube -- i.e., customize them to include multiple-choice and open-answer questions and links to additional info on a topic. Currently there are 62 videos and 238 "flips" available for viewing, but TED is gearing up for a full launch to be timed with the new school year in September.

Continue reading TED-Ed website launches in beta, lets teachers customize video lessons

TED-Ed website launches in beta, lets teachers customize video lessons originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Padcaster / Lenscaster lets you mount SLR lenses on iPad, we go hands-on at NAB (video)

Zach Honig — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 19:50:00 +0000

Think people look ridiculous shooting stills or video with an iPad? Try throwing an SLR lens into the equation as well. Manhattan Edit Workshop founder Josh Apter developed the Padcaster as an inexpensive solution for mounting an Apple iPad on a tripod. And why would you want to do such a thing? With 1080p video capture, built-in LTE and a on-board editing suite, such a device makes for an excellent on-the-go all-in-one, letting you shoot, cut and transmit video with a single package. One major aspect of visual storytelling that the tablet doesn't excel at, however, is emphasizing details with blurred backgrounds, along with magnifying your subject with optical zoom. Enter the Lenscaster. This universal lens mount lets you use a standard 35mm adapter to attach any SLR optic to the iPad camera, enabling a small variety of hardware-driven optical effects, including shallow depth of field, manual focus and a zoom option that doesn't result in detail loss.

Apter took the Padcaster and Lenscaster along on a demo shoot in New York City's Union Square, interviewing passersby with a Cinevate 35mm lens adapter, 85mm f/1.4 Carl Zeiss lens and a Sennheiser MKH-60 shotgun mic, all mounted to a Padcaster-equipped new iPad. The mounting duo may note be visually appealing from a physical perspective, but the resulting footage does look convincing -- you can see it in full after the break. The Padcaster's aluminum frame even doubles as a DSLR cage, letting you assemble a pro rig complete with camera, lens, mic and lights after removing the urethane iPad insert. The designer is also working on an iPad insert, though the tablet-sized contraption may prove to be overkill when paired with a pocketable smartphone. The Padcaster will be available soon for "about $200," while the Lenscaster attachment should ship for an additional 60 bucks. You'll also need to factor in a magnification optic to compensate for the distance between the iPad and the lens, along with a 35mm adapter, both of which are not included. The device is also unable to take full advantage of the iPad's resolution, creating black borders around the image, which you'll notice in the sample video, positioned just below our hands-on video right after the break.

Gallery: Padcaster and Lenscaster for iPad hands-on

Continue reading Padcaster / Lenscaster lets you mount SLR lenses on iPad, we go hands-on at NAB (video)

Padcaster / Lenscaster lets you mount SLR lenses on iPad, we go hands-on at NAB (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Curved panel gives more depth to 3D projections, we take a look at NAB (video)

Zach Honig — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 20:33:00 +0000

What we're about to show you is decidedly low-tech -- it's essentially a projection screen with a sharp curve at the bottom -- but the resulting effect conveys a more realistic 3D image, for certain applications, at least. The Communications Research Centre of Canada was on hand at NAB to demonstrate a small variety of lab projects, with agency representatives hoping to make an impression on attendees, who will theoretically apply these concepts to actual products, with no licensing fee making its way back to the True North. This particular project employs an off-the-shelf Optoma 3D projector, active glasses and a white screen positioned with a dramatic curve, that essentially works to provide a platform for 3D subjects to stand on.

Believe it or not, the config really does make a difference, enabling a more immersive experience that makes 3D objects appear more realistic, assuming they're positioned in such a way that they're standing on the near-horizontal portion of the screen. Research Technologist Ron Renaud says that such a configuration would be ideal for video conferencing -- it's still no match for an in-person meeting, but it's certainly an improvement over the traditional approach. The demonstration projector wasn't configured to compensate for the curve, which theoretically makes it subject to warping, though we didn't notice any issues at the show. Like all 3D displays, you'll really need to see it for yourself to get an accurate impression of the experience, but jump past the break for an overview with Renaud, and a closer look at the screen.

Gallery: Curved 3D panel hands-on

Continue reading Curved panel gives more depth to 3D projections, we take a look at NAB (video)

Curved panel gives more depth to 3D projections, we take a look at NAB (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RED Dragon 6K sensor upgrade eyes-on (video)

Zach Honig — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:34:00 +0000

"Obsolescence Obsolete" -- that's RED's tagline for the just-announced Dragon sensor upgrade, which is set to bring 6K resolution to EPIC and Scarlet cameras beginning later this year. The sensor module was on display at the company's NAB booth today, under a backlit case that could only have been designed to make photographing the new chip a near-impossible task. We did manage to snag a few frames of the device, which appears as a mere silhouette to the naked eye. Sensors aren't designed for us to look at, however -- they're supposed to do the looking -- so we won't get any more hung up on the presentation. Existing RED camera owners can look forward to an incredibly impressive 15+ stops of native dynamic range and up to 120 frames-per-second at resolutions up to 5K. And as we discovered earlier today, the upgrade will roll out to EPIC owners sometime in 2012 for $6,000 while Scarlet users will need to hang tight for a release date, and a price tag. That's all we've got as far as details go, so click on through the gallery below for a flashlight-enhanced peek at the Dragon.

Gallery: RED Dragon 6K sensor upgrade hands-on

Continue reading RED Dragon 6K sensor upgrade eyes-on (video)

RED Dragon 6K sensor upgrade eyes-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canon Cinema EOS-1D C 4K camera hands-on (video)

Zach Honig — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 02:15:00 +0000

It's been but half a year since Canon first entered the motion picture market, and the company is already back with its second and third professional video rigs. The Cinema EOS-1D C marks the most drastic departure from the C300, which launched last November at an elaborate Hollywood event at Paramount Studios. It was at this spectacle that we were first introduced to the 1D C, which was then but a glass-protected prototype. Now, far sooner than expected, the (relatively) compact camera is making its return to the spotlight, in more polished form. Like the 1D series bodies that bear similar monikers and appearances, including the yet-to-ship EOS- 1D X, the C model is a very capable still shooter, offering the same core functionality of the $6,800 X. It also brings 4K capture to the table, however, prompting Canon to price the camera far above its less-abled counterpart. At $15,000, we don't expect to see red C logos popping up in many a photojournalist's gear bag, but for deep-pocketed professionals with a need to capture 4K clips, this may be a worthwhile acquisition.

We took a closer look at the 1D C at Canon's pre-NAB event in Las Vegas. As the pictures and spec sheet imply, it's the 1D X's clone in nearly every way. In fact, beyond the headphone jack and C logo, there's not much distinguishing the pair externally. You'll need to hop into the menu before you'll really notice a difference, in the form of several unique 4K shooting modes, including 8-bit 4:2:2 24fps captures to a CF card or 8-bit 4:2:2 clips in an uncompressed format over HDMI. Otherwise, the C looks and feels just like the X -- a model pro snapper that we've already managed to fondle on three continents under Canon's watchful eye, but still has yet to ship. Both cameras are gorgeous externally, with slight design tweaks yet no drastic overhaul, dating back to the very first EOS-1D. If you haven't had a chance to gawk at either model, you'll at very least be able to check out the 1D C at Canon's booth this week at NAB . We're hoping to see both cameras hit the market sometime in 2012, and who knows -- this Cinema EOS could even be the first next-gen 1D to ship. Take a closer look in the gallery below, and in our hands-on video after the break.

Gallery: Canon Cinema EOS-1D C hands-on

Continue reading Canon Cinema EOS-1D C 4K camera hands-on (video)

Canon Cinema EOS-1D C 4K camera hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 Apr 2012 22:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW i8 Concept Spyder takes to the road, sounds almost as gorgeous as it looks (video)

Zach Honig — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 23:46:00 +0000

It's been less than a year since our first opportunity to get up close and personal with BMW's i8 plug-in electric car, and now the German automaker is back to tease a whole new beast. The Concept Spyder made a static appearance over the weekend, but today the sportier i8 has returned to the spotlight, with video footage in tow. BimmerPost managed to share some clips via YouTube, including a straight-cut-gear-fueled drive around a parking lot and across a lamp-lit bridge, somewhere in the Eastern U.S., believe it or not (take note of the I-95 sign in the first few seconds). You can also gawk at some side-to-side pans of the Spyder's exterior, with a few HD interior close-ups to boot. And where can you find said stimulating simulations? Buckle up and click past the break.

Continue reading BMW i8 Concept Spyder takes to the road, sounds almost as gorgeous as it looks (video)

BMW i8 Concept Spyder takes to the road, sounds almost as gorgeous as it looks (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Apr 2012 19:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW i8 Concept Spyder takes to the road, sounds almost as gorgeous as it looks (video)

Zach Honig — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 23:46:00 +0000

Continue reading BMW i8 Concept Spyder takes to the road, sounds almost as gorgeous as it looks (video)

BMW i8 Concept Spyder takes to the road, sounds almost as gorgeous as it looks (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Apr 2012 19:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TED launches ‘TED-Ed’, hopes to make lessons worth sharing

James Trew — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 14:12:00 +0000

Who doesn't love filling an idle hour with a good ol' bit of TED? Now, the people behind those share-worthy ideas are bringing us TED-Ed: a new lesson-based YouTube channel. Aimed primarily at high-schoolers, the initiative invites teachers to submit their "best lesson" in a youthful mind-friendly ten minutes or less. If chosen, TED will ship out a "portable recording booth" -- which look suspiciously like an iPad in a sound-absorbing flightcase. Once the knowledge has been preserved, it's sent over to a team of animators to bring it to life. If you know a great teacher, or animator, you can also nominate them to the TED-Ed team if they're too humble to put themselves forward. The TEDEducation YouTube channel is up and running right now, but the new original content won't land until a dedicated site is launched next month. There's a typically heartwarming and informative video about the project after the break.

Continue reading TED launches 'TED-Ed', hopes to make lessons worth sharing

TED launches 'TED-Ed', hopes to make lessons worth sharing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 10:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dropbox ‘experimenting’ with photo and video import, enables instant transfer to the cloud

Edgar Alvarez — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 21:19:00 +0000

Dropbox is handing out yet another early peek at a fresh new tool for the early-adopting enthusiast crowd. The cloud-based storage service is introducing a feature that'll allow all your photo / video captured memories to be instantly transferred as soon as you plug in a device that houses your media, and you can have a raw look at the "experimental build" now. Before you do, though, Dropbox is warning you to take the dive at your own risk. There's no word on when the tool will hit the masses, but if you're willing to get past the notice, the source link will fill you in on all the necessary deets.

Dropbox 'experimenting' with photo and video import, enables instant transfer to the cloud originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Dec 2011 17:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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