HARD TECHNOLOGY GROUP HTG NEWS TIPS

John Sweeney is a concept artist at Naughty Dog who didn't just get to work on The Last Of Us, but had one of his images from the game selected as a winner in this year's Into The Pixel awards. Continue viewing this awesome gallery at KOTAKU

ESPN 3D  launched in 2010 with coverage of 25 FIFA World Cup matches , but  word that the channel will be mothballed  has the international football association reviewing whether it will use the tech in 2014. An  Associated Press  report quotes FIFA director of television Niclas Ericson saying that there is interest from several broadcasters in a 3D presentation, but the cost is currently under review. While FIFA focuses on its standard HD broadcasts, it's also thinking over offering 4K Ultra HD coverage, which is currently being tested during Confederations Cup matches.  The Hollywood Reporter  points out that while Sony has backed off some of the sponsorships that  pushed  early 3D productions, it's providing some of the equipment for UHDTV tests like its F55 4K camera. Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications is already in line for a 4K soccer broadcast in 2014, we'll see if it's put to use alongside new  goal-line t...

The Washington Post reports tonight that, as expected, the US Government has filed criminal charges against Edward Snowden for leaking information about NSA surveillance programs to the Post and Guardian. The charges listed include Theft of Government Property, Unauthorized Communications on National Defense Information and "Willful Communication of Classified Information to an Unauthorized Person." The charges are filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, where the headquarters of Snowden's employer, Booz Allen Hamilton, are located. So what's next? According to the paper, the government has asked Hong Kong to detain Snowden on a provisional warrant, however if a fight over extradition or request for asylum could delay the process. Follow the story NOW!

While The Guardian undoubtedly garnered attention when it posted court papers detailing data collection rules for the NSA, it also provided a lot of detail that isn't easy to digest. The Electronic Frontier Foundation is more than willing to break down those rules, however -- and it doesn't like what it sees. It's concerned that there are too many exceptions letting the NSA store and transmit private information, with little oversight preventing investigators from seeing more US data than they should. Allegedly, the rules could defy American rights to anonymous speech; they may also violate attorney-client privileges both inside and outside of the US. We have a hunch that the NSA might disagree with this interpretation of its authority, but you can see all the points of contention for yourself at the link below. Source: ENGADGET

Windows 8 has built-in search tools for apps, but a tweak in the June update to Xbox Music is making that feature more accessible. The media player now lets you search for songs on both your PC and Xbox Music through an in-app button. If you don't have any local tunes, you won't have to sign in to start listening -- Music now lets you stream 15 tracks through Xbox Music's ad-supported free tier without using an account. While other bug fixes and UI enhancements are minor in nature, what's here is enough to justify a trip to the Windows Store for the new version. Source: ENGADGET

Despite its "Defend Your Net" campaign last year, Google was unable to fully put the brakes on changes to German copyright law that may mean it has to pay up for news excerpts it indexes. As a result, the company announced that unlike the other 60 countries where Google News operates by relying on sources to opt out of inclusion by request, robots.txt file or meta tags, it's requiring German publishers to opt-in. According to Google, it's pushing six billion visits per month to publishers worldwide as a free service, not something it should have to pay for. As TechCrunch points out, the issue comes as a result of the new German law that allows search engines to continue to publish snippets of news without paying, but isn't clear about just how much information that can include. Source: ENGADGET

Google officially acquired the crowd-sourced mapping and traffic app Waze earlier this month, but the $1.1 billion deal is hitting a last-minute jam. The search giant has confirmed with Reuters that the Federal Trade Commission recently opened an antitrust investigation into the purchase, even though Waze will mostly operate independently. According to the New York Post, Google didn't file a review with the FTC because Waze makes less than $70 million annually, which is below the bar for an "automatic review." Reuters notes that the FTC can put a magnifying glass to any closed deals at its discretion, namely to ensure there was no prior intent simply to stifle competition. These latest happenings might make for a temporary roadblock between the integration of certain data between Waze and Maps, notes the Post -- assuming the deal indeed gets an okay from The Man. Either way, we'd imagine concessions will be made if needed, as Google's no a stranger to these typ...

Back when Windows 8 first launched, the Acer Iconia W700 quickly became one of our favorite laptop / tablet hybrids. There were two reasons for that, really: the price was right, and the battery lasted longer than pretty much any other Win 8 device we'd tested. The thing is, it was more of a business device than something we'd recommend to the average consumer. After all, it came with a heavy, desk-bound docking station, with the carrying case and included keyboard as standalone pieces. That's quite a lot to carry if you ever feel like taking it on the road. That's where the Acer Aspire P3 comes in. Don't worry, the W700 is still alive and kicking, but for people who've been looking for something more portable, this could be the one you want. Like the W700, the P3 starts at a reasonable price ($800) and has the guts of an Ivy Bridge laptop, including a Core i5 processor, Intel HD 4000 graphics, 4GB of RAM and a 120GB SSD. The difference is that rather than ...

Twitter has been steadily ramping up its ad efforts this year, first bringing promoted tweets to mobile devices and more recently opening up ad buying to all US users. Now, according to Ad Age, the social network is preparing to introduce promoted tweets based on your location. In addition to displaying nearby retailers, this feature could showcase deals and promotions at stores in your area. Twitter already display's different advertisers' tweets based on general metro areas, but drilling down into specific geo-coordinates will naturally deliver more relevant adverts. Facebook, meanwhile, has been serving up content based on a user's ZIP code since 2011; so a little catch-up is definitely in order. Twitter's targeted ads will supposedly launch at the end of the year, just in time for that all-important retail rush. Source: ENGADGET

Google is big on sharing all things virtual, but it hasn't done a lot to spread the wealth in the physical world. That could change soon: Google Operating System claims to have spotted an in-development Google Mine service that can simplify lending tangible goods. Users can list what they're sharing, offer items to their Google+ circles and keep track of who has what. The web version can reportedly show a collection in 3D through a WebGL viewer named Katamari, and there's also an Android app in tow. The feature set sounds ideal for generous Google+ users; the real question is whether we'll get to use any of it. Mine is supposedly limited to internal testing for now, and only some of Google's initiatives ever leave its campus. Google hasn't confirmed the effort, but the company tells us that it's "always experimenting" with features and doesn't have anything to share "at this time." Connected borrowers will just have to be patient...

AOL Reader launched today in beta form, promising to collect "all your favorite websites, in one place." It appears that the design language follows that introduced in the entity's Alto mail product, and if you've forgotten your AOL password, fret not -- those who request (and receive) an invite will be able to sign in via Facebook, Google or Twitter. Oh, and judging by the shot above, it's designed to work universally across screen sizes and devices, including your tablets, phones, desktops, laptops and space-age computational creations. Of note, it appears that the sign-up forms aren't entirely active just yet, as we're hearing that the bona fide launch won't occur until next week. Source: ENGADGET

Today, Facebook announced a security bug that compromised the personal account information of six million users. In a post on the Facebook Security page, the site's White Hat team explained that some of the information the site uses to deliver friend recommendations was "inadvertently stored with people's contact information as part of their account on Facebook." When users downloaded an archive of their account via the DYI (download your information) tool, some were apparently given access to additional contact info for friends and even friends of friends. The post continues: We've concluded that approximately 6 million Facebook users had email addresses or telephone numbers shared. There were other email addresses or telephone numbers included in the downloads, but they were not connected to any Facebook users or even names of individuals. For almost all of the email addresses or telephone numbers impacted, each individual email address or telephone number...

This could be the biggest backtrack in gaming history: Microsoft will reverse course on their DRM policies for Xbox One, dropping their Internet requirements and all restrictions on used games, according to the websites WhatHiFi and GiantBomb. According to both reports, the announcement will be made today. UPDATE: Looks like Microsoft is updating their Xbox One Q&A, but the new page isn't live yet. No word on which policies are changing. We're updating as we learn more. Citing multiple sources, GiantBomb says Microsoft has decided to remove a laundry list of Xbox One restrictions that customers considered negative: No more always online requirement The console no longer has to check in every 24 hours All game discs will work on Xbox One as they do on Xbox 360 Authentication is no longer necessary An Internet connection is only required when initially setting up the console All downloaded games will function the same when online or offline No additional res...

Sony is trying to figure out what went wrong with PlayStation 3 firmware update 4.45, which was offered to PS3 users last night but then pulled when it appeared to start breaking consoles. "We are aware of reports that the recent PlayStation 3 system software update (version 4.45) has caused the XMB to not display on a small number of PS3 systems," a PlayStation spokesperson told Kotaku. "We have temporarily taken 4.45 offline and are investigating the cause of the problem. We will announce when the system update is available for download as soon as possible. We apologize for the inconvenience." The firmware was supposed to improve the PS3... ... but as soon as it went live, we got reports from readers that it was rendering some systems inoperable. As of this morning, the firmware was no longer available. Console firmware is routinely updated to add functionality, squash bugs and/or foil homebrew developers and pirates. The PlayStation platforms have been...

After sitting through the Nintendo developer roundtable at E3, which featured Tsunekazu Ishihara and Junichi Masuda of The Pokemon Company and Game Freak respectively, it struck me: much has changed since the Pokemon: Red and Blue days. I'm not just talking about how there's a new fairy type now, either. I'd like to think I'm not a slave to nostalgia; I think modern Pokemon games are great and I love where the new, sometimes absurd designs, are going. The early games hold a special place in my heart by virtue of being my introduction to the series, but that doesn't mean I think they're better. Don't get me wrong, I love them, but god, the early games were hugely imbalanced, I strained my eyes without a backlit screen, and the older sprites don't compare to the gorgeous color ones we have today. Still, there is one thing I wish hadn't changed from those days. "Pokemon has always been about evolving alongside the hardware to better promote...

Blogger clearly benefits from a larger screen, yet Android tablet owners haven't had a native editing space since the Blogger app launched on their platform. Thankfully, Google is rectifying that problem today: the Android release now occupies a tablet's full screen space while users compose and review their posts. The refresh also offers WYSIWYG editing for current entries, regardless of the screen size. However much they'll use the improved workspace, would-be Android auteurs just have to swing by Google Play for the update. Source: ENGADGET

Researchers from several Czech companies have managed to make a bicycle soar with the aid of six electric motor-driven propellers. Looking like an over-sized quadrocopter drone, the bike was actually guided in a similar RC manner by scientists on the ground while a dummy rode in the pilot's seat. The range of the contraption was severely limited by the small batteries needed to keep the already-chunky 220 pound weight down, and the device would obviously be difficult to operate on a bike path due to its ungainly size. Still, the developers said the project was more about the fulfillment of childhood dreams than any commercial aim -- though we're not sure even our wildest ET fantasies would compel us to make the leap. Source plus Video: ENGADGET

Move over, Parrot AR.Drone; there's a new (prototype) quadrocopter in town. For their senior project, electrical engineering students at Northeastern University developed TRAQ, an autonomous aircraft that tracks down the sources of radio transmissions. That functionality comes thanks to a four-element antenna array, and the team envisions such a device being used in disaster, rescue and surveillance situations, where drones could prove faster to respond than us earthbound humans. The next step would be getting multiple aircraft to work together to improve location accuracy. Who doesn't love an imposing swarm of quadrocopters, after all? Source plus Video: ENGADGET

Facebook's first European data center in Luleå, Sweden (near the Arctic Circle) is now online, and thus far it's the only facility that's exclusively using servers the company itself designed. Similar to the social network's North Carolina complex that served as testing ground for its outdoor air-cooling configuration, the Swedish facility takes advantage of the region's frigid winds. Excess heat produced by the machines is then routed to offices to keep employees warm in the chilly region. The firm claims the 900,000-square-foot center is powered entirely by hydroelectric energy -- a source so reliable that Facebook saw it fit to scale down the number of backup generators by more than 70 percent. With an average power usage efficiency (PUE) of 1.07, the servers should consume 1.07 watts of energy for each watt they need to function pointing to minimal energy loss. Now that the Luleå installation is complete and operational, the company can focus on building its ...

We had a feeling the little Galaxy S4 Zoom wouldn't be the final word in Samsung's Android-powered camera lineup for 2013, and now it seems that a truer successor to the high-spec Galaxy Camera is indeed on its way. As quoted by the Korea Times, JK Shin has confirmed that a "mirrorless camera that runs on Google's Android software" will launch at the company's forthcoming event in London on June 20th, which will likely also show off other Galaxy-branded products. Assuming no mistranslations have gotten in the way, the reference to a "mirrorless" camera implies the existence of an interchangeable lens system, suggesting that the new Galaxy Camera might be more akin to Samsung's NX range of cameras than to its cheaper point-and-shoots. If that's the case, then this could be a significant upgrade in terms of sensor size and image quality, but at this point there's still very little we can say for sure. Source: ENGADGET

Gesture lovers and polyglots rejoice! Yesterday, Google updated Gesture Search for Android phones and tablets, making it compatible with even more languages. The app provides quick access to music, contacts, applications, settings and bookmarks -- to name some -- by letting users simply draw characters on the screen. It now recognizes over 40 languages and even handles transliteration, which comes in handy in Chinese, for example, where some native characters require more strokes than their latin equivalents. Gesture Search started life as a Google Labs project back in March 2010 and received several tweaks over the years, including tablet support last fall. So go ahead: download the latest version from the Play Store and swipe away. Source: ENGADGET

BlackBerry Messenger may seem like a distant memory for many who have made the jump to iOS or Android, but it'll soon be time to get reacquainted. According to a tweet from T-Mobile UK, we should expect to see the service arrive on both platforms on June 27th. BBM should be available as a free download specifically for anyone using iOS 6 and Android 4.0 or above, so make sure your device is properly updated before the end of the month -- hopefully the messaging service will make you want to create new memories in addition to the ones you've relished in years past. Update: T-Mobile UK has since deleted its tweet, and BlackBerry has confirmed that the June 27th date is inaccurate. Update 2: Here is BlackBerry's official statement on the matter: On May 14th, BlackBerry announced plans to make its ground-breaking mobile social network, BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), available to iOS and Android users this summer, subject to approval by the Apple App Store and Google Play...

Broadcom is no stranger to the budget-friendly lineup for carriers and OEMs around the globe -- especially in emerging markets -- but quad-core chipsets are just gaining traction in this arena. Granted, companies like MediaTek have already begun cranking out low-cost four-core Cortex-A7 SoCs for markets like China and India, but a little friendly competition doesn't hurt anyone, right? This is the case with the BCM23550, a 1.2GHz A7 quad-core processor capable of HSPA+ speeds up to 21Mbps down and 5Mbps up and is optimized to run on Android 4.2 devices. The new piece of silicon also supports HD Voice and 12MP cameras with H.264 1080p video capture and playback, and offers the usual litany of connectivity options such as NFC, Bluetooth, 5G WiFi, RFID and GPS. It even features dual HD (720p) display support which is compatible with Miracast. Lastly, it's also pin-to-pin compatible with Broadcom's dual-core BCM21664T, which means manufacturers already using that particular c...

It appears that we were spot-on about yesterday's teaser, as AT&T has officially unveiled the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active this morning. Available in stores or online starting June 21st, you'll be able to grab one of your very own for $199.99 on a two-year commitment. As we mentioned yesterday, the "life-proof" IP67-certified handset will come in Dive Blue (pictured above) and Urban Gray; there's no mention of Flame Orange, sadly. As a recap, the Active features Android 4.2, a 1.9GHz quad-core processor, a 5-inch 1080p TFT LCD panel, microSD slot with support for up to 64GB, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage (no word on how much is user-accessible), a 2,600mAh battery and an 8MP rear camera with 2MP front-facing cam. Dimension-wise, the Active measures at 139.65 x 71.25 x 9.1mm and weighs 5.29 ounces (150g) -- not too shabby for a tough device. While AT&T acknowledged that the device shouldn't be considered "rugged," it's still technically a...

Given the quantity of rumors that are floating around, it's hard to think that we won't be seeing a Sony phablet intermediate-size phone/tablet device in the near future. One of the folks over at ePrice is claiming that the Xperia ZU (for "Ultra") will come with a 6.44-inch, 1,920 x 1,080 IPS LCD display with a pixel density of 342ppi. Internals-wise, it's said to run a 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 with 2GB RAM, 16GB storage and a 64GB microSD card slot, as well as a 3,000mAh non-removable battery. On the imaging front, there's a 8-megapixel Exmor RS sensor primary camera and a 1.3-megapixel Exmor R up front. The same tipster let slip that the ZU won't come with a stylus, but will be receptive to third-party styluses and should arrive on June 25th, so we'll be waiting for an invite to Sony's July 4th Paris launch with bated breath. Source: ENGADGET

This is the 2015 Ford Mustang, whose existence Ford publicly refuses to acknowledge. Our spy shooters finally caught a real prototype of the all-new ponycar on the street. (To date, every mule spotted had been a modified version of the existing S197 car.) While Ford’s staying tight-lipped about the new Mustang, we’ve held our ears to the ground and assembled some juicy intel. Like, real juicy. First off, yes, it gets an independent rear. Finally. Now everyone needs to find something new to whine about in reviews. Like MyFord Touch. Underhood, the base car will carry on with V6 power. The step-up engine from there is the 2.3-liter Ecoboost four-cylinder. Expect the four-banger to deal something in the vicinity of 350 horsepower. Seriously. We hope Ford calls it SVO, for old times ' sake. Continuing up the model hierarchy, the GT retains its 5.0L Coyote V8, only it should make Boss 302-ish power in the 2015 car. Figure around 450 horses. And then, friends, it gets really...

Bosch recently released an $450 charging solution for EVs, but if you want to go wireless, it's going to cost you a lot more. The company has formed an exclusive partnership with Evatran for the distribution and installation of its wireless chargers for the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt. Each Plugless Level 2 Electric Vehicle Charging System (now that's a tongue-twister) costs $2,998 for the Volt and $3,098 for the Leaf, not including taxes and installation fees. It's comprised of a wall-mounted control panel that provides electricity to the parking pad, which transmits power to your vehicle. You've got to admit it's convenient when all you have to do to juice up is park on top of the pad, but would you actually shell out that much cash in the name of convenience when plugging a (cheaper) charger in is no Herculean task? Source: ENGADGET

We gotta say, originally we weren't very confident in the above alleged spy shots of the rumored Nokia EOS smartphone, but after talking to the leakster from Sina Weibo, we think we got this figured out. First of all, there are two parts here: the paint-less camera cover plate that now says "41 MEGA PIXEL" -- the same camera resolution featured on the 808 PureView -- instead of "XX MEGA PIXEL," and a metallic chassis of the EOS phone. But the latter (pictured center and right) looks slightly different to the other leaks we've come across so far: the bump is significantly smaller, and the holes inside don't match the ones on the cover plate. If you look even closer, the pin hole for what seems to be a SIM slot at the top is now on the other side of the slot. Judging by his background and track record so far (he claims he also leaked the red EOS factory photos), we have reason to believe that this leakster does have a good source on the factory floor....

The skyscraper? The hauteur router? The dapper WAP? All reasonable nicknames were considered, but in the end, Apple's sticking with "AirPort Extreme." The newest base station -- the one introduced alongside the company's Haswell-infused MacBook Air at WWDC -- takes on a new look and gains 802.11ac support, but that's not what you're here for. You're here for two reasons: first, you want to see this thing reverse engineered, and second, you want to get an idea of just how repairable it is. The gurus over at iFixit have done their usual teardown, offering up a plethora of lovely JPGs and settling on a respectable 8 out of 10 on the Repairability Index. Eager to learn more? Give that source link below a soft tap... with the key word being soft. Source: ENGADGET

AT&T has begun rolling out Wireless Emergency Alerts updates for iPhone 4S and 5, so you won't be the last folks to know if the entire northern hemisphere is about to be covered in ice à la Day After Tomorrow. You'll receive a notification from the carrier when your update is ready, but only if you're using iOS 6.1 or higher. Once installed, AMBER and Emergency alerts are automatically sent to your phone unless you switch them off via Settings. However, should you be tired of Obama, just know that there's no way to switch off Presidential alerts. WEA messages are always free of charge, so you don't have to worry about going over your texting limit when notified that you need to get the hell out of dodge. Source: ENGADGET

You may recall that a Chinese startup dubbed Smartisan promised to offer its first custom Android ROM on June 15th. Well, the time has come and the company stuck to its word, but there's a catch: the software is currently still in pre-alpha status, so it's neither stable nor speedy -- definitely not recommended for daily use just yet. That said, the release apparently includes most of the features demonstrated at the three-hour-long launch event. The other catch is that you'll need an international Samsung Galaxy S III (i9300, WCDMA) plus Windows (presumably non-RT) to flash this early version of Smartisan OS. If you're game then head to the source link for the download and the instructions (but in Chinese). If not, you can wait for the upcoming release for the HTC One X, Samsung Galaxy S II, Xiaomi Phone 2 and Samsung Galaxy Note II. Or you can just wait for Smartisan's very own phone due next year, if you don't mind testing your patience. Source: ENGAD...

E3 is over, but Microsoft still has a long way to go to answer questions from gamers about its new Xbox One console, particularly when it comes to the effects of DRM. Director of Programming of Xbox Live Larry Hryb aka Major Nelson takes on the most upvoted ones from posters in Reddit's games section in this video interview with Chloe Dykstra. One question that seems to have a clear answer is whether banned users will lose access to any games they've activated, as he stated "Absolutely not, you will always have access to the games you purchased." That goes against a previous response from the Xbox Support twitter account, although that may have been the result of confusion between the Xbox One and Xbox 360 policies. A question with no satisfying response yet however, is what gamers can expect years down the road if Xbox One's authentication servers are shut down. Major Nelson followed up with a response in the comment thread that "I'll get the real ans...

Yahoo has spent the past several months revamping its mobile apps, and it's shifting that attention to a Sportacular redesign just as playoff season reaches its peak. Now going under the more recognizable Yahoo Sports name, the remade Android and iOS apps tout a simpler interface; users can also sync their favorite teams across devices. Those running iOS get a few added upgrades with this release, including iPad support and a stream of Twitter posts from local writers and experts. No matter the platform, fans of all stripes can grab Yahoo's updates at the source links. Source: ENGADGET

We were more than a little smitten with Sony's original RX100, a high-end Cybershot point-and-shoot housing a notable 1-inch 20.2-megapxiel CMOS sensor alongside a f/1.8 Carl Zeiss lens. It looks like there were enough customers that thought the same, because SonyAlphaRumors has gleaned several images from the manual for a sequel device. The site has more to share, but it's checking its translations first. In the meantime, these initial images already point to some notable hardware additions. Alongside a screen that can tilt up and down (plus a light sensor to adjust brightness automatically), the mark two RX100 will apparently catch up with Sony's NEX series, adding built-in WiFi too. There's also the addition of a hot shoe for mics and other peripherals, but fear not: there's still the built-in flash to the left of it. Naming, pricing and availability are still unknowns, but according to the site's mole, the camera will get formally announced later this mont...

After rumor upon leak suggested Microsoft was cooking up a release of Office for iOS, you'd think its arrival would be celebrated with streamers and cake. Making a rather low-key entrance, the app is now available to those with a small-screen iOS device and an Office 365 subscription. You can create new Excel and Word files from scratch, or view and edit spreadsheets, docs and Powerpoint files stored on Microsoft's cloud services, or pinned to emails. Offline editing is also possible, as long as you've recently viewed or edited the file. You'll also be able to see any files you recently accessed at home if your computer is running Office 2013. You'll need an iPhone or iPod touch running iOS 6.1 (there's no iPad version just yet), and the app is limited to the US at the moment, but head to the iTunes Store source link for the full feature list. Source: ENGADGET

We already know about Microsoft's impending Windows 8 overhaul, but previews of app specific updates have been few and far between. Now, thanks to an apparent Windows Store update on leaked builds, we're starting to see what kind of updates we can expect. In addition to updates for the news, weather, travel, finance and sports apps (see the video after the break), images are leaking for the OS' new calculator application, sound recorder, Movie Moments and an Xbox Music redesign. It's hard to judge these tweaks without actually handling the update ourselves, but we'll say it again for good measure: we may have to review Windows 8 all over again. Source: ENGADGET

The Xbox 360 has gone through quite a few hardware transitions in its lifetime, but the 2013 model still intrigues us -- it's potentially the last, most advanced iteration that we'll see. iFixit must be equally curious, as it's tearing down the console just days after its launch. The shock of this latest system may rest in what hasn't changed: despite being smaller and (reportedly) quieter, the updated 360 is still using the cooling, processing power and storage of its 2010 predecessor. Most of the differences exist in the enclosure and some minor component tweaks, like the new RF module. This model isn't a revolution, then, but iFixit appreciates its more repairable design. Source: ENGADGET /iFixIt

Starting today, advanced developers can fiddle with Sony's SmartWatch with more freedom than ever before. With the Open SmartWatch project, the company is now allowing devs to create and flash their own firmware to the device, paving the way for greater exploration of its potential. Previously, third-party innovation was limited to the official Add-on SDK, but with a slew of resources posted on the project's website, Sony is looking to lure devs to its platform -- and potentially find inspiration for its own end user experience. To get the party started, Sony and Arduino are teaming up to host a hackathon in Malmö, Sweden on June 15th with the hopes of bringing firmware alternatives to the table. Of course, flashing the firmware will void the product's warranty, but for the developer with an eye on wearable tech, it might be a price well worth paying. Source: ENGADGET

Apple announced a new Airport Extreme earlier this week, and iFixit has already torn it apart. The good news? It's a hacker's dream. Instead of opting for a new, custom case for the new router, Apple has opted to just reuse the case of its Time Capsule—just with the hard drive and connectors ripped out. That means there's a gaping 3.5 inch drive-shaped void on the inside, just waiting to be filled. The iFixit teardown reveals that the SATA/power connectors required to use a drive are absent on the device they ripped apart. But no matter: if you feel so inclined, you could use the USB port and wire a bus-powered 2.5 inch hard drive around inside the case, as 9to5mac points out. Voila, a Time Capsule on a budget. Kinda. Source: ENGADGET

Most of us will never build our own car from scratch. Hell, most of us can't even hack together Ikea furniture. Understanding that, Toyota has built a prototype for the Camatte57s, a car you assemble yourself very easily, apparently. Get this—the compact three seater is supposedly so simple to cobble together, you could do it with your kids. Oh, and your kids should be able to drive the thing too. Because it's actually sort of a toy. But it's the kind of toy that doesn't look like a toy. It's like the set of Hot Wheels you never had. Toyota designed the Camatte57s with pedals and seats that can be adjusted to their little legs. Meanwhile, an adult can still fit in the right rear seat supervising. The good news about a car that kids can drive, they can't drive it on the street because, well, it's a toy . Some assembly required. Source: GIZMODO

By now we all know that graphene has tons of potential applications, from virtually no-light camera sensors, to terabit upload speeds, to all your wildest dreams. Now, researchers have figured out how to chemically spot-weld graphene, wiring tiny graphene structures to real electronics with one-atom wires. A lot of graphene's superpowers are derived from the fact that graphene nanostructures can be tiny, less than 10 nanometers wide. Of course, wiring those up is going to be difficult but researchers from Aalto University and Utrecht University have figured it out. Using atomic force microscopy and a scanning tunneling microscope to map out the lay of the graphene land, and then shooting concentrated voltage pulses from the same microscope to boot a single hydrogen atom off the cap of a graphene micro-ribbon, they were able to create a single, atom-wide chemical bond that functions as a tiny wire. "We cannot use alligator clips on the atomic scale," said head of th...

If there's one thing Foursquare actually does right, it's fantastic visualizations of where we've all collectively checked-in. The latest, called the Time Machine, focuses squarely on you and not everyone. Click here and you'll be transported back in time to your first check-in. You can slide forward and backwards in time of every check-in and even see infographs based on all your stats. It even claims to predict where you'll be going next, which I'm very skeptical about because I'm so unpredictable! I don't know about you but I only use Foursquare to keep track of where I've been. But until now it wasn't that easy to go back in time, unless you subscribed to Timehop. This is something in between and it's pretty awesome. Not bad for a sponsored piece of content either.  Source: GIZMODO

The Iowa Army Ammunition Plant (IAAAP) in Middletown, Iowa has an overabundance of two things: corn waste and excess energetics—leftover explosives, propellants, pyrotechnics and such. But using a new ethanol-based fuel cell developed by nanoMaterials Discovery Corp (nMDC) will transform these waste materials into clean, cheap, electricity. Two birds, one catalytic reaction. Commissioned by the Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center at Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey, the prototype fuel cell is designed to produce 10kW of power (and 2MW within five years) using ethanol as an energy source and nitramine-based ordinance. Corn ethanol is a renewable biofuel that is derived from corn stock—either the kernels themselves or the cellulosic components like the husks and cobs—and produced just like consumable alcohol is: use enzymes to break down the long carbohydrate chains into short sugars, ferment the sugars into alcohol, and distill. And with Iowa being one of the top c...

Want to be swole as hell? You can bulk up all you want, but once you get to a certain point, muscle growth is out of your hands. ASAP Science explains that our level of strength is basically pre-determined by our genetics. Our muscles are under the watchful eye of a protein called myostatin, which governs exactly how big your guns can get. Everyone has a muscle size limit, and everyone's is different. But have you ever seen a person or an animal that's just naturally ripped? It could be because they lack a part of a gene called GDF-8, which is responsible for myostatin creation. No GDF-8 means no myostatin, which means no muscle limit and potentially biceps as big as a baby. But how do you know how much or how little myostatin you have? Pick up some dumbells and start lifting. Source: GIZMODO

Ghost - a character described as your "interactive companion", your "wingman" - will be one of the most important voices you hear while playing Bungie's Destiny. Good thing they got someone popular to do it then. The character will be voiced by Peter Dinklage, aka Tyrion Lannister. Source: ENGADGET

This year's Electronic Entertainment Expo might be all about the next generation of gaming hardware, but not in Hyperkin's E3 booth: these guys are looking backwards. We dropped by to check out the Retron 5, the outfit's latest machine to traverse the library of older gaming titles. All told, this iteration strolls through half a dozen hardware cycles, offering compatibility for a full nine video game systems. It's more than a simple hardware emulator, however -- this machine offers save states, cheats and visual filters too. Most retro game consoles ape their system of choice by attempting to condense its hardware into a system-on-a-chip. For the most part, this hardware emulation approach works fairly well, but it can present some compatibility issues, and it's not really possible to update or tweak the system after it's been launched. When we stopped by Hyperkin's booth, this was the kind of device we expected to see, a chip-based machine that echoed...