Samsung Galaxy S3 - Hands-On Pictures

Written by
Rob Kerr

UPDATED

Samsung has just unveiled the Galaxy S III mobile phone at an event in London, where ITProPortal was in attendance - live blogging all the happenings of the launch, of the company's next flagship handset.
Below are hands on photos of the phone, which will arrive on the 29th of May and as the successor to the Samsung Galaxy S II. This device, was launched at Mobile World Congress 2011 and went on to become a best-seller for the South Korean outfit.
Samsung's Galaxy S III will arrive with a 4.8in Super AMOLED display, capable of a HD 1,280 x 720 resolution. It is powered by their own quad-core Exynos 1.4GHz processor, supported by 1GB of RAM and with various storage capacities: 16, 32 and 64GB, with a microSD card slot, for further expansion, up to a 64GB card.
The phone also contains an eight-megapixel rear-facing camera, which is backed up with a 1.9MP front-facing variant - capable of HD video recording, just as the mobile's main camera is, too.
Android ‘Ice Cream Sandwich' 4.0 will be running the Galaxy S III, straight from the box with a range of new software features, such as S Beam, S Voice, direct call, AllShare Play and AllShare Cast.
There's support for Bluetooth 4.0, NFC and 3G HSPA+ 21Mbps, with a 4G version of the device being offered to certain markets during the Summer time.
UPDATE:
The images below highlight the dimensions of the Samsung Galaxy S III; with a series of the default home screens and what they contain; all of the preinstalled applications; the phone's settings menu; new apps to the mobile, such as AllShare Play, Flipboard and S Voice.
This is along with the eight-megapixel rear and 1.9MP front cameras' abilities, such as capturing a still image, while recording a video at the same time; HD video recording, from the front camera and all the various camera settings.
While the pictures also show the wireless features, such as NFC, Android Beam and S Beam; the S Beam menu option and the beaming of an image, when the handset is touched against another S III.
And wrapping up with the ability to run a moveable video in the device's background; the auto tagging of people in pictures; AllShare Cast; the Burst shot mode and best shot auto-selection, with S Voice in action.
ITProPortal has also published an eight minute hands on video walkthrough of the Samsung Galaxy S III, along with a Galaxy S II Vs. The Galaxy S III comparison.

Read more: http://www.itproportal.com/2012/05/04/samsung-galaxy-s-iii-hands-pictures/#ixzz1uSqmdlxv

Telehuman Uses Kinect For Holographic Video Chat

Written by
Darren Allan

3D video pod makes use of multiple motion controllers

A new 3D videoconferencing pod called Telehuman has been developed by researchers at the Queen's University Human Media Lab over in Canada.
The 3D cylindrical display creates a full-scale model of the person you're chatting to, so it's as if you're standing right in front of each other. Like talking with your very own Arnold Rimmer (except presumably the holographic image doesn't have a big silver H slapped on their forehead).
Professor Roel Vertegaal, director of the Human Media Lab, said: "Why Skype when you can talk to a life-size 3D holographic image of another person?"
Probably because Skype's a lot cheaper than this video pod, we'd guess.
The image rendered by Telehuman is fully 3D, so you can walk around the back of someone and see if they've washed behind their ears.
Interestingly, the technology used isn't as complex as you'd expect - indeed, an array of Microsoft Kinects are employed, showing the possible applications of the Redmond firm's motion sensor beyond playing at being a Jedi.
A 3D projector, a 1.8 metre translucent acrylic cylinder, along with a convex mirror are also employed in the system.
Telehuman is being shown off right now, at the CHI 2012 conference over in Austin, Texas.
Source: Human Media Lab

Read more: http://www.itproportal.com/2012/05/09/telehuman-uses-kinect-for-holographic-video-chat/#ixzz1uSqUgq6c

Microsoft May Build First Facebook Phone

Written by
Alex Serban

Stealing the spot from Android

Sources claim that Microsoft may be pitching Facebook to build a Windows Phone that's fully integrated with the social network. Presumably, this device will wear custom branding and hold the acclaimed title as the first ever Facebook phone.
Supposedly, Microsoft is just in talks with Facebook at the moment, trying to convince the company why Windows Phone would be the ideal operating system to employ on such a handset.
Details claim that the device would carry extensive integration with the social service and branding; along the lines of "The Facebook Phone, powered by Windows" being an option.
According to insiders, Microsoft's tactic is to differentiate themselves from Google, by presenting the search engine as a direct competitor to Facebook and implying that allying with the "enemy" would not be seen as a good move.
Microsoft is also betting on its strong relations with various other manufacturers, including Samsung, HTC, Nokia, as well as a selection of carriers. Facebook will need a company to build the phone and an operating system to power it, and Microsoft seems to have all the right strings attached.
Although there is no official word as to when this device will arrive, Microsoft is keeping its eyes peeled for any chances. If the deal was to go through, the Redmond-based company will receive increased traffic for its search engine and other online properties.
Meanwhile, it appears that the software maker wishes to increase its mobile penetration to further use with a Wallet-like software and a physical PayPal replacement.
Source: Business Insider

Read more: http://www.itproportal.com/2012/05/09/microsoft-may-build-first-facebook-phone/#ixzz1uSqJCyl1

Anti Wi-Fi Wallpaper To Go On Sale In 2013, Costs A Tad More Than Normal Ones

Written by
Desire Athow

Not a panacea to network security though

A new type of wallpaper, which has been developed by scientists from the "institut polytechnique Grenoble INP" and the "Centre Technique du Papier", will go on sale in 2013 after a Finnish firm, Ahlstrom acquired the license.
What looks like a bog standard wallpaper roll actually contains silver particles that allows it to filter out up to three different frequencies simultaneously. It is not the first time that such a technology has surfaced. Back in 2004, BAE Systems was tasked by Ofcom to come up with a similar solution based on what was then called a stealth wallpaper.
It used copper instead of silver and blocked Wi-Fi signals while letting GSM, 4G and emergency calls through. Back then though, a square meter cost £500 whereas the Wi-Fi wallpaper devised by the French researchers should be priced reasonably, with costs matching those of a "classic", mid-range wallpaper according to M. Lemaître-Auger, from Grenoble INP.
The wallpaper is made up of interlocked snow flake-like patterns which can be covered up with any other wallpaper of your choice. And there are even talks of using the technology in floors and ceiling to prevent Wi-Fi signals from leaking through the two remaining sides of any rooms.
Other than preventing hackers from penetrating your network, the Anti Wi-Fi wallpaper could be useful in hospitals and anywhere where Wi-Fi signals could be considered as harmful.
That said, the wallpaper won't protect any leaks via windows or doors and some have argued that reducing the power of the router's signal could go some way into improving one's network security.
Sources : News Scientist, L'informaticien

Read more: http://www.itproportal.com/2012/05/08/anti-wi-fi-wallpaper-go-sale-2013-costs-tad-more-normal-ones/#ixzz1uSq7fGzf