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Media

i3Space: Touchable 3D

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Who is not into 3D? Movies – and even TV series – are jumping into the 3D bandwagon, and people are only clamoring for more. Now, we have something to make us even more excited about the 3D realm. Leave it to Japanese inventors to call dibs on “touchable” 3D technology!

Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) just announced this new technology that they have been working on. Dubbed i3Space, this will allow people to experience 3D on their television sets in a way they have never done so before.

How does it work?

You will need a device that you have to attach to your fingertips. This device will give the person using it a sensory experience – both tactile and kinesthetic – as if he/she were touching the 3D image in real life. Talk about a “real” virtual experience (yeah, that oxymoron, I know). The technology makes use of multiple cameras, ensuring that there are no blind spots.

For now, we do not have all the details about the system, but news is that the Institute will be sharing more information on i3Space later on this month at the CEDEC 2010. This event is going to be held from August 31 to September 2, 2010 at Yokohama City, Japan. In case you’re wondering, the CEDEC is a conference for game developers.

That caught your attention, didn’t it? Yes – just imagine how awesome your gaming experience will be if i3Space were supported by your favorite gaming platform? The system is in its very early stages, but if things go according to plan, we should have something in the near future.

Photo credit: Tech-On

iTunes Is Safe. Are You?

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If you have an iTunes account that you use to purchase apps, songs, etc. for, then you were probably one of those who have been anxious in the past day or so.  Reports that iTunes has been hacked spread like wildfire the other day.  Posts in mainstream sites such as TechCrunch probably served to make people more anxious and alleviate fears at the same time.  I say people probably got more anxious because TechCrunch showed proof that unauthorized (at least by the account owners) purchases had been made, but at the end of the post, there is a statement from Apple saying that they have not been hacked (which is still kind of a good thing).

So what is really happening?  What happened?  If iTunes has not bee hacked, then why have so many people lost money via “illegal” purchases?

John Paczkowski of Digital Daily offers an explanation:

…not much to their assertion that Apple (AAPL) is at fault here. There’s no security hole in iTunes, and if you’ve been unfortunate enough to have hundreds of dollars in unauthorized purchases charged to your iTunes account, it’s likely because you’ve fallen victim to a bot attack or phishing scam–a variation on the one that’s been around for years now. Sources close to Apple tell me iTunes has not been compromised and the company isn’t aware of any sudden increase in fraudulent transactions.

More likely than not, the PayPal accounts of the affected users are the ones that had been compromised.  Bottom line: iTunes is safe.

The question is: how secure are your PayPal accounts?  This is happening now, it has happened before, it will happen again.  Remember all those tips about passwords and phishing.  They just might save you a whole load of money.

CopyTrans: The Easy Way to Back Your iPod Up

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Everyone loves just how easy it is to transfer songs to Apple iPods. Whichever kind of iPod you are using, the interface that iTunes offers is so simple and intuitive that even the most technologically challenged people I know do not have many problems filling their iPods up with music, images, and videos.

The reverse process – transferring files from an iPod to the computer – is a whole new story, though. I still remember when I got my first iPod (it was the black and red U2 one). I had no inkling about this “issue.” Needless to say, I got frustrated in the beginning.

Today, though, this is not really a problem anymore. With a single click, you can easily back your iPod up and make sure that its contents are accessible on your computer as well. CopyTrans is a piece of software that can do this for you without you wanting to tear your hair out.

There are two modes – Smart Backup and Manual Backup. The first one is highly recommended for beginners. You simply click a button and you can make sure that your iTunes will have everything that your iPod has. It is the perfect choice if you just bought a new laptop (or you reformatted your hard drive) and your iTunes library is empty. It is also an easy way to “fix” your iTunes library if it is missing some songs that are in your iPod. No thinking necessary – just click and CopyTrans will do it for you! The Manual Backup mode is great for more advanced users who want more control over which files to transfer to the computer.

However way you want it, CopyTrans can do it for you. No more fussing about how to get those tracks from the iPod onto the computer! Oh, and yes, the newest version is compatible with the new iOS. For a mere $19.99, you get the convenience that you’ve always wanted. I want a copy myself!

Is Your Geotag Function Disabled?

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Tech-savvy individuals would know all about geotags. Initially, the whole idea can make you overly excited. When you hear about what happened to Adam Savage (of Mythbusters fame), though, you might think twice about enabling thing function.

Basically, geotagging allows data to be embedded in different media such as photos and videos. For example, when you use your iPhone to take a picture, the longitude and latitude can be included in the file. When uploaded to a web site, anyone who views the file can extract that data.

That’s what happened to Adam Savage, who posted a photo of his ride to work on Twitter. As a caption, he wrote “Now it’s off to work in my beast. Wait…How’d that DOG get in there?”

Nothing’s wrong with that, right? Think again. The photo included details on the exact location of his home (where it was taken). His caption also revealed the information that the house might be empty in the next several hours. You see where I am going with this?

You’d think that someone like Adam Savage would have known better than to do something like this, but he salvaged the situation quite well by saying that he was not at all concerned about the issue as he is not famous enough to be stalked. Now I am not so sure about that…Oh, and yeah, he moved to another house.

Anyhow, even if you are not a public figure like Adam Savage, you might want to disable that geotag function. After all, you know how ingenious unscrupulous individuals can get.

Photo from The New York Times

Netflix to Add More Films

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Movie enthusiasts will be happy to hear that they will be able to access more movies from Netflix soon. It’s not that the service has a shortage of choices. However, this move is necessary in order to remain at the head of the game. Internet streaming is definitely becoming the medium of choice for the average consumer, and Netflix is simply providing for the need.

How is Netflix going to manage this? They’ve struck a deal with Epix, a company that holds the rights to films from Lions Gate, MGM, and Paramount. This pretty deal is going to cost Netflix a hefty $900 million over the next five years, money that is sure to come rushing back to them.

What’s going to happen is that hit movies like “Iron Man” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” are soon going to be available for streaming. Netflix is offering a package that combines streaming access and DVD deliveries for only $8.99. If there are going to be a whole lot more big titles coming Netflix’s way, then customers just might be flocking to avail of their service more and more.

They’re not stopping here, though. It seems that they also have HBO (the main competitor of Epix) in sight. When this subject was brought up, Ted Sarandos (Netflix’s chief content officer) replied, “Every deal expires, and every deal has to be renewed.” Indeed. And, if they get the rights to HBO’s content, there really might be no stopping the company. As long as they’re offering reasonable packages, I don’t really see any problem.

Jailbreak Away with DCMA Revision

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Jailbreaking, unlocking mobile phones, and ripping DVDs/CDs – these are activities that common decent people do on a regular basis. Yes, even if they are technically illegal. With the recent developments in American law, however, you can now engage in these activities with impunity – with certain qualifications, of course.

The Library of Congress has just announced a ruling paving way for unlocking cell phones so that they can be used with other networks for one. The Copyright Office of the Library of Congress reviewed the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DCMA), which is supposed to be reviewed every three years. The result is something that is making the general public happy. [Read more…] about Jailbreak Away with DCMA Revision