Gesture Technology

admin2@outofhandfestival.com — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 03:00:00 +0100

Gesture Cube, the newest in electric field sensing technology, is a pretty cool product. "GestIC", as it's called, is a 3D gesture controlled cube which displays your music, weather, recipes, you name it. It does things like transfers photos from an iPhone to the cube with a sweep of the hand.

However, electric field work only touches the surface of what this technology can do for us humans.

I can only wonder when it will be a government mandate to use similar technology with mo [...]

the new tablet generation

admin2@outofhandfestival.com — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 03:00:00 +0100

I, for one, am looking forward to the new tablet generation. Am I the only one that feels claustrophobic on the current mobile devices? I think a jump from the 3.5” screens to the 10” screens may serve us well. However, it only begs the question….are we going backwards? Were our devices, big, less big then small and smaller only now to go back to being big again? Or, will the tablets be our new televisions?In my opinion, the tablet is the bridge which will unite all that is needed to inform and [...]

From Pocket to Stage, Music in the Key of iPhone

admin2@outofhandfestival.com — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 04:00:00 +0100

PALO ALTO, Calif. — An expectant hush fell over the audience as the director of the chamber ensemble, Ge Wang, came out and asked them to turn off their cellphones. The seven other musicians, dressed in black, filed in and took their positions in a circle.

The conductor raised his hands. A low droning sound arose, as if the chamber ensemble were tuning. Then the musicians began to swing their arms in wide circles, creating rising and falling waves of electronic sound.

[...]

Big Ten Football

admin2@outofhandfestival.com — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:00:00 +0100

This past weekend was my college's recent alumni weekend. This has been a highly anticipated weekend where all my coed friends from around the country met up and relived our college years.

Although it was a whirlwind weekend, one event stood out above all the rest. Obviously since this blog is dedicated to new media and the mobile platform, it would only make sense that my anecdote would only have to pertain to this subject. And you ask me how? I shall tell you. < [...]

The Debate on the eTextbook application

admin2@outofhandfestival.com — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 04:00:00 +0100

First off, I want to wish everyone the best of luck in the school year.

In the weekend issue of the New York Times, an article titled “Texting? No, Just Trying to Read Chapter 6” discusses the new application for iPhones called eTextbooks that students have opted in using when reading their course work. I thought that this was the perfect new tool to inform my fellow Out of Handees of to kick off the school year right!

Yet, several reviews of this new featu [...]

Think Twice Before Texting and Driving

admin2@outofhandfestival.com — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:00:00 +0100

It’s about time someone attended to the irresponsible texting behavior of drivers we see every day.

The Seattle Pi addresses the latest report on Washington dri [...]

Never wait in line at the bank again!

admin2@outofhandfestival.com — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 04:00:00 +0100

USAA has introduced an upgrade to their popular iPhone app that allows users to check their balances, transfer funds, and find ATMs utilizing their banking software. Starting today, customers are able to deposit checks from the convenience of their iPhones using Deposit@Mobile—we can only hope similar software for other smartphones is on its way. As 3G networks have made headway in recent months, it should be no surprise that mobile banking is quickly picking up.

Mobile manga

admin2@outofhandfestival.com — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 04:00:00 +0100

Manga, a popular form of Japanese comics, have recently boosted in sales thanks to the mobile market. According to an article in yesterday's New York Times (which you can read here), a form of art that seemed to be dwindling in popularity has found a popular new means of reaching the consumer--via cell phone. You could spend hours debating why. But the facts remain, people are spending less and less time and money on print media, and the publishers are looking for a safe haven to maintain [...]

A cell phone alarm that actually WAKES YOU UP

admin2@outofhandfestival.com — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 04:00:00 +0100

Whatever happened to keeping a clock radio next to the bed. Whether it has been a result of trying to cut back on electricity or declutter the bedroom, less and less people seem to keep that simple device that has for the past several decades encouraged millions of people to get to work on time. Is it surprising? Not really. Cell phones--smartphones especially--really are becoming capable of replacing more and more gadgets by the day. Everyday, people are canceling their landline phones [...]

Is Wifi Going Mile High? The Race is on to Provide Internet in the Sky…

admin2@outofhandfestival.com — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 04:00:00 +0100

The competition to provide in-flight WiFi service is on. Aircell, the market leading company that provides in-flight WiFi service using ground-based stations, now has competition with the new company Row44 whose technology will use satellite connections. Aircell’s system known as Gogo is already installed on 460 airplanes, and the company is planning to have it on around 1,000 airplanes by the end of the year. AirTran and Virginia America are two airlines that already have Gogo on their fl [...]

Will Verizon ever get the iPhone?

admin2@outofhandfestival.com — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 04:00:00 +0100

It seems, sadly, that my days of using a “regular” cell phone have come to an end. Considering it's less than two years old (the refurbished replacement I received when it recently broke is less than three months old), I held out on buying a smartphone because the flip phone I’ve had worked and served its purpose—until now--and beyond that, I wasn't and still am not sure I actually need one. So, when it came time to decide if my phone was worth holding together with a rubberband—which I’ve b [...]

Rumor: Apple to release touchscreen netbook

admin2@outofhandfestival.com — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 04:00:00 +0100

The buzz is really picking up following the rumors that Apple’s touchscreen tablet is on its way. With many sites saying that its debut will arrive as soon as October, I’m sure their competitors are beginning to get anxious. Apple, who has yet to offer their competition in the current touchscreen netbook market--computers designed for wireless communication that tend to rely mostly on web-based applications because of their limited capacity in comparison to traditional laptops--is likely to pr [...]

I-pod requirement for college students?

admin2@outofhandfestival.com — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 04:00:00 +0100

As University of Missouri’s School of Journalism students create their school supplies list, the basic pencils, notebooks and calculator will no longer be enough. Incoming freshman are now required to purchase an iPod or iPhone as well. You can read an article about this here.

According to their Associate Dean, Brian S. Brooks, the music player, cell phone, Internet browser etc. will now be used as a learning device to play back class lectures. Brooks claims that lectures are not an eff [...]

Walkman turns 30! Has it really been that long?

admin2@outofhandfestival.com — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 04:00:00 +0100

Walking through New York City, whether on the subway, in a park, or in the heat of rush hour in the heart of midtown, it’s almost impossible to fathom that not so many years ago, there was no such thing as a handheld music device. Having celebrated the 30th anniversary of the original [...]

MICHAEL JACKSON LIVES FOREVER THROUGH MOBILE

admin2@outofhandfestival.com — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100

It would almost be an insult to Michael Jackson and his influence on the music industry to not acknowledge his extraordinary life. When the news spread about his fatal death, people were astonished and in disbelief. Since people were unable to access a television during work and school hours, most received texts instantaneo [...]

Redefining Work Etiquette

admin2@outofhandfestival.com — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100

You may remember my post from a few weeks ago about how obnoxious using your cell phone at the dinner table can be. I was referencing a New York Times article that argued, akin to my own feelings on cell phone etiquette, that there are certain times when playing (or working) on your cell phone [...]

iPhone 3GS... the wait is over.

admin2@outofhandfestival.com — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100

With the new iPhone 3GS hitting shelves tomorrow, it’s hard toignore the upgrades Apple has included on the newest model. Finally, unlike the old iPhone, users will be able to cut and paste, record video and use voice activated dialing among other features. What’s more amazing then these features being a [...]

Can't afford a ticket? Spectate from home.

admin2@outofhandfestival.com — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100

Over the past few weeks, I, like many others I’m sure, have been continuously let down by the weather forecast. They say it’ll be nice one day and rain the next and inevitably the exact opposite seems to occur. Still, we have had an abundance of unpleasant days and rainy weather. Yesterday, it even hailed sev [...]

Get Ready for the A-Show: Palm Pre vs. Apple iPhone

admin2@outofhandfestival.com — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100

With the release of Palm’s newest smartphone last weekend, it appears the iPhone finally has some real competition. The Palm Pre has apparently sold out everywhere, evoking memories of the iPhone’s initial release a whopping two years ago. In those two years, many more smartphones have hit the market [...]

That's App-tacular!

admin2@outofhandfestival.com — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100

Coming up with a great idea for an application is no easy task. Executing it before anyone else can be even harder. But what makes an iPhone/mobile app a great success? I read a great post worth checking out on Geekpreneur entitled ‘Anatomy of a Successful iPhone App.’ You can find that article here. (http: [...]

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