Leaked from today's 404 episode:
- Discussion: Are you spoiling a movie for yourself by listening to the soundtrack before watching the movie? Inspired by Clint Mansell's new "Stoker" score available to stream.
- Discussion: Which programs are still shown in standard definition?
- The New York Times warns against sitting at work.… Read more
PicsArt Photo Studio is a popular, feature-rich photo editor that was formerly for Android phones only, but it's now available for iPhone.
There are several apps that let you add effects and edit your photos, but PicsArt Photo Studio does those things and quite a lot more. In fact this app has so many features it can get a little overwhelming -- particularly with the number of interface elements on the screen.
Like most photo effects apps, you can snap a new picture or pull one from your photo library. With an image onscreen, you can use the buttons … Read more
Tor stands for The Onion Router. Imagine each layer of an onion is a server. That's essentially how Tor lets you surf the Web safely and anonymously, and with no creepy Web ads that have obviously been tracking you. The trouble with Tor is the trouble with onions: they can be overwhelming. ThankSoft's Mask Surf Pro makes it easy to use the Tor network yet offers advanced features like the capability to choose which host country to emulate. Developers can use it to test how their tools or Web pages perform in specific regions or under certain browser … Read more
Graphics tools that can create photo mosaics aren't scarce, even when filtered down to freeware. Mosaizer Pro by APP Helmond does that. But this free tool earns a spot even in the most well-stocked graphics toolkit by taking photo mosaics -- pictures created out of many smaller pictures -- to new levels. With it, you can "paint with pictures," creating artistic images out of your own pictures using Mosaizer's tools and vast library of free images, patterns, and textures. You can also add your own objects and save your settings as projects you can return to. … Read more
There are a ton of image editors available for iPhone that let you play with photos -- many of which I've talked about here. But a specific set of editors lets you create a mask or lets you superimpose one image on top of another for some really cool effects. Recently, a popular Mac photo editor made its way to iOS (the third in this collection) and I thought I would put together a few apps to see how they compare.
This week's collection of iOS apps lets you add unique effects to your images. The first lets you superimpose images on top of each other and offers a ton of tools for tweaking the results. The second lets you blend images together and create masks to make them seem more realistic. The third doesn't bother with two images, but instead lets you add effects to only a portion of the image.… Read more
The Remee Lucid Dreaming Mask is worn like a regular sleep mask, but it has built-in LEDs that flash in patterns. The idea is that the sleeper recognizes the lights as visual anomalies, realizes he is sleeping, and then takes control of the dream.
The LED patterns and delay times before the lights trigger will be customizable through a Web site. There's also a dimmer control so the LEDs don't wake you up by blaring through your eyelids.
Remee isn't the first lucid dreaming mask, but it's cheaper than existing options like the $190 REM-Dreamer. Remee … Read more
There is a dearth of tech products that can also double as accessories for fictional serial killers. If Hannibal Lecter was as into jogging as he was into human consumption, he would have definitely been sporting the Aire mask to power his iPod.
The idea behind the mask it that your breath charges your small electronics. The mask contains small wind turbines that convert your huffing and puffing into renewable power.… Read more
Let's face it. Disembodied robot heads have not yet reached their maximum potential. They can sing and chat and channel your personality post-mortem, but they don't always look particularly human doing so.
Uncanny-Valley problem meet solution--in the form of a plastic head called Mask-bot.
To make Mask-bot, researchers from the Technische Universitat Munchen in Germany, along with Japanese and Australian scientists, eschewed traditional robotic-realism methods of placing motors under artificial skin. Instead, they used a small, powerful projector to beam the 3D image of a face onto the back of a transparent mask, and a computer to control the voice and facial expressions.
Foremost, the researchers hope to give future robots a more human face. But they also imagine their method being used to create avatars for video conferences, and possibly even to keep isolated seniors company.
The real terror fun here, of course, is that the projected face can belong to anyone, even you. All it really takes is a 2D photo, which a new program developed by the researchers can convert into a properly proportioned projection for a 3D mask. … Read more
Why are schools no longer teaching typing? Typing class used to be a sanctuary for nerds, but now that everyone has a smartphone and a Facebook profile, some school districts are making a case against teaching standardized touch-typing lessons.
But before we dive into the technology lessons we think should be taught in all grade schools, we start today's episode of The 404 Podcast with a recap of the past week's metaprotesting in San Francisco and the flames that ignited Anonymous to shut down public transit.
The 404 Digest for Episode 883 SF subway closes stations during Anonymous protest. Why are schools no longer teaching typing? A video voice mail from Andrew in Ontario! Episode 883 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more
Taylor Franklin Hide looks tired. Cute, but tired. (See video.) So it's hardly surprising that the Alabama-based inventor has been so focused on maximizing the quality of his sleep.
Enter the LUMImask, which he has recently unveiled on the creative funding Web site KickStarter. The plain, black mask with an almost-invisible little alarm on one side looks like a Trekkie's dream accoutrement (pun!), and it comes with an appropriately dramatic slogan: Light. Dark. Both. (Some things you just can't make up.)
You see, Hide faced a conundrum: he required darkness to sleep, but he loved it when … Read more
Politics and Law
Internet & Media
Microsoft
216Facebook Likes
435Tweets
111Google Plus Shares
CNET's Galaxy S4 giveaway spectacular!
CNET's publishing another supercharged e-book. "Mastering the Galaxy S4" is almost here, so we're celebrating with a huge S4-related giveaway.
Manage updates with the Download App