Switched On: Big kicks, not all for starters

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

The end of last week's Switched On left doubt for the future of dedicated devices that tread on the turf of smartphones. After all, funding is key to every major new product initiative and, despite the vast fortunes of many Silicon Valley engineers that have been accumulated via IPOs and acquisitions, few wish to take on the risk of fronting a new consumer device themselves.(In 2007, the handheld FlipStart PC was hatched from FlipStart Labs, funded by Vulcan Ventures, the investment arm of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.)

Most venture capitalists abhor the device business; it is a rare device that makes it to the spotlight of startup debutante balls such as DEMO, TechCrunch Disrupt, or Launch. Even most of the 94 companies at CES' Eureka Park were not developing end-user devices Where, then, can a device entrepreneur go for funding and pick up some publicity in the process?

Continue reading Switched On: Big kicks, not all for starters

Switched On: Big kicks, not all for starters originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 29 Apr 2012 17:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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McCann Invests $4M in Israeli Incubator ?thetime?

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Predictably named iPavement puts hotspots into the sidewalk

We know what it's like to be in a foreign country without a mobile internet connection. Although there are domestic options making it easier to connect our devices abroad, Spanish company iPavement wants to help confused tourists (and their confused devices) by seamlessly integrating hotspots into tiles -- which are seamlessly integrated into the ground. It's unclear whether users will have open access to the entire world wide web, or only controlled info about the city, but the service is at least free to use. The 24kg (53lb) tiles are slightly larger than normal, installed a maximum of 20 meters (66 feet) from one another and only work at temperatures between 10 - 45 degrees Celsius (14 - 113 degrees Fahrenheit). Touristy cloud apps like maps, coupons, and traffic updates in various languages are also a part of the deal, and you would look like less of a tourist without that huge guide to Madrid. Just lose the fanny pack and you'll be set.

Predictably named iPavement puts hotspots into the sidewalk originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 28 Apr 2012 13:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Castle finally finds a home on the Atari 2600, gets a redesigned cartridge

Halo may have made its way to the Atari 2600, but wouldn't porting a retro game to this '70s-era console be more appropriate? MAKE Magazine has the skinny on former Atari dev Scott Williamson's port of the Cinematronics shooter Star Castle. Though Atari execs decided the title was too complicated to bring over in the '80s, Williamson took it upon himself to make that transition possible. The result of some serious coding is 8K of ROM and 128 bytes of RAM's worth of good ol' space war. But he didn't stop there -- he redesigned the cartridge with a transparent casing and LEDs that flash during gameplay. Click through to the source link for the full step-by-step.

Star Castle finally finds a home on the Atari 2600, gets a redesigned cartridge originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 03:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is The Brydge Finally the Perfect iPad Keyboard Case?

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Customer Service Support SaaS Freshdesk Raises $5M From Tiger Global And Accel

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Could Justin Bieber Perform With An Elvis Hologram?

The creators of Tupac's Coachella hologram reveal other artists they'd like to bring back to life: Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, Michael Jackson.
By Jocelyn Vena

Justin Bieber
Photo: MTV News

The world can't seem to get enough of that Tupac hologram from the Coachella festival. The late rapper's lifelike image left fans in awe as it performed alongside Snoop Dogg during his set with Dr. Dre.

The people behind the projection system that created the incredibly realistic likeness of the MC are now cooking up ideas of who else they might want to bring back to life.

Speaking to NME, Sanj Surati, head of music at Musion Technology Ltd, explained that one of music's greats could one day perform alongside one of pop's biggest stars. Asked whether there were plans to bring back Elvis Presley and perhaps have him perform next to Justin Bieber, Surati said it "would be a cool thing."

If an Elvis/Bieber collabo can't shake out, Surati explained there are others he'd like to see come to life: "Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, oh, and Michael Jackson would be the ultimate one," he said. "Maybe even Whitney Houston."

As for the future of the famous Tupac-ogram, well, Surati hopes it can be resurrected once again on a bigger-scale tour. "This is obviously a historic and exciting initiative that we're all witnessing currently, and it would make sense for them to bring it to Europe," he said. "And maybe take it to the rest of the world."

Since the debut of the Tupac hologram, fans have been wondering what other beloved performers could find new life using this technology. On the 10-year anniversary of Left Eye's death, there was an unconfirmed report from TMZ that TLC might bring back the group's sassy rapper for a "massive 2012 reunion tour." The group has yet to comment on the rumor.

Which artist would you like to see brought back to life as a hologram? Sound off below!

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