Testing the new iPhone WordPress app
I’m posting this message from my iPhone using the new WordPress client app!
Archive for Bleeding Edge
e-ink video
This little video is a little old, by new technology standards, but I thought it was still a nice showcase of the various e-ink work that is being done.
Windows 7 multitouch
Looks like some “Windows 7″ multitouch is starting to, er, surface.
Video: Multi-Touch in Windows 7
personally, this doesn’t seem that special. WPF has had the ability to author multitouch for a little while now. There just hasn’t been any hardware except the Wii hacks and the Surface.
Oh and a side note. This is the first time I’ve seen someone use MSN’s Soapbox.
Using the Wii Balance Board as an Input Device
I’m looking forward to see what comes of this.
I’m not sure if anyone is paying attention, but there’s s market for odd bluetooth enabled input devices.
Microsoft’s Listas
Okay How did I miss the Microsoft Labs Listas service. I’ve been going on for ages about how much I’ve wanted a service like this. In fact I started to build one my self, because I couldn’t find anything like it. This site almost matches the spec I wrote for myself except it’s better in many ways.
I would like to have a few more options with exporting, but the XML is pretty good for now.
I’m so excited about finding this site that I can hardly contain myself. I think I might explode!
Often the simplest of services get overlooked by ones that are attempted to handle much more complicated activities. While Listas is, well, useful.
Up to date books from O’Reilly
I picked up the Essential Silverlight 2.0 book while I was at the Web 2.0 Expo. I’ve been meaning to share. It’s the first time I’ve purchased an “Up To Date” book from O’Reilly. I’m waiting form my first update to come in the mail.
To update your book you have the option to print out the pages or view them online for free, but I like the idea of updating the book itself.
To put in the new pages all you have to do is pop the little metal posts out from the plastic cover then add in the pages.
The idea behind O’Reilly’s “Up To Date” books
For publishers of printed technology books, it’s always been challenging to get a book written, edited, printed, and delivered while the content of the book is still relevant and needed by the audience. Some of our readers are happy to have the information they need delivered quickly in electronic form, but we hear from others that they still prefer the actual printed page. The Up-to-Date format is our answer to the need to deliver information on new technologies quickly, yet in printed form. And the beauty of it is that the book can take shape right along with the software, providing coverage of the CTPs, betas, and RTM releases as they become available.
Because the cover is plastic I have noticed a small issue in that the printing seems to flake off from the cover. Hopefully they find a way to fix this in future version. Of course I’d be super happy if they had a version that would work on my Sony Reader too.
Oh, and the book is very good too, but that’s another post!
Interactive everywhere
I’m not surprised too much by the idea of putting interactive technology in every place imaginable. I don’t think it will be too long before we find games in urinals at bars.
The example on the right is demonstration of an interactive floor that was created for Swarovski Kristallwelten called Ice Passage. There’s a nice video on the site if you follow the link.
It was made possible using vvvv
vvvv is a toolkit for real time video synthesis. It is designed to facilitate the handling of large media environments with physical interfaces, real-time motion graphics, audio and video that can interact with many users simultaneously.
It seems to me the current technology coming out of Microsoft such as Seadragon, Deep Zoom and Photosynth have created a foundation for doing extremely rich real time data driven visual experience that can be extended to any medium.
I could see something like a “mirror” at a shoe store that could put virtually any shoe on your foot as you walk by and even learn from you as you shop. All you would have to do to see a specific shoe would be to hold it as you walk by. It could also update based on what shoes you currently have on and what parts of the store you’ve been browsing.
There are so many uses, not just sales related, that it boggles the mind. I think we are on a precipice of a new level of interactive technology.
Windows XP on the OLPC demo
Watch and enjoy. I can’t wait to get my hands on this to try out. I’m really interested to see what it would be like to develop for. I’m also curious to learn more about the Unlimited Potential group inside of Microsoft.
Microsoft Surface in AT&T Retail Store
I’m not sure why we don’t have one of these here in Seattle with AT&T wireless based here and Microsoft here. It seems silly. That being said, this video is a nice demo of the experience.
