Thursday, February 20, 2014

eBay Inc. Acquires PhiSix, A Computer Graphics Company

eBay Inc. announced it has acquired PhiSix, a computer graphics company that creates 3D models of clothing from photos, pattern files and other sources and simulates the behavior of the garments.  PhiSix’s technology has exciting possibilities – both online and offline – as it allows consumers to see how clothes fit, look and move in different environments without actually having to try them on. Financial terms were not disclosed


PhiSix’s technology enables consumers to understand the fit and movement of clothes in an online shopping environment,” said Steve Yankovich, vice president of Innovation and New Ventures of eBay Inc. “Consumers can experience the merchandise in a more efficient and impactful way, which we believe will drive sales for retailers and create a delightful experience for shoppers.”

PhiSix’s innovative technology can help solve one of the common problems online shoppers face – fit and look.  With a virtual fitting room enabled by PhiSix technology, shoppers can determine fit with physically accurate simulations of the garments. The technology is able to recommend a size for the user’s body based on basic measurement inputs.  All of this points to an immersive shopping experience that enables consumers to try on clothes virtually before buying online, which the company believes will reduce returns and enhance the overall shopping experience.  PhiSix technology may be utilized for omni-channel commerce so users can shop anytime, anywhere, from any device.

Source: eBay Inc. Acquires PhiSix

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

App "Glove" that figures out which carrier has the best coverage for you

App Glove will help people monitor their location habits for three days, then make a recommendation as to which carrier’s coverage map best fits their actual needs. Glove developed by Crowdx.


Glove runs for 3 days and keeps tabs on where you use your phone most. Then it tells you which carrier will provide you with the best coverage. Glove helps you to get an offer from your best carrier

Since the data is drawn from crowdsourced reports, Glove is only launching in a few locations to start: the San Francisco Bay Area and New York City. Glove is available for Android for now, with an iOS version planned for later in 2014.




Pomegranate may help improve cell phones, tablets and electric cars battery life

Pomegranate battery charge


Incredible but true, a pomegranate-inspired nanoscale design for large-volume-change lithium battery anodes. Stanford University and the Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory are developing new lithium-ion battery technology that could potentially have a vast impact on consumer devices, including smartphones and tablets, by equipping them with power cells that store more energy and do not degrade as fast. Yi Cui -Associate professor, Stanford and SLAC led the research. Report published in Nature Nanotechnology

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

FingerReader is a wearable device that assists in reading printed text


Digest: Ring-like wearable device that can read aloud text as you guide it with your finger




FingerReader is a wearable interface for reading on- the go. Fluid Interfaces Group at MIT developed it that assists in reading printing text. It is a tool both for visually impaired people that require help with accessing printed text, as well as an aid for language translation. Wearers scan a text line with their finger and receive an audio feedback of the words and a haptic feedback of the layout: start and end of line, new line, and other cues. The FingerReader algorithm knows to detect and give feedback when the user veers away from the baseline of the text, and helps them maintain a straight scanning motion within the line.

Monday, February 3, 2014

Android User can get $10-$15 off Mobile Bill by Putting Ads on Lock Screen



If you're not irritated by seeing an ad for J. Crew, Adidas, Target, or Best Buy when you wake up your smartphone, a new app called Slidejoy could lop some money off your monthly phone bill. Slidejoy currently works only in the United States, but we will hopefully be expanding to other countries soon

How does Slidejoy work?

Upon turning on your phone, you will view an aesthetically pleasing ad on their lockscreens
 1.       You will have a choice to ignore the ad by sliding right and unlocking your phone
2.       You will also have a choice to engage with the ad by sliding left. Upon sliding left, the phone will unlock and you will be directed to a destination specified by the advertiser (YouTube, advertiser website, Google Play, coupon page, etc.)
3.       To prevent bias, you will make an equal amount regardless of whether or not you engage with an ad
4.       Over time, Slidejoy’s proprietary machine-learning algorithm learns your ad preference based off of your behaviors during different times of day and curates a more relevant user experience
5.       You can cash out their earnings via Square Cash/Paypal or choose to donate it to charity

 Payment Information

You will be paid each time you unlock your phone despite of whether you swipe left or right. Earnings you earn on a particular day will appear in the app at 7pm EST the next day. You can cash out your balance or donate it to selected charities. Available cash out method is now Paypal and others yet to add.

Stopping seeing the ads

You can easily disable ads by going to the settings tab inside the application and turn off ‘ads on lock screen.’ However, you will not accrue money if ads are disabled

Source: Cnet