Use Your iPhone To Make Floor Plans

It seems there is going to be no end to the tasks iPhones can help us perform. They’ve all but replaced most cameras for the average person, and now in some instances they’re even going to replace the old fashioned tape measure. If you’re anything like me, you’re probably wondering how in the world a phone is going to replace a tape measure. But it’s true – and while you might not want to throw out your trusty tape, you’ll probably be okay just letting it rest in your tool box the next time you need to calculate any room dimensions.

There’s a new app on the market that will make it so simple to figure out simple floor plans that it’s a little hard to believe. It’s called RoomScan, and it will do all of the hard work for you. All you have to do it walk around the room – it really is that easy.

iPhone: The Only Tool You Need

Folks, when I say RoomScan makes it easy to create floor plans, I mean it makes it really easy. (Did I mention it’s also free)? Once you open the app, it gives you some fairly simple voice instructions and a demonstration of how to properly use it. Then, all you have to do is place your iPhone or iPad on each of your walls (don’t leave anything out), and using your phone’s wi-fi, GPS, and gyroscope, it will automatically do all of the math and measuring for you. When you’re finished with the last wall, it will show you the finished product: a professional looking blueprint that’s accurate to within half of a foot.

Of course if you need it to be a little more exact, there is a $5 pro version of RoomScan that will do all of the above and more, including putting multiple rooms on one diagram. You can read more about RoomScan here.

I don’t know about you, but this seems like a priceless tool, especially for anyone who might get lost in all of the measurements and calculations.

[Image via rodrigostoledo]

SOURCE: http://www.digitaltrends.com/home/roomscan-app-iphone-floor-plans/#!BYBbE

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iPhone 6 Casing Image Leaked

iPhone 6 concepts have been flying around, claiming to be based on Apple’s own plans. But now leaked images have been spotted by Nowhereelse.fr, which were posted on the Chinese social network site Weibo.

The images are supposed to be of the back of the iPhone 6 but the quality of the photos are not that great. There is no way of telling how big the handset is as there is nothing else in the image for you to compare it to.

The rumour is that Apple is working on different versions of the iPhone 6. However there is no indication that what we are looking at in the image is either the 4.7-inch display model or the 5.5-inch model.

Seeing as the images only show the supposed back of the iPhone 6, we are still none the wiser as to what the next model will look like or what size it will be. If you ask me, the back of the iPhone 6 is going to look pretty much the same as the other iPhone models.

[Image via Weibo]

SOURCE: http://bgr.com/2014/03/31/iphone-6-leaked-pictures-rear-shell/

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Samsung’s Galaxy S5 Has A Hidden Baby Monitor Feature

The Samsung Galaxy S5 has been found to have yet another feature up its sleeve that you may not have even known about. If you are a parent you may be pleased to discover that the popular Android device has a hidden baby monitor app that was discovered within the phone’s settings.

Titled as the ‘Baby Crying Detector’, the feature picks up on the sound of a baby crying when placed about a metre away from the infant. If the Galaxy S5 detects that the baby is unsettled, it sends a vibrate alert to the Gear smartwatch-wearing parent.

The feature requires that the parent leave the S5 handset in the room with the baby and relies on them owning and wearing the accompanying smartwatch.

Samsung is keen to point out that using the Baby crying detector is “not a substitute for human care,” and that a “baby should not be left in a house or building alone, even if you are moitoring your baby.” Common sense really then.

This is a great feature if you already own a Galaxy S5 and the Gear smartwatch but it is a pricey alternative to the good old fashioned baby monitor.

[Images via Techradar & technobuffalo]

SOURCE:http://www.techradar.com/us/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/samsung-galaxy-s5-has-a-hidden-baby-monitor-feature-for-gear-smartwatch-owners-1238216

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Apple Seeks Patent For Texting & Walking Feature

It doesn’t matter where you go anymore – it always seems like you see people who are texting while they are walking. You can usually easily spot these people as they are paying no attention whatsoever to where they are going or the people around them. Oh, and their eyes are also glued to the phone in front of their face if the other behaviors weren’t already noticeable enough.

Texting and walking is reaching an almost epidemic level, and the folks at Apple want to do something to help the problem. They’ve even filed an application for a patent. Please don’t misunderstand me – they don’t want to help cure the ailment, they just want to make it a whole lot easier to deal with. Their solution to the problem: transparent texting. It’s no joke – Apple believes that see-through texting will stop people from running into other people or inanimate objects while they’re trying to hit just the right letter in the middle of a stride. Of course there’s a little bit more to it than that…

Apple’s “Transparent Texting” feature would allow you to continue to text and walk while simultaneously showing you video from what’s happening in front of you thanks to your rear-facing camera. While that sounds like a neat trick, I think some people would still get just as distracted from watching the video feed and would still manage to run into people and/or things.

It also sounds like it might be a bad idea for those who struggle with motion sickness as it seems like it would be able to bring on the dizziness pretty quickly.

What do you think? Is this an idea you could see (no pun intended) working in the future? Or do you think people just need to exercise some common sense while they’re walking anywhere?

[Image via digitaltrends]

SOURCE: http://www.cnet.com/news/have-trouble-texting-and-walking-apple-has-an-idea/

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This Philips Alarm Clock Simulates Sunlight To Wake You

Waking up is not usually most people’s favourite part of the day. In fact, given a poll, I would bet that most people would vote it as their least favourite moment of the day. There’s just something about waking up that usually makes a person want to go right back to sleep – especially if it’s the alarm clock that brings them out of their slumber. I don’t know about you, but I’ve definitely found that to be true within my own life. And while I’ve never been much on the snooze button, I do sometimes lay there just to spite my alarm. This is especially true when the alarm clock rings and it’s still dark outside.

Most alarm clocks do the same thing in the same way. You set them to wake you at a certain time, and using whatever obnoxious sounds they come programmed with, that’s exactly what they try to do. But they’re not always effective, because we’re usually not feeling ready to wake up when they go off. And while that’s hardly the alarm’s fault, it seems like there could be some improvement nonetheless. Thankfully, there’s now an alarm that won’t just simply wake you with an annoying beep, but will also wake you with pleasant simulated sunlight.

No More “Snoozing” The Morning Away

The Philips HF3500/60 Wake-Up Light does exactly what it sounds like it should do; it wakes you up with light. Don’t get me wrong, it’ll still beep, but you probably won’t need it to. You set the time you’d like it to wake you up, and it will start lighting your room 30 minutes before that time. If, by chance, you’re not awake by the aforementioned time, it will beep just like any other alarm clock.

I have to admit – this clock sounds really appealing to me. I’d much rather be woken by light than by a loud noise reminding me of everything I have to get done in the day. If you’d like to purchase one of these, be prepared to spend around $90.

[Image via Amazon]

SOURCE: http://gizmodo.com/a-light-up-alarm-completely-changed-my-life-1535668863

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Microsoft Buys Wearable Tech IP For $150 Million

If there were any doubts about wearable tech being the future, this is the time to re-think those doubts. Microsoft just joined the wearable tech race to the tune of $150 million; at least that’s the estimate of those in the know.

According to TechCrunch, Microsoft has spent a whopping amount to get hold of “IP assets related to augmented reality, head-borne computers, and related items from the Osterhout Design Group, a low-profile company that develops wearable computing devices and other gadgets, these days primarily for the military and other government organizations.”

This is not a mere rumor, as the founder of the Osterhoust Design Group, Ralph Osterhout, has spoken up about the deal. He has said that Microsoft has only acquired the wearable tech IP but that the design company remains independent. On Microsoft’s part, however, mum’s the word.

The implications of Microsoft buying wearable tech IP are massive, though, especially for its gaming arm. Earlier this month, we already heard talks about the company working on a VR headset for the Xbox One. Are we going to have something like Caprica’s virtual world in the near future then?

Aside from gaming, however, Microsoft can do a lot with wearable tech. It’s not like the company does not deal with all sorts of media already. TechCrunch also dug up a patent that pairs a virtual headset with something that looks very much like a smartwatch. And since Microsoft already is playing in the wearable tech waters, who’s to say that they’re not going to come up with a headset-smartwatch combo?

In other related news, we know that Facebook has bought Oculus for $2 billion, upping the wearable tech game ante. And guess what? Zuckerberg doesn’t seem concerned about Microsoft’s new purchase, saying “Microsoft hasn’t even gotten to the point where they have anything to demo yet“.

[Image via businessnewsdaily]

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Cyber Terrorists Hold SurveyGizmo to Ransom

Online survey software tool, SurveyGizmo, is nearly back to normality after days of issues and outage following a serious cyber attack.

The US online survey software tool, which has more than 300,000 customers across the globe, was the victim of a malicious Denial of Service (DOS) attack which started on Wednesday.

The incident prevented users from accessing online forms and surveys – many of which are used, and heavily relied on, by businesses for marketing, lead generation and research projects. It is also a popular tool for students.

While access to surveys has now resumed, the company said intermittent ups and downs with the API can still be expected, and planned email fixes are also set to take place today.

Increasingly common attack

The company’s CEO, Christian Vanek, who admits he even spent a night sleeping in the office during his quest to get the site back up and running, described it as an increasingly common attack against online services used to blackmail business owners into paying for the attack to stop.

The DOS attack began on Wednesday, at SurveyGizmo’s primary data center in Denver, Colorado. At first the attack was intermittent, but then it took its services completely offline.

The company then received an email demanding money to stop the attack on its service.

It might sound like a movie script, but SurveryGizmo experienced just how real cyber terrorism is this week with the site held to ransom by hackers.

“I hope everyone understands why we would never consider paying or even replying to such a demand,” Vanek said.

“People like this should never be rewarded. Besides which, he wouldn’t have stopped and it would have created further incentive for him to attack others.”

Just when SurveyGizmo thought it was making progress on combating the attack, it then announced the attackers had redoubled their efforts

Complaints & support

Users were quick to hop online and complain about issues such as log-in problems and error messages.

User Marc Jansen tweeted: “I’m still dead in the water. can’t access a single survey from Europe. You are not 100% up if 100% of your customers aren’t up.”

Cody DeHaan also tweeted: “Anyone know of a good @surveygizmo alternative? Would like to explore my options after this mess.”

Despite some moans, most users appeared very supportive of SurveyGizmo and appreciated its regular updates.

Attacker watches on

Vanek confessed he regretted not scheduling the downtime to set up CloudFlare, which protects websites from a wide range of online threats, two weeks ago, when a neighboring service was attacked.

He also admitted it was difficult to restore service during the attack itself, but after working with its service provider Viawest, it was able to complete the transition.

SurveyGizmo kept users up-to-date via Twitter, but had to avoid saying too much as the company believed the ‘attacker’ was reading its posts.

The company said it was down for just over 27 hours in total, but Friday marks the third day of maintenance and work to restore the site to total normality.

[Image via moviemansguide]

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