The Hot wall

Turn Your House into a Smart Home with Your iPhone: SmartThings

2012-09-17T07:41:00.000-07:00

Imagine being able to control things in your house remotely, right from an app on your iPhone, such as turning on or off the lights or air conditioner. Imagine being able to be notified immediately if your pipes burst and your house is flooding, or if your dog escapes from the backyard.

If this Kickstarter project gets funded (and it looks like it’s well on its way), in the future we could monitor, automate, and control a variety of different things in our house with just a couple of taps on our phone’s screen.

“Your world, smarter. SmartThings makes it easy to connect the things in your physical world to the Internet. You can monitor, control, automate, and have fun with them from anywhere – at home or abroad, city or country. We’ve made it possible to install apps that mash up and interact with your SmartThings, as well as online and other services, unlocking a world of possibilities and unlimited potential to make your life easier, more convenient and fun. We call these SmartApps.” – SmartThings

At the heart of the SmartThings system is the central hub, which can be connected wirelessly to outlets and various types of devices and sensors (called Things), including door locks, temperature sensors, light switches, smoke alarms, thermostats, and vibration and pressure sensors. Once connected, these devices can be monitored and controlled via apps right from your iPhone.
-Discovery.com-

Call of Duty:Black Ops 2

2012-09-03T21:22:00.003-07:00

An entry into the blockbuster first-person shooter franchise, Call of Duty: Black Ops II brings players back into the shadows for another Black Ops mission assignment.

Release Date: November 13, 2012

RP-M+ for Rating Pending, Targeting a Rating of Mature or Above:

Genre: First-Person Shooter

Publisher: Activision

Developer: Treyarch

-ign.com-

The Elder Scrolls Online

2012-09-03T21:19:00.001-07:00

Elder Scrolls Online is a massively-multiplayer online game set in the Elder Scrolls universe. The Elder Scrolls Online allows players to quest across the entire continent of Tamriel 1000 years before the events of The Elder Scrolls V, which includes the provinces of Cyrodiil and Skyrim.

Release Date: TBA 2013

RP for Rating Pending:

Genre: Persistent Online RPG

Publisher: Bethesda Softworks

Developer: ZeniMax Online Studios

-ign.com-

Borderlands 2

2012-09-03T21:16:00.002-07:00

Borderlands 2 is the epic sequel to the ultimate four-player role-playing shooter loot fest. Combining invention and evolution, Borderlands 2 features all-new characters, skills, environments, enemies, weapons and equipment, which come together in an ambitiously crafted story. Players will reveal secrets, and escalate mysteries of the Borderlands universe as they adventure across the unexplored new areas of Pandora.

Release Date: September 18, 2012

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol

Genre: Action

Publisher: 2K Games

Developer: Gearbox Software

-ign.com-

Assassin's Creed 3

2012-09-03T21:16:00.001-07:00

et against the backdrop of the American Revolution in the late 18th century, Assassin's Creed III introduces a new hero, Ratohnhaké:ton, of Native American and English heritage. Adopting the name Connor, he becomes the new voice for justice in the ancient war between the Assassins and Templars. Players become an Assassin in the war for liberty against ruthless tyranny in the most stylized and fluid combat experiences in the franchise to date. Assassin's Creed III spans the Revolutionary War, taking gamers from the vibrant, untamed frontier to bustling colonial towns and the intense, chaotic battlefields where George Washington's Continental Army clashed with the imposing British Army.

Release Date: November 23, 2012

RP-M+ for Rating Pending, Targeting a Rating of Mature or Above:

Genre: Action

Publisher: Ubisoft

Developers: Ubisoft Montreal, Ubisoft Annecy

-ign.com-

The EyeRing Personal Assistant: Augmented Reality at Your Fingertips

2012-09-03T19:05:00.004-07:00

Augmented reality devices and applications are starting to come into actual reality, and the latest idea is for a device worn on the finger, capable of conveying information about the world around us with both visual and audio clues. First came Google Glasses, then a hint that Apple is developing video glasses, and now a project from MIT promises to bring augmented reality to the visually impaired with a virtual assistant in a ring.

The EyeRing, which includes a tiny camera, a processor, and Bluetooth connectivity to connect to a smartphone, is worn (where else?) on a finger, and can take a photo of an object and then return information about that object to the user using both audio and visual clues.

“EyeRing is a wearable intuitive interface that allows a person to point at an object to see or hear more information about it. We came up with the idea of a micro camera worn as a ring on the index finger with a button on the side, which can be pushed with the thumb to take a picture or a video that is then sent wirelessly to a mobile phone to be analyzed. The user receives information about the object in either auditory or visual form. Future versions of our proposed system may include more sensors to allow non-visual data capture and analysis.” – MIT
-Discovery.com-

Time Scale Transit Maps, Fish-Like Robots and More From TreeHugger

2012-09-03T19:05:00.002-07:00

Paths to the Future
This week, TreeHugger showcased some amazing transit maps that used ride time as a scale. The result is an unusual twist on the usual branching maps.

For cyclists interested in a different experience, there’s the FLIZ pedal-less bike. That’s right, a bike that has designed away the need for pedals!

Then, there is a look at energy technology innovations and how they are leading us to a brighter, cleaner future.

Tech Spotlight
When it comes to getting things done, no designer can compete with nature. That’s why smart designers use nature as an inspiration. Take, for example, this underwater solar-powered robot that swims and dives like a real sunfish.

Taking gadgets into the backcountry is great, but the only problem is recharging all the batteries. The solar microgrid box hopes to solve that problem by offering some serious charging potential in a small package.

Finally, there’s an incredible glass orb that focuses the sun’s rays to boost photovoltaic efficiency by 35%!
-Discovery.com-

Turn an iPhone Into a Macro Camera

2012-09-03T19:05:00.001-07:00

When they’re not busting myths on the Discovery Channel, Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage are busy cooking up great DIY projects and keeping up to date on the latest achievements of the world’s best makers.

Recently, Jamie had the opportunity to read the script for Quinten Tarantino’s latest project Django Unchained. In this video, he talks about why he was called in for a reading and what he learned about the highly-anticipated film from the script.

Then, the founder of one of the Internet’s biggest space communities talks about memorabilia, artifacts of Apollo and Coca-Cola cans that work in space.

Meanwhile, the expert Makers on the Tested team breakdown a $2 lazer pointer to optimize an iPhone for macrophotography.

Finally, Tested takes a trip to Reed College in Portland, Oregon. In addition to claiming Steve Jobs as an alum, this small school has another notable distinction: It’s home to the world’s only nuclear reactor operated entirely by undergraduate students.
-Discovery.com-

Build Your Own DIY Electric Bike and Extend Your Range

2012-09-03T19:04:00.003-07:00

Souping up your old steel frame to add a little extra speed and power in the form of an eBike isn’t as difficult as you might think. Search Google and you’ll quickly find at least 15 kits that come with the essentials: a motor, a motor controller, a throttle, and an e-brake, which start at roughly $400. It’s smart to buy the battery and charger separately so you can find exactly the voltage you need.

Before you start to build, keep this advice in mind from Stan Soliday, founder of the website evsroll.com, a site that offerrs e-solutions for all manner of transportation: “It’s important to realize you are not building a motor bike. You are building a power-assist vehicle. The energy in an average eBike battery pack is not much: a 10 amp hour, 36-volt battery back has the energy in just one or two ounces of gasoline.”

And don’t bother to build muscle: Street-legal speeds in the U.S are only 20 mph. Ride in excess of that and you risk getting busted by the cops or, worse, killing yourself.

Step one: Define your needs
To find the balance between having enough power, yet conserving your battery’s limited energy, figure out what kind of riding you’ll do: Is your area flat or hilly? Will you be riding into the wind? What is the combined weight you expect to haul around? How far do you need to ride your eBike?

Step two: Pick your bike
Pick the appropriate bike to overhaul. Ilia Brouk, owner of ebikessf.com recommends a steel frame. “The heavier steel bike you have, the better,” he says. “Steel bends, aluminum cracks. Steel is definitely safer.”

The only downside, he adds, is that new steel bikes with components like disc brakes are hard to come by. If you need to resort to aluminum, you might need to buy an extra component called a torque arm, a metal part that slips onto the motor axle that prevents spinout when you put a lot of power on the motor. Brouk also recommends overhauling a hard tail instead of a full-suspension bike because it’s much harder to install a rack—where you’ll put the battery—on a rear-suspension bike.

Step three: Install the motor
Choose a motor. The three major types are:

Hub Motors: A motor built into the wheel itself, which can be put on the front or back wheel. The advantage to a hub motor is that it’s more streamlined, a lot lighter, and provides a better power-to-weight ratio.

Direct Drive Motor: This motor spins the wheel. It’s less efficient, and heavier, but it provides a lot more power, up to 2880 watts and can go as fast as 40 mph, way faster than street-legal speeds.

Mid-Drive Motor: It drives the chain. The upside is that you have a really wide gear ratio and it’s very efficient. The downside is that it’s more expensive (a kit starts at roughly $3,000) and makes a lot more noise because of all the force moving through the chain.

Step four: Select a battery
Choose a battery: The battery is the most important and most expensive part of an eBike. It’s smart to buy a lithium battery from a reputable U.S. manufacturer that has a decent warranty, the best batteries use Sony, Samsung, or Sanyo cells inside the battery pack. Buy one from China and you risk having to ship it overseas for repair. AllCell Technologies based out of Chicago manufactures high-quality, long-lasting 24- to 48-volt lithium batteries. Topeak Cycling Accessories has a variety of foam-cell bags for safe storage.

Step five: Assemble the pieces
After everything is ordered and in-house, it’s just a matter of assembly: It might be easy or it might be hard. It all depends on your bike frame and how handy you are as a bike-mechanic. If that sounds daunting, keep it simple and order the BionX system through NYCEWheels. This system, which comes with a 250 to 350-wattt motor, lithium battery, charger, bracket, console, and a hardware kit, ranges in price from $999 to $1,899. In four hours you’ll be powered up and puttering down the road.

-Discovery.com-

Bachelorette(2012/09/07)

2012-09-03T19:04:00.002-07:00

Synopsis

On the night before an old friend's wedding, three frisky bridesmaids go searching for a little fun but find much more than they bargained for. With lovely Becky set to marry her handsome sweetheart, Dale, the remaining members of her high school clique reunite for one last bachelorette bacchanal in the Big Apple. Regan is an overachieving, ueber-Maid of Honor who's secretly smarting over the fact that she's not the first to marry, while Gena is a whip-smart sarcastic who's actually a closet romantic, and Katie is a ditzy beauty who loves the good life. But when Becky insists on keeping the bachelorette party tame, the women proceed with an after-hours celebration of their own.

-movies.yahoo.com-

The Cold Light Of Day(2012/09/07)

2012-09-03T19:04:00.001-07:00

In Far Cry 3, players step into the shoes of Jason Brody, stranded on this mysterious tropical island. You dictate how the story unfolds, from the battles you choose to fight down to the allies or enemies you make along the way. Slash, sneak, detonate and shoot your way across the island in a world that has lost all sense of right and wrong. Beware the beauty and mystery of this unexplored paradise and live to outwit its roster of ruthless, desperate characters. You'll need more than luck to survive.

Release Date: December 4, 2012

RP-T+ for Rating Pending, Targeting a Rating of Teen or Above:

Genre: First-Person Shooter

Publisher: Ubisoft

Developer: Ubisoft Montreal

-ign.com-

Tomb Raider

2012-09-03T19:02:00.000-07:00

Tomb Raider delivers an intense and gritty story of the origins of Lara Croft and her ascent from frightened young woman to hardened survivor, armed with only raw instincts and the physical ability to push beyond the limits of human endurance. Superb physics-based gameplay is paired with a heart-pounding narrative in Lara's most personal, character-defining adventure to date.

Release Date: March 5, 2013

MSRP: 59.99 USD

RP-T+ for Rating Pending, Targeting a Rating of Teen or Above:

Genre: Action

Publisher: Square Enix

Developer: Crystal Dynamics

-ign.com-

BioShock Infinite

2012-09-03T19:01:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the city of Columbia. Floating amongst the clouds, cruising far above sea level, this is a place unlike any you've ever seen. Please enjoy your voyage...

The third game in the popular Bioshock series, BioShock Infinite breaks away from the underwater setting of the first two games to take players into a floating city held aloft by dirigibles. The game is set in 1912. You play as Booker DeWitt, a disgraced former private detective who's picked up a new case. Your goal is to find Elizabeth, a young woman who's gone missing and return her unharmed. The only problem is that she's being kept on this flying city. Columbia was once a symbol of America's success as a nation, floating around the world as a traveling World's Fair, a marvel of human innovation. But strange things have happened since Columbia's unveiling in 1900, and now the city has disappeared into the clouds. DeWitt knows how to find it, but over the years stories have been told about Columbia having unlawful heavy armament and deranged citizenry. Do not expect this to be a pleasure cruise.

Release Date: February 26, 2013

MSRP: 59.99 USD

RP-M+ for Rating Pending, Targeting a Rating of Mature or Above:

Genre: Shooter

Publisher: 2K Games

Developer: Irrational Games

-ign.com-

2012-09-03T18:59:00.001-07:00

The hunted becomes the hunter in the CryEngine-powered open-world shooter Crysis 3! Players take on the role of 'Prophet' as he returns to New York in the year in 2047, only to discover that the city has been encased in a Nanodome created by the corrupt Cell Corporation. The New York City Liberty Dome is a veritable urban rainforest teeming with overgrown trees, dense swamplands and raging rivers. Within the Liberty Dome, seven distinct and treacherous environments become known as the Seven Wonders. This dangerous new world demands advanced weapons and tactics. Prophet will utilize a lethal composite bow, an enhanced Nanosuit and devastating alien tech to become the deadliest hunter on the planet.

Prophet is on a revenge mission after uncovering the truth behind Cell Corporation's motives for building the quarantined Nanodomes. The citizens were told that the giant citywide structures were resurrected to protect the population and to cleanse these metropolises of the remnants of Ceph forces. In reality, the Nanodomes are CELL's covert attempt at a land and technology grab in their quest for global domination. With Alien Ceph lurking around every corner and human enemies on the attack, nobody is safe in the path of vengeance. Everyone is a target in Prophet's quest for retribution.

Release Date: Q2 2013

RP-M+ for Rating Pending, Targeting a Rating of Mature or Above:

Genre: First-Person Shooter

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Developer: Crytek Studios

-ign.com-

Dishonored

2012-09-03T18:58:00.002-07:00

Dishonored is set in Dunwall, an industrial whaling city where strange steampunk- inspired technology and otherworldly forces coexist in the shadows. You are the once-trusted bodyguard of the beloved Empress. Framed for her murder, you become an infamous assassin, known only by the disturbing mask that has become your calling card. In a time of uncertainty, when the city is besieged by plague and ruled by a corrupt government armed with industrial technologies, dark forces conspire to bestow upon you abilities beyond those of any common man – but at what cost? The truth behind your betrayal is as murky as the waters surrounding the city, and the life you once had is gone forever.

Release Date: October 9, 2012

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language

Genre: First-Person Action

Publisher: Bethesda Softworks

Developer: Arkane Studios

-ign.com-