Is It true? Samsung NX2000 SMART Camera packs NFC and WiFi

Samsung‘s latest smart camera has broken cover, the NX2000, pairing a 20.3-megapixel APS-C sensor with a sizable touchscreen and integrated WiFi, NFC, and remote app support. Replacing last year’s NX1000, the Samsung SMART Camera NX2000 can fire off stills at up to 8fps or record Full HD 1080p video, as well as swap lenses with Samsung’s range of twelve options, including a 3D capture lens.

On the camera side of things, there’s Samsung’s DRIMe IV engine for processing noise reduction and colors, with a maximum shutter speed of 1/4000th of a second and ISO 100-25600. There’s also a smart mode, for macro and panoramic shots, as well as more gimmicky photography like “best face” and “beauty face” which automatically processes those in-frame to smooth out skin and remove blemishes. For video, there’s 2D capture in 30fps or 24fps and 3D capture – with the right lens – at 30fps. The NX2000 outputs in MPEG4 AVC/H.264 format with AAC audio, saving to microSDXC card. On the “smart” side, meanwhile, there’s a 3.7-inch WVGA touchscreen to control the camera, and integration with social networks for directly squirting off your images over a WiFi connection. WiFi Direct is supported, over WiFi b/g/n, and an onboard email client can be used for more old-fashioned sending of shots. Pair the NX2000 with Samsung’s SMART CAMERA App – a simple matter of tapping it with an NFC-enabled phone – and you can use the software as a remote viewfinder, as well as take advantage of its data connection. Samsung will offer the NX2000 in three color variants – white, black, and pink – priced at $649.99. Samsung NX2000 SMART Camera packs NFC and WiFi is written by Chris Davies .

Is It true? Google tax questions resurface as staff spark suspicion

Google and its auditor will be quizzed a second time on allegations of tax avoidance in the UK, it’s reported, after investigations into whether the search giant misled a government committee turned up some inconsistencies. Google’s own London staff – not to mention its customers – believe they’re responsible for the sort of sales that would make the UK division liable for a far larger tax bill, Public Accounts Committee head Margaret Hodge reportedly confirmed to Reuters, despite Google VPs arguing that the only sales to UK clients happen from the company’s Dublin branch in Ireland.

The incongruities will see both Google and the company’s auditor, Ernst & Young, pulled back in front of the PAC to answer more questions, not least to explain whether they purposefully misled the committee at their last appearance in 2012. At the time, Google VP for Northern and Central Europe Matt Brittin insisted that “nobody is selling” from the London offices, and that it was at pains to “comply with all the tax rules in the UK.” That certainty was apparently not shared by Google staff nor the company’s recruitment team, however. London-based positions cite roles that include “negotiating deals”, closing “strategic and revenue deals”, and achieving “quarterly sales quotas” it’s pointed out, while Reuters’ digging through LinkedIn profiles, among other things, suggests staff at Google London are claiming responsibility for the sort of UK sales tasks the company claims only take place in Ireland. Brittin argues that’s poor phrasing on Google’s part, out of a hope “to attract people with those skills and that background”, and claims the company is rectifying what language it uses. Nonetheless, it’s enough to get Hodge suspicious. “We will need to very quickly call back the Google executives to give them a chance to explain themselves and to ensure that actually what they told us first time around is not being economical with the truth” she told the news site about the second in-person phase of the investigation. Google’s tax records for 2005-2011 were already to be re-examined by the UK tax authority. As for the auditors, having told the committee that its team had physically walked the Google London offices to check whether actual responsibilities matched those the company declared, Ernst & Young is also back under the spotlight. “The evidence they gave was clear and unambiguous” Hodge pointed out. “Ernst & Young have questions to answer about whether they were being wholly open with us as a committee.” The ongoing allegations – that Google uses tax loopholes to shuffle income through its Irish subsidiary, thus minimizing its UK bill – have already prompted strong words from high-level execs at the search giant. Executive chairman Eric Schmidt denied wrongdoing recently, arguing that Google was in fact spurring on UK industry by empowering startups, among other things. The question of taxes in specific countries, Schmidt argued, was outdated, and who owed what, and where, should be looked at in a more global sense, given the spread of multinationals. When, exactly, the new hearing will take place is unclear. Google tax questions resurface as staff spark suspicion is written by Chris Davies .

Is It true? Hexa drone is half-hexacopter, half-hexapod, 100% terrifying

When the robots finally come to harvest us, they’ll probably descend from the skies and then scuttle, spider-like, into our homes and shelters, just like MadLab Industries‘ terrifyingly ominous Hexa. The combined horror of a six-bladed hexacopter and a 6-legged hexapod, the omnidirectional robot can either tackle terrain on-foot or take to the air to avoid obstacles, then using the multipurpose legs as a grapple to snatch up objects (objects that, it has to be said, are roughly the size of a human baby’s head in MLI’s demo video).

The DIY ‘bot pairs a PhantomX Hexapod kit and a custom MLI hexacopter, using carbon-fiber and aluminum components to keep the weight down. In total, the whole thing tips the scales at 10.8 pounds, and is strong enough to not only transport its own weight, but light objects it can grasp with its legs. Possible future improvements could include the ability for the two sections to detach and be independently controlled, meaning Hexa could fly in, deposit the hexapod, and then fly back out again. That could eventually be useful for search & rescue operations, transporting Hexa-style hunting drones to a disaster area and then leaving them to rummage through the rubble for survivors. The MLI team said back in December that, if demand was deemed sufficiently strong, it would consider Kickstarter for a Hexa kit. No word on what stage that project is up to, nor how much it might eventually cost. Of course, right now there are human controllers in charge of Hexa, but AI research is doing its level best to cook up autonomous versions that are so ominous that even Google’s Eric Schmidt is calling for drone increased regulation. The situation is only likely to get more serious, however, with recent DARPA proposals suggesting potential funding for companies capable of delivering self-controlled flying gadgets. [via Hack'n'Mod] Hexa drone is half-hexacopter, half-hexapod, 100% terrifying is written by Chris Davies .

Is It true? Amazon LOVEFiLM PS3 on-demand app tweaked with Watchlist and HD

Amazon’s new LOVEFiLM app has made its debut, with PS3 owners the first to experience the streaming media service’s new search, recommendation, and watchlist UI on their consoles. The update – which will eventually be pushed out to all LOVEFiLM Instant platforms, including Xbox 360, Wii U, and others – now allows subscribers to build out a playlist of titles for those late-night “let’s slump in front of the TV and not have to move to change what’s on” sessions; PS3 owners also get a bonus in the shape of high-definition content support.

Although watchlist functionality has been present for Netflix US on-demand subscribers for some time, the ability to create a playlist has been largely absent outside of that country. In the UK, for instance, Netflix lacks the ability to create a “My Queue” list, despite regular requests from users. Now, though, LOVEFiLM users in the UK and Germany will be able to line up a number of shows to watch, with the list synchronized across all apps and sites that are logged into the same account. There’s also a new homepage layout, which includes a “last viewed” widget with details on what was last played, what device played it, and what viewing point was reached, making it easier to resume. Otherwise, there’s new search functionality and an updated recommendation engine, and LOVEFiLM has tweaked the UI in general to make things easier to navigate. The new PS3 app is available now, though LOVEFiLM hasn’t said when exactly those with other internet-connected devices will get it. Amazon LOVEFiLM PS3 on-demand app tweaked with Watchlist and HD is written by Chris Davies .

Is It true? Google Glass Bulletproof lockscreen adds unofficial wearable security

Security concerns around Google Glass and what data access those casually – or nefariously – picking up your wearable might have has prompted the first DIY lock system for the headset, Bulletproof. Resembling the standard Android lockscreen, but adding some head-detection smarts to prevent you from having to swipe in a code every time you want to use Glass, Bulletproof is the handiwork of Explorer Edition owner Mike DiGiovanni.

As others have observed, Glass lacks any sort of locking system, which means that when you’re not wearing it – or supervising it – it’s possible that anybody could pick the wearable up and start digging through your data. That’s potentially not the most worrying exploit, however; as arch-tinkerer Jay Freeman pointed out this week, with the right software and a microUSB cable, a well-placed hacker could install surveillance malware onto your Glass and joyride every app you use, every photo and video you take, and potentially even track your location when wearing the headset. DiGiovanni’s app addresses that concern in a straightforward way. Since Glass has no keypad, it uses a combination of user-customizable swipes and taps on the trackpad on the side of the eyewear to enter an unlock code. That access then stays valid all the time you’re actually wearing Glass. Take it off – or have it pulled off your head, whether by a thief or someone keen to try it themselves – and Glass automatically re-locks. Since Google isn’t exactly keen on native apps running on Glass at this point, preferring web-based services that hook up through the Mirror API, you’ll need to do a little modification if you want Bulletproof on your headset. As it’s a native Android app, Glass needs to be put into debug mode, and then ADB used to install it. You can find the source on GitHub. Glass has thrown wearables security back into the spotlight in recent weeks, as issues of privacy and data management become increasingly discussed as more of the headsets work their way into the wild. Much of the concern voiced has been about what goes on in-front of the camera, particularly since the Explorer Edition units lack any sort of clearly visible indicator that recording might be taking place. At present, only the glow of the eyepiece could be used as a sign that Glass is capturing video; some have suggested that Google should have fitted a red LED on the outside, or even a sliding cover that could entirely block out the lens. [via LivingThruGlass] Google Glass Bulletproof lockscreen adds unofficial wearable security is written by Chris Davies .

Is It true? Mophie Juice Pack for HTC One offers to double your Zoe-time

Mophie may be best known for its Juice packs for the iPhone, but the company has made one of its rare Android detours with a battery case for the HTC One. Shipping now, in black at least, the Mophie Juice Pack for the HTC One squeezes a 2,500 mAh battery – 200 mAh more than the One itself has – into a bow-backed shell for the smartphone, that the company claims can boost runtime by 100-percent.

Given the HTC One’s battery is non-removable, the Mophie promises to answer one of the biggest criticisms potential owners have of the phone (we only wish it added a microSD card reader, too). Like other Juice Packs, the One variant has pass-through USB for charging both phone and case, as well as synchronizing your phone with your computer, and an LED indicator row on the lower back to show the case’s remaining charge. There’s also a standby-switch which, if flicked on, saves the Mophie’s power until you specifically want it; otherwise, the phone will run on its own battery. You still get access to the camera and – thanks to pass-through keys – the buttons for volume, power, and such. Mophie has even considered the IR blaster HTC built into the power button, which still works even with the Juice Pack in place. Of course, the downside of strapping an extra battery to your phone is added bulk, and the Juice Pack does indeed add some heft to the svelte One. Together, they measure in at 2.88 x 6.06 x 0.76 inches, and the Mophie adds 5.05oz, effectively doubling the weight of the phone. That may be easy to overlook if it means you can keep using your One, however. We found that Zoe photography – HTC’s mixture of burst-stills and short HD video clips – was particularly power-hungry in our review of the phone, and as such keen shutterbugs hoping to get the most out of the phone’s UltraPixel camera may well be the obvious target for Mophie’s new accessory. It’s shipping now in black, priced at $99.95, while the silver version will follow on in mid-May. [via Android Community] Mophie Juice Pack for HTC One offers to double your Zoe-time is written by Chris Davies .

Is It true? Uber details its New York City e-hailing service

We talked in recent weeks about New York City’s move into the digital age, allowing yellow taxis to be hailed electronically after months of legal wrangling at the behest of livery cab drivers. Shortly after the one-year test pilot was approved, the Taxi and Limousine Commission said that it had approved Uber as the first company with an official go-ahead to roll out its service in the city. It has been a few days, but now Uber has spoken up.

In a post on its blog, Uber officially announced its return to New York City following the approval it received last Friday. Says Uber, such a move demonstrated NYC’s “commitment to technology and innovation,” saying that it is proud to be part of that. The excitement in the post is quickly curbed down to more serious business, however, with users being reminded multiple times that they can’t forget to pay their driver. Uber advises that as of right now the system is not yet set up to allow users to automatically pay their fare, meaning they’ll still need to do it the old fashioned way even if their hailing has progressed from arm-raising to finger-swiping. While the company doesn’t come right out and say that it will provide automatic payments in the future, it does everything it can to suggest that it’ll be an eventual feature. In addition, Uber also advises its users that initially the number of taxi drivers who can be summoned via the app will be low, but that the number will increase “in the coming weeks.” Likewise, black cars are still the default option, and so those looking for a taxi will need to be sure they switch the slider over before hailing. And finally, because of its requirements by the the TLC, Uber isn’t available for getting cabs at LGA, JFK, and beyond the five boroughs. [via Uber Blog] Uber details its New York City e-hailing service is written by Brittany Hillen .