Tag: microsoft
Play Nice(r) With Your Phone, Your Xbox, and Xbox SmartGlass
This month I’m testing out the Nokia Lumia 928 phone from Verizon Wireless. It’s a Windows phone, which is a change of pace for me, so I’ve been on the hunt for fun apps to share with all of you. There are lots of great apps out there, but I stumbled across something I wasn’t familiar with: Xbox SmartGlass. Now, SmartGlass isn’t exactly new (it came out last year), but it’s new to me. I bet it’s new to a lot of you, as well. Xbox SmartGlass allows you to pair mobile devices with your Xbox to allow enhanced control and content.
Microsoft Stores as Community Spaces
You may have seen a Microsoft store in your community and I’m sure you wouldn’t be surprised to learn that they sell a wide range of computers, tablets, phones, video games, and accessories. When I was asked to attend a webinar and visit a Microsoft store by The Motherhood, I’m not sure what I expected. I did not expect that Microsoft stores are becoming social spaces for learning and playing.
Verizon Brings ESRB Ratings to Their App Store
Choosing apps for your kids isn’t always an easy feat. First, you have to wade through the multitude of options. Then, you’re looking for an app that has some quality (and preferably not too many ads). Finally, you want it to be age-appropriate. Nothing like handing your kid a game that looks tame, only to have one of the characters cursing, or displaying over-the-top violence. With video games, we have the ESRB ratings. And while I’m always shocked at the number of parents who simply ignore them (should your 12-year old play a game that involves rape? I’d argue no…), there are plenty of us who find them a useful tool for decision-making. There’s good news for those of us who like a little extra help. Verizon has announced that they have added the new app rating system developed by CTIA (International Association for Wireless Telecommunications) and the ESRB to their app store. And not only will new apps have ratings, but they’ve added ratings to older apps as well.
Samsung 9 Series Laptop for On-the-Go
Lightweight and thin laptop computers are all the rage, but no one wants to sacrifice performance for portability. I actually have a netbook that I bought for travel, but find it so frustrating to work on that I still prefer to lug along my heavier machine. The Samsung 9 Series is designed to remove the compromise and provide a light machine that can still get the job done. The specs in this review refer to the 13.3-inch model. There is a model with an 11.6-inch screen as well.
Microsoft, Sesame Street, and National Geographic Show Us the Next Frontier of Television and Educational Content
There are times when I get a press release that I know I should share immediately, but I’m just not sure how to capture the impact of the story. Last week was one of those times. In short, Kinect for Xbox 360 announced a ground-breaking partnership with National Geographic and Sesame Street. The two iconic television shows will work with Microsoft to present “Kinect Nat Geo TV” and “Kinect Sesame Street TV,” two interactive television series aimed at engaging kids, mind and body, in learning.
2012 National STEM Video Game Challenge Announced
If you have an aspiring video game designer at home, this may be their chance to shine. The Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop and E-Line Media have announced the 2012 National STEM Video Game Challenge. Details will be available in November, but entries will be open to the following four categories: Middle School, High School, Collegiate and Educator. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, and has seen increased focus recently from President Obama and the Department of Education.
How to Create a Panoramic Image with Microsoft Photosynth
Microsoft Photosynth is a bit hard to explain and even harder to imagine, but it takes your photos and stitches them together to create an interactive, 3-dimensional view of a room, building, or location. You take a series of photos from as many angles as possible, feed them into the software, and end up with an image that you can pan, rotate and even zoom into.
There are two main options with Photosynth. The first is to create a synth, which allows you to navigate from image to image, as if you’re looking around a 3-dimensional space. The second is to create a panoramic image, which allows you to pan 360 degrees around a central location. Both are incredibly easy to do. In this post I’m going to show you how to create a panoramic image on your PC. You can also get an iPhone app to make panoramic images right on your phone.
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