Polarize

Nokia takes on new partner to launch mobile apps

With the help of a new partner, Nokia is planning to launch more than 300 mobile apps for its smartphones over the next year.

Announced today, the team-up with Polar Mobile will see Nokia smartphone apps specificially from a variety of global media companies, including Advertising Age, Wired UK, Kompas, Globe and Mail, Shanghai Daily, and 7DAYS.

The apps will be available to current owners of Symbian smartphones, the new Nokia N9, and to upcoming Nokia devices running Microsoft's Windows Phone. The first 50 apps will debut next month for Symbian and be accessible through Nokia's Ovi Store.… Read more

Vizio's passive 3D TV falls short in 2D

The 65-inch Vizio XVT3D650SV ($3,699 list) is the first TV in the U.S. to ship with "passive" 3D capability. Unlike the other mainstream 3D TVs of 2010, which use "active" glasses that cost around $100 each, this big Vizio comes with four pair of cheap polarized glasses, the same kind used by most 3D theaters. We've already taken an in-depth look at how the XVT3D650SV's 3D compares with an active 3D model, so we'll keep it brief here: while the Vizio has its advantages, we still liked the picture quality of … Read more

At CES, new 3D TV tech emerges

LAS VEGAS--3D isn't just plain old 3D anymore.

Later this year when the 3D televisions sets that debuted at CES 2011 start hitting store shelves, shoppers will find more than one type of 3D technology. CES a year ago was 3D-at-home's big coming-out party, led by Sony and Panasonic, which came with HDTVs that with the aid of special glasses could show 3D movies. Both brands used the same technology in the accompanying glasses: active-shutter. The same went for models from manufacturers like Samsung and Vizio that followed.

Flash forward to 2011: While many of the heavy hitters … Read more

Digital natives hold on to Polaroid

Since it was rescued from extinction, Polaroid's look has been transformed into something everyone can have right on their computers or mobile screens. Free applications like Poladroid and Polarize bring Polaroid's feel to the digitally inclined.

Once you open Poladroid, a picture of a Polaroid camera will show up on your desktop. To start converting your pictures into retro gems, drag and drop any JPEG file onto the Poladroid icon. The loading time for the application is a bit slow, but at least the sound effects are realistic. The final image does not show up right after you … Read more

Vizio shows 2010 3D TVs, first passive model for 2011

Vizio announced its 2010 3D TVs at CES in January, and on Tuesday provided a few more details on the upcoming sets. It also showed the first 3D model for the U.S. market to offer passive glasses technology.

Although the January announcement included pricing, Vizio now says all three 3D TV models, which range from 42 to 55 inches, are "price $TBD."

As is common with the company, other details have changed as well: there's no 72-inch screen size anymore; the release date has been pushed back from "August" to "Q4" of … Read more

3D projectors

It's a slightly slow news day, considering Monday was the Apple keynote.

As anyone who loves technology knows, an Apple keynote is like the Super Bowl. No one expects to make much noise in the sporting world immediately following the biggest game of the year.

Nevertheless, there are still news stories moving and shaking. From Tuesday morning's edition of Loaded:

• Apple launches Safari 5 for Mac and Windows PCs

• Adobe partners with Greystripe to bring Flash to the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch in a roundabout way

• Sanyo shows off 3D projectors

• Nike launches … Read more

The 404 Podcast 525: Where we Shatner things my dad says

Natali Del Conte replaces Justin Yu on today's show, as he's out looking for pickles. The name of today's show refers to the news that William Shatner of "Star Trek" fame will star in CBS' new sitcom "S**t My Dad Says," based on the same expletive-filled Twitter phenomenon. We think Jerry Stiller would make a better cranky old man. (By the way, CBS, you own a equally funny podcast/show/Twitter called The 404, available on @the404.)

Jeff has a beef with the number of 3D movie theaters out there right now. Apparently, the success of "Avatar" has led a swarm of 3D films to be released, and many theaters aren't equipped to handle the 3D projections just yet.

Next, we get to Sony building a universal game controller (a la the Logitech Harmony One, but for videogame consoles). We're not exactly sure how they plan on doing this, or whether it's useful in any way. We do, however, reminisce a bit about our favorite game controllers. The original Sega Saturn controller is Wilson's favorite for 2D games. "It melts in your hands," he says.

Finally, we get to some voice mails, and the racist polar bear on Xbox Live has really taken off as a meme now. We're encouraging our fans to send in their renditions of this meme. The best ones we will showcase on the show. Maybe a few Photoshoped images? Maybe a few voice mails as the racist polar bear? Send them in to the404 [at] cnet [dot] com or call us at 1-866-404-CNET (2638).

EPISODE 525 Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video

… Read more

Geometry study application

If you need help with geometry studies, this app may be just the assistance you're looking for. Tutors and homeschoolers alike will find features to appreciate in this easy-to-use tool.

GEUP launches a screen-size window, with an editing pane that takes up most of its space. This pane is edged along top and its left side with a row of icon-stamped buttons. Although the icons may initially intimidate novice users, familiarity will increase with practice. Students can't necessarily learn geometry by using the tool alone, but using it in connection with a textbook or study guide will certainly … Read more

Face recognition comes to Flickr

Without any big fuss, a face-recognition feature has been added to Flickr.

The new feature was launched recently by Swedish start-up Polar Rose. It lets users import all their photos from a Flickr account to an account on Polar Rose, where the images are then automatically assembled into groups dedicated to various individuals.

As with similar features in Google Picasa and Apple iPhoto, names eventually show up next to faces in the photos once the user has identified the faces. The labels then get sent back to the Flickr account. Polar Rose, founded by Swedish mathematician Jan Erik Solem in 2004, intends to license its technology to numerous Web sites.

"No other company wants to offer its face-recognition technology to all other sites," said Solem, now CTO of the company.

Polar Rose is also ready to import photos from Facebook accounts, but there's a snag.

"Facebook has a rule that downloaded data cannot be stored more than 24 hours," Solem said.

And since thumbnails are stored in the user's Polar Rose account, the start-up won't immediately be applying the feature to Facebook photos.

Already in place, though, is the authentication function Facebook Connect, which lets users log in with their credentials from Facebook. A friends list can also be imported from Facebook and can be used when identifying faces in photos from Flickr.

Solem won't say whether there's a commercial deal afoot with Flickr. "Of course we talk with them," he said.

Flickr, for its part, has kept a low profile on the subject.

"Flickr has the second most popular API on the Web," said a representative for Yahoo, which owns Flickr. "Polar Rose is one of the many third-party developers using the Flickr API to innovate and present public Flickr data in new and unique ways." … Read more