Adobe Edge

A tool being developed by Adobe, called Edge, is an HTML5 tool that makes it easy for web developers and designers to create animations and transitions without having to go through lines of HTML5 code. As with the announcement of HTML5, Adobe Edge is predicted to further quicken the demise of Flash. Edge will focus on choreographing various elements within an animation. Creating an animation with HTML5 is not in itself difficult, although getting the movement and transformation of various elements to move where you want them to, when you want them to, can be. Adobe is working to bring these elements into an actual tool.

Edge's interface will be similar to Flash. It will have a stage window displaying the layout of the HTML5 page, a timeline window that will show the modifications of elements over time, and a layers panel to indentify DOM elements. By selecting a layer you would be able to see that layer's properties in the property explorer, which supports the new CSS transformations in 2D and 3D. Furthermore Edge will also use "actions" and "symbols" like Flash and offer a source code editing system like Dreamweaver, so users should have at least some knowledge of coding in order to identify and avoid problems within the code. Adobe Edge is still a prototype but has been demoed; various concepts are being looked into to make this an actuality sometime in the near future.

iHome for iPad

iHome, the leading supplier for iPhone/iPod speaker solutions, has announced the availability of the iA100 Bluetooth Stereo System for iPad, iPhone, and iPod. iA100 is an app-enhanced, Bluetooth enabled FM radio alarm clock. This is the first product from iHome to support the iPad and its unique capabilities. It is also one of the first docking speaker products designed to dock and charge the iPad while you sleep.

The iA100's top docking system has a universal, highly versatile dock design that supports charging, playback and app-enhanced communications. Once you connect a device (ipad/iPhone/iPod) via Bluetooth pairing, the iA100 becomes a wireless entertainment multi-tasker with a variety of features. These include: a stand-alone speakerphone with echo cancellation, turning all Bluetooth enabled phones into a speakerphone; streaming of audio from music and movies, and customized connections with iHome apps (iHome+Sleep and iHome+Radio). Lastly it uses 4 speakers in a compact stereo configuration to deliver superior quality sound. The iA100 is available for purchase in stores nation wide or on www.ihomeaudio.com.

3D Slideshow: LightSpace

It's possible that soon no one will ever have to sit through a boring Power Point presentation ever again. Microsoft's LightSpace Technology is about to make presentations fun. The LightSpace prototype projects the contents of a Power Point slide onto any solid surface. You can then touch and pick up virtual items from the display. You can move items and even carry them across the room.

The technology works by using projectors, motion tracking sensors and depth sensing cameras. A projected light beam will serve as the central control. To perform commands you would move your hand along the light beam to select a specific function, then hold your hand over that menu for a few seconds to activate the command. LightSpace creates a full 3D image of the room and then identifies the projected media that a user is interacting with.

Microsoft stresses that this is still a prototype and has a long way to being completed and out on the market. Researchers are still exploring how to make it the most effective and how it will interact with multiple users. One downside that must be kept in mind is the possibility that a presentation with multiple active surfaces could be distracting or hard to follow. However if used wisely it could help to engage audiences and make presentations more interactive. LightSpace is due to be demonstrated this week at the User Interface and Software Technology Conference in New York City.

Awareness! The Headphone App

Sometimes we just want to shut out the world around us and put on our headphones. Unfortunately this can be a dangerous move for pedestrians or cyclists. There have recently been a series of incidents where teenagers and cyclists have been hit by cars because they were listening to music with headphones in. Due to this a company called Essecny has released "Awareness! The Headphone App". This app will allow users to listen to music but will not completely block out other sounds, resulting in the person remaining safe and aware.

The application uses the built in microphone on the iPhone and iPod Touch to record and recognize outside sounds. Then once it determines the street level noise it will bleed in all louder noises through the headphones. No matter the volume level of the music the user will still be able to hear sirens, shouts, direct conversation or any other important sounds.

To avoid filtering in nearby conversations or other unnecessary sounds the user can manually adjust the microphone level. The user can also control what types of sounds they want to be interrupted by, such as car horns or train platform announcements-all without having to remove their headphones. While this app aims to create more street safety I wonder how effective it can actually be. I think this is a good starting point to work towards a higher level of street safety but I wouldn't depend on it entirely. In busier cities like New York it's pretty impossible to escape a cacophony of sounds so how would the device be able to distinguish from warning sounds and everything else going on around you? Or without compromising listening quality? Also if users can customize and pick and choose between what sounds they deem important then it almost defeats the purpose of the whole thing. Overall I think people just need to be more conscious of themselves at all times and if they want to use this app as additional security then that could prove helpful in some ways. Lastly, this app is only compatible with the iPhone 4, iPod Touch 3 and iPod Touch 4 which could prove somewhat limiting.