From Engadget: Microsoft releases Robotics Developer Studio 4, bring your own Kinect

It’s been available in beta for a few months, but Microsoft has now made the final version of its Robotics Developer Studio 4 toolkit available for download. As before, it remains completely free, and it’s also now compatible with the release version of the Kinect for Windows SDK so you can build your own beverage-carrying robot like the one Microsoft shows off in the video after the break. Hit the links below to download the software or see a few more examples of what can be done with it.

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from Engadget

From Engadget: White House appoints Todd Park as new Chief Technology Officer

Oooh…  a Korean-American in the government?!  Even if it’s a tech-related position!
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The White House hasn’t wasted any time replacing the vacancy left by Aneesh Chopra, who recently stepped down as our nation’s first appointed Chief Technology Officer. Following in his well-accomplished footsteps is Todd Park, a federal employee who’s no stranger to the position at hand given his former role as CTO of the US Department of Health and Services. Park is credited with the launch of HealthCare.gov and is now tasked with “applying the newest technology and latest advances to make the Federal government work better for the American people.” While we’re sure those tasks don’t include setting up Sasha and Malia’s personal Pinterest accounts, he certainly has a long road ahead, dragging ‘ol Pennsylvania Avenue kicking and screaming into our digital age.

 

from Engadget

From Autoblog: Video: Translogic visits Switzerland to interview Jetman

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Translogic visits the Jetman

While we’re a little obsessed with cars here at Autoblog, our sister publication Translogic has a good habit of dispensing with terrestrial transportation entirely from time to time. This is one of those weeks, where the video crew has traveled to Switzerland – not to Geneva, but to Bex – to interview the Jetman, Yves Rossy.

Rossy is the first human to fly by means of a jet-powered wing. The Swiss pilot developed the wing over five years ago, and has since flown over the Alps, crossed the English Channel, and last year flew across the Grand Canyon.

Translogic has some great aerial footage of the Jetman, who proves to be a pretty funny interview as well. See the video belowto view all of it, in full HD.

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From Engadget: Vocre 2.0 for iOS brings live translation to video calls

Vocre 2.0 for iOS brings live translation to video calls

Let’s say you’ve just landed on home soil and happened to meet a charming partner during your stay abroad — yet your unrequited love is separated by a nasty language barrier. Sure, it didn’t seem to matter in the moment, but now that you’ve moved onto — you know — communication, you could use a bit of an assist. Thankfully, the folks at MyLanguage seem to have a worthwhile solution with the new Vocre 2.0 app for iOS. The software allows two individuals to engage in video chats in their native tongues, and the app removes the language barrier by providing translations (both text and spoken) on-the-fly. While Vocre 2.0 is currently in private beta, it’ll debut as a free, ad-supported application. Further, users may take advantage of paid, premium services that include on-demand human translation. You can follow a similar story of two young lovers in a video after the break. Think it’ll work out for ’em?

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from Engadget