Orbotix?s Sphero Is Rolling Into An Apple Store Near You

It's been a few months since Orbotix?s pearlescent smart ball finally started making its way out into the real world, and the team behind it has just announced that another major retailer will be carrying their slightly-pointless gadget. Move over, Brookstone -- the Sphero is now available in Apple?s online store and in a handful of their carefully-crafted altars of consumerism.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/IesF9R1ups4/

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Ultrabook sales up in first half of 2012, Windows 8 waits patiently

We've seen so much Ultrabook news recently we're beginning to think they're catching on. Market research firm the NPD Group has stepped in to confirm our suspicions, reporting a 39 percent jump in sales of premium Windows laptops (900 bucks and up) during the first five months of this year, compared with the same period in 2011. Despite a three percent drop in sales of $700-plus Windows notebooks, the Ultrabook share of this bracket increased steadily to nearly 11 percent. The analysts predict sales of these lower-end models will pick up as back-to-school purchases sooth the post-summer blues, with a general boost to the whole Ultrabook market expected when Windows 8 arrives. One thing the figures don't tell us is what impact these sales are having on the revenue of Apple's skinny flagship, but we'd sure like to know. If numbers are your thing, the PR is past the break.

Continue reading Ultrabook sales up in first half of 2012, Windows 8 waits patiently

Ultrabook sales up in first half of 2012, Windows 8 waits patiently originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jun 2012 07:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/29/ultrabook-sales-up/

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Even more goodies for 2013 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor buyers

The ultimate off-road pickup truck just got even better for 2013. Ford significantly improved certain aspects of the F-150 SVT Raptor starting with industry-first, forged aluminum wheels that can be upgraded after purchase to extra-capable beadlocks.

Other enhancements include powerful HID headlights, an 8'' centre touch screen with truck-specific MyFord Touch, a 4.2'' productivity screen mounted in the instrument cluster, plus a new Raptor-exclusive, camouflage-inspired body colour called Terrain.

''Ford F-150 SVT Raptor?s popularity continues to grow based on its proven reputation,'' said Ford SVT Chief Engineer Jamal Hameedi. ?It?s the ultimate high-performance off-road pickup, so it?s critical that we continue to push the boundaries of off-road capability.''

The 2013 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor relies on the same 411-horsepower 6.2L V8 engine. Pricing has yet to be announced.

Source: http://www.auto123.com/en/news/even-more-goodies-for-2013-ford-f-150-svt-raptor-buyers?artid=145064&utm_medium=feeds&utm_source=feed-HUBN&utm_campaign=feeds

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Departures Magazine: Travel Gadgets For Summer 2012 (PHOTOS)

Years ago summer was lo-fi -- a season more about escape than entertainment. Going on a vacation was easy, requiring little more than packing some clothes, grabbing the family and driving off to wherever the spirit moved you. There were no screens built into headrests or automated voices directing the way.

Travelers were almost completely unplugged.

That was another time, well before we lost our innocence to MP3 players and GPS systems, iPads and Kindles. Now, gadgets have become as much a part of our lives as our families (with the added benefit of volume control). So when it comes time to travel this summer, arm yourself with the right types of gadgetry -- whether you're headed to your backyard in the Hamptons or to a more far-flung destination.

Some of this season's best new items are simple improvements on older ones, like the HTC One cellphone from AT&T. It does everything a smartphone should, yet comes with a camera that's anything but an afterthought, capable of taking up to four shots per second. Then there are the more innovative options like the GoPro Hero02, a wearable HD camcorder that captures video from your perspective--no matter what adventure you've stumbled upon.

Some want a gadget that brings the vacation to them. Epson's new Home Cinema 5010e projector creates a drive-in backyard theater with a crisp 1080p high-definition picture instead of a washed-out image (it's like the difference between a perfect summer cocktail and a flat soda--no contest). Or, if vacationing means eating well, the high-tech, LED-loaded grill from Lynx will transform any barbecue into an advanced gourmet experience--though the cooking is still up to you.

Here's a closer look at our favorite summer gadgets that are fitting for whatever types of travel plans take shape this season.

--Curtis Peters

More slideshows from DEPARTURES:
-10 Amazing Summer Trips
-Let's Go Glamping!
-The World's Best New Museums

• Canon PowerShot Elph 520 HS 4

  At only three-quarters of an inch wide, the 520 HS 4 ($299) can fit easily into a shirt pocket. And with 10.1 megapixels, a 12X zoom and 1080p hi-definition video-recording capability, the camera can handle anything a vacation throws at it. Most impressive is the Elph?s ability to recognize faces in both video and still modes. Program in up to 12 faces, and the camera will recognize those instantly whenever they enter the frame, automatically focusing on them over anyone and anything else. Take a bad picture, and you have only yourself to blame. <a href="http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/digital_cameras/powershot_elph_520_hs_red" target="_hplink"><em>canonusa.com</em></a>

• Earhero Ear Buds

  Popping in headphones for a morning run can help you focus, but it can also keep you from hearing what?s happening around you. Earhero Ear Buds ($149), a technology that, until recently, was sold only to government security agencies, are big on sound but small enough to not fill the entire ear canal, which means you can listen to music while remaining aware of your surroundings. You could even carry on a conversation while wearing them, should you choose to tune in. <a href="http://earhero.com" target="_hplink"><em>earhero.com</em></a>

• Garmin N?vi 3590LMT

  Wherever you travel this summer, the N?vi 3590LMT ($380) will get you there. And thanks to its free lifetime digital 3-D traffic and map updates, it might even get you there faster than other navigation systems (especially if you have an Android phone, which the N?vi links to using its Internet connection to get traffic updates up to ten times more often than other receivers). The five-inch touch screen is easy to control by hand, but even easier?and safer?to regulate by voice. Just say menu options and the N?vi responds?while you keep your hands where they should be: at ten and two. <a href="http://garmin.com" target="_hplink"><em>garmin.com</em></a>

• GoPro Hero02

  This wearable video camera shoots 1080p hi-definition video and 11-megapixel stills, and is waterproof up to 200 feet. Available accessories let you strap the GoPro ($300) to your helmet or chest, or even to the roof of your car, so whether you?re zip-lining in Costa Rica, mountain biking in Colorado or snorkeling in Kauai, you can capture first-person video with the touch of a button. Talk about bringing ?wishing you were here? to life. <a href="http://gopro.com" target="_hplink"><em>gopro.com</em></a>

• HTC One X Smartphone

  It doesn?t matter how good your camera is if you don?t have it with you. Luckily, the HTC One smartphone ($199) is never far. It snaps eight-megapixel shots?as many as four per second, thanks to an innovative burst mode. (Taking four times as many pictures means the chances of getting a good shot are four times greater.) Plus, the One has aperture settings up to F 2.0, which is great for low light and gives you the ability to take beautiful artistic shots?without the need for Instagram filters. <a href="http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phone-details/?device=HTC+One+%28TM%29+X+-+Gray&q_sku=sku5980289#fbid=bib0GVhiN_L" target="_hplink"><em>att.com</em></a>

• Lynx 54-Inch Free-Standing Grill

  When you travel to your backyard this summer, what better centerpiece is there than a tech-savvy, professional-grade barbecue grill? Although it can?t improve your cooking, this model from Lynx ($9,119) can make it easier, with 1,555 square inches of grilling surface, LED-illuminated controls, built-in halogens to light up everything and both a rotisserie and a smoker, should you happen to feel adventurous. Plus, a feature called hood-assist lets you lift the 40-pound hood with a single finger, leaving your other hand free to handle important tasks, like holding a drink. <a href="http://lynxgrills.com/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=20" target="_hplink"><em>lynxgrills.com</em></a>

• Petzl Nao Headlamp

  The Nao ($175) brings predictive technology to camping, using sensors to automatically adjust brightness and beam width based on light conditions and the angle of your head. This makes for better functionality and hugely improved battery life. The beam narrows when focused on a map, conserving energy and directing light just where you want it. Look back up at the trail and the beam widens, lighting up everything ahead. <a href="http://www.petzl.com/us/outdoor/headlamps/nao/nao-headlamp" target="_hplink"><em>petzl.com</em></a>

• Sony PlayStation Vita

  Even if you don?t play video games, it?s hard not to want to after trying the PlayStation Vita ($300). The five-inch OLED screen is exceptionally bright and vivid, so you?ll be as fascinated with the images here as you were when you first experienced HDTV. It has built-in 3G connectivity and WiFi for online gaming, or a game can be started on a PlayStation at home, paused and continued on the Vita. It has obligatory apps for the likes of Facebook, Netflix and Foursquare, but you?ll be hooked on the fun and the games?even if you aren?t ready to admit it yet. <a href="http://us.playstation.com/psvita/" target="_hplink"><em>sony.com</em></a>

?

Follow Departures Magazine on Twitter: www.twitter.com/departuresmag

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UAD&D: The Critter of Clay Spell Chain, part two

Mage Level Variations

Permanent Creature of Clay
SPELL TYPE: Level four mage spell

SCHOOLS: Enchantment
ELEMENTS: Earth
RANGE: Touch
COMPONENTS: M
DURATION: 1 hour per level
CASTING TIME: 1 round
AREA OF EFFECT: 1 ounce of clay
SAVING THROW: None
SOURCE: Unknown
HANDEDNESS: W
INQUEST STATUS: Approved

SPELL DESCRIPTION: This spell is identical to Creature of Clay, only the creature is permanent.

Brute of Brick
SPELL TYPE: Level five mage spell

SCHOOLS: Enchantment
ELEMENTS: Earth
RANGE: Touch
COMPONENTS: M
DURATION: 1 hour per level
CASTING TIME: 1 round
AREA OF EFFECT: 500lbs of earth or clay
SAVING THROW: None
SOURCE: Unknown
HANDEDNESS: W
INQUEST STATUS: Approved

SPELL DESCRIPTION: An improvement of Creature of Clay, Brute of Brick creates a creature made of no more than 500 pounds of clay, stone, bricks or earth that has the ability to move as if alive, with a beast-of-burden level intelligence, being able to move where directed, fetch or carry an object of no more than half its weight, follow very simple commands or otherwise move, although it cannot attack. The mage rolls a spellcraft check (or [(Dex+INT)/2]-5 if the mage lacks spellcraft) when creating the creature, with a bonus of 2 given for artistic ability: sculpture, sculpture and/or imbue, and a +1 for any other relevant skills, such as pottery, create magic items or others the DM feels are appropriate. If the spellcraft check fails, the creature never comes to ?life,?and a high but not perfect roll will create a more mobile and believable critter. If the spellcraft roll is perfect (a modified 1) the creature will be permanent. A natural roll of 1 should be rewarded with a creature with both permanency and an improved intelligence, able follow more complex orders. Otherwise, the creature should be considered to have intelligence similar to a donkey. The material component of this spell is a pile of stone, brick, dirt or clay or other moldable media, including those manufactured by spells like ?Craft Steel Vessel.? Brute of Brick can be rendered permanent with Permanency. Although they cannot be commanded to fight, for purposes of AC, magic resistances and the rest, a Brute of Brick should be considered an 8HD earth elemental. If commanded to fight, the Brute of Brick will just cease moving, confused about its orders.

?

Man of Marl
SPELL TYPE: Level Seven Mage Spell

SCHOOLS: Enchantment
ELEMENTS: Earth
RANGE: Touch
COMPONENTS: M
DURATION: 1 hour per level
CASTING TIME: 1 round
AREA OF EFFECT: 1500 lbs of earth or clay
SAVING THROW: None
SOURCE: Unknown
HANDEDNESS: W
INQUEST STATUS: Approved

SPELL DESCRIPTION: An improvement of Brute of Brick, Man of Marl creates a creature made of no more than 1500 pounds of clay, stone, bricks or earth that has the ability to move as if alive, with a war dog level intelligence, being able to move where directed, fetch or carry an object of no more than half its weight, follow very simple commands or otherwise move, and attack or defend an area. The mage rolls a spellcraft check (or [(Dex+INT)/2]-5 if the mage lacks spellcraft) when creating the creature, with a bonus of 2 given for artistic ability: sculpture, sculpture and/or imbue, and a +1 for any other relevant skills, such as pottery, create magic items or others the DM feels are appropriate. If the spellcraft check fails, the creature never comes to ?life,?and a high but not perfect roll will create a more mobile and believable critter. If the spellcraft roll is perfect (a modified 1) the creature will be permanent. A natural roll of 1 should be rewarded with a creature with both permanency and an improved intelligence, able follow more complex orders. Otherwise, the creature should be considered to have intelligence similar to a smart dog. The material component of this spell is a pile of stone, brick, dirt or clay or other moldable media, including those manufactured by spells like ?Craft Steel Vessel.? Man of Marl can be rendered permanent with Permanency. For purposes of AC, magic resistances and the rest, a Man of Marl should be considered a 12HD earth elemental, although a well-sculpted Man of Marl will be closer to a stone golem in appearance.

Capstone Spell:

Argil Idol
SPELL TYPE: Level Nine Mage Spell

SCHOOLS: Enchantment
ELEMENTS: Earth
RANGE: Touch
COMPONENTS: M
DURATION: 1 hour per level
CASTING TIME: 1 round
AREA OF EFFECT: 1 ton of clay
SAVING THROW: None
SOURCE: Unknown
HANDEDNESS: W
INQUEST STATUS: Approved

SPELL DESCRIPTION: An improvement of Brute of Brick, Argil Idol creates a creature made of no more than one ton of clay, stone, bricks or earth that has the ability to move as if alive, with a war dog level intelligence, being able to move where directed, fetch or carry an object of no more than half its weight, follow very simple commands or otherwise move, and attack or defend an area. The mage rolls a spellcraft check (or [(Dex+INT)/2]-5 if the mage lacks spellcraft) when creating the creature, with a bonus of 2 given for artistic ability: sculpture, sculpture and/or imbue, and a +1 for any other relevant skills, such as pottery, create magic items or others the DM feels are appropriate. If the spellcraft check fails, the creature never comes to ?life,?and a high but not perfect roll will create a more mobile and believable critter. If the spellcraft roll is perfect (a modified 1) the creature will be permanent. A natural roll of 1 should be rewarded with a creature with both permanency and an improved intelligence, able follow more complex orders. Otherwise, the creature should be considered to have intelligence similar to a smart horse. The material component of this spell is a pile of stone, brick, dirt or clay or other moldable media, including those manufactured by spells like ?Craft Steel Vessel.? Argil Idol can be rendered permanent with Permanency. For purposes of AC, magic resistances and the rest, a Argil Idol should be considered a 16HD earth elemental, although a well-sculpted Argil Idol will be closer to a stone golem in appearance.

?

?

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Pacers part ways with Larry Bird

Larry Bird talks about stepping down as president of the Indiana Pacers during an announcement by the NBA basketball team in Indianapolis, Wednesday, June 27, 2012. Donnie Walsh was named as president and Kevin Pritchard as general manager. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Larry Bird talks about stepping down as president of the Indiana Pacers during an announcement by the NBA basketball team in Indianapolis, Wednesday, June 27, 2012. Donnie Walsh was named as president and Kevin Pritchard as general manager. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Donnie Walsh, right, gestures during a news conference after being named president of the Indiana Pacers, as owner Herb Simon listens during an announcement by the NBA basketball team in Indianapolis, Wednesday, June 27, 2012. Walsh will replacs Larry Bird as president and Kevin Pritchard was named as general manager. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Larry Bird leaves the stage after announcing that he is stepping down as president of the Indiana Pacers at a news conference by the NBA basketball team in Indianapolis, Wednesday, June 27, 2012. Donnie Walsh was named as president and Kevin Pritchard as general manager. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Kevin Pritchard, left, talks about his role as the new general manger of the Indiana Pacers as Larry Bird listens during an announcement by the NBA basketball team in Indianapolis, Wednesday, June 27, 2012. Bird stepped down as president of the team and will be replaced by Donnie Walsh. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Larry Bird, right, talks about stepping down as president of the Indiana Pacers as new general manager Kevin Pritchard listens during an announcement by the NBA basketball team in Indianapolis, Wednesday, June 27, 2012. Donnie Walsh was named as president. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) ? Larry Bird is calling it quits with the Indiana Pacers.

Bird, perhaps the most respected and beloved basketball figure in a state obsessed with the sport, will leave his job as the Pacers' president of basketball operations at the end of August. He spent four years building the team into an Eastern Conference contender and was this season's NBA executive of the year, but is instead moving on after saying just a month ago that he was willing to stay.

Bird said health issues were among the reasons for his departure. He said he may need shoulder surgery and cited longstanding issues with his back.

"I just think it's time," he said at a news conference Wednesday as the team announced an executive reorganization.

Bird said was prepared to leave last year with the organization headed in the right direction. He and owner Herb Simon had discussed his eventual departure for a few years. Bird also said that payroll issues with the small-market Pacers did not affect his decision.

"(Simon) knows to get to the next level we're going to spend some money," Bird said. "Every time I went to Herb about a player or about money to spend, he questioned it. And he should. At the end of the day, he always said go ahead and do what you have to do to make this team better. That's the support you need. ... We're going to spend money."

Bird said he plans to take a year off and get healthy before he evaluates his situation. He did not rule out a return to basketball. Owning a team used to be a goal, but he said he no longer has that interest.

Simon said he had hoped to keep Bird, who will stay on for the draft when the Pacers are scheduled to pick No. 26 overall in the first round Thursday night. His contract expires Aug. 30.

"I feel sad (with) the announcement that Larry's going to be leaving us," said Simon, who continued to talk to Bird about staying as late as Monday. "Larry could have stayed here as long as he wants, but he has his own reasons. The Pacers organization appreciates everything he's done for us in his nine years. We wish him the very best and hope that we can still be associated with him in the coming years."

The 55-year-old Bird was the Pacers coach from 1997-2000, taking the team to its only NBA Finals appearance that final year before he returned to the team's front office in 2003. He took full control as president of basketball decisions after the 2007-08 season, when Donnie Walsh left to become the New York Knicks' president.

Walsh is returning as the Pacers' president. Kevin Pritchard, the director of player personnel, is being promoted to general manager, replacing David Morway, who resigned Tuesday. Walsh said he won't travel the country to evaluate collegiate prospects, leaving that to Pritchard.

Simon first seriously talked to Walsh about the job two weeks ago.

"It was a good fit," Walsh said. "When Larry decided to go, it was easy for Herb to look at me and I felt natural in coming back here. I had gotten used to, hey, maybe I won't do it again. So, I had to rethink that again. "(I would have been interested in another team) only if it was a real situation for me where I knew I'd fit. I'm not just throwing my name out for jobs. I wouldn't do that."

Bird had said just a month ago that he wanted to stay and expressed interest in a three-year deal rather than the annual "handshake" agreements he had with Simon.

It wasn't to be, and now the Pacers will look to continue their resurgence. Under Bird, the Pacers went 36-46 in 2008-09 and 32-50 in 2009-10 and then, two seasons ago, the Pacers were 17-27 when Bird fired coach Jim O'Brien in what proved to be a spark.

Interim coach Frank Vogel then took a young team with core players Danny Granger, Roy Hibbert, Tyler Hansbrough and Darren Collison and guided it to the playoffs. The Pacers challenged the Chicago Bulls before losing the first-round series 4-1. This year, Indiana beat Orlando easily in the first round before falling to eventual champion Miami in six games.

Bird, of course, is as well known in Indiana as John Wooden or Bob Knight. The former Indiana State star from tiny French Lick won three MVP awards and three NBA titles during his Hall of Fame career with Boston.

As the Pacers' president, he took a franchise humbled by the brawl between Pacers players and Pistons fans in 2004, made a series of difficult trades to get rid of troublemakers, rebuilt through the draft and returned the Pacers to the Eastern Conference semifinals this season. It was Indiana's deepest postseason run in seven years.

The franchise with a tarnished image is now one of the league's most promising teams despite its small-market status. Bird built the team the old-fashioned way ? by drafting players (Paul George and Hansbrough) and developing them through the team structure, making shrewd decisions to trade for others (George Hill and Collison) and finding affordable free agents (David West).

The Pacers, well under the salary cap, are expected to be a significant player in free agency.

___

Freelance writers Kareem Copeland and Cliff Brunt in Indianapolis contributed to this report.

Associated Press

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Feds: For-profits could lose federal student aid

Former students in career-training programs at dozens of for-profit institutions have had so much trouble paying off their loans that the schools could lose access to federal student aid if they don't improve, new data from the U.S. Department of Education finds.

The Education Department reported that at 193 programs at 93 schools, students were unable to meet any of three measures under the agency's new "gainful employment" rule. The new regulations, announced by the Obama administration last year, are aimed at making sure students in career-training programs at for-profit, nonprofit and public institutions are able to get a job and pay off their student loans when they graduate.

The programs include Everest College's paralegal training in Salt Lake City and more than 40 other programs operated by Corinthian Colleges, one of the nation's largest higher education companies; chef training at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Austin, Texas; and the medical assistant program at Sanford-Brown College in McLean, Va.

"Career colleges have a responsibility to prepare people for jobs at a price they can afford," Education Secretary Arne Duncan said. "Schools that cannot meet these very reasonable standards are on notice: invest in your students' success, or taxpayers can no longer invest in you."

The Education Department considers former students "gainfully employed" if the program they participated in meets one of three metrics: The estimated annual loan payments for a typical graduate does not exceed 30 percent of his or her discretionary income or 12 percent of total earnings; or at least 35 percent of former students are repaying their loans.

"These aren't the strictest standards to live up to," said Stephen Burd, a senior policy analyst at the New America Foundation, a nonpartisan public policy institute. That there are programs at 93 schools that don't meet any of the three "should raise alarms, and the fact we aren't doing anything about them for a long while from now is worrisome."

Twelve percent of all students in higher education attend a for-profit institution, yet they represent 46 percent of all student loan dollars in default. While students who attend community colleges usually do not have to borrow money to enroll, the median federal student loan debt for a student earning an associate's degree at a for-profit was $14,000.

Meanwhile, for more than a quarter of for-profit schools, 80 percent of their revenue consists of federal student aid, the Department of Education said in announcing the finalized rule last year.

The department estimated 8 percent of all career programs would fail to meet the three benchmarks at some point in time, while only 2 percent would eventually lose student aid eligibility.

The data being released Wednesday covers 3,695 programs in 1,335 schools over a two-year period. Of those, 35 percent met all three measurements; 31 percent met two; 29 percent met one and 5 percent did not meet any of the three metrics.

Burd said many had expected the number who failed all three of the benchmarks to be much higher. Nonetheless, he said the data raises serious questions about the quality of training that students are receiving at institutions that didn't meet any of the benchmarks.

"If we're seeing they're failing all three metrics and we're not taking any action related to that, it's putting students in harm's way," he said.

All of the data to be released Wednesday is strictly for informational purposes and to give the schools an opportunity to review and work on improving their student outcomes, the department said. Enforcement will begin this fall, though schools would need to fail for three out of four years in order to lose access to federal student aid.

___

Follow Christine Armario on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cearmario

Associated Press

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