Amtrak readies conductors to trade in their hole punchers for iPhones

Pilots aren't the only ones updating their workflows with modern technology. Amtrak conductors have been getting schooled on how to use iPhones to scan passenger tickets on select routes since November -- forcing hole punches to collect dust on a lonely shelf at the station. By the latter part of this summer, 1,700 conductors will be using the aforementioned smartphones on the outfit's trains throughout the US which allows them to track passengers with more ease than manual ticketing. The $7.5 million system affords passengers the choice of printing the tickets or loading a bar code on their smartphone of choice before getting the iPhone's scan. Inside the dedicated app, riders can book and modify reservations easily without having to worry with a refund from an agent first. There's only one small hiccup: currently Amtrak's app is only available for iPhones. But, the government-owned corporation says that an Android release is in the hopper and should see daylight this fall. For now, non-iOS users must load their tickets though a mobile site in order to save a tree or two.

Amtrak readies conductors to trade in their hole punchers for iPhones originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 May 2012 13:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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15 Ways to Make Yourself a Better Computer User [Productivity]

You know what the slowest part of your computer is, the one that really holds you back? You. Our friends at Laptop Mag are here to teach you how to overclock yourself, including how much time you'll save—down to the second. More »

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Disney Research's Touch? system detects your touch on most things, even water (video)

Disney Research has announced some new touch interface technology that add extra gesture functionality to existing touchscreens and more exotic items like doorknobs and even the water's surface. Touché works by sensing capacitive signals across a range of frequencies -- whereas typical systems only pick up signal at a single frequency. This Swept Frequency Capacitive Sensing (SFCS) can recognize exactly how we interact with an object or surface, not limited to surface area differences. According to Disney Research, this could include embedding different commands for when a user pinches or grasps a hooked-up object. One proof of concept door knob allows it to be locked or display a "be right back" sign depending on exactly how it's handled. Get the full explanation -- and see some watery fingertip detection -- right after the break.

Continue reading Disney Research's Touch? system detects your touch on most things, even water (video)

Disney Research's Touch? system detects your touch on most things, even water (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 May 2012 05:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brain Scans Show What Dogs Are Actually Thinking About [Video]

It's human nature (and human folly) to pretend like we know what our dogs are actually thinking about. Oh, he's happy! Oh, he's tired! Oh, he loves this! That's not exactly a scientific way to look at things. Brain scans, however, are super scientific. So scanning the brains of dogs means its possible to know what dogs are really thinking. More »

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BlackBerry 10 to get video editor, screen sharing according to forum leak

The Blackberry 10 Dev Alpha we wrapped our mitts around last week didn't tell us much about RIM's big QNX-based OS update (being loaded with PlayBook OS 2.0 and all), but Crackberry forum user Biggulpseh seemingly has the deets that the folks in Waterloo weren't ready to reveal. So-called internal documents reportedly detail a tilt-senstive lock screen that pushes notifications to the user based on the device's movement (called "cinnamon toast"), a screen-sharing ability to ramp up the productivity of video calls and a robust video editor resulting from RIM's acquisition of JayCut last year. Biggulpseh says the images come from a "trusted source," and are part of a document that outlines upcoming features for the benefit of the firm's employees. Ready to dive in and let your imagination run wild? Hit the source links below, just don't forget your saliferous spices.

BlackBerry 10 to get video editor, screen sharing according to forum leak originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 May 2012 23:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Heavy Metal: The NSFW Fantasy Epic to Watch Instead of Game of Thrones [Video]

Are you one of those people who loves Game of Thrones but doesn't have HBO? Maybe instead you could try this SciFi classic from 1981 that put the N in NSFW animation. (Oh, come on, like you watch Game of Thrones for any other reason.) More »

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Goodbye La Nina: Will drought, hurricanes also go?

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The La Nina weather phenomenon is over. Forecasters say that's good news for the drought in the South and hurricane areas along the coasts.

The National Weather Service pronounced the two-year La Nina (NEEN'-yah) finished on Thursday. La Nina is the flip side of El Nino (NEEN'-yoh) and is caused by the cooling of the central Pacific Ocean. La Nina's greatest effects are in the winter, usually triggering drought in the U.S. South and more rain further north. It also often means more hurricane activity in the Atlantic during the summer. Global temperatures are cooler during La Ninas, especially in the tropics

Meteorologists reported some drought relief in Texas earlier this year. But recently drought conditions intensified again in parts of Texas and much of the Southeast.

Associated Press

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