Daniel

Google’s augmented reality glasses are said to look a lot like the Thump MP3 player glasses from Oakley.Google is working on pair of augmented reality glasses running on Android, set for release later this year, according to the New York Times, which quoted unnamed company employees. The glasses are meant to work like a heads-up-display that analyzes and displays information for the wearer, priced somewhere between $250 and $600.

The glasses will have a built-in low-resolution camera that will look at what the wearer is seeing and then overlay information about nearby buildings and friends -- a bit like the glasses in the Terminator movies. They’re not designed for constant wear though, more like a smartphone, used when needed. Google is also apparently not thinking about potential business models, as the glasses are more of an experiment.

Almost a year after the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet was introduced, Research In Motion has delivered a new OS that brings a native e-mail client to the device. PlayBook OS 2.0 is probably what the first iteration of the tablet should have been, but a year later, the improvements might not be enough for the device to succeed.

Initial reviews of the 7-inch BlackBerry Playbook did not criticize the device’s hardware; it was the software that was the problem. A tablet from a company known for its e-mail communication services lacked a native e-mail client, a healthy app ecosystem, and even a potentially killer feature that was promised: the ability to run Android apps.

The latest update to the Google Maps app for Android introduces Latitude Leaderboards, a feature that gives you points for every check-in, just like Foursquare. The update was pushed over the weekend in the Android Market and builds on Latitude, Google’s less popular location service.

Google didn’t make much noise about the feature, which is briefly documented in the Google Maps app support page, and available only to Android users so far -- the iOS version of the app does not have Latitude Leaderboards yet. If you already downloaded the updated app, you need to check-in to a location first to see the Leaderboard.

Netflix's DVD-only subscription plan is back, available now for $8 monthly. The move is aimed at appeasing disgruntled former customers who ditched Netflix last year, after the company tried to steer customers towards streaming-only and separated its DVD-by-mail and streaming services, charging a minimum $8 per month for each instead of $10 per month for both.

Santosh Hegde, director of DVD engineering at Neflix, said in a blog post: “Our DVD and Blu-Ray loving audience can now easily sign up for a DVD only plan. Starting at just $7.99 pet month, you can enjoy around 100,000 titles on DVD. We are also offering a one month free trial for eligible customers.”

Apple is eating dirt over how iOS apps share your data with publishers, primarily personal address books harvested by a certain company named Path. But is Google any better with the way Android apps behave? We asked the app experts.

The verdict? “Yes” with a gaping caveat.

The latest version of the Google+ app for iPhone brings instant photo uploads, a cool feature previously available only to Android users. Once enabled, Instant Upload will automatically send your photos and videos to a private Google+ album, from where you can pick which ones you’ll share with the world.

The updated Google+ iOS app is now available in the App Store. After you install the update and log in, the app will ask you whether you want to enable Instant Upload, either via Wi-Fi only, or via 3G when available. Note that any photos and videos taken with the iOS camera app or third-party apps like Instagram are uploaded to a private folder on your Google+ profile.

Apple’s next version of the iPad will feature 4G LTE connectivity on both Verizon Wireless and AT&T, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The device, dubbed the iPad 3, is expected to be unveiled March 7 and may come with a higher-resolution display and a quad-core chip.

Apple is quiet as usual on the new iteration of the iPad, but next month the iPad 2 will be one year old and an updated version is expected from the company. Last year, the iPad 2 was launched on March 2. It has since sold more than 43 million, maintaining Apple’s position as market leader despite a flurry of rival Android tablets.

Samsung's first tablet running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the Galaxy Tab 2 announced today, succeeds the original 7-inch Galaxy Tab with little change besides the latest software.

Don’t expect anything groundbreaking in the specs department: the Galaxy Tab 2 runs on a 1GHz dual-core processor, with 1GB of RAM and a 7-inch display with a 1024 by 600 pixels resolution. It has a 3-megapixel camera at the back and a front-facing VGA camera on the front for video calls. The Tab 2 is 0.41 inches (10.5 mm) thick and weighs 0.75 pounds (344 grams), compared to the iPad 2’s 0.34 inches (8.8 mm) thickness and 1.32 pounds (601 grams) weight.

YouTube app grouping video types (click to enlarge)

Google is updating the YouTube app for Google TV owners this week, promising performance improvements and easier ways to discover videos you like.

Google quietly announced the refresh on Sunday. The revamped app will be available as an update in the Android Market.

Digital cameras may be advanced, but by definition they're missing one key ingredient that has long given photographers lots of creative options and control: film. And that's exactly what DxO hopes to reintroduce into images with its FilmPack 3.1.

Photographers used to choose specific “emulsions” (types of film) for a particular grain, color response, contrast, or saturation, or to create a certain look or style. To take this even further, photographers knew they could intensify particular characteristics depending on how they processed the film. Sometimes, they’d even purposely use the wrong chemicals (cross-process) for an extra punch of unexpected colors.