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Ubuntu 11.10 will be called Oneiric Ocelot

Canonical, proving yet again that its idea of prime bed time reading is leafing through a thesaurus, has officially named Ubuntu 11.10 as 'Oneiric Ocelot'. Feature-wise, there is nothing new to report: 11.10 will introduce Qt support, and the Unity 2D window manager for low-power devices.

Mark Shuttleworth, the founder of Canonical, has a fantastic blog post that discusses how the developers of Ubuntu arrived at Oneiric Ocelot. Oddball Octopus was almost chosen, because it has been eight years since Ubuntu was first conceived. Osculant Orangutan was mooted too, due to the welcoming nature of the Ubuntu community.

The ocelot, which is a cute wild cat, was eventually chosen -- apparently because it represents the "discipline" that will be needed to drive innovation in Ubuntu 11.10. Oneiric, if you're wondering (leave a comment if you've ever used 'oneiric' in conversation), means 'dreamy.'

In other news, Ubuntu 11.04 Natty Narwhal, which is due to be released in April, recently reached Alpha 3.

Ubuntu 11.10 will be called Oneiric Ocelot originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Smithsonian captures 201,000 wild photos with automated cameras

We have this big, fang-filled, claw-sharpened big cat all up in our grill thanks to the researchers at the Smithsonian, who have created a new database filled with over 201,000 pictures of elusive animals in their natural habitats. These candid shots were made possible with motion-activated automated cameras scattered around the world, and feature over 200 species of birds and mammals, and here's most impressive part -- these photos are au naturel. That's right... there's no editing here, these are untouched raw shots straight from the rain forests of places like Peru and China -- which allow us to see these magnificent creatures as scientists do. If you want more info or desire to check out these wild photos, hop over to the source link or check out the gallery below.

Gallery: Smithsonian Wild caught on camera

Smithsonian captures 201,000 wild photos with automated cameras originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 17:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Researchers experiment with drug-delivering robot... implanted in an eye

If the notion of a tiny robot swimming around in your eye leaves you a bit uneasy then, well, you might want to stop right here. For the rest of you, though, you may be interested in some new tests now being conducted by Michael Kummer and his team of researchers at the Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems in Zurich, Switzerland. What you're looking at above is a pig's eye, and the tiny black spec near the top is a microbot that's able to roam around the eye with the aid of an electromagnetic system. While things are still obviously very early, the researchers say the microbots could eventually be used to precisely deliver drugs in humans, and treat issues like macular degeneration. Head on past the break for the video.

Continue reading Researchers experiment with drug-delivering robot... implanted in an eye

Researchers experiment with drug-delivering robot... implanted in an eye originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 16:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Warner Bros. renting movies on Facebook for $3

Warner Bros., finding yet another corner piece of the Social Networking Jigsaw, has begun renting movies on Facebook for 30 Facebook Credits, or $3.

The films are packaged as apps -- like FarmVille and CityVille -- but it really is as simple as heading to a page, using 30 Credits, and watching the movie. You can watch the movie as many times as you like for 48 hours, after which the rental terminates. You can stop and start the movie whenever you like, too.

Facebook Credits, if they somehow passed you by (there must be a few people who don't play FarmVille, right?) are Facebook's new all-encompassing currency. Every virtual good transaction (such as in-app purchases, or renting a movie) must use Facebook Credits. Facebook, like Apple, takes a 30% cut of all purchases with Credits.

For now, the only movie available to rent on Facebook is Batman: The Dark Knight, but more should begin to appear soon. If you 'Like' a movie, you should see a status update when it becomes available to rent (see the Dark Knight page for an example).

Warner Bros. renting movies on Facebook for $3 originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EX trike powered by dual electric screwdrivers, designed by eccentrics

We've seen some pretty wild-looking means of transportation in our day -- the FOF-inducing BMW Flymag concept and Airbike 3D-printed nylon bicycle, for example -- and now comes a vehicle that practically defies description: the EX. In what can only be described as over-engineering run amok, this custom-built three-wheeler is powered by two electric screwdrivers and can hurtle one brave soul headfirst down the road at speeds up to 30km/h (almost 19mph for those using real units of measure). The joint connecting the front and rear portions of the frame lets riders steer with "organically floating movement" that leans the driver into every turn -- hopefully the handling is a bit more predictable than the trike's design. So, if you're lining up to buy one in a parallel universe, there's just one question left to answer... Philips or flat-head?

EX trike powered by dual electric screwdrivers, designed by eccentrics originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 06:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft's OneVision Video Recognizer can detect, identify, and track your face on video... so smile!

Here's your classic case of "just because you can, doesn't mean you should." Microsoft's Innovation Labs have just demonstrated a OneVision Video Recognizer algorithm that's powerful enough to perform face detection duties on a running video feed. It can recognize and track humanoid visages even while they're moving, accept tags that allow auto-identification of people as they enter the frame, and can ultimately lead to some highly sophisticated video editing and indexing via its automated information gathering. Of course, it's that very ease with which it can keep a watchful eye on everyone that has us feeling uneasy right now, but what are you gonna do? Watch the video after the break, that's what.

Continue reading Microsoft's OneVision Video Recognizer can detect, identify, and track your face on video... so smile!

Microsoft's OneVision Video Recognizer can detect, identify, and track your face on video... so smile! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 10:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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