Microsoft demos vocal translator at TechFest 2012, uses your own dulcet tones (video)

Microsoft has demonstrated new software that can pull together real-time multilingual vocal translations using your own voice. Monolingual TTS currently handles 26 different languages, although it's not instant just yet -- it takes about an hour of training to get the experimental software acquainted with your own utterances. Demonstrated at Microsoft's TechFest 2012 showcase, the software can even mix up foreign language pronunciation of place names with directions in your native tongue. It also complements those efforts with a 3D image of your head, animating your lips along to the foreign words you'd otherwise butcher. See how an algorithm-educated floating head handles Mandarin -- and how it's all done -- right after the break.

Continue reading Microsoft demos vocal translator at TechFest 2012, uses your own dulcet tones (video)

Microsoft demos vocal translator at TechFest 2012, uses your own dulcet tones (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Mar 2012 08:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/12/microsoft-demos-vocal-translator-at-techfest-2012-uses-your-own/

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Shot Shot Pirate is a fun, simple physics game

shotshotpirate
Shot Shot Pirate is very satisfying, because each level is short and to the point. You know what you have to do and you just do it.

As you may have gathered from the name, you're cast in the role of a pirate. Your goal is to shoot at a diamond and make it fall off a tower of bricks. The height of the tower changes as you progress through the levels. It's not enough to just make the diamond fall off the tower of bricks - it has to fall below a certain line (drawn on the screen) for the level to be completed.

There are also different kinds of bricks, with some heavier than others, and different kinds of ammo. You only get a certain amount of ammo for each level, and when it's gone, you lose. But don't worry! If you don't make it on the first try, it's very easy to restart the level and just give it another shot (or three).

All in all it's a cute game. I've seen similar games with better graphics and music, but the game delivers on its main promise - a few minutes of pure time wasting!

Shot Shot Pirate is a fun, simple physics game originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/02/24/shot-shot-pirate-is-a-fun-simple-physics-game/

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Internet Explorer 9 nears 4% share on Windows 7, IE6 extinction countdown picks up steam

internet explorer 9 ie9
Microsoft has shared some news about the state of its most and least loved Web browsers -- Internet Explorer 9 and 6, respectively. Even with IE9 only recently exiting beta, Microsoft reports that 3.6% of Windows 7 users are now running the new browser (no mention of Vista... what's with that?). The post also reveals that the adoption rate is almost five times what IE8 garnered in the early going.

It's also interesting to note that there are now more than 1,000 sites utilizing Internet Explorer 9's Windows 7 integration features -- like the new desktop notification support we showed you in Hotmail.

But perhaps the best news of all is that Microsoft's IE6countdown.com now has more than 400 partners and is generating nearly two million pageviews per month, helping to lure users away from the woefully out-of-date browser. Can the end come soon enough, DS readers?

Internet Explorer 9 nears 4% share on Windows 7, IE6 extinction countdown picks up steam originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/01/internet-explorer-9-nears-4-share-on-windows-7-ie6-extinction/

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Classic Shell now makes Internet Explorer 9 look like IE8

classic shell make windows 7 look like xp
If you used Windows XP for a long time (who didn't?), one of the biggest changes when moving to Windows 7 or Vista was the massively-altered Explorer. While the new Explorer introduces some useful new features, it also removed just as many -- which is where Classic Shell comes in!

We've covered Classic Shell before, but here's the crib note: Classic Shell restores almost every Windows XP-era Explorer feature. The best change, in our opinion, is the reemergence of the 'up' arrow, meaning you now navigate without using the Windows Vista/7 'breadcrumbs' address bar. The status bar yet again shows the total size of your selection, and -- praise be! -- the diabolical Windows 7 Copy File 'copy and replace?' dialog has been replaced with a Windows XP lookalike (image after the break).

New to the most recent version of Classic Shell is the ability to make IE9 look like IE8. With Classic Shell the title bar yet again has a caption, so you can see the full title of Web pages. The current security zone and loading progress indicator have been put back into the status bar, too. If you enable 'Show tabs on a separate row,' it's almost like using IE8.

Finally, Classic Shell replaces the omnipotent Windows 7 Start Menu with the age-old 'classic' Windows 2000/XP-style Start Menu. Classic Shell makes the Start Menu skinable, too, if you're into the kind of thing.

As awesome as it sounds, we've only touched on a small section of Classic Shell's feature set. Check the Classic Shell site for a complete list. There's a few more images of Classic Shell in action after the break.

Download Classic Shell for Windows

Continue reading Classic Shell now makes Internet Explorer 9 look like IE8

Classic Shell now makes Internet Explorer 9 look like IE8 originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/04/classic-shell-makes-windows-explorer-and-ie9-look-like-their-anc/

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Scout Willis' Shocking Twitter Feed Really a Class Project

Bruce Willis and Demi Moore's middle daughter Scout was exposed as the person behind a controversial Twitter account featuring angst-ridden posts about privilege, money, drugs and general unhappiness.

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/scout-willis-shocking-twitter-feed-was-really-class-project/1-a-434663?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Ascout-willis-shocking-twitter-feed-was-really-class-project-434663

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Hands-On With iPhoto for iOS: Far From Picture-Perfect

After announcing the new iPad will feature the same awesome camera found in the iPhone 4S, Apple celebrated the immediate availability of iPhoto for iOS. The new app has separate iPad and iPhone iterations, and while one shows potential, the other makes you want to give up photography altogether.

Source: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/03/hands-on-with-iphoto-for-ios-far-from-picture-perfect/

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Join iMore in celebrating the new iPad launch with special edition t-shirts!

iMore and the Mobile Nations team will be giving out tons of special edition, collectors item t-shirts during next week's launch of the new iPad, but for those who don't live close by, we wanted to make sure you could be part of the fun as well!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/tZPlv9IlD9E/story01.htm

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ITG xpPhone 2 hands-on: Windows 7 on a smartphone

We got a little worried when ITG missed its January unveiling for the xpPhone 2, but yesterday, this Windows 7-powered smartphone finally made its debut public appearance in Guangzhou, and we happened to be there to scoop up a demo unit. Since we last came across the second-gen xpPhone, its ambitious Chinese manufacturer has dished out more detailed specs: the 17.5mm-thick device comes with a 4.3-inch 800 x 480 LCD made by Sharp, multitouch input, an Intel Atom Z5xx series processor up to 2GHz, up to 2GB of RAM, up to 112GB of SSD made by Silicon Storage Technology, microSD expansion and a multipurpose HDMI Micro socket (not HDMI Mini as we mistakenly said in our video after the break) that takes care of video, audio, data (USB 2.0) and power. Read on to find out what we think of this weird creature.

Continue reading ITG xpPhone 2 hands-on: Windows 7 on a smartphone

ITG xpPhone 2 hands-on: Windows 7 on a smartphone originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 11 Mar 2012 15:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/GghNPK9reYk/

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Usher And David Guetta 'Proud' Of 'Without You'

'When you see R&B and pop and house, as well as electronic, come together, that's the reality of what music is,' Usher tells MTV News.
By Jocelyn Vena, with additional reporting by Jim Cantiello

<P>When Usher and David Guetta hooked up for the French DJ's latest album, <i>Nothing but the Beat,</i> the two superstars created a chart-topping smash, "Without You," that combines Guetta's ear for house beats and Usher's ability to convey a range of emotions with his voice. It's a song that has really stuck with fans of all genres of music. </P><P> </P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" id="vid:713197" width="240" height="211"></div><p> </P><P> </P><P>The track &#8212; a swirling pop ode to not giving up on love in the face of adversity &#8212; struck Usher with its emotional core. </P><P> </P><P>"David Guetta is an amazing artist," he told MTV News last week at a Pencils of Promise charity event. "We talked for many years about working together, and we found a record that was incredible." </P><P> </P><P>Usher said it was a song that resonated with him personally. "I think the world wanted a record like that. That [song] really spoke to the journey that I've actually been on in the last three years," he said. "Traveling all around the world, music sounds different. There's many different genres, and when you see R&B and pop and house, as well as electronic, come together, that's the reality of what music is." </P><P> </P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" id="vid:688619" width="240" height="211"></div><p> </P><P> </P><P>When MTV News talked to Guetta on the American Music Awards red carpet Sunday, he said "Without You" is a standout track on the album. The LP dropped earlier this year and also includes Nicki Minaj, who performed with Guetta at the AMAs. </P><P> </P><P>"It's one of my favorite songs," he said. "It's just, I'm a DJ, so I want to make people dance always, but I also want to give emotions. When it comes to that, 'Without You' is probably one of the most emotional songs that I've done, and yes, I'm very proud of that record." </P><P> </P><P><i>What do you think about "Without You"? Share your reviews in the comments!</i></p>

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1674782/usher-david-guetta-without-you.jhtml "> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1674782/usher-david-guetta-without-you.jhtml

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