iPad and cylindrical mirror used to create optical illusions

With the use of the iPad's multi-touch capability and a cylindrical mirror, the research group at the Ochanomizu Women's University has managed to come up with a pretty cool all-round display capable of creating mirror optical illusions. By using the iPad to project 2D visuals onto the cylindrical mirror they managed to create the illusion of a 3D object that can be rotated with the mirror. This technology, called Anamorphicons (a portmanteau of anamorphosis and icon) gives users a full 360 degree view of the object that's shown on the iPad's display.

The research team plans to use this technology in shopping sites to make them more user-friendly though I can picture them being used better in games - especially for special puzzles that will require the cylindrical mirror and the iPad.

Codify: Write and Run Software on the iPad

For a consumption-only device, the iPad sure is good at making things

The iPad is just a device for consumption, right? And — according to a screed by sci-fi author Cory Doctorow — it signals the end of computer programming, at least for the tinkerers like you and me.

This is, of course, complete nonsense, as is made clear by Codify, a new iPad app for writing software. Not only does it let you code games, music software or pretty much anything you like, it uses multitouch to make the experience better than many desktop coding apps. The video shows it best:

Codify uses the Lua programming language. You tap out the code and then press play to run it. Want to specify a color? Instead of looking it up the internet, you just tap the code itself and a color-picker pops up, filling out the numbers automatically. The same is true for game sprites and other elements.

My programming skills go back to the days of the Commodore 64 and the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, and have remained at that BASIC level ever since. But now I'm tempted to play around again with this $8 app. It's kind of like the Garage Band of coding.

And maybe now Doctorow can come in from the cold and trade up from Android to a proper tablet.

Codify for iPad [Two Lives Left]

Angry Birds to ride Russian rockets into space, follow iPads bound for bored cosmonauts

Slingshots and unbridled rage might be enough to launch Rovio's furious fowl across the battlefield, but they'll need some outside help if they hope to break free of Earth's atmosphere - it's time to call the cosmonauts. Two upcoming Russian space launches are scheduled to ferry a pair of iPads and a plush Angry Birds toy to the International Space Station. The twin tablets will fly on an unmanned resupply vehicle early next week, and the irritated avian is playing the part of a jocular gravity indicator in a manned mission next month - part of a russian tradition of hanging a toy by a string to signal when the vessel has escaped the Earth's gravity. NASA told collectSPACE that the iPads are only slated for recreational purposes, but mentioned that various tablets were being evaluated for future use. The plush bird? It's coming home; cosmonaut Shkaplerov's five year old daughter can't be expected to give up her toys forever, can she?

iPad 2 gets new Microshield SC and Microshield SCL cases

Own an iPad 2? Well, if you want to get a case for your spanking new tablet, then you might be interested to hear what XtremeMac has in store for you – specially designed to play nice with the Apple Smart Covers, the new iPad 2 cases known as the Microshield SC and Microshield SCL wil deliver both protection and style to your device, without stifling your movement since you can still access all switches, jacks and the rear camera.

The Microshield SC comes across as a thin impact-resistant case which will help prevent unwanted scratches, dust and dirt from dirtying the iPad 2's aluminum back, while a soft, satin surface provides additional grip while enabling access to all controls. It can be used as a standalone or as a companion to the Apple Smart cover for added protection, coming in clear, black, blue, pink and grey shades.

As for the Microshield SCL, this leather case was specially designed to complement the Apple Leather Smart Cover, offering full coverage protection in leather for the iPad 2's aluminum back. It will come in cream, black, navy, tan and red colors. Expect the Microshield SC and Microshield SCL to retail for $34.99 and $69.99, respectively. [Press Release]

Smart Cover can be used to unlock an iPad 2, security flaw reveals

The iPad 2 Smart Cover accessory can be used to gain access to a locked iPad, 9to5 Mac reported on Friday. Here's how it works: take a locked iPad 2 and hold the power button until the “Slide to Power Off” message appears, and then close the Smart Cover. When you lift the Smart Cover again and tap “Cancel,” the iPad 2 will allow you to access the last application that was open. This could be a big threat for anyone who was accessing contacts, viewing a website or checking email before he or she locked the iPad. The good news is any would-be thief does not have full access to the tablet, only the last application used. The bug has been spotted in iOS 5, although 9to5 Mac said it has also received reports from users noticing the flaw in IOS 4.3. Currently, the best fix for concerned users is to turn off Smart Cover unlocking entirely.

Smart Cover can unlock password-protected iPads running iOS 5

Psst. Hey, do you carry a spare Smart Cover around with you? Well, if you're an unscrupulous sort, you can actually use it to bypass the lock screen of any iPad running iOS 5. This multi-step security hole will let you browse whatever's running behind the passcode screen, whether that's email, apps or the homescreen.

To take advantage of the flaw, hold down the power button on the locked device until the power off slider appears, then whip the Smart Cover on, open and tap cancel. Fortunately for iPad owners, the rest of the tablet remains locked-down, but the main problem here is any sensitive information left on-screen.

If you unlock the tablet to the main screen, you won't be able to open new apps, although anyone feeling particularly nefarious can apparently delete apps from that meticulously arranged home screen.

Chinese iPad by Alibaba ready to rock and roll

Before you usher in the new year, Jack Ma, 'The Steve Jobs of China', has just confirmed that his company, Alibaba, will be rolling out a Chinese version of the iPad. It is not an iPad per se, but will instead rival one of Apple's hottest selling devices, while running on a Linux-based operating system.

For those living in China, they will most probably be very familiar with the names Tianyu and Aliyun, especially after having a go at the Tianyu-manufactured K-Touch Cloud-Smart Phone W700, which is also the first Aliyun-running device that was introduced earlier this year. While the phone itself costs $416, there was no mention on how much the upcoming tablet will cost.

It would also make sense should Alibaba's upcoming tablet will feature strong links to their very own online commerce, retail and payment platforms and cloud computing services. Unofficially known as the YanPad, it remains to be seen whether this will end up faring better than the iPad in that part of the world – what do you think?

iTar turns your iPad into a guitar

Surely by now you have seen dozens and dozens of music creating apps for your iOS device, but how about an apparatus that literally transforms your iPad into a musical instrument? Thanks to this innovative Kickstarter project created by Starr Labs, you will be able to live out all of your rock star fantasies!

Dubbed the iTar, this device utilizes a case along with one of Starr Labs' patented button-based guitar fretboards to transform any iPad into an even greater music making machine. With instruments built for countless famous musicians such as the Chemical Brothers, Pendulum, Linkin Park and even several TV/film studios, Starr Labs definitely knows their way around an electronic music instrument.

With 48 days left to go, Starr Labs has $7,000 worth of contributions towards their $50,000 goal. If you're interested in getting your hands on one of the first iTars, all you have to do is head on over to the Kickstarter page and pledge a minimum of $200.

iPad 2 knock-off packs more RAM and runs Android

While Shenzen products are usually poor copies of the original, once in awhile they're pretty decent like this iPad 2 clone from a tablet maker named Grefu. Looking like an iPad 2 on the surface, it's far from Apple's prized creation main on the inside. The tablet packs a 1.2GHz Cortex A8 processor, 1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, an SD card reader, optional 3G, rear 3-megapixel camera, front facing 2-megapixel camera, 9.7″ (1024 x 768 display), HDMI output, Android 2.3 Gingerbread, and a 7,600mAh battery.

The tablet is a bit thicker than the original iPad 2 at 11.5mm and it could easily pass off as the real deal - as long as you keep the screen turned off. Great for folks who love the dimensions of the iPad 2, but prefer Android over iOS. No word on pricing but don't expect to break any banks.

The iPad 2 Smart Cover Is Now Also Available In Dark Gray PolyUrethane!

The available iPad 2 Smart Cover colors (as of this writing) are Blue, Dark Gray, Pink, Light Gray and Green in Polyurethane make while the iPad 2 leather Smart Covers include Cream, Tan, Navy, Red and Black. The Polyurethane covers are priced at $39.00 while the leather cases cost $69.00.

Regardless of the price and their build material, these iPad 2 smart covers retain their ‘smart‘ functionality. They not only protect the screen of your iPad 2 (pity, the back is left bare!) but also turn as a table-top stand for placing the iPad on a comfortably viewable angle while watching movies or inclining it against the desk while typing a mail.

And of course, it puts your iPad 2 to sleep when you flip down the cover or instantly wakes up your iPad when you flip open the cover. It's that simple, and in Apple's terms, it's a ‘genius' invention. Oh yes, we've agree.

As TUAW already reported, the Orange Smart Cover for iPad 2 has been dropped from the list. But, the rest are still available for your purchase. If you wish, you may pick yours now from here.