Microsoft Research wants to automate your house, introduces HomeOS

Ever wondered if you could control your house's climate, security, and appliances -- along with your PCs and peripherals -- using Microsoft software? That day may soon dawn, as its Research arm has started testing its home automation software, called HomeOS, in twelve domiciles over the past few months. The budding system views smartphones, printers and air conditioners as network peripherals, controlled by a dedicated gateway computer. The project even has a handful of apps in play, which perform functions like energy monitoring, remote surveillance and face-recognition. This growing list of applications, available through a portal called "HomeStore", will allow users to easily expand their system's capabilities. So how does it all work out in the real world? Head past the break, and let Redmond's research team give you the skinny.

Continue reading Microsoft Research wants to automate your house, introduces HomeOS

Microsoft Research wants to automate your house, introduces HomeOS originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 02:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Selena Gomez Takes On 'Raw' Role In 'Spring Breakers'

'It's completely different than anything I've done before,' she tells MTV News about the part in the flick.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Kara Warner

Selena Gomez
Photo: MTV News

Despite its sunny title, it seems that Selena Gomez's next film is going to be anything but a joyful romp.

With "Kids" director Harmony Korine at the directing wheel, "Spring Breakers" will take a turn for the dark and unwieldy. Which is fine for 19-year-old Gomez, whose film docket is quickly getting filled up with films that could make Disney execs blush.

The flick follows a group of college girls (played by Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens and "Pretty Little Liars" star Ashley Benson) who rob a restaurant to pay for their spring break. After landing in jail, they quickly become entangled with a drug and arms dealer who bails them out. James Franco stars in the film as the corn row-wearing bad guy.

"It's really fun. It's completely different than anything I've done before," she added. "People are going to be a little surprised, I think, by the choice. But it's such a good movie. It's real. It's raw. It's about actual spring break and it's just, they kind of take it to a whole other level." She gushed about the chance to work with Korine, who she said took her acting to a new level. "It's great. The freedom we had, I mean Harmony, the director, was so flexible with us," she explained. "He just really allowed us to push ourselves, which was nice. He never said we did anything wrong. He just said it was a choice. He gave us these locations and just said, 'Act like you're on spring break.' "

In addition to "Spring Breakers," Gomez is also attached to a thriller with Ethan Hawke, "The Getaway," as well as Eli Roth's next flick, "Aftershock."

Are you excited to see Selena Gomez in "Spring Breakers"? Leave your comment below!

Check out everything we've got on "Spring Breakers."

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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The Real Housewives of New Jersey Recap: Poker Face

The Real Housewives of New Jersey made their way back from the shore this week to play a little poker and kick one little Jersey girl out of the her luxurious nest.

We break down all the drama in our patented THG +/- recap below!

Say bye bye. That was Jacqueline's response as Ashlee whined about packing to leave for Vegas. Plus 10 because it was so pathetic it was funny.

They sent her off with Albie to avoid a family meltdown at the airport hoping that she'd get on the plane without incident. It sounds good…in theory.

Minus 7 because Albie couldn't be bothered to park the car and walk his wayward cousin to the security checkpoint. Instead he drops her at the curb and there's no doubt she'll be home by dark.

Sure enough, Albie gets the call as he's driving home. Somehow Ashlee missed her flight. Minus 12. This girl is pathetic. I know it's because she doesn't want to go but it is sad when a 20-year-old can't check herself in at an airport. 

Chris is right, his step-daughter has no common sense. Her answer to stress is wishing she could buy herself a drink. Ashlee may be headed down a hard road all of her own making. 

This time Chris drives her to the airport to make sure it's done right. Plus 10. At home Jacqueline looks at pictures of her little girl and cries. I understand she's upset but it's not like some awful tragedy has befallen her daughter. Ashlee's a spoiled brat and when people stop handing her stuff maybe she'll grow up.

Apparently Ashlee isn't the only Jersey girl having issues. Lauren's cosmetic business is a bust. She says she wasn't getting the respect she deserved so she packed up her kiosk at Chateau and walked away…the day after her grand opening party! Minus 15. Seriously, don't you have to at least put some actual work into the business to earn respect?

The diet she's going on looks ridiculous. Minus 5. Although I have no doubt if she sticks to it she'll lose weight, I'll also bet she'll gain it right back once she starts eating real food again. 

Speaking of failed businesses, Joe Guidice's pizzeria has a closed sign on the door. Well, that didn't last long. Now he's planning to buy the gas station across the street and turn the property into an over 55 residence. When Teresa asks if the gas station owner knows he'll be evicted, Joe says no but it's no big deal. Minus 15! I think it will be a big deal for the owner.

Across town, Kathy and Rich's son is e-mailed a topless picture of a girl. Plus 8 for Kathy's response. I thought she handled it well. Minus 10 to Rich. There are times when his jokes are just a little too sleazy.

Finally the whole gang gets together and Teresa takes the moment to once again apologize for her book…or sort of apologize. It never really comes across that she's sorry for anything. Minus 7 Teresa can't seem to let it go and then she's begging people to read the book because once they do they'll really get into it. Um…it's a cookbook, right? How into it can you be?

The boys head into the next room to play a little poker and most of the fun occurs off camera. Rich and Joe Guidice end up having a wrestling match over something vital like who's the taller Joe. Then Guidice makes a grab at Rich below the belt and later jokes that there was nothing to grab. 

Uh, is that normally where guys grab one another during a fight?  Well, maybe short guys. Minus 13.

In the end Joe ends up with a candlestick holder in the eye. Yeah, I don't get it either.

But Joe's stuck at home now playing Mr. Mom while Teresa's doing her book signings. As usual the kids are little terrors but at least Milania only called Gia a hooker this week. Plus 8. That's a step up from calling her sister a stupid whore.

Finally. Melissa tries to have a romantic dinner but Joe can't stop thinking about babies and sex. Then Melissa tells him she recorded a love ballad for him. It's actually not bad. Joe says the song turns him on. No kidding. What doesn't turn him on?

So who thinks we'll see Ashlee back again before the end of the season? Who thinks we'll see her back next week? Something tells me that Jersey girl will be back before we know it.

EPISODE TOTAL: -48! SEASON TOTAL: -111!   

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Amber Portwood Pants On Fire: Fashion Fail

This installment of fashion fail is aimed at everybody?s favorite mom: Amber Portwood. This time, the troubled Teen Mom star was caught with the least fashionable pants of all?the kind that are on fire. According to TMZ, the troubled mom has allegedly caught herself in a pretty big lie. The rental company that she once rented from now says that she lied about how much money she made in 2010, which actually ruled her out as someone who would be allowed to rent there in the first place.   Apparently, Portwood lived in subsidized housing despite making over $280,000!   That?s enough for her nose to grow and for her designer jeans to become engulfed in flames.   If this is true, shame on you Amber. If not, well, shame on you anyway.  

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Sony's Alpha A37 and NEX-F3 pose for the camera, reveal more angles, details

Well, well, talk about déjà vu! It was just yesterday that a corner of Sony's 16.1 megapixel NEX-F3 leaked onto the interwebs and now more photos have surfaced, along with a previously unannounced shooter, the Alpha A37 SLT. The pictures come courtesy of Yang Canggih, which says it had chance to demo the two devices yesterday at Sony's Partner's Conference in Jakarta (Curiously, the NEX-F3 post isn't live as of this writing, but Sony Alpha Rumors has the images up.) Starting with the F3, the mirrorless camera has last some of the curves found on its older sibling, the C3, adopting the angular edges that once made the NEX-7 the badass standout in the lineup. You'll notice that the shutter button and grip have an uncanny resemblance to the 7's, not to mention that it's clearly gained a pop-up flash -- a first for the lower-end NEXs. Past that, the rumored -- and self-portrait friendly -- 180 degree tilt-screen is also present, which'll likely give the C3 an edge over its siblings when it comes to composing shots. Also worth note, some of the buttons on back have been slightly repositioned.

Moving along, those hoping for a successor to the A35 will apparently have their wish granted with the 16.1 megapixel A37, which is essentially an evolutionary update. According to Yang Canggih, it sports the articulating display from last generation of NEX cams, Auto Portrait Framing (first introduced with the A57), four more effect modes (up from 11) and an ergonomic grip in the vein of the A77. Sadly, that's about all that's currently known, so hopefully we'll get an official introduction to the cameras soon. Head past the break for a shot of the A37 and then check out the links below for even more of both.

Continue reading Sony's Alpha A37 and NEX-F3 pose for the camera, reveal more angles, details

Sony's Alpha A37 and NEX-F3 pose for the camera, reveal more angles, details originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 28 Apr 2012 21:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Sony Alpha Rumors (1), (2)  |  Yang Canggih (translation)  | Email this | Comments

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Nerdgasm: The Official Lego Back to the Future Set Is Almost Here! [Lego]

Rejoice, my lovely fellow nerds, because one of the Holy Grails of Lego is about to become a reality! The Lego Back to the Future set—the one you are looking at right here—may happen soon. More »

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Bill Clinton teams up with Obama for re-election fundraisers (reuters)

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Schemer updates Android app, opens the doors to all

Schemer -- you know that invite only Google service -- has had an update to its Android application, and has also thrown open the doors to all. Until now access has been by invite only -- think Google Music, Google+, sounds pretty familiar doesn't it. Invites to the service though are no longer required, and anyone can sign up, including right from within the app itself. 

The concept itself is pretty interesting, fitting it into your life could be somewhat difficult though. We'll let Google do the explaining -- they do it better than us -- so if you're not familiar, hit the source links at the bottom for more information. There's a short video to be found after the break too. It's kind of fun to fool around with, and now it's open to all it would be rude not to take a look. It's pretty well tied into Google+ too, so you'll find it pretty populated when you step inside. 

So, what about the Android application update. Well, besides the ability to sign up now, we also get a refreshed UI. There's a new homepage, with suggestions for schemes for here and now based upon your location, the time and even the weather. Search has been improved with a new search results page showing results from your schemes and other users on one page. You can also search for schemes to do while home vs nearby while you're out and about. 

Additionally, we get a new profile page and a whole heap of bug fixes. Whether or not Schemer will stick around, only time will tell. But, you have to love Google for trying out new things. If you fancy trying it out for yourselves, click on past the break for the Google Play Store download links and QR Code.  

Source: Schemer

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Flight+, Touch TV, and More [Ipad Apps Of The Week]

You'll be up-to-date on the best TV shows and the latest computing knowledge with the best iPad apps of the week. We're also showcasing a tool for travelers and offering a bit of photography knowledge.

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