Android rugby

A beta version of CyanogenMod’s newly demoed Screencast app can be installed on Android devices directly from the Google Play Store, although certain prerequisites have to be met beforehand.

In order to use the screen-recording feature, you’ll have to be running CyanogenMod 11 nightlies or later on your device, join the CyanogenMod community and join the beta program (see Source links below).

Once that’s done, you can install the app and begin recording your screen. The actual recording can be started by simply pressing the power and volume up buttons at the same time (as shown in the video above).

We’ll remind you that Android 4.4 KitKat already comes with a screen-recording feature of its own, so in case you already own a KitKat-running device you can start using the feature without installing a custom ROM.

We’ll also note that the name of the app may be misleading for some people who may think the app will let them “cast” the recorded video to a different display connected to some sort of Chromecast-like smart device. Such a feature isn’t available yet, although it may arrive in the future – in any case, the same CyanogenMod developer has an AllCast beta app (also available via the Google Play Store) that will cast local content to a variety of devices, Chromecast excluded.

The Note 3 is now a member of the “the 10 million seller club”: Samsung just announced the stylus-equipped device hit the ten million units sold milestone.

Samsung announced the Galaxy Note 3 ahead of IFA Berlin in early September and made it available in stores in 58 countries on September 25. Since then, the device went on sale in another 82 markets around the world.

While the Galaxy S4 has reportedly missed Samsung’s expectations, the Note 3 remains a driving force for the Korean juggernaut. With 10 million units moved in 60 days, the Note 3 is selling twice as fast as its predecessor, while the original Note needed nine months to reach the same milestone. In the first 28 days of availability, the Note 3 sold 5 million units.

For those interested in the distinction between sales and shipments, Samsung generally reports the latter figure. In this case, however, Samsung is touting the actual sales of the Note 3.

To celebrate the induction of the Note 3 in the best sellers hall of fame, Samsung released an infographic showing all its phones that broke the 10 million barrier, starting with the venerable SGH-T100 clamshell model from 2002 and including the smartphone that ignited the explosion of Samsung’s mobile business, the original Galaxy S.

Click to expand.

Samsung recently announced two new color versions of the Note 3, Merlot Red and Rose Gold, bringing the number of available options to a total of five. The series may further expand in the future with a Lite version of the Note 3 that’s rumored to launch early next year.

Two-dimensional images are so last century. Researchers from Switzerland’s Federal Institute of Technology are working to add the third dimension to images taken with regular smartphone cameras.

The research team developed a technology that makes highly accurate 3D scanning as simple as recording a video. The user simply points the camera to the object, allowing the app to collect data points. The app taps into the phone’s motion sensors to determine when to collect new data points and where to place them in space. All the user needs to do is scan the object from various angles, no input required.

This isn’t the first technology that achieves a form of 3D scanning on mobile devices, but it’s probably the most accurate and powerful yet. Unlike other solutions that upload data to a server, the app processes data points on the device, making use of its GPU’s parallel computing capabilities. It all happens in real time, so users can see the areas where more data points are needed to complete the model.

According to the research team, the technology works well even in low-light and doesn’t require any special setup, unlike other 3D scanning tools.

Once the model is captured, it can be visualized in 3D or fed into a 3D printer to create a physical reproduction of the scanned object. The team used museum exhibits as examples, but the app can also be used to take 3D pics of human subjects. With an online service like Shapeways, you could even upload the model directly from the device and have a figurine delivered to your home in just a few days.

The patent-pending technology is still in an early stage, but with more processing power, more accurate sensors, and better cameras launching every day, it’s easy to conceive a future where mobile 3D scanning is a common feature on our smartphones.