Sand Can Light Up A Room

Source: http://gizmodo.com/sand-can-light-up-a-room-503861239

LED lightbulbs are already energy efficient, but they would be even better if they could emit light without connecting to the grid at all. Brooklyn-based designer Danielle Trofe is trying to make that happen.

Trofe created two designs for this month's Wanted Design 2013. Both are hourglasses that use the kinetic energy of falling sand to power a light bulb. One model is a sort of torch/flashlight-type situation, and the other is a flippable stool. It's a small step, but at least now you'll have enough light and a place to sit while you watch the environmental collapse of our planet. [Inhabitat]

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Mad Genius' Motion Capture System brings Sony's break-apart controller idea to life, and then some

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/05/12/mad-genius-controllers-motion-capture-system/

Remember that break-apart DualShock 3 idea for motion control Sony had five years ago? A new company named Mad Genius Controllers has surfaced with a working prototype that shows such a contraption working in spades. The setup uses a splittable controller and a processing unit to enable seamless motion control and spacial tracking on any title and system. Because Mad Genius doesn't use any accelerometers or cameras like the current consoles, its creator notes that accuracy of up to 1/100th of an inch is possible.

In a video demo with an Xbox 360 version of Skyrim and a modified Xbox gamepad, certain gestures and movements even automate menu selections like a macro. One instance shows the controller being split and held like bow and arrow, highlighting that both sides are tracked in relation to each other -- not to mention that the in-game character's weapon automatically changes without any menu-digging by the user. The current version is merely a wired proof-of-concept, but Mad Genius plans to eventually make it wireless and hit Kickstarter for funding. In the meantime, you can build up anticipation for yourself by checking out the nearly 10-minute long video demo after the break. All that's left is the inevitable Oculus Rift tie-in (like we've just done with this post).

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

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Source: Mad Genius Controllers (YouTube)

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Sony Xperia ZR announced, allows underwater photography up to five feet of depth (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/05/13/sony-xperia-zr-launched-waterproof/

Sony's ratcheted up its water-resistant device tech a notch with the launch of the Xperia ZR, a new 4.6-inch, 720p Android smartphone that's waterproof to 1.5 meters (5 feet). Sony boasts that its new device will let you film your snorkeling adventures in full HD quality, with HDR in both video or 13-megapixel stills thanks to the Exmor RS image sensor -- there's also a dedicated camera button like the one on the Xperia ZL. The handset packs a Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core 1.5GH CPU, 2GB RAM, LTE, NFC, Sony's Walkman album and movie apps and a notable OptiContrast OLED screen with Bravia tech to reduce glare "even in bright sunlight." There's no word yet on pricing or availability, but as soon as we hear more, we'll try to prep you ahead of that next beach-bound holiday. Meanwhile, you can check the galleries, PR and video after the break for more.

Update: As Xperia Blog found out, the Xperia ZR is actually the international version of Japan's upcoming Xperia A SO-04E -- the one we saw popping up in the FCC database.

Gallery: Sony Xperia ZR

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Sony

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Source: Sony (Facebook)

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Canon 5D Mark III now captures 24 fps RAW video thanks to Magic Lantern firmware add-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/05/13/canon-5d-mark-iii-now-captures-24fps-raw-video-magic-latern/

It's no secret that Canon's 5D Mark III is the go-to DSLR for videographers the world over, but things are about to become a whole lot more interesting. The people behind Magic Lantern have successfully coaxed the 5D Mark III into shooting 24 fps RAW video at resolutions up to 1,920 x 820 pixels using 1000x speed cards. If you're not familiar with Magic Lantern, it's an open source firmware add-on that brings additional functionality to Canon EOS cameras. The ability to capture RAW video at 24 fps improves dynamic range and resolution -- it also provides extra flexibility during post-production. According to the team at Magic Lantern, more work is required before the feature is ready to be deployed. So until then, you're invited to follow the link below and watch the RAW vs. H.264 videos after the break.

Filed under: Cameras, Canon

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Source: Nofilmschool

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Sony reveals prototype 13.3-inch e-ink slate with stylus, aims to put it in students' bags

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/05/13/sony-13.3-inch-prototype-e-paper-tablet/

Sony's no stranger to the odd e-ink device, but its latest prototype creation isn't targeted at the bookworm, it's intended to educate. The e-paper slate is quite a lot bigger than most tablets, let alone e-readers, sporting a 13.3-inch screen (1,200 x 1,600) to match the standard A4 size of normal, boring paper. That display is also an electromagnetic induction touchscreen for poking at menus and scrolling, but more importantly, it supports stylus input for scrawling notes and annotating PDFs (the only file format it currently supports). The prototype device is also only 6.8mm (0.27 inch) thick and weighs 385g (13.6 ounces) -- perfect for slipping into school bags. There's 4GB of on-board storage (with a microSD slot to increase that) and WiFi, which Sony plans to use for sharing notes with those who didn't make it to class on time. With WiFi off, the rechargeable battery inside is expected to last for three weeks of solid learning. These specs are for the prototype, of course, so after the late-2013 field trials at three Japanese universities, we might see some revisions before commercialization goes ahead sometime during the 2013 fiscal year.

Filed under: Sony

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Source: Sony (Japanese)

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