drag2share: Intel Just Showed Off This Computer That's The Size Of A Button (INTC)

source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/businessinsider/~3/V1u3DkodLTg/intel-new-computer-is-the-size-of-a-button-2015-1

At this year's CES, Intel's keynote is all about the future of computing.

It just rolled out the Curie, a computer that's literally the size of a button. It's just a prototype, but it's loaded with sensors and can run for extended periods of time.

Intel is also talking a lot about how to control computers through gestures rather than with a traditional keyboard and ouse. As one of its examples of how that tech can be used, the company demoed a 3D monitor that had a 3D camera embedded inside.

During the demo, the man was able to play a virtual piano without actually touching the screen. This allowed him to actually press virtual keys as if he was really playing a piano rather than just tapping a screen.

 Intel hasn't implemented this type of technology in any real products yet, but it's an interesting concept.

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Dell's super-thin, depth-sensing tablet is available now for $400

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2015/01/06/dell-venue-8-7000-series-price-availability/

Remember that 8-inch, super-high-res tablet Dell showed off back in September? You know, the one with the depth-sensing camera? It's OK if you don't, but really, you should give this a second look -- yes, even if you have tablet fatigue. Dell's Venue 8 7000 series goes on sale today, with a starting price of $400, and it's notable for not one, but several reasons. For starters, it's the first with Intel's RealSense camera setup, which in this case includes an 8-megapixel rear camera paired with two 720p ancillary ones. The three sensors work together to shoot different variations of a shot, each with a different area of focus. Basically, then, you can go in after the fact and either sharpen or soften the focus on any part of the photo -- yep, just like on a Lytro camera. Also, because these photographs are actually a composite of three different shots, you can easily apply effects to select parts of the picture. Think: sepia for just the bride and groom, with bright colors in the background. (Don't judge me for my tacky taste, OK?) Lastly, an over-the-air update in the coming months will allow you to actually measure items in the photo with an on-screen ruler.

Other than those fancy camera tricks, you should be impressed by the hardware: It's damn gorgeous. With the new Venue 8, Dell combines a pixel-dense 8.4-inch, 2,560 x 1,600 display with a well-made aluminum frame that measures just 6mm thick. To put that in perspective, that's thinner than all of its main competitors -- namely, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S, iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3. And, because that screen is an OLED panel, the quality is stunning as well: punchy colors and wide viewing angles, with a strong backlight throughout. What's nice, too, is that Dell was smart enough to price it at $400 -- just low enough to give the Galaxy Tab S and iPad mini 3 a run for their money. Hopefully we'll get to review one of these soon, but if you seriously can't wait for us to weigh in, it's available now, with 16GB of storage (expandable via microSDXC) and either LTE or just WiFi.

Filed under: Tablets, Dell

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Source: Dell

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Sharp wants to put a 120-inch 4K display on commercial walls

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2015/01/06/sharp-120-inch-4k-display/

Every year, TVs are a big deal here at the Consumer Electronics Show. Therefore, it's no surprise that Sharp would have a huge presence here in Las Vegas. And when I say huge, I mean huge. Just like last year, when it teased its 85-inch 8K TV with glasses-free 3D, Sharp's now showing off a 120-inch 4K Commercial LCD display. According to the company, one day this could replace video walls in public spaces (like at Times Square, for instance), as well as projectors in classrooms and conference rooms. At the moment, there's no word on how much one of these would cost interested parties -- but it's safe to imagine it won't be budget-friendly at all.

Unfortunately, no image could do this display justice -- you have to be in front of it to see how beautiful it is. It's extremely, well, sharp, bright and it makes you feel as if you're staring into a wall, living in whatever world you're looking at. So, if you're here at CES, it's definitely worth checking out. And why not, maybe one day you could see one of these, or something similar, make its way into the consumer market.

Filed under: Displays, Misc, HD

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Sony Just Solved The Biggest Problem With Google Glass

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/sony-smartglasses-attach-solves-the-google-glass-style-problem-2015-1

One of the biggest problems with wearable head displays so far is that tech companies have a hard time making gorgeous products that people actually want to wear. 

Most notably, Google launched its developer version of Glass in 2012, but the actual product still hasn’t launched yet and even company execs don't wear them in public very much these days.

But Sony’s doing things a little differently.

Sony’s new SmartGlasses Attach clips on to your existing sunglasses or prescription glasses so that you can wear it whenever you feel like you may need it.

With Sony's approach, you can wear the same glasses you've always worn — the style is barely an issue.

It’s not meant to be an “always on” display like Google Glass, which you’re kind of stuck wearing for a long period of time once you leave the house with it.

Sony’s new gadget does a lot of the same things Google Glass does, but the demos we’ve seen so far show how it works in specific circumstances. For example, if you’re going for a bike ride, you’d be able to view a compass that tells you which direction you’re going. The display itself is small, but much brighter than that of Google Glass.

The screen sits above the corner of your right eye completely out of view, and you need to make a conscious effort to look over at it.

This seems like a necessity to avoid blocking your view. But if you’re using it during a sport or a bike ride like Sony advertises, it seems like diverting your attention to look over at the display could pose an inconvenience. This is where Google’s more visible display actually seems more useful.

Overall, though, the prototype I played with worked well, and it seems like a more sensible approach to wearable di! splays t han what we’ve seen so far. 

Google generated a lot of buzz with Glass a few years ago, making it seems like a gadget for adventurers that want to document their experiences. 

Sony’s gadget lets you do that, too, but you can take it off when you’re finished and go back to wearing normal glasses.

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Words Can't Describe How Good Samsung's New TVs Look

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/samsung-uhd-4k-tv-2015-1

Samsung announced a new line of TVs at the Consumer Electronics show this week.

They come in a variety of sizes, all the way up to 100+ inches and feature 4K, or Ultra High Definition (UHD), displays.

A lot of people like to scoff at 4K TVs. Why would you need a TV that has twice the resolution of a regular HD TV when regular HD TV is enough?

But those people haven't seen one of those TVs in person. Samsung's new sets are breathtaking, especially the ones with curved screens. It feels better than reality, like you're looking through a window into another dimension.

A lot of people don't understand why the screen is curved, but if you sit in front of one for a few minutes, you'll get it. It's like being immersed in the show.

Of course, there are a bunch of caveats to owning a 4K TV. They're insanely expensive. The 100-inch+ models can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Most content isn't shot in the right resolution, so you won't be able to get the full experience even if you can afford one of Samsung's TVs.

That said, it'll get better over time. Content producers are already experimenting with 4K TV shows and movies. The same goes for streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Instant. And the price of the sets will go down over the next few years. Eventually, they'll be just as affordable as a regular HD TV.

In the meantime, if you get a chance to watch something in 4K, try it. It'll blow your mind.

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