Wednesday, January 07, 2015

drag2share: Watch how Intel's depth cameras let you play 'drone ping pong'

source: http://www.engadget.com/2015/01/06/intel-realsense-asctec-firefly-drone-ping-pong/?utm_source=Feed_Classic_Full&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget&?ncid=rss_full

It's all good and fun when you get to fly a drone, but there are times when you wish it could fly around by itself without crashing into things. As we found out at Intel's CES keynote just now, one solution to this is to equip the machine with depth cameras; and in Ascending Technologies' case, it went with six of Intel's RealSense depth cameras for its AscTec Firefly. The result is a drone that pushes itself away when people approach it, which allowed the demonstrators to humor the audience with a game of "drone ping pong": one player would walk up to the Firefly to pass it to another player. We also watched another Firefly clear an obstacle course autonomously, but trust us, the first demo is more entertaining (but maybe creepy for some). See for yourself after the break.

Read More...

drag2share: FLIR's second-generation thermal camera now works with (almost) any smartphone

source: http://www.engadget.com/2015/01/06/flir-one-2015-hands-on/?utm_source=Feed_Classic_Full&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget&?ncid=rss_full

When FLIR launched its first smartphone-based thermal camera at last year's CES, the biggest annoyance people had was that the hardware was baked into an iPhone 5 case. Anyone who wasn't toting Apple's newest two smartphones was understandably aggrieved about that decision. That's why, as a do-over, the company has released a second-generation FLIR One that clips onto the bottom of your smartphone over Lightning or micro-USB, letting Android users in on the fun.

We got to see a prototype of the new model here at CES and, aside from the smaller body, the new unit gains an automatic shutter and a better-resolution sensor. Unlike (bitter rival) Seek Thermal, which draws its power from the device itself, FLIR One has a built-in battery, although it's only likely to last for an hour on a charge. The companion app has also been refreshed, and now you can use panorama and time lapse from, in this case, the iPhone's native camera software. The device is expected to arrive in the mid-part of the year, with a price that's probably comparable to the original.

Read More...

MHL's new adapter can handle 8K video and link your devices

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2015/01/07/supermhl/

SuperMHL

If you thought MHL's existing adapter spec could handle just about everything under the sun, you ain't seen nothin' yet. The MHL Consortium has taken the wraps off of SuperMHL, a new connector format that's ready for hardware you can't even buy yet. It can play gigantic 8K videos at 120 frames per second, and it's also ready for wider color ranges (up to 48-bit) that present a more natural-looking picture. Also, you can link multiple SuperMHL devices -- it's possible to steer your TV, receiver and Blu-ray player using one remote. Think of it as a supercharged version of the years-old HDMI-CEC control standard.

Other perks? You can now charge devices that use up to 40W of power, so you won't have problems juicing up a high-end tablet (or theoretically, a laptop) while it sends video to the TV. There's also support for all-encompassing sound technologies like Dolby Atmos and DTS-UHD, and the connector is reversible much like USB Type-C. If there's anything holding the technology back, it's the wait. The spec will be available near the end of January, but it's going to take much longer than that for device makers to build it into TVs and peripherals. It'll be a long, long while before you're watching 8K movies on a next-generation streaming media stick.

Filed under: , , , , ,

Comments

Source: MHL Consortium

Read More...

drag2share: The new Nabi kid-friendly Android tablets are seriously huge

source: http://www.engadget.com/2015/01/07/nabi-big-tabs-ces-2015/?utm_source=Feed_Classic_Full&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget&?ncid=rss_full

In addition to an action-cam for adventurous kids, Fuhu has announced new Big Tab options at CES -- and they're so huge, they dwarf the 24-inch model launched in 2014. These latest entries to the Big Tab lineup include 42-inch, 55-inch and 65-inch models, so they're definitely not something you'd hold in your hand to watch Netflix or check your emails on. Fuhu envisions these tablets to be used in kitchens and living rooms for interactive activities or as smart TVs, as they're touchscreen displays with access to Google Play. The 55- and the 65-inch ones even have full ultra HD resolution, built-in WiFi, Bluetooth and NFC. According to USA Today, these huge tablets will hit the market in the second half of 2015, with the cheapest option priced at $699. Obviously, the most expensive one will cost you quite a bit: $3,999 for the 65-inch 4K UHD model.

Read More...

Tuesday, January 06, 2015

drag2share: Watch the magical future of E Ink color displays in action

source: http://www.engadget.com/2015/01/06/e-ink-prism-hands-on/?utm_source=Feed_Classic_Full&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget&?ncid=rss_full

We just got a chance to see exactly what E Ink's new Prism tech looks like in person. And? It's pretty neat! As you might be able to tell from the admittedly sped-up GIF above, it's a bit mesmerizing, but still manages to be subtle. The outfit's Joseph Fillion describes it as "more than static, but not quite digital." What he means by that is it isn't the type of thing you'd likely see used on billboards or other advertisements, but more along the lines of navigational opportunities and branding. For example, you could carry an RFID chip in your pocket at a hotel and it'd change the color of the walls letting you know you were actually headed in your room's direction, possibly with the place's logo appearing once you've reached your destination. Or imagine your living room's walls changing color in accordance to your thermostat's temperature reading. It seems futuristic as hell, but it's much more Her than Blade Runner.

Read More...