All Gadget News on iGyaan, latest gadgets, top new gadgets, cheapest gadgets and expensive gadgets all the latest gadget news , reviews and featured stories
Even with all the competition, Samsung still holds the top position as the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer, but the passing year didn’t go so well for the company. Samsung is quite aware of the ground reality and it seems like the maker is working on restoring its lost authority in the smartphone market. According to an exclusive by SamMobile, Samsung is working on a line of four tablets, that might be the successors of Galaxy Tab 4 7.0 and the Galaxy Tab 4 10.1.
According to the report, the company might release four or more tablets. These offerings will be a part of the Galaxy Tab and Galaxy Note line-up. The Galaxy Tab AS (SM-T350/351) will be small and a successor of Galaxy Tab 4 7.0, while the larger Galaxy Tab AL (SM-T550/T551) will be a sibling of Galaxy Tab 4 10.1.
The other two speculated tablets, SM-P350/351 (Wi-Fi/Cellular) and SM-P550/551 (Wi-Fi/Cellular), may be the successors of Galaxy Note and Galaxy Note Pro series. The SM-P350/351 will flaunt a display of 7-inch or 8-inch and, on the other hand, the SM-P550/551 might sport a screen of 10 or 12 inches. The tablets will have the latest version of Google’s OS, Android 5.0 Lollipop, onboard.
The source states that the tablets are in its early stages and consumers can expect to get their hands on them by the second or fourth quarter of this year. No other details have been provided regarding their hardware, software or any other specifications. For now, we believe that Samsung will leave no stone unturned in appealing its mass audience and will bring out the devices in metallic finish, just as the Galaxy Note 4. With sales figures showing a negative graph, the company is expected to pack the devices with something really extravagant.
At a time when other companies are bidding CES goodbye, Toshiba still has some offerings left in stock. The Japanese multinational company rolled out a trio of Windows devices at CES 2015 that puts to use the rarely-used digital stylus. The launched devices include a Portege Z20t Ultrabook and a pair of Encore 2 Write tablets.
The Portege Z20t Ultrabook by Toshiba is a hybrid laptop that detaches to transform into a tablet. The device features a 12.5-inch display with 1920×1080 (1080p HD) resolution and is powered by an Intel Core M-5Y51 processor paired with up to 8 GB of RAM. The SSD of the Ultrabook is capable of storing as much as 256 GB of data. It comes preloaded with either Windows 8.1 or an upgradable Windows 7 Professional version. On the hardware front, the Portege Z20t has a spill-proof keyboard and weighs a mere 3.3 pounds, which includes the keyboard. Even though it’s a detachable gadget, the hinges don’t bother as they turn to switch the screen into presentation mode.
Toshiba claims that the Z20t can last 17.4 hours on one full charge. The ultrabook adds Toshiba’s key input device Digitizer Pen together with an Eraser. Coming to its price, this Toshiba ultrabook will cost you $1,399.99, for 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB SSD.
The Encore 2 Write series tablets comes with the same set of specs and varies just in price and display size. The 8-inch Encore 2 Write comes at a cost of $349.99, while the 10.1-inch variant of the Encore 2 can be purchased at $399.99. The devices hold a display resolution of 1,280x800p and are powered by Atom Z3735F processor from Intel. They pack 2 GB of RAM, 64 GB of solid-state storage and come preloaded with Windows 8.1. Along with that, the tablets make use of Active Electrostatics pen technology through the company’s innovative product TruPen that has 2,048 points of sensitivity.
The Consumer Electronic Show (CES) has been a podium of futuristic innovations for years. Almost all big tech giants take part in this 3-day long event to showcase their prototypes.
This year’s CES also saw some really amazing gadgets; from Samsung to HTC, from mobiles, TVs to wearables, from devices to concepts, we have summed up the CES 2015 in this list of top 15 gadgets. The below listed technologies gathered the limelight at this year’s CES:
The one that tops the list is Forge TV by Razer that has won the People’s Choice Award for Best of CES 2015. It’s an Android-powered console for hardcore gamers. Its compact size brings gaming to your living room. The console is powered by a Snapdragon 805 processor, quad-core Krait 450 CPU, and Adreno 420 GPU. The device has 2 GB of RAM along with 16 GB of internal storage capacity and runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop.
This one nearly broke the internet. Saygus took the centre stage at the event with its V2. The device has a mammoth storage capacity of 320 GB. It has 64 GB of in-built storage capacity and comes with support to two MicroSD cards that can store 128 GB each. The V2 is an Android-based handset with a 5-inch 1080p display, 2.5 GHz Snapdragon 801 quadcore processor and 3 GB of RAM. It runs on Android 4.4.4 KitKat with a 21 MP primary camera together with dual LED flash and a 13MP selfie snapper upfront.
LG released a smartphone, which can takes a step further from the Galaxy Note Edge. LG’s new phone has a sloping display on both sides of the screen. It flaunts a 6-inch display with 1280x720p resolution and is 0.7 mm thick. It has extra peril on the side screen that will help users navigate their way through the phone without accidental tapping.
Intel announced a new tiny chipset for wearable devices which is the size of a coat button. It’s a low power 32-bit micro-controller called the Quark SE, which has 384 KB of flash memory and 80 KB SRAM. In addition to that, the chipset comprises a plethora of sensors including accelerometer, gyroscope and Bluetooth LE support. The company claimed that one could build a wearable device out of anything from rings to handbags, pendants and even glasses through this chip.
The Compute Stick by Intel is a piece of brilliant innovation. It can turn your regular TV into a computer. It is available in Windows and Linux variants. The stick sports a USB port, micro USB port, and supports Bluetooth 4.0, and 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi. You can connect a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse and begin your task where ever you go. The Windows version comes with 2 GB RAM and 32 GB Flash storage, while the Linux version comes with 1 GB RAM and 8GB storage. Both the devices are powered by a quad-core Atom CPU. The Linux variant comes at a price of $89.
Lenovo ThinkPad Stack is yet another useful and compact accessory released at CES. This device is a compilation of many accessories that demand extra space in your laptop bag. It’s best for frequent commuters. The list of peripherals includes a 10,000mAh battery pack, a 1TB USB 3.0 hard drive, a Bluetooth speaker and an LTE data hotspot. The modules are piled one over another and they share power and data.
Samsung has released three new versions of SSD T1. Available in 250GB, 500GB and 1TB variants, the drives measure a mere 71×53.2×9.2 mm, which is smaller than a business card. It supports AES 256-bit encryption, USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 along with transfer speeds of up to 450MB/s. The SSD T1 models will be made available later this year.
The VB10 Band by Lenovo is a fitness track with good battery life. It sports an E-ink display and its battery can last more than a week on a single charge. The Band features full fitness tracking functions and works with a phone via always-on Bluetooth. It warns you when the phone moves too far away from the Band. The Vibe Band will be available in April 2015 for $89, making it one of the cheaper wearables in the market.
HTC Desire 826 with a 5.5-inch display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 octa-core processor and 2 GB RAM
HTC Desire 320 with 4.5-inch LCD display and 1.3 GHz quad-core MediaTek processor.
Both the devices by the company are amazing. While Desire 826 is a selfie-friendly handset, the Desire 320 is a device that’s affordable. The Desire 826 sports a 5.5-inch 1080p display, 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 octa-core processor, 2GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage capacity. Running on Android 5.0 Lollipop, the device has 13MP of rear camera and 4-UltraPixel upfront.
On the other hand, Desire 320 has a 4.5-inch LCD display, 1.3 GHz quad-core MediaTek processor, Android 4.4 KitKat, 4 GB or 8 GB internal storage and 2,100mAh battery. It has a 5 MP rear camera and 0.3MP secondary shooter.
Sony revived its music player with the launch of NW-ZX2 Walkman. It boasts 128 GB of storage space with up to 60 hours of battery life. The company claims that the device gives better sound output than other conventional smartphones. It supports high-quality audio codecs like DSD, WAV, AIFF, FLAC, Apple Lossless, and more. The Walkman also provides you with a Micro SD slot which lets you extend the storage beyond 128 GB. It also supports Bluetooth and NFC output, making this a full-package entertainment device.
Lenovo refreshed its smartphone list with two new devices; the Lenovo P90 and Vibe X2 Pro. The first sports a 5.5-inch 1920×1080 IPS display, 2 GB of RAM, 32 GB of internal storage, 13 MP rear camera with OIS (optical image stabilization), front-facing 5 MP camera and a massive 4,000mAh battery. The latter is a limited edition offering by the company. The X2 Pro comes with a 5.3-inch display, a 64-bit 1.5GHz Snapdragon octa-core processor, a 13MP rear camera with optical image stabilisation along with a matching 13MP front facing camera.
LG brought out the next installment in the G Flex series, the LG G Flex 2. It retrieves its original position in seconds compared to the original G Flex which takes around three minutes to heal. The device boasts a 5.5-inch full HD Curved P-OLED 1920×1080p display, a 64-bit Snapdragon 810 Octa-core processor, 2 GB of RAM and Android 5.0 Lollipop. Its camera specs include a 13MP rear shooter along with OIS+ and laser auto focus capacity and a 2.1MP front snapper for your selfie needs.
SwissVoice came up with a new device called Voice Bridge, through which you can make and receive calls on their mobile devices using their existing fixed line. This doesn’t charge any additional cost. The device has a box-like structure that can connect your landlines to smartphones and tablets. It can connect up to 5 devices to a fixed line. Through this, multiple users can have a conversation in conference mode. The device uses PSTN line and acts like a standard PSTN line, so there’s no need to modify the home setup. There is no need for Wi-Fi pairing or setting up a user account and also, it’s really easy to setup.
The Taiwanese smartphone maker Asus released two new variants at the show. The Zenfone 2 flaunts a 5.5-inch full HD (1920×1080 pixels) IPS display, 64-bit Atom Z3580 quad-core processor clocked at 2.3GHz, 4GB of RAM, Android 5.0 Lollipop and a 3,000mAh battery. It features 13 MP of primary camera, which is said to be the world’s best HDR technology and a 5MP of front snapper.
The Zenfone Zoom packs the same set of specs as of Zenfone 2, but it has a superior camera. The Zoom sports a 13MP camera that has 10-element lens, 3X optical zoom, and Optical Image Stabilisation.
FLIR specialises in making thermal image sensors. Now the company has come up with a gadget that works with just about any smartphone. Titled FLIR One, the attachment can be plugged into a lighting port for Apple devices and the micro USB port for the Android devices. The device comes with two cameras and an internal battery. One camera called Lepton camera shoots thermal images while a standard camera shoots a normal image. Both the images are blended together to give a better thermal image output. The FLIR One is expected to come into the market by the mid-2015.
CES 2015 has already some witnessed some awesome technological innovations. Apart from super slim bendable TV’s and mobile phones, we’ve seen some whacked out gaming products and accessories being flaunted at the biggest tech event of the year. These gadgets are bound to impress gamers as well as people who are not into hardcore gaming.
Here are the top gaming highlights from the largest consumer electronics tech extravaganza from Las Vegas-
1. Occulus Rift Crescent Bay
The current Occulus Rift Prototype has been spruced up with new audio enhancements, thanks to the Crescent Bay Occulus Rift headset. These brand new lightweight headphones come with inbuilt sonics similar to a surround sound system.
Occulus has promised a 2015 consumer launch though there’s no confirmation of an exact release date.
2. Razer Going VR
Razer has announced its plans to make its VR technology an open source initiative, called OSVR(Open-Source Virtual Reality). It’s an effort by the company to make this technology more accessible and is going the Toyota way, providing information and technical support to whoever wants it. The VR headset is being showcased at CES and features a gyroscope, an accelerometer and a compass. In addition, it features a surround sound codec that will allow developers to add 3D sound to their gaming titles.
3. Mad Catz L.Y.N.X
One of the snazziest gaming accessories we’ve come across in a long time, the Mad Catz L.Y.N.X looks like a ‘Transformer’ from the Hollywood blockbuster and can literally transform itself to suit your needs. It can either be used with a tablet, smartphone, QWERTY keyboard or just as a standalone controller. In addition, it also features an integrated mousepad for navigation and is compatible with Android, PC, SmartTV’s and also has Bluetooth support.
4. Dell Alienware
Dell after all hasn’t forgotten the gamers, the company showcased the Alienware 15 and 17 that feature Intel’s latest fifth-gen chipsets. The Core i7 quad-core chipsets are also bundled with Nvidia’s GTX980M GPU, which can also support desktop graphic cards via the Alienware Gaming Amplifier.
5. CyberPower’s Fang Trinity Gaming PC
Cyber Power’s Fanged gaming PC is pure eye candy. This gaming rig might be the whackiest desktop ever built.
Despite its bizarre looks, the Fang Trinity can house all standard PC components. The first one has enough room to fit in a graphic card, an intake fan and upto five solid sate drives. The second one houses the power supply along with the optical drive and hard drives. While, the third houses the processor, a compact Mini-ITX motherboard and even a liquid cooler fan.
As expected, the case alone costs about $350 while an entry-level configuration with the case will cost about $999 while a high-end gaming rig can go as high as $4000.
6. 3D Rudder
Virtual Reality is going leaps and bounds, and the 3DRudder is another such example. It is a rounded board that tracks your feet motion and then provide feedback to the controller, which then maps out different methods of control in the form of button presses or joystick motion.
The device is expected to be priced at $130 while shipping starts sometime in May.
7. Steel Series Sentry Eye Tracker and Apex M800 Keyboard
For Pro gamers, the SteelSeries Sentry Eye Tracker keeps a track of your eye movements when you’re playing. Based on the feedback, players can alter their strategy as viewers watching the live stream can see exactly where players are looking.
Meanwhile, the company also showcased their mechanical keyboard, the Steelseries Apex M800. The company touts it to be the most responsive and customisable keyboard ever built. It features a LED surface on every key, with colour choices of upto 16.8 million. The company claims the keyboard to be ultra responsive with 25 percent better response times than standard mechanical keyboards. The SteelSeries Apex M800 is priced at $245.
8. Turtle Beach Elite 800X
Turtle Beach announced a slew of headsets at CES this year, though the cream of crop was the Turtle Beach Elite 800X. It’s a brand new headset for the Xbox One which comes equipped with active noise cancellation along with an invisible microphone. It boasts off a 7.1 channel DTS surround sound including a plethora of customisable audio presets. Just like the PS4 version, it also comes with a magnetic charging stand.
9. Gaming SmartTV’s
We don’t hear this very often, but Sony and Samsung for once are collaborating to bring ‘PlayStation Now’ to Samsung’ s latest range of smart TVs. Sony plans to bring over 300 PlayStation titles to the Korean manufacturer’s latest range of Smart TVs.
10. ASUS ROG Swift PG27AQ
Asus has also announced a broad range of gaming accessories including the ROG Swift gaming monitor along with the Strix Series gaming gear. The 27 inch UHD gaming monitor features a stunning display resolution of 3840×2160 pixels 4K/UHD resolution.
It also features Nvidia’s G-Sync technology that works in conjunction with the computer’s GPU unit, eliminating stutters and screen lags to deliver one of a kind gaming experience. The monitor sports an ergonomic design with full tilt, swivel, pivot and height adjustment and has a super slim bezel.
Sony had revolutionized the way we listened to music when it launched the Walkman in the 1980’s. Since then the music players have gotten consistently tinier ultimately reaching the size of a biscuit before being absorbed into the smartphone. But the grandfather of portable music players, Sony, is not giving up on its baby just yet. At CES 2015, they have revived the Walkman as a high definition player which it says is a better entertainment device than any smartphone.
Sony’s NW-ZX2 Walkman boasts of 128 GB of storage space with up to 60 hours of battery life. The company also claims that this device gives a better sound output than the conventional smartphones. It supports high-quality audio codecs like DSD, WAV, AIFF, FLAC, Apple Lossless, and more. Sony also added that the device is capable of increasing the quality of your existing songs.
The ZX2 is a peculiar looking device which has a bit of a retro appeal. It looks like a communication device from the older sci-fi movies. It looks like a big smartphone with a bulge at the bottom for the 3.5 mm headphone jack. The back panel has an uncanny resemblance to the Nokia 3230.
There is a disappointment though on the software side of things. The device runs on Android Jellybean 4.2 which is presently outdated. It does give you the option to download and use apps from the Play store, so that’s a plus. The Walkman also provides you with a Micro SD slot which lets you extend the storage beyond 128 GB. It also supports Bluetooth and NFC output making this a complete entertainment device.
But the question does remain; why would someone go for an independent device if they already own a smartphone that does it all and that too at a price of $1200? Well, it can be a device for music professionals to listen to with highest quality tracks. This would probably come handy to music enthusiasts too who want a player that gives them the best output on the move, but they’d definitely need quality earphones to get the best out of it. The device does have limited utility in a time when we have all-in-one devices called smartphones, and not a lot of folks will be enthused by the hefty price tag.
Accessories are meant to make life easier. If you are a normal computer user and don’t require add-ons together with your system then this might not sound interesting to you. But for frequent commuters, it’s quite tedious task to pack and unpack different accessories like external hard drives, battery pack, Bluetooth speaker, wireless hotspot and others along with cables to connect them. For them, laptop bags are more of a heavy, stuffed pack without an option to lighten it.
The Chinese multinational computer technology giant Lenovo remains on the forefront in taking initiatives for bringing out comforting technology for users. This time again, the company has come up with ThinkPad Stack keeping in mind regular travellers. Just pile the modules on top of each other, and share power and data. The list of peripherals includes a 10,000mAh battery pack, which is of $50, a 1TB USB 3.0 hard drive of $200, a Bluetooth speaker of worth $90 and an LTE data hotspot costing $200.
The pricing might open your eyes wide for a second, but it’s hardly a big deal for a cable-free and compact accessories’ pile at this price. The company has spotted the nerve of its potential consumers and said that people will be willing to pay extra to save space and time. The modular system will be up for grabs in mid-April.
Along with this, Lenovo rolled out one more surprise. The company has built up a programme called WriteIt, which is an app through with you can write down anything on your tab with a pen. The app taps into the accessibility layer of Windows 8, allowing users to write in any text field. The feature is, for now, restricted to Lenovo tabs only. You can get an idea of the app from the below picture:
The wait is finally over! The device teased by OnePlus is finally revealed. OnePlus launches the OnePlus Power Bank available soon for a mere $ 14.99 in both Sandstone Black and Silk White.
The OnePlus Power Bank supplies 10,000 mAh of power, enough to provide three full charges for your OnePlus One. The device features lithium-polymer technology, which will make the device incredibly light and portable.
The company promises sleek lines, gentle curves with a soft glow LED indicator. Additionally it is said to have safety features preventing overcharging and overheating.
The advertisement logo “We’ve got 10,000” and the four dots on the poster (similar to that of Xiaomi) made it quite evident that the device was going to be a power bank.The Portable Powerhouse from China promises no more sitting next to an electric outlet at the airport ever again!
Earlier today OnePlus was sued by Micromax for infringement of patents; as a result they may face a sales ban in India.
Timelapses are amazing. With the technology getting cheaper by the day, YouTube is getting filled up with some exceptional spellbinding time-lapse visuals. These videos let us perceive reality in a manner that we can’t visualise with our normal senses. Artists like TSO photography have brought us some incredible time lapse astro-photography that simply makes you drool. Now a new Kickstarter project is working towards bringing this ease to everyone.
Pico is a project by Mindarin. The company has previously released an intervalometer and motion control for time-lapse photography. This time around, with Pico, they intend to make it as easy as possible.
Pico can be easily programmed and installed on your camera.
Pico is a tiny trigger that you can program through your smartphone and then easily use the programming to shoot your awesome time-lapse. The accompanying app gives you multiple shooting options such as HDR, speed ramping, and bulb ramping. With these by your hand, you can easily create professional looking visuals to enthrall your audience.
You can use Pico even if you don’t have access to your smartphone. Just connect to it to the camera and press it till you hear beeps. Each beep signifies a second interval for your images. So this can even be used as a standalone device, but it’s better to make full use of it through its various programming options.
The device has presently accumulated $64,000 of its $100,000 funding goal on Kickstarter. The company intends to ship the device by June-July next year. What really irks us is that if the technology can be miniaturised, why don’t the camera manufacturers include it as a default in the cameras. By including the technology on smartphones, the makers will be able to cash in more customers; it’s an attractive provision. If the smartphone companies are looking to add a new gimmick to their phones, time-lapse should be it.
A source close to iGyaan has revealed that Google Chromecast is now going to be available for purchase in India. The unique device that helps mirror everything from your tablet and smartphone to your TV is arriving on 9th December i.e. tomorrow. Google Chromecast is the perfect device for those who enjoy the luxuries of big screen viewing.
Sources also revealed that the news will be announced at the Google Online Shopping Festival and the device will be available exclusively on Snapdeal. The company is also building a development platform for Chromecast users for easy viewing on smartphones. Google has partnered with telecommunication giant Airtel to provide customers cost-effective data packs for the same.
A Little About Chromecast
Chromecast is a thumb-sized medium through which you can easily transfer viewing from your laptop, Android phone and tablet to TV. For this, your mobile becomes your personalised remote control. You can browse your favourite movies, videos and more and cast it on your TV. You can pause, play, rewind, make playlists and can even control the volume. Just plug in, connect and enjoy. In short, it’s a whole new way to enjoy video viewing.
Want to pimp up your home and make life easier? Well, thanks to our smartphones, wireless internet and companies that make some awesome innovative gadgets, we can now control everything in our homes anytime and most importantly, from anywhere. The smart home automation industry is still in its nascent stage, however, there are some devices that are already making our lives easier.
Here’s a wishlist of new home automation gadgets that you would love to have in your bedrooms:
1. Belkin WeMo Light Switch
Are you one of those who always forgets to switch off the lights? Well, then this one is for you. Belkin WeMo Light Switch connects to your home Wi-Fi network and you can control the lights using your iOS or Android device. Control options include switching lights on/off and scheduling lights to go on and off at specific times.
2. Philips Hue Personal Wireless Lighting
Well, this light is available in the Indian market; however, you need to shell out almost Rs. 30,000 to get one kit. The whole kit will give you amazing lighting experience in your bedroom. This kit includes 4 LED light bulbs that can be controlled wirelessly using a smartphone or a tablet. But here’s the actual fun part – you can change the hue of the light by picking any colour from a picture. Also, the brightness level can be easily controlled through the app as well.
3. Nest Smoke Alarm
Nest Protect is a smart and quiet alarm that will give you a heads-up before it goes off. Also it can identify the part of the house from which smoke is coming. A convenient way to ensure that your iron is not burning your house down.
4. Belkin Conserve Socket
Here’s one if you tend to forget to turn the socket off after you’re done charging your phone. This smart outlet automatically turns off after a set amount of time has elapsed. Use this simple, handy tool to prevent mishaps and save money on your monthly electricity bills.
5. iRobot Roomba
Roomba is a solution for all those who totally rely on technology to solve their problems. iRobot has developed this product that will clean your apartment at the touch of a single button.
Back in August, Bloomberg reported that Apple will launch a 12.2-inch iPad in early 2015, citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter. Since then, the reports and leaks of the device have been scarce. However, this weekend, a leak from the Japanese magazine Mac Fan reveals what they believe to be schematics and specs surrounding Apple’s rumoured tablet, which is now supposedly bigger with a display at 12.9 inches.
The company is expected to jump size significantly from the 9.7-inch iPad Air, that’s currently available. It is believed that the move is the outcome of the recent sluggish iPad sales. Purported measures of the previously rumoured device are 305.31×220.8×7 mm (12×8.7x.28 inches). The slate is said to feature Apple’s next generation A9 processor.
The launch of bigger iPad makes sense as the company is opting for ‘bigger the better’ mantra for their other devices too like iPhone 6. The rumoured iPad is not the only monster slate in the market as Samsung launched 12.2-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro earlier in February.
AppleInsiderhas cited another Japanese publication called Macotakara that has some details which align with the information shared by Mac Fan. Macotakara said that the upcoming ‘iPad Air Plus’ will feature a 12.2-inch display with speakers and microphones on multiple edges. Macotakara also claimed that the iPad Air Plus won’t be as thin as the 6.1 mm iPad Air 2, but will be as slim as an iPhone, measuring somewhere between 6.9 mm and 7.1 mm.
The same report by Mac Fan also added that the iPad mini 4 will be powered by Apple’s existing A8X processor and sport a new, thinner design. It also says that following the launch of the iPad mini 4, the iPad mini and iPad mini 3 will be discontinued.
If these rumours are true, what we don’t understand is what will happen to the Apple MacBook Air family if a 12.2-inch iPad launches. Well, maybe the company will merge the MacBook Air and Pro lineup to make more space for the iPad Air Plus in the market. However, this may result in utter confusion and may cost Apple another setback in the iPad sales. Anyhow, these are just the production of rumour mill for now, the plan of the company will be revealed when the time comes. Until then, we wait.
According to recent report, GoPro is developing its own line of consumer drones with high-definition cameras that might launch as soon as next year. The company’s core business is to make wearable video cameras popular with surfers and other sports enthusiasts.
The company plans to start selling multirotor helicopters equipped with high-definition cameras late next year, aiming for a price tag between $500 and $1,000, according to the report. The drone market has been flourishing recently with electronic giants investing money in this lucrative market.
Drones, which are essentially unmanned aircrafts, are becoming smaller, cheaper and easier to fly with technological advancements. Consumer drones are typically lightweight helicopters with cameras that can be controlled with a tablet or smartphone. However, series of regulations and rules have restricted the use of drones for consumer needs. In the US, regulators allow their use by hobbyists with a long list of rules.
For the drone industry, the GoPro drone marks a new splash in the quickly expanding market. GoPro needs to offer something that differentiates it from its competition – both Parrot and DJI, two market leaders in consumer aerial drones. These companies have launched next-generation hardware with advanced camera features, including advanced onboard software image stabilisation and 4K recording. GoPro cameras are already compatible with several consumer drones in the market.
Sony is under a lot of pressure to return to profitability and reach back to the rank of the biggest consumer electronics brand in the world. Recently, apart from the Playstation family, no other device in the company’s consumer portfolio has seen an upwards momentum. In this trying times, Sony is working on something unique, a smartwatch made entirely out of e-paper.
There have been previous attempts into making an e-paper smartwatch. Central Standard Timing’s CST-01 is a Kickstarter-funded smartwatch with an e-ink display. With a ‘thinness’ of 0.80 mm, it holds the enviable spot of the world’s thinnest watch. It would be interesting to see what Sony comes up with its massive innovation budget.
Central Standard Timing’s CST-01 has an e-ink display and is 0.8 mm thin.
It is being reported by Bloomberg that the device will be developed by a new division within the company. This division is responsible for bringing innovative devices to Sony’s portfolio, and the e-paper smartwatch might just be the breakout star that this division was looking for. The watch is expected to be made almost entirely of e-paper including the straps.
The company is in an emergency reinvention mode and is working towards cutting down the heavy losses that have been incurred in the past years. The company is already planning on cutting down its smartphone and TV portfolio. This is the right time to come up with a unique and affordable product. Sony still has a lot of goodwill in the consumer market, which it can utilise to bring about the growth it desperately needs. Sony is known for design, and if a Kickstarter project can create the slimmest watch, we hope Sony can churn out something that upholds the brand we have come to appreciate over the years.
If the Indiegogo campaign goes right, this new startup aims to replace your desktop mouse for good. Flow, as simply as it is called, is a small gadget that can be paired with your PC, laptop, tablet and can be programmed with shortcuts to your most frequently used actions.
Created by a team of German hardware designers, Flow can be described as a ‘freely programmable wireless controller’ that combines hand gesture recognition, touch, and haptics in a mobile, hockey puck-shaped design. The idea is to take the core functionality of a traditional mouse and expand it to include much broader capabilities found in touch-based devices, video game controllers, and even motion-and-gesture sensors.
The device is made from aluminum and stainless steel with a durable polycarbonate touch surface and has a replaceable battery promising four months of charge according to its Indiegogo page. Its sensors enable infrared-based hand gesture recognition, 360-degree angular positioning, capacitive touch and luminosity.
Flow, according to the makers, offer support for more than 30 applications, including popular ones like Final Cut Pro X, Photoshop, Premiere, SoundCloud, Spotify and YouTube. Flow has been described as a multiuse device which can be used as a traditional mouse with a PC but also to interface with mobile devices and even hung on a wall as a smart device controller.
At present, most of the information regarding Flow points at its usability with desktops or laptops, but the company also mentioned that there could be support for mobile applications in the future. It measures 70 mm in diameter and 15 mm in height, and ‘connects directly to anything that speaks Bluetooth Low Energy with no additional hardware required,’ according to its makers.
The designers have launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise $50,000 in seed money. The ongoing campaign has already fetched $19,536 and there is still 40 days left for the campaign. The startup plans to release the product by 2016.
Eating healthy is hard. With the massive amount of junk food options in the market to gobble up, a healthy diet takes a back seat. So how do you keep fit in the times when you have to be on the move and eat fast to get back to work? Your mom cannot be everywhere with you to make sure you eat right, but one tinsy tiny gadget might just take her place to maintain your eating habit.
Say hello to BitBite, a tiny wearable that slips comfortably in your ear and using sound and motion, observes if you are eating right and chewing through. This wearable tracks what you eat, when you eat and how you eat. Using the analysis of sound and tracking patterns of your jaw movement, it observes what you eat. In the future, the device will be able to suggest you healthy alternatives to what you are eating.
The mobile app does the number crunching and analyzes your eating habits.
According to the creators of the device, this minuscule device was developed in co-operation with dieticians and nutritionists. It contains a microphone and additional sensors that record and perform initial processing of the incoming sounds, after which the smartphone app takes care of the number crunching bit. Fortunately, unlike your mom, you can turn it off when you are really in a mood to indulge into some gooey goodness.
If you don’t want to join the BlueDouche tribe, then there are some other options to get BitBite by which can start healthy grubbing. The device gives you the option of wearing it on your lapel with a clip in a wristband. It functions as a regular Bluetooth device when not eating.
There are multiple attachments for the BitBite.
The device works with both iOS and Android devices. The company has achieved 75% of its initial goal of $60,000 on Indiegogo, with 22 days still left to go.
Well, it’s great to see what you eat but it’s also great to indulge once in a while. We as humans have invented a plethora of amazing foods that varies with the palate of different places. Eating right is just a part of healthy living; it’s also important to exercise and drink loads of water. But it is great to see how technology can be used for the benefit of an average person, and with apps like Google Fit, it’s easier than ever to stay fit. So after reading this, get up and do some jumping jacks for your sake.
