Buying Night Vision Binoculars and Monoculars
Night vision binoculars and monocular are particularly designed to provide great outdoor viewing experiences. As a matter of fact, with the recent advancements being made in the field of technology makes it very much possible to acquire a detailed and best image of objects even under cloudy skies or a new moon.
If you are specific about using night vision equipment, you can opt for a variety of night vision binoculars, monocular, digital night vision monocular, general night vision binoculars with thermal imaging cameras and of course recorders. You will also find night vision monocular goggles that are exceedingly beneficial in the night trekking. You can opt for night vision monocular that are available with a head mount. This is extremely useful as it offers the users with a hands free viewing.
You are most likely to select monoculars and binoculars once in your life and then use them for years together. On the other hand, it is not a bad idea to first experiment and then pick from a range of contemporary viewing equipment to enjoy a superior quality of images. While you are all set to buy night vision binoculars or monocular, it is imperative to keep some vital aspects in mind.
- Light in Weight
Is it that the binoculars or monocular you intend to buy are extremely heavy? This certainly will make it tough for you to handle the equipment and will increase the load of your trekking luggage. Therefore, it is imperative for you to pick your viewing gear with utmost care. Try figuring out several options by holding the equipment in your hands, as this will give you a better idea of the best night vision spotting scopes and binoculars.
- Ergonomics
The compact form and the shape of your night vision binoculars can have a great impact on comfortable viewing. You can particularly look out for night vision binoculars that come with an ergonomic design and compact form, for enhancing your viewing experience. Check out if the controls are easy to use and well positioned so that you are comfortable using the equipment. Ergonomics, hence, plays an extremely imperative role when it comes to selecting night vision binoculars.
- Illuminator power
Spotting scopes that come with the feature to view the objects at night comprise of a high power illuminator that helps observation possible even when it is pitch dark. The ones with the infrared illuminator tends to be one of the most considerable segments of these binoculars and the power should be compared to other binoculars and monocular before you make your decision. You can even opt for monocular that support the digital camera feature for capturing images for posterity.
- Other Considerable Features
Waterproof, ruggedness, fog proof and durability are some of the other vital aspects you will find in most of the binoculars and monoculars. Other than these, you are required to check for power source durability, magnification, intensifier tube power, and minimum focus distance.
All of these aspects can help you better understand if the equipment you are picking will offer you with the best results or not.
Android 4.4.4 Already Here! T-Mobile Announces Uncarrier 5 and 6! – The ManDroid Show
I hope your Saturday is going well my Android friends. ManDroid Show is a little late this week but it is here. Android 4.4.4 is already out in the ild, sadly it is not a remedy for those bugs in Android 4.4.3. T-Mobile shocked the carrier world once again, by announcing Uncarrier 5 and 6, Don;t know what else they can do to change the game. Enjoy the show!
Andorid 4.4.4
Uncarrier 5
Uncarrier 6
Amazon Phone
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Weekends with Engadget: Amazon’s Fire Phone, 3D-printed body parts and more!
This week, we went hands-on with Amazon’s Fire Phone, learned about T-Mobile Test Drive, investigated laser-cut clothing and more! Read on for Engadget’s news highlights from the last seven days. Oh, and be sure to subscribe to our Flipboard magazine!
The Fire phone is Amazon’s ultimate hardware weapon
This week, Amazon announced its first-ever handset: the Fire phone. Sure, it’s got six cameras and a 3D interface, but what’s most intriguing is a new feature called Firefly. Read on as Chris Velazco breaks down the importance of Amazon’s new smartphone and its visual search engine.
T-Mobile Test Drive lets you borrow an iPhone 5s for a week
What’s T-Mobile up to next? Well, thanks to the company’s latest endeavor called Test Drive, you can borrow an iPhone 5s for a whole seven days. Oh, and it starts this tomorrow.
These are the biggest third-party games at E3 2014
This year at E3, the focus was on games, more games and yep, lots of games. Read on for our complete list of the biggest third-party games from the event, including The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Destiny and Alien: Isolation.
This is what a $22,000 Android phone feels like
What you’re looking at is the Vertu Signature Touch, and it costs $22,000. This spectacular handset combines the experience of Android 4.4 with a grade 5 titanium body, fifth-gen sapphire screen and yes, a conditioned “Damson Lizard” skin.
Amazon’s Firefly recognizes everything you see and hear, then lets you buy it
Alongside the announcement of its first phone, Amazon unveiled Firefly: a new feature that can identify the music you hear, the art on your wall and even those fresh kicks on your friend’s feet. Why? Well, so you can buy them from Amazon (surprise!).
Adobe Ink and Slide review: A software giant tries its hand at hardware
Adobe’s breaking into the hardware space with its Creative Cloud-connected stylus and drafting ruler: the Ink and Slide. Read on as Billy Steele puts both devices through the wringer and learn whether this premium set of sketching accessories is worth its $200 price tag.
Honeywell’s Lyric thermostat is a worthy Nest competitor
Honeywell’s Lyric thermostat might be $30 more than the well-established Nest, but it’s a worthy contender. Read on as Sarah Silbert goes hands-on with the $279 device and explores its geofencing features.
What you need to know about laser-cut clothing
What’s at the convergence of science and fashion? Laser-cut clothing, that’s what. Read on for everything you need to know about such intricately designed garments and their impact on the industry.
Inside Game 5 of the 2014 NBA Finals
The 2014 NBA Finals might be over (go Spurs), but you can relive some of the glory by perusing a few of our court-side photos. With camera in hand, Edgar Alvarez tours the AT&T Center for a behind-the-scenes look at the epic sports event.
What you need to know about 3D-printed organs
From artistic chocolates to vehicles and houses, 3D printers are capable of building almost anything — including body parts. Read on as Mariella Moon investigates the science of 3D-printed organs and its implications on modern medicine.
Filed under: Misc
Is Volantis (also called Flounder), HTC’s new 8.9-inch Nexus Tablet?
Android Silver appears to be the flavour of the year regarding stock Android devices as the light at the end of the Nexus tunnel starts to dim. The Silver line is expected to supersede the Nexus line, but still keep with the same sort of Google-mandated devices made by device manufacturers; it’s expected the changes will come mostly in the software that will be on the devices. Still, hope is not all lost for Nexus devices this year as rumours of the HTC Nexus 8 continue to circulate, further added to by this gem from Android Police today which says it will actually be a 8.9-inch Nexus tablet coming in Q4 2014, which supports yesterday’s anonymous tip.
We’ve seen the names “Volantis” and “Flounder” floating around in the Chromium issue tracker before, though while we assumed this might have been the codename of the Nexus 8, this is only the second time it has been referred to by this name. According to Android Police, who provided the above source image, the Volantis is going to be manufactured by HTC with a screen size of 8.9-inch and intriguingly have an aspect ratio of 4:3. While the screen resolution of 2048×1440 isn’t strictly a 4:3 ratio, this might just be the usable screen space once the on-screen buttons are factored in. Rumoured specifications of this 8.9-inch Nexus tablet include Nvidia’s new Tegra K1, 2GB memory and 16/32GB storage variants which will allegedly cost $399 for the 16GB and $499 for the 32GB; a LTE version may also be available in the $600+ region.
This Nexus tablet is looking really impressive, and while it might cost a pretty penny more than the other Nexus tablets, it appears to be worth it. While it’s been alleged that the Nexus 8 (if it’s even going to be called that) is going to replace the Nexus 7, the fact that it may cost upwards of $350 and be armed to the teeth with impressive hardware suggests to me that it might not actually be replacing anything in the current Nexus line; if anything, it would be replacing the Nexus 10. But that’s just my opinion: what do you think about this 8.9-inch Nexus tablet? Let us know your opinion in the comments below.
Source: Android Police
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The US military wants walls that automatically pop out of cans
Many soldiers dream of having instant cover on the battlefield, and it looks like they might just get their wish. DARPA is soliciting proposals for BlockADE (Block Access to Deny Entry), a system that would automatically form a barrier from material stuffed into a canister 1ft by 6.5ft or smaller. If US troops needed to block off an entrance or create a makeshift building, all they’d have to do is hit a button — much more effective than sandbagging or pitching a tent, we’d say.
At the least, DARPA wants BlockADE designs to slow down intruders with axes or saws. However, the agency is also looking for as many extra features as it can get, including “ballistic resistance;” ideally, soldiers could take cover behind the insta-wall in case of a firefight. There’s no certainty that this will happen, mind you. DARPA is likely many months away from seeing what prototypes can do, let alone a finished system. Even if the resulting technology isn’t bulletproof, though, it could be extremely useful for creating impromptu bases, perimeters and disaster shelters.
[Image credit: AP Photo/Aaron Favila]
Filed under: Misc
Source: FedBizOpps.gov
Users Noticing Significant Improvements in Apple Maps Data with Quick Corrections
Apple’s Maps has been the subject of a significant amount of criticism since its launch with iOS 6. Apple had replaced Google Maps data with their own map data which had comparably worse coverage, especially in international markets. There had been enough outcry that Apple CEO Tim Cook posted an open letter apologizing for Apple Maps. There had been hopes that the Apple Maps application would be improved with iOS 8 but internal politics were said to have delayed those plans.
Still, Apple does seem to making efforts to improve their mapping data. In April, they started deploying notifications to let users know when problems had been fixed.
Meanwhile, some users have recently noticed a significant improvement in POI (points of interest) data in their local Apple Maps. A discussion thread in MacRumors forums reports one user’s experience.
Over the past month, I’ve noticed a TON of changes. POI markers are being moved to their correct locations, names and information for POIs are being corrected, and tons of places are being added that simply weren’t there before. I don’t know if it’s merely coincidence, but A LOT of these changes are the exact ones that I’ve been reporting to Apple.
And I’ve noticed this happening on a weekly cycle. It seems like every Friday, a whole bunch of new changes are implemented in my neighborhood. All week, nothing happens, but then when I check on Friday/Saturday, I see that many of the suggestions that I had made during the week were suddenly implemented into the map, and its POIs suddenly look a whole lot better.
The same user also posted to Reddit, where several other have confirmed the same improvements in data and quick turnaround time with corrections.
Apple has made number of mapping-related company acquisitions in the past year, including Broadmap, Hopstop, Locationary, and Embark, and it’s likely those acquisitions will be bundled into a future Maps update.
Solowheel unicycles are now cheaper and lighter, but still hard to tame
I’m not going to lie: Various parts of my body are still in agony as I’m typing up this article. Yesterday, I attended Inventist’s Beijing event where it launched four new Solowheel electric unicycles, as well as the two-wheeled Hovertrax. And in case you didn’t get my hint, yes, I had the fortune of test riding some of these human transporters afterwards. For those who aren’t familiar with the Solowheel, imagine this: it’s like a Segway but sans handle and only with one wheel between your legs, so you’d have to work harder to tame the self-balancing mechanism. If you’re already a unicyclist then this shouldn’t be a problem at all.
The new range of Solowheels start from a much lower price point than the original $1,995 version. First, we have the Spirit, which is essentially the original version modernized with a more stylish look, a more powerful 1,500W motor (instead of 1,000W) and better battery cells. It also packs new features like headlights, tail lights plus Bluetooth connectivity for tracking its speed, mileage and battery status in its upcoming mobile app and dedicated wearable device. Surprisingly, the Spirit only costs $1,199.
Then we have the $1,499 Cruise, which is essentially just a prettier version of the Spirit with color customization option. Next up is the $2,199 Xtreme, which is a ruggedized model with a larger 18-inch wheel plus a sturdier 1,800W motor, but lacking headlights and a kickstand. All three models can reach a top speed of 16km/h and can go as far as 25km after a full two-hour charge (or just one hour with the optional rapid charger). On a related note, the Solowheels have regenerative braking and gliding with up to 70 percent efficiency.
The $2,599 Orbit is the odd one out of the four Solowheels, and it can be considered as the company’s new flagship product. While the other three models weigh between 11kg and 12kg, this one is just 6kg thanks to its hollow center, yet it packs a whopping 2,000W motor and still manages the same top speed of 16km/h. Its smaller battery is actually tucked underneath the fixed pedals (the other models have foldable pedals), and while it offers a shorter 12km range, it takes half the time to charge up fully, plus it still supports energy regeneration. Other tradeoffs include the lack of lights, waterproofing, kickstand, battery indicator and double-layered casing; but otherwise, the Orbit should suffice as an everyday short commute vehicle. The high price also reflects the not-so-obvious technological challenges Inventist faced during the two years spent developing the Orbit.
Last but not least, there’s the $1,199 Hovertrax which breaks away from the Solowheel series. In fact, Inventist already unveiled this in May last year for its Kickstarter campaign, though it has yet to start shipping to backers. You can think of this two-wheeled device as a mini handle-less Segway that you can store in a backpack. Unlike the Solowheels, there’s no steep learning curve here: You control the speed by again leaning forward or backward, and you change the direction by simply twisting the Hovertrax with your feet. With a full half-hour rapid charge, this vehicle can cover up to 15km but with a top speed of just 8km/h — which, as I found out during my test ride, is a necessary speed cap due to the sharp turns it can make.
Inventist claims that most people will get the hang of its Solowheels in 15 to 20 minutes, but I was struggling a lot even almost 20 minutes later, as you can see in the above video. At the beginning, I was told to start by pushing the Solowheel with one of my legs, as if I was on a mini scooter. But my legs and waist quickly grew tired as I struggled to stay balanced while pushing at the same time. It was a similar painful sensation I felt in my early days of learning ice skating. Without any handles to hold onto, my arms were everywhere which probably didn’t help, either; though I only realized this when watching my hands-on video clips. Eventually, I gave up. My muscles were aching and I had a flight to catch, but I wouldn’t mind giving it a go again with proper shoes instead of sandals.
Washington-based Inventist told us that we can expect these devices to hit the Chinese market in about two months’ time, and interestingly, South Korea is the next Asian country to prep a major launch. Shane Chen, the company’s founder and chief inventor, added that the Solowheel has a strong following in both the US and China, so it shouldn’t be long before these new unicycles show up stateside as well.
Filed under: Transportation
AIVAnet 