Smarter in-vehicle charging: Mpow 3-port car charger
Your time spent in a vehicle can be the perfect opportunity to refuel your devices. Driving down the highway, cool breeze through your hair, singing Billy Joel while your phone’s revived back to life is one of life’s little pleasures.
Of course, to partake in this feeling requires a powerful and reliable car charger. This offering, from Mpow, proves to be the next step in the evolution of vehicle chargers.
The Mpow 3-Port Intelligent Car Charger boasts something most other chargers lack: intuition. It supports both 12V & 18V inputs and is able to detect and identify the device being charged. As a result of this recognition, the Mpow determines the appropriate speed and power for optimal performance.
Built with sturdiness in mind, this charger supports 2 tablets and a smartphone, simultaneously. While this would be a great buy in the neighborhood of $30, AndroidGuys readers can grab this deal, today, for only $13.99!
See more at deals.androidguys.com
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Sony’s latest high-end superzoom shoots in 4K
The new Sony Cybershot RX10 II has huge boots to fill, as the original RX10 superzoom is one of the best cameras we’ve ever seen. To up the ante, Sony has piled on a lot of new features, with the splashiest being 4k video. Like the flagship A7R II and compact RX100 IV, the RX10 II now captures 3,840 x 2,160 video by reading out the entire 1-inch, 20.2-megapixel sensor. It then oversamples at 4K or 1080p to maximize sharpness and minimize moire and anti-aliasing. To top it off, you can shoot in nearly full HD at a stellar 240fps, or up to 1,000fps at an effective resolution of 800 x 270. Sony points out that it would take about 80 seconds to play back just 2 seconds of video shot at that speed.
The “speed” theme continues with other aspects of the camera, as well. The new “stacked” 1.0 type sensor has a built in DRAM chip, allowing five times faster readout than the previous model. That gives it a crazy maximum 1/32,000 second shutter, combined with a 14fps continuous shooting speed. Sony says the new tech also eliminates a lot of rolling shutter on fast moving subjects. Speaking of which, the RX10 II is equipped with a new XGA OLED electronic viewfinder (“Tru-Finder,” in Sony’s nomenclature) and an updated contrast detection autofocus system that can lock on in 0.09 seconds.
The new model keeps the same Zeiss 24-200mm (35mm equivalent) constant F/2.8 zoom lens, which is a good thing, because it’s superb. The body is nearly identical to the original with a decidedly DSLR look instead of the classic body of other mirrorless and fixed-lens models. If the RX10 II sounds like it’s up your alley, brace yourself, though. It arrives in July at a gasp-worthy $1,300, the same price as the original RX10 at launch. Still, Sony has updated it with a lot of really nice features, and for now, no other superzoom can touch it.
Source: Sony
Future Range Rovers could tell the city about local potholes
Jaguar Land Rover has revealed that it’s working on technology that’ll alert the authorities whenever your car finds a bump in the road. It’s one of several high-tech initiatives the outfit has been working on, including heads-up displays in the windshield and “transparent” cars. Once an issue, like a pothole or broken drain, has been discovered, its location will be uploaded to the authorities who can then send a maintenance crew to come fix it. In the meantime, the information can be shared with nearby vehicles so that motorists in the vicinity can avoid damaging their car.
The company has been testing this system out with a specially modified Range Rover Evoque. It’s hoped that, with the addition of a forward-facing camera, the ride will even be able to spot potholes in the road ahead. That way, the fancy SUV can adjust its suspension settings to ensure that well-heeled passengers won’t feel a bump. Of course, this crowdsourced data will also be useful in making self-driving cars aware of future problems so that they can steer around them. Right now, of course, this is just a fancy tech demo allied with some lofty promises, but maybe in a few decades time we’ll see this tech in real Range Rovers — if so, we’d better start saving up right now.
Filed under: Transportation
Source: Jaguar
Way before Apple Watch and Android Wear, there was Casio
Casio might be only lightly involving itself in the current boom in smartwatches and wearables, but the company still makes plenty of money from its G-Shock series and rugged outdoor watches. That’s not to say the company hasn’t experienced a combination of hits and misses: Casio would say it “pioneered” a huge array of features in its digital watches over the decades, many of which have returned — in a more appealing or functional form — in smartwatches today. I crammed GPS into a watch in 1999, lashed a rumble-pack to its early gaming watch and even made a waterproof watch that warns you’ve been out in the sun too long. And that’s just the beginning. Smartwatches may be capable of much more, but credit is due for how Casio was tackling these features decades (too) early. Niche? Yes. Fascinating? You bet.
Filed under: Wearables
Foxconn Exploring Locations for iPhone and iPad Manufacturing Facilities in India [iOS Blog]
Apple manufacturing partner Foxconn plans to travel to India and explore possible locations to reopen production facilities in the country, in a move that could bring iPhone assembly and potentially lower prices to the emerging market. Reuters reports that Foxconn could benefit from lower production costs in India as wages continue to increase in China, where the majority of its operations are currently based.
“Foxconn is sending a delegation of their officers to scout for locations in a month’s time,” Subhash Desai, Industries Minister of India’s western state Maharashtra, told Reuters. The report claims Foxconn plans to build 10-12 facilities in India, such as factories and data centers, by 2020, although the Taiwan-based company has not provided any further details about its plans.
The return of Foxconn would provide an economic boost for India, which continues to rival neighboring China in the technology sector. The manufacturing company was forced to close shop in India last year after losing client Nokia, but now eyes a return to the country with plans to manufacture iPhones, iPads and iPods.
“A return of Foxconn — which was forced to shut up shop in India last year after client Nokia closed — would be a major victory for India, which badly needs to turn its tech boom into a manufacturing and employment boost.
India, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has sought to reboot manufacturing, but the country is yet to rival China, particularly in technology where most factories will likely be assembly units to begin with.”
Foxconn assembles iPhones, iPads and a number of other products for Apple, one of its main clients, and also serves as a manufacturing partner with other consumer electronics makers such as Xiaomi, Acer and Sony. Its main competitors include Taiwanese Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and Quanta Computer.
Looks like Hangouts 4.0 is right around the corner
Although Google introduced Material Design over a year ago, not all of their apps have been blessed with the updated UI changes. Hangouts is one of these apps, but with some leaked screenshots from the folks over at AndroidPolice, it seems that these changes aren’t far away.
In a few screenshots that were posted last night, Hangouts will receive the Material Design makeover with version 4.0 of the app. Gone is the three column layout, instead opting for a one-screen layout. It seems that there will be a floating action button, which is where you can start new conversations from. Using this FAB, you will also be able to quickly pull up your recent contacts for quick messaging.
There are also other subtle changes in the UI that can be found everywhere. The conversation screen itself has also received an update, with dedicated buttons for emoji, pictures, stickers, and more. The Hangouts 4.0 update also makes it easier for you to change your status, which was somewhat of a pain before.
However, with this leaked update, it seems that Google is finally getting their collective acts together in terms of Hangouts. Hopefully once released, there won’t be any issues with any bugs or anything like that. The whole concept of Material Design has grown on me since its announcement last year. So much so that I wish there were more apps on both iOS and Google that took advantage of the UI concept.
What do you think about the new changes that are more than likely coming to Hangouts? What changes do you think need to be made to make the app better overall, not counting just the UI? Let us know your thoughts about Hangouts 4.0 in the comments below.
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Location Aware Search lets you ask Google about places around you
Have you ever been vacationing in a new city, and had questions about a specific building or monument that you were standing in front of? Before we would have to pull out our phones, and use the Google app to try and figure out the answer to whatever we wanted to know. Then you had to worry about spelling everything correctly, which for some, is a task in itself.
Google has quietly rolled out a new feature called Location Aware Search that allows you to use voice commands within the Google Search app to find out different pieces of information. For example, you are standing in front of the St. Johns Cathedral, and want to know when it was built. Open up Google and just ask “When was this building built?” and Google will provide you the answer.
Location Aware Search doesn’t rely on any specifics other than where you currently are. Meaning that you don’t need to be anymore specific than using phrases like “this place” or “this monument”. Google showed off Location Aware Search earlier in the week at the SMX Paris conference.
Some other examples of phrases that Google will recognize when using Location Aware Search are:
- What is this museum?
- When does this restaurant open?
- How tall is this? (when standing next to a tower)
- When was this built? (for monuments)
- What’s the name of this church?
- What’s the phone number for this pharmacy?
Not only can Location Aware Search be handy while you’re vacationing, but there are obvious use-cases for when it would be useful in your every day life. You can now just simply find out information on your local grocers or your favorite stores, without having to do anything but using your voice.
Let us know what you think about Location Aware Search in the comments below. If you get a few minutes today, go ahead and give a whirl and see how well Google’s latest search feature works.
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Unreal Engine 4 is (sort of) coming to Wii U and PS Vita
Long-time Castlevania producer Koji Igarashi is currently Kickstarting a spiritual sequel to the series called Bloodstained. Thanks to the overwhelming response to the campaign — it’s now the highest-grossing videogame Kickstarter ever — the game is coming to PS Vita and Wii U. While that’s great news for fans of the genre, the knock-on effect of the port could be huge. Bloodstained is being built using Unreal Engine 4 (UE4), and Armature Studio, the developer in charge of the Vita and Wii U versions, will be the first to port the popular engine to the platforms. Why’s that so important? Well, both consoles are currently unsupported, and Armature says it will share its Vita and Wii U code with any developer authorised to create games for the systems, potentially opening the door for many more ports of UE4-powered games in the future.
Before you roll your eyes at the idea of UE4 running on “underpowered” hardware, it’s worth taking a look at Armature’s pedigree. It was responsible for the Vita versions of Metal Gear Solid, Injustice: Gods Among Us and The Unfinished Swan. With a wealth of experience developing for the Vita — and experience with the Wii U as well — it’s unlikely the studio would be attempting the port if it didn’t think it was possible. If you want to know more about the effort, Armature’s technical director and co-founder Jack Mathews talked Gamasutra through the the company’s plans for porting the engine.
Filed under: Gaming, Sony, Nintendo
Source: Kickstarter
This robot will take sick kids on a virtual trip to the zoo
If everything goes to plan, the mildly terrifying robot in the image above could bring joy to some deserving children later this year. Robots For Good is a nonprofit initiative that’s building a robot for, well, good. The aim is to create a bot that can be controlled remotely by a hospital-bound child, allowing them to see places they are physically incapable of visiting by themselves.
Robots For Good is utilizing a number of existing technologies to build its bot. The core comes from two open-source projects: the 3D-printable robot InMoov and OpenWheels, a free-to-build version of the Segway. The cameras that form the robot’s eyes are linked remotely to another familiar piece of tech: the Oculus Rift VR headset. Essentially, the team is creating an open-source, highly advanced telepresence bot (dubbed the “InMoov Explorer”), and putting it to use for a truly deserving cause.
When finished (hopefully this fall), the bot will journey to London Zoo in partnership with Great Ormond Street, London’s foremost children’s hospital. The kids there will be able to put on a VR headset and control the robot remotely, letting them get up close with the zoo’s animals without leaving their hospital beds. That’s the goal at least. As you can see from the image below, the team has a long way to go.
The bot can theoretically be built at scale for around $2,500, but Robots For Good has no formal funding, instead relying on volunteers and philanthropic companies for help. So far it’s working. It has the support of partners that will obviously benefit from the exposure, such as open-source hardware startup Wevolver and 3D-printing company Ultimaker. From those two partnerships alone, it’s been able to loan 3D printers and filament to actually build the robot, and foster partnerships with hackspaces and other interested individuals.
Wevolver’s importance can’t be understated. Both InMoov and OpenWheels are hosted on the company’s site, and it’s currently drumming up support for the project with an open exhibition in the center of London. Anyone can drop by and check out how far Robots For Good has come so far, and talk to a member of the team to find out how they can get involved. Depending on the number of people that sign up, the robot could gain more features. One idea floated by the team is to attach a Leap Motion to the VR headset, which would allow the child to control the bot remotely with gestures. It’s all a matter of time, and how many person-hours can be devoted to the project.
The finished robot should look like this.
Perhaps that’s what makes Robots For Good so exciting: Everything is open-source, and can easily be replicated from anywhere in the world. There’s nothing stopping you from building InMoov, or OpenWheels, and there’ll be nothing stopping you from taking all of the team’s work to build your own robot companion once they’re done. For now, the focus is on completing the robot and brightening a few kids’ days. But one day, there could be an army of volunteer bots all around the world, doing a whole lot of good.
Google Slides adds Chromecast support for your next presentation
Fancy Google Slides over PowerPoint for your super exciting presentations? Well, if you’ve been using a cord to get your work on the big screen in the office, that task is about to get a whole lot easier. The folks over at Android Police discovered that with a forthcoming update, Slides will allow you to beam your info for all to see to a Chromecast from an Android device. On the desktop, you can already leverage Google’s diminutive dongle for presentations thanks to the Google Cast Chrome extension.
Once you select the streaming accessory, the app turns into a remote control of sorts, offering a timer to let you know how long you’ve been on the current slide. It also displays a thumbnail for the current slide in addition to a small preview for both the previous one and next item in the queue. The feature hasn’t made it to the app yet, but if you don’t want to wait, you can nab the APK via the source link below. With this being the Android APK, there’s no indication when the feature will arrive for Slides on iOS, but I’d guess it’ll happen soon enough.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Software, Google
Source: Android Police
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