Sony announces IMX318 image sensor with hybrid AF and image stabilization

Sony continues to lead the industry with its Exmor RS image sensors and the company has just announced its latest IMX318 CMOS sensor for smartphones. The new camera component boasts built-in hybrid autofocus, a staple of Sony’s latest high-end Exmor RS chips, and 3-axis electronic image stabilization.

The IMX318 is the direct successor to Sony’s IMX230 and is a 22.5 megapixel 1/2.6 size sensor, featuring a smaller 1.0μm pixel size. However, Sony says that these smaller pixels don’t affect the image quality, as its engineers have employed manufacturing technology that improves light utilization efficiency and have improved the overall circuit design to eliminate noise. Noise is typically the leading problem in tightly packed image sensors with small pixel sizes, due to circuit crosstalk and poorer light sensitivity.

Sony’s latest hybrid autofocus technology, which is based on a combination of image plane phase detection autofocus and contrast detection AF, allows for focusing times as fast as 0.03 seconds. For video enthusiasts out there, the IMX318 supports 4K capture at 30fps and features electronic image stabilization to reduce camera shake and lens distortion. The IMX318 is actually the first stacked CMOS image sensor to build these features directly into the signal processor.

Check out the videos below for a quick demonstration of what all this tech talk actually means for capturing better looking pictures and video.

Although Sony is still the biggest player in the smartphone CMOS image sensor market, the division recently reported a 12.6 percent year-on-year decline in profits. This was due to slowing Sony smartphone sales and falling demand from external customers. Perhaps the cutting edge features in the IMX318 will give Sony’s sensor business a needed boost this year.

The IMX318 is scheduled to begin shipping out to manufacturers in May 2016 and could appear in smartphones set for release in the latter half of the year.

Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge leaked and listed for sale online

Dubizzle

The Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge have just been leaked in full and listed for sale on a website for the equivalent of $1,140 and $1,225 respectively. Perhaps not surprisingly, this is far from official but the devices – complete with boxes – certainly look legit.

See also: Samsung Galaxy S7 rumor roundup: release date, price, specs, features72

Dubizzle

The two devices, along with the LG G5, were listed on a classifieds site in Dubai called Dubizzle with the claim they were “imported from US” with valid IMEIs. It’s impossible to tell if they are the real deal or not some elaborate scam, but they’re certainly compelling, complete with charger, microUSB cable (rather than USB Type-C), what looks to be an adapter (perhaps for Type-C) and a mystery box that might contain headphones or be anther charger.

Dubizzle

If you’re of the “blindly throw money at something exciting whether it’s true or not” character, then you can hit the link below to visit the site and throw some money at these phones. Something tells me they’re not going to be sticking around very long, and we sure hope whoever buys them helps us get to the bottom of this very peculiar leak.

What do you think, are these legit?

Exposed: Legitimate-looking LG G5 poses for pics

It is now less than a week until February 21st, The Day when Samsung will Unpack its latest products, LG will show something special, and even Huawei is now trying to get in on the action. All this before Monday the 22nd when Mobile World Congress actually begins! With such a short amount of time remaining, it’s only natural that product leaks have taken a major leap.

Courtesy of the classified section of Dubai’s Dubizzle (think Criagslist) comes what appears to be the LG G5 in the flesh…well actually in a box to be specific:

The seller apparently claims (1) the device was imported from the USA, (2) is brand new, and (3) has a valid IMEI number according to the page listing which can be found here. Noticeably missing is the physical retail packaging, however as the device – if real – is likely to be a review unit or promotional item that has been supplied sans the final box. It is also unknown if the accessories are included (perhaps under the phone) or missing.

The seller is apparently asking AED 2,500, which is roughly $680, for the device. Curiously this is not much more than the final real-deal might sell for so if this is an authentic product, it would be potentially a good deal, especially given the promise of having it before anyone else does.

The phone does look to be real, and includes a rear fingerprint sensor, the dual-camera arrangement, and the power and volume buttons re-mapped to the sides of the device where they were before the LG G2 put the business in back. The phone also looks to be made of metal, and may even have a removable bottom portion (note the segmented area) that could potentially allow users to change the battery or add components if the rumors of a so-called “modular” Magic Slot port hold true.

As the screen is not powered on, the presence of a second screen “ticker display” like that seen in the LG V10 and rumored to be present on the G5 can not be confirmed or denied. Likewise it is not possible to see the touted “Always On” display that is supposed to be included as well.

Curiously around the same time as this classified ad appeared on Dubizzle, so too did a separate one for the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, both of which are significantly more expensive than this LG G5 offering.

Adding to the intrigue, the Galaxy S7 has also appeared on Dubizzle…

Dubizzle

LG G5 (rumored) spec summary

In recent weeks, details about the LG G5’s specs have become much more of an unknown “known” quantity. Thanks to a Venture Beat post from legendary leaker Evan Blass (@evleaks), the phone is supposed to have a 5.3-inch LCD display, which would make it slightly smaller than the 5.5-inch screen of the G4. The phone is said to have the same “ticker” display secondary screen that was made famous in the V10 and have a resolution of 160 X 1040 pixels.

The LG G5 will be powered by Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 820 processor, the same chip that will power the Galaxy S7 (some variants). The silicon is based on a smaller, more efficient process and features Qualcomm’s customized Kryo CPU cores and a high octane GPU, thus it is expected to be quite powerful, though hopefully not as “hot” as last year’s chip. The Snapdragon 820 will be paired with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, and customers will be pleased to know that, despite having a metal body, a microSD card slot will be present.

As today’s leak seemingly confirms, the G5 will allegedly use a dual camera arrangement on the rear of the device, taking inspiration from the dual front cameras present on the V10. With dual cameras you can compose very wide shots as well as other potential software magic.

The battery is supposedly going to be smaller than last year’s model: just 2,800mAh as opposed to the G4’s 3,000mAh. The device is expected to have Quick Charge support, wireless charging support, and via the Magic Slot, a replaceable battery:

Other noteworthy features rumored include an IR blaster mounted at the top, a USB Type C port, and a speaker mounted on the bottom of the phone. A high resolution audio chip is likely to be present.

Like the Galaxy S7, the LG G5 will support advanced uplink carrier aggregation technology currently being deployed by SK Telecom in South Korea. This will allow users in markets that support this technology to enjoy better connectivity for applications like video calling thanks to the presence of increased upload speeds.

Wrap Up

With this latest – and possibly greatest – leak comes an almost sure-fire guarantee that the various leaked images contained in the spec part of this story do indeed match up. Of course nothing is truly official until LG itself makes it so come Sunday, so to be on the safe side make sure the salt shaker is sufficiently iodized.

With that said, we want to hear your thoughts! Do these new leaked images look legitimate? Is the seller asking too little for the potential privlidge of being the first in the world to own the phone? Leave us yout thoughts in the comments section below!

 

Sony UK: Marshmallow heading to Xperia phones from March 7th

Xperia handset owners have been patiently waiting for Android 6.0 Marshmallow to make its way to their smartphones and it looks like the wait could soon be over for some customers. The Sony Xperia GB Twitter feed has broken its update silence, hinting that Marshmallow could start arriving by March 7th 2016.

The tweet also reveals that the update is scheduled for the Xperia Z5 series, the Z4 Tablet and the Z3+. Sony has a habit of releasing big batch updates for its device, so it’s possible that a few more handsets may be included by the time we reach March. Sony has previously promised to bring Marshmallow to a wide range of its devices.

@FalseNugget it’s set to roll out from March 7th for Xperia Z5 series, Z4 Tablet and Z3+ – we will share confirmed timings when its ready

— Sony Xperia GB (@sonyxperiagb) February 15, 2016

Although Sony hasn’t been providing much in the way of information about its Marshmallow update plans, the company has been working away on its Concept for Android software. Sony also recently announced a Marshmallow beta program for the Xperia Z2, Xperia Z3, and Xperia Z3 Compact in Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands, suggesting that its next official Android update is nearing the final stages of development.

The March 7th release date is still a little while away, so it is probably best to take this revelation as a rough guide rather than a guaranteed deadline. Still, at least we know that the update is nearing. Just sit tight.

Samsung Galaxy S7 rumor roundup: release date, price, specs, features

The Samsung Galaxy S7 is the most anticipated smartphone of early 2016. The Galaxy S7’s specs, price, and release date will be the subject of heavy speculation ahead of its official unveiling on February 21.

If you’re excited about Samsung’s next flagship release, we’re here to bring you all the credible info on the Galaxy S7 in one neat package.

Keep it tuned, as this post will be updated often in the weeks leading up to the Galaxy S7 release.

• Samsung Galaxy Note 5 review
• Samsung Galaxy S6 review: the change we’ve been waiting for

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Version history

• Update – February 16. Added several leaked images and press renders, as well as official confirmation of some features.
• Update – February 2. Added the official info on the February 21 unpacked event, leaked renders, and more.
• Update – January 21. Added new details on waterproofing rumors, some changes in screen size, and a few other tweaks. 
• Update – December 29. Added info on improved software optimization and the alleged existence of two different screen sizes.
• Update – December 14. Added info from the recent WSJ report on the Galaxy S7.
• Update – December 11. Added a new video allegedly showing a CAD-based rendering of the Galaxy S7 Plus.
• Initial release – December 9. Everything you need to know about the Samsung Galaxy S7.

Before we start

Every bit of Galaxy S7 info is hot commodity, and it’s easy to see why. While Samsung’s days of massive growth may be over, the Galaxy S series remains the best selling and most representative Android smartphone. Millions of people see Android through Samsung’s lens, making the Galaxy S7 a hugely influential device.

The massive interest in the Galaxy S7 means that every last detail of the Galaxy S7 release date or specs will be sought out, extracted, analyzed, interpreted, hashed, and rehashed by dozens of publications, some more credible than others. Almost inevitably, some false information will make its way to the public.

While we do our best to avoid the questionable stuff, please keep in mind that, lacking confirmation from Samsung, we’re dealing with rumors and speculation.

Background

Samsung’s rise to the top of the mobile industry has followed closely the ascent of the Galaxy S series. From the original Galaxy S, to the road opening S2, to the breakout S3 and the record-setting S4, the series turned Samsung into a behemoth. But, with clout and profits, came arrogance, and the weak performance of Galaxy S5 was proof that the market punishes companies that think they’re too big to fail.

Samsung tried hard to make up the lost ground with the Galaxy S6, a phone that finally brought “premium” materials to the series, coupled with top features and a toned-down software experience. But it was the Galaxy S6 Edge that really caught our eye. The dual curves of the phone gave Samsung a way to set itself apart from the dozens of nimble, aggressive competitors.

Popular as the Edge turned out to be, the market has moved on, and Samsung had to hurry the Galaxy Note 5 out to shore up another mediocre sales year. It’s telling that Samsung din not trumpet any sales milestone for its flagships this year.

And that brings us to the Galaxy S7. The stakes are even bigger for Samsung this time around, because the Galaxy S7 probably won’t have the benefit of a brand new design. More worrying for Samsung, a formidable opponent rose to prominence this year. Huawei is dominating China and making itself known in the West, making Samsung’s situation even more complicated.

Of course, Samsung isn’t just giving up without a fight. The conglomerate recently changed the head of its Mobile division. Outgoing JK Shin was replaced by Dong-jin Ko, who didn’t mince words in his first statement: “next year will be tough.”

Galaxy S7 release date

Let’s play the “guess the release date” game. Looking at the past generations of the Galaxy S series, the S4, S5, and S6 were announced between late February and mid-March. The Galaxy S4 had its standalone launch event in New York, while the Galaxy S5 and Galaxy S6 were revealed on the sidelines of MWC Barcelona.

Judging on history alone, one could bet that Samsung will introduce the Galaxy S7 right before MWC, which in 2016 will be held on February 22 to 25. In that case, Sunday, February 21 looks like a good guess for the Galaxy S7 launch.

It was rumored that Samsung may choose to release the Galaxy S7 earlier than usual, just like it did with the Galaxy Note 5, which arrived three weeks ahead its regular schedule. At the time, reports suggested Samsung released the Note 5 early because it wanted to avoid the fierce fall competition and to make up for the less than stellar sales of the Galaxy S6. It looks like that won’t happen with the S7.

Twitter “leaker” @ricciolo1 claims that “nothing has changed” and that MWC Barcelona remain the time and place where Samsung will reveal the Galaxy S7. According to sources cited by WSJ, the Galaxy S7 will become available in the US in mid-March. The report says the device is “expected” to launch on the sidelines of MWC 2016. This is a very credible report, though the wording leaves some room for interpretation when it comes to the date of the launch event. Several reports that came out of Korea point to a MWC release for the Galaxy S7 and the S7 Edge.

The rumors were officially confirmed on February 1, when Samsung sent out invites for its pre-MWC Samsung Unpacked event in Barcelona. The event, which will see the release of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge will take place on Sunday, February 21 (same day as the LG G5 launch) from 7PM.

As for the actual release date of the device, @evleaks hinted that the Galaxy S7 may become available in the United States on March 11. The same release date was mentioned in a Naver report published the next day. It looks like the Galaxy S7 will be released in Europe on March 11 as well.

Watch:

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Galaxy S7 price and availability

According to rumors out of China, the Galaxy S7 may be 10% cheaper than the Galaxy S6 at launch. The caveat is we’ve heard similar rumors in the past, and at the end of the day Samsung’s flagships remained as expensive as always.

Unless Samsung decides to sacrifice profits for market share, we expect the Galaxy S7 to be priced in the typical $600-$700 (unlocked) price range.

As for availability, there’s a small possibility that Samsung will withhold the Galaxy S7 from some markets, like it did with the Note 5 in Europe. But that’s just speculation and unlikely to happen.

As mentioned above, the Galaxy S7 will ship from March 11 in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Pre-orders are rumored to start right after the launch event, with a free Gear VR thrown in to early customers.

See also: Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ review79

Samsung Galaxy S7 specs

With the Galaxy S6, Samsung made some divisive decisions: most controversially, the microSD and removable battery were sacrificed on the altar of design. Will Samsung do an about face with the S7? Should we expect other controversial choices?

Display

Prediction: ~5.1-inch SAMOLED Quad HD (1440 x 2560 pixels), Gorilla Glass 4 OR 5.5-inch SAMOLED Quad HD

The latest rumors indicate that the Samsung Galaxy S7 will stick with the same 5.1-inch screen of its predecessor, though early rumors suggested that the size might bump to 5.2-inches. The rumor mill stands behind the claim that the Galaxy S7 Edge model will change screen size however. If the reports are correct, the Edge will have the same QHD resolution as the standard model, but will offer a larger 5.5-inch screen.

We don’t think Samsung will come up with a 4K display, like Sony – sort of – did with the Xperia Z5. It’s simply too soon, and the drawbacks outweigh the benefits, at least for now.

Processor & RAM

Prediction: Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 (USA, China); Samsung Exynos 8890 (Europe, Asia); 4GB RAM.

This section is also fairly predictable. Several reports suggest that Samsung will once again use a mix of Qualcomm and Exynos chips. According to Electronic Times, Samsung plans to use the Snapdragon 820 in the US and China, and the in-house Exynos 8890 in other markets. Either choice should provide great performance, despite alarmist rumors about overheating issues.

Given that the Note 5 has 4GB of RAM, Samsung will probably use the same amount on the Galaxy S6, though it’s possible it will stick with 3GB, which is still very good.

Storage

Prediction: 32/64GB, microSD for Galaxy S7 only.

The Galaxy S6 came with a pricey 128GB version, but Samsung dropped the option for the Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 Edge+. It’s possible that the 128GB model was a sales failure, and Samsung considered that not enough people want that much storage. If that’s the case, it’s likely that the Galaxy S7 will be offered in 32GB and 64GB  models only.

There’s a rumor from a Chinese leaker (with a few good reports under their belt) that Samsung has “listened to the customers’ voice” and decided to bring back the microSD card slot to the Galaxy S7. There’s no technical reason why Samsung couldn’t do that, and indeed that seems like a good way to win (back) some customers. But would Samsung change its mind so easily?

According to the WSJ, Samsung will bring back the microSD slot, but only on the regular Galaxy S7. Presumably, the curved design of the Galaxy S7 Edge doesn’t allow for a slot.

Cameras

Prediction: 12MP ISOCELL shooter, 5MP front cam

The WSJ reports that the Galaxy S7 camera will bring big improvements in low-light photography. The camera will be flush with the body of the device, according to the same source.

Two distinct rumors about the main camera on the Galaxy S7 surfaced in early November. The first one claims that Samsung is going to source the sensor from Sony, the undisputed leader of the sensor industry. Samsung is reportedly interested in the Sony IMX300, the 25MP sensor used in the Xperia Z5. According to the second rumor, Samsung is going to use an in-house ISOCELL sensor of just 12MP, but with larger pixels, for improved low-light sensitivity. The most recent rumors seem to speak up in favor of a switch back to ISOCELL technology for their latest flagship.

So, which rumor is correct? We tend towards the one pegging the Sony IMX300 sensor, but we’ll definitely need more supporting evidence in this area. One Korean source said the camera experience is where we should look for real improvements in the Galaxy S7, so signs are promising.

Battery

Prediction: 3000 or 3600mAh 

The Galaxy S6 has a decent, but not great 2,550-mAh battery, and in real life, screen on time is typically unimpressive. Is Samsung going to be doing something about it? Sure sounds like it. The latest rumor indicates that the Galaxy S7 will offer a 3000 mAh non-removable battery, with the S7 Edge jumping up to a 3600mAh battery. The larger battery in the S7 Edge makes sense, considering the screen (and therefore body) is said to be bigger as well.

The 3600 mAh battery of the Galaxy S7 Edge was confirmed in this FCC listing.

Fast charging and wireless charging will also most definitely be making a comeback. According to sources talking to WSJ, the Galaxy S7 will be able to get to a full day’s charge in just 30 minutes, or faster in some conditions.

See also: Wireless charging technology: what you need to know27

Connectivity

Prediction: LTE Cat. 12

All versions of the Galaxy S7 are expected to support LTE Cat 12 download speeds, which means that, in ideal conditions, download speeds can reach 600Mbps. In real life, you probably won’t be able to get anywhere near these theoretical high speeds.

Galaxy S7 features

Samsung took software in a much improved direction starting with the Galaxy S6, but recent rumors suggest that this is only the beginning. Reportedly Samsung is working with Google engineers to optimize TouchWiz to levels that will “rival iOS”. While that’s a pretty lofty claim, the idea of an even faster, smoother TouchWiz is certainly an appealing one. As for what else we can expect?

Samsung Pay and the fingerprint sensor will make a return, probably in improved forms. In terms of new stuff, one Chinese source claims that Samsung will integrate Synaptics’ ClearForce technology, a force-sensing solution. If that’s accurate, Samsung may be taking another page from Apple’s book – 3D Touch. Synaptics announced that ClearForce will be arriving in smartphones in early 2016, but for now, we are taking this report with a big grain of salt. Incidentally or not, Samsung has a patent on a force sensing implementation.

On December 14, WSJ reported that the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge will indeed feature a pressure sensing display. The publication did not specify whether this technology is supplied by Synaptics or other vendor. Another feature that could be made available on some versions of the phone is retina scanning. This feature analyzes the pattern of the blood vessels in the retina, which is unique to every person. The report suggests this retina scanning feature could be similar with the feature found on some ZTE devices called Eyeprint ID. This uses the front camera to scan the retina. To be clear, this feature is not set in stone, and Samsung may choose not to include it.

Another ace in Samsung’s sleeve may be the use of a “super-high performance, 32-Bit Stereo DAC targeted at audiophile-grade mobile applications” from ESS Technology. This chip should provide extended sound range with minimal distortion.

Finally, Samsung will adopt a USB Type C connector for the S7, part of the industry’s general trend towards the new standard.

Galaxy S7 design

After years of criticism, Samsung finally abandoned plastic in favor of metal and glass for the Galaxy S6, to generally enthusiastic response. There’s no doubt that the S6 is the nicest Galaxy S yet, but how will Samsung top that?

We don’t expect any major changes in terms of appearance. Samsung will probably tweak what is already a refined and minimalist design, without departing too much from the Galaxy S6 template. Our hunch is supported by a recent report from the Korea Times, citing a source with knowledge of the matter that had this to say about the Galaxy S7:

“As the S6 and S6 Edge represented progress, the S7 will have improvements both in picture quality, performance and some other new features. But because smartphones have already been commoditized, you don’t need to spend more on a surface overhaul…The key point is can consumers enjoy content with enhanced viewing quality and boosted processing speed.”

Assuming there will be any visual changes to speak of, Samsung will probably just redraw accents like the camera and the home button, and perhaps offer some new finishes. At least one rumor claims that Samsung will seal things up a bite tighter though, allowing for waterproofing with the latest flagship. This rumor was then confirmed when Samsung Indonesia published a teaser page that mentioned waterproofing as one of the key features of the Galaxy S7.

On December 10, @Onleaks released a video showing renders based on alleged CAD schematics of the Galaxy S7 Plus, a 6-inch version of the S7. The French leaker claims that his report was fully independent from the one from GSMArena.com. If that’s the case, there’s an increased chance that the design seen in these leaks is legit, though we’ll need further confirmation.

On December 14, WSJ reported that the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge won’t bring “major departures” and the changes will be “less striking” compared to last year.

Finally, @evleaks put out several credible images alleged to be press renders of the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 Edge.

The images show a design that resembles the Galaxy S6/Edge closely.

Two color options are visible, gold for the Galaxy S7 Edge and “all-black” for the Galaxy S7.

A series of hands-on images of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge leaked over the past days. Here’s a selection:

 

Galaxy S7 Edge

2015 has been the year of the Edge. After an experimental phase with the Note Edge, Samsung went all in with the Galaxy S6 Edge, and people loved it. The company underestimated demand for the curved smartphone, which reportedly made up half of the total Galaxy S6 sales, compared to the 20% that Samsung had predicted internally. Samsung eventually ramped up production and took the concept further with the 5.7-inch Galaxy S6 Edge+.

Rumors suggest the Galaxy S7 will have a 5.1-inch display, while the Edge will offer a larger 5.5-inch screen. There was also some brief talk about a Galaxy S7 Plus coming in at 6 inches, but it looks like that device was cancelled or that it never existed.

At this stage, it’s hard to say which rumor will prove correct, though our own sources seem to point to two versions only. It’s also worth noting that the WSJ backs the idea of there being both a regular and Edge Galaxy S7, though no word on screen sizes.

Bits and pieces

• Rumored code numbers:
  • Verizon (SM-G930V, SM-G935V)
  • Sprint (SM-G930P, SM-G935P)
  • US Cellular (SM-G930R4, SM-G935R4)
  • AT&T (SM-G930A, SM-G935A)
  • T-Mobile (SM-G930T, SM-G935T)
  • International unlocked (SM-G930F, SM-G935F)
  • China (SM-G9300, SM-G9350)
  • Canada (SM-G930W8, SM-G935W8)
  • Korea (SM-G930 S/K/L, SM-G935 S/K/L)
• Code name: Project Lucky
• Rumored accessories: Glitter Cover, S View Cover, Clear Cover, Keyboard Cover
• Along the Galaxy S7, Samsung will announce an upgrade program, that will allow customers to swap devices every year, in exchange of a monthly fee.
• Following on the Iron Man edition of the Galaxy S6, Samsung is rumored to be preparing a special edition of the Galaxy S7 featuring a Batman vs Superman theme.
• Check out the Galaxy S7 wallpapers!

Wrap up

There you have it – our best guesses of the release date, specs, and features of the Galaxy S7. Nothing is official just yet, and as always, conflicting reports and rumors will surface between now and Samsung’s big launch event next year.

One thing is clear. The Galaxy S7 will be a turning point for Samsung and for the mobile industry.

• Best Android phones (December 2015)
• Android 6.0 Marshmallow updates roundup – December 4, 2015

Sound off

What do you hope to see on the Galaxy S7? And what do you think about our predictions?

Mattel’s new ThingMaker is a $300 3D printer for toys

We’ve been waiting years for 3D printing to finally be simple enough for mainstream consumers — and now, it looks like Mattel might be the first company to make that happen. At NYC’s Toy Fair this weekend, Mattel unveiled ThingMaker, a revival of its 60’s era toy maker using modern 3D printing technology. It’ll also do much more than the original model: Instead of just spitting out fairly simple Creepy Crawlers, you can design complex objects like figurines, jewelry and accessories using the ThingMaker Design app, which Mattel developed together with Autodesk. ThingMaker will start shipping this fall for $300, and Mattel also started taking pre-orders today.

Instead of actually having kids cook toys like its predecessor, an obviously dangerous prospect, the new ThingMaker spits them out just like any other 3D printer. It even locks the printing door when it’s working, and it retracts the printing head after a job, all to protect kids from burning themselves. According to USA Today, Mattel is positioning ThingMaker for kids over 13, and it rates printed objects as safe for children three and over.

Sure, it’s not the first inexpensive 3D printer, but if Mattel manages to make the overall printing and designing experience easy enough for children, it could be on to something huge. It gives kids some early training in 3D design, which will likely be increasingly important over the next few decades. Similar to Minecraft, it’s also an ideal way for kids to use technology creatively. And, if it takes off, you can bet Mattel will make bank from accessory purchases.

Via: USA Today

Barbie’s new Dreamhouse goes full IoT with voice commands

Last year, Mattel debuted its WiFi-enabled Hello Barbie to make playtime a bit more interactive. A connected doll needs an internet-friendly home, too. At this year’s Toy Fair, the company is showing off just that. The Barbie Hello Dreamhouse gives the brand’s namesake her very own smart home that actually connects to the internet and a companion app. That connectivity allows the toy to accept voice commands from kids for tasks ranging from flipping on the lights to operating the elevator. Because of course Barbie has an elevator… duh.

When the weekend arrives, there’s Party Mode that handles the flashing lights and music for all of those end of the week festivities. And yes, you can flip it on with a voice command, too. Party Mode will also turn the stair case into a slide, because time spent walking is better used doing anything else at the Dreamhouse. As you might expect, Barbie’s new home doesn’t come cheap as it’s priced at $299 and expected to hit stores this fall.

What’s more, Barbie’s hopping on the drone bandwagon as well. The $60 Star Light Adventure RC Hoverboard is a tiny remote-controlled drone that will have the doll flying through your living room with ease in an outfit appropriate for said activity. The flying accessory is expected to arrive this fall too, so Barbie fans will have more than one tech-related option to ask Santa for this year.

Source: Toyland, Mashable

BioLite’s latest gear includes a stove, lamp and a pair of solar panels

The smell of burning wood from pot belly stoves and fireplaces is noticeable in some Brooklyn neighborhoods during the winter, but down underneath the Manhattan Bridge overpass at BioLite headquarters it’s business as usual. The company’s been hard at work updating last year’s line of off-the-grid power and cooking gear. That means plenty of design, testing and the occasional conflagration in its “burn lab” to perfect its products. The result of all this sweat and ash includes a new CookStove, PowerLight Mini and a pair of solar panels, which you can pick up at BioLite’s website.

CookStove

With the new CookStove, BioLite opted to leave off the thermoelectric generator used on the last-gen model; it instead has a chargeable battery to power its flame-controlling fans. It’s nearly a half-pound lighter and $30 cheaper than the earlier CampStove, but remains compatible with the existing stove’s accessories. The new edition is said to provide up to 30 hours of flame control when it’s fully charged and, as before, uses biomass (twigs, pinecones, etc.) for fuel. This is the first time BioLite’s engineers designed every component of its fan system in-house, to maximize efficiency. In particular, they constructed a small-scale wind tunnel and used 3D-printed prototypes to finalize the design.

SolarPanel 5/5+

BioLite is offering two versions of its SolarPanel: The 5+ with a battery for storing the sun’s juice for later use and the 5, a sip-as-you-go model acting as a conduit for charging devices without saving anything for later. The company is quick to admit that the selling point isn’t about the solar cell technology (it uses an ultraslim 5W monocrystalline panel) but rather the user interface and design. We’re told you can get a full charge on the 5+ after about two hours of peak sun, but keeping the panel in the ideal position for soaking up rays is the trick. These panels integrate a sundial and 360-degree adjustable kickstand to help you stay on target for maximum exposure as the sun’s angle changes.

A quick test proved the dial’s bullseye a useful method for manually achieving the optimum angle: full frontal sun. BioLite’s in-house engineers even constructed a mechanical stress-tester to put the resilience of its click-stop positionable stand to the test.

PowerLight Mini

This season’s lighting addition is basically a scaled-down version of the PowerLight, although it doesn’t support the daisy-chainable SiteLights. Still, its one of the more versatile items, with a combination of compact design, light output and a 1,350mAh battery to power devices. It’s more of a last-mile solution, though, as I only managed to get a 30-percent boost on my Nexus 5X before it was tapped out.

As a light, the Mini is rated to provide up to 52 hours of illumination (at a low setting). Like the SolarPanel, it also has a rotatable kickstand, but this only spins around about 270 degrees in one direction. When folded flat, it acts as a clip, which can attach to a belt, shirt, jacket or bag for hands-free illumination. (It works great for visibility in a blizzard, although long-term exposure may test the limits of its IPX4 weather resistance rating.) The Mini also comes with a bike clamp so you can easily slot it in as a tail- or headlight for safety and illumination. The output provides various types and levels of light: white (dimmable), white pinspot, red (for night vision) and a white or red strobe.

Radio Flyer’s Tesla Model S for kids hits the sidewalk in May

Thanks to Radio Flyer, your kid can have their very own Tesla Model S this spring. The toymaker teamed up with Elon Musk & Co. to create a version of the all-electric sedan for younger drivers. The Tesla Model S for Kids (catchy name, for sure) retains its EV roots by packing in Flight Speed lithium-ion battery tech. The feature not only increases range — er, playtime — but also makes quick work of the recharging process (as little as 3 hours). The battery is also removable, so you can keep a spare charged up. In fact, the charging unit itself looks an awful lot like those used for the full-size cars, and it connects to the kids version in a similar fashion.

There’s actually a lot of realistic details borrowed from the highway version. The kids model features working headlights, standard Model S paint schemes and a sound system that will accommodate a mobile device for some road trip tunes. What’s more, the children’s option has two speed settings that top out at 3 MPH and 6 MPH respectively. Unfortunately, there’s no word on autonomous features or that Ludicrous Mode. What we do know is the standard trim Model S for Kids will set you back $500, and it’s set to ship in May. For now, you can take a peek of the vehicle in action down below or mosey on over to the source link to sort out a pre-order.

Via: Electrek

Source: Radio Flyer

UK pilot union wants laser pens classified as offensive weapons

Following an incident on Sunday in which a New York-bound Virgin Atlantic flight out of Heathrow had to be diverted when the first officer was blinded by a laser beam, the British Airline Pilots Association has called for the devices to be reclassified as offensive weapons. “This is not an isolated incident,” British Airline Pilots Association’s general secretary Jim McAuslan told BBC News. “Aircraft are attacked with lasers at an alarming rate and with lasers with ever-increasing strength.”

In fact, the UK Civil Aviation Authority has logged nearly 9,000 such incidents between 2009 and 2015 — 20 of which occurred on a single evening last November. The UK already has laws on its books that prohibits shining lasers at passing aircraft, however the pilots union doesn’t think those statutes go far enough. Instead, the union is now lobbying to make even possessing one an offense on par with carrying a concealed knife. There’s no word on when or if Parliament will take up the issue.

Source: BBC