Libratone Debuts Battery-Free Noise Cancelling Headphones With Lightning Connector Ahead of iPhone 7
Just six days before Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 7 without a headphone jack, Libratone has introduced new Q Adapt in-ear noise-cancelling headphones with a Lightning connector in lieu of a standard 3.5mm audio jack.
The headphones feature a battery-free design with four levels of active noise cancellation, drawing power from the iPhone or iPad they are connected to through the Lightning connector.
The pair have in-line controls for volume, playback, phone calls, and Siri, and one for the four active noise cancellation settings and talk-through.
The earbuds have a fabric-covered cable available in four colors: elegant nude, cloudy white, stormy black, and rose pink. They also are equipped with three sizes of interchangeable rubber earpieces.
Apple introduced new MFi Program specifications in June 2014 that allow third-party manufacturers to create headphones that connect to iOS devices via a Lightning cable, with features such as passthrough power and active noise cancellation.
Libratone says the Q Adapt headphones will be available in mid-September for $179 and will ship to customers at the beginning of October.
Other Lightning-equipped headphones released to date include, among others, the Philips Fidelio M2L and Fidelio NC1L.
Tag: Lightning
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DJI Launches $299 Smartphone Camera Stabilization Gimbal ‘Osmo Mobile’
A week after announcing the “Osmo+” handheld gimbal with integrated zoom, DJI today is debuting another member of the Osmo line, called the Osmo Mobile, which acts as a stabilization system for compatible smartphones “that turns them into intelligent, precision camera systems.” As with previous products, the iPhone will work with the Osmo Mobile, including the iPhone 5, iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, and iPhone 6s and 6s Plus.
Like in previous Osmo models, the Osmo Mobile uses the company’s three-axis gimbal stabilization to increase precision down to 0.03 degrees of accuracy. Combined with its “SmoothTrack” technology to smooth out any shaking, the Osmo Mobile produces clearer and higher-quality shots compared to using a smartphone by itself.
“DJI continues to revolutionize the way we capture and share memories,” said Frank Wang, DJI CEO and founder. “The Osmo Mobile combines the best of DJI’s beloved Osmo smart stabilization technology with the robust DJI GO app. This is a breakthrough, allowing smartphone users unprecedented control of and creative possibilities for their devices.”
Used in conjunction with the DJI GO app [Direct Link], users can live stream and instantly share photos and videos on social media. Within the app, “ActiveTrack” lets users tap a subject on the smartphone’s screen, which the Osmo Mobile will then intelligently follow and record without any further input needed from the camera holder. ActiveTrack can be used on the front-facing camera as well.
The Osmo Mobile comes in cheaper than the $649.00 Osmo+, which includes a full-featured camera with zoom capabilities, so anyone interested can get the new gimbal system for $299.00. There’s also a collection of Osmo accessories, like an external battery and tripod, to add onto the camera system.
Tag: DJI
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Lenovo Yoga 910 preview: Edge display makes this convertible laptop infinitely awesome
We’ve been avidly following the Lenovo Yoga evolution over the years, as the convertible laptop range has continued to refine its 360-degree screen offering. In the top-spec Yoga 910 it’s even stronger than ever before, with an edge-to-edge display joining the fold.
Well, sort of edge-to-edge. Like any screen there has to be some bezel, but to the top and sides it’s only a number of millimetres separating the actual screen from the product edge.
Like the previous Yoga 900, however, there’s a massive bezel to the Yoga 910’s bottom edge – as part and parcel of the device’s hinge mechanism, to position the screen best when in its various positions; plus the camera and antennas live here – but we couldn’t fail but spot it when the device was shown off at Lenovo’s pre-IFA conference in Berlin.
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Still, there’s plenty to like about this refreshed Yoga. Its “watchband hinge” – that’s what Lenovo likes to call it, but it does look like a piece of jewellery, so we can see why – operates seamlessly between forms, which is what really makes this product stand apart from the rest. Position it like a laptop, a tablet, in a stand or tent position for multiple usage propositions.
The latest Yoga 910 isn’t exactly the same as its 900 predecessor, though, it’s actually a touch thinner (14.3mm rather than 14.9mm) and features the latest Intel Core i 7th Gen processors. There’s also a 4K resolution panel option, as shown in our pictures, which at its 13.3-inch scale would certainly make for ultra-crisp viewing.
Furthermore there’s a brand new fingerprint scanner built into the device for quick and secure access – no passwords required. That’s a rare feature, with even the Microsoft Surface Book ditching the design for UK shores. We’ve been assured that this Yoga will support the feature for all shipments.
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That thinner size doesn’t affect the device’s connectivity: there’s a full-size USB 3.0 slot which just about fits into the body, while two USB Type-C ports sit on the opposite side to ensure future proofing.
The Lenovo Yoga 910 is definitely a looker, then, but it’s definitely pricey too: starting at £1,099, this is an investment laptop with enough standout features to warrant its price point. Push up to the 4K display and expect to pay a chunk of extra cash, although exactly how much hasn’t been confirmed for the UK.
Alcatel Vision VR headset hopes to better the Gear VR
Mobile phone maker Alcatel is the latest company to embrace VR with the launch of a new headset, and a new 360 camera to create Virtual Reality content with.
The headset, known simply as Vision, opts for an over the head bracket design rather than a strap and has been designed to work without the need of your smartphone.
The all-in-one wireless mobile device offers 120-degree field of vision and promises to adjust for myopia, eliminating the need for glasses or contact lenses when using the device.
The device itself is Android Marshmallow-powered with an octa-core CPU, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, Bluetooth, LTE, Wi-Fi, accelerometer, gyroscope and proximity sensor.
Effectively, it has everything you expect from a modern smartphone, only hidden inside the headset. It has two 3.8-inch AMOLED screens, each with a 1,080 x 1,020 pixel resolution.
The 3000mAh battery, which is hidden in the bracket that leans on the back of your head so the headset doesn’t feel too top heavy at the front, will last for around 3 hours on a single charge says Alcatel.
The Vision VR device will come with a number of bundled games and apps including Magic Interactive Entertainment’s BattleBlock, a frisbee combat game designed for VR that supports a person-to-person mode and cinematic VR experiences from Jaunt VR. Alcatel says it plans to add more in the future as well as allow people to buy apps from developers.
There’s no precise pricing yet, but Alcatel says to expect the Vision headset to cost roughly 499-599 euros. That’s not cheap, but then you get the bonus of it being completely wirefree compared to devices like Oculus or Vive that will have you tripping over cables.
The Vision VR should be available at the start of next year.
Alcatel
Meanwhile, the the Alcatel 360 Camera, as it names suggests, is an easy-to-use 360° camera available in two models.
Both possess a dual 210° fisheye lens: a rectangular model which is about half the size of a credit card, and a ball-shaped one, about the size of a coin. The compact, lightweight, plug and play Alcatel 360 Camera allows users to capture, preview and upload content directly to their smartphones.
Neato launches Botvac D3 and D5 Connected robot vacuum cleaners, starting at £399
Neato Robotics has announced not just one, but two new connected robot vacuum cleaners at IFA 2016. The new robots join last year’s Botvac Connected model and the standard non-connected D85 robot that will remain available for those that don’t want to control their robot cleaner remotely.
The Botvac D3 Connected is the cheaper of the two new models, starting at £399, while the slightly more advanced Botvac D5 Connected will cost £549. Both feature the company’s LaserSmart technology, which combines laser scanning, continuous room mapping and real time object detection to plan the most efficient course to clean a home.
They also both feature the D-shape design signature to Neato robot cleaners and they connect to the Neato app allowing users to control the devices from their smartphones, though the D5 will offer more functionality.
The D3 Connected features the combo brush found on previous devices, a lithium-ion battery and a standard filter. There are no side brushes like the Botvac Connected and the D5 Connected, and there is no display on the robot itself so most of the control takes place via the app, except start and stop.
The battery on the D3 Connected will last up to 60 minutes before it heads back to base to recharge. It will then do another cleaning cycle for another 60 minutes, recharge again and do a third cycle, covering around 1800sqm by the time it finishes for the day.
The D5 Connected has a larger battery capacity than the D3 Connected, allowing for two 120-minute cycles with recharging inbetween. It also features side brushes to get into all those tricky corners and an ultra-performance filter is also on board to pick up dust particles of 3 microns.
In terms of app functionality, the D3 Connected will offer start, stop and scheduling from its app. You’ll also be able to start a house clean or a spot clean. The D5 Connected also offers these features, along with several additional functions including a “Find Me” function in case you don’t know where it has got to.
D5 Connected Users will also be able to see cleaning statistics, such as the total area and time cleaned, as well as the last date and time the robot did the cleaning. You will also get better dirt bin and filter changing alerts.
The Neato Botvac D3 Connected and Botvac D5 Connected will be available in time to clean up those Christmas tree needles with both arriving in the US and Europe early October. The Neato app is compatible with iOS and Android devices.
We’re live from IFA 2016 in Berlin!
Like every year, we are back in Berlin for Europe’s biggest tech trade show, IFA. This year, as we previewed recently, expect to see many new devices from some of the usual suspects: Acer, ASUS, Lenovo, LG, Samsung, Sony and more. We’ve already checked out a number of fresh laptops, smartphones and wearables at the event, but that’s only the beginning since the show floor doesn’t open until Friday. Stay tuned, because there will be plenty of announcements to digest over the next few days. And you never know what kind of weird gadget we might find.
We’re live all week from Berlin, Germany, for IFA 2016. Click here to catch up on all the news from the show.
Tado’s new thermostat listens to Siri and Alexa
Tado is no doubt celebrating today after its thermostat was selected above all others for O2’s new subscription-based smart home offering. That’s by no means the only Tado news from this year’s IFA, though, as the company today announced its third-generation smart thermostat. Pretty much nothing has changed from a hardware standpoint, with the main improvements being support for both Apple’s HomeKit and Amazon’s Echo platforms, allowing you to control your heating by talking to Siri or Alexa, respectively. IFTTT integration remains part of the feature set, and the new generation is also said to have improved energy efficiency algorithms.
Joining the third-gen thermostat are new radiator controls that replace existing, dumb valves. Similar to offerings from the likes of Honeywell and Heat Genius, these let you control the temperature of individual heating zones. Tado’s smart radiator valves can be paired with a thermostat, though they also work independently, connecting to your smartphone via a simple internet hub.
The third-gen thermostat will be available later this month for £199 outright, or to rent for £4 per month for the first year and £6 per month thereafter. The smart radiator system starter kit, which includes two valves and the internet bridge, is arriving slightly later, in October. You can rent the kit for the same price as a thermostat, or purchase it for £179, with each additional smart valve costing an extra £59.
We’re live all week from Berlin, Germany, for IFA 2016. Click here to catch up on all the news from the show.
Source: Tado
Sony would love you to buy its $3,200 gold-plated Walkman
At IFA 2016 in Berlin today, Sony CEO Kaz Hirai reminded rich audiophiles not to forget about Sony. He unveiled the new “Signature Series” reference devices, including the NWM1Z and NWM1A Walkman, MDR-Z1R headphones and TA-ZH1ES headphone amp. The $3,200 (£2,500) NWM1Z Walkman is literally gold-plated, which not only makes it bling, but supposedly reduces “contact resistance and oxidation,” according to Sony.
Realistically, most people probably won’t hear the difference between that model and the nearly identical-looking $1,200 (£1,000) NW-WM1A Walkman. Both support the 384kHZ/32-bit “Hi-Res” music format, which has separate digital and analog circuitry and technology that upscales low bit-rate files to “near high resolution audio quality,” according to Sony. It also supports balanced connections if you have the right set of headphones.
Speaking of, there’s Sony’s $2,300 (£1,700) Signature Series MDR-Z1R headphones. They feature a 70mm magnesium dome driver, aluminum-coated diaphragm, and a neodymium magnet. All of that, along with the balanced cable and gold “non-magnetic plated Corson alloy jack,” allow for less signal loss and natural sound, the company says.
Finally, any audiophile worth their salt needs a headphone amp, so Sony unveiled the $2,200 (£1,600) Signature Series TA-ZH1ES. The body has a “shaved extruded aluminum wall with a ridged body” to reduce unnecessary vibration, and supports a wide variety of both balanced and unbalanced headphone connectors. If you’re keeping score at home, all three devices, including the high-end Walkman, will set you back $7,700 (£5,800). That’s quite a chunk, but not a stretch at all for the Audeze or Orpheus crowd. We’ll try to get a listen and report if they’re worth it or not.
Source: Sony
IBM Watson made a movie trailer for the first time
IBM Watson can add yet another skill to its resume: the ability to make movie trailers. 20th Century Fox has tapped into the supercomputer’s powers to create the first AI-made trailer for its upcoming thriller film Morgan. It’s a fitting start for Watson’s trailer-making career. Morgan is, after all, a sci-fi flick about a group of scientists who created a humanoid machine that rapidly gained capabilities and went out of control.
To train the computer for the task, IBM Research scientists fed it 100 horror movie trailers cut into separate “moments” or scenes. Watson then performed visual, audio and composition analysis on each scene to develop an idea of what people find scary. After that was done, the team fed it all 90 minutes of Morgan to find the right moments to include in the trailer. Watson instantly zeroed in on 10 scenes totaling six minutes of footage. A human editor still had to arrange the scenes to tell a coherent story, but Watson’s involvement shortened the process to 24 hours. Trailers typically take 10 days to a month to complete.
Now, the big question is: is the trailer any good? You can decide for yourself after watching it below:
Via: PopSci
Source: IBM
Samsung brings quantum dots to its curved gaming monitors
Samsung has announced a trio of high-end curved gaming monitors that brings its quantum dot technology to the masses. There are two devices, the CFG70, which is available in 24-and-27-inch sizes, as well as a super premium CF791 that packs a 34-inch, 3,440 x 1,400 display. The devices promise to create more immersive gaming experiences that look as good as they possibly could, although we couldn’t tell that from the demo. Unfortunately, a leisurely game of FIFA Soccer is the worst way to show off a monitor that’s really designed for fast-paced games like first-person shooters
Still, while we couldn’t get a great impression of how the monitors will act in the real world, the spec list is certainly pretty tasty. Both the smaller CFG models pack a 1,920 x 1,080 panel that curves across 1800R, has a 144Hz refresh rate and just 1ms of response time. The larger of the set, meanwhile, has that 34-inch, 3,440 x 1,400 screen, curves with a radius of 1500R and has a 100Hz refresh rate with a 4ms response time.
All three models come with a DisplayPort uh, port, that sits alongside two HDMI inputs and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Only the CF comes with a pair of built-in 7W speakers and two additional USB ports. If you have an AMD graphics card, these screens are doubly worth consideration since they’re compatible with FreeSync, the company’s dynamic refresh system.
The monitors will all be available at some time before the holidays with the 24-inch model retailing for $399, the 27-incher going for $499 and the monster that is the 34-inch unit priced at $999. We noticed, as well, that Samsung mentioned how superior quantum dot displays were to OLED panels — which is a surprise, given that the company is one of the world’s largest producers of such technology.
We’re live all week from Berlin, Germany, for IFA 2016. Click here to catch up on all the news from the show.
Source: Samsung
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