Olympus’ chic 4K mirrorless E-PL9 arrives in the US for $600

With 4K and three-axis in-body stabilization, the Olympus E-PL9 is a good example of how mirrorless cameras are winning consumers by offering pro features for not much cash. The retro-styled model aimed at the tourist market has now arrived in the US in three colors (Pearl White, Onyx Black and Honey Brown), and will run you $600 without a lens.

Other features include the same TruePic VIII process and 121-point contrast-detect autofocus that’s on the larger OM-D E-M10 Mark III. That allows for shooting bursts up to 9 fps and quick autofocus speeds. Other features include a silent mode, tilting monitor and built-in flash. Should you prefer your cameras in kit form, you can get the E-PL9 with a 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 EZ lens, camera bag, strap and 16GB SD card for $699.

Apple will ship its redesigned Mac Pro in 2019

If you were budgeting for the redesigned Mac Pro this year, you’ll want to earmark that money for something else. Apple has revealed to TechCrunch that the modular workstation is now slated to ship in 2019, rather than sometime in 2018 as many expected (though it was never set in stone). The company is providing the heads-up now so that customers who need a system soon can buy an iMac Pro without worrying that the Mac Pro might be right around the corner, according to Hardware Engineering VP Tom Boger. It might be worth the wait, however — as Apple explained, it’s shaping the system based on its potential customers.

Apple has created a Pro Workflow Team that helps it optimize its hardware and software based on real production chains, not just abstract goals. The company has hired creatives in 3D animation, music, video editing and visual effects to have them produce real projects and pinpoint the “bottlenecks,” whether it’s the computer design or an app feature. This team already helped improve performance on the iMac Pro, but it’s also “informing the work” on the Mac Pro, Boger said. The company is also listening to outside pros (including companies like Adobe), to be clear — the Pro Workflow Team just gives it direct, constant interaction.

The push to 2019 isn’t going to please creatives who want a headless machine and will have gone six years without a significant hardware revision. And there are still questions as to whether or not Apple will truly address what pros want. Does modularity mean a tower with room for internal expansion (such as audio interfaces, drive bays and multiple graphics cards), or will Apple expect pros to attach external GPU enclosures and other outside peripherals? While it’s good to know that Apple is genuinely investing in and responsive to the pro crowd, there’s no certainty that the 2019 system will satisfy those who’ve considered switching to Windows- or Linux-based rigs to get the features they want.

Source: TechCrunch

Final Cut Pro X 10.4.1 Available Next Week With ProRes RAW and Advanced Closed Captioning

Apple today previewed Final Cut Pro X version 10.4.1, an upcoming update to its professional video editing software.

The headline feature is a new ProRes RAW format, which combines the visual and workflow benefits of RAW video with the performance of ProRes, a lossy video compression format developed by Apple for use in post-production.

With ProRes RAW, editors can import, edit and grade pristine footage with RAW data from the camera sensor, providing ultimate flexibility when adjusting highlights and shadows — ideal for HDR workflows. And with performance optimized for macOS, editors can play full-quality 4K ProRes RAW files on MacBook Pro and iMac systems in real time without rendering. ProRes RAW files are even smaller than ProRes 4444 files, allowing editors to make better use of storage while providing an excellent format for archiving.

The update also adds advanced closed captioning tools that allow video editors to view, edit, and deliver captions from right within the app.

Apple says Final Cut Pro users can import closed caption files directly into their project or create them from scratch. Captions appear in the viewer during playback and can be attached to video or audio clips in the timeline, so they automatically move with the clips to which they’re connected.

Apple is also updating Final Cut Pro’s companion apps Motion and Compressor with ProRes RAW and closed captioning features respectively.

Final Cut Pro 10.4.1 will be available April 9 as a free update for existing users, and the app remains $299.99 for new users on the Mac App Store in the United States. Motion 5.4.1 and Compressor 4.4.1 will also be available on April 9 as free updates, or $49.99 each for new users from the Mac App Store.

Apple has updated its Final Cut Pro X, Motion, and Compressor pages on its website with more detailed information.

Tag: Final Cut Pro X
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Apple’s Revamped Mac Pro to Launch in 2019

Apple’s redesigned, modular Mac Pro aimed at professionals is set to launch in 2019, according to an update Apple recently provided to TechCrunch’s Matthew Panzarino, who took a trip to the company’s Cupertino campus.

The team responsible for revamping Apple’s pro product efforts was there to provide updated details both on the Mac Pro and how Apple is shaping it to meet the needs of real professional users.

Apple’s current Mac Pro
Employees in the meeting included John Ternus, VP of Hardware Engineering, Tom Boger, Senior Director of Mac Hardware Marketing, Jud Coplan, Director of video Apps Product Marketing, and Xander Soren, Director of Music Apps Product Marketing.

Panzarino was told in no uncertain terms that the Mac Pro will not be arriving before 2019 as the product is still in development. From Tom Boger:

“We want to be transparent and communicate openly with our pro community so we want them to know that the Mac Pro is a 2019 product. It’s not something for this year.” In addition to transparency for pro customers on an individual basis, there’s also a larger fiscal reasoning behind it.

Apple wants customers to know that the Mac Pro isn’t coming in 2018 so those who are planning to make a purchase decision for a pro machine like the iMac Pro won’t hold off in the hopes of a Mac Pro materializing later in the year.

In the time since Apple announced major changes for the next-generation Mac Pro last year, it has put together a “Pro Workflow Team” led by John Ternus, where employees who focus on pro-level products all work together.

Apple has also been hiring award-winning artists and technicians in an effort to understand the real workflows that creative professionals use to better tailor its products to them. The individuals shoot real projects and then use Apple’s hardware and software to find “sticking points that could cause frustration and friction” for pro users.

Apple’s Pro Workflow Team finds and addresses the issues that come up, even down to tiny details like tweaking a graphics driver, and it’s not just Apple’s products that benefit – the company’s employees are also working with third-party apps. From Tom Bogar, senior Mac marketing director:

“We’ve gone from just you know engineering Macs and software to actually engineering a workflow and really understanding from soup to nuts, every single stage of the process, where those bottlenecks are, where we can optimize that,” says Bogar.

The Pro Workflow team, in addition to improving current Apple products, is also an essential part of Mac Pro development. Their work is “definitely influencing” what Apple’s planning for, with Apple achieving a “much much much deeper understanding” of pro customers, their workflows, and their needs. This understanding is “really informing” the work Apple is doing on the Mac Pro,” according to Bogar.

No details were provided on the shape of the Mac Pro or the internal components that it might include, but Apple is still planning on a modular machine, as announced last year, so plans have not changed. Apple back then said that it was “completely rethinking” the Mac Pro, and that it is “by definition” a modular system. Apple at the time also said a pro display was in development alongside the new machine.

A modular Mac Pro concept from Curved.de
Panzarino says we’re not likely to hear any additional detail about the Mac Pro at WWDC in June, and that he expects Apple will keep quiet about the machine until next year.

Panzarino’s full piece on Apple’s efforts to tailor the Mac Pro and other pro-level products to meet professional needs, which goes into much greater detail, can be read over at TechCrunch.

Related Roundup: Mac ProBuyer’s Guide: Mac Pro (Caution)
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Tinder begins testing a new video looping feature to add to profiles

On Wednesday, April 4, Tinder announced it is testing out a new feature that will allow users to swipe through more than just photos. With “Loops,” you will be able to create a two-second loop from an existing video that you can then add to your profile.

Currently being tested on iOS devices in Canada and Sweden, the feature is similar to Instagram’s Boomerang. After uploading a video from your smartphone to the app, you will then be able to drag the time strip to select where you would like the loop. Once you’re satisfied with it, you can then add to your profile.

The videos are meant to exist in addition to the photos you already have attached to your profile. Currently, Tinder says it’s testing the ability to add nine photos or Loops in your profile rather than six.

With Loops, it seems the company is attempting to encourage its users to portray their more fun and active sides. Whether you’re filming yourself roller skating or playing sports, the new feature allows you to highlight your favorite parts and shorten it into a two-second video.

Tinder isn’t the first dating app to add a video feature. This past summer, Hinge gave users the ability to add upload an existing video from Facebook, Instagram, and their camera rolls. In addition to the photos and questions that are already featured on a user’s profile, the video is set on autoplay and loops as you scroll through a potential match’s profile — equipped with sound.

At the moment, the Loops feature only supports videos or Live Photos that are imported directly from your iOS camera roll, TechCrunch notes. It won’t allow you to record Loops directly within the app the way Boomerang does.

But news of the latest feature comes the same day users have been reporting to be locked out of their Tinder accounts. In the wake of Facebook’s recent changes for how it works with third-party apps, it looks like the social network revoked Tinder’s permissions.

Some users have tried to delete and reinstall both apps, but are still receiving the same result. Others have tried to tweet directly at Tinder, but the company has yet to respond with a fix for the issue.

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Marc Jacobs Riley Hybrid Smartwatch review

Research Center:

Marc Jacobs Riley Hybrid

One glance at the Riley Hybrid Smartwatch, and its playful, quirky design makes it easy to identify as a Marc Jacobs original. The designer is known for pushing trends past its boundaries – whether it’s pairing bold prints or adding bright pops of color – and its first hybrid smartwatch does exactly that.

The Riley blends a modern timepiece with smart features, allowing you to track fitness, activity, and receive notification alerts – all without compromising the Marc Jacobs’ signature style. We think the design is unique and refreshing  — especially after testing several more traditional timepieces from the likes of Skagen, Fossil, Michele – but its thick case and large watch face feels too bulky to wear on a daily basis.

Thick case, loud watch design

The Marc Jacobs Riley Hybrid Smartwatch comes in a variety of different color schemes, but we tested the black and pink case with multi-colored buttons on the side. The 42mm aluminum case is the largest hybrid smartwatch we’ve worn yet, and it’s a little too thick. While we appreciate a large watch face on a women’s watch, the Riley’s bulky size and flashy looks altogether creates a loud design.

The Riley blends a modern timepiece with the convenience of smart features.

The bottom of the case is a metallic pink that’s toned down a little by a black plastic material on top. On the side are three large buttons — purple, pink, and blue — which makes the watch look a little childish.  That doesn’t mean it looks bad, but even with a black watch face and light pink numbers and dials, the entire timepiece sticks out like a sore thumb. It became the focal point of any outfit we wore, and the multi-colored crystal glass over the watch face doesn’t help with subtlety.

The rubber watch strap design makes the watch feel and look sporty, and we often found ourselves pairing it with workout wear. If you’re looking for a more chic look, then you might want to go with the aluminum and silicone color options instead. By sliding one strap through to the other, you then snap it closed once it’s on the preferred notch. While it fit comfortably, the watch isn’t the easiest to put on and take off in comparison to other types of clasps.

Again, the review model we have is the flashiest version of the Riley watch you can buy. There are far more subtle versions of this watch available — even ones with different types of straps. If this design appeals to you, then you should totally nab this watch in the style you like. More importantly, how do the connected features fare?

Marc Jacobs Connected app

The watch wirelessly connects to the Marc Jacobs Connected app via Bluetooth, available both on Google Play and the Apple App Store. We’re already familiar with the layout of the app after reviewing both the Skagen Signatur T-Bar Hybrid Smartwatch and the Michele Hybrid Smartwatch, as many of the functions and features are the same, but it’s easy to get the hang of for new users.

Each button on the watch’s side can be set up to trigger a different function through the app, and like most hybrid watches, you set apps and contacts to a specific number. You can set a button to show you another city’s time zone, control music, or even show you who sent you a notification last.

There are two sets of numbers on the watch face: The outer rim is number 1 through 31, which is where your watch hands will go if you assign one of the three buttons on the side to show you the date. On the inner rim, the only numbers to represent time are 12, 3, and 9 but you can still choose numbers 1 through 12 to assign a contact or app.

When you receive a notification, your watch alerts you by vibrating, and the watch hands move straight to the number – between 1 and 12 – that you chose for each specific contact. For example, we set “Dad” to number 7 and the watch hands go straight to the number 7 on the inner rim if he calls or texts me. Since you can only set six specific contacts to receive alerts from, there’s a simpler way to get alerts from “All Texts” and “All Calls” under the apps section. There’s also the option to set the watch to only vibrate each time you get a notification, so the hands don’t move.

Notification alerts for apps are a little more limited. You can get notified from up to 52 apps, but you’ll need to check and see if the watch supports all of your favorite apps. These range from Snapchat or Instagram and banking apps like Citibank or Bank of America. We found our most important apps on here, but there are a lot like Trello and Bumble that aren’t available. We’re not quite sure why we can’t get notifications from every app, but it’s a good idea to make sure there are no specific apps missing from this list before you get this watch.

Other functions include tracking activity and sleep, goal tracking, ringing your phone when you can’t find it, and taking a photo on your phone by pressing the assigned button on your watch while the camera app is open. With only three buttons, it might be tough to commit to which functions you want to set. But the app allows you to create different configurations for different scenarios, whether it’s a profile for the gym or for your commute to work.

Marc Jacobs Riley Hybrid Compared To

Mondaine Smart Helvetica

Nixon Regulus

Alpina AlpinerX

Apple Watch Series 3

Samsung Gear S3

Motorola Moto 360 (2015)

LG Watch Sport

Huawei Fit

Samsung Gear S2

Apple Watch Series 2

Martian Passport MP100WSB

Garmin fenix 2

LG G Watch R

Martian Notifier Watch

Phosphor Touch Time

One unique feature on the Riley is “Mode Toggle,” which lets you look at things like the date, notifications, alarm, and time zones all with just one button. Towards the bottom of the watch face, there’s a semi circle that looks like a smile — it reveals each letter in Marc (for Marc Jacobs) when you tap the Mode Toggle button (which you can assign to any of the three buttons). Each function under Mode Toggle is assigned to a different letter. For example, under “M” the watch dials will point to the date; for “A,” the dial will point to the last received notification; “R” is to check your set alarm; and “C” will point to a second time zone. Cycle through these by tapping the Mode Toggle button. It’s handy, and it frees up space for you to assign the other buttons to a function like goal tracking or music controls.

Health and fitness tracking

Paired with the Marc Jacobs Connected app, the Riley can also track your activity and fitness. Through your settings, you can set the number of steps you want to complete in a day along with hours of sleep per night. The app will show you your steps taken, calories burned, and the total number of miles you’ve walked. By swiping up on the app, you’ll be able to see a more detailed overview of your progress through different graphs and charts. It will show you your data in comparison to a week prior as well so you can keep track of how you’re doing.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

You can also track other types of goals on the app. For example, there are pre-set options such as “Drink Water” or “Exercise,” which you can set for how often and how long. You can create your own as well if there are other goals you have in mind.

You may have a hard time falling asleep with this bulky watch on your wrist.

If you do assign one of the buttons to goal tracking, just press it each time you accomplish part of the goal. For example, we set our goal to “Drink water” five times per day and each time we drank water, we would press the top button we assigned it to. It would then sync to the app whenever we opened it to show how much water we drank so far. Once your goal is complete, the app will notify you and you’ll then have the option to end the goal or to keep going — it’s a shame there’s no way to track your goal on the watch itself.

The Marc Jacobs Riley Hybrid tracks sleep as well, but you may have a hard time falling asleep with this bulky watch on your wrist. We found ourselves wanting to take it off throughout the night. If you do wear it to bed, you’ll be asked to set the total number of hours you’d like to sleep at night. The data is separated into the total time you were awake, along with the amount of light and restful sleep. The results we received were accurate, but we still didn’t want to wear it to bed.

What’s nice is you can connect third-party tracking apps to the Marc Jacobs Connected app to keep your metrics accurate across the board — that includes connecting to Apple’s Healthkit, Under Armour Record, and Up by Jawbone.

The watch is water resistant to 5ATM, or 50 meters. It can withstand being in the shower or recreational swimming, but you shouldn’t participate in more intense water activities while wearing it.

Warranty information

The Marc Jacobs Riley Hybrid Smartwatch has a 2-year warranty that covers the internal pieces of the watch. External components – like the case, band, crystal, and battery – are not included.

The black rubber hybrid smartwatch with multi-colored buttons; black rubber watch strap with gold buttons; black rubber watch strap with black buttons; and white rubber watch strap with gold buttons are available for $175. The aluminum silicone bands in black and gold with a black watch face, black and gold with a white watch face, and white and gold are available for $195. Each one can be purchased on Marc Jacob’s website.

Our Take

The Marc Jacobs Riley Hybrid Smartwatch is easy to use and includes all the necessary smartwatch features you’d want in a hybrid. Its quirky design and size are a bit distracting and uncomfortable. Since the watch straps aren’t interchangeable, you’ll also have to commit to a specific look.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes, if you’re looking for a more traditional looking hybrid smartwatch. The Skagen Signatur T-Bar Hybrid Smartwatch has similar functions and uses an app with the same interface. It’s also cheaper, depending on the color option, starting at $123. The 36mm case is smaller than the Riley, but it’s extremely comfortable to wear, and looks elegant on the wrist.

If you do enjoy a bulkier look, there’s also the Michele Hybrid Smartwatch, which has a 38mm watch face and larger bezels that make the watch look thicker. Its design makes it extremely versatile to wear both day and night. While it is more expensive – coming in at $495 – you’re paying for the highest quality material, with a watch face made of sapphire crystal and 18mm watch straps made of alligator, leather, lizard, or stainless steel. This hybrid smartwatch will last you for years.

How long will it last?

The Marc Jacobs Riley Hybrid Smartwatch is battery powered, and uses a standard coin-cell battery that’s replaceable on the back of the device. It will last you for up to six months and since it connects via Bluetooth, you can keep track of how much juice you have left through the app. We used the watch for about a month and a half with notification settings on, and it only reached 75 percent.

Should you buy it?

Yes, the Marc Jacobs Riley Hybrid Smartwatch works well and has a lot of functionality. While we’re not huge fans of the flashy designs, there are more subtle variants to choose from. Design is also subjective, and you may have already fallen head over heels for this watch — if that’s the case, you should buy it.

Amazon is opening up its ‘rainforest’ Spheres to the public

Visitors to downtown Seattle can’t miss the Amazon Spheres. The three glass orbs opened in January, providing employees at the web giant’s headquarters with a plant-filled oasis to enjoy during breaks.

The steel, concrete, and glass structure is home to around 400 species of plants from 50 different countries, with many of the 40,000 plants from cool and humid forest ecosystems.

Also known as Bezos’s Balls (the first part taken from the family name of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, and the second part referring to, er, the shape of the spheres), the company has decided to open up the space to the public, giving locals and travelers a chance to experience the interior of this impressive construction.

The Spheres will be opening its doors on two Saturdays each month starting April 21, allowing ticket holders to fully explore the space in all its green glory, GeekWire reports.

Up to now, visitors could only enter the giant greenhouse during a tour of Amazon’s adjacent headquarters. It’s also currently possible to enter a limited area called Understory at the base of the building as part of the free “Spheres Discovery” attraction. But this doesn’t let people enter the part with all of those leafy wonders. This limited access has led to disappointment among some people who’d been expecting to have a proper look around. The Seattle Times described Understory as “a tiny portion of the building” that offered no view of the greenery, though it did praise the quality of the various exhibits on offer.

In an effort to prevent disappointment, Amazon includes a note in bold on its Spheres website, saying, “Please be aware that the Understory exhibit is separate from the indoor gardens of The Spheres.”

Now, two months after it opened, Amazon is now ready to grant full access to its orbs to give interested visitors a more immersive experience.

The Spheres website now includes a reservation system for the free Saturday visits (look for the “book a visit” link a little way down the page). The tours begin every 15 minutes, starting at 10 a.m. There’s also an FAQ page explaining what you need know before you go, for example, those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult, only small bags can be taken inside (no coat/bag check is available), and personal photography is allowed.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Amazon brings rainforest cache to Seattle with its great glass Spheres
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Louis Vuitton’s luggage tracker tells you if it’s landed in a different country

Sigfox

If you’re going to fork out nearly $6,000 for a piece of Louis Vuitton luggage then you may as well throw in its new Echo tracking device for a mere $370.

We first heard about the luxury brand’s idea for such a device at the start of this year, and the company has now delivered.

Essentially a black stick with some smarts inside — oh, and also featuring the all-important LV logo on its exterior — the Echo can be clipped into a dedicated pocket or secured in a band located inside the company’s line of Horizon 50, 55, and 70 cases.

The pricey device is the first to use Sigfox’s Monarch geolocation system, comprising a radio recognition service that allows the Echo to operate without any additional hardware such as GPS or Wi-Fi chipset.

Once paired with your LV Pass smartphone app, Louis Vuitton promises you’ll be able to “travel with peace of mind, tracing your connected luggage in the main worldwide airports.” Note the word main — limited coverage means that at the current time, Echo will only function at certain airports (full list here).

Your luggage will presumably be right there with you until check-in, but if some ne’er-do-well tries to nab it, you’ll be able to fire up your smartphone and watch your beloved suitcase in real-time as it’s hurried off to another part of the airport, and possibly beyond.

A neat touch with the Echo is the inclusion of a light sensor that sends a notification when it detects the luggage has been opened. That way, you’ll know exactly when the thief has begun rifling through your belongings.

Louis Vuitton says that you’ll also receive a notification to your smartphone when you land at your destination so that you’ll know “whether your luggage has arrived in the right airport or not.” That makes it sound like retaining your luggage is a 50-50 gamble when you fly (it may feel that way for some unlucky passengers), but if the worst does happen, at least you won’t be wasting any time at the carousel and can quickly inform a member of the airline that your LV suitcase appears to have gone to New Delhi instead of New York and would they mind doing something about it please.

Echo’s six-month battery life means that if your LV bag does happen to go missing, you or the airline will have more than enough time to actually go and get it.

If buying the LV luggage means you have no money left for the Echo, one of these more reasonably priced Bluetooth trackers may do the trick, though they’ll only work within a relatively short range. Alternatively, check out these smart luggage options, many of which feature built-in GPS trackers.

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From smartphones to airbags, MEMs sensors make the world work

Since large scale series production started in 1995, Bosch has made 5 billion Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) sensors. Bosch Sensortec

Every new smartphone comes with an auto-rotate function that alternates between the landscape and portrait modes. And, every car sold new in the United States leaves the factory with airbags; it’s the law. One lets you watch YouTube on the train, the other saves your life in an accident. Taken at face value, it sounds like we just listed two random, perfectly unrelated examples of an on-going development process. Bosch points out airbags and smartphones have more in common than most people realize.

The story begins well before the rise of electronics. In the spring of 1923, Bosch introduced a bell that warned motorists if a car’s tire lost air pressure. It was a simple but clever design. Mounted on the inner part of each rim, the bell began touching the ground if the tire pressure got low and consequently rang once per rotation. Think of it as a primitive version of today’s tire pressure monitoring system.

Source: Bosch Sensortec

Technology moved fast. Bosch began making mechanical pressure sensors for fuel-injection systems in the late 1960s, and it started manufacturing lambda sensors for anti-pollution systems in the 1970s. The complex process of developing a smarter successor to the mechanical sensor kicked off in 1987.

At the time, car-makers from all over the automotive spectrum searched for ways to bake an ever-growing number of electronic features into their models. They did this primarily for comfort and safety reasons, but also to comply with the tightening pollution regulations in key global markets like North America and Europe. Bosch stepped up to the challenge.

The auto industry suddenly – and unexpectedly – found itself at the heart of a tech revolution.

The first wave of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) entered mass production in 1995. Bigger than today’s sensors, they were primarily used in automotive safety and comfort systems. They played an important role in running engine management software, too, and they later helped power driver assistance system like ABS and electronic stability control.

Significantly, MEMS sensors told the on-board computer whether to deploy the airbag or keep it tucked in the dash in the event of a crash. Plasma-etching, a technique also known as the Bosch process, made mass-production possible. The automotive industry suddenly – and unexpectedly – found itself at the heart of a tech revolution fueled by a device smaller than a cherry pit and thinner than a quarter.

Demand grew as sensors gradually got more powerful and smaller during the 1990s. The trend gave market-savvy engineers the idea of applying the technology to sectors outside of the auto industry. Progress came at the perfect time: while grunge faded away and the SUV market boomed, technology gained a foothold in nearly all aspects of our daily lives including work, education, and play.

MEMS power a variety of Bosch’s sensors including accelerometers, gyroscopes, and geomagnetic sensors. Bosch Sensortec

The second wave of MEMS sensors arrived on the market in the late 2000s. Though cars still used them, they also appeared in a wide array of consumer electronic goods including smartphones and tablets. For example, they powered indoor navigation apps that required highly accurate data.

The Skyrocket Spider-Drone is equipped with a Bosch inertial measurement unit, Luke Skywalker’s electronic lightsaber from Return of the Jedi uses a Bosch accelerometer, and Manus’ VR gloves rely on the company’s magnetometer and sensor hub. 75 percent of MEMS sensors Bosch builds today are used in consumer electronics products.

Tech moves at such a brisk pace that it didn’t take long for the next evolution to arrive. The current wave of sensors appeared in the mid-2010s. They’re even smaller and more powerful than their predecessors, which means they can be used by connected devices in the vast internet of things (IoT) network. They’re found in smart city equipment (like Bosch’s climate monitoring system), in smartphones, drones, and more. They’re still present in cars, too, and they will continue to be in the foreseeable future.

“We are currently developing new angular rate sensors for self-driving cars that, in conjunction with additional inertial sensors, LIDAR, and satellite navigation, collect all the of the vehicle’s driving-related data. As a result, the control system always knows the position and movement of the vehicle and other road users, and can react to this information accordingly,” said Reinhard Neul, Bosch’s project head for innovative sensor technology.

Bosch currently manufactures about 4.5 million sensors a day, and the company told Digital Trends it expects that figure will continue to swell as the number of objects that need to stay connected grows. Present in your office, in your pocket, and in nearly every room of your house, the MEMS sensor has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a mere airbag trigger.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Pirelli connects your tires to the IoT network so you can hear them talk
• Bosch is using cameras, streetlights, and sensors to make cities more livable
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• A self-driving car in every driveway? Solid-state lidar is the key

From smartphones to airbags, MEMs sensors make the world work

Since large scale series production started in 1995, Bosch has made 5 billion Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) sensors. Bosch Sensortec

Every new smartphone comes with an auto-rotate function that alternates between the landscape and portrait modes. And, every car sold new in the United States leaves the factory with airbags; it’s the law. One lets you watch YouTube on the train, the other saves your life in an accident. Taken at face value, it sounds like we just listed two random, perfectly unrelated examples of an on-going development process. Bosch points out airbags and smartphones have more in common than most people realize.

The story begins well before the rise of electronics. In the spring of 1923, Bosch introduced a bell that warned motorists if a car’s tire lost air pressure. It was a simple but clever design. Mounted on the inner part of each rim, the bell began touching the ground if the tire pressure got low and consequently rang once per rotation. Think of it as a primitive version of today’s tire pressure monitoring system.

Source: Bosch Sensortec

Technology moved fast. Bosch began making mechanical pressure sensors for fuel-injection systems in the late 1960s, and it started manufacturing lambda sensors for anti-pollution systems in the 1970s. The complex process of developing a smarter successor to the mechanical sensor kicked off in 1987.

At the time, car-makers from all over the automotive spectrum searched for ways to bake an ever-growing number of electronic features into their models. They did this primarily for comfort and safety reasons, but also to comply with the tightening pollution regulations in key global markets like North America and Europe. Bosch stepped up to the challenge.

The auto industry suddenly – and unexpectedly – found itself at the heart of a tech revolution.

The first wave of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) entered mass production in 1995. Bigger than today’s sensors, they were primarily used in automotive safety and comfort systems. They played an important role in running engine management software, too, and they later helped power driver assistance system like ABS and electronic stability control.

Significantly, MEMS sensors told the on-board computer whether to deploy the airbag or keep it tucked in the dash in the event of a crash. Plasma-etching, a technique also known as the Bosch process, made mass-production possible. The automotive industry suddenly – and unexpectedly – found itself at the heart of a tech revolution fueled by a device smaller than a cherry pit and thinner than a quarter.

Demand grew as sensors gradually got more powerful and smaller during the 1990s. The trend gave market-savvy engineers the idea of applying the technology to sectors outside of the auto industry. Progress came at the perfect time: while grunge faded away and the SUV market boomed, technology gained a foothold in nearly all aspects of our daily lives including work, education, and play.

MEMS power a variety of Bosch’s sensors including accelerometers, gyroscopes, and geomagnetic sensors. Bosch Sensortec

The second wave of MEMS sensors arrived on the market in the late 2000s. Though cars still used them, they also appeared in a wide array of consumer electronic goods including smartphones and tablets. For example, they powered indoor navigation apps that required highly accurate data.

The Skyrocket Spider-Drone is equipped with a Bosch inertial measurement unit, Luke Skywalker’s electronic lightsaber from Return of the Jedi uses a Bosch accelerometer, and Manus’ VR gloves rely on the company’s magnetometer and sensor hub. 75 percent of MEMS sensors Bosch builds today are used in consumer electronics products.

Tech moves at such a brisk pace that it didn’t take long for the next evolution to arrive. The current wave of sensors appeared in the mid-2010s. They’re even smaller and more powerful than their predecessors, which means they can be used by connected devices in the vast internet of things (IoT) network. They’re found in smart city equipment (like Bosch’s climate monitoring system), in smartphones, drones, and more. They’re still present in cars, too, and they will continue to be in the foreseeable future.

“We are currently developing new angular rate sensors for self-driving cars that, in conjunction with additional inertial sensors, LIDAR, and satellite navigation, collect all the of the vehicle’s driving-related data. As a result, the control system always knows the position and movement of the vehicle and other road users, and can react to this information accordingly,” said Reinhard Neul, Bosch’s project head for innovative sensor technology.

Bosch currently manufactures about 4.5 million sensors a day, and the company told Digital Trends it expects that figure will continue to swell as the number of objects that need to stay connected grows. Present in your office, in your pocket, and in nearly every room of your house, the MEMS sensor has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a mere airbag trigger.

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