Alliance for Wireless Power shows off its spec's spatial freedom

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/09/alliance-for-wireless-power-shows-off-spatial-freedom/

The Alliance for Wireless Power's (A4WP) board approved its spec on January 2, 2013 -- the spec itself was approved back in October -- and we're already seeing them showing off some of the capabilities we'll benefit form as consumers. One of the key differences in the A4WP spec is being touted as spatial freedom which will see greater flexibility in how the wireless power is integrated into devices and even surfaces. Multiple devices can be charged at once even if they each have different power requirements and the devices don't even need to physically touch the surface -- so feel free to stack your tablets and phones one on top of each other. We're all for convenient charging as long as our furniture still looks pretty and isn't at risk of catching on fire. PR is after the break if you're inspired to give it a read.

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Filed under: Peripherals, Wireless, Science

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Hands-on with the Motorola Solutions HC1, a modular head-mounted computer

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/09/motorola-solutions-hc1-hands-on/

One of the more entertaining posts we wrote up at last year's CES was for the Golden-i, a head-mounted computer that lets field workers control their machines using voice commands and by moving their heads. The idea being: technicians, soldiers and other hands-on types ought to have their hands free if they're going to do their jobs safely.

Since then, the Golden-i has been replaced by the Motorola Solutions HC1, which uses the same technology but is now rugged enough to withstand four-foot drops. It also has a much more comfortable, modular design. So comfortable, in fact, that you have to wonder why the original wasn't designed this way. Now the padded inner lining is velcro-attached, so workers can adjust it about as easily as they would a bike helmet. That's convenient for people who live in their headgear 40 hours a week, but it's also nice for companies where employees share helmets -- after all, it'd be nice to take out your own lining so that you're not sharing the same sweat-soaked padding with someone else.

Additionally, workers can remove components like the speaker module, which they might need to if the headset's in need of cleaning. There's now a user-programmable button, which you can do to turn off features like voice commands. The eyepiece, too, is now attached to a sturdy, flexible boom, which lets you adjust the LCD position just so.

In terms of actual functionali! ty, the core technology hasn't changed much: this is still a heads-up display that allows you to control things using your voice or by moving your head. However, the software has been improved in such a way that you can now share your screen -- or rather, your field of vision. So, for example, if a field worker is having trouble repairing something, he can have a distant colleague remote in and offer help -- sort of the virtual equivalent of looking over someone's shoulder. That's it in a nutshell, but we've got photo and video of the hardware below. Apologies if you have a fear of mannequins.

Gallery: Motorola Solutions HC1 Headset Computer hands-on

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Filed under: Wearables

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Sigma DP3 Merrill packs a Foveon X3 sensor and a fixed F2.8, 75mm-equivalent lens

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/09/sigma-dp3-merrill/

Fans of Sigma's compact series will be delighted by the news of this new camera. Dubbed the DP3 Merrill, this compact camera comes with the same 46-megapixel (15.3-megapixel equivalent) Foveon X3 APS-C sensor as seen on its two other DP Merrill siblings as well as the SD1 DSLR. Where the DP1 came with a 28mm-equivalent lens and the DP2 with a 45mm-equivalent, this new DP3 packs a 75mm-equivalent lens (marked 50mm), and yes, it's still F2.8. The focal length might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it can still do macro at down to 22.6cm (with up to 1:3 magnification), and at 400g, this should still catch the interest of Foveon fans.

The DP3 Merrill uses True II image processing engine and boasts a ISO 100 to 6400, and it offers nine focal points, 7fps continuous shooting, a 3-inch 0.92-megapixel LCD and a more intuitive UI. Sadly, for video it's still stuck with VGA resolution. We'll let you guys know when we get a price and a date, so stay tuned.

Continue reading Sigma DP3 Merrill packs a Foveon X3 sensor and a fixed F2.8, 75mm-equivalent lens

Filed under: Cameras

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Via: Engadget Chinese

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Microsoft and Samsung demo Illumiroom display, fills room with images (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/09/microsoft-and-samsung-demos-illumiroom-display-fills-room-with-images/

Microsoft just demonstrated an interesting display technology called Illumiroom at the Samsung CES keynote that apparently fills up the room with images and lights beyond the confines of a television screen. We were shown a video of someone playing Xbox games and making it seem like it's snowing in the room, for example. It's unclear how the technology is being implemented, but we were promised it wasn't just video tricks and was indeed a video of a lab demo. We'll try to suss out the details for more.

Update: It's actually a Microsoft Research project called Illumiroom that uses a Kinect for a Windows camera combined with a projector. It apparently "uses the appearance and the geometry of the room (captured by Kinect) to adapt the projected visuals in real-time without any need to custom pre-process the graphics."

Gallery: Microsoft and Samsung demos Xbox display, fills room with images

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Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment, HD, Samsung, Microsoft

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Source: Microsoft Research

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JVC Kenwood's wooden cube speakers offer realtime streaming of nature sounds

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/09/jvc-kenwood-offers-wooden-cube-speakers-with-realtime-streaming/

This year's CES has seen no shortage of wireless speakers of all shapes and sizes, but none quite like these options that JVC Kenwood has introduced in Japan. Available in 12.2 and 5.35-inch sizes, the cube-shaped speakers are made of wood and little else, with a vibrating frame producing the sound. As The Asahi Shimbun reports, that system isn't the best for producing deep bass (making them less than ideal for music), but it apparently fares considerably better with the medium and high-pitched sounds of birds and rustling tree branches. JVC Kenwood didn't just stop at the speakers themselves, though. It's also offering a subscription service to go along with them, which will stream realtime sound from microphones set up in the mountains of Takayama and Morotsuka. Not surprisingly, these don't come cheap. The small one with set you back ¥60,000 (or about $680), with the larger model running a hefty ¥300,000, or more than $3,400 -- the subscription service also comes with an unspecified monthly fee.

Filed under: Misc

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Source: The Asahi Shimbum

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