Open Source Remote Control lets you pilot just about any drone

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/11/02/open-source-remote-control/

Drones and other remotely piloted vehicles are inherently limited by their controls; you frequently have to switch controllers when you switch vehicles, and you can usually forget about customization. You might not have to worry if the Open Source Remote Control (OSRC) project gets off the ground, however. The long-in-development peripheral uses a mix of modular hardware and Linux-based software that lets you steer just about any unmanned machine. On top of a programmable interface, you can swap in new wireless modules and shoulder switches to either accommodate new drones or improve existing controls. You can also attach a 4.8-inch touchscreen module (typically for a first-person view), use cellular networks or even share one vehicle between multiple operators -- handy if you're at a flying club or shooting a movie.

OSRC is leaning on crowdfunding to get started, and the amount you pledge dictates just what kind of remote you'll get. The core unit, which includes 2.4GHz wireless and standard shoulder buttons, costs €480 (about $600); if you want GSM, GPS and the touchscreen add-on, you'll want to spend €1,250 ($1,565) on the Advanced kit. Both devices should arrive in April 2015 if all goes well. Either is relatively expensive, but they could easily justify themselves if you take your RC craft very seriously.

Filed under: Peripherals, Robots

Comments

Source: Indiegogo

Read More...

Summary only...

The iBox Nano 3D printer is almost as cheap as it is tiny

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/11/02/ibox-nano-3d-printer-kickstarter/

We've seen our share of 3D printers 'round these parts, but the iBox Nano could be one of the smallest yet. Its creators claim that the gizmo is not only the most diminutive resin printer, but also the most affordable in addition to being the word's quietest and lightest 3D printer to date. It achieves these bullet points in a few ways, namely by using LEDs instead of a DLP bulb for light (cuts down on size and noise) and acrylic parts for the actual printer body. The end result is a box measuring 4 x 3 x 8 inches and weighing in at three pounds. What's with going small, though? Well, the inventors say that, statistically, folks who buy bigger (and costlier) 3D printers tend to only print smaller objects anyway -- this is a matter of calculated efficiency.

Taking that theme even further, you can print without installing any software; everything is handled via WiFi and your web browser -- you can even print from Android and iOS devices. And if you're wondering what's actually possible with the Nano, like Gizmodo notes, the pitch video and Kickstarter page are rife with things like high-res chess pieces, rings and even a velociraptor head with individual teeth. Want one for custom trinkets of your own? All it takes is a $269 pledge and for the project to raise the rest of its $300,000 funding goal (about $92,000 as of this writing).

Filed under: Cellphones, Desktops, Household, Laptops, Peripherals, Mobile

Comments

Via: Gizmodo

Source: Kickstarter

Read More...

Summary only...

These LED bulbs are brighter despite fewer diodes and a lower price

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/10/31/cree-led-bulbs/

One of the toughest parts to swallow of LED lighting technology is just how costly it can be. Well, the folks at Cree have taken umbrage with that and developed a bulb that'll retail for around $5 per 40- and 60-watt-equivalent bulb -- less than some standard CFL lamps by a few bucks. How's it doing that? In part by changing the bulbs' design and eliminating the need for heat sinks. As IEEE Spectrum reports, instead of the collar that more or less does double-duty holding the LEDs in place and dissipating heat, the new models get rid of hot air via convection. Meaning, as diodes get warmer, they naturally draw cool air in from outside the bulb as the higher temperature rises upward and outward.

Cree's also cut costs (and prices) by clipping the amount of LEDs from 10 in its 60-watt-equivalent bulbs down to eight. They don't lose any light power in the process, though. As a matter of fact, the diodes run at higher power to produce more of it. Oh, and according to the outfit's Mike Watson, the collar-less design makes the dimmable bulbs look like a traditional incandescent, which he thinks will speed up adoption. Sure? Seems like a bit of a stretch, but hit the comments if bulb shape is what kept you away from the tech.

Filed under: Household

Comments

Via: IEEE Spectrum

Source: Cree

Read More...

Summary only...

Kodak's new action cam offers 360-degree views of your stunts

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/10/30/kodak-pixpro-sp360-action-cam/

Kodak has already thrown its hat into the action cam fray, but its new gadget offers a much wider view of the goings-on. The company's PIXPRO SP360 effort captures footage with 360-degree views in full HD (1080p), which it says is capable of creating "fully immersive images" without having to employ a fleet of cameras. With a dome-shaped fixed lens up top, the diminutive device records the aforementioned video at 30 fps with a 16-megapixel MO sensor, while offering Front (212 degrees), Split (180-degree front and rear views at the same time), Dome (214 degrees) and Sphere (360 degrees) modes for alternative vantage points.

As you might expect, the unit packs WiFi connectivity for syncing up with a mobile device of computer for remote viewing and controls from up to 65 feet away. In addition to being splashproof, freezeproof, shockproof and dustproof, the SP360 features a motion sensor that can automatically start recording when it picks up movement. And it can snap 10-megapixel stills of all the action, too. Pricing starts at $349, but if you're looking to pick up the kit that includes a waterproof case and both bar and adhesive mounts, you'll need to fork over an additional $50.

Sean Buckley contributed to this report.

Filed under: Cameras

Comments

Source: Kodak

Read More...

Summary only...

CHART: LinkedIn's Revenue Is On The Up And Up

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/chart-of-the-day-linkedins-revenue-is-on-the-up-and-up-2014-10

LinkedIn reported earnings for its fiscal third quarter of 2014 on Thursday. Revenue and expectations surpassed Wall Street's expectations — it reported $568 million on $0.52 EPS, versus predictions of $557.49 million in revenue on $0.47 EPS.

Based on company data charted for us by BI Intelligence, LinkedIn's revenue continues to see steady growth in its three major lines of business — talent solutions, marketing solutions, and premium subscriptions — even though the company's year-over-year growth has been pretty flat. But LinkedIn has also been investing much of its own money to boost membership on the network: It recently redesigned its user profiles and even launched a new app called Connected to make networking among contacts easier.

SEE ALSO: CHART OF THE DAY: All Of Facebook's Revenue Growth Is Coming From Mobile Ads

Join the conversation about this story »

Read More...

Summary only...