iPhone-controlled hover drone gets UK launch date

A remote controlled drone that can be manipulated using either an iPhone or iPod Touch is being launched by aerial gadget firm Parrot, complete with augmented reality features and a high desirability factor.

Parrot’s AR.Drone is going to hit the UK on the 18th of August this year, which is good news as it was only at the 2010 CES event a few months ago that Parrot showcased a prototype quadricopter that blew away many visitors to the conference.

The AR.Drone will be controllable from a distance of up to 50 metres and it takes full advantage of the iPhone’s integrated accelerometer to allow for natural controls which respond to tilting the smartphone.

The most exciting aspect of the AR.Drone’s functionality is its augmented reality software. Basically there are two cameras hidden in the ‘copter and live feeds of the video are fed back to the iPhone, complete with an overlaid assault course, thanks to some clever programming, turning it into the ultimate gaming experience.

The AR.Drone will communicate with the iPhone or iPod Touch using a Wi-Fi connection and the gadget will have transferrable shells which allow you to put on a bulkier, more protective layer whilst you get to grips with the controls and then give you the option to switch to a lighter, more aerodynamic option to speed things up when you are more of an expert.

Parrot says that it will sell the AR.Drone for around £300 when it launches in August and it is looking for developers to work on an Android version of the control app.

Samsung creates see-through AMOLED screen

Samsung has demonstrated an AMOLED display that is not only capable of showing moving images, but is also transparent, in what is an undeniably unique achievement.

The 19 inch screen is an advancement on the 14 inch version of the technology that it showcased during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) at the start of 2010, with transparency levels on the latest model now reaching 30 per cent.

Any sci-fi fan will know that movies have been portraying transparent advertising hoardings on shop fronts for years and this is precisely the kind of application that Samsung is planning to target once it has developed a screen large enough for commercial use.

Other potential applications of the technology could be in motor vehicles, with information such as speed and fuel levels displayed on the windscreen itself. Particularly imaginative people might envision the display creating sat-nav augmented reality in cars for a completely revolutionary driving experience in the next few years.

It is clear that Samsung’s experiments with OLED technology are creating more exciting possibilities by the day and although it is unlikely that people will want a see-through TV in their living rooms, the idea of having every window in a shop doubling up as a display is perhaps just a one idea as to what the technology will be able to achieve given enough time and investment.

Adding the displays to glasses, helmets and other portable devices could open up new markets and Samsung’s competitors will need to catch up if they want to take a slice of this action for themselves.

Full colour ASUS eReader unveiled

Manufacturer ASUS has released details of a brand new eReader that it intends to launch this year, although the specifications are not quite what some had expected. ASUS was conspicuously absent from the eReader element of the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, but this announcement more than makes up for it.

The new device will feature a 6 inch screen that uses OLED display technology. To the uninitiated, this means that there is no independent backlighting, as each organic LED emits its own light, which saves energy, slims down the product and produces a much better picture.

It had originally been reported that ASUS would be producing a monochromatic eReader similar to the Amazon Kindle, but the announcement of this OLED device, which is tentatively called the DR-570, suggests that ASUS is aiming even higher.

The DR-570 will have integrated Wi-Fi and 3G networking connectivity, allowing for wireless downloads of books and magazines. Its manufacturer also claims that on a single charge the device will provide for more than 122 hours of average use.

ASUS has said that it intends to get the DR-570 out on the market before the end of 2010 and you may be concerned that the price of something so high-tech might be a little too steep for the average consumer. However, given that ASUS has a reputation for producing high quality, low cost goods and can be credited with starting the netbook phenomenon with its EEE PC, the DR-570 eReader may well enter the market at an attractive price point.

HP Microsoft Windows 7 Slate PC News From CES

 

 

 

 

 

 

The new HP Slate powered by microsofts Windows 7 got a suprisingly muted response during its launch at CES las vegas. People where impressed with the look and idea of the product but where somewhat dissapointed that it was using a standard version of windows 7. I think people where expecting a new operating system for a new device. That said I think the slate is good looking piece of kit and one that a giant like HP will have great success with.

The slate concept bridges the gap between smart phones and notebook computers. Current notebooks are great but are not as user friendly as a smart phone. They take longer to boot up and are more cumbersome to carry around, they can also be easily broken. On the other hans smart phones don’t have the capacity or screen size compared to notebook.

This is the first product of its kind and certainly paves the way for the future. Apple are set to launch their competing product at the end of the month and all eyes will be on them to raise the bar again. I think this will be a huge product for 2010.

Sharp X-Series Launches With Wireless Option (In Japan)

The area behind the television in our house is a space where nobody dares venture. The great wire graveyard where dust collects at an alarming rate could, though, be a thing of the past very soon. Sharp has released its first wireless television in Japan – the X-Series uses a Wireless High Definition Interface (WHDI) to do away with games console, DVD player, and even satellite connection wires.

A seperate box is provided, which is used to route the TV inputs through. This box can be placed up to 100 feet away from the TV and even works through walls using a 5GHz band. The X-Series of Televisions offer the wireless technology as an optional extra, rather than a standard feature.

Sharp has partnered with Amimon to create and distribute the technology behind the wireless TV. Chip manufacturer Amimon claim that WHDI enables 1080p high definition quality to be broadcast at speeds of up to 3GB/s with a range of up to 30 metres.

The X-Series is quite a breakthrough in TVs. The range offers 37” to 46” displays and was released under the banner of being the then world’s thinnest LCD TVs.

If the technology is effective enough, and affordable enough, it could spell the end of ridiculous lengths of cable between many of the devices attached to your TV set. I, for one, wait with baited breath.

Samsung Soundbar HT-X810T Due For Release In May

Samsung will release its all in one Soundbar HT-X810T next month. First announced at CES 2008, the all in one wall mountable home theatre system is the perfect accompaniment to a wall mounted LCD TV. The Soundbar itself includes an upscaling DVD player that takes standard DVDs and essentially converts them for top notch HD viewing. A wirelessly operated sub woofer is also included to maximise your audio experience.

Despite being a single unit, the latest Soundbar will deliver an impressive 300W of 5.1 surround sound. Plus, it will deliver the depths of sound that only a dedicated sub can produce making your home theatre enjoyment even more enjoyable.

The DVD Player is an impressive piece of gadgetry goodness too. It upscales virtually any DVD, in a majority of formats (including DivX, WMA, WMV, and all the recordable formats) up to 1080p.

In terms of form and design, the HT-X810T is designed to sit neatly below 40-inch wall mounted televisions and larger so not exactly ideal for your 15 inch portable.

Alas, there’s no real indication of a price as yet, which makes me a little apprehensive but I guess if you have to ask then you probably can’t afford it, right?

Consumer Electronics Show Hits Las Vegas

The annual consumer electronics show has rolled into Las Vegas today and is set to bring a host of new gadgets and announcements in the electronics and media field. The show runs from the 7th January to the 10th of January, over 2,500 companies have stands at the show and the big players have been bringing out their new technology for the whole world to see.

There are literally thousands of products at the show and we will bring you the best of them over the next few days. See the highlights from today by reading the rest of this article.

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