A tongue-twister of a name for a device if there ever was one, Mojoflocamis a steadicam for use with smartphones now campaigning onKickstarter. In layman’s terms, this thingamajig gets rid of the unsightly shakiness that comes with a typical handheld shot. Its attachment works with any smartphone as well as the following cameras:
With smartphone cameras becoming more and more capable of quality video, I think this is an excellent idea. Especially for budding filmmakers who already own smartphones, or the Youtubers out there whose channels could benefit from a bit of field video work. The Mojoflocam gives you that professional touch without the crazy price (compare a$640 Merlin to the $125 reward for a Mojoflocam).
Years ago, if you wanted to conduct video surveillance for your home or business, you’d have to invest in closed-circuit analog cameras. While such systems certainly did what they were advertised to do — i.e., record video images of whatever a camera is pointed at — technology has evolved tremendously since such cameras were first released.
While many businesses still use analog cameras today, ostensibly because they’ve already invested in them and don’t want to fork over any money upgrading their systems, businesses and homeowners who are looking to add surveillance to their properties are increasingly turning toward IP cameras, those which can be remotely managed via the Internet.
When IP cameras are installed, you’re able to access video feeds from any configured connected device. No matter where you are, you’re able to see what’s going on outside or inside the properties you’ve installed the cameras on. That sure beats having to be in the control room of an analog system to take a look at the footage.
If you’re wondering whether to grab an analog video surveillance system or an IP camera system — or if you’re considering upgrading your existing security system cameras — consider these five facts that’ll help make your decision easier:
1. They Can Stream to Your Television
Why watch something on your mobile device if you’re sitting on your couch? Because they’re connected to the Internet, IP cameras are much more versatile than their predecessors.
After installing your IP cameras, you’ll be able to access video feeds from any connected device, including your television. Believe it or not, there’s a free app, tinyCam Monitor, that allows you to digest all live streaming content right on your television — something that’s perfect for new parents, giving them peace of mind while at the same time letting them relax.
2. They’re Insanely Customizable
Once you’ve made the decision to buy an IP camera, you’re going to have to make about 100 subsequent decisions. Well, not exactly, but IP cameras are extremely flexible by design, so you’re almost guaranteed to find the exact set that meets your specifications.
Prior to making a purchase, you need to consider what resolution you want your cameras to shoot in, whether you want a wired system or a wireless one, and if you prefer fixed cameras, i.e. those that focus on one location, or PTZ cameras you can remotely move around.
3. They Give You the Best Detail
Think Internet-based video is choppy? Think again!
IP cameras provide operators with a crazy level of detail that simply can’t be matched by closed-circuit systems. Because they are digital, they capture video in pixels, similar to the way your phone captures photos. As such, you’re able to zoom in considerably, uncovering smaller objects like license plates and faces with ease. Analog cameras don’t come close to replicating the level of detail provided by IP cameras.
4. They’re Extremely Easy to Use
With plug-and-play functionality, today’s IP cameras are intuitive by design. Once the system’s properly configured, most folks who know their way around a computer at least a little bit will have no problem operating the system.
5. They’re Future-Proofed
Because your system is Internet-based, updating your IP camera system is easier than you can imagine. Just like your laptop or smartphone updates itself, so too will your IP camera system.
While it’s true technology will evolve and camera resolution will become even better, by going with the best resolution available on the market today, which is really pretty solid, chances are you won’t have to worry about making any changes to your camera system any time soon. So consider IP cameras a one-time investment you’ll be able to enjoy for years, if not decades, to come.
IP cameras probably sound pretty darned good right about now, don’t they?
Even if a trip to frosty “Oslo” doesn’t sound particularly tempting, and you find “Passports” terribly outdated, you’re likely to let things slide and save up a bit of extra money for a quick visit to whimsical Venice. All metaphors and touristic device codenames aside, BlackBerry reportedly seeks a last-second Hail Mary pass to stay afloat.
The craziest, quirkiest, most unexpected saving grace attempt since Nokia’s uber-hyped but ultimately disappointing X Android debut. This time, the Google outsider seems to acknowledge it can’t pull off the 180-degree turn by itself, signing the ecosystem’s very smartphone ruler as a partner.
Told you it sounded crazy. Nearly nonsensical, though BB and Samsung have joined hands of late for a coordinated enterprise push. In a way, uniting forces for a mainstream commercial product feels like a natural next step, albeit combining Android software and a slide-out keyboard design is sure a great gamble.
Now, a handheld with the nickname Venice was rumored and rendered a while back running BlackBerry OS, so it’s not out of the question the Canadian OEM has two separate sliders in the pipeline. It is a stretch however, given tipsters claim a dual-curved screen will complement the physical QWERTY.
No prizes therefore for guessing where Samsung’s expertise might be needed first and foremost. Secondly, an Exynos processor, perhaps Galaxy S6’s octa-core 7420, could run the hardware show, helping the next-gen flagship easily eclipse Passport and Oslo’s speed potential.
When it comes to smartphones, sometimes we feel let down. The things that matter most — like taking great photos at our kids’ soccer games, video chatting with mom or having all-day battery life — simply don’t live up to our expectations.
It shouldn’t be this way. Smartphones should focus on technology that prioritizes the things people really care about.
That’s how we designed the next generation of our best-selling smartphone, Moto G. And because we know people are unique and use their phones differently, we added two new members to the family: Moto G Plus and Moto G Play. Each of them has meaningful technology, so you never have to miss what matters most to you.
Want to learn more about the new Moto G family? Take a behind-the-scenes look at The Moto G Exhibit from our event in São Paulo, Brazil.
The thinner fourth-generation Moto G has a vivid 5.5” full HD display and a 13MP camera for crystal-clear, share-worthy pics. Its 3000 mAh battery and blazing-fast octacore processor will get you through afternoon video calls with family and into the evening out with friends.1 And when you finally need a battery boost, TurboPowerTM gives you six hours of power in just 15 minutes.2
You can also design your Moto G to match your style on Moto Maker or by switching up colors with interchangeable shells. All for an exceptional price.
Moto G Plus has all the features of Moto G, along with some new features designed for those who need even more from their phone. The first is an impressive camera. There’s nothing worse than missing a moment. Now you won’t. The 16MP camera on Moto G Plus has two additional rapid focus technologies, laser focus and phase detect autofocus so you always nab sharp, clear pictures, day and night. DxOMark, the trusted industry standard for camera and lens image quality ratings, has rated the Moto G Plus photo quality among the top smartphone cameras, ahead of iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, and other phones that are more than twice its price.3
Tired of fumbling with your phone to switch it on and sign in? With a fingerprint reader typically found in more expensive devices, a touch is all you need to instantly wake up your phone. You can even use it to authorize purchases on the Google Play StoreTM.
Moto G Play gives you more of what you love, like fast, reliable performance of a quadcore processor. It's designed to last a full day, thanks to its 2800 mAh battery. And it boosts performance by running a pure, clutter-free version of AndroidTM. The best part? You only have to spend a little for a phone you’ll love a lot.
Global Availability
Moto G and Moto G Plus
Moto G and Moto G Plus will be available starting today in Brazil and Moto G Plus will be available starting today in India. Both versions will arrive soon in various countries across North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia Pacific. Check your local websites for details and pricing.
Moto G Play
Moto G Play will be available globally starting later this summer. Stay tuned for specific availability and pricing information.
Images can be found here (you agree to our license terms when downloading images or video).
1All battery life claims are approximate and based on an average user profile that includes both usage and standby. Actual battery performance will vary and depends on many factors including signal strength, network configuration, age of battery, operating temperature, features selected, device settings, voice, data, and other application usage patterns.
2Battery must be substantially depleted; charging rate slows as charging progresses. All battery life claims are approximate and based on an average mixed use profile that includes both usage and standby time on a 4G LTE network. Out-of-box settings are applied to the mixed use profile to project battery performance. Actual battery performance will vary and depends on many factors including signal strength, network configuration, age of battery, operating temperature, features selected, device settings, and voice, data, and other application usage patterns.
3The comparison focuses on the "Photo" ratings only, not overall or video ratings. DxOMark Mobile is the trusted industry standard for independent image quality measurements and ratings of mobile device camera. Test results are available on www.dxomark.com and in the press. Information other than DxOMark Mobile scores is provided independently by MOTOROLA.
Saturday, May 21, 2016
10 fun gadgets 'Unveiled' at CES 2016
CES 2016 — the Superbowl of the gadget world — has a lot of oddball gadgets on display (like iGrow, a laser-based hair-growth helmet), but there’s plenty of pretty, practical and just plain fun tech there, too. Here are my 10 favorites so far:
This seriously cute robotic pet really stole the show for me. Maker WowWee Robotics calls CHiP the "ultimate AI Robotic Dog,” and I think they may be right: CHiP has an AI-based personality that will adapt as you play with him, plus he can recognize you, respond to commands , play fetch and soccer, and you can even use an app on your mobile device to teach him tricks. Think of him as a playful pup that you won’t have to clean up after.
Wisewear is the latest example of high tech that’s also high style. This snazzy bracelet does a lot of the stuff you’d expect from a fitness tracker or smartwatch: It tracks steps, heart rate, calories burned and gives notifications of texts, emails and more. But the standout feature? You can tap it to send out a distress signal including your location as well as audio or video — making it a super-smart panic button.
Wisewear bracelets will retail for $300 and be available this month.
Belty is a sleek, stylish piece of smart tech. While Belty is basically a fitness tracker built into a belt buckle, it also acts as your personal fitness buddy with an AI that offers you personalized fitness and health advice. It will encourage you to up your walking pace, sit up straight, drink more water and even help you relax with breathing exercises. And, of course, style is everything so Belty comes with premium leather straps from L’Aiglon.
Belty will retail for $395 and be available by the end of the year.
This air bag vest wraps around your torso and is supposed to cushion even the most serious spills on the slopes. It analyzes your movements to tell when you’ve lost your balance and then inflates an air bag — in less than 100 milliseconds — to protect you. It will even send you data to help you understand why you fell so you can avoid the next fall. The price tag for this one is steep, so it’s probably only of interest to serious skiers.
The Airbag Vest will retail for $1,200 and be available this summer.
You know you shouldn’t be texting while driving, but when your phone dings at you … you’re kind of tempted to check it anyway, aren’t you? Distracted driving caused 3,154 deaths and 424,000 injuries in 2013. Enter the SMARTwheel, a steering wheel cover that alerts you with lights and sounds when it senses movements that suggest distracted driving — like having one hand off the wheel for too long or having your hands close together (suggesting you might be holding a smartphone and texting). And, the CEO of this company just turned 20.
SMARTwheel will retail for $200 and be available around the middle of the year.
Hunter announced two smart ceiling fans, the plastic Symphony and the wooden Signal. Working with Apple’s HomeKit automation system, the fans and lights can be programmed to turn on when you arrive home, make your house look lived in by turning on and off when you’re away, and even work with HomeKit-enabled thermostats to keep your air conditioning costs down.
Both fans will retail for less than $400 and be available late February.
Onelink is a HomeKit compatible smoke and carbon monoxide detector. Beyond being a simple alarm, it lets you monitor problems in your home through your iPhone no matter where you are. The Onelink’s 10-year battery means you won’t have to worry about battery life, too.
Onelink retails for $110 (battery powered) or $120 (wired) and is currently available at Lowes — but you should be able to find it at other hardware stores as well as on Amazon and in the Apple Store soon.
There are all sorts of smart clocks that claim they’re the best way to wake up, from the Clocky alarm that runs away from you to the Philips Wake-Up light that wakes you with a sunrise-like glow — but this is the first alarm I’ve seen that uses scents. It can wake you with the smell of coffee, croissants, chocolate, peppermint or even the smells of the seaside or jungle. Interchangeable capsules — good for 30 uses each — let you switch scents whenever you’d like. And, just in case, there’s backup sound alarm, too.
Sensorwake will retail for $110 and be available in June.
Whether you want to conserve water due to drought or to lower your monthly bill, Hydrao is the answer. This smart showerhead lights up in different colors to indicate how much water you’ve used. Best of all, you won’t need to fiddle with batteries. Hydrao is powered entirely by the water running through it. The company claims the original Hydrao — released in 2014 — reduced water usage by 25%, and plans to launch this generation on Kickstarter later this year.
Hydrao is expected to retail for $100 and be available early next year — but look for it on Kickstarter this September.
We all like a good night’s sleep, and Sleep Number beds already help you get one with mattresses that offer adjustable firmness for both sides of the bed. The new it bed adds a host of high-tech features to the package, with biometric sensors to measure your sleeping patterns (including heart rate and breathing) as well as a companion app that offers recommendations to get a better night’s rest (like ideal mattress firmness and room temperature).
But this is only the beginning of CES — stay tuned for even more great tech offerings from CES as the week continues!
Friday, May 20, 2016
Review: Apple’s iPad Pro 9.7-inch is the best tablet around, but won’t replace your laptop
When Appleintroduced a smaller iPad Pro, we knew it would either be the best iPad Apple could make, or some oddity that had no home in the tablet ecosystem. It’s essentially a mixture of the Air 2 and 12.9-inch Pro, which could either confuse or delight — or maybe both.
Hardware
The same weight and dimensions as the Air 2, the Pro 9.7-inch (which I’ll just call the Pro for this article) is familiar in the hand. It’s basically an upgraded iPad Air 2 with quad speakers and a unique screen assembly.
The Pro also has Apple’s latest A9x SoC and 2GB RAM powering it along. The Air 2 uses an A8x chipset.
The screen is different for two reasons: Apple Pencil and True Tone display. True Tone uses light sensors to get a feel of your surroundings to adjust the screen color temperature. Apple thinks it will make looking at the screen more comfortable for long periods (spoiler: it does).
Apple Pencil requires some extra sensors, so the display is a different assembly from the Air 2. It’s got the same 2048 x 1536 resolution, but a wider color gamut with up to 25 percent more saturation than other iPad models — and it’s gorgeous.
Quad speakers seem gimmicky (at least to me) until you stream media. Turn on a Netflix movie or play a game, and the sound difference between the Pro and Air 2 becomes glaring. It’s also loud — really loud if you want it to be — and crisp. For a device of its size, the speaker arrangement packs a punch.
Can it replace your laptop?
My response to that is really lame, but here it is: it depends (but not really).
If you’re talking about someone like me, the answer is “definitely not.” I do a ton of really heavy lifting and routinely use programs iOS can’t be bothered with (like Xcode). I’m a power user, and only slink down to the 12-inch MacBook when traveling.
For moderate use, I can argue that it could. Apple also has a very nice smart keyboard cover for the Pros (each have their own appropriately sized cover). Typing on it isn’t a chore; it has nice key travel, even if the arrangement is a bit cramped.
Some like to knock Apple’s choice to leave shortcut keys off the smart keyboard cover, but that’s (mostly) negated by having a touch screen. I don’t need playback, volume or screen brightness hardware controls on an iPad keyboard.
That said, if you’re a day traveler or otherwise not-tied-to-a-desk type and do lighter work like check emails and whip up a few documents daily, I can say the Pro may serve you well. It’s great for responding to messages, using Safari and simple multitasking via split-screen mode. So long as apps you use have iOS counterparts, it’s a decent day-travel buddy.
Apple is actively positioning the Pro as a computer replacement, and its reasoning is solid. It’s modular because it has accessories, and serves as a fine line between the power of OS X and the desire of some to have a touchscreen Mac. I respect Apple’s position, here.
But to me, it’s a tablet that happens to do some traditionally computer-y things. The aforementioned examples push the Pro’s limitations as a laptop replacement, at least in 2016, and the 12.6-inch Pro is definitely a better option for a computer replacement than the 9.7-inch model.
Also, iOS is just not a desktop-class platform, at least not yet. Enough said.
Should you buy the Pro, or the Air 2?
That really depends on one thing: do you want the Apple Pencil?
If your experience with an iPad leans on the Apple Pencil, you’ll definitely want the Pro. I’m personally not fond of the Pencil as an input device; I only find it handy when editing photos, and that’s not compelling enough.
It’s comparably specced to the Air 2, so performance is essentially the same. The Pro also has the smart keyboard to lean on, but you can get keyboard covers for the Air 2 — they just use Bluetooth to connect rather than Apple’s new three-dot Smart Connector.
The Pro also has Apple’s best camera, a 12 megapixel shooter. Combined with the better screen, videographers might fall in love — except that it’s so large.
And if you’re a fan of 3D Touch (like me!), there’s no point of buying any iPad right now — and the Pro seems to err towards the Apple Pencil rather than 3D Touch. It’s a polarizing choice.
Apple Pencil on the smaller Pro is also a bit laggy for my liking. It didn’t lose any input during normal use, but writing faster than a stylus can recognize only punctuates why we prefer keyboards and fingers for input, by and large. It’s fantastic for mark-up or sketching, but is not a note-taking tool in my eyes.
The Pro is also a bit more expensive than the Air 2 (it starts at $599, while pricing for the Air 2 begins at $399), and the peripherals also cost quite a bit (Apple Pencil is $99, and the Smart Keyboard Cover is $149).
Still, of all the iPads on offer, I’d say the Pro at 9.7-inches is the best pound-for-pound model available. True Tone is subtly wonderful, and a solid eye-saving combination when paired with Night Shift. Battery life is (as expected) great, and it’s powerful enough to do just about anything you’d reasonably want an iPad to do.
Taking photos with it is odd, but knowing those moments you capture when your kids are being their cutest while you’re reading Medium will turn out great is beneficial.
I really like the iPad Pro; it’s just that I see it as the best tablet around — not a replacement for the computer, at least not yet.
The Sony PS3 Super Slim is the gaming brand's latest console and it's cheaper and slimmer that its predecessors. We went in for a closer look
With the Nintendo Wii U set to launch before the end of the year, the guessing game of when the PS4 and Xbox 720 will turn up still goes on.
The appearance of the Sony PlayStation Super Slim console at the 2012 Tokyo Games Show is a clear sign from Sony that there is life in the current console yet, and arriving just in time for the festive rush it clearly has the Xbox 360 and the next generation Nintendo console in its sights.
The third console in the PS3 cycle, the Super Slim has a look inspired the original, but packs many of the same features as current models, so is it really worth trading up from the Sony PS3 Slim? T3 takes a look.
PS3 Super Slim: Build and design
Looking liking a chopped down version of the monolithic-looking original PS3 but with a ridged midriff, Sony has introduced a new top loading disc tray that slides from right to left manually or can be released by a button situated on the edge of the console.
Sony says it has completely redesigned the internal PS3’s design architecture, and reduced the internal volume and weight of the new console by more than half when compared to the first PS3.
In terms of dimensions, the Super Slim is the same width as the first Slim (290mm), but significantly smaller than the original PS3 (324mm). At 230mm long and 60m high it's been generally downsized from the Slim and weighing in at 2.1kg, it's noticeably lighter than the first PS3 (5kg) and Slim (3.2kg), making easier to carry around in your bag.
Like the original PS3 and Slim you can replace the hard drive but this time round you can simply slide off the side panel of the console, and put in another SATA hard drive if 500GB isn’t enough for you for some reason.
The Super Slim definitely has a much cheaper feel compared to previous models and with the disc loading tray at the top, it’s not exactly entertainment centre friendly, so prepare to clear some floor or table space to position it.
PS3 Super Slim: Features
Inside the box you’ll find the console, a matte black DUALSHOCK 3 wireless controller with AV and USB cables and the same AC adapter as the PS3 Slim. Disappointingly you'll have to hunt out (or more likely buy) another HDMI cable.
On the console itself, there’s the standard two USB ports at the front with a system storage access indicator. Around the back you'll find ports for the AC adaptor, AV Multi Out, Digital Out (Optical), HDMI and LAN connections.
Mammoth 500GB storage aside, it’s much the same in terms of internal components with the same Cell Broadband Engine CPU and RSZ GPU and you can expect Blu-ray compatibility with 3D gaming support, an XMB interface that hasn’t dramatically changed over the years and the usual access to movies, TV shows, music and much more via PlayStation Network and Sony Unlimited services.
PS3 Super Slim: Performance
As anyone who has owned the original PS3 can testify, the cooling fan can be quite noisy particularly when watching a Blu-ray or DVD.
Thankfully that was addressed with the Slim and the Super Slim follows suit. With the optical drive now much closer to the surface you are able to hear the sound of discs booting up and spinning to load which is noticeable the closer you are to the console.
There’s not much to report in terms of loading times between the three consoles. We tested a copy of FIFA 12 and a Blu-ray copy of Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists and despite the need for the usual software updates, all loaded up at similar speeds.
One thing we did notice during Blu-ray playback mode was that virtual controls now look bolder making them easier to view from a distance which is a small but welcome change having had to squint from afar with the previous models.
PS3 Super Slim: Verdict
Who is the PS3 Super Slim going to appeal to? Well, if you already own a PS3 Slim there’s no real reason to want to swap consoles.
The build feels cheaper and while it might be slightly smaller and lighter, it’s much the same in terms of performance and features while the durability of the top loading tray is a concern. There's a 12GB SSD storage option that could appeal to some as it promises quicker loading and game download times.
If you're still holding onto the first PS3, we would still probably opt for the first Slim over this homage to the monolithic first console simply because the price cut is not that generous in comparison unless you go for the 12GB model which brings the price under the £200 mark.
The Super Slim it seems is Sony’s way of signing off the current console in the hope that it can shift a few more units before the rumoured PS4 arrives, but there's simply not enough to convince us that the third PS3 console is a more attractive purchase than the PS3 Slim.
Even if a trip to frosty “Oslo” doesn’t sound particularly tempting, and you find “Passports” terribly outdated, you’re likely to let things slide and save up a bit of extra money for a quick visit to whimsical Venice. All metaphors and touristic device codenames aside, BlackBerry reportedly seeks a last-second Hail Mary pass to stay afloat.
