HTC 10 Launches with "World Class" Camera and Hi-Res Audio the Main Stars - Summary

HTC launched its flagship phone for 2016: the HTC 10. This new handset brings a redesigned all metal-body, a camera that HTC calls the best in the world, Hi-Res 24-bit audio and a fingerprint scanner.

The release of the HTC 10 backed up the claims made about its camera technology, having the best smartphone camera available on the market today, and about its battery life. The HTC 10's 12 MP rear camera includes optical image stabilization (OIS), dual LED flash, an F1.8 aperture lens and laser focus, as well as a selection of advanced shooting modes and RAW export capabilities. The front camera also has OIS and a special UltraSelfie mode that brightens up your selfies.

According to HTC, the HTC 10 is fitted with a 3,000 mAh battery they say will give you up to two days of use. You can also get a 50 percent charge in just 30 minutes, thanks to its fast charging capabilities built into the handset.

This device also contains a superior audio technology built into it. Hi-Res audio certified by the Japan Audio Society, 24-bit DAC and three amps for each stereo speaker and the headphone jack. There's even a pair of Hi-Res headphones in the box so audiophiles might find their ears pricking up.

The HTC 10 runs at a QHD resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels and its display size sits somewhere in the middle of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. It has a Qualcom Snapdragon 820 CPU, 4 GB of RAM and either 32 GB or 64 GB of internal storage (external memory cards up to 2 TB are also supported). It measures 145.9 mm x 71.9 mm x 9 mm (5.7 x 2.8 x 9 mm), weighs in at 161 g (5.8 oz) and adopts the new USB Type-C port tech.

The HTC 10 is up for pre-order for US$699.99 and will launch in a choice of four colors from later this month.

Reference:
http://www.gizmag.com/htc-10-launch/42769/

3D Fashion Project Set To Revolutionize Clothing Industry - Summary

The clothing industry is huge, with consumers in the UK alone spending approximately US $63 billion every year on new garments. As a result of this, 1.8 million tonnes of waste materials are generated and 6.4 billion m³  of water are used.

Loughborough University in the UK and garment manufacturer Yeh Group formed a partnership, aiming to launch 3D printed fashion. Their idea is to cut out the waste of the clothing industry and arrive at an eventual goal, which is to provide a system for personalized, printed polymer clothing that takes only 24 hours to produce.

3D printed textiles aren't a new concept, but the process of making them requires multiple stages. One of the biggest goal of this project is to streamline this process, creating technology that can produce finished garments, directly from raw materials, in a single step.

The new collaborative project is just in its early stages and there are a lot of work to do before the project's lofty goals can become a reality, but the researchers are confident that by the end of the project, the partnership will come up with the one-step process they are aiming to achieve.




Take a look at the video below to see more on the project.

Reference:
http://www.gizmag.com/loughborough-university-yeh-group-3d-printed-fashion/42890/

MSI's eye-tracking gaming laptop is now up for order (Summary)

Swedesh company Tobii Technology has been developing its eye-tracking technology for years and persons who are seeking a competitive edge - or at least a more convenient way to eat without interrupting gameplay - can now consider a new option.

Showcased at CES 2016, MSI's GT72S G Tobii gaming laptop includes eye-tracking technology that translates eye movements into commands for compatible apps and games.

At the bottom of the GT72S G Tobii's 17.3-inch 1080p display sits a trio of near-IR illuminators. This eye-tracking technology immerses users with intuitive hands-free navigation and control and is designed to maintain accuracy no matter the room type of lighting conditions.

Tobii's eye-tracking tech is currently compatible with over two dozen titles, including ArmA III, Assassin's Creed Syndicate, Assassin's Creed Rogue and Elite Dangerous.

The MSI's GT72S G Tobii comes equipped with a 6th gen, 2.70 GHz Intel Core i7 K processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX 900M GPU to maintain smooth video performance and high graphics quality. The notebook also has 32GB of DDR4 memory, combination 256GB SSD and 1TB HDD storage, Blu-Ray disc burner drive, and USB 3.0 with support for dual 4K external monitors. The laptop also has a pair of 3W speakers and dedicated subwoofer for added audio punch.

The MSI GT72S G Tobii gaming notebook is available to order now with prices starting at US $2,600. Each purchase ships with Tom Clancy's The Division.

Reference:

http://www.gizmag.com/msi-tobii-gaming-notebook/41717/

Samsung's brainBand to further understanding of concussion (Summary)

Samsung has developed the "brainBAND" to further our understanding of brain injuries and how they can be managed to avoid long term harm.  Picking up on the symptoms of concussion can be tricky at the time of an incident and measuring its effects thereafter aren't so straightforward either.

This device was developed with the aim of gathering data on head impacts across contact sports. Samsung received help from neuroscientist Dr. Alan Pearce and industrial designer Braden Wilson.

The prototype device comes in the form of a discreet band and is meant to be worn around the noggin like a regular sweatband. There's sensors embedded at the back of the head to measure the force of an impact with data able to be sent to medics, referees and coaches in real-time via a companion app.

On the brainBAND, there are LED lights that flash yellow, orange or red to indicate the severity of a knock, with red being the worst.

The team trialed the devices on professional rugby players to improve understanding and help avoid life changing effects in future players.

You can hear from a couple players in the promo video below. What are your thoughts on this device?

Reference:
http://www.gizmag.com/samsung-brainband-concussion/42438/

Apple says it won’t sue FBI to find out how San Bernadino iPhone 5c was hacked (Summary)

Apple revealed that it has no plan on suing the bureau to find out how it hacked the iPhone 5c used by San Bernadino shooter, Syed Farook. Apple’s officials said that they are certain the method used by the FBI would not be a security concern for its users.

Apple began implementing secure hardware enclave that makes it difficult to crack into passcode-locked iOS devices, beginning with the iPhone 5s and Touch ID. Because of this, FBI director, James Comey said “the hack used won’t unlock anything newer than the iPhone 5c”.

Comey also stated that, “this doesn’t work on 6s, doesn’t work on 5s and so we have a tool that works on a narrow slice of phones.

The FBI director is equivocal as to whether or not they would tell Apple about the method used because they may lose what little access they have to unlock locked iPhones.

Reference

http://appleinsider.com/articles/16/04/08/apple-says-it-wont-sue-fbi-to-find-out-how-san-bernardino-iphone-5c-was-hacked

New anti-snore patch targets the science of sound waves (Summary)

There’s this new anti-snore gadget that could help in reducing the volume of snoring or any nasal noise, so that you can get a better nights rest.

“The “Silent Partner” snore patch addresses the sound rather than the cause of snoring” says co-founder Netanel Eyal. “The patch has two thumb print size parts that sit on either side of the nose and are connected through a bridge over the nose, detecting snoring sounds and emitting a counter sound that cancels out the original snores.”

The Silent Partner uses noise-cancellation technology that relies on the physics of sound-waves. So for example; if the snore wave looks like a bumpy line, the counter sound would overlay the wave with its bumps in between the bumps of the snore line, which will result in the two waves cancelling out each other.

The device can be worn in any sleeping position and is effective from distances as close as 8 inches away (20 centimeters).

Eyal and his team received positive feedback from doctors about the Silent Partner.

Reference:

http://www.livescience.com/54021-anti-snore-device-targets-sound-waves.html

Response on Facial Recognition Drone Gives Your Selfie Stick Wings

Are we serious? What next I ask? I must admit that I was a little turned off when the phrase “selfie” was coined. As if that was not enough, now we have selfie drones.

Am I the only person raising alarm bells? I mean, there are starving persons in Africa, millions of displaced people in Europe and the Middle East and right in America a myriad of problematic issues that no one seems to have handle on. Yet we see merit in developing drone powered selfie sticks.

Pardon me for being a simpleton and a yes I am all for technological advancement, but at times I think we take it too far. Let’s keep it real. The cell phones are good, the remote, the dishwasher and even the lazy boy couches. But we would all readily admit that they have come with a host of attendant problems – one such being that they take away from the “naturalness” of life.

Have we not come to realize also that these innovative ideas have had a debilitating effect on our traditional areas of employment, for example the security camera replacing the security guard. I fear that with the advent of the drone selfie stick, the day of the professional photographer is numbered.

Finally, has IoT group done due process in considering the safety implications of operating another propeller driven autonomous craft in our already cluttered air spaces? The America Federal Aviation Authority (AFAA) is already struggling to enact an appropriate legislation to safe guard their airspaces and by extension protect human lives.

I’ve realized that in our technologically intoxicated era, this innovation may be hailed as yet another testimony of mans greatness and his unique ability to manipulate, for his enjoyment, the environment around him. I wish to however declare myself as the voice of reason and humbly ask; is this technological advancement necessary? Would it add value to your everyday living? Ask yourselves these questions.

Reference:

http://www.gizmag.com/roam-e-drone-selfie-facial-recognition/42600/