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SDG Systems says Trimble Yuma tablet on Ubuntu and Windows 7 is hit-proof
The American company SDG System has expanded the product range Tablet PC Trimble Yuma. New product designed for field conditions, as indicated not only the external design, but compliance with the standards' durability »MIL-STD-810F, MIL-STD-461E and IP67. The developers claim that the product can sustain a half-hour stay in the water at a depth of 1 m, a fall of 1.22 m and did not even lose performance at temperatures down to -30 degrees Celsius.
Trimble Yuma Is a Rugged Windows 7 Running Tablet
The central element of the hardware platform is a tablet processor Intel Atom Z530, clocked at 1.6 GHz. The RAM is 1 GB flash memory - 32 GB. You can connect expansion cards, which are provided by developers and SDIO slots ExpressCard/34.
The list of characteristics of Trimble Yuma Tablet PC continues to built-in modules Wi-Fi 802.11b / g and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, receiver GPS, two cameras (front resolution - 1.3 megapixel, rear - 2 M), as well as two USB 2.0 ports and one RS- 232. Screen size product is seven inches, resolution - 1024 x 600 pixels, and the stated brightness - 650 cd / sq.m.
Dimensions of Trimble Yuma Tablet PC - 230 x 140 x 50 mm, weight - 1.2 kg. The power system product includes two batteries with the ability to "hot" replacement. Capacity of standard battery - 2600 mAh high capacity battery - 5100 mAh. Tablet can be equipped with both Windows 7 and Ubuntu, and its price in the U.S. starts at $ 3650.
Source: SDG Systems
3D-card AMD were the first to overcome the gigahertz mark – is represented by a series of AMD Radeon 7700
AMD has announced the release of 3D-card AMD Radeon HD 7770 and HD GHz Edition 7750. Model AMD Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition has become the world's first graphics card, the reference sample which is clocked at 1 GHz. Series GPU AMD Radeon HD 7700 are built on the architecture of the AMD Graphics Core Next (GCN) and are available on 28-nanometer technology. Recall, AMD Radeon HD 7970 - the world's first 28-nanometer GPU AMD was presented last December and in January was released the second model - AMD Radeon HD 7950 . Thus, in less than three months, the company introduced four new product generation is rapidly moving into the gap on his rival, until the issuing of any one model for 28-nanometer GPU.
In the configuration of the AMD Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition includes 640 stream processors, 128-bit memory interface and 1GB of memory GDDR5. The number of texture units is 40, block Z / Stencil ROP - 64YU blocks Color ROP - 16. GPU clock speed is 1 GHz, RAM - 1125 MHz (effective 4.5 GHz). Memory bandwidth characterizes the value of 72 GB / s GPU performance on floating-point single-precision reaches 1,28 TFLOPS.
A model of Radeon HD 7750 is somewhat less stream processors and texture units - 512 and 32 respectively. Other characteristics coincide with the characteristics of the older model, except for the frequency of GPU, equal to 800 MHz. TDP younger model does not exceed 65 watts.
The new cards are equipped with interface PCI Express 3.0, supports DirectX 11 and OpenGL 4.2, and among them are used in proprietary technology called AMD ZeroCore Power, AMD PowerTune, AMD HD3D, AMD CrossFire, AMD Eyefinity 2.0 and AMD App.
Sales of new products in the performance of Sapphire, Powercolor, HIS, XFX, ASUS, Gigabyte and MSI have already started. The estimated retail price of AMD Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB - $ 159, AMD Radeon HD 7750 1GB - $ 109.
Source: AMD
There were details about APU AMD Trinity A10-5800K, A10-5700, A8-5600K, A8-5500, A6-5400K, and A4-5300
In the second quarter, AMD outlines the release of the next generation of hybrid processors, known under the code-named Trinity. The first will feature quad-core models A10 and A8. In the third quarter fits all dual core models A6 and A4. Source procured technical data sheet of the APU.
A10 models will be equipped with GPU Radeon HD 7660D, A8 - GPU Radeon HD 7560D, A6 - Radeon HD 7540D, A4 - Radeon HD 7480D. In the configuration of the HD 7660D includes 384 stream processors on the new architecture, in HD 7560D - 256, in HD 7540D - 192, and in HD 7480D - 128. Low-end model - the only that does not support the technology Dual Graphics. All other graphics processors APU can be combined with a compatible discrete GPU to boost performance.
The flagship model of the A10-5800K with four cores Piledriver, clocked at 3.80 GHz (mode TurboCore - 4,20 GHz) and GPU, clocked at 800MHz, has 4MB of cache and an unlocked multiplier. TDP value is equal to 100 watts.
Calculated on the frequency of 3.4 GHz (4.0 GHz) model A10-5700 fits into the TDP of 65 watts. Cache size it is also equal to 4 MB, but the frequency of the GPU - slightly lower 760 MHz.
Basic models of the CPU clock speed A8-5600K, and A8-5500 are 3.6 and 3.2 GHz, and frequency TurboCore - 3,9 and 3,7 GHz respectively. Cache size in both cases is 4 MB, the frequency of GPU - 760 MHz. Model A8-5600K features unlocked multiplier and TDP 100W, while the A8-5500 has a TDP of 65 watts.
The value of TDP, equal to 65 watts, the model also characterizes the A6-5400K, and A4-5300. These processors will have to 1 MB of cache. Data on the clock speed yet.
All these products are designed for installation in the CPU socket FM2.
Source: DonanimHaber
Sigma takes care of those who have recently bought a camera
Source published an interview with the head of Sigma, which took place at the exhibition CP +. During the conversation, found out some interesting facts, especially regarding the plans of the company, will present the camera and the Sigma DP1 Merrill DP2 Merrill46 megapixel resolution (upper photo).
Post the output of these compact cameras, which use the same sensor size APS-C X3, as in the thoroughly cheapened SLR SD1 , according to the head of the company, allowed progress in the production of sensors. Improvements in technology have greatly increased the yield rate of production and bring the price of the SD1 to a level that the company had planned originally.
Recall, the recommended retail price of the camera manufacturer has been reduced from $ 9700 to $ 3300. A pleasant surprise for those who put off buying and unpleasant for those who bought recently SD1. By the way, companies are going to take into account the interests of fans of the brand and to compensate for part of the cost to those who bought the camera just before the price reduction on it. Details of the compensation scheme must be published before the end of the month.
However, the cameras - cameras, but the company is known in Sigma as a major supplier of interchangeable lenses. In this area, its interests are focused on the production of models for mirrorless camera systems Micro 4/3 and Sony NEX. Although the specific models and their technical data are too early, CEO, confirmed that the Sigma will follow the same strategy as the market of interchangeable lenses for SLR cameras. This means that the first thing the company will try to fill the niche left by the main producers - in this case, companies, Olympus, Panasonic and Sony.
Issue of lenses for Pentax Q system is not planned. Regarding production of lenses for the Nikon system a decision has been made.
As for the possibility of entering the market Simga mirrorless systems with its own development, while talking about it early. The company's management is interested in such a step, but for now the priority is meeting the demand in an already open segments of the SD series cameras, and DP.
Source: PhotoRumors
New smartphone LG Fantasy E740!
Source found on one of the Romanian websites pictures have not yet submitted a smartphone LG Fantasy E740. Although the images were quickly removed, the Global Network of those leaks do not go unnoticed.
The device is clearly not intended for retail, as evidenced by the inscription «Not for sale», but it is fully operational.
Applications installed on your phone and ScanSearch SmartShare (formerly PlayTo), which have been exclusive model features Optimus 7 at the time of its debut.
Upon closer examination revealed that this same device has recently been observed under the name LG Miracle. It is possible that under the name Fantasy E740, it will be known after its official announcement.
By the way, a smart phone LG Fantasy has got into our field of vision in December of last year.
According to preliminary data, a device with four-inch screen WVGA NOVA will prostroeno the CPU Scorpion (1 GHz) and equipped with two cameras: the front, a resolution of VGA, and principal, 5 megapixel resolution. Reportedly, the smartphone will support NFC.
Preview of LG Fantasy E740 is expected in the current quarter - perhaps at the MWC 2012 event, which opens February 27.
Source: GSMArena.com
The network has sophisticated features and price data cards AMD Radeon HD 7750 and 7770
As we reported earlier , on February 15th scheduled debut video cards AMD Radeon HD 7750 and 7770, known under the code name of Cape Verde. Despite the fact that prior to the announcement is still a few days, a German source hastened to share the final specifications of potential new products.
Cape Verde will be the most accessible 3D-maps of AMD, built on the Architecture Graphics Core Next Architecture (GCN): the promised value of older models - 115 euros ($ 129 U.S.), the youngest - from 90 to 100 euros ($ 99-110 U.S.). As for the graphics card specifications, they will be as follows:
AMD Radeon HD 7770
10 multi-block;
40 texture units and 640 unified processors;
16 blocks ROP;
128-bit memory interface;
Clock speed GPU - 1000 MHz;
Effective memory frequency - 4.5 GHz;
The amount and type of memory - 1 GB GDDR5;
The capacity of memory - 72 GB / s, texture sampling rate - 40 gigatexel per second, the computational performance - 1280 gigaflops;
Power consumption - 80 Tues
AMD Radeon HD 7750
8 multi-blocks;
32 texture units and 512 unified processors;
16 blocks ROP;
128-bit memory interface;
Clock speed GPU - 800 MHz;
Effective memory frequency - 4.5 GHz;
The amount and type of memory - 1 GB GDDR5;
The capacity of memory - 72 GB / s, texture sampling rate - 25.6 gigatexel per second computing performance - 819 gigaflops;
Power consumption - 55 watts.
According to the results of first tests the performance of AMD Radeon HD 7770 almost matches the performance of Radeon HD 6850, which means that the card will be faster than Radeon HD 6790 or NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti. As for the Radeon HD 7750, its performance is likely to be at the Radeon HD 6770 and GeForce GTX 550 Ti.
Source: 3D center.org
Tablets for children!
Oregon Scientific The company decided to try his hand at a new category of electronic devices - tablets for children. The debut model MEEP! equipped with a seven-inch screen and runs on Android. Category of potential users MEEP! marked as - "6 years and older."
In view of someone who will use the tablet, the case MEEP! has high resistance to mechanical stress. Provides an extra degree of protection silicone case. According to Oregon Scientific, the novelty will fully satisfy the needs of children who are interested in advanced electronics, while relieving parents from fear for the fate of their own, "adult" tablets. By the way, parents will be able to remotely control access MEEP! to network resources using the browser to change the settings on your PC or mobile device.
The manufacturer does not result in detailed specifications, but does mention the touch screen, the adapter Wi-Fi, a slot for SD memory card and an accelerometer. Planned production accessories for MEEP!, Including "musical instruments". Data on the price and date of start of sales yet.
Source: Engadget
Quad-smartphone HTC Endeavor will be presented February 26
According to the source, referring to an article in the publication Economic Daily News, a Taiwanese company HTC has already received orders from the mobile operators to release a smartphone Endeavor. The basis of this apparatus, equipped with a touchscreen measuring 4.7 inches, is a quad-core processor NVIDIA Tegra 3.
Endeavor - the first quad-core smartphone in the asset HTC. Device that supports LTE, attracted the interest of more than 20 operators worldwide, including Orange and Vodafone.
The official premiere HTC Endeavor is expected on February 26, the eve of the opening event in Barcelona, Mobile World Congress 2012.
Source: DigiTimes
Samsung will present Galaxy Mini 2!
At last MWC 2011 (Mobile World Congress) Samsung showed a smartphone Galaxy Mini, but for the MWC 2012 the company has
Samsung Galaxy mini 2
prepared a new version of this device -Samsung Galaxy Mini 2!
Galaxy mini 2 (GT-S6500), code-name of Jena, is what is in between cut-down versions of the Galaxy Y and the Galaxy Ace.
The communicator is equipped with a 3.3-inch HVGA TFT display, a 800MHz processor, support 7.2Mb / s HSDPA, 3MP camera on, modules, WiFi and GPS , 3GB of internal memory, the service messages ChatON, etc. Works Galaxy Mini 2 under the operating system of the mobile Android 2.3 Gingerbread.
TOP 10 notebooks: Most Popular Laptops for January 2012
Each month we compile data for popularity of a particular notebook in search engines and markets to get an idea for what mainstream consumers are looking at and thinking about using. Lets go through notebooks that our customers wanted to see the most during last month.
In that sense, think of this list as the "most clickable laptops of the month" ... the notebooks that most of the people visiting this site are interested in learning about. Keep in mind that clicks directly on the "Most Viewed Laptops" list do not count toward the total - keeping the list as fair as possible each month. The only clicks that count toward the monthly totals come from web searches like Google or from visitors who have clicked on a laptop after visiting our "Notebook Database" or inside our forums.
The 15.6-inch HP Pavilion g6 budget-priced laptop is the number one position holder for its first time ever. Following closely behind the g6 is last month's #1 position holder, the Asus Zenbook UX31 ultrabook. The number three position holder is Toshiba's answer to the ultrabook calling, the Portege Z830/835. We recently compiled a head-to-head feature on the #2 and #3 position holders to find out which one is the best for users searching for an ultrabook.
HP Pavilion g6
1. HP Pavilion g6 (Previously #2) - The Pavilion g6 is a budget-priced laptop that tries to balance great design, solid performance, and affordability. The Pavilion g6t series with 15.6-inch LED display features a range of available Intel Pentium and Core i series processors, Windows 7, multiple graphics options, and a 6-cell battery with more than four hours of battery life while browsing the web.
2. ASUS Zenbook UX31 (Previously #1) - The Asus Zenbook UX31 is a 13.3-inch notebook with a 900p
ASUS Zenbook UX31
screen. It also comes with the option of a 11.6-inch screen. It was designed to compete with Apple's MacBook Air because of its higher-end specifications in a slim form factor. You can customize this notebook with up to 4GB-1333 DDR3 RAM. It has a 50Whr polymer (non-removable) battery.
View the NotebookReview.com Review for the ASUS Zenbook UX31
3. Toshiba Portege Z835 (Previously #4) - The Toshiba Portege Z835 is a consumer notebook with a
Toshiba Portege Z835
13.3-inch 720p display and a dual-core Intel Core i3-2367M processor. Known as an "Ultrabook," it comes equipped with 4GB DDR3-1333MHz memory (max. 6GB), a 128GB solid state drive, USB 3.0 and a backlit keyboard. The battery provided six hours of life during our tests.
View the NotebookReview.com Review for the Toshiba Portege Z835
4. Lenovo G570 (Previously #3) - The G570 is part of the budget-priced/general use G-Series line by
Lenovo G570
Lenovo. Running on Windows 7 Home Premium on a 15.6-inch display (1366x768), the G570 has an Intel Core i5-2410M dual-core processor and up to 8GB of RAM. Choose from a 500GB capacity hard drive at 5400rpm or a 750GB capacity hard drive at 5400rpm. The graphics card included with the system is an Intel HD 3000 (integrated). (19,795 unique views)
View NotebookReview.com Review for the Lenovo G570
5. Lenovo ThinkPad X220 (Previously #7) - The 12.5-inch Lenovo ThinkPad X220 is an ultraportable
Lenovo ThinkPad X220
business notebook that will soon replace the popular X201. The X220 comes built with the latest of the Intel Sandy Bridge processors (Core i3, i5 or i7), has a high-quality IPS display, and can deliver more than eight and a half hours of battery life. With the optional battery slice this system can deliver 18 and a half hours of mobile life. Choose up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM and a hard drive with up to 320GB of hard drive storage.
6. Asus N55S (Previously #5) - The Asus N55S is a consumer multimedia notebook that can also be used to
Asus N55S
play the latest games. It has a 15.6-inch 1080p display and it's equipped with an Intel Core i7-2630QM quad-core processor and a 2GB Nvidia GeForce GT 555M graphics card. The N55S has 8GB of DDR3-1333 memory and 750GB of storage space at 7200rpm. Our tests showed that the battery lasted about 4 hours without a power source.
7. Dell XPS 14z (Previously #6) - The Dell XPS 14z is a travel-friendly notebook due to its 0.9" chassis
Dell XPS 14z
thickness and 14-inch 720p display. Customize it with either an Intel Core i5-2430M or an Intel Core i7-2640M (dual-core processors) and up to 8GB DDR3-1333 RAM. The 14z comes equipped with an NVIDIA GeForce GT 520M graphics card with Optimus technology.
8. Lenovo IdeaPad U300s (New to the top 10) - The 13.3-inch Lenovo IdeaPad U300s is an Ultrabook
Lenovo IdeaPad U300s
(ultraportable with 0.6 thinness) with decent specs and performance. The notebook weighs only 2.9 pounds. Equip it with up to a second-generation Intel Core i7 dual-core ULV processor, 256GB SSD, up to 4GB of memory, and integrated Intel HD graphics.
9. Toshiba Satellite P755-3DV20 (New to the top 10) - The Toshiba Satellite P755-3DV20 is a 3D ready
Toshiba Satellite P755-3DV20
15.6-inch multimedia laptop. Included is a Intel Core i5 dual-core processor, NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M graphics, and 6GB DDR3 1333MHz memory. The system has a 750GB hard drive at 5400rpm.
10. Dell XPS 15z (Previously #8) - The Dell XPS 15z is a 15-inch multimedia notebook with an ultra-thin
Dell XPS 15z
metal chassis, an optional 1080p display and a backlit keyboard. The XPS 15z can be configured with a second-generation Intel Core i7 processor and Nvidia GeForce GT 525M dedicated graphics for serious multimedia performance. With a starting weight of just 5.5 pounds and an attractive metal exterior this is an interesting alternative to Apple's MacBook Pro
Here we go, best from laptops weby our users opinions. Now you can easily choose best leptop for you.
Nikon COOLPIX L25 and COOLPIX L26 are good for beginners.
Rounding out the list of compact cameras , provided by Nikon this week, the model COOLPIX L25 and COOLPIX L26. Resolution COOLPIX L25 is 10 megapixel, COOLPIX L26 - 16 Mn. Both models are designed for beginner amateur photographers.
Nikon coolpixL25
Make notes the existence of "intelligent automatic modes" of shooting and ease of management, as well as the possibility of video format 720p, built-in electronic stabilizer and a system of "intellectual portrait" that includes a timer function of smile and softening skin tones.
Lens with a 28-140 mm EGF is characterized by a maximum aperture of f / 2,7-6,8. COOLPIX L25 is available in four colors: silver, black, red and white. Weighing chamber dimensions 96,2 x 60,4 x 29,2 mm, the total 171
Model Nikon COOLPIX L26 has a lens with a 26-130 mm EGF and maximum aperture of f / 3,2-6,5. It is also characterized by a high degree of automation.
COOLPIX L26 is available in three colors: silver, black and red. With dimensions of 96,0 x 59,7 x 28,8 mm device weighs 164 g
Both cameras are equipped with screens measuring 3 inches, and for their power needs only two elements of size AA. As the use of removable media cards SD, SDHC or SDXC.
Source: Nikon
Photo of the day: the prototype of notebook APU AMD Trinity
At the AMD Financial Analyst Day was presented to the reference sample notebook APU AMD Trinity. The developer of the prototype ODM was the company Compal. Source has published photographs of the product.
Compal prototype
According to the manufacturer, shows one of several options for products that are designed to demonstrate the potential of new platforms and to attract OEM-partners.
It is expected that thin laptops at APU Trinity will cost $ 500-600.
In the embodiment shown in the photographs, using APU Trinity with low power consumption: TDP 17 or 25 watts.
The thickness of the PC - 18 mm.
The sample is equipped with two ports USB 3.0, mini-DisplayPort outputs and HDMI.
In addition, you can see the Ethernet port and socket audio subsystem.
On the weight and battery life of your computer data are not available.
Source: Engadget
Canon Pixma MG4150 – new inkjet MFP with Wi-Fi support
The British division of Japanese company Canon announced the release of a new multifunctional printer called Canon Pixma MG4150. The compact new supports wireless Wi-Fi and printing from mobile devices running the iOS and Android.
New compact size (449 x 304 x 152 mm) allows you to print and scan documents with a maximum resolution of 4800 x 1200 dpi and 1200 x 2400 dpi, respectively. MFP is equipped with two cartridges, one filled with black ink, the other - the tricolor. The equipment Pixma MG4150 includes a card reader and a screen diagonal entries of 6 cm, providing a preview pictures before printing, making it easy to configure and manage MFP.
Canon Pixma MG4150
Canon PIXMA MG4150 will be available in shops in March of this year.
Source: Canon
Camera COOLPIX S3300 is available in eight colors
This week, Nikon introduced two compact camera line COOLPIX S. Model S3300, released replaces the S3100, boasts 16-megapixels, NIKKOR lens with a 6x zoom lens, LCD monitor measuring 2.7 inches diagonally, the technology shift VR lens element, video shooting at 720p and the presence of embedded of filters.
Dimensions of the camera COOLPIX S3300, housing is made of aluminum, constitute only 94,8 x 57,8 x 19,5 mm, weight - 128 In the opinion of the manufacturer, this model is "ideal lovers of stylish accessories." The camera comes in eight bright colors: gold, silver, black, green, pink, purple, red and blue.
nikon s4300
Simultaneously released model S4300, which is different extended to 3 inch touch screen (resolution 460 thousand pixels). This model comes in four colors: silver, black, red and white. Its dimensions are 95,5 x 58,9 x 20,8 mm, weight - 139, the
nicon coolpix
Both updates applied to CMOS image sensor type format 1 / 2, 3-inch resolution of 16 megapixel back with a flare. The lens covers the range of 26-156 mm EGF, with a maximum aperture is f / 3,5-6,5. Focus on applied technology shift VR lens element (Nikon VR).
Camera S4300 and S3300 a high degree of automation: a large number of Scene modes, fast and precise AF system, Smart Portrait System Nikon's Smile Timer, Blink and softening skin tones.
Source: Nikon
Camera Nikon COOLPIX L810 is powered by usual AA batteries
In place of models in the range of COOLPIX L120 Nikon compact camera came L810, equipped with lenses with 26x "zoom". Zoom range NIKKOR lens extends from 22.5 to 585 mm (35-millimmetrovom equivalent). This is less than 42-fold "superzoom" COOLPIX P510 , but also enough to cover a wide range of subjects. The company noted an interesting feature of the lens - the lever on the side of a smooth and uniform change in focal length, working both in photography and shooting videos. In addition, the lens is equipped with a stabilizer that compensates for camera movements to produce sharper pictures. Reduce the risk of "blurring" of the image also helps high sensitivity ISO (1600), Motion Detection Technology compensates for camera and subject movement, as well as Best Shot Selector (BSS), in which the camera automatically selects the sharpest of ten sequential shots.
As in the above model COOLPIX P510, the camera Nikon COOLPIX L810 uses an image sensor such as CMOS format 1 / 2, 3-inch resolutio
Camera Nikon COOLPIX L810
n 16.1 megapixel on the back illumination. The camera can shoot video format 720p, recording mode is three-dimensional images intended for viewing on TVs and computers that support 3D. To connect to a TV interface is HDMI.
Another feature of the COOLPIX L810 appreciate travelers: the camera is powered by standard batteries size AA, which allows not to worry about suddenly dead battery. One set (4 pcs.) Alkaline batteries or 300 shots missing 1 hr 50 min video. EN-MH2 batteries provide an opportunity to make 450 shots or shoot a video for 3 hours, 10 minutes. If the splurge on lithium batteries, the number of shots increases to 740, length of video - Up to 5 h 15 min.
Dimensions of the device - 111,1 x 76,3 x 83,1 mm, weight - 430 Camera COOLPIX L810 is available in four colors: black, bronze, red and blue.
Source: Nikon
Monitor ViewSonic VX2336s-LED with SuperClear IPS panel with LED backlight
ViewSonic Corporation has released a new monitor VX2336s-LED , equipped with 23-inch panel SuperClear IPS with LED backlight. According to the manufacturer, the technology allows to achieve "excellent image quality" and broad viewing angle - 178 ° horizontally and vertically.
viewsonic vx2336s led
The model is characterized by a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, a brightness of 300 cd / m 2 and a response time of 14 ms. The coefficient of static contrast is 1000 to 1 dynamic - 20 million to 1. To reduce energy consumption provides an economical mode Eco Mode.
To connect to the signal inputs are D-Sub and DVI.
The company accompanies the model VX2336s-LED three-year warranty. The recommended price is $ 300.
viewsonic vx2336s led
Source: techPowerUp!
5 Ways Your Laptop Could Be Transformed by Kinect
Matt Hickey at The Daily reported last Friday that Microsoft plans to bring its popular Kinect motion-sensing device onto laptops in the near future. The preview laptops, which appeared to be ASUS netbooks running Windows 8, feature a number of sensors running across the top of the screen where the webcam would normally be positioned. The Kinect will be able to function at such close distances thanks to the device’s new ”Near Mode,” which allows it to detect movement from a distance as close as 40 centimeters. Although Steve Ballmer announced Kinect for Windows at CES, this is the first time that a device has been integrated directly into the hardware of a notebook.
Since the Kinect was first released in 2010, hackers have been devising ingenious ways to transform the device into everything from a virtual fitting room to a robotic, lightsaber-wielding “Jedibot”. As astoundingly creative as these projects may be, however, ordinary users may be less thrilled about how – for instance – surgeons are using the hands-free motion controls of the Kinect to manipulate images, speeding up operations and reducing the risk of contamination. So what kind of practical applications can the average user expect? Here are five ways the Kinect can be used to enhance your daily laptop experience:
kinect
1. Hands-free browsing – browse the Internet by swiping aside windows and tabs, Minority Report-style. Tablet users already enjoy the sensation of whisking away windows with the flick of a wrist; imagine being able to do the same on a laptop, without touching anything at all. Moreover, users would be able to use multi-touch gestures such as pinch-to-zoom and four-finger flick to quickly and easily navigate websites, without dealing with obnoxious clickpads. British websiteElectricpig goes a step further, theorizing that one day we’ll be able to browse the Web without our hands at all, using eye-tracking software developed for the Kinect.
2. Hands-free media control – Xbox owners quickly fell in love with the Kinect’s ability to let them fast forward and rewind movies just by moving their hands through the air or speaking aloud to the device. Laptop users should enjoy the same capabilities, as well as greater possibilities. For instance, the Kinect could be used to navigate PowerPoint slides without needing to stand by the computer or use a remote control, skip or queue up songs without getting up from the couch, or manipulate photos without using a cumbersome mouse.
3. Hands-free typing – Windows already features voice commands and dictation for visually impaired users, but the software can be difficult to set up and use. With its sophisticated voice recognition capabilities, the Kinect could make dictation more accessible to mainstream laptop users. Imagine being able to write a Word document using nothing more than your voice, and quickly editing it with little more than a flick of your wrist.
4. Enhanced security – Ice Cream Sandwich already boasts a Face Unlock security feature for smartphones and tablets, but the tool can be easily fooled. Facial recognition software on the Kinect, which can detect the skeletal frame of a user, may be much harder to beat – particularly if the facial recognition software is paired with the Kinect’s voice recognition capabilities. For an added layer of security, laptop manufacturers could support gesture-based lock screens.
5. Social network integration – In an age of instantaneous status updates and photo-sharing, nothing could be more instantaneous than a person’s voice. Laptops featuring an integrated Kinect could allow users to tweet using their voice, use the device’s motion sensors to drag and drop photos into their Flickr albums, or “like” a YouTube video or a Facebook post by giving a thumbs-up in front of the camera.
Source: LaptopMag.com
