(Gadget) iBlazr adds more powerful flash capability for your iPhone

While smartphones have definitely improved by leaps and bounds in the past few years when it comes to the kind of technology involved, there is still one particular aspect of smartphone photography that needs to be looked into – and that is, to capture photos that will turn out great even in low light conditions. This would require a decent performing sensor, not to mention a powerful flash, but while sensor technology in smartphone cameras have taken large strides, the same cannot be said of the accompanying flash. This is where the iBlazr comes in to fill the gap – as it will introduce a far more powerful flash capability for your iPhone, which does seem to be a far better option than past releases like the Paparazzo.

The iBlazr can be best described to be a portable flash solution to a smartphone camera’s struggles when it comes to low light settings. This powerful, compact device will be better illuminates subjects so that you end up with far better looking photos. Not only that, the iBlazr will connect to the audio jack of any Android phone as well, (apart from the iPhone, of course), where it will then provide limitless possibilities that helps churn out great looking photos.

Chris Johnson, Founder of BiteMyApple, shared, “Smartphones and tablets allow us to take high-quality photos anywhere, but the built-in flash isn’t enough during low-light settings. The iBlazr provides users with the same illumination capabilities that a high-end camera provides. You can use the small external flash with your front or back camera so you’ll get the perfect shot or selfie every time.”

The iBlazr’s flash includes a quartet of hi-end American CREE LEDs which provides great light to take a stunning photo, in addition to letting the light come through 60 degree optics for a softer look on subjects. Not only that, the iBlazr has been specially positioned to do away with the red-eye or white-eye effects.

A built-in, rechargeable 200mAh battery runs the iBlazr, which translates to no piggyback ride on your smartphone’s battery life. Expect the black iBlazr to retail for $49.99 each if you are interested.

Press Release.

(Gadget) The Teacher-Friendly Robot

Robots are a great way to introduce programming and basic physics to kids, but products like Lego’s Mindstorms can be a bit intimidating with hundreds of parts to put together. Enter Bo and Yana, two small robots from Play-I that come assembled and have a lot of potential for kids. Yana is a small sphere that can interact with the world, while Yana adds the ability to move.

They connect with an iPad via Bluetooth to get their commands and have a simple visual programming interface. You add pieces of code together to create a routine for the robot to perform and can check it on a software simulator before using it on Bo or Yana. This way an entire class can get by with a single robot for performing their maneuvers once they’ve been tested.

The best part is that there’re a couple of accessories that make these robots much more interesting. My favorite is the clip-on xylophone so that Bo and Yana can learn and perform music. There’s also a simple smartphone You can pre-order the robots now with delivery expected by October.

(Gadget) Timbre Speaker Uses Glass Bowls to Adjust the Sound

This elegant speaker design by Casey Lin takes a speaker back to a minimalist form. It might look like a pair of fruit bowls but it’s really a sound machine. The walnut box houses a pair of vibrating surface transducers that send the sound vibrations up through the glass bowls instead of a typical speaker cone. Moving the glass bowls around the box changes the timbre of the sound (hence the name Timbre Speaker).

The speaker takes the minimalist approach even further by eliminating all knobs and dials except a single combine power/volume knob. Audio and power ports are hidden in the back. Instead of an equalizer, you just move the bowls. You could try different types of bowls of varying sizes and materials to play with the sound. Maybe even some with fruit in them (like an Apple maybe? obvious joke is obvious).

Watch a demo click here.

(Gadget) Y-Charge Dual-USB Car Charger

Y-Charge is a car charger with dual USB ports. Convenient for passengers, the Y-design routes one cable to you and the other to the passenger, keeping things neat and organized. 2.1A output means you can rapidly charge your device, even a tablet. You can also charge two devices simultaneously. Syncable is a uniquely designed charging and data cable. It can be used with any standard USB port and the short length is perfect for certain applications such as travel, desktop charging/syncing and USB car chargers.

(Army gadget) Cornor Shot

Corner Shot® can change the nature of relevant operations by providing security forces with an effective tool to accurately pinpoint and engage a target, at minimal risk to their personal safety.
Amos Golan, the inventor, one of Corner Shot's founders and a former Anti-Terror Unit Commander, said: "I believe that the Corner Shot® weapon system can be extremely beneficial in the global war on terror. It protects soldiers' lives and increases their chances of survival, while drastically improving their ability to gather information and transmit the combat scenario as well as pinpoint and engage targets out of their line of sight." He added: "Today's combat situations, especially in low intensity conflicts, involve fighting in urban terrain, and inside inhabited buildings, forced entry into airplanes, buses or trains. This unnecessarily exposes security forces to the enemy and presents an immediate risk to their lives. Corner Shot® removes the need for this initial exposure."
"The Corner Shot® system is designed in a way that enables security forces to engage targets from the left, and right, from the front, up or down, and to move to each of these shooting positions very rapidly without the removal of hands from the weapon. This shortens reaction time and increases accuracy in sudden engagement situations. The weapon system can be triggered completely from behind cover."
The advantages that the Corner Shot® offers to a SWAT OPERATION lay in two main areas: “The Operator” and “The Operation Management.” Advantages for the Operator are those that the officer or soldier carrying the Corner Shot® experiences. These advantages are the following:
The Operator can engage a target located behind a corner without exposing himself. The Corner Shot® can save his life.
The Corner Shot® can be used as an “extension” to the user’s eye. It allows the Operator to see over high objects and under raised objects quickly and efficiently.
The Operator shooting accuracy increases due to the Corner Shot®’s laser guided camera aim.

Advantages for Operation Management are those that the Central Command experiences due to the use of the Corner Shot® being carried by the Operator. These advantages are the following:
Central Command receives a live video feed of what is happening at the front line. This leads to better understanding of the situation and can improve decision-making.
By using an additional screen the officer or soldier located behind the Corner Shot® Operator can see the same view that the Operator is seeing on the Corner Shot® screen. This enables him to better support the operator and improves coordination.
The Corner Shot® can be set up to facilitate recording of the Operator’s screen. That means that all Target Engagements are documented. This is an effective tool to be used for legal and training purposes.

(Gadget) Sony's Shuhei Yoshida: DualShock 4 will be compatible with Windows for 'basic functions'

You won't be using a DualShock 4 on an Xbox come November 15th, but that doesn't mean it won't work on any of Microsoft's platforms. Sony's Shuhei Yoshida recently confirmed via Twitter that the PS4's gamepad will be compatible with Windows for "basic functions." In response to inquiries about said functionality, he specifically pointed out that "the buttons and joysticks will work just fine." There's no word on whether the drivers will allow PC games to automatically see it as a DS4, though; Yoshida replied in the thread further, stating that folks will have to "wait for [a] field report after the launch." As Joystiq points out, third-party controllers can show up as Xbox controllers on Windows thanks to the XInput API -- something that's non-existent in the PS3's DualShock 3. And with that, we're left to wait and see what PS4 insights Yoshida will reveal next.

(Gadget) Infrared Car System Spots Wildlife On The Road From 500 Feet Away

Since their debut 13 years ago, in-car night-vision systems, which identify pedestrians approaching a roadway, have arguably made driving safer. But they come with a pretty big blind spot: animals. Each year, drivers in the U.S. strike about a million deer, causing 27,000 human injuries and $3.5 billion in damage. This fall, Swedish safety-system company Auto­liv and Mercedes-Benz will roll out Night View Assist Plus on the 2014 S-Class. The system identifies people but also picks out cows, moose, horses, deer, camels, and even wild boar.

One reason the upgrade took five years is that recognizing animals is much more difficult than recognizing people. Species vary widely in size and shape, have profiles that change drastically when they turn, and move differently. (Humans, by comparison, have more or less the same shape and move in the same way.) To train the system, Autoliv cataloged thousands of animals across five continents.

Night View Assist Plus merges data from two cameras to create an illuminated view of what’s ahead. When an animal or pedestrian nears a roadway, the system highlights it on an in-dash display, and, if danger is imminent, sounds an alarm and pre-charges the car’s brakes. There’s one feature U.S. regulators have yet to approve, though: In the European version, a spotlight shines a tracking beam onto live obstacles in the road, making them almost impossible to miss.

(Gadget) Mojo Refuel Aqua is a Waterproof Battery Case for iPhone.

Get the ultimate protection for your iPhone 5 and bonus battery charging with the iBattz Mojo Refuel Aqua. iBattz claims this is the world’s first waterproof iPhone 5 Battery case with interchangeable 2200mAh battery. Now you can not only eliminate the fear of dropping your phone into the water but also of running out of battery power. The waterproof (to 3 ATM) case also protects against sand and dust.

Bring your iPhone to the beach, the pool, or even places where it’s way more likely to get dropped into the water like your kitchen or bathroom. Stuck in a rainstorm and running low on battery power? No problem. They also sell a few optional accessories like a floating wristband leash just in case you plan on doing some underwater iPhoning.

(Gadget) Astronaut USB Light

If you believe, they put a man on the moon. You won’t have to wrestle with any light switches near your computer with this Astronaut USB Light. The USB cord is cleverly concealed as the astronauts lifeline to the mothership…or motherboard if you will. It’s flexible, poseable, scientific and useful. Open the pod bay doors, HAL. Ground control to Major Tom. Zero hour, 9 a.m. And I think it’s going to be a long long time.

(Gadget) Orée Touch Slab Wooden Trackpad

The Touch Slab is a Bluetooth trackpad made out of a single piece of wood. It supports multitouch and also works as a numerical pad. Like Orée’s wooden keyboard, the Touch Slab is made of either walnut or maple.

(Gadget) World's First 3D Scanner for iPad Triples Kickstarter Goal in One Day

Yesterday morning San Francisco-based Occipital launched Structure Sensor—the world’s first 3D scanner for iPad—on Kickstarter with a fundraising goal of $100,000. By this morning, they had not only met their goal, but surpassed it to reach a whopping $323,321 (and counting)! So just what is it about the Structure Sensor that’s captivating so many people?

In the wake of the past year’s massive 3D printing boom, 3D scanners are, invariably, the next big prosumer gadget. The scanners are pretty much what they sound like: they allow one to capture the dimensions of an object so as to print out a precise replica on your 3D printer. MakerBot is set to release their Digitizer scanner later this month, and Matterform is just beginning to roll out their affordable scanners.

But these scanners are tethered to a desk—not great for capturing items while traveling or objects that are fixed in awkward location. The most affordable handheld scanner to date is the Fuel3D (also the result of a very well-funded Kickstarter campaign), which was dubbed as the first full-color handheld 3D scanner for under $1000.

Occipital’s Structure Sensor is even cheaper. Admittedly, one does have to first purchase (or own) an iPad, but after that the entire kit comes for $349—and you can knock $20 off that price as an early bird adopter on Kickstarter. It consists of a small aluminum dual infrared LED unit that clips to the back of your iPad and connects through the lightning port.

The device can not only do a full 3D scan of an object, but it can scan entire rooms and record the dimensions. It also enables users to create augmented realities for gaming whereby the game world is the real world. The IR LEDs even gives your iPad night vision. Additionally, the structure sensor features its own four hour battery so as not to drain your iPad.

Watch the demo here - watch

(Gadget) First iOS 7 game controller, GameCase, shown off

At WWDC, Apple mentioned that it had been working closely with developers to design a new type of gaming for the platform: creating an iOS 7 game controller. While many had forgotten about the announcement months ago, ClamCase has been hard at work to develop what looks to be the first iOS 7 game controller unveiled. The company behind some pretty nice iPad keyboards has shown off its very own GameCase game controller for iOS devices.

Their website mentions that it will be available for iPhone 4S and later, although the current design shown off today shows a controller built for and around an iPad mini, which could make for a pretty cool gaming experience (especially if Apple adds a Retina display in the iPad mini 2!). The GameCase will work through Bluetooth and will have its own battery source, which means that it should allow for some solid gaming. The controller also has dual analog sticks, a directional pad, and four buttons on the back of the controller.

While this certainly won’t be the last game controller we see coming to iOS, it is the first, and it sure does look pretty sweet. Unfortunately, ClamCase has not announced any availability information on the device yet. Head on over to the source link to see more pictures, and check out the video embedded above!

Do you plan on buying a controller for your iOS device, or do you prefer on-screen controls for your iOS gaming?

Check out the video too .... watch

Source: CNET

(Gadget) The Caktus Hug Sensor Makes Sure You’re Drinking Enough Water

Summer’s all but over, but it’s no less important to stay hydrated. According to the CDC 43 percent of Americans drink fewer than four glasses of water a day, and while the actual amount you should drink varies from person to person, four glasses probably doesn’t cut it.

That’s where Caktus, a neat Finnish hardware startup that presented at TechLaunch’s second New Jersey demo day, comes into play. Their mission? To fix that dearth of drinking with an app and a curious sensor that straps onto your water bottle.

The sensor (called, adorably enough, the Hug) is a foam-lined gizmo that wraps itself around a water bottle and quietly tracks its motion. It’s not just a pint-sized koozie though — the Hug quietly monitors the bottle’s movements so it can provide its user with a rough idea how much fluid they’ve imbibed so far. Think of it as a giant Jawbone Up that straps onto your water receptacle and you’re on the right track.

As always though, the hardware is only part of the equation. A companion app (iOS only for now) uses an algorithm to suss out which of those motions actually correspond to the user lifting the bottle to drink and which are just noise caused by random movements. The app also tracks ambient temperature and keeps tabs on what sorts of exercise you’re doing (you still have to punch that in yourself) so it can update your hydration goal in real time.

To hear founder Panu Keski-Pukkila tell it, the Hug (and the rest of Caktus) was born out of pure necessity. An avid extreme athlete, he grew used to his girlfriend reminding him to drink more water while he was out carving up slopes in the Alps. When she moved to New York, though, that useful feedback mechanism disappeared and Keski-Pukkila set out to create something that could fill that particular hydro-centric void.

And you know what? As downright kooky as the whole thing sounds, the combo of the Hug sensor and the app actually worked really well. In a brief demo, the sensor was accurately able to determine that roughly two ounces of water were squeezed out of the bottle, and the partner app updated almost immediately. With the Hug, you’re not quantifying yourself so much as you’re quantifying the stuff that goes in your body. That said, the team is taking a proactive approach when it comes to all those fitness-tracking gizmos floating around out there. They’ve already managed to bake in Fitbit support so users won’t have to punch in how many glasses of water they’ve downed in a day.

For now the device is still strictly in its prototype phase, but the team is eagerly working to get the Hug, its partner app, and a dev-friendly API ready for prime time by early next year. So far they’ve locked up $25k in seed funding from the TechLaunch accelerator, and they plan to launch a crowdfunding campaign in early 2014 to lock up the cash necessary to start producing these things en masse.

(Gadget) RearViz "arms" cyclists with rear vision

There’s no doubt that using a rear-view mirror makes it safer to cycle on public roads. That said, some riders may feel that a bike-mounted mirror is just one more bit of handlebar clutter. One solution is to use a helmet-mounted mirror, although the RearViz mirror offers an alternative – it mounts on the rider’s arm.

The mirror itself is convex, and folds down against the housing when not in use. It can be opened to any angle, and rotated 360 degrees relative to that housing. The whole shebang is mounted on a breathable Velcro armband.

So, why bother? According to one of the company reps we spoke to, a mirror on the rider’s body won’t get shaken around by road vibrations nearly as much as one mounted directly on the bike. Additionally, riders can change the mirror's field of view simply by twisting their arm a little, instead of moving their head or the handlebars.

As for what makes it better than a helmet mirror ... well, that probably comes down to personal preference, although it's possible that it might be a little less cumbersome when the rider is off their bike.

The RearViz mirror is available now in a variety of colors, with pricing starting at US$33.