Showing posts with label hands. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hands. Show all posts

Monday, April 1, 2013

DARPA working on low-cost robot hands, aims to make yours even more idle (video)

DARPA working on low-cost robot hands, aims to make yours even more idle (video) data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 299};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20524485' !== '') ? 'bsd:20524485' : ''; var postID = '20524485'; var modalMNo = '93319231', modalVideoMNo = '93320648', modalGalleryMNo = '93304207'; when.eng("eng.omni.init", {pfxID:"weg",pageName:document.title,server:"acp-ld39.websys.aol.com",channel:"us.engadget", s_account: "aolwbengadget,aolsvc", short_url: "",pageType:"",linkInternalFilters:"javascript:,",prop1:"article",prop2:"robots",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"",mmxgo: true }); adSendTerms('1')adSetMOAT('1');adSetAdURL('/_uac/adpagem.html');lab._script("http://o.aolcdn.com/os/ads/adhesion/js/adhads-min.js").wait(function(){var floatingAd = new AdhesiveAd("10000671",{hideOnSwipe:true});}); onBreak({980: function () { adSetType("F");htmlAdWH("93319231", "LB", "LB"); adSetType("");}}); EngadgetMenu NewsReviews Features Galleries VideosEventsPodcasts Engadget ShowTopics Buyers Guides Sagas Store HD Mobile Alt Announcements Cameras Cellphones Desktops Displays Gaming GPS Handhelds Home Entertainment Household Internet Laptops Meta Misc Networking Peripherals Podcasts Robots Portable Audio/Video Science Software Storage Tablets Transportation Wearables Wireless Acer Amazon AMD Apple ASUS AT&T Blackberry Canon Dell Facebook Google HP HTC Intel Lenovo LG Microsoft Nikon Nintendo Nokia NVIDIA Samsung Sony Sprint T-Mobile Verizon About UsSubscribeLike Engadget@engadgettip uswhen.eng("eng.nav.init")when.eng("eng.tips.init") onBreak({980: function () {htmlAdWH("93310027", "215", "35",'AJAX','ajaxsponsor');}});DARPA working on low-cost robot hands, aims to make yours even more idle (video) AltBypostedApr 1st, 2013 at 6:51 AM 0

DARPA working on lowcost robot hands, aims to make yours even more idle video

In a bid to crush those typically high robot-making costs, DARPA and its business partners (including iRobot) reckon they can now build high-end robot hands for under $3,000, down from what was once a $10,000 premium. According to The New York Times, the government, specifically the Pentagon, is looking to craft robot mitts that are able to detect improvised explosive devices by touch alone -- something that DARPA's worked on before. To demonstrate the progress it's made so far, the department's released a clip of one of its robots stripping a car tire -- you'll find it after the break. Now it just needs to figure out how to get it back on to the wheel.

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Sunday, March 24, 2013

3BaysGSA Putt: a Bluetooth golf gadget that puts eyes in your putter (hands on)

3BaysGSA Putt a Bluetooth golf gadget that puts eyes in your putter hands on


Motion sensor-based golf devices are all the rage these days, but they mostly target the full swing. Can such electronics be accurate enough to measure a much smaller stroke, namely the all-important putt? Since golf season's nearly here, we decided to find out with the Putt from 3BaysGSA, a tiny, lightweight device that fits in the handle of a putter and relays stroke information via Bluetooth to an Android or iOS device. As Engadget's resident golf nut, yours truly put the device through its paces both objectively and in a less-than-formal way to see whether it could accurately track a stroke. Will it help you lift your putter in victory, or make you wrap it around a tree? Hit the break to see how we did. 3Bays GSA Putt Hands-OnSee all photoswhen.eng("eng.galleries.init")


3BaysGSA Putt a Bluetooth golf gadget that puts eyes in your putter hands on


Maker 3BaysGSA has already made some hay with the very similar-looking Pro full swing analyzer, but make no mistake: this is a very different device, with an entirely separate app and sensor. To use it, you'll need a putter, ball and place to practice, as the Putt actually requires a ball to be struck -- just swinging won't cut it. To get started, you install the app on your iOS or Android device, insert and align the tee-like device and pair it using Bluetooth. After firing up the app, pausing for a tick to line up your stroke will serve to "prime" the device, letting you start to hit putts. Following each flail, a clear graphic representation of your stroke path along with several key stats will display on your device: the critical putter-face angle at impact and tempo, among others. It does that with a "delicate 9-axis sensor and intelligent algorithm," according to the company, which also detects the ball / club contact. Each stroke is duly filed away, allowing you to chart your progress (or lack thereof) over time.


The sensor device is fairly plasticky, but seemed to hold up fine during the time we used it, and those materials may be required to keep the weight down and not affect your stroke. 3BaysGSA claims up to five hours of play time on a charge, but we found we could only net three to four hours of steady use, so it might depend on your putting frequency. To check if it actually works as advertised, we set up a a video camera to film the stroke from overhead, then compared the plotted result with the stroke path displayed on a smartphone, as shown in the video below. The path, tempo and face angle seemed to line up fine in this admittedly un-scientific test, but more importantly, when the device said a putt was bad, we generally missed it. That gave us a pretty high level of confidence that it was correctly tracking the stroke.

3BaysGSA Putt a Bluetooth golf gadget that puts eyes in your putter hands on


Once your putting session is over, you can review each stroke including all the captured telemetry or share a screen-cap on your social network of choice. The included app's well-designed interface shows an animation of your putts and displays a curve indicating the path of your stroke, which can be overlaid against that of a previous, model putt you've chosen. The device saves all the data from each hit, namely the animation, path, putter-face angle at impact and throughout the stroke, angle of attack, tempo, impact speed and swing path distance -- in other words, more information than most players would know what to do with. But since a single degree deviation of the face angle can cause you to miss a six foot putt, this data can help set you straight, once you figure out how to use it.


That's the rub, of course -- the garbage in / garbage out rule applies equally here, so you've got to supplement the 3BaysGSA Putt app and device with the most important thing: practice. As for us? A hands-on isn't enough time to judge whether it actually helped our putting, but when things start to go sideways, it never hurts to have a second set of eyes -- especially if those eyes can read 10 indices at once to the nearest tenth of a degree.



More Coverage: 3BaysGSA

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Sky signs exclusive UK deal with Sony, keeps Netflix's dirty hands off MiB 3

Sky and Sony Pictures Television announce new multi-year movies agreement

Sky has further strengthened its movies offering through a new deal with Sony Pictures Television (SPT) that will provide customers with exclusive access to hit movies including Men in Black 3, The Amazing Spider-Man and Django Unchained before any other TV channel or subscription service.

Under the terms of the multi-year agreement, Sky Movies will be the first subscription service in the UK and Ireland to screen new movies from Sony Pictures, including upcoming titles such as Smurfs 2, This is the End and After Earth. Sky Movies customers will be able to enjoy exclusive subscription access to Sony Pictures' new releases around six months after they have ended their run in cinemas. Once on Sky Movies, the titles will be exclusively available for at least a year.

Alongside the new releases, Sky Movies customers will also get access to an extensive collection of classic films from the Sony Pictures library, including the first three Spiderman movies, The Da Vinci Code and Bad Santa, available on an exclusive basis while they are on the service.

Continuing Sky's commitment to offer customers new ways of accessing Sky content, the full range of new and classic titles included in the agreement will be available to NOW TV customers with a Sky Movies monthly pass. NOW TV, Sky's internet TV service, offers easy and flexible access to Sky Movies across many connected platforms and devices.

All movies will be available on demand, on Sky Go, HD, and, where available, 3D, further enhancing the viewing experience and adding more value for Sky customers. For customers who want to take movies with them on the move, the films will also be available on Sky's new subscription service Sky Go Extra. For just £5 a month, Sky Go Extra customers can download movies and entertainment shows to their smartphone, mobile tablet, laptop or MacBook.

Alongside exclusive access to the first pay TV window titles, Sky and SPT have also agreed a non-exclusive deal for pay-per-view movies, which will be available to Sky customers through Sky Movies Box Office and on demand through Sky Store. Through these services, all Sky customers can rent Sony Pictures titles, from the latest movies - many at the same time as they are available on DVD - through to an extensive library of classic films.

Customers who subscribe to Sky Movies via Virgin Media, UPC and TalkTalk will also be able to enjoy the full range of subscription films from Sony Pictures.

Ian Lewis, Director of Sky Movies, comments: "We're delighted to have secured Sony Pictures content for our customers, further extending our leadership in movies. We are committed to providing our customers with the biggest and best movies, available to watch when and how they want. That's why Sky Movies customers enjoy access to the biggest movies first, in HD, on demand, on the go and in 3D. And with the launch of Sky Go Extra, they can now even download movies to their smartphones and tablets to watch offline."


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Friday, January 25, 2013

Akai launches MPC headphone series, we go hands on

Akai launches MPC headphone brand, we go hands on


Headphones, there's plenty to choose from these days that's for sure. But amongst the celebrity endorsed pairs, and the traditional brands there appears to be a gap in the market. Or, so thinks Akai -- the maker of the legendary MPC line of beat-machines -- as it's extending the brand to include three new sets of its own: the MPC Pro, MPC, and MPC Earbuds. Akai claims the new additions are designed for use with the kit of the same name, but looking at the design, we'd wager it's not shy of taking a slice of the more image-conscious / brand aware market either. The daddy of the bunch is the MPC pro (the lower of the two you see above. These come with 50mm drivers and an over-ear design, aimed at improving isolation. The MPC model (the other pair you see above) sport 40mm drivers and an on-ear design. Both the Pro, and regular MPC editions have a metallic red and silver finish, with foldable ear-cups. The baby of the bunch is the Earbuds edition, and these are designed for "active producers," or dare we say, sporty types too. The ear-hook design is reminiscent of other sports headphone buds to keep them in place. These, however, are Bluetooth enabled too. But, if you're worried about the latency while you're producing on the go, there's a connection for going traditionally 3.5mm-cabled too. Hear more past the break.Akai MPC headphones hands-onSee all photoswhen.eng("eng.galleries.init")


When we first heard that Akai was venturing into the headphone market, we can't deny we were a little excited. The idea of something specific to the MPC hardware / music production, and potential for MPC-inspired design tickled us. In reality, it's hard not to think that it's more about extending the brand onto another line of products. The samples we saw on the floor were early prototypes, and not final models, so things may change, but the design and the three tiered approach suggests this is as much about market appeal as it is dedicated producer hardware. The metal finish looked well designed and reminded us of the Beats Pro line (a little too much perhaps). They fold in, which is always handy for easy storage, and there is also a mic for when using with your phone. Wearing them was comfortable enough, but with no audio to enjoy, we're unable to sample how they actually sound. So, if that turns out to be a strong point, we can happily take these as the serious producer headphones they claim to be, until then, though, we're reserving final judgement. Price and availability to follow.

Show full PR text

AKAI PROFESSIONAL ANNOUNCES MPC® HEADPHONES
­­
From concept to creation, Akai Professional now offers a fully immersive production experience with headphones and earbuds that match each new MPC in
design and quality.


Cumberland, R.I. (January 24, 2013) – Akai Professional, the name synonymous with music production, announces MPC Pro Headphones, MPC Headphones, and MPC Earbuds, premium personal audio devices each designed for professional music production with Akai Professional's newest line of MPCs. Akai Professional will exhibit the MPC Pro Headphones, MPC Headphones, and MPC Earbuds at Booth 6700 at the 2013 NAMM show, January 24-27 in Anaheim, California.


Akai Professional's new MPC headphones and earbuds are designed to match each new MPC in design, quality, and purpose. Each is designed to empower producers with the ability to hear their tracks and hone their craft with unmatched clarity and precision. In addition, MPC headphones and earbuds provide an exceptional experience for simply listening on the go to a personal music library.


MPC Pro Headphones feature powerful 50mm drivers and an over-the-ear design for premium isolation and comfort in the studio, while MPC Headphones come with precise 40mm drivers and an on-the-ear design ideal for portability and music production on the move. Both feature Akai Professional's unmatched expertise in tuning and frequency response, as well as fully adjustable headbands, pivoting ear cups, and gunmetal aluminum and steel construction for a solid, comfortable fit. Overstuffed leather cushioning on the headbands and ear cups provides a luxurious listening experience for even the most demanding studio sessions. An audio cable with 1/8-inch connector and 1/4-inch adapter is included for music production, and a communication cable with a built-in microphone is also included for use with mobile phones.


"Headphones are a huge part of the production process," said Dan Gill, Akai Professional Product Manager. "With the MPC headphones and earbuds, we're simply doing what we've always done-delivering the tools musicians need to get fully immersed in their craft."


Featuring lightweight soft-touch ear clips with aluminum trim and volume control, MPC Earbuds are flexible, powerful, and designed for the active producer. They're engineered to be multi-purpose with the ability to connect wirelessly via Bluetooth® to any compatible music player for casual cable-free listening, or to connect via the included professional audio cable for latency-free performance during music production. The built-in lithium-ion battery recharges easily via USB (cable included). MPC Earbuds deliver Akai Professional's superior tuning and frequency response for any track via precise 13mm drivers. Producers can go wired or wireless by connecting or disconnecting the included 1/8-inch cable from the Akai Professional medallion that is located on the cable between the earbuds. The medallion also includes a built-in mic for using MPC Earbuds with a mobile phone.


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Saturday, January 12, 2013

HiFiMAN launches HM-901 'high resolution' audio player, we go ears and hands on

HiFiMAN launches HM901 'high resolution' audio player, we go ears and hands on


The humble personal music player has seen many iterations over the last few decades. That doesn't mean that people aren't still giving the area some love, and HiFiMAN is definitely flying the flag with its HM-901 Reference Music Player. The unit incorporates dual Saber ES9018 32-bit DAC chips, with upsampling 20 24-bit / 96kHz. It claims to be able to play most lossless audio formats, including Apple lossless. Of course, it'll still play your regular MP3s too, should you so desire. One neat trick is a removable amplifier card which means -- at a future date -- you could be able to swap them out for other amp cards that bestow a different sound, much like different guitar amps etc. Other forthcoming features include gapless playback, and the ability to use it as a WiFi music server. If you want some hard numbers, then HiFiMAN states that the distortion is less than 0.003 percent, with a signal to noise ratio of 107dB. Want to know the stereo cross talk? That'd be 86 db (line) and 76 db (headphone). Head past the break for our impressions.


HiFiMAN launches HM-901 'high resolution' audio player, we go ears and hands onSee all photoswhen.eng("eng.galleries.init")


The HM-901 is the follow-up to the firm's 801 model we saw a few years ago. While the 801 took a minimalist modern design, the 901 goes takes a straight-up retro vibe. The finish is a mix of textured black plastic that you might find on a classic camera and silver accents. The controls are a mix of simple click buttons and a physical jog-wheel (rather than a touch surface). As you can see, there is a small screen, but this beast is definitely audio only, so if you thought you might be able to sneak an episode or two of your favorite show on there, we're sorry to say, that won't be happening. Memory-wise, it's all about the SD card, so pick your capacity all the way up to 128GB we believe. There is also a companion dock, that carries the same vintage look and feel. One thing's for sure, this definitely has a distinctive look. And while it's not exactly slimline or light in the hand, this only really serves to remind you that you are holding something more serious than just any old me-too media player. Of course, looks and finish are one thing, but with a device that is selling itself on audio quality, the proof is in the listening. We tried it out with a variety of sound sources on some of the firm's own headphones, and we were extremely impressed with the quality. Classic, Opera and Jazz sounded incredibly clear, but, sadly, we didn't get chance to check it out with anything electronic. We're confident it would do the business though. If this sounds like something you can get behind, or have a large collection of FLACs you want to give an appropriate home, you can bag yourself one for the uncompressed price of $999, add another $399 if you want the dock. Both shipping in March.

Show full PR text

HiFiMAN Launches HM-901 Reference Music Player


Company's High-Res Player Raises the Bar on What is Possible with Portable Audio


CES Las Vegas, NV January 7, 2013 -– HiFiMAN, a leading designer/manufacturer of high performance headphones and portable audio products, formally introduced its new flagship portable music player, the HM-901. In addition to offering unrivaled sound quality, the new HiFiMAN player accepts a wide array of audio formats, is expandable and easy to operate. HM-901 will be shipping in March 2013 with an MSRP of $999 for the player.



HM-901 High Resolution Music player


Three years in the making, this remarkable HiFiMAN reference player is destined to set the bar higher by incorporating:


Dual Saber ES9018 32-bit DAC chips for highest sound quality
Upsampling to 24/192
Accepts most lossless audio formats, including Apple lossless
Step potentiometer for the volume control
TAICHI UI for fast response and simplicity of operation
Sleek design with robust case made of high-tech composites
Expandable including amplifier card
Digital input/output and USB decoding through optional docking station
WiFi Music Server (will support via firmware upgrading)
Gapless playback (will support via firmware upgrading)


According to HiFiMAN Founder and President, Dr. Fang Bian, "The best technology and great sound is only as good as the user's ability to operate their device and access their music, quickly and easily. Ease of use was a high priority in designing the HM-901 along with creating a rich, sleek appearance. For example, on the User Interface for the HM-901, you'll notice that the buttons and a rotating navigation menu cleverly comprise the main interface. The innovative TAICHI UI and high quality volume controller also add value and performance to the entire operating system."


Dr. Bian went on to add, "We see a clear parallel between digital photography and portable audio. For example, an inexpensive point-and-shoot camera does a reasonable job of taking pictures but cannot begin to compare with the imaging quality of a professional SLR. Same holds true for an iPod. It has adequate sound quality but cannot compare to the finest digital playback systems. The HM-901 has been extensively tested in double-blind listening sessions and compares favorably to the highest quality digital players. I believe that when music lovers and audiophiles know that they can have this level of sound quality in a portable player, they will readily see the parallel with digital photography."


HM-901 with Docking Station


The HM-901 player alone will sell for $999 MSRP. The optional docking station will be available in April 2013 and sell for $399. WiFi music server and gapless playback function will be available at a later date TBA via firmware upgrading.


HM-901 Specifications:
Music Formats: Wav, flac: 24/88.2, 24/96, 24/176.4, 24/192; Mp3, alac, aac, aiff:16/44.1, 16/48.
Distortion: less than 0.003%
S/N: 107dB
Stereo crosstalk: 86 db (line output), 72 db (balanced headphone output)


Supplied Accessories:


The player
Power supply
Amplifier card
Extension socket (Line out, coax input, coax output, USB cable, charge port)
HiFiMAN will be exhibiting at CES 2013 in # 21706 in the LVCC South Hall. In addition to the revolutionary HM-901, on display and demonstration will be the entire line of HiFiMAN award-winning full-size headphones, headphone amplifiers and high-res portable music players, including the new RE-600 and RE-400 in-ear monitors.


Key Features of the HiFiMAN HM-901:
Sound quality comparable to reference digital playback systems
Accepts most major audio formats
Easy to set up, Simple to operate
Expandable – optional docking station and modules will be available
Can function as a network music server

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Sunday, December 16, 2012

Solidoodle 3 is an $800 3D printer that you can stand on, we go hands (and feet) on (video)

Solidoodle 3 is an $800 3D printer that you can stand on, we go hands and feet on

Companies will go to fascinating lengths to demonstrate their belief in a product, but there was still something refreshing in watching Solidoodle founder Sam Cervantes climbed atop his company's latest creation, beaming. After all, the announcement of a $500 printer back in April left us wondering what sorts of corners the company would have to cut to offer a product at a fraction the cost of what Cervantes' former employer, MakerBot, has brought to the market. Asked whether Solidoodle had to make any compromises to hit such an impressive price point, the one-time aerospace engineer stood by his product's build quality. And then he stood on it.

Announced in November and due out next month, the company's latest product doesn't quite hit that price point. Solidoodle had to drive cost up a fair amount to double the last generation's build platform to 512 cubic inches. Still, $799 seems like chump change for entrance into the nascent world of home 3D printing, particularly for a device that is built as solidly as Cervantes claims. The team popped by our New York offices to drop off and stand on the Solidoodle 3. Cervantes was quick to point out that the printer is still firmly in prototype mode (in fact, it's the first prototype to leave the confines of the company's headquarters), with his team doing its damnedest to get the product in the hands of customers by early next month. A quick glance at the rear of the printer confirms this -- there's a fair amount of exposed wiring back there and the spool of plastic hangs on an exposed PVC pipe.

Continue reading Solidoodle 3 is an $800 3D printer that you can stand on, we go hands (and feet) on (video)

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