Wednesday, 16 July 2014
Saturday, 7 June 2014
Friday, 7 March 2014
What is 4K resolution? Explained
As if 3D TV and LED
LCD vs. OLED vs. plasma and 120Hz and the Soap Opera Effect weren't
confusing enough, in the last year we have seen the rise of a new HDTV
technology called 4K. Or if you use its official name, Ultra High Definition (UHD).
UHD
is an "umbrella term" that encompasses higher resolutions (more pixels) than
HDTV, as well as more realistic color and higher frame rates.
Today and this year, pretty much the only one of those improvements available
in new TVs and content is 4K resolution, so that's what we'll talk about here.
Judging from the new TVs shown at CES 2014, manufacturers are tripping
over themselves to bring you a new array of 4K compatible products.
But
just like 3D and HD before it, 4K has a case of putting the hardware chicken
before the software egg. About 15 months after 4K
TVs first appeared on the market , there's little consumer 4K content
available: no TV channels or Blu-ray discs, just a few specialized video
players, YouTube and other clips of varying quality, and promises of streaming
video.
Still,
the shift from 1080p to 4K TV hardware is inevitable. This year 4K TVs will
replace high-end 1080p models as the best-performing LED LCD-based sets on the
market -- although the reason they're better will have nothing to do with
resolution.
Confused
again? Don't worry, we'll walk you through, starting with the question: So what
is 4K anyway, and what makes it different from high definition?

Today, the TV industry supports two HD formats; often referred to
as 720p (1280x720 pixels) and 1080p (1920x1080 pixels, Full HD). All our HDTVs
come with Full HD resolution but content – movies, TV shows, games etc. – is
720p in many cases. There are, in other words, two sides of the equation: our
screen and the content. Both are important but the truth is that content is
often the bottleneck. Here is a short overview of the typical resolution
classes for content.
·
SD: DVDs, standard TV channels
·
HD 720p: Most HD TV channels, some streaming services
·
Full HD 1080p: Blu-ray, some streaming services
Ultra HD is the next step on the resolution ladder. It also goes by the name UHD or 4K (4K is actually a movie theatre format but the name is often used for Ultra HD). Just like the HD standard, which covers both 720p and 1080p, Ultra HD covers 4K (also called 2160p) and 8K (also called 4320p). As you might have noticed by now the naming methodology is not straightforward and the industry likes to refer to things in different fashions. Again we can offer a roughly outlined overview.
Ultra HD is the next step on the resolution ladder. It also goes by the name UHD or 4K (4K is actually a movie theatre format but the name is often used for Ultra HD). Just like the HD standard, which covers both 720p and 1080p, Ultra HD covers 4K (also called 2160p) and 8K (also called 4320p). As you might have noticed by now the naming methodology is not straightforward and the industry likes to refer to things in different fashions. Again we can offer a roughly outlined overview.
·
Full HD = 1920x1080 pixels = 1080p = 2K
·
Ultra HD = 3840x2160 pixels = 2160p = 4K
· Ultra HD = 7680x4320 pixels = 4320p = 8K
What's in a name? '4K'
versus 'UHD'
In
August 2012, the Consumer Electronics Association introduced the term Ultra
High Definition, partly defined as resolutions of "at least 3,840x2,160
pixels". The idea was to replace the term 4K. The CEA's name lasted less
than a day, as Sony then announced it was going to call
the technology "4K Ultra High Definition".
This is the term now used by most other TV manufacturers too, who seem
interested in covering all the buzzword bases at the expense of brevity.
In
practice, you will often see UHD used interchangeably with 4K, whether
describing TVs, source devices, accessories or content. We at CNET say
"4K" instead of "UHD" almost exclusively, and our readers and Google strongly
agree.
Digital resolutions: A primer
The latest in a line of broadcast and media resolutions, 4K is due to replace 1080p as the highest-resolution signal available for in-home movies and television.
With
the arrival of 4K there are four main resolution standards for use in the home:
standard definition (480p/540p) , high definition (720p), full high definition
(1080i/p) and ultra high definition (2160p).
When
used in a home context, 4K/UHD means the TV's screen has a minimum resolution of
3,840 pixels wide and 2,160 pixels high, making it the equivalent to two 1080p
screens in height and two in length. This resolution was originally known as
"Quad HD," and it's used by basically every 4K TV.
Another
resolution, known as 4Kx2K (4,096x2,160 pixels), is used by some projectors and many professional cameras. It also
falls under the umbrella of 4K/UHD. Other shooting resolutions are also employed
in the pro realm, depending on the camera.
While
4K is relatively new, high definition (HD) itself has been with us for about a
decade, and is the format used in Blu-ray movies and HD broadcasts. There are
three main versions of HD: full high definition 1080p (progressive), 1080i
(interlaced), and 720p (also called simply "high definition").
Despite
the existence of HD and 4K, many television programs, online videos and all
DVDs are still presented in standard definition, loosely defined as 480 lines.
Standard definition began life as NTSC TV broadcasts before switching to
digital with the introduction of ATSC in
2007.
The beginnings of digital
cinema and 4K
While
it's currently being touted as a new broadcast and streaming
resolution--particularly with the appearance of the HEVC
H.256 codec--the roots of 4K are in the theater.
When
George Lucas was preparing to make his long-promised prequels to the "Star
Wars" movies in the late '90s, he was experimenting with new digital
formats as a replacement for film. Film stock is incredibly expensive to
produce, transport, and store. If movie houses could simply download a digital
movie file and display it on a digital projector, the industry could save a lot of money. In a time when cinemas
are under siege from on-demand cable services and streaming video,
cost-cutting helps to keep them competitive.
How 3D drove the takeup of
4K
Do
you remember seeing James Cameron's "Avatar 3D" in the theater? Cameron's movie about
"giant blue dudes" helped drive high-resolution 4K Sony projectors
into theaters around the world. Movie studios keen to maintain that momentum
then released a slew of 3D films -- mostly converted from 2D -- and continued
the expansion of 4K cinemas. While 3D has declined in popularity, 4K movies are here to stay.
The
industry has been quick to distance itself from 3D, and has taken care not to
make the same mistakes by equating 4K with 3D. But there are obvious benefits
for 3D on a 4K TV screen. In our extended hands-on with the Sony
XBR-84X900, we saw the best 3D TV we'd
ever tested. It delivered the comfort and lack-of-crosstalk benefits of passive
3D, while delivering enough resolution (1080p to each eye) to be free of the
interlacing and line structure artifacts inherent in 1080p passive TVs. Higher
resolutions like 4K are also necessary for new implementations of glasses-free
3D TVs.
From theater to the home
While
4K resolution makes perfect sense for huge theatrical screens, its benefits are
less visible on TVs at home, watched from normal seating distances.
ULTRA HD IS ABOUT MORE THAN RESOLUTION
In the last section we told you what Ultra
HD is, measured in pixels. But the Ultra HD standard covers more than
resolution. Ultra HD was recently approved as the official name, and in the
latest BT.2020 recommendation from ITU (who is responsible for the standards)
other exciting elements are included.
FRAMES PER SECOND
With Ultra HD it has also been proposed
that we increase “frames per second” (often referred to as frequency, Hz or fps).
We need to once again look at the history of fps to understand the future.
Today, pretty much all Hollywood movies are shot at 24 fps (24 new pictures per second) and TV programs at 25 fps or 30 fps (25 pictures per second in PAL countries and 30 pictures per second in NTSC countries). Games are typically rendered at a frame rates between 30 and 60 fps on a game console and up to 120 fps on a PC. In other words; there is a huge difference between the frame rates; and therefore how smooth you will perceive motion. Ultra HD proposes that movies and TV programs can be recorded and reproduced at frame rates up to 120 fps; 120 pictures each second. Ultra HD will support 24, 25, 48, 50, 60 and 120 fps if the full recommendation is implemented in practice.
If you have watched The Hobbit in HFR format you have experienced a movie shot in true 48 fps, and then you probably know what 48 can do for picture quality and the movie experience (read our thoughts on the The Hobbit in HFR here). The two coming Avatar movies will most likely be shot at 60 fps so we are not even close to 120 fps yet. Some movie producers even believe that a higher frame rate is a far greater improvement in picture quality than a step up in pixel resolution is right now. And yes, the move from 24 Hz to just 48 or 60 Hz is truly a small revolution in picture quality.
Today, pretty much all Hollywood movies are shot at 24 fps (24 new pictures per second) and TV programs at 25 fps or 30 fps (25 pictures per second in PAL countries and 30 pictures per second in NTSC countries). Games are typically rendered at a frame rates between 30 and 60 fps on a game console and up to 120 fps on a PC. In other words; there is a huge difference between the frame rates; and therefore how smooth you will perceive motion. Ultra HD proposes that movies and TV programs can be recorded and reproduced at frame rates up to 120 fps; 120 pictures each second. Ultra HD will support 24, 25, 48, 50, 60 and 120 fps if the full recommendation is implemented in practice.
If you have watched The Hobbit in HFR format you have experienced a movie shot in true 48 fps, and then you probably know what 48 can do for picture quality and the movie experience (read our thoughts on the The Hobbit in HFR here). The two coming Avatar movies will most likely be shot at 60 fps so we are not even close to 120 fps yet. Some movie producers even believe that a higher frame rate is a far greater improvement in picture quality than a step up in pixel resolution is right now. And yes, the move from 24 Hz to just 48 or 60 Hz is truly a small revolution in picture quality.
COLORS
But what about colors? Well, major
improvements are proposed in this area, too. With Ultra HD a new color gamut
called Rec.2020 is introduced. Today, we use the so-called Rec.709 color gamut
for Full HD. Do not mind the names, as it is relatively simple. It is best
illustrated with a graph.
The human eye can only perceive a specific set of colors. We cannot perceive, for example, infrared (you cannot see the infrared light coming out of your TV remote) and there are other ”colors” that are invisible to us, too. The typical human eye can perceive all the colors illustrated in the color spectrum graph below.
The human eye can only perceive a specific set of colors. We cannot perceive, for example, infrared (you cannot see the infrared light coming out of your TV remote) and there are other ”colors” that are invisible to us, too. The typical human eye can perceive all the colors illustrated in the color spectrum graph below.
However, our TV screens,
projectors and cameras cannot match all these colors so the industry has
defined a smaller color gamut that movie folks and TV manufacturers can
implement in products and productions; a color standard so to say. We need this
standard to make sure that movie and TV productions appear correctly on our TV
screens. In the graph above you can see both Rec.709 (used in the Full HD
standard) and Rec.2020 (that can be used in Ultra HD).
Rec.2020 is the larger of the two and as you can
see Rec.2020 gives us many more colors to work with. It gives us a larger color
gamut to pick colors from, so to say. So, therefore Ultra HD also proposes an
extension of what is often referred to as color depth; an increase from the
current 8-bit to 12-bit per color (and a change from 24-bit to 36-bit for all
colors combined). This may sound very technical but with the color gamut
explanation in mind it is fairly easy to grasp. When a TV or camera uses 8-bit
per color it means that it can define 256 shades (2^8 = 256) of red, green, and
blue, respectively. These three colors are used as basic colors to create all
other colors. In other words; it allows us to create 256 shades of red, 256
shades of green and 256 shades of blue. In total this gives us 24-bit or 16.777
million (256x256x256) colors. The 16.777 million colors can be “picked” from
inside the color gamut defined in Rec.709 that is used today for Full HD.
SAMSUNG GALAXY S5: Whats new!
BARCELONA, Spain -- Metal body design? Nope. Eye-wateringly crisp 2K+ display? Nuh-uh. Overhauled Android interface? Only a little.
After all the rumors and hype, the Samsung Galaxy S5 revealed with much fanfare at Mobile World Congress on Monday is more an iteration on the Galaxy S line than the fresh, whiz-bang package we'd all come to hope for and even expect.
Yes, it has a fingerprint scanner, and a heart rate sensor, too, not to mention Android 4.4 KitKat and a roster of muscular specs. From what I've seen, the Galaxy S5 shapes up to be an excellent device that will keep Samsung at or near the top of the smartphone heap. Yet the been-there, done-that design isn't novel enough to trample rivals the way Samsung might hope.
Samsung still has a ways to go to re-inspire jaded followers and fans. And those who value luxury materials and crafted designs over Samsung's stamped-out phones should keep the door open for Apple's iPhone 6 and HTC's forthcoming sequel to the beautiful HTC One
Design: More of the same
In designing the Galaxy S5, Samsung didn't go very far for inspiration. In fact, the Galaxy S5's body looks even more like the Galaxy S4 than the GS4 looked like the GS3. It has rounded edges, the same steep sides with shiny and ridged silvery trim, and a slightly more rounded central home button shape to the S4's more rectangular outline.
In designing the Galaxy S5, Samsung didn't go very far for inspiration. In fact, the Galaxy S5's body looks even more like the Galaxy S4 than the GS4 looked like the GS3. It has rounded edges, the same steep sides with shiny and ridged silvery trim, and a slightly more rounded central home button shape to the S4's more rectangular outline.
The back panel motif is different, I'll give Samsung that. Tiny dimples cover the rear, and in addition to white and black (oh excuse me, Charcoal Black and Shimmery White), the GS5 will also launch in enticing copper and bright blue. Not every market or carrier will sell each shade, but at least Samsung has decided to expand its color palette to some more lively hues.
At the end of the day, the phone still feels like it always has: plastic. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but if Samsung is at all striving for loftier ambitions, it hasn't reached those heights.
Samsung has also slightly redesigned the Micro-USB housing on the bottom of the phone; it now has a cover. Up top the IR blaster makes its triumphant return, and on the back, the heart rate monitor cleverly integrates with the camera's LED flash.
Samsung will initially launch the Galaxy S5 in four colors.
(Credit: Andrew Hoyle/CNET)
The GS5 is only a fraction larger than the Galaxy S4 -- 5.1 inches versus the GS4's 5-inch display. This new phone, too, has a 1080p HD AMOLED display, so the screen's pixel density will be just a breath looser, though you'll never notice the difference.
The Galaxy S5 measures 142mm by 72.5mm by 8.1mm -- or 5.59 inches tall by 2.85 inches wide by 0.32-inch deep -- and weighs 145 grams, or 5.1 ounces. It's taller and heavier than the Galaxy S4 as a result of its extra hardware.
Break out the supersoakers, kids. Feedback about the waterproof Galaxy S4 Active prompted Samsung to make the Galaxy S5 waterproof and dust-proof in alliance with military spec IP67, which means that it can take a bath for up to 30 minutes at about 3 feet down.
TouchWiz gets a facelift
We'd heard rumors that Samsung was overhauling the TouchWiz interface that rides over Android, something I've been wanting for a long time now. While the changes aren't sweeping, there are some tweaks that freshen up the look and feel, and it's the one area that gets a complete visual redo.
We'd heard rumors that Samsung was overhauling the TouchWiz interface that rides over Android, something I've been wanting for a long time now. While the changes aren't sweeping, there are some tweaks that freshen up the look and feel, and it's the one area that gets a complete visual redo.
Samsung reskinned a few menus, like this Setting menu, for the Galaxy S5.
(Credit: Andrew Hoyle/CNET)
Of course, you'll want to know that the GS5 runs Android 4.4 KitKat and has all the same functions as Android's OS. It also carries over Galaxy S4 elements like the expandable quick access settings in the notification tray.
What is different is mostly subtle, like a Google services folder loaded onto the home screen of the demo unit I saw, and new icons in the notifications panel, including new quick access buttons for Quick Connect and S Finder. Likewise, the homepage overview you see when pinching in on a home screen now appears as panels, not a grid.
You still swipe right in the app tray for your list of programs and widgets. Any rumors of Samsung cutting back on its own apps have been greatly exaggerated, at least in this phone.
Samsung Hub looks like it has changed names to Samsung apps, as has WatchOn to SmartRemote; my demo unit still has S Health, S Voice, S Planner, S Note, and the Knox security app.
One area was drastically altered: the Settings Menu. Instead of settings broken out into four tabs, you see a vertically scrolling menu of round icons that float over a black backdrop, organized by collapsible sub-categories. It's the boldest new design, but I find the infinitely scrolling list a lot more space-consuming and visually confusing than the GS4's tidy tabs.
Another new area is a Kid's Mode, which creates a sandbox for tykes to play with approved apps while keeping the rest of the phone's contents out of bounds.
Core components
Samsung has blessed its GS5 with top-of-the-line specs befitting a flagship device. There's the 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 chipset for a start, a 16-megapixel rear-facing camera (up from 13 megapixels), and a 2-megapixel sensor on the front.
Samsung has blessed its GS5 with top-of-the-line specs befitting a flagship device. There's the 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 chipset for a start, a 16-megapixel rear-facing camera (up from 13 megapixels), and a 2-megapixel sensor on the front.
A 2,800mAh battery may not be the largest in all of smartphonedom, but it's a little larger than the Galaxy S4's 2,600mAh ticker. Then again, the new phone is a bit bigger, too. Samsung says that its Ultra Power Saving Mode will double battery life when you're running low. It also promises 21 hours of talk time and over 16 days of standby time on a single charge.
As in past years, there are 16GB and 32GB storage options, with an SD card that supports up to 128GB. Other incidentals include 2GB RAM, NFC, Wi-Fi, USB 3, Bluetooth 4.0 low-energy, and support for the fifth-generation Wi-Fi 802.11ac standard for faster Wi-Fi delivery.
In fact, Samsung says that its Galaxy S5 will combine Wi-Fi and LTE to download items even faster, theoretically up to 600-650Mbps. (They're calling this marvel Download Booster.)
Fingerprint and heart rate scanners
Following in the footsteps of Apple, HTC, and Motorola (the way distant footsteps), the Samsung Galaxy S5 has its own fingerprint scanner for unlocking privileges and mobile payments.
Following in the footsteps of Apple, HTC, and Motorola (the way distant footsteps), the Samsung Galaxy S5 has its own fingerprint scanner for unlocking privileges and mobile payments.
The scanner integrates into the screen above the home button, so that you swipe your finger down half over the bottom portion of the display and home button. You can add profiles for three fingerprints, and you get a backup password in case the identification fails. The fingerprint reader scans your finger eight times before crystallizing your profile.
I locked and unlocked the phone at least a dozen times. It worked well most of the time, but didn't read my finger in every case. You do need to keep your finger centered on the screen, which would make thumb swiping more of a challenge.
I didn't see it set up on a phone, but this partnership with PayPal means that Galaxy S5 owners will be able to authenticate transactions with the brief press of a finger after signing onto PayPal's program.
Fitness fiends get a friend in the heart-rate monitor that's part and parcel with the camera flash. You hold your finger over it to take your pulse; the area glows red when activated when you launch it from the S Health 3.0 app. As a reminder, S Health also gives you a pedometer, fitness coach, and exercise tracker.
You wouldn't know it, but there's a heart rate monitor built into that camera flash.
(Credit: Andrew Hoyle/CNET)
Camera and video
Samsung's cameras are typically very good, especially for outdoor shots. What hasn't typically been so great is low light. Samsung didn't address that in the briefing we got here at MWC, but the company did tout a whole mess of new fun performance boosts and software trinkets.
Samsung's cameras are typically very good, especially for outdoor shots. What hasn't typically been so great is low light. Samsung didn't address that in the briefing we got here at MWC, but the company did tout a whole mess of new fun performance boosts and software trinkets.
The one I care about most is the lickety-split autofocus, just 0.3 second, which Samsung cites as being three times faster than autofocus on the Galaxy S4. This is due to the addition of what Samsung calls Phase Detection autofocus, a feature usually found in DSLR cameras making its first appearance in a smartphone. That means you'll have a higher success rate capturing the moment with squirmy dogs and kids.
A new on-screen control comes to the camera app, and it's a pretty good one. Tap it and you're turning on real-time HDR, so you can preview the results before committing. It works for stills, video, and even burst mode pictures, thanks to an extra chip within. Samsung also notes that the GS5 uses a more sophisticated HDR technology that makes images look even better.
Selective focus is a post-editing trick that Samsung gives you, and on that you may find familiar if you've seen the Lytro and the Nokia Lumia 1020. With it, you'll set the area of focus after you take a photo, say for a shallow or long depth of field. There's also a new tool called Virtual Tour, which cobbles together a 360-degree view. It isn't clear yet how this might differ from Google's Photo Sphere.
It looks like Samsung took a hint from Windows Phone OS with this last highlight, the ability to download other modes to and through the native camera app.
Galaxy S5 4K video test. check out in the video below
How does it stack up?
It may not be the most exciting new smartphone there is, but from what I've seen so far, the Galaxy S5 earns keeps Samsung's legacy of high-end Samsung smartphones strong. The specs are high end, and enough has changed on the hardware and software fronts to seem worthy of an upgrade when your contract runs its course.
It may not be the most exciting new smartphone there is, but from what I've seen so far, the Galaxy S5 earns keeps Samsung's legacy of high-end Samsung smartphones strong. The specs are high end, and enough has changed on the hardware and software fronts to seem worthy of an upgrade when your contract runs its course.
However, those tiring of Samsung design sameness and looking for a radical new look and feel don't have as many reasons to stay if they aren't moved by the phone's fingerprint scanner or heart monitor. Samsung, perhaps a victim of its own hype machine, opens the door for phone buyers to hold off making plans until HTC announces its One 2.
.
GOOGLE GLASS: See the world through Glass?
See the world through glass? Well a lot of you’ll would
wonder what’s so special about this glass. But this glass is just not a see
through one. It certainly does more than that. Well few years back in 2011 PROJECT
glass was making rounds in the
technology world. Back then nobody had a clue about what this glass is all
about. And then Google did unveil it, a
glass that could do hell lot of stuffs with just you asking it to do. A lot
like Google Now, in fact Google now
itself integrated into the glass, wherein it listens to your voice commands and
executes the same.
It happened when I
first used Palm Os device. It happened
when I first used and iPhone. And now its happening again. Honestly when I had
watched this video that went viral about the Google glass. I could sense that there’s no need to wait for
future, because it’s already here ‘Google Glass’ it is. Well watching that first video I just thought
to myself this is just futuristic, strange, nerdy, awesome, useful, scary –
this has got it all. I could just think of one word and that’s PHENOMENOL.
Google really had brought something out of the box to us.
HARDWARE:
TOUCHPAD:
A touchpad is located on the side of Google glass, allowing
users to control the device by swiping through a timeline-like interface
displayed on the screen
CAMERA:
Google glass has the ability
to take photos and record 720p HD video.
DISPLAY:
The explorer version of the glass uses a Liquid Cystal on
silicon, Field-sequential color, LED illuminated display.
What it does?
Many of us spend a
significant portion of our day glued to our smart phones, or to other connected
devices. Reading social media or checking out the weather or otherwise dipping
into the wealth of data at our disposal will typically consume all of our
attention, making it hard to do anything else.
Google Glass might
offer a solution to this problem, giving us a way of using the outboard brain
of the internet while still being able to do other things. Glass was created,
according to Google, to "be there when you need it and get out of your way
when you don't.
Essentially,
Google Glass is a wearable Android-powered computer built into spectacle frames
so that you can perch a display in your field of vision, film, take pictures,
search and translate on the go as well as run specially- designed apps
Google Glass uses
a miniature display to put data in front (or at least, to the upper right) of
your vision courtesy of a prism screen. This is designed to be easily seen without
obstructing your view.
1: Tiny (but powerful) hardware
Its
amazing how the Project Glass team has managed to squeeze all of its features
into a tiny ‘Computer’ supported on a light weight yet strong frame.
2: Your Voice, my command
Well, all that hardware is out to good use: Google
Glass has voice input, which makes everything a lot more interesting. The
built-in microphonecombined with google nowconnects you directly with the
search engine.
You activate google now by saying “OK Glass” then send
a command or a query. Tilting your head a bit up also does the same thing.
3: Capture moments
Google glass can
actually make you live in the moment, and keep that memory in pictures or
videos. No more foraging around for a camera, turning the settings your photo
apps, and letting the moment go by
without a single snap. Just say “OK Google take a photo” and it does that with
a blink of an eye.
4: Stay in touch
With Glass
being able to record videos, it can also act as a webcam with the data
connection from your home or smart phone. You can use Google Hangout for a
group conference, and still do what you need to do without being
confined to a desk. The powerful voice input feature also allows you to dictate text messages,
attach videos and pictures along
with and sending it via your mobile data connection, without having to remove
your phone from your pocket.
5: Be on the right track, and never get lost
Google glass
is a built-in with a GPS chip, it’ll be able to help you navigate, with help from
Google Maps. This will take away
the need to look down at your smartphone and it will be especially handy when
you are driving, when you’re walking through crowded streets or when you’re hiking
through the countryside.
6: Live from
the Field
Live information that is shown to you would come from
the predictive software of Google
Now. On Android’s Jelly Bean, Google Now knows when you’re leaving
your home for work and can warn you of bad traffic before you get stuck in it.
You can also
set your favourite sports team and it’ll give you the latest news, scores and
updates from the team, whenever they play.
All those features are available on Android, but with
Glass, you can skip checking your device and just get it shown to you as and
when it happens, or as news
feeds. Google Now cards also shows you your boarding pass, next
appointment, hotel or restaurant reservations, reminders for important
birthdays and events in your calendar.
Google Glass works not only with
Android phones but also with the iPhone. Apart from the GPS chip inside, Google
Glass is dependent on the
Wi-Fi or mobile connectivityto deliver its features. It is only fair
game it if is available like any third-party accessory.
When paired up
with your smart device, it can show social
network notifications and
let you communicate via the same channels as you would on the computer. This
removes the need of looking at your smartphone constantly, giving you more time
to concentrate on the task at hand.
8: Time for a
makeover.
What
is high tech without a sleek and cool design? Google Glass weighed an
astounding 8 pounds when it
first was announced more than a year ago, but now is seeking to receive nods
from the fashion industry.
Already
lightweight, and soon to be available in 5 color options (Shale,
Tangerine, Charcoal, Cotton and Sky), Google Glass is set to get a make-over
with help from eyewear companies.
And
the list goes on.
Well there are
also few bad things about Google glass. But at this point of time I truly feel
lets not get into that. Because someone said it very right “when we start
finding the nooks and the faults , we forget to appreciate.” . So lets put the
bad to rest and think how that bad could be taken over.
Well what
possibly could be brought into Google glass. Sometimes it feels what Google has
done is too fantastic to believe. But then technology is all about break
through. Google is one such company which has always tried and made break
throughs and had set milestones. What next?
SIXTHSENSE
INTEGRATION
Why not
integrate Sixth sense concept into the glass. Wouldn’t it be amazing. Remember
JARVIS from the movie Iron Man. We all
loved it when Tony stark used those cool toys and everything what he did was
virtual . In the air , just projections and sensors used to move objects from
one place to another. Well that’s way
ahead technology but that’s how we survive. Fantasizing such insane
capabilities make us bring revolutions.
Google glass
with sixth sense technology . Wherein before we could just see through glass.
It would be possible for us to touch them and move them. A projector at the
side of the glass would project and a sensor in our palms could help us move
objects as we wish. Well that’s really a heck lot of fantasy to be thought of,
but certainly not impossible.
Saturday, 1 February 2014
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Sunday, 12 January 2014
Samsung Galaxy S5 can be controlled by nod, gestures
Samsung is reportedly following up on Samsung S4's eye tracking technology with new features that could be introduced in Galaxy S5, along with a head movement tracker.
Samsung Galaxy has filed a European patent detailing its new innovation that could track head movements such as nodding.
The patent application filed by Samsung revealed an invention capable of controlling a smart phone via head tracking using a front-face camera.
However, the patent does not indicate as to when or where the technology will be put to use, Cnet reported.
According to reports, the patent application was filed in July, soon after the company released Galaxy S4, indicating that the innovation could be part of an R&D iteration cycle.
The document suggests that the innovation will enable users to operate their Samsung smart phones through gestures like a nod, eye movements, or even a pronounced eyebrow.
Recently, a Samsung executive at CES had mentioned that the company was working on its eye-scanning technology but, it was not revealed whether the technology would be available on Galaxy S5.
Samsung Galaxy has filed a European patent detailing its new innovation that could track head movements such as nodding.
The patent application filed by Samsung revealed an invention capable of controlling a smart phone via head tracking using a front-face camera.
However, the patent does not indicate as to when or where the technology will be put to use, Cnet reported.
According to reports, the patent application was filed in July, soon after the company released Galaxy S4, indicating that the innovation could be part of an R&D iteration cycle.
The document suggests that the innovation will enable users to operate their Samsung smart phones through gestures like a nod, eye movements, or even a pronounced eyebrow.
Recently, a Samsung executive at CES had mentioned that the company was working on its eye-scanning technology but, it was not revealed whether the technology would be available on Galaxy S5.
Saturday, 14 December 2013
Top 5 smartphones between Rs 20,000-Rs 30,000
This
segment includes the best smartphones that you can blindly play for in the market
today. It is
the arena of gladiators, old and new. Some even come with such high end
specifications that they put handsets priced higher than Rs 40,000 to shame.
1 . LG NEXUS 5 (16/32 GB)
It is
currently the most talked about handset. It was launched only in October this
year and comes in 16 GB and 32 GB versions, in black and white colours. The 16
GB version of Nexus 5 is available from Google Play store for Rs 28,999. Not
many online retailers are offering it as of now so you will have to buy it from
the Google Play store.
First of all, the Google Nexus 5 is a beautifully designed
smartphone. It is just 8.59 mm thick that makes it one of the slimmest
smartphones in the world today. Also despite having a 4.95 inch touchscreen and
a huge 2300 mAh battery, it weighs just 130 grams.
But it is not just its body, the phone's specifications also
make it one of the best smartphones in the world today. The Nexus 5 has a 4.95
inch touchscreen, that too with full high definition resolution and Corning
Gorilla Glass 3 protection. It comes armed with the latest Android
4.4 KitKat operating system. Moreover, the 2.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600
processor, Adreno 330 GPU, and 2 GB RAM make it a hulk handling a multitude of
tasks with ease.
The LG made Google Nexus 5 has an 8 megapixel auto focus rear
camera with optical image stabilisation. Recently, Google also issued Android
4.4.1 update
to make the camera even better. There is a 1.3 megapixel front facing camera as
well. Besides, the Nexus 5 has a 2300 mAh battery that is said to provide 17
hours of talktime and 300 hours on standby. It is armed with dual band , Bluetooth 4.0, and NFC as well.
However, the Nexus 5 has no expandable memory. So if you are
buying the 16 GB version, you have to manage with limited storage.
2. NOKIA LUMIA 925
This is
another giant in this price bracket and is the only phone in this list to come
with Windows Phone 8 operating system. It comes with a 4.5 inch Amoled
touchscreen with high definition (1280 x 720 pixel) resolution. The display has
Corning Gorilla Glass 2 protection and is said to provide wide viewing angles.
Moreover, the display is said to come with sunlight readability enhancements to
make it easier to use outdoors.
The Nokia Lumia 925 has a powerful 1.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon
S4 processor, which is assisted by 1 GB RAM. However, like Nexus 5, it has 16
GB internal storage only, without an expandable storage slot.
But the main attraction of Lumia 925, for which reason we have
chosen it, is its camera capability. Its 8.7 megapixel auto focus rear camera
with PureView technology and Carl Zeiss optics make it one of the best
smartphone cameras available today. It also comes with a 1.2 megapixel front
camera.
The 8.5 mm thick Nokia Lumia 925 has a 2000 mAh battery that
claims to provide 12 hours of 3Gtalktime,
which is one of the best in the industry as of now. Besides, this 3G smartphone
has WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS with Glonass support, micro USB, and DLNA capability. Currently, it is available
for around Rs 28,000.
.
It
is the only water resistant handset here. But does that make it stand in the league.
Well certainly it does. Sony Xperia Z comes with a 5 inch display with full HD
resolution. It has a powerful 1.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad core processor,
Adreno 320 GPU, Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean operating system, and huge 2 GB RAM.
Most importantly, it has 16 GB internal storage and 32 GB expandable storage
slot.
Xperia Z is also considered one of the best camera phones
available today due to its 13 megapixel rear camera with Exmor RS sensor that
allows it to capture incredible images in low light. The rear camera has an
image stabilisation feature with 16x zoom, and is said to capture full HD
resolution videos. In the front too it has a decent 2 megapixel camera.
The Sony Xperia Z is incredibly thick at 7.9 mm, despite having
a 2330 mAh battery that is said to provide 11 hours of 3G talktime. Besides,
the Xperia Z has WiFi, a micro USB port, Bluetooth, DLNA, and GPS with Glonass
support. Presently you can grab it for a price of around RS 29000 or even less. Depending upon your
location
4. HUAWEI ASCEND P6
Well if you are shocked with this one. Then your better
think again. It is the thinnest smartphone of the world with 6.18 mm
thickness. The phone is beautiful outside but is powerful from inside. It comes
with a unibody construction with an artistic curvy bottom and metal work on its
sides. Despite having a 4.7 inch display and huge 2000 mAh battery, it weighs
just 120 grams.
But this
beautiful smartphone has a beast inside- a 1.5 GHz quad core processor, Android
4.2.2 Jelly Bean operating system, and a huge 2 GB RAM. The Ascend P6 also has
8 GB ROM and a 32 GB expandable memory slot. This Huawei smartphone comes with
an 8 megapixel rear auto focus camera and a 5 megapixel front camera.
Besides, the Huawei Ascend P6 has WiFi, Bluetooth, micro USB
port, and a single SIM slot. Currently it is available in
India for Rs 25,499.
Available
for around Rs 26,490, the HTC Desire 600 comes with a 4.5 inch Super LCD 2
display with qHD (540 x 960 pixel) resolution. It is powered by a 1.2 GHz
Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 quad core processor assisted by Android Jelly Bean
operating system and 1 GB RAM. Storage wise, it is the best in this list with 8
GB ROM and a 64 GB micro SD card slot.
The HTC Desire 600 also has an 8 megapixel auto focus rear
camera and a 1.6 megapixel front camera. The rear camera though is able to
capture only HD videos and not full HD, which is common to all smartphones in
this list. The Desire 600 is armed with an 1800 mAh battery, which is said to
provide 11 hours of 3G talktime. Besides, the Desire 600 has WiFi, Bluetooth,
GPS and DLNA.
PS: well
to be very honest if you really want to spend around 26K then do consider other
options.
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