Could it be that Bose is trying to get hipper in its old age? That's what it seems like if you examine its latest announcement, which boils down to putting a fresh, more modern face with bolder colors on some of its current models.
According to a Bose PR rep, the new SoundTrue around-ear and on-ear headphones replace the AE2 and OE2 products in the Bose headphone line, while the new FreeStyle earbuds ($129.95), which come in Indigo/Ice Blue complement the existing IE2, MIE2 & MIE2i in-ear headphones but don't replace them.
The on-ear and around-the-ear SoundTrue models, which both cost $179.95, will come in black and white, as well some "two-tone" designs -- purple/mint (on-ear headphones only) and black/mint (around-ear headphones only).
The same PR confirmed that the changes are cosmetic and that the new models' sound is in line with that of the older models. They will also all feature in-line remotes with a microphone.
"The audio performance is comparable to our AE2, OE2, and IE2 headphones," the rep said. "There are no notable improvements."
All these headphones are among the most comfortable in their categories. Their sound is good, too, though you can find competing models that deliver even better sound for the money. (Picking the right headphone always involves balancing comfort with sound quality.)
The new models are shipping now, and we'll give them a whirl in the near future to confirm that they really do sound the same.
Source: www.cnet.com
According to a Bose PR rep, the new SoundTrue around-ear and on-ear headphones replace the AE2 and OE2 products in the Bose headphone line, while the new FreeStyle earbuds ($129.95), which come in Indigo/Ice Blue complement the existing IE2, MIE2 & MIE2i in-ear headphones but don't replace them.
The on-ear and around-the-ear SoundTrue models, which both cost $179.95, will come in black and white, as well some "two-tone" designs -- purple/mint (on-ear headphones only) and black/mint (around-ear headphones only).
The same PR confirmed that the changes are cosmetic and that the new models' sound is in line with that of the older models. They will also all feature in-line remotes with a microphone.
"The audio performance is comparable to our AE2, OE2, and IE2 headphones," the rep said. "There are no notable improvements."
All these headphones are among the most comfortable in their categories. Their sound is good, too, though you can find competing models that deliver even better sound for the money. (Picking the right headphone always involves balancing comfort with sound quality.)
The new models are shipping now, and we'll give them a whirl in the near future to confirm that they really do sound the same.
Source: www.cnet.com
Acer Aspire S7 Notebook Review, Specs: Acer is hitting the homerun with the new $1,499 Acer Aspire S7-392-6411 Ultrabook. The second generation of the company's S7 series guarantees some updates, such as improved battery life, a better keyboard and a fourth-generation Intel Core i5 processor. But the Aspire hasn't discarded the aspects of the S7 we loved, namely the super-slim, all-white chassis and the 1080p touch-screen that continues to turn heads according to Laptop Magazine.
According to reviews, Acer can definitely make a pretty laptop. The lid of the S7 is an absolute vision in white, all-aluminum, unibody chassis, covered in Corning Gorilla Glass 2 with the silver border that lines the lid as well as the light-up Acer logo in the center.
The lid is about a millimetre shorter than the deck that makes opening the notebook a bit difficult. When closed, the lid shows off the sturdy, rounded, silver hinge that enables the display to tilt back a full 180°.
The keyboard deck has its matte silver silky feel. The sides of the deck are curve upward at a gentle angle and how the keyboard resides in a subtle recess.
The power button is hidden along the left side of the laptop toward the hinge which according to Laptop Mag could have been better if on plenty of space on the deck.
The following is Laptop Magazine's comprehensive review of the Aspire S7 Notebook:
Display: The Aspire S7's 13.3-inch, 1080p display vivid colors particularly blues, greens and yellows. Viewing angles were broad that will allow viewers to move past 45 degrees in either direction.
This notebook's screen measured a bright 329 lux on our light meter, beating the 236-lux ultraportable average. The S7 also outshone the ATIV Book 9, the Air and the Pro 13, which scored 284, 263 and 237 lux, respectively, says Laptop Mag.
Audio: Acer Aspire S7's pair of speakers is on the bottom of the notebook. Making muffled audio that barely fills a small room that will serve for a small audience. The Dolby Home Theater v4 software did little to alleviate the hollowness on music. The keyboard was clear, as were the vocals, but the bass was virtually nonexistent.
Acer has also included its Purified.Voice technology, which the company claims will eliminate background noise and volume reduction during video chats and VoIP calls. During the magazine's test Skype call, the caller reported loud and clear audio when reviewers are in the general proximity of the Ultrabook. When they began to move around the room, however, the caller said their voice became distant. He could also hear the keystrokes as they typed.
Keyboard and Touchpad: The Aspire S7's gray, island-style keyboard has relatively well-spaced keys with electroluminescent backlighting, it's easy to keep typing in dim situations. Better yet, the lighting automatically adjusts depending on the ambient light levels. The Tilde button is much larger than the Caps Lock key, and the Left Tab button is undersized. There's also more than enough room for a row of function keys -- no need to double them up with the number keys.
Performance: For such a svelte laptop, the Acer Aspire S7-392 packs quite a wallop. Its 1.6-GHz fourth-generation Intel Core i5-4200 CPU with 8GB of RAM ably streamed an episode of "Breaking Bad" from Netflix while performing a system scan with 8 open tabs in Google Chrome, Firefox and IE.
Configurations: Our $1,499 configuration of the Acer Aspire S7-392 features a 1.6-GHz Intel Core i5-4200 CPU with 8GB of RAM, a 128GB SSD and an Intel HD Graphics 4400 GPU with 128MB of VRAM. The $1,699 model (S7-392-9890) has a 1.8-GHz Intel Core i7-4500U processor, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD and an Intel HD Graphics 4400 GPU with 128MB of VRAM.
The 4.2 x 2.4-inch Synaptic touchpad is both spacious and responsive, a great improvement over the original S7. Performing Windows 8 gestures, such as summoning the Charms menu and switching apps, was a fluid experience. Two-finger scroll and rotate were also smooth and reliable.
After 15 minutes of streaming a full-screen Hulu video on the S7, the notebook's touchpad measured a cool 79 degrees Fahrenheit. The space between the G and H keys and the S7's undercarriage were slightly warmer, at 84 and 85 degrees, respectively. All of these measurements are below our comfort threshold of 95 degrees. Nevertheless, the previous S7 registered a cooler 75, 80 & 80° in the same locations.
On the PCMark 7 benchmark, the S7 notched 5,051, well above the 3,800 ultraportable averages. The Sony VAIO Pro 13 and its 1.8-GHz Intel Core i7-4500U CPU scored 4,698. The Samsung ATIV Book 9's 2-GHz Intel Core i7-3537U processor posted 4,490.
During Geekbench, the S7 notched 5,184, failing to meet the 6,082 average. However, the S7's score placed it only slightly behind the ATIV Book 9's showing of 5,187. The Pro 13 did somewhat better, with 5,507, while the MacBook Air and its 1.7-GHz Intel Core i7-4650U processor scored 8,333.
The Acer Aspire S7-392-6411 comes with a one-year limited warranty.
Source: www.kdramastars.com
Lytro’s first offering was meant to bedazzle hipsters. The hand-held point and shoot light-field camera let photographers refocus shots after taking them. It was (and is) very cool, but it wasn’t exactly up to professional standards. With a new camera called the Illum, a DSLR-style shooter with an 8X optical zoom and a high-speed, sports-worthy shutter, Lytro hopes to tap into the creative professional market.
Lytro more or less invented the market for light-field cameras in 2011. Prior to its first release, they had largely been limited to labs. Light-field cameras use a lens array to capture not just an image itself, but also the bundles of light rays, and the direction they are moving in a particular scene. Despite rave reviews, it hasn’t ever really taken off. It will be available in July for $1,500.
With the Illum, Lytro is targeting a more specialized market. In addition to the 8X (30 – 250mm) zoom lens, it has a constant f/2.0 aperture, 1/4000 shutter, and a four-inch backside touchscreen display. According to the company, the new sensor can capture 40 million light rays (Lytro doesn’t list megapixels) to the original’s 11 million. Its desktop processing software works with traditional products, like Adobe’s Photoshop and Lightroom. Photographers can use the camera’s software to refocus pictures after the fact, generate 3-D images, adjust the depth of field, and create tilt shifts.
Beyond its lens and bigger sensor, there are other ways the Illum surpasses Lytro’s original model. For example, because it’s such a different concept than most photographers are accustomed to, the camera has built-in software that color codes the display with depth information. It effectively previews the depth range you’ll have to work with once you shoot a photo.
This, Lytro says, is to help photographers start to think in three dimensions. Afterwards, photographers can export the images to traditional formats, or thanks to WebGL, publish them online in ways that let people interact with them and manipulate them later.
There are also just a ton of little features on this camera that are really solid. Lytro says the angled touchscreen is designed for photography where you’re less likely to be holding a camera directly up in front of your face. The lens itself is super light–as is the entire camera–but it feels rugged and solid with great knurling and smooth focus and zoom adjustments; on par with high-end DSLRs.
Other aspects of the camera are simply mind-boggling. Although we’re getting used to the ability to refocus and adjust depth of field after the fact–the new HTC One does a good job of it, for example–nothing else has this camera’s incredible range for doing so. Likewise, shooting something with a single-lens camera, and then seeing it on screen in rich 3-D is pretty amazing. Perhaps the most amazing out-of-the-box feature, however, is its ability to take insane macro shots. Objects held nearly flush with the lens appeared perfectly in focus–and yet still let you refocus on other objects across the room.
Right now, Lytro is appealing to people trying to stand out in a world of flat, static photos. But clearly, the company is moving toward a future wherein light-field photography, video, 3-D, and virtual reality will all be converging. The Illum is certainly pointing the way there.
Source: www.wired.com
Lytro more or less invented the market for light-field cameras in 2011. Prior to its first release, they had largely been limited to labs. Light-field cameras use a lens array to capture not just an image itself, but also the bundles of light rays, and the direction they are moving in a particular scene. Despite rave reviews, it hasn’t ever really taken off. It will be available in July for $1,500.
With the Illum, Lytro is targeting a more specialized market. In addition to the 8X (30 – 250mm) zoom lens, it has a constant f/2.0 aperture, 1/4000 shutter, and a four-inch backside touchscreen display. According to the company, the new sensor can capture 40 million light rays (Lytro doesn’t list megapixels) to the original’s 11 million. Its desktop processing software works with traditional products, like Adobe’s Photoshop and Lightroom. Photographers can use the camera’s software to refocus pictures after the fact, generate 3-D images, adjust the depth of field, and create tilt shifts.
Beyond its lens and bigger sensor, there are other ways the Illum surpasses Lytro’s original model. For example, because it’s such a different concept than most photographers are accustomed to, the camera has built-in software that color codes the display with depth information. It effectively previews the depth range you’ll have to work with once you shoot a photo.
This, Lytro says, is to help photographers start to think in three dimensions. Afterwards, photographers can export the images to traditional formats, or thanks to WebGL, publish them online in ways that let people interact with them and manipulate them later.
There are also just a ton of little features on this camera that are really solid. Lytro says the angled touchscreen is designed for photography where you’re less likely to be holding a camera directly up in front of your face. The lens itself is super light–as is the entire camera–but it feels rugged and solid with great knurling and smooth focus and zoom adjustments; on par with high-end DSLRs.
Other aspects of the camera are simply mind-boggling. Although we’re getting used to the ability to refocus and adjust depth of field after the fact–the new HTC One does a good job of it, for example–nothing else has this camera’s incredible range for doing so. Likewise, shooting something with a single-lens camera, and then seeing it on screen in rich 3-D is pretty amazing. Perhaps the most amazing out-of-the-box feature, however, is its ability to take insane macro shots. Objects held nearly flush with the lens appeared perfectly in focus–and yet still let you refocus on other objects across the room.
Right now, Lytro is appealing to people trying to stand out in a world of flat, static photos. But clearly, the company is moving toward a future wherein light-field photography, video, 3-D, and virtual reality will all be converging. The Illum is certainly pointing the way there.
Source: www.wired.com
The world’s biggest technology manufacturer said that Youm, the brand it has used for its flexible display technology since June, was a prototype that was not going to launch imminently. Samsung's continued emphasis on the technology will worry its rivals, however, and indicates that the Korean company is continuing both to work on new display technologies and to reduce its reliance on Google Android. It pointedly demonstrated the phone running Windows Phone 8.
The true impact of flexible displays, however, is likely to be hampered by the size and rigidity of vital processing and memory technology. The demonstration unit featured a flexible display attached to a small processing box.
Analysts say the first uses for flexible displays are most likely to be in devices that are more durable than glass because they can absorb force rather than crack under it. The new technology is also likely to be used, Samsung said, to wrap displays around devices and allow them, for instance, to show information on their edges.
Eric Rutter, Microsoft’s Chief Technology Strategy Officer, said that it was clear that displays did not need to be rigid. On stage at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the prototype phone was shown being flexed and bent without any conspicuous colour distortion, with other pre-recorded demonstrations shown on film. Referring to people who have talked about Apple's marketing creating a "reality distortion field," he claimed "we've actually built one".
Corning, the maker of Gorilla Glass, which is widely used across mobile phones, is also working on a flexible glass product called Willow. It is likely to be available in time for use on devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the forthcoming iPhone, but will not offer the flexibility of plastic. Subsequent mobile phone releases, therefore, may not use as much glass and may instead move to flexible displays.
Samsung has been working on flexible displays for a number of years, but its latest demonstration was the first to prove it has already talked to other companies about how it might implement flexible displays. Previous rumours have, however, suggested that it has also spoken to Google about a version of Android for such devices.
Samsung’s keynote also featured former American President Bill Clinton. He reiterated his observations on the transformative power of technology for the developing world, and also said he had seen how much medical technology had moved on during his wife Hillary Clinton’s recent hospital stay. He also added his voice to calls for stricter gun control in America.
Source: Telegraph
Google is working on smart contact lenses, and two patents secured last week suggest the company is taking the idea seriously. The company is working on contacts with embedded cameras, as well as lenses aimed at diabetics who need to constantly monitor their blood sugar levels.
In the latter application, an embedded “ophthalmic electrochemical sensor” would test the wearer’s tear fluid and alert him or her to any drops in blood sugar levels. The lens would include a working electrode and a much larger reference electrode. An antenna would also be included—all on the convex and concave surfaces of the contact lens.
“We’re testing prototypes that can generate a reading once per second,” Google’s Brian Otis and Babak Parviz wrote, when announcing the project. “We’re also investigating the potential for this to serve as an early warning for the wearer, so we’re exploring integrating tiny L.E.D. lights that could light up to indicate that glucose levels have crossed above or below certain thresholds. It’s still early days for this technology, but we’ve completed multiple clinical research studies which are helping to refine our prototype. We hope this could someday lead to a new way for people with diabetes to manage their disease.”
The company is in discussions with the F.D.A., which would obviously need to approve the lenses before they can more to market.
Google’s foray into medical devices offers an interesting backdrop against which we can examine the tech giant’s controversial Google Glass product line. Earlier this week, The Atlantic published another look at Glass, wherein blind writer Will Butler posited that “our fear of assistive technology” is to blame for the frosty reception Glass has received. (A number of Glass wearers have been mugged, and the product has not been polling well with consumers.)
“There remains a disheartening chasm between what we think of as assistive tech versus good design. Glass is struggling because it hovers between the two,” Butler wrote, arguing that Glass wearers are seen as weak.
Even Google’s vision of contact lenses with cameras have some assistive applications: the patent filing for that product notes that the lenses could be used to alert blind wearers to approaching cars, for example, by taking an image and transferring the information into sound. It’s hard to imagine the public taking issue with such medical uses (thankfully, no one is protesting outside of the Boston area hospital where Google Glass helped a physician save a man’s life), but in a world where anyone wearing Google Glass is liable to be called a “Glasshole,” it’s not at all difficult to imagine the uproar over proposed features like built-in zoom capability for those who don’t have issues seeing.
Source: www.vanityfair.com
