Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[DASH promises stutter free streaming video over LTE, hopes you don't care about quality]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/05/dash-promises-stutter-free-streaming-video-over-lte/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/05/dash-promises-stutter-free-streaming-video-over-lte/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/05/dash-promises-stutter-free-streaming-video-over-lte/#comments YouTubeWe've all been there: fire up a clip from YouTube or a movie on Netflix and things start out great. But, then, after just a few moments, that LTE connection starts to give up the ghost and suddenly you're faced with unbearable stuttering or a video that just dies mid stream. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications are looking to solve that conundrum with DASH, or Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP. The idea is actually surprisingly simple -- files of different sizes and qualities will be available depending on signal strength and network load, and the stream will be able to seamlessly switch between them as these variables change. While this sounds like a win for both consumer and carriers, we're sure there are a few of you out there who just want the highest quality possible, even if that means waiting forever for that HD clip of the all accordion cover of Take On Me to buffer. Full PR is after the break.

Continue reading DASH promises stutter free streaming video over LTE, hopes you don't care about quality

DASH promises stutter free streaming video over LTE, hopes you don't care about quality originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dashDynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTPDynamicAdaptiveStreamingOverHttpFraunhoferfraunhofer instituteFraunhoferInstituteltelte dashLteDashmobilepostministreamingstreaming videoStreamingVideovideoSun, 05 Feb 2012 19:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Viatag NFC system pays parking lot fees with an RFID tag, saves lives]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/05/viatag-nfc-system-pays-parking-lot-fees-with-an-rfid-tag-saves/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/05/viatag-nfc-system-pays-parking-lot-fees-with-an-rfid-tag-saves/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/05/viatag-nfc-system-pays-parking-lot-fees-with-an-rfid-tag-saves/#comments Paying for parking isn't exactly a fun experience, but Germany's Fraunhofer Institute is doing its best to make it slightly less painful, with Viatag -- an NFC system that allows you shell out your hard earned cash without even reaching for your wallet. The setup is relatively simple, consisting of a small RFID tag, compatible transceivers and a centralized database. Once attached to your car's windshield, the tag communicates with the transceivers installed within a given parking lot, alerting the system whenever your vehicle enters or leaves. An application running on the central server, meanwhile, keeps track of how much time you spend in the lot, and charges your debit card accordingly. Researchers have already installed Viatag at car parks in Essen, Duisburg and Munich, and are hoping to expand it to other locations. It might not be as sophisticated as some of the other automotive communications systems we've seen, but it could come in handy during those moments when you really don't feel like swearing at a parking meter. Cruise past the break for the full PR.

Continue reading Viatag NFC system pays parking lot fees with an RFID tag, saves lives

Viatag NFC system pays parking lot fees with an RFID tag, saves lives originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Aug 2011 08:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carconveniencefraunhoferfraunhofer instituteFraunhoferInstitutegermanymoneynear field communicationnear-field communicationNear-fieldCommunicationNearFieldCommunicationnfcparkparkingparking lotsParkingLotspaymentrfidrfid tagRfidTagtransportFri, 05 Aug 2011 08:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Ultra-thin handheld microscope could sniff out skin cancer, forged documents]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/05/ultra-thin-handheld-microscope-could-sniff-out-skin-cancer-forg/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/05/ultra-thin-handheld-microscope-could-sniff-out-skin-cancer-forg/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/05/ultra-thin-handheld-microscope-could-sniff-out-skin-cancer-forg/#comments It may not look like it, but that sleek black thing pictured above is actually a microscope. Designed by engineers at Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF, this little guy boasts a 5.3mm optical length, rendering it slim enough to fit in the palm of your hand, yet powerful enough to deliver images at a scanner-like resolution of five micrometers, over a wide surface area. Fraunhofer's researchers achieved this balance by essentially tossing out the manual on traditional microscope design. Whereas most devices slowly scan areas and construct images on a piecemeal basis, this handheld uses several small imaging channels and a collection of tiny lenses to record equal sized fragments of a given surface. Unlike conventional scanner microscopes, all of these 300 x 300 square micrometer imaging channels are captured at the same time. With a single swipe, then, users can record 36 x 24 square mm shots of matchbox-sized objects, without even worrying about blurring the images with their shaky hands. The prototype is still two years away from going into production, but once it does, engineers say it could help doctors scan patients for skin cancer more easily, while also allowing bureaucrats to quickly confirm the authenticity of official documents. We can only imagine what it could do for Pac-Man. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Ultra-thin handheld microscope could sniff out skin cancer, forged documents

Ultra-thin handheld microscope could sniff out skin cancer, forged documents originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 May 2011 09:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cancerdocumentsengineeringfraunhoferfraunhofer instituteFraunhofer-GesellschaftFraunhoferInstitutegermanyhandheldhealthimageslaser world of phototonicsLaserWorldOfPhototonicsmelanomamicroscopeopticalopticsphototonicsprototyperesearchscanslimultrathinThu, 05 May 2011 09:14:00 EST<![CDATA[German researchers prototype 6mm thick pico projector]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/29/german-researchers-prototype-6mm-thick-pico-projector/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/29/german-researchers-prototype-6mm-thick-pico-projector/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/29/german-researchers-prototype-6mm-thick-pico-projector/#comments Pico projectors just keep shrinking, and a new prototype developed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Engineering is helping said shrinking along pretty strikingly. The team has developed a prototype pico which is just 6mm thick, making it the world's slimmest ever. Better yet, the projected image is 10 times brighter than a pico projector of its size would have previously been -- had it existed. The new lens on the projector is so small that it could potentially be integrated into smart phones without boosting size or weight. The new prototype is made of 45 red, green or blue microlenses, each with a 200 x 200 pixel LCD, inspired by a microlens array called a fly's eye condenser. The resulting resolution is nearly, but not quite, WVGA with 11 lumens of brightness. The prototype will be shown off at Nano Tech 2011 in Tokyo.

[Image credit: Fraunhofer Institute]

German researchers prototype 6mm thick pico projector originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 29 Jan 2011 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>displayfraunhoferfraunhofer instituteFraunhoferInstitutegermanypicoprojectorprojectorsprototyperesearchtinySat, 29 Jan 2011 12:31:00 EST<![CDATA['Trilobite' compound eye puts a Paleozoic spin on mobile camera design]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/22/trilobite-compound-eye-puts-a-paleozoic-spin-on-mobile-camera/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/22/trilobite-compound-eye-puts-a-paleozoic-spin-on-mobile-camera/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/22/trilobite-compound-eye-puts-a-paleozoic-spin-on-mobile-camera/#commentsExtinct marine arthropods make for great design references -- just ask Andreas Brückner. The Fraunhofer Institute of Applied Optics and Precision Engineering researcher has taken a cue from the trilobite in creating a 1.4mm thin "cluster eye" camera to take 221 images at 39 pixels per side to form a 700 x 550 (0.38 megapixel) composite. At this point, it's also capable of recording 13 frames per second for video, and with a size like that, if they can bump up the specs it could pave way for smaller camera components in mobile phones. Not anytime soon, of course, as it's still in the research state (and it's just one of many camera research projects out there). The next step for Brückner and company is shrinking the aforementioned design to 1mm thin (and up the video to 30fps), as well as 1.5mm variant with one megapixel resolution.

'Trilobite' compound eye puts a Paleozoic spin on mobile camera design originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 02:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Andreas BrücknerAndreas BrucknerAndreasBrücknerAndreasBrucknerarthropodbrücknerBrucknercompound eyeCompoundEyedesignfraunhoferfraunhofer instituteFraunhoferInstituteresearchtrilobitetrilopodWed, 22 Dec 2010 02:20:00 EST<![CDATA[German researchers develop biotech sensor bracelet, disposable blood lab]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/20/german-researchers-develop-biotech-sensor-bracelet-disposable-b/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/20/german-researchers-develop-biotech-sensor-bracelet-disposable-b/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/20/german-researchers-develop-biotech-sensor-bracelet-disposable-b/#comments Biochips -- flexible, disposable plastic circuits that "compute" via chemical reaction -- have been nearing reality for over a decade, but for obvious reasons we don't always pay attention. German research institute Fraunhofer IZM has just convinced us it's high time we did. This week, the organization announced that it's on the verge of creating a lab-on-a-chip that can diagnose deep vein thrombosis from a single drop of blood, as well as a wristband that can measure body temperature, skin moisture and electromagnetic radiation using plastic chips and sensors only micrometers thick. Impressive, yes, but the real news is the production process -- these gadgets can be printed in reels and sheets. The organization imagines the tools will be so cheap they'll be disposable; rather than wait for lab results, worried individuals will just take one out, test and toss to feel confident about their bloodwork, before hopefully going back to their normal lives.

German researchers develop biotech sensor bracelet, disposable blood lab originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 02:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biochipbiochipsbloodblood testBloodTestbloodworkchemicalfraunhoferfraunhofer institutefraunhofer izmFraunhofer-GesellschaftFraunhoferInstituteFraunhoferIzmmedicalmedicineplastic chipplastic chipsPlasticChipPlasticChipsprintable circuitsprintable electronicsPrintableCircuitsPrintableElectronicssciencewristbandTue, 20 Apr 2010 02:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Fraunhofer Institute's fruit checker device tracks optimum ripeness so you can stop sniffing those melons]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/system-that-can-check-the-freshness-of-fruit-developed-no-help/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/system-that-can-check-the-freshness-of-fruit-developed-no-help/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/system-that-can-check-the-freshness-of-fruit-developed-no-help/#comments
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute have developed a small device that can be used to check the freshness of fruit, telling the interested parties whether it's ripe or not. Based on previous technologies which measure -- for example -- car emissions, the device measures the volatile gases emitted by the fruit and analyzes its makeup to determine the state of freshness. The team already has a working prototype, and sees the device, which would cost somewhere in the thousands of dollars range, as having widespread application for businesses that supply food to grocery stores. So far the device has only successfully been used to test the freshness of fruit, but researchers see possible future applications in testing meat as well.

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Fraunhofer Institute's fruit checker device tracks optimum ripeness so you can stop sniffing those melons originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 22:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>berlinfoodfraunhofer instituteFraunhoferInstitutefreshnessfruitgermanygroceriesgrocery storesGroceryStoresresearchscienceTue, 04 Aug 2009 22:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Tiny, printable batteries promise to change the face of obnoxious greeting cards forever]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/02/tiny-printable-batteries-promise-to-change-the-face-of-obnoxiou/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/02/tiny-printable-batteries-promise-to-change-the-face-of-obnoxiou/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/02/tiny-printable-batteries-promise-to-change-the-face-of-obnoxiou/#comments
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Electronic Nano Systems ENAS in Chemnitz led by Prof. Dr. Reinhard Baumann have unveiled tiny, printable batteries that they hope to put into production for pennies apiece. The new battery prototype is primarily composed of a zinc anode and a manganese cathode that can be screen printed and covered with a non-printed template cover. Each mercury-free battery weighs less than one gram, and can individually produce about 1.5 volts of electricity. By placing several batteries side by side, however, up to 6 volts can be generated. The institute has already produced these little power houses in the lab, and hopes to see them into production by the end of the year. The batteries have a relatively short lifespan, making them suitable for applications such as powering greeting cards. All we can say is that this battery would have made the card we got two years ago that sang "Word Up" much, much awesomer.

[Via Physorg]

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Tiny, printable batteries promise to change the face of obnoxious greeting cards forever originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteriesbatteryENASfraunhoferfraunhofer instituteFraunhoferInstitutenanonano technano technologyNanoTechNanoTechnologyprintable batteriesPrintableBatteriesReinhard BaumannReinhardBaumannThu, 02 Jul 2009 16:10:00 EST<![CDATA[OLED mini projector prototype for mobile phones using a series of lenses developed]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/29/oled-mini-projector-prototype-for-mobile-phones-using-a-series-o/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/29/oled-mini-projector-prototype-for-mobile-phones-using-a-series-o/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/29/oled-mini-projector-prototype-for-mobile-phones-using-a-series-o/#comments
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute -- partnered with project HYPOLED -- have created an OLED mini projector prototype for mobile phones. Unlike many previous iterations of similar technologies, this new prototype doesn't need an additional illumination system, instead relying on a lens system to project images produced by an OLED onto a screen or wall -- making it both smaller and more energy efficient. The prototype currently displays a monochrome image with a brightness of 10,000 candelas per square meter, and color images with a brightness of about half of that. The lenses are also made of glass at this point, though cheaper and simpler plastic ones are in the works. No word on when we might see these prototypes hitting the streets in actual projector phones, though.

[Via Gizmag]

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OLED mini projector prototype for mobile phones using a series of lenses developed originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellphonesdisplaydisplaysfraunhoferfraunhofer instituteFraunhoferInstitutelensmini projectorMiniProjectormobileoledoled mini projectorOledMiniProjectorphoneprojectorprojector phonesProjectorPhonesprototypeMon, 29 Jun 2009 19:19:00 EST<![CDATA[OLED mini projector prototype for mobile phones using a series of lenses developed]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/29/oled-mini-projector-prototype-for-mobile-phones-using-a-series-o/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/29/oled-mini-projector-prototype-for-mobile-phones-using-a-series-o/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/29/oled-mini-projector-prototype-for-mobile-phones-using-a-series-o/#comments
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute -- partnered with project HYPOLED -- have created an OLED mini projector prototype for mobile phones. Unlike many previous iterations of similar technologies, this new prototype doesn't need an additional illumination system, instead relying on a lens system to project images produced by an OLED onto a screen or wall -- making it both smaller and more energy efficient. The prototype currently displays a monochrome image with a brightness of 10,000 candelas per square meter, and color images with a brightness of about half of that. The lenses are also made of glass at this point, though cheaper and simpler plastic ones are in the works. No word on when we might see these prototypes hitting the streets in actual projector phones, though.

[Via Gizmag]

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OLED mini projector prototype for mobile phones using a series of lenses developed originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellphonesdisplaydisplaysfraunhoferfraunhofer instituteFraunhoferInstitutelensmini projectorMiniProjectoroledoled mini projectorOledMiniProjectorphoneprojectorprojector phonesProjectorPhonesprototypeMon, 29 Jun 2009 19:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Underwater robot has sense of touch, class and style]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/07/underwater-robot-has-sense-of-touch-class-and-style/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/07/underwater-robot-has-sense-of-touch-class-and-style/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/07/underwater-robot-has-sense-of-touch-class-and-style/#comments
At the Fraunhofer Institute in Bremen, Germany, a group of researchers, in conjunction with the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence DFKI, is developing an underwater robot with a sense of touch. The octopus-esque robot is equipped with a strain gauge which triggers electrical resistance changes when an obstacle is encountered. The strain gauges -- which are printed onto the robot -- which are ten micrometers wide (about half the width of a human hair), are made up of atomized nanoparticles, and are extremely sensitive. The researchers intend for the robot to be able to distinguish between actual obstacles and water currents. The robot's first stop will be a public trade show at the end of May in Nuremberg, after which it will presumably make it's way to the dark depths of the sea to meet up with Captain Nemo and the giant squid.

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Underwater robot has sense of touch, class and style originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 May 2009 10:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bremendeep sea explorationDeepSeaExplorationdivingexplorationfraunhoferfraunhofer instituteFraunhoferInstitutegiant squidGiantSquidnanotechnanotechnologyrobotsquidtactiletactile robotTactileRobottouch senstiveTouchSenstiveunderwaterunderwater robotUnderwaterRobotThu, 07 May 2009 10:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Fraunhofer's 3D dashboard prototype]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/fraunhofers-3d-dashboard-prototype/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/fraunhofers-3d-dashboard-prototype/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/12/fraunhofers-3d-dashboard-prototype/#comments
The sheer amount of technology companies are willing to throw at your car's dashboard is amazing (well, maybe not your car -- after all, you're still driving a '76 Gremlin). Taking things up a notch, the folks at Fraunhofer have developed a dash that displays your location and the surrounding area in 3D, in real time. The system uses cameras to keep track of the location of your eyes, so the depth imaging effect can be achieved without using those funny glasses. In addition to the GPS, the dashboard only displays the information that is most relevant to the driver at any time -- fuel gauge, tire pressure, route information or the title of the song can be displayed, depending on user preferences. It's only a prototype at this point -- be sure to check it out when you hit CeBIT in Hanover this March.

[Via The Raw Feed]

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Fraunhofer's 3D dashboard prototype originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d dashboard3dDashboardautomotivedashboardfraunhoferfraunhofer instituteFraunhoferInstituteThu, 12 Feb 2009 14:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Fraunhofer takes a stab at non-exploding lithium-ion batteries]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/10/fraunhofer-takes-a-stab-at-non-exploding-lithium-ion-batteries/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/10/fraunhofer-takes-a-stab-at-non-exploding-lithium-ion-batteries/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/10/fraunhofer-takes-a-stab-at-non-exploding-lithium-ion-batteries/#commentsIt's hardly the only one working on making lithium-ion batteries a little less likely to blow up in your face, but the prolific folks at Fraunhofer Institute seem to think that they've come up with a solid contender for your future laptop or cellphone, and they're now set to take the wraps off it at the Hannover Messe conference later this month. The key to their solution, it seems, is the use of a non-flammable polymer electrolyte instead of the liquid electrolyte now commonly used in lithium-ion batteries. While that switch cuts down on the explosiveness, it also introduced a fair number of challenges, not the least of which is the fact that polymer becomes less conductive as it gets more solid. Fraunhofer's apparently made some significant progress on that front, however, and while they're still not completely satisfied with the conductivity, they say the batteries could be ready for commercial use in three to five years. They also, not surprisingly, see no end to the uses for 'em, saying that they could not only wind up in laptops and cellphones, but power tools, lawnmowers, and potentially even cars.

[Thanks, Mademoiselle Y]

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Fraunhofer takes a stab at non-exploding lithium-ion batteries originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Apr 2008 18:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteriesfraunhoferfraunhofer instituteFraunhoferInstitutelithium-ionlithium-ion batteriesLithium-ionBatteriesThu, 10 Apr 2008 18:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Fraunhofer's Surround Vision lets projectors get curvy]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/31/fraunhofers-surround-vision-lets-projectors-get-curvy/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/31/fraunhofers-surround-vision-lets-projectors-get-curvy/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/31/fraunhofers-surround-vision-lets-projectors-get-curvy/#comments
Those prolific folks at the Fraunhofer Institute recently took the wraps off yet another invention of theirs, this one promising to let projectors do things they've never done before (or at least let 'em do it more easily). More specifically, its "Surround Vision" software will automatically calibrate projectors to allow for images to be projected on surfaces of any shape with "pixel-precise accuracy". What's more, according to Gizmag, the system can apparently be used "in principle" with any type of projector. While it seems unlikely that many folks will be reworking their home theaters to take advantage of the system, the Fraunhofer folk see no shortage of other applications for the technology, including trade show booths, theme parks, simulators, and planitariums, to name a few.

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Fraunhofer's Surround Vision lets projectors get curvy originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Aug 2007 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fraunhoferfraunhofer instituteFraunhoferInstituteprojectorsurround visionSurroundVisionFri, 31 Aug 2007 12:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Body powered circuits developed by Fraunhofer Institute]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/17/body-powered-circuits-developed-by-fraunhofer-institute/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/17/body-powered-circuits-developed-by-fraunhofer-institute/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/17/body-powered-circuits-developed-by-fraunhofer-institute/#comments
Our favorite German researchers over at the Fraunhofer Institute have developed "entire electronic systems" capable of operating battery-free from body heat alone. The picture above shows a wireless transmitter powered by the human hand. The 200 millivolts required to drive the device is supplied by a thermoelectric generator (TEG) which extracts electrical energy from hot and a cold temperature differentials of just a few degrees Celsius. Of course, the application processor alone in modern handhelds requires about 1W to operate so 2mW is a long way off from powering our portable electronics. Still, progress is progress.

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Body powered circuits developed by Fraunhofer Institute originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Aug 2007 09:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The research kids in Germany's Fraunhofer Institute just announced a tiny new video camera capable of shooting at a 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution and a variable frame rate up to 60 frames per second. The MicroHDTV is said to measure a scant 4 x 4 x 8-cm. So either that picture above is not to scale (a Euro is about the size of a US quarter) or they don't include the housing, lens, transmitter, etc. in their dimensions. We'll assume the former since it's said to be small enough to fit in a racing-car cockpit, helmet, or any other tiny space you'd like to broadcast HDTV from. It operates using "standard optical systems" and can be controlled via a web interface across the Internet. It'll be on display at CeBIT in march where we'll see what this baby can do.

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Tiny camera shoots HDTV originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Feb 2007 09:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FraunhoferFraunhofer InstituteFraunhoferInstituteGermanymicroHDTVFri, 02 Feb 2007 09:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Tiny camera shoots HDTV]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/02/tiny-camera-shoots-hdtv/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/02/tiny-camera-shoots-hdtv/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/02/tiny-camera-shoots-hdtv/#comments
The research kids in Germany's Fraunhofer Institute just announced a tiny new video camera capable of shooting at a 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution and a variable frame rate up to 60 frames per second. The MicroHDTV is said to measure a scant 4 x 4 x 8-cm. So either that picture above is not to scale (a Euro is about the size of a US quarter) or they don't include the housing, lens, transmitter, etc. in their dimensions. We'll assume the former since it's said to be small enough to fit in a racing-car cockpit, helmet, or any other tiny space you'd like to broadcast HDTV from. It operates using "standard optical systems" and can be controlled via a web interface across the Internet. It'll be on display at CeBIT in march where we'll see what this baby can do.

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Tiny camera shoots HDTV originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Feb 2007 09:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FraunhoferFraunhofer InstituteFraunhoferInstitutegermanyhdmicrohdtvother hardwareotherhardwareFri, 02 Feb 2007 09:06:00 EST<![CDATA[SX Pro technology promises 5.1 sound from stereo sources]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/05/sx-pro-technology-promises-5-1-sound-from-stereo-sources/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/05/sx-pro-technology-promises-5-1-sound-from-stereo-sources/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/05/sx-pro-technology-promises-5-1-sound-from-stereo-sources/#commentsYou can't fault the folks at the Fraunhofer Institute for resting on their laurels after creating that obscure bit of technology known as the MP3. Having already announced an eye-controlled interaction system and a multimedia dome in the past two months, our fine German friends have now developed a technology that purports to automagically turn any old stereo content into sweet 5.1 surround sound. According to the Institute, SX Pro (which can apparently be implemented at either the software or hardware stage) works by analyzing an audio signal to identify characteristic sound elements, instantly redistributing those elements using an intelligent algorithm to create a natural sounding 5.1 mix. Fraunhofer even sees the technology being used at the professional level, with additional controls available to tweak the upmix process used by SX Pro -- offering a faster and cheaper alternative to producing a true 5.1 mix. How well it works, of course, is yet to be seen (er, heard), but the Fraunhofer Institute seems to be pretty confident in its work, noting that that the tech will be ready for use by the end of the year.

[Via Gizmag]

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SX Pro technology promises 5.1 sound from stereo sources originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Oct 2006 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>5.1fraunhoferfraunhofer instituteFraunhoferInstitutesurround soundSurroundSoundsx proSxProThu, 05 Oct 2006 11:58:00 EST<![CDATA[German researchers unveil a euro cent-sized projector]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/20/german-researchers-unveil-a-penny-sized-projector/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/20/german-researchers-unveil-a-penny-sized-projector/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/20/german-researchers-unveil-a-penny-sized-projector/#commentsYou've already seen the slew of projectors that we at Engadget are wont to write about regularly. But what you probably haven't seen is this euro cent-sized projector created by crafty German engineers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering in Jena. The 16mm (0.6 inches) wide projector works by shooting a laser at a single vibrating mirror, and although it works with red and blue lasers, the scientists say that green diode lasers aren't yet small enough, preventing the projector from hitting a full range of colors -- so hold off on thinking you're going to be watching "Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat" from a thumb-drive sized device in the near future. Dr. Peter Schreiber of the Fraunhofer Institute told the BBC that such a device could be eventually embedded into cellphones or PDAs. We'd love to be able to project a movie from our phone, but sadly Dr. Schreiber didn't tell the Beeb how big the projected image is, how much it will or currently costs, nor when it might be available -- not even a rough estimate, like 2014. Why must you be so coy with us, Fraunhofer Institute?

[Thanks, Ndric]

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German researchers unveil a euro cent-sized projector originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Sep 2006 12:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fraunhofer instituteFraunhoferInstitutegermanypeter schreiberPeterSchreiberprojectorsWed, 20 Sep 2006 12:24:00 EST