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Project Tango teardown reveals the wonders of the phone's 3D sensing tech
Want to get a better understanding of Google's 3D-sensing Project Tango smartphone beyond the usual promo videos? iFixit is more than happy to show you now that it has torn down the device for itself. The close-up identifies many of the depth mapping components in the experimental handset, including the infrared and fisheye cameras (both made by OmniVision), motion tracking (from InvenSense) and dual vision processors (from Movidius).
Spiral training Android application turns anyone into Peyton Manning... in theory (video)
Ah, ingenuity. We've seen Google's Android platform used for a host of unorthodox applications over the years, but Ben Kokes' concoction deserves a round of golf claps to call its own. The so-called Replay Football system employs a Bluetooth-enabled Nerf football with a 9-axis inertial sensing motion processing module (MPU-6000 by InvenSense), and when linked to a visualization / throw analysis application, you're able to analyze the rotation of a football in real-time as it's thrown. From there, the app breaks down the nuts and bolts of the toss, and while it's not able to blurt out pointers on correcting things just yet, we're seeing endless potential for the next revision. Don't believe us? There's a video just below that'll make a believer out of you, yet.
InvenSense gloats about world's first 6-axis MEMS-based motion sensing solution
We tell ya, some proud folks work at InvenSense. After boasting last year about its Wii MotionPlus-powering IDG-600 motion sensor, the company is set to gloat once more at E3 this year. The cause for celebration? Its 6-axis motion processing solution, which it's calling a world's first. Said solution weds its IME-3000 3-axis accelerometer with its IDG dual-axis family of gyros in order to produce a wicked small 6-axis motion sensor. In theory, at least, this creation is small enough to add MotionPlus-like capabilities to smartphones and other ridiculously small devices, with even TV remotes holding the promise of one day letting you "roll through" the EPG. Currently, the only big-name devices utilizing 5- or 6-axis motion functionality is Logitech's MX Air Mouse and the aforementioned MotionPlus accessory, but obviously InvenSense is hungry for more. Too bad that DSi already launched, right?
InvenSense boasts new motion tech, as seen in MotionPlus
The motion technology masterminds at InvenSense dropped a press release today which reminds everyone how totally awesome their handiwork is. The product the company is currently boasting is its "6-axis motion processing solution," which is featured in the upcoming Wii MotionPlus dongle attachment. As the name suggests, the "solution" allows for the detection of movement in six directions -- up, down, left, right, forward and backward -- allowing you to throw fake frisbees to fake dogs with unparalleled accuracy.InvenSense is hoping to shop the new gyroscopic technology out to other electronic developers in July, so if your coffee maker suddenly becomes aware of its own pitch and yaw, you know who to blame.[Via VentureBeat]
Nintendo increases order with MotionPlus component maker
While the rest of the world is in the middle of a recession, Nintendo's got more money coming in than ever, and it appears that they don't see that changing any time soon. According to Digitimes, Nintendo has increased the quantity of an order with a company called Invensense, who makes the rate gyroscope used in the upcoming MotionPlus peripheral.This suggests that Nintendo is increasing their estimate of MotionPlus demand -- and probably increasing their expectations for the sales of Wii Sports Resort. Either that or they are ramping up production of MotionPlus according to an existing plan. Something (let's call it "history") tells us that even their augmented production won't keep up with demand for 2009's big-big-big Nintendo product.%Gallery-27709%[Via Kotaku]
MotionPlus maker: Relationship with Nintendo 'not exclusive'
The boffins at InvenSense who developed the MotionPlus accessory have insisted that their relationship with Nintendo is "not an exclusive one," and haven't ruled out the possibility of the MotionPlus technology seeing other companies on the side. The cads!There's certainly not a lack of interest, with company head Joe Virginia telling Eurogamer "I can't get into details about other folks that are interested in this technology, but as you might imagine of course there is more interest out there." Whether Sony or Microsoft will pounce at this opportunity remains to be seen. The whole internet decided that Microsoft would reveal a motion-sensing controller at E3, only for the Redmond firm to unveil a big, fat nothing.On a more positive note, Virginia talked up the possibilities of MotionPlus, discussing adding spin to tennis shots, curve to a bowling ball, ultra-precise golf swings, and sword motions with forward thrusts. You already knew all that was possible, but reading it this morning made us excited for MotionPlus all over again.
Nintendo doesn't have exclusive rights to MotionPlus
We're criminally forgetful around these parts, so usually refer to the Wiimote MotionPlus accessory as "that thing that makes the Wiimote work the way it should have in the first place." But as it turns out it may also someday be "that thing that makes the 360 controller or DualShock 3 work the way the Wiimote should have in the first place." InvenSense, the company behind the tech, says that Nintendo doesn't have the exclusive rights to it, and that other companies have expressed an interest. To be fair though, they don't name anyone specifically.So, Nintendo, out of curiosity: You invest in an addition to your console's primary feature and you don't even lock up the rights? How about you dig through Miyamoto's office cushions and buy the exclusivity, the company and a gold-plated hover-castle for them to work in? What are you saving for?
Underlying MotionPlus tech isn't a Nintendo exclusive
How very interesting. InvenSense, which is licensing its motion-sensing MEMS technology to Nintendo for that new MotionPlus add-on, has now stated that its Nintendo partnership is "not an exclusive relationship." InvenSense won't let slip exactly who else is courting them for the tech, but we have to think the usual suspects (Microsoft, Sony) are at least giving the gyroscopic technology a passing glance. Of course, InvenSense might be looking to folks outside the gaming space as well, and there's no guarantee Microsoft and Sony would even try for a Wiimote killer this generation, but if the Big Three don't all have robust motion-sensing controls of some sort ready by the time the next generation rolls around, it certainly won't be InvenSense's fault.[Via GamesIndustry.biz]
InvenSense boasts about Wii MotionPlus-powering IDG-600 motion sensor
With Nintendo's official business out of the way, the motion sensing-minded folks at InvenSense are now free to brag about the technology behind the new Wii MotionPlus add-on, a press release we're sure they've been itching to send out. The key bit of kit in the forthcoming accessory, it seems, is the IDG-600 multi-axis MEMS rate gyroscope, which InvenSense describes as a "truly disruptive technology" that boasts just the right combination of manufacturing and performance advantages to make it ideal for Nintendo's purposes. InvenSense also says that it has already begun shipping to Nintendo in mass production quantities, which is certainly assuring, if unsurprising.
