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ODG launches its Snapdragon 835-based mixed-reality glasses
The name Osterhout Design Group (ODG) might not sound all that familiar, but it has unveiled two mixed-reality smartglasses at this year's CES. These new devices, called the R-8 and the R-9, are two of the first wearables powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 835. They're both capable of augmented and virtual reality overlays, though the R-9 has more-sophisticated features to go with its higher price point. It has a 50-degree field of view and 1080p resolution, whereas the R-8 has a 40-degree FOV and a 720p resolution. Further, it functions as a development platform for mobile AR and VR, as well as smartglass applications.
Audi Japan is selling one 'Final Fantasy XV' themed R8
Square Enix's long-awaited next entry in the 30-year-old Final Fantasy franchise arrives November 29th on PS4 and Xbox One, but first up is this promotional tie-in from Audi. In the run up to Final Fantasy XV , Sony Pictures released the all-CG rendered Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV movie back in July, and it featured a special version of the 2017 Audi R8 called the Star of Lucis.
Audi's latest Q7 SUV and R8 sports car are powered by electricity
Audi has gone to this year's Geneva Motor Show with new versions of its Q7 SUV and R8 sports car in tow: electric-powered versions, that is. The new Q7 E-Tron Quattro looks very similar to the regular Q7, but it's actually a plug-in hybrid that has an electric-only range of 34 miles, thanks to its lithium-ion battery. It promises instant high-speed acceleration from 0 to 62 mph in just six seconds, uses a V6 diesel engine, and has a 166 miles per gallon potential, with speeds reaching up to 140 mph. The hybrid SUV has four driving modes: EV mode uses pure electricity, obviously, while hybrid mode automatically switches between electricity and diesel. Battery hold mode stores any electrical energy for later use, while charge mode is used while charging the battery. Audi plans to release it in the UK by the end of this year for a price that's yet to be announced, but it's still unclear if and when it will be released elsewhere.
Audi R8 e-tron won't see public sale, will be used for internal evaluation only
It's time to put your dreams of owning Audi's R8 e-tron to bed -- the German automaker won't be shipping the electric car to dealerships, according to a Wired source. The record setting vehicle's sales plans were apparently axed due to driving range concerns and a new focus on plug-in hybrid vehicles. We followed up with a contact of our own, who confirmed that the R8 would be produced only in small numbers, and only for internal use, at that. The R8 may be dead, but its core achievements should appear in future vehicles, we're told -- including its lightweight construction, AMOLED rear-view mirror and battery management system.
Audi R8 e-tron to feature digital AMOLED rear-view mirror
Audi's R18 racing car's been sporting this digital rear-view mirror for some time, and was most recently spotted with it at the renowned LeMans racing competition -- but now the German outfit's bringing the tech to a more consumer-friendly vehicle, the R8 e-tron. The luxurious automobile company announced that gorgeous 7.7-inch reflector is making its way from its speedy R18 to the stunning R8 e-tron, marking the first time any ride outside of the former will come loaded with such feature. In case you weren't aware, the AMOLED rear-view mirror helps automatically reduce headlights glare "during the hours of darkness," while also allowing drivers to dim or turn it off altogether if, you know, they're just not feeling the vibe.
Production R8 e-tron sets lap record at Nürburgring, Audi gains more EV bragging rights
Suffice it to say, Audi's been garnering loads of press these past weeks for its e-tron vehicles. Hot on the heels of its recent, R18 e-tron-led victory at the 24-hour Le Mans, the automaker has set a world-record for production EVs at Germany's Nürburgring. Using an all-electric R8 production model, driver Markus Winkelhock zipped around the 12.92-mile course with a lap time of 8:09.099. For comparison's sake, the fastest lap by a gasoline-powered production car of about seven minutes and 57 12 seconds is currently held by the Gumpert Apollo Sport -- which just-so-happens to use an 700 hp (515 kW) Audi V8 motor. According to Audi, the R8 used is essentially identical to what will be released to the public later this year, featuring two electric motors that pump out 280kW of power and 820Nm of torque. That said, Autoblog notes that its limiter was set to 155 mph (250 kph) -- when you can buy one it'll be set to top out at 125 mph (200 kph). Hit up the press release after the break for all the details. Update: We incorrectly mixed up mph with kph on the max speeds. We've adjusted the numbers.
Zoom R8 8-track recorder promises 'total production to go'
Looking to lighten your load a bit on your audio production job in the field? Then you might want to consider Zoom's new portable 8-track recorder, the R8. Also functioning as an audio interface, control surface and pad sampler, the device packs an SD card slot for storage (a 2GB card is included, complete with 500MB of drum loops), can be powered by 4 AA when on the go, and it naturally connects to your Mac or PC via USB for use as an interface with your favorite DAW program. Head on past the break for a quick demo video, and look for the device itself to set you back $525 $299. Update: We just got hit with a bit of new intel -- the price is actually set for $299. The information we were given earlier was deemed incorrect. Phew!
Panasonic adds Windows 7 to laptop line, unveils Let's Note N8 and S8
Oy vey! Today must be some industry-wide Windows 7 announcement day, as Panasonic is hot on the heels of Dell and Toshiba with no less than six lappies set to sport Vista's agile younger sibling. The Let's Note (ToughBook, to you and us) F8, R8, T8 and W8 models are likely to take on the new OS without alterations to their hardware, but the hot news comes in the form of the brand new N8 and S8. Powered by Core 2 Duo P8700 chips, both machines will come with 12.1-inch WXGA LCD screens, 250GB HDDs, up to 4GB of RAM, WiMAX, WiFi, HDMI and SDHC connectivity. They also share a stonking claim of 16 hours of battery life, and the one feature that distinguishes between them is the internal DVD burner on the S8. All that goodness will be out come October 22, with expected pricing around ¥200,000 (about $2,230) for the N series. You'll find a gallery of the unveiling event at the Akihabara News link below. %Gallery-74215% [Via Akihabara News]
Audi's next-gen R8 MMI recognizes handwriting, probably increases your insurance premium
There's comes a time in every technology's life when the envelope gets pushed just for the sake of getting pushed. For Audi's already complex MMI, this is it. Right around this time last year, we were drooling quite profusely over the A8's next-generation Multi Media Interface (which is basically a snazzy name for an in-dash NAV system), but this year, we're wondering who exactly will take advantage of the R8's next system. Aside from getting a much needed UI makeover, Autobild is reporting that said platform will include support for handwriting recognition. So far as we can tell, you simply pencil in your next address with your greasy digits and tag the correct word that pops up there on the right. We're still waiting to hear why this is preferred over a decent voice recognition system, but hey, so long as James Bond approves, who are we to argue?[Via German Car Blog]
Ready At Dawn's next game is an 'Xbox 360 / PS3 original title' [Update: Didier responds!]
John Enricco, a lighting artist at Ready At Dawn, has updated his LinkedIn profile to reflect the fact that the company is now working on an original title for the Xbox 360 and PS3. Yeah, multiplatform. Many were expecting Ready At Dawn's first current-generation title to be a PS3 exclusive, considering its relationship with Sony during PSP development. According to Ready At Dawn's website, this is just one of two projects currently being worked on.The fact that it's an "original title" also indicates that this is a new IP, marking the first time the studio has designed its own game from scratch. Judging from the quality of Ready At Dawn's PSP titles (Daxter, God of War: Chains of Olympus), we're expecting technically great things from this new project. As for whether the game's premise is any good, we have nothing to base our expectations on. One thing's for sure, though; we can't wait to sink our teeth into more details.[Update: We reached out to Didier Malenfant, co-founder of Ready At Dawn, who told us: "We are working on two projects at this time, codenamed R6 and R8, but haven't officially announced platforms, genres or publishers for that matter. The third version of our engine is up and running on all current-gen platforms and looks awesome while version 2.0 is still arguably the best tech around on PSP so we've got all our bases covered. Oh and by the way, we're hiring :) ][Thanks David, Via PlayStationLifestyle.net]
Ricoh R10 shows up with electronic level and adjustable flash
Last we heard from Ricoh, they were erecting enviro-friendly billboards in New York. Now that that's done with, Ricoh is back in the camera game with the R10. This shooter sports a 10-megapixel sensor, and 28-200 wide-angle 7.1x zoom lens, 3-inch HVGA LCD screen, CCD-shift image stabilizer, and in-camera image editing. Some of its more esoteric features include an adjustable flash intensity, electronic level to match up with horizons, and easy shooting mode for beginners. It comes in black, silver, and bronze, but US release date and price info aren't up just yet. Look for it to run around the same as its predecessor, the Ricoh R8 -- around $400.[Via PhotographyBlog]
Ricoh's 10 megapixel R8 and R50 are ready to dance
Meet Ricoh's latest compact shooters. The aluminum R8 -- Ricoh's R7 followup -- drops the Caplio moniker while bumping the specs with a 10 megapixel, 1/2.3-inch CCD covered with a 7.1x optical zoom lens. Around back you'll find a 2.7-inch LCD with CCD-shift image stabilization and Smooth Imaging Engine III processing on the inside. Expected to roll in Japan for ¥50,000 or about $460 in backs of green. The ¥30,000 (about $280) R50 maintains that 10 megapixel sensor, processing engine, and stabilization but rolls back the zoom to 5x. Both should pop in March. Oodles of R8 pics in the gallery.%Gallery-16381%Read -- R50Read -- R8
