RealSense
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ASUS' fancy all-in-one packs a 3D camera and speedy USB 3.1
PCs with integrated Intel RealSense are still hard to come by these days, so excuse us for getting a little excited with this new ASUS all-in-one. Specifically, it's the 23.8-inch Zen AiO (Z240IC) that comes with said 3D camera technology, which offers gesture control and 3D face recognition (for authentication); but you can also go for the smaller 21.5-inch Z220IC variant if you don't mind missing out on RealSense. Similar to the iMac, the Zen AiO consists of an aluminum unibody that tapers to 6mm-thick edges; though it's gone with the "subtle Icicle Gold" as its flagship color, and finished with horizontal brushed lines on the back. ASUS' iconic concentric-circle brush pattern can also be found on the chin below the screen.
Intel's made a tinier, longer-range depth camera for phones
Intel's been a huge backer of gesture control plus 3D scanning, and so far it's managed to integrate its RealSense technology into select desktops, laptops, tablets and even drones. The missing piece of the puzzle? Smartphones. But that's no longer the case with Intel's latest RealSense camera, as showed off by Intel CEO Brian Krzanich at IDF in Shenzhen today. The new module is significantly smaller and slimmer than the previous version, has a lower thermal output, and claims to have a longer detection range as well. As such, Intel's able to fit it into a 6-inch smartphone prototype, though Krzanich, an exec known for taking risks with live demos, didn't turn on said device on stage.
Dell Venue 8 7000 review: thin design, great screen, gimmicky camera
Engadget doesn't review many tablets anymore. When it comes to Android devices, we're far more likely to write about phablets, those supersized smartphones that for many people have eliminated the need for a dedicated slate. Meanwhile, iPad sales have slowed, and Apple has made so few changes to its products that in some cases we actually recommend you buy the previous-gen model to save money. Still, there are some companies that continue to not just build tablets, but also produce interesting designs. One of them is none other than Dell, a company whose track record includes some sensible Windows slates, a series of forgettable Android tablets and a phablet that was ahead of its time. Lately, though, the company has been undergoing a reawakening, with a series of striking products that includes the XPS 13 and the Venue 8 7000, a $399 Android tablet. The Venue 8, as I'll call it from here on out, is notable mostly for its design, marked by a stunning OLED display and a skinny 6mm-thick frame. It also happens to be the first tablet with Intel's RealSense 3D camera setup. All told, that combination of specs was impressive enough to win it a Best of CES Award. But does that mean you should go out and buy one?
Inside Intel's insanely futuristic CES booth
While Intel's biggest news at CES this year wasn't a processor or any of the futuristic products it powers, its booth is still packed with eye-pleasing, Edison-packing gadgets. You could take our word for it, or you could check out the 3D-printed prosthetics, robot spider dresses and digitally rendered sand people in the photo and video tours below. For more from Intel and beyond, check out our 2015 CES Field Guide.
Watch how Intel's depth cameras let you play 'drone ping pong'
It's all good and fun when you get to fly a drone, but there are times when you wish it could fly around by itself without crashing into things. As we found out at Intel's CES keynote just now, one solution to this is to equip the machine with depth cameras; and in Ascending Technologies' case, it went with six of Intel's RealSense depth cameras for its AscTec Firefly. The result is a drone that pushes itself away when people approach it, which allowed the demonstrators to humor the audience with a game of "drone ping pong": one player would walk up to the Firefly to pass it to another player. We also watched another Firefly clear an obstacle course autonomously, but trust us, the first demo is more entertaining (but maybe creepy for some). See for yourself after the break.
Lenovo is the latest company to show off an all-in-one with a 3D camera
In case you haven't noticed, Lenovo is showing off an insane amount of stuff here at CES 2015. Tablets, smartphones, a smartwatch, laptops, more laptops. Now, rounding out the list, we're seeing the company's latest desktops. Of the three, there's only one you probably want to know about, and that's the B50, a 23.8-inch all-in-one with Intel's RealSense motion-sensing 3D camera setup (as pictured in the above close-up). As it happens, you're going to be seeing RealSense on a lot of gadgets this week at CES -- everything from laptops to tablets to desktops like this. Depending on the form factor -- and also the specific company -- the use cases for that 3D camera are going to differ a little bit each time. After all, there's no accounting for what software they pre-load on the machine. In the case of the B50, though, Lenovo seems to be pushing the gaming angle -- in a demo, I played a game where I lifted soldiers to safety using an onscreen hand (operated by my real hand, of course).
Intel's 14nm tablet processors are leaner, meaner and finally here
Intel isn't just coming to CES with fifth-generation Core processors for traditional PCs -- it has big news for the tablet crowd, too. The company is now delivering its first 14-nanometer Atom system on a chip, previously nicknamed Cherry Trail. The new processor should be both faster and offer more battery life than the Bay Trail-based Atoms you see today, thanks in part to both the more efficient manufacturing process and a big leap forward in graphics. Cherry Trail is using the same basic video architecture as Intel's other new CPUs (Bay Trail relied on 2012-era tech), so you'll have a better chance of playing 3D games and high-resolution videos on your tablet without hiccups.
Acer's upgraded laptops include one with a motion-sensing 3D camera
Acer is showing up at CES with a lot of laptop upgrades in store, and its Windows PC revamps have a few tricks up their sleeve. By far the highlight of the mix is a new version of the high-end V 17 Nitro (above) that includes an Intel RealSense 3D camera. The depth sensor lets you control games and other supporting apps with hand motions instead of reaching for the trackpad and keyboard. If you're the creative sort, it'll also let you scan your face and other 3D objects for inclusion in games or 3D printing projects. There aren't any major upgrades under the hood, although you're still getting a beefy 17-inch desktop replacement between the quad-core 2.5GHz Core i7 chip, GeForce GTX 860M graphics and choice of solid-state (128GB or 256GB) or spinning hard drive (1TB) storage. You won't have to wait long to give this system a try, as it's shipping in January. However, it's not yet clear what the trick camera adds to the price, if anything.
This is what it's like to operate an arcade claw machine using just gestures (video)
We knew gesture cameras will be making their way to computers and mobile devices this year, but seeing one on the classic claw crane was a pleasant surprise for us. This IDF tech demo was courtesy of a Guangzhou company called The Best Sync, and according to Intel VP Doug Fisher, it only took three days to develop this project using Intel's RealSense technology -- as represented here by the Creative Interactive Gesture Camera (co-developed by SoftKinetic). The gestures were simple: move your hand in one of the four directions to position the claw, and clench your fist to drop it on the dolls. The joystick replacement didn't make the game any easier, but it seemed like everyone still had fun with it. Well, at least this author did, as you can see in our video after the break.
Emotient's Google Glass app tells you how others are feeling
It's not always easy to read someone's emotions -- and that's a problem for retailers, which can't easily tell if their products intrigue you or simply confuse you. They may not have to guess for much longer, though, as Emotient has launched the private beta for a Google Glass app that identifies feelings using the device's camera. The software scans faces for emotional cues that reflect an overall sentiment, even if it's subtle; the app can tell if you're mildly pleased, for instance. Privacy shouldn't be an issue, since the app is only saving anonymous data, not images. Emotient is testing its app with just a handful of companies right now, but the finished app should help stores please customers in the future. There's also a chance you'll see the underlying technology in something you can try for yourself. The company tells The Next Web that its emotion detection will reach Intel's RealSense platform, so don't be surprised if your next webcam can tell that you're in a good mood.
Intel unveils RealSense hardware and software line, including 3D camera module
The takeaway at today's Intel press event? All signs point to the RealSense product line -- a number of hardware and software products that "make interaction with technology simple, more natural and immersive," according to Intel's own words. The first product bearing the compound name is the RealSense 3D camera. Intel describes the product as "the world's first integrated 3D depth and 2D camera module that helps devices 'see' depth much like the human eye," suggesting that this isn't just a substitute for Leap Motion or Kinect. The camera does full-color 1080p and has an on-board sensor for gesture and face detection. The latter of which apparently helps it "understand emotions." It also recognizes foregrounds and backgrounds, so you can replace that messy room and make it appear as if you're Skypeing from the Moon. But, if you're looking for something more practical, you can also use it to scan objects in 3D using 3D System's Sense software. The RealSense 3D camera is set to be integrated into a number of diverse devices come the second half of this year, including tablets, Ultrabooks, laptops and all-in-ones, from top companies like Acer, ASUS, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, Lenovo and NEC. Seven such devices are being demonstrated today, and Intel itself has a demo unit. If you'd rather talk to your computer than wave at it, there's also a next-generation version of Dragon Assistant from Nuance that will be part of Intel's RealSense push. Of, course, while all this sounds good on paper, it remains to be seen how much people will actually want to wink, point or shout at their laptop to get it to open Netflix or point Chrome towards Engadget.
