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Insta360's Sphere lets DJI's latest Mavic Air drones capture 360-degree video
Insta360, best known for its action and 360 degree cameras, has just launched an interesting drone camera.
Twitter buys a chat app to boost DMs and community features
Twitter has bought the chat app Sphere to bolster its DMs — including some high-profile talent.
Astronomers may have witnessed a planet's birth
Scientists believe they have observed a planet being formed for the first time.
Google Maps now zooms out to a globe instead of a flat Earth
Google is finished thinking two-dimensionally with Maps and now shows the Earth as a globe rather than a flat "Mercator" projection as before. You won't notice the change when you first open the app, but if you zoom out far enough, you'll eventually get a moon's-eye view of our world. That means you'll see the world in a more realistic way: "With 3D Globe Mode on Google Maps desktop, Greenland's projection is no longer the size of Africa," Google Maps said on Twitter.
DJI Mavic Pro Platinum edition boasts longer battery life
DJI's Mavic Pro drone already has fantastic battery life, but it's still got nothing on its upgraded sibling. The dronemaker has revealed the Mavic Pro Platinum edition at this year's IFA convention in Berlin, and it boasts 11 percent more battery life than the original version. If the basic variant of DJI's foldable drone can last up to 27 minutes, this model can last up to around 30. Sure, the upgrade only adds a few minutes, but most drones, including known Mavic Pro rival GoPro Karma, only promise around 20 minutes of flight time. That's made even more impressive by the fact that drone's battery cell is tiny.
The Big Picture: living sculpture made from programmed wooden balls
Let's face it: with certain exceptions, most sculptures are pretty static and won't hold your interest for more than a brief glance. You may pay more notice to Hypersonic's Breaking Wave project, however. Effectively, it's a "programmed" analog display -- an elaborate, centralized motor system pulls 804 wooden balls up and down to create elaborate patterns that you'll only see if you watch from the right perspective. The size of the drums attached to each ball decide just when and how far they move. Breaking Wave's owner, Biogen-IDEC, is using the artwork as a commentary on medical science. It's supposed to show how researchers sift through "billions" of seemingly meaningless data points to create a clearer picture of the human body. It's a one-of-a-kind design, so you sadly can't buy one if you're entranced by the concept. However, you can either check it out in the videos below or swing by Biogen's office in Cambridge, Massachusetts to see it in person.
The Big Picture: Sauron in the stars
Nope, that isn't a grainy leaked photo from a new Lord of the Rings spin-off up above; it's actually an image of a space-dust ring surrounding nearby star HR 4796A. The star is part of the Centaurus constellation, and this picture was taken by the European Southern Observatory's (ESO) Very Large Telescope that's been recently outfitted with a SPHERE instrument. What's the SPHERE? According to the ESO, it's the Spectro-Polarimetric High-contrast Exoplanet Research tool that has a main objective of studying extra-solar planets that orbit nearby stars. As Space notes, not only does this picture capture a very Eye-of-Sauron vibe overall, but it's also a showpiece for just how powerful the SPHERE tool is. Namely, it's able to kill enough of the glare to make the actual fiery ball of gas visible, something Space says is essential to discovering more and more celestial bodies.
LaCie partners with Christofle on Sphère: a silver-plated limited-edition hard drive
Last year at CES, LaCie unveiled the Philippe Starck-designed Blade Runner to grab the attention of those who prefer their storage gadgets to be extra dapper. This time around, the outfit has teamed up with French silversmith Christofle on Sphère. The globe-influenced external hard drive is silver-plated and touts a 1TB capacity. File transfers are sorted via a USB 3.0 connection that doubles as the device's power supply. Just like its predecessor, the shiny Sphère is going to be in short supply when it arrives later this quarter with a $490 price tag, ready to upgrade the look of that workstation. We were able to take a closer look at the Sphère just ahead of the proper start of CES 2014. Despite what appears to be a weighty silver shell, the drive is quite light. The shiny exterior may double as a mirror in a pinch, but mucking it up with fingerprints will happen quickly. Aside from the branding inscriptions on the front and the iconic blue light, there aren't any other details aside from a cable slot around back on the unit's black base. Of course, less is more definitely applies here.
Motrr Galileo: Robotic motion control for iPhone
If there's one accessory for the iPhone that has been breathlessly anticipated by a lot of photographers and videographers, it's the Motrr Galileo robotic iPhone mount. The product began life as a Kickstarter that received more than US$700,000 in funding, then went into hibernation for a while as the developers worked on bringing this sophisticated device to market. Now it's finally available for $149.95 in two different formats -- 30-pin, in case you wish to repurpose your old iPhone as a remotely controlled webcam, or Bluetooth. There are also white or black models, just in case you're fussy about making sure your motion-control mount matches your iPhone. Our test device was one of the Bluetooth models. It's a rather tiny device; a squat cylinder about 3.25" in diameter and just two inches tall. There's a micro-USB port on one side for charging, one LED for battery status on the bottom, and several "cups" that are used to ensure a tight fit of your iPhone or iPod touch so it doesn't fall out during a photo session. The first thing you need to do is go out to the App Store and pick up the Motrr app. This app doesn't control your Galileo, rather it's a digital catalog for finding apps that are compatible with Galileo. I decided to give the device a try with Sphere, a free app that works with the Galileo mount to take 360° spherical images. The result? Magic. To link a Galileo-enabled app with the device, you simply twist the bottom and top parts of the mount to send a pairing signal to the iPhone. That's it. With the Sphere app, there was a special item under the "hamburger" button for linking the Galileo mount and starting the photography. What happened next was incredible: the Galileo began whirring and moving, stopping to take photos at precise intervals. Within a very short amount of time I had a spherical image of my kitchen to navigate around -- it was almost like being there! Sphere and Galileo are the perfect couple, but what's cool is that there are a growing number of other apps that work with the mount. Right now, those include AirBeam ($3.99, for surveillance), RecoLive MultiCam ($4.99), and the $4.99 TimeLapse app. I happened to have a copy of the latter app from an experiment last year with the wind-up $30 Camalapse, and it's a very capable time lapse photography app. Add an amazing mount like the Galileo to the mix, and you have a way to take some incredible movies. Simply connect Galileo to TimeLapse by doing that little "twist to pair" action, and a Motrr button appears on the screen. With that, you can set the revolutions per hour for both pan and tilt. I'm personally waiting for one app that is supposed to be out early in 2014: Motrr Live. It's designed to let you and others video chat while controlling the other Motrr remotely. There are other apps that currently work only with the 30-pin dock connector version of Galileo, but I didn't list them here. Conclusion The Motrr Galileo robotic mount is perfect for the iPhone or iPod touch photographer/videographer who desires precise control of camera movement. While there still aren't a lot of apps available offering support for the mount, I would expect to see many more as developers realize just how powerful this accessory is. Pros Very precise and extremely quiet, perfect for filming video Unique design offers almost spherical coverage of any scene through 360° pan and tilt Considering the technology involved, $150 is a bargain for this device Can be mounted on any standard tripod Cons Not that many apps support the device at this point, particular the Bluetooth version of the Galileo Who is it for? The iPhone videographer who wants a better way of controlling pan and tilt automatically during filming, the photographer who is working on time lapse photographs, or (coming soon) anyone who wants to control where someone else's device is pointed during a video call.
Mighty morphing hexapod bot is back, now rolls with the punches
It's been awhile since we last saw Kåre Halvorsen's morphing hexapod ball-shaped bot, and in the interim it picked up some new tricks. Before, the MorpHex could only maneuver by scurrying around on its six legs, but now it can move around while still in spherical form. It works by periodically protruding its polycarbonate panels to get rolling, and it stops and turns in similar fashion. Additionally, it's learned some nifty new dance moves and acquired the ability to flummox small children. Don't take our word for it, though, see the thing in action after the break.
OrcaM sphere constructs detailed, digital 3D models of wares while you wait (video)
Ever wanted a 3D digital copy of all those Little League trophies? Well, the NEK has whipped up something to lend a hand that's a bit larger than another recent scanner. Enter the OrcaM, an Orbital Camera System capable of producing an accurate, digital 3D model of objects up to 80cm (about 31.5 inches) wide and weighing up to 100kg (around 220lbs). Making use of seven shooters simultaneously, the system photographs the object while projecting various light and shadow combinations in order to determine the ware's geometry. The OrcaM is able to reproduce high-quality digital reproductions with a geometric accuracy less than millimeter (nearly .04 inches). As if that wasn't enough, it produces complete color, texture and reflectivity maps so that every minute detail is accounted for. Once your to-be-copied object has been loaded, the OrcaM takes over and is automatic, churning out the completed rendering shortly after the requisite photos are taken. Hit the video up top for a look at the beast in action.
Spherical hexapod robot walks like a crab, dances like the Bogle (video)
Kåre Halvorsen (aka Zenta) is something of a genius in the robotic arts, as testified by the latest development in his long-running MorpHex project. By adding curved polycarbonate panels to its six feet and upper half, he's given his creation the ability to curl up into a ball when it gets tired of scuttling. Alas, he hasn't managed to make it roll around yet, or indeed fly, but the video after the break is still pretty amazing -- and almost as hypnotic as that robotic worm we caught doing the limbo.
Sphero boasts new look, launch set for later this year
We saw Sphero in action in January at CES 2011, and the company has released some details on the final prototype and an actual release. The little iOS-controlled sphere is still planned for release sometime this year, but it's got a new design that you can see above. Don't worry, it's still a ball, as that blue base there is just for charging and storage. The design is new, and the shell of the ball itself is different from when we saw it. It's supposed to be a very sturdy polycarbonate material that still lets the LEDs inside shine through. Perfect for playing with cats? There's still no price or actual date for release yet, unfortunately, but that can't stop you from being able to preorder one of your own if you like. Hopefully we'll hear more about this soon. If the short time we had with it at CES was any indication, this little device should be a lot of fun when combined with your iPhone or iPad.
Mitsubishi creates giant OLED globe for Tokyo's museum-goers, cloud gazers
This year, Tokyo's National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation is celebrating its 10th anniversary -- a milestone that Mitsubishi is commemorating with a giant OLED globe. Comprised of over 10,000 Diamond Vision OLEDs (each measuring 96 x 96mm), the six-meter 'Geo-Cosmos' installation will hang about 18 feet above the museum floor, where it will beam clouds and other satellite images at a resolution of 10 million pixels. It may not be the first curved OLED we've seen from Mitsubishi, but it's the first that could double as a pretty sick disco ball. The globe will be unveiled on June 11th, but you can head past the break for the full PR, as well as an image of the beast while it was under construction.
Kinect meets a Pufferfish display, produces wonderfully creepy all-seeing eye (video)
As Kinect hacks go, this one's not going to bowl you over with its technical complexity, but the effect of what it does is quite dramatic. One of Microsoft's sensor-rich, camera-laden Xbox accessories has been repurposed to communicate with a Pufferfish spherical projection display -- via the magic of WPF and openni -- with its motion tracking algorithms serving to control the image on the giant ball. Naturally, the first thing the tweakers behind this mod thought up was a Tolkien-inspired eye that follows people around the room. Sadly, the single Kinect box isn't enough to provide 360-degree coverage, but it's probably just a matter of time until they splice an array of them together and creep us out completely. Video after the break. Update: You asked for the eye of Sauron and now you've got it. Second video added after the break.
Sony 3DTVs go on pre-sale at Sony Style stores immediately, 'Cloudy' hits Blu-ray 3D June 22
After getting price and release date information in the UK, Japan and even Canada, Sony has finally seen fit to announce US details for the latest and greatest additions to the BRAVIA LCD lineup. Additionally, the software update to turn on Blu-ray 3D playback and DLNA streaming in its latest players (the out of the box 3D ready BDP-S770 ships next month) is going out today, provided you can find a disc to slip in them -- which you can't until Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs arrives at retail June 22. Just like the other launches, buyers of the new TVs can expect a copy of that movie, Deep Sea, and vouchers for 3D games on the PlayStation Network (once it comes back up.) Oh, and how much will you be spending on the new televisions? Check after the break for all the details, but MSRPs (expect much lower prices in reality, as revealed by JR.com) range from $2,100 for the KDL-40HX800 to $5,000 for a 60-inch BR-60LX900. No word yet on when you'll be able to pick up these displays at any other retailers, but if Sony is your preferred brand for 3D, you'll need to run by a Sony Style store to have a chance of sticking one on the wall in time for the 2010 World Cup.
Virtusphere's virtual reality hamster ball put to the test
For eons we've wondered what it would be like to walk around in a bona fide Virtusphere, and at GDC last week we finally got our chance. The large plastic cage can turn and roll in any direction, and once replete with a wireless head-mounted display and fake gun, we were ready to take on some polygonal alien baddies. Getting into the cage is surprisingly easy, but unfortunately once we had a screen strapped to our head our well-honed sense of balance was right out the window, and we found ourselves staggering around a bit as we got used to the motion of the cage. The real military versions have a motion sensing gun controller, but we had to do all our aiming with our head, which didn't help. After a minute or so we got used to the "momentum" involved in moving the cage, which felt pretty great, but we'd say our favorite part about the experience was just being able to turn in place to confront baddies -- there's something about a few well placed steps that really blows away a left or right tug on our 360 controller's analog stick. At the end of the day the sheer size, cost, and ultra-dated graphics has us hardly pining for one of these in our living rooms, but with a bit more work on the gaming end (and a working gun pointer) we could see this as the arcade experience to beat. Check out a video of our harrowing experience (from outside and inside) after the break. %Gallery-88598%
Sony's Dyer predicts more games for PlayStation Motion Controller than Natal
SCEA's Senior VP of Publisher Relations, Kevin Butler Rob Dyer, has some pretty lofty expectations for the still-unnamed PlayStation Motion Controller. Set for release this Fall, it must not only compete against the Wii, but Microsoft's controller-free foray into motion gaming, Project Natal. Dyer obviously believes that Sony's offering has an edge, and expects more games to take advantage of the controller: "My feeling is that we're going to have a lot more games, a lot more innovation," he told IndustryGamers. "It's easier to develop for," Dyer explained. "You can use the same code base that you currently use for PS3 or 360 or even the Wii in order to get a motion controller game out. You can't do that with Natal." While Microsoft treads new territory with its Project Natal offering, Sony's motion controller does seem to play it safe, offering an experience not unlike the one offered by Nintendo. Last year, Resident Evil 5's Jun Takeuchi commented about the theoretical ease of porting Wii games to the PS3, a trait that should expedite the number of games available on Sony's platform. Even the announced offerings have played it safe for now, with familiar titles like LittleBigPlanet and the aforementioned Resident Evil 5 representing a large majority of the Motion Controller's upcoming library. However, while Dyer may tout a larger library of titles, gamers are likely to be disappointed if Sony's line-up is little more than "Wii games in HD" and "old games with tacked-on motion controls." Perhaps Sony's upcoming GDC presentation will assuage some of our concerns.
Rumor: PlayStation Motion Controller to be renamed 'Arc'
According to an anonymous source speaking to VG247, the PlayStation Motion Controller will officially be called "Arc" by the time it launches. It was previously codenamed "Gem," with rumors also dubbing it "Sphere" at one stage. As expected, Sony declined to comment on the story. You know what, Sony? Stop it. You may think you're building suspense here, but all you're doing is creating a lot of work for bloggers who'll have to go back and re-tag all these posts when you reveal the real name. Oh, don't you skulk away, Microsoft, we're including you on this too. If it's Natal, fine, if not, just pick something already. Both of you. Now. Choose. Go ahead. We'll wait. Hello?
Sony Motion Controller patent features swappable buttons, connectors
If you're excited about finally having a waggle wand for your PS3, but wondering how weird plastic add-ons might fit into the activities, these patent images reveal that Sony is thinking about all that and more. And by "more" we mean: things that might actually be kind of useful. While the designs detailed in this patent application aren't necessarily being considered for the retail release, they're at least an indication of what ideas have been thrown around for the Playstation Motion Controller. Considering that the patent was filed in April, well before the prototypes we've seen were produced, we do have our doubts about many of these illustrations being worked into the final model. Several methods are shown for turning the Motion Controller into a Dual Shock-esque device, from an inconspicuous bar through the middle of two wands, to a weird handle with buttons on it that snakes around and connects to the top of the wand. Another image shows two Motion Controllers connected at the bottoms, forming what kind of looks like handlebars. Perhaps most enticing (especially if it's used): removable faceplates, allowing players to choose from buttons, a d-pad or a dial for the front of the controller. [Via Kotaku]
