parrot
Latest
Parrot's Bebop 2 drone doubles flight time to 25 minutes
If you haven't already bought one of the hundreds of drones that seem to be filling the market, Parrot has a new version of its personal flying camera. The Bebop 2 now has a 25 minute flight time which is more than double the 12 minutes of the previous version. It sports a 14MP fisheye-lens camera and 8GB of onboard flash storage. To make sure the videos are sharp, all the image stabilization is done with an software image processor instead of mechanical to keep the weight down. The new quad-copter is also faster than its predecessor hitting 37 miles per hour. The first Bebop topped out at 24 miles per hour. All that speed and flight time will cost you though. At $550 it's not exactly something most folks would buy for their kids for the holidays. But if you're in the giving mood, the Bebop 2 will be available on December 14.
Parrot's Zik 3 headphones have 'wireless everything'
Parrot's high-tech headphone series just got another notable upgrade. The Zik 3 brings the same noise cancellation and touch panel controls of the last model, but adds wireless charging to the already-wireless headphones. There's also a completely different look, that Parrot's calling "a touch of couture" (the company is French so we're giving them a pass), which includes four options in croc texture, "overstitch" detailed cans in black and ivory, and a black leather grain option. The redesigned earpieces are more slender than the Zik 2, and while there's even more tech inside the sequel, the Zik 3s weigh exactly the same.
#ICYMI: A cockroach robot, new half-boat drones and more
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-53482{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-53482, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-53482{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-53482").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: The tiny robot that's modeled after cockroaches because science is disgusting; the family-friendly tech gadget to teach your two-year-old to call her grandma, if only you didn't have to install the corresponding app on your Mom's phone; and Parrot's new drones include a hydrofoil option, for the sailors who know how cool that is. (If you don't, check out this physics explainer for how a hydrofoil gives speed and rad points.)
Parrot unveils 13 new minidrones to tackle air, sea and land
Well, here's a fun surprise! Parrot has just revealed a pile of inexpensive new minidrones, 13 in all, including one that tackles a new medium: water. That hybrid UAV/Boat is called the Hydrofoil Drone, and is joined by a couple of new 'Jumping' drones and a new flying model, the 'Airborne.' Parrot chose to reveal all these new models, which cost a maximum of €200, on its French site and nowhere else, though it recently scheduled a UK event to launch them on July 2nd. We have all the details (and videos) for the new products now, however, so let's, um, dive in!
The fascinating, frightening drones and robots of CES 2015
At CES 2015 you could hardly turn your head without smacking into a 4K display, but finding a robot companion takes a bit of legwork. Luckily, we trolled the halls of the LVCC and beyond to find the most exciting (and often frightening) advances in unmanned technology. From drones that track you through the desert to an Android employee with lifelike expressions, check out the video and photo tours below to witness the fascinating future of robots and drones at CES 2015. For a closer look at these robots, drones and more check out our 2015 CES Field Guide.
CES 2015: The home of the future, available today
We've been hearing about the promise of the connected home, or the "Internet of Things," for years. At this CES, one thing became clear: The connected home of the future is achievable today. Qualcomm's smart home, for example, was a mock-up showing how tech could change the way we live. Unlike past years, however, the vast majority of "things" on show were off-the-shelf products you could buy and install in your apartment right now.
A connected plant pot meets a smart bulb at CES
You may not realize this yet, but you're probably going to be buying a connected home gadget at some point this year. After endless hype, we're finally beginning to see smart home products that are both affordable and easy to use. Case in point: Parrot's new self-watering smart flower pot ($60) and Misfit's colorful Bolt smart lightbulb ($50). We brought Tim Golnik, Misfit's vice president of product and design, and Jerome Bouvard, Parrot's smart pot product manager, to the Engadget CES stage to chat about their new products and the state of the connected home. And as a bonus, we also got a live demonstration of the Parrot Pot's self-watering mechanism in action. Check out our full conversation below.
Parrot's new drone keeps its 'head' on straight
Drones are a seemingly everywhere at CES, but senseFly's sensor-laden eXom commercial quadcopter really caught our eye. Why's that? Well, for starters it has a self-leveling and stabilizing err... head up front. That cabeza packs one of five ultrasonic sensors, an ability to record "ultra high-res" stills, HD video and thermal data -- even simultaneously. Like the gizmo's final battery life, weight and price, however, the folks at senseFly, a division of Parrot, aren't ready to talk about exact resolution for any of the cameras. We'd imagine that since the drone's intended to look at pipelines and hydroelectric dams for cracks and defects at close proximity and with "sub-millimeter" accuracy, the imaging tools are going to be pretty powerful.
Parrot Zik 2.0 review: still the world's most advanced headphones
If you're into drones and wireless audio, then you'll probably agree that Parrot is the best thing out of France since Daft Punk. Personally, I've been most impressed with the company's wireless headphones, the Zik. In fact, I've been a regular user since it came out about two years ago. Even today, no other brands have attempted anything as advanced as these cans. Which makes sense: These are no ordinary Bluetooth headphones. In addition to being wireless, they feature effective noise cancellation and intuitive touchpad input, all tucked inside a quirky Philippe Starck design, no less. More importantly, the audio quality has gotten better over time as Parrot improved device compatibility via firmware updates. But of course, there's always room for improvement; the original Zik is on the heavy side, and not everyone's a fan of its bulky look. Well, that's pretty much why we now have the Zik 2.0, and fortunately, it offers more than just improved portability. Read on to see if this new model is worth the $399 upgrade.
Parrot brings big color and big comfort to its touch-controlled headphones
As much as we enjoy Parrot's advanced Zik Bluetooth headphones, many complained that they're a tad on the hefty side, and not everyone's a fan of the earcups' bulky look. Worry not, though, as the French company has finally delivered a new and improved version to tackle these issues. The aptly named Zik 2.0 weighs in at 270g, which is 17 percent (or 55g) lighter than its predecessor. Not bad considering all the original features remain, especially the large trackpad -- this time with a soft-touch leather exterior -- on the right earcup for playback and volume swipe gestures, as well as NFC and the removable battery on the left side.
Amazon's new Drone Store caters to all your robotic needs
Amazon is apparently an even bigger fan of robotic vehicles than we first thought. The online retailer has just launched the Drone Store, a section dedicated solely to these remote-controlled machines. Besides selling you vehicles and accessories from the likes of DJI and Parrot, the storefront also includes buyers' guides, flying tips and previews of hardware coming down the pipeline. Frankly, Amazon is being a bit optimistic here -- most of the nicer offerings in the mini-shop aren't exactly impulse purchases, even if you're a veteran pilot. Still, this should be one of the better ways to get started with drones if you'd rather not scour the whole internet looking for advice.
Engadget giveaway: win an Elite Edition AR.Drone courtesy of Riviera Partners!
Flying a quadcopter around the park all day sounds like fun, but it could be more than just a time killer. Today's tech toy could be the gateway to tomorrow's valuable job skill and even piloting a camera-enabled drone could lead to a farming or film career. Helping tech industry folks find work is what Riviera Partners is all about, and it's graciously provided us with two Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 Elite Edition quadcopters for a couple of lucky Engadget readers this week. Riviera Partners is committed to building up the tech community by getting talented, innovative people like developers and engineers into jobs where they can see their potential blossom. Having someone in the know with clients like Twitter, Dropbox and LinkedIn to help you navigate the notoriously fickle world of tech certainly couldn't hurt. Whether you're full time or actively searching the job market, you should always make time for fun. So head on down to the Rafflecopter widget for up to three chances at winning one of these Parrot Elite Editions. An amateur drone camera operator for music videos could always be your fallback skill. Winners: congratulations to Joshua J., Indianapolis, IN and Tosin A., Sunnyvale, CA.
Parrot Flower Power review: Can technology give you a green thumb?
Sure, you've heard of the connected home, but what about the connected garden? If you're someone who manages to always kill your plants, Flower Power, a new gadget from Parrot, might sound like just the thing. The $60 Bluetooth-connected device aims to turn your black thumb green by sending you daily push notifications about your garden's health. The small sensor can provide up-to-the-minute reports that can ensure everything from your potatoes to your petunias are getting exactly the right amount of sunlight, water and even fertilizer. So, is the tiny gadget what your garden needs?
Windows 8 users can now pilot their AR.Drone 2.0 with official AR.FreeFlight app
Drones. If they're going to become the true public nuisance that we're lead to believe they will, then we're gonna need more ways to get 'em airborne, right? If you're UAV of choice is Parrot's AR.Drone 2.0, and you're also a Windows 8 user, then you need to be all over AR.FreeFlight -- an official app for the aforementioned drone. Dig out your Surface tablet, and you can pilot your quadcopter, and record video/take pictures just as owners of Android and iOS devices have been enjoying already. Think a phone makes more sense for this? Don't worry, Parrot's reportedly got an app for the smaller devices in the works too (and developers can sneak a look here). Get your wings down at the source link.
When Parrot AR.Drone meets Myo armband, magic ensues (video)
Ah, Las Vegas, the perfect location for a spontaneous wedding. Earlier today, we witnessed a quick and dirty collaboration between Parrot and Thalmic Labs at CES, where they paired an AR.Drone 2.0 with a Myo gesture-control armband. The demonstrator was able to control the drone's tilt direction by using just one arm, as well as toggling the rotors by clicking fingers. This author gave it a go as well and found this control method to be as effortless as it looked, though due to the WiFi interference on the show floor (ugh, so typical of large events these days), the drone had to stay within a close proximity of the iPad that was relaying the Myo's commands. There wasn't a way to adjust the vehicle's height in that particular demo, but there's no stopping Thalmic Labs from assigning additional gestures for that -- maybe clench fist to ascend and spread hand to descend. Understandably, neither company could confirm whether they are bringing this feature to market, but we'd be very surprised if they don't sustain their marriage moving forward.
Live from the Engadget CES stage: Parrot's Yoni Benatar and Thomas Barse
We love us some toys, and thankfully so does Parrot. The company has wowed the audience at our stage with its AR.Drone for the past two years, and now it's time for something new. This year, the company announced two new 'bots: the wall-crawling Mini Drone and the terrestrial Jumping Sumo. January 9, 2014 6:30:00 PM EST
Parrot's Jumping Sumo 'bot gets some pretty impressive air (video)
Oh, and Parrot's got one more thing up its sleeve at tonight's CES Unveiled event, and while this one can't actually fly, it's still pretty damn neat. The company's calling it the "Sumo," for reasons that aren't immediately clear -- the "insectoid" label it's also tossing around seems a bit more appropriate, all said. The device is a two-wheeled terrestrial 'bot that's controlled via tablet or smartphone, using streaming video from a built-in camera. It's pretty zippy, and even more impressively, it can stop on a dime. CEO Henri Seydoux was piloting the 'bot around, making sharp 90-degree turns moments before running into an obstacle. Neater still is the 'bot's ability to jump in the air up to 80 centimeters from a sitting position. The Sumo uses 2.4 or 5GHz WiFi, giving it better range than many remote controlled toys. Like the MiniDrone, it'll be available in 2014 for an as-of-yet undetermined price. Nicole Lee contributed to this report.
How would you change Parrot Zik by Starck?
Here on How Would You Change, we rarely delve into the complex world of audio, but for the Parrot Zik by Starck, we're relaxing this policy. Considering its illustrious creator and bundled technology, this isn't your average pair of Bluetooth cans. When we reviewed it, we found that imperfect audio and limited Bluetooth functionality stopped us showering it with praise, but the two editors who reviewed it both ran out and bought their own pairs. What does that say to you? Let's imagine that Philippe Starck took ill and they drafted you in to design version two: what would you do differently?
Daily Roundup: Fitbit Force fitness watch, Twitter's Event Parrot, Pantech Vega Secret Note and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 Power Edition stays in the air longer, lands in the US this month
We'll say this about the AR.Drone's battery life up to now: it always seemed perfectly suited to our short attention spans. For those able to focus on flying objects a bit longer, however, there's the AR.Drone 2.0 Power Edition. The quadricopter's already gotten some love abroad and is set to hit our shores this month, priced at $370 over at that fine purveyor of massage chairs, Brookstone. This time out, the limited edition phone-controlled device brings 36 minutes of flight time (not the first boost we've seen from the company), thanks to two 1,500mAh lithium-polymers. Also new are sets of color blades (including black for when you're feeling a bit stealthier).