Posts Tagged: real

How Disney’s A Real Bug’s Life docu-series turns insects into giants

Pixar‘s 1998 movie, A Bug’s Life, brought tiny CGI ants to the world’s largest screens. National Geographic’s new docu-series, A Real Bug’s Life inverts that, turning insects into giants in our homes. The only thing digital about the critters featured in the Disney+ series, though, is the technology filming them. But like its animated counterpart, the show explores the world they live in and their adventures in ways we’ve never seen before.

With its focus on insects, A Real Bug’s Life isn’t limited to specific remote habitats. Over the course of the series you’ll visit arid desert planes, tropical jungle, concrete jungle, a rural farm in the UK and even the humble backyard. But thanks to a series of innovations, we see these worlds from entirely new perspectives. “I think that the look and feel of this show, and this is not just me saying it, I don’t think that there’s anything else that looks like this or has ever looked like this” Nathan Small, a self-shooting Producer/Director who worked on the show told Engadget.

A close up shot of a bold jumping spider taken during the filming of Disney's 'A Real Bug's Life.'
National Geographic

The series opens in New York City where we follow the misadventures of an adorable bold jumping spider. While our eight-legged hero begins his journey on a city rooftop, it’s not long before we’re down at street level and joined by a cast of intrepid ants, industrious flies and a menacing praying mantis. Some of the shots instantly stand out without you fully knowing why. But Small does.

He explained that macro professionals have long favored 60- or 100mm lenses, which give incredible detail but have a very shallow depth of field (DOF). “Which means that there’s no context ever, there’s no geography, and you’re always in this sort of very smushy, blurry world,” he said. “In the last few years, there have been lots of what are called ‘probe’ lenses released. The main one, which was a bit of a game changer, is made by a company called Laowa and it’s a 24 millimeter” he added.

A probe lens looks exactly how you’re imagining — more like a vacuum cleaner attachment — but the shots it produces have two key advantages, Small explained. The first one is practical: the 16-inch barrel means you don’t need to be as physically close to the bug you’re shooting. The second, and the real reason those shots are standing out, is that with a 24mm lens you have a much deeper DOF, leaving much more in focus. “You get that geography and you get that setting which gives it a really cartoony and fresh… kind of funky look.” All I’ll say after watching that episode is, a New York all-beef will never seem the same again. You’ll also see a fly dining on a burger in excruciating, stomach-churning detail.

Perhaps the most surprising thing about the Laowa lens is that it’s relatively affordable. At $ 1,600 it’s not cheap, but it’s the same price as a regular (albeit very good) Canon 85mm lens that serious hobbyists might consider.

Two members of the crew for 'A Real Bugs Life' capture close up shots for the show.
National Geographic

Small also explained that sometimes techology isn’t changing the shot, instead it can improve what happens within it. “Not very long ago, all the lights that I was using were your classic film lights, Arri Blondes and all that kind of thing. They’re very hot” he said. “LED lights, they’re super bright, but they’re cold, so it means we’re getting all the light we need without cooking the animal, which obviously no one wants, while letting it act in a natural way” he added. Capturing critters trying to escape the heat is far less interesting than watching them do what comes naturally.

But the thing that enabled many of the most cinematic shots in A Real Bug’s Life isn’t available to buy, at least not off the shelf. “I never really touch the camera any more,” Small said. “I’m doing everything on custom built motion control rigs. I have a robot that I’ve been working on for the last five years, gradually changing things.” Small’s “robot” is a machine-engineered rig, hewn with the same precision as medical tools — something he says is vital as any shake or wobble at the scale he’s working at is hugely magnified.

The robot allows him to work at a distance and monitor via a large display for a better idea of what the things will look like on a TV. Two rails with sliders provide dual axes of movement while a rotating stage and tilt control provide a full range of motion that, put together, opens up shots you could only dream of with a tripod and slider alone. The robot’s “brain” uses an eMotimo motion controller and he directs it all with a PlayStation 2 DualShock. After years of updating and refining, the robot can finally deliver the dynamic macro footage we enjoy in the show. Head to the episode set on the British farm if you want to see Small’s cinematic robo-shots for yourself.

Some things still require a human though. If you ever wondered how they capture seemingly impossible moments, like a spider spinning a web, the answer is… patience. In the show we see an elephant hawk-moth emerging from its chrysalis. “I just didn’t really sleep for about five days, that’s short of it” he said. “You collect a lot of them so you have options. I had my camera on a big rail and then as soon as I saw one start to twitch and move, I slide the camera along and bang, you’re on that one.” The final shot in the show lasts barely 10 seconds, but without it the narrative falls apart, such is the life of a wildlife photographer.

An extreme close up of a dung beetle as featured in Disney's 'A Real Bug's Life' docu-series.
National Geographic

If you want to have a go at recording an emerging elephant hawk-moth or bold jumping spider but don’t have Disney-level budgets, don’t worry. Small says that today’s consumer products are already more capable than a lot of pro gear was not that all that long ago. Specifically when it comes to working in low light. “Before, you were stuck at like ISO 200, which is a nightmare for macro, because everything is too dark or noisy,” he said. “[Now] you can shoot at 3200 and still get really clean images.” As he mentioned earlier, these higher apertures like f11 or above avoid those “smushy” backgrounds. He also says that a lot of his kit is put together with SmallRig parts (no relation).

For the camera itself, that will largely depend on what you want to capture. For close-up macro photos (rather than video), Small says the Olympus system is preferred within the industry, thanks mostly to its internal focus stacking/bracketing. In the same way HDR photos blend multiple exposures for more even, natural light, focus stacking does the same but with, well, focus, so you can have your subject and background pin sharp.

More of a bird person? Then Canon seems to be the industry favorite according to Small. Particularly the larger sensor models and RF mount lenses. Canon’s stellar auto-focus locks onto animals really quickly, and can keep it locked even when the subject is moving (as birds are wont to do). The RF lenses also have a great reputation thanks to their blend of speed and excellent built-in stabilization making them a good option for general wildlife photography too. When not shooting for work, Small uses a Canon EOS 5DS. “I think that’s a good all round camera that does everything that I need it to. Stills are like my hobby now, which is quite sad, isn’t it? Because it’s very close to my job.”

A Real Bug’s Life, narrated by Awkwafina, premieres on Disney+ Jan 24.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/disneys-a-real-bugs-life-docu-series-review-143009674.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

OnePlus 11 review: a real OnePlus phone, and a true return to form

OnePlus needs a winner after its last phone failed to impress. Is the OnePlus 11 it? We’re glad to say it is.
Digital Trends

The real reason Samsung wants you to buy a folding phone this year

Have you looked at the new Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 and wondered if they’re worth buying? Us too, so we asked Samsung what makes them special.
Digital Trends

Moto Razr+ review: Finally some real competition for Samsung’s Flip foldables

Motorola clearly read reviews of Samsung’s Z Flip series and took notes. The Moto Razr+, a foldable phone that’s like a standard 6.9-inch handset when open, offers a large 3.6-inch screen when closed. That addresses one of the most common complaints about the Galaxy Z Flip 4 — the size of its Cover Display. It’s a cramped 1.9-inch window with a limited selection of widgets that you can use. The Razr+, meanwhile, pretty much runs full Android with some tweaks. There’s something about using the outer display that feels almost pager-like and sent me into nostalgic delight. The Moto Razr+, which goes on sale today for $ 999, might appeal to both old souls and early adopters alike.

Design

Currently in its fourth generation (if you count the 5G model released in 2020 as a second-gen), the Razr+ has two notable differences from its predecessors. The first is the larger display. The second is something only people over 30 might notice: The Razr+ doesn’t have a chin cupping the bottom like on the iconic original Razr. I don’t mind it, but it does cost it some nostalgia points.

When folded, there is no gap between the two halves of the main screen. It’s a squat square, and its matte back reminds me of the case that my dad’s pager sat in. Sadly, only the Viva Magenta model comes with a vegan leather back, while the blue and black models use Corning Gorilla Glass Victus on the front and rear. Our review unit is black, and the matte finish lends a more premium feel and helps fight smudges.

The folded Razr+ is thinner than the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and fits comfortably in my palm, and it’s slightly larger than the Samsung phone when open. The Razr+ has a slightly less rigid hinge than the Flip 4, too. The Samsung phone can hold itself up at pretty much any position, but Moto’s hinge yields and opens all the way when you push it past 150 degrees.

Finally, at 188.5 grams (6.6 ounces), the Razr+ is lighter than the iPhone 14 Plus and the Galaxy S23 Plus, which both have slightly smaller screens. It’s just a tad heavier than the Z Flip 4, though. Both Motorola and Samsung’s devices are rated for water-resistance, with the Razr+ meeting IP52 standards while the Flip hit IPX8.

External display

Next to the Moto Razr+, using the Z Flip 4’s Cover Display feels unusable, especially when trying to frame a selfie. Not only is there barely enough space to contain everything, but it’s also hard to see. When shooting the video for this piece, our producer Joel Chokkattu struggled to get a usable shot of the camera preview on the Z Flip 4’s exterior display in sunlight.

Motorola’s larger pOLED panel also allows for a more full-fledged Android experience, while Samsung is a glorified notification widget. On the Moto, you can swipe down from top to see all your quick settings toggles and the brightness slider, swipe up slowly to show your open apps and switch between them, and swipe in from the side to go back. In comparison, the Z Flip 4 only lets you swipe sideways to rotate through widgets, and dragging down from top shows you just a single row of toggles.

 

The Motorola Razr+ folded shut and held in mid-air, with a weather widget showing on its external display.
Photo by Cherlynn Low / Engadget

The main difference between Moto’s external display and the complete Android experience is the home screen. Motorola has designed it so that you can only have the clock widget, date, weather info and a row of six shortcut buttons. Tapping each of the latter takes you to the respective panel. You can also swipe sideways to see them sequentially, and you can arrange them in the order you prefer.

The widgets themselves are very similar to Samsung’s offerings. You’ll find an app launcher, dialer, calendar, games, media controls, steps tracker and the day’s headlines. On the Moto, the latter two are supplied by Google services like Fit and News. Because the Razr+ has more real estate, it can display more information or use a larger font. Both of these are an obvious improvement over Samsung’s teeny tiny panel, especially for those with bigger fingers, less dexterity or vision-related challenges.

The widgets aren’t the scene stealers here. For the most part, they’re simple – a calculator, media controls, et cetera. The Spotify playback widget doesn’t do more than let you pause, skip tracks, rewind and change playlists, which is frustrating. But even the fact that it offers that last option is already better than the Z Flip 4.

You can’t pick a specific song in a playlist, though. It’s a mild annoyance and not a dealbreaker, especially since there are two viable alternatives here. One: I can just open the phone and use the main Spotify app to go to a different playlist and pick a song. Two — and this is where the Razr+ truly shines — any Android app can run on the outside screen, as long as you’ve enabled it. This is a continuity feature so you can keep running whatever you’re doing on the main display on the outside panel after you close the phone.

To use Spotify (or any other app) on the small screen, I’d open it on the inside, shut the device, and continue outside. Even if I go on to do something else, I can find the app on the exterior display by swiping up from the bottom to see open apps.

You’d think that there would be issues with apps breaking and elements either not showing or being blocked by the two cameras on the bottom right of the screen. But Motorola has some workarounds. You can either have apps take up the whole screen and the sensors block parts of it. Or you can swipe up and select a layout that forces the content to sit within a rectangle above the cameras similar to how Android phones used to treat camera notches.

This should work with any app, but there are some scenarios where the experience is broken. When you’re navigating a drive with Google Maps and playing music at the same time, for example, you won’t be able to see the directions or your route. And, just because you can see your Instagram feed on the 3.6-inch panel, doesn’t mean you’ll want to.

The Motorola Razr+ folded shut and held in mid-air, with a full QWERTY keyboard showing on its external display and a thumb hovering over the space bar.
Photo by Cherlynn Low / Engadget

Even better, because the screen is so small (basically the size of the original iPhone), it’s easy to use with one hand. You can pull up a full QWERTY keyboard to reply to messages, and I was able to reach the letter Q or A with my thumb stretching across from the right.

Cameras

One other advantage of a larger external screen is how much more useful it is as a viewfinder. Both Samsung and Motorola let you use the outside display to preview what you’re shooting with the rear cameras, as well as show your subject what they look like. On the Z Flip 4, you can only see a portion of the scene and will have to guess where it will get cut off. With the Razr+, no guesswork is necessary – WYSIWYG.

Both phones offer similar gestures like holding up your palm to trigger a countdown till the photo is shot, so you can step away and take your picture when you’re ready and posed. You can also have the foldables bent at 90 degrees and placed on a surface with the inside screen facing out, and the layout will change so the top half is your viewfinder and the bottom shows controls.

Unfortunately, on the Z Flip 4 you have to choose between a bigger viewfinder with an inferior 10-megapixel camera or a smaller window and better cameras. On the Razr+, you can use the roomy outside screen and the exterior cameras instead of having to sacrifice quality or visibility while shooting.

Top down view of the Motorola Razr+ half folded and propped up on a surface with its internal  screen facing out. On the display is the camera interface, with the viewfinder on the top half showing a bronze pear and the bottom half is dedicated to controls like the shutter button and timers.
Photo by Cherlynn Low / Engadget

Moto opted for a 32 MP sensor inside, with a 12 MP main camera and 13 MP wide-angle system. Initially, I thought the Razr+ delivered decent shots. But after comparing them to samples from the Z Flip 4 and a Pixel 7 Pro, Motorola’s images are clearly washed out and less vivid. Samsung did a better job at exposure and retained the blue skies peeking through green leaves. In the same scene, the Razr+ blew out the sky. And when I snapped portraits of my friends’ adorable dogs, it struggled to get a clear shot due to slower focus and overall lag.

The Moto also struggled in low light and was susceptible to lens flares in my nighttime cityscapes and selfies. Though the Flip 4 fared slightly better, overall flip-style foldables lag flagship phones when it comes to camera performance.

As a regular phone: Main screen, performance and battery life

Unlike most high-end Android phones released this year, the Moto Razr+ uses a year-old Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, which is the same processor inside the Z Flip 4. It’s worth pointing out at this point that the Flip 4 is also nearly a year old and presumably about to be replaced by a newer model. So if having the absolute latest specs matters to you, you shouldn’t even be considering the Razr+.

The Motorola Razr+ half folded and propped up on a surface with its front screen facing out. On the display is a YouTube video mid-playback, with the red slider at the bottom and the play and skip buttons laid over the paused frame. There are buttons on the top right for settings and Chromecast as well.
Photo by Cherlynn Low / Engadget

If you’re not picky about the exact generation of processor in your phone, you’ll likely be satisfied with the Moto’s performance. I played endless rounds of Solitaire, messaged friends, set up custom gestures, changed wallpapers and it never flinched. The few hiccups I did encounter, like not being able to hit the X button at the outermost corners of an ad in a game, had more to do with specific apps and bad design than horsepower.

Thanks to its 165Hz refresh rate and 1080p resolution, the Razr+’s main OLED display is a solid canvas for activities like scrolling through Instagram and Reddit. Pictures and Stories I looked at were vibrant, and yes, there is still a bit of a crease where the screen folds, but it’s negligible. It doesn’t get in the way of actually interacting with apps or websites, and I mostly forgot it was even there.

When I needed to unlock the Razr+, it was as easy as using the fingerprint sensor embedded in the power button. Motorola also continues to offer nifty features that have been in its phones since the Moto X, like twisting your wrist or doing a chopping action while holding the handset to launch the camera or flashlight. It was also surprisingly easy to install the company’s Ready For app to use the Razr+ on my PC. While I was initially put off by the amount of Moto-branded software, thankfully most of it was useful and didn’t feel like bloatware.

Though the company promises three years of OS upgrades and four years of bi-monthly security patch updates, historically it hasn’t had the best track record on that front. And that’s less than the four years of OS updates and five years for security releases that Samsung offers. That, together with Samsung’s experience in foldables, gives me slightly more confidence in its devices’ longevity.

The Motorola Razr+ and the Galaxy Z Flip 4 side by side, both folded shut with their profiles facing the camera. The Samsung phone has a slight gap between the two halves of its interior display, near the hinge. The Motorola device is completely gapless.
Photo by Cherlynn Low / Engadget

Moto managed to squeeze a 3,800mAh battery in the Razr+, which is slightly higher than the Flip 4’s 3,700 mAh setup. I haven’t had the time to run our video rundown battery test, which I want to do on both the 6.9-inch and 3.6-inch panels. But I’ve been able to play about five to eight hours of nonstop Solitaire on the internal screen so far before needing to plug the Razr+ in. It’s also worth noting that since the exterior display is so much more useful, you can do more on the phone without having to tap the larger, more energy-intensive screen during the day. That way, the Moto actually manages to last longer than most phones.

Wrap-up

I am in love with that front screen — how it works, how easy it is to use with one hand, and how much more power efficient it is. It’s almost like I want a small phone again. But the main thing preventing me from switching to the Moto Razr+ is camera performance. This isn’t a problem unique to Motorola — any flip-style foldable today suffers from this.

Anyone thinking of getting the Razr+ should also wait. Samsung has announced that its next Galaxy Unpacked will be taking place in Korea in late July, and it’s widely expected to launch new foldables then. If you can hold off, it’s worth seeing what the next Z Flip will offer before spending your money.

The Motorola Razr+ folded in half and propped up on its short edge with the two rear cameras at the bottom and the outside screen facing the camera. The Android Quick Settings shade, with a display brightness slider up top and a Spotify widget at the bottom, is on the display.
Photo by Cherlynn Low / Engadget

I also want to point out that long-term durability remains a concern for any device with a flexible screen. Two of my colleagues have used a Z Flip 4 for a year and they’ve reported seeing cracks and bubbles in their displays and/or screen protectors. While the Razr+ uses a different panel from Samsung, there is still a possibility it won’t stand up to the wear and tear of daily use.

I can’t tell you how well the Moto Razr+ will hold up over time. But I can say that, for the first time in the US, there is serious competition for Samsung’s Z Flip 4. It’s time to call it: Flip Boi Summer is here and I’m excited for it.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/moto-razr-review-finally-some-real-competition-for-samsungs-flip-foldables-203033514.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Real ID enforcement delayed yet again — this time to 2025

The Department of Homeland Security said Monday it’s again pushing back the enforcement of Real ID requirements for state driver’s licenses and ID cards. The latest delay moves states’ compliance deadline to May 7th, 2025.

Passed by Congress in 2005 as a response to the Sept. 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks, the Real ID Act requires stricter documentation for boarding flights and entering federal or nuclear facilities. For example, to get a Real ID-compliant driver’s license or state ID card, you need to provide paperwork for your name, date of birth, address, Social Security card and birth certificate.

The DHS says the requirements increase state IDs’ reliability and accuracy. Officials can quickly see whether a card is Real ID-compliant by looking for the gold star in the upper right-hand corner.

When the bill passed, states initially had a 2008 compliance deadline. But after some states and US territories refused to play ball, the cutoff faced delay after delay. Despite the ever-shifting deadlines, 13 states rolled out support in 2012. The list grew in the following years as reluctant states faced the prospect of having their residents blocked from flights. But the COVID-19 pandemic led to even more kicking of the can, and today’s cutoff point pushes it back from May 2023 to May 2025.

“DHS continues to work closely with US states, the District of Columbia, and the US territories to meet Real ID requirements,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas in a news release today. “This extension will give states needed time to ensure their residents can obtain a Real ID-compliant license or identification card. DHS will also use this time to implement innovations to make the process more efficient and accessible. We will continue to ensure that the American public can travel safely.” 

Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Hey Samsung, the Apple Watch Ultra is how you make a real adventure smartwatch

The Apple Watch Ultra has shown how misguided Samsung was to promote the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro as an outdoor smartwatch.
Mobile | Digital Trends

June’s 2022 Pixel Feature Drop adds Real Tone Filters, a Vaccine Card shortcut, the Pocket Operator app, and more

Google’s latest Pixel Feature Drop brings a number of additional features, updates, and even a new app to its line-up of Pixel handsets. Already rolling out to eligible Pixel phones, the Feature Drop brings new alerts to At A Glance, the Vaccine Card shortcut, new Pride Month wallpapers, as well as the new Pocket Operator […]

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Google’s Pixel Watch is real and it’s coming soon

After years of being nothing more than a rumor, the Pixel Watch has been made real at Google I/O 2022. Here’s everything you need to know about it.
Mobile | Digital Trends

Amazon’s ‘Always Home’ security drone is real and costs $249

It’s been a while since it was first mentioned but Amazon’s Ring Always Home Cam is actually a real product and you can already request an invite to be an early adopter. Priced at $ 249, the Always Home Cam is basically a camera that is attached to a small drone that can patrol your home […]

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LG delivers ‘Real 8K’ in 2020 with eight new OLED and LCD TVs

With CES about to start, LG has unveiled some hints about its new top of the line TVs for 2020. In this era, that means jumping from 4K to 8K, and the company will have eight new models that it says promise "Real 8K" performance that "exceeds" the CT…
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AT&T’s real 5G comes to NYC and five other cities

American 5G is in a poor state right now, but carriers are making at least some attempt to rectify that situation. AT&T is following up on its mid-December launch of real 5G by adding coverage for six major cities. You should now have lower-ban…
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This AI-powered subreddit has been simulating the real thing for years

Can the human discourse on social media in 2019 be properly captured by a group of well-programmed bots? Of course it can. r/subredditsimulator is a subreddit — three years in the making — that consists solely of neural network bots. It works by ge…
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First American security flaw leaked 885 million real estate documents

First American Financial Corporation left as many as 885 million real estate documents dating as far back as 2003 exposed, according to Krebs on Security. The company, one of the largest real estate title insurance firms in the US, has already fixed…
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Is the Pixel Watch really real and launching this year??

We’ve heard plenty of rumours for a Google Pixel Watch dating back well into last year, however newly uncovered patents suggest the new wearable could actually exist and be launching this year. Ever since Google announced Android Wear way back in 2014 there have been murmurs of the company releasing their own exemplary smartwatch, however […]

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OkCupid’s ‘real’ name push isn’t sitting well with users

OkCupid is facing a lot of backlash for ditching usernames in favor of real names. As TechCrunch noted, its app's Google Play and App Store pages are flooded with one-star reviews posted over the past month, complaining about the features the service…
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If this OnePlus 5 teaser is real, it’ll resemble Apple’s iPhone 7 Plus

It’s likely the OnePlus 5 debuts sometime early this summer, meaning we’re just weeks away from seeing a new high-end phone on the scene. Teasers and reports, though, are giving us information early. And the latest leak involves the phone’s design. The 2017 flagship from OnePlus could end up looking a lot like the Apple […]

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Gboard’s latest update for Android lets users translate in real time

Gboard, formerly known as Google Keyboard on Android, now lets you translate text in real time in the subject box. The keyboard app will also suggest emojis and GIFs as you type, and voice typing has an improved new interface.

The post Gboard’s latest update for Android lets users translate in real time appeared first on Digital Trends.

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They’re real. We slipped on Nike’s HyperAdapt 1.0 self-lacing sneakers

At Nike’s showroom in New York City, we tried on Nike’s highly anticipated self-lacing shoes, Hyperadapt 1.0. Tiffany Beers, senior innovator at Nike, spoke with us about its creation and how the future Hyperadapt sneakers may look.

The post They're real. We slipped on Nike's HyperAdapt 1.0 self-lacing sneakers appeared first on Digital Trends.

Wearables–Digital Trends

Real smartwatches have curves: Third-gen Asus Zenwatch could swap shapes

After two models with a distinctive rectangular screen, Asus may switch to a circular screen for the Zenwatch 3, according to early rumors. Here’s what we think we know about the new smartwatch.

The post Real smartwatches have curves: Third-gen Asus Zenwatch could swap shapes appeared first on Digital Trends.

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The love of your life can hear your heartbeat in real time with smart wedding band

The HB Ring, a luxury wedding band from jewelry company Touch, transmits your heartbeat to a loved one in real time. It’s not cheap, though — a pair starts at $ 600.

The post The love of your life can hear your heartbeat in real time with smart wedding band appeared first on Digital Trends.

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Science fiction uses ultraviolet light to kill vampires: real science uses it fight and kill something worse — cancer

Sci-Fi taught us ultraviolet light was a weapon to use against the scary undead stalking the night. Actual science has discovered that it may be an extremely effective treatment for cancer.

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It doesn’t get much cooler than using a VR viewer designed by a real life rock star

Tired of tech with no soul? How about a VR viewer for your phone with a design that’s inspired by Victorian technology, and designed by real life rock star Brian May? You’ll want the Owl Stereoscope, and we’ve tried it out.

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China’s realistic robot Jia Jia can chat with real humans

The University of Science and Technology of China has recently unveiled an eerily realistic robot named Jia Jia. While she looks more human-like than that creepy ScarJo robot, you'll probably still find yourself plunging head first into the uncanny v…
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This Xiaomi Mi 5 render shows the handset with a real home button

xiaomi_logo

The opportunity came and went for Xiaomi to announce the Mi 5 at its November 24 event, but the company did use that date to launch the Mi Pad 2 and Redmi Note 3. Among the ‘special’ features being rumored for the handset is a technology not unlike Apple’s 3D Touch. The technology, known elsewhere as Force Touch, utilizes a pressure-sensitive display for extended long-presses. But, today, what’s below the display is what’s being talked about around the world.

xiaomi_mi_5_leaked_render_120815

A leaked render of the device obtained by GizmoChina shows that Xiaomi could be implementing a physical home button just below the display of the Mi 5. Most, if not all, Xiaomi handsets have capacitive buttons for Back, Home, and Recents; however, that is not the case here. The likely explanation for this is that Xiaomi is using a fingerprint scanner that is located on the front of the Mi 5 rather than the back.

Specifications for the handset allegedly include a 5.2-inch Quad HD (2560×1440) display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, 3GB or 4GB of RAM, 32GB or 64GB of internal storage, and 21MP / 8MP cameras. The Mi 5 should ship with Android 6.0 Marshmallow; however, Xiaomi is undoubtedly going to put its MIUI 7 overlay on Google’s software.

It is believed that the Mi 5 will be debuting on January 21 with availability starting the next month.

Via: GizmoChina

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The Pepsi phone is real, and here’s what it looks like

The Pepsi P1 will go on sale in China later this year, Pepsi said. It’s the beverage conglomerate’s first branded Android smartphone, and it features Pepsi’s signature logo.

The post The Pepsi phone is real, and here’s what it looks like appeared first on Digital Trends.

Android Army»Digital Trends

Kopin’s new heads-up Solos glasses shows your cycling stats in real time

Kopin has revealed the Solos, a pair of smart glasses aimed at cyclists. It takes voice commands and pairs with a smartphone and activity trackers to display real-time stats.

The post Kopin’s new heads-up Solos glasses shows your cycling stats in real time appeared first on Digital Trends.

Wearables»Digital Trends