iSTAR camera takes 360 degree images in the click of a button

Scottish company NCTech has created an all in one 50 megapixel camera that's designed to make 360 panoramic photography quick and easy to achieve. A flexible system in terms of use, the iSTAR combines ingenuity with an ability to generate high quality and information rich results.

The elongated field of view obtained from panoramas can be put to use for multiple applications. This is seen in sectors like mining where 360 panoramas are used for open pit mine or tunnel analysis, as well as in the film industry for the production of special effects.

NCTech commercial director, Alex Eachus, emphasizes that the iSTAR is "the first 360 degree camera with the power to process its images internally, with no need for a computer to complete post-production processing or stitching."

Since 2006, products like Gigapan and Microsoft’s Image Composite Editorhave popularized the 360 panorama - making the process easier and the type of images used more accessible to casual and general audiences.

The NCTech iSTAR, however, takes this 360 degree revolution one step further. It provides a system capable of obtaining accurate GPS information and High Dynamic Range imaging for spatially oriented, exposure perfect photography - all in the touch of a button. It also boasts a host of additional functionalities like full color touch screen, Wi-Fi connectivity and USB/SD card output.

A provisional starting price around £5000 (US$7,900) has been given ahead of an expected release in Q3 2012.

Two models are on offer - FUSION and PULSAR - with the latter packing additional capabilities such as speed and time saving features, an enhanced user interface and direct output to HDMI.

NCTech iSTAR key features

• Fully automatic, no setup and no PC required
• Monitors and records a location remotely in full 360 degree coverage
• Rugged, waterproof and highly portable 10cm3
• Open file format output
• Integrated Wi-Fi, GPS, compass and tilt sensor
• Live spherical video preview
• Easy to carry and deploy in various environments and conditions
• Integrates with existing software applications and systems
• Captures remote GPS and digital compass tagged images

Source: NCTech

Seoul National University develops inexpensive, super sensitive electronic skin

The quest to give robots touch-sensitive artificial skin and develop medical prostheses with a sense of touch has shown much promise in recent years. The latest promising development comes out of Seoul National University's Multiscale Biomimetic Systems Laboratory where researchers have created a new biomimetic “electronic skin” that is inexpensive, yet sensitive enough to “feel” a drop of water.

Biomimetics is the school engineering that builds machines by imitating nature. Sometimes it’s something obvious, such as an ornithopter that flaps its wings like a bird. Some are less obvious, like hooks on a seed burr inspiring Velcro. Then there is Seoul National University’s approach of imitating the microscopic cilia found in ears, intestines and kidneys to create a touch-sensitive electromechanical skin that can detect something as light as a human pulse or a lady beetle walking across it.

The electronic skin is essentially a skin-like polymer that uses nanotechnology to incorporate a vast number of microscopic strain gauges. Compared to similar sensors, the design is very simple, yet extremely sensitive. The skin is actually two layers of polyurethane acrylate. The inner surface where the two layers meet is coated with the silicone polymer polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Sticking like hairs out of the PDMS is a forest of polymer nanofibers 100 nanometers in diameter (by comparison, a human hair is 60,000 nanometers in diameter) and 1,000 nanometers tall, which are coated with platinum.

The idea is that as the nanofibers mesh together they allow electrical currents to pass between the two layers. The nanofibers act like little potentiometers and they way that they mesh, rub or bend against one another alters the amount of current passed in that part of the skin. Touching pushing or twisting the skin places different kinds of strain on it, which the nanofibers detect and results in different electrical resistance patterns.

In this way, the skin can “feel” pressure, shear forces and torsion with great sensitivity. Furthermore, it can do this over and over again for up to 10,000 cycles, making this a very durable system. Additionally, unlike other touch sensors, such as those based on graphene, the nanofibers can detect strain in more than one direction.

It’s also very cheap to produce. According to the researchers the skin has no complex integrated nanomaterial assemblies or layered arrays. This means that the skin can be manufactured without costly manufacturing processes or exotic materials.

Sources: IEEE Spectrum Nature

V-Moda's headphone amp is also an iPhone case

(Credit: V-Moda)

Is the music from your iPhone sounding a little lifeless? The Vamp could bring your audio back from the dead with a built-in headphone amplifier and digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that bypasses the iPhone's audio circuitry.

Designed for Apple's iPhone 4 and 4S, the Vamp is also a very solid-looking case that's made from "aircraft-grade metal." Inside, there's a high-quality DAC and two 150mW amps (at 32 omhs) to drive headphones of various sizes. A rechargeable 2,200mAh battery powers the setup for up to 8 hours, which isn't very impressive for a high-end headphone amp.

It also serves as a backup battery for your iPhone, which will undoubtedly leave you with even fewer hours of music.

The 3.5mm headphone jack also doubles as an optical output.

(Credit: V-Moda )

Other cool features in the Vamp include an optical audio output, which will come in handy when hooking up a hi-fi system, as well as two audio modes. The Pure mode is meant to reproduce audio naturally, while the VQ mode widens the soundstage while adding bass and treble enhancements.

This all-in-one package may sound like a godsend for portable audiophiles, but its price may give you pause. At $650, this amp is more expensive than many high-end portable varieties by brands such as ALO Audio and HeadAmp.

However, you do get a very attractive package here that should appeal to those who liked V-Moda's True Blood V-80 headphones.

(Source: Crave Asia via Gizmag)

Sony paints PS3 controller gold

here's gold in them there controllers!

(Credit: Sony Computer Entertainment)

Who can deny the charm of gold?

Sony Computer Entertainment today officially unveiled the metallic gold Dualshock 3 controllerfor the PS3, due for release on October 19.

Launching exclusively through GameStop, the controller carries a hefty $54.99 retail price. However, we doubt that sum would stop the aspiring Auric Goldfingers of the world from getting one. We say this because its insanely easy to find most of the other PS3 controller colors sold online (and often at stores) for $40 or less.

This addition complements the parade of controller hues already available, including black, urban camouflage, metallic blue, deep red, classic white, satin silver, candy pink, jungle green, and several others.

The Dualshock 3 controller design for Sony's PS3 gaming console looks nearly identical to the original that debuted alongside the PlayStation 1 back in 1997. Few products can withstand the technological test of time, but Sony figured it out, and earned big accolades in CNET's Top 5 video game controllers:

Install Windows 8 From a USB Drive, Dual-boot with XP, Vista and 7

Back when the Windows 8 Consumer Preview hit the Web, we offered a basic guide on configuring a virtual machine. With Windows 8's Release Preview available and the final version inching toward completion, we figure it's a great time to offer a similarly easy step-by-step walkthrough on installing Windows 8 with a USB drive.

If you're familiar with the process, there isn't much for you to see here, but this should serve as a quick confidence booster for anyone who hasn't installed an operating system recently.

Step One

Download Windows 8 and the Windows 7 USB/DVD tool

If you're not sure what version of Windows 8 to download, we'd recommend the 64-bit build, especially if your system is relatively modern. You can read more about the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems here and the download page linked above provides system requirements for each architecture. The short of it: Windows 8 64-bit requires an extra 1GB of RAM and 4GB of storage -- negligible for most users. Also, before you ask, the Windows 7 USB/DVD tool will work fine with Windows 8.

Step Two

Create a bootable Windows 8 USB drive

Naturally, to create a bootable USB drive, you'll have to insert one and it needs to be 4GB or larger. Install the Windows 7 USB/DVD tool. Once the utility opens, you should be able to browse for and select the Windows 8 ISO you downloaded as well as the USB drive you inserted. It's worth noting that your USB drive will be wiped, so save anything important. The process takes about five minutes depending on the speed of your drive. You'll see a message that reads "backup completed" when it's done.

Step Three

Install the Windows 8 Release Preview (key: TK8TP-9JN6P-7X7WW-RFFTV-B7QPF)

Needless to say, back up anything important before proceeding. If you plan to upgrade or overwrite your installation of Windows XP, Vista or 7, open the root directory of your USB drive in Windows Explorer and launch Setup.exe to begin. You'll get to choose between the two. Windows 7 users should have a painless upgrade as programs, Windows settings as well as user accounts and files are imported. However, Windows 8 won't save programs from Vista and it won't save programs or Windows settings from XP.

If you want to dual boot Windows 8 with your existing operating system, you'll have to install a second storage device or create a new partition. The former is relatively self-explanatory, just attach the drive and choose it during the installation process. The latter, however, requires a little more effort. Vista and 7 users can create a new partition with Windows' Disk Management application (Start > search for Disk Management). Once the application loads, you should see your operating system's drive. Follow these steps:

• Right click the drive that you want to house Windows 8 and choose "Shrink Volume" (Windows 8 64-bit requires at least 20GB, so shrink your current partition accordingly)
• Right click the new "Unallocated" space and create a "New Simple Volume"
• Choose the next available drive letter and quick format the partition with NTFS (you can name the volume anything, but we'd suggest something like Windows 8 RP x64)

Windows XP users will have make partition adjustments with a third-party tool such as Partition Logic, but you'll do the same thing: shrink one volume to create another. It should be smooth sailing from here as Microsoft's installation process guides you through everything. Just boot off your Windows 8 USB drive, choose a custom installation and select your newly created partition. If you're having trouble launching the USB drive, you probably just have to put it ahead of your system drive in the BIOS (look for boot options).

If you want to get rid of Windows 8, load your primary OS and launch partition software (again, Disk Management for Vista or 7 users). Delete the Windows 8 volume and extend your remaining partition into the freshly unallocated space. Removing Windows 8 could screw up your bootloader and prevent your original OS from starting properly. Don't panic, this is a simple fix. Windows Vista and 7 users can use the automatic Startup Repair, while Windows XP users will have to get their hands a little dirtier.

YouTube Party App For Google+ Hangouts Launched

A new Google+ party application has been launched by Google this week, that has been created for YouTube and is accessed from your Google+ Hangouts. The new YouTube Google+ Hangouts app enables users to create, control, save and even share playlists of videos with your friends, all from within your Google+ Hangout.

To use the new YouTube app just start a hangout and then have everyone enable the new YouTube app at the top of the screen. Once this is done Hangout users can then start adding videos for all to see. Google explains:

“Everyone can add videos in the Hangout through a search tool in the app, or remove the videos you don’t like. All your friends in the Hangout can drag and drop videos to sort the order in the playlist, or skip forward or backward to play the next one. Click the “Push to talk” button to chat with the group to give props to the best curator, or to hand out reprimands to the friend who keeps adding the 10-hour Nyan Cat video. “

The new YouTube app is now available in 60 languages worldwide, for more information jump over to the YouTube blog post.

Source: YouTube

Skype Rolls Out New Release For Mac, Windows And Linux

Skype has today released a new version of its Skype communication software. But rather than releasing different versions of Skype for different operating systems, Skype has released the same version across all major operating systems simultaneously.

Skype is now available to download for Linux, Mac and Windows systems, and brings with it a number of tweaks and bug fixes together with a number of new features.

On Mac systems the new version of Skype is now fully prepared for Mountain Lion when it is released by Apple next month for $19.99. The Windows version has a new improved user interface, and Facebook integration. Together with pinnable contacts and backward-compatible video rendering for older machines. Linux has received a number of fixes, tweaks and enhancements and now supports improved video and audio quality. 

You ca download the latest version of the Skype application from the Skype website here:Mac, Windows, Linux

Source: Skype