Author Archives: Deepon Mitra

iPhone’s 5th Anniversary: You have not let us down…

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Deepon Mitra:

Five years ago, at the Macworld conference, Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the (what Apple fanboys dub as the ‘Jesus Phone’) iPhone. It was sleek, black and simple. But it was just not a phone but something much more than that—it was the beginning of a cult, of a revolution in mobile phone history. The phone screamed Apple and came into the market with a lot of speculations and expectations from both the public and the heads at Apple. The iPhone, for one thing, was quite expensive and Apple guys weren’t sure how good the phone would be for business. But iPhone proved to be an amazing and of course a revolutionary addition to the world of mobile phones, at $599, with no physical keyboard, no 3G, requirement for a PC with iTunes to set it up, a special headphone jack and a new OS (iOS), it was just not a phone, it was an experience, the great Touch and Feel Experience. People were skeptical at first. In fact, the then Microsoft CEO went as far as claiming that the iPhone was a waste of time and money and would make no significant change in the market—seems hilarious today, isn’t it?

Father and Son
Father and Son

The first iPhone was flawed in ways more than one. Yet, the device was elegant and beautiful in its own way. It supported multi-touch and loaded webpages like they load on PCs and the 3.5” touchscreen was an eye candy. Apple encouraged developers to develop apps for its iOS which led to the spawning of an entirely new community of iPhone App developers.

From 1 to 4S
From 1 to 4S

iPhone 2, iPhone 3, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S came out in quick succession, with features always better than the last and more lucrative. The design, however, remains the same—consistent and simplistic. The iconic rounded touchscreen slab with one physical home button has withstood the test of time and ever changing market trends. The iPhone is a smartphone made for the people. The apps (like Mail and IM/SMS) are exceedingly simplistic and arrange themselves according to frequency of usage. Even after 5 generations of iPhones, the design and the accessories have remained the same (including the charger/PC connect jack). There is nothing overtly complex about the iPhone—it has remained freakishly blunt, yet extremely graceful and sophisticated. It does not intimidate users, rather welcomes them with a warm hug and fits snuggly in their palms waiting to be used.

iPhone through the Years
iPhone through the Years

Apple has outfitted the iPhone with new technologies over the years. 3G was not given in iPhone 1 or 2 because Jobs found that WiFi being widely available and faster, 3G was not needed. However, it was later added in the 3GS along with 4G LTE to be expected in the next iPhone. The App Store was another feature which was added and let users download and install apps for entertainment or increasing productivity, what ever it might be. Then came the iRetina display, Siri (the voice assistant), iCloud Storage and so on. The camera for one thing, has undergone huge improvement since the 2MP fixed focus variant of the original iPhone.

Click Click
Click Click

The road to immortality hasn’t been smooth for the iPhone. With constant and consistent competition from brands like Microsoft, Blackberry, Nokia and Samsung (with their Windows Mobile, Symbian, Android and RIM challenging the iOS), Apple has still maintained a considerable share of the mobile phone market, in fact they have created their own niche. The next five years seem to be very eventful for the company with the launch of iPhone 5 on the horizon (with an alleged iRetina transparent display!). We’ll just say that the iPhone will remain a revolutionary product—R.I.P. Steve, what you did is great!

Charting the EvolutionFrom iPhone 1 to iPhone 4S

Picture Gallery
The Story of iPhone
The Story of iPhone
From Concept to Reality

Via uSwitch via CNet


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O2Amp Glasses: Glasses that show how you’re feeling!

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Deepon Mitra:

Well these glasses don’t actually endow you with X Ray vision, but the O2Amp glasses (from 2AI Labs) do offer you the ability to gauge a person’s emotions by detecting and analyzing the color of the subject’s skin. Designers behind this astonishing invention say that they built upon the human eye’s natural ability to detect emotions (rosy cheeks for embarrassment and a green tint for illness, for example). The glasses have the processing power to detect the most minute alterations in skin tone and then display/notify the user about the mental/physical state of the subject.

Glasses that read Your face
Glasses that read Your face

Mark Changizi is the brain behind the O2Amp glasses. While at CalTech, he studied color vision in primates and the evolution of human vision based on oxygen levels in hemoglobin under the skin. He claims that during different circumstances the oxygen modulations under facial skin changes leading to different color variations. The glasses use this principle to operate.

How it works
How it works

The team, at 2AI Labs (with Changizi in the lead), has come up with three separate filters. This will help doctors better understand the state of their patients by ‘looking’ at the oxygen levels in the blood (as seen superficially). The first filter lets doctors/nurses locate veins under the skin. The filter makes the veins “glow” which facilitates the doctors/nurses to find the right one. The second filter will help them detect shock or trauma. Either of these conditions cause a significant drop in oxygen levels in hemoglobin in the blood causing a change in blood color (the patient appears paler). The third filter is essentially a “quick clinical enhancer” which will help doctors better assess a patient’s condition during visits or emergencies.

The O2Amp Glasses
The O2Amp Glasses

Testing of the O2Amp glasses has started in two hospitals. Doctors have given a positive feedback so far. Changizi and his team are trying to make a version for daily use. They think their invention has immense potential. The glasses will be of huge help in disaster stricken areas to quickly determine trauma, or one can wear them at a poker table to see the facial expressions of the player opposite to him/her. Like any other invention, the use depends on the user!

Via: Mashable


Thunderbolts Drives from Drobo: Blazing Data Transfer Speeds with 5D and Mini

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Deepon Mitra:

The age of extreme portability is here. As things get smaller and storage media become cheaper, we may expect faster and more spacious storage drives which will be easier to carry around. Drobo, a company known for their quality hardware, has recently announced the launch of their newest products—the Drobo 5D and the Drobo Mini. Both of these storage units have ‘Thunderbolt’ support, which roughly translates into hellishly fast data transfers.

The Thunderbolt Drives
The Thunderbolt Drives

The Drobo Mini
The Drobo Mini

Between the two, the Drobo Mini is probably the most versatile. It is exceptionally portable at only 7.3X7.1X1.8 inches. The cuboid houses two 2.5 inch drive bays. The drive bays have a new pop-out mechanism for loading and unloading drives with ease. The Mini also has a mSATA Solid State Drive bay which has a new feature called the Drobo Accelerator which caches data for faster access to most used data. At the back of the device you will find the legendary Thunderbolt ports and a USB 3.0 port. There are two Thunderbolt ports in case you want to ‘daisy chain’ drives. The Mini is the ideal companions for people on the go. Drobo obliges us by providing in-the-box thunderbolt cables and onboard support for auto-repopulation and BeyondRAID drive redundancy. The pop-out mechanism of the drive bays makes it possible to hot swap drives with apparent ease. The front of the Mini is beset with 3 LED lights that show drive activity, drive space and notify users if a drive gets corrupted.

The Drobo 5D
The Drobo 5D

The Drobo 5D, on the other hand, is a portable monster in its own right. It has five 3.5inch drive bays, a USB 3.0 port and two Thunderbolt ports. It also comes with the same onboard features and cables. Drobo has put in the Drobo Accelerator in the 5D as well. Both the Mini and the 5D come with fans that serve as cooling units for prolonged use. Drobo has remarked that both these units run far quieter than any other product they have put in the market. The Mini and the 5D are all set to be launched in July with the Mini being priced under $650 and the 5D at under $850.

Picture Gallery
Drobo: 5D and Mini
Drobo: 5D and Mini
Speed and Portability

Via: engadget


Microsoft Surface – Inside Out

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Deepon Mitra:

Microsoft comes in late to the party, but boy does it do so in style! Enter the new Microsoft Surface—the device that is allegedly well equipped to put all Apple offerings (like the Macbook Air and the iPad) to shame. The Surface is being touted as a revolutionary product that may also be the answer to the plethora of Android powered tablets riddling the market. Microsoft has taken great care to let people know that the device has been built from scratch, right from the tiniest screw to the smallest application.

Microsoft Surface
Microsoft Surface

There are still a lot of speculations going on in the market about the actual specifications of the product. Microsoft has recently released a spec sheet of the Surface. The company has also confirmed that there will be two versions of the product. There will be one for Windows RT and the other will be for the newest OS Windows 8 pro. The company also admits having contracted the manufacture of the device’s hardware, however, no names have been disclosed as to who has made the individual parts. Although prices are yet to be announced, Microsoft says that the two variants will be competitively priced considering its rivals.

The Kickstand
The Kickstand

The first striking feature of the Surface is the ‘kickstand’ that immediately sets it apart from the iPad. The Surface already comes with the accessories that have to be bought for the iPad. In fact, the kickstand was made by studying the hinges on car doors! It keeps the screen upright at an angle. The cover of the Surface which also serves as a tactile keyboard is soft and rubbery. We think the device’s name comes from this. It is extremely touch sensitive and a pleasure to work with. The vibrant colors of the cover-cum-keyboard give the device a book-like look. The Surface has been encased in the Vapor MG alloy (a special magnesium alloy that is patented to Microsoft). It makes up the entire casing of the device making it extremely durable. Durability does not compromise portability in any way as the Surface is sleek and lightweight likewise. The feel of the device is certainly way better than the Macbook Air.

The Keyboard
The Keyboard

The screen itself is a beauty. It is a high definition variant that can display the richest hues and the darkest contrasts with ease. The hardware is quite smooth and image rendering and applications run with ease. The edges of the screen are sloping and smooth but not so much as the iPad giving it a more serious and a matter-of-fact look. It subtly nudges you to believe that it can do much more than play your movies and games.

Slim yet Powerful
Slim yet Powerful

All in all, a very good offering from Microsoft. It looks different, feels different and we do hope that it performs brilliant. Though the device is yet to be launched, we can bet that the Microsoft Surface will give those Android tablets, Macbooks and the iPads a run for their money!

Picture Gallery
Microsoft Surface
Microsoft Surface
Teaser Images

The Teaser from MicrosoftUnveiling the Surface

Via: Microsoft


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New Version of Pong: Play with your Brain

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Deepon Mitra:

When we were children, we did not have PSPs. We just had a simple portable gamestations that allowed nothing but simple brick games like Tetris and Pong. Tetris and Pong are two of the oldest games that have withstood the test of time and are still just as enjoyable, as they were, 30 years back. If you remember, the objective of Pong was simple, hit a moving dot with the help of two controllable bars so that the dot does not go out the screen. The game came in two versions—one based on tennis and the other on squash. Both versions were extremely enjoyable and popular in their time.

Pong
Pong

Now, a company called Hack Manhattan has come up with a whole new version of this classic game which will appeal to the modern gamers. At first, Pong was only about reaction speeds and how fast you controlled the moving bar with your controller—now, all thanks to Hack Manhattan, you have to do the very same things, with your BRAIN! Yes! They have come up with a Pong version that is to be played with your brain.

Brain Pong Jumbo
Brain Pong Jumbo

Hack Manhattan’s version of Pong (dubbed the “Brain Pong Jumbo”) uses a headset that detects and feeds specific brain waves to the system inducing a reaction in the game. The more you concentrate, the stronger is the frequency of the brain wave and better is the control of the paddle (or bar). If your focus drops then the headset stops feeding in any input to the system and the paddle stops and you may lose a point. Players who are now beta testers of this “Kick Starter project” (from Hack Manhattan) found that the best way to keep their attention from dropping was to concentrate on solving math problems or thinking about something they are fond of (like winning at Pong, maybe!).

Via mashable


Majora’s Mask HD Remake turns out to be Fan Made

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Deepon Mitra:

Majora’s Mask is to The Legend of Zelda, what AVP 2010 is to the AVP (Aliens vs Predators) series. Meaning, fans have been waiting for a remake for aeons now and they do not like being toyed with. Recently, fans of the Zelda series were trolled by a teaser trailer of what looked like a high definition remake (with complete Wii U support) of the original game. However, Nintendo asserts that they have made no such announcements.

Majora's Mask Trailer Screenshot
Majora’s Mask Trailer Screenshot

Well, bad news for diehard fans. Lots of Zelda purists wish and pray for the original Nintendo-64 Majora’s Mask to come out as a remake with HD graphics. The trailer, that has acted like a catalyst in the fans community, can be found on Youtube. Simply search for “Majora’s mask remake trailer” and you will be hit my hundreds of fan made videos. However, the guy who made the teaser (in question) did a pretty convincing job. In fact, the trailer is so good that the people at Nintendo may actually sit up and take notice.

A little prodding around revealed that the clip was made by Paco Martinez and Pablo Belmonte as a ‘small test for the big N’ so that Nintendo can bring this remake to fruition. They have also hinted, in their video description, that they intend to make a longer video so that the proposal (for the remake) hits Nintendo good and hard (and hopefully stirs them to action!).

With an accessory as great as the Wii U and the hardware capable of handling HD content, it’s a wonder how Nintendo has managed to shy away from the HD remake bandwagon.Take for example Serious Sam’s HD remake—it raked in millions in profit. Nintendo is good at making remakes. Let’s hope they take heed to this sincere plea from the fans.

Via Technabob/qj


Alligator Guitar may give rise to Swamp Rock genre

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Deepon Mitra:

Get set for a whole new genre of rock—Swamp Rock. Weird as it may sound, it may not be a casual joke on our part if you take a look at this alligator with strings stretched on its back! Do not worry PETA, no real animals (or reptiles) were harmed in the making of this product! We have seen strangely shaped guitars aplenty, but this monstrous instrument is laudable in its own right. The guitar was designed by Billy Rhinehart (he lives in Athens, Ohio). Rhinehart is famous for coming up with fully functional strangely shaped musical instruments.

The Alligator Guitar
The Alligator Guitar

He has also built guitars based on dragons, fishes, horses and other animals. The guitar here is a lap steel instrument. It has been modeled after a 8 string Fender Stringmaster with Deluxe steel. It is equipped with two pickups with tone, blend and volume that can be adjusted for any mix you can come up with. The pickups have also been customized and reverse wound to have a reverse polarity effect giving users the “humbucking effect” when balanced correctly. The bridge/tailpiece (literally) has stainless steel nuts and is made up of aluminum. Rhinehart crafted this stringed reptile out of 3 pieces of the best Douglas Fir and has priced it at US $3299.

Rhinehart Custom Guitars
Rhinehart Custom Guitars

If we had this guitar, we would probably set up stage in a nearby swamp and sing songs about crocs and gators. Jokes apart, this guitar is a unique piece of equipment that has been meticulously handmade. From the carefully tuned strings to the finger painted fingerboard, the guitar oozes with coolness and style. Just think about how cool you would look, walking down the street, with an alligator strung on your back. It will be sure to turn some heads. If don’t mind the price then this guitar is definitely worth the grab.

Via: Technabob/Nag on the lake/Neatorama


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Scratch a Mine: Minesweeper Cards

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Deepon Mitra:

Microsoft Windows did come out with some buggy OSs in the 90s, but they also came up with things that really did become landmarks in cyber history. The game Minesweeper is one of them. It is one of the most recognized games in the world. Why? Well, for one simple reason. It made up for killing hours upon hours of our everyday lives. It had an inexplicable appeal to it and no one can yet explain what addiction such a meaningless task of sweeping mines on a grid holds. The charm has faded quite a lot all thanks to the Flash games on Facebook, but a company called “Connected Design” aims to revive that charm.

Minesweeper Scratch n Play Cards
Minesweeper Scratch n Play Cards

Connected Design has come up with Scratch and Play Minesweeper cards which provide the same amount of fun without the need for a PC or a laptop (as if the digital world needs disguises to get into our daily lives!). Hipsters will be very pleased with this product. The classic Windows game has been emulated beautifully in these cards and you just need your nails or a coin to enjoy it. However, be wary while playing the game. Just like the Windows version, you can lose the game if you scratch a wrong tile. This means discarding the whole card as you simply can’t click on the yellow smiley to begin a “new game”. But don’t be disheartened, the cards can double as postcards to be sent to that nerdy or gaming-freak friend of yours!

At $2 a piece, this version of Minesweeper is a bit expensive to begin losing in a row. Connect Design makes these cards in two difficulty levels: easy (80 mines) and hard (120 mines). The cards also come with stickers of flags and question marks to be put on tiles which you suspect might explode if scratched!

Via: Inquisitr


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Newly Launched Parrot AR Drone 2.0

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Deepon Mitra:

Do not be surprised if you see one of these bad boys whirring outside your window with its mechanical eye fixated on you! AR drones have been around the market for quite some time now. But this drone is a special device with a HD camera, exceptional maneuverability and a long lasting battery.

Parrot AR Drone 2.0
Parrot AR Drone 2.0

Parrot first unveiled this copter at the Consumer Electronics Show in Los Angeles. The company claims that the new AR Drone 2.0 has upgraded navigational capabilities as compared to its predecessor owing to the presence of synchronized quad fans. The maneuverability is so flawless that you can actually make the drone do barrel rolls!

For surveillance (or peeking!) purposes this drone has been outfitted with high definition camera that is able to stream wide angle video in 720p at 30 fps. The video can be streamed directly to your iPhone or iPad and saved while streaming or it can be stored onboard by means of an in-built USB storage device.

The AR Drone 2.0 may look nimble with its frail frame and four blades, but rest assured it is quite sturdy. It is made with most durable plastic and aluminum components. The drone is only a foot square in area and is built like a shell. The outer shell is a tube like structure and the inner hull houses a foam-like enclosure that encases the onboard electrics. The range of the drone is 160 feet and has a ceiling of 20 feet. It can be controlled via the Free Flight App from the iPhone and the iPad. Infact, you don’t even have to look away from the screen to control the drone—it will show you in real time where it’s heading.

If you get bored of surveillance (or peeking) you can opt for games like AR combat, AR racing and an AR pursuit mode game. The Parrot AR Drone 2.0 can be purchased from HMV and Apple stores at $300.

Via: HuffingtonPost


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Glasses-free 3D TV from Dimenco

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Deepon Mitra:

Want to enjoy a movie in 3D from the comfort of your home? Well, grab a pair of those active shutter glasses and dodge those ‘reel’ bullets! Now, Philips thinks that the whole idea of wearing glasses to enjoy 3D is just blasphemous. Hence they team up with Dimenco to come up with a TV that will let you enjoy real 3D without wearing those cumbersome glasses. It is a pity that progress is slow in this field and the TV might not go into mass production before 2013. However, when Dimenco revealed this piece of tech at the Berlin tech show, people were delighted to enjoy the extra dimension with their naked eyes.

Dimenco's glasses-free 3D TV
Dimenco’s glasses-free 3D TV

The technology that goes into the making of this TV is still less impactful than its current glass coupled counterparts. The 3D of this TV is understated, subtle, yet adds a noticeable difference to the content of the narrative and enhances the image effect, which is less conspicuous in other 3D TVs. The glasses free 3D technology still remains to be tested commercially, but Philips and Dimenco offer a TV that has exceptionally saturated hues that are vibrant and cover off a deep spectrum and at the optimal viewing angle give the user sharp and crisp images in high definition.

Perhaps, the greatest undoing of this TV is the small 3D sweet spot. If the user is seated smack in front-center of the TV he/she will get natural 3D output of stationery or moving content. Move ever so slightly from this line of sight and the extra dimension becomes meaningless with blurry edges. However, this glasses-free 3D viewing does account for less strenuous and comfortable viewing as compared to the current 3D TVs (which cannot be viewed for prolonged periods of time). Keep in mind that the technology is still under development. In the coming 2013 we can expect a whole new generation of television sets pioneered by Philips and Dimenco.

Via: DimencoDisplays