GADGET
GIZMO SPECIAL HOT DEBUTANTS: 2016
Like every year, you are
bound to see some amazing new gadgets in the form of phones, tablets,
entertainment systems and wearables from the usual heavy-weights in the tech
industry. Savio D'Souza and Ashutosh Desai take a break from these to tell you
about some innovative, never-before-seen gizmos from startups that are set to
make their entry in the next 12 months. And yes, they all ship to India...
FLEYE
The Fleye is a friendlier,
safer version of present-day, four-rotor drones. It is spherical; the size and
weight of an average football (450g) and all its moving parts are behind a
protective mesh. So effectively , you can hold or push it while it hovers in
the air without hurting yourself.It is unlikely you will bump into the Fleye
either. An onboard Linuxbased computer comprising a dualcore processor, 512MB
RAM, two graphics processors, GPS and multiple sensors is programmed to avoid
obstacles on the fly. A 5MP camera fitted atop it is capable of capturing Full
HD videos at 30 frames per second.
This orb can be controlled
via its Android or iOS app, or it can fly autonomously, while snapping photos,
and capturing 360-degree panoramas. What's more, the Fleye is based on an open
platform so developers can program it for myriad uses including security,
inspection, education, and to even record extreme sports action.
Launch | September 2016
Price | 1,250
SHIFTWEAR
Who needs a closet full of
shoes when you have Shiftwear? This pair of chameleon-like kicks is capable of
changing its colours and designs when customized via its Android, iOS or
Windows app.
The shoes are fitted with
flexible HD colour e-paper screens which can display images, patterns and even
animations. Its Kevlar fibre-coated soles make it durable, while its waterproof
design (up to 5m) will let you gambol in the rain without damaging the
displays. Besides, you don't need to worry about them getting dirty either. The
Shiftwear is machine washable. Your designs will be visible in daylight, but
you can switch on a built-in backlight when in darker settings. Each pair is
powered by batteries that are rated to last 30 days without a recharge. Here's
the best part: you can charge them wirelessly or just take a walk to replenish
its cells.
So the next time you step
out, you can match your shoes to your clothes by browsing patterns and colours
on your phone, design your custom look and even share it with others around the
world.
Shiftwear will be available
in three styles lower, medium and high top and in a range of colours like
red, green, yellow, blue and black.
Launch | October 2016 Price
| Starts at $250 + shipping
SMART EGG
The Smart Egg is a
universal remote control worth coveting. Just place this unassuminglooking
device at a central location in your home, pair it with your Android or iOS
phone over Bluetooth and then identify all your remote-controlled appliances
via the app.
The Egg taps into an online
database of over 5,000 remote controllers and 1,20,000 infrared 5,000 remote
controllers and 1,20,000 infrared codes to load the right set of controls for
you.Now, whenever you want to switch on the television, amplifier or air
conditioner, just use your phone. The commands are sent over Bluetooth to the
Egg, which transmits infrared signals to the respective device.
The Smart Egg can even
learn new remotes.Besides, you can configure multiple actions including TV
and AC presets to be executed at a tap of a button. And if you enable the
Smart Egg's location-sensing feature, then you don't need to do that either.
Enter the room and SE will switch on the air-condition er, the lights, and even
your music system. It also comes with a built-in timer and smart features: auto
mute the TV when you get a call, monitor AC temperatures, and more.
aico.tech Launch | February
2016 Price | $89
COMET
If you've lost a phone to
water dam age--it slipped out of your shirt pocket into a bath tub, was
accidentally dropped into a pool, or perhaps, it got wet during the monsoons--you
know how much that hurts. You might try to put up a brave face for the folk
around you, but deep down inside, you know that your phone is giving up its
ghost. Well, you--most of all--can appreciate a handset that's water-resistant.
The new Comet, due in the second quarter of 2016, comes with IPx7 rating, which
means it can survive in one metre of water for up to 30 minutes. But, over and
above that, this Android-Lollipop-based smartphone plops back out to float on
the surface. Yes, you read right. The Comet is the first handset that floats!
But don't mistake its buoyancy for light-weight specs. The device boasts of a
heavy-duty 2GHz Snapdragon 810 quad-core processor, 4GB RAM, up to 64GB
storage, two 16MP cameras, a 2800mAh battery and a 4.7-inch Super AMOLED
display .http:www.cometcore.com
Launch | April 2016 Price |
Starts at $249
YOCAM
The YoCam is a mashup of
the adventure cam GoPro, the surveillance-oriented DropCam, the life-logging
Memoto, and a wide-angled selfie shooter. Weighing 55gms, this midget snapper
is packed with a microSD slot, a 700mAh battery that gives two hours of
continuous video, and an 8MP sensor that is capable of 140-degree (wide-angled)
shots, Full HD videos at 30fps, as well as low-light captures.
The YoCam also crams in
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, a proprietary image-stabili zation technology called
MoSteady, and a build that carries an IP68 rating, which means it can survive
in up to 20 feet of water.
Backing this device, is an
app called Mofily (for camera control, video editing and social media sharing)
and a single-button interface that lets you shoot time-lapse, slow motion and
looping videos as well as photos in burst mode, with delays, and life-log
streams with snapshots at intervals of 5103060 seconds.
For accessories, the YoCam
will be available with the YoYo Bluetooth Remote, as well as a whole bunch of
camera mounts and straps.
Launch | February 2016
Price | $300
BEKER
Beker is a personal music
playback system that frees up your ears for ambient sounds like traffic when
jogging and cycling, and airport announcements during your travels. It operates
through bone conduction, which means audio is transmitted through your skull
vibrating the little bones in your middle ear to finally become the music
perceived by your inner ear.Don't worry , the technology is perfectly safe.
The device weighs 34g; is
rated IPx8, which means it is waterproof; comes with 4GB internal storage for
your music, and includes a battery that's rated to last eight hours on a single
charge. It is neat, discrete, and does away with stubborn ear plugs that keep
falling out of ears or muffs that heat up your lobes.
Launch | March 2016 Price |
$110
ONAGOFLY
If you've always wondered
what it feels like to be followed by paparazzi, you might want to consider the
OnagoFly . The palm-sized drone is fitted with GPS, Wi-Fi, a hi-res 15MP
camera, a microSD slot for storage and a 1000mAh battery. And most importantly,
it comes with an auto-follow feature.
Weighing a mere 140g, this
auto mated paparazzo can be set to shoot photos, Full HD videos and stream live
in-flight footage to a connected Android or iOS mobile device.
You can also use OnagoFly
to record get-togethers. Just set the drone to auto-follow and go about
mingling with the crowd. Its 360-degree infrared obstacle avoidance system
prevents collisions, while its wireless connection to your phone helps it
locate your whereabouts to record you from different angles.
This portable drone comes
with a hard case for easy storage and is capable of giving you up to 15 minutes
of flight time before needing a recharge.
Launch | March 2016 Price |
Starts at $260 + shipping
TOI2JAN16
No comments:
Post a Comment