Author: Jeff Berman

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Imaging

Daisho, in a dash, transforms your camera gimbal into shoulder rig

Motorized gimbals have significantly improved camera stabilization. However, gimbals are often difficult to use and too cumbersome for real-world film and video shooting.

patent-claimedDaisho is a 90-degree clamp that overcomes such issues, converting a gimbal into a lightweight shoulder rig to stabilize cameras while shooting. With the patent-pending clamp, people shooting video can now convert virtually any gimbal on the market into an ergonomic and lightweight stabilizer, making it easier to take difficult shots. Daisho has also been designed to accept industry standard 15-mm rods and uses standard M5 bolts – an apparent indication that it’s compatible with at least most gimbals on the market.

Daisho starts shipping in November. Future pricing isn’t provided. But Kickstarter backers can order one for a pledge starting at $78. Its makers hope to raise $27,000 to cover the cost of Daisho production by Nov. 26.

Camera gimbals have become a growing product category and it is indeed often a chore to use at least some of them. Therefore, there is a clear market for Daisho.

 

 

 

 

Categories
Connected Objects Safety

RoboRanger serves as your personal safety device

Portable safety devices can come in really handy when there is an emergency. But many of them require being tethered to another device or Bluetooth connection to a smartphone, which a lot of consumers –- especially senior citizens – don’t often have.

RoboRanger is a water-resistant personal safety device that features a loud, 130-decibel alarm, around-the-clock monitoring, and friends/family notification. It also has a standalone connection to 911 and provides 24/7 coverage virtually anywhere in the world, its makers say. Plus, it connects directly to GSM and GPS without a smartphone or other device. It requires one simple motion to activate during an emergency situation: users just have to pull its pin and that will activate the alarm and transmit the user’s exact location to a professional 911 response team.

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Connected Objects Imaging

CamBuddy Pro controls your camera from smartphones, tablets

Smart controllers that allow photographers to operate their cameras via smartphone have become much in-demand, especially for interchangeable lens cameras (ILCs). That’s largely because they allow people to control the main features of those typically bulky cameras right from the palm of the user’s hand.

CamBuddy Pro is a Wi-Fi-enabled smart controller for ILCs that offers live-view, time-lapse and four built-in triggering sensors. It works in conjunction with a free Joopic app for Android and iOS smartphones and tablets, and works up to 100 feet away from the camera. CamBuddy Pro starts shipping in December. Future pricing is $149. But Kickstarter backers have been able to order one for a pledge starting at $89 for early birds. Its makers are out to raise $30,000 by Nov. 13.

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Categories
Tech Accessories

Mooltipass Mini portable protects pesky passwords

Selecting an online password and remembering it continues to be a major hassle. That’s especially true if selecting a separate password for each and every website one uses, as security experts recommend.

Mooltipass Mini is a small USB device that protects passwords with identification done via a smart card.  It integrates seamlessly with Google Chrome and Firefox support is in the testing phase, its makers say. The device uses the same security as its makers’ larger Mooltipass device that was crowdfunded in late 2014. A smart card is used to securely store an AES-256 encryption key for the user’s protected information.

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Technology

Ockel Sirius A shrinks a PC into your palm, adds a 6-inch touchscreen

editors-choice-300x96Some desktop computer users would carry around their desktop computer with them to get the same level of performance they’re used to while traveling … if only that desktop PC wasn’t so large and heavy, that is.

Ockel Sirius A is a tiny PC with a 6-inch touchscreen, Intel Atom x7-Z8750 processor, and battery that provides a full Windows 10 experience at any time. It’s small enough to fit in a pocket or the palm of the user’s hand, and it comes equipped with a full version of Microsoft’s Windows 10 Home or Pro operating system. The display offers full HD 1920 x 1080p resolution and also supports 4K.

Sirius A ships in May at future pricing of $699 for the standard A with 64 GB of flash storage or $799 for the A Pro with 128 GB of flash storage. But Indiegogo backers have been able to reserve them with a pledge starting at early-bird pricing of $549 for the A and $659 for the A Pro. Its makers are out to raise $100,000 by Nov. 9.

Its creator, Ockel Computers, already successfully crowdfunded the similar Sirius B that didn’t come with a display and was designed to be attached to a separate monitor. So, an even more portable version with a display seems to be a sensible option that could appeal to many potential buyers.

 

Categories
Imaging

Snoppa M1 makes it easier to shoot video on smartphones

Gimbal stabilizers are among the most useful smartphone accessories for shooting video. After all, who wants to watch a video where the camera is shaking so much that it’s impossible to see what is happening?

Snoppa M1 is a connected three-axis gimbal for smartphones that eliminates camera shake with a vibration-free stabilizer system. It was created to allow any smartphone user to become a videographer without the need for luxury or professional camera equipment. Snoppa M1 features Bluetooth Low Energy and is controlled by the user’s smartphone.

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Categories
Automotive Displays

Hudly HUD gives drivers a heads-up, even in bright daylight

Heads-up displays (HUDs) have become increasingly popular devices because they allow drivers to access valuable information and data without turning their eyes away from the road.

Hudly is a heads-up display that uses a mounted projector to access notifications, navigation and vehicle information including driving speed and gas levels. It projects the user’s smartphone content on the windshield, in his or her line of sight, and provides the ability to access favorite Android or iOS apps. Hudly works in any car that has either an On-board diagnostics (OBD)-II port or cigarette lighter adapter. The powerful projector is capable of 14,000 nits, allowing it to be viewable in even bright daylight, according to its makers. Hudly ships in January at future pricing of $299. But Indiegogo backers have been able to order one for a pledge starting at $199 for early birds. Its makers hope to raise $50,000 by Oct. 28.

The main challenge facing Hudly is that there are so many similar products, including the similar-sounding Hudway Glass. Features that might give Hudly an edge over at least certain rival devices is its optical glass combiner that its makers say makes the device’s image crisp. The special coating and curved lens improves optics and displays a virtual image size of 10.8 inches that appears as if it it’s 7 feet ahead of the driver. A potential negative is that Hudly is only compatible with a limited number of smartphones: iPhone 4+ and higher or Android OS 4.2 and higher.

Categories
Connected Objects Imaging

Miops Mobile offers new ways to operate your camera from your phone

editors-choice-300x96Accessories that allow a photographer to access all the controls of their interchangeable lens camera from the palm of their hand have become increasingly popular.

Miops Mobile is a wireless camera remote that uses a smartphone’s capabilities to offer creative trigger modes including vibration, sound, motion, distance, and time-lapse. It connects to the shutter release port of the camera and communicates with a smartphone over Bluetooth. The app works with unspecified mobile operating systems.

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Categories
Networking

GeeFi’s out to satisfy with unlimited 4G Wi-Fi

Trying to find a Wi-Fi hotspot while away from home or the office can be hard enough. Trying to find a hotspot while traveling internationally can be an even bigger pain in the neck.

patent-claimedGeeFi is a hotspot that promises unlimited 4G Wi-Fi service from just about anywhere. The patented, pocket-sized device houses an advanced chipset that delivers fast, reliable 4G/LTE Wi-Fi with unlimited data. Users can wirelessly connect up to 10 devices to GeeFi, which touts speeds of 150 megabits per second for downloading and 50 megabits per second for uploading. GeeFi doubles as a charger for any USB chargeable device.

It ships in December. Future pricing isn’t provided. But Kickstarter backers have been able to order one for a pledge starting at $100 for super early birds. Its makers hope to raise $20,000 by Oct. 24.

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Connected Objects Personal Transportation

Atom Fliye connected hoverboard lets you zip, if not fly, around the neighborhood

Hoverboards have been heavily hyped for the past year or so despite the fact that none of them that have reached the market actually do what the name implies –- namely, hover above the ground in the air, like they did in the popular “Back to the Future” movies.

Atom Fliye is a connected hoverboard that has a single, wide wheel. It promises to travel 7 ½ miles on a single charge, and can go uphill and ride down stairs, as well as travel over rocky surfaces or grass, its makers say. A companion app is being developed for Android and iOS mobile devices that can be used to start the board. It also adds anti-theft functionality. The app shows users the exact speed the board is traveling at, mileage and battery-life. It also enables users to adjust everything on the board, including its speed.

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