Actually, this time I have come up with something VERY BIG. These new gadgets left everybody jaw-dropped when they were unveiled this week. Here is a quick look what I have been doing this week.
Eye-Fi expands into Geotaggin
Photographers on the go are probably familiar with Eye-Fi, which incorporates wireless connectivity into its flash-based SD memory cards. The 2GB cards turn just about any SD capable digital camera or other electronic into a wireless hub for transmitting data wirelessly. Well, not being willing to settle just for that, Eye-Fi is expanding its card roles into Geo Tagging and giving users the capability of automatically uploading photos from more than 10,000 hotspots while away from home or from their home wireless network.
In partnership with Skyhook Wireless, the Eye-Fi Explore uses embedded software that allows allow users to map where their photos were captured with automatic geotagging. Then, the Eye-Fi uses built-in wireless technology to locate nearby Wi-Fi access points when pictures are captured within the Skyhook coverage area. The Eye-Fi service uses this information to encode each photo with geographic locations, and the images arrive on the user’s computer and online sharing account automatically tagged.
“Geotagging makes it easier to manage and search for your photos on your computer, and it also makes them more fun and relevant to share on the Web. Tagging has exploded on sites like Picasa Web Albums and Flickr, where users can share with each other where a picture was taken,” said Ted Morgan, founder and CEO of Skyhook Wireless. “We’re thrilled to work with Eye-Fi to make it easier for users to map where an image was taken.”
The 2GB Eye-Fi Explore includes unlimited Web uploads, unlimited geotagging and one year of hotspot access at Wayport locations. The Eye-Fi Explore (MSRP $129.00) will be available at major online retailers beginning June 6, 2008.
The iPhone Becomes Surveillance Tool
In today’s security obsessed world, having a portable surveillance capability is always advantageous when trying to keep up with the bad guys. A new iPhone application can now allow security personnel to not only track security camera images, but also control them. Vegas will no doubt take notice.
Lextech is the company that publishes the software, made possible by the Apple iPhone Software development kit release and it not only gives users a wireless capability to keep watch from security cameras, but also control them using the multi touch screen capability of the iPhone. Users can zoom, tilt, and pan just like operating the camera from a joystick.
The possibilities are nearly endless with this kind of technology. If people can keep track via the Internet of their home while on vacation, or parents watching their kids from another room, or even keeping track of baby sitters and housekeepers, the personal benefits can be nearly endless. Me, I like the entertainment possibilities of using the software to view scenes while making movies without having to hover over a tv monitor off set.
And it may also have practical real world law enforcement and military applications as well as it would give security forces control of loitering surveillance platforms in real time.
Samsung Pushing HD to new Levels
Samsung’s new SC-HMX20 HD camcorder shoots in full high definition of 1920 × 1080 thanks to a 6.4-megapixel CMOS sensor that also has a stunning 8-megapixel still camera capability. It can also shoot what’s called super slow motion at 300 frames per second. Wow. That’s enough to help me with my golf swing or those overdue balloon bursting physics experiments for school.
The new SC-HMX20 also features a 10x zoom – which is a tad average and is disappointing considering the push the envelope attitude of the design. It’s 2.7-inch touchscreen LCD also doubles as a menu interface with easy to follow menus and setup screens. The SD-HMX20 uses SDHC cards through a built-in card slot along side it’s 8GB of internal memory. The high speed internal memory also means a faster startup time as the HMX20 powers on in a blazing 2.4 seconds. Battery life is also improved as a result. The camcorder also comes with a cradle with a built-in charging port, USB and TV-out cables.
The camera has a built in flash for low light still conditions, dual recording mode, and rotating grip.
Cost is about $850 USD .
