Is it time to spend a little of that tax return or bonus on a cutting-edge gadget?
(Editor’s note: Tax day is over in the U.S. and it should be clear by now for many who work in the securities industry how much of a bonus they got. With the hope that your tax refunds and bonuses brought smiles to your faces, I am sharing information about gadgets featured at Pepcom’s DigitalFocus showcase earlier this month. I bring these items to your attention in case you decide to pamper yourself for a job well done. This is the first in a series about digital fun.)
Virtual Reality Meets Digital Cameras
VR Camera: The Orbit360 4K
Kodak is getting into it calls “the rapidly growing 360° VR [virtual reality] video consumer market” via the Kodak Pixpro Orbit360 4K, via JK Imaging Ltd., which is a worldwide licensee for Kodak Pixpro Digital Cameras and Devices.
The Orbit360 4K is “an all-in-one 360° VR camera, with two 4K fixed focus lenses housed on either side of the futuristic camera body,” according to Kodak. “Each lens is designed to work in tandem, to capture and automatically stitch full 360° 4K video and easily upload 360° photos and videos to Facebook and 360° interactive videos to YouTube via the camera’s smart device app on the go.”
In addition, the Orbit360 4K offers two 20MP CMOS sensors and uses a Micro SD card (up to 128GB, class 10 or higher) to record 360°photos and videos, officials say. The camera incorporates Wi-Fi and NFC compatibility for smart device apps to control and view the camera’s feed remotely. It also features Bluetooth compatibility “in an optional remote control device that can be worn or mounted to the camera’s optional accessories for even easier control for the camera,” officials add.
Licensee JK Imaging, which brought one of the first 360° VR cameras to market more than years ago, say the new camera will become available in the U.S. during the first half of 2017 and will have a retail price tag of $499, officials say.
Make Your Own Kind of Robot
In case you are in the mood to make robotic gadgets for yourself or your children, Makeblock Co. Ltd. has a solution for you.
Makeblock, a do-it-yourself robotics construction and programming learning vendor for makers, hobbyists and educators, provides “mechanical parts, easy-to-use electronic modules, graphical programming software, and courses,” officials say.
Makeblock’s latest is the Neuron, a “robotics construction platform” for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education that contains more
than 30 blocks, “including input, output, communication, power, and control blocks, with more in production,” officials say. “Neuron is geared toward empowering users to turn their limitless ideas into reality.”
The Neuron is available “in four kits for pre-order via Kickstarter starting from $39 at the Early Bird level — Explorer, Light Wizard, Science Lab, and All-in-One. Each kit contains a different set of themed blocks that can be used by educators, children, makers, and hobbyists,” officials say.
Some of the key aspects of Neuron are:
- Plug & play: Play with the Neuron gadgets with or without software.
- Unique blocks: Light sensor, knob and other standard blocks are accompanied by unique blocks, such as a cold cathode, MP3, 2.4G, and camera block to expand the opportunity for out-of-the-box creation.
- Magnetic Design: The magnetic design of Neuron blocks allows educators to demonstrate hands-free when teaching in front of their students.
- Updated platform: Through continuous blocks and frequent software and teaching material updates to the platform, a steady flow of new projects can be explored and created.
- Easy to build: All Neuron blocks are compatible with the mechanical parts of Makeblock and LEGO bricks via connection boards.
- Integrated with Microsoft Cognitive Services: Features like IoT, and voice and face recognition are easy to implement with just a few taps thanks to the integration with Microsoft.
“Our vision is to build an entire suite of STEM education products that can power the imagination – in-home or in the classroom,” says Jasen Wang, founder and CEO of Makeblock, in a prepared statement.
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