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Secret Windows 8 Weapon: Kinect Built Into Your Laptop

Posted: January 28th, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Gadgets | Tags: , , , , , , | No Comments »

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The Windows release of Kinect is coming up in a couple days, but for most people that won’t be a major event: the Kinect they have is sitting on their TV or in a drawer, waiting to be taken out for an impromptu Dance Central 2 party. Of the 10 million Kinects out there, the only ones connected to computers are the ones being fiddled with by the various hackers and students making science projects out the things.

But according to the Daily, Microsoft is hoping to remedy this particular situation by building Kinect sensors right into your laptops. TechCrunch alum Matt Hickey got to handle a pair of prototypes, which were confirmed to be official, not just one of the many experiments that hide within Microsoft’s various lairs.

Unfortunately the laptops were not ready for their debut and no pictures seem to have been permitted. But they are described as netbook-like, with a number of smaller sensors instead of a webcam, and what could be an IR LED at the bottom of the screen.

The inclusion of depth-sensing cameras on a laptop is an interesting idea, and if they can drive the price of the sensor array down, it might become a standard feature. Microsoft has clearly also been focusing on miniaturizing the Kinect hardware, as the bulky original would seem somewhat out of place on a petite netbook. Whether this smaller sensor set has the same capabilities as the larger isn’t clear and wasn’t discussed.

A smaller Kinect would also suggest that Microsoft’s next console, rumored to have Kinect built in, is nearing readiness. While many gaming industry insiders have discounted the idea that the next generation of consoles will be announced this year, the rumor mill says otherwise.



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ContourHD Announces New Camera With Built In GPS

Posted: September 13th, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Gadgets | Tags: , , , | No Comments »

The makers of the ContourHD camera just announced an update to their hands-free product, the ContourGPS. The CoutourGPS uses the same camera as the ContourHD, but with the added functionality of GPS tracking. This makes it even easier to show someone a particular area based on the GPS coordinates, as the ContourGPS tracks your elevation, longitude & latitude, or just on a map. The ContourGPS is going to be available in the near future, with an MSRP of $349.99.

September 13, 2010 (Seattle, Wash.) – Contour, a market leader in the hands-free video camera category, introduces ContourGPS, the first hands-free video camera to incorporate real-time GPS data while shooting high-definition, 1080p video. To complement this new GPS camera, Contour is launching a unique location-based video community that allows users to share their stories, track adventures and discover new places.

“We’re excited to introduce location as the next innovation in hands-free video cameras,” says Marc Barros, Contour’s CEO. “GPS adds an exciting new element to video storytelling. It allows you to map your own adventures and discover new places posted by other users. Our seamless camera-to-community experience is like combining The Flip, YouTube and Google maps together into one simple, easy to use product.”

By means of an integrated GPS receiver, ContourGPS captures location once per second with near pinpoint accuracy. The GPS data, along with crisp HD footage, can then be easily edited using the new Contour Storyteller application. Compatible with Mac or PC, Contour Storyteller also makes it easy to organize videos, configure the camera and post stories online.

With the introduction of ContourGPS, Contour.com becomes the world’s first location-based video community, bringing video and mapping together into a rich user experience. Already home to thousands of videos from around the world, Contour.com will soon become the only community where users can watch an epic run down any mountain while tracking progress, speed and elevation on a map.

“We call this new form of storytelling “Video Mapping” states Barros. “The inclusion of GPS brings a whole new level of context to any video, making location, speed, time, and conditions as important as what you recorded.”

A rugged camcorder for the estimated 100 million outdoor enthusiasts around the world, ContourGPS makes it easy to capture video from within the action and share it online in seconds. Shipping world-wide over the coming days, ContourGPS ($349.99 MSRP) joins the company’s award-winning ContourHD model ($279.99) and is available at retailers such as REI, Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00426DQ2W), Helmet Camera Central (http://shop.helmetcameracentral.com/HC-CONTOUR-GPSHD.html), and POV Cameras ( http://pointofviewcameras.com/contour-gps-hd-camera.html). Visit www.contour.com to learn more or to find a complete list of retailers.

About Contour

Contour, formerly known as VholdR, is a market leader in the hands-free video camera category. Producing simple, thoughtfully designed and intuitive adventure storytelling tools, Contour, enables modern day explorers to use video and location-based video to relive and replay their personal tales of action, adventure and travel, sharing them with world at the touch of a button. For more information about Contour please visit www.contour.com.



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