Google has launched its own augmented reality kit for developers, called ARCore, a lighter version of the company’s Tango platform that does not require any specialized hardware to run. ARCore is a light software development kit, similar to Apple’s ARkit, which is able to track motion, understand flat surfaces, and estimate where the light will […]
Tag Archives: mobile
Singtel to launch IoT network across Singapore by this fall
Singtel, the largest mobile network operator in Singapore, has unveiled plans to launch a nationwide Internet of Things (IoT) network for enterprise customers. The network will support CAT-M1 and narrowband-IoT (NB-IoT) technologies, two of the most popular low-power, wide-area network standards in the emerging IoT industry. See Also: What is IoT’s disruptive role in the […]
Intel “eliminates” wearables division to focus on augmented reality
Intel has reportedly “eliminated” its wearable division, a year after it issued a recall of all Basis Peak smartwatches, due to frequent overheating. The division had already lost most of its workers in November, when Intel slashed 80 percent of the Basis team, according to CNBC. The chip maker’s New Technologies Group, which looks into […]
Oculus may soon offer consumers choice in VR headsets
Following on from a report yesterday that said Oculus may be launching a $200 standalone virtual reality headset late this year, rumors now suggest that several headsets, capable of working with a connected PC or mobile, are currently in development. Oculus is “exploring multiple options in a ‘spectrum’ of standalone devices for the future,” according […]
Facebook finally adds virtual reality app to the social network
Facebook has made its first move to integrate virtual reality onto the main social network, confirming that users of its VR app Spaces will now be able to broadcast themselves on a live video. Spaces is an Oculus-only app that lets users sit in a virtual room, chat to friends, watch videos, and draw. Facebook […]
Facebook to launch $200 virtual reality headset later this year
Facebook may be looking to sell a standalone virtual reality headset next year for $200, capable of working without a linked PC or mobile device. The unnamed device will be tailored to customers that cannot afford a high-spec PC or mobile, according to Bloomberg. The report did not say if the device will be a […]
VR/AR headset sales to reach 100 million by 2021, says IDC
Sales of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) headsets are estimated to reach 100 million by 2021, a tenfold improvement on the 10 million shipments recorded last year. That the forecast from research firm IDC, which said VR headsets that use smartphones, like Samsung’s Gear VR and Google’s Daydream VR, are currently the most […]
Google slashes needs for YouTube creators working on VR content
Google is launching a new video standard for YouTube creators that want to shoot VR content. The new standard, VR180, records 180-degree videos, reducing the amount of specialized software and hardware needed to shoot in virtual reality. Not all VR content needs to have 360-degree viewing, especially if the content is designed to be viewed […]
What open APIs will mean for the future of mobile payments
It’s safe to say by this point that the launch of the Pay platforms, like Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and so on, haven’t exactly set the world alight. Usage numbers remain difficult to come by, always a telling sign, and while growth may be slow and steady, it’s not the death knell for banks in […]
Samsung receives approval to test self-driving cars in South Korea
Samsung has received approval to test self-driving vehicles in South Korea and will begin with a “Hyundai equipped with the latest cameras and sensors,” according to The Korean Herald. Little is known about Samsung’s intentions at this time. The move comes a few weeks after Apple received similar approval to test self-driving vehicles in California. […]
Meet Viki, Nokia’s new hire for their AI personal assistant
Nokia might be working on a personal assistant to compete with Siri, Google Now, and Cortana, if it follows through with a new trademark application. The Finnish networking giant said Viki will combine ‘all data sources into a single chat and voice interface’, but did not reveal anything else about the personal assistant. See Also: […]
Is BlackBerry going all-in on driverless car tech?
In an effort to secure a future for the company, BlackBerry announced on Monday that it will open an autonomous driving research center in Canada. The QNX team, responsible for infotainment and telematics systems, will run the autonomous center from its Ottawa facility. In the announcement, it said it will embed software into sensors, cameras, […]
Next iPhone could double as a glucose monitor
To nobody’s surprise, Apple has merged audio into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 7, removing the 3.5mm audio jack. As evidence of the lack of surprise, DarioHealth unveiled a new glucose meter on Thursday, one day after Apple’s announcement, which works with the iPhone’s Lightning connector. Previously, the DarioHealth blood glucose monitoring system connected via […]
Apple jacks the jack and walks the Watch at big event
Another year, another September event, another iPhone. Apple’s key event met all the criteria, although the lack of MacBook, iPad, and “one more thing” segment might have upset some fans that were hoping for surprises. iPhone 7 The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus were unveiled at the event, with a slight design tweak, upgrade […]
Proxy dumps office key cards for a simpler way
Proxy, a San Francisco-based startup, wants to kill the key card and replace it with a mobile app that can access all sorts of devices. To start off, Proxy has launched a pilot for offices. A technician installs a maximum of two Bluetooth sensors (for the pilot), and from there an account manager can set […]
BAE Systems debuts wearable charging tactical vest
British military defense and security firm BAE Systems has revealed a new piece of kit for the mobile era. The Broadsword Spine is a next generation tactical vest for the military, capable of protecting from gunfire and charging mobile devices. BAE developed an e-textile technology for the wearable, which replaces cables and battery packs with […]
MIT develops mobile sensor that could save your life
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers have unveiled a new sensor that could save lives by detecting a buildup of toxic gas in an area, and then send that data to a connected mobile or wearable. The sensor is incredibly sensitive to toxic gas, able to detect 10 parts per million of gas in the […]
Qualcomm wants you to train your new Snapdragon
Qualcomm has expanded its wearable chip range the recent Computex Taipei event, announcing the mid-range Snapdragon Wear 1100, a chip for less powerful wearables. The Snapdragon Wear 1100 is aimed at “targeted purpose wearables” like fitness and location trackers, and smartwatches for kids, which don’t require as much computing power as a fully fledged smartwatch. See […]
Ericsson: IoT connections will crush mobile by 2018
Internet of Things (IoT) connections will surpass mobile by 2018, according to communications giant Ericsson. In the firm’s annual Mobility Report, it said IoT connections will climb by 23 per cent annually for the next five years, hitting 16 billion in 2021. See also: Are insurance devices the next billion dollar IoT market? That’s a […]
Big data billionaire questions role of wearables in healthcare
Big data billionaire Mike Lynch, who sold his company Autonomy to HP for $11.7 billion in 2011, questioned the role of wearables in healthcare, specifically pointing to a growing trend of Fitbit or Apple Watch owners showing doctors useless information from their wearables. “What the hell is a GP supposed to do [with that data]?” […]