Thursday, January 21, 2016

GADGET GIZMO SPECIAL HOT DEBUTANTS: 2016

GADGET GIZMO SPECIAL HOT DEBUTANTS: 2016


Like every year, you are bound to see some amazing new gadgets in the form of phones, tablets, entertainment systems and wearables from the usual heavy-weights in the tech industry. Savio D'Souza and Ashutosh Desai take a break from these to tell you about some innovative, never-before-seen gizmos from startups that are set to make their entry in the next 12 months. And yes, they all ship to India...

FLEYE
The Fleye is a friendlier, safer version of present-day, four-rotor drones. It is spherical; the size and weight of an average football (450g) and all its moving parts are behind a protective mesh. So effectively , you can hold or push it while it hovers in the air without hurting yourself.It is unlikely you will bump into the Fleye either. An onboard Linuxbased computer ­ comprising a dualcore processor, 512MB RAM, two graphics processors, GPS and multiple sensors ­ is programmed to avoid obstacles on the fly. A 5MP camera fitted atop it is capable of capturing Full HD videos at 30 frames per second.
This orb can be controlled via its Android or iOS app, or it can fly autonomously, while snapping photos, and capturing 360-degree panoramas. What's more, the Fleye is based on an open platform so developers can program it for myriad uses including security, inspection, education, and to even record extreme sports action.
Launch | September 2016 Price | 1,250

SHIFTWEAR
Who needs a closet full of shoes when you have Shiftwear? This pair of chameleon-like kicks is capable of changing its colours and designs when customized via its Android, iOS or Windows app.
The shoes are fitted with flexible HD colour e-paper screens which can display images, patterns and even animations. Its Kevlar fibre-coated soles make it durable, while its waterproof design (up to 5m) will let you gambol in the rain without damaging the displays. Besides, you don't need to worry about them getting dirty either. The Shiftwear is machine washable. Your designs will be visible in daylight, but you can switch on a built-in backlight when in darker settings. Each pair is powered by batteries that are rated to last 30 days without a recharge. Here's the best part: you can charge them wirelessly or just take a walk to replenish its cells.
So the next time you step out, you can match your shoes to your clothes by browsing patterns and colours on your phone, design your custom look and even share it with others around the world.
Shiftwear will be available in three styles ­ lower, medium and high top ­ and in a range of colours like red, green, yellow, blue and black.
Launch | October 2016 Price | Starts at $250 + shipping

SMART EGG
The Smart Egg is a universal remote control worth coveting. Just place this unassuminglooking device at a central location in your home, pair it with your Android or iOS phone over Bluetooth and then identify all your remote-controlled appliances via the app.
The Egg taps into an online database of over 5,000 remote controllers and 1,20,000 infrared 5,000 remote controllers and 1,20,000 infrared codes to load the right set of controls for you.Now, whenever you want to switch on the television, amplifier or air conditioner, just use your phone. The commands are sent over Bluetooth to the Egg, which transmits infrared signals to the respective device.
The Smart Egg can even learn new remotes.Besides, you can configure multiple actions ­ including TV and AC presets ­ to be executed at a tap of a button. And if you enable the Smart Egg's location-sensing feature, then you don't need to do that either. Enter the room and SE will switch on the air-condition er, the lights, and even your music system. It also comes with a built-in timer and smart features: auto mute the TV when you get a call, monitor AC temperatures, and more.
aico.tech Launch | February 2016 Price | $89

COMET
If you've lost a phone to water dam age--it slipped out of your shirt pocket into a bath tub, was accidentally dropped into a pool, or perhaps, it got wet during the monsoons--you know how much that hurts. You might try to put up a brave face for the folk around you, but deep down inside, you know that your phone is giving up its ghost. Well, you--most of all--can appreciate a handset that's water-resistant. The new Comet, due in the second quarter of 2016, comes with IPx7 rating, which means it can survive in one metre of water for up to 30 minutes. But, over and above that, this Android-Lollipop-based smartphone plops back out to float on the surface. Yes, you read right. The Comet is the first handset that floats! But don't mistake its buoyancy for light-weight specs. The device boasts of a heavy-duty 2GHz Snapdragon 810 quad-core processor, 4GB RAM, up to 64GB storage, two 16MP cameras, a 2800mAh battery and a 4.7-inch Super AMOLED display .http:www.cometcore.com
Launch | April 2016 Price | Starts at $249

YOCAM
The YoCam is a mashup of the adventure cam GoPro, the surveillance-oriented DropCam, the life-logging Memoto, and a wide-angled selfie shooter. Weighing 55gms, this midget snapper is packed with a microSD slot, a 700mAh battery that gives two hours of continuous video, and an 8MP sensor that is capable of 140-degree (wide-angled) shots, Full HD videos at 30fps, as well as low-light captures.
The YoCam also crams in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, a proprietary image-stabili zation technology called MoSteady, and a build that carries an IP68 rating, which means it can survive in up to 20 feet of water.
Backing this device, is an app called Mofily (for camera control, video editing and social media sharing) ­ and a single-button interface that lets you shoot time-lapse, slow motion and looping videos ­ as well as photos in burst mode, with delays, and life-log streams with snapshots at intervals of 5103060 seconds.
For accessories, the YoCam will be available with the YoYo Bluetooth Remote, as well as a whole bunch of camera mounts and straps.
Launch | February 2016 Price | $300

BEKER
Beker is a personal music playback system that frees up your ears for ambient sounds like traffic when jogging and cycling, and airport announcements during your travels. It operates through bone conduction, which means audio is transmitted through your skull ­ vibrating the little bones in your middle ear to finally become the music perceived by your inner ear.Don't worry , the technology is perfectly safe.
The device weighs 34g; is rated IPx8, which means it is waterproof; comes with 4GB internal storage for your music, and includes a battery that's rated to last eight hours on a single charge. It is neat, discrete, and does away with stubborn ear plugs that keep falling out of ears or muffs that heat up your lobes.
Launch | March 2016 Price | $110

ONAGOFLY
If you've always wondered what it feels like to be followed by paparazzi, you might want to consider the OnagoFly . The palm-sized drone is fitted with GPS, Wi-Fi, a hi-res 15MP camera, a microSD slot for storage and a 1000mAh battery. And most importantly, it comes with an auto-follow feature.
Weighing a mere 140g, this auto mated paparazzo can be set to shoot photos, Full HD videos and stream live in-flight footage to a connected Android or iOS mobile device.
You can also use OnagoFly to record get-togethers. Just set the drone to auto-follow and go about mingling with the crowd. Its 360-degree infrared obstacle avoidance system prevents collisions, while its wireless connection to your phone helps it locate your whereabouts to record you from different angles.
This portable drone comes with a hard case for easy storage and is capable of giving you up to 15 minutes of flight time before needing a recharge.
Launch | March 2016 Price | Starts at $260 + shipping

TOI2JAN16

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