Items tagged with cameras
For many people, the most important aspect of a smartphone is the camera performance. That is why phone makers put so much focus on the camera, with each new generation handset upping the ante with better photo-taking capabilities. But what if these cameras were used to spy on you? According to a software developer, the permissions granted to iPhone apps gives them the ability to take pictures and record video without the user's knowledge. Felix Krause, a developer who obtained a Software Engineering degree from the University of Central Lancashire in the UK and currently works at Google, wrote an independent blog post warning of this functionality. And to borrow a line from Apple, this unsettling...
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Samsung does not seem to be as concerned as Nokia about the slow pace at which VR is entering the mainstream. As such, Samsung unveiled a new 360 Round camera for recording immersive 3D experiences. The announcement comes less than two weeks after Nokia canned its premium (and ultra pricey) Ozo VR camera amid a series of layoffs as it looks to pivot into the digital health sector. Like the Ozo, the 360 Round is equipped with multiple camera sensors and has a distinct look, though the two do not resemble each other. The Ozo looked like a modern version of Q-bert, for those of you old enough to get that reference, while the 360 Round is more puck shaped. Samsung's 360 Round also has a lot more...
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One of the challenges that exists for self-driving cars is being able to anticipate the unseen, such as a child running out from behind a tree and into the road. But what if there were cameras mounted to the car that could somehow see hidden objects? Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) have developed a clever algorithm that allows cameras to detect people and objects hidden behind corners. The implication of this technology extends beyond autonomous vehicles and into a wide range of fields, including emergency response situations. Rather than wander into an area without known what might be found on the other...
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Do you remember the movie The Circle with Tom Hanks and and Emma Watson? It was not all that great, though the message of user privacy is one that could serve as a cautionary tale to consumers. Tesla founder Elon Musk is certainly aware of what is at stake, and he took to Twitter to voice concern over Google's new AI-based camera, Google Clips. Image Source: Google In response to an article link on the new camera, Musk responded, "This doesn't even *seem* innocent." Musk has made his reservations about the potential downsides of artificial intelligence well known, and when you mix in privacy concerns, it is not too surprising to see him raise an eyebrow over Clips, a small tool that both records...
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In a perfect world, we would not have to worry about intruders breaking into our homes and pilfering our belongings. Of course, we do not live in such a world, and the sad reality is that burglars and thieves exist. Fortunately there are home security products that make life tough for the bad guys. One of them is the Nest IQ Cam, a smart "security camera that outsmarts other security cameras." Behind that witty tagline is a smart camera that was built from ground up with completely new hardware with unique functionality. It's an inside version of its outdoor security camera released last year. Armed with an improved lens and beefed up processing power, the Nest Cam IQ can see better and think...
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It seems as though police body cameras are becoming the “new normal” for both police officers and everyday citizens across the United States. Body cameras have the ability to become an impartial eyewitness to police encounters with citizens and have the power to back up the story provided by an officer in a disputed altercation, or perhaps point to alleged misconduct by an officer. However, today’s body cameras are for the most part “dumb” units that simply record video and audio. But advances in technology could in the future bring live-streaming cameras and facial recognition to the cameras worn by police officers. This technology will of course add to acquisition costs for police departments,...
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When the topic of encryption comes up, it is often related to smartphones and tablets, and the differing opinions on the matter between hardware makers such as Google and Apple versus government agencies. Those are not the only areas where encryption matters. In an open letter to the camera makers around the world, Freedom of the Press Foundation makes a plea to build encryption into still photo and video cameras to protect the "safety and security" of photojournalists and filmmakers, along with their sources.The open letter is signed by more 150 documentary filmmakers and photojournalists. It is an issue that resonates throughout the industry and is of concern to both those who work independently...
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One of the rumors floating around about the iPhone 7 is that it will sport dual cameras on its backside for depth sensing. That might still be the case with the larger size iPhone 7 Plus model, but based on a leaked shot of what's purportedly the camera component for the 4.7-inch iPhone 7, it will have a single rear-facing lens.In the absence of dual cameras, it appears the single lens design of the iPhone 7 is being upgraded with optical image stabilization (OIS), a feature that's present on the current generation 5.5-inch iPhone 6s Plus model, but not the smaller iPhone 6s. That's assuming the leaked shot of the camera module by French-language website Nowhereelse.fr is legit.The site placed...
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Nikon has a new entry-level digital SLR (DSLR) camera for anyone who's outgrown their point-and-shoot and is looking for something better suited for serious photography. It's the Nikon D3400 and it's designed to help budding photography buffs learn more about the hobby without feeling intimidated by a swath of advanced settings. The way it does that is through Nikon's Guide Mode, an integrated feature that provides step-by-step assistance when adjusting camera settings. Photographers can turn the top Command Dial to Guide Mode and see a full range of capture options, which the camera then guides them through to snap the desired shot. It's intended for first-time DSLR owners and helps make the...
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LG is just a tad late bringing its anticipated Action Cam with LTE connectivity to market (the company stated in May that it would ship in June), but it's now starting to roll out, first to South Korea and then followed by other "key markets" in the coming weeks. It's not entirely clear when and if LG will launch its Action Cam in the U.S.We assume the U.S. is considered a key market, especially for something like this, which will go toe-to-toe with the GoPro line. The big selling point here is the built-in LTE connectivity that allows users to record and stream their adventures in real-time to YouTube Live and other online services without having to tap into their smartphones. That's a trick...
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One of the most popular add-ons for Raspberry Pi's low-cost mini PC line is a 5-megapixel visible-light camera board. It also happens to be Raspberry Pi's first official accessory, which it introduced in 2013. Now three years later, modders and makers have access to a pair of new camera boards, both based on Sony's IMX219 8-megapixel sensor. The new camera boards are available in visible-light and infrared flavors. As with the old model, these can be used in a variety of projects, including telescopes, kites with aerial views, science lessons, hyperspectral imaging hacks, and the list goes on. The introduction of a new camera accessory comes as stock of the old model has nearly run out. Raspberry...
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GoPro might have been better off waiting until the weekend to report preliminary financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2015. Instead, it held off until after trading hours yesterday to reveal an expected revenue miss and anticipated job cuts only to wake up to a plummeting stock price.Shares of GoPro are taking a beating in early day trading. Initially shares dropped by upwards of 25 percent but have slightly recovered and are now trading at $12.27, down around 16 percent with slight fluctuations in both directions. That's a far cry from the more than $90 per share GoPro was commanding just months after going public with a $24 IPO in June 2014.The reason for...
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Remember Nokia's fancy pants Ozo camera? It's billed as the first virtual reality camera system specifically designed for professional production, and today we learned it will have a price tag to match -- $60,000. Ah, but turn that frown upside down, you don't have to come up the full amount right off the bat. It only requires a $5,000 deposit! All kidding aside, the price tag reflects the camera's target audience and intended purpose. This isn't a toy or even a high-tech device for hobbyists, but a serious tool for creating professional level content in the emerging VR field.Is it just us, or does Nokia's Ozo VR camera look like Q*bert? To do that, the Ozo sports eight 2K by 2K video sensors,...
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Logitech just made a splash in the home camera market with the introduction of its Logi Circle, a portable camera that's somewhat similar to Nest's Dropcam. Both cost the same at $200 MSRP, but unlike Dropcam, the Logi Circle is portable and rechargeable, allowing you to take it from room to room for up to three hours of streaming. It also lasts up to 12 hours in power save mode. Once it runs out of juice, you can place the camera on the included magnetic charging ring. This is a pretty big advantage over Dropcam, which needs to be plugged into a power source, though it lacks the integration with smart products (Dropcam can connect to Nest's Thermostat and Protect devices). This is Logitech's...
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