Category Archives: camera

TikTeck Sells Direct to Consumer

February 2, 2016camera, ces, Gadgets, Home Automation, Interview, Special Media, Toys, videocamera, ces, CES2016, gadget, home automation, Interview, toy, video, wearableAndrew

TikTeck are coming to market with the sole purpose of bringing affordable products direct to the consumer and cutting out the middleman. With only a few gadgets available, Daniel chats with Rex Chen, VP Product Development of TikTeck to find out what’s in store.

In the first wave of products, there’s a Bluetooth-controlled smart LED bulb displaying 16 million colours for only US$9.99. You don’t need me to tell you what a bargain that price is. The companion smartphone app runs on both iOS and Android, providing group controls and timers, much like some of the market leading apps. Available for pre-order now with delivery expected end of February.

Combining both security and fun, the next product is a wireless camera rover. It’s a digital video camera on a remote controlled buggy which can be steered and monitored by wifi from a smartphone. US$69.99 when it goes on sale. I want one – the black version in the interview looks positively menacing.

Finally, TikTeck have a smart finger ring that measures heart rate and tracks activity and sends the data back to the smartphone by Bluetooth. It looks far more like a man’s ring than it does a fitness tracker. Price not finalised but likely to be in the $50-$100 range.

Daniel J. Lewis is the host of the award-winning podcast about podcasting, The Audacity to Podcast. Daniel helps others launch and improve their own podcasts for sharing their passions and finding success.

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Altia Systems New PanaCast 2 is Much More than a 4K Webcam

February 1, 2016camera, cesces, CES 2016, PanaCast 2Shawn Thorpe

Live-streaming enabled video cameras are everywhere now. They’re in our desktop displays, laptop computers, smartphones, tablets. The list goes on. And while most of these cameras are fine for video chats or conference calls, they don’t have much in the way of features. Also, the video quality produced by these cams is usually described as “good enough.” But what if you want something more?

Daniel met up with Amra from Altia Systems, makers of the new PanaCast 2 4K panoramic video camera. Amra gave some impressive information about this new compact imaging device. It actually uses three different cameras that combine their video streams into one signal that creates a constant, 180-degree panoramic view. All in glorious Ultra HD! PanaCast 2 works in real time and it can be used with any computer just like a USB webcam. Simply plug it in, and you’re ready to go! PanaCast 2 can be used with video conferencing applications like Skype or it can be used in conjunction with Altia Systems’ own live-streaming video platform. The device is available direct from the manufacturer and it carries a retail price of $995.00.

Daniel J. Lewis dares you to get started in podcasting with The Audacity to Podcast.

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Panono Panoramic Camera

January 27, 2016camera, ces, Interview, Special Media, video, VRcamera, ces, CES2016, Interview, video, VRAndrew

Looking like a prop from a sci-fi movie, the Panono panoramic camera holds 36 digital cameras for total panoramic coverage. Best of all, it’s fun; want to take a panorama? Throw it in the air. Don and Todd find out more about the Panono from Jonas Pfeil, CEO and co-founder.

With all 36 cameras engaged in taking an element of the panorama, the Panono has an effective resolution of 108 megapixels, producing high contrast HDR pictures with incredible detail too. In addition to throwing the Panono in the air, photos can be taken manually for the ultimate selfie. Panoramas are viewed on-line or in the companion app within about ten minutes of taking a shot after the software has stitched the images together. If that’s not enough, the images can be viewed through a VR headset for an incredibly immersive experience.

The professional version is available now for US$1499 from Panono with a consumer model expected soon for US$599.

Todd Cochrane is the host of the twice-weekly Geek News Central Podcast at GeekNewsCentral.com.
Don Baine is the Gadget Professor and gives classes at TheGadgetProfessor.com.

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Brinno Brings Impressive Roster of Cameras to CES

January 19, 2016camera, cesBrinno, camera, ces, CES2016Shawn Thorpe

It’s kind of cliche now that nearly every moment of our lives is captured by a camera somewhere. Whether or not that’s a good or bad thing depends upon your own point of view. Regardless, camera manufacturer Brinno is bringing innovative new cameras to market that can help anyone get the footage they desire.

Chris R. Adams from Brinno stopped off to speak with Todd and Don at this year’s CES. Chris brought along four new devices and was ready to show them off. First up is Brinno’s PanLapse camera base. PanLapse isn’t a camera itself. Rather, it’s designed to hold a number of different cameras. Everything from smartphones to dSLR’s. PanLapse relies on programming from the Brinno smartphone app. This programming tells the device how and when to pan thru its field of motion, giving the attached camera the ability to pan and sweep as needed. PanLapse is on the market now for $130.

Next up is the TLC120 time-lapse camera. TLC120 is a small, weatherproof, HDR time-lapse camera that can take up to 270,000 pictures and store them on a 32GB SD card. TLC120 can also stream images to a smartphone or computer. The camera works over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi and it comes with a built-in tripod stand. TLC120 can be set for use in starlight, daylight, low light, and other scenarios. TLC120 is available for purchase for $299.

Brinno has also brought a special package to CES called the BCC200 Pro. The BCC200 is a higher-end version of the company’s TLC120 camera and it’s being sold as part of a package exclusively thru B&H Photo. Suggested price for the BCC200 is $239.

The last item Chris had to share this year is Brinno’s PHV1325 PeepHole Viewer camera. The name pretty much says it all in this case. PHV1325 comes with a peephole replacement kit for your door. When you install the PHV1325 camera, it’ll record any activity it detects at your door and it can even send that video directly to your smartphone or computer. PHV1325 works with a system of sensors that can be placed on your doorbell, under a doormat, detect when someone knocks on the door or simply walks in front of your door. When the PeepHole Viewer detects movement at your door, it can instantly notify you and send you images of what’s going on. The device carries a retail price of $199.

Don Baine is the Gadget Professor and he holds classes at TheGadgetProfessor.com.

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360fly Unveils “360fly 4K” Video Camera at CES 2016

January 7, 2016camera, ces360fly 4K, CES 2016Todd Cochrane

Todd Cochrane reports that 360fly is the maker of the world’s only single-lens camera that captures stitchless 360-degree video with interactive and virtual reality viewing capabilities. At CES 2016, they have unveiled the next generation of their popular 360fly camera. The 360fly 4K is a water resistant single-lens, 360-degree video camera with live streaming capabilities and intuitive filming and editing advancements.

360fly 4K adds a powerful new image sensor that quadruples the resolution of the first generation 360fly camera producing 2880×2880, 360-degree 4K quality. Additionally, 360fly 4K will offer the following upgraded and advanced features:

Front-Facing Mode: Not all situations require a 360-degree field of view. During those times, 360fly 4K will allow users to record in a 16:9 aspect ratio at 2560×1440 resolution with a field view of 178×100 degrees (204 diagonal).

Time-Lapse Video Mode: Tell a story in a dramatic fashion by capturing a 360-degree time-lapse video. Users can select 1, 2, 5, 10, 30, or 60-second shutter intervals.

Motion and Audio Detection Mode: 360fly 4K will automatically begin to record based off any movement or sounds. This feature is great in surveillance or monitoring situations.

Accelerometer Activated Record Mode: Not all environments are smartphone friendly, and in those situations 360fly 4K users can activate record mode with a shake of the camera. For instance, a skier without their smartphone may have difficulties pushing the OnePush button with their snow gloves on, so a simple shake of the camera will begin recording.

Telemetry: 360fly 4K features a built-in GPS sensor to tag locations, a barometer/altimeter and accelerometer all powered by an advanced Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor. Users can now track altitude, speed and edit this data as an overlay into their 360-degree video content.

OnePush Button Color-Coding: For clearer visibility and mode recognition, 360fly 4K features an enhanced design with additional color-coded lighting around the OnePush button and bottom of the mounting dock.

For professional, commercial, or advanced users looking to live stream 360-degree video, 360fly 4K pairs with its Micro-HDMI accessory base (sold separately) and is able to output a real-time full 360-degree HD video stream – providing a truly differentiated live viewing experience.

Like the original 360fly camera, 360fly 4K comes standard with Bluetooth, built-in Wi-Fi and has up to two hours of battery life. Also carrying over is the camera’s ability to conveniently share video content direct from the 360fly mobile app to popular social platforms like Facebook and YouTube.

Visit 360fly at CES 2016 in Central Hall booth # 10417.

MiniWing Brings its Camile Bike Cam to CES 2016

January 6, 2016camerabicycle, camera, MiniwingShawn Thorpe

The ability to capture video used to be a very special thing for mere mortals to do. Videographers-to-be had to shell out hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars for bulky camcorder systems that could barely be considered portable. And while those devices might’ve been great, they still had many limitations. But those days are long gone. Almost everyone is carrying at least one device on them at all times capable of recording (and even live streaming) HD quality video. This ability to easily capture video has crept into all areas of our lives. Capable video cameras are now so abundant that they’re made for everything from dashboards to surfboards. MiniWing is now bringing this idea to bicycles with its new Camile Bike Cam.

The Camile Bike Cam can be used to record either video or burst-mode still photos. Users can point the lens outward or in whatever direction they’d like to record. Once turned on, an LED screen can display the speed of travel, local time, or the ongoing mileage of a bike trip. Three indicator lights keep track of battery life, video recording status, and if the device is connected via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to a smmartphone. Once footage has been shot, an application is available to sync footage to a connected device, and can also be downloaded to a computer with a USB cord.

The Camile Bike Camera is currently on display at MiniWing’s booth at the South Hall, Level 2, booth # 25234 during CES 2016.

Brinno introduces Pan Lapse Camera Stand at CES

January 6, 2016cameraBrinno, camera, ces, CES2016Shawn Thorpe

From creative to industrial applications, there are many uses for time-lapse photography. But one of the challenges facing this type of imaging is that it can be difficult to capture the entirety of a time-lapse scene. Usually, time-lapse cameras are placed in a static location, offering only one perspective on the action.

Brinno hopes to change that with its new ART 200 Pan Lapse Camera Stand. This stand allows users to affix either a camera or a smartphone to its top. Then, the base swivels from left-to-right, offering up to 360 degrees of smooth motion. Perfect for capturing either a portion of an area or an entire landscape.

The Pan Lapse Camera Stand has a standard built-in 1/4-inch mounting screw for cameras or an included clip for use with smartphones. In order to set up the stand, just use Brinno’s free smartphone app that syncs with the stand. With the app, users can customize variables like panning speed, sweep angle, and timing. The stand communicates with smartphones via Bluetooth and is powered by 2 AAA batteries that can last 48 hours to 30 days, depending on the camera weight and the panning speed.

The ART 200 is currently on display during CES 2016, at Brinno’s booth at the South Hall, Level 1, booth #22007.