Toshiba reveals Lytro-style refocus camera module for 2013

Toshiba is readying a Lytro-style camera that could allow photos taken on smartphones and tablets to be refocused after they’re captured, with a complex lens assembly creating data-dense adjustable images. The camera, which is expected to be commercialized in late 2013, grabs 500,000 pictures in one take, The Asahi Shimbum reports, thanks to an identical number of lenses in front of the sensor, each taking a shot with slightly different focus settings.

toshiba_lytro-style_camera_module

The resulting image can be refocused among each of those 500,000 focal settings, with the end result being a post-capture choice over what is crisp in the frame and what is blurred. Toshiba says the camera module can also be used for video capture, again with greater flexibility over what is kept in focus.

However, since the module is able to precisely gauge the distance between different objects within the frame, it’s possible to do some chromakey-style editing. The camera can retain a foreground subject, for instance, and replace the background with an alternative scene, something which usually requires post-processing if the effect is to be particularly believable.

The lenses themselves are a mere 0.03mm in diameter, and are arranged in front of a sensor 5 x 7 mm in size; altogether, the camera module itself measures roughly 1cm square. That’s considerably smaller than the “light field” technology Lytro developed for its eponymous camera, which is limited to stills not video, and while impressing early reviewers with its flexibility, was criticized for the generally underwhelming quality of its shots.

Toshiba is pushing the module among phone and tablet manufacturers; we’d also like to see it in life-logging systems like Google Glass and Kickstarter success Memoto, where being able to retroactively focus on different elements of the frame (and not bother with settings during filming) could be very useful. No word on how it compares in price to a typical module, nor indeed what resolution the final images are.

toshiba_lytro-style

[via Engadget]


Toshiba reveals Lytro-style refocus camera module for 2013 is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
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Rumor: Apple Building Bluetooth Smart Watch

Screen Shot 2012-12-27 at 8.52.04 AM

According to Chinese gadget news site Tech.163, Apple may be in the process of developing its own smart watch that connects to your Apple devices via Bluetooth. Based on the report, Intel will be working with Apple to create the smart watch, with a 1.5-inch PMOLED display made by RiTDisplay with ITO-coated glass.

Apple has long had a small hold on the watch market thanks to its iPod nano, which is easily attached to a wrist band turning it into a full-functioning watch.

Recently, however, smart watches have grown increasingly popular. Sony, for instance, has a new offering called the Smart Watch, and we can’t forget how Pebble blew up Kickstarter with it’s e-paper Smart Watch that connects to iOS and Android devices.

Users are looking for more and more connectivity, and as it stands now, an iPod nano with no Bluetooth connection to a user’s phone or tablet is becoming less attractive.

Throughout the past year, there have been many questions over when and if Apple will join the Smart Watch race. Today marks one of the first semi-substantiated leaks.

However, I’m approaching this with a hefty helping of salt. Even if Apple is making a watch, it will be quite a while before we see any real evidence of it. Plus, there’s no proven market for smart watches yet, even with the success of Pebble and MetaWatch.

According to the source, Apple will launch this smart watch later next year.

Whether or not that’s true, this will likely excite multitudes of geeks who clearly see value in such a device, as proven by Pebble and others.

It won’t be revolutionary, per se — many have already entered the smart watch space — but Apple has a knack for making niche devices mainstream. Just take a look at tablets. Before the iPad, the main question on everyone’s mind was whether or not tablets would be used in everyday life.

If this rumor proves true, Apple is probably doing the same thing it did with tablets to the idea of the watch. Low-power Bluetooth 4.0 makes wearable connected tech more practical, and with Apple’s design touch and software ecosystem, a smart watch could appeal to more than just gadget geeks.

Democrats Make Moves To Ensure Cabinet, Congressional Committee Chairs Are Diverse

Political expediency can make a sudden feminist out of anyone, apparently. There was former Romney advisor Dan Senor on Twitter last week, expressing his distaste for potential Defense Secretary nominee Chuck Hagel: “Isn’t it strange that the President dropped Rice but is dug in over #Hagel? Especially when he can nominate the highly qualified #Flournoy?”

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Lindsay Lohan & Family’s Christmas Photo 2012

Lindsay Lohan and her family celebrated an arrest-free Christmas in New York — but one family member was conspicuously absent … you get three guesses.

While Michael Lohan celebrated the holiday in Florida with his on-again-off-again-on-again GF Kate Major, the rest of the Lohan family got festive at Dina’s house in Long Island — including Lindsay’s grandma and siblings Ali, Cody, and Michael Jr.

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Samsung doubles down on its web-based messaging app with ChatON 2.0

Samsung doubles down its webbased messaging app with ChatON 20

If you like to let your fingers do the talking but basic text and smileys alone don’t cut it, Samsung has just released version 2.0 of its ChatON internet-based messaging app. It works on Android, iOS, Blackberry, Bada and even web browsers to let you send missives to your besties — alone or in groups — with video, audio or images. The updated app / website works in over 200 countries and 60 languages, and now includes a multiscreen feature to let you chat with over five separate accounts at once along with the ability to conscript new chat-ees via Facebook or Twitter. You’ll still be able to post messages to the “trunk” for friends to see before they hit social networks or create a personal profile with status updates — so, hit the source for more info, social butterflies.

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Source: Samsung Tomorrow

Best-Dressed Stars Of 2012: Solange Knowles, Kerry Washington, Rihanna And More (PHOTOS)

The chic always rise to the top, which made pulling together the list of this year’s best-dressed stars a cinch.

Solange Knowles mesmerized us with her bold ensembles and awesome au naturale locks; Rihanna’s enviable body was only rivaled by the stunning clothes she covered herself in; Beyonce is always a vision and Kerry Washington was nearly flawless each time she stepped out. And that’s just a few of our top picks.

While those ladies are best-dressed shoo-ins, there were a few wilds cards at earned top sartorial honors.

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DIY Silent Computer Doesn’t Make a Peep

I’ve gotten used to my computer rig making lots of noise, when it’s totally quiet, it usually indicates some sort of a hardware failure. Some computers run 24/7 and generate a lot of heat because getting work done. While there are certainly some machines out there that have no fans and are pretty quiet, Redditor DeFex wanted to build a rig that was completely silent, by doing away with fans, and all other moving parts.

diy silent computer heatsink

His DIY silent computer  features a 65W Intel Core i5 Ivy Bridge processor, so it’s powerful enough to handle all his media center needs. A solid state disk replaces a traditional IDE drive, which gets noisy. SSDs also generate less heat. This system also has no DVD or Blu-ray drive. In order to cool this computer, DeFex picked up a large 10″×7″ heatsink from HeatSinkUSA, which draws away heat from the motherboard.

diy silent computer heatsink complete

The case includes some parts that were 3d-printed using a MakerBot 3D. The overall project is pretty cool, though it’s still a work in progress. You can check out more pics of the build over on imgur.

diy silent computer heatsink construction

[via Liliputing]

These Four Retailers Are On The Brink Of Death

While 2013 will be a tough year for retailers due to the tepid economic recovery, a few in particular face a critical 12 months. Their experiences highlight the challenges facing store chains, from increasingly cautious consumers to fierce online competition.

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Halle Berry And Her Amazing Complexion (PHOTO)

She has the most perfect skin ever.
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Tourists Visiting Tikal During Maya Celebrations Damage Ruins

The so-called Mayan Apocalypse didn’t occur, but an ancient temple nearly met its end.

Tourists in Guatemala for “end of the world” parties last week have damaged an ancient stone pyramid at Tikal, noted as the largest archeological site of the ancient Mayan civilization.

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