Ever since the PRISM scandal (a government program deemed legal that collects digital information for security purposes) exploded in the media, public-facing companies like Facebook, Apple, Google and Microsoft have been on the defensive in terms of public relations since […]
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Though you may think drones do all the fighting these days, actual soldiers on the ground are still used to call in airstrikes. Sometimes it’s still necessary to visually confirm targets before the flyboys create a smoking crater. Though the army has toyed with smartphones and other means to connect soldiers, Raytheon has created a new JTACs (Joint Tactical Air Controller system) prototype for ground forces to let them separate friendlies from enemies and relay the information to strike forces. The system consists of a chest-worn computer, heads-up monocle viewer and wrist-worn display, which together let the solider select a target merely by looking at it and pressing a button. They can also tag friendly forces the same way or send update situational data to the rest of the team, whether they’re on the ground or flying a fighter overhead. That assistance from the ground will make it easier for those at the yoke to differentiate between friendlies and targets.
We tried the prototype ourselves in a limited, 2D environment here at the 2013 Paris Air Show and, without any help getting set up, were able to tag targets as red diamonds and friendly forces as amber squares. Everything we did was also displayed on second screen, simulating the ability to send live updates to other soldiers or the base. Impressive as it was, the whole thing is merely a prototype for now, though, that could eventually change. The military AR system is part of a larger platform called AWARE, which Raytheon hopes to eventually deploy. For a detailed explanation about how it works, check out the video after the break.
Filed under: Wearables
Casey Neistat makes movies. His products are homegrown and eccentric, as though they were built from sticks and stones. But they are also often brilliant, and have clearly caught on, at least enough to garner a presence on The New York Times website as well as HBO. Much of Neistat’s magic is concocted in a bright SoHo loft that is as every bit as weird and wonderful as his movies. One that he let us explore.
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A while back, I wrote about the QuNeo, a reasonably priced, multitouch music controller, packed with triggers and modifiers. The folks at Keith McMillen Instruments were kind enough to set me up with a QuNeo so I could put it to the test.
The QuNeo itself is a lightweight and compact USB/MIDI/OSC controller, measuring just 9-1/2″ (w) x 7-1/4″ (h). It’s just over 1/4″ thick and weighs under a pound, so it can easily be tossed in your backpack if you like to travel and perform. It’s also been designed to be spill-proof, an added bonus if you like to have the occasional drink while playing.
The controller itself offers 16 touch-sensitive trigger pads, as well as nine virtual sliders, two virtual wheel controls and 17 additional programmable buttons. It’s ideal for controlling software like Ableton Live, Traktor, and even can be used with Garage Band.
What makes the QuNeo unique is the fact that its pad can sense pressure, velocity and location, which means you can have fine-grained control over your inputs, not available with most other input devices. One of my favorite things is that you can use this technology to do things like pitch bending when you move your finger across the surface of each pad. Each input is backed by colored LEDs, which can provide visual feedback when playing or adjusting settings.
One thing you’ll quickly learn with the QuNeo is that each of its 16 drum pads is actually comprised of multiple trigger points. So you can set not just each pad to trigger a sound, but each of its four corners can act as a trigger. Though if you prefer that the entire surface of each pad trigger the same note, you can set the QuNeo into one of its drum controller modes. Each pad can be used to sense velocity so depending on how hard you hit the pad, the note or track you play can change in amplitude.
To use the QuNeo, I had to simply install the latest software (PC or Mac), select which music apps I use, and connect the device to an open USB port. There’s also a small amount of configuration in each music app to tell it which controller you want to use. I then selected which of the 16 pre-installed preset modes I wanted by pressing the mode button in the top left corner, then selecting the pad which corresponded to the preset number. Factory preset modes include predefined drum and grid modes as well as settings for popular music applications including Serato, Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Traktor, Reason, Battery, and even for controlling Korg’s iMS-20 and BeatMaker iPad synthesizers.
Once in Ableton Live 9, I was able to use the default Ableton Live presets, which provide easy access to clip playback and track recording controls. This allowed me to quickly play, mute and manipulate clips by touching the corners of each button. I was also able easily assign individual buttons, sliders and wheels as MIDI trigger using Ableton’s standard MIDI assignment interface if I wanted to override the presets.
I did find it a little tricky to assign triggers to MIDI inputs directly in Ableton, only because each one of the QuNeo’s pads outputs multiple trigger codes based on where you press. That said, you can always build a proper set of presets using the QuNeo preset editor if you want to skip Ableton’s built-in MIDI assignment screen. QuNeo’s editor allows you to create your own set of assignments for any of the triggers, providing a tremendous amount of control over how the interface is used.
Overall, I’ve found the QuNeo to be incredibly flexible and robust. Since it’s completely programmable, you can truly make it match your individual workflow, whether you’re into live performance, or are looking for a controller for studio recording.
However, with great power comes complexity. First off, you’ll definitely want to watch the video tutorials for your music software of choice up on their website. You’ll also need to really familiarize yourself with all of the presets which are listed in the manual, and then memorize which triggers are assigned to each button, slider or wheel. This isn’t a unique challenge to the QuNeo – all programmable controllers have similar constraints. Someday, I’d love for the buttons on these things to have OLED or LCD screens in them so you could see what’s assigned to each one at a glance, instead of relying on memorization.
Since I wouldn’t consider myself an expert musician by any stretch of the imagination, here’s a video showing off some QuNeo performance techniques from some talented performers:
The QuNeo lists for $199(USD) and is available from a variety of retailers, including Amazon. Keep in mind that if you want to connect the QuNeo directly to a MIDI synthesizer, you’ll need to purchase the optional MIDI expander box for about $50.
Disclosure: Keith McMillan Instruments provided the device for review in this article. However, all reviews are the unbiased views of our editorial staff, and we will only recommend products or services we have used personally, and believe will be good for our readers.
Most helicopters are built for hovering, not for speed. But the Eurocopter X3 is built for both. The demonstrator tilt-rotor aircraft proved as much when it set a pair of air speed records earlier this month.
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I don’t get it. I’m gone an entire week and there’s not one show. I get back, Justin’s gone, but I still have to do one. What’s up with that? Luckily it’s a non-issue. Today we’ve got CNET HDTV editor Ty Pendlebury on the program to help me wrap up the chaos that was E3 2013 and filter out some of the new-found disgust I have for videogame fanboys. You know, the worst kind of fanboy.
– Check out Jeff’s slideshow showing the most exciting games of E3.
– Play catch-up by looking back at the rest of CNET’s E3 2013 coverage.
– Follow Ty on Twitter.
– ESPN drops 3D, four years after the rest of world has already given up on it.
Listen Now: … [Read more]
Related Links:
Microsoft’s Marc Whitten on why Xbox One offers a better value
Xbox next: What to expect at Tuesday’s Xbox reveal event
Five unanswered questions about the Xbox One
Analyst: Xbox One to cost $399, PlayStation 4 priced at $349
Xbox One and PS4: Two peas in an E3 pod
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Toothbrushing, the necessary evil. I remember my parents riding me to brush my teeth, the horror stories they told about plaque and cavities. The graphic descriptions of the dentists drill and blackened teeth. I never did get a cavity, but to this day, I’m still scared to death of the dentist. I take a less dramatic approach with my kid, I try to make tooth brushing fun, and hope she keeps her teeth and her sanity.
Check out the nifty RinserBrush, a novel approach to the mundane brush and rinse, the RinserBrush affords you a fabulous cleansing, followed by a water fountain rinse. Forget the dirty glass, cartoon laden disposable Dixie Cup, or the head in the sink hand to mouth maneuver, the RinserBrush gives you a geyser-like stream, perfect for a robust after brush swish.
It’s handy, it’s fun and it’s certainly more earth friendly than paper cups, or disposable toothbrushes. The RinserBrush allows you to simply change out the bristles when you’ve worn the old ones out letting you enjoy your new toothbrush for years to come. The fountain is directional so you can control the stream by the way you hold the brush and you no longer have to worry about getting that filthy rinse cup to the dishwasher. Yeah, I know how long its been.
The RinserBrush is available for pre-order for only 24 bucks, with shipping expected sometime this month. Go ahead and get one at amronexperimental.com or just check out the video, the tooth fairy will thank you.
[ RinserBrush – Toothbrush and Water Fountain, in One copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
“It looks childish.” That was the first reaction I heard to iOS 7. I’m not going to lie, when I saw it for the first time myself, I freaked out a little too. Like any good simplicity-loving designer, I was eagerly waiting for Jonathan Ive to reveal a fresh, clean take on iOS.
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