Hasta La Gadget!

We were told we wouldn’t be hearing any pricing or availability information about the OLPC XO-4 until later in the week, but it didn’t take the One Laptop Per Child folks too long to let us know a little more about their gameplan. Just a short while ago, OLPC let us know that its recently announced XO-4 kid-friendly laptop will sell for $206 per unit with a minimum purchase of 10,000 units, while pricing is said to be lowered with a greater volume order. Additionally, the company noted that it’s planning on meeting its own expectations and starting mass production in March, which should be more than enough time for interested parties to start figuring out just how many OLPC XO-4 orders they will be placing. Oh, and in case you’re interested, we also got some hands-on video earlier today — you can check that out right after the break.

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Source: OLPC

Lego has been into robotics for quite some time now, but today at CES, the company unveiled the new Mindstorms EV3 robotic system, which is Lego’s first robotic system that comes with iOS and Android app support. The best part is, we got some hands-on time with a few of the robots on display at the company’s booth at Pepcom.

A main focus to the EV3 system is the central Intelligent Brick, which runs on Linux and an ARM9 processor, both of which make the system even faster and more easily hackable than its predecessor robotic systems. Aside from speed specs, the biggest change on the Brick is the addition of Bluetooth, which allows builders to control their robots via an Android or iOS app. There’s also a USB port and an SD card slot.

Another addition to the system is that the robots’ eyes are actually infrared sensors, which can detect motion, so whenever you wave your hand in front of the robot, it will detect it and either attack, flee, dance, whatever. One of the robots was a dragon, and whenever a person crosses its path, it will extend its body and open its fiery mouth to attack.

The EV3 robotic system from Lego will go on sale sometime this summer for a pretty penny — 35,000 of them, or $350. The Mindstorms EV3 will essentially replace the Mindstorms NXT 2.0 line, which came out in 2009. The programming software kit itself works on both Windows and Mac OS X.

Lego Mindstorms EV3 robots hands-on is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

The fine folks from Oculus VR are here at CES 2013, and though they don’t have a ton of new details to announce, they are showing off their newest prototype of the much loved virtual reality headset. Keep in mind that the headset you’re seeing isn’t a final version, but with each new revision, we’re getting closer and closer to a final product. Those who backed the Kickstarter will also like to know that the gang is still on track to ship developer models out in just a couple of months.

What’s more, we learned tonight that the team has completed Unreal and Unity integration, two features that were previously announced. The team also stressed that they’ve developed a new motion sensor which they claim is the fastest on the market. That motion sensor was recently announced on their Kickstarter page, so while it’s not necessarily new, it’s something you can tell they’re excited about.

Oculus Rift launched on Kickstarter last year and quickly became a smashing success. With major gaming icons like John Carmack and Gabe Newell singing the praised of Rift from on high, the VR headset blew up extremely quickly within the gaming community. More and more big name developers have signed on in the time since, so Oculus Rift has won a lot of major fans within the industry.

We shall see what the general consensus of developers is soon enough, as developer kits will begin shipping out in just a couple of months. Oculus told us that they aren’t ready to begin talking about when the consumer version will ship, so it seems like they want just the developer launch to go smoothly. That definitely sounds reasonable, but that doesn’t mean that we’ll stop pressing them for that consumer release date. Stay tuned.

Oculus Rift completes Unreal, Unity integration, reveals new prototype is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Wearables like Google Glass may be eye-catching, but it’s tiny fitness monitors like Jawbone UP, Nike Fuelband, and others that are actually showing up clipped or strapped to people, and that’s the market Fitbit is chasing with the new Flex. We grabbed some hands-on time with the new Bluetooth 4.0 equipped activity dongle – and its companion smartphone app – at CES to see if it could oust UP from our wrist.

It’s certainly small. While Fitbit has been focusing on Flex as used with a wristband, the dongle itself can be removed and used with another type of clip; when out, it’s a small, sturdy lozenge of plastic. On the outer edge there’s a discrete row of LEDs which show your progress toward your daily goal in 20-percent increments; it’s a nice balance between the fuller (but battery-consuming) display of the Fuelband, and the UP which gives no feedback whatsoever until you plug it into your phone.

The strap itself fixes on snugly, and Fitbit will supply two sizes to suit different wrists; it’ll also be available in a range of colors, depending on whether you want a more discrete black, or prefer something eye-catching like bright red.

Fitbit Flex hands-on:

It’s the app and the Bluetooth that really make Flex special, however. The low-power Bluetooth – when used with the right phone – sends over performance data in real-time to your device, allowing you to monitor how you’re going through the day. It also records sleep patterns, showing different light or deep phases, and telling you if you’ve had a rough night.

All in all, we’re left with warm, fuzzy feelings about the Flex, and even though Fitbit is later to the market with it than Nike or Jawbone, the company appears to have learned from its forebears with elements like the battery-sipping LEDs and the water-resistance. It’s up for preorder now, priced at $99.99, and will ship in the spring.

Fitbit Flex hands-on is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Sony has unveiled a massive array of Cybershot and Handycam cameras and camcorders that it will be rolling out this year. The 8 Handycam models support Bravia’s TRILUMINOS Display, while the 7 Cybershot models boast an array of features, including water resistance, durability, and a combination of CCD and CMOS sensors. Check out the pictures after the jump.

First up is the upcoming Cybershot line, which is comprised of the following models: the WX200 (18.2-megapixels, Exmor R CMOS sensor), WX80(16.2-megapixels, Exmor R CMOS sensor), WX60 (16.2-megapixels, Exmor R CMOS sensor), TF1 (16.1-megapixels, Super HAD CCD sensor), H200 (20.1-megapixels, Super HAD CCD sensor), W730 (16.1-megapixels, Super HAD CCD sensor), and the W710 (16.1-megapixels, Super HAD CCD sensor).

All of the models feature a 2.7-inch ClearPhoto LCD with the exception of the H200, which has a 3-inch display. The WX60, WX80, and WX200 models feature Improved Superior Auto and Improved Optical Steadyshot, and support for TRILUMINOS color. The latter two models are both Wi-Fi enabled, while all seven models feature Advanced Flash and Beauty Effect. All seven models will be released in Europe next month.

The Handycam camcorder line up is composed of the following models: the PJ780VE, JP650VE, PJ420VE, PJ320E, CX410VE, CX320E, CX280E, and the CX220E. All the camcorders feature full HD recording, TRILUMINOS Display support, and the Exmor R CMOS sensor, as well as optical/extended zoom of various powers. Select models include Sony’s Advanced Sound System. Like the Cybershot models, these Handycams will roll out next month.

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Sony shows off new lines of Handycam camcorders and Cybershot cameras is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.