Hi Tech Archives - Page 194 of 274

2016 BMW 7-series with gesture control technology: Adrian van Hooydonk, BMW’s Head of Design presenting his new brainchild

April 6, 2016June 23, 2015 by Editorial Team

BMW 7 Series is bigger than ever.
For those wanting a 100 square meters modern “schloss” on wheels, BMW redefines the concept of exclusive, uber-luxurious driving experience. Adrian van Hooydonk explains.

Well-traveled business people spending half of their life on the roads can only be ecstatic seeing so much sophisticated carbon-fibre-reinforced space packed with ground-breaking technology. With just the wave of the hand, you can control vehicle’s infotainment system. Drivers can also manoeuvre in and out of parking spaces without anyone at the wheel of the new 2016 BMW 7 series. The owners control the car via their BMW Display Key. Add to this “wireless phone charging, active massaging seats, WiFi browsing and a removable 7-inch touchpad that can control functions from in or outside the vehicle.” 7-series’ reputation for performance and handling is complemented here with cutting edge technology and materials.

“This generation of the BMW 7 Series is the most luxurious, most comfortable and – all round – the best car we have ever built in this class,” says Adrian van Hooydonk, BMW’s Head of Design while presenting the new luxury sedan from BMW’s stable. The car is, indeed, a generous office combining driving pleasure and long-distance comfort.

“Luxury definition is offering the customer more than she or he expects. And in a luxury car is a combination of traditional elements like perfect fit and finish, craftsmanship, fantastic materials, and also new things like high-tech elements, inteligence, and a certain warmth and confort,” explained van Hooydonk in the video above.

Adrian van Hooydonk‘s 23-years work at BMW is impressive. The list of attributed automotive designs include BMW 5-Series (2010), 6-Series, 7-Series (2001), X3, X5, Z9 (1999), Mini ACV30 (1997), and so on. As head of BMW Group Design he also oversees the design work of Mini and Rolls-Royce.

“Spending time in a car for 7-series clients is a relaxing experience, but maybe they also want to work in the car,” continues van Hooydonk. “We want to offer customers the opportunity to make the time that they spend in the car quality time. We spend a lot of time and attention on increasing the comfort and all aspects of the car, whether it is seat comfort, ride comfort, acoustic comfort, and also things you can do and experience.”

Sitting in the back of the new 7-series you are surrounded by high-tech rear-seat entertainment system with BMW Touch Command, a touchpad that can be pulled out and with which the passenger can operate all the ambient controls or it can be used to navigate the internet from the comfort of the rear seats.

For levels of comfort a class apart, BMW is offering the optional Executive Lounge with Automatic air conditioning, adjustable comfort seats with massage function, active seat ventilation, plus the optional Executive Lounge Seating, and Executive Lounge rear console. Another great addition is the massage function with a new Vitality Programme used for recuperation purposes. Relaxation is one of BMW’s 7 series Executive Lounge’s mantras.

The rear passenger’s seat can unwind thanks to a backrest which can recline close to the horizontal position. The luxury automotive Lounge rear console is equipped with a fold-out table, cupholders and Touch Command system. Pretty impressive!

7-series new lighting design is also worth mentioning. The design team has introduced the Welcome Light Carpet – a distinctive illumination of the area around the car doors. The long-wheelbase versions of the new BMW 7 Series will come with Ambient highlight from light sources positioned vertically on the B- pillars. A Sky Lounge Panorama glass roof with side-mounted LED modules will mimic a starry sky, while The Ambient Air package will ionize the air and generate a selection of eight fragrances. Add to these impressive features the newly developed Bowers & Wilkins Diamond surround sound system specifically tuned to the interior of the new BMW 7 Series.

From the development of BMW i cars, 2016 BMW 7-series borrowed a body structure with Carbon Core, an innovation reducing weight by as much as 130 kilograms. BMW eDrive technology is also present thanks to the addition to the model range of the BMW 740e plug-in hybrid model.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmqQOB04RpI&feature=youtu.be

Dior eyes. Maison’s 100% 3D-printed VR headset.

July 10, 2015June 22, 2015 by Editorial Team

Dior offers the ultimate immersive experience: Going Backstage with Dior’s 2015 Virtual Reality headset.

Dior announced the creation of its own virtual reality headset called “Dior Eyes”, the world¹s first combination of VR imagery technologies and sound recording in 360°. The French luxury Maison has designed and produced this 100% 3D-printed VR headset in partnership with DigitasLBi Labs. The whole process took them less than 3 months of research and development and prototyping; an approach that lent itself to a speedy execution, advanced materials and a simple and elegant design. “

Going beyond the immersive abilities of existing virtual reality systems, “Dior Eyes” provides a unique new experience. The users find themselves backstage at the recent Ready-to-Wear fashion show. The device provides both the most immersive VR experience ever seen, as well as a 360° performance.

A headset with impressive technical performance, “Dior Eyes” is among the best in the market, say its creators, thanks to the headpiece which embeds a high density screen (515 ppp) providing a 2K image resolution, in other words hardly pixelated, associated with a FOV (Field of Vision) close to 100°.

This technological feat of vision is completed with holophonic audio sound, recorded live in 360° thanks to a binaural microphone that perfectly recreates a “spacious and enveloping” sound sensation following the user’s movements.

Disconnect to connect with life. “First” luxury digital detox the Mediterranean way

June 22, 2015 by Editorial Team

Enjoy a digital detox the Mediterranean way.

Are you more connected to your mobile phone that to the most important things in your life? Now, you can get a place at the very first ever daycare for mobile phones. If you are a mobile phone addict and you spend more time with it than interacting with people offline, Gin Mare, the first Mediterranean Gin distilled with Arbequina Olives, Thyme, Rosemary & Basil, offers a challenge: Would you be able to live without your mobile phone for 72 hours?

“The Daycare for Mobile Phones” is the “first” luxury digital detox center to be opened in September in Ibiza. At the brand’s Villa Mare in Ibiza, visitors wishing to reconnect away from the digital world will relax and enjoy cold cocktails and one of the most beautiful islands in the planet.

According to the most recent Technology Trends annual report by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, people check their phones approximately 150 times a day.

“We are victims of information overload, hyper stimulated, trying to process too much,” explained Neil Shah, Stress Management Expert. “As much as one-third of people admits to feel symptoms of anxiety when away from their gadgets, showing an alarming growing need in our society for more disconnected time.

“Psychiatrist Edward Hallowell states that technology is the new cigarette: ‘People are becoming addicted without even realizing it’.”

To win a place in the Gin Mare’s daycare you’ll need to pass a stress test and prove you can live 72H without your phone. For this, Gin Mare will send a stress kit to your home with instructions, a custom box to keep your phone resting for 72 hours, and an activation code for a REPLACEMENT MOBILE. A virtual terminal from which you will only be able to see your messages, without answering them. If you pass the stress test and prove that you could really use a digital detox you can go on a wonderful weekend in Ibiza reconnecting with what’s really important in life.

Sony introduces the most advanced, versatile Cyber-shot cameras

June 17, 2015 by Editorial Team

Sony aims to break through all existing boundaries of compact cameras. According to the world’s largest image sensor manufacturer, its new camera will allow professionals, hobbyists and enthusiasts to capture images and video that they never before thought were possible.

The leader in digital imaging announced two of the most advanced, versatile Cyber-shot cameras ever to come to market, the compact RX100 IV (model DSC- RX100M4) and high-zoom RX10 II (model DSC-RX10M2) cameras.

The two new models both feature the world’s first 1.0 type stacked Exmor RS CMOS sensor with advanced signal processing and an attached DRAM memory chip. The high speed signal processing and DRAM memory chip work together to enable more than 5x faster readout of image data and are responsible for a variety of standout features that have previously been available in only a select few professional- level video cameras. These impressive capabilities include 40x super slow motion video capture at up to 960 fps, an ultra-fast Anti-Distortion Shutter with a maximum speed of 1/32000 second, high resolution 4K movie shooting and more.

“Utilizing Sony’s decades of expertise in digital imaging, we’ve made it possible for everyday customers to enjoy a professional imaging experience with the new RX100 IV and RX10 II cameras. With the power of the world’s first 1.0-type Stacked CMOS sensor packed into a compact, portable body, these new cameras bring the excitement and creativity of high frame rate shooting, 4K recording and a variety of other pro-quality features to a whole new audience.” said Kimio Maki, Senior General Manager of Digital Imaging Business Group for Sony Corporation.

The new Sony Cyber-shot RX100 IV (model DSC-RX100M4) compact and RX10 II (model DSC-RX10M2) high-zoom camera will be available this July for about $1000 and $1300, respectively.

The new RX100 IV maintains the compact, pocket-sized design of the RX100 family, and has a ZEISS® Vario-Sonnar T* 24-70mm (35mm equivalent) F1.8-F2.8 lens, while the new RX10 II maintains the same body design as the original RX10 and has a ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* 24-200mm (35mm equivalent) F2.8 lens.

Each of the cameras is equipped with a new high-contrast XGA OLED Tru-Finder with approximately 2.35 million dots of resolution, ensuring true-to-life image preview and playback functionality. The RX100 IV maintains the convenient retractable EVF with ZEISS T* coating from the RX100 III model that debuted last year.

Both of the two new models feature an upgraded Fast Intelligent AF system that enables high-speed, high-precision contrast detection of a moving subject in as little as 0.09 seconds. Sony’s proprietary AF algorithm allows them to recognize and lock-in on a subject with a simple half-press of the shutter button at a much more efficient rate compared to previous models. The new cameras are also Wi-Fi and NFC compatible and can access Sony’s growing range of PlayMemories Camera Applications.

Jourdan Dunn’s Limited Edition HTC One M9 INK

June 17, 2015 by Editorial Team

Jourdan Dunn Unveils New HTC INK Handset with body art-inspired engraving.

The way your smartphone looks is just as important to your personal style as your bag, jewelery and even your body art. Tapping into the fashion world’s passion for body art, HTC unveiled its exclusive Limited Edition HTC One M9 INK handset, created in collaboration with worldwide supermodel Jourdan Dunn.

HTC INK is a Limited Edition campaign which sees bespoke celebrity body art designs engraved onto exclusive runs of HTC’s family of premium HTC One handsets.

The HTC One M9 INK is the first of its kind and delivers a body art-inspired one off illustration which is engraved onto the back of the phone. The handset and first-look imagery of Jourdan, taken by fashion photographer Matt Irwin were revealed at a global launch event in London. A ground-breaking star of international high fashion runways, advertising campaigns and magazines, with a personal love of body art, Jourdan worked in partnership with leading artist Cally-Jo, who was responsible for Rihanna’s henna-style hand inking, to create the first ever HTC INK design.

“I was asked by HTC to create a body art design inspired by the idea that we have a one night to live,” explained Jourdan Dunn.

“Body art is an important part of my look and, as I don’t go anywhere without my phone, it makes perfect sense to combine the two to create a uniquely personalized accessory,” Jourdan stated on the handset unveiling.

Taking inspiration from the HTC One M9‘s brushed metal two tone finishes (gold on gold and silver on gold) the HTC INK design has also been recreated in temporary metallic body art, which Jourdan models in the Matt Irwin images.

A limited number of the handsets are available for fans who register their interest htc website.

The more time we spend glued to our iPhone cameras, the less we see

December 25, 2019June 16, 2015 by Editorial Team

Apple’s iPhone 6 campaign is keen to remind us that we can all take beautiful photos. But while we stare into our screens we miss out on the richness of the world around us