Neffos P1 -- Coolest smartphone at IFA

Thanks for sending this to me today Joe!

Neffos P1 with built-in projector is the coolest smartphone in the IFA

TechGenius

We are in the middle of IFA 2018, the great European electronics competition and mobile is definitely on the rise with several brands trying to surprise and capture the attention. However, with more or less suspense, there is always someone who can get in the middle of the big ads with something really interesting and this year was Neffos, with its new Neffos P1 with micro-electro-mechanical laser (MEMS) .

"A projector on a smartphone?" Our readers ask, knowing it's not a new idea, or that it has been particularly successful so far, but the Neffos P1 promises a 5000: 1 contrast image, superior to a typical one laser DLP, and did not forget to create a 200-inch image with automatic alignment with the wall. They are five meters diagonal with 150% coverage of the NTSC color space, and all this on a smartphone. Sacrilege!

The hardware of the Neffos P1 is not fully known at the moment, but we already know that it will have a battery of 4000mAh, which Neffos promises a projection of 4 hours.

Of course, Neffos P1 is just a prototype and there is still a question to ask as to whether this device will not only hit the market, but whether it will be a success as a good alternative to tablets or 2 in 1 for presentations corporate and work on the go .

I notice with pleasure that at least the design is bold in its black and gold, although the renders show somewhat shifted edges of the reality of the market, but that is interesting, is, so we hope for news about this peculiar smartphone that for now takes even the most exotic prize in the bestiary of IFA 2018.

Who wants a projector on the smartphone?

IFA 2018 -- Google Assistant

"The Consumer Electronics industry works in cycles of infatuation."

That's so true, and great news for us. Consumers, (CE writers) and investors need things to be infatuated with.

Old things fall out of favor, new things come into favor. These personal assistants are coming into favor in a big way.

We KNOW they are coming with interactive projection, because the guts of it with Microvision include are already at one of the worlds largest electronic distributors.
We know that it's Google based: It's android, and I've done the Google smart Screens Walkthrough here before.

Of course, I'm looking for more "google on your countertop"  I expect we'll see more, the show isn't even open yet.

(Oh, and I've seen the Bosch Countertop projector -- let them make the concept popular -- what MVIS has is WAY better.)

IFA 2018
The Verge

"Good luck trying to find a new gadget at IFA 2018 without Google Assistant on it"

The consumer electronics industry works in cycles of infatuation. Every couple of years, some new technology captures the attention of most manufacturers and triggers a wild race to be the first, cheapest, or best with it. We’ve been through the netbook and e-reader manias, followed by the tablet deluge, the 3D TV moment, the 2-in-1 laptop transformation, the flood of Bluetooth speakers and headphones, and, most recently, the Alexa-fication of everything. This year at IFA, the unmissable common thread to new announcements is shaping up to be the Google Assistant.

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Amazon deserves a measure of credit for proving the viability and appeal of smart speakers with its Alexa-powered Echo, but what Google is doing with the Assistant is fundamentally different because it plugs users into a whole different ecosystem. Sure, once integrated within smart speakers or displays, the Assistant can be your voice remote control for music, or a cooking timer, or a deliverer of reminders, like Alexa can. But it’s the Google-on-your-countertop experience that truly differentiates it.

ALSO..... they like it, Microvision's projector is WAY BETTER.

Bosch Countertop Projector

Hololens -- to see inside Children's hearts....

Not Santa's tool to see if they're really good, but for surgeons.

If you ever had any doubt about near-eye displays being something that is going to be a HUGE new technology impact, put it to rest now.

MVIS is still the best near eye display.  (The best one I have seen that isn't Microvision is in the Hololens they're showing around, but I have seen better.)



UK Telegraph
Children’s heart surgeons will use “hologram” goggles to see inside patients’ bodies while they carry out life-saving operations.

The devices - using similar technology to 3D gaming headsets - will help medics to carry out the most delicate procedures.

The plans, drawn up by one of the UK’s largest children’s hospitals, will allow doctors to see images of the heart, guiding them so they can operate with maximum precision.

The ground-breaking agreement involving Alder Hey children’s hospital and Microsoft, will see technology called HoloLens employed in operating theatres.

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Experts at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) conference in Munich said the technology was a major step forward, which would improve safety and accuracy of operations.

Professor Martin Cowie, from Imperial College London, chairman of the ESC digital health committee, likened it to using Sat Nav to guide surgeons instead of relying on an AA map.
He said: “This is a big step forward. This will lead to more accurate and safer operations, particularly in complex cases. Every patient is different from the textbook, so it is hard to visualise their heart during surgery.

“This technology is real progress,” he said, suggesting it could be rolled out across the NHS in the next decade.

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In many cases, the heart has already stopped, in order for us to operate,” he said. He said the NHS needed to do far more to make use of an “explosion” in technology.
The smart glasses are not just limited to improving heart operations, and can aid medics in a wide range of procedures.

Teaching Math in New Zealand

MSPoweruser
We are a generation that learns through examples and visualisation, not explanation and reading, and HoloLens is supportive of this. It helps us rediscover the touch of ingenuity we have lost through the boring, old methods and disconnected learning environments.

“HoloLens inspires critical thinking. It has tremendous potential because it gives us as students so much freedom to experiment, and the only limits are our creativity and imagination. This is not changing what we learn but simply how we learn it, and it may just be the solution to the problems of our education system.

Aloha from the Portal

This was on my black box short list. The time frame seemed right, and the kind of device seemed to match what Mulligan was talking about in the spring.

First got leaked/announced during CES earlier this year.

They got pretty quiet about the idea after hubbub about privacy earlier this year.



Digit

Tech Crunch

Hidden code confirms Facebook 'Portal' Smart Speaker and 'Aloha' voice recognition tool

Code dug out by a tipster confirms that Facebook is developing a speech recognition tool named Aloha. The code further confirms the name for Facebook's smart speaker in development.




Facebook is reportedly working on its own speech recognition technology called 'Aloha'. More information about Facebook’s ongoing efforts to develop a smart speaker with a display and a dedicated speech recognition tool has been outed by TechCrunch via frequent tipster and mobile researcher Jane Manchun Wong. 

Digging into the code of the Facebook and Messenger Android apps, Manchun found references to ‘Aloha’, a speech recognition tool which will help users dictate messages in Messenger as well as operate other Facebook services. Facebook is aiming this tool for its apps as well as external hardware, most likely, the rumoured Portal smart speaker that the company is said to be developing.

Dubbed ‘Aloha Voice Testing’ the feature is said to facilitate speech-to-text-to-speech conversion, allowing Messenger users more ways to interact with each other on the platform. The code found by Manchun shows a prototype of Aloha’s user interface in use on Messenger. A blue volume indicator can be seen in the form of a bar as words are dictated to Aloha and typed out in Messenger. This transcription tool can ease Messenger usage for older people and those with disabilities.

Amazon to launch DVR

Seems like a display only engine would be a nice fit for such a thing. Memory is getting smaller and better.... the ecosystem is perfect.
As most homes are connected to the internet and can stream... seems ideal for something portable.


MediaPost

Looking to compete with TiVo and Sling TV DVR technology, Amazon is developing a digital TV recording machine that allows for streaming of video content to digital devices, according to a report.

The unit, with a working name "Frank," would include physical storage and connect to Amazon’s existing Fire TV boxes and its Echo home speakers, per Bloomberg. Current Fire TV boxes can stream live TV programming, but cannot store video content.

Video content recorded on the new Amazon device could be streamed later to devices such as smartphones -- something that TiVo and Sling TV DVR technology can do.

TiVo, a big manufacturer of digital video recorder machines, witnessed its stock price dropping 4% to close at $12.20 on Friday. TiVo’s stock is down 30% year-over-year.

TiVo has 22 million customers worldwide that use its time-shifting DVR machines/software, and over 7.5 million in the U.S.

Goertek Smart speaker with laser projector

From Goertek.

This is the kind of installation I've been looking for. A speaker with a projector that can be focused on the counter top or the wall (or ceiling.) One projector that can be aimed at multiple surfaces is where MVIS technology will shine.

I still have more reasons to believe that the 10 million partner for projection only is Sharp/Foxconn. It is still possible that they could build this and use remaining inventory, and purchase engines elsewhere. (Or use the interactive engine and build it themselves.)

I'm a firm believer that having one or two engine suppliers for the broad consumer electronics market is going to be the most efficient method to get this technology to the masses.

Many of these large electronics manufacturers have customers who are also their competitors.

(Samsung, for example, sells screens and components to Apple, as does Sharp. Foxconn seems to manufacture for everyone, while making it clear recently that they wish to come out with their own phone to compete with Apple -- even though they make something like 80% of iPhones.)

Thanks Joe and several others.

Goertek Industrial Design

Apple joins Thread Group

Another very interesting puzzle piece...

"Mesh communication," low power connectivity & making devices not reliant on wall plugs, sounds like where we belong.


Apple Insider

Thread Network Protocol

SecurityBaron

Thread is a networking standard in a mesh system much like Bluetooth, Zigbee, or Z-wave technologies. The IP system can connect to a number of devices and common household objects from Philips Hue lights to Yale locks.

Apple is competing with a number of companies for smart home supremacy including its perennial rivals, Amazon and Google. Amazon is a Thread member while some of Google’s newest Nest products already incorporate the technology. Apple has been making a push for its HomeKit to compete with Amazon’s Alexa and Google’s Nest ecosystems and it may not want to lose out on participating in the initial stages of this new technology. A cursory glance at Thread’s membership reveals that large companies such as Samsung and LG, along with smaller companies like TDK and Ubilogix, have all entered into association with the organization.

In describing their technology the organization states:

“Thread addresses the need for a new and better way to connect products in the home. Built on open standards and IPv6 technology with 6LoWPAN as its foundation, Thread offers numerous technological advantages over other wireless standards including secure and reliable networks with no single point of failure, simple connectivity and low power.”

Low power is of particular concern to Apple and other companies actively promoting their products in the Internet of Things because of the demands of battery life in smart home devices. Apple currently has HomeKit products that are powered solely through batteries while others require a constant source of external power. Furthermore, companies across the board are attempting to make fewer and fewer appliances reliant on wall plugs.

Google Opening Retail Store

Cool that they're going to start doing some more showcasing. They apparently want more control of what they're showing than 

The Chicago meat-packing district is a curious first location, I'm not sure why. If I were going to guess, I'd say that it's easy access.

If you're in any major city in the US, Chicago is a day trip. (You can fly there and back, easily without an overnight stay.) And it's well served by international airlines. (Nonstop to nearly everywhere. )

The District is easily accessed on public transportation from O'Hare Airport. (about an hour and a half)


SFGate

• Google is near to signing a deal to take control of 14,000 feet of retail space in Chicago's meatpacking district, according to the Chicago Tribune.
• This would be Google's first-ever permanent retail store, putting it in a league with fellow tech titans Apple and Microsoft. 
• If the report is correct, the opening up a retail shop to serve as a showcase for Google products is logical. The list of the company's gadgets is long and getting longer.
•  The company said it doesn't comment on "rumors and speculation."

Echo Show vs Lenovo Smart Display 10

Check it out.... and interactive projection will make these much better.

Echo Show vs Lenovo Smart Display 10


Echo Show

THE GOOD

The Echo Show offers everything you love about Alexa, complete with new video and touchscreen controls. It shines best as a dedicated, hands-free video calling command center.

THE BAD

The uninspired design feels dated. At launch, the touchscreen visuals don't do enough to bring Alexa to life, or make her much easier to use -- though that could change with the arrival of new screen-specific Alexa skills.

Lenovo Smart Display 10

THE GOOD

The Lenovo Smart Display is a great kitchen assistant with an elegant design and a high-resolution touchscreen. It multitasks well, responds quickly to both touch and voice commands, and offers a rich, personalized home screen and a customizable ambient mode.

THE BAD

I'd like the screen to do more when you play games or listen to music. You're limited to Google Duo for making voice calls. Scrolling through content with your voice can be tedious.

THE BOTTOM LINE

If you'd like visual recipe help in the kitchen, the Lenovo Smart Display performs that task exceedingly well and everything else well enough that it deserves your consideration.

Very interesting Time of Flight Application

Shutter Speed could have interesting application with a scanning infrared laser.... 

Mercedes-Benz Are Embracing Hololens at training center

There will be a place for the world's best near eye displays.... 


Blog Post

And in keeping with Bauch’s growing digital appetite, they rely heavily on Microsoft HoloLens to conduct faster, more engaging training sessions, they say. The training center is now equipped with more than 100 HoloLens units.

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“Ralf and I are fascinated by the possibilities of mixed reality,” says Bauch, project manager for HoloLens applications at Mercedes-Benz Global Training. “We both want to see where the boundaries are, especially in a challenging work environment. “

At work, the main idea behind their HoloLens applications is to consolidate complex, technical concepts for the people in their classes, effectively simplifying their lessons in visual and relatable ways.

VR Focus

“People come in and hear my story,” says Bauch, 51. “They realize: Here is this guy who never used a smart phone until two years ago and now he is using HoloLens in his job. People do not believe it. This is the signal we send out to our visitors: It’s not the age of the user that matters. This device is for people of all ages. Our oldest participant was 89. He attended with his 60-year-old son. I will never forget what he told us: ‘I wish I’d had this technology when I was young and handsome.’”

The Mercedes-Benz Global Training center educates employees worldwide in management, products, branding and sales with a network spanning 800 trainers working across 150 locations in 120 countries. The duo say that Microsoft HoloLens has injected an unprecedented level of transparency into their process. The introduction of MR technology into the training has motivated employees to try out the new technologies to improve their training and jobs, leading to improved engagement.

Why little robots may be the next big thing in smart home tech

Sharp ahead of its time.


TechRadar

"What people really wanted was a robot from the movies, they wanted a robot that was always on. They didn’t want to pull out their phone in order to just play, this just created a lot of friction."

Vector operates completely autonomously and connects to the cloud which gives it a vast database of knowledge to answer questions. 

In short: it now does things that a virtual assistant does but Palatucci believes Vector has two big USPs that the current crop of Alexa and Google Assistant infused speakers doesn't have - mobility and personality.

"We aren’t trying to compete with Alexa and Google Home, Palatucci notes. "We are trying to create robots where the primary purpose is companionship, but at the same time they can do things that are useful."

Nickelodeon AR Series - Meet the Voxels

Augmented Reality Going Mainstream



Deadline Hollywood

This marks Nickelodeon’s first project that will use its use of cutting-edge virtual cinema technology, including real-time full body and facial performance capture, which takes innovative and immersive storytelling to another level.

Meet the Voxels takes kids behind the scenes of a video game world and follows a family of video-game characters, the Voxels, on their adventures on-and-off-duty. The family members are:  Hunter, the 13-year-old star of a laser-tag video game; Maude, a 16-year-old girl fighting to pop as many bubbles as she can;their younger brother Cody who has not found his video game calling yet; Mom, a popular street fighter in her game; and Dad, a ’90s-era classic console game character who quit the business years ago. All the characters currently have working names. Nothing is set in stone yet as the series is still in development.

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“Our vision is to take the real-time technology we’ve been exploring in the Lab and marry it with a creative concept that connects with kids and their passion for video games,” said Young. “We designed this next-gen animation workflow and filled it with characters who can exist naturally across multiple platforms from day one.”

Sharp seeks Rebirth as Apple-style tech brand

Sharp still has a lot of moving parts -- but we know there's a connection, and this is an interesting strategic development.


Nikkei Asian Review

Pulls plug on Appliance Production

Sharp Q1 operating profit Soars


Tai sees Apple, Sharp's biggest client, as something of a role model. The U.S. technology giant generates massive profits by specializing in product design and development while outsourcing production to contractors like Foxconn.

.....

In the "internet of things," Sharp will work to incorporate artificial intelligence and voice command features in home electronics to create new services that generate user fees.

On My way home from here....

Traveled by Canoe with some family from the Little Indian Sioux entry, to Nina Moose River, via Lac La Croix.

5 Days completely out of contact with the outside world. 

You Figure out who you think they are...

Okay.....

I think it's these...

"Our licensee has been actively meeting with Tier 1 customers about the sales opportunities using MicroVision’s display-only technologies. We understand that they are getting good response from these customers. We remain optimistic that they will be successful landing customers, resulting in sales of MicroVision components to them in 2019."

Be a smart investor and sell a double, like our friend Ron.....