HoloLamp doesn’t need headsets to project 3D objects onto your desk

HoloLamp is looking to change how we interact with augmented reality, taking away one of its biggest hurdles: the need for AR glasses/headsets. Not to be confused with Microsoft’s Hololens headset, the HoloLamp, which has been co-founded by Alan Jay (who also co-founded IMDb) and Guillaume Chican (an expert in applied math). Chican was the one who first developed HoloLamp.

What it does is it projects 3D objects into a table without the need for the viewer to use glasses or headsets. It uses an age-old art technique that helps create the illusion of 3D even if the image projected is actually just 2D. A camera system inside the HoloLamp tracks your perspective and with it being connected to a PC, it’ll continue to adjust your point of view so even if you walk around the room, the image will continue to look like it’s in 3D. One of its big limitations is it can only work with one viewer at a time, meaning if there are other people viewing the 3D projection, it’ll just be a 2D object to them. It’s something their team has to work on to make HoloLamp a truly useful product. HoloLamp will be hitting Kickstarter by March, and if having something like this interests you, then you can pre-order at that time.

Source: Fastcodesign

‘Star Wars: Episode VIII’ is about The Last Jedi

We no longer have to refer to the next Star Wars film as Episode VIII. It now gets its official title: Star Wars: The Last Jedi. It’s easy to think of who that can be. This latest installment, which is directed by Rian Johnson, picks up the story from The Force Awakens, when Rey (Daisy Ridley) was handing Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) his old lightsaber. From there, you can speculate that the story will revolve a lot around Luke. But we know nothing is quite what it seems in the Star Wars universe. For now, we get the title. Later this year, on December 15^th to be exact, we’ll be getting the movie. Are you excited?

Source: The Verge

Samsung has new eight-step process for testing batteries

Samsung is looking to avoid the mishap of the Galaxy Note7 by introducing a new testing process as well as forming a battery advisory board. The latter will be comprised by academics from the likes of Cambridge, Berkeley, and Stanford. The former will be implemented for all lithium ion batteries in Samsung products.

The first three steps—durability, visual inspection, and X-ray—as well as open circuit voltage tests are already being conducted on batteries but now Samsung says the testing has been “enhanced” and will be done more frequently. As you see above, the other tests include charge and discharge tests, tests of total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), disassembling tests, and accelerated usage tests. It’ll take some time for Samsung to win back the trusts of consumers but taking steps to make sure they do that is a step in the right direction.

Source: The Verge

Canadian Reviewer Weekly Roundup 1/15-1/21

Windows 10 to introduce a high-performance Game Mode

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The trailer for Injustice 2 is out

Roku updates mobile app for iOS and Android

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Google adds offline search capabilities to its Android app

Mastercard and Gates Foundation bring mobile banking to East African farmers via feature phones

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GarageBand for iOS and Logic Pro X for macOS receive massive updates

First Android Wear 2.0 smartwatches from LG are set to debut on February 9

Online PR is on the rise

‘Super Mario Run’ is coming to Android this March

Nintendo Switch Preview Tour comes to Toronto on January 29th

Apple files US$1 billion lawsuit against Qualcomm

Netflix teases next season of ‘House of Cards’ moments before Trump’s inauguration

FLO and Nissan Canada team up to drive electric vehicle adoption in Canada

Toronto Zoo to host the first Skype virtual field trip with students in Port Alberni, B.C.

Qualcomm responds to Apple claims, says they are 'baseless'

PlayStation VR now has support for YouTube’s 360-degree videos