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ZEISS Announced New Camera Lenses for the iPhone

Posted: 18 Jan 2016 02:47 PM PST

Apple already gets a lot of praise for the cameras it has implemented in the iPhones, but ZEISS thinks that there is still room for improvement.

ZEISS, one of the biggest names in the world of optics, unveiled at CES 2016 in Las Vegas three new lenses for the iPhone 6S it has developed in partnership with Fellowes Brands, a manufacturer of premium mobile photography accessories. Did Apple’s latest smartphone need better optics for its camera? ZEISS and Fellowes seem to think so, and so do the numerous blog posts you can find on the Web about what lens add-ons produce the best results.

“We are thrilled to announce our new relationship with ZEISS, who has been setting standards in optics for almost 170 years,” stated John E. Fellowes, Chief Executive Officer of Fellowes. “Following the launch of our new ExoLensTM mobile phone photography line last year, our partnership with ZEISS will enable unique and innovative consumer lens solutions. ExoLensTM with optics by ZEISS will redefine quality in the mobile photography space, providing professional-grade results for end users.”

“The impact of an image is decisively influenced by the lens and its technical properties,” added Dr. Winfried Scherle, Executive Vice President of Carl Zeiss AG and Head of the ZEISS Consumer Optics business group.

And here is what Zeiss had to say in a blog post announcing the launch of the lenses:

“The new lenses are characterized by their leading-edge design featuring smooth surfaces made of black anodized aluminum with white labeling. This is a systematic continuation of the distinctive, innovative product design that typifies current families of ZEISS camera lenses. The modern design offers excellent optic properties and the lenses meet even the highest aesthetic standards.

The lenses of ExoLens with optics by ZEISS are the best currently available on the market. We have achieved the best possible technical balance between a small size, light weight and high image quality.”

While the line might feature many more lenses, probably depending on the public’s perception, for the moment the two companies have only unveiled three lenses for three different applications: wide-angle, telephoto, and macro. As if the excellent image performance of the first two wasn’t enough, the macro lens even has a zoom function, which is a premiere for such accessory lenses.

The first lenses by ExoLens and Zeiss should be available late Q2 2016 on Amazon.com, as well as at exolens.com. Surely, by then, Apple will already launch the iPhone 7, but that shouldn’t be a problem. Once the lenses hit the market, finding adapters for one iPhone or the other shouldn’t be that difficult. There has been no word on how much these would cost, but given that they’re made by ZEISS, it’s anyone’s guess that they won’t come cheap. That being said, anyone who can buy an iPhone right after launch surely can shell a couple more hundred dollars for a ZEISS lens.

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[via Geeky Gadgets]

ODiN Laser Projection Mouse Lets You Click Anywhere

Posted: 18 Jan 2016 01:31 PM PST

Laser projection virtual keyboards, despite being revolutionary input devices, weren’t widely adopted, as their developers would have hoped. Maybe ODiN, the projection mouse that’s currently featured in our store, Walyou Deals, will have a brighter future.

Initially the subject of a very successful crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter in April/May 2015, where backers pledged more than twice the funding goal, the ODiN projection mouse is the first of its kind, so we’re definitely proud to have it in our store.

A gadget that works with both laptops and desktop PCs (well, it had better, since it connects via USB), ODiN is meant to redefine our daily habits. Its developers claim that it was inspired by Nordic mythology, but that’s more of a marketing standpoint (with Marvel’s Thor flicks around, the marketing team of Serafim must have thought this was a good idea), as its design barely has anything to do with the ruler of Asgard. If anything, it looks more like the head of a Transformer. Another thing claimed by Serafim is that ODiN is the natural evolution of computer mice.

Working with a traditional mouse for long periods of time could lead to joint pain, and even carpal tunnel syndrome. ODiN Aurora does away with that, as it allows you to hold your hand in a more natural position.

Besides common actions such as right-, left-clicking, and scrolling, ODiN Aurora also supports gestures such as pinch-to-zoom and two-finger scrolling. This will definitely feel familiar to MacBook users, who rely on such trackpad gestures to increase productivity.

Serafim claims that ODiN Aurora is adequate for work, designing, and even gaming, but I think that’s a long stretch. We’ve used computer mice for so long, that they act as a natural extension of our arms now, and we intuitively know what buttons to click and how to move them even with our eyes closed, which I don’t really think is the case here, especially if we’re talking about gaming. As if to prove my point, the developers of this mouse posted a YouTube video back in October 2015 showcasing ODiN Aurora and the first game made for it… a platformer. Don’t expect to use this in first-person shooters, real-time strategy games, or even in role-playing games where precision and reflexes can make a real difference between life and death.

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. ODiN Aurora is a revolutionary input device that should be appreciated for its portability and versatility, but that doesn’t mean that it can be used just for everything.

In the next five days, you can buy the ODiN Aurora projection mouse on Walyou Deals for $44.99 (originally $70). If the thought of using a unique device gives you goosebumps, then there’s no reason to wait for the next great input device to be launched. The product is shipped for free to continental US addresses, and deliveries will take place between February 1 and 4.

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about the Coolest cooler giveaway, or The Complete Web Development Course: Make Cash-Earning Websites.