Weekend In Tech Trends

Tech Trends- Jan 4-5

Oculus Rift delays, Samsung Smart Fridge, drone updates and more in this week’s Weekend in Tech Trends.

Tech Trends 1) Oculus Rift faces more delays

Despite already having delays, the Oculus Rift has just announced another one. Touch, the hand-held controller to the Oculus Rift, will not be shipping with the first Oculus Rift units.
“On the path to perfecting Touch, we’ve decided that we need more time before release, and we’ll now be shipping Touch in the second half of 2016. Pre-orders will open a few months prior to launch,” the company said in a blog post.
“On Touch hardware, we’ve made significant advances in ergonomics, and we’re implementing many changes that make Touch even more comfortable, reliable, and natural. We’re also implementing changes that improve hand pose recognition.”
Despite the delay, the Rift is still scheduled for a first quarter release with pre-orders opening soon. So keep an eye out if you’re looking to get your hands on the Oculus Rift.

Source: Mashable

Tech Trends 2) Samsung gives new definition to smart fridge

Smart fridges are not necessarily new. But Samsung thinks they have the ticket. At CES, Samsung has begun advertising a fridge with a gigantic touch screen.
From the pictures, it looks like the fridge will be capable of controlling music, making grocery lists, leaving post it notes, and even reading the news. It also looks like there is a voice input option. So now you can talk to your fridge. There is also a screen featuring “Groceries by MasterCard” that says you can “Browse & Buy” and it also has Pandora, calendar, and weather prominently featured.
Stay tuned into to CES this week for updates regarding the fridge, and of course, a price tag.

Tech Trends 3) DJI releases update in hope to stall further drone regulation

A major concern for the drone industry is FAA regulation. DJI is hoping their most recent update will help combat further regulation.
DJI just released an update that prohibits their drones from entering prohibited air space. The system, called Geospatial Environment Online (GEO), rolled out on Thursday and is designed to stop drones flying in restricted areas. This new system allows DJI to instantly update restricted air space according to current events such as a wildfire. This way, the restrictions aren’t just limited to continuously restricted air space.
The new feature also means that for the first time, “drone operators will have, at the time of flight, access to live information on temporary flight restrictions,” DJI said in a release.
GEO is available to DJI drone owners in the U.S. and Europe via a Go app update and a drone firmware update. DJI expects a full release of the firmware soon.

Tech Trends 4)  Researchers control drone and lights in a whole new way

Taiwanese tech researchers at PVD+ created an app for the Apple Watch that remotely controls a drone with arm movements. Giving them a whole new way to fly. The team also created the ability to control lights with arm movements. Will this trend catch on? Only time will tell. Check it out in action in the video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YX8ZkgFk_Rw
Source: Engadget