The e-Volo multicopter has not less than 16 electric motors, as many propellers, and a weight (without load) of 80 kg including the electric batteries. The method used to build e-Volo is absolutely trivial: light metal structure made of aluminum, some lithium-ion batteries, electric motors and, finally, a ball that cushions the pilot’s landing who sits in a chair above the thing.

Senkel says that the hardest challenge was adjusting the software for simultaneous control of 16 engines. Speed variations or battery failures could lead to a physical imbalance of the machine, thus the software handles all of these parameters. The e-Volo multicopter is currently in prototype mode and can fly for about 30 minutes, but the German engineers are working on improving and easing the structure to overcome a range of at least one hour of continuous flight.

[Source]

The post The World’s First Electric Multicopter Flight appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Microsoft never had any real place in the tablet PC market. The project Microsoft Courier project was their greatest hope, and even that was canceled for some strange reason. From the very beginning it was not clear if the Courier was ever going to reach a real life product, because it is one of many Microsoft’s working prototypes that never end up going anywhere. But everyone’s response to the Courier should have drove them to making that thing a reality.

The Courier looked like it could have revolutionized the personal device market for businesses and students. Although details were scarce, all we knew about the tablet was that it would’ve had two color screens, a built-in camera, wireless internet and a sick UI (at least in the demo video). Users would have used a stylus for writing and drawing, but it could have also operate through touch.

Courier was ”almost the total opposite of what everyone expected from an Apple tablet.” It could have been an expanded iPod Touch with camera, multitouch display, microphone, wireless internet and 3G capacity.

Microsoft spokesperson commented on the decision by saying: “At any given time, we’re looking at new ideas, investigating, testing and incubating them. It’s in our DNA to develop new form factors and natural user interfaces to foster productivity and creativity. The Courier project is an example of this type of effort. It will be evaluated for use in future offerings, but we have no plans to build such a device at this time.”

The real problem with the Courier though was “It was running a modified version of Windows.”

The post The Inside Story On How Microsoft Killed The ‘iPad Killer’ Courier appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

MobileMount is a new type of dock for any smartphone or tablet that allows you to fix them to nearly any surface without too much effort. The mount is equipped with the classic suction cups that are capable of sustaining even when a device is docked on a wall. Using a mobile arm, we can rotate the device in any position we want. MobileMount works with terminals like the iPhone or the iPad tablet and project developers boast that the suction cups used by them can maintain suction for a few weeks before it lets go, unlike ordinary suction cups that can hold only for a few days.

Currently MobileMount is just a project but they are getting a boost on Kickstarter; however they have already raised the money necessary for the project with more than a month left.  The MobileMount can be pre-ordered for $25 and as soon as the project developers get your money they can start producing the first units. 

MobileMount Strength Test/Twist-to-Lock Explanation from JR Sanchez on Vimeo.

The post MobileMount Dock Sticks Any Device, Anywhere appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

They noticed that anamorphosis can be used to project data onto a 3D object, by placing a 3D object on a 2D data, this is how they developed this interactive system. Unlike an ordinary mirror anamorphosis, in this system, you rotate a cylindrical mirror on the iPad so that objects reflected in the mirror also rotate. How does the system work? It is fairly simple. You must have two touch pens in the cylinder. The top surface of the cylinder is an aluminum plate so it can conduct electricity. The touch pens and the aluminum plate are connected by wiring inside, thus the Anamorphicons are shown on the iPad only when you are touching the plate; it is just as if you are touching the iPad with two fingers.

The coordinates of the two points on the bottom of the cylinder are obtained by an application specially made for the iPad. The coordinates of the cylinder and the rotation angle are obtained relative to them, and the content is provided accordingly.

This is very useful looking at objects in an online shopping catalog for example, because you can see the products in a 360 degrees, which is very helpful in buying clothes or other such products.

[Source]

The post 3D iPad Made Possible With A Metal Cylinder appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Last year it was rumored that Apple acquired C3 Technologies, an advanced 3D mapping company. Perhaps you use Google maps and their 3D map modules which is available exclusively on Android OS. Since Google does not willingly give this technology to iOS devices. Apple also purchased 3D mapping company Poly9, and now the acquisition of C3 Technologies has been confirmed. Besides these two companies, Apple acquired Placebos too, a company specializing in maps. It is clear that Apple wants to get rid of Google in terms of geolocation services and anyone else to fall on the way is just a casualty of being in the same arena as Apple.

With this much information, we can piece together that Apple’s plans are to completely change the iOS mapping features and provide a similar service, or even better, than Google Maps.  But, the true “magic” stands behind the technology purchased with C3 Technologies. The Swedish company a 3D mapping technology similar to that of the military to guide missiles, and with its help they could achieve photo-realistic models of buildings, landscapes, and even trees. Imagine that you open Maps and you could see parts of the world in 3D with rich details. Of course, such technologies will not be available this year or in the first part of the next, but Apple’s intentions are quite clear and they seem to be very determined to make it happen.

Looking at the way Apple has made previous strategic moves, we can say that this geo-location system will be very interesting.

The post Apple Acquires C3: 3D Mapping For iOS 6? appeared first on Mobile Magazine.