Month: February 2016

According to some linguists, language fundamentally affects the way we see and interpret the world around us. This phenomenon is known as the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, and it was discussed by WNYC’s RadioLab show in their episode “Why Isn’t the Sky Blue.”

One of the ideas in this linguistic theory is that humans find it easier to identify different categories of color (green versus blue) once we’ve learned the words for them. A study published in PNAS shows that distinct regions of the brain are when pre-linguistic (non-speaking) infants are shown different colors. This indicates that color categories develop in the brain before language.

The researchers used near infrared spectroscopy to determine which areas of the infants’ brains were activated when they looked at either green or blue objects. They also showed infants two different shades of the same color. These experiments were repeated with adults to compare the prelinguistic infants’ brain activity to that of people who had mastered language.

The Vive Pre dev kit looks much more like a consumer product than early prototypes from last year.

The HTC Vive virtual reality headset, the first such headset powered by Valve's SteamVR technology, will ship starting on April 1 for $799 (~£650), according to leaked reports ahead of an official Mobile World Congress announcement expected Monday. Pre-orders will reportedly be offered starting on February 29.

That price comes in significantly higher than the $599 (£499) price Oculus revealed for the Rift last month, but an HTC executive warned us months ago to expect "a slightly higher price point" for the Vive at launch. Keep in mind as well that the Vive's price includes two hand-tracking wand-like controllers—Oculus' similar, optional Touch controllers won't be available for sale until the second half of the year at an unknown price. The Vive package also comes with two Lighthouse laser tracking boxes, used to measure the position of the headset and controllers as a user walk around the room.

The news, which comes nearly a year after the HTC Vive was first revealed at GDC 2015, was leaked ahead of an apparent embargo by German site ComputerBild, leading other outlets to confirm the same info. The Vive was originally announced for a late 2015 release, but that launch plan was severely scaled back in August before being officially delayed in December to the current April window..

BARCELONA, Spain—Huawei, not content with being the third-largest smartphone maker in the world behind Apple and Samsung, is now entering the PC market—and it's going after Microsoft's Surface. The MateBook is a Surface-like Windows 10 convertible laptop/tablet complete with stylus, 12-inch 2160x1440 pixel display, and all-metal unibody design with a range of colourful portfolio keyboard cases.

The MateBook starts at $699/€799 for a 128GB model with 4GB of RAM and Core M3 processor, while the keyboard case goes for $129/€149.

While the MateBook isn't overly exciting on the inside—it's powered by Intel's low power Core M3, Core M5, and Core M7 processors—it sports an extremely attractive design with chamfered edges, a thin 10mm bezel, 6.9mm thickness, and a weight of just 640 grams. It comes in either black or white colour options, along with five different colour options for the portfolio keyboard.

Jennifer Hahn

The LG 360 VR. I can see the future!

6 more images in gallery

LG's biggest announcement today is undoubtedly the LG G5, but next to the company's flagship smartphone, it was also demoing this crazy VR headset called the "LG 360 VR." It requires a smartphone to work, but unlike Galaxy Gear-style headsets that require you to slot the phone into the headset, this headset is just tethered to the LG G5 via a USB cable.

The device is basically an external display for the G5, allowing the headset to have a slimmer profile while cutting the weight down to only 118g. LG isn't offering many specifics about the display inside the headset, only saying it has a resolution of 639 ppi. LG also isn't saying much in the way of pricing, a launch date, or even capabilities, but it does mention that it "is compatible with 360-degree images as well as all Google Cardboard content."

We were able to briefly check out prototype hardware at LG's G5 event, and we can say the big, face-engulfing VR headsets are that size for a reason—namely blocking out the light in the room. This was more like wearing a pair of opaque eyeglasses; allowing light to gush in from the top and bottom of the device. For the most part, the headset didn't work yet, but it did briefly mirror the G5's home screen when we plugged in the USB cable. The display area is about what you would expect from looking at the outside of the device. It's a long, thin screen the fills maybe half your vertical vision. It won't be a device for immersion, but LG says it will "simulate a 130-inch TV viewed from two meters."