52015 No.5 Bimonthly

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MOBILE MASTERY

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Cover ProductZTE

AXON Elite

Linaro: Benefiting from Open Source Requires a New Business Model Around Collaboration

Make Fun with Light PaintingA Wave of Drones is Coming

ZTE AXON Elite: Flagship Redefined

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A smartphone is an inseparable part of people’s lives. This has also given birth to a range of ingenious and creative peripheral products.

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Stunning Smartphone Accessories

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Linaro: Benefiting from Open Source Requires a New Business Model Around Collaboration

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ZTE AXON Elite: Flagship Rede-fined

4 INFORMATION ROUNDUP

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Chairman: Zeng Xuezhong Vice Chairman: Sun Zhenge Consultants: Dai Wenhong, Guo Qing, Ji Zhongwei, Sun Zhenge, Xie Wei, Zhang Lei Members: Chen Duolei, Gao Dakun, Gao Feng, Huang Xinming, Ji Qin, Jiang Tao, Li Bo, Lv Qianhao, Mao Qian, Qian Peng, Tu Yaming, Zhang Tai, Zhang Zhenyu

Sponsor: ZTE Corporation Edited by Shenzhen Editorial Office, Strategy Planning Department Editor-in-Chief: Huang XinmingExecutive Editor: Liu YangEditor: He XiCirculation Manager: Wang Pingping

Address: NO. 55, Hi-tech Road South, Shenzhen, P.R.ChinaPostcode: 518057Tel: +86-755-26776663Fax: +86-755-26775217Email: he.xi50@zte.com.cnPublishing Date: October 31, 2015Volume 8 No. 5 (Issue 39)First Issue Published in 2008

Mobile World Editorial Board

All rights reserved. The content of this magazine may not be reproduced either in whole or in part without the written consent of ZTE. Every effort has been made to ensure the information included is both accurate and complete; however, ZTE cannot accept misuse or misinterpretation of the information published or implied from the content. In the case of ZTE mobile devices, the reviews are based on the products we could find at the time of printing. The product availability and descriptions may vary in different countries. Please take the actual product as the standard.

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NO.5 2015http://wwwen.zte.com.cn/en/about/publications

19 DESIGN & ART

19 Get the Most out of Your Space

20 How to Control Bezel-Free Phones?

22 Highlights from Milan Design Week 2015

24 MOBILE MASTERY

24 Make Fun with Light Painting

26 A Wave of Drones is Coming

34 FASHION

Tools to Keep You Cool

28 SMART GADGETS

28 What are AR and VR Really About?

30 Moving Towards Wireless Charging

32 Robots to Rule the Future Smart Home

Mobile World for Android

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INFORMATION ROUNDUP

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ZTE Goes for No. 5 in Thai Smart-phone MarketZTE aims to be one of the top five brands in Thailand next year after launching its AXON series on September 28. Thailand is a very important market in Southeast Asia, said Jeremy Zhao, chief executive officer for Southeast Asia at ZTE.The company plans to spend US$5 mil-lion on sales and marketing throughout next year in the Thai market. It also plans to open up to 20 ZTE smartphone experi-ence shops in Thailand by next quarter and more than 1,500 nationwide next year. (Source: The Nation, September 29)

ZTE AXON Ap-plies for over 50 PatentsOn August 20, ZTE announced that it has applied for over 50 new core patents for its global flagship AXON phone. The core patents include patents for the innova-tive technology that went into its audio, camera, antenna, security and touch technology. AXON’s innovative technology includes the smartphone’s “dual track” – Hi-Fi sound recording and playback, as well as its dual-lens rear camera that cap-tures high resolution images and videos.

ZTE Launches New AXON Devices, An-nounces Flagship Product Strategy

On October 11, ZTE held a conference in Shenzhen on its AXON flagship series. The com-pany talked about the strategy for its flagship device. At the same event, ZTE confirmed the global availability of AXON mini, including the pressure-sensitive touch and NBA versions, and AXON Watch for China. For the first time, ZTE discussed its AXON flagship device product line-up, which consists of AXON, AXON mini, AXON MAX, and AXON Watch. In addition to availability announcements for the AXON mini versions and the AXON Watch, ZTE also unveiled the AXON MAX – a larger-screen smartphone device with a bigger battery.

ZTE AXON mini First unveiled in July 2015, ZTE’s AXON mini became the world’s first smartphone to come

with a pressure-sensitive touchscreen that recognizes different levels of touch pressure for enhanced functions and experience, such as interactive gaming, passwords and more. ZTE’s AXON mini boasts a Qualcomm Snap-dragon 616 octa-core processor and Adreno 405 GPU, a 2800 mAh battery, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB ROM, and support for up to 128 GB SD card expansion. AXON mini’s voice search function can be activated within 1.2 seconds. It also comes with voice translation support for English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean, offering real-time voice translation. In addition, AXON mini supports voice messaging and chat functions. AXON mini supports three different biometric authentication options: fingerprint, voice con-trol and eye-scan. The AXON mini NBA version comes in a number of design options, featuring NBA images, and is loaded with a number of NBA services. The AXON mini NBA version is a result of a partner-ship between ZTE, the NBA and Tencent. All versions of ZTE AXON mini will be available to purchase in China online from ZTE’s own MyZTE store and JD.com, as well as offline from major retail outlets. In the coming months, ZTE AXON mini will also be made available in Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Russia, Japan, India, Australia, France, Germany, Turkey, Spain and Italy.

Adam Zeng, CEO of ZTE Mobile Devices

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AXON Elite Launched at IFA 2015On September 4, ZTE announced the launch of the international version of its new AXON smartphone, ZTE AXON Elite, at IFA 2015. The ZTE AXON Elite is set to go on sale in markets across Europe, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific in the coming months.“After two successful launches in the US and China, we are delighted to continue the global rollout of AXON with this latest version for Europe, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific,” said Adam Zeng, CEO of ZTE Mobile Devices. “AXON is the start of big and bold things for ZTE, and we will continue to evolve our AXON flagship line to align with our global strategies.”

On September 22, ZTE USA announced the availability of the second genera-tion ZMAX 2 with AT&T.

On September 11, AT&T and ZTE USA began offering ZTE Mobley, AT&T’s first plug-in vehicle Wi-Fi hotspot.

On September 8, NBA super stars Patrick Beverley and Robert Horry visited ZTE’s headquarters in Shenzhen, China and interacted with their fans.

Beginning September 24, ZTE AXON Elite can be purchased via eBay in a number of markets across Europe and a number of other regions worldwide (not including the US and Canada).

At a GlancePhotographer Ed Kashi is taking photos

with ZTE AXON Elite.

ZTE AXON Wins User Experience Gold Award at IFA 2015On September 5, ZTE announced that ZTE AXON phone was awarded a “User Experience Gold Award” by IDG and German Industry and Commerce Ltd. at IFA 2015. The award is a category of the trade show’s 2015 IFA Product Technical Innovation Award, of which ZTE is the only Chinese smartphone brand to receive an award.AXON combines the right hardware and software to offer the best sound quality, camera functionality, and all-round smooth performance.

Kan Yulun, CEO of EMEA & LATAM, ZTE Mobile Devices (R), collects “User Experience Gold Award” for ZTE AXON from Miss IFA (L)

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Flagship Redefined ZTE AXON Elite

AXON Elite24-Hour Experi-ence Test

1. Beautiful DesignAXON Elite has both classical and fashionable elements. Its slightly curved back with precise roundness makes it comfortable to hold. ZTE added a distinctive triangle grill pattern to the earpiece, front-facing speaker, and rear camera so that the phone stands out in terms of texture and visual effects. It has mixed use of metal and leather to proportionate a luxurious experience to users. Its body is made from aircraft-grade aluminum-magnesium alloy. There is leatherette finish on the top and bottom of the back cover.

2. Dual-Lens CameraThe camera is one of the most important features of a smartphone. AXON Elite has powerful hardware for photography, includ-ing bionic dual cameras, dual-color tempera-ture LED flash and a closed-loop motor for fast focusing. Dual lenses allow more light to reach the sensor. This, combined with a large F1.8 aperture, lets you adjust the depth of field down to faux-apertures of F1.0. AXON Elite rivals a DSLR camera in terms of photo-graphic fidelity.

AXON Elite is the result of years of unremitting effort and is the phone that ZTE hopes will change its brand image to one of affordable luxury. It incorporates Chi-nese design elements and has premium craftsmanship. The phone features ultimate video experience, innovative voice control and compre-hensive security features, which all help to redefine a flagship smartphone.

Smartphones have gone through years of development, and flagship models of major manufacturers have in-creasingly high-end configurations. ZTE AXON Elite, with its latest style and the features customers asked for, is powerful and refreshing. From its Android OS to its 4K video capabilities and Hi-Fi audio, it is the first phone made entirely with you in mind.

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Specifications

Special ExperienceVoice Control System-level voice control is an impressive feature of ZTE phones. AXON Elite has better voiceprint recogni-tion than iPhone 6 Plus in various scenarios. It can recognize common instructions, such as playing music, sending messages, checking weather forecast and opening an app, with an accuracy of up to 98%.

Shooting ExperienceThe camera of AXON Elite inherits one character of ZTE phones, namely, simple but powerful in features. You can find F-STOP, AUTO, or MODES in the bottom menu. You can simulate the large aperture effect using F-STOP dial. The maximum aperture is F1.0. You can get a blurred background with a large apeture. Under the MODES menu, you can select a variety of modes, such as manual, panorama, sport, HDR and slow motion video.

OS: Android 5.0Screen: 5.5-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels)CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 810Memory: 3 GB RAM + 32 GB ROMCamera: 13 MP + 2 MP dual-lens (rear); 8 MP (front)Battery: 3000 mAhDimensions: 154 x 77 x 9.8 mm

Mobile World Says:AXON Elite is an awesome flagship smart-phone whose configuration and features you can hardly quibble about. Its dual-lens camera has stunning depth-of-field effect, and allows you to refocus pictures after you take them. Other important features include three different biometric authentication op-tions, voice control and germ-killing screen.

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3. Two-Way Hi-FiThere is no shortage of smartphones with Hi-Fi audio. Unlike conventional audio solutions commonly used in high-end smartphones, AXON Elite has a dedicated AK4961 audio chipset with a 32-bit digital-to-analogue converter as well as dual micro-phones. This enables state-of-the-art Hi-Fi audio playback and recording. Hi-Fi features on AXON Elite also include wind noise re-duction and auto level controllers. With the above features, the phone has a signal to noise ratio (SNR) as high as 127 dB and high dynamic range of audio recording.

4. Elite Performance AXON Elite uses the powerful Qual-comm Snapdragon 810 Octacore pro-cessor, backed by 3 GB RAM and 32 GB of internal storage. Apps open and run smoothly, and playing graphically intensive games causes no trouble at all. The phone supports the Snap-dragon 810 dual ISP technology, and you can capture and edit 4K Ultra HD videos. It also offers smarter and safer ways to use your phone, including fingerprint and voiceprint recognition, giving you the utmost protection of your data and privacy.

5. Antibacterial Screen AXON Elite has a 5.5-inch FHD 2.5D curved screen. It comes with Corning’s germ-killing screen, which is the first antimicrobial cover glass registered with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The new glass blocks up to 99% of harmful bacteria.

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Exquisite DesignAXON Elite is designed with both oriental and western aesthetic elements. A triangle grill decorates the top and bottom bezels and around the rear cameras. It uses Boeing 787 aircraft-grade aluminum magnesium alloy. This provides 80% increase in strength and 30% reduction in weight. Its metal body with leatherette trim gives the phone an upscale look and makes it more comfortable to grip. The 2.5D curved antibacterial Corning Gorilla Glass screen prevents 99% of harmful bacteria.

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ZTE AXON Elite

Accessories to Make Music More Enjoyable

People used to carry a music player if they wanted to enjoy music anytime anywhere. A music player has constrained capacity and supports only a few audio formats, which hardly satisfies audiophiles’ enthusiasm for high-fidelity sound. A smartphone, however, has larger capacity and supports almost all audio formats. With the right smartphone accessories, music can be a much more relaxing, pleasant experience.

1. KEF M100 Hi-Fi Earphone When you are upset and want to take a

A smartphone is an inseparable part of people’s lives. This has also given birth to a range of ingenious and creative peripheral products, which, if properly used, can maximize your smartphone functions and make your smartphone serve you much better.

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foam ear cushions stay comfortable no matter how long your playlist is. The audio cable attaches to a single ear cup for greater freedom of movement.

3. Sony PHA-1A Portable Headphone AmplifierSony PHA-1A is designed to deliver high-resolution audio sound quality for the ultimate music experience. It can decode a variety of high-resolution audio file formats. It has great design. Apart from its sleek aluminum casing that doubles up as a protection cover from knocks and shocks, its small, lightweight body weighs around 150 g, which makes it ultra-portable.

4. JBL Pulse Wireless Bluetooth SpeakerAlthough headphones provide better sound, you can only enjoy them by yourself. A portable Bluetooth speaker would be a better choice if you want to have a party. JBL Pulse wireless Bluetooth speaker never disappoints and has outstanding audio performance. It also has programmable LEDs that pulse to your music. You can choose from five pre-programmed or customizable light themes.

5. HomeSpot Bluetooth Audio ReceiverWhen you get home after a busy day, it is relaxing to sit in the couch and enjoy some music. If you don’t like a track, instead of getting up from the couch to skip to the next piece of music, HomeSpot NFC-enabled audio receivers offer an easy solution. It is a device that facilitates audio streaming from Bluetooth-enabled devices to your existing stereo system. Just plug it into your stereo system and connect to your smartphone. If your phone has NFC, an instant connection can be made through one tap.

break from the chaotic world, you may want to immerse yourself in some refreshing music. Close your eyes and put on the ergonomically designed KEF M100 Hi-Fi earphones. With ingeniously damped full-range 10 mm neodymium drivers and a unique angled chamber engineered to minimize distortion, the listening experience has the intensity and detail of hearing the original live performance.

2. Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear Headphones SoundTrue around-ear headphones feature an advanced acoustic design for clear, natural audio across the full spectrum—from vocalists who hit the high note right down to a good bass line groove. A softly padded headband and memory

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1. ASUS LolliFlashMost front-facing cameras do not perform well at night or with low light. ASUS LolliFlash is a dual-color LED flash that dramatically improves the quality of low-light photos and videos shot with your smartphone or tablet. The combination of 2700k and 5000k color temperature LEDs reveals true colors and skin tones. It also features three color filters. Once it slots into your headphone socket, you can adjust to any angle with a quick twist. 2. ASUS ZenFlashA DSLR has a built-in flash that covers a limited range and cannot control the quality of light. An external flash is usually needed for better photography. The same thing goes for a smartphone. ZenFlash has a Xenon light with a capacity of GN1 to GN4.8, supporting the optimal light range of 0.5 m to 2.4

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it even in the rain. After installing the supporting app on the smartphone and inserting a TF card into the Foream X1, you can frame the view on the phone, shoot the video or show what you see by live broadcasting.

5. Sony FDR-X1000V Action CameraIf you are no longer content with photography on land and want to do something more challenging, how about shooting underwater? Sony FDR-X1000V comes with a waterproof case that keeps the camera dry up to 10 meters. The device has powerful detail reproduction, accurate color rendition, as well as wind noise reduction. Its SteadyShot feature increases image stabilization almost three times. After you get on land, it can be connected to your smartphone via Wi-Fi so that you can use your phone as a remote control and viewing screen.

6. 3D Robotics IRIS+ DroneNow that underwater photography is available, do you wish to have your camera fly in the sky automatically? IRIS+ quadcopter from 3D Robotics is all you need to shoot photos and videos from new perspectives. It can be mounted with a GoPro camera and associated gimbal. 3DR’s 3PV (third-person view) Follow Me technology turns your IRIS+ into your own hands-free aerial camera crew that puts you in the middle of your own adventure. This advanced technology also controls the gimbal to keep the camera centered on you while keeping the image stabilized. With software, you can plan flights by simply drawing a flight plan on your smartphone.

Accessories to Make Mobile Photography PerfectThe reason you take pictures with your smartphone is easy: you have it with you. A smartphone has become a must-have shooting gadget. A few novel components will help you capture incredible images with your smartphone.

m. The device can stick to the phone’s rear panel and offers a much brighter flash than the usual LED flash. It provides lighting that closely mimics sunlight, revealing natural colors in shade or at night. You can control the flash timing, ISO and exposure on its exclusive interface. It comes with a built-in cable to synchronize shots.

3. Moment LensesMobile photography can also be perfected with add-on lenses. Most smartphones use a prime lens, which has a similar angle of view to the human eye and is equivalent to a 35 mm to 50 mm focal length in a DSLR. It is hard to provide satisfying wide-angle or telephoto images with a prime lens. This is where a Moment lens can help. Its lenses consist of a roughly 60 mm equivalent (tele) and an approximately 18 mm equivalent

(wide). The two focal lengths are well chosen, providing a significantly wider or narrower angle of view than most phone cameras. The lenses now work on certain devices and attach via a mounting plate or the Moment case.

4. Foream X1 Head-Mounted Sports CameraBesides an external flash or add-on lenses, can we have more fun while shooting on a phone? How about taking photos and videos from the first-person perspective, like in a game, without holding the phone in your hand? Foream X1 camera is designed for this purpose. You can wear it on your head. This camera has an F2.2 aperture, 87-degree wide angle, and 8-megapixel resolution. The built-in large-capacity battery enables three-hour continuous video recording. Its IPX4 waterproof design allows you to use

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Dual-Lens CameraAXON Elite has bionic parallel dual cameras with Sony IMX214 sensor, 6P optical module, an F1.8 wide lens aperture and dual-LED flash. The dual-lens camera enables fast focusing and captures a greater amount of light. This setup allows you to take a photo first and then shift the focus or adjust the aperture later, making photography more creative.

ZTE AXON Elite

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Multi-Biometric AuthenticationAXON Elite provides multiple security solutions to protect your privacy. Its voiceprint, fingerprint, and eyeprint authentication allows you to use your phone much more conveniently and safely. A significantly improved voice control technology is also embedded in AXON Elite, which makes messaging and searching through voice more powerful and accurate than before.

ZTE AXON Elite

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1. Pfeiffer CollectionThe Pfeiffer Collection is the result of a partnership between the renowned furniture designer Eric Pfeiffer and Evernote. It provides a family of vessels designed to hold your phone, tablet, and other everyday work essentials and organize your desktop. The pieces are made from soft-touch plastic with either solid walnut wood or brightly colored bases (Evernote Green, Tangerine, or Powder Blue). Designed to work together or stand alone, these products balance beauty with purpose.

2. Benks Magic OKR+ Protective Glass for nubia Z9 MAXBenks Magic OKR+ Protective Glass for nubia Z9 MAX is solid and durable. It is made of AGC Ultra White Glass that features high light transmittance. It uses a special technology to strengthen glass hardness (9H) and stability (shatterproof). It also has anti-fingerprint glass surface and curved edge finish. 3. Easycare Ultraviolet Smartphone SterilizerTests have revealed that your smartphone has more germs than a public toilet seat. It is very important to keep your smartphone healthy in order to keep you healthy. Easycare provides a useful product: Healthhouse C. It is a sterilizing device that uses UV light to eliminate germs from your smartphone. It includes a built-in charging port so you can charge your device while it’s being sterilized. It can fit smartphones up to 5.5 inches and also works with

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appliances are running on your phone.

6. Nut Smart TrackerNut smart tracker enables you to track your phone or other lost items. It is light and thin and communicates with your smartphone via Bluetooth 4.0. You can attach the trackers to things like keys or wallet. You can “call” Nut through the Beep button on the Nut app and the tracker will beep for you to find. If you cannot find your phone, you can long-press the button on Nut and your phone will beep. When the two are separated by a certain distance, the Nut tracker and your phone both beep to alarm you. Your phone can pair up to six Nut trackers at the same time.

other small objects such as keys, MP3 players, and Bluetooth earphones. With this gadget, you can ensure your smartphone is germ-less in six minutes.

4. Belkin Conserve Valet USB Charging StationFew people know the exact time it takes to fully charge their phone. Most people just leave their phone plugged in overnight. Some AC adapters drain power even when they are not charging anything. Belkin’s Conserve Valet smart USB charging station lets you charge all of your mobile devices in one convenient place, and automatically shuts off power—including standby power—after devices are fully charged. It even senses when a new device is added so that you always

get a full charge, and it has an innovative cord management system to keep things neat. It supports charging up to four devices simultaneously.

5. Atsmart Smart SocketAlthough the Belkin smart charging station works well for smartphones, tablets, or devices that can be charged through a micro USB port, it doesn’t work for laptops and other large electronic devices. Here is where Atsmart smart socket comes into play. The socket has a screen and can be controlled by a social app. After connecting it to your Wi-Fi network at home and binding it with your SNS account by scanning the QR code, you can control all the sockets and check how your home

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Accessories to Protect Your PhoneSince smartphones are one of our closest companions, it is essential to give them the proper protection. All kinds of protective cases and lanyards can be bought. However, there are many peripheral products that give your phone more protection than you’d think.

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1. SanDisk Connect 64 GB Wireless Media DriveIf your smartphone only has 16 GB ROM and does not support any expansion memory card, you may not be able to entertain yourself whenever you want. SanDisk Connect Wireless Media Drive is ideal for your vacation. It features 64 GB built-in storage and you can add up to 128 GB with a built-in SDHC/SDXC slot. It allows you to save videos and browse photos, and access and stream HD movies and music to up to five smartphones and tablets. It gives you up to 8 hours of active uptime with just one battery charge.

2. Logitech Bluetooth Multi-Device Keyboard K480In addition to being your entertainment companion, a smartphone can also be your partner for work. Even as our usage of touchscreen devices increases, there are occasions when we still need a good, old-fashioned physical

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open messages and other notifications in its E Ink display. Thanks to its low power consumption, the battery can last up to three days when fully charged.

5. ZTE Strawcom ICharming R1 Smart Ring Besides smart bands and smart watches, it may surprise you that smart wearable devices also include jewelry, like a smart ring. ZTE, through its subsidiary ZTE Strawcom, introduced the icharming R1 smart ring at MWC Shanghai 2015. This truly charming micro wearable is exactly what it looks like—a Zirkon crystal embedded ring that packs a bunch of miniaturized electronics and sensors for easy user interaction. The icharming comes in six different colors—gold, chocolate, purple, red, blue, and indigo. ICharming can connect with both Android and iOS and provide users with easy message notification via the LED that is placed beneath the precious stone, basic call handling, activity monitoring, and device tracking. It even comes with unique camera controls that allow the iCharming to link to the camera of a smart device for selfie snapping and panoramic shooting.

6. JBL Reflect In-Ear Sports HeadphonesOperated with a simple wave of the hand, the JBL Reflect Response earphones are the world’s first wireless sports earphones with customizable motion sensor control. You no longer have to stop a workout to change tracks or take a call with hard-to-use buttons. JBL Reflect Response earphones also feature legendary JBL sound with an ergonomic fit neckband and specially designed earpieces that stay in place regardless of how intense your workout routine is.

Accessories to Make Your Phone More CapableToday, you can do almost everything with your smartphone, from listening to music, watching videos, to ordering food. However, an all-round smartphone also has its own Achilles heel, which is limited battery life and storage capacity. There are also many accessories available to provide more possibilities for your smartphone.

keyboard to get a lot of typing done. Logitech K480 is designed to work with laptops, tablets and smartphones. Unlike other collapsible Bluetooth keyboards, the K480 enables you to type in comfort on a full-sized PC keyboard with a familiar layout. It has a slot big enough to accommodate a tablet and a phone at the same time. You can turn the Easy-Switch dial to effortlessly switch typing between three connected Bluetooth wireless devices, for example, a Windows or Mac computer plus an Android or iOS tablet or smartphone.

3. MAZZO Power Drive It is hard for a light traveler to choose between a power bank and extra storage drive before going out. MAZZO Power Drive deals with both problems at once in an elegant and reasonably inexpensive way. Inside sits a 7800 mAh battery pack and 16 GB to 128 GB of storage. This gadget reads and writes data through a USB cable rather than Wi-Fi to minimize

power consumption of the phone and Power Drive itself. There are two standard USB ports on the top of the device: one for smartphone charging and the other for data transmission. You can get it working with your Android and iOS devices for data exchange with a special app installed on the phone. This is an awesome device that provides extra power and more storage right in your pocket when you travel.

4. Sony SmartBand Talk SWR30Have you ever been frustrated when you missed an important call or message because you put your smartphone in your pocket and didn’t hear the phone ringing? Get yourself a Sony SmartBand Talk SWR30 activity wristband and install the SmartBand app on your phone. You’ll no longer miss anything. The built-in microphone and loudspeaker give you what you need to make and answer calls just on your wrist. You can also view and

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All-Around PerformanceThe 64-bit Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor, 3 GB RAM, and 32 GB ROM make AXON Elite extremely smooth to operate. AKM’s advanced audio DSP CODEC AK4961 and dual microphones in AXON Elite enable Hi-Fi sound recording and playback.

ZTE AXON Elite

Linaro

At Linaro, engineers from the world’s leading technology companies collaborate with Linaro’s own engineering team to define the future of open source on ARM. All together, more than 200 engineers work on consolidating and optimiz-ing open source developer tools, Linux kernel, ARM power management, and other software infrastructure for the ARM architecture. Recently, Mobile World interviewed George Grey, CEO of Linaro. He shared with us Linaro’s achieve-ments, development strategy and objectives. He also talked about his expectations for ZTE, which became a member of Linaro last year. Q: Could you brief us on the latest achievements of Linaro? A: Linaro is a software engineering organization. We work on open source software for the ARM architecture. There are many licensees of ARM technology, including ZTE. Linaro is a place where those companies work together on shared open source software engineering. We are now five years old and have about 220 engineers. Some of these engineers are from

our member companies, including ZTE, and some are our own employees.

We work in a number of different markets including mobile, embedded, digital home, networking and server devices. Over the past five years, we have grown from six members to 32 members. We worked with our members to develop new open source software that is used by all of our members.

Q: How do you see the competition between Intel, ARM and AMD?A: AMD is a member of Linaro. AMD is working both on Intel architecture and ARM architecture. Intel is very differ-ent from ARM. Intel is a vertically integrated company that builds, develops, designs and sells chips whereas ARM has a different business model. It sells IP to a large number of different chip vendors.

The ARM ecosystem comprises many companies that are rapidly innovating. One of the hallmarks of the ARM business

● By Liu Yang

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Benefiting from Open Source Requires a New Business Model Around Collaboration

“More and more big companies are em-bracing collaborative open source technol-ogy. I think Linaro is the center of that move-ment.” George Grey, CEO of Linaro

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model is that all these companies are developing SoCs and there is a very rapid pace of innovation. ARM has been very successful in the mobile marketplace, the embedded market and now IoT, and it has now brought out a full 64-bit architecture with ARMv8-A. This is enabling ARM to start competing in networking equipment and server markets, where, of course, Intel is dominated.

Q: Could you give us some examples of innovation in the consumer electronics field that could be attributed to Linaro?A: Linaro is in the mobile space. We work on core technology that is used for Android and other mobile operating systems. We work

A: The competing SoC companies all depend on common cores, where they depend on Android, on Ubuntu, on Red Hat and UEFI boot code, and on graphics software and multimedia software.

A lot of the software is the same for each competitor. Rather than each competitor engineering software themselves but slightly differently, it is more efficient and cost efficient to share the cost of working together to create software. That’s what Linaro does. Then these competitors all differentiate: they have their own features and are free to spend more of their engineering efforts on their own value-added innovations.

Linaro members get return on their investment be-cause they use less of their engineering resources for common software and are able to use more of their engineering resources for their own differentiation.

An example of this is in the networking space, Open DataPlane, which is a group of competitors in the networking ecosystem who have come together to work on an API that enables networking applications to use network data plane accelerators from different companies in different SoCs. One software interface can work with an ARM SoC that uses a DSP for net-work traffic processing or GPU or dedicated network packet accelerator, and the software is all the same. What Linaro is doing here is helping to create a com-mon platform that enables different SoCs to be used for networking applications with different hardware.

Q: What are your challenges and how do you overcome them?A: Open source means that software is freely avail-able to the whole community. One of our challenges is helping our members understand the benefits of open source. It is not just free software. Using open

A Cricket office

on the Linux kernel and also on optimizing software for Android and other mobile platforms.

Over the past five years, we have invested in working on the Linux kernel and making the software sharable between different SoC companies. This has led to fast time-to-market and better perfor-mance for all Android mobile devices.

Linaro doesn’t deliver an end product because we provide open source software for everybody to use. However, we have had an impact on all the Linux operating systems, including Android.

Q: Is Project Ara one example? A: Yes. Linaro is working with the ATAP group of Google on soft-ware for Project Ara. Project Ara uses the Android operating system to create a modular phone. Linaro is working on changes and additions to Android to support not only the bus used to connect modules for the modular phone but also on the changes that are needed to support different devices being removed and put into a mobile phone.

While the phone is still on, you could change to a high resolu-tion camera, remove some storage, add a second battery, or add a health device and then remove it because you don’t need it any more. This requires changes to the Android software. Linaro is working with ATAP on that and on other software for the Ara Project.

It’s a very interesting concept not only for phone. I think that the impact of this project will go beyond phones, and Android could then be able to be used for more modular applications.

Q: What is your strategy to develop the ARM ecosystem?A: Linaro exists because it is inefficient for every SoC vendor to work on software that is the same for every other company. At Linaro, SoC vendors can share the cost of developing new software and optimize the software for the ARM architecture.

Our strategy is to be the place where the ARM ecosystem competi-tors can work together on shared common software. Intel invests in software of Intel architecture. In the ARM case, ARM invests and every ARM SoC vendor also invests. Linaro is a place where these competitors can share the cost and work together to invest in the ARM ecosystem architecture.

Q: How do you coordinate communication between competitors?

source and benefiting from it requires a new business model around col-laboration. To be successful in open source, you use it but also contribute to it. This makes the software better over time and reduces your own maintenance costs.

It is important to demonstrate the business benefit of working in a new way with software because SoCs are getting more and more complex, and the software that requires the use of the functionality of SoC is also becoming more and more complex. Software is becoming even more expensive than the hardware to develop.

No one company can create all the software that is needed. Open source is a very good way of collaborating on very complex big software projects because you have the benefit of the whole community. And then com-panies that use open source software can create their own innovation on top of a very strong open source platform.

Another challenge, of course, with Linaro is that we have strong com-panies that are competitors working together in Linaro. The good news is that all of our members understand that investing in Linaro is helping their business so they do work very well together inside Linaro.

There are challenges working with companies from Asia (China in

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particular) because of the language barriers and timezones. However, it is very exciting to see the adoption of open source practices in China and the rest of Asia. It is also exciting to see investments in open source technology and investments in the maker community, which is leading to a very high rate of innovation among entrepreneurs and makers, both of whom are adopting open source hardware and software technologies to create new products and new companies. It is exciting to see that focus in China both in individuals and in big companies like ZTE.

Q: What has been ZTE’s contribution to Linaro?A: ZTE is one of our club members and is a major contributor to Linaro’s resources both in term of contributing engineers and also helping to fund Linaro’s activities. We are working closely with ZTE on a number of initia-tives, from mobile to set-box and networking equipment.

All of Linaro’s members contribute engineering resources to work together to improve everybody’s business opportunity.

Q: What’s your expectation for ZTE?A: As the ARM ecosystem develops in new markets, particularly in the networking and enterprise market, we expect to see companies like ZTE use more and more ARM technology.

I think that Linaro and ZTE will work closely together to enable ZTE’s prod-ucts to be successful in the marketplace using ARM technology. Likewise, ZTE’s contributions to Linaro’s engineering enable fast time-to-market and big market for all of the players in the ARM ecosystem.

Q: What is the future direction of Linaro? A: Linaro is now five years old. We have grown to more than 220 engi-neers today. We expect that growth to continue because we see increasing adoption of ARM technology from IoT all the way to server devices.

Linaro’s future is based on an increasing usage of technology companies of collaboration as a way to have a more innovative business model, where companies rely more on open source technologies to make their products.

Successful high-tech companies today, including ZTE, Alibaba and Tencent, have a lot of their software technologies built on open source, and a small but very valuable proportion is their own proprietary technology that sits on top of open source. Therefore, more and more big companies are embracing collaborative open source technology. I think Linaro is the center of that movement. Our goal is to help our members succeed in their business.

George Grey at ZTE’s headquarters in Shenzhen, China

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Importance of Space As mobile phones become internet portals, the screen is jam packed with different types of information. Before the complete commercialization and popularization of mid-air holographic projection technology or ocular imaging technology, information has to be displayed on a screen measured in inches. When portability is taken into consideration, screen size cannot increase indefinitely. So can we arrange all the elements on a limited space appropriately?

Let’s think about living space. Along with global industrialization, traditional architecture has gradually been replaced by storied buildings, which makes full use of limited space. Through superpositioning and segmentation of vertical space, different layers can function in different ways.

User interface layers are a metaphor for space. Putting different types of information into layers of a display space is very important to help users receive, search and read information. If the interface is crowded with information or has an overly deep

hierarchy, users will have difficulty in finding what they want or switch from one level to another in the hierarchy.

Different Approaches to Space Microsoft, Google, and Apple have different representation of space on their own OS.

Android Google was criticized for its Android design, but the recent material design of Android 5.0 Lollipop has been well received by users. Google created a design style that has matured into

Why do people like big houses? More space. When there are more contents in your home, you need more space to put them in. This may be one of the reasons why mobile phones are becoming bigger and bigger. Over the past few years, mobile phone screens have increased from 2.4 inches to 6 inches. Even fashion designers have followed this trend and changed jean pocket design so that big mobile phones can fit in.

● By Liang Zhen

Get the Most out of Your Space

a minimalistic card-type interface and it also uses subtle gradients and shadows as elements to aid stacked cards.

On a multi-layered interface, users may feel like using a large-screen device when navigating a mobile phone with a relatively small screen, and they can clearly know where they are on the user interface and easily control the whole progress, for example, to interrupt a task flow or switch to another interface.

Windows Phone The Windows Phone interface is fully flat and makes full use of horizontal space. Panoramic experiences are a part of the native Windows Phone

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Multiple layers on Android Lollipop interface

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Panorama panel on Windows Phone

look and feel. Unlike a standard app that is designed to fit within the confines of the phone screen, the Panorama control allows for a long horizontal canvas in order to lay out elements that extend beyond the confines of the screen. The Panorama control has a number of Panorama items that contain the content. When viewing each Panorama item, the user sees a little piece of the item to the right, indicating that additional content is waiting to be discovered. iOSWith iOS7, Apple introduced a parallax feature, which gives a 3D-style effect to the iPhone screen. iOS 7 also uses translucency to provide a sense of context and place for the on-screen elements. Conclusion From skeuomorphism to flat design, the mobile phone interface is trending towards a lighter, more breathable layout. Mobile phone designers need to consider how to position and arrange all the layers, including home screen, icons and apps from the perspective of the entire phone so that users have a better experience.

Longing for more operational space appears in sci-fi films. Characters use their arms to operate on items laid out in a 3D space.

There is a growing trend towards phones with bezel-free displays. ZTE's flagship model nubia Z9 has a bezel-free appearance. It has nubia’s Frame interactive Technology (FiT) invention, which enables you to control the phone by grip and gesture-based controls. This solves the difficulty in operating bezel-free phone. What is the charm of this technology? Will edge gestures become a trend for bezel-free phones?

Are Edge Gestures Revolutionary?Bezel-free design is attention-grabbing but creates challenges for frame operation.

If you ignore the user guide and touch the edges carelessly, the phone will carry out corresponding actions and get into to a mess. In other words, you need to go through a learning phase before you can enjoy the special edge operation. Once you get familiar with it, you’ll be surprised how convienent they can be. It is not an exaggeration to say that edge gestures are revolutionary.

Why are Edge Gestures Innovative?Multi-touch operation or segmented touch area is not new. However, the nature of cell phones means that you can hold your phone in your hand and put your fingers on the edges of the screen most of the time. This is why edge gestures will greatly enhance one-hand operation. If both hands are used, the operating efficiency of cell phones will be enormously improved.

For example, we often switch between apps when copying and pasting information. With a traditional Android phone, you switch between apps by long pressing the home button that brings up the recently used apps menu. With an iPhone, you have to double-click the home button to display recently used apps. Now with a bezel-free phone, you can simply flick up and down one side to switch between apps.

The programmable edge gestures can be introduced into apps to produce new creative apps.

The edge gestures cannot work without the bezel-free display. The popularity of edge gestures depends on the market status of bezel-free phones.

How to Control Bezel-Free Phones?

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A Review of Edge Gestures

Three Major Edge Gestures

Horizontal Holding This gesture is to touch specific positions on the edge of a cell phone. For example, the phone can activate the camera by flipping the phone horizontally and placing four fingers on the edges of the screen. It isn’t difficult. In fact, edge gestures come with certain error tolerance, and it’s fine if you deviate a bit from the pre-defined positions.

Slide Edge slide works on the left or right edges. The basic gestures include swiping up or down or slide up and down repeatedly. A combination of different slides can activate different functions.

Case Study: Edge Gestures of nubia Z9

As a nearly bezel-free phone, nubia Z9 provides dazzling visual effects. This design has given birth to the cool and practical edge gestures.

Use Case 1: Efficient side swipesWith nubia Z9, you can swipe up or down on either edge to switch between recent apps or launch an app. You can also speed up your device by repeatedly sliding up and down along either edge, saving the trouble of returning to the home screen to speed up the phone. You can also rub both

edges of the screen to quickly dim or brighten the screen. It is practical because you could make adjustments no matter what interface you are using. You can also set this feature to control the device playback volume instead of brightness.

Use Case 2: Interesting one-hand gripsYou can set nubia Z9 to unlock when you grip the phone. With two consecutive, rapid clenches, you can either take a screenshot or activate one-hand mode. The latter function is especially useful for drivers. A tap with one finger on the edge can work as a shutter key in the camera or for adding favorite photos to the gallery. It is difficult to take a selfie by stretching out your arm and pressing the shutter button (selfie

sticks don’t come in handy all the time). This may also cause jitter, especially when you are stretching your arm to the longest position.

Use Case 3: Activating the camera by a four-finger horizontal holdingThis feature allows you to launch the camera immediately by simply turning the phone in the horizontal position and placing four fingertips on the four corners of the screen.

Will Edge Gestures Lead to Misoperation?Because you hold the phone all the time, a slight variation in gesture leads to misoperation.

Take the above-mentioned swiping gesture for example. When you flick up along the edge, you may launch an app accidentally. But don’t worry. You can disable edge gestures or customize gestures to avoid misoperation. In addition, there is no need to use a mobile phone case, especially full wrap cases, for the bezel-free phones.

How will Edge Gestures Develop?As bezel-free phones are only emerging, edge gestures could only enable switching/starting apps, unlocking the phone, and taking photos. Edge gestures could improve operating efficiency. As practical as edge gestures are, they are also going to be as interesting as you want them to be in the future.

Enthusiasts will be given more freedom to customize their own edge gestures in the future so that every feature of your phone’s settings could be activated by gestures. In this way, you could make use of the extra space to perform actions to your liking, greatly improving the operating efficiency.

However, it will take some time before you can get used to your self-defined gestures. And these self-defined gestures are not applicable to others.

Will Edge Gestures Become a Norm?Since bezel-free phones are becoming increasingly popular, a unified standard of edge gestures will be established for Android and Android apps will comply with the standard to introduce more gestures and realize more efficient operations. In other words, edge gestures will become a major smartphone operation method after taps and touches.

A unified standard for edge gestures will be established for Android and Android apps will comply with this standard.

Grip A grip is to hold the phone in one hand. This gesture has two types: a slight squeeze of the phone can trigger a screenshot or tapping the edge of the screen to take a picture in the camera mode or to add a picture to favorites when you are browsing pictures.

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Milan is synonymous with art, fashion and design. It is home to numerous fashion designers, including Giorgio Armani and Miuccia Prada. The city is also well known for several international events, including Milan Fashion Week and Milan Furniture Fair. The furniture fair, also known as “Salone” and “Milan Design week”, showcas-es the latest in furniture and design from around the world. The fair has long since spread out of the sprawling convention center on the edge of Milan into clearly defined design quarters throughout the city. I could find inspiration everywhere as I visited the show held from April 14 to 19.

Highlights from Milan Design Week 2015● By Zhang Wei

The Milan Furni-ture Fair, also known as Milan Design Week, is a place that designers make a pilgrimage to.

Color trends come from this show. Contrast-ing colors are used to create a vibrant design.

Chairs with strong personality. Design-ers should design a chair for themselves.

The Italian furniture brand Cierre has leather samples in a wide variety of colors.

A table by Riva 1920 is made of acrylic infused wood to give it an industrial feel. Riva 1920 is an Italian business that produces wood furniture.

You can sit in the chair and feel the silence of the world.

Chairs with lively colors remind me of the famous egg chairs.

Arteinmotion is a furniture brand themed on aviation. Each of its designs is associated with an original part of aircraft. For example, a lamp is made with a propeller; a conference table with a wing wheel, and a coffee table with an engine.

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An amazing creation by the Chinese 3D printing design company Xuberance. In addition to its own designs, Xuberance also works with brands on prototypes and campaigns.

Chairs by the Chinese design studio Sozen. These chairs seem to be made out of plaited rattan are in fact made of metal. The process is half-molded and half-manual.

A suspension lamp by Foscarini. Foscarini was founded in 1981 in Ven-ice. First the factory produced classical goods made from Murano glass but al-ways tried to change traditional forms. It produces premium lighting products by merging tradition with innovation.

A new jellyfish-inspired lamp created by Stockholm-based designer Luca Nichetto and Japanese studio Nendo for Foscarini. It is made up of Washi paper and sticks.

A table lamp by Artemide. Founded in 1960, Artemide is an Italian design icon in the field of lighting. It is synonymous with design, quality and innovation.

Xuberanc picked up First Prize at Salone Satellite for its line of 3D printed lamps.

A chandelier by Fabbian. Founded in 1961, Fabbian incorporates contemporary lines together with an innovative use of shape and form to create visual sophistication.

Japanese fashion designer Issey Miyake has created a range of LED lamps called IN-EI for Artemide that unfold from flat 2D shapes into 3D shades.

CIRIO chandelier Maija pedant lamps that look like the Chinese lanterns

Sin Table Lamp by Santa & Cole. The lamp is a circle of light and is a fine example of modern lamp. With its roots in Barcelona, Santa & Cole has been exploring industrial design since 1985.

Slamp is an Italian lighting company founded in 1992. Its motto is “From Italy to Eternity”. It uses high-quality plastic chips to create magical light shapes.

Cesta Inox lamp with a stainless-steel structure and a leather handle

This interactive kinetic installation presented by Lasvit is called Supernova. It magically transforms itself in both time and space, responding to the viewer’s movement by changing its form. Lasvit, founded in 2007 and based in the Czech Republic, is a manufacturer of unique glass works.

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Make Fun with Light Painting

Common photo shooting can hardly tell an ordinary photographer from a photography enthusiast or an ordinary cell phone from a top-class one. But light painting photography can.

The past two years have seen great improvements in the hardware configuration and user experience of cell phone cameras. Some features even prove that cell phone cameras are better than traditional standalone cameras. ZTE’s nubia smartphones such as Z9 provide an extraordinary photography experience. Besides general camera modes, they also have star track, time-lapse, and light painting modes. We’ll now see how to make light paintings with your smartphone.

Let’s take an ordinary photo first, which is to set up the canvas size to make sure that you don’t get out of the frame. A light painting photo is generally shot in the

dark because light painting requires long exposure, and intense ambient light makes the image overexposed. A dark background is more likely to produce a visible trace of movable light but less likely to leave the photographer’s shadow.

Light painting is a fun technique in which a photographer records the movement of light with a long exposure. This may sound easy; however, to make a light paining stand out, you have to consider things such as an innovative conception, the kind of light source used, camera settings, and the ghost shadow that has to be avoided in the drawn image.

● By Fan Ziheng

A tripod or other stable surface is needed to steady your camera.

Many cell phones have a built-in light painting camera.

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Camera settingsTo take a light painting photo with a cell phone, a tripod is usually needed to help the camera stay put. When the object is a fixed light source, say, a street lamp, you may shake your cell phone for the shooting. If your smartphone supports light painting, you may start the built-in app. If your smartphone doesn’t support light painting, you can download a light painting app. Android users can use Nubia camera, and iOS users can use Magic Shutter. Both apps allow you to set the exposure time and shutter speed.

The shutter speed depends on the complexity of the light painting you intend to do. It can be 8 seconds, 15 seconds, or 30 seconds or the bulb shutter that’s suitable for complex light paining works. It is recommended to use small apertures. The aperture should match the ambient light level and intensity of the light source. You can start around F5.6, but if the exposure time is extra long, you set your camera to a high F-stop, like F11, F16 or F22. Just like with long exposure photography, you need to use the lowest ISO value on your camera (usually ISO 100). The ISO value should be no higher than 400.

Light sourcesThe light source is very important to help you unleash your imagination. Before you start shooting, visualize the drawing in your mind and think about the

choice of light. You can use point, linear or area light sources to create various lighting effects. The most common light painting tools are flashlights, light tubes and glow sticks. You can also use the light coming from your tablet’s screen.

The type and color of the light source greatly impact the feeling of a photo. For example, the light produced by point source is generally intense and suited to embellishing an image. Linear or area light sources facing the lens can light selective areas. A red or yellow light source brings warmth and energy, while a purple or blue light source conveys a solemn mood. The speed of moving a light source can also be important. In addition, you don’t turn the flashlight back at the camera but paint at a certain angle to the camera. Steel wool is often used in light painting to create photos with flaming sparks. This photography is not recommended for beginners, and you need to make sure that there are no objects within reach of your photo-shoot area as it can be a bit dangerous.

You need to wear dark clothes so that you don’t reflect any light. You can’t stand in one place for more than a couple seconds or you will show up as a ghost in that spot. Before shooting, look at some inspiring light painting photos to see what light painting is capable of.

Photo 3 Glow-in-the-Dark Skeleton

Photo 1 Light Graffiti

Photo 2 Light Painting Mosaic

If photography is an art of creativity, then light painting is the essence of that art. Here are some light painting works from great photographers.

Light Art Performance Photography (LAPP) is a one-shot long time bulb exposure photography technique – performed additionally with movement of light – developed by two German artists, Jan Leonardo Wollert and Jorg Miedza. This LAPP image freezes the moment with flash.

Light painting artist Brian Matthew Hart created a number of mosaics using individual exposures. This photo looks like a woman’s head. It is complex and requires basic knowledge of art as well as a creative mind.

Artist Darren Pearson painted a skeleton with a torch. The skeletal light painting is set against a damaged building, with the dark red and blue lights contributing to the atmosphere of recession.

It takes just some caution to create awesome light painting photos. Dazzling Light Painting Artworks

Keys to Light Painting

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DJI Phantom 3 StandardPhantom 3 is easy to fly. It stays stable and under your control at all times. After takeoff, it automatically hovers, waiting for your command. It then effortlessly changes altitude or direction at the flick of a finger. When you want it to stop, it again pauses and hovers.

An advanced choice:

What You Should Know About Drones

A drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), also referred to as a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA). It does not have a human pilot. Its flight is controlled either autonomously by onboard computers or by the remote control of a pilot on the ground or in another vehicle.

In the civil field, drones are mostly used for aerial photography. Most people get a drone to enjoy the viewing angle of a flying bird.

In the early stages, it was difficult to operate a drone because of the underdevelopment of electronic devices, and the drone operator had to receive professional training. Nowadays, with the popularity of intelligent electronic devices, flying a drone is as easy as using a new smartphone or tablet, which most people can learn in a short period of time.

Before flying, make sure you understand the rules that apply to you. There are still many areas where it is not recommended to fly drones. Luckily, some drones can already identify no-fly zones and automatically avoid such areas.

SelectionThe price of drones varies greatly. For beginners, the risk of crashing a drone is not low. A beginner should select an affordable entry-level drone and purchase a higher-level product after they get skilled later.

A beginner should not only consider the performance and configuration of a drone but also its impact resistance, repair and maintenance terms, and accessories. In addition, whether drones can be easily upgraded, and whether they are compatible with smartphone platforms should also be fully taken into account.

AccessoriesMost drones are four-axis, six-axis, or eight-axis aerial vehicles. Compared with one-rotor aircraft, multi-axis aircraft have high loading capability

and stable flight. Therefore, properly equipping multi-axis drones with various accessories in the sky has become main stream.

In most cases, a package includes a remote controller, a battery, and a charger. However, these components are far from enough. You may also need a repair toolkit, spare batteries, chargers, vehicle power adaptors, a camera for aerial photography, a memory card, and a smartphone or tablet.

Getting StartedAt the first take-off, most people prefer to manually control the drone and limit it to their visibility range. It is safer if operators, especially beginners, can actually see where the drone is going. Even if an

accident occurs, the damage can be kept to a minimum. This requires a good sense of direction and space, especially when the drone is flying at a high speed towards you.

It is not easy to change the drone’s direction. Even a gifted person needs some time to learn how to operate a drone skillfully. The only secret is that practice makes perfect.

Safety is the priority when operating drones. When the propeller is rotating, it can cause a surprising level of damage. During take-off and landing, be sure to keep the drone away from crowds, and do not fly a drone near children. At the same time, make sure that you are at a safe distance from your drone.

Beginner’s Guide to Drones

Originally used by the military, drones have now gradually expanded its uses in civil aviation scenarios, including aerial surveying of crops, acrobatic aerial footage in filmmaking, search and rescue operations, and delivering medical supplies to remote regions. In addition to such practical applications, with the prices of drones dropping to that of a smartphone, it even became a new hi-tech toy for many.

A Wave of Drones is Coming

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Hexo+This drone autonomously flies above its user, shooting a video of them. The drone communicates with your smartphone to establish your location and can track you up to 50 meters. It also has a 2-axis gimbal mount for a GoPro action camera, which can either be supplied by the user or included in a package deal.

Parrot Bebop DroneIt is small and lightweight. It can be piloted with a smartphone or tablet as well as the optional Skycontroller. The Skycontroller is a very large, clunky wireless controller that gives you two joysticks. On top of the Skycontroller is an amplified Wi-Fi radio and four antennas allowing you to fly farther – up to 2 km.

Autonomous drone:

Preparation Many people own a drone to take a photo or video from the air. Before your drone carrying an expensive camera takes off, ensure that you are skilled enough to handle it. Normally,

sports cameras are used in entry-level aerial photography, such as ZTE Kaka Sports Action Camera. It is lightweight and also very functional with a 16-megapixel sensor and a wide angle lens with 158.6 degrees of vision. Nothing captures natural scenery and cityscapes like aerial photography. For urban landscapes, spectacular bridges, stadiums, and buildings can produce impressive beauty from the sky. Natural scenery such as waterfalls, rivers, and lakes are also hot subjects for aerial photography enthusiasts.

SkillsWith ordinary photography, you can spend enough time to find the perfect shooting angle and focus and then press the shutter at the right moment. The battery life of a drone is usually 15 to 20 minutes. Therefore, after the drone takes off, the time allowed for thinking

and creation is limited. It is better if you have already made comprehensive considerations, carefully observed the light, and had a mature idea of the layout.

With such limited time of the drone in the air, it is also of great importance to know some basic guidelines of the layout. The horizontal line method is often used in aerial photography: 1/3 of the picture is for the sky and 2/3 of the picture for the subject, and be sure to have a horizontal view. There are also other composition methods, such as center-centric composition and S-shaped curve. Flying a DroneDrones can also be used to take selfies from an unusual perspective. Selfies taken by a drone have a much wider viewing angle that helps capture the surrounding environment. It is also the perfect choice for group selfies, particularly for a large number of people.

Unlike drones that hover in front of the subject, drones like Hexo+ can fly and film autonomously so that outdoor sports enthusiast can record their actions.

Because there is higher air speed at a higher altitude, a drone is very likely to get out of control, when faced with wind shear or a gust of wind. In such a situation, beginners may not be able to correctly identify the direction in which the drone head is facing. A more experienced flyer can quickly determine the direction in which the drone is tilting and rolling over and rescue the drone from the airflow.

Because a drone can obtain live, high-definition video from above, it can be used for search and rescue operations. You can also use it as a delivery tool to surprise your friends.

In January, a drone flown by a hobbyist crashed on the White House lawn, triggering a lockdown. This raised questions about security and privacy.

How to Shoot Aerial Photography

More Uses

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A drone that follows and films you:

A cool thing:

● By Zhang Haoyan

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are no longer new to us. Smart glasses and other wearable accessories have featured at many technology exhibitions. Despite the similar forms of AR and VR devices, AR and VR technology are different in many respects.

The Concepts of AR and VR

According to Ronald Azuma, augmented reality is a variation of virtual reality, which allows the user to see the real world with virtual objects superimposed on or composited with the real world. AR has three characteristics: combined real and virtual worlds, interactivity in real time, and registered in 3D.Virtual Reality in its modern form was popularized in the 1980s by

Jaron Lanier through his company VPL. Virtual reality, which is also referred to as immersive multimedia or computer-simulated life, replicates an environment that simulates physical presence in places in the real world or imagined worlds and provides users with a 3D world to interact freely in real time. Virtual reality artificially creates sensory experiences. Application and Comparison of AR and VR Applications of AR

AR provides an open and partly immersive environment where the user’s perception of the real world is enhanced by virtual interface or entities.

Providing first-person perspective real-time traffic update and navigation information

Real-time remote consultation for household utility equipment repair and maintenance

Real-time vital signs of the patient in surgery

Real-time 3D modeling for a more intuitive observation and perception

Applications of VR

VR lets you look around inside a virtual world, where you can play games and receive professional training.

Driving training with the assistance of VR goggles

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What are AR andVR Really About?

Playing a 3D game with a head-mounted display and a simulated gun

Playing a 3D fighting game with a head-mounted display and a handheld device

Pilot training with a head-mounted display and a special facility

AR vs. VR for Gaming AR

Although not as immersive as VR, AR offers a safer environment for you to enjoy gaming. You can wear the AR headset without bumping into things. Moreover, virtual objects in the game are merged into your surroundings, which enables you to experience game play in a real-world environment.

VR

VR provides an amazing immersive experience for 3D gamers. You are put into a 360-degree computer-generated world. Because VR is closed and fully immersive, it is made for seated gaming.

AR vs. VR for Other Applications AR The elements of a real-world

environment are augmented or supplemented by computer-generated sensory input and are displayed to you through a pair of AR glasses. This helps improve work efficiency or solve problems by providing users with useful information, like real-time navigation.

VR

Users are fully immersed in a virtual digital reality and receive all kinds of simulated professional training, such as medical surgeries, flight, and car driving. VR also finds its applications in some industries, including healthcare, military, and education.

AR and VR DevicesAR device structure Type A: Entry-level with a single prism

It has transparent lenses, a prism, and a right-sided camera. You can search for information, take photos and videos, answer phone calls, and enjoy other functions available on a mobile phone. To put it simply, it is

a head-mounted display that uses a prism to reflect images into your eye. Type B: Advanced, with two prismsIt has a pair of displays and a 3D time-of-flight depth camera for accurate gesture recognition. You can see the natural world in front of you through transparent lenses overlaid with virtual information with which you interact using your hands and voice.

A translucent, reflective surface is put in each eye piece, displaying images on top of your field of view as piped out of a tiny projector built into each arm of the frames. The glasses have a couple tiny RGB/Infrared cameras — essentially a miniature Kinect.

AR devices on the market

Recon Jet (Type A)

Lenovo M100 (Type A)

ODG R-7 (Type B)

Atheer One (Type B)

VR device structureIt has a head-mounted display, which works together with a headphone and a handheld controller. The headset has two eyepieces and two separate images,

which work together to let you focus your eyes and see a single image. VR devices on the market

Project Morpheus

HTC Vive

Fove

Avegant Glyph

A decade ago, no one would have imagined how popular the smartphone would be. Smartphones are now a must-have for everyone. Nor would anyone have thought that people could get a lot of things done on a laptop or PC. Perhaps in the next five to ten years, when the hardware and software for AR and VR mature, it will be common for people to take an Oculus Rift when they go to a coffee house, just as they took a walkman with them years ago. People may also use an AR device to replace their computer. Future life style will definitely change.

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Wireless charging is a novel technology to most people. Global technology giants such as Intel, Qualcomm, and Microsoft have all demonstrated wireless charging technologies at hi-tech fairs. Some startups have launched attractive wireless charging products. The tech media have announced the arrival of the era of wireless charging. However, few people have experienced the convenience of wireless charging. Why has wireless charging not entered our lives quickly, like Wi-Fi did? If an era of wireless charging really is on the horizon, what will it look like? Now, let's take a look at wireless charging.

Advantages of Wireless Charging

1. With no more cables, the desktop looks clean and tidy, and your devices will no longer fall off the desk if you accidentally pull at the cables. 2. You are freed from frequent charging or having to worry if you forget to charge your mobile phone. 3. When there is a unified wireless charging standard, you don’t have to fiddle around with USB ends. 4. There is no electricity leakage if you make a call while charging the phone.5. The lifespan of a smart device will be prolonged because there is no need to repeatedly plug or unplug the chargers. Fast charging is enabled so that you can have full battery all day long, which also extends the battery life.6. As wireless charging and wireless data transmission technologies become sophisticated, wired interfaces can be completely abandoned and handset could become more compact, lightweight and water-proof.

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Wireless ChargingMoving Towards

Standards Battle

Magnetic induction technology

The WPC, which stands by the Qi standard, was established in 2008. Its technology extends wireless charging into mobile devices and other small devices and has the widest global distribution and penetration. WPC members include Microsoft, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba. Even IKEA has launched products based on Qi. The advantage of Qi is high efficiency energy transfer, and Qi-enabled products work with any Qi charger. The downsides are that the maximum charging distance is only 45 mm, and the device requires precise placement.

Magnetic resonance technology

A4WP developed the Rezence standard. This body was jointly established by Qualcomm, Samsung, and Powermat in 2012. Rezence is capable of charging a variety of electronic devices, not just smartphones. The advantage of this standard is that it uses the existing wireless communication technologies (e.g. Bluetooth) to help minimize hardware requirements. This is vital for manufacturers to produce extremely slim, lightweight cell phones. In addition, Rezence achieves greater charging distance. However, it is relatively inefficient.

Magnetic induction technology

PMA was founded by Powermat Technologies and Procter & Gamble in 2012, and its board now also includes AT&T, Google and Starbucks. Thanks to Starbucks, more people are getting to know PMA wireless charging. Starbucks is rolling out PMA wireless charging hotspots in some of its stores. This technology transfers not only energy but also device data. The charging spots on the table are connected to a data management service layer, and the venue owner can see where people sit, how long they stay, and how often they come back. Its disadvantage is the same as that of the Qi standard, that is, the device and the charger must be in precise alignment.

Microsoft AutoCharge

Of all the wireless charging solutions that challenge the three major standards, Microsoft AutoCharge is the most geeky. A cell phone does not need to be placed in a specific location for charging. The ceiling-mounted charger features a Microsoft Kinect camera and image-recognition software to detect smartphone-like objects, while an UltraFire CREE XM-L T6 Focusing LED Flashlight torch charges it (the phone would need a solar panel). The prototype charger also communicates with the smartphone via Bluetooth or an on-phone LED, and charging stops when the battery is full.

Wi-Charge

Similar to Microsoft AutoCharge, Wi-Charge also focuses on long-distance power transmission. This device was developed by an Israeli startup and charges multiple devices at the same time at distances of up to 9 m. It makes use of a ceiling-mounted transmitter to convert energy into infrared light, which hits a photovoltaic (light) receiver installed on a mobile device. The receiver then converts the light energy into electric energy. There is no electromagnetic radiation, and the beam instantly stops when an object comes between the transmitter and receiver.

Like wireless networks, wireless charging will become an indispensable part of daily life. The wireless charging market is getting even more attractive because smart mobile devices are widely used and battery technology is developing slowly. The wireless charging market could be worth $8.5 billion by 2018 according to market research firm HIS. The development of any new technology needs standards. Currently, wireless charging still cannot be used on a large scale because the technology is still emerging. In addition, the market is hindered by the absence of standards for ensuring compatibility between different providers and technologies. Terminal

manufacturers have failed to provide adequate support and even have to have a foot in all the wireless charging camps.

Wireless charging technologies can be divided into two categories: magnetic resonance and magnetic induction. There are three major standards: the Qi standard run by the wireless power consortium (WPC), the power matters alliance (PMA) standard, and the alliance for wireless power (A4WP) standard. These three standards jostle for the dominant position. WPC is by far the largest group while A4WP and PMA have agreed to merge into one organization.

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Qi standard Rezence standard PMA standard

Map provides a foundation for home robots to work coordinately. In the future, robots can create a detailed map and identify objects using a cloud-based object-matching system.

Status Quo: Smart Robots are not Smart

Before you go out, you throw your laundry into the washing machine, which detects the amount and type of clothing, sets the washing process, adds the appropriate amount of detergent, and starts washing. This sounds smart. However, after the spin dry has finished, this smart machine leaves the wet clothes inside instead of hanging them up, ironing them, and then folding and putting them back into your closet. Can such an appliance be called “smart”?

Although advertised as “smart”, no current robotic home appliances can provide the same level of service as a human does. Most of them use a traditional camera or infrared camera, paired with a proximity sensor, to observe their environment. They can only bypass simple obstacles and do limited things. And they can make mistakes. You may have heard of incidents where factory workers are seriously injured or killed by a working robot.

The relevant technologies have emerged and are constantly improving. One day, they will converge on one robot that has true artificial intelligence.

Robots to Map and Interact with Your Home

Robots are not smart enough because there is no mature technology that enables a robot to truly understand the environment. A robot cannot make a correct judgment in a complex environment as a person does. Except auto-pilot cars that haven’t hit the market yet, cleaning robots have the most advanced environmental recognition capability. The cleaning robot can scan and map the room, and plot a route to sweep along the edges of furniture and walls for a complete clean.

Such robots may sound futuristic but are just the beginning. iRobot looks forward to building smarter robots that will be able to understand and interact with their environment. The company is working on a mapping system that identifies objects using a cloud-based object-matching system. “The map provides a construct for tasking a growing team of robots that are in your home,” said iRobot cofounder and CEO Colin Angle. Once a robot can create an accurate map of your home, it can act on it and share information with other robots. With enough knowledge, the robots and smart devices can act according to your patterns.

Robots to Rule the Future Smart Home

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J.A.R.V.I.S. from Avengers: Age of Ultron J.A.R.V.I.S. is a highly advanced computerized AI developed by Tony Stark, also known as Iron Man. J.A.R.V.I.S is essentially personal assistant

software that helps Tony in his work or when he does his super-hero job. He controls everything in Tony’s house, from the computers to the security locks. In Avengers: Age of Ultron, J.A.R.V.I.S. is uploaded by Tony

Stark into Vision, an android created by Ultron and Dr. Helen Cho, and ultimately has a materialized form. What will happen when this highly intelligent operating system is built into an indestructible body?

TARS from InterstellarTARS is the main robot featured in the movie Interstellar. It looks nothing like a human; however, it can think and speak. It also looks nothing like most robots today. The robot has four cuboids with many smaller cuboids contained within itself. It can contort itself into useful geometric shapes in emergency. In the huge waves of the ocean, TARS turns into the waterwheel to move through the water. When climbing the hill, the cuboids on both sides can spin to help TARS finish the task. Christopher Nolan, director of Interstellar, puts function above humanness in the design of space robots.

NS-5 from i, RobotIn futuristic movies, humans come to depend on robots in daily life. The NS-5, US Robotics’ latest model, is designed to do everything from babysitting your kids, to cooking your family dinner, to balancing your checkbook. If you set aside the premise of robots acting as a direct threat of humanity, the highly intelligent NS-5 robot is definitely the future trend of the robot.

Sci-Fi Robots

The Goal: As Adorable as Baymax

Let’s get back to the opening scene with the washing machine. At the end of a wash cycle, the washing machine tells the robot: “I'm in the kitchen. The laundry is ready, come and get them. Hang up the scarf and lay the cardigan flat.”

This really is not fantasy. iRobot is developing a safer and cheaper manipulator technology. This, when combined with perception and 3D-modeling of the environment, will lead to robots that fold your laundry and even clean the washing machine.

Microsoft has also made outstanding contributions to object recognition. Over the years, Microsoft's Kinect has made remarkable achievements in handling complex object segmentation and changes in

lighting/color and shape that could potentially affect the output of the recognition. Today, Kinect can read your facial expressions and see the slightest movement of your wrists and fingers—even your heartbeat. Kinect’s infrared camera can also work in the dark.

Imagine that an iRobot Roomba with a manipulator moves around freely and intelligently. By incorporating the Kinect hardware and a natural language system such as Siri, it can understand your instructions, know whether you are satisfied with its work, and learn how to improve. Isn’t it remarkable as “Big Hero 6” star Baymax?

This is not a fanciful imagination. As described herein, the relevant technologies have emerged and are constantly improving. One day, they will converge on one robot that has true artificial intelligence.

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Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics

Isaac Asimov was an American author best known for his works of science fiction. He devised the Three Laws of Robotics:1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.2. A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the first law.3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the first or second laws.

Prevent Shaving Rash

Shaving can be an ordeal for men. Your skin will get warm while you’re shaving. Cutting parts inside the shaver or the shaver’s interaction with the skin can cause skin irritation. The hot weather can aggravate the situation. What could possibly put an end to the shaving discomfort? The Braun CoolTec Shaver aims to put the problem on ice. It incorporates thermoelectric cooling technology that cools the shaver as it runs. It has an aluminum cooling bar to soothe your skin with every stroke. It is simple to use. Just push the button, watch the snowflake symbol go blue, and it’s ready to go. This shaver can reduce the temperature of your skin by about 20 degrees, which really takes the heat out of shaving.

Cooling Clothes

Now that we have cooling shavers, what about cooling clothes? Heated clothes are not new, but

Keep Your Skin Cool

When it is very hot outside, you definitely need some tools to cool you down rather than stay in an air-conditioned house.

Most people cannot stand the heat when they step out of air-conditioning, but now you can still have fun outdoors with some hi-tech cooling tools.

Tools to Keep You Cool

cooling clothes are rare. Battery heated clothes can keep you warm in the cold. Are batteries also used in the cooling clothes? No, because lightweight summer clothes do not have any extra room for a battery, and small batteries simply cannot generate enough energy to maintain the cooling effect. In fact, cooling clothes have a chemical compound embedded in the fabric, which uses your sweat to trigger a chemical reaction. US-based Columbia Sportswear has such type of clothes that uses the Omni-Freeze ICE technology to give you a cooling sensation. Because a chemical compound is involved, such clothes have a limited life. According to Columbia Sportswear, it takes 50-70 washes before the air conditioning function dissipates. It is still long enough to last a summer or two.

Cooling Underwear

Underwear can also produce a cooling effect. Frigo is a men’s underwear brand. The Frigo No. 1 Boxer Brief has state-of-the-art fabrication. It is made mostly of smooth microfiber with ultra-light fabric on the crotch so you don't feel constricted. It also has breathable mesh zones to keep you cool. The soft lock adjustment system lets you adjust the fit to your own preference. You should remember to handle the material carefully though so that you do not destroy the structure of the material and reduce the cooling effect.

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More Stay-Cool ToolsVeskimo: Personal Cooling Systems for Extreme Heat

To cope with extreme heat, for example, in a summer excursion, you’ll definitely need to wear Veskimo, a body cooling vest that has similar technology to the cooling system inside a spacesuit. With ice water circulated from an insulated hydration backpack or portable coolers, Veskimo provides long-term relief from heat stress, even when worn under heavy insulating clothing. The battery powers the pump in the backpack or cooler for up to six hours.

Drink Ice Water Anytime with a Vacuum Flask

An easy and cheap solution to keep cool is a bottle of ice and water mixture. Generally speaking, a vacuum flask can keep the ice water below 2 degrees or a degree lower than its initial temperature within six hours. Zojirushi and Tiger are top brands of vacuum bottles that boast amazing ability to hold the temperature. Zojirushi Tuff vacuum bottle has a leak-proof lid that opens easily with the push of a button. It will not spill in your bag.

Mouse with a Cooling Fan

A mouse with a cooling fan is not widely known. People who get sweaty hands often have trouble with the mouse, so they sometimes cover the mouse with tissue to absorb sweat. This seriously affects mouse operations. Now the cooling mouse comes to rescue. A fan mouse comes with either a built-in or external fan. The built-in fan accumulates dust while the external fan can be replaced with ease. Both of these vibrate a little in their work and for this reason, are not suitable for people who need to operate at a micro level.

Fridge for Travel

Car refrigerators are important when you go on long road trips. The fridges available are really just electronic coolers capable of cooling your food around 10 degrees or below. It cannot keep your ice cream frozen. The ARB Fridge Freezer overcomes this difficulty. It has a compressor, which leads to increased power consumption and weight. However, it keeps your food and beverages chilled or frozen, regardless of outside conditions. With a cooling capacity of up to minus 18 degrees and a low current draw, it is a perfect accessory for short or extended

camping or 4WD trips. It includes two power cables: the DC power cable connects to your

vehicle's DC power outlet, and the AC power cable plugs into a standard

household AC power outlet.

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