HOW IT WORKS
YOU WILL LEARN You’ll learn why LiDAR means much more awesome AR apps.
LIDAR IS LIKE RADAR OR SONAR, BUT IT USES LIGHT INSTEAD OF RADIO WAVES OR SOUND WAVES
KEY FACT
LiDAR sensors produce their own light source in frequencies invisible to the naked eye. When that light hits an object it’s reflected, and those reflections are picked up by the LiDAR sensor immediately. Many technologies promise light–speed performance, but LiDAR actually delivers it.
You’ve heard of sonar. You’ve heard of radar. But you might not know LiDAR, the distance– sensing tech Apple added to the 2020 iPad Pro. Apple says it “delivers cutting–edge depth–sensing capabilities, opening up more pro workflows and supporting pro photo and video apps.”
IT’S ALL ABOUT ECHOES
If you’ve ever shouted into a cave or in an empty building — and let’s face it, who hasn’t? — you’ll be familiar with echoes. When you shout, the sound waves you’ve made hit the walls and bounce back to you, giving you an echo.
That echo tells you how far away something is. That’s because we know the speed of sound: at 20ºC/68ºF, sound travels through the air at just under 350m (1148ft) per second, so if your echo takes two seconds to return then you know the wall is about 700m (2296ft) away.
This story is from the December 2020 edition of Mac Life.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 2020 edition of Mac Life.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Using DockKit-compatible stands for iPhone videos
Apple's new API can control motorized tripods and stands for subject tracking
MacBook Air 15-inch (2024)
No quantum leap, but M3 chip is a neat upgrade
LaCie Rugged Mini SSD
Durable external SSD storage
STM BagPack
The backpack that packs back
Satechi SM1 Slim keyboard
Lacking customization, but a class act nonetheless
Screens 5: VNC Remote Desktop
Screen sharing, remote control
Soundcore Space One
Good sound and noise cancellation at a great price
Mobile Pixels Geminos
Can this dual—screen display offer double the fun?
Keep your old Mac running
Do you have a legacy Mac that’s no longer updated? Don't throw it away there's plenty you can still do with it
BEST MAC UTILITIES...EVER
Improve your Mac experience and boost productivity with these awesome utility apps