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Saturday, August 11, 2012

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MIT researchers develop highly agile autonomous plane (video)

Posted: 11 Aug 2012 02:11 PM PDT

MIT researchers develop highly agile autonomous plane (video)


MIT researchers develop highly agile autonomous plane (video)
If you're flying a robot indoors, chances are it's a quadrocopter. The ability hover and maneuver on a dime is essential to whipping around the confined spaces of a lab. Researchers have figured out a way to overcome such obstacles with a fixed-wing aircraft, using laser range finders, sensors and an Intel Atom processor to churn through all the data. To demonstrate just how accurate the on-board navigation systems are, the team of scientists took the autonomous plane to a parking garage with ceilings just 2.5 meters high. Why is that important? The vehicle has a wingspan of two meters -- leaving little room for error. To see the plane in action, check out the video after the break.Continue reading MIT researchers develop highly agile autonomous plane (video)Filed under: RobotsMIT researchers develop highly agile autonomous plane (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Aug 2012 17:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink GigaOM | MIT | Email this | Comments

Sweet Chevy Volt lease deals boosting sales numbers

Posted: 11 Aug 2012 12:56 PM PDT

Sweet Chevy Volt lease deals boosting sales numbers


Sweet Chevy Volt lease deals boosting sales numbers
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, MPG Extended range electric powertrain, federal and state incentives, still-high gasoline prices and hip interior and exterior design are all helping the Chevrolet Volt lead U.S. plug-in vehicle sales. Even though the overall numbers remain small, the Volt is clearly bypassing the Nissan Leaf and niche competitors. The stumbling block has always been the MSRP sticker price, which started out at about $41,000 when the Volt was launched in late 2010. So far, leasing has been the solution and that's getting even better for car shoppers. When pricing was announced two years ago, eyebrows were raised over the Volt being priced about $9,000 more than the Nissan Leaf. General Motors forecasted strong residual values for the Volt and set up a lease program very close to the monthly payments for the Leaf. Since then numbers have gotten even more competitive, and TrueCar said the best lease deal arrived in July. A consumer can place $2,529 down and make $260-a-month lease payments for 36 months. The deal expires September 4. PluginCars is hearing anecdotal evidence about even better deals through individual Chevrolet dealerships. There's also the question of resale values and finding deals on used Volts, once enough of them come off-lease within the next two years. The estimated trade-in value of a 2011 Volt, according to the National Automobile Dealers Association used car guide, is $29,325. That's 90 percent of its post-incentive $32,780 sticker price. In California and New York, it's helping that the Volt qualifies for the HOV lane access for driver-only trips. It would also help to see gasoline prices go up over $4 a gallon - the Volt's competitive advantage being range anxiety reduction and freedom from gas station trips. As the Chevrolet Volt website says, "Electric When You Want It. Gas When You Need It."Sweet Chevy Volt lease deals boosting sales numbers originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 11 Aug 2012 15:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Alt-week 8.11.12: Robo-billies, quasicrystals and radioactive art

Posted: 11 Aug 2012 12:11 PM PDT

Alt-week 8.11.12: Robo-billies, quasicrystals and radioactive art


Alt-week 8.11.12: Robo-billies, quasicrystals and radioactive art
Alt-week peels back the covers on some of the more curious sci-tech stories from the last seven days. It's not like we're trying to out-weird ourselves, it just, somehow, keeps happening. At least one of this week's offerings (we'll leave it to you to figure out which) will possibly be the creepiest thing we post all year. As for the rest, well it's slightly more palatable. We'll get uncharacteristically pumped about cycling, meet some extra-terrestrial quasicrystals and enjoy some art with X-men credentials. This is alt-week.Continue reading Alt-week 8.11.12: Robo-billies, quasicrystals and radioactive artFiled under: Misc. Gadgets, ScienceAlt-week 8.11.12: Robo-billies, quasicrystals and radioactive art originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Aug 2012 15:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

DARPA's Captive Air Amphibious Transporter can drive on water, help during disas...

Posted: 11 Aug 2012 11:03 AM PDT

DARPA's Captive Air Amphibious Transporter can drive on water, help during disaster relief (video)


DARPA's Captive Air Amphibious Transporter can drive on water, help during disaster relief (video)
A couple of months back, DARPA announced it'd been working on developing technologies to help during natural or "man-made" disasters, and this TEMP plan (Tactically Expandable Maritime Platform) included the addition of four key modular systems -- one of which was sea-delivery vehicles such as that monstrous one pictured above. Dubbed Captive Air Amphibious Transporters, or CATA for short, the rugged wheeler gets its drive-on-agua powers from air-filled pontoons, with its main purpose being to carry "containers over water and directly onto shore." However, according to DARPA's program manager, Scott Littlefield, it is more about the big picture, saying, "To allow military ships and aircraft to focus on unique military missions they alone can fulfill, it makes sense to develop technologies to leverage standard commercial container ships." Thanks to a vid uploaded by DARPA itself, you can now get a feel for what CATA's all about, so head over past the break -- where you'll find a quick preview of the ATV carrier in action.Continue reading DARPA's Captive Air Amphibious Transporter can drive on water, help during disaster relief (video)Filed under: TransportationDARPA's Captive Air Amphibious Transporter can drive on water, help during disaster relief (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Aug 2012 13:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | DARPA | Email this | Comments

Researchers make unsuitable parts work as solar cells, could lead to cheaper panels

Posted: 11 Aug 2012 09:17 AM PDT

Researchers make unsuitable parts work as solar cells, could lead to cheaper panels


Researchers make unsuitable parts work as solar cells, could lead to cheaper panels
Harnessing the power of the sun is a tricky business, but even the past few weeks have seen some interesting developments in the field. In this latest installment, researchers from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of California have figured out a way of making solar cells from any semiconductor, potentially reducing the cost of their production. You see, efficient solar cells require semiconductors to be chemically modified for the current they produce to flow in one direction. The process uses expensive materials and only works with a few types of semiconductors, but the team's looking at using ones which aren't normally suitable -- the magic is to apply an electrical field to them. This field requires energy, but what's consumed is said to be a tiny fraction of what the cell's capable of producing when active, and it means chemical modification isn't needed. The concept of using a field to standardize the flow of juice isn't a new one, but the team's work on the geometrical structure of the cells has made it a reality, with a couple of working prototypes to satisfy the skeptics. More of these are on the way, as their focus has shifted to which semiconductors can offer the best efficiency at the lowest cost. And when the researchers have answered that question, there's nothing left to do but get cracking on commercial production. For the full scientific explanation, hit up the links below.Filed under: ScienceResearchers make unsuitable parts work as solar cells, could lead to cheaper panels originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Aug 2012 11:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Ars Technica, ScienceDaily | Nano Letters | Email this | Comments

How to dispose of home junk with proper disposal

Posted: 11 Aug 2012 08:32 AM PDT

How to dispose of home junk with proper disposal


How to dispose of home junk with proper disposal
No matter how well you scrub, your home will never be spotless until the junk disappears. Here's how to lose it with a clean conscience.

Spotify Radio gets thumbs up, thumbs down on desktop

Posted: 11 Aug 2012 06:39 AM PDT

Spotify Radio gets thumbs up, thumbs down on desktop


Spotify Radio gets thumbs up, thumbs down on desktop
Pretty much from day one, the mobile Spotify Radio feature outclassed its desktop counterpart, thanks to the presence of one feature -- thumbs up and thumbs down buttons. The ability to more finely tailor the music selection to your tastes is a pretty essential feature for any automatically generated playlist. Finally, Spotify is bringing the buttons to the Mac and Windows clients in an update rolling out today. Your likes and dislikes are synced across platforms and, best of all, the update finally lets you view radio stations you've created through the mobile app on your desktop.Filed under: SoftwareSpotify Radio gets thumbs up, thumbs down on desktop originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Aug 2012 09:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink The Next Web | Spotify | Email this | Comments

This EV charger may as well not have been installed

Posted: 11 Aug 2012 05:29 AM PDT

This EV charger may as well not have been installed


This EV charger may as well not have been installed
Filed under: Etc., EV/Plug-in, UK Ouch. Since being installed in 2009, an electric vehicle charging station in Putney in the UK has been used for just five - five! - hours. According to The Guardian, the station in question - which cost £6,018 ($9,430 U.S. at today's exchange rates) to install - is in the parking lot of the Putney Leisure Centre in Putney. A council spokesman told the newspaper that stations were installed before the cars were available and that, "Usage was always going to be very low in the early years until more affordable models become available and more people switch to this new, greener technology." Granted, this singular anecdote does not have any real bearing on the plug-in vehicle market in the UK as a whole - other UK chargers were used much, much more, and more stations were installed near the barely used Putney charger this year - but it does show that this line, from The Guardian, remains important: "Some electric car owners are able to charge cars in their own homes overnight reducing their need to use the council charging points while on the go."This EV charger may as well not have been installed originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 11 Aug 2012 08:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Racing for the USA

Posted: 11 Aug 2012 04:55 AM PDT

Racing for the USA


Racing for the USA
Indycar's Ryan Hunter-Reay lets you root for the home team.

Researchers propose à la carte internet services, overhaul for web infrastructure

Posted: 11 Aug 2012 04:20 AM PDT

Researchers propose à la carte internet services, overhaul for web infrastructure


Researchers propose à la carte internet services, overhaul for web infrastructure
A quintet of researchers funded by the National Science Foundation have envisioned a new internet architecture, one where features could be purchased à la carte. The proposed framework would allow users to fine tune their experience by choosing from a variety of connection services. Let's say, for example, that a customer's connection is fine for browsing the web, but it doesn't pass muster for streaming content -- a service dedicated to video delivery could be added to close the gap. "Ultimately, this should make the internet more flexible and efficient, and will drive innovation among service providers to cater to user needs," report co-author Rudra Dutta told The Abstract. A piecemeal next-gen web is no easy feat, however, as it would require revamping the web's infrastructure with new protocols for choosing particular features, completing payments and monitoring network performance. The group's rough blueprint will be presented at a conference next week, but you can thumb through their short paper at the source.Filed under: InternetResearchers propose à la carte internet services, overhaul for web infrastructure originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Aug 2012 07:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink The Abstract, North Carolina State University | SIGCOMM (PDF) | Email this | Comments

Stop-motion music video relies on OpenOffice and Excel, finds formula for succes...

Posted: 11 Aug 2012 02:02 AM PDT

Stop-motion music video relies on OpenOffice and Excel, finds formula for success (video)


Stop-motion music video relies on OpenOffice and Excel, finds formula for success (video)
It's already considered a grind to produce stop-motion video -- imagine creating a clip using the spreadsheet app that many dread seeing at work every morning. Joe Penna, better known to the internet as Mystery Guitar Man, isn't afraid. He and his team recorded a performance against a greenscreen, gave the video a mosaic look in After Effects and proceeded to recreate 730 of the frames in OpenOffice (and occasionally Excel)... by hand. We don't want to know how long it took Penna and crew to wrap up their work, but the result is probably the liveliest you'll ever get out of an app meant for invoices and corporate expenses. The fully produced video is above; click past the story break if you want to smash illusions and see how the pixelated rumba came to be.Continue reading Stop-motion music video relies on OpenOffice and Excel, finds formula for success (video)Filed under: Internet, SoftwareStop-motion music video relies on OpenOffice and Excel, finds formula for success (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Aug 2012 04:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Microsoft News (Twitter, pulled) | Mystery Guitar Man (YouTube) | Email this | Comments

Audi R8 e-tron to feature digital AMOLED rear-view mirror

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 11:45 PM PDT

Audi R8 e-tron to feature digital AMOLED rear-view mirror


Audi R8 e-tron to feature digital AMOLED rear-view mirror
Audi's R18 racing car's been sporting this digital rear-view mirror for some time, and was most recently spotted with it at the renowned LeMans racing competition -- but now the German outfit's bringing the tech to a more consumer-friendly vehicle, the R8 e-tron. The luxurious automobile company announced that gorgeous 7.7-inch reflector is making its way from its speedy R18 to the stunning R8 e-tron, marking the first time any ride outside of the former will come loaded with such feature. In case you weren't aware, the AMOLED rear-view mirror helps automatically reduce headlights glare "during the hours of darkness," while also allowing drivers to dim or turn it off altogether if, you know, they're just not feeling the vibe.Continue reading Audi R8 e-tron to feature digital AMOLED rear-view mirrorFiled under: TransportationAudi R8 e-tron to feature digital AMOLED rear-view mirror originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Aug 2012 02:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Autoblog | Audi | Email this | Comments

Five cars for $5 million or more

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 09:21 PM PDT

Five cars for $5 million or more


Five cars for $5 million or more
Ultra rare and unique heading to auction.

Apple details 2010 presentation to Samsung on Android patent infringement, licen...

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 08:45 PM PDT

Apple details 2010 presentation to Samsung on Android patent infringement, licensing offer


Apple details 2010 presentation to Samsung on Android patent infringement, licensing offer
As the battle between Samsung and Apple closed out another week in US District Court, lawyers for the latter focused its argument on evidence and testimony covering a presentation Apple made to Samsung in 2010, and its offer to license the patents. AllThingsD has the deck of slides from the meeting (embedded after the break), specifying areas and specific patents Apple believes Android as an OS infringes or things Samsung specifically copied elements from, plus a report on testimony from Apple executive Boris Teksler. He testified today about the meeting with Samsung, calling it a "trusted partner" (should be, since Apple paid it paid $5.7 billion for parts that year) that both Tim Cook and Steve Jobs spoke to directly about the issue. While more information is expected from Teksler next week, he did have time to put a dollar amount on the licensing deal Apple subsequently offered, at about $30 per smartphone and $40 per tablet, as well as royalties also collected from phones running Symbian and Bada, with the possibility of a 20 percent discount if Samsung would cross license its own technology back to Apple. The companies are restricted by Judge Koh to 25 hours each to argue their points (Apple is at 11 and a half hours while Samsung has crossed over 12 with its own arguments yet to come) but we're sure there's enough time left for a few more revelations before any resolution is reached.Continue reading Apple details 2010 presentation to Samsung on Android patent infringement, licensing offerFiled under: Cellphones, Tablet PCsApple details 2010 presentation to Samsung on Android patent infringement, licensing offer originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 23:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | AllThingsD (1), (2) | Email this | Comments

Eurocom intros powerhouse Scorpius laptop, touts more video memory than most des...

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 07:00 PM PDT

Eurocom intros powerhouse Scorpius laptop, touts more video memory than most desktops


Eurocom intros powerhouse Scorpius laptop, touts more video memory than most desktops
Eurocom has carved out a strange but soft spot in our hearts for its desktop replacement-level laptops -- the insistence on overkill hardware leaves even the vaguely ultraportable Monster packing the kind of power reserved for larger-screened (if also much thinner) counterparts. Nowhere is that too-much-is-never-enough attitude truer than in the just-launched, 17.3-inch Scorpius. While supporting up to 32GB of RAM isn't unique anymore, the Scorpius can optionally carry two of NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 680M graphics chips with the full 4GB of video RAM per piece. That's more graphics memory than the total system memory of some entire PCs, folks. Eurocom can optionally slot in two of AMD's Radeon HD 7970M or step down to a single graphics core, and the usual bevy of processor and storage choices culminates in as much as a quad 2.9GHz Core i7 and four drives. The lowest price that will net a fully functioning Scorpius is $1,793, although we'll admit that it's very tempting to pick that dual 680M option and come out with a $2,857 bill -- not to mention some serious bragging rights with the gamer crowd.Continue reading Eurocom intros powerhouse Scorpius laptop, touts more video memory than most desktopsFiled under: Gaming, LaptopsEurocom intros powerhouse Scorpius laptop, touts more video memory than most desktops originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 21:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Eurocom | Email this | Comments

Check out these five greenwashed car ads

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 05:25 PM PDT

Check out these five greenwashed car ads


Check out these five greenwashed car ads
Filed under: Etc., Green Culture One of the largest traits that research says stands out among the growing legion of Generation Y car buyers is that they are more concerned about the environment than previous generations. In order to woo them, automakers have geared their advertising toward all things green, even if their products can't quite match the hype. Environmentalists have labeled this phenomenon of making a product appear to be more environmentally benign than it actually is "greenwashing." They may not do much to actually lessen pollution, but they make people feel greener. "The ad industry has stepped up to make you feel better about the things that are not green by making them feel green," Graeme Newell, president of 602 Communications, a marketing research firm, told The Huffington Post. A while back, our friends at The Huffington Post have cobbled together 5 examples of greenwashed advertising that were produced by the auto industry and put together this look at some of the worst offenders.Check out these five greenwashed car ads originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 19:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

FCC Fridays: August 10, 2012

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 04:49 PM PDT

FCC Fridays: August 10, 2012


FCC Fridays: August 10, 2012
We here at Engadget tend to spend a lot of way too much time poring over the latest FCC filings, be it on the net or directly on the ol' Federal Communications Commission's site. Since we couldn't possibly (want to) cover all the stuff that goes down there individually, we've gathered up an exhaustive listing of every phone and / or tablet getting the stamp of approval over the last week. Enjoy!Continue reading FCC Fridays: August 10, 2012Filed under: Cellphones, Tablet PCs, WirelessFCC Fridays: August 10, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 19:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

DMD Panorama Opens API To Power Panoramic Photos In Any App

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 04:15 PM PDT

DMD Panorama Opens API To Power Panoramic Photos In Any App


DMD Panorama Opens API To Power Panoramic Photos In Any App
It's a strange thing to hear from the co-founder and CEO of a photo startup, but DMD Panorama's Elie-Gregoire Khoury tells me that panoramic photos will become "a commodity at the end of the day." That doesn't mean it's time to get out of the photo business — instead, Khoury wants to see panoramas become a standard feature in a wide range of websites and apps, the way that regular photos are now. And if Khoury has his way, that will all happen through DMD's new API.

Sony LT25i Tsubasa pops up in benchmarks, may swell the high-speed Xperia ranks

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 04:15 PM PDT

Sony LT25i Tsubasa pops up in benchmarks, may swell the high-speed Xperia ranks


Sony LT25i Tsubasa pops up in benchmarks, may swell the high-speed Xperia ranks
Add another future Sony Xperia model to a rapidly growing pool. The LT25i Tsubasa (not to be confused with the ST25i/Xperia U) has been caught by Tencent in AnTuTu and NenaMark2 tests, seemingly running the same mix of a 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4, a 720p screen and Android 4.0 that we've seen in the upcoming Xperia T (LT30p). So what's different? There's rumors of in-cell touch to keep the display thin and vivid, but even the unverified source isn't certain that it will become a reality. The crew at Xperia Blog also claims that there will be international LTE and HSPA+ models along with China- and Japan-specific editions. Assuming the details are at all consistent with the truth, having the Tsubasa arrive on the scene mostly hints that Sony might be readying a broader speed-up of its roster than we first thought.Filed under: CellphonesSony LT25i Tsubasa pops up in benchmarks, may swell the high-speed Xperia ranks originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 18:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Tencent (translated), Xperia Blog | AnTuTu (translated), NenaMark2 | Email this | Comments

Ford Flex’s Power-Folding Seats

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 03:41 PM PDT

Ford Flex's Power-Folding Seats


Ford Flex's Power-Folding Seats
Push-button simple and much better than wrestling with manual seats.

Twilio Says It Is The Fastest Growing Short Code Provider In The U.S.

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 03:41 PM PDT

Twilio Says It Is The Fastest Growing Short Code Provider In The U.S.


Twilio Says It Is The Fastest Growing Short Code Provider In The U.S.
A little over a year ago, cloud communications company Twilio launched Short Codes, dedicated 5 or 6 digit numbers for sending and receiving text messages at volume. Since then, Twilio has become the fastest-growing short code provider and has found surprisingly differing uses for its product. "People have started using our Short Code product in ways we didn't ever expect," Patrick Malatack, the product manager in charge of Short Codes, tells me.

Hot Trends in Car Colors

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 03:41 PM PDT

Hot Trends in Car Colors


Hot Trends in Car Colors
Expert analyses on the latest color trends, and which cars wear them best.