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Sunday, August 12, 2012

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Switched On: Surface damage

Posted: 12 Aug 2012 02:56 PM PDT

Switched On: Surface damage


Switched On: Surface damage
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. As Switched On discussed a few weeks ago, and as Microsoft noted in its recent 10-K filing, it is an unavoidable truth that the company getting into the hardware market will cause conflict with its partners. The extent of that conflict, though, depends on many variables and Microsoft can -- and must -- take steps to ameliorate it.Continue reading Switched On: Surface damageFiled under: Tablet PCs, SoftwareSwitched On: Surface damage originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Aug 2012 17:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Fisker Flambé: Second Karma spontaneously combusts [w/video]

Posted: 12 Aug 2012 02:23 PM PDT

Fisker Flambé: Second Karma spontaneously combusts [w/video]


Fisker Flambé: Second Karma spontaneously combusts [w/video]
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Fisker By all accounts, the Fisker Karma is one hot car. For a couple of owners though, perhaps it's a bit too hot. Similar to a situation in May, when one of the luxury extended-range electric-drive vehicles apparently spontaneously combusted in a garage in Texas, a Karma has burst into flames in a Woodside, CA parking lot. Rudy Burger was returning to his shapely plug-in hybrid after a bit of grocery shopping when he caught the car in the act of self-immolation. According to Jalopnik, he immediately called up the automaker which, in turn, advised him to call 911. Firefighters appeared to have arrive quite quickly and the flames were subdued before much more than just the front driver's side was consumed. Considering that the A123 Systems' battery runs down the center of the car under the passenger compartment, it is possible that the pack was not responsible for the blaze. Wired got a statement from Fisker, which furthers this line of thought. It reads, in part: Fisker understands damage was limited to the driver's side front corner of the car, away from the lithium ion battery and electric motors. The car was not being charged at the time. In an electric vehicle, immediate suspicion is focused on the battery and high voltage components. The location of the damage to the vehicle in this incident appears to rule out that suspicion. Fisker has not had any battery or high voltage fire incidents with any of its vehicles. Fisker says it has hired "an independent fire expert to assist the investigation" and says that once the probe is completed and the cause pinpointed, it will issue a statement on the matter. You can read the current statement - and find a video of the Karma conflagration - below.Continue reading Fisker Flambé: Second Karma spontaneously combusts [w/video]Fisker Flambé: Second Karma spontaneously combusts [w/video] originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 12 Aug 2012 16:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

RadioShack Mobile leak suggests Cricket Wireless-based MVNO on the way

Posted: 12 Aug 2012 02:23 PM PDT

RadioShack Mobile leak suggests Cricket Wireless-based MVNO on the way


RadioShack Mobile leak suggests Cricket Wireless-based MVNO on the way
Tired, perhaps, of juggling mainstream cellular carriers, RadioShack may be launching its own wireless branding. According to a tip we've received, the Shack is gearing up to launch RadioShack Mobile, a no-contract MVNO based on Cricket Wireless. A pair of leaked screenshots (above and after the break) seem to show a RadioShack Mobile-ready HTC One V listing and a snippet of an accompanying product page that promises low monthly rates without the shackles of a 2-year agreement. The Cricket connection? That can be found under the page's "getting started" section, which lists an activation number that pipes into Cricket's customer service line. Details on pricing and plans are scarce, but we're being told that RadioShack Mobile is expected to mirror Cricket's existing offerings, and may also offer the Huawei Mercury, the Huawei Pillar and a 4.3-inch Android device from Alcatel. We contact RadioShack for a statement and were told that it couldn't comment on rumors or speculation. [Thanks, Anonymous]Continue reading RadioShack Mobile leak suggests Cricket Wireless-based MVNO on the wayFiled under: CellphonesRadioShack Mobile leak suggests Cricket Wireless-based MVNO on the way originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Aug 2012 16:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

YC-Backed HiMom Helps Your Parents Keep Up With Your Life, One Postcard At A Time

Posted: 12 Aug 2012 02:23 PM PDT

YC-Backed HiMom Helps Your Parents Keep Up With Your Life, One Postcard At A Time


YC-Backed HiMom Helps Your Parents Keep Up With Your Life, One Postcard At A Time
Social media sites like Facebook have become a central part of the lives of many families, letting them keep tabs on each other's lives through pictures. But they're not for everyone. My mom and dad, who live in the U.S., have no interest in joining Facebook. They are okay with email, and my dad will even video Skype if his wife, my stepmom (a computer scientist, as it happens), sorts it out for him. But you know what? They still really love it most of all when I send them a real letter with photos of me, my husband and our two kids. And you know what else? I've really fallen off the wagon where letters are concerned. I'm terrible at finding time to sit down and write them, and then getting around to sending them. So I was especially excited to hear about HiMom, a YC-backed mobile app, part of the current class, that lets you create postcards from pictures you've taken on your phone, and then send them to your parents -- or anyone else you'd like to keep in touch with on a regular basis. To me, it seemed like the perfect union: it takes something I am already doing to record and create things (using my phone) and matches it up with how my parents like to get their content (in a physical form).

Visualized: DeLorean hovercraft cruises around McCovey Cove, wins the internet

Posted: 12 Aug 2012 02:22 PM PDT

Visualized: DeLorean hovercraft cruises around McCovey Cove, wins the internet


Visualized: DeLorean hovercraft cruises around McCovey Cove, wins the internet
What do you get when you multiply a crazy Make project with a Kickstarter fund? You get the answer to our childhood dreams, that's what.Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, TransportationVisualized: DeLorean hovercraft cruises around McCovey Cove, wins the internet originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Aug 2012 15:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Autoblog, Deadspin | Make | Email this | Comments

Diamond hones DOE X-ray laser howitzer to razor-sharp precision

Posted: 12 Aug 2012 10:07 AM PDT

Diamond hones DOE X-ray laser howitzer to razor-sharp precision


Diamond hones DOE X-ray laser howitzer to razor-sharp precision
The US Department of Energy's SLAC accelerator lab already has a pretty useful X-ray laser -- the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS). But, recent modifications to the device have scientists drooling over its new found potential. Using a thin wafer of diamond, the Stanford-run lab filtered the beam to a lone frequency, then amplified it in a process called "self-seeding." That's given the world's most powerful X-ray laser even more punch by tossing out unneeded wavelengths which were reducing its intensity. The tweaks allow scientists across many fields to finesse and image matter at the atomic level, giving them more power to study and change it. According to the lab, researchers who came to observe the experiment from other X-ray laser facilities "were grinning from ear to ear" at the possibility of integrating the tech into their own labs. The SLAC team claims they could still add 10 times more punch to the LCLS with further optimization, putting the laser in a class by itself -- X-ray-wise, anyway.Continue reading Diamond hones DOE X-ray laser howitzer to razor-sharp precisionFiled under: ScienceDiamond hones DOE X-ray laser howitzer to razor-sharp precision originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Aug 2012 13:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

ASUS Zenbook Prime UX31A Ultrabook review: a high-res display, and a much-improv...

Posted: 12 Aug 2012 09:27 AM PDT

ASUS Zenbook Prime UX31A Ultrabook review: a high-res display, and a much-improved keyboard


ASUS Zenbook Prime UX31A Ultrabook review: a high-res display, and a much-improved keyboard
More Info ASUS Zenbook Prime UX31A alights its Ivy Bridge at Amazon: $1,149 for Core i5 edition ASUS bringing Zenbook Prime UX21A, UX31A, UX32A and UX32VD to the US, prices start at $799 ASUS Zenbook Primes with 1080p IPS panels and probably Ivy Bridge CPUs are real, coming to Taiwan in June ASUS made a grand entrance into the Ultrabook race with the Zenbook Prime UX31E, which brought a sleek design and lovely, high-res screen. That machine was one of our favorites in what was still a budding category, though we took issue with the shallow keyboard and uncomfortable touchpad. The company recently started shipping its new Zenbook Prime series, including the 11-inch UX21A we checked out a few months ago. But there's also a follow-up to the 13-inch UX31E on the market: the ASUS Zenbook Prime UX31A. This laptop offers a retooled keyboard, Ivy Bridge chips and a 1,920 x 1,080 IPS display, starting at $1,069. So how does the new 13-inch Zenbook stack up in a crowded field of high-end ultraportables? Join us past the break for the full report. Gallery: ASUS Zenbook Prime UX31A reviewContinue reading ASUS Zenbook Prime UX31A Ultrabook review: a high-res display, and a much-improved keyboardFiled under: LaptopsASUS Zenbook Prime UX31A Ultrabook review: a high-res display, and a much-improved keyboard originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Inhabitat's Week in Green: Eindhoven's Evoluon Center, folding compact cars and...

Posted: 12 Aug 2012 07:41 AM PDT

Inhabitat's Week in Green: Eindhoven's Evoluon Center, folding compact cars and the best of 3D printing


Inhabitat's Week in Green: Eindhoven's Evoluon Center, folding compact cars and the best of 3D printing
Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green. As we enter mid-August, millions of people will load up the car and head out to the beach for summer vacation. But no matter how much energy you put into building a sandcastle, it's unlikely to be as impressive as the structures produced by Stone Spray, a solar-powered, robotic 3D printer that can create entire buildings out of sand. It's hard to deny that 3D printing has the ability to change the world -- especially after learning about a two-year-old girl who gained the use of her arms with the aid of a 3D-printed robotic exoskeleton (she calls them her "magic arms").Continue reading Inhabitat's Week in Green: Eindhoven's Evoluon Center, folding compact cars and the best of 3D printingFiled under: Misc. Gadgets, Robots, ScienceInhabitat's Week in Green: Eindhoven's Evoluon Center, folding compact cars and the best of 3D printing originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Aug 2012 10:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Fads from the 1980s & 1990s to remove before selling

Posted: 12 Aug 2012 06:33 AM PDT

Fads from the 1980s & 1990s to remove before selling


Fads from the 1980s & 1990s to remove before selling
There is no question that decorative fashion and trends come and go.

Crackle brings its movie-streaming party to Windows Phone

Posted: 12 Aug 2012 05:57 AM PDT

Crackle brings its movie-streaming party to Windows Phone


Crackle brings its movie-streaming party to Windows Phone
Popular video app Crackle has wormed its way on to an impressive number of platforms, and now we can add Windows Phone to that list. The ad-supported streaming service offers access to films such as Pineapple Express, Layer Cake as well as popular TV series' like Seinfeld. As always the app is free, and it's available from the Market Place, like, now. Point your phone at the source and as Crackle would say, "It's on."Filed under: SoftwareCrackle brings its movie-streaming party to Windows Phone originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Aug 2012 08:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink WMPoweruser | Windows Phone Market | Email this | Comments

Goodyear turning to soy to make longer lasting tires

Posted: 12 Aug 2012 05:23 AM PDT

Goodyear turning to soy to make longer lasting tires


Goodyear turning to soy to make longer lasting tires
Filed under: Emerging Technologies, MPGGoodyear Tire and Rubber is working on a new technology that can help make its tires less expensive to produce and last longer and it involves something that the U.S. has plenty of - soybeans. Goodyear researchers have found that using soybean oil in the manufacturing process can extend the tread life of tires and significantly reduce the amount of petroleum required, "up to seven million gallons each year" for the company as a whole. Adding soy to rubber compounds in tire production, the company says, has proven to improve the mixing process, and creates a better rubber compound. The soy helps the rubber blend easier with the silica, a basic component of ordinary beach sand and an integral tire ingredient. Goodyear is the the best-selling tire-manufacturer in North America. Adding soy, Goodyear says, could enhance its already strong reputation for quality. Goodyear has consistently been a top pick in ConsumerReports' tire ratings. Therefore, a 10-percent increase to tread life could play well with consumers looking to get more miles for their tire bucks. "Consumers benefit through improved tread life, Goodyear gains with increased efficiency and energy savings and we all win whenever there is a positive impact on the environment." said Jean-Claude Kihn, Goodyear's chief technical officer, in a statement. If testing continues to produce the results Goodyear has gotten thus far, the tires could be on sale by 2015. For more on tires, check out the AOL Autos Techsplanation series on Tire Tread Technology.Continue reading Goodyear turning to soy to make longer lasting tiresGoodyear turning to soy to make longer lasting tires originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 12 Aug 2012 08:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Fisker Karma hybrid EV ignites in parking space as owner returns from grocery run

Posted: 12 Aug 2012 03:06 AM PDT

Fisker Karma hybrid EV ignites in parking space as owner returns from grocery run


Fisker Karma hybrid EV ignites in parking space as owner returns from grocery run
Fisker Automotive can't seem to catch break -- because its Karma hybrid EV sedan has yet again become too hot. Similar to an incident last spring that left a model burnt to near smithereens and damaged its owner's house, the Karma above caught fire in a Woodside, CA parking lot while powered off. Jalopnik was to first to get word of the incident, noting that the damage remained reserved to the front left of the vehicle, near where an exhaust is located. As the story goes, the owner found the vehicle emitting smoke after returning from a grocery run, prompting a call to Fisker and then the local fire department, which arrived as it was already engulfed in flames. In a statement to Wired's Autopia, Fisker has been vehement to note that the damage appears to be far from where the car's battery and sensitive electrical comments are located, and that it wasn't plugged in for a charge -- furthermore, it's already had correspondence with the owner and is actively investing the matter with plans issue an update when there are findings to share. All that said, it remains to be seen whether the Karma's battery system, supplied by A123 Systems (and the focus of focus of previous recalls), had any role in igniting the car. Thankfully there were no reports of injuries from the incident, but as you can tell from the photo, the car was essentially totaled. You'll find a video of the Karma in flames being quelled by firefighters after the break, along with the official statement by Karma given to Autopia.Continue reading Fisker Karma hybrid EV ignites in parking space as owner returns from grocery runFiled under: TransportationFisker Karma hybrid EV ignites in parking space as owner returns from grocery run originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Aug 2012 05:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Wired Autopia | woody77atgmail (YouTube), Jalopnik | Email this | Comments

Barnes & Noble cuts prices across its Nook lineup, vies for your budget tablet a...

Posted: 12 Aug 2012 02:26 AM PDT

Barnes & Noble cuts prices across its Nook lineup, vies for your budget tablet affection


Barnes & Noble cuts prices across its Nook lineup, vies for your budget tablet affection
In what could be seen as a response to the positive reaction that Google's $200 Nexus 7 has garnered, Barnes & Noble has just cut down the prices on all three of its Android-based, seven-inch Nook Tablets. The 16 and 8GB models have been respectively reduced to $199 (from $249) and $179 (from $199), while the Nook Color is priced 20 bones cheaper than before at $149. Not sure whether those prices too good to be true, even up against the likes of the Kindle Fire? Feel free to peruse our reviews of B&N's reading-focused slates before potentially taking the plunge at its webstore.Filed under: Tablet PCsBarnes & Noble cuts prices across its Nook lineup, vies for your budget tablet affection originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Aug 2012 04:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Barnes & Noble | Email this | Comments

Barnes & Noble cuts prices across its Nook lineup, vies for your budget tablet a...

Posted: 12 Aug 2012 01:54 AM PDT

Barnes & Noble cuts prices across its Nook lineup, vies for your budget tablet affection


Barnes & Noble cuts prices across its Nook lineup, vies for your budget tablet affection
In what could be seen as a response to the positive reaction that Google's $200 Nexus 7 has garnered, Barnes & Noble has just cut down the prices on all three of its Android-based, seven-inch Nook Tablets. The 16 and 8GB models have been respectively reduced to $199 (from $249) and $179 (from $199), while the Nook Color is priced 20 bones cheaper than before at $149. Not sure whether those prices too good to be true, even up against the likes of the Kindle Fire? Feel free to peruse our reviews of B&N's reading-focused slates before potentially taking the plunge at its webstore.Filed under: Tablet PCsBarnes & Noble cuts prices across its Nook lineup, vies for your budget tablet affection originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Aug 2012 04:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Barnes & Noble | Email this | Comments

Disney researchers can now digitally shave your face, clone it for animatronics...

Posted: 12 Aug 2012 01:12 AM PDT

Disney researchers can now digitally shave your face, clone it for animatronics (video)


Disney researchers can now digitally shave your face, clone it for animatronics (video)
The minds at Disney Research aren't only interested in tracking your face -- they want to map, shave and clone it, too. Through a pair of research projects, Walt's proteges have managed to create systems for not only mapping, digitally reconstructing and removing facial hair, but also for creating lifelike synthetic replicas of human faces for use in animatronics. Let's start with the beards, shall we? Facial hair is a big part of a person's physical identity, a quick shave can render a close friend unrecognizable -- but modern face-capture systems aren't really optimized for the stuff. Disney researchers attempted to address that issue by creating an algorithm that detects facial hair, reconstructs it in 3D and uses the information it gathers to suss out the shape of the skin underneath it. This produces a reconstruction of not only the skin episurface, but also of the subject's individual hairs, meaning the final product can be viewed with or without a clean shave. Another Disney team is also taking a careful look at the human face, but is working on more tangible reconstructions -- specifically for use on audio-animatronic robots. The team behind the Physical Face Cloning project hope to automate part of creating animatronics to speed up the task of replicating a human face for future Disney robots. This complicated process involves capturing a subjects face under a variety of conditions and using that data to optimize a composition of synthetic skin to best match the original. Fully bearded animatronic clones are still a ways off, of course, but isn't it comforting to know that Disney could one day replace you accurately replicate your visage in Walt Disney World for posterity? Dive into the specifics of the research at the source links below, or read on for a video summary of the basics.Continue reading Disney researchers can now digitally shave your face, clone it for animatronics (video)Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Robots, SoftwareDisney researchers can now digitally shave your face, clone it for animatronics (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Aug 2012 03:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink PhysOrg (1), (2) | Disney Research (1), (2) | Email this | Comments

Lenovo reportedly prepping Intel and ARM versions of IdeaPad Yoga transforming t...

Posted: 11 Aug 2012 09:44 PM PDT

Lenovo reportedly prepping Intel and ARM versions of IdeaPad Yoga transforming tablet


Lenovo reportedly prepping Intel and ARM versions of IdeaPad Yoga transforming tablet
We've known for a while that NVIDIA is working with Lenovo (and ASUS) on a Windows RT Tablet, but ABC News believes that we might already have seen the mystery device in action. Its sources have let slip that alongside the Intel-powered IdeaPad Yoga laptop / tablet hybrid (LapLet? TabTop?), the company will release a Tegra-powered version running Windows RT, combining the same sexy hardware with ARM's power-sipping technology. If true, then we might have a very tough purchasing decision on our hands when the gear arrives -- with the launch date still expected to be on October 26th.Filed under: Laptops, Tablet PCsLenovo reportedly prepping Intel and ARM versions of IdeaPad Yoga transforming tablet originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Aug 2012 00:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | ABC News | Email this | Comments

Joe's Garage: How to blow your own horn

Posted: 11 Aug 2012 09:44 PM PDT

Joe's Garage: How to blow your own horn


Joe's Garage: How to blow your own horn
Tips from a New Yorker who knows.

Mobile Miscellany: week of August 6th, 2012

Posted: 11 Aug 2012 07:59 PM PDT

Mobile Miscellany: week of August 6th, 2012


Mobile Miscellany: week of August 6th, 2012
Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This past week, Sprint began testing its LTE network in Boston and we've come across a QWERTY slider from LG that'll be hitting a convenience store near you. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of August 6th, 2012.Continue reading Mobile Miscellany: week of August 6th, 2012Filed under: Cellphones, WirelessMobile Miscellany: week of August 6th, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Aug 2012 22:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Ask Engadget: best 'Find my Phone' app for Android?

Posted: 11 Aug 2012 06:50 PM PDT

Ask Engadget: best 'Find my Phone' app for Android?


Ask Engadget: best 'Find my Phone' app for Android?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is coming to us from Jacob, who needs to ensure he can find his Android phone if it's lost. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "Hi good folks at Engadget! I just upgraded to a Galaxy S III and I need a new "find my phone" tool. I used to use SeekDroid on my DROID 2, but the web interface won't work on the new phone. I know Samsung's got an app called DIVE that can do this, but it doesn't seem to be supported on Verizon phones. If you've got any suggestions, that'd be fantastic. Thanks!" Actually, we had a look and we don't think it's available on any US Samsung handset without flashing your firmware. But let's imagine he doesn't want that level of hassle. What app should he be picking up? Where's my Droid? Plan B? Something else? What's worked for you -- share your wisdom.Filed under: Cellphones, SoftwareAsk Engadget: best 'Find my Phone' app for Android? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Aug 2012 21:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 Student Edition let loose at Best Buy ahead of schedule, gets u...

Posted: 11 Aug 2012 05:40 PM PDT

Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 Student Edition let loose at Best Buy ahead of schedule, gets unboxed on video


Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 Student Edition let loose at Best Buy ahead of schedule, gets unboxed on video
We'd originally been tipped that Samsung's Galaxy Tab 7 2.0 Student Edition, a $250 bundle which comes with a keyboard dock and USB connector for peripherals, would officially hit Best Buy's shelves around August 19th, but asking nicely might score you one now. According to an email from tipster, Jason (who's also posted details over at Phandroid's forums), the unit was locked inside one of the store's cages and simply asking for a price check let him proceed to checkout with nary an issue (see the photo). Despite only having 8GB of storage, a dual-core 1GHz processor and the same 1024 x 600 screen resolution of its predecessors, the slate is a solid performer -- but unless you're hell-bent on having extras like a rear camera, we'd be remiss not to mention that the Jelly Bean- and Tegra 3-loaded 8GB Nexus 7 clocks in at $200 by its lonesome. That said, it may be worth trying your luck at your local Best Buy if you're not so concerned with top-tier specs and okay with Samsung's variety of ICS. You'll find the video unboxing after the break.Continue reading Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 Student Edition let loose at Best Buy ahead of schedule, gets unboxed on videoFiled under: Tablet PCsGalaxy Tab 2 7.0 Student Edition let loose at Best Buy ahead of schedule, gets unboxed on video originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Aug 2012 20:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

NASA's Curiosity rover receives long-distance OTA update, 'brain transplant' on...

Posted: 11 Aug 2012 04:32 PM PDT

NASA's Curiosity rover receives long-distance OTA update, 'brain transplant' on Mars


NASA's Curiosity rover receives long-distance OTA update, 'brain transplant' on Mars
Think it's nifty when your carrier deigns to provide your smartphone with that long awaited OTA update? That's nothing. Over the weekend, NASA's Curiosity rover will be receiving its first long-distance OTA update -- all the way out there on Mars. The goal is to transition both redundant main computers from software suited for landing the vehicle to software optimized for surface exploration -- such as driving, obstacle avoidance and using the robotic arm. NASA calls it a "brain transplant" and points out that the software was actually uploaded during the flight from Earth. Now can someone please enable OTA downloads for the human brain? We'd really like to know kung fu. PR after the break.Continue reading NASA's Curiosity rover receives long-distance OTA update, 'brain transplant' on MarsFiled under: Transportation, ScienceNASA's Curiosity rover receives long-distance OTA update, 'brain transplant' on Mars originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Aug 2012 19:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | NASA | Email this | Comments