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Saturday, August 4, 2012

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For Olympics, London hydrogen cabbies trucked away for 'security' during refueling

Posted: 04 Aug 2012 02:37 PM PDT

For Olympics, London hydrogen cabbies trucked away for 'security' during refueling


For Olympics, London hydrogen cabbies trucked away for 'security' during refueling
Filed under: Hydrogen, UK Well this kind of defeats the purpose, doesn't it. Since Olympic organizers have shut down London's only hydrogen refueling station, three of London's hydrogen-powered cabs are being shipped - via diesel-powered car transporters - 65 miles away for refueling. Why did they do that, you ask? Because of security concerns, reports UK's Swindon Advertiser. The cabs, which are owned by HyTEC, are being used in London during the Games, but then have to be shipped to Swindon, the nearest hydrogen filling station, for a three-minute refill. The drive takes quite a bit longer. Given the absurdity, there remains a chance that a hydrogen refueling station at Heathrow Airport might be opened before the end of the Games. Just prior to the start of the Olympics, five hydrogen-powered buses that were being used to shuttle people between Tower Gateway and Covent Garden were taken out of service and replaced by diesel buses because the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) said hydrogen storage at the station posed a security risk.For Olympics, London hydrogen cabbies trucked away for 'security' during refueling originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 04 Aug 2012 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Robotically Steerable Probe aims at minimally invasive surgery, moves through ge...

Posted: 04 Aug 2012 02:37 PM PDT

Robotically Steerable Probe aims at minimally invasive surgery, moves through gelatin like a champ


Robotically Steerable Probe aims at minimally invasive surgery, moves through gelatin like a champ
Who doesn't prefer to have the word "surgery" preceded by the phrase "minimally invasive?" During our trip to the Harvard research labs today, we were given a demo of the Robotically Steerable Thermal Ablation Probe, a device designed to help minimize the number of injections required when treating something like a tumor. The machine is guided by a x-ray image onto which a doctor can choose a number of destinations. Rather than being forced to re-inject the patient, the outer cannula moves up and down to locate the position, with a thinner curved stylet extends from within it, reaching the designated area. In order to hit subsequent spots, the stylet retracts back into the cannula, which adjusts its up and down position, extending once again to reach the area. Applications for the technology extend beyond just injection, including the possibility of extracting tissue samples from a patient. You can check out a demo of the device doing its work after the break. But don't worry, it's just gelatine.Continue reading Robotically Steerable Probe aims at minimally invasive surgery, moves through gelatin like a champRobotically Steerable Probe aims at minimally invasive surgery, moves through gelatin like a champ originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Aug 2012 16:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Splashtop Remote Desktop now available on Windows 8, gives you all the access yo...

Posted: 04 Aug 2012 12:47 PM PDT

Splashtop Remote Desktop now available on Windows 8, gives you all the access you need


Splashtop Remote Desktop now available on Windows 8, gives you all the access you need
With Splashtop currently holding spots in a slew of Android slabs, Cupertino's notorious iDevices and even HP's cadaverous TouchPad, the next obvious step was to set up its Remote Desktop shop inside Redmond's upcoming Windows 8. And smartly enough, that's exactly what Splashtop's done. In preparation for the eventual release of Microsoft's tile-friendly OS in a couple of months, the service has let it be know that its new (and very handy) tablet application's now ready to take advantage of the system's native gestures while doing what it does best -- which is giving remote access to both Mac and Windows PCs. Given its "consumer preview" status, the Splashtop app isn't fully cooked just yet, but it should give anyone a good idea of what to expect once the real deal becomes available.Filed under: Desktops, Tablet PCs, SoftwareSplashtop Remote Desktop now available on Windows 8, gives you all the access you need originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Aug 2012 15:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Gear Diary | Windows Store | Email this | Comments

Alleged images of 7-inch iPad shell appear from the east

Posted: 04 Aug 2012 11:39 AM PDT

Alleged images of 7-inch iPad shell appear from the east


Alleged images of 7-inch iPad shell appear from the east
Hey, did you hear... Apple is making a 7-inch iPad. Well, the top brass at least thought about it, this much we know. What might it look like if it ever comes to be? Well, if you're willing to be a bit skeptical, it might look like the above. These images -- claiming to be legit iPad parts -- popped up on Chinese social media site Sina Weibo. There's little other activity on the account to back up the source, and the omission of a camera hole might irk some, but if these were early parts, then that could be something that is added later. For now, we're left to fill in the gaps with out imagination, which also includes hoping other recent teases might also make the leap into reality.Filed under: Tablet PCsAlleged images of 7-inch iPad shell appear from the east originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Aug 2012 14:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink TechnoBuffalo | Mark (Sina Weibo) | Email this | Comments

Breathe easier by allergy-proofing your home

Posted: 04 Aug 2012 10:23 AM PDT

Breathe easier by allergy-proofing your home


Breathe easier by allergy-proofing your home
Don't turn your nose up at these simple ways to keep pollen and other allergens from infiltrating your home.

Alt-week 8.4.12: buckyballs, bosons and bodily fluids

Posted: 04 Aug 2012 10:23 AM PDT

Alt-week 8.4.12: buckyballs, bosons and bodily fluids


Alt-week 8.4.12: buckyballs, bosons and bodily fluids
Alt-week peels back the covers on some of the more curious sci-tech stories from the last seven days. Remember when we told you last week that we live in a strange world? Well, we had no idea what we were talking about. Seriously, things are about to get a whole lot weirder. High school is certainly a head-scratcher, no matter how old you are, but the mathematics of social hierarchies can't hold a candle to the mysteries of the buckyball. And, if the strange behavior of the familiar carbon molecule isn't enough for you, we've got an entirely new molecule to contend with, while the once-elusive Higgs Boson is getting us closer to unlocking the secrets of the universe. It's all pretty heady stuff, which is why we're also gonna take a quick detour to the world of human waste. This is alt-week.Continue reading Alt-week 8.4.12: buckyballs, bosons and bodily fluidsFiled under: Misc. Gadgets, ScienceAlt-week 8.4.12: buckyballs, bosons and bodily fluids originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Aug 2012 13:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

IRL: Linksys E4200, Twelve South BookBook and Turtle Beach's XP400 headphones

Posted: 04 Aug 2012 09:10 AM PDT

IRL: Linksys E4200, Twelve South BookBook and Turtle Beach's XP400 headphones


IRL: Linksys E4200, Twelve South BookBook and Turtle Beach's XP400 headphones
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment. Happy Saturday, kids. This week in IRL Dana and Darren each plunk down their hard-earned cash on some new gadgets, including a dual-band router for Dana, and BookBook's iPhone case for Mr. Murph. Rounding out the trio, Dan Cooper, a casual gamer at best, offers an informal mini-review of Turtle Beach's XP400 headset following some long-term testing.Continue reading IRL: Linksys E4200, Twelve South BookBook and Turtle Beach's XP400 headphonesFiled under: Misc. GadgetsIRL: Linksys E4200, Twelve South BookBook and Turtle Beach's XP400 headphones originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Rethinking the robot hand at Harvard (video)

Posted: 04 Aug 2012 08:36 AM PDT

Rethinking the robot hand at Harvard (video)


Rethinking the robot hand at Harvard (video)
Should you ever find yourself needing to discuss the state of the robotic hand in the early 21st century, Harvard professor Robert Howe seems about as good a place to start as any. The professor founded the school's BioRobotics Laboratory in 1990 and has devoted a good deal of his time to the quest for perfect robot extremities. The last few years have seen a number of breakthroughs for Howe and his team including, notably, the SDM (Shape Deposit Manufacturing) hand, an adaptable and rugged robot gripper that utilizes a single motor to manipulate its eight joints. Such machines have, in the past, often relied on precise image sensing to determine the exact size and shape of an object, in order to configure their digits perfectly before attempting to pick it up. The SDM hand is a lot more forgiving. The pulley system at play distributes equal tension to the fingers in an adaptive transmission that allows motion to continue in other fingers, should one's movement be hampered. The joints themselves are extremely compliant as well, adapting and conforming to the shape of an object, thanks in part to their ability to pivot in three dimensions. The Shape Deposit Manufacturing technology used to create the fingers, meanwhile, adds an important level of durability, letting Howe bang them against a table (a trick he happily performed for us) and expose them to water -- both features that are quite often absent in more complex (and far more expensive) models. The SDM technology, developed at Stanford, allows for the creation of fingers that are a single piece, with their parts embedded in plastic. The larger model shown off by Howe serves as great visual when describing the benefits of the single motor system, but the team has also developed a smaller version, with the requisite motors embedded in a far more compact chassis, which we also got a peek at. The hand will likely be targeted at home and office use, with some key applications for assisting the disabled. Check out a video of Howe describing the technology to us during our visit to the school and a clip of the SDM doing its thing in the labs, which should help feed your desire to watch robot hands get banged by hammers.Gallery: Rethinking the robot hand at HarvardContinue reading Rethinking the robot hand at Harvard (video)Filed under: RobotsRethinking the robot hand at Harvard (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Aug 2012 11:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Apple exec talks about the iPhone's early days, the secrecy of 'Project Purple'

Posted: 04 Aug 2012 08:02 AM PDT

Apple exec talks about the iPhone's early days, the secrecy of 'Project Purple'


Apple exec talks about the iPhone's early days, the secrecy of 'Project Purple'
The back and forth of Apple and Samsung's spat can be tiring, it's true, but the legal debacle has its moments. Cupertino's Scott Forstall, for instance, took the stand on Friday to give some insights on the beginnings of what Apple called "Project Purple," and the secrecy that surrounded the first iPhone's development. "We're starting another project," Forstall would tell potential recruits to the project, "It's so secret I cannot tell you what the project is. You are going to have to give up nights and weekends for a couple years." These were the words that conscripted much of the team that would eventually build Apple's first phone. Forstall said that the engineers he recruited weren't told anything about the project or even who they would report to -- eventually, Apple locked down one of its Cupertino buildings, affectionately calling it the "purple dorm" for its vague pizza-like aroma. When Apple's attorney questioned the senior vice president of iOS software about how the Project Purple team drove innovation, Forstall went on to describe the challenge of building a touch-centric OS. "Everything we dealt with before was based on mouse and keyboard, and here we were changing the entire user interface to be based around touch. We had to rethink everything about what big controls would be knowing where you are in the document, knowing when you reach the list... Every single part of every device had to be rethought for doing touch." Samsung's legal team was more concerned with how Project Purple was inspired by competitor devices; Forstall responded by saying that Apple simply tested Purple's call performance against other devices, noting that "it's fine to benchmark for performance reasons, it's not OK to copy and rip something off." The comments are interesting, but they probably won't weight too heavily on the jury's final decision. Still, the stories are entertaining, and worth a read for those interested in the iPhone's origins. Even so, we'll be glad when the patent wars are finally over.Filed under: Cellphones, Misc. GadgetsApple exec talks about the iPhone's early days, the secrecy of 'Project Purple' originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Aug 2012 10:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Wired, AllThingsD | Email this | Comments

Renault offering free all-electric Twizys with gas-guzzler purchase

Posted: 04 Aug 2012 06:03 AM PDT

Renault offering free all-electric Twizys with gas-guzzler purchase


Renault offering free all-electric Twizys with gas-guzzler purchase
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Renault, Europe/EU It's like an extra tapas dish being thrown in with the whole meal, we guess.Renault has a new idea to increase sales of some of its gas-powered 2012 model-year vehicles in Spain: throw in a Twizy EV. The Australian publication Car Advice reports that buyers of cars like the $25,000 Laguna Grand Tour Wagon get a 6,990-euro ($8,560) Twizy EV for, uh, free, Car Advice reports. Models such as the Latitude and Espace are also part of the promotion. The promotion reflects how Spain hasn't been too friendly to Renault this year. Through June, Renault sales in Spain were at their lowest in almost two decades. The 17-horsepower Twizy, which is about a foot shorter than the Smart ForTwo, has a full-battery range of about 60 miles and a top speed of about 50 miles per hour. Renault first started selling the Twizy in France this March and began sales in the UK in April.Renault offering free all-electric Twizys with gas-guzzler purchase originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 04 Aug 2012 08:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

E Ink acquires SiPix, may dominate e-paper universe

Posted: 04 Aug 2012 06:03 AM PDT

E Ink acquires SiPix, may dominate e-paper universe


E Ink acquires SiPix, may dominate e-paper universe
If challenging E Ink's supremacy in the e-paper market was hard before, it just became Sisyphean. The company is acquiring e-paper module maker SiPix through a share buyout worth about NT$1.5 billion ($50.1 million) if all goes smoothly. What goals E Ink has with the merger aren't as apparent, although the company wants to go beyond just supplying the parts for another Kindle Touch or Nook Simple Touch -- the aim is to "diversify into newer applications" even as the company corners those markets it already leads. The deal should close in the fall if regulators sign off on the deal, although we wouldn't be too quick to assume clearance is a sure thing. As NPD DisplaySearch warns, the deal would give E Ink complete control of the electrophoretic display technology that dictates the e-paper field. That doesn't allow for a lot of variety in the space when alternatives like Qualcomm's Mirasol are being scaled back.Continue reading E Ink acquires SiPix, may dominate e-paper universeFiled under: DisplaysE Ink acquires SiPix, may dominate e-paper universe originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Aug 2012 08:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | E Ink | Email this | Comments

Texas man foretells dire outcome: messages 'I need to quit texting,' before driv...

Posted: 04 Aug 2012 04:04 AM PDT

Texas man foretells dire outcome: messages 'I need to quit texting,' before driving into ravine


Texas man foretells dire outcome: messages 'I need to quit texting,' before driving into ravine
Despite our love of gadgets, we're not willing to give any slack to people that text while driving, and for one good reason: it's freaking dangerous. You've heard the grim stories before, but few incidents resonate to the heart of the matter like that of Chance Bothe from Texas. Despite his better judgment, the young man was texting a childhood friend while trying to bring the conversation to a close by saying, "I need to quit texting, because I could die in a car accident." That message was followed by one more, an unfortunate, "b right there." Regrettably, that final text caused him to miss a slight curve in the road and careen into a ravine. Chance is alive today -- thanks in large part to the fact that the accident was witnessed -- but the recovery hasn't been easy. In addition to a broken neck, a number of fractures and severe head trauma, he's already undergone two facial reconstructions. In the wake of the accident, Chance's friends and family have founded UnSend, an organization that dedicates itself to raising awareness about the dangers of texting and driving. Chance, too, is using his experience to educate others: "They just need to understand, don't do it. Don't do it. It's not worth losing your life."Filed under: Cellphones, TransportationTexas man foretells dire outcome: messages 'I need to quit texting,' before driving into ravine originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Aug 2012 06:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | WBTV, MSNBC | Email this | Comments

YouTube streaming Lollapalooza festival for those of us who can't be in Chicago

Posted: 04 Aug 2012 01:34 AM PDT

YouTube streaming Lollapalooza festival for those of us who can't be in Chicago


YouTube streaming Lollapalooza festival for those of us who can't be in Chicago
YouTube is plenty busy with a livestream of the Olympics in HD for Asian and African audiences, but it's keeping tabs on the scene in the states, too. The service is running a free, two-channel webcast of Chicago's Lollapalooza music festival this weekend, which features big-name acts such as Jack White, The Black Keys and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. As you may recall, YouTube also offered a live broadcast of the event last year. Click through to the source link to see who's on stage. Hey, it's not the same as being at Grant Park, but it's probably a lot less sweaty.Filed under: InternetYouTube streaming Lollapalooza festival for those of us who can't be in Chicago originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Aug 2012 04:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink The Verge | YouTube | Email this | Comments

IBM pushing System z, Power7+ chips as high as 5.5GHz, mainframes get mightier

Posted: 04 Aug 2012 12:19 AM PDT

IBM pushing System z, Power7+ chips as high as 5.5GHz, mainframes get mightier


IBM pushing System z, Power7+ chips as high as 5.5GHz, mainframes get mightier
Ten-core, 2.4GHz Xeons? Pshaw. IBM is used to the kind of clock speeds and brute force power that lead to Europe-dominating supercomputers. Big Blue has no intentions of letting its guard down when it unveils its next generation processors at the upcoming Hot Chips conference: the company is teasing that the "zNext" chip at the heart of a future System z mainframe will ramp up to 5.5GHz -- that's faster than the still-speedy 5.2GHz z196 that has led IBM's pack since 2010. For those who don't need quite that big a sledgehammer, the technology veteran is hinting that its upcoming Power7+ processors will be up to 20 percent faster than the long-serving Power7, whose current 4.14GHz peak clock rate may seem quaint. We'll know just how much those extra cycles mean when IBM takes to the conference podium on August 29th, but it's safe to say that our databases and large-scale simulations won't know what hit them.Filed under: DesktopsIBM pushing System z, Power7+ chips as high as 5.5GHz, mainframes get mightier originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Aug 2012 02:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Wall Street Journal, Hot Chips | Email this | Comments

Verizon-branded Galaxy S III wireless charging kit starts showing up at retail s...

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 09:59 PM PDT

Verizon-branded Galaxy S III wireless charging kit starts showing up at retail stores


Verizon-branded Galaxy S III wireless charging kit starts showing up at retail stores
Back when we met the Galaxy S III for the very first time, Samsung promised a wireless charging solution would be coming soon to its sleek and potent slab. Unfortunately, Sammy's power-boosting companion's been hit by hapless delays that have prevented it from seeing the light of day. Now, thanks to a few recent shots from Phone Arena, it looks like at least some S3 owners could see a bundle in the near future, albeit not the official one from the Korean outfit. According to the site's kind tipster, Verizon's allegedly pricing the charging station at $50, while the rear case is expected to be around $40 -- making it nearly $90 for the entire kit. Naturally, this could change at any given moment, but hey, at least we know it's out there.Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals, WirelessVerizon-branded Galaxy S III wireless charging kit starts showing up at retail stores originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Aug 2012 00:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Phone Arena | Email this | Comments

5 best GM designs of all time

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 09:24 PM PDT

5 best GM designs of all time


5 best GM designs of all time
Automobile styling is a unique subset of industrial design.

Seagate completes purchase of LaCie in quest to become king of the hard drive hill

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 09:24 PM PDT

Seagate completes purchase of LaCie in quest to become king of the hard drive hill


Seagate completes purchase of LaCie in quest to become king of the hard drive hill
The final price may end up being more than the initially proposed $186 million, but Seagate has successfully acquired a controlling share of LaCie stocks. The provisional price of €4.05 per share could increase to €4.17 if Seagate manages to accumulate 95 percent of the company's stocks in the next six months. As of now, however, it hold just shy of 65 percent, enough to take control of the French manufacturer. With LaCie and its valuable consumer business under its belt and Samsung's SSD expertise, the move to reject a Western Digital take over is looking better and better. After all, consumer choice is the engine of capitalism and now Seagate has more than enough ammunition to take on WD and its Hitachi properties. Check out the PR after the break.Continue reading Seagate completes purchase of LaCie in quest to become king of the hard drive hillFiled under: StorageSeagate completes purchase of LaCie in quest to become king of the hard drive hill originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 23:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Researchers develop cell spray to repair hearts, healthy dose of electricity inc...

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 08:03 PM PDT

Researchers develop cell spray to repair hearts, healthy dose of electricity included


Researchers develop cell spray to repair hearts, healthy dose of electricity included
Spray-on solutions have found a place in green technology and even in transmitting radio waves, and they're no strangers to medical research, either. Researchers at the British Heart Foundation are working on a bioelectric spray composed of heart cells to help mend that most vital of organs. Because the cells need to be extremely thin to form a sheet of heart tissue, they are passed through a conductive needle that charges them with up to 30,000 volts. Exposing the cells to an electric field turns the solution into small droplets, which in turn form the cardiac sheet. The scientists can also add other types of cells to create "three-dimensional" tissue, which can be grafted onto injured hearts or sprayed onto scar tissue to help patients' tickers pump more strongly. As is so often the case, the next step will be testing the technology on animals, and the project's ultimate goal is to use this spray-on solution rather than making patients wait for donor hearts.Filed under: ScienceResearchers develop cell spray to repair hearts, healthy dose of electricity included originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 22:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink BBC | British Heart Association | Email this | Comments

Motorola RAZR V goes on sale at Bell, gives Canadians a thin slice of Ice Cream...

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 07:28 PM PDT

Motorola RAZR V goes on sale at Bell, gives Canadians a thin slice of Ice Cream Sandwich


Motorola RAZR V goes on sale at Bell, gives Canadians a thin slice of Ice Cream Sandwich
Bell's version of the Motorola RAZR V might not be the media darling that is the Atrix HD, but that shouldn't dampen the interest for Canadians that can at last buy what's potentially a slick deal for an Android 4.0 phone. For $30 on a 3-year contract, or $400 contract-free, the carrier is offering an arguably improved version of the late 2011 RAZR (Droid RAZR for Yankees). Although it bulks up slightly to a third of an inch thick, it's still a skinny, Kevlar-clad wedge. The primary upgrade outside of the OS is a swap-out of that frankly mediocre Super AMOLED screen of the original RAZR smartphone for a much nicer ColorBoost LCD -- sorry, ColourBoost. Otherwise, you're getting the familiar 1.2GHz processor, 14.4Mbps HSPA+ data and 8-megapixel rear camera, although Motorola has shaved the built-in storage to 4GB to keep the costs down. We'd still be tempted to snag the Galaxy Nexus across the aisle to get us a taste of Jelly Bean for the same money, but Canucks with a penchant for Smart Actions now have an option outside of Rogers to get their fix.Filed under: CellphonesMotorola RAZR V goes on sale at Bell, gives Canadians a thin slice of Ice Cream Sandwich originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 22:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink MobileSyrup | Bell Mobility | Email this | Comments

Rumored HTC One X+ with 1.7GHz Tegra 3 revealed in NenaMark report?

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 06:53 PM PDT

Rumored HTC One X+ with 1.7GHz Tegra 3 revealed in NenaMark report?


Rumored HTC One X+ with 1.7GHz Tegra 3 revealed in NenaMark report?
We've heard murmurings of it before, but they've been just that. Now we've got the first shred of hard evidence that the fabled HTC One X+ is actually real. Rumored to be heading to T-Mobile (or AT&T, depending on who you ask), this 1.7GHz super phone popped up over at NenaMark's site, bearing the model number PM63100. Sadly, that internal moniker doesn't really reveal much, but between that and the fact that it's running Jelly Bean 4.1.1 we're confident this isn't something already on the market. And the reported resolution of 1280 x 720 combined with its high-speed Tegra 3 innards puts this squarely in flagship territory. What else do we know? Not a whole heck of a lot. But, as always, the truth will be revealed in time.Filed under: CellphonesRumored HTC One X+ with 1.7GHz Tegra 3 revealed in NenaMark report? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 21:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Android and Me, Land of Droid | NenaMark | Email this | Comments

FCC Fridays: August 3, 2012

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 06:14 PM PDT

FCC Fridays: August 3, 2012


FCC Fridays: August 3, 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 3, 2012Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals, Tablet PCsFCC Fridays: August 3, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 20:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

SLIPS liquid repeller is inspired by carnivorous plants, enemy to insects and gr...

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 05:39 PM PDT

SLIPS liquid repeller is inspired by carnivorous plants, enemy to insects and graffiti artists alike


SLIPS liquid repeller is inspired by carnivorous plants, enemy to insects and graffiti artists alike
When a team of Harvard researchers wanted to create the ultimate liquid- and solid-repelling surface, they looked toward the Nepenthes pitcher plant, where curious insects check in and never check out, thanks to slippery walls that lead to their tiny, horrific fate. The tropical plant inspired the creation of SLIPS (Self-healing, Slippery Liquid-Infused Porous Surface), a synthetic material that utilizes nano/ microstructured substrates, capable of repelling just about anything you can throw at it. During a visit to the hallowed Crimson halls, the team was kindly enough to show off the material through a series of messy, messy demos, dropping water, motor oil, liquid asphalt and newly-mixed concrete on aluminum and glass. The team even went crazy with a can of black spray paint, comparing the results to a Teflon surface. The outcome was the same in all case -- an amazingly repellent material. The team has published a number of papers on the stuff, including ones that demonstrate its ice- and bacteria-repelling properties. Oh, and like its natural inspiration, SLIPS does a great jobs keeping bugs off its surface. You can check out our demos and one unhappy ant filmed by the SLIPS team. No insects were harmed in the making of our video, at least -- and the lab assures us that ant had a good life before learning the hard way why it shouldn't mess with Harvard scientists.Continue reading SLIPS liquid repeller is inspired by carnivorous plants, enemy to insects and graffiti artists alikeSLIPS liquid repeller is inspired by carnivorous plants, enemy to insects and graffiti artists alike originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 20:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | SLIPS | Email this | Comments

Is the Nissan Leaf the second coming of the Honda Insight?

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 05:04 PM PDT

Is the Nissan Leaf the second coming of the Honda Insight?


Is the Nissan Leaf the second coming of the Honda Insight?
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Honda, Nissan, North America, USA Is this a backhanded compliment? After Nissan reported - again - that monthly sales of the first mass-produced U.S. electric vehicle continued to disappoint, our friends at Plug-in Cars realized something: the Nissan Leaf is kind of like the original Honda Insight. Introduced to the U.S. in late 2010, the Leaf might be falling out of favor with the U.S. public because it's too ahead of its time and because it doesn't quite have the combination of attributes - i.e., range, cost, size - needed for car buyers to take the leap into EVs. This is pretty much how the first-gen Insight - the first hybrid sold in the U.S. - was received. Debuting in late 1999, that Insight was rated at 70 miles per gallon and was what Plug In Cars called a "wonderfully inventive first attempt at something new." The model also sold just 17,000 units before being discontinued in 2006. Originally, Honda had hoped to sell 6,500 units a year. This week, Nissan announced that it sold 395 Leafs last month, down from 535 in June and down sharply from the 931 units sold a year earlier. It wasn't until the second-generation Toyota Prius arrived in 2004 that hybrid sales took off. The big question, if this analogy is correct, is whether or not we someday get a "Prius" from the all-electric world.Is the Nissan Leaf the second coming of the Honda Insight? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Adafruit launches Raspberry Pi Educational Linux Distro, hastens our hacking

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 05:04 PM PDT

Adafruit launches Raspberry Pi Educational Linux Distro, hastens our hacking


Adafruit launches Raspberry Pi Educational Linux Distro, hastens our hacking
The Raspberry Pi is already considered a hacker's paradise. However, that assumes that owners have all the software they need to start in the first place. Adafruit wants to give the process a little nudge through its Raspberry Pi Educational Linux Distro. The software includes a customized distribution of Raspbian, Occidentalis, that either turns on or optimizes SSHD access, Bonjour networking, WiFi adapter support and other hack-friendly tools. The build further rolls in Hexxeh's firmware and a big, pre-built 4GB SD card image. Before you start frantically clicking the download link, be aware that the "educational" title doesn't refer to a neophyte's playground -- Adafruit still assumes you know enough about Linux and Raspberry Pi units to be productive (or dangerous). Anyone who was already intrigued by the Raspberry Pi by itself, though, might appreciate what happens when it's tossed into a fruit salad.Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, SoftwareAdafruit launches Raspberry Pi Educational Linux Distro, hastens our hacking originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 19:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Adafruit | Email this | Comments

Tweetbot for Mac's latest alpha adds experimental 'snap-together' column layout

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 05:04 PM PDT

Tweetbot for Mac's latest alpha adds experimental 'snap-together' column layout


Tweetbot for Mac's latest alpha adds experimental 'snap-together' column layout
Tweetbot's been offering a rough-around-the-edges alpha version on its upcoming refresh for a few weeks now, but it's the latest update that's caught our attention -- again. There's several substantial changes that could tempt you away from other desktop Twitter clients. These include a new multiple account view, with separate columns that can either be docked to your main feed or left in their own window. You can spin out mentions and search results into their own space, and even adjust each column's height and width -- if you're looking to squeeze even more Twitter content into a single screen. A new menu bar icon offers access to your multiple accounts, new tweets, direct messages and mentions, while the latest build also improves support for media upload and Mountain Lion's notification bar. Tweetbot's alpha is still free to try for now, but once the kinks are eventually worked out, expect to pay for the finished article.Filed under: InternetTweetbot for Mac's latest alpha adds experimental 'snap-together' column layout originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 19:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Tweetbot (Twitter) | Tweetbot for Mac alpha | Email this | Comments

Facebook’s Big Challenge: Building A Stable Platform For Developers While Mainta...

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 05:04 PM PDT

Facebook's Big Challenge: Building A Stable Platform For Developers While Maintaining User Experience


Facebook's Big Challenge: Building A Stable Platform For Developers While Maintaining User Experience
Today at The TC CrunchUp at the Fox Theater in Redwood City, a group of founders and entrepreneurs took the stage to talk about the future of Facebook's platform, where it's been and where it's going as a result. Although the company's stock has been limping of late, Facebook continues to be impossible to ignore -- by the end of June, for example, the platform was seeing 955 million monthly active users, with 81 percent of those coming from outside the U.S., and more than 230 million people playing games on Facebook.com every month. Although it may seem like Facebook has plenty on their plate in terms of stock downturns, ad monetization strategies and more, Facebook Director of Product Management Doug Purdy said that a big challenge facing Facebook today is building a solid and stable platform for third-party developers via its APIs.

Peter Deng On How Facebook Develops Mobile Apps

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 05:04 PM PDT

Peter Deng On How Facebook Develops Mobile Apps


Peter Deng On How Facebook Develops Mobile Apps
Peter Deng of Facebook said on stage at the TechCrunch CrunchUp today that the company's mission is now focused on mobile. There is no single team that is focused on mobile, said Deng, Facebook's director of product development. Instead, each group, be it the messaging or location teams, are thinking about mobile development.

Nissan launches Serena S-Hybrid in Japan

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 03:52 PM PDT

Nissan launches Serena S-Hybrid in Japan


Nissan launches Serena S-Hybrid in Japan
Filed under: Hybrid, Nissan, Japan Japanese soccer moms, rejoice!Nissan started selling a hybrid version of the Serena in Japan this week, the first time Japan's best-selling minivan has gotten the green treatment. The Serena S-Hybrid gets 15.2 kilometers per liter in two-wheel-drive mode (there's also a four-wheel-drive version), which equals about 36 miles per gallon (on the lenient Japanese driving cycles) and is about 25 percent more fuel-efficient than the conventional Serena. That improved fuel economy will cost you, since the Serena S-Hybrid starts at about 2.38 million yen ($30,250), compared to the gasoline-powered version's base price of 2.16 million yen ($27,500). The conventional Serena sold about 50,000 units in Japan during the first half of the year. Nissan first unveiled concept versions of the Serena hybrid in late 2010.Continue reading Nissan launches Serena S-Hybrid in JapanNissan launches Serena S-Hybrid in Japan originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 17:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Klipsch quietly teases new in-ear headphone lineup: S4 (II) series, S7i set arri...

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 03:51 PM PDT

Klipsch quietly teases new in-ear headphone lineup: S4 (II) series, S7i set arrive this month


Klipsch quietly teases new in-ear headphone lineup: S4 (II) series, S7i set arrive this month
Leave it to Klipsch to surprise us with new gear for our ears when we least expect it. Within the last day or so, the company quietly pushed a "coming soon" page live on its website chock full of new in-ear headphones. To start, the S4 series is getting a complete refresh across the lineup and taking up the (II) moniker -- namely, the $80 S4 (II), and the $100 S4i (II) and S4a (II), which respectively feature an inline remote / mic for iOS and Android devices. While the trio of intra-aurals look largely similar to their ear-pleasing predecessors, Klipsch has graced them with flat cables to kill the tangled-cord issues we've experienced. Better yet, it's also showcasing the $200 S7i (seen middle), a curvaceous set of balanced armature-loaded ceramic 'bubs, equipped with an iOS-compatible remote / mic. The S7i essentially fills the "mid-range" gap in price from the S4i to the $350 X10i. Detailed specs for all the sets aren't anywhere to be seen currently, but we'll likely find out more at Klipsch's NYC event next week. For now, you can rest assured knowing that you'll have a choice of black or white for everything except the S4a (II) -- and that it's all already up for pre-order at the source link below.Klipsch quietly teases new in-ear headphone lineup: S4 (II) series, S7i set arrive this month originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 18:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Klipsch | Email this | Comments

Zynga VP Sean Kelly: Zynga Will Make Back The Money It Spent Acquiring OMGPOP

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 03:51 PM PDT

Zynga VP Sean Kelly: Zynga Will Make Back The Money It Spent Acquiring OMGPOP


Zynga VP Sean Kelly: Zynga Will Make Back The Money It Spent Acquiring OMGPOP
Peter Deng was joined on our Facebook Ecosystem CrunchUp stage by Zynga product development VP Sean Kelly, Bump CEO David Lieb, and Xyologic co-founder Matthaus Krzykowski to tackle the prospect of creating and nurturing "modern" mobile applications. One of the juicier tidbits that came to light during the panel came courtesy of Zynga's Kelly, who noted he believed that the company would make its money back on its multi-million dollar OMGPOP acquisition. "It's been a good contributor to our numbers," Kelly said to moderator Kim-Mai Cutler.