New and Emerging Technology News part 208 ~ NEW GEN TECH LIFE : new generation technology news

Tuesday 18 March 2014

New and Emerging Technology News part 208

Volvo's Flywheel KERS
After extensive testing of its kinetic flywheel technology, Volvo has announced that the system can boost fuel economy by 25 percent. The company is now looking at integrating the Flywheel KERS system into its production line.  Read More
Sandia National Laboratories chemical engineer Vicki Chavez worked with Kevin Fleming to p...
Ammonium nitrate is a commonly used fertilizer, but when mixed with a fuel such as diesel, it makes a powerful explosive – as seen in last week’s fertilizer plant explosion in Texas. But it's the deliberate use of the compound in improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and acts of terror such as the Oklahoma City bombing that gives rise to even greater cause for concern. This is why Kevin Fleming, an optical engineer at Sandia National Laboratories, developed a fertilizer alternative that isn’t detonable and therefore can’t be used in a bomb.  Read More
The TT Ultra Concept handles better, brakes faster and is quicker to 100 km/h (62 mph) in ...
First introduced as a concept at the 1995 Frankfurt Auto Show, Audi’s mighty, yet compact TT sport-coupe has changed little since its inception. But with its war-on-weight campaign, Audi decided the already lightweight TT could use a trim. So off to the fat farm went the Ultra Quattro Concept, and when all was said and done, a 300 kg (661 lb) lighter vehicle remained.  Read More
Gizmag compares the top smartphones on the market in early 2013.
Shopping for a new smartphone can be overwhelming. Even after you’ve chosen a wireless carrier, there are so many phones – many of which look almost the same – that you might not know where to begin. The choice is made even more difficult by the constantly shifting sands of the smartphone marketplace and this year has already seen a number of major new players enter the fray. So how do you sort through it all? Look no further, as Gizmag breaks down the top smartphones of (early) 2013.  Read More
The Boreas Bootlegger Modular Pack System uses a shared suspension harness for three diffe...
No matter how many different suitcases, backpacks, carry-ons, purses, man-satchels and such that you own, you can still find yourself lugging the wrong type of bag and thinking "man, I need some new luggage." A number of manufacturers are attempting to make your jet-setting a little easier by designing modular luggage pieces that can grow, shrink and shift shapes to suit a variety of situations. This new generation of modular luggage should make everything from overnighters to multi-year pilgrimages a little easier for travelers of all types and stripes.  Read More
The Voyager gauge (Image: NASA)
The history of spaceflight is filled with great images, such as Neil Armstrong setting foot on the Moon or Viking 1’s first images from Mars, but some of the most dramatic events haven’t any images to accompany them. As NASA's two Voyager spacecraft leave the Solar System, there won’t be any historic pictures sent back. Instead, that invisible boundary between our system and interstellar space will be marked by readings taken by the instruments of the spacecraft. NASA has placed a readout on the Voyager mission home page that shows two of three key factors that will let the public know when this momentous milestone has been reached.  Read More
The Snapzoom allows you to attach your smartphone to a pair of binoculars There are already plenty of telephoto lenses that you can add onto the lens port of your smartphone case, but Honolulu-based inventors Daniel Fujikake and Mac Nguyen have come up with an alternative. Their Snapzoom device is a universal adapter mount, that lets you use your existing binoculars to bring your smartphone closer to the action.  Read More
An illustration of the edible micro-battery, that could power ingestible medical devices
Over the past several years, scientists have developed so-called “camera pills,” that can be swallowed by patients and then transmit video from within their bodies. While such non-digestible gadgets could serve as an invaluable means of imaging, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University are now looking into tiny electronic medical devices that could be swallowed and partially digested, providing non-invasive treatment in the process.  Read More
The students tested the Propul~Surf in the Alps recently
Snowboarders endure a lot of issues when compared to their skiing counterparts – these include twisting and contorting their ankles to fit on footrests designed for skiers, wearing useless leashes around their legs even though skis are more likely to pop off, and getting stuck on flat traverses that skiers push through with their poles. All those issues aren't getting solved in a day, but a group of French students is working on the last one. Their solution is called the Propul~Surf and it's designed to motor knuckle-draggers over flat ground and up hills.  Read More
PLAiR is designed to make streaming video to a TV easier
Whether your video service of choice is YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, or one of the many other choices, internet video is huge. For some users, watching videos on their smaller computer monitor does the job, but others prefer to view their movies and videos on their larger TV screen. PLAiR is a new product designed with those users in mind, as it allows them to stream content from their computer directly to a TV. The biggest thing that supposedly separates PLAiR from its competitors is the ease of use.  Read More


Bodelin's ProScope Micro Mobile is a microscope that mounts on the iPhone
Optics manufacturer Bodelin is no stranger to hand-held microscopes, having previously brought us a series that can be connected to the USB port of a laptop. Given that smartphones are in many ways replacing laptops, however, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Oregon-based company has now introduced its ProScope Micro Mobile – it’s a lab-quality microscope that mounts on the user’s iPhone.  Read More
We take a look at how Toshiba's KIRAbook and Apple's 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina displ...
Last week, Toshiba entered the ultra high-end laptop market with the KIRAbook, a thin and light Ultrabook with a number of compelling features. The laptop is the first Windows 8 device to feature a Retina-level display (or PixelPure as Toshiba calls it), throwing it into direct competition with Apple's MacBook Pro with Retina display. We take a look at both devices to see which (if either) comes out on top.  Read More
Honda's robotics technology tested in a mock home at the Miraiken (National Museum of Emer...
With one in five Japanese citizens now aged 65 or older, various robotics technologies are being developed to prolong independent living and improve quality of life at home. The main alternative to nursing homes and hospitals would be smart homes designed around the needs of the elderly. Earlier this week, Honda announced that it will test some of its life support robots in a mock household environment at the Future Life Showroom, in Sekisui House's brand new SUMUFUMU Lab.  Read More
Marshall Headphones has announced the release of its first over-ear model, the Marshall Mo...
Marshall first dipped its toes into the headphone market with the excellent Major on-ear headphones and Minor in-ear monitors launched in 2010. The iconic brand has now announced its first over-ear model, the Marshall Monitor, which allows users to choose between two different listening experiences.  Read More
Gizmag tries out the 60-watt-equivalent warm white bulb, from Cree
In late March, all of the US Home Depot stores began carrying Cree’s new LED light bulbs. While they’re by no means the first such bulbs to offer the same form factor as standard incandescent bulbs, their combination of a relatively low price and visually-pleasing light quality have got some people – and not just publicists working for Cree – saying that they could be what finally brings LED light bulbs into the mainstream. I recently got a chance to try one out for myself, and I definitely liked what I saw.  Read More
The Daily Brick's Lego iPad Dock Kit (Photo: Gizmag)
When Lego kit specialist The Daily Brick made contact to see if we'd like to review its Lego iPad Dock Kit for Retina or iPad mini, bits were champed. This was partially because I don't actually have a Lightning dock for my Retina iPad, and partially because… you know… Lego. But as fun as Lego is, most of the joy is in the building. Is a Lego iPad dock really up to the rigors of daily use? Gizmag built one to find out.  Read More
The new Danish headquarters for Microsoft near Copenhagen will feature offices side-by-sid... Henning Larsen Architects recently announced that it is preparing to construct a new campus near Copenhagen to house Microsoft's Danish headquarters. Rather than being exclusive to Microsoft employees though, the new buildings will feature offices side-by-side with student housing and retail shops.  Read More
The new roof, re-named 'Foro Ciel,' is now home to some species of cacti and a few small o...
When Coca-Cola found itself with an unused helipad on top of its building in Mexico City, the simplest thing to do would have been to strip everything down, leaving a bare rooftop. But that would have been a waste of usable real estate, not to mention just plain dull. Instead, the company enlisted the help of design teams at Rojkind Arquitectos and AGENT to convert the area into a sustainable rooftop garden and customizable office space.  Read More
Schematic of the new street lamp
For astronomers, a well-lit city means a sky unavailable for study. Worse, light pollution is blamed for affecting bird migration, sea turtle hatching, and wildlife mating and feeding routines. Researchers at National Central University, Taiwan, and Unidad Academica de Fisica, Universidad Autonoma de Zacatecas, Mexico, have attacked the problem with a new LED street lamp designed to shine only where needed, without splashing into unwanted areas, as a way to reduce light pollution while providing better lighting.  Read More
Like a cross between Wall-e and a Formula 1 golf cart, Twizy's Sport F1 is all for fun
When we last reported on the enigmatic Renault Twizy, it was out fighting fires in the French countryside. Now, apparently bored with firefighting, the Twizy team has decided that perhaps Formula 1 is more the vehicle's cup of tea. So Renault went ahead and came up with a concept racer in the form of the Twizy Renault Sport F1.  Read More
 

Composite of 25 separate images of the Sun captured buy NASA's SDO (Photo: NASA/SDO/AIA/S....
Three years ago the very first images from the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) were beamed back to earth. Since then, NASA’s SDO has effectively had continuous coverage of the Sun’s rise towards solar maximum, the period of the most intense solar activity in the 11 year solar cycle. NASA has now provided a fascinating snapshot of this ongoing research in the form of a time-lapse video that squeezes three years of solar activity into three minutes of footage.  Read More
We take a look at some of the best iPad apps for toddlers
If you've got both an iPad and a toddler in your home, you'll know that your chances of keeping them apart are slim to non existent … no matter how much you liked the idea of minimizing screen-time before they were born. But, rather than let them send random emails to your entire contact list and Like inappropriate posts on Facebook, it's probably best to load your iPad with a few apps to keep them busy. Here's our selection of some of the best iPad apps for toddlers.  Read More
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 features a 16 megapixel sensor and boasts Wi-Fi and NFC connect...
Panasonic has added two new cameras to its 2013 line-up, the Lumix DMC-G6 and the Lumix DMC-LF1. The G6 is a DSLR-like mid-range mirrorless shooter with a 16 megapixel sensor, while the LF1 is a high-end compact with a built-in electronic viewfinder. Both cameras also boast the Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity which featured in the recent GF6.  Read More
Breakfast wouldn't be breakfast without a good, hot bag of coffee
Since the early days of space travel, a consistent complaint has been bad coffee. Now a group of freshman engineering students at Rice University has developed a simple approach to alleviating this problem.  Read More
Jet Powered Junior Dragster If you’re the parent of a junior drag racer who thinks that an ordinary quarter mile blast of nitro-fueled acceleration is a bit “samey,” there’s an item on eBay that may interest you. TransTurbine is selling a Junior Dragster powered by a turbojet engine.  Read More
MusicMachine's futuristic looks contain an old-fashioned music box Though it may bring to mind a Star Wars starfighter model, or perhaps a top-secret military jet concept, the futuristic-looking MusicMachine by Reuge and MB&F is in fact a fully-functional music box.  Read More
NASA astronaut Tom Marshburn conducts the SPHERES-VERTIGO investigation aboard the Interna...
Take the little floating ball that gave Luke Skywalker so much trouble during lightsaber practice, slap a pair of huge welder’s goggles on it and you start to get a picture of NASA’s latest foray into flying robots. Currently being tested aboard the International Space Station (ISS), MIT Space Systems Laboratory’s SPHERES-VERTIGO system is a free-flying robot with stereoscopic vision that is part of a program to develop ways for small satellites to autonomously create 3D maps of objects such as asteroids or disabled satellites.  Read More
Samsung is reportedly prepping a rugged version of the Galaxy S4 and an 8-inch Galaxy tabl...
You get the sense that Samsung wants to be everything to everyone. The Korean company makes smartphones and tablets in all shapes and sizes. It does high-end, it does low-end, and it even does mid-range. You name it, Sammy has either done it or is planning on doing it. So the next items on the agenda should be no surprise: a rugged, outdoorsy version of the Galaxy S 4, and an 8-inch Galaxy Tab.  Read More
A new smartphone-based system is able to triangulate the approximate whereabouts of sniper...
If you were out on the street and suddenly heard sniper fire, you would no doubt react by ducking for cover. The problem is, it’s not always obvious which direction the sound is coming from – crouching behind a certain object might shield you from the bullets, but it also might display you nicely in the shooter’s crosshairs. That’s why a team of computer engineers from Nashville’s Vanderbilt University have developed a smartphone-based system, that determines the location at which the gunshots originated.  Read More
The BeagleBone Black open-source Linux computer
Developers, makers, and hobbyists looking for a beefier alternative to Gizmag favorite the Raspberry Pi will be delighted to learn that BeagleBoard.org has taken the wraps off a 1 GHz ARM-based board named the BeagleBone Black. Though it may look like a slightly more expensive outlay, its manufacturer says that by providing everything needed for display, keyboard and network connectivity right out of the box, the Black provides "a lower total cost of ownership than the nearest competitor."  Read More

The IBM maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) (Photo: IBM)
If you've ever tried typing while talking to technical support with the phone crammed between ear and shoulder, then you know the meaning of frustration. Now imagine doing that upside down inside an airplane wing while juggling wires, crimps and a schematic printout. For some field engineers, that sort of thing is an everyday occurrence, so IBM in collaboration with the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) in the UK is developing a mobile maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) prototype robot. It's a combination of a smartphone app and a camera/projector mounted on a robot arm, that allows supervisors and experts to have a more active presence on the job.  Read More
The LapTouch concept is targeted at the creative community (Image: Amir Labidi)
Einstein famously maintained that a cluttered desk is a sign of a brilliant mind. However, for many modern designers the desk is not just messy but is also jammed with a mandatory array of PCs, laptops, screens, tablets, and more. French designer Amir Labidi has developed a laptop concept dubbed the “LapTouch” for the creative community, with the specific aim of consolidating design functions and reducing desktop congestion.  Read More
The Ripple means holding a bowl of soup and a plate of sandwiches is now a whole lot easie... The way many of us consume food has changed dramatically in recent years, with family meals around a table less common than they once were. The Ripple is a response to this evolution in eating trends, combining a bowl and a plate, and adding a handle for good measure.  Read More
Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo climbing into the stratosphere on thirty tons of thrust (Phot...
At 7:55 AM PDT this Monday, the Scaled Composites SpaceShipTwo (SST) attained a peak velocity of Mach 1.2 at an altitude of 55,000 feet (nearly 17 km) above the Mohave Desert with a 16-second burn of its 30-ton thrust rocket engine. Piloted by Mark Stucky and Mike Alsbury with an assist from Dave Mackay in the mother bird White Knight Two, this flight marks a stepping-off point for commercial manned spaceflight.  Read More
The sneakers are made with organic cotton and latex from Peru Project Piola is combining the ethos of fair trade and the French design flair to create shoes with organic rubber and cotton from Peru.  Read More
A 300-micrometer microgripper at the opening of a cathether
When procuring tissue samples for medical diagnosis, doctors have been confined to bulky and invasive forceps. But with recent successful experiments in pigs, we may see doctors switching from the single forceps to hordes of a thousand "microgrippers." These metal discs, each only 300 micrometers in size, are designed to snip bits of tissue when introduced en masse into the body and then be easily retrieved by a doctor. Their small size, added to the fact that they need no batteries, tethers or wires, belies their complexity and autonomy in function, which could allow the microgrippers to provide diagnoses earlier, more easily, and with less trauma.  Read More
The Big & Small House Though a large imposing house may draw admiring glances, it’s also generally expensive, and a waste of resources for a smaller family. Los Angeles-based Big & Small House by Anonymous Architects bucks the trend of sizable LA residences, and instead offers an example of small living at its most practical and appealing.  Read More
The 55EA9800 Curved OLED TV that LG will begin delivering next month
Samsung and LG were duking it out at CES this year with dueling curved OLED TVs that each claimed was a world first. But LG is getting a definitive one up on its rival by announcing it will become the first company in the world to commercialize the technology with deliveries of its Curved OLED TV set to begin in South Korea from next month.  Read More
Some of the shape-shifting Morphee prototypes that boast different 'shape resolution'
There may soon be another technical specification to consider when buying a mobile device. Researchers from the University of Bristol and the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI Saarbrücken) have coined the term “shape resolution” to indicate the self-actuated shape-shifting abilities they believe will be featured in the next generation of mobile devices. To demonstrate this new metric, the researchers have developed a number of prototype shape-shifting devices they have dubbed “Morphees,” which have the potential to change their shape on demand, depending on the desired use.  Read More
TADRI was established in 2009 by the Chinese Government to create a center of automotive e...
In the new world automotive order dominated by China, there are many new names we'll soon become familiar with and Shanghai's Tongji Automotive Design Research Institute (TADRI) is one such name destined for global recognition. Think of TADRI as the automotive equivalent to MIT – the type of institution that gives a country a competitive edge. We look at three fascinating vehicles touched by TADRI shown at Auto Shanghai, and explain why there are many more to come.  Read More
The IBM maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) (Photo: IBM)
If you've ever tried typing while talking to technical support with the phone crammed between ear and shoulder, then you know the meaning of frustration. Now imagine doing that upside down inside an airplane wing while juggling wires, crimps and a schematic printout. For some field engineers, that sort of thing is an everyday occurrence, so IBM in collaboration with the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) in the UK is developing a mobile maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) prototype robot. It's a combination of a smartphone app and a camera/projector mounted on a robot arm, that allows supervisors and experts to have a more active presence on the job.  Read More
The LapTouch concept is targeted at the creative community (Image: Amir Labidi)
Einstein famously maintained that a cluttered desk is a sign of a brilliant mind. However, for many modern designers the desk is not just messy but is also jammed with a mandatory array of PCs, laptops, screens, tablets, and more. French designer Amir Labidi has developed a laptop concept dubbed the “LapTouch” for the creative community, with the specific aim of consolidating design functions and reducing desktop congestion.  Read More
The Ripple means holding a bowl of soup and a plate of sandwiches is now a whole lot easie... The way many of us consume food has changed dramatically in recent years, with family meals around a table less common than they once were. The Ripple is a response to this evolution in eating trends, combining a bowl and a plate, and adding a handle for good measure.  Read More
Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo climbing into the stratosphere on thirty tons of thrust (Phot...
At 7:55 AM PDT this Monday, the Scaled Composites SpaceShipTwo (SST) attained a peak velocity of Mach 1.2 at an altitude of 55,000 feet (nearly 17 km) above the Mohave Desert with a 16-second burn of its 30-ton thrust rocket engine. Piloted by Mark Stucky and Mike Alsbury with an assist from Dave Mackay in the mother bird White Knight Two, this flight marks a stepping-off point for commercial manned spaceflight.  Read More
The sneakers are made with organic cotton and latex from Peru Project Piola is combining the ethos of fair trade and the French design flair to create shoes with organic rubber and cotton from Peru.  Read More
A 300-micrometer microgripper at the opening of a cathether
When procuring tissue samples for medical diagnosis, doctors have been confined to bulky and invasive forceps. But with recent successful experiments in pigs, we may see doctors switching from the single forceps to hordes of a thousand "microgrippers." These metal discs, each only 300 micrometers in size, are designed to snip bits of tissue when introduced en masse into the body and then be easily retrieved by a doctor. Their small size, added to the fact that they need no batteries, tethers or wires, belies their complexity and autonomy in function, which could allow the microgrippers to provide diagnoses earlier, more easily, and with less trauma.  Read More
The Big & Small House Though a large imposing house may draw admiring glances, it’s also generally expensive, and a waste of resources for a smaller family. Los Angeles-based Big & Small House by Anonymous Architects bucks the trend of sizable LA residences, and instead offers an example of small living at its most practical and appealing.  Read More
The 55EA9800 Curved OLED TV that LG will begin delivering next month
Samsung and LG were duking it out at CES this year with dueling curved OLED TVs that each claimed was a world first. But LG is getting a definitive one up on its rival by announcing it will become the first company in the world to commercialize the technology with deliveries of its Curved OLED TV set to begin in South Korea from next month.  Read More
Some of the shape-shifting Morphee prototypes that boast different 'shape resolution'
There may soon be another technical specification to consider when buying a mobile device. Researchers from the University of Bristol and the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI Saarbrücken) have coined the term “shape resolution” to indicate the self-actuated shape-shifting abilities they believe will be featured in the next generation of mobile devices. To demonstrate this new metric, the researchers have developed a number of prototype shape-shifting devices they have dubbed “Morphees,” which have the potential to change their shape on demand, depending on the desired use.  Read More
TADRI was established in 2009 by the Chinese Government to create a center of automotive e...
In the new world automotive order dominated by China, there are many new names we'll soon become familiar with and Shanghai's Tongji Automotive Design Research Institute (TADRI) is one such name destined for global recognition. Think of TADRI as the automotive equivalent to MIT – the type of institution that gives a country a competitive edge. We look at three fascinating vehicles touched by TADRI shown at Auto Shanghai, and explain why there are many more to come.  Read More
The IBM maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) (Photo: IBM)
If you've ever tried typing while talking to technical support with the phone crammed between ear and shoulder, then you know the meaning of frustration. Now imagine doing that upside down inside an airplane wing while juggling wires, crimps and a schematic printout. For some field engineers, that sort of thing is an everyday occurrence, so IBM in collaboration with the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) in the UK is developing a mobile maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) prototype robot. It's a combination of a smartphone app and a camera/projector mounted on a robot arm, that allows supervisors and experts to have a more active presence on the job.  Read More
The LapTouch concept is targeted at the creative community (Image: Amir Labidi)
Einstein famously maintained that a cluttered desk is a sign of a brilliant mind. However, for many modern designers the desk is not just messy but is also jammed with a mandatory array of PCs, laptops, screens, tablets, and more. French designer Amir Labidi has developed a laptop concept dubbed the “LapTouch” for the creative community, with the specific aim of consolidating design functions and reducing desktop congestion.  Read More
The Ripple means holding a bowl of soup and a plate of sandwiches is now a whole lot easie... The way many of us consume food has changed dramatically in recent years, with family meals around a table less common than they once were. The Ripple is a response to this evolution in eating trends, combining a bowl and a plate, and adding a handle for good measure.  Read More
Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo climbing into the stratosphere on thirty tons of thrust (Phot...
At 7:55 AM PDT this Monday, the Scaled Composites SpaceShipTwo (SST) attained a peak velocity of Mach 1.2 at an altitude of 55,000 feet (nearly 17 km) above the Mohave Desert with a 16-second burn of its 30-ton thrust rocket engine. Piloted by Mark Stucky and Mike Alsbury with an assist from Dave Mackay in the mother bird White Knight Two, this flight marks a stepping-off point for commercial manned spaceflight.  Read More
The sneakers are made with organic cotton and latex from Peru Project Piola is combining the ethos of fair trade and the French design flair to create shoes with organic rubber and cotton from Peru.  Read More
A 300-micrometer microgripper at the opening of a cathether
When procuring tissue samples for medical diagnosis, doctors have been confined to bulky and invasive forceps. But with recent successful experiments in pigs, we may see doctors switching from the single forceps to hordes of a thousand "microgrippers." These metal discs, each only 300 micrometers in size, are designed to snip bits of tissue when introduced en masse into the body and then be easily retrieved by a doctor. Their small size, added to the fact that they need no batteries, tethers or wires, belies their complexity and autonomy in function, which could allow the microgrippers to provide diagnoses earlier, more easily, and with less trauma.  Read More
The Big & Small House Though a large imposing house may draw admiring glances, it’s also generally expensive, and a waste of resources for a smaller family. Los Angeles-based Big & Small House by Anonymous Architects bucks the trend of sizable LA residences, and instead offers an example of small living at its most practical and appealing.  Read More
The 55EA9800 Curved OLED TV that LG will begin delivering next month
Samsung and LG were duking it out at CES this year with dueling curved OLED TVs that each claimed was a world first. But LG is getting a definitive one up on its rival by announcing it will become the first company in the world to commercialize the technology with deliveries of its Curved OLED TV set to begin in South Korea from next month.  Read More
Some of the shape-shifting Morphee prototypes that boast different 'shape resolution'
There may soon be another technical specification to consider when buying a mobile device. Researchers from the University of Bristol and the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI Saarbrücken) have coined the term “shape resolution” to indicate the self-actuated shape-shifting abilities they believe will be featured in the next generation of mobile devices. To demonstrate this new metric, the researchers have developed a number of prototype shape-shifting devices they have dubbed “Morphees,” which have the potential to change their shape on demand, depending on the desired use.  Read More
TADRI was established in 2009 by the Chinese Government to create a center of automotive e...
In the new world automotive order dominated by China, there are many new names we'll soon become familiar with and Shanghai's Tongji Automotive Design Research Institute (TADRI) is one such name destined for global recognition. Think of TADRI as the automotive equivalent to MIT – the type of institution that gives a country a competitive edge. We look at three fascinating vehicles touched by TADRI shown at Auto Shanghai, and explain why there are many more to come.  Read More

One part Aventador, Porsche 918, McLaren P1 and Acura NSX, this open-topped, gull winged b...
Visteon Corporation is known as a global supplier of automotive supplies, not as an exotic car designer. Climate controls, interior amenities, mobile applications and electronics are all part of its daily fare. So why would a supplier go out of its way to create something as stunning as the relatively unknown Visteon Glide Concept?  Read More
Artist's impression of Herschel (Image: ESA)
All good things come to an end and the European Space Agency’s Herschel Space Observatory mission is no exception. After more than three years in orbit, the most powerful infrared telescope ever flown in space has ceased scientific operations after the last of the liquid helium used to supercool its instruments ran out.  Read More
The Antikythera SunMoon watch includes both a solar and a lunar calendar, as well as an in...
Last year, Hublot hit Baselworld 2012 with its limited edition Antikythera watch inspired by the Antikythera mechanism – a 2100 year old analog computer found off the shores of Crete that is considered the first "astronomical calculator." The company has kept the ball rolling at this year's Baselworld with another Antikythera device, this time in the form of the MP-08 Antikythera SunMoon watch.  Read More
Samsung announced the Galaxy Tab 3, a 7-inch tablet with decidedly mid-range specs
Samsung’s original Galaxy Tab was Android’s first iPad rival. “Rival” probably isn’t the best word, though: the iPad sold in bunches while the overpriced (US$600) Galaxy Tab collected dust. Almost three years later, a much more popular Samsung has announced the 7-inch slate’s second proper sequel: the Galaxy Tab 3.  Read More
The Repentir app allows users to see how the painting 'Transamerica' was created
People have come to expect “making-of” documentaries to be included when they watch a movie on DVD or Blu-ray. Thanks to research being conducted in the UK, similar expectations may soon be coming to the viewing of paintings. The experimental Repentir app is currently allowing users to digitally remove layers of British artist Nathan Walsh’s “Transamerica” painting, to see how he put it together.  Read More
Instabeat is a heart rate-monitoring device for swimmers, that displays data within their ...
For pretty much any endurance-oriented sport, athletes like to be able to reach a target hear rate when they’re training. Typically, this is done using a sensor integrated into a chest strap, that’s linked to a sports watch, smartphone, or even to a heads-up display in a set of glasses. While there are sports watches designed for swimmers, users have to stop swimming in order to read them. With the Instabeat, however, swimmers get the heads-up option in the form of colored LEDs that are projected through the bottom of their goggles.  Read More
The Crossfade M-100 headphones from V-MODA
Val Kolton's V-MODA announced a new addition to its stylish range of headphones in October 2012 which, by the time of actual release in mid-December, had managed to attract a good many positive comments from the critics and enthusiasts fortunate enough to get an early listen. The Crossfade M-100s were developed in collaboration with over 200 audiophiles, editors, artists, DJs and Grammy-winning musicians ... and it shows. Gizmag has spent the last few weeks with our ears snuggled up to the 50 mm drivers to find out what all the fuss is about.  Read More
The Tuatara at the 2011 Concours d'Elegance Pebble Beach
Speak of the devil ... With a lot of world record talk going on lately, SSC managed to slip its way back into the headlines, making us wonder where the finely sculptured road-bullet known as the Tuatara is. SSC showed it nearly two years ago and we haven't heard much about it since. As if in answer to that question, SSC dropped a little "hello" by way of a press release saying that it's moving into the final phases of Tuatara development. It hooked the seething twin-turbo V8 engine to the dyno and is all too happy to share the results.  Read More
The 4StrikeBike concept would see riders pedaling with both their legs and arms, for a mor...
Although cycling is a great form of cardiovascular and lower-body exercise, it doesn’t do a whole lot for the upper body. Over the years, various arm-and-leg-powered bikes have been developed, such as the Raxibo. Now, however, retired surgeon Lex van Stekelenburg is hoping to get his own such vehicle into production, in the form of the 4StrikeBike.  Read More
Google has launched a less capable version of Google Now for iOS
When Google first announced Google Now, lots of people called it a “Siri rival.” The two services do have some overlap, but Google Now is much more than a sassy personal assistant. Like Google itself, Now is all about using data to provide the answers you’re looking for – whether you’ve asked or not. Today iPhone users can finally get in on the Google Now fun.  Read More
One part Aventador, Porsche 918, McLaren P1 and Acura NSX, this open-topped, gull winged b...
Visteon Corporation is known as a global supplier of automotive supplies, not as an exotic car designer. Climate controls, interior amenities, mobile applications and electronics are all part of its daily fare. So why would a supplier go out of its way to create something as stunning as the relatively unknown Visteon Glide Concept?  Read More
Artist's impression of Herschel (Image: ESA)
All good things come to an end and the European Space Agency’s Herschel Space Observatory mission is no exception. After more than three years in orbit, the most powerful infrared telescope ever flown in space has ceased scientific operations after the last of the liquid helium used to supercool its instruments ran out.  Read More
The Antikythera SunMoon watch includes both a solar and a lunar calendar, as well as an in...
Last year, Hublot hit Baselworld 2012 with its limited edition Antikythera watch inspired by the Antikythera mechanism – a 2100 year old analog computer found off the shores of Crete that is considered the first "astronomical calculator." The company has kept the ball rolling at this year's Baselworld with another Antikythera device, this time in the form of the MP-08 Antikythera SunMoon watch.  Read More
Samsung announced the Galaxy Tab 3, a 7-inch tablet with decidedly mid-range specs
Samsung’s original Galaxy Tab was Android’s first iPad rival. “Rival” probably isn’t the best word, though: the iPad sold in bunches while the overpriced (US$600) Galaxy Tab collected dust. Almost three years later, a much more popular Samsung has announced the 7-inch slate’s second proper sequel: the Galaxy Tab 3.  Read More
The Repentir app allows users to see how the painting 'Transamerica' was created
People have come to expect “making-of” documentaries to be included when they watch a movie on DVD or Blu-ray. Thanks to research being conducted in the UK, similar expectations may soon be coming to the viewing of paintings. The experimental Repentir app is currently allowing users to digitally remove layers of British artist Nathan Walsh’s “Transamerica” painting, to see how he put it together.  Read More
Instabeat is a heart rate-monitoring device for swimmers, that displays data within their ...
For pretty much any endurance-oriented sport, athletes like to be able to reach a target hear rate when they’re training. Typically, this is done using a sensor integrated into a chest strap, that’s linked to a sports watch, smartphone, or even to a heads-up display in a set of glasses. While there are sports watches designed for swimmers, users have to stop swimming in order to read them. With the Instabeat, however, swimmers get the heads-up option in the form of colored LEDs that are projected through the bottom of their goggles.  Read More
The Crossfade M-100 headphones from V-MODA
Val Kolton's V-MODA announced a new addition to its stylish range of headphones in October 2012 which, by the time of actual release in mid-December, had managed to attract a good many positive comments from the critics and enthusiasts fortunate enough to get an early listen. The Crossfade M-100s were developed in collaboration with over 200 audiophiles, editors, artists, DJs and Grammy-winning musicians ... and it shows. Gizmag has spent the last few weeks with our ears snuggled up to the 50 mm drivers to find out what all the fuss is about.  Read More
The Tuatara at the 2011 Concours d'Elegance Pebble Beach
Speak of the devil ... With a lot of world record talk going on lately, SSC managed to slip its way back into the headlines, making us wonder where the finely sculptured road-bullet known as the Tuatara is. SSC showed it nearly two years ago and we haven't heard much about it since. As if in answer to that question, SSC dropped a little "hello" by way of a press release saying that it's moving into the final phases of Tuatara development. It hooked the seething twin-turbo V8 engine to the dyno and is all too happy to share the results.  Read More
The 4StrikeBike concept would see riders pedaling with both their legs and arms, for a mor...
Although cycling is a great form of cardiovascular and lower-body exercise, it doesn’t do a whole lot for the upper body. Over the years, various arm-and-leg-powered bikes have been developed, such as the Raxibo. Now, however, retired surgeon Lex van Stekelenburg is hoping to get his own such vehicle into production, in the form of the 4StrikeBike.  Read More
Google has launched a less capable version of Google Now for iOS
When Google first announced Google Now, lots of people called it a “Siri rival.” The two services do have some overlap, but Google Now is much more than a sassy personal assistant. Like Google itself, Now is all about using data to provide the answers you’re looking for – whether you’ve asked or not. Today iPhone users can finally get in on the Google Now fun.  Read More
One part Aventador, Porsche 918, McLaren P1 and Acura NSX, this open-topped, gull winged b...
Visteon Corporation is known as a global supplier of automotive supplies, not as an exotic car designer. Climate controls, interior amenities, mobile applications and electronics are all part of its daily fare. So why would a supplier go out of its way to create something as stunning as the relatively unknown Visteon Glide Concept?  Read More
Artist's impression of Herschel (Image: ESA)
All good things come to an end and the European Space Agency’s Herschel Space Observatory mission is no exception. After more than three years in orbit, the most powerful infrared telescope ever flown in space has ceased scientific operations after the last of the liquid helium used to supercool its instruments ran out.  Read More
The Antikythera SunMoon watch includes both a solar and a lunar calendar, as well as an in...
Last year, Hublot hit Baselworld 2012 with its limited edition Antikythera watch inspired by the Antikythera mechanism – a 2100 year old analog computer found off the shores of Crete that is considered the first "astronomical calculator." The company has kept the ball rolling at this year's Baselworld with another Antikythera device, this time in the form of the MP-08 Antikythera SunMoon watch.  Read More
Samsung announced the Galaxy Tab 3, a 7-inch tablet with decidedly mid-range specs
Samsung’s original Galaxy Tab was Android’s first iPad rival. “Rival” probably isn’t the best word, though: the iPad sold in bunches while the overpriced (US$600) Galaxy Tab collected dust. Almost three years later, a much more popular Samsung has announced the 7-inch slate’s second proper sequel: the Galaxy Tab 3.  Read More
The Repentir app allows users to see how the painting 'Transamerica' was created
People have come to expect “making-of” documentaries to be included when they watch a movie on DVD or Blu-ray. Thanks to research being conducted in the UK, similar expectations may soon be coming to the viewing of paintings. The experimental Repentir app is currently allowing users to digitally remove layers of British artist Nathan Walsh’s “Transamerica” painting, to see how he put it together.  Read More
Instabeat is a heart rate-monitoring device for swimmers, that displays data within their ...
For pretty much any endurance-oriented sport, athletes like to be able to reach a target hear rate when they’re training. Typically, this is done using a sensor integrated into a chest strap, that’s linked to a sports watch, smartphone, or even to a heads-up display in a set of glasses. While there are sports watches designed for swimmers, users have to stop swimming in order to read them. With the Instabeat, however, swimmers get the heads-up option in the form of colored LEDs that are projected through the bottom of their goggles.  Read More
The Crossfade M-100 headphones from V-MODA
Val Kolton's V-MODA announced a new addition to its stylish range of headphones in October 2012 which, by the time of actual release in mid-December, had managed to attract a good many positive comments from the critics and enthusiasts fortunate enough to get an early listen. The Crossfade M-100s were developed in collaboration with over 200 audiophiles, editors, artists, DJs and Grammy-winning musicians ... and it shows. Gizmag has spent the last few weeks with our ears snuggled up to the 50 mm drivers to find out what all the fuss is about.  Read More
The Tuatara at the 2011 Concours d'Elegance Pebble Beach
Speak of the devil ... With a lot of world record talk going on lately, SSC managed to slip its way back into the headlines, making us wonder where the finely sculptured road-bullet known as the Tuatara is. SSC showed it nearly two years ago and we haven't heard much about it since. As if in answer to that question, SSC dropped a little "hello" by way of a press release saying that it's moving into the final phases of Tuatara development. It hooked the seething twin-turbo V8 engine to the dyno and is all too happy to share the results.  Read More
The 4StrikeBike concept would see riders pedaling with both their legs and arms, for a mor...
Although cycling is a great form of cardiovascular and lower-body exercise, it doesn’t do a whole lot for the upper body. Over the years, various arm-and-leg-powered bikes have been developed, such as the Raxibo. Now, however, retired surgeon Lex van Stekelenburg is hoping to get his own such vehicle into production, in the form of the 4StrikeBike.  Read More
Google has launched a less capable version of Google Now for iOS
When Google first announced Google Now, lots of people called it a “Siri rival.” The two services do have some overlap, but Google Now is much more than a sassy personal assistant. Like Google itself, Now is all about using data to provide the answers you’re looking for – whether you’ve asked or not. Today iPhone users can finally get in on the Google Now fun.  Read More


 


 

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