New and Emerging Technology News part 219 ~ NEW GEN TECH LIFE : new generation technology news

Wednesday 19 March 2014

New and Emerging Technology News part 219

Gizmag sat down with Microsoft during E3, and also played the Xbox One
The E3 floodgates are open, and attendees are getting their hands on upcoming games and unreleased consoles. We've already given you our quick impressions of the PlayStation 4, but we also worked in a little time with the Xbox One. You've seen the pictures, and maybe watched the event. But what's it like to use?  Read More
Backpack and towel combine into the WalkBag In what is possibly the ultimate two-in-one combo for the beach bum, the WalkBag not only carries your beach essentials, but when pulled inside out, the small backpack doubles as a towel for lying out in the sun and drying off.  Read More
Gizmag goes hands-on with Nintendo's upcoming Super Mario 3D World
Nintendo's Wii U hasn't exactly set the world on fire. But if there's any genre that can take it off of life support, it's a 3D Mario game. Nintendo told us a while back that one was in the works, but today the company took the cat out of the bag (in this case, quite literally). It's called Super Mario 3D World, and we got a chance to play it today at E3.  Read More
A normal nerve cell, with the myelin (brown) intact (Image: Shutterstock)
In multiple sclerosis, the body’s immune system attacks and damages myelin, which is the insulating layer on nerves in the spinal cord, brain and optic nerve. Just as would happen with an electrical cord with compromised insulation, this causes the nerves to short-circuit and cease functioning properly. An international team of scientists, however, have recently reported success in the first phase of clinical trials in which MS victims’ immune systems were conditioned to become much more tolerant of myelin.  Read More
The “intelligent door seal system” automatically lets fresh air into a crowded room when c... If you’re in a confidential meeting with the boardroom door closed, the air can get stale pretty fast. Should it be too cold outside to crack any windows, or if the room simply has no windows, then opening those isn’t a choice. That’s why Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems has teamed up with the Athmer Company to create an “intelligent door seal system.”  Read More
The Personal Audio Enhancer (PAE-300) from VitaSound
VitaSound has launched a multi-functional audio enhancement device for those who suffer from situational hearing difficulties. The PAE-300 has been designed for folks who don't need a hearing aid, but could do with some help when trying to hold a conversation in a noisy room, or watch television without needing to crank up the volume. It's powered by the intriguing Neuro-Compensator technology, that's said to enforce an optimal electrical signal from the root of the auditory nerve to the brain, resulting in improved audio clarity and a natural listening experience. Gizmag has been sent one for review, but, since my hearing is pretty good, I've recruited my father-in-law, Jean-Jacques, as primary device tester.  Read More
A WiSee user could control their TV using gestures, even if a wall separated them and the ...
By now, even if they’ve never used one themselves, most people are pretty familiar with the idea behind gesture control systems such as the Kinect – the user makes a movement, the device “sees” that movement, and interprets it. However, what would happen if the user was in another room, blocked from the device’s cameras and depth sensors? Well, as long as there was a Wi-Fi signal available, it wouldn’t be a problem ... at least, not if the WiSee system was being used.  Read More
Gizmag goes hands-on with the Sony PlayStation 4
In two days, the PlayStation 4 has gone from a faceless list of features to something we've actually played. Gizmag just got some quick hands-on time in Sony's E3 booth. Interested in our first impressions?  Read More
Audi's pilot system provides for wireless parking payments
We've heard about cars that can park themselves, but such technology brings up a relevant question: how will such cars handle paid parking lots? Sure, you could drop them off after picking up your parking ticket, but Audi has a better idea. Its "Audi connect wireless payment" system, which is undergoing trials now, allows for two-way payment communications between car and parking facility.  Read More
SolePower and its ankle strap battery
Two years ago, University of Wisconsin–Madison engineering researchers Tom Krupenkin and J. Ashley Taylor developed a device designed to harness the power of walking to charge an internal battery. Now, a new product called SolePower is looking to do the same thing, and its designers are turning to Kickstarter to bring it to the masses. The difference between this and other devices is that it comes in the form of a removable insole, so it can be used in different kinds of shoes.  Read More

MG unveils its MG3 hatchback (Photo: Gizmag)
MG summoned the British motoring press to Birmingham today for the UK unveiling of its MG3 supermini. The five-door hatchback is an attempt to bridge the gap between the functional and affordable hatchbacks on the market (think Ford Fiesta) and more iconic aspirational models (like the Mini). Despite the company's troubled recent history, it is confident that the brand still carries prestige. Though MG's engineers are split between the UK and Shanghai, MG's Global Design Director, Anthony Williams-Kenny, today emphasized that the MG3 is an example of British design.  Read More
The Musguard is a bicycle mudguard that detaches from the bike and rolls up when not in us... We’ve seen a bicycle mudguard that detaches from the bike and folds up when not in use, along with one that stays attached but rolls up when not needed. Created by Slovenian product designer Jurij Lozić, the Musguard offers features of both – it’s easy to put on and take off, and rolls up for stowage in a pack or pocket.  Read More
Latvian architectural firm NRJA has revealed its plans to produce an off-the-grid geodesic...
Latvian architectural firm NRJA has revealed its plans to produce an off-the-grid geodesic dome with an interior that looks like it should be inside a luxury two-story home. The team of young architects, with an average age of 25, has come up with a compelling design which is set to hit production in the coming months. Dubbed DOM(E), the prefabricated structure can endure the coldest or warmest of climates and due to its circular shape, it features a clever use of a relatively small space (120 sq m / 1,291 sq ft).  Read More
The Water Discus Hotel is to be located next to ZEN Resort, Kuredhivaru Island, Noonu Atol... Polish architectural and deep-sea engineering company Deep Ocean Technology has inked a deal with Ridgewood Hotels and Suites Pvt. Ltd. to build its futuristic part-underwater Water Discus Hotel just off the shore of Kuredhivaru Island in the Maldives.  Read More
Planetary Resources is offering to upgrade an Arkyd 100 satellite for exoplanet hunting if...
In May, asteroid mining firm Planetary Resources announced its crowdfunding campaign for one of its Arkyd 100 telescope satellites that backers would be allowed to use for a bit of private space exploration. Having reached over US$860,000 of its $1 million goal on Wednesday, Planetary Resources is upping the ante by offering to upgrade the satellite for exoplanet hunting if pledges reach $2 million before the campaign ends on May 30.  Read More
At E3 2013, Scosche revealed smartROLL, a set of electronic gaming dice that connect to ta...
Scosche may have a reputation for crafting unusual gadgets, from roll-up keyboards to mobile phone blockers, but its upcoming device seems strange even by those standards. Recently at E3 2013, the company revealed smartROLL, a set of electronic gaming dice that connect to tablets and smartphones via Bluetooth.  Read More
A Stanford breakthrough in optical metamaterials could enable fabrication of a wide-spectr...
To make a Harry Potter-style invisibility cloak requires that the materials from which it is made have a negative refractive index over all optical wavelengths, from red to violet. However, the artificially-structured optical materials from which cloaks are made thus far have been restricted to a very narrow range of optical wavelengths, limiting their ability to cloak over a range of colors. That obstacle to progress ends now, as a group of Stanford optical engineers at Stanford has succeeded in designing a broadband metamaterial that exhibits a negative refractive index over nearly the entire rainbow.  Read More
The Clip-Air combines air and rail transport elements
Air travel today is a nightmare of long drives to crowded airports, long queues that move at a snail's pace, and long, boring waits in identical lobbies drinking overpriced coffee. It would be so much easier and less frustrating if catching a plane were like catching a train. If Switzerland’s École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) has its way, its Clip-Air project will one day produce modular aircraft that will allow you to board a plane at a London railway station and disembark in the middle of Rome without ever setting foot in an air terminal.  Read More
The RCZ R concept debuted at last year's Paris Motor Show
Moving from concept to reality, the Peugeot RCZ R is being readied for its official world debut at next month's Goodwood Festival of Speed. The new model adds a little kick to the RCZ sports car, delivering a package that the French automaker calls its most powerful street car ever.  Read More
The Shenzhou-10 is similar to the Shenzhou-5, seen here (Photo: Brücke-Osteuropa/ China marked nearly a decade of manned spaceflight with the June 11 launch of the Shenzhou-10 mission. As reported by Xinhuanet, the 7,840 kg (17,284 lb) craft with a crew of three lifted off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center’s LC43 Launch Complex at 17:38 Beijing time (09:38 GMT) atop a Long March 2F rocket on its way to rendezvous with the orbiting Tiangong-1 space lab.  Read More
MG unveils its MG3 hatchback (Photo: Gizmag)
MG summoned the British motoring press to Birmingham today for the UK unveiling of its MG3 supermini. The five-door hatchback is an attempt to bridge the gap between the functional and affordable hatchbacks on the market (think Ford Fiesta) and more iconic aspirational models (like the Mini). Despite the company's troubled recent history, it is confident that the brand still carries prestige. Though MG's engineers are split between the UK and Shanghai, MG's Global Design Director, Anthony Williams-Kenny, today emphasized that the MG3 is an example of British design.  Read More
The Musguard is a bicycle mudguard that detaches from the bike and rolls up when not in us... We’ve seen a bicycle mudguard that detaches from the bike and folds up when not in use, along with one that stays attached but rolls up when not needed. Created by Slovenian product designer Jurij Lozić, the Musguard offers features of both – it’s easy to put on and take off, and rolls up for stowage in a pack or pocket.  Read More
Latvian architectural firm NRJA has revealed its plans to produce an off-the-grid geodesic...
Latvian architectural firm NRJA has revealed its plans to produce an off-the-grid geodesic dome with an interior that looks like it should be inside a luxury two-story home. The team of young architects, with an average age of 25, has come up with a compelling design which is set to hit production in the coming months. Dubbed DOM(E), the prefabricated structure can endure the coldest or warmest of climates and due to its circular shape, it features a clever use of a relatively small space (120 sq m / 1,291 sq ft).  Read More
The Water Discus Hotel is to be located next to ZEN Resort, Kuredhivaru Island, Noonu Atol... Polish architectural and deep-sea engineering company Deep Ocean Technology has inked a deal with Ridgewood Hotels and Suites Pvt. Ltd. to build its futuristic part-underwater Water Discus Hotel just off the shore of Kuredhivaru Island in the Maldives.  Read More
Planetary Resources is offering to upgrade an Arkyd 100 satellite for exoplanet hunting if...
In May, asteroid mining firm Planetary Resources announced its crowdfunding campaign for one of its Arkyd 100 telescope satellites that backers would be allowed to use for a bit of private space exploration. Having reached over US$860,000 of its $1 million goal on Wednesday, Planetary Resources is upping the ante by offering to upgrade the satellite for exoplanet hunting if pledges reach $2 million before the campaign ends on May 30.  Read More
At E3 2013, Scosche revealed smartROLL, a set of electronic gaming dice that connect to ta...
Scosche may have a reputation for crafting unusual gadgets, from roll-up keyboards to mobile phone blockers, but its upcoming device seems strange even by those standards. Recently at E3 2013, the company revealed smartROLL, a set of electronic gaming dice that connect to tablets and smartphones via Bluetooth.  Read More
A Stanford breakthrough in optical metamaterials could enable fabrication of a wide-spectr...
To make a Harry Potter-style invisibility cloak requires that the materials from which it is made have a negative refractive index over all optical wavelengths, from red to violet. However, the artificially-structured optical materials from which cloaks are made thus far have been restricted to a very narrow range of optical wavelengths, limiting their ability to cloak over a range of colors. That obstacle to progress ends now, as a group of Stanford optical engineers at Stanford has succeeded in designing a broadband metamaterial that exhibits a negative refractive index over nearly the entire rainbow.  Read More
The Clip-Air combines air and rail transport elements
Air travel today is a nightmare of long drives to crowded airports, long queues that move at a snail's pace, and long, boring waits in identical lobbies drinking overpriced coffee. It would be so much easier and less frustrating if catching a plane were like catching a train. If Switzerland’s École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) has its way, its Clip-Air project will one day produce modular aircraft that will allow you to board a plane at a London railway station and disembark in the middle of Rome without ever setting foot in an air terminal.  Read More
The RCZ R concept debuted at last year's Paris Motor Show
Moving from concept to reality, the Peugeot RCZ R is being readied for its official world debut at next month's Goodwood Festival of Speed. The new model adds a little kick to the RCZ sports car, delivering a package that the French automaker calls its most powerful street car ever.  Read More
The Shenzhou-10 is similar to the Shenzhou-5, seen here (Photo: Brücke-Osteuropa/ China marked nearly a decade of manned spaceflight with the June 11 launch of the Shenzhou-10 mission. As reported by Xinhuanet, the 7,840 kg (17,284 lb) craft with a crew of three lifted off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center’s LC43 Launch Complex at 17:38 Beijing time (09:38 GMT) atop a Long March 2F rocket on its way to rendezvous with the orbiting Tiangong-1 space lab.  Read More


Exbury Egg is located on the shore of Beaulieu River (Photo: Nigel Rigden)
Exbury Egg is a floating off-grid workspace and home, installed on the shore of the Beaulieu River, UK. It was conceived by artist Stephen Turner, and created with the help of both Perring Architecture and Design, and SPUD design studio. The egg-shaped structure will support Turner for a year as he carries out observations on the local environment and produces his works of art.  Read More
Initial prototypes of the 'blood pressure watch' with the strap made from piezo-resistive ...
Blood pressure is one of the main vital signs, measuring the pressure of the blood upon the walls of blood vessels as it is pumped around the body by the heart. High blood pressure, or hypertension, places increased stress on the heart and can be an indicator of other potentially fatal health problems, such as stroke, heart attack, and heart failure. Most people will have had their blood pressure tested using a sphygmomanometer on a visit to the doctor, but a new wristband device is set to provide a more convenient and continuous way to keep a watch for signs of trouble.  Read More
To promote its new record label, Beck's Brewery inscribed a simple beer bottle with music,...
In the 1870s, Heinrich Beck founded what would eventually become Beck's Brewery. At about the same time, Thomas Edison was hard at work on creating the first phonograph. It's a safe bet neither man thought the two products would ever merge, but when the New Zealand branch of Beck's wanted to promote a new record label project, the company turned to design agency, Shine Limited to do exactly that. The designers concocted the Edison bottle, a simple glass beer bottle inscribed with music that can be played like a 19th-century phonograph cylinder.  Read More
The iRobot Ava 500 in an informal conversation
Business grows more global everyday and what was once done by a single corporation is now more likely to be spread over many small businesses. Ideally, managers and remotely-based employees would like a virtual presence at a location, but telepresence robots are often more like smartphones on remote-controlled sticks, so they lack a feeling of personal presence and naturalism. At the InfoComm 2013 Conference and Expo in Orlando, Florida, iRobot, in collaboration with Cisco, have unveiled the Ava 500; a telepresence robot that combines auto navigation and a high-definition screen for a more natural telepresence.  Read More
An Intelligent Transport System being developed at La Trobe University is aimed at prevent...
In the quest for smarter and safer transportation networks, automakers have been working on communication systems that use wireless technologies to share information between vehicles and infrastructure, such as traffic lights, road works, intersections and stop signs. The potential applications of these vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) systems are constantly being expanded, and while GM has been working to bring cyclists and pedestrians into the mix, a team from La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia, is looking to improve safety at railway crossings by developing a system that enables communication between trains and road vehicles.  Read More
Toyota introduces the Camatte57 at the Tokyo Toy Show
Last year, one of the more interesting designs in a solid year of concept cars was a toy car from Toyota. The Camatte revealed at the 2012 International Tokyo Toy Show was a realistic children's car designed to stimulate the imagination, foster an early love for automobiles and encourage family time. For this year's show, Toyota has refreshed the concept with a sporty roadster.  Read More
Smart Cargo provides some useful storage to iPad owners
A new product called Smart Cargo for iPad is designed to make tablet owners' lives just a little bit easier. It's designed to attach directly to Apple's Smart Cover and provide storage for accessories like headphones, cables and a stylus.  Read More
The Stayhold 'in action' A quick Googling will show you that there are already plenty of car trunk organizers out there. While these generally consist of several pre-formed compartments, the Stayhold is different. It’s simply a plastic mini retaining wall-like thingy, that sticks to the trunk’s carpeting using a strip of Velcro on its underside.  Read More
A new lightweight hoisting line known as UltraRope could double the current maximum height...
As architects continue to design taller and taller buildings, a certain limitation of elevators is going to become more of a problem – using traditional steel lifting cables, they can’t go farther than 500 meters (1,640 ft) in one vertical run. Any higher, and the weight of all the cable required is simply too much. Currently in the world's few buildings that are over 500 meters tall, passengers must transfer from one elevator line to another, part way up. Thanks to a new lightweight material known as UltraRope, however, elevators should now be able to travel up to one kilometer (3,281 ft) continuously.  Read More
VANMOOF believes it's created a smarter commuter bike
In its mission to "shake the unshakeable," Dutch bike manufacturer VANMOOF has created what it calls the world's first intelligent commuter bike. The VANMOOF 10 Electrified combines GPS navigation, smart power control, and electric motivation underpinned by a lightweight battery pack.  Read More
Exbury Egg is located on the shore of Beaulieu River (Photo: Nigel Rigden)
Exbury Egg is a floating off-grid workspace and home, installed on the shore of the Beaulieu River, UK. It was conceived by artist Stephen Turner, and created with the help of both Perring Architecture and Design, and SPUD design studio. The egg-shaped structure will support Turner for a year as he carries out observations on the local environment and produces his works of art.  Read More
Initial prototypes of the 'blood pressure watch' with the strap made from piezo-resistive ...
Blood pressure is one of the main vital signs, measuring the pressure of the blood upon the walls of blood vessels as it is pumped around the body by the heart. High blood pressure, or hypertension, places increased stress on the heart and can be an indicator of other potentially fatal health problems, such as stroke, heart attack, and heart failure. Most people will have had their blood pressure tested using a sphygmomanometer on a visit to the doctor, but a new wristband device is set to provide a more convenient and continuous way to keep a watch for signs of trouble.  Read More
To promote its new record label, Beck's Brewery inscribed a simple beer bottle with music,...
In the 1870s, Heinrich Beck founded what would eventually become Beck's Brewery. At about the same time, Thomas Edison was hard at work on creating the first phonograph. It's a safe bet neither man thought the two products would ever merge, but when the New Zealand branch of Beck's wanted to promote a new record label project, the company turned to design agency, Shine Limited to do exactly that. The designers concocted the Edison bottle, a simple glass beer bottle inscribed with music that can be played like a 19th-century phonograph cylinder.  Read More
The iRobot Ava 500 in an informal conversation
Business grows more global everyday and what was once done by a single corporation is now more likely to be spread over many small businesses. Ideally, managers and remotely-based employees would like a virtual presence at a location, but telepresence robots are often more like smartphones on remote-controlled sticks, so they lack a feeling of personal presence and naturalism. At the InfoComm 2013 Conference and Expo in Orlando, Florida, iRobot, in collaboration with Cisco, have unveiled the Ava 500; a telepresence robot that combines auto navigation and a high-definition screen for a more natural telepresence.  Read More
An Intelligent Transport System being developed at La Trobe University is aimed at prevent...
In the quest for smarter and safer transportation networks, automakers have been working on communication systems that use wireless technologies to share information between vehicles and infrastructure, such as traffic lights, road works, intersections and stop signs. The potential applications of these vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) systems are constantly being expanded, and while GM has been working to bring cyclists and pedestrians into the mix, a team from La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia, is looking to improve safety at railway crossings by developing a system that enables communication between trains and road vehicles.  Read More
Toyota introduces the Camatte57 at the Tokyo Toy Show
Last year, one of the more interesting designs in a solid year of concept cars was a toy car from Toyota. The Camatte revealed at the 2012 International Tokyo Toy Show was a realistic children's car designed to stimulate the imagination, foster an early love for automobiles and encourage family time. For this year's show, Toyota has refreshed the concept with a sporty roadster.  Read More
Smart Cargo provides some useful storage to iPad owners
A new product called Smart Cargo for iPad is designed to make tablet owners' lives just a little bit easier. It's designed to attach directly to Apple's Smart Cover and provide storage for accessories like headphones, cables and a stylus.  Read More
The Stayhold 'in action' A quick Googling will show you that there are already plenty of car trunk organizers out there. While these generally consist of several pre-formed compartments, the Stayhold is different. It’s simply a plastic mini retaining wall-like thingy, that sticks to the trunk’s carpeting using a strip of Velcro on its underside.  Read More
A new lightweight hoisting line known as UltraRope could double the current maximum height...
As architects continue to design taller and taller buildings, a certain limitation of elevators is going to become more of a problem – using traditional steel lifting cables, they can’t go farther than 500 meters (1,640 ft) in one vertical run. Any higher, and the weight of all the cable required is simply too much. Currently in the world's few buildings that are over 500 meters tall, passengers must transfer from one elevator line to another, part way up. Thanks to a new lightweight material known as UltraRope, however, elevators should now be able to travel up to one kilometer (3,281 ft) continuously.  Read More
VANMOOF believes it's created a smarter commuter bike
In its mission to "shake the unshakeable," Dutch bike manufacturer VANMOOF has created what it calls the world's first intelligent commuter bike. The VANMOOF 10 Electrified combines GPS navigation, smart power control, and electric motivation underpinned by a lightweight battery pack.  Read More


A silicon circuit coated with a protective layer and immersed in fluid that mimics human b...
If physicians have a sufficiently-early warning that a patient’s body is rejecting a transplanted organ, then there’s a good chance that they can stop the process via medication. Implanted electronic sensors could serve to provide that warning as early as possible, and thanks to new research, they’re coming a step closer to practical use.  Read More
A glowing Japanese freshwater eel – it's more than just tasty
Just about any sushi-lover knows what unagi is – it’s eel, or more specifically, the Japanese freshwater eel Anguilla japonica. What those people might not know, however, is that the eel glows green in the dark. Now, it looks like the protein that allows the fish to do so could also help doctors to assess human liver function.  Read More
Bentley Continental GT3 Concept
Bentley stormed into last year's Paris Motor Show with a hardcore, race-ready version of its Continental GT. Its first race car in a decade, the Continental GT3 Concept Racer didn't yet have an official engine, and it was unclear whether Bentley would go with a W12 or use its newer, more efficient V8. This week, Bentley said that it will be the 4.0-liter V8.  Read More
Volvo's Richard Sebestyen with the current collector connected to the rear of the test tru...
While quick charging technology installed at strategic points along a planned route might be a good fit for inner city buses, it's not going to be of much use to electric vehicles that stop infrequently. Volvo sees our future long-haul trucks and buses drawing the juice they need from the road itself, making large onboard batteries a thing of the past.  Read More
The Leica X Vario features an APS-C format sensor and a zoom lens
After what feels like weeks of hype, Leica has finally unveiled its much-teased Mini M. Officially revealed as the Leica X Vario (Typ 107), the new camera is a 16.2-megapixel shooter with an APS-C format sensor and a 18-46-mm zoom lens. But, while it's obviously been designed to look like the iconic Leica M, this isn't the compact system alternative many Leica fans had hoped for.  Read More
An electrically-activated adhesive tape incorporating metal strips has been developed for ...
Prefabricated houses are made up of separate pre-assembled modules that are joined to one another on-site – those modules, in turn, are made up of various wooden components that are typically nailed (or sometimes stapled) together in a factory. The wood used in the frames of the modules must be reasonably thick, in order not to split when the nails are driven in. This places some limitations on design possibilities. Now, however, German scientists have developed an alternative to those nails: electrically-activated adhesive tape.  Read More
The biosensor uses an enzyme inhibitor and an ultrathin film with nanoparticles
A multidisciplinary Brazilian research team has developed a biosensor to measure pesticide content on food produce, water and soil. The technology is in its development phase, but if developed into a commercial product it could provide a cheap, affordable and portable method to monitor this type of contamination.  Read More
The Power Pocket woven into a sleeping bag
Vodafone is to trial prototype phone-charging technology at the Isle of Wight festival this weekend. Developed by the University of Southampton's Electronics and Computer Science Department, the Power Pocket exploits the Seebeck effect, exploiting the difference in temperature between the human body and its surroundings to generate an electrical current which can be used to recharge a smartphone. Vodafone has woven the pocket into a sleeping bag (called Recharge) and a pair of shorts (called Power shorts) to test the technology.  Read More
Samsung's Galaxy S4 zoom cameraphone
With the announcement of its Galaxy S4 zoom, Samsung has gone the extra yard beyond its Galaxy Camera to release a capable snapper – with a 10x optical zoom no less – that is also an out and out smartphone running Android Jelly Bean 4.2. Samsung claims that the 16-MP device combines uncompromised performance as both a smartphone and compact camera.  Read More
UK-based restaurant Yo Sushi outfitted a quadcopter with a food tray and is having waiters... Delivering food with an airborne drone has developed into an odd trend in recent months, and now a sushi place in London is dispatching a UAV that doesn't even need to leave the restaurant. To promote its new rice burger, Yo Sushi outfitted a quadcopter with a food tray and is having waiters fly it to tables using an iPad.  Read More

The F-Bike takes flight in Prague
That iconic flying bike scene from the film E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial has been relegated to the annals of pop culture science fiction for far too long now. Fortunately, three Czech companies with the support of France's Dassault Systemes have just conducted the first test flight of their own two-wheeled, airborne vehicle, dubbed the "F-Bike."  Read More
Vodafone's inexpensive Smart Mini runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
Budget smartphones rarely provide much to get excited about, offering diminutive specs and outdated software. The Smart Mini, a handset from UK carrier Vodafone, improves upon the latter of these issues, offering a more up-to-date version of Android than much of the competition, and coming in at just £50 (US$78).  Read More
KB's Brick Lightning Cap which will connect Lightning iPhones and iPads to standard Lego b... Taiwanese design company KB is set to release its Brick Lightning Cap which will connect Lightning iPhones and iPads to standard Lego bricks.  Read More
The newly renovated Prahran Hotel features the clever use of recycled concrete pipes
The newly renovated Prahran Hotel, located in Melbourne, Australia must not be confused with the Tube Hotel in Mexico. While they both share the use of gigantic concrete pipes in their architecture, the Prahran Hotel is not actually a “hotel” but a pub. Local architectural studio Techne was asked to re-think the facade and concept design of the pub’s adjoining premises. The project involved the demolition of the old additions, in favor of a dramatic double-story building with a central courtyard.  Read More
From the Fez II reveal trailer Polytron Corporation has announced it is to develop Fez II, the sequel to Fez, one of the most innovative video games of 2012, and runner up as Gizmag's game of the year last year.  Read More
Are 'innovative' wind technologies ever a match for three-blade turbines?
Virtually every week there are articles about new and innovative methods for harvesting wind energy. And every week more megawatts of capacity from three-blade horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWT) becomes operational, despite all of the contenders. Why aren't these innovative new products knocking the iconic HAWT off its perch? Is it possible to tell which are likely to be viable? These eight points are a useful way to assess which technology has potential, and which are likely just hot air.  Read More
The Olympic Park Masterplan by Allies and Morrison (Photo: Jason Hawkes)
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced this year's winners of its annual National Awards and EU Awards. The competitions offer an excellent opportunity to look at some of Europe's most interesting new architecture. This year's UK winners include a variety of building types, and most of the country is well-represented (except Wales, which didn't snag a single win). A chapel in a back garden in Edinburgh, a visitor museum in Northern Ireland's Giant's Causeway, and a commercial building on London's Regent Street all attest to the range of buildings which took the judge's fancy. However, educational facilities were the big winners this year, with a full third of the winners dedicated to learning.  Read More
The US Supreme Court has ruled that human genes cannot be patented Image: Shutterstock)
In what is being ballyhooed as a landmark decision likely to set the course of DNA-based diagnostic and therapeutic medicine for the next several decades, the US Supreme Court unanimously decided on June 13 that human genes are not patentable. Rather than objects invented or discovered, human genes are henceforth to be treated as "naturally occurring phenomena," and hence fail the patentability test under 35 USC 101. As is usual in patent cases, however, the ruling contains delicate shades of meaning.  Read More
ESA’s Proba-V satellite pinpointed the location of aircraft in flight over the Atlantic ap...
When the ESA’s Proba-V was launched on May 7, its main mission was to map land cover and vegetation growth across the entire surface of the Earth every two days. But the miniaturized ESA satellite is also casting its gaze higher, to test whether it is possible to track aircraft continuously from space. Proba-V has now shown this is indeed possible, by becoming the first satellite to pick up aircraft tracking signals from space.  Read More
Robot Zoë in the Atacama Desert where it will test technologies and techniques to search f...
Scientists looking for life on Mars are studying the driest desert on Earth. This month, Carnegie Mellon University's Zoë robot will traverse Chile’s near-uninhabitable Atacama Desert as part of an astrobiology experiment aimed at testing technologies and techniques for NASA’s next rover to search for life on Mars at the end of the decade.  Read More
The F-Bike takes flight in Prague
That iconic flying bike scene from the film E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial has been relegated to the annals of pop culture science fiction for far too long now. Fortunately, three Czech companies with the support of France's Dassault Systemes have just conducted the first test flight of their own two-wheeled, airborne vehicle, dubbed the "F-Bike."  Read More
Vodafone's inexpensive Smart Mini runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
Budget smartphones rarely provide much to get excited about, offering diminutive specs and outdated software. The Smart Mini, a handset from UK carrier Vodafone, improves upon the latter of these issues, offering a more up-to-date version of Android than much of the competition, and coming in at just £50 (US$78).  Read More
KB's Brick Lightning Cap which will connect Lightning iPhones and iPads to standard Lego b... Taiwanese design company KB is set to release its Brick Lightning Cap which will connect Lightning iPhones and iPads to standard Lego bricks.  Read More
The newly renovated Prahran Hotel features the clever use of recycled concrete pipes
The newly renovated Prahran Hotel, located in Melbourne, Australia must not be confused with the Tube Hotel in Mexico. While they both share the use of gigantic concrete pipes in their architecture, the Prahran Hotel is not actually a “hotel” but a pub. Local architectural studio Techne was asked to re-think the facade and concept design of the pub’s adjoining premises. The project involved the demolition of the old additions, in favor of a dramatic double-story building with a central courtyard.  Read More
From the Fez II reveal trailer Polytron Corporation has announced it is to develop Fez II, the sequel to Fez, one of the most innovative video games of 2012, and runner up as Gizmag's game of the year last year.  Read More
Are 'innovative' wind technologies ever a match for three-blade turbines?
Virtually every week there are articles about new and innovative methods for harvesting wind energy. And every week more megawatts of capacity from three-blade horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWT) becomes operational, despite all of the contenders. Why aren't these innovative new products knocking the iconic HAWT off its perch? Is it possible to tell which are likely to be viable? These eight points are a useful way to assess which technology has potential, and which are likely just hot air.  Read More
The Olympic Park Masterplan by Allies and Morrison (Photo: Jason Hawkes)
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced this year's winners of its annual National Awards and EU Awards. The competitions offer an excellent opportunity to look at some of Europe's most interesting new architecture. This year's UK winners include a variety of building types, and most of the country is well-represented (except Wales, which didn't snag a single win). A chapel in a back garden in Edinburgh, a visitor museum in Northern Ireland's Giant's Causeway, and a commercial building on London's Regent Street all attest to the range of buildings which took the judge's fancy. However, educational facilities were the big winners this year, with a full third of the winners dedicated to learning.  Read More
The US Supreme Court has ruled that human genes cannot be patented Image: Shutterstock)
In what is being ballyhooed as a landmark decision likely to set the course of DNA-based diagnostic and therapeutic medicine for the next several decades, the US Supreme Court unanimously decided on June 13 that human genes are not patentable. Rather than objects invented or discovered, human genes are henceforth to be treated as "naturally occurring phenomena," and hence fail the patentability test under 35 USC 101. As is usual in patent cases, however, the ruling contains delicate shades of meaning.  Read More
ESA’s Proba-V satellite pinpointed the location of aircraft in flight over the Atlantic ap...
When the ESA’s Proba-V was launched on May 7, its main mission was to map land cover and vegetation growth across the entire surface of the Earth every two days. But the miniaturized ESA satellite is also casting its gaze higher, to test whether it is possible to track aircraft continuously from space. Proba-V has now shown this is indeed possible, by becoming the first satellite to pick up aircraft tracking signals from space.  Read More
Robot Zoë in the Atacama Desert where it will test technologies and techniques to search f...
Scientists looking for life on Mars are studying the driest desert on Earth. This month, Carnegie Mellon University's Zoë robot will traverse Chile’s near-uninhabitable Atacama Desert as part of an astrobiology experiment aimed at testing technologies and techniques for NASA’s next rover to search for life on Mars at the end of the decade.  Read More
The F-Bike takes flight in Prague
That iconic flying bike scene from the film E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial has been relegated to the annals of pop culture science fiction for far too long now. Fortunately, three Czech companies with the support of France's Dassault Systemes have just conducted the first test flight of their own two-wheeled, airborne vehicle, dubbed the "F-Bike."  Read More
Vodafone's inexpensive Smart Mini runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
Budget smartphones rarely provide much to get excited about, offering diminutive specs and outdated software. The Smart Mini, a handset from UK carrier Vodafone, improves upon the latter of these issues, offering a more up-to-date version of Android than much of the competition, and coming in at just £50 (US$78).  Read More
KB's Brick Lightning Cap which will connect Lightning iPhones and iPads to standard Lego b... Taiwanese design company KB is set to release its Brick Lightning Cap which will connect Lightning iPhones and iPads to standard Lego bricks.  Read More
The newly renovated Prahran Hotel features the clever use of recycled concrete pipes
The newly renovated Prahran Hotel, located in Melbourne, Australia must not be confused with the Tube Hotel in Mexico. While they both share the use of gigantic concrete pipes in their architecture, the Prahran Hotel is not actually a “hotel” but a pub. Local architectural studio Techne was asked to re-think the facade and concept design of the pub’s adjoining premises. The project involved the demolition of the old additions, in favor of a dramatic double-story building with a central courtyard.  Read More
From the Fez II reveal trailer Polytron Corporation has announced it is to develop Fez II, the sequel to Fez, one of the most innovative video games of 2012, and runner up as Gizmag's game of the year last year.  Read More
Are 'innovative' wind technologies ever a match for three-blade turbines?
Virtually every week there are articles about new and innovative methods for harvesting wind energy. And every week more megawatts of capacity from three-blade horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWT) becomes operational, despite all of the contenders. Why aren't these innovative new products knocking the iconic HAWT off its perch? Is it possible to tell which are likely to be viable? These eight points are a useful way to assess which technology has potential, and which are likely just hot air.  Read More
The Olympic Park Masterplan by Allies and Morrison (Photo: Jason Hawkes)
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced this year's winners of its annual National Awards and EU Awards. The competitions offer an excellent opportunity to look at some of Europe's most interesting new architecture. This year's UK winners include a variety of building types, and most of the country is well-represented (except Wales, which didn't snag a single win). A chapel in a back garden in Edinburgh, a visitor museum in Northern Ireland's Giant's Causeway, and a commercial building on London's Regent Street all attest to the range of buildings which took the judge's fancy. However, educational facilities were the big winners this year, with a full third of the winners dedicated to learning.  Read More
The US Supreme Court has ruled that human genes cannot be patented Image: Shutterstock)
In what is being ballyhooed as a landmark decision likely to set the course of DNA-based diagnostic and therapeutic medicine for the next several decades, the US Supreme Court unanimously decided on June 13 that human genes are not patentable. Rather than objects invented or discovered, human genes are henceforth to be treated as "naturally occurring phenomena," and hence fail the patentability test under 35 USC 101. As is usual in patent cases, however, the ruling contains delicate shades of meaning.  Read More
ESA’s Proba-V satellite pinpointed the location of aircraft in flight over the Atlantic ap...
When the ESA’s Proba-V was launched on May 7, its main mission was to map land cover and vegetation growth across the entire surface of the Earth every two days. But the miniaturized ESA satellite is also casting its gaze higher, to test whether it is possible to track aircraft continuously from space. Proba-V has now shown this is indeed possible, by becoming the first satellite to pick up aircraft tracking signals from space.  Read More
Robot Zoë in the Atacama Desert where it will test technologies and techniques to search f...
Scientists looking for life on Mars are studying the driest desert on Earth. This month, Carnegie Mellon University's Zoë robot will traverse Chile’s near-uninhabitable Atacama Desert as part of an astrobiology experiment aimed at testing technologies and techniques for NASA’s next rover to search for life on Mars at the end of the decade.  Read More


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