Saab goes all-electric with ePower station wagon
By Darren Quick
September 20, 2010
Following its purchase from General Motors by
Dutch hand-built automobile manufacturer Spyker earlier this year, Saab working on its first all-electric vehicle .
Taking its body from a conventional 9-3 SportCombi station wagon, the
Saab 9-3 ePower has a 135kW electric motor, a projected range of 124
miles and makes zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 8.5 seconds on the way to a
top speed of 150 km/h (93 mph). The wraps come off the prototype at the
2010 Paris Motor Show ahead of fleet trials in Sweden next year. Read More
New technology using silicon carbide electronics
could enable radio transmitters that can withstand temperatures of up to
900 degrees Celsius (1,652 F). No, it’s not being developed so
listeners can enjoy their favorite breakfast DJ in a worst-case global
warming scenario. Rather the team behind the research envisions devices
that could be dropped into the depths of the earth to provide early
warning of a volcanic eruption or to provide real time data from the
inside of a jet engine or nuclear power plant. Read More
Head torches – they're fantastic on your head,
but when not in use they tend to end up a tangled mess somewhere in the
nether regions of your backpack. Some might come with a sturdy case but,
in my experience anyway, the case rarely get used (or gets lost in the
first week). The LED Lenser H4 solves this by giving you a reason to put
the head torch away – when stowed in the case it becomes a clip-on
flashlight. Read More
More realistic pet robots that recognize and respond to human emotions
By Darren Quick
September 19, 2010
Sony’s Aibo may be discontinued, but robotic pets
of all shapes and sizes continue to stake a claim in the hearts of
people around the world. Despite the apparent intelligence of some of
these robot pets, their behavior and actions are usually nothing more
than pre-programmed responses to stimuli – being patted in a particular
location or responding to a voice command, for example. Real flesh and
blood pets are much more complex in this regard, even discerning and
responding to a person’s emotional state. Robotic pets could be headed
in that direction, with researchers in Taiwan turning to neural networks
to help them break the cycle of repetitive behavior in robot toys and
endow them with almost emotional responses to interactions. Read More
A closer look at Automotive X-PRIZE winner Edison2
By Ben Coxworth
September 19, 2010
The Edison2 team took away US$5 million for winning the Mainstream class of the Automotive X-PRIZE
last week with its 100+ MPG car of the future – Very Light Car #98.
Gizmag caught up with team leader Oliver Kuttner after the ceremony to
find out what's next for Edison2. Read More
A new report suggests that international efforts
to halt the destruction of the ozone layer have been successful.
Launched on the UN International Day for Preservation of the Ozone
Layer, the report by 300 scientists also provides new information about
the net effects on Earth's climate, and also the effects of climate
change on the ozone later moving forward. Read More
Canon introduces new PowerShot G12 and PowerShot SX30 IS
By Paul Ridden
September 18, 2010
Canon
has given a couple of its PowerShot digital compacts a feature upgrade.
Its 10 megapixel G12 receives 720p high definition video capability
with stereo sound, high dynamic range and multiple aspect ratios and a
front control dial. The 14.1 megapixel SX30 IS point-and-shoot gets a
35x wide-angle optical zoom lens with optical image stabilization, a
bigger vari-angle LCD display and zoom framing assist. Read More
Lunar garden to give astronauts a green thumb on the green cheese
By Darren Quick
September 17, 2010
While we’re not likely to see crops of any sort
sprouting from the moon’s surface any time soon, researchers have built a
prototype lunar greenhouse that could allow plants from Earth to be
grown without soil on the moon or Mars. The membrane-covered module can
be collapsed to a 4-foot (1.2m) wide disk for interplanetary travel and
contains water-cooled sodium vapor lamps and long envelopes that would
be loaded with seeds, ready to sprout hydroponically. Read More
Credit cards that hide the account number and store multiple accounts
By Darren Quick
September 16, 2010
If you’re anything like me, there’s a stack of
credit cards bulking up the size of your wallet (or purse), making it
fit to burst in a Costanza-like explosion of receipts and unused
condoms. New technology from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania startup Dynamics
Inc. could help cut the number of cards cluttering up your wallet by
allowing you to access multiple credit card accounts on a single card.
To enhance security, the technology also allows the credit card number
that appears on the front of a card to be hidden until the correct code
is entered. Read More
There’s no arguing that batteries
are an essential element of today’s electronics landscape. Without them
our mobile devices would be a lot less mobile and we might still be
crank starting our cars. The explosion in mobile electronic devices
enabled by batteries and miniaturization has a major downside in the
form of discarded batteries, the majority of which contain toxic heavy
metals. Chemists have now discovered a new way to pass electrons back
and forth between two molecules that could see the development of
organic batteries that are lightweight and work without the need for
toxic heavy metals. Read More
The geotagging
capabilities of modern cameras means photographers no longer have to go
through the boring task of jotting down the location of a picture on
the back of photos. Unfortunately, interference when taking pictures
indoors or even outside amongst a forest of skyscrapers can render the
geotagging feature inoperative. The latest model to join Casio’s EXILIM
Hi-Zoom lineup, the EX-H20G, overcomes this problem by using a Hybrid
GPS system that combines GPS with a three-way accelerometer and
direction sensor to track a user’s last known satellite-acquired
position against map data stored in the camera’s memory. It then checks
every 10 minutes until it can reconnect to a satellite signal. Read More
According to a study recently conducted at the
University of Missouri, more and more people are paying for the chance
to see tornados up close and personal. Mostly within the months of April
through June, up to 1,200 tornadoes occur in the US every year. A large
percentage of those storms occur in an area known as Tornado Alley,
which is centered around the states of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas –
although it does extend east as far as Ohio, and north as far as North
Dakota. Storm chasing tour outfits, many of which are run by or employ
experienced meteorologists, will drive groups of paying “tornado
tourists” across this region, in the hopes of witnessing severe weather
firsthand. Read More
The local pub might not seem like the most
obvious location to try and improve the health of middle-aged men but
that’s just the task researchers in the U.K. have set themselves. In a
novel approach to get unfit men active, the researchers have devised an
‘exergaming’ system targeted at sedentary middle-aged men on Teesside in
the North East of England. The plan is to put the system into
workingmen’s clubs and get the men to take part in virtual boxing
matches with a computer-generated opponent. Read More
General Imaging's new GE PJ1 camera incorporates a Pico Projector
By Mike Hanlon
September 20, 2010
In terms of landmarks, the General Imaging GE PJ1 camera is among the first of a new breed
– a camera that also includes a Pico projector. The Taiwanese company
made its big announcement with the world's largest photographic expo
just about to open its doors. The compact camera shoots stills at 14.1mp
resolution, video at 720p and includes a 7x optical zoom (equivalent to
28-196mm, f/3.9-f5.8 in 35mm). It uses Texas Instruments DLP technology
to achieve a contrast ratio of 300:1 and a brightness of 15 ANSI lumen.
Read More
Apps for mobile devices are transforming the way
we use the Internet, but some people will tell you that one big obstacle
is still keeping them from reaching their full potential – the fact
that specific apps can only be used on specific devices. Imagine how
limiting it would be if only certain computers could use Google or eBay,
and you begin to see their point. Not only does this situation limit
the app selection available to consumers, but it also lessens the
incentive for developers to create new apps. Webinos, however, is
looking to change that. The European research consortium includes over
20 member organizations from the mobile web, consumer electronics, and
automotive industries, all committed to developing an open source
platform that will allow the creation of applications that can be used
on multiple devices. Read More
At the crossroads of motoring, fashion and sport,
the Citroën Lacoste concept is a “shared vision of boldness, creativity
and optimism” between the French brands, according to the pre-Paris
press release. At first glance, the Citroën Lacoste concept appears to
be a very optimistic car indeed, as it doesn't have a roof to mitigate
the inevitability of a bleak French winter. In fact, the Citroën Lacoste
has an auto-inflatable hood that deploys along the roof backbone to
form a bright yellow soft-top roof in what is apparently quite a
spectacular transformation. Sadly, the press kit doesn't have any pics
of the roof deployed. Read More
Kinect for Xbox demos in Tokyo, we talk with a skeptical expert
By Rick Martin
September 20, 2010
All eyes were on Microsoft at the Tokyo Game Show
at Makuhari Messe this weekend, as the company was featuring the new
Kinect for Xbox motion controller system, formerly known as Project
Natal. The Xbox booth occupied a mammoth chunk of real estate on the
show floor, with multiple demonstration areas set up to give Tokyo a
look at this fancy new toy. Read More
The Zambulance – a life-saving bicycle trailer
By Ben Coxworth
September 20, 2010
According to a recent study, over 60 percent of
people in developing countries live more than eight kilometers (five
miles) from a healthcare facility. As you can imagine, most of these
people don’t own cars, or even have access to motorized ambulance
services. When they require urgent medical attention, they often have to
walk, are loaded into an ox cart or wheelbarrow, or have to sit on the
rack of a bicycle. Fortunately, however, an alternative is available to
some – the Zambulance. While the bicycle trailer/ambulance might seem
like very basic medical transportation, early trials indicate that it’s
truly life-saving. Read More
Microsoft Corp has announced its new LifeCam
Studio webcam kit with 1080p sensor and high-definition video. It is the
first time Microsoft has offered a 1080p sensor on a webcam, which the
company states is 2.2 times larger than most webcam sensors on the
market. However, to gain the most out of the 1080p HD recording
capabilities, you will need to buy commercial video software which is
not included with the kit. Read More
South African Guy Joubert has been adventuring
into every corner of Africa since before the age of ten, and in his
adult years his pursuit of fishing, sailing, surfing, diving and
exploration has enabled him to try first-hand the traditional native
watercraft of numerous countries. So when Joubert decided to design a
modern day, high tech, expedition quality, multi-purpose adventure
sailing craft, it’s not surprising that the design should have DNA
recognizable from outrigger sailing craft that evolved over thousands of
years … made of modern materials, and with ingenious use of space and
propulsion methods. The Crusoe craft is your fully adaptable go
anywhere, do anything mobile home and equipment locker. Read More
Carbon composite bicycle wheels are a fantastic
choice for competitive road cyclists who want to reduce their bike’s
revolving weight, while maintaining wheel strength and rigidity. They do
have one drawback however: standard hard rubber brake pads don’t work
that well against carbon rims, especially in wet conditions or when
excessive heat is being generated, such as on steep descents. Cork pads
are sometimes used, but these can disintegrate when wet. Disc brakes are
another alternative, although their added weight somewhat negates the
weight savings gained by switching to carbon wheels in the first place.
Now, heat management company Zircotec
is experimenting with a thin spray-on ceramic coating for carbon rims
that allows for effective use of rubber brake pads under all conditions.
Read More
Leaf has updated its professional camera back
range to include the new Aptus-II 12 and Aptus-II 12R. The new models
feature a full frame, 53.77 x 40.3mm, CCD sensor with the world's
highest resolution – a massive 80 megapixels. Capture speeds are under
1.5 seconds per frame and shot preview is via a 6 x 7cm (2.3 x 2.75
inch) touch screen that's designed for challenging light conditions.
Read More
For fans of Corvettes, few vehicles could be
better than a sexy, slinky ZR1... except, perhaps, a ZR1 with no direct
CO2 emissions. That’s what Maryland-based Genovation Cars is in the
process of creating with its electric G-Vette. This isn’t simply a
matter of just dropping an electric motor into an existing car, however.
In keeping with the company’s green philosophy, the custom body panels
are being made from carbon fiber and soy-based resin, while the carpet
and floor mats will be made from recycled plastic bottles. The
one-of-a-kind automobile will serve as a test bed for Genovation’s
research into advanced lightweight materials... and you might be able to
buy the thing once they’re done with it. Read More
Nikon has announced a feature-rich addition to
its digital SLR camera family, the 16.2 megapixel D7000. In addition to a
new image processing engine and 3D Matrix metering system, the camera
also offers full HD video recording with autofocus, twin media card
slots, over a thousand shots between battery charges and up to six
frames per second burst shooting. Its low-light-friendly too - with
sensitivity expansion to ISO25600, noise reduction and shake reduction
all promising to help grab the best shot in the most testing conditions.
The D7000 is among the many photographic treats we're checking out at Photokina in Cologne this week. Read More
Nowadays most of us take portable media players
pretty much for granted but back in the 1980s, when Sony released its
first personal cassette player, they were revolutionary. Thirty years on
and cassettes have all but gone and, despite numerous other worthy
contenders, Apple holds the media player crown. For many, however, the
Walkman is still regarded as the media player of choice and Sony has
just revealed a new addition to its iconic family, the supermodel-thin
S750. The audio and video player features noise canceling, audio
enhancement technologies, a Karaoke mode and 50 hours of audio enjoyment
on a single charge. Read More
Sikorsky Aircraft’s coaxial X2 Technology
demonstrator has achieved the 250-knot (287.69 mph) milestone that was
established as the goal of the craft from its inception. The speed,
which was achieved in level flight during a 1.1-hour flight on
Wednesday, September 15, is an unofficial speed record for a helicopter,
easily beating the current official world record that stands at 216.46
knots (249.1 mph) set by the British built Westland Lynx ZB-500 in 1986.
Read More
Microwave map of entire moon revealed
September 20, 2010
The first complete microwave image of the Moon taken by Chinese lunar satellite Chang'E-1
has been revealed. Chang’E-1 is China’s first scientific mission to
explore planetary bodies beyond Earth and the on-board Lunar Microwave
Radiometer has made it possible for the first time to globally map the
Moon in microwave frequencies. Radar observations of the Moon are unable
to provide thermal information, and microwave observations taken from
Earth cannot reach the far side of the moon. So Chang'E-1's (CE-1) orbit
was conducted at an altitude of 200km (124 miles) and allowed it to
observe every location of the moon with a nadir view and at high spatial
resolution. Read More
'Intelligent clothing' could stop boats when fishermen fall overboard
By Ben Coxworth
September 20, 2010
Working as a commercial fisherman is consistently
ranked as one of the world’s most dangerous jobs. There are numerous
ways in which they can end up in the water, with their shipmates (if
they even have any) not noticing until it’s too late. That, or their
boat can simply sink. In any case, fishermen need all the help they can
get when it comes to safety, so a 14-group research consortium is
developing “intelligent clothing” for them to wear at sea. Read More
In the search for alternative energy sources
there's one form of energy you don't hear much about, which is ironic
because I'm referring to sound energy. Sound energy is the energy
produced by sound vibrations as they travel through a specific medium.
Speakers use electricity to generate sound waves and now scientists from
Korea have used zinc oxide, the main ingredient of calamine lotion, to
do the reverse – convert sound waves into electricity. They hope
ultimately the technology could be used to convert ambient noise to
power a mobile phone or generate energy for the national grid from rush
hour traffic. Read More
A recent New York Times print
advertisement for the Ford Edge crossover included barcodes that, when
scanned by a mobile phone camera, provided readers with access to Times
articles on style and technology. It’s part of a techy advertising
campaign for the Edge, which will be the first vehicle to feature the
likewise-techy MyFord Touch system. Touch is built around Ford’s
existing Windows-based SYNC communications and entertainment system, and
allows drivers to use the dashboard as... well, pretty much as a big
smartphone. Read More
iBGStar plug-in glucose meter for the iPhone and iPod touch
By Darren Quick
September 22, 2010
With the number of apps in Apple’s App Store
standing at more than 250,000 it’s no surprise that there are a number
of diabetes-related apps amongst them. Such apps require users to
manually enter information such as glucose numbers, carbohydrate
consumption, insulin dosages and activities to allow diabetics to better
control the disease. A new plug-in attachment for the iPhone and iPod touch
called the iBGStar takes things one step further by incorporating a
blood glucose meter that allows users to view and analyze readings in
‘real time’. Read More
Hot on the heels of the K-r digital SLR, Pentax has revealed the next in line for the flagship position currently occupied by the K-7.
Like its predecessor, the new K-5 is aimed at the pro-thusiast and
features a 16.3 megapixel sensor, an immense sensitivity range, fast
autofocus and full 1080p high definition video recording. It also sports
77 weather seals to keep dust and moisture out and its magnesium alloy
construction should help it survive the odd knock. Read More
It’s definitely a good thing that so many dog
owners scoop their pooches’ poop, but what happens to that waste after
it’s been bagged and discarded isn’t so great... usually it ends up
fermenting in a landfill, where it poses a health risk, attracts vermin,
and releases harmful methane gas into the atmosphere. Pickling it and turning it into plant fertilizer
is one option, but American conceptual artist Matthew Mazzotta would
like to see it fed into digesters that use it to produce methane gas,
which is then used for fuel. To that end, he has created a sort of
demonstration project/art installation called Park Spark, at a dog park
in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It features a lamp that lights the park at
night, powered by nothing but canine doo-doo. Read More
Digital file hoarders and multimedia fans looking
for a portable drive solution will no doubt salivate uncontrollably at
the announcement of a 1.5TB FreeAgent GoFlex solution from Seagate. The
compact drive comes with a USB 3.0 interface, 192-bit Triple DES
encryption and is compatible with both Windows and Mac operating
systems. Read More
Ricoh announces Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled G700SE rugged camera
By Paul Ridden
September 22, 2010
It's only been a few weeks since Ricoh unveiled
its G700 rugged camera and already the next phase in its evolution has
been revealed. The new G700SE retains much of the feature set of the
earlier model – including the 12.1 megapixel sensor, wide-angle zoom
lens and 720p high definition movie capability – but adds Bluetooth and
Wi-Fi functionality to the mix. It's also water and dust resistant and
able to withstand the odd rough bump. The new camera also caters for the
addition of optional units to provide GPS and laser barcode reader
functionality. Read More
Vacuum cleaning robots like the Roomba, LG Roboking, Electrolux Trilobyte and Neato XV-11
are already on dust patrol in countless homes around the world, saving
people from untold hours of drudgery and aching backs. Now researchers
at the Pohang Institute of Intelligent Robotics (PIRO) in South Korea
have developed a robot that can handle the equally tedious – and often
dangerous depending on which floor you live on – task of cleaning
windows. Called Windoro, the robot consists of two separate modules that
clean the window by spraying detergent and scrubbing away with a series
of spinning pads. Read More
Is it actually smoggy outside today, or is it
just you? If you have the Visibility app on your Android smartphone, you
can find out. Just take a picture of the sky, and you will receive a
message detailing how polluted the air is at your location. Not only
will you know if you should take shelter indoors, but you will also be
contributing to the scientific understanding of local air pollution.
Read More
Peugeot EX1 concept electric vehicle to set mouths drooling
By Darren Quick
September 21, 2010
With preparations nearing completion for the commercial launch of the Peugeot iOn, which, like the Citroen C-Zero, is basically a French version of the Mitsubishi i MiEV
electric vehicle, Peugeot has provided a glimpse of just how sexy an
electric vehicle can be. Celebrating its 200th anniversary this year,
the company has unveiled its latest concept car called the EX1 that is
based upon the body of the SR1 concept car
unveiled earlier this year. Although it’s still a concept car, Peugeot
says the striking two-seater roadster has already broken several world
records for acceleration from a standing start. Read More
Satellites and other spacecraft, like most
machines, have parts that move against one another. Unlike most
machines, however, they operate in extremely cold conditions, their
power source is often very limited, and lubricating or repairing them
are not exactly easy tasks. It is for these reasons that researchers at
Spain’s Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) are coordinating the
three-year MAGDRIVE project – an international effort to create a
mechanical transmission with no touching parts, that doesn’t need any
lubrication. Read More
Watching live CCTV footage of thousands of
people, trying to pick out any sort of noteworthy activity... it sounds
like a very tedious, difficult job for a human being. That’s why
researchers from Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information
Technology are working on an electronic system that uses the principles
of human motion vision to do the same job. It is part of the EU’s
SEARISE project, which stands for Smart Eyes: Attending and Recognizing
Instances of Salient Events. Read More
Electric vehicles are set to become a common
sight on our roads, but one potential problem needs to be addressed –
their lack of engine sound. In a perfect world, of course, pedestrians
would always look both ways before crossing the street, and cyclists
would always shoulder-check before turning, but this isn’t a perfect
world. There are also blind people to consider, who must rely on the
sound of oncoming vehicles (or lack of it) to know when it’s safe to
cross the road. Toyota has already announced an onboard audio alert system
for the Prius, but now researchers at the University of Warwick are
experimenting with sounds that could be applied to all EVs – and you
could help them. Read More
AUVs, ROVs key to bringing back new Titanic images and data
By Rick Martin
September 23, 2010
Last week the RMS Titanic, Inc. finally finished
up an unprecedented photography expedition at the site of the sunken
Titanic off the coast of Newfoundland. The team obtained high-definition
and even 3D images which surpassed any photos taken of the wreck site
to date. They completed the mission just in time too, with Hurricane
Igor ushering them back to shore, like a cranky museum security guard
scolding you for taking too many pictures. Read More
For those of us who love vinyl, a portable record
player usually comes in a small suitcase-sized box. If you want to take
a small step towards modern convenience and digitize your collection,
you're looking at investing in some more kit and losing the portability.
Crosley Radio has taken the record player out of the box, made it
battery operated and thrown in onboard digital conversion capabilities
for its Crosley Revolution CR6002. Although the player features a
built-in stereo speaker, the company has also included the ability to
pair the device with any FM radio. Read More
A team of engineers has formulated a new method
of adhesion based on a natural phenomena found in geckos. Inspired by
the gecko’s ability to stick to any kind of surface and easily un-stick
itself, the engineers from Northwestern University and the University of
Illinois have developed a new reversible adhesion stamp. The team
created a square polymer stamp that can easily transport an array of
electronic devices and print them onto a diverse range of complex
surfaces including clothing, plastics and leather. Read More
When Ricoh unveiled its GXR interchangeable lens system
towards the end of 2009, the company promised a steady flow of modules
to cater for different photographic situations. True to its word, the
fourth lens module has just been unveiled at Photokina 2010.
The unit features a 28mm equivalent, wide-angle lens, a 12.3 megapixel
sensor and image processing engine, and is said to deliver edge-to-edge
high quality images, precision autofocus and 720p high definition video.
Read More
Daimler’s smart
brand has managed to reduce the size of its already micro-sized
vehicles even further by subtracting a couple of wheels and unveiling a
concept scooter. The chassis of the all-electric smart escooter is
modeled on the tridion safety cell of the smart fortwo,
with its steel and aluminum frame clad in fully interchangeable plastic
body panels. The scooter has a top speed of 45 km/h (28 mph) with power
provided by a 48-volt lithium-ion battery pack with a capacity of 80 Ah
that gives the vehicle a range of up to 100 km (62 miles). Read More
Ornithopters, aircraft that fly by flapping their
wings, are a staple at birdman rallies the world over, inevitably
resulting in the pilots of such craft plunging headlong into the drink.
Now, more than 500 years after Leonardo da Vinci sketched the first
human-powered ornithopter in 1485, a team from the University of Toronto
have succeeded where so many before them have failed and made aviation
history by achieving a world record for sustained flight in a
human-powered aircraft with flapping wings. Read More
Gorillapod Video brings bendy legs to camcorders
By Ben Coxworth
September 22, 2010
Ah, Gorillapods.
There’s something almost endearing about the little tripods that can
hold onto things like branches with their grippy, bendy legs – they’re
just the thing for getting a steady shot in those tripod-unfriendly
locations. One might think that manufacturer Joby had gone as far as it
could with its various versions of the Gorillapod, but at the Photokina tradeshow in Germany, we spotted the just-released next step in the evolution of the device: the Gorillapod Video. Read More
Jorno folding Bluetooth keyboard – ideal for iPhone and iPad
By Darren Quick
September 22, 2010
To maximize portability, mobile devices like the iPhone and iPad
eschew the traditional keyboard for on-screen versions. While on-screen
keyboards may be tolerable for typing the odd text message or entering a
few words into a search engine, their shortcomings quickly become
obvious. With mobile devices now packing processors powerful enough to
handle word processing and other more intensive tasks there is a market
for physical keyboards to turn an iPad or even a smartphone
into an ultraportable computer. One of the better solutions we’ve seen
to fit this bill is the newly announced Jorno Bluetooth keyboard from
Cervantes Mobile. Read More
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