Cool stuff

19:48 February 22, 2011

1 Comment

The Survivor Extreme Duty Case is designed to protect the iPhone 4 and iPod touch, and is built to meet or exceed military endurance standards

Image Gallery (4 images)

Put the words "military grade" in front of just about anything, and people – especially guys – will want to buy it. Military grade Post-It Notes, military grade burritos, military grade tube socks, it's all good ... whatever the product, those two words imply that it has been designed to put up with more crap and abuse than its wimpy civilian-grade counterparts. So, when it comes to protecting your precious data-laden iPhone 4, what grade of case do you want? Griffin Technology is assuming your answer to that question is "military," which is what it reportedly offers in the form of its Survivor Extreme Duty Case.

Griffin states that the Survivor has been designed to meet or exceed the endurance standards set by both the US and UK departments of defense. Its shatter-resistant polycarbonate frame and shock-absorbing silicone bumpers allow it to survive drops from up to six feet (1.8 meters) onto a flat concrete surface. A transparent display shield and hinged plugs on all the port and control openings (including the camera lens) keep water, sand, dust and presumably little bits of things that have been blow up from getting inside.

Its clip, when not attached to your belt – or holster – swivels around to act as a stand, propping the phone up in landscape format on flat surfaces.

The Survivor is the first case in Griffin's new Armored collection, and is available via the Griffin or Verizon Wireless websites, or in Verizon's retail stores. There are two versions, one for iPhone 4 and one for the fourth-generation iPod touch, both of which sell for US$49.99. Color choices include black, white, olive, and pink ... military grade pink, we assume.

A supercar For The Future

2011-02-18T08:33:00.000-08:00

Thanks to :Gizmag
by Long Tran

The Aerius concept is a high performance electric vehicle for 2025. The concept is combines the performance of race cars with emerging sustainable energy sources and materials. It’s driven by Michelin Active in-wheel electric motors at the rear and on-board electric motors in the front for instantaneous acceleration and agile handling. The aerodynamic body to reduces energy consumption and solar panels re-charge the carbon nanotube super-capacitors to extend its range while emitting zero carbons. Time travel will cost extra.

The form of the vehicle is heavily influenced by formula 1 race cars. The strong wheel arches hints at the four-wheel drive of the vehicle giving it a strongly planted road stance. The elegant clean glasshouse that runs the length of the vehicle represents the clean purity of the vehicle meaning zero emissions and the diffuser side blade links the whole aesthetic back to race cars.
Designer: Pei-Cheng (Patrick) Hsieh

I Wonder If It Had a Valintines on it

2011-02-16T11:16:00.000-08:00

Thanks to:Popsci
by Clay Dillow

3 people liked this

Tempel 1 Incoming NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Maryland/Cornell

Revisiting "a bullet hit by a bullet"

Images from the Stardust-NExT mission's Valentine's Day rendezvous with comet Tempel 1 began hitting the Web yesterday--there are 72 total images, but each one took a dial-up-worthy 15 minutes to download--with most of them depicting a grainy rock at a distance. Now NASA is releasing images with a bit more context, showing exactly how Tempel 1 has changed in the six years since NASA bashed Tempel 1 with an 800-pound copper wrecking ball.

The purpose of Stardust's comet flyby--aside from the fact that we rarely get to see comets up close--was to study the surface for clues describing how the comet has changed since we last saw it up close in 2005. At that time, NASA's Deep Impact mission hurled a refrigerator-sized metal missile at the comet, giving them something to study this time around.

The images show that Tempel 1 seems to have eroded over the past six years, likely due to the suns radiation, which would have caused Tempel 1 to shed some material into space. But the crater from Deep Impact looks smoother than might be expected, suggesting that the comet has in some respects healed itself in the intervening years. The cloud of debris kicked up by Deep Impact appears to ahve fallen back to the surface of the comet into a small mound in the center of the 500-foot crater.

Several other regions appear to have transformed in different ways over the years. In one particularly interesting locale, it appears a small amount of material ejected from beneath the comet's surface and flowed downhill, where it is now slowly eroding. As principal investigator Joe Veverka of Cornell University said during a press conference on Monday, this kind of geophysical activity suggests that comets are more than just dirty balls of ice hurtling through space.

The first image below shows before and after images of Tempel 1 taken by Deep Impact in 2005 and Stardust-NExT this week. The second shows Tempel 1's surface at the impact point prior to actual impact in 2005, and then again (on the right) as seen by Stardust. The arrows show the rim of the impact crater.

[NASA, Discovery News]

Talk longer Stronger

2011-02-16T09:33:00.001-08:00

Thanks to:Gizmag

By Paul Ridden

08:26 February 16, 2011

Sonim Technologies has announced a new enterprise rugged phone with up to 24 hours talk time and 800 hours standby

Image Gallery (4 images)

Free Camera Cell Phone - www.Sprint.com
Many Phones To Choose From, Get Your Free Sprint Phone Now!

Get AT&T Mobile Phones - att.com
Large Selection of Free Phones with Plans at $39.99. Free Shipping!

BlackBerry® Smartphones - BlackBerry.com
Get The Info You Need To Stay On Top Of Your Day With A BlackBerry.

Rugged Tablet Computers - www.aaeon.com
Industrial handheld Mobile Solution Atom military IP-65 portable PC

Rugged mobile phone maker Sonim Technologies seems to be on a never-ending mission to create products that can withstand whatever extreme torture can be thrown at them. The company has just announced another tough cookie that's been designed to help enterprise and government organizations locate, track and manage its mobile workforce - whatever conditions they may find themselves in. As well as some impressive tough guy credentials, the XP3300 FORCE also lays claim to the industry's longest talk and stand-by time.

The XP3300 FORCE is a quad band GSM with GPRS and EDGE class 12 data capability and Bluetooth 2.1. It's built on the MediaTek MT6235 ARM-based platform and features an omni-directional, noise-canceling microphone, a 2 megapixel camera with LED flash (which also doubles as a torch), MicroSD slot and an FM radio and media player. It comes pre-installed with the popular Opera Mini browser, a native email client and the City Cruiser turn-by-turn, voice-guided navigation application backed by enterprise-class GPS.

The list of tough credentials starts with IP68-certification, which means it should withstand being plonked 6.5 feet (2 meters) underwater for at least an hour and there's a waterproof vent for 23mm diameter external speaker, which has a claimed max output of 100 dB. The headset and USB ports are similarly water-tight. Its non-porous fiberglass casing, which benefits from a hardened rubber shell dual-injection molded to it, keeps dust and microparticles where they should be - outside. It should also be able to survive a drop from the same height onto concrete.

It's said to work in temperature extremes from -20 degrees C to 55 above freezing, is shock resistant up to 4G and has vibration protection from 5Hz to 500Hz. It benefits from salt, fog, humidity, transport shock and thermal shock protection to MIL-810G certification standards and has spaced input keys to cater for gloved use. The 2-inch, 240 x 320 resolution display sits behind 1.5mm thick, shock and scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass, which is said to be able to stand up to a 4 meter drop hit by a 50g steel ball.

The XP3300 FORCE's 1750 mAh battery is reported to power the device for up to 20 to 24 hours of talk time and a massive 800 hours standby, which is more than enough to cope with the 16-hour shift work that the phone was designed for. Workforce location monitoring, fleet tracking, monitoring, timecard reporting, real-time work order updates, alerts, job scheduling, event confirmation, data collection and reports via MRM applications benefit from 26 hours of GPS tracking functionality.

Although the obligatory tested-to-destruction video attempts have yet to appear, Sonim's Virginia Jamieson told Gizmag that the XP3300 FORCE "is available right now for US$499 unlocked - without a contract. As Carrier deals emerge the price will vary depending on where you buy it."

A Cool Village

2011-02-16T06:23:00.000-08:00

Thanks to: Tuvie
by shibli

The main focus of designing Vertical Village concept was to enjoy village living without taking a lot of lands that we usually see in traditional villages which can be realized pretty easily with the massive structure of the concept. The houses are envisioned as cells with largest possible usable area both in vertical and horizontal direction, based on their project done in The Why Factory studio of professor Winy Maas, at the TU Delft. The system has defined both practical and dramatic spaces to make a bridge between orthogonal surfaces and irregular zones that may be required by the residents for different purposes. The 3D plots give each family the opportunity to choose where and how they would like to place their house. The circular cell design has made it possible. Finally, the concept will certainly have some positive effect on the massive land crisis mankind is going to experience in near future.

Designers : Rajiv Sewtahal, Yushang Zhang, Riemer Postma, and Qianqian Cai

Lets go Iceskating in our Bently

2011-02-16T05:09:00.000-08:00

Thanks to: Gizmag

By Jack Martin

23:49 February 15, 2011

9 Pictures

The world's fastest soft-top - the extreme Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible

Image Gallery (9 images)

All-New Chevrolet Cruze - www.Chevrolet.com/Cruze
The New Chevrolet Cruze Is Here! See Why It Beats Hyundai Elantra.

Definitely in the “don’t try this at home” category is Juha Kankkunen’s new 205.48 mph (330.695 km/h) world speed record for driving on ice. Kankkunen drove an all-wheel drive, 6-litre, 12-cylinder Continental Supersports convertible running on biofuel to capture the record on the frozen waters of the Baltic Sea, off the coast of Finland. The world’s fastest soft top enabled Kankkunen to better his own 2007 world ice speed record of 199.83 mph (321.6 km/h) set in the Continental GT at the same location. Not surprisingly, the challenges of driving on a 16.5km track of frozen ocean are many - temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees, sudden snow blizzards and potentially dangerous crosswinds not to mention the frailties of the 70cm-thick layer of sea ice.

View all

“The last time, I narrowly missed the magical 200 mph mark in a Continental GT. When I heard about the Supersports I was determined to go record breaking again with the Bentley Boys. This time, with over 600bhp under the bonnet, a Quickshift transmission and the security of the all-wheel drive system, the Supersports convertible was the perfect car for to go for the record. ” Kankkunen said.

“200mph came up after 5km on sheet ice. Then it was just a question of getting everything right in the timing zone and hoping the snow kept away. There’s nothing to beat driving a Bentley at these speeds; the conditions may be perilous but the car responds so well to the slightest adjustment which gives you the confidence to push even harder.”

As with the previous record-breaking drive in the Continental GT the Anglo-Finnish team used a car with minimum modification. A fully-welded, heavy-duty safety roll-cage, along with Pirelli winter tyres (Pirelli SottoZero II 275/40R20) and a rear bumper-mounted parachute provided reassurance in case of an emergency. Front and rear spoilers provided optimum high speed stability on the treacherous surface. To highlight Bentley’s environmental commitment to sustainable fuel sources, Kankkunen’s Supersports Convertible was fuelled with E85 bioethanol rather than petrol (gasoline). All models in the Continental range are capable of running on petrol (gasoline), E85 bioethanol or any combination of the two.

Wolfgang Dürheimer, Bentley’s new Chairman and Chief Executive, said: “The ice speed record is an amazing feat by Juha Kankkunen, whose skill and courage in extreme conditions truly make him one of the modern-day Bentley Boys. We will be celebrating this achievement with a very special ‘extreme’ Bentley, which will be the most powerful model ever to bear the famed Winged B emblem.” A limited edition of just 100 examples of this most extreme Bentley will be made and the car will make its global debut at the Geneva Motor Show on 1st March.

The record attempt was driven on a 1000m long measured distance with the speed certified by officials from the Finland Traffic Police. His new world record was based on the average of two runs in opposite directions with measured speeds ratified by a representative of The Guinness Book of Records.

For When You Need That Boost

2011-02-15T15:37:00.000-08:00

Thanks to: Gizmag

14:48 February 15, 2011

The EGO-Kit is an electric motor that can be added to downhill mountain bikes for powering them up to the tops of mountains (Photo: EGO-Kits)

Image Gallery (4 images)

Chattanooga Electric Bike - www.chattanoogaelectricbikes.com
Make biking fun again! 123 Frazier Ave. Chattanooga, TN

Top 10 Electric Bicycle - PriceSeekers.net/Electric-Bicycle
Looking for Electric Bicycle? Get Your Free Consumer Guide!

2010 Intense Bikes - www.BikeBling.com/Intense_Cycles
We stock all Intense Bikes Buy Online Discounts Available

Honda Hydrogen Fuel Cells - www.honda.com
Discover Honda's innovations in hydrogen fuel cells. Official Site.

While electric commuting bikes are currently experiencing a surge in popularity, electric mountain bikes such as the Conway E-Rider and the KTM eGnition are also showing up on tradeshow floors with increasing frequency. Most of these are designed as cross-country and/or trail bikes, with the idea that the motor can extend their range above the reaches of pure human power – of course, they might also appeal to couch potatoes who want all the fun of mountain biking, with a minimum of the exercise. The EGO-Kit, however, is an electric motor that can be added onto an existing downhill mountain bike, with the specific purpose of replacing a chair lift for getting bike and rider to the top of the mountain.

The high-torque brushless motor puts out 1200W of nominal power, and 2400W maximum. It’s fed by a 48V lithium-iron phosphate battery, that is carried in an included backpack. That battery charges in 1.5 hours, is good for 1,500 loading cycles, and provides a range of 40 kilometers (25 miles) – although that figure depends highly on the grade of the mountain that’s being climbed.

The motor mounts on the bottom of the down tube, near the bottom bracket. This midships low-center-of-gravity configuration is said to have little effect on the bike’s handling. Its output is determined via a control unit and throttle, mounted on the handlebar. All of the gear, excluding the rider-worn battery, has a combined weight of 4.4 kilograms (9.7 lbs).

The kit is reportedly compatible with about 70 percent of downhill mountain bikes currently on the market. Riders can choose between completely forgoing the motor, using it to assist their pedaling, or using it on its own. At maximum output, it can manage a top speed of 70 kph (43 mph). It is also said to be able to handle inclines of up to 80 percent, although that depends on rider skills, motor temperature and soil conditions.

The EGO-Kit can be purchased through the company website for EUR1,870 (about US$2,520), plus shipping from Germany. A 500W version is also available for EUR1,650($2,225). Sales are slated to begin on April 1st ... no joking.

Via Engadget

Cwel Stuff

2011-02-15T15:33:00.001-08:00

Thanks to: Popsci
by Corinne Iozzio

4 people liked this

MindFlex Duel Mattel

From Toy Fair 2011, a dozen amusements for grown-ups

This time every year, PopSci spends a couple of enjoyable days scouting out the blinkingest, fastest, smartest, most glee-inducing new toys around. Toys, though, ain't just kids' stuff. Here are a dozen new tech-savvy toys even grown-ups can love.

A Airbag for Hikers

2011-02-15T06:34:00.000-08:00

Thanks to:Tuvie
by TheFuture

Hiking is becoming a famous out door activity for many people these days. As with any outdoor activity, individuals need to be aware of the potential dangers they might encounter during the process. During hiking, there are high chances of people falling off from the cliff. In such case, this survival hiking kit is very handy to ensure safety. The survival hiking device has been designed in such a way to lower injury levels when the hiker falls down while hiking. The air bag when worn by the hiker will serve its purpose by enveloping the hiker’s body when he falls. This air bag has been designed using high quality materials and attractive color so that it can be easily discovered by others. With an ability to resist 1000N force, the air bag is made of 100% polyester with nylon over the device surface, which is scratch-resistant as well as water-resistant. The mechanism works as expected at the right time, pumping the air into the bag. For safety purpose, compresses CO2 is used, which is not harmful for humans.

Designers : Sam Wong Hok Pan and Lo Man Chun

Faster Internet, so you can see this site faster.

2011-02-15T06:33:00.000-08:00

Thanks to: Gizmag

By Darren Quick

20:54 February 14, 2011

The full duplex radio with two transmitting antennas that cancel each other out at the receiving antenna

Image Gallery (4 images)

Chattanooga Coupons - www.Groupon.com/Chattanooga
1 ridiculously huge coupon a day. Like doing Chattanooga at 90% off!

Whether it be over walkie talkies or Wi-Fi, wireless communication is a one way street, meaning radio traffic can flow in only one direction at a time on a specific frequency. To get around this limitation mobile phone networks use a workaround that is expensive and requires careful planning, making the technique not feasible for other wireless networks. Now researchers at Stanford University have created a full duplex radio that allows wireless signals to be sent and received simultaneously, thereby instantly doubling the speed of existing networks.

The problem the researchers had to overcome is that when a radio is transmitting and receiving at the same time, the incoming signals are drowned out by the radio’s own transmissions.

"When a radio is transmitting, its own transmission is millions, billions of times stronger than anything else it might hear [from another radio]," says Philip Levis, assistant professor of computer science and of electrical engineering at Stanford. "It's trying to hear a whisper while you yourself are shouting," he says.

To overcome this problem a trio of electrical engineering graduate students, Jung Il Choi, Mayank Jain and Kannan Srinivasan, hit upon the idea developing a radio receiver that could filter out the signal from its own transmitter so the weak incoming signals could be heard. Similar to the way in which noise-canceling headphones filter out ambient noise, each radio would know exactly what it is transmitting and therefore what it should filter out.

The idea seems so obvious that other researchers even told the students their idea wouldn’t work because something so obvious must have already been tried unsuccessfully. Luckily for the students, the naysayers were wrong and the team successfully developed the first full duplex radio device by designing a radio with two transmit antennas located either side of a single receiving antenna. When the signals from the two transmitting antennas meet at the receiving antenna, they effectively cancel each other out – not completely, but enough to allow the receiving antenna to pick up signals from other radios.

The most obvious advantage of the technology is that it instantly doubles the amount of information that can be transmitted, but it also has other benefits. With current air traffic control systems, when two aircraft try to call the control tower at the same time on the same frequency neither will get through. The new system would prevent such potentially disastrous scenarios.

Before the technology is practical for use in Wi-Fi networks the team will need to increase both the strength of the transmissions and the distance over which they work. They are currently working on this but are even more excited about the possibilities once hardware and software are built to take advantage of simultaneous two-way transmission.

The Stanford University students demonstrated their device last year at MobiCom 2010, where they took out first prize for best demonstration. The group has a provisional patent on the technology and is now working to commercialize it.

A lambo Yacht

2011-02-15T06:32:00.000-08:00

Thanks to:Tuvie

by TheFuture

Mauro Lecchi’s design of Lambo style yacht concept earned huge reputation with its impressive performance and stylish aesthetics. The design of this exclusive yacht takes inspiration from Lamborghini sports cars. Fenice Milano, the same team who worked for those Fiats and Rolls-Royce has been asked to work for the interior. Housing a twin 700 hp Volvo Penta IPS 900 diesels together with a twin 950 hp Seatek diesels and a triple 550 hp V12 – 60° Lamborghini petrol engine, the Lambo Style yacht is well-known for its fast ride. The interior of the yacht houses a full beam room for the owner and a guest bedroom as well. With that said, lets wait and watch for the next release.

Designer : Mauro Lecchi Design

[Press Release]

Fenice Milano and T.I.C. present: Lambo style power yacht by Mauro Lecchi design

Mauro Lecchi, renowned Italian designer, creates an aquatic creature that transmits all the sensations that are normally perceived while watching and driving the most famous Italian supercar:
The exterior styling is heavily contaminated by stretched lines, which recall the vents that run along the sides of supercars, although in this case they are turned into big windows, which make the sporting spirit of the yacht instantly recognizable, even from a distance, and at the same time contribute to a more “liveble” and familiar internal environment by creating great surface lighting.

The internal layout is clearly of sporting inspiration, made by Fenice Milano designers, and offers endless possibilities for customization through the use of precious materials and sophisticated hi-tech equipment in full compliance with the unique tradition and craftsmanship of “Made in Italy”.

The propulsion unit is assigned to double units of large performance capacity and contained consumption, thanks to the lightness of the structure obtained by an evolved construction system, which makes extensive use of advanced materials from the aerospace industry. This system is RI.NA. (Italian Shipping Register Air Force) certified. The millwork is made in wood fiber, Kevlar / carbon, for the reduction of weight, which combines high performance and low power consumption.

The cockpit offers a pair of external decks at stern, a double sofa bed, a bar and Entertainment Center, large windows and sky light filtering windows. The guide is lifted up and in central position, the access to the cozy and protected room on the forward deck is guaranteed by a step to the side of the driving position through an opening in the large windshield. The interior layout includes a complete environment for the owner, with a bathroom and a separate shower in addition to a guest bedroom with bathroom on the bow.

A New Boeing for Those Scared of Printed Wings

2011-02-14T16:56:00.000-08:00

Thanks to: Flighthistory.net
by Michael

Boeing today unveiled its brand new Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental - and man, she’s a beauty!

“The new 747-8 Intercontinental features the latest in innovative technologies — applying many of the breakthroughs also found on the 787 Dreamliner,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Albaugh. “We think our customers will value the low operating costs and passengers will enjoy the comfort of the striking new interior.”

“The 747-8 Intercontinental will be a great complement to our fleet, fitting nicely into the 400-seat category, improving our fleet’s eco-efficiency even further,” said Nico Buchholz, executive vice president, Lufthansa Group Fleet Management. “As launch customer, we are looking forward to welcoming this new aircraft to our fleet next year as it adds to our ongoing fleet modernization and environmental efforts.”

Korean Air and VIP customers have joined launch customer Lufthansa in ordering a total of 33 747-8 Intercontinentals. First delivery of the 747-8 Intercontinental is scheduled for the fourth quarter.

The 747-8 Intercontinental will have the lowest seat-mile cost of any large commercial jetliner, with 12 percent lower costs than its predecessor, the 747-400. The airplane provides 16 percent better fuel economy, 16 percent less carbon emissions per passenger and generates a 30 percent smaller noise footprint than the 747-400. The 747-8 Intercontinental applies interior features from the 787 Dreamliner that includes a new curved, upswept architecture giving passengers a greater feeling of space and comfort, while adding more room for personal belongings.

The airplane unveiled today is painted in a new Sunrise livery of red-orange that only will appear on the first 747-8 Intercontinental and is a significant departure from Boeing’s standard blue. The new color palette honors many key Boeing customers whose cultures recognize these colors as symbols of prosperity and good luck.

Source: Boeing
Photos: Boeing

Print a plane

2011-02-14T16:55:00.001-08:00

Thanks to:Popsci
by Clay Dillow

2 people liked this

If you can print an airplane, what can't you print?

Rapid prototyping, or 3-D printing, has been used to create all kinds of amazing objects in a variety of media, but a team working under EADS in the UK wants to print something heretofore unheard of: the entire wing of an airliner. Working at the same facility where Concordes were once built, researchers there are already printing landing gear brackets and other aircraft components in hopes that one day they'll be able to print out many of the critical parts for an entire aircraft.

This marks just one of many recent developments that are quickly rendering "rapid prototyping" an obsolete term. Once used to churn out prototype parts in plastics and resins before actual objects were machined from metal blocks, experts in the field now say 20 percent of the output of the world's 3-D printers is final products, and that's expected to rise to 50 percent by 2020. In other words, people are prototyping and manufacturing on the same machines.

	3-D Printer Sets Record For Building World's Biggest, Most Complicated Rubik's Cube
	Next-Gen 3-D Printers Create Objects Out Of New Materials
	3-D Printing, Now in Stainless Steel

Rats getting in that Green Car

2011-02-14T16:54:00.000-08:00

Thanks to: Popsci
by Clay Dillow

The Chevy Volt Mariordo Mario Roberto Duran Ortiz via Wikimedia

Your Chevy Volt may draw adoring smiles from that cute, crunchy barista you've been eyeing at the coffee shop, but be advised: it may also draw rats. At least that was the experience of Cars.com correspondent Joe Wiesenfelder, who was forced to confront an unforeseen problem with the website's Volt after a rodent made a cozy home among the car's warm batteries.

When the Volt is charging, its batteries maintain a minimum battery temperature. Wiesenfelder's Volt was charging in Cars.com's downtown Chicago parking garage during last week's Chicago blizzard, where it weathered the storm just fine. But then he started getting emails from the ChargePoint network that monitors public charging stations like the one where Cars.com keeps its Volt (the site bought the car to see how it would survive a cold Chicago winter).

The next morning he reset the charger, which began charging the car again without problems. But the next time he got behind the wheel, the dashboard lit up with a host of warning lights. A rat, it turns out, had made itself comfortable among the warming batteries when temperatures plunged during the night, helping himself to wiring harness as a snack. The result: damage to the warning lights and the rear defogger device at minimum. The cost: at least $600 (acts of rats are not covered under warranty).

Of course, this is no demerit to the Volt itself; rats are part of life in the big city. The problem, as Wiesenfelder points out, is that he can control neither the rats nor the weather nor, in this case, where he parks his Volt--there simply aren't that many charge stations for EV's around the city at this point. Just a reminder that with all new technologies come problems both seen and unforeseen.

On the bright side, with the exception of the rat attack the Volt has performed flawlessly in lakeshore winter conditions for more than a month and 3,000 miles.

[Yahoo! Autos]

Not only the spaceshuttle comes back

2011-02-14T16:53:00.001-08:00

Thanks to:Popsci
by Rebecca Boyle

3 people liked this

NAUTILUS-X NAUTILUS-X stands for Non-Atmospheric Universal Transport Intended for Lengthy United States eXploration. via HobbySpace

Nautilus includes a centrifuge and inflatable parts

This tubular spacecraft could serve as a reusable vehicle for lunar and deep-space missions, holding a crew of six and enough supplies for a two-year expedition.

Dubbed Nautilus-X, for "Non-Atmospheric Universal Transport Intended for Lengthy United States eXploration," this craft could be built in orbit and ready for space missions by 2020, according to a briefing by NASA's Future In Space Operations group.

It would be assembled from expandable structures, such as the inflatable habitats proposed by Bigelow Aerospace. It would also contain a ring centrifuge to provide partial gravity, and radiation-mitigation systems that could include tanks of water or liquid hydrogen slush, reports the website HobbySpace.com.

Nautilus is a multi-mission space exploration vehicle, so it could incorporate mission-specific propulsion units, according to Edward Henderson of NASA Johnson Space Center. Theoretically, you could swap out engines and fuel depending on where you wanted to go. Such an all-purpose system would be simpler than building heavy-lift rockets for specific missions to the moon or Mars.

Henderson described the system at a briefing on NASA's Technology Applications Assessment Team, which is studying (relatively) inexpensive, quick-turnaround technologies for space exploration. Check out the PowerPoint slides here. HobbySpace has a nice roundup of the meeting, which also included a DARPA-funded geosynchronous satellite servicing project, in-situ water recovery on the Moon, a project that would demonstrate space-based solar power beams, a solar electric propulsion vehicle, and propellant depots floating in geosynchronous orbit.

Nautilus is by far the highlight, however, with pretty specific schematics and development estimates. Construction would take at least five years and require two or three rocket launches. It would cost about $3.7 billion.

The centrifuge, which could help keep crew members healthy during a long trip, includes inflatable structures and pieces that must be launched into orbit. It would be fairly simple to test on the International Space Station - it would launch to the station on board a rocket, and if it works out, it could become living quarters for the station's crew.

These are dreamy ideas, to be sure, especially in light of federal funding roadblocks. But the use of existing technologies like Bigelow's modules, as well as the adaptability of a multi-purpose crew carrier, means a system like Nautilus could play a role in NASA's future.

[HobbySpace]

F-35 Finally Flown by a Navy Pilot

2011-02-14T11:26:00.000-08:00

Thanks to:Defense Tech

Here’s some cool video of the first flight of the F-35C with a U.S. Navy test pilot at the controls. The flight happened last Friday, with Lt Cmdr. Eric “Magic” Buus at the controls out of Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. While the Marines’ B model isn’t exactly doing well, the Navy’s C and the Air Force’s A-models are doing much better. We’ll see what’s happening with the F-35 program budget-wise later today. For the latest info on that, check our sister site DoDBuzz.

cool fire ATV

2011-02-14T08:10:00.000-08:00

A re post of one of the golden oldies

A designer proposes a military-style vehicle that can fight and survive fires

Get ready for a firefighting vehicle that might have arrived from your old Saturday morning GI Joe cartoons. Yanko has showcased an ATV design by Liam Ferguson that can carry remotely-operated water cannons and a two-person crew into the heart of a raging blaze, and emerge unscathed.

Firefighters currently rely on modified Toyota Landcruisers or other utility vehicles for doing recon on hotspots. Those work well in a pinch for navigating rough terrain, but carry only a meager water supply of 500 liters and cannot survive a burnover when flames suddenly sweep over the area.

The proposed Amatoya vehicle would use aerogel laminated insulation for its windows and body, and a temperature-controlled spray down system which draws on an auxiliary water tank specifically dedicated to that purpose. Military-grade thermo ceramic paint would swell upon heat exposure and add some sacrificial protection.

Driver and cannon operator would have central, forward and high seats, not unlike the cabin of an Apache assault helicopter. The cannon operator could control twin cannons that aim at hotspots detected by a thermal imaging camera and directional spotlights.

Amatoya also holds its own 1,800-liter water supply, as well as the 400-liter auxiliary water tank. Unlike current recon vehicles that can become prone to rollovers due to top-heavy water loads, Amatoya's design would position the water tanks central and low within the vehicle.

The vehicle design by Liam Ferguson includes four-wheel drive and plenty of suspension and ground clearance to deal with fire-broken terrain. Central tire inflation and run-flat tire technology would ensure that the vehicle does not get stuck in a dangerous location.

Tiny recon bots, aerial drones and massive supertankers have all surfaced recently as relatively new firefighting tools. But the Amatoya concept might outshine all of them just based on looks -- although there's no word on cost.

[via Yanko][Popsci]

Cool Cars, they Just Never Get Old.

2011-02-14T05:07:00.001-08:00

by TheFuture

As a result of a challenge taken against a senior who argued that a curved car cannot be made in solid works, the Kinetia LMX has been designed. The designer, who was very much inspired by the photos of Le-Mans race, made up his mind to design a slightly curvaceous car by implementing ideas from Peugeot 908 and few other cars. He implemented the ideas gained from observing various other models and mixed them to his convenience so that the model would still be utilizable on the road. The designer created this car keeping tracks in mind. Most components have been designed in such a way to provide down force, lessen air pressure from building underneath and to feed the car as sleek as possible. The gull wing doors, LED running lights on to the front are some of the stylistic features that make the car a winning model. Ribs leading from the front fenders up to the main body shell enhance both the aesthetics of the vehicle and the structural firmness of the vehicle.

Designer : Sasank Gopinathan

Be Smart, then Play

2011-02-14T05:05:00.001-08:00

Thanks to:Gizmag

By Gizmag Team

03:05 February 14, 2011

14 Pictures

Sony Ericsson releases Playstation smartphone - Xperia PLAY

Image Gallery (14 images)

Xperia - www.RadioShackWireless.com
Free Sony Ericsson Xperia™ X10! With New 2-Yr. AT&T Plan/Feature.

AT&T™ Official Site - att.com
Fast and Affordable! Save Big When You Switch To AT&T DSL. Learn More.

The Latest in HTC Phones - www.CellularSouth.com
Visit Cellular South for deals & plans on all HTC phone models.

Chattanooga Coupons - www.Groupon.com/Chattanooga
1 ridiculously huge coupon a day. Like doing Chattanooga at 90% off!

Sony Ericsson finally showed the world the new Playstation gaming smartphone at Mobile World Congress in Spain today. The PlayStation-certified Xperia Play runs the Android Gingerbread OS and will be available next month, accompanied at launch by 50 titles downloadable from Android Market, but with a lot more coming. The phone has a slide-out gamepad that features a PlayStation-style D-pad, thumb sensors and X, O, square and triangle action buttons and combines a PlayStation-quality gaming experience with the very latest Android smartphone technology.

View all

U.S. mobile operator Verizon will be the first to offer the Xperia Play in early spring, Sony Ericsson expects to reveal other mobile carriers shortly.

Initial launch partners include Electronic Arts, Namco Bandai, Digital Chocolate and Gameloft and some of the major titles in the launch offering include Dungeon Defenders 2, Dead Space, FIFA and Battlefield, Reckless Racing and Assassin's Creed.

Official press release:

Introducing Xperia PLAY – the world’s first PlayStation certified smartphone

February 13, 2011, Barcelona, Spain – Sony Ericsson today announced the game changing XperiaTM PLAY, the latest phone in its XperiaTM range of Android based smartphones.

Xperia PLAY delivers the smartphone functionality that the most serious power users could need, teamed with the immersive gaming experience that any gamer would want.

In portrait mode, the Android smartphone offers all the benefits that users have come to expect from Sony Ericsson’s existing range of XperiaTM smartphones with best-in-class entertainment experiences, a great 5 megapixel camera, a brilliant 4” multi-touch screen and great social networking features.

However, slide out the gaming control and users enter a new world of immersive mobile gaming. The slide out game pad reveals a digital D pad, two analogue touch pads, two shoulder buttons and the four PlayStation icons: circle, cross, square and triangle. Qualcomm’s optimized Snapdragon processor with a 1Ghz CPU and embedded Adreno GPU graphics processor deliver silky smooth 60fps play-back 3D mobile gaming and Web browsing with minimal power consumption so Xperia PLAY users can enjoy long hours of battery life and game time.

Rikko Sakaguchi, Executive Vice President and Chief Creation Officer at Sony Ericsson commented: “Today is a very proud moment for Sony Ericsson as we bring something truly revolutionary to the market. Living up to our vision of Communication Entertainment, Xperia PLAY will forever change the way people think about smartphones and mobile gaming.

XperiaTM PLAY will run on Gingerbread (version 2.3), the latest version of Google’s AndroidTM platform. The XperiaTM PLAY will also be the first PlayStation Certified device. This means it will have access to PlayStation® game content provided through the PlayStation® Suite initiative, currently under development by Sony Computer Entertainment and due to launch later this calendar year.

Kazuo Hirai, President of Networked Products and Services Group at Sony Corporation said: “I am delighted to see Xperia PLAY as the first PlayStation Certified smartphone to hit the market. Xperia PLAY provides a unique consumer offering and is yet another example of great products and services coming to market that leverage Sony’s strong assets.”

Sony Ericsson has partnered with key publishers in the gaming industry to deliver a rich, vibrant ecosystem at launch and post launch with many leading new titles available via the AndroidTM Marketplace. Leading franchises coming to Xperia™ PLAY includes EA’s The Sims 3 and a multiplayer version of FIFA 10 for mobile. GLU Mobile/Activision will be bringing Guitar Hero while Gameloft’s titles include Assassin’s Creed and Splinter Cell. Sony Ericsson is also partnering with Unity Technologies, using its award-winning development platform, to ensure a continuous flow of high quality 3D game titles.

Mr Sakaguchi continued: “The launch of Xperia PLAY could not have been possible without the close collaboration of both Google and Sony Computer Entertainment. The commitment of so many industry leading game publishers further demonstrates that Xperia PLAY will deliver on the long-held expectations from consumers the world over.”

XperiaTM PLAY and PlayStation Certified gaming are great examples of the kind of innovation that’s possible in the open Android ecosystem,” said Andy Rubin, Vice President of Engineering at Google.

A pre-loaded application will enable users to easily discover and download titles that have been optimised for game play on Xperia PLAY, access recently played games and see information about the games they have downloaded.

Sony Ericsson Xperia™ PLAY will be available globally in selected markets from March 2011

What do Sony's content partners say?

Electronic Arts, Travis Boatman, VP of Worldwide Studios for EA Mobile: “EA collaborated closely with Sony Ericsson to bring exciting versions our best-selling consumer favourites such as The Sims™ 3 and EA SPORTS™ FIFA 10 to the Xperia PLAY. The device’s dedicated gaming keypad gives FIFA players what matters most in a footy game — ultimate ball control, quick player selection on the pitch, effortless passes and more. The Xperia PLAYS’s unique gamepad also delivers robust control in The Sims 3 bringing a whole new life simulation experience to fans of the franchise. We look forward to watching consumers interact with our great games in new ways through the Xperia PLAY.”

Gameloft, Michel Guillemot, President: “We are pleased to partner with Sony Ericsson to offer a catalogue of 10 of our best-selling games at launch of the Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY,” said Michel Guillemot, President of Gameloft. “My vision since the creation of Gameloft was to turn video games into a true mass market form of entertainment. This vision is realized with the launch of Xperia PLAY, which combines a perfect smartphone for daily use as well as a real game controller to provide the best gaming experience ever seen on a mobile phone. Gameloft will support the launch with more than 20 titles over the next 6 months that will take full advantage of the power of this device.”

Glu Mobile, Niccolo de Masi, CEO: “Glu’s strategic relationship with Sony Ericsson aligns us with a leading innovator in mobile and gaming. We look forward to accelerating our momentum in social mobile gaming with compelling offerings on Sony Ericsson’s newest mobile devices.”

Content partners at launch include: Sony Computer Entertainment Digital Chocolate Digital Legends Electronic Arts Fishlabs Gamehouse Gameloft Glu Mobile Handy Games Namco Bandai Networks Polarbit PopCap Trendy Entertainment Unity Tecnologies

For further information, images and videos visit www.sonyericsson.com/mwcnews

Xperia™ PLAY at a glance:

Sony Ericsson Xperia™ PLAY

Camera

5.1 megapixel camera Auto focus Flash / Photo light Geo tagging Image stabiliser Send to web Touch focus Video light Video recording Video blogging Music

Album art Bluetooth™ stereo (A2DP) Google™ Music Player Music tones (MP3/AAC) PlayNow™ service* Sony Ericsson Music player Stereo speakers TrackID™ music recognition application Internet

Android Market™* Bookmarks Google™ search* Google™ Voice Search* Pan & zoom Web browser (Webkit) Communication

Call list Conference calls Facebook™ application (from Android Market™) Google™ Talk* Noise Shield Polyphonic ringtones Speakerphone Sony Ericsson Timescape™*** Twitter™ application (from Android Market™) Vibrating alert Messaging

Android Cloud to Device messaging (C2DM) Conversations Email Google Mail™* Instant messaging Picture messaging (MMS) Predictive text input Sound recorder Text messaging (SMS) Design

Auto rotate Keyboard (onscreen, 12 key) Keyboard (onscreen, QWERTY) Picture wallpaper Touchscreen Wallpaper animation Entertainment

3D games Dedicated gaming keys Flash Lite™ Gesture gaming Motion gaming Video streaming YouTube™ Organiser

Alarm clock Calculator Calendar Document editors Document readers E-Manual Flight mode Google Calendar™ Google Gallery 3D™ Infinite button Phone book Set-up Wizard Widget manager Connectivity

3.5 mm audio jack aGPS Bluetooth™ technology DLNA Certified Google Latitude™ Google Location Service Google Maps™ with Street View Media Transfer Protocol support Micro USB Connector Modem Synchronisation via Facebook™** Synchronisation via Google Sync™ Synchronisation via Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync® Synchronisation via Sony Ericsson Sync USB 2.0 high speed support Wi-Fi™ Wi-Fi™ Hotspot functionality * The service is not available in all markets. ** Requires Facebook™ application installed on the device.

Google™ services*

* These services may not be available in every market Android Market™ Client

Gmail™ Google Calendar™ Google Gallery 3D™ Google Latitude™ Google Maps™ with Street View Google Media Uploader Google Music Player™ Google Phone-top Search Google Search widget Google Sync™ Google Talk™ Google Voice Search Set-up Wizard YouTube™ Screen

16,777,216 colour TFT Capacitive multi-touch 4 inches 480 x 854 pixels (FWVGA) In-Box:

Xperia™ PLAY Battery Stereo portable handsfree 8GB microSD™ memory card Charger Micro USB cable for charging, synchronisation and file transfer User documentation Facts

Size: 119 x 62 x 16 mm Weight: 175 grams Phone memory: up to 400 MB Memory card support: microSD™, up to 32 GB Memory card included: 8GB microSD™ Operating system: Google™ Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) Processor: 1 GHz Scorpion ARMv7 Talk time and networks Networks

Talk time GSM/GPRS: Up to 8 hrs 25 min* Standby time GSM/GPRS: Up to 425 hrs* Talk time UMTS: Up to 6 hrs 25 min* Standby time UMTS: Up to 413 hrs* Talk time CDMA2000®: Up to 7 hrs 40 min* Standby time CDMA2000®: Up to 405 hrs* Game play time: Up to 5 hrs 35 min* MP3 playback: Up to 30 hrs 35 min* Networks

UMTS HSPA 800, 850, 1900, 2100 GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900 UMTS HSPA 900, 2100 GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900 CDMA2000®, cdmaOne, EVDO

Colours: Black, White

Going Going, GONE

2011-02-12T05:52:00.001-08:00

Thanks to: Gizmag
by Rebecca Boyle

5 people liked this

Spacecraft For Sale Astronaut Dale Gardner holds up a "For Sale" sign, referring to two satellites, Palapa B-2 and Westar 6, that were retrieved from orbit. NASA via Space.com

The trend toward commercialized space is reaching into military communications and even a human expedition to Mars. Advocates say such public-private partnerships could bring down mission costs and speed up the process.

First, the Air Force's Space and Missile Systems Center signaled that communications satellites could increasingly have extra bandwidth set aside for military use, following a 6-month study by four aerospace firms.

Boeing, Intelsat, Space Systems/Loral and Orbital Sciences were awarded $3.7 million to study modifying commercial satellite capabilities for military purposes, including setting aside bandwidth in military frequencies. The firms will examine how they can meet military requirements with minimal modifications to their commercial platforms.

These so-called hosted payloads are additional payloads added to a commercial satellite for the purpose of being leased to a government user. They could help private firms make more money and would give the military some extra bandwidth. Boeing alone has received five hosted-payload orders in the past year and a half, said Craig Cooning, vice president and general manager of Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems, in a press release.

Boeing says one of the main benefits is delivery speed - the private sector moves pretty fast, and a commercial satellite carrying a hosted payload can be ready in less than three years.

Meanwhile, NASA scientists are proposing corporate financing for a human mission to Mars, rather than relying on government support. Private firms could raise $160 billion for the trip and a Mars colony, according to Joel Levine, a senior research scientist at NASA Langley Research Center. Levine makes the case in the book "The Human Mission to Mars: Colonizing the Red Planet," which he co-edited with Rudy Schild of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

Companies could sell merchandise and broadcast rights to pay for the expedition, which could create 500,000 new jobs over 10 years, Levine argues.

There's certainly precedent for this - Google is sponsoring the $30 million Lunar X Prize, an effort to launch a robot to the moon by the end of 2015 and drive it one-third of a mile. And way back in 1999, Pizza Hut paid $1 million to sponsor the launch of a proton rocket that delivered key components of the then-tiny International Space Station. Still, those were paltry sums compared to a hugely expensive Mars trip. Cost and safety concerns could be major roadblocks for the private sector.

But commercialization is very much in NASA's future, even if the space agency doesn't privatize the space shuttles. The space agency's administrator, former astronaut Charles Bolden, said at an industry conference this week that NASA can't survive without strong partnerships with private space companies.

"When I retire the space shuttles, that's it for NASA access to low-Earth orbit - we need you," he said.

[via Boeing, Space.com]

Wow, My brain Must Be Big

2011-02-12T05:50:00.000-08:00

Thanks to:Gizmag
by Rebecca Boyle

10 people liked this

Supercomputer An IBM Blue Gene/P supercomputer rack. Wikimedia Commons

If you could put all the data in the world onto CDs and stack them up, the pile would stretch from the Earth to beyond the moon, according to a new study. The world's technological infrastructure has a staggering capacity to store and process information, reaching 295 exabytes in 2007, a reflection of the world's almost complete transition into the digital realm. That's a number with 20 zeroes behind it, in case you're wondering.

Martin Hilbert and Priscila López took on the unenviable task of figuring out how much information is out there, and how its storage and processing have changed over time. Some of their findings seem obvious, like the fact that Internet and phone networks have grown at quite a clip (28 percent per year), while TV and radio grew much more slowly. But others are more surprising, like the nugget that 75 percent of the world's stored information was still in analog format in 2000, mostly in the form of video cassettes. By 2007, 94 percent of the world's info was digital.

In 2007, all the general-purpose computers in the world computed 6.4 x 10¹⁸ instructions per second, according to the study. Doing this by hand would take 2,200 times the period since the Big Bang.

In 1986, the first year the team examined, 41 percent of all computations were still done by calculator, the researchers found. By 2000, personal computers were doing 86 percent of the computing; by 2007, video game hardware accounted for 25 percent of the work. On the whole, gaming consoles have more computing power than the world's supercomputers, the study found.

Cell phones are catching up, too - they accounted for 6 percent of all computing in 2007. It's worth noting that's the year the first iPhone debuted, and a year before anyone could buy a mass-market Android phone, so it's a fair guess this number has increased exponentially since then.

Hilbert and López surveyed more than 1,000 sources and sifted through an incredibly thorough 60 categories of analog and digital technologies, from paper to vinyl records to Blu-ray discs. In all, they say the world was able to store 295 trillion optimally compressed megabytes; communicate almost 2 quadrillion megabytes; and carry out 6.4 trillion MIPS (million instructions per second) on general-purpose computers.

If you sympathize, and feel a bit overloaded as this work week ends, remember that in the grand scheme of information, this is but a speck. It's still smaller than the number of bits stored in all the DNA molecules of a single human adult, the authors say.

"To put our findings in perspective, the 6.4 x 10¹⁸ instructions per second that humankind can carry out on its general-purpose computers in 2007 are in the same ballpark area as the maximum number of nerve impulses executed by one human brain per second," Hilbert and Lopez write.

Feeling smart now?

The Audi of Skiis

2011-02-12T05:49:00.001-08:00

Thanks to:Gizmag

12:22 February 11, 2011

12 Pictures

Audi 's carbon fiber prototype skis

Image Gallery (12 images)

2011 Buick Regal - www.Buick.com/Regal
Find Details on the All-New 2011 Buick Regal at the Official Site.

Compare to Cadillac SRX - www.Cadillac.com/SRXCompare
See What Cadillac SRX Offers That the Competition Doesn't. Get Info.

Ski Tuning Tools - artechski.com/Since-1988
Save Money - Tune Your Own Skis Largest Selection - Best Prices

Lexus® Official Site - www.LexusofChattanooga.com
Check out Lexus® Concept Models Find a Dealer in Chattanooga.

If you can buy Porsche bicycles, Lamborghini hard drives, or spend a day at the Ferrari World amusement park, then why shouldn’t you be able to snap on a pair of Audi skis? You may soon have the chance, given the reported success of the German automaker’s experiment with its Audi Carbon Ski concept. Designed and developed at Audi Concept Design in Munich, the downhill skis were created in collaboration with specialists from ski-making company Head, and the German Ski Association. The result is an ultra-lightweight ski that is said to offer premium performance.

View all

The skis have a wooden core, surrounded by layers of aluminum and titanium, and a carbon fiber outer shell. The emphasis on carbon and aluminum is said to reflect the company’s design philosophy for its automobiles.

“Parameters that have proven reliable over many decades of ski sports were analyzed with the use of complex calculation methods drawn from motorsport,” the company stated. The claimed result is skis that flex on moguls to achieve maximum grip, while also not twisting on icy patches, allowing the skis’ steel edges to maintain contact with the ice along their entire length. Their light weight – 960 grams per ski – apparently also makes them highly maneuverable.

This January and February, skiers had a chance to try out the first prototypes at the Hahnenkamm race in Kitzbühel and the World Ski Championships in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Feedback from those events will go into further refinements of the skis.

Consumers could be able to buy themselves a pair by next winter (Northern Hemisphere). There’s no word yet on an estimated price.

All photos courtesy Audi.

Green Airforce

2011-02-11T12:21:00.001-08:00

Thanks to:DT

Well, several years after the Air Force certified the C-17 to fly on coal-based synthetic jet fuel, it’s gone and certified the cargo hauler to fly on biofuel. In fact, the Globemaster III is the first Air Force plane to be cleared to fly using “hydroprocessed blended biofuels known as hydrotreated renewable jet fuels” mixed with standard JP-8 jet gas. This comes just under a year after the Navy cleared the F/A-18EF Super Hornet to fly using biofuel.

This certification is part of an effort to find an alternative fuel source for all Air Force planes that emits fewer greenhouse gasses than JP-8. The service plans to have the entire fleet of aircraft certified to fly on a50-50 mix of biofuel and JP-8 within the next 22 months.

In the last decade, the Air Force certified its fleet to fly using the so called, coal-to-liquids fuels. However, the service abandoned efforts to use coal-based blends operationally after questions arose over how environmentally friendly any fuel based on coal can really be.

Government agencies are barred from using any alternative fuels that emit greenhouse gasses than standard petroleum-based fuels.

Among the many objectives of the Pentagon’s efforts to operate its vehicle fleets on alternative fuels is to wean the DoD from its dependence on foreign oil.

Ohh, Lets Go Carting, On a Boat??

2011-02-11T06:24:00.000-08:00

Thanks to:Gizmag

By Darren Quick

21:16 February 10, 2011

1 Comment

The Streets of Monaco themed superyacht concept

Image Gallery (6 images)

Chattanooga Coupons - www.Groupon.com/Chattanooga
1 ridiculously huge coupon a day. Like doing Chattanooga at 90% off!

Chattanooga Coupons - www.LivingSocial.com
Up To 90% Off The Best Stuff To Do! Restaurants, Spas, Events And More.

Danica Patrick Honda Film - www.honda.com
Watch now to discover the upside of failure through Danica Patrick.

Spot Zero Fresh Water RO - www.spotzerowater.com
Finally Yacht Quality Water For Quality Yachts!

If you want a superyacht that really stands out at the next annual billionaires meeting then why not give it a theme? Yacht Island Design thinks there’s a market for such vessels and has set about developing several themed yacht concepts. The first is "The Streets of Monaco," a 155 m (508.5 ft) long yacht that looks to “reflect the style and sophistication of the principality” and includes a fully functional go kart circuit that recreates the famous Monaco Grand Prix circuit along with other Monaco landmarks.

View all

"The Streets of Monaco" is based on the SWATH (Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull) platform, which is a hull form used for vessels that require a ship of a certain size to handle in rough seas as well as a much larger vessel. This platform also offers wide beam length for its length to allow for as much Monaco-themed goodness as possible. The yacht would be built predominantly from steel with aluminum in the superstructure. Using diesel electric propulsion it would transport its 70 crew and 16 guests (which seems like a recipe for mutiny to me) at a maximum speed of 15 knots.

The Monaco-themed yacht centers around three main communal areas: The Streets of Monaco, The Oasis and The Grand Atrium.

Streets of Monaco

As you might guess, the Streets of Monaco area is where you'll find the scaled down Monaco Grand Prix circuit, whose route takes in other Monaco locations such as The Casino, Hotel de Paris, Café de Paris, La Rascasse and the Loews hotel. The roof of the Loews hotel extends to the bow on the upper deck in the "Casino Square" area, which also features a large glass bottomed fountain in the garden setting. Here you’ll also find a small swimming pool, large jacuzzi and sun decks with BBQ facilities.

The main swimming pool with a maximum depth of 3 m (9.8 ft) and incorporating a swim-in jacuzzi/bar, represents the Port Hercule harbor and can be found aft along with a multi-use court that can be configured for a variety of activities including tennis and basketball, or used as a heli-pad.

The Oasis

The Oasis area, also located aft, acts as the main boarding point for the yacht. It is modeled on the gardens just outside the Monaco Casino and features a central waterfall feature consisting of upper level pools cascading down into the lower pool and yet another Jacuzzi. On the lower level is the Spa, with manicure and hair salon, private massage suites, sauna/steam rooms and a relaxation lounge featuring a spa pool and bar.

The Grand Atrium

The Grand Atrium is the central hub of the yacht and links the lower and upper living areas. It is dominated by a large central spiral staircase, which surrounds a waterfall feature that is supplied by the glass bottomed fountain found in the Casino Square area.

The seven guest suites are located off the lower atrium level and range in size from 135 m2 (1,453 sq ft) to the grand 356 m2 (3,832 sq ft) VIP suites. All include their own reception room, bathroom, dressing room, bedroom and balcony, while the VIP suites also include a private office. Located centrally to the guest suites are the library, communal office, communal balcony and cinema. The upper level of the Atrium leads to the entertainment areas, which includes the Main Saloon with separate Havana room and adjoining wine cellar, the dining room, casino and dance hall.

The Owner’s suite is located at the farthest end of the Atrium and connects to all decks via a private lift. It spreads over three floors covering a total 1,460 m2 (15,715 sq ft) of floor space and includes a lounge with feature fireplace and double height ceiling, office, bedroom, bathroom, his/hers dressing rooms, listening room, private courtyard, sunroom, numerous balconies and private sundeck with a Jacuzzi/swimming pool.

Other features include two large tender garages, dive dock and submarine, and sea level "beach" decks located aft in both struts.

Yacht Island Design’s next theme-yacht concept is for an 85 m (279 ft) yacht based around a "Pacific Island" theme, which the company has teased with an illustration showing what appears to be a volcanic mountain rising from the aft and palm trees located on the forward deck.

Although the theme-yacht concepts are completely over-the-top, Yacht Island Design is only proposing them as a showcase of what is possible and would consult extensively during the design process with any client interested in created their own themed yacht.

Plug Your BMW Into the Internet???

2011-02-11T06:23:00.001-08:00

Thanks to: Gizmag

By Mike Hanlon

22:41 February 10, 2011

38 Pictures

BMW Vision ConnectedDrive concept: the car as a fully integrated part of the networked world

Image Gallery (38 images)

All-New Lexus® CT 200h - www.Darkersideofgreen.com
Drive on the Darker Side of Green. See Specs, Pics, Videos & More.

Compare Chevrolet Cruze - www.Chevrolet.com/Cruze
The New Chevrolet Cruze Is Here! See Pics, Specs, Features and More.

Lexus® Official Site - www.Lexus.com/thehardway
In The Pursuit of Perfection, The Hard Way is the Only Way.

Compare to CTS Coupe - www.Cadillac.com/CTScoupe
See How Cadillac CTS Coupe Stacks Up to the Competition. Compare Now.

Like every other object in the world, the car is about to become networked. A glimpse into the automotive benefits of our networked future will be on show at the Geneva Motor Show next month when BMW shows its Vision ConnectedDrive concept car. The concept study, in a two-seat roadster guise, presents the automobile as a fully integrated part of the networked world in both its design and technological innovations. It is with this concept that BMW presents the potential of current and future in-car technology for optimizing comfort, safety and infotainment.

View all

The BMW Vision ConnectedDrive employs a layering principal in its design, demonstrating the bond between the driver, passenger, vehicle and the surrounding environment. This is visualized by the complex light installation which shows the path of data exchange with the driver and passenger as the start and end point of each interaction.

The interior is divided into three layers – comfort, infotainment and safety – each with a corresponding light installation. Each layer is defined by a color, rhythm, motion and texture and, through the transparent surfaces the path taken by the information can be seen via fiber optic lighting.

The first layer focuses on safety, with a red light wrapping around the driver and coming together in a cone on the bonnet. This represents the flow of safety-specific information and the driver’s focus on the road ahead. The second layer encompasses the safety layer and extends to the passenger cell, focusing on infotainment. This layer promotes active social exchange between the driver and passenger and is outlined by the blue ribbon of light. The final layer, defined by the green light flow, concentrates on the interaction of the vehicle with the world around it. The emphasis is on the outside of the vehicle, starting and ending with the two antennas, in place of wing mirrors, providing the data link to the surrounding environment.

The layering principal in the BMW Vision ConnectedDrive requires individual components to perform a number of roles. This can be seen in the headlights and rear lights with their integrated sensors monitoring the traffic and external environment which feed information directly to the driver allowing him to take appropriate action.

The concept embodies the dynamic BMW design language with its long wheelbase, set back seating position and long bonnet but combines it with taut surfaces and distinctive flowing lines. This results in an interesting play of light and shadow making the car appear as if it is accelerating even at a standstill. The sliding doors, inspired by those on the BMW Z1, disappear into the body of the car. This allows the BMW Vision ConnectedDrive to be driven with the doors open, emphasizing the link between the vehicle and its environment.

The BMW Vision ConnectedDrive showcases the current and future capabilities of BMW’s ConnectedDrive technologies. Advanced Head-Up Display takes the technology currently available in production BMWs even further, placing a three-dimensional display of key information in the direct sight line of the driver, eliminating the need for the driver’s eyes to refocus. The three-dimensional display allows the real view to be overlaid with virtual information, highlighting hazards allowing the driver to assimilate all of the information quickly and take appropriate action.

In addition to Advanced Head-Up Display the BMW Vision ConnectedDrive is equipped with a freely programmable instrument cluster to provide the driver with additional information, optically emphasized to a greater or lesser degree. While for the first time passengers get their own information display, out of the driver’s field of vision, allowing them to evaluate information, music or navigation details and pass them onto the driver with a simple touch of a finger.

The BMW Vision ConnectedDrive demonstrates the interaction between the driver and the passenger and shows how networking with the environment can reach new levels.

Another Car, They Don't Get Old

2011-02-10T16:58:00.000-08:00

Thanks to:Gizmag

By Gizmag Team

15:26 February 10, 2011

Renault's CAPTUR concept car was unveiled today ahead of the Geneva Show, representing â€œtwo people exploring the world around them together'

Image Gallery (6 images)

Compare Chevrolet Equinox - www.Chevrolet.com/Equinox
Check Out the Equinox & See How it Stacks Up to the Competition.

GMC Terrain Official Site - www.GMC.com/Terrain
Only SUV in its Class with a Rear View Camera Standard on All Models.

Mazda CX-9 Crossover SUV - www.MazdaUSA.com
Easy out. Easy in. With room for everyone. Mazda CX-9 crossover SUV.

New Crossovers 2011 - bestclasscrossover.com
Find & Compare the Top Crossovers of the Year + Highest MPG's List

Renault's recently reworked brand identity “puts people at the forefront” while the resultant design strategy bases each new concept car on a different phase of the human life cycle. The first such concept was the DeZir coupé shown at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, which expressed the passion of "falling in love." The second concept in the series was unveiled today ahead of the Geneva Motor Show, representing the next phase of “two people exploring the world around them together." Apart from the crock of marketing soup, the rather appropriately named CAPTUR is quite interesting technically, with a clever mechanical self-locking differential and an augmented reality system.

View all

Renault’s press announcement is reproduced here:

At the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, Renault revealed its new brand identity which puts people at the forefront of its concerns. The new, ambition design strategy that resulted from this is founded on different stages of the human life cycle with each phase taking the form of a specific concept car. The first, the two-seater DeZir, expressed ‘falling in love’, the passion present at the beginning of any new adventure. Now Renault Captur, which will debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, addresses the second phase of this cycle, that of two people exploring the world around them.

Unveiled today by Carlos Ghosn, CAPTUR is the new concept car to demonstrate Renault’s new design strategy
A sporty crossover with a flowing and athletic body language, it conjures up visions of two people exploring the world and previews a forthcoming road car
Its Energy dCi 160 twin-turbo engine-concept combines driving fun, enjoyable performance and low CO2 emissions.

A CROSSOVER THAT’S ALL MUSCLE IN MOTION

Just like its predecessor, Renault CAPTUR defines the simple, sensuous and warm style that will be progressively extended to future Renault car designs. “CAPTUR is a fun and sporty crossover, ideal for a young couple about to discover the world” explains director of design, Laurens Van den Acker. “It takes as its basis the fundamental design language introduced on the DeZir concept car but adds a more technical dimension – more functional but still highly sensuous," adds Axel Breun, director of concept cars." In its proportions and fluid curves, Renault CAPTUR evokes movement and lightness, yet at the same time displaying powerful and muscular all-terrain cues. Just as with DeZir, angles, corners and lines have given way to sensuous and natural forms. For the exterior designer, Julio Lozano, the main sources of inspiration were athletes and radical sports. "In designing CAPTUR, I began with the image of a sprinter on the starting blocks, his muscles tensed, and the energy unleashed when the starting pistol is fired," he explains. The design also references equipment such as helmets, gloves and other protective gear used in radical sports, combining high technology with sophistication and lightness. Renault CAPTUR adopts the new frontal identity first presented by DeZir. As with DeZir, this identity has as its centrepiece a large Renault logo, set vertically against a dark surface so as to stand out as clearly as possible. Substantial, matt-finished wings reinforce the design’s visual strength. LEDs relay the direction indicator signal in a wave effect running the whole length of the vehicle.

Renault CAPTUR does more than simply stir the emotions: it is also a practical and versatile vehicle. It is fitted with a hard convertible top which, once removed, reveals a carbon fibre framework. CAPTUR can thus transform itself from a coupé to a convertible, from an urban vehicle to an off-roader, while its overall sporty appeal is reinforced by its butterfly doors and big tyres fitted to 22-inch black and white rims. With its bodywork finished in a spicy shade of orange, CAPTUR takes its cue from the red championed by DeZir. This colour appears in a variety of different shades on materials both inside and outside the vehicle.

AN INTERIOR FULLY BATHED IN WARMTH AND LIGHTNESS

The orange theme has been carried over to the cabin which also features fluorescent highlights picked out by a constant stream of light. "My main sources of inspiration were the human body, outdoor sports and urban styling," explains the colour and trim designer, Kana Watanabe. "I wanted CAPTUR to radiate warmth and dynamism." The interior of Renault CAPTUR is designed to be both welcoming and occupant-friendly. The impression of lightness expressed by the exterior is dominant here, too, with the front seats attached to the centre console as if suspended in mid air. The passenger compartment is restrained and pure, with no superfluous equipment. Innovative and ingenious materials have been employed, allowing the designers to play with light and optical effects. The centre console, door casings and dashboard are formed using a translucent material rather like a second skin. At the front of the cabin, this includes a glimpse of the high-tech fibre ropes, luminescent in places, that have been used for most of the passenger compartment.

"The whole of the interior is designed around this network of stretched elastic ropes which bring to mind the worlds of sailing or mountain climbing, They use graphics and light to bring rhythm to the overall design and reinforce the dynamic feel of the vehicle while also ensuring a lighter feel inside the cabin," explains the interior designer, Magali Gouraud-Borgers.

The aluminium pedals, carbon bucket-style front seats and steering wheel trimmed in grey textured leather reassert the sporting side of the design, in keeping with the original brief. The rear of the vehicle is a multipurpose area where the deck is lined with three layers of rope:

The stretched cords are laid out in a way that allows items to be secured, thus providing a reconfigurable storage area;

They also provide an opportunity for relaxation thanks to the supple elasticity of the structure.

This is an entirely new type of comfort, a new form of seating akin to a hammock.

Finally, it is possible to pull seatbacks from the side of the car to provide two full-sized rear seats, complete with seat belts and head restraints. This enables CAPTUR to accommodate four passengers.

AN INNOVATIVE CROSSOVER - STRONG ON PERFORMANCE AND LIGHT ON FUEL

Captur makes use of the Energy dCi 160 twin-turbo engine concept, developed from the new Energy dCi 130 that will eventually replace the 1.9 dCi. Downsizing is a key element in Renault’s strategy to meet its declared objective of being Europe’s leading automaker for low CO2 emissions. The range of electric vehicles will run alongside internal-combustion engined models that combine performance with reduced fuel consumption. The Energy dCi 160 twin-turbo fits perfectly within this strategy. It produces 118kW (160hp) from a capacity of 1.6 litres – that’s a specific power output of 100hp per litre. Peak torque (380Nm) is available from as low as 1,750rpm, giving powerful acceleration from low revs, as well as refined performance under all driving conditions.

Paired with a dual clutch EDC gearbox, this driveline promises genuinely enjoyable driving with CO2 emissions of 99 g per kilometre. Renault CAPTUR’s performance is further enhanced by the RX2®, a novel system that improves traction at low speeds. Should one of the two driven wheels lose traction, this entirely new mechanical self-locking differential transfers all or part of the engine’s torque to the wheel with the most grip. Driving on slippery roads and tracks thus remains smooth and effortless.

Renault CAPTUR also marks the debut of the Visio-system, which uses a forward-facing camera mounted at the top of the windscreen to provide driver-assistance functions.

This new technology is able to embed synthesized images into real-time images of the road ahead displayed on a central screen; this is the principle of augmented reality, aiming to enhance the driver’s perception of the external world by superimposing purpose-designed elements. The system helps reduce driving stress, for a relaxed, reassuring ride. The new design strategy takes as its basis the bonds that build between the brand and its customers as they go through the many experiences of life: when they fall in love, begin to explore the world, start a family, work take time off to play, and gain wisdom.

This goes hand in hand with the definition of a new human design language inspired by the three keywords that guide the brand’s future vision: simple, sensuous and warm. In keeping with this strategy, concept cars will be instrumental in putting shape to this vision, paving the way for a product plan featuring a clear and consistent range of models.

Length 4,223

Width 1,950

Height 1,586

Ground clearance (laden) 261

Wheelbase 2,624

Front track 1,684

Rear track 1,684

Technical data

Engine Energy dCi 160 Twin-Turbo

Power 118kW (160hp)

Capacity 1,598 cm3

CO2 emissions 99g/km (NEDC combined cycle)

Peak torque 380Nm

Top speed 210kph

Transmission EDC (Efficient Dual Clutch)

Tyres 250/40 R22

Cd 0.31

Kerb weight, unladen (kg) 1,300

0 to 100kph acceleration (s) 8

1,000m standing start (s) 29

G Studio Body

Michelin Tyres

A green Supercar???

2011-02-10T09:27:00.000-08:00

Thanks to:Popsci

Nissan's ESFLOW Concept Merges Leaf's Zero-Emission Powertrain Tech With Sports Car Sexiness

from Popular Science by Clay Dillow

Nissan's ESFLOW Nissan

Zero to 60 in under five seconds, sports care handling and performance, and zero emissions; that's what Nissan is promising with it's new ESFLOW sports car, a pure EV concept two-seater that captures the "joy of driving" while remaining "environmentally sympathetic." Assuming, that is, that Nissan ever gets around to rolling it off the assembly line.

The ESFLOW relies on the same powertrain as Nissan Leaf, the zero emission family vehicle that many customers have been waiting on for months-and will be waiting on for months more in most cases. Nissan has only delivered a fraction of the Leaf's that have been reserved, and it likely won't be able to fill the balance of its orders until late summer. But the ESFLOW does enjoy some attractive, and decidedly sporty, features that offer some advantages over the standard internal combustion sports car.

The rear-wheel drive ESFLOW stows two all-electric motors above the rear wheel axis that independently control the left and right wheels, optimizing torque. Further, the batteries are located along the axis of the front and rear wheels, placing weight in the right places to add to stability in handling (batteries also don't vary in their weight like a gas tank does, offering consistency in handling).

The batteries deliver a range of about 150 miles on a charge, certainly not bad for an EV. And it looks like a rocket. Or maybe a jet fighter. It looks sexier than the Leaf, anyhow, and if Nissan's press materials are any indication, it's aimed at a different customer completely. To wit:

Daniel, an ESFLOW owner, works in tech, but lives for the weekend. On Friday night after work, he gets behind the wheels of his ESFLOW which instantly links with his pocket PDA and determines the fastest route to his girlfriend's home. Finding street side parking is a synch [sic] as the ESFLOW's compact dimensions allow it to slip in to the narrowest of spaces. On Saturday he drives to a popular club to exhibit his DJ skills and his friends are impressed by his cool EV sports car.

So if you're a young, single, environmentally-conscious male yuppie who also spins vinyl at swanky nightspots and has trouble parallel parking, the ESFLOW is for you. It also might suit you if you're trapped inside an arcade game, as the TRON-like video below suggests. Or you can simply love it because it's quiet, fast, and doesn't have any backseats. No word on potential pricing, but perhaps we'll hear more when the ESFLOW is officially unveiled next month at the Geneva Motor Show.

[Nissan via SmartPlanet]

Add starLikeShareShare with noteEmailKeep unreadAdd tags

11:20 AM (1 hour ago)

Pigging the Unpiggable: Robots Keep Gas Lines From Blowing Up

from Popular Science by Elizabeth Svoboda

3 people liked this

PIGging Pipes Courtesy Hagen Schempf

This new little piggy goes where the rest can't

When a natural-gas line exploded late last summer in San Bruno, California, the ensuing firestorm raged for hours. The blaze, which took crews more than 12 hours to control, destroyed dozens of homes, injured more than 50 people, and killed eight.

Click the thumbnails to see how the most advanced PIG robot works.

The National Transportation Safety Board's final report on the cause of the blast is still pending as of press time, but the incident has thrown a spotlight on the natural gas industry's inadequate pipe-inspection techniques. Gas-transmission-line accidents have increased 72 percent from the 1990s to the '00s, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

Since the 1960s, maintenance workers have used "smart" pipeline inspection gauges, or PIGs, to find rust, weak seams, thinning walls and other indicators that a pipe needs repair or replacement.

PIGs make a squealing sound while navigating tight passageways. They go where people can't, but controlling them can be challenging because most depend solely on the pipe's pressurized fluid for propulsion. "It's very difficult to stop a PIG in one location," says Karl Edminster, the head of Electromechanica, a Massachusetts firm that manufactures PIGs and other robotic pipe-inspection devices. "Imagine pushing a spitball through a straw."

Moreover, nearly a third of the 1.3 million miles of natural-gas pipeline in the U.S. are "unpiggable." Some pipes widen and then narrow; others have bends too acute to be navigated by current PIG technology. As these pipes age and corrode, the need to inspect them is increasingly urgent. Roughly 60 percent of gas-transmission lines in the U.S. were installed before 1970, and some date back to the Great Depression. Utilities are gradually upgrading from old cast-iron and steel pipes to non-corroding plastic ones. Even so, it's still far more cost-effective to PIG a pipe than install a new one.

To Carnegie Mellon University roboticist Hagen Schempf and his colleagues, the opportunity to prevent disasters by building a more sophisticated inspection device was too good to pass up. After 10 years of research, and with about $1 million in funding from NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy, Schempf's team recently debuted the Explorer-II: a 66-pound, eight-foot-long wireless robot that he describes as looking "like a series of sausage links." Its segmented body navigates twists and turns with ease. Its strong drivetrain lets operators precisely control where it starts and stops, instead of being moved by the flow of natural gas like other PIGs are. And its custom-designed sensors detect tiny anomalies in pipe walls before they turn dangerous.

Conventional PIGs use permanent magnets to detect changes in the pipe walls' magnetization that may indicate corrosion, but the magnetic field interferes with the PIG's movement, slowing it down. The Explorer-II replaces permanent magnets with a compact electromagnetic coil that senses the same problems without sacrificing speed.

The robot recently proved its grit in Pennsylvania, snaking through 2,000 feet of previously unpiggable pipeline, and it's now in commercial trials with a Canadian gas company. "There was a lot of gulping until we felt comfortable that we had a safe design," Schempf says. "We built this for a dangerous, explosive environment, and that was always in the back of our minds."

Add starLikeShareShare with noteEmailKeep unreadAdd tags

9:41 AM (2 hours ago)

The Goods: February 2011's Hottest Gadgets

from Popular Science by Doug Mahoney, Lizzie Schiffman, Amanda Schupak

5 people liked this

iRobot Scooba 230: Smaller Scrubber About half the size of earlier models, iRobot's new auto mop is able to wash in tight corners. Instead of using two bins to separate dirty water and clean water, the 'bot has two bladders that expand or shrink as needed. iRobot Scooba 230: $300; irobot.com iRobot

A dozen great ideas in gear, from a dual-lens camcorder to a fizz-retaining reusable champagne cork

Every month we search far and wide to bring you a dozen of the best new ideas in gear. These gadgets are the first, the best and the latest.

Click here to dive in:

Add starLikeShareShare with noteEmailKeep unreadAdd tags

Feb 9, 2011 (18 hours ago)

With 30 Meters Left to Drill, Scientists Leave Subterranean Lake Vostok For The Winter, Amid Controversy

from Popular Science by Rebecca Boyle

10 people liked this

Lake Vostok Drilling Site Wikimedia Commons

Russian team investigating the Antarctic lake isolated for 14 million years may have polluted it as they left

Winter has stymied a Russian-led effort to drill into an Antarctic lake that has been buried for 14 million years, scientists said this week. Just 96 feet short of their goal, scientists had to put their tools away and wait out the rapidly approaching Antarctic winter. But they don't want to lose the progress they've made so far, so they're pouring kerosene down the borehole to keep it from freezing.

Meanwhile, the scientific community is worried the kerosene will taint the pristine, untouched lake and harm any strange life forms that might call it home.

The Russian team evacuated just in time - had they waited much longer, their airplane's hydraulic systems would have frozen, stranding them until spring, according to Science Insider. They left behind a 12,300-foot-deep borehole, just 29 meters (about 96 feet) from the lake. Teams had been working 24 hours a day in an attempt to reach the water-ice boundary.

Lake Vostok is interesting for its similarity to Europa and Enceladus, frozen satellites of Jupiter and Saturn, respectively. Astrobiologists are among those eager to uncover Lake Vostok's Miocene-era secrets.

Vostok Station, just above the lake, holds the distinction of experiencing the coldest recorded temperatures on Earth: -129 degrees F on July 21, 1983. If it makes you feel any better, that's the middle of winter on the continent. Incidentally, that is also much colder than the freezing point of kerosene, which is -54 degrees.

Efforts to reach the lake, which remains liquid because of the pressure of a more than 12,000-foot-thick ice cap, have been controversial since it was first discovered in 1993. Russian scientists drilled into it before but had to stop several times to satisfy international bodies tasked with protecting the lake. But the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat, set up to protect the continent, approved the team's drilling methods last month, giving them the green light to keep drilling. If all goes according to plan, once the drill breaches the ice boundary, the lake's water pressure will push the drilling fluid up into the borehole, where it will freeze. Another year after that, researchers will return to extract that ancient water and analyze its contents.

But some groups are not convinced the kerosene plug is safe. The Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition says contamination could destroy the very attributes that make Lake Vostok unique.

"If Russia continues to drill the lubricants and anti-freeze present in their borehole may taint the microorganisms they are trying to discover," the coalition argues on its website.

Now everyone will have to wait until at least next December, when the Antarctic summer allows scientists to return and switch on the drills once again.

[Discovery News]

Add starLikeShareShare with noteEmailKeep unreadAdd tags

Feb 9, 2011 (19 hours ago)

Japanese Robots Will Run In First-Ever Full-Length Robot Marathon

from Popular Science by Rebecca Boyle

4 people liked this

Marathoners may sometimes seem like robots, with their single-minded focus and obsessive dedication to finishing their goal. Now some actual robots in Japan are gearing up for a marathon of their own.

The research firm Vstone is putting together the world's first robot marathon, involving 422 laps around a 100-meter track. Imagine this little robo-scurry on a 42-kilometer scale.

The video shows Vstone's Robovie-PC robot autonomously following a line. Marathon competitors will either "run" autonomously like this bot, or they may be operated by humans using remote controls, according to Vstone. The event's time, date and place are still to be determined.

	Japanese Invent Giant Soccer-Playing Robot
	Robotic Knee Helps Perfectly Healthy Runners Run Even Better
	The Physics of Free Running

Blood Wars: Museum Exhibit Pits Immune Systems Against Each Other in Biological Battles

from Popular Science by Clay Dillow

14 people liked this

Blood Wars As part of the visual aspect of Blood Wars, High filled vials with pig blood and placed them over a video installation.

Fancy yourself a hardy little organism? Think your immune system could trounce those of your peers? Stop by Dublin's Science Gallery and you can put your T-Cells to the test. An exhibit there is taking white blood cells from participants and pitting them against one another in a Petri dish to determine which immune system is champ.

Aptly titled Blood Wars, the exhibit is part of a larger exhibition called visceral that explores the line between art and living systems. To put immune systems to the test, Blood Wars has a phlebotomist take a blood sample on-site in the museum lab, from which American artist/biologist Kathy High extracts the white blood cells, stains them different colors, and puts them in the ring with one another to vie for immuno-dominance.

Set up like a tournament, Blood Wars allows winning blood cell samples move on to the next round, battling other immune systems until a champion is declared. According to High, it will also give us a better understanding of how cell membranes exchange with one another and the processes behind blood cell division. It also brings new meaning to the term "blood sport." More in the video below.

[Science Gallery via Wired UK

]

Add starLikeShareShare with noteEmailKeep unreadAdd tags

Feb 9, 2011 (21 hours ago)

HP/Palm Brings WebOS Back to Life, Announces TouchPad Tablet, Veer and Pre 3 Smartphones

from Popular Science by Dan Nosowitz

5 people liked this

The New WebOS HP/Palm

Palm's WebOS operating system, seen on the Palm Pre and Pixi, is the great underdog of the mobile world: critically adored, but commercially ignored, to the point that Palm actually had to sell itself to HP to stay alive. Since we've last had a big WebOS announcement, Android has exploded in popularity, Microsoft entirely rebooted their platform, and the iPhone came to Verizon--so today's announcement of the new HP (not Palm) WebOS devices is a do or die moment for WebOS. The lineup that will decide that: The Veer mini-smartphone, the Pre 3, and the TouchPad tablet.

WebOS was announced back in January 2009, in a desolate post-iPhone world. Android was still in its clumsy early stages, BlackBerry was, well, the same as BlackBerry has always been, and Microsoft's Windows Mobile was dying. WebOS, and its first device, the Palm Pre, was a breath of fresh air: Maybe Apple's way isn't the only way to do a touch-based smartphone! Focused on multitasking, with a "card" based metaphor that would later be swiped by both BlackBerry and Nokia, as well as innovative features like a universal search, WebOS had a level of polish that matched the iPhone, and abilities that outstripped it.

But the Pre was hobbled with flimsy (though adorable) hardware, a small launch partner in Sprint, and a huge gap between its announcement and its actual release--by which time the iPhone 3GS had stolen all its thunder. Worst of all, Palm was slow to open up the app store to developers, so even though eventually WebOS would be a very developer-friendly environment, at launch it had 30 apps, and was maddeningly slow to expand. Despite all its strengths, the Pre was a sales failure, and eventually Palm had to allow itself to be sold.

In April 2010, HP purchased Palm, though what the company was really after was WebOS. But aside from the Pre 2 (which is basically a Pre with a faster processor), another ten months would go by before we saw a really update on WebOS. Today's announcement shows Palm's next line of WebOS devices--well, HP's, we should say, since the name "Palm" is nowhere to be found on any of these devices.

The HP Veer, pictured above, is probably the most curious of the three. It's in the original Pre shape--a pebble-inspired design with a vertical slide-out keyboard--but it's even smaller than the already-diminutive Pre. At only 2.6 inches, the Veer is (when closed) the size of a credit card, which is in direct contrast to the current trend of larger and larger smartphones. Despite its size, it's actually a very powerful device: It uses the same Snapdragon processor as the much bigger T-Mobile G2, and offers HSPA+, which AT&T and T-Mobile are calling 4G. (It's not, technically, and is slower than Verizon's LTE 4G, but it is significantly faster than 3G, so we're not complaining too much. Check out our 4G explainer if you're still confused.) It'll have a relatively small 8GB of storage, but 512MB of memory--the same as the iPhone 4. It'll be available in "early spring," which could be very soon.

If miniaturization isn't your thing, the flagship Pre 3 might be a better option. While the Veer is kind of a smushed Pre, the Pre 3 is stretched, pulled like saltwater taffy out to a generous 3.6 inches (with a 480 x 800 resolution, about the industry average these days). It's still a vertical slider, but it's got some guts that'd make the original Pre feel pretty outclassed. It'll have the next-gen Snapdragon processor, clocked at 1.4GHz, with 512MB of memory and either 8GB or 16GB of storage. On the camera side, it'll have a 5MP rear-facing camera for normal photos, and a front-facing camera (likely a 1.3MP sensor) for video chatting. It too will boast HSPA+ connectivity, so it looks like these two are destined for either AT&T or T-Mobile, at least at first (and we'd wager on the former). The Pre 3 will be available this summer, which is an awfully long way off. Hopefully it'll still be impressive and in our minds then.

What we were most anticipating from this conference is a WebOS tablet. WebOS is particularly suited to a tablet, with its full previews of apps, elegant multitasking, and non-intrusive notifications system, which is probably why BlackBerry was so heavily, um, inspired by WebOS with its new PlayBook tablet. But there's no beating the real thing, and HP's TouchPad tablet looks mighty impressive. It's a 9.7-incher, with very near exactly the same dimensions and weight as the iPad, but (as could be expected, given the iPad's age) it's much more powerful inside. The TouchPad boasts a dual-core 1.2GHz processor, 16GB or 32GB of storage, 1GB of memory (four times that of the iPad, and probably essential for this kind of multitasking), and all the usual accelerometer/compass/gyro sensors, along with both a front- and rear-facing camera for video chatting.

The TouchPad, along with the Veer and Pre 3, has full Flash support and, oddly enough, Beats by Dr. Dre audio technology (!). Basically, all of these devices should sound fantastic, which as any Android user knows is not necessarily a given on a smartphone. They'll all also use the Touchstone charger, which was a cool little feature that has long set WebOS apart. The Pre 3, Veer, and TouchPad all support inductive charging, which is a wireless protocol using magnets that enables you to charge a device simply by plopping it onto a specific surface (in this case, a stone-shaped magnetic charger).

What's really interesting about the TouchPad is how it interacts with the WebOS smartphones. They speak to each other in ways no other platform does--not Android, and not iOS. When a smartphone and the TouchPad are on the same Wi-Fi network, you can get text messages and phone calls on the TouchPad. Our favorite feature might be "Touch to Share." It's kind of similar to Google's "Chrome to Phone" feature, but even more intuitive. If you're, say, looking at directions on your TouchPad, and you're heading out the door, you can simply tap the TouchPad with a Pre 3 or Veer phone, and it'll send those directions right to your phone. Really cool stuff!

One of the best new features of the updated WebOS is the universal search, which has been renamed to Just Type--reasonably so, since it's not just search anymore. Essentially, you can start typing anywhere, and you'll get a list of options for what to do with what you're typing. Search on Google? Wikipedia? IMDb? Or maybe you wanted that to be a text message, an email, or a Twitter or Facebook update? It's all right there--no reason to open up an app first.

HP is making sure to emphasize app development this time around, showing off new apps from Facebook, Amazon (the WebOS Kindle app looks pretty great), Skype, various content providers (Dreamworks and some sort of magazine platform were shown specifically), and even the smaller developers who are so essential to a platform's survival--including everyone's favorite, Angry Birds.

We're still lacking some of the key specifics: Price, release date, and carrier. Given their HSPA+ compatibility, we know the Veer and Pre 3 are headed for either AT&T or T-Mobile here in the States, and it's a fair assumption that the Veer will come in cheaper than the Pre 3. The TouchPad is due for release this summer, but price is very pressing for a tablet these days--the iPad set the bar very, very low, and any tablet that costs more than $500 at base (we're looking at you, Motorola Xoom) is going to be fighting an uphill battle.

The devices look pretty great--WebOS looks better than ever, early impressions of the hardware are very positive, and the new slogan ("HP WebOS: Now Available in S, M, L") is cute. But there's still an issue with release cycles: HP/Palm has got to stop announcing things this way. We're excited now, but we won't see the Veer, Pre 3, or TouchPad for months, by which time there'll be a new iPad and more likely than not a new iPhone. Also, the impressive internals--dual core processors, lots of memory, new Snapdragons--will be merely the norm by this summer, rather than the hottest new thing. That'll all serve to dampen excitement somewhat, which isn't exactly what HP wants right now. Still, if HP can get its app situation under control, these will be some very competitive devices come summer.

You can check out more about the new WebOS devices at, curiously, Palm.com, where apparently they haven't given up entirely on the venerable Palm name.

Add starLikeShareShare with noteEmailKeep unreadAdd tags

Just a cool Faucet

2011-02-10T08:56:00.000-08:00

Thanks to:Yanko Design
by Radhika Seth

Now here’s a cool digital faucet that can perk up the ambience of your bathroom with its color coordinated flow. Casually called the Digital Faucet, the water color reflects the temperature; warm red means its hot and blue indicates a cold flow. It features four touchkeys for navigation, replacing the traditional lever system. It comes in an automatic shutdown model (for water saving) and features a time delay display for this purpose. In case you’re wondering, the faucet uses RGB LED lighting to indicate temperature colors. Pretty neat!

Designer: Christopher Yang for Effisystem

----------

Yanko Design

Cool stuff, the name of this blog

2011-02-10T08:54:00.000-08:00

Thanks to:Popsci
by Doug Mahoney, Lizzie Schiffman, Amanda Schupak

5 people liked this

A dozen great ideas in gear, from a dual-lens camcorder to a fizz-retaining reusable champagne cork

Every month we search far and wide to bring you a dozen of the best new ideas in gear. These gadgets are the first, the best and the latest.

Click here to dive in:

Oh Wow, Following the Name

2011-02-10T05:14:00.000-08:00

Thanks to:Gizmag

By Paul Ridden

04:52 February 10, 2011

HP has announced its first webOS tablet: the TouchPad - which has a 9.7-inch capacitive touchscreen, is powered by a 1.2GHz Snapdragon processor and comes with either 16GB or 32GB of storage

Image Gallery (6 images)

New Dell Streak 7 Tablet - www.Dell.com/Streak7
Check Out Dell's Perfectly-Sized, Android-Based Streak 7 Tablet!

In conjunction with the announcement of the Veer and Pre 3 webOS smartphones, HP has revealed that users will soon be able to enjoy the webOS experience on a bigger screen. Its new TouchPad tablet is headed for a Q3 release and will run on a dual-core Snapdragon processor, offer genuine multi-tasking and feature a host of useful productivity tools like Synergy and touch-to-share. There's Wireless-N and Bluetooth connectivity, a webcam for online chat and cable-free charging via an optional touchstone charging dock.

View all

The first thing you are struck by when looking at the TouchPad is its similarity to Apple's tablet. The display is of the same 9.7-inch proportions and capacitive, multi-touch functionality, and it has the same 1,024 x 768 pixel resolution. The tablet is also exactly the same weight at 1.6 pounds (740 g). HP's slate starts to break away from the iPad at its slightly chunkier dimensions of 7.48 x 9.53 x 0.54 inch (190 x 242 x 13.7mm), and then there's its inter-device connectivity.

The TouchPad's innovative touch-to-share feature allows users to share data stored on a webOS smartphone by brief physical contact with the tablet – no wires in sight. It can also be wirelessly charged via a newly-developed Touchstone for TouchPad charging dock right out of the box and the webOS operating platform allows users to run applications specifically designed for Touchstone.

The Exhibition feature, for instance, launches as soon as the TouchPad is placed on the dock, and can show off the day's schedule or a slideshow of photos while the 6,300 mAh battery gets a top up. There's also wired charging via micro-USB if you don't fancy parting with extra cash for the Touchstone dock.

Mobile productivity

The TouchPad is powered by a Snapdragon 1.2GHz dual-core APQ8060 processor and HP promises true multi-tasking performance with all the different activities represented as onscreen cards instead of application icons. The operating platform will group related activities into stacks of cards - an email linked to an open web page for instance – and those sending emails, SMS text messages and photos all over the place will appreciate the grouping together of all communications sent to the same person.

The TouchPad also includes HP's Synergy contact/calendar management tool that brings together all networking and communications profiles – like Facebook, GMail, LinkedIn and so on – into one place.

A 1.3 megapixel front-facing webcam takes care of video-conferencing or web chat needs and the included 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1 with EDR wireless technology should help keep you connected while mobile. The latter also features A2DP stereo Bluetooth support.

Kindle app incoming

For those who enjoy a good read, wherever they might find themselves, but prefer not to have to carry around a hefty hardback, Amazon has announced a free Kindle App that will be tailored specifically to the TouchPad. Storage shouldn't prove too problematic with either 16GB or 32GB on offer and the tablet is compatible with HP's wireless printing technology.

Completing the specifications on offer is VPN support for connecting to corporate networks, access to numerous webOS apps, support for Adobe's Flash, and an ambient light sensor, accelerometer, compass and gyroscope. Beats Audio engine integration holds the promise of a more natural listening experience through the 3.5mm headphone jack or via the stereo speakers and a 3G model will have built-in GPS functionality.

Unfortunately, HP didn't reveal pricing information for the new TouchPad. This will be announced closer to the time of release.

Wow, Buildings Are Popping Up

2011-02-10T05:11:00.000-08:00

Note. This reminds me of the movie Meet the Robinsons, please commit if you have seen that movie.

Thanks to:Gizmag

By Dr. Jaroslav Boublik

00:02 February 10, 2011

Building a 15-story hotel in less than six days

Lower Your Energy Bill - www.EnergyRight.com
Start Saving Energy Today w/ a Free Energy Conservation Kit. $40 Value!

Chattanooga Custom Homes - www.BlueHammerHomes.com
Green built, custom homes from our plans or yours...our land or yours

Chattanooga Coupons - www.Groupon.com/Chattanooga
1 ridiculously huge coupon a day. Like doing Chattanooga at 90% off!

GeoThermal Heating & Cool - www.hpbuildingsolutions.com
Get 30% Fed Tax Credit Plus State Save Money, Energy & Environment!

China's impressive building credentials have been in the news regularly over the past few years, particularly those in evidence at the Shanghai World Expo and Beijing Olympic Games. The most recent example of the striking capability of the Chinese building industry took place in Changsha, Hunan province a few months ago. China’s Broad Group showcased their rapid building technology by constructing the 15-story Ark Hotel in less than six days. Using a team of 200 workers the structural framework was erected in just 46.5 hours and the external cladding and internal non-structural surfaces were completed in another 90 hours.

The Ark Hotel used one sixth the material of an equivalent sized building with a cost saving of 20% while still being able to withstand a 9.0 magnitude earthquake. In addition the building uses several technologies to result in energy efficiency five times that of comparable buildings. This includes triple pane windows, external solar shades, 6 inches of thermal insulation, heat recovery ventilation, and LED lighting systems. The plan is to construct 15 similar structures in China and 30 more in other countries.

To be fair, the foundations and other below-ground construction were completed prior to starting the clock and the construction system makes significant use of prefabricated components produced in a dedicated factory, so the “time cost” of these aspects of the process have been left out of the six day figure. But even taking those caveats into account the speed from ground level to 15 stories is certainly impressive as shown in the video below.

The Broad Group and its rapid building technology first came to international attention when they constructed a pavilion for Shanghai’s World Expo in one day! The following video shows that remarkable feat and also showcases some of the innovations integral to the building approach.

While it is undoubtedly the speed of construction that will bring this building technology to the attention of developers worldwide it is the environmental aspects that are, I believe, most impressive. Energy efficiency, reduction in material use and building waste minimization are all of paramount importance if we are to build a sustainable human environment into the future.

The robots Run

2011-02-09T16:25:00.000-08:00

Via Popsci

Robo Runner Robots like Robovie-PC will be used to run the first-ever robot marathon. Vstone

The research firm Vstone is putting together the world's first robot marathon, involving 422 laps around a 100-meter track. Imagine this little robo-scurry on a 42-kilometer scale.

As Singularity Hub points out, it's more like a robot NASCAR, because the rules allow competitors to replace worn parts and count the entire time, including stops, in the robot's official score.

The total distance is 26.2 miles, so odds are some robot feet, gears and motors may be wearing out.

[Singularity Hub]

Oh no a Carrier Killer

2011-02-09T16:21:00.000-08:00

Thanks to:Defense Tech

Is China’s J-20 Stealth Jet a Carrier Killer?

Props to Steve Trimble at The DEW Line for posting a very interesting analysis of China’s new J-20 stealth fighter by Russian aerospace expert Vladimir Karnozov. He takes a look at the defining physical features of the jet to conclude that it’s most likely designed to be a long-range carrier killer.

I won’t get into all the technical reasoning Karnozov uses to come to this determination, however, he essentially says that the big jet is built for speed not maneuverability. Basically, the jet is designed to be stealthy and fast enough to evade enemy air defenses and fire anti-ship cruise missiles.

My impression from the J-20 is that it is an uncompromised airplane for supercruise, for flying at moderate supersonic speeds corresponding to Mach M=1.4–1.6. Such speeds can be achieved without afterburning. Surely, the J-20 can accelerate to M=2 and faster, but this would require engaging afterburners. In turn, the fuel burn will go high, lowering operational range of the aircraft and enlarging its heat signature.
In my view the Chinese designers optimized their new jet for M=1.4–1.6. Here comes the clue: the J-20 is a missile launching platform able to evade enemy interceptors by means of a high cruise speed. The J-20 may prove a good interceptor, — very possibly. But its main task seems to be anti-shipping: firing missiles at enemy warships while denying their air defense cover.
One day it may happen that the new Chinese jets would be used in anger. On such a day People’s Liberation Army would order its pilots to attack enemy warships off the coast of a freedom-loving island not far from the mainland China. In that sense the J-20 is a likely replacement for the JH-7A strike aircraft.

However, Teal Group aviation analyst Richard Aboulafia thinks that using the J-20 as a carrier killer doesn’t make sense given the fact that stealth jets cost so much to develop and China is already working on ballistic missiles designed to do the same thing:

If real, [J-20] would fall under Secretary Gates “exquisite” category. Why not invest the enormous platform-related resources into better long-range stealth missile technology? That sounds like much better bang for the buck, especially since they could try to overwhelm US defenses with larger numbers that way. Also, how does it explain those radar signature-producing canards on the J-20? Still, you can’t discount the possibility.

Here’s a link to Trimble’s posting featuring a translation of Karnozov’s article. Check it out for the technical reasons as to why the plane is a long-range strike jet, not an air superiority fighter.

What do you guys think of this? Anyone have any more insight into the purpose of the J-20? We at DT have noted that the plane is awfully big for a fighter. It may be a sort of 21st century F-111 optimized to hit carriers and the like. Or, as Karnozov also points out, a plane this big could be a very fast interceptor like the old MiG-25. Maybe its just a tech demonstrator meant to prove that Beijing can build an airplane capable of stealth and supercruise. At the end of the day, we’re likely to keep guessing until the Chinese government spills the beans as to the true purpose of the J-20.

Massave Touchscreen

2011-02-09T10:38:00.001-08:00

by Clay Dillow

2 people liked this

From a 3-D Theater, a Massive Touchscreen The screen used for teaching mathematics and computer science students interactivity at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands via SlashGear

For a team of technology whiz kids at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, having a 3-D theater to work in just wasn't enough. Using the curved 33-by-9-foot 3-D screen, a group there has created a touchscreen capable of more than 100 points of simultaneous contact.

To create their super-sized touch panel, the team converted the 3-millimeter dark acrylic screen panel into a touch screen by backlighting it with six full HD projectors. The rest of the hardware isn't particularly high-tech; to create the touch sensitivity they used six Optitrack cameras, 16 inexpensive infrared emitters, and 1,000 LEDs.

Three computers (described by the team as "old") are connected to the cameras (two cameras per computer) and feed data to the visualization system running on a fourth computer. Even with the old computers, they have enough processing power to detect 100 points of contact simultaneously with no delay. More points of touch are possible but the program starts to slow at that point, a problem that seems like it could be fixed with some better hardware.

See it work in all of its touch-sensitive glory below, scored to a soundtrack that Tim Burton would be proud of.

[SlashGear]

2011-02-09T10:38:00.000-08:00

by Clay Dillow

2 people liked this

From a 3-D Theater, a Massive Touchscreen The screen used for teaching mathematics and computer science students interactivity at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands via SlashGear

See it work in all of its touch-sensitive glory below, scored to a soundtrack that Tim Burton would be proud of.

[SlashGear]

Cool Looking Car

2011-02-09T06:50:00.000-08:00

Thanks to:Yanko Design

The following is an introduction to a conceptual car brand via the brand’s first virtual auto. The name of the brand is Shayton, a word that comes from the Sioux word for falcon (Chayton pronounced Shay-ton.) The car that’s being presented is the Shayton Equilibrium. To describe Shayton as a brand, the Equilibrium is described as the world’s first hyper-car. Because this car aims to display “pure hedonism, perversion on four wheels,” Shayton the brand can be easily seen as a niche brand that wishes to become the top tier.

To create such a car as this, one whose goals are to push the boundaries of abstract concepts were born in childhood fantasies, a company must dedicate themselves not only to creating a solid foundation in a strong story, but also to competing with the leading brands who’ve been sparking the imaginations of designers and car enthusiasts for generations. Can the balance inherent in this car, the Shayton Equilibrium, bring the conceptual auto brand Shayton to the forefront of the auto world before it even becomes a reality?

Have a peek at the Equilibrium below, and you be the judge.

ALSO note that Andrej Štanta is one of the designers involved in PROVOCO, the design team responsible for this lovely project – find more work by this designer here: [Andrej Štanta]

Designer: PROVOCO for Shayton

----------

Yanko Design

Mount an Ipad, Anywhere

2011-02-09T06:49:00.001-08:00

Thanks to:Gizmag

By Darren Quick

21:28 February 8, 2011

7 Pictures

Vogel's RingO universal mounting system is compatible with a variety of iPad mounts for different locations

Image Gallery (7 images)

Samsung Wall Mount Sale - www.TopTVMounts.com/Samsung
Premium TV Wall Mounts at 50% Off! Free HDMI Cable + Free Shipping.

Best TV Mounts 60% off - www.MountsMadeSimple.com
Wholesale Pricing Winter Sale Free Shipping &HDMI cord on orders

Looking for a GM Vehicle? - www.Chevrolet.com/Vehicles
Come See What Chevy Vehicles Have to Offer. Learn More Here.

2012 Ford® Focus Electric - ford.com/FocusElectric
Eco-Friendly, Driver-Friendly Tech. See What All the Buzz is About.

Although iPads are designed to be carried around, that doesn’t mean you necessarily want to be literally carrying the iPad all the time – even when you’re using it. Hence the huge variety of iPad mounts on the market. While most of the mounting solutions on offer generally aim for one or maybe two specific uses, such as in the car, on the fridge or in the studio, Vogel’s RingO Universal Mounting System is designed to let users mount their iPad just about anywhere.

View all

As the name suggests, the RingO system consists of a protective iPad holder with a ring shaped aluminum connector located in the middle of its back. This connector clips into a variety of different mounts Vogel has developed to suit different locations.

The Wall Mount consists of a small cylindrical unit about half the size of an aluminum can that is screwed onto a wall or other surface and allows the iPad to be rotated 360 degrees.

The Table Stand is essentially a click on support like you’d find on the rear of a photo frame that lets the iPad be displayed in landscape or portrait mode on a flat surface.

The Car Mount attaches to a front seat headrest to allow the iPad to be used by the rear passengers.

The Flip Stand lets users position an iPad upright for watching movies or slideshows, or slightly raised for typing on a desk or your knees. Won’t be available until later this year.
The Flex Mount is an adjustable arm that mounts to a wall that lets the iPad be tilted and swiveled so it’s in the right position. Not available until later this year.

The Adhesive Mount is basically a non-permanent version of the Wall Mount that sticks to any unpainted, oil free surface, such as tiles or glass, that isn’t suitable for screws. Also not available until later this year.

Vogel, a Dutch company better known for its mounts for flat panel TVs, projectors and loudspeakers, says the system in already available in Europe and is “quickly becoming the universal worldwide standard in tablet mounting systems.” We’re not sure about that but the RingO system certainly looks well made and covers just about all the bases.

However, decking out your house and car with multiple mounts won’t be cheap. Prices start at US$69.99 for the Starter Pack, which includes the Holder and Wall Mount, ranging up to $119.99 for the All-in-One Pack that includes the Holder, Wall Mount, Tablet Stand and Car Mount. They are available now at Vogel's website.

I Want a Satellite

2011-02-09T06:46:00.000-08:00

Thanks to:GIZMAG

23:46 February 8, 2011

2 Pictures

ahumanright.org is a charity group that plans to buy a used satellite, and use it as the first step in a network that would provide free Internet access to everyone in the world

Image Gallery (2 images)

pCom 300 Sat Trailer - SquireTechSolutions.com/pCom
Mobile Communications Trailer SatComs, Generator, Tower System

2011 Chevrolet Volt - www.Chevrolet.com/Volt
It's More Car Than Electric. See How it Compares to the Nissan Leaf.

Satellite Internet ($0) - www.SatelliteInternet.com
$0 Down + $39/mo + (Cash Back) Deal New HughesNet® SALE & Rebates!

Hybrid Automobile - www.Ford.com/FusionHybrid
700 Miles Per Tank and 41 MPG. Research the 2011 Fusion Hybrid.

For those of us who live in the developed world, internet access has become pretty much a given. It’s become so ubiquitous that we almost expect to have it at all times and in all places, but even in this “Information Age,” the majority of the world’s population lacks access to the internet – either because service isn’t available where they are, or they can’t afford it. Kosta Grammatis has a plan, however. Through his charity group ahumanright.org, Grammatis aims to set up a network of satellites that will provide free internet access to everyone in the world. He’s starting by attempting to buy a single used satellite that’s already in orbit and moving it to a location above a developing country.

The spacecraft in question is the Terrestar-1 communications satellite. Given that the company that owns it, Terrestar, has recently filed for bankruptcy, it may soon be up for sale. Grammatis’s plan is to raise US$150,000, so that his group can put together a business plan for funders, process the legal and business aspects of submitting a bid, and hire engineers to figure out how to move and repurpose the satellite. At the time of this publishing, he has raised a total of $37,687.

Once it has the money, ahumanright.org will make a bid on Terrestar-1, begin developing a low-cost modem, acquire an orbital parking spot and radio wave spectrum, and draw up plans with partner governments. The final phase of the project would involve actually moving the satellite into position over a partner country or countries, distributing the modems, and beginning service.

Grammatis told Gizmag that the idea first came to him at Palomar 5, a think tank for 30 people under the age of 30 that took place in Berlin. There, he heard the story of Malawi’s William Kamkwamba.

“Re-inventing the wheel isn't something we would wish upon anyone, but William Kamkwamba's story provides an example of the information disparity slowing down progress for the brightest minds,” said Grammatis. “William couldn't afford the US$80 per year it cost to attend school so he spent his time at the library instead ... over the span of four years he re-invented the windmill to provide himself with electricity. He shared his first Google experience with journalists: ‘He said, Do you know Google? and I said, What animal is a Google? And when I Googled windmill I found there was millions of applications! I said, Where was this Google all this time?!’”

While some people might worry that free web access for all would put internet providers out of business, Grammatis doesn’t think it would be a problem. “All over the world free television and radio is beamed to millions of people,” he said. “It's free, and that service has never threatened cable or satellite TV, in fact, people are happy to pay a premium for a premium service. We have the same vision – basic internet access would be free. It wouldn't be great, but it would do the job.”

While there is currently no price tag attached to Terrestar-1, ahumanright’s Buy This Satellite fundraising website points out that a used Iridium communications satellite was sold in 2000 for $23 million – a steal, considering it reportedly cost $5 billion to build new. Still, the whole venture sounds quite daunting, and it likely wouldn’t be possible without the help of highly-motivated volunteer “ambassadors” who are promoting the charity around the world.

“We're not going to do this alone, and the response has been outstanding,” said Grammatis. “If we all sat around and waited for someone to solve our problems, we'd be waiting a long time.”

What a fantastic idea! Good luck.

Via New Scientist

Flying Down Through Main Street

2011-02-09T06:42:00.000-08:00

Thanks to: GIZMAG

By Paul Ridden

05:39 February 9, 2011

Dr Carsten Mehring has designed a human-powered three-wheeler which suspends its user from a curved frame and is said to offer a sensation of flying along without worrying about getting air sick

Image Gallery (6 images)

2011 Chevrolet Volt - www.Chevrolet.com/Volt
It's More Car Than Electric. See How it Compares to the Nissan Leaf.

Ford® All-Electric Focus - ford.com/electric
Eco-Friendly, Driver-Friendly Tech. See What All the Buzz is About.

$299.99 Wheelchair Lifts - Vertical-Platform-Lifts.com/Lifts
For Home or Auto Wheelchair Lifts Just $299.99. Call Today!

Wheelchair Vans 4 Sale - www.hdsvans.com
New & Used Wheelchair Vans for Sale Scooter Lifts & Turning Seats

If the notion of flying through the air appeals then hand-gliding might be your first thought. But if your fear of heights keeps you closer to the ground then perhaps Dr Carsten Mehring's StreetFlyer may be of interest. The human-powered three-wheeler suspends its user from an arched frame so that when enough momentum is generated, the legs can be lifted off the ground and you're away – at a cruising altitude of just a few feet.

View all

Dr Mehring, inventor of the Exoride foldable urban one-man transporter, says that he had the basic idea for a vehicle with a light-weight body providing lift a couple of years ago. About a year later, the concept was refined into the StreetFlyer design where a lightweight, collapsible and retractable frame supports a user suspended from a harness.

Unlike the two-wheeled GlideCycle, when enough momentum is achieved by the user running along, the legs are lifted and positioned on the footrests near the rear wheel and the user gets "the sensation of flying without actually taking off the ground."

He got in touch with the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado where he used to teach with a view to turning the concept into reality and the idea was picked up as a senior design project by the Mechanical Engineering Department. A team of students rose to the task and, after making a PVC-pipe mock-up, created the StreetFlyer prototype you see here. This version, where the user is suspended some three feet from the ground, is meant to be used for flat or downhill travel only.

Dr Mehring told us that he plans to work on a subsequent version which will benefit from a lighter frame and include electric motors. He sees this StreetFlyer's frame being light enough to be folded onto a user's back and will cater for a smooth transition from a running motion to "flying". It is also planned to move away from the bicycle-inspired steering approach of the current prototype to a mechanism closer to that used in hand-gliding.

In addition to being used for recreation, Dr Mehring told Gizmag that the StreetFlyer could also be useful for physical therapy, with a patient strapped in and able to move around while regaining muscle strength in the lower limbs.

Although Dr Mehring is hopeful that a commercially-available version of the StreetFlyer will be made in the future, he is not in a position to provide the necessary investment.

"Accordingly, I am hoping to attract investors or companies which are already in the business of manufacturing recreational vehicles such as bicycles, skateboards, scooters, etc.," he said.

Below is a video slide show of the design and manufacture process:

Cool Cars

2011-02-08T18:02:00.001-08:00

Thanks to: PopSci

Make My Ride Buyers of Local Motors's Rally Fighter do much of the assembly themselves over two long weekends. Coutesy Local Motors Digital Imaging: Eric Heintz

A crowdsourced, street-legal rally racer; Neil Young's electric Lincoln Continental; tinkering with an Audi R8's computer for crazy horsepower boosts--and much more

Today's cars may seem too sophisticated for tinkering, but the DIY auto movement is thriving, yielding designs and innovations too radical for mass production. Here are four awesome examples of modern garage-guy ingenuity.

1. Manufacturing and Design

The Rally Fighter from start-up Local Motors is a burly, menacing vehicle no major manufacturer would ever include in its standard lineup. With its 33-inch tires, 20 inches of suspension travel and rugged inner skeleton, the street-legal desert racer is too niche for mass production. But Local Motors knows that this beast is exactly what a small subset of buyers wants. How? Those buyers designed it.

The company was co-founded in 2007 by former Marine and Harvard Business School graduate Jay Rogers on the notion of combining the crowd-sourcing and DIY movements with staid auto manufacturing. Amateurs and professionals submit designs to Local Motors's Web site, and users vote on the winners in a monthly contest. If, among other factors, a vehicle generates enough buzz that the company thinks it could sell at least 500 of them, the engineers fine-tune the design to make it feasible. Then Local Motors sets up a micro-factory-think automotive plant meets semi-pro DIY garage-where buyers build the car themselves under guidance from the company's instructors for an estimated $50,000. "We're not trying to make cars for soccer moms," Rogers says. "We're trying to make cars for people who are really deeply interested in automotives. Local Motors can bring these low-volume, highly desirable vehicles to market."

The Rally Fighter is the first to move from the site to the street. Local Motors has 77 orders for the car so far, and it plans to build them, appropriately, in the desert: Phoenix, Arizona. Contest winners have also included a Miami Roadster for speed lovers (which would be built in Miami) and a hydrogen vehicle designed for San Francisco.

Before builders show up, they will watch an instructional DVD at home: basic pre-training for the less handy. "They need to know the difference between a socket wrench and an Allen wrench," Rogers says. Next, the customer will come in with up to two "build partners" for consecutive three-day weekends of work-roughly 60 hours in total. At the start, their Rally Fighter will simply be a welded chassis waiting for parts (pre-molded body panels will also be ready, but unmounted). Up to four groups of customers can be overseen by a single builder/trainer. Rogers describes these Local Motors employees as a mix of teacher, engineer and garage buddy-as he puts it, "personable folks who love sharing knowledge about cars."

Customers get a set of tools and start assembling: front and rear axle and suspension first, then fuel tank and filler neck, the brake and accelerator pedals, the master brake cylinder and the brake lines. The builder/trainer monitors each step, making sure that the work is done properly, but he steps in only when necessary. Rogers says the work won't require master-mechanic expertise. Customers will prep the engine-possibly a clean-diesel from either BMW or Mercedes-mount the engine, transmission and driveshaft, and install the radiator, hoses and fans. And this is just the halfway point. The Local Motors engineers will do some higher-skill work in the days between each customer's session, and the next weekend will be a blur of finishing touches, including doors, wheels and tires, and setting the vehicle ride height and other adjustments. At the end of it all, the customer drives out in his very own desert racer. (The cars will be street-legal, but because they're considered custom vehicles, they won't need to pass National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash tests.)

For someone like Jay Zuppardo, who has Rally Fighter No. 30 reserved, this sounds more like fun than work. He can't wait to get inside the micro-factory and prep his Fighter for the desert. "I could go buy a Jeep or an FJ Cruiser, but it's not going to do what the Rally Fighter is designed to do. I want that car," he says, "and I want to get involved in what it takes to shove it down the line."
local-motors.com

2. Efficiency

RETRO-ELECTRIC

Three years ago, rock legend Neil Young drove his 1959 Lincoln Continental to the shop of Wichita, Kansas-based super-mechanic Johnathan Goodwin and asked him to turn it into a hybrid. Goodwin had already made a name for himself by converting Hummers and other trucks (including Arnold Schwarzenegger's Jeep) to biodiesel and boosting fuel economy from 12 to around 25 miles per gallon. The result of that meeting, the Lincvolt, should be on the road this summer. (Young recently dedicated an album, "Fork in the Road," to his new love.) A 150-kilowatt electric motor, powered by lithium-ion batteries, pushes the three-ton Lincoln down the road. But the real heart of the car is an engine under the hood that can run on biodiesel, diesel, ethanol or other fuels. When the batteries run low, that generator recharges them on the fly, so there's no need to pull over and plug in. Goodwin estimates that the car will exceed 70 mpg.
lincvolt.com

3. Power

GREEN, SHMEAN

Adding horsepower to a modern computer-controlled car isn't really a home-garage job anymore-today's tuners have to be hackers. That's where shops like Heffner Performance come in. Among other mods, the Sarasota, Florida, company alters customers' cars to add more power. A recent project is a souped-up Audi R8. At 420 horsepower, the factory model falls a little short, according to company president Jason Heffner, so he and his team added twin turbos that boost horsepower to 625. "The trickiest part was sorting out the electronics," he says. Ten years ago, he explains, the engine controller just ran the engine, but now the airbags, brakes, traction-control systems-they all communicate with one another. When you modify the engine, Heffner says, "all the aspects of the car need to work hand in hand."
heffnersperformance.com

4. Intelligence

iCAR

Stealing Australian Jonathan Oxer's 2004 Mazda RX-8 would freak out any thief. That's because Oxer can turn the engine on and off, lock and unlock the doors, check the car's performance, and use GPS to track its progress on a Google map, all from a Web browser on a computer or smartphone. Oxer began his 18-month-long effort to boost his car's intelligence because he hadn't seen anyone else build a car-puter accessible 24/7, from anywhere in the world. He mounted a stripped-down computer in the trunk, ran USB cables through the car to connect the computer to the diagnostics system, soldered another connection to the stereo's circuit board, and added 3G mobile broadband, which gave him online access and turned the car into a hotspot. Now he's swapping the computer for a power-sipping microcontroller that should run for weeks and recharge when the car is running.
jon.oxer.com.au

Catipulting Camera

2011-02-08T07:35:00.001-08:00

Thanks to: Yanko Design

The aerial camera is not a new concept to us. The trend started with the Flying Stick and moved on with a Balloon to the Boomerang! This time around we have the camera disguised as a Glider. It takes videos and stills but to take flight, you slingshot it into the air. At its peak, the glider’s folded wings bounce back into shape and aid in its casual glide.

Designer: Xiaofei Wang

----------

Yanko Design

Time to Eat Your Plate Clean

2011-02-08T07:30:00.000-08:00

Thanks to: Yanko design

The following project is one with far fewer hard specs than it has big notions about how the future could be. This project is not a stack of dishes, nay, it is a dish creator. This “Piece of Plate” creator is responsible for the creation of the places where your main course meal will be sitting. Each plate produced will be edible in some way or another, it being organic and made of bio-degradable bits of our mother earth. I cannot speak for its taste.

Last time I had an edible piece of what’s normally porcelain or something similar, it was a bread bowl at the Renaissance fair. Beer cheese soup in a big fat bread bowl? There is nothing better. And now you’re telling me I can have lasagna on an edible plate? This must be love.

Designer: Elisa Parucker

----------

2011-02-08T07:28:00.000-08:00

thanks to: Gizmag

Citroen E-3POD Antistatic Concept: ultralight, micro segment electric three-wheeler

By Mike Hanlon

06:20 February 8, 2011

Citroen E-3POD Antistatic Concept: ultralight, micro segment electric three-wheeler

Image Gallery (6 images)

2011 Chevrolet Volt - www.Chevrolet.com/Volt
It's More Car Than Electric. See How it Compares to the Nissan Leaf.

3 Wheel Motorcycles $1698 - ScooterDepot.us/3-Wheel-Motorcycles
150cc 3 Wheel Motorcycle Trikes, Call 888.839.7088 For More Discount

2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid - Lincoln.com/2011MKZHybrid
Upgrade to America's Most Fuel- Efficient Luxury Car. No Extra Cost

Chattanooga Electric Bike - www.chattanoogaelectricbikes.com
Make biking fun again! 123 Frazier Ave. Chattanooga, TN