Is a full-size DeLorean ( time machine or otherwise) a bit out of your budget? Then you might want to consider Flash Rods’ latest 1:18 scale replica, which not only faithfully reproduces the DeLorean Time Machine (complete with Mr. Fusion reactor from Back to the Future II ), but actually packs a 500GB Seagate hard drive inside to give you some justification for actually having it on your desk. Of course, it will cost a considerable premium over a regular 500GB hard drive, but we can certainly think of plenty of worse ways to spend $250. Flash Rods’ DeLorean hard drive: $250, 500 jigabytes! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 07:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …New electrowetting technique could do e-paper on real paper, lead to disposable Kindles
November 24, 2010 No Comment
Wahey, another day another theoretical display that will revolutionize the world, this time one that fits right in with your disposable, capitalistic lifestyle. Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have found a new way to utilize electrowetting , modifying the water repellency forces of a given surface to move colored ink and create a reflective display — a technique that has long been the domain of Liquavista . This new version of that technique enables the creation of e-paper on actual paper, requiring no glass or fancy circuitry and, in theory, creating displays nearly as cheaply as magazines are printed today, opening the door to disposable e-readers and the like. No word on when such devices might be available outside of a lab, but we’ll go ahead anyway and take this opportunity to remind you should always recycle your high-tech future e-readers. New electrowetting technique could do e-paper on real paper, lead to disposable Kindles originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 06:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Nissan Leaf blessed with 99MPG ‘equivalent’ sticker, roundtable arguments ensue
November 24, 2010 No Comment
Cue the pundits . Nissan’s incoming Leaf has just nabbed an official EPA sticker, with a mind-melting 99MPG “equivalent” rating set to grace every single window. That’ll undoubtedly catch eyes, but it’s also likely to spur a huge debate on what “miles per gallon” truly means when you’re throwing a battery into the mix. We actually had the pleasure of driving one ourselves late last month, but we weren’t able to take off on any extended joyrides to really put MPG claims to the test. At any rate, the 99 rating breaks down to 106MPG in the city and 92MPG on the highway, but there’s quite a bit of fuzzy math here that gas guzzlers aren’t accustomed to considering. Nissan claims that the EPA uses a formula where 33.7 kWhs are equivalent to one gallon of gasoline energy, and that the entity also found the Leaf’s efficiency to be 3.4 miles per kWh. Given that the car has a 24 kWh battery pack and can go 73 miles officially, then the EPA says it could theoretically go 99 miles if it had a 33.7 kWh pack. Still, the Leaf has to await its other label from the FTC, but it’s apt to show a range of 96 to 110 miles of range. Head on past the break for the full presser. Continue reading Nissan Leaf blessed with 99MPG ‘equivalent’ sticker, roundtable arguments ensue Nissan Leaf blessed with 99MPG ‘equivalent’ sticker, roundtable arguments ensue originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 06:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Squirt water gun robot pesters raccoons, takes orders from Android (video)
November 24, 2010 No Comment
It’s not uncommon to see Mr. Android and Sir Arduino team up in the world of homegrown robotics, but Squirt has managed to hop out of the me-too crowd with a downright charming control scheme (and even more charming looks). Put simply, this water gun robot was designed to “water plants and chase away raccoons,” but from a broader perspective, the creator was looking to demonstrate how robotics could be used in small irrigation and well systems. Better still, this is far more than just a robot that’s controlled remotely via smartphone; if you switch it into ‘guard mode,’ it’ll search and destroy — pelting anything “that moves” with a blast of water. And yeah, it can also be controlled via SMS, so even the cats can’t celebrate too quickly once the owner heads out for work. Hit the source link to find out more on how this masterpiece was constructed, or head beyond the break for a quick demo vid. Continue reading Squirt water gun robot pesters raccoons, takes orders from Android (video) Squirt water gun robot pesters raccoons, takes orders from Android (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 05:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Kuwait bans DSLRs, leaves Micro Four Thirds question hanging in the air
November 24, 2010 No Comment
We’re not sure what the humble DSLR has ever done to offend the Kuwaiti government, but, according to the Kuwait Times , the recreational use of Digital Single-Lens Reflex cameras has now been outlawed in the country. The Ministries of Information, Social Affairs and Finance (hello, 1984 !) have collectively decided to ban the use of the chunky shooters in public places, except where it can be shown that it’s for journalistic purposes. This decision has left a lot of people scratching their heads, not least because every self-respecting smartphone nowadays can pump out screen-filling images. And then there’s also the matter of determining where the line between compact cameras, which are still allowed, and DSLRs resides — for example, is the Lumix G2 an illegal shooter just because it looks like one? Kuwait bans DSLRs, leaves Micro Four Thirds question hanging in the air originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 05:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Chinese man plays MMO on titanic screen, pleads for higher pixel density (video)
November 24, 2010 No Comment
Never mind your 103-inch plasmas or Guiness Word Record-holding stadium displays, real gamers do their thing on LCDs that span a cool seven thousand and five hundred square meters (translated into imperial measuring units, that’s… a lot! ). What you see above is a little glimpse of an MMO enthusiast with a big passion and no less sizable wallet. The gent in question was displeased by the fact a competing guildmaster in the Chinese MMO Magic World Online 2 got to play in an IMAX theater, and therefore decided to one-up him in the only way possible: by hiring Beijing’s crazily oversized display (titled “All Beijing, look up!”) for a little session of supersized gaming. Jump past the break to see it on video. Continue reading Chinese man plays MMO on titanic screen, pleads for higher pixel density (video) Chinese man plays MMO on titanic screen, pleads for higher pixel density (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 04:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Scientists finally find a practical use for metamaterials: boosting antenna performance (video)
November 24, 2010 No Comment
Metamaterials can do all sorts of cool things in theory, like create invisibility cloaks or focus lasers . In practice, though, they’re rather less useful. Or at least they were, before the team at Fractal Antenna figured out that a simple sleeve made out of fractal-based metamaterials triples the bandwidth of a simple monopole antenna and boosts its gain by 3dB. All you need to do is slip the fractal sleeve on and and, hey presto, instant super antenna. You can see it demonstrated in the video after the break before reading all the nitty, gritty, infinitely-repeating details in the PR, which is down there too. Continue reading Scientists finally find a practical use for metamaterials: boosting antenna performance (video) Scientists finally find a practical use for metamaterials: boosting antenna performance (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 04:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …iPhone gets UberTwitter client, BlackBerrys have one less reason to exist
November 24, 2010 No Comment
If the name UberTwitter sounds familiar, that’ll be because it’s one of the more popular mobile Twitter clients, accounting for 10 million tweets each day from BlackBerry users around the globe. And now it’s also available on the iPhone. Citing the “growing dominance” of Apple’s one-device-to-rule-them-all mobile platform, the UberTwitter crew has decided to expand its offering with a new open beta, which is available to download now. The major distinguishing feature being touted is something called UberView, which allows access to links within tweets without exiting the app or opening up a new window within it. Looks a pretty slick idea, but there are still some early issues to be ironed out — as with all beta iterations — and a final v1.0 should be ready to do battle with Twitter’s official app by the middle of December. Continue reading iPhone gets UberTwitter client, BlackBerrys have one less reason to exist iPhone gets UberTwitter client, BlackBerrys have one less reason to exist originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 03:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …WD TV Live media players gain Blockbuster on Demand, USB wireless keyboard support
November 24, 2010 No Comment
It’s not like anyone could predict the media streamer war that would erupt in 2010, but it looks like Western Digital’s taking things pretty seriously. The company has just issued a somewhat major overhaul for its WD TV Live Plus and WD TV Live media players, adding Facebook support while also giving US-based users the ability to instantly rent or purchase movies via Blockbuster on Demand. Post-firmware update, users will also be able to tap into Deezer (an on-demand music service), Flingo (another internet TV portal) and AccuWeather (a place that “forecasts” what’s happening in our “atmosphere”). Potentially more important than all of that, however, is the addition of USB wireless keyboard support — simply plug in a USB wireless dongle that ships with most every wireless keyboard out there, and you’ll be free to update your Facebook status or search for “Bed Intruder Song” through YouTube, all from the comfort of your sofa. Huzzah! Continue reading WD TV Live media players gain Blockbuster on Demand, USB wireless keyboard support WD TV Live media players gain Blockbuster on Demand, USB wireless keyboard support originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 02:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …LG BD690 is the first Blu-ray player certified for Wi-Fi direct, keeps Bluetooth paranoid
November 24, 2010 No Comment
The possibilities teased in 2009 by Wi-Fi Direct have probably kept Bluetooth up at night, and we’re sure the commencement of device certification last month hasn’t helped, either. Now the LG BD960 has emerged as the first Blu-ray player on the Wi-Fi Direct certification list, hinting direct P2P communication in our home theaters among WiFi devices (without the need for a routing middleman) could soon go from fiction to fact. Unfortunately, mum’s still the word on shipping and pricing. The mere chance however that the player could stream content to any other WiFi-equipped device — Direct certified or not — is a big enough deal to give our dedicated media streamers Defarge-like glances already. Particularly, if the BD960 comes packed with features similar its suspected predecessor the LG-BD390 , which can stream both Netflix, Vudu, and DLNA network content, as well as play DivX HD 1080p content. Until more details surface though, we’ll simply have to keep reminding our poor Galaxy S that it isn’t destined to be alone in this cold, cruel world forever. LG BD690 is the first Blu-ray player certified for Wi-Fi direct, keeps Bluetooth paranoid originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 02:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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