NC State builds self-healing structural stress sensor, moves on to other alliterative projects
June 16, 2011 No Comment
“Sensor, heal thyself,” goes an old saying, and North Carolina State University researchers have given it a new spin. Structural stress monitors can break during, say, an earthquake or explosion: just when you most need information about a building’s integrity. So the NCSU crew added a reservoir of ultraviolet-curable resin; if their sensor cracks, the resin flows into the gap, where a UV light hardens it. An infrared light, which does the actual monitoring, then has a complete circuit through which to pass, and voila: stress data flows once more, aiding decision-makers. Obviously we never tire of UV-reactive gadgetry , especially for making safer buildings, and we’re doubly glad to see self-healing that doesn’t involve the phrase “he’s just not that into you.” To see the self-repair in action, check the picture after the break, and hit the source link for more info. Continue reading NC State builds self-healing structural stress sensor, moves on to other alliterative projects NC State builds self-healing structural stress sensor, moves on to other alliterative projects originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 09:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Acer unveils Aspire Ethos laptops built to please eyes and ears in the US and Canada
June 16, 2011 No Comment
We got acquainted with Acer’s new Aspire Ethos 8951G and 5951G laptops a week ago, and told you all about its hot hardware and its
Continue reading …Dual-screen LG Android phone shows up in the wild, poses more questions than it answers
June 16, 2011 No Comment
A little shindig held by Orange in the UK has unearthed a T-Mobile-branded LG device that we’ve never seen before. It features a display of moderate size and resolution, which slides up to reveal a split QWERTY keyboard and yet another color display. The hidden visualizer is apparently used as an app-launching shortcut repository, though other details remain frustratingly light. Kineto Wireless were the company to bring this unannounced LG handset to the party, along with a bunch of others intended for the US market, and the rep on hand dropped the name Flip II to the Pocket-lint sleuths. There’s also the possibility that what we’re eyeing is the LG Maxx Q, which has popped up on a recently leaked T-Mo USA roadmap , though that Android 1.6 wallpaper could mean that this is just an aged prototype that never saw the light of retail day. Which would be a darn shame, if you ask us. Give the source link a bash for more pictures. Dual-screen LG Android phone shows up in the wild, poses more questions than it answers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 06:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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It seems the Polk folk have had their fill of iPod docks , shower speakers , and soundbars , and are hungry for a new market: headphones. The outfit aims to “change the sonic landscape” (their words) for athletes and “ardent headphone users” with their UltraFit and UltraFocus monikered ear-gear. Between the two brands, Polk is promising four brightly-colored UltraFit sports ‘phones, including in-ear, on-ear, and earbud models, as well as two UltraFocus in-ear and over-ear noise canceling headphones. No word on price or release date, but Polk suggests you should be able to get your hands on its sporty headgear sometime this fall. Need more? You can find a buzzword-laden press release after the break. Continue reading Polk enters the headphone game with sporty, generic ear-speakers Polk enters the headphone game with sporty, generic ear-speakers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 05:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Toshiba SCiB to be used in Mitsubishi i-MiEV, recharge to 80 percent in just 15 minutes
June 16, 2011 No Comment
Toshiba’s SCiB ( Super Charge Ion Battery ) technology has long been the source of great hope and anticipation in electronics circles, but it’s never quite delivered the world-changing retail products that its marketing promised. Hoping to correct that in a big way, the company’s now hooked up with Mitsubishi to distribute said fast-charging cells in the taxman-friendly i-MiEV (to be known as Mitsubishi i in the US) and its taxi variant, the MINICAB-MiEV. How fast-charging, you ask? We’re told recharging will be done in 15 minutes for 80 percent, 10 minutes for 50 percent, and a mere 300 seconds for 25 percent. You’ll need a CHAdeMO charger to achieve such rapid revitalization rates, but those stations are sprouting up across the US now . There are other favorable qualities to Toshiba’s batteries, including “excellent charging and output” under very low temperatures , 2.5 times the number of charge / discharge cycles of regular lithium ion cells, and safer operation than most other alternatives. Check out the full PR after the break. Continue reading Toshiba SCiB to be used in Mitsubishi i-MiEV, recharge to 80 percent in just 15 minutes Toshiba SCiB to be used in Mitsubishi i-MiEV, recharge to 80 percent in just 15 minutes originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 04:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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With PSN issues abound , April and May were certainly not banner months for Sony . Things are looking up for the electronics maker in June, however, with well-received PlayStation Vita and NEX-C3 camera announcements last week, and now a top rating for its highly-capable Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V point-and-shoot over at Photography Blog. The 16.2 megapixel camera includes a 16x wide-angle zoom lens and a 921K-dot 3-inch LCD, and the reviews site highlighted the cam’s excellent image quality and 1080p video capture, going so far as to say that the “Sony CyberShot DSC-HX9V is the best travel-zoom camera that we’ve reviewed to date.” Hot damn! We expect a lot of camera for $350, and it looks like this superzoom delivers for advanced shooters as well, with a 10 fps full-res burst mode, full manual control, and an f/3.3 wide-angle aperture. We’re sold. If you don’t want to step up to the slightly larger and pricier NEX series, this
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It’s a common problem, really. You crack open your app haven of choice, stumble around for a few moments, and back out in frustration — it’s yet another round of Angry Birds instead of toying with something new. If Yahoo has its way, said scenario will no longer be a part of your routine, with the company’s App Search wizardry aiming to nix the guesswork so often associated with finding the proverbial needle in the haystack. It’ll be available on the PC (and momentarily, for iPhone and Android platforms), and will differ from those other app search alternatives by providing an all-in-one place that combines description, price, overall star rating from users, and screenshots. It’ll also pester you with daily, personalized recommendations of the iPhone and Android apps you should consider based on the apps you’ve downloaded, but only if you’re into that kind of thing. Head on past the break for the full spill, and feel free to Ctrl+F for the good stuff. Gallery: Yahoo AppSpot app search program Continue reading Yahoo App Search, AppSpot make sense of App Store and Android Market Yahoo App Search, AppSpot make sense of App Store and Android Market originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 02:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Microsoft’s been talking up its forthcoming Kinect for Windows SDK for quite a while now, and it looks like developers might soon finally be able to get their hands on it. According to WinRumors , Microsoft will roll out the beta version of the SDK during a special event on Channel 9 at 9:30 AM Pacific time (12:30 Eastern) tomorrow — something that’s now been backed up somewhat by the Channel 9 website itself, which is simply promising a “special Kinect focused event tomorrow.” WinRumors is also reporting that the President of Microsoft Spain said during an appearance at a conference today that the beta SDK would be available “this week.” So, it certainly seems like things are lining up for a release — it’s just a shame that “Kinect applications” doesn’t have the same ring as Kinect hacks . Kinect for Windows SDK beta to roll out tomorrow? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 22:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …ITRI touchscreen technology lets you pinch-to-zoom boob tubes of any size (video)
June 15, 2011 No Comment
Turning a plain old display into a multi-touch affair isn’t exactly a groundbreaking feat, but we’re still drooling over the Industrial Technology Research Institute’s (ITRI) latest touchscreen enabler . The Taiwan-based outfit recently showed off a new attachment that the folks over at Netbooknews claim can make displays of any size touch-friendly. We’re told that the touchy-feely accessory is still in development, which means it probably won’t hit our living room anytime soon, but our fingers are tingling just thinking of the possibilities. Hop on past the break to see the thing in action. Continue reading ITRI touchscreen technology lets you pinch-to-zoom boob tubes of any size (video) ITRI touchscreen technology lets you pinch-to-zoom boob tubes of any size (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 23:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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