Why bother with risky battery-changing surgical operations when your own cardiovascular system can provide all the power your heart-shocking pacemaker will ever need? Engineers at Switzerland’s University of Bern have been working on tiny turbines; turbines small enough, in fact, to fit inside a human artery. Working like a blood powered hydroelectric generator, a working prototype — tested in a simulated artery — has been able to produce 800 microwatts of electricity. That’s roughly eighty times the power required to power the average pacemaker; such a device could provide independent, sustainable power to neurostimulators, blood-pressure sensors, and other implanted medical gizmos. Researchers are concerned, however, that a blood turbine’s adding agitation of blood flow might lead to clotting, and are continuing to tweak and rework the design to minimize this risk. Similar, but unrelated cardiovascular power designs have attempted to alleviate the concern by doing away with the rotating, fluid powered components, opting to generate electricity by oscillating magnets by utilizing changes in blood pressure — which sounds awesome, but still falls shy of “blood turbine,” in the contest for most Metal medical device. Blood turbine to power your pacemaker, become legendary band name originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 May 2011 08:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Mizzou Professor says nantenna solar sheet soaks up 90 percent of the sun’s rays, puts sunscreen to shame
May 17, 2011 No Comment
Photovoltaics suffer from gross inefficiency, despite incremental improvements in their power producing capabilities. According to research by a team led by a University of Missouri professor, however, newly developed nantenna-equipped solar sheets can reap more than 90 percent of the sun’s bounty — which is more than double the efficiency of existing solar technologies . Apparently, some “special high-speed electrical circuitry” is the secret sauce behind the solar breakthrough. Of course, the flexible film is currently a flight of fancy and won’t be generating juice for the public anytime soon. The professor and his pals still need capital for commercialization, but they believe a product will be ready within five years. Take your time, guys, it’s not like global warming’s getting worse. [Image source: Idaho National Laboratory (PDF) ] Mizzou Professor says nantenna solar sheet soaks up 90 percent of the sun’s rays, puts sunscreen to shame originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 May 2011 07:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Looks like Acer’s 7-inch Iconia Tab A100 has opted for a fashionably late entrance. We’ve just been informed by the company that its Honeycomb-sporting, Tegra 2-powered slate will not be arriving, as had been expected, right around now, but will in fact make its debut in the second half of 2011. No reasons have been given for the move, other than to say that the device has been postponed. The thing that prompted us to query Acer’s PR team was a report out of Poland suggesting the A100 had been cancelled. Acer’s UK reps are adamant that’s not been the case, but anyone who was looking forward to grabbing one soon will be disappointed either way. Acer postpones Iconia Tab A100 launch to second half of the year originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 May 2011 06:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Brits eager for a taste of the first 7-inch BlackBerry device have just under a month of anticipation left to go. UK retailers have today revealed the date and prices at which they’ll be selling RIM’s PlayBook : depending on how much integrated storage you want, you’ll have to pay up
Continue reading …Slacker intros Premium Radio subscription service, makes Radio Plus look like Basic Radio
May 17, 2011 No Comment
Internet radio provider Slacker is bulldozing the thin line dividing itself from subscription-based music services today, with the launch of Premium Radio. The new pricing tier joins the existing gratis Basic Radio and ad-free Radio Plus plans, adding an all-you-can-eat music model akin to services like Rhapsody and Rdio . Subscribers who shell out $9.99 a month receive all of the features of the $3.99 Radio Plus users, plus unlimited access to eight million songs, letting them listen to what they want, when the want, and generally play god with the site’s existing radio services. Premium Radio also gives you on- and offline access to music on a number of mobile devices, including the iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Android, and BlackBerry handsets — not to mention unlimited bragging rights to all of your broke friends who are still rocking the Basic Radio plan. Don’t feel too bad for ‘em, though — at least they didn’t get suckered into slotRadio . Continue reading Slacker intros Premium Radio subscription service, makes Radio Plus look like Basic Radio Slacker intros Premium Radio subscription service, makes Radio Plus look like Basic Radio originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 May 2011 03:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Pandigital’s 7-inch Planet e-reader hits the FCC with Android, virus protection
May 17, 2011 No Comment
Pandigital’s contributions to the e-reader market may have been largely forgettable thus far, but that hasn’t stopped the company from churning out new models and hoping something sticks. The latest is the Planet, a 7-inch, Android-based reader that just passed muster with the FCC. According to the filing, it’ll connect to Barnes & Noble’s e-book store and come bundled with various apps, including Facebook, QuickSuite Viewer, and — surprise! — virus protection. And though it’ll run some unspecified version of Android, you’ll have to download apps through the third-party store SlideMe, since the e-reader predictably won’t have Market access. Rounding out the spec list are a WiFi radio, HDMI output, and front- and rear-facing cameras. No word on pricing or availability, but let’s just hope it’s less buggy than some other readers Pandigital has made. Pandigital’s 7-inch Planet e-reader hits the FCC with Android, virus protection originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 May 2011 03:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Motorola Droid X 2 turns up on Moto and Verizon sites, confirms qHD screen and 1GHz dual-core processor
May 16, 2011 No Comment
Hey Motorola, your unannounced phone is showing. The Droid X 2 is spending this morning hanging out on the bright and airy support pages of motorola.com, though you may also spot it sneakily listed alongside some compatible accessories on vzw.com as well. Yes, the leaks are now happening from official sources, too, indicating an imminent landing for what we’ve confirmed to be a dual-core 1GHz Android smartphone with qHD resolution on a 4.3-inch display. Those long-rumored specs were revealed by the Droid X 2′s user guide, which Moto has kindly provided at the link below. So thoughtful! [Thanks, 3vil] Continue reading Motorola Droid X 2 turns up on Moto and Verizon sites, confirms qHD screen and 1GHz dual-core processor Motorola Droid X 2 turns up on Moto and Verizon sites, confirms qHD screen and 1GHz dual-core processor originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 May 2011 02:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Traditional electronic watches may be practical, but there’s nothing elegant about battery power. With the Eole watch concept , designer Julien Moise envisioned a device that’s powered by blown air, displaying the time only when you want to see it. Sure, compulsively blowing on your watch in a meeting is less discrete than sneaking a peak under the table, but you’ll still have your BlackBerry around for when you need to count down the minutes until freedom. There’s also a weather indicator and alarm function, so we assume there’s a battery in there that’s doing more than keeping time — an alarm that only sounds when you blow wouldn’t work too well if you’re asleep. Continue reading Eole concept watch has turbine bezel, shows time when you blow (video) Eole concept watch has turbine bezel, shows time when you blow (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 May 2011 23:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …GreenChip lighting lets you flip the switch remotely, thumbs nose at IPv4 depletion
May 16, 2011 No Comment
Despite the looming IPv4 apocalypse , a new lighting system coming out of NXP Semiconductors promises an “IP address for every light bulb.” The GreenChip “smart lighting solution” incorporates NXP chipsets into both LED and compact flourescents to enable dimming, extended lifespans, quick start times, and IP connectivity — via IPv4 or IPv6. Proprietary network software allows users to control their bulbs from smartphones, PCs, and other devices, enabling them to fiddle with mood lighting — including adjusting color — via a specific IP address. So at least when IPv4 doomsday finally descends someone will have their lighting just right. Video and PR after the break. Continue reading GreenChip lighting lets you flip the switch remotely, thumbs nose at IPv4 depletion GreenChip lighting lets you flip the switch remotely, thumbs nose at IPv4 depletion originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 May 2011 01:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Slacker intros Radio Plus subscription service, makes Premium Radio look like Basic Radio
May 16, 2011 No Comment
Internet radio provider Slacker is bulldozing the thin line dividing itself from subscription-based music services today, with the launch of Radio Plus. The new pricing tier joins the existing gratis Basic Radio and ad-free Premium Radio plans, adding an all-you-can-eat music model akin to services like Rhapsody and Rdio . Subscribers who shell out $9.99 a month receive all of the features of the $4.99 Premium Radio users, plus unlimited access to eight million songs, letting them listen to what they want, when the want, and generally play god with the site’s existing radio services. Radio Plus also gives you on- and offline access to music on a number of mobile devices, including the iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Android, and BlackBerry handsets — not to mention unlimited bragging rights to all of your broke friends who are still rocking the Basic Radio plan. Don’t feel too bad for ‘em, though — at least they didn’t get suckered into slotRadio . Continue reading Slacker intros Radio Plus subscription service, makes Premium Radio look like Basic Radio Slacker intros Radio Plus subscription service, makes Premium Radio look like Basic Radio originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 May 2011 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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