No need to worry about that loud, fiery exploding noise in Florida last week — that was the sound of us all becoming a little bit safer. An Atlas 5 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral on Saturday, carrying Lockheed Martin’s Space-Based Infrared Systems (SBIRS) Geo-1. The spacecraft will be followed by three more satellites launched in the next five years, all totaling $17.6 billion. Ominously referred to as “persistent overhead surveillance,” the $1.3 billion first piece of the SBIRS constellation missile defense system is set to replace the antiquated Defense Support Program launched in 1970. It’s a small price to pay to keep those darn space invaders out of our hair. Continue reading First piece of SBIRS missile defense system launched, not shot down First piece of SBIRS missile defense system launched, not shot down originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 May 2011 03:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …No need to worry about that loud, fiery exploding noise in Florida last week — that was the sound of us all becoming a little bit safer. An Atlas 5 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral on Saturday, carrying Lockheed Martin’s Space-Based Infrared Systems (SBIRS) Geo-1. The spacecraft will be followed by three more satellites launched in the next five years, all totaling $17.6 billion. Ominously referred to as “persistent overhead surveillance,” the $1.3 billion first piece of the SBIRS constellation missile defense system is set to replace the antiquated Defense Support Program launched in 1970. It’s a small price to pay to keep those darn space invaders out of our hair. Continue reading First piece of SBIRS missile defense system launched, not shot down First piece of SBIRS missile defense system launched, not shot down originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 May 2011 03:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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No need to worry about that loud, fiery exploding noise in Florida last week — that was the sound of us all becoming a little bit safer. An Atlas 5 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral on Saturday, carrying Lockheed Martin’s Space-Based Infrared Systems (SBIRS) Geo-1. The spacecraft will be followed by three more satellites launched in the next five years, all totaling $17.6 billion. Ominously referred to as “persistent overhead surveillance,” the $1.3 billion first piece of the SBIRS constellation missile defense system is set to replace the antiquated Defense Support Program launched in 1970. It’s a small price to pay to keep those darn space invaders out of our hair. Continue reading First piece of SBIRS missile defense system launched, not shot down First piece of SBIRS missile defense system launched, not shot down originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 May 2011 03:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …No need to worry about that loud, fiery exploding noise in Florida last week — that was the sound of us all becoming a little bit safer. An Atlas 5 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral on Saturday, carrying Lockheed Martin’s Space-Based Infrared Systems (SBIRS) Geo-1. The spacecraft will be followed by three more satellites launched in the next five years, all totaling $17.6 billion. Ominously referred to as “persistent overhead surveillance,” the $1.3 billion first piece of the SBIRS constellation missile defense system is set to replace the antiquated Defense Support Program launched in 1970. It’s a small price to pay to keep those darn space invaders out of our hair. Continue reading First piece of SBIRS missile defense system launched, not shot down First piece of SBIRS missile defense system launched, not shot down originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 May 2011 03:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …RoboDynamics Luna: the 5-foot tall personal robotic platform that retails for $1,000
May 11, 2011 No Comment
It’s a new era for personal robotics. Meet Luna, the full-programmable robot companion platform that will retail for $1,000. As a platform, RoboDynamics — a Santa Monica-based company previously grounded in telepresence — is trying to position Luna as the 5-foot tall “beige box” of modern robotics. She comes with her own one-click Luna App Store, eight “Luna Expansion Ports” (think 12/5 volt USB for robots), and Luna CloudNet where third-parties can sell additional functionality like face recognition to app developers. The robot ships with a number of personality packs and features an 8-inch touchscreen, two cameras, wireless connectivity, a three-mic array, and a variety of sensors. Oh, and she’s portable. Remember, Luna’s not a prototype, but a real working robot that you can actually take home for the price of an entry-level laptop. Or at least you can once we get a release date. Gallery: RoboDynamics Luna: the 5-foot tall personal robotic platform that retails for $1,000 RoboDynamics Luna: the 5-foot tall personal robotic platform that retails for $1,000 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 May 2011 02:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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We made a few predictions about Google’s ( then-presumed ) music service in our streaming roundup last week, and thanks to the inability of an undisclosed amount of labels to take a whiff of whatever El Goog was cooking, it looks as if we’ve been left with something less robust, but nevertheless intriguing. It’s worth taking a glance at our team editorial on Music Beta by Android to get a feel of what could’ve been, but the reality is this: what was launched today is what we’ve been dealt, and now it’s time to break things down and see how it actually functions in practice. Care to have a look at a full installation walkthrough, problem reports and two more pennies on how the service stacks up? That, along with tips on fulfilling your hopes and dreams, are tucked away just after the break. Gallery: Google Music Beta walkthrough on phone, tablet and PC Continue reading Google Music Beta walkthrough: what it is and how it works (video) Google Music Beta walkthrough: what it is and how it works (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 May 2011 02:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Remember those 3,000 movies from Universal, Sony and Warner Bros. that were added to YouTube yesterday? Turns out, that same library is also being pushed to Google’s newly announced Movies service. We learned as much during the outfit’s executive Q&A session following the keynote this morning, and furthermore anything purchased / rented via Google Movies will be available to consume via YouTube, and vice-versa . Not a bad gesture! YouTube and Google Movies rentals can be consumed on either platform originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 May 2011 14:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Microsoft’s Rock and Rails touchscreen lets you massage your photos with both hands
May 10, 2011 No Comment
If you ever get tired of poking away at your smartphone’s screen like a doorbell, you’re not alone. The forward-looking folks over at Microsoft Research have been working away at a new touchscreen system designed pick up on more natural, whole-hand movements, effectively allowing users to break free from the finger-based paradigm that governs most tactile devices. Developed in coordination with engineers at Microsoft Surface, the company’s Rock and Rails interface can detect three basic hand gestures: a balled fist, which holds items on the screen, an extended hand that can align objects (see the cell marked “d,” on the right) and a curved paw, around which users can pivot images (see cell b). This taxonomy opens up new ways for users to crop, re-size or generally play around with their UI elements, though it remains unclear whether the display will trickle down to the consumer level anytime soon. For now, it appears to operate exclusively on the Surface , but more details should surface when the system’s developers release a paper on their project, later this year. Hit the source links to see a video of the thing in action. Microsoft’s Rock and Rails touchscreen lets you massage your photos with both hands originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 May 2011 00:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …All 2014 Prius hybrids to roll with plug-in and 2011 pricing, Hoitz and Gamble rejoice (update: not true)
May 10, 2011 No Comment
Hybrid cars are sleek, efficient, and even occasionally sexy . Cheap they are not, however, though Toyota hopes to stir up the market in 2014, with affordable plug-in models that also boast much-improved mileage ratings. That year’s Prii will ship standard with plug-in , and will quietly conquer at least 90 highway miles per gallon (compared to about 50 mpg for current models), according to Autoblog . The 2014 Prius will also be priced comparably to current non-plug-in models — around $25,000 — assuming Toyota can successfully reduce the cost of batteries and other key components. We can only hope that fuel prices aren’t any higher three years from now, but even if they are, at least you’ll still be able to afford to commute in something larger than a Vespa. Update: Oops! Toyota responded to this report saying “there is no formal plan to make all Priuses [sic] plug-in by 2014.” Not even a possibility, Autoblog was told. Ah well. All 2014 Prius hybrids to roll with plug-in and 2011 pricing, Hoitz and Gamble rejoice (update: not true) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 May 2011 19:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Last month , a device (model number HSTNH-F30CN) that we surmised to be a Pre 3 hit the FCC rocking AT&T band GSM radios. Now, its brother HSTNH-F30CV is seeking federal approval to ride CDMA (850 / 1900 MHz), UMTS (900 / 2100 MHz), and GSM (850 / 900 / 1800 / 2100 MHz) wireless waves. With that “V” tagged on the end of the model moniker and its Verizon-friendly innards, it sure looks like the Pre 3 will be the next handset to wear a checkmark on its front. Additionally, those world wide bands tell us that a webOS device will soon be joining the Androids and Blackberrys in Big Red’s rather limited lineup of global handsets. Skeptical about our smartphone Spidey Sense? Hit the source link and see for yourself, Sherlock. Another Pre 3 at the FCC, coming to Verizon for you and me? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 May 2011 23:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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