Why just use solar power or wind power when you can use both? Designed by Francesco Colarossi, Giovanna Saracino and Luisa Saracino as part of an Italian design contest to re-imagine a decommissioned bridge (for which it placed second), this so-called Solar Wind concept would have solar cells embedded in the roadway (an idea that’s already catching on ) and an array of 26 wind turbines underneath, which the designers say could produce enough energy combined to power 15,000 homes. To make the design greener still, the designers have even included a “green promenade” that would run alongside the road, which they suggest could be used to grow fruits and vegetables that’d then be sold to folks driving by. Incidentally, while it’s less focused on technology, the design that placed first in the contest (a so-called “vertical village”) is pretty impressive in its own right — check it out after the break. Continue reading Solar Wind bridge concept could power 15,000 homes, grow vegetables Solar Wind bridge concept could power 15,000 homes, grow vegetables originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 01:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Not looking for a new PowerShot ? How’s about a new DSLR? Canon has just rolled out a new entry-level Rebel and a new flagship Rebel this evening, with the T3 (1100D) and T3i (600D) offering mild updates over their predecessors . The EOS Rebel T3 will ship at the end of March with a EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II zoom lens for $599.99, offering up a 12.2 megapixel CMOS sensor, DIGIC 4 Imaging processor, nine-point autofocus system and a 63-zone dual-layer metering system. You’ll need to provide your own SD, SDHC or SDXC card, but unlike entry-level bodies of the past, this guy will capture full-motion video at 1280 x 720. There’s an ISO range of 100 to 6,400, a pop-up flash and a newfangled Basic+ non-technical interface that should help beginners grow accustomed to more technical aspects of photography without the steep learning curve. Stepping up, there’s the new T3i, which boasts an 18 megapixel CMOS sensor, an ISO range of 100 to 6,400, support for SD / SDHC / SDXC cards, DIGIC 4 Imaging processor, pop-up flash, integrated Speedlite settings (to go along with a few new Speedlite flashes also introduced today) and a tilt / swivel LCD monitor. It’ll ship at the start of March for $799.99 (body only), or $899.99 bundled with a EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II zoom lens. Hit the source links below for the devilish details, not to mention information on two new telephoto lenses (the EF 500mm F/4L IS II USM and EF 600mm F/4L IS II USM). Continue reading Canon trots out Canon Rebel T3 and Rebel T3i DSLR cameras Canon trots out Canon Rebel T3 and Rebel T3i DSLR cameras originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 00:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Eschewing the CCD of the past, Canon’s new PowerShot lineup — we know, it sounds like a familiar tune, but hear us out, these are new — all boast a 12.1 megapixel CMOS sensors. The quartet enjoys the 12.1 megapixel HS (High Sensitivity) sensor introduced a year ago with S90 and G11 . In fact, the ELPH nomenclature has nixed “digital,” “SD,” and “IS” in favor of the more simplistic (but still elongated) “ELPH HS.” So without further ado, the PowerShot ELPH 500 HS features a 3.2-inch touch panel screen, 4.4x optical zoom, ultra-wide angle 24mm lens with optical image stabilization, and color options including siiver, brown, and pink. The ultra-slim ELPH 300 HS has a 2.7-inch LCD, image stabilization, 4x zoom and a 24mm wide angle lens. On the lower end of the spectrum, the 100 HS comes in five colors, has a 4x optical zoom, a 3-inch LCD, and a 4x optical zoom — otherwise, it shares many features of its bigger 300 HS brother. Meanwhile, the (non-ELPH) SX230 HS has a 14x zoom, GPS, and a 3-inch LCD. Price and release date? All are due in March (the 100 HS in the beginning of March, the rest by the end), with the 100 / 300 / 500 HS going for $199.99, $249.99, and $299.99, respectively, and the SX-230 for $349.99. Peruse the pics below — enjoy! Gallery: Canon PowerShot SX230 HS, ELPH 100 / 300 / 500 HS Canon intros PowerShot SX-230, ELPH 100 / 300 / 500 HS originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Mobisante’s MobiUS smartphone ultrasound system secures FDA clearance, now needs to graduate from WinMo
February 7, 2011 No Comment
The concept of a smartphone-based ultrasound imaging system is far from new , but Dr. Sailesh Chutani — Mobisante’s CEO and a former bigwig at Microsoft — is bound and determined to take things beyond the drawing board. The aforesaid company has just landed what may in fact be the most important part of the production puzzle: 510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration. That’s a major seal of approval, and pretty much allows the company to move forward with plans to get ultrasound technology into remote villages and rural hospitals where it’s simply not feasible to purchase a $20,000+ system. Of course, there’s still many years of work between now and then; the existing build only works on Toshiba’s WinMo-based TG01 smartphone, and current estimates still put a $7,000 to $8,000 price tag on the whole MobiUS package. If it can reach critical mass, it’s hoping to halve that asking price, and if things keep progressing, this may very well be the company that makes an ultrasound stethoscope a reality. Here’s hoping this is just the firm’s first celebration of many to come. Mobisante’s MobiUS smartphone ultrasound system secures FDA clearance, now needs to graduate from WinMo originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Feb 2011 23:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Inhabitat’s Week in Green: solar pyramids in UAE, Tequila turns to biofuel, and green lamps galore
February 7, 2011 No Comment
Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week’s most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us — it’s the Week in Green. Alternative energy projects powered up around the globe this week as Inhabitat showcased a series of solar pyramids designed to energize Abu Dhabi and the Netherlands rolled out plans for a bike path paved with photovoltaics . Meanwhile India announced that it will launch a series of solar-powered cellphone towers this year, and a 19-year-old American teenager created a parabolic solar death ray — and promptly proceeded to burn down his garden shed. In other news, Tesla jolted the auto world with plans to launch its upcoming Model X in 2013, and a team of researchers from the University of Illinois discovered that the same plant that produces Tequila actually yields a pretty potent biofuel as well . We also learned that Toyota plans to power its upcoming hybrids with lighter, more powerful Lithium-Ion batteries, and we were impressed by the streamlined classic stylings of Mitsuoka’s electric Himiko car . Finally, this week we washed away the winter blues by shedding light on 15 green lamps that bathe your interiors in energy-efficient illumination. We also shared 6 green lighting tips that will help you cut your energy bills and 5 tips for home renovations that will keep your house cozy in the worst winter weather. Inhabitat’s Week in Green: solar pyramids in UAE, Tequila turns to biofuel, and green lamps galore originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Feb 2011 22:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Considering rumors we’ve heard of a VGA display , we’d assumed that Nokia’s E6 would probably have a large touchscreen — but these shots we’ve just received look… well, a little different. Instead, it seems that Espoo’s planning to gently massage the winning portrait QWERTY formula already well established by the E71 and E72 , bumping out a proper big brother to the E5 . Around back, you see an 8 megapixel camera (possibly the same EDoF unit that’s in the E7 ) along with a dual LED flash; on front, that could very well be a VGA display, we suppose, considering the uptick in pixel density that everyone’s been pushing the past year. If we had to guess, this puppy is a lock for MWC — but in light of the crazy rumors floating around Nokia the past few days, all bets are off. [Thanks, anonymous tipster] Gallery: Nokia E6 in the wild? Nokia E6 in the wild? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Feb 2011 22:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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This shelf tag was apparently spotted this weekend at a Best Buy in Houston, and it speaks for itself: white iPhone 4 , AT&T, $599.99 off contract (the same price as the black). Of course, we all know this thing is coming within the next few weeks at this point — there’s just too much evidence pointing in that direction — but the fact that we’ve got big box retailers printing and placing tags for it now suggests that it’s coming sooner rather than later. Oh, and in case you’re wondering, that QR code link is dead at the moment — we’ve linked it below in case you want to give it a shot. Update : Looks like The Source ( Canada’s version of Radio Shack ) is also making room. See for yourself after the break. Thanks, Anonymous! [Thanks, Joel P.] Continue reading White iPhone 4 starts to get Best Buy, The Source shelf space White iPhone 4 starts to get Best Buy, The Source shelf space originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Feb 2011 21:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Verizon locking WiFi on Motorola Xoom until you buy one month of data service?
February 7, 2011 No Comment
Call us crazy, but we’re having a hard time interpreting this line of fine print in any other way: “To activate WiFi functionality on this device, a minimum of one month data subscription is required.” That’s listed under Best Buy’s most recent ad highlighting the world’s first Android 3.0 tablet, and it most certainly sounds both ominous and ridiculous. Hardcore Verizon followers may remember the days of Big Red crippling Bluetooth radios in phones in order to “coerce” users to purchase ringtones and such from them rather than snagging one on the subway from Tom, Dick and / Jane, so we definitely wouldn’t put something like this by the company. It’s hard to say how this will be implemented once the $800 Xoom hits retail shelves, but it’s certainly hard to believe that this is a Best Buy policy (and not a Verizon mandate). We’ll be digging for more details, but we’ll be straight with you — we don’t like the potential implications here. At all . [Thanks, Michael] Verizon locking WiFi on Motorola Xoom until you buy one month of data service? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Feb 2011 20:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Motorola’s Xoom Super Bowl commercial tips hat to Apple’s ’1984′ spot (video)
February 6, 2011 No Comment
We saw it teased right around 48 hours ago, and now Motorola’s full Xoom Super Bowl ad is out and about for the world to see. It aired just moments ago during Super Bowl XLV , and it’s fairly obvious where it took inspiration . It’s easily one of the best tech spots we’ve seen in quite some while, and as much as Motorola has been hyping its Honeycomb-based superslate , we’d say it better sell quite a few to recoup what it’s already lost in marketing — even at $800 a pop , it’ll still take a boatload. The real question, however, is this: will today’s America even get it ? Hop on past the break and mash play if you missed out. P.S. – Missed our coverage of Super Bowl Media Day? Catch up here ! Continue reading Motorola’s Xoom Super Bowl commercial tips hat to Apple’s ’1984′ spot (video) Motorola’s Xoom Super Bowl commercial tips hat to Apple’s ’1984′ spot (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Feb 2011 19:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Best Buy ad prices Motorola Xoom at $800, affirms February 24th launch date
February 6, 2011 No Comment
The evidence for a Motorola Xoom launch on February 24th just became that bit more compelling, courtesy of this here Best Buy ad. It promises Moto’s Android tablet will be in stores a couple of weeks from now, decorated with a daunting $799.99 sticker. That price agrees with one of our earliest leaks on the matter, purportedly from Verizon’s own systems , so all the pieces seem to be falling into place for a pretty exciting end to February for Android fans. This flier also has some data tariffs on it, starting at $20 per month for a 1GB allowance and stretching up to a 10GB limit for $80 (identical to VZW’s pricing with the Galaxy Tab). Doesn’t really sound like the most appealing proposition we’ve ever heard, but maybe if those prices remain static once the Xoom gets its 4G upgrade, we could learn to love them. Update : Motorola’s official Xoom portal just went live , presumably as its Super Bowl ad finally aired. Best Buy ad prices Motorola Xoom at $800, affirms February 24th launch date originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Feb 2011 19:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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