Coming soon to the iPhone: streaming content from your iTunes library at home
From Mobile Technology
August 8, 2008 One of Apple's recent patents promises to make the size constraints of the iPhone and iPod Touch seem like a thing of the past - the ability to stream all the content in the iTunes library on your home PC from anywhere with internet access.
Micron's next-Generation RealSSD Solid State Drives
From Personal Computing
August 9, 2008 Solid State Drives (SSDs) have found a happy home in laptop computers in recent times due largely to their size, durability and low power consumption compared to traditional hard drives. Now, with SSD capacities increasing, Micron Technology believe SSDs can also find a new home in enterprise server systems where historically hard disk drives have reigned.
Canon's new VIXIA camcorders record at AVCHD's maximum 24Mbps
From Cameras and Imaging
August 8, 2008 Canon today introduced three new camcorders in their VIXIA range, each capable of recording Full HD (1920 x 1080) to internal storage or an SDHC card at 24Mbps - the highest possible quality that the AVCHD format allows. The VIXIA HF11 features an internal 32GB flash drive, while the HG20 and HG21 pack 60GB and 120GB hard drives respectively - at the cost of a larger frame.
How to apply for Sony's PlayStation Home closed beta test
From Games
August 8, 2008 Sony is expanding their PlayStation Home beta test at the end of the month, and they're looking for testers in the U.S. that meet "a variety of criteria" including their level of activity on the PlayStation Network.
The Periodic Coffee Table
From Around The Home
August 8, 2008 This one will certainly be a conversation starter at your next Trivial Pursuit party. Crafted from burred oak, the Periodic Coffee Table contains actual samples of elements, displayed and illuminated beneath a sheet of toughened glass with each individually embedded inside a solid acrylic block.
New ROKR range from Motorola
From Mobile Technology
August 8, 2008 Motorola has expanded its ROKR range with the introduction of three new units in a range of styles. The lineup includes the candybar MOTOROKR EM30, clamshell ROKR EM28 and the slider ROKR EM25, plus there's two new portable speaker systems to complement the new phone’s music focus.
Nissan's All-Around Collision Free prototype
From Automotive
August 8, 2008 Nissan has unveiled an "All-Around Collision Free" system that rolls two new safety technologies in with those already developed under its Safety Shield program. The new additions are a Side Collision Prevention (SCP), which assists the driver when changing lanes, and Back-up Collision Prevention (BCP), which automatically sounds a warning and applies the brakes if a collision is imminent during a reversing maneuver.
Epson P-6000 and P-7000 multimedia photo viewers
From Cameras and Imaging
August 8, 2008 Epson has unveiled its new generation of multimedia photo viewers promising outstanding screen quality, security and portability. The P-6000 and P-7000 provide photographers with a compact, on-location back-up and viewing solution with 4-inch LCD screens, significantly faster transfer speeds than previous models and up to 160GB capacity.
Carbon Capture: a bridging technology too far?
From ecoGizmo
August 7, 2008 Carbon capture and storage is a climate change mitigation technology characterized by sporadic and unreliable government support and plagued with accusations that it will worsen the environmental disaster it seeks to address. Yet, despite the negative stigma, CCS has been labeled by the IPCC and the Stern Report as an essential measure in reducing the impact of fossil fuels. Gizmag's Kyle Sherer takes a closer look.
Short-Wave Infrared capability for the ScanEagle UAV
From Aero Gizmo
August 7, 2008 The ScanEagle is a low-cost, long-endurance autonomous unmanned aircraft that has been one of the most significant new battlefield technologies to emerge during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, performing more than 100,000 combat hours in both theatres and delivering invaluable intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) on a daily basis. The only trouble is that conventional electro-optical and long-wave infrared cameras are severely limited in fog or rain. Now they’ve managed to miniaturize a short-wave infrared (SWIR) camera to fit inside the diminutive ScanEagle, enabling clear vision in any circumstance.
Honda’s 100 mph 110cc PGM-FI prototype
From Motorcycles
August 7, 2008 Fuel injection arrived on two wheels with the release of Honda’s CX500 Turbo a quarter of a century ago, and Honda has been developing smarter and more intricate computer controlled fuel injection systems for its two wheelers ever since. These days its advanced PGM-FI (Programmed Fuel Injection) technology is fitted across the range from 50cc scooters through its MotoGP race machinery, offering broader and smoother power, better throttle response and vastly reduced fuel consumption and emissions. A prototype being quietly shown around Asia suggests that it might also lead to some lightning fast scooters in the near future.
TAG HEUER Night Vision eyeglasses for safer driving
From Automotive
August 7, 2008 Driving at night is far more dangerous than driving in daylight according to the statistics. Though only 10% of road miles are driven in the dark, 48% of road fatalities occur at night. That’s primarily because at night our pupils dilate, and we become short-sighted, though glare, halos, and reduced peripheral vision all contribute to ocular tiredness. TAG Heuer has released a set of ophthalmic Night Vision glasses specifically designed to correct dark-induced myopia, reduce glare, contrast the dark blue surroundings without changing colour perception and ultimately offer safer driving after dark.
The 50 mph Axon Razorback RC Hovercraft
From Childsplay
August 7, 2008 The Axon Razerback is one of those toys that makes adults wish they were children again. Billed as an anti-gravity racer, it’s essentially a remote-controlled, high-performance hovercraft that looks like an RC car. The standard $250 Razorback does a remarkable 25 mph straight out of the box, but there’s also a motor upgrade which enables it to reach 50 mph.
TASCAM GT-R1 portable guitar recorder
From Music
August 7, 2008 So you've nailed that killer riff but the studio is miles away. The latest solution aimed at songwriters in this predicament is TASCAM's GT-R1. The follow-up to the company's DR-1 model, this portable recorder for guitar and bass players features direct plug-in recording along with built-in condenser microphones for capturing rehearsals and live shows and amp simulation and effects.
BRAVIA TV Stand with built-in 3.1ch surround, HDMI inputs
From Home Entertainment
August 7, 2008 Bringing a new spin to the term "functional furniture", Sony's BRAVIA™ Theatre TV stand (RHT-G500) integrates a 3.1-channel virtual surround sound system, three HDMI inputs, audio inputs for TV, DVD and Blu-ray Disc™, plus support for Bluetooth® and Wi-Fi... and it can all be controlled from a single remote. The sound system consists of center, left and right speakers plus a subwoofer and uses "S-Force PRO Front Surround", a technology that promises realistic surround sound without the need for rear speakers and therefore no wires to upset the system's clean lines.
Seiko Instruments DPU-S445 Mobile Printer
From Mobile Technology
August 7, 2008 The new IrDA and Bluetooth equipped DPU-S445 Mobile Printer from Seiko Instruments is compact and lightweight with very few moving parts, runs on a long-life lithium-ion battery and produces 4” wide printed output at 90 mm/sec.
Aeros Sky Dragon enters flight testing phase
From Aero Gizmo
August 7, 2008 New age dirigible designer Aeros has announced that its airship model Aeros 40D Sky Dragon MSN 21 has entered the flight testing phase. The craft will take flight at San Bernardino International Airport, and will be used as an airborne lab for the development of the new breed of variable buoyancy air vehicle – the Aeroscraft systems.
Electronic wine-tasting tongue tests grape variety and vintage
From Research Watch
August 7, 2008 Could this new electronic wine-tasting tongue challenge the finest wine tasters in the world? Invented by European scientists, this handheld device has a multi-sensor chip which senses distinctive characteristics of wine varieties. By analyzing the sugar content, acidity and alcohol, the machine can also determine the year and grape variety of the sample and instead of waiting days for laboratories to analyze wine samples, wine industry specialists will be able to get a sample result at the touch of a button.
ECO Pedal to reduce car fuel consumption
From Automotive
August 7, 2008 With rising petrol prices and a focus on climate change, the automotive industry is looking to pioneer new methods of fuel consumption, both in terms of developing new propulsion systems and making existing technology more efficient. News on the latter approach comes from Nissan, which has unveiled technology designed to help drivers use less fuel by using an "eco-pedal" system that resists excess pressure being applied to the accelerator.
Reaper UAV deployed in Iraq
From Military
August 7, 2008 The MQ-9 Reaper, a hunter-killer UAV with long loitering capability, has completed its first operational mission in Iraq. The craft has been used in Afghanistan since 2007, clocking 3,800 hours and attacking 16 targets with 500-pound bombs and Hellfire missiles.
TomTom GPS navigator for bikers
From Motorcycles
August 7, 2008 Now in its second generation, TomTom's navigation solution for motorbikes features a ruggedized waterproof housing, a 3.5" touchscreen with large, "glove friendly" icons, a secure universal mounting system and comes bundled with a Cardo scala-rider® Bluetooth® headset for in-helmet spoken instructions and hands-free phone calls.
