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Google Street View now sending snapshots from Russia, with love

Billy Steele — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:42:00 EST

We've lived vicariously through Google Maps a few times in the past, including an excursion down the Amazon River. Today, those plans for a trip to Russia can get a lot more detailed as Street View is now virtually pacing the streets of Moscow and St. Petersburg. Points of interest that you'll be able to take a peek at include Red Square, Moscow Kremlin, Peterhof and both Tsaritsino and Kuskovo parks. Hit the source links below to get that sightseeing adventure started -- sans backpack, of course.

Google Street View now sending snapshots from Russia, with love originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Google Lat Long Blog, Google Maps | Email this | Comments

Adafruit's Internet of Things Printer combines your love of information, receipts

Brian Heater — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:01:00 EST

Love staying connected and using excess paper? Adafruit's got your back with its latest project. The Internet of Things (IoT) printer goes online via an Ethernet jack, printing up data on 2.5 inch wide receipt paper. You can print things like Twitter feeds, news briefs or sports scores using its open source software. Putting the box together requires some soldering and an Arduino, but once you're done, you'll finally be able to live out your fantasies of becoming an old timey stock broker. Video of the printer with a slightly grating Twitter song soundtrack after the break.

Continue reading Adafruit's Internet of Things Printer combines your love of information, receipts

Adafruit's Internet of Things Printer combines your love of information, receipts originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Man gets served on Facebook, literally

James Trew — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:38:00 EST

Being unceremoniously dumped online isn't the only indignation made easier by social networks. For the first time, lawyers in the UK have been granted permission to serve a legal suit via Facebook. Traditionally, documents must be delivered physically, be it in person, by post or even fax. But, in a pretrial for a commercial dispute, these old-fashioned methods proved fruitless. The prosecuting team then decided to check online, and noticed recent updates on defendant Fabio De Biase's profile. Satisfied it was currently active, they sought permission to send documents via the website, with Justice Nigel Teare duly obliging. Wondering what that noise is? That's the sound of millions of mice clicking on "privacy settings" all at once.

Man gets served on Facebook, literally originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink PhysOrg | Associated Press | Email this | Comments

RB3D develops Hercule robotic exoskeleton, boosts strength without P90X

Billy Steele — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:14:00 EST

Sure, some folks could use a little extra help maneuvering in order to complete daily chores. But what about help with all of that heavy lifting? The folks at RB3D in France have been working with the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA), ESME Sudria and CES LIST to develop a robotic exoskeleton that will aid in doing just that. Hercule, the aforementioned cobot-esque (collaborative robot) prototype, doesn't require any special training or skills to use. A person needing extra strength to carry that crate of supplies just wears the device and goes about his or her business with the added support of the exosuit. This particular model is powered electrically and will last about 20km (about 12.5 miles) if movement is kept at a regular walking pace. Weight limits, you ask? The Hercule boasts a carrying capacity of 100kg (220lbs) -- more than HAL tech we've seen in aiding travelers in the past. Military and civil customers could get their hands on these as early as 2014, but for now, jump past the break for a look at one in action.

Continue reading RB3D develops Hercule robotic exoskeleton, boosts strength without P90X

RB3D develops Hercule robotic exoskeleton, boosts strength without P90X originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Robots.net, innorobo | DGA (French) | Email this | Comments

Simulated NASA mission to ask 'Are there snacks on Maaaaaaarrrrrs?'

Daniel Cooper — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:55:00 EST

When we've been forced to travel to an alien world, the one thing that makes us more likely to turn feral and murder our crew-mates than anything else is a lack of variety at mealtimes. Fortunately, Cornell University has teamed up with the University of Hawaii to build a simulated Mars mission to determine which foods people don't mind constantly consuming, given that there are no In-N-Out Burger franchises on the red planet. The mock base will be constructed in the midst of a Hawaiian lava flow, with the crews dressed in "spacesuits" and eating a mix of NASA-issue rations and shelf-stable foods like flour, sugar and freeze-dried meat. Applications for the four-month program remain open until the end of the month, so if you fancy all the free (bland) food you can manage, head on down to sign up!

Continue reading Simulated NASA mission to ask 'Are there snacks on Maaaaaaarrrrrs?'

Simulated NASA mission to ask 'Are there snacks on Maaaaaaarrrrrs?' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink USA Today | University of Hawaii | Email this | Comments

Single atom transistors point to the future of quantum computers, death of Moore's law

Terrence O'Brien — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:14:00 EST

Transistors -- the basic building block of the complex electronic devices around you. Literally billions of them make up that Core i7 in your gaming rig and Moore's law says that number will double every 18 months as they get smaller and smaller. Researchers at the University of New South Wales may have found the limit of this basic computational rule however, by creating the world's first single atom transistor. A single phosphorus atom was placed into a silicon lattice and read with a pair of extremely tiny silicon leads that allowed them to observe both its transistor behavior and its quantum state. Presumably this spells the end of the road for Moore's Law, as it would seem all but impossible to shrink transistors any farther. But, it could also points to a future featuring miniaturized solid-state quantum computers.

Single atom transistors point to the future of quantum computers, death of Moore's law originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Bloomberg | Nature Nanotechnology | Email this | Comments

NASA celebrates 50 years of US Orbital Space flight, proves John Glenn still cooler than your dad (video)

Tim Stevens — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:42:00 EST

In the US, today is a day for remembering our many Presidents who have come before but, in between those sincere thoughts of Grover Cleveland and Calvin Coolidge, take a moment to ponder the great feats of John Glenn. On this day 50 years ago a Real American Hero blasted off into space, Glenn becoming the first American to achieve orbit. In just under five hours he rocketed away from Kennedy Space Center, made three trips around the globe and then splashed down again in the Atlantic. Of course, there's a lot more to the story than that, and so NASA has created a 25 minute documentary about the trip, embedded for you below. Need more? Head on through to the source link for galleries, infographics and even 3D clickable models of the Friendship 7 spacecraft -- all available to you without reaching escape velocity.

Continue reading NASA celebrates 50 years of US Orbital Space flight, proves John Glenn still cooler than your dad (video)

NASA celebrates 50 years of US Orbital Space flight, proves John Glenn still cooler than your dad (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CNET shows us Samsung's history, talent for building tanks (video)

Sean Buckley — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 06:15:00 EST

Sure, you know Samsung for its smartphones, TVs and automatic vacuum cleaners, but did you know it got its start in exporting produce, groceries and dried fish? You might not think it looking at your Galaxy Nexus, but the outfit's had its hands in quite a few industries over the years, including trade exports, sugar refinement, amusement parks and even wargadgets -- big ones. If you're itching to learn more (or just want to see a Samsung Galaxy S II clumsily sculpted from snow) read on, CNET's about to drop some Samsung knowledge into your inquisitive brain.

Continue reading CNET shows us Samsung's history, talent for building tanks (video)

CNET shows us Samsung's history, talent for building tanks (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Feb 2012 06:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Student hacks into Facebook, gets eight months in prison, twelve likes

James Trew — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 09:48:00 EST

The next time you get caught hijacking your friend's Facebook, remember it could be worse. On Friday, British Student Glenn Mangham was sentenced to eight months in not-so-social jail, for hacking deep into Facebook's servers. Apparently no user details were taken, with Mangham heading straight for "invaluable" intellectual property instead. Facebook alerted the authorities after it discovered the breach last May, the FBI then followed the digital thread back to the Briton's UK address. It's believed Mangham gained access to the inner sanctum after hacking into a Facebook employee's account, though it's not known if the comedy status update and embarrassing profile picture were also part of the attack.

Student hacks into Facebook, gets eight months in prison, twelve likes originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Feb 2012 09:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Huffington Post | Press Association | Email this | Comments

NASA simulates fly through of ginormous crack in Antarctic glacier, takes you for virtual ride

Jason Hidalgo — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 04:41:00 EST

Swooping through the trenches of the Death Star likely ranks high on every geek's bucket list, but even an earthbound version won't really do the trick. Fortunately, the folks at NASA have rigged up a passable alternative -- flying through a massive 19-mile crack across Antarctica's Pine Island Glacier. The crack was discovered last October and measures 60 yards wide and 50 yards deep, certainly more than enough clearance to accommodate adventurous fliers. Using data gathered by NASA's Operation IceBridge science flight team, the agency generated an animated fly through that, well, mostly flew over the crack -- but we're sure that was a defensive maneuver. After all, you just never know when a TIE fighter flown by someone's father might sneak up from behind. See the icy flyover yourself after the break.

Continue reading NASA simulates fly through of ginormous crack in Antarctic glacier, takes you for virtual ride

NASA simulates fly through of ginormous crack in Antarctic glacier, takes you for virtual ride originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Feb 2012 04:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HBO's PunchForce hits the FCC, turns fists into data... violent, violent data

Terrence O'Brien — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:11:00 EST

HBO has been quietly working on its PunchForce tech since about 2010, when it tried to convince British star Amir Khan and Argentine boxer Marcos Maidana to wear the sensors for their light welterweight title bout. Neither seemed particularly eager. Now though, over a year later, the latest in fist-tracking technology seems to be nearing its big debut. Tiny wireless monitors, worn under the wrist of the gloves feed velocity and impact data back to a laptop with a special receiver -- all of which now have Uncle Sam's approval. The real fun though, is what happens next. The information gathered isn't meant to be locked away in lab, it'll be broadcast to viewers throughout the fight and, eventually, fed to accompanying apps, presumably alongside its PunchZone stats. Check out the gallery below for a behind the scenes glimpse of PunchForce and hit up the source link to peruse the full user manual.

Gallery: HBO PunchForce at the FCC

HBO's PunchForce hits the FCC, turns fists into data... violent, violent data originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink WirelessGoodness | FCC | Email this | Comments

Lego Minecraft available for pre-order, one block short of $35 (video)

Sharif Sakr — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:04:00 EST

Dwarves of Minecraft, here's your chance to recreate your beloved virtual pits and earth-scars beneath the skies (or ceilings) of the real world. The long-awaited, fan-driven Lego Minecraft set can now be pre-ordered via the source link below for the fathomless sum of $34.99. Yes, you're contributing to a blatant monetization scheme (as illustrated in the frenzied comedy after the break), and yes, your imagination will be limited to 480 pieces in muted colors, but that's how things are when you leave the matrix.

Continue reading Lego Minecraft available for pre-order, one block short of $35 (video)

Lego Minecraft available for pre-order, one block short of $35 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Cnet | Jinx | Email this | Comments

Humble Bundle Mojam happens this weekend: vote on a game, see it made in 60 hours for charity

Donald Melanson — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 05:30:00 EST

The Humble Bundle organization has done a fairly impressive job of raising money for charities with its name-your-price game bundles (also benefiting game developers, of course), but it's doing something a little different this weekend. It's enlisted the help of Minecraft creator Mojang for the Humble Bundle Mojam, a 60-hour coding jam (streamed live) that will see a game made from scratch and eventually sold, with all of the proceeds going to charity. They're also opening up the type of game to a vote, with folks able to choose from a number of different themes and genres, but the real kicker is that they're going to take the highest and lowest votes -- meaning you could see Real Time Strategy Beat 'em Up with a Steampunk / Ancient Egypt theme if the current voting holds up. Hit the source link below if you'd like to try to sway that in a different direction.

Update: The voting is now closed and the stream is live at humblebundle.com (or after the break, if you prefer). The game they're tackling is a real-time strategy shoot 'em up with a steampunk ancient Egypt theme, and the donations are pouring in (totaling around $90,000 after eight hours).

Continue reading Humble Bundle Mojam happens this weekend: vote on a game, see it made in 60 hours for charity

Humble Bundle Mojam happens this weekend: vote on a game, see it made in 60 hours for charity originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 05:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Verge | Mojang, Humble Bundle | Email this | Comments

Kraftwerk performing 3D-enhanced retrospective concerts over 8 nights at MoMA

Terrence O'Brien — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 22:17:00 EST

New York City isn't Europe and eight straight nights isn't exactly endless (though, it's plenty long if you're talking about lamp oil), but this humble metropolis is good enough for electronic and Krautrock pioneers Kraftwerk. The robo-rockers are heading to MoMa on April 10th and will be playing eight albums in chronological order, starting with Autobahn, over eight nights. The performances will sadly only feature one member of the classic lineup, but it will be augmented with 3D video and other visual media (presumably including neon lights). Tickets for the concert series, Kraftwerk-Retrospective 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8, go on sale at noon on February 22nd for $25.

[Image credit: Andréas Hagström, Wikipedia]

Continue reading Kraftwerk performing 3D-enhanced retrospective concerts over 8 nights at MoMA

Kraftwerk performing 3D-enhanced retrospective concerts over 8 nights at MoMA originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 22:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Rolling Stone | New York Times | Email this | Comments

DARPA planning high-speed wireless for soldiers in the field

Terrence O'Brien — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 04:04:00 EST

DARPA has its hands and, more importantly, its money in just about everything. Weapons, robots, thermal sensors -- it's a staple of the scientific community. But, it's also a military agency with basic needs, like internet access. The research group's newest project doesn't carry heavy loads (unless you're weighing your cargo in kilobytes) and can't break the sound barrier, but it should be able to deliver 4G speeds to even the most remote of battlefields. DARPA has $11.8 million set aside for its Mobile Hotspots program which will use millimeter-wave signals to deliver high-speed data connections to dismounted soldiers, forward-operating bases and tactical centers. Most importantly, each node in the network extends its range building out a mesh that isn't reliant on existing infrastructure. For more details hit up the PR after the break.

Continue reading DARPA planning high-speed wireless for soldiers in the field

DARPA planning high-speed wireless for soldiers in the field originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 04:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Information Week | | Email this | Comments

Yale Physicists develop quantum computing error correction, are a qubit pleased with themselves

James Trew — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 21:06:00 EST

We're big fans of quantum computing, and hopefully it's about to get a lot more reliable. Researchers at Yale have demonstrated quantum error correction in a solid state system for the first time. Quantum bits were created from "artificial" atoms using superconducting circuits, these qubits are then given either of the typical bit states of "1" or "0," or the quantum state of both simultaneously. The researchers developed a technique that identifies each qubit's initial state, so any erroneous changes can be reversed on the fly. Until now, errors have been a barrier in quantum computing, accumulating and ultimately causing computational failure. A reliable means of fixing these state changes is essential to developing a computer with an exponential speed-up, and fully realizing the quantum dream. The team at Yale hopes that this research might mean its platform of superconducting circuits becomes the one upon which quantum computing is ultimately built. We, on the other hand, just want our parallel universe.

Yale Physicists develop quantum computing error correction, are a qubit pleased with themselves originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 21:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MLG tinkering with streaming fees during Winter Arena tourny

Edgar Alvarez — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:01:00 EST

Sometimes being successful at certain bits comes with a cost, and that's exactly what's happening over at MLG HQ. According to Forbes, the Major League Gaming circuit has seen tremendous demand for its streaming services during tournaments, which up until now could be enjoyed in low-res without taking a hit on your wallet. However, that success is pushing the org to experiment with a different, pricier content model. During the upcoming Winter Arena tourny, those of you who want to watch the Mad Catz-sporting pros will have to pay 20 bucks or $15 if you're already rockin' a gold membership. While the move won't be permanent, it could indeed be a sign of things to come. Do you plan to shell over some cash or sit this round out on the bench? Let us know in the comments below.

MLG tinkering with streaming fees during Winter Arena tourny originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NASA scales back Mars exploration, Marvin the Martian thinks it's just lovely

Jason Hidalgo — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:32:00 EST

NASA recently showed flashes of its old bravado by announcing plans for a lunar waypoint near the far side of the moon. Cold, hard reality brought the agency back to Earth this week, however, as it just announced a scaling back of its Mars exploration program. Thanks to funding cuts, NASA is scuttling its "ambitious" (i.e. expensive) flagship missions to the Red Planet for the near term. That means withdrawing from the ExoMars missions led by Europe and putting on hold plans to collect samples -- though the Mars Science Laboratory is still a go. NASA is slated to receive $1.2 billion for its planetary science program, down 20 percent from what it gets now, with more cuts likely on the way. In the meantime, the agency is still hopeful about sending humans -- or perhaps a wascally wabbit -- to Mars by the 2030s.

NASA scales back Mars exploration, Marvin the Martian thinks it's just lovely originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | SPACE.com | Email this | Comments

CERN crew takes to Google+ for live Hangout

Terrence O'Brien — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:43:00 EST

Got questions for CERN crew? We know we do. For instance, if a Higgs boson falls in the woods and no one is around to hear it, does it still create a miniature black hole that swallows the Earth and destroys us all? Well if you've got queries for the folks working the LHC, attempting to unlock the secrets of the universe then hit up the source link for a live Hangout at that most nerdy of social networks Google+. The conversation starts at 1 pm eastern time.

CERN crew takes to Google+ for live Hangout originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Google (Twitter) | Google+ | Email this | Comments

GE turns butterfly-inspired tech into cheap, accurate thermal sensors (video)

Terrence O'Brien — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 02:52:00 EST

When last we heard from GE and its Morpho-butterfly inspired sensors, all the talk was about detecting chemicals. And, with $6.3 million in funding coming from DARPA, we're not surprised. In the latest issue of Nature Photonics, however, the company's researchers show that the wing-like structures are just as good at detecting heat as they are ricin attacks. By coating them with carbon nanotubes the team was able to create a sensor sensitive to temperature changes as small as 0.02 degrees Celsius with a response rate of 1/40 of a second. The sensors could eventually find their way into imaging devices and medical equipment, and are expected to cost just a fraction of similar technologies currently on the market. Of course, since DARPA is still involved with the project, there are some potential security uses as well -- such as screening devices and fire detection. Head after the break for a video and some PR.

Continue reading GE turns butterfly-inspired tech into cheap, accurate thermal sensors (video)

GE turns butterfly-inspired tech into cheap, accurate thermal sensors (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 02:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Large Hadron Collider to increase beam energy: Higgs boson can run, not hide

James Trew — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:18:00 EST

We've seen the Large Hadron Collider running at a record-breaking 7 TeV for short periods, but now CERN is turning it up a notch (to 4 TeV from 3.5) for the rest of the year. The decision comes after an annual performance workshop last week in Chamonix and a report from the CERN Machine Advisory Committee (CMAC). The increase may seem modest compared to the knee-trembling levels of 7 TeV, but it's all part of a broader optimization strategy. Scientists state the new approach should increase the data collected in 2012 to 15 inverse femtobarns -- a three-fold jump from 2011. Even more encouraging is a statement from CERN's Research Director, Sergio Bertolucci, who claims that we should finally know for sure about the existence of the Higgs boson -- either way -- before the LHC enters a temporary shut-down period at the end of the year. Beam yourself over the break for the full press release.

Continue reading Large Hadron Collider to increase beam energy: Higgs boson can run, not hide

Large Hadron Collider to increase beam energy: Higgs boson can run, not hide originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink PhysOrg | CERN | Email this | Comments

Van Gogh's Starry Night modded into beautiful interactive light and sound show (video)

Daniel Cooper — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:36:00 EST

This is one of those little projects you wish you could just play with the second you've seen it. Greek Artist Petros Vrellis coded an interactive light and sound show into Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night -- that you can control with your fingers. With a swipe of a single digit (or hand) you can pull the particles of the artists paint daubs to redirect the swirling mass of night sky in any direction, making music as you do so. After the break we've got video that you really, really should watch -- and afterward start begging the creator to get this onto people's iPads as soon as he can manage it.

Continue reading Van Gogh's Starry Night modded into beautiful interactive light and sound show (video)

Van Gogh's Starry Night modded into beautiful interactive light and sound show (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Boing Boing | Creative Applications | Email this | Comments

NASA eyes waypoint near moon, Orbital Drop Shock Troopers not in plans ... yet

Jason Hidalgo — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:37:00 EST

Not content with its Foursquare badge from the International Space Station, NASA is now setting its sights closer to the moon, with plans for a deep space outpost near our celestial neighbor. NASA is looking at setting up an outpost near the recently filmed far side of the moon that could serve as a jumping point to other more exotic destinations like lunar space, asteroids and Mars. The waypoint could even serve as a place for assembling and servicing satellites and large telescopes, as well as robotics research ~~on crashed Transformers~~. The leading location so far is "Earth-moon libration point 2," a more gravitationally stable area in space that serves as an ideal parking spot for space craft. Echoing recent talk by Russians about a joint moon base, NASA also hopes to get by with a little help from its friends -- well, actually a lot of help from the international community -- by using the partnerships it has formed through the International Space Station.

NASA eyes waypoint near moon, Orbital Drop Shock Troopers not in plans ... yet originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mattel's hoverboard keeps McFly planted on terra firma, away from water

Zachary Lutz — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:00:00 EST

There's no need to worry: your eyes aren't deceiving you, and the year most certainly isn't 2015. Still, that isn't stopping Mattel from teasing the iconic hoverboard at the New York Toy Fair. First made famous by Marty McFly in Back to the Future Part II, the product became something of Hollywood lore when the movie's director, Robert Zemeckis, insisted the contraption was real. While the claim later proved to be a prank, the desire for a genuine hoverboard has lived on. Now, following in the footsteps of McFly's MAG shoes from Nike, Mattel suggests it'll begin accepting preorders for the hoverboard replica next month. While the toy doesn't actually fly (but rather glides), it's said to emit a whooshing sound so that riders can pretend they're surfing through the air. Should Mattel solicit enough interest, the product will ship by year's end -- otherwise the company will merely scrap the idea and return to churning out Barbies.

Mattel's hoverboard keeps McFly planted on terra firma, away from water originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink SlashGear | MattyCollector, Toyark | Email this | Comments

NASA pulls the plug on the mainframe computer era

Donald Melanson — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:12:00 EST

It's the end of another era at NASA, although this one was perhaps more inevitable than others. Chief Information Officer Linda Cureton announced in a blog post over the weekend that the agency's last mainframe computer was shut down this month, marking an end to decades of room-filling computers. Of course, that last mainframe was considerably more recent than that pictured above. It was an IBM Z9 (pictured at the source link below), still quite a behemoth and useful for certain applications, but deemed unnecessary by NASA in the face of other more flexible alternatives. Feeling nostalgic or curious about those days gone by? You can find a bit of mainframe history at the links below.

NASA pulls the plug on the mainframe computer era originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink CNET | NASA | Email this | Comments

Bell & Howell Apple II Plus appears on eBay, like a foundling carved out of onyx

Dante Cesa — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:58:00 EST

You wouldn't know it by the never ending barrage of black PowerBook's throughout the '90s, or even the onyx MacBooks in the mid-00s, but dark-clad casings from Apple were pretty much non-existent until Cupertino got serious about laptops, excluding of course the ill-fated Macintosh TV. Exempt from the prevailing 'Snow White' design ethos however, were ~~clones~~ machines sold by other companies, like the Bell & Howell's variant of the Apple ][ Plus above. Per Wikipedia, the machine in question was only available through educational channels, notable for its A/V outputs (which you can espy after the break) especially for that purpose. Typical eBay caveats apply, with the buyer selling the machine "as is" -- read sans power supply -- but we can't imagine it'll be long before an Apple collector swoops in and steals the pooch. More pics and your chance to bid on a piece of history await at the source below.

Continue reading Bell & Howell Apple II Plus appears on eBay, like a foundling carved out of onyx

Bell & Howell Apple II Plus appears on eBay, like a foundling carved out of onyx originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lego-built robotic arm will pour you a drink, collapse under pressure (video)

Donald Melanson — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:29:00 EST

We've seen countless robotics projects made either partly or entirely out of Lego, but this pneumatic arm built by Max Sheppard has to rank among the most impressive. As you can see in the video above, while it may be a bit on the slow side, the arm's range of motion is remarkably life-like (even by non-Lego standards). It's also able to grip objects of different sizes, and with enough precision to pour water out of a cup, although Sheppard says it can't lift anything more than a couple of pounds. No word if he has any plans to attach the arm to something.

Lego-built robotic arm will pour you a drink, collapse under pressure (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Make | Tinkernology | Email this | Comments

Biological computer can decode images stored in DNA chips, applications remain unclear

Amar Toor — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:19:00 EST

Scientists from the Scripps Research Institute and Technion-Israel Institute of Technology have taken biological computing one step further, with a new molecular machine capable of decoding images stored on a DNA chip. Though it's referred to as a "biological computer," the researchers' machine isn't much like a CPU at all -- unless your CPU was manufactured in a test tube filled with a smoothie of DNA molecules, enzymes and ATP. Once they found the right mix, the team proceeded to encrypt images on a DNA chip and used their Turing machine-like creation to decode them, with fluorescent stains helping to track its progress. The above image, read from left to right, gives a more literal idea of what the system can do -- basically, it takes a hidden image and extracts a given sequence. Storing data on DNA isn't anything new, but decrypting said data in this fashion apparently is. The applications for this kind of organic computing remain a bit fuzzy, but it's pretty clear that whatever follows probably won't look anything like a typical computer. The team's findings were recently published in a paper for the journal Angewandte Chemie, the abstract for which is linked below. For a slightly more readable explanation, check out the full press release after the break.

Continue reading Biological computer can decode images stored in DNA chips, applications remain unclear

Biological computer can decode images stored in DNA chips, applications remain unclear originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Extreme Tech | Angewandte Chemie | Email this | Comments

San Francisco gearing up for electric bike sharing program

Brian Heater — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:19:00 EST

Anyone who's ever attempted to ride a bike in San Francisco can attest to just how rough the city's numerous hills can be on the lower body. Thankfully, government dollars are set to go a ways toward making electric bicycles a tiny bit more prevalent amongst the local populace. The city by the bay's CarShare program will be getting funding to bring some 90 e-bikes to 25 locations in SF and nearby Berkeley, beginning with 45 bikes in the second half of this year. Forty-five more will be coming in 2013.

San Francisco gearing up for electric bike sharing program originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Record-breaking freefall advances space suit technology (video)

James Trew — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:18:00 EST

Jumping to Earth from the edge of space is no mean feat. Not only are you dropping like a stone, there's also the minor issue of your blood boiling as you do so. These are challenges daredevil Felix Baumgartner and the Red Bull Stratos team will be taking head-on -- literally -- with their record-breaking 120,000 foot "spacedive." To ensure Baumgartner lives to claim his honors, the Stratos team is using a custom spacesuit. It's designed by the David Clark Company, which made the first pressurized suits for World War II fighters, and includes a gas-filled bladder and integrated valve to maintain pressure over the various altitudes. While Baumgartner hopes to set new freefall distance, and time (5 minutes 30 seconds) records, there'll also be a lasting contribution to science, with team medical director Dr. Jonathan Clark hoping the developments can lead to advances in space travel and tourism. So in the future when you're opening your pretzels, looking down upon the Earth, raise a complimentary glass to Felix

Continue reading Record-breaking freefall advances space suit technology (video)

Record-breaking freefall advances space suit technology (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Two US startups break solar efficiency records, aim to light up your life

Andrew Munchbach — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:35:00 EST

Two US startups are breaking solar efficiency records in their quest to bring clean, cost-effective, eco-friendly energy to a power grid near you. Alta Devices, based in Santa Clara, CA, has achieved a 23.5 percent efficiency rating with its standard solar panel, while Semprius, a Durham, NC company, has achieved a rating of 33.9 percent with its concentrated photovoltaic offering -- besting the previous records of 22.9 percent and 33 percent, respectively. Interestingly enough, both outfits chose to utilize a new material to construct their sun-sopping cells: gallium arsenide. The material, while more expensive, is better suited for absorbing the sun's energy, especially when compared to silicon, the cheaper element typically used. Alta and Semprius are looking to proliferate solar power by further refining the technology, making its price per kilowatt equivalent to that of fossil fuels without the use of government subsides. Here comes the sun...

Two US startups break solar efficiency records, aim to light up your life originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Arduino hack turns Space Invaders alarm into Gmail Notifier (video)

Daniel Cooper — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:04:00 EST

Glaswegian engineer Grant Gibson spied a Space Invaders alarm clock being flogged off cheap ($5) and decided it deserved hacking. When activated, the battery-powered unit scuttled left to right, old-school style as it roused sleepy gamers but Mr. Gibson added a little Arduino magic to turn it into a moving Gmail notifier. Stripping out the battery compartment, he installed a USB-powered Arduino Nano, programmed to poll his email and activate the motion whenever he received a new message. The system is ripe for customization, it can be set up to alert when a front door bell is pushed or a notification received on Twitter -- which you'll be allowed to try as he's included all the details on his blog. The project (including the Nano and Alarm Clock) came to $20 and three hours of his time, which we're understandably impressed by. Head on past the break to see the thing in action and then fling yourself (highland-style) down to the source link to learn how to build your own.

Continue reading Arduino hack turns Space Invaders alarm into Gmail Notifier (video)

Arduino hack turns Space Invaders alarm into Gmail Notifier (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Russian carrier gives $5,000 vacation to its most data hungry customer

Amar Toor — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:37:00 EST

Use more data, win more prizes. It may sound counterintuitive, but that's exactly what Russian operator MegaFon is offering to its subscribers, as part of a curious 3G promotion. It all began back in November, when the provider announced a rather straightforward contest: customers who downloaded the most data with their 3G modems would be awarded prizes worth up to one million rubles (about $33,000), including a $5,000 vacation. According to Russian news site C News, MegaFon launched the campaign in order to showcase the expanse of its data network, which apparently covers more than 80 percent of northwestern Russia and offers speeds of up to 21Mbps. The promotion came to an official close on January 31st, with the coronation of a lucky winner who, over the course of a single week, managed to scarf down 419GB of data on the company's 3G network. MegaFon didn't offer usage statistics on the second and third place winners, nor did it say what they won for their efforts, if you wanna call them that.

Russian carrier gives $5,000 vacation to its most data hungry customer originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Next Web | C News (Translated) | Email this | Comments

83-year old woman gets replacement 3D printed titanium jaw, makes her the coolest member of the bridge club

Mat Smith — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:34:00 EST

3D printers are continuing to force their way into medical circles and the latest beneficiary is an 83-year old woman. She's the first to receive a titanium jaw crafted by those not-so dimensionally-challenged printers. The method was developed by the BIOMED Research Institute at Hasselt University in Belgium and creates the lower jaw replacement from layer-upon-layer of titanium dust. A computer-controlled laser then ensures that the correct molecules are fused together. The technique, the first to replace the entire jaw, takes mere hours to make the substitute choppers, while previous options would take several days. Although the final product weighs a bit more than its natural predecessor, but that didn't stop the patient returning close to "normal speaking and swallowing" the day after the operation.

(Photo credit: ZDNET.de)

83-year old woman gets replacement 3D printed titanium jaw, makes her the coolest member of the bridge club originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox co-creator brings together Atari 'dream team' for mobile gaming startup

Donald Melanson — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:38:00 EST

A new mobile gaming startup that's yet to release a single game isn't the sort of thing we'd normally cover 'round here, but the story behind Los Angeles-based Innovative Leisure is anything but ordinary. The man behind the company is the co-creator of the Xbox, Seamus Blackley, and he's brought with him eleven industry veterans that he calls "the dream team from Atari," including the likes of Van Burnham, Ed Logg, Rich Adam, Tim Skelly, Owen Rubin, and Ed Rotberg. While those names may not be familiar to everyone, you'll surely recognize some of the games they were responsible for: Asteroids, Centipede, Gauntlet, Missile Command, Battlezone, S.T.U.N. Runner, Major Havoc and Space Duel, to name a few.

Speaking with VentureBeat, Blackley describes mobile devices as "the new arcade" and 99 cent games as the "new quarter," adding that he's aiming to carry on where Atari left off, "focusing on innovation in gameplay." To help with that, the company has secured backing from THQ, which has reportedly agreed to an initial slate of ten games, seven of which are now in development (with only the iPhone and iPad mentioned as supported platforms so far). Unfortunately, details remain light beyond that, with Blackley only offering late summer or fall as an estimated release date for the first titles. In the meantime, you can find more of the backstory at the links below (THQ's press release can also be found after the break).

Continue reading Xbox co-creator brings together Atari 'dream team' for mobile gaming startup

Xbox co-creator brings together Atari 'dream team' for mobile gaming startup originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New super-Earth detected, 'best candidate' for supporting life

James Trew — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:37:00 EST

A new potentially life-bearing "super-Earth" has been discovered orbiting a relatively nearby star. Described as the "best candidate" for supporting liquid water -- and therefore life -- the planet (GJ 667Cc) is believed to be about 4.5 times the size of Earth. The parent star (GJ 667C) is 22 light years away, and this is the second potentially Earth-like rock scientists have discovered orbiting the M-class dwarf. With a 28.15 day cycle, it's calculated to receive 90 percent as much light as Earth, and much of that is infrared (meaning the actual energy delivered is about equal) -- crucially hinting at similar temperatures and favorable conditions. Not enough is known about the atmosphere right now to fully nail the water prospects, but it's still our best hope of discovering life as we (don't) know it yet.

Continue reading New super-Earth detected, 'best candidate' for supporting life

New super-Earth detected, 'best candidate' for supporting life originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VeriSign revealed to have suffered repeated security breaches in 2010

Donald Melanson — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:16:00 EST

It took some digging through more than 2,000 pages of SEC documents, but Reuters revealed today that VeriSign was attacked "repeatedly" by hackers in 2010, and that some undisclosed information was stolen from the company. The key danger there is the DNS records that the company manages -- which ensure that URLs take you to the correct website -- but VeriSign says that its executives "do not believe these attacks breached the servers that support our Domain Name System network." As Reuters notes, however, the company isn't ruling anything out. Details on the attacks themselves (or the exact number and timing of them) are otherwise hard to come by, but it's reported that VeriSign's security staff did not notify top management until September of 2011 -- although they are said to have "responded" to the attacks themselves.

VeriSign revealed to have suffered repeated security breaches in 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NASA films dark side of the moon, finds no evidence of Brain Damage (video)

Amar Toor — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:38:00 EST

Take a moment to Breathe, because this one's kind of heady. NASA has just published a new video of the Dark Side of the Moon and, contrary to popular belief, it's not really all that dark. (We'd probably describe it as a subdued gray, if we had to, but feel free to go with Any Colour You Like.) Compiled into a 30-second video clip, this footage provides a cursory glimpse of the moon's hind parts (its "B-Side," if you will), panning over the rock from north to south, in all its crater-y glory. It's all part of an initiative from NASA's Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory (GRAIL), which presumably spent a lot of Time and Money to build its twin spacecraft, nicknamed Ebb and Flow. On January 19th, the lab sent the pair up to that Great Gig in the Sky, as part of the GRAIL MoonKAM mission -- a "progressive" educational outreach program geared toward middle school students. Ebb was charged with filmic duties, and did a remarkable job of shooting On the Run with its MoonKAM camera, returning high res footage to NASA's engineers, and giving both Us and Them something to think about during the next lunar Eclipse. See the video (along with its eerily sync-able counterpart) after the break, and if you've got any questions about it, please don't hesitate to Speak to Me.

Continue reading NASA films dark side of the moon, finds no evidence of Brain Damage (video)

NASA films dark side of the moon, finds no evidence of Brain Damage (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NASA debuts two new educational games for iOS, Facebook

Donald Melanson — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:05:00 EST

NASA is no stranger to apps, but the space agency is branching out further into some new territory with its two latest offerings: a pair of educational games. The first is Sector 33, an air traffic control simulator for iOS devices that certainly won't be confused with Flight Control, but which NASA hopes will help teach math and possibly get folks interested in aviation. Those who prefer their games a bit more casual can also now try out NASA's very first multiplayer Facebook game, Space Race Blast Off, which tests folks' knowledge of various space-related topics (and is considerably more challenging than it first appears). Additional details and the games themselves can be found at the source links below.

[Thanks, Mo]

NASA debuts two new educational games for iOS, Facebook originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Mashable, PhoneRPT | NASA, iTunes, Space Race Blast Off (Facebook) | Email this | Comments

Gundam Statue rebuilt to guard eponymous museum

Daniel Cooper — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:03:00 EST

Let's be honest, the saga of the giant RX-78-2 couldn't have ended with the 59-foot replica mecha lying scattered in pieces. On April 19th, Bandai's opening a theme park dedicated to the world's greatest giant-robot cartoon, ~~Neon Genesis Evangelion~~ Mobile Suit Gundam. Adults will pay 1,000 yen ($13), Kids 800 yen ($10) to visit the 2,050 square-meter "Gundam Front," park, in a shopping mall in Tokyo's Odaiba district. There's even a themed café and store, to buy all of your giant-robots and giant-robot-based accessories -- but no word yet if we'll be able to build our own version of the giant Gundam that'll guard the entrance. In other news, we've still not heard anything about that Space Battleship Yamato-themed cruise liner that was in the offing a few years ago.

Gundam Statue rebuilt to guard eponymous museum originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Kotaku | MSN.jp (Translated) | Email this | Comments