ADAM
Latest
Lockheed Martin's laser can stop a truck from over a mile away
Lasers have staggering range, can attack land or air-based targets and are dirt-cheap to fire, making them ideal for a military with one eye on the budget. Now, Lockheed Martin has worked out that the technology could also be used for stopping a car without resorting to lethal force. The company has been testing out a new fiber-optic laser, called ATHENA, which was able to burn through the engine manifold of a truck that was over a mile away.
Watch Lockheed Martin's laser weapon take down boats from a mile away
It's good that Lockheed Martin's ADAM laser can shoot down drones and rockets, but there are threats much closer to Earth -- say, small boat crews bent on destroying large warships. Never fear, though, as we now know that ADAM can take care of those targets as well. Lockheed has successfully wielded the weapon against small boats, burning holes through their rubber hulls from a full mile away. The laser's automatic infrared tracking makes targeting a piece of cake. Even with the pitching of the waves, it's easy to aim at a specific point on a vessel.
Siri Eyes Free coming to Opel ADAM car in Europe
Opel has announced that Siri Eyes Free integration is available in its ADAM car, with more cars to follow later this year. Opel is a European car company owned by General Motors. As many GM cars in the US offer (or will soon) Siri Eyes Free integration, Opel seems like a logical next step. In a press release announcing the news, Opel says: This unique feature is available free of charge in all IntelliLink-equipped ADAMs which are ordered now on. Customers who already own an ADAM with IntellilLink can also benefit from Siri Eyes Free. As Opel is offering a software update free of charge which enables the Siri Eyes Free functionality to be added to IntelliLink. The innovative IntelliLink system can be continually updated throughout the customers' ownership to ensure in-car infotainment is just as up to date as their mobile communication. Opel ADAM customers should visit their Opel dealer to get the update. Siri Eyes Free integration will cost ADAM owners an additional €300 (US$394). The ADAM itself is a car popular in urban areas because of its small size and relatively low starting price of €11,500 (US$15,100).
Notion Ink Adam II teased at India's National Technology Awards (updated)
Remember the Notion Ink Adam? We'll forgive you if you don't -- the device fell a bit short of expectations, and news of its successor has been scarce. Save for a few teasing tweets, Notion Ink has kept the project pretty close to its chest. That changed this weekend, however, when the tablet's price and specifications were announced at India's National Technology Awards. According to the press release (after the break) and a pamphlet reportedly given to attendees, the Adam II will sell for 12,000 Indian Rupees (about $217) later this year, packing in a 1.5GHz Dual-Core ARM Cortex CPU, twin 2-megapixel cameras, 1GB RAM and up to 10 hours of battery life. The tablet also boasts a secondary screen, albeit a small one: a monochrome ticker that displays Android notifications on the Adam's book-like spine. HDMI, headphone and micro-USB ports crowd the device's adjacent edges, which wrap around a 10.1-inch 1,280 x 800 IPS display -- a concession that was apparently made to increase longevity. Local and international availability was sadly left out of the announcements, but it's nice to finally see this project gain some steam. Update: Notion Ink has reached out to let us know that the 12,000 rupee price cited in the PR is incorrect. We've asked the company to clarify the pricing and will let you know if we hear back. [Thanks, Anonymous] %Gallery-188088%
Lockheed Martin's ADAM laser blasts enemy rockets with its HEL beam
Enemy rockets go up. ADAM makes'em go down... safely and in a grand explosion of fire. That's the name of Lockheed Martin's Area Defense Anti-Munitions system, or badass laser for short (to us, anyway), created to intercept and "negate" airborne rockets and drones. The aerospace company's been testing its portable, prototype system -- built with off-the-shelf parts -- since last summer, successfully proving ADAM's capability in detecting aerial threats at a distance of 5km or more and then obliterating those targets with its finely trained laser, or HEL beam (no, really), once they're within a 2km range. But why waste time with words when the the company's own slo-mo video paints a more vivid, shock and awe-some picture. Check it out after the break.
Notion Ink's Adam II greets Twitter with blurry eyes
Notion Ink's first generation Adam tablet was an undoubtedly intriguing, but fairly flawed device. But while the company offered the promise of fixing up some of those concerns with gen two, we haven't heard all that much about the device since we saw a profile pic much earlier this year. Ever the tease, the company's site is offering up a little more of the device. All that you're getting this time out is a blurry corner and a chipper "Hello world" greeting. More soon. We hope. [Thanks, Avreen]
Notion Ink Adam 2 won't have HD screen due to battery constraints
Notion Ink has already revealed a few of the features its forthcoming Adam 2 tablet will have, and it's now also confirmed something it won't have: an HD (or higher res) screen like some of its competitors. In a post on the Designing Adam 2 blog, Notion Ink's Rohan Shravan explained that the company did have the option of a 10-inch 1920 x 1200 display, but that would come either with a significant hit to battery life or some other compromises the company wasn't willing to make (weight, size, charging time, etc). There's still no word on what resolution the Adam 2's screen will have. Shravan did add that a higher resolution screen is on the company's roadmap, but that will apparently have to wait for some battery improvements that don't also require a bigger battery.
Notion Ink's ICS build for Adam goes beta, adds 3G, GPS
Last month Adam owners got a taste of Ice Cream Sandwich after Notion Ink released an Alpha build, but if the limited functionality didn't do it for you, how about an improved Beta version? The developers hope that HDMI video, functional GPS, better WiFi and a working compass will keep you happy while they iron out the remaining niggles, like non-functioning camera and microphone. If this sounds a bit more like it, you should be able to get your hands on it over the weekend. Hit the source link below for the deets.
Notion Ink releases ICS Alpha update for Adam tablet, teases new device (video)
We had mixed feelings about Notion Ink's Adam slate when it debuted last year, but if you're one of the converts who took one home, then it looks like your faith is being rewarded with an ICS update. Okay, it's only an alpha build, so not everything is working just yet -- that'd be the camera, 3G, USB storage and flash drive, oh and the light sensor. If these *cough* minor niggles don't phase you, the "upgrade" -- shown in the video after the break -- is yours for the taking. This isn't all that Notion Ink's been up to though, as it's also quietly teased a new device on its blog which it claims has been built almost entirely in-house this time round. Details are beyond sparse at this time, but with so much ICS tabletry on the cards for 2012, Adam's new partner will definitely need to have been eating from the tree of knowledge.
Notion Ink Adam update overhauls UI, provides a smidgen of extra stability (video)
We'd be lying if we said the Notion Ink Adam tablet wasn't a major disappointment, but the tiny Indian company that brought us the slate hasn't packed it in yet -- this week, Rohan Shravan announced a new round of sales, and issued a massive software overhaul for all existing Adams to go along with it. We've been playing with the new software for over a day now, and we can attest that the Eden 1.5 UI is much improved -- it's less flashy, but far more responsive, less prone to crashes, and generally more useful. We'd still call it a beta, mind you, as we still managed to find some nasty bugs and slowdown while browsing around, but we're digging the new Chords music player, the new To-Do list, and the multitasking-friendly App Manager you see above. Notion Ink also claims we'll see better battery life in this version, and we're putting the Adam through a thorough drain test right now. We're also hearing that Notion Ink is still working on Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) builds. While you wait, why not click past the break for video of the new features in motion. Update: We're not sure about day-to-day use, but we're not getting better results in our battery drain test -- we're still looking at under 6 hours of juice with the backlight at roughly 65 percent brightness.
Notion Ink Adam review
The saga of the Notion Ink Adam is a tale like many we could name -- it's the story of a tiny company struggling to bring a vision to market, facing friction from investors, factories and the march of time itself. The difference is that the Adam captured the imaginations of gadget fiends like ourselves with ideas that were fantastic from day one and are still novel now that it's finally been released, including a paneled UI, full USB host functionality, and of course that Pixel Qi screen. But does the Adam deliver on the promises of unifying form and function with such technology? In two words: Not really. Update: With a new software update, the Notion Ink Adam is slightly better now. If you asked us, we'd definitely still call it beta, but there's progress being made on the UI front. %Gallery-120854%
The Engadget Show - 020: RIM's Ryan Bidan, gdgt's Peter Rojas, Ford CEO Alan Mulally, lots of tablets, Shredder test-drive
Welcome to the latest episode of the The Engadget Show, in which we change things up just a little bit. Everything starts with a trip to the New Mexico desert for a ride on the Shredder, love child of a tank and a skateboard. Next, Tim and Associate Editor Jacob Schulman sit down with RIM's Ryan Bidan to talk about the BlackBerry PlayBook. Then, Tim has a chat with Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally about the future of transportation, and just what'll be driving you in to work in 20 years. After that, Engadget founder Peter Rojas joins Tim and Managing Editor Darren Murph to look at a plethora of tablets. Favorites are chosen, lines are drawn, and allegiances pledged. There's also talk of Amazon's next play in the tablet space, the death of Flip, and what's up next for gdgt. It's an action-packed show and it's ready for you. What are you waiting for? Watch it now! The video stream is above, or download the show in HD below! Hosts: Tim Stevens, Darren Murph, Jacob Schulman Special guests: Ryan Bidan, Alan Mulally, Peter Rojas Produced and Directed by: Chad Mumm Executive Producer: Joshua Fruhlinger Edited by: Danny Madden Music by: Sabrepulse Visuals by: Paris and Outpt Shredder segment music: Minusbaby Taped live at AOL Studios Download the Show: The Engadget Show - 020 (HD) / The Engadget Show - 020 (iPod / iPhone / Zune formatted) / The Engadget Show - 020 (Small) Subscribe to the Show: [iTunes] Subscribe to the Show directly in iTunes (MP4). [Zune] Subscribe to the Show directly in the Zune Marketplace (MP4). [RSS MP4] Add the Engadget Show feed (MP4) to your RSS aggregator and have it delivered automatically. [HD RSS] Get the Engadget Show delivered automatically in HD. [iPad RSS] Get the Engadget Show in iPad-friendly adaptive format.
Notion Ink apps ported over to Viewsonic G-Tablet, promise not to brick it too
A few lucky souls managed to get their Notion Ink Adams early -- only to have them brick themselves. The rest were delayed and, well, it's all a bit of a mess. Now there's another way to get a taste of Ink but on some currently available hardware. User gojimi over at the inimitable xda-developers forums has ported seven applications from the Notion Ink suite to Viewsonic's G-Tablet, including the Calendar, Keyboard, QuickOffice, and the Browser. Some don't run perfectly and we have to say that's something of an unfortunate target, but gojimi does indicate it should be easy to move them to any other ROM. So, you know, make it happen!
Notion Ink delays some Adam shipments to February 14th due to touchscreens damaged in transit
The growing pains of being a small company dealing with big demand have bitten Notion Ink again, as the company has had to dish out a disappointing email to some Adam buyers informing them their delivery has been delayed to February 14th. The culprit in this sad case is a shipment of damaged touchscreens, which company chief Rohan Shravan estimates will affect just over five percent of all orders. Touchscreen supplier Sintek has promised to work through the Chinese New Year to refill that stock, so hopefully the bump back to Valentine's Day will be the last, seemingly fitting, one for the Adam. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Notion Ink Adam hits the FCC, torn apart in haste
Although Rohan told us that his Adam tablet had cleared FCC testing a few weeks ago, it's not until today, just now actually, that we've seen the filing go public. For our troubles the FCC has done us the solid of a full-blown teardown. And honestly, it's not pretty. Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised to see so many hand-soldered connections and individual strands of wire encompassing the NVIDIA Tegra T20-H-A0 application processor and embedded Ericsson F3307 HSPA broadband module -- it is, after all, the tiny startup's first mass-market device. But we've borne witness to many a splayings including the tidy tablet teardowns of the iPad and Galaxy Tab. As such, the Adam comes across as a bedraggled mess of suspect build quality -- great for modders, less great (potentially) for the average I-just-want-it-to-work consumer. Naturally, NI doesn't have the design or manufacturing muscle of Apple or Samsung and with the tablet having only just now shipped it'll be months before we have a good idea about the device's integrity. So kick back for now with a few of the more egregious components (like the swiveling camera) after the break with the rest piled up in the gallery below. %Gallery-115282%
PSA: Notion Ink Adam can be unbricked, and here's the 80MB fix
There were tears of joy at the Notion Ink Adam launch, but also tears of shame, as owners of the long-awaited Pixel Qi tablet who downloaded the very first OTA update had their slate brutally bricked. Thankfully, the Notion Ink team appears to have issued a speedy fix, as you can download the ROM directly from the company's website and flash it the comfort of your own home. Assuming you've got a Windows or Linux PC handy, it's only an 80MB download away, and you'll find file links and a detailed set of instructions right after the break. We'll also note that this gives the hacker community an intriguing opportunity to peek through the Adam's code -- if you find anything interesting, be sure to let us know!
Notion Ink Adams arrive to eager unboxers, first OTA brings new meaning to DOA
Well, would you look at that? Oh yes, that's a real life Notion Ink Adam on some lucky guy's table after being pulled from its fresh packaging. Sure, that's to be expected considering the 10-inch, Android 2.2 tablets were boxed up and shipped out last week, but after the numerous delays, we've got to say it's a true milestone for the India-based company. However, while the unboxing videos and pictures are flowing in -- there are two right after the break for ya -- there's sadly some rain pouring down on the company's parade today. According to the chaps at Android Police, a few people have encountered serious issues with an over-the-air update that was pushed to these new tablets. Apparently, hitting the update button and installing the software has caused the Tegra 2 Adam to stop booting (picture of that sad sight at the second source link). That's surely a FOF situation (frown on face, for those that haven't listened to the recent Engadget podcast), but word is that Notion Ink has stopped pushing out those updates for the time being and emailed customers about the issue. We'll be keeping an ear to the ground on this one, but in the meantime we'll be here waiting for our review unit to arrive so we can show those amateur, wobbly-cam unboxers how it's really done.
Notion Ink Adam ships today
Well, what do you know: Notion Ink just announced that it will begin shipping its FCC and CE certified Adam tablet starting tomorrow today. If you pre-ordered, then you should see your delivery status update soon to the last week of January. That's a lot better than February and much, much better than never which is always the risk when David takes on the Goliaths. Now we'll see how it holds up to real-world usage -- here's hoping for some of that good JooJoo. P.S. For what it's worth, we're still not seeing the shipping version of Adam -- product NI3421A01 with guarantee code Y2G -- in the FCC database. Anyone else? [Thanks, Anthony]
Notion Ink Adam clears FCC, begins shipping 'around Wednesday'
We don't see it in the FCC database yet but Notion Ink's charming Rohan Shravan just penned a post on the company's blog with news that Adam has official clearance from the US government. That's right, after several delays the tiny startup will finally condense its occasionally vapory molecules into a solid slab of shipping tablet starting "around Wednesday" after the hardware receives its FCC tattoo. Remember, Adam was that tablet good enough to earn a Best of CES 2011 honorable mention at an event absolutely flooded with tablets from a who's who of consumer electronics companies. While our first impressions of the production unit were positive, we're holding off on making a final judgement until we've had the chance to perform a full review. Having said that, Adam's final NI3421A01 product code is so nerdy -- the "3421" continues Rohan's tradition of numbering product iterations along the Fibonacci number sequence -- that we're almost tempted to place an order ourselves. Almost. [Thanks, John]
Notion Ink Adam delayed pending FCC certification
Just when it seemed the Notion Ink Adam had escaped the pit of dubious pre-orders and moved onto the glowing preview stage, here comes another hurdle to trip up its 10-inch PixelQi screen. Android Police reports that US buyers have received email notifications that their orders are ready to ship out, except for that little matter of FCC approval. We've yet to see the Adam pass the FCC -- perhaps because it hasn't done so quite yet -- and the tablet will need to have its paperwork in order and be properly labeled before it can be imported into the US. Notion Ink insists that all the red tape will be taken care of "within this week," and that some international orders have already shipped out. We're hoping that's the case -- we'd hate to think of all those poor slates sitting in boxes, instead of getting some sun.
