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Scientists develop 'nanosphere' paint that could reduce planes' carbon dioxide emissions
A new paint using nanosphere-based ink could weigh just 10 percent that of traditional options. It could have financial and environmental benefits.
Korg's Drumlogue is an analog drum machine with a powerful digital engine
After first teasing it way back on January 2021, Korg has released the much-anticipated Drumlogue, a hybrid drum machine.
PowerA's Nano Enhanced is a compact Switch controller with pro features
The Nano Enhanced Wireless Controller is a compact gamepad for the Nintendo Switch.
Anova's Sous Vide Precision Cooker Pro is $200 off on Amazon
Anova's Pro Sous Vide Precision Cooker is a whopping $200 off.
Anova's Nano sous vide bundle is $70 off at Amazon
When it comes to culinary adventures from the comforts of home, sous vide is still very popular. If you haven't jumped on the bandwagon yet, we won't judge, but there are some great deals available at Amazon this week that might tempt you to do so. You could also provide the tool necessary for that aspiring chef on your list to try the cooking method. First, the Anova Precision Cooker Nano is bundled with the company's vacuum sealer for $99. That's typically the price just for the Nano alone, so you're getting the sealer for free. Regularly, the pair would cost you $169. You don't need a vacuum sealer for sous vide, but it does make things easier. Plus, you can use it to package food for freezing and storage.
Tata will stop selling the 'world's cheapest car'
Tata's Nano was supposed to start a revolution in automotive design when it was unveiled in 2008 as the world's cheapest car. In theory, it opened the door to vehicle ownership for people who'd otherwise have to spring for two-wheeled transport or nothing at all. Fast-forward a decade, however, and the reality is very different. After winding down production, the Indian car maker has declared that the current Nano "cannot continue beyond 2019." The final manufacturing numbers helped explain the move: In a market where virtually all car segments have seen growth, Tata made just one (yes, one) Nano in June versus 275 a year earlier.
Italian cryptocurrency exchange BitGrail loses $170 million
One of the biggest problems with cryptocurrency exchanges is that they're a juicy, enticing target for high-tech criminals. Case in point, Italian exchange BitGrail, which lost $170 million worth of Nano tokens, a little-known digital coin previously called RaiBlocks. BitGrail is the second exchange that lost of massive amount of money this year -- and it's only February -- following Tokyo-based Coincheck, which lost between $400 and $534 million worth of coins in a cyberattack on its internet-connected wallet back in January.
Get ready to lose the tiniest USB-C authentication key in the world
Yubico has launched a new USB-C authentication key and it is tiny. The tiniest in the world, in fact. But size doesn't matter in this instance, as the YubiKey 4C Nano it works just like any other USB-C authentication key. Designed to replace text messages or external authenticator apps when using two-factor authentication, just insert the key into your PC and bingo, you've got access. Interestingly, though, the company claims its incredibly small size makes it well-suited to simply being left in your laptop, which kind of defies its security and protection purpose. Of course, the alternative is taking it out and -- for something of this size -- inevitably losing it.
First-person-view drone flying is the closest thing to being a bird
Just moments ago, I was flying like a hawk. It wasn't a dream, or even virtual reality. It was a real, immersive experience fully under my control. Moments later, I'm very much on the ground, poking at some dense, tangled shrubbery with a stick. I had been operating a tiny camera-equipped mini-quadcopter, via video goggles that beam the drone's eye-view right into your peepers. It's known as "first-person view" (FPV) flying, and it's an incredibly fun out-of-body experience. Imagine being shrunk to the size of an ant and sitting in a virtual cockpit and you'll have an idea of where I'm going here. Why the stick, though? Today I went too high, got caught by a gust of wind and landed on a canopy of vegetation. I'm prodding at the knotted vines in the vain hope I might dislodge it. I've become so fond of my zen-time in the goggles that my stomach sinks at the thought of all that coming to an end. I'm not leaving until I find this thing.
This tiny nanoscale wrench can tinker with molecules
This could be the tiniest, most adorable wrench you'll ever (not) see. A team of scientists lead by Severin Schneebeli at the University of Vermont has developed a nanoscale wrench that can control microscopic objects and will lead to making next-generation customized materials. It's just 1.7 nanometers in length and works by the power of molecular chirality: this is where two molecules are identical in composition, yet opposite -- like your left and right hands.
Police nab iPod Nano in ATM skimming scheme
What happens to Apple hardware when the company turns its back on its creation? The hardware hits the streets for a life of crime. That's the sad story of this 5th-generation iPod Nano who was caught by the police aiding in a ATM skimming scheme. Thieves attached the Nano to an ATM with duct tape, then used the Nano's camera to capture video showing ATM users entering their PIN numbers. While it grabbed video, a skimmer attached to the ATM card reader recorded users debit card numbers. As far as ATM skimming operations go, this wasn't a terribly sophisticated setup. The cops involved in the case are quoted as saying, "To be honest not the best attempt we have seen." Still this story provides a solid object lesson for being aware of anything that looks odd at your local ATM. Here's what the setup looked like in real life: Stay mindful of any odd objects attached to or around your ATM -- it may save you from having your information or money stolen down the line. We can only hope that this poor iPod Nano can be rehabilitated and placed in a good home with a child who needs a solid MP3 player of her own.
MIT's $500 Kinect-like camera works in snow, rain, gloom of night
Remember that camera that takes 1 trillion exposures per second? Well, the illustrious folks at MIT have outdone themselves (again) by developing a camera that accomplishes all that and more, for just $500. Similar to the recently released Xbox One Kinect, this three-dimensional "nano-camera" is based on "Time Flight Technology." That means an object's whereabouts are calculated by measuring the time it takes light to reflect off its surface and return to the sensor. But, thanks to some fancy math, the nano-cam can capture translucent and moving objects in 3D, using a new encoding method. In the past, the results of the process (which has been dubbed "nanophotography") could only be achieved with a $500,000 "femto-camera." With such a dramatically lower price tag, it could be a solution to one of the many hurdles facing self-driving vehicles: the ability to tell the difference between a puddle and a cat in the pouring rain. And, even though it functions like a Kinect, don't expect it to be standard issue with an Xbox Two (or One II, or whatever Microsoft decides to call it).
iPod nano hits iFixit's dissection slab, rated so-so on the repairability scale
Tearing down a device the size of an iPod nano is definitely not for the faint of heart (or shaky of hand), but none of that deters iFixit, who just tackled Apple's latest pint-sized player. We called it the best nano so far, but if the tiny iPod with newfound Nike+ functionality calls it quits, can you do something about it yourself, or will it need to be binned or go back to the repair depot? iFixit is torn on the device, saying that it's easy to take apart and replace the LCD or digitizer glass, but that the battery is glued solidly to the chassis, and other important parts like the Lightning connector are soldered together. That makes the replacement of those components nigh-on impossible, resulting in a repairability score of 5/10 for the device -- not that we'd be brave enough to crack it open ourselves.
iPod nano review (2012)
If you think Apple is getting a little predictable with its yearly device refreshes, you probably haven't been charting the progress of its iPod nano. While most products in the Apple line receive an update every 12 months or so, few have experienced the kind of annual reinvention of the nano. It's a rare example of the company drastically re-thinking a product with such regularity -- or of simply not really knowing what to make of it. Depending on how you look at it, this new seventh-generation iPod nano is either the latest, most optimal design of the long-running series, or it's Apple's latest shot in the dark. Even the cynics will have to agree this is a pretty good shot, thinner than ever and packing more functionality than in the past -- including Bluetooth 4.0. It sure doesn't make much of a wristwatch, but is the latest littlest iPod worth the $149 price of admission to its 16GB capacity? Read on to find out.
Sharp 'Moth Eye' LCD Panel demo shows off future HDTVs with less glare
While its high pixel density mobile displays stole much of the attention at CEATEC 2012, Sharp also has tech destined for bigger screens like this "Moth Eye Panel" that Engadget Japanese took a look at during the show. Thanks to nanoscale irregularities on its surface similar to the eye of a moth it claims to give bright colors and high contrast while cutting down glare as seen above (moth eye panel on the left) The technology isn't in use yet, but Sharp says the film has been produced in 60-, 70- and 80-inch sizes already, so if you thought the company's extra large and Elite HDTVs couldn't get any better, next year's model will probably have at least one way to prove you wrong.
Nano-SIMs reportedly popping up at T-Mobile stores, ready to welcome your iPhone 5
The iPhone 5 may not be ready for sale unlocked officially just yet, but that doesn't mean T-Mobile isn't ready to be your service provider. As evidenced by the photo above, the folks at TmoNews and YouTuber BigRicksChannel have confirmed that the carrier is now selling iPhone 5-compatible Nano-SIMs. Of course, these'll work just fine with the Verizon-variant of the 4-inch device, as it's technically unlocked out of the box. Need proof beyond a photo? Catch the video after the break to see it connecting to T-Mobile's network for yourself.
Switched On: The iPod's modern family
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. If you bet that Apple was going to turn the square, occasionally wrist-strapped iPod nano into a MOTOACTV-like watch that would provide a glanceable window into iPhone apps, you lost. Clearly, Apple could have gone that route. It teased in the last generation with an expanding selection of watch faces and used this generation to add Bluetooth and enable a thinner design via the new Lightning connector. Nevertheless, Apple decided to forgo the embryonic smartwatch market. Indeed, it returned to the larger, longer iPod nano school of yore, but with the single-button design of its iOS mobile devices complementing a multitouch interface. The watch faces may be gone, but the new iPod nano regains the ability to play video while retaining photo display and Nike+ integration. It has become the equivalent of the lineup's feature phone, albeit with a better user interface. Examined in context, the new clip-free iPod nano looks more at home as a midrange option between the tiny iPod shuffle and the now larger iPod touch.
Apple's new iPod touch, nano and shuffle now up for pre-order on Amazon
Sure, all the talk of late is about Apple's shiny new iPhone 5, but let's not forget the company also unveiled a slew of fresh iPods back at the Yerba Buena Center this past week. And while the Cupertino outfit's had the music-friendly lineup for pre-order on its website from day one, folks can now start placing orders through Amazon as well. The only bad news is the revamped iPod touch shows an estimated shipping time of 3-5 weeks, while the "renanoed" nano and the tiny, colorful shuffle are both expected to be shipped in 2-5 weeks. As far as pricing goes, the MSRP tags are the same as Apple's -- though there is a better chance you could get them a bit quicker thanks to one of Amazon's renowned shipping options. Either way, you'll find 'em all at the source link below.
General Motors invests in NanoSteel, hopes to lighten its load
What's the simplest way to improve fuel efficiency? Build a lighter car, of course. That's GM's plan, at least, and it's taking its first step toward a more efficient future by investing in a nano-structured materials design firm called NanoSteel. "Over the next several years, light-weighting of vehicles will be a major focus area to improve fuel economy." GM's Jon Lauckner said of the deal. The nano-structured Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS) GM's betting on has the potential to shave excess pounds off of a vehicle without sacrificing structural integrity. It's easier to work with too, and can be shaped and cut without being heated. The size of GM's contribution to the cause hasn't been disclosed, but NanoSteel CEO Dave Paratore seems encouraged by the partnership, stating that it will allow them to "accelerate the final phases of development" for its nano-structured AHSS. Maybe together, the two firms can meet President Obama's 2025 mileage goal. Read on for the official press release.
CIA dragonfly drone almost beat modern UAVs by 40 years, was swatted (video)
US intelligence agencies were just as obsessed with drone spying 40 years ago as they are nowadays -- only then, it was pipe-smoking entomologists and watchmakers who were in charge of building prototypes. Back in the '70s, the CIA needed some kind of miniature flyer to deliver an audio bug, and after considering (and rejecting) a faux bumblebee, decided that a robotic dragonfly would be the best option. The wee UAV used a "miniature fluidic oscillator" as a motor and was propelled by a small amount of gas. It was somehow guided by a laser beam, which served double-duty as the "datalink for the audio sensor payload," according to the CIA Museum. Unfortunately, the insect-based mech proved too difficult to control, especially with any degree of wind, and was eventually scuppered -- all that's left of the now-declassified project is in the video after the break.
