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Watch a 'transforming' drone blast out of a cannon
Researchers launched a drone from a pneumatic baseball pitching machine strapped to a truck traveling 50 miles per hour. They hope this ballistic launch method might lead to drones that are better suited for emergency response and space exploration missions.
The US is preparing to modernize its nuclear weapons systems
The United States has not updated its nuclear weapons program in decades, but in February President Barack Obama allocated more than $1 trillion to the modernization of the country's nuclear stockpile. Perhaps he got tired of hearing jokes about servicemen using floppy disks to activate missiles, but regardless of the catalyst, the US is preparing to create a brand new nuclear weapons system that includes connecting its missiles via a secure network. In 2017, 50 men and women on the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board will be tasked with figuring out what could go wrong in this brave new world, Defense One reports.
Nexon puts millions into Rumble Games
Rumble Games, founded by former BioWare/Pandemic CEO Greg Richardson, has just received a nice cash boost from Nexon and its investment partners. Rumble announced today that Nexon, Google Ventures, and TriplePoint Capital have invested $17.5 million in the studio, which intends to use the funds to expand its markets and further support its stable of free-to-play and mobile titles. Nexon, the Tokyo-based producer of online games like Mabinogi, Combat Arms, and MapleStory, apparently sees something it likes in Rumble's games, which include KingsRoad, Ballistic, and Nightmare Guardians.
Ballistic adds Hydra waterproof iPhone case to its line
Ballistic makes some amazing cases that can put up with a lot of abuse. TUAW has reviewed the lightweight and stylish Aspira cases for iPhone 5, the Universal Sport Rugged holster and the Tough Jacket for iPad in the past, and all have proven to be tough and able to put up with abuse. But what about water? Today, Ballistic announced the addition of the new Hydra (US$80.00) waterproof iPhone 5 case to its line. The Hydra is relatively thin, thanks to TPE and polycarbonate construction. And to cushion the phone in case of falls, Ballistic's trademarked Air Gap Suspension Springs provide a gap between the case and the device. Waterproofing on the Hydra exceeds IP-68 standards, meaning that it can be submerged in up to seven feet of water for up to 30 minutes. The waterproof design also serves as a way to keep dust out of the case in drier climates. The Hydra comes in a variety of colors and will be available both on the Ballistic Case website and at retail stores.
Ballistic's new Aspira case line for iPhone 5
This will be a rather quick review, not just because silicone iPhone 5 cases are quite commonplace, but because there are mainly just good things to say about these new cases from Ballistic Case. They're all members of the Ballistic Case Aspira series for the iPhone 5 (US$34.99), and three readers will have a chance to win one. Design The Aspira cases are lightweight, skinny, and colorful. Ballistic has come up with seven cases in the series that will attract the attention of just about everyone. There's a white case with imperial blue accents, a white case with a pink flower pattern, an eye-jarring mint green case with strawberry pink accents, a much more soothing raspberry case with gray accents, a black case with a charcoal gray hexagon pattern and accents, a black case with lime green accents and a black case with gray accents. All of the cases are made of a glossy material excecpt for those accents that cover the corners, ends, and front of the case -- those are made of regular silicone material for shock absorbency. The cases are really light, just a featherweight 0.9 ounce, and they add just a tiny bit of thickness to your sexy iPhone 5. The flower and hexagon pattern cases offer an extra measure of "grippiness" to an otherwise slick surface; something to think about if you want to keep a good grip on your investment. Functionality A good case should provide protection and add some style to your phone, and the Aspira series touches all the bases. Ballistic is well-known for putting a touch more thickness into the corners of their cases which really adds to the impact protection. The cases are all dual-layer, so the back of the case not only has that shiny surface for protection but an inner silicone layer of cushion as well. The non-patterned models use an anti-scratch coating to keep the glossy surface from getting beat up. I like the way that the Aspira cases fit on the iPhone 5. The cases are easy to install and take off, but the fit is snug enough to keep the cases from falling off. One of my pet peeves with some other silicone cases is that they can have a tendency to "sag" a little and look sloppy; that's definitely not the situation with these cases. Conclusion While I think the Aspira series cases might be a little more pricy than they should be, Ballistic has come up with a very functional and attractive line of cases. Pros Good protection for your iPhone 5, particularly on the corners where there is extra padding Fun and bright colors and patterns Textured cases provide a good gripping surface Shiny cases are treated with an anti-scratch coating Cons A bit on the expensive side for a silicone iPhone 5 case. Look here for generic silicone cases for less than $10. Who are they for? iPhone 5 owners who want a thin, lightweight, and attractive case that provides excellent protection. Giveaway Three TUAW readers are going to win an Aspira series iPhone 5 case from Ballistic. We have one white with the pink floral patter and accents, one black with the grey hexagon pattern and accents, and one black with green accents. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before May 2, 2013, 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. Three winners will be selected, each winning a Ballistic Aspira series iPhone 5 case valued at US$34.99. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Ballistic Tough Jacket: Disaster-proof protection for your iPad
Ballistic makes sturdy cases for the iPhone, now they've got the Tough Jacket for your iPad. Designed to be a resilient but practical cover for Apple's biggest iOS device, the Tough Jacket is made of heavy duty plastic and rubber and comes in three parts which assemble onto your iPad for exceptional durability and ruggedness. The unit I tested works on the iPad 2 and the latest generation iPad. I tested the Tough Jacket for over a week in real-world use to see how it fared. Note that I am not a fan of cases for my Apple devices, but the Ballistic products are a good solution to toughening up your gear. Design At first I was put off by the assembly required for the Ballistic Tough Jacket. But then, I'm used to pretty simple cases. Ballistic doesn't make lenticular smiling puppy cases. They make really tough cases. While testing my iPad, a friend told me they use Ballistic cases on iPhones at his job. One of his coworkers managed to leave an iPhone on the roof of his car one day... Despite flying off the car onto the highway, the iPhone survived. These cases are designed to be tough -- not pretty or easy to get on and off. Still, the design of Ballistic gear is all about function. A silicone rubber sleeve first goes over the iPad, then a hard plastic white back plate snaps around this rubber. You have to work a little to get things to snap in properly, and when you're done it looks like your iPad has suddenly become standard-issue Imperial Stormtrooper gear. But again, Ballistic isn't making your iPad pretty, just tough. Lastly there's a hard plastic snap-on cover. There are cutouts for the iPad speaker, headphone port and the lock switch but power and volume are kept under the rubber. The headphone port cutout is ample, but I often had trouble getting my finger into the tiny hole to lock the orientation. Volume works, but power can sometimes take some futzing. There is a dock cutout, but the snap-on cover must be orientated in one direction to allow it to pass through if you attach the cover. Speaking of the cover, there is a cutout for the iPad camera that has to remain large enough to use -- so that's a bit of exposure on your screen when the cover is attached to the front, but not much. There's a little kickstand on the cover so you can prop the iPad up when the cover is attached on the back. No adjustments can be made, but I found the angle is right on for most use. Also note there is no specific screen protection besides the plastic cover. If you're looking for a water-resistant case, this is not it. While the cover piece seems a bit flimsy at first, I noticed it's actually a very strong plastic and it withstood repeated smacking onto various hard surfaces. The cover also seems like it would fall off, but it is designed in a clever way so that if you try to remove it improperly, it sort of digs in and stays even more secure. I tried shaking the iPad off the cover by holding everything by the kickstand, then violently shaking the iPad -- the darn thing wouldn't come off. It was very impressive, and a good example of the thinking behind Ballistic's design choices. Functionality The actual function of the Tough Jacket is simple: protect the iPad. The cover plate is really the only "moving" part, and as I described earlier, it's nearly impossible to break. It's easy to remove the cover (though not accidentally), pop it on the back, whip out the kickstand and have the iPad ready to go in seconds. If you're handing your iPad to someone, it's a safe bet it'll be secure. While I didn't have the gumption to toss my iPad on the ground, I did bounce it on my table a few times, and the combination of rubber and plastic makes a very effective shield. The corners of the Tough Jacket are the rubber portion of the case, presumably for maximum absorption of impact. As some of you know, if you drop your iPad on a corner you are almost certain to shatter the screen. Accidental drops are likely safe with the Tough Jacket. The harder plastic will keep the integrity of the iPad's structure, while the rubber absorbs the shock. This is probably the safest case I've seen that doesn't encapsulate the iPad's screen. Provided you keep the cover on the screen while moving about, you should be OK from most drops. Conclusion The Tough Jacket is a must-buy if you find yourself using an iPad in situations where numerous strangers have to handle the device. If you're worried about drops, it's a great solution for businesses. Also, if you take an iPad to a job site where hardhats must be worn, think of it as a hardhat for your iPad. It won't protect it if chucked into a chipper shredder, but you'll be far less worried about tossing it in the front of your truck. Ultimately, the Tough Jacket provides an enormous amount of protection whilst still allowing access to ports like headphones, speakers and the dock connector. It may not be stylish, but it isn't particularly ugly and will protect your iPad from falls and general abuse. For the price (US$69.99 from Ballistic), it's a very good buy.
IRL: Ballistic Tough Jacket, Dell UltraSharp U2412M and an argument for disposable AA batteries
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment. What a week. What a month! So far this September, Amazon, Nokia, Motorola and Apple have announced new products, and HTC is up next, with a press event scheduled for Wednesday. We'll let you speak for yourselves -- maybe you want more liveblogs -- but we here at Engadget keen to take a break from the hands-on posts and breaking news posts and talk shop about the products we already own. This week, Jason tests a rugged tablet sleeve, Don rates his Dell monitor and Darren makes the case for disposable AAs (and yes, he has a favorite brand).
Ask Engadget: best case for the Samsung Galaxy S III?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is coming to us from Amandeep, who needs a case for his new superphone. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "Hey guys, I just snagged myself a new Galaxy S III, but I'm at a loss when it comes to deciding on a case. I'm looking for something that falls between the typical silicone wrap and a full-on army grade rubber block of invincibility. It needs to provide sufficient protection from the occasional drop or two while staying relatively sleek and somewhat stylish. That said, my last phone was a Thunderbolt with an extended battery, so it's safe to say that I won't mind a bit of thickness. I've had my eye on a Shell-Gel series case from Ballistic, but I'm still in need of suggestions. Any ideas?" How about it peeps? What do you use to protect your Galaxy S III that you'd recommend to another? Constructive suggestions are always welcomed.
VestGuard UK Ballistic cover will protect your iPad from tablet-related gunplay
If you find yourself in the position of regularly having your iPad shot at, VestGuard UK sure has the tablet case for you. The Ballistic cover is made of "cutting edge uni-directional aramid fibers processed to a high tolerance in VestGuard's state of the art facility" that make it possible for the case to stop bullets from a 9mm handgun. In other words, the company's bulletproof claims are "not a metaphor," as stated in the post-script of its press materials. And judging from its current selection of products, which include body armor, de-mining helmets and Kevlar gloves, the company knows a thing or two about heavy duty protection. Not a lot in the way of information on availability at the moment, however, since the covers are not quite ready for sale.
Indie Royale Spring Bundle is in bloom
Indie Royale's Spring Bundle has sprouted six new games, available on the cheep (get it?): Unstoppable Gorg, Depths of Peril, Tobe's Vertical Adventure, Inferno+, Slydris and Ballistic. Buyers who shell out more than $5 will get a chiptune music bonus in the form of Danimal Cannon's Roots album.As usual for Indie Royale bundles, paying more than the minimum brings the price down for future buyers. There's the rest of today and six more days left to buy the Spring Bundle, and the current minimum is hovering around $4.20, which is pretty ridiculous for six entire games.
Radiangames wants you to have fun during the zombie apocalypse
If we learned one thing in the Girl Scouts (don't judge -- you'd join for the Thin Mints too), it was to always be prepared... for the zombie apocalypse. Sure, you have a crossbow, an axe and a stash of high-powered weaponry in the barn out back, but what about the downtime? Yahtzee is fun for two weeks, or until you suspect Grandma of loading the dice, but after that you'll need to find some other entertainment. The Quadtastic Launch Collection from Radiangames offers four new titles for PC and Mac, at a $10 pre-order price. The Collection drops Jan. 24 and will be $12 from then on out -- it includes Inferno+, Ballistic, Slydris and Fireball, all styled in the same techno-pretty tone as Radiangames' previous title, Super Crossfire, which was included in the Indie Royale New Year's Bundle. Radiangames will donate a sliding percentage of sales to Child's Play and St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital charities, so even if you don't care about the zombie apocalypse, you can care about some kids in need.
Ballistic Universal Sport Rugged: Tough protection for your iPhone
Just in time for the iPhone 4S, Ballistic sent me one of their Ballistic Universal Sport Rugged (US$29.99) holsters to check out. It's a great case for those who want a clip-on holster-style case that offers a medium level of protection of your iPhone (all models) while providing quick access for calls or working with apps. Design I'm usually not a fan of things that clip onto your belt. Way back in the early 2000s, I had a small Nokia phone clipped to my belt while doing some four-wheeling near Ouray, Colorado. To check clearance between the huge rocks on the dirt road and the bottom of my vehicle, I kept hopping out of the driver's seat to take a look. Upon returning to Ouray for a celebratory beer, I discovered that my phone was gone. Since then, I've stuck to dropping my phone into a pants pocket instead. Things change, though, and most clip-on holsters now have a small bump on the bottom end that does a much better job of keeping the holster attached to a belt or waistband. That's the situation with the clip on the Ballistic Universal Sport Rugged. The case itself is made of a thick nylon material that is quite stiff. There's also a rubber-like material that covers the right side of the case. This material is punctuated by the trademarked "Soundvent," which offers a way for ringtones and alerts to make it to your ears even when your phone is wrapped in protective nylon. Considering how many different types of cases are available, it's surprising that the Ballistic Universal Sport Rugged only comes in one color - black. It shouldn't be difficult to make a case like this in other colors and patterns. A Velcro closure keeps your iPhone in place in the case while you're running, tap-dancing, playing hockey, or getting out of your SUV to check ground clearance. There's a big patch of Velcro, too, not just a tiny strip. This sucker will remain closed, thank you. Functionality Since I couldn't activate my iPhone 4S immediately today thanks to a big AT&T fail, I used the new phone to check out the case. Since this is a universal case -- it'll work with just about any smartphone -- there's a bit of extra space for the iPhone. It'll rattle about a bit in the case, but if that doesn't bother you, it'll do the job. I personally wish that the case was designed specifically for the iPhone 4 / 4S for a more snug fit. On the plus side, the clip on the Sport Rugged is excellent, and the Velcro definitely keeps this thing closed regardless of movement. If you're a law enforcement officer who carries and has a nice holster, you'll like how the Sport Rugged matches your existing gear. For the rest of us, this is a holster case that will have appeal to those who are into the great outdoors. While the case is protective and should help against most scrapes, scratches, and drops, it is open on the sides at the top and that provides a vulnerable spot. In addition, the Sport Rugged doesn't really protect your device from splashes which could go into the openings. Conclusion The Ballistic Universal Sport Rugged will appeal to the outdoorsy types who like the look of holster-type cases. It's well built and should last for a while, but the "one size fits all" case is a bit too large for an iPhone and should be more snug. For someone who is looking for a more protective case that is specifically designed for your device, you may wish to consider the OtterBox Defender ($49.95). It's a bit more expensive, but offers a lot more protection and comes in colors other than black. Ballistic also has a line of cases called the Hard Core Series that is much more protective and starts at only $5 more.
