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GE partners with Livermore Labs to explore efficient aircraft fuel injectors (video)
What would you do with six months of dedicated access to 261.3 teraflops of computational power? As you ponder that question, consider the case of GE Global Research, which has just announced its participation with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in an effort to design more powerful and efficient aircraft engines by way of computer simulation. Specifically, GE will partner with researchers from Arizona State University and Cornell University to study the unsteady spray phenomena that's thought to be ideal for fuel injectors. Through Large Eddy Simulation, GE hopes to discover an ideal spray pattern and fuel injector design, and reduce its number of lengthy, real-world optimization trials. While the research is initially aimed at aircraft engines, the knowledge gained from these experiments may work its way into GE's other products, such as locomotive engines and land-based gas turbines. For a glimpse into GE's current research, be sure to hop the break.
GE turns butterfly-inspired tech into cheap, accurate thermal sensors (video)
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.
GE Executive says adoption of Apple products helps recruitment
Last year, GE launched a pilot program that lets its employees choose between a Mac notebook and a PC desktop. The program is not well-known, and only 1,000 employees have chosen a Mac over a PC. This number is expected to rise as more employees become aware of this option, and new employees join GE because they consider the company's policy to be contemporary. Apple faces an uphill battle as it tries to make inroads into the corporate marketplace. Microsoft may be losing some consumer appeal, but it has entrenched itself into business. Even the progressive GE has about 300,000 computers, most of which are still Windows-powered PCs. If it's a Windows Machine, it most likely has Microsoft Office and ties into Microsoft's server software. Apple has iWork and Lion Server, but they can't compete with the functionality and support offered by Office and Windows Server 2008. Cost may also be a factor that limits Apple's infiltration into the corporate marketplace. In this lean economy, companies may not have the funds to buy Mac hardware and opt for an inexpensive PC. If Apple wants to unseat Microsoft, it may have to significantly discount its hardware to entice frugal companies to switch. Though the numbers are small, it still is gratifying to see businesses offering Macs to employees who want them. If enough Macs make their way into circulation, perhaps this much-needed business productivity and server software will develop around the platform. [Via AppleInsider]
Inhabitat's Week in Green: hydrogen fuel cell-powered laptop, hybrid buses and bioluminescent bacteria
Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green. The newswires were buzzing with alternative energy developments this week as Inhabitat reported that Apple filed a patent for a hydrogen fuel cell-powered laptop that can last an entire week without needing a recharge. We also celebrated the warm winter holidays with a look at the world's first solar-powered menorah, GE unveiled an awesome set of 3D-printed Christmas tree ornaments, and we brought you a first look at the dazzling LED-studded 2012 Times Square new year's eve ball. We also showcased several amazing examples of paper technology as Sony flipped the switch on a paper-powered battery and Joon & Jung unveiled an alarm clock with a cute paper shell. Eco transportation was a hot topic as well this week as Porsche unveiled plans to develop the third generation of its flywheel-boosted 911 GT3 R hybrid and the UK's new hybrid double-decker busses hit the streets of London. We also showcased plans for a greenery-filled AirTrain that harnesses Nasa-patented air purifying technology and we brought you Foster + Partner's plans for a striking new high-speed rail station in Galicia, Spain. In other news, this week we saw Waterstudio launch plans for a floating Sea Tree skyscraper that provides habitat for flora & fauna, a scientist has harnessed bioluminescent bacteria to combat pollution in a fragile Florida ecosystem, and researchers developed a new breed of self-fixing electronics that use liquid metal capsules to heal themselves. Finally, we brought you several hot developments in wearable tech - a set of 3D printed eyeglasses, a site that uses your webcam to measure your clothing size, and the world's first pair of over-ear headphones made with sustainable materials.
GE takes on the Edison Memorial Tower in Minecraft
You'd think General Electric would be too busy building the future to spend time recreating a New Jersey landmark in Minecraft, and yet, here we are. As part of The GE Show (which is a thing, we guess), the company meticulously recreated the Edison Memorial Tower. What's more, it was actually built piece-by-piece within the game itself, without the aid of automated building programs. Apparently it was all done to teach us something about additive manufacturing. Don't worry though, we promise you can watch the video without learning anything. [Thanks, Daniel!]
GE's new factory will push out one solar panel every ten seconds
General Electric is sending its troops to Colorado to conquer the thin film solar panel business. The 38th state will play home to a new facility that leverages the supermodel-thin panel know-how of PrimeStar Solar, which GE scooped up back in 2008. In traditional solar panels, sand is refined into silicon ingots, sliced wafers of which are then placed in a frame. The thin film process eliminates this, sandwiching layers of semiconductors between panes of glass -- saving time, money and, most importantly, energy. The factory will open ahead of schedule in 2012 and is reportedly capable of producing a new panel every ten seconds. You can learn all of that and more in the press release we've got for you after the break.
Skype outs Freetalk Connect-Me Home Phone Adapter, does VoIP for old fashioned handsets
If you're still sporting a landline as your main connection to the outside world, Skype's now offering a more up-to-date way to use that dusty old handset. The VoIP platform has just introduced two new products that will bring Skype-specific internet calling to your home phone. Billed as a "hassle-free, plug-and-play solution" the Freetalk Connect-Me Home Phone Adapter connects to your landline and broadband allowing you to make free calls to other Skype users as well as plain old landlines and cellphones worldwide (for a price). If you like your home phone with a little extra corporate branding, the outfit's also hooked up with GE to offer a Skype-approved cordless, simply referred to as The GE Digital Cordless Expandable Telephone with Skype, which offers free calling to Skype users as well as "low-cost" calls to your poor Skype-less contacts. The Home Phone Adapter comes with plans ranging from $39.99 to $59.99, while the Skype phone can be yours for between $69.99 and $89.99. Both are now available at the source link below, and full PR awaits you after the break.
Sanya Skypump charges your EV, illuminates parking lots using wind and rays (video)
So you're the first person in town to adopt an electric vehicle (EV), even clearing room for that 240v charging station in the garage. But what do you when you venture far from home, edging past the 200 mile mark on your Tesla Roadster? Well, if the Sanya Skypump ever sees the light of day (from its 150-watt solar panel), the hybrid solar / wind turbine-powered charging station will be making its way to parking lots around the world, pairing with a GE WattStation to juice up your EV as you shop at the mall, or browse a certain tech site from the office. The WattStation can theoretically recharge your EV in four to eight hours, though we're not sure how those figures translate with this particular setup. The Skypump system is based on Sanya's Streetlamp, which you can see in all its twirling glory in the B.o.B. music video remix just past the break.
GE's new holographic storage burns 500GB discs at the speed of a Blu-ray
Holographic disc storage may not have worked out so well for InPhase, but the folks at General Electric are still trying to make HVD work. Their latest breakthrough, shown off today at an IEEE symposium in Hawaii, is a new micro-holographic material which is 100x more sensitive than its predecessor and ups recording speed to that of Blu-ray discs. In the two years since we saw it last some of the hyperbole has apparently been lost -- no claims of "two to four years left for Blu-ray" this time around -- but manager Peter Lorraine still thinks the DVD-sized discs have a future in archival and consumer systems. That's getting tougher to imagine in a world with FiOS and Netflix streaming, but if there is ever another disc format you may be looking at it right now.
Visualized: 130 years of GE innovation, accentuated with 130-year old Instagram filters
It may not pay any taxes, but General Electric sure knows how to use an iPhone 4 to upload photos to Tumblr. Hit the source link for a boatload of other shots that probably are as old as they look. But, not at all.
GE announces hybrid power plant of the (near) future
GE's legacy dates back over a century, but, despite its old age, the company's got a fresh outlook on the future of energy production (at least according to its PR department). Earlier this week, the outfit announced MetCap Energy Investments' plans to build a "first-of-its-kind" hybrid power plant, tapping GE's FlexEfficiency technology, which combines natural gas, wind, and solar thermal power. The plant, planned for completion in Turkey in 2015, will produce enough energy, according to GE, to power 600,000 homes, and could lead to plant efficiency greater than 70 percent. What's more, the company promises zero liquid discharge and single-button 28-minute startup. Here's hoping this cracks up to be a better fit than NBC. Full PR after the break.
GE's new phase-change based thermal conductor could mean cooler laptops -- literally
It's no secret: if your laptop sits atop your lap for an extended period of time, you're going to get burned -- okay, so maybe not burned, but you're definitely going to feel the heat. Luckily GE has been working (under contract for DARPA) on a new phase-change based thermal conductor that promises to cool electronics twice as well as copper, at one-fourth the weight. The breakthrough means big things for those of us who'd like to make babies one day, but we doubt that's why DARPA's shelling out the big bucks -- the new material functions at 10 times normal gravity, making it a shoo-in for on-board computing systems in jetliners. Using "unique surface engineered coatings" that simultaneously attract and repel water, the new nanotechnology could mean not only lighter, cooler electronics, but also an increase in computing speeds. Goodbye scrotal hyperthermia, hello cool computing! Full PR after the break.
GE kicks off EV Experience Tour, promises WattStations for all
Last week, GE kicked off its EV Experience Tour in San Francisco, to "bring GE experts together with local businesses, industry leaders, and public sector stakeholders for educational workshops, test drives, and dialogue on the business case for EV ecosystems." The Yves Behar-designed GE WattStation EV charger was on display at the event in both mock-up and ice sculpture form. We spent some time chatting with Luis Ramirez, CEO of GE Energy Industrial Solutions, and Clarence Nunn, President and CEO of GE Capital Fleet Services about the future of EV charging. We discussed efforts like PlugShare and the recent addition to EV charging stations to Google Maps, concepts like smart parking spots with embedded inductive charging, as well as ways to accommodate folks without garages who park their vehicles on city streets. They both assured us that GE is committed to providing an EV charging infrastructure for all, starting with the installation of a bunch of WattStations in San Francisco soon -- though they didn't say exactly how "soon". In the meantime, remember that EV charging is always just an outlet away. Take a look at our gallery below and jump past the break for the press release.
GE gets official with 2011 camera lineup: X500 bridge camera, point-and-shoots aplenty
General Imaging is mixing some of the old in with the new here at CES, but it does look to be slowly but steadily improving its game when it comes to its GE-branded cameras. One of the standouts is the X500 bridge camera (pictured above), which packs 16 megapixels, a 15x optical zoom, an electronic viewfinder, and plenty of manual controls to go along with the usual point-and-shoot features -- all for $150 (actual image quality is another matter, of course). It's joined by the E1680W, E1450W, J1470S, A1456W, and C1433 point-and-shoots, which all pack 14 or 16 megapixels, 3x to 8x optical zooms, and varying degrees of thinness for between $80 and $160 dollars. Hit up the press release after the break for some more details, and look for all the new cameras to roll out in February or March. %Gallery-113095%
Christmas lights hack puts your IM contacts on the wall above your desk (video)
As you well know, if it exists it can be hacked. And what better way to ring in the holidays than by taking a string of GE Color Effects G-35 lights and -- thanks to some hand-crafted drivers and a Microsoft .NET Micro Framework embedded controller -- turning it into a IM notifier? Of course, these aren't any old Christmas lights: between the ability to change colors and the preset light shows, these guys boast a feature set that Clark Griswold would die for. And that's where a Microsoft employee named Andrej Kyselica comes in: using the Microsoft Lync 2010 Office Communications Server, our man has rigged a system that allows him to assign each of his instant messenger contacts to a particular bulb, which changes color according to each contact's status (for instance, green indicates that someone's available, white means away, and purple means out of the office). Pretty sweet, eh? Check out the video after the break for a closer look.
GE forms new home energy management business aimed at bridging the 'utility-consumer gap'
GE has obviously been in the home energy management business for some time now, but it's stepped up its game in a pretty big way this week. The company has just announced the official creation of its new Home Energy Management business (or HEM), which will fall under GE's Appliances & Lighting division and will be led by Dave McCalpin (pictured above). According to GE, the new business will focus on helping both consumers and utility companies manage electricity consumption and costs, and it will oversee a whole range of GE products related to energy management, including things like the company's GeoSpring hybrid hot water heater, various appliances, and its new Nucleus energy management system set to go on sale next year. Head on past the break for the complete press release.
GE buying 25,000 electric vehicles by 2015, nearly half to be Chevy Volts
The General needs a new ride, and he doesn't roll light. GE has announced a plan to purchase 25,000 electric vehicles worldwide by 2015, starting with a grab of 12,000 Chevy Volts, the car we recently got very comfortable with. As we've learned that model is hardly an EV in a pure sense of the term, but it certainly offers the flexibility that a fleet like this will need while the infrastructure required to support your Leafs and the like is built up -- an infrastructure which, by the way, GE is pledging to help develop as well.
GE introduces 'hybrid' bulb with both halogen and CFL elements, instant-on meets efficiency
We're pretty okay with waiting the second or so it takes a typical CFL to light up, but sometimes, when we're checking for monsters in closets and other inconspicuous places, it'd be nice if things were a little more expedient. For those times (and for generally impatient people) GE is introducing its Hybrid Halogen-CFL bulb. It's basically a typical CFL unit, but look closely inside those coils and you'll spot a wee halogen bulb peeking out. It's like two bulbs in one, the halogen unit powering on almost instantaneously then fading off once the CFL element gets itself all riled up. We're wondering how well the output from the two elements match, whether you'd be able to notice the transition, but we're even more curious about the cost. GE says we'll have to wait a few months to learn that bit of info, and the same holds true if you're looking for a release date more specific than "2011." Hopefully it isn't too late in the year, as LED bulbs are getting cheaper by the minute.
GE goes rugged with Flip-esque DV1 HD camcorder
It's tough for yet another Flip-like camcorder to stand out these days, but GE might just stand a better chance than most with its new DV1 model, which adds a waterproof, shockproof enclosure to the familiar form factor. It also doesn't look to cut too many corners when it comes to specs, with it boasting full 1080p recording and 5-megapixel stills, a SD card slot for storage, HDMI out, a 2.5-inch display and, of course, an integrated USB connector. No indication of a price just yet, but you'll apparently be able to pick this one up next month in your choice of gray, orange or green.
GE stuffs DLP projector into 14MP PJ1 point-and-shoot camera, we go hands-on
It ain't the first point-and-shoot to emerge with a beamer within, but it's the first from GE's General Imaging branch. Boasting a 14 megapixel sensor, a vanilla enclosure and a DLP projector, the PJ1 was seen making its debut here at Photokina in Germany. The highlight of the device is obviously the 854 x 480 resolution projector that's somehow stuffed within the casing, while the most impressive part to us was just how thin it remained with such a unit inside. In other words, the projector itself was certainly lacking, and with just 15 lumens, we felt that the darker-than-dark test room (shown in the video just past the break) still wasn't dark enough. On the capture side, there's a 7x optical zoom, SD / SDHC card slot and support for 720p movies; thankfully, GE's not planning to include too hefty a premium for the projector, as we were told to expect it for "around €250 ($334)" when it lands in Europe next February. %Gallery-103085%
