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UCLA researchers develop nanoscale microwave oscillators, promise better and cheaper mobile devices
At a size of just 100 nanometers, it may not be much to look at, but a new type of microwave oscillator developed by researchers at UCLA could open the door to mobile communication devices that are smaller, cheaper and more efficient. As PhysOrg reports, unlike traditional silicon-based oscillators (the bit of a device that produces radio-frequency signals), these new oscillators rely on the spin of an electron rather than its charge to create microwaves -- a change that apparently bring with it a host of benefits. That includes a boost in signal quality, and a dramatic reduction in size. The new nanoscale system is fully 10,000 times smaller than current silicon-based oscillators, and can even be incorporated into existing chips without a big change in manufacturing processes. As with most such developments, however, it remains to be seen when we'll actually see it put into practice.
Hex Vision Classic Leather Watch Band for 6G iPod nano: Good-looking, reasonably priced
When the first watch bands started appearing for iPod nanos, I really thought the idea was ludicrous. After all, what kind of person would spend a minimum of US$129 on a touchscreen watch when they have a really good clock in their pocket -- an iPhone -- already? I felt that way until a friend of mine gave me a 6G iPod nano a few weeks ago and I coincidentally received a Hex Vision Classic Leather Watch Band (US$49.95) to review. Now I'm hooked on the idea of the 6G iPod nano as a watch, and this classy and inexpensive watch band has had a lot to do with my change of heart. Design There's not much to say about watch bands. Basically, they're what hold the mechanical or electrical gadgetry onto your wrist. In the case of the watch bands that have been designed for the sixth-generation iPod nano, they hold the nano into place either using the clip on the back of the device or through some other mechanical means. Some of the designs I've seen so far have been bulky affairs that encase the entire nano. More often, the watch bands use a mechanism that is like that of the Vision Classic -- a stainless steel (or other material) plate that the nano clips onto. I like this more open design, as the nano doesn't need to be removed from the band for syncing or charging. %Gallery-149242% The Vision Classic is indeed a take on the classic leather watch band. The stainless steel clip makes it easy to add or remove the nano while being unobtrusive. The leather band is comfortable and topstitched for added flair, and comes in four different colors: black, white, British tan, and grey. Functionality The Vision Classic does what it's designed to do: hold an iPod nano to your wrist while looking good. It feels great, it's easy to get the nano in and out of the watch band, and -- most importantly in my opinion -- it's inexpensive for a non-plastic nano band. Yeah, you can get crappy-looking polycarbonate watch bands from a number of manufacturers (including Hex) for less money, but when it comes to nice looking bands that don't cost an arm and a leg, the Vision Classic Leather Watch Band is a winner. Be sure to check out the gallery of photos to see the Vision Classic and my mighty arm in action.
Gyroscope manufacturers benefit as iPhone, iPad sales soar
Apple isn't the only company reaping the benefits of increased sales of the iPhone and iPad. IHS iSuppli is reporting that sales of MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) gyroscopes have skyrocketed as well thanks to use of the devices in Apple's mobile line. (Photo above is of an iPhone 4 MEMS gyro -- not this kind of gyro -- component.) MEMS gyroscopes accounted for US$665.4 million in revenues in 2011, compared with only $394.5 million in 2010 -- a 66% rise in revenues in just one year. IHS iSuppli explains the popularity of MEMS gyroscopes in today's mobile electronic devices: "The rise of gyroscopes to the top was in large part due to the boom in 3-axis versions of the device, used mostly in tandem with 3-axis accelerometers for more accurate motion sensing. While accelerometers are responsible for correctly orienting phones and tablets to the viewer's perspective whether the devices are held vertically or horizontally, gyroscopes improve the motion-based interface, especially for gaming. Emerging applications for gyroscopes in smartphones also include optical image stabilization and navigation-related functions." In Apple's iPad and iPhone, the MEMS gyroscopes come from one supplier: STMicroelectronics. Half of the company's 2011 MEMS revenues came from sales to Apple. In the near future, it's expected that companies like Apple will switch to what are called 6-axis inertial measurement units, which combine the 3-axis gyros and 3-axis accelerometers onto one chip. [via GigaOM]
Supposed next-gen iPod Nano with camera leaks again, clip back in tow
If you'll recall, it was April of last year when we reported on pictures from Apple.pro, which claimed to show a seventh-generation iPod Nano chassis with room for a camera. Not long after, the site posted a second leak of the device, hinting at the omission of the Nano's famous clip in favor of optics. Fast forward to the present, and we're now looking another supposed shot of the unit, however, this time the clip is back and it's made room for the shooter. Like prior Nano-camera efforts, this prototype's loaded with a less-than-whopping 1.3-megapixels of resolution, which M.I.C Gadget claims in its non-final form, took overexposed photos. Apple's apparently also been toying with 2-megapixel prototypes, but those too were apparently deemed unsatisfactory. M.I.C. Gadget also muses the two month old prototype is nearing release, and that it could be released before the traditional fall schedule. Seeing as the Nano's long overdue for a hardware refresh, we'd file that under definitively maybe, but before believing, take copious amounts of salt as you hit the source link below for a bevy of pics.
VIA VB7009 Mini-ITX board intended for POS, but HTPCs might want a piece too
We love a powerful punch in a puny package, and VIA's latest embedded Mini-ITX board is just that. You can have up to a 1.6GHz C7-D processor or dual-core 1.2GHz Nano X2 paired with 4GB of DDR3 memory and an onboard ChromotionHD 2.0 video processor that'll do hardware video acceleration up to 1080p. It's intended for Point of Sale terminals and the like but, at just 17 x 17cm, it could make for a potent little HTPC.
Apple reportedly swapping recalled iPod nanos for 6G counterparts; you have yours?
It's been a few weeks since Apple's issued a worldwide recall on a number of its first-gen iPod nanos at risk for becoming uncomfortably hot under the collar. Evidently, many folks who've sent their devices into AppleCare to get swapped are finding that they've being treated with an upgrade to the current sixth-gen variant. Lovers of click wheels may view its square, touchscreen shell as folly, but hey, its hard to fuss over owning latest there is, right? The replacement program is still ongoing, so if you haven't checked to see if your nano qualifies, hit up the "more coverage" link below to find out. Already got yours back? Let us know your mileage in comments! [Thanks, Scott]
Dear Aunt TUAW: Help me read data from my nano
Dear Aunt TUAW, Greetings from overseas from the long-lost branch of Dutch family members and thanks for al. your helpful posts. My question is the following. I have an iPod nano (sixth generation) which I use quite often as a flash drive. The problem is that I can not use it on a Windows PC since I have set it up initially with my Mac. Is there any way to make this work since quite a lot of people around me (still) use Windows PCs? Your loving nephew, Ivo Dear Ivo, The Windows-OS X file system divide is one of long standing. Unfortunately, the last time Auntie dealt with this problem herself was a badjillion years ago, back when MacOpener was still relevant. So take that in mind as she dishes out advice from the age of the dinosaurs. Your nano is normally formatted using Apple's HFS+ file system. A utility like MediaFour's MacDrive or Paragon's HFS for Windows may solve the problem for you. According to their marketing text, they allow you to mount, read, and write OS X formats from Windows. Each costs US$20 but both utilities offer a free trial, so you can make sure your nano is readable on your Win PC before putting down your money. Hugs, Auntie T.
Researchers claim to have developed 'smallest conceivable switch'
A team of researchers at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen (or TUM) led by Dr. Willi Auwaerter and Professor Johannes Barth appear to have made something of a breakthrough on the road to the miniaturization of everything. They've devised a molecular switch that measures just one square nanometer, but is able to switch between four distinct states on demand. That was done by placing two protons inside a single porphyrin ring; when one of the protons is removed, the other can then move to any one of the four available positions with the aid of a small current. According to the researchers, that process not only allows for the smallest switch implemented to date, but one whose state to be changed up to 500 times per second. The official press release is after the break.
Switched On: Next for the nano
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. For all the grousing about the minimal changes from the iPhone 4 to the iPhone 4S, Apple's fastest smartphone incorporates sweeping shifts compared to what the company did with its iPod line. From keeping the waning iPod classic in the lineup to leaving the still-potent iPod touch untouched save for a blanching and price reduction, the venerable digital media player line seemed all but ignored at a time of year when Apple once primed the holiday pump for MP3 players. Yet, while the iPod touch may not have received the processor boost or Siri-ousness of the iPhone 4S, it at least continues to remain vibrant via access to Apple's app store. That's not the case for the nano, once the flagship of the line. While Apple's smallest touchscreen device gained new software that enlarged the main icons and brought new clock faces, these improvements are also being offered to owners of the last-generation iPod nano via a software update.
Apple is replacing first gen iPod nanos due to faulty batteries
After offering to swap out a few faulty first gen iPod nanos in Korea back in 2009, it appears Apple has finally seen fit to get them out of owner's pockets here in the US (update: worldwide) too. An email just sent to registered owners (included after the break) and notice posted on its replacement program site inform users the affected units were sold between September 2005 and December 2006. If you have one (seriously, yours still works?), stop using it right now and fill out the form at the link below to order a free replacement unit. The main inconvenience -- other than finding out you've been walking around with the possibility of a "rare case" of overheating taking place in your skinny jeans -- is an anticipated six-week lag between Apple receiving the old unit and shipping you out a replacement. The reason given for waiting so long to replace them is that when it comes to this issue "the likelihood increases as the battery ages"; that, and it's finally too late for you to run out and get a Zune. No word yet on which models will be sent out as replacements, but if yours is personalized, then sorry -- no inscriptions available. [Thanks, Paul & Jordan]
Salt enables six times the storage capacity for snail-unfriendly hard drives
Salt: sure, you might use it to cure meats for your latest solar-powered circumnavigation. But hold onto your kippers, Magellan, because Singaporean scientists have found that sodium chloride -- ordinary table salt! -- can also dramatically increase storage capacity. You see, typical hard drives have randomly-arranged magnetic grains, which allow data density of about 0.5 terabit per square inch. But a high-resolution e-beam lithography process, aided by our good friend NaCl, arranges the grains in a tighter, more orderly fashion, upping the density to 3.3 terabits per square inch. Called nanopatterning, this technique enables a 1TB drive to hold 6TB without additional platters; it also works with current manufacturing technology, meaning no expensive upgrades. If that's got you dreaming of a higher-capacity future, hit the source link for more glorious technical details. We'll warn you, though: the pictures of luscious, bee-stung lips stop here.
Apple's iPod nano now $149 for 16GB and $129 for 8GB (update: 2010 nanos get the goodies too)
Apple keeps coming with the news from its "Let's talk iPhone" event, and the latest is a price drop for its diminutive PMP, the nano. From now on, you'll be forking over $129 for an 8GB version and $149 for twice the tunage space. Additionally, Cupertino's tossing in big icons -- as opposed to the grid of 4 that was the only option previously -- 16 new clocks (Mickey Mouse included!) to go with all those fabulous watch accessories, and workout tracking abilities right out of the box so you no longer need a Nike+ shoe dongle to see how many calories you've burned. Not bad for a little guy, eh? Full PR after the break. Update: Thanks to the folks over at 9to5 Mac, we now know that owners of 2010 nanos will get the software update with the new features too. %Gallery-135721%
There is now a $4.6 million Tata Nano made of gold
There are people who ask why, and people who ask why not -- and yet others who decide to turn a $2,500 car into a $4.6 million car by covering it with gold and jewels. Yes, that's none other than a lowly Tata Nano in an extravagant disguise that you're looking at, and, yes, it's very much real -- and apparently for sale if anyone's interested, according to the Tata jewelery subsidiary responsible for it (at least once it's done touring it around for a few months). Head on past the break for a video of the unveiling from ITN. [Image credit: Megha Bahree / The Wall Street Journal]
Nanowire batteries now as 'small as possible,' could one day be included with nano toys
That black dot isn't a battery, it's an ultra-thin disc containing thousands of individual nanowire batteries. Rice University scientists claim their miniscule wires are "as small as such devices can possibly get," because each one comes complete with its own anode, cathode and gel-like electrolyte coating. This contrasts with previous examples we've seen, which bolted nanowires onto a chunky exterior cathode. On the other hand, these new all-in-one nano-batts only last for 20 charge cycles, so personally we're still betting on gooey Cambridge crude to be the next big thing in electricity. Full PR after the break.
Conductive nanocoating could lead to flexible, wearable devices, Lady Gaga sticks with meat suit
Flexible is the new rigid in the gadget world, from OLED panels and e-paper displays to, of course, the adorable PaperPhone. Now researchers at North Carolina State University are hoping to take flexible to the next level by applying a conductive nanocoating – thousands of times thinner than a human hair – to ordinary textiles. Their technique, called atomic layer deposition, grows an inorganic coating atop cloths like woven cotton. The treated fabric conducts electricity, opening the door to thin, wearable devices with the flexibility of everyday clothing. The technology's still in its nano-infancy, but who knows: maybe a few years from now you'll be sporting a genuinely playable Angry Birds shirt.
Scientist cooks up adjustable strength metals
As you may know, crafting a katana is a delicate process that involves carefully constructing a razor-sharp high-carbon edge around a soft shock-absorbent core. One day though, smiths and forging fires could be replaced by electrode-wielding mad-scientists, with the technology to selectively harden and soften metal at will. At least that's what we envisioned when we read about Jörg Weißmüller's breakthrough research in the field of nanomaterials. The German scientist discovered that by placing precious metals in acid he could create tiny ducts through corrosion. Once those channels are flooded with a conductive liquid, electrical currents can be used to harden the material and, if you change your mind about the brittle results, the effect can easily be reversed to make it soft again. The tech could eventually lead to self-healing vehicle armor or scratch-resistant cellphones -- but, really, we just want to zap our way to a high-quality samurai sword.
The Daily Grind: Does MMO magic need a revolution?
While the concept of magic in a fantasy setting (or something like nanos in a sci-fi setting) seems to offer unlimited potential and possibilities, MMO magic systems are almost depressingly routine. Ooh, I'm a fire mage, I cast... fireball! Ooh, I will suck out some of your life and inject it into my bloodstream and then star in a popular RomVamp series! Ooh, I will now summon something from the heavens to cave your skull in if you'd be so kind as to stop hitting me for the next five seconds! Honestly, is it time that MMOs see a revolution in the magic department? Where's the danger of magic, the elaborate preparations, the imaginative systems that we read about in the fantasy series but never see in games? If I never have to see someone's hands light up all glowy-like before he thrusts them out and a ball of liquid hate spews forth, I wouldn't complain. So what do you think? Are developers too complacent with how magic's been portrayed in MMOs? Do we need new systems to make magic come alive, or is it fine as is? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
Hex watch bands for iPod nano on pre-order now
Now that's a good looking nano watch. We've covered a few iPod nano watch bands before, but to me, they've always seemed kind of cheap and hinky, more hacks than things that you'd actually wear out and about. But I really like this new band from Hex Vision -- it's a stainless steel band with a solid clasp that hooks right up to your iPod nano with what the company calls a "Clip-in, clip-out system." It's a little pricey at US$69.95, but considering what you'd pay for a watch that looked like this and did everything the iPod nano does, that's not too bad. The one thing that keeps me from pre-ordering one, though, is that we're set to see another revision of the nano pretty soon, and the rumors all say that it might lose the clip or gain a camera, depending on what you believe. That rumor aside, however, this seems like an excellent watch band that could be just what you're waiting for. If we do see a new nano soon, hopefully Hex will make the appropriate changes, and then I'll finally be able to Dick Tracy it up!
Purported seventh-gen iPod nano spotted, complete with 1.3 megapixel camera
Is this Apple's next iPod nano? It is if you believe the folks from Taiwan's Apple.pro website who, as you may recall, also recently got their hands on a purported next-gen iPod nano chassis that seems to match the complete device pictured above. As you can see, the big change here is the addition of a built-in camera that's said to be 1.3 megapixels, which appears to have also shoved the clip out of the way, although there does seem to be a faint outline where one could be. Of course, the key word here is purported -- to its credit, some of the site's leaks have indeed panned out in the past, but we'd still recommend taking this one with a grain of salt for the time being.
iPhone nano may not exist, but this KIRF does
While the folks "familiar with the matter" continue to debate over whether or not we'll actually see a real life iPhone nano at some point in our lifetime, the crafty KIRFers in China have taken matters into their own -- apparently undersized -- hands. Yes people, what you see above is a Shanzhai-crafted shrunken iPhone 4 running an iOS rip-off based on Java, garnished with a 1.3 megapixel camera. All it takes is a measly ¥380 (approximately $58) to be the coolest kid on the block with the "next iPhone" -- and maybe a quick trip to China.
