Monthly Archives: June 2014

General

Google transcriptions better your help

Don’t worry, though: you can always disable it through Google Voice’s settings page in case you change your mind later on. While you can already submit individual messages for analysis, you’ll automatically be sending the system all your messages, all the time, if you decide to participate in this project. In fact, even Google Tech Lead Manager Alex Wiesen admits they can be “unintentionally hilarious,” to the point that the company’s now asking for your help to make transcriptions better.What’s the silliest Google Voice transcription you’ve gotten That question might have come up during a meet-up with tech-loving friends before — after all, you’re not the only user who’s ever received garbled voicemail-to-text messages.

Now, when you log into Google Voice on the web, you’ll be given the choice to share your voicemail messages anonymously, thank goodness to be analyzed for accuracy by automated systems.

General

Engadget dry ice Dyson fan

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Oh and a Google X Lunar Prize-winning drone, which heads to the moon next year. Engadget Japan’s Fes 2014: the tour See all photos 21 Photos when.Just north of Akihabara, Tokyo’s tech epicenter, our Japanese colleagues took over an art gallery and cafe and basement.galleries.eng”eng.

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As well as the chance to play with Microsoft’s newest console and Surface Pro 3 both still not yet on sale in Japan, there was a surfeit of robots, hobbyist gadgets, toys and 3D printers. Given the price of flights to Tokyo and despite the weather: torrential rain, we’ve pulled together the best bits below. for its premier Engadget Fes.

init”.. Thank you for reading!

Technology

How change Sony’s Xperia ZL?

Unfortunately, by the time the ZL was announced, the HTC One M7 and Galaxy S4 had arrived onto the scene.At first blush, you’d be forgiven for asking what Sony’s Xperia ZL was for, given that it was the less fancy version of the Z. So, let’s pick apart the ZL and ask: was it a case of bad timing, or did Sony simply not do enough to warrant equal billing with its rivals Head on over to our forum and share your thoughts. The dowdy sibling turned out to be a lot better than expected, however, with nicer ergonomics, even at the expense of the waterproofing. Thank you for reading!

Games, Technology

Giving with the Pro 8.4

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That 8. However, I wouldn’t balk if someone made me switch, and I’d have little hesitation recommending Samsung’s newer slates to anyone who wants a lot of performance in a small shell. It has an iconic if very Galaxy Note 3-like look, solid specs and the sharpest display on a tablet that size. It’s not as elegantly implemented as in Windows, since you can’t easily restore a Multi Window setup if you lose it, but it does make good use of the Tab Pro’s real estate.4 caught my eye.

CONCLUSION

With that in mind, I tried this smallest of Tab Pros for a few weeks this past spring to see if it could lure me away from the land of iPads.4-inch display is just big enough for the media and websites I like, and it’s so high-res that the images occasionally have a painted-on look. To me, the real clincher is Samsung’s Multi Window support.

Faux leather and metal notwithstanding, it’s both comfortable and light. Would I toss out my iPad and get a Galaxy Tab Pro or Tab S Probably not.Samsung’s tablets haven’t done much for me in the past; outside of the slick Galaxy Tab 7. Still, these will hopefully get better as developers get comfortable, and they’re not going to sour the overall experience.

There’s an undeniable appeal to chatting with someone on Hangouts while a YouTube video plays. The iOS ecosystem is still stronger in some places most notably games, and the Air I already own has enough screen resolution and speed for my tastes.7, they’ve rarely had exciting designs or brisk performance. Titles that aren’t tablet-native generally scale well enough on this smaller screen, but it still feels like there’s a lot of wasted space compared to the iPad apps I’m used to.

If only Android apps took similar advantage of that display. However, the Galaxy Tab Pro 8. You won’t hear me gripe much about the hardware. Also, it’s a pleasure to hold.

Also, some of them don’t cope well with the 2,560 x 1,600 resolution; buttons and other interface elements are occasionally a little too tiny for my liking. The iPad Air is undoubtedly svelte, but it feels a tad ungainly next to the admittedly smaller Tab Pro — and that’s before seeing the Galaxy Tab S, which is even thinner and lighter. While its absence isn’t a dealbreaker, I’d love if every tablet had some variant of this going forward. If you want to learn more about this post, just leave a comment.

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General

Facebook briefly toyed users’ emotions

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Image credit: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu. Also, Facebook has been refining its “internal review practices” ever since, and it’s taking the public’s current response into account. As it stands, there was only just enough of a change to suggest that the altered News Feeds had an effect. While the project did little if any harm, there’s a worry that this lack of explicit consent could cause some real psychological damage should future tests get any more aggressive. There are calls for Facebook to meet scientific ethics standards when conducting research like this; critics argue that it should at least tell users they were part of an experiment, and ideally offer a chance to opt out ahead of time.

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That’s not what happened, however, and Kramer stresses that the company “never meant to upset anyone. The results of the circa-2012 field test may not have justified the “anxiety” that followed two years later, he says. Kramer doesn’t say whether or not similar experiments will take place again, but it’s clear that the company will be treading more carefully if it does. Facebook assumed that it had permission because of a basic “research” clause in its Data Use Policy, but that’s supposed to be used for product improvement, not academic papers.

Study co-author Adam Kramer explains that Facebook was worried people would stop visiting the social network if they saw too many emotional updates — a lot of negative posts could scare some people off, while a surge of positive vibes would leave others feeling left out.” He also suggests that Facebook won’t repeat history any time soon.Ever since word got out that Facebook had briefly manipulated some users’ News Feeds to see how their feelings changed, a number of questions have popped up: just why did the company feel compelled to experiment in the first place How noticeable was it And was it worth the effort As of today, we have some answers to those riddles. While those are reassuring tidbits, they aren’t going to satisfy everyone. Stay tune for the next updates! 🙂

Games, Technology

Google Your Phone’s With Ease

YOU NEED TO KNOW

Even Google’s highly anticipated Android Wear looks a little too noisy for most people, but a new Kickstarter project may have found the solution by focusing on one specific function and nothing else. The device features a simple black design that’s flexible and light so it won’t slow you down.A lot of wearable devices these days fall short because they try to do everything and deliver on nothing. Once it hits the market, Smash will cost 199 in Australian dollars roughly 190 U. And of course, there’s an app to go along with the wristband, where you can check in on your latest results and set goals for the future.

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S., but you can pre-order one now for just 129 AUD 120 U.Crowder’s already assembled a team with years of experience and once he hits his Kickstart goals the company will really get to work., though it won’t ship until early next year.

It also offers a lithium polymer battery, flash memory, a USB charging port and Bluetooth LE for connecting to your Android device or iPhone. Under the hood, Smash packs an accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer. Signing up for the Alpha tier means you’ll get the device a bit earlier, but you may also get a slightly unfinished version. There’s also a collectors edition tier for 399 AUD, or you can grab five Smash wristbands for just 599 AUD.

S. It also keeps tabs on your total number of shots, breaking them down by type, along with wrist rotation, and stroke trajectory. The main purpose of the device, according to creatorRob Crowder, is to improve your consistency, and Smash will make sure your impact point and technique stays consistent.

If you want to try out Smash as soon as possible there’s also an Alpha tier, which promises to ship the device by December 2014 for 299 AUD 280 U.S. There’s also a small LED light built in so Smash can let you know when it has something to say. Smash won’t buzz when someone likes your Facebook status or retweets you, and it won’t help you answer calls or respond to text messages.

Smash will be tested to eliminate all software bugs, while the hardware also needs to be resilient enough to withstand sweat, weather and brute force. Instead, Smash is all about improving your tennis game by tracking every move you make and spitting out tips for improving your technique. The company already has plans to offer an open API so developers can get to work outfitting the device for other purposes.

This sensor-packed wristband won’t even tell you what time it is. For now Smash is focused entirely on tennis, but in the future the same technology could be used for other sports as well. There are always risks backing any Kickstarter project, but the people behind Smash are taking every recourse to make sure their final product lives up to the hype. Smash tracks everything about your tennis technique from how much spin you put on the ball to the speed and momentum of your racket. Thank you for reading.

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General

California with Bitcoin virtual currencies

As state assembly member Roger Dickinson explained when fighting for the measure, modern commerce has “expanded” beyond cash and credit; to him, it only makes sense that the law keeps up with the times.If you’ve previously paid for goods with Bitcoin or other digital currency in California, you’re technically a criminal — the state has long had a law requiring US dollars, even if it hasn’t been enforced. All the same, it’s a rare instance of explicit approval for digital cash in the US; normally, it exists in a gray area. As of this weekend, though, you’re officially in the clear. Image credit: BTC Keychain, Flickr AB-129.

This isn’t the same as federal approval, so you won’t be paying taxes with cryptocurrency in the near future. Governor Jerry Brown has signed a bill that legitimizes payments with Bitcoin, other forms of virtual money, community currencies and reward systems like coupons and points. There’s no certainty that California’s move will get the feds or anyone else to change their minds, but it at least means that you can feel guilt-free when shopping with virtual money in the Golden State. Let me know what you are thinking.

Games, Technology

Weekends 2014, Aereo and more!

LET ME SUMMARIES

What you need to know about 3D printing 3D printers: they’re invading our workplaces, schools and homes, but what exactly are these DIY factories capable of Read on as Jennifer Williams-Alvarez explores the world of 3D printing and what it means to you. Oh, and be sure to subscribe to our Flipboard magazine! We just played with Android’s L Developer Preview Android L is just a developer preview for now, but it’s a forthright indicator of the OS’ uber-connected future. What’s more, its APIs are shared by Google’s Android Wear platform. The three faces of Android Wear, compared Android Wear is making waves this summer in the form of three new smartwatches: the LG G Watch, Samsung Gear Live and Motorola Moto 360. Available in 8- and 10-inch versions, the Tab S is up for pre-order at 400 and 500 respectively.

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Google gives us a simulated ride with Android Auto This week at Google I/O, the Open Automotive Alliance announce Android Auto: a completely voice-enabled, contextually based system that projects your phone’s OS and apps onto your vehicle’s screen. Samsung Galaxy Tab S review: slim design, long battery life, stunning screen Say hello to Samsung’s latest slate, the Galaxy Tab S. Read on for our breakdown of each wrist-worn device and its implementation of Google’s wearable platform. Read on as Steve Dent investigates the legal frustrations surrounding taxi-hailing apps and what they mean for you.

Besides having a beautiful, crisp display and great battery life, this incredibly thin tablet matches the iPad Air nearly spec for spec. Android Wear brings Google to life Besides the smartwatch form-factor itself, what makes an Android Wear-powered device so important to Google’s ecosystem According to David Singleton, director of engineering, Wear is key to unlocking Android’s full potential. What you need to know about Uber, Lyft and other app-based car services Most of us are probably familiar with Lyft and its furry pink mustaches, but there’s much more to app-based car services than meets the eye. With over 5,000 APIs, a new set of guidelines called Material Design and 64-bit support, Google’s provided a great education of its next mobile OS update.

US Supreme Court rules Aereo’s streaming service is illegal under copyright law Aereo’s been fighting an uphill battle for a while, but it looks like the final judgement has passed. Second Life’s second act will be a social network for virtual reality Linden Labs, the studio behind Second Life, is preparing a sequel, and it’s going to be a social network for virtual reality. Read on as Sean Buckley sits down with CEO Ebbe Altberg to discuss the game’s evolution and collaboration with Oculus VR.This week, we went hands-on with Google’s Android L developer preview and Android wear, watched the US Supreme Court rule against Aereo, learned how to escape the clutches of the internet and more! Read on for Engadget’s news highlights from the last seven days.

This week, the US Supreme Court ruled that this live TV-streaming internet service was indeed illegal under copyright law. How to Disappear almost Completely: the illusion of privacy You could toss your laptop, tablet and your phone, but is that enough to escape the clutches of the internet Read on as Dan Cooper investigates the illusion of privacy in part one of How To Disappear. If you want to learn more about this post, just leave a comment.

Games, General

Family on the One Roadmap

One of the things the team is doing is tackling something movies were working on decades ago – a monster transformation that doesn’t require cutting away from the monster while it transforms.The Order: 1886 may have been delayed to 2015, but that doesn’t mean the hype train is slowing down. In the video above, posted recently to the PlayStation blog, the team behind the game talks about the development process behind the primary enemy, the Lycans. Order This From Amazon. That’s short for ‘lycanthrope,’ just in case you don’t play Dungeons & Dragons or watch Kate Beckinsale movies.

That’s not difficult to do in a cutscene, obviously, but to transform a character model in real-time is certainly a more involved feat. They might not be werewolves exactly, but they’re definitely not zombies. The video shows off some of the transformation and animation sequences for the monsters, and it’s clear the studio has put a lot of work into making the monsters as unnerving as possible. Whether The Order: 1886 is a system seller or just a system showpiece, it’s looking good and I can’t wait to check it out next year. If you have any suggestion, just let me know.

Technology

Android Google’s Material Looking Great

TOPIC

Just the media attention Glass needed. But say that PIN is the same as the one you use at the ATM. Yeah, you probably shouldnt be using identical PINs. Glass, obviously, is the most alarming because of how it allows users to act surreptitiously. Like, stupid easy.

ANALYSIS

Scary. Hackers would still need to get their hands on your phone to actually get into it, so its not the end of the world if they can figure out your PIN. And the iPhone 5 Perfect score.

I hope these things never go anywhere near banks. Glass wasnt the only technology involved in the study; researchers also used an iPhone 5 and Logitech webcam to show how easy it is to steal your password.A new study out of the University of Massachusetts Lowell suggests its incredibly easy to steal someones phone PIN. And right at the forefront is everyones favorite attention grabbing computer, Google Glass.

You can use more complex passwords on both platforms, but a simple four number PIN is the most convenient option. On the iPhone 5s you have Touch ID, which encrypts your fingerprint on the devices A7 chip, while Android allows users to unlock their device with something like facial recognition. Someone across the room from you could be hacking your PIN right now, and thats frightening. This study just goes to show that we need more advanced security.

The webcam, meanwhile, correctly recorded PINs with 92-percent accuracy. Turns out it might not be the safest. The ingenuity of hackers knows no bounds; its no wonder people are becoming more and more paranoid. Seems the wearable computer was able to detect someones PIN with 83-percent accuracy from up to 3 meters away or about ten feeteven when the screen itself wasnt visible.

The amazing thing about this study is how these devices can figure out PINs even if they cant see your screen. Stay tune for the next updates! 🙂

Games, General

Ready on Werewolves Order: 1886

“As I look at our monthly update roadmap, those kind of features are in our roadmap. The always-on connection idea was always unworkable, but I could see a borrowed game requiring a connection or checking for a connection every few hours -there’s going to be a trade-off to borrow games digitally. There is a little bit of a challenge now that you’ve got DRM on a disc,” he added. I’m looking forward to this feature returning so that I can share some of my favorites with friends who maybe don’t spend as much time with video games as I do or have different tastes that might put them off spending 60 on a game.

“We looked at the digital features that we had talked about last year and as a gamer, there were a lot of those features that I think really resonated and were smart features for people who really have a lot of games and maybe play on a couple consoles or have a bunch of people in the house,” said Spencer in an interview with Gamertag Radio. It remain to be seen just how Microsoft handles the return of this feature.One of the coolest ideas from the debut of the Xbox One just over a year ago is still in the future of the rapidly evolving console, according to Xbox head Phil Spencer. Stay tune for the next updates! 🙂

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Weird Stuffs

Download Mac OS Windows v1.1.0

SUMMARY

1 jailbreak team has finally made available download links of Mac version of their now infamous tool. .1.1 jailbreak v1.1.

THE CONCLUSION

0 today, adding support for English language, dumping i0n1cs exploit for a new exploit of their own, among other changes.0 for Windows Instructions on how-to jailbreak on Windows can be found here: Jailbreak iOS 7.1 And iOS 7.0 for Mac Pangu 1.

1.1.0 Compression resources, significantly reduce program size Solve some of the equipment card Pangu logo infinite reboot problem Replace with new vulnerabilities Shuren information disclosure vulnerability Increased networking protection, networking tools need to use Improved Interface Like the previous version, Pangu jailbreak supports both iOS 7.1.

1 firmware on all devices including the latest iPhone 5S and iPad Air.1 Or iOS 7.1 Untethered Using Pangu How-To Tutorial Well update the post once the Mac version of the Tutorial is up! Stay tuned! Update x1: Mac version of our tutorial is up: How To Jailbreak iOS 7.1.

1 and iOS 7. You can download Pangu iOS 7.1.1.

Windows version of the tool has also been bumped to version 1.1.1.0 for both Mac and OS X from the links given below: Pangu 1.

The Pangu iOS 7. Heres the official changelog of Pangu v1.1 On Mac OS X Using Pangu, ALL Devices Supported Tutorial You can follow us on Twitter, add us to your circle on Google or like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple and the Web. Pangu jailbreak tool was originally released for Windows last week. Stay tune for the next updates! 🙂

Weird Stuffs

How Mac OS Supported [Tutorial]

Here well show you how you can jailbreak your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch on the latest iOS 7. Now simply set the date to 2nd, June 2014, and time to 20:30, as shown in the screenshots below. Once done, you will have Cydia on your home screen. Step 3: Now click on Jailbreak button and follow the on-screen instructions to set the date on your device to June 2, 2014.1.

MORE INFO

Compatible devices: iPhone 5s iPhone 5c iPhone 5 iPhone 4s iPhone 4 iPad Air Retina iPad mini iPad mini iPad 4, 3, 2 iPod touch 5 Compatible firmware: iOS 7. .1 iOS 7.1 / 7.

1 using Mac version of Pangu.1 from here.1 You can download iOS 7.1 jailbreak was released only a while back.

1.1.1.1 jailbreak for Mac OS X.

Windows user instructions on how-to jailbreak on Windows can be found here: Jailbreak iOS 7. Step 2: Connect your iOS device to your Mac and start Pangu jailbreak tool. Step 4: Once done, your device should restart now.1.

Step 1: Download Pangu iOS 7.Mac OS X version of Pangu iOS 7.1 or iOS 7. You will be prompted with a message, tap on Continue and wait for Pangu jailbreak tool to complete the jailbreak process.

We have already done a detailed guide on how to jailbreak on Windows.1.1. Step 5: Now simply tap on this icon.

After reboot, you will notice Pangu app icon on the home screen.1 And iOS 7. To do this, navigate to: Settings > General > Data and Time on your iPhone or iPad and turn off Set Automatically option.1 Untethered Using Pangu How-To Tutorial You can follow us on Twitter, add us to your circle on Google or like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple and the Web.

Tutorial on how to jailbreak iOS 7.1 on Mac: Before you begin, make sure you make a complete backup of your device using either iCloud or locally via iTunes.

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General

The will debate June 30th

SUMMARY

Keith Alexander and ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero on June 30th.If you’ve wanted the NSA and anti-spying campaigners to sit down and hash things out, you’re about to get your wish. When the two sides meet at 10:30AM Eastern that day, they’ll argue over whether or not the NSA is making Americans safer; suffice it to say that there are going to be some fierce disagreements. We’re expecting a draw, but it should still be interesting to watch one of privacy’s biggest advocates square off against one of the NSA’s most prominent defenders.

THE CONCLUSION

MSNBC is holding a surveillance-themed debate between former NSA head Gen. Image credit: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Flickr. well, sort of.

While we’re sure that many would prefer that the NSA’s current leader was involved, you’ll at least get to play a part. The TV network is not only taking some questions from the audience, but letting it influence the results online; you’ll get to vote on where the debate should go, and say who you think is winning. If you have any suggestion, just let me know.

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General

Scientists the Size of Earth

TOPIC

The suns atmosphere, which has an enormous effect on the solar system, is said to be much larger than scientists initially thought. These magneto sonic waves, a derived from Alfven waves, are much different from the ones observed here on Earth; whereas sound waves on Earth oscillate several hundred times per second, these magnetosonic waves oscillate one every four hoursand NASA says theyre about ten times the length of Earth. NASA scientists were able to determine the suns atmosphere by measuring the inner and outer boundaries of the heliosphere, or the bubble that surrounds the sun and all the planets. With NASAs Solar Probe Plus mission, the agency is hoping to get within 4 million miles of the sun, giving scientists valuable information about the sun and its inner solar magnetic system.

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Researchers took measurements through sound-like waves known as magnetesonic wavesthey cant actually hear them in space, but they can see them ripple through the corona. So when NASA talks about giant solar storms or coronal mass ejections, the ripple effects are felt much farther out into the universe than researchers thought. Using NASAs Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory, scientists have determined that the sun’s atmosphere, called the corona, extends to about 5 million miles above the suns surfaceor the equivalent of 12 solar radii, NASA said. The agency said this latest finding has implications for a future Solar Probe Plus mission in 2018, which is set to get closer to the sun than any manmade object before it has ever gone.

The mission will directly measure the density, velocity and magnetic field of the solar material there, allowing us to understand how motion and heat in the corona and solar wind are generated, said Marco Velli, a Solar Probe Plus scientist. I guess that is the end of the story.

General

Scientists Is Much Initially Thought

SUMMARY

Researchers were able to deduce the massive diamonds presence by the way its gravity disturbs steady radio pulses coming from a spinning companion star. And thats exactly why were unable to see it; the nameless diamond-star is so cool and dim that the light is unable to be seen in the overwhelming vastness of space. Scientists say the diamond-star formed like this: after ending its life in a supernova, a small clump about the size of Earth was leftover, which eventually cooled and faded to what it is now. But youll never be able to see it; nobody will. This isnt the first time scientists have found a large space diamond.

THE CONCLUSION

Scientists have never even seen it. Still, imagining the night sky filled with thousands of diamonds is certainly a romantic thought. Described in a study published in The Astrophysical Journal, the massive diamond is said to be among the coldest white dwarfs weve ever found. National Geographic points out that if you were to look toward the constellation Aquarius youd be looking in the right direction.

This one, however, is pure cuta gleaming crystallized white dwarf just sitting out there in space. In 2012, researchers discovered a planet roughly the size of two Earths that was made primarily of diamond.Scientists have found an 11 billion year-old diamond 900 light-years away from our home planetone of the oldest found by astronomers.

Even if we were able to get closer, researchers still say we wouldnt be able to see it. Thats one massive diamond, but sadly itll never be cut. But this isnt an ordinary diamond: researchers claim the space rock is the size of Earth, making it one of the largest diamonds in existence that we know of. Researchers say there are probably similar diamond stars out there in the universe, though theyre too dim for us to see them. Stay tune for the next updates! 🙂

Technology

Inhabitat’s glow-in-the-dark roads fastest bike

LET ME SUMMARIES

The concept hasn’t been tested, but the company claims it could produce energy 24 hours per day. For those of us who don’t want to buy into the grid, there’s an alternative: Community solar gardens allow customers who aren’t able to establish their own solar power systems to buy into a solar array and receive a credit on their electricity bill for power produced by the panels. To that end, Ecosphere Technologies has developed a shipping-container-size pop-up solar power station that can deliver energy wherever it’s needed. And for the perfect summer road trip, we present you with the Terrapin Camper, a gorgeous house on wheels made from handcrafted wood with a dinette that converts into a full-size bed. Germany recently smashed three solar energy records, and the country’s northernmost state of Schleswig-Holstein is set to generate 100 percent of its electricity from renewable sources this year.

ANALYSIS

And if you’re having trouble restraining yourself from oversharing on social media, here’s one piece of wearable technology that could help you break the habit: A pair of NYU students has developed a 3D-printed bustier that turns transparent every time you tweet. Better still, the device can be 3D-printed from any material you can find, in any color imaginable. In other green design news, architect Abeer Seikaly drew inspiration from traditional basket weaving in her innovative design for solar-powered refugee tents. Speaking of disaster response, a new report suggests that the devastating New Jersey boardwalk fire could actually have been caused when saltwater surges from Hurricane Sandy hit low-lying electrical and mechanical systems.

The concept is taking root in communities across the country. In other green transportation news, the Canadian company AeroVelo recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to build the world’s fastest bicycle. Germany’s University of Stuttgart recently unveiled a gorgeous geometric pavilion made entirely by robots. Each tent has its own water collection system, so they’re almost entirely self-sufficient.

One of the keys to increasing global renewable energy use is finding better ways to produce decentralized energy. And a pair of college kids has developed a solar battery charger for USB devices that can be charged either by an outlet or passively via the sun. Toyota just unveiled its new hydrogen fuel cell sedan, which will go on sale in the US next summer. Bike sharing is quickly spreading to cities all over the world, but those one-size-fits-all bikes don’t necessarily fit everyone — what about the kids Paris’ Vélib just became the first bike-sharing system in the world to offer bikes for kids.

Is there anything mushrooms can’t do We’ve seen lamps and furniture made from mycelium — and now the world’s first mushroom tower has sprouted in New York. Germany has long been a leader in renewable energy, and now the European country is breaking its own records. Sauvage to create a pair of wireless charging trousers that will juice up your phone when it’s resting in your pants pockets. The low-tech earthbag building technique just got a high-tech upgrade with the help of 3D printing technology.

But what if we’re doing it all wrong A Maryland-based company has created a new concept that turns the traditional wind turbine design on its head by putting turbines at the base of a tower that generates its own wind throughout the year. The Earth Home Builder is a machine that can 3D print entire homes by filling tubes with earth at a rate of 400 feet per hour.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. Wind energy is one of the fastest-growing types of renewable energy.

The world’s first glow-in-the-dark roads were recently installed in the Netherlands as part of a month-long trial — and now, the team behind the project will take what it’s learned and incorporate it into an updated smart highway that will roll out later this summer. And if you want to power up your gadgets using renewable energy while you’re on the go, there are a couple new options: Nokia is collaborating with British designer A. The structure was developed by the school’s computational design department, and it’s made from interlocking plywood panels.

Legos continue to be the building material of choice for budding designers around the world, and a team of dedicated builders created an entire London bus shelter using 100,000 bricks. The team expects its new design to be able to reach speeds of around 87MPH. Driverless cars are the future of transportation, and Michigan is gearing up for them by developing a 30-acre urban environment for testing autonomous vehicles. And south of the border, a pair of artists has created a funky-looking aluminum car that was built to run on the roughly 5,000 miles of abandoned railroad tracks in Mexico and Ecuador. If you have any suggestion, just let me know.

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General

Gadget Rewind 2007: Flip Video Ultra

YOU NEED TO KNOW

The design was a bit blocky, but it was the first to include a flip-out USB connector, making it easy to connect to computers without any cables.It was the mid-aughts and user-generated video was on the rise: Google had just purchased YouTube and consumers were starting to get their first camera-equipped cellphones. The Flip Video Ultra featured a simple camera that captured quality video at an affordable price. Back in 2005, Pure Digital teamed up with CVS to release its One-Time-Use Camcorder, which cost 30 and could capture 20 minutes of video. With this new Flip, users could capture and save up to 60 minutes of VGA-quality 640 x 480 video on the 2GB model — it even boasted better low-light performance.

MORE DETAILS

Those factors made for a perfect storm and left the market wide open for Pure Digital. And then, in 2007, it rebranded the line as Flip Video. The Flip Video also came preloaded with FlipShare software, letting users plug, play, edit and share to sites like YouTube from any PC with a USB port. And when it was let loose on the market in late 2007, it was unstoppable — at least for a time.

By 2011, the market for these niche video devices began to completely dry up leading Cisco to altogether shutter the Flip camera division.5-inch color display and buttons for play, record, delete, zoom and screen navigation. Despite all that, the quality of video captured by phones at the time was poor, and full-fledged camcorders were still too costly for most consumers to consider. Pure Digital shaved some weight off the device and released it in an array of colors including black, pink and orange.

Cisco, the well-known enterprise hardware outfit, seized on Pure Digital’s rise in the market and acquired the company in 2009. It also ran on two AA batteries, making it easy to re-up, rather than wait hours for batteries to recharge. In 2007, the company introduced its Flip Video Ultra, a portable device that offered a solution to all that subpar video. Because sales of the device were going so well in 2008, analysts at NPD listed the Flip Video Ultra as the top-selling camcorder in June of that year.

Transferring those precious moments to DVD would run you another 13. Soon, though, those same heavyweights were copying the Flip’s success with budget-priced camcorders of their own. It even managed to beat out devices from well-known brands like Sony, JVC and Panasonic. Interacting with the device was a piece of cake using its 1.

Like its predecessors, it was meant to be held upright when shooting video and incorporated intuitive controls. Did you own a Flip Video Ultra Add it to your Engadget profile as a device you had or still have and join the discussion to reminisce or share photos of your device with other like-minded gadget fans. Unfortunately, the lifespan of the Flip Video line would prove to be short-lived and smartphones, with their ever-improving video capabilities, quickly replaced the single-use tech.

The revision specifically addressed many of the original’s design issues. After a bit of success, the company moved on to more eco-friendly, non-disposable units. The first Flip Video had only been on the market for a few months when Pure Digital replaced it with the next-gen Flip Video Ultra. The Flip Video Ultra had humble beginnings. If you have any suggestion, just let me know.

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Technology

Google interfaces of and TV

LET ME SUMMARIES

However, it’s a sharp break from Google’s mostly laissez-faire attitude to Android on phones and tablets — car, TV and wearable makers will primarily have to distinguish themselves through hardware if they want to use the bulk of Google’s services. The strategy likely won’t preclude you from loading custom software after the sale, but the Android you see in stores won’t be quite as diverse as it once was. You won’t see a Gear Live sequel with the Gear 2’s front end, for example, or find your way around town with a Honda-exclusive take on Android Auto. The move is likely to please fans of Google’s approach to interface design, or those who simply want to try new features as soon as possible. If they insist on a custom front-end, they’ll have to take an Amazon-like approach and build or find replacement technology.

THE CONCLUSION

Google tells Ars Technica that it will maintain sole official control over the interface for all three new platforms, rather than give that power to manufacturers. Theoretically, you won’t see the haphazard upgrade process common to non-Nexus Android devices, where updates sometimes arrive months after their official launches, if they arrive at all. The shift in policy also lets Google manage the update process, which should be as “automatic and seamless” as the company’s Chrome browser.

You’d better get used to the interfaces you saw for Android Auto, Wear and TV at the Google I/O conference this past week — you’re going to be seeing them a lot. Engineering director David Burke says this requirement is meant to provide a “very consistent” experience; you won’t have to grapple with different controls just because you’re watching TV in your bedroom instead of the living room. While companies will be allowed branding and extra services, they won’t get to modify the core experience. What you think?

Others

Jump-jet landing on a stool

YOU NEED TO KNOW

Image Credit: YouTube / The Aviationist adsbygoogle = window.Despite the small target and the inability to see directly below him as he descended, Mahoney managed to carefully touch down on the deck with the support of the improvised prop.”I cant see the stool,” he said.US Marine Corps Captain William Mahoney flew his 30 million Harrier jump-jet in as close to the landing deck as he could so that officers on board the USS Bataan could assess the problem. “I didnt even know it was there.

MORE DETAIL

push; After a landing gear malfunction a Harrier jump-jet managed to touch down on an improvised alternative.Eventually the crew came up with a perfect, though unconventional solution – a tiny stool that they set up on the deck to support the front of the jet when it came in to land.”.adsbygoogle .

Attempting to land a jet on a vessel at sea would seem to be quite a harrowing exercise at the best of times, but when upon coming in to land one pilot discovered that his front landing gear was jammed there was little he could do but radio for assistance.The stool turned out to be the perfect solution. Thank you for reading.

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