Scientists stumble upon bomb-sniffing laser with a boomerang effect

Scientists stumble upon bomb-sniffing laser with a boomerang effect: "

You might think of a laser as light forced into a single, directed beam, but scientists have recently discovered that if you fire a laser in one direction, the air itself can fire another right back. Using a 226nm UV pump laser, researchers at Princeton University managed to excite oxygen atoms to the point that they emit infrared light along the same channel as the original beam, except this time pointed back where it came from. Since the return beam's chemistry depends on the particles in the air to generate the return beam, the 'backward laser' could potentially carry the signature of those particles back to the source and help identify them there. That seems to be the entire goal, in fact -- the project, funded by an Office of Naval Research program on 'Sciences Addressing Asymmetric Explosive Threats,' hopes that such a laser can ID bombs from a distance by hunting for trace chemicals in the air. Sounds like the perfect addition to our terahertz specs, and one step closer to the tricorder of our dreams.

Scientists stumble upon bomb-sniffing laser with a boomerang effect originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 07:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink PhysOrg | Princeton University (EurekAlert) | Email this | Comments"

Water-propelled jetpack is no dream, can be yours for $99,500 this March (video)

Water-propelled jetpack is no dream, can be yours for $99,500 this March (video): "

It's taken a long time since that 2005 patent was filed for, but Raymond Li is now finally ready to bring his water-propelled jetpack to the money-spending world. Nailing down a March 2011 launch date and a price of $99,500 hasn't been easy for the inventor, who says his efforts to procure capital and prototyping quotations were mostly met with incredulity -- 'almost everyone thought I was crazy.' His JetLev personal transporter relies on an engine and fuel tank (which remain on the water's surface) to pump H20 into a backpack that then shoots out streams of the drinkable stuff to keep your airborne. Top speed is 22MPH, max height is nearly 33 feet, and the fun factor is somewhere off the scale, whether you're talking metric or imperial. Levitate past the break for a video demonstration.



[Thanks, Suraj]

Continue reading Water-propelled jetpack is no dream, can be yours for $99,500 this March (video)

Water-propelled jetpack is no dream, can be yours for $99,500 this March (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 08:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink PopSci | New Scientist | Email this | Comments"

Toshiba Dynabook Qosmio T750 laptop has a lid that changes color on both sides

Toshiba Dynabook Qosmio T750 laptop has a lid that changes color on both sides: "

It's been a long time since we used a laptop that had a monochromatic display -- it was a giant white block of a thing that is not missed -- but flip around just about every laptop we use today and you find a backside that stubbornly refuses to change color no matter the light that hits it. Is that a problem? Not really, we think it's quite fine since we're not often staring at that bit, but for Toshiba such tedium simply won't do, so it's introducing the Dynabook Qosmio T750 with a color-shifting lid. Turn it in the light and it shifts and shimmers, just like the chameleon paint tuners have been using on custom rides for decades. Here, though, we're told it's done with multiple layers of film, no paint at all. Oh, the inside? A 2.66GHz Intel Core i5-480M, 4GB of DDR 3 memory, and a 15.6-inch, 1366 x 768 display that's LED backlit -- which is also capable of displaying multiple colors, in case you're interested.

Toshiba Dynabook Qosmio T750 laptop has a lid that changes color on both sides originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 29 Jan 2011 21:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | RegHardware | Email this | Comments"

Olympus XZ-1 reviewed: $499 for sweet simplicity

Olympus XZ-1 reviewed: $499 for sweet simplicity: "

We had a feeling the Olympus XZ-1 would be a winner, and Digital Photography Review seems to think so, too -- it called the 10 megapixel, full-manual point and shoot 'the best photographers' compact currently available' at the end of a thorough review. Most of the praise was heaped on that F1.8-2.5 Zuiko lens, providing an 'unbeaten combination of range and brightness' whose potent, detailed low-light performance was practically enough to cancel out the publication's worries about the lack of a adjustable noise reduction setting. Though the publication admitted that the camera lacked the customization of certain Micro Four Thirds cousins, it didn't miss most of the advanced controls, preferring the streamlined menus and manual dials for easy access to common adjustments. (Battery charging over USB and a dedicated movie button were also deemed nice touches.) In fact, the only major ding DPReview had for Olympus was the complete omission of auto exposure and autofocus locks for focus-and-recompose shooting, but if you're willing to snap shots using Olympus's 11 AF points and aren't looking to tote a set of expensive interchangeable lenses around, this might be the one. Dive into our source link to find out for sure.

Olympus XZ-1 reviewed: $499 for sweet simplicity originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 30 Jan 2011 02:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sanho announces new HyperDrive line-up, still enough storage for your Frank Zappa discography

Sanho announces new HyperDrive line-up, still enough storage for your Frank Zappa discography: "

Surely you remember Sanho's HyperDrive lineup -- ya know, the only portable HDD that plays nicely with the iPad? Well, if you don't dig the $249 entry level price, you're in luck. The company just announced a bunch of new HDDs for you to take with you and your iPad on that road trip you've had planned for years. The new drives no longer sport the QVGA color display or the CF and SD card slots -- instead, the black case has two mini USB ports and a power socket. The HyperDrive doesn't come with the traditional AC adapter but instead a USB-to-DC cable and the user-replaceable battery will allow up to 40GB of transfers on a single charge. And if you're wondering why there's two USB ports, we really couldn't tell you. Perhaps if you choose the right port while connected to your PC and enter the Konami code, unicorns and fairy dust will pop out of your screen -- wishful thinking, we know. The HyperDrives ship in March (pre-ordering is available now) with prices starting at $99 for a bring-your-own-drive housing, 1TB for $349 and various sizes in-between. So, if your photo/video library is worth accessing at all times, well, props to you. Press release is after the break.

Continue reading Sanho announces new HyperDrive line-up, still enough storage for your Frank Zappa discography

Sanho announces new HyperDrive line-up, still enough storage for your Frank Zappa discography originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 30 Jan 2011 06:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Android 3.0 Honeycomb emulator has traces of smartphone support

Android 3.0 Honeycomb emulator has traces of smartphone support: "

Thought Honeycomb was just for tablets? Well, it's not! Sure, tablets might be Google's main thrust with the release, but we've been able to dig up enough evidence in the preview SDK's emulator released yesterday to suggest that these guys are still keeping their eyes on the smartphone prize.



Here's how it works: the emulator can be set to load at an arbitrary screen resolution. By default, that's WXGA, 1280 x 768 -- perfect for tablets, but obviously a wee bit large for even the biggest smartphones. Well, it turns out that setting the emulator to WVGA (like you might find on a modern mid- to high-end smartphone) triggers a moderately different shell UI that lacks most of the whiz-bang home screen stuff Google's shown on the Honeycomb tablets. In fact, the default launcher crashes out entirely, which means you need to install a replacement (Launcher Pro works nicely) just to play around.



Once you get in, it's pretty raw, but you immediately notice that the emulator's got some traces of smartphone support. Notably, the status bar reverts to a more smartphone-friendly form, albeit one with pre-Gingerbread background coloration and incorrectly-inverted font colors. The lock screen (pictured above) is back to its old form, not the webOS-esque circular lock in the Honeycomb tablet UI. The browser -- which has been completely revamped in Honeycomb -- works, though without visible tabs; Google might be thinking that they'd take up too much real estate on a screen this small.



Again, you can't glean much here, but it's interesting primarily because the emulator knows to revert to a smartphone UI layout at the lower resolution -- a possible sign that Honeycomb will be a true dual-mode, dual-purpose platform from day one. And even if it isn't, it looks like they're setting themselves up for a two-UI strategy down the road.

Gallery: Android 3.0 Honeycomb emulator has traces of smartphone support

[Thanks, Andrew]

Android 3.0 Honeycomb emulator has traces of smartphone support originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 16:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Visualized: the Power Mac G4 clock

Visualized: the Power Mac G4 clock: "

What do you do with that once state of the art Power Mac? Well, you could always empty the case and add a 'cheap clock mechanism,' in the words of our friend Justin -- who emailed us some pictures of his latest creation this morning. But don't forget the Mighty Mouse pendulum: that's what really won us over. Hit the source link for more glamor shots.

Visualized: the Power Mac G4 clock originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 01:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Justin Tyler Moore | Email this | Comments"

Samsung Galaxy Ace, Galaxy Fit, Galaxy Gio and Galaxy mini fill out our Android universe

Samsung Galaxy Ace, Galaxy Fit, Galaxy Gio and Galaxy mini fill out our Android universe: "

Samsung's decided that 10 million Galaxy S devices just aren't enough for us, so it's trickling down the brand name, Android OS and TouchWiz UI into some more affordable form factors. In order from left to right, the Galaxy Ace is a 3.5-incher that most closely resembles the S patriarch, though it makes do with an 800MHz processor and HVGA screen resolution. It's said to be available immediately in Russia, to be followed by Europe, India and China soon. The Fit takes us into lower spec territory, with a 3.3-inch QVGA screen and 600MHz speed, while the Gio packs an even smaller display but raises resolution back up to HVGA. The Galaxy mini has to go down as a blatant LG Optimus T KIRF, which might be its sole notable feature, given the 3.1-inch QVGA display and 600MHz capabilities. All three are targeting the same territories as the Ace, meaning the US will likely be spared from this affordable Android whimsy.

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Ace, Galaxy Fit, Galaxy Gio and Galaxy mini fill out our Android universe

Samsung Galaxy Ace, Galaxy Fit, Galaxy Gio and Galaxy mini fill out our Android universe originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 03:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Pocketnow, TechConnect | Korea IT Times | Email this | Comments"

LG G-Slate spotted in Korean music video, 3D cameras and all?

LG G-Slate spotted in Korean music video, 3D cameras and all?: "

Oh LG, did you really think you could slip an entire tablet past the eagle-eyed gadget obsessives of Korea? The G-Slate has been one of the more mysterious devices launched at CES this year, but it now appears to have shaken off some of its shyness and made a cameo appearance on K-Pop star Seungri's latest music vid. Our Korean correspondents inform us that Seungri's band Big Bang has had a relationship with LG since the introduction of the cheap and cheerful Lollipop handset (video evidence after the break), so it's not unreasonable to believe this young chap has an inside line on LG's upcoming hardware. His video shows an LG-branded slate at 0.53 and 1.52, and although we get only brief glimpses, one of them suggests a dual-camera array on the back, which seemingly corroborates earlier rumors of the G-Slate bringing some 3D voodoo to the market. Skip the break and see for yourself.



[Thanks, Alan Yi]

Continue reading LG G-Slate spotted in Korean music video, 3D cameras and all?

LG G-Slate spotted in Korean music video, 3D cameras and all? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 23 Jan 2011 03:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | BIGBANG (YouTube) | Email this | Comments"

Motoblur coming to Xoom as software update, still considered Google flagship product? (update)

Motoblur coming to Xoom as software update, still considered Google flagship product? (update): "

Maybe you thought the Motorola Xoom would be devoid of -- or dare we say, spared from -- a coat of Motoblur. Being the inaugural Honeycomb device, you'd expect Google to keep the tablet as vanilla as possible (e.g. G1, Nexus One, Nexus S). Indeed, Android's director of engineering Dave Burke tells CNET UK that Xoom is a flagship product for Mountain View, but in the same reported meeting, Motorola's Jonathan Nattrass said Motoblur will be coming to the tablet as a software update. In what form? We don't know, but if we had to guess, it's gonna be much more isolated that previous devices -- special widgets, perhaps, and services for backup or tracking a lost slate. Let's play wait-and-see on this one, at least until the top bar gets a cartoonish blue aesthetic.



Update: Motorola reached out to Phandroid to say that, yes, this is a 'Google Experience Device' and as such, you should expect the platform and UI to be Google's. Doesn't exactly explain where Nattrass got his talking points, but for now let's call it a strong rebuttal and move on. Certainly we'll have a clearer picture once we can actually try Xoom / Honeycomb out for ourselves.

Motoblur coming to Xoom as software update, still considered Google flagship product? (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 17:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | CNET UK | Email this | Comments"

Kinect meets Minecraft, animates a giant statue in your honor (video)

Kinect meets Minecraft, animates a giant statue in your honor (video): "

This isn't the first time Kinect and Minecraft have crossed paths -- scavenge the 'nets and you'll find plenty of user interface examples. What Nathan Viniconis has done, however, is different. What you're looking at above is rendered instantly by way of using what the Kinect sees and constructing an in-world monument in real time. Not only that, but the project has now evolved into a sort of stop motion animation. It's pretty impressive, even for those who have little to no idea what Minecraft is. All the nitty gritty details are available on the project page. The video, of course, is after the break.

Continue reading Kinect meets Minecraft, animates a giant statue in your honor (video)

Kinect meets Minecraft, animates a giant statue in your honor (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 20:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Joystiq, Reddit | Order of Events | Email this | Comments"

XBMC comes to the iPad

XBMC comes to the iPad: "

We were politely asked to keep quiet about this until today, but here's the truth: XBMC now runs on the Apple A4, period. As in, there's no reason why you can't install that shiny new Apple TV 2 version of the media center software on your jailbroken iPad or iPhone 4 too. Find instructions at our more coverage link... then give the hackers and developers a cheer.

XBMC comes to the iPad originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 21:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | XBMC | Email this | Comments"

Logitech Wireless Mouse M515 works on sofas for up to two years without recharge, stays lint free

Logitech Wireless Mouse M515 works on sofas for up to two years without recharge, stays lint free: "

Sure, lots of mice, ok, most mice can be coddled to work on fabric. But it takes a company with a dedicated mousing portfolio the size of Logitech's to design a mouse specifically for use on the sofa. See, the Logitech Wireless Mouse M515 features a sealed bottom case that lets you mouse around on soft surfaces without snagging. That means it won't collect bits of fuzz around the sensor when dragging it across the couch, bed, or a trouser-clad thigh. Naturally, it can also be used on more traditional computing surfaces, too. The M515 boasts up to two-years of battery life thanks, in part, to a hand-detection sensor that causes the mouse to sleep anytime it's not being held. Rounding out the list of features is Logitech's Hyper-Fast scrolling wheel and Unifying USB micro receiver required for the laptop or home theater PC you wish to control. Look for the M515 to ship to Europe in April for £49.99 -- that's about $80 converted, but you'll likely find it for a lot less whenever it hits US retail.

Continue reading Logitech Wireless Mouse M515 works on sofas for up to two years without recharge, stays lint free

Logitech Wireless Mouse M515 works on sofas for up to two years without recharge, stays lint free originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 05:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant will get Froyo tomorrow, says T-Mobile CMO

Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant will get Froyo tomorrow, says T-Mobile CMO: "

Sorry, gents, but your conspiracy theories are wholly kaput -- not only is a Samsung Galaxy S getting Android 2.2 stateside, but the speedy software update will start rolling out tomorrow on T-Mobile USA. That's the word direct from T-Mo chief marketing officer Cole Brodman, who tossed the news to PC Magazine this afternoon, saying that the delay was a 'quality control and timing issue.' Apparently, there's extra work involved in skinning the operating system and adding exclusive apps like WiFi calling -- though he didn't confirm either would specifically appear in the Vibrant's build of Froyo. Here's some more welcome news, though: the gentleman promised that in general, Android updates on T-Mobile will be more prompt from now on, as the firm's shooting to update all phones to new versions within five months of Google making source code available. Does that mean we should expect some Gingerbread men by May? We're not totally sure, but we imagine that T-Mobile's rivals aren't sitting still -- we'll probably hear some fascinating, captivating and totally epic news about Froyo any minute now.

Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant will get Froyo tomorrow, says T-Mobile CMO originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 14:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink TmoNews | PC Mag | Email this | Comments"

Toyota developing new type of electric motor in an effort to escape dependency on rare earth metals

Toyota developing new type of electric motor in an effort to escape dependency on rare earth metals: "

Toyota's not too pleased with the general scarcity of rare earth minerals and China's near-monopolistic grip on the world's supply, so it's decided to act before it's too late. A company spokesman has been cited as saying the Prius maker is hard at work on a new electric motor design that should dramatically reduce (though seemingly not eliminate) the need for rare earths in its production. Aside from being made of less price-volatile materials, the new electric ticker is expected to be generally cheaper to manufacture. Further details aren't yet available, but we hope this turns into a classic case of necessity breeding innovation -- that Prius C concept deserves a set of internals that can keep up with its bodacious exterior.

Toyota developing new type of electric motor in an effort to escape dependency on rare earth metals originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 04:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Associated Press (Yahoo! News) | Email this | Comments"

Volvo's platooning SARTRE cars drive themselves, dabble in existentialism (video)

Volvo's platooning SARTRE cars drive themselves, dabble in existentialism (video): "

Tailgating on the highway is a pretty dangerous thing and, in some cases, can be a ticketable offense. In the future, though, it could be a way to ease traffic congestion and to boost fuel mileage on highways. In this guise it's called platooning, something that we saw GM's crazy futuristic EN-V doing when we took it for a spin out in Vegas. Volvo is getting in on the game too, participating in the European Safe Road Trains for the Environment Project, or SARTRE. It's a research program looking into a standard way to have 'trains' of autonomous cars that can follow each other on the highway. A professional leads the way and other cars communicate with each other, enabling the drivers in those following cars to simply kick back and read the paper if they like. This is a project that could be seen on the road in as few as 10 years, but we're thinking by then people might need to find something else to read.

Gallery: Volvo platooning

Continue reading Volvo's platooning SARTRE cars drive themselves, dabble in existentialism (video)

Volvo's platooning SARTRE cars drive themselves, dabble in existentialism (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 08:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone headset socket hijacked to power DIY peripherals (video)

iPhone headset socket hijacked to power DIY peripherals (video): "

Apple's proprietary dock connector may keep would-be peripheral manufacturers at bay, but if you want to build your own iOS companion devices, there's another way. You might have noticed that the Square credit card reader uses Apple's 3.5mm headset jack to transmit power and data at once, and gadgeteers at the University of Michigan are busy open-sourcing the same technique for all the DIY contraptions you can dream of. Project HiJack has already figured out how to pull 7.4 milliwatts out of a 22kHz audio tone, and built a series of prototype boards (including working EKG, temperature, humidity and motion sensors) that transmit data to and from an iOS app at up to 8.82 kbaud -- using just $2.34 worth of electronic components. See the basic principles at work in the video above, and -- as soon as the team updates Google Code -- find out how to build your own at the links below.

iPhone headset socket hijacked to power DIY peripherals (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 02:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Ars Technica | Project HiJack | Email this | Comments"

Man discovers glasses-free 3D tech in the blink of an eye (video)

Man discovers glasses-free 3D tech in the blink of an eye (video): "

Who's got two thumbs and needs glasses to see 3D? Not this guy! Francois Vogel's figured out a way to remove those pesky spectacles from the equation, and he's ready to revolutionize the stereoscopic industry forever. Sure, you'll need a monitor with a 120Hz refresh rate, but that's a prerequisite these days anyhow, and the rest is sweet, sticky gravy dished directly to your eyeballs. Get a sneak peek at the game-changing tech in the video above, and keep an eye out for unicorns (we're sure they're around here somewhere). You'll never look at 3D the same way again, we promise.



[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Man discovers glasses-free 3D tech in the blink of an eye (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 15 Jan 2011 15:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Kotaku | Jonathan Post | Email this | Comments"