DJ Hero Review
A laptop generating a little too much waste heat (Photo: secumem via Wikipedia Commons) Harnessing waste heat to produce electricity
The Snowtunnel - an indoor snowboarding experience. Snowboarding through the summertime: the Snowtunnel
The ECOS Harbinger - a simple, no-fuss electric supercar. The ECOS Harbinger - an electric, Euro-styled supercar for under US$90,000
The nanoscale resonators developed at Cornell can exert relatively strong forces on tiny p... Light resonators used to move nano-sized objects
Nissan's LandGlider Narrow track vehicles - the convergence of the car and the motorcycle
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AERO GIZMO

Mantis takes flight - the UK’s largest ever fully-autonomous UAV

By Darren Quick

21:42 November 17, 2009 PST

The first test flight of the Mantis next generation UAS

The largest fully-autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) ever to be built in the UK has completed initial flight trials in Woomera, South Australia. Built by BAE Systems for the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) the Mantis is the company’s first genuine fly-by-wire, all-electric aircraft and is designed to execute its mission with a much-reduced need for human intervention by understanding and reacting to its environment. BAE said Mantis successfully completed a series of trials demonstrating its capabilities and the potential for large unmanned systems to carry out intelligence-gathering at long distances. Read More

MOTORCYCLES

E is for electric: The BMW C1-E concept scooter

By Alan Brandon

21:36 November 17, 2009 PST

BMW has brought back the C1 as an electric-powered concept scooter called the C1-E

When BMW released their original C1 scooter in 2000 nobody had seen anything like it on the road. And not many C1s were seen on the road after it was released either. In the three years that BMW produced the scooter-with-a-roll-cage, only about 12000 were made. The riding public didn’t quite know what to make of the C1 and BMW never sold as many as it had hoped. Now BMW has brought the urban runabout back as the C1-E concept vehicle with an electric drivetrain. Could it be the C1’s time has come? Read More

ELECTRONICS

NIST develops the world's first two-qubit programmable quantum computer

By Dario Borghino

19:55 November 17, 2009 PST

NIST postdoctoral researcher David Hanneke at the laser table used to demonstrate the firs...

In a paper recently published on Nature Physics, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) documented the implementation and verification of a two-qubit quantum computer that, according to researchers, is a truly general-purpose machine and could soon be used as a building block for much larger quantum computers. Read More

RESEARCH WATCH

New inexpensive method to clean oil from water

By Darren Quick

19:46 November 17, 2009 PST

An all too common sight - the car park oil sheen rainbow (Photo: crabchick via flickr)

The rainbow effect caused by varying thicknesses of oil film on water’s surface might be pretty to look at but is indicative of polluted water. This “oil sheen” proves especially difficult to remove, even when the water is aerated with ozone or filtered through sand. But now a University of Utah engineer has developed an inexpensive new method to remove oil sheen by repeatedly pressurizing and depressurizing ozone gas, creating microscopic bubbles that attack the oil so it can be removed by sand filters. Read More

RESEARCH WATCH

Researchers push miniaturization even further with finFET transistors

By Dario Borghino

19:29 November 17, 2009 PST

The finline structure in finFETs allows for greater electrical insulation and processing s...

Researchers at Purdue University have reported important progress in developing finFETs, a type of transistor that some say will eventually substitute the silicon-based kind because it allows engineers to push miniaturization even further in the perpetual effort to validate the predictions of Moore's Law. Read More

RESEARCH WATCH

Eureka! NASA strikes water on lunar surface

By Darren Quick

19:16 November 17, 2009 PST

The ejecta plume about 20 seconds after the LCROSS impact (Images: NASA)

Scientists have long speculated about the source of significant quantities of hydrogen that have been observed at the moon's lunar poles, and just a few months ago NASA announced that water molecules were indeed present, but in relatively small amounts. Now the Lunar CRater Observing and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) that was employed to shed some more light on the presence of water on the moon, looks like it has done just that with preliminary data indicating the mission successfully uncovered water in a permanently-shadowed crater. Read More

PERSONAL COMPUTING

Wink - the world's smallest 16Gb Flash drive

By Darren Quick

16:32 November 17, 2009 PST

The diminutive 16GB Wink USB Drive

The humble USB Flash drive has been hit by the miniaturization ray again with Active Media Products introducing what it claims is the world’s smallest 16GB USB drive. The Wink measures just 1.2 x 0.5 x 0.1 inches and weighs in at only 1/20th of an ounce. It’s so small that looking at the pictures you’d be forgiven for thinking the drive may disappear inside a USB port never to be seen again. Read More

AERO GIZMO

Lockheed Martin F-35B prepares for vertical takeoff and landings

By Darren Quick

15:38 November 17, 2009 PST

The first Lockheed Martin F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing stealth fighter takes off (...

The first aircraft in history to combine stealth with short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) capability and supersonic speed has been delivered to the Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., where it will conduct its first hovers and vertical landings. The Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II STOVL stealth fighter will replace U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B STOVL fighters, F/A-18 strike fighters and EA-6B electronic attack aircraft, and will also be used by the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force and Royal Navy and the Italian Air Force and Navy. Read More

RESEARCH WATCH

The 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index – civilization’s report card looks bleak

By Gizmag Team

14:29 November 17, 2009 PST

Another bad report card for humanity

Transparency International’s annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) was released yesterday, the only realistic report card available each year on the governments of the world. The CPI measures domestic and public sector corruption and once again highlights how poorly most countries’ governments go about their business and how no region is immune to the perils of corruption, bribery, cartels and other practices which undermine competition and contribute to the diminution of resources. There’s some wonderful interactive visualization multimedia available on this subject which is well worth a look. Read More

PERSONAL COMPUTING

The Vega touchscreen tablet from ICD

By Paul Ridden

14:21 November 17, 2009 PST

Powered by NVIDIA Tegra and running Android 2.0 Eclair, the new Vega tablet from ICD

Innovative Converged Devices (ICD) has unveiled its new Vega 15 inch touchscreen tablet, an Android-powered communication and media device that features wireless 802.11b/g, Bluetooth and 3G connectivity, a Tegra combined application and graphics processor from NVIDIA, an ambient light sensor and accelerometer. Read More

ELECTRONICS

Anti-fraud credit card features E-Ink display

By Gizmag Team

03:59 November 17, 2009 PST

Emue and Visa Europe have been working closely over the past 18 months to develop the Visa...

Emue Technologies has unveiled the next generation of its anti-fraud credit card. The device combines a world first embedded 14-segment E Ink display with a 12-button numeric keypad, microprocessor and, despite being the same size as a conventional card, a battery designed to last for three years. Read More

ECOGIZMO

Shelf car sunshade generates solar power

By Jeff Salton

21:58 November 16, 2009 PST

The Shelf solar sunshade - can collect enough solar energy to power a vehicle's air condit...

As the motoring world moves ever-closer to the welcome infiltration of electrically-powered cars, one thing holding them back is the availability of charging stations to “refuel” the vehicles which so far have an average range of around 120 miles between charges. The Shelf, a concept by Chinese designer Leon Zhu, takes advantage of the sun’s solar energy and collects enough of the stuff on a hot day to power the car’s air conditioner, tail lights and other electronic equipment, therefore extending the life of the car’s onboard batteries. What’s more, the solar panel protects your vehicle’s expensive duco from long exposure to the sun. Just don’t try to extend the solar panel while you’re driving. Read More

MOBILE TECHNOLOGY

Something for everyone with NTT DoCoMo's new mobile phones

By Darren Quick

21:50 November 16, 2009 PST

NTT DoCoMo's new STYLE series mobile phones

Japan’s biggest mobile phone operator, NTT DoCoMo, has unveiled a raft of new phones – 19 in all – along with a 3G-capable digital photo frame. The new lineup includes the waterproof F-02B (complete with snap-on perfume holder), four models packing a 12.2-megapixel camera and the world’s first phone with a separable two-module body. Read More

ELECTRONICS

Christie MicroTiles create a versatile digital display wall

By Jeff Salton

21:30 November 16, 2009 PST

MicroTiles from Christie can make a digital display wall virtually anywhere with only a 1m...

Better known for its high-end digital projection systems, Christie has launched its MicroTiles digital display units which can be stacked like building blocks to create a visual display wall virtually anywhere there is power. The modular MicroTiles can be used to create an almost seamless digital canvas in almost any size or shape using an entirely new, advanced optical design that produces advanced levels of brightness, contrast and color reproduction. Read More

WEARABLE ELECTRONICS

‘Nice Cup In Bra’ - the world's weirdest golfing accessory?

By Darren Quick

21:19 November 16, 2009 PST

The Nice Cup In Bra provides a unique way for Japanese women to practice their putting

There seems to be a rush on inventive underwear this week with our second - and even more impractical - example coming from Triumph International Japan, who twice a year unveil a concept bra that highlights a popular trend or draws attention to social issues. Earlier this year saw the Konkatsu Bra designed to help Japanese women on the hunt for a man. The latest bra is designed to appeal to the growing numbers of female golfers in Japan looking for a unique way to practice their putting. Read More

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Glucocard Vital glucose tester promises a quick, easy and more accurate test

By Jude Garvey

20:58 November 16, 2009 PST

Glucocard Vital meter can produce a test result in about seven seconds

Diabetes care specialist Arkray recently announced that it has received clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Glucocard Vital blood glucose monitoring system. The tester, which consists of a meter and test strip, is very accurate, requires a tiny drop of blood, takes as little as seven seconds and has a unique glucose oxydase (GO) strip chemistry that is reportedly not affected by interferences that cause testing errors in other common test strips. Read More

AROUND THE HOME

ChillChaser adds a little entertainment to outdoor heating

By Jude Garvey

15:26 November 16, 2009 PST

Poseidon features inbuilt media player and speakers

As winter approaches, it’s hard to reconcile with the fact that it won’t be long before it’s too cool for outdoor entertaining. A range of outdoor heaters from UK company ChillChaser, might have you enjoying the great outdoors for many more months. The heaters generate warmth from patented carbon fiber tubes which, according to the company, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 50% when compared to gas-powered heaters and the latest model, Poseidon, features an inbuilt media player and speakers. Read More

PERSONAL COMPUTING

Google SPDY aims to make web faster

By Paul Ridden

15:00 November 16, 2009 PST

SPDY from Google's Chromium development team has achieved 55 percent faster page loading t...

Loading pages from the Internet into browsers or accessing your favorite applications may seem pretty fast now, but the folks at Google think it could be a lot faster. Designed specifically for minimizing latency, the new SPDY protocol currently undergoing testing is proving to be an awful lot faster than more familiar HTTP and will shortly break out of the lab and head for the real-world. Read More

AROUND THE HOME

Rihanna kitchen scales with in-built iPod dock

By Paul Ridden

14:45 November 16, 2009 PST

The Rihanna kitchen scales with built-in iPod dock

Kitchen scales are essential for making sure your culinary delights turn out as expected. ADE-Germany has included another ingredient in the soon-to-be-released Rihanna model which is squarely aimed at those who like to listen to music while they rattle about in the kitchen. Currently in the prototype phase, the Rihanna kitchen scale is claimed to be the world's first to feature an iPod docking station. A recipe for success or iPod overkill? Read More

PERSONAL COMPUTING

Amazon Kindle beta for PC available to download

By Paul Lester

14:20 November 16, 2009 PST

Download and read eBooks from Amazon's store on your PC

Amazon is perhaps the best placed to really push the eBook reader as a global solution and with recent announcements confirming that local libraries will be offering eBook rentals there seems to be plenty going on in this area to warrant further support. To this end, Amazon has officially released its Kindle software for the PC, allowing users to purchase, download and read hundreds of thousands of books from the official store. Read More

ELECTRONICS

mPower Emergency Illuminator lights up after 20 years

By Jeff Salton

22:58 November 15, 2009 PST

The LED mPower Emergency Illuminator from mPhase Technologies ... a flashlight with a 20-y...

Perhaps the best piece of advice I never got was "leave your flashlight in an obvious, easily accessible place”, because the one time you’ll really need it will be during a power outage or a blown fuse and the last thing you want at that time is wonder where the heck you put it. Oh, and keep it fully charged (you know why). While the mPower Emergency Illuminator won’t insist you keep it close by, it does have some impressive features – battery technology that will last up to 20 years (though not if you use it continuously) and a USB outlet which lets you charge other devices. Read More

PERSONAL COMPUTING

Automatically generated social networking status updates

By Darren Quick

22:43 November 15, 2009 PST

Smart objects and sensors will automatically detect when a user is busy and prevent any un...

Ahhh, social network status updates. How would we know what breathtakingly exciting (or mind-numbingly boring) activities our friends and family are up to from one moment to the next without them? And if you sometimes find it’s a chore just reading these missives, spare a thought for those people writing them. But soon, by combining networking and messaging platforms with emerging ambient intelligence systems that use sensors and smart objects to create awareness of users’ whereabouts and activities, such status updates and other social information could be generated automatically. Read More

AUTOMOTIVE

X Prize competition moves to next phase with 43 teams remaining

By Jeff Salton

22:35 November 15, 2009 PST

Team OptaMotive members (clockwise from top right: Mark Demers, Mike Nispel, Murat Ozkan a...

From more than 100 entrants, 43 teams and 53 vehicles have now advanced to the most important, and possibly exciting, stage of the $10 million Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize – performance and safety testing. The 43 teams represent 10 countries, 18 U.S. states, and six fuel types and all have passed the fuel-efficiency competition’s Design Judging phase. Vehicles must be able to achieve more than 100mpg or energy equivalent (MPGe), as well as being vehicles that people want to buy, meeting market needs for price, size, capability, safety and performance. Read More

PERSONAL COMPUTING

litl webbook aims to be a big deal for the household

By Darren Quick

21:03 November 15, 2009 PST

The litl transforms from laptop to easel configuration with a flip of its hinge

The creators of the litl webbook have designed everything, including the hardware, software and operating system, to make it easy for users to blend “lean-forward” web-based content with “lean back” TV-like viewing of photos and other digital content. Aimed at every member of the family, the litl can be used as a regular laptop and the display also flips through 180 degrees into easel mode, which allows it to stand upright like a digital photo frame. Read More

OUTDOORS

C-string makes your average thong look like grannypants (NSFW)

By Loz Blain

19:44 November 15, 2009 PST

Yes, that's supposed to be a piece of underwear. No, me neither.

Does this fit under our 'emerging technology' tagline? It's hard to say. It's certainly emerging from somewhere. Ladies, if you find a g-string too restrictive, or you're fond of wearing paper-thin dresses and waging an eternal war against the visible panty line, you now have the option of wearing the above device, which is called the CString. While there's no 'string' actually involved, onlookers can certainly 'C' just about everything, including an awkward rear aspect that looks something like a pencil clenched between the wearer's buttocks. This is one of those occasions when we should *all* be glad that this isn't a Gizmag road test. There are further photos in the gallery, but we'd struggle to call them safe for work. You've been warned. Read More

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