AeroVironment unveils the Shrike Vertical Take-off and Landing Unmanned Aircraft System

AeroVironment unveils the Shrike Vertical Take-off and Landing Unmanned Aircraft System: "California-based aerospace company AeroVironment has developed some fascinating Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) over the years, including the High Altitude Long Endurance Global Observer, a hummingbird-like nano air vehicle, and the hand-launched Wasp III reconnaissance platform. In 2008, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) awarded the company US$4.6 million in funding to develop a "perch-and-stare" aircraft, for use in military surveillance."

'via Blog this'

Matternet would use UAVs to deliver supplies to remote villages

Matternet would use UAVs to deliver supplies to remote villages: "Across Africa, along with other parts of the world, there are many villages that are inaccessible by road for at least part of the year. The only reasonably fast way of getting medicine and other essential goods to these locations is to fly them in by conventional aircraft. "

'via Blog this'

2012 Bentley Continental Convertible - the beautiful bruiser

2012 Bentley Continental Convertible - the beautiful bruiser: "When VW bought the Bentley name in 1998 it made the very sensible decision to retain the metal-bashing, veneer-slicing and leather-stitching craftspeople at the Crewe factory."

'via Blog this'

Extraordinarily close call for Gizmag's Loz Blain

Extraordinarily close call for Gizmag's Loz Blain: "So here's the story. I was out test riding the BMW S1000RR for the latest in our video motorcycle review series. I had a pillion on the back, Karen, taking her first ride on a sportsbike."

'via Blog this'

Video profile: The Lithium Hawk homebuilt EV

Video profile: The Lithium Hawk homebuilt EV: "Four years ago, Canadian electronics engineering technologist Nap Pepin decided to buy a kit for a BugE electric vehicle. Not content with its out-of-the-box performance, he swapped in a lithium battery pack, and his own custom battery management system."

'via Blog this'

APEN digitizes content written on paper in ink

APEN digitizes content written on paper in ink: "Computer styluses are certainly handy, but it can be kind of tricky when you're writing or drawing on a stylus pad, yet you can only see what you're doing up on the screen. The resulting scrawls often have ... shall we say, a child-like appeal."

'via Blog this'

Film-maker's Camera Eye is up and shooting

Film-maker's Camera Eye is up and shooting: "When he was nine years old, Toronto film-maker Rob Spence received a severe injury to his right eye in a shotgun accident. After a period of hiding the aftermath under an eyepatch, six years ago he had the eye replaced with a prosthesis."

'via Blog this'

Kia attempts to set fuel economy record for driving across the U.S.

Kia attempts to set fuel economy record for driving across the U.S.: With gasoline prices steadily heading into the stratosphere, fuel economy is forefront in the minds of the majority of car buyers, prompting automakers to perform all kinds of stunts to highlight the efficiency of their vehicles.

Click and Grow computerized pot-plant hits the market

Click and Grow computerized pot-plant hits the market: "The Click and Grow computerized pot-plant system that first caught our eye last year in prototype form has had a few refinements and has now gone into full-scale production and is ready for sale"

'via Blog this'

Sony takes the wraps off new SLT-A77 (α77) and SLT-A65 (α65) cameras

Sony takes the wraps off new SLT-A77 (α77) and SLT-A65 (α65) cameras: "Sony has revealed that its faithful α700 mirror-based digital SLR (DLSR) is being put out to pasture and replaced with a powerful new pretender featuring the company's Translucent Mirror Technology. "

'via Blog this'

Sony details the NEX-7 / NEX-5N digital cameras

Sony details the NEX-7 / NEX-5N digital cameras: "The interweb rumor mill has been busily whipping up a storm about a new mirrorless digital camera from Sony in recent weeks. Happily, the official announcement from Sony hasn't disappointed those of us who have been patiently waiting for something more tangible."

'via Blog this'

Rear access helmet designed for easy, safe removal

Rear access helmet designed for easy, safe removal: "Although motorcycle helmets save countless lives, they can pose a challenge to emergency response personnel at accident scenes - the helmet needs to be removed, yet the patient's head should be moved as little as possible, in case there are any spinal cord injuries. "

'via Blog this'

New technique delivers 'real' lab-grown muscle tissue

New technique delivers 'real' lab-grown muscle tissue: "Most people who have sweated it out in the gym trying to add a bit of muscle definition to their bodies will know just how difficult such a task is, but trying to grow muscle tissue with a real muscle structure complete with blood vessels in the laboratory has proven to be an even more difficult brief for researchers."

'via Blog this'

SignalGuru uses network of dashboard-mounted smartphones to help drivers avoid red traffic lights

SignalGuru uses network of dashboard-mounted smartphones to help drivers avoid red traffic lights: "The continuing increase in gasoline prices around the world over the past decade has also seen an increase in the practice of hypermiling - the act of driving using techniques that maximize fuel economy."

'via Blog this'

Sony reveals more details on PS Vita

Sony reveals more details on PS Vita: One of the two PS Vita versions offers 3G connectivity and the device will be sold through cell-phone provider AT&T exclusively in the US - but no word on AT&T data plans and pricing yet. Vita cannot be used as a cell phone and the VoIP support is unclear. Sony also says the console will not be region specific.

Scientists create 'living laser'

Scientists create 'living laser': While laser beam-shooting plants or animals might seem like something straight out of Star Trek, two researchers from the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital recently wondered whether such organisms could theoretically exist.

ForceShoes enable extremely precise tracking of how their wearer walks

ForceShoes enable extremely precise tracking of how their wearer walks: There may not be many people interested in the precise measurement of all the forces and movements that are at play as someone walks, but for those few, a new tool has been developed to help them carry out their research - ForceShoes.

'Thermally activated cooling system' puts waste heat to use

'Thermally activated cooling system' puts waste heat to use: Automobiles, appliances, power plants, factories and electrical utilities all waste one thing: heat. More specifically, they produce heat as a by-product of their normal operations, but that heat is just dispersed into the air instead of being put to use.

'Cambridge crude' could let EVs refuel like gas-powered vehicles

'Cambridge crude' could let EVs refuel like gas-powered vehicles: With consumers used to the convenience of refueling their vehicle at the gas station in a few minutes, one of the biggest disadvantages of electric vehicles is the time it takes to recharge their batteries.

Porsche completely redesigns the 911 Carrera

Porsche completely redesigns the 911 Carrera: The iconic, brand-defining Porsche 911 Carrera has once again been redesigned, and the latest incarnation will be seen for the first time at the Frankfurt Motor Show. It's lighter, more economical, more powerful, cleaner and orders are being taken from September 1

In-shoe device harvests energy created by walking

In-shoe device harvests energy created by walking: Although you may not be using a Get Smart-style shoe phone anytime soon, it is possible that your mobile phone may end up receiving its power from your shoes. University of Wisconsin-Madison engineering researchers Tom Krupenkin and J. Ashley Taylor have developed an in-shoe system that harvests the energy generated by walking.

Sony rolls out new NEX-VG20 interchangeable lens camcorder

Sony rolls out new NEX-VG20 interchangeable lens camcorder: Sony has taken the wraps off the NEX-VG20, a consumer HD interchangeable lens camcorder that follows the world's first consumer-oriented HD camcorder with an interchangeable lens system, the NEX-VG10.

Solid-state capacitor said to combine best qualities of batteries and capacitors

Solid-state capacitor said to combine best qualities of batteries and capacitors: Capacitors are able to charge and discharge more quickly than batteries, and can do so hundreds of thousands of times. Batteries, on the other hand, are able to store more energy than capacitors.

International team discovers planet made of diamond

International team discovers planet made of diamond: A girl's best friend may have just gotten a whole lot bigger with the news that an international research team has discovered a small planet they think may be made of diamond.

Segway MotoCzysz wins the IOM electric motorcycle race at 99.513 mph average speed

Segway MotoCzysz wins the IOM electric motorcycle race at 99.513 mph average speed: The MotoCzysz was clearly the fastest electric bike of the week, with last year's winner Mark Miller finishing second to his team-mate Michael Rutter, giving the American brand a 1-2 result. To cap things off, the MotoCzysz was also the fastest through the speed traps, with a top speed of 149.5mph.

Air bubbles used to contain oil spills

Air bubbles used to contain oil spills: Although it may have missed the entry deadline for the Wendy Schmidt Oil Cleanup X-CHALLENGE, a new technology for containing oil spills at sea was recently unveiled. Developed by Norwegian research organization SINTEF, the system uses a curtain of air bubbles to contain spilled oil for easier removal, or to form a barrier around protected areas.

New study highlights mobile device dangers for pedestrians

New study highlights mobile device dangers for pedestrians: This year, according to the United States' Governors Highway Safety Association, pedestrian deaths in the U.S. rose for the first time in four years.

Electrolux Design Lab Finalists opened up to people's vote

Electrolux Design Lab Finalists opened up to people's vote: The grand final of this year's Electrolux Design Lab 2011 competition is fast approaching. The field has been reduced to the last eight solutions for compact living and video presentations of the concept designs produced.

Experimental antenna-clothing outperforms regular antennas

Experimental antenna-clothing outperforms regular antennas: In the recent past, we've seen outfits that incorporate bio-sensors and batteries, and even a bikini with integrated solar cells.

Eyez video camera sunglasses shoot 720p

Eyez video camera sunglasses shoot 720p: "ZionEyez are a Seattle based company bringing to market a Ray-Ban-like pair of sunglasses equipped with a micro video camera that delivers first person video recording in 720p."

'via Blog this'

New system created for recycling composite boats

New system created for recycling composite boats: "We've all heard about old metal car bodies being melted down for recycling, but what happens to the composite hulls and superstructures of past-their-prime recreational boats?"

'via Blog this'

World’s first 3D printed bikini heads for the beach

World’s first 3D printed bikini heads for the beach: "The result of a collaboration between Continuum Fashion and 3D printing experts Shapeways, the N12 is billed as the "the first completely 3D-printed, ready-to-wear, item of clothing.""

'via Blog this'

Color-changing, heat-sensitive bandage indicates infection

Color-changing, heat-sensitive bandage indicates infection: "Australian researchers have developed a fiber that changes color in response to temperature with the aim of creating a smart bandage that can indicate the state of underlying wounds and warn of infection."

'via Blog this'

Self-taught metallurgist creates lighter, stronger steel in a flash

Self-taught metallurgist creates lighter, stronger steel in a flash: "Having been around for a few centuries, steel is what is known as a "mature technology" and the basic process of heat-treating has remained largely unchanged in the modern age."

'via Blog this'

Scarpar's high speed, all-terrain powerboard set to launch within months

Scarpar's high speed, all-terrain powerboard set to launch within months: Two years ago, we had a look at the Scarpar - a twin-tracked, high speed all terrain powerboard that seemed like a promising power toy.

Conductive nanocoatings for textiles could lead to thin, flexible electronics

Conductive nanocoatings for textiles could lead to thin, flexible electronics: Not long ago, we reported on a prototype thin, flexible smartphone known as the Paperphone. While it isn't actually made out of paper, the success of a research project at North Carolina State University indicates that phones in the future could be. Scientists there have been able to deposit conductive nanocoatings onto textiles, meaning that items such as pieces of paper or clothing could ultimately be used as electronic devices.

EDWARD - a diwheel student-built vehicle that really works

EDWARD - a diwheel student-built vehicle that really works: Designed and built by a team of students from Australia's University of Adelaide, EDWARD is a futuristic, purely electric dicycle - also known as a diwheel. Although it looks like transportation from the realm of science fiction, the vehicle is fully operational and can be controlled with surprising precision.

Australian built Hoverbike prepares for takeoff

Australian built Hoverbike prepares for takeoff: Adventurous motorcyclists might be familiar with the thrill of getting airborne at the top of a rise, but the Hoverbike is set to take catching some air to a whole new level. With a 1170 cc 4-stroke engine delivering 80 kW driving two ducted propellers, the inventor of the Hoverbike, Chris Malloy, says with its high thrust to weight ratio, the Hoverbike should be able to reach an estimated height of more than 10,000 feet and reach an indicated airspeed of 150 knots (278 km/h or 173 mph).

Mercedes-Benz SLK Roadster gets a diesel engine (and returns 56.5 mpg)

Mercedes-Benz SLK Roadster gets a diesel engine (and returns 56.5 mpg): It's a sign of the times - after 15 years of production of its retractable hardtop (vario-roof) convertible SLK series, Mercedes has given the compact roadster a diesel engine.

MIT microparticle-making technique opens up biomedical possibilities

MIT microparticle-making technique opens up biomedical possibilities: Whether you want to deliver medication to specific cells or create scaffolds for building artificial tissues, currently one of the best media for doing so are polymer microparticles filled with drugs or cells.

Lockheed Martin's Samarai monocopter - you won't believe how this thing flies

Lockheed Martin's Samarai monocopter - you won't believe how this thing flies: If you've ever watched a maple seed spiraling down from a branch, you may have marveled at how it looked like a tiny one-rotor-bladed helicopter. If you did, well, you weren't the only one.

Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa sets world auction record - US$16.4 million

Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa sets world auction record - US$16.4 million: The world record for a car sold at auction was smashed on Sunday when the Ferrari Testa Rossa prototype sold for US$16.4 million.

Tacit: Wrist-mounted sonar for the visually impaired

Tacit: Wrist-mounted sonar for the visually impaired: We've seen a number of devices - such as the UltraCane and EYE 21 system - that combine sonar and haptic or audio feedback to let the visually impaired "see" their surroundings through the senses of touch or hearing.

Sony to release 3D, high-def digital recording binoculars

Sony to release 3D, high-def digital recording binoculars: Over the years Sony has shown its ability as a genuine innovator in the digital imaging space - in the early days of Gizmag the (then) bleeding-edge, 5-megapixel Sony F707 digital camera was a treasured part of our kit - and its latest venture looks like it could be holding that line.

Boeing demonstrates swarm technology

Boeing demonstrates swarm technology: Individually, insects have proven a deep well of inspiration for robotics engineers looking to mimic designs refined over millions of years of evolution. Now Boeing has demonstrated swarm technology for reconnaissance missions using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that is similar to the way insects communicate and work together as an intelligent group.

Human-powered Gamera helicopter hovers its way into the record books

Human-powered Gamera helicopter hovers its way into the record books: A biology student has just hovered her way into the record books in a four-rotor, human-powered helicopter named after a giant flying turtle from Japanese kaiju movies. Gamera was built to try and claim the American Helicopter Society's Sikorsky Prize, that was set up in 1980 and has yet to be claimed.

New device harvests submerged golf balls from shore

New device harvests submerged golf balls from shore: When most golfers hit a ball into the middle of a water trap, they probably just assume that the ball is destined to remain underwater for all eternity.

Hundred Watt Hybrid sets off on Eco Tour across America

Hundred Watt Hybrid sets off on Eco Tour across America: To the continued annoyance of his father Pierce, twelve-year old Nash Hoover was forever leaving his bedroom light on when he wasn't in the house.

Pentax O-GPS1 unit tracks both Heaven and Earth

Pentax O-GPS1 unit tracks both Heaven and Earth: A new GPS module designed for use with the latest digital SLR cameras from Pentax could help photographers who like to capture shots of the heavens avoid annoying star trails on long exposure shots.

Metallic material can switch back and forth between hard and soft states

Metallic material can switch back and forth between hard and soft states: We may not yet have the liquid metal depicted in the Terminator movies, but scientists have now developed something that's vaguely along the same lines. German materials scientist Dr. Jörg Weißmüller and Chinese research scientist Hai-Jun Jin have created a metallic material that can change back and forth between being strong but brittle and soft but malleable, via electrical signals.

Homebuilt $70,000 single-person spacecraft tested

Homebuilt $70,000 single-person spacecraft tested: Sending a man to outer space in a homebuilt spacecraft worth US$70,000 may seem like a crazy idea to most of us, but not for a Danish group of enthusiasts who call themselves Copenhagen Suborbitals

CERN traps antimatter atoms for 1,000 seconds

CERN traps antimatter atoms for 1,000 seconds: Researchers involved in the ALPHA experiment at Switzerland's CERN complex announced yesterday (June 5) that they have succeeded in using the facility's antiproton decelerator to trap antimatter atoms for 1,000 seconds - or just over 16 minutes.

Researchers halve machines' fuel consumption, by turning them into hybrids

Researchers halve machines' fuel consumption, by turning them into hybrids: Many hybrid cars feature regenerative braking - they harness the energy generated when they brake, and store it in the battery for later use. This helps maximize the amount of time that the car can run on one charge.

Detecting and controlling seizures with brain implants

Detecting and controlling seizures with brain implants: In the future, people who are prone to seizures may get an array of electrodes implanted in their brains. These electrodes would be capable of detecting the onset of a seizure, and then releasing medication to prevent it from happening. While it might sound far-fetched, scientists at the University of Pittsburgh have already demonstrated the technology on lab rats.

Microsoft previews “touch-optimized” Windows 8 operating system

Microsoft previews “touch-optimized” Windows 8 operating system: With Apple bringing a few user interface elements found in its iOS mobile operating system to its upcoming OS X Lion desktop operating system, Microsoft is taking a similar tack for its Windows 8 OS.

The go anywhere Aqua hybrid hovercraft concept

The go anywhere Aqua hybrid hovercraft concept: This futuristic, zero emissions hovercraft concept won't be gracing our wilderness zones any time soon but it definitely merits a mention. Dubbed the "Aqua Volkswagen," the concept was created by Zhang Yuhan, a 21 year old graduate in Industrial Design at Xihua University, China.

Ford produces the smallest motor in its history - three cylinder 1.0-Liter EcoBoost

Ford produces the smallest motor in its history - three cylinder 1.0-Liter EcoBoost: It's a sign of the times that Ford is gearing up to launch the smallest capacity engine, with less cylinders than any it has previously produced. The new 1.0-liter EcoBoost will be launched globally in all small Ford cars, and in addition to recognized technologies employed by Ford in its EcoBoost engines,

Google to acquire Motorola Mobility for US$12.5 billion

Google to acquire Motorola Mobility for US$12.5 billion: Google has announced today that it is going to purchase Motorola Mobility for a price of US$40 per share, which adds up to a total amount of US$12.5 billion. Taking Google's patent wars into account, Motorola's portfolio of 17,000 patents could have been an important factor behind the deal. According to a blog post by Google's CEO Larry Page, Motorola will be run as a separate business, while Android will remain an open platform.

New aquarium designed to put jellyfish on your desk

New aquarium designed to put jellyfish on your desk: Jellyfish are definitely fascinating creatures, that are almost hypnotizing to watch ... you could say, they're the lava lamps of the animal kingdom. Unfortunately for aquarists, however, they also can't be kept in a regular aquarium, as they'll get sucked into the water filtration intakes.

OPINION: Distracted driving - the insanity of public roads

OPINION: Distracted driving - the insanity of public roads: The distracted driving epidemic seems to know no bounds. With global road deaths set to exceed 1.5 million human beings in 2011, almost every country in the world continues to accept the mayhem on the roads as the cost of doing business.

Schluckspecht EV travels a world record 1,000 miles+ on a single charge

Schluckspecht EV travels a world record 1,000 miles+ on a single charge: The "Schluckspecht E" electric vehicle built by a team at the University of Applied Sciences in Offenberg, Germany has broken the world record for the longest distance traveled on a single charge.

New fixed brake caliper saves 1.5 kilos per wheel

New fixed brake caliper saves 1.5 kilos per wheel: Continental is best known for its tires, but its latest product could help to significantly improve the handling of the family sedan when it is shown for the first time at Frankfurt Motor Show next month. It's a new fixed-type brake caliper for passenger cars, and in comparison to the fist-caliper brakes widely used at present, the new design saves around 1.5 kg per wheel - a large lump of unsprung weight that makes the suspension's job much harder than it need be.

Cool stuff to do with your Kindle

Cool stuff to do with your Kindle: "Reading books from Amazon is what most people use the Kindle for, what many people don’t know is all the other really cool things that you can use your Kindle for."

Do you need a Kindle

Do you need a Kindle: "There has been much talk in the news lately about e readers. If you don’t have one you have probably been thinking about if you need one.If you’re in this group and trying to decide which reader to get, the Kindle is the e reader that you want."

The Phantom v1610 camera shoots videos at 1,000,000 fps

The Phantom v1610 camera shoots videos at 1,000,000 fps: "Vision Research has revealed the latest addition to its line of digital high-speed cameras, in the form of the Phantom v1610. It shoots videos at an impressive speed of 16,000 fps, at a resolution of 1280 x 800."

Proposed 'fluid flow cloak' might greatly reduce ships' hydrodynamic drag

Proposed 'fluid flow cloak' might greatly reduce ships' hydrodynamic drag: "North Carolina's Duke University has been grabbing some headlines over the past few years, due to research carried out there involving the use of metamaterials for creating functioning invisibility cloaks."

Air Swimmers give a new meaning to 'flying fish'

Air Swimmers give a new meaning to 'flying fish': "Should someone tell you 'Last night, I saw a great white shark swimming through my living room,' don't assume that they're crazy. It could be that what they saw was an Air Swimmer."

M55 announces availability of (very expensive) Terminus hybrid bike

M55 announces availability of (very expensive) Terminus hybrid bike: "Late last year, we brought news of the development of a very exclusive hand-built, luxury human-electric bike from Hungary dubbed the Beast."

Skin-mounted electronics that can be applied and worn like a temporary tattoo

Skin-mounted electronics that can be applied and worn like a temporary tattoo: "Wearable electronics generally take the form of clothing embedded with electronics or miniature electronic devices that can be worn close to the body for purposes such as medical monitoring and communications."

Lotus Evora S joins Italian Carabinieri

Lotus Evora S joins Italian Carabinieri: "There have been a number of contenders for the title of world's coolest police car featured on gizmag over the years, among them a number of Lotus models. This time the British marque is venturing away from home soil and into the heart of sportscar land where it will join the Italian Carabinieri."

Genetically-engineered spider silk could be used in gene therapy

Genetically-engineered spider silk could be used in gene therapy: "Spider silk is pretty amazing stuff. Pound for pound, it has a tensile strength close to that of steel while being one-fifth as dense, it's tougher than Kevlar, and it can stretch to almost one-and-a-half times its length without breaking. As if that wasn't enough, it now appears that a genetically engineered version of the substance could be used for delivering genes into human cells."

Braincar records and replays its travels

Braincar records and replays its travels: "Have you ever questioned what it would be like if a car 'could experience with a kind of consciousness its own passage through spacetime'? Well, Rotterdam artist Olaf Mooij has. It drove him to create 'braincar,' which is ... well, it's a car with a brain on the back. By day, the car captures stills and videos of its travels down the roads"

China's other aircraft carrier is a hotel

China's other aircraft carrier is a hotel: "After the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 90's three of its most powerful aircraft carriers sat rotting in a Kiev dock. With disputes over ownership and no money or crew to maintain them, the ships were eventually stripped of their weapons systems and engines by the Ukraine and one was sold to a Hong Kong based company"

Night Rod Special - cream of the 2012 Harley-Davidsons

Night Rod Special - cream of the 2012 Harley-Davidsons: "Harley-Davidson is an American success story. The company has been manufacturing its iconic machines since 1903 but its values were forged by association with the post-war 'rebel' motorcycle clubs and paradoxically with the highway patrol police they were so often in conflict with."

Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle-2 crashes on second test flight

Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle-2 crashes on second test flight: "On Thursday, DARPA's unmanned Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle-2 (HTV-2) was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California aboard an Air Force Minotaur IV rocket, which inserted the aircraft into the desired trajectory."

The world's first Jumbo Hostel guarantees a turbulence-free night's sleep

The world's first Jumbo Hostel guarantees a turbulence-free night's sleep: "A Boeing 747 jumbo jet has been designed to offer travelers a good night's sleep without the turbulence."

'Personal Brewery' produces beer in seven days

'Personal Brewery' produces beer in seven days: "Home beer-brewing is sort of like writing a novel - although you might like the idea of having done it, the thought of all the work involved in doing it can be off-putting."

New system could make censorship of Internet sites virtually impossible

New system could make censorship of Internet sites virtually impossible: "Chinese citizens could once again enjoy LOL Cats on YouTube - as well as content critical of the communist government - if a new system developed by researchers at the University of Michigan (U-M) and the University of Waterloo (UW) in Canada were implemented."

The disruptor gets disrupted: how Apple is beating Nintendo at its own game

The disruptor gets disrupted: how Apple is beating Nintendo at its own game: "In an industry obsessed with polygon counts and frame rates, Nintendo's Wii console and DS handheld were the proverbial knives at a gunfight. They were grossly underpowered compared to the competition, meaning Nintendo could sell them at a profit from day one."

IOGEAR Sharing Station provides access to USB devices over WiFi

IOGEAR Sharing Station provides access to USB devices over WiFi: "WiFi and USB have both become inexpensive and ubiquitous connectivity solutions, so the idea of exploiting them both at the same time a single device makes sense. IOGEAR's latest take on the theme is its Wireless 4-Port USB Sharing Station, which allows up to four USB peripherals (external storage, camera, printer, etc.) to be shared over a WiFi network and in the process provides a recipe for an uncluttered desktop environment."

NuVinci Harmony brings automatic shifting to e-bikes

NuVinci Harmony brings automatic shifting to e-bikes: "Fallbrook Technologies released the NuVinci Continuously Variable Planetary (CVP) N170 transmission for bicycles in 2007. The rear hub-based system does away with distinct, defined gears, it's sealed against dirt and other contaminants (unlike a derailleur), and it allows riders to change drive transmission ratios even when standing still."

Bluelounge MiniDock iPhone/iPod wall charger doubles as a display-docking station

Bluelounge MiniDock iPhone/iPod wall charger doubles as a display-docking station: "Charging an iPhone or iPod when out and about can often leave users taking advantage of any spare power outlet at hand. For those using the standard adapter and cable that came with said devices, this can sometimes mean leaving the units laying on the ground at the mercy of any big booted passersby."

Moto-Grip is designed to let motorcycle passengers hang on better

Moto-Grip is designed to let motorcycle passengers hang on better: "If you've ever been the extra passenger on a racing or sport-touring motorcycle, then you'll know that it can be rather awkward. You typically sit higher than the rider, so you have to lean forward and down to grab them around the torso."

Tata to build the world's cheapest house - 20 square metres for US$715

Tata to build the world's cheapest house - 20 square metres for US$715: "There is absolutely no doubt that the human condition thrives on challenge. Fresh from creating the world's cheapest car, the US$2500 Tata Nano, Tata Corporation is now intending to create the world's cheapest house."

Orphiro electric motorcycle set for September launch

Orphiro electric motorcycle set for September launch: "While I'm a big supporter of the push for the electrification of the motorcycle, I'm not really a big fan of the sports bike or the street bike or off-road bikes - my tastes lean towards custom cruisers like the electric chopper from Orange County Choppers."

Twice the height of the Empire State - EnviroMission plans massive solar tower for Arizona

Twice the height of the Empire State - EnviroMission plans massive solar tower for Arizona: "An ambitious solar energy project on a massive scale is about to get underway in the Arizona desert. EnviroMission is undergoing land acquisition and site-specific engineering to build its first full-scale solar tower - and when we say full-scale, we mean it! The mammoth 800-plus meter (2625 ft) tall tower will instantly become one of the world's tallest buildings."

Shelby Supercar Tuatara aims for Bugatti Veyron 268 mph speed record for production cars

Shelby Supercar Tuatara aims for Bugatti Veyron 268 mph speed record for production cars: "The aluminum and carbon fiber SSC Tuatara was styled by talented American designer Jason Castriota, and will run a mid-rear mounted, seven-litre, twin-turbo, Quad camshaft V8 producing 1,350 bhp."

BlueDrone Android-controlled RC car

BlueDrone Android-controlled RC car: "The Parrot AR.Drone quadricopter was one of the first smartphone-controlled RC toys ... and it won't be the last. This example called BlueDrone (which isn't from Parrot) is an RC car in the form of Nissan GT-R 1:20 scale model, controlled by an Android-based device via Bluetooth connectivity."

Water-soluble bags let dog waste get flushed

Water-soluble bags let dog waste get flushed: "Dog poop bags have become so commonly used, it's hard to believe there was ever a time that dog-walkers typically let their pooches go Number 2 in parks or on other peoples' lawns, with no intentions of cleaning it up. While it's definitely a good thing that such is no longer the case (for the most part, at least), there's still the small matter of what happens to the bagged excrement once it's thrown away."

Guitar and computer join forces to teach you how to play

Guitar and computer join forces to teach you how to play: "During those important early stages of learning to play guitar, when you need to grab every possible opportunity to practice, digital teaching aids like iPerform3D and the upcoming Rocksmith can be on hand whenever the mood grabs you."

Paintwork completed on first passenger-carrying 787 Dreamliner

Paintwork completed on first passenger-carrying 787 Dreamliner: "The 787 Dreamliner is edging closer to delivery. Sporting the special livery of launch customer ANA , Boeing rolled the first aircraft destined for commercial service out of its paint hangar in Everett, Washington, on Saturday. Following delays of around two years, the mid-size airliner is expected to make its first passenger carrying flight - a special commemorative charter from Tokyo to Hong Kong - about a month after delivery to ANA in September."

Motion capture system makes actors the camera instead of putting them in front of it

Motion capture system makes actors the camera instead of putting them in front of it: "Computer-generated imagery (CGI) has become such a staple of modern movie-making that most people know what actors are doing when prancing around in front of green screens wearing skin-tight leotards with reflective balls affixed at various locations over their bodies - motion capture."

RotoSub self-silencing fans promise a quieter way to keep electronic components cool

RotoSub self-silencing fans promise a quieter way to keep electronic components cool: "Silicon chips shuffling all those electrons around inside modern PCs, gaming consoles and home theater systems generate a lot of heat that needs to be dissipated to stop the machines going into meltdown and ruining your day."

Superlight folding canoe fits in a backpack

Superlight folding canoe fits in a backpack: "First of all ... yes, you're right, there are already folding canoes. Those boats don't necessarily pack up all that small, though, and typically weigh in the neighborhood of at least 18 kilograms (40 lbs). They're portable, but you'd certainly notice that you were carrying one. Israeli designer Ori Levin, however, has created a one-of-a-kind folding canoe called the Adhoc, that tips (no pun intended) the scales at just 4.1 kilograms, or 9 pounds."

Juno sets off on 1,740 million mile journey to unlock Jupiter’s secrets

Juno sets off on 1,740 million mile journey to unlock Jupiter’s secrets: "Last Friday, NASA's Juno spacecraft launched aboard an Atlas V-551 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida beginning its five-year, 1,740 million mile (2,800 million km) journey to our solar system's largest planet, Jupiter."

Quadshot RC aircraft combines quadricopter hovering with airplane flight

Quadshot RC aircraft combines quadricopter hovering with airplane flight: "Eurocopter's X3 hybrid helicopter demonstrator combined the full hover flight capabilities of a helicopter with the fast cruise speeds of a turboprop-powered aircraft by basically installing two propellers on short-span fixed wings to supplement the helicopter's five-blade main rotor system."

Lockheed Martin’s SMSS autonomous vehicle headed for Afghanistan

Lockheed Martin’s SMSS autonomous vehicle headed for Afghanistan: "As a result of winning the Project Workhorse Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) competition sponsored by the U.S. Army, four Lockheed Martin Squad Mission Support System (SMSS) vehicles will be sent to Afghanistan as part of a three-month Military Utility Assessment (MUA)."

Manipulating light at will - Duke metamaterials strike again

Manipulating light at will - Duke metamaterials strike again: "Duke University is on a roll, showing off yet another potentially game-changing property of the exotic man-made substances known as metamaterials. This time the property could have deep consequences for the transmission of information via light. Maybe the most important potential use of all."

BodyGuard stun-device to help mere mortal crime fighters

BodyGuard stun-device to help mere mortal crime fighters: "Crime fighters may soon be adding another tool to their arsenal - one that is literally designed to strike fear into the hearts of evildoers. With an integrated taser, video camera and protective forearm armor, the BodyGuard is a stun device that wouldn't be out of place on the forearm of a certain caped crusader in Gotham City."

Hasbro's MY3D viewer for iPhone and iPod Touch set for release

Hasbro's MY3D viewer for iPhone and iPod Touch set for release: "Hasbro is looking to tap into the 3D craze by integrating a classic approach to 3D viewing with iOS devices. Looking like a 21st Century View-Master, the MY3D 360° Viewer attaches to iPhone and iPod Touch and delivers a 3D experience using dedicated apps."

Audi increases engine power six-fold for A1 ClubSport Quattro

Audi increases engine power six-fold for A1 ClubSport Quattro: "The premium Audi A1 sub-compact has won a raft of awards since its launch late last year, scoring five stars in the Euro NCAP crash test and amazed journalists with its frugality of 55.4 mpg and CO2 emissions of just 119 g/km in its most humble 1.2 liter 86 PS TFSI petrol engine version."

US$145,000 Elektra One and SunAirport hangar take recreational flying off-the-grid

US$145,000 Elektra One and SunAirport hangar take recreational flying off-the-grid: "PC-Aero's single-seat Elektra One electric Ultralight is one of the most efficient transportation devices ever conceived. It's lightweight composite construction and highly efficient aerodynamics enable it to be powered by a modest 13.5 kW electric engine. The whisper-quiet Elektra One can fly for three hours, cruise at 160 km/h and has a range of 500 kilometers."

Software nudges frozen computers out of infinite loops

Software nudges frozen computers out of infinite loops: "There are few things as maddening as being in the middle of a task on a computer, and having the software freeze up on you. This can be particularly enraging if you haven't backed up your work recently, and you know that the only way of 'thawing out' the program will be to execute a force quit - your work will be lost, all because the (insert word of your choice here) computer didn't know what to do next."

New facial recognition software designed for study of wild apes

New facial recognition software designed for study of wild apes: "When studying wild animals such as gorillas and chimpanzees, it's not uncommon to use photo or video traps - unmanned cameras that are triggered to capture images when creatures pass in front of them. Scientists can then retrieve the cameras and review the footage, to get an estimate of the numbers of a certain species within a given area, and to see what those animals have been up to"

Bio-synthetic material could replace soft tissue

Bio-synthetic material could replace soft tissue: "Soldiers whose faces have been marred by explosions could be among the recipients of a new biomedical material designed to permanently replace soft tissue. Developed at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, PEG-HA is a composite consisting of synthetic and biological materials. Lab tests have indicated that it doesn't break down like pure biologicals, or get rejected like some synthetics."

Long Distance Tele-Operation system for remote control of unmanned ground vehicles

Long Distance Tele-Operation system for remote control of unmanned ground vehicles: "The U.S. military is currently able to operate unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in far away countries from the U.S., while ground robotic systems such as the TALON can be remotely operated at distances of up to 1,000 m (3,280 ft). Now U.S. Army engineers have provided unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) with the long distance tele-operation capabilities of a UAS to allow them to be controlled from anywhere in the world and keep soldiers even further out of harm's way."

New computer technologies shown to expose personal information

New computer technologies shown to expose personal information: "Facial recognition software, social networking and cloud computing ... they're all technological advances that alone have thrown up questions regarding privacy. According to a recent Carnegie Mellon University study, however, the three technologies can be combined to learn peoples' identities and other personal information about them, starting with just a photograph of their face."

Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Tower to claim world’s tallest building title

Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Tower to claim world’s tallest building title: "Chicago-based firm Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill (AS+GG) has officially been announced as the design architects for the Kingdom Tower that is to be built in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Initially planned to stand one mile (1.6 km) high and be called the Mile-High Tower, the building was scaled down after soil testing in the area in 2008 cast doubt over whether the location could support a building of that height. Now the building will stand over 0.62 miles (one kilometer) tall, which will still allow it to overshadow the 2,717 ft. (828 m) Burj Khalifa to claim the title of the world's tallest building."

The $500 million Italian designed floating resort

The $500 million Italian designed floating resort: "As envisioned by the Italian architectural firm Giancarlo Zema Design Group (GZDG), Amphibious 1000 is a US$500 million semi-submerged resort project planned for a protected marine area on the coast of Qatar."

Electromagnetic fish hook reduces accidental shark catches

Electromagnetic fish hook reduces accidental shark catches: "In fisheries all over the world, many fish are caught using a process known as pelagic longlining. This consists of fishing crews traveling out into the open ocean and deploying a series of baited hooks that are all attached to one horizontal main line, that can range from 20 to 40 miles (32 to 64 km) in length."

Nissan unveils system to provide household electricity from all-electric LEAF

Nissan unveils system to provide household electricity from all-electric LEAF: "Nissan has unveiled a new power supply system that allows electricity stored in the lithium-ion batteries of the all-electric Nissan LEAF to be supplied to a house. With the LEAF's batteries able to store up to 24 kWh of electricity, Nissan says the system could supply the average Japanese household with electricity for about two days."

New heat-regulating building material could cut building heating and cooling costs

New heat-regulating building material could cut building heating and cooling costs: "Researchers at the Ningpo, China campus of the University of Nottingham (UNNC) have created a new heat-regulating material that could be used to cut the heating and cooling costs of buildings"

Mozilla launches Boot to Gecko web-based mobile OS project

Mozilla launches Boot to Gecko web-based mobile OS project: "The way we spend our time online is changing fast. While the browser still reigns supreme, more and more people are getting their online fix using apps. Mozilla, the folks behind the popular Firefox browser, has now announced the start of a new project to develop an app-centric, completely open, web-based phone and tablet operating system called Boot to Gecko (B2G)."

MIT reports breakthrough in heat-based photovoltaics

MIT reports breakthrough in heat-based photovoltaics: "MIT researchers have reported a breakthrough in 'wavelength tuning' that promises to boost the efficiency of thermophotovoltaic (TPV) systems and in turn could lead to lighter, longer-lasting portable power sources."

Bioengineered spinal disc implants to combat back pain

Bioengineered spinal disc implants to combat back pain: "Researchers have created a biologically based spinal implant they say could someday provide relief for the millions of people suffering lower back and neck pain."

Graphene-based transparent touchscreens and solar panels a step closer

Graphene-based transparent touchscreens and solar panels a step closer: "Graphene promises to revolutionize electronics but we're still waiting for graphene-based technologies to hit the market. Rice University researchers have now created transparent, graphene-based electrodes that they say could be the 'killer app' that finally puts graphene into the commercial spotlight. The graphene-based electrodes could be used to replace the increasingly expensive indium tin oxide (ITO) in touch-screen displays, photovoltaic solar cells and LED lighting."

World's first 'printed' aircraft is flown

World's first 'printed' aircraft is flown: "One of the biggest selling features for 3D printers is the fact that you can just whip up a design using CAD software on your computer, then create a physical copy of it to try out - no special factory tooling required."

New X-ray camera to shoot 4.5 million frames per second

New X-ray camera to shoot 4.5 million frames per second: "In order to capture slow-motion footage in which a bullet can actually be seen traveling through the air, a camera has to film at a speed somewhere in the neighborhood of 5,000 frames per second."

Timesnap puts portable media on a wristwatch

Timesnap puts portable media on a wristwatch: "Despite some initial similarities, this is definitely not another iPod nano strap, such as the TikTok or LunaTik, but Chinavision's new Timesnap MP3/MP4 multimedia player wristwatch. Although not touchscreen-based, it offers a number of features including music, image, text and video file playback, along with an FM radio, at a reasonable price."

I think, therefore I move - 'brain cap' turns thought into motion

I think, therefore I move - 'brain cap' turns thought into motion: "Researchers at the University of Maryland (UMD) continue to advance the development of their 'brain cap' technology that allows users to turn their thoughts into motion."

World's strangest hotel to finally open - maybe

World's strangest hotel to finally open - maybe: "The Ryugyong Hotel in the center of North Korea's capital city Pyongyang, must count as one of the strangest building projects, not to say one of the ugliest, in the world. Construction began in 1987 and continued until it's abandonment in 1993 when the projected cost of required remedial rebuilding was simply too much for the impoverished city and state to bear. Now, twenty-four years after the first concrete block was laid, it's finally finished - kinda."

Eight young inventors give us a 2-minute elevator pitch

Eight young inventors give us a 2-minute elevator pitch: "The James Dyson Awards for young inventors are always a treasure trove of fresh ideas and up-and-coming innovators - so we caught up with 8 of the Australian finalists and got them each to deliver us a 2-minute 'elevator pitch' explaining their designs and the inspiration behind them."

The world's most and least expensive cities plus the most expensive extreme hardship postings

The world's most and least expensive cities plus the most expensive extreme hardship postings: "Luanda in Angola, Libreville in Gabon and N'Djamena in Chad are the most expensive extreme hardship locations in the world and thanks to the marketplace volatility which results from local inflation, political instability, currency fluctuations and natural disasters, Tokyo has consolidated its title as the most expensive city in the world in which to live."