Single-shot, thumb-operated Palm Pistol set for 2011 release

Single-shot, thumb-operated Palm Pistol set for 2011 release: "The use of firearms for self-defense is a divisive issue, with weapons, especially concealable ones, being easily misappropriated for wrong-doing. While we're reluctant to suggest adding more guns to the equation, the newly developed single-shot Palm Pistol does have some worthwhile qualities as a defensive weapon for non-aggressors."

Foremay announces solid state drive smaller than a quarter coin

Foremay announces solid state drive smaller than a quarter coin: "Californian SSD manufacturer Foremay has announced a new addition to its OC177 storage family. Despite being smaller than a U.S. quarter coin, the company's first disk-on-chip (DOC) solution will be available in capacities up to 64GB, supporting both standard IDE or SATA host interface, in addition to complying with ATA-7 specifications."

Nexus takes the click out of the computer mouse

Nexus takes the click out of the computer mouse: "The clicking sound we hear when we press a mouse button is part of the device's switching mechanism, that has also become a kind of audible comfort cushion for computer users"

Happy World Backup Day!

Happy World Backup Day!: "With so many of our pictures, videos and documents now stored in digital format, the prospect of precious data disappearing forever in the misstep of a HDD read/write head or infection from a nasty virus is even more catastrophic."

Head-worn device uses sonar to rapidly diagnose stroke

Head-worn device uses sonar to rapidly diagnose stroke: "A team of radiologists and retired US Navy sonar experts have used technology developed for submarines as the basis for a new device which offers quick detection, diagnosis and monitoring of stroke."

Your mobile phone is watching you ... closely

Your mobile phone is watching you ... closely: "While most of us know it is theoretically possible for our movements to be tracked by detecting which tower our mobile phone is connected too, it might come as a shock to see just how much of a digital footprint we leave as we go about our daily lives."

Fruit fibers used to create 'green' plastic for cars

Fruit fibers used to create 'green' plastic for cars: "A research team from Brazil has developed a new form of plant fiber-based plastic that is claimed to be stronger, lighter, and more eco-friendly than plastics currently in use. Team leader Alcides Leão says that some of the so-called nano-cellulose fibers can be almost as stiff as Kevlar, but that the plastic differs from many in widespread use because the source material – such as pineapple and banana – is completely renewable."

Samsung announces world's first mass produced transparent LCD panels

Samsung announces world's first mass produced transparent LCD panels: "When it comes to display technologies nothing says 'cool' like a transparent display. While we've seen a number of prototypes, such as TDK's flexible OLED display, pop up at trade shows in the last couple of years, Samsung has announced it has already started mass production of a 22-inch transparent LCD panel."

Amazon launches Cloud Drive and Cloud Player

Amazon launches Cloud Drive and Cloud Player: "Amazon has announced the U.S. launch of new cloud storage and media playback services that allow users to securely store and access files and music from any web-connected PC or Mac, or Android phone or tablet."

T-box concept to capture wind energy from trains

T-box concept to capture wind energy from trains: "As anyone living near railway tracks will tell you, speeding trains generate quite a bit of wind as they whoosh past. Industrial designers Qian Jiang and Alessandro Leonetti Luparini have come up with a device that's installed between the sleepers on a track, and as the train passes overhead, the wind drives a turbine to generate electricity."

Nano-brick packaging allows foods to last longer

Nano-brick packaging allows foods to last longer: "We've already heard about new types of packaging that use things such as sorbic acid and silver nanoparticles to keep food fresh for longer, but this week scientists from Texas A&M University announced the development of a 'nano-brick' film that utilizes yet another substance to achieve the same purpose. That substance is montmorillonite clay, which is one of the ingredients used to make bricks. The film is about 70 percent clay (with the rest of it made from various polymer materials) and when its structure is viewed through an electron microscope, it actually even looks like bricks and mortar."

Kansas City is first city chosen for Google's fiber-to-the-home rollout

Kansas City is first city chosen for Google's fiber-to-the-home rollout: "Last year Google announced plans to build and test ultra high-speed broadband networks in a small number of trial locations across the U.S. that will deliver Internet speeds of one gigabit per second (1 Gbps) via a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) service. After receiving submissions from nearly 1,100 cities, the Internet giant has now revealed it will build its first ultra high-speed network in Kansas City, Kansas"