Wednesday, May 14, 2014

drag2share: Motorola's smartphones can now alert your close contacts in an emergency

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/05/13/motorola-alert/

Motorola Moto G and Moto E

You'll usually want to call emergency services if you're in truly dire straits, but the odds are that your friends and family also want to know if you need help. How do you reach them quickly? If you pick up the Moto E or Moto G LTE, you'll have Motorola Alert at your disposal. The new app lets you trigger an emergency mode that sends regular alerts and location updates to important contacts. You can also tell people to meet up (at a shelter, for instance), and you can define your home or workplace to let people know that you're in a familiar area. Alert won't work on the Moto X or original Moto G until an update arrives in the near future, but you can still get a peek at it on Google Play if you're curious.

Motorola Alert

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Via: Phone Arena, Mobile Syrup

Source: Google Play

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drag2share: Nikon's latest high-speed mirrorless cameras come to the US

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/05/14/nikon-1-j4-and-s2-in-us/

Nikon 1 J4 in black

After a (thankfully brief) wait, Nikon's super-speedy J4 mirrorless camera is coming to the US -- and it's bringing along a low-cost counterpart, the S2. You should see the J4 arrive later this month for $650 with a standard 10-30mm zoom lens, or about $50 more than the outgoing J3. It'll also be available in an $850 kit with a more flexible 10-100mm lens, and a $1,050 bundle is on tap if you want both the 10-30mm glass and a long-range 30-110mm telephoto lens. As you'd expect, the hardware hasn't changed in the few weeks since Nikon first unveiled the J4. You're still getting the new 18.4-megapixel sensor and Expeed 4A image processor that, combined, let you pump out photos at a steady 20 frames per second with advanced autofocusing (171 contrast detection points and 105 phase detection points). You'll also enjoy relative luxuries such as a touchscreen and WiFi photo sharing.

Not surprisingly, the S2 makes quite a few sacrifices to cater to the budget-minded crowd. While it still includes the J4's all-important 20 fps shooting rate, you'll have to settle for a 14.2MP sensor with fewer autofocusing points (135 contrast, 73 phase); the touchscreen and built-in WiFi are gone, too. If you can live without those creature comforts, though, your wallet may thank you. The S2 ships in June for $450 with an 11-27.5mm lens, or $700 in a bundle that adds the 30-110mm telephoto.

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Source: Nikon

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drag2share: ENDLESS ELECTRICITY: They Figured Out A Way Of Turning America's Roads Into Gigantic Solar Panels

source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/businessinsider/~3/viljur6c6U4/solar-roadways-profile-2014-5

solar roadways

There are approximately 31,251 square miles of roads, parking lots, driveways, playgrounds, bike paths, and sidewalks in the lower 48 states. 

If Julie and Scott Brusaw have their way, they will all someday be replaced with solar panels.

For the better part of a decade, the Idaho couple have been working on prototyping an industrial-strength panel that could withstand the weight of even the largest trucks.

They now appear to have cracked the formula, developing a specially textured glass coating for the panels that can not only bear tremendous loads but can support standard tire traction. 

By their reckoning, at peak installation, their panel-ized roads could produce more than 3x the electricity currently consumed in the U.S.

The material could also be able to power electric vehicles, through a a "receiver" plate mounted beneath the EV and a "transmitter" plate is installed in the road.

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Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Article: Flying drone can '3D print' with foam, help carry away hazardous objects

Flying drones with 3D printers attached to their body: it was only a matter of time until the two technologies met. Such a thing now exists, although we're not quite sure it's earned its printing qualification yet. Developed by a team at the Imperial College London, the "3D printing Micro Aerial ...

http://www.engadget.com/2014/05/13/flying-3d-printer-mav/?ncid=rss_truncated

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Monday, May 12, 2014

drag2share: What you need to know about smart guns

source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/05/12/smart-gun-explainer/?utm_source=Feed_Classic_Full&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget&?ncid=rss_full

It's increasingly difficult to have a rational discussion about gun violence. Thankfully for us, we're not here to do that. We're here to explain what the concept of a smart gun is, beyond what you've seen in hit Sylvester Stallone film Judge Dredd. Lost amid the shouting and hand-wringing of American politics are a bevy of technologies that aim to skip the argument, instead aiming to decrease gun violence through advanced technology. Barring a dramatic shift in American culture or politics, however, it seems the smart gun concept may wither and die. So, what are smart guns?

WHAT IS IT?

The term "smart gun" is trademarked by the company Mossberg, though it's generally understood to refer to any firearm that is designed to allow only the owner to pull the trigger. How exactly a weapon accomplishes that doesn't matter, so long as some form of authentication is required.

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drag2share: Self-healing plastic bleeds when cut, and that's a good thing

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/05/11/self-healing-plastics/

Wouldn't it be great if everything was as good at healing itself as our own skin? That's the concept behind a new self-healing plastic that's been developed over at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Unlike ordinary plastics, this one contains a thin network of tubes, aping the human vascular system, containing two separate gels that react when they come into contact with each other. When the surface of the plastic is punctured, for instance if shot by a bullet, the two gels pour out, mixing to form a surface roughly 60 percent as strong as the original -- just like a blood clot would on our bodies.

Unfortunately for now, the system only works with holes smaller than eight millimeters, and since it took around three hours to harden, it can't yet be used to save a punctured aircraft while in flight. That said, the team is already working to improve matters, and plans to swap out the gels in favor of foams, which may cover larger areas and harden a lot faster. The Air Force, which funded the research, is hoping that we may eventually see self-healing spacecraft and other heavy equipment where it'd be too dangerous or difficult to send an engineer, like deep-sea drilling. The only downside is that the more vascularized the systems become, the weaker they get overall -- but then that's hardly been a big problem for our bones.

[Image credit: Nathan Bajandas]

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Via: New Scientist, Gizmodo Australia

Source: Science, University of Illinois

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drag2share: This remote-controlled robot can run faster than you (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/05/11/outrunner-kickstarter-rc-robot/

RC cars and helicopters are cool and all, but if you want a combo breaker in your collection, here's something different: a multi-legged robot that runs. At the moment, you can only get this remote-controlled sprinter called the OutRunner through Kickstarter, where its creators are trying to raise $150,000 to fund its production. It's available in two different versions that can run on various terrains, including grass, asphalt and dirt. The basic model called the OutRunner Core is a 1.5-foot tall, 3-pound machine that ships with six legs and can move up to 10mph with a battery that lasts up to an hour. Too slow? Well, there's also the OutRunner Performance, a slightly larger version (2-feet tall and 5 pounds) that ships with 12 legs, an HD camera, and can run up to 20mph for up to two hours. Also, the OutRunner Performance can be controlled with an app as well as with its remote control, and can live stream video and sensor data to a smartphone. Unfortunately for those whose expensive toy funds have run dry, neither of these come cheap -- you'd have to pledge at least $249 to get a DIY kit of the basic model.

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Via: Gizmag

Source: Kickstarter

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drag2share: We take flight with Parrot's new Oculus-friendly Bebop drone

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/05/11/parrot-bebop/

Parrot still hasn't released that MiniDrone we saw at CES, but its already got something new up it's sleeve: BeBop. Unveiled Monday, the indoor/outdoor quadricopter has a new accessory for extended-range flights, and gives fliers the ability to control its camera using a virtual reality headset. Bebop isn't expected to hit store shelves until later this year, but Parrot let us take one of its few prototypes out last week for a maiden voyage in San Francisco.

The first thing you'll notice is that Bebop looks a little different than other consumer drones. When you're flying in the living room, styrofoam bumpers attach to each side of the aircraft to prevent you from damaging the drone running into walls or ceilings (which, lets face it, we're all prone to do). However, when you're out later at the park the bumpers can come off for unfettered flight. Under the hood, the drone has a combination of sensors (a 3-axis accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer if you're interested) that make for an ultra-smooth experience, even in windy conditions. That means if you're trying to fly outside you don't have to worry about a strong breeze accidentally throwing Bebop onto your neighbor's roof. It was one of the most stable drone flights we've ever seen in action, even when it was forced to stand up to San Francisco's winds and an untrained pilot simultaneously.

Regardless of where you're flying, you won't be in the air long. Flight time is just 12 minutes on a full battery charge.Much like Parrot's previous drones, you control that flight using your iOS or Android device and Parrot's controller app, FreeFlight. The application is getting an upgrade to version 3.0, that brings a streamlined experience, but still sports many of the same features you'll find in the older version such as the ability to share videos or program flight paths.

Your iPhone connects to the drone using Wi-Fi, which means you can have up to 300 meters between the two at any given time. If you want to go a little further (and let's be honest, who doesn't?), Parrot has a new accessory called Skycontroller to make your dreams come true. It's essentially a large brightly colored dock for your phone or tablet that gives you physical controls on each side and, more importantly, a giant antenna on top that extends your Wi-Fi range to a whopping 2 kilometers.

The camera is one of the things that make's Parrot's previous drones special, and Bebop is no different. The front of the drone has a 1080p/14-megapixel fisheye lens capable of capturing 180-degree view of the world below. The camera is mounted in a special shock-resistant way that makes video as smooth as possible. 8GB of built-in flash memory stores MP4 and JPG evidence of your high-flying adventure, and controls on your device's screen allow you to turn the camera how you choose.

If you have a virtual reality headset like Oculus Rift laying around, it can be connected to the Skycontroller and pilot the drone's camera as well. We were able to demo it a bit with the prototype, and while it doesn't quite feel like you're flying in the clouds, the experience is pretty interesting. Moving your head around with Oculus controls the drone's camera, but not its movement. Using a VR headset means you'll need to practice up with the Skycontroller beforehand, since you won't be able to see it with something covering your eyes. Overall, it's an awesome trick that's bound to impress your friends if you happen to own both devices, but isn't an experience we could see ourselves wanting very often.

If you're anxious to get your hands on Bebop, you have a little bit of a wait ahead of you. Parrot plans to release the drone in the fourth quarter of this year packaged with and without the Skycontroller. However, the company isn't quite ready to announce an exact date or pricing. A representative told us to expect an MSRP "on par with other consumer drones." Our guess is something roughly in the $300-$400 range.

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drag2share: LG admits that one size doesn't fit all with three new G Pad tablets

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/05/11/lg-g-pad-7-8-10.1/

LG hasn't quite pulled a Samsung with its new G Pad tablet family, but it's coming close by offering the slate in three different sizes: 7-, 8-, and 10.1-inch. We liked the original 8.3-inch G Pad tablet just fine, but found it was a little too expensive compared to others in the in the 7- to 8-inch size range. Pricing details aren't available yet so we don't know if the company has addressed that angle, but the new tablets will include all of LG's latest software tweaks like Knock Code unlocking, and QPair Bluetooth syncing of notifications with an Android smartphone. Information on availability is also TBA, but the public's first chance to put their greasy palms on these screens will come at the MedPl 2014 trade show this week in Monaco -- we're sure you were already on your way there.

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Source: LG Newsroom

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drag2share: G Watch promo video gives us another peek at LG's Android-powered wristwear

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/05/11/g-watch-promo-video-lg/

We're not expecting to find out all about LG's "G Watch" smartwatch (and new top of the line G3 phone) until the end of this month, but if you needed another teaser then here it goes. A short promo video for the device doesn't introduce much in the way of details, but if you want to see its Android Wear software in motion or a few 360-degree rotations of its "timeless" metal body, this will suffice. LG is still promising to the "define the smartwatch" with all-day comfort and readiness for anything on a single charge despite an always-on screen, all in a water- and dust-resistant shell.


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Source: LG Mobile (YouTube), LG

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drag2share: Google Play Music for iPad found lurking inside iPhone app

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/05/12/google-play-music-hidden-in-ipad/

If you're a Google Play Music fan and have been limping along with the iPhone version on your iPad, you may already have the big-screen version without knowing it. That's because the iPad bits are already baked in to the iPhone app, according to 9to5 Mac. In fact, you can even activate it now just by changing a setting called "UIDeviceFamily" from 1 to 2, though your iPad will need to be jailbroken (which is currently impossible on iOS 7.1.x). Google Play Music has been a success since it launched on the iPhone in November -- likely helped by a month of free music -- so a pending app redesigned for the iPad's larger screen wouldn't be a surprise. In fact, when contacted by 9to5, a Google rep thought the app was already out, meaning it might just be awaiting the nod from Apple.

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Source: 9to5 Mac

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drag2share: Skylens heads-up display helps pilots 'see' through the fog

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/05/12/skylens-heads-up-display/

Thanks to instrumentation, flying blind in bad weather isn't the problem it used to be, but pilots still suffer the unfortunate effects of spatial disorientation. Not being able to see where you're going causes people to lose their sense of balance and direction, which can sometimes lead to fatal errors -- which is why Elbit Systems has developed the Skylens heads-up display. Looking like a fairly hefty pair of ski goggles, Skylens overlays terrain, runway and horizon data onto the wearer's field of vision, enabling them to work out which way is up in poor-visibility conditions. Any pilots looking to get hold of the gear, however, will have to wait a while, as the hardware is currently being tested for airworthiness, but should be available at some point in 2016.

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Via: GizMag

Source: AviationPros

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Sunday, May 11, 2014

drag2share: Here Are The Biggest Problems With The Password, And Why They May Not Go Away Anytime Soon

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/password-alternatives-2014-5

Computer hacker

Two years, ago Wired reporter Matt Honan had his entire digital life erased. His AppleID and accounts with Google, Twitter, and Amazon had all been compromised in the span of one hour. The hacker tweeted offensive remarks from his Twitter account and wiped his iPhone, iPad, and MacBook completely clean.

About two months ago, a U.K.-based Reddit user woke up to find that a hacker had stolen a decent sum of money from him by running up the bill on his PlayStation account. The culprit took so much money, in fact, that the author was unable to pay his rent that month.

Both incidents provide examples of what can happen when usernames and passwords fall into the wrong hands. 

Last month, researchers discovered one of the biggest vulnerabilities the internet had ever seen— the Hearbleed bug. Heartbleed occurred as a result of a critical flaw in OpenSSL, a popular encryption standard, which could allow hackers to trick servers into spitting out crucial personal information. 

Since then, experts have been warning the public to change the passwords to their most important accounts. These events, however, raise the question as to whether or not there's a future for the traditional username and password. 

The problem with the password

"I think the password is going the way of the dinosaur," said Jonathan Klein, president of Usher, a company that focuses on mobile identity solutions for enterprise platforms. "I think there's no question that it's a flawed and broken system."

"I think there's no question that it's a flawed and broken system."

There are two basic problems with the password, according to Klein, the more ! obvious of which being that they're not very user friendly.

"One of two things happen," Klein said. "They either forget [their passwords] and they get locked out of their systems...or much more dangerously they do the old famous yellow sticky note. And you’d be surprised if you walk around a corporation or organization that’s supposed to have high security, the number of people that have just written down their username and password on a little sticky note."

The other issue has to do with the nature of the username and password system. Sending critical information, such as your password, to another server makes it susceptible to hackers. In most cases, this type of data is encrypted when it travels between servers to prevent interceptors from reading it. However, if someone learns how to take advantage of a serious vulnerability such as Heartbleed, they could potentially decrypt that information.

"The mere transmission of that sensitive password information across open channels means that it can be stolen or phished," Klein said. "We think the solution is just the complete elimination of usernames and passwords."

Could a fingerprint scanner replace the password? 'Absolutely not.'

Alternatives to the password have existed long before Heartbleed, but none of them have really been implemented on a widespread scale. Both Apple and Samsung have added biometric fingerprint scanners to their newest flagship smartphones, although the technology is most commonly used as more convenient means of unlocking your smartphone. 

FingerprintSensorsThe technology may not be secure enough to ever replace the traditional password, Nicholas Percoco, vice president of strategic services at IT security firm Rapid7, says. When asked whether or not fingerp! rint sca nning technology could make passwords obsolete, he replied "absolutely not."

"The main reason is, it's not necessarily a secret whereas a password could be," Percoco said. "If you think about your fingerprint, every single thing you’ve touched since you woke up this morning has your password on it. So that’s a problem."

It's relatively easy to fool these systems, according to Percoco. If a thief steals your fingerprint-protected iPhone 5s, he or she could lift the fingerprints off your phone's screen. In September, German hackers figured out how to get around the iPhone 5s' biometric sensor just two days after the phone was released. Researchers in Germany were also able to fool the Galaxy S5's fingerprint scanner into accepting a mold of an enrolled finger rather than the real thing.

"The other thing is, you can't change your fingerprints," Percoco said. "So you really only have 10 shots."

 The right solution

qr codeMulti-factor authentication is the best way to make sure hackers don't get ahold of your personal information. This is the process where you type in your password and a secondary password gets sent to your phone via text message. Many accounts and services, including Google, offer two-factor authentication today. In theory, a hacker would need both your password and your smartphone to access your accounts. That's unlikely to happen.

However, both Klein and Liam O Murchu, a senior manager at security firm Symantec, imagine a future that involves combining various types of verification techniques.

For example, Klein praised the system used at Usher's parent company MicroStrategy, which involves using your smartphone to scan a QR code on your computer screen to login rather than typing ! in a use rname and password.

An encrypted mobile ID would be stored on your phone, which tells the computer that you're authorized to log in. This type of technology could be even more secure if you're using a phone with biometric authentication such as the iPhone 5s or Galaxy S5.

"There's nothing to intercept, there's nothing to steal, there's nothing to remember, and it's perfectly secure," he said. "We think that this is the future—the combination of biometrics and encryption on a smartphone."

Using more than one type of authentication could also address the concerns Percoco acknowledged earlier. For example, if a phone or bank account required both voice verification and a fingerprint swipe, an intruder would have a much more difficult time obtaining your information even if he or she imitated your fingerprints.

Why aren't we using it today?

Technology that can prevent our digital identities from being stolen already exist, but they're not part of our everyday lives just yet. That's largely because the technology simply isn't reliable enough yet to be rolled out on such a large scale, O Murchu said.

"I still think it's a very young market," he said in reference to biometric security and facial recognition. "It still needs to be tested. The two models [iPhone 5s and Galaxy S5] that came out with the fingerprint scanner were a real gamble as to whether or not they would be secure enough."

In about five years, O Murchu believes we'll see some strong competitors to the traditional password, although standard username logins will continue to exist. Technology similar to the facial recognition used in Microsoft's Xbox One could easily translate to an everyday smartphone over the next few years.

"Maybe three or five years out we'll see something where you just look at the phone and it recognizes your face and it logs you in," O Murchu said.

facebook facial recognitionAccording to Klein, there are two key reasons why biometrics and QR-scanning systems haven't hit the mainstream yet.

Like O'Murchu, he said that these types technology still need to be perfected. But he also emphasized that smartphone adoption is now high enough around the world to make this type of login technique a reality.

Klein says there are 2 billion smartphones in circulation worldwide, and that number is expected to double within the next three years. 

"We think this shift is going to happen quickly," Klein said. "2014 is the first time really in history when it really could happen. Realistically usernames and passwords will be here for a while. We just think that there’s going to be an important shift taking place to find a new and better solution." 

SEE ALSO: How To Create Super Strong Passwords To Protect Yourself From The Heartbleed Bug

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drag2share: Disney's Pixelbots Turn a Flat Surface Into a Moving Dot-Matrix Display

Source: http://gizmodo.com/disneys-pixelbots-turn-a-flat-surface-into-a-moving-dot-1574551137

Disney's Pixelbots Turn a Flat Surface Into a Moving Dot-Matrix Display

When you think of Disney animation, you probably envision cartoons drawn either by hand or computer. You probably don't think of little light-up robots that zip around a tabletop to make dot-matrix designs. But that's exactly what Disney Research came up with in Display Swarm, a research project that makes an animated display out of mini robotic pixels.

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drag2share: In Defense of GIFs in Science Writing

Source: http://io9.com/in-defense-of-gifs-in-science-writing-1574543444/+robertsorokanich

In Defense of GIFs in Science Writing

University of Oxford PhD student Andrew Bissette recently published a diatribe against the Internet's favorite form of looping media, arguing that science writers should not use GIFs to explain science. He's wrong. His heart is in the right place. His argument is even halfway sound. But he's wrong.

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