Nanowire technology will improve brain-stimulating implants

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2015/10/08/nanowire-brain-implants/

Scientists at Lund University have published a paper about a new nanowire thread (only 80 nanometres in diameter) that will work to strengthen brain implants. Neuro-prostheses are currently used to stimulate and collect information from the brain of those with Parkinson's disease, along with other illnesses. However, one of the biggest problems that current tech faces is that the brain identifies the implant as a foreign object and uses cellular material to surround the electrode, resulting in a loss of signal. With the newly developed technology, this will (hopefully) no longer be the case.

"Our nanowire structure prevents the cells that usually encapsulate the electrodes – glial cells – from doing so", says Christelle Prinz who is the co-creator of this technology. The structure is made out of a gallium phosphide semiconductor with nanowires sticking out. While glial cells can grow on the flat semiconductor, neurons can grow on the nanowires. This way they're close, but not so close that the neurons are affected, which leads to better, longer lasting implants. So far the nanowire has only been tested in cultured samples, but because of the positive results, tests should begin in live subjects soon.

Via: Medgadget

Source: Lund University

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Microsoft's 5.7-inch Lumia 950 XL is liquid cooled and $649

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2015/10/06/microsofts-lumia-950xl-is-the-latest-supersized-windows-10-phon/

While the Surface Pro 4 may garner the bulk of the attention from today's Microsoft event, the folks in Redmond had other stuff to reveal, too. Those other announcements include a pair of smartphones, one of which is the supersized Lumia 950 XL. Thanks to a handful of leaks, we already had an idea what the handset would look like and some details of its spec sheet. The 950 XL features a larger OLED screen than its sibling, measuring 5.7 inches at 518 ppi. It also offers 32GB of storage that you can expand via microSD card up to a whopping (theoretical) 2TB. There's a 20-megapixel camera with a Zeiss lens around back with triple LED RGB natural flash, optical image stabilization and a dedicated camera button as well, continuing to leverage the photo chops from Nokia. That wordy flash description basically means people will look more natural in photos where you have to employ said feature. And, of course, all of that runs on Windows 10. Slideshow-326502 Slideshow-326469

The new Lumias both pack in adaptive antenna tech that works to give you the best connection possible at all times. The 950 XL also carries a 2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor and liquid cooling that was originally developed for the Surface tablet. Microsoft gave both of the new Lumia phones something it calls Glance Screen technology that'll show you missed calls, emails, time, date and more just by taking a look at the display. The duo also features USB Type-C connectors for 5 Gbps transfer speeds and quick charging that can hit 50 percent in 30 minutes. There's also a Display Dock that has connections for HDMI, DisplayPort and three USB jacks that'll allow you to use the handset with a monitor. And thanks to Windows 10 universal apps and Continuum, you can employ those handy Office apps to get work done at your desk... with your phone. If all of that sounds too good to pass up, you'll have to wait until November to get your hands on the 950 XL. When it arrives, expect to shell out $649 to nab one.

Get all the news from today's Microsoft event right here.

Source: Microsoft

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Here's our first look at the Surface Book, Microsoft's answer to the MacBook Pro

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2015/10/06/microsoft-surface-book-hands-on/

Wow. Microsoft finally did it. After years or rumors and speculation the company finally unveiled its very own laptop. Not a tablet that could replace a laptop (though there's that too), but a bona fide laptop, with an attached keyboard. Well, almost. The Surface Book at first glance looks like a traditional clamshell notebook with a touchscreen. In fact, though, it's more like a lovechild between the Surface and Lenovo's Yoga line. Which is to say, it has a removable display that supports pen input but, when attached, it can also flip back 360 degrees into tablet mode. Oh, and on the inside, it has enough horsepower to take on the MacBook Pro. I just got my first look here at Microsoft's "Windows 10 Devices" keynote in New York City. Here are some hands-on photos for now -- I'll update this post soon with impressions.Slideshow-326504

At three and a half pounds, the Surface Book feels heavier than I expected. But then I remembered it's been a while since I've reviewed a Windows laptop like this. Most of the Windows notebooks that cross my desk these days compete on thinness and lightness, sometimes at the expense of performance. Microsoft is taking a different approach: the Surface Book is as well built as any MacBook, and claims to be as powerful too, but the tradeoff is that it's also about as heavy as a MacBook Pro. If you compare it to the Dell XPS 13 or Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro you might be disappointed by its heft, but then, you'd also me putting it in the completely wrong class of product.

Before I get to performance, though, I do want to linger on the design. The Surface Book is gorgeous. Solid. Yes, its aluminum design and blunt edges bear some similarity to the MacBook Pro, but it still feels every bit worth its $1,499 price tag. It belongs in a small echelon of truly premium, luxurious-feeling computers, with the MBP and even the Chromebook Pixel making for some good company.

Developing...

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LG's 2nd Watch Urbane is the first Android Wear device with LTE

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2015/09/30/lg-watch-urbane-2nd-edition/

Tonight LG took the wraps off of the new V10 phone and its latest smartwatch, the Watch Urbane 2nd Edition. Like the first model, it has a circular display but one-ups its predecessor by arriving as the first device to combine Android Wear with a built-in cellular connection for calls and data, so you can leave your phone at home -- something even the upgraded Apple Watch can't do. LG already had a webOS-powered Watch Urbane LTE that could go it alone, while Samsung's Gear S ran Tizen. Packing Android Wear means this watch should have more apps ready for internet-connected use even when your phone and WiFi are out of range. Behind its 1.38-inch 480x480 res P-OLED display there's a 570mAh battery that LG claims can still last through the day with the help of a Power Saving Mode. There's no word on price or exact release date yet, but it's coming to the US and Korea first. Slideshow-324552

Source: LG

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LG's new superphone has two screens and two selfie cameras

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2015/09/30/lg-v10-smartphone-dual-cameras/

LG's renaming its powerful flagship smartphone series, here's the V10 and it marks a new smartphone start, with some notable features all on the front of the thing. The company is literally doubling down on features, with two five-megapixel cameras for selfie sufferers and a curious second screen that's connected to the first one. That extra display is right above the 5.7-inch QHD main display, but works separately. You'll be able to keep it on constantly to show weather, time date and battery status "without impacting battery life", according to LG. Turn on the entire phone however, and you can then use that top display for app shortcuts even when you're in the midst of another app -- or anywhere that's not the home screen. Now about those cameras...

The thinking is that two cameras (taking separate images at the standard 80-degree angle) is a better idea than a wide-angle lens, and that fish-bowl effect that happens at the edges. Self-portraiture can come in two flavors: the standard 80-degree kind, or the cram-everyone-in 120-degree option which stitches the two images together. (The lenses are apparently "just far enough apart to provide two different points of view"). LG's most baffling new feature this time around is "Multi-view Recording" which engages all three cameras on the V10. We don't know why you'd do that.

Less pointless, however, is manual video recording mode. Now that smartphones are capturing 4K video it makes a huge amount of sense to offer up more controls to those that can handle the added complication. Shutter speed, frame rate, ISO, white balance and focus can all be tinkered with, and movies can also be recorded in a cinematic 21:9 ratio. Other notable features here include and wind noise filter and audio monitor to adjust the sensitivity of all three mics during recording. You can even meddle with directional audio recording. Get ready to power-use like it's 2012 too, because the phone has microSD card storage expansion and a removable 3,000mAh battery, something that's probably a necessity if you're a a burgeoning 4K film auteur. The phone launches this month in Korea in two kinds of blue (doubling up), black, white and beige. It's set to roll out elsewhere (including the Asia, Europe and the US) later.

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