Saturday, November 28, 2009

Rainbow Trapped for First Time, Using Convex Lens and Glass [Optical Computing]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/ogbhXt62BXw/rainbow-trapped-for-first-time-using-convex-lens-and-glass

Baltimore citizens aren't just dealing drugs and installing wiretaps, some of them are busy using convex lenses to trap rainbows, which could be put to good use with optical computing—making hardware faster! Stronger! More powerful!

And pretty on the inside.

University professors coated one side of a 4.5 millimetre diameter lens with a 30 nanometre thick coat of gold film, which they then put on a sheet of glass also splashed with a helping of gold. After shining a laser beam at the space between the curved lens and the glass, a rainbow appeared trapped between the elements when looked down on with a microscope. No pot of gold appeared, but a little dancing McNulty, dressed in a leprechaun costume, could be seen under the rainbow. [Arxiv via New Scientist]

Image credit Carla216




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NOVA Concept DSLR, For the Gamer/Photographer [Design]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/YpJNXV7rXn4/nova-concept-dslr-for-the-gamerphotographer

I'm not much of a photographer, but I do love me some video games. Maybe this game controller-esque DSLR concept would help bridge the gap between the two worlds.

Designer Erin Fong came up with this crazy "NOVA DSLR" design, and truth be told I like it. The folding handle idea seems especially useful for one-handed shots. Looks like it would work better than balancing the camera's weight off-center like with traditional DSLRs.

But again, I'm no photographer. I'll leave it to you shutter junkies out there to cry foul. [Erin Fong via Gizmo Watch via Geeky Gadgets]




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Get Even More Cashback From Bing [Dealzmodo]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/JU0sgJVuoFE/get-even-more-cashback-from-bing

Miss out on any Black Friday deals? Roll your own with Bing. The basically-free-money service has upped cashback rates until December 2. Check out the participating gadget sites below, and keep 'em in mind for Cyber Monday:

Highlights:
AT&T — 35% cashback (iPhone excluded, unfortunately)
T-Mobile — 35% cashback
Dell — 20% cashback
HP — 20% cashback
Lenovo — 20% cashback
Walmart — 15% cashback
Overstock — 15% cashback

The Rest:
Sears — 8-13% cashback
Circuit City — 8-12.2% cashback
Tiger Direct — 8—12.2% cashback
eBay — 8-10% cashback
Best Buy — 5-10& cashback
Buy.com — 5% cashback

Keep in mind it takes up to 60 days until your money is available, but hey, free money later is better than no free money at all. [Bing via Cheap Ass Gamer]




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Acer to unveil 8 to 10 phones next year, show more love to Android

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/27/acer-to-unveil-8-to-10-phones-next-year-show-more-love-to-andro/

Acer's far from being a major player in the smartphone space, but to call it irrelevant would be grossly inaccurate. Up until now, however, the outfit has relied largely on Microsoft's mobile OS to power its phones, though even it seems shocked by the warm reception the Android-powered Liquid has received. According to the company's own Aymar de Lencquesaing, Acer recognizes that "there is definitely momentum behind Android," and he continued by stating that "the pace is faster than most would have anticipated one year ago." He went on to proclaim that the company was apt to pump out 8 to 10 phones in 2010, with next year's lineup being "much more balanced" in terms of the amount of Windows Mobile vs. Android handsets. Look out, world -- Google just might take over another huge portion of your life while you're fixated on the next great Black Friday deal.

Acer to unveil 8 to 10 phones next year, show more love to Android originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan's Scratch Shield paint coming to cellphones, invisibleSHIELD feels threatened

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/28/nissans-scratch-shield-paint-coming-to-cellphones-invisibleshi/

Remember Nissan's Scratch Shield paint technology? You know, that stuff we first heard about some four years back? According to a release straight out of Yokohama, the automaker has agreed to license that very tech to Japan's own NTT DoCoMo for "mobile phone application." In theory, at least, the flexible clearcoat will enable certain light scratches to actually heal themselves over time, and the paint itself is tougher to scratch to begin with. There's no specific mention of the who's and when's involved, but we're hoping to see this idea spread to other portable devices in the near future. After all -- who isn't sick of shelling out for some clear skin to protect each and every handheld they own?

Nissan's Scratch Shield paint coming to cellphones, invisibleSHIELD feels threatened originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 28 Nov 2009 03:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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