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Friday, September 03, 2010

Canon's Omnidirectional Camera Is a 50 Megapixel Eye That Looks Everywhere at Once [Canon]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5628723/canons-omnidirectional-camera-is-a-50-megapixel-eye-that-looks-everywhere-at-once

Canon's Omnidirectional Camera Is a 50 Megapixel Eye That Looks Everywhere at Once Panoramic photography can be tricky. What's better? Canon's camera that shoots a single, 360° image. The tech uses a giant, 50 megapixel CMOS sensor and aspheric mirror to capture a sharp, sweeping photo, exceeding the human eye's measly 120° view.

Canon's Omnidirectional Camera Is a 50 Megapixel Eye That Looks Everywhere at Once

The resulting high-detail imagery can fluidly viewed and navigated without the seams and perspectival glitches sometimes found in panoramic scenes.

MIT's Self-Assembling Solar Cells Recycle Themselves Repeatedly, Just Like Plant Cells [Republished]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5628760/mits-self+assembling-solar-cells-recycle-themselves-repeatedly-just-like-plant-cells

MIT's Self-Assembling Solar Cells Recycle Themselves Repeatedly, Just Like Plant Cells Plants are extremely efficient converters of light into energy, setting the bar for researchers creating photovoltaic cells. A team of MIT scientists believe they've created a synthetic chloroplast that can be broken down and reassembled repeatedly, restoring sun-damaged solar cells.

While the leaves on a tree appear to be as static as the PV cells on a solar panel, they're not; sunlight is actually quite destructive, and to counter this effect leaves rapidly recycle their proteins as often as every 45 minutes when in direct summer sunlight. This rapid repair mechanism allows plants to take full advantage of the sun's bountiful energy without losing efficiency over time.

To recreate this unique regenerative ability, the MIT team devised a novel set of self-assembling molecules that use photons to shake electrons loose in the form of electricity. The system contains seven different compounds, including carbon nanotubes that provide structure and a means to conduct the electricity away from the cells, synthetic phospholipids that form discs that also provide structural support, and other molecules that self-assemble into "reaction centers" that actually interact with the incoming photons to release electrons.

Under certain conditions, the compounds assemble themselves into uniform structures suitable for harvesting solar energy. But in the presence of a surfactant (similar to the stuff used to disperse oil during oil spills) the structures break down into a solution of nanotubes, phospholipids, and other constituent molecules. By pushing the solution through a membrane to remove the surfactant, the elements once again assemble into working, rejuvenated solar cells undamaged by their prior exposure to the sun.

The cells are work at 40 percent efficiency, and researchers think with some tweaks they could push that efficiency much higher. And because they don't degrade over time – just give 'em a quick shake with the surfactant and they're essentially brand new – the tech could be the next big step forward for solar technology.

Popular Science is your wormhole to the future. Reporting on what's new and what's next in science and technology, we deliver the future now.

Twitter Adding Push Notifications to its iPhone App [IPhone Apps]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5629243/twitter-adding-push-notifications-to-its-iphone-app

Twitter Adding Push Notifications to its iPhone App Twitter is currently in the final stages of testing push notifications in its iPhone app, pending a full activation of the feature in the next iOS release. According to TechCrunch, users with iOS 4.1 and its updated Twitter client will be able to enable the feature, bringing them closer still to the dream of full integration with the online hive mind. [TechCrunch]

LG's 31-Inch OLED 3DTV Saunters Into IFA, Looking Gorgeous [Oled]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5629257/lgs-31+inch-oled-3dtv-saunters-into-ifa-looking-gorgeous

LG's 31-Inch OLED 3DTV Saunters Into IFA, Looking Gorgeous After last year's 15.1-inch beauty, LG partnered it up with a 31-inch beast. It's officially the world's slimmest OLED 3DTV, but that's not saying much when Sony is the only other manufacturer with an OLED 3DTV.

The brief look I had at the OLED showed it was just as bright as their 15-inch model, and super thin too, at 0.29cm thick. The thin silver bezel and polished silver back makes it look very premium—but premium enough to want to spend the 7,000 Euros it's rumored to cost?

BERLIN, Aug. 30, 2010 – At this year's IFA, LG Electronics (LG) is showing its strength in OLED technology with two high-tech masterpieces: LG's newest OLED 3D TV — the world's slimmest — a 0.29cm model boasting a 31-inch screen; and the 15EL9500, the first OLED in the world with a 15.1-inch screen.

Using state-of-the-art OLED technology, LG's OLED TVs dispense with the backlights used on conventional LCD models in favour of a film of pixels that actually produce their own light. Sleek and paper slim, they mark a major leap in television technology, producing pictures of stunning brightness, clarity and contrast.

LG's 31-Inch OLED 3D TV: The Perfect OLED Solution
As the pinnacle of the company's OLED TV range, LG's new OLED TV takes the bril- liant picture quality of OLED technology and transfers it onto a 31-inch canvas. At just 0.29cm in depth, the 31-inch OLED 3D TV is the slimmest TV in the world and displays state-of-the-art picture quality in both 2D and 3D.

With LG's superior OLED technology enabling a Perfect Black Level and an Infinite Contrast Ratio, the new OLED set can project all existing colour levels including the full palette of dark colours thanks to Detailed Gray Scale. In addition, with its Wide Colour Gamut and a No Colour Gamut Shift within varying gray levels, users can enjoy life-like colours under any viewing conditions and from any angle. Topping it all off, the 31-inch OLED 3D TV delivers the very best in smooth and immersive 3D images, as well as superlative 2D images.

With its stunning design, LG's 31-inch OLED 3D TV blends in harmoniously with countertops, bedrooms and practically any home interior. Ultra slim, LG's newest OLED TV uses an innovative mountable bracket that can be installed, moved and rein- stalled on walls or even ceilings with minimal damage to the existing interior. The ex- quisite design further enhances the picture as the screen is practically free from borders, and a seamless glass cover helps deliver even more dynamic images.

In addition to leading in picture quality and design, LG's 31-inch OLED 3D TV also re- tains a cutting-edge in green technology. Made with no harmful materials such as lead and mercury, it minimises pollutant emissions and waste by using fewer parts and mate- rials, and dispensing entirely with liquid crystal, colour filters and backlight units.

15EL9500: LG's First OLED TV
Though more compact in size at 15.1 inches, the 15EL9500 brings with it all the excep- tional picture quality of OLED. With no external sources of light influencing its output, the 15EL9500 can deliver perfect levels of black on an isf certified picture, with up to 1.5 times greater Perceived Luminance than on regular LCD TVs. OLED technology also ensures an even faster video refresh rate, a feature that working in conjunction with TruMotion 100Hz, renders more dynamic pictures and all but eliminates blur from even the fastest sequences.

Accompanying this superlative picture is the 15EL9500's equally remarkable sound quality and design. In addition to the invisible speakers that pump out superb sound – which is further sculpted by the Clear Voice II and SRS Trusurround XT technologies – the 15EL9500's slimness and light weight combine with its folding stand to make it a convenient and stylish addition to any room.

Samsung's QX410 is a Self-Proclaimed "Masterpiece" [Laptops]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5629245/samsungs-qx410-is-a-self+proclaimed-masterpiece

Samsung's QX410 is a Self-Proclaimed "Masterpiece" Samsung's Seongwoo Nam says his company's new high-end QX410 is "the masterpiece of Samsung's computer business"—but it's probably more like of a copy of a well-known metal-bodied old master. Still, nice island keyboard.

Inside the QX410s strangely familiar aluminium case sits an Intel Core i5 (or i7 in the 14" and 15" models), with a dual graphics solution that switches from power-saving integrated Intel to an Nvidia GeForce card when you're doing something more demanding than F5-ing Twitter.

The battery is rated for 6.9 hours use under perfect laboratory conditions, while Samsung's put in the same "Express Charging Mode" found in this week's other new Samsung laptop, the SF410. The company's "Samsung Fast Start" allows users to get up and working within three seconds. So that'll be a hibernate mode, then.

The QX series will arrive in 13.3", 14" and 15.6" screen sizes. [Samsung]

Postage Stamps Go High-Tech With QR Code-Like Stamp Readable by Apps [IPhone Apps]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5629279/postage-stamps-go-high+tech-with-qr-code+like-stamp-readable-by-apps

Postage Stamps Go High-Tech With QR Code-Like Stamp Readable by Apps The UK's Royal Mail may've been kicking around in some shape or form since 1516, but they've become the first postal service to create an "intelligent stamp," readable like a QR code by an Android or iPhone app.

They're being particularly cagey about how the stamp works, in typical Royal Mail fashion (I swear I'm still waiting for parcels to be delivered from 2005), but with the Junaio app being free on both platforms, anyone in the UK can check it out from next week.

And of course, international philatelists could beg their British friends to post them a letter with the high-tech stamp, which is part of the Great British Railways series. One of the features that can be unlocked is a reading of W.H Auden's poem The Night Train, by Bernard Cribbins. [BBC and TechRadar]

Walkman Outsold iPod in Japan During August [Apple]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5629268/walkman-outsold-ipod-in-japan-during-august

Walkman Outsold iPod in Japan During August It's party time for Sony, as the planets of consumerism aligned to earn it a rare win over Apple's iPod music-playing range. It's the first time Walkman has outsold Apple's music players in the region since iPod arrived in 2001.

Sony had to make a few sacrifices in order to win back musical market share, though, aggressively under-cutting the price of its rival. Also, according to analyst Eiji Mori, the month's drop in iPod sales has been partly brought about thanks to buyers waiting for Apple's newest ranges to hit the country. [Yahoo]

A Dual-Booting Tablet Running Android 1.6 Sounds Barmy, Viewsonic [Tablets]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5629282/a-dual+booting-tablet-running-android-16-sounds-barmy-viewsonic

A Dual-Booting Tablet Running Android 1.6 Sounds Barmy, Viewsonic After warning us last week of their impending dual-booting tablet, ViewSonic has now spilled the beans on the ViewPad 100's specs. I don't think anyone will be impressed by the Android 1.6 flavor, even if Windows 7's also there too.

I can't think of many reasons why someone would want a dual-booting tablet, but obviously dual-booting laptops (running something like Parallels or Boot Camp) certainly serve a purpose. This could be the tablet for people to tinker with, but it's still a fairly niche market that Viewsonic's shooting at.

With a 10-inch screen (they describe it as an LED display with 1024 x 600 resolution), it runs on an Intel Atom N455 1.66Ghz processor with 1GB of DDR3 RAM, and has a 16GB SSD. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a G-sensor, A-GPS, two USB ports, a miniVGA and microSD card slot (expandable up to 32GB) are all present, along with an inbuilt 1.3MP webcam.

3 September 2010, IFA, Berlin – ViewSonic has announced the launch of the world's first dual-boot tablet, the ViewPad 100. With a 10" screen, the ViewPad 100 incorporates both a full version of Windows 7 Home Premium and Google Android 1.6.

The combination of operating systems means that users have the speed and portability of an Android-based OS without sacrificing the power and compatibility of a Windows powered system. Users can quickly check their emails or browse the internet with Android while still being able to rely on the traditional PC experience that a full Windows environment provides, such as USB connectivity, video output via mini VGA, Adobe Flash support and the ability to create presentations and word documents from scratch.

With a lightweight design, the ViewPad 100 is ideal for anyone who needs a portable computing solution. It features a built-in 16GB SSD, giving faster boot-up and read/write times than standard HDDs, as well as an energy-efficient Intel Atom N455 1.66Ghz processor with 1GB DDR3 RAM, providing users with longer battery life.

"We want to supply users with a tablet computer that incorporates both Android and Windows as we believe in providing an open approach to mobile technology to users who may not wish to be tied to a specific operating system," says Derek Wright, European Product Marketing Manager. "The ViewPad 100 is aimed at those who want the speed and portability of Android without losing the advantages of having a Windows-based system. We recognise many users may be transitioning from a netbook but will possibly struggle with the learning curve of a new OS, even for simple tasks as uploading photos or using a VPN. Eventually they may choose to favour one over the other, but they will always have the choice."

The user experience is further enhanced by a high quality capacitive multi-touch display based on a 10" 1024 x 600 LED panel as well as built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections and a G-sensor that reorients the screen depending on how the device is held. Additional features include a Micro SD slot for up to 32GB of storage, Assisted GPS for navigation, two USB 2.0 connections and a built in 1.3M webcam.

Canon EOS 60D hands-on (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/02/canon-eos-60d-hands-on-video/

The 2010 Canon Expo is filled to the brim with drool-worthy image-capturing hardware (more on that later in the day), but the first thing we did when arriving was run straight to the EOS 60D. While we can't really get into the gritty details in terms of image and video quality based on show floor impressions alone, we will say the comfort and ease of use are superb -- not to mention an articulating display that'll come in handy for crazier shot composition. The company's definitely got a knack for iterative upgrades, but a prosumer-focused model like this is just a knockout for the price, and leaves us wondering what the future holds for the Rebel T2i when only $200 separates the two cameras. Pictures below, and check out a video walkthrough done by our Engadget Show Producer / Canon enthusiast Chad Mumm after the break.

Gallery: Canon EOS 60D hands-on

Continue reading Canon EOS 60D hands-on (video)

Canon EOS 60D hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canon's 4k Multipurpose Camera concept weakens knees, shoots video. We go hands-on! (Video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/02/canons-4k-multipurpose-camera-concept-weakens-knees-shoots-vid/

You're looking at Canon's new 4k "Multipurpose" concept, a wondrous amalgamation of still and video cameras pumping 60 frames per second at 4k resolution out of an 8 megapixel 2/3-inch CMOS sensor. Yep, we said 4k video, approximately quadruple the resolution of 1080p. We had a chance to go hands-on with the prototype at Canon Expo 2010, and believe us when we tell you that it's really, really sharp, both in terms of hardware and the images it produces. The hardware is essentially a giant SLR body packing a fixed video-style lens complete with zoom and focus controls and a high-def flip-out LCD viewfinder (we're told it's the same LCD found in Canon's new XF-300 and XF-305 video cameras).

We were told by a Canon rep that, unlike competing camera-maker RED's offerings, the Multipurpose concept is not specifically designed for digital cinema. Instead, it's intended to offer "multipurpose image capture," which seems to imply something like the continuous photography promised by Canon's other futuristic prototype. And although we're told that the 4k Multipurpose camera will never come to market, it certainly sends a bold message to an industry content with 1080p that higher resolutions like 4k are coming down the pipe and aren't just the realm of boundary-pushing cinema nerds. But don't take our word for it, check out our hands-on video with this beast after the break.

Gallery: Canon Multipurpose 4K concept camera hands-on

Continue reading Canon's 4k Multipurpose Camera concept weakens knees, shoots video. We go hands-on! (Video)

Canon's 4k Multipurpose Camera concept weakens knees, shoots video. We go hands-on! (Video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canon's Wonder Camera, and other future concepts that tease us from behind glass

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/02/canons-wonder-camera-and-other-future-concepts-that-tease-us-f/

Canon had a lot to show for itself at its annual expo today, from the EOS 60D to the (working!) Multipurpose 4K concept, but the best goodies are of course the ones just a few steps outside of today's technological limits. One display in particular that caught our eye was the 2010 Image Creation set, featuring the bold Wonder Camera Concept from July. Nothing functional here, not even in sleight-of-hand video render form, but the models are quite the lookers. Joining the "SLR Style Concept" (as it was being called here, according to the accompanying placard) were the 3D Cam, Image Palette (display), Image Navi Cam (point and shoot), and MR HMD (helmet) -- all aesthetically Kubrick in nature. Not that we mind, of course; we find it best to go ahead and accept our future for the glossy white design motif that it'll assuredly become. Elsewhere, we happened upon the purported "world's largest CMOS sensor" -- not that we'd argue with what we saw -- and the more compact 120 megapixel CMOS, along with (separately) its panoramic camera prototype body. You can live vicariously through us in the photos below.

Gallery: Canon's 2010 future concepts

Canon's Wonder Camera, and other future concepts that tease us from behind glass originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MSI WindBox III gets a bit more oomph, still lives on your LCD

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/02/msi-windbox-iii-gets-a-bit-more-oomph-still-lives-on-your-lcd/

If your current WindBox is growing a bit long in the tooth, MSI has a newcomer with somewhat more respectable internals. Since it's a fanless machine designed to live on the rear of your LCD, you won't be ordering one with a Core i7, but the included Core 2 Duo chip is certainly a step above what's been offered in the past. It's designed primarily to be used as an ultra-low power solution for folks needing to handle the simplest of simple tasks, though the integrated graphics are purportedly capable of HD playback (on a good day). It's packing DVI, VGA and HDMI outputs, six USB 2.0 sockets, a pair of mini-PCIe slots, inbuilt 802.11b/g/n WiFi and a Bluetooth module, but your guess is as good as ours when it comes to price or availability.

MSI WindBox III gets a bit more oomph, still lives on your LCD originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Antec wants to rockus with its new soundscience 2.1 '3D' speakers

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/02/antec-wants-to-rockus-with-its-new-soundscience-2-1-3d-speaker/

Yesterday it was Corsair, today it's the turn of Antec to step into the world of PC audio components. Best known for building cases and power supplies, the company's aiming to make a splash in this unexplored pool with its all-new soundscience brand and first product, the rockus 3D|2.1 speakers. We're guessing capital letters weren't high on the priority list here, with Antec instead opting to focus on delivering "immersive 3D soundscapes," the supposed aural equivalent of three-dimensional visuals. Beyond the marketing exaggerations, you'll find anodized aluminum satellite speakers, both digital and analog input options, and that cute little control pod for adjusting volume and toggling between stereo and Antec's proprietary 3Dsst mode. This rockus 2.1 set certainly looks stylish enough, but the asking price of $250 makes us think we'll probably have to make do without one this fall.

Continue reading Antec wants to rockus with its new soundscience 2.1 '3D' speakers

Antec wants to rockus with its new soundscience 2.1 '3D' speakers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba Satellite A665-3DV gets a stereoscopic software makeover, now plays nice with 2D content, Blu-ray 3D and external screens

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/02/toshiba-satellite-a665-3dv-gets-a-stereoscopic-software-makeover/

Nabbed one of Toshiba's fully-loaded stereoscopic laptops, only to find a dearth of actual 3D? The company's got a software update that might revitalize your machine. Where previously you'd have to install ready-made dual-ocular content directly to your hard drive, the manufacturer's just promised a Toshiba Video Player application that will convert your existing 2D content into 3D, plus firmware that will help you pipe stereoscopic video over the integrated HDMI port and upgrade your Blu-ray drive to take the new Blu-ray 3D discs -- though we honestly thought it could do that last bit already. While there's no word on availability, the press release suggests a download will pop up any moment... so, you know, be sure to keep both eyes out. PR after the break.

Continue reading Toshiba Satellite A665-3DV gets a stereoscopic software makeover, now plays nice with 2D content, Blu-ray 3D and external screens

Toshiba Satellite A665-3DV gets a stereoscopic software makeover, now plays nice with 2D content, Blu-ray 3D and external screens originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba goes all LED with new HDTVs at IFA 2010

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/02/toshiba-goes-all-led-with-new-hdtvs-at-ifa-2010/

Besides that Android tablet, Toshiba's brought a whole slew LED-lit LCD televisions to IFA 2010. The REGZA WL Series is the company's first range of 3DTVs, available in 40-, 46- and 55-inch sizes (pictured above) with LED backlighting, 7,000,000:1 contrast ratios, it 3D Resolution+ upscaling tech and one pair of active shutter glasses bundled with each one. They're also DLNA enabled and ready for Windows 7, with the Toshiba Media Controller software making streaming content as easy as dragging and dropping a file. The rest of the lineup includes the high end VL series with LED backlighting, midrange REGZA 42SL738 42-inch HDTV and edge-lit SL738 series LCDs in smaller sizes from 9- to 32-inches. Check the press site or YouTube trailers embedded after the break for more details, and don't be surprised to see the 200Hz motion technology, millimeter measurements, DVB-T tuners and BBC streaming while these are due in October across the pond, we'll be keeping an eye out at CEDIA for US-bound variants.

Continue reading Toshiba goes all LED with new HDTVs at IFA 2010

Toshiba goes all LED with new HDTVs at IFA 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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