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Tuesday, April 17, 2012

A Luxury Hotel In China Is Being Built Almost Completely Underground

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/underground-hotel-china-2012-4

China hotel

AN EXTRAORDINARY hotel is being built in a disused quarry near Shanghai. At the foot of the Tianmashan mountain, the InterContinental Shimao Wonderland will rise two floors above the top of the 100-metre rock face and another 16 storeys below ground level. The lowest of these levels, housing a restaurant, will actually be under water at the bottom of the quarry.

The architectural plans are futuristic, yet the 380-room hotel is expected to open by late 2014 or early 2015. Given how much work there is to do—CNN has an image of what the site currently looks like—those projections do seem rather bullish. But weve already seen how much hotel the Chinese can build in 15 days, so 2.5 years for this fantastical construction might suffice.

The design was the award-winning work of Atkins, a British firm of architects. Martin Jochman, the leader, has described the thinking behind it:

We drew our inspiration from the quarry setting itself, adopting the image of a green hill cascading down the natural rock face as a series of terraced landscaped hanging gardens. In the centre, we have created a transparent glass 'waterfall' from a central vertical circulation atrium connecting the quarry base with the ground level. This replicates the natural waterfalls on the existing quarry face.

No word there on what winds are supposed to fill the boats (see image), but I wouldn't be surprised to find provision for a warm southerly breeze included in the engineering specifications.

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Canon shows off prototype 30-inch 4K reference display, won't put a price tag on love

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/17/canon-shows-off-prototype-30-inch-4k-reference-display-wont-pu/

With 4K cameras suddenly popping up everywhere we look at NAB 2012, it's little surprise that Canon is showing off this matching 30-inch prototype intended for the very professionals tasked with mastering video shot by its latest hardware. Like the retina display, it produces an effect where no matter how close you're standing it's still impossible to pick out the individual pixels, and easily matched what we'd seen from a prototype 20-inch 4K LCD from Panasonic at CES. The people we spoke to who handled some of the work on Canon's demo footage preferred it to their 2K projectors for the clarity and ability to get pixel accurate representations of the source material, plus it probably fits more easily into a production suite. The big question from all who see this in person is when will it be available and for how much, and while Canon says it's due to ship this year, we're on our own to speculate about the (surely astronomical) price.

Continue reading Canon shows off prototype 30-inch 4K reference display, won't put a price tag on love

Canon shows off prototype 30-inch 4K reference display, won't put a price tag on love originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 13:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New material brings semiconducting to the graphene party

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/17/new-material-brings-semiconducting-to-the-graphene-party/

Scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee have cooked up a new graphene-based material that could provide a speed boost for all electronics. We've seen the carbon allotrope turn up in circuitry and transistors before, but the new chemical modification -- graphene monoxide -- is said to be easier to scale up, and most importantly is semiconducting, unlike the insulating or conducting forms that have preceded it. This also means graphene can now provide the triad of electrical conductivity characteristics. The scientists were honest enough to admit the discovery was as much by chance as design, with it coming to light while investigating another material containing carbon nanotubes and tin oxide. We're sure they're not the first to make a discovery this way, we just haven't had time to check the notes to be sure of it.

New material brings semiconducting to the graphene party originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Ap! r 2012 1 5:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sharp readying 1/2.3-inch, 20.2-megapixel CCD destined for noisy point-and-shoots

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/17/sharp-readying-1-2-3-inch-20-2-megapixel-ccd/

As you probably know, megapixels aren't everything. In fact, the more of them you cram into a smaller space, the noisier your images will be. So, you'll forgive us if we don't exactly shout from the mountain tops that Sharp has managed to stick a whopping 20.2 megapixels into a CCD only 1/2.3 inches in size. That does, however, give the RJ23G3BA0LT the highest pixel count in that size range. That's gotta count for something, right?

Sharp readying 1/2.3-inch, 20.2-megapixel CCD destined for noisy point-and-shoots originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ARM announces new quad-core Cortex-A15 Hard Macro variant

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/17/arm-announces-new-quad-core-cortex-a15-hard-macro-variant/

It's pretty much a year to the day that we reported the possibility of a quad-core Cortex-A15 from ARM, and look what just came across the wire! It's the Cortex-A15 Hard Macro -- the first design from ARM we're aware of that packs four A15 cores. The Hard Macro edition is of particular interest as it aims to help manufacturers bring products to market more quickly and at a lower cost. The chip variant runs at 2GHz, with performance of over 20,000 DMIPS if you were wondering. Notably, it operates with the same power usage of the A9 hard macro, which should mean it's got good efficiency credentials, and it's the first in the family to be based on 28nm process. There's no indication where we might see this turning up, but with the firm spilling the full details at the IEEE Symposium later this week, we're sure we'll find out soon enough.

Continue reading ARM announces new quad-core Cortex-A15 Hard Macro variant

ARM announces new quad-core Cortex-A15 Hard Macro variant originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dreamworks Animation joins Walmart's disc to digital program

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/16/dreamworks-animation-disc-to-digital/

DreamWorks Animation has signed up with Walmart's VUDU-powered disc to digital service. From today, you can take any of the studio's movies (such as Shrek or Kung-Fu Panda) and have them converted to standard quality video for $2 or a HD version for $5. There's no word on if DreamWorks proper would sign up, but given the complex nature of its ownership, we won't hold our breath.

Continue reading Dreamworks Animation joins Walmart's disc to digital program

Dreamworks Animation joins Walmart's disc to digital program originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RED Dragon 6K sensor upgrade eyes-on (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/16/red-dragon-6k-sensor-upgrade/

"Obsolescence Obsolete" -- that's RED's tagline for the just-announced Dragon sensor upgrade, which is set to bring 6K resolution to EPIC and Scarlet cameras beginning later this year. The sensor module was on display at the company's NAB booth today, under a backlit case that could only have been designed to make photographing the new chip a near-impossible task. We did manage to snag a few frames of the device, which appears as a mere silhouette to the naked eye. Sensors aren't designed for us to look at, however -- they're supposed to do the looking -- so we won't get any more hung up on the presentation. Existing RED camera owners can look forward to an incredibly impressive 15+ stops of native dynamic range and up to 120 frames-per-second at resolutions up to 5K. And as we discovered earlier today, the upgrade will roll out to EPIC owners sometime in 2012 for $6,000 while Scarlet users will need to hang tight for a release date, and a price tag. That's all we've got as far as details go, so click on through the gallery below for a flashlight-enhanced peek at the Dragon.

Gallery: RED Dragon 6K sensor upgrade hands-on

Continue reading RED Dragon 6K sensor upgrade eyes-on (video)

RED Dragon 6K sensor upgrade eyes-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blackmagic Cinema Camera packs 'feature film' 2.5K quality, touchscreen for $2,995

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/16/blackmagic-cinema-camera-packs-feature-film-2-5k-quality-touc/

While Canon, Sony and Red have already stolen the show with new camera announcements here at NAB 2012, Blackmagic Design is trying to carve out a niche for its new Cinema Camera. Priced at $2,995, where the company sees this as differing from the competition is its ability to capture film quality video on its 2.5K sensor and output it to CinemaDNG RAW, ProRes and DNxHD file formats. That camera housing can take Canon or Zeiss lenses on the front, contains a built-in SSD within and has a capacitive touchscreen display for control and metadata entry. Once you've captured the video, the included copy of DaVinci Resolve can take care of all color correction needs, while the video can be pulled from the SSD over a variety of high speed ports including BNC SDI and Thunderbolt. Check out a few in-person pics in our gallery below and more specs in the press release after the break.

Gallery: Blackmagic Cinema Camera

Continue reading Blackmagic Cinema Camera packs 'feature film' 2.5K quality, touchscreen for $2,995

Blackmagic Cinema Camera packs 'feature film' 2.5K quality, touchscreen for $2,995 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel 330 Series SSDs official, prices start at $89

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/16/intel-330-series-ssds-official-prices-start-at-89/

Been holding off on stuffing solid state storage into your existing machine because of high prices or reliability issues? Bargain hunters, your SSD may have just arrived in the form of Intel's 330 Series SSDs. We got the low down on them weeks ago, but in case you forgot, Intels new 25nm NAND entry utilizes a SATA 6 Gb/s connection to deliver up to 500 MB/s sequential reads and 450 MB/s writes. Such speeds aren't spectacular compared to other SSDs, but combine them with Chipzilla's reputation for crafting quality drives, low prices -- $89 for 60GB, $149 for 120GB, and $234 for 180GB -- and a three year warranty, and the 330 has some serious curb appeal. Want one? All three sizes available now online or at you local retailer (assuming it's still there, of course).

Continue reading Intel 330 Series SSDs official, prices start at $89

Intel 330 Series SSDs official, prices start at $89 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RED 9-inch touchscreen, OLED EVF and Meizler Module eyes-on (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/16/red-epic-oled-evf-9-inch-touchscreen/

Deep-pocketed RED owners take heed. The company just demoed some pretty nifty module updates, including an OLED EVF, a new 9-inch touchscreen and the crown jewel Meizler Module, which brings to the table such features as wireless 1080p transmission, a wireless timecode transceiver and full wireless lens control -- we're particularly taken with that last feature, which effectively enables remote-controlled follow focus, aperture and zoom control. The new 9-inch will also come in handy with wireless control, making it easier to verify sharpness and exposure. It features the same touch functionality of its smaller sibling, giving you full control of the camera.

The display will likely draw some attention when mounted on an EPIC , which is noticeably smaller than the LCD itself, but once you toss on a lens and power pack, the rig looks slightly better proportioned. That's the good news. The bad news is the price -- you're looking at a cool $13,000 for that wireless module, which is named after its designer, assistant camera Steven Meizler, while the Bomb OLED EVF can be had as an upgrade for $1,200 (if you're willing to trade in your LCD version), or $3,900 if you plan to buy it outright. You can head over to the Red Store to pick that device up today, though you'll need to hang tight for the Meizler and 9-inch LCD, both of which are expected to launch later this year. You'll get an up-close look at all the new gear in the gallery below, and you'll also find a video overview with RED's Ted Schilowitz when you venture past the break.

Gallery: RED 9-inch touchscreen, OLED EVF and Meizler Module eyes-on

Continue reading RED 9-inch touchscreen, OLED EVF and Meizler Module eyes-on (video)

RED 9-inch touchscreen, OLED EVF and Meizler Module eyes-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Apr 2012 17:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday, April 16, 2012

Magnetic Super-Paper Can Shrug Off Water and Bacteria [Science]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5902300/magnetic-super+paper-can-shrug-off-water-and-bacteria

Magnetic Super-Paper Can Shrug Off Water and Bacteria Without changing its physical or functional properties, researchers at Italy's Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia have created the superhero of papers that's waterproof, antibacterial, and magnetic. Which will completely revolutionize how your kids can stick their artwork to the fridge.

The secret lies with a special mixture of individual molecules, or monomers, in paper fiber and the future of seemingly all technologies—nanoparticles. The resulting compound, known as a polymetric matrix, is actually made with different types of nanoparticles, and when applied to regular paper it completely covers the fibers on the microscopic level, creating a protective shell.

When iron oxide nanoparticles are added to the mix, the resulting paper has magnetic properties. And when silver nanoparticles are added, the paper fights off bacteria and other microscopic organisms. The paper can even be turned fluorescent using the right particles, and is completely waterproof making it ideal for high security applications like bank notes, or for printing long-lasting historical documents. We particularly like the idea of special waiting room wallpaper which helps stop the spread of disease in a doctor's office. [Journal of Materials Chemistry via Forbes]

BlackMagic Cinema Camera: Whopping 2.5K Resolution for Under $3000 [Cameras]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5902337/blackmagic-teases-cinema-camera-whopping-25k-resolution-for-under-3000

Post-production hardware and software company Black Magic Design has just announced their entry in the camera-making business with their Cinema Camera. The cam rocks 2.5K recording in RAW formats, meaning the image won't suffer due to in-camera compression and will presumably preserve extremely broad dynamic range. More impressive, though, is the price tag.

The Cinema Camera's $3000 asking price is insanely cheap, given that it packs features that the most high-end video capable DSLRs have thus far lacked. One of the biggest complaints against cameras like the Canon 5D Mark II and Mark III is that the h.264 compression really muddies up the image. The BlackMagic Cinema Camera's RAW workflow looks to eliminate that.

Notable specs include:

Shooting resolution: RAW at 2.5k (2432 x 1366)
Frame rates: 23.98p, 24p, 25p, 29.97p, 30p
Sensor size: 16.64 mm x 14.04 mm (significantly smaller than DLSR sensors)
Lens mount: EF and ZF mount compatible with electronic iris control
Battery: Integrated Li-Ion with 90 minute life
Recording Formats: RAW 2.5K CinemaDNG, Apple ProRes (compressed), Avid DNxHD (compressed). All compressed recording in 1920x1080 10-bit YUV with choice of Film or Video Dynamic Range.
Storage: Removable 2.5" SSD
The guy with the inside scoop on Black Magic's new device is Director of Photography John Brawley. He's been toying around with the camera and has reported copious notes on his blog. He also has a bunch of footage that he shot, all of which looks extremely promising. We can't wait to check it out for ourselves when it ships this July. [Black Magic Design]

Images via John Brawley, Black Magic Design

Canon Cinema EOS-1D C 4K camera hands-on (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/15/canon-cinema-eos-1d-c-hands-on/

It's been but half a year since Canon first entered the motion picture market, and the company is already back with its second and third professional video rigs. The Cinema EOS-1D C marks the most drastic departure from the C300, which launched last November at an elaborate Hollywood event at Paramount Studios. It was at this spectacle that we were first introduced to the 1D C, which was then but a glass-protected prototype. Now, far sooner than expected, the (relatively) compact camera is making its return to the spotlight, in more polished form. Like the 1D series bodies that bear similar monikers and appearances, including the yet-to-ship EOS- 1D X, the C model is a very capable still shooter, offering the same core functionality of the $6,800 X. It also brings 4K capture to the table, however, prompting Canon to price the camera far above its less-abled counterpart. At $15,000, we don't expect to see red C logos popping up in many a photojournalist's gear bag, but for deep-pocketed professionals with a need to capture 4K clips, this may be a worthwhile acquisition.

We took a closer look at the 1D C at Canon's pre-NAB event in Las Vegas. As the pictures and spec sheet imply, it's the 1D X's clone in nearly every way. In fact, beyond the headphone jack and C logo, there's not much distinguishing the pair externally. You'll need to hop into the menu before you'll really notice a difference, in the form! of seve ral unique 4K shooting modes, including 8-bit 4:2:2 24fps captures to a CF card or 8-bit 4:2:2 clips in an uncompressed format over HDMI. Otherwise, the C looks and feels just like the X -- a model pro snapper that we've already managed to fondle on three continents under Canon's watchful eye, but still has yet to ship. Both cameras are gorgeous externally, with slight design tweaks yet no drastic overhaul, dating back to the very first EOS-1D. If you haven't had a chance to gawk at either model, you'll at very least be able to check out the 1D C at Canon's booth this week at NAB . We're hoping to see both cameras hit the market sometime in 2012, and who knows -- this Cinema EOS could even be the first next-gen 1D to ship. Take a closer look in the gallery below, and in our hands-on video after the break.

Gallery: Canon Cinema EOS-1D C hands-on

Continue reading C! anon Cin ema EOS-1D C 4K camera hands-on (video)

Canon Cinema EOS-1D C 4K camera hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 Apr 2012 22:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sticker 3D Vision

Source: http://www.yankodesign.com/2012/04/16/sticker-3d-vision/

Viewing 3D cinema is a truly gripping experience but for the 3D glasses! Besides being heavy and awkward for those already wearing numbered glasses, they are a material waste and pose a health hazard. Stix offers an easy solution by being a pair of self-adhesive sticker 3D viewing films. Simply slap them onto your current numbered glasses and enjoy your 3D movie.

The stickers are cut out a shape bigger than average glasses to ensure they cover till the rim. The concept's approach resonates with me, since I wear glasses too and find wearing additional glasses a hassle. Hopefully the sticker in Stix will be easy to peel off and then we are assured of a winner here!

Designers: Lucy Jung & Daejin Ahn

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(Sticker 3D Vision was originally posted on Yanko Design)

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Meizu MX Quad-core launching with Android 4.0 in June, gets 32GB and 64GB flavors

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/15/meizu-mx-quad-core-launch-android-4-0/

Meizu MX Quad-core launching with Android 4.0 in June, gets 32GB and 64GB flavors

Can't say we're surprised, but Meizu's finally giving us the lowdown on the quad-core variant of its flagship Android smartphone. Simply dubbed the MX Quad-core, this new device will be powered by a Cortex-A9-based, 32nm HKMG (High-K Metal Gate) quad-core Samsung Exynos chip -- no word on the clock speed or RAM, but we're betting our money on the Exynos 4412 that goes up to 1.5GHz. Meizu claims this will save up to 20 percent of CPU power consumption compared to its dual-core counterpart. Also, the battery will be bumped up from 1,600mAh to 1,700mAh -- we shall see how much difference this makes when we eventually get our hands on the phone. And yes, in addition to the original white back cover, you'll be able to swap it with one of the five optional colored covers pictured above.

On the software side you'll get a Meizu-customized Ice Cream Sandwich system (aka Flyme OS), though it isn't clear whether the company will stick to its old promise of simultaneously releasing a vanilla ROM. The rest of the new phone's identical to the dual-core MX, especially the 4-inch 960 x 640 ASV display and the eight-megapi! xel BSI camera. While there's still no microSD expansion, here's some good news to make up for this flaw: the base model starts at 32GB and it'll cost the same as the current 16GB MX! In other words, come June the unsubsidized MX Quad-core will go from ¥2,999 (US$480) in China and HK$3,099 (US$400) in Hong Kong; and then there'll also be a 64GB version priced at ¥3,999 (US$635) and HK$4,099 (US$530), respectively. Meanwhile, starting today, the original MX is reduced to ¥2,399 (US$380) and HK$2,599 (US$335). Press release after the break.

Now, with Meizu proudly claiming to have the world's first smartphone to utilize the quad-core Exynos chip, we wonder where Samsung's at with its own unicorn device?

Continue reading Meizu MX Quad-core launching with Android 4.0 in June, gets 32GB and 64GB flavors

Meizu MX Quad-core launching with Android 4.0 in June, gets 32GB and 64GB flavors originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 Apr 2012 21:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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