Japanese scientists create giant metal cilium, relief for Voltron’s giant metal lungs (video)

Why would a group of researchers develop a table full of rods that mimic the movements of microscopic hairs? It’s a fair question, and Keio University’s Yusuke Kamiyama certainly doesn’t offer up much in the way of real world applications for such technology. He is, however, happy to demonstrate the cool functionality of the metallic cilium, which appear to drift around as though underwater, until coming into contact with an external stimuli. The rods react to touch by congregating near the area of contact, with movements executed by biometal rods that communicate with an external PC. Scientists hope that research from the project will be useful at some point, but in the meantime, at least we know where to turn if we get a major mucus blockage. Video after the break.

Continue reading Japanese scientists create giant metal cilium, relief for Voltron’s giant metal lungs (video)

Japanese scientists create giant metal cilium, relief for Voltron’s giant metal lungs (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 May 2011 18:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NGP to be less ‘investment heavy,’ more ‘affordable’

After years of losses in its PS3 division, it’s no surprise that Sony’s not attempting a fiscal encore. Just the opposite, in fact. Massaru Kato, Sony’s Chief Financial Officer, stated recently that the upcoming NGP handheld won’t be as “investment heavy” as previous platforms. What does this mean? Sony probably won’t pour cash into developing new semiconductors just for its new handheld, and will instead opt to build NGP hardware with off-the-shelf and readily available components. This could translate to competitive pricing versus Nintendo’s 3DS (we hope), but it’s all quiet on the pricing front at Sony HQ. That’s liable to change at E3 next week, but regardless we’d rather not have to wait four years just to hear Yoshida’s good news again.

NGP to be less ‘investment heavy,’ more ‘affordable’ originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 May 2011 18:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Slashgear  |  sourceWSJ  | Email this | Comments

Top Stories: May, 2011

Ceci n’est pas une Photoshop | See how National Geographic’s Frans Lanting captured this stunning image

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TransPhone pairs tablet and handset, emerged before ASUS Padfone

While ASUS’ Padfone was being launched with much sticker-clad-model fanfare at Computex today, CMIT’s TransPhone was apparently enjoying its third day of life, having first appeared on the web as early as Saturday. Both tablets include built-in docks with smartphones to match, but are otherwise unique in appearance and features. The TransPhone includes a bluetooth headset and a slide-in smartphone dock, while the Padfone’s handset is completely hidden by a flip-up rear door. The CMIT device reportedly packs a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm processor and SVGA display, along with USB and HDMI ports, though we’re still unclear on which OS will be running on the tablet. There’s also no word on pricing or availability, but the TransPhone is in good company there, so don’t get ready to ditch those standalone gadgets just yet.

TransPhone pairs tablet and handset, emerged before ASUS Padfone originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 May 2011 17:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel’s Ivy Bridge coming Q1 2012, growing festive moss while you wait

If you were religiously awaiting the fruition of last month’s Intel leak, brace yourself: we’ve got another one. Although Intel’s updated roadmap hasn’t changed anything per se, it does offer a few specifics. Whereas the previous schedule only suggested we’d be crossing the Ivy Bridge in the first half of 2012, the new roadmap shows the 22 nanometer processor penned in at the end of the first quarter. The Sandy Bridge E series is still on schedule for Q4 however, so unless you just have to have native USB 3.0 and DirectX 11 support, you still have plenty to look forward to. Otherwise, we’ll see you in April.

Intel’s Ivy Bridge coming Q1 2012, growing festive moss while you wait originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 May 2011 17:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Modder turns candy canisters into gaming console, retro Pong paddles (video)

This is the second time this week we’ve covered a modder getting an old-school game to run with the help of some unexpected hardware. And arguably, it’s the simpler of the two tales. A fellow named John Graham-Cumming fashioned a game console out of little more than a pair of metal canisters, an Arduino Pro board, and a potentiometer — all so he could play Pong on his TV. The rig (cutely dubbed the Cansole) actually consists of two controllers, with the secondary one housing just a potentiometer. The first has one, too, but also houses the Arduino Pro, along with a battery, A/V controls, and a button for selecting and firing in the game. Et voilà! 1970s arcade-style tennis for two. For a 90-second nostalgia break, head on past the break to see these vintage-looking paddles in action.

Continue reading Modder turns candy canisters into gaming console, retro Pong paddles (video)

Modder turns candy canisters into gaming console, retro Pong paddles (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 May 2011 17:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink CrunchGear  |  sourceJohn Graham-Cumming  | Email this | Comments

Move to unlocked Android bootloaders not supported by carriers

We recently reported that HTC has now joined the recent trend started by Motorola of unlocking their bootloaders on Android devices. Bootloaders control what a smartphone loads up when it is first turned on, so by manipulating a bootloader a hacker can eliminate the loading of specific applications and services to free up resources. Even […]

On Life, Love and Remembering Those Who Died for Us

Today is a day of beach, gardens and nicely burnt burgers. It’s also the day in which we remember those who died while in military service, whether it was during peace time or fighting rightful or wrong wars. More »

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 hits Best Buy’s site, decorative Androids fall off in the process

Remember the Android tablet we said might be the first real competitor to the iPad 2 earlier this month? Well, it just made its debut on the Best Buy site, and while the big “Coming Soon” button has crushed our dreams of pre-ordering one today, the site is offering up a few more details on the thing — or at least some confirmation of what we already knew. For one thing, it looks like the system will indeed pack Android 3.1, unlike the version we tested, which was rocking the 3.0.1. Also, on a more disappointing note, the adorable Android army on the model we picked up at Google I/O is gone, with a plain white back or metallic gray in its place, unlike the black one we were expecting — perhaps Samsung will offer up both color options when the device actually ships. In the meantime, we’ll see if we can find the number of a good laser engraver.

Update: If you had any doubt that this would be shipping with 3.1, this should put that to rest. Enchante wrote in to let us know the Amazon Germany pages for the 10.1 and 8.9 Galaxy Tab, which previously indicated 3.0, have been updated to state Android 3.1.

[Thanks, Jeff]

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 hits Best Buy’s site, decorative Androids fall off in the process originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 May 2011 16:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Popular console emulators removed from Android Market

Emu master yongzh’s account deleted by Google without warning along with his franchise emulators.