Hasta La Gadget!

A patent newly published by the USPTO and filed by Apple in June reveals plans for a system through which devices could be charged by the movement of a person’s body, thanks to electromagnetic induction using printed coils. Such a system could potentially allow an iPhone, iPad or any portable device to build up a charge as a user moves around, giving up a continual source of extra juice that should at the very least ensure that you never run completely dry while on the go.

Generally speaking, this kind of technology is so large that it would be hard to imagine it fitting into a sleek shell, like the thin and light design of the new iPhone 5. That’s where this unique design comes in, since it offers a method for printing coils in the same way that circuit boards are printed, in dense layers that, when paired with a signal moveable magnet array, could theoretically generate the same kind of electromagnetic charge as, for example, the machine in the YouTube video below.

There are plenty of devices that use similar methods for power creation, including flashlights and some quartz wristwatches. But Apple’s method is clearly aimed at making it possible for this tech to work with smartphones and other mobile gadgets, and could theoretically work either as contained system or as a two-part arrangement in which the magnet portion could live in a holster, case or other device to reduce the necessary bulk. It also doesn’t necessarily have to make iPhone self-powered – a small array that provides enough juice to slowly feed back some charge and thus extend battery life considerably throughout the day would provide considerable benefit, even if it can’t fully charge the device in any reasonable amount of time.

While motion-powered charging for devices as power-hungry as the iPhone still might seem a long way off, there are reasons to believe that Apple might be thinking about this problem as a more immediate concern. First, it seems obvious that the company is looking for ways to maximize its device battery life, as evidenced by it taking the reins on the A6 chip design. Second, a WSJ report from last year that detailed a lot of accurate information about the iPhone 4S also said that Apple was “experimenting” with new features including new methods for charging, for inclusion in future phone models.

Of course, Apple also patents a lot of things, not all of which make it to shipping products. But an iPhone or iPad that powers itself would definitely be a feature addition that would stand out from the increasingly crowded smartphone and tablet race.

[Lightning image via photonquantique/Flickr.]

Samsung intends to chase a sales injunction against the new iPhone 5, court documents apparently reveal, alleging that Apple infringes wireless patents the Korean company holds. New filings in the US legal system, seen by Reuters, detail Samsung’s intentions to append the new Apple smartphone – which hits store shelves tomorrow, Friday September 21 – to its existing motion chasing a block on sales.

“Samsung anticipates that it will file, in the near future, a motion to amend its infringement contentions to add the iPhone 5 as an accused product,” the Samsung filing apparently states. “Based on information currently available, Samsung expects that the iPhone 5 will infringe the asserted Samsung patents-in-suit in the same way as the other accused iPhone models.”

Samsung has not commented on the reported addition to its case, but said in a statement that it feels legal action is warranted as long as Apple maintains its own litigious ways. ”Apple continues to take aggressive legal measures that will limit market competition” Samsung said in a statement. “Under these circumstances, we have little choice but to take the steps necessary to protect our innovations and intellectual property rights.”

Check out our full iPhone 5 review!

Still, Samsung’s track record in the US courts so far has not been good. Apple escaped with a grand total of zero damages to pay its South Korean rival, while Samsung was slapped with a billion dollar fine for infringing on Apple’s patents and designs.

Nonetheless, Samsung is looking to have that decision overturned in the appeals court, as well as doubling down on its attempts to have Apple’s own potential infringement of things including LTE technology taken seriously. An injunction, even a preliminary one, could have a significant impact on Apple’s bottom line: the company has already announced 2m presales in the first 24hrs the iPhone 5 was put up for sale, and analysts predict as many as 10m sales by the end of September alone.

Samsung chasing iPhone 5 sales ban is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Samsung has been widely expected to add the iPhone 5 to its ongoing patent disputes with Apple, and today the Korean electronics company made that official, noting in a U.S. court filing uncovered by Reuters that it “will file, in the near future, a motion to amend its infringement contentions to add the iPhone 5 as an accused product.” Samsung expects the iPhone 5 to fall under the same areas of infringement as existing iPhone models.

It’s not surprising that Samsung would target the iPhone 5, given that the device has already been a high-profile hit for its smartphone market leadership rival. The iPhone 5 sold 2 million units in its first 24 hours of pre-order availability, and is on pace to set records again for opening weekend sales, according to most early estimates. Samsung’s primary goal in its legal wrangling with Apple appears to be to counter that company’s aggressive stance with regards to patent litigation, as indicated by another statement received by Reuters from the Korean company.

“Apple continues to take aggressive legal measures that will limit market competition,” the statement reads. “Under these circumstances, we have little choice but to take the steps necessary to protect our innovations and intellectual property rights.”

As a brief recap of the latest blows exchanged by these two in their ongoing legal battle, remember that Apple was awarded over $1 billion in damages by a U.S. court in August, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 remains barred for sale in the U.S., Samsung and Apple saw a split decision in a South Korean court, and Samsung nabbed a win in Japan over the bounce-back visual interface effect used on smartphones and tablets. Samsung throwing the iPhone 5 onto the pile is just another sign that we’re very far from seeing the end of this back-and-forth. It’ll be interesting to see if in addition to existing actions, any new ones arise from the iPhone 5 (perhaps over LTE use in smartphone devices) after its official arrival on Friday.

We reached out to Apple for comment, and will update if we hear back.

Going to the dentist today is horrible thing for many people. I can only imagine how bad having a cracked tooth or cavity 6500 years ago would be. Scientists have found what they say is the oldest dental filling ever in a tooth from human who lived during the Stone Age.

The scientists say that a simple wax had been applied to a broken tooth dating back 6500 years making it the oldest dental filling on record. The discovery adds evidence that Stone Age Neolithic communities had a surprisingly sophisticated knowledge of dentistry. The scientists say that the tooth belonged to a man between 24 and 30 years old who lived in what is now called Slovenia.

The filled tooth was discovered in a fossilized jawbone found near the village of Lonche. The discovery was found early in the last century and described, catalog, and then filed away in a museum near Trieste, Italy. The fossilized jawbone set in the museum for 101 years without anyone noticing the ancient filling.

The scientists constructed a high-resolution 3-D image of the repaired tooth. The 3-D image showed a long vertical crack and an area of the tooth enamel that had been worn away creating a large cavity. The large cavity exposed the dentine of the tooth. The material the ancient humans used to repair the tooth is beeswax. Beeswax is apparently a very good choice for dental fillings because it has both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. The scientists note that they can’t rule out the filling was applied as part of the burial ritual, but the placing of the wax suggests it was purposely added to seal the damaged tooth of a living person.

[via New Scientist]

Researchers discover Stone Age tooth with world’s oldest dental filling is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Like playing Sonic CD on your Android device but sick of those pesky virtual buttons? How will you ever keep ahold of all those rings?! PowerA has one potential solution for you in its MOGA (mobile gaming system) Bluetooth controller, which arrives at “key retailers and carriers” on October 21 for $49.99. The MOGA comes with two analog sticks, four diamond-style face buttons, two shoulder buttons, and a Bluetooth transmitter for connection with any Android-powered device (Gingerbread or newer OS required). A companion app, available free on the Google Play store, enables the MOGA to work with select titles — not all Android games support the controller, but PowerA promises more are being added all the time; deals with the likes of Gameloft, Atari, Namco, Sega, and Remedy Entertainment are already in place. Should you decide to pick one up this October, the MOGA comes with free copies of Sonic CD (!) and Pac-Man.

Continue reading PowerA’s MOGA Bluetooth Android controller launching on October 21 for $50

Filed under: Cellphones, Gaming, Peripherals, Tablets, Mobile

PowerA’s MOGA Bluetooth Android controller launching on October 21 for $50 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Sep 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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