Hasta La Gadget!

Today the SpaceX capsule that’d three weeks ago visited the International Space Station has splashed down into the Pacific Ocean. This trip was planned and executed precisely, with NASA’s announcement of a landing (today) being issued back on the 22nd of this month. What we’ve got inside of this lovely machine is a set of science samples from the space station from areas of human research, biology and biotechnology studies, and physical science investigations, as well as education activities.

The landing was called successful this morning and right around the full 2,668 pounds (1,210 kilograms) will be collected and studied into the future. One of the areas these particular samples are being used is in the study of long-lasting spaceflight’s impact on the human body. Another is the study of plants as they’ve been grown on the space station, these samples being set for aiding in growing better and more fruitful plants in the future both on the space station and here on our planet’s surface.

Also onboard the ship – and shipped back this month – were a collection of crystals grown aboard the ship. With these crystals, NASA scientists hope to aid in the development of new more efficient solar cells as well as semiconductor-based electronics. As NASA reminds us, the SpaceX capsule Dragon “is the only space station resupply spacecraft able to return to Earth intact.”

Elon Musk himself Tweeted at 11:59 AM CST that the recovery ship had secured Dragon. He went on to note that as they powered down all secondary systems, it was apparent that all cargo looked “A ok”. According to the official SpaceX Twitter account, the Dragon capsule made its splashdown at 9:34AM PST – now it’s time to watch the research and see SpaceX and NASA head upward once again!

[Photo via SpaceX]

SpaceX Dragon capsule returns to Earth: what’s in that 2,668 pounds of cargo? is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
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What would you do if you had Glass? Google asked you to share your plans last month, offering up 8,000 coveted reservations in the search giant’s “Explorers” program. Now, the company has finally selected the winners, and plans to send out order invitations “over the next few days.” Sadly, invite recipients will still need to hand over $1,500 (plus tax) for their very own set, and the program is currently limited to folks in the US, but this was still the best opportunity to get an early look at Glass, making it a very appealing program, despite the cost. Google received many creative applications, including a proposal from JetBlue, but only individual users will have an opportunity to make a purchase this time around — the company says that it’s “working on connecting with businesses in other ways.” Congratulations to the lucky winners — feel free to send us a tip when word finally hits your Google+ or Twitter inbox.

Filed under: Displays, Wearables, Google

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Source: Project Glass (Google+)

Rightware, the creator of the Browsermark web browser performance suite and Kanzi, the UX powering Audi automobiles, is getting ready to launch a cross-platform graphics/gaming benchmark called Basemark X. This is a 3D “game-like” application built on the Unity Engine 4.0 which aims at simulating the workload experienced by the hardware when running demanding games. The benchmark will work across iOS, Android and Windows Phone 8+, so when this comes out, we will be able to make more meaningful cross-platform benchmarks to give you a good idea of what your next smartphone is capable off in our reviews. (more…)

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Apple Adds ‘Offers In-App Purchases’ Warning To App Store Descriptions, XCOM: Enemy Unknown Coming To iOS This Summer,

For jetsetters hoping to utilize T-Mobile’s iPhone for all of their international jaunts, we’ve a bit of bad news for you: WiFi Calling isn’t going to hit the carrier’s iPhone initially. Here at today’s T-Mobile UnCarrier event in New York City, the company’s chief marketing officer Michael Sievert told me that “it’s not coming” at launch, but when pressed, he confessed that T-Mob “loves its WiFi Calling feature, and I’ll have to leave it at that.” I then asked if it’s on the roadmap, and if the company would like to have it included in an ideal world, which garnered a smile that I can safely assume means something positive for the future.

Of course, WiFi Calling — which enables travelers to make and receive calls from their US phone number while latched onto a WiFi hotspot anywhere in the known universe — works today on Android, but iOS fanatics aren’t being given a clear date as to when they’ll be brought up to speed. That said, at least T-Mob will sell you an iPhone unlocked, assuming you pay the full MSRP up front. Sievert affirmed to me that if a customer rolls into a T-Mobile store and pays the full price for iPhone, the reps onsite will be empowered to unlock it “on the spot.” Oh, and as for that MSRP? It’ll be the one(s) set by Apple, so you won’t be facing any carrier-induced premiums either.

In fact, you could actually come out a bit cheaper if you’re willing to wait a month. Sievert explained to me that if you picked up a baseline iPhone 5 for $99 with a new T-Mobile agreement, and then paid the first $20 towards its total cost after your first month of service, you could then pay the thing off in full at the amortized rate… meaning that a $649 phone would cost you just $579. And it’d be unlocked for use on any carrier in the world after just a month with T-Mob. Not bad!

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Apple, T-Mobile

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A low-cost, Android-powered mini-computer has turned up on Kickstarter looking for funding. The machine is called the MiiPC and is designed specifically to help parents keep an eye on exactly what their kids are seeing online and how much time they spend online. The machine runs Android 4.2 and works in conjunction with a special application on an Android or iOS smartphone.

Using the application, parents can see every website their kids visited, how much time they spend online, and block access to specific websites. The app also allows the parent to set a time limit that their kids can spend online or on a specific website. That means if you don’t want your kid to be on Facebook for any more than 30 minutes, you can set that via the app. You can also configure the system for multiple children, each with their own usage rules.

The hardware inside the computer is pretty basic, with a 1.2 GHz Marvell Armada dual-core processor and 1 GB of RAM. The machine has 4 GB of integrated storage, an SD slot, and built-in Wi-Fi. Other connectivity options include an Ethernet port, Bluetooth 4.0, dual USB ports, and an HDMI output. The MiiPC can be pre-ordered via Kickstarter for just $99(USD). They expect to start shipping the system late this summer.