Hasta La Gadget!

Police in Roswell, NM are now using 3D scanners to virtually map crime scenes, allowing investigators, jurors, judges, and lawyers to inspect the environment from any angle with a 3D, panoramic image.

The Roswell Police Department is just one of many police departments currently using Faro Technology‘s 3D imaging hardware to analyze crime scenes. In other words, you’ll probably see this kind of crime scene scanning on one of your favorite TV shows very soon.

This could play a significant role in solving crimes, as well as prosecuting crimes in the court room. The ability to see the crime scene from any perspective gives jurors more insight into the case than any 2D picture could.

Roswell’s police department has been requesting this equipment since 2008, and has finally achieved their goal in a capital outlay program that cost $86,000.

Faro Technology offers a device that uses a laser and various touchpoint markers to measure every cubic inch of the scene. It’s called the Focus3D, and it is equipped with a touchscreen, GPS, and a height sensor. The handheld device connects to computers via a WLan connection.

The final is a lot like using Apple Maps or Google Maps in 3D mode, but with far more detail on a smaller area.

[via Vice]

Cooking is rarely about using perfectly precise portions—so Umbra designed this clever spice rack with a set of six cylindrical containers, each with its own adjustable ring that lets you shake out as much seasoning as you need. Or, you can simply remove the cap to grab a tried-and-true pinch of whatever spice the recipe calls for.

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This afternoon Apple has shared their financial Q1 2014 results with the public, showing that, in the quarter leading up to the 30th anniversary of the Apple/Mac connection, the company … Continue reading

This isn't about exercising your flies.

(Credit: Video screenshot by Amanda Kooser/CNET)

Jeff Goldblum may have had more in common with that housefly he accidentally melded with in “The Fly” than his character ever suspected. A team of Stanford University researchers have determined that both flies and humans have a similar way of perceiving motion.

The researchers figured this out by placing flies on a tiny movable ball that acted like a mini, multi-directional treadmill. The flies were shown movies and had their movements monitored, since fly behavior is to turn in the direction of motion.

On the human side of the equation, the researchers monitored scalp electroencephalogram signals while the subjects watched videos. The participants then completed a questionnaire about their perception of motion in the videos. The researchers say both humans and flies pick up a moving object’s speed, direction, and brightness.

The videos used in the study wouldn’t make for the most scintillating entertainment. They consisted of black and white geometric shapes moving in patterns. The humans, for example, viewed video of rapidly shifting small squares that together give a sense of motion and repo… [Read more]

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If there’s one thing I’ve learned when I travel, it’s that my iPhone 5 will run out of battery before I finish the day. When I’m at home, it’s fine, but out and about, I find that searching for networks, GPS, and other everyday usage burns through battery like it’s nobody’s business.  These days, it’s almost a requirement that you travel with a spare battery or backup power source of some kind.

I’ve been using a Mophie Juice Pack Air for a while now, but I’ve had various problems with mine, so I’ve been looking for alternatives. So when I had a chance to check out the new Jackery Leaf battery case for the iPhone 5/5S, my curiosity was piqued for sure.

The first thing you’ll notice about the Jackery Leaf is that it’s a very different design from other battery packs on the market. Its true innovation is that when the battery is removed, your phone is still protected by a case.

In fact, the cases are interchangeable, and the Leaf comes with both a black and an orange iPhone case for you to swap around.

Once you’ve slipped your iPhone into the case of your choice, simply slide the case onto the keyhole hook on the Leaf’s battery back, ensuring the Lightning connector is docked and you can use the battery to juice up your phone. But if you want to travel light, you can just as easily slip the phone off the back, and it remains in its case. While the look isn’t quite as seamless as other battery cases, the convenience far outweighs that minor tradeoff.

With both battery and case snapped together, its total dimensions are 5.4″(L) x 2.4″(W) x 0.7″(H), providing the sometimes too lithe iPhone 5/5S with some much needed substance. The case itself only adds 0.625 ounce to your phone, while the battery and case combo adds 3.375 ounces. This is a tad more than the 2.75 ounce weight of the Mophie Juice Pack Air, but I didn’t notice it in everyday use. Plus, the Leaf has a larger capacity battery. Keep in mind that with the battery on, you may have to use the included headphone extension cable depending on how long and narrow your headset plug is.

Charging the Jackery Leaf is easy – just plug the included microUSB to USB cable between the case and a spare USB port or charger, and it’ll fill up in about four to five hours. Like the Mophie, I’d rather see a Lightning charging jack, but I’m assuming that using one for charging would drive the price up. The case also offers pass-through charging of your iPhone, so you can leave the case on all the time even if you are only using the internal battery of your iPhone most of the time. The iPhone charges first, then the case.

Turning the battery on or off is achieved by pressing the flat button on the back of the case for two seconds. Tapping that button will illuminate to indicate how much power the pack has using a multi-color LED. The 2400 mAh battery inside was enough to juice up my iPhone fully, and then give it another 35% or so after that. A full charge of the iPhone takes about three hours, but you can keep using your phone right away if it’s low on battery and you enable the Leaf, which I did on several occasions when my iPhone dropped down into the nerve-wracking 10% zone.

I really have nothing bad to say about the Jackery Leaf. It offers an innovative interchangeable case design, carrying flexibility, enough battery to charge your iPhone fully (and a little more) and is an all around good deal when compared with its biggest competitor.

In addition to the black and orange combo pack, Jackery is also offering a version with a white and an orange case. Hopefully, they’ll offer more interchangeable cases down the road, in case your case gets damaged, or if you just want a change of color. Regardless, the very fact that you can keep your phone in a case and then dock it with the battery is a big advantage over other battery cases.

The Jackery Leaf lists for $99.95(USD), but is currently on sale for just $79.95 over on Amazon. I’m not sure how long that price will hold, so you should take advantage of it sooner rather than later.