Hasta La Gadget!

Confronting Climate Change – Climate Change and the Fate of our Forests

Watch Live at 4:00 pm – 4:50 pm MDT (6:00 pm – 6:50 pm EDT) on Sunday, June 29, 2014.

Dr. Brian Enquist, an expert in ecology and evolutionary biology, brings to life a geographic inventory of forest assets for western North America. When coupled with the latest climate models, a high-resolution picture emerges of the health of our future forests. New advances in bioinformatics and mathematical modeling enable us, for the first time, to answer the question ‘what will the forest in my backyard look like?’ This presentation, produced in concert with the local Aspen Center for Environmental Studies, is cutting edge both in analyses and technological interface, and will demonstrate what we will experience over the coming decades if action on a grander scale is not taken. The science of climate change and forest health is revealing potentially dramatic implications for all of us, whether we be homeowners, recreationists, investors, insurers, or land developers.

Special Guests:

Brian J. Enquist – Professor, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona.
Jerry Murdock – Retired Managing Director and Co-Founder, Insight Venture Partners; Trustee, The Aspen Institute
Chris Lane – CEO, Aspen Center for Environmental Studies

Remember those giant shredders that can chomp on anything, from cars to fridges? This mechanical monster is basically a smaller version of those, attached to an excavator arm. It can disintegrate any tree in seconds. If there’s ever a zombie apocalypse, I want to have one of these.

Read more…

When it comes to drone action, we have seen quite a few different models released in the past, and it does not look as though drones are going to go out of fashion anytime soon. On the contrary, as technology progresses, drone technology is going to get better, more accurate, not to mention being able to deliver better quality images and videos to it’s owner. Well, with the AirDog, adventures as well as those with a roving spirit alike will be able to record their adrenaline pumping action from a third person point of view.

The AirDog was developed using Stratasys 3D printing technology, where this means end users are able to end up with their very own affordable and personal aerial video crew. Targeting the consumer market primarily, AirDog happens to be an innovative, yet simple-to-use, ‘quad-copter’ which can be operated through a wrist-worn tracking device, as it accommodates a standard GoPro sports camera.

With it, users are able to automatically capture exciting live aerial video footage and still photography of themselves, with a set distance, speed and height levels for AirDog to follow. It does seem as though AirDog will eventually shape up to be of particular interest to recreational participants of freestyle BMX, motocross and skateboarding, not to mention the different water-sports including the likes of surfing, kite-surfing and wake-boarding.

The final version of the AirDog drone happened to be fully 3D printed thanks to Stratasys’ FDM-based ULTEM material, which was selected due to its ability to provide parts of extreme strength and durability, sporting lightweight characteristics that are crucial for take-off and in-flight maneuverability.

With this, you can more or less come up with your very own action sequences, without having to worry that whatever stunts you pull off will not be captured on video for all and sundry to see.

Press Release
[ AirDog auto-follow action sports drone launched copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Earlier this week at I/O 2014 Google unveiled new software initiatives that expand its reach into the automotive, wearable and television market. While developers tinker around with Android Auto, Android Wear and Android TV software the company has put its foot down this time around for manufacturers. For years, OEMs have been allowed to alter the user interface and slap on custom skins on Android smartphones and tablets, but they won’t be extended the same courtesy on these new initiatives. Google will have sole control over the user interface for Android Auto, Wear and TV.

Google engineering director David Burke confirmed to Ars Technica that the underlying software and user interfaces of all three initiatives will be controlled by Google and not the OEMs. Talking about Android TV in particular, Burke said that “The UI is more part of the product in this case,” and in the interest of providing a more consistent user experience, the interfaces across these devices will be the same.

Though he did say that OEMs will have the ability to brand their products and even include their own services. Samsung recently confirmed that while its Android Wear smartwatches can’t wear the Magazine UX or TouchWiz skins they’ll be integrating their own services in the wearable devices down the line.

This shift in strategy also gives Google more control over the software update process. It will be able to manage updates for different devices from different manufacturers directly, and in the end, be able to provide users with a consistent experience.

Manufacturers who insist on making their products completely different from the pack would then have to rely upon forks of Google’s software. Like Amazon has done with its Kindle Fire and Fire TV, the underlying OS is Android, but its heavily modified and doesn’t support Google’s services.

Google Will Maintain Control Over Android Auto, Wear And TV User Interface , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell had some harsh words for Hillary Clinton during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet The Press” Sunday.

Mitchell told host David Gregory that Clinton is “rusty” and “out of touch,” to judge by recent comments the former secretary of state made during her ongoing book tour.

“She is a little bit out of touch,” Mitchell said, “despite all of her work and all of her connection to hardworking people in the middle class.”

Mitchell’s criticism is a response to recent comments Clinton made to ABC’s Diane Sawyer that her family was “dead broke” when they left the White House in 2000. Those remarks have made Clinton the target of tough media criticism this month, in which Mitchell is now the latest participant.

“It’s a little bit of lack of self-awareness when she talks about being dead broke and she then tried to fix it, but still not getting the language, you know, politically correct,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell may have been referring to Clinton’s later statement that calling herself “dead broke” “may have not been the most artful way of saying that Bill and I have gone through a lot of different phases in our lives.”

In an exclusive interview that also aired Sunday, Clinton’s husband, former President Bill Clinton, sat down with Gregory and defended his wife’s claims about the family’s financial situation, stating that they were indeed millions of dollars in debt at the time. He also argued that Clinton has a record of supporting middle- to low-income Americans.

“She’s not out of touch,” he said. “She advocated and worked as a senator for things that were good for ordinary people.”

Watch the video above for a clip from “Meet The Press.”

(h/t: Real Clear Politics)