DIYRockets starts a challenge to build open source, 3D-printed rocket engines

DIYRockets and Sunglass start a challenge to make open source, 3Dprinted rocket engines

DIYRockets believes that our chances of advancing space exploration improve when everyone can lend a hand. The company is putting its money where its mouth is by launching a competition to develop 3D-printed rocket motors using Sunglass’ cloud design platform. Teams who sign up have to build an engine that could boost a nanosatellite-level payload into low Earth orbit using 3D-printed steel and other safe materials. The only major stipulations are that creators present a good business case and open-source their creations to help out other builders. DIYRockets’ prize strategy reflects its for-the-greater-good ambitions: there’s a $5,000 award for the best motor, but there are separate $2,500 prizes for both a student creation and the design that contributes the most to the industry. Registration officially starts on March 9th, and runs until April 6th, with the finished models due on June 1st. We’ll be closer to a crowdsourced vision of space when the winners are revealed by July 1st.

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Source: DIYRockets

‘Smoked by Windows Phone’ campaign stops the smack talk, asks you to ‘Meet your Match’

'Smoked by Windows Phone' campaign stops the smack talk, asks you to 'Meet your Match'

The “Smoked By Windows Phone” marketing drive has seen over 250,000 head-to-head handset battles so far, with many hits for Redmond and also a few embarrassing misses. The campaign is now changing tack to embrace a slightly safer, less physical tone, under the banner of “Meet your Match.” The side-by-side comparisons with rival phones will remain, but the spotlight has been broadened to cover features like camera work and sharing, among others, instead of focusing only on speed. While it’s likely the offer of free phones as prizes that will light up faces in the promo vids, regardless of the strengths of the OS itself, the overall pitch certainly feels more on-point than some others we’ve seen.

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Source: Windows Phone Blog, YouTube

Google patches SVG and IPC exploits in Chrome, discoverer banks $60,000 in the process

Google Chrome logoGoogle revels in hacking contests as ways of testing Chrome’s worth. Even if the browser is compromised, the failure provides a shot at fixing an exploit under much safer circumstances than an in-the-wild attack. No better example exists than the results of Google’s Pwnium 2 challenge in Malaysia: the company has already patched vulnerabilities found in the contest that surround SVG images and IPC (inter-process communication) before they become real problems. Staying one step ahead of truly malicious hackers carries a price, however. Pwnium 2 winner Pinkie Pie — yes, Pinkie Pie — is being paid $60,000 in prize money for catching the exploits. That may be a small price to pay if it reassures a few more Internet Explorer users looking to hop the fence.

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Google patches SVG and IPC exploits in Chrome, discoverer banks $60,000 in the process originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Oct 2012 09:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sigma R&D shows Kinect sign language and Jedi savvy to win gesture challenge (video)

Sigma shows Jedi and sign language skills to win gesture challenge with Kinect

Sigma R&D has won first prize in a gesture challenge to show just how much more talent — like sign language translation and light saber fun — can be unlocked in a Kinect. Normally the Microsoft device can only scope body and full mitt movements, but the research company was able to track individual fingers with a Kinect or similar sensor, plus its custom software, allowing a user’s hand to become a more finely tuned controller. To prove it, the company introduced a virtual lightsaber to a subject, tracking his swordsmanship perfectly and using his thumb extension to turn it on and off. The system even detected when a passing gesture was made, seamlessly making a virtual transfer of the weapon. The same tech was also used to read sign language, displaying the intended letters on the screen for a quick translation. The SDK is due in the fall, when we can’t wait to finally get our hands on a Jedi weapon that isn’t dangerous or plasticky. To believe it for yourself, see the videos after the break.

Continue reading Sigma R&D shows Kinect sign language and Jedi savvy to win gesture challenge (video)

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Sigma R&D shows Kinect sign language and Jedi savvy to win gesture challenge (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Jul 2012 10:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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