Hasta La Gadget!

Scientists have recently reported that they managed to come up with a new nano-code, an invisible tag of sorts that rely on the widely-used “quick response” code in order to help foil the plans of counterfeiters, especially banknote forgers and criminals who thrive on fake drugs and other faux high value items such as vintage wine. The nano-code is actually a QR code that will be used as a form of authentication. This is no ordinary QR code though, as it comprises of nanoparticles which have been merged with blue and green fluorescent ink.

The code itself will be generated with standard computer-aided design (CAD) equipment, where it is then sprayed onto a surface such as paper, plastic film, office tape, glass via an aerosol jet printer. It will remain invisible until the object becomes illuminated by a near-infrared laser. This would result in the invisible nano-code to pop up as though like magic, where it can then be scanned for verification purposes. Initial tests have proved to be favorable, where even on banknotes, said nano-code continued being readable after multiple wear and tear.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Man of Steel QR code shows off how Superman’s new costume looks like, QR codes on apparel share information about yourself to others,

This might not be the droid that you are looking for, but it definitely is the luggage that you have been waiting all your life – ever since R2-D2 made its appearance back in the 1970s with the debut of Star Wars, enthralling the imagination of geeks and non-geeks worldwide in a grand space opera conjured by a very young George Lucas back then. Since then, we have seen our fair share of R2-D2 incarnations which appeal to the geek demographic, but Salvador Bachiller might be on to a winner here with his €95 R2-D2 luggage that has rollers at the bottom so that you can drag it along the next time you step into your Imperial Shuttle, er, Airbus A380.

Of course, it would be cooler if the relevant electronics that are smart enough could be incorporated into the R2-D2 luggage here, allowing it to follow you around like the tootin’ astromech droid that it was in the movies. Still, I am quite sure that hard core Star Wars fans would find this particular R2-D2 luggage a must buy, never mind what the missus has to say about it.

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Samsung and Apple do have some bad blood going on in between them – to the tune of $1 billion actually, in favor of the fruity company. Word has it (from a Korean source, no less) that Samsung Electronics will “sue Apple over its release of the iPhone 5 for infringing on its fourth-generation (4G) long-term evolution (LTE) connectivity patents.” I guess the battle lines have been drawn even before the September 12th event where it is largely expected for Cupertino to unveil the latest iPhone, currently speculated to be the iPhone 5, at Yerba Buena in San Francisco.

A senior Samsung representative further confirmed the South Korean giant’s intentions of suing Apple over LTE by adding, “It’s true that Samsung Electronics has decided to take immediate legal action against the Cupertino-based Apple. Countries in Europe and even the United States – Apple’s home-turf – are our primary targets.”

No love lost here, and it would be interesting to see, if the lawsuit actually gets filed, how everything will end up.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Apple slashes Samsung memory chip order for new iPhone, says source, Apple injunction on Samsung set for December 6th showdown,

Tech and fashion might make for strange bedfellows, but this does not mean that they are like oil and water – fundamentally unable to gel. The Google Glass which was revealed in further detail this June was spotted in New York city yesterday, with designer Diane von Furstenberg debuting her spring 2013 collection alongside Google’s futuristic eyewear.

This is definitely one of the more interesting collaborations that Google has indulged in for their Google Glass, and it is interesting to note that the $1,500 glasses were not there just for cosmetic purposes, but rather, being used to record behind-the-scenes video footage in order to make up a short movie that focuses on von Furstenberg’s creative process.

von Furstenberg released a statement, saying, “I am so excited to introduce Glass to the fashion world and use this revolutionary technology to give everyone a unique perspective into fashion.” Where else do you think that Google Glass will be able to make an impact?

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The next time you grab the humble toothbrush to keep your pearly whites nice and clean, do remember that it is not only capable of putting tartar and plaque issues at bay, but with a little bit of ingenuity, a couple of astronauts managed to replaced a vital power unit on the International Space Station today with the help of a toothbrush. Of course, the toothbrush was not the only exclusive repair tool, but rather, the sum of a whole, but it is definitely the most unique tool out there thanks to a little innovation and improvisation.

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams and Japanese spaceflyer Akihiko Hoshide were the ones who performed this spacewalk repair with a toothbrush to help them out along the way. Certainly there should be some McGyver blood running through the veins of those astronauts, don’t you think so? I for one, will never look at my toothbrush in the same way ever again. How about you? I guess it did not matter whether the toothbrush was electronic or otherwise.

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