Hasta La Gadget!

Transparent photovoltaics have yet to grace the face of your smartphone, but don’t give up hope — UCLA researchers are working on a new see-through solar cell that’s showing potential. Using a new type of polymer solar cell, the team has been able to build a device that converts infrared light into electrical current. Current prototypes boast 4 percent energy conversion efficiency at 66 percent transparency — not crystal clear, but certainly clean enough to peer through. According to a study in ACS Nano, the technology could be used in “building-integrated photovoltaics or integrated photovoltaic chargers for portable electronics.” Translation? It could one day be used to build solar windows or better sun collecting smartphones. Don’t get too excited though, the technology still has a ways to go before any of these dreams come to fruition. Still, feel free to head past the break for the team’s official press release, or skip to the source to take in the full academic study.

Continue reading UCLA creates transparent solar cell, dreams of current generating windows

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Science

UCLA creates transparent solar cell, dreams of current generating windows originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Jul 2012 03:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  ACS Nano  | Email this | Comments

We’ve seen a fair share of Android-powered set-tops in our time, but KDDI (with the help of Panasonic) has taken a slightly different entertainment route with its recently unveiled Smart TV Box. Similar to some Google TV boxes, which the Smart TV Box isn’t, KDDI plans to bring this one to cable providers in Japan to act as the main unit in living rooms, with the testing phase set to commence as soon as next month. KDDI’s Smart TV Box is powered by an undisclosed dual-core chip and feeds off of a tasty bite of Mountain View’s Ice Cream Sandwich. As far as ports and other features, there’s HDMI and three USB ports on board, while ethernet (WiFi, too) keeps you connected and a built-in hard drive takes care of all your DVR needs. Like we said earlier, trial runs will start in August, but the Japanese company expects to have the brick officially up-and-running in a number of households later this fall. In the meantime, though, there’s a soothing video for your viewing pleasure just past the break.

Continue reading KDDI unveils ICS ‘Smart TV Box’ for cable providers in Japan, available later this year (video)

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Home Entertainment

KDDI unveils ICS ‘Smart TV Box’ for cable providers in Japan, available later this year (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jul 2012 14:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  KDDI  | Email this | Comments

The list of CEOs and other execs in the US that have accepted multi-million dollar bonuses for lording over the crash and burn of a company (or even an entire economy) is staggering. And we can guarantee you that most of that money went towards fancy cars and golden toilet seats. Lenovo’s Yang Yuanqing, on the other hand, received a sizable $3 million bonus for actually being good at his job. The additional bonus was a reward for steering the company to record shipments and profits despite a weakening PC market. And what did Mr. Yuanqing do with that money? He gave it back to his employees. That second bonus was broken down into 10,000 discrete chunks and dispersed to line workers, assistants and other lower-level employees. I think that officially makes Yang Yuanqing our new favorite CEO in tech.

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Lenovo CEO spreads the wealth, distributes his $3 million bonus to lower level employees originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jul 2012 11:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Verge, ZDNet  |  CNN  | Email this | Comments

Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina if you’re an Apple data center. The Winston-Salem Journal reports that the folks in Cupertino have filed plans with Catawba County officials for a second 21,000 square foot “tactical” data center that will house 11 rooms and carry a $1.9 million price tag. Mechanical permits outline the need for 22 air conditioners and 14 humidifiers alongside fans and heaters for the building that will nestle up to the existing construction. This is, of course, on the same site that will be home to two 20 megawatt photovolatic arrays and a hydrogen fuel cell facility when all is said and done. Here’s to hoping the alternative energy-powered construction catches with other tech giants, too. Lookin’ at you, Facebook.

Continue reading Apple plans second North Carolina data center, avoids the ‘Deep River Blues’

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Apple plans second North Carolina data center, avoids the ‘Deep River Blues’ originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Jul 2012 17:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink MacNews  |  Winston-Salem Journal  | Email this | Comments

Microsoft has just dropped its Q4 2012 earnings report and things are looking pretty darn good… depending on your angle. The company reported a record fourth quarter revenue of $18.06 billion, but did suffer a net loss over the last three months of $492 million. While the net loss was in stark contrast the net profit of $5.87 billion from the same time last year, Microsoft is still optimistic heading towards the launch of Windows 8 and its sibling mobile platform. And who can blame them, the new OS is sure to drive plenty of consumers to their local Best Buy with fists full of cash. And, it’s easy to paint a rosy picture as long as revenues continue to grow, as they did by roughly $700 million compared to Q4 2011, and roughly $600 million sequentially. It’s also important to realize that that loss is due to a one-time “goodwill impairment charge” associated with the collapsed aQuantive deal that set Redmond back $6.2 billion.

A good chunk of the revenue increase is thanks to the company’s Business and Server divisions, which saw growths of seven and 13 percent, respectively. Income from the Entertainment and Devices division, which makes up a much smaller chunk of revenue over all at just $1.78 billion, also grew dramatically year-over-year, largely because of the inclusion of Skype.

Alongside Q4’s results, Microsoft also released its year-end financials and, while that $6.2 billion lump drove profits down, revenues were up by $3.76 billion from 2011. Even with the aQuantive related hit, Redmond still managed to post a net income of $16.98 billion for the year. For all the finer financial details hit up the source link.

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Microsoft announces record Q4, $18.06 billion in revenue originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Jul 2012 16:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Microsoft  | Email this | Comments