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Apr 08

Cyberspies Hack U.S. Electric Grid

Uh-oh. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that “cyberspies” from China, Russia, and elsewhere infiltrated the United States electric system, mapping our power grid and, “[leaving] behind software programs that could be used to disrupt the system.”

While the spies didn’t damage the grid, the national security officials who made the information public suggest that they may be able to so during a war or crisis. “There are intrusions, and they are growing,” one former official told the paper, adding, “If we go to war with them, they will try to turn them on.”

The White House is looking into ways to shield the grid from attacks.

Mar 29

Piezoelectric nanowires could lead to blood-powered iPods, cellphones

Posted in: ipod, medical, nanotechnology, power, science, Today's Chili

You know what’ll be awesome? Actual end products resulting from this presumably nonstop research on piezoelectric nanowires. Yet again we’re hearing of a new group of researchers that have figured out a way to harness electricity from life’s simplest things: walking, a heart beating or even the flowing of blood. Put simply, the gurus have discovered how to use zinc oxide nanowires in order to generate an electric current when “subjected to mechanical stress.” The difference here, however, is that these critters could actually be implanted under the skin, though the scientists have made quite clear that there isn’t a timetable for commercial production. In other words: yawn.

[Via textually, image courtesy of NSF]

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Portable Video, Science

Piezoelectric nanowires could lead to blood-powered iPods, cellphones originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 29 Mar 2009 11:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Feb 18

Freeplay’s ZipCharge spotted, priced and dated

Posted in: charger, charging, mwc, mwc 2009, mwc09, mwc2009, power, Today's Chili

Freeplay‘s ZipCharge has already made its debut, but it’s showing itself once more at Mobile World Congress now that it has a definitive ship date and price. For those out of the loop, this here power stick can charge up in just ten minutes, and the supplied cable provides all sorts of tips to juice up whatever random gadget you have laying around (Palm’s Foleo notwithstanding). The device is expected to splash down on store shelves this April for around £60 ($85), and you can peek a few more hands-on shots in the read link below.

Filed under: Peripherals

Freeplay’s ZipCharge spotted, priced and dated originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 05:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Feb 09

NYT: Google’s PowerMeter to let users track electricity usage

Posted in: Google, power, Today's Chili

The New York Times is reporting Google will announce a free web service tomorrow called PowerMeter that’ll let users track energy consumption in their homes or business, provided there’s a means to upload the data. That part of the equation’s gonna be up to other companies to create compatible devices, and while no manufacturing partners have been named, we’d suspect strange bedfellow GE will probably jump aboard pretty quickly. The service is expected to roll out in the next few months. Ready to give the boys in Mountain View even more access to your life?

Update: The official site has launched. According to the FAQ, PowerMeter is currently in closed beta. There’s also a video about the program, which you can peep after the break.

Continue reading NYT: Google’s PowerMeter to let users track electricity usage

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

NYT: Google’s PowerMeter to let users track electricity usage originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Feb 2009 22:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jan 23

World’s smallest working fuel cell has high potential, low voltage

Posted in: power, Today's Chili

University of Illinois researchers have developed what they claim is the world’s smallest working fuel cell, and it’s certainly a good bit tinier than anything we’ve seen. The itty-bitty battery measures 3 mm x 3 mm x 1 mm and is comprised of just four layers: a water reservoir, a thin membrane, a chamber of metal hydride, and an assembly of electrodes. It can produce 0.7 volts and a 0.1 milliamp current for about 30 hours, with a newer model boasting similar voltage and 1 milliamp of current. That’s not gonna juice your BlackBerry anytime soon, but scientists suggest it could be used for simple electronics and microbots. As for future application, we’re hoping one day can power a fingernail-sized smartphone.

[Via Register Hardware]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

World’s smallest working fuel cell has high potential, low voltage originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 21:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jan 16

Palm Pre to use Centro-sized battery (Updated)

Posted in: palm, palm pre, PalmPre, power, Today's Chili

For all those commenters in our recent Palm Pre feature wondering just exactly what kind of battery we could expect to see in the device, wonder no more. According to Dieter Bohn over at the newly christened PreCentral, the phone will use the ~~exact same battery as the Treo 800w and the Centro — a 1150mAh model~~. Apparently Palm reps were happy to snap the back off the device and show the source of its juice off. That same size battery is used in the G1 as well, and Dieter notes that there’s an aftermarket 1350mAh version which could offer more power. Certainly such a small battery — a size which we know leaves a lot to be desired in a next-gen phone like the G1 — isn’t music to our ears, but since we don’t know how the Pre handles power consumption, there’s still plenty of questions to be answered. And hey, you could keep a spare around, right?

Update: Jenn at Pocketables tells us that the battery is 1200mAh as told to her by a Palm rep at CES.

Update 2: We’ve just gotten word from Palm that this actually isn’t set in stone yet. In their words: “We’re still doing some final development and testing various user scenarios as part of carrier certification.”

[Via Palm Infocenter]

Filed under: Cellphones

Palm Pre to use Centro-sized battery (Updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jan 10

Kinesis K2 solar / wind charger hands-on: Captain Planet approved

Posted in: charger, Features, power, solar, solar power, SolarPower, Today's Chili

Kinesis’ K2 solar / wind charger will power any USB device and is guaranteed to disappoint people mistaking it for a handheld fan. Of course, if you’re feeling less environmental, feel free plug it into an AC outlet to reenergize the thing. Anticipating popular demand, we’ve put video after the break.

Gallery: Kinesis K2 solar / wind charger hands-on: Captain Planet approved, in theory