Saturday, February 27, 2010

Soon TV will be for the Computer Only

The Evidence:

1. Internet video watching is growing steadily...




2. Apple is not interested in making TV-Set's the way Dell and Sony have integrated TV tuner cards into their desktops, instead Apple is focusing on online video sales through itunes.


3. Cablevision "... will be offering software for PCs (and eventually Macs) that transmits your live computer screen -- photo slideshows, Hulu or YouTube videos, whatever -- to your cable box, over a special channel that only you have access to."


4. According to the FCC, 2/3 [65%] of Americans use broadband internet.


5. More money to be spent on online advertising.


Sources: [Business Insider] [Business Insider - Apple] [The Wire] [Crunch Gear] [Tech Crunch]

This Week In Consumer Confidence

Overall Consumer Confidence vs. The iPad Hype


Most people I talk to say they are not going to get an iPad because they have no use for it, but if there is no use for it, why is there so much buzz about a useless product. As the chart [above] shows, people are some what likely to buy an iPad, but who are these people? In the iPad keynote address, Steve Jobs comments that the iPad is for the older generation that are unfamiliar with the daily use of computers. If we look at the day the iPad was officially announced, January 27th, and then look at consumer confidence in January, we may get some answers to our questions on the full extent of who is actually excited about the product.

Though it may seem like the iPad and consumer confidence have little to do with each other, but the announcement of the iPad was broadcasted world wide, and can be considered the peak of consumer goods or the good that everyone is talking about. Clearly other things affect over all consumer confidence, specifically the Toyota Total Recall, but the information below is still relevant.

Though the younger audience, consumers under 35, have the most consumer confidence, they are most likely not the group the most interested in the iPad. Consumer confidence of those 35-54 seems to peak just as the iPad was announced, while younger consumers confidence had experienced a peak a few weeks before.

Sources: [Gizmodo] [Business Insider]

How Does Google Make its Money?


Thursday, February 25, 2010

The Hummer is Dead

The Chinese Have Backed Out of Buying Hummer from G.M.


Sources: [Tree Hugger] [Business Insider] [New York Times]

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

The Great Opportunity

The Toyota Recall has created perhaps the perfect chance for American automobile companies to capture the green car market, justifying Obama's automobile bailout plan.

Ford v. Toyota Stock

[Toyota Price to Book Evaluation]





Cell Phone News

PC World Ranks AT&T with best 3G Service


AT&T has the fastest 3G data plan, but according to the Business Insider, adults are still mostly texting and not taking advantage of the 3G services, even though sales of smartphones are up 24 percent.





Sources: [Engadget] [Business Insider] [Tech Crunch]

Dance the Lights On

Create energy by jumping up and down on these panels. The Energy Dance Floor creates energy from the energy you waste while dancing. Already implemented in a number of clubs in Europe, the energy dance floor is the perfect way to keep your club bumping while also keeping your electricity levels low.





Sources: [Crunch Gear] [Crunch Gear 2]

All Electric BMW - 2013



BMW's first all-electric regular series production vehicle, the Megacity EV, has now been set in stone and inserted into the company's roadmap for a commercial launch in 2012 or 2013.



Source: [Engadget]

Hotel Door Hacking




Related Post:
The assassins of Hamas leader Mahmoud Al Mabhouh, who was killed in a Dubai hotel, broke into the leaders hotel room and killed him by inducing "sever blood pressure to the brain." The video above gives evidence as to how easy it is to break into a secure hotel room. The video below is the CCTV security camera footage of the 10 assassins up to 19 hours before the assassination took place:






Sources: [Crunch Gear] [Black Bag]

USB Powered Hot Lunch Pack

Thanko USB-Powered Hot Lunch Warmer






Sources: [Crunch Gear]

Compost Heating House?

Very Green, but probably very Smelly...



The Comploo is designed to keep inside temperatures up to 120 degrees F.

Sources: [Crunch Gear] [Bakoko]

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

First U.S. Wave-Power Farm



The United States first wave-powered farm is off the coast of Oregon. The wave energy producer is composed of Ten 200 ton buoys [150 ft. x 40 ft], costs $60 million dollars, and powers 400 U.S. homes. 


Sources: [Gizmodo] [USA Today] [Good] [Inhabitat]

The Dropnet

A water collection system for foggy hillsides to help communities that currently have low water infrastructure.






Source: [Dropnet] [Gizmodo]

Spy Gear: Take DSLR Pics from a Distance

Pixel Enterprise LV-W1 Wireless Live View Remote Control


The product also works with iPhones, in case you ever need to take incriminating pictures of someone from across the street, while sitting in the room next to them... James Bond would love this product.


Sources: [Crunch Gear] [Pixel Enterprise Co.]

Monday, February 22, 2010

The Bloom Box - The Future of Power

A Wireless Power Plant in a Box [MUST SEE]


Originally designed to create oxygen on Mar's, this NASA developed technology creates energy from Oxygen. With $400 million invested in the company, and 20 major company users including Google, Fedex, Walmart, Staples, and Ebay, the Bloom Box is quite possibly the future of home electricity usage. 


CBS: 60 Minutes Interview [Video]




Sources: [Engadget] [CBS News]

Protonex Fuel-Cell will Power HULC Exoskeleton for 3 Days


The Human Universal Load Carrier [HULC] exoskeleton designed by Berkeley Bionics in 2008 to allow a man to easily carry an extra 200 pounds effortlessly now has a new power source thanks to Lockheed Martin's new fuel-cell power pack.


Sources: [Engadget]

Cal Poly Eco Car Gets 2,752 Miles Per Gallon



Sources: [Tree Hugger]

DARPA: Falcon HTV-3X


Using regular propulsion, then ramjets, then scramjets to push the jet upwards of 1700-2000 meter per second [4000 mph]. The jet, in seeming competition with the latest Russian T-50 Stealth jet, is built to carry 12,000 pounds of cargo over large distance at incredible speeds.

Sources: [Crunch Gear]

Urban Planning: The Houston Metro Rail

A highlight video of people in Houston, TX finding the brand new Metro Rail in their blindspot.


With this many accidents, maybe there should be some signs that say "Beware of Trains!" If I was governor of Houston, I'd make sure to place up signs warning drivers, it may even be enough political capital in saved lives and commuter rail reliability [since every time a car tries to cut off the train at least one person is late to work] to win another election. Just a thought.

Most news outlets reporting the story have asked the question, "bad drivers or bad design,"but thats besides the point. What if it's both, bad drivers and a bad design. Fix the problem, put some "possible train in your blind spot" signs up.

Sources: [Tree Hugger]

Sunday, February 21, 2010

The Sequoia Solar Truck




Sources: [Green Technology] [Sequoia Solar]

Up Close and Personal: Inside a Wind Turbine




The Case for Movie Piracy

Do People Still Buy Music or Movies? ...NOPE

Why Don't People Buy Movies or Music Again?




Sources: [Gizmodo] [Business Insider] [The Wire]

THE FUTURE: Google Shopper

Take a picture of a CD, book, movie, video game, or pretty much any product with Google Shopper and instantly find online prices, reviews, and product information. Google Shopper is available on Android.


Sources: [Business Insider]

This Week in Solar Technology

MicroEnergy Credits Create Solar Water Heating Systems in Africa

 [Micro Energy Credits]

Possible Solar Fabric - Silicon Nanowire

This silicon nanowire technology could allow for the creation of weaved fabrics that can absorb solar energy. These technology is still in the early phases of development at Cal. Tech. University.

Solar Camels


Sources: [Tree Hugger] [Green Technology] [Tree Hugger]

The New Crestron iPad

A HOME ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM MUST


If there is one reason to buy an iPad, it is to make it a part of your home entertainment system. 


Sources: [Gizmodo]

Orange Peels + Newspaper = Ethanol Fuel

Green Tech of the Week
"Scientists may have just made the breakthrough of a lifetime, turning discarded fruit peels and other throwaways into cheap, clean fuel to power the world's vehicles."

Dr. Henry Daniell in his lab at the University of Central Florida


"Daniell's technique - developed with U.S. Department of Agriculture funding -- uses plant-derived enzyme cocktails to break down orange peels and other waste materials into sugar, which is then fermented into ethanol. Corn starch now is fermented and converted into ethanol. But ethanol derived from corn produces more greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline does. Ethanol created using Daniell's approach produces much lower greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline or electricity. There's also an abundance of waste products that could be used without reducing the world's food supply or driving up food prices. In Florida alone, discarded orange peels could create about 200 million gallons of ethanol each year..."



Sources: [Physorg] [Gizmodo]

This Week's Spy Tech

Vacuum Gloves

Rugged GPS Navigator - For the Tomb Raider/Spy in all of us


Processor: 624MHz Marvell PXA270
Screen: 3.7-inch QVGA/VGA resistive touchscreen
RAM: 256MB
I/O: 3 USB, 1 RJ-45, 1 CF slot, 3.5mm headphone, 3.5mm mic, MicroSD, and others
Wireless: Wi-Fi (b/g/n), 3G, Bluetooth (v1.2)
GPS
Removable battery
Cost: $1899

Consair's Padlock USB Key

Without the PIN, your information stays secure and inaccessible.

  • Secure: Hardware 256-bit encryption secures your data
  • Protection: Your own 4-10 digit PIN protects and locks access to the Flash Padlock 2
  • Capacity: Large 8GB storage gives you ample room to store all your sensitive documents, or up to 2,480 images, or up to 2,000 songs
  • Compatible: No software to install — Works on Windows, Mac or Linux based computers — Plug & Play compatible with virtually any USB port
  • Hacking Detection: Multiple failed entries locks device for 2 minutes to prevent repeated attempts to access data
  • Drive Recovery:  If you lose your PIN, you can reset the Flash Padlock to its factory default state, securely erasing all data from the drive
  • Confidence: Protected by a limited 10 year warranted and backed by Corsair’s renowned customer service and support


Military Technology: The Python


The Python was created and is in use by the British Royal Engineers to clear half a kilometer of possible IED territory. It is the latest British weapon against the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan.


"The Python rocket is a trailer-mounted, rocket-propelled mine-clearing system pulled behind the Trojan armoured engineer tank. The Python system fires a snake of high explosives. The detonation, across a suspected IED field in a dry river bed – wadi – north of Patrol Base Wahid, shook the ground either side of the detonation, and created a huge cloud several hundred metres high."



Sources: [Gizmodo] [Ministry of Defense]

Dick Tracy's Coveted Phone Watch




KEMPLER & STRAUSS
  • GSM Compatibility: 850MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz, 1900MHz
  • TouchScreen: 1.5 inch TFT LCD
  • Bluetooth Profiles: Handsfree, Headset, A2DP 
  • Supports Micro SD card up to 2 GB
  • Built-In Camera (pics and video)
  • Multimedia capable
Crunch Gear Specs

  • Unlocked GSM phone – in a watch!
  • Touchscreen with limited handwriting recognition
  • Camera
  • Full MMS/GPRS support
  • MSRP of $199.99
Crunch Gear Pros:

  • Great conversation starter
  • Cheap for an unlocked GSM phone
  • Bluetooth headset included
Crunch Gear Cons:

  • Screen is too small
  • Battery lasts about a day
  • Lot’s of accessories to lose



Sources: [Crunch Gear] [Tech Crunch]

Previews: Google Goggles


Take a picture of a word in a foreign language and Google Goggles will translate it for you.


Sources: [Business Insider] [Business Insider 2]

Flyfire - Micro LED Helicopters


MIT researchers are in the process of creating a digital 3D aerial display system. The idea is pretty nuts, Flyfire hopefully one day will create images in the sky that fireworks cannot compete with, or even digital sky ads.


Sources: [Boing Boing] [Engadget]

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

A Flashlight/Machine Gun



Did he say the Magpul FMG-9 is for "checking your mailbox?"



Sources: [Boing Boing]

Turn Your Car Into A Tank




Source: [Crunch Gear]

This Week in Green Development

Complete, Stand-Alone Off-Grid Refrigeration System

Promethean, an MIT offshoot, has designed a solar powered stand alone refrigeration system for the developing world.

Solar-powered food storage container: our refrigeration system is designed from the ground up to use very little electrical power. The food storage container can cool and preserve a variety of products—such as milk, fruits and vegetables—using as little as 100W of power. As a result, we could efficiently and economically power it with solar photovoltaic (PV) panels.


Solar-power optimizer: a "black-box" control system maintains the operation of the entire system, minimizes energy consumption and optimizes the use of available solar power. The solar-power optimizer uses proprietary algorithms to efficiently transfer power from solar panels to various electrical loads in the system.


Low-power, low-cost heat exchangers: to reach our cost and power consumption goals, we’ve designed our own heat exchangers to cool and preserve the products. For milk cooling, one of our heat exchanger cools the milk immediately to arrest bacteria growth and maintain milk quality according to international standards.


World's Largest Wind Turbine Offshore

Underway in Norway, the wind turbine will generate 10 MW of Power.



Sources: [Tree Hugger] [Green Technology] [Promethean]