technology & science news
The often dependable Land Rover Defender has been an automotive icon over the years but yet like everything, a contemporary update for the times could bode well with Land Rover aiming for a 2015 update. The DC100 Concept to be presented at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show will provide more than aesthetics as the SUV will be put on display, including overviews of its performance and technical capabilities.
Source: Autoblog
Walcom has turned the world upside down for artists with the introduction of its Wacom Inkling pen. The “old school” workflow for artists meant those who worked in analog format prior to digitizing their work required a further scanning process. But now with the Inkling, you’re able to work digitally and analogously in the same step as the pen, and a sensor records all the necessary movements which can then be transferred to your computer. For more details, watch the video below which presents the various features of the Inkling.
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Making its debut, the Fujifilm X10 camera is finally given a closer look which in turn presents some impressive features. Seen here, the Fujifilm X10 includes a convenient power switch on the lens that has a quick start-up time of 0.8 seconds. Other details include a 1080p video recording feature and four auto bracketing options for ISO, exposure, dynamic range and film simulation. Look for the X10 to start shipping to Fujifilm retailers this coming November.
Source: Photo Rumors
As promised, Lockheed Martin finally put its SAMARAI monocopter drone on display at AUVSI’s drone extravaganza in D.C. this week, for the first time flying it before a public audience as PopSci and everyone else in the air demo area looked on in awe. After all, the thing has just one rapidly rotating wing–it doesn’t really look like it can stay aloft by itself. Seeing, however, is believing.
The name (it’s not a typo) is actually derived from samara, or maple seeds, on which the monocopter design is based. Those seeds, sporting a single wing-like accessory, spiral from their branches and spin their way through the air–a natural development that allows maples to disperse their seeds more widely.
Lockheed’s version is a bit bigger (but sill weighs less than half a pound) and noisier, as you’ll see below. It also packs a camera that remarkably is able to maintain a steady view in one direction, demonstrating its eventual ISR potential (that camera also can turn 360 degrees with no gimbal). If you turn up your sound, you can hear Lockheed’s own Kingsley Fregene, principal investigator for SAMARAI, explaining how it works. What he didn’t explain to us is how he knew that adding a couple of neon lights to the bottom would make this demo so much cooler.
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It has been a relatively long few months since Casio G-Shock has unveiled a unified series of watches under a color theme. The “Men in Smoky Gray” collection breaks that trend with three new popular models based on the Gulfman GW-9110, Riseman GW-9200 and finally the Mudman GW-9300. Radio synchronization is a common feature among the watches for daily accuracy. A separate contrasting color differentiates the models from one another as well. The Men in Smoky Gray collection will hit retailers in September.
What we can create using today’s technology is truly limitless. Rob Spence (also known as Eyeborg) takes us through not only his journey of replacing his eye with a wireless camera but he investigates other incredible stories of prosthetics, cybernetics and human augmentation. The documentary was timed with the release of the new Deus Ex: Human Revolution video game and was commissioned by the Deus Ex‘s publisher Square Enix. This documentary looks to answer the questions of how far we are from the future as it provides an incredible look into what technology can do today for our everyday lives. Enjoy!
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After ten years of intensive research, Swiss watch manufacturer IWC has succeeded in uniting solar time with sidereal time, together with astronomical displays, in a single watch. The result is a fascinating universal work of art which comes with a wealth of surprising complications and new technical features. The Portuguese Sidérale Scafusia is the most complex timepiece ever created by IWC. The Portuguese Sidérale Scafusia was designed to bring together astronomical displays and to show them with absolute precision. The most conspicuous feature of this new and highly complex timepiece is the constant-force tourbillon, which dominates the dial. But the reverse side of the watch is no less impressive. Neatly packed into the tiny space are a celestial chart, horizon, geographical coordinates, solar time, sidereal time, sunrise and sunset display as well as a display showing daytime, nighttime and twilight. And behind the display showing the number of day, of course, is a completely integrated perpetual calendar. Further information on the timepiece is available here.
The Cadillac Ciel, translating to “sky” in French, is named for its convertible look that stretches the boundaries of what Cadillac can produce. Still only a concept car, the Ciel is a four-seat convertible that has all the sleek features of a usual Cadillac car with an impressive twin-turbo 3.6 liter V6 engine, 425 bhp (317 kW / 431 PS) and 430 lb-ft (583 Nm) coupled to a hybrid transmission powering an all-wheel-drive system. The video catches up with the car’s designers to talk inspirations and origins as well as present a closer look at the vehicle.
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SOL REPUBLIC join the ever-growing audio market with a new launch set for this fall. The affordable range of on-ear and in-ear headphones look to leverage a more lifestyle approach to their products. Standing for “Soundtrack Of Life,” SOL hopes to partner great customizable design and advanced materials to create something new for the market. The headphone styles start and $60 USD and include two models, the Amps In-Ear and the Tracks On-Ear, each available in a step-up HD version.
The PC industry introduces the new Razer Blade laptop specially geared toward gaming. The laptop is made with a sturdy aluminum frame with an incredible performance and an all-new revolutionary user interface. The Razer Blade offers the perfect balance between portability and performance with an exterior measuring at 0.88 inches thin and weighing in at only 6.97lbs. Developed in partnership with Intel, the Razer Blade features a fast Intel Core i7 processor and a high performance NVIDIA GeForce graphics processor. With an incredible LED-backlit high-definition 17” display, you’ll get the full gaming experience with the Razer Blade’s wide screen, fast performance and portability.