Steve Wozniak talks about the garage, the Apple I, ][, Steve Jobs

Designing the Apple I: “I worked for a couple u’ weeks every night ‘till 4 in the morning … it had to be that artistically perfect … it represents yourself when you do a great design.”

“Steve Jobs … he’d pop into town, see what I was up to – the latest thing I’d designed for fun, & then he’d somehow turn them into some money for both of us.”

“The garage is a bit of a myth.”

Original price of the Apple ][: “The retail price was six hundred & sixty six dollars & sixty six cents because I, as a mathematician, liked repeating digits.”

/ Apple Computer revolution board component layout design designer top 10 most disruptive ideas in recent history co-founder interview origins company Steve Jobs debunked breadboarding prototyping planning products manufacture manufacturing co-founder Steve Jobs first computer to sell over 1 million units high school brink computer revolution create things design new show future technology The Woz host /

Parrot Bebop Drone (video)

Indoors is OK too!
Credit: DIY Drones

Parrot has created a new level of performance for the dollar, with their Bebop Drone. Like their other drones, control is via WiFi using an app on your smartphone or tablet (iOS or Android). Range is 200 metres, or with the purpose-built Skycontroller, 3.2 km. Augmented reality glasses supported too.


Skycontroller & augmented reality glasses
Credit: SlashGear

Parrot promo video – definitely worth a look, even if you have no interest in the drone!



http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/sneak-peak-of-parrot-s-amazing-new-bebop-drone

http://au.pcmag.com/robotics-automation-products/26213/news/hands-on-with-the-parrot-bebop-drone

http://techcrunch.com/2014/11/19/parrots-14mp-bebop-drone-to-take-flight-in-december-for-500/

Manufacturer’s website

http://www.parrot.com/au/products/skycontroller/?gclid=CjwKEAiAkpCkBRCtstKQo5ia5nESJACsCikRZbra08ESGIhm8hSCQ5J6e1fdWA9D7XZj2O7h9xBrSBoC4i_w_wcB / Parrot price drop dropped price high definition drones starting price of $US500 DJI entry level Phantom drone quality camera novel tricks controllable control smartphone tablet big upgrade cheaper AR Drone serious drone technology keep price down safe to fly indoors inside flight capabilities range extender controller range 2 kilometer limit stream streaming captured video smartphone built in GPS downward facing cameras keep drone in place high altitude flying f2.2 fish-eye lens 180 degree angle of view 14 megapixel sensor 1080p full-HD resolution; the AR.Drone 2.0 is limited to 720p. Video is recorded to the Bebop's 8GB of internal storage (there's no microSD or SD card slot) in MP4 format. Photos can be captured in JPEGs or Adobe DNG raw format digitally digital pan zoom picture stability stabilize three axes cut costs light weight 410 grams 14.5 ounces compact software based 3 axis image stabilization Bebop’s sleek body dedicated controller extend extends Bebop’s range 200 metres meters 2 kilometers pilot view drone’s camera output VR AR glasses goggles Oculus Rift controller amplifies connected smartphone tablet wifi signal analog joysticks buttons more precise control standard SkyController GNSS chipset with GPS Glonass Galileo built in /

Waka Waka Power Charger

Credit: Off-Grid Solutions /The Gadgeteer

Because you are reading this, you are probably not one of the people the Waka Waka Power Charger was originally designed for. Waka Waka ("Shine Bright" in Swahili) Power Charger was developed for the energy poor. People who have no household electricity. Their homes are illuminated with lamps or naked flames. This is both dangerous, & increasingly expensive. Wakk Wakka Power Charger was developed to provide electricity & light in such circumstances. It includes a solar charger & lithium ion battery so that it can be operated with no ongoing costs.

Energy poor communities, often leap-frog a wired telephone network, straight to mobile (cell). Mobile phones need to be charged, which is typically difficult &/or expensive for the energy poor. Wakka Wakka Power Charger is offered for sale on credit. Typically, repayments for the Wakk Waka are less than owners were previously paying for lighting fuel.

Although developed for the energy-poor, Wakka Wakka Power Charger can provide light & phone charging for you too:

Review

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/06/14/waka-waka-power-charger-review/

Manufacturer’s website

http://us.waka-waka.com/ / device Kickstarter portable personal solar charging station lamp light humanitarian efforts Off-Grid Solutions WakaWaka Power energy poverty solar light dangerous kerosene sale donated micro-loans assistance in need hand-up model communities build their own economic futures OGSbuy one give one promotion Clinton Global Initiative distribute programs conservation USB cable electronic devices USB input port microUSB micro USB bright light reading study grades reader level light intensity levels flashlight lighting needs reader SOS S.O.S. flashing beacon Morse code black power button self-charging battery status check charge charging solar charging indicator photovoltaic panels exposed to light propriety solar panel system 200% more efficient /

Will Toyota lose money on its hydrogen fuel cell car?

Credit: Autoblog Green

It is widely accepted that Toyota lost money on every Prius is sold for a number of years. Something similar happened, & is probably continuing, with cars such as the Nissan Leaf & GM’s Volt.

Pat Cox of TransEuropean Networks has estimated that Toyota will lose €50,000 to €100,000 on its fuel cell vehicle, the Mirai. Thats $US60,000 to $US120,000 – more than the asking price of $US57,500.

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1095773_how-much-money-does-the-2016-toyota-mirai-lose-a-lot-perhaps / All automakers expect to lose money at first when they launch expensive new powertrain technologies European official experience alternative fuel infrastructure 2016 Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell sedan losing maker manufacturer lot of money Challenge Bibendum green car competition Chengdu China panel discussion fueling recharge charge charging infrastructures for different green vehicles included some cost estimates Pat Cox, a former president of the European Parliament. Cox currently works with TransEuropean Networks agency promoting better connection and coordination among businesses and infrastructure in the European Union 2016 Mirai sell sells federal state incentives sale fueling hydrogen fuel cell vehicles first mover advantage costs carmakers fueling companies government support kickstart hydrogen infrastructure Autoblog Green parties agreed commercially viable for profit sector /

OnePlus One phablet

Credit: Know Your Mobile

• 5.5 inch, 1080 x 1920 screen
• Snapdragon 801 quad core CPU at 2.5 GHz
• 3 GB RAM
• 64 GB flash storage
• 13 megapixel rear camera – Sony Exmor IMX214, f/2.0 aperture
• 5 megapixel front camera
• 4G
• 3100 mAh battery
• CyanogenMod version of Android
• enthusiastic reviews

And the price? $US349. If that’s more than you want to pay, there is a $299 version, which is identical, except for 16 GB flash storage & white rear cover, rather than black.

There are a couple of negatives:

• non-removeable battery
• no flash storage expansion

So, what’s the catch?

Buying one – apparently supply is limited – which may explain the, “This product requires an invite to buy”, policy.

Reviews:



http://www.techradar.com/au/reviews/phones/mobile-phones/oneplus-one-1244307/review

http://www.engadget.com/2014/05/08/oneplus-one-review/

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2014/07/oneplus-one-review-an-unbelievably-fantastic-smartphone/

OnePlus website:

https://oneplus.net/ / OnePlus One smart phone smartphone flagship killer made in China beat Nexus 5 so dirt cheap high quality Cyanogenmod Nexus 2.5 GHz Snapdragon 801 400 PPI screen Shenzhen Google low cost unlocked hardware giant high quality device Google apps Gmail preloaded hardware buttons modified operating system design low price tag soft touch plastic Sandstone Black fabric texture style charging micro USB cable cloth coated cable cables untangleable tangle contrast deep blacks AMOLED display hardware buttons Settings Home Back reversed software buttons settings button default app settings menu Cyanogenmod multitasking button operating system OS core forked modified version engineers spirit of stock Android user interface UI design stock Android Profiles option pre-sets presets app shortcuts on the lock screen customisation tiles pull down menu pan performance hardware fastest phone chip performance issues Snapchat charger camera image stabilisation autofocus speed low light performance Cyanogenmod camera app fully customisable interface burst fire mode HDR stock Android device big phone ergonomics swipe down notification bar biggish hands longish fingers smaller option new features from Google invite invites /

A gearbox without gears!

Huge amounts of energy are wasted in gearboxes around the world. Losses occur in bearings, but more so between the teeth of the gears themselves. With this in view, the MAGDRIVE project has produced prototype gearboxes in which both conventional toothed gears & bearings are replaced with magnetic alternatives.

In space, cold & a near perfect vacuum create a unique set of problems for lubrication. Superconductor magnets make one prototype of MAGDRIVE a perfect match.



http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2014/12/this-maglev-gearbox-doesnt-need-teeth/ / inefficient gearing system gear teeth friction frictional losses heat mechanical wear magnetic levitation repulsion developed collaboration seven European nations built two working prototypes magnetic gear reducer frictionless magnetic axles transmission system tooth researchers UC3M research centre Madrid cryogenic temperatures -210C superconductors axles floating stabilise rotating prototype works at room temperature toothed cogs permanent magnets repel attract force coupling physical contact railways railroads oil industry lubrication sterile environments food drug industries /

How a jet engine works

Credit: 3D Printer Plans

What is a swirler? Afterburner? Why is a tubofan more efficient than a turbojet? Why don’t jet fighters use them? High bypass? Low bypass?

Find the answers in the the amazing animation at:

http://animagraffs.com/inside-a-jet-engine/ / jet core gas generator compress compressed mixed with fuel combustion efficient efficiency trubine compressor compression stage stages combustion engine size rotor core stator vane vanes annular combustor fuel injector exhaust gas commercial aircraft /