jamstik+ ultra small guitar & MIDI controller

Credit: Zivix/GuitarPlayer





That’s most of the story above: it’s lots of fun, & jamstik+ with the right apps on your iPhone (or iPad or Mac) can make real music.

The detail

● still available on Kickstarter for $US229, as of this writing

● as with all portable devices, there is a tension between the competing requirements of portability & usability — a longer neck would be good when you’re playing, but not when trying to stuff it into your luggage

● only 5 frets, but via the D-pad, it has settings that give access to more than twice the range of a 21 fret guitar

● jamTutor is just what it says — a tutor program

● connects to iOS & OSX devices via Bluetooth LE

● overcomes the latency some users complained of in the original jamstik

● charges via supplied micro USB cable — no power adapter supplied, but you can use the adapter for your iOS device, or a USB port on your OSX device

Kickstarter page

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/80789521/jamstik-the-smartguitar

TechCrunch is enthusastic

http://techcrunch.com/2015/01/22/the-new-jamstik-is-a-musicians-best-friend/

http://techcrunch.com/2015/01/22/fly-or-die-the-jamstik/

Other reviews are generally positive

http://www.guitarplayer.com/gear/1012/jamstik-gets-serious-with-hexaphonic-pickup-and-bluetooth-capability--video/51477

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/introducing_jamstik_smartguitar_the_possible_future_of_guitars.html

An educator’s view

https://techinmusiced.wordpress.com/2015/03/25/jamstik-kickstarter-campaign-begins-today/

On the other hand

This negative review is about the original jamstick, but doesn’t mention the latency some have complained of:

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/feb/09/emmy-the-great-tries-jamstik-midi-controller / playing guitar one of the most rewarding experiences you can have listen learn make music jamstik+ jamstik+ works wirelessly iPad iPhone iPod Touch Mac Macintosh iOS OSX app apps get you playing right away so easy to use strumming your first chord included apps guide how to hold a pick correctly creating your own song fingering strum finger fret frets plectrum pick watching listening people play guitar lessons afford the lessons playing chords dream creating music a reality everyone pros YouTube sensations YOU start playing Kickstarter crowd funding funded making the jamstik+ first-time jamstik players jamstik+ senses sensors where your fingers are infrared pluck a string learning incredibly intuitive always in tune connect wirelessly iOS device via Bluetooth LE low energy download launch jamTutor app walked through a series of lessons launch jamMix just start playing everything sounds good in jamMix free companion apps jamstik+ guitar MIDI controller can sound like almost any instrument you can think of drums samples synths banjo create mix entire songs companion apps your favorite music apps like GarageBand Loopy SampleTank Ableton Live build an entire song in GarageBand with the jamstik+ infrared sensors in the fretboard detect precise variations of your fingers instant feedback no delay between what you play and what you hear traditional guitar users hands hexaphonic magnetic pickup more realistic guitar feel higher resolution signal wireless Bluetooth LE connectivity works seamlessly latest BLE MIDI Protocol supported by Apple /

No batteries, no motors, this boot allows you to walk 7% more efficiently

Credit: Gizmodo

Not quite 100% efficient, the human gait. This boot captures back 7%. Not impressed? Every little bit helps.

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2015/04/this-exoskeleton-boot-saves-energy-in-an-ingenious-way/ / millions of years of evolution your feet not perfectly energy efficient exoskeletons exoskeletons researchers created a new boot unlike other exoskeletons makes walking more efficient without extra battery power source boot contraption reduces energy walk by about 7 per cent without a bulky battery pack power works differently from exoskeletons give you superhuman strength total energy expenditure is the same finding tiny inefficiencies correcting them human walking, optimised inefficiency muscles use energy even when they’re locked mechanical clutch Davide Castelvecchi Nature research exoskeleton structures lightweight carbon-based materials spring connects back of the foot just below the back of the knee attaches with a mechanical clutch Achilles tendon stretched clutch is engaged spring additional tendon stretches store energy standing leg pushes down push unleashing elastic energy clutch releases absorbs slack in the spring next cycle video sound like a robot squeaking through the woods researcher refine the boot energy gains regardless of speed and terrain squeakiness /

Do you want to have a better memory?

Almost everyone seems to complain about their memory. Aids, such as a diary & a notebook can help (mine are in my phone), but is there a way to improve memory itself?

An interview with Nelson Dellis, three time winner of the USA Memory Championship gives some clues, & recommends some books & websites that can help:

http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2015/04/ask-an-expert-all-about-memorisation-techniques/ / memorisation techniques train yourself better memory brain games scepticism memorise memorize memory remember practising techniques help you increase your ability to recall Nelson Dellis USA Memory Championship memorising 117 faces names memorisation techniques brain health not an inherent talent Alzheimer’s disease improve memory practice Alzheimer’s research fairly good memory recall information better recall information already know improve use it or lose it memory often enough gets better wired to remember better with less effort memory exercises daily ability to recall information when you want it will improve techniques books web sites resources most useful learning retention learn retain best books Quantum Memory Power by Dominic O’ Brien Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer best websites training practice memo method students method of Loci study subjects like physics calculus chemistry list format technique math maths mathematics physics mental image memorise best way to organise structure images memory palace linked list tried a variety of techniques remember anyone’s name acute mental block word associations re-picturing events plain repeating the name a million times take people’s photo store in my phone creepy remember names focus when you meet someone choose a feature pick something distinguishing face picture name turn it into a mental picture attach the two imagine that picture name interacting with the feature be creative repeat advice kids memorise recommend imagination visually exciting silly imagery memorising kids imagine crazy silly things memorise words memorise jokes lines monologues methods this type of memorisation numbers sequences remembered actual words recite commit jokes to memory memory palace store key image images path palace order Josh Foer Ted talk speeches memorisation practice practising improve your memory nootropics brain growth memory retention practice being healthy eat well DHA Omega-3 stay fit Kwik Learning Lumosity exercises memorisation motivated /

Follow the Solar Impulse 2 round-the-world solar-powered flight

Credit: Solar Impulse/Jacques-Henri Add/The Economist

Solar Impulse 2 is a solar powered aircraft which is currently undertaking an around-the-world flight.

As of this writing, Solar Impulse 2 is in flight from Mandalay to Chongqing.

Many ways to follow:

Live coverage from the cockpit including instrument display & live video & audio (French):
http://www.solarimpulse.com/widget-aircraft

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/solarimpulse

Newsletter:
http://us3.campaign-archive1.com/?u=553e7fdb79a7f1570622b070d&id=087db6b00f&e=[UNIQID

Mobile apps:


iOS app screen shot
Credit: WISeKey Suisse SA/Apple

Google Play
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wisekey.wisefans.solarimpulse

Apple iOS App Store
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/solar-impulse-hd/id963638162?ls=1&mt=8 / Swiss pilot pilots first ever attempt fly around the world propelled the Sun André Borschberg compatriot Bertrand Piccard take turns piloting single seater seat Solar Impulse 2 21,747 miles 35,000 km kilometre 12 legs including gruelling five- to six-day stints across the Atlantic Pacific oceans entire journey will take five months Borschberg took the controls takeoff take off take-off Al-Bateen executive airport Abu Dhabi early on Monday first destination Muscat in Oman pilots roughly 250 hours each inside narrow cockpit no oxygen temperature control temperatures outside range between -40 degrees C to 40°C falling asleep flight need constant attention Piccard Borschberg survive 20-minute naps every two to four hours pilots will practise yoga stave off the physical discomfort remaining confined seat for days at a time Borschberg biggest challenge maintaining concentration Piccard psychiatrist team 1999 first circumnavigated globe non-stop balloon taught techniques of self-hypnosis meditation maintain concentration time duration in the present moment the only way is to be present almost a spiritual experience entire journey circumnavigating Earth in a family car aircraft weighs the same as a Volvo sedan comparable speeds SI2 top speed 87m/h 140km/h pilots conserve battery power limiting plane half cockpit only slightly larger average car contain life support systems food oxygen supplies reclining pilot’s seat triples bed chair toilet fly both day and night no fuel powered by 17,000 solar panels set on its wings wider Boeing 747’s fuselage 633kg bank of lithium batteries quarter weight store energy run motors overnight journey early days intercontinental flight enormous speed range jet engines Qantas fly Kangaroo Route Sydney to London hopping Darwin Singapore Kolkata Karachi Cairo Tripoli en route Borschberg success Solar Impulse project first solar-powered plane fly through the night first to fly between two continents primitive step toward zero-carbon jumbo combustion fossil fuels dominated powered flight 19th century dirigible aviation burns the most carbon per passenger per kilometre of any mode of mass-transport and, despite efforts to limit emissions, remains the fastest growing anthropogenic source of greenhouse gases sector climate change toughest major emissions source to decarbonise solar flight seeks remains decades away Wright Brothers Charles Lindbergh deputy editor Aerospace magazine Bill Read solar flight commercial flights solar cells generate power fly Solar Impulse fly using solar power constructed very light weight light-weight lightweight huge wingspan solar cell technology power source aircraft advances project real-world uses today fly Sun day and night build an aircraft extremely energy efficient technologies energy efficiency used in your home your car appliances four motors power aircraft generate heat energy efficiency single cheapest way reduce carbon emissions across the world technologies challenge energy environment pollution natural resources /

If you just can’t wait for the Apple Watch

Knock offs are available already.

Bought a fake Apple Watch at CES:

http://mashable.com/2015/01/08/fake-apple-watch-ces/

Other sightings:

http://www.apppicker.com/news/22873/Apple-Watch-knock-offs-already-available

https://recode.net/2015/03/24/apple-watch-knockoffs-are-already-available-in-china-and-they-arent-10000/

Or, if you must have the real thing, you might like these accessories to go with it:


Credit: The Joy of Tech by Nitrozac & Snaggy www.joyoftech.com / Las Vegas highly anticipated Apple Watch hits shelves at least one company has already made a knockoff fake copy Acme bogus counterfeit forgery fraudulent phony spurious pseudo sham in the back smaller halls CES Chinese company showing off fake Apple Watches watch Shenzhen-based Hyperdon Smart Watch first glance watch's screen displays when icons blatant ripoffs Apple designs pairing process iPhone 6 make phone calls play music watch vibrates incoming call pedometer stopwatch alarm Anti lost enable disable out of Bluetooth range messaging notifier notifications WeChat apps downloading a sketchy-looking APK un-jailbroken jailbroken iPhone watch charges via a USB cable Hyperdon representative claimed battery life more than 180 hours test tested suspicious pay cash ATM representative price was $30 $27 USA US wholesale price retail stores in the U.S China iOS Apple iPhone /

How will Tesla’s Gigafactory reduce cost? — update

Chevrolet Volt battery pack uses proprietary cells
Credit: GM/Green Car Reports

Electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers use lithium iron phosphate cells, connected together to form a battery pack for electricity storage. Almost all use proprietary cells.

Almost all — Tesla is the exception, using 18650¹ size laptop cells. Why 18650? Because they are commodity cells. I.e. multiple large volume manufacturers world-wide, for widespread use in multiple applications (including laptops), has reduced cost by competitive, volume production.


AA cell left, 18650 cell right
Credit: Kaayee Electronics

18650 cells are cheaper than the proprietary cells used by other EV manufacturers, both individually & per kWh of capacity. But it’s not all good news: each individual cell is smaller, so more of them are required to construct a battery pack of a given capacity. Thats more wiring, & more connections, which adds to cost.

Tesla’s Gigafactory, as its name implies, will not just add a few percent to annual world production. Planned 2020 Gigafactory production will exceed 2013 global production².

In addition to volume of production, there is reason to believe that Tesla will also force costs down by changing the volume of the cells themselves³. A slightly larger cell of 20700 size (i.e. 2 mm wider, 5 mm longer than 18650) will be 33% larger in volume⁴, with a similar effect on storage capacity, for negligible increase in cell cost. There has also been speculation about 26650 cells⁵ (8 mm wider, same length as 18650).

For a given pack capacity, using 20700 cells will yield a battery pack containing 33% fewer cells & a similar reduction in wiring & connections, further reducing cost.

In summary, pack cost is expected to be reduced by:
1. volume cell production
2. reduction in cell count & cost
3. reduced pack assembly costs
____________

¹ 18650 — what do those numbers mean?
Rather than continue with the multiple, chaotic naming systems used for other battery chemistries, a naming system which specifies the physical dimensions of lithium ion cells has been adopted:
first 2 digits: diameter in mm — 18 mm diameter for 18650
last 3 digits: length in tenths of a mm — 65.0 mm length for 18650
AA size in a lithium cell is 14500 — 14 mm diameter x 50.0 mm length
AAA lithium cell is 10400 — 10 mm x 40.0 mm
Length is specified to one tenth of a millimetre because it is a more critical dimension for making a good electrical contact.
____________

² Tesla Motors: "Planned 2020 Gigafactory Production Exceeds 2013 Global Production", https://www.teslamotors.com/sites/default/files/blog_attachments/gigafactory.pdf
____________

³ Advanced Automotive Batteries: "The Tesla Battery Report", p10 https://www.advancedautobat.com/industry-reports/2014-Tesla-report/Extract-from-the-Tesla-battery-report.pdf

CleanTechnica: "Lighter Batteries May Prove The Tipping Point For Electric Vehicles",
http://cleantechnica.com/2015/03/17/lighter-batteries-may-prove-tipping-point-electric-vehicles/
____________

⁴ 18650 versus 20700 cell volume

18 x 65.0 mm cylinder = pi x (18/2)^2 x 65 = 16,540 mm³

20 x 70.0 mm cylinder = pi x (20/2)^2 x 70 = 21,991 mm³

Relative volume = 21,991/16,540 = 1.33 = 133%

____________

⁵ Manager Magazin: "Tesla baut seine Autos künftig ohne die legendären Laptop-Batterien" — Google Translate assures me this means, "Tesla builds its cars in the future without the legendary laptop batteries"
http://www.manager-magazin.de/unternehmen/autoindustrie/tesla-stellt-in-gigafactory-nicht-batteriezellen-vom-typ-18650-her-a-998973.html / Tesla Motors Elon Musk LiIon lithium ion lithium iron phosphate LiFeO4 charge recharge battery Model S Model 3 III range capacity kilo Watt hour Supercharger /

Daimler SuperTruck — 115% improvement in fuel efficiency

Credit: Daimler Trucks North America/Auto Blog

Big rigs are relatively small in number, but clock up huge distances — 120,000 miles per year (193,000 km), at very high fuel consumption — 5.5 to 6.5 mpg* (US) (6.6 mpg UK, 42.8 litres/100km).

Fuel improvements in this class of vehicle can yield substantial reductions in fuel use & CO2 emisssions. Daimler Trucks North America is researching ways to make this happen, & their SuperTruck is one of the products.

Testing included highway driving in Oregon & Texas, city driving in Portland, Oregon, & laboratory tests. Between San Antonio & Dallas, at an average speed of 65 mph, with a gross weight of 65,000 pounds, the truck averaged 12.2 mpg (US) (14.7 mpg (UK), 19.3 litres/100km).

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1097471_daimler-unveils-supertruck-12-mpg-semi-is-more-than-twice-as-fuel-efficient

http://www.autoblog.com/2015/03/27/daimler-supertruck-115-percent-mpg-improvement/
_______________

* Road & Track: “Why a 10 MPG Peterbilt semi is a really big deal”, http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/news/a4173/news-peterbilt-cummins-tractor-trailer-fuel-economy/ / heavy duty trucks traffic U.S. roads cover many more miles each year average passenger car much worse fuel economy small efficiency improvements biggest trucks major impact overall emissions lower cost of goods transport Daimler Trucks North America SuperTruck 2015 Mid-America Trucking Show Louisville Kentucky experimental SuperTruck 115 percent improvement in fuel efficiency stock 2009 model exceeds goal Department of Energy SuperTruck program smaller efficiency improvement 50 percent Daimler $40 million Federal grant develop test Freightliner SuperTruck improvements confirmed highway test drives Oregon Texas city driving Portland Oregon laboratory tests Daimler's Detroit engineering facility 312 mile Texas highway drive averaged 12.2 mpg gross weight 65,000 pounds average 65 mph between San Antonio Dallas results engineers adapted components production trucks custom features bodywork aerodynamic elements production Freightliner Cascadia Evolution more streamlined grille moveable shutters internal combustion engine ICE cooling air truck Freightliner's Intelligent Powertrain Management system digital maps time shifting maximum efficiency low rolling resistance tires electric appliances Daimler Federal regulations production three truck manufacturers awarded grants SuperTruck program Cummins Peterbilt 9.9 mpg similar testing conditions radical truck concepts AirFlow BulletTruck WAVE concept retail giant truck fleet owner Walmart interest operators save money manufacturers new fuel economy standards Federal regulations heavy duty trucks 10 to 20 percent increase fuel efficiency 2018 regulators draft new rules mandating addition improvements 2019 2025 Corporate Average Fuel Economy CAFE rules passenger cars /