Charge your smartphone while you party — or sleep

Credit: Vodafone/Ecouterre

http://www.ecouterre.com/vodafones-power-shorts-use-body-heat-to-charge-your-cellphone/ / running down cell phone mobile cellphone battery smartphone smart Vodafone Vodafone’s Power Pocket peripherals pumping body heat movement prototypes prototype prototyping denim shorts sleeping bag charge your gear walk dance sleep rest move breath live nap Isle of Wright Festival Thursday Power Pocket collaboration between British telecommunications company Department of Electronics and Computer Science University of Southampton smart material contains thermoelectric modules convert temperature differences between body heat energy temperature surrounding air volt amp current electric voltage concept physics Seebeck effect develop development developing developer research researcher researchers researching working printed smart material Stephen Beeby professor electronic systems University of Southampton low high temperature high-temperature ceramics energy harvesting energy-harvesting smart materials harvest harvesting energy Power Pocket shorts charge smartphone trial trials technology summer talk time hours standby time inside sleeping bag 37 degrees Celcius Celsius 98.6 Fahrenheit human body temperature details device commercial release sal research technology hard wearing hard-wearing sleeping bags bag example fold folded up compressed small package material materials flexible improve improvement improvements thermoelectric thermo-electric thermo electric effect /

Why a hydrogen economy doesn't make sense

Hydrogen fuel cell car — fabulous idea! It's even supported by such luminaries as George W. Bush & the brilliant minds at Top Gear (before the assault & the dismissal etc.) ...

... then the laws of physics & economics raise their ugly heads:


Credit: Ulf Bossel/Phys Org

In the image above, we see 100 kWh of energy being used to drive a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (on the left) or a battery electric car (on the right). Depending on how the hydrogen is managed, 19 or 23% of the energy at the beginning is actually available to drive the vehicle. For a battery electric car, 69% of the original energy is available to drive the vehicle.

I think we have a winner.

More:
http://phys.org/news85074285.html / study research researcher researching fuel cell expert Ulf Bossel explains hydrogen economy inefficient wasteful large amount energy required isolate hydrogen natural compounds water natural gas biomass package light gas compression compress compressor pressure liquefaction transfer energy carrier user energy lost when converted useful electricity fuel cells cell around 25% practical use unacceptable value run economy sustainable future niche applications applicarion like submarines spacecraft use hydrogen more energy needed isolate hydrogen from natural compounds compound recovered from use Bossel explains PhysOrg.com making new chemical energy carrier form natural gas would not make sense increase gas consumption emission CO2 dwindling fossil fuel reserves reserve replaced replace energy from renewable sources source scientists scientist around world technology Bossel reality realistic use hydrogen carrying energy overall energy analysis hydrogen economy demonstrates high energy losses inevitably result resulting laws physics hydrogen economy advantages hydrogen praised praise journalists non-toxic burns burn water abundance hydrogen Universe misleading production hydrogen depends depend availability energy water rare political issues issue oil and natural gas money thorough analysis scientists research money laboratory laboratories laws of physics research capital technology never make economic sense source energy green electricity grid new energy carrier solve energy problem wasteful process analyze analysis analyzes method methods synthesize synthesizing store storing deliver delivery transport transportation delivering hydrogen method naturally occurring synthesized renewable electricity electrolysis of water energy content converted back electricity fuel cells recombined oxygen water separating separate hydrogen water electrolysis massive amounts of electrical energy substantial amounts water source energy carrier of energy electron economy existing electricity infrastructure storage battery /

"Money doesn't grow on trees" — another myth busted (podcast)

Synchrotron images of leaf discs reveal traces of gold.
Credit: Dr. Melvyn Lintern/The Australian

http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2013/10/23/3874913.htm?site=melbourne

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2471826/Australian-scientists-traces-gold-eucalyptus-leaves.html /cold hard cash gold researchers CSIRO CSIRO's Earth Science and Resource Engineering division found visible gold particles biological material study published online scientific journal Nature Communications discovered dry conditions Eucalyptus trees search moisture 35m below ground gold deposit precious mineral absorbed root system into the canopy leaves provide new way to locate gold deposits researcher research researched researching Melvyn Lintern collected field samples Australia Western Australia's gold mining town of Kalgoorlie from South Australia conducted greenhouse experiments experimentation experiment moisture in the ground interact with gold deposits dissolve small amounts Dr Lintern roots picking gold up absorbing gold ions ion into charged particles particle roots root moving water flow within the tree through continuum water going up through tree into the foliage replace water lost through transpiration breakthrough able actually see particulate gold particle particles magic equipment called Australian Synchrotron leaves leaf first gold occurs leaves visible particle biological material Melbourne based Australian Synchrotron accelerates electrons speed of light size of microns much smaller than a human hair study research team state confirmation biological biology geology geological biogeochemical absorption gold promotes confidence emerging technique may lead future exploration success maintain continuity of supply better able explore hidden gold deposits because hidden beneath sediments lower exploration costs reduce damage environment drill Australian companies company sponsored project sampled leaves obtained confidential results /

Google buys Flexycore, creator of a “10x speed boost” app for Android (video)

Credit: Flexycore/Ars Technica

This is looking likely to be the means to provide the performance improvements promised for Android 4.4 (KitKat).

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/10/google-buys-flexycore-creator-of-a-10x-speed-boost-app-for-android/

http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/22/google-buys-flexycore-to-make-android-more-buttery/

http://techcrunch.com/2013/10/22/google-flexycore/

Video:

http://youtu.be/Bduk--UTcf4

http://youtu.be/tEAz9fRoDmA / compile compiler compiling byte code interpreter interpret French site L'Expansion report reported reporting Google complete completed year-long acquisition company Flexycore Flexycore's most prominent product droidbooster app claims claimed claim claiming Android device run ten times faster claim company reputable reputation profile ARM partner site founder former head of R&D research and & development Texas Instruments 10 x 10x speed boost generate generated generation generating heavily optimized ARM binaries Android's normal Dalvik code Droidbooster claimed to increase battery life because sped-up device spend less time processing more time low power low-power state Flexycore's website down YouTube account still works watch a demo video extremely old droidbooster tech running on a Froyo-equipped Nexus One. Indeed, FlexyCore doesn't seem to have done anything on the Internet for the last two years actively promoted its product release releasing released releasing 11 videos one-year span then just stopped Dalvik Virtual Machine Android applications application applications run VM execute executes Dalvik bytecode byte code byte-code compiled programme programmes program programs written Java language syntax Dalvik VM Java VM JVM lack of recent activity unclear Flexycore continued develop developing developed development most pressing question speed boost worked 2010 Android 2.2 function today FlexyCore working work worked works significant Google company worth purchasing purchase purchased $23.1 million Gigaom reports report reported receive received confirmation purchase Google company's company companies statement FlexyCore team strong expertise building software optimize Android device performance great fit our team FlexyCore's employees absorbed into Android team Google significant strides smoothing out Android performance Project Butter L'Express Mountain View €16.9 million $23.1 million software increasing battery drain Android teams optimize performance Android mobile devices device release released Android 4.4 KitKat operating system OS compete competitive competitiveness modern modern-day smartphone smart phone platform /

Toq smartwatch (video)

Toq in its WiPower LE wireless charging base/earphone case.
Credit: Qualcomm/Cnet

Another take on the smartwatch from Qualcomm. This one has:

• reflective colour screen using low power Mirasol technology
• touch screen
• stereo Bluetooth headphones
• wireless charging of both watch & headphones using WiPower LE through a supplied cradle-cum-earphones holder

Qualcomm website:

http://toq.qualcomm.com/

Cnet:

http://reviews.cnet.com/watches-and-wrist-devices/qualcomm-toq/4505-3512_7-35827147.html

YouTube:

http://youtu.be/G2tnjzuadNk

http://youtu.be/YzTrqifCOhs

http://youtu.be/kJwVPWel-eg

About WiPower wireless charging:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WiPower / color Fitbit Force Flex Pebble Samsung Galaxy Gear Sony smart watch Kickstarter crowd funding source sourced sourcing wrist firmware update SMS text email color TXT hardware loaded software features useful usability never use company’s company modern smartwatch display sharp resolution processor wrist strap microphone calls Bluetooth smartphone connection glanceable notification incoming calls texts messages alerts clever integration smartphones so when you take the phone out of your pocket messages message instantly appear big screen virtual assistant dictate text messages set alarms create calendar entries hands free hands-free speakerphone voice connection contact paired smartphone user phone’s phone lock unlock sleep wake Qualcomm low-power /

Skully Helmets shows heads-up display for motorcycle riders (video)

Credit: Skully Helmets/Oh Gizmo

We may be looking at a new class of device, the "smart helmet".

It has a Head Up Display (HUD) with vision from a 180 degree rear view camera, turn-by-turn GPS navigation & voice control of telephone & music. Sounds pretty smart to me.

At the rear is an aerodynamic tail which reduces buffeting as well as housing the electronics.

http://www.ohgizmo.com/2013/10/21/slick-motorcycle-helmet-with-an-hud-could-eliminate-blind-spots-provide-gps-guidance-and-make-your-friends-jealous/





Manufacturer's Web site
https://www.skully.com/ / DOT ECE European department of transport standard electronics smart phone smartphone Global Positioning System heads visor voice dialing dial turn-by-turn turn by turn navigation directions voice rear-mounted rear mounted view LiIon lithium ion battery 9 hours run time hour safety standards /

New iPhones score well with "Consumer Reports", but display & battery "no match" for Android competitors

Credit: Laptop Mag

http://www.macrumors.com/2013/10/16/new-iphones-score-well-with-consumer-reports-but-display-and-battery-no-match-for-android-competitors/

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2013/10/iphone-5s-and-5c-score-highly-in-consumer-report-ratings/index.htm

http://androidcommunity.com/samsung-galaxy-note-3-iphone-5s-comparison-reveals-slo-mo-not-really-720p-20131021/

http://www.wirefly.com/iphone-vs-android/ / Google Apple Android iOS OS operating system screen resolution Droid Motorola Samsung mobile cell phone smartphone smart 3G 4G apps app application /