Showing posts with label news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label news. Show all posts
Saturday, May 30, 2015
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
The Reserve Strap uses the hidden Apple Watch port to boost battery life

The Reserve Strap uses the hidden Apple Watch port to boost battery life

The Reserve Strap uses the hidden Apple Watch port to boost battery life
A team of enterprising engineers have begun work on a Reserve Strap accessory for the Apple Watch, which they say can boost the wearable's battery life by 125 percent. Apple has also released official guidelines for third-party straps, opening the doors to companies who want to develop new looks and functionality for the timepiece.
The Reserve Strap team (part of Mutual Mobile) is only at the prototype design stage right now, but the design has already become more efficient and streamlined since the Apple Watch was launched. The latest design uses a direct connection to the device's hidden diagnostic port rather than a wireless inductive charging method, which should guarantee faster charging times and higher charging capacity.  

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The first rendering of the Reserve Strap wrapped around the back of the Apple Watch, leaving holes for the sensors and LEDs, but the new incarnation simply clips in and leaves the back of the device unobstructed. Mutual Mobile founder John Arrow says the 125 percent estimate is based on initial testing on both the 38 mm and 42 mm Apple Watch models.
At this stage it's not clear if Apple will allow third-party strap makers to access the 6-pin diagnostic port on the Apple Watch. There's no mention of it in the company's new band design guidelines  but it's difficult to see how Apple could stop determined users from accessing it – the Reserve Strap team is planning to provide a special tool to enable users to flip it open.
Based on the documents supplied by Apple it seems the Cupertino company wants accessory makers to focus on the style and fashion of their straps rather than battery charging or additional functionality (like extra sensors). We'll have to wait and see how much control it can exercise over what third-party manufacturers do with their straps. Environmental requirements are also set out in the guidelines.
Posted by at 2:04 AM 0 comments
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Nobot wants to put people to work ... in robot form

Nobot wants to put people to work ... in robot form

Nobot wants to put people to work ... in robot form
We hear plenty of discussion about robots taking over our jobs, so it's a refreshing change to hear about a robot designed to create them instead. Its name is Nobot, and what makes this machine unique is that it's largely controlled remotely by a human being rather than by a set of software algorithms.  

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The Indiegogo campaign describes the concept as being "like a person in a robot suit," which is a helpful way of understanding it – as long as you realize the person is sat behind a computer somewhere else in the world. Nobot owners get a clever robot to help around the house without needing to spend time programming; Nobot operators get to earn money from home.
Childcare, healthcare, gardening ... there's conceivably no limit to what Nobot could do. The plan is to set up a marketplace for operators and owners, so if you've bought a shiny new Nobot you can easily find someone with the skills and expertise to work it for you – even if you just want some company in the evening or someone to fold the laundry.
The robot unit itself is relatively low-tech, combining a tough plastic exoskeleton with a Raspberry Pi that handles most of the unit's operations. Each Nobot is fitted with a rotating camera, touchscreen, speaker, microphone and wireless connectivity. Of course the real smarts are provided by the human at the other end of the video feed.
That human element saves the Nobot team from having to program a sophisticated operating system. It also means Nobot owners don't have to spend an evening with a user manual to work out how to get the robot to do their bidding – they simply speak out the instructions as necessary and let the Nobot do its work. Owners can also operate the Nobot themselves, should they want to keep an eye on their home from afar, for example.
The inventors behind the project are currently aiming to raise US$19,000 on Indiegogo to make their product a reality. The early bird price for a Nobot is set at $399, with shipping expected in November if the campaign meets its goals. The video below gives some idea of the inspiration behind the idea.
Posted by at 1:42 AM 0 comments
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Pop Brixton houses local businesses in an upcycled shipping container campus

Pop Brixton houses local businesses in an upcycled shipping container campus

Pop Brixton houses local businesses in an upcycled shipping container campus
A new pop-up local business campus is set to open in Brixton, London, UK. Pop Brixton will be home to local independent start-ups and small businesses. It will be housed in a temporary shipping container village, but it is the project's ethos that is perhaps its most innovative facet.
The project's aim is to support local jobs, training and enterprise by providing affordable co-working space for start-ups. It will support an estimated 80 entrepreneurs and create around 200 jobs, as well as 12 apprenticeships being paid the London Living Wage. 

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Tenants at Pop Brixton will primarily be independent businesses chosen not only for their line of work, but for their benefit to the local community. Applicants are rated based on their business plan, their locality and their commitment to supporting the local area and community.
An effort has been made to to ensure that tenants will compliment rather than compete with each other. Furthermore, tenants are obliged to commit a minimum of four hours a month to skill-sharing with other tenants and the local community.
The businesses at Pop Brixton will span food and drink, retail, the creative industries and the arts. Among them will be independent vintage clothing retailer Make Do & Mend. Sarah Bennett, owner of Make Do & Mend, explains that the project has given her the opportunity to establish her business on a full-time basis.
"It's allowing me to do so in a more affordable way than renting a shop on the high street and within a vibrant and exciting project in a fab part of London," explains Bennett to Gizmag. "It's going to bring more people into the area as a whole, so more business for everyone, and it's putting Brixton on the map for doing something innovative, forward thinking and creative."
Over 50 containers will be used in total, providing both a quick and environmentally-friendly means of construction. In addition to business units, Pop Brixton will feature a farm garden and greenhouse area, local artist exhibitions, workshops and a 200-capacity event space available to hire, or for free to local people and organizations.
The facility is described as a "meanwhile project," meaning that it will be located in a space that would be otherwise unused. The Pop Brixton project will be occupying the site temporarily until at least October 2017, when the city council intends to redevelop it.

Pop Brixton is due to open on May 29. Second and third phases of the project will continue being built over the coming months.
Posted by at 1:36 AM 0 comments
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EarthRoamer XV-HD takes the family off-road and off-grid

EarthRoamer XV-HD takes the family off-road and off-grid

EarthRoamer XV-HD takes the family off-road and off-grid
Your typical recreational vehicle is great if you want to meander from campsite to campsite using their facilities as you go. If you want to explore remote areas, though, you're going to need something with a bit more grit. EarthRoamer's XV-HD will let you do that without sacrificing luxury.
The XV-HD is a new series for EarthRoamer, following on from its XV-LT range, of which there are apparently around 150 on (or off) the roads. Gizmag took a look around the XV-LTS last year and was advised that the upcoming XV-HD range would essentially be bigger and better – and that, in a nutshell, is what it is. 

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At 35 ft (10.7 m) long, 8.5 ft (2.6 m) wide and 13 ft (4 m) high, the XV-HD is larger than any of the XV-LT models. It's based on a four-wheel-drive Ford F-650 chassis and is powered by a 6.7 L PowerStroke Diesel engine that produces 330 hp. Tricky terrain is dealt with using 46-in military-grade tires.
The XV-HD can seat up to eight people and can sleep up to six. It can store up to 200 gal (909 L) of fresh water and can produce hot water continuously. There is also capacity for 100 gal (455 L) of greywater and 50 gal (227 L) of blackwater. In addition, the vehicle has a 2.4 kW solar array and battery bank with a capacity of 25.3 kWh.
Production of the XV-HD is scheduled to begin in late 2015.
Posted by at 1:29 AM 0 comments
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Ecocapsule promises independent off-grid micro-living

Ecocapsule promises independent off-grid micro-living

Ecocapsule promises independent off-grid micro-living
Bratislava's Nice Architects has revealed some renders and preliminary details concerning its Ecocapsule: a micro-shelter that operates off-grid and promises impressive sustainable technology including solar power, rainwater collection and filtration, and wind power. The firm will unveil a prototype later this month and plans to make it available for sale later this year. 

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Resembling the similarly-shaped Exbury Egg, Ecocapsule measures 446.8 x 240.7 x 248.7 cm (175.9 x 94.7 x 97.9 in), and comprises a total usable floorspace of 8 sq m (86 sq ft). The micro-home can be easily transported by trailer and the firm says it can serve as a tiny house, additional bedroom, office, or even as a charging point for an electric vehicle.
The snug interior includes a toilet and shower, kitchenette, work and dining area, folding bed, and both internal and externally-accessed storage. Access to the home is gained via one sole door and it sports two operable windows.
The big draw with this micro-home is the impressive sustainable technology that it promises. Packing a 2.6 sq m (28 sq ft) solar array on the roof, and an integrated battery system, Ecocapsule also sports a silent 750 W wind turbine that's set on a retractable pole. The bathroom includes a composting toilet and a shower, and a rainwater collection and filtration system offers clean drinking water.
However, when pressed on how this would work, the firm preferred to remain tight-lipped – indeed, at present, the Ecocapsule is big on promise, but the finer details are yet to be revealed.
That said, a company rep told us that a prototype will be unveiled at the Pioneers festival in Vienna on May 28 and we can expect more details to emerge then. Availability is slated for later this year and while price hasn't been revealed yet either, the firm says it will be competitive
Posted by at 1:13 AM 0 comments
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