Hoverbikes Will Be Available in 2017!

I’d imagine this is a pretty normal reaction, but ever since I saw the Back To The Future movies when I was a kid, I’ve been waiting for the day when the hoverboard would finally be available. Aside from a pretty awesome spoof a few months back, there’s been no news on that front. Along the same lines, every time I watch Return Of The Jedi, I yearn for the day when those speeder bikes will be released to the market. And while I have no idea if (or when) a hoverboard will ever grace store shelves, I can report that hoverbikes will be available in just a few short years!

While they look nothing like they did in the classic Star Wars movie, they still accomplish the same thing: getting you where you need to go without touching the ground.

Allow me to introduce you to the Aero-X – a real-life hoverbike created by the company Aerofex. While it won’t officially be available for purchase until 2017, there are a few details about the bike that have already been released to the public. First, it can accommodate two people at a time, it will lift you ten feet in the air, and it will travel at a top speed of forty-five MPH. With a full tank, users can expect to ride/hover for about an hour and fifteen minutes before it’ll need a fill-up.

Even though it can seat two riders, it (as of now) can only support up to 310 pounds, so you might want to make sure you and any riders are in pretty decent shape before you climb aboard. Oh, and before you get excited about buying one of these hoverbikes, you might be curious about the price. Please sit down. It’ll cost you $85,000, on top of a $5,000 deposit you’ll eventually get back.
Seriously – could you imagine owning a hoverbike?

Check out this video released by Aerofex which shows off their hover technology.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=akA-B64RACU

Google Driverless Cars Prototype Ready

Imagine driving a car that doesn’t require you to do any of the driving!  Google has recently designed its own rendition of a driverless car.  It has no steering wheel, and other conventional controls are also obsolete.  Only 100 of these cars will be made in hopes that once tested, they can bring this technology to the world ‘safely’.

For many years, Google has been testing regular cars equipped with all sorts of sensors, navigation technology, and computers in order to drive ‘themselves’.  However, whilst doing this, they have created their own prototype vehicle from scratch in which no human may at any time, take control (Though there is an emergency stop button…phew!)

The first 100 test versions will have controls in them but in the future, there are hopes that they won’t need them.  The controls are needed only so that the laws of California, Nevada and Florida which allow autonomous cars but only if the person ‘driving’ can take control if needed.

The director of Google’s Driverless car project, Chris Urmson, said that the goal of the project was to run lots of tests in California where Google is based.  His argument is that driverless cars will eventually improve road safety which is mostly caused by human error.  He stated that this development is “an important step toward improving road safety and transforming mobility for millions of people”. They also said that it was actually safer taking all controls out of the car because human error did not improve if drivers suddenly have to take over the vehicle. Urmson says, “We saw stuff that made us a little nervous.”  After all, its hard enough to fix a problem while driving, if you are paying attention.  You either trust the machine, or you don’t.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=CqSDWoAhvLU

So what does this concept car look like?  The vehicle has two seats; a screen showing the route you will be taking; the top speed is 25mph (40km/h); and the sensors allows the car’s computer to ‘see’ several hundred metres in advance.

Top Five Arduino Projects

After reading our guide to Arduino and Raspberry Pi, you may have decided that Arduino is the way forward for you. If that is the case then here are some project ideas to get you started. We’d love to hear from you if you have already done your own project and would appreciate some photos of your creations too!

Simple Robot

To get you started, this simple little robot is a great first project. Although it’s quick and simple to create, you can still program it to do some cool stuff. You can program it so that while whizzing around on its two wheels, it avoids any obstacles. What’s nice about the step-by-step guide is that it is just a basis and gives you the freedom to go mad on creativity should you wish.

 

Tweet-A-Pot Coffee Maker

With only four hardware components and eight build steps, the Tweet-a-pot coffee maker is a guaranteed way to impress everyone. Just send a tweet to your coffee maker and you can arrive home to a freshly made coffee.

Garage Door Opener

 

This great little project will save you from ever having to get out of your car to open the garage door. Once Arduino is connected to a wireless network, you can use your smartphone to connect to the webserver, enter a password and then activate the garage door. For a full step-by-step guide, just follow this link. 

 

Arduino Remote Controlled Lawnmower

Sick of mowing the grass? This RC lawnmower will make it a breeze. This guide to creating a remote control interface can be applied to many projects but if it’s a lawnmower you want, then check out the guide

 

Cat Feeder – Made By A 10 Year Old!

Ok so 10-year old Ella Smith did have a little help from her dad but I think it’s fantastic that such a young person is taking an interest in programming. She combined her love of animals, with her love of ‘tinkering’ and created Zeverino, an Arduino-powered cat feeder. The Zevrino consists of an Arduino Uno, Arduino motor controller, DS1307 real-time clock with battery backup, a toggle switch, 2 low-speed motors, and 2 Zevro dry food dispensers.
 In the words of Ella: “don’t be afraid to try new things!”

 

 

Microsoft Windows 8 Banned By Chinese Government

In a move that caught Microsoft offguard, the Chinese government has issued a notice that  agencies are to for ego purchasing Windows 8 and installing the software on any new government devices. The notice that was officially sent out is titled “Agreement to supply information about the class of energy-saving products complement the mandatory tender notice“.

If that reads a little awkward to you, ask Google Translate, as the original page is in Chinese. In any case, the announcement highlights energy-saving products, but Windows 8 is specifically mentioned as item #5: “all computer products are not allowed to install Windows 8 operating system.”
Chinese news outlet Xinhua looks back to the termination of support for Windows XP as a reason for the ban on Windows 8.

In a news report, it says that the move was made to ensure computer security. Apparently, the Chinese government is not confident that Microsoft will continue support for Windows 8 in the future, hence the ban.

It is important to note that the ban is only in effect for government-owned devices. Private consumers are free to purchase whatever OS they want to.

On another note, the ban on Windows 8 seems to be only a part of the government’s strategy. In the same report, Xinhua states that China is going to focus on developing its own operating system, based on Linux. Knowing just how China does not lack for talent in this niche, it is not surprising that they will want to work on their own operating system.

On Microsoft’s part, the company says they were surprised by the announcement, but they also emphasized that they are doing what they can – and will continue to do so – to meet the requirements of the Chinese government in terms of procurement. They also mentioned their ongoing relationship with the government by providing Windows 7 and that they will work with the government to evaluate Windows 8.

Words Of Wisdom From Steve Jobs

From time to time we all need a little motivation (if not a quick up the backside) to help us not just to keep going but to provide us with some motivation. When it comes to providing inspiration for all technology lovers, Steve Jobs has to be the go to for helping you remember to think out of the box. Here is a small collection of Jobs’ words of wisdom to inspire you in whatever you are doing today.

Man Turns Himself into A Real-Life Transformer

Since I’ve been writing for Electronic Craze, I’ve covered some pretty interesting stories, and some of them stick out more than others. This story may turn out to be one that sticks out in my mind for quite a while. I’m not so far removed from my childhood that I can’t remember what excited me as a child. I loved the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, G.I. Joe, Star Wars, and I also really got into the Transformer toys. There was just something about a normal-looking truck that turned into a fighter jet in a matter of seconds. As a kid, I had decided I’d probably never live to see the day someone would create a real-life Transformer. Boy was I ever wrong.

Late last week I came across a story and a video about a man who transformed himself into…you guessed it – a Transformer. He goes from what appears to be a miniature yellow Hummer into a standing transformer ready to take on whatever evil may come his way. And naturally, all the kids who are surrounding him can’t get enough of the magic. (And yes, the Hummer actually drives around).

Maybe the day’s not so far off when we’ll see Transformers in real-life. Since they’ve created them on the big screen, and at least one man has created a miniature working model, how hard could it really be? I’m sure the military could find their uses for them. Oh well, one can hope. Maybe they’ve already created them and we just don’t know about it yet…

Have a look for yourself at the awesome video below.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=UU-k8M_gFLM

Go ahead; it’s okay to feel a little jealous. If you’d like to see it in person, the above video stems from Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Have An Emergency? You Can Now Text 911 in The U.S.

Gone are the days when those in an emergency situation have to pick up the phone and call 911. Like most everything else in the world, even the emergency 911 service is evolving technologically. Now, instead of actually calling 911, talking to a dispatcher, and waiting on the line until help arrives, you can simply send them a text message. At first glance, this seems like both a good idea and a not-so-good idea.

As of 5/15/14, if you live in the United States and are covered by Sprint, Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile, you should be able to text 911. If you’re wondering what all you should say in the text message, you’re not alone. Apparently it’s pretty easy, though.

Should you have an emergency and don’t want to physically talk to a dispatcher, here is what you have to do: open up whatever texting app you use, put “911″ in the recipient/phone number box, and then type your emergency in the message box. When typing, you should include your address and a description of what is going on. I should add that Text-to-911 is not able to accept any kind of pictures or videos in the texts at this time. Hopefully this will change in the future, as it could potentially be helpful especially in motor vehicle accidents where callers/texters aren’t exactly sure of their physical address.

As I wrote earlier, I think this is overall a good idea, but there’s also the obvious chance that the text won’t go through and a person will be left waiting for help, whereas if you call 911, you’re certain they’ve received your information. That’s why the National Emergency Number Association still recommends that you actually physically call 911 when you have the ability.

What do you think of this update?

Windows 9 Preview To Come in Q2-Q3 2015

It might very well be only a rumor, but where there is smoke, there’s fire; and what we’re hearing is that the next version of Windows, Windows 9, is already in the works. That’s only logical, as it does take Microsoft a while to get their things together, in spite of erstwhile Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer saying that rapid deployment of their products is integral to their success.

So, while the company is still “forcing” people to update to Windows 8.1, even pushing back the initial deadline it set for updating, rumors about Windows 9 are already starting to make the rounds.

This particular piece of info comes from infamous leaker FaiKee, who posted a screenshot in MyDigitalLife’s forum

While skepticism surely is understandable, FaiKee has been known to leak such announcements way before Microsoft releases the official word. Perhaps this time, FaiKee is right once again. Although, whether it’s 02-03 or Q2-Q3, there’s still quite a long wait for Windows 9, to be sure. There are many other analysts and speculators who have made their own predictions as to when the next version of the operating system will be released, and they vary. The only common thing: it will be in 2015.

In the meantime, you’ll have to be content with Windows 8 and make sure that you update before Microsoft puts the hammer down and decides not to extend its deadline anymore.

Given the long waiting time we have ahead of us, what do you want to see in Windows 9? What do you want to be exterminated from Windows 8?

New Hydrogel will Revolutionize Surgery

Hydrogel is the new buzz word in the medicine world!  A revolutionary substance that helps bone to grow!  Hydrogel has a two step process.  Firstly, the body’s temperature helps thermo-gelation to occur. When filling spaces in the body with hydrogel, the gel is heated thus moulding to the bone.  The second part of the process solves an ongoing problem whereby the gel contracts and expels water when stiffening occurs; Rice university developed a polymerising stage.  By mixing a catalyst before moulding and inserting it in the body, it will slowly stabilise the shape before water can escape.  Exciting, I know!

What is truly interesting is the fact that the gel decays as the bone grows and at a similar rate.  This is because bone gives off the enzyme alkaline phosphatase which breaks down phosphate ester bonds: the stuff that is in the gel!

The hope is that this gel will revolutionise facial and skull surgery.  They are hoping to put stem cells in the hydrogel in order to stimulate bone growth wherever the gel is put.  Once the space if filled with bone, the gel would run out of the growth factor and growth would halt!  Amazing!
This paves a way for cosmetic surgeons whose aim it is to permanently build up bone structure in a damaged facial structure due to accidents.  Also, it can be used to shave down bone structure and build a completely new shape!

Hydrogel has the potential for incredible uses.  It is cheap and easy to work with.  It is designed and engineered for the human body thus infection and other complications are at a minimum.  We shall have to wait and see how this new medical technology will grow!

Here is the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=IM6Ubz4I-io

As always, if you would like to leave a sensible comment, then please do so in the comments section below.

‘Holodeck’ Created With Kinect & Oculus

Oliver Kreylos, a researcher at University of California, has combined three Microsoft Kinect devices with an Oculus Rift headset to import a graphical 3D representation of himself into a virtual reality.  Thus the first  Star Trek ‘holodeck’ is born.

The process is made by merging the Kinects’ video stream before feeding it into the Oculus headset, thereby giving the impression of a solid 3D object.  The test object is Mr Kreylos himself, who can be seen sitting in a virtual office.  Well, if you were working on this wouldn’t you want to put yourself right in the action first?

Because the technology is an early prototype, it suffers from low resolution and it is prone to glitches.  The three Microsoft’s Xbox Kinect’s that were used for the process, are positioned in an equilateral triangle to precisely capture the subject. The image of the subject is then beamed into the Oculus Rift headset

The technology allows the user to be able to control the camera in such a way that he/she can see themselves in both a first and third person perspective.  Unlike any ordinary 2D camera, the Kinect is equipped with a 3D camera. This provides the missing pieces of information that is necessary for a 3D reconstruction.

Mr Kreylos said in his blog that even though the images are low quality, it still feels very real.  “I believe it’s related to the uncanny valley principle, in that fuzzy 3D video that moves in a very lifelike fashion is more believable to the brain than high-quality avatars that don’t quite move right.”
 Hopefully, this issue will be overcome soon.  I can’t wait to see where this kind of technology will be in a few years.

As always, if you would like to leave a sensible comment, then please do so in the comments section below

ATM’s Could Soon Spray Thieves With Hot Liquid Chemicals

It seems like I’ve seen a lot of news items lately regarding ATM’s getting robbed all over the world. While they may seem like a pretty tempting target for criminals since they don’t fight back or give them any “real” trouble, ATM’s might not be so simple to break into in the future. It turns out that ETH Zurich out of Switzerland has been coming up with some pretty unique methods to stop ATM’s from getting broken into. In short, they want the machines to fight back.

And just where did they look for their inspiration? From nature of course. More specifically, they looked at bombardier beetles, which are able to cause a small gas explosion when it thinks a predator is closing in. They thought, “Why can’t we do that same thing when an ATM feels threatened?” And so, that’s what they’re trying to do. They’ve created a certain kind of film layer that when it gets broken releases hydrogen peroxide and manganese dioxide. And, when those two chemicals mix together, they would be sprayed at a temperature of around 80 degrees onto the face of the unsuspecting criminal.

Along with getting a bit of a burn to the face, any of the money that was stolen would also be dyed by the chemicals. The chemicals would also be able to be tracked thanks to nanoparticles found on the dyed money.

Who knows if and when we will ever see this technology implemented all over the world, but if it ever does happen, I can imagine the number of ATM thefts dropping drastically.

I don’t know how you feel about this type of defense measure, but I think it’s a pretty genius idea. Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!

iStick: USB Flash Drive With iOS Connector

Do you own an iPhone or iPad?  Isn’t it just infuriating sometimes that you need an Internet connection to get files off the device!  It has taken a while, but there is an emerging market for flash drives which are able to assist you in this battle.
The i-FlashDrive by PhotoFas is already available on the market, but Hyper has just announced their entry with iStick.

The iStick has gained the pole position by being the world’s first USB flash drive for iOS, which comes with an integrated Apple lightning connector. Currently the iStick is only available as a Kickstarter pre-order. The Kickstarter project has already surpassed the goal of US$100,000.

See this video: https://d2pq0u4uni88oo.cloudfront.net/projects/977261/video-382304-webm.webm

The iStick will be available in 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB models.  The flash drive will allow a range of different abilities for the iOS user. The device can be used for backing up photos, videos, and files on the fly, thereby allowing you to free up space without having to connect to your computer. A great feature of the iStick is you have the ability to stream movies and music directly from the iStick to their iPad, even if it’s a file type that is non-native to iOS. At this time Hyper claims the device will support MP3, MP4, M4V, MPV, MOV, MPG, MKV, AVI, WMV, RMVB, FLV, 3GP, and GIF file types.

Features and specifications:
Free universal iPhone/iPad/iPod touch iOS app
Music & Movie Player (able to decode MKV, RMVB, AVI, WMV etc.)
1080p HD movie streaming, direct playback from iStick
Photo & Document (Excel, Word, Powerpoint, PDF, iWork) Viewer
Open files directly on the iStick without the need to copy to iDevice
Copy/Move files between iDevice and iStick
File Management (Copy/Cut/Paste/Delete/Rename/Create Folder)
Backup photos/videos from iDevice Camera Roll to iStick
Support “Open In” functionality Open files from other apps in iStick app
Open files from iStick in other apps
iDevice Contacts backup and restore
Product Specifications Capacity:
8GB/16GB/32GB/64GB/128GB
Connectors: Standard USB 2.0 and Apple MFi-Certified Lightning Connector iStick-to-USB Speed: 12MB/s (Read), 7.5MB/s (Write)
iStick-to-iDevice Speed: 2.5MB/s (Read), 1.9MB/s (Write)
Construction: ABS Plastic and/or Aluminum
Dimensions: 51.6 x 28.6 x 9.1mm
Weight: 10g
Supported File Formats:
Video .mp4, .m4v, .mpv, .mov, .mpg, .mkv, .avi, .wmv, .rmvb, .flv, .3gp, .gif
Audio .wav, .aac, .aif, .aiff, .caf, .m4a, .mp3
Images .jpg, .tiff, .gif
Documents .doc and .docx (Microsoft Word); .htm and .html (web pages); .key (Keynote); .numbers (Numbers); .pages (Pages); .pdf (Preview and Adobe Acrobat); .ppt and .pptx (Microsoft PowerPoint); .txt (text); .rtf (rich text format); .vcf (contact information); .xls and .xlsx (Microsoft Excel); .zip; .ics

Compatibility
iPhone 5/5s/5c, iPad (4th Generation), iPad mini, iPad mini with Retina display, iPad Air, iPod touch (5th Generation)
So there you have it folks.  Extra storage for your iOS device.  What are you waiting for?  Head over to Kickstarter and check it out.

As always, if you would like to leave a sensible comment, then please do so in the comments section below.

Rolex brings a touch of style to Bloodhound SSC

Two high performance analogue instruments have been installed into the Bloodhound supersonic car-one for speed (reading up to 1,100mph) and one for time.

The analogue speedometer and chronograph sit either side of the custom made, 3D printed titanium steering wheel.

Developed exclusively for Bloodhound by luxury watch maker Rolex, both are GPS-based, for accuracy, and have their own battery system.

This means that even if the rest of the electronics fail, they'll keep on ticking.

The components, with characteristic Rolex analogue dials, will provide a necessary visual reference and fail safe back up for some of the on-screen readouts during the two critical phases in the record bid: assisting precision braking from 1,000mph on the 20km track and for timekeeping during the turnaround in between the two mandatory record runs.

"We were looking to have independent and reliable devices to measure speed and time during the record attempt," said driver Andy Green, who's seeking to raise his own land speed record to 1,000mph in Bloodhound SSC in 2016."

He continued: "These high precision instruments will not only give me a visual reference of the speed, both in acceleration and most importantly on braking, but also help during the precise turnaround the car will have to go through in a limited time."

Bloodhound SSC is scheduled to test in South Africa next year before the world land speed record attempt in 2016.

Two high performance analogue instruments have been installed into the Bloodhound supersonic car – one for speed (reading up to 1,100mph) and one for time.

The analogue speedometer and chronograph sit either side of the custom made, 3D printed titanium steering wheel.

Developed exclusively for Bloodhound by luxury watch maker Rolex, both are GPS-based, for accuracy, and have their own battery system.

This means that even if the rest of the electronics fail, they'll keep on ticking.

The components, with characteristic Rolex analogue dials, will provide a necessary visual reference and fail safe back up for some of the on-screen readouts during the two critical phases in the record bid: assisting precision braking from 1,000mph on the 20km track and for timekeeping during the turnaround in between the two mandatory record runs.

"We were looking to have independent and reliable devices to measure speed and time during the record attempt," said driver Andy Green, who's seeking to raise his own land speed record to 1,000mph in Bloodhound SSC in 2016."

He continued: "These high precision instruments will not only give me a visual reference of the speed, both in acceleration and most importantly on braking, but also help during the precise turnaround the car will have to go through in a limited time."

Bloodhound SSC is scheduled to test in South Africa next year before the world land speed record attempt in 2016.

- See more at: http://www.newelectronics.co.uk/electronics-news/rolex-brings-a-touch-of-style-to-bloodhound-ssc/61300/#sthash.VlVmtyWZ.dpuf

Two high performance analogue instruments have been installed into the Bloodhound supersonic car – one for speed (reading up to 1,100mph) and one for time.dfdfdf

The analogue speedometer and chronograph sit either side of the custom made, 3D printed titanium steering wheel.

Developed exclusively for Bloodhound by luxury watch maker Rolex, both are GPS-based, for accuracy, and have their own battery system.

This means that even if the rest of the electronics fail, they'll keep on ticking.

The components, with characteristic Rolex analogue dials, will provide a necessary visual reference and fail safe back up for some of the on-screen readouts during the two critical phases in the record bid: assisting precision braking from 1,000mph on the 20km track and for timekeeping during the turnaround in between the two mandatory record runs.

"We were looking to have independent and reliable devices to measure speed and time during the record attempt," said driver Andy Green, who's seeking to raise his own land speed record to 1,000mph in Bloodhound SSC in 2016."

He continued: "These high precision instruments will not only give me a visual reference of the speed, both in acceleration and most importantly on braking, but also help during the precise turnaround the car will have to go through in a limited time."

Bloodhound SSC is scheduled to test in South Africa next year before the world land speed record attempt in 2016.
- See more at: http://www.newelectronics.co.uk/electronics-news/rolex-brings-a-touch-of-style-to-bloodhound-ssc/61300/#sthash.VlVmtyWZ.dpuf

Two high performance analogue instruments have been installed into the Bloodhound supersonic car – one for speed (reading up to 1,100mph) and one for time.

The analogue speedometer and chronograph sit either side of the custom made, 3D printed titanium steering wheel.

Developed exclusively for Bloodhound by luxury watch maker Rolex, both are GPS-based, for accuracy, and have their own battery system.

This means that even if the rest of the electronics fail, they'll keep on ticking.

The components, with characteristic Rolex analogue dials, will provide a necessary visual reference and fail safe back up for some of the on-screen readouts during the two critical phases in the record bid: assisting precision braking from 1,000mph on the 20km track and for timekeeping during the turnaround in between the two mandatory record runs.

"We were looking to have independent and reliable devices to measure speed and time during the record attempt," said driver Andy Green, who's seeking to raise his own land speed record to 1,000mph in Bloodhound SSC in 2016."

He continued: "These high precision instruments will not only give me a visual reference of the speed, both in acceleration and most importantly on braking, but also help during the precise turnaround the car will have to go through in a limited time."

Bloodhound SSC is scheduled to test in South Africa next year before the world land speed record attempt in 2016.
- See more at: http://www.newelectronics.co.uk/electronics-news/rolex-brings-a-touch-of-style-to-bloodhound-ssc/61300/#sthash.VlVmtyWZ.dpuf

Microsoft To Hold “Small” Surface Event On May 20

Last month, we heard talks about Microsoft working hard at releasing a Surface Mini this year, but as is usual with these things, we didn’t have anything solid to work on. Yesterday, however, the big names in tech media published reports about receiving invites to a “small” Surface event on the 20th of May.

“Breaking news” about the “small” Surface event was all over the place yesterday, with leading to speculation as to what we can expect about the event.


One thing’s pretty obvious: Microsoft is going the Apple route of teasing the media – and the general public – with announcements to events. The word small in quotation marks, we believe, is definitely word play on the size of the Surface that’s going to be the highlight of the event.

And this brings us back to all that talk about the Surface Mini.

Microsoft’s Surface line has not been able to reach the levels of success that its competitors have, but the general consensus is that it is best for productivity purposes, with business people being the main users. Microsoft is not ruling out the possibility of adding a fun factor to the Surface, though as seen in a recent video ad featuring a bakery owner from New York.

With the likely pending launch of a 7 to 8-inch Surface Mini, the company just might have a fighting chance in the tablet wars. It might not win – probably won’t, actually – but a smaller tablet will definitely attract more users.

This is not to say that he May 20 event will definitely be about the Surface Mini, but I think I’m willing to bet on that – just for the sake of betting, no money involved!

So what do you think the May 20 event will be about? Will we be hearing an official announcement about the Surface Mini? If you’re a Surface user, will you switch to the smaller tablet when it’s released?

The Cree LED T8 Will Save 30% of Lighting Energy Costs in the Business Sector

In today’s economic climate, most businesses and everyday persons are trying to do their best to reduce their carbon footprint.  That’s why Cree (a market leading innovator of lighting products) has become so popular.

Cree plans on becoming 100% LED lighting.  But what does this mean?  They want to completely replace fluorescent bulbs in order to drastically reduce energy usage.  Major pieces of the lighting market don’t offer enough LED-based choices.  However, Cree started off their LED lights with the A19 bulb with covered most of the consumer lighting needs.

Cree also released the BR bulb as well as the PAR38.  They are directional bulbs that are quite popular in homes and offices.  However, Cree has now completely replaced the T8 fluorescent with the LED T8.

Since commercial lighting is half of the market, it was important to keep the design.  However, LED T8’s (as opposed to the fluorescent) has had a slow uptake.  They are pricey and there are limited options.  Also, the new LED bulbs are not very compatible with existing hardware.

Cree’s LED T8 will cost $30 (48-inch size) and it will have a 30% reduction in power usage.  It will also be practically universally compatible so companies and individuals wont have to upgrade their hardware.  The lamp with be in both 3500K and 4000K options.

There will be a five-year warranty and the lamp will last around 50,000 hours. A regular fluorescent T8 may cost approximately $15 but have only 20,000 hours.  So for double the price, you get more than double the hours.  An excellent option as it will also save on energy bills!

As always, if you would like to leave a sensible comment, then please do so in the comments section below.

8 Things To Expect in iOS 8

It is expected that Apple will be previewing iOS 8 at this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June. Traditionally the company releases an update to its mobile operating system every year at this very conference so I think it’s very likely that we will be introduced to any new functionality and features.  However with the expected arrival of a new iPhone that is rumored to have a new design, it could be that Apple decides to just release an OS with just minor updates. Whatever the case, let’s look at eight things iOS 8 is rumored to have.

Healthbook App

Thanks to a leaked screenshot of the Healthbook app, iOS 8 is expected to come with this new feature that doesn’t look too dissimilar in design to the Passbook app. It has been speculated that the data will come from the much anticipated iWatch, which could be like the other high-end fitness trackers that are already on the market. It is thought that the app will store a person’s personal medical information, as well as track your sleep, steps and hydration. To make sure that Healthbook is not just limited to iWatch users, it could be that the M7 co-processor from the iPhone 5S plays a roll in supplying the data too.

Improved Maps

Although a lot of major issues with mapping were solved with the release of iOS 7, Apple has continued to struggle to compete with Google Maps, so it is expected that we will see further improvements in iOS 8, with better directions, an addition of transit directions and indoor mapping, which will provide directions for places like museums and hotels.

iCloud Integration

In order to encourage more people to use iCloud for storage and viewing, iOS 8 is expected to come with its own versions of TextEdit and Preview, which are note taking and photo viewing applications for Mac OS X. Although editing may not be permitted through the iOS versions of the apps, expect to be able to view your documents and photos.

Removal of Game Center

At the moment the Game Center is pretty pointless, with most of its services being used within games that use it for multiplayer settings or leaderboards. With the removal of the app, changes would be made through Global settings instead, giving users more functionality within the games themselves.

TouchID Payments

Rumor has it that Apple is developing a mobile payment system, allowing users to purchase goods and services via the fingerprint sensor.

iTunes Radio

At the moment the iTunes Radio is part of the Music app but it could be that we see its functionality separated in to its very own app. This would give users more options and also help Apple compete with the likes of Spotify and Pandora.

Siri

Digital personal assistants are getting increasingly better and it was inevitable that everyone would expect iOS 8 to bring the same functionality to Siri as Google Now. It is thought that there will be more updates that add greater access to web resources like the already-connected Wolfram engine and that Siri will be able to apply voice commands to third party apps that are available through the App Store.

CarPlay

CarPlay could be about to go wireless in iOS 8. Obviously this will only effect you if you have a posh car that can support the feature but over time we are only going to see an increase in CarPlay as more cars adopt the software.

With WWDC just around the corner now, stay tuned for all the latest news and releases! Plus tell us what you’d like to see improved or added in iOS 8.

iPhone Door Security With Kwikset Kevo

If you own an iPhone and are a even a little security conscious then listen up. The Kwikset’s Kevo Bluetooth Electronic Deadbolt is a very cool piece of home security tech.

It wasn’t going to be long before someone invented an intelligent Bluetooth-enabled lock and to be fair, it is rather a neat idea.  In today’s society, crime is on the increase and home automation devices are becoming an increasing market.

The Internet enabled home or ‘Smart House’ is not far away from mainstream and the Kwikset Kevo is the kind of device, which speeds up the process.

Kevo is able to be installed either on a brand new door or it can be fitted for a door that already has a deadbolt installed. The instructions for installation are standard and anyone with an inkling of skills will be up and running with this device in no time at all.

The box comes with all of the Kevo hardware that is required. Once fitted, the outside of the door looks like a standard deadbolt lock, but it actually has a ring of status LEDs built into it.  Also the outside of the lock is touch-sensitive. On the inside of the unit is a very small box which contains the electronics and a motor, which operates the lock and also a manual  locking lever.

The free Kevo app is easy to operate and you will be guided through creating an account on MyKevo.com. The app and lock does require you to have either; an iPhone 4s or newer, a fifth-generation iPod touch, a third-generation iPad or newer, or an iPad mini.

Each Kevo lock comes with at two eKeys, these are encrypted electronic keys, which are set up with the application. Currently, new owners may get five extra eKeys. So if you need to let a friend have temporary access to your house? You can send them an eKey via email.  Once they are done you can then then disable that key.  As they device is both digital and ‘analogue’ there are two regular keys included also.The system does have a few neat features, such as the ability to see a full history of all the actions that are associated with a lock. You may receive notifications when a specific user opens a certain lock at a particular time.

If you loose your iPhone then you really do need to visit the MyKevo website, log in you’re your account and then disable or delete that phone.

The Kevo is available in satin nickel, polished brass, or Venetian bronze and costs $219.
As always, if you would like to leave a sensible comment, then please do so in the comments section below.

Microsoft Making “Windows Watch”?

There’s no doubt that the smartwatch niche is hot these days, with everyone and their mom jumping in the bandwagon, trying to outdo each other, not to mention to get “there” first. Now, it looks like Microsoft is joining the smartwatch game, with its not-so-recently filed patent for a smartwatch.

For the lack of a better name, let’s say Microsoft is looking to make a Windows Watch, given the smartwatch patent application released by the U.S. Patent Office. The date of the patent is way back in 2012, but it was only released last week. The abstract of the patent, which may lead to a Windows Watch, goes:

A personal information system is provided. The system may include a portable information device having a housing including a top surface defined at least partially by a display, a bottom surface configured with a central region in which an optical sensor, electrical connector, and data connector are positioned, the housing enclosing an internal volume in which a processor is provided, the top surface and bottom surface being coupled by a perimeter side edge extending therebetween, and a mounting structure formed at least partially around the perimeter side edge of the housing. The system may further include a frame, which may be connected to a band, the frame surrounding a void and configured to receive the mounting structure, the frame and mounting structure being releasably securable via a tongue and groove connection. The system may further comprise a dock to which the information device may be connected.

Titled “WEARABLE PERSONAL INFORMATION SYSTEM”, the patent basically shows Microsoft’s idea of a wristwatch that combines several functions together: music player, fitness tracker, phone, and messaging device.

That sounds like the ideal smartwatch that we’ve all been waiting for, yeah?

But how will the Windows Watch, if it ever sees the light of day, compete with what’s already in the market? It’s just a patent application, so we don’t really know what Microsoft will come up with, but we do know that whatever the device turns out to be, it will be playing catch up with the Pebble, the Galaxy Gear, and other smartwatches that are due to come out in the next months.

Have you been keeping tabs on the smartwatch niche? What do you think about Microsoft making its own Windows Watch?

Top 10 Utterly Pointless USB Devices

When it was developed almost 11 years ago, the USB port, which stands for Universal Serial Bus; creators envisioned it as a way to make it easy for users to attach devices to their PC’s. By simplifying things for product developers and users, this new and simple format gave way for not only these developers, but for budding designers to have a new medium to come up with any kind of wacky device they pleased. An increasing number of oddball peripherals have appeared in recent years, and with that some corporate cadavers have taken on to collecting these strange USB gadgets. Chances are, one of them works in your office, showing off his collection of eyesores valiantly on his desk.

10.USB Fridge :

The time has come to stop forcing yourself to drink tepid Pepsi while forgetting yourself in the mountains of work at your desk! Plug the USB Fridge into your computer while you are working, place a beverage inside and get ready to enjoy your choice of tasty liquid at a cool 47 degrees Fahrenheit.

9.USB Monitor Smasher :

As useful and compliant as your PC may be, at some point you probably just want to clobber it into a million tiny pieces. Here we introduce the device that will save you thousands of dollars and hours of cleanup time. The ScreenSmasher is a foam mallet that comes with a USB sensor. Take the stress relieving smack at your screen and your Windows Desktop will automatically display the image of shattered glass – also with a realistic crash sound effect.

8.Gold Flash Drive:

True, the flash drive is a far cry from a bizarre USB device – but it is the price tag of this attractive accessory that puts it on this list. Introduced at the CeBIT show in Hannover, Germany, this exclusive USB key seems to be marketed mainly for its exquisite exterior – as its memory capacity wasn’t even mentioned at its premiere. It was later released that capacities will include 128MB, 256MB, 512MB and 1024MB. This gold-plated, diamond-encrusted USB memory stick is also adorned with a hefty price tag of 2,950-euro or $3,500!

7.Hampster Wheel:

Tired of your monotonous office work day after day, caught up in the rat race of the working world? Ready for the perfect way to lift your spirits and send laughter tearing through the office? Introducing the USB Hampster Wheel! Just plug it into your USB port, load the software provided and watch your furry friend as you type: the hampster gets running and spins the wheel around in the process, spinning even faster as your typing speed increases!

6.USB Exercising Dog:

You’ve got to do something with your unused USB ports, so why not fill it up with something totally useless like these USB dogs? A more family-friendly version then its “humping dog” predecessor, you can watch the USB Exercising Dog as he works his washboard abs to perfection!

5.USB Ghost Radar:

For the multitasking, facebook-addicted Ghostbuster, here is the USB device you’ve been searching for. The USB Ghost Radar supposedly does just as it says, detect ghosts. This gadget is actually quite complex. Using sensors and alert lights, and an algorithm it detects any paranormal activity – all the while factoring in biometric feedback from your skin, along with many other features. Plug in the USB Ghost Radar and it will beep in rhythm with specific light patterns depending on the paranormal activity around you. The volume and intensity of the beeps supposedly indicates how close your ghost is. The lights help you figure out the ghost’s position, movement, and the risk possibilities.

4.Mr. Tengu:

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a little buddy that could just sit right next to your computer and make stupid faces? Plug Mr. Tengu into your USB port and he will sit contently at your desk making weird faces with changes in sound, and will take naps when his daily face making routine becomes too exhausting.

3.Coffee Mug-Mouse:

Now I know what you’re thinking…. “Besides the high ‘coffee-spilling-all-over-the-desk’ chances, isn’t that going to be tough to use?” In fact, the MugMouse was created with the deliberate intention by SLOWEB Peripherals “to provide an alternative to the fast global flow of information”. This infrared mouse follows your movements and the mouse button at the bottom of the mug is clicked by pushing the whole mug towards the table; And as an added bonus, this handy mug not only holds 150mL of your favourite hot drink, but keeps it steamy with the built-in heater. So for those who are looking for a speed reduced computer mouse that doubles as a coffee mug – this little diddy is for you!

2.Bowling Ball-Flash Drive:

Though this “heavy duty” memory stick is not yet patented and ready to sell to the public – I can’t help but applaud this device’s creator Chris Spurgeon for attempting to find the solution to our age’s miniature flash drives going missing. Converting his 16 pound bowling ball into a memory stick he asks himself “Let’s see if I send that through the laundry by mistake!” On the practical side though, I hope when using it he doesn’t attach it directly to his laptop…

1.USB Scan Toaster:

Ever wonder what it would feel like to see your face on a 5 dollar bill? A postage stamp? How about a piece of toast? A finalist in the 2008 Electrolux Design Lap competition, the USB Scan toaster uses hot wires that rotate within a 30° radius to “burn” anything you want onto your piece of toast; the news, weather or snapshots – the delicious possibilities are endless!