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July 03, 2009
21:06
Captain Piccard unveils Solar Impulse HB-SIA solar-powered plane
» ‎ Engadget

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You might have seen solar-powered planes before, but few of them come with as much world-changing ambition as the Solar Impulse. Launched in 2003, the project aims to demonstrate the viability of renewable energy sources by being the first to perform a manned flight around the globe using only solar power. The technology is nothing to scoff at, as the 200-feet wingspan features 12,000 photovoltaic solar cells bringing power to four electric motors. Captain Bertrand Piccard, one of the key men behind this project, is best known as one half of the first team to circumnavigate the world in a balloon in 1999. He hopes, together with partner André Borschberg, to repeat that achievement in Solar Impulse's next iteration, the HB-SIB, in 2012. Make it so, guys.

[Via Gizmag]
Filed under: Transportation
Captain Piccard unveils Solar Impulse HB-SIA solar-powered plane originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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19:08
Sneak peek at Meizu M8's new user interface
» ‎ Engadget

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Heads up, Meizu fanboys! We just got a sneak peak at the M8's new UI (said to be dropping in August when the handset gets its firmware update) and you know what? It looks like a UI. Pretty k-rad, right? Check out the other two face-melting pics after the break, if you dare.

[Via Meizu Me]
Continue reading Sneak peek at Meizu M8's new user interface
Filed under: Cellphones
Sneak peek at Meizu M8's new user interface originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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18:23
Viz to Publish One Piece #24-53 in January-June 2010 (Update 2)
» ‎ Anime News Network

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Also: Rosario + Vampire II manga, more Yun Kouga, Rinko Ueda, Tsutomu Nihei, others

18:08
NAO at RoboCup 2009 (Video)
» ‎ ROBOTS DREAMS

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Ok, obviously we recognize that this was a setup by the Aldebaran folks to promote NAO, but it’s still incredibly cute.
18:05
A Look Inside Vstone Robot Center (Video)
» ‎ ROBOTS DREAMS

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A look inside the new Vstone Robot Center in Akiba, along with several other related robot projects that Vstone has been associated with. This particular video was taken just after the shop opened. Since that time they have increased the stock and robot selection quite a bit.
17:54
Melissa Robot Performs Some Useful Tasks (Video)
» ‎ ROBOTS DREAMS

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Melissa is definitely evolving, and is getting to the point that we can believe evetually robots like this will provide useful service around the home and office. And, we really appreciate Melissa’s builder’s sense of humor and willingness to openly share his ‘bloopers’ and false starts with everyone online as well.
17:44
UK Humanoid Robots Gather
» ‎ ROBOTS DREAMS

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Check out photos from the UK humanoid robot gathering/competiton that was staged concurrently with the UK Micromouse 2009 last weekend. It looks like humanoid robotics is definitely drawing attention and builders on that side of the world. [via RoboSavvy]
17:30
UK Micromouse 2009 Results Online
» ‎ ROBOTS DREAMS

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The results of the UK Micromouse 2009 competition, held last weekend in at the Technology Innovation Centre in Birmingham, are online now.

17:29
Ogo CC-10 throws time-tested formula to the wind, goes portrait QWERTY
» ‎ Engadget

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We haven't heard a solitary peep out of IXI Mobile in a hot minute, even though its Ogo line -- once a member of Cingular's lineup -- had found some niche popularity among teens and the deaf community. We'd even thought they'd gone into R&D hibernation, actually, but apparently not -- they're innovating. They're innovating so much, in fact, that they've innovated themselves right out of the landscape clamshell form factor that made the Ogo famous. This Inventec-sourced CC-10 we just spotted in the FCC looks more Centro than Ogo, though all of the original's features -- notably strong IM and social networking support -- carry on through to the new model. At any rate, we can say that IXI doesn't intend to break back into the North American market -- at least not with this exact unit, anyway -- since GSM 1900 and Bluetooth are the only features it bothered testing.
Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds
Ogo CC-10 throws time-tested formula to the wind, goes portrait QWERTY originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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16:04
Poll: How's your Palm Pre holding up?
» ‎ Engadget

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It's been nearly a month since the launch of Palm's newest handset, the Pre. Since then, we here at Engadget have heard some vague and hard to substantiate claims of hardware failures -- cracked screens, a little broken plastic here and there -- but nothing on a large scale, so far as we can tell. We thought it was about time to turn it over to you the readers (the ones lucky enough to have a Pre, anyway), to tell us how the phone is holding up physically. Is it tough as nails or is it falling apart? Poll is after the break.
View Poll
Filed under: Cellphones
Poll: How's your Palm Pre holding up? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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15:04
Windows 7 release to manufacturing reportedly on track for July 13th
» ‎ Engadget

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Get out your Bill Gates commemorative calendars folks, 'cause it looks like we now have a few more dates to mark off on the road to Windows 7 availability. While Microsoft still isn't saying anything official itself just yet, a number of different sources are reporting that the company has set July 10th as the date for the final gold build of Windows 7, while the big release to manufacturing date is apparently on track for July 13th. Of course, things could still change if there's a major bug or other problem encountered, but barring any disasters, that'll likely be the same build that finds its way onto your PC this fall.
Filed under: Desktops, Laptops
Windows 7 release to manufacturing reportedly on track for July 13th originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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14:18
Sony readying CyberShot DSC-TX1 and DSC-WX1 megazooms?
» ‎ Engadget

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It was only a few months ago that we were fielding rumors about Sony's CyberShot DSC-HX1, and now we're struggling to keep our credit card at bay each time we waltz by one in the local camera shop. Today, Sony Insider has pointed out that the outfit may be readying a new duo to complement the megazoom: the DSC-TX1 and DSC-WX1. If the latest whispers prove legitimate, the TX1 will boast a 10 megapixel sensor, 4x optical zoom, 3-inch LCD, 720p movie mode and a price tag somewhere south of $400. The WX1 should check in as a lower-end model with 10 megapixels, a 5x optical zoom, 2.7-inch LCD and the same 720p movie mode; why exactly it'll be cheaper we're not sure, but that's the good word at the moment. E-tailer Provantage already has listings for both cameras up, so it seems as if it's just a matter of time before Sony confirms all the good news.

[Via Sony Insider]
Filed under: Digital Cameras
Sony readying CyberShot DSC-TX1 and DSC-WX1 cameras? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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14:00
This Week's Most Popular Posts [Highlights]
» ‎ Lifehacker

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Fancy tie-tying, Wi-Fi password cracking, Google Voice, and Firefox 3.5 round out this week's most popular posts.
- Dress Up Your Ties with the "Merovingian Knot"
  The realm of dress tie knots is dominated by a handful of traditional tie knots. Check out this rather unique tie knot and be the first on your block to sport it.
- How to Crack a Wi-Fi Network's WEP Password with BackTrack
  You already know that if you want to lock down your Wi-Fi network, you should opt for WPA encryption because WEP is easy to crack. But did you know how easy?
- Google Voice Is Cool, But Do You Need It?
  You've read about the features, you saw the invites going out, but you might be wondering what, exactly, Google Voice could do for you. Here's our guide for the curious and uninvited on whether your phones need some Google juice.
- Firefox 3.5 Officially Available for Download
  Windows/Mac/Linux: The final version of the Firefox is starting to show up on Mozilla's web site, and some readers are reporting update notices. Here are a few links and how-tos you should check out before downloading that browser.
- Top 10 Firefox 3.5 Features
  Firefox 3.5 is a pretty substantial update to the popular open-source browser, and it's just around the corner. See what features, fixes, and clever new tools are worth getting excited about in the next big release.
- Top 10 Productivity Basics Explained
  There's a core set of habits and techniques that filter and color a lot of what we write about at Lifehacker, but we rarely step back to explain them for newcomers.
- Five Best Free System Restore Tools
  Backing up data is a great way to minimize losses after a computing catastrophe. But what about restoring your actual system right away? Here are the five most popular options for our readers.
- Soaking is Key for Perfect Homemade French Fries
  You don't need to install a deep fat fryer in your kitchen or apprentice at a burger stand to get homemade French fries worthy of great praise. The key is soaking your sliced potatoes and using the right oil.
- Best of the Best: Hive Five Winners, March through June 2009
  The year is flying by, and so are our readers' picks for software, hardware, and other tools. Come on in to see the winners of our Hive Five polls for the second quarter of 2009.
- 3G Speeds Tested & Compared, City by City
  As wireless users know all too well, not all 3G networks are created equal. PC World recently put Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T to a multi-city test to determine which best delivers speed and reliability.
- Is The Desktop PC Dead?
  Desktop sales fell by 23 percent last year across the computer industry. In the U.S., 80 percent of sales went to notebooks. Gizmodo declares the desktop dead, but we're wondering if you see a future for non-mobile systems.

13:33
AIKa Zero Cute Manga Posted for Free Online
» ‎ Anime News Network

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Rion Senju's manga shares heroine with anime; 90-second promo streamed

13:03
iPhone 3GS prototype scooped up at airport, now on eBay
» ‎ Engadget

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Seriously folks, what's up with these prototype iPhones falling out of nondescript white vans and ending up on eBay in the shadiest of manners? Just months after we saw an original iPhone prototype (ancient OS included) pop up on The 'Bay, now we've got one of the world's first iPhone 3GSs on there as well. According to the highly ranked eBay seller, the "guy" he "got it from" actually stumbled upon it at an airport, and rather than doing the nonsensical thing of hitting up lost and found, he decided to make the most of the sudden opportunity. According to the new owner, an Apple Genius has confirmed that it is an iPhone 3GS, but due to its prototype nature, they can't help him get past the "Connect to iTunes" screen. In other words, it's an incredibly rare brick. If that sounds like just the thing to complete your collection, you can visit the road to overpaying through the read link below.

[Via ElectricPig]
Filed under: Cellphones
iPhone 3GS prototype scooped up at airport, now on eBay originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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13:00
Celebrate the Fourth of July with a New Desktop Wallpaper [Friday Fun]
» ‎ Lifehacker

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If ever there were a holiday that yields colorful and flashy desktop wallpaper, it's definitely the Fourth of July. Celebrate the Fourth on your desktop with these swanky fireworks wallpapers.

If you're not going to be shooting your own stunning Fourth of July pictures this weekend, you might as well take advantage of the great photos other people have taken to properly decorate your computer screen for the holiday.

The following gallery is a collection of Fourth of July-themed wallpaper we plucked from collections across the web. Each photo has an attribution link that'll take you back to the source of the image for your full-size desktop needs. If you know of a stash of Fourth-themed wallpapers online, share the wealth in the comments below!

Photo by esens.

Photo by Joe Penniston.

Photo by twentyeight.

Photo by Tony M..

Photo by Stuck in Customs.

Photo by charness.

Photo by wmliu.

Photo by Jaako.

Photo by Barry Yanowitz.

Photo by brewskizzlr.

13:00
Contests on Let's Make Robots
» ‎ MAKE Magazine: Robotics

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Let's Make Robots is a popular site for robot hobbyists. They've been running two build contests on the site which are now in their finals. Rik, a community member writes:

The LMR Dagu Mr. Basic Challenge invited makers to create any robot from a basic four wheel platform (provided by community sponsor Dagu Electronics). Entries vary from spectacular light shows (using Nixie tubes) to fire fighter to mouse droid (as seen on Star Wars). Three money prizes are at stake. All community members are invited to judge the entries.

The Oddbot LMR Video Challenge is sponsoring creative videos of home made robots. The criteria for "robot" are stretched far enough as to give any one a shot at the lavish prizes. The resulting videos are very funny and creative. The prizes consist of robots and components that Oddbot built and collected over the years. He must now part with them as he moves from Australia to China to become a pro.

I love the sense of humor, and fun, expressed in a lot of the entry bot designs and videos.

Let's Make Robots
Read more | Permalink | Comments | Read more articles in Robotics | Digg this!

12:00
Get Ready For Summer With Homemade Sunblock [Summer]
» ‎ Lifehacker

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Choosing the right sunblock is important, but let's say you're more of a DIY type, or maybe your skin is sensitive to many of the common ingredients. The solution is simple: make your own sunblock.

Instructables user scoochmaroo's detailed guide to making your own sunscreen demonstrates the process either completely from scratch or using a store-bought lotion as a base. She goes as far as to include a chart that gives you measurements for the ingredients based on the SPF you're aiming for.

Follow the link for the "recipe," and make your high school science teacher proud by heeding the warnings about wearing gloves and a mask while blending the ingredients (zinc oxide should be on your nose, not in it).

Have you ever tried a homemade sunblock? What do you use to protect yourself from the sun? Let's hear it in the comments.
Homemade Sunscreen [Instructables]
11:30
State of the Airline Industry Chart Compares Airline Service Fees [Saving Money]
» ‎ Lifehacker

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If you've ever had to change your flight, check additional luggage, or use in-flight Wi-Fi, you know that these services often come with a price. Consumer site BillShrink has created a handy fee comparison chart for eleven carriers.

Though you should always confirm directly with the airline since prices can and do change, the pictured chart is useful if you want to know how much more you'll have to spend on your next trip, and whether—depending on the fee involved—it might be better to book with another carrier.

Check out the full link below for all the details. If you'd prefer to avoid paying fees entirely, browse our previous post on how to master one-bag traveling, then take a look at some other avoidable fees you may still be paying for.
The Recession and The American Airline Industry [BillShrink]