Technology
The latest in technology news, from advanced robotics to smartphones, digital cameras and home entertainment gear.
Speed record shattered for data transmission over standard optical fiber
November 10, 2022
Engineers have set a new speed record for data transmission through a standard diameter optical fiber. By beaming 55 “modes” of signals down a single-core optical fiber, the team was able to transmit at a data rate of 1.53 petabits per second.
Photography
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iPiX case brings "real camera" features to the iPhone
January 24, 2023There are now a number of rigs in which smartphone photographers can mount their iPhone, allowing it to be used more like a real camera. The iPiX takes a different approach, in that it's an iPhone case with some camera-like features. -
Canarian Photo Awards deliver breathtaking images of the natural world
January 23, 2023The Canarian Photo Awards is new photography competition, ostensibly founded to promote the magestic natural landscapes of the Canary Islands, the winning images also span the entire globe, delivering an epic assortment of spectacular shots. -
Porise quick-draw camera strap caters to cycling shooters
January 23, 2023Although many photographers like to stop and snap photos while cycling, they don't want their valuable DSLR to be swinging back and forth as they ride. The Porise camera strap was created with just such folks in mind.
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Military
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US Army awards contract for microwave weapon to counter drone swarms
January 24, 2023The US Army has awarded Eprius a contract worth US$66.1 million to deliver prototypes of a new microwave weapon called Leonidas that is capable of bringing down entire swarms of enemy drones in a single burst, while leaving friendly aircraft intact. -
Ukraine to get Patriot missiles. Is this a game changer?
January 16, 2023In a remarkable shift in policy, the United States announced on December 21, 2022 that it was supplying Ukraine with the Patriot Missile System to aid in its fight against Russia. Does this mark a major shift in the war? New Atlas takes a look. -
Video: Airbus launches loyal wingman combat drone out of a carrier
December 13, 2022Next-generation fighter jets will go into combat with semi-autonomous wingman drones designed to act as force multipliers. Here's one in development: Airbus has just dropped its Remote Carrier demonstrator out of a cargo plane, for a mid-air launch.
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Mobile Technology
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Onyx launches 13.3-inch ePaper slate featuring E Ink Carta 1250
January 19, 2023There are a few options available for folks looking to supersize their e-reading experience to tablet proportions, including the Remarkable 2, Kindle Scribe and Lenovo's new Smart Paper. Onyx International has gone bigger with the launch of the Tab X. -
Samsung improves the 200-MP formula for Isocell HP2 smartphone camera sensor
January 17, 2023Last year, Samsung demonstrated the power of its monstrous 200-megapixel camera sensor by printing a billboard-sized cat photo taken on a phone. Now the company has started mass producing its successor, the Isocell HP2. -
OnePlus sends triple Hasselblad cameras into a "black hole" bump
January 04, 2023OnePlus has once again tapped Hasselblad for the camera system of its new flagship smartphone. The camera array gets a resolution bump, the 11 5G is powered by Qualcomm's latest chipset, and fast charging juices the battery in under 30 minutes.
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Drones
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MightyFly's new autonomous cargo drone carries 100 lb for 600 miles
January 24, 2023Carrying up to 96 small USPS packages in its internal cargo bay, the new Cento needs nothing more than two parking spaces for takeoff, landing and automatic unloading. MightyFly is working with the FAA to expand its long-range flight authorization. -
Swiss eDrone helps scientists gather eDNA from branches
January 19, 2023If you want to know which animals are present in a given location, a good way of finding out is to look for their cast-off DNA. A new drone is designed to help scientists do so, by autonomously sticking itself to tree branches. -
World's fastest quadcopter sets official Guinness speed record
January 17, 2023Racing quadcopters are insanely light, quick and agile, but they're not typically known for their top-speed figures. Mechanical engineer and hobbyist Ryan Lademann builds his own frames to push the limits, and he's now bagged a Guinness World Record.
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Home Entertainment
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CS1 breathes new streaming life into legacy hi-fi systems
January 27, 2023There's no denying that streaming rules the roost for the way we consume our music these days. But if your perfectly good living room hi-fi is feeling very unloved, a little black box from NAD could help bring your aging setup into the 21st century. -
Portable smart projector serves up LG's smart TV entertainment
January 20, 2023LG has added another Full HD LED projector to its CineBeam range. The compact and lightweight Smart Portable Projector can throw 120-inch entertainment, runs LG's smart TV platform and can pair with two Bluetooth speakers for stereo sound. -
Apple announces the return of the full-sized HomePod
January 18, 2023The HomePod smart speaker has been revived for a new generation of music lovers, and now rocks computational audio, enhanced Siri voice assist, support for sonic immersion, and smart home integration.
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Deals
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Become cybersecurity aware and open yourself up to new possibilities
January 26, 2023According to PRN Newswire, cybersecurity is one of the most in-demand professions, with employer demand for workers growing 2.4 times faster than the overall rate across the US economy. Here’s your opportunity to become a part of this exciting field. -
These award-winning translation earbuds were featured at CES 2023
January 25, 2023Don’t you wish that, while traveling abroad, a little birdie would whisper in your ear the words you want to say … in the language of the country you’re in? While not a “little birdie,” these Mymanu CLIK S earbuds are going to help you do just that. -
This CES-featured generator won't let you get stuck in the dark
January 24, 2023According to the US Energy Information Administration, customers experienced an average of almost 7.5 hours without power in 2021, with 72% of that resulting from major weather events. We can only hope they had a backup solar generator.
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3D Printing
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Twisty multi-material filaments could serve as artificial muscles
January 20, 2023While multi-material 3D printers do already exist, the filament they extrude is all one material at any one point in the printing process. A new system produces actual multi-material filaments, however, and they boast a very useful helical design. -
Metal/polymer composite makes for stronger 3D-printed nanostructures
December 30, 20223D printing technology is used not only to build things as large as houses, but also as small as snowflakes. A new material allows the latter to be much stronger than ever before, and to be printed considerably faster. -
3D-printed home made from forest products is 100% recyclable
November 23, 2022A recently finished 3D-printed home has furthered the eco-credentials of the construction method through the use of 100% natural materials, which allows it to be fully recycled at the end of its life.
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Computers
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Apple upgrades Mac mini with powerful new processors
January 17, 2023Alongside its new MacBook line, Apple has unveiled updates to its Mac mini range, which are kitted out with its newly announced M2 and M2 Pro chips. That gives these desktop computers a decent boost in speed and power over the previous models. -
M2 Pro and Max MacBook Pros boast 22-hour battery and faster performance
January 17, 2023Apple has announced the latest version of the MacBook Pro, powered by a choice of the new M2 Pro or M2 Max chip. As compared to existing Intel- and M1-powered models, both versions offer a considerable boost in performance and battery life. -
Wild Centerpiece keyboard displays interactive visuals as you type
December 20, 2022If you like your keyboards all fancy-like, we defy you to find one fancier than this glass keyboard with an interactive video display underneath it, powered by Unreal Engine 5. It's called the Centerpiece by Finalmouse, and it's as fancy as they come.
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Games
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Customizable PS5 controller kit helps players with disabilities game on
January 04, 2023At CES 2023, Sony unveiled Project Leonardo, a customizable controller kit for the PlayStation 5 that allows players with various disabilities to design the best input layout that works for their specific needs. -
Pint-sized portable gaming system includes more than 300 games
December 08, 2022Back in 2015, developer Kevin Bates launched a credit-card-sized open-source 8-bit gaming system on Kickstarter called the Arduboy for folks with keen eyesight to play, create and share free games. Now an even smaller version has landed. -
Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: How to get to Alfornada on foot
November 23, 2022In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the mountainous town of Alfornada seems to be hidden away until you unlock the climbing ability for your mount. But there is actually a way to get there on foot without any movement upgrades, and we’ll show you how.
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Laptops
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Acer sheds the pounds for world's lightest 16-inch OLED laptop
October 07, 2022As I know from painful experience, hauling a heavy brick of a laptop around on work assignments can be an energy zapping strain. Acer's Swift Edge model could help, launching as the lightest 16-inch OLED laptop in the world. -
Framework partners with Google for upgradable and repairable Chromebook
September 22, 2022Back in early 2021, a Californian startup launched a 13.5-inch laptop designed for easy upgrade and repair by the user. The Framework Laptop has since been updated, and now the company has expanded the idea into Chromebook territory. -
Lenovo treats latest business laptop to handy secondary touchscreen
September 14, 2022For the 2nd-gen ThinkBook Plus laptop, Lenovo added an E Ink outer display to complement the main screen. The company has also treated the latest model to an extra display, but this time the 8-inch screen is positioned to the right of the keyboard.
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Music
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Condenser microphone and audio interface combined into one iRig
January 26, 2023IK Multimedia's iRig range has included microphones and audio interfaces in the past, but now the company is looking to make life easier for musicians, live bloggers, podcasters and creators with one device that combines the two. -
Roland makes flagship sound engine portable with FP-E50 digital piano
January 24, 2023Roland has announced the FP-E50, a portable piano and creativity workstation that's designed as an easy intro for beginners while including enough advanced features to keep the pros happy, including Roland's flagship synthesis engine. -
Sony launches pleasantly affordable high-resolution Walkman
January 16, 2023There's often quite a price premium for folks who opt for hi-res portable audio. Indeed, the company who kicked off personal groove machines has been known to charge a small fortune – which makes the latest Walkman something of a pleasant surprise.
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Robotics
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Tiny robots copy the click beetle to jump over obstacles
January 25, 2023If a robot is going to be tiny, then it better have a way of getting around the many obstacles that will block its way. A new type of robot takes a unique approach to doing so, by jumping like a click beetle. -
Tiny eBiobots use LEDs and muscle tissue for real-time remote control
January 24, 2023Back in 2012, we heard about tiny biped "biobot" robots that used actual muscle tissue to walk. Well, the descendants of those bots are now equipped with LEDs, which allow them to be remotely steered in a practical fashion. -
New rubbery film rockets into the air like a grasshopper
January 20, 2023In a serendipitous discovery, engineers have developed a material that first deforms and then shoots into the air when it is heated. The researchers say the material could one day be used to help soft robots jump or lift objects.
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Smartwatches
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Coros PACE 2 review: A lightweight, long-lasting smartwatch
July 04, 2021If you want a wearable to track workouts, runs, sleep and plenty more, then there's no shortage of devices to pick from – and after a couple of weeks of testing we can tell you that the Coros PACE 2 has a few features that might make you choose it. -
The budget TicWatch E3 shows off Wear OS at its best
June 16, 2021Google has promised big improvements for its Wear OS wearable platform later this year, but in the meantime Mobvoi has launched a new device that could be the best value smartwatch on the market right now: the TicWatch E3. -
The newest Casio G-Shock smartwatch is the first to run Wear OS
April 01, 2021Google's Wear OS platform could certainly use some more actual smartwatches to run on, and Casio has obliged with the GSW-H1000 – the first G-Shock smartwatch from the brand to come with Wear OS on board.
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Telecommunications
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Laser satellite shatters space-to-Earth data transmission speed record
December 01, 2022A small satellite developed by MIT engineers has set a new record for data transmission between a satellite and Earth. The TeraByte InfraRed Delivery (TBIRD) system used a laser to beam huge amounts of data at up to 100 gigabits per second. -
"SuperGPS" ditches satellites for radio towers for cm-scale tracking
November 17, 2022GPS has its limitations in urban areas where signals can get noisy. Now, engineers in the Netherlands have developed “SuperGPS” – a hybrid positioning system that combines wireless and optical connections to pinpoint locations within centimeters. -
Record-breaking chip can transmit entire internet's traffic per second
October 23, 2022The speed record for data transmission using a single light source and optical chip has been shattered. Engineers have transmitted data at a blistering rate of 1.84 petabits per second (Pbit/s), almost twice the global internet traffic per second.
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Wearables
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Braille-training glove reads and speaks braille characters
January 11, 2023It can be difficult for blind people to learn to read braille, as they don't have any way of seeing which character the dots that they're feeling represent. That's where the BrailleWear glove comes in, as it verbally tells them. -
Huawei smartwatch pulls double duty as charging case for wireless earphones
January 09, 2023Though smartwatches and true-wireless earphones have only been around for a fairly short time, their respective marketplaces are already pretty crowded. To stand out, Huawei has combined the two for the Watch Buds. -
Wisear aims to stick neural interface technology in users' ears
January 03, 2023Speaking voice commands to a mobile device in public can make some people feel a bit silly, plus background noise may be a problem. French startup Wisear has developed an alternative, in the form of earbuds that "read" the user's facial activity.
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Virtual Reality
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VR used to treat anxiety in adults with disabilities
January 22, 2023A first-of-its-kind study has found adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities may experience improvements to symptoms of anxiety and depression after using specially designed virtual reality sensory rooms. -
Piezoelectric tech allows tactile sensations to be sent and received
December 07, 2022Although there already are experimental "telehaptic" systems that allow people to send and receive tactile sensations, they tend to be bulky and awkward. A new one is much slimmer and thus more practical, thanks to the use of piezoelectric materials. -
Sony unveils PlayStation VR2 price tag and release date
November 02, 2022After almost two years of drip-feeding us details, Sony has finally revealed the last tidbits of info we needed about the PlayStation VR2 – the price and the release date. The cherry on top is a slew of new games to try to entice us to it.
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