Technology
The latest in technology news, from advanced robotics to smartphones, digital cameras and home entertainment gear.
AI pilots US Air Force Valkyrie combat drone for the first time
August 10, 2023
The US Air Force's XQ-58A Valkyrie experimental combat drone has made its first flight under the control of artificial intelligence. On July 25, 2023, the robotic aircraft completed a three-hour sortie at the Eglin Test and Training Complex in Florida.
Photography
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One of the original Leica 0-Series prototypes from 1923 is for sale
September 25, 2023A century ago, 23 prototype 35-mm cameras were produced to test the revolutionary design, leading to the creation of the landmark Leica A camera in 1925. Just 12 of those Leica 0-Series originals are known today and one is going to auction on October 7. -
Incredible images from Nature TTL Photographer of the Year 2023 winners
September 22, 2023Photos can tell us stories about nature that words alone can’t convey. The winning entries in the Nature TTL Photographer of the Year 2023 competition prove that, as far as nature is concerned, a picture is worth a thousand words. -
First all-digital Instax is a cute ball of photographic fun
September 21, 2023Fujifilm has launched a cute Instax camera that makes printing to instant film optional. The Instax Pal digital camera comes bundled with a Mini Link 2 printer, but can stow snaps to onboard storage for transfer to an app to add filters and stickers.
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Military
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U-2 Dragon Lady spy plane makes first flight with new avionics suite
October 02, 2023A vintage Cold War spy plane is getting a new lease on life as Lockheed Martin's notorious yet secretive Skunk Works completes the first test flight of a Lockheed U-2 Dragon Lady with an upgraded avionics suite and cockpit displays. -
In a world-first, T-600 heavy lift drone launches anti-sub torpedo
September 29, 2023A recent NATO exercise in the waters off the coast of Portugal saw naval drones reach a new level. As part of the exercise, a BAE Systems/Malloy Aeronautics T-600 heavy lift Uncrewed Air System (UAS) air launched an inert Sting Ray training torpedo. -
Northrop Grumman to build advanced SiAW air-to-ground missile
September 28, 2023The US Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman a US$705 million contract to develop an upgradable next-generation air-to-ground missile called the Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW). The missile is designed to take on fast-moving targets behind enemy lines.
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Mobile Technology
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NearLink launches, 6X faster than Bluetooth, with 1/30th the latency
September 24, 2023Huawei has launched a breakthrough short-range wireless connection tech, aiming to combine the advantages of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Faster, more efficient and with a vastly reduced delay, it's also got more than 300 companies and institutions on board. -
iPhone Pro Max sports a titanium body, 29-hour battery and USB-C port
September 12, 2023Apple has announced the latest version of the iPhone, which is available in four USB-C-connectible models – the 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. The latter boasts a titanium body, and a lofty price tag of US$1,199. -
Sony gets inventive with the cameras for latest premium compact handset
September 04, 2023At first look, it may seems like the fifth-generation Xperia 5 has lost a rear camera, but the main shooter actually pulls double duty across two focal lengths. The compact smartphone also gets a chip update and improved battery performance.
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Drones
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AtlasNEST aims to make airports safer, by deploying drones
September 22, 2023Ordinarily, drones flying around airports are thought of as a hazard. The AtlasNEST system, however, utilizes drones to fly over landing areas where problems may be occurring, in order to give control tower workers a bird's eye view. -
WASP M4-TL quadcopter can be folded up and rocket-launched into action
September 11, 2023In recent years, we've seen a few folding-wing drones that can be quickly and easily launched from a tube. The WASP M4-TL tactical UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) takes that same concept and applies it to a military-spec quadcopter. -
For the first time, AI dominates humanity's best in a real-world sport
August 30, 2023High-speed drone racing has just had a shocking "Deep Blue" moment, as an autonomous AI designed by University of Zurich researchers repeatedly forced three world champion-level pilots to eat its dust, showing uncanny precision in dynamic flight.
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Home Entertainment
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BenQ 4LED projector immerses players in low-lag big-screen gaming
October 03, 2023BenQ has announced an update to last year's 4LED gaming projector in the shape of the X3100i, which boasts 4K big-screen visuals and Android TV, super-low input lag, enhanced dynamic range and spatial audio. -
4,000-lumen Tri Color Laser TV makes for lights-on movie streaming
September 27, 2023If you enjoy watching movies on a big screen, but don't want your living room dominated by a huge television, Laser TVs can be a good alternative. The latest 4K model from Ultimea boasts high brightness, Dolby Vision and a built-in sound system. -
Asus aims for backyard movie nights with the ZenBeam L2 portable projector
September 25, 2023Asus has added another model to its ZenBeam range of portable projectors. The compact L2 short-throw entertainment hub comes with Android TV, Harman Kardon sound and a battery that's good for more than 3 hours of watching per charge.
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Deals
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This 5-piece knife set is now only $89.97 for our version of Prime Day
October 03, 2023Snag the ultimate kitchen tools with this Konig Kitchen Damascus 5-Piece Knife Set & Gift Box, now further price-dropped to only $89.97 (reg. $249) through October 15 for our version of Prime! -
Grab a Windows 11 Pro license for under $30 with this deal
October 02, 2023If you're a PC user, you can elevate your computer's security and productivity features simply by upgrading to Windows 11 Pro. Right now through October 15, you can grab a license to the OS for less than $30. -
Pay $89.97 for acclaimed translation earbuds for our version of Prime
October 01, 2023Now on sale for $89.97 (reg. $157) through October 15 for our version Prime Day, the Mymanu CLIK S: Award-Winning Translation Earbuds bring optimized listening with cutting-edge translation abilities.
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3D Printing
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3D printing resin produces single items that are both soft and rigid
September 26, 2023Although an increasing number of devices are being developed for use on or in our bodies, such devices tend not to be very … "body-like." A new 3D printing resin could change that, by allowing for variable stiffness throughout single objects. -
Anker makes high-speed 3D printing even more affordable with the M5C
August 02, 2023Last year, Anker breezed into the desktop 3D printing space with the AnkerMake M5, launching on Kickstarter to test the market and fund production. Now the company has announced a more affordable follow up called the M5C. -
Revolutionary gel allows metal items to be 3D printed at room temperature
July 06, 2023Although there are several methods of 3D-printing metal objects, all of them involve heat – which isn't conducive to producing heat-sensitive electronics, among other things. A new gel, however, can be used to print such items at room temperature.
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Computers
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Eye comfort a priority for all-in-one desktop PC with color E Ink display
September 29, 2023Earlier this month, Dasung launched a desktop monitor sporting color E Ink technology for reduced eye strain while working. Now Bigme has gone one better by combining monitor and computer for the B251 all-in-one Windows PC. -
Makers treated to fresh slice of Raspberry Pi
September 28, 2023The last generation of the popular fruity board for tinkerers landed in 2021, though its creators did double the system memory the following year. Now the Raspberry Pi 5 has launched rocking in-house silicon for much-improved performance. -
Inventor ponders ethics of wiring human brain tissue into computers
September 22, 2023When you take 800,000 human brain cells, wire them into a biological hybrid computer chip, and demonstrate that it can learn faster than neural networks, people have questions. We speak to Dr. Brett Kagan, Chief Scientific Officer at Cortical Labs.
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Games
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New cloud gaming tech from MIT and Microsoft keeps video and audio in sync
August 31, 2023Researchers have developed a new cloud gaming system that uses low-level white noise to accurately synchronize separated audio and video streams transmitted to multiple devices, ensuring gamers see and hear things at the right time. -
Smartphone-controlled GameNite console brings shared board games to TVs
August 31, 2023While there's nothing like playing board games with family and friends, old-school box-contained games do have their drawbacks. That's where GameNite comes in – it's a console that lets groups of people play phone-controlled games on their TV. -
Atari games like it's 1980 with "faithful recreation" of Atari 2600 console
August 23, 2023It's time to dust off your old Atari cartridges as the company again tries to tap into gaming nostalgia with an updated version of its iconic Atari 2600, which will ship with a 10-in-1 cartridge but also supports legacy 2600 and 7800 game cartridges.
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Laptops
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Google aims for a better class of Chromebook with new Plus category
October 02, 2023More than a decade since the first low-powered but fuss-free, easy-to-use, inexpensive laptops running Chrome OS were launched, Google has now announced the Chromebook Plus program – a new performance-focused category with built-in AI. -
Framework goes all in on AMD for modular, user-repairable Laptop 16
July 19, 2023The 16-inch version of the customizable, repairable and upgradeable laptop announced by California tech startup Framework back in March has now gone up for pre-order, with Ryzen silicon and Radeon graphics leading the component charge. -
Spacetop AR laptop puts the screen on your face
May 19, 2023Seeking to free laptop users from small displays that limit functionality, Sightful has unveiled a laptop with no screen. Instead, AR glasses project a 100-inch virtual screen anywhere, transforming any space into a screen-filled portable office.
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Music
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Review: Fender Tone Master Pro, the most powerful guitar processor ever
October 03, 2023Fender says its new eight-core multi-effects and amp modeling floor unit is the best-sounding, most powerful and easiest-to-use digital floor pedal ever built. It's got a legit claim to two of those three titles – but is it undergunned in 2023? -
Lava updates oddly-shaped carbon smart guitar, adds new options
September 29, 2023We first got our hands on Lava's oddball carbon-fiber Me 2 smart guitar back in 2021, which was followed by a new model later that year. Now the company has announced the fourth generation, adding a spruce option plus a more affordable Play flavor. -
Loog kickstarts music learning with wood-enclosed portable Piano
September 28, 2023The latest project from music education company Loog Guitars isn't a three-stringed Gibson classic to go with its pint-sized Fender Strat or Tele electrics, but a 37-key portable piano for kids of all ages.
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Robotics
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Versatile Tetraflex robot changes shape to move in different manners
October 03, 2023If a robot is trying to traverse rugged, irregular terrain, it's limited by having just one body shape. The Tetraflex robot was designed with this fact in mind, as it can change shape to adopt different modes of locomotion. -
Tiny energy-harvesting MilliMobile robot has no need for batteries
September 28, 2023There are numerous situations in which a robot doesn't need to move quickly, but it does need to cover long distances without having to recharge its batteries. The minuscule energy-harvesting MilliMobile robot was designed for just such scenarios. -
Figure's Brett Adcock on the practicalities of humanoid robot workers
September 27, 2023A year and a bit into Figure's push toward humanoid robot laborers, founder Brett Adcock talks to us about how they'll enter the workforce, how they're being trained, how language model AIs will be used, and why now's the right time.
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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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LG sets new real-world-ready distance record for 6G data transmission
September 26, 2023While 5G feels pretty new and flashy, the industry is already making preparations for the next generation. LG Electronics and the Fraunhofer Institute have now conducted a test that set a new distance record for data transmission using 6G technology. -
Groundbreaking optical fiber blazes new data transmission speed record
June 12, 2023A team of international researchers say they’ve set a new world speed record for an industrial standard optical fiber that’s as thick as a human hair, achieving a data transmission rate of 1.7 Petabits per second over a 41-mile cable. -
Holoportation box is a sign of things to come for ASL learning
April 24, 2023At a teaching symposium earlier this month, the world's only liberal arts university for deaf students explored the potential for remote learning by testing out a life-size holoportation device called the Epic from Proto Inc.
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Wearables
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Nothing sub-brand launches accessibly priced smartwatch
September 26, 2023Nothing has announced the first products from its budget sub-brand CMF, which includes the Watch Pro – a somewhat Apple-like smartwatch rocking a large AMOLED display, built-in GPS, more than a hundred sport modes, and a 13-day battery. -
Apple adds double-tap gesture control to adventure-ready Watch Ultra 2
September 13, 2023If you thought that last year's Apple Watch Ultra was a pretty impressive adventure wearable, there was clearly room for improvement as the second generation launches – with a much brighter display, double-tap control and on-watch Siri. -
Oscilloscope Watch nears end of epic 10-year development journey
September 06, 2023The estimated shipping date for successful Kickstarters can often prove to be a bit ambitious, but backers of the Oscilloscope Watch project are finally being rewarded for their patience – almost 10 years after the campaign ended.
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Virtual Reality
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Zuckerberg and Fridman show off insane leap in face-to-face VR chat
October 02, 2023"This is really the most incredible thing I've ever seen," said podcast host Lex Fridman, interviewing Mark Zuckerberg in VR using Meta's stunning new photorealistic avatars, coming soon to Quest, so lifelike that they "cross the uncanny valley." -
Sony's Mocopi system takes motion capture mobile
June 30, 2023Late last year, Sony launched a mobile motion-capture system in Japan that worked with a companion app to create a VR avatar for such things as gaming or chat. Now the Mocopi system is up for pre-order in the US. -
Face-worn tech could help bring smell-o-vision to the world of VR
June 06, 2023While we've seen multiple attempts to produce real-world odors in VR environments, many have involved cumbersome wearable devices. Chinese scientists have developed a much more streamlined system, which is applied to the skin below the user's nose.
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