New artificial muscle promises super strength

(Credit: Warner Bros.)

We have seen robots destruct and conquer in movies, but we never thought that would come close to happening in the real world. After all, we have only seen them being built for humanly tasks such aspainting and, well, vomiting.

But researchers at the University of California (UC), Berkeley have developed a micro-sized robotic muscle, which is 1,000 times stronger than a human muscle.

A material called vanadium dioxide is used to produce the robot muscle. When it is heated to 67 degrees Celsius, the compound changes from an insulator to a conductive metal, yielding a huge amount of strength during the transition.

This lets the robot muscle throws objects 50 times heavier than itself over a distance five times its length, all within 60 milliseconds -- faster than the blink of an eye.

Heating of the robot muscle can be done either with a tiny heating pad or with an electrical current. The heating process can also be triggered optically since heat is generated when vanadium dioxide absorbs light.

Physicist Junqiao Wu, the leader of this search project, said: "With its combination of power and multi-functionality, our micro-muscle shows great potential for applications that require a high level of functionality integration in a small space."

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Apple's Big Plans For 2014

Now that the holiday’s are over and 2014 is almost here, Apple is eager to jump into the new year. Between statements made by Apple’s CEO Tim Cook as well as rumors suggesting that a larger iPad is on the way, 2014 is already looking as though it will be a huge year for the Cupertino-based tech giant.

We have a lot to look forward to in 2014, including some big plans that we think customers are going to love. I am extremely proud to stand alongside you as we put innovation to work serving humankind’s deepest values and highest aspirations. I consider myself the luckiest person in the world for the opportunity to work at this amazing company with all of you. - Tim Cook, Apple CEO

It is still many months away but the rumors surrounding a 12.9-inch iPad are piling up with the majority of them suggesting that an October 2014 launch date seems to make the most sense for Apple.

Apple’s large-size tablet will be manufactured by Quanta Computer, and was originally expected to adopt either 12.9- or 13.3-inch panels, with recent rumors indicating that 12.9-inch has a better chance to be picked. - Digitimes Report

On top of the massive iPad rumors, some sources are now saying that we could see the iPhone 6 as early as May 2014. This release date would differ from the majority of Apple’s previous releases but sources are justifying it by saying that the company sees the iPhone 6 as more of an incremental update than a completely new system.

Since the iPhone 6 is expected to be nearly the same as the 5S, a large iPad seems to be a bit more interesting for consumers as well as for analysts. The 12.9-inch iPad is reportedly set to be an alternative for laptops which means that it may be setup in a way that is similar to Microsoft’s new Surface Pro tablets.

With iPad keyboards already a popular accessory for the tablet, Apple may use the larger iPad to capitalize on consumer interest in swapping out their computers for tablets.

On top of the iPad and iPhone, reports have surfaced that Apple recently purchased a patent for a heart rate monitor. While heart rate monitors are nothing new, the patent detailed a piece of technology which could actually identify people based upon slight differences in their EKG readings. This sort of technology may not end up making it into any of Apple’s products but if it does, it will surely make a big splash in the tech industry.

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MetaPro AR is the cooler, better-looking version of Google Glass

Cool isn’t one of the words usually associated with wearable tech but Meta wants to change all that. The company is on a mission to bring the “Tony Stark” dream alive with a new pair of aviator-style augmented reality sunglasses called MetaPro.

The smart sunglasses are not only the most fashionable we have seen in the wearable tech space, but they also promise to pack a computing punch. Unlike Glass, which has been primarily notification driven until now, MetaPro aims to deliver a “holographic experience”. The smart glasses let you interact with the digital world in your field of view by using finger and gesture interaction.

Meta is currently working with developers on getting 500+ apps up and ready for the device. But users can also mirror real devices to their MetaPro glasses to use them virtually. Using a virtual iPhone on such a futuristic device seems a little backwards to me but it does give users a lot more apps to use out of the gate, so I do see its value.

MetaPro retails for just about $3,000 which is double the current price tag of Google Glass. But MetaPro offers 15 times the screen size of Glass, displays 3D instead of 2D, and  has a display for both eyes so perhaps the price is justified. But the price is also high because MetaPro isn’t just a pair of smart sunglasses; it relies on a pocket computer which you need to carry with you to offload the processing power.

Deliveries of MetaPro are expected to start June of next year, with pre-orders starting now. If you are interested in Meta’s technology but don’t have $3K just laying around, Meta is still offering their developer edition Meta.01 for $667.00.

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The big picture: LG, Samsung to unveil 105-inch Ultra HDTVs

LG

LG 105UB9 Ultra HDTV

The "next big thing" is no exaggeration when it comes to describing the latest TVs from LG and Samsung. The two electronics giants are introducing mammoth Ultra HDTVs— as in 105 inches — for the consumer market next year.

On Wednesday, LG revealed in a press release its first 2014 model television — a 105-inch (diagonal) curved Ultra HDTV. Unlike LG’s 55-inch curved OLED, this giant TV will use an LED-lit LCD panel. The extra-wide screen represents the largest consumer television ever offered.

Called the 105UB9, this behemoth boasts 11 million pixels, the highest ever for any production television. Unlike all other UHDTVs to date (3840 x 2160 resolution and a 16:9 aspect ratio), this LG’s screen resolution is 5120 x 2160. Based on this number we believe the aspect ratio is actually 21.3 x 9 (2.37:1) and LG is rounding down, or maybe it is to compensate for the curve? We asked an LG spokesperson by email for clarification and will update if and when we get a response.

LG’s press release states this large curved LED LCD overcame technical the “challenge for uneven backlighting by refining its TFT (Thin Film Transistor) pixel circuit technology to prevent color leakage and ensure a superior viewing experience from virtually any angle.”

This massive display will debut to the industry on Jan. 7 at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

Price and availability were not provided, though we bet it will be very expen$ive.

The styling appears different in the two photos LG provided and we have no idea of the purpose (if any) of the rectangular opening below the screen. LG did not state whether the 105U9 could be wall mounted. However, it appears the built-in stand is part of the overall design.

Samsung

Samsung 105-inch Curved UHD TV

Just hours after LG’s announcement, Samsung issued a press release stating it will be showing its own 105-inch curved widescreen LED-lit LCD at the CES.

The Samsung 105-inch Curved UHD TV adopts a new proprietary picture quality algorithm that delivers optimized color and a greater feeling of depth. Its curved Ultra HDTV screen provides more vivid images when viewed from the side than other LED LCDs and boasts 11 million pixel (5120X2160) screen resolution with a 21:9 aspect ratio.

Samsung also claims its 105-inch UHDTV is the “most curved” and the signal processing achieved with its Quadmatic Picture Engine “delivers all content in UHD-level picture quality no matter what the source is.”

No other features, pricing, model number or availability information was provided. The “screen only” photo was the only one issued by Samsung with the press release.

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New House bill seeks to ban in-flight cell phone calls

Chairman of the House transportation committee says airplanes are noisy enough without people talking away the flight on their phones.

(Credit: JetBlue)

Flights are noisy enough for at least one lawmaker without having to listen to a plane full of passengers shouting to be heard on their cell phones.

So Rep. Bill Shuster, the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, introduced a bill Monday that would prohibit passengers from making in-flight cell phone calls on commercial aviation flights. The "Prohibiting In-Flight Voice Communications on Mobile Wireless Devices Act of 2013" (PDF) comes as the Federal Communications Commission considers lifting a ban on the use of cell phones and mobile broadband services on airplanes above 10,000 feet.

"Let's face it, airplane cabins are by nature noisy, crowded, and confined," Shuster (R-Pa.) said in a statement. "For the most part, passengers are looking for ways to make their flights go by as quickly and quietly as possible."

In October, the Federal Aviation Administrationlifted its ban on the use of portable electronic devices during takeoffs and landings. While FCC regulations still ban the use of cell phones for voice communications out of concern the devices might interfere with the aircraft's flight instruments, safety was not a chief concern cited by Shuster.

"For passengers, being able to use their phones and tablets to get online or send text messages is a useful in-flight option. But if passengers are going to be forced to listen to the gossip in the aisle seat, it's going to make for a very long flight," Shuster said. "For those few hours in the air with 150 other people, it's just common sense that we all keep our personal lives to ourselves and stay off the phone."

The question of whether cell phones could be used on airplanes has come up in the past at the FCC. The agency considered a similar proposal in 2004 and sought public comment, but it dropped the rule changes in 2007 after flight attendants and others lobbied against it.

The FCC is expected to take up the matter during its meeting Thursday.

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The next USB plug will finally be reversible

Work has begun on a new generation of USB that will break compatibility with existing connectors in order to improve ease of use and allow for thinner devices. The new connector, called Type-C, is an addition to the existing USB 3.1 specification and is expected to be finalized by the middle of 2014. There aren't any images available yet, but Type-C will be around the size of a Micro USB plug and, like Apple's Lightning connector, will finally be reversible — in other words, no more frustrated attempts to charge your phone with an upside-down cable.

"THIS IS THE ONLY CONNECTOR ONE WILL NEED ACROSS ALL DEVICES.”

In a press release, USB 3.0 Promoter Group chairman Brad Saunders says that Type-C will "meet evolving design trends in terms of size and usability” while allowing for future scalability in charging and data transfer. Type-C "will enable an entirely new super-thin class of devices from phones to tablets, to 2-in-1s, to laptops to desktops,” says Alex Peleg of Intel. “This new industry standards-based thin connector delivering data, power, and video is the only connector one will need across all devices.”

Since Type-C is an entirely new connector, the USB 3.0 Promoter Group will also have to include a specification for adapters and cables so that the countless USB chargers out there aren't immediately rendered obsolete. But the need for a new USB port is in many ways overdue, as recently highlighted by Apple's sleek Lightning connector and devices like the Galaxy Note 3 with its speedy but clumsy and oversized Micro USB 3 port.

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Your Future Smartwatch May Charge Wirelessly and Last Longer

Some smartwatches, such as the Pebble, can last for nearly a week without requiring a charge. But wrist-worn gadgets of the future could survive even longer. New Bluetooth advancements and technology from Broadcom promise to improve the wearable tech experience by extending battery life and maintaining a stronger connection with your smartphone.

Broadcom's newly announced BCM20736 system-on-a-chip features a design that's both energy efficient and small enough to conserve space inside wearable gadgets such as smartwatches. The SoC combines Bluetooth, an ARM processor and wireless charging into one 6.5 x 6.5mm entity, meaning you may not have to use a proprietary charger for your next smart wristlet. Broadcom claims that this tiny form factor and highly integrated design will extend battery life for future wearables, but hasn't given a specific estimate. The company is currently sampling the chip with evaluation boards.

At the same time, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group has unveiled some significant advancements that will keep your smartwatch tied even closer to your smartphone. The new Bluetooth 4.1 wireless standard will enable devices to remember a severed connection for longer periods of time. That means the watch would automatically pair with your mobile device when it's within range again, eliminating the hassle of having to whip out your smartphone to reconnect manually. Bluetooth 4.1 is set to roll out as an over-the-air update, which means you don't need to purchase a new device to see the benefits.

These enhancements serve to answer some of the minor qualms users experience with today's smartwatches. Some critics have reported that Samsung's Galaxy Gear watch can only last for about one day during mixed use, although the company recently issued an update to improve battery life. As the smartwatch transitions from a niche market into the mainstream, these types of improvements could give wearables a larger appeal.

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Touch ID on Apple’s iPhone 5s is losing accuracy over time for some users

The shine is already wearing off of Apple’s new Touch ID technology for some iPhone 5s owners. Apple unveiled its latest flagship iPhone this past September and along with it, a new embedded fingerprint scanner brought about by the company’s 2012 acquisition of mobile security firm AuthenTec for $356 million. Dubbed Touch ID, the new technology places a sapphire glass-covered fingerprint scanner in the home button of Apple’s iPhone 5s and allows users to unlock the device or authenticate App Store purchases with just the touch of a finger. The new tech is among a few main selling points for the iPhone 5s, but a new report suggests some users are already having trouble with it after less than three months on the market.

“Dr. Drang,” who is described by 5by5 as “a consulting engineer well known amongst nerds on the Internet,” recently wrote on his blog And now it’s all this that he’s having some issues with Touch ID on his iPhone.

“I’ve been using Touch ID since I got an iPhone 5s in mid-October,” Drang wrote. “Generally speaking, I like it, and I find it faster than the old swipe-and-passcode method, but I’ve felt compelled to reteach it my fingerprints twice already. I know this sounds impossible, but its recognition of my prints seems to decay with time.”

The good doctor continued, “I rescanned my fingers this weekend, and Touch ID has been amazingly fast and accurate since then. Just as it was when I first got the 5s, and just as it was a few weeks later when I rescanned my fingers for the first time. Just before each rescan, though, I was so frustrated with Touch ID I felt like throwing the phone across the room.”

Curious indeed, but one isolated issue doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a problem. According to John Gruber ofDaring Fireball, however, the issue isn’t exactly isolated.

“Drang is not alone — I’ve had a handful of readers ask me about this recently,” Gruber noted. “Makes me think there’s something to it. Me, personally, though, I haven’t noticed any drop-off in accuracy.”

Like Gruber, we haven’t experienced any issues with the print reader on our devices. We also haven’t seen any reports of this issue outside of the ones noted above. The iPhone 5s is still less than three months old, however, so this may be something to watch for as time progresses.

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Apple's iBeacon location-aware shopping goes live today

Apple is switching on "iBeacons" across its 254 US stores today, according to a report from the Associated Press. iBeacons, which use low-power Bluetooth transmitters to offer location-aware services to your phone, were quietly introduced along with iOS 7, and although other retailers have toyed with the idea of adding beacons to its stores, Apple's rollout today represents the first major deployment of the technology.

The Apple Store iBeacons will work in tandem with the Apple Store app. Provided you've got the app on your phone and have given Apple permission to track you, it'll attempt to offer an augmented retail experience tailored to your needs. When you walk into the store and the app will enter "in-store mode." If you're standing next to an iPhone table you might receive a message asking if you'd like to upgrade your iPhone. If you like, the app will then check your upgrade eligibility and let you know how much you can trade in your old model for. Another example given involves notifications that will automatically bring up your order number as you walk up to a clerk to pick it up.

APPLE IBEACONS KNOW EXACTLY WHERE YOU ARE

The Associated Press reports that around 20 transmitters have been switched on at Apple's Fifth Avenue store in New York City, each adjusted to specific distances. Some of the transmitters are actual Bluetooth transmitters, while others are signals generated by iPads already installed at the store. Adjusting the strength of the signal allows Apple to show notifications relevant to exactly where you are standing. Such accuracy isn't easy with traditional location systems like GPS, especially indoors. It's not clear if the Apple Store application will require an update to display iBeacon information, but the transmitters are reportedly live in stores today.

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MIT Video - Double Cone and Plane

MIT Video - Double Cone and Plane
A double cone is placed on the bars of an inclined plane. Instead of rolling down the plane the cone rolls up. Although the plane slants upward, the bars diverge so that the rotational axis of the cone, which passes through the center of mass, actually moves downward.

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Global PlayStation 4 sales reach 2.1 million units

And Sony wants to make sure you know that the tally accounts for actual sales to consumers, not just shipments to retailers' stockrooms.

Sony's PlayStation 4 has hit another important milestone, some two weeks after the console launched.

Sony on Tuesday announced that global PlayStation 4 sales have reached 2.1 million units worldwide. The company was quick to point out that the tally includes actual sales to consumers and not merely shipments into the retail channel.

The PlayStation 4 hit North America on November 15 and quickly became a sales hit. Sony announced at that time that it sold 1 million PlayStation 4 units in just 24 hours to customers in the US and Canada. On November 29, the company launched the console elsewhere around the world. It's now available in 32 countries.

Although sales figures for console units mean little in the grand scheme of gaming enjoyment, they've long been a barometer of the success (or failure) of a console. That's precisely why both Sony and Microsoft have announced initial sales figures with their recent console launches.

Microsoft last month announced that its Xbox One reached 1 million units sold in 24 hours, as well. However, the Xbox One launched in 13 markets, compared to only two for Sony's PlayStation 4. Microsoft has not shared unit sales figures since last month.

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Cyber Monday Sales Reach Record as Shoppers Snub Stores for Web

Online shopping surged about 20 percent to a record on Cyber Monday as many consumers snubbed physical stores and took to the Web to buy holiday gifts.

Including shopping on personal computers and mobile devices, Internet retail sales on the Monday after Thanksgiving rose to almost $2 billion, according to researcher ComScore Inc. (SCOR) That made it the heaviest Web-spending day ever for the fourth straight year. More than $23.9 billion has been spent on the Web through PCs alone since Nov. 1, an 8.4 percent gain from the same period in 2012, the company said yesterday in a statement.

Cyber Monday marked a bright spot in a holiday shopping season that so far has lacked luster, including the first spending decline for a Black Friday weekend since 2009. While e-commerce is projected to make up only about 14 percent of total retail sales in November and December, companies such as Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) and EBay Inc. (EBAY) are luring customers with the promise of daily deals, fast shipping and the ease of leaving the minivan in the driveway. They’re also catering to consumers who are browsing products from tablets and smartphones.

“The discounts are strong, and Amazon has gained share as it typically does,” ComScore Chairman Gian Fulgoni said in an interview on CNBC. “Their growth rates are well ahead of the overall market.”

Visa, Walmart.com

Businesses across the retail industry showed increased sales on Cyber Monday. Visa Inc. (V), the world’s biggest bank-card network, said U.S. cardholders spent $7.8 billion from Thanksgiving through Dec. 2, a 30 percent increase from a year earlier. On Cyber Monday, Visa customers spent $2.6 billion, up 28 percent and the most of any day during the five-day span.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT), the world’s largest retailer, said Dec. 2 was its biggest-ever online spending day, and that Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday marked the company’s highest five-day Web sales period to date. Top-selling items on Cyber Monday included an LG Electronics Inc. 50-inch television, Apple Inc. (AAPL)’s iPad 2 and a Fisher-Price Power Wheels truck.

“The momentum we saw on Thanksgiving carried through to Cyber Monday,” Joel Anderson, president of Walmart.com in the U.S., said yesterday in a statement.

Amazon’s Cyber Monday same-store sales jumped 46 percent, while EBay’s climbed 32 percent, according to ChannelAdvisor Corp., which provides services to sellers on both of those sites. EBay’s PayPal unit said in a statement that mobile payment volume more than doubled as of 2 p.m. New York time on Cyber Monday compared with a year earlier.

Mobile Shopping

Retailers who tailored applications and websites for smartphone and tablet users benefited from the effort. Mobile traffic accounted for 32 percent of site visits, a 45 percent gain from a year earlier, according to International Business Machines Corp. In terms of sales, mobile devices drove more than 17 percent of online purchases on Cyber Monday, IBM said.

Such devices also helped make Black Friday and Cyber Monday the two biggest sales days inNorth America in Groupon Inc.’s history, the company said in a statement yesterday. Transactions made on smartphones or tablets made up 55 percent of sales for the four-day weekend. Bookings rose 30 percent in that period, Groupon said.

Wayfair LLC, which began selling home furnishings on the Web in 2002, posted a 50 percent increase in Cyber Monday sales, marking the biggest revenue day in the company’s history. From Thanksgiving through Dec. 2, the store saw $25 million in revenue, a 56 percent rise from a year earlier.

Store Slump

Web-based retailers are reporting strong sales even as those with physical stores face a less rosy holiday shopping season. Online spending increased 15 percent to a record $1.2 billion on Black Friday, according to Reston, Virginia-based ComScore. Because of the in-store slump, total purchases fell 2.9 percent to $57.4 billion during the four days beginning with the Nov. 28 Thanksgiving holiday, according to a survey commissioned by the National Retail Federation.

“The real winners are, in fact, the consumers, who are recognizing more savings through competitive pricing and great promotions being offered in every category,” NRF Chief Executive Officer Matthew Shay said in a statement.

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Confirmed: Energy Drinks Are Bad For Your Heart

Fact: There are things in this world that, though delicious and convenient, are horrible for our bodies. Under dire circumstances, we may let ourselves indulge in a prepackaged brownie or some ramen noodles, but a new study reveals why we probably shouldn't reach for an energy drink — no matter how much we think we need the caffeine. A research team at the University of Bonn in Germany have found that energy drinks take a serious toll on our hearts.

As part of their study, researchers gave 17 subjects an energy-style drink containing 32mg per 100ml of caffeine and 400mg per 100 ml of taurine. The scientists then looked at images of the participants' hearts just one hour after they consumed the beverage. And, what they saw is kind of frightening. The contractions were so much more forceful after just one energy drink, that children, and those with certain health conditions, ought to avoid the drink altogether.

The images showed the left ventricle (responsible for pumping blood through the body) was contracting harder an hour after the energy drink was consumed than before consumption. If you think about it, your heart always pumps a bit faster when you're nervous or excited. So, it wouldn't be unlikely if the participants began with an elevated heart rate.

We already know that energy drinks contain much more caffeine than a run-of-the-mill cup of coffee or cola. But, as Dr. Jonas Dorner, a scientist on the team, points out, consuming a large amount of caffeine at once has more serious effects: "There are many side effects known to be associated with a high intake of caffeine, including rapid heart rate, palpitations, rise in blood pressure, and, in the most severe cases, seizures or sudden death." 

While the study shows that energy drinks have a short-term impact on cardiac contractility, it remains unclear "exactly how or if this greater contractility of the heart impacts daily activities or athletic performance," or how it effects those with heart disease. Regardless of the additional research needed to comment on the effects of athleticism and pre-existing heart conditions, this preliminary study might be enough to make you rethink your energy drink habits.

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