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Posts Tagged “France”

space

Fresnel Telescope Will Spot M-Class Planets 30 Light Years Away

Scientists might be giving up on the notion of sending ridiculously large pieces of glass into space. Using a Fresnel-zone lens instead, astronomers at Observatoire Midi Pyrenees in France propose to take extremely high-contrast images at vast distances without a large lens or mirror. A 30-meter Fresnel telescope will provide visual confirmation of Earth-like planets up to 30 light years away. Since it can also observe a wide spectrum range including UV and IR, it can do follow-up detection of life signs, too. The main advantage of the Fresnel telescope is, of course, the fact that it's a perforated sheet of roll-up metal instead of heavy, breakable glass. But there are some major reasons it's not super easy to just whip up one of these telescopes in the machine shop: More »

digital cameras

Underwater Camera Rig Sends Photos Around the World in Seconds

Alain Bernard of France broke a record last week when he swam the 100m freestyle in 47.60 seconds at the European Swimming Championships. At the same time, underwater photographer Wolfgang Rattay broke another far geekier, and therefore far more important, record of his own using a voyeuristic remote controlled underwater camera rig. More »

architecture

Eiffel Tower Getting Huge Observation Deck Made of Kevlar Webbing

Next year marks the 120th anniversary of the Eiffel Tower. To celebrate, the French will be adding a gigantic webbed Kevlar observation deck to the top, doubling the size of the deck and making the Eiffel Tower look like some sort of alien space needle.
More »

portable media

Archos 606 is their First 3G-Equipped PMP

This seems to be a France-only deal, but Archos's upcoming 606 looks like their first 3G data-equipped player to be available anywhere in the world. The player looks around the same size as the already-released 605, but is completely black, has a 30GB hard drive, and certain pricing details that are only relevant for France. In any case, if Archos can get a deal like this going in France, it bodes well for PMP fans who are looking forward to a cell-connected player to download audio and video with elsewhere in the world as well. Especially if it has support for movie/music rentals. [Archos Lounge]

architecture

Color Changing Concert Hall May Be More Interesting Than the Performances

A concert hall has just been unveiled in Aurillac, France, that will be used for everything from sporting events to theater performances. However, the interesting thing about this building is not what is going on inside it, rather, it is what is taking place on the outside. Using a combination of glass bricks and fluorescent lights with color filters, the building displays a serene color spectrum across the entire length of the structure. All that aside, the building itself is beautiful—whether you are looking at in during the day or night. [Dezeen via io9]


fast train

I Am Le Fast: France's AGV Super Train Aims to Go One Better than TGV

French engineering firm Alstom unveiled its successor the the TGV today, the AGV. Standing for Automotrice Grande Vitesse, the train, which boasts an individual engine beneath each carriage, can travel at speeds of up to 223mph, or 360kph. Up to 700 passengers can be transported at a time, and less fuel is used, as the AGV is lighter than its elder sister and consumes up to 30 per cent less energy. More info below the gallery.
More »

shocking development

Taser Flying Saucer Drone on the Way

Get out of the way everybody! Here comes a Taser Flying Saucer from France. A company headed by Taser distributer Antoine di Zazzo is working on an unmanned "mini flying saucer" that will be able to zap electric hell from above onto rioting crowds, malcontents and evildoers. More »

france

Automatic Dog Washer Looks Like Waterboarding for Pets

I don't understand a word of the video because I don't understand the language of surrender, but I don't need to in order to see that the dogs trapped inside of this $30,000 contraption for the four minutes of washing and drying aren't exactly experiencing jouissance. They're dogs, not designer jeans, people. And the guy that climbed inside to show it's safe is probably a plant who loves pain. [Key TV via Spluch]

unlocked iphone

Rumor Smashed: French iPhone's Unlock Status Still Unknown

Although many sites are reporting that the iPhone is coming unlocked in France, quoting an INH article, Apple told us that the piece was based solely off of reading French Law, not from statements by Orange or Apple. The particulars of pricing plans and whether the iPhone will or won't be unlocked is still up in the air, so don't start pulling out your credit cards for a French iPhone just yet. However, because there is such a law that "forbids bundling the sale of a mobile phone and a mobile operator", there still may be hope for an unlocked iPhone. [IHT]

unlocked??

The French iPhone Comes Unlocked

We told you yesterday that Orange would be the exclusive iPhone provider in France, but that's only half the story. The other half is that since French law prohibits the exclusive sale of phones locked to a provider, Orange will be selling both a locked and an unlocked version of the iPhone as a compromise. The unlocked version doesn't have a finalized price at this time, but we do know it will be more expensive than the €399 bundled version.

With all of the efforts all over the world to unlock iPhones, it's almost a slap in the face (or just a step in the right direction?) that Apple/Orange will be offering an unlocked version to France. Guess it's time to import if you don't like AT&T. [iht]

UPDATE: Apple's official response to our inquiry is that the IHT was only citing French law, not Orange's intentions, and that this matter, along with the particulars of pricing plans, etc., will be addressed before the French iPhone launch.