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Posts Tagged “

Micro

satellites

Micro Satellites Geared Toward Private Sector Make Tinfoil Hats a Good Idea

The Guardian wrote a neat feature on Surrey Satellite Technologies, who are currently working on scaled down, fully functional satellites for commercial consumption that only cost 10 million dollars, only weigh 220 pounds, and only take 18 months to build. But when compared to full-sized satellites ($500m, 1000 kg) used by government agencies and large corporations, these micro-satellites are amazingly compact and cost effective. Surrey will be sending 5 of these into orbit on the back of an old Soviet rocket in Kazhakstan. More »

speakers

Gear4 BlackBox Micro is Micro Black Box Speaker For MP3 Gear

Last time we talked about Blackbox gizmos from Gear4 it was a largeish Bluetooth speaker, but this new one is different. It's wired, USB-powered and designed to be a portable companion for an MP3 player. You may think size sacrifices bass power, but apparently it's got an "SFX gel" base, meaning it uses any flat surface you stick it to to amplify sound volume and bass. It's got a normal driver too, takes line-in, and can be powered with a power-brick. Gear4's site doesn't reveal exactly how small it is, but it's out August in the UK for $40. [Gear4 and Pocket-Lint]

apple

Belkin's iPhone 3G Micro Grip is a HUGE Spiderman Fan

In Belkin's new line of iPhone 3G cases, their standout has to be this webbed Micro Grip. Rubberized and poked with holes in all the necessary places, we're not so sure it's our cup of tea, but we can't take our eyes off it either. Still, one thing's for sure—somewhere in Cupertino, Jonathan Ive is writing one sad LiveJournal entry about how he can "now never see SpiderMan 4" but at least "possibly enjoy Iron Man 2." [Belkin's iPhone 3G cases and just for reference Griffin's iPhone 3G cases]

robots

Army Plans Swarms of Military Bug-Robots, Bringing Sci-Fi to Life

The rather beautiful looks of the robot in this image hide the fact that in reality it would be part of a swarm of military bots designed to creep into caves, bunkers and other hostile areas to grab intel on the baddies hiding within. Yes: it sounds like Minority Report, Dr Who and Robot Wars all rolled into one. And yes: it might just end up as a real machine, since BAE Systems has just been awarded $38 million by the Army Research Lab to head up the Micro Autonomous Systems and Technology project to develop the technology. The promotional video gives us a few more clues, despite its game-like looks, and if you don't like spiders then the image of one of the other potential drone bots will surely give you the heebyjeebies. More »

science

Scientists Do Micro-Origami, Make Tiny Drug-Delivery Package

Researchers at USC's Information Sciences Institute produced this amazing pyramid, around 30 microns across, which may one day be used to deliver precise micro- or nano-doses of medication. The structures, dubbed "voxels" are made of silicon, cut into flats and then folded up and sealed to enclose tiny volumes of space inside. The team hasn't stopped at pyramids either— they've tried flat envelopes, cubes and partial dodecahedra, but these don't close together the way the pyramid does. More »

future tech

Coway Megasonic Cleaning Device: If It's Too Loud, You're Too Dirty

Coway's new cleaning device uses megasonic soundwaves to clean everything from meat, to produce, to dirty dishes — all with the frequency of a soundwave. The secret behind this gadget is inductive micro cavitation, which shakes dirty particles loose from the surface of the object. More »

imperial eyes

Spy Drones Coming Soon to the US, AT-ST Walkers to Follow Next

Reuters is reporting that the Miami-Dade police department will "soon" start deployment of the infamous Honeywell Micro Air Vehicles, the spy drones that will keep all you criminals and Gizmodo editors in check with forward and downward looking cameras, flying over a 100 waypoint flight plan at 57MPH, and from 10,500-foot altitude. Seeing them hovering over the skies is kind of menacing. Actually, with the right music, it's downright scary.

More »

gadgets

Dealzmodo: Free TV Scrambling Micro Spy Remote at ThinkGeek

If you purchase $25 worth of stuff from ThinkGeek, right now they're tossing in a free Micro Spy Remote, which lets you futz with the volume and channels on almost any TV—or you can turn them off altogether. Just punch in the coupon code SPORTS when you order your next case of Bawls. Oh, and um, you didn't hear about this from us. [Bargainst]

future tech

Video: RSD5 Solid State Fan In Action

Yesterday, we posted about the RSD5 Solid State Fan from Thorrn Micro Technologies. Today, we have a video of the fan in action along with additional insight from one of the creators. The more I learn (and watch) about the RSD5, the more impressed I become. Thorrn Micro says the research is complete and expect the RSD5 to be ready for market by 2009.

future tech

Microchip-sized Solid State Fan Actively Cools Laptops With No Moving Parts

Engineers at Thorrn Micro Technologies have created a solid state fan for portable gadgets that is one-fourth the size and two to three times more powerful than a comparable mechanical fan. The RSD5 fan, which is roughly the size of a microchip, is said to be extremely thin, silent, and powerful and current prototypes can effectively cool a 25-watt processor. More »

r/c aircraft

Snelflight Jump Jet, a Fast R/C Micro-Aircraft That Hovers Too

You know, remote control micro-aircraft are cool, whether they hover like 'copters, fly like birds, or do both: like the new Jump Jet from Snelflight. It's a kind of mashup toy, with four rotors to keep it aloft in the hover, or tilted to propel it forward, vectored-thrust style. From the demo video of a prototype in flight, it looks much easier to control than the multiple-crashing Chinook: More »

tandem z1

Tandem Z1 Chinook Minicopter Flying (and Crashing) on Video

My new Tandem Z1 Chinook finally arrived. And guess what? Two rotors and proper six-way control actually does equal twice the crashes. At least while starting out, anyway— just like a real helicopter these things are a bugger to learn to control. Balancing throttle, forward, backwards, turning and the trimming controls felt like it needed about three extra hands. So, I had crashes. A lot. But, eventually, I got the hang of it, as the video shows. More »

peripherals

Kingston DataTraveler Micro is a USB Stick with MicroSD Card Reader

USB thumb drives stopped being cool about 10 years ago, but what happens when you stick a microSD card reader on board? It gets cool again, that's what. Kingston's DataTraveler Micro does just that, and even holds up to 4GB of onboard memory inside the thumbdrive itself. The reader can read not only microSD cards, but microSDHC and Memory Stick Micro (M2). Prices are $19, $28 and $42 for the 1, 2 and 4GB models respectively. [Kingston]

picoo

Tandem Z Chinook R/C Helicopter Has Two Rotors for Double the Crashes

Picoo Z has just doubled the fun of R/C mini helicopters with the Tandem Z Chinook. Yes, two rotors, just like the real thing, for twice the number of high-speed crashes into walls, twice the chased-by-your-cat action. Its also got a three-channel remote control now, so you can try forward-backward moves properly—remember how tricky the original Pico Z was to fly with only up-down and left-right? Available for around $79. [Geek Alerts]

rumor

128GB Sony Micro Vault Selling in China?

A tipster just sent us compelling evidence of giant 64GB and ridiculously huge 128GB Sony-branded USB drives circulating in China. When he first spotted them at a market in Zu Hai, near Macau, he thought it was a misprint, but then he discovered that his own father had a 64GB card. Lest you think he was still foolin' himself, you can see that when he stuck the drive into a PC and checked, the thing sure enough registered around 64GB of space:
More »

mav on a wire

Air Force Developing Spy Planes That Can Recharge on Power Lines

The US Air Force Research Lab is currently developing a micro air vehicle (MAV) that can harvest energy from power lines, which could lead to significantly longer surveillance missions. The aircraft would even have the ability to transform into inconspicuous objects, like an "innocuous piece of trash hanging from the cable." This would be achieved using existing technologies for collapsible wings and "sliding skins" that would allow the fuselage to change shape. More »

dealzmodo

Dealzmodo: Refurbed 30GB Creative Zen Vision: M for $100, 8GB Zen Micro for $70

They're refurbs, which makes the deal less shiny than the crapload of cheap Zune 30s, but they come with decent warranties so don't let it put you off. The 30GB Creative Zen Vision:M is $100, which ain't too shabby dealwise. But the better one is the 8GB Creative Zen Micro for only $70—a good deal for a small player w/ that much storage. Naturally, there's far fewer of these in stock, so don't waffle around for too long. [Buy.com, Buy.com via Gadget Lab]

peripherals

Intel To Sell Its Home Server Reference Design for $500

By now you've seen Intel's sexy server: it's the one chosen as a reference design by Velocity Micro and Fujitsu Siemens for their Windows Home Server products. Well apparently Intel is not content to just be the silent partner in this, because it will now market the device as the Intel Entry Storage System, in both the SS2400-E, an EMC-powered fully functioning NAS, and the hardware-only Windows Home Server-ready SS2400-EHW. Intel says the systems will be available in December, starting at $500, so maybe you can cut out the middleman and score one for yourself. [Intel]