India to get Centre of Excellence in quantum and 6G technologies

New Delhi, September 20 (IANS): In an effort to bolster India’s position in the sphere of quantum and 6G technologies, the Telecom Centre of Excellence (TCOE) India and Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) in Karnataka have joined hands to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in quantum technology and related areas.

The centre, headquartered at VTU-Visvesvaraya Research and Innovation Foundation (VRIF) Bangalore, aims to accelerate India’s progress across these key sectors and is part of the 100-day programme, according to the Ministry of Communications.

The CoE is designed on a hub-and-spoke model for innovation with VTU-VRIF and TCOE India serving as the central hub.

According to the government, leveraging the intellectual and infrastructural strengths of VTU’s 228 affiliated colleges, the CoE will act as a key facilitator in research and development.

Through this model, the CoE will streamline cutting-edge research, foster collaboration, and rapidly scale innovations across Quantum and associated 5G/6G Technologies.

The hub will have vertical focussed innovation groups and get the best experts among the affiliated colleges, said the ministry.

The centre will enhance synergy among key organisations working in telecom standardisation such as Telecom Engineering Centre (TEC) Bharat 6G Alliance, TSDSI, Academic Network and the startup ecosystem.

It will empower over 400,000 students, more than 2,000 PhDs, and numerous researchers across VTU’s network to streamline R&D and drive the commercialisation of ground-breaking innovations.

According to Ajai Chowdhury, Chairman, Mission Governing Board, National Quantum Mission, there are about 600 scientists and 50 startups working in quantum technology in the country.

The country launched the National Quantum Mission in April 2023 to build capabilities in quantum-related science and technology.

“As we started to work, we looked at how many scientists and PIs are working in this field and found that India had around 600 scientists and 40 to 50 start-ups in quantum technology,” Chowdhury said last month. He added that the country is doing “tremendous amounts of work” in the sector, India to get Centre of Excellence in quantum and 6G technologies | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........→September 20, 2024

Nokia, NASA to install 4G on the Moon

Finnish multinational telecommunications, information technology, and consumer electronics company Nokia announced its expansion into a new market on Monday, winning a deal to install the first cellular network on the Moon.

The Finnish equipment manufacturer said it was selected by NASA to deploy an “ultra-compact, low-power, space-hardened” wireless 4G network on the lunar surface, as part of the US space agency’s plan to establish a long-term human presence on the Moon by 2030, according to a report by AFP.

The $14.1 million contracts, awarded to Nokia’s US subsidiary, is part of NASA’s Artemis program which aims to send the first woman, and next man, to the moon by 2024.

The astronauts will begin carrying out detailed experiments and explorations which the agency hopes will help it develop its first human mission to Mars.

Nokia’s network equipment will be installed remotely on the Moon’s surface using a lunar hopper built by Intuitive Machines in late 2022, Nokia said.

“The network will self-configure upon deployment,” Nokia said in a statement, adding that the wireless technology will allow for “vital command and control functions, remote control of lunar rovers, real-time navigation and streaming of high definition video.”

The 4G equipment can be updated to a super-fast 5G network in the future, Nokia said.

In all, NASA announced last week it would distribute $370 million to 14 companies to supply “Tipping Point” technologies for its mission, which include robotics and new methods of harvesting the resources required for living on the moon, such as oxygen and energy sources.

Among them, Elon Musk’s SpaceX received $53.2 million for a demonstration of the transferring of ten metric tons of liquid oxygen between tanks on a starship vehicle, NASA said.Source: AFP Source: https://www.daily-bangladesh.com

Read More........→December 29, 2020

Artificial Telepathy: Prosumers, Cicerones and Mugges

@ https://www.flickr.com/photos/danbri/2416664079/ CC/By/2.0/

Small electronic devices and social networking software are on the verge of creating a sort of artificial telepathy where images and ideas can be broadcast instantly to a group of people. 'If you get lost, my mobile will guide you' from the MUGGES project. TECNALIA Research & Innovation and Telefónica R+D have succeeded in taking one more step with social networks; with MUGGES, they have managed that any person with a mobile telephone in his or her hand is able to become a “cicerone”, a journalist or mobile reporter and, in fact, a provider of a huge amount of new services from their own terminal. The MUGGES project investigates the transformation of users of mobile telephones into prosumers, i.e. producers, providers and consumers of content from their own mobile telephone. The user generates and stores his or her own micro-services - known as mugglets - on their mobile telephone. This involves small applications that take advantage of the experience of the user and make use of the information of the context in real time, combining searching with social interaction. With MUGGES it is possible to share routes, follow the routes of others, visualise which routes are being followed when others are at the same point where the user is, comments by other users of the site, challenge other users on a specific route, create a service to share a car, to obtain a parking place, etc., become a mobile paparazzi present anywhere …. and a multitude of services more. In this way the user can obtain and provide information and content, share these services for their consumption or re-use (creation of new services from existing ones), thus making it possible to develop new business models. This new concept is opening up a pioneering path for a new generation of mobile services for the Internet of the Future, a priority line of research. One step forward in social networks: MUGGES stands out from the social networks in which one's own mobile phone is also enabled for social interaction in any place and at any time, without depending on an internet connection. Millions of potential providers, millions of journalists, a multitude of users informing about traffic, events, recommendations, etc. This is MUGGES, one step beyond social networks. The infrastructure and mobile devices are now sufficiently powerful to enable the development of new business models. The mobile terminal is evolving at great speed, even becoming a content server, so that a mobile user can constantly provide updated information, in real time and relevant for users. This trend will move to the mobile environment, much more suited to the way we carry out social interactions, anywhere and anytime. Mobile infrastructures and devices are now powerful enough to allow for new business models. The mobile terminal will evolve to become a server and therefore, a mobile user will provide constantly updated information, relevant to others users instantaneous interests and current context. 

• Contacts and sources: Irati Kortabitarte
• Zelai Haundi 3
• Osinalde Industrialdea, 20170
• Usurbil, Spain. Source: http://www.ineffableisland.com

Read More........→May 27, 2016

Researcher Gains Control Of Another Man's Brain Over The Internet

Human To Human Brain Interface Allows Researcher To Control Another Person Hand Motions Over The Internet, Credit: University of Washington

University of Washington researchers have performed what they believe is the first noninvasive human-to-human brain interface, with one researcher able to send a brain signal via the Internet to control the hand motions of a fellow researcher. University of Washington researcher Rajesh Rao, left, plays a computer game with his mind. Across campus, researcher Andrea Stocco, right, wears a magnetic stimulation coil over the left motor cortex region of his brain. Stocco’s right index finger moved involuntarily to hit the “fire” button as part of the first human brain-to-brain interface demonstration. Using electrical brain recordings and a form of magnetic stimulation, Rajesh Rao sent a brain signal to Andrea Stocco on the other side of the UW campus, causing Stocco’s finger to move on a keyboard. While researchers at Duke University have demonstrated brain-to-brain communication between two rats, and Harvard researchers have demonstrated it between a human and a rat, Rao and Stocco believe this is the first demonstration of human-to-human brain interfacing. “The Internet was a way to connect computers, and now it can be a way to connect brains,” Stocco said. “We want to take the knowledge of a brain and transmit it directly from brain to brain.” The researchers captured the full demonstration on video recorded in both labs. The following version has been edited for length. Rao, a UW
professor of computer science and engineering, has been working on brain-computer interfacing in his lab for more than 10 years and just published a textbook on the subject. In 2011, spurred by the rapid advances in technology, he believed he could demonstrate the concept of human brain-to-brain interfacing. So he partnered with Stocco, a UW research assistant professor in psychology at the UW’s Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences. On Aug. 12, Rao sat in his lab wearing a cap with electrodes hooked up to anelectroencephalographymachine, which reads electrical activity in the brain. Stocco was in his lab across campus wearing a purple swim cap marked with the stimulation site for the transcranial magnetic stimulation coil that was placed directly over his left motor cortex, which controls hand movement. The team had a Skype connection set up so the two labs could coordinate, though neither Rao nor Stocco could see the Skype screens. Rao looked at a computer screen and played a simple video game with his mind. When he was supposed to fire a cannon at a target, he imagined moving his right hand (being careful not to actually move his hand), causing a cursor to hit the “fire” button. Almost instantaneously, Stocco, who wore noise-canceling earbuds and wasn’t looking at a computer screen, involuntarily moved his right index finger to push the space bar on the keyboard in front of him, as if firing the cannon. Stocco compared the feeling of his hand moving involuntarily to that of a nervous tic. “It was both exciting and eerie to watch an imagined action from my brain get translated into actual action by another brain,” Rao said. “This was basically a one-way flow of information from my brain to his. The next step is having a more equitable two-way conversation directly between the two brains.” The cycle of the experiment. Brain signals from the “Sender” are recorded. When the computer detects imagined hand movements, a “fire” command is transmitted over the Internet to the TMS machine, which causes an upward movement of the right hand of the “Receiver.” This usually results in the “fire” key being hit.

Credit: University of Washington

The technologies used by the researchers for recording and stimulating the brain are both well-known. Electroencephalography, or EEG, is routinely used by clinicians and researchers to record brain activity noninvasively from the scalp. Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a noninvasive way of delivering stimulation to the brain to elicit a response. Its effect depends on where the coil is placed; in this case, it was placed directly over the brain region that controls a person’s right hand. By activating these neurons, the stimulation convinced the brain that it needed to move the right hand. Computer science and engineering undergraduates Matthew Bryan, Bryan Djunaedi, Joseph Wu and Alex Dadgar, along with bioengineering graduate student Dev Sarma, wrote the computer code for the project, translating Rao’s brain signals into a command for Stocco’s brain. “Brain-computer interface is something people have been talking about for a long, long time,” saidChantel Prat, assistant professor in psychology at the UW’s Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences, and Stocco’s wife and research partner who helped conduct the experiment. “We plugged a brain into the most complex computer anyone has ever studied, and that is another brain.” At first blush, this breakthrough brings to mind all kinds of science fiction scenarios. Stocco jokingly referred to it as a “Vulcan mind meld.” But Rao cautioned this technology only reads certain kinds of simple brain signals, not a person’s thoughts. And it doesn’t give anyone the ability to control your actions against your will. Both researchers were in the lab wearing highly specialized equipment and under ideal conditions. They also had to obtain and follow a stringent set of international human-subject testing rules to conduct the demonstration. “I think some people will be unnerved by this because they will overestimate the technology,” Prat said. “There’s no possible way the technology that we have could be used on a person unknowingly or without their willing participation.” Stocco said years from now the technology could be used, for example, by someone on the ground to help a flight attendant or passenger land an airplane if the pilot becomes incapacitated. Or a person with disabilities could communicate his or her wish, say, for food or water. The brain signals from one person to another would work even if they didn’t speak the same language. Rao and Stocco next plan to conduct an experiment that would transmit more complex information from one brain to the other. If that works, they then will conduct the experiment on a larger pool of subjects. Their research was funded in part by the National Science Foundation’s Engineering Research Center for Sensorimotor Neural Engineering at the UW, the U.S. Army Research Office and the National Institutes ofHealth. Contacts and sources:Doree Armstrong, Source: Article

Read More........→November 26, 2015

Smartphones May Soon Include High Power Microscopes

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Photo by ANU Photographer Stuart Hay

Australian scientists have invented a simple and cheap way of making a high-powered lens that can transform a smart phone into a high-resolution microscope. Costing less than a cent, the lenses promise a revolution in science and medicine in developing countries and remote areas. The lens fabrication technique was invented by Dr Steve Lee from The Australian National University (ANU) Research School of Engineering, who collaborated with Dr Tri Phan from Sydney’s Garvan Institute of Medical Research to find ways to transform the lentil-sized lens into a medical imaging tool. The lenses are made by using the natural shape of liquid droplets. “We put a droplet of polymer onto a microscope cover slip and then invert it. Then we let gravity do the work, to pull it into the perfect curvature,” Dr Lee said. “By successively adding small amounts of fluid to the droplet, we discovered that we can reach a magnifying power of up to 160 times with an imaging resolution of four micrometers.” The polymer, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), is the same as that used for contact lenses, and it won’t break or scratch. “It would be perfect for the third world. All you need is a fine tipped tool, a cover slip, some polymer and an oven,” Dr Lee said. The first droplet lens was made by accident. “I nearly threw them away. I happened to mention them to my colleague Tri Phan, and he got very excited,” Dr Lee said. “So then I decided to try to find the optimum shape, to see how far I could go. When I saw the first images of yeast cells I was like, ‘Wow!’” Dr Lee and his team worked with Dr Phan to design a lightweight 3D-printable frame to hold the lens, along with a couple of miniature LED lights for illumination, and a coin battery. The technology taps into the current citizen science revolution, which is rapidly transforming owners of smart phones into potential scientists. There are also exciting possibilities for remote medical diagnosis. Dr Phan said the tiny microscope has a

Photo by ANU photographer Stuart Hay

wide range of potential uses, particularly if coupled  with the right smartphone apps. “This is a whole new era of miniaturization and portability – image analysis software could instantly transform most smartphones into sophisticated mobile laboratories,” Dr Phan said. “I am most able to see the potential for this device in the practice of medicine, although I am sure specialists in other fields will immediately see its value for them.” Dr Lee said the low-cost lens had already attracted interest from a German group interested in using disposable lenses for tele-dermatology. “There are also possibilities for farmers,” he said. “They can photograph fungus or insects on their crops, upload the pictures to the internet where a specialist can identify if they are a problem or not.” The lens making technology is described in the latest issue of Biomedical Optics Express, published by The Optical Society. Contacts and sources: Australian National University. Source: Article

Read More........→May 04, 2014

Who could be Possible Competitors of Google Glass?

Google is known for setting the trends then be its search engines or YouTube. Early his year Google has launched an amazing product called Google glass. Although this product had its own lacunas but still, this product was well received by the veterans of Silicon Valley. Now towards the end of 2013, Google is ready to launch the updated version of Google glass in which they will be launching upgraded software and some unique applications. When the review came for Google glass most of the users found the following problems with them:

• Very fragile design
• Low battery life
• Lack of cuter stealthier design

It is expected that Google will deal with all these problems in its updated version of Google glass and this product will be very robust however, the price is expected to be just same. So, I was the other day thinking of some small players who already have same product and they are very economical as well. Some of the companies who are manufacturing similar product like Google glass are:

#1Recon jet: This is one of the company which can take Google glass in the boxing ring head on. Their product is available in one third of the cost as compared to Google and they have some amazing features like GPS, social media, weather, maps etc.

#2 Epiphany eyewear: The design of this glass is not as cooler as recon jet but still it is fulfilling the purpose like any other glass would not. This glass is also synchronized very well with all the social platforms specially twitter, Instagram and Facebook. In all honesty, this glass is lacking lots of functions which Google glass is offering.

#3 GlassUp: GlassUp again offers an amazing design and it can be used for e-mails, texting, tweets, Facebook updates etc. This glass makes sure that the user is always connected with the outer world. This glass has taken the concept of augmented reality to the whole new level and it is likely to give tough competition to so many apps available in Google glass. This glass can also be called as- enterprise solution provider.

#4 Vuzix Smart glasses: Now this is not actually a glass because it’s an extension of your smart phone however, it has all the functions which other glasses are offering. The user can use social media apps, use this device as a hands free etc. This device is an edge which is providing a new dimension to augmented reality and mobility.

In the end it can just be said that soon GPS will be replaced by the cool glasses which will not only give us directions while driving but will also do other tasks for the users simultaneously. Source: Article, Image: flickr.com

Read More........→January 03, 2014

Camera Powered by Android

Recently Samsung has unveiled its brand new Android-powered GALAXY Camera that allows the user to only to take quality images, but also surf the Web wirelessly overWi-Fi, 3G or 4G networks and share the shots in an instant. The device boasts a 23 mm, 21x optical zoom lens (F2.8), along with a 16.3-megapixel CMOS sensor, optical image stabilization technology, GPS and a 4.8-inch (121.2mm), HD "Super Clear" LCD display. Of course the most impressive thing about the camera is the fact that it features a 1.4 GHz quad-core processor that helps run Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean). The device can also be connected to Samsung Galaxy smartphone and tablet. Another impressive feature is voice control of zooming and shooting features. The use will also be able to edit photos and videos onboard. Currently no information has been given on pricing and release date. Below you can find additional specs for the GALAXY Camera. -> 4.77-inch, 308 ppi HD Super Clear Touch Display -> ISO100 - 3200 -> 8 GB on board memory plus micro SDHC/SDSC/SDXC memory slot -> Full HD video 1920 x 1080 at 30 fps -> Slow motion movie capture (720 x 480 at 120 fps) -> HDMI video output -> Dimensions: 128.7 x 70.8 x 19.1 mm -> Weight: 305 g Source: Tech Guide

Read More........→January 02, 2014

Spareone's designed a mobile phone with a battery life of 15 years

How long your mobile's Battery wll work for May be maximum of three days or a week. But Spareone's has designed the Mobile phone with battery Life of 15 Years. SpareOne's mobile phone comes with a battery life of 15 years, whether you charge it or not and is designed for emergencies. It runs on one AA battery, and claims to keep its charge for up to 15 years, something unthinkable for feature-laden phones with batteries that last only a few days. The SpareOne can be programmed for instant access to phone numbers of key contacts, including emergency services in any location. As the phone's developer, XPAL Power, says: "It's essentially designed to make and receive the most important calls, no matter what." The SpareOne's is also able to automatically transmit its location via its mobile ID, plus has a built-in torch -- and unlike so many of today's gadgets, it even comes with the AA battery included. The new phone, unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, is designed as a 'backup' phone you can keep in the glove compartment for emergencies. Source: Ananta-Tec

Read More........→November 30, 2013

Blackberry 10 vs Iphone 5 vs Samsung Galaxy s4

Watch a worthy comparison between Blackberry 10, Iphone 5, Samsung Galaxy s4 in silent mode its all about awareness of the features among such delight full gadgets and  their utilities. 

Read More........→July 26, 2013

Phones could be powered by user's body heat

Dead cellphones could soon be a thing of the past, thanks to a new technology that can harvest enough juice for another call from the user's own body heat. Developed by researchers in the Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials at Wake Forest University, Power Felt is based on tiny carbon nanotubes encased in flexible plastic fibers and uses temperature differences – room temperature versus body temperature, for instance – to create a charge. "We waste a lot of energy in the form of heat. For example, recapturing a car's energy waste could help improve fuel mileage and power the radio, air conditioning or navigation system," says graduate student Corey Hewitt "Generally thermoelectrics are an underdeveloped technology for harvesting energy, yet there is so much opportunity." Potential uses for Power Felt include lining automobile seats to boost battery power and service electrical needs, insulating pipes or collecting heat underroof tiles to lower gas or electric bills. It could also be used to lineclothing or sports equipment to monitor performance, or to wrap IV or wound sites to better track patients' medical needs. "Imagine it in an emergency kit, wrapped around a flashlight, powering aweather radio, charging a prepaid cell phone," says David Carroll, director of the Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials. "Power Felt could provide relief during power outages or accidents." The reason thermoelectrics haven't been used more widely in the past is simple - cost. Standard thermoelectric devices use a much more efficient compound called bismuth telluride to turn heat into power in products including mobile refrigerators and CPU coolers, but can cost $1,000 per kilogram. But the Wake researchers are confident that, in bulk, their system could costs as little as $1 to add to a cellphone cover. Currently, 72 stacked layers in the fabric yield about 140 nanowatts of power. The team is evaluating several ways to add more nanotube layers and make them even thinner to boost the power output. There's more work to do, but Wake Forest says it's in talks with investors to produce Power Felt commercially. Source: The Ultimate Update

Read More........→May 04, 2013

Apple “iWatch” Arriving In 2013

Apple’s stock has recently fallen by almost 30%, down from an all-time high of $703 in late 2012. Despite recording phenomenal earnings, Apple investors are becoming sceptical of Apple’s future plans. Apple is losing their gross margin on the products they sell as components become more expensive and competitors in the industry push Apple to lower their prices. A new report has outlined Apple’s plans to introduce a smart watch in 2013 which would help reintroduce high margins into Apple’s product categories, thus satisfying investors. Oliver Chen, an analyst for Citigroup, has told reuters that Apple has a “$6 billion opportunity” where they could recreate the success of the iPod; reinvent a market that already exists and make it desirable to the general public. In 2013, the entire watch industry is expected to generate $60 billion, which would enable Apple to catch 10%, equivalent to a gross profit of $3.6 billion. Margins on watches are also much higher, with some manufactures getting up to 60%; the iPhone currently nets Apple a 55% margin. Apple is reported to have a 100-person team working on their
“iWatch”, which may replace some of the tasks making currently carried out by the iPhone and iPad. Also Apple is considering the ability for the smart watch to place calls, identify the person an incoming call, check map coordinates as well as act as a pedometer and heart-rate monitor. As of right now, Apple has filed almost 80 patents which include the word “wrist”, one of which includes a flexible screen and a battery charged by kinetic energy. Google is currently developing Glass, which will features a small built-in screen which will be viewable in the right eye of the user. However, Glass does not include a 3G radio, effectively chaining it to a smartphone. If Apple included such a radio in their smart watch, they could open up a new brand of “smart” accessory. Jony Ive, Apple’s lead designer, has an interest in watch. Not only has he owned many high-end brands himself, he also took his team to a Nike factory for a tour. Google Glass will be unveiled at the end of 2013/early 2014, while Apple’s inside source is adamant that Apple’s smart watch will be available during 2013, possibly at Apple’s main WWDC event in June. Another problem Apple faces in regards to a watch is design. People are happy to carry around the same smartphone as everyone else, but a watch is even more of a fashion statement. Apple’s one-size-fits-all mentality may not work in the watch industry where consumers may want different types of straps or different materials. Apple may be forced to offer various models, something they do not like doing. Source: Know Your Destiny

Read More........→March 08, 2013

Smartphone airbags could make 'cracked screens' a thing of the past

London, December 17 (ANI): It can cost you a lot if your mobilephone screen cracks after you accidentally dropped it, but help is at hand. Amazon has invented an airbag for smartphones. The innovative technology makes use of the motion-sensors that are now built into most smartphones to detect when it has entered an airborne state, so that a mini-airbag can be deployed to cushion its fall. Amazon has won a patent for the protective system this week. As well as mobile phones, the technology could be used on electronic readers, including the online retailer's own Kindle, as well as computer tablets and cameras. Amazon's founder, Jeff Bezos, filed the application for a patent himself. The application reads "Prior to impact between a surface and a device, a determination of a risk of damage to the device is made. If the risk of damage to the device exceeds a threshold, a protection system is activated to reduce or eliminate damage to the device." The airbag would draw on data from a mobile phone's built-in gyroscope, camera, accelerometers and other such sensors, according to the patent. Then, if it is determined that the gadget has been dropped, the technology will trigger the release of airbags and could even include air-jets to change its trajectory in mid-air. (ANI). Source: NewsTrackIndia, Image: flickr.com

Read More........→March 02, 2013

DoCoMo glasses enable mobile, hands-free video calling

Screen Shot On Uploaded Video

DoCoMo NTT, Japanese mobility specialist, has unveiled a glasses-like headset for hands-free videoconferencing at CEATEC in Japan. Images taken by multiple, ultra-wide-angle cameras in the glasses-like frame make the far-end participant feel as if they are right in front of the user. The system recreates the participant’s face into a life-like digital image with audio information used to create realistic  lip movement. DoCoMo ultimately wants to integrate displays into the HMD so that two participants can have a hands-free video conference in any space. A camera on the rear of the glasses captures the scene behind the user so ven their backdrop appears real to the far-end participant. Video via DigInfo, Source: InAVate

Read More........→November 03, 2012

Nokia unveils 41 megapixel phone that outperforms most SLR cameras

41 mega pixel camera phone of Nokia

Nokia has unveiled a 41 megapixel camera-phone - designed so phone users can 'zoom in' without a bulky lens.  The 41-megapixel sensor is around three times more powerful than the ones in any existing handsets. A Nokia executive says, 'It shows what we can do.'  The phone will be launched in May and cost 480 Euros. Nokia says the technology is designed so users can zoom in quickly and easily without losing

Read More........→August 24, 2012

Smart Phones Xperia GX & Xperia SX: Sony Unveils LTE Running On Android ICS

Sony Mobile Communications has proclaimed two new Xperia smartphones – Xperia GX and Xperia SX – both operated on the Android operating system. Both soon usable in Japan in the few months but in India launch date has not been announced yet. The devices are the first Sony-branded LTE mobile phones launched in Japan and will ensure download speed of up to 75mbps. Let’s take a look at the devices. Xperia GX: This one has a 4.6 inch capacitive touchscreen Reality Display (720×1280 pixel resolution), powered by the Mobile BRAVIA Engine, and runs on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) OS (right out of the box). It is powered by a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor (no Quad-core here) and has 1 GB of RAM. The internal memory of the device is 16 GB. The phone has a mammoth 13MP rear camera with Sony Exmor R for mobile that can also record full high definition (HD) videos (1080p) at 30 frames per second. And the rear camera is also capable of taking 3D panoramic still images. Sony has also provided a 1.3MP front-facing camera for video-calling. On the connectivity front, the device has Bluetooth4.0, Wi-Fi, 3G and 4G (depending on the region). It also comes with a micro USB port and a micro HDMI port. It has a 1700 mAh battery, weighs 127 gram and the dimensions measure 131mm x 69mm x 10.5mm. The device features a matte texture, slim-line body and will be available in white and black colours. Xperia SX: This handset has a 3.7 inch capacitive touchscreen Reality Display (540×960 pixel resolution) with Mobile BRAVIA Engine and it also runs on Android ICS OS. Xperia SX is powered by a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor (again, no Quad-core) and has 1 GB of RAM, but the internal memory of the device has been brought down to half (8 GB), compared to its big brother Xperia GX. The rear camera is also a toned down version of GX, with only 8MP (GX has a 13MP camera). But it also comes with Sony Exmor R for mobile, can record full HD videos (1080p) at 30 fps and is capable of taking 3D panoramic still images. A 1.3MP front-facing camera is also there for video-calling. On the connectivity front, it has Bluetooth4.0, Wi-Fi, 3G and 4G (depending on the region), and also comes with a micro USB port and a micro HDMI port. It weighs 95 gram (a sleek one, if you like) and the dimensions are 115mm x 54mm x 9.4mm. In fact, the company is claiming that it is the lightest LTE smartphone in the world. The device will be available in white and black colours. Sony has also introduced three New Media applications in the device. Here, you will find the Walkman app that integrates high quality audio technologies, such as clear stereo, clear bass, VPT surround sound, manual equaliser and xLOUD, with new ways to play, discover and recommend music; the Album app that allows the user to sort and browse high quality photos and videos, and also provides instant viewing, commenting and photo-sharing on Facebook and other such sites; and finally, there is the Movies app that allows playback and movie-viewing in high quality audio and video, along with database search to discover more info about the movies. The prices of the smart phones are not available yet but when (and if) the devices are launched in India; they might be competing with the new range of HTC One series of smart phones. Source: Medley News

Read More........→August 22, 2012

Japanese unveil iPhone-controlled battle robot

A Japanese electronics company has unveiled a cutting-edge battle robot Kuratas, signifying a new era in military industry. The battle mech, designed by Suidobashi Heavy Industry, stands at four meters and weighs over four tons. It can be controlled both from inside the cockpit and from the safety of your smartphone connected to a 3G network.Kuratas is fitted out with a set of futuristic weapons, including a Gatling gun capable of firing 6000 rounds a minute and activated when the pilot smiles – its designers therefore asked to be less smiley when inside the robot. Tags: World, robot, News, Sci-Tech, military hardware, Читать далее, Source: Voice of Russia. 

Read More........→August 09, 2012

Smartphones To Have Computing Power Of Desktops

Battery operated mobile devices like smartphones and tablets are still lagging behind laptops and desktops in sheer computing power. An Israeli researcher, however, is tweaking their RAM to bring them on par with their bigger cousins, so that they can run various programs just as smoothly and simultaneously, even with a tiny battery. Elad Mentovich, doctoral candidate at the Tel Aviv University, is relying on carbon molecule called C60, to build a sophisticated memory transistor that can both transfer and store energy, eliminating the need for a capacitor (energy storage device). "When this new technology is integrated into future devices, you will have much more memory on your smartphones and tablets, approaching the level of a laptop. With that kind of memory, you'll be able to run applications simultaneously, and because it is low voltage, power consumption will fall and battery life will be longer," said Mentovich. This molecular memory transistor stores and disseminates information at high speed - and it's ready to be produced at existing high-tech fabrication facilities. Major companies have already expressed interest in the technology, says Mentovich. Source: Tech Guide:

Read More........→August 07, 2012

Mobile Phone Charger That Runs On Water

A Swedish company has invented a charger for mobile phones, cameras and GPS devices that can power-up your electronic gadgets with little more than water. The PowerTrekk has been designed for people who 'who spend time away from the electricity grid' and do not have access to conventional power in remote locations. The charger needs just a tablespoon of water to produce around 10 hours of phone

battery life. The invention works with any device that has a USB port and with almostany type of water, including salt water. It can even run on puddle water providing it isn't thickened with mud or any other sediment. "PowerTrekk has a competitive edge over traditional portable chargers" said Björn Westerholm of myFC, the company behind PowerTrekk. Fuel cell power is generated immediately and charging is not impacted by weather or the position of the sun, as for solar panels. Compared to battery powered travel chargers, PowerTrekk offers reliable charging as the fuel packs do not deplete as batteries do. 

The process is easy for users. The sodium is stored in a small round container called a PowerPukk. The PowerPukk slots into one half of an outer container. In the other half is a tiny water tank, into which you pour the water. Once the lid is sealed on the outer container the chemical reaction begins automatically and the PowerTrekk is ready to use. The chemistry process is said to besafe and eco-friendly, and the only by-product is a little water vapor. Source: Tech Guide

Read More........→July 15, 2012

Mini-projector for smartphone may change the way we play with our phones

VentureBeat, By Meghan Kelly; My grandma hates showing me photos on her smartphone. It’s small and “pinch and zoom” doesn’t show the full photo — “I just miss prints,” she says. This very neat concept smartphone projector, however, may solve her problem. A group of scientists have come up with a concept for a miniature projector that would connect to any kind of smartphone and allow the user to control the phone from the projection itself. The scientists from the Frauhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering studied the composite eyes of insects, which were the inspiration for the projector technology. Using a similar composite projector system, the images are intended to be good enough to show off vacation
pictures without the blur that occurs when light hits a flat surface at an angle. This crispness is achieved through an array projection. Array projection is where many tiny LED projectors are brought together to display one big image. Those tiny projections each have their own version of the image and can be brought together to project an image as clear as your smartphone, devoid of fraying at the edges. Because of these composite projectors, which take a different angle on the image, smartphones with curved screens can have their images projected on a flat or straight surface. New takes on touch technology have been getting a lot of attention recently. Disney Research and Carnegie Mellon University recently announced a new technology called Touché. The technology will one day allow any kind of object to know it is being touched. Based on the type of touch, these items may one day be able to trigger actions. For instance, if you poked a door knob in a certain way, it could set off processes which would lock the door. The projector would be a huge improvement in sharing content from your phone with the people physically around you. There are so many uses. You could play games with friends, given that the projector allows you to control content from projection. You could much more easily share photos with friends. It would also be helpful for those who watch movies and videos on the go, but want a bigger display. Now let’s hope it moves from concept to reality. Source: VentureBeat

Read More........→June 12, 2012

Facebook building smartphone with Apple engineers?

Hindustan Times, Facebook is leaving no stone unturned to enter the mobile phone arena with a bang. After revealing plans to increase mobile revenue, the social networking giant is hiring Apple engineers to develop a Facebook smartphone. "The company has already hired more than half a dozen former Apple software and hardware engineers who worked on the iPhone, and one who worked on the iPad, the employees and those briefed on the plans said" reports the New York Times. Even in 2010, rumours surfaced claiming Facebook is planning to venture into hardware. Again in 2011, reports suggested that Facebook is tying up with HTC to build a Facebook-centric device. But there was no confirmation about these reports. Recently, a study had revealed that people used the mobile version of Facebook most often and Zuckerberg's team seems to have taken it seriously. After two previous attempts at working on a smartphone, Facebook might launch an own-branded smartphone. Facebook representatives didn't confirm or deny the rumors but referred to a previous statement it gave to AllThingsD last year that said,"We're working across the entire mobile industry; with operators, hardware manufacturers, OS providers, and application developers", reports the New York Times. Source; Hindustan Times

Read More........→June 11, 2012