The Apple iPhone 6 Plus is no longer the thinnest or lightest smartphone/phablet in its class. The Chinese Xiaomi Mi Note is thinner, lighter, and its screen is slightly larger at 5.7 inches (0.2 inches larger). Smartphone manufacturers have been touting the sleek form factors of their new technology, but is it really that important? I…
Ford has opened an autonomous vehicle research and development facility in Palo Alto, which is in the southern portion of the San Francisco Bay area (otherwise known as Silicon Valley). Silicon Valley is famous for its rich history of high-tech innovation. Autonomous vehicle technology is certainly in the high-tech category, as it requires computers, cameras, proximity…
In February or March 2015, the Solar Impulse 2 will begin its flight around the world in Abu Dhabi, UAE in late February or March. It will return in late July or August 2015. The Solar Impulse 2 (Si2) is a battery-electric plane powered by an array of solar panels mounted on its wings. The…
In Lakes Entrance (a tourist resort and fishing port in eastern Victoria), a highly unusual shark was spotted. It is called the frilled shark. While it was already known to exist, David Guillot bumped into a live one in Lakes Entrance. Its face looks like something out of Jurassic Park. It was rightfully dubbed a ‘living…
MTV just premiered the first season of their new show — EyeCandy, starring Victoria Justice as Lindy, Casey Deidrick as Tommy, and Daniel Lissing as Ben (in the first episode). EyeCandy is about a 21-year-old computer-literate girl named Lindy who lost her sister to a kidnapper, and has made it her life’s work to catch…
It may be winter in the Northern Hemisphere now, but not in the southern hemisphere, where the seasons are the opposite. You may wonder why people caulk their windows and seal their houses/rooms tightly while their air conditioners are in operation. Could a little crack in the window really be a big deal? Unfortunately, gaps and…
There is a smartphone company blowing up in China, and it is already tremendously successful. Xiaomi is what some would call ‘China’s Apple’. Xiaomi has not only been growing at a breakneck pace of approximately 100% per year (where revenue is concerned), but for every 100 minutes iPhone users spent using apps, Xiaomi users spent…
Google Translate is now offering real-time speech translation and easier sign translation. You can just point your phone’s camera at a sign and it will translate it for you. An even more important feature is its ability to translate another person’s speech and play the translated result out loud. You can actually have face to…
GM has unveiled the Chevrolet Bolt electric car at the NAIAS (Detroit Auto Show). This hatchback is a potential game changer due to an unusual combination of qualities — a price tag in the $30,000 USD range (after rebates), and a range of 200 miles (without the use of a combustion engine). All the other…
It’s happening again! Another one of many companies (StoreDot) has claimed to invent a charger and battery that can recharge in under 2 minutes. This time, it is a smartphone battery. I’m not saying that these technologies aren’t real, because they are, but there are obstacles impeding commercialization, and I think it is safe to say…
Razer, a high-end gaming technology manufacturer has created what they call a fully open source virtual reality ecosystem (OSVR) which enables developers to improve on virtual reality software and hardware. This also enables developers to learn from game engines and virtual reality technology built by professionals, therefore this will go a long way towards expanding…
Samsung has created a washing machine dubbed the Active Wash with a unique new feature. The Active Wash has a sink built into the lid which can be used to pre-wash wash fabrics. We have all encountered that stubborn stain once in a while which won’t go away unless we put them through multiple wash cycles or…