OLE pill bug robot concept could fight forest fires

from Engadget by Conrad Quilty-Harper

German researchers at the University of Madgeburg-Stendal have developed a concept for a robot shaped like a pill millipede that could potentially detect and fight forest fires. Were the "OLE" a real robot, it would be able to scuttle around the forest floor at speeds of around 6 to 12 MPH, using infrared and "biosensors" to detect fire sources. If it gets into trouble, it can curl up just like a real pill bug and be fully protected thanks to a ceramic-fibre compound shell that can withstand temperature of 1,300 Degrees Centigrade. According to the researchers, 30 of these OLEs could protect a forest area as large as 2,700 square miles, whilst simultaneously freaking out hundreds of forest animals.

[Via GearFuse; thanks, Steve]

 

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Google-backed Gbox online music store uses Universal's open MP3s

from Engadget by Conrad Quilty-Harper

Google, Universal, and a new start-up company called gBox are teaming up to sell music exclusively through an ad based format, bucking the iTunes style method of selling music online. The partnership works out with Google referring users to gBox, where they can buy DRM-free copies of Universal's music catalog for 99 cents. Universal still has to pay Google for the ad space, which begs the question, why couldn't Universal simply distribute the music itself? But hey, at least it looks like the whole DRM-free thing's working out for Universal and Co. Your turn, Mr. J.

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Kingston offers up 4GB Class 6 miniSDHC cards

from Engadget by Darren Murph

Although Kingston's latest trio of 4GB miniSDHC cards aren't first on the scene per se, that Class 6 iteration is sure sitting at the head of the class. Partnered by Class 2 (2MB/sec) and Class 4 (4MB/sec) versions, the Class 6 miniSDHC card boasts an impressive minimum sustained data transfer rate of 6MB/sec, which ought to be more than sufficient for those unexpected video captures on your mobile. Most interesting, however, is the pricing scheme for the aforementioned devices, as the 4GB Class 6 card runs just two bucks higher ($66) than the Class 4 version ($64), and a mere four dollars more than the lowly Class 2 ($62) sibling, so it's a pretty safe bet that you'll be going for the speed on this one.

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Samsung readies the Bang & Olufsen Serene II and F330 music phone

from Engadget by Joshua Topolsky

If you've got the kind of photographic, instant-recall memory that we here at Engadget do, you'll probably remember our brief mention of the Bang & Olufsen Serene II (or apparently "Serenata"), a Samsung developed mobile phone that made its way to the FCC in May. Well, the phone-elves have been busy tinkering in their workshop night after night, and we've managed to get a look at a real / fake picture of their otherwise-named SGH-F310 (pictured left). Rumor has it that the phone will arrive as a UMTS / EDGE / HSDPA (1.8 Mbps) device, with a 240 x 240 touchscreen, 4GB of memory, and all kinds of media playback support. Additionally, Samsung appears to be readying the F330 music phone for widespread dispersion, which will be rocking EDGE / HSDPA (3.6 Mbps), Bluetooth and USB connectivity, a 240 x 320 display, 2 megapixel camera, and a microSD slot. Of course, this is all rampant speculation at this point, but don't say we didn't warn you. Read -- Samsung F310/B&O Serenata music phone Read -- Samsung F330 music phone

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Fujitsu gets official with U810, T2010 tablet PCs

from Engadget by Darren Murph

Thanks to the oh-so-disclosing FCC, we already knew that Fujitsu's U810 and T2010 were headed this way, but now the firm is making things official. The 1.56-pound U810 will boast a snazzy LED-backlit display, last up to 5.5-hours on a single charge, will don the "world's smallest tablet convertible" label, and will be available for you to cuddle next month. The larger T2010 (pictured) weighs in at 3.5-pounds and also manages to pack a LED-backlit screen, but this pen-enabled convertible boasts a whopping 11-hours of battery life on the extended cell, or an impressive 9-hours on the standard iteration. Best of all, folks interested in the latter machine can get their orders in now starting at $1,599, and those eying the cutesy U810 will be coughing up a minimum of $999 when it's available. [Via Wired]

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