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Tuesday, November 23, 2010

E-Paper To Be As Disposable As Normal Paper? [E-paper]

E-Paper To Be As Disposable As Normal Paper? Well, as disposable as RECYCLING that paper is, anyway. (You do recycle, right?) University researchers have found a way to turn paper into e-paper—that is, the same electronic screen in a Kindle.

Professor Andrew Steckl, from the University of Cincinnati, successfully showed how electrowetting paper works in a similar manner to electrowetting glass. While e-paper is good for a few years at least (or however long it takes before you damage your Kindle), Steckl says this paper e-paper "is very cheap, very fast, full-color and at the end of the day or the end of the week, you could pitch it into the trash."

Obviously on a normal piece of paper, you can only store so much data—unless you're writing in pencil and are constantly erasing. This paper e-paper would contain as much information as a computer monitor, according to Steckl, but can be thrown out easily, with few environmental repercussions.

While I'm not too sure about that last claim, it's fascinating work that Steckl and his team has conducted in the field. Considering we've been getting all het up over just color e-paper in the past, Steckl's work should go far. [TG Daily via SlashGear]

Nexaria BC2 router supports iPhone tethering for some reason (video)

Tethering a smartphone to get data on the go is a great way to stay online without lugging around a separate device. However, lugging around a separate device exclusively for the purpose of tethering your phone seems a bit less great, especially when that device must be plugged into a wall. Such is the Nexaria BC2, an 802.11b/g/n router that can be connected to compatible iPhones (namely the 3G, 3GS, and 4). Pop one in and, assuming you're paying AT&T the requisite extra $20 a month, it'll start beaming sweet, sweet internets out to all of your devices. Performance naturally depends on the strength of your signal, but getting a couple megabits down and one megabit up are entirely believable and respectable, though ping rates in the hundreds of milliseconds ensure you won't be racking up the headshots when connected thusly. It's yours for $189 right now if you're feeling the need.

Continue reading Nexaria BC2 router supports iPhone tethering for some reason (video)

Nexaria BC2 router supports iPhone tethering for some reason (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 16:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Delta's JFK terminal now home to 200 iPads, a few more enticing eateries

America can't say that it wasn't sniped by Malaysia Airlines when it comes to having iPads in the airport, but we'll take late over never any day of the week. New York's JFK airport is now home to 200 iPad tablets, all of which are located within Delta's terminal. They're being installed in cooperation with OTG Management, mostly in eateries -- "Croque Madame, a French restaurant at Gates 21 and 22 in Terminal 2; and Bar Brace, a casual Italian restaurant at Gate 15 in Terminal 3." As you'd expect, customers can order food from the iPad in order to have it delivered directly to them. It lacks that certain Sonic Drive-In appeal, but the ability to also use the iPad to check your email, have a look at the latest sports scores and attempt to jailbreak it for the next patron more than compensates. OTG doesn't plan to put a time limit on the usage here (you'll still need to make your connecting flight, remember?), and its hoping to engage in a similar installation over at LaGuardia in due time. No word on whether these things will censor any and all Google searches on "uncomfortable TSA pat-downs," though.

Delta's JFK terminal now home to 200 iPads, a few more enticing eateries originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 19:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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O-Bow repurposes a mouse sensor for artificial bow tracking

Here at the Engadget HQ we're very serious about articulating the noise and action of a bow when it comes to our synthesized string instruments, and the O-Bow looks like it could be the low cost solution we were dreaming of. (No, Smule Magic Fiddle doesn't count, it's a devil "instrument" and it lies). Hacker / musician Dylan Menzies has devised a method using the optical sensor from a mouse for tracking anything with a grained surface, like a wooden stick, and using it to make a single sample synthesizer "sing" like a real bowed instrument. Unfortunately, that single sample sounds pretty terrible right now, but Dylan is working on a more sophisticated method of modeling the instrument. Until then, we'll just have to resort to giving Smule dirty looks and messing around with our Korg joystick. There's a video after the break, but don't say we didn't warn you about that sample.

Continue reading O-Bow repurposes a mouse sensor for artificial bow tracking

O-Bow repurposes a mouse sensor for artificial bow tracking originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 22:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microvision's PicoP-based SHOWWX+ projector: twice as bright, zero percent larger

Still holding out on nabbing a pico projector? We know, we know -- you'll leap when there's 1080p. But if you're kosher with baby steps, Microvision's newest entrant might just fit the bill. The SHOWWX+ is a revamped version of the ouftit's original PicoP-based SHOWWX, and it seems that a full year in the engineering lab has enabled the company to pop out a device that's 50 percent brighter, yet the exact same size. The internal battery can keep the 15 laser lumens shining for two solid hours, and there's also a 5,000:1 native contrast ratio. iDevice users will be elated to know that this guy is a Made for iPod, iPhone and iPad product, enabling it to output Netflix content without any DRM issues (or so we're told). The native resolution still checks in at 848 x 480, and if all that sounds just peachy, you can get one headed your way today for $449. Head on past the break for Netflix and Rage HD demos.

Gallery: Microvision's PicoP-based SHOWWX+ projector