Why Does This Crazy Router Look Like a Wind Turbine? [Wtf]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/#!5787750/why-does-this-crazy-router-look-like-a-wind-turbine

The Japanese company Logitec, not the same company as Logitech mind you, is releasing this crazy router called LAN-WH450N/GR that has an antenna that looks like wind turbine blades. What the hell? The three antenna design supposedly lets the 802.11n router hit network speeds of 450Mbps.

Yeah, whatever Logi-no h-tec, I ain't buying it. So why did they release such a thing? Some theories:

• One is better than none, two is better than one, three is better than two. No one counts to four.
• It'll ideally be placed next to a window to generate power for itself
• It's a quadrocopter missing a limb
• It can be used as the claw
• I scratch your back, you scratch my back, router scratches all our backs
• It probably makes for a good iPad stand!
• Their router looks like the PS3 fat and they needed something to throw Sony Legal off their trail.
• Logitec just needs to make crazy shit so people don't get 'em confused with the Logitech everyone already knows.

Or maybe it does exactly what Logitec says it does and is completely necessary. Who really knows! $230 or ¥19,000. [Logitec via Oh Gizmo]

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James Cameron's Next Plan To Reinvent Cinema [Blip]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/#!5787970/james-camerons-next-plan-to-reinvent-cinema

First it was digital projection. Then, 3D. And now James Cameron has set his sites on a more subtle—but possibly more important—innovation in film: frame rates. While the industry has been stuck at 24fps since the Roaring 20s, Cameron believes that by bumping that up to 48fps, or even 60fps, Hollywood can dramatically change our cinematic experience.

According to the LA Times:

He used a number of cinematic techniques in the footage to illuminate what he called the gravity of the gap between, say, 24 and 48 frames. One scene set at a dinner table included a number of panning shots, so the crowd could see how a 24 fps shot caused the image to "strobe" — which is when an image looks blurry, almost as if it is appearing in slow motion, seeming out of sync.

While even the filmmaker admitted that he was only able to notice a slight difference between a 48 fps and 60 fps, the audience audibly reacted to the increase in quality between 24 fps and 48 fps. The footage shown at 48 fps was far clearer and also had a much more realistic tone to it. That might be an issue for some filmmakers, Cameron acknowledged.

Most projectors are already capable of handling higher frame rates, and Cameron plans to shoot his Avatar sequel at at least 48fps. [LA Times]

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Intel posts a short film about SSDs and the folly of not using them

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/31/intel-posts-a-short-film-about-ssds-and-the-folly-of-not-using-t/

Intel cares about you. It cares that your data is safe and secure in a sturdy storage silo of the solid state variety. In order to enlighten you on the dangers that old and dusty magnetic hard drives pose, it has kindly fashioned out a short film detailing graphically the fate of your 1s and 0s when they're kept on an HDD that suffers an unexpected impact. It's atmospheric, thrilling stuff, which we dare not spoil for you here. We'll just say it ends on a pretty hilarious note and point you to the video below.

Continue reading Intel posts a short film about SSDs and the folly of not using them

Intel posts a short film about SSDs and the folly of not using them originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 17:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nanogenerators produce electricity by squeezing your fingers together, while you dance

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/31/nanogenerators-produce-electricity-by-squeezing-your-fingers-tog/

It's been a while since we last heard about nanogenerators -- you know, those insanely tiny fibers that could potentially be woven into your hoodie to juice up your smartphone. Dr. Zhong Lin Wang of the Georgia Institute of Technology has reported that he and his team of Einsteins constructed nanogenerators with enough energy to potentially power LCDs, LEDs and laser diodes by moving your various limbs. These micro-powerhouses -- strands of piezoelectric zinc oxide, 1 / 500 the width of a single hair strand -- can generate electrical charges when flexed or strained. Wang and his team of researchers shoved a collection of their nanogenerators into a chip 1 / 4 the size of a stamp, stacked five of them on top of one another and can pinch the stack between their fingers to generate the output of two standard AA batteries -- around 3 volts. Although it's not much, we're super excited at this point in development -- imagine how convenient to charge your phone in your pocket sans the bulky battery add-ons. And that's only one application of this technology. Yea, we know.

Continue reading Nanogenerators produce electricity by squeezing your fingers together, while you dance

Nanogenerators produce electricity by squeezing your fingers together, while you dance originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 20:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG's dual-core Optimus 2X superphone now available from Expansys

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/01/lgs-dual-core-optimus-2x-superphone-now-available-from-expansys/

The world's most adored across-the-pond mobile retailer has just received its first batch of LG superphones, a gem by the name of Optimus 2X. As you well know by now, the company's playing this up as the planet's first dual-core smartphone, and while we'd hoped that the Tegra 2-based device would be everywhere by now, at least it's sticking to its scheduled release date over in Europe. Those interested in picking one up can get a SIM-free version headed their way for £449.99, while a free-on-contract affair can be had with T-Mobile, Vodafone and a host of others. Your credit card's been awful naughty of late -- dish out a little punishment by visiting the source link below.

[Thanks, Robert]

LG's dual-core Optimus 2X superphone now available from Expansys originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 09:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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