Metamaterial camera needs no lens, could herald cheaper imaging tech

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/19/metamaterial-imaging-sensor/

Metamaterials are proving to be quite useful for toying with the electromagnetic spectrum, whether for technology previously thought to be the stuff of science fiction, or for boring real-world applications. Engineers at Duke University have come up something that falls more into the latter category: a metamaterial imaging sensor that doesn't require a lens to generate a picture. The sensor is a flexible copper-plated sheet patterned with small squares that capture various light frequencies all at once, functioning like one big aperture. Add a few circuits with a pinch of software and the sensor-only camera can produce up to ten images per second, but the catch is Duke's only works at microwave frequencies. Microwave imaging is used plenty, however, and due to its flexibility and lack of moving parts, the sensor could be used to build better integrated, cheaper airport scanners and vehicle collision avoidance technology -- making you safer however you choose to travel. Unless you take the train. Then you're on your own.

Filed under: Misc, Transportation, Science, Alt

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Via: Phys.org

Source: Science, Duke University

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Researchers Develop a New Material Giving LEDs a Warm Nostalgic Glow

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5977042/researchers-develop-a-new-material-giving-leds-a-warm-nostalgic-glow

Having spent over a half-century living under the warm glow of incandescent light bulbs, it's understandable that consumers haven't been keen on adopting the cold bluish light emitted by energy-efficient CFL and LED bulbs. But researchers at the University of Georgia have developed a new single phosphor coating that finally lets LEDs produce that warm nostalgic glow we all know and love.

Past efforts to tweak the color of light emitted from a blue LED have involved coating it with a mixture of different phosphors to shift its hue towards the warmer end of the color spectrum. But as the LED heats and cools, its color can vary over time as the different chemicals respond to the temperature changes. So taking a slightly different approach, the University of Georgia researchers have managed to create a single phospor that does the same thing, by combining europium oxide, aluminum oxide, barium oxide, and graphite powders in a vacuum furnace heated to 2,642 degrees Fahrenheit.

The resulting material is able to produce a warm glow when encapsulated around a blue LED, but unfortunately it's not quite ready for primetime just yet. The current manufacturing process is complex and finicky, and the resulting LED bulbs are actually not quite as efficient as what's currently available in stores. But the research certainly has the potential to finally cast LEDs in a better light for consumers. [University of Georgia]

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Google experiments with hardware-based authentication, envisions passwordless future

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/18/google-experiments-with-hardware-based-authentication/

2012 was not a great year for security. From the "epic hack" of Wired's Mat Honan to the breach of Dropbox and the breakdown of barriers at Blizzard (not to mention countless smaller incidents), last year held frequent reminders that what you put online is never truly safe. Google has, in the wake of such public failings, began pushing its two-factor authentication with a pretty heavy hand. But even that system has its short comings, and Mountain V! iew is l ooking for ways to shore up users' accounts. In particular the web giant is exploring hardware authentication options and experimenting with a device called YubiKey -- a USB-based token system. The research will be unveiled in a paper being published later this month in IEEE Security & Privacy Magazine, and includes preliminary work on a protocol for using a hardware device to unlock an online account. If carrying around and jacking in a USB key sounds too cumbersome, fear not. Google is also working on a wireless version of the platform that could be embedded in a cellphone or even a piece of jewelry like a ring. We may never ditch the password entirely, but we can hope.

Filed under: Misc, Google

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Source: Wired, IEEE Security & Privacy Magazine

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BlackBerry 10's voice control shows off its Germanic speaking skills (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/18/blackberry-10-voice-control-video/

Seen enough of BB10 yet? Neither have we, and we can now add voice control to the list of leaked previews that includes the camera app, Twitter and Google Talk integration. The folks at Telekom Presse are the ones with the latest leak, showing off a Z10 handset and its onboard voice controls, along with a demo of BB10's keyboard and mapping app via web video today. The clip shows the Z10 taking SMS dictation, calling contacts, and playing music -- and it appears to take all those verbal German commands in stride, though we can't say how well it'll deal with less literal languages. We'll let you watch the video after the break to draw your own conclusions, but it's safe to say it looks like BB10 has its answer for Siri and Google Now.

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Via: Crackberry

Source: Tel! ekom Pre sse

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Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 with Sprint-friendly LTE visits FCC

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/17/samsung-galaxy-note-10-1-spint-lte-fcc/

Samsung's Galaxy Note 10.1 made a quick stop-over at the FCC with 4G for Verizon shortly before making its trip to Big Red official, and it now seems a Sprint variant has a similar itinerary. A Samsung slate bearing the model number SPH-P600 has just crossed Uncle Sam's inspection tables with support for Sprint's Band 25 LTE and HSPA connectivity over the 850MHz and 1900MHz bands. In addition, the expected WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0 tag along with the hardware. Sprint and Samsung haven't announced anything about the tab arriving on the Now Network, but we suspect such news isn't far off with the hardware already sporting the FCC's stamp of approval.

Filed under: Tablets, Samsung, Sprint

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Source: FCC

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