iPhone 5 To Be Announced Next Week According to Apple Engineers

We are just a week away from the iPhone 5 announcement, according to sources giving information to Nick Bilton from The New York Times. According to the sources which were unnamed Apple employees, the iPhone 5 is just a week away from being announced by Apple with a ‘fairly different’ design. The iPhone 5 design will not be so different from the Case-Mate case design for the iPhone 5 that were leaked early today.

It was also said that the next iPhone will have an eight-megapixel camera that will be made by Sony, as expected ever since Sony’s CEO Howard Stringer accidentally revealed earlier this year during an interview with the Wall Street Journal’s Walt Mossberg. The Apple engineer also said that the iPhone 5 would feature a faster A5 dual-core processor.

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Microsoft releases Windows 8 Developer Preview

The Windows 8 Start screen borrows heavily from Windows Phone 7

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Microsoft previewed the next version of its Windows OS in June at D9 and a few more details leaked out shortly after that, but the biggest reveal came this week with Microsoft giving a preview of Windows 8 to kick off its Build conference, followed by the Developer Preview hitting Microsoft servers for anyone to download. With the surge in popularity of touchscreen devices over the past few years the new OS is designed to run on a wider variety of devices and chipsets and embraces touch and apps in a big way with the new "Metro style" interface.

Although Windows 8 has similar system requirements to Windows 7, it boots much faster by saving the kernel memory at shutdown and reloading it during startup. Borrowing from Windows Phone 7, the default Windows 8 Start screen features customizable live tiles, although users can switch to the traditional desktop interface via the desktop tile.

Microsoft has designed Windows 8 is a one-size-fits-all OS to run on everything from 10-inch tablets to 27-inch desktops so users can swipe and scroll via touchscreen, touchpad or mouse. Not one, but two virtual keyboards - one full sized and another split thumb keyboard - are on board for devices without physical keyboards.

No doubt envious of Apple raking in all that cash from its App Store, Microsoft has placed a strong emphasis on apps in Windows 8 and put the new Windows Store front and center so it's easy to buy them. Like Apple, Microsoft will screen all apps before they make it to the Windows Store. Apps can be run in full screen, work on x86, x64 and ARM platforms and adapt to different screen resolutions and device form factors. Different apps can also communicate with each other and will sync over multiple devices.

Internet Explorer 10 is onboard and has been optimized for touch browsing with gesture-based navigation and a touch-friendly navigation bar that only appears when you ask (swipe) for it. Notably, Microsoft has also followed Apple's lead and will ditch plug-ins, including Flash, in the Metro version of IE10 for use on tablets in order to improve battery life, security and reliability. However, plug-ins will still be supported in the desktop version on IE10.

Windows 8 is compatible with Windows 7 applications and Windows Explorer and Task Manager have been redesigned to bring commonly used features to the fore. Explorer will feature the controversial "ribbon" toolbar, while Task Manager is now an all-in-one dashboard to monitor and control your PC, with information tracked in real time and able to be viewed as summary graphs.

With the release of the Windows 8 Developer Preview, Microsoft will refine and update the OS using the feedback from developers. The company hasn't set a date for the finished version but isn't expected until the second half of 2012. If you want to get a taste of the new OS the Developer Preview is available for download here.

But be warned, this is an early version and is still buggy. It can only be installed as a clean install and can only be removed with a reformat so be sure to use a separate partition or spare machine because you won't be able to go crying to Microsoft if you run into any problems.

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The Climate Reality Project's 24 hour live streamed event beginning NOW - alert your friends

The Climate Reality Project has just kicked off its '24 Hours of Reality' live streamed event

The Climate Reality Project (formerly known as the Alliance for Climate Protection) has just kicked off its "24 Hours of Reality" live streamed event. The presentation runs 24 hours, is available in 13 languages, and is the beginning of a worldwide campaign to tell the truth about the climate crisis and reject the misinformation we hear every day.

"Fossil fuel companies and their allies will go to great lengths to deny the fact that climate change is happening now," said Maggie L. Fox, President and CEO of The Climate Reality Project. "But we have one powerful response: Reality. We will dedicate our resources toward educating and engaging the public about the reality of the climate crisis and helping build the global movement for change."

One of the key themes of the event will be an attempt to show that the recent extreme weather events (floods, droughts and storms) are the first signs of climate change and the 24 hour event will conclude with a one hour presentation by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore.

"The climate crisis knows no political boundaries. Ferocious storms and deadly heat waves are occurring with alarming frequency all over the world. We are living with the reality of the climate crisis every day. The only question is, how soon can we act?" said Vice President Gore.

The non-profit Climate Reality Project is inviting people from around the world to take part in specific activities to help solve the climate crisis.

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MIT researchers build a bridge to better energy harvesting MEMS device

The MEMS energy harvesting device created by MIT researchers can generate 100 times as much power as similarly sized devices (Image: Arman Hajati)

The advantages of wireless sensors to monitor equipment and structures in remote locales are obvious, but are lessened significantly if their batteries need to be regularly changed. We've seen a number of microelectromechanical systems, or MEMS, that harvest energy from the environment, such as ambient light and radio waves and vibrations. Now MIT News is reporting the development of a new piezoelectric device that is about the size of a U.S. quarter and can generate 100 times as much power as similarly sized devices.

One of the most common piezoelectric designs in recent years sees a small microchip with layers of PZT - a material that shows a marked piezoelectric effect - glued to the top of a tiny cantilever beam. When the chip is exposed to vibrations, the beam moves up and down like a wobbly diving board. As the beam bends it stresses the PZT layers, which build up an electric charge that can be picked up by arrays of tiny electrodes.

As with everything, the cantilever beam has a frequency at which it wobbles the most. This is known as the resonant frequency and outside of it, the beam's wobbling response drops off along with the amount of power the device can generate.

"In the lab, you can move and shake the devices at the frequencies you want, and it works," says Arman Hajati, who conducted the work as a PhD student at MIT and co-authored the study. "But in reality, the source of vibration is not constant, and you get very little power if the frequency is not what you were expecting."

Some researchers have increased the number of cantilever beams and PZT layers on a chip to overcome this problem, but Hajati and Sang-Gook Kim, a professor of mechanical engineering at MIT and co-author of the paper, say this approach is not only wasteful, but also expensive.

"In order to deploy millions of sensors, if the energy harvesting device is $10, it may be too costly," says Kim, who is also a member of MIT's Microsystems Technology Laboratories. "But if it is a single-layer MEMS device, then we can fabricate [the device for] less than $1."

To create a device with just one layer that is still able to pick up a wider range of vibrations, Kim and Hajati threw out the cantilever design and engineered a microchip with a small bridge-like structure that is anchored to the chip at both ends. They then deposited a single layer of PZT on the bridge and placed a small weight in the middle of it.

After putting the device through a series of vibration tests, the researchers found that it responded to a wide range of low frequencies. They calculated that it was able to generate 45 microwatts of power with a single layer of PZT, which is 100 times more than similarly sized devices of current design.

"If the ambient vibration is always at a single frequency and does not vary, [current designs] work fine," Daniel Inman, professor of aerospace engineering at the University of Michigan told MIT News. "But as soon as the frequency varies or shifts a little, the power decreases drastically. This design allows the bandwidth to be larger, meaning the problem is, in principle, solved."

Inman added that, since few vibrations in nature occur at the relatively high frequency ranges captured by the device, the MIT researchers will have to aim lower in the frequencies they pick up, which they say is just what they intend to do.

"Our target is at least 100 microwatts, and that's what all the electronics guys are asking us to get to," says Hajati. "For monitoring a pipeline, if you generate 100 microwatts, you can power a network of smart sensors that can talk forever with each other, using this system."

The MIT team published its results in the Aug. 23 online edition of Applied Physics Letters.

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Owl 360 serves as a third eye for cyclists

The Owl 360 is a rearview camera and monitor system for bicycles

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What do cars have that bicycles don't? Lots and lots of things, actually, but one of those is a rearview mirror. While both cyclists and drivers have to shoulder check when changing lanes, cyclists additionally have to twist all the way around in order to see what's directly behind them. Helmet- and handlebar-mounted side mirrors are certainly one way to minimize that twisting, but for people who like stuff, there's another - mini rearview camera and monitor systems. Cerevellum has just started taking orders for one called the Hindsight, which now has a competitor known as the Owl 360.

The Owl consists of a CMOS video camera that attaches to the bike's seatpost, and a 3.5-inch monitor that attaches to the handlebars. A cord connects the two devices. The monitor contains a 3.7-volt lithium-polymer rechargeable battery, that powers both the monitor and camera for a reported five hours per charge. The handlebar mounting bracket has a hot shoe connection, so the monitor can easily be removed before the bike is left unattended.

The camera is surrounded by a ring of ten red LEDs, which will automatically start flashing when the built-in light sensor notices that it's getting dark outside. Both the camera and monitor are said to be weather-resistant and vibration-protected.

Consumers can expect to pay US$179.99 for the Owl 360 when it hits stores, although it is available now for preorder via the company website.

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Dyson applies its Air Multiplier fan technology to a heater

Dyson has unveiled a room-heating version of its Air Multiplier bladeless fan, named the Dyson Hot

Introduced in 2009, Dyson's Air Multiplier bladeless fan is still probably the trendiest, most unique device one can buy for moving cooling air around a room. Today, the British company announced that consumers will now be able to use that same bladeless technology for heating a room, in the form of the Dyson Hot fan heater.

Like the cooling fan before it, the ABS-bodied Hot uses Dyson's proprietary Air Multiplier technology. This involves using an impeller in the base of the device to draw air in through slotted intakes (also in the base), then blowing that air out through a small aperture in the fan's "loop amplifier." The inside surface of the loop is shaped like an airfoil, so the air that is blown into it is channeled forward. Air behind the loop is drawn in by this outwards airflow, and is subsequently also propelled forward itself, the end result being that the fan reportedly expels six times more air than its impeller sucks in.

What's different about the Hot is the fact that it also includes a heating element in its base. This can be set, either on the fan itself or with a remote, to heat a room to anywhere from 1 to 37 degrees Celsius (33.8 to 98.6F). A built-in thermostat will turn the fan off when the desired temperature is reached, and turn it back on again when the temperature drops. Users can also adjust the oscillation and rate of airflow.

For people who don't already own a regular Dyson Air Multiplier, the Hot can also be set to blow unheated air.

The Dyson Hot is available as of today at John Lewis stores in England, and can be purchased nationwide for GBP269.99 (US$427) as of next month. There is word yet regarding availability or pricing in other markets.

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Microsoft Shows Windows 8 for Tablets, Notebooks and Desktop Using New Metro-style User Interface

Microsoft today demoed the latest Windows 8 build running on tablets, notebooks and desktop during its BUILD conference in Los Angeles. Steve Sinofsky demonstrated Windows 8 OS running on ARM-powered devices, Qualcomm powered devices and even one tablet running NVIDIA’s upcoming quad-core Tegra 3 chipset. One of the desktop on display, the HP Phoenix, is expectable to be announced later on this week – although specs for this computer have not been revealed yet.

In addition, Microsoft will also provide a “Samsung Windows Developer Preview PC”  to 5,000 developers at the conference. The preview PC comes with 4GB of RAM, 64GB of on board storage, a slot for the microSD card, HDMI-out, NFC support, Ethernet and more unsaid features. Tablet owners will also receive one year of free data service with 2GB of data per month from AT&T. Is that AT&T being nice? Unbelievable for a lot people.

Here are more hardware picture Microsoft showed during the BUILD conference:

(Source BoyGeniusReport)

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Windows 8 Beta Now Available for Download, Download Here

Excited for Windows 8? Makes you feel Sexually aroused? Well, you can get the beta. Microsoft has just posted the pre beta, Windows Developer Preview, for download on your 32- or 64-bit x86 hardware, and activation is not required this time. And remember, this is just a beta, this is not a stable version and you will find some issues, that is why it’s recommended to be installed on a separate partition or different machine.

The Windows Developer Preview is a pre-beta version of Windows 8 for developers. These downloads include prerelease software that may change without notice. The software is provided as is, and you bear the risk of using it. It may not be stable, operate correctly or work the way the final version of the software will. It should not be used in a production environment. The features and functionality in the prerelease software may not appear in the final version. Some product features and functionality may require advanced or additional hardware, or installation of other software.

Click here to go to Microsoft Windows Developer site and download the betas for your machine.

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Here Me: Location-Based Micro Blogging For Windows Phone 7

Here Me: Location-Based Micro Blogging For Windows Phone 7 AddictiveTipsFeatured ArticlesArchives RSSTwitterFacebookEmailYoutubeConnect With UsRoundup: Our Exclusive Coverage Of Windows 8 Developer PreviewTop Free And Most Beautiful Live Wallpapers For AndroidThe Complete Guide To Windows 8 Startup MenuThe Complete Guide To Windows 8 Metro Control PanelAll About Windows 8 FileName Collisions And Copy/Move Dialog Box AddictiveTips NewsInternetWindowsMac OS XLinuxMS OfficeMobileHardware « Autodesk Pixlr-o-matic: Add Retro Effects To Photos [Android & iPhone]How To Share Files Between Windows 7 And Windows 8 In Dual Boot » Here Me: Location-Based Micro Blogging For Windows Phone 7By Hamza on Sep 17 2011 Leave a comment

There is only one name that is sure to pop up in your mind as soon as you hear the word micro-blogging: Twitter. Admittedly, there are a number of alternates which provide you with the exact same functionality offered by Twitter, but a far fewer number of apps or services exhibit the courage to think out of the box and make some additions to micro blogging and social networking. That’s where Here Me enters the Windows Phone 7 arena.

 

First things first, you need to create a new account for Here Me, as it does not integrate with any pre-existing service and is a standalone app. That’s a bit of a downside if you are not a big fan of apps requiring new accounts and new passwords. Also, you have to activate your Here Me account after signing up or the app won’t work. However, the overall experience proves to be worth it in the end.

So what exactly is Here Me? The app has a built-in video (about a minute in length) which teaches you the basic usage and concept behind this app. The main idea is to let you write reports (which are like tweets) based upon your current or chosen location.

You can set up your profile (not much customization available, just a choice of changing your details and avatar) or you can leave the settings as they are. Make sure you keep the GPS enabled. You can write reports which are 140 characters long (sounds familiar?) but with the option of attaching images, videos, sounds and links. When you add a feed, you can choose a specific area from which you want the reports to load. Your reports too will only be visible in that area.

Like with Twitter, you can view reports from everyone on Here Me or you can apply filters to narrow it down a bit. For all the visible feeds, there’s a noteworthy button (sort of a combination of bookmarks and Facebook’s Like button) and you can write a reply to any report. Adding hash tags is also allowed in reports and replies.

Selecting your area of interest is easy. Just zoom in and out of the map to include any area within the circle displayed in a feed. The map offers the usual 3 views (Map, Hybrid and Satellite) and as told in the tutorial video, you can add an area which includes many continents or just a building.

Here Me is free and available at the download link given below.

Download Here Me

TweetShareTags: Apps, location, social networkingWindows Phone 7,

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More in MobileLatest MIUI 1.7.8 Android 2.3.4 ROM Ported To Galaxy S...How To Watch Hulu Videos On Galaxy Tab 10.1Windows Phone 7.5 Mango To Support Windows Live Messenger EmoticonsInstall Android 2.3.5 Based Custom ROM On T-Mobile LG G2x...Download Wallpapers For Samsung Galaxy S I9000, EPIC 4G, Vibrant,...Popular postsHow To Install Windows 8 On VirtualBoxThe Complete Guide To Ubuntu 11.10 Oneiric Ocelot [Review]The Ultimate Guide To Android WallpapersHow To Remotely Control Your Windows PC via Android Device...Top Free And Most Beautiful Live Wallpapers For Android Nobody Loves You As Much As We Do! Send Us Tips:send tipsBack to top TopicsNewsInternetWindowsMac OS XLinuxMS OfficeMobileHardwareAuthors Nakodari Usman Ali Haroon Farshad Sameed Zayed Fatima Hamza A. RehmanJOIN US ON FACEBOOKAbout AddictivetipsAt AddictiveTips we review the best software and services from around the web and routinely cover latest tips and tweaks on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and other platforms. more...PAGESAboutFeatured ArticlesArchivesContactDisclosurePrivacy Policy Switch to our mobile site var csDocDomain = document.location.href; document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://sb" : "http://b")+ ".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js' %3E%3C/script%3E")); COMSCORE.beacon({ c1:2, c2:"6035753", c3:"6035753", c4:csDocDomain, c5:"Technology - News", c6:"", c15:"" });document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://sb" : "http://b") +".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js' %3E%3C/script%3E"));COMSCORE.beacon({c1: 2,c2: '6036211',c3: '',c4: '',c5: '',c6: '',c15: ''});

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PlayStation Vita to arrive on December 17

Sony has held a press conference to outline the PS Vita's release date, as well as a lineup of titles and accessories to be available at the launch date

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Sony has used this week's Tokyo Game Show 2011 exhibition to outline more details of its next handheld gaming console, the PS Vita. The announcement included a lineup of titles and accessories to be available at the launch date, which is set for December 17 in Japan.

Initially there will be 26 games available for the PS Vita, while currently there are more than 100 titles in development, according to Sony. Games to hit the shelves at the date of launch include Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, F1 2011, Virtua Tennis 4, Little Deviants, and Dynasty Warriors Next. Sony has also announced the PS Vita's battery life, which isn't very impressive - three to five hours of gameplay, five hours of video playback or nine hours of music playback. It will reportedly take two hours and forty minutes to fully charge the console.

As previously revealed, UMD cards will not be supported, with a proprietary memory card format being used instead. "Some PS Vita software titles may require the use of separately sold memory card for saving game's saved data while some software titles are capable of saving it on to the PS Vita card itself," Sony's press release says. Therefore, it appears that a memory card will be required to play some titles purchased online and such accessories won't come cheap, being priced at US$28 - US$123 depending on capacity.

Sony has also listed first-party accessories to be available on the date of launch. These include memory cards (4, 8, 16 and 32GB), AC adaptor, USB cable, cradle, in-ear headset, protective film, card case, case, pouch, carrying pouch (black) and travel pouch with cleaning cloth and wrist strap. A car adapter and portable charger will be made available in Spring 2012 (northern hemisphere).

Sony has confirmed the PS Vita's pricing in Japan at JPY24,980 (US$325) for the WiFi version and JPY29,980 (US$390) for the 3G/Wi-Fi model. 3G coverage in Japan will be provided by NTT DoCoMo, with two data plans available: JPY980 (US$13) for "Prepaid data plan 20h" or JPY4,980 (US$65) for "Prepaid data plan 100h." The PS Vita's AT&T data plans in the U.S., as well as availability outside Japan still haven't been announced.

Source: Wired / CNET

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Toyota set to expand Prius platform to include PHEV and seven-seat models

New Prius Family - Prius, Prius and Prius Plug-in Hybrid

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Toyota is gearing up for a worldwide onslaught of hybrid vehicles in 2012 - part of a strategy to put out no less than ten new hybrids by 2015. By the early 2020s, the company most of the company's European models will feature a hybrid option.

To that end, the company has already begun launching hybrid versions of the Yaris light platform, the Auris/Corolla hatch and the medium Camry sedan in larger markets across the world - Japan, Europe and the US.

But the most prominent - and branding wise the most important - is the expanded Prius family. Thanks to the Prius name and its place as a standalone brand synonymous with the company's Hybrid Synergy Drive technology, Toyota has achieved higher brand recognition associated with hybrid drivetrains than any other marque.

Since launching the original Prius in 1997, the company has sold more than 3.3 million HSD-powered vehicles worldwide. Sales have risen exponentially with the release of each new generation, with the third incarnation, launched in 2009, accounting for nearly a third of total sales.

Toyota has calculated that in toto its Hybrid Synergy Drive fleet - Prius and other platforms - can claim responsibility for a reduction in automotive CO2 emissions of about 21 million tonnes since launch.

For the upcoming Prius, Prius+ and Prius Plug-in Hybrid, Toyota claims CO2 emissions of 89 g/km, 99 g/km and - potentially in the case of the latter - 49 g/km respectively. It expects the expanded range to yield commensurate expansions in the platform's customer base, with the Plug-in attracting a new group of early adopters and the Prius+ drawing in those needing a third row of seats.

Launched in production form at this year's Frankfurt show the Prius PHEV represents a simple advance over Toyota's standard hybrid formula by integrating a larger, independently chargeable Li-ion battery into the HSD drivetrain. But history will show it as a milestone in the Prius platform's progress for the way it takes it a step closer to full electrification. Toyota claims realistic fuel-efficiency targets of 49 g/km CO2 emissions and 134.5 mpg (that's 2.1 L/100km combined cycle) fuel consumption.

The Plug-in boosts the drivetrain's electric-only range from the normal Prius's 1-2 km to something in the order of 20 km. That makes it realistic all-electric drive in urban conditions - most commuter journeys cover 20 km or less - with the advantage of being able to revert to standard petrol-electric hybrid drive when the battery runs down or when the vehicle ventures on to the highway.

Also important to the package is a remarkably short recharge time of just 90 minutes, from flat to full, using a standard 220-240 volt domestic power outlet.

The car bears market significance on a couple of fronts, starting with its suitability for urban commuting at a time when Europe is becoming increasingly urbanized. It also represents a consumer-friendly stepping stone towards full electromobiity. It allows consumers a best-of-both-worlds option, making extensive use of electric power without the range disadvantages that see buyers unwilling to make the move to full-scale EVs.

The technology upgrade comes with minimal weight penalty - at 1420 kg, it's just 50 kg heavier than the regular Prius. Much of this is down to the battery pack upgrade. While other incarnations retain the proven NiMH battery chemistry used to date, the Plug-in adopts a new Li-ion battery boosting capacity from 1.3 to 4.4 kWh and nearly doubling weight from 42 to 80 kg.

The Prius Plug-in's combined 100 kW drivetrain makes it good for at 0-100 km/h in 10.7 seconds and a top speed of 180 km/h. Toyota's quoted 2.1L/100km and 49 g/km emissions come with the achievement of the car's full all-electric cruise range.

The Plug-in's option list includes an audio upgrade to JBL's GreenEdge system, featuring a high-efficiency amplifier and speakers that consume 50 per cent less energy than their conventional counterparts. the options list includes goodies like an to the standard touchscreen auxiliary controls and satnav.

The Prius Plug-in goes on sale in Japan, the US and Europe in early 2012.

The Prius+, meanwhile, sees Toyota extending the lineup to include a seven-seater. It's noticeably larger than the standard car - 30 mm wider, 85 mm taller and 155 mm longer. Half the extra length - 80 mm - goes into the wheelbase.

While retaining the familiar HSD drivetrain, the Prius+ follows the Plug-in in moving to a Li-ion battery pack, albeit one not as big. Here it's done in the name of space efficiency, with the compact power pack installed under the centre console between the front seats to free up room astern.

The Prius+ is all about versatility, with the middle and back rows split-fold to open up options in carrying people and stuff. With all three rows up and occupied, there's 200 liters of cargo space astern. Drop the back row stowed and it rises to 505 liters.

Up front is the familiar 1.8-liter, 73 kW Atkinson cycle petrol engine and 60 kW electric motor. In total it's good for 100 kW, getting the Prius+ from 0-100 km/h in 11.8 seconds and on to a top speed of 170 km/h. Helped by a drag coefficient of just 0.28, Toyota claims combined cycle fuel consumption of just 4.2 L/100km and CO2 emissions of 99 g/km.

The panoramic sunroof uses resin instead of glass, delivering a weight saving of about 40 per cent.

Standard kit includes keyless entry, head-up display and LED headlamps.

Like the Plug-in, the Prius+ option list covers touchscreen control upgrades, JBL GreenEdge audio and as well as adaptive cruise and pre-crash safety systems.

Toyota expects to put the Prius+ to market in Europe in the first half of 2012.

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AT&T Already Carries the iPhone 4S in Their System? (Picture)

Engadget’s tipster claims that AT&T already have the next iPhone model named iPhone 4s — with lowercase ‘s’– in their inventory system. As you can obviously see, the inventory system is showing a white iPhone 4s and it’s not displaying the storage capability like the rest the iPhones in t he system.

Judging from the clandestine screenshot you see above, it most certainly seems like that’s the case. A helpful tipster sent us this tasty morsel, from AT&T’s internal system, listing the “iPhone 4s White” beneath a handful of already familiar Apple handsets. Could it be? Is Cupertino actually planning on bringing a white version of its next iPhone out at launch? We’re afraid only time will tell.

Apple is rumored to introduced the next iPhone in the next few weeks — naming the device iPhone 5 or iPhone 4S. However, a number of rumors points out the next Apple iPhone to be called iPhone 5.

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iMessage Coming to OS X Lion’s iChat

Wouldn’t it be great to send text messages to OS X Lion users from your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch for free? Reportedly that’s what will be happening according to an iOS developer. A developer revealed to MacRumors evidence that Apple is currently working to bring iMessage into OS X Lion’s iChat messaging software.

Buried in the framework of OS X Lion’s iChat, are two new properties (highlighted below):

@interface IMMessage : NSObject
{
IMHandle *_sender;
IMHandle *_subject;
NSAttributedString *_text;
NSString *_plainBody;
NSDate *_time;
NSDate *_timeDelivered;
NSDate *_timeRead;

iMessage is a SMS text messaging feature that will be available in iOS 5 that allows all iOS users – iPhone, iPad, iPod touch to send and receive text message via 3G or WiFi for free.

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Tiny Panasonic EVOLTA robots set to take on Ironman Triathlon

Panasonic's EVOLTA swimming, cycling and running robots will be attempting to complete the Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii

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While the Energizer Bunny may get all the fame, Panasonic's "Mr. Evolta" robot actually gets out and does things. In 2008, powered by two of the company's AA EVOLTA alkaline batteries, the 17 centimeter (6.69 inch)-tall robot climbed up a 1,640 foot (500 meter) rope suspended in the Grand Canyon. The following year, pedaling a miniature tricycle, he completed the "24 Hours of Le Mans" endurance challenge. Last year, he took a leisurely 500-kilometer (311-mile) stroll along the highway from Tokyo to Kyoto. This year's challenge is a little different - there will be three EVOLTA robots, and they will be teaming up to complete the 230-kilometer (143-mile) Ironman Triathlon circuit in Hawaii.

The challenge will include 3.8 kilometers (2.36 miles) of swimming in the open ocean, followed by 180.2 kilometers (111.97 miles) of cycling, and 42.2 kilometers (26.22 miles) of running. According to the video at the bottom of this page, separate robots will perform each stage. This is somewhat at odds with the press release, which states that robot creator Tomotaka Takahashi has designed three suits for the EVOLTA robot.

In any case ... the swimming robot/suit, which Takahashi says will have the most difficult task, will be performing the front crawl while buoyed by front and rear pontoon-like devices. The cycling robot will be assisted by training (sorry, "stabilizing") wheels on its bike, while the running robot will be inside a rolling hamster wheel-like gizmo.

Each robot will be powered by a set of three rechargeable EVOLTA AA batteries. The event will begin on October 23rd, and the robots will have one week in which to complete the circuit. They will run continuously, day and night, except for battery recharging periods.

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Origami Cave puts a stylish spin on emergency shelter

The Digital Origami Emergency Shelter was inspired by a single water molecule and is made from 100 percent recyclable materials (image by LAVA)

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Australian architecture firm LAVA exhibited its inhabitable "Origami Cave" as part of The Emergency Shelter exhibition, which was held in Sydney earlier this month. The exhibition featured architects from around the globe including Ateliers Jean Nouvel, PTW Architects, Tonkin Zulaikha Greer, Cox, Koichi Takada Architects, Sou Fujimoto and Terunobu Fujimori. Each architect was asked to create a shelter that would not only protect people from the elements during an emergency situation, but would also provide a space that was secure and comfortable in the aftermath of a disaster.

The Digital Origami Emergency Shelter was inspired by a single water molecule and is made from 100 percent recyclable materials. The base molecule is made out of plywood and can be easily shipped as a flat pack and later constructed for emergency shelter use. Stepping inside the molecule, the shelter accommodates a sleeping space for two adults and one child, and features an additional zone for eating or relaxing. The solar operated LED light brings the shelter to life, and from the outside the shelter looks like a designer Japanese lantern.

Whilst the Origami Cave might not be as practical as the recently discussed Softshelter, the exhibition did help raise funds for the Great Tohoku Earthquake-affected areas in Japan. LAVA's shelter will also be on display during the 2011 Sydney Architecture Festival from October 20th - 30th.

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Velella Research Project is raising fish in sea-drifting pods

The Velella Research Project's Aquapod, adrift off the coast of Hawaii

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There are a number of reasons that many people are opposed to fish farming. Among other things, they claim that the caged fish release too much concentrated waste into the surrounding waters, too many antibiotics and anti-algal chemicals are used, the ecological balance is upset when non-native fish escape from their pens, and strain is put on populations of local fish that are captured for use in feed for carnivorous farmed fish. Unfortunately, wild-fish-capturing methods such as drift net fishing and bottom trawling have big problems of their own. A new system that involves raising fish in mesh spheres that float in the open ocean, however, is claimed to sidestep many of the drawbacks of traditional marine aquaculture. The Velella Research Project is pioneering the technology.

The project is being carried out by marine biologists from Kampachi Farms (formerly Kona Blue Water Farms), an aquaculture company based out of Hawaii's Big Island. They are experimenting with raising hatchery-born Almaco jack fingerlings in a 22-foot (6.7-meter) diameter Aquapod, a floating spherical brass mesh fish pen. Instead of being moored in one place, the pod is drifting in eddies that carry it 3 to 150 miles (4.8 to 241.4 km) off the island's west coast, in waters up to 12,000 feet (3,657.6 meters) deep.

The Aquapod is tethered to a tender vessel, which houses marine biologists who feed and monitor the fish. The boat's engine is occasionally run to make course corrections, although it mostly just drifts with the pod. Its location is tracked at the project's land-based headquarters using GPS.

Because the pod is drifting in the open ocean, with the current flowing through it, the fish waste is continuously carried off and dispersed. The brass mesh resists biofouling, so anti-algal chemicals aren't needed, and the Almaco jack (also known as Kampachi) are native to the region. Also, much of the fish meal and fish oil in their feed has been replaced with sustainable agricultural proteins such as soy.

Velella is not entirely unopposed, however. Hawaiian environmental group KAHEA has raised concerns that the National Marine Fisheries Service was premature in issuing a permit to the project, having not sufficiently investigated its possible ecological impact on the region. There are also worries that even if the one Aquapod causes no problems, future multiple pods dispersed in one area could.

Kampachi Farms co-CEO Neil Anthony Sims countered that drift pen technology has virtually no environmental impact on the underlying seafloor, surrounding water quality or wild fish outside the Aquapod, and that the test fish are healthy and growing well.

The word Velella, incidentally, is the name of a family of marine creatures that float on the surface of the open ocean.

More information on the project is available in the video below.

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