Author: kenmay

Britain’s first ‘poo bus’ hits the streets

Thanks to a range of new technologies, Britain’s buses are steadily swapping traditional fuel for greener alternatives . Over in Bristol, however, Wessex Water believes more can be done with the brown stuff. That’s why it’s today put the UK’s first bus powered entirely by human and food waste into service. The Bio-Bus, as it’s known, is a 40-seater shuttle capable of travelling up to 186 miles on a full tank of bio-methane gas, which is generated via a process called anaerobic digestion. Supermarket giant Sainsbury’s uses the same technique to power one of its stores. Its branch in Cannock, West Midlands is exclusively powered by energy generated from bio-methane gas expelled by unusable food from its shelves. Bath Bus Company, the company operating the service, believes the “poo bus” will carry 10, 000 passengers between Bristol Airport and Bath city centre each month. While it’s perfectly set up to run the Number 2 route, it’ll disappointingly run on the A4 service locally. Filed under: Transportation Comments Source: Wessex Water

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Britain’s first ‘poo bus’ hits the streets

Meizu MX4 goes Pro with ‘2K+’ screen, fingerprint reader and ‘Retina Sound’

It wasn’t all that long ago when China’s Meizu unveiled its latest phone, the MX4 , but the real flagship is actually what the company announced today. As you can tell from the name, the new MX4 Pro is a beefed-up version of the earlier model, yet it’s still priced very competitively and is almost just as comfortable to hold. Most notably, it has a slightly larger 5.5-inch display with a stunning 2, 560 x 1, 536 resolution — a tad more than the standard 2K resolution (hence the “2K+” label), thus making this the highest screen resolution for the current smartphone market. That said, this NEGA LCD panel is apparently very power efficient, sipping just 1.05 times the power consumed by the MX4’s 1, 920 x 1, 152 screen. Underneath that lies a Samsung octa-core processor (2GHz A15 x 4 + 1.5GHz A7 x 4) which, according to Meizu, is 20 percent more efficient than the MX4’s MediaTek offering. Like Huawei and Oppo , Meizu is also adding a convenient single-touch fingerprint reader to its latest phone, except this one — dubbed mTouch — is placed on the front side instead of the back. As such, the old capacitive home button is gone. While each side has its own merits for the sensor’s placement, this cheeky company thought this would be a good opportunity to say that it’s on the same page as Apple, so much that it dedicated one slide to paying tribute to Jony Ive. Later on, Meizu’s VP Li Nan admitted that this was just a stunt to get people talking, but we’re certain that Apple will also have something to say about this, especially given the two companies’ rocky past . Despite the cheap shot, the mTouch does have good intentions. For one, it uses a TrustZone baked into the Samsung Exynos chip to process the fingerprint data, meaning hackers won’t — or shouldn’t — have access to it. Apple and Huawei use similar security methods for their fingerprint readers. Another benefit of mTouch is that some time in the first-half of 2015, this feature will let you make purchases with AliPay (the Chinese equivalent of PayPal) and WeChat without typing in passwords. This, surprisingly enough, is called mPay. The “one more thing” for the MX4 Pro (oh yes they did) is its Hi-Fi audio capability, or “Retina Sound” as Meizu likes to call it (ugh). This is courtesy of the ES9018K2M 32-bit DAC (as featured on the Vivo Xplay 3S ) with its high signal-to-noise ratio, Texas Instruments’ OPA1612 amplifier with its high cut-off frequency and ultra-low distortion (and it’s better than the Xplay 3S’ OPA2604 ), plus high-end capacitors and resistors to enable Meizu’s patent-pending passive filter technology. Of course, we’ll need some proper ears-on time to tell if this Retina Sound is as good as it claims to be, as well as how fast these audio chips would drain the phone’s 3, 350 mAh fixed battery. As for cameras, the main one uses the same old 20.7-megapixel Sony IMX220 sensor with f/2.2 aperture, but it’s now paired with an improved image signal processor that claims to further reduce noise, while still offering 30 fps continuous shooting and 4K video capture. On the other side of the phone, the front-facing camera has been upgraded to a 5-megapixel version which also supports auto-focus and 1080p video recording, though the aperture has gone from f/2.0 to a slower f/2.2. The rest of the MX4 Pro is fairly bog standard. Naturally, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac WiFi along with TD-LTE and FDD-LTE networks are supported, and the phone is topped with 3GB of RAM to keep the Exynos chip well oiled. Oh, and the MX4 Pro supports NFC, which is something we wish the MX4 also included. As for software, the device is running on Flyme 4.1 (based on Android 4.4.4) which adds a couple of screen-off features: voice command plus launch apps with on-screen gestures. Another interesting addition is SmartTouch: It comes in the form of a semi-transparent dot that goes on top of the UI, and by swiping horizontally from it you can jump between apps, whereas swiping upward from it takes you back to the home screen, and swiping downward from it pulls down the notification tray, meaning you no longer have to stretch your thumb to the top of the screen. Of course, you can always reposition the SmartTouch dot by holding down on it, or you can toggle it with the shortcut button on the notification tray. Alas, there’s no date nor price for the international markets just yet, but here’s the off-contract deal in China: the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB flavors will cost CN¥2, 499 ($410), CN¥2, 699 ($440) and CN¥3, 099 ($510), respectively, and they will be available starting from December 6th. For a phone packing such a high resolution screen, a single-touch fingerprint reader, high-quality audio components and good build quality, these are some surprisingly good prices that will no doubt put pressure on the likes of Xiaomi, OnePlus and Huawei’s Honor in China. Meizu MX4 Pro Meizu MX4 Dimensions 150.1 x 77 x 9 mm 144 x 75.2 x 8.9 mm Weight 158g 147g Screen size 5.5 inches 5.36 inches Screen resolution 2, 560 x 1, 536 (546 ppi) 1, 920 x 1, 152 (418 ppi) Screen type NEGA LCD, 72% NTSC, 450 nits IPS LCD Battery 3, 350 mAh (non-removable) 3, 100 mAh (non-removable) Internal storage 16GB / 32GB / 64GB External storage None Rear camera 20.7MP Sony IMX220, f/2.2, 1.2μm Front-facing cam 5MP OV5693, f/2.2, 1.4μm 2MP Sony IMX208, f/2.0 Video capture Up to 4K; front cam up to 1080p Up to 4K 30fps NFC Second-gen None Radios Up to LTE Bluetooth v4.0 SoC 2GHz A15 x 4 + 1.5GHz A7 x 4 octa-core Samsung Exynos 5430; Mali-T628 MP6 GPU 2.2GHz A17 x 4 + 1.7GHz A7 x 4 octa-core MediaTek MT6595; PowerVR G6200 GPU RAM 3GB 2GB SIM slot Micro SIM WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Audio ES9018 K2M and OPA 1612 2nd-gen NXP Smart PS audio processor Operating system Android 4.4.4, Flyme OS 4.1 Android 4.4, Flyme OS 4.0 Prices CN¥2, 499 / CN¥2, 699 / CN¥3, 099 CN¥1, 799 / CN¥1, 999 / CN¥2, 399 Filed under: Cellphones , Mobile Comments Source: Meizu

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Meizu MX4 goes Pro with ‘2K+’ screen, fingerprint reader and ‘Retina Sound’

Fold-up electric bike will fit in your backpack

Add / Remove This is part of a series of articles that looks at entrepreneurs hoping to get their ideas off the ground through crowdfunding. At the time of writing, each of these innovations is currently seeking funding. Foldable and portable bikes have been around since the early 20th Century, and yet they can still be fairly cumbersome and heavy. We’ve already written about Germany-based Kwiggle , which is able to shrink down to 60 percent the size of other models. Introducing new technology developments to the form, China’s Impossible is a foldable electric bike that is small and light enough to fit in a bag. When folded up, the bike is a small triangular shape that will fit in a standard backpack. It can be opened in a few quick steps and all parts remain attached to each other. One of the ways it achieves its compactness is that the steel carry case doubles as a shock-absorbing saddle. Rather than the typical horizontal bar design of many bikes, the Impossible futuristic design relies on circles, which the company claims gives it the support it needs to carry up to 85kg in weight. The lightweight motor can travel up to 12.4mph, with no pedaling necessary (it, in fact, doesn’t have the option). The bike comes in either black or white, and the company hopes to introduce accessories and customization options if its Kickstarter campaign is successful. Watch the video below to learn more about the bike: Although the campaign doesn’t end until 25 December, it’s already reached nearly 4 times its initial goal of CAD 55,000. Backers can get their hands on an Impossible bike from CAD 530. Are there other pieces of new bike tech that could be integrated into foldable designs such as this? Kickstarter: www.kck.st/1xDpyCp

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Fold-up electric bike will fit in your backpack

Nanotech has a future in monitoring tumors and diagnosing illness

A team of MIT researchers have developed nanoparticle sensors that could eventually be used to monitor tumors or other diseases, as well as act as a tool to diagnose illnesses. These nanoparticles are made of polymer chains that can bind to the sensors a doctor needs. For instance, in the scientists’ tests, they used an MRI contrast agent called nitroxide along with Cy5.5, which glows when it encounters vitamin C, as sensors. These individual strands then merge to form the structure you see above, which the researchers call “branched bottlebrush polymer.” As you can guess, the bottlebrush polymer the team developed for the study can perform MRI and detect vitamin C, as detailed in their paper recently published in Nature . Since nitroxide grabs electrons from the vitamin and remains inactive in its presence, the scientists don’t get confused by the two different signals. At the moment, the researchers are still working to refine the nanotechnology, developing another version that can carry three different drugs along with the vitamin C detector. As they can mix and match the sensors, though, they believe that in the future, the polymers could be used to evaluate oxygen radicals in a tumor to determine how aggressive it is. Also, the microscopic bottlebrushes could be used to collect real-time biochemical info on affected and healthy tissues, serving as a quick and accurate diagnostic tool. Filed under: Science Comments Source: Nature , MIT

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Nanotech has a future in monitoring tumors and diagnosing illness

Nielsen will finally start tracking Netflix and Amazon video

Nielsen, the holy vanguard of television ratings, has finally figured out how to track viewership from Netflix and Amazon’s streaming video services. And when it launches next month, it could fundamentally change the sorts of shows you see from them. Since neither Netflix or Amazon offer detailed viewership data, Nielsen has developed a way for its rating meters to track shows by identifying their audio, the Wall Street Journal reports . While it won’t track mobile viewers, it will help level the playing field for content owners when negotiating streaming deals, who have so far been clueless about how their shows are performing on Netflix and Amazon. That might lead to some of your favorite shows disappearing, but it could mean streaming data will help decide wether that show you’ve been binge watching gets cancelled. This isn’t the first time Nielsen has tried to make sense of newfangled viewing habits, though. Last year, the company updated its tracking platform to measure video streams from the web, mobile devices, and other modern viewing sources like DVRs. And it also tapped into Facebook and Twitter for broader viewing trends. The difference this time? Nielsen will be able to track how shows perform on specific streaming services. That could lead to some surprises, like a show that explodes on Netflix after floundering inexplicably on TV. And maybe, just maybe, it will prove once and for all that nobody is using Amazon’s instant video. Filed under: Home Entertainment , Amazon Comments Source: The Wall Street Journal

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Nielsen will finally start tracking Netflix and Amazon video

The first demo video of the world’s tallest roller coaster is terrifying

The world’s tallest roller coaster won’t even be made until 2017 and this is just a demo video of what the roller coaster is going to feel like but I’m already scared. Skyscraper at Skyplex in Orlando will be the tallest roller coaster in the world at over 500 feet tall and you ride the thing all. the. way. down. Read more…

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The first demo video of the world’s tallest roller coaster is terrifying

One of music’s big managers wants to pull 20,000 songs from YouTube

You may not know who Irving Azoff is, but he’s considered one of the most powerful managers in the music business… and right now, he’s wielding that power against YouTube. The industry vet’s recently established royalty group, Global Music Rights, has sent letters to YouTube insisting that it pull 20, 000 songs that it allegedly doesn’t have a license to play, including tunes from John Lennon and Pharrell Williams. A Google spokesman tells the Wall Street Journal that YouTube has the necessary rights for its new Music Key service, but Azoff doesn’t believe those count. Also, he argues that any royalty deal to keep the songs in place would require payments “major multiples” larger than what YouTube pays artists right now. Azoff’s clout and the sheer scale of his request will likely carry some weight. You’re probably going to notice if those songs disappear, after all. With that said, the exec hasn’t had success fighting YouTube in the past. He created Global Music Rights precisely because he was frustrated when challenging YouTube on copyright disputes — it would ask him to show exact instances where it was missing licenses and infringing artists’ rights, which was supposedly near-impossible. And historically, large-scale copyright battles with YouTube tend to be both drawn out and messy . Azoff may have a better chance at extracting cash than he did before, but you won’t want to bet on a speedy resolution. [Image credit: Thomas Hawk, Flickr ] Filed under: Internet , Google Comments Source: Wall Street Journal

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One of music’s big managers wants to pull 20,000 songs from YouTube

Case turns smartphones into a Polaroid camera

Add / Remove In 2008, Polaroid announced that it was to shut down all manufacture of its instant film, shutting down 3 factories and citing continuing drops in sales for physical film. Nostalgia is a powerful thing, however, and group of Dutch creatives are already using Polaroid’s machines to bring the film back through the Impossible Project . In more recent years, platforms such as Instagram have popularized photography again, and we’ve even seen ideas such as Instaprint print out real-time photo feeds as physical photographs. Now Prynt is a smartphone case that lets users turn any digital snap into a physical copy in under a minute. Hailing from France, the startup has created a case that simply snaps onto an iPhone 6 or Android device with a 4.7-inch screen. Currently still in its prototype phase, the idea is that users select the photo they want to print from their phone — whether it’s just been taken or an old one they want to keep — and instantly print it. The case connects to the phone via Bluetooth and prints by heating ink-filled paper loaded into it. At the moment, it takes around 50 seconds to print but the team hope to add a Lightning connector for Apple devices to bring this time down to 30 seconds. It will also eventually be able to hold between 10 and 30 pieces of photographic film. Although the bulkiness of the case and the printing capabilities make it feel like an old piece of tech, Prynt has also incorporated an augmented reality element to each print. When taking a photo through the Prynt app, a small video clip is filmed at the same time and uploaded to the cloud. Anyone can then hold the physical photo in front of their smartphone camera and view the video using AR, much like a tangible Snapchat. The Prynt team aim to launch the product on Kickstarter in the coming months, at a price of USD 99. Are there other ways to satisfy consumer desire for digital experiences they can touch? Website: www.pryntcases.com Contact: contact@pryntcases.com

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Case turns smartphones into a Polaroid camera

What Really Happens When You Delete Something from Your PC

If you want to sell or get rid of your computer, it’s important to make sure there isn’t any leftover data that someone could get to. When it comes to NTFS-formatted hard drives, simply deleting your files isn’t enough—even if you empty your recycle bin—but there are still a few things you can do. Read more…

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What Really Happens When You Delete Something from Your PC