The follow-up to NASA’s rather Toy Story -esque Z-1 spacesuit was decided this week, thanks to an online poll . Three options were up for the task of being the next cover layer that will protect the Z-2, and after garnering 63 percent of the vote, the “Technology” option will be part of the agency’s new threads. An unadvertised underlying theme continues as renders of this suit certainly have a bit of a Tron aesthetic . Now, NASA engineers will move on to vacuum chamber, Neutral Buoyancy Lab, and rocky Martian surface tests which are all expected to commence this fall. There’s plenty of features that make this an improvement over previous models, so let’s take a closer look at the details. NASA says that the biggest improvement for Z-2 suit is its hard composite upper torso, which will offer the increased durability needed for Extravehicular Activity (EVA). Luminex wire and light-emitting patches allows for easy identification of crew members. For increased mobility, collapsing pleats allow the suit to fold, catering to an astronaut’s activity. There’s also exposed rotating bearings and abrasion resistant panels along the torso of the suit to further improve wear, protection and mobility. As mentioned, the testing phase — which includes buoyancy trials — is slated to begin this fall. One of Time Magazine’s Best Invention’s of 2012, the Z-1 suit was the first to use 3D scans for sizing, a suit-port with a hard upper torso structure and, at the time, the most resizable space wear that had be developed. [All images courtesy of NASA] Filed under: Science Comments Source: NASA

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This is NASA’s new Z-2 spacesuit

As clever as smartphone cases can get , their features are usually set in stone; if you decide you need a battery pack after you bought a wallet case, you might be stuck. Logitech hopes to eliminate that accessory anxiety with its new Case+ add-on for the iPhone 5 and 5s, built in part by the TT Design Labs crew it acquired last year . The modular design starts with a basic protector, but lets you attach components depending on what you need. A +Drive piece gives you a magnetic car mount, while +Energy more than doubles your battery life; +Wallet offers space for your credit cards, and +Tilt (based on TT’s TidyTilt) provides both a kickstand as well as a magnetic mount for your fridge. Do be prepared to pay for the convenience, though. Logitech currently plans to ship Case+ in the US this month as a $200 bundle that includes everything. Given that a 16GB iPhone 5s typically costs the same amount on contract, that’s an expensive proposition — it’ll only make sense if you crave flexibility. We’ve reached out to Logitech to see if it will let you buy components one at a time like you can elsewhere, but we wouldn’t count on it. If your needs aren’t quite so varied, you may want to pick up a more focused (and likely cheaper) case instead. Filed under: Cellphones , Peripherals , Mobile Comments Source: Logitech

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Logitech’s modular iPhone case lets you change features on a whim

Glass has gotten a bad rep over the past few months, particularly in bars where other patrons think mistakenly think Explorers are recording their every move (or they actually are ). To help improve that image, Google is encouraging owners to go out on the town this Saturday night wearing their high-tech glasses. To some, a bar full of Glass wearers might sound like the Worst Saturday Night Ever, but the hope is the cyborg masses will be able to educate the public a little better than when they’re flying solo . The #GlassNightOut also offers the opportunity to mix and mingle with other Explorers — a rare experience if you’re living somewhere outside of San Francisco, and probably a lot more fun than going on Field Trip by your lonesome . If you’re interested in checking out one of the Meetups this weekend, hit the source link for a full list of participating cities and locations. Not a people person? Well, Google Glass might be the wingman you’ve been looking for. Image credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Filed under: Wearables , Mobile , Google Comments Source: Google+

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Google Glass community goes on charm offensive, plans a #glassnightout