Thứ Tư, 4 tháng 5, 2016
When the right technology is used, solar energy can do far more than make your dashboard toy nod its head. It can power homes, businesses and, as these 3 record-setting examples illustrate, help us make our way around the globe. Click on the solar-powered innovations below to find out just how powerful the sun really is. © 2016 SunPower Corporation. All Rights Reserved. SUNPOWER, the SUNPOWER logo, and MAXEON are trademarks or registered trademarks of SunPower Corporation in the U.S. and other countries as well.
Thứ Năm, 28 tháng 4, 2016
Bragi have just introduced something that could make your workout, your commute and probably your whole day much smarter. People listen to music while doing all sorts of things, so you probably have earphones at the ready at any given time. But those earphones could be vastly improved, which is where we come in. They've created the world's first set of smart, wireless earphones — The Dash. The amount of technology incorporated into these small devices is rather impressive; they're more like small microcomputers than earbuds, even though they look much less obtrusive than you may expect. It was important to Bragi to create a device that is effective and impressive, but not at all bulky. This makes them easier to use and more aesthetically pleasing. And the best news of all is that this is just the beginning. The Dash comes with 4GB of storage, which means you don't need an extra device for your music. It can hold up to 1,000 songs all on its own. But if you need more tunes in your life, you can seamlessly stream music from your phone through bluetooth and it'll still sound amazingly clear. There won't be any spotty signal interrupting your listening. The earphones also have Optical Touch controls on the outside, so there's no need to take out any external device in order to access the functions. You can browse through music or check on your workout progress by tapping and swiping the face of the earphone. This ease of access means that you don't even have to take your eyes off of what you're doing to skip a song or get an update. Image: Bragi So music is not the only reason to get on board with The Dash. Listening may be all you do with your current set of earbuds, but these are meant to be more like a personal assistant than a set of speakers for your ears. For example, the wireless component and storage capacity make these earphones the optimal exercise accessory. Rejoice at the thought of never again fumbling with wires or getting your phone all sweaty. With 23 sensors in each ear, The Dash can keep track of your heart rate and analyze other physical metrics while you get fit. It'll count your steps and give you live feedback while you're going through your workout. The waterproof hardware is an added bonus for anyone who choses swimming as their way to keep in shape. Never before have swimmers had the luxury of listening to music while underwater, but The Dash changes the game completely. (This feature is also pretty useful for anyone who wants to run in the rain, or if you get caught in a downpour during your commute.) You can even choose to hear the noise of the world around you, or block it out completely, with the swipe of your finger. This is great for your focus, whether you're exercising or if you're trying to concentrate in a noisy office. But if you want to be more aware of your surroundings, you have the option to keep the background noise audible. Image: Bragi Right now, these are an excellent set of earphones with cutting edge features, but they're set up to be much more than that. Bragi thinks about this first iteration of The Dash like the very first in a series of smart phones. The Dash's hardware and design leaves a ton of room for growth as the software improves, so there will be much more capability and functionality for this device in the future. For example, the team at Bragi is picturing a movement away from a numbers-based process of fitness tracking. In the future, they'd like to introduce a much more qualitative method. They want the fitness software to act more like a personal assistant than a fancy calculator. Users could be able to input a specific goal, such as running a half marathon, and The Dash would act as a coach. If your pace was too quick, the earphones would tell you to take it down a bit so you can avoid injury, while also assuring that you finish your workout without becoming too exhausted. Inversely, if you weren't making good time, the device would tell you to speed up so you can be motivated to reach your goal. Bragi is also working on software that could let you control The Dash by moving different parts of your body. For example, jumping may activate the function that skips a song in your playlist. Incorporating interactive physical commands would make the immersive experience they want for their users even more unique. These are just a couple possibilities for the groundbreaking earphones. But the Dash is still in its infancy. There is so much potential for growth, especially if more developers can get involved. Bragi is setting a slow pace to make sure they get everything right, but there are fantastic things down the road. The Dash is already an impressive set of microcomputers you can fit in your ears, but just imagine where they'll be like five years down the line.The ultimate earphones
What's down the road for The Dash
Thứ Sáu, 22 tháng 4, 2016
Technology is becoming more user-friendly with each new advancement. But until recently, one crucial part of the tech experience was bogging everything down: Battery life. The better our devices get, the more they require reliable and long lasting sources of energy. However, no one wants to fuddle around with tangled wires anymore, and traditional, disposable batteries are an environmental nightmare. Luckily, eneloop™ rechargeable batteries can provide a much-needed alternative to this modern-era pain point. Paul Hunter, game content creator for Vine, recently tested eneloop batteries, which are widely considered the best rechargeable batteries on the market. With high hopes for gamers everywhere, he set out to see how they performed. "No doubt about it, eneloop are the best rechargeable batteries I've tried yet." Hunter said after using eneloop batteries with his gaming controllers. "I was thoroughly impressed with how long the charge lasted — over 24 hours of logged game time — before the batteries needed a recharge. I also didn't experience any wireless signal or power loss over that time period, making it smooth, flawless game playing. We all know battery reliability is crucial to a fun gaming experience, and here, eneloop has a clear edge." A ringing endorsement, for sure — and there are even more benefits than shere performance. First off, you don't even have to charge them up before your first use; they're ready to go right out of the package. Second, the cells are charged by solar energy, so when you do need to charge up, the process is an eco-friendly one. Third, the batteries are built to last. You can recharge them over 2100 times, which will help save the environment and your wallet at the same time. Hunter put that fact into perspective: "If I recharged my game controllers twice a week, I would only use 1040 charges after a full 10 years of use." Pretty impressive stuff. What's more, eneloop AA and AAA batteries are compatible with an intelligent charging system that Hunter says, "gives you the freedom to completely charge up to 4 AA or AAA batteries in any combination, as each battery is recharged independently." The eneloop charger also has an individual automatic shutoff for each battery cell, which means that you'll be able to charge your batteries the night before without worrying about negative effects on the battery's performance. It's perfect for gearing up for gaming nights, "hack-a-thons," or children's play dates. Hunter ended his review on a personal note. "After telling my wife about these batteries, she's already taken a bunch for her wireless keyboard and mouse. Gamers need powerful, reliable, and long-lasting rechargeable batteries, and from my testing and research, eneloop satisfies all these needs." Click here to learn more, order, or find out where you can buy eneloop batteries.Putting power to the test




