Continue reading Yamaha’s ruggedized PDX-11 iPod speaker dock lets you blast beats beyond your block for 0

Yamaha’s ruggedized PDX-11 iPod speaker dock lets you blast beats beyond your block for 0 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 22:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Yamaha  | Email this | Comments
Engadget

If Apple launched one of its gadgets with embedded solar cells, it could revolutionize the market for solar. Apple has been exploring how to use solar power to charge gadgets for some time, including looking into ways to embed solar cells in devices. But if Apple made the leap to an actual commercial launch, it could be a solar game changer.

Apple’s solar patents

First let’s look at Apple’s solar patent applications. The latest was granted last month (via Patently Apple), and is for a voltage converter and controller for charging a device with solar power. A good deal of this patent focuses on algorithms and devices that can monitor and control the way in which a portable device could most effectively be charged via solar, using both embedded solar cells and an attachable solar power source.

According to Patently Apple — which as the name connotes follows Apple’s patent applications like a hawk — Apple now has two solar-related patents granted, and five solar applications filed in total. The other solar patent granted was awarded in January 2011, and covers similar territory, including a way to monitor and control a charge from a solar source for a mobile device.

What Apple sees in solar

In all of these patents, Apple looks at solar as a way to enable its gadgets to be charged in locations when there is no grid available, and also as a way to generally extend the battery life of a device. Apple has long been willing to invest in ways to boost the battery life of its gadgets, including selling extra battery chargers that will still be able to hold 80 percent of its charge after a year.

Back in 2009, Apple launched a 17-inch MacBook Pro with a built-in battery. Lots of critics didn’t like the built-in aspect of the battery, but the lithium-polymer battery that Apple used could run for up to eight hours on a single charge and retain at least 80 percent of that capacity for up to 1,000 recharge cycles. Compare that with only about 300 recharges for Apple’s 13- and 15-inch models’ removable lithium-ion batteries. The longer life of the 17-inch model was also due to an adaptive charging mechanism — an embedded chip that monitors charge level, temperature, and helps manage the charging current.

But the reality is that batteries on an individual level aren’t making all that much progress in terms of capacity and cost. Boosting batteries in the short term will come from things like software for battery and energy management, and perhaps — if it proves to be economic — tapping micro sources of clean power like embedded solar cells. In an increasingly mobile life, the plug is one of the last true barriers to mobility.

Extending the time between plugging in is also another way to target new markets in areas where there’s less reliable grid power. Yes, Apple generally focuses on developed markets and high-end goods, but Apple is no stranger to the need for finding new markets and developing new strategies, and I could envision one day looking to sell its devices into developing markets with less reliable grid power.

Solar gadgets

Adding solar cells to gadgets has been a sort of novelty and in a nascent stage for awhile. The big barriers have been the price of solar cells as well as the tiny amount of solar power these tiny cells can usually generate. If you look at the variety of solar chargers for iPhones out there, the bulk of these chargers are made up by an extra lithium ion battery that is supplemented with a small amount of solar power from the embedded mini solar panel. In some of these cases the solar cell is more novelty than practical charging tool.

A startup called Konarka has been developing a next-gen solar plastic that could be a good fit for solar gadgets, and is meant to be embedded in materials (umbrellas and bags), devices, and buildings. However, Konarka has long been in a sort of research and development phase and the solar plastic also has a very low efficiency.

But as more gadget makers target developing markets, and devices themselves become more energy efficient, these solar-powered products are getting better. Recently Samsung launched a solar-powered netbook that can run for 15 hours, almost double the 8-hour standard laptop, and is meant for the Kenyan market. The solar netbook is also supposed to go onsale in Russia, the U.S., South Korea and Europe.

And one of the barriers to solar gadgets has been slowly getting solved: the price of solar cells. As you can see if you’ve been following the recent spate of bankruptcies in the solar industry (Solyndra, SpectraWatt, Evergreen Solar) the price of solar panels and cells has dropped dramatically in recent months and years, which is bad for some of the solar tech companies, but good for the overall solar market and solar consumers. The price of solar is pretty much the lowest it’s been in history.

Apple’s effect on solar

If Apple decided to launch a gadget with embedded solar, it could help bring down the prices of solar for gadgets even more. As Nat Bullard, an analyst with Bloomberg New Energy Finance, told me recently, Apple is “a fierce negotiator for components” and if it’s interested in solar it could lock up low cost supply deals for solar parts as it has with iPod and iPad components such as glass and memory.

Foxconn, Apple’s key supplier, has been looking into solar production and has been rumored to be investing in solar manufacturing, in various ways. And why not — solar is finally becoming a commodity, with low enough prices to justify the entrance of this type of low cost supplier.

Apple has also been a leader in embracing new technology, when Steve Jobs had deemed that the time was right. Then when Apple launches new tech into its cutting edge simple designs, the rest of the industry tends to follow. As Bullard put it to me:

If any company could reliably integrate PV into consumer portable electronics, it is Apple. Given its other devices, it would likely make the simplest, most elegant integration. It may sacrifice some nominal performance (and greater freedom of choice) for the sake of simplicity and robustness – as it has done time and again in the past decade.

Apple could be on track to sell 30 million iPhones globally in the fourth quarter of this year. Those kind of volumes could have a major effect on the solar industry, not just in the form of contracts, but also as a way to educate consumers about the existence and usefulness of solar as a power source.

Images courtesy of Flickr user mikecogh, Samsung, and Patently Apple.

Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial.

• What the Google-Motorola deal means for Android, Microsoft and the mobile industry
• Infrastructure Q2: Big data and PaaS gain more momentum
• Mobile Q2: Smartphone growth surges; iPad’s rule continues

alt=''
border='0'
/>

GigaOM

convert FLV to AVI

As we speak, hidden cameras are a well-liked security system not only inside retail stores and other businesses, but also inside the home. A dependable gadget like a hidden digicam can catch a spread of behaviors, from theft to violence, and may serve each as a safety measure and as key evidence for catching the culprit.

Although hidden cameras are very small, and by nature are designed to be hidden almost wherever, there are a couple of key tips to remember when utilizing a hidden camera. First, take into account your need, and where you may be using the camera. Some hidden cams are fixed. These work best in small areas to guard precious property or guard against a really particular threat. A fixed digicam is steadily used in retail shops near a showcase or above the money register. Dome cameras in the ceiling, meanwhile, provide a view of the surrounding area. Other styles of hidden cameras are equally in a position to document the view of a wider area.

The position of your digital camera is as important because the camera model or fashion you might have chosen. At all times examine on the positioning earlier than leaving the digicam to report activities. Otherwise, you would find yourself with eight hours of the floor or ceiling, as an alternative of having the ability to watch what’s going on. When positioning a hidden digital camera, it’s vital to keep the camera away from something which may inadvertently be moved into its line of sight.

Regardless of the intended use for your digital camera, many people ponder whether they should choose a hidden digital camera or a large and immediately noticeable camera. Whereas a noticeable digicam (or even a “dummy” camera) gives a visual theft deterrent, and it has even been proven that the mere warning {that a} camera is within the neighborhood will deter prison behavior, hidden cameras are important whenever you’d like to watch what’s going on without being noticed. For example, you might want to peek in in your employees occasionally, without the intrusiveness of a visual camera. Hidden cameras are particularly fashionable as nanny cams, allowing you to look at your child and their caretakers if you’re away from home. Those with pets benefit from the capability to watch their pets to make sure they don’t seem to be tearing up the house.

Out of doors cameras is perhaps hidden or traditional models. There are even “dummy” cameras designed for outdoor use. However, a hidden camera outdoor can be a worthwhile technique for watching actions with out your digital camera being discovered. There are a lot of ingenious uses for an outside digital camera in addition to residence safety, from watching your teenage kids coming and going to determining what sort of animal is rooting by your trash.

There are different reasons to decide on a hidden camera, too. Your clientele might be turned off by the sight of such as device. Your location could merely not present ample area for an everyday camera. The point of a hidden digital camera is to be as unobtrusive as doable, usually to the point of being actually unnoticeable even by those that are in search of indicators of a camera.

About The Author

Jessica has been writing articles on-line for almost 6 years now. Not solely does this creator specialize in Computers and Technology, you may also try his latest web site on the way to convert FLV to AVI with FLV to AVI converter which also helps people find the best FLV to AVI converter on the market.

convert FLV to AVI

As we speak, hidden cameras are a well-liked security system not only inside retail stores and other businesses, but also inside the home. A dependable gadget like a hidden digicam can catch a spread of behaviors, from theft to violence, and may serve each as a safety measure and as key evidence for catching the culprit.

Although hidden cameras are very small, and by nature are designed to be hidden almost wherever, there are a couple of key tips to remember when utilizing a hidden camera. First, take into account your need, and where you may be using the camera. Some hidden cams are fixed. These work best in small areas to guard precious property or guard against a really particular threat. A fixed digicam is steadily used in retail shops near a showcase or above the money register. Dome cameras in the ceiling, meanwhile, provide a view of the surrounding area. Other styles of hidden cameras are equally in a position to document the view of a wider area.

The position of your digital camera is as important because the camera model or fashion you might have chosen. At all times examine on the positioning earlier than leaving the digicam to report activities. Otherwise, you would find yourself with eight hours of the floor or ceiling, as an alternative of having the ability to watch what’s going on. When positioning a hidden digital camera, it’s vital to keep the camera away from something which may inadvertently be moved into its line of sight.

Regardless of the intended use for your digital camera, many people ponder whether they should choose a hidden digital camera or a large and immediately noticeable camera. Whereas a noticeable digicam (or even a “dummy” camera) gives a visual theft deterrent, and it has even been proven that the mere warning {that a} camera is within the neighborhood will deter prison behavior, hidden cameras are important whenever you’d like to watch what’s going on without being noticed. For example, you might want to peek in in your employees occasionally, without the intrusiveness of a visual camera. Hidden cameras are particularly fashionable as nanny cams, allowing you to look at your child and their caretakers if you’re away from home. Those with pets benefit from the capability to watch their pets to make sure they don’t seem to be tearing up the house.

Out of doors cameras is perhaps hidden or traditional models. There are even “dummy” cameras designed for outdoor use. However, a hidden camera outdoor can be a worthwhile technique for watching actions with out your digital camera being discovered. There are a lot of ingenious uses for an outside digital camera in addition to residence safety, from watching your teenage kids coming and going to determining what sort of animal is rooting by your trash.

There are different reasons to decide on a hidden camera, too. Your clientele might be turned off by the sight of such as device. Your location could merely not present ample area for an everyday camera. The point of a hidden digital camera is to be as unobtrusive as doable, usually to the point of being actually unnoticeable even by those that are in search of indicators of a camera.

About The Author

Jessica has been writing articles on-line for almost 6 years now. Not solely does this creator specialize in Computers and Technology, you may also try his latest web site on the way to convert FLV to AVI with FLV to AVI converter which also helps people find the best FLV to AVI converter on the market.

The LG Cookie Style T310 Games Pop and also the LG GM205 cellular phones are both priced for consumers an audience on a finances, but exactly where the Pop is actually a entirely functional touch cellphone, equipped with a three inch touch screen, the GM205, relies on aged fashioned buttons for it use, which tends to make the latter the mobile phone of selection for those searching for a straightforward telephone, which will deliver and acquire calls and text without having all the bells and whistles.

Each, the LG C105 Games Pop and the LG GM205 come equipped with a inbuilt FM stereo radio, assist Bluetooth and also have a inbuilt camera, but in which the GM205 includes a 2 megapixel camera, the Pop, comes with a digital camera which has a 3 Megapixel resolution. The LG GD510 Pop comes with a 3″display, although the LG GM205 includes a a lot smaller display using a dimension of just two.0″. Each designs help 2G, and of equally phones the inner memory/storage could be expanded, however the Pop might be expanded up to 16 GB, whilst the GM205 only supports SD cards approximately 2GB.

The LG Octane Games comes equipped with a Li-Po 1100 mAh battery, supplying approximately 450 hours of standby time, and up to eight hours of discuss time, while the LG GD510 Pop comes with a Li-Ion 900 mAh battery, offering approximately 360 hrs of standby time and approximately three hours of chat time.

Whilst overall the LG GM205 comes with much more decent hardware in location, it is impressive that LG has picked for your design of your standard mobile cellphone, over the much smoother design and style from the LG GD510 Pop in comparison to models from other makers inside the same price tag variety. However, the two phones offer almost exactly the same in performance, and choosing on which 1 to decide on, will come down to be strictly a make a difference of style.

The Asus1015 PEM is a initial EeePC design to get a dual-core Atom CPU produced particularly for netbooks, the 1.5GHz Intel Atom N550. The EeePC 1215N also runs on the dual-core Atom, but this distinct one particular is designed for nettops (the desktop version of a netbook). The HP 5103 is an additional netbook that uses the N550, but it is paired with 2GB of DDR3 memory; although the Asus Eee 1015 PEM includes 1GB.

Overall performance scores weren’t mind-blowing, however the Asus 1015 PEM SYSMark 2007 Preview Total score (42) was not less than 10% better than single-core netbooks much like the Toshiba NB305-N410 (38) and Samsung N210 (38). It didn’t conduct as well as the Asus 1215N (53), and it trailed the Lenovo X100e (51) and Acer AO521-3782 (52)-netbooks that run on AMD processors-by a healthful margin. In the true globe, even though, tasks like Net browsing with various tabs, word processing with MS Office, and only launching an software seem to be more rapidly on a dual-core Atom than a single-core 1.

Energy effectiveness will be the motive why you’d desire a dual-core Atom devoted to netbooks. The 1215N, with its nettop Atom, performed extremely well in speed exams, but its battery score topped out at 5 hours forty minutes. AMD-based netbooks also favor velocity about battery efficiency, which can be why the Acer AO521-3782 (5:06) and Lenovo X100e (5:23) did not conduct at the same time as the 1015PEM inside battery department. Using the enable of a 63WH, the 1015PEM amassed eight hours 13 minutes in MobileMark 2007, placing it within the very same league as the HP 5103 (eight:forty) and Toshiba NB305-N410 (8:59).

Asus could have very easily charged a large premium for Intel’s most up-to-date dual-core Atom, and it could have simply bundled a smaller battery and been content with 5-6 hours of battery lifestyle. But for the sub-$400 netbook, you get a good-looking style, a smoother net and office productivity practical knowledge, and enough battery life to go away the AC adapter in your own home. Escalating the dimension from the keyboard and tweaking the mouse buttons would be the only adjustments that should be created. That way, it could stand as tall as the Toshiba mini NB305-N410-the Editors’ Choice in this category.