You’re Welcome, Tehran! U.S. Navy Frees Iranians from Pirates
This is how the U.S. Navy repays Iran’s bluster about attacking its ships: it saves Iranian fishermen from Somali pirates. Any time the Iranians want to thank the Navy, it’s cool.
$100 Kobo Touch with Offers ships in ’2-3 weeks,’ serves you ads between reads for a one-time discount
0 Kobo Touch with Offers ships in ’2-3 weeks,’ serves you ads between reads for a one-time discount originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 12 Nov 2011 16:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Transformer Prime detailed: 10-inch Super IPS+ display, 12-hour battery and quad-core Tegra 3, ships in December for $499
Well, that day has come, and so have the juicy details. We just got word that the tablet will go on sale worldwide in December, starting at 9 with a beefy 32GB of storage, moving up to 9 for a 64GB model. (That signature keyboard dock you see up there will cost 9.) In addition to those basic specs Mr. Shih revealed last month, we now know this has a 1280 x 800, Super IPS+ Gorilla Glass display with a 178-degree viewing angle and a max brightness of 600 nits. It also packs 1GB of RAM, GPS, a gyroscope, SonicMaster audio and a 1.2 megapixel front-facing camera. Rounding out the list is an 8MP shooter with an auto-focusing f/2.4 lens and a back-illuminated CMOS sensor that captures 1080p video. Touch-to-focus is also an option here, and ASUS claims a 30 percent boost in color enhancement over competing tabs.
As for battery life, we initially heard reports of 14.5-hour runtime, but ASUS is now saying the tablet alone can squeeze out 12 hours thanks to a 22Wh battery, and that the dock will add an additional six hours of juice. In addition, the slimmed-down, 1.2-pound dock brings all the other benefits the last-gen model offered, including a touchpad, USB 2.0 port and full-sized SD slot. Software-wise, it’ll ship with Android 3.2 and apps such as SuperNote and Polaris Office, and we’re told we’ll learn more about that ICS update in “early December.”
In terms of design, you may have already noticed the Prime sports the same spun aluminum digs as the company’s Zenbooks, though this is the first time we’re seeing clear, close-up shots of it — and in two colors, no less! At 8.3mm (0.33 inches) thick and 586 grams (1.29 pounds) without the dock, it’s a smidge skinnier than the iPad 2 and Galaxy Tab 10.1, which means, unsurprisingly, that your old Transformer dock won’t be compatible. Finally, ASUS coated both the display and metal cover with a hydro-oleophobic coating that makes it more fingerprint-resistant. For now, we’ve got photos below and if you can wait a few more weeks, we’ll most definitely be putting this thing through its paces in a full review. And if you’re looking for something a little less expensive, well, the original Transformer should be getting Ice Cream Sandwich soon, and we wouldn’t be surprised if Santa brought a few holiday rebates.
Gallery: ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime
Continue reading Transformer Prime detailed: 10-inch Super IPS+ display, 12-hour battery and quad-core Tegra 3, ships in December for 9
Transformer Prime detailed: 10-inch Super IPS+ display, 12-hour battery and quad-core Tegra 3, ships in December for 9 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Viking Sunstone Guided Ships in Cloudy Weather
Norse sagas mention a mysterious “sunstone” used for navigation. New research hints calcite crystals could have guided Vikings with highly accurate compass readings even when the sun was hidden.
Lockheed Martin’s SMSS autonomous vehicle wins Army competition, ships off to Afghanistan (video)
The US military’s fleet of unmanned vehicles may soon get some extra support, now that Lockheed Martin’s Squad Mission Support System (SMSS) has received the Army’s official blessing. Designed to support infantry squads or special ops forces, the company’s autonomous craft was recently crowned the winner of the Army-sponsored Project Workhorse Unmanned Ground Vehicle competition, after more than a decade of development. Measuring 11 feet in length, the SMSS is capable of transporting more than 1,000 pounds of equipment over rugged terrain, and features a set of onboard sensors that can automatically track individuals by recognizing their 3D profiles. Both the SMSS and its Block I variant can be carried aboard CH-47 and CH-53 choppers, with the latter offering a driving range of 125 miles. Three of the beasts will deploy to Afghanistan for a three-month evaluation later this year, when they’ll become the largest unmanned vehicles to ever deploy with infantry. Shoot past the break for a video tour of the SMSS, along with the full press release.
Continue reading Lockheed Martin’s SMSS autonomous vehicle wins Army competition, ships off to Afghanistan (video)
Lockheed Martin’s SMSS autonomous vehicle wins Army competition, ships off to Afghanistan (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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