Intelligent sensor hub integrates programmability, precision in a single package
May 15, 2013 3:40 pm | Freescale Semiconductor | Product Releases | CommentsFreescale Semiconductor is introducing a new Xtrinsic intelligent sensor hub that serves as an advanced sensor fusion platform. The Xtrinsic FXLC95000CL sensor hub integrates an on-board accelerometer with capability to manage multiple external sensors. The solution provides
Google unveils maps, photo, music features
May 15, 2013 3:36 pm | by MICHAEL LIEDTKE - AP Technology Writer - Associated Press | News | CommentsGoogle's sixth annual conference for software developers opened Wednesday with a chance for the company to showcase its latest services. Announcements included new features for online games, maps and search, a new music-streaming service and enhancements to its Google Plus social network,...
Much ado about nothing: The impact of the medical device excise tax
May 15, 2013 1:32 pm | by Michael Lewis, Writer, Money Crashers Personal Finance | Blogs | CommentsStudents of military strategy learn quickly the advantages of choosing when and where to fight, rather than wasting resources on trivial issues. An impartial observer would wonder about the wisdom of the excessive rhetoric, over-the-top hyperbole, and political posturing surrounding the medical device excess tax.
NIST demonstrates significant improvement of solar-powered hydrogen
May 15, 2013 1:11 pm | by EurekAlert! | News | CommentsUsing a powerful combination of microanalytic techniques that simultaneously image photoelectric current and chemical reaction rates across a surface on a micrometer scale, researchers at NIST have shed new light on what may become a cost-effective way to generate hydrogen gas directly from water and sunlight.
Physicists discover a new kind of friction in the nano-world
May 15, 2013 1:00 pm | by Technische Universitaet Muenchen | News | CommentsWhether in vehicle transmissions, hip replacements, or tiny sensors for triggering airbags: The respective components must slide against each other with minimum friction to prevent loss of energy and material wear. Investigating the friction behavior of nanosystems, scientists have discovered a previously unknown type of friction...
Cells as living calculators
May 15, 2013 1:00 pm | by Massachusetts Institute of Technology | News | CommentsMIT engineers have transformed bacterial cells into living calculators that can compute logarithms, divide, and take square roots, using three or fewer genetic parts.Inspired by how analog electronic circuits function, the researchers created synthetic computation circuits by combining existing genetic “parts,” or engineered genes, in novel ways.The circuits perform those calculations in an analog fashion by exploiting nat...
Making frequency-hopping radios practical
May 15, 2013 12:33 pm | by MIT | News | CommentsResearchers at MIT’s Microsystems Technology Laboratory have developed a new method for manufacturing such filters that could improve their performance while enabling 14 times as many of them to be crammed on a single chip. The new method uses techniques already common in the production of signal-processing chips ...
MOSFETs deliver benchmark on-state resistance for improved system efficiency in heavy load applications
May 15, 2013 12:31 pm | International Rectifier | Product Releases | CommentsInternational Rectifier introduced a family of automotive-qualified COOLiRFET MOSFETs delivering benchmark on-state resistance (Rds(on)) for heavy load applications including electric power steering (EPS), braking systems and other heavy loads on internal combustion engine (ICE) and micro hybrid vehicle platforms.
Japan watchdog to halt test reactor over safety
May 15, 2013 12:11 pm | by MARI YAMAGUCHI, Associated Press | News | CommentsJapan's nuclear watchdog announced Wednesday that the nation's trouble-plagued next-generation test reactor will not be allowed to restart due to safety violations, dealing a setback to the country's pro-nuclear government. The Nuclear Regulation Authority's decision is the latest blow to the Monju fast-breeder reactor and Japan's nuclear fuel cycle program.
EU: China may be dumping mobile network equipment
May 15, 2013 11:57 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsA senior EU official says China may be illegally dumping and subsidizing the import into Europe of mobile telephone networks and their essential elements. But Competition Commissioner Karel De Gucht says an official investigation, while approved by the European Commission, won't be launched now as officials seek an amicable resolution.
Embedded vision system allows remote switching of PoE status
May 15, 2013 10:57 am | Adlink Technology Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsADLINK Technology announced the release of its new EOS-1220 GigE Vision-compliant embedded vision system, featuring 3rd generation Intel Core i7 quad-core processors, four independent PoE (power over Ethernet) ports, full compatibility with GigE Vision cameras and support for smart PoE APIs, allowing remote switching of PoE status.
Controllers designed for applications greater than 15 Amps
May 15, 2013 10:39 am | Oven Industries, Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsOven Industries is now offering a high-powered temperature controller mounted on a heat sink that creates a seamless transition between heating and cooling devices, as it serves as the commander of thermoelectric modules. With a bi-directional or unidirectional H-bridge configuration, the controller has many benefits.
Canada's Singing Astronaut
May 15, 2013 10:04 am | by Screaming Circuits | Blogs | CommentsIf you're going to exit, you may as well exit in style and I can't think of a better example than Commander Chris Hadfield's "good by" from the International Space Station on Monday (May 13). Thank you, Astronaut Hadfield. Since...
Space Oddity
May 15, 2013 9:01 am | Videos | CommentsA revised version of David Bowie's Space Oddity, recorded by Commander Chris Hadfield onboard the International Space Station. This is believed to be the first music video recorded in space (and as Internet memes go, it sure beats silly cat videos). Captioning kindly provided by CHS (www.chs.ca)
Google poised to show off latest devices, services
May 15, 2013 1:22 am | by MICHAEL LIEDTKE - AP Technology Writer - Associated Press | News | CommentsGoogle is expected to use its annual software developers' conference to showcase the latest mobile devices running on its Android software, while also unveiling other features in its evolving product line-up. The gathering, scheduled to begin Wednesday morning in San Francisco, provides Google...


