Computing
Apple working on cheaper iPhone: report
January 9, 2013 2:42 pm | by Reuters | News | CommentsApple Inc is working on a cheaper version of its popular iPhone that could be released this year, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday. The device could resemble the existing iPhone, but might use less expensive materials, such as a shell made
Wireless audio platform supports iOS, Android, Windows 8 and Mac
January 9, 2013 12:23 pm | Microchip Technology Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsMicrochip Technology Inc., announced what it asserts is the first and only Wi-Fi audio connectivity platform — featuring the new JukeBlox 3.2 platform and software development kit — to support all of the major mobile and PC operating systems along with
EU lawmakers seek to limit use of data by internet firms
January 9, 2013 8:53 am | by Claire Davenport, Reuters | News | Comments(Reuters) - Internet companies such as Facebook and Google may have to get more permission to use information if European Union lawmakers give users more control over their personal data. EU lawmakers want to limit companies' ability to use and sell data, such as internet browsing habits, to advertising companies, especially when people are unaware their data is being used in such a way.
Gadget Watch: Pen uses infrared, ultrasonic technology to make old monitors touch-ready
January 9, 2013 8:50 am | by RYAN NAKASHIMA Associated Press | News | CommentsMany people who have tried Microsoft's new Windows 8 operating system without a touch screen have hated it because of the inability to use touch and swipe commands to get things going. Now, a company has made a digital pen to allow people to use Windows 8 on their old monitors for less than the cost of buying a new touch-enabled computer.
Google to provide free public Wi-Fi in Manhattan neighborhood where it has offices
January 9, 2013 8:48 am | by KAREN MATTHEWS Associated Press | News | CommentsGoogle said Tuesday it is teaming up with a New York City neighborhood business group to provide the company's first urban Wi-Fi network.The network will be available free to about a 10-block area surrounding Google's offices in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood, where Google has more than 3,000 employees.
RFID Technology – Taking Notes from Orwell
January 8, 2013 3:01 pm | by Chris Fox, Associate Editor, PD&D | Blogs | CommentsRadio-frequency identification (RFID) technology has been a controversial issue for quite some time, but for one reason or another, nobody seems to be talking about it – at least not very loudly. Consider this my mountain-top proclamation.
Why the computer mouse will soon be obsolete
January 8, 2013 9:04 am | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | Articles | CommentsIf you thought being able to “pinch” your iPad screen to zoom was cool, hold on to your hats, because there is something even better coming: a way to use your computer without even touching it.To fully understand why this technology is so awesome, you have to ask yourself about the actual reason the computer mouse is designed the way is it.
Gadget Watch: Samsung camera lens goes from 2-D to 3-D at the flip of a switch
January 8, 2013 8:50 am | by PETER SVENSSON AP Technology Writer | News | CommentsCameras that can record in 3-D are usually pretty complicated, sporting two lenses instead of one, to mimic human binocular vision. Samsung says it has a more elegant solution: a single lens that can go from 2-D to 3-D mode with the flip of a switch.
Finding Chicago's food gardens with Google Earth
January 7, 2013 9:03 am | by Eurekalert! | News | CommentsUrban agriculture is promoted as a strategy for dealing with food insecurity, stimulating economic development, and combating diet-related health problems in cities. However, up to now, no one has known how much gardening is taking place in urban areas. Researchers at the University of Illinois
New Lego robotics kit talks to iPhones, comes with infrared 'eyes;' $350 later this year
January 7, 2013 8:57 am | by PETER SVENSSON AP Technology Writer | News | CommentsLego bricks are getting cozy with the iPhone and other Apple devices in the latest incarnation of the Mindstorms robotics kit. Lego is set to announce Monday that a new, $350 Mindstorms EV3 kit will have the ability to talk to iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches through Bluetooth wireless connections.
French government persuades Internet provider to stop blocking online ads amid debate
January 7, 2013 8:56 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsFrance's government says it has persuaded a leading Internet provider to stop blocking online advertisements - a controversial move that would have hit online search giants such as Google.The French minister for the Internet economy, Fleur Pellerin, met Monday with leading figures from the online industry
Would you like to contribute to our Brainstorm section?
January 2, 2013 4:50 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | Blogs | CommentsWe here at ECN love to hear what you have to say, so for our February issue we’re opening up the Brainstorm discussion to our faithful readers. We want to hear your thoughts about consumer electronics and the future of technology. Typically, the Brainstorm is an editorial section consisting of short commentary....
Review: 4 ways to highlight loved ones on Facebook, making it less a voyeuristic free-for-all
January 2, 2013 10:40 am | by TALI ARBEL AP Business Writer | News | CommentsNEW YORK (AP) -- A woman I haven't spoken to in six years is pregnant with her second son. Another college acquaintance reads the Bible a lot. A high school classmate likes to rant about politics. A college dormmate thinks he works too much.
AC/DC power supply combines high power density and efficiency
December 28, 2012 11:06 am | Product Releases | CommentsPower Sources Unlimited, Inc. announced a new 360-W, high-efficiency CFM361S Series of AC/DC power supplies. These units are suitable for telecom, ITE and industrial equipment applications. The CFM361S Series consists of single 12-V, 24-V, and 48-V output models with
D-subminiature gender changers have hardware removed for panel mounting
December 28, 2012 10:01 am | L-Com Global Connectivity | Product Releases | CommentsL-com, Inc. has launched a line of D-Subminiature female to female gender changers that have the normal mating hardware removed so it does not get in the way of panel mounting. The new items come in DB9, DB15, and DB25 sizes, as well as
Metal strip resistor combines high 2-W power with resistance down to 0.001 Ohm
December 21, 2012 2:20 pm | Product Releases | CommentsVishay Intertechnology, Inc. announced a new SMT Power Metal Strip resistor in the 2010 case size that combines a high 2 W power rating with low resistance values down to 0.001 Ω and stable resistance tolerances to 0.5 percent. Its construction incorporates a
Major industrial computer company acquires system integrator
December 21, 2012 12:51 pm | Axiomtek | News | CommentsAxiomtek, a global provider of industrial computers, today announced that its North American subsidiary, Axiomtek USA, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the Methuen, MA based Embedded Computing Solutions (ECS) business unit of Suntron Corporation.
Top 10 must-see posts for December
December 21, 2012 12:34 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | Articles | CommentsHere’s a rundown of the most read, most popular, most awesome articles on the web. Take a look at what you missed the first time around or check up on an old favorite to see the conversation in the comments. Keep checking out the Lead at www.ecnmag.com and follow us on Twitter @ecnonline for our most up-to-date articles.
Big Brother takes the wheel
December 21, 2012 9:57 am | by Meaghan Ziemba, PDD Assistant Editor | Articles | CommentsIs placing black boxes in automobiles really an invasion of the driver’s privacy? While I am all for the advancement of automobile safety, I wonder if placing black boxes in a cars is stepping over the privacy boundary? A recent article, “Black Boxes in Cars Raise Privacy Concerns” discussed the placement of event data recorders....
Click, print, shoot: Guns made on 3-D printers not as farfetched an idea as it sounds
December 21, 2012 9:09 am | by JASON DEAREN Associated Press | News | CommentsSAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Downloading a gun's design plans to your computer, building it on a three-dimensional printer and firing it minutes later. No background checks, no questions asked. Sound far-fetched? It's not. And that is disquieting for gun control advocates.
Out with the old, in with the new: Enabling the proliferation of large-area touch devices with transparent conductive materials
December 20, 2012 1:52 pm | by John LeMoncheck, President and CEO of Cambrios Technologies for ECN | Articles | CommentsWhat trends and technologies have impacted the industry in 2012 and what does that mean for 2013? The release of Windows 8 is revolutionizing the projected capacitive touch device market, increasing the already capacity constrained demand for large area touch screens.
Real-life Mario Kart - Waterloo Labs
December 20, 2012 10:09 am | Videos | CommentsIn this episode the good people at Waterloo Labs (same guys who created eyes-only Super Mario Bros.) rig up four go Karts so they can manipulate the throttle, gas, and brakes along with an RFID Item system so they could make a REAL playable version of Mario Kart.
10GBASE-T PHY enables single row top-of-rack design
December 19, 2012 5:54 pm | Broadcom Corp. | Product Releases | CommentsBroadcom Corporation announced the availability of what is said to be the industry's smallest quad 10GBASE-T physical layer transceiver (PHY). The BCM84848 second-generation 40nm 10GBASE-T PHY delivers 50 percent lower power in the industry's smallest footprint, according to the company, to
The newest (and most invasive) surveillance technique
December 19, 2012 12:31 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | Articles | CommentsBetter watch what you say next time you take the bus; somebody could be listening in. We’re all pretty used to the increasing amount of cameras on public transportation, and a lot can be said in their favor. They provide a safer environment for the driver when dealing with unruly passengers.
Avoid cracked screens: An airbag for your smartphone
December 19, 2012 9:34 am | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | Articles | CommentsAs the proud new owner of an iPhone 5, I have but one concern: Can this phone survive my clumsy self? For the past three years, I’ve been the increasingly less proud owner of a Blackberry Bold. It was slow, bulky, people mocked me for having it, and viewing a website was as much fun as going to the DMV, but, man, could that thing take a hit like Floyd Mayweather.
