3D-printed plane takes to the skies, sounds like a Black & Decker (video)

You know what's pleasing about this plastic drone, aside from the fact it flies? It took just a week to design and build from scratch, thanks to the labor-saving wonders of 3D printing. Each component was formed in ultra-thin layers by a laser beam trained on a bed of raw material -- either plastic, steel or titanium powder depending on the required part. If designers at the University of Southampton wanted to experiment with elliptical wings, they simply printed them out. If they thought a particular brand of WWII nose cone might reduce drag, they pressed Ctrl-P. And if they reckoned they could invent a wingless flying steamroller... Er, too late. Anyway, as the video after the break reveals, there's never been a better time for the work-shy to become aeronautical engineers.

Continue reading 3D-printed plane takes to the skies, sounds like a Black & Decker (video)

3D-printed plane takes to the skies, sounds like a Black & Decker (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 13:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/R4uG2ZA6xDY/

Kevin Fickenscher Amelie Schweizer Elfriede Oltmanns Janine Hillenbrand

Google Chrome now uses SPDY HTTP replacement, halves page load time

SPDY in Google Chrome
We're not entirely sure of the time line here, but it looks like Google has now rolled out the SPDY HTTP replacement to its full bevy of Web services, including Gmail, Docs, and YouTube. If you're currently using Google's Chrome browser you're probably already using SPDY.

We originally reported on SPDY way back in November 2009, when Google introduced it as yet another experiment in making the Web faster, like Go, Native Client and speculative pre-connections. Over the last 18 months, though, SPDY support has found its way into the stable build of Chrome.

SPDY is basically a streamlined and more efficient version of HTTP. At its most basic, SPDY introduces parallel, multiplexed streams over a single TCP connection -- but at the same time, SPDY allows for prioritization, so that vital content (HTML) can be sent before periphery content (JavaScript, video). All in all, the SPDY protocol can halve page load times, which is obviously rather significant.

The best bit, though, is that SPDY is an open-source project. HTTP 1.1 is a lumbering beast that needs to be replaced before low-latency real-time computing really becomes a reality, and SPDY is one of the best options currently on the table. To be honest, we're not sure why SPDY hasn't received more coverage -- it's awesome in every way. At the moment, though, the only way to help speed up SPDY's proliferation, is with an experimental Apache mod.

As far as actually 'trying it out,' your best bet is downloading Chrome, hitting up some Google sites, and then checking chrome://net-internals to see your active SPDY sessions. SPDY is a transparent replacement for HTTP, though, and as such it's rather hard to see its effects. Google's sites definitely feel fast in Chrome, but there are more technologies than just SPDY at work.

Google Chrome now uses SPDY HTTP replacement, halves page load time originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/11/google-chrome-now-uses-spdy-http-replacement-halves-page-load-t/

Emma Knebel Jason Randow Benjamin Schötz Johannes Liebl

3G for iPod touch? ZTE Peel 3200 says yes.

You’re quite fond of your iPod touch.  But often it would be nice to have wireless capability without being tied a WiFi hotspot.  Have a look at the ZTE Peel 3200 available from Virgin Mobile.  It’s a case for your iPod touch that gives you a 3G data connection.  $29.99 plus no-contract $20 for 500 [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2011/07/26/3g-for-ipod-touch-zte-peel-3200-says-yes/

Nathalie FĂĽllgraf Janine Harrer Emilia MĂĽnchow Claus Rehberg

PSX games now available in the Android Market, if you own an Xperia Play

PlayStation One games on the Android Market
If you're lucky enough to own an Xperia Play -- Sony Ericsson's new Gingerbread-powered smartphone-cum-gamepad -- you can now buy PlayStation (PSX) titles from the Android Market.

There are five titles currently available, all priced at £3.99: Syphon Filter, MediEvil, Cool Boarders 2, Destruction Derby, and Jumping Flash. They don't have an American price yet, but that will surely change once the Xperia Play launches in the States.

Two important questions remain unanswered: How big are these games? The Market descriptions say the games are only 5MB, but that sounds incredibly unlikely -- and more importantly, will it be possible to 'spoof' the Xperia Play and download PSX games onto other Gingerbread-powered phones, like the Nexus S?

In other news, the PlayStation emulator PSX4droid was recently removed from the Android Market. This obviously has nothing to do with today's release of first-party PlayStation games.

PSX games now available in the Android Market, if you own an Xperia Play originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 04:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/01/psx-games-now-available-in-the-android-market/

Antonio Fellberg Emma Knebel Jason Randow Benjamin Schötz

How to Manage the Onslaught of Data Produced by RED Epic Cameras [Video]

RED Epic cameras are the bees' knees in camera tech, but their data throughput makes using typical storage options seem like filling a water balloon with a fire hose. Vincent Laforet gives us a look at how his team handles the deluge. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/Cp38EfXi9Vw/how-to-manage-the-onslaught-of-data-produced-by-red-epic-cameras

Gabriela Prell Sylvia Lösche Steven Walnsch Lennart Tonn

Think Geek's Electric Guitar Bag holds your laptop, lets you 'rock' the commute

ThinkGeek's really letting the jams out this time. The company is no stranger to shirts emblazoned with playable instruments -- but a messenger bag? Its new Electric Rock Guitar Bag features 14 buttons for a fretboard so you can strum any songs in a Major key, and a detachable amp that cranks all the way up to an obligatory 11. You'll also have room for a 17-inch laptop, while its eight pockets can hold your Green Day and Blink-182 chord-charts. Come August 28th, 50 bucks is all it'll cost ya to rock while you're rolling during the commute, but in the meantime, we know the perfect synth player for when you wanna get that office band started.

Think Geek's Electric Guitar Bag holds your laptop, lets you 'rock' the commute originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 06:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/29/think-geeks-electric-guitar-bag-holds-your-laptop-lets-you-ro/

Jacqueline Kiesel Michel Rohr Hilde Baaden Hartmut Theobald

RZA unveils branded headphone line, hopes you don't leave Shaolin without them

The other rappers probably spend a lot of time making fun of you when you don't have your own line of headphones. The Wu Tang's RZA can thankfully breathe a sigh of relief as he becomes a member of the not so inclusive club that already contains the likes of Dr. Dre, Ludacris, and 50 Cent. The Gravedigga sometimes known as Bobby Digital is teaming up with WESC to bring the world Chambers, a line of over-ear headphones with flashing LEDs that light up in time with your music. Chambers will come in two versions -- one targeted at consumers and another aimed at pros. The line is set to launch on August 26th. It's not quite as awesome as that $500 Ghostface Killah doll from a few years back, but it's a start.

Continue reading RZA unveils branded headphone line, hopes you don't leave Shaolin without them

RZA unveils branded headphone line, hopes you don't leave Shaolin without them originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 30 Jul 2011 09:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/30/rza-unveils-branded-headphone-line-hopes-you-dont-leave-shaoli/

Monika Kley Heidemarie Frick Maike Beetz Fiona Henschel

Google's Music Beta gives users two invites, keys to the cloud for their best mates

We probably all know at least one person who is bummed they missed out on the initial round of invites for Music Beta by Google. Well friends, you can be the bearer of good news for those troubled souls (who haven't moved on to other online music pursuits, of course), as we discovered through a fellow music enthusiast. Members of the cloud-based service are now the proud owners of two invites handed down from the Goog, to be passed out only through a thorough application and interview process. Ok, not really... but perhaps you do have the power to make two of your friends, or soon-to-be friends, pretty happy. That is, until they realize how long it will take them to upload that music library they've been curating since 8th grade.

[Thanks, Ralph]

Google's Music Beta gives users two invites, keys to the cloud for their best mates originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 07:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/dCVAq-g2LSw/

Hilde Baaden Hartmut Theobald Nicholas Graul Malin Hock

Engadget's next reader meetup happens in NYC on August 25th!

Engadget's next reader meetup happens in NYC on August 25th!
Oh, hi! How are you? It's been so long! We know, we've been busy, but we're going to be in town soon. Very soon! In less than a month we'll be having a get-together for lots and lots (and lots) of our closest friends -- and yes, you're totally invited. We'll be hosting the event on the evening of August 25th and it takes place at Guastavino's, a top-shelf venue on 59th Street in New York City. It'll be an all-ages gig where you and your friends can try out some of the hottest tech you've read about here, debate with the editors about Windows Phone vs. Android vs. iOS vs. RIM vs. whatever, and maybe go home with one of the many, many great prizes we'll be giving away.

We'll have more posts with more details in the coming weeks as we get closer to the day in question, but if you're a member of the media who would like to attend, an exhibitor who wants to show something off to the fans, or a sponsor who wants to be a part of the insanity (readers, hold tight!), please e-mail us at meetup at engadget dot com. Until then!

Engadget's next reader meetup happens in NYC on August 25th! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/g3R-o3EXw94/

Claus Rehberg Tobias Leinenbach Olga Kreibich Nathalie Donnerhacke

A sneak peek at the next version of Android Market and Music app

Android Honeycomb'ish smartphone Music appUpdate: Tech From 10 seems to be offline -- but we have lots of images and a hands-on review if you want to see what the new Music app is like.

In what is probably a bit of a big-G whoopsie, the folks at Tech From 10 woke up to find a new, test version of Android Market installed on their Galaxy S.

Visually, the new version is almost identical. The carousel of featured apps has been updated slightly, and apps now have a 'Content rating,' but that's it (image after the break). The interesting bit, however, is the inclusion of alpha and beta apps -- most notably, there's a new version of the Music app, which looks like a scaled-down version of the Android 3.0 Honeycomb Music app (see right).

Also available from the test Android Market is 'Google Gallery 3D New 10.2', 'Google - Camera v12' and 'Google Desk Clock 10' -- but, curiously, all of the apps refused to launch on Tech From 10's Galaxy S (Vibrant) smartphone. Are they Honeycomb apps? Or, more likely, are they destined for the next Android smartphone OS, Ice Cream?

If you want to try out the new Honeycombish Music app, Tech From 10 has made the APK available for download. You can also download the three Google apps, if you want to have a poke around.

Continue reading A sneak peek at the next version of Android Market and Music app

A sneak peek at the next version of Android Market and Music app originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/05/a-sneak-peek-at-the-next-version-of-android-market-and-music-app/

Markus Wigger Alexander Berner