Posts Tagged: they’re

Missed out on a Kindle on Prime Day? They’re back on sale right now

Various models of Amazon’s e-book readers, including the Amazon Kindle Oasis and Amazon Kindle Scribe, are available with discounts in Best Buy’s flash sale.
Digital Trends

Scientists claim they’re the first to transmit space-based solar power to Earth

The idea of solar energy being transmitted from space is not a new one. In 1968, a NASA engineer named Peter Glaser produced the first concept design for a solar-powered satellite. But only now, 55 years later, does it appear scientists have actually carried out a successful experiment. A team of researchers from Caltech announced on Thursday that their space-borne prototype, called the Space Solar Power Demonstrator (SSPD-1), had collected sunlight, converted it into electricity and beamed it to microwave receivers installed on a rooftop on Caltech's Pasadena campus. The experiment also proves that the setup, which launched on January 3, is capable of surviving the trip to space, along with the harsh environment of space itself. 

"To the best of our knowledge, no one has ever demonstrated wireless energy transfer in space even with expensive rigid structures. We are doing it with flexible lightweight structures and with our own integrated circuits. This is a first," said Ali Hajimiri, professor of electrical engineering and medical engineering and co-director of Caltech's Space Solar Power Project (SSPP), in a press release published on Thursday

The experiment — known in full as Microwave Array for Power-transfer Low-orbit Experiment (or MAPLE for short) — is one of three research projects being carried out aboard the SSPD-1. The effort involved two separate receiver arrays and lightweight microwave transmitters with custom chips, according to Caltech. In its press release, the team added that the transmission setup was designed to minimize the amount of fuel needed to send them to space, and that the design also needed to be flexible enough so that the transmitters could be folded up onto a rocket.

Space-based solar power has long been something of a holy grail in the scientific community. Although expensive in its current form, the technology carries the promise of potentially unlimited renewable energy, with solar panels in space able to collect sunlight regardless of the time of day. The use of microwaves to transmit power would also mean that cloud cover wouldn't pose an interference, as Nikkeinotes.

Caltech's Space Solar Power Project (SSSP) is hardly the only team that has been attempting to make space-based solar power a reality. Late last month, a few days before Caltech's announcement, Japan's space agency, JAXA, announced a public-private partnership that aims to send solar power from space by 2025. The leader of that project, a Kyoto University professor, has been working on space-based solar power since 2009. Japan also had a breakthrough of its own nearly a decade ago in 2015, when JAXA scientists transmitted 1.8 kilowatts of power — about enough energy to power an electric kettle — more than 50 meters to a wireless receiver. 

The Space Solar Power Project was founded back in 2011. In addition to MAPLE, the SSPD-1 is being used to assess what types of cells are the most effective in surviving the conditions of space. The third experiment is known as DOLCE (Deployable on-Orbit ultraLight Composite Experiment), a structure measuring six-by-six feet that "demonstrates the architecture, packaging scheme, and deployment mechanisms of the modular spacecraft," according to Caltech. It has not yet been deployed.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/space-based-solar-power-first-successful-experiment-caltech-000046036.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Google says they’re finally optimizing Android tablet apps. Do you believe them?

At Google I/O this year, Google said they were working with developers and manufacturers to finally give Android apps the tablet-optimized versions they deserve. No more upscaled, wonky UI that leaves a ton of wasted space, blown up phone apps, or things that are just straight up broken and unpleasant to use on an Android […]

Come comment on this article: Google says they’re finally optimizing Android tablet apps. Do you believe them?

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K-pop NFTs are here, but I’m not convinced they’re worth it

Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, are the latest piece of merchandise the dedicated K-pop fan can buy. But is it really worth it, and what do you really get?
Mobile | Digital Trends

Are smartphone software update promises worth the paper they’re printed on?

From Google to Nokia, phone manufacturers promise years and years of software updates. But can you trust them?
Android | Digital Trends

Apple reportedly tells workers they’re allowed to discuss conditions and pay

Apple might be eager to minimize future complaints about working conditions. NBC News said it obtained a newly released internal memo telling employees they're allowed to discuss conditions and pay outside the company. Staffers should be free to talk about issues in the way they "feel most comfortable," including with managers and the People (human resources) team.

We've asked Apple if it can confirm the memo and comment on the release. The statement would reinforce the rights private workers already have under the National Labor Relations Act, which lets workers both organize and discuss conditions, as well Apple's own conduct policy.

Provided the news is accurate, it could represent a bittersweet moment for critics of Apple's working culture. The memo supports their beliefs the company unfairly limited talk about labor issues by shutting down surveys and Slack channels. Employees like Ashley Gjøvik also accused Apple of punishing workers for speaking out for by putting them on leave or even firing them.

However, the statement is also coming too late to prevent significant damage. Apple now faces eight labor charges alleging issues like harassment and wrongful dismissal. Outspoken #AppleToo advocate Cher Scarlett (who settled with Apple) just left the company, too. While a memo like this might allow more discussion going forward, it can't change the past.

Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Huawei has announced the next folding Mate XS, but they’re increasing the price, too

Huawei has announced their second-generation folding phone, but they’re not backing down off the form factor like Samsung did. The Huawei Mate XS is almost a direct successor to the first Mate X, but with improvements in key areas, better durability, and a price increase to match. Huawei Mate XS; try, try, and try again […]

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Google opening Stadia game development studio in Montreal, and they’re hiring

Google’s game-streaming service Stadia hasn’t launched or proven at all successful yet, but the company taking a leap of faith to prove their commitment by opening their own exclusive studio in Montreal – and yes, they’re hiring! The gaming sphere took notice when Google announced what could be the world’s first truly feasible game-streaming service […]

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Nokia is bringing the feature phone back, but this time they’re using Android, too

Feature phones still have a place in the market, however small. In countries like the US, there’s still some small demand for a phone that’s a little more basic without all the bells and whistles of something like a Galaxy S10, and in emerging markets there’s a need for devices that are less expensive and […]

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Half of phishing sites trick you into thinking they’re ‘secure’

You can't assume that a site is honest because it has that "secure" padlock in the address bar, and PhishLabs just illustrated why. The anti-phishing company has determined that 49 percent of all known phishing sites used Secure Sockets Layer protec…
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Soft robot sleeve will help hearts to beat when they’re failing

An innovative soft robotic sleeve will keep a failing heart beating by wrapping around it and mimicking its natural rhythms through a combination of twisting and compressing movements.

The post Soft robot sleeve will help hearts to beat when they’re failing appeared first on Digital Trends.

Cool Tech–Digital Trends

They’re real. We slipped on Nike’s HyperAdapt 1.0 self-lacing sneakers

At Nike’s showroom in New York City, we tried on Nike’s highly anticipated self-lacing shoes, Hyperadapt 1.0. Tiffany Beers, senior innovator at Nike, spoke with us about its creation and how the future Hyperadapt sneakers may look.

The post They're real. We slipped on Nike's HyperAdapt 1.0 self-lacing sneakers appeared first on Digital Trends.

Wearables–Digital Trends

Jiobit aims to make wearables so discreet they’re practically invisible

Jiobit is building a revolutionary chip that, using machine learning and contextual clues, could drastically improve the battery life of wearables. It’s working on smartwatches for kids., but it has bigger plans for the future.

The post Jiobit aims to make wearables so discreet they’re practically invisible appeared first on Digital Trends.

Wearables–Digital Trends

No one likes Kanye’s clothes, but they’re still buying (and reselling)

Kanye West opened a pop-up for three days in New York City selling merchandise inspired by his latest album The Life of Pablo. On its second day, Saturday, hundreds of people filled the streets and organized mayhem ensued.

The post No one likes Kanye’s clothes, but they’re still buying (and reselling) appeared first on Digital Trends.

Wearables–Digital Trends