3d illusion arts: Walyou

Walyou

New USB Standard Could be on Your Next Phone
6 Disney Princesses as Bad-Ass Warriors
The Paradox of the Wearable
StoreDot Demoed a Fast-Charging Smartphone Battery
The Micro: A Consumer 3D Printer You Can Get for $300

New USB Standard Could be on Your Next Phone

Posted: 08 Apr 2014 07:00 AM PDT

Most non-Apple phones have been using the same mico USB-b charging connector for the better part of a decade, but the standard may soon be updated.

Ten years ago, one of the biggest considerations the average consumer would take into account when purchasing a new cell-phone was the charger. Will it fit their old chargers? Did they have to get a new car charger, too? Chargers were almost never the same between manufacturers, or even between models from the same manufacturer.

This resulted in not only an increase in e-waste, not to mention the frustration and expense from consumers who had to be constantly buying new chargers and could rarely share chargers with friends. Many people may have memories of needing to charge their phone when visiting friends or family and having to sort through a drawer of unused chargers to see if any matched.

There is no global governing body that regulates things such as phone chargers, but several alliances took moves to standardize the charger to micro USB. The OMTP in 2007, the ITU in 2009, and the IEC in 2011. Now, just about all manufacturers use a Micro B USB charger, except for Apple, who used their 30-pin charger for all iPods, iPhones, and iPads up until 2012, when they introduced the Lightning charger, which changed the game due to its improved data and charging speeds and the convenience of being reversible. Plugging a phone in the charge in a dark room was no longer a complicated feat.

Well, it’s about high time Micro USB type B got a similar replacement so all the non Apple users can enjoy plugging in devices without worry when in the dark (among other benefits). The USB Implementations Forum has released a render of the still incomplete USB type C connector, which is expected to not only be reversible, but be twice as fast, with throughput estimated at 10Gbps.

The conversion to this standard may be awkward, since it’s not likely it will be backwards compatible due to its reversible nature, but after some slight overlap of a year or two–where we will likely find a lot of value in micro USB type b to c converter dongles–we will have mostly adopted the new standard.

The new standard may start popping up on various devices before the end of 2014, which means this could be the standard connector found on next year’s HTC One M9, Samsung Galaxy S6, LG G3, and other flagship devices.

Source: AnandTech

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6 Disney Princesses as Bad-Ass Warriors

Posted: 08 Apr 2014 06:00 AM PDT

While Disney Princesses, especially the more “classic” ones aren’t always the most aggressive types, there’s nothing wrong with making them go through a makeover and come out as kick-ass Warrior chicks.

Ariel

That neck thing looks really uncomfortable, but overall she looks pretty much like someone Namor or Aquaman would get along pretty well with.

Belle

Very medieval style. Kind of reminds me of Syrio Forel and what a water dancer from Braavos would look like, if girls were water dancers as well (are they?). Maybe Arya will turn into something like this one day.

Cinderella

CInderella gets the cyborg treatment or as the artist referred to her: an android housekeeper. That cannon for an arm makes her look like Megatron, the one from the G1 TV series and not the Live-Action Transformer films.

Pochahontas

Unlike the others, she’s not all that different in look from the non-warrior version of her. She doesn’t have a sword, but she does have blood on the orb at the end of her stick.

Sleeping Beauty (Aurora)

All I have to say is that she has one truly bad ass staff, but I’m not really sure who or what she reminds me of.

Snow White

Over the last two-three years there have been plenty of more combative versions of Snow White coming out: The “Twilight” one, the Terrible one and the one on TV.

The artist is Sadyna, which you can view her gallery here.

For a bit more on Disney Princesses, check their Capcom Heroines versions or the girls in Accurate Period Costume.

The Paradox of the Wearable

Posted: 08 Apr 2014 05:00 AM PDT

Wearable technology is getting and better, but it’s hard to get people to adopt a device that lasts 2 years as a substitute for a device that lasts decades.

We live in an age where technology is challenging our conception of a traditional computing devices. Desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones are no longer sufficient to complete 100% of the tasks we want out of them, so we are seeing the emergence of the internet of things and wearables such as Google Glass, fitness trackers, and smartwatches.

This trend is embraced by some, but generally frowned on by most people. Similarly to the switch from “dumb” flip phones and bar phones to smartphones, most people–other than early adopters–tend to be skeptical of new technology.

Some manufacturers, specifically Samsung, attempted to tackle this skepticism head on by promoting the Galaxy Gear smartwatch and selling it in tandem with the Galaxy Note 3. While it did lead to the increased sale of units, a recent white paper from Endeavor Partners shows that one in ten Americans have purchased a wearable device (typically activity trackers), but half of them no longer use the device.

The paper also states that one-third of Americans that purchased a wearable had already ceased use before hitting the 6 month mark. One reason for the quick abandonment is the new product life-cycle. Most tech products are considered “outdated” after around 6 months. This isn’t normally a problem, because, although there are newer versions out there, the existing generation will function fine for around 24 months of use. The issue is that a product with the same life-cycle as other technological products was tied into fashion life-cycle.

The typical quartz watch will look great and maintain nearly perfect functionality for several decades. Many people wear watches that were handed down from their parents or grandparents, because the technology and function of a quartz watch don’t evolve (at least not at the rate of digital technology).

Nobody will think twice about wearing their Grandfather’s watch, because it still performs the same function it did when it was on his wrist. Flawlessly at that. Meanwhile, one-third of Americans are ditching their smart watches after 6 months, because their technology (and therefore their fashion) are now out of date. Even if a smartwatch is able to be built with a classic looking style and form factor, the hardware and software will soon be obsolete.

This makes wearables an extremely expensive choice. Most people don’t look at you too
funny if you have last year’s smartphone, because it’s a technological tool and it’s expected for it to be at least partially obsolete. Once you strap something like a smartwatch on your wrist, though, you are making a fashion statement. That means if your wearable is out of date, it is also out of style.

This suggests that the key to wearable technology isn’t necessarily the best hardware, or features, but the most simplicity. Because of this, something like the Pebble Steel will have a longer lifespan than say, the Exetech XS-3. It looks like Motorola is aiming for simplicity with the Moto 360, so hopefully we’ll see a new age of wearables that have a longer shelf life.

Source: The Guardian

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StoreDot Demoed a Fast-Charging Smartphone Battery

Posted: 07 Apr 2014 12:15 PM PDT

StoreDot NanoDot-based Smartphone Battery 2

With each passing year smartphones get more processing power, are capable of running more apps at a time and come with hardware features that get better and better, yet the capacity of the batteries seems to stagnate.

At Microsoft’s Think Next symposium in Tel Aviv, Israeli startup StoreDot proved that the capacity of the battery is not the only thing that could enable us to use our smartphones and tablets longer. The nanodot-based smartphone battery that StoreDot demoed at Microsoft’s event is a an incredible alternative to high-capacity batteries, as it only needs 30 seconds to recharge.

In an interview with Gizmag, StoreDot CEO Doron Myersdorf explained how the battery’s components interact with each other: “In essence, we have developed a new generation of electrodes with new materials – we call it MFE – Multi Function Electrode. On one side it acts like a supercapacitor (with very fast charging), and on the other is like a lithium electrode (with slow discharge). The electrolyte is modified with our nanodots in order to make the multifunction electrode more effective.”

The nanodots that Myersdorf mentioned are in fact chemically synthesized bio-organic peptide molecules that improve the capacitance of electrodes and the performance of electrolytes, which in the end result in faster charging times. StoreDot is by no means the inventor of nanodots. However, in the past this technology involved toxic heavy metals, so this Israeli company’s approach is a lot safer.

The best news about the technology involved in this battery? StoreDot is considering mass production, so we might get to see such batteries powering our gadgets in the not-so-distant future. In fact, the Israeli startup is looking to patent this technology and if everything goes well, nanodot-based batteries should hit the market in late 2016. That might seem like a long time, but considering for how long we’ve used regular batteries, a couple of years will pass in a flash.

More importantly, StoreDot is looking to revolutionize electric vehicles, as well, with its innovative technology. If anything, the ability to recharge an electric car in just a few minutes would make this type of vehicles a lot more attractive and efficient for long trips across countries and even continents. Of course, some adjustments should be made, in order to accommodate the higher currents and the greater number of cells found in EV batteries.

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about daisy-chained solar panels that charge batteries faster and the replacement of Duracell and Energizer batteries by USB gadgets.

The Micro: A Consumer 3D Printer You Can Get for $300

Posted: 07 Apr 2014 11:00 AM PDT

3D printers shouldn’t be just easy to use, but also affordable, and fortunately The Micro tackles both of these aspects gracefully in what seems to be a very successful Kickstarter campaign.

This field is definitely seeing some diversification, not only in terms of price, but also in terms of functionality. Some companies bio-print organs and blood vessels, others try to prove how easy it is to print food, and then there’s yet another group of developers who think that there should be a 3D printer on top of everyone’s desk, even if it is just for fun.

M3D, the Bethesda-based company that created The Micro 3D printer, explained on the crowdfunding platform that “We’ve built The Micro with reliability, consistency, and accessibility in mind. Micro Motion Technology is a sensor and feedback system built into the print head, providing auto-leveling and auto-calibration. This means that every time you run the printer it works, even after thousands of hours of use! The Micro is not only a useful tool, it makes 3D printing an enjoyable experience for the every-day person.”

The Micro measures only 7.3 in³ (185 mm³) on any of its sides, and weighs 2.2 lb (1 kg). In other words, it’s extremely portable and can be carried around or mover from one place to another without hassle. On top of that, The Micro has no preferences in terms of operating systems, as it comes with drivers and software for Windows, Mac, or Linux. There are also plenty of options in what concerns the compatible materials, The Micro being able to print using ABS, PLA, and Nylon.

As seen in the pictures, The Micro will be available in several different color options, to satisfy different needs and tastes, especially when it comes to people who want to assort their gadgets to the color of their walls.

There is no doubt that The Micro will become a reality this August, especially since the company was backed with more than seven times the initial goal of $50K and there are still 29 more days to go.

Some people have noticed on YouTube (and most probably elsewhere, as well) that 3D printing is the death of LEGO, hence the Danish company’s recent ardent involvement in movies and video games. Since 1932, when it was founded, LEGO made a lot of cash from selling plastic bricks, so maybe now it’s someone else’s time to rule in this and many other departments that involve polymers.

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about ChocaByte, the world’s first chocolate 3D printer, and the Stratasys 3D printer that uses multiple materials and prints in color.