MicroOLED introduces 5.4 million pixel camera display

French microdisplay specialist MicroOLED has released a new panel with a 5.4 million pixel density, no spacing between pixels and 96 percent uniformity.

Digital camera technology has just taken a huge leap forward with the development of a microdisplay panel that's millions of pixels beyond what is currently used in the highly detailed electronic viewfinders of Fujifilm's most recent X-series cameras (X-S1/X-Pro1), and more than double the panels in Sony's latest alpha and NEX cameras. MicroOLED's new bright and detailed, low power OLED panel has been viewed by a number of industry pundits as the final nail in the coffin of the optical viewfinder.
Even though electronic viewfinders (EVF) allow photographers to access lots of important information like exposure or white balance while framing a shot, and see what the application of different

Cryoscope gives users a feel for tomorrow's weather

The Cryoscope brings a haptic element to tomorrow's forecast by letting users feel tomorrow's expected air temperature

Given that touch is generally the best way to determine how hot or cold something is - as long as it's not too hot or cold - Rob Godshaw has come up with a device that could provide a more immediately understandable representation of tomorrow's weather than the traditional abstract number coupled with simplified symbols seen on the nightly news. His invention is an aluminum cube called the Cryoscope that adds some haptic feedback to the daily weather forecast by letting users physically feel tomorrow's temperature - at least in their

Universal Earphones detect left and right ear placement

A microchip on the earbud senses in which ear it's placed

The L and R labels on your headphones serve a purpose, and it isn't just about fit. The audio source - whether it's a receiver, PC or MP3 player - sends left- and right-channel sounds to the appropriate earbud. While it might seem minor, this can be a difference between a disjointed experience listening to music, movies and other video, to a fuller experience that connects sight (in the case of video) and sound - with sound coming from the direction it's intended. There's no chance of a mix-up with the

MIT envisions DIY solar cells made from grass clippings

Schematic of MIT's Photosystem-I solar energy harvesting chip

Research scientist Andreas Mershin has a dream to bring inexpensive solar power to the masses, especially those in developing countries. After years of research, he and his team at MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms, along with University of Tennessee biochemist Barry Bruce, have worked out a process that extracts functional photosynthetic molecules from common yard and agricultural waste. If all goes well, in a few years it should be possible to gather up a pile of grass clippings, mix it with a blend of cheap

New "Super-Earth" discovered only 22 light years away

An artistic conception of the triple star system where GJ667Cc resides (Image: Carnegie Institution for Science / Guillem Anglada-Escud)

An international team of scientists led by Professors Guillem Anglada-Escudé and Paul Butler from the Carnegie Institution for Science in the U.S. has discovered a potentially habitable Super-Earth that's "just" 22 light years away. The new Super-Earth has a mass that is 4.5 times larger than that of our planet and it revolves around its parent star in 28 days - a star that is significantly smaller than ours. This remarkable new discovery suggests that habitable planets could exist in a wider variety of environments than

SpaceX Dragon's ultimate mission is Mars colonization

The goal is to make all parts of the Dragon reusable and capable of returning to Earth under their own power (Image: SpaceX)

The private spaceflight company SpaceX declared that 2012 would be the "Year of the Dragon" - a play on the current cycle of the Chinese calendar and the upcoming tests of SpaceX's Dragon space capsule. For a time, it seemed as if SpaceX was regretting that slogan. Dragon was chosen as one of five competitors for NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) contest to develop a cargo/passenger craft to service the International Space Station. The Dragon program had enjoyed considerable success and was scheduled to be the first private spacecraft to visit and, if all went well, dock with the International Space Station (ISS). Unfortunately, with the need for more testing of the Dragon capsule delaying the launch from its original February 7, 2012 date to late March or even into April, it looked as

West Coast Chill lays claim to title of "World's First Self-Chilling Beverage"

West Coast Chill is being touted as the world's first beverage to be sold in a self-chilling can

Miller Beer may have announced its plans to do so several years ago, but now someone else is actually going through with it ... releasing a beverage in a self-chilling can, that is. At the end of the first quarter of this year, Joseph Company International will be launching its West Coast Chill all-natural energy drink, which will come in the company's patented Chill Can. When buyers press a tab on the can, the temperature of the

Mitsubishi develops ultra-high-speed elevator technology

The Shanghai Tower (the tall one) will be one of the first buildings to have ultra-high-speed elevators developed by Mitsubishi (Image: Gensler Architects)

Due to the number of stairs that needed to be climbed to reach the top, buildings of over six storeys were a rarity until the 19th century when the development of passenger elevators - along with advances in building materials and techniques - enabled the construction of taller and taller buildings. As skyscrapers continue to reach ever higher, elevators are required to carry more people further, faster. Mitsubishi already has the first problem licked with the development of elevators able to carry 80 people at once. Now it has tackled speed with technologies that enable

F-35A makes first night flight

The F-35A variant of Lockheed Martin's F-35 has completed its first night flight (Photo: Lockheed Martin)

Despite criticism in the U.S. regarding escalating costs, which has seen the Pentagon's bill for a planned 2,443 F-35s going from US$233 billion to $385 billion, Lockheed Martin is pressing ahead with tests of the world's only fifth generation jet fighter. It's been over six years since the first F-35 took to the air for the first time and one and a half years since the F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) variant broke the sound barrier for the first time. Now the F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant has completed the first night flight in the

Facebook makes long-awaited IPO filing

Will members and investors 'like' Facebook becoming a publicly listed company (Photo: Shutterstock)

On Wednesday, Facebook filed an S-1 document with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission announcing its intention to sell shares to the public. The eagerly anticipated move by the world's dominant social networking site sees Facebook's books open to potential investors - and the just plain curious - for the first time. Although the IPO will mean the internet giant will answer to shareholders and a board, the stock structure will see Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg controlling 57 percent of

Zeal iON goggles boast built-in HD camera

HD Camera and ski goggles combine in the Zeal iON

Action cams have become a ubiquitous part of ski resorts everywhere. They're great for catching your best on-slope moments and sharing them with the world, but they can be a little bit bulky and awkward to use with gloves. The Zeal iON goggles solve this problem by integrating the HD camera right into the

Swap-O-Matic is a vending machine for trading your stuff

Inventor Lina Fenequito with the Swap-O-Matic

How many times have you heard someone lament "We live in a throw-away society"? Certainly, the world would no doubt be a better place if people threw less items in the garbage, and reused products more. Well, that's what Brooklyn designer Lina Fenequito is trying to encourage with her Swap-O-Matic vending machine. Instead of dispensing mass-produced snacks with wrappers that end up in

Material implants slowly release medicine over period of months

Might Professor Grinstaff's superhydrophobic material one day form the basis of implants that could release medication gradually over a period of months?

Scientists have developed a new material that can slowly release medication over a period of several months. It's hoped that the "superhydrophobic material" may one day lead to implants that would assist in the treatment of chronic pain, and in the prevention of

Review: OnLive Android app - the future of video games?

OnLive's app allows their on-demand video game service to function through any Android device

A while back, OnLive released an app that allows its on-demand video game service to function through any Android device. While the service has been around awhile for use with computers and TVs, what makes the app unique is its ability to deliver games usually reserved for consoles and gaming PCs to many tablets and smartphones. The app could effectively turn any smart device into a portable game console that streams games like

SpaceX tries out its new SuperDraco rocket engine

SpaceX has test-fired its advanced new SuperDraco engine, to be used on the Dragon spacecraft

SpaceX, the California company that is developing the reusable Dragon spacecraft, recently test-fired its new SuperDraco engine. Presently, the Dragon capsule is equipped with less-advanced Draco engines, which are designed for maneuvering the spacecraft while in orbit and

Mask stuffed with micro-components could work miracles for severe facial burn patients

Engineers and researchers at UT Arlington aim to develop a biomask that could revolutionize the way we treat severe facial burns

Engineers and researchers at the University of Texas, Arlington in collaboration with military medical institutions aim to develop a mask that would use mechanical, electrical and biological components to speed up the healing process following severe facial burns. The flexible polymer face mold is to be fitted with sensors for the monitoring of the healing process. If necessary, embedded

IBEX space probe provides a peek at interstellar material

NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) has provided a glimpse at the interstellar material that lies beyond our solar system (Image: NASA)

Over the course of a year, NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) scans the entire sky. During February, its instruments are aligned in the correct direction to intercept atoms that have crossed the boundary from interstellar space into our solar system, become caught by

Overade foldable bicycle helmet design saves space as well as your skull

The overade bike helmet folds down to a compact size for when it's not protecting your skull

While bike helmets have become lighter and more comfortable to wear in the last couple of decades, their shape has remained largely unchanged. Not surprising when you consider the shape of people's heads hasn't really changed that much recently. As a result helmets are as awkward to carry around and take up just as much space in a bag as they ever did. Unfortunately,

Zoom introduces the G5 supercharged stompbox

Zoom has announced a May 2012 release date for its new multi-effects unit, the G5

The Mustang Floor multi-effects unit for guitar we featured earlier this month is a good first effort from Fender, but Japanese digital tone-manipulation veteran Zoom is about to really show how it's done with the introduction of the G5. The company's most advanced guitar FX unit to date, the Zoom G5 Guitar Effects and Amp Simulator Pedal - to use its full name - features hundreds of stompbox and

EcoSpeed will tell you where to go - efficiently

The EcoSpeed app takes into account various factors, such as the number of traffic stops, speed limits and local traffic conditions, to plot the most fuel-efficient route

By now, we should all know that how you drive has a huge influence on fuel economy, but knowing exactly how to drive in certain circumstances to maximize fuel economy isn't always easy. We've looked at various technologies designed to make the task of traveling at the most fuel efficient speed, taking the most fuel-efficient - if not necessarily the shortest - route, and taking into