gizmag

MOBILE TECHNOLOGY Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ vs. Galaxy S6 edge Last week, Samsung added an all-new phablet to its smartphone lineup in the form of the Galaxy S6 edge+. In a lot of ways, the standard S6 edge and new edge+ are different sizes of the same handset, but let's look at the ways they break off from each other.  read more AUTOMOTIVE Man vs. machine: Can self-driving cars really replace human drivers? Self-driving vehicles have been dominating the headlines like never before, going from sci-fi fantasy to actual reality in a very short space of time, and some form of automobile automation will arrive by 2020. If you're wondering how far the technology has come and how far it has to go, read on.  read more SCIENCE The brain stores memories relative to time and place of origin Where and when you form new memories affects where they are stored in the brain's hippocampus. Specifically, it appears that a particular part of the hippocampus stores memories relative to time over durations of at least a month and space over distances of up to 30 km (18.6 mi).  read more ELECTRONICS SunPort tells the grid you want to use solar-generated electricity SunPort is a plug that signals to the grid that the user wants to buy solar credits to power their devices. It connects to the company's cloud through Bluetooth and an app for iOS and Android.  read more ENVIRONMENT Project Sunroof calculates rooftop solar potential using Google Maps A new venture from Google is aimed at taking the guesswork out of weaning your household off the grid. Powered by Google Maps, Project Sunroof can tell users how much sun is hitting their roof and how much they might be able to shave off their power bills.  read more AUTOMOTIVE Lamborghini Aventador Superveloce gets topless at Pebble Beach Lamborghini revealed the Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce Roadster at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance over the weekend. The half-million-dollar roadster packages the blistering performance of the Superveloce with a little more blue sky overhead.   read more SCIENCE Mice brainpower boosted with alteration of a single gene By altering a single gene to inhibit the activity of an enzyme called phosphodiesterase (PDE4B), researchers have given the brainpower of mice a boost. The research could lead to new treatments for those with cognitive disorders and age-related cognitive decline.  read more MOBILE TECHNOLOGY Samsung Galaxy Note 5 vs. Nexus 6 If you want an Android phone with a huge screen, then the new Samsung Galaxy Note 5 will sit next to the Nexus 6 as two of your best choices. Let's see how the two phablets measure up.  read more SCIENCE Color-changing polymer to indicate severity of hits to the head A team from the University of Pennsylvania has developed a color-changing polymer material that could one day be incorporated into headgear to instantly gauge the severity of blows and provide a clearly visible indication of injury.  read more OUTDOORS Princeton Tec Helix collapsible lantern gives light control to your smartphone The new Helix Bluetooth lantern from Princeton Tec turns your smartphone into a camp-lighting remote control. The funky-looking lantern also collapses down with an accordion-like body and folding legs.   read more GOOD THINKING The Drinkable Book has water-purifying pages For people in developing nations, getting clean water may soon be as simple as opening a book … The Drinkable Book, that is. Each of its pages is made from a thick sheet of paper impregnated with silver nanoparticles, that kill 99.9 percent of microbes in tainted water.  read more SPACE NASA scientists develop gecko-inspired astronaut anchors Scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) are honing the applications of a gecko-like gripping mechanism in the hope of making life a little less chaotic for those working aboard the International Space Station (ISS).  read more GOOD THINKING Glass-based paint keeps things cool by reflecting sunlight Whether it’s slides at playgrounds or roofs of houses, there are some things that you just don’t want to heat up in the sun. While painting such surfaces white is one approach, a scientist at Johns Hopkins University has developed another – reflective paint made from glass.  read more AUTOMOTIVE BMW lets the water-injected Concept M4 GTS loose Following the 3.0 CSL Hommage from Italy's Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in May, BMW brought both a more race-ready version of that design and the all-new Concept M4 GTS to Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance over the weekend.  read more MUSIC Auris bluMe adds modern Bluetooth wireless to classic audio equipment The Auris bluMe packs a powerful DAC, high-gain antenna and Bluetooth 4.1 with Low Latency aptX support to deliver high-quality audio streaming to home stereos and receivers. The bluMe is currently funding on Kickstarter.  read more MUSIC Vinylify presses and posts custom records to your home A new service launched in the Netherlands earlier this year which hand-cut vinyl records made up of customer-chosen songs. Now Vinylify has launched a streamlined web portal and opened its doors to international orders. read more ARCHITECTURE Dwell's zero energy Emerald Star home uses almost entirely reclaimed wood A new home in Seattle is described as having a cutting-edge combination of green technology, renewables and reclaimed materials. It is designed by Dwell Development to be Built Green Emerald Star certified. If the certification is awarded, it will be be the first home of its kind in the city.  read more COMPUTERS Saent halts productivity distractions at the push of a button Staying productive at work can be tricky, with emails, social networks and news websites among the distractions vying for your attention. Saent is aimed at helping users to remain focused by minimizing minimizes the potential for distraction and encourage a better working rhythm.  read more OUTDOORS Walk Wings turn your shoes into roller skates Readers of a certain age may remember those old-school roller skates that were strapped on over top of the user’s regular shoes. Walk Wing takes the idea further, with strap-on skates that feature retractable rubber wheels.  read more SPECIAL PROMOTION FOR GIZMAG READERS Sing in the Shower with the MiiShower Bluetooth Speaker at 50% Don’t let a little water keep you from getting your soundtrack started. This waterproof MiiShower Bluetooth Speaker is perfect for rocking your favorite tunes at the beach, poolside, or even in the comfort of your own shower! Simple to operate and portable, it’s the perfect musical gateway to a good time.  read more