Gizmag

AIRCRAFT Airbus A350-900ULR to fly world’s longest commercial passenger route Airbus is to supply Singapore Airlines with seven Ultra-Long Range versions of its A350-900 that can fly for up to 19 hours non-stop, allowing the airline to relaunch direct flights between Singapore and the US, including New York.  read more BICYCLES Review: Magnic Light iC combines best features of battery and dynamo bike lights ​When it comes to power for bike lights, there are two main options: batteries that have to be charged/replaced, and dynamos that create a slight braking effect. The Magnic Light iC, however, lets the wheel spin freely and doesn't require the installation of anything other than the light itself.  read more ARCHITECTURE Dubai's Rosemont development will have its own rainforest Lavish buildings are the norm in Dubai, with each boasting flamboyant features to set them apart from the rest. Few, however, can boast their own artificial rainforest like ZAS Group's planned Rosemont hotel and residences. The two-tower development will be operated by Hilton’s luxury Curio brand.  read more DIGITAL CAMERAS Sony’s full frame RX1R II gets a resolution jump and pop-up EVF Sony has given its full frame compact camera a substantial upgrade with the RX1R II. The new palm-sized shooter packs a 42.4-megapixel full frame BSI sensor, a 35-mm F2 lens and a pop-up electronic viewfinder.  read more WEARABLE ELECTRONICS It's touch and go for B&O's BeoPlay H7 headphones B&O's new BeoPlay H7 premium over-ear headphones offer users gesture-based touch control of music playback and will deliver its Signature Sound whether the wearer opts to listen over Bluetooth or via the supplied cable.  read more ARCHITECTURE It's alive! Zombie-proof cabin hits Kickstarter British firm Tiger Sheds has turned to Kickstarter in an attempt to reanimate its Zombie Fortification Cabin (ZFC-1) concept. Should funding prove successful, the "zombie-proof" cabin will be used as part of an interactive horror experience.   read more OUTDOORS Life-size Lego teardrop trailer earns world record  The world's largest Lego caravan stands 7.2 feet (2.2 m) tall and uses more than 200,000 blocks in its construction. And it actually sounds like it could offer a (semi) comfortable night of sleep, complete with running water, working lights and a place to lay your head.  read more ENVIRONMENT Advanced solar-powered cars gear up for grueling World Solar Challenge The World Solar Challenge kicks off this Sunday, with competitors set to cover a monster 3,000 km journey from Darwin, Northern Territory to Adelaide, South Australia in cars powered purely by the sun. Here's a quick look at some of the contenders.  read more MOTORCYCLES Zero motorcycles announces improved 2016 models If you were hoping to see a long-range Zero electric motorcycle with a fairing, 2016 is not your year. Instead, there’s a new motor, bigger batteries, triple-speed charging with the new Charge Tank accessory, and a couple of new models to add to the family.   read more SCIENCE New fluorescent lighting phosphors slash use of rare-earth elements Phosphors are essential to fluorescent lighting, and thus office parks the world over, but their use of rare-earth elements makes them less than ideal. Now new types of phosphors have been developed that use substantially less rare-earth elements than current phosphors found in fluorescent bulbs.  read more SPACE Asteroid Impact Mission sets sights on new laser communications record ESA’s proposed Asteroid Impact Mission will carry out a record-setting demonstration of space laser communications across a distance of 75 million km while orbiting a binary asteroid.  read more AUTOMOTIVE BMW gives 2 Series the M division treatment with new M2 coupe BMW has launched the all-new BMW M2 that, with a traditional rear-wheel drive layout, increased engine power, uprated handling capabilities, and improved aerodynamics, will sit neatly below the M3 as the new entry-level vehicle in BMW's M-division vehicle array. read more LAPTOPS Microsoft Surface Pro 4 vs. Surface Book If you're looking to buy a Surface, this year Microsoft is making your decision a lot harder. Let's compare the features and specs of the two flagship models, the Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book.  read more HEALTH AND WELLBEING If you're a problem snorer, try sleeping with Nora ​We've certainly seen a number of snoring remedies over the years, ranging from shock therapy to wearables to robotic bears. If you'd like to keep using your regular pillow in your regular bed without being zapped, however, then Nora might be more to your liking.​ read more AUTOMOTIVE Hyundai and Rockstar give the Tucson crossover off-road chops  With a little help from Rockstar Performance Garage, Hyundai has transformed the cuddly Tucson into a convincing all-terrain machine. The ruggedized Tucson will roll into the SEMA Show next month, and we'd be willing to bet it will travel by way of rough, angry Nevada desert.  read more HEALTH AND WELLBEING AXO Suit exoskeleton is aimed at the elderly When we hear about exoskeletons, chances are that we either think of something that allows disabled users to walk again, or that gives wearers extraordinary strength. The AXO Suit project, however, is aimed at creating something else – an exoskeleton that simply allows seniors to stay active.  read more AROUND THE HOME Nucleus: a 21st-century intercom designed to connect your whole family Even with all today's gadgets, it can still be tricky to get in touch with family that's abroad, or even just upstairs. A new device called the Nucleus is aimed at making it quick and simple to speak with family members wherever they are. Surprisingly, it's inspired by the trusty old intercom.  read more SPACE NASA tests CubeSat-based laser communications  NASA has teamed up with The Aerospace Corporation of El Segundo to test a new CubeSat-mounted laser communication system. While the satellite has already been successfully placed in orbit, the team is currently working to resolve an issues with its attitude control system.​  read more ARCHITECTURE Pedestrian bridge proposed to link Manhattan and Jersey City  Manhattan isn't very far from Jersey City as the crow flies, but moving between the two can take a while. However, a new pedestrian bridge was recently proposed to join them.  read more PETS Bios Urn lets your pet's memory live on in the trees When a family member dies, lasting memorials can offer distressed relatives some relief. For a number of years Barcelona-based Bios Urn has been producing biodegradable urns that use people's ashes to help grow a tree after their death. Now, it's offering the Bios Urn for Pets.​  read more SPECIAL PROMOTION FOR GIZMAG READERS Get 89% off a Lifetime of proXPN VPN Protection on Your Browsing Privacy Surf the web with ultimate peace of mind – both at home and on the road – over proXPN’s fully-encrypted, lightning-fast servers. Your lifetime premium subscription gets you unlimited bandwidth on their ultra-private global server network and complete online anonymity—it even unblocks geo-locked content so you can browse freely around the world. Plus, proXPN never logs your online movements, so no one can ever track you or steal vital personal data.  read more