How real spacesuits differ from movie versions
The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s curator Cathleen Lewis and conservator Lisa Young answered a number of questions from the public via a Reddit AMA session yesterday. The topic? Spacesuits. They recently raised over $600,000 on Kickstarter for the conservation of Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 suit, and now they’ve begun promoting the project. One of the most interesting tidbits they dropped is the difference between real spacesuits and movie props. The biggest inaccuracy for Lewis is the size of most movie versions’ helmets: turns out Hollywood merely exaggerates them to get a clear view of the actors’ faces. “If you look at actual Apollo bubble helmets and photographs of astronauts wearing them, you will see that they are actually tightly fitting,” Lewis answered the user who asked about movie inaccuracies. “The diameter of the helmets is about 12 inches. No one with claustrophobia would be able to get beyond the initial helmet fit.”
In addition, when somebody asked her what would happen if something punctures a spacesuit while in use, she told the user to forget everything he’s seen in sci-fi movies or books. Apparently, they have over 20 layers of materials with a very, very tough outer one, and a small puncture wouldn’t cause an astronaut’s death. The flesh immediately underneath the puncture will swell, she explained, effectively stoppering the hole. Yes, it could be “extremely painful,” but the wearer will ultimately live, provided nothing worse happens. Note that it’s very hard to pierce a NASA spacesuit anyway, since it’s designed to resist tears and is tough enough “to stop a meteoroid traveling at high speed.”
Lewis also clarified that the ISS crew’s suits are more complicated than the ones used during the Apollo era. They’re now modular, zipperless and can fit all astronauts, though they also have more components and are more difficult to put on. As for the project itself, she said the conservation team will be documenting the deterioration of Armstrong’s suit, 3D scanning it and making the digital version available on 3d.si.edu. The space garment itself will be put out for display on the 50th anniversary of the moon landing in 2019. After that, it will become part of a new Smithsonian exhibit in 2020, along with the Apollo 11 Command Module, parts of the Saturn V engine that launched the mission to space and Alan Shepard’s suit.
PS: NASA has decided on the design of its Z-2 spacesuit project with help from an online poll. It’s Tron-esque and rather odd — you can check out its pics right here.
[Image credit: thebadastronomer/Flickr]
Filed under:
Science
Via:
Kickstarter
Source:
Reddit
Tags: ama, nasa, NeilArmstrong, reddit, redditama, smithsonian, space
Apple Seeds Fifth WatchOS 2 Beta to Developers
Apple today seeded the fifth watchOS 2 beta to developers for testing purposes, more than two weeks after seeding the fourth watchOS 2 beta and nearly two months after announcing the new operating system update at its 2015 Worldwide Developers Conference.
watchOS 2 requires the iOS 9 beta to be installed and can be downloaded over-the-air using the Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General –> Software Update. Caution should be used when installing this beta, as downgrading the software on the Apple Watch is not possible.
watchOS 2 is the first major update to watchOS, the software that runs on the Apple Watch. watchOS 2 introduces several new features that developers can use to improve their Apple Watch apps, including native apps that run on the watch itself instead of the iPhone. The software also allows developers to access the Taptic Engine and other sensors like the heart rate monitor, the microphone, and the accelerometer for the first time.
With the new tools for developers, Apple Watch apps will be more complex and full-featured. Other features in watchOS 2 include new watch faces (photo albums and time-lapse), third-party Complications, Time Travel, and a Nightstand mode that’s activated when the watch is charging, displaying the time.
watchOS 2 is currently only available to registered developers who have also installed iOS 9 on their iPhones. Apple plans to release the software to the public in the fall.
Apple Seeds Fifth iOS 9 Beta to Developers
Apple today seeded the fifth beta of iOS 9 to developers for testing purposes, more than two weeks after releasing the fourth beta and two months after unveiling the new operating system at the 2015 Worldwide Developers Conference.
The update is available through Apple’s over-the-air update system on iOS devices and can also be downloaded through the Apple Developer Center. Apple has also seeded Xcode 7 beta 5.
It is not yet known what updates today’s beta will bring, but each of the prior beta updates have introduced some significant new features and tweaks as Apple works to refine the operating system ahead of its launch. We’ll update this post to add new features as they’re found.
iOS 9 beta 4 brought the return of Home Sharing for music and it fixed a bug that had prevented the iPhone’s volume buttons from being used as a camera shutter. It also introduced a new look for Handoff in the app switching interface.
In addition to providing developers with five betas, Apple has also seeded two iOS 9 betas to public beta testers. The company plans to release iOS 9 to the public in the fall, likely alongside new iPhones.
FCC rejects T-Mobile wireless auction proposal
The FCC met again today to consider rules to use for an upcoming auction of 600MHz wireless spectrum after delaying the decision at a meeting a couple weeks ago. On the table was a request from T-Mobile to modify the proposed rules to help smaller carriers, T-Mobile included, obtain some of this spectrum instead of seeing all of it being bought up by big carriers like Verizon and AT&T. Unfortunately for T-Mobile and fans of the little guys, the FCC decided to move forward with the proposed reserve of only 30MHz for bidders who may be smaller and struggle with raising necessary capital.
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has indicated in the past that the FCC is trying to balance the need for a diversified number of market participants versus maximizing the revenue raised by the spectrum auction. Today’s decision would seem to indicate the Commission members agreed that the current rules would strike the proper balance.
Wireless carriers will be interested in this 600MHz spectrum as it generally does a better job of penetrating walls to provide service inside structures and it has the capability of traveling over long distances. This means carriers do not have to deploy quite as many antennas and they can provide better service.
The auction is anticipated to be held in 2016.
source: The Verge
Come comment on this article: FCC rejects T-Mobile wireless auction proposal
Facebook rolling out new messaging options for Pages
Facebook has announced they are rolling out a new set of features for Pages and their admins to be able to communicate with with followers using the platforms private messaging function. The new tools will make it easier for customers to contact a business using a private message while giving Page admins more tools to manage their responses.
For businesses or other entities with pages that use local awareness ads, they will be able to add a call-to-action button labeled “Send Message” that will appear on the ad. Users who see these ads can simply click on the button to launch a Facebook Messenger window to shoot off a private message. On the receiving end, Page admins will not only see the message, they will also see an attachment showing the ad that generated the message.
Page admins will find a new option present when viewing comments to their posts. In addition to the Like and Reply options, admins will now see a link for “Message.” Using this, an admin can reply in private to inquiries from posters. The message will include a link to the original comment in case anyone needs to refer back to the comment. Should a Page admin respond in this manner, future viewers of the comments will see a note indicating the Page responded via private message.
Along with the new indicator that visitors will see for comments responded to privately, Facebook is also planning to show a new badge on Page profiles for those businesses that are “very responsive.” This appears to be defined as Pages that respond to 90% of messages within five minutes or less. Page admins will have access to more robust data regarding response rates through their Insight panel.
On the backend, Page admins will find some other features to help them respond more quickly. Canned responses will be available and Pages can customize and save these responses. Bulk actions on messages in the Inbox will be available as well including archive, delete, flag and mark messages as read, unread and spam.
source: Facebook
Come comment on this article: Facebook rolling out new messaging options for Pages
Shazam helping free Rdio and Spotify users grow their playlists
Shazam has announced some new features that will work in connection with Rdio and Spotify and will be especially useful for users of those services who opt for free accounts. Before settling on a free account with Rdio, Shazam is working with Rdio to offer a free 48-hour long trial of Rdio Unlimited if a user signs up via the Shazam app. The Unlimited trial gives users the ability to playback full tracks from Rdio from within Shazam.
Users of Spotify and Rdio who also use Shazam to identify songs will find they can add tracks to their playlists with a few taps. Shazam can be setup to automatically add tracks to a “My Shazam Tracks” playlist or they can choose specific playlists.
You can read the full press release from Shazam after the break.
Shazam Makes Music Discovery Even Easier with Rdio and Spotify
New Rdio Users Can Enjoy Free Trial of Rdio Unlimited and Listen to Full Tracks in Shazam
Users with Free Rdio and Spotify Accounts Can Now Add Shazamed Tracks to Playlists
New York, August 5, 2015 – Music fans asked, and Shazam listened. Today, Shazam announced upgraded features for both Rdio and Spotify users that will create new, seamless paths to discovery.
New Rdio users who sign up through Shazam will now get the perk of a 48-hour free trial of Rdio Unlimited, giving them full-track playback in Shazam, so that they can listen uninterrupted to playlists and top charts without ever having to leave the app. Once the trial is over, free Rdio users can still listen to previews of any track or playlist in Shazam and add songs to any of their Rdio playlists.
Free Rdio or Spotify users will now be able to add any song they Shazam to their playlists with just a few taps, making it easy to listen to new tracks later. Users can either automatically add their Shazams to a “My Shazam Tracks” playlist or choose a specific playlist. Rdio Unlimited and Spotify Premium users already enjoy this feature, as well as the ability to listen to full tracks, curated playlists and top charts right in Shazam.
“By working with our streaming partners, Shazam is making it simple for fans to do what they love most when they discover a new song or artist – sit back and listen,” said Daniel Danker, Chief Product Officer, Shazam. “It’s also never been easier to add tracks you discover to a playlist — just connect to Rdio or Spotify, and anytime you Shazam, we’ll make sure those tracks are waiting for you on a playlist the next time you look.”
The expanded features are available today for iOS and Android users.
About Shazam:
Shazam is one of the world’s most popular apps, used by more than 100 million people each month to magically connect to the world around them. Building on its pioneering leadership in music identification, Shazam now helps people discover, interact with, and share video, audio, or printed content on TV, radio, movie screens, magazines, newspapers, packaged goods, and retail stores — and now Shazam lets music fans follow their favorite artists to see their Shazams and share in the thrill of discovery. The app has exceeded 20 billion total Shazams since its launch, and users Shazam over 20 million times each day. For more information, visit http://www.shazam.com or follow us on Twitter @shazam
Come comment on this article: Shazam helping free Rdio and Spotify users grow their playlists
LG Nexus will reportedly have a fingerprint scanner as well
There have been no shortage of Nexus rumors as of late, and while most of these claims have focused on the alleged 5.7-inch Hauwei Nexus, there is also enough quasi-evidence to suggest that LG is also prepping a smaller Nexus as well.
Not a lot is known about the next-gen LG Nexus 5, other than it will reportedly be cheaper than its phablet-sized brother and will also offer less aggressive specs and build materials. It is unclear whether that means a Snapdragon 808, as some rumors have suggested, or something even less impressive like a Snapdragon 615.
One premium feature that LG isn’t skimping out on is a fingerprint scanner, at least if a new report from Korea Herald proves accurate. While early reports suggested only the Huawei model would get a scanner, the new report suggests the LG Nexus will sport a 5.2-inch display and will “incorporate new technologies, which were unprecedented in the previous models, such as a fingerprint sensor and a mobile payment system called Android Pay.” The report goes on to say a “market official” has confirmed that not only is a fingerprint scanner coming, we can expect future LG flagships to also sport the technology.
It’s obviously too early to confirm or deny the validity of this report, but for what it is worth, earlier this week a leaked TPU case hit the scene purporting to be for the new LG Nexus. As you can see in the image, there appears to be a slot in the center that could very well be for housing a fingerprint scanner.
What do you think, like the idea of fingerprint scanners on both Nexus phones? Based on the rumors we know about each so far, which Nexus do you find more appealing?
US appeals court says a warrant is required for authorities to obtain cell phone location data
A U.S. appeals court ruled Wednesday that in order for authorities to obtain a suspect’s cell phone location data, a probable-cause warrant under the Fourth Amendment is required. This 2-1 decision by the Richmond, Virginia-based Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is a big victory for those who advocate for cell phone privacy rights. Although this ruling only spans through North Carolina, Maryland, South Carolina and Virginia, the federal appellate court’s decision increases the probability that the United States Supreme Court will take up the issue.
Back in July, the American Civil Liberties Union asked the Supreme Court to overturn a decision filed in May that would require all authorities to obtain a warrant before seeking out cell-site location tracking data on a national level. We told you last week that all federal appellate courts rulings have been in favor of not constitutionally protecting users’ location data through cell-site records, so the decision made on Wednesday is a particularly big win for privacy advocates.
This recent case involving the Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals involved a number of robberies that took place in 2011 in Baltimore and Baltimore County, Maryland, which resulted in the convictions of Aaron Graham and Eric Jordan. A portion of the state’s claims against the two were based on cell-site location data obtained by authorities from Sprint/Nextel without warrants.
The court, led by Judge Andre Davis, explained that being able to access one’s location data at all times essentially turns a mobile phone into a tracking device. From the decision:
As we have explained, society recognizes an individual’s privacy interest in her movements over an extended time period as well as her movements in private spaces. The fact that a provider captures this information in its account records, without the subscriber’s involvement, does not extinguish the subscriber’s reasonable expectation of privacy. Applying the third-party doctrine in this context would simply permit the government to convert an individual’s cell phone into a tracking device by examining the massive bank of location information retained by her service provider, and to do so without probable cause.
As for the case itself, the court ultimately refused to void the convictions of the two robbers, stating that the government relied in “good faith” on the court orders.
This decision made on Wednesday will hopefully give the U.S. Supreme Court enough ammunition to resolve this debate on a national level, once and for all.
T-Mobile’s latest Android is the entry-level ZTE Obsidian
Arriving August 13, the smartphone is aimed at budget-minded buyers
T-Mobile on Thursday debuted its newest Android handset, the 4.5-inch ZTE Obsidian. Set to launch next week, the phone is all low-end hardware with a price to match.
Features for the Obsidian include a 4.5-inch 854 x 480 display, 5-megapixel rear camera, and 2-megapixel front-facing sensor. Powered by a 1GHz quad-core processor, it packs 1GB RAM, 4GB internal storage, and support for 32GB microSD cards.
As a plus, the ZTE Obsidian does run the most current version of Android, 5.1 Lollipop. Also, the phone supports 4G LTE as well as T-Mobile’s Wi-Fi calling feature, too.
T-Mobile will offer the Obsidian starting from August 13 with a $99.99 price tag. Those who wish to split up costs over 24 months can do so at a rate of $4.17 per month.
The post T-Mobile’s latest Android is the entry-level ZTE Obsidian appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Ultra HD Blu-ray will have 4K discs here in time for the holidays
After locking down a name, logo and spec, the Blu-ray Disc Association has announced it’s just about ready to start licensing the Ultra HD Blu-ray technology. The group anticipates we’ll hear about products for the 2015 holiday season (and naturally is revealing this right after Western Digital’s 4K movie ready hard drive appeared). Coming around just about nine years after the first Blu-ray players arrived, this upgrade is about more than just high-res 4K (3,840 x 2,160) video — it also includes support for high dynamic range (HDR), high framerate (HFR) and a “digital bridge” feature that should give viewers more ways to store and play their movies, even while keeping the disc on the shelf.
In a talk recently posted on The Digital Bits, BDA exec Victor Matsuda talked a bit about the digital bridge, explaining that it allows for two features on movies: copy or export. With copy, an exact replica of the movie from the disc can be stored on an “authorized” media drive, while export pushes over a lower quality version, intended for mobile devices. The exact implementation of these features will be up to device makers, so we’ll have to wait and see how they work out in practice, but hopefully they’ll be simpler than the redemption code/account creation slog that we’ve experienced with digital copies through iTunes, Ultraviolet and Disney Movies Anywhere.
As far as HDR and HFR, there are a few answers there also. According to Matsuda, every Ultra HD Blu-ray disc will support a standard form of HDR (SMPTE ST2084), which should allow for better colors, more contrast, etc. They can also support two proprietary standards pushed by Dolby and Philips, so it will be interesting to see how well each works with UHD TVs from manufacturers that have chosen to implement various forms of the tech. As far as high frame rate, Ultra HD Blu-ray can do up to 60fps, which should make things interesting, but as Bill Hunt learned in the interview, it does not have a standard for using HFR, HDR, 3D and 4K all at once. While that could end up disappointing James Cameron — depending on what he has planned for the Avatar sequels — we hope there’s enough room for the next gen of Blu-ray to be a worthy follow-up.
Filed under:
Home Entertainment, HD, Samsung, Sony
Tags: 4K, Blu-ray, DigitalBridge, hdpostcross, HDR, HFR, samsung, sony, UltraHD, UltraHDBlu-ray
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