Smart spray can turns photos into large-scale street art

Don’t worry about needing artistic sensibilities to produce street art — if researchers have their way, all you’d need is a good photo and the right tools. They’ve developed a robotic spray can that produce large murals based on pre-supplied images. By tracking the can using a PC, two webcams and QR codes, the system automatically knows when to spray to replicate the intended picture. All you have to do is wave the can over your target area and let the hardware do the rest — if you’re producing a multi-color image, you just swap cans.

This technique would most be useful for creating building-sized artwork, but there’s potential for more. If it’s adapted to work on non-flat surfaces, you could spray paint globes and any other object that could stand some sprucing up. Although it won’t have the same impact as a completely from-scratch painting, it might well bring art to places (and people) where it simply wasn’t an option.

Via: Phys.org

Source: Wojciech Jarosz, Olga Sorkine-Hornung (YouTube)

The first ‘Gears of War 4’ trailer is sad (and sounds like it)

We saw Gears of War 4 gameplay footage back at E3 2015, but (in time to hype the game before this year’s game show), here’s a short trailer that’s a bit of a downer. Setting the scene for the son of the main protagonist from all the previous games, 25 years have passed since the last fight, and yet there’s still things to gun down with giant machine guns. (And they deserve it for knocking down that tree.) As is the GoW series’ wont, we get a cover song to underscore the destructions: Simon and Garfunkel’s The Sound of Silence, which will probably sound familiar to most of you.

Source: YouTube

Latest LG G5 video shows how you can play with the 360 CAM

LG’s 360 CAM is an interesting addition to its “Friends” range of accessories available for the LG G5. The handheld camera lets you shoot 360-degree photos and videos, offering two 13MP imaging sensors that record directly to a microSD card in the base.

In its latest video, LG shows how you can set up and start using the 360 CAM with the G5. You’ll control the camera using LG Friends Manager, which allows you to use the G5 as a viewfinder for the 36-degree camera. The 360 CAM is currently up for pre-order for $199.

LG G5

• LG G5 hands-on
• LG G5 complete specs
• LG G5 CAM Plus module
• LG G5 B&O Hi-Fi audio module
• Join the LG G5 discussion

AT&T Unlocked Sprint T-Mobile

US military wants vaccines that adapt to fight new viruses

Vaccines and other antiviral treatments have one overriding, seemingly inescapable problem: since viruses evolve, a solution that works today can be completely useless tomorrow. The researchers at DARPA are convinced this is a solvable problem, however. They’ve launched an INTERCEPT (Interfering and Co-Evolving Prevention and Therapy) program that aims to create therapies which adapt in sync with the viruses they’re meant to thwart. It’ll largely revolve around therapeutic interfering particles (TIPs), or tiny slices of protein-shelled DNA that infiltrate cells and compete with viruses for protein shells. Since the particles should be produced faster than viruses, you end up with loads of dud viruses that dramatically reduce the impact of any viral load. Think of it as watering down a stiff drink.

And unlike vaccines, TIPs are likely to keep one step ahead, producing numerous variants. You might only need to develop a particle once; as soon as it starts working, it’ll change on its own.

The emphasis, as you can guess, is on “might” — the program is only just getting off the ground. DARPA and partners first have to develop TIP candidates, conduct long-term tests to prove that they work and refine them through computer models. The proposal process won’t even start in earnest until April 29th. If TIPs work as planned, though, they could do a lot to soften the blow of viruses of all kinds, even when they’re severe.

Source: DARPA

Solar cell generates power from raindrops

Rain is normally a solar energy cell’s worst nightmare, but a team of Chinese scientists could make it a tremendous ally. They’ve developed a solar cell with an atom-thick graphene layer that harvests energy from raindrops, making it useful even on the gloomiest days. Water actually sticks to the graphene, creating a sort of natural capacitor — the sharp difference in energy between the graphene’s electrons and the water’s ions produces electricity.

The catch is that the current technology isn’t all that efficient. It only converts about 6.5 percent of the energy it gets, which pales in comparison to the 22 percent you see among the world’s better solar panels. If the creators can improve the performance of this graphene-coated cell, though, they could have a dream solution on their hands — you wouldn’t have to live in a consistently sunny part of the world to reduce your dependency on conventional power.

Via: Science News Journal

Source: Wiley Online Library

Watch an 18-rotor electric helicopter take its first manned flight

E-Volo has been talking about the prospect of using many-rotor electric helicopters (aka multicopters) as semi-affordable personal transport for years, and it now looks like this isn’t just a far-fetched dream. The company recently completed the first manned test flight of the first certified multicopter, the Volocopter VC200, and documented the whole affair on camera. It wasn’t the most ambitious flight, as you’ll see in the clips below, but it shows exactly what the extremely stable, drone-like vehicle can do. You don’t need to constantly monitor the controls to keep the VC200 airborne, making it perfect for newcomers.

The designers still have to ramp up their tests to the point where the Volocopter hits its full 60MPH top speed, but they’re now confident enough that they hope to take pre-orders later this year. It’ll likely only be limited to enthusiasts at first, but the dream is to use the aircraft’s unique properties to expand what’s possible. Since it’s easy to fly, fuel-free and relatively quiet, you could use it for personal flights over noise-sensitive areas without requiring gobs of training or exorbitant maintenance costs. While E-Volo’s grand visions of multicopters air taxis seem premature (you need more than one passenger seat for that, to begin with), they’re no longer that outlandish.

Via: Popular Mechanics

Source: Volocopter (YouTube 1), (2)

HIV resists attempts to cripple it with gene editing

It’s tempting to treat gene editing as a cure-all: surely you can end diseases and viruses by changing or removing the qualities that make them dangerous, right? Well, it’s not quite that simple. Researchers trying to cripple HIV by cutting up its DNA (using CRISPR) discovered that some virus samples not only survived the attack, but mutated to resist these incursions. The host T cell actually helped things along by trying to repair the cuts, inserting DNA bases and creating a mutated virus that couldn’t be detected by the immune system.

That’s frightening stuff, but the good news is that this isn’t a permanent setback. The findings suggest that there are techniques you could use to beat HIV at its own game, such as making multiple cuts (preventing the virus from easily mutating) or using anti-HIV drugs at the same time as you edit genes. These improvements won’t necessarily lead to a cure, but they suggest that HIV’s adaptability is more of a temporary obstacle than a permanent barrier. This just serves as a reminder that gene editing is relatively new territory, and there are still many things to learn about how the procedure fares in the real world.

Via: Nature, New Scientist

Source: Cell Reports

Hitachi’s answer to Pepper the robot is swifter and sturdier

Look out, Pepper: you have some fresh competition. Hitachi has unveiled EMIEW3, its first humanoid assistant robot built for full-fledged commercial service. Like its SoftBank-made counterpart, it’s designed to help you find your way around stores and public facilities. It’s particularly focused on tourists, as it can switch languages on the fly. However, its edge may simply be its ability to cope with real-world situations. It’s much faster than Pepper (3.7MPH versus 1.2MPH), so it’s more likely to keep up with humans; it can also get back up if it falls down, and listen to you in noisy street environments.

The machine also reflects a lot of lessons learned from its predecessor and beyond. For instance, it knows to slow down near corners so that it won’t smack into someone. It identifies people asking for help, too, and will approach on its own. Its biggest drawback is simply that it’s not as personable as Pepper (you’re just looking at a pair of expressionless eyes), and doesn’t have a built-in display to show information.

It’s going to be a while before you see EMIEW3 in service, as Hitachi doesn’t expect it to be ready until 2018. However, Hitachi has grand ambitions for its third-generation hardware. It’s hoping to offer the new robot beyond Japan, so you might just witness this little helper guiding you through offices and stores in your corner of the world.

Via: Nikkei, I4U

Source: Hitachi

‘Attack on Titan’ gets same-day release for English speakers

English-speaking fans of Attack on Titan no longer have to badger their favorite scanlation group to speed it up. The hit manga’s publisher, Kodansha, has teamed up with comiXology and Amazon to make each chapter available in English on the same day it’s released in Japan. That means you can download the latest chapter every week as soon it’s out for either the comiXology or the Kindle app. You can even buy all the previous releases if you want the full collection.

A lot of manga fans who don’t understand Japanese rely on fellow fans who scan and translate (hence, the term “scanlation”) chapters and volumes of the titles they want to read. If a title becomes popular enough, it will eventually be localized for the West, but that typically takes quite some time to happen.

It’s not just the post-apocalyptic action manga that’s getting what Kodansha calls the “simulpub” treatment, though. Other titles, which we’ve listed below, include Fairy Tail and Persona Q Shadow of the Labyrinth Side: P4. The only bad news is that if you live in Japan and can’t speak the language, you won’t have access to the translated chapters. Otherwise, you’re golden.

Weekly

• As the Gods Will: The Second Series
• Fairy Tail
• Fuuka
• GTO Paradise Lost
• The Seven Deadly Sins
• UQ Holder
• Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches

Bi-Weekly

• Inuyashiki
• Space Brothers

Monthly

• Ajin: Demi-Human
• Attack on Titan
• Kiss Him, Not Me
• The Heroic Legend of Arslan
• Magatsuki
• Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth Side: P4
• Sweetness and Lightning

Semi-regularly

• Princess Jellyfish

Source: Nerdist, Amazon, Kodansha Comics, comiXology

The best unlocked phones

Unlocked phones — outside the shackles of the carriers and able to work on any GSM operator worldwide — are finally starting to have their moment in the sun.

And we’re not just talking more expensive versions of top-shelf phones. There are a number of mid-range unlocked phones that will serve you very well — and not burn a hole in your wallet. Let’s take a look.

Nexus 6P

Nexus and unlocked go together like PB&J

Pros

• Great build quality
• Excellent camera
• Pure Google software

Cons

• It’s pretty big
• Lacks wireless charging
• A little bit slippery to hold

In the Android world, one brand should always come to mind when thinking unlocked: Nexus. For the Nexus phones aren’t just a way to get the latest and greatest software from Google. They’re also a way to get a good phone at a good price and stay away from a new contract. Of the two current Nexus phones, the 6P is the one to get.

We’ve usually had to recommend a Nexus phone with a rather large caveat — and that’s usually had to do with the camera. Not so with the Nexus 6P, manufactured by Huawei.

It’s got a camera that doesn’t make us want to carry around a second shooter, just in case. It’s got the design and build quality that stands up against any other phone. And perhaps most important is that it’s going to always be updated to the latest version of Android, and that goes for the monthly security updates, too.

Read our Nexus 6P review

See at Amazon See at Google

Motorola Moto G (2015)

Still one of the best value phones around

Pros

• Solid build quality
• No manufacturer bloatware
• MicroSD card slot

Cons

• No NFC
• Only a single speaker compared to previous model
• No quickcharge or wireless charging

Motorola is arguably responsible for reinventing the budget phone space when it tore up the rule book with the original Moto G. Now three generations in and it’s no more difficult to recommend to anyone looking for the best on a budget. And without a contract.

The hardware is more than ample for the price and Motorola’s signature software experience of value added to stock Android remains. The camera is improved on its predecessor, Moto Maker allows for some customization on the color schemes and all-in-all the essence of what made this phone great hasn’t gone away. And we’d definitely recommend the 16GB/2GB RAM model. It’s worth the extra.

The Moto G isn’t just a good phone for its price, it’s a good phone, period.

Read our Moto G review

See at Amazon See at Motorola

OnePlus 2

Not quite a flagship killer, but very good nonetheless

Pros

• Excellent hardware and design
• Good quality fingerprint scanner
• 64GB internal storage

Cons

• No NFC
• Middle of the road camera
• No wireless charging

As sophomore efforts go, OnePlus has done well to create a device that improves upon its predecessor in nearly every way. The aluminum band around the outside of the phone gives the OnePlus 2 a sturdy heft, and the ability to swap backplates means you can have grip, style, or durability with ease.

OxygenOS is a newer custom version of Android, but like Cyanogen OS before it the focus is a clean, fast experience with a UI that closely resembles the Nexus experience. What few changes you find are subtle, visually pleasing, and often easy to disable if you decide it’s not for you.

At $389, OnePlus has struck an interesting balance between performance and price. While it doesn’t have every bell and whistle you’d see in a high-end smartphone, the OnePlus 2 is more than capable when it comes down to performance and battery life. You also don’t need to go through the ridiculous invite process to get one anymore.

Read our OnePlus 2 review

See at OnePlus

Moto X Style (Pure Edition)

A custom treat

Pros

• Great starting price
• Front facing speaker
• Custom design options

Cons

• Quite large
• No wireless charging
• Camera still weaker than competition

Motorola’s made one of the more beloved (if imperfect phones) of the past few couple years. The 2015 edition — the Moto X Style, or the “Pure Edition” if you’re in the U.S., also looks to be a good one. But the body of the phone has gotten even bigger, approaching Nexus 6 size. That’s going to be a deal-breaker for some folks. But Motorola has slipped an SD card slot into this phone, which opens it back up to many other folks.

We’ve also got dual front-facing speakers this time around, and Motorola promises we’ll be impressed with the camera this year, after two years of disappointments (and more promises). We’ll just have to wait and see.

So far the Moto X Style (when it’s released sometime in September) will only be available in the U.S. through Motorola, Amazon and Best Buy. (Outside the U.S. is another story, but usually a better one, too.) Price starts at $399.

Read our Moto X Style review

See at Amazon See at Motorola

Asus Zenfone 2 Laser

Frickin’ lasers

Pros

• Great price
• Long battery life
• Decent camera

Cons

• Awkward button placement
• Cheap feeling materials
• Software won’t be to everyone’s taste

The Zenfone 2 Laser is one of many different phones in the same lineup, and for the most part is on par with the original bearing the name. The big change with the Zenfone 2 Laser was the addition of a super-fast laser autofocus on the rear camera.

What Asus offers though is a solid mix of hardware, features and affordable price which makes this phone a good choice for anyone looking to avoid buying from a carrier. You should be good with this on AT&T and T-Mobile.

It’s not perfect by any means, with software that’s best described as an acquired taste, and some cost cutting in the materials used to build it. But make no mistake, you’re getting a solid phone with long battery life, a decent camera and more besides for not a whole lot of your hard earned.

Read our Zenfone 2 Laser review

See at Amazon

Huawei Honor 5X

Honor lands Stateside

Pros

• Premium design and construction
• Fingerprint scanner
• Good quality display

Cons

• EMUI still broken in places
• Sluggish at times
• Launched on Android 5.1

The Honor 5X is a perfect example of where the $200 price point smartphone market is headed. For a remarkably good $199, the first Honor phone to officially launch in the U.S. packs a metal body, decent screen and fingerprint sensor. The hardware certainly feels worthy of a higher price point.

The only drawbacks to the Honor 5X come in the software. Huawei’s EMUI is still an acquired taste with some questionable features and things that still don’t work quite as we might hope. But, there’s a lot of good stuff, too, and some really useful features baked in.

Android 6.0 Marshmallow is on the horizon, but overall the Honor 5X proves you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a good looking, well built, carrier free phone.

Read our Honor 5X review

See at Amazon See at Newegg