Ripping movies and shredding rules with FFmpeg

If you've ever used the open-source application Handbrake to rip a DVD to your hard drive, the chances are good that you've used FFmpeg, an open-source multimedia project that makes it possible to convert video to different formats, among other things. [Read more...]

Creepy Crawly Segway Thingy

I’m telling you right now, this thing would totally kick your Segway’s wimpy ass. Would probably work well as a Japanese back massager as well.

Robots On The Runway

As if anorexic runway models weren’t creepy enough, now we have robotic runway models. Heh, the Robot hasn’t even done a show yet and here I am hoping it does a header off the catwalk. [Read more...]

Everything You Need to Know About Digital Camera Lenses

The lens of a camera is truly the eye to the world in photography. It is the viewer through which the camera sees the shot you want to take. The lens is an essential element needed to take good photographs. So when you purchase a new camera, you should always check out the type and quality of the lens. Even a camera with a superior sensor and an adequate number of megapixels will not produce good photographs if the lens is of inferior quality. [Read more...]

U.S. engineers find way to build a better battery

U.S. engineers have found a way to make lithium batteries that are smaller, lighter, longer lasting and capable of recharging in seconds.

The researchers believe the quick-charging batteries could open up new applications, including better batteries for electric cars. [Read more...]

The world's largest swimming pool in Chile

Thinking about swimming a few laps before breakfast?

Check out this man-made "lagoon" — dubbed the world's largest outdoor swimming pool — at the San Alfonso del Mar vacation property resort at Algarrobo, Chile.

The coast-hugging pool is all man-made with a bit of patented technology that uses water from the nearby Pacific Ocean to fill it.

(Crystal Lagoons)

Lockheed Martin Unveils Exoskeleton Technology

Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] debuted an advanced robotic exoskeleton designed to augment Soldiers’ strength and endurance and prevent their premature fatigue.

The Human Universal Load Carrier (HULC™) exoskeleton, introduced at the Association of the United States’ Army Winter Symposium in Fort Lauderdale, FL, will meet future mobility and sustainment needs of Warfighters by providing strength and survivability. Under an exclusive licensing agreement with Berkeley BionicsTM, a world leader in exoskeleton technologies, Lockheed Martin will advance the development of the HULC design to provide Soldiers a powerful advantage in ground operations. [Read more...]

Sony SLR sensor ranks below Nikon, above Canon

DxO Labs, a French company, makes a business of measuring camera image quality, developing technology for image-processing hardware and software, and selling software to convert the raw files produced by higher-end cameras into less flexible but more convenient formats such as JPEG. The DxOMark score measures sensor performance based on the raw file, a foundation for overall image quality but only a facet of a camera's overall performance. [Read more...]