Apple Announces Plans to Begin Assembling Mac Mini in U.S. This YearApple has announced that Foxconn will begin assembling some Mac mini computers at a factory in Houston, Texas later this year.
Great news. And, IMO, a decision influenced greatly by current US trade policies (in addition to China's abusive policies).
This $5,200 Conductive Suit Could Make Power-Line Work Safer
In 2018, Justin Kropp was working on a transmission circuit in Southern California when disaster struck. Grid operators had earlier shut down the 115-kilovolt circuit, but six high-voltage lines that shared the corridor were still operating, and some of their power snuck onto the deenergized wires he was working on. That rogue current shot to the ground through Kropp’s body and his elevated work platform, killing the 32-year-old father of two.
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Justin’s accident was caused by induction: a hazard that occurs when an electric or magnetic field causes current to flow through equipment whose intended power supply has been cut off. Safety practices seek to prevent such induction shocks by grounding all conductive objects in a work zone, giving electricity alternative paths. But accidents happen. In Justin’s case, his platform unexpectedly swung into the line before it could be grounded.
Adding a layer of defense against induction injuries is the motivation behind Budapest-based Electrostatics’ specialized conductive jumpsuits, which are designed to protect against burns, cardiac fibrillation, and other ills. “If my boy had been wearing one, I know he’d be alive today,” says the elder Kropp, who purchased a line-worker safety training business after Justin’s death. The Mesa, Ariz.–based company, Electrical Safety Consulting International (ESCI), now distributes those suits.
Here's hoping this product can usher in a new era of safety for linemen.
Go the distance: New electric vehicle battery charge can last whopping 600 milesElectric car batteries that can reach a whopping 600 miles before they ever need a recharge — twice the mileage of today’s EVs — are coming to a garage near you, Samsung recently boasted.
Typically, lithium-ion batteries in modern EVs tap out at around 300 miles, with drivers wasting 45 minutes waiting for a charge from 10% to 80%.
The new batteries, however, double the distance and slash the wait time to around nine minutes, the company said.
Solid Energies, one manufacturer of these All Solid-State Batteries (ASSBs), has a good whitepaper explaining the tech (or at least their implementation of it), along with some self-serving marketing material comparing themselves against competing ASSB tech: Superior All Solid State Solutions, Why ASSB.
If this tech delivers on its promises, this will be a game-changer. Not just for electric vehicles, but for all portable rechargeable devices. Higher capacity and less chance of catching fire are both critical to the future of modern electronics.
Looking forward to seeing this in future cell phones and laptops.
A Netherlands-based startup, Aqua Womb, is exploring the potential of making a womb-like life support system for extremely premature infants.
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The Guardian reported that the system utilizes a glass tank filled with synthetic amniotic fluid at near-body temperature.
It is designed with a firm outer silicone layer that pushes back against the baby’s kicks, thereby helping their muscles to stretch and gain strength.
An artificial womb would allow the baby to be delivered via C-section directly into a fluid-filled pouch and connected to a human-made placenta.
Another incredible invention which will be a massive game-changer if it proves to work as designed.
Scientists create fluoride-free gel that restores lost enamel within two weeksLosing tooth enamel has long been a one-way street. Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever. But that may soon change.
Scientists have developed a new gel that can repair and regenerate enamel, offering a glimpse of a future where teeth can heal themselves.
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Acting as a scaffold, it pulls calcium and phosphate ions from saliva and promotes the organized growth of new minerals in a process known as epitaxial mineralization.
The result? Newly grown enamel that restores both the structure and properties of natural teeth.
They're expecting a product to ship next year. If it works as promised, this will be a massive game-changer for dental health.
Users Sue Amazon Prime Video for Removing Media Purchases from Their LibraryUsers have sued Amazon Prime Video for removing media from their library after being purchased, accusing the company of fraudulent advertising.
Users have been “purchasing” media on Prime Video (movies, television shows) only to realize months later that their purchases no longer exists in their media library. That’s because Amazon only sells a limited-time license to its users so that they watch the movie in perpetuity until the company loses the rights.
If the tech giant loses the rights to that version, the movie can be replaced with a different cut, like the one for theaters. And if Amazon loses the rights to the film altogether, it’ll completely disappear from the viewer’s library.
So should Amazon be able to say a consumer is “buying” that movie? Some people don’t think so, and they’ve turned to court.
I've been saying it for many years: all streaming services are rentals. No matter what they call that "purchase", if you can't download a copy without DRM, then you are forever at the mercy of whether it will remain hosted on its cloud server.
The content can go away for any reason whatsoever. If the company goes out of business. If they terminate their streaming service. If the server goes down. If they lose the rights to the content. Or if some employee decides Wednesday will be "no movies for you day". And I guarantee that the license agreements you agree to (which you certainly didn't read) has legalese that says the same thing.
Which is why I never "buy" streaming media content. When I buy music and movies, I either buy physical discs (preferred) or I buy from a service where I can download non-DRM tracks (e.g. Amazon's MP3 store and Apple's iTunes Music). If the content is protected or streaming-only, then I will not even consider a "purchase", and I will be very hesitant before even a "rental".
Personally, I'm really surprised Amazon's customers took this long to figure out that they've been scammed all along.
Today, I read the following article on my RSS feed:
WATCH: Vanderbilt Hit with $100K Fine After Fans Rush Field, Tear Down Goal PostsThe SEC has fined Vanderbilt University $100,000 after fans rushed the field and tore down the goal posts following the team’s win against Alabama on Saturday.
But me, in my complete ignorance of sports, especially at the college level, read this headline and thought "why would the US Securities & Exchange Commission care about a football riot?"
