Super Batteries

Imagine charging your iPhone or mobile in a few seconds. Well, your imagination may someday turn into a reality, say scientists who claim to be working on "super batteries" which not only recharge in just seconds, but also have an almost indefinite lifespan.
A team, led by Dan Li of Monash University, says that a combination of two ordinary materials -- graphite and water -- could help produce such "super batteries" which perform on par with lithium ion batteries.
The scientists are, in fact, working with a material called graphene which may form the basis of the next generation of ultrafast energy storage systems, the 'Advanced Materials' journal reported.
"Once we can properly manipulate this material, your iPhone, for example, could charge in a few seconds, or possibly faster," said Li.
Graphene is the result of breaking down graphite, a cheap, readily available material commonly used in pencils, into layers one atom thick. It is strong, chemically stable, an excellent conductor of electricity and, importantly, has an extremely high surface area.
Li said these qualities make graphene highly suitable for energy storage applications.
"The reason graphene isn't being used everywhere is that these very thin sheets, when stacked into a usable macrostructure, immediately bond together, reforming graphite.
When graphene restacks, most of surface area is lost and it doesn't behave like graphene anymore," he said.The team has discovered the key to maintaining the remarkable properties of separate graphene sheets -- water.
Keeping graphene moist -- in gel form -- provides repulsive forces between the sheets and prevents re-stacking, making it ready for real-world application, say the scientists.
"The technique is very simple and can easily be scaled up. When we discovered it, we thought it was unbelievable. We're taking two basic, inexpensive materials -- water and graphite -- and making this new nanomaterial with amazing properties," said Li.
When used in energy devices, graphene gel significantly outperforms current carbon-based technology, both in terms of the amount of charge stored and how fast the charges can be delivered.
Li said the benefits of developing this nanotechnology extended beyond consumer electronics.
"High-speed, reliable and cost-effective energy storage systems are critical for the future viability of electricity from renewable resources. These systems are also the key to largescale adoption of electrical vehicles.Graphene gel is also showing promise for use in water purification membranes, biomedical devices and sensors," he said.

Star Wars theme XBOX 360

The Force will be with the Xbox 360.

Star Wars themed XBox 360

Microsoft Corp. unveiled a limited edition Xbox 360 console at a Comic-Con panel on Thursday that will be modeled after the character R2-D2, with a wireless gold-colored controller resembling his droid pal C-3PO.

The console will make the character's signature beeping sounds when the white-and-blue console is turned on and the disc tray is opened. It will also feature a 320-gigabyte hard drive, the largest available for Microsoft's gaming system.

The "Star Wars"-themed console, available later this year, will cost $449.99 and come with a white Kinect sensor, headset and "Kinect Star Wars," an action-adventure game utilizing the camera-based controller system.

"Kinect Star Wars" developers also confirmed that a pod-racing mode based on "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace," would be featured in the game.

The game allows players to use gestures to drive pods across intergalactic landscapes, as well as wield light sabers and other powers of The Force.

HTC status smartphone : Now in market

The HTC Status smartphone has finally arrived at the AT&T and is selling for under $400 (excluding any taxes) without a contract and for under $50 (excluding any fees) with a 2 year agreement.

But the big question is Does this phone really have any market value more-so when Facebook's market share is constantly on decline and there is a big threat from Google+. In this kind of uncertainty whether Facebook would able to survive this difficult phase or not is still a big question, this phone is certainly not the best option for the networking users.

The mobile device with the blue button for accessing Facebook has hit the shelves of select retailers.Best Buy will be offering an exclusive color for the social mobile device. With the special Facebook share button the user will have one touch access to the social site.
The Status by HTC will offer the user the convenience, ease-of-use and depth of HTC Sense user interface when using the device in addition to connectivity of Facebook. As part of an extended selection of six innovative  gadgets that were introduced at the Mobile World Congress, the HTC  Status was introduced as the HTC ChaCha. The mobile gadget features a dedicated Facebook button intended for one-touch access to the key capabilities of the Facebook service that are bundled through the HTC Sense experience.
The Facebook button on HTC Status  is context-aware, lightly pulsing with light anytime there is an opportunity to discuss subject matter or updates via Facebook. With a solitary touch of the button, you’ll be able to update your current status, upload a picture, promote a Website, post what tune you happen to be listening to, ‘check in’ to a location and much more.
The HTC Status runs on Android Gingerbread 2. 3. 3, the most recent version, and utilize the most current version of HTC Sense to combine Facebook throughout the HTC Sense encounter. While you make a phone call, the dialer display shows your friend’s most current status and pics, and also lets you know in the event his or her birthday is drawing near.

The same updates can be shown when you get a call coming from a Facebook friend. You can also use your phone’s existing contacts to help you connect with them on Facebook or personalize your handset further with a number of new, Facebook-branded widgets.

Sonar Portable mini speaker

Looking for a spanking new portable speaker? Well, if you love taking the wireless route, you might want to check out the foxL v2 Bluetooth speaker that we looked at yesterday, but for those who want something which is a whole lot more affordable (the price will be discussed later on in the extended post), then you won’t go wrong with the Cyber Snipa Sonar Portable Mini Speaker.

As mom used to say – do not judge a book by its cover, and a No Fear T-shirt had this words emblazoned on it, “It is not the size of the dog in a fight that matters, but the size of the fight in the dog” – or something to that effect. Well, the same applies to this relatively tiny speaker, where it’s capability betrays its physical form factor.