A New Battery Could Store Ten Times the Power as Lithium-Ion

Caltech, NASA, and Honda teamed up to develop an extraordinary new battery.

Jon ChristianDecember 9th 2018

Batteries Not Included

Batteries are great. They power many hallmarks of the future, from smartphones to electric cars. The problem, of course, is that batteries never seem to last quite long enough on a charge — and their environmental footprint is substantial.

Now, though, an all-star team of researchers from Caltech, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Honda say they’ve developed a fluoride-based battery that could deliver up to ten times the energy density of a conventional lithium-ion cell — and that take fewer resources to manufacture.

Fluoride With Me

The team describes the new battery in a paper published Friday in the journal Science. Basically, CNET reports, fluoride batteries have been around for a while — but they required oven-like temperatures of around 300 degrees Farenheit (150 Celsius) to function. The new battery, according to Caltech and company, can produce power at room temperature.

“Fluoride-ion batteries offer a promising new battery chemistry with up to ten times more energy density than currently available Lithium batteries,” said Christopher Brooks, a Honda Research Institute researcher and a co-author of the paper, in a press release. “Unlike Li-ion batteries, FIBs do not pose a safety risk due to overheating, and obtaining the source materials for FIBs creates considerably less environmental impact than the extraction process for lithium and cobalt.”

Fire Guy

An added bonus: unlike the lithium-ion batteries that power iPhones and Teslas, the researchers behind the fluoride battery say that it’s unlikely to burst into flames.

It’s also worth keeping in mind that new battery technology is prone to extraordinary hype. But as with all new tech, there could be unforeseen roadblocks to practical applications — and, even in the best case scenario, it typically takes years to bring a new product to market.

This article was officially published by futurism.com

This Algorithm Can Create 3D Animations From A Single Still Image

Image

Watch characters simply "walk out" of their picture frame.

Victor TangermannDecember 22nd 2018

News

/3 D Animation

/Algorithm

/Augmented Reality

“Photo Wake-Up”

Chung-Yi Weng, PhD student at the University of Washington, and some of his friends created something truly astonishing.

Their software called “Photo Wake-Up”allows character animations to simply “walk out” of a static image frame — without leaving a hole in the picture behind them. The results were published in a recently submitted paper.

Weng’s method identifies a 2D subject in a single photo as input, and creates a 3D animated version of that subject. The animation can then “walk out, run, sit, or jump in 3D.”

And it could redefine the way we interact with photos. “We believe the method not only enables new ways for people to enjoy and interact with photos, but also suggests a pathway to reconstructing a virtual avatar from a single image,” Weng, and his collaborators explain in the paper.

Like Magic

The effect, as seen in the video below, is amazing, albeit jarring. Basketball legend Stephen Curry can be seen jumping into action, jogging straight out of his photo frame. One of Picasso’s surrealist creations cuts itself out of its frame perfectly, leaving the painting behind it in tact.

For the effect to work properly, all Weng’s software needs is a still frame showing a silhouette. It cuts out the 2D shape, and warps it around a 3D skeleton that matches it.

A Big Improvement

Researchers have tried to create a similar effect in the past, but the results have been a lot less impressive. Weng’s new approach adds an important new ability: it can identify different body parts like arms and legs, and warp each one individually in a way that matches the 2D cutout exactly.

The software even works in augmented reality, and could redefine the way we interact with two-dimensional pieces of art the next time we visit an art gallery.



This article was officially published by futurism.com

Apple iOS 12.1.2 Release: Should You Upgrade?

I predicted this. After iOS 12.1.1 was found to be cutting off cellular data for a number of users, I said Apple would need to act quickly. Thankfully iOS 12.1.2 has now been rushed out for release. But does its short development time bring more problems than fixes? You might be surprised… 

Here’s everything you need to know.

Apple iOS 12APPLE

Who Is It For?

iOS 12.1.2 is compatible with all iOS 11 compatible devices. This means the iPhone 5S or later, iPad mini 2 or later and 6th generation iPod touch or later.

Compatible devices will be automatically prompted to upgrade but, if that doesn’t happen, you can manually trigger it by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Beta testers, you may need to unroll your device for iOS 12.1.2 to appear.

The new update weighs in at up to 85MB signalling it is a focused update. I say “up to” because different devices get different updates, so the update size will vary on different models of iPhone and iPad.

The Deal Breakers

First, the prerequisite warning to Jailbreakers: iOS 12.1.2 has not been cracked (neither have most iOS 12 releases prior to it) so stay away until your jailbreaking software of choice catches up. Right now, it looks like they’re fighting a losing battle.  

What about iOS 12.1.2 early issues? So far, its mostly positive news.

The fly in the ointment is the new update doesn’t appear to be fixing the cellular data problem for all affected users (1,2,3,4,5 etc) and others are saying it introduces WiFi issues. The extent of the cellular bug remains unknown (more in the next section), but it’s such a damaging problem for those affected Apple needs to get this fix 100% right.

More positively, I’ve yet to see any major complaints about battery life (a real rarity) and general stability seems good. I’ll be following up if any problems progress, but so far iOS 12.1.2 looks to be a solid upgrade.  

So What Do You Get?

Apple’s official release notes describe iOS 12.1.2 as follows:

• Fixes bugs with eSIM activation for iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max
• Addresses an issue that could affect cellular connectivity in Turkey for iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max

The eSIM fixes are very welcome, especially as major carriers are now finally starting to embrace the technology (which removes the need for a physical SIM).

The latter fix, however, is less promising. Aside from the ongoing complaints that the issues are not resolved, Apple’s description of it is spotty. For example, while I observed (and received) many reports of cellular problems in the US, UK and India, I received not one complaint from Turkish users.

Apple iOS 12.1.1 caused serious cellular problems for some usersAPPLE

While it is possible Apple mentioned the wrong country in its release notes, this seems unlikely. Moreover, it appears iOS 12.1.2 is (bizarrely) micro-targeted which would explain why the cellular fix is not working for everyone.

As for security, Apple’s official security page states iOS 12.1.2 contains no patches whatsoever. Given there are always security bugs to be addressed, their omission shows how quickly the release was pushed out. There is also growing speculation it was released to quietly introduce legally mandated changes in functionality due to its ongoing legal battle with Qualcomm.

Apple iOS 12.1.2 Verdict: Upgrade

While iOS 12.1.2 clearly does not fix the cellular issue introduced in iOS 12.1.1 for all users, there’s nothing to lose in upgrading if you have been impacted. Given the surprisingly calm responses across forums and social media so far, it also seems iOS 12.1.2 is working smoothly for the vast majority of users.  

Needless to say, only a fraction of iPhone and iPad owners have upgraded at this point, so you may still want to hold off for now and see if new problems emerge. I keep this article constantly updated, so be sure to bookmark it and check back before you upgrade.

The Road Ahead

Given iOS 12.1.2 was rushed out so quickly, Apple currently has no new version of iOS in beta testing. Expect that to change shortly, however, with iOS 12.1.3 appearing if Apple requires another dedicated bugfix or iOS 12.2 the next stop if Apple is happy with what it is seeing.


This article was officially published by futurism.com

PANASONIC’S HORSE-STYLE BLINDERS FOR HUMANS ARE LIKE A DYSTOPIAN CUBICLE FOR YOUR FACE

No Peeking!

Sometimes it’s tough to concentrate on work when you sit in the hubbub of an open-plan office.

Now Panasonic’s Future Life Factory — a group of designers working for the Japanese electronics giant — has a solution for you that sounds like a plot device in “Black Mirror”: a prototype anti-distraction shroud that attaches to the back of the wearer’s head, like those blinders they put on horses. It’s called Wear Space, and the idea is to get you focused on work by literally blocking out the world around you.

Stop Horsin’ Around

One problem, as design blog Dezeen pointedout, is that roughly 60 percent of your field of vision is already directly in front of you. And in any case, there’s something undeniably dystopic about the concept. What’s next? A feedbag for humans like the satirical website The Onion predicted?

The prototype, which features comfortable materials and wireless noise-cancelling headphones, made its first debut at South by South West back in March. If you’re into the idea of strapping cubicle walls to the side of your face, you have until December 11 to support their endeavor on Japanese crowdfunding site Green Funding.

Head In A Shroud

The debate surrounding how open offices are affecting productivity is heating up. As The Washington Post pointed out, there’s plenty of evidence an open office layout might do more harm than good.

So perhaps some actual walls might have a better shot at boosting worker productivity. Besides, having a giant visor fixed to the back of your head might end up being just as distracting as your neighbor noisily eating their lunch.

1. This article was officially published by futurism.com

Flying-Car Landing Pads Are Just One Of The Latest Trends In Luxury Amenities

See video below for how a landing pad will emerge from a rooftop pool on demand.PARAMOUNT MIAMI WORLDCENTER

As cities become increasingly crowded, vertical living takes on a greater level of importance in people’s lives. Many of today’s buyers no longer see a condo as a temporary first step to the property ladder but are approaching multi-family living as a place to live over the longterm. Developers have responded with creative amenity packages that try to make a tall building feel like a home. Now it is one of the more competitive aspects of new construction, with everything from celebrity trainers and chefs to high-end designers being called in to add their name to the project.

But the one that is ahead of them all is the building with a landing pad for flying cars that emerges on-demand from the rooftop pool.

Have a look at how it all works in this video:

The luxury building is nearing completion and is 90% sold out. It also offers extensive amenities on its four-acre elevated urban amenities deck, with resort-style pools, spas, jogging paths, gardens, villas, summer BBQ kitchens, lounges, a jam room, tennis courts and a soccer field overlooking downtown Miami. 

If you don’t want to hold out until flying cars become a reality, there’s always the Turnberry Ocean Club developed by Jeffrey Soffer of the Soffer family (No. 122 on Forbes Richest Families list). Turnberry residents can have private aviation access from the Fontainebleau Aviation Luxe Facility at the Opa-Locka Executive Airport. This comes with preferred rates, aircraft maintenance and full-service concierge.The residential building is 60% sold with completion estimated for late 2019. Units start at $3.9 million and go up to $35 million for the penthouses. 

The private aviation services at Turnberry Ocean ClubTURNBERRY OCEAN CLUB

Where multi-family building are really stepping it up is in staying ahead of the curve with wellness services. In addition to the standard spa and salon options, there’s IV-Drip and Oxygen Therapy at The Line Lofts in Los Angeles that provides this service poolside. The Auberge Beach Residences & Spa in Fort Lauderdale offers a suite of services inspired by the ‘sun, sand, and surf’ with a mineral quartz massage with amethyst oil and a sea drift couples ritual. (Note they used to promote an Alchemy Facial, which incorporates pure 24 karat gold in the treatment and magnetic sand therapy but that is no longer on the menu. Maybe they’ll re-introduce it one day?)

With relaxation at one end of the spectrum, there’s athletic activities at the other. Golf is big, of course, with Auberge Beach Residences installing an aboutGolf simulator that is the first of its kind in Florida (residents will be able to “play” 73 courses) or 33 Bond in the Brooklyn having a putting green. The $7 million penthouses at Las Ventanas al Paraisocome with a three-hole putting green overlooking the water. Then there’s a beach volleyball court at AVEN coming in January to downtown Los Angeles which is the only apartment building downtown to have real sand on their volleyball court.

Photo of putting green at Las Ventanas al Paraiso ROSEWOOD

There’s also a trend of bringing specially-trained talent on board rather than just building a gym and having a personal trainer on hand. Even the developments for retirees, such as Trilogy, have resort-caliber clubhouses with hospitality-trained staff to the program. Celebrity trainers are another trend which Oceanwide Plaza will do by having Harley Pasternak develop the wellness programming. Pasternak’s celebrity client list is impressive with names like Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Amy Schumer and Vanessa Williams showing up on the roster. (The renderings for what the residences coming to Oceanwide Plaza will look like were provided exclusively to Forbes and can be found here). 

For the less athletically-inclined, there’s this life-sized Scrabble board at Seattle’s Ascent South Lake Union.

Life-Sized Scrabble in SeattleASCENT SOUTH LAKE UNION

Or, there’s activities that come at it from a social angle, with Gotham West organizing day trips for residents to go on together (such as their fall apple picking excursion). They also offer, as part of their concierge partnership with LIV UnLTD, help with booking travel at whatever level the resident needs—from booking the whole itinerary to giving advice for any piece of the trip.

Having a celebrity-driven restaurant anchor the retail space of an apartment building has become much more tailored to the residents inside it. There’s buildings like 5 Beekman that will have these luxury restaurants deliver to your condo or 19 Dutch that brings food carts from high-end eateries, such as Eataly or Le District, in to the lobby. That same building has started a few celebrity-driven events, this fall cider guru Leif Sundstrom will host cider tastings for residents.

Buildings have also upped the luxury factor with the communal kitchens or outdoor barbecue equipment by installing professional chef quality appliances. One apartment building, AVEN, decided to add prep carts to its stash of supplies so residents can carry everything in one trip.

The brewmaster at KohanaikiKOHANAIKI

It wouldn’t feel like home if you couldn’t have access to a fine selection of wine and liquor or if your pets didn’t feel like it was home, too. Amenities that address these two lifestyle needs are the ones seeing the biggest surge in interest. Besides all the luxury buildings that now offer climate controlled storage lockers for wine or whiskey, there are an increasing number of places that build it into the lifestyle. The Kohanaiki development on the Big Island in Hawaii, with homes priced from $3 million to over $20 million, has an on-site brewmaster that uses the microbrewery on the premises to brew seasonal beers for residents. They also have a whiskey room where they host poker tournaments and whiskey tastings.

When it comes to the furry friends, there’s a growing trend to bring in an outside company that specializes in pet-caretaking. An apartment building in Baltimore, 414 Light Street, has partnered with local dog walking services to come and walk your dog either on a planned schedule or it can be on an on-call basis if you end up running late at work. Like many other buildings they too have a pet spa, but this one comes with a vending machine filled with treats for pets. The Ellington in D.C. really makes pets a priority with pet fashion shows and highlighting a pet of the month in the lobby. Oceana Bal Harbour unveiled their new pet grooming spa by hosting three canine Instagram celebrities, Remix the Dog, Puck the Pup and Mallow the Frenchie, for a day of pampering to show off what was available to residents’ dogs. 

Puck the pup poses in front of a Jeff Koons statue at Oceana Bal HarbourOCEANA BAL HARBOUR

Some buildings are taking it even further and partnering with a company that provides walking, grooming and on-site veterinary services. In New York, for example, 33 Bond in Brooklyn and 525W52 in Hell’s Kitchen are two of the places working with Throw Me A Bone, an all-inclusive pet care service, that curates a suite of services that can include all of the above plus dog training, doggie day/night care and a group play space.

So many of the amenities that have come to residential living spaces were first inspired by the packages hotels provide to their guests. To see what the next phase of luxury add-ons will, it pays to look to hotels again. Alcohol is a theme once more, but now it is even easier to access. The Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas Hotel & Residences, has a Moet & Chandon Champagne vending machine which sells mini-bottles of their namesake champagne. But why wait around to uncork a bottle? Just use the wine spigot at Seneca Lake’s Belhurst Castle. 

Cwine from a spigot at Belhurst Castle.    This article was officially published by forbes