The techno-advances this week could have filled a decade not long ago - astounding us with new ideas and new ways to approach some of our era’s most promising technology.
Sifting through thousands of items, we found devices both unusual and profound, including the most spectacular snowmobile ever designed, an Olympic use for a radio-controlled Mini car, a set of the craziest-looking Bluetooth speakers I’ve ever seen, and a speech-recognition system that’s even better than the ones they used on Star Trek.
And that’s not even the half of it. If you’re looking for technology that belongs in a science fiction movie, you’ve come to the right place. So sit back and enjoy the fruits of our busy week, where we do all the work for you, separating the wheat from the chaff right here on Top 10 Tech This Week.
1. Model Mini Coopers at the Olympics
Why make a human being go chasing after javelins, hammers, shots and discuses at the London 2012 Olympics when you can get a miniature radio-controlled Mini Cooper to do it for you?
Model Mini Coopers at the Olympics
The quarter-scale trio of 18-pound "Mini MINIs" are sent after those thrown or hurled objects for personnel to load them up, returning them safely to the starting point for the next contestant.
Model Mini Coopers at the Olympics
Look at that cute little obedient servant, bringing back a couple of javelins with nary a complaint. Mini is not saying how fast its little mini-MINI hatchbacks can go, but they might be faster than someone could run with a heavy Olympian projectile in tow. By the way, nice product-placement coup, Mini.
2. iPhone Goes Pro at the London Olympics
You know smartphone photography has officially arrived when a pro photographer uses one exclusively to shoot the Olympics, one of the biggest photographic events of the year. The iPhone's camera has gone pro, and The Guardian's Dan Chung leads the way with his iPhone 4S. He used an excellent set of Schneider lenses I've reviewed and loved, a pair of Canon binoculars, and a software package called Snapseed that lets him edit the photos for publication.
While we might rave about the quality of the iPhone 4S's camera, keep in mind that it's the photographer who takes the pictures, not the camera. This guy has a professional eye for angles, composition and lighting, and knows when to snap the photo at precisely the right moment. No matter what camera you have, it's not going to take the pictures for you. So, your results may vary.
iPhone Goes Pro: Phelps. Photos courtesy Dan Chung/The Guardian
Here's a pic Dan Chung shot with a little help from his Canon binoculars, capturing Michael Phelps leading the semi-finals of the men's 200m butterfly.
iPhone Goes Pro: China's Huang Qiushuang. Photos courtesy Dan Chung/The Guardian
Again using binoculars pressed up against his iPhone 4S, John catches Huang Qiushuang in mid-air.
iPhone Goes Pro: Hannes Aigner. Photos courtesy Dan Chung/The Guardian
Here's Germany's Hannes Aigner competing in a men's kayak event, where Chung use those binoculars once again for this dramatic shot. Special thanks to Dan Chung and the Guardian for these dramatic iPhone photos.
3. ASRock Vision HT
Today, people watch a lot of online video using set-top boxes such as Roku, Apple TV and WD Live, but gaze at this picture, and you'll see what will soon replace them: Tiny PCs such as this THX-certified ASRock Vision HT Series are about the size of a Mac mini, can be mounted to the back of your flat-panel display, and can not only hook you up to online services such as Netflix and Hulu Plus, but it can do everything else any computer can do, too.
ASRock Vision HT
Aimed at home theatres, it's packing Intel's latest Ivy Bridge processors, plenty of RAM, and 1080p-capable graphics.
ASRock Vision HT
As you can see, it has USB 3.0 ports, and everything else you'd need to light up your home theatre with PC goodness.
Pricing is unknown so far, but its US$900 predecessor, equipped with slower processors, got rave reviews from reviewers, praising its "flawless playback of all media types." About the only thing I noticed that's missing is a digital tuner for live broadcasts, but you can plug one of those into one of those USB ports.
4. Personal Hovercraft 4
This new vehicle takes a whole new approach to the idea of a hovercraft, looking like its mom was a Ferrari and its dad was one of those hard-to-steer hovercraft of the past. Its inventors, two cousins named Michael Mercier and Chris Jones, say it's not only quieter than its noisy predecessors, but thanks to special thrusters, it will be easier to manoeuvre at the same time.
Personal Hovercraft 3
Front view of the design: The two cousins are hoping to construct using funds they would like to receive from crowd-sourced site Indiegogo.
Personal Hovercraft 2
Here's a side view of this unusual craft, which looks like it could go fast even when it's standing still.
Personal Hovercraf
For those who pledge US$15,000, they'll get one of the first three preproduction models, which the cousins hope to have built and begin test flights by May, 2013.
5. Apple Smart Cover Gets Even Smarter
Apple wants to improve the iCover, making it into an additional flexible screen for the iPad. Apple filed a patent application showing ideas it would like to incorporate into a future Smart Cover, which integrates a thin and flexible display technology.
In this first illustration [above], Apple would like to use the case to place additional icons. It's not only a flexible screen, but a touchscreen.
Apple Smart Cover Gets Even Smarter
Here Apple adds media transport controls, in a convenient place as the Smart Cover is used as a stand.
Apple Smart Cover Gets Even Smarter
This new design would let you read your instant messages without even opening the Smart Cover. Perfect for furtive glances during meetings.
Apple Smart Cover Gets Even Smarter
With a flexible video display on board, the smart cover can be used as a keyboard.
Apple Smart Cover Gets Even Smarter
Even though Steve Jobs was never a big fan of stylii, here Apple depicted such a device used on the Smart Cover.
I've been using one of Apple's new US$49 Smart Cases for the past month, and if this new Smart Cover is ever created - and if it's anywhere near as beautifully-designed as the Smart Case - I can't wait to try it. My only reservation: It will be a challenge to manufacture this without it being exorbitantly expensive.
6. Edifier E30 Spinnaker Bluetooth Speakers
Just look at this outlandish design! Looking like a couple of mountain goat horns with a little orb to control everything, these Edifier Spinnaker Bluetooth speakers are unlike any I've ever seen. Each one of these speakers is 16 inches tall, and I found them to be quite beautiful, even though some people in our office were describing them as "scary and phallic shark fins only a guy could love."
But this is not just a pretty face (with horns on top). The speakers sound super-clean, with crystal-clear highs, pleasant-sounding midrange and tight, realistic bass aided by the 4-inch downward-firing woofers inside each one. If that's not enough thump for you, there's a separate subwoofer output.
Edifier E30 Spinnaker Bluetooth
Here's the wireless controller, lighting up with a spooky red glow when you turn it. It controls volume, mute and track navigation, and is recharged via USB.
Edifier E30 Spinnaker Bluetooth
It's easy to connect the speakers to any Bluetooth device, and I especially like the tiny blue light on the tip that turns green when Bluetooth is connected.
Edifier E30 Spinnaker Bluetooth
Each speaker has a heavy base, adding to the overall feel of high quality throughout. And Edifier backs up that design quality with serious specs, including separate amplifiers for each of the two silk-domed tweeters, 3/4" midrange speakers and 4-inch woofers - six amplifiers in all.
Edifier E30 Spinnaker Bluetooth
To me, the design seems almost organic. It's a sort of thing that I've noticed people either loved or hated. My only gripe? The proprietary cable that connects the speakers is only 6 feet long, limiting possibilities for placement.
Edifier E30 Spinnaker Bluetooth
If you don't like the ominous black colour, the speakers are also available in this attractive burgundy hue.
I really like the way these speakers look and sound, and was surprised at the reaction of many of the people who gazed upon them. Not built for those with conservative taste, these babies will certainly not go unnoticed.
7. Nuance Dragon NaturallySpeaking 12, Part II: Hands On
When Nuance claims NaturallySpeaking 12 (for Windows) is 20% more accurate than version 11, it's not kidding. I had a chance to give the software a thorough workout this week, and I discovered that it is indeed more accurate and faster than its predecessor. In some paragraphs, its accuracy was similar to version 11, but in more complicated paragraphs, I would notice four or five errors with version 11, but with the new version 12, the same paragraph was either error-free or contain just one minor error.
Version 12 comes as close to speech recognition perfection as I've ever seen, and it gets a huge thumbs-up.
By the way, I would recommend getting the US$99.99 Home version of Nuance Dragon NaturallySpeaking, the best value unless you want to record interviews on a digital recorder and then transcribed them - for that and other features I don't use very much, you'll need the Premium Edition that costs US$199.99. Digital downloads are available now, or you can get the physical product starting August 15.
8. Coolest Snowmobile Ever
I know, I know, it's the middle of summer, and I'm showing you a snowmobile design concept. But this is not just any snowmobile. Designed by Michal Bonikowski, it's driven by an efficient electric motor, and its closed cabin keeps the captain comfortable even in below-zero temperatures.
Coolest Snowmobile Ever
The front of the snowmobile has an angry, snarling expression on its face, reminding me of the front of a disgruntled bullet train.
Coolest Snowmobile Ever
This design concept oozes cool in every sense of the word - I would like to climb into this cockpit and zip over some frozen lake somewhere.
Coolest Snowmobile Ever
Here's a top view.
Coolest Snowmobile Ever
9. Briefcase 3D Printer
Do you remember the replicator from Star Trek? Well, they don't exist yet, but early versions of them are in development: Popfab, created by MIT students Ilan Moyer and Nadya Peek, is small enough to fit into a briefcase.
So far, you're not going to be ordering "Earl Grey extra hot" as Captain Picard liked to do, but this contraption will let you print 3D objects, and do milling, vinyl cutting and drawing. For more, be sure to see the video of this device in action.
Popfab is a mere infant in a long line of such technology we'll be seeing in the coming decades, someday eliminating the need for shipping - instead letting us download the design for a product, and simply printing it at home. Some assembly required.
10. Harman Kardon CL Headphones
Here's a remarkably comfortable pair of headphones I had a chance to listen to this week, and I must say that Harmon/Kardon has nailed it. These US$199 cans are not only beautiful with their minimalist design and rectangular ear cups, but the product sounds as good as it looks.
Harman Kardon CL Headphones 2
Even though these are "on-the-ear" headphones, they give you good sound isolation, and they're so light, you can hardly feel them on your head.
If you don't care to use smaller in-ear earphones and would rather wear headphones, these are perfect for travel, and include a carrying case that lets you fold them up into a surprisingly thin package.
Harman Kardon CL Headphones 3
There's a remote that lets you control your iPhone music, as well as letting you answer the phone and pause the music.
Harman Kardon CL Headphones 4
The only design flaw I saw was those exposed wires, which take away from the clean design of this unit.
Harman Kardon CL Headphones 5
The attractive, thin ear cups give you excellent sound quality. They faithfully reproduced all types of music, with neither bass, mid-range or high frequencies calling attention to themselves. All that was left was simple realism.
Harman Kardon CL Headphones 6
The Harman/Kardon CL headphones sounded, well, musical, matching the sound quality of most of the more-expensive US$300 headphones I've tried. And they felt so great, I wanted to wear these headphones all day. Highly recommended.
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