(Credit:
Video screenshot by Tim Hornyak/CNET)

Robots climbing up your leg — are you cool with that? Chinese researchers certainly are, arguing they could become electronic pets, or even “mobile” phones.

Presented this week at the 2012 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) in St. Paul, Minn., Clothbot was developed by scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

As seen in the video below, the machine crawls up folds in clothing, slowing making its way up trouser legs or even the back of a shirt. It uses a pair of gripper wheels to create and cling to a fold in the cloth.

Weighing some 140 grams, it has a tail that helps it maneuver. Its destination and ultimate purpose, however, remain mysterious.

According to IEEE Spectrum, in their research paper “System and Design of Clothbot: a Robot for Flexible Clothes Climbing,” author Yuanyuan Liu and colleagues propose three applications: “a tiny pet climbing on human bodies,” “a movable phone on our shoulder which frees human hands,” and finally, “body inspection.”

And you thought the TSA was bad.

(Via IEEE Spectrum ) [Read more]

Related Links:
Do robots need a Linux or a Mac OS to thrive?
Exoskeleton hand gives you robo-powered fingers
Researchers build robot bird that can land on your hand
Wear Repair: Anti-aging undies cover you with copper
Six scenarios where the iPad is trouncing the PC

Shot with the Sony Alpha SLT-A37

(Credit:
Lori Grunin/CNET)

Read the reviews

• Sony Alpha NEX-F3
• Sony Alpha SLT-A37

The spring showers of cameras continues with two new entry-level Alpha models from Sony: the compact interchangeable-lens replacement to the E-mount Alpha NEX-C3, dubbed the NEX-F3, and the replacement for the A-mount SLT-A35, the A37. Along with the A37 comes a new A-mount lens that Sony will be offering as a kit, the 18-135mm f3.5-5.6.

Both cameras are based on the same 16-megapixel sensor and use the same generation of image-processing engine. So which one deserves your $600? It depends on what you need. The F3 is compact and relatively lightweight, but the A37 performs better and offers more direct-access controls.

[Read more]

Related Links:
Nikon Nirvana: Which Nikon dSLR? (roundup)
How camera makers are screwing up on Wi-Fi
10 ways a point-and-shoot camera beats your phone’s
BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha: Shape of RIM’s future phones?
Sony’s Tablet S flavored with Ice Cream Sandwich

Samsung's Galaxy S II is the most prevalent Android device, trailed by almost 4,000 others.

(Credit:
Screenshot by Eric Mack / CNET )

Open Signal Maps is a nifty free Android app and Web site that crowdsources where the strongest and weakest cell signals are. But along the way, it’s also managed to amass a ton of data about what kind of Android devices are out there in the wild and they pulled it all together into some visualizations that dramatically show the extent of Android fragmentation.

OSM started logging the Android devices that download the app six months ago and created the above visualization — the interactive version on the site is a little more informative — from a sample size of 681,900 devices. What it reveals is that Samsung’s Galaxy series, particularly the Galaxy S II, is far and away the top dog, followed distantly by the HTC Desire series. After that, it turns into quite a mess of devices ranging from other heavy hitters like Motorola’s Droids down to the Hungarian Concorde Tab, which showed up once.

Fragmentation might no… [Read more]

Related Links:
Will Windows Phone 8 makers be more free to tweak the OS?
Google’s Andy Rubin dodges David Boies’ bullets
Google-Sun court docs reveal long Java licensing dance
Android’s new ally against the iPhone: Ubuntu
HTC Evo 4G LTE preorder site now up

The ThinkPad X1 Carbon ultrabook.

(Credit:
Lenovo)

If you’re looking for “new and exciting” regarding Lenovo’s newest ThinkPad laptops, you’ll have to hone in on the small details. For instance, Lenovo’s latest lineup of third-generation Intel Core i-series processor ThinkPads have adopted the more modern raised keyboards that have been seen on models such as the ThinkPad Edge and X1.

Lenovo ThinkPads: T, W, L, X, and X1 (photos)

1-2 of 17
Scroll Left
Scroll Right

… [Read more]

Related Links:
Intel Ivy Bridge chip imminent, quad-core first
HP announces Envy ultrabooks, ‘sleekbooks,’ business-targeted EliteBook Folio
Intel’s Ivy Bridge waits on Windows 8
HP ultrabook prices sink, widening gap with MacBook Air
Ivy Bridge, the ultrabook edition, due by Computex

While the Tab 2 10.1 uses a PLS screen, its color accuracy unfortunately isn’t up to standard.

(Credit:
Josh Miller/CNET)

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 was one of the premier Android tablets when it launched in 2011, with specs that, at the very least, matched top tier Android tablets of the time.

Unfortunately, the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 feels almost like a disappointing prequel, rather than a full-fledged “we’ve improved on every feature!” sequel.

I mean, when a premium tablet gets a follow-up, it’s not a crazy thing to expect a lot from said follow-up; however, Samsung went the “budget” route with the Tab 2 10.1, limiting its advances. The problem is, since the Tab 2′s announcement, two Tegra 3 tablets (from Asus and Acer) have been released at very similar (or in Asus’ case, lower) prices than Samsung’s offering.

Still, the Tab 2 10.1 includes an IR blaster, its unique Touchwiz UX interface, and comes with 50GB of free Dropbox storage for a year.

Check out the [Read more]

Related Links:
With Samsung’s Galaxy S III, the experience matters
Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 up for preorder now, in stores May 13
Samsung announces quad-core chip for Galaxy S phone
Samsung Galaxy S III vs. HTC One X: Quad-core faceoff
HTC One X hints at iPhone 5 challenges

(Credit:
Screenshot by Tim Hornyak/CNET)

There are many ways I can think of to have fun with a laser, especially one described as “the world’s brightest laser you can legally own.” Popping balloons isn’t one of them, but YouTube tinkerer WorldScott’s stunt is interesting anyway.

In a bid for a record, he lined up 100 red balloons in front of a Spyder III Krypton and fired away.

As seen in the vid below, it took a while for the 750-1,000mW laser, fired through a focusing lens, to pop each balloon, but it eventually did the trick.

The green beam left a trail of red balloon fragments in its wake. Fortunately it wasn’t powerful enough to penetrate the far wall.

Related stories

• LaserSaber: A real ‘Star Wars’ lightsaber at last?
• Lucas backs off wicked ‘lightsaber’ lawsuit

“If confirmed, this will have been the most balloons in a single-file line consecutively popped from end-on with a single fixed visible laser beam to date,” he says.

Hong Kong-based Wicked Lasers, which prompted an aborted action by Lucasfilm for its lightsaber-like Spy… [Read more]

Related Links:
LaserSaber: A real ‘Star Wars’ lightsaber at last?
See the light on laser weapons, think tank urges
Northrop Grumman fires up latest laser weapon
AT-AT computer walks on the wild side
When Steve Jobs went Ghostbusters on IBM

Power deck: plug-in solar panel appliances being tested.

(Credit:
Screen capture by Martin LaMonica/CNET)

It’s a green-energy geek’s dream do-it-yourself project: attach a few solar panels to your deck and watch your electric bills go down. Now one company is selling such a product.

SpinRay Energy has developed a system that lets consumers install up to five solar panels on their decks and plug them into an outdoor power outlet. People can install one panel at a time, and get up to 1,000 watts of power with five installed.

The main electrical components of the system have the UL safety certification, including the solar panel and the microinverter, which converts direct current from the panels to household alternating current. If there is a loss of grid power, the panels will stop delivering current because it could be a danger to line workers, according to the company.

SpinRay Energy is selling the DIY kit through a few retailers, including Amazon. There are just a few reviews, but people who installed the panels say they work as advertised. The deck kit, sold for $1,099.95 on Amazon, comes with brackets that attach to a deck or for setting up panels in a yard. The panels should qualify users for… [Read more]

Related Links:
BMW gives ActiveE drivers incentive to fuel up with the sun
Giant solar flare captivates in HD
Astronomy: It’s not just for nighttime viewing
The future of clean tech? Try hacking code
Europe to explore Jupiter’s icy moons

As an added bonus, it kind of looks like a sci-fi weapon.

(Credit:
Zoom)

Congrats to Angela C. of Spartanburg, S.C., for beating out almost 2,700 giveaway entrants to win last week’s freebie, a 42-inch Vizio 3D TV. This week, we’ve got another great prize, the Zoom Q3HD.

The handy HD pocket camcorder, compatible with Windows and Mac, is basically a Flip camera with the microphones and recording quality of a high-end audio recorder. It captures video in 1080p at 30fps or in 720p at both 30 and 60fps in MPEG-4 H.264 (MOV) video format. Three lighting settings — Auto, Concert, and Night — let you capture your star subjects just so.

Audio recording settings allow for recording quality up to 24-bit/96kHz WAV.

So who might like the Zoom Q3HD? CNET’s Donald Bell pegged it as one of his top tech gifts for musicians in 2010 (he should know what rock stars like — he’s in a band!), noting that in today’s YouTube-centered world, music fans expect to see great live videos from their favorite musicians.

We can think of all kinds of people who’d appreciate this gadget, though — journalists, proud parents, podcasters, or just about anyone wanting to upload high-quality… [Read more]

Related Links:
Crave giveaway: Zona Wireless Surround Speaker System
10 ways a point-and-shoot camera beats your phone’s
Get a free DVD ripper and video converter
Socialcam vs. Viddy on iOS
This week in Crave: The brainiac edition

Memorizing the Gettysburg Address for school? Do it with an avatar of Abraham Lincoln.

(Credit:
Kent German/CNET)

NEW ORLEANS–After you’ve covered the big news and handled the new phones, it’s always fun to walk the CTIA show floor and seek out the weird and wonderful. There’s usually plenty of sights to behold and you always can count on NTT DoCoMo to lead the way.

Related stories

• Preparing a wireless network for the worst
• Verizon’s cell tower on wheels (photos)
• Carrier news dominates a quiet day 2 of CTIA
• Hands-on Boot to Gecko: Interesting, but far from baked
• AVG to pre-scan Livewire’s Android market

The Japanese carrier’s booth this year was smaller than usual, and it lacked a collection of high-end “only in Japan” phones, but it showcased some pretty cool technologies that I haven’t used before. Some were practical and another was just for fun, but they provided a welcome d… [Read more]

Related Links:
Preparing a wireless network for the worst
LG Optimus 4X HD shows up at CTIA
When Nokia’s ’41-megapixel’ PureView camera clicked for me
CTIA 2012: A later date spells change
Kyocera Rise hands-on: Let those fingers fly

This prototype demonstration shows from above how a person could use pinch gestures to operate a smartphone. In actual use, the phone would not need to be held in the other hand, and the shoe sensor would be small enough to fit in a shoe.

(Credit:
Screen capture by Martin LaMonica/CNET)

A group of researchers says shoes may be the next thing in the busy field of wearable computers and gesture interfaces.

Computer scientists from the Telekom Innovation Laboratories, the University of Munich, and the University of Toronto this week published a paper on ShoeSense, a wearable computing system for a smartphone.

It’s one of many gesture interface-related papers being presented this week at the Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI 2012) conference, which is sponsored by the research arms of Microsoft, Google, eBay, and other tech companies.

What a ShoeSense sensor would look like.

(Credit:
Telekom Innovation Laboratories)

Wearable computing got a high-profile plug when … [Read more]

Related Links:
WristQue wearable sensor connects you, digital world
Tablet-like touch interface comes to everyday objects
A ride on MIT Media Lab’s digital bandwagon
Friday Poll: Are smart watches finally ready for prime time?
iRobot’s Ava: Have tablet, will travel

The Kyocera Hydro

(Credit:
Lynn La/CNET)

NEW ORLEANS — Kyocera isn’t a stranger to making water-resistant phones. Since 2008, the manufacturer has released 16 devices, all of which can withstand a good splash or two. Today, the manufacturer announced its newest addition to the lineup: The Kyocera Hydro.

Unlike the Kyocera DuraPlus, which is aimed for an enterprise demographic, the Hydro is made to please a wider audience.

Kyocera Hydro hopes to make a splash (photos)

1-2 of 6
Scroll Left
Scroll Right

The Hydro is a sleek handset that can not only withstand being sprayed with water, but it can also be submerged in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes. It’s powered by a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, has a 3.5-inch LCD touch screen, and a 3.2-megapixel rear-facing camera with an LED flash.

John Chier, Kyoc… [Read more]

Related Links:
Kyocera unveils its new audio-boosting technology
HTC One V secures a summer release date
New phones and services herald start of CTIA
CTIA 2012: A later date spells change
What Android might bring us from CTIA

A mockup of AT&T's home security and automation app.

(Credit:
AT&T)

NEW ORLEANS–AT&T will finally make good on its promise to let consumers remotely control every facet of their home — from the thermostat to the door locks — through any smartphone, PC, or tablet.

A day before the CTIA Wireless conference kicks off, AT&T said it would enter the home security and automation business in a big way. The company said it has formed a digital life services group to push these services, which will be available nationwide and work with any Internet connection.

The creation of the group represents a completely new business for AT&T. Beyond offering Internet, phone, and television services to consumer, the company now wants to touch nearly every aspect of the home. The area plays into one of AT&T’s recent strengths and areas of focus: the use of non-conventional devices with a cellular or Internet connection. The company has long championed the opportunity that comes from these devices, which provide a modest boost in revenue and attractive margins.

Related stories

• AT&T’s HTC One X goes on sale today
• Killing unlimited data plans has helped make U.S. carriers billions

… [Read more]

Related Links:
CTIA 2012: A later date spells change
Want a new iPhone? Which carrier should you choose?
Symantec cuts Flashback infection estimates in half
Homeland Security Internet monitoring dropped from CISPA
iPhone propels Verizon subscriber growth as profit rises

"Asteroids? Pffft," says La Luna.

(Credit:

JLMphoto/Flickr)

It seems that these days, every time you sneeze, yawn, or scratch your nose, another giant asteroid is screaming past the Earth, closer than the moon.

We saw it happen last November, when a space stone the size of an aircraft carrier all but sideswiped us. Then in March it happened again, when a relatively modest cosmic rock — this one the size of a mere passenger jet — shot on by.

Related stories

• Get ready to be moonstruck (again) this Saturday
• 2011′s supermoon seen ’round the world (photos)
• NASA: ‘The world is not about to end. No, really’
• NASA battles solar storm with rubber chicken

… [Read more]

Related Links:
Get ready to be moonstruck (again) this Saturday
This week in Crave: The spaced-out edition
Planetary Resources seeks to mine asteroids’ riches
Asteroid mining: Land grab in space
Putting a price on Facebook

Verizon and AT&T are making money hand over fist coast to coast.

(Credit:
Josh Long/CNET)

Killing off their unlimited data plans in recent years hasn’t made U.S. wireless carriers very popular in certain circles, but it has helped them make a lot of money off your mobile-data habit.

In the last quarter alone, AT&T reported more than $6.1 billion in revenues from mobile-data plans, while Verizon took in $6.6 billion. Those numbers also reveal significant growth of as much as 20 percent on an annual basis, despite the fact that carriers are adding customers at a slower pace now that most people already have a smartphone. That’s because more people are gobbling up more wireless data, and they’re also paying more for it as Verizon and AT&T have stopped offering unlimited data to new customers in favor of a variety of tiered pricing plans and overage charges that all add up — literally — to billions for the carriers and their shareholders.

This doesn’t stop the carriers, particularly AT&T, from trying to have it both ways.

Related stories

• Sprint confirms unlimited data plan for next iPhone
• … [Read more]
  
  Related Links:
  Smartphone buyers nix paying more than $50 a month for data
  Verizon’s 700MHz spectrum may not be so valuable after all
  Want a new iPhone? Which carrier should you choose?
  iPhone propels Verizon subscriber growth as profit rises
  Will Verizon throw its weight behind Windows Phone?