Brittany Hillen

Author Archive for Brittany Hillen

Google Glass to get sideloaded app launcher

Brittany Hillen, May 3rd 2013 Discuss [0]

Officially, Google Glass apps - Glassware, that is - are developed using the Mirror API, and there are a fair number of them available now with more sure to come in the future. On the other hand, there are sideloaded apps, which are installed as APKs and aren't supported by Google. As far as sideloaded apps go, accessing them once they're installed isn't the easiest thing in the world. That's where Launchy will come in. Read The Full Story

Boeing X-51A WaveRider achieves longest hypersonic flight ever

Brittany Hillen, May 3rd 2013 Discuss [0]

Boeing's unmanned X-51A WaveRider broke the record for the longest hypersonic flight ever, doing so on its fourth successful jaunt in the sky. The total scramjet power flight time clocked in at 3.5-minutes, with its speed topping out at a neck-breaking Mach 5.1, with the total flight time lasting in excess of 6-minutes. The flight came to an end with a controlled decent into the Pacific Ocean. Read The Full Story

Researchers uncover new dinosaur species in China

Brittany Hillen, May 3rd 2013 Discuss [0]

If you spent your childhood digging in the sandbox, carefully shifting sand in hopes of finding a long-lost quarter or bobble head, only to find both after going elbows-deep in dirt, you can appreciate the excitement an international team of researchers is experiencing, having recently discovered a new dinosaur species located in China. The dinosaur has been dubbed the Aorun zhaoi, and died before reaching adulthood. Read The Full Story

Volkswagen to update Beetle turbo and Jetta GLI this month

Brittany Hillen, May 3rd 2013 Discuss [0]

Volkswagen is planning to roll out updates to both its Beetle turbo and Jetta GLI, bestowing them with new engines, better MPGs, and higher price tags. The update models are going to be rolled out later this year, and will feature an average of a few hundred more dollars on their respective price tags over current offerings. Read The Full Story

Acer Windows 8 tablet with 8-inch display appears on Amazon

Brittany Hillen, May 3rd 2013 Discuss [0]

Yesterday, we heard yet another rumor that Microsoft is working on a sub-10-inch tablet, something we heard before that back in April. The rumor yesterday said that Microsoft would be rolling out a 7.5-inch tablet early next year, but it looks like we might not have to wait that long to see a small-display Windows 8 device hit shelves, with Amazon showing the first ever Windows 8-wielding tablet with a display size under 10-inches. Read The Full Story

NASA to explore Greenland with GROVER robot

Brittany Hillen, May 3rd 2013 Discuss [0]

When someone mentions a NASA rover, the first thing we think of is Mars or some other celestial body. Our perspective will need to change soon, however, with NASA planning to deploy a rover in the icy tundra of Greenland on May 3. The rover will be tasked with roaming Greenland's ice sheets to provide scientists with information on the inhospitable land and the changes to its monumental plains of ice. Read The Full Story

Google Fiber coming to Shawnee, Kansas

Brittany Hillen, May 3rd 2013 Discuss [0]

Early yesterday, word surfaced that Shawnee, Kansas had set up a special city council meeting for later in the day to discuss whether Google would be allowed to roll out Fiber service in the city, which is located near Kansas City. We're not surprised to report that the council is over and the city voted "Yes," with Google making the announcement moments ago on its blog. Read The Full Story

Chrome Beta updates with improved fullscreen and fixed link redirects

Brittany Hillen, May 3rd 2013 Discuss [0]

Google has rolled out an update for Chrome Beta for Android, which is its snazzy Chrome browser for your favorite Android-based mobile device. As with past updates, this one brings along a couple of improvements to fix some common complaints users have, making the overall experience more pleasant and less frustrating. This time around, the update improves fullscreen and link redirects. Read The Full Story

Microsoft reportedly to produce 7.5 inch tablet

Brittany Hillen, May 2nd 2013 Discuss [0]

Back on April 11, we heard rumor that Microsoft is working on a 7-inch Surface tablet, with the information being provided to The Wall Street Journal by unnamed sources. That rumor has surfaced again, this time with NPD DisplaySearch telling the folks over at CNET that Microsoft will produce a 7.5-inch tablet of some sort, and that unlike the late-2013 date supplied by the original sources, the tablet won't be available until 2014. Read The Full Story

IMAX unveils home theater option

Brittany Hillen, May 2nd 2013 Discuss [0]

If you have a couple million expendable dollars laying around, your days of waiting in line at the theater, getting dubiously-washed recycled glasses, and leaving with your coat reeking of eau de popcorn could be at an end. IMAX has rolled out a personal home theater option, which is currently only open to select clients who presumably own mansions and other such things. Read The Full Story

Harvard’s robotic insects fly for the first time

Brittany Hillen, May 2nd 2013 Discuss [0]

They're a source of fascination for some and paranoia for others - robot insects, which are about the size of your standard house fly and capable of flying in mostly the same fashion. This week the first flight of robotic insects in a Harvard lab was detailed in the journal Science, along with an image of one of the tiny creatures in action, which we have after the jump. Read The Full Story