We’ve seen plenty of high-efficiency lightbulbs rolling around, but this new one — if it ever sees the light of day (groan) — has impressive potential. Cambridge University’s team of researchers are apparently quite close to bringing to production an LED bulb that can last up to 100,000 hours (about 60 years), and which — unlike some other eco-friendly lighting — contains no mercury. In the UK, where sale of some incandescents has been phased out, the team estimates they could reduce carbon emissions by about 40 million tons. The team has also significantly cheapened production by growing the LEDs on silicon wafers rather than the sapphire ones normally used, thereby bring the cost to… wait for it: $2.85. So when can we expect to see these badboys on the market? “Soon.”

[Via Switched]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Household

Research team “near production” of a cheap lightbulb, lasts up to 60 years originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some Canon die-hards have already managed to coax their DSLRs to record video via live-view, and it looks like Nikon aficionados are now able to do the same, albeit not quite as easily just yet. That’s because the mod requires both access to Nikon’s SDK for the D700 and the necessary skills to actually do something with it, in this case capturing video from the live-view feed via USB. The good news is that the modder responsible for the hack, Olivier Giroux, is planning to “productize” the software and make it publicly available, but until then, you’ll have to make do with the sample video after the break which, while not quite 480p, still looks pretty decent, all things considered.

[Via MAKE:Blog]

Continue reading Nikon D700 gets tweaked to shoot video via live-view

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Nikon D700 gets tweaked to shoot video via live-view originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pardon us while we gush profusely, but this is easily one of the most amazing audio products we’ve ever had the pleasure of laying eyes on. The Speak-er, which honestly looks like something straight from the labs of Art Lebedev Studios, is quite simply a speech bubble-shaped speaker. It measures in at 4- x 6- x 2-inches and is constructed from polished white ABS with a matte black steel grille. We don’t even know what kind of driver resides within, but we don’t care. All we know is that this amazing piece of art will be on sale later this year for $120 per pair, and we can’t wait to hear the words “now shipping.”

[Via Pocket-lint]

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Speech bubble-shaped Speak-er on sale this year originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AP – You can be the virtual Hero of the Hudson.

View original here:
Virtual heroics: Gamers can try NYC river landing
(AP)

Sure, the big hubbub’s been Windows 7 (give us some time and we’ll figure out how to install it on a toaster!) but Microsoft is betting that quite a few folks will be stranded in Vistaland (Vista Town? Vista Village? The dreaded Vista Flats?) for some time to come, and they’ll need provisions — like blankets, candles, water, and service packs. According to Tech Arp, Windows Vista SP2 RC is meeting testers sometime this week as an escrow build, which means that the public could see this thing as soon as early Q2 this year. You’ve been warned…

[Via Computerworld]

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Windows Vista SP2 RC may be in the hands of testers as we speak originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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