Don't sleep on the HTC 10 – this phone looks phenomenal (hands-on)

[MOBILE TECHNOLOGY] [Don't sleep on the HTC 10 – this phone looks phenomenal (hands-on)] Based on our first impressions, the HTC 10 looks like it can combine with the Vive VR headset as one of the best one-two punches in recent consumer tech history – and be a serious contender for best smartphone of the year. [Read more] [SPACE] [Stephen Hawking's space probes eye the express lane to neighboring stars] It would take around 30,000 years for us to reach our closest star system, but If the latest idea from the cosmically inquisitive Stephen Hawking comes to fruition, we could reach this neighboring stellar system within 20 years of launch. [Read more] [DIGITAL CAMERAS] [Facebook builds its dream virtual reality video camera, and gives the design away for free] Announced today, Facebook's Surround 360 is a 17-lens 3D-360-degree video capture system that looks like a spaceship and produces VR content on the fly, but its most impressive feature? The design and software is entirely open-source. [Read more] [DIGITAL CAMERAS] [Polaroid instant photography gets a new lease of life] The Impossible Project has announced new I-1 analog camera, which still uses classic Polaroid 600 type film for shooting. The I-1 hooks up to your phone to allow for further functionality, and can be recharged with a USB cable.​ [Read more] [AUTOMOTIVE] [Volvo shows off new gearbox by pulling 750 tonnes from standstill] Having launched its i-shift dual-clutch gearbox in 2014, Volvo has now added crawler gears to the system in an attempt to broaden its appeal. Unsatisfied with a traditional launch, the company has shown off the transmission by pulling a 750-tonne load from standstill. [Read more] [MOTORCYCLES] [Yamaha gives 04Gen concept scooter wings] Unveiled at the first Vietnam Motorcycle Show in Ho Chi Minh City, the fourth concept model of the Gen series pursues an innovative approach to scooter dynamics and body structure that is based on Yamaha Motor’s Refined Dynamism philosophy. [Read more] [AUTOMOTIVE] [Tesla Model S gets new face and Bioweapon Defense Mode] Having launched a range of updates over the air since the Model S launched in 2013, Tesla has released a more traditional mid-life refresh. The entry level Model X has also been updated, with a bigger battery and bigger price to match. [Read more] [AUTOMOTIVE] [Toyota reaches out to Gen Z with oddball uBox concept] Generation Z is weird. At least that's the impression we're left with after seeing them through automakers' eyes. Those eyes bring us the Toyota uBox. Designed for Generation Z drivers, the uBox finds a middle ground somewhere between the minivan, SUV and armored truck. [Read more] [SPACE] [NASA's weird and wonderful NIAC 2016 selections] NASA has announced its 2016 selections for Phase 1 of its Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program. As usual, the first round contains an impressive array of weird and wonderful technological concepts with the potential to revolutionize space exploration. [Read more] [BICYCLES] [Bike backpack has its own lights, turn signals and alarm] Cycling backpacks with strips of blinking LEDs on the back aren't exactly a rare item these days. Lumos' new Aster pack is a little different, though. It also features turn indicators, a brake light, and will even let you know if your bike is being stolen. [Read more] [DIGITAL CAMERAS] [Smoovie promises super-smooth smartphone videos] Professional videographers often use rigs that include something known as a gimbal to keep their shots straight, but gimbal sticks are often heavy, big and/or expensive. Enter Smoovie, a Kickstarter product that could put the power of gimbal stability in your pocket.​ [Read more] [SPACE] [Evidence of an exoplanetary system was recorded in 1917] A chance re-examination of an old astronomical glass plate has shown that the very first evidence of an exoplanetary system was recorded almost 100 years ago, on a glass plate showing the light from a distant star. [Read more] [GOOD THINKING] [Google awards $20 million to 29 innovative disability nonprofits] Google has announced 29 winners of its Google Impact Challenge: Disabilities, which it launched in May last year to invest in non-profit organizations using technology to increase independence for disabled people around the world. The organizations will receive US$20 million in Google.org grants. [Read more] [SPACE] [A better tool for more accurate planet hunting] A new calibration tool developed by researchers at the Carnegie Institute is set to have a big impact in the hunt for exoplanets. The technology allows astronomers to use a longer wavelength of light when analyzing distant stars, making it possible to pick out false positives in results. [Read more] [MOBILE TECHNOLOGY] [Super-thin iPhone case hides extra juice] While there are many battery back-up iPhone cases out there, they all tend to add significant weight and thickness to your otherwise sleek smartphone. The Air Case, now at the start of a so-far successful Indiegogo campaign, aims to change that.​ [Read more] [SPACE] [Prototype moon buggy saved from junkyard goes to auction] A prototype of a 1960s moon buggy once thought to have been broken down for scrap has been rediscovered after many years in a suburban backyard and is heading for auction. [Read more] [MOBILE TECHNOLOGY] [HTC 10 launches with "world-class" camera and Hi-Res audio the main stars] After Samsung, LG and Huawei, it's the turn of HTC to launch its flagship phone for 2016: the HTC 10. We've got everything you need to know about the brand new handset, which brings a redesigned all-metal body, a camera that HTC calls the world's best, Hi-Res 24-bit audio and a fingerprint scanner. [Read more] [MUSIC] [Yamaha acoustics bring out rich tones in dry-sounding rooms] Yamaha's TransAcoustic guitars add reverb and chorus effects to the sound coming from the instruments themselves without having to add in external effects or rely on microphones or amplification. [Read more] [AUTOMOTIVE] [Hennessey Venom GT Spyder tears its way to world's fastest convertible title] Two years after Hennessey set an unofficial 270.49-mph (435.31-km/h) production car speed record in the Venom GT coupe, it's raised the bar for convertible supercars by over 11 mph. The Hennessey Venom GT Spyder is now the fastest convertible in the world. [Read more] [ELECTRONICS] [USB-C protocol update warns users of dodgy cables] Having discovered it's very easy to buy a USB-C cable that will fry your shiny new phone or Chromebook, the USB 3.0 Promoter Group is fighting back with a new protocol to let you know whether your new cable is certified or not. [Read more] [AUTOMOTIVE] [Daimler electric trucks to deliver cost savings in Stuttgart] Daimler is attempting to demonstrate the benefits of moving to electric trucks by running four Fuso E-Cell trucks in Stuttgart, where they'll deal with everything from road construction to furniture delivery. [Read more] [AUTOMOTIVE] [Premium carmaker turns premium car-sharer] A number of new car-sharing services have been announced of late, not least by carmakers looking to diversify​, like GM and Hyundai. BMW is the latest to get in on the act and it's seeking to differentiate its new service by loading it with additional features in what it calls "car-sharing 2.0." [Read more] [ARCHITECTURE] [More details emerge on Dubai's new megatall observation tower] Spanish architect and engineer Santiago Calatrava has released new details concerning his planned observation tower in Dubai. Due for completion in 2020, the megatall tower will reportedly be even taller than the world's current tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. [Read more] [ARCHITECTURE] [Lego expert recreates famous buildings, Brick by Brick] Lego wizard Adam Tucker has created a new exhibition for Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry featuring Lego recreations of architectural masterpieces. They include the Golden Gate Bridge, Roman Colosseum, and Pyramid of Giza. [Read more] [SPECIAL PROMOTION FOR GIZMAG READERS] [Master Excel and Get the Certification to Prove It with 99% off This Course Bundle] Excel skills aren't just good to have, they're essential to your career success. Start from the basics and advance your skills through these dual expert-taught courses. You'll be fully prepped to earn yourself a coveted certification, and score the job or promotion you've been waiting for. [Read more] You are receiving this email because you signed up for our daily newsletter at www.gizmag.com. [Update profile] | [Unsubscribe] Copyright Gizmag © 2016