DARPA's new 1.8-gigapixel camera is a super high-resolution eye in the sky

Welcome to the newsletter for Gizmag Emerging Technology Magazine. These are the headlines for February the 18th, 2013. DARPA's new 1.8-gigapixel camera is a super high-resolution eye in the sky DARPA recently revealed information on its ARGUS-IS (Autonomous Real-Time Ground Ubiquitous Surveillance Imaging System), a surveillance camera that uses hundreds of smartphone image sensors to record a 1.8 gigapixel image. Designed for use in an unmanned drone (probably an MQ-1 Predator), from an altitude of 20,000 ft (6,100 m) ARGUS can keep a real-time video eye on an area 4.5 miles (7.2 km) across down to a resolution of about six inches (15 cm). Read on Desktop or Read on Mobile MacBook Pro with Retina Display vs. MacBook Air Though Apple didn't give it a special event or keynote presentation, the MacBook product line received an update today. The biggest change is a price drop, but the MacBook Pro with Retina Display also got a slightly upgraded processor. How does the updated Retina MBP compare to the MacBook Air? Read on Desktop or Read on Mobile The Vertu Ti: a $10,000 Android phone Technically, Android is a free and open source mobile operating system, but there's still plenty of opportunities out there to pay gobs of money for an Android phone. The most exorbitant way to show you're both a member of the Android faithful and a big spender is with the new Vertu Ti. Read on Desktop or Read on Mobile Heimplanet shrinks its inflatable tent design Heimplanet received much buzz for its funky, geodesic inflatable tent, the Cave. Realizing that not everyone wants to lug a big, round, air-filled cave around into the woods, the company has designed a lighter, more streamlined tent-for-two. The Wedge maintains Heimplanet's striking styling but packs it in a smaller, sleeker package. Read on Desktop or Read on Mobile Alfa Romeo 4C to debut at Geneva Motor Show The Alfa Romeo 4C is set to make its debut at the 83rd International Motor Show in Geneva next month. A production version of the Alfa Romeo 4C Concept which combines the efforts of Alfa Romeo and Maserati, the new mid-engined, rear-wheel drive, two-seater coupé will also mark the return of the Italian marque to the U.S. market later this year. Read on Desktop or Read on Mobile Edgeland Residence: a modern take on the Native American Pit House Edgeland Residence is a modern dwelling designed by the Bercy Chen Studio which sees the company rehabilitating land once considered unsuitable for occupation. Claimed to set a new standard for sustainability, it draws inspiration from the Native American Pit House, and is designed to impact the environment as little as possible. Read on Desktop or Read on Mobile Bowlus Road Chief updates 1930s classic caravan Caravans make a nice change from holidays in hotels, but they can be as aerodynamic as a shoe box and often about as attractive. Canadian tech entrepreneurs John Long and Helena Mitchell are taking a step forward by going a step backward and reviving the Bowlus Road Chief of the 1930s. It's an updated version of the classic American design that they call a "revival of an Art Moderne style with 21st century touches." Read on Desktop or Read on Mobile Twenty-eight containers transform orphanage in South Africa Having last looked at a temporary use of shipping containers as building blocks, with O+A's festival backdrop Amsterdam, we're back in permanent territory (as permanent as new buildings are, that is) with 4D and A Architects' shipping container housing at New Jerusalem Orphanage at Gauteng, South Africa. The project is among the more ambitious uses of shipping containers we've seen, using 28 containers in all. Gizmag spoke briefly to its designers to find out more about it. Read on Desktop or Read on Mobile Who says a switch plate can't house more than light switches? Enter the Walhub There are certain devices in the home that we don't generally think about improving. The switch plates over our light switches have remained more or less the same for years, but that doesn't mean there's not room to make them better. Product designer Justin Porcano has decided to rethink switch plates, by adding more functionality. Read on Desktop or Read on Mobile Eyes-on with the Oculus Rift's jaw-dropping virtual reality system The Oculus Rift VR system has been steadily gaining more attention in the past several months, thanks to glowing endorsements from some major figures in the the video game industry and a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign that brought in almost US$2.5 million. We've been following the development of the Oculus Rift for some time now, so finding out the company had its virtual reality goggles available to try on at CES was an especially pleasant surprise. Naturally, we simply couldn't resist giving the Rift a test drive to see if it lived up to all the hype. Read on Desktop or Read on Mobile Cigarette Racing and AMG turn out 42-feet of comfort and speed Cigarette Racing and AMG have collaborated on the newest version of the Huntress performance boat, which was officially unveiled this week at the Miami International Boat Show. A little more roomy than classic go-fast boats, the 42-foot Huntress is ten feet high, has an 11-foot, 9-inch beam and a cabin below decks providing luxury accommodation for two. Oh, yes – it also comes with a 500 gallon fuel tank and five Mercury Racing outboards that can push it up to 78 mph (125 km/h or 68 knots). Read on Desktop or Read on Mobile Döttling Fortress – the world's safest luxury safe? For the person who has everything and wants to make sure that no one walks off with it, German safe manufacturer Döttling has created with the Fortress. Billed as the "safest luxury safe in the world," the Fortress is available in a number of bespoke configurations and Döttling says it can be certified for insurance coverage of up to US$1,000,000. Read on Desktop or Read on Mobile Mercedes-AMG enters compact class with the A 45 AMG Mercedes has thrown the wraps off the A 45 AMG ahead of its global premiere at the Geneva Motor Show next month. The hot-hatch marks the first time Mercedes' performance division has released a vehicle in the compact class in its 45-year history. And its first effort doesn't pull many punches, with a 2.0-liter engine that Mercedes touts as the most powerful series production four-cylinder engine in the world. Read on Desktop or Read on Mobile ONDA Cycle puts riders in control of all three wheels Three years ago, Joe Hadzicki of Revolution Enterprises and son Tyler (both from San Diego) started designing their perfect trike. Seven constantly-evolving designs and at least two prototypes later, and the ONDA Cycle is finally ready for launch. If you want to be dull and boring, this rather odd-looking, recumbent-like three-wheeler can be steered using the handlebars ... but if you really want to have some fun, the rear swivel wheels can be unlocked and controlled with a handle at the back for spins, drifting and tight, precision turns. Read on Desktop or Read on Mobile Heat-activated "smart material" debuts in 2014 Corvette Chevrolet is taking some major steps to improve and evolve the Corvette. The automaker is bringing back the beloved Stingray and adding a 6.2L V-8 LT1 engine with over 450 horsepower (335kw). Now, Chevy has revealed its intentions to incorporate heat-activated "smart materials" into the 2014 Corvette. Read on Desktop or Read on Mobile Grillbot – the new BBQ cleaning king? It doesn't matter if it's called a BBQ, a grill or a Barbie; those char-grilled steaks leave a thick layer of grease and grime behind. And while cooking is fun, cleaning is not. What you need is a neat little R2D2 to scrub the filth away, leaving you to crack a beer and get ready to fire up the next BBQ. Enter the Grillbot, a cute, single button operated bot that perches on your grill and lives to clean. Read on Desktop or Read on Mobile Transporter goes from box to boat in 10 minutes Thanks to modern technology, we currently live in the age of smartphones, autonomous robots, satellite navigation, and ... foldable boats? Well, that's certainly what it looks like. Just within the past couple of years, we've covered a folding rowboat, paddle board, sea kayak and canoe. Now, word comes to us of another boat-to-go, known appropriately as The Transporter. Read on Desktop or Read on Mobile Trick Kick – like foosball with real people Can't get your proper fill of football (or, if your prefer, soccer) by living vicariously through the Ronaldos and Messis of the world? Consider table foosball frat boy play? Perhaps the new Trick Kick mini soccer game will do the ... trick. Billed as the world's one and only original indoor mini kick soccer game, Trick Kick provides a new way of experiencing the world's most popular sport. Read on Desktop or Read on Mobile US Army cancels LEMV airship project When Northrop Grumman announced that it was building the Long Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle (LEMV), it looked as if the age of the great airships was returning. When the LEMV took to the air in its maiden flight, it seemed a certainty. Now, the US Army has announced that the US$517 million program has been cancelled. Read on Desktop or Read on Mobile Silicon nanoparticles used to create a super-performing battery In some peoples' opinion, electric cars won't become truly viable until their batteries offer a lot more driving range, and can be recharged much more quickly than is currently possible. Well, those people may soon be getting their wish. Scientists at the University of Southern California have developed a new type of lithium-ion battery, that they claim holds three times as much energy as a conventional li-ion, and can be recharged in just ten minutes. Read on Desktop or Read on Mobile Boomerope loops ropes over high objects If you've ever tried to loop a rope over a high branch, girder, pole or whatnot without using a ladder, then you'll know that it can be pretty frustrating. As with most frustrating tasks, however, someone has invented a gizmo to make it easier. That gizmo is the Boomerope. Read on Desktop or Read on Mobile McLaren's carbon-saturated P1 interior revealed McLaren has been drip-feeding us details of its multi-faceted supercar since releasing the first pictures last year. Now we have our first glimpse of the interior, and as with the rest of the P1 it's all business … carbon fibered to the hilt business. Read on Desktop or Read on Mobile Concertina or bust: Li Hongbo's bizarre flexible sculptures At a glance, Li Hongbo's sculptures resemble typical white plaster busts. Take hold of one, and pull it (the sort of behavior liable to have one jettisoned from most galleries, admittedly), and you'll find they're altogether less rigid and static… Read on Desktop or Read on Mobile Special promotion for Gizmag readers This is How You Make iPhone Apps - iOS Certification Course Mobile Development is the hottest technology space to get into right now. You can become a billion-dollar company or get an extremely desirable job just by demonstrating your mobile development chops. The guys at Udemy are giving Gizmag readers an exclusive deal valid to get one of the highest-quality iOS development courses available online at only $49 instead of $99 - that's 50% off! Don't miss this great opportunity, click here to learn more. Read More You are receiving this email because you signed up for our daily newsletter at http://www.gizmag.com. If you would like to switch to our daily newsletter, click here If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter please click here to unsubscribe. COPYRIGHT GIZMAG (C) 2013