UBC coren: High-tech, high-price carbon fiber fixie

The UBC coren is what happens when creative minds get to run amok without the usual constraints imposed by reality. The new single speed bicycle combines a unique shape, belt drive and plenty of high-tech composite.

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"Carte blanche" – it's a phrase that designers, artists and creative minds thrive on. And it's a phrase that the design team at German carbon fiber outfitter UBC got to hear directly from CEO Ulf Bräutigam, who also mentioned ignoring the bicycle production rule book. It's no surprise that the resulting coren looks a little different than the standard bicycle.

UBC typically concerns itself with faster, more technological modes of transportation like race cars and aircraft. Instead of taking a step down to design a bicycle, it decided to bring the bicycle a step up in terms of high-tech design. The coren's unique, parallelogram-like frame is built of the T1000 carbon fiber ordinarily reserved for Formula 1 monocoques.
Instead of the typical chain, the coren uses a Gates Carbon Drive belt system. The toothed carbon belt is designed to be quiet, smooth, maintenance free, lightweight and durable when compared to a chain. Other components hail from suppliers such as BOR, ENVE, Schmolke, Trickstuff and Tune. UBC lists weight at just under 17 pounds (7.7 kg).

UBC promises that each frame is hand built in clean room conditions in accordance with motorsports standards. It plans to offer the limited edition bike in single speed, fixed gear and pedal-assisted electric configurations by the end of the year. The starting price is €25,000 (about US$32,500 as of publishing). Who said German carbon fiber bikes defined by French terms come cheap?

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UBC coren: High-tech, high-price carbon fiber fixie

The UBC coren is what happens when creative minds get to run amok without the usual constraints imposed by reality. The new single speed bicycle combines a unique shape, belt drive and plenty of high-tech composite.

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• 
• 
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• View all

"Carte blanche" – it's a phrase that designers, artists and creative minds thrive on. And it's a phrase that the design team at German carbon fiber outfitter UBC got to hear directly from CEO Ulf Bräutigam, who also mentioned ignoring the bicycle production rule book. It's no surprise that the resulting coren looks a little different than the standard bicycle.

UBC typically concerns itself with faster, more technological modes of transportation like race cars and aircraft. Instead of taking a step down to design a bicycle, it decided to bring the bicycle a step up in terms of high-tech design. The coren's unique, parallelogram-like frame is built of the T1000 carbon fiber ordinarily reserved for Formula 1 monocoques.
Instead of the typical chain, the coren uses a Gates Carbon Drive belt system. The toothed carbon belt is designed to be quiet, smooth, maintenance free, lightweight and durable when compared to a chain. Other components hail from suppliers such as BOR, ENVE, Schmolke, Trickstuff and Tune. UBC lists weight at just under 17 pounds (7.7 kg).

UBC promises that each frame is hand built in clean room conditions in accordance with motorsports standards. It plans to offer the limited edition bike in single speed, fixed gear and pedal-assisted electric configurations by the end of the year. The starting price is €25,000 (about US$32,500 as of publishing). Who said German carbon fiber bikes defined by French terms come cheap?

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Tosy's mROBO transforming robot dances to the beat of its own drum

Tosy is a Vietnamese robotics manufacturer in the fascinating position of manufacturing industrial robots as well as robotic toys. It seems determined to meld these two worlds with mROBO, an inexpensive robot that transforms from its speaker form to an 18-inch (46 cm) tall dancing fool of a robot.

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The mROBO comes with 2 GB of memory, which will allow internal storage of about 500 songs. The audio amplifier and speaker are quality units, which provide solid bass down to a claimed 40 Hz. mROBO weighs 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg), and runs off batteries. The unit measures 4.3 (D) x 6.3 (W) x 7.9 (H) inches (10 x 16 x 20 cm), so is easily portable. It seems a quality, but rather pedestrian, portable speaker. Until it stretches its legs.
mROBO's form is clearly male, and likely intended to suggest Michael Jackson. Tosy has equipped him with software that analyzes music for beats and rhythms, and then tries to identify the type of music being played. It then responds to that music with a sequence of appropriate programmed dance moves. It can get down to its own music, any music it can hear, or to music streamed via Bluetooth.

On the video, the dancing appears pretty solid – at least, it is a lot better than mine. (No moonwalking, though – no knees or ankles.) Tosy is silent about the range of music that mROBO can recognize, but I suspect it doesn't do ballroom. Still, with DWTS and others still on television, who knows?
Not only does it play music and dance, but the urge to get up and dance with mROBO is nearly irresistible. Not enough action by mROBO has yet surfaced to evaluate how creative it seems – for example, if it does the same dance for a given song every time, or if there is a random factor thrown into its programming. Until (if?) it grows boring, though, I predict a great deal of fun coming from an association with mROBO.
The mROBO was unveiled this week at CEATEC (Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies) Japan 2012 and is expected to retail at around US$200 when it goes on sale next year.

Another of Tosy's R&D projects is called Topio 3.0 Ping Pong, a robot that plays ping pong with people, as well as walking and dancing with them. It has the form of a full sized human at 6'2" (1.88 m) and 264 lbs (120 kg). He comes with a 1 kWh lithium battery, has 38 degrees of freedom, and working arms, hands, and legs. To me he looks like a prototype for a humanoid household companion – time will tell. In the meantime, get down and boogie with mROBO in the video below.

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Tosy's mROBO transforming robot dances to the beat of its own drum

Tosy is a Vietnamese robotics manufacturer in the fascinating position of manufacturing industrial robots as well as robotic toys. It seems determined to meld these two worlds with mROBO, an inexpensive robot that transforms from its speaker form to an 18-inch (46 cm) tall dancing fool of a robot.

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The mROBO comes with 2 GB of memory, which will allow internal storage of about 500 songs. The audio amplifier and speaker are quality units, which provide solid bass down to a claimed 40 Hz. mROBO weighs 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg), and runs off batteries. The unit measures 4.3 (D) x 6.3 (W) x 7.9 (H) inches (10 x 16 x 20 cm), so is easily portable. It seems a quality, but rather pedestrian, portable speaker. Until it stretches its legs.
mROBO's form is clearly male, and likely intended to suggest Michael Jackson. Tosy has equipped him with software that analyzes music for beats and rhythms, and then tries to identify the type of music being played. It then responds to that music with a sequence of appropriate programmed dance moves. It can get down to its own music, any music it can hear, or to music streamed via Bluetooth.

On the video, the dancing appears pretty solid – at least, it is a lot better than mine. (No moonwalking, though – no knees or ankles.) Tosy is silent about the range of music that mROBO can recognize, but I suspect it doesn't do ballroom. Still, with DWTS and others still on television, who knows?
Not only does it play music and dance, but the urge to get up and dance with mROBO is nearly irresistible. Not enough action by mROBO has yet surfaced to evaluate how creative it seems – for example, if it does the same dance for a given song every time, or if there is a random factor thrown into its programming. Until (if?) it grows boring, though, I predict a great deal of fun coming from an association with mROBO.
The mROBO was unveiled this week at CEATEC (Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies) Japan 2012 and is expected to retail at around US$200 when it goes on sale next year.

Another of Tosy's R&D projects is called Topio 3.0 Ping Pong, a robot that plays ping pong with people, as well as walking and dancing with them. It has the form of a full sized human at 6'2" (1.88 m) and 264 lbs (120 kg). He comes with a 1 kWh lithium battery, has 38 degrees of freedom, and working arms, hands, and legs. To me he looks like a prototype for a humanoid household companion – time will tell. In the meantime, get down and boogie with mROBO in the video below.

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Windows 8 tablet showdown

With the Windows 8 launch just around the corner, let's take a look at four upcoming premium devices running Redmond’s new OS. All of the tablets detailed here run the full version of Windows 8 and offer laptop-like functionality through the use of various peripherals. However, from internal configuration to design, there’s a lot of different options available and we’re here to help decide which devices are most worthy of your hard-earned cash.

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The systems that we'll be looking at are Microsoft's Surface Pro, the Asus Vivo, the Samsung Ativ Smart PC Pro and the recently-announced HP ElitePad 900. As all of these devices are being marketed with the potential to function as fully-fledged laptops, we'll be looking at the tablet and mouse/keyboard peripherals in tandem.

Specs

The first big choice here is between Intel’s Atom or Core i5 processor lines. The former will provide improved battery life (reports suggest as much as ten hours), but at a significant performance premium when compared with systems running on Core i5 architecture.
Both the Microsoft Surface and Samsung Ativ Smart PC Pro run on Core i5 processors while the HP ElitePad 900 and Asus Vivo offer Intel Atom chips. When it comes to memory, the Vivo and ElitePad come with 2 GB RAM, while the Ativ's offering comes in at 4GB. Microsoft has yet to give any details on how much memory the Surface Pro tablet will have.

The Samsung Ativ Smart PC Pro

The level of SSD storage also varies significantly between the devices. Similarly to the processor offerings, the Surface and Ativ tablets come out on top offering up to 128 and 256 GB storage respectively, while the ElitePad 900 and Asus Vivo's storage options both max out at the 64 GB point.
When it comes to displays, the Asus Vivo and Samsung Ativ are the largest of the bunch, measuring a slightly bulky 11.6 inches. While Samsung lives up to its reputation and provides a full high definition 1920 x 1080 panel, the Asus system comes in at a slightly less impressive 1366 x 768. The HP device is the smallest of the bunch with a 10.1-inch, 1280 x 800 screen, but it's Microsoft that takes the crown here with a manageable 10.6-inch, 1920 x 1080 offering.

Winner: Microsoft Surface Pro

Design

Both the Asus Vivo and the Samsung Ativ Smart PC Pro utilize a form factor pioneered by the Asus Eee Pad Transformer line, with the tablet serving as the screen for what is essentially a fully formed laptop when docked. Both systems are aesthetically pleasing, with the Asus tablet exhibiting a wedge-shaped keyboard section that’s strongly reminiscent of a MacBook Air. As standalone tablets, the Asus Vivo measures just 8.7 mm thick, while the Samsung Ativ device is a slightly chunkier 11.89 mm.

The Asus Vivo provides a full laptop solution and extended battery life

The dock provides a full, notebook-like keyboard, as well as a range of ports. The Asus product also features an extra battery in the keyboard section, significantly extending battery life. However, the portability of the tablet is somewhat lowered, as the device’s footprint is effectively doubled. This is especially true of the Samsung system which, with the keyboard attachment, measures 21.89 mm in thickness and weighs 1.6 kg (3.5 lbs). We're also not blown away by the plastic construction of the Samsung tablet, which provides ultrabook-like specs, but falls a little short on build quality.
The Surface Pro offers the most interesting design here, with a magnesium body, kickstand and choice of Touch Cover and Type Cover accessories. Redmond's tablet stands out here by presenting a fresh and versatile aesthetic which, despite its relative thickness (13.9 mm), makes it the most desirable choice. The Type and Touch Covers are also just millimeters thick, meaning that you don't have to sacrifice portability.
The HP ElitePad 900 is 9.2 mm thick and has a premium-looking machined aluminum design that’s somewhat reminiscent of Apple’s iPad line. Owners will get the choice of a number of peripheral options, most relevant of which is the keyboard case and a dock that provides a range of ports, including the option for a second display and full-sized keyboard and mouse.
This means that users can achieve functionality akin to both a laptop and a desktop PC, depending on their choice of accessories. Unfortunately, the design of the keyboard peripheral is somewhat lacking when compared to the premium look and feel of the tablet itself and the solutions provided for the other devices here.

Winner: Microsoft Surface Pro

Versatility

As previously stated, all of the devices have the potential to provide a fully functional laptop alternative. The Asus Vivo and Samsung Ativ have the most conventional form factor and offer a reasonable selection of ports. When docked, the Asus Vivo provides users with two USB ports, while Samsung's device provides mHDMI and miniSD functionality, as well as two USB ports in the detachable keyboard.
Having said that, the keyboards on the devices are likely to provide a typing experience akin to that of a netbook or small laptop, and the extra battery in the Vivo's keyboard is also a commanding addition, making it the longest runner of the bunch.

The overall thickness of the Surface isn't significantly increased by the Type and Touch covers

Microsoft and HP's devices both offer similar attachable keyboard solutions. Of the two, the design of the Surface's is the more elegant, providing a full keyboard and trackpad with a minimal sacrifice to portability. The combination of kickstand and keyboard case is attractive and potentially very effective. However, we are somewhat skeptical of just how good the typing experience will be on the covers, which offer little or no travel on the keys. Ports are located on the tablet section of the device and provide USB, Mini Display Port and MicroSD compatibility.

The HP ElitePad 900 dock offers a range of extra functionality

The HP ElitePad 900 is the real performer in this area. While its range of Smart Jackets and docks might not be the most attractive solutions available, they certainly make this device the most versatile. The Productivity Jacket includes an integrated keyboard and extra ports, while the docking station has the potential to turn the ElitePad into a full desktop solution. It has a range of ports including USB and Ethernet, as well as HDMI and VGA for connecting a second monitor.

Winner: HP ElitePad 900

Price and availability

Solid release dates and pricing information are difficult to come by, but rumors and speculation are, as always, rife. Reports suggest that Samsung's Ativ Smart PC Pro will hit the shelves on October 26 with a price tag in the region of US$1,200. If proved accurate, this will place it firmly in ultrabook territory. A leaked internal slide suggests that the Asus Vivo will be priced around $800. There's no word as of yet on a release date.
HP has announced that the EliteBook 900 will be available in January with pricing to be announced at a later date. The device is aimed firmly at the enterprise market, potentially making it more challenging to acquire.
Lastly, although the Windows RT version of the Surface tablet will be released alongside Windows 8 on October 26, the version touting the full OS (discussed here) will lag a couple of months behind, and is most likely to hit shelves in January. Pricing information is unknown, though Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has, in the past, stated that the range will be priced between $300-800.

Verdict

All of these tablet hybrids offer the potential to fully replace your laptop while providing a wealth of touchscreen functionality to boot. Initial impressions suggest that you'd struggle to go wrong with any of these devices. But based on what we've seen so far, Microsoft Surface Pro's combination of the attractive, functional design and high specs just about edges out the competition and lets Redmond's slate emerge as the presumptive king of a highly competitive pack.

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Windows 8 tablet showdown

With the Windows 8 launch just around the corner, let's take a look at four upcoming premium devices running Redmond’s new OS. All of the tablets detailed here run the full version of Windows 8 and offer laptop-like functionality through the use of various peripherals. However, from internal configuration to design, there’s a lot of different options available and we’re here to help decide which devices are most worthy of your hard-earned cash.

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• 
• 
• 

The systems that we'll be looking at are Microsoft's Surface Pro, the Asus Vivo, the Samsung Ativ Smart PC Pro and the recently-announced HP ElitePad 900. As all of these devices are being marketed with the potential to function as fully-fledged laptops, we'll be looking at the tablet and mouse/keyboard peripherals in tandem.

Specs

The first big choice here is between Intel’s Atom or Core i5 processor lines. The former will provide improved battery life (reports suggest as much as ten hours), but at a significant performance premium when compared with systems running on Core i5 architecture.
Both the Microsoft Surface and Samsung Ativ Smart PC Pro run on Core i5 processors while the HP ElitePad 900 and Asus Vivo offer Intel Atom chips. When it comes to memory, the Vivo and ElitePad come with 2 GB RAM, while the Ativ's offering comes in at 4GB. Microsoft has yet to give any details on how much memory the Surface Pro tablet will have.

The Samsung Ativ Smart PC Pro

The level of SSD storage also varies significantly between the devices. Similarly to the processor offerings, the Surface and Ativ tablets come out on top offering up to 128 and 256 GB storage respectively, while the ElitePad 900 and Asus Vivo's storage options both max out at the 64 GB point.
When it comes to displays, the Asus Vivo and Samsung Ativ are the largest of the bunch, measuring a slightly bulky 11.6 inches. While Samsung lives up to its reputation and provides a full high definition 1920 x 1080 panel, the Asus system comes in at a slightly less impressive 1366 x 768. The HP device is the smallest of the bunch with a 10.1-inch, 1280 x 800 screen, but it's Microsoft that takes the crown here with a manageable 10.6-inch, 1920 x 1080 offering.

Winner: Microsoft Surface Pro

Design

Both the Asus Vivo and the Samsung Ativ Smart PC Pro utilize a form factor pioneered by the Asus Eee Pad Transformer line, with the tablet serving as the screen for what is essentially a fully formed laptop when docked. Both systems are aesthetically pleasing, with the Asus tablet exhibiting a wedge-shaped keyboard section that’s strongly reminiscent of a MacBook Air. As standalone tablets, the Asus Vivo measures just 8.7 mm thick, while the Samsung Ativ device is a slightly chunkier 11.89 mm.

The Asus Vivo provides a full laptop solution and extended battery life

The dock provides a full, notebook-like keyboard, as well as a range of ports. The Asus product also features an extra battery in the keyboard section, significantly extending battery life. However, the portability of the tablet is somewhat lowered, as the device’s footprint is effectively doubled. This is especially true of the Samsung system which, with the keyboard attachment, measures 21.89 mm in thickness and weighs 1.6 kg (3.5 lbs). We're also not blown away by the plastic construction of the Samsung tablet, which provides ultrabook-like specs, but falls a little short on build quality.
The Surface Pro offers the most interesting design here, with a magnesium body, kickstand and choice of Touch Cover and Type Cover accessories. Redmond's tablet stands out here by presenting a fresh and versatile aesthetic which, despite its relative thickness (13.9 mm), makes it the most desirable choice. The Type and Touch Covers are also just millimeters thick, meaning that you don't have to sacrifice portability.
The HP ElitePad 900 is 9.2 mm thick and has a premium-looking machined aluminum design that’s somewhat reminiscent of Apple’s iPad line. Owners will get the choice of a number of peripheral options, most relevant of which is the keyboard case and a dock that provides a range of ports, including the option for a second display and full-sized keyboard and mouse.
This means that users can achieve functionality akin to both a laptop and a desktop PC, depending on their choice of accessories. Unfortunately, the design of the keyboard peripheral is somewhat lacking when compared to the premium look and feel of the tablet itself and the solutions provided for the other devices here.

Winner: Microsoft Surface Pro

Versatility

As previously stated, all of the devices have the potential to provide a fully functional laptop alternative. The Asus Vivo and Samsung Ativ have the most conventional form factor and offer a reasonable selection of ports. When docked, the Asus Vivo provides users with two USB ports, while Samsung's device provides mHDMI and miniSD functionality, as well as two USB ports in the detachable keyboard.
Having said that, the keyboards on the devices are likely to provide a typing experience akin to that of a netbook or small laptop, and the extra battery in the Vivo's keyboard is also a commanding addition, making it the longest runner of the bunch.

The overall thickness of the Surface isn't significantly increased by the Type and Touch covers

Microsoft and HP's devices both offer similar attachable keyboard solutions. Of the two, the design of the Surface's is the more elegant, providing a full keyboard and trackpad with a minimal sacrifice to portability. The combination of kickstand and keyboard case is attractive and potentially very effective. However, we are somewhat skeptical of just how good the typing experience will be on the covers, which offer little or no travel on the keys. Ports are located on the tablet section of the device and provide USB, Mini Display Port and MicroSD compatibility.

The HP ElitePad 900 dock offers a range of extra functionality

The HP ElitePad 900 is the real performer in this area. While its range of Smart Jackets and docks might not be the most attractive solutions available, they certainly make this device the most versatile. The Productivity Jacket includes an integrated keyboard and extra ports, while the docking station has the potential to turn the ElitePad into a full desktop solution. It has a range of ports including USB and Ethernet, as well as HDMI and VGA for connecting a second monitor.

Winner: HP ElitePad 900

Price and availability

Solid release dates and pricing information are difficult to come by, but rumors and speculation are, as always, rife. Reports suggest that Samsung's Ativ Smart PC Pro will hit the shelves on October 26 with a price tag in the region of US$1,200. If proved accurate, this will place it firmly in ultrabook territory. A leaked internal slide suggests that the Asus Vivo will be priced around $800. There's no word as of yet on a release date.
HP has announced that the EliteBook 900 will be available in January with pricing to be announced at a later date. The device is aimed firmly at the enterprise market, potentially making it more challenging to acquire.
Lastly, although the Windows RT version of the Surface tablet will be released alongside Windows 8 on October 26, the version touting the full OS (discussed here) will lag a couple of months behind, and is most likely to hit shelves in January. Pricing information is unknown, though Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has, in the past, stated that the range will be priced between $300-800.

Verdict

All of these tablet hybrids offer the potential to fully replace your laptop while providing a wealth of touchscreen functionality to boot. Initial impressions suggest that you'd struggle to go wrong with any of these devices. But based on what we've seen so far, Microsoft Surface Pro's combination of the attractive, functional design and high specs just about edges out the competition and lets Redmond's slate emerge as the presumptive king of a highly competitive pack.

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BRIGHT solar lamp and phone charger supports developing nations and campers alike

BRIGHT Products has created a new solar-powered lamp with the intended goal of bringing more light to developing nations. Not only that, the lamp can be used as a mobile phone charger through the built-in micro USB cord.

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The designers' main objective is to replace harmful kerosene lamps used for light in many developing nations. With that in mind, they designed the device to be versatile enough for all kinds of household uses. It can be used a hanging lamp, a portable flashlight, and a desktop light.
According to BRIGHT products, it will take eight to ten hours of sunlight for the device to receive a full charge. Once charged, the light can run for 50 hours on low, eight hours on medium, and four hours on high. Obviously, charging a cell phone through BRIGHT will decrease its operating time.

The BRIGHT lamp has a bendable neck which allows it to be more versatile in the ways it's used, and it gives users the ability to make sure the solar panel is pointed directly at the sun while charging.
The three-meter (3.28-yard) micro USB cable is tucked inside the solar panel. When a user wishes to charge their phone using BRIGHT, he or she simply unwraps the cable and plugs in his or her phone.
For camping trips where access to electricity isn't an issue, the device can also be charged using DC or AC power. If a user is taking the device on a camping trip on a cloudy day, this could certainly come in handy. This feature was obviously not intended for developing nations, as the whole reason they need this lamp is because they are without electricity.
BRIGHT Products is now seeking US$50,000 in production funds, via Indiegogo. To see a lamp donated through BRIGHT's relationship with CARE Norway, which is the group helping to distribute the lamps to developing nations, a $50 pledge is required. For users interested in purchasing a lamp for themselves, a pledge of $100 will do the trick.
Other solar-powered lamps designed for use in developing nations include the Little Sun, Solar Pebble, LuminAID, WakaWaka, and N100.
The following video from BRIGHT Products does a great job of showing its lamp in action.

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