2+ week, 1+ day ago (437+ words) Well, apparently, Zero Motorcycles doesn't care about those boundaries. After all, who the heck said you can't do both? And Zero has done exactly that, now venturing into the scooter segment in addition to its illustrious e-motorcycles, with the LS1 electric scooter. Unveiled at this year's EICMA, the LS1 was introduced as a part of Zero's "All-Access" initiative, which is all about making electric two-wheelers accessible for more people. And when you talk about accessibility, the low-step, fuel-efficient, maneuverable, zippy rides offered by scooters make a strong case for top billing in the commuter mobility market. The LS1 comes with two swappable batteries. Both of these are mounted on the floorboard, but Zero also offers you an optional third battery. In its stock two-battery setup, the e-scoot offers up to 71 miles (115 km) of range, while the more expensive three-battery configuration offers a 106-mile…...

2+ week, 1+ day ago (542+ words) When I saw that Xlaserlab " which I'd written about before with its easy-to-use X1 laser welder " had posted up a new campaign on Kickstarter and it was a UV laser, my mouth watered a little. The Xlaserlab E3 is a 10-watt (and there's a 7-watt flavor), 355-nanometer UV laser with a ridiculously tiny spot size of 0.005 mm. Do you know what else is 5 microns? Dust mite poop. Bacteria. Tardigrade toes. For comparison, the IR laser on my Falcon A1 Pro is 30 microns. And my blue diode is even wider at 80-100 microns. Good for cutting, less good for ultra-fine detail. Xlaserlab calls its E3 "16K engraving resolution." Having fought with perfect alignment and ruining plenty of good blanks from a teensy mistake in placement, I can tell you that the pain is real. And making and swapping jigs for every shape and size to reproduce items over…...

1+ week, 4+ day ago (469+ words) Part of the reason for the extra windows is that, while quite similar in style, The Cube measures in more than 50% larger than the Pod-01 in terms of floor space. At 2.5 m wide by 3 m deep (8.2 x 9.8 ft), it has a floor area of 7.5 square meters (81 sq ft), compared to the Pod-01's 4.2 sq m (45 sq ft). That floor, plus a 6.6-foot (2-m) height, give the Cube loads more interior space to work with, and Alphago likes to envision the tent as an open-air cabana-style shelter with all the windows and doors flung open and, often, with an interior kitted out as a roomy solo/couple's base station with tall inflatable day bed, nightstand and desk. As for more conventional on-the-ground overnighting, Alphago doesn't list an estimated capacity, but using the 20 sq ft (1.9 sq m) per person allotment Kampgrounds of America and…...

4+ week, 10+ hour ago (421+ words) You can now get astride an MV Agusta without totally breaking the bank " well, at least not by a whole lot more than you'd spend for other middleweight naked motorcycles, anyway. The updated Brutale 800, which has landed just ahead of the iconic streetfighter range's 25th anniversary, packs plenty of usable power and tech along with the brand's signature Italian maximalist styling, which looks fantastic for the cheapest Agusta you can buy. Rather than being built purely for bleeding-edge performance, this promises to be fun for folks on their first Agusta. Its 798cc inline triple engine puts down 113hp and 53 lb.ft (85 Nm) of torque, which is good for a grin-inducing top speed of 147 mph (237 km/h) and a quick 0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) time of just 3.75 seconds. In the promo video below, the Brutale 800 looks plenty agile, carving up hillside roads with aplomb. That's likely down…...

1+ week, 1+ day ago (450+ words) Being able to reduce the aperture to f/4 gives you more control when shooting in brightly lit scenarios, so you can prevent overexposure, and have more objects in focus in your frame. That can come in handy when you're shooting on the beach, out in the desert, or on a ski slope. This will give you more flexibility when shooting, particularly when you consider it pairs with the Action 6's new 1/1.1-inch sensor, which should capture more light, and result in sharper, brighter images with less noise. As with the previous model, you can shoot 4K footage at up to 120 frames per second (fps). What's neat about the Action 6 is its new 4K Custom mode that lets you crop your video for landscape- or portrait-oriented output after shooting, so you've got options for framing your content for different platforms. The larger sensor…...

3+ week, 5+ day ago (427+ words) If someone is experiencing homelessness, their smartphone often becomes their sole means of staying connected with loved ones and accessing critical services. Charging that phone can be challenging, however, which is why the solar-panel-equipped Makeshift Traveler backpack was created. "After COVID-19 began in March 2020, during my freshman year at the University of San Francisco, I moved out of my dorm and into one of the only parts of San Francisco I could reasonably afford " the Tenderloin," says Zac Clark, inventor of the device and founder of nonprofit group, The HomeMore Project. "I began starting conversations with the very people who lived outside of my building. While I had initial plans to launch a Transitional Housing Program, I took a step back and started the Makeshift Traveler program, based on feedback I had received from people I spoke with who kept…...

3+ week, 4+ day ago (414+ words) Years of waiting could soon be over for Windows users who've long envied Apple's Magic Trackpad. Hyper, a California-based innovator with 20 years in the tech industry, introduced the HyperSpace Trackpad Pro on Kickstarter last month. The fundraising goal was reached within minutes of launch, so this overlooked gap in the market may soon be filled. The company claims the device is "the most advanced trackpad for Windows, offering precision, contextual haptics, and full-force sensing." It features rubber feet to prevent slipping, and a durable soda-lime glass surface. The gadget is fairly compact, measuring 166.9 x 103.4 x 13.0 mm (6.57 x 4.07 x 0.51 in) and weighing around 300 grams. The inventors promise that the trackpad's ergonomic design keeps your hand in a more natural position compared to a traditional mouse. If you spend long hours working on a computer and often feel wrist strain, the Trackpad…...

3+ week, 4+ day ago (417+ words) [The Yidan Center, by Zaha Hadid Architects, is defined by an unusual rippled form with a void at its center]You could be forgiven for thinking that this extraordinary building was dreamed up as some sort of alien megastructure for a sci-fi movie. However, the Yidan Center is very much real and is currently nearing completion.Continue ReadingCategory: Architecture, TechnologyTags: Building and Construction, Office, Zaha Hadid, Shenzhen, China, sustainable design Extraordinary rippled building looks like it belongs in a sci-fi movie You could be forgiven for thinking that this extraordinary building was dreamed up as some sort of alien megastructure for a sci-fi movie. However, the Yidan Center is very much real and is currently nearing completion. Its remarkable design brings to mind the studio's previous Morpheus and Opus projects, and is defined by a massive void at its center....

3+ week, 2+ day ago (485+ words) It's been a whole year since BMW teased the prototype of its F 450 GS. At this year's EICMA, the much-anticipated mini-GS finally made its global debut, and drew plenty of oohs and aahs. First things first: it retains almost all of the design cues we saw on last year's prototype. It's based on the current GS design language, featuring trademark elements like the LED headlight with "X" DRL and the unique flyline. The bike is going to be produced by India's TVS Motor, the same bikemaker who worked on the brand's G 310 bikes. That starts with the engine itself " an all-new 420cc parallel-twin motor producing 48 horsepower at 8,750 rpm and peak torque of 32 lb-ft (44 Nm) at 6,750 rpm. That's more power than the likes of the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, which makes 40 hp at 8,000 rpm and peak torque of 30 lb-ft (40.6 Nm) at 5,500 rpm, and…...

1+ week, 6+ day ago (317+ words) It's warm but not too hot " the perfect weather for camping, picnics, and road trips. And just in time for your next getaway, BLUETTI, a global leader in clean energy storage and portable power stations, is kicking off its Black Friday Sale from November 15-28. The Elite 10 and the B500K will be available on the BLUETTI official website starting Nov. 15. Need big power but less weight for your camping trip? The Elite 100 V2 is your go-to partner. As a leap from the bestseller 1,800W AC180, it powers all your camping gear while being 30% lighter, at only 11.5kg. You can charge it faster with 1,000W solar, and enjoy smarter app control via both Bluetooth and WiFi. At A$899, it's a steal to add extra comfort to your trip. For extended glamping or family trips, the Elite 200 V2 doubles the fun with 2,073Wh capacity and 2,600W power, plus 3,900W lifting power to run…...