Olympus PEN E-PL7

Digital Photography Review reports: [edited]

The E-PL7 is the sixth camera in Olympus's midrange PEN Lite lineup.

The latest model adds several significant improvements over its predecessor, a revised shutter mechanism, a full control dial on the top plate and a 3:2 rear display. The shutter mechanism reduces the image shake that has blunted the appeal of previous models while the addition of a control dial should enhance the experience for users wanting to take control of the camera. The squarer display, meanwhile, is a better balance between the shape of the camera's stills and movie output - meaning more of the screen is used.

Meanwhile, the point-and-shoot end of the audience still get a responsive touchscreen experience with a results-orientated 'live guide' interface. And, because it needs to justify its purchase to a smartphone-owning world, a fold-down rear screen for taking 'selfies.' There's also built-in Wi-Fi to transfer those shots off to a smartphone before you miss any further moments, or your food gets any colder.

The 3-axis voice coil motor driven 3-axis stabilisation is borrowed from the E-M10 and promised around 3.5 stops worth of stabilisation, according to industry-standard testing.

The E-PL7 is being launched at a cost of $599 body only and $699 with the retractable 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 zoom.
------------

Mural made from product packaging

Boing Boing reports: [edited]

Artist Gerlinde Gruber of Vienna, Austria made this mural out of roughly 1700 packages from Mayr-Melnhof Packaging. The 8 meter by 4 meter artwork was exhibited for the first time at the MMP booth at the Interpack 2014 trade show in Düsseldorf, Germany.

For more images, click here.
------------

Google Photo Sphere available on iOS

TechCrunch reports: [edited]

Google has just launched a new app for iOS users, which allows you to take 360-degree photos, then publish them to Google Maps or other social networks. The app is an expansion of a feature that was previously available via Google’s Android operating system.

Google’s Photo Sphere lets you look not just left and right, but also up and down – like you can with Google Street View.

After users create a Photo Sphere, they can opt to publish to a dedicated community within Google Maps called Views, or social networks like Google+, Facebook, and Twitter. Additionally, explains Google, locally relevant photo spheres may appear in Google Maps itself, helping people to virtually explore the world.
------------

ButterUp

Kickstarter reports: [edited]

Say goodbye to hard clumps of butter ripping apart your morning toast with ButterUp. ButterUp turns cold, hard butter into easy to spread ribbons of dairy goodness.

Our unique design features a built in grater to aerate and soften butter making it easy to spread. Easy to spread also means you use less butter.

------------

Gratisography

gratisography reports: [edited]

Free high-resolution pictures you can use on your personal and commercial projects. All pictures by Ryan McGuire of Bells Design and free of copyright restrictions.
------------

dockStubz

Cable Jive reports: [edited]

dockStubz is a small adapter for your audio dock or charge station so you can dock with your iPhone with its case on.

Price: $18.95
------------

Atraci

Atraci reports: [edited]

Atraci is an application for Windows, Mac and Linux that lets you listen to more than 60 million songs. It requires no sign up, displays no ads and is 100% safe.

We believe that listening to music should always be free and available to everyone, and that only owning it should bear a cost.

We also believe that software both useful and open-source simply can't die. Join us now and contribute at github.com/Atraci/Atraci.

Android and iOS apps on the way.

[for more info about how it works click here, Ed.]
------------

OwnPhones

core 77 reports: [edited]

OwnPhones are wireless 3D printed headphones modelled to your own ears. And there's no mail-in ear putty involved. You gather your ears' data points using your smartphone, their app, and an object used for size-reference.

These wireless headphones offer good sound quality and fit, but are also customizable in intense ways. There are four types available: Fit, Designer Fit, Smart Fit and Jewelry. Those correspond with basic 3D-printed plastic blob looks, more complex printed shapes, futuristic glowing cyborg styles with added processing power, and jewellery in precious metals.

OwnPhones sport a built-in microphone for calls, Bluetooth 4.0, app-controlled variable noise cancellation and the ability to set exceptions for specific sounds (like an alarm clock) so you never ever have to take them off. There are even optional colored LEDs that can signal whether you're available or busy, stoplight style.
------------

uBeam Wireless Charging

The New York Times reports: [edited]

When Meredith Perry, 25, started studying astrobiology at the University of Pennsylvania, her career goal was to eventually find life on other planets. Instead, Ms. Perry accidentally stumbled upon something even more exciting: the ability to charge portable electronics, like cellphones and laptops, wirelessly using ultrasound.

To do this, Ms. Perry created a technology that can take electricity, convert it into sound and send that audio through the air over ultrasound. Then a receiver attached to a portable electronic device catches the sound and converts it back into electricity. The technology makes it possible for a device to move freely around a room, in a pocket or purse, while constantly charging.

“This is the only wireless power system that allows you to be on your phone and moving around a room freely while you’re device is charging,” Ms. Perry said in an interview. “It allows for a Wi-Fi-like experience of charging; with everything else you have to be in close range of a transmitter.”

The uBeam charging stations will be thin, measuring no more than 5 millimeters thick. These transmitters could be tacked to walls like wallpaper or made into decorative art to beam electricity to devices. Smartphones and laptops could then be equipped with receivers able to convert audio and charge the devices.
------------

Daewoo Testing Exoskeletons

New Scientist reports: [edited]

At a sprawling shipyard in South Korea, workers dressed in wearable robotics were hefting large hunks of metal, pipes and other objects as if they were nothing.

It was all part of a test last year by Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering, at their facility in Okpo-dong. The company, one of the largest shipbuilders in the world, wants to take production to the next level by outfitting staff with robot exoskeletons that give them superhuman strength.

The exoskeleton fits anyone between 160 and 185 centimetres tall. Workers do not feel the weight of its 28-kilogram frame of carbon, aluminium alloy and steel, as the suit supports itself and is engineered to follow the wearer's movements. With a 3-hour battery life, the exoskeleton allows users to walk at a normal pace and, in its prototype form, it can lift objects with a mass of up to 30 kilograms.

Chu says worker feedback from the trial has been mostly positive. Testers were pleased that the exoskeleton let them lift heavy objects repeatedly without strain, but everyone also wanted it to move faster and be able to cope with heavier loads. Chu is working on it. "Our current research target of the lifting capacity is about 100 kilograms," he says.
------------

Free Font - Source Serif

Adobe reports: [edited]

We are pleased to announce the release of Source Serif, a new open source typeface which is now available here on Typekit — as well as directly from SourceForge, for anyone who feels inspired to dig into the original font files.

Source Serif was designed by Frank Grießhammer as the serif counterpart to our popular Source Sans family.

Adobe’s principal type designer, Robert Slimbach, consulted with Frank on the design of Source Serif, helping to ensure its compatibility with Source Sans. With its simplified, eminently readable letter shapes, Source Serif is well-suited for digital environments, and shines when used for extended text setting on paper or on screen.
------------

Jimi USB Port Extender

iClarified reports: [edited]

Jimi is a J-shaped extension that eliminates the need to strain to reach the USB port at the back of the iMac.

Simply plug Jimi into the USB port at the back of the iMac and extend the bottom of the “J” to snap into place along the bottom vent of the computer. Jimi is exclusively designed for the iMac Slim Aluminium Unibody model (released November 2012) or later.

Available in the UK for £12.95 from Amazon.
------------

Denny Bike

engadget reports: [edited]

The Denny (built by fabricator Taylor Sizemore) sports a minimalist frame, which hides the tech packed inside. There's an electric motor on the front hub (with a removable battery) to boost your hill-climbing. That's married with a computer controlled automatic shifter that automatically adjusts to ride conditions. To combat showers, it uses a simple device with rubber bristles to break up the water, rather than a fender.

The Denny also has safety features like daytime running lights, brake lights and turn signals activated by bumping the brake handles. The handlebars function as either a nifty quick locking system, or detach fully to secure the frame and back wheel.

For now, the bike remains experimental as part of the Oregon Manifest Bike Design Project. However, whichever bike wins the contest will go into production, and previous champs like the Faraday Porteur have lived on as crowdfunded production models.

------------

Brewbot

Brewbot reports: [edited]

Brewbot uses sensor technology to track and automate the beer brewing process. Simply follow the instructions in the app, add the ingredients when prompted and, hey presto, you can call yourself a brewer.

Monitor, track and understand how water turns into beer using the mobile app, from adding the ingredients on brew-day to the day it is ready to drink. Brewbot provides an insight into how your beer is doing every step of the way.

Join the community and begin brewing your own Brewbot Ale by picking up a Brewbot at the special pre-order price, starting at £1,700.

Current orders are shipping in September 2014.
------------

London-Nottingham-London-Somerset-London, 25- & 27-07-14

London - Nottingham, 25-07-14
I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight - Richard Thompson
Walking on a Wire - Richard Thompson
Wall of Death - Richard Thompson
Down Where the Drunkards Roll - Richard Thompson
One Door Opens - Richard Thompson
Persuasion - Richard Thompson
1952 Vincent Black Lightning (alt) - Richard Thompson
I Misunderstood - Richard Thompson
From Galway to Graceland - Richard Thompson
Valerie - Richard Thompson
Shoot out the Lights - Richard Thompson
Beeswing - Richard Thompson
When the Spell Is Broken - Richard Thompson
Dimming of the Day - Richard Thompson
Highway 61 Revisited - Johnny Winter
Seven Days - Ron Wood
Just Like A Woman (live) - Richie Havens
When The Ship Comes In - The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem
Introduction - Johnny Cash
You Ain't Goin' Nowhere - Mary Chapin Carpenter, Rosanne Cash & Shawn Colvin
Don't Think Twice, It's All Right (Rehearsal) - Eric Clapton
Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues - Neil Young
All Along The Watchtower - Neil Young
I Shall Be Released - Chrissie Hynde
Don't Think Twice, It's All Right - Eric Clapton
Emotionally Yours - The O'Jays
The Band - The Band
Absolutely Sweet Marie - George Harrison
License To Kill - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Roger McGuinn - Roger McGuinn

Nottingham - London, 25-07-14
Beaten Up In Love Again (Album Version) - The Doves
There's A Hole In My Bucket - Harry Belafonte & Ertha Kitt
Laisse Tomber Les Filles - April March
Sweet Talkin' Guy - The Chiffons
In The Shadows - The Rasmus
Whoops Now - Janet Jackson
Belle - Beauty and the Beast
Keep Your Hands To Yourself - The Georgia Satellites
Metarie - Brendan Benson
Chartjunk - Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks
Vicious - Lou Reed
He's A Tramp - Lady And The Tramp
Cologne (feat. Nikki Cislyn & Javeon) - Clean Bandit
9 To 5 - Dolly Parton
Shang-A-Lang - Bay City Rollers
Take on me - a-ha
Fade To Grey - Visage
You Sexy Thing (16/6/87 BBC Radio 1 John Peel Session) - Cud
Great Minds Think Alike, All Brains Taste The Same - Happyness
Love Is To Die - WARPAINT
Bad - Michael Jackson
Monday Morning 5:19 - Rialto
Borderline - Madonna
Why'd You Come In Here Lookin' Like That - Dolly Parton
The Wire - HAIM
Archie, Marry Me - Alvvays
Toop Toop - Cassius
Take On Me - Reel Big Fish
Better Off As Two (single) - FrankMusik

London - Somerset, 25-07-14
Dance Wiv Me (feat. Calvin Harris & Chrome) [Radio Version] - Dizzee Rascal
Mr. Fortune Cookie Fortune Writer - Bud Light - Real American Heroes
Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It) - Beyoncé
My coo ca choo - Alvin Stardust
Cum on Feel the Noize - Slade
It Wasn't Me - Shaggy
One More Night - Yellow Dog
Stop, Stop the music - The Hollies
Overnight Sensation (Hit Record) - Raspberries
I'm Not Alone (Radio Edit) - Calvin Harris
Pump Up the Jam - Technotronic feat. Felly
Birthday - Katy Perry
History Eraser - Courtney Barnett
Jump In the Line - Harry Belafonte
(I Hate) Everything about you - Ugly Kid Joe
Infinity 2008 (Klaas Vocal Edit) - Guru Josh Project
Brand New Lover - Dead Or Alive
I Would Die 4 U/Baby I'm A Star - Prince And The Revolution
Mr Jones - Counting Crows
Dilemma - Nelly feat. Kelly Rowland
When Can I See You Again? - Owl City
Mayor Of Your Town - Leona Naess
I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas
Rock My Heart (Radio Mix) - Haddaway
One Fine Day - The Shirelles
Get Low - Flo Rida
Banquet - Bloc Party
Daughter - Loudon Wainwright III
eez-eh - Kasabian
Papa don't Preach - Madonna
I'm Your Man - Wham!
Sitting Down Here - Lene Marlin
Going To The Chapel - The Shirelles
Swoon - Emily Wolfe
Got To Get - Rob 'N' Raz feat. Leila K
Islands In The Stream - Dolly Parton (with Kenny Rogers)
Sonic Boom Boy - Westworld
I Love You 'Cause I Have To - Dogs Die In Hot Cars
One Girl / One Boy - !!!
You're The One That I Want - Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta
Helena Beat - Foster the People
My Girl - Madness
Klapp Klapp - Little Dragon

Somerset - London, 27-07-14
I Can't Wait - Nu Shooz
Zombie (Dancin' With The Zombie) (cranberries remix) - A.D.A.M. feat. Amy
Mr. E's Beautiful Blues - Eels
I Think I'm A Clone Now - "Weird Al" Yankovic
Don't Save Me - HAIM
Starstrukk (feat. Katy Perry) - 3OH!3
Secret Smile - Semisonic
Feel It (feat. Maya) - The Tamperer (feat. Maya)
Mr. Handlebar Mustache Wearer - Bud Light - Real American Heroes
Goshen '97 - Strand Of Oaks
My White Bicycle - Nazareth
Another One Bites The Dust [2011 Remaster] - Queen
The Streak - Ray Stevens
These Aren't The Droids - Neko Case and Kelly Hogan
Dhoom Machale Dhoom - DHOOM-3
Bad Boys - Wham!
Avant Gardener - Courtney Barnett
Slung-lo - Erin McKeown
Good Morning Baby - Semisonic w/Bic Runga
I wanna be sedated (Ramones cover) - The Offspring
Call me maybe - Nightcore
Innocente (feat. Leigh Nash) - Delerium
Mah Na Mah Na - Mahna Mahna and The Two Snowths
Cool Jerk - The Revillos
Return to Yesterday - The Lilac Time
Take On Me - El Conjunto Nueva Ola
Ride A White Swan - T.Rex
Sailor's Daughter - Sabina
Nature Boy [Edit] - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) - Florence + The Machine
Friday I'm in Love - The Cure
Kung Fu Fighting - Bus Stop Feat. Carl Douglas
Rhythm Is a Dancer - Snap!
Louie - Ida Maria
Move It Like This - Baha Men
Anti-Parent Cowboy Killers - Joanna Gruesome
Baby One More Time - Britney Spears
Number Three (live) - They Might Be Giants
Word Crimes - "Weird Al" Yankovic
99 Red Balloons [Pleasure Delux techno remix] - Nena
Daddy's Girl - Red Sovine
Never Do A Tango With An Eskimo - Alma Cogan
Under Pressure [2011 Remaster] - Queen (ft. David Bowie)
Karma Chameleon - Culture Club
Pump Up the Volume - Marrs
The Sun Has Got His Hat On - Ambrose and His Orchestra
Virginia Plain - Bryan Ferry & Roxy Music
Insane In the Brain - Prince Fatty
Feel It In Your Heart - Abandon
Encore Une Fois - Sash!
Fooled Around And Fell In Love - Elvin Bishop
Yes Sir I Can Boogie - Baccara
Polka Face - "Weird Al" Yankovic
3 Little Words (single) - FrankMusik
Sign Of The Times - Belle Stars
The Ketchup Song (Asereje) - Las Ketchup
Summer Girls - LFO
Pacifier - Catfish and the Bottlemen
Ridin' - Chamillionaire Feat. Krazie Bone
------------

Yeti SB5c

Wired reports: [edited]

The SB5c features 27.5-inch wheels, a compromise between the lighter weight of 26-inch wheels and steam roller-like qualities of a 29er. According to some industry experts, this in-between wheel size is also appealing to aggressive riders who want to get some air, and more petite riders who may feel overwhelmed by 29-inch wheels.

There’s also a new suspension platform that optimises pedalling efficiency by smoothing out small bumps and offering controlled travel during descents. It uses a 'translating pivot' system composed of a pair of short rails above the bike’s bottom bracket. The carrier goes up on these rails to make pedalling smoother, and as rear travel increases, this hardware moves downwards on the rails to increase chain tension and give a better path for the rear wheel.

Some other notable specs include 127mm of travel on its Fox Float rear shocks and a 140mm fork; Shimano XT disc brakes; and a SRAM 11 speed cassette. Its curvaceous frame comes in turquoise or black, and the whole setup weighs in at 26 pounds before pedals.

The SB5c ships now starting at $6,600 with a SRAM X01 build, but can run up to $10,600 if you opt for SRAM XX1 parts and an Enve M60 wheelset.
------------

Pexels

Design Instruct reports: [edited]

If you’re looking for a convenient, singular source of great photos to use in your design projects, head over to Pexels — an image-based search engine that only features copyright-free public domain photos.

Pexels looks for photos from sites like Unsplash and Gratisography, and then pulls them together in one spot. Finding photos by subject is easy because the site takes the time to tag each image it features.

The search engine has over eight hundred free photos, with thirty new photos added every week.
------------

A tree that produces 40 types of fruit

Science Alert reports: [edited]

In 2008, Van Aken learned that an orchard at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station was about to be shut down due to a lack of funding. This single orchard grew a great number of heirloom, antique, and native varieties of stone fruit, and some of these were 150 to 200 years old. To lose this orchard would render many of these rare and old varieties of fruit extinct, so to preserve them, Van Aken bought the orchard, and spent the following years figuring out how to graft parts of the trees onto a single fruit tree.

Working with a pool of over 250 varieties of stone fruit, Van Aken developed a timeline of when each of them blossom in relationship to each other and started grafting a few onto a working tree’s root structure. Once the working tree was about two years old, Van Aken used a technique called chip grafting to add more varieties on as separate branches. This technique involves taking a sliver off a fruit tree that includes the bud, and inserting that into an incision in the working tree. It's then taped into place, and left to sit and heal over winter. If all goes well, the branch will be pruned back to encourage it to grow as a normal branch on the working tree.

After about five years and several grafted branches, Van Aken's first Tree of 40 Fruit was complete. It looks like a normal tree for most of the year, but in spring it reveals a stunning patchwork of pink, white, red and purple blossoms, which turn into an array of plums, peaches, apricots, nectarines, cherries and almonds during the summer months, all of which are rare and unique varieties.

Not only is it a beautiful specimen, but it’s also helping to preserve the diversity of the world’s stone fruit. Stone fruits are selected for commercial growing based first and foremost on how long they keep, then how large they grow, then how they look, and lastly how they taste. This means that there are thousands of stone fruit varieties in the world, but only a very select few are considered commercially viable, even if they aren't the best tasting, or most nutritious ones.

Van Aken has grown 16 Trees of 40 Fruit so far, and they’ve been planted in museums, community centres, and private art collections around the US. He now plans to grow a small orchard of these trees in a city setting. Of course, the obvious question that remains is what happens to all the fruit that gets harvested from these trees? Van Aken told Lauren Salkeld at Epicurious:

"I've been told by people that have a tree at their home that it provides the perfect amount and perfect variety of fruit. So rather than having one variety that produces more than you know what to do with, it provides good amounts of each of the 40 varieties. Since all of these fruit ripen at different times, from July through October, you also aren't inundated."

Read the rest of the interview, here.
------------

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000

Digital Photography Review has published a full review of Panasonic's premium superzoom.

Snippets from the conclusion follow:

"The DMC-FZ1000 is one of the most exciting 'compact' cameras to come along in some time. The combination of a 1"-type sensor and bright 25-400mm lens make the FZ1000 a compelling choice for both the traveler and someone who wants a camera that does both stills and video very well."

"The FZ1000 is the first compact camera to support 4K video recording (at an impressive 100Mbps bit rate), so it's ready for the next generation of televisions."

"Exposure is generally accurate, with highlight clipping not being a huge issue. Colours have a nice vivid look to them, without being over-the-top like some other consumer-level cameras."

"Panasonic has taken a relatively conservative approach to noise reduction, leaving more grain than the Sony RX10, which tends to brush away fine detail. The FZ1000 maintains fine detail until about ISO 3200 and you can comfortably shoot a stop higher, after which you'll want to downsize or switch to Raw."

W"hile image quality is close to that of interchangeable lens cameras at their base ISOs, the FZ1000 falls behind relatively quickly due to its smaller sensor. That said, no ILC offers the same combination of size, video, and price as the FZ1000."

"Video quality is excellent. 4K video also allows one to capture 8 megapixel stills, which look very good. The 1080p video is top-notch."

"The FZ1000 is one of the most responsive compacts we've seen, whether it's startup speed, autofocus, or the user interface. The autofocus speed is what really stands out, regardless of the lighting condition. The FZ1000 has an available electronic shutter, which allows for silent shooting. You can compose your photos and movies on either a fully articulating 921k dot LCD or via a gorgeous XGA electronic viewfinder."

Price: £749.00
------------

Bacteria that lives on electricity

Engadget reports: [edited]

All life is ultimately powered by electricity, albeit indirectly, since most organisms consume sugars that produce electrochemical reactions. Several types of bacteria are known to skip the sweets and go straight for the electrons, however - and researchers have discovered that they may be everywhere.

New Scientist reported that biologists have grown bacteria (Mariprofundus ferrooxydans PV-1) that harvest electrons directly from iron electrodes. Several species were teased out of soil from a seabed floor and deep well in Death Valley, California, just by applying a charge to the ground. In a lab environment, a separate team found that they can be kept alive exclusively with electricity.

Scientists found that up to eight species may eat and excrete electrons, including some with remarkable properties. For instance, hundreds of thousands of bacteria can form daisy-chained "wires" an inch or so long, and tap seawater oxygen for energy. Such filaments can hold soil together and conduct electricity about as well as standard copper wire. Those properties could lead to interesting practical applications, like "SPUDs" or self-powered useful devices that clean up pollution, or bacteria that create electric "biocable" networks in the soil.
------------