Verizon changes things, a bigger iPad, and Sperm-Bots
Four tech stories that caught our eye this past weekend.
Very Hairy. Hair care industry giant L’Oreal is reportedly collaborating with Google Glass to produce in-depth tutorials detailing hair styling techniques — from the stylist’s point of view. Yes, you too can learn how to curl and straighten like the best of them. The company will release a Google Glass app, as well, sometime this spring. No word yet on if it comes with complimentary can of hairspray. Read more at The Escapist.
30 Days Later.Verizon made some major changes to its Edge upgrade program this weekend, now allowing customers to trade in their phone 30 days after purchase (previously there was a six-month wait before the plan could be enacted). Verizon may have changed the time allowed, but not the cash outlay as customers still must pay at least 50 percent of the phone’s value to take advantage of this program. Expect AT&T, Sprint, et al, to follow suit with a competitive response. We’re holding out for a 12-hour trade-in deal. Read more at Engaget.
Bigger is… well, bigger. Apple is rumored to be bringing what the world has been clamouring for: a larger iPad. Allegedly called the iPad Pro (conceding a bit of ground to Microsoft, perhaps?), the device will supposedly feature a 12.9-inch display. Of course, these are still just rumors, and you know how reliable rumors can be. Take it with a large pinch of salt, people. Read more at Ubergizmo.
Sperm that Whirr. And finally, engineers from the University of Illinois have developed a new kind of miniature probe fashioned from a blend of mechanical parts and human cells that are capable of swimming through the human body. Interestingly enough, the probes apparently look a lot like sperm. These so-called sperm-bots are modeled after single-celled creatures with long tails, called flagella, which propel them forward,” reports the Latin Post. The sperm-bot’s body is crafted from a flexible polymer with cultured heart cells embedded near the junction of its head and tail.” The heart cells are what propel the little critters on their fantastic voyage through your bloodstream and viscous bodily fluids. Frankly, we’d like to see how they fare in mucus. Read more at The Latin Post.
Image: Wikipedia Commons
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