Libelium has introduced their 3G/GPRS shield for Arduino (3G + GPS). It enables connectivity to high speed WCDMA and HSPA cellular networks, and includes GPS. [via]

 The GPS module also makes it possible to perform geolocation services even in indoors as it can work in A-GPS and S-GPS modes, so the location given by the GPS through NMEA sentences is completed with the cell information provided by both the 3G module and external Internet Geoposition Servers which helps you to get the most accurate location in each case.

3G/GPRS shield for Arduino - [Link]

blog.pinguino.cc writes:

Pinguino32-DIY is now fully functional. The board is working with its own HID boot loader.
We have now some work to do to incorporate this board in the Pinguino IDE. The job should be done this week and we should propose a new version of the IDE next week-end !!

At this moment,’GENERIC250F128′ works with a 8 Mhz crystal for a finally system frequency of 40 Mhz. The goal is to make it work with the internal oscillator.

Pinguino32-DIY PIC32 development board with the Pinguino bootloader - [Link]

Here is an open source earthquake sensor based on the Wii Nunchuk. A Teensy is used to read the I2C accelerometer output: [via]

This article explores the suitability of a Wii nunchuk based USB accelerometer as an earthquake sensor for the Quake-Catcher Network (QCN) project. It examines the nunchuk over several metrics: precision and range, frequency response, total cost and availability.

Using a Wii Nunchuk as an earthquake sensor - [Link]

Liquidware unveiled their latest project, Amber – [via]

The whole idea being that I want a starting point far enough along, so I don’t need to build everything from scratch, but not so far along that it’s a pain to customize.

The Amber is a 7” projected capacitive tablet driven by a 1 GHz, ARM Cortex-A9 OMAP3730 from Texas Instruments. We’ve customized a version of Android Gingerbread 2.3.4 to run on the Amber, and its 2 USB host ports offer high-speed USB and serial communications to a pretty wide range of devices. WiFi, Ethernet, cellular, and battery configurations are available as part of the Enhanced or Pro versions of the Amber.

Liquidware Introduces the Amber, the Open Source Android Tablet - [Link]

Jordan Bunker writes:

Conductive inks have a myriad of different interesting applications. As a quick, additive construction method for electronic circuits, they are especially intriguing. Unfortunately, for a long time they have been just out of reach of the hobby market. They are too expensive to buy in decent quantities, too complicated to make, too resistive to be practical, or require high annealing temperatures (which would ruin many of the materials you’d want to put traces on).

Now, though, thanks to some brilliant minds at the UIUC Materials Research Laboratory, you can make your own decent conductive ink!

Make your own Conductive Ink - [Link]

Researchers at the University of Basel in Switzerland say they have developed a new approach to producing environmentally sustainable photovoltaic devices. The research team developed a new method for producing dye substances and attaching them to the surface of titanium dioxide nanoparticles. With this they demonstrated that simple dye compounds based on zinc, a readily available metal, can be used.

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) consist of titanium dioxide, a semiconductor material coated with a colored dye. The dye absorbs sunlight and injects electrons into the titanium dioxide, which ultimately results in a photovoltaic current. Conventional DSCs use ruthenium dyes, but ruthenium is very rare and expensive. The research team showed that dyes made with abundant and relatively inexpensive copper are effective in DSCs, and that low-cost zinc compounds can also be used. Although the new devices are not yet especially efficient, the finding opens the way to new generations of DSCs with previously ignored dye types. [via]

Dye-sensitized Solar Cells based on Zinc Compounds - [Link]

www.cnx-software.com writes:

A cheap white brand Android 4.0 USB/HDMI Stick based on AllWinner A10 has started to show up in Chinese websites. Initially, I thought it was like a low cost version of FXI Tech Cotton Candy (which will start shipping this month), but as you can see in the image below, the HDMI port is female so you’d still need a HDMI cable. The hole next to the USB port should be for the power supply, so this device is apparently not powered via USB (TBC).

74 USD AllWinner A10 Android 4.0 Mini PC - [Link]

Marcus Roskosch writes about his Iphone – Ipad application.

Elektor Electronic Toolbox combines electronic reference material with calculation and conversion tools in one handy app. Whether a professional or hobbyist, the app gives users a collection of the most important electrical information right at their fingertips such as:

• Type listings (with color coding) for Resistors and capacitors including SMT types
• Databases for Transistors, FETs, Triacs, Thyristors, Diodes, ICs, TTL, CMOS, Atmel and PIC controllers
• Calculating circuit values for Resistor, Capacitor, Inductor, NE555, Filter circuits and much more
• Unit conversion for numerous types of Measurements (pressure, energy, distance, speed, weight, etc.)
• A database for common electrical Symbols
• An Indices database of common electrical components
• Calculation of voltage regulators with 78xx,79xx,LM317 or LM337
• Op-amp circuit calculation
• Number base converter (Hex, decimal, binary etc.)
• Frequency, period wave-length calculation
• LED / resistor calculation
• Voltage divider calculation
• R/L calculations
• BJT calculations
• Schematic Diagrams
• Pinouts of Audio, Video, Computer or phone sockets

Electronic Toolbox Pro - [Link]