Latest news with #electronics
GSM Arena
7 hours ago
- Business
- GSM Arena
Deals: the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge gets its first major discount, but the S25+ is even cheaper Comments
Deals: the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge gets its first major discount, but the S25+ is even cheaper Comments
CBC
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Sudburian builds fleet of Star Wars droids as a hobby
Sudbury man makes Star Wars droids as a hobby 5 days ago Duration 1:37 Social Sharing If you're a Star Wars fan in the Sudbury, Ont., area, these might be the droids you're looking for. Since 2019, software engineer Patrick Ryan has embraced the art of building droids, the robot characters from Star Wars. His creations have grown in complexity, and now he brings them to multiple conventions each year, letting fans interact with real-life versions of their favourite fictional characters. "I just love the aesthetic of them," said Ryan. "Kids especially, they just think it's real." Ryan's creations have grown in complexity since his first build in 2019. His first project was an MSE-6 repair droid—sometimes called a 'mouse droid'—which was built on an old remote control car. But his signature piece is a BB-8 droid, a much more complex creation from 2015's The Force Awakens. The main body of the droid is the rough size and shape of a soccer ball, but a floating 'head' piece rests on the top of the robot as the ball rolls freely underneath. "It doesn't look like it should work. It does look like magic," Ryan said. A lifelong passion for electronics Ryan uses 3D printing to create the parts for his droids and hides an array of electronic components inside the robots to enable their various functions, from movement to sounds. He estimates the BB-8 cost more than $1,000 to build, a process which lasted a year and a half. However, he didn't have to develop the blueprints from the ground up. An online community of droid-builders share their plans so others can recreate and upgrade their own droids. Ryan developed an improved circuit board to reduce the mess of wires inside, and also add an MP3 audio player to reproduce the droids' sound effects. He then shared those board designs back to the group so future builders could benefit from his work. Ryan studied electronics in college after growing up tinkering with gadgets of all kinds. He now works as a software developer. Having grown up in the 1980s, Ryan said he has always been exposed to Star Wars, but it was the 2015 sequel trilogy that reignited his passion for the franchise. That's what linked him back to his passion for electronics. Droids more advanced than movie props Ryan's latest creation is known as a B2EMO. He said the build process was similar, since other builder-groups exist with pre-made plans that he could 3D print and program. However, this unit is a relatively new addition to the Star Wars franchise, so few other models exist. An added challenge is that, during the filming, the droids were often not functional at all. Instead, puppeteers manipulated the robots and were edited out of the shot in post-production. "In the case of BB-8, there was never one that was operated, like you see with mine. It's just, it's so complicated," said Ryan. "Anytime it encounters a bump, the head falls off." However, the film team did complete a functional, remote-controlled BB-8 prototype in time for the film's red carpet premiere. As someone with a successful build, many people take notice of Ryan and his BB-8 at fan conventions. The puppeteer who worked on the set of Star Wars met Ryan at Toronto Comicon, and used Ryan's droid for fan photos. Ryan also has a photo with his BB-8 and television personality Adam Savage. Ryan said he knows of two other droid-builders in the Sudbury area, but he suspects more may exist. Although Sudbury's Graphic-Con is often the best way to see Ryan's droids in person, the event was cancelled this summer. The next chance for the public to meet Ryan and his creations will be at Fan Expo in Toronto in August.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Jim Cramer on Jabil: 'I Am Again Going to Bless It'
Jabil Inc. (NYSE:JBL) is one of the 14 stocks Jim Cramer recently shared insights on. Answering a caller's query about the stock during the lightning round, Cramer stated: 'Jabil is so terrific that even though it's up on a spike… I am again going to bless it. Why? Because it only sells at 22 times earnings, and it's the kind of company you need to deal with right now. They'll understand all the tariff problems and they'll help you.' A technician overseeing an application-specific integrated circuit design, etched on a metallic plate. Jabil (NYSE:JBL) delivers comprehensive manufacturing and design services, including electronics and electro-mechanical product development, prototyping, validation, and assembly. Additionally, the company provides testing, production management, and consulting solutions across various manufacturing processes. Back in February, Cramer commented: 'What in the world has gotten into the stock of Jabil? This company has been on fire ever since it reported a tremendous quarter back in December. It's up more than 25% in the past two months, setting foot into fresh all-time high territory. I've always loved this company. […] 'They're not just a manufacturing company, they're an engineering and supply chain powerhouse. They build semiconductor fab equipment, testing equipment, silicon photonics, servers, and racks. Amazon just did a deal with them, cementing a hugely important relationship.' While we acknowledge the potential of JBL as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. Sign in to access your portfolio
Gizmodo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
This Action Camera Is Practically Free Compared to GoPro for Amazon Early Prime Day, Stock Is Limited
Whether you've got kids, pets, or just friends who are more than a little extroverted, it can be nice to have a really solid action camera. Not every camera can handle capturing action as it happens, let alone when things go underwater or especially quickly. That's where a good action camera really shines, but they can also be really expensive. They don't have to be though. See at Amazon Today, you can pick up the Akaso EK7000 Action Camera for just $53. That's 34% off the usual price of $80, and a great deal for those who are action-oriented or want to change things up and be a bit more creative. If that sounds like you, then we recommend the first leap you take is to pick this thing up before the deal runs out, because it won't be on for long. This impressive little camera packs an awful lot into a very easy-to-handle package. Let's talk about the picture quality first, as that's pretty darn important. The Akaso EK7000 can capture 4K quality images at 30 frames per second with its immensely powerful 20 megapixel lens. It's going to make every first step, every frisbee catch, and every random proposal look absolutely stunning. We do recommend against proposing too many times though, it really loses meaning after the fifth or sixth time. The pictures won't be affected by any shake or anything either, as it has built-in electronic image stabilization to make sure that your videos look like they were professionally shot, and you can then edit them as you please at home. It really helps everyone feel better at capturing video, and if you're someone with a tremor, it should help take the edge and stress out of capturing video. It can even be used underwater, as it's designed to withstand up to 131 feet of water pressure. This is amazing for going to the beach and knowing you can use it while surfing or bodyboarding without worrying about it getting damaged, or even for capturing stuff in the pool. The wrist remote means you can actually set it up elsewhere and capture your own stunts too, which is a lovely feature to have. This device is a steal at $53, and while the $80 isn't extortionate, it's always nice to save money whenever you can do so. This is a limited-time Amazon deal though, so keep in mind that there's no way of knowing just how long it'll actually last. See at Amazon
CNET
2 days ago
- Business
- CNET
Don't Overspend on Your Smart TV Upgrade. This 55-Inch Samsung 4K HDR TV Is Now Just $398
Upgrading your TV is always an exciting time, especially if you're getting a bigger one. A big-screen TV can really upgrade your home entertainment experience, and you don't have to spend the Earth to get one. This deal slashes the price of the Samsung 55-inch DU8000 TV to just $398, down from the usual $498. Like all the best TVs, this one does more than just show you pictures, too. This model includes features that add value, such as the built-in Amazon Alexa support. That feature means you can talk to your TV and interact with your smart home, all without ever leaving your comfy couch. This TV supports 4K and HDR images so you can get the best experience when watching movies and TV shows, not to mention playing your favorite games. The TV can also upscale older content to a 4K resolution so it doesn't look out of place on your big screen. Other image-enhancing features include the TV's ability to automatically adjust the brightness and contrast of the image, as well as support for a billion different shades of color. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. Powered by the Samsung Tizen software, this TV's smart features mean that you can watch all of your favorite streaming services without having to plug any boxes or streaming sticks in. There's even a gaming hub feature that offers you the option to stream games from supported services, too. You won't struggle plugging other devices into your new TV, though. This model has two USB ports and an Ethernet port for network connectivity. Getting content onto the TV is easy thanks to the inclusion of three HDMI ports. Why this deal matters This TV would be great in a bedroom or den, and at this price, it's a real steal. Support for advanced features and plenty of connectivity really rounds things out nicely, but we suggest that you act soon -- we don't expect this limited-time deal to last for long.
