Popular Science (June 2005)

131 Pages·2005·19.205 MB·English

by  Various

T
VOLUME 266 #6
CONTENTS
JUNE 2005
There are cynics in the crowd who are not entirely convinced
that Fossett can handle the tricky bird at its maximum weight.
They’re sure he’ll just plow it into the runway and die
FOUNDED IN1872
a mile into his takeoff roll.
tech
ROUND TRIP,p.66
19|What’s New
GADGETS MP3-enabled phones arrive.
AUTOMOTIVEAudi’s ultrafast gearbox.
HOME TECH The supercomfy desk chair.
87|How2.0
GEEK GUIDEDo more with the Mac Mini.
GRAY MATTERHow to gild anything.
TECH LESSON Drawing with GPS.
TECH SUPPORTBuild a better Wi-Fi antenna.
news and views
37|Headlines
TRAVEL TECHAir taxis prepare for takeoff.
SPACE Catapulting astronauts to the moon.
66
SHRINKAGEBetter lube for micromachines.
INVENTIONCousteau’s robotic shark suit.
48|Soapbox
MEDIASCOPEQuit with the sensationalist,
fear-mongering headlines. By Rebecca Skloot
PLUGGED INNew international copyright
laws to save the Web. By Cory Doctorow
stories
NEILL ➤
MAC 55|Best of What’s NextTech that
N
H will change your life: holographic TVs,
O
A; J spray-on space suits,bionic eyes,plastic
D
ALEN buildings and interactive roller coasters.
H
; ARNETTGREGOR 66|Round TripThe inside story on Steve 55
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ON THE COVER: ILLTHIS PAGE, CLOCK 11824FrCLoeotmntet rrthsibeu Etodristor 19288F YLoI oking Back 24
POPULAR SCIENCE JUNE 2005 7
T
FROM THE EDITOR
Editorial Director Scott Mowbray
EditorMark Jannot
Art Director Nathalie Kirsheh
Executive Editor, Features Emily Laber-Warren
Science Editor Dawn Stover
Senior Technology Editor Suzanne Kantra Kirschner
Senior Editor, What’s New Eric Hagerman
Aviation & Automotive Editor Eric Adams
Senior Editors Michael Moyer, Kalee Thompson
Managing Editor Jill C.Shomer
Senior Associate Editor Nicole Dyer
Copy Chief Rina Bander
Associate Editors Joe Brown, Jenny Everett,
How 2.0 Win Mike Haney, Martha Harbison
Assistant Editor Rena Marie Pacella
Deputy Art Director Christopher Chew
Designer Laura Konrad
Photo Editor Kristine LaManna
Art/Photo Intern Jamie Beck
FOR MUCH OF OURl33-YEAR HISTORY, Staff PhotographerJohn B.Carnett
Editorial Assistant Barbara Caraher
POPULAR SCIENCE offered readers Web Producer Leslie Wong
Contributing Design EditorChee Pearlman
a steady diet of hands-on home- Contributing Automotive EditorStephan Wilkinson
workshop-type projects: everything Contributing Editors Cory Doctorow, Theodore Gray, Joseph
Hooper, Preston Lerner, Gregory Mone, Jeffrey Rothfeder,
from building decks to making rudi- Jessica Snyder Sachs, Rebecca Skloot, Bill Sweetman, Phillip
mentary computers. The intensity of that do-it-yourself focus waned Torrone, James Vlahos, Charles Wardell, William Speed Weed
Contributing TroubadourJonathan Coulton
over the past decade or so,and about a year and a half ago we decided that Contributing FuturistAndrew Zolli
Contributing Artists Mika Grondahl, Jason Lee, John
we needed to tap more consistently into that classic POPSCI spirit. In MacNeill, Garry Marshall, Stephen Rountree, Bob Sauls
the meantime,though,consumer technologies had become complex and Editorial InternsAmanda MacMillan, Matthew Olson
solid-state—circuits in place of gears—and the challenge of how-to and POPULAR SCIENCE PROPERTIES
home-project stories in the post-monkey-wrench age required a total PublisherGregg R. Hano
reinvention of approach. And so,after a harrowingly short gestation Advertising Director John Tebeau
General Manager Robert Novick
period, we launched the How 2.0 section in March of last year to Executive Assistant Chandra Dwhaj
address the passion of readers who still want to get their hands dirty,even Northeast Advertising Office: Manager Howard S. Mittman
[phone], Jill Schiffman [phone],
if it means dirty with code. The underlying message: Take control of Mike Schoenbrun [phone],
Michael Saperstein(212) 779-5030
your technology and improve it. Build a digital photo frame. Assemble
Ad Assistant Christopher Graves
a cheap home theater. Hack your TiVo. Midwest Advertising Office: ManagerJohn Marquardt
[phone], Megan Williams [phone]
Well,our reinvention seems to have struck a chord. I’m thrilled to Ad AssistantNikki Schneider
announce that the American Society of Magazine Editors has deemed Los Angeles Advertising Office: ManagerDana Hess
[phone], Ad AssistantMary Infantino
How 2.0 the best magazine section in the country,honoring it with Detroit Advertising Office: ManagerEdward A. Bartley
[phone],Ad AssistantDiane Pahl
this year’s coveted National Magazine Award in that category. Such
San Francisco Advertising Office: ManagerAmy Cacciatore
recognition is particularly astounding considering that How 2.0 was a [phone],Ad AssistantCarly Petrone
Southern Regional Advertising Office: ManagerDave
brand-new section competing against more than 130 better-established Hady [phone],Ad Assistant Christy Chapman
sections from other magazines. The lion’s share of the credit for this Classified Advertising Sales Joan Orth [phone]
Direct Response SalesMarie Isabelle [phone]
triumph belongs to editor Mike Haney,who dazzles me (and you) every Business ManagerJacqueline L. Pappas
Director of Brand & Business Development
month with a section that the NMA judges declared is “meticulously
L. Dennett Robertson
conceived,often witty and always fun to navigate.” SSaenleiso Dr eMvaelnoapgmeer,n tE Mveanntsa gaenrds DParonmielo Vtiaoungsh an UP;
Come to think of it,that description could be applied to each one of our Christy Chapin Ellinger RO
sections,which are the heart and soul of POPSCI,the places you know you CMraerakteivtein Sge Crvoiocredsi nDaetsoigrnEeshr oMndaary CMacraGwaanyn R iG
can turn to for your monthly hit of what you look forward to in the Advertising CoordinatorEvelyn Negron FO
magazine,whether it’s cutting-edge consumer-tech intel in What’s New CSeonnisourm Pelar nMnainrgk eMtinagn aDgierercMtoarrgBearribtaa rCaa Vtwenetullrelli GLIA RTEL
or sprung-from-the-labs discoveries in Headlines or FYI’s irreverent Consumer Marketing ManagersAdam Feifer, Kristen Shue CEMA
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Bravo,one and all! PSerensiiodre Vnitc Me aPrrke sPi.d Feonrtds James F. Else, GROUEC
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8 POPULAR SCIENCE JUNE 2005