Quest for Stars, the 501(c)3 that engages students in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology studies, will harness the power of Android once again for its latest endeavor. Stratoshuttle, the latest Student Shuttle Program, is challenging students around the country to design a shuttle that will withstand a launch into the stratosphere and return home in one piece. The winning design will ultimately be outfitted with a Motorola tablet or smartphone that will act as data aquisition and navigation for the aircraft. Quest for Stars' partnership with the Motorola Mobililty Foundation gave way to an OG Droid being sent into the stratosphere for photos and GPS tracking, a task later adopted by a couple of Droid Xs.

Launch date and location will be announced at next week's Next-Generation Suborbital Researchers' Conference in Palo Alto, as will details on how to enter your hand crafted spaceship into the running. We'll keep our eyes to the skies for the launch, and we'll pass along the Motorola-snapped photos as soon as they return to Earth.

Source: Quest for Stars

Last week I heard about a new Bluetooth wireless speaker for iOS devices that sounded pretty interesting, but since it was “just” a Kickstarter campaign and we get a lot of product pitches for speakers in production, I completely forgot about it. That was until today, when I found out that the Zooka Wireless Speaker Bar has completely blown by its funding goal of $25,000 with 25 days left to go.

The Zooka looks like a pretty cool product, although in my opinion the jury will be out until we have a chance to actually try one. Zooka works with any iOS device, but is most striking when it is attached to an iPad. The device has a speaker at each end of a silicone tube that can be used as an iPad grip, and it features internal rechargeable Lithium-Ion batteries for up to 8 hours of amped-up sound.

There are plans to make Zookas in a variety of colors — orange, fluorescent green, dark blue, brown, tan, and black — and high-level backers even get the opportunity to get a limited edition glow-in-the-dark version.

Check out the video below for a demonstration of this unique take on a Bluetooth tablet speaker.

Gadzooks! Zooka’s wireless speaker bar is a hit on Kickstarter originally appeared on TUAW – The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While we've been getting in shape during Mobile Nations Fitness Month and sharing our tips and tricks with you all, we came across a pretty awesome use for the MOTOACTV recently. Highlighted on the Motorola blog is Christine Rolf, who has taken her MOTOACTV to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and back for a good cause:

After hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu I wanted a bigger challenge. Kilimanjaro was it: the summit is 5895 meters/19,340 feet high. I hiked 62 kilometers in 7 days – first a 4,405 meter ascent followed by a 3,915 meter descent, through a total of 5 climate zones. I also wanted to raise money for Make-A-Wish Foundation where I’ve volunteered for over 10 years. The donations totaled over $2,500!

Amazing to say the least. Christine noted the MOTOACTV was a great tool to have in her arsenal for the climb and while we won't be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro any time soon – we're not going to disagree.

Source: Motorola

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It’s a battle of David and Goliath as near-bankrupt Proview International fights world-leader Apple over rights to the iPad trademark in China. The two companies met in a Shanghai court on Wednesday to argue why each one should retain ownership of the highly coveted iPad name. According to reports from the New York Times, Reuters and the AP, the court session lasted four hours and was filled with heated comments from both sides.

Proview’s lawyer Xie Xianghui asserted that “Apple has no right to sell iPads under that name.” Apple’s lawyer retorted with a scathing assessment of Proview, “Proview has no product, no markets, no customers and no suppliers. It has nothing.” Apple also pointed out that it sells a lot of products in China and a ban on iPad sales would “not only hurt Apple sales but it would also hurt China’s national interest.”

The local district judge’s day ended without a ruling. There was also no indication on how long this case may take. Estimates from lawyers suggest a decision is weeks or possibly even months away.

Apple, Proview meet in Shanghai court originally appeared on TUAW – The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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