Hello, and welcome to The Edge, the newsletter that brings you groundbreaking stories from the frontiers of technology and science.
We’ve got some great stories for you today including Samsung’s latest foldable phone, an incredible Starship prototype test flight and Apple Maps features expanding internationally. For today’s Start-up Stories we’ll be talking about ICON. As always, we’ve added extra stories under each article should you find yourself in a curious state of mind.
A flying silo will take us to Mars
It may look ridiculous, but this test flight is a historic milestone. Image credit: Boca Chica Gal/NASA Spaceflight
Incredible: Watch SpaceX Fly Full-Scale Starship Prototype to 500 Feet
The hits don’t stop coming for SpaceX - they have now managed to successfully fly their massive SN5 Starship prototype at their Boca Chica, Texas testing facility. The silo-looking fuel tank flew to a planned height of 150 metres, after which a controlled landing saw it return safely to the ground.
According to a tweet by Elon Musk, “Mars is looking real.” This is a massive milestone for SpaceX and space exploration, the ultimate goal being to have Starship ferry up to 100 passengers, or 100 tons of cargo, to the Moon and Mars. However, there is still a lot of work to be done. To start with, the rocket, which is actually a fuel tank, was only being pushed by a single Raptor rocket engine. The final version of Starship is designed to hold six of the engines and support an enormous nosecone on top. During this test flight, a simulated payload was mounted atop the tank to compensate for future payloads.
Despite the work ahead, a successful test flight like this brings us one step closer to a realistic, manned Mars mission.
Travelling to Mars won’t be easy on humans.
Please welcome Samsung’s next foldable phone
A big improvement. Image credit: Samsung
Galaxy Z Fold2 Has Bezel-less Screens Inside and Out
Samsung isn’t messing about with their foldables. Yesterday, Samsung unveiled the successor to the original Samsung Galaxy Fold - the Galaxy Z Fold2.
Most noteworthy about the successor is Samsung’s response to one of the main complaints, namely the size of the outer screen. When the Fold2 is folded, the outer screen now measures 6.2 inches and has an edge-to-edge design. This is a vast improvement on the outer screen on the original Fold, which measures just 4.6 inches and comes with large bezels above and below. Unfolded, the phone’s inner screen now measures 7.6 inches, an increase of 0.3 inches from the original. The notch in the top corner has also disappeared - the selfie cameras are instead located in an Infinity-O hole-punch on the inner and outer screens.
Details on the phone are still being released. Please click here to check out TechRadar’s continuously updated coverage on the phone.
Is a foldable phone right for you?
Float in style
Privacy gets a new meaning. Image credit: Athenea
This Eco-Friendly Floating Pod Offers Luxury Accommodation
Want an unparalleled slice of isolated luxury? The circular Anthénea luxury pod, created by a French company of the same name, might be the solution for you.
The Anthénea pod is a circular luxury pod that not only floats but is also certified as a boat. Aside from being a luxurious gateway to privacy, Anthénea is also eco-friendly - it comes with a sand screw anchoring system that damages neither seabed nor ecosystems. Additionally, the roof has solar panels, which meet the water heating and electrical needs of the pod.
The pod comes in several different formations. You can use it as accommodation, with the option to have between one and three cabins. The pod can also be used as a floating spa and even a private meeting location. The pod features a lounge area, kitchenette and bathroom as well. The pod’s completely circular 360-degree view lets you see pretty much everything, above and below. Everything mentioned fits into a 30-metre peripheral deck with a surface space of 50 square metres. The pod is 4.76 metres tall and fits up 12 people at one time. All of this can be yours for $330 per night (if you’re renting a pod from a hotel) or $535,000 if you want to buy your own.
How to live remotely.
Have a look around
Apple’s version of Google Street view. Image credit: The Verge
Apple Maps’ Look Around Feature Gets First International Expansion
People outside the U.S may not know about Look Around, Apple’s answer to Google Street View, as it has yet to be released outside the U.S. Look Around gives users 360-degree views of locations at ground level and is now, finally, expanding internationally.
In a twist unusual for Apple, Look Around is coming to Japan before anywhere else. Specifically, it will be available in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Kyoto. Look Around can be brought up in supported areas by tapping the binocular icon, which displays the Look Around view in an expandable pop-up window. One thing that sets Look Around apart from Google Street View is that the photos transition more smoothly, making the feeling of exploring the area more realistic.
Despite this, the general rollout of Look Around in the U.S is quite slow. It was first made available to U.S users as part of iOS 13 last year but only works in eight major locations, including New York City and San Fransisco. Let’s hope Look Around becomes available in more locations around the world soon.
How Google Street View lets you walk down streets from your computer.
Start-up Stories
ICON
Image credit: ICON
As society progresses, so too must housing and construction technology progress to ensure that housing is accessible, affordable and efficient. ICON is working towards that goal.
Based in Austin, Texas, ICON creates construction technologies dedicated to revolutionising homebuilding and making dignified housing the norm. Specifically, ICON uses proprietary 3D printing robotics, software and advanced materials, thereby working towards solving multiple problems, including homelessness in modern cities.