Tag Archive for High Tech

Israel’s genetically altered algae can power a green energy revolution

view videoTel Aviv University researchers genetically altered algae, allowing the organism to increase its hydrogen output 5 fold, transforming the humble pond slime into a clean fuel source.

By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH

 

Israeli researchers have transformed humble pond slime into an engine to drive a green energy revolution.

Dr. Iftach Yacoby and his team at Tel Aviv University genetically altered single-celled algae, which naturally emit hydrogen throughout the day, allowing the organism to increase its efficiency to five times its natural ability.

TAU’s Dr. Iftach Yacoby and his algae. – Photo: Tel Aviv University

Hydrogen fuel cells are already being introduced into vehicles, and the new discovery could mean algae becomes a key player in the push for green energies. Continue Reading »

Israeli company of ex-IDF intel officers hack ISIS, reveal list of terror targets

After hacking the encrypted site, the Israeli company named “Insights” published a list of potential targets that they had gotten off ISIS’s messaging group.

By Shai Landesman

 

An Israeli company has hacked into ISIS secret online messaging group “telegram”, and has revealed lists of potential targets for attacks planned by the terror group, Channel 10 News reported.

Cyber hackers – Illustrative Photo: REUTERS

Only 500 people worldwide are members of the secret group, and new members are only accepted by recommendation by one of the existing ones. Potential targets for terror attacks are frequently posted on the group, with the intention of moving one of the members to plan an attack in these locations. Continue Reading »

Israeli 16 year-old develops GPS-activated ID tag to foil kidnappings

 

The kidnap & murder of 3 Jewish teenage boys by Palestinians in June 2014 inspired 16 year old Amit Saban to develop a “smart” dog tag, which transmits ID & location to authorities when activated.

By Nitzi Yakov

 

A teenager from Ramat Hasharon has recently launched a startup that makes “smart” ID tags with built-in GPS technology that can help soldiers and civilians in distress, and even prevent abductions.

“The tag I invented contains a chip with GPS, so if a soldier is in trouble he presses [the tag] and his information and location are sent via a computer program to the IDF and his parents,” Amit Saban, 16, explains to Israel Hayom. Continue Reading »

Facebook set to acquire Pebbles, another Israeli high-tech firm

With the purchase of an Israeli firm pioneering the field of virtual reality, Facebook will follow Apple, Intel & Microsoft who are already operating VR R&D capabilities in Israel.

By Assaf Gilad, Calcalist

 

Facebook is negotiating the acquisition of Israeli Pebbles Interfaces, which deals in one of the social network’s most promising current fields of activity – virtual and enhanced reality. Ynet’s sister publication Calcalist learned that after having acquired Oculus VR, Facebook now wants to buy Emil Alon and Nadav Grossinger’s company which develops gesture recognition technology.

Seeing reality… virtually. – Photo: Archive/Shahar Shoshan

While other pioneers in the field such as PrimeSense and Microsoft focus on body gesture recognition, Pebbles’ technology works with finger gestures, aimed primarily at gamers, but also has applications for TV, computers, or smartphone operation while driving. Continue Reading »

100 major German company heads to visit Israel at month’s end

Celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, German’s leading industry leaders will enjoy a 2-day innovation conference with cutting-edge Israeli researchers.

By Shlomo Cesana

 

While many in Europe are calling for a boycott of Israel, a delegation of 100 German industry leaders is preparing for a trip to Israel to meet with top businesspeople in an extraordinary show of support for the Jewish state, marking 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Israel’s Commercial Attaché in Berlin Hemdat Sagi – Photo: Boaz Arad

Some of the companies to be represented in the group that arrives in 10 days’ time are SAP SE, BMW, Bosch, Deutsche Bank, Deutsche Telekom, Merck & Co., Continue Reading »

Apple Procures 3rd Israeli Start-Up, LinX , 3D Imaging for $20 Million

The U.S. computer giant Apple confirmed the acquisition of its third Israeli high-tech startup, LinX Imaging, for $20 million, which creates tiny cameras for telephones & tablets.

By Ilan Gattegno & Israel Hayom Staff

 

U.S. computer giant Apple has acquired LinX Imaging, an Israeli company that produces tiny camera modules for telephones and tablet devices. The Wall Street Journal quoted sources close to the deal who said that Apple paid $20 million for the Israeli firm.

Continue Reading »

Israel’s high-tech boom is double-edged sword on local economy

As foreign companies are acquiring the ‘Start-up Nation’s high-profile companies that were providing hundreds of jobs locally, Israel’s market is being brain-drained as they move abroad.

By Reuters

 

Israeli entrepreneur Avi Brenmiller says he was coaxed by investors into selling Solel, his solar-thermal power firm, to Germany’s Siemens for $418 million in 2009. Today, little is left of it after Siemens pulled out of the business.

ScanDisk in USB port – IsraelandStuff/PP

From a thriving company that employed over 500 people, Solel has been reduced to a factory with 50 workers. Brenmiller’s experience is one of a growing number of cases illustrating the double-edged nature of Israel’s high-tech boom. Continue Reading »

Yo App Proves BDS & Anti-Israel Boycotts are Ineffective

Even a basic smartphone app from Israel, that basically does little to nothing, can amass $1 million in funding, despite the efforts of boycotters.

By Israel Today Staff

 

Global efforts to boycott Israel are failing, and nothing proves that more than the vast sums of investment dollars that are poured into the Israeli hi-tech industry.

Fully 11 percent of all global hi-tech investments every year go to Israel. That’s a huge figure considering Israel’s minuscule size.

And then there’s the regular multi-billion dollar acquisitions of Israeli start-ups and the fact that the world’s leading technology corporations all maintain significant research and development centers in the Jewish state. Continue Reading »

Little Israel Boasts Cyber Exports 2nd Only to United States

The Jewish state has developed a global influence in cyber-related innovations & industries that far out-steps its tiny size.

By Israel Today Staff

 

Israel in 2013 boasted $3 billion in cyber-related exports, more than all other nations in the world combined outside of the United States.

cyber

Israeli experts in the field told the annual Herzliya Conference earlier this month that the Jewish state’s cyber exports represent some 5 percent of the entire global market, and that the figure could easily reach 10 percent in the next five years.

Other figures of interest include the fact that 11 percent of all global cyber-related investments come to Israel, and that 14.5 percent of all cyber firms worldwide that received funding in 2013 were Israeli-owned. Continue Reading »

120 Israeli companies represented at int’l Mobile World Congress

 

Israeli hi-tech companies to showcase mobile innovation at Barcelona’s Mobile World Congress.

Among the exhibits range from app to pay bills at restaurants to smartphones that enables medical checkups.

By Ilan Gattegno

 

Continue Reading »

Israeli authorities caution public on bitcoin risks, considers regulation

 

 

Israel is considering regulating the bitcoin, the Internet’s crypto-currency, and financial authorities are warning citizens that using such decentralised virtual currencies is risky.

Money, money, money: Israel is considering regulating the bitcoin and is warning citizens of the risk of using it – Photo: Reuters

Bitcoins are passed between two parties digitally and can be traded on exchanges for real-world currencies. The bitcoin’s value fluctuates according to user demand but it is not backed by any government or central bank. Continue Reading »

Technion Preparatory Program Prepares Israel’s Ultra-Orthodox for Hi-Tech

Newly opened university preparatory program is designed to open the hi-tech workforce for the hareidi.

By Ari Yashar

 

Amid high tensions over the integration of hareidi-religious Jews into the IDF and the workforce, Israel’s Technion Institute of Technology has inaugurated a mechina (university preparatory) program specifically designed to attract more hareidim into its hi-tech programs.

Technion program for hareidi – Screenshot

While hareidi schools are supposed to teach 55%-75% “core studies,” including science and math, the website No Camels reports that many hareidi schools do not follow the guidelines, teaching a curriculum that emphasizes Torah study to the omission of secular studies. Continue Reading »

Israel admitted into CERN, 1st non-European country to be accepted

 

20-state council of the Center of European Nuclear Research (CERN), which proved the existence of the ‘God particle,’unanimously voted to accept Israel.

 

 

 

The 20-state council of CERN, the Center of European Nuclear Research that operates the Large Hadron Collider under the Swiss-French border, unanimously voted on Thursday night to accept Israel as a full member of the important scientific organization.

CERN particle research center - Photo: CERN particle research center

CERN particle research center – Photo: CERN particle research center

Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman warmly welcomed the decision, saying it was a “proud day for Israeli science.”  He said that the decision to accept Israel was not only an achievement for Israeli scientists, who have brought honor to the country, but also for the Foreign Ministry, which he said worked for years to pave the way for Israel’s acceptance by CERN.

Continue Reading »

Apple acquires Israeli start-up for $345 million

 

Founded in Tel Aviv by a group of ex-IDF gamers, PrimeSense specializes in 3D motion-sensing technology.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

 

The global technology giant Apple confirmed on Monday that it has acquired Israeli start-up PrimeSense in a deal valued at $345 million, Israel Radio reported.

Apple logo

Apple logo – Photo: REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

PrimeSense first made headlines after its 3D motion-sensing camera was used for Microsoft’s Kinect gaming system. It was founded in Tel Aviv by a team of twenty-something gaming enthusiasts who gained extensive technological know-how through their service at an elite military intelligence unit.

“We live in a world in which technology is becoming more and more sophisticated, with an array of applications and features which are complicated and tiresome for the consumer to use, like remote controls and buttons to push. Continue Reading »

Galilee’s Bio-Agritech firm promises 25% added growth in crop yields

Kaiima Bio-Agritech, located just outside of Tiberius in Israel’s Galilee will sow its 1st commercial seeds within 3 years, boasting a potential 25% improvement in yields for wheat, rice & corn through a process known as genome doubling.

By Reuters

 

Kaiima Bio-Agritech, a Galilee-based enterprise that aims to boost global crop yields without the aid of genetic modification, says it will sow its first commercial seeds within three years.

A wheat farm.

A wheat farm. – Photo: Bloomberg

Based at Moshav Sarona near Tiberias, the seed technology firm says it has developed a way to greatly speed up the multiplication of the genome of crops – known as genome doubling – without changing their DNA or genetic fingerprint.

Continue Reading »