Next-Gen Concrete Will Make Buildings That Last 16K Years

 

Concrete is one of the world’s most popular building materials, with over 20 billion tons produced annually around the world. The production of concrete alone accounts for 5 to 10 percent of the world’s overall atmospheric CO2, so cutting down on its production could have major environmental benefits. Civil engineers at MIT have finally discovered what causes “creep,” the deformation of concrete that occurs over time. This discovery is the first step toward prolonging the life of concrete by slowing the rate at which creep occurs.

The MIT team discovered that creep is caused by tiny nano-scale rearrangements of particles. The discovery means that the engineers can use this new understanding of concrete creep to create incredibly long-lasting buildings and infrastructure objects. Until now, concrete structures have had to be pretty thick in order to remain stable over the years. Thin concrete succumbs to creep quickly, so lightweight concrete buildings have always been impossible.

In the future, concrete structures could be lightweight and thin while using far less material than current generations. And because they would be far stronger and longer-lasting than our current concrete structures, they will require fewer repairs and will last longer than any other concrete buildings. In theory, this nano approach to concrete engineering could result in concrete that lasts for thousands of years.

Glowing Starpath Uses Solar Energy to Brighten the Night

 

Pre-dawn jogging is about to get (a little) safer. A UK Company called PRO-TEQ has developed a spray-on coating for pavement that absorbs light during the day and then glows like starlight in the dark.

Starpath can be applied to just about any paved surface. The company touts it as a low-cost alternative to electric lighting. On a path or sidewalk, the glowing material can help prevent injuries by clearly outlining the walking surface even at night.

The Starpath spray is also non-slip and water resistant, further cutting down on injury risk. A number of materials can be mixed with it to provide different effects: rubber crumbs to resurface a playground, or maybe stone to create a fairytale-like pathway.

PRO-TEQ believe that their product is an attractive alternative to outdoor lighting, though we might argue that it isn’t quite bright enough to replace electric lights. It could very well allow for fewer lights to be used, however, which would save public sites money on utilities and provide a kind of magical environment.

Aerogel: See-Through, Strong as Steel & Ligher than Air

 

Despite its incredibly low density, aerogel is one of the most powerful materials on the planet. It can support thousands of times its own weight, block out intense heat, cold and sound – yet it is 1,000 times less dense than glass, nearly as transparent and is composed of %99.8 air. The lowest-density silica-based aerogels are even lighter than air.

Despite its fragility in certain regards and its incredible lack of density, aerogel has amazing thermal, acoustical and electrical insulation properties as illustrated by the images here. A single one-pound block can also support half a ton of weight. NASA continues to find new space-based applications for this incredible material.

An aerogel window one inch thick has the effective insulative capacity of a ten-inch thick glass window system. While it is still expensive and has other limitations, this material – originally developed nearly a century ago but still undergoing experimentation – could prove to be one of the most influential materials of the 21st Century.

Aside from its other capabilities, aerogel also has amazing absorbing abilities. Some speculate it could be the future solution to oil spills. It is also being tested as a possible slow-release drug deliver system for potential human patients.

Breakthrough allows researchers to watch molecules

 

A research paper, published in the journal Nature Methods on October 5, describes a new way of doing time-resolved crystallography, a method that researchers use to observe changes within the structure of molecules.

Although fast time-resolved crystallography (Laue crystallography) has previously been possible, it has required advanced instrumentation that is only available at three sites worldwide. Only a handful of proteins have been studied using the traditional technique.

The new method will allow researchers across the world to carry out dynamic crystallography and is likely to provide a major boost in areas of research that rely on understanding how molecules work, such as the development of novel smart materials or new drugs.

Understanding how structure and dynamics are linked to function is key to designing better medicines that are targeted at specific states of molecules, helping to avoid unwanted side effects.

"A time-resolved structure is a bit like having a movie for crystallographers," said Professor Arwen Pearson, who led the team at Leeds. "Life wiggles.. It moves about and, to understand it, you need to be able to see how biological structures move at the atomic scale. This breakthrough allows us to do that."

Traditional X-ray crystallography fires X-rays into crystallised molecules and creates an image that allows researchers to work out the atomic structure of the molecules. A major limitation is that the picture created is the average of all the molecules in a crystal and their motions over the time of an experiment.

Dr Briony Yorke, the lead researcher on the project, said: "A static picture is not very helpful if you want to observe how molecular structures work. It is like trying to find out how a car works without being allowed to run the engine. You can look at the spark plugs and the piston and maybe take a guess at how it is going to function, but it is hard to really understand something without seeing it in action."

The existing method of getting around the problem could be compared to the laborious process of making an animated film. Scientists "synchronise" a set of molecules in an identical state and then activate, or "pump," the changes in the molecules. They take a crystallographic snapshot of the structure after a set time. The researchers then have to begin the whole experiment again: synchronising the molecules, "pumping" them and then taking a snapshot a bit later in the process. Slowly, they build up a moving picture.

This pump-probe approach was first proposed in Nobel Prize winning research by the British chemist George Porter in the 1940s and has had a huge impact on our understanding of chemistry. However, a major limitation of the "pump-probe" approach for crystallographic experiments is that the snapshots are only "exposed" for a moment (often as short as 100 million millionths of a second) in order to capture the molecular movements. That means there is very little time to deliver enough light to create a crystallographic image.

There are only three "synchrotrons," large X-ray generators, in the world-in the US, France and Japan-that are capable of delivering a powerful enough beam.

The new method uses clever maths (a Hadamard Transform) to open up the field to much less powerful synchrotron "beamlines," advanced laboratories that scientists use to harness powerful synchrotron light for crystallography and other techniques. This will enable facilities such as the UK's own synchrotron, Diamond Light Source, to do time-resolved crystallography.

As in Porter's method, in the new approach researchers synchronise their molecules and activate them. However, they then make a series of crystallographic "probes" of the moving structures using a pattern of light pulses. These pulses build up a single crystallographic image-a bit like a long exposure photograph. The researchers then repeat the experiment using a different pattern of light pulses and create a different "long exposure" image. This process is repeated until all of the pulse patterns created using a mathematical formula have been completed.

Each of the "long exposure" images created from the pulse patterns is blurred, but the differences in the images and between the pulse patterns that created them allow researchers to extract a moving picture of the molecules' changing structures.

Professor Pearson said: "The great thing about this method is that we don't need the clear snapshots, and therefore the very strong light, required by the Porter method. This is a completely new way of doing a time-resolved experiment and overcomes many of the current limitations."

Co-author Professor Godfrey Beddard, Emeritus Professor of Chemical Physics at the University of Leeds, said: "We demonstrate this method for crystallography, but it will work for any time-resolved experiment where the probe can be encoded. This new method means that, instead of having to go to one of the three instruments in the world that can currently do time-resolved crystallography, you can go to any beamline at any synchrotron-basically it massively opens the field for these kind of experiments."

Co-author Dr Robin Owen, Principal Beamline Scientist at Diamond Light Source, said: "The beauty of the approach is that it uses existing equipment in a new way to facilitate new science. The novel use of the Hadamard transform, or multiple-exposure, approach helps open the door for time-resolved science at a much wider range of beamlines and synchrotron sources than is currently possible. By exploiting the approach we will be able to obtain multiple sequential images of a protein while it carries out its function, providing a much clearer understanding of the relationship between structure and function."

Professor Paul Raithby, Chair of Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Bath, a leading expert on time-resolved crystallography, who was not one of the authors of the paper, said: "This is a very exciting development in the area of macromolecular and molecular crystallography. The new method will allow us to "watch" chemical and biological processes as they happen in a way that has not been possible previously, and open up new vistas of research into the dynamics of molecules and materials. What is particularly exciting from my point of view is that the method can be used in my area of research to look at how "smart" materials function in real time and help in the design of the next generation of electronic devices and sensors."

 

Story Source:

The above story is based on materials provided by University of Leeds. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

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Journal Reference:

1. Briony A Yorke, Godfrey S Beddard, Robin L Owen, Arwen R Pearson. Time-resolved crystallography using the Hadamard transform. Nature Methods, 2014; DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.3139

Audi gives its TT more doors for Paris

 

The Audi TT Sportback is a four door take on Audi's stylish coupe (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)

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Having already rolled out the standard TT Coupe and Roadster, Audi has used the Paris Motor Show to unveil its TT Sportback concept, which wraps a powerful 2.0-liter TFSI engine and quattro all-wheel drive in a stretched, four-door coupe body.

The 2.0-liter, turbocharged engine under the TT Sportback’s bonnet channels 294 kW (400 hp) and peak torque of 450 Nm (332 ft.lb) is available between 2,400 and 6,000 rpm, with the power routed through a seven-speed “S tronic” gearbox. This will send the TT Sportback from 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.9 seconds and Audi claims that, in spite of its performance, the concept will use fuel at a rate of just 7.0 L/100km (33.6 mpg).

To eke every possible bit of performance out of the engine, Audi has fitted aluminum pistons and a crankshaft that is made of high-strength forged steel, while the crankcase is cast out of high strength alloy. Boost pressure is running at 1.8 bar and the TT Sportback’s 21-inch wheels and 255/30 tires are suspended by a McPherson front suspension and four-link rear system. Brakes are 18-inch units all around.

Apart from the drivetrain, the most arresting element on the Sportback concept is the extra doors on the back of the coupe. The Sportback’s body is 29 cm (11.4 in) longer and 6 cm (2.4 in) wider that of a standard TT, with a 12 cm (4.7 in) longer wheelbase. These changes allow for an extra set of frameless doors, which give access to the two individual rear seats.

Rear seats aside, the TT’s interior is largely unchanged. The production coupe’s high-tech 12.3-inch “virtual cockpit” instruments and slick air-conditioning integration carry over, as does the car’s wing-shaped dash.

There is no word from Audi as to whether the Sportback will join the standard TT Coupe and Roadster on showroom floors.

Source: Audi

 

Fiat aims for best of both worlds with 500X compact crossover

 

The Fiat 500X at the Paris Motor Show (Photo: CC Weiss/Gizmag.com)

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Fiat has gone off-roading at the Paris Motor Show with the debut of its 500X compact crossover. To be available in two versions – one aimed city driving and the other for the outdoor leisure market – the new crossover comes in two-wheel and four-wheel drive configurations and features a wide choice of engines and gearboxes, including a nine-speed automatic.

Designed by the Centro Stile Fiat, the 500X echoes the classic 1957 Fiat 500 with its round headlamps and original logo. However, it’s a bit of a five-door brute when compared with the cheap, practical town car of the 1950s. Based on a Punto platform instead of the standard 500, the 500X shows how much the 500 has evolved over the past half century with its heavier lines, more aggressive stance, and more upmarket appeal.

The emphasis on choice for the Fiat 500X model is highlighted by the availability of 16-, 17-, or 18-in alloy wheels and 12 different liveries, in addition to a range of three drive trains that will eventually rise to eight.

•  
• the 140 hp 1.4 Turbo MultiAir II with front-wheel drive and a six-speed manual gearbox.
• the 120 hp 1.6 MultiJet II with front-wheel drive and a six-speed manual gearbox.
• the 140 hp 2.0 MultiJet II with a nine-speed automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive.

These will later be joined by three more petrol engine configurations and two diesels.

• the 110 hp 1.6 "E-torQ" with a five-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive.
• the 170 hp 1.4 Turbo MultiAir II with a nine-speed automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive.
• the 184 hp Tigershark 2.4 with a nine-speed automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive.
• the 95 hp 1.3 MultiJet II diesel with a five-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive.
• the 140 hp 2.0 MultiJet II diesel with a six-speed manual and four-wheel drive.

The Fiat 500X’s new nine-speed automatic gearbox has electronic control, which offers "shift-on-the-fly" mapping as well as a manual-sequential mode. In addition, the four-wheel drive uses rear axle disconnection system that automatically shifts between two- and four-wheel drive as needed without the driver’s input, while reducing the fuel-consuming drag of always-on four wheel drives.

There’s also a Drive Mood Selector that configures the engine, brakes, steering, and gearbox for three driving modes – Auto, Sport, and All Weather. In the more leisure oriented versions of the 500X with four-wheel drive, the All Weather mode is replaced by Traction or Traction Plus for dedicated and light off-roading and respectively.

Inside, the 500X has an understated layout with circular headrests and a choice of trims. Dominating the dashboard it the 5-in or 6.5-in touchscreens for the Uconnect infotainment system. The 5-in version comes with TomTom 2.5D navigation and the 6.5-in version has satellite navigation with 3D maps, progressive route guidance and "One Shot Voice Destination Entry." Both have Bluetooth connectivity, USB port, SD port, voice command, and integrate with smartphones to allow control of apps from the touchscreen. Media playback from synced devices can also be managed directly using the steering wheel controls.

Pricing for the Fiat 500X is yet to be announced.

Source: Fiat

 

Nismo gives Pulsar hatch a makeover for the Paris Motor Show

 

Nissan has given the Pulsar Nismo a more aggressive stance (Photo: C.C. Weiss/Gizmag)

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Nissan's Nismo department has been busy lately. After giving the legendary GT-R the Nismo treatment, Nissan's motorsport and performance division has taken to the Pulsar hatch. The result is the Nissan Pulsar Nismo Concept, which is on display at the 2014 Paris Motor Show.

The Japanese manufacturer has given its hatchback a larger, more "dramatic" front bumper, which features larger air intakes and brake cooling ducts to fit the car's race-focused persona. The changes aren't limited to the front end, with the Pulsar's standard rear bumper replaced by a far more aggressive diffuser-style unit and a central, twin exhaust. A carbon fiber rear spoiler tops the whole aero package off.

The show car's tougher stance is backed up by a set of 19-inch, 10-spoke wheels wrapped in sticky 235/35 tires, while the bodykit is topped off by a set of side skirts. On top of the pumped-up exterior, the Nismo is hiding an interior fitted with sculpted sports seats and a three spoke steering wheel.

So what's hiding under the car's pumped up, aggressive bonnet? Good question, and one that Nissan is keeping quiet about. Beyond a revised suspension system, incorporating revised spring and damper settings that Nissan says provides drivers with "agile and sporty responses," we don't know anything about what sort of performance the Nismo's body is harboring.

For now, the Pulsar Nismo remains a concept, although Nissan says "further details will follow in due course."

Source: Nissan

 

Sikorsky reveals first S-97 Raider helicopter prototype

 

The Sikorsky S-97 Raider that is intended to replace the US Army's OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter

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Sikorsky's record-breaking X2 Demonstrator helicopter may be a museum piece these days, but the technology that went into it is still alive and kicking as the United Technologies subsidiary takes the wraps off the first of its two S-97 Raider helicopter prototypes. According to Sikorsky, this event marks the beginning of the armed reconnaissance ‘copter’s flight tests aimed at providing the US Army with its next generation of combat rotorcraft.

Unlike many military aircraft programs, the S-97 Raider is wholly funded by private investment with Sikorsky funding 75 percent of the costs and 53 principal suppliers providing the rest. It’s based on Sikorsky’s X2 technology, which features a pair of fixed coaxial rotors made of rigid, counter-rotating blades along with a six-blade pusher propeller for propulsion.

According to Sikorsky, this arrangement, along with fly-by-wire flight controls and active vibration control, provides not only a reduction in hub drag, but also a low acoustic signature, high cruise speed and improved high/hot hover performance.

Sikorsky intends the S-97 Raider as a multi-mission craft that will act as a replacement for the US Army’s OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter or the Special Forces’ MH-6 Little Bird. Depending on how it’s equipped, it can be used for armed reconnaissance, light attack, light assault, search and rescue, or casualty evacuation.

To achieve this, the S-97 has a composite fuselage for a takeoff weight of 11,000 lb (4,990 kg) and is powered by a single General Electric YT706 engine putting out 2,600 bhp (1,900 kW). Its length of 35 ft (11 m) and rotor diameter of 34 ft (10 m) gives it a 15 percent smaller footprint than conventional helicopters, though it can still carry a crew of two seated side by side, along with six troops or extra fuel and munitions. The production version may also be capable of autonomous flight

Sikorsky says that the S-97 Raider has a cruising speed of 253 mph (407 km/h, 220 kn), which is more than double the speed of conventional helicopters, and pulls three G’s in the turns for greater agility. It has a range of 308 nmi (354 mi, 570 km), flight endurance of 2hr 40min, and a service ceiling of 10,000 ft (3,048 m).

The S-97 Raider can carry a selection of armaments, including a 50 caliber or 7.62 mm machine gun with 500 rounds, a 7-shot rocket pod with 2.75 in rockets, or Hellfire missiles.

"Today, Sikorsky unveiled the next generation of military rotorcraft, with capabilities and performance never seen before in our industry,” says Sikorsky President Mick Maurer. “Just four years ago, we announced plans to build the S-97 Raider and teamed with some of the best companies in the industry, understanding the need to ensure aircraft development would not falter as government defense budgets shrank in response to economic pressures. Sikorsky is proud of its leadership in this area, and of the leadership the S-97 Raider represents among the world’s military rotorcraft."

The aircraft will undergo initial flight tests in the coming months.

 

Source: Sikorsky

 

Moto G (2014) review: The best deal for the most people

 

The new Moto G is more of a handful (Photo credit: Eric Mack / Gizmag)

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The Moto G is the phone taking over the world that many folks have never heard of. Now the 2nd generation of the device is in the wild and Gizmag was among the first to get our hands on one. Let's see if it will continue its global conquest.

Before getting on with our full review of the 2014 Moto G, let me share a moment with you that sums up this phone the best from my perspective. It was perhaps the most awkward silence during my hours-long tour of the Motorola complex in Chicago earlier this month. During the portion of the afternoon when I and a handful of other reporters spoke with members of the team behind the latest iteration of the mid-range, inexpensive Moto G, someone asked why there was no 4G LTE radio included.

"We aren't making an announcement about that at this time," one of the leads for marketing the Moto G responded.

That was over two weeks ago, and there's still no word on a second generation Moto G with LTE, which is a shame because it's the one flaw that's tough to forgive in a phone that delivers lots of value for just $180 (or £150 and AU$269 in Australia). A GSM LTE version of the first-generation Moto G was released in June for $219, and even with the improvements in the new Moto G, it's hard not to recommend grabbing the available LTE version or waiting for the 2nd generation to get 4G.

I've always felt that once you go 4G, going back down to 3G is almost too painful to bear, but there are certainly plenty of potential Moto G customers out there who don't prioritize fast data speeds nearly as much, or may not even have access to a 4G signal. Indeed, the Moto G is Motorola's best-selling smartphone ever, thanks to adoption in huge emerging countries like India and Brazil. Still, 4G coverage is beginning to come online in places like Sao Paulo and Kolkata, both among the world's twenty largest cities, so the appeal of an HSPA+ 3G-only smartphone will inevitably decline, perhaps sooner than later. Now that we have my chief complaint out of the way, let's continue on and look at what else the new Moto G has to offer.

 

MVP: Most Valuable Phone

As I've already pointed out, the Moto G is Motorola's biggest seller ever and it's easy to say why. It brings with it almost the same experience you get in Motorola's flagship Moto X, but for a low price tag that provides unmatched value as far as I've seen. Sure, the specs are a step down from the Moto X, but it's available for 60 percent of the cost of an unlocked Moto X (2014) and the specs are definitely not a 60 percent step down from the Moto X.

The 2nd generation Moto G and Moto X (right) (Photo credit: Eric Mack / Gizmag)

The 2nd generation Moto G actually maintains most of the original guts from its first generation, including 1GB RAM, a Snapdragon 400 1.2 GHz quad-core CPU and Adreno 305 GPU. Clearly, Motorola decided not to fix something that wasn't broken. However, some of the latest, more resource-demanding apps and games may tax the Moto G, creating more lag and hang time than you could have expected to experience with the same specs in 2013. That's just the way the technology game is played.

It's not all the same this time around, though. Like most other 2014 phones, the Moto G is larger than its predecessor, growing from a 4.5-inch 720p display to a 5-inch 720p screen. This IPS display performs surprising well, delivering quite vivid color, but photos and videos lack a bit of the contrast of higher pixel-density displays and there is a tendency for warm hues to wash out. That said, most users will probably find little to complain about.

That extra real estate helped allow Motorola to do away with the single rear speaker on the original Moto G and replace it with two nice, front-facing stereo speakers like those seen on the budget Moto E. While this is a nice change that provides a decent level of volume, the sound quality can only be described as average. Turn it up all the way and expect to swim (or at least wade) in some sonic distortion.

A big addition in the second generation is an SD card slot that can support up to 32 GB of added storage. The slot can be found under the removable plastic back that can be replaced with an array of different colored backs and even a flip cover to provide that extra bit of Moto customization.

The camera has been upgraded from 5 megapixels to 8, and the front-facer has also received a bump from 1.3 to 2 megapixels. Also new is the ability to activate the camera shutter with the physical volume buttons.

Here's an example of the Moto G's rear shooter in action (note that our images get downscaled for the web):

All this hardware makes for a phone that's thicker and heavier than the original Moto G as well as both generations of the Moto X, but it's a small sacrifice to make. The above specs rival other mid-range versions of big name phones like the HTC One Remix or the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini, but again, the huge difference with the Moto G is that it costs about 60 percent less.

I've generally found the battery life on the Moto G to be a little better than both the original Moto X and the 2014 Moto X. It easily makes it through the day with moderate to heavy usage, and when used a little more sparingly, you can get pretty far into a second day of use without recharging. I've got to assume that the lack of the Moto X's extra sensors, always listening touchless control (now called Moto Voice) and active display that constantly pulses on and off make the Moto G less resource hungry and give the battery more longevity, despite being relatively small at just 2070 mAh.

An FM Radio and optional dual sim and DTV (only in Brazil) models also make the Moto G hardware a little more appealing in markets where such things are a nice bonus.

 

A soft touch to software

There's not a whole lot to say about the software experience on the Moto G, because it is basically stock Android 4.4.4 with just a few Motorola additions like Assist, Alert and Migrate. The new G also gets Motorola's "Trusted Devices" feature that allows the lock screen to be bypassed when connected to known Bluetooth accessories.

Add that to Google's voice search and the text-to-voice feature included in Moto Assist, and the Moto G still packs some of the best software goodies that helped make the Moto X a critical favorite.

Gizmag's review unit is only 8 GB, and nearly half of that was full before downloading a single app, so the addition of the SD card slot is a big deal here.

 

Bottom line

Need a smartphone without a contract and want to spend less than $200 on it? Buy this Moto G if LTE is not on your radar. If you're looking for that extra data speed boost, get the first generation Moto G LTE model. It's just that simple.

Motorola is a hugely underrated device maker in a world where Apple and Samsung grab the lion's share of attention. But that could soon change with the company's sale to China's Lenovo and its building momentum towards becoming a major player worldwide.

Product page: Motorola.

 

Tips and Tricks every iOS 8 user should know

 

Here's a look at some tips and tricks every iOS 8 user should know

Apple released the latest version of its mobile operating system, iOS 8 last month. While most of the changes are subtle, there are some interesting hidden features that can come in handy. Here's a look at some tips, tricks, and features that will help you out.

Hide photos in the Recently Deleted folder

If you have taken some private or embarrassing photos and hand your phone to someone, you might not want those images to be viewed. In the Photos app, tap and hold the picture you want hidden and then select Hide. Photos placed in that folder will be kept for 30 days, and after that they're automatically deleted.

Just remember that the photo is only moved from your album to the Hidden folder and, if you're using a cloud based backup service, it doesn't prevent the service from picking those private photos up.

Make sure photos are really deleted

As shown above, the new Recently Deleted folder only hides your photos. Think of it like the recycle bin on your desktop. While you no longer see the file, it can still be recovered and it can also be picked up by your auto-upload cloud service. Now, if you really want a photo or video gone, go to the Recently Deleted folder, select the video or photo(s) you want gone and tap Delete. After that you'll want to check your cloud service (i.e, OneDrive, iCloud, Dropbox, etc.) and delete it from there as well.

Set the Selfie Timer

The Camera app in iOS 8 finally has a timer (a basic feature it should have had years ago). You can set it to three or 10 seconds to make sure you have enough time to get in the right position before taking a shot. Launch the Camera app and tap the timer and set it to the time interval you want. You can also use the timer with Burst Mode, which snaps 10 shots in quick succession so you can pick the best one.

Turn off Predictive text

Predictive text is something that Android and Windows Phone users have had for years, but it's new to iOS 8. According to Apple, the QuickType feature is supposed to get better over time, and predict what you're going to type next based on your writing style. But some people might be annoyed with it, and prefer extra screen real estate when typing in iMessage, Word, Pages, or other apps.

Turning it off is easy. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard and flip the Predictive switch to Off. After that you won't see the word selection at the top of the keyboard.

Using notification widgets

Apple has loosened its tight grip on its closed mobile OS and is allowing select apps to support widgets in Notifications. This makes it easier to get quick access to app data like your recent uploads in Dropbox, task management apps like Clear, your Kindle reading list, and plenty more.

To enable them, swipe down to get Notifications, tap Today at the top, scroll down, and tap Edit. There you can add or remove any app that has widget support. Though not all third-party apps are compatible with Notification widgets, you probably have apps that support the feature already. Just pull down your Notification screen and see what's already there.

Use your phone as a Medical ID

The new Health app in iOS 8 includes a feature called Medical ID that lets you fill in pertinent information about your health. The feature only comes on the iPhone, and not the iPad – presumably you're more likely to have your phone with you rather than the tablet. You can fill in important data that EMS workers would need to know if you were involved in an accident, such as allergies, blood type, medical conditions and emergency contacts. What makes this especially valuable is anyone can get at it even if your phone is locked. They can make the emergency call as well as get your important health information.

Find battery-hogging apps

Wondering why you need to recharge your iPhone so often? It might have to do with a battery hogging app so iOS 8 will help you track down the culprit by showing which apps are using the most battery juice. To find them, go to Settings > General > Usage > Battery Usage and you'll see a list of the apps that have been using the most battery power over the past 24 hours or seven days.

Make your display grayscale

One of the features Apple likes to tout about iOS is its bright and vibrant colors, but maybe you don't want to waste battery and screen life with millions of colors. To make everything black and white on your device go to Settings > General > Accessibility and turn on Grayscale under the Vision section. While everything from the home screen to apps will be black and white on your screen, when you take photos, videos, or screenshots, they will be in color.

Make Siri easier to talk to

To launch Siri you need to push and hold the Home button, which can be inconvenient in certain situations. If you want to talk to Siri hands free, go to Settings > General > Siri and turn on Allow "Hey Siri." The microphone will now listen for you to say "hey Siri" and bring her to life to assist with your audio query. One major caveat, though – you do need to have your phone or tablet plugged into a power source for the voice activation to work.

Use apps with Touch ID integration

The Touch ID security feature on an iPhone 5s or newer isn't just for unlocking your device in iOS 8. Apps like Evernote, iPassword, Amazon and others have been updated to take advantage of Touch ID integration, replacing passwords and PIN codes. To set it up you need to go into the respective app's settings to enable it.

But wait. There's more!

The tips and tricks listed above are just a few of the new things you can do in iOS 8. Here are some other hidden tricks you might not be aware of:

If you're shopping and using Safari on your iPhone or iPad and get to the point when you type in your credit card number, you'll see an option above the keyboard titled "Scan Credit Card". Tap that and take a picture of your card using the camera and the card number will automatically be added.

In Safari if you want to request the desktop site versus the mobile one, tap the URL and slide it down slightly. From there tap Request Desktop Site.

Send self-destructing audio and video messages by going to Settings > Messages then tap Audio or Video Messages and select the amount of time you want until the message expires and it's gone for good. By default your messages will expire after two minutes, but you can also set them to never expire.

When you're in the Messages app and want to send multiple photos, tap the Photo Library and select the images and video you want to attach and send them all at once.

It's also worth noting that the iOS 8.1 update will include the Apple Pay feature, which will allow you to pay for things with your phone and eliminate the need for a credit card. Plus we can expect even more improvements and features to be uncovered at that time. The 8.1 release is rumored to be coming around October 20th.

Do you have a tip, trick, or favorite feature in iOS 8? Let us know what it is by leaving a comment below.