First Tentative Sales of Tandem Perovskite-Silicon PV PanelsTo anyone who has spent some time in photovoltaic (PV) power circles, the word ‘perovskite’ probably sounds familiar. Offering arguably better bandgap properties than traditional silicon cells, perovskite-based PV panels also promise to be cheaper and (literally) more flexible, but commercialization has been elusive. This is something which Oxford PV seeks to change, with the claim that they will be shipping the first hybrid perovskite-silicon panels to a US customer.
Although Oxford PV prefers to keep the details of their technology classified, there have been decades of research on pure perovskite PV cells as well as tandem perovskite-silicon versions. The reason for the tandem (i.e. stacked) construction is to use more of the solar rays’ spectrum and total energy to increase output. The obvious disadvantage of this approach is that you need to find ways to make each layer integrate in a stable fashion, with ideally the connecting electrodes being transparent. A good primer on the topic is found in this 2021 review article by [Yuanhang Cheng] and [Liming Ding].
The primary disadvantage of perovskites has always been their lack of longevity, with humidity, UV irradiation, temperature and other environmental factors conspiring against their continued existence. In a 2022 study by [Jiang Liu] et al. in Science it was reported that a perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell lost about 5% of its initial performance after 1,000 hours. A 2024 study by [Yongbin Jin] et al. in Advanced Materials measured a loss of 2% after approximately the same timespan. At a loss of 2%/1,000 hours, the perovskite layer would be at 50% of its initial output after 25,000 hours, or a hair over 2.85 years.
A quick glance through the Oxford PV website didn’t reveal any datasheets or other technical information which might elucidate the true loss rate, so it would seem that we’ll have to wait a while longer on real data to see whether this plucky little startup has truly cracked the perovskite stability issue.

Top image: Summary of tandem perovskite-silicon solar cell workings. (Credit: Yuanhang Cheng, Liming Ding, SusMat, 2021)

TikTok Music is shutting down next month. For #MusicBusiness and #MusicIndustry it means quite a lot I think and especially for #MusicTechnology. It seems the market will not be the same in several years.
Some time ago when I drew my #decentralization schemes to the community members and it was very exciting to think when these times are going to be. However, the difficult situation in the world makes people bring a number of questions to the table

HOFA Colour Delay available now HOFA have unveiled the Colour Delay, a new plug-in designed to provide a wide range of delay effects.

AllMusic's Favorite Oasis Song that’s NOT on Definitely Maybe or Morning GloryRevisiting this year's mammoth 30th Anniversary deluxe edition of their breakthrough premiere Definitely Maybe and invariably continuing on through the superior(?) second album (What's the Story) Morning Glory? got us to thinking: What are our favorite Oasis songs that are not from those two landmark albums? B-sides? Deep cuts? Guest spots? Solo projects? Sprawling coke-fueled follow-ups? Once you've removed the arguable cream from the top, what delicious treats still remain in the cup?

Let's find out.

User loses $32 million spWETH in a sophisticated phishing attackAccording to crypto security firm Scam Sniffer, 9,145 users were victims of phishing attacks during August 2024, losing funds as a result.

X faces additional $1.9M fine to end ban in BrazilX (formerly Twitter) could soon resume service in Brazil — if it’s willing to pay an additional fine. Reuters and other publications have reported on an order from the country’s Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes stating that the Elon Musk-owned social network could “immediately return to its activities in national territory” if it pays […]
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Man-in-the-Middle PCB Unlocks HP Ink CartridgesIt’s a well-known secret that inkjet ink is being kept at artificially high prices, which is why many opt to forego ‘genuine’ manufacturer cartridges and get third-party ones instead. Many of these third-party ones are so-called re-manufactured ones, where a third-party refills an empty OEM cartridge. This is increasingly being done due to digital rights management (DRM) reasons, with tracking chips added to each cartridge. These chip prohibit e.g. the manual refilling of empty cartridges with a syringe, but with the right tweak or attack can be bypassed, with [Jay Summet] showing off an interesting HP cartridge DRM bypass using a physical man-in-the-middle-attack.
This bypass takes the form of a flex PCB with contacts on both sides which align with those on the cartridge and those of the printer. What looks like a single IC in a QFN package is located on the cartridge side, with space for it created inside an apparently milled indentation in the cartridge’s plastic. This allows is to fit flush between the cartridge and HP inkjet printer, intercepting traffic and presumably telling the printer some sweet lies so that you can go on with that print job rather than dash out to the store to get some more overpriced Genuine HP-approved cartridges.
Not that HP isn’t aware or not ticked off about this, mind. Recently they threatened to brick HP printers that use third-party cartridges if detected, amidst vague handwaving about ‘hackers’ and ‘viruses’ and ‘protecting the users’ with their Dynamic Security DRM system. As the many lawsuits regarding this DRM system trickle their way through the legal system, it might be worth it to keep a monochrome laser printer standing by just in case the (HP) inkjet throws another vague error when all you want is to just print a text document.

VR Headset With Custom Face Fitting Gets Even More CustomThe Bigscreen Beyond is a small and lightweight VR headset that in part achieves its small size and weight by requiring custom fitting based on a facial scan. [Val’s Virtuals] managed to improve fitment even more by redesigning a facial interface and using a 3D scan of one’s own head to fine-tune the result even further. The new designs distribute weight more evenly while also providing an optional flip-up connection.

It may be true that only a minority of people own a Bigscreen Beyond headset, and even fewer of them are willing to DIY their own custom facial interface. But [Val]’s workflow and directions for using Blender to combine a 3D scan of one’s face with his redesigned parts to create a custom-fitted, foam-lined facial interface is good reading, and worth keeping in mind for anyone who designs wearables that could benefit from custom fitting. It’s all spelled out in the project’s documentation — look for the .txt file among the 3D models.
We’ve seen a variety of DIY approaches to VR hardware, from nearly scratch-built headsets to lens experiments, and one thing that’s clear is that better comfort is always an improvement. With newer iPhones able to do 3D scanning and 1:1 scale scanning in general becoming more accessible, we have a feeling we’re going to see more of this DIY approach to ultra-customization.

Getting It Done: Last week in DIY and Independent Music NewsLast week in DIY and Indie Music News offers the latest tips and advice for the independent, do-it-yourselfers out there including how to prepare for a record deal, how to release a single successfully, why releasing an album still matters, and more...
The post Getting It Done: Last week in DIY and Independent Music News appeared first on Hypebot.

Spike Stent offers his expertise in Spike AI The acclaimed mix engineer with credits including The Beatles, Beyoncé and Ed Sheeran is attempting to bring his expertise to a much wider audience through Spike AI.

REWIND: Top New Music Industry News Last WeekIt was a busy week by any definition, and the music industry was no exception, with the Lyte collapse, TikTok Music on its way out, a closer look at music AI ethics, and more topping the new music industry news last week.
The post REWIND: Top New Music Industry News Last Week appeared first on Hypebot.

Tascam announce FR-AV2 field recorder Tascam have announced the launch of the compact FR-AV2, a high-resolution 2-channel field recorder.

Artist to Artist: Embracing the Power of DistortionEmbracing the Power of Distortion

What's missing in music is a highlight on the power of saturation and distortion. When it comes to music production and sound design, I find myself being a fan of distortion. Distortion is the engineer’s and musician’s biggest rival. Modern music industry tactics seek to limit and battle this wonderful beauty called distortion. The beauty of distortion is the abstract quality it adds to a sound—it's what I call the mysterious shimmer you hear or feel. Modern digital music creation methods have made it easier to achieve pristine, clear sounds with a lack of distortion. Yet the fundamental truth is that everything in life is distorted: ideas, feelings, dreams, even reality. Why remove the essence that creates reality? When that essence is distortion.

In much of my production, especially in beat making and vocal production, I use a variety of digital compressors (CLA-2A, Softube) and analog ones (1176, FMR PBC-6A) to add that magic. I also rely on wonderful Slate Digital plugins to give my saturation and distortion their own personal warmth and character.

As a songwriter, I feel like distortion gives your songs that extra heat, the flavor they need to not just live and breathe but also connect. Distortion in songwriting is like the difference between saying, as T-Pain does, “Put you in the mansion, somewhere in Wisconsin (Wisconsin).” The irony mixed with deliberateness is a skill that only the most masterful songwriters pay attention to and develop.

All in all, I believe music is about being aware of the unknown and allowing it to be exactly that. The best moments, especially in my case, have all sprouted from not realizing I was creating something great. That’s the beauty of making art. You create your piece and wait for the world to catch on to your own iteration of distortion.

About MyCompiledThoughts 

MyCompiledThoughts, born Carlheb Cemesca in Boston, MA, is an R&B/Soul artist known for his deeply personal lyrics and innovative production.  Growing up he would work out his often-abundant number of thoughts with frequent journaling and eventually adopted his Tumblr page name as his stage name.  

Now a Los Angeles resident, MyCompiledThoughts stays busy not only producing for himself but other artist including Teamarr, Love Moor and members of the Van Buren Collective.   

mycompiledthoughts.com

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The post Artist to Artist: Embracing the Power of Distortion first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Canada crypto exchanges get more time for stablecoin complianceCrypto platforms in Canada are having trouble preparing for new stablecoin regulations. Take your time, the Canadian Securities Administrators said.

Hacking Kia: Remotely Hijack a Car Using Only Its License PlateThese days everything needs to be connected to remote servers via the internet, whether it’s one’s TV, fridge or even that new car you just bought. A recently discovered (and already patched) vulnerability concerning Kia cars was a doozy in this regard, as a fairly straightforward series of steps allowed for any attacker to obtain the vehicle identification number (VIN) from the license plate, and from there become registered as the car’s owner on Kia’s network. The hack and the way it was discovered is described in great detail on [Sam Curry]’s website, along with the timeline of its discovery.
Notable is that this isn’t the first vulnerability discovered in Kia’s HTTP-based APIs, with [Sam] this time taking a poke at the dealer endpoints. To his surprise, he was able to register as a dealer and obtain a valid session ID using which he could then proceed to query Kia’s systems for a user’s registered email address and phone number.
With a specially crafted tool to automate the entire process, this information was then used to demote the car’s owner and register the attacker as the primary owner. After this the attacker was free to lock/unlock the doors, honk to his heart’s content, locate the car and start/stop the vehicle. The vulnerability affected all Kia cars made after 2013, with the victim having no indication of their vehicle having been hijacked in this manner. Aside from the doors randomly locking, the quaint honking and engine turning on/off at a whim, of course.
Perhaps the scariest part about this kind of vulnerability is that it could have allowed an attacker to identify a vulnerable parked car, gained access, before getting into the car, starting the engine and driving away. As long as these remote APIs allow for such levels of control, one might hope that one day car manufacturers will take security somewhat more serious, as this is only the latest in a seemingly endless series of amusingly terrifying security vulnerabilities that require nothing more than some bored hackers with HTTP query crafting tools to discover.