Top 10 Tech This Week

By Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai

Top 10 Tech This Week (06/01/2013)

  1. The Gmail inbox is getting a new look on the desktop, iOS and Android. Take a look: http://on.mash.to/146Oz8E Thumbnail composite by Christina Warren/Mashable; Screenshots courtesy of Google

    Gmail Gets a Brand New Inbox

    See More

    The Gmail inbox is getting a new look on the desktop, iOS and Android.

    Take a look: http://on.mash.to/146Oz8E

    Thumbnail composite by Christina Warren/Mashable; Screenshots courtesy of Google

  2. What do you do when you have an abandoned airplane and a van? If you’re Officer Jeff Bloch, you get some buddies together and weld them into the a plane that’s also a car, and call it "The Spirit of LeMons." Read more: http://on.mash.to/17cHHhe Image courtesy of YouTube, Barcroft TV

    Man Transforms Plane Into Street-Legal Race Car

    What do you do when you have an abandoned airplane and a van? If you’re Officer Jeff Bloch, you get some buddies together and weld them into the a plane that’s also a car, and call it "The Spirit of LeMons."

    Read more: http://on.mash.to/17cHHhe

    Image courtesy of YouTube, Barcroft TV

  3. German automaker Mercedes-Benz will incorporate QR codes into its cars — all to help save lives. Find out more: http://on.mash.to/ZtR48T Homepage thumbnail image courtesy of Daimler.

    Mercedes Adds QR Codes to Cars to Aid Crash Rescues

    German automaker Mercedes-Benz will incorporate QR codes into its cars — all to help save lives.

    Find out more: http://on.mash.to/ZtR48T

    Homepage thumbnail image courtesy of Daimler.

  4. The August Smart Lock, which will go on sale later this year, lets you lock your door over the Internet. It lets you remotely bar unwanted visitors while giving access to friends and relatives — even for a short duration. Read more: http://on.mash.to/178WN6y Image courtesy of August Smart Lock

    Use Your Phone to Open Your Door with the August Smart Lock

    The August Smart Lock, which will go on sale later this year, lets you lock your door over the Internet. It lets you remotely bar unwanted visitors while giving access to friends and relatives — even for a short duration.

    Read more: http://on.mash.to/178WN6y

    Image courtesy of August Smart Lock

  5. A new 3D-tracking app helps hopeless handymen and women become expert mechanics. Check it out: http://on.mash.to/13ZVWSJ Screenshot image courtesy of YouTube, inglobe

    Augmented Reality 3D-Tracking App Makes You an Expert Mechanic

    A new 3D-tracking app helps hopeless handymen and women become expert mechanics.

    Check it out: http://on.mash.to/13ZVWSJ

    Screenshot image courtesy of YouTube, inglobe

  6. A California company is taking bike lights to a new level by developing LEDs that light up wheels with custom images and animations. Take a look: http://on.mash.to/13UzBG2 Images courtesy of Kickstarter, MonkeyLectric

    Motion-Activated Bike-Wheel LEDs Light up as Graphics

    A California company is taking bike lights to a new level by developing LEDs that light up wheels with custom images and animations.

    Take a look: http://on.mash.to/13UzBG2

    Images courtesy of Kickstarter, MonkeyLectric

  7. Samsung launched the Galaxy S4 Mini, an Android smartphone with a 4.3-inch screen and a 1.7GHz dual-core processor. Learn more about this smaller Galaxy S4: http://on.mash.to/135vdTA Images courtesy of Samsung

    Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini Arrives With 4.3-Inch Screen

    Samsung launched the Galaxy S4 Mini, an Android smartphone with a 4.3-inch screen and a 1.7GHz dual-core processor.

    Learn more about this smaller Galaxy S4: http://on.mash.to/135vdTA

    Images courtesy of Samsung

  8. NASA published an image of its new solar-electric propulsion thruster, which uses xenon ions for power. Read more: http://on.mash.to/18pHeHW Image courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech

    This Is NASA's New Solar-Electric Propulsion Engine

    NASA published an image of its new solar-electric propulsion thruster, which uses xenon ions for power.

    Read more: http://on.mash.to/18pHeHW

    Image courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech

  9. Microsoft reversed course on its decision to remove the Start button, and will bring it back in the desktop environment of Windows 8.1. Find out more: http://on.mash.to/177pktl Image by Nina Frazier, Mashable; screen shots courtesy of Microsoft

    Microsoft Brings Back the Start Button in Windows 8.1

    Microsoft reversed course on its decision to remove the Start button, and will bring it back in the desktop environment of Windows 8.1.

    Find out more: http://on.mash.to/177pktl

    Image by Nina Frazier, Mashable; screen shots courtesy of Microsoft

  10. Researchers at Cornell University developed a robot that can predict what you want to do next. Read more: http://on.mash.to/16oMAUh Image courtesy of Cornell University/YouTube

    This Robot Can Read Your Mind

    Researchers at Cornell University developed a robot that can predict what you want to do next.

    Read more: http://on.mash.to/16oMAUh

    Image courtesy of Cornell University/YouTube

The summer is almost here, and tech companies are probably looking forward to enjoying the beach as much as we all are. But that doesn't mean this wasn't another exciting week in the world of tech. And, once again, if you were distracted by the nice weather, we're here for you — with our weekly Top 10 Tech roundup.

The biggest stories of the week seemed to be small changes, but they have potential to have an enormous impact. Google confirmed the rumors and announced it is revamping Gmail's interface, promising a smarter — and less cluttered — inbox.

For its part, Microsoft heeded the complaints of some of its most diehard fans, who were disappointed by the company's decision to kill the Start button. It was one of the most recognizable features of the operating system, and now Microsoft is bringing it back for Windows 8.1.

SEE ALSO: Previous editions of Top 10 Tech This Week

Samsung, meanwhile, unveiled its Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini, a smaller, lighter version of its successful and well-received Galaxy S4.

In other tech news, we had a man who turned a plane into a racing car; NASA's new solar-electric propulsion engine; and Mercedes introducing QR codes to save lives.

For more, check out our Top 10 Tech gallery above.

Image courtesy of Cornell University/YouTube