Is there something in the air? Hot on the heels of Rupert Murdoch's impending The Daily newspaper for the iPad, we're getting word of a Richard Branson-funded, iPad-specific magazine dubbed Project. The magazine will cover entertainment, travel, business, design, and international culture. It's hard to tell if these two announcements are somehow related to each other, or if they imply some sort of shift in Apple's treatment of publications, but either way they do indeed seem to be happening. The full announcement of Project is due for Tuesday next week.
We think this is a veiled way of passing the buck to AT&T -- but whatever it is, Sony Ericsson USA has extended an old, crusty, TimeScape-enabled olive branch to Xperia X10 owners in the States by attempting to explain what's going on with the Eclair update 'round these parts. Basically, the company says that getting an update out in the US is way harder than it is elsewhere because of "the technical requirements that must be met" over which Sony Ericsson has "no control." The blame is levied on an "especially rigorous" testing cycle that can (and presumably, often does) take several months, which is why they've thus far refused to offer guidance on when the update will be released. Honestly, is there any way we can trade in our warranty card to get on the fast track with this stuff? And more importantly, would us bleeding-edge types be willing to take that risk on a wide scale?
Don't go knockin' Sony for resting on its laurels. The company that has spearheaded the 3D gaming push (NVIDIA notwithstanding) is apparently not even close to finished, with SCEE studio director Mick Hocking taking the time to get our juices flowing in an interview with Develop. The full spill is quite lengthy, and definitely a solid read for those interested, but a few key nuggets jumped out at us. For starters, Mike confessed that Sony has "techniques like holographics for the PS3 that [he thinks] will be very interesting for the future 3D games," and continued with this: "In regards to that we have some new technology that we've shown to developers that uses 3D techniques, it allows two players to play full screen multi-player games but without each being able to see the others view, and they have been massively keen on them." Of course, such a technique isn't exactly new -- we saw prototypes of the sort in use back at GDC -- but bringing them to a market as vast as the PS3 owner pool would definitely be a monumental step. Now, if you'll excuse us, we've got a Gran Turismo 5 disc laying here that needs our undivided attention for the time being.. .
Back when we first locked eyes with the Smartfish ErgoMotion Mouse at CES we knew there was something totally unique about it. No, it didn't have a touch strip or 18 buttons, but thanks to its "pivot system," it did tilt in every which-way. Created by a former chiropractor, the laser mouse tilts in all directions, but not with the aim of moving the cursor or controlling anything on screen as one would think. It wobbles for one reason and one reason only: to relieve arm tension and reduce the risk of Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI). Today the company's releasing a smaller, more mobile version of ErgoMotion, now called the Whirl Mini, for $49.95. So, is it what the doctor ordered? Or is it just another odd looking peripheral to add to the collection? We've been using it as our primary mouse for the last week, so you'll want to hit the break to find out.
Head on, the Whirl Mini looks just like any other mouse crawling around out there -- its two mouse buttons are separated by a four-way scroll wheel, and well, that's really all there is to it. However, the center of that normal looking mouse sits on a symmetrical, oval-shaped pedestal of sorts, which is what allows the entire thing to pivot or tilt when you claw it. Think of it like a globe on an tilting axis. Or a mouse that moves like a joystick. When you grip the mouse you're able to comfortably tilt it in any direction and rest your hand on it. As righties, we've found it to be more comfortable when tilted towards the southwest -- if you think of it like a compass -- but we'll come back to all that tilting stuff soon enough.
Its two AA batteries and 2.4GHz nano-receiver fit into the rear compartment under main mouse -- we don't know if this was a conscious design move, but when you slide off the plastic covering the batteries actually look like the device's exhaust pipes. The underside of the pedestal holds the laser and on / off switch. Fear not, if that blue or white color up there isn't for you, the Whirl Mini will be available in additional black, carbon fiber, silver and red hues.
Everyday use
So, what the heck is thing like to use? There's no denying that it's pretty odd at first -- we don't know about you, but we've never dreamt of titling our mouse all over the place, and even if we did we probably would have envisioned the movement to actually impact the navigating experience in some shape or form. However, after a bit of time -- about a day or two -- we got used to the fact that it's really just a regular mouse that not only sways in all different directions, but also floats your hand in the air a bit. If the Magic Mouse is a piece of flat land, the Mini Whirl is, well, Everest. Ultimately, we found it to be an incredibly comfortable way of pointing and clicking -- not to mention rocking it from side-to-side is just a fun time.
But, of course, it wasn't designed to just be fun -- it's about comfort and not keeping your arm or hand still for long periods of time. According to that chiropractor / inventor of the Whirl, pressure builds when your hand and wrist are kept straight, and thus blood cannot flow regularly. That can cause joint static paint, which can then apparently lead to Repetitive Stress Injury. It sounds rather painful, and we have no doubt that's a real issue some people suffer from, but considering we've never been diagnosed with such a condition we can't claim that the Whirl Mini alleviated our pain. However, we can say that the form factor does cause you to move your hand and wrist quite a bit as well as hold the mouse in a much more natural and laid-back position. Like we said, we got really used to it and found it to be more comfortable than a number of mice we've used over the past few months just because we are able to just tilt our hand to rest on the mouse.
As an actual computer mouse it's fairly decent. We wish the 1600-dpi laser sensitivity were a bit higher, but it was fine for our usual computing tasks. By just looking at this thing you can tell it's not going to cut it for the WoW addicts or hardcore gamers out there. However, unlike our Logitech Anywhere Mouse MX with Dangerfield technology, the Whirl Mini didn't work on our glass desk. Although, it worked just fine on our jeans and granite countertop. Setting up was a breeze -- no software was required on either our MacBook Pro or ThinkPad T410S. Of course, while the plug and play ability is nice, we did wish there was software for customizing the scroll wheel shortcuts (USB Overdrive let us do that with no issue on our Mac, however). We also prefer our mice to have an extra shortcut button or two, so the Whirl certainly disappoints to that end.
Wrap-up
We can't say definitively if the Whirl Mini will ease those aches and pains since we never had 'em in the first place, but for fifty bucks its definitely a comfortable little mobile mouse. Would we suggest you pick it over the $60 Logitech Anywhere Mouse MX, which has been our favorite laptop mouse for quite awhile? Not if you tend to work on glass or uneven surfaces or like having a dedicated shortcut buttons, but if you've been looking for a mouse that could keep your wrist and hand moving the Smartfish Whirl Mini is worth a tilt, er try.
Hey guys, did you hear that the day after Thanksgiving everybody gets up at the crack of dawn to go stand in line at big box retailers so they can get the cheapest deals in town? Yes, it's called Black Friday, and like it or not, it's one of the greatest things about living in the United States of America, where making a competitive sport out of purchasing Christmas gifts for your loved ones is only better in reality than it would be on reality television (producers, you know where to find us). Anyway, we're rounding up some of the best deals we can find, and we're going to put them all, right here, in this one, glorious post. We'll keep updating this bad boy as long as you're here to read about the delicious deals. Because, as you know, we love you. Feel free to suggest other sales in the comments, and join us after the break for the all deals.
Deals happening early
Xbox Live's Thanksgiving Week sale goes through next Tuesday and includes discounts on tons of games, including discounts on Arcade games and Add Ons. Our friends at Joystiq have full details.
TokyoFlash is offering up to 50 percent off certain items as well as 15 percent off all watchesbeginning tomorrow online if you use the code BLACK.
Mimoco's got a sale going on already that runs through Cyber Monday. It includes a 30 percent discount off everything in their web store and free shipping if your purchase is over $30.
Samsung 46" 3D 1080p LED HDTV bundle for $1,520at Newegg. This one comes with a Samsung BD-C5900 3D Blu-ray player, and a Shrek 3D Starter kit. All you need to do is add the television (which is regularly $1899) to your cart and use the coupon code EMCZZNN54.
MacMall's pre-Black Friday event is going on right now and has some decent discounts, including up to $300 off of a Mac, and a 13-inch MacBook Pro for $1,098. This one ends today at 12:00PM PT.
EarphoneSolutions is offering20 percent off site widefrom now until Monday. Just use coupon code: CYBER2010
CyberPower and Newegg.com will make an AMD Athlon II and Intel Core i5-powered desktop system available at savings of more than 30 percent. The sale begins on November 24th and will run through Cyber Monday. Both systems have limited quantities so customers should plan on shopping early and visit the Newegg website to score some super holiday savings.
AMD's Facebook page is currently hosting a deal stream for notebooks, desktops, processors and other goodies featuring AMD technology, all of which were uncovered and tweeted with the #AMDdeals hashtag by AMD fans and shoppers all over North America.
Amazon is offering a rental movie for 75% off through the 30th with the promotional code "RENTDEAL"
Actual Black Friday deals
Amazon will be offering up the last gen Kindle 2 as a lightning deal for $89.99 starting at 9:00 am PT on Friday morning. This is a really good deal if you've got a friend or loved one who has been itching to dip their toe into the e-reader waters.
Apple is promising a one day sale at its online store, but has yet to publish the actual details. Keep checking into Apple.com if you're in the mood for a little discount there.
Shuttle Computer will offer a promo code from the 26th to the 29th. The code is UKNOWUWANT1. The first 100 people to use the code to order one of their X350 models will receive the unit for free, and those who use the code after that will receive a $100 discount.
Sony Electronics has stated that on Nov. 26 and Nov. 27, the Sony Dash will be on sale for Black Friday shoppers; priced at just $129, consumers will receive about a $70 savings. We're assuming this is everywhere that sells the Dash.
Borders (in-store, so far as we can tell) will offer the Kobo e-reader for $119.99, or $20 off of list, the Aluratek Libre eBook Reader Pro for $89.99 ($30 off of list), Sony Pocket Edition for $149.99 ($30 savings), Sony Touch Edition for $199.99 ($30 savings) and the Velocity Micro Cruz Reader for $149.99 ($50 savings).
Verizon Wireless will be handing out Jawbone Icon Hero Bluetooth headsets -- a $99.99 value -- with the purchase of "select" phones on Friday.
Deals Vista has put together what is arguably the most comprehensive and insane Black Friday sale spreadsheet in the history of mankind. It's got a lot of information, especially for some lesser known, local retail chains, so you should probably check it out. Be warned though: you're going to need another cup of coffee.
It's almost time to eat turkey and then jet out to Best Buy to be trampled by mad shoppers. Oh yes, the holiday season is just about here, which according to a fewposts we've written in the last year means that the Chrome OS netbooks should be as well. Well, it turns out that the Google OS-powered laptops aren't going to arrive this year, or at least not in the way we thought they would. That doesn't mean Chrome OS isn't going to see a bit of an unveil this year, but major manufacturers, including Acer and HP, won't have its own Chromebooks ready before 2011. How do we know? Acer's Jim Wong told us during the company's global press conference that Acer will be launching its netbook based on the browser operating system during the "consumer launch" of the OS next year, while Google has its own agenda and will be doing something "in December." We didn't get to ask if that Acer netbook is in fact the "ZGA" netbook we've seen popping up in bug reports, but our guess is that it will be something quite similar.
So, what does Google have brewing? You remember the Google-branded Chrome OS netbook that we heard about? Well, according to a few of our very own sources, that's exactly what's going to happen. We don't have exact timing details, but wehave been told by a few that Google will launch its own Chrome-book a la the Nexus One for "friends and family." As the operating system is still in a beta or preview form, the netbook would be aimed at the development / early adopter community. Specs-wise we don't know all that much, but we've heard that it will be powered by an Intel Atom Pine Trail processor and, just as Digitimes reported, that 75,000 units are being manufactured by Taiwan ODM Inventec. We should mention that the aforementioned Acer "ZGA" was said to be used internally as a "dogfood device" at Google, but we believe this Google-branded device to be entirely different. Inventec, Intel, and Google wouldn't comment on the hardware rumor, but Google did tell us that it would "have more details to share later this year." By our count, that leaves 'em with just about 37 days to spill the beans!
Note: The picture above is just our creative interpretation of what a Chromebook may look like -- don't come crying to us when the actual device looks a lot prettier.
SlingPlayer Mobile for iPad was looking pretty slick when we saw a preview a couple weeks ago, and now, just like that, it's arrived at the App Store. Folks who already invested in the iPhone app might be a bit disappointed to find they need to fork out another $30 for the iPad version -- although they can keep using the iPhone app in "Compatibility Mode" if they'd like -- but Sling is touting new video quality levels for the iPad, that your iPhone can only dream of, to sweeten the deal. There's also a new program guide UI and other iPad-friendly tweaks. Check out that video preview after the break to learn more, or just hit up your local App Store and start downloading (it's rolling out in typical App Store fashion, which means it might take a few minutes to pop up in your particular iTunes).
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Sling Media Announces Availability of SlingPlayer Mobile for iPad
App Transforms iPad into a TV
FOSTER CITY, Calif., Nov. 24, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Sling Media, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (Nasdaq: SATS), today announced the availability of the SlingPlayer Mobile™ player for the Apple iPad. Available for purchase on the iTunes App Store, SlingPlayer Mobile software for iPad lets Slingbox® owners extend their living room TV experience to their iPad and takes advantage of the iPad's high-resolution, 9.7-inch LED-backlit display for great video quality. The revamped program guide uses the iPad's intuitive native interface, and a recent channels feature puts a viewer's recent channels at his fingertips.
"A Slingbox is the perfect accessory to an iPad," said John M. Paul, executive vice president of products at Sling Media. "When combined with the new SlingPlayer Mobile app, now anyone with an iPad can enjoy a beautiful, personalized TV experience anywhere in the world."
How it Works
When connected to a Slingbox SOLO or PRO-HD, the award-winning SlingPlayer Mobile software makes it easy to watch your home TV on your iPad. Now Slingbox owners with iPads can change channels, control their DVRs and watch their favorite shows anywhere they have an internet connection. They never have to miss another show or game, no matter where they are.
Pricing and Availability
SlingPlayer Mobile for iPad is available now for U.S. $29.99, UK GBP Sterling 17.99, and 23.99 Euros from the App Store on the iPad or at http://itunes.com/apps/slingplayermobile. SlingPlayer Mobile for iPad can be purchased from the iTunes Store, downloaded, and installed in minutes.
The SlingPlayer Mobile application for iPhone will continue to work in "Compatibility Mode" on the iPad at no extra charge. The iPhone version of the app streams from all Slingboxes, but not at the higher quality resolutions required for the iPad.
About Sling Media
Sling Media, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (Nasdaq: SATS), is the leading provider of video place shifting products and services for consumers and television service providers. Sling Media's product family includes the internationally acclaimed, Emmy award-winning Slingbox that allows consumers to watch and control their living room television shows at any time, from any location, using internet-connected PCs, Macs, PDAs and smartphones. For more information, visit www.slingmedia.com.
Sony said it was coming, and come it has. Just in time for expatriated Americans basking in the glory of being paid in pounds to enjoy over "Thanksgiving," Sony has flipped the switch on its Qriocity on-demand movie service. The UK launch marks the European debut of the service (we're also hearing that it's like 'across Europe'), offering "hundreds" of pay-per-view streaming flicks to those with a network-enabled BRAVIA TV, Blu-ray player or Blu-ray home theater system. We're told that the library consists of material from Fox Home Entertainment, Lionsgate, MGM, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Starz Digital Media, The Walt Disney Company, NBC Universal and Warner Bros., with both new releases and heralded classics up for grabs. Rental prices for SD content start from £2.49 for library content and £3.49 for new releases, while HD content start respectively from £3.49 and £4.49. Not exactly free, but it's a small price to pay to keep that keister planted on Turkey Day.
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"Video On Demand powered by Qriocity" makes UK debut
Premium, pay-per-view movie streaming service, available in High Definition on Sony's 2010 network-enabled devices
Hundreds of movies available to rent, at the click of a button
London – 24th November 2010. Sony UK today announced the launch of "Video On Demand powered by Qriocity™".
Available across Europe and the UK, "Video On Demand powered by Qriocity" is a pay-per-view movie streaming service that allows film fans to rent hundreds of movies, including the latest releases and films from local studios, straight to their Sony 2010 network-enabled BRAVIA™ TV, Blu-ray™ Disc player, or Blu-ray Disc Home Theatre system.
Designed to be simple, intuitive and easy to use, "Video On Demand powered by Qriocity" is an elegant and fast virtual movie store that is available across connected Sony devices. "Video On Demand powered by Qriocity" allows consumers to browse, search, preview and select movies with a single click of the remote control.
Film lovers can now instantly rent from a growing library of hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Lionsgate, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM), Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Starz Digital Media, The Walt Disney Company, NBC Universal International Television Distribution, and Warner Bros. Digital Distribution, as well as films from local studios.
The "Video On Demand powered by Qriocity" play list includes new releases as well as a wide variety of favourites, classic movies and local language movies, many of which are available in both Standard Definition (SD) and High Definition (HD). New content will be added regularly and consumers can register for the service and check news of the latest additions to the movie library at www.qriocity.com .
"Video On Demand powered by Qriocity" can be found under the Qriocity icon on the cross media bar on the main menu. After renting a film, consumers have up to 14 days to start watching their movie, and once playback is started, they have 48 hours to watch the film as many times as they like. Rental prices for SD content start from £2.49 for library content and £3.49 for new releases, while HD content start respectively from £3.49 and £4.49.
About Qriocity
"Qriocity™" is an entertainment network service platform that connects many of Sony's network-enabled devices and allows consumers to enjoy high quality entertainment across multiple devices. Through Qriocity, Sony will deliver a variety of digital entertainment content and services that are "powered by Qriocity", including video, music, game applications, and e-books over time, and through these services, and in combination with its networked devices, Sony aims to bring new and exciting entertainment experiences to customers.
If you're a current Windows Home Server user there's a very good chance you've taken advantage of the drive pooling features of the OS. Need more storage? Pop in a new HDD, watch some lights blink for a bit, and then you're ready to get back to downloading... whatever it is you're downloading. Granted things didn't always work perfectly, but this tech, formally called Drive Extender, makes adding storage easy, makes it possible to replicate only the data that needs it, and is completely hardware independent. And now it's going away. Microsoft has confirmed that the next release of Windows Home Server, Vail (due in the first half of 2011), will not feature Drive Extender, indicating you'll need to simply buy bigger drives and manually handle data replication or rely on RAID to make this happen, solutions that are decidedly less intuitive for non-techie users. The reaction among WHS fans has been overwhelmingly negative, with 148 comments (and counting) on the announcement post, most telling MS where it can shove its RAID controller. Feel free to keep on venting here if you like.
Update: Malcom dropped this link into comments, where Windows guru Paul Thurrott indicates the issue is related to MS trying to position this to the small business sector -- that Drive Extender can't keep up with more professional loads.
Hey, remember the crazy Imperial College kids in the Racing Green Endurance team, the ones who took a perfectly wonderful Radical racer and stripped it of its internal-combustion assets, flew it to Alaska, and then pledged to drive it all the way down the Pan-American Highway? Well, they made it. 26,000km later (that's 16,155 miles) the team has reached Ushuaia, Argentina, at the southern tip of South America and a long, long way from Anchorage. Traveling an average of 300km (186 miles) per day the team conquered desert, jungle, and torrential rain storms, conditions the purely electric and decidedly track-focused machine certainly wasn't meant for, but proving that an EV can be driven way beyond its maximum range -- if you don't mind taking nearly six months to do it.
Looking for an alternative to that extra large cup of coffee or energy drink to keep you awake on long haul drives? Then you'll soon have another option in the form of the Anti Sleep Pilot, which promises to keep you from nodding off through the magic of technology. Already on sale in Denmark, the device is able to automatically turn itself on and off by monitoring the movement of your vehicle, and it attempts to keep you alert by regularly performing various tests that you can respond to just by tapping the device. That promises to not only prevent fatigue in the first place by keeping your mind active, but also warn you when it's really time to take a break by monitoring your reaction times to each test. Still no word on an official price over here just yet, but we assume it'll cost somewhere in the neighborhood of the 1,499 kr (or $270) the device currently runs in Denmark.
It's unfortunately not the F800 Style "research vehicle" the company is working on, but those looking to avoid a hybrid or all-electric vehicle in favor of fuel cell technology can now place an order for Mercedes-Benz's new B-Class F-Cell vehicle. Those orders actually first opened up in October, but the automaker has only just recently revealed the actual cost to customers. That will be $849 a month on a lease-only basis, which may seem a tad high but does include both fuel and insurance (alright, so it's still high). As you might expect, however, the car won't exactly be widely available -- Mercedes-Benz says the first few will reach "selected" customers by the end of this year, with "at least 70 more" set to become available in the Los Angeles and San Francisco area by 2012. Full press release is after the break.
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Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL: Mercedes-Benz brings the latest fuel cell fleet to the USA Stuttgart
Nov 17, 2010
Right in time for the Los Angeles Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz is presenting the new B-Class F-CELL as the first fuel cell powered electric car produced under series production conditions in the USA. The first vehicles will be handed over to selected customers before the end of this year. In 2012 a total of around 70 of these environmentally friendly cars, which are being made available on a rental basis, will be operating on a daily basis in California.
"California, with its almost traditionally demanding and restrictive environmental regulations, is the ideal region for day-to-day operation of a genuine Zero Emission Vehicle," says Dr. Thomas Weber, member of the Daimler AG Board of Management responsible for Group Research and Development for Mercedes-Benz Cars. With the model year 2011 B-Class F-CELL, Mercedes-Benz is the first manufacturer to date to bring a fuel cell powered Zero Emission Vehicle onto the roads which has been certificated by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and CARB (California Air Resources Board). Dr. Thomas Weber: "After more than 580,000 kilometers covered with the A-Class F-CELL trial fleet in practical operation, we will continue to build on our experience with the latest generation of electric cars with fuel cell drive. The 70 B-Class F-CELL cars in customer hands in California alone are more than twice the size of the U.S. A-Class fleet and a further milestone on the way to market maturity of this technology by 2015."
Latest generation of fuel cell powered vehicles
With an operating range of around 400 kilometres and short refuelling times, the Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL combines locally emission-free mobility with long-distance comfort and compelling performance figures. The technical basis for the drive system of the B-Class F-CELL is the optimised, latest-generation fuel cell system. This is some 40 percent smaller than the system in the A-Class Fâ€'CELL, which has been undergoing practical trials in the USA since 2004, but generates 30 percent more power while consuming 30 percent less fuel. The cold-start capability of the B-Class F-CELL is down to minus 25 degrees Celsius.
In the current B-Class F-CELL the 100 kW/136 hp electric motor, which develops a powerful torque of 290 Nm from the instant the engine starts to turn, delivers driving pleasure and dynamism on a par with a two-litre petrol model. At the same time the B-Class F-CELL achieves an NEDC consumption (New European Driving Cycle) equivalent to only 3.3 litres of fuel (diesel equivalent) per 100 kilometres. Fuel consumption according to the US test cycle FTP combined EPA-Label (Federal Test Procedure) is 54 mpg.
Everyday use by customers
This vehicle concept is suitable for everyday driving and highly impressive: during the NHA Hydrogen Conference & Expo in May 2010, California's Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was enthusiastic: "I would love one of these fuel cell powered Mercedes cars!" On the basis of market research data, Mercedes-Benz has chosen a representative customer group consisting of fleet operators, public institutions, public figures and private customers. The primary aim is to gain further experience in day-to-day operation which can then be incorporated into succeeding model series. The full-service rental rate is 849 US Dollars excl. tax, with a contractual duration of up to 36 months.
Fuel cell safely integrated into the sandwich floor
At the heart of the B-Class Fâ€'CELL is the new-generation electric drive system powered by a fuel cell, which is compact, powerful, safe and fully suited for everyday use. The fuel cell generates the electrical power on board from a chemical reaction between oxygen and hydrogen, producing only pure water and zero emissions. The key drive components are located in the sandwich floor, where they are protected and do not take up much space, leaving the vehicle's interior and trunk fully usable. This makes Mercedes-Benz the first manufacturer to produce a fuel cell based electric drive system in a series-production compact car. Vehicle safety also benefits from accommodation of the tanks within the sandwich floor, and is at the very high level to be expected of a Mercedes.
The integrated safety concept of the B-Class Fâ€'CELL takes the specific characteristics of the innovative drive system into account. The experience garnered over many years by Mercedes-Benz with the electric drive powered by fuel cells from the A-Class Fâ€'CELL and the high-voltage technology involving the lithium-ion battery from the S 400 HYBRID went into honing the concept. The high level of safety means that Mercedes-Benz fuel cell vehicles can use underground car parks, multi-storey car parks or tunnels with no restrictions whatsoever. The vehicle configuration also results in particularly safe and agile handling characteristics.
Operating radius around 400 kilometres: filling-stations within range
The hydrogen used to run the fuel cell is stored in three tanks at a pressure of 700 bar. Each tank holds just under 4 kilograms of the gaseous fuel. The tanks are hermetically sealed from the outside world, preventing the escape of hydrogen into the atmosphere even if the vehicle is left to stand for long periods. Thanks to the high compression ratio, the B-Class Fâ€'CELL can cover long ranges of up to 400 kilometres with the tanks full, over twice as far as the A-Class Fâ€'CELL of 2004. Once the tanks are empty, they can be filled simply and quickly in less than three minutes, thanks to a standardised refuelling system.
Targeted initiatives relating to the fuel cell
In order to further the commercialization of fuel cell powered vehicles, Mercedes-Benz is involved in the California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP), an association of automobile manufacturers, energy suppliers, government bodies and technology companies, as well as in the newly formed Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA).
While the CaFCP is currently furthering the transition from a demonstration project to early commercialization of fuel cell drive systems at all levels, the State of California has already made $27 million available towards the development of a hydrogen infrastructure, with an additional $14 million anticipated in 2011.
There are currently five public hydrogen filling-stations in the greater Los Angeles area, with four more due to be opened by the end of 2010 and one more in the San Francisco Bay area.
Key facts about the Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL
* Purely electrically driven vehicle with an operating range of around 400 kilometres in the NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) * A chemical reaction between oxygen and hydrogen produces electric power which is fed to an electric motor * Water is the only emission * The liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery as the energy provider has a storage capacity of more than 1.4 kWh * The vehicle has front-wheel drive * Designed as a compact family car with full day-to-day suitability, the B-Class F-CELL consumes the diesel equivalent of only 3.3 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres in the NEDC
Drive
Electric motor with fuel cell
Rated output (kW/hp) 100/136
Rated torque (Nm) 290
Max. speed (km/h) 170
NEDC fuel consumption (diesel equivalent in l/100 km) 3.3
FTP combined EPA-Label consumption (mpg) 54
CO2 comb. (g/km min.–max.) 0.0
Range (km) NEDC 380
Energy content / output lithium-ion battery (kWh/kW) 1.4 /35
A recent article from Brian Krebs highlights a new trend in ATMskimmers: by using parts from cut-rate audio players and spy cams, criminals are able to construct something called an audio skimmer that records the data from the magnetic strip for later playback. Also included in the device is a miniature spy cam, which captures the user's PIN. The basic methodology behind the device is nothing new (for instance, it could be found in an issue of Phrack dating back to 1992) although the use of DAPs means that the whole thing is a lot more elegant than it was in the days of the portable cassette recorder. According to a recent report by the European ATM Security Team (EAST), devices of this type have been found in five countries, two of them "major ATM deployers" (with 40,000 active ATMs or more). Please guys, don't get any ideas. PR from EAST after the break.
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Skimming attacks at European ATMs rise 24%, although related losses fall 8%
13 October, 2010 -- The latest European ATM Crime Report published by EAST, shows a 24% increase in card skimming attacks at European ATMs. 5,743 attacks were reported for the period January to June 2010, compared with 4,629 for the same period in 2009. For the same periods, skimming related losses fell from €156 million to €144 million.
This is the largest number of such attacks reported in a six month period since EAST first began recording these statistics in 2004, although not all countries are reporting increases.
In several cases there have been significant falls in skimming attacks. Anti-skimming measures are now in place at many European ATMs and throughout Europe initiatives are in place to encourage cardholders to shield their PIN at ATMs and payment terminals.
The EAST report shows that ATM related card skimming losses have fallen consecutively for the last five reporting periods, from a high of €315 million in the second half of 2007, to the €144 million just reported. The fall is believed to be a direct result of the effectiveness of the EMV rollout, as compromised European cards are increasingly being used outside of the 31 countries of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA).
Domestic losses (losses from national cards within national borders) have fallen 41%, from €41 million in the first half of 2009, to €24 million.
International losses (losses from national cards outside national borders) have risen 4% from €114 million to €119 million. A significant part of these international losses are now occurring outside Europe in areas where EMV has not yet been implemented.
The EAST report also provides statistics relating to other types of ATM fraud, as well as to physical attacks at ATMs, and robberies, and EAST has recently placed seized criminal video footage onto its website, showing how criminals can capture PINs, and how cardholders can protect them.
For more information on ATM security and EAST contact: Lachlan Gunn, EAST Coordinator email: [coordinator@eas-team.eu] tel: + 44 131 510 0268
Is a full-size DeLorean (time machine or otherwise) a bit out of your budget? Then you might want to consider Flash Rods' latest 1:18 scale replica, which not only faithfully reproduces the DeLorean Time Machine (complete with Mr. Fusion reactor from Back to the Future II), but actually packs a 500GB Seagate hard drive inside to give you some justification for actually having it on your desk. Of course, it will cost a considerable premium over a regular 500GB hard drive, but we can certainly think of plenty of worse ways to spend $250.
Wahey, another day another theoretical display that will revolutionize the world, this time one that fits right in with your disposable, capitalistic lifestyle. Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have found a new way to utilize electrowetting, modifying the water repellency forces of a given surface to move colored ink and create a reflective display -- a technique that has long been the domain of Liquavista. This new version of that technique enables the creation of e-paper on actual paper, requiring no glass or fancy circuitry and, in theory, creating displays nearly as cheaply as magazines are printed today, opening the door to disposable e-readers and the like. No word on when such devices might be available outside of a lab, but we'll go ahead anyway and take this opportunity to remind you should always recycle your high-tech future e-readers.
Cue the pundits. Nissan's incoming Leaf has just nabbed an official EPA sticker, with a mind-melting 99MPG "equivalent" rating set to grace every single window. That'll undoubtedly catch eyes, but it's also likely to spur a huge debate on what "miles per gallon" truly means when you're throwing a battery into the mix. We actually had the pleasure of driving one ourselves late last month, but we weren't able to take off on any extended joyrides to really put MPG claims to the test. At any rate, the 99 rating breaks down to 106MPG in the city and 92MPG on the highway, but there's quite a bit of fuzzy math here that gas guzzlers aren't accustomed to considering. Nissan claims that the EPA uses a formula where 33.7 kWhs are equivalent to one gallon of gasoline energy, and that the entity also found the Leaf's efficiency to be 3.4 miles per kWh. Given that the car has a 24 kWh battery pack and can go 73 miles officially, then the EPA says it could theoretically go 99 miles if it had a 33.7 kWh pack. Still, the Leaf has to await its other label from the FTC, but it's apt to show a range of 96 to 110 miles of range. Head on past the break for the full presser.
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EPA Rates the All-Electric, Zero-Emission, Nissan LEAF 'Best' in Class for Fuel Efficiency, Environment
- Nissan LEAF label approved as Nissan prepares for December launch -
FRANKLIN, Tenn., Nov. 22, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved its fuel-economy label for the 100-percent electric Nissan LEAF, rating the vehicle to be "best" in the midsize vehicle class for fuel efficiency and "best" for the environment. The new label shows a best-in-class 99 miles-per-gallon (MPG) equivalent (combined city/highway). The MPG equivalency rating was developed by the EPA as a way to provide a standard so consumers can compare vehicles across the spectrum and make an educated purchase.
The 2011 Nissan LEAF, which uses no gas, was also rated best-in-class for the environment based on emitting zero greenhouse gases or other traditional tailpipe emissions. The label, which will be part of the Nissan LEAF's Monroney label, is now ready for placement on the vehicles in anticipation of the December launch.
After completion of five-cycle testing, the EPA has rated the Nissan LEAF with an MPG equivalent of 106 city, 92 highway for a combined 99 MPGe. This calculation is based on the EPA's formula of 33.7kW-hrs being equivalent to one gallon gasoline energy. In addition, the label displays a charging time of seven hours on a 240V charge and a driving range of 73 miles, based on the five-cycle tests using varying driving conditions and climate controls. Driving range on the Nissan LEAF, as with all vehicles, varies with real-world driving conditions.
"We're pleased the label clearly demonstrates the Nissan LEAF to be a best-in-class option, reflecting that it's a pure electric vehicle, uses no gas, has no tailpipe and has zero emissions," said Scott Becker, senior vice president, Finance and Administration, Nissan Americas. "The label provides consumers with a tool to compare alternative-fuel vehicles to those with a traditional internal combustion engine and allows them to make an informed purchase decision."
Sales of the Nissan LEAF will begin in December in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona and Tennessee. In January 2011, sales begin in Texas and Hawaii, with additional market roll-out continuing later in 2011.
In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program 2010 and has been recognized as a 2010 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. More information on Nissan in North America, the Nissan LEAF and zero emissions can be found at www.nissanusa.com.
It's not uncommon to see Mr. Android and Sir Arduino team up in the world of homegrown robotics, but Squirt has managed to hop out of the me-too crowd with a downright charming control scheme (and even more charming looks). Put simply, this water gun robot was designed to "water plants and chase away raccoons," but from a broader perspective, the creator was looking to demonstrate how robotics could be used in small irrigation and well systems. Better still, this is far more than just a robot that's controlled remotely via smartphone; if you switch it into 'guard mode,' it'll search and destroy -- pelting anything "that moves" with a blast of water. And yeah, it can also be controlled via SMS, so even the cats can't celebrate too quickly once the owner heads out for work. Hit the source link to find out more on how this masterpiece was constructed, or head beyond the break for a quick demo vid.
We're not sure what the humble DSLR has ever done to offend the Kuwaiti government, but, according to the Kuwait Times, the recreational use of Digital Single-Lens Reflex cameras has now been outlawed in the country. The Ministries of Information, Social Affairs and Finance (hello, 1984!) have collectively decided to ban the use of the chunky shooters in public places, except where it can be shown that it's for journalistic purposes. This decision has left a lot of people scratching their heads, not least because every self-respecting smartphone nowadays can pump out screen-filling images. And then there's also the matter of determining where the line between compact cameras, which are still allowed, and DSLRs resides -- for example, is the Lumix G2 an illegal shooter just because it looks like one?
Never mind your 103-inch plasmas or Guinness Word Record-holding stadium displays, real gamers do their thing on LCDs that span a cool seven thousand and five hundred square meters (translated into imperial measuring units, that's... a lot!). What you see above is a little glimpse of an MMO enthusiast with a big passion and no less sizable wallet. The gent in question was displeased by the fact a competing guildmaster in the Chinese MMO Magic World Online 2 got to play in an IMAX theater, and therefore decided to one-up him in the only way possible: by hiring Beijing's crazily oversized display (titled "All Beijing, look up!") for a little session of supersized gaming. Jump past the break to see it on video.
Metamaterials can do all sorts of cool things in theory, like create invisibility cloaks or focus lasers. In practice, though, they're rather less useful. Or at least they were, before the team at Fractal Antenna figured out that a simple sleeve made out of fractal-based metamaterials triples the bandwidth of a simple monopole antenna and boosts its gain by 3dB. All you need to do is slip the fractal sleeve on and and, hey presto, instant super antenna. You can see it demonstrated in the video after the break before reading all the nitty, gritty, infinitely-repeating details in the PR, which is down there too.
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Fractal Antenna Proves Value of Metamaterials
WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Despite promises of amazing features, metamaterials have failed to demonstrate practical applications. Now researchers at Fractal Antenna Systems have delivered on that promise, showcasing a new video that reveals metamaterials are a valuable application resource, whose advantage is dramatically enhanced using geometric shapes called fractals.
"Some people need to be convinced that metamaterials and fractals are useful tools in the electronic toolbox. We feel the same way, and are happy to oblige with this educational video. It makes an overwhelming case for the fractal advantage, in this case with a specific and fascinating metamaterial application." Metamaterials are composites with unique electromagnetic attributes. Fractals are structures built up from repeated sizings of a simple shape to make a complex one. Fractals are used to make partless, shrunken resonators, also called tuned circuits, that are densely and closely packed as a metamaterial, wound as cylinders in this example, then placed on top of a conventional antenna for dramatic performance enhancements.
The new video (http://fractenna.com/whats/whats.html), shows how the fractal metamaterials improve a monopole or 'vertical' antenna. With careful scientific protocols and controls, scientists at Fractal Antenna Systems demonstrate how a fractal metamaterial sleeve, with no power or electrical connection to the actual antenna, dramatically increases the bandwidth and gain. The firm's CEO Nathan Cohen notes: "Some people need to be convinced that metamaterials and fractals are useful tools in the electronic toolbox. We feel the same way, and are happy to oblige with this educational video. It makes an overwhelming case for the fractal advantage, in this case with a specific and fascinating metamaterial application."
Conservatively describing the bandwidth improvement as tripled, the actual bandwidth increases from 120 MHz to a new value 1500 MHz, just by slipping the fractal metamaterial sleeve over the monopole. Cohen added: "Physicists and engineers define bandwidth in different ways, either through a standing wave ratio or a half power point. We think folks should look for themselves, as any way you define it, it is startling and dramatic."
The gain of the antenna also undergoes improvement, more than doubling value. Cohen also notes that this is an expected and well understood result. Cohen concluded: "What is exciting for us is that fractals enable this technology, and as the inventors and patent holders, we are the innovators bringing it to our products and designs, and are happy to show this example to help others understand the benefits."
ABOUT FRACTAL ANTENNA SYSTEMS, INC.
Fractal Antenna Systems, Inc. (www.fractenna.com) supplies products for the world's most demanding wireless, and electromagnetic applications. Backed by over three dozen U.S., and international patents, plus dozens of patents pending, Fractal Antenna Systems is the recognized pioneer in fractal technology, with extensive research and field experience over 15 years in business. The company is a privately held and headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, USA.
If the name UberTwitter sounds familiar, that'll be because it's one of the more popular mobile Twitter clients, accounting for 10 million tweets each day from BlackBerry users around the globe. And now it's also available on the iPhone. Citing the "growing dominance" of Apple's one-device-to-rule-them-all mobile platform, the UberTwitter crew has decided to expand its offering with a new open beta, which is available to download now. The major distinguishing feature being touted is something called UberView, which allows access to links within tweets without exiting the app or opening up a new window within it. Looks a pretty slick idea, but there are still some early issues to be ironed out -- as with all beta iterations -- and a final v1.0 should be ready to do battle with Twitter's official app by the middle of December.
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Å°BERTWITTER, WORLD'S #1 TWITTER APPLICATION, BEGINS OPEN BETA OF IPHONE APP, INCLUDING Å°BERVIEW OF EMBEDDED LINKS FOR EASIER TWEET READING
Å°berTwitter, the world's most widely used Twitter app for sending and reading tweets, announced today that a beta version of Å°berTwitter for iPhone is now available as a free download from the Apple App Store. Until now, Å°berTwitter has been exclusive to RIM's BlackBerry devices, where it was one of the first Twitter client apps to be available for the platform and set the standard for features and functionality. Today, more than nine million users have downloaded Å°berTwitter, and they send approximately 10 million tweets a day with the app.
In addition to traditional Twitter client features – such as composing and sending tweets, retweeting, direct messaging and embedded link shortening – Å°berTwitter for iPhone offers an important new feature called Å°berView that makes reading tweets faster and easier. Either by tapping the tweet in portrait mode or turning the phone to landscape mode, users will be able to view and use content from any embedded link (e.g., webpage, photo or video) instantly without leaving the app or opening a new page within it. Over 10,000 people have already downloaded the current beta release and are providing great feedback. The version 1.0 full production release will be available by mid-December, and will incorporate many of the suggestions made by the beta users, as well as a number of other features.
"Given the iPhone's growing dominance among smartphone users, we wanted to extend our product offering to its users while making sure our app offered features that would complement the platform's unique functionality," said Paul McDonald, CEO of Å°berTwitter. "For instance, Å°berView will enhance the way users consume content. As more tweets become vehicle for sharing articles, photos and videos, this feature will become ever more indispensable."
"One of the most important aspects of the new Å°berTwitter for iPhone is Å°berView," said Sean Callihan, CEO of Plixi. "Plixi serves millions of images every month to Å°berTwitter users, and our business is all about creating easier and more intuitive ways for customers to share and view images. With Å°berView, Å°berTwitter has once again demonstrated their leadership in the Twitter client space, this time on the iPhone platform."
Additionally, Å°berTwitter will continue to encourage its users to share their suggestions for new features as it did with its original Blackberry offering. Within the app, there is a button where users can submit their ideas, and the feedback will be used to prioritize development efforts on some of the remaining, popular features of the BlackBerry version that have yet to be added to the iPhone beta version.
For more information, please visit www.ubertwitter.com.
It's not like anyone could predict the media streamer war that would erupt in 2010, but it looks like Western Digital's taking things pretty seriously. The company has just issued a somewhat major overhaul for its WD TV Live Plus and WD TV Live media players, adding Facebook support while also giving US-based users the ability to instantly rent or purchase movies via Blockbuster on Demand. Post-firmware update, users will also be able to tap into Deezer (an on-demand music service), Flingo (another internet TV portal) and AccuWeather (a place that "forecasts" what's happening in our "atmosphere"). Potentially more important than all of that, however, is the addition of USB wireless keyboard support -- simply plug in a USB wireless dongle that ships with most every wireless keyboard out there, and you'll be free to update your Facebook status or search for "Bed Intruder Song" through YouTube, all from the comfort of your sofa. Huzzah!
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WD Adds Variety of New Features to Its WD TV® Live™ Plus and WD TV Live Media Players
LAKE FOREST, Calif., Nov. 23, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Western Digital® (NYSE: WDC), the world's leader in external storage solutions, today announced the addition of several entertainment and social sites to the popular WD TV® media player family. WD TV Live™ (photo) and WD TV Live Plus media player (photo) customers will now be able to connect with their friends and family through Facebook® – including uploading photos and videos, sharing their status, viewing their wall and getting the latest updates from their News Feed – among other entertainment choices, all from their HDTV. Meanwhile, WD TV Live Plus media player customers in the U.S. can now instantly rent or purchase the newest movie releases the same day they become available on DVD and Blu-ray Disc™ through the Blockbuster® On Demand service.
In addition, new features for the WD TV Live and WD TV Live Plus media players include:
* Deezer™: a personalized on-demand music service for listening to 7 million tracks anytime, anywhere and one of the most popular Internet and mobile music offerings in Europe; * Flingo®: free Internet television from leading studios, TV networks, and video websites; * AccuWeather.com®: a worldwide weather forecasting service; and, * USB wireless keyboard support: use any popular wireless keyboard with USB dongle to easily update Facebook status and conduct YouTube® searches.
"The WD TV family of media players lets our customers enjoy all of their personal media plus the best of the Internet on the biggest screen in the house," said Brian Miller, director of business development for WD. "We listen to our user community and integrate their feedback to continuously improve the experience with our products. That includes working with our content partners to curate the best set of Internet services to meet customers' needs."
For more information on the WD TV Live and WD TV Live Plus media players, please visit the WD TV media player family website.
Price and Availability
The WD TV Live media player is available worldwide, and the WD TV Live Plus media player is available in the U.S. and Canada (1). Products can be purchased at select U.S. and Canadian retailers and online at wdstore.com. MSRP for the WD TV Live and WD TV Live Plus media players is $129.99 USD.
The possibilities teased in 2009 by Wi-Fi Direct have probably kept Bluetooth up at night, and we're sure the commencement of device certification last month hasn't helped, either. Now the LG BD960 has emerged as the first Blu-ray player on the Wi-Fi Direct certification list, hinting direct P2P communication in our home theaters among WiFi devices (without the need for a routing middleman) could soon go from fiction to fact. Unfortunately, mum's still the word on shipping and pricing. The mere chance however that the player could stream content to any other WiFi-equipped device -- Direct certified or not -- is a big enough deal to give our dedicated media streamers Defarge-like glances already. Particularly, if the BD960 comes packed with features similar its suspected predecessor the LG-BD390, which can stream both Netflix, Vudu, and DLNA network content, as well as play DivX HD 1080p content. Until more details surface though, we'll simply have to keep reminding our poor Galaxy S that it isn't destined to be alone in this cold, cruel world forever.
Details are about as scant as can be, and The Digital Reader claims the entire announcement was a mistake, but PocketBook USA just outed what could be the very first Mirasol e-reader in a CES 2011 press release. In addition to the newish PocketBook Pro e-readers spotted at IFA 2010, the company will apparently showcase a brand-new model with one of Qualcomm's transflective color screens, and to commemorate the long-awaited occasion it's tentatively christening the reader "Mirasol," too. Early whispers suggest the device cost a bundle and won't have a fast enough refresh rate (12fps) for video speeds, but we'll find out the truth of the matter come the first week of January. PR after the break.
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PocketBook-USA to Showcase Full e-Reader Product Line at 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) OVERLAND PARK, KS (22 November 2010) – PocketBook USA, the North American division of PocketBook International, will display their entire line of e-reader products at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, January 6-9.
One of the world's top five producers of electronic reading devices, PocketBook sells more than 50,000 e-readers each month through offices in the USA, Germany, Russia, China and the Middle East with a distribution network covering more than 20 countries worldwide.
The company will showcase six different product models -- PocketBook Pro 602, Pro 902 – standard models, PocketBook Pro 603, Pro 903 – premium class models, PocketBook IQ701, and Mirasol – PocketBook's newest model.
"The primary difference between the 602 and the 902 models are the screen size and battery," says PocketBook USA's Marketing & Sales Manager Leon Sheiman. According to Sheiman, the 602 is a smaller unit with a longer battery life (six inches and 14,000 page turns) while the 902 has a larger screen and a shorter duration between power-ups (10 inches and 7,000 page turns). Despite these physical differences, both models can be used for either work or play. Such flexibility in use is a hallmark not only of these models but of the Pro 603 and Pro 903 as well.
The updated PocketBook Pro 603 and Pro 903 are the company's premium class models. The two models differ in screen size with the Pro 603 measuring 6" and the Pro 903 measuring 9.7". They also differ in battery life with the Pro 603 capable of 14,000 page flips per charge and the Pro 903 capable of 7,000 page flips per charge. These upgraded versions possess a stylus touch module for the input device and are best suited for customers who desire the most advanced technological devices. Whether using one of the models for work or play, these premium e-readers are sure to satisfy a user's wants and needs.
The IQ701 offers a number of different features including a seven-inch color TFT touch screen with WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. Functioning on the Android 2.0 operating system, this model is best suited for customers seeking entertainment in an e-reader. The newest PocketBook model, Mirasol, features Qualcomm's full-color Mirasol display which is based on a reflective technology.
Sheiman will be joined at CES by PocketBook USA CEO Regina Sergiyenko, PocketBook Global CEO Julia Shykalova, Product Sales Manager Yaroslav Bondarenko, and Vice President Oleg Naumenko. The company will display and demonstrate their products at Booth 36271 in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center and at ShowStoppers at CES on Thursday, January 6, from 6:00 until 10:00 pm at the Wynn Casino (3131 Las Vegas Boulevard South).
The PocketBook is available for purchase online via the company's website and through various online distributors. The product will also be available from kiosks that are beginning to sprout in retail shopping malls across the nation.
About PocketBook-USA PocketBook was founded in 2007 with the goal of developing the ideal electronic reading device that fulfills all of its users' desires. Each month, more than 50,000 PocketBook multifunctional e-readers are sold in more than 20 countries, making PocketBook one of the world's top five producers of electronic reading devices. PocketBook is the best selling e-reader in Eastern Europe and number three in Western Europe. With software design based on Linux, the company focuses on developing innovative devices, accessories and content. PocketBook designed the world's first e-reader with a factory-installed language translation dictionary and was the first to support text-to-speech in 24 languages. PocketBook has branches in the U.S., Germany, France, China and Russia, and distributes multifunctional electronic reading devices throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia, North America and the CIS (former Soviet Union).
Hey look, a chart with the iPad on top. Aren't statistics fun? And yet, this chart may not mean quite what you think it does. The Nielsen Company presented a cadre of individuals with a list of nice, shiny gadgets and let them cross off anything and everything they'd like to buy in the next six months, and 31 percent of kids 6-12 picked the iPad as one of them. That doesn't mean these youngsters wanted the iPad any more than a game console, mind you, it just means more of them picked the tablet than any other single game console on the list. Also, it turns out that the iPad was the only tablet PC available, so it could well ave served as a proxy vote for other slates -- Galaxy Tab, anyone? The survey results also don't factor in ownership, so if the Xbox 360's low on the buy list, it could be because respondents already have one... but we suppose this is the definitive proof we've been searching for that e-readers are on the outs in the 12-and-under crowd. Jeff Bezos is crying over his evening oatmeal right now. After the break, see what the same chart looks like for teenagers and adults. (Hint: they aren't all that hot on handhelds.)
This is George. He's a six-foot tall robot handmade from the aluminum scraps of a crashed bomber in 1950. George is remote controlled, and was built by Tony Sale, the same man who recently resurrected the nearly forgotten robotic darling from the storage shed where he's spent the last 45 years or so. Some oil and batteries were all it took to get George up and walking again, and he'll now have a permanent home at the National Museum of Computing in Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire, England. And that's the next museum we'll be visiting, because we cannot get enough of this giant. Tear-inducing video is after the break.
Screen Grabs chronicles the uses (and misuses) of real-world gadgets in today's movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dot com.
Whoulda thunk that the third time we'd see the BlackBerry PlayBook on video, it'd be in the hands of cube-headed dopplegangster Will.I.Shill? Not us, but we're terribly excited to see the 7-inch tablet show off its augmented reality chops in the Black Eyed Peas' latest music video. We're not really sure what alternate reality hijinks turned the musicians into 8-bit portraits nor pixelated their world, but the BEP sure look adorable as Xbox LIVE-friendly avatars. Watch it after the break, or skip to 2:12, 3:16 and 3:54 if you just want to get your tablet on.
T-Mobile's got an American lock on the Bold 9780 at the moment, but you know how it goes with BlackBerrys: they tend to go pretty much everywhere (Storm and Torch notably excepted) if you give 'em enough time. Sure enough, an AT&T-branded version just popped up... and if you've got $899 lying around and an undying love for unreleased RIM gear, it can be yours. The phone's chilling on eBay right now with a prominent AT&T logo silkscreened at the bottom; obviously, it stands to reason these guys would want to replace their Bold 9700 before too long, so we're not surprised to see it go down like this. Want a white version, though? Well, you'll just have to wait for that.
Looks like HTC and Samsung are taking some aggressive steps to protect themselves from Android patent litigation -- in the past week both companies have entered into long-term patent licensing agreements with Nathan Myhrvold's Intellectual Ventures. (Mhyrvold was once Microsoft's chief technology officer, but he's arguably more famous for Intellectual Ventures.) Both HTC and Samsung now have access to IV's entire portfolio of "more than 30,000 IP assets" to wield against current or potential legal opponents -- like, say, Apple or Oracle -- and IV also plans to help them manage their existing patent portfolios. It sounds to us like HTC and Samsung decided that they needed more patent muscle in order to survive in the now crazy-litigious smartphone market, and indeed, the PR announcing the HTC deal flatly says the smartphone maker is "working with IV to mitigate its patent risk."
Of course, this is also a bit of a deal with the devil -- Intellectual Ventures might be the most infamous patent troll in history, and HTC and Samsung have essentially decided the risks and cost of doing business with IV are more favorable than the risks and cost of going to court. Either way, we'll see how this all shakes out -- and we've got a feeling that the Apple / HTC lawsuit is about to get seriously interesting.
"RIM became aware of a number of issues and customer concerns regarding the Kik app and service. Following discussions with Kik, the app was removed from BlackBerry App World on November 12. Upon further investigation, RIM concluded that Kik had breached contractual obligations. Based on the broad scope and seriousness of the issues and concerns, RIM terminated its agreements with Kik and withdrew RIM's support for Kik's service."
Now, Waterloo is still being pretty coy about what exactly Kik did to rock the boat so badly, but there are two obvious theories floating around: one, that Kik's contact harvesting was a big privacy no-no; and two, that the product came a little too close to BBM's functionality for RIM's comfort.
Hard to say what went down, and Kik's official response doesn't do much to clear up the situation. Though the company has thrown up a public response on its blog, it doesn't clarify what transpired, what "contractual obligations" were allegedly breached, or what (if anything) Kik might do to attempt to smooth over the spat. Instead, the post is more of a PR play, praising the relationship Kik's had with RIM in the past and saying it doubts rumors that BBM envy could account for the pull. It does say, however, that RIM has fully revoked Kik's access to push notifications and the BlackBerry SDK, so it's going to be tough for these guys to stay relevant on Bolds and Curves across the land unless RIM reverses its decision.
It looks like WowWee is learning the implications of that old saw, "imitation is the surest way to get your company sued." That's right, the company's radical looking, fun for about twenty minutes, paper-thin plastic toy guitars have recently drawn legal fire from Gibson, who recognizes a distinct resemblance between some classic axes (like the Flying V and the Les Paul) and the aforementioned Paper Jamz line. Which we could certainly see -- even if WowWee hadn't name dropped Gibson in its product literature (which seems to us to be rather on par with taunting the company outright). And if that weren't bad enough, the company is going after retailers, such as Toys 'R Us and eBay, who it claimed kept selling the things after receiving a cease and desist letter. Of course, this raises a few questions: At which point is a design so ubiquitous that it becomes fair game for companies like WowWee? And wouldn't Gibson want the kiddies (who will be ready to move up to real guitars soon enough) hooked on their brand? And most importantly -- when are we getting a Paper Jamz Rickenbacker? Because there has to be an easier way to be like Paul Weller. Commercial after the break (it adds nothing to the post, but it's kind of a laugh).
More 3D choices for your 3D lifestyle. Acer is launching a pair of products that'll give you another excuse to wear fancy active-shutter glasses at all times, starting with the HS244HQ, a 1080p monitor that measures 23.6-inches across, has the requisite 120Hz refresh rate and manages a 12,000,000:1 contrast ratio thanks to its LED backlighting. We're also learning more about the AS5745DG laptop, a "high cost-performance model" 15.6-inch laptop with NVIDIA GeForce GT425M graphics, 2.53GHz Intel Core i5-460M processor, 4GB of RAM, 640GB of storage, and a 120Hz display with a pair of 3D Vision glasses to match. It's a bit meatier than the company's 5738DG from last year, and rather pricier too, with an MSRP set to fall just under 100,000 yen -- about $1,200 when it ships next month. No word on the monitor's cost yet, but don't expect a bargain.
We sure do love our obscure instruments here at Engadget. Even something as simple as the Monome, with its grid of 64 pads (and little else) can get the creative juices flowin' when partnered with the right software. Well, we just received word that SevenUpLive, the driver that gets Monome to play nice with Ableton Live (via Max / MSP), has just received support for Snyderphonics' handsome Manta controller. What's this all mean? Well, besides looking great, Manta features velocity sensitive plates and polyphonic aftertouch, which means a higher level of control than many of your boutique controllers. But you need a demonstration, right? Why didn't you say so? Video after the break.
Here's hoping you didn't choose to adopt early. Not even three weeks after Windows Phone 7 went on sale in the US of A comes this: a buy one, get one free sale christened by Microsoft and AT&T. Starting November 26th (that's Black Friday, we'll have you know), sleepy-eyed consumers can drag themselves into their local AT&T store in order to pick up an LG Quantum, HTC Surround or Samsung Focus in BOGO fashion -- best of all, you can mix and match, enabling users to snag a Quantum and a Surround (or a Focus) for just $199. Naturally, you'll still be signing a pair of two-year agreements with Ma Bell, but it's still the cheapest way to indulge in WP7 for the time being. There's no telling when the deal will end, but common sense would say to jump in early if you've got a hankerin'.
Not feeling like enough of an individual owning the same ultrathin Apple laptop as everyone else? We feel your pain, you need something more in your status symbol hardware. This is where Colorware enters, asking for (at least) $1,850 in exchange for a MacBook Air -- made in 2010, exactly to your chromatic specifications. Come on, we can mock and we can decry the price, but if this were ever within the disposable income portion of your budget, wouldn't you jump at the opportunity? Alas, there's no option for repainting an Air if you've already bought one, so whether you want the 11.6-inch or 13-inch version, you'll have to buy it directly from Colorware.
Update: It originally seemed as if the 11-inch Air wasn't available, but it is, hence the body of the post has been updated accordingly.
Just how much is the promise of anywhere, anytime cellphone reception worth to you? If you answered "one thousand, one hundred and fifty dollars," well... your time has finally come. After initially launching through business channels alone for $800, TerreStar's unique GSM / HSPA Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphone for AT&T with satellite connectivity is now available to consumers from all walks of life, as long as you've got $1,149.99 lying around. The Genus features Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS, a 2 megapixel camera, and pretty much every other amenity you'd expect form a WinMo 6.5 smartphone with circa-2008 hardware specs, with the obvious exception that it can be used anywhere you can see TerreStar's satellite pretty much anywhere in North America. Of course, we'd be a little hesitant about buying a four-figure phone that operates on a bankrupt service, but if you need coverage in the boondocks, your options are pretty limited. Follow the break for TerreStar's demo video and full press release.
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TerreStar GENUS Now Available for Consumers; Combining the Power of Satellite and Freedom of Mobility
The TerreStar GENUS Gives Today's Active Lifestyle Consumers, from Outdoor Adventurists to Recreational Boaters, the Ability to Stay Connected
Reston, VA., November 22, 2010 /PRNewswire/ - From remote mountains to rural country roads and even up to 200 miles off the coast of the United States, consumers can now enjoy the freedom and flexibility to stay connected with the availability of the TerreStar™ GENUS™, the world's first integrated cellular-satellite smartphone. Offered by mobile communications provider, TerreStar Networks Inc. ("TerreStar"), the GENUS ensures today's active lifestyle consumer, from the extreme outdoor adventurer and action sport enthusiast to the recreational boater, can stay connected even in remote locations or when the cellular network is down.
The TerreStar GENUS brings satellite devices to the mainstream consumer. Forget about traditional clunky, brick-style satellite devices; the new GENUS features a sleek design, internal antenna and satellite innovation that combines cellular and satellite connectivity for voice, data and messaging. With just one phone number and one device, users with a line of sight to the southern sky can gain access to expanded voice and data roaming coverage in the United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and in territorial waters. The device may be purchased online by visiting www.terrestar.com/consumer.
Additional features include:
* Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system experience * Innovative form factor: 4.7 inch x 2.5 inch x 0.8/0.6 inch * Lightweight at just 4.6 oz. * Integrated Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g), USB and GPS connectivity * Touch Screen, QWERTY Keyboard * Memory: 100 MB * Multimedia features you'd expect from your everyday smartphone, including: Windows Mobile Media Player; 2.0-megapixel camera; camcorder format (H.263 simple profile); video and audio playback features and digital voice recording
"The GENUS smartphone is ideal for adventure-seekers, skiers, boaters, hikers and anyone who lives on the edge, but still wants to stay connected," said Jeffrey W. Epstein, president and chief executive officer, TerreStar. "The GENUS provides the ultimate wireless backup capability; helping ensure users are prepared and have access to mobile communications in case of an emergency, disaster, or even an unforeseen weather condition, despite location or cellular network signal strength."
About the size of a deck of cards, the TerreStar GENUS connects to the AT&T cellular network for primary ground-based wireless connectivity, and gains satellite access connectivity through the power of TerreStar-1, the world's largest commercial communications satellite, which acts as a cell tower in the sky.
As many mobile users are fluent in the language of "apps", but not "sats", TerreStar created a "how it works" video highlighting key differences in using the GENUS as compared to a traditional cellular-only device. The video, which is available at: www.YouTube.com/TerreStar and on TerreStar.com, points out key usability features to ensure the best user experience. It's good to stay connected.
Pricing and Availability To help bring the TerreStar GENUS to consumers, TerreStar has tapped leading online wireless retailer, Simplexity, to market and distribute the TerreStar GENUS and accessories through its partner and marketing network. The TerreStar GENUS is available today, online at www.terrestar.com/consumer.
Qualified AT&T cellular voice and smartphone data rate plans are required, as well as a monthly satellite service feature. Usage of the satellite network for voice, data and messaging is not included in the monthly feature charge and is billed as a per-minute, per-message or per-megabyte roaming charge.
About TerreStar TerreStar Corporation, through its majority-owned subsidiary, TerreStar Networks (www.terrestar.com), is re-defining mobile communications by extending the reach, reliability, and resiliency of traditional mobile networks throughout the United States, U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Offering wholesale satellite services via today's leading service providers, and the world's first and only integrated satellite-cellular smartphone, the GENUS™, TerreStar is transforming the mobile experience and enabling users to be prepared and stay connected when they need to most.
If there's one event that's immune to being overhyped, it's the annual January expo of everything consumer electronics, known to you and us as CES. The only downer to this geek endurance test is that we've felt it's been lacking a little on the gaming front lately, which is why we're so giddy to hear the news that Nintendo will be rejoining the ranks of exhibitors over in Las Vegas in a few weeks' time. CES 2011 will be the first time in 16 years that the console sales leader has deigned to pitch up a stand at America's biggest tech show, with our suspicion being that the event will be used as an opportunity to remind the world about the upcoming 3DS handheld. Or to drop that Wii HD bombshell we've all been waiting for. Yeah, right!
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2011 CES GAMING SHOWCASE FEATURES LATEST IN GAMING TECHNOLOGIES
Nintendo Returns to CES; Other Gaming Exhibitors Include AMD, HP, Intel, Lenovo, LevelUp, Logitech, Microsoft, Nokia, Sony and More
Arlington, Va., November 22, 2010 – The 2011 International CES®, the world's largest consumer technology tradeshow, will feature the hottest innovations in gaming hardware and software. More than 35 exhibitors will display the latest gaming technology advancements in the 2011 CES Gaming Showcase. The International CES will return to Las Vegas from January 6-9, 2011.
Exhibitors will present their products across 9,800 square feet within the Gaming Showcase. Located in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Gaming Showcase will feature advancements in online gaming and gaming-related product debuts in both hardware and software – from online PC and HD gaming, plasma HDTV to surround sound and power conditioning hardware. Nintendo returns as an exhibitor to CES for the first time in 16 years.
"With the gaming market expected to generate $20.3 million in 2010, the International CES is the must-stop hub for innovative gaming products, and will allow CES attendees to experience the future of gaming from an amazing range of innovative companies," said Karen Chupka, senior vice president, events and conferences, CEA. "The Gaming Showcase at CES will feature the hottest gaming trends for the coming year."
Major gaming exhibitors include: AMD, HP, Intel, Lenovo, LevelUp, Logitech, Microsoft, Nintendo, Nokia, Sony and more. Publishers and developers will also be in attendance, including: Alcazar Entertainment, Cosmi, DC Comics/Warner and DreamWorks Animation. Furthermore, key retailers like Amazon.com, Best Buy and GameStop will also attend the 2011 CES.
For more news about the 2011 International CES before, during and after the show, including the Gaming Showcase, exhibitor information, conference sessions and TechZones, please visit CESweb.org. Journalists are encourages to arrive in Las Vegas by Tuesday, January 4, to take advantage of all the CES press events, including CES Unveiled from 4-7 p.m. on January 4.
About CEA: The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the $172 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry. More than 2,000 companies enjoy the benefits of CEA membership, including legislative advocacy, market research, technical training and education, industry promotion and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES – Where Entertainment, Technology and Business Converge. All profits from CES are reinvested into CEA's industry services. Find CEA online at CE.org.
Don't go knockin' Sony for resting on its laurels. The company that has spearheaded the 3D gaming push (NVIDIA notwithstanding) is apparently not even close to finished, with SCEE studio director Mick Hocking taking the time to get our juices flowing in an interview with Develop. The full spill is quite lengthy, and definitely a solid read for those interested, but a few key nuggets jumped out at us. For starters, Mike confessed that Sony has "techniques like holographics for the PS3 that [he thinks] will be very interesting for the future 3D games," and continued with this: "In regards to that we have some new technology that we've shown to developers that uses 3D techniques, it allows two players to play full screen multi-player games but without each being able to see the others view, and they have been massively keen on them." Of course, such a technique isn't exactly new -- we saw prototypes of the sort in use back at GDC -- but bringing them to a market as vast as the PS3 owner pool would definitely be a monumental step. Now, if you'll excuse us, we've got a Gran Turismo 5 disc laying here that needs our undivided attention for the time being.. .
Metamaterials can do all sorts of cool things in theory, like create invisibility cloaks or focus lasers. In practice, though, they're rather less useful. Or at least they were, before the team at Fractal Antenna figured out that a simple sleeve made out of fractal-based metamaterials triples the bandwidth of a simple monopole antenna and boosts its gain by 3dB. All you need to do is slip the fractal sleeve on and and, hey presto, instant super antenna. You can see it demonstrated in the video after the break before reading all the nitty, gritty, infinitely-repeating details in the PR, which is down there too. 
It's not like anyone could predict the media streamer war that would erupt in 2010, but it looks like Western Digital's taking things pretty seriously. The company has just issued a somewhat major overhaul for its WD TV Live Plus and WD TV Live media players, adding Facebook support while also giving US-based users the ability to instantly rent or purchase movies via Blockbuster on Demand. Post-firmware update, users will also be able to tap into Deezer (an on-demand music service), Flingo (another internet TV portal) and AccuWeather (a place that "forecasts" what's happening in our "atmosphere"). Potentially more important than all of that, however, is the addition of USB wireless keyboard support -- simply plug in a USB wireless dongle that ships with most every wireless keyboard out there, and you'll be free to update your Facebook status or search for "Bed Intruder Song" through YouTube, all from the comfort of your sofa. Huzzah! 
Looks like RIM has made a final decision on the Kik situation after having pulled the wildly popular upstart instant messaging app from the BlackBerry App World a few days ago -- and for current and hopeful Kik users, the news isn't good (bold added by us):
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