If we've learned anything from the former Soviet Union, it's that collapsed empires have lots of awesome tech just layin' around. We've recently heard tale of someone who found the remnants of the USSR's lunar program under a tarp somewhere, and now a Russian website has uncovered some pretty bad-ass pics of the 1K17 Self-Propelled Laser Complex. First deployed in 1992, the vehicle features a laser system that could be used, as the machine translated document says, to "provide anti-opto-electronic surveillance systems" in even "the harshest climatic and operating conditions imposed on the armor." (In other words, the lasers would disrupt the enemy's electronics and optics, even in the bleak Russian winter.) It seems that the program was discontinued pretty quickly due to expense, with the hardware eventually being consigned to the Military Technical Museum in the Ivanovo Oblast.
Thought the launch of the Kin ONEm and TWOm was strange? Here's another oddity with a Microsoft tie-in: Canadian startup Mobilicity has just announced the "Mobiflip," a phone that the carrier's own press release calls out as being "similar to the Sidekick LX." It's unclear whether what's left of Danger will be supporting the device -- the Sidekick line basically pioneered mobile cloud computing, after all -- but what we see of the interface certainly rings true to the Sidekicks of days gone by. It runs CAD $99.99 ($98) contract-free, which is a whole heck of a lot cheaper than its American doppelganger launched for -- $250 on contract, if you recall. Yowza! Follow the break for the press release.
Growing wireless carrier continues to bring consumers more choice in quality brand name handsets for under $100 without a contract
Toronto, ON – December 21, 2010 – In announcing the Sharp Mobiflip talk-and-text device, Mobilicity continued to make good on its commitment to deliver the most comprehensive contract-free lineup of name-brand handsets and smartphones in the industry.
Similar to the T-Mobile Sidekick LX, the Mobiflip is ideal for teens, tweens and the increasing number of talk-and-text users. The affordable Mobiflip features a 3.2" rotating flip-out screen and full-size QWERTY keyboard for easy web browsing, emailing and instant messaging. In camera or video mode, the phone's large screen also serves as a view finder and offers a familiar and easy-to-use digital camera-like experience.
The Mobiflip is available at Mobilicity stores and authorized dealers for $99.99. Like all Mobilicity devices, it does not come with a handset tab credit check, nor does it come with a contract to lock a customer into a multi-year service plan, as is often the case with Canada's incumbent carriers.
Mobilicity has consistently introduced quality name-brand devices to enhance its lineup of handsets and smartphones. In the last few months, it released the BlackBerry® Curve™ 3G, Nexus OneTM by GoogleTM, Sony Ericsson Xperia X10, LG WinkTM and the Motorola SpiceTM – Canada's only name-brand device powered by Android™ for under $200. Pricing of Mobilicity handsets starts at just $49.99.
About Mobilicity (DAVE Wireless) Mobilicity, Canada's UNLIMITED 3.5G mobile operator, provides nationwide coverage with unlimited coverage areas to make wireless communications more affordable and easier to use. Mobilicity's pay-in-advance unlimited talk, text and data plans ensure 100 percent bill certainty – without contracts, credit checks or hidden charges. Formerly known as Data & Audio Visual Enterprises Wireless Inc. (DAVE Wireless), the company is led by Obelysk, a diversified Canadian holding company, and Quadrangle Capital Partners, a global investor in the telecommunications and media sectors with more than $3 billion of capital under management. Earlier this year, Mobilicity was named one of Canada's Top 25 Up and Coming Information & Communication Technology start-ups by the Branham Group Inc. Further information about Mobilicity can be found at www.mobilicity.ca.
We've heard your cries, we've read your tips, and we've even suffered a similar fate ourselves... Skype downtime. According to the official Twitter feed, its engineers are working non-stop. Estimated time of recovery? Nein. Let us know if you're having (Skype-related) issues of your own!
It's not exactly November, but those who pre-ordered early may still end up with a Lumix GH2 beneath their tree. The highly-anticipated GH1 followup -- which was introduced back at Photokina -- has officially begun to ship to end users in the US of A. The official order page shows a one to two week wait, but we've confirmed with Panny itself (as well as tipster Nate, the proud owner of the one above) that units are indeed trickling out as we speak. For those in need of a refresher, this Micro Four Thirds shooter packs a 16 megapixel sensor, 1080p movie mode, SDXC support and an ISO range from 160 to 12,800. Feel free to take a peek back at our hands-on from Germany, and make sure you cancel those holiday plans STAT -- wouldn't want this sitting on your doorstep for a solid week, now would you?
We've always had pleasant aural experiences with Westone earphones, and it's not hard to hazard a guess that the outfit's latest will also impress. The W4 is being hailed as the planet's first four-driver universal fit earphone, boasting a foursome of balanced armature drivers, a three-way crossover and a self-proclaimed EPIC cable, which is supposedly able to "guard against microphones." Further details are expected to be spilled at CES in just a couple of weeks, and they'll be loosed on the public in early Q1 2011 for $449. Yeah, not exactly cheap, but nothing fit for an audiophile ever is.
Show full PR text
Westone 4 the World's First Four Driver Universal Fit Earphone
Westone Laboratories, Inc. Introduces the World's First Universal Fit Earphone With Four Balanced Armature Drivers
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO--(Marketwire - December 14, 2010) - Westone Laboratories, Inc. introduces the Westone 4, the world's first four driver balanced armature universal fit earphone designed specifically for the serious audiophile and music enthusiast.
"The earphone market has become quite crowded in the last several years with lots of 'me too' types of products. Westone was an early pioneer back in the early 90's working with bands like Def Leppard and Rush to develop an in-ear monitoring solution to combat excessive stage noise," explains Lynn Kehler, President & CEO, Westone. "Developing the first universal four driver product is a statement of our commitment to leading the market with products that are superior in both sound and quality."
Pushing the limits of both technology and ergonomics, the Westone 4 uses a four driver balanced armature design with 3-way crossover to achieve breathtaking clarity and realism. The EPIC Cable (Earphone Precision Interconnect Cable) is both durable and guards against microphonics. Westone's exclusive True-Fit technology, based on over 50 years of experience with in-ear applications, results in an earphone that is extremely comfortable, lightweight and compact.
"A Westone customer expects a truly engaging music experience. Not only does the Westone 4 take the experience to the next level, but these earphones can lend themselves to so many applications due to their compact size and sound signature," describes David Slepak, Manager of Marketing. "For the audiophile it's pure heaven, gamers will feel like the action is surrounding them, we've even had exceptional feedback from the home and field recording community as an alternative to bulky over-the-ear headphones and difficult to use near field monitors."
The Westone 4 will be revealed to the world in Westone's exhibit located within the iLounge Pavillion at the Consumer Electronics Show January 6th in Las Vegas. The world's first four driver universal fit earphone will carry a suggested retail price of $449 and start shipping early in the first quarter of 2011.
Westone, The In-Ear Experts since 1959, has been at the forefront of in-ear monitoring technology since the early 1990's. Offering a wide range of custom and universal-fit products for music lovers and musicians the world over, Westone musicians' monitors are used by acts ranging from Third Day and Playing for Change to Flyleaf and Nine Inch Nails. Westone is committed to superior customer service, with musicians on the development team, experienced audiologists on staff and knowledgeable technical support personnel available to answer any questions.
So it's safe to say that Google Wave didn't really make one upon the tech world as a whole, but it certainly was a neat idea. While Wave itself now lives with the Apache Software Foundation, the core concept, easy and direct collaboration with anyone, has new life with Google Shared Spaces. The Wave gadgets have been given a standalone home here, the idea being that you create a Space, invite some people, and then do -- well, whatever it is you need to do. It's basically just a more task-focused version of Wave, and maybe that's all the service really needed. Direction. Right now there are just shy of 50 such gadgets for you to try, but anyone with a little JavaScript know-how can whip up their own in a jiffy, though sadly there's no interactive gadget-creation Space. Now that would be something.
What's better than using Skyfire on a 3.5-inch screen? Using it on a 9.7-inch one, of course! After tinkering with the new iPad browser, we've noticed that it has the same feel as its iOS brother and Android cousin, with a modified look to it. Features like private browsing, mobile or desktop view and bookmarks remain present -- and rest assured, the ability to watch Flash videos is still as easy as tapping a button. What's perhaps the most salient addition in this rendition is the social network integration. When the app is opened, you'll notice right away that it's got eight buttons along the bottom, four of which are Facebook related. These buttons, referred to as "quick view" by the peeps at Skyfire, give you, well, a quick view of the button you've tapped. For example, when the Facebook button is pushed, you're presented with a trimmed down version of the social network. The same goes with Twitter and Google Reader. The app also features Fireplace, which allows you to view specifically the links your Facebook friends have shared, and 'Popular', which shows all the related links your friends have shared based on what website the browser parked on, and of course a dedicated 'Like' button. The Share function lends you an easy way to share links via various popular networks.
As for the browsing experience itself, the devs at Skyfire did a great job ironing out the kinks that we stumbled upon in the iPhone version. Pages render nicely and quickly, pinch-to-zoom works as well as it does on Safari, scrolling is buttery smooth and Flash videos play noticeably quicker in comparison to what we experienced on the iPhone. The app is sadly not available in the App Store just yet, but hang tight, it's been submitted for approval and should hit virtual shelves soon.
It's not iPad nano watch money -- seriously, what is? -- but with hours to go before the final bell, USB sniffer OpenVizsla has exceeded its initial funding goal by more than 400 percent. That's over $70,000 as of this writing, with about 510 backers including Stephen Fry, who was pretty vocal about his support (that must help). If you'll recall, the project -- from iPhone dev team and Twiizers virtuosos pytey and bushing -- aims to make a cheap USB analyzer that can help decode proprietary devices, the popular anecdote being it's the same concept used in the Kinect hack how-to. It's not too late to pledge, of course, and doing so will get you some special goodies. Need more convincing? We're gonna embed Alma the dog's video debut after the break.
Our worst frienemies, the quadrocopters, have decided to act cute for the holidays and play us a merry little jingle. Yes, the guys and gals behind the Flying Machine Arena have put together an airborne robot sophisticated enough to lay down a few seasonal notes on a Yamaha electronic keyboard. And we're still sitting around debating inconsequential topics like net neutrality -- all of human civilization is at stake here, people! Be a good citizen and watch the video after the break to scout out any weak points to this most imminent threat to humanity's survival.
Good news: Dell's unlocked Streak has just plunged down the pricing charts with a neat $180 discount taking it to a palatable $400 level. Bad news: you won't get yours shipped until the 10th of January, according to Round Rock's web outlet. Android 2.2 won't come preloaded, you'll have to snag the OTA update, though you do get a wide palette of colors to choose from, including black, noir, nero, preto, and schwarz -- pick wisely!
Congratulations, Panasonic, you're now the adoptive father of two companies, Sanyo and Panasonic Electric Works. We know, the plan's been all but confirmed since July, but it's nice to see the deal go through and all the necessary paperwork signed. Both now-wholly-owned subsidiaries (through a share exchange that commenced today) are scheduled to be de-listed from the Tokyo Stock Exchange on March 29th, 2011, and after that... well, independence was fun while it lasted, eh chaps?
Hard to say if it'll arrive in time for your Christmas Jam Session this Saturday, but IK Multimedia's iKlip is now shipping. For those who can't tell by the incredible image above (and below, for that matter), it's a microphone clip for your iPad. Plain and simple, simple and plain. Hit the source link to cut $39.99 (or €29.99) from your budget, and inject untold amounts of joy into your life.
IK Multimedia Ships iKlip™ The Microphone Stand Adapter for iPad Take your iPad on stage with you
December 2010, Modena, Italy – IK Multimedia is pleased to announce that the iKlip™ universal microphone stand adapter for the iPad is now shipping from the IK Online Store and IK Retailers worldwide. The new iKlip for iPad makes it easy for anyone to use an iPad in any live setting - on stage, in the studio, at school or in the boardroom. With the iKlip, you can securely position any iPad for optimal viewing and accessibility, while all controls, buttons and connection ports remain free from obstruction.
iKlip features: · Sturdy thermoplastic construction with six secure touch points holds the iPad without scratching or marring it · Universal stand clip securely attaches to virtually any microphone stand · Multi-angle adjustment allows precise positioning for optimal stage or studio viewing · Quick-snap clips provide fast, secure iPad insertion · iKlip installs on mic stand in seconds with the twist of a knob · All iPad controls, buttons and connectors are accessible · Provides both landscape and portrait orientation of the iPad · Can be mounted on the vertical part of a mic stand, or on a horizontal boom for limitless positioning · Designed and manufactured in Italy
iKlip can be used for: · Score viewing during musical performance and playback · Learning tool – with tablature and score apps to learn songs and riffs · Live playing and practicing with amps and effects apps like AmpliTube for iPad · Music creation · DJing – mounts to tabletop stands as well as standard mic poles · Karaoke or "play along" singing · Viewing lyrics, notes, speeches, lessons, presentations and more
Pricing and availability The iKlip retails for only $39.99/€29.99 MSRP (excluding taxes) and is now available from the IK online store, as well as from all select IK retailers and distributors worldwide.
For more information, please visit: www.ikmultimedia.com/iklip
Pantech's bringing a new wrinkle to the mobile hardware space with its newly announced Vega Xpress handset. This 4-inch Android 2.2 beastie will come equipped with an unspecified amount of DDR2 RAM -- yes, the stuff that usually goes into x86 laptop and desktop computers -- which Pantech will have you believe is going to blow the competition out of the proverbial water. The company claims the new phone doubles 3D graphics performance relative to its previous best, while power efficiency is also said to be two to three times better. Other specs include a 5 megapixel autofocus camera, 802.11n WiFi, an 800 x 480 resolution, and a 1500mAh battery. Yours, provided you're anywhere near Korea, some time soon.
The dream of kitchen computing still isn't here, with many chefs forced to read from archaic paper-based recipe lists or, worse yet, memorize the things. Maybe all we need is a way to interact with our gadgets without getting them all messy, and maybe Elliptic Labs can get us there. Finally. The company has been teasing us with its 3D gesture interface for years now and it looks set to finally show off an actual product, a motion-sensing iPad dock prototype making its debut at CES in a few weeks. The idea is you perch this sucker in your kitchen and it gives you full control whether you're kneading sourdough or mixing meatballs, keeping your tablet streak-free -- and hygienic. That seems like somewhat limited usefulness to us, but check out the video of an earlier prototype below and see if it doesn't make you want to bake some cookies. And, if it does, feel free to bring us some.
It's not just slotMusic trying to sell digital music in some sort of physical form -- this so-called Playbutton concept has been making the rounds for the past few months, and it's now finally set to go on sale in February with eight different albums to choose from. As you might be able to surmise, the button is actually an MP3 player, but there's no way to get the music off of it and, to keep things as album-like as possible, there's no shuffle button either. There is a bit of room for some artwork to let folks know what you're listening to though, and you can thankfully plug in your own set of headphones. As for how much they'll cost, Playbutton founder Nick Dangerfield says albums sold on the buttons could be as much as $30 apiece, although he notes that it'll be up to the artists to decide how much they want to charge -- he suggests the "ideal price" would be $15 if bands sold them at shows.
We're horrible at getting gifts and cards to their recipients on time, usually showing up in mailboxes at least a day late. Samsung, it seems, is in a similar boat with its Epic 4G. According to Phone Arena, Android 2.2.1 (you know, Froyo) will begin rolling out to the handset on December 26. For real this time. Like, really real. Given all that history we're a little bit skeptical about this happening on that date, but don't let that stop you from setting some milk and cookies next to your charging stand on the 26th. Worst case: morning cookies for you on the 27th!
If you've run out of things to do with your Apple TV and have been using it as a hockey puck now that the lakes are getting solid, you'd better go dig it out of the snowbank. Following up on her iOS AirPlay hacks, Erica Sadun has released an alpha version of a tool called AirFlick which enables the playback of any 'ol media files on an Apple TV. That's demonstrated in a video below. Things aren't perfect yet but already others are having a field day with the tool, the folks at TUAW figuring out how to not only stream whole DVDs to an Apple TV but their entire desktop image too by simply providing a VLC screen:// URL into the player. The quality looks a little iffy and, as you can see in the video below, it's not entirely error-free. But, if you have the smallest little bit of patience, it's sure worth a shot, eh?
The UK and Ireland are today the first to get a taste of Sony's big play for the online music market, the appropriately titled Music Unlimited. This new subscription service (£3.99 a month for Basic access, £9.99 for the Premium stuff) will let you stream a library of about six million songs to your PS3, Bravia telly, or web-connected Blu-ray player, while also offering the option to sync playlists from other music services like iTunes. PC support is available as well, with "a wide range of Sony's portable devices" and Android-based smartphones on the roadmap for future compatibility. Music Unlimited sidles up next to Qriocity as part of Sony's strategy to expand its influence in content delivery, presumably in an effort to thicken its revenue streams, and will be following up this British launch with arrivals in the US, Canada and most of Western Europe in the new year.
Show full PR text
"Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity™" makes UK debut
· Premium, digital music service, available on Sony's 2010 network-enabled devices
· Offers breadth of content and easy music discovery
London – 22nd December 2010. Sony today announced the launch of "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity™", a new, cloud-based, digital music service which gives music lovers access at any time to millions of songs from major labels including Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group and EMI Music as well as leading independent labels and major publishers worldwide. The "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity" catalogue will initially offer about six million songs and will continue to expand over time.
Through "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity," users can play music any time on a wide variety of Internet-connected Sony devices including Sony's 2010 models of network-enabled BRAVIA TV, Blu-ray Disc™ player, Blu-ray Disc Home Theatre system, PlayStation3 computer entertainment system as well as VAIO and other personal computers. It will also become available on a wide range of Sony's portable devices, as well as on Android-based mobile devices.
"Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity" is initially available in the U.K. and Ireland with service availability in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, New Zealand and U.S. to be announced in due course during 2011.
"Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity" is the next extension of services 'powered by Qriocity.' Sony debuted "Video On Demand powered by Qriocity™," a premium video streaming service, in the U.S. in April 2010 and expanded the service to France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.K. in November 2010. Through "Video on Demand powered by Qriocity" customers can instantly rent from a growing library of thousands of Hollywood blockbuster movies across Sony's 2010 models of network-enabled BRAVIA TV, Blu-ray Disc player and Blu-ray Disc Home Theater system.
"As we continue to expand Qriocity globally, these services 'powered by Qriocity' offer a single ID log-in and wallet solution, and empower users to easily consume content including music and video across a growing number of integrated devices," said Kazuo Hirai, President of Networked Products & Services Group, Sony Corporation. "Seamless accessibility to content through these fresh user experiences will enrich Sony's network service offerings and continually add value to the unique aspects of Sony's network-enabled products."
Sony has developed "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity" in partnership with Omnifone, a leading provider of cloud-based unlimited music services, with Omnifone contracted by Sony to coordinate content licensing as well as development and delivery of the service, leveraging its existing expertise in the music industry.
"Omnifone is delighted to partner with Sony to bring 'Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity' to hundreds of millions of Sony and other devices," said Rob Lewis, Executive Chairman of Omnifone. "'Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity' is designed to bring digital music into the homes and living rooms of consumers, as well as to PCs and portable devices, with every users' music experiences synchronized automatically across their devices without needing to manage media files."
"Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity" Features
With Basic (£3.99) and Premium (£9.99) monthly subscription plans, "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity" offers breadth of content and easy music discovery, features cited as most important by music enthusiasts.
Unlike many other popular music services, the basic plan permits unlimited forward skipping of the songs to ensure users discover music they want to hear. With access to an expanding catalogue of about six million songs, the basic plan works as an infinite ad-free radio station and subscribers can listen to dozens of personalized channels – categorized by genre, era as well as mood through SensMe™ *1 – without the requirement to download or manage their music files.
Additionally, the premium subscription plan offers a one time 30 day Premium free trial enabling users to listen in full to every song on demand, create personal playlists of favourites, and gain access to premium Top 100 channels which are regularly updated with the latest hits.
By studying users' listening habits, incorporating their 'like/dislike' song ratings, analysing their existing music collections and more, "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity" adapts to users' music preferences and constantly tailors music channels to offer the most compatible and enjoyable list of songs. Therefore, the more you listen, the more uniquely personalized your music channels become.
Furthermore, users can also synchronise their existing music files and playlists from other media players including iTunes into "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity," and enjoy their existing music at any time across all compatible devices*2.
*1 SensMe™ is Sony's proprietary 12 Tone Analysis technology to evaluate music tracks
*2 Applies to DRM-free music files and to music which has been licensed for playback on "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity"
"Qriocity™" is a trademark of Sony Corporation
"PlayStation" is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
"iTunes" is a registered trademark of Apple Inc.
Are you the guy that calls Google creepy? Do you find the company to be borderline evil in the way that it snoops on your local WiFi network, promotes online bullying, and steals your identity or iPhone OS? Is Google's Net Neutrality flip-flop after the Droid launched on Verizon the final straw? Ok, then here's your chance, hater -- prepare to unleash hell upon the very symbol of Google's new Chrome operating system. Hit up the source link below and describe to the lab tech exactly the kind of demise you think that Google's Cr-48 should meet. Go ahead, be creative: by gunfire, Canadian, or monkey, anything goes. Then do it again and again until the voices inside your head are deafened by Google's subtle marketing effort and an infinite ability to regenerate itself.
The guys over at Pocketnow have been doing their intellectual property homework lately and they've uncovered an atypically broad trademarking effort being carried out by Motorola. The Droid maker has sought to be associated with the term "Xoom" in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and even Taiwan, signifying that whatever the company intends to do with the name will play a pretty significant role in its future plans. The category applied for is defined as "Mobile computers and related accessories," which really narrows things down to the one device Moto has in its labs that everyone's talking about: its Android Honeycomb tablet. All this legal team activity seems to point to its name being the Motorola Xoom, but there's still time for minds to change and branding to be revised. Hey, at least we know what the logo will look like.
Good news for those early adopters burdened by an underperforming Sony Ericsson LiveView: help is on the way. According to the official Sony Ericsson Product Blog, the company will roll out an update via its SE Update Service in January that should address connection issues between the wrist-worn display / remote control and Android phones. Other "minor issues" will be solved with updates to the LiveView Application in the Android Market, though SE isn't clear on when those might be made available -- hopefully soon because we can't wait for this device to finally achieve its potential.
It wasn't easy, but we finally managed to spot a few differences between the old Beo5 remote control and Bang & Olufsen's new Beo6 that just appeared on B&O's pages. To start with, the hyperbolic product page for the controller is a word-for-word copy of the old, only with each instance of a "5" replaced with a "6." The user guide doesn't provide much assistance either stating that the "Beo6 is fully compatible with Beo5" right down to using the exact same menus and controls. So what's new? Well, the new "wireless setup" chapter seems to be a clue indicating that the Beo6 can connect to your WiFi network to enable 2-way control with other Bang & Olufsen products supporting 2-way communication -- naturally, these aren't listed and any configuration of the controller will have to be done by a B&O retailer. We did manage to dig up an old article from BeoWorld claiming that the Beo6 would feature a touch (not pressure like the Beo5) sensitive widescreen display to show information like cover art and tag data just as soon as B&O's BeoSound 4 Encore and BeoSound 5 could support it. While this kind of product perplexity would be a knock against any other mainstream consumer electronic remote, B&O owners can rest easy knowing that their man servant will sort it all out.
E-readers are flooding the market these days, and KDDI has delivered its most recent offering just in time for the holiday season. Since the biblio Leaf SP02's specs were first released, battery life seems to have grown to 13,000 pages, with presumably a few extra thrown in courtesy of its solar array. The device utilizes KDDI's LISMO Book Store and its 20,000 titles to obtain content, and if that isn't enough reading material for you, the company claims that five times as many titles will be available by 2012. All this can be had on Christmas day -- if you're lucky enough to hail from the land of the rising sun, that is.
Update: Details on the e-reader, much like the device itself, seem to have gotten lost in translation. As a few readers have pointed out -- and our own Engadget Japanese editor Ittousai confirms -- the SP02 has an "open" price of around ¥15,000 (about $180 in US currency), with 3G prices ranging from ¥525 per month for data on a two-year contract, or ¥1,575 without ($6.28 vs. $19, respectively).
Little Kenny Irwin junior just made the big time. Last night, Conan O'Brien revealed his new Christmas set built by the rather unconventional microwave artist. While highlights include Mr. and Mrs. SanMagnatron Claus, Godzilla holding a candy cane, and the RoboRabbi, the true highlight is of Conan interviewing the desert-dwelling artist himself. See both videos after the break, it's the greatest thing we've seen since the history of storytelling began and humanity first came upon this world - going back to the distant past and the future at the same time.
This is just sad, in a happy way. Last week, a judge threw out Erich Specht's attempt to extort $94 million from Google, Android Inc, and Open Handset Alliance. Apparently, the court wasn't swayed by the website that Specht threw up in order to prove he was still using the mark after his company went under in 2002. The judge then punctuated the decision with a cancelation of Specht's "Android Data" trademark on grounds that he attempted to use it as a "sword" against Google and because it could create confusion with the little green bot that consumers have become so enamored with. Ouch. Hooray for legal sanity.
Extinct marine arthropods make for great design references -- just ask Andreas Brückner. The Fraunhofer Institute of Applied Optics and Precision Engineering researcher has taken a cue from the trilobite in creating a 1.4mm thin "cluster eye" camera to take 221 images at 39 pixels per side to form a 700 x 550 (0.38 megapixel) composite. At this point, it's also capable of recording 13 frames per second for video, and with a size like that, if they can bump up the specs it could pave way for smaller camera components in mobile phones. Not anytime soon, of course, as it's still in the research state (and it's just one of many cameraresearch projects out there). The next step for Brückner and company is shrinking the aforementioned design to 1mm thin (and up the video to 30fps), as well as 1.5mm variant with one megapixel resolution.
Got a leftover head unit sitting about? How about a PC power supply? Add a few old speakers, a oval bookshelf, a sewing machine box handle and some carefully prepared wooden panels, and you've got a beautiful retro radio that looks like several hundred bucks. User iminthebathroom built this one for a daughter's Christmas present, but isn't keeping the formula to him or herself -- you'll find a full walkthrough at Instructables if you're in a MacGuyver mood, and a video after the break to show you what the cherry-red contraption can do.
A UK teen named Lamar Johnson has recently plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud. His crime? It seems that he and his band (both in a musical sense and in a "Robin Hood" sense) used stolen credit cards to purchase something like $750,000 worth of their own music from both Amazon and the iTunes Store between January 2008 and June 2009. There's no telling how much the group would have earned from royalties, and the name of the band hasn't been disclosed (believe us, we looked), but something tells us that they probably recorded dubstep. Also, something tells us that -- since the royalties would have to be paid out to someone with a bank account -- this was a painfully easy case for prosecutors to crack. While Johnson will find his sentence tacked onto the 5-year jail term he is currently serving for grievous bodily harm, the rest of his 12 member "band" will have to wait until they appear in court in January to discover their fate.
Update: One of our fine commenters (christianoliff) dug up an article from the Sunday Mercury that discloses a little more info on the perp, including a dashing photo and the name of his MySpace artist page. Apparently his criminal enterprise was more of a 2-step thing.
Wouldn't it be nice to connect your phone to your car and control Pandora with your voice? If you drive a 2011 Ford Fiesta, you can do so right now, by downloading the Ford Sync AppLink platform that's finally ready for primetime. So far, Pandora's one of only two apps that natively support voice commands (the other being OpenBeak) and it only works on BlackBerry and Android, but Ford says that Apple's iPhone will play nice with AppLink sometime in "early 2011." You'll find a thorough press release trumpeting the news after the break, and the download should be available at our source link any minute now. Then, you get to transfer it to a USB stick, and plug it into your car. Just imagine saying that to someone fifty years ago.
Show full PR text
SYNC APPLINK NOW AVAILABLE AS FREE DOWNLOAD; FORD FIESTA OWNERS FIRST WITH VOICE CONTROL OF APPS
· SYNC® AppLink, the industry-first software application that gives SYNC users hands-free voice control of their smartphone apps, is now available as a free download for 2011 Ford Fiesta owners at www.syncmyride.com
· Ford announces that Apple iPhone will be compatible with AppLink, along with initially announced BlackBerry by RIM and Android-based smartphones
· Pandora internet radio, Stitcher news radio and OpenBeak are the first SYNC-enabled mobile apps, some of which can be downloaded today from Android Market and BlackBerry App World, and soon from Apple App Store
· SYNC AppLink comes first to 2011 Ford Fiesta owners, with more SYNC-equipped vehicles soon to follow
DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 22, 2010 – More than 14,000 owners of SYNC®-equipped Ford Fiesta vehicles can start celebrating the holidays now by treating themselves to the gift of AppLink, a free software program that gives SYNC users voice control of apps stored on their smartphone.
The industry-first capability puts Ford out front in the race to integrate smartphone apps into the car. The AppLink download for Fiesta owners went live today on the SYNC owner website, www.syncmyride.com.
"More and more drivers are using their devices and their apps while in the car," said Doug VanDagens, director of Ford Connected Services. "With AppLink, SYNC is a smarter solution for these drivers who choose to use these apps while driving – making it the only connectivity system available that can extend app functionality to the car using both voice and steering wheel controls."
Ford is also announcing a surprise new member to the AppLink family: the Apple iPhone. The popular smartphone makes for a powerful addition, and will be joining Android and BlackBerry smartphones as compatible devices with the software that allows apps to be controlled through the SYNC voice recognition system – a smarter alternative to manually controlling apps while driving.
Recent studies indicate 46 percent of adult smartphone users have apps on their phones and 36 percent of those admit to using those apps while commuting. Moreover, the 2010 study "Staying Connected on the Go: A Look at In-Vehicle Smartphone Integration Systems" conducted by the Consumer Electronics Association reports that 55 percent of smartphone owners prefer voice commands as their user interface for in-car smartphone integration, making the business case for SYNC and AppLink even more compelling.
"SYNC and AppLink work hand-in-hand to answer consumer demand for safer, smarter control of smartphones while in the car," said VanDagens. "Ford has worked hard to be a step ahead or at least in step with the speed of the consumer electronics market, and to leverage the technologies, features and services we know our customers want to be connected to while driving."
Easy downloading 2011 SYNC-equipped Ford Fiesta owners need to log in to their account on www.syncmyride.com to access the free AppLink download in the Update & Customize section.
As with any typical download, the AppLink software can be stored on a USB memory stick, and then inserted and uploaded to the vehicle via the SYNC system's USB port. In-car installation takes less than 10 minutes.
The first SYNC-enabled apps to market are Pandora internet radio, Stitcher news radio and OpenBeak for listening to Twitter posts. Once the AppLink upload is complete, customers can then visit their phones' respective app store to download the latest SYNC-enabled Pandora, Stitcher or OpenBeak app to their smartphone as they would any other app.
Current availability of SYNC-enabled apps:
- Pandora - Apple iPhone: Coming early 2011 - Android: Available now (V1.5.3 or higher) - BlackBerry: Available now (Version 1.1.6 or higher)
- Stitcher - Apple iPhone: Coming early 2011 - Android: Coming early 2011 - BlackBerry: Coming late 2011
- OpenBeak - BlackBerry: Available now from http://m.openbeak.com and soon in Blackberry App World (Version 1.4 or higher)
Seamless voice control AppLink makes the connection between app and SYNC fairly seamless and simple, using Bluetooth streaming on paired Android and BlackBerry smartphones and the USB port for a connected Apple iPhone.
To access a mobile app with a SYNC-paired phone, the user simply has to press the VOICE button on the steering wheel and say the command, "Mobile applications," followed by the name of the app he or she would like to launch.
Once linked to Pandora, SYNC users can access their favorite personalized radio features, including creating and choosing stations, bookmarking songs for purchase, and giving songs a thumbs up/down all through voice. Command structure is intuitive and simple: "Play station classic rock radio," "Bookmark song," "Thumbs up" or "Thumbs down."
"Where before users would pick up their phone, taking their eyes off the road and hands off the steering wheel while driving to select a station and hit play, AppLink makes all of that functionality available through voice control, just like managing AM and FM radio or your MP3 player through SYNC," said Julius Marchwicki, SYNC product manager.
Similar voice command pathways and functionality exist for the Stitcher and OpenBeak apps. With Stitcher, for example, you can say the command, "Play station news" to listen to your favorite news radio or "Play station sports" to hear on-demand sports programming. Other popular Stitcher features such as skip station, thumbs up/down and "Add to favorites" are also available via voice.
Through the OpenBeak app, drivers can simply say the SYNC command, "Read timeline." In seconds, their feed is read aloud using the SYNC text-to-speech engine – a very similar experience to listening to talk radio.
Additional SYNC-enabled apps and smartphone integrations are coming soon, said Marchwicki. AppLink will also be introduced on other SYNC-equipped new model vehicles in 2011.
Ford will feature demos of AppLink at the Pepcom Digital Experience media event in Las Vegas on Jan. 5, 2011, and then at the 2011 International CES consumer technology trade show in Las Vegas between Jan. 6 and Jan. 9, 2011.
Yes, it's a big old mouthful of a job title, and no, we've no idea what exactly it entails either. Rahul Sood, the originator of the Voodoo gaming PC line, has just announced he has joined up with Microsoft to perform the ill-specified role of general manager for system experience in the Interactive Entertainment division. We imagine that's an intentionally loose definition, intended to give Rahul the wide remit of influence and operation that he enjoyed with his previous employer, HP. He's already had a few choice words to dish on the topic of Xbox versus PC gaming, so it'll be most intriguing to see where and how his energies are utilized as things move forward. Most intriguing indeed.
We know Windows CE jibes with ARM-based architecture, but full-blown Windows? Looks like everyone and their respective mothers today -- to be specific, Bloomberg, AllThingsD, and the Wall Street Journal -- are reporting "sources" that claim Microsoft is set to announce Windows compatibility with ARM chips, which currently rule the roost in the mobile and embedded scenes, and more importantly dominate the tablet market. So yeah, we get the need for such a merge, and it'd really put Microsoft in a smart position for lower-power devices, but here's the catch: the products aren't expected for some time -- two years according to WSJ -- as drivers need to be written for the hardware.
Then again, this may all be for nothing. Cue another well-connected Microsoft reporter, ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley, who has a decidedly tamer prediction: a new Windows CE / Embedded Contact -- you'll remember we saw it running on a Tegra 2 tablet back at Computex -- and maybe ARM support for Windows 8 (or Windows 8 "Lite"). In other words, no one has a clear, 100 percent idea of what to expect in January, so as we say, just stay tuned.
It was only a matter of time before Microsoft's continually-hacked Kinect became embroiled in a VR simulation of some sort, and while we're not riding light cycles quite yet, enterprising developer Nao_u has managed to put himself in the shoes (and short skirt) of a Japanese virtual pop icon. Mapping his every move onto the virtual skeleton of Vocaloid's Miku Hatsune probably won't impress you much at this stage of the game, but there's the little matter of what Nao_u did next: he hooked up a pair of Vuzix VR920 LCD glasses to see through the digital diva's eyes, too. Find the terribly cutesy video after the break, and fast-forward to 4:30 to watch Nao attempt to walk a narrow beam set atop a virtual skyscraper.
Apparently it's not good enough for bacteria to cause leprosy and tuberculosis any more, as scientists have been hard at work adapting the microorganisms for use as everything from microbial fuel cells to really, really small gears. Now, researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong have developed a way to use a colony of E.Coli for data storage and encryption. The technique involved placing data (in this case, The Declaration of Independence) in the DNA of bacterial cells, and can even harness site specific genetic recombination to encrypt the data. That said, the technology is still in its infancy: retrieving the info is "tedious and expensive," according to Cambridge University's Tim Middleton, and there is still the possibility that as organisms mutate, so will the data. Currently the only application of all this is the storage of copyright info in genetically engineered organisms, although further research might yield a bacterial storage medium that could survive the electromagnetic pulses and radiation of nuclear fallout.
We still don't believe that machines (or machine translation, for that matter) will ever replace the artistry that beatbox pioneers like Doug E. Fresh, Darren Robinson (RIP), or that guy from the Police Academy movies brought to the table, but it is nice to see Google acknowledging the wonderfully percussive nature of the German language phrase "pv zk pv pv zk pv zk kz zk pv pv pv zk pv zk zk pzk pzk pvzkpkzvpvzk kkkkkk bsch".
If "danger" is your middle name and yet "caution" a favorite word, you've probably already got an ugly old emergency radio buried somewhere in your car. Today, Eton's unveiling a model that you might actually feel comfortable using in public without disaster having to strike first. The solar-powered Eton Raptor boasts a slender, 11-ounce carabiner-like design that seems positively packed with tools, including the typical (AM / FM / WB radio, compass, LED flashlight), the adventurous (altimeter, barometer) and the plain ol' useful (audio line-in, bottle opener). It's also got a USB port for charging gadgets from the internal 1800mAh battery and takes splash-proof cues from the Eton Soulra. No word on price, but we know a few road warriors who might be interested when it hits shelves in the first quarter of next year. PR after the break, images immediately below.
CES 2011: Etón Corporation Announces Raptor, The Solar Charging Device with All-Terrain Guidance Functions
Solar powered USB cell phone charger also provides the outdoor essentials of light, information and energy
(LAS VEGAS – Upper South Hall, Booth #30959 – January 4, 2011) – Etón Corporation, a leading emergency preparedness company and creator of green-powered electronics, announces the Raptor at CES 2011. The self-powered device uses solar energy to charge a cell phone via USB and provides guidance functions for outdoor activities. The Raptor will be seen for the first time at booth #30959 in the Upper South Hall.
Featuring an 1800mAh rechargeable Lithium Ion Battery, the Raptor uses a high-efficiency monocrystal solar panel to power the utilities of the device. Packed with features, the Raptor houses the ABCs of an outdoor adventure tool; altimeter, barometer and compass. The Raptor also features an AM/FM/WB digital radio tuner with presets and NOAA weather alerts, as well as a digital clock with an alarm function. The unit can be charged via a solar panel or DC power, and the stored solar energy can be transferred to charge a cell phone via USB.
Raptor weighs just over 11 ounces and packs the additional features of an LED flashlight, audio line and DC input, battery charge indicator and even a bottle opener. The device is housed in rugged, rubberized and splashproof (IPX-4) casing, providing a layer of protection against water and dust. Sold separately, a holster is available to hold the unit and a mobile device, providing hands free flexibility and added protection.
"The Etón brand continues to advance new ways to harness the power of the sun, and the Raptor is another example of this innovation," said Esmail Amid-Hozour, CEO of Etón Corporation. "We've incorporated a multitude of novel features into the Raptor and it will no doubt become a must-have device for anyone exploring the outdoors."
The Raptor will be available in 2011. For more information on Etón Corporation and its products, visit www.etoncorp.com.
We had our doubts the last time we encountered an HTC EVO Shift 4G, but it looks like they were mostly unfounded -- here's Sprint's new QWERTY slider in the flesh -- armor finally shed -- revealing a chrome bezel beneath. PhoneArena obtained these pics from an anonymous tipster, who says the device has an 800MHz processor much like the T-Mobile G2, and while we can't infer much more about the internals than we have before, there are a few new things to note: HTC Sense is alive and well, there's a particularly large camera module buried in the smooth plastic back and a headphone jack up top, and it appears there's a pair of status LEDs for Caps Lock and Function Lock right above the keyboard. See two more pics of the device at the source link below, while we wait for Sprint to own up.
We can't say for sure just yet, but we're starting to get the feeling that we're going to see lots of tablets at CES. The latest to join the party is Viliv, which has just announced that it will be showing off its new Android-based X7 and X10 tablets, along with the Windows 7-based X70 "slate" -- the latter of which is touted to be the "most slim and light Windows 7 based tablet in the world," and is presumably a successor to the company's existing X70 tablet. As you might expect, however, Viliv is still saving most of the key details for the official unveiling at CES, but you know we'll be there to check them all out first hand.
It had to happen at some point, so why not now? After a startling -- almost terrifying -- year-long gap between Brando SATA HDD docks, the company is finally outing another. For those who've been camped out under the nearest boulder for the past few years, these external HDD docks allow users to plug any 2.5- or 3.5-inch SATA hard drive in, and then have said drive mount on the desktop of a connected computer. It's pretty handy for those running diagnostic tests or looking to clone a drive without a dedicated machine, and now it's taken the expected leap to USB 3.0 -- a move that rival Sharkoon made back in 2009. You'll also find a trifecta of SuperSpeed USB ports on the rear, though this gem will set you back a full $140 if you buy in today. Yikes.
So we've got a crazy theory here: SlashGear just got a couple closeup shots of some heretofore-unknown HTC. So did we -- one in common with SlashGear, one different. Could it be that Taiwan's finest are "leaking" us these shots in an effort to drum up interest going into CES in a couple weeks? We wouldn't doubt it in the least -- with the LG B, Optimus 2X, and Samsung Nexus S all fresh off the presses, HTC probably wouldn't mind getting a little boost in mindshare right now, and there's no better way to do it than by teasing a phone that looks an awful lot like the previously-leaked Mecha. As a refresher, the Mecha is the beast that might end up on Verizon as the Incredible HD, offering LTE compatibility for the carrier's new 4G network -- and we know that Verizon plans on showing a whole bunch of LTE devices at CES, so this is all lining up pretty nicely. Follow the break for the other shot we received along with SlashGear's.
Update:Android Centralgot another picture, too, presumably from the same source. Shenanigans!
Update 2:Gizmodo, too. At the rate we're going, we'll have these pictures assembled into an actual working phone by the time the night is over.
We've heard your cries, we've read your tips, and we've even suffered a similar fate ourselves... Skype downtime. According to the official Twitter feed, its engineers are working non-stop. Estimated time of recovery? Nein. Let us know if you're having (Skype-related) issues of your own! 
If you've run out of things to do with your Apple TV and have been using it as a hockey puck now that the lakes are getting solid, you'd better go dig it out of the snowbank. Following up on her iOS AirPlay hacks, Erica Sadun has released an alpha version of a tool called AirFlick which enables the playback of any 'ol media files on an Apple TV. That's demonstrated in a video below. Things aren't perfect yet but already others are having a field day with the tool, the folks at TUAW figuring out how to not only stream whole DVDs to an Apple TV but their entire desktop image too by simply providing a VLC screen:// URL into the player. The quality looks a little iffy and, as you can see in the video below, it's not entirely error-free. But, if you have the smallest little bit of patience, it's sure worth a shot, eh? 
This is just sad, in a happy way. Last week, a judge threw out Erich Specht's attempt to extort $94 million from Google, Android Inc, and Open Handset Alliance. Apparently, the court wasn't swayed by the website that Specht threw up in order to prove he was still using the mark after his company went under in 2002. The judge then punctuated the decision with a cancelation of Specht's "Android Data" trademark on grounds that he attempted to use it as a "sword" against Google and because it could create confusion with the little green bot that consumers have become so enamored with. Ouch. Hooray for legal sanity.
Extinct marine arthropods make for great design references -- just ask Andreas Brückner. The Fraunhofer Institute of Applied Optics and Precision Engineering researcher has taken a cue from the trilobite in creating a 1.4mm thin "cluster eye" camera to take 221 images at 39 pixels per side to form a 700 x 550 (0.38 megapixel) composite. At this point, it's also capable of recording 13 frames per second for video, and with a size like that, if they can bump up the specs it could pave way for smaller camera components in mobile phones. Not anytime soon, of course, as it's still in the research state (and it's just one of many camera research projects out there). The next step for Brückner and company is shrinking the aforementioned design to 1mm thin (and up the video to 30fps), as well as 1.5mm variant with one megapixel resolution.
We know Windows CE jibes with ARM-based architecture, but full-blown Windows? Looks like everyone and their respective mothers today -- to be specific, Bloomberg, AllThingsD, and the Wall Street Journal -- are reporting "sources" that claim Microsoft is set to announce Windows compatibility with ARM chips, which currently rule the roost in the mobile and embedded scenes, and more importantly dominate the tablet market. So yeah, we get the need for such a merge, and it'd really put Microsoft in a smart position for lower-power devices, but here's the catch: the products aren't expected for some time -- two years according to WSJ -- as drivers need to be written for the hardware. 
No comments:
Post a Comment