Sponsoer by :

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Engadget News

Sponsored

Engadget News

Nintendo 3DS pre-orders begin at GameStop, still no official US price

Posted: 26 Dec 2010 09:14 AM PST

The forumites at NeoGAF were chatting it up all evening, and sure enough, it's true -- starting this morning, you can reserve a Nintendo 3DS by dropping a stack of change at any GameStop store. How high you'll have to pile the coin seems to depend on the location, as a New York employee wanted us to deposit $50, even as an Arizona store said we'd only need to bankroll a modest $25. Not that it much matters, as either way your money will go directly towards the as-yet-undetermined (likely $300) purchase price. Should your local GameStop fail to recognize the autostereoscopic handheld's impending availability, just kindly ask them to consult their computer, find the SKU field, and type in the magic numbers "020132." Then, painstakingly wait until March to claim your prize.

HRP-2 humanoid robot learns to use obstacles to its advantage

Posted: 26 Dec 2010 07:07 AM PST

There may be plenty of robots out there able to avoid or overcome obstacles, but we can't say we've seen too many that are actually able to use obstacles to their advantage. That's the claim to fame of this so-called HRP-2 robot built by researchers at Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, however, which is able to detect objects around it and discern how they can be used to help it with a specific task -- like leaning on a table to help balance while kicking a ball, for instance. As New Scientist points out, whether intentional or not, the end result is a robot that behaves remarkably like an elderly person -- see for yourself in the video after the break.

Stereoscopic copy-paste finally brings that clone tool into the third dimension (video)

Posted: 26 Dec 2010 04:14 AM PST

Stereoscopic copy-paste finally brings that clone tool into the third dimension (video)
With the right software anybody can be photo editing guru, eliminating redeye, removing unsightly blemishes, and maybe adding an image of Godzilla lurking in the background just for fun. However, if you've been unlucky enough to try to do the same in 3D you know just how distinctly unsatisfying that experience can be. Maybe not for long. Thanks to NewScientist we just caught a glimpse of an October presentation made by Swiss engineers Joren van Baar and Wan-Yen Lo called "Stereoscopic 3D Copy & Paste." It is, basically, exactly what it sounds like, tools that let you define various objects and planes on a stereoscopic image, similar to how you might grab a shape with the magic wand tool, and then duplicate it and move that shape around on both parts of the 3D photo. The software handles re-creating shadows, automatically tackling occlusion too, and while the results aren't perfect, particularly if you're trying to change perspective or partially occlude an object behind something that's transparent, it certainly trumps trying to do it by hand. Check out the video below and take a moment to be thankful that you didn't have to buy gifts for all those kids above.

Fisker raises Karma plug-in hybrid base price to $95,900, brings that 750i back into consideration

Posted: 26 Dec 2010 01:38 AM PST

Oh, sure -- gas is bound to hit $4 a gallon before 2020, but you can buy an awful let of petrol with the money you'll save from dodging Fisker's increasingly expensive Karma. 'Course, those looking to blow 100 grand on an eco-friendly automobile are probably doing so just to throw Ma Earth a bone, but still -- money matters. Originally teased way back in the fall of 2007, Fisker's first plug-in hybrid still hasn't ended up anywhere near mass production, but it has managed to see two rather significant upticks in price all the while. Right around two years ago, we saw the $80,000 MSRP boosted by $7,000, and today, prospective customers are being notified via email that the Karma's base price is now sitting at $95,900 before a $950 destination fee. Granted, the company insists that this includes an integrated solar roof panel (valued at $5,000), and it still starts at $1,400 less than a Panamera S. And yeah, that base price does shrink to $88,400 after you include federal tax incentives. That said, we're doubting high-rollers that were dead-set on handing over $73,000 or so after tax breaks are currently stoked about an increase this large, particularly when there's still no definitive ship date. To Fisker's credit, we've seen General Motors go through similar trials and tribulations surrounding the Volt, and even at $95k, you'll be hard pressed to find more sexy than this on four (street legal) wheels.

New solar machine could generate hydrogen fuel, food for your future vehicle

Posted: 25 Dec 2010 10:18 PM PST

We're hesitant to file this one in the folder marked "Awesome Things That'll Never Happen," but it's definitely on the watch list. A new prototype solar device has been concocted to convert sunlight into fuel, much in the same way a plant does. Eco-minded folks will probably understand that conventional photovoltaic panels "must use the electricity they generate in situ," and thus, cannot deliver energy at night; this here device takes a rather unorthodox approach, using the sun's rays along with ceria (a magical, marvelous metal oxide) to "break down carbon dioxide or water into fuels which can be stored and transported." In theory, at least, the device could be used to create hydrogen and / or carbon monoxide, with the former being obviously useful for fueling up hydrogen-based cars of the future. Sadly, the existing prototype is horribly inefficient -- only around 0.7 percent of the solar energy can be converted into fuel -- but researchers are adamant that they can boost that to nearly 20 percent in time. We'll check back in a decade or so to see how things are progressing.

Nikon patent app details lens with manual and electronic zoom, videographers rejoice

Posted: 25 Dec 2010 07:59 PM PST

We reckoned it was only a matter of time, and sure enough, it seems as if the engineers at Nikon are already one step ahead of everyone else. For those who've attempted to shoot video on a conventional DSLR, they've most likely ran into one problem in particular: zooming. It's fairly difficult to manhandle a D3S under ideal circumstances, but try holding it steady while also keeping a firm grip on the zoom and focus dials. Without a camera rig, it's essentially impossible to get anything more than novice captures, complete with oodles of blur and more Jellyvision than you could shake a butter knife at. If all goes well, the next Nikkor lens you purchase may make the aforementioned tragedy just another comical part of history. Nikon is apparently dreaming of a single lens that can be zoomed both manually (for still photography) and electronically (for video), and better still, there's nothing stopping this from also supporting the outfit's sure-to-be-forthcoming EVIL line of mirrorless cameras. Then again, it's not like a patent application dictates a near-term release, but if we all cross our fingers in unison and pledge allegiance the Big N, who knows what kind of magic could happen.

Sanyo Eneloop Pedal Juice battery pack preview

Posted: 25 Dec 2010 06:33 PM PST

It's Christmas Day, which probably means that at least one toy that you received (or gave) won't be fully functional until Monday. Why? Batteries. It's an age-old problem, that "batteries not included" thing, and it's one of the reasons we've fell so in love with Sanyo's Eneloop line. Without question, the Eneloop rechargeable AA batteries are amongst the best and most reliable that money can buy, so whenever another Eneloop product pops out, it obviously catches our eye. Sanyo's branching out pretty severely with its latest device, and being that at least 3.5 members of the Engadget staff have strummed a six-string once or twice, we had to take a closer look at the Pedal Juice when given the chance. For those that missed last month's introduction, this pedal-sized block of energy is designed to provide 9V power to six or seven effects pedals, miniature amplifiers or electric drum pads (amongst other musical doodads). So, does this thing live up the the Eneloop reputation? Find out after the break.
Sanyo Eneloop Pedal Juice unboxing and hands-on
For starters, the Pedal Juice is surprisingly light. Sanyo claims it's about the size of an average effects pedal, and that's pretty much right on the mark. It'll fit easily into a single slot in your pedal case, and it includes a pair of direct outputs beside a single AC input. It'll fully charge in just 3.5 hours, and it's capable of powering a single analog effects pedal for up to 50 hours. More practically, it'll power a half-dozen pedals for 8 to 15 hours. We tested this ourselves with our local garage band and found that latter figure to be accurate. We didn't bother hooking up more than seven pedals (Guitar Center and Sam Ash were closed today -- go figure), but that setup lasted approximately ten hours before petering out.


We also appreciated the signal LED; there's just a single light atop the box, which can flash at different intervals and emit three different colors to let you know at a glance how much energy is left. Better still, it'll power your pedals while also being charged. In our estimation, there's only two real downsides to this: first off, no daisy chain cabling is included. You'll get two power cables -- enough to power a pair of pedals -- along with a single cable for reversing polarity. But the real beauty of this thing is its ability to power five, six, seven or more pedals; if you want to do so, however, you'll need to make a run to Radio Shack and blow $20 to $30 more on splitters. And that runs right into our second qualm: the price. At $149.99, you'll need to burn through an awful lot of 9V batteries to make this worthwhile.


The reality is that most guitarists will have access to a power strip, and since you're responsible for buying the daisy chain cabling with or without the Pedal Juice, there's a pretty small market that would actually be interested in this. We'd love for this to serve a somewhat broader purpose -- if you've got eight effects pedals going into an amplifier, you've got a power outlet within arm's reach. And if you're hoping to use this as a sort of power backup to ensure your pedals keep humming in case of a power failure, well... you best hope your amp is also connected to a generator. It's a brilliant concept, and it most certainly works as advertised, but the asking price does indeed seem a bit steep given the limited functionality.

Hedge fund using Twitter to predict stock prices, OK Cupid to meet girls

Posted: 25 Dec 2010 04:18 PM PST

For some reason, we weren't surprised when Derwent Capital Markets announced plans to launch a hedge fund in February that will trade based on something called "Twitter sentiment," among other things. The science behind it comes from researchers at the University of Manchester and Indiana University, which maintains that there is a correlation between public mood and the Dow Jones industrial average. Apparently, a calm public seems to indicate that the Dow will go up, while an anxious public indicates that the Dow will go down. And according to Johan Bollen, an associate professor of informatics and computing at IU, Twitter posts can be analyzed and used to judge the public mood -- with a greater than 87 percent accuracy. Hit the source link to see him state his case.

Dell's Adamo 13 ultraportable slips to $899, gets a spec bump

Posted: 25 Dec 2010 02:28 PM PST

It's been awhile since we've heard any news from the Adamo camp, but for those looking to blow a bit of that Santa cash on something thin and light, the timing here couldn't possibly be better. Nearly 1.5 years after the 13-inch ultraportable was let loose -- for $1,999 and up, no less -- a new low-cost configuration has emerged at Dell's website. These days, $899 gets you a 0.65-inch thick machine, complete with a 13.4-inch WLED display (1366 x 768 resolution), 2.1GHz Core 2 Duo SL9600 processor, a 64-bit copy of Windows 7 Home Premium and 4GB of DDR3-800 memory. You'll also get a 128GB SSD, 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and a 40 WHr Lithium Polymer battery, and if you're down for spending a bit more, you can grab an internal mobile broadband module as well. Or, you know, you could wait and see what kind of treasures CES brings. Your call.

Engadget Podcast 222 - 12.25.2010

Posted: 25 Dec 2010 01:00 PM PST

Yeahhhhhhhhh boyeeeeee, it's CHRISTMAS, yo!!! You know what that means!!! ENGADGET PODCAST TIME -- WITH PRESENTS!!!!! HIT IT!!!

Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Paul Miller, Nilay Patel
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Last Christmas

00:03:35 - Verizon teases Android LTE hardware for January 6th at CES
00:03:50 - New HTC device starts leaking piecemeal -- is it the Mecha / Incredible HD?
00:04:10 - Motorola has an LTE phone for Verizon in the works
00:04:25 - Motorola's 'Tablet Evolution' video teases some Honeycomb at CES
00:35:50 - Palm's tablet is codenamed 'Topaz,' keyboard accessory leaks out
00:36:20 - Three HP Slate-like webOS tablets coming at CES? We're not so sure.
00:47:00 - Microsoft to demo new slate PCs, Windows 8 tablet functionality at CES?
00:49:05 - Microsoft to announce ARM-based Windows at CES?
00:58:11 - How to pronounce ASUS (video)
00:59:35 - FCC passes limited net neutrality rules, almost no one happy about them
01:00:30 - FCC releases full net neutrality rules
01:01:20 - Net neutrality: Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile react
01:06:00 - FCC: We didn't impose stricter net neutrality regulations on wireless because Android is open
01:13:27 - NYT: Next batch of Google TV devices delayed, pending software updates
01:13:35 - Sony says Google TV sales meeting expectations, TV division working more closely with Google than cellphone group
01:13:45 - Logitech said to be halting Revue production until Google TV software revamp
01:16:30 - New Apple TV, Roku media streamers race to break one million in sales


Hear the podcast

 Subscribe to the podcast

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC).
[RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically.
[RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator.
[Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace

Download the podcast

LISTEN (MP3)
LISTEN (AAC)
LISTEN (OGG)

Contact the podcast

1-888-ENGADGET or podcast (at) engadget (dot) com.

Twitter: @joshuatopolsky @futurepaul @reckless @engadget

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Toshiba outsourcing semiconductor production to rival Samsung

Posted: 25 Dec 2010 10:40 AM PST

'Tis the season for manufacturing deals? Sure seems it. Merely hours after Sony announced its intentions to buy back Cell chip fabrication facilities from Toshiba, it looks as if Tosh is about to enter into yet another agreement. In this case, it'll be outsourcing the unprofitable production of semiconductors to rival Samsung, which will be responsible for churning out the brains behind a number of smartphones, televisions and digital home appliances. Numerous sources have explained that Toshiba is interested in realigning its focus onto the blossoming memory chip business, and moreover, its hoping to evade costly facility upgrades that would be necessary to remain competitive in the system LSI business.

In other words, the company is dodging investment costs and placing a greater emphasis on a sector that's already profitable (NAND flash production, for those curious), and after the Oita plant is handed off, it'll be used to make image sensors in digital cameras. The Nagasaki plant, as we heard earlier, will be handed over to Sony. Toshiba's stocks were sent northward after investors welcomed the news, but of course it remains to be seen what kind of consumer impact this will have. Whatever the case, we certainly hope Toshiba never runs into any trouble with Sammy -- it's not like its top brass can be touched, regardless of infraction.
at 11:40 AM

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

My Blog List