| Robot fish get upgraded, keep schooling real-life counterparts Posted: 09 Mar 2011 10:03 AM PST Okay, so they still look like Depression-era bath toys, but Maurizio Porfiri's robot fish have come a long way from the coconut-and-tin-foil look they were sporting last summer. In an attempt to further "close the loop" between robotics and nature, Porfiri has continued to tinker with the little leaders by incorporating diving and surfacing into their aquatic repertoire, and it seems to be working: real fish have shown interaction patterns including tracking, gathering, and following in the presence of the pesci-bots. Now if they could just do the same with the the feral ferret living in our bedroom walls... |
| Space Shuttle Discovery returns from final trip, immediately begins search for final resting place Posted: 09 Mar 2011 09:46 AM PST It's a bittersweet occasion, really. Space Shuttle Discovery has just returned from the unknown that we call "space," safely returning six astronauts and one zero Robonaut 2s to Earth after a 13-day mission. Discovery's legacy stretches back 27 years, compiling 39 flights during that span and making an indelible mark on the history of American space exploration. This guy is also the first shuttle to be retired after NASA was rocked a few years back by the impossible-to-ignore budget crunch, and already museums and institutes (29 at last count) are lining up to lobby their case for capturing it. No question, having this 170,000 pound benemoth at your museum would likely benefit admission numbers, but it's not like Discovery will be the only craft calling it quits in the near future. As of now, no decision has been made as to where it'll wheel off to for the final time, but you can bet whoever lands it will make quite the scene. |
| Microsoft sells 10 million Kinects, 10 million Kinect games Posted: 09 Mar 2011 09:26 AM PST First it was one, then two and a half, then eight, and now we're into double digits. Microsoft has announced that the company has sold its 10 millionth Kinect, surprising us all by making it the world's fastest selling consumer electronics device according to Guinness, finding buyers for somewhere north of 10 million games, too. Now, we know what you're thinking Mr. Cynical: each Kinect comes with a game and so of course M$ has sold 10 million titles. But swallow that smug grin, because that's 10 million standalone games sold, and while a 1:1 tie ratio is hardly approaching PS2 territory it's certainly better than many had expected -- especially you, Mister C. Show full PR text Microsoft Announces 10 Million Kinect Sensors and more than 10 Million Kinect Games Sold to Date
LONDON –9 March 2011
Following one of the biggest launches in consumer electronics history, Kinect for Xbox 360 continued its momentum in 2011 reaching 10 million Kinect sensors sold worldwide to date. Not only were sensor sales an overwhelming success, but Kinect drove significant game sales with more than 10 million standalone Kinect games sold worldwide to date.
Guinness World Records: Kinect for Xbox 360 is Fastest Selling Consumer Electronics Device
In a nod to the recent sales success of Kinect, Guinness World Records has officially named Kinect for Xbox 360 the fastest selling consumer electronics device |
| Apple releases iOS 4.3 Posted: 09 Mar 2011 09:07 AM PST Well, it's not March 11th, but you can now download iOS 4.3 for you iPhone, iPad or iPod touch (most of them, anyway). That, of course, brings with it mobile hotspot functionality for iPhones, along with a variety of new AirPlay features, a new and improved version of Safari, and a number of other more minor improvements and fixes (like an option to control how your iPad's side switch behaves). We're already busy testing it out ourselves and will report back on what we find, but you can feel free to leave your own first impressions in the comments below in the meantime -- Apple's complete list of what's included in the update is after the break. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] About iOS 4.3 Software Update
This update contains new features and improvements, including the following:
- Personal Hotspot*
Share iPhone 4 cellular data connection with up to 5 devices (combination of up to 3 Wi-Fi, 3 Bluetooth, and 1 USB) - iTunes Home Sharing
Play music, movies and TV shows from a shared iTunes library on a Mac or PC (requires iTunes 10.2) - New AirPlay features**
Play videos from the Photos app including the Camera Roll album, iTunes previews, enabled third-party apps and websites on Apple TV
Play slideshows from Photos on Apple TV using transitions available on Apple TV - Faster Safari performance with Apple Nitro JavaScript engine
- HD video out using the Apple Digital AV Adapter***
View 720p HD videos from Videos app, iPod app, Photos, YouTube, Safari, Keynote, and enabled third-party apps on an HDMI display - Ping features
Push notifications for comments and follow requests
Post and Like songs directly from the Now Playing screen
Parental controls - New Settings
Messages setting for number of times to repeat an alert
iPad side switch setting to lock screen rotation or mute audio notifications and sound effects
Single tap conference call dialing with a pause to send a passcode - Bug fixes
*Requires iPhone 4 with tethering data plan
**Requires Apple TV (2nd generation) running software version 4.2 or later
***iPhone 4, iPad, iPod touch (4th generation)
For information on the security content of this update, please visit:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222
This update is available via iTunes. |
| Sony adds cloud storage for game saves to PSN Plus subscriptions Posted: 09 Mar 2011 08:48 AM PST Alright, it's official, Sony's PlayStation Plus subscription just became a thing worth owning with the new addition of online storage for game saves. It's coming with v3.60 of the PS3 firmware, which we're promised to receive tomorrow, March 10th. You'll be allowed to stash up to 150MB of PlayStation 3 game progress data in Sony's make.believe cloud, which is not exactly a staggering amount, but then it's not like those save files take up that much space. The major attraction that we see here is being able to just plug your account details into any PS3 around the globe and continue your questing in Dragon Age II as if you're still at home. See Sony's press release and instructions on how to use the new cloud saving option after the break. Show full PR text PLAYSTATION®NETWORK BRINGS ONLINE STORAGE FOR GAME SAVES EXCLUSIVELY TO PLAYSTATION®PLUS SUBSCRIBERS
March 9, 2011 – Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC (SCEA) today announced that online storage for game saves will be available exclusively to PlayStation®Plus subscribers, allowing gamers to back up their save data to the cloud. Online storage for game saves will be available with system software update (v3.60) for the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) system, coming on March 10, 2011 and will be automatically enabled for PlayStation Plus subscribers once users install the update.
With the new feature, PlayStation Plus subscribers can store up to 150MB of PS3 game save data and a maximum of 1000 data files per PlayStation®Network account. "Copy-prohibited save data" is also supported, and all previously backed-up save data may be restored once per 24-hour period. When the new feature launches, most PS3 titles will be compatible with online storage for game saves, and moving forward new titles will have the capability to offer the storage option.
Online storage for game saves ensures that data stored by PlayStation Plus subscribers is more secure than ever and is an integral feature for gamers who wish to access their data on other PS3 systems. Users can check their available/total space at any time via the XMB™ (XrossMediaBar). Users who wish to utilize the feature immediately following the system software update (v3.60), can do so with these instructions:
To back-up:
1. Select [Game] > [Save Data Utility].
2. Focus on the save data you wish to back up.
3. Open up the option menu using "triangle" and select [Copy].
4. Select [Online Storage] as the destination of back up.
To copy:
1. Select [Game] > [Save Data Utility] > [Online Storage].
2. Focus on the save data you wish to copy.
3. Open up an option menu using "triangle" and select [Copy].
PlayStation Plus is available for a yearly fee of $49.99, and for a limited time, gamers will also receive 3 free bonus months when signing up for a one-year subscription. Gamers can also subscribe to the 3-month option for $17.99. |
| Harman AKG K830 BT and K840 KL wireless headsets review Posted: 09 Mar 2011 08:37 AM PST Great wireless headphones are tough to do right. There are so many problems in the way, most notably that there are no wires involved. AKG's K840 KL 2.4GHz and K830 Bluetooth on-ear headphones offer the promise of something a little nicer than the poor reception and sound quality we usually hear from untethered products. Do they do to the "premium" label justice? Read on, righteous spectrum surfer, for our full review of the 'phones. Getting started with the 2.4GHz model is a pretty straightforward affair. Like most premium-branded products, the $299 K840KL's are surrounded by a pile of packaging and faux-velvet material that feels almost retro at this point. The included hard carrying case feels Bose-like: a small mountain of travel adapters, charging accessories, and conversion cables ready for nearly any situation you could dream of. We charged the headphones and unobtrusive silver transmitter, plugged the 1/8-inch jack into our laptop, paired the devices, and proceeded walking around the house to see what would happen. Look, we'll just come right out and say it -- it's awesome to sashay around and hear things right in your ears without disturbing anyone else. Maybe even life-changing. And these AKG's sound good -- very close to AKG's wired on-ear options, and certainly worlds beyond the Radio Shack wireless headphones we've experienced in our past lives. But to be honest, we don't really particularly like the on-ear design in general. We much prefer in-ear (see Etymotic's line) or over-ear (see Sony's studio standard MDR-7506). These things feel a little like over-ears that shrunk in the wash. For as fantastic as the idea of wireless is, it's not awesome when the wireless signal cuts out about 15 or 20 paces from the source. The transmitter feels very directional: while the signal seems strong 30 feet east of the transmitter, it might start breaking up just ten feet west of it, without any real interference-inducing materials in the way. While we can certainly picture distinct uses for the K 840 KL's, possibly in the kitchen or bedroom -- we just wish they worked a lot better. It kind of feels like we might as well have just used a really long cord. If you're just looking to go cordless from your device in your pocket to you ears, though, these would do the job nicely.  The Bluetooth sibling of the K 840 KL is the K 830 BT, priced at $249. It's very similar in layout, but includes transport controls (play / pause, fast foward, etc), a "call" button, and an integrated microphone on the left ear casing. We found reception to be fairly strong within the advertised ten meters in all directions from our laptop when using the phones as our primary sound device. But, as we've experienced with Bluetooth headphones in all corners of the market, the audio quality is disappointing. The K 830 BTs suffer from a bad sort of "crispiness" at the high end of the spectrum: female vocals seem to suffer the most. Pairing a cellphone with the K 830 BT is a charm. Audio quality is high in both directions. But we can't really see why we'd choose these over a smaller Jawbone style unit just for calls. We were also disappointed with the build quality. The silvery paint on the buttons was wearing away with a fairly small amount of use, and the materials used hardly feel premium.  Wireless headphones are like all other wireless products: they're like the wired version, but not as good. We were hoping that AKG's new premium offerings would prove render this ancient paradigm obsolete, but they didn't. |
| Lenovo Skylight slate hits the FCC, no longer the LePad? Posted: 09 Mar 2011 08:14 AM PST You remember Lenovo's 10.1-inch, Android LePad tablet, right? Well, we hope you didn't get too attached to its name since according to this fresh FCC filing it appears Lenovo's renamed it the Skylight slate. Yep, it looks like the company just didn't want that Skylight name to perish along with its never-released smartbook. We found the tablet hanging around those good old federal stomping grounds and from the images it looks exactly like the LePad we saw back at CES. According to the Skylight slate's user manual, it also has the same specs as the version we saw back in January -- there's a 1280x800-resolution 10.1-inch display, Snapdragon 8650A processor, Android 2.2, SRS speakers, and 1GB of RAM. There are also a few very clear shots of its two-cell, 27Wh internal battery. We don't have any details on the US arrival of the new slate and its U1 dock (if it's even still called that), but we're still assuming it won't arrive stateside until Honeycomb has been ported over. Hit the source link for a bunch of internal and external pictures and a glossy user manual. |
| Microsoft confirms Internet Explorer 9 will launch on March 14th Posted: 09 Mar 2011 07:54 AM PST We had a hint that Microsoft would be releasing the final version of Internet Explorer 9 on March 14th, and now the company has finally, officially confirmed it. That launch will coincide with a press event / party at SXSW, and downloads will be available starting at 9PM Pacific time (or midnight Eastern time). Wondering what's in store? Then you can always check out our review of the beta version, or simply download it yourself, of course -- suffice it to say, it's no Internet Explorer 6. |
| VeriFone calls out Square for 'gaping security hole,' publishes sample app to demonstrate Posted: 09 Mar 2011 07:30 AM PST VeriFone, a huge provider of credit card processing systems that's been around since time immemorial, has taken a huge swipe at upstart Square today, branding its free, headphone jack-based credit card readers "skimming devices" and demanding their immediate removal from the market. Crazy, right? VeriFone's CEO has thrown up a YouTube video talking about the exploit its thrown together, and it's more of a social engineering hack than a technical one: a bad guy makes a fake Square app for his phone, plugs in the reader, and steals your unencrypted credit card details without running a "real" payment through Square's system. They're really going big with this, too -- not only is VeriFone's sample app available for download, but they've sent notices to Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and JP Morgan Chase, which handles Square's processing. Sounds like a possible problem, sure -- but when the "exploit" is being announced in such grand fashion by a company that's most threatened by Square's business model, you can't help but feel a little icky about it. Follow the break for video. |
| Green Automotive's all-electric Zotye SUV gets closer to US roads Posted: 09 Mar 2011 07:10 AM PST We haven't heard a ton out of Texas-based Green Automotive, but it looks like it's now getting fairly close to actually selling its all-electric SUV in the US. That vehicle is already produced and sold in China, but Green Automotive has signed an exclusive agreement with Zotye to bring it to the US, and it's now also brought on Roush Industries to provide structural and vehicle engineering support as it begins a four-step phase to meet or exceed the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. As for the SUV itself, it packs a 25.6 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that promises a range of up to 150 miles, and you'll apparently be able to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 9.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 70 miles per hour. If all goes as planned, you'll be able to buy one by the end of this year, though there's no indication of a price just yet. Head on past the break for a quick test drive video. Update: According to CNET, pricing is expected to start around $30,000. [Thanks, James]
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| Super Mario Bros. gets modern sound effects, nostalgia ensues (video) Posted: 09 Mar 2011 06:53 AM PST We can only wonder what'll happen when you reach a certain score -- you know, somewhere above 8000... |
| Motorola Droid X2 is a Droid X with a smaller microSD card? (updated) Posted: 09 Mar 2011 06:31 AM PST You know how it works: people see unusual product names in inventory systems, and imaginations start running wild. We'd been hearing some pretty crazy things about the rumored Droid X2 for Verizon, only to have those expectations reigned in to a light refresh -- and in light of the Droid Bionic's upcoming launch, a deeply overhauled Droid X launching in roughly the same time frame never made a ton of sense in the first place. On that note, we've just been hit with a memo that's supposedly floating around SCK -- the Radio Shack subsidiary responsible for Sam's Club kiosks -- that calls the X2 "a new Droid X version" with a 2GB bundled microSD card replacing the original model's 16GB... and it'll sell for the same price. Now, we'd heard from our sources before that the X2 would be warmed over with a front-facing camera and the same 1.2GHz single-core processor bump that the Chinese version recently received. Nothing in the SCK memo suggests that's not happening, and the microSD card reduction might mean there'll be more internal storage space, too. We can hope, right? [Thanks, anonymous tipster] Update: Several folks have written in to point out that the Droid X packages with the smaller microSD cards are already in other retail outlets, so SCK may just be playing catch-up. If so, that's a horrible choice of name for the inventory system, we'd say. Thanks, everyone! |
| Transportation secretary Ray LaHood: no restrictions (yet) on in-car information Posted: 09 Mar 2011 05:54 AM PST  Worried that the fancy-schmancy SYNC system you just ordered up in your Mustang will soon be outlawed? Fret not, speed demon. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will reportedly not push for restrictions on handsfree phones or in-car technology until "the government conducts further research." There are generally two prevailing trains of thought: one feels that any type of calling -- be it handsfree or otherwise -- is a terrible distraction to the driver, while the other feels that properly integrated technology is safe enough for use on the road. As the story goes, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is currently investigating whether systems like SYNC post a "cognitive distraction," while some automakers suggest that motorists are going to goof off with their phone anyway -- might as well make it as safe as possible for 'em. Of course, things could change in short order once this so-called "research" gets finalized, but for now, feel free to request that your OnStar system read on to the next post. Your OnStar system can read Engadget, right? |
| 64GB iPhone 4 prototype spotted in China? (Updated) Posted: 09 Mar 2011 05:33 AM PST If 32GB just isn't enough to carry your entire collection of Police bootlegs and Greatest Hits compilations, prepare to look enviously upon this bastion of storage salvation. It's a 64GB iPhone 4, a supposed prototype leaked by a Foxconn employee. M.I.C. Gadget scored a quick video of the phone, even prying off the back cover revealing internals that certainly look official. The back is curiously designated "XXGB," which thankfully does not indicate a turn to Roman Numerals, while the model number and FCC ID are similarly X'd out. Other details, like a missing silver ring around the camera lens, indeed make this look like a prototype, but of course the question now is whether this plucky little handset will ever follow its dreams of becoming a production model before getting relegated to obsolescence. Update: We went over to the Sin Tak shopping mall in Hong Kong to get up close and personal with this mysterious device. Shockingly, the folks wanted a hefty HK$13,500 (US$1,734) for their phone, but this alone doesn't really prove whether it's a legit Foxconn prototype. We also got some folks to run the numbers through Apple's system, and while the serial number is invalid, the model number indicates that this device was manufactured in early 2010, which probably means at one point Apple intended to release a 64GB version of the iPhone 4, but then changed its mind. Ah well, let's see what this summer will bring us. |
| China clones the sliding netvertible tablet PC Posted: 09 Mar 2011 05:13 AM PST We'd forgive you for thinking you're looking at a smartphone in the picture above -- seeing how HTC and Nokia owners have enjoyed this form factor for years -- but that's actually a netbook up there, sporting a full five-row keyboard and a desktop operating system. Yes, what took Samsung and ASUS until CES 2011 to realize has been copied by Shenzhen in two months flat, and even if you'd thumb your nose at its vanilla configuration (10-inch 1024 x 600 screen, 1.66GHz Intel Atom N455 CPU, 1GB of RAM, 160GB hard drive, 3700mAh lithium-ion battery) and optical touchpad next to the display, it's hard for a lover of all things gadgety not to appreciate that. Besides, the 1,600 yuan (about $244) price tag doesn't hurt any. |
| Hulu Plus on TiVo apparently being tested, live streaming to iPad apparently being considered Posted: 09 Mar 2011 04:51 AM PST So, an update. Er, a refresher if you will. Back in September of last year, TiVo announced that ingrained Hulu Plus access would be coming to its DVRs " in the coming months," but we've heard precisely nothing on the matter ever since. Enter the present. We've got a tipster who owns a TiVo Premiere and was just invited to join a Field Trial to "test Hulu Plus on TiVo," and he's also receiving codes to receive a free month of service. It's hard to say what kind of gap we're looking at between the testing period and the go-live period, but at least we've got a little assurance that no one simply forgot about their promise. In related news, other tipsters are starting to receive some fairly interesting surveys from TiVo itself, with a few questions in particular asking consumers how they'd feel about the option to "stream live TV, DVR recordings and TV shows from a cable company's On Demand library to one's iPad." This seemingly includes in-home and remote streaming, and we have to say -- streaming to the tablet just might be the magic feature that finally gets TiVo out of the hurt locker. Probably not, but are you really going to judge us for being blindly optimistic? |
| Toyota unveils its Global Vision, pledges 10 new electrified cars by 2015 Posted: 09 Mar 2011 04:28 AM PST Toyota's getting serious with this plural Prius stuff. If you still don't buy that Prii is the correct term you'd better hurry up and get over it, as the company just announced its "Toyota Global Vision," including a plan to launch 10 more hybrid vehicles by 2015. Surely that counts the new models unveiled in Detroit, the taller Prius V and the funkier Prius C, but it remains to be seen exactly what else the company will use to build up those numbers. Toyota also says that more fuel cell and fully electric cars are coming, along with numerous "genuinely exciting models," so maybe if we're really good over the next four years one of those Prii will actually be fun to drive. |
| VMware View brings virtual desktops to iPad with touchscreen-friendly controls (video) Posted: 09 Mar 2011 04:00 AM PST Remote controlling your personal desktop from an iPad is one thing, but today VMware is offering something a little heftier -- a streamlined app to connect to enterprise-class virtual desktops. Like Citrix Receiver, the idea is that you'll get the iPad client for free, and hopefully pay to have the cloud computers served up, but instead of streamlining applications for tablet use, VMware's app hands you customizable PC-like controls. There's a handy-looking virtual touchpad you can use for fine control over the mouse cursor if your fingers prove too pointy, a set of Windows shortcut keys at the top of the virtual keyboard, multi-finger gestures and more -- but why not just watch the video after the break to see what's in store? Show full PR text Apple iPad Means Business with VMware View™ Virtual Desktops
Available on Apple App Store, New VMware View™ Client for iPad lets enterprise and government users access their virtual desktops from anywhere
PALO ALTO, Calif. – March 9, 2011 - VMware, Inc. (NYSE: VMW), the global leader in virtualization and cloud infrastructure, today announced the availability of VMware View™ Client for iPad on the Apple App Store for free. Enabling Apple iPad users to access their virtual Windows1 desktops, applications and data from anywhere, the new VMware View™ Client, in combination with VMware View™, delivers a modern desktop optimized for the iPad's high-resolution Multi-Touch display.
"The growing popularity of the iPad in business presents a new opportunity for enterprise IT organizations to empower their mobile workforces by providing users with anytime access to business critical apps on the go," said Christopher Young, vice president and general manager, End-User Computing, VMware. "With VMware View™ Client for iPad, employees and enterprises get a win-win combination – a complete, secure virtual desktop solution they trust, paired with the unique touch interface of the iPad employees have come to love in their consumer lives."
Growing Use of iPad in the Enterprise:
Serving families in Southern California, Children's Hospital Central California is one of the 10 largest hospitals of its type in the United States. Recently, the Hospital has deployed VMware View to provide secure, "Follow-me Desktops," that move from room-to-room with clinicians and staff as they treat their patients. The hospital has plans to deploy VMware View Client for iPad.
"The iPad could fundamentally change the way our clinicians and staff approach their IT needs," said Kirk Larson, chief information officer, Children's Hospital Central California. "Now with VMware View Client for iPad, our caregivers can have the freedom to access a patient's electronic medical records anywhere in the hospital via an iPad on a secure VMware View desktop. This could not only improve patient care but may enable us to dramatically reduce costs and simplify device management."
End-User Freedom. IT Control:
VMware's End-User Computing vision seeks to free end users and IT organizations from more than two decades of complex, device-centric computing and deliver a more user-centric, consumer cloud experience for the enterprise. The new VMware View™ Client for iPad provides a simple and secure way for end users to access virtual Windows desktops, applications and data from their iPad.
VMware View™ is a complete, virtual desktop solution that enables enterprises to improve security and lower operating costs, while simplifying desktop administration and management by establishing a modern, end-user computing architecture. The result is a more flexible, centrally hosted computing model that provides IT with greater control and end users with freedom to access to their desktop across the broadest set of devices.
Microsoft Windows 7 – 32-bit and 64-bit, Enterprise Professional, SP1; Windows Vista – 32-bit, Business and Enterprise, SP1 and SP2; Windows XP – 32-bit, Professional, SP3
VMware View™ Client for iPad features include:
Modern Desktop Experience – The new VMware View™ Client is the first iPad app to deliver Windows-based virtual desktops while taking advantage of the superior user experience provided by PC-over-IP (PCoIP) display protocol, creating a highly responsive and flexible user experience.
Intuitive, Multi-Touch Support – Custom gestures on the new VMware View™ Client enable quick and easy navigation around the virtual desktop by taking advantage of iPad's Multi-Touch display. An innovative on-screen track pad lets users leverage a more traditional mouse interface with the iPad's keyboard for efficient text input.
Secure, Instant-on Windows Desktops – VMware View Security Server support for PCoIP allows for a simple, secure remote connection and authentication to a user's Windows desktop over a WiFi or 3G network. Reconnecting to a View Desktop2 is made even easier with the ability to select and connect to a list of recently connected desktops.
Device and iOS Support – Support for the iPad Keyboard Dock and Bluetooth keyboards makes text input even easier while the iPad VGA connector allows you to connect to an external monitor. VMware View Client for iPad supports iOS 4.2 and iOS 4.3.
For additional details on VMware View™, go to www.vmware.com/products/view. |
| WebOS will be on 'every HP PC' shipping next year, says CEO Posted: 09 Mar 2011 03:32 AM PST You'd think Leo Apotheker, HP's newest CEO, would want to save a bit of thunder for his March 14th event. Instead, the man continues to unleash stentorian quotes with unabashed candor like today's claim that "HP has lost its soul." He's also making bold proclamations about every HP PC being able to run WebOS and MIcrosoft Windows as an integrated experience in 2012 -- a move the company hopes will create a "massive platform" to attract those all important developers. Apotheker's strategy will reverse Mark Hurd's cost-cutting emphasis with a renewed focus on product quality and innovation -- the latter achieved by breaking down inter-company barriers that currently separate product groups and by boosting the R&D budget already pegged at $2.96 billion last year (a pittance by some measurements). Click the source link below to read the Businessweek article in full if you're interested in Leo's issue with being the smartest person in the room and his attempts at Californication. Cool? Awesome. |
| NES becomes world's least efficient flash drive (video) Posted: 09 Mar 2011 02:58 AM PST Hold on to your Zapper, because we're about to blow some minds -- this Nintendo Entertainment System has been outfitted with a USB port, and its Tetris cartridge transformed into an 8GB USB flash drive. Not only that, there are simple step-by-step instructions to craft your own online, so you too can slot, socket, mount and feel blissfully anachronistic all the same time. Speaking of time -- it looks like we've finally got a sufficiently retro alternative to your Iomega ZIP drive. |
| Canonical christens Ubuntu 11.10 'Oneiric Ocelot' Posted: 09 Mar 2011 02:13 AM PST  Canonical's still one month away from letting Natty Narwhal (also known as Ubuntu 11.04) out of the cage, but it's already teasing us with another OS flaunting an alliterative mammalian monicker. Like the Narwhal before it, Oneiric Ocelot (or Ubuntu 11.10), due out this October, will offer a 2D OpenGL-based Unity interface to support older computers, as well as Qt -- you know, the framework Nokia loved and left hanging. You can also expect Ubuntu to scale back on the number of cloud services with the Ocelot, as it gears up for the release of the as-of-yet unnamed Ubuntu 12.04 LTS (long term support). For now, that's all she wrote, but if you're dying to find out how they come up with those adorable Animalia appellatives, check out the source link below. |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab goes WiBro, yo Posted: 09 Mar 2011 01:26 AM PST Making fun of WiBro -- the Korean moniker for what's otherwise known as IEEE 802.16e mobile WiMAX -- never gets old. Fortunately, Samsung just gave us another reason to "pose hard" with the announcement of the WiBro- and T-DMB-equipped Galaxy Tab now available from the Korean operator KT for 900,000KRW or just a bit more than $800. Otherwise, it's pretty much the same 7-inch Android tablet that's about to get an 8.9 inch big brother on March 22nd. Hey Sprint, you seeing this? [Original image via ImSoGangsta.org] |
| Nissan to give Leaf faster charger in 2012: home charging goes from glacial to a snail's pace? Posted: 09 Mar 2011 12:40 AM PST Though well on its way to joining the Dodo, one of the internal combustion engine's advantages over its plug-in competition is refuel time -- it only takes a few minutes to gas up, but you're talking hours for an EV to top off its batteries via a standard 220 / 240-volt socket. This fact is not lost on Nissan, as it just revealed plans to offer a higher-rate charger in its 2012 Leaf -- the current model's 3.3kW charger needs eight hours to power up -- in order to better compete with the Ford Focus Electric's three to four hour charge time courtesy of its 6.6kW. And all you early adopters won't be "orphaned," as 2011 model Leafs can be retrofitted with the new electrics -- no word if Daddy Warbucks will be footing the bill. |
| Logitech intros $350 Surround Sound Speakers Z906, Black Eyed Peas still capable of ruining them Posted: 09 Mar 2011 12:02 AM PST It's not often we see a single product grace these pages and then remain "current" for half a dozen years, but the successor to Logitech's heralded Z-5500 speaker set is just now touching down. Logi's Surround Sound Speakers Z906 offer 5.1 channels of oomph, a 500-watt (RMS) amplifier, digital / analog inputs, yet another remote to add to your (prayerfully dwindling) collection and a dedicated control console. This particular set is both ready and willing to sync up with a cornucopia of sources -- everything from your TV to your game console should feel right at home. Head on past the break for the full specifications list, and if you're game, you can exchange $349.99 (or £329) for a set later this month. Show full PR text Logitech® Surround Sound Speakers Z906
Hear every detail, all around you-in theater-quality 5.1 sound
Announcement Date: March 9, 2011 Shipping: March 2011
Price: $349.99 Available at: www.logitech.com
Product Overview
This THX-Certified 5.1 system delivers 500 watts (RMS) of theater-quality sound for your movies, games, music and more. With digital and analog inputs, an easy-to-read-and-stack control console and a wireless remote, the Logitech Surround Sound Speakers Z906 let you take charge of your entertainment.
Key Features
Digital Detail: Onboard 5.1 digital decoding enables detailed surround sound-from the roar of the crowd to the footsteps right behind you-in your Dolby® Digital or DTS® encoded soundtracks.
Quality Control: These speakers have met strict performance standards to achieve THX® certification-so you can be sure that your entertainment will sound the way it was meant to.
Immerse Yourself: Make any night opening night. 500 watts (RMS) of power delivers thunderous audio that can shake your house-and your whole neighborhood.
More Flexibility: You can connect up to six audio devices simultaneously, including your TV, DVD, DVR, Xbox 360®, PLAYSTATION®3, Wii™, iPod and more.
Fits Right In: With its easy-to-read display and easy-to-stack design, the control console will look good in your home-entertainment setup.
System Requirements
• Computers, music players, TVs, Blu-ray™ and DVD players, game consoles and other audio sources with digital optical, digital coaxial, RCA audio or 3.5 mm out
• Nintendo Wii™ using the AV cable that comes with your console
Technical Specifications
• Total RMS power: 500 watts RMS
o Satellites: 5 x 67 watts RMS
o Subwoofer: 165 watts RMS
• THX® Certified
• Dolby® Digital 5.1 decoding
• DTS® decoding
• 3D Stereo (Surround sound from 2-channel sources)
• Digital optical input (2)
• Digital coaxial input • Six-channel direct input
• RCA input
• 3.5 mm input
• Stackable control console
• Mountable satellites (4)
• Mountable center channel speaker (1)
• Ported side-firing subwoofer
• Infrared remote
Product Specifications
• Speaker Dimensions (DxWxH)
o Satellite Speakers: 92 mm x 99 mm x 165 mm
o Center Channel: 92 mm x 165 mm x 99 mm
o Subwoofer: 318 mm x 280 mm x 292 mm
o Stackable Control Console: 17.9 mm x 42 mm x 110 mm
o Remote Control: 18 mm x 42 mm x 110 mm
• Weight: 13.3 kg
Warranty
• 2-year limited warranty |
| Profit shocker! Android brings home more bacon than iOS for Pocket Legends developer Posted: 08 Mar 2011 11:59 PM PST Back in 2009, we wrote a story on crack mobile developer Larva Labs lamenting its inability to make a living off top-rated games in the Android Market. Well, to put it lightly, it ain't 2009 anymore: the Android ecosystem has expanded exponentially in every conceivable direction, the Market has taken on tens of thousands of additional apps, and -- according to one research firm, anyway -- Android has now overtaken BlackBerry to become the most prolific smartphone platform in the US. To that end, Spacetime Studios -- the company behind mobile MMORPG Pocket Legends, which brings in revenue through in-app purchases -- was shocked to discover that it's making some 30 to 50 percent more from its Android users than its iOS ones. Furthermore, they're spending more time playing and downloading the app with far greater frequency, which might be a testament to the fact that really great apps still stand out in the Market better than they do in the more mature (and more populated) App Store. The in-app purchase disparity is a little more difficult to explain, though -- especially since iOS has a slick, integrated purchase mechanism that Google won't be rolling out in Android for a little while yet. At any rate, the online mobile economy -- regardless of platform -- clearly still has some growing, maturing, and stabilizing to do. [Thanks, Michael] |
| Philips FloatingCushions headphones have you on cloud nine Posted: 08 Mar 2011 11:14 PM PST Comfort is certainly the aim for Philips' new SH series headphones, and they certainly have a compelling case. The magic behind these lightweight cans is FloatingCushion, which is essentially just memory foam that seals nicely around your ears for both comfort and reduced audio loss. Simple, but seemingly effective. No word on whether these softhearted headphones will make it to the US, but according to Pocket-lint there will be six of these in total, four of which being a Bluetooth SHB9100 model, an over-the-ear SHP8000, and two folding compact SHL9000 variants (one with in-line remote and mic). Head over to the via link for some hands-on pics. |
| CloudSight Search gives you instant, unified access to email and social networking archives Posted: 08 Mar 2011 10:41 PM PST Remember those thousands of folks who you suddenly lost contact with last week? Unfortunately for them, they're still looking for years of Gmail records, but if they were proactive enough to initialize a Backupify account, they'd have their entire inbox (as well as their outbox, sent folder, and everything else) just a restore-click away. Backupify's free backup services have worked well here at Engadget HQ, providing a level of assurance that our emails, tweets, photos and Facebook statuses aren't going anywhere -- even if an account is hacked. Now, the company's taking the next logical step by introducing CloudSight Search. It's hailed as the first searchable archive solution for social media and Google Apps, and it lets you type in a single search term / phrase in order to sift through your email accounts and social networking handles for any communications related to the aforesaid query. One search, multiple communication outlets. Of course, it only sifts through what's archived, but given just how frequently the service backs things up, it's pretty darn close to fetching in real-time. The only downside? There's no mobile app, so it looks as if you'll have to consult a legitimate browser to get your search on. Those interested in signing up for the private beta launch can do so in the source link, or if you'd rather learn more via video, the play button is just beneath the break. Show full PR text Backupify Announces CloudSight Search, the First Searchable Archive Solution for Social Media and Google Apps
Industry's First Unified Search Service to Leverage Backups to Quickly Locate, Download and Restore Data Across Multiple Cloud Accounts
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Backupify (http://www.backupify.com), the leading provider of online backup, archiving and export services for cloud-based data, today announced the private beta launch of CloudSight Search, the industry's first unified search and archiving service for cloud computing. CloudSight Search enables Backupify users to quickly locate data across multiple cloud services and to analyze, download and restore items to their original location. The service supports Facebook, Twitter, Google Apps, and other popular services managed by Backupify. Access to the CloudSight Search private beta program is limited. For more information and to request access to the beta program, visit http://www.cloudsight.com.
"Emerging social search engines are exciting but limited in that they only let you locate information – not restore it if it was deleted or view it if your cloud service is unavailable"
"Emerging social search engines are exciting but limited in that they only let you locate information – not restore it if it was deleted or view it if your cloud service is unavailable," said Rob May, Co-Founder and CEO, Backupify. "CloudSight Search from Backupify is the first service of its kind that gives you the ability to not only find information across the social sphere, but also interact with, and restore it when necessary."
Currently in beta, CloudSight Search will be available to Backupify users and will be active once their initial backups occur. The service provides an intuitive search interface for locating data across all services and filtering results based on keyword, by date, and by service type. CloudSight Search spans all cloud services to give users quick access to the information they're looking for, whether it is stored in a Gmail message, in a Flickr photo comment or on a Facebook Fan Page. Resulting items are displayed, by priority, in real time, allowing the user to view, download or restore them to their original location.
For businesses, CloudSight Search offers powerful data management capabilities that solve critical problems encountered by the increasing amount of corporate data moving to the cloud. The service gives social media and compliance professionals an automated audit trail of customer-facing corporate online communications across all major social media and cloud platforms including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Gmail. Also, Google Apps domain administrators can use CloudSight Search to query the archives of all their users. In the case data was deleted, CloudSight Search can make it even easier for the IT professional to restore the document on behalf of a Google Apps user.
For consumers, CloudSight Search provides a comprehensive view of one's online life, making it easy to locate pictures, online conversations with friends, documents and more, across any number of photo-sharing sites, Web-based email accounts and social media sites.
For more information, including a video and signup form for the CloudSight Search private beta program, visit http://www.cloudsight.com.
Availability
CloudSight Search will be available for demonstration at the SXSW Interactive conference starting Friday, March 11, in Austin, TX. Users that sign up for Backupify CloudSight Search with the promo code "#SXSW" will be given priority access to the service as it is made available to beta users. To celebrate the launch of its groundbreaking unified search service, Backupify will be cosponsoring, alongside HubSpot and oneforty, the "Boston in Austin" cocktail hour at 5:00PM on March 13, 2011. For more information, visit http://bostoninaustinsxsw.eventbrite.com. |
| BlackBerry Playbook to feature 7digital's 13 milllion track music store Posted: 08 Mar 2011 09:57 PM PST 7digital and RIM are back in bed with news that the BlackBerry PlayBook will ship pre-installed with access to 13 million high-quality (320kbps) MP3 tracks from the London-based media company. At launch, the deal affects the US and Canada only, with more countries promised in 2011. PlayBook users will be able to search and preview tracks before purchasing with a discovery assist provided by 7digital's music recommendation engine. The whole kit will be previewed this week at South by Southwest where we hope to get some hands-on time. Full press release after the break. Show full PR text 7digital and RIM Strike a Chord with Music Store on the BlackBerry PlayBook
7digital Music Store to be pre-installed on the BlackBerry PlayBook at launch in the US and Canada with further international roll out in 2011
7digital Music Store lets users browse, preview and purchase tracks from a catalogue of over 13 million MP3s
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM and WATERLOO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 9, 2011) - Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ:RIMM)(TSX:RIM) and 7digital today announced that the 7digital Music Store will come pre-installed(i) on the BlackBerry(R) PlayBook(TM).
The 7digital Music Store will give BlackBerry PlayBook users access to 7digital's catalogue of over 13 million high quality (320kbps) MP3s. BlackBerry PlayBook users will be able to search for tracks, albums and artists and preview tracks before making a purchase. Users can also discover new music through 7digital's recommendation technology. Prices for BlackBerry PlayBook users will match the prices on 7digital.com, with individual tracks and albums priced in a customer's local currency.
Ben Drury, CEO 7digital comments, "We're really excited to be working with RIM to bring the 7digital experience to the BlackBerry PlayBook. RIM has created an incredible tablet with premium multimedia features and together we are delivering a truly exceptional music experience for mobile users, offering content that is extremely easy to discover, purchase and use.
"We currently have the largest international footprint of any MP3 digital music seller and we look forward to expanding our business with RIM throughout the year."
"The 7digital Music Store is a perfect complement to the high-performance BlackBerry PlayBook, providing users with fast searches and downloads, and a slick interface that makes it very easy to discover, purchase and enjoy music," said Alistair Mitchell, Vice President, BBM Platform & Integrated Services. "We are thrilled to be working with 7digital to provide BlackBerry PlayBook users with access to an amazing catalog of 13 million tracks."
The BlackBerry PlayBook tablet running the 7digital Music Store application will be previewed this week at the South by South West conference in Austin, Texas.
(i) Certain territorial restrictions may apply.
About 7digital
7digital is a leading digital media delivery company based in London and operating globally. Through 7digital's download store (www.7digital.com) consumers can access over 13 million legal high quality MP3 music tracks as well as audiobooks and videos at competitive prices across Europe and North America.
Combining 7digital's secure and robust technology platform with the broadest agreements in the digital media industry, the company provides comprehensive digital download services to a wide range of partners around the world. 7digital has worked with record companies, artists, FMCG brands, retailers, consumer electronics companies, fashion brands, advertising agencies and many other organisations to harness the power of digital entertainment, music, video, audiobooks and ebooks, to engage customers. For more information visit www.7digital.com/business.
7digital has provided digital media services to over 500 partners including: RIM, Samsung, Toshiba, HMV, Spotify, Imagination Technologies, Universal Music, EMI, Warner Music, Sony Music, Waterstone's, AOL/Winamp, Imerge, Nestle, Hugo Boss, Yahoo!, Amnesty International and Adidas, and have delivered tens of millions of digital products in over 30 countries.
Visit www.7digital.com
About Research In Motion
Research In Motion (RIM), a global leader in wireless innovation, revolutionized the mobile industry with the introduction of the BlackBerry(R) solution in 1999. Today, BlackBerry products and services are used by millions of customers around the world to stay connected to the people and content that matter most throughout their day. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. RIM is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ:RIMM) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:RIM). For more information, visit www.rim.com or www.blackberry.com.
Forward-looking statements in this news release are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used herein, words such as "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "should", "intend," "believe", and similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by RIM in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that RIM believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Many factors could cause RIM's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including those described in the "Risk Factors" section of RIM's Annual Information Form, which is included in its Annual Report on Form 40-F (copies of which filings may be obtained at www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov). These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on RIM's forward-looking statements. RIM has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited. RIM, Research In Motion and BlackBerry are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and may be pending or registered in other countries. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. RIM assumes no obligations or liability and makes no representation, warranty, endorsement or guarantee in relation to any aspect of any third party products or services. |
| Samsung's latest 8.9-inch Galaxy Tab teaser hints impressive slimness Posted: 08 Mar 2011 08:58 PM PST Samsung hasn't been entirely shy about its forthcoming 8.9-inch tablet, though Mr. Blurrycam seems to be having some trouble getting on a plane in Seoul. Fortunately for us, today the Korean giant decided to give us mere mortals a sneak peek at said device, and it sure looks promising -- as you can see above, the bulge seems to imply that the tablet's general thickness almost matches the headphone jack's height. If true, this would put Samsung's 8.9-incher head to head with Apple's 8.8mm thick iPad 2 in a fitness contest. Bring on March 22nd! |
| Google brings Instant Previews to mobile, makes them seriously useful (video) Posted: 08 Mar 2011 07:51 PM PST We've never had a use for Google Instant Search on mobile, so we didn't expect much when Google's Instant Previews invaded the smartphone realm as well. You know what? They're actually surprisingly useful. Instead of trying to cram additional information into Google's already-crowded mobile website, Instant Previews adds a little magnifying glass next to most every result instead, and clicking on the magnifier brings up a series of cached thumbnails of each page that you can scroll through in portrait or landscape modes. It's a very visual way of finding what you're looking for, and more importantly, it's quick even over 3G, saving time and mobile bandwidth that would otherwise be spent clicking through links one by one. Rather than decipher that long-winded explanation, though, why don't you try it out for yourself or watch our video demonstration after the break? |
| Swedes to start text message-based postage system, girl with dragon tattoo reportedly pleased Posted: 08 Mar 2011 06:19 PM PST The Swedish Postal Service has announced that it will soon replace traditional postage stamps with a text message-based system. The system will work pretty simply -- customers will send a text message to a particular number, and a special code will be texted back to them which they can then write on the letter. A spokesperson for Posten AB, the Swedish Postal Service, says the system will work for packages weighing up to two kilograms, and that it will be just as secure as traditional postage. That's all well and good, but how will they adorn their letters with famous Swedish crime writers? |
| Intel brings vPro to Sandy Bridge CPUs, makes losing your work laptop slightly less painful Posted: 08 Mar 2011 04:54 PM PST Imagine, if you will, business travelers gallivanting across the globe with nary a care in the world -- secure in the fact that should they lose their laptop by hook or by crook, they can disable it with a simple text message. Well, the dream is now a reality as Intel has put its third-gen vPro technology in Sandy Bridge Core i5 and i7 business chips, giving users the ability to lock down and reactivate a PC remotely via SMS. Not exactly a fresh idea, but nice to see it passed on to more modern chipsets. To further simplify the lives of IT professionals, the new version of vPro also has an encryption login requirement upon awakening from sleep mode, 1920 x 1200 resolution remote management, and host-based configuration to allow the set up of countless PCs at once. Of course, that assumes your employer's willing to pony up for Chipzilla's new gear -- the economic downturn's almost over, right? |
| TetherGPS brings GPS navigation to Nook Color, in a manner of speaking Posted: 08 Mar 2011 04:18 PM PST The smart folks over at ComptonSoft are looking to provide a GPS receiver to your mobile device in a rather unconventional way. TetherGPS links up your Android phone's GPS to the Nook Color by means of WiFi -- either on the same network or via a WiFi tether -- because the Nook Color is lacking in the standard usable Bluetooth department. After connecting the two devices, it makes a second link by running a TGPS server on the phone and a TGPS client on the Nook. The two devices are then intertwined in a blissful, all-you-can-GPS buffet of routes and roads. For the most part, the Nook's location-aware Android applications, such as Google Maps, will draw from this connection for location data and use it as if there were a GPS receiver on board. TetherGPS is up for grabs for $2.99 on the Android Market, and there's also a free "Lite" version for those who only need GPS for five minutes at a time -- we'll assume you know who you are. [Thanks, Red] |
| Microsoft's Ventura could be a cloud music / video platform, have something to do with Zune Posted: 08 Mar 2011 03:38 PM PST Zune hasn't gotten much love from Microsoft as of late, but that might change over time -- ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley noticed that the company is staffing up for a cloud-based multimedia project (by a group known as "Ventura Media Services") directed at PCs, TVs and mobile devices. "The team is a tight group of music and video lovers that create services and experiences revolving around music/video discovery and consumption," read a series of job postings that date back at least as far as July of 2010, calling for software developers in Beijing and Redmond who are familiar with the Microsoft Azure cloud platform. (Two of them have "Zune" in the job title.) While it's hard to say if this project is a major focus for Microsoft no matter how often the job posting says "large scale" (we count four times) it'd definitely be nice to have some competition for Google and Apple when they start drawing the multimedia-streaming battle lines. [Thanks, zblack] |
| Nokia C7 with T-Mobile user's manual hits FCC: is this the Tiger? Posted: 08 Mar 2011 03:06 PM PST Rumors have been circulating the past few days that Nokia would be teaming up with T-Mobile to release the Symbian^3-powered C7 -- right on the heels of the Nuron 2's possible cancellation -- as the Tiger. Well, here's some fuel for the fire: a version of the C7 with AWS 3G support and mentions of T-Mobile in the attached user's manual just showed up in the FCC. Interestingly, there's absolutely no sign of T-Mobile branding on the phone itself, but it's possible Nokia's prototype here simply didn't have the final silkscreens applied. Of course, plenty of devices get FCC approval without ever seeing the light of day -- but it's a sign. Who's buying? |
| Instaprint service is the Polaroid of the Instagram generation, no shaking required (video) Posted: 08 Mar 2011 02:49 PM PST  Sure Polaroid brought its headline product into 2011 by teaming up with Lady Gaga, but most of us are just fine with using our phones to quickly capture memorable moments. Well, Instaprint aims to recreate the photo craze of yesteryear by tying it in to Instagram -- the wildly popular (and currently iOS-only) app that lets you apply various filters to your photos for quick sharing among friends. The Instaprinter (our term, not the company's) is essentially a modified Zink photo printer with internet connectivity and tie-ins to the Instagram API, that automatically prints items tagged with any hashtag you choose. As of now, the company is planning to rent Instaprint boxes and demo the service at SXSWi, targeting it as a novel way to capture all angles of whatever event you may be hosting -- which to us seems like a fun idea. That is, until someone starts abusing the system and tags a photo of their derriere with #GrandmasBirthday. You can try it out now by tagging your shots with #Instaprint, and see it printed live in the stream embedded after the break. |
| H2O Shower Powered Radio blasts the Biebs by way of micro-turbine Posted: 08 Mar 2011 02:07 PM PST Forget the tablet, 2011 is the year of the shower radio! Last week we reported on Toshiba's wirelessly connected water-proof song box and, just as our nerves began to settle from the excitement, someone came along and dropped this eco-friendly, shower-ready gem on us. Not only is the H2O Shower Powered Radio waterproof, but it actually uses the water from your shower to pump out the jams. The thing connects directly to your shower hose, and uses the flow of water to set a micro-turbine spinning, thus charging an integral battery and eliminating the need for disposables. As the video below points out, the radio "doesn't just offer 80s classics -- it has the full spectrum of FM," and its creators say it's compatible with 99 percent of showers, but what we really want to know is: how well does it crank the Ke$ha? Video after the break. |
| Research suggests text messaging could help smokers quit Posted: 08 Mar 2011 01:42 PM PST We've heard plenty about the perils of cellphones in general and text messaging in particular, but are there some instances where it might actually be good for your health? Well, sort of. Some researchers at the University of Oregon and a few other participating institutions have now found a way to pinpoint the areas of the brain that are most active in controlling the urges to smoke, and they say that information can also be predictive of real-world behavior and the individuals' ability to respond to various smoking cessation programs. One of those such programs tested by the researchers involved sending eight text messages a day to an individual, which they had to reply to in order to document their cravings, mood and cigarette use. That's similar to other programs that rely on a dedicated device to collect data (which have been shown to be effective in helping smokers quit), but the researchers found that using text messages proved to be at least as effective, and is obviously a simpler and cheaper solution. Show full PR text UO researcher studies key brain regions, text messaging in smoking cessation
EUGENE, Ore. -- (March 7, 2011) -- A pair of related studies on smoking cessation by researchers at the University of Oregon and other institutions have isolated the brain regions most active in controlling urges to smoke and demonstrated the effectiveness of text-messaging to measure and intervene in those urges.
Both projects used the same group of test subjects - 27 heavy smokers recruited from the American Lung Association's Freedom From Smoking program in Los Angeles.
Elliot Berkman, an assistant professor of psychology at the UO, and colleagues Emily Falk at the University of Michigan and Matthew Lieberman at UCLA, used functional magnetic resonance imaging in the first study to map areas of the brain in which impulse control battles are fought. They described kicking an unwanted habit such as smoking as "a war that consists of a series of momentary self-control skirmishes."
Their paper - published this month in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association of Psychological Science - indicates that individuals' abilities to inhibit their responses to cravings can be predicted through fMRI testing. That means it may be possible to tailor smoking cessation programs to individuals' response-inhibition capacities.
"We are really excited about this result because it means that the brain activation we see in the scanner is predictive of real-world outcomes across a much longer time span that we thought," Berkman said. "The tasks that we use in the laboratory are simplified models of these real-world processes - but they seem to be valid models."
The second study - also by Berkman, Falk and Lieberman, along with Janna Dickenson of UCLA - tested short message service (SMS) text messaging "as a user-friendly and low-cost option for ecologically measuring real-time health behaviors." Research participants were prompted by eight text messages per day for three weeks to document their ongoing cravings, mood and cigarette use.
The research showed that text messaging is at least as effective as more expensive and harder-to-use handheld data collection devices in the "brief interval assessment" of people in smoking cessation programs. The palmtop devices typically used for what smoking cessation researchers call "ecological momentary assessment" can cost more than $300 each, while 86 percent of U.S. residents already have cell phones and 91 percent of those are SMS-enabled.
"Text messaging may be an ideal delivery mechanism for tailored interventions because it is low-cost, most people already possess the existing hardware and the messages can be delivered near-instantaneously into real world situations," said the study, which is scheduled to appear this week in Health Psychology, the journal of the American Psychological Association.
The study also confirmed earlier findings that monitoring smoking cessation participants at regular intervals - whether by text messaging or through the use of other hand-held devices - helps to eliminate "memory biases" that are common when cravings and outcomes are reported only on a daily basis. Its findings corroborate those of other studies that have indicated the importance of rapid, real-time measurement of smoking urges and resistance to them.
Text message monitoring of the Los Angeles smoking cessation participants was also a key element in the study by Berkman and his colleagues of the three brain regions that are most involved in response inhibition - the right inferior frontal gyrus, the pre-supplementary motor area and the basal ganglia.
In that study, the smokers initially were asked to perform a simple self-control task as an fMRI machine scanned their brains' activity. They were next given lung and urine tests to determine the physical extent of their tobacco addictions, and were asked about their cravings and smoking patterns. Then they began the smoking cessation program, and were asked to respond to text message prompts eight times per day for three weeks.
The study concluded that those participants who had shown the most activity in the key regions of their brains during testing were also the most likely to resist their cravings to smoke - which was documented in their text message responses.
"A big question that motivates my research is: How can we effectively use neuroimaging to learn something about long-term goals like smoking session?" Berkman said. "Using fMRI together with daily text messaging seems to be an excellent way to address that question."
Berkman was hired last June as an assistant professor of social psychology at the UO. He received his doctorate in social psychology from UCLA in 2010, master's degrees in psychology from UCLA in 2005 and Stanford University in 2004, and bachelor's degrees in psychology and mathematics from Stanford in 2002.
About the University of Oregon
The University of Oregon is among the 108 institutions chosen from 4,633 U.S. universities for top-tier designation of "Very High Research Activity" in the 2010 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The UO also is one of two Pacific Northwest members of the Association of American Universities. |
| Verizon CTO: 'working through issues' with LTE phones, still on track for first half launch Posted: 08 Mar 2011 01:18 PM PST  No blockbusters here -- nothing that's going to give you much insight into an exact launch day for the Thunderbolt -- but Verizon CTO Tony Melone made a few comments about its LTE handset launches at a financial conference yesterday that border on the interesting. Asked whether the company was facing any challenges in getting the phones solid and ready for commercial consumption, Melone responded by saying that they're "facing is what you would expect, and that is a new technology, you are working through issues. And [they] anticipated that, and [they] are pleased at how [they] are working through issues." In the same breath, he reminded the audience that Verizon had said the phones would be coming in the first half of '11 all along and that hasn't changed -- so they're not late by a long shot. Pressed on whether battery life specifically was a concern for the Thunderbolt, Melone said that he thinks the juice "will be acceptable to consumers." Considering what we've been hearing about recent firmware revisions on the test units, we're hopeful he's right -- Verizon has a reputation for testing the crap out of devices prior to release, after all. |
| Early mid-week shocker: research says we are overly reliant on GPS Posted: 08 Mar 2011 12:56 PM PST Well, this can't be good, but it's certainly not surprising, either. Researchers have concluded that people living in developed nations have become overly reliant on satellite navigation such as GPS devices, and that the results can be... dangerous. Anyone with a think tank could probably figure this one out on their own, but the research shows that such over-reliance on the devices can produce some bad results when said devices inevitably fail out. The report goes a lot father than warning individual drivers, however, and says that systems such commercial airline traffic and those which direct train doors to open also rely on the US-based GPS system, which are all vulnerable to widespread failure should the system encounter any interference or downtime. The report does suggest further development of backup systems -- such as the European-based Galileo system, but essentially concludes that the vulnerabilities are likely to remain. Comforting, huh? |
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