Archive for July 5th, 2010

Microsoft patent application proposes six-axis remote that’s buttered on both sides

Posted by Ry on Jul 05 2010 | Technology

We've usually pleasantly surprised by the interface technology out of Redmond, but we rarely see Microsoft tackle anything as simple as a TV remote control. However, a July 1st patent application by the software giant describes a fairly interesting gizmo with controls on multiple sides. With a six-axis inertial sensor package, the unit always knows which direction is up and activates only that side -- allowing engineers to slim down the unit (or cram more buttons into the same space) by putting contextually-aware touchscreens on any surface of the device. When you move the remote, the sensors detect that, too, and immediately illuminate the screen. Just goes to show you can always find a new angle for mundane technology, eh?

Microsoft patent application proposes six-axis remote that's buttered on both sides originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 00:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Being Manan  |  USPTO  | Email this | Comments

Comments Off for now

White PS3 Slim hits Japan July 29th with 160GB and 320GB HDD options

Posted by Ry on Jul 05 2010 | Technology

Looks like we've (almost) solved the mystery of PlayStation 3's FCC-bound CECH-2501 models. Sony just announced a "classic white" PS3 Slim (as opposed to the "ceramic white" original) for Japan, model CECH-2500, coming July 29th -- and not just with the typical 160GB HDD. For 34,980 yen (about $400 translated to US currency), you can now start off with 320GB of storage. Not to worry, the aforementioned 160GB still retails for 29,980 yen ($342). So, when are we gonna see this elsewhere in the world, hm?

White PS3 Slim hits Japan July 29th with 160GB and 320GB HDD options originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 00:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Engadget Japan  |  PlayStation Japan  | Email this | Comments

Comments Off for now

Watch The Onion Take On the Future’s News Today [The Onion]

Posted by Ry on Jul 05 2010 | Technology

The Onion, that venerable source of satire both topical and historic, is today dipping its toes in the premium content pond. The result: "Future: News from the Year 2137," an Onion-ized look at the world of tomorrow today. More »



Onion - Fruit and Vegetable - Cooking - Satire - Home

Comments Off for now

AT&T stores getting Windows Phone 7 retail materials, launch coming sooner than expected?

Posted by Ry on Jul 05 2010 | Technology

Microsoft's mobile efforts may look like they're slightly in disarray after the expensive and embarrassing Kin debacle, but it looks like Windows Phone 7 may yet emerge unscathed from the chaos -- and potentially even earlier than expected, if this sheet of AT&T retail signage that's being sent out for a July 24th store overhaul is to be believed. Don't get too excited, however: we're told that cards like this have hit in July for September launches in the past -- which would line up with that hint of an October Telstra launch -- and that the "QTY: 6" label likely points to two devices, not a sextuplet. (We'd guess... Samsung and LG?) Either way, it would be a big win for Microsoft if it can manage to get Windows Phone 7 in store shelves before that promised "holiday 2010" due date -- we'll see what happens.

AT&T stores getting Windows Phone 7 retail materials, launch coming sooner than expected? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 22:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Comments Off for now

Inhabitat’s Week in Green: street-legal Tron lightcycles, electronic eyeglasses, and the American Solar Challenge

Posted by Ry on Jul 05 2010 | Technology

Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us.

This week Inhabitat saw solar-powered vehicles blaze trails around the globe as the University of Michigan's sleek pod car crossed the finish line to win the American Solar Challenge. We also watched the Solar Impulse gear up for its first eagerly anticipated night flight -- a pivotal undertaking as the sun-powered plane prepares to circle the earth. In other clean transportation news, and we were stunned to see a set of street-legal electric Tron lightcycles pop up on eBay.

The field of renewable energy also heated up this week as researchers revealed an innovative tri-layered solar panel that's capable of catching the full spectrum of the sun's rays. Wind power made waves as well as Principle Power unveiled a new ultra-sturdy ocean platform that's able to support the world's tallest wind turbines.

Finally, we saw the light this week as Illumitex unveiled the world's first square LED bulb, which they claim is cheaper, more efficient and more practical than typical round bulbs. We also peered at an innovative new type of electronic eyeglasses that can change your prescription with the push of a button. And for all you shutterbugs looking to share your vision with the world, you won't want to miss this handy solar camera strap that ensures you'll never miss a shot.

Inhabitat's Week in Green: street-legal Tron lightcycles, electronic eyeglasses, and the American Solar Challenge originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 21:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Comments Off for now

Switched On: Kin’s seven deadly sins

Posted by Ry on Jul 05 2010 | Technology

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

There may have been a lot of behind-the-scenes machinations at Microsoft and Verizon that resulted in the discontinuation of the Kin One and the Kin Two, but there were also many marketplace miscues that resulted in the demise of the handsets. Here, then, were Kin's seven deadly sins:

Lust. With the Kin handsets, Microsoft was too eager to get its hands into the pockets of young social networkers for whom the smartphone market had proven elusive. The key paradox of this was that the Kin data plan was the same for that of other smartphones at Verizon, and that continued to shut out those who aspired to mobile digital sharing nirvana.

Gluttony. If Microsoft was angling to get Verizon to offer a sweetheart deal for Kin data, it certainly didn't help its cause with the automatic backup of rich media to the Kin Studio website. If there was one aspect to the Kin handsets operation that may pave the way toward future success, it was the Silverlight-based web interface to all the media that was captured with the device. This also allowed Microsoft and Sharp to minimize the amount of on-device storage. However, constantly backing up high-resolution photos and even standard-definition videos to the cloud required a lot of bandwidth, making it difficult for Verizon to justify a "light" data usage plan for Kin users.

Continue reading Switched On: Kin's seven deadly sins

Switched On: Kin's seven deadly sins originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 20:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Comments Off for now

I Like Turtles: Video Shot In Turtle’s Eye View

Posted by Ry on Jul 05 2010 | Cool Stuff, Interesting News

turtle-eye-view.jpg Ever wonder what it would be like to be a turtle? Chug a canister of ooze wearing a ninja turtle costume. Trust me, I know how these things work. Oooor watch this video from the the TortuCam! WTF's a TortuCam? A waterproof camera strapped to the back of a turtle, dummy! God, look at the f***ing picture. Anyway, as cute as the video is, as an amateur herpetologist I can't recommend you letting a turtle swim in a chemical-filled pool. It's not healthy. Like wearing a bathing suit to a waterpark. What? THIS BOA'S GOTTA BREATHE! Hit the jump for the worthwhile video.

Comments Off for now

I Like Turtles: Video Shot In Turtle’s Eye View

Posted by Ry on Jul 05 2010 | Cool Stuff, Interesting News

turtle-eye-view.jpg Ever wonder what it would be like to be a turtle? Chug a canister of ooze wearing a ninja turtle costume. Trust me, I know how these things work. Oooor watch this video from the the TortuCam! WTF's a TortuCam? A waterproof camera strapped to the back of a turtle, dummy! God, look at the f***ing picture. Anyway, as cute as the video is, as an amateur herpetologist I can't recommend you letting a turtle swim in a chemical-filled pool. It's not healthy. Like wearing a bathing suit to a waterpark. What? THIS BOA'S GOTTA BREATHE! Hit the jump for the worthwhile video.

Comments Off for now

Build an Arduino-Powered, Tweeting, Self-Watering Garden System [DIY]

Posted by Ry on Jul 05 2010 | Technology

We've shown you a few automated irrigation systems, both large and small, but if you're an Arduino fan, you'll love DIYer Jouni's set-up, made out of a bucket, a submersible pump, and plastic hose. More »



Do it yourself - Arduino - Business - Gardens - Home and Garden

Comments Off for now

Mongoose Studio’s dozen iPod cluster display is an expensive way to watch Tron (video)

Posted by Ry on Jul 05 2010 | Technology

Mongoose Studio's 12 iPhone cluster display is an expensive way to watch Tron (video)
Most of us would be happy to get video to play on a single video to play on our PMP without having to run it through some sort of transcoder first, but the folks at Mongoose Studio needed something more complex. They've released a video of a project that's been in the works for some time, clustering 12 iPod touches into a sort of bezel-riffic widescreen display. All are controlled by a master, 13th iPod that can cause them to display a clock in the interest of verifying synchronization (which is far from perfect, as you'll see in the embed below), or to trigger the playing of a movie. We're guessing that the footage must be manually split into appropriate files for each device, and we're also guessing that horrible things would happen should someone come along and re-shuffle them. But, if you have a lot of friends with iPhones and a lot of free time to prep the film, this could make for a rather interesting movie night -- until someone gets a call, that is.

Continue reading Mongoose Studio's dozen iPod cluster display is an expensive way to watch Tron (video)

Mongoose Studio's dozen iPod cluster display is an expensive way to watch Tron (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 19:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Mongoose Studio  | Email this | Comments

Comments Off for now

Next »