Technology NOW

Facebook + Skype Video Chat= Something Awesome

2011-07-11T14:02:00.001-07:00

Facebook started Rollout Season 2011 with its answer to Google+ Hangouts today in the form of Video Calling, an integrated video chat feature built on Skype technology.

Typically, if two FB users want to perform a video call, they've got to leave Facebook and connect through either a Skype client, Apple's Facetime, Google Talk or even Google+ Hangouts. Now, all the users need to do is download a small plugin and boom — instant video messaging. It's accessible through the chat tab; just start a normal chat conversation, hit the Video Chat button and you're off and running.

By integrating video calling directly into the Facebook experience they're able to drop this technology directly into the mainstream. You thought getting Friend Requests from your parents was a hassle? Then you're going to love explaining to your mom why you don't love her enough to accept her video chat requests.

Facebook chat has historically been buggy, to put it mildly, so will Video Calling be more of the same? The demo looked smooth enough (see below) but we'll have to see how it works in real world situations.

Facebook/Skype partnership is a shrewd one, to be sure. Skype, if you'll remember, was purchased by Microsoft in May for $8.5 billion. This move not only strengthens Facebook's own feature list but also strengthens the budding FB/MS alliance (what with Facebook's recent Bing integration and all) against their common Google enemy.

In addition to Video Calling, Facebook also announced an update to Group Chat that allows for ad-hoc group messaging with a new design that makes it easier to find buddies that are online.

Mark Zuckerberg Recruits Talent by Taking Them on Romantic Hikes through the Woods

2011-07-11T13:56:00.000-07:00

A normal job interview: you, a desk, a guy in a suit. Penetrating questions about goals, risk, strategy. Some handshakes, and you're gone. At Facebook? Zuckerberg takes you along this scenic trail, promising your techie dreams, the NYT reports. Swoon. According to some anonymous Silicon Valley wunderkinds courted by Zuck, select recruits bypass the entire interview process. Instead, they're taken across Facebook's parking lot, and onto a secluded trail. What's discussed on this strange hike? Facebook? Favorite recipes? How pretty Zuckerberg's eyes look? We're not sure. But once you reach the hike's climax—an idyllic panorama of Silicon Valley—Zuck tries to seal the deal: "Zuckerberg said money wasn't an object and that if I wanted the job—and why wouldn't I, he questioned—the paperwork was already ready to go back at the office," recounts one wilderness interviewee. "The entire experience was totally surreal. I really felt like I was on a date." Another woodland candidate describes their vista moment: "He pointed to Facebook and said that it would eventually be bigger than all of the companies he had just mentioned, and that if I joined the company, I could be a part of it all." Sounds like a better date than most I've ever been on!

The Best Deal of the Day

2011-07-11T13:47:00.001-07:00

When I was a punk teenager hanging out at the mall like punk teenagers tend to do, I always wondered if someone gave me a hundred bucks what would I spend it on. Would I buy like 8 CDs? A pair of shoes? A million sour belts at Sweet Factory? Would I go big on one big ticket item or diversify my dollar?

Now that I'm older, I don't go to the mall anymore. But I cruise the online retailers with the same punk teenager abandon. And as I see this ThinkGeek Summer Sale where stuff is up to 75% off, I'm reverting back to my younger self's question again: If I had a hundred bucks, what would I buy from Think Geek? Here's my list:

Electronic Butterfly in a Jar ($15), Whiskey stones ($15), Wi-Fi detector shirt ($15), Liquid Bookmark ($10), Samurai Sword Chopsticks ($10). Microsonic Grenade ($8), Plush Sushi ($7), Humping USB Dog ($6), Staple Free Stapler ($5), Swedish Firesteel ($4), Floating Match Illusion ($3), Le Whif Breathable Chocolate ($2). Bam. 100 bucks. Fake online shopping is so awesome. What's on your list?

HD Water Proof Camcorder

2009-07-16T21:51:00.000-07:00

I just came across one of the most innovative consumer electronics I have seen in a while; the Sanyo Xacti HD Underwater Camcorder line. They are fricken awesome! The line includes the Sanyo CA9(Pictured Top) which is a HD Underwater Camcorder along with a Crisp 9-Megapixel Camera. The Sanyo WH1(pictured bottom) does much the same yet is a little bit bulkier and has a measly 2 megapixel camera. The WH1 is currently available at Amazon for about $350. The CA9 is currently not available in the United States but will drop this December. Both cameras include a bundle of features including face chaser technology, 20X and 30X Optical Zoom Respectively, and an image stabilizer.

- Check out this odd foreign guy going down Europe's longest waterslide with his Xacti CA9

Affiliate Marketing

2009-02-21T12:55:00.000-08:00

I have doing a lot of research on affiliate marketing lately and have not found a great place to start. I recently came upon ppcclassroom.com which gave me all the information I needed for affiliate marketing for free. There is a free report which talks about the 5 biggest mistakes of affiliate marketers and how to be in the top 2% of online business while 98% fail. I would recommend watching the recorded webinar on their blog after signing up.

Shamwow Parody

2009-01-11T10:23:00.001-08:00

YouTube: Top Viewed

2009-01-10T10:17:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe how so much bad content gets so highly viewed on YouTube. I just do not get AtheneWins and HotForWords who use "looks" to get views+subscribers. I actually do not find them attractive. I want to hear what you have to say, so leave a comment.

Palm Pre Vs. iPhone Vs. Google G1

2009-01-10T09:59:00.001-08:00

1. Multitouch touchscreen/gesture control: All three are capacitive, only the Pre and iPhone have multitouch. The Pre's glowy little "gesture area" has dropped the touchable real estate all the way down tto the bottom of the phone, which is great for being able to navigate with one hand and not interfere with the screen at all. The wavey dock you bring up from the bottom looks awesome, but can you use it out of the box without a second thought or page through the manual? That's my question. Advantage: iPhone/Pre tossup.

2. Multitasking: One of the beefiest of our beefs with the iPhone SDK is its insistence on Apps running one at a time. The G1's notifications drawer was definitely a step in the right direction, but the Pre's interface is the first smartphone OS that was built with multitasking as a core design element. Resembling the Xbox's old Blades, or a less-jarring OS X Expose even, the Pre's "Cards" interface always places you in the context of every app running for fast switching, and notifications from other apps don't pull you away completely from the task at hand. Multitasking is hugely important on a phone, and it's a good sign that Palm recognizes. Advantage: Pre

3. While the hardware is definitely high quality, I'm not entirely blown away by the design. It looks really nice, and original, but it's a little too cutesy in shape and kind of reminds me of an oversized pebble. A slightly larger screen could have definitely been put to good use, and I really don't like the black space on the sides of the screen.

A phone with a built-in QWERTY still hasn't touched the iPhone in terms of sleekness and pure sex. And it might still be a while. Advantage: iPhone

4. Development platform: The Pre's "Web OS" sure sounds nice—all developers need to know is JavaScript, HTML and CSS? Sounds good in theory, but building a mobile app will never be as easy as cranking out a new theme for your Tumblr. Palm's stressing ease of development, though, so it will be interesting to see how it stacks up against Apple's solid, familiar-to-devs OS X-based SDK and Android's fully open source approach. Advantage: Pre? If it's straight-up JavaScript, that's a lot of programmers ready to go. Note: we had iPhone here before, but we've switched with a qualification. Developer community still goes to iPhone for volume.

5. Web Integration: The Pre subtly integrates the internet into the phone at every opportunity, and it's awesome. Contacts get pulled in from Facebook, Gmail, IM and and scanned for dupes; the messaging app shows your last several emails, IMs and SMS with that contact in a single window. Really, really smart stuff. Advantage: Pre

6. App Store/developer community: A smartphone is only as good as the software it runs. On the Pre, Palm is still keeping application delivery details like pricing behind the curtain, but they did say the app delivery will be entirely handled by the phone (without a desktop app), which is a shame. They're saying that they're not going to duplicate Apple's Hobbesian app approval black box mistake, which Android has also hasn't fallen for, but there will be an approval process based on "security and stability." But as we know with Android, a dev community needs enough devices in the hands of consumers to reach critical mass, which the Pre will have to match. Advantage: iPhone, even with the black box, but Android and Pre's more open stances are reassuring.

7. Wireless charger: We've seen wireless charger tech for years at CES, but it's taken this long for a major consumer gadget to come bundled with its own wireless charger in the box. Whoops, it's not in the box, sold separately for unknown $$. But still: Bravo. Advantage: Pre

8. The Network: Dan Hesse, Sprint's CEO, gave our coast-to-coast 3G test a shout out in his press conference. Of course he did: Sprint won (in download speeds). Sprint was the only major carrier without a powerful, hype-catching smartphone choice, and now they have one. The Pre is a data-centric phone with a network we've proven to be strong in a large swatch of the country—that's a good combo. But would you switch to Sprint for the Pre? Ugh. Advantage: Not cut and dry for everyone, but we stand by our numbers: Sprint is the best 3G network in our tests.

9. Physical keyboard: It's preference, but one held by a large swathe of the gadget buying public: physical QWERTY keypads are still the mainstream input of choice. Touch is getting better all the time, but a lot of people still want physical keyboards. But better yet is the ability to choose; unfortunately, the Pre doesn't have a soft onscreen keyboard, and its slide-out is the same meh QWERTY from the Treo Pro. Advantage: It's preference, but on me, the iPhone's soft keyboard can't be beat.

10. Camera: The Pre has an LED Flash for its 3MP camera, something both the iPhone and G1 lack. Flash cellphone photos are ugly, but for a lot of people, they're good enough. So credit for throwing it in. Advantage: Pre

11. Battery: Apple's still an outlier with their non-removable battery; like the G1's, the Pre's comes out for a spare swap too. We've heard Apple's reasons for this a million times, we know the drill, but removable batteries will never stop being handy. Advantage: Pre

12. Copy & Paste: Yep, Pre's got it. iPhone still doesn't. Advantage: Pre/G1

13. Browser: All three use a browser based on WebKit, which has become the standard for the mobile web. We couldn't put it through our Mobile Browser Battlemodo ringer obviously, but what we saw looked great, and it's the only other mobile browser besides the iPhone that supports multitouch zooming. Advantage: iPhone/Pre
(Thanks Gizmodo)

Cash Crate

2008-11-21T21:21:00.000-08:00

Make easy money with cash crate by completing a variety of surveys and offers. I have searched through a bucket load of GPT sites, and this is not a scam. The payout is $20 which I reached in about 2 days. I know you may be thinking, "YEAH RIGHT" but there is a catch which is after you pass through all of the top approved offers you have to start completing daily surveys, and offers which take more time to complete. I have found that RoboForm helps greatly in the process of filling out these forms(type of autosave)http://www.roboform.com/dist/affs/AiRoboForm-goog4.exe. The easiest offers are by far the offers which description shows "Register with valid information and complete the survey. Click at least two offers on the "Final Steps" page". These offers are completed by entering your email on the first page and other personal info on the 2nd. You DO NOT have to complete any sort of thing after these two pages. You also DO NOT have to complete the "silver offers" pages which come up, you just have to keep them open for about a minute. After you have completed the process make sure you go back to cashcrate and click submit. Your money will be sent to pending for about an hour(may take 2-3 days). I hope you will have as great of success as I have had with CashCrate,
SIGN UP HERE

BuzzBall Brings a Rollercoaster Experience to You

2008-06-29T08:48:00.000-07:00

Can't quite make it to a Six Flags this weekend? Sign up for a BuzzBall then, and bring the motion-induced vomiting to you! Cooked up by some crazy New Zealanders from Evento as a cure for 'coaster aficionados without access to the rails, the BuzzBall features a pair of electric motors, each of which controls a separate throttle. The two throttles cause the chair inside to spin, or they can work in tandem to move the ball around a flat space (or a hill, Mr. Extreme Sports, whatever you want). Once the ball gets moving, however, watch out, because that's when the real ~~vomiting~~ fun begins. When the BuzzBall moves about and the operator starts to turn, the seat begins to rotate against the direction of travel. If you haven't figured it out already, that means you get a series of spins and barrel rolls—while you're moving. How one stops this thing we haven't a clue, but it probably involves passing out.(Thanks Gizmodo)

Working Lego Gun Shoots Bricks

2008-06-29T08:45:00.001-07:00

Merecedes Benz to Ditch Petroleum by 2015

2008-06-29T08:38:00.000-07:00

While Audi is over there planning to produce an electric car within the next decade, Mercedes-Benz is hoping to be completely petro free within seven years. At least that's the word according to a recent report in The Sun. Dr. Herbert Kohler, who is responsible for Mercedes' advanced engineering, has reportedly suggested that "by 2015 motorists will have switched almost completely to alternative fuel cars." In order to make sure it's not left out, the automaker already has an electric car in the works for 2010 as well as plans to use its DiesOtto engine which will give motorists the ability to use biofuels should they choose. Still, aiming to phase petroleum completely out of its lineup by 2015 sounds overly ambitious from here, but we certainly won't complain if it achieves said goal.(Thanks Engadget)

Bill Gates: Greatest Hits at Microsoft

2008-06-27T19:16:00.000-07:00

As you may have heard Bill Gates retired from his day to day job at Microsoft today. He has sure come a long way since 1982. Here's a look at some of his greatest hits at Microsoft.Internet Explorer

It's really easy to simply remember "Internet Exploder" as the standards-breaking, web-forking, buggy, monopoly-causing app that helped shape Bill's old image as the evilest baron of all technology companies. But it's also the app that led to the creation Ajax-based web apps through the XMLHttpRequest spec, and the kludgey early popularization of CSS. Love it or hate it, IE's gotten more people on the web over the years than any browser, and that's definitely got to count for something.

Office

Word, Excel and PowerPoint certainly did well enough on their own, but when Microsoft combined 'em into the tidy (and pricey) package that is Office -- first on the Mac in 1989, interestingly -- it had a selling point that would prove irresistible to many a productivity-obsessed middle manager even today. The addition of Outlook and its support for the (for some) nigh-indispensable Exchange only further solidified its foothold in the corporate computing world, and that's where Bill knew the real money was. That's certainly not to say that it hasn't been without its share of problems and annoyances, though -- we're looking at you, Clippy.

Windows 2000 and XP

When thinking of Microsoft and the new millennium, few people are able to keep the crinkles out of their nose. Thankfully, Windows ME wasn't the only thing that arrived in late Y2K, as Windows 2000 rushed in to rock the socks off of suits everywhere. The whole Win2K thing went over so well that Gates and company decided to base its next consumer OS, XP, off of it. Some may argue that the resulting product still stands as the last great OS to ship out of Redmond.

Xbox and Xbox 360

Back in 1999, Bill was all about multimedia convergence, and he said that a new gaming / multimedia device would be Microsoft's trojan horse into the world's living rooms with something coined the "DirectX-box." In 2001, the original Xbox entered gaming territory dominated by Sony's PlayStation with Nintendo's N64. But the clunky machine brought with it the first easy to use multiplayer console service, Xbox Live, as well as a developer-centric model that helped turn the tables. Of course, things look quite a bit different today: the Xbox 360 leads the former market leader's PlayStation 3 in spend and attach rate, and with the relative success of media and content sales on Xbox Live, it seems Bill's dream of dominating the living room wasn't just a pipe-dream after all.

Do You Get Stuck Fixing Everyone's Gadget Problems?

2008-06-27T19:11:00.000-07:00

The main problem with being tech savvy is that everyone looks to you to solve their gadget-related issues. I mean, I'm happy to help but sometimes I just want to say "go and Google it dammit!" This is especially true with anything computer related. You know what I'm talking about—that frantic call from a friend who says their computer isn't working, so you go over there and find it unplugged. Seriously, I don't know how IT people can stand it. So, my question is: are you one of those people that gets stuck fixing everyone's gadget problems?

iPhone 3G to Have MMS

2008-06-26T20:37:00.000-07:00

Check this out. New reports are coming in that a very interesting memo is currently circulating internally at AT&T. Said memo reportedly lists a variety of features that will supposedly be included on the upcoming iPhone 3G. Among them is an exciting new service that - get this - allows you to send SMS-like messages that include multimedia attachments. Imagine! The service, cleverly named Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) supposedly allows users to attach one or more image, audio file or even video and deliver the message along with text. The recipient of the message will then see and / or hear the multimedia on his or her mobile. Nutty. None of this is confirmed as of yet, but how sweet would it be if a mobile phone had functionality like this?! Oh Apple, you’ve done it again! Next thing you know we’ll find out that Apple has figured out a way to copy text from one place and paste it to another. Ok, that’s just crazy talk.

Sony With PSP-Esque Phone

2008-06-25T15:15:00.000-07:00

According to Marketing Week, Sony may be considering launching a PlayStation branded phone by Christmas 2009. Naturally that would raise some questions about the health of their relationship with Swedish mobile company Ericsson. The report goes on to say that Sony is leaning towards modifying the PSP to incorporate a phone—which would seem like the most logical route. Citing industry sources, Marketing Week heard that the relationship between the two companies has become "frosty" and that Sony would “never give its PlayStation branding” to a Sony Ericsson joint venture. If it were true, it could go a long way in explaining the recently released F305 which is certainly not PlayStation branded and seems to fall well short of a fabled PSP phone. Could it be that Sony is throwing Ericsson scraps while they keep the juicy ideas to themselves? There have been a lot of rumors thrown out there about a PSP phone, and so far nothing has materialized. We will just have to wait and see.

Gas-Electric Hybrid Promises 150 MPG

2008-06-24T15:34:00.001-07:00

While there's no word on any plans to enter it into the Automotive X-Prize, it looks like the Antro Solo gas-electric hybrid here would at least be able to hold its own against the competition, with it promising to hit upwards of 150 miles per gallon on the highway. That takes a slight dip to a still impressive 117 mpg in city driving though, while the car's top speed clocks in at a decent 87 miles per hour. To hit those numbers, the company took a couple of extra steps beyond the usual gas-electric hybrids, including putting some solar cells on the car's roof to help charge the battery, and some pedals on the inside to keep it juiced up when the sun goes down. The fact that the entire car weighs less than 600 pounds doesn't hurt either. As you might have guessed, however, the car is still a ways away from rolling off the production line, but the company says it expects to get it out the door by 2012, when you'll supposedly be able to pick one up for $18,000.(Thanks Engadget)

iPhone 3G Will Release July 11th, 8:00 A.M.

2008-06-24T15:12:00.000-07:00

The iPhone 3G will be released on July 11th at 8:00 A.M. compared to the regular iPhone's release of 6:00 P.M. last year. The iPhone 3G is just like the iPhone yet half the price at $200. The iPhone 3G has 3G wireless internet which is almost two and a half times faster than EDGE on the regular iPhone.

iPhone VS. iPhone 3G

2008-06-24T13:37:00.001-07:00

This appears to be the first shot in which we see the iPhone up against the iPhone 3G. While the angle isn't all that telling, maybe that's exactly the point. For all intents and purposes, the two phones look one in the same. But to fanboys and those who've already held the original iPhone for hours on end, sure, that extra .02" of thickness coupled with thinner edges could feel a lot different.(Thanks Gizmodo)

Lego Secret Vault Holds All Sets in History

2008-06-24T13:11:00.000-07:00

The secret lego vault contains all 4,720 lego sets ever manufactured (1958-NOW). All the sets stored in the vault are new, unused, and stored in a temperature and humidity-controlled vault.
Here is a great video showing the vault ----->http://gizmodo.com/5018990/lego-secret-vault-contains-all-sets-in-history

Flashlight that turns into Sub-Machine Gun

2008-03-11T17:15:00.000-07:00

Talking on Cell Phone while Driving is as Bad as Drunk Driving

2008-03-10T14:28:00.001-07:00

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University just confirmed two older research studies, one in 2006 and one in 2003, that says driving while talking is as bad as driving while drunk. How did they reach this conclusion? Brain imaging. Volunteers drove a simulator inside an MRI brain scanner and were asked to determine whether a sentence was true or false. We've got two problems with this study.

One, since when does your wife ask you to determine whether somethings is true or false, repeatedly, while having a conversation? It's usually just talking about picking up milk or the crazy broad at work—a decidedly easier activity.

Two, did these volunteers actually get drunk and take the same test? Or were the researchers just saying that the errors made while on the phone were similar to the ones made theoretically while drunk. Because their study report doesn't seem like the subjects liquored up and did some driving. It's pretty difficult to come to the conclusion that talking on the phone is as dangerous as driving, but you can conclude that it's more dangerous than just driving normally.(Thanks Gizmodo)

Distressed Chinese Woman Sets 400 Phones on Fire

2008-03-09T10:18:00.000-07:00

It's a crazy, mixed-up world we live in. If we aren't worrying about global warming or peace in the middle east, we have to be on the lookout for scorned women setting large quantities of mobile devices on fire. A certain Mrs. Wang is guilty of that latter offense. The 37-year-old Chinese woman wasn't particularly stoked about her husband walking out on their marriage, so she did the only reasonable thing that presented itself: rounded up the entire stock of more than 400 phones the couple had at their joint-owned cellphone shop, and set the entire lot ablaze -- inside her home. The collection was valued at roughly 300,000 yuan, about $42,000 US. You might want to take this time to inform your significant other how sane, rational and sexy he or she is, while simultaneously removing all lighter fluid from your home. No gadget is safe!(Thanks Engadget)

Automatic Etch-A-Sketch

2008-03-09T10:15:00.000-07:00

Automating Etch A Sketch units to pull off all sorts of mesmerizing tricks is certainly not new, but angelabuilds' beautifully created Etch A Sketch clock truly is a notch above the rest. Reportedly, it was built upon the Arduino platform and obviously references a few other EAS masterpieces, but we really can't think of a better wall clock for the true geek. Click on through to check out a video of the unit drawing 11:41 and moving on to 11:42 -- seriously, watching the seconds tick away has never been more riveting.(Thanks Engadget)

iPhone SDK OUT TODAY!

2008-03-06T14:30:00.001-08:00

You knew it was going to happen eventually, right? According to Apple, devs are going to be able to grab the much-anticipated iPhone / iPod touch SDK today, thus ushering in this exciting new era of third-party development for those devices. Developers will have access to the same "Cocoa Touch" framework and all other APIs used by Apple for iPhone software development. Features include hardware-accelerated 3D graphics, location-enabled apps and full access to all the media capabilities of the iPhone. The 3-axis accelerometer is also up for grabs. Just like normal Mac applications, developers can use Xcode (Mac only) for their project -- a coding environment bundled with every copy of OS X. In addition to traditional Xcode tools there's a new feature called iPhone Simulator which acts as a full-on iPhone emulator for testing out apps without destroying your device. If you're feel like living on the edge, however, Apple claims it's just as easy to shoot an app on over to the iPhone for live testing. All developers can get in on this action now, but to test apps on the iPhone beta 2.0 software they'll need to be "selected" by Apple. If they need a little extra motivation, Apple is launching a $100 million "iFund" to help support development on the platform.(Thanks Engadget)

Blu-Ray for XBOX 360

2008-03-06T14:24:00.000-08:00

About 48 milliseconds after the format war was officially over, rumors started running rampant (again) about Blu-ray making its way over to Microsoft's latest console. Now, however, those rumors actually have some legs -- well, at least a leg. According to Stan Glasgow, Sony Electronics US president, "Sony is in talks with console rival Microsoft about offering a Blu-ray drive for the Xbox 360." For whatever it's worth, the exec also noted that it was having similar discussions with Apple, which has yet to even offer a Blu-ray option on any of its machines. Unfortunately, not a peep was uttered about potential launch dates and the like, but you can rest assured that we'll be keeping an ear dangerously close to the ground.(Thanks Engadget)

Anti Shark Device Eaten by Shark during Testing

2008-03-04T14:36:00.000-08:00

This is awkward…during the testing phase for the Shark Shield, an electronic device that is designed to go on the back of surfboards to keep sharks away, one of the devices was actually eaten by a shark .Yeah, not only did this thing not keep sharks away, but it actually attracted the attention of a 12-foot great white enough that it mistook it for a tasty snack. Luckily, it was on a buoy and not a surfboard at the time.The device uses electrical waves to give sharks some uncomfortable muscle contractions, at least in theory. The problem is, there's speculation afoot that the electrical waves designed to repel sharks actually attract them. Yeah, that's no good. The manufacturer claims that it'll work just fine as long as you aren't surfing, paddling, or moving at all, however. Uh, sold?(Thanks Engadget)

British Navy Devoloping Invisible Ships

2008-03-03T18:10:00.000-08:00

Scientists at the Britannia Royal Navy College are working hard to make the idea of an invisible ship a reality using metamaterials that refract light in such a way that it "bends" around an object, making it appear as if it were invisible. This would only account for viewing with the naked eye however—naturally radar cloaking would be an important part of the equation. However, it appears that this technology may be able to accomplish a lot more. Chris Lavers, a senior lecturer in remote sensing and sensors technology at the college believes that nanomaterials could help render the next generation of ships invisible to the naked eye, radar, and even heat seeking missiles—all while being completely quiet and impossible to detect based on their impact on the Earth's magnetic field. This isn't the first time we have heard about invisibility cloaking using similar methods, so here's hoping that something actually comes of it in the near future.

Mercedes S400 to run on Lithium-Ion

2008-03-01T16:57:00.000-08:00

There's a decent chance your average hybrid owner wouldn't know the difference between a lithium-ion and nickel-metal hydride battery if their life depended on it, but we know you -- dear reader -- are not one of those "average" joes / janes. That being the case, you may be interested to know that the 2009-bound S400 BlueHybrid is in prime position to be the world's first production Li-ion hybrid, which will offer up "compact dimensions and far superior performance" compared to existing rivals. M-B goes on to trumpet the technology's "high ampere-hour efficiency, long service life, and great reliability, even at very low temperatures." No word on just how astronomically high this thing will be priced at, but you can expect just shy of 30 miles-per-gallon in mixed driving conditions, for what it's worth.(Thanks Engadget)

Parents Punk Kid in to thinking he got an XBOX 360

2008-02-29T15:57:00.000-08:00

When you were a kid did your parents ever do anything mean to you for their own amusement? Whatever it was, something tells us it wasn't as evil as what Jonathan's (above) family did on Christmas morning, having him unwrap an empty Xbox box with some shirts inside -- while on video, mind you -- and then everyone laughing at him when he got upset and cried over being hoodwinked. For the love of all that is holy in the gadget-loving world, that is so wrong. Despite the fact his family told Jonathan multiple times in the video, "C'mon, you know we can't afford an Xbox!", the kid's shining example of an older brother (who uploaded the video) claims that they actually did get him the console, and that he'd eventually upload the video of the "real" unwrapping. He never did. Right.(Thanks Engadget)

Curved iMac

2008-02-29T12:04:00.000-08:00

You don't have to venture very far to dig up unofficial concepts for Apple products of all sorts, but this one from designer Nuno Teixeira is certainly more attention grabbing than most, even if it isn't any more realistic. Dubbed the "iMac iView," the main distinguishing feature here is obviously the curved screen, which isn't actually all that far out there, but still a ways from becoming anywhere near commonplace. As if that wasn't enough, the concept also boasts a second screen on the rear, and webcams on both the front and back, which would finally let you have impersonal conversations with the person sitting right across from you.(Thanks Engadget)

iPhone SDK March 6th

2008-02-27T15:45:00.000-08:00

Looks like the delay was true: an invite for the launch of the iPhone SDK came in, and it's showing a Town Hall event on Cupertino campus on March 6th. The mail includes a reference to "some exciting new enterprise features" as well. Research In Motion should be as excited as we are. And yes, this is when Steve tells us TSFU. At last.(Thanks Gizmodo)

Pranksters Bring in Desktops to Starbucks

2008-02-25T14:19:00.000-08:00

While most of us would consider bringing little more than a large laptop to Starbucks, the fun-loving folks at Improv Everywhere decided to kick it old school and bring in some full sized desktops...complete with classic CRT monitors. Surprisingly enough, Starbucks was quite accommodating...even though a few customers were less than pleased. Here's a pretty hilarious vid

150-inch Plasma.....OMG

2008-02-25T14:06:00.000-08:00

Well, don't you feel silly. After springing for that 103-incher last year, Panasonic has made a mockery of your spendy home theater with a 150-inch display at CES, and now an upgraded version of the original 103-inch behemoth. The new TH-103PF10UK upgrades the video processing, anti-reflective coating, "wireless presentation capabilities," media card reader and adds dual HDMI, but the actual display seems to be the same as last time around. There's also a 100,000 hour warranty included, which is only fitting since we're guessing this new 103-inch won't be selling for much less than $70 grand.(Thanks Engadget)

iPhone SDK Delayed

2008-02-23T08:21:00.000-08:00

Arik Hesseldahl of Business Week claims that a source tells him the official iPhone SDK will be delayed by one to three weeks, much like the recent delay in the Apple TV 2.0 upgrade (2 weeks). Apple hasn't made any official statement, but there's only a week left for them to hit their previously-announced "February" release date. To lend credibility to this rumor, Arik points to the fact that Business Week was the first to report on Apple's eventual announcement of the official SDK back in October.(Thanks Gizmodo)

iStick iPod

2008-02-23T08:17:00.000-08:00

The iStick is the size of lipstick tube. But it has four touchscreens for four times the Coverflow. I don't really get the white cube eating up a quarter of the stick though—why not just make the whole thing a solid tube of touchscreen, with the bottom and top holding the single button and earphone jack? It also has Wi-Fi, for browsing the iTunes Store on a screen the size of your finger.(Thanks Gizmodo)

Elmo Makes Death Threat to Toddler

2008-02-22T15:47:00.000-08:00

Sure, it seemed like after the years of hard drinking, petty crime, and run-ins with the law, Elmo had cleaned up his act -- but a shocking report out of Tampa Bay, Florida, says otherwise. A two-year-old's life has been turned upside down by vicious talk coming from his favorite toy, Elmo Knows Your Name. It seems that after a recent battery change, the PC-interfacing doll began spouting death threats of "kill James" at the toddler, with seemingly no explanation as to how the new phrase entered his vocabulary. The situation came to a head when the boy's mother heard her son repeating the twisted suggestion. Of course, what she didn't hear was Elmo's other threat: that he would "cut anyone who crossed [him] end-to-end with a Bowie knife," and, "dine on their internal organs." Fisher Price says it has a team of experts working on the case, and enough tranquilizer darts to put Elmo down, "For good."

Loremo Car Expecting 150 Miles Per Gallon

2008-02-21T18:07:00.000-08:00

It's not the first time we've seen diesel touted as a solution for more efficient vehicles, but Loremo AG's new eponymously-titled vehicle may just have all of 'em beat -- if it can live up to its claims, that is. According to the vehicle's designers, in addition to diesel, they relied on engine efficiency, low weight, and minimal drag to boost the fuel-efficiency, which they say could top out at lofty 150 miles per gallon. With numbers like those, it should come as no surprise that Loremo's also entered the car in the Automotive X-Prize competition but, unlike most of the other entrants, this one will apparently actually be available to the general public relatively soon. That'll supposedly come sometime next year, with Europeans the first in line to get their hands on the vehicle for the relative bargain price of €15,000 (or $22,000) -- a redesigned North American version is then set to follow a year later. As if that wasn't enough Loremo's also promising a spiffier 3-cylinder GT version that'll run you $30,000, and both hybrid and fully electric versions, although those are only described as "in the works."(Thanks Engadget)

Wii Fit to Release 5/19

2008-02-20T16:48:00.000-08:00

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Nintendo plans to begin shipping its Wii Fit with weight and motion sensing Balance Board in May. Nintendo will also make good on a new online game distribution service dubbed WiiWare. Right, that homebrew happy service which should result in vast quantities of cheap and innovative content previously only available in Johnny Chung Lee's imagination.(Thanks Engadget)

Colorware PC

2008-02-19T15:45:00.000-08:00

Hey I just wanted to say if you didn't already know that colorwarepc.com is the coolest custom painting website out there. You can send your stuff to them such as your xbox 360, iPhone, sidekick, and more and get it totally customized. If you have any questions about this please leave a comment and I will get back to you.

HD DVD is Dead =(

2008-02-19T15:40:00.000-08:00

We have been saying it for ages, but now it's official. HD DVD has been pronounced dead on Tuesday, February 19, 2008, even before the press conference has started, according to our Ichiroo, from Gizmodo Japan. Toshiba's press release is out in the wild. The Format War is over.(Thanks Gizmodo)

MINI Guitar Hero

2008-02-19T15:28:00.000-08:00

Yeah, you know you want one. While we're rather skeptical about the "carabiner" aspects of this Guitar Hero Carabiner -- forget your keychain, we've owned cars smaller than this thing -- it certainly manages to bring enough of those Guitar Hero rock star vibes along with to make it worth the $15 (just think of it as your present to yourself for not seeing Jumper this weekend). The sound is decent for this type of handheld, and we had little trouble rocking out with the tactile buttons and cheap ass LCD, but we'd probably prefer the Verizon version of this experience just so we could hear some real songs.(Thanks Engadget)

How to get a Free iPhone!

2008-02-13T15:25:00.000-08:00

I just found out how to get a free iPhone from http://www.YourFreeiPhone.com/index.php?ref=4680866. You do not have to pay anything. What you do is you get referrals and complete one of their offers. You should complete the offer from Stamps.com because you get a 4 week trial and you can cancel it within the trial time for free. If you click on my link above and complete an offer I will help you get referrals.

PS3 will beat XBOX 360 in sales?

2008-02-04T15:49:00.000-08:00

Hold onto your lunch, we're looking at quite the turnaround in fortunes for the PS3 if EA's sales predictions for 2008 hold true. With a hot new SKU on the shelves, an unlikely Halo killer, strong market share in Europe and that profitability milestone crossed, the PS3 is looking at its best shot at greatness since it landed. At least EA and Sony seem to think so. Sony has been naturally bullish about its latest "10 year life cycle" console, but now EA is jumping on board, predicting the box will sell between 9.5 million and 11.5 million units this year, compared to 6 million to 8 million for Microsoft's Xbox 360. Most of that margin is expected to be found in Europe, to the tune of 5 million or so over the 360. Of course, there's one more factor here: EA predicts between 12 million and 14 million in Wii sales -- better luck next time, guys.(Thanks Engadget)

Robot that fills your Gas Tank

2008-02-04T15:42:00.000-08:00

As if robots didn't already have enough of our jobs, a group of Dutch inventors have now taken the wraps off their new car-fueling robot, which they hope will one day be filling up your tank at a gas station near your. Coming in at the relatively bargain price of €75,000 (or $111,100), the bot can apparently identify cars as they pull up, and reference them against a database to determine the type of fuel cap and the fuel type to use, which should avoid any mishaps. Somewhat interestingly, the inventors admit that the technology isn't an entirely new idea, and they give credit for the inspiration to the robots used for milking cows, saying that "if a robot can do that then why can't it fill a car tank." While it's apparently not a done deal just yet, the team say they hope to roll out the robot to a "handful" of Dutch gas stations by the end of the year.(Thanks Engadget)

Wind/Solar powered Charger

2008-02-04T15:39:00.000-08:00

Upstart MINIWIZ managed to attract attention with its HYmini alternative power source last fall, but it unfortunately didn't have all the specs we could have asked for or, more importantly, a price. In case you missed it, the HYmini device itself makes use of wind power to recharge the integrated battery, which in turn can be used to charge your various gadgets. If wind's not an option, however, you can also make use of the optional solar panel, or simply plug it into an outlet and power it up the old fashioned way. As MINIWIZ has now revealed, the device also comes with five different connectors to accommodate most anything in your gadget bag, and you'll be able to snag a bike or armband kit to make full use of that wind power. If that sounds like what you've been waiting for, you can grab the basic HYmini package now for $50, with the solar panel running an extra $25 and the bike and armband kits demanding $9 and $15, respectively.(Thanks Engadget)

Need any IPOD TOUCH help?

2008-01-28T17:10:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to say that if anyone had an ipod touch or iphone I pretty much know everything about them so if you have any questions, you can ask me. My ipod touch is pictured above. As you can see it is 1.1.3 firmware and is jailbroken.

LEGO 50th ANNIVERSARY

2008-01-28T13:44:00.000-08:00

Today is the Lego bricks 50th anniversary woo!!! For LEGO's 50th anniversary lego is making a special town for anyone to buy for $149.99 including a special edition of the classic set, with a 1950s gas station and a town hall. And on top of that, three unique 2 x 2 golden bricks which are pictured top left.

Amazon MP3 Store!

2008-01-28T13:37:00.000-08:00

In perhaps the biggest threat to Apple's global dominance of digital music, Amazon just announced the international rollout of Amazon MP3. Right, the on-line storefront offering DRM-free music from all four major labels. That's 3.3 million songs (priced at $0.99 or less) from over 270k artists encoded in 256kbps MP3 files for playback on any PC, any Mac, and pretty much any portable device you might own. Sure, it's beta but so is that gMail account you've been using for the past 4 years. Unfortunately, the best that Amazon can commit to is "this year" which leaves plenty of time for the house of Apple to get their DRM shiznit together.(Thanks Engadget)

Hitachi's EMIEW 2 Robot

2007-11-21T14:37:00.000-08:00

While we thoroughly enjoyed hearing of EMIEW's (presumably) short-lived career as a hotel clerk, it looks like Hitachi's EMIEW 2 has some seriously large aspirations. In a recent demonstration in Hitachinaka, the two-wheeled robot wowed onlookers as it received commands wirelessly and happily ran office errands without too much trouble. The creation, which stands some 31.5-inches tall and weighs 29-pounds, did crash into a desk and stand motionless momentarily while being previewed, but developers didn't hesitate to inform the crowd that kinks were still being ironed out. Nevertheless, it was able to avoid obstacles while rolling about, understand and respond to human speech and move around for an hour before needing a recharge. The company refused to spill details surrounding its eventual price and release date, but we're hearing there may soon be an open spot in Scranton that this fellow could certainly fill.(Thanks engadget)

Strongest Laser Pointer Ever for 3k

2007-11-20T17:19:00.000-08:00

We get it, lasers are awesome. You know, you can burn things and blind people and stuff, what's not to like? But at some point -- let's say the $3k mark, for the sake of argument -- you're just starting to look silly, that's all we're saying. The Hercules 400 Laser happens to hit just such a price point, with 400mW of power that's capable of burning through cardboard and thick plastic. Back in our day we had to use ingenuity and a magnifying glass to set things on fire, but we would've sold our family into slavery for a shot at one of these, so the point is kind of moot.(Thanks Engadget)

Zune Outselling Ipod

2007-11-20T17:09:00.000-08:00

The new Microsoft Zune has been selling like crazy lately and is out of stock pretty much everywhere.[Now In Stock]Now in stock will notify you when they get one in if you are interested. By the way, its selling just as much as the new ipods.

Glowing Mountain Dew Experiment

2007-11-19T20:15:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Wii

2007-11-19T20:11:00.000-08:00

The Wii came out 1 year ago today and I want to wish it a Happy Birthday. I wonder how long it took to make the cake in the pic^.

The $30,000 Remote Control...omg

2007-11-18T13:34:00.000-08:00

Yeah, there’s luxury, and then there’s luxury. This item falls firmly into the latter category. Constructed by Danish company Lantic Systems, the Gold RC1 remote control is quite the savage beast. It allows you to control a wide array of different devices, including a TV, DVD Player, CD Player, CCTV system, alarm system, lights, curtains, air conditioning, and pretty much anything else with an IR receiver. Not bad, right? Well sure, but when the damn thing costs $30,000 not including tax, it starts to sounds a little bit less appealing. It is, of course, made from pure gold, but again, if you’re not a Saudi Sheik we’re not sure if the price is quite worth it. But if you absolutely must have the hottest remote on the block, consider yourself fairly warned.(Thanks BoyGenius)

AT&T with First USB Aircard

2007-11-18T13:20:00.000-08:00

Ready for some uber-fast HSUPA uploading action without that bulky PC Card to weigh you down? AT&T has just introduced the USB Connect 881 USB Aircard. It appears to be physically identical to the old U875 card, save for the fact that it can now upload your files at real world speeds of around 800 Kbps. The best part? It’s only $49.95 with a two year data contract. The device also ships with the client software pre-installed on the modem itself. No driver downloads or install discs necessary. All told, this is one of the best wireless data card options on the market today, and is available immediately from your local AT&T store.(Thanks BoyGenius)

Sidekick Slide Not Looking So Good

2007-11-18T13:15:00.000-08:00

So, first the bad news: T-Mobile and Motorola have confirmed that "some" Sidekick Slides are turning themselves off when the display is opened or closed. Now, the good: they're doing something about it. Slide sales have been suspended as of this evening while Moto works to identify just what the heck's going on; meanwhile, existing owners who've experienced problems can call T-Mobile or head into a store to "discuss available options." For what it's worth, neither of T-Mobile's other Sidekicks in the current lineup -- the LX and the iD -- are affected, so Sharp might see a nice little sales spike here as Slide owners look for an alternative. Follow the break for T-Mobile's full statement.(Thanks Engadget)

Self-Chilling Drinks, IM IN!

2007-09-17T16:40:00.000-07:00

And you thought non-stick chewing gum was the heat. Turns out, Coca Cola may be plotting a new version of Sprite that actually chills itself upon opening. Apparently, the drink has to be kept at a specified temperature before being snapped up, and once the oh-so-thirsty consumer pops the top, "a mechanism inside creates ice made from the drink, so it is not diluted." Reportedly, the beverage would sensibly be called Sprite Super Chilled, and if it does indeed hit the UK (and prove successful) by "early next year," the technology could then be passed along to Coke, Diet Coke or even "super cold alcoholic drinks, particularly beers."(Thanks Engadget)

Ipod Touch with 3.5 Inch Touchscreen is Official

2007-09-05T16:43:00.000-07:00

Well, what do you know. Turns out the iPod touch is a reality after all. While we initially assumed that Mr. Jobs wouldn't be so kind as to bless us all with two new full-fledged iPods in a single day, we're elated that he had other ideas. The new flagship iPod has "the same size screen as the iPhone, but it's even thinner" (eight-millimeters, for those taking notes), and it also touts the "same multi-touch interface" found on the firm's handset. Additionally, it boasts a 3.5-inch widescreen display, the ability to "flick through your photos," and you even get the "slide to unlock" feature, too. And yes, this thing actually has WiFi. Of note, the built-in wireless antenna isn't exactly attractive, but if it means that we can surf the web (YouTube included) and buy tunes on our iPod, we suppose it may be an acceptable flaw. As for battery life, the touch is said to last 22-hours when playing back audio and 5-hours when watching video, but only time will tell how draining web surfing will be. The iPod touch will be arriving in 8GB and 16GB flavors and will be priced at $299 and $399, respectively, when they ship "worldwide in a few weeks."(Thanks Engadget)

New Sony PSP Slim in Stores Today?

2007-09-05T16:40:00.000-07:00

Sony's been none to clear about a launch date for the new PSP-2000 "slim" PSP, but really there's no better time than the present to get your slim on, and Sony just announced that its new PSP is available today. Coming in silver, as part of a $200 "Entertainment Pack" alongside Daxter, Family Guy and a 1GB Memory Stick, the new PSP should be hanging out at most major retailers by the time you read this, though you might want to call around a bit just to be sure.(Thanks Engadget)

New Ipod Nano or "Fatty" Pic

2007-09-05T16:33:00.000-07:00

Ok, we know we've been calling it the fatty, but we'll be straight up with you guys: the third gen iPod nano is friggin' tiny. It's maybe not the most beautifully proportioned iPod we've ever seen, but its tapered edges and ridiculously thin frame make up for the squatness going on here.(Thanks Engadget)

LG's VX10000 and VX8800 touchscreen shot?

2007-09-05T06:14:00.000-07:00

Here you go spyshot fans: purported pics of LG's new VX10000 and VX8800 handsets which recently cleared FCC approval. They're definitely grainy pics of something with all the naughty bits blocked to protect the innocent. Of course, the VX10000 is fascinating as the supposed successor to LG's VX9900 QWERTY beast. Perhaps more interesting to the masses, however, is that VX8800 slider up there which by all accounts would be the successor to LG's (and Verizon's) VX8550. Just look at that display: big (and thick), and presumably touch-sensitive all baked onto a slider. Shazam!(Thanks Engadget)

Sony Ericsson's MBW-150 Bluetooth Watch

2007-09-05T06:10:00.000-07:00

Remember Sony Ericsson's MBW-150 Bluetooth watch with AVRCP remote control and tiny OLED display? No worries if you don't; June's announcement was forever-ago on a technology timeline. Well, as of now it's FCC approved which puts retail decisions back into the hands of Sony Ericsson which is just the way we like it.(Thanks Engadget)

Rocket Ship Phone Design

2007-09-04T17:01:00.000-07:00

This is the phone your grandfather imagined you'd be talking on when he was a boy: the ShenZhou-VII. It's shaped like a rocket ship, one that was designed to discover once and for all whether or not the moon really is made of cheese. Look out, iPhone! There's a new granddaddy of cellphones in town, and it's a lot harder to pronounce. Peep another shot after the jump.(Haha Thanks Gizmodo)

Hands on, Xbox 360 Chatpad

2007-09-04T16:55:00.000-07:00

So we snagged ourselves an Xbox 360 Messenger Kit (aka Chatpad + Chatpad headset), unboxed the hell out of it, and here's what we think:

Blister packs suck. Microsoft, we're sick of 'em.
The Chatpad is a little difficult to get on and off, but once engaged it fits perfectly on the controller (duh), and feels like a seamless extension. Unfortunately there are two awkwardly placed screw holes on the underside, but you'll learn to ignore 'em.
Players with longer fingers may be annoyed, this thing kind of prevents finger-wraparound.
The keys are nice and tactile. And with the keyboard sounds the 360 makes in text entry you can be sure your typing is getting through. Still, thumb touch-typing on this is going to be almost out of the question for most, the thing is basically a straight up button grid.
The shift / caps / alt green and amber buttons were kind of wonky and took some getting used to. No big deal though.
It feels light at first, but after not too long it really starts to affect the balance of the controller, and could weigh you down a little. We suggest removing it when you don't need it.
The headset now has an inline mute / volume switch (with clip), so now you have move your hand off the controller mid-play to adjust the audio. Super lame.
The Chatpad headset can be used on the controller without the Chatpad, but why would you want to? The old style headset is more efficient (see above) and sounds just as good.
In fact, while we're on the topic, the original headset doesn't use those two data paddles either -- so we have no idea why the Chatpad didn't just skip bundling a second headset and instead include a port that could accept the original kind. We suspect this was to raise the consumer price of the package without raising Microsoft's cost much more. Either way, it's sucky.

Should you buy one? Well, $30 isn't really too crazy of a price for this thing, but we'd say if Microsoft releases a $20 version that doesn't come bundled with the new headset (and can use the old headset kind), yeah, plunk down. Otherwise, we have a feeling only completionists and heavy message senders will really need this thing.(Thanks Engadget)

Ipod with 3.5 Inch Touchscreen in Hand?

2007-09-04T16:50:00.000-07:00

ThinkSecret is tooting its own horn with a supposed confirmation they've obtained of an iPhone-sized (3.5-inch), hard drive-based, touchscreen iPod -- ThinkSecret started talking up a touchscreen iPod 20 months ago, and apparently all that blind rumoring is finally paying off. This contradicts reports of there being flash memory in the device, and is the first time we've heard anyone sound so confident about the 3.5-inch screen size -- though it seems likely that Apple will want to use the same screen as the iPhone for bulk ordering and familiar components -- but otherwise there aren't many surprises. ThinkSecret expects up to 120GB of storage on the 1.8-inch HDD, and sees WiFi as a definite possibility, but doesn't think the reports about internet radio are too on-target. And of course, the iPod nano is supposed to go QVGA, with video playback and up to 12GB or 16GB of storage. We'd make our usual assurances of all being found out tomorrow, but in reality we're just one day away from the next round of rumors beginning, so it's a small comfort.(Thanks Engadget)

World's Tallest Lego Tower

2007-08-23T14:28:00.000-07:00

The title of world's tallest LEGO tower just shifted from California to Toronto, where energetic LEGO Master builders Erik Therkelsen (at left), Per Knudsen and 12,000 of their closest friends stacked up enough of the plastic bricks—more than 465,000 of them—to create a 96.1-footer. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, it's now the world's largest LEGO tower, beating that 94.3-foot erection in LEGOLAND in Carlsbad, California. Dozens of plus-shaped modules were stacked up with a cherry picker to complete the huge structure. There's no word on how long that tower will stand.(Thanks Gizmodo)

Volkswagen that Steers Electromagnetically

2007-08-23T14:24:00.000-07:00

The engineering department at Volkswagen has developed a system that politely suggests when it is time for the driver to countersteer. Thanks to the miracle of electromagnetic power steering, the Volkswagen ESP Plus Steering Impulse technology will intervene during slippery driving conditions. This intervention can shorten stopping distances by ten percent. Volkswagen assures us via World Car Fans that the system does not actually steer the car, rather it merely helps the driver steer more efficiently through a gentle nudge of the steering wheel.(Thanks jalopnik)

The Ipod Nano 2 or Touch

2007-08-23T14:10:00.000-07:00

That really sketchy looking photo of the iPod nano "phatty" from yesterday? Yeah, you can officially file that under deceptively sketchy looking -- Apple's legal team called demanding we take the shot down, claiming ownership of the photo, and that it was "stolen" from the company. Ooook. Granted, Apple doesn't send takedowns to all confirmed-true leaks -- take the new aluminum Mac keyboard, for example. Apple never gave us a hard time when we broke that story. Still, Apple's legal team wouldn't be wasting its or our time if they didn't feel there was something to lose by inaction, so until further notice we're considering this the real deal. Just in case you missed it the first time, we pulled together a quick mockup of the newer, fatter nano. See? You really weren't missing anything. Expect 'em out in the next couple of months.

Sony's PlayTV for PS3

2007-08-22T17:04:00.000-07:00

The info is flying fast today as Sony's launches a multi-tiered attack on the entertainment community. Luckily, we've got some additional info on the just announced PlayTV TV tuner / DVR for the PS3, and we'd like to share it. The unit will apparently be coming to Europe "early in 2008" with other territories to follow (PAL only for now). The new box will feature two 1080p tuners, which utilize the European Digital Video Broadcasting system (DVB-T) -- which should dash any US hopes for the time being. The system will allow you to store recorded broadcasts on your PS3 drive, and also transcode and transfer the saved files to your PSP. Additionally, you'll be able to use the PSP's "Remote Play" feature to program and watch your PlayTV away from home. Sony reps also make the bold pronouncement that the PlayTV architecture will "never be out of date" due to automatic network updates from the company. We're gutted that the US gets no love from Sony on this one, but it's a good time to be a European PlayStation 3 fan, that's for sure.(Thanks Engadet)

Text, Voice, and Video Chat Brought to the PSP from GO!Messenger

2007-08-22T16:49:00.000-07:00

While the PSP might not be everyone's favorite gaming platform, it certainly is becoming a highly versatile little piece of technology. Even more so now that Sony has revealed at their Games Convention press conference Go!Messenger, a wireless communications package that will bring text, voice, and video chat to the plucky handheld across Europe this January. Being delivered as a free firmware upgrade (along with a small application that needs to be downloaded to your memory stick), Go!Messenger will allow PSP owners to text chat via on screen keyboard right from the get go. Add a microphone and VOIP tech allows you to voice chat. Ad the Go!Cam to the mix and you'll be able to make video calls and record and send video messages. Hopefully Sony won't have us waiting to long for this device.(Thanks Kotaku)

HTC Juno Smartphone Heading to AT&T

2007-08-21T18:07:00.000-07:00

The HTC Juno, a previously unheard of Windows Mobile smartphone, seems to be headed toward AT&T sometime soon. It's going to be like previous HTC phones we've seen with a dialpad on the front and a slide-out QWERTY on the side. There won't be a touchscreen, but it will have a 2-megapixel camera, microSD, QVGA display and 3G. No launch time or details yet.(Thanks Crunchgear)

Japan Comes up with the Idea to Make a Man-Made Mt.Fuji Building to be Tallest in the World

2007-08-21T18:04:00.000-07:00

Proving that even the Japanese can't tell between what's real and what they see on TV, some company there is planning to build a 13,123-foot- tall building called the X-Seed 4000 to house 1 million people. We use the word "building" loosely, because this is seven times taller than the current tallest building, and actually 700 feet higher than the actual Mt. Fuji. For $300 to $900 billion, this thing better come with cannons and transform into a even bigger robot to defend Tokyo.(Haha Thanks Gizmodo)

Functional Lego Guitar Hero Controller Made

2007-08-06T17:24:00.000-07:00

We've seen Lego-fied Wiis, robots, and weaponry, but this fully-functional Guitar Hero controller crafted by an unnamed tipster to TechEBlog might just be the best bit of Lego hackery to date. Based on a Gibson Explorer guitar, the Lego axe neatly conceals the guts of a standard PS2 Guitar Hero controller, and also ups the size to something more closely resembling an actual guitar. While there's no word on any plans to ceremoniously smash the guitar Pete Townsend-style, we have a feeling that's going to be a tough temptation to resist -- especially considering the fact that it's one of the few guitars that could actually be rebuilt after seeing such destruction.(Thanks Engadget and sorry again for not having a pic)

Panasonic Oxyride Powered by AA Batteries Breaks 60MPH

2007-08-06T17:20:00.000-07:00

Sure, watching a wee remote controlled, all electric vehicle hit nearly 200 miles-per-hour is quite impressive, but moving a vehicle large enough to stuff a moderately sized human into with just AA cells is, well, world record worthy. Reportedly, the newly revamped Oxyride managed to maintain an average speed of just over 65mph and hit a top speed of 75.8mph, all while being powered by 192 AA batteries. Unsurprisingly, the promotional stunt rocketed Panasonic into the Guinness Book of World Records for speed attained with a vehicle solely driven by dry-cell AA batteries, but we still wouldn't look at purchasing 192 batteries (each way) as an efficient method of powering your commuter car.(Thanks Engadget... Sorry I cant get pics on the computer im using)

80 GB PS3 Finally Available!

2007-08-06T17:14:00.000-07:00

The 80GB PlayStation 3 is finally available now, after much fanfare at E3. The 80GB will come with Motorstorm and software-based backward compatibility for $599. If you want a real good deal, you can pick up a $450 20GB PS3 that we reported about two weeks ago.(Thanks Gizmodo)

Vacation

2007-08-05T12:07:00.000-07:00

I'm very sorry for the inconvenience but I will be on vacation till the 18th. I will be able to make some posts but I might not be very consistent. Thanks for checking out my blog!

Blackberry 2 Launching in September

2007-08-05T12:00:00.000-07:00

Our Spanish friends are reporting that Vodafone should be launching the BlackBerry 2 Pearl refresh in September. This makes sense seeing as how most BlackBerrys nowadays are released on multiple carriers at a time across the world.(Thanks BoyGenius)

Google GPhone?

2007-08-03T08:07:00.000-07:00

We all know that when rumors start to heat up, well, it just means there's more to speculate about. Nevertheless, new reports from both the BBC and The Wall Street Journal do a fine job of getting our hopes up, as it's noted that Google refused to outrightly deny handset rumors; rather, it simply reiterated that its users and partners are saying that "they want Google search and Google applications on mobile, and it is working hard every day to deliver that." Furthermore, it's now believed that the search giant is "showing the prototype to cellphone manufacturers and network operators as it continues to hone the technical specifications." Make of that what you will, but it sounds pretty enticing over here.(Thanks Engadget)

Motorola O ROKR Pro Bluetooth Sunglasses

2007-08-02T08:36:00.000-07:00

It looks like Motorola and Oakley have decided to try their hands at another pair of Bluetooth-equipped sunglasses, with the pair's new slimmed down O ROKR Pro shades now making their first appearance on the FCC's website. Unlike Oakely's various Thump shades, these don't pack any storage of their own, relying instead on a Bluetooth connection to stream music from your cellphone or Bluetooth-equipped portable music player. What's more, the O ROKR Pros also support AVRCP to let you control your music directly from the shades, and they can double as a wireless headset, although not one we'd recommend using during your next business meeting. According to the user manual, you can expect to get about five hours of use on a charge, which can be done either by plugging 'em into your computer's USB port or by using the included wall charger (or optional car charger). Of course, this being the FCC, there's no word on price or availability, but it doesn't seem like word of that should be too far off.?(Thanks Engadget)

Panasonic Coming out with the HDC-SD7 the World's Smallest HD Camcorder

2007-08-01T07:47:00.000-07:00

Panasonic just announced their new HDC-SD7 in Japan.The SD7 weighs less, at 0.63 pounds vs 0.75 pounds for the SD5. On size, the vertical format camcorder has is 2.04 x 3.42 x 4.33 inches vs 2.6 x 2.6 x 5.3 inches, so it does look a little bit smaller, but not that much.Like the SD5, it will get you MPEG4 recording at 1,920×1,080 pixels, 10x optical zoom and it comes with a 4GB SDHC card good for 40 minutes. Unfortunately it looks like it will only be out in Japan for now and is coming out there September 8th for ¥140,000 or about $1,188 with tax.(Thanks Gizmodo+Engadget)

Cect Cellphone Watch Packed with Bluetooth, MP3,MP4, and FM Radio

2007-07-31T12:39:00.000-07:00

The M500 GSM Watch from Australia isn't your only cellphone watch option now with the Cect Mobile watch from China. It's got a semi-decently large LCD, six hardware buttons, GSM support, Bluetooth, MP3, MP4, FM radio and a headset jack. No pricing yet, but it does come in all sorts of colors.(Thanks Gizmodo)

AT&T Launch Dates for Motorola Razr 2, Motorola Q9, Blackberry 8820 and More?

2007-07-31T12:33:00.000-07:00

File this one under unconfirmed rumors, but we got a nice tip this morning that included the Motorola RAZR 2, Motorola Q9, BlackBerry 8820 (again), Pantech C810, and the AT&T SMT5700. According to this anonymous tipster, we’ve got the Motorola Q9, and the Motorola RAZR 2 V9 pegged for an August 24th release. Same day action, baby! The Pantech C810, a rumored WCDMA device, is looking like it will see the light on September 9th. What about the BlackBerry 8820? Well, "expect" that to lauch on August 13th or 14th, and the SMT5700 to follow on August 24th, or August 28th. Who’s happy if these launch dates stick?(Thanks BoyGenius)

World's Smallest Camera Chip

2007-07-30T07:50:00.000-07:00

TDC's new OV6920 CameraChip is the world's smallest CMOS chip at just 1/18-inch (1.4mm). This means that the attached camera setup is just 3.2mm in total size—or in layman's terms—never change outside of your own bedroom again. Shooting at a low resolution of 328 x 250, the chip is configurable for NTSC output and can automatically control color saturation, exposure and gain. Sipping from a low 3.3V DC power supply, the chip will be useful in low power applications—from medical pills to spy gear to toys.

Wooden Supercar Taken to the Streets

2007-07-30T07:45:00.000-07:00

We've seen a smorgasbord of unusual ways to get back and forth to work, and while you could certainly catch us aboard a real-world Mario Kart or jet-powered scooter, traversing the 101 in a completely wooden automobile isn't exactly within our realm of acceptable risk. Nevertheless, the Sada furniture company in Japan has crafted such a vehicle, and the president of the firm has even driven it into a news studio just to show it off. Reportedly, the vehicle can actually reach a top speed of just under 50 miles-per-hour, but considering it would cost you around ¥3,900,000 ($32,819) to take one of your own home -- not to mention the implausibly high insurance rates on a flammable vehicle -- you're probably better off just living vicariously through the videos after the jump.(Thanks Engadget)

Walmart Ad Has Xbox 360 Price Cut Coming August 8th?

2007-07-28T14:48:00.000-07:00

Sure, this one would be a breeze to Photoshop, but the fact that a Circuit City brochure so recently and successfully predicted a PS3 price drop gives us cause to hope. The teensy picture above purports to depict a new Wal-mart ad with that oft-rumored new $349 price point for the Xbox 360 Premium. The EXIF data checks out, so if it is a prank at least they took the time to do it right. No better way to figure out the legitimacy of this one than to wait it out -- and start betting on sales boost figures if Microsoft does indeed cut the price.(Thanks Engadget and Gizmodo)

Samsung SGH-G800 5 megapixel Camera Phone

2007-07-27T07:04:00.000-07:00

The SGH-G800 is the last rumored wondergadget from Samsung, a compact camera with 5-megapixel sensor, 3x optical zoom and Xenon flash, which is better than LED-based ones. If confirmed, the G800 will also have one microSD slot, USB 2.0, Bluetooth 2.0 and a 2.4" 320 x 240 pixel screen. Plus a 3G phone attached too. Shocking. Jump to see the camera on its back.(Thanks Gizmodo)

Xbox 360 Getting $50 Price Cut in August?

2007-07-26T12:52:00.000-07:00

We've been around the block a few times on this rumor, but The Hollywood Reporter is citing an unnamed source that seems to think the Xbox 360 is going to get a $50 price drop in August, so we might as well give it another go. The Hollywood Reporter is saying the pending price drop is because of the traditional sales doldrums that time of the year, and our friends at Joystiq point out the convenient proximity to a certain "Halo 3" being launched in September, but we're sure it's because Microsoft is just sick and tired of making so much dang profit on these here Xboxen. Either way, August isn't far off, so we'll be solving this little mystery right quick.(Thanks Engadget)

Apple Sold 270,000 iPhones in the First 30 Hours

2007-07-26T12:47:00.000-07:00

According to Apple's Q3 financial results call, Apple sold 270,000 iPhones during the first 30 hours of sales -- the quarter ended on June 30th. Apple admitted to and apologized for activation problems, which would account for that 146,000 activations figure that AT&T released yesterday. As for sales past June 30th, Apple isn't saying much, but they do plan to be able to announce at least one million in sales by September 30th, and 10 million by the end of 2008. Apple reiterated launch plans for the iPhone in Europe, stating that it'll have the phone in a few "major" countries (Most likely UK, France and Germany) by Q4 2007, and hit the rest of Europe with the phone in 2008. Apple did mention "we'll have details later in the quarter about which carriers we'll be working with" as in, plural, so take that for what you will. During the call, Apple also admitted to an impending cashflow from AT&T, which had been speculated, and is most likely based on contract renewals and new subscribers that the iPhone nabs for AT&T. Apple will start counting the revenue in the September quarter, but didn't say anything else on the subject while dodging questions about Yahoo!, YouTube and Google contracts.(Thanks Engadget)

I Will be Gone Till the 26th

2007-07-22T08:19:00.001-07:00

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I will be on vacation till the 26th of July. Thanks for viewing my blog and again, sorry for the inconvenience.

UFO esque Hovercraft Heading in to Production

2007-07-21T16:49:00.000-07:00

Moller Industries, the brainchild of inventor Dr. Paul Moller, announced recently that production would begin on the company's M200G volantor, a UFO-esque hovercraft that apparently can "glide over terrain at 50 MPH." Moller, long known for his work in both hovercrafts and flying vehicles (see the dubious Skycar), has been working on alternative forms of transportation for 40 years. The futuristic looking craft is driven by the company's Rotapower engines, and can allegedly operate up to 10 feet in altitude. Of course, while Moller Industries offers lots of exciting talk about the future of transportation (as well as t-shirts, models, and investment options) to its customers, the company has never brought a vehicle to market. Clearly, the announcement of a "Jetsons-like" craft may fuel enthusiast's hope (and pull in some escrow cash), but the actual production and sale of the $90,000+ vehicle has yet to be seen. Check the video after the break to see Dr. Moller's invention at work. (Thanks Engadget)

PC Thrown out the Window

2007-07-18T09:40:00.001-07:00

Trust us, there's been quite a few days in which a dysfunctional PC was kicked around at Engadget HQ for eating posts and intentionally inserting typos, but we've yet to become so flustered that we needed to launch one out of the building. Interestingly enough, a disgruntled 51-year-old German just couldn't resist, as he actually flung his PC out of a window during the middle of the night, which startled neighbors and garnered a visit from local police. Of course, the boys in bluedid exactly as they should, and left the man with nary a warning after apparently sympathizing with his technical frustrations. Granted, the rattled PC hurler was forced to clean up the mess from the streets below, but we can safely assume he felt an awful lot better after showing that hunk of plastic who was really in charge.(haha thanks Engadget)

Second Generation iPhone for $249 in September?

2007-07-17T09:23:00.000-07:00

Remember all those version 2 iPhone rumors rumbling about back in May. Well, they're back and running amuck in Taiwan. According to DigiTimes, Taiwan's Chinese-language Commercial Times says that Taiwan's Wintek has gained the touch-screen panel orders for the second-gen iPhone. The report claims that Wintek has already begun test production in small volumes with Apple intent on selling their newest model of the iPhone in September for somewhere between $249 and $299. Unfortunately, the article doesn't state where this flavor of the iPhone will be sold. An important omission given that September is the same rumored delivery for Quanta's iPhone variant meant specifically for non-US markets. Of course, that would be too early according to (some) JP Morgan analysts although Kevin Chang, and his vision of an iPhone nano, would surely disagree. To muddle things further, Wintek was just fingered as the supplier of panels for future touch-screen iPods set to launch in August. However, DigiTimes sources are now reporting that the iPod's capacitive touch-screen will be "less complicated" than the panel used for the current iPhone. No multi-touch? Who knows. Man, rumor mongering is a silly business... interesting, but silly. (Thanks Engadget)

Samsung Files Patent for Joystick Phone

2007-07-16T14:27:00.000-07:00

Making a grab for our adult wallets by aiming for our childlike love of video games, Samsung has recently filed a patent for a clamshell cellphone which can transform into a 2600-style controller. Last time we checked, killing at "Snake" on our phone wasn't so difficult that we needed to collapse or otherwise totally re-jigger the device to play it, but as mobile games become increasingly complex, using the keypad is starting to feel just a little limiting -- and that's where Samsung's engineers step in. The basic premise is that the bottom half of your flip-phone would pivot not only open and closed (or backward and forward), but also left and right, thus allowing you to escape from Blinky more quickly, jump over barrels more deftly, and generally get a serious game on.
(Thanks Engadget)

Mini Guitar Hero Controller

2007-07-15T09:37:00.001-07:00

If your manhood is less than 2cm; chances are your hand span is not too great either. Help is not far, Frodo, as XFPS have entered the niche market with their super-tiny Guitar Hero controllers.Not only could this possibly be the cutest accessory to date that didn't have the Hello Kitty branding across it, it will also brighten the little lives of all those in Middle Earth. Screw the ring, throw this around your neck friends and rock on! Though it may at first seem to be somewhat of a gimmick, these tiny guitars are expertly crafted from real wood and the whammy bar is genuine metal, no less. The controllers are fully functioning with backlit buttons and are currently available for the PS2 and XBOX 360 at $69.90 each. The price of small time gaming, unlike the size, will be daunting to all but the most serious enthusiasts. version isn't compatible out of the box; you'll have to invest in an adapter at $69.90. The price of small time gaming, unlike the size, will be daunting to all but the most serious enthusiasts.

Sulky LG Shine

2007-07-15T09:32:00.001-07:00

LG is set to add to their ever-popular Black Label Series by releasing the LG Shine in a new, sulky Titanium Black finish. To save any confusion at the checkout they're releasing this model as the 'LG Shine Titanium Black.'The feature set remains unchanged from the original and it is planned for release at the end of July 2007. Initially it will be made available within the UK, France, Netherlands and Austria (no stateside plans yet). The Shine used to prance about like Paris Hilton, driving too fast and pissed with the ramifications. The new makeover, however, wouldn't batter an eyelash at a stretch inside; instead it would take down the system and look suave doing it.

Wii Party Station Gets put up to the Test

2007-07-15T09:28:00.001-07:00

The allure of playing with Nyko's Wiimote hybrid was just too strong for the folks at Joystiq to resist, and hey, we can't say we blame 'em. As the crew put it through the typical paces, they found that the cooling, charging, and organizing functions all worked perfectly as advertised, but even they couldn't deny that it essentially redefined superfluous. Still, we all know this thing makes throwing parties entirely easier for introverts.

Korean Researchers Develop Cheap Solar Cells

2007-07-14T14:56:00.000-07:00

We'll go ahead and hand it to Spectrolab for crafting such an immensely efficient solar cell without regard to cost, but a team of Korean researchers have reportedly conjured up a rendition of their own that, you know, would actually be feasible to commercialize in the not too distant future. The team -- led by Lee Kwang-hee of the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology -- has reportedly created a diminutive plastic solar cell that touts "6.5-percent efficiency," and while that number pales in comparison to other alternatives, it's the pricetag that's of interest here. Apparently, existing solar cells that use silicon semiconductors cost around "$2.30 to generate one watt of electricity," whereas this group's solution costs just ten cents per watt. Better yet, plans are already in motion to increase efficiency up to 15-percent, after which we could see these things hitting the marketplace at large "by 2012."

Logitech's Air Mouse Gets Airborne

2007-07-13T14:38:00.000-07:00

Working as both a mouse and a remote control, Logitech's MX Air can be used on the desk and in the air.

The Logitech MX Air mouse is a laser mouse that works on the desk and in the air. Similar to the way people use a remote to control a television, the MX Air will work as a remote control for multimedia content on a computer.
The Air MX uses Freespace motion control technology, which the company claims will ensure accurate and responsive navigation without the limitations encountered by previous in-air pointing devices.
The mouse also sports gesture-based commands, so to change the volume you press and hold the volume button and simply gesture - to the right to increase the volume, or to the left to decrease it. For music applications, a small circular motion to the right activates the skip track command, while a circle to the left repeats the song. In place of a traditional scroll wheel, the MX Air mouse features a touch-sensitive scroll panel. A swipe of the finger across the surface enables the inertial scrolling mechanism, which adjusts its speed according to the speed of the finger swipe. Media functions such as Play/Pause, Volume/Mute, Back and Select can be accessed in the air by pressing the large, orange back lighted buttons with the thumb. The MX Air mouse has a polished-black, semi-transparent top case, a silver base and a contoured shape. Using Logitech's 2.4 GHz digital cordless technology, the MX Air offers a range of up to 30 feet (10 meters). The Logitech MX Air mouse is expected to be available in August, and will retail for $150.

More on the New PSP

2007-07-12T07:12:00.000-07:00

Following the recent announcement of an upgraded PS3, Sony today announced an upgrade of its Playstation Portable. With a more streamlined form factor (189 g, 18.6 mm thick) compared to the original (280 g, 23 mm thick), the portable game console also sports a video-out port for connection to televisions. Sony has also reduced the load times during game sessions slightly. The upgraded Sony PSP will start shipping in September, and retail for $170. For a limited time, the Sony PSP will be available in Ice Silver and Ceramic White, starting on September 9 and October 10, respectively. Both models will retail for $200, and each will include a game title (Daxter and Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron, respectively).