Fubar Vault

Bye bye to those funny glasses - Toshiba has announced their new 3D T.V. which does not require glasses.

2010-10-04T12:43:00.000-07:00

Announced just before CEATEC 2010 to gain maximum hype the new GL1 series comes in a 12 inch and a 20 inch model. However, this is really a showcase of the tech and larger models, although not announced, will be sure to follow.

Both models will be available in Japan at the end on the year with no date set for world wide release.

Pocket HD Camcorders

2010-08-02T14:42:00.000-07:00

There is a wide range of pocket camcorders that are now available with HD capability. You can expect to pay between €100 and €300 (IRE), depending on the amount of features you want. All available come with the necessary software onboard so connecting to any pc is no problem. However, Mac compatibility is lacking.

Flip is the market leader in this category with three ranges available, the Ultra, the Mino, and the latest model, the Slide. All are available in HD with between 1 – 4 hours of recording time.

The Slide is a pricey option which is hard to justify based solely on the larger screen. The UltraHD is a much easier sell with a more acceptable price tag and the same amount of features as the Slide. The easy share option with these camcorders is a nice addition which ensures you get your video to where you want it fast.

Kodak also has a strong presence in this market with their Z series of camcorders. The Zi8 is a strong contender, however it is let down with indoor video quality.

Sony has also had a go. The Bloggie is a strong device filled with features but the bundled software holds it back.

(All prices are from manufactures websites)

Flip

• SlideHD 4hrs $279.99
• MinoHD 2hrs $229.99
• MinoHD 1hr $199.99
• UltraHD 2hrs $199.99
• Ultra 2hrs $149.99

Kodak

• Zi8 Pocket Video Camera £129.99
• PLAYSPORT Video Camera £129.99
• Zx1 Pocket Video Camera £59.99
• Mini Video Camera £49.99

Sony

• Bloggie MHS-PM5 $169.99

Jailbreaking your iPhone is now Legal

2010-07-31T06:13:00.000-07:00

Or at least that is the view of the U.S Federal Government.

The U.S. Copyright Office stated earlier this week that “Computer programs that enable wireless telephone handsets to execute software applications, where circumvention is accomplished for the sole purpose of enabling interoperability of such applications, when they have been lawfully obtained, with computer programs on the telephone handset.”

In other words, jailbreaking your iPhone in the U.S. is no longer considered to be a violation of copyright law. The legality of unlocking an iPhone by means of a Jailbreak was always a gray area, but now there is clear definition that jailbreaking is ok.

However, Apple is not too happy about the decision. In a response letter to the Copyright Office Apple stated that to Jailbreak an iPhone was copyright infringement and can cause considerable damage to the device. Also the iPhone Software Licence Agreement clearly states that it is a violation of the agreement to “reverse engineer” or “modify” the device in any way.

Nevertheless, the decision has been made and for the time being Jailbreaking is O.K. (in the U.S. )

Apple iPhone 4G leaked again!!

2010-05-15T04:56:00.000-07:00

Following the recent images of the new iPhone that surfaced on Gizmodo.com a few weeks back, another leaked iPhone 4G has shown up on the web. Vietnamese site www.taoviet.vn got their hands on one of these bad boys and left nothing to the imagination. Follow the links for the images.

Related Story: Apple iPhone 4G Prototype Left in Bar

Big Dog

2010-05-01T04:28:00.000-07:00

This has to be one of the coolest things Fubar Vault has seen in a long while. This ‘Big Dog’ is the brain child of Boston Dynamics, an advanced robot builder from Massachusetts. They work with such organisations as DARPA, the US Army, Navy and Marine Corps and the Sony Corporation developing ‘advanced robots with remarkable behaviour: mobility, agility, dexterity and speed.’

The Big Dog is one of their flagship projects and is funded by the Tactical Technology Office at DARPA. The Big Dog is a robot designed for rough terrain and has the ability to walk, run and carry heavy loads. The Big Dog has four legs that are modelled on an animal to absorb shock and redistribute energy to different legs the same way a dog would do. It is around three foot long and weighs just over 100KG.

What makes the Big Dog unique is the way it responds to the environment it encounters. Any slip or trip is compensated for by the other legs reacting to regain balance just as an animal would do. This is achieved through the Big Dog’s on-board computer system. The system controls the locomotion, servos, movement of the legs and a range of sensors. As a result, the Big Dog is able to maintain balance and navigate its course even when the environment consists of very difficult terrain.

Boston Dynamics tests show that the Big Dog can run at 4 mph, climb slopes up to 35 degrees, walk across rubble, climb a muddy hiking trail, walk in snow and water all while carrying a 154KG load.

Apple iPhone 4G Prototype Left in Bar

2010-04-25T02:15:00.000-07:00

Silicon Valley police are now looking into the situation surrounding the sale of a prototype iPhone to Gizmodo.com after it was found in a bar in Redwood City. Cent.com says that after a request from Apple the prototype iPhone has now been retuned. However, charges may still be brought against either Gizmodo.com or the individual who sold the prototype.

Apple’s new iPod Touch for giants – the iPad

2010-01-31T10:31:00.000-08:00

Last Wednesday Apple announced there long awaited tablet device. The ipad, as it was called, is basically like an enlarged version of the iPod Touch. The iPad is 7.47 inches wide by 9.56 inches tall by 0.5 inch thick and weighs in at a very light 680grams.

The glass protected touch screen has a maximum resolution of 1,024x768 pixels. Although video output is available via the dock, HDMI output is not supported so the max you will get out of iPad is 480p. This might cause some gripes with people who want to integrate the device into their home entertainment system.

Furthermore, the fact that this thing looks like a giant iPhone or iPod touch cannot be ignored. For something that was build as such a revolutionary product they could have made the design just slightly unique. Instead, the iPad carries on in the same line as the iPhone sporting its home button.

When you look inside the iPad, you hope that things will start to change. However, the iPad is running a version of the iPhone OS not a full Mac OS. It just runs like a beefed up iPod Touch. This is achieved by a 1GHz A4 processor, Bluetooth 2.1, 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and a battery life of around 10 hours.

In terms of features, what does set the iPad apart from the iPhone is it’s e-reader. Through the new iBook Store you will be able to download books to the device. I guess Apple are trying to go after the Kindle here. With the iPad’s e-reader, the way you turn pages is very cool. It really looks like you are turning a page on a book as you can kind of play with the page and role it around.

In the US, there will be 3 types available 16GB ($499), 32GB ($599), and 64GB ($699). You will have to wait till May if you want a 3G version and hand over an extra $130 per unit, in addition to a monthly data plan.

The first Newspaper e-reader previewed at CES 2010.

2010-01-07T11:03:00.000-08:00

The Skiff Reader is a new e-reader focused at newspaper and magazine content although it will also support e-books. This device is the first device to use LG’s “Metal Foil” e-Paper technology, which should improve durability by eliminating the glass display found on current e-readers. The display is basically a thin sheet of foil which is flexible. However, this e-reader will not bend as it is housed in a hard rigid shell.

The Skiff Reader has an 11.5" touch screen (measured diagonally) and a resolution of 1200 x 1600 pixels (UXGA) @ 174 ppi. It is extremely lightweight at just under ½ a KG, has a battery life of a week and takes 2-3 hours to charge. There is also an SD card slot to supplement the 4GB internal memory.

However, the main feature of this device is its ability to connect to the upcoming Skiff e-reading service which will allow users to receive newspapers, magazines, books and other digital content they purchase through the Skiff Store.

In North America Sprint have singed a deal with Skiff to bring 3G connectivity to the device. In addition to 3G, the Skiff Reader will also support wireless connectivity via Wi-Fi.

The Skiff Reader is due to be released later this year. Price TBA.

64GB iPhone and 128GB iTouch on the horizon.

2009-12-20T04:40:00.000-08:00

Toshiba have announced that they will soon be able to offer 64GB of storage on a single memory module.

Currently the flash chips used in the iPhone and iTouch have a maximum capacity of 32GB. The iPhone can only hold a single flash chip limiting its capacity to 32GB, where as the iTouch can hold 2, allowing it to
reach 64GB.

This announcement by Toshiba is sure to lead to 64GB iPhones and 128GB iTouches hitting the shelves in 2010 as Toshiba is the main supplier of flash chips for the iPhone and iTouch.

LG’s 3DTV ambitions

2009-12-15T13:26:00.000-08:00

With HDTV becoming a well established technology in many living rooms, manufactures now have there eyes set on is 3DTV. However, in order for 3DTV to become as established as HDTV, both manufactures and broadcasters will have to work together to develop the technology

LG recognised this need and have teamed up with Korean broadcaster Skylife to produce a line of 3DTVs and 3D content. This is the first time a TV manufacture has worked together with a broadcaster to produce dedicated content made especially for a specific TV. Additionally, the partnership will strive to set industry standards and promote the technologies developed in a bid to expand the market.

Mong-ryong Lee, the President and CEO of SkyLife said to Newswire “SkyLife aims to be the top digital satellite 3D broadcaster in Korea. We expect the partnership between LG and SkyLife to propel us to the lead in digital new media. We plan to invest KRW 30 billion (USD 25 million) in creating 3D content in collaboration with LG,”

The line of 3DTVs LG are planning to produce will range from 42inch – 72inch. Additionally, LG are planning to use the technology in their 150inch projector which is due to be released next year. At the moment the focus is just on Korea however, there are plans to expand in Europe and the US.

Ferrari V4 Concept Motorbike

2009-12-08T05:15:00.000-08:00

Take a look at this Ferrari concept motorbike designed by Israeli industrial designer Amir Glinik. If Ferrari made bikes this is exactly what their flagship model would look like. The design includes sleek Ferrari lines, drive-by-wire technology, hand controls taken from an F-16 fighter jet, button layout from the Ferrari F1 car and an all weather touch-screen display.

If this bike ever goes into production you can expect a lengthily waiting list and a price tag similar to the Ferrari cars. All I can say to Ferrari is, please make it!!! and I hope my numbers come up in the Loto this week so I can pick one up.

Nintendo Wii hits 6 million

2009-12-03T11:21:00.000-08:00

The Nintendo Wii has just reached the 6 million sales mark in the UK. From its launch the end of 2006 the Wii has claimed the title of fastest selling console in the UK over the X-Box 360 and the Sony PS3. It is clear that the cheep pricing of the console in addition to the revolutionary motion controllers played a major role in the Wii achieving this landmark.

On the Gamesindustry, a spokesperson for Nintendo said that "With its inclusive, family friendly and fun nature, we’re very pleased Wii seems to have captured the imagination of over six million families across the UK and reached such a landmark sales figure in such a short space of time,".

The next generation iPhone 3.1

2009-11-30T13:55:00.000-08:00

Macrumors reviled that a new iPhone model number (iPhone 3.1) showed up in the usage records of an app called iBART, which helps navagate the San Francisco train system. The current iPhone 3GS has the identification string 2.1. So, this could be the first sign of a new iPhone.

There is little to go on what exactly the next iPhone will have under its skin, but rumours have it to include a multi core processor. Which would be nice.

Tesco will be selling the iPhone before Christmas.

2009-11-26T08:11:00.000-08:00

The times online today announced that in the UK the Tesco supermarket chain will be offering the iPhone for sale before Christmas. The price that Tesco will be offering the iPhone for and exactly when it will be released are yet to be announced. This bold move by Tesco is seen as a large blow for Vodafone and Orange who were actively seeking to sell the phone after O2s exclusive 2 year contact runs out this month.

Additionally, after news emerged that Orange will be selling the iPhone for a similar price that O2 were offering, the entry of Tesco into the iPhone market may spark off a price war. This will be welcomed by consumers but Vodafone may not be as happy. This is resulting from the fact that they are not able to start selling the iPhone until next year, by then the price may have dropped significantly.

Teddy Bear USB

2009-11-23T12:14:00.000-08:00

You may not want this gadget if you don’t like ripping the heads off cute bears as this thumb drive’s cover is the teddy’s head. As a result, you have to pull it off to use it. Once in place it looks like a teddy has got his head stuck in your PC.

Bluetooth Virtual Laser Keyboard

2009-11-19T05:50:00.000-08:00

This device is like something straight out of science fiction. The virtual laser keyboard works by using both infrared and laser technology to produce an invisible circuit and project a 63 key full-size working virtual keyboard on to any surface. It also emits key click sounds as you type.

The Virtual Laser Keyboard can not only be connected to any PC or laptop but also to your PDA or smart phone. The device is compatible with PalmOS 5, PocketPC 2003, Windows Smartphone, Symbian OS, and Windows 2000/XP but has limited Mac OSX Support.

The device itself is only 3.6 inches high and comes in a handy carry pouch. Additionally, the rechargeable battery allows for up to 2 hours of continuous typing.

You can pick one up from ThinkGeek or Amazon.com for around $150/€100.

Russian Government Recalls Modern Warfare 2

2009-11-16T14:20:00.000-08:00

The release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 did not go as planned in Russia. Concerns regarding one of the levels in the game led Russia’s Government to issues a recall of the game nation wide. The level which caused all the drama involved a scene where Russian terrorists enter an airport and slaughter hundreds of civilians.

Additionally, I suspect the whole American vs. Russian aspect of the game might have added to the decision for a recall. Now, Infinity Ward is forced to re-release the game minus the level to ensure smooth sailing in Russia.

There is no doubt that the game is very violent and graphic. However, Infinity Ward did try to minimise the distress caused by including an option to skip the level. Additionally, this is an M rated game aimed at adults. People should have the choice to play violent games if they so pleased and not have to worry about government editing them before they reached their X-box.

1080p HD Is Coming to YouTube

2009-11-14T01:07:00.000-08:00

The official YouTube blog announced recently that support for 1080p HD video will soon be available on the site. At preset, 720p is the highest resolution available but YouTube say the increase in HD resolution of consumer cameras has prompted them to keep up with the tech.

Additionally, more and more HD TVs are coming on the market with internet connectivity and YouTube widgets installed. This coupled with the fact that the prices of HD monitors are falling to more affordable levels makes it a good time for YouTube to up its HD support.

Nevertheless, the higher resolution videos will take longer to upload and watch due to the increased file size which some people may find annoying. However, with YouTube soon to be offering movie rentals, this advancement in video quality will play a big role towards the success of their rental programme.

The Chumby

2009-11-12T13:55:00.000-08:00

The Chumby is a cute widget based desktop device which receives internet content such as weather, news, podcasts and music. It is basically like a shrunk down version of your computer which just deals with certain aspects of the internet. The Chumby in essence has 3 main uses. The first of these is acting as a physical internet widget. The widgets for the device are free and with over 1,500 apps available the Chumby is entirely customisable. Secondly, the Chumby can be used as an internet radio with its built in speakers at the back. The third main use of the Chumby is as an alarm clock, allowing you to wake up to internet radio or your ipod connected via one of the USB ports. Additionally, you can stream music from your home computer to the device.

It is made by Chumby Industries, based in San Diego, California. They are a software company that works with consumer electronics OEMs. The first Chumby came out back in 2007. This was clad in soft leather and had a very cute and cuddly appearance. The company have recently released an updated version of the Chumby Classic which is called the Chumby One.

The Chumby One has lost its soft playful appearance and developed more of a slick look. It now has a white plastic shell with a blue accent around the edge. Personally, I preferred the old Chumby. It was so unique with its soft leather cladding and now the Chumby One seems to have lost that air about it.

Nevertheless, this device is a must have for any tech home. You can pre-order you’re Chumby One on the Chumby website for $99 or $120 after it is released. You can also still pick up the original Chumby Classic for $199 which is twice the price of the Chumby One but how could you resist it.

(Specs. from the Chumby website)

chumby one

• 3.5" LCD color touchscreen
• Uses rechargeable lithium ion battery (not included); about one hour on a full charge
• 4" wide x 4" tall x 3.5" deep
• 1 USB 2.0 high-speed port
• 454 MHz ARM processor
• 64 MB DDR SDRAM
• 2 GB internal microSD card
• 2W mono speaker
• Stereo headphone output
• Volume knob
• FM radio tuner
• Accelerometer (motion sensor)
• ABS plastic housing
• AC adapter included
• Wi-fi connectivity (802.11 b/g)
• USB ethernet compatible
• Dimmable backlight
• One-click control panel access
• Access to free chumby content
• Over-the-air software updates

chumby classic

• 3.5" LCD color touchscreen
• 5.5" wide x 3.5" tall x 3" deep
• 2 USB 2.0 full-speed ports
• 350 MHz ARM processor
• 64 MB SDRAM
• 64 MB NAND flash ROM
• 2W stereo speakers
• Stereo headphone output
• Accelerometer (motion sensor)
• Leather housing
• AC adapter included
• Wi-fi connectivity (802.11 b/g)
• USB ethernet compatible
• Dimmable backlight
• One-click control panel access
• Access to free chumby content
• Over-the-air software updates
• Free charm set one included with each chumby classic

Beatles release their entire re-mastered back catalogue on an apple - no not an ipod, an actual apple.

2009-11-05T12:03:00.000-08:00

Following the release back in 09/09/09 of the Beatles back catalogue on CD, EMI Music are now releasing a limited edition apple shaped usb drive.

The device will contain all 14 stereo titles including documentaries, album art, rare photos and liner notes. In all there is 16GB of data which is encoded in FLAC so sound quality should be pretty good. However, for $280 it would need to be.

There are 30,000 being made and you can pre-order your one on the Beatles site if you think they will be sold out before the release date of December 7th.

Cyborg Beetle

2009-11-01T04:15:00.000-08:00

A real life robo-cop may be closer than you think. The University of California has developed a remote controlled ‘cyborg’ beetle. The beetle has electrodes implanted in its brain and muscles which are controlled by a small radio receiver on its back. Through this system, scientists are able to control or influence the beetles flight and movement. The applications for this technology are enormous but focus at the moment is solely on military uses as the project was funded by the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

What makes this project so effective is the fact that such a little amount of energy is needed. This problem has hindered many micro-flight projects in the past. As flight is powered by the beetle’s own energy, the device on its back requires very little battery power allowing it to make longer flights. Ultimately, the length of a mission can be as long as the lifespan of the beetle.

As the project develops further, scientists will aim to attach microphones, cameras and even high capacity storage for transmitting data to remote, hostile and otherwise inaccessible areas.

The cyborg beetle is a huge technological step forward. However, I’m not to sure many animal rights groups would agree.

Samsung P3 touch-screen multimedia player.

2009-10-30T12:42:00.000-07:00

The P3 is the Samsungs P2 successor, which was released back in 2007. The evolution of the player is noticeable from the first time you pick it up. The P3 has a much higher build quality and sturdier feel which is emphasised by its sleek aluminium body. The P3 is packed with features which include; touch-screen, haptic feedback, widgit support, mono speeker, multi customisable home pages, audio up-scaling and
Bluetooth 2.1+EDR.

The built-in Bluetooth allows you to sync your wireless Bluetooth headset to the P3 for streaming stereo audio. Additionally, you can use the P3 as a substitute for your phone and receive calls on the device which is pretty cool. The haptic feedback feature is also a nice addition. It gives you a little vibration when you press a button or widget on the device. This is handy for a touch-screen device as it gives you reassurance you are pressing the buttons.

On the down side, one thing this device does not have is a web browser, which is a shame. This coupled with limited applications and widgets makes it very hard for it to compete with other devices in its category such as the ipod touch. The App Store being available to the touch has pushed it into a whole other league. However, Samsung have tried to compensate for this by pricing the P3 very attractively. The P3 is around $/€100 cheaper than each model of the touch.

Windows 7 has landed.

2009-10-24T07:52:00.000-07:00

With PC users still having a bitter taste in their mouth following the fiasco that was Vista, Microsoft’s new OS needed to raise the bar significantly to win back some of its disgruntled customers. It now looks like Microsoft might have done it.

At first glance, Windows 7 still looks a lot like Vista but its all new task bar and more flexible windows management makes it one of the cleanest looking operating systems to date. Additionally, unlike Vista, one of Windows 7’s goals was to be more compatible with software and hardware. Early, signs are showing that Microsoft has pulled this off but it is early days yet.

Windows 7 was officially launched in New York on the 22nd of October where Steve Ballmer announced some additional features which were not yet released, such as a new Amazon Kindle application which lets you read your e-books on your PC. At the event Ballmer was also pushing the multi-touch support feature of Windows 7. This feature is really designed for all-in-one PCs. However, it can be used on any PC with a compatible display. There was also a PC running Windows 7 which booted up in 15 seconds from the power button being pressed, which was very impressive. Again, it is still too early to tell if Windows 7 has shaken off the hangover of Vista. Nevertheless, out of the gate Windows 7 has ticked nearly all of the boxes it needed to.

Microsoft has released six versions of Windows 7: Starter, Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate, OEM, and Enterprise. Upgrading form Vista is pretty straight forward when you do an in-place upgrade. However, for an in-place you must install the same version of Windows 7 as you have of Vista. That is, if you currently have Vista Home Premium installed you can only install Windows 7 Home Premium. For any other instillations you will be required to do a clean-install. However, for best results, a clean-install is recommended over an in-place install anyway to insure smooth running.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Launch November 10th

2009-10-18T11:06:00.000-07:00

Come November 10th the latest edition in the Call of Duty franchise will have hit the shops. Infinity Ward has pushed the envelope with Modern Warfare 2 introducing cool new features such as the special ops co-op mode. The Special Ops Mode provides a time-based play option with special scenarios which are only found in Special Ops Mode. Additionally, the mode offers lots of new enemies to take on which are unique to the mode. This mode is available both online and in local play including split-screen functionality.There is also alot of new weapons in this latest edition which I can’t wait to try out.

CynamiteTV, chatted with Infinity Ward's Robert Bowling who gives a pretty good lowdown on the new game. Here is the video:

Key Game Features (Developer Blurb)

• Challenging Multiplayer Modes – Modern Warfare 2 will contain a wealth of multiplayer modes including: the every man for himself action of "Free-for All," the classic team-based fun of "Capture the Flag and the tactical, team-oriented action of "Search and Destroy."

• Improved AI Enemies – Improved artificial intelligence now allows enemies to attack from virtually any direction as players respawn into the game adding additional challenges.

• An All-new Call of Duty Adventure - Modern Warfare 2 features an all new Call of Duty storyline revolving around the continuing struggles against the Russian rebel group the Ultranationalists, who have found a new and more dangerous leader.

• The 'Special Ops' Optional Co-op Mode – "Special Ops" Mode allows two players, either alone or with a friend, to engage in unique mission play and features split-screen functionality.

• Diverse In-game Environments - Battlegrounds traversed in the game range from the lonely, snow-clad mountains of Kazakhstan, to dark tunnels in the Afghanistan and the crowded slums of Rio.

• Nonstop Action - Modern Warfare 2 contains no cutscenes, so players are always engaged in the action, no matter where they are in the game.

• New Breach Gameplay Mechanic - Players can now blaze their own paths through the game by "Breaching" formerly impregnable obstacles like walls and doors with explosives.

• New Gadgets, Weapons and Weapons System Modern Warfare 2 contains many new and updated weapons, new weapons attachments, as well as a variant of the multiplayer weapons customization system from Call of Duty 4, now available in the single player campaign.

• New Perks and Increased Customization - Multiplayer modes feature new perks for leveling up, and for killstreaks and deathstreaks. Those awarded for streaks can customized in advance according to when they become available.

Finland gives it citizens a legal right to broadband.

2009-10-17T09:34:00.000-07:00

The Ministry of Transport and Communications in Finland have announced that by next July everyone in Finland will have a legal right to a one megabit broadband connection. This announcement comes after the country already committed to making 100 megabit broadband a legal right by 2015. The country’s recent announcement is the first
step towards this goal.

At first glance, it might look like the Finish Government is going to give free 1 megabit broadband to all its 5.3 million citizens. However, when you look deeper the 1 megabit broadband connection refers to the minimum requirement for speeds in the country. There is also some leeway built in for lower speeds in rural areas where the infrastructure may not be advanced as urban areas. Still, this is strong commitment for a government to make.

In 2008, Finland was ranked second in the ITIF Global Broadband Rankings and was only surpassed by Korea and Japan. The commitments by Finland’s Government to broadband development will surely push them further up the global ranking.

Finally, access to consistent, relatively fast broadband should be a globally recognised human right. Finland has now paved the way for other countries to follow through its legally binding commitments.

Viper’s SmartStart app will get your car going.

2009-10-13T11:09:00.000-07:00

The uses for the iphone just seem to be getting more 'out there' every day. Now you can use your iphone to start your car, thanks to the new Viper SmartStart app from Directed Electronics. The features of the app lets you:

• Arm/disarm your alarm
• Unlock/lock your car
• Remotely start your car
• Trunk release
• Panic or car finder
• Operate climate control

The app is laid out in a simple graphical interface and allows for more than one car or user to be assigned. Additionally, SmartStart uses a cellular connection, so range is no longer an issue for remotely controlling your cars features. I don’t know about you, but the idea of starting the heater in your car from your bed on a cold morning sounds pretty good to me.

However, it’s not all that simple or cheap. You must first install a Viper SmartStart module in your car which has the cellular connection. If you have an existing Viper system already installed the package will cost you $299 and if you don’t it will cost you $499. In addition to this, there is a yearly subscription fee of $29.99 with the first year free. SmartStart is only available in the US with no immediate plans to role it out elsewhere.

The Nikon S1000pj – the world’s first camera with a projector.

2009-10-12T11:48:00.000-07:00

You got to check out the world’s first ultra-compact camera with a built-in projector. This thing can put a 40 inch image or video up on a screen, wall, bus, car, person or anything else for that matter. This is all done at a brightness of 10 lumens and the image can remain clear from a distance of 6 feet away. This would be so handy when you’re out on a night out. I mean, why show someone a picture on a tiny 2 inch screen when you can project it over the bar.

The S1000pj comes supplied with a stand and remote control to operate both the projector and the camera. However, the S1000pj is not just a gimmick camera. It also comes with many other cool features which include:

• A 2.7-in. high-resolution LCD monitor for the more private photos.
• Five advanced image stabilizing features
• 12.1 effective megapixels
• An amazing 5x zoom NIKKOR lens
• Smart Portrait System with Skin Softening
• Scene Auto Selector
• Subject Tracking for automatic tracking
• Quick Retouch
• D-Lighting

You can buy the S1000pj for around $430, €430 or £399. This may seem a little pricey, but that projector makes it all worth while.

Rock Band coming to the iphone & the ipod touch.

2009-10-10T13:11:00.000-07:00

EA Mobile has recently announced that the hugely successful Rock Band game will be coming to the iphone and the ipod touch. The 25 songs that you will be able to play include songs from such huge artists as Smashing Pumpkins, Lynyrd Skynyrd & the Beastie Boys.

There are four instruments that you will be able to choose from; bass, guitar, drums and vocals which you can play on your own or go on world tour with up to 4 other iphones. Additionally, this can be done over Bluetooth so you can still play in areas where there is no wifi.

Needles to say, the availability of Rock Band on the ipod touch will boost its attractiveness over such devices as the PSP Go. Finally, even though the game still has to get approval from the Apple app store, it is almost a sure thing that we will be seeing it on iphones in the very near future.

The Yike Bike – a modern take on the penny farthing.

2009-10-09T13:55:00.000-07:00

This carbon composite beauty is the brain child of inventor Grant Ryan, who was inspired to create the Yike Bike after seeing a Segway roll past. After studying the Segway, Ryan thought that the segway was overly complicated for the mass-market so he set about developing the Yike Bike. The idea behind the Yike Bike is “to solve the problems of our increasingly congested, polluted, stressful cities”. I don’t know how much of an impact this will have on these problems, but its a nice start.

The bike itself is electric powered and reach speeds of 12.5mph, has a range of around 6 miles and only takes 30 minutes to recharge. The carbon composite frame helps keep the weight down to only 10kg. The unique feature of the bike is that it can be folded up for storage and carrying. This can be done in only 15 seconds to a compact 43 litres. However, one draw back with the design is that there are no peddles on the bike. With only a 6 mile range, the lack of peddles might leave many commuters stranded and lugging the bike the rest of the way home.

Nevertheless, the Yike Bike is a nice addition to the range of personal mobility devices. However, we will have to sit back and wait to see how well the it will fair in the market against the established Segway and the revolutionary Honda U3-X which was announced this September. The total price of the YikeBike is expected to be between €3,500 and €3,900.

Twitter timeline delays

2009-10-08T12:47:00.000-07:00

Twitter acknowledged today that they were “currently investigating a problem causing many users’ timelines to be delayed”. The announcement came after users experienced a delay in the stream of updates from the people they were following. However, not to worry as the issue is now resolved and the streams are acting as normal.

Sony develops highly efficient wireless power transfer system based on magnetic resonance

2009-10-05T10:04:00.000-07:00

The idea of wireless charging has been around for quite some time now but the concept has some drawbacks, namely, the requirement for some kind of physical contact between the device and the charger, like in the new Dell Latitude Z. However, Sony has recently announced in a press release that they have developed a “highly efficient wireless power transfer system” which can transfer up to 60 Watts of electrical energy over a distance of 50cm (at an efficiency of approximately 80%, approximately 60% including rectifier).

The system is based on magnetic resonance. This means that the transfer of the electromagnetic energy being transferred is only received by the device which has the same frequency as the energy source. This ensures a constant flow of electricity. Additionally, Sony says that with magnetic resonance there is no danger of heat induction with any metal object that might be in between the two points.

Sony did not say when or how they are going to release this technology but did say they will continue to develop the technology for varying distances and products.

Optimus Maximus: the $1,600 keyboard.

2009-10-02T11:00:00.000-07:00

How much would you spend on a new keyboard? $50, $100? How about $1,600? Well that’s how much it would cost you to own the Optimus Maximus Keyboard. Why the large price tag you may ask? Well, on the Optimus Maximus, each of the 113 keys is a stand-alone display which can be assigned any image or character you may want.

Additionally, each key can be assigned its own function dependent on what you are doing. The keys can also play Gif files or small movies. There are also smaller versions of the Optimus Maximus available. These are the Optimus Aux, which has 15 keys, and the Optimus Mini Three, which has 3 keys.

The development of the Optimus Maximus came out of the Russian design studio Art Lebedev. The studio has also designed another keyboard which is currently in a concept stage. This is the Optimus Tactus keyboard which is a sensor display keyboard with no actual keys. The Tactus is basically one large screen which means there are no restrictions on the shape and size of the keys. You can programme any part of the surface to carry out any function or display any image or video, as seen below.

The uses for these keyboards are endless. However, the extremely high cost will be very hard to justify over the benefit the keyboards may bring. Nevertheless, if you have that much cash lying around one of these keyboards would make a very nice addition to your set up.

Apple gets maps. Sorry Google!

2009-10-01T10:55:00.000-07:00

Apple has acquired, in a very quiet transaction, the online mapping company Placebase. The acquisition actually took place back in July, according to tweets, but at the time there was no other evidence to support this. Then, Seth Weintraub, of Computerworld, recently reported that the Placebase’s CEO Jaron Waldman’s Linkedin profile now stated he was part of the ‘Apple Geo Team’. Can there be any more doubt that Apple has bought Placebase?

The significance of this purchase is that Apple may now be thinking of removing Google Maps from their services on the iphone and iphoto and putting in place their own mapping service. The secrecy surrounding the purchase of Placebase also supports the idea that Apple may move away from Google.

As Google is growing Apple may want to avoid being dependant on a competitor at some stage in the future. If this is the case, it is a smart move by Apple. What are your thoughts, comment below.

The new Dell Latitude Z charges wirelessly.

2009-09-30T14:34:00.000-07:00

Dell is marketing its new Latitude Z laptop as the world’s thinnest and lightest 16 inch laptop. However, I don’t think it will be the Latitude Z’s weight or size that people will be talking about. It will be the unique feature that allows
the laptop to charge wirelessly.

Well sort of wirelessly. The Latitude has “wireless docking and inductive charging” capabilities. What this means is that the Latitude Z can be charged wirelessly but it has to be placed on a docking station or stand to do so. The dock and stand are wirelessly connected to the laptop through a coil in the dock and a coil in the laptop. When the two coils are placed on top of each other an electro magnetic energy field is created which charges the laptop.

This is a step forward in laptop design, however, the fact that you still have to place the laptop on a dock or a stand takes away from the idea of wireless charging. There is still a long way to go until we can walk into a room or a hot spot in a city or airport and our laptops will start charging.

The Honda U3-X.

2009-09-29T06:12:00.000-07:00

Look out Segway, because Honda has developed a new cooler, lighter personal mobility device. The U3-X is much smaller than the Segway and more resembles a futuristic stool than a personal mobility device. The U3-X only weighs 10KG, is 65cm high and has a battery life of
one hour.

The movement of the U3-X is controlled be the user leaning their upper body or shifting their weight. This is mainly thanks to Honda's balance control technology, which was developed during the research for ASIMO.

Additionally, Honda has developed the world's first wheel structure (Honda Omni Traction Drive System, or HOT Drive System), which enables movement in all directions which Honda says is similar to the freedom of movement you have when you are walking.

There is no date for when the U3-X will go into production. In a press release Honda said they “will continue research and development of the device including experiments in a real-world environment to verify the practicality of the device.” Honda will showcase the U3-X at the 41st Tokyo Motor Show on October 24, 2009 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan.

Quick look: HTC Touch Pro 2

2009-09-25T15:19:00.000-07:00

The first thing you’ll notice about the HTC Touch Pro 2 is its size. This may put off some users. However, the phone’s large size allows it to accommodate a large Cordy keyboard which is good for messaging and e-mailing. The keyboard buttons are well spaced out and give a good feel.

There is a large 2.6inch WVGA touch screen which is very bright and incorporates a touch sensitive zoom bar which is very handy. The screen also tilts so you can lay the phone on a desk or flat surface to show people content easily which is a very helpful feature in a business phone.

On the bottom of the phone there is a welcomed 3.5 headphone jack and the top of the phone has a dedicated backlight sleep button. The back of the phone has 3.2 megapixel camera and a speaker. Inside the phone you will find a full Microsoft Office Mobile suite and pre-installed Opera browser.

Nintendo to join in the price cuts.

2009-09-24T11:18:00.000-07:00

Engadget announced that the price of the Nintendo Wii will drop to $199 in the US this weekend. This price cut comes following aggressive re-pricing by Sony and Microsoft. Nintendo’s attempt to stay competitive with this price cut may be in vain as the PS3 and the Xbox 360 are now utilising the motion capabilities, albeit at a more advanced state, which made the Wii so special in the first place. You have to ask where is the Wii’s edge now?

Cast set for Facebook movie.

2009-09-23T11:39:00.000-07:00

Variety announced today that Colombia Picture’s production of the Facebook story is to star Jesse Eisenberg as Zuckerberg and Justin Timberlake as Sean Parker. The movie is to start shooting next month in Boston. With the addition of these stars and with Aaron Sorkin writing the script, this is beginning to look like it could be an ok movie.

Xbox 360 Elite $50 rebate.

2009-09-22T10:17:00.000-07:00

Until the 5th of October in the U.S. Microsoft are giving a $50 rebate when you buy the Xbox 360 Elite console. This brings the price of the Elite down to $250. This could be to combat the exploding sale volumes of the PS3 Slim, which was aggressively re-priced at $299. If you live in the U.S. and were thinking of buying an Elite, now is the time.

Google vs. Louis Vuitton

2009-09-22T09:33:00.000-07:00

Google has won the latest of its battles with designer goods manufacturer Louis Vuitton. The conflict between the two parties is over Google allowing Louis Vuitton key-words to be used by others for advertising purposes. Louis Vuitton believes this is an infringement of copyright as many people are using the key-words to sell counterfeit Louis Vuitton goods.

Back in 2005, Louis Vuitton won a French court action which ruled that Google acted illegally in allowing third parties to use the Louis Vuitton brand name in key-word searches. Following the ruling, Google appealed to the French Appeals Court and the case was sent to the European Court of Justice to establish if Google was breaking European law.

Poiares Maduro, an advocate-general for the European Court of Justice, said that, "Google has not committed a trademark infringement by allowing advertisers to select, in AdWords, keywords corresponding to trademarks." However, Google is not off the hook yet. A final ruling is needed by a full panel of judges which is due to be made some time in early 2010.

Amazon.com Introduces AmazonBasics

2009-09-21T03:37:00.000-07:00

AmazonBasics are a new line of private-label consumer electronic ‘basics’. The line was launched with audio video cables, DVD media and accessories with more additions to come in the next few months.

Paul Ryder, vice president of Consumer Electronics for Amazon.com said in a press release that “We saw an opportunity to create a line of consumer electronics basics that combine quality and low prices for an overall focus on value. We drew on our history of developing other private-label brands and combined that with our mission to give customers the ultimate in selection and value. AmazonBasics is the result. We will continue to gather input from customers and evaluate opportunities for new products under the AmazonBasics brand. We aim to offer our customers as wide a selection as possible, and we think AmazonBasics makes a great addition to the brands we already carry.”

AmazonBasics are only currently available in the U.S. on Amazon.com but international sites are set to carry the line in a few months. All products in the AmazonBasics line are shipped with Amazon’s new Frustration-Free Packaging. This is basically a box made from recycled cardboard, which has no plastic or wire ties. The new packaging reduces the shipping cost for Amazon and also improves their green image. Additionally, AmazonBasics products include a one-year warranty.

Sony PSP Go

2009-09-20T07:40:00.000-07:00

Sony’s new version of the PSP platform is the PSP Go. It is an all digital download device which stores all the content right on the device rather than the old UMD disks. Games and content can be downloaded directly onto the device or transferred from a PC via a USB cable.

The Go has a 3.8 inch wide screen display, which is almost an inch smaller than the old PSP. The Go also offers 16GB of internal flash storage, which is expandable through an M2 slot. There is no UMD slot on the Go so there is no way at present to play your old PSP games on the Go. The go sports Wi-Fi in addition to Bluetooth which is a first for the PSP.

The Go will be released in North America and Europe on October 1st for $249 and €249. The Japan release will follow a month later.

Chaise-longue with technology appeal

2009-09-18T11:09:00.000-07:00

Funky new designs are emerging every day which try to keep up with changing needs of the tech minded person. The wave chaise is one cool example, which enables you to

watch TV or DVD, listen to your favorite CD, read, talk on the phone, or even study, take a nap or browse the internet...in a multifunctional chaise-longue. This concept is inspired by the values and personality of a today's teenager and the standards generated by a global hi-tech culture of facilities, where the access to technology is cheap and easy.

Everyone should have one of these wave chaises in their bedroom, but don’t know how you would get it through the door.

The Best 3D Video Cards For Your PC!

2009-09-11T08:04:00.000-07:00

http://revision3.com/

Record level of sales for the PS3 Slim in the first week.

2009-09-10T11:23:00.000-07:00

Since the PS3 Slim went on global release at the start of September it has sold astounding numbers. Only 4 days after the launch in Japan over 150,000 units were sold. In the U.K. the Slim didn’t do quite as well, but still hit high numbers. MCV reviled that U.K. sales of the Slim reached over
40,000 units in its first week.

Furthermore, sales in the U.S. did better than predicted leading to shortages. Amazon reported to have a shortage in supply which led the site to limit the amount of Slims sold to one unit per household. This surge in sales of the Slim, due to the aggressive pricing by Sony, may be the start of a campaign to go after the Xbox 360’s numbers.

Main headlines out of Apple 09.09.09

2009-09-10T03:10:00.000-07:00

•Steve Jobs gives his first key note after his liver transplant.
•Price cuts to ipods.
•Nano gets a video camera (640x480), bigger screen (2.2inch.), FM radio & genius feature.
•itouch goes up to 64GB of storage & faster processer.
•Ringtones for the iphone.
•New colours for the shuffle.

Apple closes store for the day

2009-09-09T07:33:00.000-07:00

After the new ipod prices were released before they were announced at the Apple show today, apple closed the Apple Store in a bid to keep some of the surprise of price cuts.

Apple cutting prices before announced at event

2009-09-09T05:51:00.000-07:00

Apple is cutting the price of the classic and nano ipod by $20. however, the biggest cut is to the itouch with a $40 reduction. The ipod shuffle has remained the same price. The apple store started to show the new prices before they are announced at the latest apple event.

Project Natal Xbox 360

2009-09-06T11:12:00.001-07:00

WordPress has got worms!

2009-09-06T10:48:00.000-07:00

WordPress recently released a security announcement on their blog alerting users to a worm which is currently infecting older versions of WordPress. The post goes on to describe the worm,

“it is clever: it registers a user, uses a security bug (fixed earlier in the year) to allow evaluated code to be executed through the permalink structure, makes itself an admin, then uses JavaScript to hide itself when you look at users page, attempts to clean up after itself, then goes quiet so you never notice while it inserts hidden spam and malware into your old posts.”

The current 2.8.4 version of WordPress is immune to the worm and users of older versions are urged to upgrade as soon as possible.

One of the world’s oldest computers brought back to life.

2009-09-04T07:56:00.000-07:00

The National Museum of Computing (TNMOC) at Bletchley Park has started work on restoring the world's oldest working stored-program electronic computer. The Witch machine was used for atomic research back in 1951. Witch stands for (Wolverhampton Instrument for Teaching Computing from Harwell) and stayed operational at Harwell until 1957. It was then used for educational purposes until 1973 when it was put in storage. The Witch machine will take its place alongside the rebuild of Colossus Mk II, the world’s first electronic computer.

Kevin Murrell, the director and trustee of TNMOC, explained: “The machine was a relay-based computer using 900 Dekatron gas-filled tubes that could each hold a single digit in memory -- similar to RAM in a modern computer -- and paper tape for both input and program storage."

If you want to be a part of history the TNMOC is inviting members of the public and industry to sponsor the restoration of the Witch computer by purchasing one of 25 shares at £4500 each. The funds will be used by TNMOC, a registered charity, to undertake the restoration and extend the ever-expanding museum.

Google is to bring movie rentals to YouTube.

2009-09-03T07:43:00.000-07:00

Google are stepping up the plate alongside NetFlix and Apple to bring movie rentals to YouTube. The service has been given a trial run with some 10,000 Google employees and will hopefully be given the green light in the near future. The service might be region specific such as Hulu, but hopefully there won’t be too many restrictions.

Another body blow for IE.

2009-09-02T08:58:00.000-07:00

New Sony Vaio laptops will come with Google Chrome pre installed. This is a huge president as the Vaio will be the first windows based laptop to come with an option of browsers. Is windows IE monopolistic life line threatened? Mozila will be jumping for joy with this announcement as they have been campaigning for a long time for choice in the browser market.

Comes With Music, or does it?

2009-09-01T12:42:00.000-07:00

Nokia have postponed their launce of the Comes With Music service in the US for the time being. According to Engadget, issues with consumer distaste for the DRM format of music on the service in addition to poor take up of Nokia’s latest handsets are some of the reasons behind the postponement.

Apple News: Music Event 9th of September

2009-08-31T14:43:00.000-07:00

Apple have announced a music event for the 9th of September according to Digital Daily. The event will be held at the Yerba Buena Centre for the Arts in San Francisco. The biggest news that is expected to come out of the event is the announcement of the Beatles back catalogue coming to i-tunes. The reasoning behind this is the fact that the Beatles Rock Band game will be launched on the same day.

Samsung App Store to launch in Europe

2009-08-31T08:41:00.000-07:00

Samsung have moved past their beta app store for handsets to launch a fully functional one on September 14th in Europe. America will have to wait a little longer. To begin with, the app store will contain 300 apps, growing to 2000 apps by the end of the year.

PS3 Slim Un-boxed

2009-08-30T11:59:00.001-07:00

The new PS3 Slim

2009-08-30T09:33:00.000-07:00

The new Sony PS3 Slim is set for a world-wide release during the first week of September with a price drop to $299 and €299. The first thing you will notice about the Slim is its textured surface which makes it virtually fingerprint proof. Secondly, the Slim is now 32% thinner, 36% lighter and consumes 34% less power than the old PS3.

Gone are the touch sensitive buttons at the front, in their place are actual buttons which most gamers will welcome. The Slim comes with a 120GB HDD which is user upgradable through an easy access font panel and will not void the warranty. The front of the Slim also has 2 USB ports along with built in wi-fi for easy connectivity. As with the old PS3, Blueray is still the choice for movies and gaming.

The Slim has the same connections at the back; Ethernet port, hdmi out port, digital audio out and Sony’s AV cable connection. However, the physical power switch and the backward compatibility with ps2 games have been removed. Again, as with the old PS3, there is no IR port to use universal remotes

Another point which should be made is that the Slim must be laid flat, or you can buy an additional stand for $24 which will come out in the near future. All in all, the new PS3 Slim is a nice improvement on an excellent machine.

Refresh Electronics Charging Station

2009-08-30T08:11:00.000-07:00

This is a funky, sleek charging station which allows you to charge 4 devices at the same time. The good thing about this charging station is that it incorporates the micro USB based charging interface - a standard being introduced by most major brands. This is handy as it will ensure a long life of the product in terms of compatibility. You can find it at ThinkGeek.com

Apple Tablet TBA.

2009-08-28T04:31:00.000-07:00

Rumours are flying around the internet of apple announcing a tablet pc for the Christmas season.

Daring advertising from 3M.

2009-08-28T04:24:00.000-07:00

Millions of dollars in a bus stop advertisement might get you a little frustrated when you have to ride the bus to work.