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It looks like all that was wrong with the PS3 was the price, because despite a very slow start, Sony has announced that their console will reach worldwide sales numbers of 11 million units by the end of this fiscal year (March 31st, 2008). That’s big news for Sony and the gaming industry, as developers have a lot more incentive to make games for a platform that someone actually owns. Alright, it’s time to place your bets again: how will the console wars end? [yahoonews]
What can $US26,000 buy you these days? Perhaps a pedal powered EV hybrid? The Twike was designed way back in the 80′s, and it was put together by students in Switzerland who dreamt of the Flintstones every night a greener transportation mode. Germany’s Fine Mobile GmBH took a liking to the invention, by adding electric batteries and regenerative braking, they are confident their product will sell fast. Jump for the impressive specifications.The Twike will be able to reach speeds of up to 85 km/h; it accelerates from 0 – 64 km/h in 9 seconds and the range of the car will be increased by 50% if you can convince Barney, who’d be sitting in the passenger seat, to pedal along with you.
Probably all the US treehuggers ignored this but yesterday there was an international call for a five-minute blackout to save some watts and call attention to the staggering energy consumption on the planet. Too little you say? Try Blackle, a non-official version of Google, which claims to have saved 307,326 Watt hours by using a black background instead of the classic white. Anything that may save some cents from my bill and minutes from my monitor life is welcome, but is this real?
AU: The guys at Techlogg tested 27 monitors and found absolutely no power saving on flat panels. There was a genuine saving on CRTs, but not the 15 watts the site claims. Techlogg averaged 10 watts. So if you’re on a CRT, bookmark it. If not, ignore it. -SB
Zumreed’s raindrop-shaped iPod dock is waterproof, so it’s perfect for singing along to sad songs in the shower, if you’re that kind of person. Available in three colors, white, turquoise and orange, it weighs just over a pound, costs $49.95 and is compatible with most 4th- and 5th-gen iPods. [AudioCubes via Sci-Fi Tech]
WW2 code-breaker behemoth Colossus was beaten by amateur Joachim Schuth in yesterday’s code-cracking challenge. Bonn-based Schuth had written his own suite of software specially for the challenge. [BBC Online]
If you are a virtual console fan, a Club Nintendo member and live in Japan, here’s the perfect retro gamepad for your Nintendo Wii: a Super Nintendo Entertainment System controller for the Wii. It will be out in April of next year and hopefully it will be such a raging success that Nintendo will have to rerelease it commercially all over the world, may Godzilla destroy their headquarters and kick Satoru Iwata’s butt if they don’t do that. Verdict: Gimme. [Gamebrink]
A wireless gaming chair for desktop gamers is a cool idea, although it’s not as cool as this massage gaming chair from a few weeks back. In the sheltered little life that I scuzz around in, gaming chairs are floor-height cack-magnets, rocking delights such as sweat patches, condiment stains, popcorn husks that look like toenail clippings, toenail clippings and other assorted umska that acts as girlfriend repellent, not to mention the sweet smell of eau de sweaty butt crack. Full specs and price below.
Anke Weiss has designed these neat lights made from packaging, by pricking holes in soap boxes and juice cartons. There is one problem, however:
More E-Book News, this one a prototype from Seiko Epson, makers of the cool E-ink watch. The device’s form factor is at least as thin as Sony’s Reader, but it has a 1200×1600 display. That’s a lot of res on that 6.7-inch screen. UPDATE: Res independence, good point brilliant readers. [MobileRead via TechnoBob]
The Thanko USB Heating pad has the unique position of being potentially useful as we enter the colder months. Then again, there’s no way this thing puts out more heat than a modern CPU/GPU combo. Just put your notebook on your lap, and watch your man-bits. [Akihabara]
