Mossy reviews the touch, and finds that the battery life was only 4 hours while playing video, short of our own touch experience that lasted over 6 hours. The money quote is when he calls Apple out for removing features and apps that the iPhone has, unnecessarily: …it seems ridiculous to me to sell a powerful device with Wi-Fi and a huge screen, and to leave out things like an email program, even though you can use Web-based email programs. I assume Apple was concerned that the less costly Touch might compete too much with the iPhone if it had these features.
Before he closes with approval, he verifies that the shimmery screen issues were a temporary production problem and have been solved. [AllThingsD]
Kaz Hirai just announced it at TGS, in the US and Europe Spring 08, Japan in November. Ten titles supported including the new Metal Gear, no price yet. UPDATED: Game list below. [Kotaku]
Gordon Moore, the mind behind Moore’s Law, predicts his law of doubling processor transistors every two years will be proven wrong in about 10 years. Apparently, there’s only so much room on a processor and so small you can make a transistor before you run out of space. [I4U]
Good news. Yesterday Whirlpool confirmed that 2Clix has withdrawn their suit against Simon Wright. Wonder if they think this will also withdraw the bad blood of starting this case in the first place? Let’s hope they’re not that naive. Gratz to Whirlpool on a bullet very well dodged. Or was that a cap gun? -Seamus Byrne
Here’s one for the record books. Literally. Solar Sailor is an Australian invention that can right now be found sailing Sydney Harbour, a hybrid powered boat design that allows solar and wind energy to be harvest via its ‘solar wing’ for big enviro/financial energy savings. This tech has the potential to scale for use on ferries, cruisers, yachts, and even large tankers. Dr Robert Dane, Head of Solar Sailor:
We are confident we can build everything up to ocean liners and in fifty years time people will look back on boats of the 20th Century and they’ll say where are the wings?
Now Solar Sailor is the first Australian company recognised by the Tech Museum Awards Program as a Laureate for its contribution to the Environment. Read on for what Bob Hawke (yep, good old Hawkey), Chairman of Solar Sailor Holdings, had to say about that. No, he didn’t cry. Another pic after the jump too.
Despite wireless USB just getting off the ground, Intel are supposedly working on a wireless USB 1.1 standard that will increase data transfer rates to 1 Gbps. The standard would move Wireless USB’s operating frequency to the 6 GHz range, up from the 3-4 GHz current wireless USB is operating in. There are detractors, such as NEC’s Masami Katagiri who claim wireless USB is only transferring at 40 Mbps right now and would have to hit at least 500 Mbps to gain 1.1 approval. Realistic or not, we like the ambition. [EETimes]
Director Abe Greenwald just released his documentary of what goes on during Geeks on Board cruises, featuring Woz and David Pogue, among others. This is a trailer. Best part is when they go ashore to some exotic local and everyone lays on the beach far from the water, with laptops in tow. Gotta be hard to see the screens under those conditions, eh? [Amazon]
Intel plans to release a “Santa Rosa Refresh” in January which loads the 45nm Penryn chipset and “improved graphics capabilities”, the both of which allow for improved battery life and better Direct X 10 performance. The refresh laptops will also have 802.11n as well as Gigabit Ethernet networking. [Businesswire]
How to activate the voicemail button on your iPhone. Good tip for every unlocker.
iSlide os a segway / skateboard combo. And looks like a lot of fun.
EA confirms PS3 rumble controller with live unit. Now all we need are some hot games and the PS3 is ready for launch. Sorry, what?
Solar powered laser promises nigh-unlimited energy, more efficient Death Stars. I’ll wait until we genuinely see some unlimited energy flowing on my copper.
Giz buddy Sean Captain of Pop Science — Sorry, Séan — got a hands on of the Pico projector we saw at CES. From the photo, it looks surprisingly bright for a system meant to eventually be crammed into the gullet of a cellphone. The laser based system is loud, but notes that we’ll hear of the Pico in an official product before CES is through. (Don’t forget, Motorola is already signed up.) He also notes that a LED based system is coming that should run a lot cooler, and go for a lot less money, although I’d guess it won’t be nearly as bright. Video:
