If you ever wake up in the morning and think: “Every day is just the same old same old,” then maybe you need to look at Ryuuichi Terada’s blog. Entitled “I Take a Picture of the Same Vending Machine Every Day (or so). I’m Very Sorry,” the Sapporo-based man has spent the past two years doing exactly that, highlighting the changes made when the machine is restocked — like this:
This somehow ridiculous but irresistibly cool Trumpet Call Harmonica by Hohner will appeal to pros, amateurs and assorted failed blues musicians like myself. Tuned to C-major and made of solid pearwood and brass, the Trumpet Call is a 1907 design which includes five bells for some deep vibrato effects. Or so they say. And for $120 we can say that it blows, in a good way. [Hammacher Schlemmer]
As Adobe launches its latest Photoshop and Premiere Elements editions for Windows &mdash still $99 each or $149 as a combo &mdash there was plenty of talk why it chose Blu-ray over HD DVD, and about the return of a low-end product for the Mac OS aimed to challenge iLife at a moment of vulnerability.
A version of Photoshop Elements will ship for Mac OS in “early 2008,” says senior product manager Mark Dahm, who said that instead of an iPhoto-like album organizer similar to the one in the Windows version, a Mac PSE would have something like the Bridge application that comes with full-fledged Photoshop CS3.
In the hot summer months, rumour was that the critically acclaimed BlackBerry Curve was coming to T-Mobile—and unlike the AT&T “exclusive” edition, the T-Mo one would have Wi-Fi. Last week, Jason Chen reported that the Curve would be equipped with T-Mobile’s Hotspot @Home for unlimited Wi-Fi calling at home or in Starbucks. Chen also posted that the 8320 Curve would cost $249 with a 2-year contract. You got the news. All that remains is to tell you that it’s living up to its promise so far. Here’s the official confirmation:
ThinkSECURE shall be hosting a hacking competition, titled AirRaid2, in the great city of Bangkok, Thailand. The tournament will take place on the 21st December 2007, so if you are a mean-bean hacking machine, say goodbye to another Christmas.
The XO laptop will soon be available for purchase in the US via OLPC’s “Give 1 Get 1″ program. The business model is interesting; essentially, the cost of ownership shall be $400 for one XO laptop. The price shall also provide funding for a second XO laptop that will be donated, on your behalf, to a qualifying child in a developing nation.
Orders shall be taken for two weeks, between the 12th-26th November, 2007, which shall guarantee delivery in time for Christmas. Though the intention is super, is it not slightly patronizing to force customers to donate to charity? Your thoughts, oh trusted readership? [OLPC News]
Last week a Bill was introduced to the Senate that aims to give Federal Police sweeping powers to ban access to Internet content. The Communications Legislation Ammendment (Crime or Terrorism Related Content) Bill 2007 [PDF doc] might sound like it has good intentions by invoking the word ‘terrorism’ in the name, but it is incredibly sweeping in its powers.
According to Electronic Frontiers Australia, the Bill would give Feds the power to ban access to content they “have reason to believe” encourages, incites, or induces the commission of a Commonwealth offence; was published in part to facilitate the commission of such an offence; or is likely to have the effect of facilitating the commission of such an offence.
This isn’t just about terrorists. Commonwealth offences include copyright infringement, ‘illegal’ protest marches, or advocacy for actions like euthanasia. We might not agree with all such things, but the idea that a law could be in place to let the police ban discussion through a ‘reason to believe’ it encourages offences? The slippery slope just got a bit more grease added to its stainless steel surface.
With no provisions in the Bill for appeal or review of decisions, the EFA is throwing a real tanty over this one. Odds are good that parliament will not sit again prior to the election, but this is there on the table ready to become a law if the status quo of parliament remains after the election. The full EFA release is after the jump. [EFA Slams Police Censorship Bill]
Philips newest LCD TV, the Philips Aurea, is a very interesting counterpoint to the technical accomplishment of the Pioneer Kuro Project range. On one hand, Pioneer has delivered a plasma panel that is second to none in what you’re seeing on screen. On the other hand, Philips has delivered a television that fills rooms with its artistic presence. Both are about using light to optimise your screen experience. For me, it is the Aurea that gives goosebumps every time I see it. And on Friday I visited Philips for some one-on-one quality time, and on second viewing (after their initial launch earlier in the week) it still gives me chills.
Read on for a detailed take on the screen, it’s surprising audio, what Wong Kar Wai has to do with all this, plus availability and price. Oh, okay, Philips has pulled in a very limited supply to arrive November (Australia was going to be bumped to next year but the local team has secured a small pre-Christmas release) and it’s $5,999.
You read it right—we are going official with our favourite butt plug. Here is the complete run down of how it feels, what it does, where you can insert it and how much we love it. The power socket butt plug is made of hardened plastic, as such it has a tough plastic exterior; on the reverse there is a UK standard, 3-pin port connector. Once we got this into our power socket, with the help of an adapter, the buttock light illuminated.
According to The Register, the latest news on IEEE finalising the 802.11n spec is that there is now a big sticking point over patent concerns related to our very own CSIRO. They are known to possess a patent essential to the spec, so without a guarantee that they will not sue anyone over the use of the technology the IEEE will not finalise the standard.
And the gear out there that is ‘draft-n’? Well that is already possibly open to being hit by patent suits if CSIRO cashes in their chips on this one. It’s not that they are shaping to do so, it’s just that they’re staying too quiet for the IEEE’s liking.
We’ve asked the CSIRO for their side of the story, but it’s still early on the first day back at work so we have yet to hear any word. We’ll share what we can if we do. [The Register]
