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Toshiba looks like it's taking a leaf out of HTC's design book with its upcoming G900 series smartphones, as revealed in recent FCC filings. The G910 and 920 are sleek little numbers, much shinier than the old G900 itself, and opting for clamshell form factors instead of slide-out keyboards. More info and a couple more pics after the jump.
We've seen wooden cars before, but they've never looked quite as awesome as this supercar one-off that a team of graduate students is building. Named Splinter, the supercar is being constructed as a serious attempt to explore the uses of wood as a bulding material for vehicles, so it's even loaded with a supercharged 600-hp V8 engine that should really give it a roar. More info after the jump.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple is right now in talks with NTT DoCoMo and Softbank, negotiating the release of the iPhone in Japan. Steve Jobs recently met with NTT DoCoMo's president and company executives have been travelling back and forth between Tokyo and Cupertino to talk about the possible deals, eat tofu tempura, drink sake and sing in karaoke/strip bars. [WSJ - Subscription required]
A mixture of traditional concrete and fiber-optics, TranslucentConcrete (not to be confused with translucent concrete—yes, I know) can be used by architects to make load-bearing walls a little more see-through than they normally are. Check the amazing effects in the gallery below.
The PlayStation 3 2.10 update is here, bringing with it not only Blu-ray Profile 1.1 support (which adds picture in picture among other things), but DivX and WMV playback as well. Unfortunately, DivX support means DivX support, and doesn't include XviD as some of us hoped according to readers includes XviD support, but the files we have tested don't work at all. We threw our normal battery of files at our PS3, and came to the conclusion that it's not quite as good as the Xbox 360 implementation. Here are our notes.
Update: We've found that XviD playback does work, but only on burned DVDs and external hard drives. See here for an update and a workaround.DivX and WMV play back fine. Just as they claimed, the PS3 now can play back DivX files and WMV files. No problemo.
According to reader reports, the PlayStation 3 firmware 2.1 is now available, complete with DivX support, WMVs, enhanced audio bitmapping and a voice changer to make you sound like Sean Connery even if your voice is like Mickey Mouse. [Thanks Joel]
We got the LEGO Ultimate Collector's Millenium Falcon and here's a video of me getting all dorky and excited about this awesome 12 Kilogram, 5,159-block LEGO masterpiece. This is just a teaser of what's coming later this week: the time-lapse video of its construction by only one single dork, and the review (and in case there are still any doubts about it, this is the most amazing LEGO set—and to me, the best toy—you can buy for you your kids this holiday season.) [LEGO]
Artist Aram Bartholl's "Chat" concept enables users to engage in a conversation via brief text messages that are typed on a keyboard and projected onto a comic strip-like voice bubble overhead —not unlike the Voice Bubble Mirror from earlier this year. Even though the keyboard is wireless, a technician is needed to secure the bubble behind the speaker, so the whole project falls short of greatness. A video of Chat in action is available after the break.
When it comes to Dubai and attracting wealthy tourists, the word "restraint" is seldom used. Perhaps that is why it is not surprising that the locals are building a $1 billion theme park that will feature over 100 animatronic dinosaurs of 40 different species. Dubbed "Restless Planet," the park will attempt to provide an educational experience amidst all of the Vegas style spectacle. This will be done using history themed rides and robots / habitats that represent an accurate portrayal (based on current knowledge) of what life was like millions of years ago.
The Sitscape Couch is painstakingly crafted to accommodate six of the most common relaxation positions. Not only that, it is designed to allow for a smooth transition between said positions. So, whether you are lying down or sitting cross-legged, the Sitscape has you covered. The product page also mentions that the unique contours of the Sitscape couch allow for "new and unexpected possibilities" (in bold type of course). Whatever could they mean? Unfortunately, since the product is a concept, we may never get a chance to test these possibilities out. [Design Page via Pan-Dan via about:blank]
Mobiblu's known for their six-sided Cube MP3 players, but this Nanum is the first one we've seen that actually deconstructs from a cube into a cross. We're not sure what good having a flat cross-shaped MP3 player would be, but these things are seriously tiny. Tiny. Peep the gallery after the jump to see it photographed next to objects that you're familiar with. Seriously, it's so small that we can see someone being able to choke on it.
We believe in passing judgment. As 2007 draws to a close, there seems to be no more appropriate thing to do then slap an academic letter grade on the actions of companies who have had the strongest impact our lives this year. Today we've kicked off a week-long series to evaluate the sometimes brutal, sometimes munificent, sometimes just plain stupid acts of these gods of Mount Olympus, and applying perspective to well-covered events that was unattainable at the time they were breaking. For reasons of suspense, we're not going to tell you who's left on the list, but you've seen the first two on Nintendo and Samsung, so feel free to guess who the remaining 8 to 10 will be.
This external hard drive concept entitled "IVY" adds an interesting new aesthetic to a plain old drive via an OLED screen that visualises the content of the hard disk. Inspired by Sequoiaview visualisation software, IVY starts out life as a rather plain looking disk. As you fill it up, the design changes in sync with the content. In essence, you can automatically decorate your drive with a cushion treemap design that continually evolves. Again, it is only a concept —but it is a particularly interesting looking one if I do say so myself. [Concept Page via Next Nature via about:blank]
A few weeks ago, after reporting on the RCA and Zenith branded digital converter boxes approved by the FCC for analogue-TV holdouts, I jokingly asked where the Magnavox DTV converter box was.
Seeing as we don't specialise in moving boxes around in a gigantic warehouse, we're less than familiar with KIVA Systems and their little orange go-bots. However, when you program anything mechanical to dance to the The Nutcracker March, our interest goes through the roof. What can we say, we love ballet—not to mention little robots that can smash an entire aisle of merchandise on you. [Kiva Systems via IEEE]
We've got some more details on the FyreTV IPTV porn box that brings DVD-quality porn into your living room (where it belongs). If we're reading the site correctly, the FyreTV box will be subscription-based, meaning it's essentially an "all you can eat" type of porn instead of an a la carte—think Zune Pass vs. iTunes. It's entirely streaming, so there's no saving of content, but you can bookmark and search for your favourite scenes. Go sign up for the free beta if you're interested. [FyreTV]
Posted by Anna King at 9:30 AM on December 18, 2007
The 6-Minute Dark Knight Bank Heist Trailer
Beer-Brewing Bender is How Bender Would Want to Exist
Nintendo Year-End Report Card: A-
Video: Smartcar Slams Into Concrete Barrier at 70MPH
Cerevellum Bike Computer Does It All, Including Video From Behind
PCWorld Calls Vista the Biggest Tech Disappointment of 2007
A team of 10 cyclists from MIT have set a new world record in the field of Human Powered Computation (HPC) by drawing 1.2 kilowatts of electricity and powering a a SiCortex SC648 supercomputer over the course of a 20 minute nonstop ride. The idea came in response to Google's "Innovate or Die" contest that challenges contestants to use pedal power to develop a "zero emission invention." More info and a video after the break.
Whatever Christmas light scheme your dad cooked up as a kid most likely pales in comparison to these four Canadian families, who connected their Xmas lights together in a network-choreographed way. As you can see in the video, the lights go off according to pre-programmed timers (like the water fountains at the Bellagio) that are posted on their website so you can sync your own house up to them. Better yet, you can even log on and change their patterns yourself either from your desktop or your BlackBerry. Best. Lights. Ever. [Calico.whittaker.ca via BlackBerry Cool]
GPS navigation units are nice and all, but how many times have you been using one and you make a wrong turn just because its directions aren't clear enough? Often there are multiple options for where to turn, and a simple "Bear Right in 200 Yards" just isn't enough info. Well, this new "Virtual Cable" would make that problem a thing of the past by making it perfectly clear exactly where you're supposed to turn.
By using a "patent pending volumetric display system using lasers and mirrors," it makes a red ribbon appear out in front of your windshield in 3D, showing you exactly the route your car is supposed to take. As of now, this isn't an option on any commercial navigation unit, but the inventor is hoping to have it become a $450 option on new cars with built-in navigation. What do you guys think, worth it or no? Seems well worth it to me, both for the sake of convenience and safety. [Product Page via Oh Gizmo!]
Based on a recent patent entitled "A Layered Mobile Device," Nokia may be saying "to hell" with the clean and simple design trend with a triple slider concept that goes all in. The device would feature a numeric keypad (with a dedicated set of multimedia keys on the back) and a QWERTY keyboard layered on top of one another. The kind of sliding motions they are proposing here are complex to say the least —probably too complex to be truly practical. Only time will tell if the design sees the light of day as an actual product. [Patent via Unwired View]
Posted by Anna King at 8:45 AM on December 18, 2007
It's an unfortunate paradox of life that the wonderful internets is often accessed via the machine on which you should be using for work. You're sitting at the desk, incessantly refreshing the page during the final minutes of that eBay auction. Or waiting for the second hand to tick over to 9:00am so you can book those gig tickets. Or better yet, gaping at all the cool new shiny things on Giz, when you hear footsteps coming and a bark of "What are you working on?"
This is where the Panic Button steps in. Instead of scrambling around madly trying to a) maximise the window that contains actual work-related content and b) minimise all the windows that contain incriminating content, simply: a) surreptitiously press that big red button, then b) watch smugly as a spreadsheet pops up onto the screen. Better yet, the Panic Button can be personalised to conjour up an actual document from your current work project. Brilliant! [Gadget Central]
Samsung has grown to be such a household name that we rarely stop to think about exactly how freaking massive the company has become. Other Asian conglomerates can have their snowmobiles, trains and heavy industrial equipment, Samsung plays it straight up the consumer-electronics path. In fact, we defy you to name a CE category Samsung doesn't have at least some piece of. In order to judge ol' Sammy's performance this year, we have to look into a lot of key areas.
Posted by Anna King at 8:30 AM on December 18, 2007
The Skype Mouse integrates two desktop essentials - the optical mouse and VoIP phone - into one nifty gadget. Featuring an 800 dpi optical sensor for precise pointer motions, the device switches seamlessly to phone mode when you flip open the lid to reveal a functional number pad and backlit LCD screen.
As a VoIP device, the Skype Mouse boasts compatibility with a number of services, including the obvious Skype. It can be programmed to access contact details through MS Outlook and a call log records Call List, Call History, Time and Caller ID details. Plus, there is also support for hands-free and speakerphone functions.
Unfortunately, while the Skype Mouse is multi-purpose, it is not dual purpose. You will not be able to use it as a mouse when on a VoIP call and it will not ring when the screen is closed. However, there's no denying that it performs pleasingly in both its modes, not to mention the brag factor guaranteed by owning such a desktop transformer. [Gadget Central]
Here's the first gorgeous shot of an Google Android prototype in the wild. It looks HTC-ish in build, similar to the grainy versions we've seen in the official videos and the renderings in the SDK emulator. Our source, a Giz reader, had some feedback to add to the prototype, which he used for a day: Even in early form, it's light and fast, much faster than the desktop emulator at times. And as a long time programmer, he think it's a lot more put together than Window Mobile 5 on the back side of things. It's a prototype so things will obviously change, but these are all great signs. I just pray that hardware by other makers is a lot more adventurous. In my mind, those HTC designs remind me a little too much of WM and will for a long time. [Thanks Tipster X]
SiRF, the company that's responsible for the "GPS" portion of a good deal of GPS devices on the market, has just pledged support for the Google Android platform. What kind of support? The end-to-end kind, which will make "location awareness" a big part of Android. To us this means that not only can you use it to see where you are on Google Maps or get driving directions, you can even use it for geotagging pictures and videos you upload to the net. Or, perhaps even more creative (stalking) uses for applications that would (stalking) benefit from knowing where you are (stalking). [MercExtra]
We swore off microscopes after getting one for our 10th birthday and seeing just how disgusting our skin was, but this cheap USB microscope seems to be kinda neat. Carlosb.tv shows you that you can make your own microscope by dismantling a cheap USB webcam, placing really dirty on it, turning out the lights and shining a flashlight on the result. Spoiler after the jump.
It's the holidays, which means shoppers get themselves worked into a frenzy looking for "hot" products that will prove to their children that they love them despite the 11 previous months of shoddy parenting. Looking to take advantage of some people less internet-savvy than yourself this season? Take a gander at the top products that are getting way above their retail value on eBay right now, plus some free tips on getting the highest bid possible with the fewest scruples possible:
When we first heard that Fred Barton the robot maker could make our own life-sized Cylon, we started lathering Crisco all over our chest in anticipation of some Six action. But alas, that's not to be! Barton specialises in creating metallic robots, which results in both the original metal Toaster cylons from the '70s as well as the Knight Rider-eyed metal baddies from the current series. Ok, how about a compromise? We'll settle for Boomer or even the Lucy Lawless one. [Fred Barton via Retro Thing]
There isn't much to know just yet about the Sony Mylo 2, an update of the original Skype/Wi-Fi/Browser/Messaging tool that hit last year. What we do know is that it looks slightly more squarish than the original, it keeps the sliding form factor, adds a camera and has 802.11g as well as 802.11b. The only thing we'd tack on is some kind of 3G data connection so you wouldn't have to be in Wi-Fi range all the time, but that may be a dream best saved for Mylo 3. [Electronista]
Should AT&T and the other telcos involved (like Verizon) get a total pass for participating in the NSA's domestic wiretapping program that let the government eavesdrop on Americans without a warrant? The Senate's thisclose to giving them immunity from lawsuits like the one the Electronic Freedom Foundation's filed against AT&T and others.