Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Computers
Kohjinsha SX Series: For When Your Mini-Notebook Obsession Grows Up
11:40PM Mark Wilson | While Asus has brought mini-notebooks to US shores, for the best stuff you’ve still got to import. The Kohjinsha SX Series is a 1.2kg laptop with a few interesting quirks. Powered by an Atom processor, the 8.9-inch Vista system can convert to tablet with the rotation of the convertible touchscreen. And to make sure you can teleconference in either mode, the system features two cameras to capture those dazzling whites. The 1GB of RAM will need a boost, but the 60GB hard drive, internal DVD writer and expandable multicard reader do a lot to make up for it (and if only we could take advantage of that 1seg tuner…). Buy it now for US$1,199.00. [DFJ via jkkmobile] More »
Cameras
Ricoh Bumps Up Megapixels with the GX200 Camera
11:20PM Gizmodo US Edition | With 12 megapixels of creamy goodness, Ricoh’s GX200 is an upgrade of last year’s GX100. The Smooth Imaging Engine III processing engine gives you better noise reduction, there’s a 2.7-inch, 460,000-pixel HVGA LCD screen, an electronic level function for horizontal and vertical shooting, and 5fps continuous RAW mode. Cost in the UK is either US$700 or US$800, depending whether you get the VF-1 electronic viewfinder. Bonus pic and interminably long press release are below. More »
Science
Scientists Build Portable Life-Signs Detector: Tricorder 1.0
11:15PM Gizmodo US Edition | A team of US and UK scientists have invented a portable scanner that may be useful in the hunt for life on Mars. And it sounds a whole lot like a Star Trek tricorder: it uses a beam of ultraviolet laser light and detects fluorescence from organic molecules, so it works remotely and doesn’t damage samples. Under simulated-Mars conditions, they’ve used it to detect polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (found on comets, thought to be building-blocks of life) in masses as small as 1.5 micrograms. Plus they think the tech could be adapted to be rugged and fitted onto a future Mars rover. Just wait for the handheld version, and for an astronaut to start going “widdlywee…” as they stomp around Mars. [Eurekalert via IO9] More »
Deals
Dealzmodo: Free Sirius Radio With Purchase of Lamborghini
11:00PM Mark Wilson | For most of us, the deciding factor against getting satellite radio are those pesky subscription costs. Now Sirius has just signed a deal with Automobili Lamborghini to offer the car customers free lifetime service of Sirius. One word of caution: The deal starts with the 2009 Murciélago. So make sure you don’t buy a 2008 Lamborghini only to find yourself jacked with huge, unexpected fees. AU: I’d very much doubt that this is for Aussies, but if anybody out there is looking to buy a 2009 Lamborghini, feel free to let us know. [Edmunds] Thanks Frank! More »
Gadgets
Tapehead Inspector Is Coming For Your Tapes
10:40PM Mark Wilson | A brilliant use of old tech, the Tapehead Inspector is a manual tape reader not meant so much for playback of your favourite ’80s power ballad mix, but for new music creation. Constructed by removing the tapehead from an old Walkman, it sounds quite a bit like a mixer as it runs over old tape and/or magnetised cards in your wallet. Oh, and it’s stored in a giant cassette tape, which is more than a little fantastic. [Zero-Waste via MAKE] More »
Gadgets
Mossberg Has Power to Make Companies Tank, Soar
10:23PM Gizmodo US Edition | Bow to Walter the Merciless, for he definitely influences the market and can decide if a product is worthy of living or not. At least according to “The Value of Quality: Stock Market Returns to Reviewed Quality of New Products,” a new research paper that has analysed Mossberg’s product reviews and their effect on companies’ valuations during a 10-year period. The conclusion: He could make stock prices tank or soar by as much as 10%. And that’s without using his mental control powers. More »
Entertainment
Beast With a Billion Backs, New Futurama DVD, Out Today
10:00PM Gizmodo US Edition | Today is June 24 and, for Futurama fans, that can only mean one thing: the latest offering from Matt Groening and Co. is out today. Beast With A Billion Backs is a “depraved, yet sensuous” episode that, according to head writer and producer David X. Cohen, refers to as “disturbing.” (Yay!) “There is certainly more of an adult theme in this film than the average Futurama episode” he adds. With David Cross voicing the Beast (everyone’s favourite gymnophobic, Dr Tobias Fünke), Beast With a Billion Backs welcomes back a whole bunch of familiar faces—and voices, which include Professor Stephen Hawking. Trailer is below. More »
Games
Conceptual ‘Wiimote in 2010′ Mixes Fantasy with More Fantasy
9:33PM Gizmodo US Edition | This concept for a Wiimote of the future is showing over at T3, and yes… I know what you’re thinking. I do. Honest. But my real problem with the design is that it’s for just two years away, and do we really think Nintendo is going to redevelop things so radically by then? I’m sure fans would approve… but PS2 controllers haven’t evolved much over the years, in comparison. And I know it’s supposed to interact with that brainwave headset control, and that’s groovy. But I’m sure it’d kill Wii Fit stone dead, unless you’re talking mental agility. Still… with that cyberbabe to demonstrate the gizmos, I can’t complain too much. [T3 via Yanko]
Software
Nokia Pwns Symbian
8:11PM Gizmodo US Edition | After a long hardware-software partnership, Nokia’s just announced it’s buying out all the remaining shares in Symbian it doesn’t already own. The purchase amounts to a whopping US$410 million, and is actually part of a deal between Nokia, AT&T, LG Electronics, Motorola, NTT DOCOMO, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments and Vodafone to form what’s being called the “Symbian Foundation.” This is an attempt by the companies to join forces and develop and promote the Symbian OS together. Full press release below. More »
GPS
