Sunday, July 13, 2008
Games
New Xbox 360 60GB Model, 20 Gig Going For $299
11:06PM Gizmodo US Edition | Well, the worst kept secret of E3 is out in the open this morning as Microsoft confirmed the 20GB Xbox 360 will now feature a new retail price of US$299. The US$50 price cut is meant to clear inventory, and make room for a new a 60GB console, which will go on sale in the US in August. According to our sister video game blog site-in-crime Kotaku, the new 360 is US$349 (the 20GB model’s original price before the cut). [Kotaku] More »
Software
MobileMe OS X Update Available Now (Again)
9:11AM Matt Buchanan | With yesterday’s bumps mostly smoothed out, and MobileMe live for a straight day, Apple is apparently comfortable enough to push the MobileMe OS X update back out. (It was pulled after going up briefly on Wednesday.) Interestingly, it’s version 1.1. Hit Software Update to get the party started, and let us know how it goes. [Apple] More »
Robots
Poker Bot Knows When to Hold ‘Em, Knows When to Fold ‘Em
9:00AM Gizmodo US Edition | Looks like the day when we all hang out with robots that smoke cigars, throw back drinks and win all our money in poker is edging closer, now that programmers at the University of Alberta have created a Hold ‘Em-playing software that can beat poker professionals. The Polaris software was pitted against Poker pros like Nick Grudzien and Ijay Palansky in six games of limit Texas Hold ‘Em–it tied on one, lost two and won three. More »
Science
NASA Wind Map Shows You Where The Greatest Gusts Blow
8:00AM Gizmodo US Edition | In an effort to figure out the best areas to harvest wind energy, scientists from NASA’s Earth Science Division have used several years of QuikSCAT satellite data to produce some pretty awesome looking wind power density maps. According to them, if the areas with high wind power–an average wind of greater than 30 knots (45 miles an hour)—were tapped, they could potentially supply 10 to 15 percent of the world’s energy needs. More »
Gadgets
AquaRain Bath Fountain Puts on a Show Using Your Bathwater
7:00AM Gizmodo US Edition | I’ve never found bath time boring enough to need a water fountain and a light show, but in case you hate not being reminded of the Bellagio every time you step into the tub, the AquaRain is here to allay your washroom ADD. The AquaRain floats in your bathtub and pumps bathwater through its jets to create a fountain effect. Four LED lights—red, purple, blue and white—can be remixed to turn your shower into a rave. On sale at Japan Trend Shop for US$49, hilarious Engrish included. [Japan Trend Shop via Gizmo Diva] More »
Gadgets
Intel Health Guide Lets Doctors Check Up On You Electronically
6:00AM Gizmodo US Edition | Intel’s taking some serious steps into the medical world with its just-FDA-approved Intel Health Guide, an 3.6kg gadget that functions as a personal health care system. The Health Guide includes a small touch-screen PC running Windows XP and a web portal that helps connect patients and doctors. The computer can be used to remind patients to take their medications, facilitate live video conferencing with doctors, and even check and collect their vital signs. More »
Computers
Sony Teases New Centrino 2 Notebook Line for Monday
5:20AM Gizmodo US Edition | Sony Style has posted a teaser on its front page promising that the company’s going to drop some knowledge on Monday at 9PM. Chances are, it’s about Sony’s new Centrino 2-based VAIO line, which should offer better performance while consuming less power than its older models. Laptops rumoured to be featured include the company’s first 16:9-ratio notebooks, including the 13.1-inch VAIO Z and the 16.4-inch VAIO FZ. [Electronista] More »
Home
Automatic Cat Faucet is One DIY Hack That Felines Will Love
4:30AM Gizmodo US Edition | Luckily, my cat was always too dumb to make the connection between the faucet and fresh water, so she’s made do thus far with just sipping from her water dish. But I’ve heard that once kitties taste from the tap, they never want to go back. For running water addicted cats, MAKE contributor tsruzik has constructed a pretty ingenious automatic cat faucet using an IR sensor and some tubing. More »
Gadgets
Certus Turntable Makes You Choose Between Listening to Records or Feeding Your Family
2:45AM Gizmodo US Edition | Got a lot of money to spend and a fetish for obsolete technology? The Certus Turntable by Teres Audio will play whatever records you still own for the hefty price of between US$13,900 and US$25,500. For the annual wage of a migrant farmer, you get a “magnetic damped multi-phase synchronous drive system to directly drive a massive, heavily damped brass and hardwood platter”—supposedly some kind of technology that makes music sound amazing. Right. Call me a plebeian, but I think I’ll stick with some lossless audio format and my iPod, thanks. [Born Rich] More »
Peripherals
