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Last weekend we caught a fleeting glimpse of the latest build of Windows 7. Today, the same source of those screenshots is gracing us with two brief videos. The first is just a very simple clip demonstrating Window 7's updated Start button glow animation. The second, listed after the jump, demonstrates the powerful new integrated calculator.
It's not perfect, but we love the idea. One modder connected his Wiimote to Google Maps' Street View, allowing the Wiimote to track his jogging in place to guide him through the streets of Tokyo. As you can see, the flaw is that the image updates more like a slideshow than fluid video, as Street View vehicles don't capture a seamless picture. But we'll take exploring the backstreets of Akihabara at a low frame rate over fixating on that crack in the wall at ∞ FPS any day. Download the code free at Tokyo-Jogging's humble official site. [Tokyo-Jogging via Kotaku]
Carbon nanotubes are one of the surprising new carbon supermaterials, and it looks like their application in supercapacitors may have a role in replacing clunky old car battery tech. Scientists at the University of Texas at Dallas have invented a technique to make supercapacitor "paper" made from randomly tangled carbon nanotubes embedded in a polymer. Both chemical batteries and capacitors store electrical charge, in differing ways, but nanotech supercapacitors could store more energy in a smaller space, without the dangers associated with chemical systems. Potentially excellent news given the rise of the hybrid car. Better yet the new technique is "easily scalable for device fabrication on an industrial scale," so it might end up in real products sooner rather than later. [Physorg]
I'm not sure how many of you are buying (aka not renting) movies from Sony's PlayStation 3 video store, but to those who are willing to drop $US15 on a permanent, DRM'd digital product, know that Sony only allows you to redownload these products one time.
Sony and Toshiba announced that they had successfully shrunk the 65nm cell down to 45nm earlier this year, and now thanks to Japan's Nikkan Kogyo, we now have a date for mass production: 2009. At a 40% reduction in power consumption, the shrunken Cell will generate less heat, which would help the PS3 to lose some of its piano-black bulk in a slim version. Cheaper production costs also means more $$ for Sony (or price drops for us). This could also lead to wider adoption of Cell technology in HD upscaling, which Toshiba is already doing in their SRT-enabled TVs and DVD players (but with their own custom chip). [Nikkan Kogyo (Translated)]
From left to right: HTC Touch HD, HTC Touch Diamond, and HTC Touch Pro. Note that while the Touch HD's footprint isn't much bigger, the screen appears ginormous. [CNET]
Palm's been quietly developing its OS II, and says it'll now be finished by the end of this year, meaning we can expect to see handsets bearing the OS sometime after June 2009. It's another delay to the Linux-based OS, also dubbed Nova, with Palm's CEO originally promising OS II handsets in 2007: current Palms like the Centro use OS 5.4m, also known as 'Garnet' which has its roots in 2006. Bad news for Palm fans, though you could argue the extra development means the OS should be in even better shape to take on the iPhone, BlackBerries and Windows Mobile phones in its marketspace. [Reghardware]
Pentax's upcoming entry-level DSLR, that we brought you news of on the weekend, is now official. It's actually named the K2000 inside the US and K-m outside. The sensor is indeed 10.2-megapixels and it does have a 2.7-inch LCD and lacks live-view, just as we'd heard. With an auto scene-detection mode, it's also aimed squarely at amateur DSLR users, though it has the "Shake Reduction" tech found on higher-end K-series. Press release below.
Over at BoyGeniusReport they've got more info on the iPhone 3G home activation story: it turns out it is true-ish. A source has apparently confirmed to BGR that home activation is indeed coming...but it's only the pre-activation billing and credit part. In other words you'll still have to turn up at an Apple store (presumably with a verification printout, or some such) to buy and unbrick the phone. That should speed up the in-store part a fair amount, but still needs you to actually go there. The same source also commented on the 32GB iPhone rumour and dismissed it as "probably untrue"—it's just connected to stock movements as the mini power adaptor is recalled. [BGR]
Samsung's original Armani phone was a tiny, touchscreen, haptic-feedback gizmo, and actually not bad looking at all: so I'm confused about the upcoming Armani 2 Night Effect. It's a plain candybar mobile phone, emblazoned with large Emporio Armani emblems and it seems to have totally forgone attempts at simple stylishness. Get this—around the edge of the phone there's a red, green or blue-LED glowing strip, presumably the "night effect" part. Maybe it's my impression of what style is, but that's just tacky. The specs of the phone aren't too amazing either.
Since Olympus and Panasonic together developed the micro four thirds camera format, and Panasonic's Lumix G1 is already on the way, it shouldn't be a surprise to hear Olympus is working on one too. Olympus is currently making noises about the camera, saying it'll "bring dramatic reductions in size and weight to the Olympus E-System" and be easier and lighter to use than a conventional DSLR. But there's no word on the specs or even an image of the beast: a mock-up is due for unveiling at Photokina this week, and it'll show off the format's small size by being 11.9 x 6.4 x 3cm. Update: the camera's been revealed, and Digitalcamerareview's got pictures. Though there's still no specs, and it's still a mock-up, it's certainly a very rangefinder-looking device.
Posted by Nick Broughall at 6:40 PM on September 22, 2008
Here at Giz, we have a slight tendency to go crazy when it comes to Lego. Especially if you happen to be Jesus Diaz. But this is one minifig collection we definitely wouldn't want spoiling our collection.
Consisting of such notable celebrities like Amy Winehouse, Madonna, Brangelina and the Beckhams, these are one of a kind pieces that were made to celebrate the 30 year anniversary of the minifig. Fortunately for all of us, they won't be sold to the public.
Check out Gigwise for the full gallery...
[Gigwise via Babblebaby]
Posted by Nick Broughall at 6:20 PM on September 22, 2008
Like many of you, we've been hanging out for EA to get off their backsides and launch Rock Band in Australia. But when they announced they were releasing Rock band 2, and we still hadn't seen an Australian release date, some of us here turned our attention to Guitar Hero IV, and their firm release date of November 17.
Well, now EA is trying to get our attention back by announcing that the original Rock Band will finally hit Aussie shelves on November 7. Of course there's no word on pricing, or whether or not Rock Band 2 will be launching straight afterwards either, but a date of any description is better than nothing for rock-hungry gamers.
But, as ex Giz editor Seamus (who's taking care of Kotaku at the moment) said to me when we discussed the announcement - it kind of makes you wonder, now that Rock Band 2 is available overseas - whether or not we're just getting the old Rock Band 1 stock they couldn't shift anymore. Probably not, but the timing is a bit suspect...
Sandisk's slotMusic cards are not much more than tweaked 1GB microSD cards with a logo and a special USB-compatible sled: but the fact that they'll carry albums from big names like BMI Music, Sony BMG, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group makes them interesting. They'll also be DRM free too, which is a pleasant surprise. It's an attempt to change the way some people buy MP3s—you'll get a card you can slot into your mobile phone or PC with high-quality MP3s (up to 320kbps), artwork, videos and such, which you can also reuse as a 1GB memory card later, and that's kinda handy.
The above pic is a splash screen you can see when visiting Canadian electronics and appliance retailer Easyhome, notifying visitors of a four-day sale. Depicted on the Sony TV in front of the American flag is a politician flashing pearly whites and a double-thumbed "This guy!" Beneath him is the none-too-veiled message "Even BS looks good on a 52-inch HD LCD TV." Maybe so, Canada, but some think it's even better with the volume all the way down. [Easyhome - Thanks Chris!]
My friend Steve the Audiophiliac published this crazy video of a guy who recounts all the reasons his Nordost Valhalla reference power cable is better than a woman. I know it's supposed to be funny, but the horror-film lighting, the intensity of the delivery and the reasons themselves—snapping his scissors, he says, "She doesn't care if I cut her shorter"—make me fear for the women, however few, who may possibly be in this dude's life. [The Audiophiliac]
Posted by Nick Broughall at 9:14 AM on September 22, 2008
Retromodo: Old Microsoft Ads Were Just As Weird As New Ones
Makes Seinfeld look like a masterstroke, doesn't it? No? What do you mean?
Majority of US E-Waste Gets 'Recycled' in Asia, Where Recycling Is Often Non-Existent
Another hurdle in the e-waste recycling system.
Bad News: Mobile Phones Make Your Sperm Stupid
Here's hoping our kids are born with built-in Wi-Fi...
First Shots of HTC Dream Fondled in the Wild
Wow, this actually looks nice. Who else is excited for the announcement this week?
Windows 7 Does Look Just Like Vista
Deja Vu. And not the good kind...
A Taste of the Canon 5D Mark II's Mindblowing Full HD Video
I must have this camera.
Microsoft 'I'm a PC' Ads Were Created Using a Mac
How long until we see Apple using this in their ads?
There's no definition for the word worthless in the Hammacher Schlemmer dictionary, so these Fingertip Piano Gloves are "ingenious"; a portable subway piano concerto waiting to happen. Each glove plays an entire octave in the key of C, and the final three notes in the scale are achieved by pressing down on the palm. The gloves connect to a wire that connects to a speaker, which allows the whole family to enjoy. They ship on October 17 for $US70, but the epic symphonies your little one will make using these five-fingered feats of engineering will be priceless. Or not. Ever strangle someone in the key of C before? [Hammacher Schlemmer]
Posted by Nick Broughall at 9:00 AM on September 22, 2008
Subscription music services have struggled to take off in Australia. Nokia's offering is PC only, while Sanity's attempt is so ludicrously overpriced and restrictive that you may as well be smoking hundred dollar notes. But - from the details outlined in the press release at least - Vodafone's MusicStation (a collaboration with Omnifone) offering actually looks like it's not only usable, but downright value for money.
For just $2.75 per week (or $11.95 per month), you get unlimited tracks downloaded to your mobile phone. There are no data charges for the downloads, and the downloads happen in the background, so you can queue up 1000 songs and it will just download while you walk around.
All four music labels are on board, as well as most of the local independents, for a total of over a million tracks at launch. It will be available on nine handsets at launch, but Vodafone plan on adding to that figure quickly. To start with, the MusicStation Service will be offered on the LG KU990 Viewty, Nokia 6121 classic, Nokia E65, Nokia N73, Nokia N95 8GB, Sony Ericsson C902, Sony Ericsson W880i, Sony Ericsson W890i, and the Nokia 6210 Navigator.
It's a good day for non-lethal crowd control methods, but a bad day for their intended targets, as the Israeli Army has used the Skunk Bomb for the first time against Palestinian protesters in Naalin. The "bomb" is dispensed via a hose system, and the liquid is supposedly hard to wash off, even after repeated showers. It's also known to have created a clothespin shortage or two. Nyuk, nyuk.
I'm not sure how far to read into this, but a Boy Genius reader who uses an iPhone with a non-iPhone data plan sent in a note he or she received from AT&T. It was friendly and definitely not a threat, but it does border on stalkery, with a hint of forboding:
Sony Insider is reporting a well-founded rumour that the Vaio team will announce a new notebook tomorrow, a replacement to the super-sweet TZ, now to be called TT. I don't know if that's an Audi reference or a boobie reference, but what I do know is that it will likely have wireless-N, Bluetooth and an EVDO option—no mention of HSDPA—and will be a full-powered Vista notebook with the same 11.1-inch screen as the lightweight TZ. Catchy name or not, this combination of features should make it a pretty hot item, so let's all keep an eye out for the real news. [Sony Insider]
The galaxy of gimmicky karaoke machines was starting to fade before Memorex's SingStand came along. This baby organically melds mic stand and iPod dock, and at $US70 doesn't even put you into debt to do so. The base is where the brains are—vox effects like reverb plus "Auto Voice Control" for removing original song vocals—along with two 4-watt "full-range" speakers. There's even a second mic input for Sonny-and-Cher-Pre-Divorce moments. The catch is that there's no 30-pin connector for charging or enhanced iPod control, but at least a 3.5mm miniplug means you can pop in your Zune or Sansa too. [Memorex via Electronista]
Maybe you've heard the plans for "clean coal" (aka carbon capture and storage), a technology that collects carbon-dioxide exhaust from formerly high-polluting power plants, condensing and freezing it for storage in depleted natural-gas fields. This month, energy provider Vattenfall fired up the CO2 collection process at a plant in Spremberg ("Call Us 'Spermberg' and Die") Germany. The plant's transition is making green-energy history, but as you can imagine, some kinks still need to be worked out.
How's this for a truly awesome photo? Shown in the foreground is Space Shuttle Atlantis on Launch Pad A. The shuttle in the background is Endeavour, on Launch Pad B. Currently, both shuttles are locked and loaded for launch, should something go wrong up in space with the October 11 Atlantis mission. As Tom explains over at his Astronomy Blog, having two shuttles on the pad at the same time is rare, but it is not a cause for concern.
Swedish designer Peter Thuvander likes yo-yo's so much that he designed an iPhone charger concept around them. Called the iYo (what else?), the device charges its lithium ion battery cell with an OLPC crank that's turned using the spinning power of a yo-yo. "The remote control needs only 30 cranks—which is nothing when you yo-yo," he said. Just 30 cranks and your dignity, Peter. I kid, of course, being someone who sleeps with a Duncan yo-yo under his pillow. The video demonstrates what a good idea this is:
The design team Fashion Architecture Taste (FAT) isn't the first to take the old "face vase" optical illusion seriously, but it may be the first to attempt to create actual portraits in the thin air surrounding pottery. "Heroes of the Invisible" forms the faces of designer/architect Mies van der Rohe and radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi, chosen for being "two figures who explored the idea of the invisible in very different ways." (Call it aesthetics, but I also find this video of the vase to provide remarkable respite from hangover.) If you happen to worship Mies van der Rohe and Marconi, too, you can buy the high-gloss black vase, but its price is undisclosed, presumed ridiculous. [FAT via Dezeen]
The design team Fashion Architecture Taste (FAT) isn't the first to take the old