Friday, September 18, 2009

Mobile

TAT’s 3D Interface Makes Your Smartphone Look Primitive

11:40PM September 18, 2009 | John Herrman

An interface concept doesn’t have to be practical to be interesting, or to make current software seem dated and flat. Exhibit A: Swedish designinstitut* The Astonishing Tribe’s newest mobile phone interface, which is rendered in glorious 3D, and might be brilliant. More »

The Nazis Made A Fine Solar Backpack

11:24PM September 18, 2009 | Mark Wilson

Do I even need to ask why anyone would want a German army WW2 backpack? More »

Fuzzy Travel Blanket Keeps Gadgets Secure And Warm

11:05PM September 18, 2009 | Joanna Stern

Eff snuggies, I’m in love with this blanket that has a gadget storage pouch. More »

Gaming

Restrictions On PSP Minis Make Them Nearly Pointless

10:40PM September 18, 2009 | Mark Wilson

PSP Minis, coming to the PSP Go, are just like iPhone/Android apps (just more focused on gaming). But the list of things developers can’t do on the platform destroys any point of its existence in the first place. More »

Mobile

Asus AiGuru SV1T Skype Videophone Gets A Touchscreen

9:44PM September 18, 2009 | Danny Allen

At the price of a netbook ($US300), the first-gen Asus videophone was more for those wanting to video Skype without a PC (think grandparents). But the navigation was fiddly, so they’ve now made the 7-inch (800×480) display touch-capable. More »

Computing

Nokia Booklet 3G Netbook Unboxed On Camera

8:50PM September 18, 2009 | Danny Allen

Nokia’s Booklet 3G still has no ETA, but it’s an interesting 10.1-incher with Windows 7, 3G and a claimed 16-hour battery life. And though I’ve no idea what this (Greek?) gentlemen is saying, here’s what’s in the box: More »

Deep Green Pool-Playing Robot Ready To Hustle And Terminate

8:14PM September 18, 2009 | Danny Allen

What IBM’s Deep Blue computer is to Chess, Deep Green may soon be to the felt table. The impressive system of cameras and robotic gantries, from the computer vision lab at Queens University, is already at a “better-than-amateur level”. More »

iTwinge iPhone Keyboard Video Makes Me Cringe A Little Less

6:35PM September 18, 2009 | Danny Allen

So you saw the iTwinge photos yesterday—that crazy physical keyboard with underside nubs for the touchscreen. It was easy to write off without seeing in action, so the company has sent around this hands-on video: More »

Computing

Dell Latitude Z For Could Be First Laptop With Wireless Charging

1:20PM September 18, 2009 | Joanna Stern

I am praying this isn’t another Adamo, Dell. The soon-to-be-introduced Latitude Z will have a premium design, super high end specs and a lofty price tag. I’ve heard that all before, but wireless charging in a notebook? That is new. More »

Robot Actually Pedals On Tandem Bike Behind Its Maker

1:00PM September 18, 2009 | Dan Nosowitz

Joules might be a robot, but that doesn’t mean he can’t enjoy a calming tandem bike ride with his creator, Carl. He’s not dead weight, either—he actually pedals, thanks to a PMG-132 motor. More »