Tokyo company HiBot is developing a robot to transfer the dangerous duties of high-voltage wire inspection from meat-based humans to metal-based robots, in a move intended not just to decrease the likelihood of flash-frying technicians, but to make the inspection process — vital, now that many countries’ electrical infrastructures have components approaching 100 years old — more efficient.

The HiBot Exliner, pictured above and set to deploy in Japan, is the second such robot, and the most ambitious: While the LineScout, pictured at top and currently in trials in Canada, only inspects one line at a time, the Expliner will cover four. And unlike their human counterparts, Exliner and LineScout don’t even care if the lines are left active while they’re doing their respective things, because they ain’t got nothin’ to lose, y’know? Also: because they’re properly insulated. [IEEE via Make]

It’s a lighthearted dig for those with a sense of humour. But comes after Bell seemingly ripped off Apple’s iPhone ads last week. So friendly neighbours to the north, what gives, eh? [Thanks Denis!]

On average, the OECD found that Americans pay $US635.85 on cell phone service, compared to $US131.44 per year in the Netherlands or $US137.94 per year in Sweden.”

As you might expect, the wireless industry issued a press release proclaiming the study was based on “flawed assumptions” that “just don’t make sense.” If you look at the data the way carriers would like, you’re getting quite the bargain. The CTIA does have a point that the OECD’s usage categories seem low — particularly when it comes to MMS use. Another reason U.S. prices seem high? Carriers charge a hell of a lot of money for service. They also spend millions on lobbyists who tirelessly work to eliminate consumer protections and price controls.

It does appear that OECD’s findings are inflated—after all, the three countries mentioned on this list have bigger appetites for wireless technologies and services. Still, I have little doubt that carriers are sticking it to customers in one form or another. [DSLReports via Consumerist]

First, the above chart: it clearly indicates the existence of an 8GB 3GS—look at that checkmark!—which seems to lend credence to an earlier, shakier report from BGR that the carrier would launch an 8GB version of the handset. But then, this:

That’s from the same site, on the front page. If there was an 8GB version of the 3GS, it’s safe to assume it’d be cheaper, and just as safe to assume that Rogers would advertise this fact. Rogers spokespeople were unavailable for comment this morning, but we can confirm their salespeople know nothing of the device, telling us that the only 8GB iPhone available is the 8GB 3G. Of course, the chart could reflect leaked info about some future announcement, but I’m leaning toward some intern screwing up a chart over a bizarre, irrational shakeup to Apple’s—and by proxy, Rogers, AT&T, 02 and others’—product line. [MacRumors via BGR]

In the melting ice, amidst the thawing dog crap, Whitehorse, Yukon resident Andrew noticed an oddly-familiar rectangular item: An iPod classic. He brought it home and found, to his surprise, that it was fully functional.

Frozen in the “bottom layer” of ice (Christ, how many layers do you think there are?) since, he estimates, early winter, the iPod was frozen solid and not in the best of shape. But after a few minutes of charging, the iPod booted right up and even displayed the correct date, proving once and for all that the iPod classic is to date the only Yukon-approved PMP on the market. [Robulack via TUAW]

The X6 is a spy drone with wireless video and still cameras (in hi-def, infra-red and 0 lux flavors) that can fly autonomously, or as a remote-controlled bot. It has 11 sensors (including gyros, accelerometers, barometers, magnetometers and GPS) and is so easy to pilot, a Wii gamer could do it. Now it will be used by the Ontario Provincial Police and the Saskatoon Police to patrol crime scenes and help gather evidence.

At it’s core, this is the same Draganflyer X6 we’ve come to know and love in the past, but now with a shiny police badge and a healthy distaste for crime. Canadian perps, be afraid. Be very, very afraid. [Draganfly]

The full handset list, as transcribed by BGR, is here:

* Blackberry 82XX Pearl Flip (3G version of 8220 Pearl Flip but with GPS, WiFi, and video calling)
* Blackberry 9520 Storm (North American 3G GSM bands and 802.11 b/g WiFi)
* HTC Touch 3G
* HTC Touch Pro
* HTC Touch Viva
* Motorola MOTOZINE ZN5
* Motorola Q11
* Motorola VE66
* Nokia N79
* Nokia N85
* Nokia N96
* Nokia 5800 XpressMusic
* Samsung M8800 Pixon
* Sony Ericsson Xperia X1a
* Sony Ericsson C905

Some prices are still sometime horrific, natch, but this handset selection—which includes the hitherto unheard of 3G, GPS, Wi-Fi Pearl Flip and Wi-Fi Storm handsets—provides some relief for the long, dark winter of the gadget soul that is life in Canada. [HowardForums via BGR]

The drone, which will fly from the Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota, will begin its patrols in January. Ostensibly, it’s on the lookout for terrorists who are trying to sneak into the States, but we all know who the real criminals are: Canadians who are sick of free healthcare and are looking to pay for hospital care in the US. We’re on to you, you slimy Canucks! And we won’t stand for it! [Breitbart]

The robot submarines are just the latest tool for the five “polar nations” currently jockeying for supremacy in the oil-rich Arctic Circle. Trouble is, there’s no land mass up there, which is the traditional yard stick for territorial disputes, so the interested parties have taken to mapping the terrain underwater.

For Canada, this means determining where the Canadian continental shelf ends, and whether or not the subs can discern “geological links” between the country’s northern coast, High Arctic Islands, and two underwater mountain ranges: the Alpha and Lomonosov ridges. The latter certainly sounds Russian, but who are we to get in the way of a little apocalyptic robot war, right? [Canada.com]

A letter from Apple lawyers said the VSBT logo, which depicts an apple and a mountain graphic from its sister company, northStudio.com, infringes on Apple’s rights. The letter also alleges the logo is “falsely suggesting that Apple has authorised your [computer-software operation courses].” Some of those courses are conducted on Mac hardware.

If this tiny Vancouver school does not comply with Apple’s request, legal proceedings could begin that would prohibit the school from using the logo. The VSBT could also be forced to repay legal costs and “damages.”

The VSBT, for its part, is conducting a survey about the issue on its homepage. It doesn’t take a genius to guess what the current survey results reveal.

Surprise! The school’s president and CEO, Dieter Gerhard, is vehemently denying any infringement, saying the logo differs from the Apple logo in several ways:

• the acronym VSBT is part of the design.
• the logo incorporates a mountain graphic from its sister company, northStudio.com
• the school’s apple has three bumps on top while Apple’s design has two
• the logo is multi-coloured while Apple’s is not

Seems pretty cut and dry to us. Why all the sour grapes at Apple? [Vancouver Sun]