Friday, February 29, 2008

Lady Bird Cleans Loos

Lady Bird Cleans Loos

The Japanese are very particular about their loos, and thus it is no surprise to stumble upon the Lady Bird autonomous robot which is placed along Western Japan's highway rest stops since November last year to help maintain overall restroom cleanliness. Heck, it is even programmed to engaged in a little human-robot interaction as well.

In addition to cleaning, Lady Bird can engage in simple conversation with restroom users, thanks to microphones in its "antennae," speech recognition capabilities and a voice synthesizer. The robot has access to the latest information about traffic conditions on nearby roads, which it can relay to anyone comfortable enough to ask.

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[Source: Ubergizmo]

Magellan Maestro 5340

Magellan Maestro 5340

If you've been waiting for the Magellan Maestro 5340, your wait is almost over. It is now available for pre-order, although you will need to fork out a whopping $1,200 for it. That insane price tag makes it just about the most expensive GPS navigation system from Magellan, and here are the reasons why :-

  • 5" display
  • Text-to-Speech
  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • Live Traffic Information
  • Advanced voice command for menus and addresses
  • 3D landmarks
  • MP3 and video playback
  • OneTouch interface
Shipping commences this April. Are you trying to find a reason to convince the missus to get one now?

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[Source: Ubergizmo]

Homeless Folk Get Free Voicemail

Homeless Folk Get Free Voicemail

Google is doing something for the homeless community of San Francisco by offering free voicemail - every single homeless person in the city will receive a life-long phone number and voicemail if they decide to take up Google's offer. This is meant for homeless individuals to get back on their feet by distributing numbers to shelters and job agencies which could help them secure a job as they will then be contactable. I guess this is way more economical compared to providing folk with a laptop and a free GMail account. The program is more than ready to roll out - good on you, Google!

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[Source: Ubergizmo]

DS2 Has New Powerline System

DS2 Has New Powerline System

DS2 will be showcasing its new and fully interoperable 100Mbps, 200Mbps and 400Mbps Powerline Communications technology at CeBIT 2008. Now that's a whole lot of bandwidth if you ask me, especially using Powerline technology that makes it easy to set up a wired network in your home without going through the hassle of pulling cables all over the place. I suppose a smaller living space is just fine with a wireless network, but those who want a wired connection will probably be hardcore gamers who absolutely hate lag of any kind, and lag is aplenty when it comes to a wireless network in comparison. DS2 ensures its technology provides each application the bandwidth that it needs so that video streaming, internet browsing and online gaming can all be done simultaneously by different people within the home, while new applications can be integrated into an existing network without disrupting it.

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[Source: Ubergizmo]

Built-in Coffee Appliance

Built-in Coffee Appliance

Looks like Brewmatic has unveiled a new design for its coffee maker that is built-into your kitchen cabinet, featuring electronic controls with a programmable digital clock and time with Auto-On function, enabling you to wake up to a freshly brewed pot of coffee first thing in the morning. All this is possible only if you remember to set it up properly before you retire to bed. There are several brew volume options available, including Full Brew, Half Brew and Quarter Brew. I like the way this thing was designed as it definitely helps in saving shelf space which could be used to do/place other stuff. We all know how women love to have a large kitchen.

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[Source: Ubergizmo]

Official Battlefield Heroes Screenshots

Official Battlefield Heroes Screenshots

Here is a photo gallery of Battlefield Heroes that we obtained directly from EA. If you have missed this last week, the upcoming ad-supported game won’t be available until this summer but the idea is that BFH is more of a casual game that will work on low-end machines with entry-level graphics processors (GPUs), which increases the potential number of players by a lot.

It will be interesting to see what kind of money EA will make from this title, compared to higher profile games like Crysis that sold (only) less than 100k units (because only a few of us have a system that can run the game decently?). Hardware vendors usually support graphics heavy titles – because they sell hardware and they are great demos of things to come. I wonder what would happen if Battlefield Heroes was bringing loads of money all the sudden – would studios turn their focus on this genre?

Related article: Why Are PC Manufacturers so Afraid of the Asus Eee?

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[Source: Ubergizmo]

Thursday, February 28, 2008

SoMo 650 Anti-Bacterial Computer

SoMo 650 Anti-Bacterial Computer

The SoMo 650 handheld computer is different from what you can find in the market these days, as Socket Communications have managed to include an anti-bacterial plastic in its construction for use in healthcare and other markets which include hygiene-sensitive environments. Other than hospitals, why not make all the other devices these days using the same material, especially in public places where elevator buttons, escalator handrails and public phones could be a vehicle for spreading disease?

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[Source: Ubergizmo]

RESPeRATE Breathing Device

RESPeRATE Breathing Device

High blood pressure is a serious disease that one should always keep a close eye on in order to avoid complications like heart attacks and strokes. The RESPeRATE interactive breathing device claims to lower your blood pressure without the use of drugs as long as it is used for a quarter of an hour a few times a week.

Using a breathing sensor, RESPeRATE automatically analyzes your individual breathing pattern and creates a personalized melody composed of two distinct inhale and exhale guiding tones, delivered through comfortable earphones. Simply listen to the melody through the headphones and synchronize your breathing to the tones. By prolonging the exhalation tone RESPeRATE guides you to slow your breathing and reach the “therapeutic zone” of less than 10 breaths per minute.The physiological result? The muscles surrounding the small blood vessels in your body dilate, and relax. Blood is allowed to flow more freely, and pressure is directly, significantly lowered.

While money can't buy health, $290 can net you the RESPeRATE which could be more effective than the medicine you're currently taking.

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[Source: Ubergizmo]

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Vers 2X iPod Speaker Dock

Vers 2X iPod Speaker Dock

If you're one of the few people who do not yet own an iPod dock of sorts, why not check out the green Vers 2X? This unique iPod dock from Versaudio stands out from the plastic crowd, thanks to the use of wood farmed from sustainable plantations. Screws are used instead of glue for further environmental conservation, while the packaging it comes in is made out of 100% recycled and recyclable paper. The Vers 2X features a pair of 3" full range speakers powered by a 20-watt per channel (peak) class-D amplifier. Despite being rather small in size (11.5" x 5.6" x 5.6"), it produces extra bass boom thanks to the dual ported enclosure. The Vers 2X iPod speaker dock will retail for $149 and is compatible with the majority of the iPod family including the iPod Video, iPod nano, iPod mini, iPod, iPod classic, iPod touch and the iPhone.

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[Source: Ubergizmo]

Minimalist Home Theater Design

Minimalist Home Theater Design

Owning a home theater in your bungalow or house is definitely a dream of many, and is yet another sign to the world that you've "arrived" in your station in life. This minimalist home theater design is different from everything we've seen so far, featuring a Radiant Lighting system that ensures the room never stays completely dark, while beanbags and telescoping angles enable the display the look much larger whenever you're sitting close to it. I like the idea of it not being totally dark, as some lighting makes it cozy while you're munching on some home-baked popcorn with a loved one, enjoying your favorite movie.

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[Source: Ubergizmo]

Mobiado Stealth Phone

Mobiado Stealth Phone

The Mobiado Stealth cell phone looks a whole lot different from what we're used to, especially the buttons that don't look too comfortable at all to press. Features include :-

  • Tri-band Symbian Series 40 cell phone
  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • microSD memory card slot
  • 2 megapixel camera
  • FM radio
  • MP3 playback
Only 1,200 of these will be released, so that explains the £1,450 price tag. Well, you do get some of your money's worth considering it is made out of aircraft aluminum which results in a strong and stiff yet light body.

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[Source: Ubergizmo]

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Sony MDR-G45LP Headphones

Sony MDR-G45LP Headphones

If you're in the market for a budget pair of headphones that won't break the bank, then the Sony MDR-G45LP looks (and sounds) like a choice candidate. Available for $25, you get a flexible behind-the-neck band, a four-foot, single-side cord, with black ear caps. There is a choice to personalize it further, where the colored caps can be switched to reflect your current mood. Choose from black with red or white with gold colors.

As for another behind-the-neck headphones, Sony is also offering the highly portable MDR-G75LW that features a retractable cord for easy and convenient storage, and a collapsible neck band that makes the entire pair of headphones a snap to carry around. Urethane cushioning is used in the earpieces for a more comfortable fit. Unfortunately, the MDR-G75LW comes in only one color - black, and it retails for $50.

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[Source: Ubergizmo]

Monday, February 25, 2008

Japan Pulls HD DVD Off Shelves

Japan Pulls HD DVD Off Shelves

Guess HD DVD is really dead and buried, with Japan being the first country to pull out all of their HD DVD drives and movies off the shelves - this coming in one week after Toshiba waved the white flag where HD DVD is concerned. What's interesting is, shops such as Edion are working on an exchange program that allows customers to turn in their HD DVD player for a free or low-cost exchange Blu-ray player. Maybe someone should come up with a Top 10 list on what to do with those HD DVDs purchased over a couple of years...

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[Source: Ubergizmo]

Botier Cooler Master Cosmos S

Botier Cooler Master Cosmos S

Cooler Master a un nouveau botier du nom de Cosmos S, lequel a t spcialement conu pour fournir un flux d'air amlior et pour faciliter de futures actualisations. Le Cosmos S est fabriqu en aluminum, et a un look original sans lsiner sur les amliorations. On y trouve des boutons touch-sensitive, et des ports I/O protgs. De plus, le Cosmos S contient galement un panneau latral incluant un ventilateur de 20cm qui peut s'ouvrir. Les fans vont certainement se jeter sur le Cosmos S, malgr un prix plutt lev de 249$.

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[Source: Ubergizmo]

Samsung To Double Flash SSD Capacity

Samsung To Double Flash SSD Capacity

Samsung looks on track to double its flash SSD capacity before the year is over, claiming that a 128GB version will be shipping this third quarter while a 256GB version will probably appear shortly thereafter. The price will definitely be astronomical, but it bodes well for uber-thin notebooks such as the Lenovo ThinkPad X300 and the MacBook Air. Chances are the 256GB model will utilize Multi Level Cell (MLC) storage that is more sluggish compared to a Single Level Cell (SLC) drive, but it has advantages of stacking multiple bits of data per cell to reduce the overall cost of the disk. I guess we'll be seeing more slim notebooks being released next year (although affording one of them is another can of worms...).

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[Source: Ubergizmo]

SpaceStation From Bluelounge

SpaceStation From Bluelounge


Bluelounge has just rolled out its SpaceStation that aims to make life easier at the office, doing away with a confusing mess of wires.

An extended desk organizer for laptop users with internal coiling pins conceals all the cords that usually sprawl over the desk. Hovering just 5mm above the desk, cords are free to enter or exit the hub at any point – on the side to connect a scanner, the front for an iPod, the back for a laptop or camera. An internal 4-port USB hub will keep all peripherals connected. One USB plug exits the station right where needed to connect a laptop. Just tip the front of the SpaceStation up to access the hub and cords.

The rubber pad is the place to rest a laptop, raising the back to create an ergonomic keyboard angle and allowing airflow underneath. It is also a surface for placing a phone, and daily accessories for easy access. A rear accessory railacts as a great business card slot and sports a handy page holder to keep all the paper you want standing upright next to your laptop for easy reference. The extended design will bring the cords to their accessories on the left or right side of the laptop. The computer may be placed centered or offset leaving space for a full letter sized page and other accessories.

If you ever want to clear up the clutter at your workplace, then the SpaceStation will do very nicely. I'm saying this in good faith that a person is inherently neat and tidy, because a naturally messy person won't even bother to fork out $79.95 for the SpaceStation in the first place.

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[Source: Ubergizmo]

Mitsumi Haptic Input Device

Mitsumi Haptic Input Device

Mitsumi has worked on a haptic input device that features protrusions corresponding to icons and buttons on the display screen. Targeting the back of mobile devices, this device is made up of a sheet with small protrusions, a resistance sensitive touch pad and switches. This allows users to perform operations on the main screen with just one hand, making handsets like the iPhone much easier to use instead of using both hands. Since more and more devices are starting to ship with a full frontal touch screen display, Mitsumi is banking on this trend to explode even further so that their new haptic input device will be able to be installed across a wider user base. I guess it will take some getting used to with stuff touching my fingers at the back of my phone.

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[Source: Ubergizmo]

X5 AIO Heads For Korea

X5 AIO Heads For Korea

Looks like the X5 AIO portable media player that we covered earlier this year at CES will be released in March as predicted. Here are the specifications for those who missed it.

  • RMI Alchemy Au1250 700MHz processor
  • 256MB DDR2 600MHz RAM
  • 30GB/60GB hard drive
  • 4.8" WVGA 16 million color touchscreen display (800 x 480), 350cd/m2
  • Internal GPS chipset (SiRFStar III chipset)
  • Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity
  • Optional WAN (HSDPA, WiBRO, WiMAX) with external modem
  • 5,700mAh battery (up to 7 hours movie playback)
  • Composite, S-Video, Component
  • Windows CE 5.0
  • Web browser
Still no idea on how much it costs though, but if you're in Korea sometime this March, do check it out.

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[Source: Ubergizmo]

Microsoft Halts Xbox 360 HD DVD Drive

Microsoft Halts Xbox 360 HD DVD Drive

Talk about kicking a man when he's down - Microsoft has decided to stop manufacturing their Xbox 360 HD DVD drive peripheral, driving what could possibly be the last nail in HD DVD's coffin. Good thing the big M did not decide to throw their weight behind Toshiba by including HD DVD as a drive inside the Xbox 360 in the first place, eh? Well, at least you can purchase an Xbox 360 HD DVD drive on the cheap now - do look out for firesales to be announced after this move. For those who have already picked up the HD DVD drive, fret not - Microsoft will still honor their warranty, although I wonder how much action you're going to see from the now unloved drive.

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[Source: Ubergizmo]

Friday, February 22, 2008

Zen PC Concept

Zen PC Concept

The entire Zen concept is all about being calm and one with the surroundings, and simply by just looking at the Zen PC, I can sense my blood pressure lowering already. Labeled as a sandbox PC, this unique tablet-like computer enables users to use it without even looking at it, since it operates via an active surface that changes texture depending on the area or function you've chosen. Guess blind or visually impaired folk will be able to pick the Zen PC up much faster than the seeing since we're so used to visual input, but it is a novel idea to explore. I don't think the steep learning curve will earn it any points though, but then again chances are the Zen PC concept won't be realized anytime soon which is a bummer as the blind will find it extremely useful though.

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[Source: Ubergizmo]

Videophone Alcohol Check System

Videophone Alcohol Check System

NTT DoCoMo's FOMA-based Videophone Alcohol Check System is one interesting application for any handset, but unfortunately we won't be seeing it in action Stateside.

The Videophone Alcohol Check System service enables bus and delivery companies to easily monitor drivers in the field at any time. Drivers blow into a breathalyzer connected to a handset and the alcohol concentration is transmitted to a computer at the head office. Inebriated drivers cannot have someone else take the test for them, because the person’s identity is confirmed via the videophone’s camera as they take the test.

I wonder if thie system can be bypassed by an imposter using a life-sized portrait to trick the videophone's camera.

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[Source: Ubergizmo]

iSoundSpa Fusion

iSoundSpa Fusion

Here's yet another alarm clock that comes with a built-in iPod dock - the iSoundSpa Fusion. What makes the iSoundSpa Fusion stand out from the rest would be its interchangeable faceplates that can be replaced to match your mood, or even your iPod/MP3 player's design. It also packs in an integrated AM/FM radio and half a dozen soothing sounds inspired by nature to wake you up. The iSoundSpa Fusion retails for $59.99 which is pretty reasonable, but forking out $5 per faceplate? You gotta be kidding me - I ain't paying that much for some cheap plastic.

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[Source: Ubergizmo]

Wall-E GameCube Mod

Wall-E GameCube Mod

Isn't this the cutest GameCube mod you've ever laid your eyes on? Based on a character from Disney Pixar's upcoming film, the Wall-E GameCube mod is made out of children's toys Plexiglas, tubes, rods, plastic, metal and acrylic paint. I wonder how many hours it took to create this masterpiece. How many other mods do you think the GameCube is suitable for?

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[Source: Ubergizmo]

Vuzix iWear AV920-C Daisy Chained

Vuzix iWear AV920-C Daisy Chained

The Vuzix iWear AV920-C is one interesting video headset, capable of receiving video from just about any device with a composite video output, displaying it beautifully on the internal 640 x 480 LCD display. This is the equivalent of enjoying a 62" display from as near as 9 feet away. Just in case watching video from up close and personal is not enough for you, you can even connect up to 4 such headsets in a daisy chain to a single console, bringing a new level of immersion to FPS gamers. At long last, you can no longer peek at your opponent's screen during a 4-way fragfest where your 42" LCD TV doesn't look so big suddenly. If only they had this back in the days of Mario Kart on the SNES.

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[Source: Ubergizmo]

PC Gaming Has a Bad Reputation How to Fix It

PC Gaming Has a Bad Reputation – How to Fix It

[GDC 2008] We were invited to attend an interesting discussion held by the PC Gaming Alliance, a group of companies that includes Acer/Gateway, Activision, AMD, Dell, Electronic Arts, Epic, Intel, Microsoft and NVIDIA. The Alliance has been created to solve one problem: Make PC Gaming easier to “consume” and extend the reach of PC Gaming beyond veteran/hardcore gamers.

What is the problem?
Unlike game consoles, the PC is an open platform with a multitude of hardware and software choices. This is a strength when it comes to high-end gaming systems because you always get the latest technology, but it is also a weakness because it confuses consumers who buy multi-purpose computers. There are examples of 2000 dollars PCs that are not capable of decent gaming and from a consumer’s perspective, it’s ridiculous – most would expect a $2000 PC to be somewhat gaming-capable. On the software side, games all have different minimum requirement specs (and sometimes completely bogus ones).

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[Source: Ubergizmo]