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Archive for January 13th, 2008

Fog machine and light show coming to Rock Band later this year

Sunday, January 13th, 2008

You guys might not know this about me, but I’m a huge Rock Band fanatic. I’ve met a lot of the gang at Harmonix and even rocked out in their Star Chamber. Trust me when I say you won’t find a place that’s more fun to hang out than there. Needless to say, my friends and I spend a lot of time rocking out. I’ve bought a mic stand, a drum throne and my own pair of drumsticks, but that’s really the extent of my extra hardware purchases for the game. Since you can’t currently buy standalone instruments, there aren’t a lot of extras to buy (aside from more songs). That’s going to change in the future, as GameStop has let slip a new kit that will add some effects to your show.

Specifically, this Rock Band Stage Kit will add lights and a fog machine to your performances. Supposedly the lights are going to be synced up with the music you’re playing. I’m a little torn on this one. My dad is a musician, so I can appreciate a good set of lights, but you don’t want to overdo it. In my opinion, a fog machine is overdoing it. That aside, I can’t really picture myself rocking out in my living room with something like this going. I think that it would be cool if you were having a tournament somewhere public, or you wanted to shoot a cool video. If this sort of thing would rock your world, you’ll be able to pick it up (allegedly) on 6/23/2008 for $99.99.

Source: Technabob

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Firm shows off functional Android build on ancient HTC hardware

Sunday, January 13th, 2008

Posted Jan 13th 2008 3:05PM by Chris Ziegler
Filed under: Cellphones, HandheldsCalifornia-based a la Mobile has crafted a somewhat complete set of phone apps in prototype form — you know, the most basic kinds of things you’d need on a smartphone to make it usable — on top of Android, claiming it’s the first group to show off a fully functional prototype. The firm installed its goodies on a Qtek 9090, a rather ancient, janky HTC device from days gone by, proving that a wide swath of devices already in the marketplace will be ripe targets for Android transplants once solid, fully functional code is widely available. Though no one in the 34 member strong Open Handset Alliance has publicly committed to a particular Android software stack — let alone a particular hardware design — a la Mobile says that it’s making a play among OHA member manufacturers to take a good, hard look at its wares as they navigate the process. The head of the LiMo Foundation, a sorta-competitor to the Open Handset Alliance, naturally downplayed a la Mobile’s efforts, calling Android “just like a big lab experiment” — though he did manage to call the prototype “interesting.” How about we keep the verbal volleys to a minimum and get some friggin’ Linux in the mainstream, ladies and gentlemen?

Macworld – There’s something in the air

Sunday, January 13th, 2008


I’ve been a Mac user for a very long time. Well, I guess I can’t say that I am anymore, as I haven’t bought a new one in several years, and most of my work is done on a PC. I’m still a loyal Apple fan at heart, so I tend to follow the news waiting for that one announcement that’s going to make me finally take the plunge and buy a new one. While I’m not sure that this is the one, I’m very excited about the possibilities that the upcoming Macworld Expo have to offer. The biggest one is the Air.

There are a lot of rumors going around, but we do know that the banners hanging up for the show say “There is something in the air.”To me this cries out WiMAX, but others seem to think that it could be a new MacBook, named the Air. It would be an ultrathin 13.3-inch notebook that would have an external optical drive and possibly feature a completely wireless setup that would take advantage of a Power-by induction patent that Apple filed for a year ago.

Whatever it is, it’s going to have to be big to top the iPhone announcement from last year. I’d really like to think that it’s going to be a new smaller notebook, but we’ll just have to wait and see.

Source: 9 to 5 Mac

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Home thermostats: Big Brother’s next target?

Sunday, January 13th, 2008

Posted Jan 13th 2008 11:53AM by Darren Murph
Filed under: HouseholdIt’s not like we haven’t heard of a higher power invading one’s home before, but apparently, a proposal set to be considered at month’s end could allow the state of California to “require that residents install remotely monitored temperature controls in their homes next year.” The Programmable Communication Thermostat (PCT) would feature a “non-removable” FM receiver which could be controlled by Big Brother in “times of emergency” to drop load in order for “utilities to meet their supplies [when] the integrity of the grid is being jeopardized.” Of course, we are hearing that adjustments would only be made ±4 degrees, but we aren’t so keen on one thing leading to another, if you catch our drift.

[Via Digg, image courtesy of Drexel, thanks yoshi]

Computerized Chopper

Sunday, January 13th, 2008

Look’s like I’m having a bit of a session on bikes at the moment and the coolest I’ve found so far has to be the operational concept chopper produced in collaboration between Intel and Orange County Choppers with just a little help from Black Diamond. The concept was to produce a product capable of operating under some pretty tough conditions and to show the potential of the current embedded technology. The result was the SwitchBack PC, a product which was already in development stages by Black Diamond. They just needed to make it dirt, weather, shock and vibration proof (easy peasy) and ensure it was also ultra-mobile. And what better way to demonstrate all of this by putting it into a motorcycle.

The finished bike has fingerprint recognition ignition system, digital dashboard with a complete infotainment system including web access and other processor based operations. Another neat feature are the rear mounted cameras to see what’s behind you, thus eliminating the need for rear view mirrors. Capable of wireless connectivity, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS and with plenty of other oh so cool features (I want one and I can’t even ride a bike!)

Guideline prices for the SwitchBack PC are from $6,000 to $10,000 (plus the cost of whichever bike you want to install it onto). Somehow I don’t think a little 125cc will do it full justice but I think that may be all I can get to start with.

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Venture Xtreme: The First Outdoor Artificial Surfing Machine

Sunday, January 13th, 2008


It would seem that the search for thrills, cheap and otherwise, knows no bounds.  The world of extreme sports, also known as adventure sports or lifestyle sports, is growing at an incredible rate of speed. In this sports arena, Europe has exceeded America, as 2011 becomes the promised time when London will partake in the world’s first artificial outdoor surfing experience (in between tea, crumpets and various other proper English activities).

Venture Xtreme is more than just a multi-sport, shopping and leisure complex on an unprecedented scale; it provides a lifestyle that has the unique ability to combine sports participation with spectator attraction.  It is reported that this artificial surfing machine will feature 6-foot swells, which will, upon command, break gloriously upon the Thames in a magical place called Silvertown Quay. It is hoped that this unique attraction will draw the ever-growing ranks of urban surfers throughout the world.

Estimated to cost a mere £20 million (40 million US dollars), the goal of the creators of this machine is to rival, through the utilization of “cleaned river water,” the Atlantic breakers of Devon and Cornwall. Building to transform the former grain dock is slated to begin this year.

As if the surfing machine wasn’t enough of an achievement, creators are also planning on an artificial beach with palm trees, boardwalks and rentable fire-pits for barbecues to create a more realistic setting. (They left out sharks and other perils, which would surely enhance the surfing experience as well.)

Happy hi-tech surfing!

Read [New Launches]

DIY spy sunglasses cost just $40

Sunday, January 13th, 2008

Posted Jan 13th 2008 8:36AM by Darren Murph
Filed under: Wearables
On the real, spy glasses are old hat, but building a set on your own for under $40 is most definitely notable. An engineering fellow has managed to do just that by snagging a micro camera from eBay for around $18 and wiring it up to a $20 pair of Solar Shield shades. From there, he connected the camera to a pocket-friendly MiniDV camcorder — which we’re sure could be done wirelessly for those with extra time — and continued on to snag quite a few questionable reels of footage from a day at the beach. Of course, you won’t find us recommending that you let your inner voyeur loose or anything, but feel free to tag the read link for all the instructions you need (and a video to boot).

5 Important and Useful Phone Numbers - Add to Your Cell

Sunday, January 13th, 2008

Men’s Health Best Life magazine put out a list of telephone numbers that they feel every man should have. Honestly, it’s not that kind of list; anyone can benefit from these numbers. I didn’t think all 10 deserved to be ranked together, but I did think that 5 of them were very useful. Here they are summarized:

  • 202.501.4444. US Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs’ Overseas Citizens Services. Yes, that’s quite a mouthful and yes, only geared to Americans. These folks are here to help you should you run into mini disasters on your overseas trip.
  • 800.752.6096. Language Line Services. Need an emergency translation in a hurry? For $3.95 a minute, you can get something in over 170 languages translated.
  • 800.466.4411. GOOG-411. You knew Google had to make this list. Make a call, get info. One # that Best Life forgot was Google’s text services. If you’re a texter, then send your queries to 466453 (G-O-O-G-L-E).
  • 800.829.4222. 800-TAXI-CAB. Apart from finding you a local cab wherever, you can also get limos and airport shuttles.
  • ICE. Not an actual # you call, but could be the most important one you store in your phone. You should store your emergency contact #(s) under the name ICE, aka In Case of Emergency, in your phone.

Spy shots of Apple’s Macworld booth are of giant black shroud, shockingly enough

Sunday, January 13th, 2008

Posted Jan 13th 2008 3:08AM by Ryan Block
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets
Apple, a company normally and notoriously known for being fast and loose loose with its product announcements just blew our minds: spy shots from within the Macworld expo revealed a large, black, shrouded booth; there’s simply nothing to see. More on this story as it develops — Tuesday morning.

Ceramic microneedles to make injections painless

Sunday, January 13th, 2008

Posted Jan 12th 2008 8:54PM by Darren Murph
Filed under: Misc. GadgetsRest assured, we’ve “seen” methods of delivering injections sans pain, but we’ve yet to actually experience this phenomenon ourselves. If Dr. Roger Narayan has anything to do about it, however, we may not feel even a pinch the next time the blood drive comes calling. A team of researchers led by the aforementioned individual has reportedly been able to use “two-photon polymerization of organically modified ceramic (Ormocer) hybrid materials to create microneedles resistant to breakage,” and they can also be made in a wider range of sizes than metal counterparts. It’s said that these very needles would be “so fine that patients wouldn’t feel them piercing their skin,” and while that sure sounds delightful, we’ve no idea how many more visits we’ll make before finding one of these in the nurse’s hand.

[Via medGadget, image courtesy of Rice]

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