Hasta La Gadget!

pimg src=”http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/gizmodo/2008/12/android_garmin.jpg” align=”left” hspace=”4″ vspace=”2″ width=”500″ height=”313″ style=”display:block;” /Even though we’ve been waiting, well, a href=”http://gizmodo.com/5030844/garmins-nuvifone-gets-delayed-til-2009″just about forever/a for Garmin’s a href=”http://gizmodo.com/tag/nuvifone”Nuvifone/a, a marketing director in Asia has confirmed to a href=”http://www.digitimes.com/NewsShow/MailHome.asp?datePublish=2008/12/22pages=PDseq=203″DigiTimes/a that Garmin-labeled Android phones are in the oven. Well, maybe not: strongUPDATED 12:13PM/1:28PM EST/strong/p pstrongUpdate 12:13PM:/strong a href=”http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2008/12/garmin_what_and.html”Eric at Information Week/a called up Garmin US for their comment, and apparently they were just as surprised as we are at the DigiTimes’s report, saying:/p blockquote pGarmin media relations manager, Ted Gartner, said that, “There were many inaccuracies reported by the DigiTimes.” He also said that Garmin is working on a statement to debunk most of the “facts” reported by DigiTimes./p /blockquote pNot an outright denial, but we’ll stay tuned for the aforementioned statement. N/p pstrongUpdate 1:28PM:/strong Annnnd, here it is:/p blockquote pGarmin Disputes DigiTimes Report/p pCAYMAN ISLANDSmdash;(BUSINESS WIRE)mdash;Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, is disputing a Monday, December 22 report in the DigiTimes trade publication entitled, “Garmin expects to ship 18 million GPS PNDs in 2008.” The story contains a number of inaccuracies in both sales figures and product rollout schedules./p p“Black Friday sales from our customers were what we expected and gross margins remain relatively strong,” said Kevin Rauckman, Garmin’s CFO and treasurer. “However, the December sales environment is weaker, which we attribute to our retail customers’ desire to exit the year with lower levels of inventory.”/p pAs is customary, Garmin will update investors during its fourth quarter 2008 earnings call, scheduled for February 25, 2009./p /blockquote pYep, no word at all about the Android phones specifically./p pNow, your regularly scheduled news pre-update:/p pYou may recall that Garmin was one of the more interesting new members into the Open Handset Alliance, the fraternity of Android-friendly companies that just a href=”http://gizmodo.com/5105406/androids-open-handset-alliance-adds-14-members-sony-ericsson-garmin-asus-and-more”recently accepted a few new pledges/a. Whether these phones will have a worldwide release or stick to Asia only, as many of the most recent Android announcements have, remains to be seen. [a href=”http://www.digitimes.com/NewsShow/MailHome.asp?datePublish=2008/12/22pages=PDseq=203″DigiTimes/a]/p br clear=”both” style=”clear: both;”/
br clear=”both” style=”clear: both;”/
a href=”http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?s=f81daa68f96cd42c42e99c6979111d8ap=1″img alt=”” style=”border: 0;” border=”0″ src=”http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?s=f81daa68f96cd42c42e99c6979111d8ap=1″//a
img src=”http://www.pheedo.com/feeds/tracker.php?i=f81daa68f96cd42c42e99c6979111d8a” style=”display: none;” border=”0″ height=”1″ width=”1″ alt=””/div class=”feedflare”
a href=”http://feeds.gawker.com/~f/gizmodo/full?a=9Neh1iWJ”img src=”http://feedproxy.google.com/~f/gizmodo/full?d=120″ border=”0″/img/a a href=”http://feeds.gawker.com/~f/gizmodo/full?a=andC9pCO”img src=”http://feedproxy.google.com/~f/gizmodo/full?d=41″ border=”0″/img/a a href=”http://feeds.gawker.com/~f/gizmodo/full?a=IsOn4vn0″img src=”http://feedproxy.google.com/~f/gizmodo/full?i=IsOn4vn0″ border=”0″/img/a a href=”http://feeds.gawker.com/~f/gizmodo/full?a=gXW6ia3K”img src=”http://feedproxy.google.com/~f/gizmodo/full?i=gXW6ia3K” border=”0″/img/a
/divimg src=”http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~4/TQDIOtvYVJ0″ height=”1″ width=”1″/

pimg src=”http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/gizmodo/2008/12/bagtv.jpg” width=”185″ height=”400″ /Someone please tell me one person who would buy this: a hand bag with a 7-inch TV and DVD player built in to it./p pYes, BagTV is a real product. It’s available for $436! I’m honestly wondering if they’ve sold a single one of these things. Not only is it as bad an idea as ideas come, but it’s insanely expensive as well. Really, please, someone justify this thing’s existence for me./p pWorse: this isn’t even the first time a href=”http://gizmodo.com/365958/hannspree-leather-purse-tv-renders-us-confused-somewhat-angry”someone has tried this idea/a. Was the first one such a success you had to rip it off? Good lord. [a href=”http://www.bagtv.com/”Bagtv/a via a href=”http://www.redferret.net/?p=12251″Red Ferret/a]/p br clear=”both” style=”clear: both;”/
br clear=”both” style=”clear: both;”/
a href=”http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?s=d14a7038238f78d859d9f4fc8a8d4971p=1″img alt=”” style=”border: 0;” border=”0″ src=”http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?s=d14a7038238f78d859d9f4fc8a8d4971p=1″//a
img src=”http://www.pheedo.com/feeds/tracker.php?i=d14a7038238f78d859d9f4fc8a8d4971″ style=”display: none;” border=”0″ height=”1″ width=”1″ alt=””/div class=”feedflare”
a href=”http://feeds.gawker.com/~f/gizmodo/full?a=zbluaHrq”img src=”http://feedproxy.google.com/~f/gizmodo/full?d=120″ border=”0″/img/a a href=”http://feeds.gawker.com/~f/gizmodo/full?a=s1KTuWXM”img src=”http://feedproxy.google.com/~f/gizmodo/full?d=41″ border=”0″/img/a a href=”http://feeds.gawker.com/~f/gizmodo/full?a=9EiQCGHW”img src=”http://feedproxy.google.com/~f/gizmodo/full?i=9EiQCGHW” border=”0″/img/a a href=”http://feeds.gawker.com/~f/gizmodo/full?a=mbvCbPCn”img src=”http://feedproxy.google.com/~f/gizmodo/full?i=mbvCbPCn” border=”0″/img/a
/divimg src=”http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~4/J4jp-qsVJqg” height=”1″ width=”1″/

pimg src=”http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/gizmodo/2008/12/energy-harvesting-radio.jpg” width=”494″ height=”353″ style=”display:block;” /It’s an obvious point, but I didn’t know until today that bridges contain structure sensors that burn through batteries, needing constant replacement. Luckily, a new solar-powered radio could simplify these systems greatly./p pDeveloped by Kansas State University engineers, the working prototypes use humble calculator solar panels to power a NASA/KSU-developed “Mars Chip” radio transmitter. The transmitter sends data every five seconds, allowing constant updates of bridge stability in real time./p pAs of now, the team has to do more testing as to which frequencies are most reliable through various external interferences while keeping in mind other ways of powering the device (like thermal and mechanical energy). But it seems like a pretty simple way to upgrade our infrastructure for the all-around better. [a href=”http://www.k-state.edu/media/newsreleases/dec08/radios121608.html”K-State/a via a href=”http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/12/energy-harvesting-radio-transmitter.php”Treehugger/a]/p br clear=”both” style=”clear: both;”/
br clear=”both” style=”clear: both;”/
a href=”http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?s=e0b605bc4498c8a99bcbd4d622527f91p=1″img alt=”” style=”border: 0;” border=”0″ src=”http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?s=e0b605bc4498c8a99bcbd4d622527f91p=1″//a
img src=”http://www.pheedo.com/feeds/tracker.php?i=e0b605bc4498c8a99bcbd4d622527f91″ style=”display: none;” border=”0″ height=”1″ width=”1″ alt=””/div class=”feedflare”
a href=”http://feeds.gawker.com/~f/gizmodo/full?a=KeUCkMgS”img src=”http://feedproxy.google.com/~f/gizmodo/full?d=120″ border=”0″/img/a a href=”http://feeds.gawker.com/~f/gizmodo/full?a=1C6V8MfO”img src=”http://feedproxy.google.com/~f/gizmodo/full?d=41″ border=”0″/img/a a href=”http://feeds.gawker.com/~f/gizmodo/full?a=dBQ6mVH7″img src=”http://feedproxy.google.com/~f/gizmodo/full?i=dBQ6mVH7″ border=”0″/img/a a href=”http://feeds.gawker.com/~f/gizmodo/full?a=PuyLUaBP”img src=”http://feedproxy.google.com/~f/gizmodo/full?i=PuyLUaBP” border=”0″/img/a
/divimg src=”http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~4/1UNJMw_k4fE” height=”1″ width=”1″/

pimg src=”http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/gizmodo/2008/12/rokerlipo.jpg” width=”538″ height=”312″ style=”display:block;” /A Beverly Hills plastic surgeon has started using the human fat left over from liposuction as biofuel to power his SUV. It’s the American Dream: turning your fat ass into free gas./p pDr. Craig Allen Bittner claimed that his patients actually requested that their fat be used to power his car. You know, for the environment’s sake. But of course, he also recently shut down his practice and moved to South America after becoming the target of a bunch of lawsuits, so he’s not exactly the most trustworthy source in the world./p pBut powering a car with human fat is in fact possible, although the fat, like animal fat, would need to be treated to remove fatty acids. Lots of companies such as Tyson and Nova Biosource are looking to power their own fleets of vehicles with the animal waste that they produce already./p pBut really, the main question is this: what did it smell like to drive behind Bittner’s Navigator? I’m not sure I want to know. [a href=”http://www.forbes.com/technology/2008/12/21/fat-fuel-biodiesel-tech-sciences-cz_pcb_1222fatfuel.html?feed=rss_technology”Forbes/a]/p br clear=”both” style=”clear: both;”/
br clear=”both” style=”clear: both;”/
a href=”http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?s=f6e9c99d280492882b505d3b090a5c1ap=1″img alt=”” style=”border: 0;” border=”0″ src=”http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?s=f6e9c99d280492882b505d3b090a5c1ap=1″//a
img src=”http://www.pheedo.com/feeds/tracker.php?i=f6e9c99d280492882b505d3b090a5c1a” style=”display: none;” border=”0″ height=”1″ width=”1″ alt=””/div class=”feedflare”
a href=”http://feeds.gawker.com/~f/gizmodo/full?a=m6iLd8C6″img src=”http://feedproxy.google.com/~f/gizmodo/full?d=120″ border=”0″/img/a a href=”http://feeds.gawker.com/~f/gizmodo/full?a=9SPZ4OTd”img src=”http://feedproxy.google.com/~f/gizmodo/full?d=41″ border=”0″/img/a a href=”http://feeds.gawker.com/~f/gizmodo/full?a=5QujMm62″img src=”http://feedproxy.google.com/~f/gizmodo/full?i=5QujMm62″ border=”0″/img/a a href=”http://feeds.gawker.com/~f/gizmodo/full?a=huDRzBBJ”img src=”http://feedproxy.google.com/~f/gizmodo/full?i=huDRzBBJ” border=”0″/img/a
/divimg src=”http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~4/sVriXRz3chs” height=”1″ width=”1″/

The unmanned lawnmower is nothing new, but we still think there’s something downright iffy about arming a Roomba with sharp metal blades. That said, if you’ve been dying to get in on the action, SmartMow might be worth checking out. Set to hit the stores in Spring ’09 for $749 (much cheaper than some other robo-mowers), the thing weighs 17 pounds, features three cutting blades, will cut around a sixth of an acre on a single charge (about 2-3 hours), and is auto-docking. As far as knowing where to mow, SmartMow eschews sci-fi grass detection algorithms and rudimentary artificial intelligence in favor of the tried but true method of marking off your mowable yard with an edge wire. The best thing about the bot, however, may be its educational value — not only will it teach your kids about robotics, it will also show them how people with money can buy their way out of doing chores. Video after the break.

[Via Robot Stock News]

Continue reading SmartMow mows the lawn but won’t accept a glass of lemonade

Filed under: Household

SmartMow mows the lawn but won’t accept a glass of lemonade originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments