Hasta La Gadget!

Springwise.com: Finding an ATM in an unfamiliar city or neighbourhood can be a real hassle. So it’s no surprise that various applications have been developed for the iPhone and other mobile devices, that use built-in GPS to map the nearest cash machines. ING Wegwijzer, a new application built for the T-Mobile G1 (Google) phone, takes the concept a step further. The G1 phone has a built-in compass, which means that it can not only determine where users are, but also which direction they’re facing. Which gets interesting when combined with the phone’s camera, which is what the Dutch bank’s new tool does.

How that works? A cash-seeking user opens Wegwijzer, selects the camera mode, and holds the phone as though to take a picture. Layered over the live image of what’s in front of him, is a label showing where the nearest ATM is, literally pointing to the building that houses the machine. Which, for most people, is a far more intuitive way to find an object than by looking at a map; it’s the phone equivalent of asking a human and having them point to what you’re looking for.

ING application for G1 phone uses camera & compass to point out nearest ATM [Springwise.com]

One day the kinetic energy recovery system or KERS — an advance hybrid technology that captures breaking energy and converts it into on-demand engine boost — will be as common as windshield wipers. But for now we must settle for this kick-ass demo of KERS in its current application: Formula 1. Thanks to Edmunds, we can see the system in action as Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel narrates a scorching 3-D speed ride in one of the latest RB-series super racers. You can also learn more about KERS and its passenger car future here.

Bad news Kuro fans, the rumors were true and Pioneer is leaving the TV manufacturing business. On the upside, the restructuring deadline is March 2010, so a predicted net 130 billion yen ($1.44 billion) loss shouldn’t be enough to get between you and the plasma HDTV of your dreams. The company’s U.S. and U.K. plants are shutting down by April and February of this year, respectively, and product development for TVs beyond what’s currently on the market is ending, seeing no prospects for improving profitability even after combining plasma efforts with Panasonic and LCDs with Sharp. Overall, there will be 10,000 fewer full time and temporary Pioneer employees than there were at the end of last year, while pay and bonuses for execs have been cut. The future for Pioneer? Mostly car audio, including in-car Blu-ray players and networked electronics, while its home electronics business focus on audio, DJ equipment and cable TV boxes, with a focus on using its expertise in improving sound. All other ugly details are contained in the press release, mourning the passing of another plasma supplier is in the comments.

[Via Bloomberg and AV Watch, thanks Carl H.]

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Pioneer officially leaving the TV biz by March 2010, focusing on audio originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 03:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’d heard of a FastMac USB external slimline Blu-ray reader poking around Macworld last month, but we never got anything official until today, when the company pinged us to let us know that the $99 APP-6907 DVD±RW / BD drive, the $299 APP-6963 1x BD-R drive and the $399 APP-6964 4x BD-R drive are now all available. All three drives support both Macs and PCs, although you’ll need Windows to play BD movies. Not bad deals all around, but we’re still not convinced we need a Blu-ray drive for our computers when we barely use the one in the living room.

Read – APP-6907
Read – APP-6963
Read – APP-6964

Filed under: Storage

FastMac slips out three slimline USB Blu-ray drives, including a $99 reader originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 02:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A US Iridium satellite has hit a defunct Russian satellite in an unprecedented space collision. The crash occurred some 790km (491 miles) over Siberia on Tuesday, according to NASA, and produced a “massive” cloud of debris. About 600 pieces are being tracked from the debris field in hopes of understanding the risk they present to other satellites and the international space station. The Russian craft was identified as the 950kg (2,094 pound) Cosmos 2251, a communications relay station launched in 1993 and believed to have been non-operational for the last 10 years or so. The Iridium telecommunications satellite was estimated to weigh about 560kg (1,234 pounds). Unsurprisingly, its loss is expected to have “minimal impact on Iridium’s service,” according to a statement made by the company. When asked who was at fault, NASA responded dryly:

“They ran into each other. Nothing has the right of way up there. We don’t have an air traffic controller in space. There is no universal way of knowing what’s coming in your direction.”

Gulp.

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

US and Russian satellites collide in ‘unprecedented’ accident originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 01:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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