May 20

ORP beta released, brings PS3 Remote Play experience to your PC or Mac

Posted in: hack, Hacks, mod, mods, playstation 3, Playstation3, ps3, psp, sony, Today's Chili

Sure, the catalog of compatible games hasn’t been as hefty as we’d like, but Sony has done quite a bit right with its PlayStation 3 / PSP Remote Play feature. Modder Dashhacker (with special thanks to noted PSP hacker Dark_AleX, among others) has released Open Remote Play v1.1 beta, which lets you take that same Remote Play experience onto your Windows PC or Intel-based Mac. The caveat here is that you’ll still need a PSP handy to set up the application, so don’t go thinking you can bypass the portable altogether. The OS X version apparently works well, but Windows users may ample bugs — it is beta, after all. We haven’t had a chance to try it ourselves yet, but don’t let that stop you from beating us to the punch — just let us know what you think. Alternatively, you can peruse video of it in action after the break.

Read – ORP v1.1 Beta
Read – Google Code project page

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ORP beta released, brings PS3 Remote Play experience to your PC or Mac originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 May 2009 04:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 20

Google announces first PowerMeter partners, we beg for more

Posted in: Environment, Google, green, Today's Chili

At last, we have the first partners in Google’s quest to make your personal power consumption visible on your home computer. As the thinking goes, if you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it. So Google wants to give consumers near real-time visibility to their consumption and usage patterns via Google’s PowerMeter software and utility-supplied “smart meters.” The hope here, is that those aware of their energy consumption habits will change them to save money, and in turn, the planet. The initial list of partner utilities represent millions of homes spread across cities and country-sides in the US, Canada, and India:

  • San Diego Gas & Electric(R) (California)
  • TXU Energy (Texas)
  • JEA (Florida)
  • Reliance Energy (India)
  • Wisconsin Public Service Corporation (Wisconsin)
  • White River Valley Electric Cooperative (Missouri)
  • Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited (Canada)
  • Glasgow EPB (Kentucky)

Google has also partnered with Itron to embed its PowerMeter software into Itron smart meters. While we applaud the effort, seeing energy consumption for the entire house, only, is far too macro (though a good first step). What we’re waiting for is the marriage of this with home automation and monitoring solutions based on Z-Wave and ZigbBee, for example, so we can gain visibility and control down to the device level. Imagine a single software view that lets you drill all the way down to see how much energy your computer, lights, or home theater projector is consuming and then shut ’em down when not in use or to avoid vampire drain. Hey Nokia, you’re working on a Home Control Center… you reading this? Google’s looking for partners.

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Google announces first PowerMeter partners, we beg for more originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 May 2009 03:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 20

A red Asus Eee PC 1002HAE video hands-on? You got it

Posted in: ASUS, hands-on, HandsOn, netbook, Today's Chili, video

Have your eyes set on a rouge Asus Eee PC 1002HAE? The gang at Portable Monkey got their hands on one straight from Japan. Turns out, it’s exactly as you expected — same setup and specs as the 1002HA with a slightly lighter shell and chiclet keyboard, both of which are welcome additions here. If red netbooks are your bag, boy have we got just the video for you after the break.

Continue reading A red Asus Eee PC 1002HAE video hands-on? You got it

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A red Asus Eee PC 1002HAE video hands-on? You got it originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 May 2009 02:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 20

Netflix Watch Instantly comes to Vista Media Center, not Extenders

Posted in: netflix, PC, streaming, Today's Chili, watch instantly, WatchInstantly, Windows

Good news, Vista Media Center PC users will soon find a new option under the TV+Movies tile, as Netflix Watch Instantly streaming access is added directly to the interface. The soul crushingly bad news? A post on The Green Button informs that this does not apply to Media Center Extenders, so cheapskates hoping to get around the Xbox 360’s Gold Xbox Live subscription requirement are still going to need those plugins and workarounds. This should go over much better than the InternetTV beta 2, but we’re disappointed Microsoft’s vision of TV on Your PC (as pointed out on its accompanying blogs, videos and assorted paraphernalia indicates) doesn’t allow users to stretch their PC back to the TV at will. ’til that changes, check the gallery and after the break to see what awaits in Media Center once the update rolls out over the next 48 hours.

Update: We checked with Microsoft, and confirmed that, at least for now, this streaming only includes the same content as the browser experience – so no HD. As far as Windows 7 and / or RC1 support? No word yet.
[Via The Green Button]


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Netflix Watch Instantly comes to Vista Media Center, not Extenders originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 May 2009 01:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 20

Infallibly Polite Speaking Alarm Clock does what it says

Posted in: Retro, Today's Chili

Truth be told, there’s an alarm clock out there for every type of waker, but this bad boy just might be the most enjoyable (if such a thing actually exists). Sold by the always intriguing Hammacher Schlemmer, the Infallibly Polite Speaking Alarm Clock supposedly “reproduces the subtle wit employed by P. G. Wodehouse’s most famous character, the valet Reginald Jeeves.” In fact, it plays back 126 fey wake-up messages in the voice of Stephen Fry, with our favorite being the following: “Excuse me sir, I’m so sorry to disturb you, but it appears to be morning… very inconvenient, I agree… I believe it is the rotation of the Earth that is to blame, sir.” If only the thing weren’t $99.95, we’d have one in every room.

[Via Slashgear]

Update: ThinkGeek has it for just $69.99 — score! Thanks David!

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Infallibly Polite Speaking Alarm Clock does what it says originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 May 2009 01:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 19

MSI Wind U200 gets the hands-on video treatment

Posted in: thin and light, ThinAndLight, Today's Chili

We already got a pretty good look at MSI’s new 12-inch Wind U200 at its debut at Computex in Taipei, but the folks at NewGadgets.de have had a chance to spend a bit more quality time with the not-quite-a-netbook, and they’ve thankfully provided a hands-on video (in both English and German no less). While they aren’t offering much in the way of actual impressions just yet, they do provide a fairly thorough overview of the device, and even discover a working SIM card slot in the battery compartment, along with a mysterious rubber plug on the side that may or may not actually conceal something. Head on past the break to check it out for yourself, or hit up the link below if you’re looking to practice your German.

Continue reading MSI Wind U200 gets the hands-on video treatment

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MSI Wind U200 gets the hands-on video treatment originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 May 2009 23:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 19

Daimler buys 10% stake in Tesla, offers parts and know-how

Posted in: electric car, electric vehicle, ElectricCar, ElectricVehicle, tesla, Today's Chili

Daimler and Tesla have been working together in a limited capacity for some time now, but the two made their relationship official in a pretty big way earlier today, with Daimler announcing that it has bought a 10% stake in Tesla, and that it’ll be lending a hand with both parts and engineering. Of course, as with most things Tesla, there’s no firm price tag attached to the deal, although it’s said to be in the “double digit millions.” They’re a bit more specific when it comes to the working relationship, however, which will apparently include Tesla “leveraging Daimler’s engineering, production and supply chain expertise” in ways that’ll “accelerate” bringing the Model S to production. Tesla will also reportedly work on battery pack integration and battery management systems for Daimler from here on out, and the two will continue to collaborate on Daimler’s second-generation Smart ED electric vehicle that’s slated to go into production later this year. Interestingly, as AutoBlog points out, the deal also gives Tesla access to the automotive lithium-ion cells being produced by Daimler subsidiary Li-Tec which, when we’re talking about electric vehicles, is no small thing.

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Daimler buys 10% stake in Tesla, offers parts and know-how originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 May 2009 22:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 19

You Can Build Your Own Hubble Space Telescope

Posted in: Space Tech, Tech Toys, Today's Chili

hubble-model.jpgThe Hubble Space Telescope has certainly been in the news this past week. Astronauts from Shuttle Atlantis stopped by for a billion dollars worth of refurbishing, hopefully succeeding in giving Hubble another decade of exquisite observation. Though in-orbit repairs were anticipated and designed into Hubble’s physical structure this mission saw some work no one ever expected–and it looks like it worked!

It’s an incredibly dangerous job which few Gearlog readers would turn down. Imagine a chance to do some fix-it work while traveling at 17,000+ mph at 350 miles above the Earth’s surface. Wow!

Of course most of us will never get to Hubble, but you can build your own. There are instructions to roll-your-own at Hubblesite.org.

Make a scale model of NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope using easy-to-find supplies and our printable materials.

These models aren’t working telescopes – you can’t peer at the sky with them. But they can give you an up-close look at the telescope’s structure and a challenging project to engage your model-making skills.

Detailed instructions are available for models using PVC (low detail, average difficulty) and paper (two sets of plans including a highly detailed but very complex model). Though I am not personally licensed for powertools, a more coordinated builder should be able to take the detailed instructions and build a model of true beauty. It’s the next best thing to being there.

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May 19

GPS System might begin to fail in 2010, Government Accounting Office warns

Posted in: gps, Today's Chili

Get all of your geocache games in while you can, kids… if the Worst Case Scenario(R) goes down, the nation’s GPS system could begin to fail sometime next year. According to a Government Accounting Office report, the Global Positioning System has been so mismanaged that when aging equipment starts to fail, there may be no new satellites to take their place. “If the Air Force does not meet its schedule goals for development of GPS IIIA satellites,” the report states, “there will be an increased likelihood that… the overall GPS constellation will fall below the number of satellites required to provide the level of GPS service that the U.S. government commits to.” All we can say is that between this, Internet Doomsday, and the imminent Robot Apocalypse, it’s gonna be a fun couple of years.

[Via Fox News]

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GPS System might begin to fail in 2010, Government Accounting Office warns originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 May 2009 21:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 19

Life-sized Tachikoma loose on the streets of Tokyo (update: video!)

Posted in: Japan, robot, Today's Chili

You know, we see a lot of kick-ass vehicles ’round Engadget HQ, so it’s easy to grow a little jaded. Who can forget that Batman Tumbler we saw tearing up the asphalt last summer? Or the Halo Warthog — complete with UN Space Command BDUs? Sure, either of those would make for a fun-filled weekend (or a lifetime of weekends), but what about something a little more suited to urban environs? Next time you’re in Tokyo, make sure you look up a gentleman named San Kougei, who put together a joystick-piloted replica Tachikoma (of Ghost In The Shell fame). Who knows? Maybe he’ll even let you take it for a spin. We’re looking forward to seeing some YouTube video of this bad boy, but in the meantime we present you with one more pic (after the break).

Update: Video found… from 2006. Hey, it’s new to (most of) you!

[Via Tokyo Mango]

Continue reading Life-sized Tachikoma loose on the streets of Tokyo (update: video!)

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Life-sized Tachikoma loose on the streets of Tokyo (update: video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 May 2009 20:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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