Oct 04
The Aspire One AOD255 adds a dual-core Atom into a 10.1-inch Netbook.
Oct 04
Unless you’re willing to re-wire every single appliance in your home, Line Block Cable will be useless to you. However, these stackable power-cables, which operate like reverse-string-cheese, would cut clutter and tangling in no-time. And like regular string-cheese, they taste of nothing but rubbery plastic.
The Line Block Cable is a concept design which, like all good designs, is simple. It works just like any other power-cable, with the addition of a tongue-and-groove which adds interlocking shapes to the cable itself. The cross-section is the shape of a jigsaw-puzzle piece, allowing the tessellating edges to lock together. This essentially turns your whole under-desk mess into a single, flexible block.
Over at Oh Gizmo, the handsome and talented Andrew Liszewski utters this desperate plea on behalf of the Line Block Cable: “Dear every single electronics manufacturer on the planet, please adopt this line block cable design.” I quite agree, but I have one simple request: Please drop the awful medical-accessory-blue colorway and make it in pale, cheese-like yellow. Mmm.
Line Up The Tangles [Yanko via Andrew “George Clooney” Liszewski]
See Also:
- Daisy-Chaining USB Cables Add Endless Connections
- Military 'Bat-Hook' Sucks Free Power from Overhead Lines
- Hermaphrodite USB Cords Stack to Infinity
Follow us for real-time tech news: Charlie Sorrel and Gadget Lab on Twitter.
Oct 04
Screen Grabs: Nokia N8 endorsed by homicidal maniac
Posted in: nokia, smartphone, Today's Chili, TV, videoScreen Grabs chronicles the uses (and misuses) of real-world gadgets in today’s movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dt com.
Just look at that cold-blooded killer up there. And Dexter’s no choir boy either! Yes, the Nokia N8 is well and truly out and about now, as evidenced by its first appearance on American television, serving as Dexter von Murderink’s trusty sidekick. Nokia does deserve kudos for the subtle product placement here — you wouldn’t even know it was an N8 if you weren’t looking out for that portly lens compartment and the signature shade of dark grey. Which, of course, we were. Video after the break.
[Thanks, Luis]
Continue reading Screen Grabs: Nokia N8 endorsed by homicidal maniac
Screen Grabs: Nokia N8 endorsed by homicidal maniac originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 08:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Oct 04
SiGNa’s fuel-cell powered electric bike will run for 60 miles on a single charge. More impressive is that it runs on water.
The bike itself is really just a showcase for the fuel-cell tech from the energy company. The cells uses sodium silicide in the form of a sand-like powder. Add this to water and it “instantly creates hydrogen gas.” This hydrogen is then used to generate electricity. Because no hydrogen is stored, the cells are safe, and excess electricity is stored in batteries for an extra boost when you get to a hill. The cartridges are hot-swappable and are fully recyclable.
The main advantage (apart from the safety aspect) is that you can just swap-in a new cartridge when you need it, instead of having to stop to recharge (the units weigh around 1.5-pounds each, less than most batteries). You also get better range: a battery-powered bike typically gets 20 to 30-miles on a charge. The downside is infrastructure: you can find a power-outlet pretty much anywhere in the world. Try finding a compatible fuel-cell in a backwater general-store.
The current units can be designed to put out anything from 1-Watt to 1-Kilowatt. Their futire is probably not in electric bikes but in bigger transportation. Imagine driving your car into the gas-station, popping the hood and swapping in a fuel-cell, just Like Doc Brown drops a tube of plutonium into his time-traveling DeLorean.
Pre-orders for the cells are being taken by SiGNa. For a bike, you’ll probably have a long wait. Full, technical press release below.
Produce High-Pressure Hydrogen From Water [SiGNa. Thanks, Mike!]
See Also:
- Yamaha FC-Dii Fuel Cell Bike Prototype to Premiere at Tokyo Motor …
- How To Build Your Own Hybrid Hydrogen-Electrical Engine
- Sony Preps Hybrid Fuel Cell Battery
- Gocycle Black, The Non-Electric Electric Bike
- Shimano STEPS Up with E-Bike Component Set
- Super Size Me! Electric Bikes for the Obese
- Video: Sanyo Eneloop Bike Pedals For You
Follow us for real-time tech news: Charlie Sorrel and Gadget Lab on Twitter.
Press Release:
SiGNa Unveils The Most Energy Dense Power Solution For Electric Bicycles Power system produces clean, safe and portable hydrogen power – zero air pollution
NEW YORK – October 5, 2010 — The race to create a hydrogen-based portable power platform sped forward when SiGNa Chemistry, Inc. demonstrated its new ultra-high-performance range extender at the Interbike International Trade Expo. This ground-breaking power platform produces hydrogen gas instantaneously and then converts the hydrogen to electricity using a low-cost fuel cell. The extender creates up to 200W of continuous power; excess energy is stored in a lithium battery for use in more energy-intensive acceleration and hill climbing conditions. A unique attribute is the high level of inherent safety as demonstrated by 3 days of continuous operation at Interbike. The hydrogen is produced at low pressure (50% the pressure of a soda can) and the only emission is water vapor.
For the rider, the extender triples the range of their e-bike with minimal additional weight. Existing e-bikes have a range of up to 20 miles without pedaling; SiGNa’s system reaches up to 60 miles without pedaling for each carried fuel cartridge. The energy density of each SiGNa cartridge is more than 1,000 Watt-hours/kilogram compared to advanced Li-ion batteries at approximately 65 Watt-hours/kilogram. The fuel cartridges are hot-swappable, lightweight (< 1.5 pounds) and inexpensive, making this a realistic solution for any e-bike owner.
“The extender uses inherently-safe reactive metal powders to produce electric power. By integrating SiGNa’s hydrogen-generation technology with an e-bike, we have demonstrated an unprecedented power solution with no greenhouse gas emissions,” says Michael Lefenfeld, President and CEO of SiGNa Chemistry, Inc. SiGNa’s range extender was demonstrated on a Pedego® electric bicycle, but it is directly compatible with most electric bicycle models.
Sodium silicide makes this portable power system possible. Sodium silicide is a safe, air-stable reactive metal powder that instantly creates hydrogen gas when it comes into contact with water. Any type of water can be used including potable water, polluted water, sea water, or even urine. Once the fuel cartridge is depleted, the rider is left with an environmentally-safe byproduct (sodium silicate) that is fully contained in a disposable or reusable cartridge.
SiGNa has adapted its award-winning powders for use in many industrial applications including pharmaceuticals and oil refining. Since sodium silicide is safe, inexpensive and easily transportable, the portable power market is a natural fit. Says Lefenfeld, “SiGNa’s portable-power system overcomes two key challenges with using hydrogen for transportation applications – adequate hydrogen storage and safe transport. SiGNa has begun by developing a system that provides power to e-bikes; we envision this platform will become a primary or back up power source for many transportation applications.”
SiGNa’s portable power platform can be utilized in any standalone application that require from 1 W to 1 kW of power including generators, lawn mowers, golf carts, and consumer electronics.
Pre-orders are being taken now at sales@signachem.com.
Oct 04
HTC Mozart Windows Phone 7 specifications leak, ‘late October’ UK launch confirmed
Posted in: exclusive, HTC, leak, Microsoft, slate, Today's Chili, video, Windows Mobile, windows phone 7, windows phone 7 series, WindowsMobile, WindowsPhone7, WindowsPhone7Series, Wp7
We’re getting close, very very close to the official launch of the Windows Phone 7 OS. And while the US might be waiting until November for actual handsets to go on sale, Europe looks set for an October release… just like we heard from Microsoft back in August. Things are even rosier in the UK where all five major operators will have Windows Phone 7 devices in stock. Now, according to a screengrab we’ve received from an internal Phones 4U system, we know that the HTC Mozart is on deck for a late October UK retail debut. To start with, the 119 x 60.5 x 11.9 mm touchscreen slate will feature a 3.7-inch 800×480 pixel TFT LCD, 1GHz CPU, 8MP camera with Xenon flash and 720p video recording, a 1300mAh battery, 8GB of memory, and a bevy of sensors for ambient light, gravity, compass, and proximity. Other specs include a 3.5-mm audio jack naturally, surround sound, Bluetooth 2.1, A-GPS, and 802.11n WiFi. Expect it to be sold free with the usual £35 per month carrier tithe. Man, you thought deciding on a smartphone was tough now, just wait until we’ve got WinPho 7 and MeeGo (hopefully) devices on the market before year’s end.
Update: Looks as if an Orange help guide all but confirms that the Mozart will be coming its way in the UK. Thanks, Gears!
HTC Mozart Windows Phone 7 specifications leak, ‘late October’ UK launch confirmed originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 07:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Oct 04
Yes, better than canned beer. Those are the sacrilegious words of MEDEA co-founder Matt Sandy, speaking in this wonderfully chintzy spot on ABC about his company’s gimmicky vodka bottle. The hook? The bottle has a scrolling LED display on the side, with messages of up to 255-letters programmable by the user. If you’re a fan of low-quality TV, and awkward-looking men in badly-fitting suits, take a look:
At first the idea seems doomed. Who on Earth would pay $40 for a bottle as tacky as this one? And then you realize just how dumb and horny people get when they drink. You see the shot in the promo video where the guy walks off with a girl under one arm and a bottle in his hand? That’s what this is all about: getting laid. The boys will order this in a bottle-service bar for a few hundred dollars and start sending messages to the ladies. Here’s the proof, in the form of the tagline from the MEDEA site: “Unleash your inner poet, your inner poet, your inner philosopher, your inner flirt.” Terrifying.
Here’s where you expect me to point out the flaws, and you will not be disappointed. I give you exhibit A, the programming instructions. As you read, remember that these steps need to be carried out whilst intoxicated:
Step 1: Press the ON/OFF button
Step 2: Press the ENTER button to enter programming mode
Step 3: Press the P-U (UP) to select line (1-6) to save message in
Step 4: Press ENTER to confirm the line where the message will appear
Step 5: Press the P-U and P-D buttons to find the first character of your message, and press ENTER to save after each character selection. Note: space can be found after the letter Z.
Step 6: To finish, after you have selected the last character, wait until you see a blinking “A”, then press the ON/OFF to save the entire message.
You’re all set! Your message will now begin to scroll on the ticker.
Note: Do not leave the display on in the programming mode. Press either the P-U (DOWN) or the ON/OFF button to exit the programming mode.
What could possibly go wrong?
The vodka inside comes from Holland, a country well known for its vodka, and is triple-distilled like any other premium vodka. The ‘Worlds first customizable, programmable bottle’ is available in South Carolina and tacky bars all over the US.
MEDEA product page [MEDEA. Thanks, Valerie!]
See Also:
Follow us for real-time tech news: Charlie Sorrel and Gadget Lab on Twitter.
Oct 04
Help! My Smartphone Is Making Me Dumb — or Maybe Not
Posted in: Phones, research, science, Smartphones, Today's Chili
Chicago resident Matt Sallee’s life is a never-ending sprint that mostly takes place in his phone. At 5 in the morning the alarm goes off, and during his train commute the 29-year-old rolls through 50 e-mails he received overnight on his BlackBerry.
As a manager of global business development at an LED company, Sallee works in time zones spanning three continents.
“I love having 10 different things cooking at once, but for me it’s all moving in little pieces, and when it comes time that there are big deliverables needed, I don’t have to scramble at the last minute,” Sallee said. “It’s an hour of combining all the little pieces into one thing, and it’s done.”
It’s not news the “always-on network” is eradicating the borders between home and office, and changing the way people work and play. But how much distraction can one person take? Research is still in the early stages, and there is little hard evidence that 24/7 access to information is bad for you. But the image of frantic, distracted workers scrabbling harder than ever for ever-diminishing social and economic returns is an attractive target for critics.
Not only is it annoying to see people chatting on cellphones in the popcorn line at the cinema, these devices — and the multitasking they encourage — could be taking a massive toll on our psyches, and perhaps even fundamentally altering the way our brains are wired, some dystopian-minded critics suggest.
Is the smartphone –- like Google, TV, comics and the movies before it –- actually making us dumb?
Fractured Concentration?
Some of the latest arguments to critique this 24/7 online culture include the book The Shallows by Nicholas Carr, who argues that the internet is rewiring us into shallow, inattentive thinkers, along with a New York Times feature series by Matt Richtel titled “Your Brain on Computers,” a collection of stories examining the possible negative consequences of gadget overload.
(Disclosure: I’m currently writing a book called Always On that explores similar topics.)
Giving credence to such claims, an oft-cited Stanford study published last year found that people who were rated “heavy” multitaskers were less able to concentrate on a single task and also worse at switching between tasks than those who were “light” multitaskers.
“We have evidence that high multitaskers are worse at managing their short-term memory and worse at switching tasks,” said Clifford Nass, a Stanford University professor who led the study. He’s author of the upcoming book The Man Who Lied to His Laptop: What Machines Teach Us About Human Relationships.
One test asked students to recall the briefly glimpsed orientations of red rectangles surrounded by blue rectangles. The students had to determine whether the red rectangles had shifted in position between different pictures. Those deemed heavy multitaskers struggled to keep track of the red rectangles, because they were having trouble ignoring the blue ones.
To measure task-switching ability, another test presented participants with a letter-and-number combination, like b6 or f9. Subjects were asked to do one of two tasks: One was to hit the left button if they saw an odd number and the right for an even; the other was to press the left for a vowel and the right for a consonant.
They were warned before each letter-number combination appeared what the task was to be, but high multitaskers responded on average half-a-second more slowly when the task was switched.
The Stanford study is hardly undisputed. A deep analysis recently published by Language Log’s Mark Liberman criticized the study for its small sample group: Only 19 of the students who took the tests were deemed “heavy multitaskers.”
He added that there also arises an issue of causality: Were these high multitaskers less able to filter out irrelevant information because their brains were damaged by media multitasking, or are they inclined to engage with a lot of media because they have easily distractable personalities to begin with?
“What’s at stake here is a set of major choices about social policy and personal lifestyle,” Liberman said. “If it’s really true that modern digital multitasking causes significant cognitive disability and even brain damage, as Matt Richtel claims, then many very serious social and individual changes are urgently needed.”
“Before starting down this path, we need better evidence that there’s a real connection between cognitive disability and media multitasking (as opposed to self-reports of media multitasking),” he added. “We need some evidence that the connection exists in representative samples of the population, not just a couple of dozen Stanford undergraduates enrolled in introductory psychology.”
Other research also challenges the conclusions of the Stanford study. A University of Utah study published this year discovered some people who are excellent at multitasking, a class whom researchers dubbed “supertaskers.”
Researchers Jason Watson and David Strayer put 200 college undergrads through a driving simulator, where they were required to “drive” behind a virtual car and brake whenever its brake lights shone, while at the same time performing various tasks, such as memorizing and recalling items in the correct order and solving math problems.
Watson and Strayer analyzed the students based on their speed and accuracy in completing the tasks. The researchers discovered that an extremely small minority — just 2.5 percent (three men and two women) of the subjects — showed absolutely no performance loss when performing dual tasks versus single tasks. In other words, these few individuals excelled at multitasking.
Also in contrast with the results of the Stanford study, the supertaskers were better at task-switching and performing individual tasks than the rest of the group.
The rest of the group, on the other hand, did show overall degraded performance when handling dual tasks compared to a single task, suggesting that the vast majority of people might indeed be inadequate at processing multiple activities. But the discovery of supertaskers argues with the ever-popular notion that human brains are absolutely not meant to multitask, Watson and Strayer say, and it shows that this area of research is still very much unexplored.
“Our results suggest that there are supertaskers in our midst — rare but intriguing individuals with extraordinary multitasking ability,” Watson and Strayer wrote. “These individual differences are important, because they challenge current theory that postulates immutable bottlenecks in dual-task performance.”
Oct 04
The annual Japanese gadget fest, kicking off Tuesday, is a hotbed of cutting-edge tech. But look while you can–not all of it makes it stateside. pOriginally posted at a href=”http://news.cnet.com/8301-31021_3-20018351-260.html” class=”origPostedBlog”Circuit Breaker/a/p
Oct 04
Sharp’s IS03 Android phone packs retina display, minus the branding pretense
Posted in: Android, Japan, Sharp, Today's Chili
WVGA’s so 2009, isn’t it? Sharp has broken Android’s usual 800 (or 854) x 480 mold this week with the introduction of the IS03 for Japan’s KDDI au network, boasting a full 960 x 640 on its 3.5-inch screen — matching the iPhone 4’s so-called retina display — along with Advanced Super View (ASV) technology, delivering the same kind of viewing angle benefits you find in IPS. If that alone doesn’t make for enough of a monster spec sheet for you, consider that the IS03 also features a 9.6 megapixel autofocus camera with image stabilization, one-seg TV tuner, and Osaifu-Keitai, which allows the phone to be used for contactless payments in subways and the like. Though you won’t find it sold outside Japan, you might eventually see one outside Japan thanks to support for Global Passport CDMA, meaning the IS03 can be used in countries that have operating CDMA networks — the US, for example. Unfortunately, it’s running Android 2.1, but let’s be honest: the monster hardware might be enough to overcome that little oversight. Look for this puppy to launch in three colors next month.
Sharp’s IS03 Android phone packs retina display, minus the branding pretense originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 06:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Oct 04
Brit Nostalgia-rama: ZX Spectrum Emulator on iPhone
Posted in: iPhone, Retro, Today's Chili, Toys and GamesFire up ZX Spectrum: Elite Collection on your iPhone and you’ll smile at the familiar sound of a program loading from a cassette tape. Launch one of the six included games and you’ll cringe at the graunchy, square-wave racket that blasts thinly from the phone’s speaker. How the hell did my parents put up with that noise back when I played for hours on end back in the 1980s?
The Spectrum originally launched as a 16k home computer in the UK, way back in 1982, but the most popular version (amongst my friends, at least) was the 48k version which followed soon after. It had no internal storage, loading software took many minutes from those error-prone cassette tapes, and you had to hook it up to a TV to enjoy its eight-color delights. I loved it, and as it only cost £129 (probably, like, one million dollars back then) it was as popular in the UK as the Commodore 64 was in the US.
ZX Spectrum: Elite Collection emulates the Speccy, and comes with six games: Frank Bruno’s Boxing, Chuckie Egg, Harrier Attack, Turbo Esprit, Saboteur and Buggy Boy. More are lined up for release this month, and apparently “one of the 80s’ biggest” developers is already signed up (please be Ultimate Play the Game. Please).
Games load in seconds, not minutes, and you play using an on-screen controller. Originally, you would have had to use the rubber keys of the Spectrum’s squishy keyboard, but the app has a more modern layout with buttons in a ring. And how are the games? Ugly, basic, frustrating and boring. In short, the emulation is perfect, and the button-mashing gameplay and impossible learning-curves remain intact. If any of your friends whines about the “good old days” of 8-bit gaming, steer them away from that NES and give them a few minutes with Chuckie Egg. They will shut up forever.
The app is 99-cents, or more accurately, £0.59, available now. For Brit nerds of a certain age, it is probably an essential download.
ZX Spectrum: Elite Collection [iTunes Store]
See Also:
- Nintendo N64 Emulator Coming to iPhone
- iPhone C64 Emulator Approved by Apple, Removed Again for Hiding …
- Video: SNES for iPad, Controlled by iPhone
- Sinclair ZX Spectrum Notebook Mod Would Make Sir Clive Spin …
- Sinclair ZX80 and the Dawn of 'Surreal' U.K. Game Industry …
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