Dec 19

Cricket launches new wireless plan with unlimited music for $55 a month

Posted in: audio, Music, samsung, Today's Chili

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: a cell phone comes with an unlimited music subscription. Now, flip it on its head and say the cellular carrier was the one offering the all-you-can download audio buffet — built right into a totally unlimited data, text and voice monthly slate — and you’ve basically got the new $55 Muve Music plan from Cricket Wireless. Cricket doesn’t have the reach of the big four US carriers and may not even have coverage in your area, but that didn’t keep it from tempting Universal, Warner, Sony and EMI from signing over millions of songs. It’ll debut on the new Samsung Suede featurephone pictured at right, which comes with a “special” 4GB Sandisk encrypted flash memory card (et tu, slotRadio?) that will likely protect the music from prying pirate claws… at least for the weeks or months it takes the open-source community to rip it a new one.

The Suede will reportedly hold about 3,000 songs, which (barring antics) will be irrevocably tied to the phone and only play there, and disappear entirely if users stop paying for the Muve plan. PC Magazine got a brief hands-on with an early version, and says there’s a bit of irksome audio compression, but also some Zune-like social networking features, too. The service will debut at CES on January 6th, and spread to other devices and other markets over the course of 2011. PR after the break!

Continue reading Cricket launches new wireless plan with unlimited music for $55 a month

Cricket launches new wireless plan with unlimited music for $55 a month originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 01:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 19

Vista Comparison: Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, Enterprise, Ultimate

Posted in: General, Today's Chili

This article was written on October 30, 2006 by CyberNet.

This table was taken from the 60MB Vista Product Guide:

text-align:center’>Home Basic

text-align:center’>Home Premium

text-align:center’>Business

text-align:center’>Enterprise

text-align:center’>Ultimate

CONFIDENT

User
Account Control

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Windows
Security Center

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Windows
Defender™

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Windows
Firewall

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Internet
Explorer 7 Protected Mode

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Internet
Explorer 7 Fix My Settings

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Anti-phishing
in Internet Explorer 7

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Anti-phishing
in Windows Mail

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Windows
Update

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Parental
Controls

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

  

text-align:center’>Yes

Fewer
reboots, hangs, and disruptions

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Service
Hardening

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Performance
self-tuning and hardware diagnostics

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Next-generation
TCP/IP stack

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

IPv6
and IPv4 support

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Windows
ReadyDrive™

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Windows
Display Driver Model (WDDM)

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Windows
Easy Transfer

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

64-bit
processor support

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes


‘>Fast Startup, Fast Shutdown, Sleep

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Maximum
RAM supported with 32-bit system

text-align:center’>4 GB

text-align:center’>4 GB

text-align:center’>4 GB

text-align:center’>4 GB

text-align:center’>4 GB

Maximum
RAM supported with 64-bit system

text-align:center’>8 GB

text-align:center’>16 GB

text-align:center’>128+ GB

text-align:center’>128+ GB

text-align:center’>128+ GB

Two
processors (two processor sockets) support

  

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Ad
hoc backup and recovery of user files and folders

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Scheduled
backup of user files

 

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Backup
of user files to a network device

 

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Windows
ShadowCopy

  

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

System
image–based backup and recovery

  

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Encrypting
File System

  

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Desktop
deployment tools for managed networks

  

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Policy-based
quality of service for networking

  

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Windows
Rights Management Services (RMS) Client

  

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Control
over installation of device drivers

  

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Network
Access Protection Client Agent

  

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Pluggable
logon authentication architecture

  

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Integrated
smart card management

  

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Windows
BitLocker™ Drive Encryption

   

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Support
for simultaneous installation of multiple user interface languages

   

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

All
worldwide user interface languages (36 languages total) available

   

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Subsystem
for UNIX-based Applications

   

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Virtual
PC Express

   

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Windows
Anytime Upgrade

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

  

Windows
Ultimate Extras

    

text-align:center’>Yes

CLEAR

Windows Vista
Basic user interface

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Windows
Aero™ user interface with Glass, Windows Flip, Windows Flip 3D, live
task bar thumbnails, and dynamic windows, and a smoother-performing desktop

 

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Instant
Search integrated throughout the operating system

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Automatic
content organization based on file properties/tags

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Internet
Explorer 7 with Tabbed Browsing, Quick Tabs, and integrated search

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Internet
Explorer 7 with RSS Feed Support

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Support
for next-generation applications built on WinFX®

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Windows
SuperFetch

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Windows
ReadyBoost™

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Low-priority
I/O

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Automatic
hard disk defragmentation

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Windows
Mail

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Windows
Calendar

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Windows
Sidebar

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Windows
Photo Gallery—for organizing, editing, printing, and sharing photos and
videos

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Themed
slide shows

 

text-align:center’>Yes

  

text-align:center’>Yes

Windows
Media Player 11

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Windows
Media Center—for music, photos, videos, live and recorded TV, and
online entertainment

 

text-align:center’>Yes

  

text-align:center’>Yes

Windows
Media Center—for recording and watching high-definition TV

 

text-align:center’>Yes

  

text-align:center’>Yes

Windows
Media Center—CableCard support

 

text-align:center’>Yes

  

text-align:center’>Yes

Support
for Media Center Extenders, including
Xbox 360™

 

text-align:center’>Yes

  

text-align:center’>Yes

Windows
Movie Maker<;/span>

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

  

text-align:center’>Yes

Windows
Movie Maker HD

 

text-align:center’>Yes

  

text-align:center’>Yes

Windows
DVD Maker

 

text-align:center’>Yes

  

text-align:center’>Yes

Games
Explorer

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Updated
games

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

New
premium games

 

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes*

text-align:center’>Yes*

text-align:center’>Yes

Universal
game controller support

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes*

text-align:center’>Yes*

text-align:center’>Yes

Speech
Recognition

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Accessibility
Settings and Ease of Access Center

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Windows
Welcome Center

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

XPS
Document support

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Small
Business Resources

  

text-align:center’>Yes

 

text-align:center’>Yes

Windows
Fax and Scan

  

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes*

text-align:center’>Yes*

 

text-align:center’>Home Basic

text-align:center’>Home Premium

text-align:center’>Business

text-align:center’>Enterprise

text-align:center’>Ultimate

 

text-align:center’>Home Basic

text-align:center’>Home Premium

text-align:center’>Business

text-align:center’>Enterprise

text-align:center’>Ultimate

color:white’>CONNECTED

Network
Center

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Network
Diagnostics and troubleshooting

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Improved
wireless networking

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Wireless
network provisioning

  

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Improved
peer networking

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Improved
VPN support

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Improved
power management

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Simultaneous
SMB peer network connections

text-align:center’>5

text-align:center’>10

text-align:center’>10

text-align:center’>10

text-align:center’>10

Windows
HotStart

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Windows
Mobility Center

text-align:center’>Partial

text-align:center’>Partial

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Sync
Center

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Windows
Tablet PC with integrated pen/digital ink input

 

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Windows
Tablet PC touch screen support

 

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Windows
Tablet PC handwriting recognition improvements

 

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Windows
Tablet PC usability and navigation improvements

 

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Windows
SideShow™

 

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Windows
Meeting Space

text-align:center’>View only

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Improved
file and folder sharing

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

PC-to-PC
Sync

 

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Network
Projection

 

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Presentation
Settings

 

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Remote
Desktop

text-align:center’>Client only

text-align:center’>Client
only

text-align:center’>Client & host

text-align:center’>Client & host

text-align:center’>Client & host

Domain
join for Windows Small Business Server

  

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Domain
join for Windows Server™

  

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Group
Policy support

  

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Offline
files and folder support

  

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Client-side
caching

  

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Roaming
User Profiles

  

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Folder
Redirection

  

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Centralized
power management through Group Policy

  

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

text-align:center’>Yes

Internet
Information Server

  

text-align:center’>Yes*

text-align:center’>Yes*

text-align:center’>Yes*

* Feature is optional

Copyright © 2010 CyberNet | CyberNet Forum | Learn Firefox

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Dec 19

Report: Google requests delay of new Google TVs

Posted in: Today's Chili

Internet giant asks TV makers to cancel their CES unveilings to allow the Google TV software to be overhauled, according to a New York Times report.

Originally posted at News – Digital Media

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Dec 19

Amazon offers refunds or replacements for problem-causing Kindle covers

Posted in: amazon, case, e reader, e-book, e-books, e-readers, kindle, Today's Chili

It’s not often you hear of a case causing technical problems with an electronic device, but that’s just what a number users have been saying about Amazon’s own Kindle Leather Cover. Apparently, the problem stems from the metal hooks used in the case — they’re designed to conduct electricity in the lighted version of the case, but in the non-lighted version they’re reportedly causing Kindles to freeze or reboot. While the company hasn’t officially confirmed the problem, Amazon has told PC Magazine that its engineering team is looking into the issue, and that it will offer a refund or replacement to anyone experiencing a problem with the case, no matter when it was purchased. Those looking to take Amazon up on that offer can email kindle-response@amazon.com.

Amazon offers refunds or replacements for problem-causing Kindle covers originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Dec 2010 23:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 19

Best Buy offering free mobile hotspots with iPad purchase

Posted in: att, BestBuy, free, mobile hotspot, MobileHotspot, Sprint, Today's Chili, verizon, Verizon Wireless, VerizonWireless, vzw, wifi, WiMAX

Planning to pay Verizon an extra $130 for an iPad + MiFi 2200 bundle? Hold on a sec, because Best Buy’s planning to give away hotspots free of charge when you purchase Apple’s tablet. This advertisement, obtained by 9to5 Mac, does mention that you’ll need to shackle yourself to a carrier for two years to qualify — unlike Verizon’s original arrangement — but in exchange you get a free Verizon FiveSpot, AT&T MiFi, or perhaps most excitingly, a WiMax-capable Sprint Overdrive. Fine print in the lower-right hand corner suggests that the promo will begin immediately and run through January 2nd. What better way to spend your leftover Hanukkah gelt than on gigabytes of wireless data?

Best Buy offering free mobile hotspots with iPad purchase originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Dec 2010 23:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  source9to5 Mac  | Email this | Comments

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Dec 19

Spread Firefox Add-ons Promotional Contest

Posted in: Firefox Extensions, Freeware, Software, Today's Chili

This article was written on February 16, 2007 by CyberNet.

Spread Firefox

I was just over at the FFExtensionGuru’s blog and noticed that Spread Firefox started a promotional contest for people who have written reviews of extensions. It is actually a really great idea, but only seems to be on a small scale right now.

All you have to do is write a review of a Firefox extension. All reviews published after February 1st, 2007 will count so I went ahead and submitted the three that we have posted. The contest will last for two months (which puts the deadline at early April) which means you’ll have plenty of time to write your review(s). I do, however, recommend getting it in early because the whole process is done by users voting, and the sooner you get your review done the better chance you have to get more votes.

UPDATE: I didn’t realize it but the 4 judges are actually the ones who pick the winners, so I guess the voting thing is kinda just for fun.

The prizes for first, second, and third place are as follows:

  1. A Firefox T-shirt.
  2. 24 USD of music downloads from magnatune.com.
  3. A 1-year registration of a .info domain name.

The rules are posted in the images at the beginning of this article, and to submit your review(s) you have to leave a comment on the Spread Firefox post. They will then go ahead and add your extension to the Squidoo page so that other users can read and vote on it (you have to be registered to vote) put your extension on this page for users to vote.

Firefox Logo LaptopOne thing that I was really hoping for as a prize was a round Firefox sticker to put on the outside of your laptop. It sounds so simple but I have looked all over the place for these, and have always failed to find anyone selling or giving them away. The one place that I did find was on the Spread Firefox site and they were giving 1,000 of these away! I, however, was too late…and the Mozilla Store doesn’t even sell them. :(  Someday I will have one of these on the outside of my laptop. *walks away sulking*

Copyright © 2010 CyberNet | CyberNet Forum | Learn Firefox

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Dec 19

NYT: Next batch of Google TV devices delayed, pending software updates

Posted in: Android, android market, AndroidMarket, Google, GoogleTv, LG, rumor, rumors, samsung, Sharp, Today's Chili, Toshiba, vizio

We were expecting to see a slew of new Google TV-powered displays and boxes at CES in a couple of weeks, but now The New York Times is reporting the list of new product partners at the show may be much shorter than expected. The cause is reported to be Google’s last minute decision to ask for more time to work on its software first, resulting in no new hardware from LG, Sharp and Toshiba at the show, leaving only Samsung and VIZIO to show off their products. The always popular unnamed sources now peg timing for the next full fledged assault of Google TV hardware as after the company completes updates including the addition of the Android Market some time next year. Of course, Chrome OS and Honeycomb already provide plenty of examples of a disconnect between the good folks at Mountain View and their hardware partners, but with some already casting doubt on the platform’s potential, and the company’s ability to work out licensing deals with Hollywood, it’d be good to see more than last week’s partial facelift as a sign of what is to come.

NYT: Next batch of Google TV devices delayed, pending software updates originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Dec 2010 22:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceNew York Times  | Email this | Comments

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Dec 19

Inhabitat’s Week in Green: electric cars compared, molten salt solar, and a renewable Merry Christmas!

Posted in: electric vehicle, ElectricVehicle, ev, solar, solar power, SolarPower, Today's Chili

Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week’s most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us — it’s the Week in Green.

Electric vehicles took the country by storm this week as both the Nissan Leaf and the Chevy Volt were officially released to eager customers – if you’re still trying to decide between the two, check out our electric vehicle smackdown, which compares the two EVs based on their most important features. We also took a spin inside Honda’s electric Fit, and we showcased a futuristic home decked out with enough solar panels to completely charge an EV. The Sonex airplane also signaled bright horizons for electric aviation as it completed its maiden flight.

Meanwhile California lit up the newswires by giving the green light for the state’s first molten salt solar energy project, and San Francisco announced a plan to generate 100% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. We also saw ten European countries forge a plan to build a massive renewable energy supergrid in the North Sea, and we showcased two hot examples of wearable teach that harness body heat – Fujitsu’s solar-thermal power band and a band-aid styled mp3 player.

Finally, this week Inhabitat geared up for the holidays by showcasing 6 brands of dazzling LED christmas lights that save you energy and money, we showcased some innovative Christmas trees made with unusual materials, and we highlighted out favorite green gadget gifts for the holidays this year. And when all those presents are unwrapped we know exactly what to do with the aftermath – researchers have developed a way to recycle 100% of the material in plastic wrapping paper and artist Jason Rogenes wowed us with his incredible futuristic spaceships made from the styrofoam used to package electronics.

Inhabitat’s Week in Green: electric cars compared, molten salt solar, and a renewable Merry Christmas! originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Dec 2010 22:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 19

Luxury hotels go cheap, ryokans pay guests

Posted in: LIFESTYLE / FASHION, MARKETING IDEAS, Today's Chili

If reports are to be believed, Japan’s deflation is in terminal velocity and consumer spirits are at an all-time low. I’ve personally seen my fair share of 80-yen and 100-yen vending machines but the NY Times claims to have witnessed even lower. What could be next?

When some months ago I first heard about a website selling plans at traditional rural ryokan inns for 100 yen (about $1.20), it might have been easy to pigeonhole it with the same economic trend. Now the ToCoo! (a pun on toku, meaning “good deal”) site has a category for luxury hotels, also offered at massive discounts (sometimes up to 80%) for a night and the downward trajectory can surely be condemned as endemic.

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There isn’t really a catch to these plans, either. You can simply stay for 100 yen, 109 yen with tax. In fact, sometimes that is the price for two people, and there are even plans where you stay for free and — forget paying — you are given 109 yen by the hotel for your troubles!

But is this something to be worried about? No doubt there is a lot of marketing acumen that can be acquired by a 99% discount: you get in the news, you attract new customers and so on. Perhaps the hotels are desperate and so lacking in guests that they will do anything to fill the empty rooms. Likely it is a very limited strategy that some hotels are trying and won’t feel the need to continually offer near-free nights on ToCoo!

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Indeed, more than deflation this blog has reported this year on the gentrification and luxury-branding of certain consumer services up to then seen as the low-cost option, such as designer capsule hotels and quality nightbus routes for females. It could be argued they are trying to capture consumers who can no longer afford nice hotels or the bullet train, but surely the services are more sophisticated than that. They are trying to do wholly new concepts with their industries and this should be given more credit. They are certainly not in the same field as fast retailing and the ever-cheaper bowls of gyudon at Yoshinoya.

Developments like ToCoo! might be a sign of despair, a cheapening of consumer tastes. Or rather they can be embraced as exciting new services, much like the plethora of Groupon clones that have flooded the Japanese market this year.

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Dec 19

Microsoft seeking to quadruple Kinect accuracy?

Posted in: firmware, kinect, Microsoft, peripheral, Peripherals, rumor, rumors, Today's Chili, xbox, xbox 360, Xbox360

Hacked your Kinect recently? Then you probably know something most regular Xbox 360 gamers don’t — namely, that the Kinect’s infrared camera is actually capable of higher resolution than the game console itself supports. Though Microsoft originally told us it ran at 320 x 240, you’ll find both color and depth cameras display 640 x 480 images if you hook the peripheral up to a PC, and now an anonymous source tells Eurogamer that Microsoft wants to do the very same in the video game space. Reportedly, Redmond artificially limited the Kinect on console in order to leave room for other USB peripherals to run at the same time, but if the company can find a way around the limitation, it could issue a firmware update that could make the Kinect sensitive enough to detect individual finger motions and inevitably lead to gesture control. One of multiple ways Microsoft intends to make the world of Minority Report a reality, we’re sure.

Microsoft seeking to quadruple Kinect accuracy? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Dec 2010 20:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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