Nov 21
Have you ever really stopped and wondered—like on a scientific level—why excessive alcohol consumption can turn someone into the life of a party? Or a blubbering mess? More »
Nov 21
NTT cuts fiber internet prices in Japan, may be reacting to an LTE generation
Posted in: Today's Chili 
As manic as LTE adoption has been in the US, it could be triggering a full-fledged generational rift in Japan. NTT is cutting prices for fiber-to-the-home internet access by as much as 34 percent in the midst of falling landline subscriptions, and Australia’s Delimiter hears from unofficial sources at the provider that the cuts may be in response to youth being enamored with 4G on their phones. The tipsters believe that many of the younger set are picking one expensive LTE plan, even with data caps, instead of paying for two services; a price drop would be an attempt to keep at least a few of these wireless rebels onboard. Take the assertions with a grain of salt when there’s no official statements to match, but there’s no doubt that 4G demand is booming when NTT’s own DoCoMo just landed its 7 millionth Xi contract. We only wish American wired and wireless carriers would be so accommodating of our temptation to cut the cord.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Networking, Internet, Mobile
Via: GigaOM
Source: NTT West (translated), Delimiter
Nov 21
Archos FamilyPad Debuts In UK
Posted in: Today's Chili
Since Christmas is coming, you must be wondering yourself just what kind of gifts do you think you can get for the rest of the family. Well, I am quite sure that a tablet or new smartphone is high on most people’s lists, and a quarter of a year after the Archos FamilyPad hit the FCC, it will finally make its market debut – just in time for the frenzied holiday shopping season too, I might add. The Archos FamilyPad will sport a 13.3” display, making it the largest tablet out there in the market at the moment, which is ideal to have the family gather around it.
Sporting 10x multitouch support, the Archos FamilyPad is tipped to be the focal point of families in the living room, although I believe that Archos might need a few more releases in the same vein and some wicked marketing before such an idea will overtake the TV or video game console. The Archos FamilyPad’s display carries 1280×800 resolution, and will feature 8GB internal memory, a microSD memory card slot, a 1GHz ARM Cortex A8 processor, HDMI output and a front and rear camera – both of them being 2-megapixel shooters. Running on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the Archos FamilyPad will retail for £274.99 in the UK, as US residents might have to play the patience card for a little while longer.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: 13.3″ Archos FamilyPad tablet spotted at the FCC, Archos’ New Android Tablet is the Same Size as the iPad Mini,
Nov 21
What are some of the essential tools that a decent, well-equipped office should have? For starters, we are looking at all the relevant stationery, including the humble stapler to hold different pieces of paper together. Well, how about a stapler that keeps sheets of paper together, but it does so without the need for any staples? This is definitely a paradigm shift no matter how you look at it, and here we are with a new version of the stapler from Japan, which does not need any staples to work!
The concept behind this stapler is rather simple actually, where it will punch a wing-shaped slit on one side, while cutting out a kind of spade-shaped tab which will insert into the slit. This move allows the sheets to be locked together. The main drawback would be this – it can hold up to 10 sheets at one time, which still loses out to industrial class staplers. Well, at least it is not too expensive, and your kid does not have to worry poking his or her fingers on sharp, pointy staples by accident, either.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Robots for offices of the future, Machine To Turn Your Office Paper Into Toilet Paper,
Nov 21
I-O Data has just released a spanking new peripheral in the Land of the Rising Sun, where the Nubes wireless memory card reader will play nice with iOS-powered devices such as the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, allowing those said devices to access just about any files that are stashed away on a memory card – all without the need for a computer to function as the middleman. The Nubes tool is actually your everyday SD, SDHC and SDXC memory card reader, except that it comes with an integrated Wireless AP as well as internal battery, allowing your iOS-powered device to access any files stashed away on it – as long as iOS recognizes that file, of course.
The Nubes wireless iOS memory card reader will run only with devices that have iOS 4.3.3 or higher, where it will be powered by a 1350mAh battery that is said to deliver up to 4 hours of battery life, tipping the scales at a mere 57 grams for easy traveling.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Verbatim Card Readers are essential traveling companions, Lexar Professional USB 3.0 Dual-Slot Reader,
Nov 21
While we still have a ways to go before the advent of photon torpedoes and warp drives, Stony Brook University has just brought us one step closer to our Star Trek future with the unveiling of its immersive video projection system, the Reality Deck. What? Holodeck was already taken. More »
Nov 21
The Wii U from Nintendo just released a couple days ago, and it’s turning out to be a pretty hot item. However, to one game developing studio in particular, it’s not as great as it may seem. 4A Games will be bringing its new shooter, Metro: Last Light, to the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC, but they’ll be skipping the Wii U because of it’s “slow CPU.”
4A Games’ own Oles Shishkovtsov explains the reason why Metro: Last Light isn’t coming to the Wii U by simply stating that the “Wii U has a horrible, slow CPU.” Another 4A Games developer Huw Beynon was a little more helpful with answering the question, and he says that the team “had an early look” at the Wii U and initially thought that they could bring the game to the new console, but Beynon says that they would have to lower the quality of the game because of the console’s CPU, which wasn’t worth it to the developers.
From the iFixit teardown a couple days ago, we know that the Wii U has an IBM PowerPC processor and AMD Radeon HD graphics, as well as 2GB of RAM. We’re not sure what all of this is clocked at, but if the Wii U can play Assassin’s Creed III, you’d think a shooter title from 4A Games wouldn’t be too much to ask for.
However, it’s certainly possible that the game studio may bring the latest Metro title to the Wii U at some point, but they said that they “couldn’t make any promises.” Could this be bad news for the Wii U? If game studios are already crossing off the Wii U from their lists, what will the selection of games be like for the new console in the future?
[via NowGamer]
Nintendo Wii U “has horrible, slow CPU” says game developer is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Nov 21
Jetlag and disrupted sleep patterns are conditions we’re all too familiar with, right along with flashing lights that claim to remedy them. A new wearable device, tagged Re-Timer, also promises to be of help by mimicking sunlight and resetting the body clock. Reportedly the result of 25 years of sleep research at Australia’s Flinders University, it’s worn like a pair of glasses and emits soft green light, fooling the part of the brain that regulates your circadian rhythms. When used at different times of the day for specified durations, it claims to advance or delay the clock as desired — countering the effects of frequent air travel and improving alertness levels. The rechargeable, portable device is safer and more effective than medication, according to its chief inventor Professor Leon Lack. If nothing else, the $260 visor is a bold fashion statement, although it may not be as cool as having robots convert your dreams into art.
Continue reading Re-Timer could play with your brain, fool body clock to minimize jetlag
Filed under: Wearables
Via: Gizmag
Source: Re-Timer, Flinders University
Nov 21
It’s time for a 10th anniversary celebration of the second wave of mass killings and stealing of fabulous automobiles with Grand Theft Auto: Vice City for both Android and iOS. On December 6th you’ll be able to pick this game up from the iTunes App Store and the Google Play app store for $4.99 USD for most any device you can imagine, including Android phones, tablets, the iPhone, iPod touch, and the iPad. Those of you who just cant wait that long should bust out the original Grand Theft Auto 3 – on both platforms already, just incase you did not know.
The team at Rockstar is proud to present Vice City for the following Apple devices: iPad, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, and iPod touch 4th and 5th gen. At the moment they’ve not got the iPad mini listed, but it’d be quite the stretch to think that the iPad 2 were supported but the iPad mini weren’t. Those of you working with Android might want to check the specific list here before dropping some cash.
Android Phones: Motorola Razr, Razr Maxx, Razr Maxx HD, Motorola Atrix, Motorola Photon, Motorola Droid Bionic, HTC Rezound, HTC One X, HTC One S, HTC Evo 3D, HTC Sensation, HTC Droid Incredible 2, Samsung Galaxy Nexus, Samsung Nexus S, Samsung Galaxy Note 1 & 2, Samsung S2, Samsung Galaxy R, Sony Xperia Play, Sony Xperia S, P, T & TL, Sony Walkman Z Series Media Player, Samsung Galaxy S2, Samsung Galaxy S3, Google Nexus 4
Android Tablets: Acer Iconia, Asus Eee Pad Transformer, Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime, LG Optimus Pad, Medion Lifetab, Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 / 10.1, Samsung Galaxy Tab 2, Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, Sony Tablet S, Sony Tablet P, Toshiba Thrive, HTC Flyer, Google Nexus 7, Google Nexus 10
This list is comprehensive to a point – these are just the devices that the development team behind the game has tested and confirmed. If you’ve got a hot device looking to work with the game, I’m sure they’ll be happy to hear that you’ve tested it out for yourself and made it work fine.
This version of the game will have native-resolution graphics and enhancements unique to the mobile universe, specifically tuned to Android and iOS. Updated character models will be busting out with lighting effects updated throughout the game, while firing your pistol has become more precise and your control layout is completely customizable by you. RockStar Games also plans on boosting their warehouse with a collection of 10th anniversary collectables just in time for the holiday season as well – grab em!
[via RockStar]
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City hits Android and iOS on December 6th is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Nov 21
Apple‘s licensing deal with HTC has been carefully structured to prevent third-parties such as Samsung from gaining patent protection by strategically acquiring the struggling phone manufacturer, it’s been revealed. The agreement between the two firms was announced earlier this month, though neither Apple nor HTC would confirm much in the way of details; however, according to a heavily redacted version found by FOSSPatents, there’s a special clause present which automatically invalidates the deal should either Apple or HTC be taken over.
“In the event of a Change of Control of a party,” the clause reads, “this Agreement shall automatically terminate unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Parties, effective immediately prior to such Change of Control.” A “Change of Control” is defined as a transaction whereby the participants in the original deal are not left with at least 50-percent of the voting power afterwards, or where one is merged or consolidated with a third party or group of third parties.
The clause can by worked around by securing prior permission by both Apple and HTC, though that seems unlikely to be granted should Samsung attempt to sneak into a favorable patent agreement by throwing some cash at HTC. Given the difference between Samsung’s financial position and that of HTC, such a deal would not be impossible.
Samsung is currently attempting to see an unredacted copy of the full agreement, arguing that the deal – and the value Apple places on the patents in question – has a potentially significant impact on its own ongoing litigation with the Cupertino firm. However, Apple and HTC are apparently willing to share all but the license fees section, FOSS Patents reports, missing 33 words that detail what exactly HTC is paying.
Those figures have prompted some controversy of late, with HTC CEO Peter Chou angrily rebuking suggestions that they amounted to $6-8 per Android device sold as “outrageous” and inaccurate. Apple argues that Samsung “offers no reason … why the consideration amount is relevant” to the injunction motion it has against its Korean rival.
Buying HTC won’t solve Samsung’s Apple patent problem is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
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