With the LG G2 the ante has been upped by LG – and not just by the addition of backside-facing physical buttons. Here we’re taking an early look at the smartphone in its international iteration with a series of benchmark tests, ranging from internet-based to processor-based – but beware: this device does not have an […]
(Credit: Washington University)
According to a recent government-funded study in Japan, 518,000 students between the ages of 12 and 18 are “pathologically” addicted to the Internet. The study, conducted by Nihon University, surveyed 100,000 students, finding 8.1 percent to be in a suspected state of Internet addiction.
Of those who demonstrated symptoms of Internet addiction — including increasing absorption in and obsession with online activities at all hours of the day; symptoms of depression; decreasing school performance; and deep vein thrombosis — 23 percent also had trouble sleeping, and 15 percent woke often in the night.
To combat this, Japan’s Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry is planning further research, as well as Internet-free camps that will separate children from their computers, smartphones, and portable gaming consoles.
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That girl you grew up with and haven’t seen in four years does not want to like the Facebook page for the Kickstarter to support your band’s very first regional tour. Neither does anyone who isn’t your mother. So please please please please please please please please1 stop sending out carpet bombed requests that people like your page.
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Canadians won’t miss out on the Lumia 1020’s photographic prowess for much longer. Following rumors and teases, Nokia has confirmed that its flagship Windows Phone is coming to both Rogers and Telus. There’s no official word on ship dates or prices, but the company says the 1020 will be available in both black and yellow. Let’s hope that it reaches Canada soon — rumors persist of even bigger devices that could overshadow the 1020 in the near future.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Nokia
Source: Nokia Canada (Twitter)
Now that hardware manufacturers have more or less figured out a way to roll out devices that are thin and svelte, looking sharp from all angles, it is about time to up the ante – and this is achieved through the waterproofing of a particular device. Pyle Audio has already ventured into this particular area, introducing the SurfSound-TALK Bluetooth waterproof speaker and handset, which so happens to be a lightweight and user-friendly Bluetooth speaker/handset.
You could say that the SurfSound-TALK is capable of delivering high end cellphone performance, except that you can be a whole lot less careless with it, since it comes in a portable, waterproof audio device. The SurfSound-TALK is able to let its users connect and stream music, in addition to receiving private phone calls with its waterproof handset. Meeting IP-47 construction standards, this makes it waterproof as well as dustproof, and there is also the inclusion of a rechargeable battery which is capable of delivering up to 8 hours of non-stop music or talk time. Apart from that, there are also convenient telephone options that enables users to answer calls with a handset or speaker phone using Bluetooth connectivity from your smartphone.
Not only that, there is also the additional feature that would enable volume control and song selection straight from the SurfSound-TALK, so that the user is able to keep their phone at a safe distance from the water – definitely a smart move, unless you too, happen to be in possession of a smartphone which is waterproof. Now that would be something, no? Apart from that, it will also play nice with all Bluetooth devices, delivering the ultimate music playing experience from other compatible devices such as MP3 players, portable media players, smartphones or tablets.
Available in blue, white or black shades, the SurfSound-TALK Bluetooth speaker and handset will cost you $64.99 a pop.
Press Release
[ Pyle Audio introduces SurfSound-TALK Bluetooth waterproof device copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Unless the book’s cover has the logo of the Nintendo 64 on it, along with a power switch and a cartridge slot. Also when the book wasn’t actually a book to begin with. I therefore judge the Nintendomicon to be guilty of third degree awesomeness.
The Nintendomicon was made by Redditor JHood_. He carved holes out of a wood and leather box that looks like a book. He intends to give it to his brother as a classy yet geeky send off gift. The Nintendomicon is JHood_’s first mod, so understandably it’s far from perfect. For one, it has no air vent, although it does have a fan. He also bungled its name, calling it “Nintendomnicrom” when he actually meant to spell “Nintendonomicon.” In the end he accepted the renaming suggestion of a fellow Redditor.
The missing reset button though? That was intentional. JHood_ said he hates the button.
[via Imgur & Reddit via Obvious Winner]
Labor Day sales can be frightening things indeed, so it’s a perfect time to look at this scary abandoned mall in St. Louis. After 55 years in business, Crestwood Court started closing its stores in 2006, eventually shutting its doors for good last month. Digital artist Dan Wampler photographed the slowly dilapidating space, managing to make everything from Claire’s to Champs look creepy.
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Every week, a new and interesting human being tackles our decidedly geeky take on the Proustian Q&A. This is the Engadget Questionnaire.
After a brief hiatus, our regular smattering of queries is back as MoDaCo founder Paul O’Brien chats carrier lockdowns and brand name clarity. Meet us on the other side of the break for the full gamut of responses.
Filed under: Misc
Source: Distro Issue 105
Getting Arduino-powered devices to talk to each other over long distances is going to get cheaper and easier if this Kickstarter project flies. Flutter is a wireless development platform for Arduino with over half a mile of usage range — making it suitable for outdoor projects covering greater distances than Wi-Fi can comfortably manage.
Possible use-cases could include home automation systems, flying bots like quadcopters, environmental monitoring systems and radio-controlled cars. In short any Arduino-powered project that needs to ferry data from one relatively distant point to another. Flutter’s range will be 1,000m+ (3,200ft) but its creators also intend to include a mesh networking component, so multiple devices can be positioned to cover even greater distances than the standard half mile+ range.
The plan — assuming Flutter hits its crowdfunding target of $80,000 to turn its current Kickstarter prototypes into shipping product — is to offer two main Flutter board options to network up your devices: a basic board costing $20 and a pro board with a built in antenna for $30. The boards will be powered by an Atmel SAM3s ARM CPU.
The Flutter Basic board will have an integrated (rather than external) antenna and is smaller in size thanks to having components on both sides. It also has a micro USB for power and programming, an LED, and a button, plus digital and analog I/O. The Pro board will include battery charging, a professional screw mount antenna, an additional button, and more memory for more code.
Flutter’s makers also plan to offer a few other bits of kit to flesh out their wireless system, including a variety of shields for easier plug and play (and minimal soldering); a home base station which can connect to a router via Ethernet or Wi-Fi; and a Bluetooth shield for talking to a smartphone and interfacing with a planned Flutter mobile app.
The more devices you want to talk to each other, the more boards/bits of kit you’ll obviously need but at $20/$30 a pop for the main boards the cost should scale to support sizeable projects without breaking the bank.
Kickstarter backers are being offered a veritable pick ‘n’ mix of options, starting at $25 for one basic board — rising to $475 for this “autonomous swarm” supporting haul: 5x Flutter Basic, 5x Flutter Pro, 4x RC Shield, 2x Shield shield, 1x Flutter Network Shield, 1x Bluetooth Shield, 1x Starter Kit, 10x USB and 12x (two extra) Breakouts.
Security is an obvious focus for Flutter’s creators — being as you’re transmitting potentially sensitive data over relatively large distances where it could be intercepted. Data transfers will be encrypted and the Flutter devices themselves will include a cryptographic chip to store and protect encryption keys.
The project is also open source. “Every aspect of our system will be made available, from schematics, board designs, the bill of materials, right down to the firmware and mobile app. We want to make it as easy as possible for you to build or improve upon our foundation,” they note. Plus they intend to offer a set of tutorials to open up wireless development to a broader base of makers.
It’s an ambitious project for sure, and still has a fair bit of work to do — including redesigning the prototype, gaining FCC certification for the wireless hardware, developing their supporting software and mobile apps (iOS and Android are planned) — but they are already approaching the half-way mark of their funding target with 27 days left to run on their campaign so have clearly struck a chord with the maker community. With that kind of support this is one Kickstarter project that looks all but certain to take off.
When one talks about a music box, what picture comes into your mind? Most of us would think of a family heirloom, with more often than not a porcelain ballerina being mounted right smack in the middle. Sometimes, there is a mirror on the part where you pop open the cover, where it is the perfect fodder for a horror movie setting. I guess it is time to ditch all conventional thinking about the traditional music box, and focus on the Swiss Musical Starship instead.
It will not cost a couple of hundred or thousand dollars, but rather, it will burn a whopping $31,500 from your pockets. If there is an impulse purchase that you should avoid, this is definitely one of them. It would be even worse if your missus finds out that you told her about it only after you have parted with your retirement fund for it. Still, there might be a small chance of redeeming yourself and not having to sleep in the living room permanently – by convincing her that the Swiss Musical Starship will come crafted in Sainte-Croix, Switzerland by renowned horologists Reuge, where it will play 35-second excerpts from the Star Wars theme, the Imperial March, and the Star Trek theme in layers of rich sound. There is a nickel-plated brass cylinder that has been treated with resin for sonic clarity, rotating via a precise Cartel 4.144 movement, sporting wire pins that are plucked by a 72-note tempered-steel comb in perfect time. If you want one by Christmas (talk about an opulent gift!), you will have to place an order by December 15th.
[ Swiss Musical Starship: Do not apply if you don’t have a healthy bank account copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
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