Kirobo Robot Carries Out First Space Chat Ever

Kirobo Robot Carries Out First Space Chat EverKirobo, a robot that has been sent to space in August this year, has carried out a mission that will sit well with curious onlookers and observers. Footage has been released that depicted the first humanoid robot ever in space actually carrying out a conversation with the commander of the International Space Centre, Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata. All right, perhaps conversation might be a wee bit too weighty in this case, but small talk would be better suited. (more…)

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  • Kirobo Robot Carries Out First Space Chat Ever original content from Ubergizmo.

        



    Google EU antitrust proposals rejected again as punishment looms

    Google’s attempts to placate rivals and the European Commission with search concessions and hopefully avoid an antitrust fine look to have failed, with the proposals described as “not acceptable” by … Continue reading

    Watch the crazy activity of a UPS truck parking lot during the holidays

    Watch the crazy activity of a UPS truck parking lot during the holidays

    We’re at the peak of the busiest delivery season of the year. To prove how mad it is, Animal New York recorded this insane 24-hour time-lapse of a UPS parking lot packed with truck trailers behind its office in Hell’s Kitchen—"Due to space constraints, this plays out like an real life game of Tetris."

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    FaceTime Audio headed to OS X

    This week the folks at Apple have released the first OS X Mavericks 10.9.2 beta, and with it a glimpse of the future. Not a future in which we’re seeing … Continue reading

    Good Lord, This Pottery Zoetrope Is Absolutely Mesmerizing

    Good Lord, This Pottery Zoetrope Is Absolutely Mesmerizing

    Pottery can be described in many ways, but, unless Demi and Patrick are getting sexy at the wheel, mesmerizing is probably not one of them. That is, until you see this perfect little clip commissioned by the UK Crafts Council, which shows a lump of clay transform into an earthenware zoetrope. I could stare at this thing all day. I have stared at this thing all day! It’s so, so good.

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    BlackBerry Could Quit High End Smartphone Game

    BlackBerry Could Quit High End Smartphone GameBlackBerry is not a company that many people would bet on this time, and for the months ahead. After all, they haven’t exactly been raking in the dough, and their executives do seem to jump ship at any opportunity that presents itself. Having said that, we might be witness to the end of an era – one that would see the end of high-end smartphones rolling out with the BlackBerry logo emblazoned across it. According to BlackBerry CEO John Chen in an earnings call on Friday, BlackBerry will shift design for the majority of its handsets to Foxconn in the months ahead, and only the kind of smartphones that BlackBerry would continue to design would be those that will be limited to an extremely niche market, such as high-end enterprise users.

    Right now, Chen mentioned that BlackBerry will have to pool and focus its resources on reworking their enterprise software and services strategy, all the while having to figure out a way to finalize their finances. If one were to read between the lines, this would mean that new and upcoming BlackBerry smartphones will reside in the mid-range and low-end niche, targeting consumers who happen to live in emerging markets. I don’t know about you, but I personally think that it is rather sad for a company of BlackBerry’s stature to end up this way.

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    Oppo N1 Is First Google CTS-Certified CyanogenMod Phone

    Oppo N1 Is First Google CTS Certified CyanogenMod PhoneOppo’s N1 that will arrive with CyanogenMod 10.2 right out of the box has recently passed Google’s compatibility test suite (CTS), which would more or less mean it will officially be able to support Google’s Play Store – and that translates to Oppo N1 owners being able to install apps of their choice. It is a historical moment actually, as it signifies the very first time that CyanogenMod has been certified by Google for a smartphone device. Having said that, Oppo did share that the smartphone which will run on CyanogenMod 10.2 will be made available this coming December 24th, but it remains to be seen whether it will still arrive with the $599 price tag just like the standard model.

    Well, at least you now have something else to look forward to other than the Nexus and Google Play Edition handsets, if you are in the market for a close stock Android experience. It is nice to see that enthusiasts will be able to finally enjoy Google Play the legit way instead of performing a sideloading process. Would you pick up the Oppo N1 with CyanogenMod right out of the box, or would you still prefer an official stock Android experience with your smartphone purchase?

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    Sony RX10 Review: A First-Rate Camera With a Do-It-All Lens

    Sony RX10 Review: A First-Rate Camera With a Do-It-All Lens

    The Sony A7 series marked a turning point for photographic gear, but it also overshadowed another new Sony offering every bit as unique as its full-frame companions. The RX10 was designed to bring powerhouse features into a practical and versatile package. For that reason, it holds vast appeal for many different types of shooters.

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    Vodka Used To Send Text Message

    What are some of the uses of vodka? In extreme cases, it could be used as a form of antiseptic, or you can always carry a few shots with you in an aluminum flask to keep you warm whenever the mercury drops to unbearable levels. Others will see vodka as the perfect drink to drown their sorrows or celebrate a victory. Well, Scientists from York University in Toronto happen to discover an alternative use for vodka that will get the tech community excited – by relying on alcohol to send text messages.

    This is achieved by converting sprays of isopropyl alcohol into binary code, and off-the-shelf components are also part of the creation. The researchers made use of an Arduino Uno board, an Adafruit LCD, a desk fan and a household spray bottle so that it can transmit a short message across a tabletop through molecular diffusion. The experiment will see the fan push bursts of alcoholic mist across a table, while there will be another sensor on the opposite end that is capable of measuring the amount of alcohol content in the air, before the vapor is reassembled into non-binary characters. The transmitted words were “O Canada” which is not surprising at all.

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    R2-D2 Christmas Wreath: Astromech the Halls

    Your Star Wars themed Christmas just got a new piece of decor. Check out Amy Radcliffe’s R2-D2 wreath. It’s the wreath those impressionable Stormtroopers have been looking for.
    r2 d2 wreath 1 620x716magnify

    The colors match the droid and are nice and metallic. The red balls at the top are a nice touch too since they match R2′s red indicator light. And of course you have to have an R2-D2 figure at the bottom. Awesome job, Amy. But this will attract those pesky Jawas. Set out some cookies for them.

    You could make one of these yourselves using Amy’s step-by-step instructions. After all, it’s not enough to watch the Star Wars Holiday Special. A true fan must live the holiday special.

    [via Neatorama]