Jul 06

InterHome learns from inhabitants, adapts to save energy

Posted in: green, Microsoft, Today's Chili, uk, university

We’ve seen all sorts of devices that learn over time, though most of them fall into the humanoid category. Now, a team of gurus over in the UK has developed an entire home that can learn from those dwelling in it and react in order to curb energy waste and even prevent unauthorized entry. InterHome, a model designed by researchers at the University of Hertfordshire, is scheduled to be unveiled at the Microsoft Imagine Cup finals, and it should make other home automation systems look rather antediluvian in comparison. By sensing how the owner(s) like their climate and such, it can reportedly save up to £300 a year in energy costs alone. Furthermore, it can “take decisive action and text if it is being burgled or the door has been left unlocked,” and the whole system can be monitored remotely and controlled via the web. Too bad we’re terrified that it could one day turn on the owner and refuse to allow entry to anyone other than leaders of The Resistance, but other than that, it sounds pretty nifty.

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InterHome learns from inhabitants, adapts to save energy originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 02

UK moviegoers treated to industry’s first interactive 3D game

Posted in: gaming, o2, Today's Chili, uk

Now here’s a way to make us show up for the previews. O2 has evidently figured out that getting moviegoers involved in the action is a good way to get more fundaments in seats, and starting next week, the first in-cinema interactive 3D game will be rolled out in 20 Vue theaters around the UK. The title, dubbed Asteroid Storm, will rely on two overhead cameras that recognize hand raises down below. In short, moviegoers simply move their hands to direct a damaged spaceship out of an asteroid belt, but there’s no word on whether or not “everyone’s a winner.” Here’s hoping not, chumps.

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UK moviegoers treated to industry’s first interactive 3D game originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 01

GSM Pre to launch on O2 in UK

Posted in: o2, palm, pre, Today's Chili, uk, united kingdom, UnitedKingdom

We heard earlier this morning that the GSM Pre was set for a UK launch, and now it sounds like things are coming together: The Guardian says the Palm’s baby will launch on O2. That makes perfect sense, O2 owner Telefonica reportedly secured broad global rights to the Pre back in March. Of course, this is all yet to be official, but with actual GSM handsets floating around out there and an announcement expected next week, we’re guessing we don’t have too much longer to wait.

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GSM Pre to launch on O2 in UK originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 01

Elonex launches £189 6-inch eBook reader through Borders UK

Posted in: e ink, e reader, e-book reader, E-bookReader, Today's Chili, uk

Elonex has been dabbling in small screen wares for quite some time now, so it’s not a huge surprise to finally see it join the likes of BeBook, Sony and Amazon by introducing its very own eBook reader. Design wise, the 6-inch reader looks an awful lot like that played-out OEM model that everyone seems to start with, but hey, you won’t find us kvetching about competition. The device is launching exclusively at Borders UK, and with that comes the new Borders eBook Download Store. With a 4GB expansion card, there’s room for some 8,000 ebooks, and the 9 millimeter-thin frame ensures that this one won’t bog you down too much. Interested consumers over in the UK can snap this one up right now for £189 ($311), and that price nets you 100 free ebooks, a charger, data cable and a great sense of pride.

[Thanks, Sam]

Gallery: Elonex launches £189 6-inch eBook reader through Borders UK

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Elonex launches £189 6-inch eBook reader through Borders UK originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 01

Palm to disclose UK Pre launch details next week?

Posted in: o2, palm, palm pre, PalmPre, pre, smartphone, Today's Chili, uk, vodafone, webos

We heard way back at CES that a GSM Pre was in the works, but not until now have we heard who exactly in the world would be using it. According to confirmation received by T3, Palm is gearing up to disclose the whos, whats and wheres behind the UK launch next week, meaning that we’ve got seven days (give or take) to twiddle our thumbs until we know which carrier (O2 or Vodafone, most likely), how much and when it’ll be available for purchase. We know it’s agonizing, but at least you’ve a time frame to circle in your Trapper Keeper now, right?

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Palm to disclose UK Pre launch details next week? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 01

Video: SCRATCHbot hunts like a rat for those trapped like one

Posted in: Today's Chili, uk, united kingdom, UnitedKingdom

Designed for search and rescue missions – which, let’s face it, are only ever one loose word away from “search and destroy” – the SCRATCHbot uses its whiskers to detect disaster survivors in inhospitable or dangerous areas. The Bristol Robotics Laboratory developed the rat-inspired people searcher over the past 6 years and now hopes to find interest for it in underground and underwater projects where vision may be impaired. Far less heroic uses are also being contemplated, such as textile inspection and implementation inside intelligent vacuum cleaners that would be able to adjust their cleaning to the particular surface they sense. Video of the new bot coming to life is after the break.

Continue reading Video: SCRATCHbot hunts like a rat for those trapped like one

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Video: SCRATCHbot hunts like a rat for those trapped like one originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 01

Toshiba’s TG01 stepping out in London on July 9th

Posted in: london, snapdragon, Today's Chili, Toshiba, uk, Windows Mobile, WindowsMobile, winmo

It’s already out in Japan and a few select countries in Europe, now Toshiba’s skinny TG01 is hitting London on Thursday, July 9th. Presumably the invite will be met with an official UK launch of Tosh’s deftly skinned Snapdragon handset with a Windows Mobile 6.1 core. Then again, it could be a lot of tech reporters eating mini triangular sandwiches slathered with pickle spread discussing the HTC Hero for four hours. We’ll let you know next week.

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Toshiba’s TG01 stepping out in London on July 9th originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jun 30

HTC Hero spotted on Orange UK website

Posted in: hero, HTC, t-mobile, Today's Chili, uk, united kingdom, UnitedKingdom

The HTC Hero has made its first appearance on a UK carrier’s website, but finds itself burdened with a teasing “coming soon” badge. Having talked to Orange, we can confirm previous reports that the device will be available for free on some, as yet undetermined but surely eye-gouging, price plans. The company said they are still testing the device and should have pricing information by tomorrow. Expect T-Mobile to quickly follow suit and unveil their Hero by another name (G1 Touch?), also fully subsidized. Both carriers will be offering the graphite edition of the phone, so if you have your heart set on the white Teflon-coated goodness, you may have to go the SIM-free route.

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HTC Hero spotted on Orange UK website originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jun 28

HTC Hero up for pre-order on Amazon UK: £429, July 15 delivery

Posted in: amazon, Android, hero, HTC, pre-order, smartphone, Today's Chili, uk

We doubt the July 15 delivery date is set in stone, but UK residents itching to get a little Hero in their lives are now able to pre-order HTC’s latest for £429 ($708). That’s pretty much what we’d expect for an unlocked set, but Orange is planning to offer the Hero free on contract, so we’d be inclined to hang on just a teensy bit longer. Video after the break.

[Via Phandroid]

Continue reading HTC Hero up for pre-order on Amazon UK: £429, July 15 delivery

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HTC Hero up for pre-order on Amazon UK: £429, July 15 delivery originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Jun 2009 15:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jun 27

UK ATMs set to offer WiFi access, free for BT and iPhone users

Posted in: hotspot, iPhone, networking, o2, Today's Chili, uk, united kingdom, UnitedKingdom, wifi, Wireless

BT Broadband customers and O2 iPhone owners, rejoice — some 2,500 ATM machines near you will soon be converted to serve as free WiFi hotspots, courtesy of BT Openzone and Cashbox, perhaps the most mismatched pair of commercial metaphors ever put together. The initial rollout starts with 10 machines this week and numbers are expected to steadily increase. Non-BT users and iPhone heretics wanting to join in the fun will have to shell out £5.88 ($10) for 90 minutes or a more reasonable £9.79 ($16) for 24 hours.

[Via Tech Digest]

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UK ATMs set to offer WiFi access, free for BT and iPhone users originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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