Fish-finder Watch November 30, 2005
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Seriously, this must be a Golden Age for our species. We may have touched the moon, but a wrist-based fish finder will be what aliens will talk about when they land here 100 years from now—post nuclear and environmental holocaust, naturally.
You just dip the green sensor into the murky deep and watch as pixelated fish wriggle across your wrist. I was seriously fascinated by fish finders when I was a kid. I was convinced you could use them to see through solid earth. Anyway, this looks about right for dear old Dad this holiday.
Product Page [Hummingbird via TheCoolHunter]
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SHOCK: Xbox 360 shortage hits UK November 30, 2005
READ MORE Consoles , Gadgets , Games , Home Entertainment
Microsoft was never going to meet initial demand for its game console, but now one of the company’s unlucky corporate VPs has been shoved into the public spotlight to give us the bad news. Receiver of the short straw was Peter Moore who said in an interview with the Official UK Xbox Magazine:
“The good news is that Xbox 360 is a very desirable product, the bad news is that it’s not like baking bread. It has 1700 parts, we have to make them, pack them, and ship them. We’re trying to get everyone satisfied as quickly as we can but demand is huge. I’m not sure I can guarantee that everyone will get an Xbox 360 by Christmas.”
If I was a baker, I’d be a little insulted at my craft being obliquely referred to as simplistic. Still, all of this was expected and now it’s official. So, Happy Console-free Christmas.
Epson Shows Off Large Projection TVs November 30, 2005
READ MORE Home Entertainment
Bucking the trend, Seiko Epson has decided to throw some cash into the TV arena, showing off 2 HDTV projection TVs in Japan. Though other camera companies have been getting into the home entertainment space, many of them have recently come to realise that competition is intense and money is tough to pull, so let’s give Epson a hand. Of course, instead of focusing on LCD or plasma TVs, the company has released 1080p rear-projection products, which are still cheaper to manufacture or buy than either of their large, flatter cousins. Look for the 65-inch ELS-65GL1 and the 55-inch ELS-55GL1 which will sell under the G-Series line. Both include a sound system from Onkyo, VGA interface, a USB port to attach a printer, and of course, a slot for a memory card to view photos.
Epson Launches 55 and 65 inch 1080p LCD Projection HDTVs [i4u]
Blu-ray to Give Details in January November 30, 2005
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Well, looks like not much longer to wait to get the specifics on Blu-ray, though the Blu-ray DVD Group still expects a Spring 2006 launch of the next-gen DVD technology. Doesn’t really surprise me that the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas will be an information stomping ground, since companies who plan to use Blu-ray will have to show reporters something after a full year of grappling and infighting. And because even though we haven’t seen it yet, Toshiba did show a HD-DVD player at the same show early this year.
“At CES, you’re likely to hear some announcements from a number of companies as to when you’ll see our products on the market,” Andy Parsons, a spokesman for Blu-ray told a group of analysts, industry members and reporters gathered at the product demonstration at News Corp.’s 20th Century Fox lot.
Blu-ray expects to reveal launch details in Jan [Reuters]
Samsung Sued For Price Fixing November 30, 2005
READ MORE PC
Oops. Samsung may have to take a rap on the hand for fixing prices on dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips that use Rambus technology. Samsung has actually put in a plea agreement that would let the company pay a £175 million fee over five years, though a US District Court judge in the San Francisco Division is still contemplating whether to allow this to go through. If Rambus does win this case, it looks like it could help the company with other antitrust lawsuits it’s filed in California Superior Court against other chipmakers such as Micron and Hynix Semiconductor, saying again that prices of DRAM were pushed up by keeping production unusually low. Samsung’s plea also states that its actions affected its other customers such as Dell, HP, IBM, Apple and Gateway.
US judge to rule on Samsung plea [Reuters]
Get Your Own R2 November 30, 2005
READ MORE Robots
I know you’ve been waiting for this—don’t deny it. Finally, R2-D2 can be yours, in your own home, and for only £69.99. Fully functional, R2 can roam around and obeys over 40 voice commands (please refrain from asking him to project Obi-Wan please). He also plays children’s games like tag with an IR sensor that can be set to detect motion (which can also be set to sound an alarm for a watchdog effect). Available at Hammacher Schlemmer.
Star Wars R2-D2 Robot Replica On Sale [i4u]
R2-D2 Robot Product Page [Hammacher Schlemmer]
O’Neill Electronic Outerwear November 30, 2005
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O’Neill Europe has a line of wearable electronics available for the rare breed of geeks who actually enjoy going outdoors. These include an integrated solar backpack, an entertainment backpack and the second-generation communication and entertainment jacket. All of these products are designed to work specifically with the, gasp, Apple iPod. They also feature integrated Bluetooth for easy hands-free communication. The solar panels are able to charge the iPod, mobile phone and the Bluetooth module. An integrated system is even able to distinguish which device needs the charge the most and then power is appropriately directed there.
World’s First Integrated Solar Backpack by O’Neill [Gizmag]
Honey, where are the damn kids? November 30, 2005
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Tired of losing those rugrats in the supermarket? Maybe not, but you are bound to have something you always lose and can’t find. You need a Loc8tor. For about £60 you get this oversized iPod-ish remote with an LCD screen and two tags. Stick a mini tag on your wallet, child, glasses or keys – and next time you lose them, and you know you will, this baby will home in on them for you. It can also emit a sound if your tagged kiddies move out of a certain range in public places. Range is 500ft. You can purchase extra tags but there’s no price on that yet since the product is not due to ship for a few weeks yet. No mention on what you do when you lose the Loc8tor itself, and you know you will. Two Loc8tors? Three? Where will it end?
Detect Dummies in Cars November 30, 2005
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I hate toll roads. I’d almost rather walk or cycle, or something, if I wasn’t so lazy. Or tight. Then I heard about how you could reduce the toll cost by half by having more than one person in the car. Rather than opt for real, smelly people, I dusted off some old, hardly used, blow-up ‘friends’ from the closet (research) and I was ready to rock. But now geeks working for the wrong team have scuppered my dastardly plan. Smart, interfering brainiacs at Loughborough University have developed a camera called Cyclops that can detect the number of human passengers in a car. Yes, human. With a 95% accuracy in tests, Cyclops can measure the water content of skin from up to 50m away. Humans only managed 65%. The camera is being readied for the Forth Road Bridge in Scotland (pictured), because officials fear than when the toll system goes electronic, people might cheat by using dummies, mannequins or, blow-up, ‘friends’, to qualify for a discount. Can't fool those canny Scots when it comes to cash, eh? As you can see, I’ve moved to Plan B and installed a massive, mobile fog generator. Will let you know how it goes.
Ventura SPARC rx Watch November 30, 2005
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Priced at about $2,200, this watch probably won’t make it into my stocking this Christmas but it does look pretty cool. The SPARC rx has a rotating face that turns it from a standard watch into a Nike-esque sports watch with just one twist. The case is made of Durinox, which is up there with ceramic and adamantium in terms of hardness, and the sapphire crystal won’t scratch much either. Not a lot of sexy features, but the styling is nice. They’ve got a few more models, but this one really stands out.
Collection [Ventura]
360 Degree LED Display November 30, 2005
READ MORE Home Entertainment
Want something that’ll really impress the neighbors? Check out Dynascan’s 360 LED display. Sure, right now it’s being used for advertisements, but just think what you could do with this thing in your living room. It can be viewed from up to 20 feet away, perfect for the entryway of your new McMansion. And of course, you can actually view one single image all the way around or configure it with three images, each claiming 120 degrees of the surface. It’s even possible to see this display outside. So, it may take another couple of years, but we’ll let you know when it’s ready for your home theater.
The 360 degree LED television [Gizmag]
Videotones—Like a Ringtone, but More Annoying November 30, 2005
READ MORE Mobile phones
There are few things in this world that are actually more annoying than a Top 40 R&B ringtone playing at full volume, and this new service has managed to top that. The Nokia Series 60 phone in India is currently featuring a videotone service that not only plays back a stupid song when called, but it also plays the corresponding video. Bring on the funk, bring on the noise.
Videotones plays a musiv video… [MobileMag]
Pyramat Audiotastic Nintendo Chair November 30, 2005
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The Pyramat PM220 aka “the Uber Nintendo Chair,” as I like to call it, is now available through Target retailers nationwide. The PM220 allows you to immerse yourself in a personal surround sound system thanks to integrated ass speakers and an ARX subwoofer. This chair is also designed to prevent any gaming injuries—it is ergonomically corrected for maximum butt comfort over long gaming marathons. It well be available at Target for 99 buckeroos.
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