Gadget Access

Some people might think that audio recorders are something of the past, but there are still groups of people that use it daily, like podcasters or journalists doing interviews. For those people, Yamaha presented the Pocketrak 2G.

The pocket recorder can be connected to a computer via USB to transfer data, and the internal memory has capacity for 2GB. On top of the microphone, the Yamha recorder has a built-in speaker and a (stereo) headphone jack.

The Yamaha Pocketrak USB Recorder is kind of expensive, it will cost $450 when it hits the shelves in April, but maybe the leather case is one of the reasons that makes the price go up.

Via EverythingUSB

Now that the power of gaming graphics has risen to the point that games are blurring the lines of reality entertainment, one has to ask … could LucasArts “The Force Unleashed” be the greatest game ever? Designed with three different simulation technologies, The Force Unleashed is being designed to push the envelope in Xbox, Wii, and Playstation 3 consoles. And judging by the video below that talks about the tech behind the game, it just may be.

The game’s premise is a simple one. The gamer is Darth Vader’s secret apprentice and after much training, the Force has unleashed incredible powers in this padawan learner. Designed around three major simulation technologies, TFU is more than a game, it may actually be a Force simulation. Utilizing the Havok physics engine, designers are able to move an amazing amount of detail within the scenario. The result is the ability to move a great number of objects on screen at once. Great if you’re using the force to push back a hoard of destroyer droids. Euphoria, is the technology that gives animated characters their individuality. They reaction to what’s happening around them and insures that no two reactions are the same. Finally, Digital Molecular Matter (DMM) simulates the substance of an object in the scene and make it behave like it would in the real world. Glass shatters like glass, metal bends like metal, wood splinters as it should. Coupling this with Euphoria and the game environment reacts as it would if it were real life.

Add to this the hopeful promise of a Lightsaber Wii controller, and the result is that the Force Unleashed could be more simulation than game. And that begs the question … will The Force Unleashed be the greatest game ever? Well, at least until they make a better one.

Source, with video – Kotaku

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Tesla Motors has announced they are officially able to move forward with sales, of course those who were willing to plunk down that $5,000 to get on the waiting list will still have a little while longer to wait. The first roadster, which was codenamed the “P1” will be going to company chairman Elon Musk, then production will begin on March 17, 2008.

Currently there is around 600 people on the waiting list, who should begin receiving their long awaited cars fairly quickly after production begins. Tesla Motors is estimating that they will be able to churn out about 40 per week once they go into full production later in 2008.

Part of the requirement before sales could begin here in the U.S. was to have the roadster safety tested, which although sad to see one being smashed is actually kind of cool. Keep reading for a few pictures of the safety testing in action.

Now if we could just find that extra $100,00 we had lying around.

Via [AutoBlog] Via [TG Daily]

According to sources following the development of the Playstation 3, Best Buy is discontinuing the sale of both the 80GB and 60GB models of the Playstation 3. Only the 40GB model, which sells for $399 and is not backwards compatible with earlier Playstation games will remain.

The rumor stems from a post by PS3Fanboy on his blog citing an anonymous Best Buy employee who apparently fed him this internal memo:

“The 80GB version of the PS3 is going closeout and won’t be replaced at this time,”… “It will come off the planogram on Jan. 28. The 60GB version should already be gone from stores. Only the 40GB version of PS3 will be sold in Best Buy stores at this time.”

The internal communiqué also goes on to confirm that the 40GB model is not backwards compatible and that Sony has no plans to add to the existing product line. If true, this would mark the return of initial criticisms of the PS3 that it wasn’t compatible with previous Playstation games and cited this as one reason, along with it’s ridiculously high price, not to invest in the latest game console in the first place. Lagging sales prompted Sony to lose nearly a billion dollars on the PS3 until they recently reduced the price of all Playstation 3 models, a move that has enjoyed brisk sales through the holiday season. But if this memo reflects a shift in Sony policy, the PS3’s return to glory may be short lived.

Source: UberGizmo

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If I ever do pack it all in and decide to work from home, then I am definitely getting me one of these. I would not go quite as far as setting it up over a bed; I would be setting up the ErgoQuest 500 over some sort of mega-expensive massage chair. Seriously, this is a cool concept for people that are bed ridden for whatever reason, not just the extremely lazy amongst us. The ErgoQuest 500 carries up to 400lbs of equipment, so you can fit whatever combination of monitors you want in there. It rocks some motorized legs that are operated via a keypad, so you never have to physically lift anything.

The price, is a bankroll punishing $4,000, not counting the bed or massage chair. You have to be very serious about your relaxing if you want to get one of these.

Office Organix, Baller House

Latest Tech news - 25 January Shure SE 110 Sound Isolating Earphones Asus begins shipping Eee PCs with Windows XP in Japan Prices and dates set for Rock Band instruments Brugo - Cools Coffee One Sip at a Time Flying Stick Cam – aerial surveillance … er photography for everyone Pick Up Line and Insult Generators Panasonic Strada Pocket GPS navigation system iMONO 80-in-1 High Speed Card Reader Cameraphone to function as a mouse? AT&T gives free WiFi access to DSL subscribers Insecta takes flight WiFi coming to American Airlines flights Wooden Postcards Zero ink printing technology 500XL Speakers are giant iPod earbuds Thumbnail gallery plugin by SoftSift

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Posted Jan 26th 2008 4:05AM by Joshua Topolsky
Filed under: Laptops
There’s nothing quite like hearing a group of network talk-show hosts heaping praise on a piece of technology they barely understand to jumpstart your day. We think you’ll agree that listening to Matt Lauer loudly declare “It’s awesome!” and watching Meredith “You’re blowing the whole schtick” Viera vigorously mime licking the new MacBook Air is pretty wretch-inducing stuff — though Al Roker informing us that if you want the SSD, you’ll only have to pay “a little bit more,” was definitely one toke over the line. Thanks for ruining our breakfast guys. Every breakfast.

Watch the video after the break. We’ve included the crew’s earlier encounter with the iPhone just in case you needed your memory jogged.

Posted Jan 26th 2008 6:01AM by Nilay Patel
Filed under: Misc. GadgetsIt’s no secret that Apple Legal is, ah, aggressive when it comes to protecting its various fruit-flavored intellectual property, but a company called BlueAir just filed a lawsuit accusing Apple’s lawyers of outright harassment over BlueAir’s AirPOD air purifier, pictured at right. Seems BlueAir has been trying to register a trademark on the product, and instead of filing an opposition with the USPTO based on consumer confusion with the iPod, Apple’s attorneys have just been sending BlueAir angry letters and threatening massive legal fees. Of course, that’s pretty much what lawyers do, but BlueAir’s asked the court to step in and rule definitively on the subject before pursuing their trademark application any further. Seeing how protective Apple’s been of the “-pod” suffix in the past, that could lead to some interesting rulings — we’ll be keeping an eye on this one for sure.

Disclaimer: Although Nilay is an attorney, super guy, and snappy dresser, he’s not your attorney, and this post is not legal advice or analysis and should not be taken as such.

MTV TV Shows for PSP

The Portable PlayStation from Sony will receive new content in the near future, that will come in the form of UMD, also known as Universal Media Disc, which is a format made specifically for the PSP that didn’t become very popular.

So in order to give more fame to the potential format, Sony decided to start offering TV shows in UMD, most part coming from MTV programming. With that being said, here are some of the upcoming shows: Beavis and Butt-Head, Viva La Bam, Jackass, and Wildboyz. As you can see, this is true MTV material made available to target some PSP users.

New Mobile YouTube

The first mobile version of YouTube was put live on November 2006, but the Google-owned company has released a new and improved version, yesterday.

The main difference is the quantity of content available, on the past version, there wasn’t much, but in the recently launched model, there are “tens of millions of videos”. Another new feature is the community functions that didn’t exist before, like adding friends, posting messages in special boards, and more.

Believe it or not, another important change is the exclusion of advertisement, in other words, this mobile YouTube won’t have ads. According to Mr. Walk, from YouTube, this move was made in order to gain more audience, and to turn YouTube users, into mobile YouTubers.

But not everything is good in this announcement, the small notes mention additional charges made by your mobile service provider, that is, unless you have an plan with unlimited data transfer, otherwise it might be too expensive to watch YouTube on the go.

PS - http://www.m.youtube.com

Sources - Reuters and NYTimeso

Guest post by Tiago of Gadgetizer

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Thanks Anne P. for the groovy suggestion for Gizmos for Geek’s Gizmo of the Day! Granted, as you mentioned, it’s not quite a gizmo but the laptop case is pretty cool for geek’s who likes retro stuff (like you!).

While younger geek’s would probably have no clue what “Pan Am” is other than from movies like “Catch Me If You Can” or one of the Bond flicks like “Dr. No”, “From Russia With Love”, “Casino Royale”, “Live and Let Die” and “License to Kill” (I’m a Bond geek), the slightly older crowd will recognize the name, may have even been on a flight run by the Miami-based airline until their demise in 1991 but definitely know about the terrorist attack against Pan Am Flight 103.

Whether retro is your look or you actually remember the days of Pan Am, this kitchy laptop bag is a chic way to carry your laptop with a water-resistant PVC outer shell that is embossed with the infamous Pan Am logo and complemented with a printed cotton/nylon lining. There are added pockets for a cell phone or pens and a roomy exterior front pocket. Fly away with Pan Am blue, flight blue (turquoise), or retro white.

Gimmie!

Suggested Price: $99.00