Gadget Access

by Paul Miller, posted Apr 18th 2008 at 10:54AM
Facing down a “sluggish” economy and in light of some recent regional acquisitions, AT&T announced today that it’ll be cutting about 1.5 percent of its workforce, primarily concentrating on management. The company calls it the “next step in streamlining its operations,” and will shelling out about $375 million in Q1 to make the layoffs happen. According to some dubious maths perpetrated by the Engadget staff, 1.5 percent of AT&T’s workforce is about 4,635.75 humans, not a minuscule cut by a long shot. We’d certainly hate to be in Mr. 75 percent’s shoes right now.

• Read
• Permalink
• Email this
• 44 Comments

Filed under: cellphones, Wireless, Networking

by Darren Murph, posted Apr 18th 2008 at 9:02AMResearchers at Osaka University are redefining “thought-controlled” limbs. Hailed as the first endeavor to dabble in the world of bionic phalanges by requiring open-skull surgery, the research is seeking to develop “real-time mind-controlled robotic limbs for the disabled.” Of course, it’s not the goal that’s striking, but the means. Essentially, gurus working on the project are hoping to place electrode sheets directly on the surface of the brain in order to “obtain a more accurate signal,” and amazingly enough, they’re currently working to sign up willing subjects that are already scheduled to have brain electrodes added to deal with “monitoring epilepsy or other conditions.” Maybe the bionic beings really aren’t that far off, eh?

[Via Pink Tentacle]

• Read
• Permalink
• Email this
• 19 Comments

Filed under: Misc. gadgets

The Sims Is A Global Cultural Phenomenon In 60 Countries And 22 Languages Thanks To Players of The Sims Everywhere

That’s the headline of The Sims’ (a label of Electronic Arts) press release today, celebrating 100 million units sold around the world.

As my little girl, Mackenzie, is addicted to Sims and owns EVERY game, starting with the first one sold in 2000, I figure EA could spread the joy and send us a royalty check.

Sixty percent of gamers are girls, and EA was one of the first companies to clue into this. By allowing users to create their own characters and worlds, it’s created a wonderful virtual world for my baby. She loves designing new houses and cities for her lucky Sims family. Her latest game? Sims2 Pets.

While I don’t think a check is forthcoming, as a special thank you to players of The Sims, you can visit The Sims 2 on April 16th to download a “complimentary exclusive outfit for your Sims in honor of this milestone.”

Party down, Sims!

Since deciding that its SIM card would be more useful in a 3G-capable phone, I’ve been keeping my iPhone next to my pillow to use as a clock (I don’t sleep with my contacts on, so I literally can’t see the clock on my husband’s end table) and late-night/early-morning email and Internet device. Even though blogging allows me to wake up whenever I want to, there are still some days when I need the iPhone’s alarm function to get me out of bed. On such days, I often end up waking up earlier than necessary because of my anxiety about sleeping through the alarm, which I fear could be too easily muffled beneath my pillow or knocked to the floor.

That’s why I think I might like to preorder the iHome iP99 clock radio ($150) unveiled this week by Brookstone. With shipments beginning the week of May 28th, the iP99 is unique in that it allows the iPhone to continue to accept phone calls while docked, charging, and playing music. The feature wouldn’t be useful for my SIM-less iphone, sure, but I could still use the remote control, alarm buzzer, and AM/FM radio.

Via Digital Trends.

There’s a sweet scene in Star Wars: Clone Wars where Arc Troopers are assaulting a city. Not knowing where the bad droids are, the commander tosses up a floating ball-like camera platform and sends it out on a recon mission. The result is a birds eye view of every nook and cranny where an ambush could happen. A sweet idea that could have great uses in today’s techno efficient military, police surveillance, or even search and rescue. That’s a similar idea behind the Aeryon Scout, fly in the air and give a real time birds eye view via live wireless video feed.

The design is simple. Four rotary propeller engines housed in multi colored foam hoops with a miniaturized camera platform housed underneath. The Aeryon Scout flies along guided by it’s radio control operator into areas where it’s either impossible or too dangerous to get an accurate picture of what lies ahead. The Scout can also fly autonomously via either GPS navigation or courtesy of map-based navigation software. The Scout can reach of ceiling of about 1500 feet, has an operational range of about 3 kilomters and can stay aloft for as long as twenty minutes. In addition to a hi-resolution still and video camera, the Scout’s payload options include a High resolution visible light sensor, Near IR and low-light sensor, Micobolometer (thermal imagery).

But at a whopping price of $30-50,000, it seems that the camera angles aren’t the only thing that’s way outrageously lofty here.

Hat Tip: Gizmo Watch

The Cool Boy’s manufacturers ought to have a pretty great team of lawyers at their beck and call, considering the fact that it is able to play emulated NES and SEGA console games, thanks to questionable - no, obviously bootlegged cartridges which hold up to 120 games that include copyrighted works from major game studios like EA, Nintendo and Disney. Some of the notable entertainment titles on offer include classics such as Donkey Kong, Galaga, Tetris, Xevious and Lode Runner among others. The Cool Boy comes with a 2.4″ LCD color display at 480 × 240 resolution and features an AV port which allows you to output to a TV. The system itself will sell for approximately $36, but I think you’d best save yourself the trouble and pony up another $90 to pick up the Nintendo DS Lite.

Product Page via Technabob

The Guardian is reporting that according to a study by the industry group British Music Rights, 95% of 18-24 years old engaged in what it calls “home copying” which refers to things such as making copies of CD’s and MP3 files. The study reported that 2/3rds of that group copied five CD’s a month for their friends.

Is this something new? Not really. Anyone who grew up in the 80’s probably has fond memories of making mix tapes with their double deck boom boxes, or by using their stereo systems to copy LP tracks onto cassette, and when the VCR came out, people eagerly copied and traded tapes of their favorite shows and music videos.  Is sharing bad for the music industry? The RIAA would have us all believe so, but others argue that it’s actually beneficial because it exposes people to music they otherwise may never have heard. The debate rages on.

This recent study was made as the UK government ponders the introduction of an exception to British copyright law that would allow citizens to legally copy music they have bought for private home use. However that turns out, it’s a sure bet that home copying is here to stay.

Read [The Guardian]

Keep up with the latest gadget goodness! - Subscribe to our feed →

Filed in archive Tutorial by jim on April 18, 2008

<!– –>

Composition is the art of arranging things so that a pleasing picture is the result.

Obviously this is easier when the subjects being photographed are movable, such as people or small items, but what do you do when you can't reposition something, such as a tree or a mountain?

Then, you have to move yourself, and try various angles in an attempt to "rearrange" the immovable.

Of course with a digital camera you can afford to take many, many pictures, increasing your chance of getting a really good one, or two, and only pay for those you print.

Here's a free course on digital photography composition that I think you'll find interesting and helpful.

Take a camera with you whenever possible, and look around, you'll find a picture somewhere.

Source:www.jimippolito.com

Bluetrek has just announced their latest Bluetooth offering, and while a decent looking headset its not quite as unique as the BIZZ, which featured a microSD slot for storage. Their latest, the X3 Bluetooth headset is a follow up to the X2 and offers an estimated 8 hours of talk time with 10 days on standby. The headset itself is weatherproof and should be comfortable to wear thanks to the variety of ear hooks that it comes with. The X3 is also lightweight coming in at around 0.46-ounces. Otherwise the headset was designed to take its fair share of abuse thanks to the rugged construction. Look for the X3 to be available this June, initially in the UK only and retailing for £29.99 (around $60 US).

Via [ubergizmo]

Keep up with the latest gadget goodness! - Subscribe to our feed →

If you want a near unlimitless supply of music check out the Blik Wi-Fi radio from Firebox, it’s capable of receiving over 10,000 different Internet radio channels as well as being able to play any music available on your home network.

You can read our full review over on our sister site Coolest Reviews and buy online from Firebox for £99.99 (~$200)