Gadget Access

Oakland is building a stadium for A’s that will be known as Cisco Field, and the builders are considering adding an interesting feature to every seat: interactive touchscreens.

The purpose of these screens is to provide information to the spectators. For example, spectators can access player stats on whoever is up at bat, or in the field. They can also call up driving routes out of the park, so that once the game is over, they can find the fastest route home.

It also has some great real-time information and services, as it can figure out where the shortest bathroom lines are. And if you want a hot dog or a cold drink, just order it up, and the refreshment man will personally come to your seat with your order.

This isn’t the first time that I’ve seen a stadium become more compatible with technology. I believe that one year ago, Seattle’s Safeco Field offered similar information services for their spectators, but only with the wireless Nintendo DS.

I find that this idea to be a little less practical. I can see these touchscreens becoming an easy target of vandalism. Then some poor soul at the next game will have to say, “hey, my screen isn’t working, can I use yours to get a hot dog?”

Well, the stadium builders are only thinking about this idea for now. Let’s hope they have considered all of the obvious problems before investing what will obviously be a huge chunk of change for this feature.

Source

• Email to a friend
• Leave a comment

Canadian smartphone users who are either boycotting or simply not interested in the iphone 3G will now have another solid option to choose from, and at an affordable price to boot.

Rogers Wireless has announced that they have dropped the price of the Nokia N95 down to just $199. Of course that new low price still comes along with the same three-year agreement, but that seems to be the standard with Rogers.

Sounds like a good deal, now you can get the N95, a great smartphone for about half of what it was priced at before and don’t forget, you can also take advantage of that limited time data plan that offers 6GB or monthly transfer for $30 a month.

Via [electronista]

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

Remember all those bizarre Thanko products that were exclusive to Japan?  Well, turns out Thanko is opening up a shop for those of us in the US.  Which is partially great news, because then I won’t have to mess with translating the page just to see the speccs of all their strange products.  It won’t open till August, so as of now we still have to translate things over to English.  Which includes this USB Cooler Mouse.

Thanko seems to think of everything, even those that tend to get all hot and sweaty while on their computer.  The mouse sucks air through the bottom and blows it out directly onto your palm.  When you’re cool enough, you can just shut off the tiny fan and use it as a normal mouse.  The mouse has five different buttons and the extras are programmable.  It is being sold for about $19.  Which isn’t bad considering you get the extra perk of having your hand blown on.  After all, who wants to purchase a normal sized fan and cool off your whole body at once?!

Source: gearlog

• Email to a friend
• Leave a comment

While the price drop does not seem to be available at every online retailer, at least one, namely CompUSA has dropped the price of the Nokia N810 Internet Tablet down to just $299.99. Currently listed as in stock and available the discounted price comes after an instant savings of $100.

No word on how long this price will last for, so if you were considering an N810 purchase, this may be a good time to part with the cash. A quick check of a few other online retailers still reflect the standard pricing. NewEgg has it listed for the expected $399.99, while Best Buy is still trying to get $479.99.

Now you can purchase the N810 for little less and be able to play around with Android a bit, sounds like a win-win.

Product [CompUSA]

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

by Thomas Ricker, posted Jul 18th 2008 at 4:34AM
So much for early 2008 or even July for that matter. Sony’s David Reeves now confirms that PlayTV — the €99 PS3 TV tuner / DVR add-on — will hit the UK on September 10th. The service will then march onto the continent before completing the European rollout in December — Australia and New Zealand get theirs in January or February. Notably, the service will in fact record television in the background without interrupting your regularly scheduled gaming regimen thanks to the recent 2.41 firmware PS3 update. Phew, for a moment we felt threatened by a lack of manufactured distractions.

[Via gamesindustry.biz]

• Read
• Permalink
• Email this
• 0 Comments

Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment

by Thomas Ricker, posted Jul 18th 2008 at 4:34AM
So much for early 2008 or even July for that matter. Sony’s David Reeves now confirms that PlayTV — the €99 PS3 TV tuner / DVR add-on — will hit the UK on September 10th. The service will then march onto the continent before completing the European rollout in December — Australia and New Zealand get theirs in January or February. Notably, the service will in fact record television in the background without interrupting your regularly scheduled gaming regimen thanks to the recent 2.41 firmware PS3 update. Phew, for a moment we felt threatened by a lack of manufactured distractions.

[Via gamesindustry.biz]

• Read
• Permalink
• Email this
• 0 Comments

Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 18th 2008 at 6:16AM
Oh sure, Rock Port, Missouri managed to snag the title of being “100% wind powered,” but Texas’ new plan will make the Show Me state’s gusty initiatives look awfully weak. Officials at the Public Utility Commission recently okayed a plan to “build billions of dollars worth of new transmission lines to bring pollution-free energy from West Texas to urban areas.” The ginormous Lone Star state is already the nation’s leader in wind power, but when said plan is fully implemented (pending final approval), it’ll produce more wind energy than the next closest 14 states combined. Granted, customers will be paying a touch more ($4 per month is the current estimate) for all this clean energy, but pundits assert that the cost is minor when looking at just how much this will help out Mother Earth. Look for everything to go live in four to five years, barring any unforeseen setbacks.

[Thanks, Adam]

• Read
• Permalink
• Email this
• 2 Comments

Filed under: Misc. gadgets

FROM GAMERTELL - Title: The Dark Knight (aka Batman: The Dark Knight, Batman Begins 2, The Dark Knight: The IMAX Experience) Release Date: July 18, 2008 Company: Warner Bros. Rating: PG-13 Length: 142 min (2 hours, 22 minutes) Pros: A lot of great acting, a well-woven story and plenty of psychological creepiness. The… MORE »

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

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 18th 2008 at 6:16AM
Oh sure, Rock Port, Missouri managed to snag the title of being “100% wind powered,” but Texas’ new plan will make the Show Me state’s gusty initiatives look awfully weak. Officials at the Public Utility Commission recently okayed a plan to “build billions of dollars worth of new transmission lines to bring pollution-free energy from West Texas to urban areas.” The ginormous Lone Star state is already the nation’s leader in wind power, but when said plan is fully implemented (pending final approval), it’ll produce more wind energy than the next closest 14 states combined. Granted, customers will be paying a touch more ($4 per month is the current estimate) for all this clean energy, but pundits assert that the cost is minor when looking at just how much this will help out Mother Earth. Look for everything to go live in four to five years, barring any unforeseen setbacks.

[Thanks, Adam]

• Read
• Permalink
• Email this
• 2 Comments

Filed under: Misc. gadgets

Filed in archive Photography by jim on July 18, 2008

<!– <rdf:Description rdf:about=”http://www.digital-shot.com/50226711/picture_your_world_a_great_photography_blog.php” trackback:ping=”http://www.creative-weblogging.com/cgi-bin/mt-tb.pl/129086″ dc:title=”" dc:identifier=”http://www.digital-shot.com/50226711/picture_your_world_a_great_photography_blog.php” dc:subject=”Photography” dc:description=” If you're an honest person, and I believe I am, you cannot be afraid to tip your hat to persons who do what you do, but better. I found a photography blog that is authored by a highly accomplished…” dc:creator=”jim” dc:date=”2008-07-18T00:00:05-08:00″ /> –>

If you're an honest person, and I believe I am, you cannot be afraid to tip your hat to persons who do what you do, but better.

I found a photography blog that is authored by a highly accomplished young woman who has created some amazing images that I feel will provide inspiration for the rest of us.

Sheba Wheeler, the blog's owner, offers photo tips that are worth checking out, such as "wetting wood" before photographing it to bring out its subtle colors and textures.

I wish I had thought of that before taking the above picture.

Check out Ms. Wheeler's blog and draw some inspiration form it and learn how to be a better digital photographer.

Source:www.jimippolito.com