Monday, July 30, 2007

Tenacious hacker brings the iPhone keyboard to a Nokia N800

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One awfully clever Brazilian programmer couldn't stand not being able to experience the sometimes-maddening act of typing on the iPhone's notorious keyboard -- so he wrote an iPhone keyboard app for his Nokia N800. In what appears to have been a fairly short amount of time, Gustavo Sverzut Barbieri put together an Apple-copyin', typepad act-alike using Python, Edje, and a little elbow grease. Without ever actually using an iPhone, Gustavo seems to have clearly captured the essence of the keyboard, which is either really good or really bad for him... only he knows for sure. Check the video after the break to see the app in action.

[Via jkOnTheRun]

Continue reading Tenacious hacker brings the iPhone keyboard to a Nokia N800

 

[via] Engadget

Halo's Covenant laser tag guns coming in October

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If you haven't gotten hyped enough over the forthcoming third installment of the Halo series, perhaps you might want to get your paws on these illified (and expensive) toy guns from Jasman Toys. Apparently, the Halo 3-modeled firearms will not only look really bad-ass on your mantelpiece at home, but the recoiling, sound-projecting, light-flashing gats will also enable you to play a game of "advanced" laser tag, called "Halo Laser Pursuit." With the accompanying wearable laser target you can try and reenact your favorite scenes from the games, as the receivers perform somewhat like Halo's shields, or so says Jasman. Really the only way this game of tag differs from the actual game is that no one dies -- and it's not nearly as much fun. Priced between $79.99 and $119.99, available in October.

[Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]

 

[via] Engadget

Vista Performance and Reliability Pack hits the web prematurely

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Don't look now, but Microsoft is apparently readying a Vista Performance and Reliability Pack for release, and while it's certainly not available through Windows Update just yet, that doesn't mean it's not hiding elsewhere. Reportedly, the aforementioned pack and the Vista Compatibility and Reliability Pack will institute a number of welcome fixes and performance increases in a variety of areas, and though the list is indeed lengthy, a few notables include:
  • Increased compatibility with many video drivers.
  • Improved visual appearance of games with high intensity graphics.
  • Improved quality of playback for HD DVD and Blue-Ray disks on large monitors.
  • Improved reliability for Internet Explorer when some third party toolbars are installed on Vista.
  • Improved reliability of systems that were upgraded from XP to Vista.
  • Resolves an issue where creating AVI files on Vista may get corrupted.
  • Improves the performance of Vista's Memory Manager in specific customer scenarios and prevents some issues which may lead to memory corruption.
So if all the red flags prove correct, Vista users can eagerly await an official release of the updates, or if you're the adventurous type, you can bypass the whole "waiting" thing altogether and get your download on immediately.

[Via TechSpot]

 

[via] Engadget

DeLorean being brought back from the future?

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We're certainly not holding our collective breath on this one, but according to an article put out by the Los Angeles Times, the cult classic DeLorean automobile just might be resurrected. Reportedly, the DeLorean Motor Company" is laying plans to bring the car back into limited production, and while it'd be easy to brush aside this whimsical scheme, 2007 certainly has been good to vintage automobiles made new. Apparently, the supply of cars suitable for rebuilding is quickly dwindling, and if everything pans out, DMC could possibly produce "20 or so cars a year." Of course, there's simply no way to tell how legitimate these expectations are, but here's to hoping for a brand new gull-winged whip in the not-too-distant future.

 

[via] Engadget

Is Microsoft about to kill the Xbox 360 Core?

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You can add this to your ever-growing file folder stuffed with blurry photos of "products" or "internal memos." Joystiq is reporting that a source inside the hive-mind of Best Buy is claiming that the retailer has earmarked the Xbox 360 Core system for deletion in the company's computers. Apparently, this usually means that a product has been discontinued and "replenishment of the item is not expected," which seems to indicate that if the rumored $50 price cut happens, it may be taking the Core offering with it. Of course, this also might just be a piece of paper that your annoying neighbor knocked out on his dot matrix.

 

[via] Engadget

Sony and 3M settle intellectual property dispute

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The bickering that boiled over into a patent dispute earlier this year between 3M and Sony has finally ceased, but it seems like Lenovo and friends may actually still be fighting their own battles with the innovative giant. Nevertheless, Sony Corporation and Sony Electronics are now "licensed sources of batteries containing 3M's cathode technology," and while specific terms of the settlement shall remain confidential, we're sure it was no small sum that Sony was asked required to pay out. One down, several to go.

 

[via] Engadget

Wii Airplane Controller adds yet more clutter to your living room

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Nintendo may be slow to get a Wii version of Pilotwings off the ground, but those looking to get ready for that inevitability may want to pick up the latest Wiicessory from PEGO, which will turn your humble Wiimote and nunchuck into a makeshift flight stick. Of course, there aren't exactly a whole lot of games at the moment that'll let you take full advantage of the setup, but it will only set you back $13, and it would seem to offer some potential for those looking for some new uses for their Wiimote on their PC.

[Via SlashGear]

 

[via] Engadget

Dell Latitude D830 gets examined

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Dell didn't stray very far from its nearly year-old D820 with its new D830 model, but those still on the fence about a purchase may want to head over to NotebookReview, which now has a fairly thorough examination of the laptop from someone that took the plunge and bought one. While it certainly won't stand out as much as some recent Dell laptops, NotebookReview's "Commander Wolf" nonetheless found the unit to be "visually appealing," with a solid construction and good performance, helped in no small part by its use of discrete graphics. On the downside, he unsurprisingly found that the D830 was "not a thin-and-light" and he was somewhat disappointed by an "unusually large" amount of light leakage coming from the bottom of the screen. The good Commander also thankfully took the time time to put the system through some benchmark tests, which you can check out by hitting up the link below.

 

[via] Engadget

Delphi's NAV300 gets spec'd, priced

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Those patiently awaiting further details on Delphi's latest navigation system need wait no longer, as the firm has finally cranked out the full array of details on the NAV300. This 3.5-inch GPS will feature a SIRFstarIII receiver, rechargeable Li-ion, 32MB of Flash ROM, 64MB of RAM, an SD expansion slot, NAVTEQ maps, a built-in speaker, 400MHz Samsung processor, an image viewer, and a media player that can handle MP3, WAV, MPEG4, AVI, and XviD formats. Furthermore, it'll boast text-to-speech capabilities, speed limit warning software, integrated Bluetooth for handsfree calling, and optional traffic information via the RDS-TMC technology. Best of all, those interested can get their orders in right now, and while the NAV300 will run you $399.99 by itself, you can opt for "lifetime traffic data" for an extra Benjamin.

 

[via] Engadget

Scientists take first step in ceramic-based, quantum computers

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One of the many challenges facing quantum computing is finding a practical material from which to process the quantum information -- the material must not be so exotic such that it becomes too prohibitive and expensive to use for mass calculations. That's why a recently discovered hidden magnetic "quantum order" in ceramic has scientists in such a tizzy. By heating or doping the material with a variety of impurities, scientists from the London Center for Nanotechnology have found a way to propagate magnetic excitations over long chains of atoms in the otherwise magnetically disordered material. Armed then, with the ability to break the chains into independent sub-chains, each with it's own hidden order, scientists have taken the first step towards engineering spin-based quantum states from ceramics. Right, the quantum analogy to those good ol' 1 and 0 state changes used by today's not-so-super computers.

[Thanks, Scott S.]

 

[via] Engadget

Japanese automakers collaborate on operating system

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Earlier this year, Toyota was reportedly mulling the idea of crafting its own in-car OS, but now the firm -- along with nine other Japanese companies -- will be collaborating with the Economy, Trade, and Industry Ministry to develop "an operating system for automotive electronics." The initiative is supposedly in reaction to similar joint developments going on with a number of European car outfits, and will aim to "create a global standard in the field." Dubbed JasPar (Japan Automotive Software Platform Architecture), the venture will include big shots such as Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Denso, and Toshiba, and you can look for a prototype version to reach completion in 2009.

[Via The Raw Feed]

 

[via] Engadget

LG Philips develops oil and water based flexible display

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LG Philips, known for its nearly constant pursuit of new flexible display solutions, has recently applied for a patent on a bendable OLED screen technology which would use oil and water to produce images. Apparently, current flexible OLED displays are hampered by the fact that the OLEDs get hotter than the plastic substrate, making manufacture difficult and expensive. The new process that the company is developing would circumvent those problems by making pixels out of oil and water connected to plastic electrodes. The opaque oil would float on the water and obscure a colored surface beneath -- when an electric charge was applied to the field it would reveal the surface and change the color of the pixel. The process is cheap and simple, which hopefully means a future of reading a completely digital morning paper for all of us.

[Via NewScientist, thanks Alan]

 

[via] Engadget

How would you change the OLPC XO?

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Generally we reserve this feature for already-released consumer products, but with everyone now the proud owner of "the last gadget I'll ever need," we figure that we're forced to look in a new direction for devices to collectively critique. And with the hundred-dollar-and-change OLPC XO finally in full-scale production, what better candidate to help us stray from the traditional format? Keep in mind, though, as you're tearing the charitable unit apart, that it's not really meant for the readers and writers of Engadget (at least not yet), and therefore you're gonna look pretty silly suggesting Alienware-esque specs for a project whose goal is financial prudence. That being said, there are still a number of changes we can think of that would benefit the kiddies while still keeping the green plastic wonder under budget. Like, how about a keyboard with some tactility that one can actually touch type on? And while we love the philosophy behind open-source software, the sad truth is that you need to at least be familiar with Windows in the business world -- and with Microsoft offering $3 basic installs to developing countries, why not let these machines dual-boot? Finally -- and this one is for you conservative types over at the News Agency of Nigeria -- NickNeg and friends should probably stop wasting time with those ineffective filters and simply make the machines incapable of displaying flesh tones instead.

Well that's the best we could come up with; now how about you -- how would you change the OLPC XO?

 

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

[via] Engadget

iRiver's Mickey Mouse Mplayer gets unboxed, reviewed

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We know you've all been waiting with bated breath for someone to get their hands on iRiver's Disney sanctioned Mickey Mouse Mplayer music jockey and unbox the hell out of it. Well, luckily for you, Pocketables is just as excited about the tiny, cartoon-shaped DAP as you are, and they've given us a full breakdown of the school-girl's dream gadget. Point yourself to the read link for a proper box thrashing and semi-unimpressed review.

 

[via] Engadget

DigitalSpace shows off proposed asteroid mission plans

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It's already considered sending various types of robots to asteroids, but NASA apparently still has plenty more plans for dealing with near-Earth objects (or NEOs), with it recently asking Santa Cruz-based DigitalSpace Commons to develop a simulation for a manned mission. The company's plans, officially unveiled today, are based on NASA's own Constellation exploration crew vehicle, which the space agency developed for lunar missions but says can be modified for trips to NEOs. As CNET reports, DigitalSpace's planned modifications include a system that would anchor the spacecraft "like a boat in a harbor," along with a ring of sensor-equipped airbags that would detect stability on the ground. While NASA isn't saying exactly when it might attempt such a mission, DigitalSpace says it believes one could be done as soon as 2017.

 

[via] Engadget

"Organic semiconductors" help researchers monitor your heart

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Have you ever been halfway through a heart attack and thought "If only my shirt had been laced with wireless sensors that monitored respiration and body temperature, this cheese-stick-related incident might have been prevented"? Well now, next time you have one-too-many wings while tailgating, a fabric developed by researchers at the University of Arkansas might be able to alert medical professionals to your condition before you go code red. The technology, based around an "organic semiconductor" called pentacene (a hydrocarbon molecule) and a comparative instrument known as a Wheatstone bridge, can be embedded in fabrics such as undershirts and coupled with wireless transmitters. In the garments, body temperature is monitored through a thin-film transistor, while respiration is gauged using electrical resistance, but both technologies employ the pentacene as a sensing layer. Researchers hope to further develop the technology so that doctors can get to you long before you eat a fatal piece of cheesecake.

[Via Medlaunches, thanks, Geetu]

 

[via] Engadget

Trigem showcases Lineage 2 Dreamsys STWT slim PC

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It's not unusual to find pre-fabricated rigs with game-specific paint jobs here in the US, but Trigem is looking to pique South Korea's interest with its Lineage 2 Dreamsys STWT. The glossy white tower sports some fairly impressive artwork on the front panel, and while your attachment to the game may draw you in, it's the innards that will make or break the deal. Specs wise, you'll find a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 processor, 2GB of DDR2 RAM, a 320GB SATA hard drive, a DVD burner, 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 7650GS GPU, gigabit Ethernet, a slew of USB 2.0 ports, nine-in-one multicard reader, audio in / out, FireWire, and VGA / DVI outputs to boot. No word on when this gem will be available to fanboys (and gals), but you'll be looking at a ?1,249,000 ($1,356) pricetag whenever it does.

 

[via] Engadget

IOGEAR releases 4-port HDMI switch

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Iogear GHDMIAS4 4-port HDMI switch
IOGEAR has just released the GHDMIAS4 4-port automatic HDMI switch, which takes four of your favorite HDMI inputs and pares them down to one output. It has automatic sensing to switch to an input when a new source is turned on, or you can use the remote with discrete buttons. The switch supports 1080p and HDMI 1.3, is HDCP-compliant, and ships now for $189.95, including a bonus 6-foot HDMI cable.

 

[via] Engadget

Verizon Wireless to buy Rural Cellular for $2.67 billion

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Another one bites the dust, so to speak. This time around, we've got Verizon Wireless doing the acquiring, as it has just announced plans to pay $2.67 billion for "one of the nation's largest rural carriers," Rural Cellular. The news comes just over a month after AT&T handed over a staggering amount of its own to pick up Dobson Communications, and this agreement will expand the carrier's coverage "in parts of the East Coast and the South, as well as in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Kansas, Idaho, Washington and Oregon." Verizon did note that it planned on deploying CDMA service in Rural Cellular's existing GSM markets in order to convert customers over, but it also mentioned that the existing GSM networks would remain to "serve the roaming needs of other GSM carrier's customers." Look for the deal to be finalized sometime during the first half of next year, and don't be surprised if we see a few more consolidation efforts go down in the meantime.

 

[via] Engadget