Filed under: Industry, Displays, Others, Panasonic, OLED

A bit earlier this year we heard that Panasonic (Matsushita’s red-headed stepchild) was vying for a tiny recognition in the OLED TV game, but outside of that, details were scarce. Now, however, we’re being told that the outfit is planning to begin selling 40-inch OEL (organic electroluminescent, better known as OLED ’round these parts) TVs “as early as 2011.” Reportedly, it will be investing “several billion yen” to construct a prototype production line for OEL panels “20-inches and larger” that will go into service next spring. We’d be pretty stoked if the final product were within sight, but make sure to ring us early on next decade to make sure we haven’t completely forgotten about this here promise.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Filed under: Gaming

“Touching is good,” but hacking? Not so much. Nintendo has gone on the war path against five Japanese companies that make their living helping users rip off DS games. Of course, a primary use for such hardware — such as the R4 Revolution, pictured — is homebrew and emulation, but good luck convincing Nintendo (or any massive console manufacturer) of that. Details of the actual lawsuit are trim, but Nintendo has brought along with it 54 Japanese software makers to lend a bit of gravitas to the suit. If you haven’t managed to hack your DS yet, now might be a good time to score the requisite hardware — we might be facing a scarcity before too long.

[Thanks, Michael]

Popularity: 12% [?]

Over the weekend, the iPhone-dev team released the PwnageTool v2.0, a program that granted users to activate and jailbreak their iPhone units, including the iPhone 3G. The team decided to spruce up the application and work on it a bit further though, which leads us to the release of PwnageTool v2.0.1.

PwnageTool v2.0.1 takes care of the following issues present in v2.0:

• It auto-finds the bl39 and bl46 files better, if they re on your computer
• It creates the /Library/iTunes/Device Support/ folder if not present, which should help with some 1600 errors people have been having.
• Many people have reported the PwnageTool not starting up at all (the icon never stops bouncing). This issue should be resolved now.
• The Sparkle AppCast URL is fixed in this version, so automatic updates should work for future releases.

The iPhone-dev team notes two things regarding this version of the PwnageTool. First off, due to the AppCast URL fix, the team advocates that everyone who downloaded PwnageTool 2.0 get this version if they want to stay up to date automatically. Second, if the PwnageTool did its job properly the first time you used it, then you shouldn’t need to try pwning your phone again using v2.0.1.

You can download the file through the mirrors on the linked site below, or through our own downloads page. The PwnageTool v2.01 we’ve downloaded is the one taken from _BigBoss_ s repository. Still you might want to check if the SHA1 of the file is 10b6c7dc22286e7b70c3d5a92cda7d117426fda9 to be on the safe side.

Download: PwnageTool v2.0.1

• The iphone-dev team releases info on new iPhone 3G jailbreaking tool
• PwnageTool 2.0 finishing touches being implemented; release imminent

Via [apple.qj.net]

Popularity: 3% [?]

Filed under: Laptops

We’ve been hearing the faintest of whispers that Lenovo had a new IdeaPad on tap, and while we haven’t received any official confirmation just yet, we figured it prudent to pass along the latest. According to an anonymous tipster, the G430 will boast a 14.1-inch WXGA display, 2GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, Vista Home Basic, a DVD burner, NVIDIA’s 256MB GeForce 9300M GS and a 6-cell battery. Furthermore, you’ll find 802.11a/b/g WiFi, no webcam and an undisclosed array of ports. Your guess is as good as ours when it comes to pricing / availability, but surely we’ll know something more soon. Surely.

[Thanks, anonymous]

Popularity: 5% [?]

Filed under: Messaging, Misc

Using little more than book knowledge, experience from previous projects, and a healthy shot of elbow grease, a Kenyan kid has constructed a nifty (and perhaps just a little scary) box that attaches to your car to provide a number of very special remote-control features that you’re not going to find on your average OnStar setup. The flagship function seems to be the real-time lockout, which can call you as the automobile is being started; only if you confirm that it’s not some baddie trying to jack your ride will the ignition request be granted. That’s not all, though — it’ll also let you dial into the vehicle and listen in on any conversations going on within. The young man states he’s seeking additional funding to take his project to the next level, but in the meantime, don’t even think about making off with a white Mitsubishi the next time you’re in Mombasa. Follow the break for a video of the system in action.

[Via AfriGadget]

Continue reading Teenager hacks together hardware for controlling your vehicle via phone

Popularity: 4% [?]

Filed under: Digital Cameras

It looks like Mobotix has a solution for those wishing their security cameras were a bit more all-seeing, with its new Q22 model promising to deliver a full 360-degrees of vision. That’s done with the use of a hemispheric lens, which eliminates the need for any moving parts and lets the Huge Brother in question digitally flatten, pan, tilt or zoom any image. As if that wasn’t enough, the Q22 can also be run entirely over Power over Ethernet (or PoE), and it boasts a built-in speaker and microphone to grant for some two-way communication. Otherwise, you can anticipate a decent enough 3.1-megapixel resolution, along with SIP support, accommodations for various CCTV management platforms, and Mobotix’s own MxControlCenter video management software. As you might expect, however, all that doesn’t exactly come cheap, with the basic model running you €498 (or $776), and the premium version demanding €648 (or just over $1,000).

[Via BIOS]

Popularity: 5% [?]

Filed under: Chevrolet, GM, Lightweight

Click on the pic for a high res gallery of the Trax

Even though we were deeply saddened by the notion that General Motors wouldn’t be bringing its Beat subcompact vehicle to the Unites States, the General is apparently planning to send a new minicar to America to replace the Aveo that we are currently saddled blessed with. We don’t yet know what the vehicle will be named, but rumor has it that it will be built in Mexico atop the General’s Gamma platform and will share plenty of design cues from either the Trax or Groove concept from last year. It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that GM would select to offer a four or five door hatch in the Says, as consumers have generally gravitated away from coupes here. Still, the Beat was apparently the ideal received of the three small vehicle triplets that GM showed last year in New York.

U.S. safety standards will enlarge the automobile somewhat, which is one major reason why GM won’t be offering the Beat here. Somehow, smart and Toyota have figured out how to engineer small automobiles which can pass Federal crash tests, so we know it’s not impossible. Regardless, the new car is expected to be in showrooms no sooner than 2011, so there is plenty of time to stew over the decision.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

| | |

Via [autobloggreen]

Popularity: 3% [?]

Filed under: Transportation

One of mankind’s most adored gadgets (yes, the jetpack) is moving one step closer to mainstream this day with the unveiling of the Martin Jetpack. Revealed in front of a crowd in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, this human transporter is technically defined by the FAA as an “experimental ultralight airplane, equipped with a gas-powered, V-4 piston engine and two ducted fans that provide the lift.” Currently, the $100,000 machine can only hover for around 30 minutes and rise to 8,000 feet, and those who sign up to buy one will first have to finish 15 hours of flight training as well as a “safety screening.” Check out an all-too-short video after the jump to see the device lift off, float around and land — absolutely underwhelming, but the optimistic few will surely see promise.

- Martin Jetpack unveiling, video
- Details on Martin Jetpack
- More photos from EAA AirVenture

Continue reading Martin Jetpack officially unveiled, lifts off on video

Popularity: 3% [?]

Filed under: Misc, Displays

Some might say that Rancho Cucamonga, California is a strange place for a ribbon cutting ceremony, but we figure that there’s hardly a superior place in America to have HDTV within an air conditioned room. Sure, it’s not exactly in Death Valley or anything, but the aloft Ontario-Rancho Cucamonga is close enough to Zzyzx to warrant an excuse for staying indoors during the summer. The 136-room venue just opened its doors to guests last week, becoming the very first aloft hotel to actually open for business in the United States. Each guest room has its own HDTV and connectivity panel, and the hotel-wide WiFi should keep you satisfactorily connected during your stay. Anyone plan on stopping by?

Popularity: 3% [?]

Popularity: 3% [?]