Popularity: 1% [?]

Popularity: 1% [?]

Filed under: Transportation

Okay, so maybe Hope’s forthcoming Aeris isn’t that bad, but it is somewhat hard to believe that sensors were installed in the handlebars to “prevent accidents” if some demented designer didn’t fully anticipate this thing to be a vehicle magnet. Designed for the urban tools hipsters in attendance, this bike is reportedly constructed from Hybrix, a material “supposedly as tough as stainless steel but lighter than aluminum.” Beyond that, details are few and far between, but cyclists should be able to find out more when it launches this fall for around five large.

[Via ShinyShiny]

Popularity: 1% [?]

Filed under: Industry, Set-top boxes, Cable, OTA, Satellite, Advertising

We have to admit that in the current ad-happy climate we didn’t think it would take some six months for an enterprising company to market TiVo’s rich data mine. TRA will be licensing and marketing the info coming from TiVo customers, and the combination of viewing, demographic and purchasing data seems like a marketer’s dream come true. Add in the growing trend towards targeted content, and you can guess what advertisers have in mind — making accurate correlations between ad exposure and buying behavior. Sure, it sounds really creepy, but rest assured that the data is anonymous, so marketers will know how someone exactly like you behaves without knowing it’s explicitly you. If you’re still uneasy, we’d suggest getting off the grid entirely, because this sort of advertisement looks like it’s here to stay.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Filed under: Robots

Robots teaching robots? Check. Robots teaching humans? Check. Robots learning things on their own accord? Um, terrifying? All kidding aside, the UMass Mobile Manipulator is one smart cookie. Put simply, this intelligent robot pushes objects around in order to identify how they move, and once that’s accomplish, it begins “manipulating them to perform tasks.” If this sounds awfully similar to something your infant does, that’s because the two are indeed very much related. UMan, as it’s so eloquently dubbed, packs its own wheels, battery pack, one-meter arm, three-fingered hand and webcam in order to interact with the world, and sure enough, one researcher even mentioned the potential of it learning to operate a pair of scissors. Great, what’s next — a BFG?

[Via CrunchGear]

Popularity: 2% [?]

Filed under: Transportation

Look, protecting the world from the terror of Jihadists is serious business — which is why we’re not sure that rolling up on a Segway is the ideal way to get the Axis of Evil to drop its weapon / bomb / fanatic mindset… still, Jackie Chan will be psyched. Our suggestion? the electric unicycle.

Josh T: “Stop! Step out of the automobile and concur to be my friend.”
Don: “Don’t make me lean forward and come over there.”
Chris: “Do it… do it now! Get to the human transportah!”
Josh F: “Snake? Snake?! SNAAAAAKE!”
Ryan: “Watch yourself, Frank, we’re dealing with professionals. They’ve got a… vehicle.”
Darren: “So, um, is it safe to back away from this car?”
Richard: “Yes, this would be more intimidating from a Humvee, but y’know, gas prices these days…”
Nilay: “Put the Roomba down!”
Thomas: “Quit calling me Ginger, I’m a day walker!”

[Thanks, Mike]

Popularity: 2% [?]

If you live near or in San Francisco and have some free time on your hands tonight, you may want to head on over to 1 Stockton Street (that’s the San Francisco Apple Store, for your information) to watch a specially prepared game demonstration at 7 p.m. PDT.

What makes this demo so important? Well, the game in question is the long-awaited Spore (Computer, Nintendo Wii, DS, Mac, Mobile), and the presenter of the demo will be Maxis‘ Will Wright himself. No word on what platform they’ll be using to present the demo, but we anticipate it’ll probably the Personal computer version, up on a projector screen so it’ll be simple to see.

The demo will be of the full game itself, so if you’ve been reading up on Spore or spending time with Spore’s Creature Creator, this would be a free show you’ll probably want to watch.

Via [apple.qj.net]

Popularity: 2% [?]

Filed under: Speakers, Others

Yamaha cranked out its high-priced YSP-600 sound bar just a few months back, but the company’s already looking to put the past behind and move forward with the YSP-3050. The latest in the outfit’s long-standing line of Digital Sound Projectors offers up 21 beam drivers, two woofers, 23 corresponding digital amplifiers, three Cinema DSP programs (movie, music and sports), analog-to-HDMI video upconversion, HD upscaling to 1080i / 720p and a 1080p (24Hz and 60Hz) compatible HDMI interface with two inputs and one output. Aside from engulfing you in audio with just a single bar, the unit is also XM Radio / iPod-ready (via the $99.95 YDS-11), and the integrated FM tuner and bundled remote make it even easier to see in your den. You’ll also find the firm’s propriety automated system calibration (IntelliBeam) along with TV Equal Volume to keep those sudden bursts at bay when it comes time for commercials. ‘Tis a shame this piece costs $1,399.95, but if you’re tight on space, it just might be worth it. Full release after the break.

Continue reading Yamaha intros YSP-3050 Digital Sound Projector

Popularity: 3% [?]

Filed under: Robots

The current generation of robots, whether they’re the gun-carrying or child-coddling variety, come in all sorts of shapes and sizes to suit their intended purpose. But if research going on at Tufts University comes to fruition, future robots might feature designs that are rather more flexible. Scientists at the school are working on so-called “chemical robots” with no solid parts. Chembots could squeeze under doors, slither through cracks in walls, and even squirm into your orifices, performing internal diagnoses before slowly dissolving away, leaving nothing more than a feeling of creepy violation behind. What about assuming the shape and voice of John Connor’s adopted mom? We’re hoping that’s still a few years off.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Developer hc recently rolled out the latest update to the iPhone homebrew application, TimeCapsule. The latest build of the app, version 0.42b1, includes a lot of substantial features to help improve its capability to further backup your iPhone’s different utilities.

The biggest improvement made to TimeCapsule v0.42b1 would have to be the changes made to its delete functions. The new function now streamlines itself to avoid the accidental deletion of any backup files. In addition, there was also a bug fix added for the call favorites function for the program.

Here’s the complete list of changes made to TimeCapsule v0.42b1 since our previous coverage of the app:

• Call Favourites:
• fixed: non-stop loop when backing up call favourites
• Show number of call favourites in backup
• Change in delete functions
• delete individual backup available for all users (I forgot to add this function)
• added delete all backups function (the clear button at the bottom navigation bar)
• prompt user to enter a certain number before delete all backups proceed to prevent accidental deletion
• the trash-can button clear

  Popularity: 2% [?]

Filed under: Transportation

Our favorite Terminator (and Governor of California) Arnold Schwarzenegger has just helped Tesla Motors make an announcement that’s probably sending chills through traditional automaker’s boardrooms. The company has just introduced a fully-electric, five passenger sports sedan dubbed the Model S, which will be selling for $60,000, and will manage 225 miles on a full charge. The carmaker states it will produce the cars in a brand new manufacturing plant it’s opening in Northern California. We’re on the ground at the announcement right now — no pictures or release date have surfaced yet, but you’ll know more as soon as we do.

Popularity: 3% [?]