Nokia N96 Cell Phone With Full Technology

The N-Series of Nokia has replace the most popular device N95 with Nokia N96 which is add more features and also give attractive package with a good looking handset too. The handset also come with full technology inside of it.

The N95 and N96 is the same device with 2 way slider. The first slider you can use to see the standard numeric keypad and if you slide it the other way, the N96 will come up the media control keys. The large 2.8 inch display with 320×240 pixel is really similar to N95 8GB storage. On the back side of N96 you can find the 5 megapixel lens with autofocus and Carl Zeiss lens which is usually used by digital camera.

On the underneath of the large display has an enhance navigation panel and control keys which overall improve the sleek design and can make Nokia N96 very look elegant rather than previous model. Also you can get the integrated GPS system (advance GPS) with satellite navigation capability which much better than original Nokia N95. N96 also inclusion the DVB-H digital TV receiver which mean N96 can be use to watch live broadcast TV over the air if you have the coverage area.

The internal memory has 16GB which can be expanded to 32GB using microSD slot memory card. With a huge memory, you can store movie, mp3 song and more multimedia playback. The picture quality from the camera is identical with N95. The N96 can capture VGA resolution video at 30 frame per second. Also the GPS can be geotagged as Nokia 6220.

The connectivity using dual band 3G phone which is support HSDPA, quad-band GSM with GPRS and EDGE plus WiFi. The Nokia N96 also support stereo bluetooth and high speed USB 2.0 but sadly it has not suppor FM radio. The measurement is 103×55x18 millimeter with 125 gram more heavy than N95. The playback can use up to 14 hours, 5 hours video and 4 hours TV. The maximum talktime with 3G is 2.5 hours and 9 days for standby time. The price should be around $740 before tax and subsidy.

Source: http://www.elitezoom.com/nokia-n96-cell-phone-with-full-technology.html

Apple TV to become TiVo challenger?

A new Apple patent filing has surfaced that points to the possibility of the company offering an upgraded Apple TV that can record and play back live shows.

According to the filing, the prospective device would allow users to scan through upcoming programming and use a modified touchscreen remote to skip through menus and record, play and rewind live programming. The remote looks quite similar to a second-generation iPod and uses the same trackpad and buttons to control the menus.

Remote is central to usability

"For example, program data for upcoming programs, e.g., for the next month, can be downloaded and stored on the remote control device," Apple said. "Thereafter, a user of the remote control device can search programs that are to be broadcast and determine which programs to record.

"The recording settings can be programmed onto the remote control device, and then be provided to the video device when data communication is established between the remote control device and the video device."

Although such an updated Apple TV would offer similar functionality to what is currently being offered in similar DVR products and the patent filing suggests Apple is ready to move forward, the company has yet to comment on the device.

Source: http://www.tech.co.uk/home-entertainment/tv/news/apple-tv-to-become-tivo-challenger?articleid=1423114313

Alfa Romeo Mi.To breaks cover

Last year Alfa Romeo burst onto the supercar scene with its deliciously daring 8C Competizione. Smooth, flowing original lines spoke of a redefinition of the company’s styling language, and as these leaked official images reveal the carmaker’s new entry-level hatch shares that same language. The car also continues Alfa’s new naming practice of using actual names instead of numbers and will sport the ‘Mi.To’ title when it arrives in June.

Under the pretty sheet metal is the same platform used by Fiat’s Punto but with enough modifications to give the Alfa its own handling and performance characteristics.

Alfa Romeo is yet to reveal official details but expect to see a similar engine lineup as Punto, which means a range of petrol and diesel engines starting with a base 95hp 1.4L unit and possibly topping out with a 230hp turbo petrol engine in a performance GTA model.

Source: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/hatchbacks/alfa-romeo-mito-breaks-cover/

iSoniCast Wireless Audio Bridge Is One Sleek iPod Transmitter

I recently acquired an iPod, which is a little odd since I’ve said time and again that I don’t really need one. However, I probably use it for playing music less than anything. As you might have guessed, it’s a Touch. Sure, I do use it to listen to tunes now and then, however, when I’m at home there’s no need to for it, as almost any room that I’m any for long periods has some way of accessing my music collection easily. However, if you’re looking for a way to transmit music from your iPod to your home stereo, this iSoniCast Wireless Audio Bridge from Monster looks pretty cool.

The small rectangular device you see plugs into the bottom of your iPod and transmits music to the base station, which hooks into your stereo. Since the device is going directly into your iPod, you’ll just use the controls on it, rather than some other remote. This sleek accessory will set you back $99.95.

High bandwidth 4Gbps streaming thoughput eliminates compression artifacts.

•
•	Transmitter uses iPod® controls for playback: no separate remote needed.
•	Proprietary 2.4 GHz technology for pure sound.
•	Intelligent frequency hopping minimizes interference for better sound.
•	High bandwidth 4Gbps streaming thoughput eliminates compression artifacts.

FEATURES
Wireless iPod Freedom
Listen to iPod on your home audio system: no wires or batteries needed
The Monster® iSoniCast™ turns your iPod into a wireless jukebox, so you can easily enjoy all your iPod music on your home stereo system. With the iSoniCast, you use the iPod itself to control playback with full access to all the familiar iPod controls! You don’t need to turn on your TV to view menus or use a clunky separate remote to control your iPod. Even better, the iSoniCast is also incredibly easy to hook up and no batteries are needed: the smart low-power consumption lets you listen for extended periods.

Advanced Monster Technology
Precision engineering for pure sound quality
The Monster iSoniCast features powerful 2.4GHz wireless technology that’s designed for extended control range and superior sound quality. Intelligent frequency hopping minimizes interference while high-bandwidth 4Mbps streaming eliminates compression artifacts. All you hear is your music with the cleanest, clearest sound possible. The Monster iSoniCast isn’t just the easiest wireless iPod to stereo link to hookup and use, it’s the ultimate solution for wireless iPod playback on your home audio system.


Source: http://www.monstercable.com/productdisplay.asp?pin=4622
http://www.ohgizmo.com/2008/03/14/isonicast-wireless-audio-bridge-is-one-sleek-ipod-transmitter/

Voice Free Cellphone Technology Developed

If you spend an inordinate of time obliviously chatting away on your cellphone in public (you know who you are), everyone else in the world would love it if you could teach yourself how to use Audeo, a combination of software and hardware that picks up nerve signals on the way to your vocal cords. Audeo translates the nerve signals into the words you’re thinking about saying, and then a computer voice says the words for you. For the system to be effective, all you have to do is learn how to instruct your body to say things without your body actually saying anything, which is tricky, but possible.

Of course, Audeo is not actually designed for annoying cellphone users. Rather, it’s being developed for people who have lost the ability to speak due to neurological diseases like ALS (interestingly, the same disease that this robot is designed to assist with). The system isn’t able to recognize words at this point. From what I understand, it matches a pattern of nerve signals to one of 150 different words or phrases. The developers are working on a more universal version, which will be able to interpret the nerve signals of individual phonemes, which are the individual sounds that make up words. It won’t be especially fast or easy, but users will be able to construct whatever words they want, effectively replacing physical speech.

Source: http://www.ohgizmo.com/2008/03/14/voice-free-cellphone-technology-developed/

Google: Android will outsell iPhone, we still love ya Steve

Watching Google tiptoe around its relationship with Apple as it rolls out Android is one of the most enjoyable aspects of watching the industry these days. This is perfectly illustrated in the words of Rich Miner, group manager for Google's mobile platforms, who said, "there's a much larger potential market on Android than for the iPhone."

A truthful statement in all likelihood assuming that the OS is robust upon its global release later this year and available on handsets from HTC, Samsung, Motorola, and LG as expected. Miner then took a few shots at the iPhone SDK saying, "There are things I saw people doing with the first version of the Android SDK that it seems like you can't do with the iPhone at least at the moment." He then noted that the SDK had been downloaded 750,000 time (compared to Apple's 100k in 4 days) as of February.

Naturally, he then applied a thick, brown coat of public relations salve saying, "[If I were a developer] I'd certainly be looking at the iPhone, and if you believe there will be lots of Android phones out there, as we do, I'd be developing for both platforms." Kumbaya my BossEricSchmidtSitsOnTheAppleBoard, kumabaya...


Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/14/google-android-will-outsell-iphone-we-still-love-you-steve/

Intel's quad-core QX9300 laptop CPU in Q3?

Intel is planning to launch its first quad-core CPU for notebooks, the Core 2 Extreme QX9300, in the third quarter this year with pricing set at a new high of US$1,038 in thousand-unit tray quantities, according to sources at motherboard makers.

With the market demand for top-level notebooks still below average, Intel expects the quad-core notebook CPUs will not become standard in the performance/mainstream notebook market until the second half of 2009, and therefore should not impact the desktop PC market, noted the sources.

The Core 2 Extreme QX9300 will be manufactured at 45nm and have a core frequency of 2.53GHz. The CPU will come in a socket P package and support FSB speeds up to 1066MHz. The chip will include 12MB L2 cache and have a maximum TDP of 45W.

Source: http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20080313PD219.html

UK looking to triple taxes on high-polluting cars

It’s bad enough London’s congestion charge is set to rise later this year for high CO2-emitting vehicles, but now the country’s annual road tax on these vehicles is likely to be increased as well. The country’s finance minister Alistair Darling has promised that “higher polluting” cars will be taxed more than regular cars as part of widespread reforms to the vehicle taxation system. Darling’s plan would see taxes increase on the heavy-polluters next year and then again in 2010.

If approved, the scheme would see owners of cars emitting more than 255g of CO2/km pay £425 ($865) per year to register their vehicle in 2009 and up to £950 ($1,934) per year in 2010 onwards. Currently, vehicles that emit more than 225g/km pay the maximum tax of £300 ($610) a year, reports Automotive News.

At the other end of the scale, cars that emit less than 130g of CO2/km would be exempt from the annual road tax. As harsh as the new taxes seem, the UK’s Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders is in favor of the scheme.

Other European countries taxation systems for heavy polluters are no better. In France, the maximum tax on cars that emit more than 250g of CO2/km is €2,600 ($4,052) and in the Netherlands the biggest polluters are charged up to €1,600 ($2,494).

Source: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/news/uk-looking-to-triple-taxes-on-high-polluting-cars/

Acer Unveils New Line of Gemstone Laptops

Acer, today presented the Aspire 6920 (16-inch) and the Aspire 8920G (18.4-inch) line of new notebook PC series based on the original Gemstone series with its focus on High Definition.

The new Aspire Gemstone blue series features the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors, the mobile Intel PM965 Express Chipset and the integrated module for wireless connection, supporting Acer SignalUp with InviLink Nplify wireless technologies.

The 16-inch notebook series features a Full HD CineCrystal LCD panel with 1920x1080 resolution or a HD CineCrystal LCD screen at 1366x768 pixel resolution, 8ms response time and native 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio. The screen is managed by the latest NVIDIA GeForce 9500M GS graphics engine with up to 1280 MB of TurboCache, supporting NVIDIA PureVideo HD technology, Shader Model 4.0 and Microsoft DirectX 10.



The 18.4-inch series also features Full HD CineCrystal LCD panel with 1920x1080 pixel resolution, 8ms response time and native 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio. The system is shipped with a choice of graphics engines and can be equipped with either the NVIDIA GeForce 9650M GS graphics engine with up to 1280 MB of TurboCache (512 MB of dedicated GDDR3 VRAM, up to 768 MB of shared system memory) or by the NVIDIA GeForce 9500M GS with up to 1280 MB of TurboCache (512 MB of dedicated GDDR2 VRAM, up to 768 MB of shared system memory). Both support NVIDIA PureVideo HD technology, Shader Model 4.0 and Microsoft DirectX 10.

The 16-inchers come with 320 GB of space while the 18.4-inchers come with 640 GB of space.

Both series feature an HDMI port with HDCP support and come with integrated TV Tuner. Users can choose between Blu-Ray Disc and a DVD-Super Multi double-layer drive for their laptops, that also feature a 6-in-1 card reader.

The Aspire Gemstone blue design integrates the second generation Dolby Home Theater technology with powerful audio technologies – CineSurround, Tuba CineBass booster, and True 5.1 output. The line comes with the brand new CineDash media console, a touch-sensitive interface that gives users a new way to manage entertainment and launch Acer Arcade in seconds, as well as navigate menus, adjust volume and control media on the fly.

On selected models, the Aspire 8920G comes bundled with a VoIP Bluetooth phone, a device that can be used as a normal cell phone connected to the notebook through Bluetooth connections, or can be placed on any desk or surface and used as a speaker phone, letting the user communicate freely while continuing to work on the PC.

The series features a multi-layered, shimmering 3D finish, contrasting textures, a blue, black and silver color scheme, and interior/exterior lighting effects.

The Aspire notebooks come with Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate or Windows Vista Home Premium preinstalled. Additional installed software includes Acer Empowering Technology (Acer eAudio, ePower, eDataSecurity, eRecovery, eSettings Management), Acer Arcade Deluxe featuring Cinema, Album, Music, Acer HomeMedia, Acer InstantOn Arcade; Acer Bio-Protection; Acer Crystal Eye; Acer GridVista; Acer Launch Manager; Acer GameZone; Acer Video Conference Manager; Acer Video Conference Manager featuring Video Quality Enhancement (VQE); Adobe Reader; CyberLink PowerDirector trial version; Norton Internet Security; NTI Media Maker; Microsoft Works 9.0 with Office Home and Student 2007 Trial.

All Acer notebooks come with a standard 1 year Carry In (International travelers warranty - ITW) which can be extended to 3 years' cover with the Acer Advantage service that also covers accidental damage to the notebook.

Source: http://www.tech2.com/india/news/laptops/acer-unveils-new-line-of-gemstone-laptops/31371/0

Disney: $123 Million From iTunes Since 2006

Disney CEO Bob Iger tells the audience at the Digital Hollywood Media Summit that he's sold 4 million movies and "40 to 50" million videos through iTunes since he launched the service in 2006. What does that mean in terms of dollars? Not much.

• Pali Research's Rich Greenfield estimates that Disney (DIS) is getting about $14.50 for each movie sold through Apple (AAPL). 4 million x $14.50 = $58 million.
• We estimate that Disney gets about $1.44 for each video it sells. 45 million x $1.44 = $64.8 million
• Grand total: $122.8 million: In other words, a little less than 10% of the $1 billion digital revenue goal Iger has laid out for his company this year -- and a rounding error for a company that generated $35 billion in sales last year.

The upside for Disney is that this is all incremental revenue, with zero marketing costs. So they'd rather have it than not. But another reminder that digital sales aren't going to do much for Disney or any other the other large media congolomerates' top and bottom lines for quite some time.

Source: http://www.alleyinsider.com/2008/3/disney_123_million_from_itunes_since_2006

Iphone to go x86

The Iphone is going to go x86 in a year or two, and Moorestown is set to be the lead vehicle. A year of whispers was finally nailed down a few days ago with a comment and a slide.

First let me say that the rumour mill has been running amok since the launch of the Iphone, all based on rabid speculation. The same people who told the Inq about Apple going Intel before it happened are now saying Ix86phone. Still, multiple rumour sources are not enough, we need more evidence.


Look at the bottom corner

At CeBIT, we got the final piece of the puzzle, check out the slide here. Note the part in the red circle. Is that what it looks like?

Iphone closeup

Yup, it is what you think it is. Intel will have their usual hissy-fit when this is published, but we have source after source telling us that it will happen,so we will go with that. If you are going to buy an Iphone, wait. If you get one now, you will do what happens with any first gen Apple device, hate yourself when the real one comes out soon. Then again, if you are dumb enough to buy one in the first place, you probably will feel honoured to spend more on the new one.

If you are wondering what the Moorestown launch device is, this is a good bet, although others may trickle out before or after.

Save your pennies boys and girls, the Iphone3 is going to be pretty nice, if a bit fascistic. µ

Source: http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/03/12/iphone-x86

Free Vista Ultimate headed to Windows Feedback exhibitionists

Great news for those of you enrolled in Microsoft's Windows Feedback Program. In exchange for giving Microsoft access to your computing habits for the last 3 months, your free copy of Windows Vista Ultimate, Office Ultimate '07, Money Plus Premium, Encarta Premium or Streets and Trips (depending upon your enrollment selection) should be delivered in the next 4 to 6 weeks. Oh sure, the price for the most popular choice -- Vista Ultimate -- has dropped $80 since you flittered away your privacy. It's not like the MyFaceSpaceBook types have anything left to hide anyway. And free is free no matter the cost, right?


Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/13/free-vista-ultimate-headed-to-windows-feedback-exhibitionists/

Chinese LionKing800 cellphone claims 1-year standby

We have no way to confirm the claim, nevertheless the LionKing800 boasts a remarkable 365 days standby or 3-5 days talk. The source of that power is a 16,800mAh lithium battery -- that's about 10x the juice of a standard cellphone battery. Take that Philips! As to the rest of the specs, the GSM900 / DCS1800 dual-SIM phone costs $145 and packs a 3.5-inch, 320 x 240 pixel display, 256MB of microSD memory, Bluetooth 2.0, and a pair of rear and front-facing cameras into a 120 x 65 x 20-mm shell. Picture of the battery after the break.


Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/13/chinese-lionking800-cellphone-claims-1-year-standby/

32GB iPod - Music with excellence

Apple’s new 32GB iPod is amazingly stunning as it is loaded with some of the most admirable features. The iPod has great quality and ultra sleek body which give it a highly sophisticated look. I simply admire its great design and advanced video display. This incredible media player has awesome web capabilities. This iPod has some of the most advanced features that give users a completely joyful experience.


I am simply awed by the impeccable performance of the iPod. This amazing music device has all the astounding features that enthrall the music lovers. The iPod is an incredible gadget that promises the best music experience. This gizmo is a must have for all the people who want to listen to relishing music all the time. The Apple iPod is the perfect conglomeration of innovative technology and stylish looks. The gadget looks extremely stylish and trendy with its ultra sleek body. It has the most awesome design which gives it stunning and elegant look. Now all the admirers of elegance and music can entertain themselves with the good looking iPod. The users will certainly appreciate its wonderful applications and other utilities.


I admire the iPod's efficient interface with which I can manage playlists of my favourite songs with extreme ease. This incredible device gives me convenient and fast access to all my favorite tracks. It has amazing memory space with which a large number of songs and videos can be stored. Now I do not need to worry about the storage space while downloading my favourite tracks and videos.


I have been searching for an efficient music player with which I get unlimited music and amazing sound quality. I had tried several MP3 players; they offered good sound quality, however I was not much satisfied with their performance. I had to delete songs to store new ones due to limited space. My search for perfect music player has ended with the 32 GB iPod. Now I can enjoy music for hours without bothering about the storage space. Now my journeys have become more exciting and less boring with the incredible iPod. The mammoth memory space of 32 GB is sufficient to store up to 7000 songs and 25000 photographs. I can store my favourite videos also as this device supports up to 40 hours of video playback time.


The Apple iPod has an efficient software with which one can have latest updates about the weather and stocks. It offers the maps of various locations and you can also make notes with a specialized application. The iPod also offers the emailing facility. This amazing gadget has built in Wi Fi with which one can easily access the internet with its Safari Browser. One can upload videos on the YouTube directly. The iTunes wireless music store gives the latest music all the time.


The 32 GB iPod has amazing display. It offers crystal clear videos and pictures with sharp colours. The iPod has amazing 3.5 inch large screen that gives awesome display with high resolution of 480 x 320 pixels. The incredible multi touch interface gives easy and fast access to the menu. The incredible user friendly and simple functionality amuses the users. One can watch videos and pictures with perfect brightness and contrast. The major advantage of the latest device is its compatibility with the legacy iPod accessories. The Apple 32 GB iPod has lesser error rate than the previous music players from the company.


This device has incredible battery backup which ensures that one can enjoy exciting music for hours without interruption. The iPod comes with a high performance lithium ion battery which can be charged with a USB cable or power adaptor. It offers audio playback for about 22 hours and video playback for 5 hours. The battery gets fully charged in about 3 hours. One can fast charge the battery for about 1.5 hours which recharges it upto 80 % of its capacity. The Apple 32 GB iPod will certainly astound the music lovers.

Sydney willing to host F1 night race

Sydney has counted itself as still in the hunt to snatch the Australian grand prix from rival city Melbourne. Even though Bernie Ecclestone recently dismissed the famous Australian city’s positioning for the event, the
F1 boss might be interested in new claims that Sydney would be prepared to consider a night race.

While the race’s current paymasters have categorically ruled out Ecclestone’s demand for floodlights at Albert Park, New South Wales state premier Morris Iemma has promised to look into installing the infrastructure at the Sydney circuit Eastern Creek, which is currently a venue of the A1GP series.

“It’s not a blank cheque, but it could be held at a place like Eastern Creek, obviously with modifications,” Iemma is quoted as saying by Melbourne’s Herald Sun.

“If formula one is looking for a night race then Eastern Creek could be converted to suit them,” he added.

Melbourne based major events minister Tim Holding, however, played down the prospect of a successful formula one bid by Sydney.

“The proof of the pudding is in the tasting,” he said. “They have to secure some events and people will take them seriously after that.”

Source: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/motorsport/sydney-willing-to-host-f1-night-race/

2012 Mercedes-Benz B-Class variants

Yesterday we brought you a rendering of the next-generation A-Class hatch but the new entry-level Mercedes is just the first of a handful of new models to be based on the carmaker’s upcoming MFA (Mercedes Frontwheel Architecture) FWD platform. MFA will also be used for the next B-Class hatch and to ensure the project remains profitable Mercedes plans to launch several new variants to help boost sales.

In addition to the regular four-door hatch, Mercedes will also launch a compact SUV to compete with Audi’s upcoming Q3, a sporty two-door coupe to rival the BMW 1-series coupe, and a four-door sedan with a coupe-styling to form an entirely new niche.

The affordable sports car market can be very lucrative and it’s a segment Mercedes can no longer afford to ignore. With MFA, developers have dropped the expensive sandwich structure of the current A and B-Class in favor of a new car-like design. This means the cars will sit much lower than current models, possibly even lower than the BMW 1-series and Audi A3.

The extra variants will also help the B-Class’ success in the U.S. where it will be sold for the first time in late 2012. Another added benefit is helping to lower Mercedes’ fleet-average carbon emissions in line with stricter emissions regulations planned for both Europe and the U.S. Expect to see the new range make their worldwide debut in late 2011.

Source: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/hatchbacks/preview-2012-mercedes-benz-b-class-variants/

Lumeneo Smera Car Concept : Combination of Car and Motorcycle

Still in a form of concept, Lumeneo Smera is all electric city car with scooter sized and one seat only, well not actually one seat, but you have to choose to carry a passanger or luggage, you can’t have both. The ability to go 93 miles on a single charge and hit a top-speed of 80 miles per hour is really impressive. Acceleration is quite acceptable as well, with the 0-60 sprint taking only 8 seconds or so. A 144 volt lithium ion battery pack provides the juice. Lumeneo is planning to start selling Smera next year, but no one mentions anything about the price yet.




Source: http://www.tuvie.com/lumeneo-smera-car-concept-combination-of-car-and-motorcycle

iPhone 2.0 Jailbroken, Unlocked with Modified Beta Firmware

The beta firmware that comes with the iPhone SDK has been modified to unlock and jailbreak the iPhone, even before its public release. Part of the Pwned Project, the hacked firmware will allow you to do anything you want, including the installation of both official and unofficial apps, and even patches. We got the exclusive details directly from the DevTeam, including the fact that it is going to be extremely hard for Cupertino to close this new hole:

pwned firmware means it's custom [firmware], you can have it install anything you would ever want :-) Pwned works with some magic, it will be hard to close but nothing is impossible (from Apple) with a mindtwist. But first, we will enjoy :)

They told us that this is all part of their previous Pwned project, which instead of trying to hack into the iPhone, directly patches the firmware itself to both unlock it, so you can use the iPhone with any carrier you want, and allow you to install any applications you want.

According to the Dev Team, the custom 2.0 firmware (technically, 1.2.0,) is now up and running without problems in many of their iPhones, running unsigned applications without a single problem. However, current Installer.app applications need to be changed: "they changed lots of the API, a lot. We will see how much has to be changed to the Toolchain [the previous development tool for iPhone independent developers] to still work after 2.0."

The best news, however, is this: "the hacked 1.2 firmware works with anything. AT&T and others, it's pwned. And Apple will not really be able to patch it this time... somehow :-)"

I'm flabbergasted. As Han Solo would say, "that's one in a million, kid!" Once again.

Source: http://gizmodo.com/366751/iphone-20-jailbroken-unlocked-with-modified-beta-firmware

MySpace offers you the opportunity to soundtrack user-generated feature film

Fancy being next John Barry? Or even David Holmes? Well, you can enter the world of soundtracking with MySpace, which is offering the chance to soundtrack Faintheart, the first user-generated feature film - which is being released in UK cinemas in the autumn.

The MyMovieMashup project is a collaboration between MySpace, Vertigo Films, Film4, UK Film Council, Slingshot Studios and Screen WM, with MySpace and Vertigo films now inviting unsigned bands and amateur composers to create tracks for a number of scenes within the film.

The closing date for entries is 24th March, when a shortlist of five entries will be selected by a judging panel - each will make the film's soundtrack album, followed by a two-week public vote. Three will be used in the actual film.

Source: http://techdigest.tv/2008/03/myspace_offers_1.html

Acer "blue" teased for mystery launch

That friends, is Acer's teaser for a new "notebook PC concept" set for release in New York later today. We're not sure what it is, but it's not very often that the unveiling of a concept device (which may or may not be manufactured) warrants a press event hosted by a company's president. In this case, Acer's Vista-hatin' prez, Gianfranco Lanci. Whatever it is, that hint of multi-media, touch controller is not something we'd expect to see on their Eee PC killer.

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/12/acer-blue-teased-for-mystery-launch/

Japan orders Apple to investigate exploding iPod nanos

Uh oh. Japan's trade and economy ministry is now officially investigating the explosive nature of the iPod nano. The culprit is model MA099J/A -- AKA, the old black and white plastic model already reported to spew "chest high flames," cause bedroom fires, and explode across the floor. The Japan incident occurred in January when an iPod nano reportedly "shot out sparks while recharging." At this point, all odds are with the nano's lithium ion battery. Apple Japan has been ordered to investigate the issue and report back to the ministry with the cause. Kind of like asking the fox what it was doing in the hen house, eh?

Update: Apparently, the Japanese ministry "strongly warned" Apple for failing to report the incident (as required by law) when it occurred. Apple's filing with the ministry came on March 7th.


Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/12/japan-orders-apple-to-investigate-exploding-ipod-nanos/

Space shuttle blasts off into the night

The shuttle Endeavour and its crew of seven blasted off Tuesday on what was to be the longest space station mission ever, a 16-day voyage to build a gangly robot and add a new room that will serve as a closet for Japan’s future lab.

The space shuttle roared from its seaside pad at 2:28 a.m. ET, lighting up the sky for miles around.

It was a rare treat: The last time NASA launched a shuttle at night was in 2006. Only about a quarter of shuttle flights have begun in darkness.

“Good luck and Godspeed, and we’ll see you back here in 16 days,” launch director Mike Leinbach radioed to the astronauts right before liftoff.

“We’d like to say konnichiwa, domo arigato and banzai,” replied shuttle commander Dominic Gorie, using greetings from Japan in a nod to that country’s contribution to Endeavour's mission. “God truly has blessed us with a beautiful night here, Mike, to launch, so let’s light them up and give Him a show.”

They did. The shuttle took flight with a flash of light, giving a peach-yellow glow to the low clouds just offshore before disappearing into the darkness.

Longest shuttle visit to station
Endeavour's mission is scheduled to be the longest shuttle flight since space station assembly began in 1998, and the sixth-longest shuttle mission ever. Gorie and his crew will face a daunting job once they reach the international space station late Wednesday night. The astronauts will perform five spacewalks, the most ever planned during a shuttle visit.

The launch site was jammed with Canadians and Japanese representing two of the major partners in the international space station. The Canadian Space Agency supplied Dextre, the two-armed robot that was hitching a ride aboard Endeavour, while the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency sent up the first part of its massive Kibo lab, a storage compartment for experiments, tools and spare parts.

Also on hand for the liftoff was a 19-member congressional delegation led by Rep. Nick Lampson, D-Texas, whose district includes Johnson Space Center in Houston. He is pushing for increased NASA funding.

A piece of the action
For the first time since space station construction began nearly 10 years ago, all five major partners — the United States, Russia, Europe, Canada and Japan — will each own a piece of the orbiting real estate. The launch of the first section of Kibo, or Hope, finally propelled Japan into the space station action.

“Our Japanese people have been waiting for a very long, long time,” said Yoshiyuki Hasegawa, the Japanese Space Agency’s station program manager.

Preliminary design work for Kibo (pronounced KEE-boh) began in 1990. Space station construction, however, was stalled over the years for various reasons, most recently the 2003 Columbia tragedy.

The main part of the Kibo lab will fly on the next shuttle mission in May, with the final installment, a porch for outdoor experiments, going up next year.

Altogether, the Japanese Space Agency has invested about $6.7 billion in the space station program, including a Kibo control center near Tokyo.

Canada’s $200 million-plus Dextre, meanwhile, is designed to eventually take over some of the more routine outdoor maintenance chores from spacewalking astronauts. Dextre, short for dexterous and pronounced like Dexter, will join the space station’s Canadian-built robot arm, already in orbit for seven years.

Testing goo, swapping crew
In addition to working with their international payloads, Endeavour’s astronauts will try out a caulking gun and high-tech goo on deliberately damaged shuttle thermal tile samples. The test — part of NASA’s ongoing post-Columbia safety effort — should have been performed last year, but was put off because of emergency space station repairs.

Astronaut Garrett Reisman will stay behind on the space station until June, swapping places with a Frenchman who accompanied Europe’s Columbus lab into orbit in February.

A Japanese astronaut, Takao Doi, is also part of Endeavour’s all-male crew. Among other space station duties, Doi is due to test a new line of anti-bacterial, anti-static boxer shorts and gymwear.

Endeavour’s countdown was the smoothest in years, officials said. Shortly after liftoff, however, the astronauts had to deal with a couple of problems that ended up being minor. They got alert messages for some of their ship’s steering thrusters, but it turned out to be a bad electronics card. Then the primary cooling system failed, and they had to switch to the backup.

A cursory look at the initial launch images — fewer than usual because of the nighttime launch — showed only one significant loss of debris from the external fuel tank 83 seconds into the flight. But it appeared to miss the right wing.

In any event, Endeavour will be checked thoroughly in orbit for any potential damage, standard procedure ever since the loss of Columbia because of a foam strike.

“This is just a wonderful beginning to what’s going to be a long and challenging mission for us,” said LeRoy Cain, a shuttle manager who gave the final “go” for launch. “But we’re really looking forward to it and we’re ready to go, ready to get to work on orbit.”

Endeavour's flight is the second of six planned shuttle missions this year — with five going to the space station and one going to the Hubble Space Telescope for a final service call.

NASA faces a 2010 deadline for finishing the station and retiring its shuttles.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23559429/

Sega & Obsidian Bringing You A Bond-ish RPG

The name, it could do with some work, but the premise, well, it's downright intriguing. Developers Obsidian, who brought us KOTOR II, are at work on Alpha Protocol, a game they're describing as an action-RPG and which will be appearing on the tried and tested triumvirate of PS3, 360 and PC. You play the role of a James Bond-type character, who plays his way through an RPG (it's got skill classes, etc) flush with Mass Effect-style combat sequences. It's also got Mass Effect-style dialogue (though you can only ever speak to an NPC once), with the added bonus of James Bond-style romancing, with alluring, deadly ladies across the globe ready and available for conquest. Excited? Don't be, you've got to wait until at least Spring 2009.

Source: http://kotaku.com/366219/sega--obsidian-bringing-you-a-bond+ish-rpg

Xbox 360 price cut: Nintendo & Sony respond

Following today's Xbox 360 price cuts on Amazon, and with Microsoft's official announcement expected any moment now, TechRadar spoke with Nintendo and Sony spokespersons in the UK this morning to find out whether there are any plans to cut the costs of the Wii or PS3 in the near future.

A Wii currently costs £179.98 on Amazon. Nintendo UK informed us today that there are no plans to cut the cost of the Wii in response to the latest price cuts on the Xbox 360. The spokesperson said that "they are going for a different market with the price cuts... and once you start slashing the price of something, there is really only one way to go".

No PS3 price cut either

A PS3 currently costs £284.99 on Amazon. Sony Computer Entertainment UK also confirmed with TechRadar today that there are no plans to cut the cost of the PS3 "in the near future".

TechRadar has contacted Amazon, Play.com, Ubisoft, EA, Vivendi and a number of other games publishers and retailers to gauge their response to this latest salvo from Microsoft in the ongoing console war.

Source: http://www.tech.co.uk/home-entertainment/gaming/news/xbox-360-price-cut-nintendo-and-sony-respond?articleid=177955594

Dodge builds 25,000th Viper

Today Chrysler announced that its iconic Dodge Viper muscle car hit a production milestone of 25,000 cars, and to celebrate the achievement officials have planned a number of events including the presentation of a brand new 2008 Viper SRT-10 to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kurt Busch.

The Viper, which is produced at the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant, has been one of Chrysler’s most iconic sports cars since its launch in 1991 when the car was first produced by Chrysler as a modern take on the classic American muscle car. Over the years a number of variants have been spawned including the most recent Viper SRT-10 ACR track special.

The ultimate Viper churns out 600hp from its 8.4L engine and is capable of completing the quarter mile in 11.6 seconds and reaching a top speed of 200mph.

While 25,000 is an impressive figure for Chrysler, officials should be feeling a little worried at the moment because the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 is likely to topple the Viper as America’s muscle car king thanks to its more powerful 620hp supercharged V8.

Source: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/supercars/dodge-builds-25000th-viper/

Want to Live in a Real-Life Waterworld City?

The so-called Freedom Ship, a floating city of thousands, is an idea that has been tossed around for a while. Now the Freedom Ship company has a new set of designs for the floating urban space, which looks sort of like a giant mall parking lot, and sort of like a really giant Love Boat. Here you can see the new design of the ship. The designers estimate they'll have it built in three years. Here are some of the specs on this giant ship city.

According to Freedom Ship International, the city will have:

* 18,000 living units, with prices in the range of $180,000 to $2.5 million, including a small number of premium suites currently priced up to $44 million.
* 3,000 commercial units in a similar price range
* 2,400 time-share units
* 10,000 hotel units
* A World Class Casino
* A ferryboat transportation system that provides departures every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day, to 3 or more local cities giving ship residents access to the local neighborhood and up to 30,000 land-based residents a chance to spend a day on the ship.
* A World-Class Medical Facility practicing Western and Eastern medicine as well as preventive and anti-aging medicine.
* A School System that gives the students a chance to take a field trip into a different Country each week for academic purposes or to compete with local schools in numerous sporting events. For example; The Freedom Ship High School Soccer team plays a Paris High School team this week at home and an Italian team next week in Italy, while the Freedom Ship High School Band presents a New Orleans Jazz musical at a concert hall in London.
* An International Trade Center that gives on-board companies and shops the opportunity to show and sell their products in a different Country each week.
* More than 100 acres of outdoor Park, Recreation, Exercise and Community space for the enjoyment of residents and visitors.




Source: http://io9.com/365728/want-to-live-in-a-real+life-waterworld-city

Lionsgate: Free iPod/iTunes Ready Digital Copies With Select DVD and Blu-ray Titles

Lionsgate is in the midst of working out an agreement with apple that will make it the latest movie studio to offer iTunes digital copies on select DVD and Blu-ray titles. In order to get a piece of the action you will have to redeem the copies using a code that will come packaged with the title. Then it is just a simple matter of plugging the code into iTunes and downloading. The first movies up for grabs with this addition are Rambo and The Eye, both of which will be released around the summer. Stallone and Alba kicking things off. Man, I can't wait.


Source: http://gizmodo.com/366166/lionsgate-free-ipoditunes-ready-digital-copies-with-select-dvd-and-blu+ray-titles

Verizon aims to deploy 100G network capabilities in 2009

If you'll recall, the IEEE gave the all important thumbs up to 100G as the next Ethernet speed, and while we've seen such a milestone met on the Internet2, Verizon's looking to bring it to the masses in just twelve short months. According to Fred Briggs, Verizon Business' executive vice president of operations and technology, the firm is aiming to "deploy 100G network capabilities over all its major routes within the United States." Verizon actually tested out its 100Gbps capabilities last year on a video transmission from Tampa to Miami, Florida, and apparently, the results "showed that it could deploy 100G on routes and not disrupt current wavelengths." Granted, we wouldn't expect many consumers to actually be able to take advantage of all this speed right away, but even if you're not down with (or nearby) any of Verizon's forthcoming offerings, there's always DOCSIS 3.0.


Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/10/verizon-aims-to-deploy-100g-network-capabilities-in-2009/

Third-party Xbox 360 wireless Guitar Hero axe hits the market

Although Nyko's wireless FrontMan axe is slated to land for Xbox 360 this June, it seems as though it has been beaten to the proverbial punch by some random rival from who knows where. Known only as "3rd Party," the aforementioned company has seemingly crafted a wireless Explorer that plays nice with the Xbox 360, and better still, it looks to be available right now. Still, considering the fact that it's labeled "Guitar for Games" and designed to function with the "X 360," we're not entirely sure we'd be willing to risk our $41.94. But hey, if you see "quality" written all over that image pictured above, we certainly aren't going to stop you from pulling the trigger and hoping for the best.


Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/11/third-party-xbox-360-wireless-guitar-hero-axe-hits-the-market/

Hook-up Any Kind of SATA HDD to Your PS3

Since the PS3 is now fully compatible with DviX and WMV files, I tend to use it more and more as a media center. Hooked to my NAS, I can easily stream video back to my beloved PS3… But for those you have yet to invest in a NAS but own 3.5” SATA HDD, here's the CRGM-BK2 from Century, a SATA cable made to use 3.5” HDD with your PS3.

I have to admit that this is far from the best solution ever, you'll still need to hook-up your HDD to a power source, but I'm sure some of you guys will appreciate it.

source: http://www.akihabaranews.com/en/news-15650-Hook-up+Any+Kind+of+SATA+HDD+to+Your+PS3.html

Microsoft LucidTouch Concept : Backside Touchscreen

Touchscreen problem would be your fingers getting in the way of small screen. That is why Microsoft bring the concept of backside touchscreen which allow user to control the device from behind but still being able to see their fingers. Microsoft has shown off Microsoft LucidTouch prototype at the TechFest fair, an internal event highlighting key tech from the company’s 800 research and development staff.

According to the company, the key to making this usable is what it calls pseudo-transparency: by overlaying an image of the user’s hands onto the screen, the illusion of the mobile device itself being semitransparent is created. This pseudo-transparency allows users to accurately acquire targets while not occluding the screen with their fingers and hand.

According to Microsoft in initial studies, results suggest that many users found touching on the back to be preferable to touching on the front, due to reduced occlusion, higher precision, and the ability to make multi-finger input.

Actually I do have a problem with touchscreen, I really hate about how many of my finger prints are left on the screen. Microsoft LucidTouch might not solve that problem since this is still a touchscreen, but at least it will reduce the finger prints on my screen problem.

Source: http://www.tuvie.com/microsoft-lucidtouch-concept-backside-touchscreen

StarCraft II Official Zerg Fact Sheet

You've seen the trailer, now read words. Korean game site sends us what is apparently the official Blizzard Zerg fact sheet. Tk from Korean game site Game Shot sends us the sheet. We can't verify its authenticity one hundred percent. We can verify that it is after the jump.

Read on! StarCraft II Zerg Fact Sheet

Zerg Reveal

Welcome to the Zerg press tour for StarCraft II; you are among the first in the world to see the Zerg faction in StarCraft II. This fact sheet will serve as a basic overview to the Zerg units you'll be playing with during today's hands-on multiplayer sessions. Please keep in mind that StarCraft II is still in development. This means that all of the units and abilities you see described below are subject to change over the course of development.

Drone

Classic StarCraft unit, or new to StarCraft II?: Classic

Description: The Drone is the Zerg's worker unit, used to gather resources such as minerals or Vespene gas. They are also used to morph into various Zerg structures.

Zergling

Classic StarCraft unit, or new to StarCraft II?: Classic

Description: The Zergling is the most basic combat unit for the Zerg faction. Zerglings are fast-moving ground units with a melee attack, and are typically used en-masse. They can be morphed individually into Banelings.

Overlord

Classic StarCraft unit, or new to StarCraft II?: Classic

Description: The Overlord is the Zerg's basic command and control unit. As in the original game, it is a slow flying unit with no attack, but as your army grows, you'll need to create more Overlords and keep them protected. What's new to this unit in StarCraft II are a couple of special abilities. The slime ability allows the Overlord to disable resource nodes and neutral observatories. Overlords can also create a small, temporary patch of creep for the Zerg to build on.

Overseer

Classic StarCraft unit, or new to StarCraft II?: New

Description: Individual Overlords can be upgraded by the player to Overseers, which serve as airborne detector units. Overseers lose the slime and creep abilities of the Overlord, but gain a larger sight radius and give the player the ability to see cloaked and burrowed enemies.

Queen

Classic StarCraft unit, or new to StarCraft II?: New

Description: The original StarCraft had a units called Queens, but the Queen in StarCraft II is so different, that its form and function do not at all resemble the Queens from the original game. The two units merely share a name.

In StarCraft II, Queens are birthed directly out of the Hatchery, and you can only control one at a time. The Queen is a powerful fighting unit, but more importantly, she orchestrates the defense of Zerg bases by using a number of unique abilities. Queens can create special structures that expand the base of creep, or act as stationary defense turrets.

Also, as Queens evolve, they can gain new abilities such as Deep Tunnel, which allows the Queen to instantly move to any of your buildings on the map. The Toxic Creep ability makes a small area of creep damaging to enemy ground units standing on it. Swarm Infestation lets the Queen temporarily turn any Zerg building into a defensive turret that shoots at enemies, while Regeneration lets the Queen quickly heal any damaged Zerg structures.

Hydralisk

Classic StarCraft unit, or new to StarCraft II?: Classic

Description: As in the original StarCraft, Hydralisks serve as basic foot soldiers for the Zerg, with the ability to shoot at ground or airborne targets. Hydralisks can also morph into Lurker units.

Roach

Classic StarCraft unit, or new to StarCraft II?: New

Description: The Roach is a specialized ground unit with the unique ability to very quickly regenerate damage. Used properly, Roaches can absorb tremendous amounts of damage and can only be killed with concentrated and heavy fire from enemies.

Mutalisk

Classic StarCraft unit, or new to StarCraft II?: Classic

Description: Mutalisks are the Zerg's primary flying unit. As in the original game, they use a special Glaive Wurm attack that bounces twice from its original target, doing damage to up to three units with each shot.

Baneling

Classic StarCraft unit, or new to StarCraft II?: New

Description: The Baneling acts as a rolling bomb that explodes on contact with an enemy unit or building. Groups of Banelings can quickly cut a swath through enemy infantry and even take down structures when fielded en masse. Banelings can be morphed from Zerglings.

Lurker

Classic StarCraft unit, or new to StarCraft II?: Classic from StarCraft: Brood War

Description: Lurkers make a return in StarCraft II. As in StarCraft: Brood War, Lurkers are morphed from Hydralisks and can only attack while burrowed. They can devastate packed groups of infantry as they attack in a line with their subterranean spines.

Nydus Worm

Classic StarCraft unit, or new to StarCraft II?: New

Description: The Nydus Worm puts a new twist on the Nydus Canal mechanic from StarCraft II. Nydus Worms can move to create an entry/exit point anywhere on the map, allowing the Zerg army a means to almost instantly funnel ground troops from one side of the map to the other.

Infestor

Classic StarCraft unit, or new to StarCraft II?: New

Description: The Infestor is the primary support unit for the Zerg in StarCraft II. It doesn't possess a direct attack but its unique abilities make it a fearsome sight on the battlefield. Dark Swarm creates a smokescreen for units to hide under, protecting them from ranged attacks. Disease targets a single enemy, giving it a damaging aura that hurts surrounding units. The Infestor also has the Infestation ability, which temporarily infests an enemy structure, causing it to produce Infested Marines. Finally, the Infestor has the ability to move while burrowed, making it useful for sneaking in under enemy base defenses.

Infested Marine

Classic StarCraft unit, or new to StarCraft II?: Classic

Description: The Infested Marine is produced by any enemy structure that's been afflicted with the Infestation ability. Infested Marines move slowly but act and shoot much like a regular Terran Marine.

Corruptor

Classic StarCraft unit, or new to StarCraft II?: New

Description: The Corruptor is the Zerg's dedicated air-to-air unit. Corruptors don't immediately destroy their targets. Instead, the targeted enemy becomes corrupted, becoming a stationary turret that fires at other nearby enemies. In this way, Corruptors can quickly overcome large groups of enemy fliers, turning them against one another.

Ultralisk

Classic StarCraft unit, or new to StarCraft II?: Classic

Description: Arguably the Zerg's most intimidating unit, the Ultralisk is back in StarCraft II. Ultralisks can engage and attack multiple ground units in front of it with its scythe-like Kaiser Blades. They also possess a large number of hit points, allowing it to absorb lots of damage as they lead Zerg charges.

Swarm Guardian

Classic StarCraft unit, or new to StarCraft II?: New

Description: As with the Guardian in the original StarCraft, the Swarm Guardian in StarCraft II is morphed from the Mutalisk, and serves as the Zerg's aerial siege weapon. The Swarm Guardian possesses a long-range, air-to-ground attack that hits for a good deal of damage and also spawns small broodlings that can attack for a short period of time.

Source: http://kotaku.com/365732/starcraft-ii-official-zerg-fact-sheet

Nintendo Won't Release Holocaust DS Game

Earlier, we brought word of The Only Escape, a Holocaust DS game from British game dev Luc Bernard. The game follows a young Jewish boy living in France during the Nazi occupation during World War II. In order to escape the horrors around him, he imagines a fantasy land that becomes the basis of the game's world. The adventure platformer will attempt to educate players on the atrocities experienced by many children during the time of the Holocaust. Bernard previously told Kotaku, "The sad thing is that videogames are still considered toys and not art, I hope that this game can show that games can be just as important as films." Well, Nintendo's having none of that! According to Nintendo of America:

At this time, there are no plans for this game to be released for any Nintendo platforms in North America.

It is apparently getting a European release sometime this year. Note that the game features no on-screen violence, and from what we can tell doesn't seem to be dealing with a very serious issue in a flippant manner. Not sure if this says more where gaming stands as an art forum or as a medium of expression or where Nintendo of American stands as a company.

Source: http://kotaku.com/365711/nintendo-wont-release-holocaust-ds-game

Toyota mulls Prius eco-brand

Toyota is looking to take advantage of the green image its Prius petrol-electric hybrid vehicle enjoys by building upon the ‘Prius’ name and launching a new family of eco-friendly vehicles under it. Earlier reports claimed Toyota could launch a second dedicated hybrid brand but now its R&D executive vice president has revealed that Prius could be turned into a brand by itself.

Speaking with Automotive News, Toyota exec Kazuo Okamoto said planners were studying the idea but wasn’t willing to confirm how far the talks had progressed. “I do think it is a reasonable direction,” he added.

Okamoto also revealed that the next Prius could spawn several variants from the same platform. When asked about coupes, sedans and wagons, he said “using the Prius platform for various variations is possible.”

Pictured above is Toyota’s 1/X carbon-fiber plug-in concept from last year’s Tokyo Motor Show, and is reportedly the basis for the next-generation Prius due at the end of the decade.

Source: http://www.motorauthority.com/cars/toyota/toyota-mulls-prius-eco-brand/

MSI Wind Laptop to Make Eee PC Cry, "Eeek!"

Checkout the latest entrant in the UMPC race, the MSI Wind, which we missed at CeBIT earlier last week. Toting a 10-inch display, Intel Shelton'08 platform, with variable processor speeds from 1.0GHz - 1.6GHz; 2.5-inch HDD or SSD, 1GB RAM, a reported 7-hour battery life and running either Linux or Windows operating systems, it seems MSI's offering holds a lot of promise.

As we have yet to see an active screen shot from the MSI Wind we expect that it is still at prototype stage, but that has not stopped MSI churning out blue, silver and pink iterations. The styling is certainly a step up from the Eee PC, but perhaps that Eee body rework we heard about earlier will throw off the new competition. The Wind is expected to be priced between €299 ($458) - €699 ($1072), depending on options chosen. All in all, the sizable keyboard, price point and decent display size have our attention for sure. There is no word on a release date as yet, but we'll keep you posted.

Source: http://gizmodo.com/365720/msi-wind-laptop-to-make-eee-pc-cry-eeek

Rotating Speakers from Greenhouse Give Your iPod Ears

Charge up Greenhouse's rotating speakers via USB and they give you eight hours' of sounds when you clip them on to your fifth-gen iPod. With an output of 770mW x 2, the GH-SPA214CC costs $44 and will be out in Japan at the end of the month. They're a pretty neat way to bug people on public transport.

Source: http://gizmodo.com/365731/rotating-speakers-from-greenhouse-give-your-ipod-ears

Samsung's SWT-W100K WiBro PMP gets official, priced

We had the chance to get hands-on with Samsung's WiBro-lovin' SWT-W100k back at CES in January. Judging by the arrival of the product waifs, the 4.3-inch, WVGA touchscreen PMP now looks to be getting an official coming-out party in its native S.Korea. €341 takes the little all-purpose device with GPS, 2 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, 8GB of internal flash, and DMB mobile television home on a yet to be determined date. VoIP client, personal organizer, and web browser? Sure, that too. No word on the processor choice but it's definitely not running any flavor of Microsoft OS. With any luck, Samsung will bring a US-speced variant capable of running on Sprint's XOHM service later this year. Video refresher posted after the break.