Tsquared

Lizard Like Robot Uses Tail For Stabalization

2012-01-04T13:13:00.000-08:00

A UC Berkeley lab has studied and learned how an African lizards use its tail to leap from predators - this allowed them to create a robot model that uses a tail to stabalize itself.

It is thought that robots in the future could use this technique to stabalize themselves. These robots could be use for emergency services to perform search and rescue operations for example.

You can read about it here:Leapin Lizards Tailbots and Iron-man Suits at CNN.com's blog. Also check out the video.

Zynga IPO: Bubblevile Discussion by Reuters

2011-12-19T17:55:00.000-08:00

The video discussion below, by Reuters Technology YouTube Channel is very interesting. It makes a point that I had not really considered about Zynga's business model. Zynga makes money off of digital content, which does not have any manufacturing cost. According to the video they might be working with 40% margins. Not bad, which got me to thinking about how in the future, digital content will be a major source of income.

Notes from YouTube

As Zynga prepares for the largest technology public offering since Google, Reuters' tech editor Peter Lauria, social media editor Anthony DeRosa and reporter Liana Baker hash it out over Zynga's stimated $10 billion valuation.

Zynga's IPO: Thoughts and Resources

2011-12-19T10:51:00.000-08:00

I've been reading articles on Zynga's IPO and watching closely how it is evolving. I wanted to collect some of those articles in one place and collect my thoughts on this important player in the video gaming industry.

I am not a big player of most of Zynga's games, I mostly play Texas Hold'em Poker (but have not played in a while). Some of the social aspects of the game are annoying to me. I want to play the game and not always have to participate in some of the social aspects of the game. I'm like that about many of the games that I play, even on some of my favorite console games like Modern Warfare 3 on the PS3.

I recently asked my wife to return a headset that she bought for me, because I seldom talk to the other players, and in the years that I have been playing the game the number of times that I have heard something that was helpful or uplifting is totally out weighed by the totally abusive language and other just dysfunctional behaviors that many people display while playing online games that have a strong social component.

I bring this up because I think it will be interesting to see how Zynga and other gamming companies work the social angle in games moving forward. I do not think that I am very represenitive of people who play the game by the way, I might be outside of the target demographics of many of these games.

Check out these online articles and sites for more information on Zynga's IPO.

Venturebeat.com's Zynga by the Numbers Infographic

Paul Tassi, Forbes.com contributor makes some very interesting points in his online article titled, Zynga Claims it Can Double Paying Users After IPO

Google Finance Zynga's Page has some good information about the company and will be a good dashboard for anyone wanting to follow along with what is going on.

Where the company is described;

Description
Zynga lets wannabe mob bosses, farmers, and poker champs get their game on. The company is a leading social game developer with titles such as Mafia Wars, FarmVille, Café World, and Zynga Poker. It offers the games online for free through social networking sites Facebook, Myspace, and Yahoo!. They can also be downloaded onto Apple's iPhones and myriad mobile devices based on Google's Android platform. The company makes money by selling advertising consisting of branded virtual goods, sponsorships, and engagement ads via credit card and PayPal to users within the games. Zynga is owned by CEO Mark Pincus, who founded the company in 2007 and named it after his late dog Zinga. The company filed for an IPO in 2011.

And finally the WallStreetJournal Online, in an article titled Zynga IPO Fizzles as Stock Falls 5% points out that even at a price that is disapointing to some, Zynga has a higher valuation then its rival Electronics Arts.

A Very Good Price For The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

2011-12-18T21:18:00.000-08:00

JustPushStart.com is reporting that you can get The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim for only $40 at Toys-R-Us.

If you don't have this game, then you might want to check it out. You can't order it online from Toys-R-Us because they are supposedly sold out. But you can check Amazon.com if you really want to get it online.

Lizard Playing a Video Game

2011-12-15T11:11:00.000-08:00

I think this video shows that animals can play video games too. But you have to wonder what this lizard thinks about the fact that he is not really eating anything.

Buy an Xbox 360 4 GB Console with Kinect from the Microsoft Store and get $100 off your next purchase from the Microsoft Store!

Playing a Lot of Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

2011-11-25T22:40:00.000-08:00

So I have been playing way to much Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 or MW3 as the cool kids call it.

And I just wanted to give a few of my impressions about the game.

One - It is a fun game and I enjoy playing it for the most part. The game play is good but there are things about the game that really annoy me. Some of them Infinity Ward and Activision can control and some of it, is probably beyond their control.

The things that annoy that they probably can't control are things like, the fact that most of what is said over the mikes in this game are rude racist and down right just bad manners. This maybe because I am a grown man nearing his 50s that this annoys me, but it really does. I mostly play random games and that also may contribute to why I usually end up playing with people that talk like they are scoring points for using the word fuck.

The lag in the game really gets old sometimes, I've lost many games because of lag. And if you play the game I probably do not have to tell you this. You can file this one under things that IW/Activision could fix.

Two - Even though I enjoy it, this is not my favorite Call of Duty game. I seem to be more into the Trarch series of games. I played a lot of World at War and also Black Ops. I think that the Trarch games are much better made and better developed. But that is just my humble opinion.

Three - While I like using the Elite online feature, it still is a bit clunky and I think Black Ops had better stats.

So basically it comes down to the fact that the game is fun, it is not my fav, and the stats could be better.

Israeli Designed UAVs

2011-03-20T11:37:00.000-07:00

Notes from YouTube;

www.Israel-Times.com - IAI`s - MALAT Division new generation of tactical UAV systems comprises three sizes of platforms: the I-View MK50, I-View MK150 and the I-View MK250 UAV`s.

All systems offer a minimal footprint and are designed for simple and easy operation, including preparation for launch and landing in the field, by the operators

UAV - Skystar 100

2011-02-20T11:28:00.000-08:00

UAV - Skystar 100

TL50 Flying Wing Video

2011-01-20T11:13:00.000-08:00

Notes from YouTube; Ritewing TL50 flying wing running A123 5s pack

DARPA Oblique Flying Wing Video

2010-12-20T11:09:00.000-08:00

DARPA Oblique Flying Wing

Lockheed Falcon Unmanned Aircraft Video

2010-11-20T11:04:00.000-08:00

Notes from YouTube;

Computer animation of Lockheed Martin Skunk Works' hypersonic cruise vehicle for DARPA Falcon programme

Lockheed Morphing UAV Video

2010-10-20T10:56:00.000-07:00

Notes from YouTube;

High performance jet fighters have used a variety of morphing mechanisms in the past such as variable-sweep wings and fowler flaps to expand the flight envelope and enhance mission capability. The Morphing Aircraft Structures Program takes this concept to a higher level. Radical shape changes such as a significant increases or decreases in wetted area could allow a single platform to conduct two or more diverse missions. The ability to perform both high altitude persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance and also rapidly respond to Time Sensitive Targets could provide the warplanner with options not previously available. Seamless skins, smart actuators and adaptive flight control technologies are key to this revolutionary approach to flexible combat aircraft design. Integration of network centric interoperability and tailored survivability could produce a weapon system that compliments state-of-the-art systems including the F-22A and F-35.

Lockheed Various Unmanned Aircraft

2010-09-20T10:52:00.000-07:00

Notes from YouTube;

Computer animation of Lockheed Martin Skunk Works' VARIOUS fan-in-wing VTOL UAV.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

2010-08-20T10:51:00.000-07:00

UAVs Incredible Weapon Technology

2010-07-20T10:31:00.000-07:00

The Future Combat Systems Technology.

Various Unmanned Vehicles - UAVs and more

2010-06-20T10:20:00.000-07:00

MQ-9 Reaper, Predator B UAV Video

2010-05-20T01:46:00.000-07:00

Notes from YouTube;

8/22/07. The new Air Force unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) deploys soon.
The MQ-9 Reaper is a medium-to-high altitude, long endurance remotely piloted aircraft system. The MQ-9's primary mission is as a persistent hunter-killer against emerging targets in support of joint force commander objectives. The MQ-9's secondary mission is to act as an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance asset, employing sensors to provide real-time data to commanders and intelligence specialists at all levels.

MQ-9 Reaper (Predator B) Mouse Pad @Amazon.com

UAV @Tsquared Blog

Festo Air Jelly

2010-05-17T10:05:00.000-07:00

Notes from YouTube: Video of the FESTO AirJelly http://www.festo.com/cms/de_de/5890.htm

This new concept of a jelly fish that flies through the air has been presented by Festo at the 2008 Hannover Messe in Germany. Please read out blogpost http://airshipworld.blogspot.com/2008... for more information.
Copyright by Festo put on Youtube because the Video did not work on the Website

Robot Mouth

2010-04-27T12:06:00.000-07:00

Is it me, or do they have the vowel sounds down. Now if they can just get the sounds that are made with the lips and tongue down. Won't be long and they will have this thing singing.

iRobot 560 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, Black and Silver

2010-04-20T09:20:00.000-07:00

iRobot 560 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, Black and Silver

Product Features

Vacuuming robot picks up dirt and debris with the touch of a button
Easy-to-empty bagless dustbin; fine-filtration system traps allergens
Anti-tangle technology; gentle-touch bumper system; built-in cliff sensors
Self-charging Home Base, 2 Virtual Wall Lighthouses, an extra filter, and more included
Measures 16-3/4 by 21 by 5 inches; 1-year limited warranty

Product Description
Cleans routinely, so you don't have to. 500 Series robots offer the latest innovations from iRobot with unprecedented efficiency, coverage, and cleaning performance.

Life happens in busy homes, and keeping up with accumulating dirt, dust, pet hair, crumbs, and debris can be a daily challenge. Introducing the iRobot Roomba 560- a member of iRobot’s newest generation of Roomba Vacuuming Robots.
iRobot 560 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, Black and Silver

Now there’s a better way to maintain cleaner floors every day. With dramatically improved navigation, cleaning coverage, vacuum pickup, particle filtration, and scheduling capabilities, the Roomba 560 picks up amazing amounts of dirt and debris from your floors with the touch of a button--so you don’t have to.

The Roomba 560 even cleans on schedule when it’s most convenient for you. Use the on-board scheduling system to easily program up to seven days and times per week for Roomba to vacuum--whether you’re at home or on the go. The Roomba 560 also offers the most efficient room-to-room cleaning available using two innovative, new Virtual Wall Lighthouses.iRobot 560 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, Black and Silver
With dramatically improved navigation, cleaning coverage, vacuum pickup, and particle filtration, the Roomba 560 vacuuming robot picks up amazing amounts of dirt and debris with the simple touch of a button. The powerful unit features innovative spinning side brushes that grab dirt and dust from corners and along wall edges, as well as two high-speed, counter-rotating brushes that pick up pet hair, cat litter, food crumbs, and other debris from floors. The vacuum sucks up the debris and deposits it into a large, easy-to-empty bagless dustbin, and its improved fine-filtration system traps dust, pollen, and other allergens inside the unit, reducing infiltration into the living environment.

Biomimicry

2010-04-18T09:58:00.000-07:00

During the evolutionary arms race organisms have developed a great variety of technical solutions. The biomimetic approach aims at inspiring developers for new and improved technical design.

Future Weapons M-110 Sniper Rifle

2010-04-15T10:38:00.000-07:00

Notes from YouTube;

KNIGHT'S ARMAMENT M110 SNIPER RIFLE - An anti-personnel and light materiel weapon that fires 7.62 mm ammunition to a range of 1000 yards, this magazine-fed system exceeds the rate of fire and lethality of the M24 bolt-action rifle. With its improved performance, the M110 gives the sniper better target effectiveness and reduces the likelihood of detection and counter-fire.

Robot Ball Thrower for Your Dog.

2010-04-14T09:26:00.000-07:00

You have to love it when people come up with cool gadgets. We all should have a robot ball throwing machine like the one shown here. I mean I don't even have a dog but I want one of these.

Jerry needs no help playing with his ball.

Books about Robots

Clothes Folding Robot

2010-04-09T09:52:00.000-07:00

Notes from YouTube; Project was led by UC Berkeley Ph.D. student Jeremy Maitin-Shepard working with Professor Pieter Abbeel. The video is shown at 50X speed. More details can be found in the paper at http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~pabbeel/papers/Maitin-ShepardCusumano-TownerLeiAbbeel_ICRA2010.pdf

MQ-9 Reaper Deploys to Afghanistan

2010-04-07T11:19:00.000-07:00

Notes from YouTube;

The USAF has released video of the operational debut of the MQ-9 Reaper hunter-killer UAS in Afghanistan.

Robot SmackDown Video

2010-04-05T23:21:00.000-07:00

Notes from YouTube; A compilation of 2 hours of video filmed at Robo-One 2010 in Kawasaki, Japan.

Unboxing the iPad

2010-04-01T16:21:00.000-07:00

Notes from YouTube; Yes! Is the marvelous epic glory of a consumer device being removed from its packaging! Brought to you in living color!

PCMag: Apple iPad video review

2010-04-01T14:01:00.000-07:00

Notes from YouTube;

PCMag's Tim Gideon takes an in-depth look at Apple's iPad prior to the April 3rd launch. Is Apple's first tablet a game-changing device? Exlpore iBooks, iWork, Mail, Maps, and other anticipated apps as we take a close look at the latest high profile gadget from Apple. For the full written review, visit www.pcmag.com.

iPad Accessories @Amazon.com

Nokia N900 Smartphone

2010-03-25T00:01:00.000-07:00

Nokia N900 Unlocked Phone/Mobile Computer with 3.5-Inch Touchscreen, QWERTY, 5 MP Camera, Maemo Browser, 32 GB--U.S. Version with Full Warranty

Product Features

This unlocked cell phone is compatible with GSM carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile. Not all carrier features may be supported. It will not work with CDMA carriers like Verizon Wireless, Alltel and Sprint.

Optimized for WCDMA 900/1700/2100, Quad-band EGSM 850/900/1800/1900, Optimized for 3G networks on WCDMA 900/1700/2100 Quad-band EGSM, 850/900/1800/1900. Does not support 3G on AT&T network.

Mobile computer with full cellular voice and messaging capabilities, 3.5-inch touchscreen display, slide-out full QWERTY keyboard, and powerful Maemo 5 operating system

5-megapixel camera/camcorder; GPS for navigation and location services; Wi-Fi networking; Bluetooth stereo music; digital media player; personal and corporate email

What's in the Box: handset, battery, travel charger, stereo headset (WH-205), video out cable (CA-75U), cleaning cloth, operating instructions

German UAV - Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

2010-03-20T20:26:00.000-07:00

A high technology very small UAV made in germany by microdrone GmbH. Can reach an altitude of 400m and stay in the sky for 30 minutes.

Books on UAVs

System Architecture of Small Autonomous UAVs

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle End to End Support Considerations

Innovative Development: Global Hawk and DarkStar--Flight Test in the HAE UAV ACTD Program (2001)

Advances in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles:
State of the Art and the Road to Autonomy
(Intelligent Systems, Control and Automation: Science and Engineering)

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Robotic Air Warfare 1917-2007 (New Vanguard)

Toys and Games

1/72 RQ-1 "Predator" UAV Model

USAF Predator RQ-1 W/Missles Model

MQ-1 Predator - 1/32 scale Model

UAV Predator Video Game

UAV @Tsquared Blog

Funny UAV Video

2010-03-20T09:55:00.000-07:00

UAV @Tsquared Blog

Books on UAVs

System Architecture of Small Autonomous UAVs

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle End to End Support Considerations

Innovative Development: Global Hawk and DarkStar--Flight Test in the HAE UAV ACTD Program (2001)

Advances in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles:
State of the Art and the Road to Autonomy
(Intelligent Systems, Control and Automation: Science and Engineering)

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Robotic Air Warfare 1917-2007 (New Vanguard)

Toys and Games

1/72 RQ-1 "Predator" UAV Model

USAF Predator RQ-1 W/Missles Model

MQ-1 Predator - 1/32 scale Model

UAV Predator Video Game

Robert Full: on engineering and evolution

2010-03-18T10:01:00.000-07:00

About this talk;

Insects and animals have evolved some amazing skills -- but, as Robert Full notes, many animals are actually over-engineered. The trick is to copy only what's necessary. He shows how human engineers can learn from animals' tricks.

About Robert Full:

Robert Full studies cockroach legs and gecko feet. His research is helping build the perfect "distributed foot" for tomorrow's robots, based on evolution's ancient engineering.

Janine Benyus Speaking at TED

2010-03-18T09:24:00.000-07:00

Notes from YouTube;

In this inspiring talk about recent developments in biomimicry, Janine Benyus provides heartening examples of ways in which nature is already influencing the products and systems we build.

Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature

click link for info

ABE, Robotic Undersea Explorer

2010-03-16T17:33:00.000-07:00

NY Times.com is reporting the loss of ABE robot in an article titled ABE, Pioneering Robotic Undersea Explorer, Is Dead at 16

ABE, a nomadic adventurer that plumbed the world’s oceans on its own, forever changing the way scientists explored the seafloor, was lost at sea March 5 off southern Chile. The autonomous underwater vehicle was about 16 years old and in the off-seasons was stored in Woods Hole, Mass.

iPad Has a TV Commercial

2010-03-08T13:17:00.000-08:00

Notes from YouTube;

Apple's first iPad TV commercial debuts during the 82nd Annual Academy Awards.

Featuring "There Goes My Love" by The Blue Van.

Bloom Energy: Is It For Real?

2010-02-26T13:00:00.000-08:00

The question "Is Bloom Energy for Real?" keeps popping up.

I think it will be fun to watch, and see if they can make in roads to our present day electric power distribution system. And to see if their solution can be implemented in a truly cost efficient way.

Watch CBS News Videos Online

All eyes will be on Bloom Energy for sometime, I do believe.

FANUC Robots Building Robots

2010-02-20T13:44:00.000-08:00

Bunnie Huang talks FANUC, a Fuji Corporation spin-out that builds automated robot factories.

Robot Technology and Applications
(Manufacturing Engineering and Materials Processing)

Click image for more info.

WowWee Rovio Wi-Fi Robotic WebCam

2010-02-14T00:00:00.000-08:00

WowWee Rovio Wi-Fi Enabled Robotic WebCam

click image for info

Product Description - WowWee Rovio Wi-Fi Enabled Robotic WebCam Access your home from anywhere in the world with the Rovio Robotic WebCam! Rovio detects your computer settings for you and guides you though the process. Let Rovio roam freely and see its point of view directly on your PC using its Wi-Fi remote controlled webcam. Interactive audio and video will stream from Rovio directly to your PC. See and hear exactly what Rovio sees and hears, on your screen, anywhere in the world. Store location points so that Rovio can navigate itself around the home, without you having to control each step. Rovio will always have power, even when you are not there to recharge it. At the touch of a button you can send Rovio back to the recharge base using its self-docking capabilities, even if you are not at home! Specifications WiFi connectivity/ 802.11g/ also works with 802.11b devices Rechargable batteries included One recharge station LED illumination 3x wheel motors 3x omni-directional wheels 1x camera motor 1x VGA CMOS sensor 1x speaker 1x built-in microphone System Requirements PC compatible computer with a minimum Pentium 3 processor or equivalent Windows XP or Windows Vista operating systems 256MB of RAM USB Wireless Access Point device connected to PC High speed internet connection Internet Explorer 6 or higher required for two way audio feature

Asimo The Robot

2010-02-12T23:04:00.000-08:00

Video of Honda's Asimo Robot.

According to Wikipedia;

ASIMO (アシモ, ashimo?) is a humanoid robot created by Honda. Standing at 130 centimeters (4 feet 3 inches) and weighing 54 kilograms (114 pounds), the robot resembles a small astronaut wearing a backpack and can walk or run on two feet at speeds up to 6 km/h (4.3 mph), matching EMIEW. ASIMO was created at Honda's Research & Development Wako Fundamental Technical Research Center in Japan. It is the current model in a line of eleven that began in 1986 with E0.

The name is an acronym for "Advanced Step in Innovative MObility". Honda states that the robot's name is not a reference to science fiction writer and inventor of the Three Laws of Robotics, Isaac Asimov.

Introduction to Autonomous Mobile Robots (Intelligent Robotics and Autonomous Agents)

click image for info

Robonauts

2010-02-05T00:15:00.000-08:00

In a story titled "MEET 'ROBONAUT 2,' YOUR FUTURE CO-WORKER", Discovery.com is reporting on Robonaut 2, a cutting-edge humanoid machine, which is being built by NASA and GM.

THE GIST:

NASA and GM have unveiled robots that work alongside humans -- on Earth and in space.
Engineers are trying to mimic human form and have the Robonaut work at human speeds.
NASA may employ the robots as spacewalkers' assistants.

Robotic Exoskeleton

2010-02-04T00:15:00.000-08:00

Robotic Soldier : robotic exoskeleton turns grunts into super-soldiers.

Nexus One Gets Multitouch

2010-02-03T15:23:00.000-08:00

In an article titled Nexus One Gets Multi-Touch, but No Droid Love? PC World.com's Jared Newman is reporting the Nexus One is getting Multitouch.

According to the article;

Google is finally letting the Nexus One use multi-touch for maps, photo galleries and the Web, but that's of little consolation to owners of Motorola's Droid and T-Mobile's G1.

Google Nexus One Unlocked Phone

click image for info

Key Features

Fast 3G connectivity via UMTS Band 1/4/8 (2100/AWS/900)

Quad-band GSM connectivity for global voice roaming

Enter text without typing. Use a voice-enabled keyboard for all text fields: speak a text message, instant message, tweet, Facebook update, or complete an e-mail.

Tell your phone what you want it to do. Search Google, call contacts, or get driving directions by just speaking into your phone.

Take personalization to the next level. Dynamic, interactive, live wallpapers react to the touch of a finger. And more widgets and five home screen panels allow for further device customization.

Read your voice-mail messages. Get transcribed voice-mail with Google Voice integration, without changing your number.

Real HTML Web browsing provides more pages and better Web content delivered efficiently to your phone (Android Webkit HTML5-based browser).

3.7-inch widescreen WVGA AMOLED touchscreen (800 x 480 pixels; 100,000:1 typical contrast ratio; 1ms typical response rate)

Haptic feedback

5-megapixel camera includes LED flash, auto focus, 2x digital zoom, white balance and color effects. View pictures and Picasa Web Albums in the new 3D Gallery.

Record high-resolution MPEG4 video, and then upload to YouTube with one click.

Capture DVD-quality video at 720x480 pixels at 20 frames per second or higher, depending on lighting conditions

Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g) for accessing home and corporate networks as well as hotspots while on the go.

Bluetooth connectivity (version 2.1) includes profiles for communication headset, hands-free car kits, and the A2DP Bluetooth profile--enabling you to wirelessly stream your music to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones or speaker dock.

Memory expansion via microSD card slot with support for optional cards up to 32 GB; a 4 GB card included. (Onboard memory: 512 MB Flash, 512 MB RAM)
Trackball navigation with tri-color notification LED, alerts when new e-mails, chats, and text messages arrive

Dynamic noise suppression with second microphone

3.5mm stereo headphone jack

Airplane mode allows you to listen to music while the cellular connectivity is turned off

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 3G QSD8250 chipset, delivering speeds up to 1 GHz

HTC Wireless Accessories

Army's New Robotic Mule is Contracted Out.

2010-02-01T13:00:00.000-08:00

In a blog post titled "Robocalypse Alert:Defense Contract Awarded to Scary BigDog" which is probably over the top, Fast Company.com is reporting that DARPA just awarded a $32 million contract to build robots for the defense department.

According to them;

The contract's been won by maker Boston Dynamics, which has just 30 months to turn the research prototype machines into a genuine load-toting, four-legged, semi-intelligent war robot--"first walk-out" of the newly-designated LS3 is scheduled in 2012.

Footage of the army's newest beast of burden. It's a four-legged robot that looks like a mule without a head and walks like one too.

Shimon the Improvising Robot Marimba Player

2010-01-07T00:33:00.000-08:00

Notes from YouTube;

Georgia Tech Center for Music Technology new robotic head for Shimon the marimba playing robot. Nodding @ 67 BPM

Robot design and programming:
Guy Hoffman
http://www.guyhoffman.com/

Robot design and construction:
Roberto Aimi, Alium Labs
http://www.aliumlabs.com/

The Georgia Tech Center for Music Technology:
http://gtcmt.coa.gatech.edu/
Director: Gil Weinberg

Notes from YouTube;

ZOOZbeat Founder and Chief Technology Officer Dr. Gil Weinberg will jam live from SIGGRAPH Asia 2009 emerging technologies conference in Yokohama, Japan December 16-19, 2009 with Shimon; a perceptual and improvisational autonomous robotic marimba player he created at Georgia Tech Center for Music Technology.

Amazon Kindle in the News

2009-12-28T17:06:00.000-08:00

In an article titled Amazon: Kindle Is Most Gifted Item Ever.

According to the article;

Amazon's Kindle e-book reader hit a watershed moment on Christmas Day, when, for the first time ever, customers purchased more Kindle books than physical books. The company also claims the Kindle is the most gifted item in Amazon's history. These two facts were part of the online retailer's recently announced holiday sales activity.

Kindle Wireless Reading Device (6)

The article also list other popular tech items;

Apple iPod touch 8 GB (3rd Generation) NEWEST MODEL

Garmin nüvi 260W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator

Nintendo Wii Sport Bundle - With 5 Great Sports Games Plus Wii Zapper

New Super Mario Bros

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Do We Really Need a Twitter Only Device

2009-11-03T10:31:00.000-08:00

This could be filed under, "The more things change, the more they stay the same." In an article titled "It's the First Twitter-Only Mobile Device, But Why? PC World ask "Do we really need twitter-only devices."

A humorous comment that accompanies the article says, "Oh yeah, I remember those, we called them pagers."

And while I'll admit that I kind of like the idea, I can't really see the need when most smart phones can either go directly to the site or have various Twitter applications. But I also have to think that there are some people who may prefer this over the higher costing smart phones.

The device called a TwitterPeek is available exclusively from Amazon, which also sells the Peek Pronto Mobile Messaging Device for $299, including a lifetime service contract (see below).

Peek Pronto Mobile Messaging Device with Lifetime Service Included (Grey)

How to Do Everything with Your Smartphone

2009-06-18T16:32:00.000-07:00

Smartphones are all the rage as of late. And even though the economy has caused many consumer electronic devices to lose sales, the smartphone is booming. Many are finding the a smartphone can replace several other devices. And some even use them as computers.

The book pictured below can be very helpful in learning how to get the most out of your smartphone.

How to Do Everything with Your Smartphone,
Windows Mobile Edition

From the Back Cover;

Discover how to get the most out of your Windows Mobile-based Smartphone. This step-by-step guide shows you the essentials of operation, plus plenty of add-ons and customization tricks. Merge your text pager, cell phone, appointment book, PDA, digital camera, notepad, calculator, personal address book, to-do lists, wireless web device, and MP3 player into one powerful and versatile handheld unit! Learn about optional scheduling, finance, text, and database management tools--and much more. So read the book and make your Smartphone even smarter. You’ll never look at a phone booth or even a traditional cell phone the same way again.

* Use voice dialing and hands-free operation
* Choose the best service provider and service plan
* Connect to the Internet, send and receive email, and surf the wireless web
* Teach your Smartphone to turn itself off during important meetings or engagements
* Use word processing and text-editing applications
* Send, receive, and print documents, and create business presentations
* Synchronize data between your Smartphone and PC
* Teach your Smartphone to accept voice commands using the Microsoft Voice Command Software
* Maintain contacts, calendar, and tasks list using your phone
* Listen to music, play games, and much more

About the author: Jason R. Rich is the best-selling author of more than 25 books on a variety of topics, including The Unofficial Guide To Starting A Business Online. He continues to write about high-tech gadgets, interactive entertainment, the Internet, computer technology, and video games for a wide range of publications.

Robot Rangoli

2009-05-13T12:01:00.000-07:00

Neat little implimentation of an artistic robot. I love the robot that comes after and cleans up.

Notes from YouTube: This iRobot Create application uses inkjet printer parts to draw bitmap patterns on the floor with various colored powders. It is based on an Indian tradition where colorful decorative artwork is created in front of houses and places of worship.

Star Trek Flat

2009-05-12T21:17:00.000-07:00

Some people take their Star Trek really serious, case in point.

A man who converted his studio flat into a replica Star Trek spaceship

Tony Alleyne decided to turn his flat into a Star Trek spaceship after his wife left him. He now lives amid the transporter deck and LCARS control panels in Hinckley, Leicestershire.

The man who lives in the Star Trek house story and video on BBC TWO.

Scene It? Deluxe Star Trek Edition

click image for info

Out to the Twitter Universe

2009-04-30T09:50:00.000-07:00

In preps for an upcoming post on Twitter I thought, I better join so I can better understand how to use it.

So if you are a tweeter and you want to follow me or check on who I follow, or help me figure it all out check me out at FitzgeraldKC

Assassin's Creed 2 (GameTrailer)

2009-04-11T02:05:00.000-07:00

Assassin's Creed 2 Game Trailer

Thoughts on Robots.

2009-03-21T13:44:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about robots a lot lately. As I was doing my yard work last week it dawned on me that I would love to have a robot to help me out. Seeing that my daughter does not like it.

And I would also like to have a robot that does the house work. I think that it would be very easy to have a robot that vacuums floor and they have several models that already do that. But I think that it will be a while before we have robots that can do general cleaning.

Some of the problems that you find in the yard are very interesting and a Robot would be great to have to do these jobs. Take for example edging, I can imagine a robot that has an edging attachment. Or a blower attachment. Or a lawn mower attachment.

I have both a push mower, and a gasoline powered lawn mower. I think that a green version of a robot for the lawn would use a push mower attachment. It would also be cool to have a lawn mower that could make mulch or help recycle lawn clippings. I cut down a tree, and the disposal of the limbs was a pain. That kind of job could be something that a robot would be perfect.

On the lighter side, scientist in Japan have created a new supermodel robot. You can read CNET.com's article here, Japan's latest supermodel--a robot. This is just a start, but not quite there yet.

Fashion Robot To Hit Japan Catwalk

Robots In War

2009-01-22T14:13:00.000-08:00

ED 209 Just Won't Stop !

One of the low tech ways that I keep up on the latest in technology is by listening to NPR's news and culture show Fresh Air with Terry Gross on my local public radio station. She sometimes have guest who are policy makers or work in various parts of the tech industry.

She recently interviewed technological warfare expert P.W. Singer, in a segment titled 'Wired For War' Explores Robots On The Battlefield. Singer explains in his new book, Wired For War how some military tasks previously assigned to humans are now being handled by machines.

Singer is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. His previous books include Corporate Warriors and Children at War.

I thought the disccussion was very interesting and would be enjoyed by those who like to research info on the use Robots on todays society.

Reference links;

Aegis Combat System

Iran Air Flight 655

Phalanx CIWS

Wired for War:
The Robotics Revolution
and Conflict in the 21st Century

Playstation 3 WarBeast Guitar

2009-01-21T11:13:00.000-08:00

Playstation 3 WarBeast Guitar

Even video game guitar Gods need to look cool. The WarBeast will make you look like you know what you are doing with an ax. Works on both Guitar Hero and Rock band and features a removable neck for easy storage or travel. Hey you got to get to your gigs, right!

Guitar Controller Features

Compatible with Playstation 2 and Playstation 3
2.4GHz wireless technology
Responsive whammy bar
Extended strum bar for enhanced comfort
Removable neck and headstock for portability

Playstation 3 WarBeast Guitar

please click image

YouTube on Game Consoles

2009-01-17T01:00:00.000-08:00

YouTube can be viewed on Apple TV and TiVo devices, but Googles video sharing site is looking to find more ways to be seen with a new version of YouTube for Television. This feature was announced last summer and highlighted at the latest CES. The new feature is now available via Wii and PS3 game consoles.

I wonder if they will come out with a version for the Xbox 360.

PS3 Browser YouTube 10 foot UI

Notes from YouTube - It's now possible via YouTube for Television, available through your PLAYSTATION 3. Currently in beta, the TV Website provides a streamlined interface that enables you to discover, watch and share YouTube videos on any TV screen through your PS3.

Motorola BR56 Cell Phone Battery Vs the BR50

2009-01-16T12:16:00.000-08:00

About ten months ago I wrote this quick guide to the differences between the BR56 and the BR50 cell phone batteries. I thought it would be good to update it and repost it.

In our online eBay store we are often asked the question, "What is the difference between the Motorola BR50 and the Motorola BR56 cell phone batteries."

So in this post we thought we would discuss the stats of each battery and explain the differences between the two models.

voltage Both the BR50 and BR56 are 3.7 volt batteries.

Storage Capacity measured in mAh (mili Amp hours) is the measurement of a battery’s storage capacity.

The model number of the battery determines the storage capacity. You can find info on the following battery model numbers out there;

BR50 Storage Capacity is 710 mAh

SNN5777A Storage Capacity is 740mAh

SNN5794A Storage Capacity is 780mAh

BR56 Storage Capacity is 780 mAh

Some sources state that the the BR56 has a 20% better storage capacity and that it has longer talk times and standby times (see glossary below).

Battery Type (material that the battery is made of). Both the BR50 and the BR56 are Lithium Ion Batteries.

Lithium Ion Batteries (LiION) are the most popular cell phone batteries available right now. Li-ION have replaced NiMH batteries for many phones because they provide 4 distinct advantages:

Li-ION batteries provide 40% longer Standby and Talk Times than NiMH batteries.
Li-ION batteries are lighter and more compact than NiMH batteries.
Li-ION batteries does not suffer from memory effect.
Li-ION batteries will last over 30% longer than NiMH batteries because the cells accept more charge cycles.

Phone Compatibility - Both the BR50 and the BR56 are compatible with the Motorola RAZR and PEBL cell phones in all of their various configurations. The BR50 and the BR56 are interchangeable and if you have one in your phone you can use the other.

Compatible Phone Models: Compatible with Motorola Razr V3, Razr V3 Blue, Razr V3 Cosmic Blue, Razr V3 Limited Edition, Razr V3 Pink, Razr V3i, Razr V3x, RAZR V3c, PEBL U6, PEBL U6 Fire Red phones.

Battery Size The BR50 and the BR56 are the exact same size and both will fit in the exact same phones with no need for a different battery cover.

length -
width -
thickness - 0.2 inches

Tips and Tricks

How to maximize the life of your cell phone battery --

There are several things you can do to maximize the useful life of your battery: Dirty battery contacts are the number one source of charging problems. Clean the battery contacts with alcohol and a cotton swab from time to time. Make sure no cotton is left on the contact points. Don’t leave your rechargeable batteries dormant for extended periods. Take them for a "spin around the block" every so often. Even if you use AC power most of the time; use the battery periodically to keep it fresh and healthy. Unplug your AC adapter if you are not using your cellphone. Batteries that sit idle for extended periods of time without charging begin to lose their ability to hold a charge and will self-discharge, so remember to charge them again before use. Always store batteries in a cool, dry place away from heat and metal objects.

Initial Charge Cycle --

New cell phone batteries must be trickle charged (slow charged) prior to their first use and for the first several uses. As all of our batteries are new, they are uncharged. All batteries require a "break-in" period, so don't be alarmed if your battery doesn't hold a full charge right away. A new battery may show false full charge as indicated on your phone or charger. Also the battery may not power up the phone because of low voltage. For the First Three Cycles, please make sure to charge the battery fully and drain it fully before recharging. This will properly condition the battery and will ensure that it will operate at its maximum capacity. This is recommended for all cellular phone batteries. You can discharge most portable phones by unplugging the AC adapter and leaving it turned on until completely discharged. Remember - "Take care of your Cell Phone Battery and your Phone Battery will take care of you."

Glossary of cell phone baterry terms

Standby Time - The amount of time you can leave your fully charged cellular portable or transportable phone turned on before the phone will completely discharge the batteries. See Talk Time

Talk Time - The length of time you can talk on your portable or transportable cellular phone without recharging the battery. The battery capacity of a cellular portable or transportable is usually expressed in terms of so many minutes of talk time or so many hours of standby time. When you're talking, the phone draws additional power from the battery. See Standby Time.

Memory Effect - The life of a battery may be gradually shortened if it is recharged before it is completely discharged. Memory effect most commonly occurs with Nickel Cadmium batteries are less of a problem with Nickel Hydride batteries and even less with Lithium Ion batteries.

The term "memory" in reference to batteries means the battery "remembers" its usual discharge point and superficially "needs" a charge whenever it hits that point. In other words, if you have a NiCad that always gets discharged to only 50% of its capacity, it will eventually not run below that 50% mark if you ever wanted to discharge it to a lower point.

Infest - Halo 3 Zombie Machinima

2009-01-03T00:07:00.000-08:00

I spent a part of yesterday playing Halo 3 with a good buddies teen son. Man did I get a spanking. Kind of reminds me of this clip.

Infest - Halo 3 Zombie Machinima

Xbox 360 Tips, Tricks, Tools and Resources

2008-12-22T01:00:00.000-08:00

Update - 12/20/08 - So many people come to this page to get info on the Xbox 360 I thought I would repost it.

XBOX 360 Handbook:
The Official User's Guide
(Prima Official Game Guide)
click image for info @Amazon.com

Microsoft® xbox site. Microsofts web page devoted to the xbox. Mostly links to xbox.com. Includes links to Halo 3 among other hardware and software links.

Xbox.com The definitive source for all things Xbox. If you have not checked out xbox.com you have got to get over there because they have links to the below areas among many others.
Games
xbox main hardware page
xbox 360 hardware
xbox hardware
accessories
catalog

Xbox 360 For Dummies
(For Dummies (Computer/Tech))

click image

Xbox Live's Major Nelson's unofficial blog - I surfed onto Major Nelson's very interesting site. Major Nelson is the Xbox Live gamertag of Larry Hryb. He is the Microsoft Xbox Live Director of Programming in the Xbox Live product group. He uses his blog to communicate to anyone interested in Xbox and Xbox Live. It is so cool reading the insights of someone who is on the inside.

GameFaqs Xbox 360 Hardware FAQ - This interesting FAQ has some good information that may come in handy prior to buying an Xbox 360. The writer of the FAQ goes into detail on the various boundles that are out there.

The Xbox 360 Uncloaked:
The Real Story Behind Microsoft's
Next-Generation Video Game Console

please click image

Pictures of Xbox owners home setup. - Some recent photos of an interesting paint job.

According to Gamespot.com 360 photo scam still going. Some unscrupulous people are scamming unsuspecting shoppers. So be careful when shopping online.

Amazon.com Widgets

file under;
video games, xbox 360, Microsoft, Gaming, games

Wii Fit

2008-12-21T01:00:00.000-08:00

Wii Sports Games

click image for info @Amazon.com

Product Features

Wii Fit comes with the Wii Balance Board and requires a Wii console to play. Wii console sold separately.
Wii Fit combines fitness with fun and is designed for everyone, young and old.
Wii Fit players work towards personal fitness goals and they block soccer balls, swivel hips to power hoop twirls, and go big on ski jumps to get themselves there.
Check your daily progress, set goals, check your Wii Fit Age, and even enter exercise time you've done outside of Wii Fit.
Wii Fit Age is measured by factoring the user's BMI reading, testing the user's center of gravity and conducting quick balance tests.
Training is at the core of Wii Fit. You can spend as much (or as little) time as you want trying out all of the 40+ activities Wii Fit offers.

Halo 3 Rap - "The Greatest Ever"

2008-12-20T01:00:00.000-08:00

Halo 3 items @Amazon.com

I love Robots: Hitec 77002 Robonova I Ready-To-Walk Humanoid Robot

2008-12-19T04:00:00.000-08:00

Hitec 77002 Robonova I Ready-To-Walk Humanoid Robot

click image for info @Amazon.com

Product Features

Advanced robot for students, hobbyists, and educators
Gold anodized metal servo brackets serve as strong and lightweight exoskeleton
Controlled with 16 powerful HSR-8498HB digital servos; includes IR controller
Micom control board can operate up to 24 servos and 16 accessory modules
Simple programming with supplied RoboScript and RoboBasic software

Technical Details

Model number: 77002
Height: 12.5 inches
Weight: 47 ounces
Micro controller board: MR-3024
Servos: 16
Battery: NiMH
PC connectivity: Serial port
IR controller: Yes

What's in the box: MR-3024 Micro controller board for 24 servos, 16 digital HSR-8498HB servos, re-chargeable NiMH battery and charger, RoboBasic programming software and manual, PC serial port programming interface cable, Remocon IR controller, user's manual

Robots @Tsquared Amazon.com Store

Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000

2008-12-17T05:00:00.000-08:00

Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000

click image for info @Amazon.com

Technical Details

Box Contents - Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000, USB cable (6-feet), QuickCam Software CD including Logitech Video Effects, one-click video e-mail, QuickCapture for photos, Windows Live Messenger, Skype with free full-screen video calling, video-enabled AIM, Yahoo! Messenger, HP Photosmart Essential application for capturing, editing, customizing, and printing images (Web download required) and Quick-start guide
Conveniently clips to virtually any flat-panel monitor or notebook
Logitech Video Effects - Personalize your conversations with hundreds of avatars and face accessories that mirror expressions and motion using Fun Filters to add playful photographic effects such as fisheye, '50s Movie Reel, neonize, and more
Universal monitor clip mounts easily on any type of display or notebook computer Carl Zeiss optics

Panasonic DMP-BD35K 1080p Blu-ray Player

2008-12-16T05:00:00.000-08:00

Panasonic DMP-BD35K 1080p Blu-ray Player

please click image

Technical Details

Blu-ray Player
BD Live
VIERA Link: Operate with your VIERA Remote Control
SD Card Slot

Product Description - Panasonic's two new slim, BD-Live compatible, feature-filled Blu-ray players, the DMP-BD35 and DMP-BD55, offer cutting edge technologies focused on producing the ultimate movie-viewing experience.

The BD35 and BD55 both feature an HD Audio Decoder (Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus and DTSTM-HD Master Audio Essential), delivering 7.1-channel surround sound through a 7.1-channel receiver equipped with an HDMI terminal. The DMP-BD55 features high-end audio components and can also output analog signals for 7.1-channel sound, so even receivers that are not compatible with HDMI can produce the newest 7.1-channel surround sound.

Both models are equipped with an SD Memory Card slot that makes it easy to transfer images from an HD camcorder or digital still camera that uses SD Memory Cards and are compatible with Panasonic’s VIERA Link function so they can be operated by the VIERA HDTV remote control.

The combination of a Panasonic Blu-ray player, Home Theater audio system and a VIERA HDTV converts the home entertainment experience into a true-to-life cinematic experience. Consumers can now view and enjoy movies the way the film maker intended -- in stunning High Definition video and audio – right from the comfort of their own home.

Apple iPod touch 8 GB (2nd Generation)

2008-12-15T05:00:00.000-08:00

Apple iPod touch 8 GB (2nd Generation)

click image for info @Amazon.com

Technical Details

This player is the iPod touch, not the Apple iPhone
8 GB capacity for 1,750 songs, 10,000 photos, or 10 hours of video
Up to 36 hours of music playback or 6 hours of video playback when fully charged
3.5-inch widescreen multi-touch display with 480-by-320-pixel resolution
Supported audio formats: AAC, Protected AAC, MP3, MP3 VBR, Audible, Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV; supported video formats: H.264, MPEG-4; supported image file types: JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PSD (Mac only), and PNG

Garmin nüvi 350 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator

2008-12-14T05:00:00.000-08:00

Garmin nüvi 350 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator

click image for info @Amazon.com

Technical Details

Compact 700 MB GPS navigator with bundled MP3/audiobook player, photo viewer, and world travel clock
Small enough to fit in a pocket or purse; mounts on vehicle windshield with included suction cup
Preloaded with City Navigator NT maps of U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico
Turn-by-turn directions, automatic routing, and 320 x 240 color touchscreen display
Secure Digital (SD) memory card slot; measures 3.87 x 2.91 x 0.87 inches (W x H x D); 1-year warranty

There Still May Be Time For You To Win Free Games

2008-12-13T22:33:00.000-08:00

Sorry for posting this so close to the deadline, but I think you still may have time.

Amazon.com is reporting over at their blog that 7,000 Free Downloadable Games Available This Weekend.

Click on the above link to read all about it.

Top 10 Halo 3 Splatters: Episode 12

2008-12-13T05:00:00.000-08:00

Top 10 Halo 3 Splatters: Episode 12

Mario Kart Wii with Wii Wheel

2008-12-12T05:00:00.000-08:00

Mario Kart Wii with Wii Wheel

click image for info @Amazon.com

Product Description - Start your engines and race with Mario and his friends with their finely tuned racing machines in Mario Kart Wii. Use 3 different control styles with the Wii Wheel included in the box. The worldwide race is on with a whole new set of tricks, tracks, and ways to play. Mario Kart Wii draws on courses and battle arenas from every game in the series - not to mention tons of new ones. The true king of the Mushroom Kingdom racing circuits will finally be crowned. Experience new tracks, enhanced Wii graphics, extraordinary gameplay and much more. Place first in Grand Prix circuits or clear skill-based missions to open up increasingly difficult and thrilling circuits. You can have multiplayer races on any open courses or battle in arenas. Now you can feel like you are Mario and steering to avoid obstacles and doing incredible stunts.

Special Powers/Weapons/Moves/Features - Shake the Wii Remote to pull off a trick that will temporarily boost your speed. When riding a bike, gain additional speed by flicking the Wii Remote up and popping a wheelie Up to 12 people via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection or up to 10 people via Wi-Fi Connection with 2 people playing locally

Kindle: Amazon's Wireless Reading Device

2008-12-11T05:00:00.000-08:00

Kindle: Amazon's Wireless Reading Device

click image for more info @Amazon.com

Product Overview

Revolutionary electronic-paper display provides a sharp, high-resolution screen that looks and reads like real paper.

Simple to use: no computer, no cables, no syncing.

Wireless connectivity enables you to shop the Kindle Store directly from your Kindle—whether you’re in the back of a taxi, at the airport, or in bed.

Buy a book and it is auto-delivered wirelessly in less than one minute.

More than 200,000 books available, including more than 100 of 112 current New York Times® Best Sellers.

New York Times® Best Sellers and New Releases $9.99, unless marked otherwise.

Free book samples. Download and read first chapters for free before you decide to buy.

Top U.S. newspapers including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post; top magazines including TIME, Atlantic Monthly, and Forbes—all auto-delivered wirelessly.

Top international newspapers from France, Germany, and Ireland; Le Monde, Frankfurter Allgemeine, and The Irish Times—all auto-delivered wirelessly.
More than 1000 top blogs from the worlds of business, technology, sports, entertainment, and politics, including BoingBoing, Slashdot, TechCrunch, ESPN's Bill Simmons, The Onion, Michelle Malkin, and The Huffington Post—all updated wirelessly throughout the day.

Lighter and thinner than a typical paperback; weighs only 10.3 ounces.
Holds over 200 titles.

Long battery life. Leave wireless on and recharge approximately every other day.
Turn wireless off and read for a week or more before recharging. Fully recharges in 2 hours.

Unlike WiFi, Kindle utilizes the same high-speed data network (EVDO) as advanced cell phones—so you never have to locate a hotspot.

No monthly wireless bills, service plans, or commitments—we take care of the wireless delivery so you can simply click, buy, and read.

Includes free wireless access to the planet's most exhaustive and up-to-date encyclopedia—Wikipedia.org.

Email your Word documents and pictures (.JPG, .GIF, .BMP, .PNG) to Kindle for easy on-the-go viewing.

Included in the box: Kindle wireless reader, Book cover, Power adapter, USB 2.0 cable

Kindle: Amazon's Wireless Reading Device

click image for info @Amazon.com

Archos 5 60 GB Internet Media Tablet

2008-12-10T06:02:00.000-08:00

Archos 5 60 GB Internet Media Tablet

please click image for more info

Technical Details

60 GB capacity for up to 80 movies, 600,000 photos, or 30,000 songs
Up to 22 hours music and 7 hours video playback time on a single charge
4.8-inch TFT LCD touchscreen; 800 x 480 pixel resolution; 16 million colors
Video support: MPEG-4, WMV, and M-JPEG; Audio support: MP3, WMA, Protected WMA, WMA pro 5.1, WAV; plug-ins available for further video and audio format support

Archos, an award-winning company for its constant technology innovation and leadership in portable media players, now introduces a new concept: the Internet Media Tablet (IMT). The Archos 5 is the flagship product of this new line, bringing you a new way to enjoy the Internet, your media, and TV--all in a handheld device. The Archos 5 60 GB IMT is a high-end portable device with an ultra-thin design, a black stainless steel body, a high-resolution 5-inch touchscreen, and the horsepower of a laptop.

Product Description - The Archos 5 redefines the high-end portable device with its ultra-thin design and a black stainless steel body, a high-resolution 5" touch screen, combined with the horsepower of a laptop from the world's first implementation of the ARM Cortex superscalar microprocessor. You can browse the Web in full width just like on your PC. No need to zoom in and out, web pages are fully displayed on the ARCHOS screen. Plus, with Adobe Flash 9 video support, you can natively browse video-sharing websites such as Dailymotion or YouTube. When you are at home and want to watch a movie or listen to music stored on your PC, just browse its hard drive wirelessly and play any file stored on it without transferring the file. Just stream it via your WiFi network and play it immediately on your ARCHOS. In less than 3 clicks, you can access nearly 1,000 Web TV channels, over 10,000 Web radio stations and 100,000 podcasts. There's no downloading wait time. Radio and TV start streaming right away from a worldwide list of traditional and independent radio and TV stations. Registration required for Internet usage. Please check the Archos site for details. Built-in speaker, and built-in leg stand Power source - Internal Lithium Polymer battery, device charges via computer USB port System Requirement - Microsoft Windows Vista, XP, ME, 2000 or higher, MAC OS X and Linux with Mass Storage Device Support, and USB 2.0 interface Dimensions - Approx. 5 x 3 x 0.5 (127.5x78.3x12.9mm) Weight - 250 grams

Wiimote+Roomba=Wiimba !

2008-11-18T05:00:00.000-08:00

A possible future for vacuums. If vacuum cleaners do not go the full robot rout, there may be a future for them as remote control devices. Check out this video, for an example.

iRobot 560 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, Black and Silver

2008-11-17T05:00:00.000-08:00

iRobot 560 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, Black and Silver

Product Features

Vacuuming robot picks up dirt and debris with the touch of a button
Easy-to-empty bagless dustbin; fine-filtration system traps allergens
Anti-tangle technology; gentle-touch bumper system; built-in cliff sensors
Self-charging Home Base, 2 Virtual Wall Lighthouses, an extra filter, and more included
Measures 16-3/4 by 21 by 5 inches; 1-year limited warranty

Street Fighter IV - Character Trailer

2008-11-16T05:00:00.000-08:00

Street Fighter IV - Character Trailer

Street Fighter IV for Playstation 3 @Amazon
Street Fighter IV for Xbox 360 @Amazon

Flip Video MinoHD Camcorder, 60 Minutes

2008-11-15T05:00:00.000-08:00

Flip Video MinoHD Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Black)

Click image for info @Amazon.com

Technical Details
Holds 60 minutes of HD-quality video (1280 x 720 resolution at 30 frames per second; 16:9 widescreen) on 4 GB of built-in memory
Weighs only 3.3 ounces; Super-slim, super-sleek design, fits into your pocket or purse
Features one-touch recording and digital zoom
Flip-out USB arm plugs directly into your computer to launch built-in FlipShare software
FlipShare software lets you save and organize your videos, edit individual clips, make custom movies, email your videos, and upload them

MinoHD Overview:

Weighing only 3.3 ounces, MinoHD is the world’s smallest HD camcorder
Features a super-slim, super-sleek design that fits into any pocket or purse
Simple user interface features one-touch recording and digital zoom, making HD video easier and more fun than ever
Holds 60 minutes of HD-quality video on 4 GB of built-in memory; no tapes or additional memory cards required
Convenient flip-out USB arm plugs directly into your computer to launch built-in FlipShare software
Built-in FlipShare software lets you save and organize your videos, edit individual clips, make custom movies, email your videos, and upload them directly to YouTube, MySpace, and AOL Video
Internal Li-ion battery recharges through built-in USB arm while you're plugged into your computer
Produces incredible HD 720p (1280 x 720 resolution at 30 frames per second; 16:9 widescreen) video you'll be able to enjoy on your HDTV
Records high-quality MP4 files that can be easily dragged and dropped into iTunes, iMovie, and iPhoto
Watch videos instantly on TV with included connector cable
Instant playback, pause, fast forward, rewind, zoom , and delete functions

BBC Reports That Indian Probe Touches Down on Moon

2008-11-14T14:17:00.000-08:00

The BBC is reporting that an Indian probe touches down on Moon.

According to the article;

India's first unmanned lunar spacecraft, Chandrayaan 1, has placed a probe on the surface of the Moon.

The probe, painted with the Indian flag, touched down at 2034 (1504 GMT), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said.

It will perform various experiments, including measuring the composition of the Moon's atmosphere.

The mission is regarded as a major step for India as it seeks to keep pace with other space-faring nations in Asia.

The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi says the success of the mission has been hailed in India where many see it as another sign of the country's emergence as a global power.

Sony Announces New Portable Reader System

2008-10-04T09:54:00.000-07:00

Sony announced a new Sony Portable Reader System model recently. The new modle called the PRS-700 will not replace the older model e-reader, the PRS-500 but will be an addition to Sony's line.

In an online article titled Hands On with Sony PRS-700: A New Portable Reader System at Gearlog.com you can see photos and get a detailed discription.

Amazon.com Widgets

Comcast vs. BitTorrent; The battle goes on

2008-08-22T12:25:00.000-07:00

The battle between Comcast and BitTorrent goes on. TorrentFreak.com post an atricle about the whole afair, titled Comcast vs. BitTorrent, What’s Next?.

Yesterday, the FCC ruled that Comcast’s network management practices that specifically targeted BitTorrent users, were unfair. The ruling is a small victory for Net Neutrality, but it wont stop ISPs from going after the heavy bandwidth users, not at all.

As often is the case with these kinds of stories, the comments are very interesting.

Physicist C. Lester Hogan Passes Away

2008-08-17T12:18:00.000-07:00

In an article in the NY Times.com technology section the Times describes the life and work of Physicist C. Lester Hogan.

An employee of Motorola who left the company to work at Fairchild is reported on in the article titled; C. Lester Hogan, Physicist Who Fought Motorola, Dies at 88.

C. Lester Hogan, a pioneer in the electronics industry whose departure in 1968 from his job as a top executive at Motorola to one at Fairchild, taking along seven senior members of Motorola’s semiconductor team, led to a celebrated lawsuit, died on Tuesday in Atherton, Calif. He was 88.

Amazon.com Promotes Green Products

2008-08-14T16:30:00.000-07:00

Amazon.com has come out with a new program to promote green products called Amazon Green.

They list all kinds of products that customers have selected as the most environmentally-friendly. The list includes cleaning supplies as well as computers and personal solar chargers.

Apple Iphone on eBay

2008-07-22T23:07:00.000-07:00

You can find some very nice high tech items on eBay for a bargain price. Take this Apple iPhone for example.

Pegasus Computer

2008-06-27T19:45:00.000-07:00

Buy at AllPosters.com

An Old New Way to Save Money : Coupon Codes

2008-05-20T22:13:00.000-07:00

It is really cool buying new hi-tech gadgets. I always feel like it is Christmas when I buy a new high tech toy. Well when you mix that with one of the oldest methods of promoting sells you can get some great deals for the buyer.

What am I talking about, coupons or in the modern world coupon codes.

What are they, they are alphanumeric codes that you enter into websites that you do your online shopping for gadgets to get great deals. One of the easiest ways to find codes is to just Google them. If you want to buy something online first go to Google, enter the item and place coupon codes after it.

For example

xbox 360 coupon codes @ Google

PlayStation coupon codes @ Google

Nintendo Wii coupon codes @ Google

Apple iPhone coupon codes @ Google

Rim Blackberry coupon codes @ Google

Dell Laptops Phone coupon codes @ Google

Motorola Cell Phone coupon codes @ Google

TracFone Extends Mother's Day Bundle Offer

2008-05-12T13:39:00.000-07:00

Due to popular demand, TracFone has extended its Mother’s Day Bundle until June 30th! Overall, the customer saves $100 on this package.

A quick review of the offer details:

-Purchase an LG 225 phone for $49.99 (formerly $79.99)
-Receive double minutes for the life of the phone (a $49.99 value) FREE
-Receive a FREE universal accessory kit (regularly $14.99)
-Get FREE ground shipping (a $4.95 value)

The affiliate program is selling over 300 of these phone packages a week, so be sure to take advantage of this extension! We currently have two text links as well as banners for this offer available:

Buy a LG 225 phone at TracFone and get $30 off, plus double minutes, an accessory kit and free shipping!

Get a LG 225 phone for $49.99 and receive nearly $100 in savings!

Girls and GTA VI: Carjacking & Cool Map

2008-05-11T19:37:00.000-07:00

So who knew, Girls Enjoy Jacking Cars Too. So what does this mean to you testosterone boys who love to play GTA IV non-stop? No time for a social life?

Well it means you may be able to meet a girl that can wipe you up in multi-player mode. LOL.

But what I really wanted to post is this cool map that IGN is hosting. GTA IV IGN Map

Grand Theft Auto IV Beating Heart and Other Easter Eggs

2008-05-02T19:46:00.000-07:00

There are a few cool easter eggs that have been found in GTA VI. Check these out;

Submit Your Grand Theft Auto IV Easter Egg Finds

Grand theft Auto IV Beating Heart

The Heart of Liberty City

1. Gain access to Happiness Island so that you can go there legally.
2. Find the Helicopter Tours (which is directly east of Happiness Island) and steal a helicopter.
3. Fly to Happiness Island and over the Statue of Liberty, then jump out of the helicopter at the statue's feet.
4. You should land on the topmost tier of the statue, which is basically a square platform with a door in the center of each side.
5. Run around the platform until you see a door with a plaque on either side of it that reads, "No Hidden Content Here." It may seem like you cannot go through the door, but you can. It doesn't open, you simply walk THROUGH the door. Inside, you'll find an empty room with a tall ladder.
6. Climb the ladder, and when you reach the top, look up; there is a gigantic beating heart, held in place by chains.

mp3 player durability test

2008-04-13T13:13:00.000-07:00

Cute Chick Destroys MP3 Players - Watch more free videos

This girl wanted to test the durability of 4 popular MP3 players. She shoots, stomps, tosses, and even lights them on fire until only one MP3 player still works. Ok, so she is a little insane but still pretty cute.

Amazon.com offers buy two get one free Blu-Ray sell.

2008-04-10T18:11:00.000-07:00

High tech gurus are jumping into the the fray over at Amazon.com as they continue offering their buy two get one free Blu-ray sale.

The promotion is offered on select Blu-ray titles through April 18. All major movie studios have expressed support for Blu-ray as the ultimate high definition entertainment experience for early adapters to build their Blu-ray libraries.

Check out the 50 best selling Blu-ray DVDs in the slide show below;

Amazon.com Widgets

Kindle answers from the Kindle Team at Amazon.com

2008-04-09T16:20:00.000-07:00

In an effort to make finding information about Kindle as easy as possible, the Kindle team has created a forum for you to post Kindle-related questions. Due to the volume of responses, they will not be able to reply to each individual one, but every effort will be made to address the most commonly asked questions and get answers.

If you need a more immediate response, please email customer service at kindle-cs-support@amazon.com or use the "Contact Us" feature to speak directly to a Kindle representative located here: Amazon Kindle Wireless Reading Device

You can also get infor at the Kindle Support page, where you can find frequently asked questions (FAQs) and guides on using Kindle: Kindle Support.

Here are some answers to a few common questions they have found across the forums.
Kindle FAQ.

My Little Pony Meets Halo's Master Chief

2008-04-08T22:05:00.000-07:00

There are times when I wonder if I am not in the wrong business. Sometimes what I do does not seem to be as much fun as what others do for their lively hoods.

Consider the seller of this Master Chief From Halo OOAK My Little Pony Custom.

It has been a while since my, now grown daughter, played with a My Little Pony, but I'd like to think that she would have fun with this one.

Tsquared YouTube Video Player

2008-04-07T12:22:00.000-07:00

Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com

Motorola BR56 Cell Phone Battery Vs the BR50

2008-04-02T09:53:00.000-07:00

In our online eBay store we are often asked the question, "What is the difference between the Motorola BR50 and the Motorola BR56 cell phone batteries."

So in this post we thought we would discuss the stats of each battery and explain the differences between the two models.

voltage Both the BR50 and BR56 are 3.7 volt batteries.

Storage Capacity measured in mAh (mili Amp hours) is the measurement of a battery’s storage capacity.

The model number of the battery determines the storage capacity. You can find info on the following battery model numbers out there;

BR50 Storage Capacity is 710 mAh

SNN5777A Storage Capacity is 740mAh

SNN5794A Storage Capacity is 780mAh

BR56 Storage Capacity is 780 mAh

Li-ION batteries provide 40% longer Standby and Talk Times than NiMH batteries.
Li-ION batteries are lighter and more compact than NiMH batteries.
Li-ION batteries does not suffer from memory effect.
Li-ION batteries will last over 30% longer than NiMH batteries because the cells accept more charge cycles.

Awesome New Gmail Trick: Send emails from the past.

2008-04-01T11:55:00.000-07:00

Never be late with an email again. Gmail introduces custome time emails. Check it out here.

Accodring to TechCrunch;

Gmail Custom Time lets users send emails with a custom date in the past, putting it in the recipients inbox at the old date.

Funny comments @ Digg about this;

Now I'd like them to add the feature where I can send emails from the FUTURE!

No, actually I think it's pretty funny. Don't be so much of a DB in the future...you could send your former self an email to tell yourself that...

Gmail doesnt even exist... don't you guys know that the entire concept of Gmail was an April Fools joke from 2004?

Oh and if that is not cool enough, Google also announced that they are releasing a new product called "Google Weblogs", or “GWeblogs,” or “Gblogs,” which will launch later this year in a public beta. According to them, "it is the next revolution in personal publishing."

You can read all about it here in Blogger Buzz.

It looks to have some great new features. Like;

- "advanced Google algorithms that will put your best content at the top of your blog."

- "advanced Google algorithms will automatically populate your blog’s sidebar with the most relevant possible content.

- "Unsure of what to post about? Just click “I’m Feeling Lucky” and we’ll “take care” of the rest!"

Rainbow Six Vegas 2 Ending Spoiler

2008-03-29T23:13:00.000-07:00

Don't watch this video if you don't want to know how Rainbow Six Vegas 2 Ends.

Rainbow Six Vegas 2 *Ending**

Apple iPhone Teardown Video

2008-03-28T21:19:00.000-07:00

Apple iPhone teardown

Notes from YouTube - Semiconductor Insights presents a teardown of Apple's new iPhone.

The Amazon Kindle

2008-03-23T02:38:00.000-07:00

I've been reading every thing I can about the Kindle. Check out this video.

Notes from YouTube: - This is the introductory video that provides a demonstration of the new Amazon Kindle eBook reader.

Robot Ball Thrower for Your Dog.

2008-03-17T19:34:00.000-07:00

Nintendo Wii Teardown Video

2008-03-16T14:56:00.000-07:00

I thought all you hardware types would love to see the Wii video game console being taken apart. They also discribe various parts in this video. It is great if you ever want to actually take your Wii apart or if you just like being a hardware geek and seeing what is inside the box.

Notes from YouTube - Teardown of the Nintendo Wii video game console conducted by Semiconductor Insights.

Funny WII VS. PS 3 G4 Parody

2008-03-13T02:01:00.000-07:00

This has been around forever, but I cam across it again today and thought I would post it. I'm pretty sure Sony nor Nintendo sanctioned this. Which makes it even funnier.

Microsoft cuts Xbox 360 prices in Europe article

2008-03-10T22:18:00.000-07:00

If you have not heard Microsoft has cut the price of the Xbox 360 in Europe, which makes you wonder will be seing a price drop on this side of the pond?

From the article;

The reductions come as Sony Corp's PlayStation 3 appears set to capitalize on the company's recent victory in the high-definition DVD battle and on a slew of highly anticipated new games hitting the market this year.

Interesting Tech Article - Games That Launched the Band

2008-03-09T19:19:00.000-07:00

Steve Schnur of Electronic Arts believes that musicians are starting to see video games as an integral role in their careers, not only as a product in which to license their music. GameCareerGuide.com has a very interesting article where he talks about his work in the video game industry and what he thinks about the music found in games.

Steve Schnur is worldwide executive of music and marketing for Electronic Arts. It's a high-level job that puts him in charge of the company's overall musical standing -- he is responsible for the pursuit, creation, and continuous development of the global vision for music in EA games.

You can read the whole article here Games That Launched the Band