BlackBerry Storm Tech Manual Offers Proof of iPhone Inspiration
It's probably not a surprise that RIM definitely had iPhones on the brain while creating the new (and pretty awesome) BlackBerry Storm—but who knew they'd make it this obvious. In the vodaphone technical specifications manual, the company's Storm is sporting a very familiar OS, and it's definitely not the regular BlackBerry's. Hmmmm. [BlackBerry UK]
Asus G71 Gaming Laptop Uses Quad-Core Chip
Asus has updated its G-series gaming laptop line with the G71, a notebook that sports Intel's new QX9300 quad-core processor. The computer comes with a 17-inch Crystal Shine display, an NVIDIA GeForce 9700M GT GDDR3 512MB graphics card, and can be customized with up to 4GB of system memory and 1TB of hard disk space. Asus is also throwing in a 2mp integrated webcam and a Eee Stick—some casual gaming dongle that works a little like Sony's Eyetoy. Price and retail date are not yet available. [Akihabara News]Cylinder Solar Panels Generate More Energy For Less Cost
Solyndra, a California-based solar start up, says it's figured out a way to make solar panels cheaper to install and better at producing energy—rolling them up. The company's solar panels are comprised of rows of cylindrical solar cells deposited on glass tubes, a new type of shape that purportedly lets them absorb more light during the day. More »Zombie Doll Will Eat Your Stuffed Animals' Braaaaaains
This Halloween, instead of candy, why not hand out a couple of these cute zombie plushies? The Dismember-Me Plus can be torn limb from limb and reassembled to your heart's delight. It even comes with a cuddly mini-zombie brain! The adorable undead doll is now available now on Think Geek for $15. After all, being a kid ought not to mean that you shouldn't be reminded that we're all heading towards an apocalyptic future. [Think Geek]BlackBerry Storm First Hands On
The very first time you touch the BlackBerry Storm—RIM's first all-touchscreen keyboard-free smartphone, just announced for Verizon Wireless—you will be startled. No matter how many times your fingers dance on the screen like you've been trained on every other touchscreen, nothing will happen. At least, not until you push the screen all the way down and you feel a click. Yes, the screen is a giant button, one you have to punch for basically every action, even every letter you type, completely breaking the touchscreen paradigm. Surprisingly, it works.
More »Best Buy Presentation Leaks Cellphone Ship Dates
Oops, someone at Best Buy leaked a presentation that's revealed the ship dates for several upcoming handsets. For instance, the titanium version of the Verizon Blitz, now has a ship date of October 26th (it's only marked as Coming Soon on the Best Buy site. Other cellphones dropping on the 26th include Sprint's HTC Touch Pro and black Samsung M540 Rant, AT&T's BlackBerry Bold 9000 and T-Mobile' BlackBerry Pearl Flip. Oh yes, the BlackBerry Storm's on there as well, with a ship date of November 16th. [BGR via Electronista]HAL Robot Exoskeletons Available for Rent
The day for you to strap yourself into a robotic exoskeleton and fight crime the way your normally flabby limbs would never have let you has come! Cyberdyne, the Japanese company responsible for the HAL (hybrid assistive limb) prototype robot suit, is starting rentals this week. The price for being superhuman: about $2,200. More »Blackberry Storm Goes Live On Vodafone With 3D Tour, Official Spec Page
Vodafone just launched the Blackberry Storm on their site (PSP Hack Turns Your Handheld Into a 2nd Computer Screen
You know what was the first thing I thought when I got my hands on a PSP? This screen would make a really great second computer monitor... No, I'm just kidding; never in my life would I think that. But apparently PSP homebrew developer Jochen Schleu did, and worked up a mod that lets you use your PSP as a 960x544 resolution passive display. The program works for both the slim and original versions if they're running on custom firmware, and will hook up to any computer that's running Windows XP. Vista users hoping for some tiny screen goodness are out of luck this time around. [PSP Updates via Kotaku]Square-Enix Teams Up With NeuroSky For Mind-Controlled Gaming Concept
Square-Enix and NeuroSky will unveil a mind-controlled gaming demo on Thursday at the Tokyo Game Show. The setup works with a Windows PC and the MindSky headset, and runs Square's software created specifically for this demo. The headset fits over your head with earmuffs and has one electrode that monitors brainwaves. The headset itself is compatible with many different platforms, but it isn't specified what level of control your brainwaves have over the game. Neurosky only says the headset it monitors your level of relaxation and concentration. The demo will take place in NeuroSky's booth at TGS. [BusinessWire]
Silverstone Raven Gaming Mouse Has a Tumor on the Side, Can't Possibly Be Comfortable
Silverstone's Raven gaming mouse looks really interesting at first glance, what with the giant, glowing and strangely hypnotic tumor bolted to its side. It appears to be a secondary scroll wheel, which sits next to the usual thumb buttons. And you've got another pair of buttons next to your middle finger. But when you think about the ergonomics, it just don't work. How can it possibly be comfortable to hold with that massive wart bulging out? Check out this top down view to see what I mean. More »Remock Lockey Opens Doors With Its Wireless Mojo
Wireless deadbolts have been on the market for a while now, but the new Remock Lockey seems like a decent solution for doors you want to secure inside a home. The remote controlled lock is placed on the inside of a room and can only be opened with a remote control "key." It runs on store bought batteries, but the system will automatically shut down when the power is low so you don't have to worry about getting locked out. All-in-all it doesn't seem like a bad deal for around $163, especially if you need a serious solution that prevents your Mom from bursting into the room during your "private time." Unfortunately, only Korean teenagers can have this wireless peace of mind at the moment. [Funshop Korea via DVICE]Democrats Still Most Tech Savvy, Rent Digital Billboard to Text Message Sarah Palin at Rally
Need more evidence that Democrats are more grassroots tech savvy than their elephantine counterparts? At a Sarah Palin rally in LA on Saturday, the California Democratic party rented a digital billboard across the street which displayed questions for the veep candiate sent by text message. Granted, even if Palin did read them, she wouldn't be able to recall which ones she read specifically. But still, quite awesome—I hope both parties get creative with tech like this, it's a fantastic way to reach voters. [CA Dems via Online Video Watch via Textually] More »Three New Ways to Watch YouTube: Lights Out, Theater View and Super HD
Not just one, but three new ways to view YouTube today. The first two should be familiar to anyone who's used Hulu—lights out and theater mode. Lights out dims your whole screen except the video, while the latter also blows up the player and adds tacky/cool theater curtains on the side. Right now, they're only available for feature-length videos, but don't be surprised if they trickle down. The third, and definitely most exciting, is Super HD, which you should definitely check out, even though the selection is currently limited. [YouTube via Lifehacker, Mr Doob via core77]Michael Schumacher Tower to Take Over the World
Another day, another spectacular tower in Dubai: The Michael Schumacher World Champion Tower, a curvy building "inspired by the geometrical order of a snowflake and the aerodynamics of a Formula 1", will not only appear in Dubai but in six other cities around the world. According to the architects—who worked in Beijing's Water Cube—the design will allow for an easy construction process and an efficient use of energy, all while making the building change its look through the day. More »Two Lamps One Flashlight
There have been other attempts at fusing a flashlight with a lamp, but 'Two Lamps' with its simple click-off rechargeable flashlight design offers up one of the most elegant solutions (similar to certain lantern camping flashlights, only probably wouldn't suck). The flashlight may not be powerful enough to burn paper, but it would be nice to avoid digging around in my cabinets and drawers when the lights go out. Unfortunately, it is only a concept at the moment. [LifeGoods via TrendsNow via DVICE]
Question of the Day: Who Controls the Remote in Your House?
Whenever I give up the TV remote to someone else in the house, I am inevitably forced to suffer through The Bachelor or something that involves female friendship and bonding during difficult situations. It's torture—which is why the remote rarely leaves my side these days. Besides, I consider myself a fair remote ruler. I try to find stuff that we are both interested in watching. But what about you? Who controls the remote in your house?
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