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The Big Picture takes a look at robots today, and the series of photos shows a clear line between humanoid robots and, well, useful robots. There are clearly two directions robot builders can take: trying to create a realistically humanoid robot that looks and moves like a person, and robots that are built to perform…
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You’ve got to love a home theater profile that starts with this line: “Unlike many recent rock bands, Papa Roach has staying power.” Hoooeee! Papa Roach guitar player Jerry Horton’s home theater is actually a pretty classy affair, complete with a 73-inch HDTV and fancy B&W speakers. There’s nothing too extravagant or over-the-top, and it…
Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone App Store is most popular for its free and cheap apps. As a result, most apps and casual games are available for 99 cents or less. But there are plenty of expensive apps in the App Store, too, and people do buy them. The most expensive app in the U.S. App Store…
According to CNET, Android multitouch is on the way and should arrive by the end of the year. You know, if you haven’t hacked it. https://gizmodo.com/how-to-hack-android-for-multitouch-web-browsing-on-the-5146797 Backing up for a second, It’s easy to think that Android supports multitouch, since Android phones like the HTC Hero use special builds of the software that include the…
This here is the Jalou, Sony Ericsson’s newest ladyphone. On the surface, it’s a boldly-styled, reasonably-specced feature phone. But it she is so much more than that! But before we jump into the marketing spiel, the phone: Despite chunky-looking contours, the Jalou is surprisingly compact, at about 2.7 inches long, closed. Specs are healthy for…
10. XA1 – $179.99: XA1 is an audio analysis app that gives “realtime feedback of the audio spectrum” when mixing or doing other audio related work. [iTunes Link] 9. Interpath – $179.99: Provides remote access to pathology images for medical professionals, used for cancer diagnosis or other disease treatments. Requires an image server like Aperio.…
I know of a few people who’ve encountered weird Wi-Fi problems since the OS 10.5.8 update. Now Apple has released a Macbook/Macbook Pro patch for the networking issues claimed to occur under low battery power. Hopefully things will be all better now. [Apple via Ars]
The good news is that upgrading to OS X Snow Leopard is going to be pretty cheap for people who wisely sprung cash for Leopard. But before you buy, you better check your situation and plan the right move, money-wise. https://gizmodo.com/10-takes-on-osx-leopard-316516 You may have a few questions: Am I eligible for a cheap upgrade? How…
Amidst extreme security, yesterday Apple filmed a new ad at Jax at the Tracks, a hip 1940’s style diner in Truckee, California. Filming on location is a very interesting departure from the usual Apple TV commercials, which are studio based. Speaking to the Sierra Sun, the owner Bud Hally said Apple wanted a “cool spot…
Is it bad that I hope only one of the rumors about iTunes 9’s explosion of new features, like social networking integration, come true? https://gizmodo.com/itunes-9-feature-rumors-blu-ray-app-organization-soc-5332985 So here’s what we’ve got, the bulk of it from Boy Genius: • Blu-ray integration to go with Blu-ray support in upcoming Macs—iTunes 8.2 sorta kinda pointed to Blu-ray, if…
Hey Microsoft, this isn’t 1965. Computers don’t take up entire rooms anymore. And hard drives are cheap. With the Elite looking to get a $100 price cut, you’ll be able to purchase a 120GB Xbox 360 console for $299. Yet the retail price on the 360’s 120GB drive is still more than half that ($160).…
This will probably be settled or appealed until it reaches the Supreme Court, but Judge Leonard Davis—of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas—has ordered a permanent injunction against Microsoft Word. According to plaintiff’s attorneys: The injunction prohibits Microsoft from selling or importing to the United States any Microsoft Word products that…
A new administration means revamped lobbying operations from Verizon, AT&T and other carriers. Last year, Verizon spent $9.3 million on lobbying, while AT&T spent $8.2 million. The WSJ says they’re already on track to spend more this year as they beef up their operations—and you gotta figure the way the new chairman Julius Genachowski jumped…
Apple’s head of marketing Phil Schiller—of Philnote fame—apparently continues his tour of the blog universe to calm the unrest of Apple faithful disillusioned by the App Store’s garbage approval process. https://gizmodo.com/apple-keynote-beer-goggles-to-become-obligatory-in-2009-5124909 This time, he stops by the blog of Steven Frank of Panic (maker of the excellent FTP client Transmit), who said he was ditching…
Like the 8Bitone synthesizer app, NESynth lets you create 80s-style music with 8-bit sounds. But the coolest part: You can control it all with an on-screen NES-style gamepad. Watch the rockin’ video after the jump to see what I mean. https://gizmodo.com/8bitone-chiptunes-synthesizer-app-lets-you-mix-it-like-5263943 Also fun is the $2 app’s use of the iPhone’s accelerometer to pitch-bend sounds,…
Ruling against the RealNetworks in the trial of sooo last century, a federal judge said that it was illegal to sell or make DVD copying software under the DMCA. But what about actually ripping DVDs yourself? https://gizmodo.com/realnetworks-barred-from-selling-realdvd-ever-again-5060948 When it comes to making personal copies, U.S. District Court Judge Marilyn Hall Patel left that totally gray—that…
Nintendo’s decision to eschew a standalone Wii hard drive for the support of SDHC was a good one, as users can buy tiny and cheap 32GB SDHC cards to expand storage. But what just you could store was in question. For instance, you could certainly store small, downloadable Virtual Console games and stream them from…
Logitech’s new wireless desktop keyboard/mouse set, the MK700, is a nice-looking, if standard, Logitech offering. It’s got a little LCD, shiny black finish and efficient batteries. But it’s also packing Logitech’s new “Incurve” concave keys to sensuously caress your fingers. Logitech promises that its new “Incurve” concave keys and wrist-rest properly cradle your fingers in…
Unlike Pangao’s Magic Massage Bra, these bizarre little inserts support (cough) almost any bra to “quickly improve, firm and increase your bust.” Apparently, “just a half hour per day” is all that’s required to see results. https://gizmodo.com/magic-massage-bra-enlarges-breasts-5292595 $10.69 (plus $5.49 shipping) gets you two battery-powered inserts. Features from the site: * Quickly improve, firm and…