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Always ahead of the curve, Japanese communication companies are deploying smart posters for a test drive in a Chiba shopping mall. The posters will use Near Field Communication technology to send information like images, music and movie clips to cellphones over the air, all with no need to establish any kind of pairing. People just…
Nokia’s much rumored, much anticipated N96 slider has just had its debut—in Europe. It’s on sale for €550, or around $798 (yes, this is obviously the unsubsidized price—before tax, too). And though there’s no firm info on the US launch timing or prices, this is a good indicator it’s on its way. [Nokia]
This Bendiboard Retroboard Invaders is a flexible roll-up rubber keyboard adorned with those famous pixellated alien Space Invaders. It’s bendy, it’s got aliens, it’s got a space key depicting a laser gun-base. You can spill coffee on it safely if you get a little energetic in your gaming, and it’s $40. Enough said, because I…
Sony’s just come up with the software development kit for the xPeria X1, designed to let programmers create new “panel” apps for the phone’s funky one-touch panel interface that sits on top of its Windows Mobile 6.1 OS. The idea is to create stuff that will “meet the consumer’s demand for a rich, individualized multimedia…
Sony has had a little splurge of Blu-ray action, and come up with six new models of BDR-recorders/players that also sport hard drives which can record HD video. The T-series, BDZ-T55 and BDZ-T75 are the basic models, with 320GB hard drives, BD Live and memory-card ports and DLNA (on the T75). The L-series models BDZ-L55…
Buffalo has come up a new network accessible storage system which not only hangs onto up to 4TB of your files but is also Time Machine and iPhone compatible. OK, so this last bit is over a dedicated web access system and the phone can’t save the files, but it can view the contents of…
Monster, usually better known for cabling, is now tackling powering your gadgets in an eco-friendly manner with a new range of standby-killing power strips. The Digital Life Power Center Green Power versions being the first of two lines, aimed at connecting your computer gear up: when you turn off the computer, all the peripheral sockets…
While some have been skeptical of the D90’s video recording as a useless gimmick, Nikon has posted a bunch of videos showing off some of the amazing things you can do with the camera. The above clip ticks off some of what you can do with a variety of lenses, toying with fisheyes or super-zooms,…
The BlackJack II (SGH-i617) finally gets its turn to ride the Windows Mobile 6.1 bus, which brings to it slight UI changes, better SMS threading, improved GPS navigation and internet connection sharing. There’s little reason why you shouldn’t get it, so download it now and join the 6.1 club. [Samsung]
Wired’s Danger Room blog is spot on in comparing Northrop Grumman’s upcoming solid state laser system to the Death Star. Promised to arrive before the end of 2008, and far earlier than Boeing’s 25kW laser, it’s supposed to have 100 kilowatts of power (SERIOUS pew pew action) and make use of multiple, less powerful lasers…
Researchers at the University of Tokyo have demonstrated a device that can create touchable, creepily invisible floating “objects” using focused ultrasound waves. Though the technology is in the early testing stages, its designers have already expressed an interest in weaponi- I mean, commercializing it for possible use in gaming and design applications. For now, the…
The upcoming Star Trek reboot by J.J. Abrams has a lot going for it, from interesting choices in actors (John Cho, Simon Pegg and even a cameo by the son of James Doohan, the original Scotty), to updated special effects and concepts. What we’re interested in are all the gadgets, from phasers to tricorders and…
Project Inkwell’s Spark is not only a potential OLPC competitor because of its handheld, UMPC form factor and K-12 educational focus, but also because it doesn’t look like it’s made exclusively for the preschool user base. The Spark was developed in conjunction with the design firm Ideo, and though details are vague, the visuals are…
You have probably heard stories about patient injuries or deaths occurring when someone introduces a heavy metal object into the same room as an MRI machine. Obviously, we are talking about some seriously powerful magnets here. However, the $10 million magnet currently under construction at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Florida is expected…
What do you do when you want to show that your phone is tough? If you’re Rollei, you put a picture of Chuck Norris on the front. That’s right, a camera with Chuck Norris in fighting stance on the front. One of the features of this camera is that instead of smiling, all of your…
For many enthusiasts, pimping out car sound systems (and even bicycles in some circles) is a time-honored tradition. However, Dutch artist Olaf Mooij may have taken this pastime to extreme new levels with his DJ Mobile. Inspired by the Popemobile and the song “God is a DJ” by Faithless, Mooij created a rolling PA system…
Nintendo’s tried-and-true strategy for jolting hardware sales that aren’t white hot (aside from bullshit shortages) is to toss a new color into the mix. And it works! Today’s color is metallic silver, like the original DS, but shinier. Ooo, shiny. [Kotaku]
Giz pick of the week: Transformers (Two Disc Special Edition) It was the thorn in Blu-ray’s side. Transformers, otherwise known as the ’80s cartoon manifestation of geekdom, was HD DVD only. Well luckily for Blu-ray owners, HD DVD died a violent death and they got their Megatron fix after all. While this two-disc set won’t…
Sierra’s latest USB 3G data card, Mercury, is the smallest, smokiest little card in AT&T’s otherwise obese lineup. Obviously spawned from the same DNA pool as its Sprint-y cousin, but with the chrome and black look AT&T is fond of lately. Like the Compass, the drivers and AT&T’s software are loaded on the stick, so…
If you’ve dedicated your life to electronics rather than the gym, Arm Wrestle Mania might be your only chance to actually beat someone in a show of strength. Hit start and repeatedly tap the power button to make your five-inch plastic strongman bring the pain on his competitor— whoever taps quickest wins the contest. There’s…