Posted Feb 17th 2008 7:11PM by Ryan BlockFiled under: Robots Famed technologist and futurist Ray Kurzweil is on the record about human-machine intelligence parity: it’s going down by or before 2029, so be prepared to get digital on entirely new levels. Apparently, machines “will have both the hardware and the software to achieve human level artificial intelligence” by then, but even if it’s not in the form of meatbag-terminating cyborgs, Kurzweil thinks one future of intelligent machines is on the nano scale, with interfaces to enhance our own physiology and intelligence. (Read the full post about ‘Kurzweil predicts that machines will match man by 2029 — bring it on’…)
Posted Feb 17th 2008 4:27PM by Darren MurphFiled under: Misc. gadgets Interactive nightclubs aren’t entirely unheard of, but we’ll be sure to relieve ourselves just before prancing into any party scene with these displays on the lavatory doors. The small LED Matrix displays can be mounted on both male and female doors, and the image shown can be switched as folks enter and leave. (Read the full post about ‘LED displays keep folks guessing at nightclub bathrooms’…)
Posted Feb 17th 2008 3:03PM by Ryan BlockFiled under: LaptopsEverybody and their mother’s got a super-budget laptop these days (see: OLPC, Eee PC, Cloudbook, Pixel Qi, etc.), and next at the table will apparently be Elonex, which intends to introduce the £100 (~$200) One on February 28th at The Education Show in Birmingham, England. Obviously the intention here is to sell to education markets, but the One is also going to be up for grabs for “adult learners, business users, people who are constantly mobile, elderly people and first time internet users.” We don’t have any better shots of the thing, but apparently this One (not that One, or the other One) will weigh “less than a kilo” (2.2 pounds), has a 7-inch screen, three hour battery, 1GB of flash memory, and runs on Linux. (Read the full post about ‘Elonex One: England’s 100 quid laptop’…)
The new AntWorks Illuminated The Brand New Version Just Into Uk “The Newer Fish Tank”The Ant Works concept was developed by NASA back in the heyday of the US space programme. Their idea was to take a colony of ants into space so the astronauts could study the insects’ behaviour in zero gravity. Why, we hear you ask? Well, we guess they had to study something as they hurtled around planet earth. Anyway, NASA’s loss is our gain because the amazing jelly-like habitat they invented is now available to support ant life here on earth. Or more specifically, on your desk, bedside or kitchen table. The Ant Works is filled with a highly nutritious non-toxic gel into which you prod four little holes to get the tunnel network started. (Read the full post about ‘The new AntWorks Illuminated’…)
Few weeks ago I apply to Microsoft Affiliate Network with a hotmail email account. After this I was waiting to confirmation email. After two days, the email still not in my Inbox… I check the junk folder and … here it is! The Hotmail put the email from Microsoft Affiliate Network in the spam… How funny it is? They cannot recognize a valid email from their own group? How funny it is? They cannot recognize a valid email from their own group? Tags: cable, laptops, Gadget, hdtv (Read the full post about ‘How good is Microsoft in spam catch?’…)
Posted Feb 17th 2008 2:00PM by Darren MurphFiled under: HDTV, Home Entertainment Surely you knew what today was, right? No? Fret not, as Engadget HD has taken the time to consolidate the plethora of 2009 analog shutoff information into one handy guide. Are you ready for the DTV transition that will be going down exactly one year from today? Find out right over here.Tags: audio, gps, video, game (Read the full post about ‘T-minus one year till the US analog shutoff: are you ready?’…)
Posted Feb 17th 2008 2:29PM by Ryan BlockFiled under: Home EntertainmentThere isn’t (yet) a way to hack Apple TV v2 (aka take 2), but if you were patient enough to wait for the “safe” PatchStick upgrade on your hacked unit, Safari HD is ready to go. Good luck, and take care, after those weeks of waiting for the new update it sure would suck to brick that device.Read - Safe update for Apple TV v2Read - Safari HD availableTags: CD, gadgetry, tech, cameras (Read the full post about ‘Safe update for Apple TV v2, Safari HD hacks released’…)
Posted Feb 17th 2008 2:40PM by Chris ZieglerFiled under: cellphones, Handhelds Given the BlackJack’s popularity on AT&T, it only makes sense that Sprint (among other carriers) would be looking to get in on that action. Indeed, as expected, Sprint has now launched Samsung’s ACE (get it? like the really good card to have when you’re playing blackjack?) that comes out swinging with Windows Mobile 6 Standard, 1.3 megapixel camera, microSD slot, stereo Bluetooth, EV-DO, and a SIM slot for hooking your globetrotting butt up with GSM service when you find yourself overseas; what it doesn’t have is HSDPA, so don’t look at this puppy as an apples-for-apples BlackJack II replacement. (Read the full post about ‘Samsung ACE global smartphone, M520 go live on Sprint’…)
Checking and tracking down a fuse/breaker that controls a power outlet can be quite the headache, so if you want to do away with guessing games, the Easy Circuit Finder ought to do the trick. Here’s an easy and inexpensive way to track down what fuse or breaker controls which outlet. Just plug the Easy Circuit Finder into the outlet in question. When the power is turned on, it makes a very loud tone you can even hear in the basement. No more yelling up and down the stairs, “Is it on? Is it off?”. Easy Circuit Finder makes it easy to track down switches or breakers without an assistant. Adjustable volume control lets you use it in close quarters, too. Plugs into any 115 volt outlet. (Read the full post about ‘Easy Circuit Finder’…)
When I was in my teens, I had horrible acne on my face. Yes, I know, “a geek with bad acne, surely not!” I did all of the usual stuff, bought the special creams and face washes, but nothing really worked all that well, they seemed to keep it from getting worse, but rarely ever improved the situation much. Luckily as I approached 20 it lessened considerably. I still have breakouts here and there, but nothing like my high school days. While I’ve seen plenty of things that claim to clear up acne, this has to be the first mp3 player that I recall making that boast. The mpion is nothing special as MP3 players go, as it’s only going to hold 128MB of music, which is only a couple of hours at best. (Read the full post about ‘MP3 player claims to fight acne using positive and negative ions’…)
