Customers in Florida will now have access to information about traffic incidents, traffic updates and detours as Verizon Wireless has made its VZ Navigator Version 4 service available. The VZ Navigator is a location-based service (LBS) application utilizing GPS technology and real-time information feeds from government traffic monitoring groups. With VZ Navigator, customers will have access to traffic integration information which updates them of traffic routes based on the analysis of both historical and real-time traffic information. This allows customers to know which traffic routes are affected by traffic lights, heavy traffic situation and activities in school zones. (Read the full post about ‘Verizon brings VZ Navigator version 4 to Florida’…)
In today’s security obsessed world, having a portable surveillance capability is always advantageous when trying to keep up with the bad guys. A new iPhone application can now allow security personnel to not only track security camera images, but also control them. Vegas will no doubt take notice. Lextech is the company that publishes the software, made possible by the Apple iPhone Software development kit release and it not only gives users a wireless capability to keep watch from security cameras, but also control them using the multi touch screen capability of the iphone. Users can zoom, tilt, and pan just like operating the camera from a joystick. Check out videos of it in action here and here. (Read the full post about ‘The iPhone becomes a Surveillance tool’…)
This wired backpack not only fashionably allows it’s wearer to enjoy their favorite MP3 tunes, but it also has a remote capture capability thanks to the onboard web camera that’s built right into the rigging.
Coming complete with a wireless 2.5GB hard drive, USB Hub, a tiny LCD screen with 4 button navigation and input, and 1 GB of flash memory, the PORTA2030 performs what its creators call “portable data sensing-storage-transmission” as it not only captures video streams in real time but also plays MP3s for its user to enjoy. Each Porta2030 is assigned a unique IP address for wireless transmission to a central hub.
A Japan-based designer known as Marimo-san is thinking way out of the box with his latest cellphone concept design, featuring a mechanism that allows for a detachable screen. The screen in this cellphone concept design can be removed so the user can enjoy video calls on the go. And aside from that, the slot for the screen should also accept other add-ons such as a widescreen display and a dual screen video viewer, to name a few, turning the cellphone into a number of new devices at any given time. Here is the cellphone with detachable screen concept pictured with the add-ons I mentioned earlier (widescreen display and dual screen video viewer). With the technology that we have today, this actually seems pretty doable. (Read the full post about ‘Cellphone concept with detachable screen seems doable’…)
by Donald Melanson, posted May 9th 2008 at 12:50PM Uh oh, it looks like we’ve got a full-fledged robot controversy on our hands. At the heart of it, as you might have guessed, is the recent obliteration of a harmless Pleo by a so-called ComBot known as Vicious Verdict at Maker Faire 2008. According to a UGOBE rep posting on the PleoWorld forum, the company is having none of it, saying that the “stunt” was done without its authorization or approval, and that there was “quite a ruckus” about it in UGOBE’s office after they learned of the incident. (Read the full post about ‘UGOBE “shocked and appalled” by destruction of Pleo at Maker Faire’…)
by Darren Murph, posted May 9th 2008 at 10:54AM After an absolutely heart-wrenching video of Pleo being annihilated by a sadistic ComBot emerged yesterday, we’re thrilled to add a little balance to the whole thing with a totally heartwarming clip today. Down at Sea World, Pleo was politely introduced to a number of animals in the park, though its interactions with the dolphins were particularly special. In the vid posted after the jump, you can go ahead and fast-forward to around the two minute mark — there you’ll find the true definition of a stud. (Read the full post about ‘Pleo communes with nature, woos Dolphins’…)
Word on the street has it that pricing for the HP 2133 Mini-Note is now available, where the 1.2GHz processor model equipped with 1GB RAM and a 120GB hard drive will retail for $729, while the 2GB RAM and 160GB hard drive model is a wee bit more expensive at $789 - totally worth the $60 IMHO. As for the 1.6GHz model, it will come in two flavors - 1GB RAM and 120GB hard drive as well as 2GB RAM and 160GB hard drive which will retail for $749 and $819, respectively. Are you planning to get these instead of the Eee PC? I think for the little bit extra in exchange for superior storage space, every penny is totally worth it. (Read the full post about ‘HP 2133 Pricing Available’…)
Here he comes Here comes Speed Racer He’s a demon on wheels He’s a demon and he’s gonna be chasin’ after someone Go!!! Carrera, the toy car maker, has announced the Speed Racer slot car set. Within, you will find a Mach 5 and a Racer X Street Car, 20 feet of track (including, of course, loop-the-loops) and the sundry other breakables required for electric car racing. Retailing for around $70, this should give you about the same entertainment value as the vacuous Wachowski knockoff. In fact, the metaphor is a good one. Set it up, hurtle full speed to the first corner and then spin off the track in a tumble of bright plastic tat. Just like the movie. (Read the full post about ‘Speed Racer Slot Car Set is Go’…)
Anyone holding out for the Sprint-branded 8330 Curve can let out a sigh of relief today as it is now available. The Curve, originally announced back in early April is coming off a delay due to ”additional testing” being required. Well it looks like the testing has been completed to their satisfaction. The 8330 Curve will retail for $179.99, which comes after a $320 instant savings, $100 mail-in-rebate, and of course with a two-year agreement. Product [Sprint] Keep up with the latest gadget goodness! (Read the full post about ‘Sprint makes the BlackBerry 8330 Curve available’…)
