LIVEdigitally

To avoid those moments of sheer panic that occur whenever you discover you’ve left something important behind, consider attaching one of theseto your bag/PDA/dog/toddler and put this in your pocket. The Mini Reminder transmitter will alert the receiver to start making a vibrating, beeping racket if you move more than your specified distance away from it. I need this thing. How many times have I raced back to a restaurant to admit sheepishly that I’ve forgotten my bag on the back of that chair? Yes…the one you’re sitting on…thanks.

via SCI FI Tech

For those moments when your computer is lagging so badly you’d like to take a hammer to it, or when the realization that it just ate your term paper creates a deadly longing to chuck the whole damnable thing out the window, there’s a way to end it all. Presenting the Self Destruct Button USB! Three easy steps to total annihilation and…four extra USB ports. OK, so it won’t really kill your PC, but it looks like it will! Maybe someday you’ll really mean it, but for now function gets along with form in this sweet trigger-happy sort of way. The big red button will be available for desperation pressing starting the end of this month.
via SCI FI Tech

This is going to be a special edition of the “thunk it” as my mail box has been flooded, completely bamboozled with inquiries as to when I am going to review a product that caters specifically to the cel phone crowd. There’s been everything available to the cel phone lover; computer-phones, video-screen phones, that wacky blue-tooth technology which I still don’t have a clue as to what is, but nothing…NOTHING is nearly as advanced as this next fascinating product. How do you show off to all your cel friends? Is it by boasting about the most advanced technology? No…it is by showing them the latest in retro phone…stuff. Ladies and gents, I introduce to you….

the cel phone handset

Isn’t this amazing? I mean who needs the convenience of a small portable phone when you can have the nostalgia of the old days?

Now this isn’t to be confused with this other handset concoction

The “Please Hold” Handset is available for use for most phones, even the blackberry and is available at amazon.com for a mere 22.95$. I know I can’t even use another cel phone again unless it has the old fashioned headset. If I had to describe this product in one word, that word would be….beautiful.

Coming to you with another wacky and useless product, this is Merv

Okay, picture this… it’s 2016 and your Honda XT3 SE Personal Robotic Assistant (I’m officially staking claim to this futuristic term – minus the “Honda”) walks into the dining room after dinner and asks, as usual, “Is there anything else I can get for you before I clear your plate, sir?” You say “no” but the PRA continues asking, becoming increasingly belligerent. You ask, according to the manufacturer’s instructions, the standard diagnostic question – “What’s wrong?” All you get is the BFOD… the Blank Face Of Death.

In case you haven’t caught on yet, Microsoft is getting in to the robotics business – at least the software end of it. So now my stupid joke makes sense (BSOD)! Enter Microsoft Robotics Studio, which “offers [an] end-to-end robotics development environment … for hobbyist, academic and commercial developers.” Basically it’s BOT-DOS (boy, I’m a roll – I should get kick-backs from Webster).

Trower [general manager of Microsoft's new robotics group] says Robotics Studio is intended to help the robot industry “bootstrap itself,” the same way Microsoft’s first DOS operating system provided a standard platform that other software writers were then able to use to write a host of applications, such as spreadsheets and word-processing programs, that eventually made PCs indispensable.

Trower believes that PCs and robots are converging — and that Microsoft must invest in robotics if it wants to be a player in personal computing five to ten years from now. “Your PC is getting up off the desktop and beginning to interact in the same environment where you live in new ways, using cameras and sensors and speech technology and a variety of other advanced technologies,” he says. “This is the direction that PCs are evolving.”

Microsoft showcased this programming environment at the RoboBusiness Conference and Exposition 2006 (official press release).

“Microsoft, together with the upcoming LEGO^® MINDSTORMS^® NXT, will help further amplify the impact of robotics,” said Søren Lund, director of LEGO MINDSTORMS at the LEGO Group. “The MINDSTORMS robotics toolset has enjoyed a strong community of users since 1998, and the launch of our next-generation platform includes many built-in features that further the community’s ability to take MINDSTORMS programming out of the box. In combination with Microsoft Robotics Studio, PC users will have a sophisticated tool that will further extend the powerful NXT hardware and software to an even wider range of developers who wish to create advanced applications for their LEGO robots.”

We’re working to get a demo of the Lego Mindstorms NXT system so I’ll follow up with a thorough review of that product and also how well it integrates with MS Robotics Studio. Stay tuned!

Oh, look! It’s so cute! Takara toys has released limited edition Gamera Walkie Bits to coincide with the new Gamera movie. These little robot turtles are very popular in Japan. They will walk to a rhythm you specify by clicking their mouse button-like shells. They also sing and race. Gamera singing, that seems like a new one to me. There doesn’t seem to be an excuse to not get one, unless you have a dislike for adorable little toys with the power to entertain children and draw attention from adults in coffee shops. Note, though, that all the instructions are in Japanese.

A new very chic eyeful for those who appreciate music and still love listening to records is now available. Actually, this one was created by Razyworks for those who aren’t afraid to be extravagant and pay great attention to details. I’m talking about the Swarovski version of the Vinyl Killer.

The Vinyl Killer is the world’s smallest self-running record player. This device churns out music by “driving” around the record with a needle that is situated underneath the bus. The music plays as the needle moves over the record while the bus encircles it.  No turntables are required, and you can enjoy your records no matter where you are!

The device features a built-in monitor and an amplifier with speaker. A 9-volt battery is required for operation.

This special Swarovski version is encrusted with Swarovski crystals. Keep in mind that this is a limited edition, so you’d better hurry to if you want to get one.  This series of the Vinyl Killer is made for those who are into fashion and style and earn enough to afford this cute thing.

I think it’s more about style and prestige than functionality. This is a chic item for those who understand and appreciate the finer things in vinyl life.

It will cost you $520. It’s available at http://www.razy-works.com/shop/shop_e/shop_e.html. 
The Weekly Girl’s Gadget Report is brought to you by http://www.gadget4girls.com/

The runaway success of Motorola’s slimline mobile phone Motorola RAZR V3 has prompted the company  to produce some extra models.  This time Motorola joined forces with Dolce & Gabbana to create a limited edition series of RAZR with a distinct D&G style.

Dolce & Gabbana Group with its two brands is one of the most outstanding names in the sector of clothing and luxury goods. Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana (the founders) are considered two of the most creative and talented designers in the world of modern fashion. 

The new RAZR styled by D&G has some specific features, making it different from the other members of Motorola RAZR family.  The cell phone comes in gold finish, has a special personalized background and a screensaver from D&G. It also features a special sound for power up (and down), an exclusive polyphonic ring tone and a video clip that illustrates 20 years of history of Dolce & Gabbana.

This limited edition RAZR also features a slightly more functional camera (now up to 1.23 megapixel) and additional expandable memory.  Each phone will have its own individual number, making it a real must-have. It comes with a golden Bluetooth headset and a pendant signed with famous “DG” initials.

The limited edition of Motorola RAZR V3i will be sold at Dolce & Gabbana boutiques.

Source -  http://direct.motorola.com/hellomoto/dolcegabbana/

The Weekly Girl’s Gadget Report is brought to you by http://www.gadget4girls.com/

-Courtesy TechLore.com

The HD-DVD Camp has struck the first blow, as Toshiba’s HD-A1 HD-DVD player is now available at retail stores. Coming in at a surprisingly affordable $499 for the hardware, this “first of its kind” player is priced cheaper than the initial DVD players of 1997. The ability to own your favorite blockbuster hits in actual high-definition quality is something that early adopters have been looking forward to for longer than most would care to admit. Unfortunately, HD-DVD needs more than just the early adopter if they’re going to be successful this time, and it’s anyone’s guess if they’re going to make it.

Why is HD-DVD’s success questionable?

Good Price, but Competition Looms

First and foremost, it won’t be the only game in town for long. Sony, Dell, and an army of other bigwig electronics companies have their own format, known as Blu-Ray, coming this summer. (Check out the article “HD-DVD and Blu-Ray Not To Merge – War on the Horizon” for more.) While the Blu-Ray folks have some advantages in terms of technology, initial reports are that they’re pricing themselves right out of the market from the get-go. The first Blu-Ray players are expected to debut at nearly double the price of HD-DVD. It looks like HD-DVDs approach to not completely redesign the technology wheel is paying off in terms of affordability.

Prices will drop on Blu-Ray hardware as time passes, but their biggest ticket to success comes in the form of a game console. Sony’s Playstation 3 will be equipped with a Blu-Ray drive, and though a price for the system hasn’t yet been announced, anything over $500 would practically hand the console war over to Microsoft AND guarantee Blu-Ray’s failure as the next dominant format. Microsoft is expected to release a HD-DVD add-on for the XBOX 360 sometime in the near future. Pricing has not yet been formally announced, but anything reasonable could give HD-DVD the early success it needs to stay on top for the long haul.

Software is double-edged sword, and cannot be used as a determining factor for HD-DVD’s success. Each has lined up a good number of studios that will support one or the other, but it’s split just about even enough to be considered a tie. Some of the titles you want will be for HD-DVD, others for Blu-Ray.

HD-DVD does have one good advantage when it comes to software…price. Retail prices on HD-DVD movies that are currently available are selling between $18 and $25, higher than regular DVD titles, but not by much. Blu-Ray discs will cost more to manufacture in the beginning, which will be felt at retail with prices expected to start at $29 per movie and go up from there. Surely a plus for HD-DVD, but only if the movie you want is available.

Read the rest of this entry >>

While in Taiwan a couple of weeks back I also saw the “Sony Fair” which was basically a large tent full of Sony gear.  I don’t mean to be too negative, but it was a bit lame.  It seems to me that since Morita passed away, the company really lost its vision and its edge.  With the single exception of the Playstation group, Sony has failed to lead in innovation in virtually every category, and slowly but surely, their absolute dominance over the market has dipped accordingly.

Pretty much the only interesting thing in the batch was the Sony Ericsson M600i phone, which may be a decent competitor to the Treo 700w/PPC6700 wherever it gets launched…

After reading “Ideas for the new iPod — loud and clear” by Howard Wolinksy, as well as the latest from Phil Swann, I thought I’d muse on what they may be announcing.  Here are my predictions:

 1) Widescreen iPod: this just makes sense.  The cool factor here would be Apple completely re-inventing their GUI, either with an all-touchscreen version, or possibly moving all the buttons to the edges or back of the unit.  This would allow them to keep the same form factor while improving the video display.  Plus it’s better than the video Scoble found about a Msft-designed iPod!

2) iTiVo: in an ideal world, Apple would buy TiVo, then make a nicer looking box with the basic TiVo GUI.  Then within a year they could put out a 2nd-generation unit that has very slickly merged some iPod-isms with some TiVo-isms.  I don’t think this will happen anytime soon, but an Apple-powered DVR does not seem likely, although I could easily predict the model would be about recording ON the Mac, as opposed to a brand new box in the living room…

3) iPhone: highly debatable topic here, will/should Apple make a mobile phone?  I think it’s possible (here’s a counterpoint), my theory goes like this: Apple worked with Moto to make a phone, but Moto screwed it up.  So then Moto made the SLVR, and did a good job of it.  But the whole time Apple guys were saying to themselves “we could blow this out” and now they’re doing it.  If we don’t see it this week, I still believe it’s in a lab somewhere!

4) OS X Mobile edition: Both Om Malik and Michael Gartenberg have been talking about Windows Mobile 5.0 a lot recently.  I’ve heard that there are already 100 different WM5 devices announced or shown so far.  Why should they have all the love?  It’s not a “typical” Apple thing to do, but then again, 10 years ago nobody would’ve predicted Apple running up a 90+% market share in MP3 players! 

5) Nothing!  Absolutely nothing!  Okay, by “nothing” I mean a new iBook with a bigger screen, or bigger hard drive.  Or an iPod with a 100GB hard drive… boring boring boring!

But then again, they might just crank out another iProduct…

It might be time to stop trying. 

I will quote, if I may, from a press release I was sent today.

PR: Are you ready for the coolest iPod experience yet?
JT: Heck, ya!

PR: Then crank up some tunes, plug in and watch the amazing iCar do its thing
JT: Ok, sounds interesting I guess… but tell me, does it rock?

PR: It rocks right to left, front to back, and up and down
JT: Get out! But wait, are those functioning doors???

PR: You can even manually open the doors and hood to create a whole new look
JT: This is far too awesome. Tell me though, I see rims. Do my keen eyes detect… spinners?

PR: real working spinner wheels, wild graphics, chrome accessories, big tires and stereo system
JT: Craziness! So what you’re saying is, it’s like a little toy car, only better, because it rocks, spins, and has working doors. Got any lights on that bad boy?

PR: Colored lights illuminate the wheel wells, rims, undercarriage, engine and trunk areas
JT: This is sounding too good to be true. Wait a sec, this is an iPod accessory, so how’s the sound? And tell me the tech specs so I know how to compare it to other, similarly rocking iPod-cars.

PR: the high-quality speaker pumps out the sound
JT: Hold on, that doesn’t give me much to go on. Anything else you can tell me on the sound quality, before I invest $34.99 in a Matchbox that I use to listen to mp3s in mono-sound, I want to be sure it sounds good!

PR: sound and vision unlike anything that’s come before
JT: Sign me up!

More info from Corgi

“Designed specifically for your Mac, the Cordless Desktop S 530 Laser includes a comfortable ultra-flat keyboard and a high-performance laser mouse. The stylish white and silver design perfectly matches both consumer and pro Macs.”

I’m a solid PC guy, and truth be told, I’ve never owned anything from Apple. I must say though, I’m more than a little jealous the way that their accessories actually match their computers. I’m not sure when we all decided that Apple’s Macs and accessories owned the color white (and left PC’s with ugly beige), but they sure look sharp.
Great looks aside, this setup, which was announced at CES last week, sports the following features:
- dedicated buttons to control song playback in iTunes
- 6 month battery life
- battery level indicator
- two USB receivers (extended range desktop, and compact notebook)
- precision laser mouse
- two USB receivers (compact notebook & extended range desktop)
When I break down and buy something from Apple, expect a full test (or maybe hell will freeze over first). Anyway, it’s a lot of cutting edge tech for $100, if you’re into the Mac.

Read the press release here.