Engadget RSS Feed http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2013 AOL Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ <![CDATA[Google launches PSA-style 'Good to Know' ad campaign, wants to keep us safe]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/17/google-launches-psa-style-good-to-know-ad-campaign-wants-to-k/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/17/google-launches-psa-style-good-to-know-ad-campaign-wants-to-k/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/17/google-launches-psa-style-good-to-know-ad-campaign-wants-to-k/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Google's no stranger to privacy-related controversy, which may explain the motivation behind its latest ad campaign. On Tuesday, the company will launch a series of ads across major newspapers, magazines and billboards, as part of its new "Good to Know" initiative, designed to make the internet "a safer, more comfortable place." According to Google, these ads will offer tips and advice on how to secure your personal information online, including details on how to protect your passwords from web predators. The entire campaign has a distinctly PSA flavor to it, though there's also a different subtext at work here, since Google is effectively branding itself as "the one you can trust." There are certainly some who would dispute that, but at a time when most privacy concerns are focused squarely on the government, it may be a good time for Google to crank up its PR machine. Find out more at the links below.

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]]> ad campaignAdCampaignadvertisingawarenessbusinessgood to knowGoodToKnowgooglegoogle good to knowGoogleGoodToKnowindustrymagazinemoneymountain viewMountainViewnewspaperonlinepasswordprivacypsasafetysecuritysopa Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:49:00 -0500 21|20149899 <![CDATA[Etymotic revamps its ETY-Kids3 in-ear headphones, kid-safe volume, now with iPhone controls]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/03/etymotic-revamps-its-ety-kids3-in-ear-headphones-kid-safe-volum/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/03/etymotic-revamps-its-ety-kids3-in-ear-headphones-kid-safe-volum/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/03/etymotic-revamps-its-ety-kids3-in-ear-headphones-kid-safe-volum/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Got your kid an iDevice for the holidays? Now they'd like some headphones with inline controls, you say? Well, being the amazing that parent that you are, you're okay with it, but you'd also like to ensure they can't blow-out their eardrums before hitting high school. Fret not, as Etymotic has just unveiled its updated volume-limiting ETY-kids3 in-ear headphones with an iPhone-certified inline remote / mic. The intra-aurals also come with Ety's Awareness app, which mixes in louder noises like traffic, for the sake of extra safety. Ety plans to show off the 'buds during CES, and you can expect to find them on store shelves come January 30th for about 80 bucks. Full press release after the break.

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]]> appawarenessawareness appAwarenessAppcesces 2012ces2012earphonesety kids 3ETY-kids3EtyKids3etymoticEtymotic ResearchEtymoticResearchheadphonein ear headphonesInEarHeadphoneskidsmade for iphoneMadeForIphonemfiminipostsafetyvolume limiterVolume-limitingVolumeLimiter Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:01:00 -0500 21|20134560 <![CDATA[US Army to deploy Individual Gunshot Detector, essentially a radar for bullets]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/17/us-army-to-deploy-individual-gunshot-detector-essentially-a-rad/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/17/us-army-to-deploy-individual-gunshot-detector-essentially-a-rad/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/17/us-army-to-deploy-individual-gunshot-detector-essentially-a-rad/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Latest in our series of "when video games turn real," here's the US Army's newest addition to the wargadget arsenal. The Individual Gunshot Detector, produced by QinetiQ, is an acoustic monitor attuned to tracking down the source of gunshots just by their sound. It has four sensors to pick up the noise of incoming fire, and its analysis of those sound waves produces a readout on a small display that lets the soldier know where the deadly projectiles originated from. The entire system weighs just under two pounds, and while it may not be much help in an actual firefight -- there's no way to distinguish between friendly and hostile fire -- we imagine it'll be a pretty handy tool to have if assaulted by well hidden enemies. 13,000 IGD units are being shipped out to Afghanistan later this month, with a view to deploying 1,500 each month going forward and an ultimate ambition of networking their data so that when one soldier's detector picks up a gunfire source, his nearby colleagues can be informed as well.

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]]> acousticarmyawarenessdetectionequipmentfuturefuturisticgungunsgunshotigdindividual gunshot detectorIndividualGunshotDetectornoiseqinetiqsensorsensorssoldiersoldierssoundsupersonicus armyUsArmywarwargadgetweaponweaponry Thu, 17 Mar 2011 05:01:00 -0400 21|19882394 <![CDATA[iPhone Awareness! app selectively filters outside noises into your headphones, saves hipster lives]]> http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/22/iphone-awareness-app-selectively-filters-outside-noises-into-yo/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/22/iphone-awareness-app-selectively-filters-outside-noises-into-yo/ http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/22/iphone-awareness-app-selectively-filters-outside-noises-into-yo/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Apps are funny things. They tend to provide narrow utility -- focusing intensely on one specific thing -- but once you get used to them, you wonder how you lived without them. Take this Awareness! app, for example: it gauges environmental noise levels, sets up a threshold, and then pipes in anything louder than that into your skull alongside your music. Reasons why you'd want that to happen include oncoming SUVs, mothers screaming because their babies are in peril (from oncoming SUVs), or something as benign as your teacher yelling at you for not paying attention in class. There's a nice set of options too, such as manually adjusting how loud a sound must be to be allowed entry into your cranium, as well as pausing of the app or of your music. Awareness! is available for five bucks on the iPhone and iPod touch, and will soon jump on to the iPad, Android, Symbian, and even the Mac and PC.

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]]> appappleapplicationaudioawarenessearphonesessencyheadphone appHeadphoneAppheadphonesiphoneipod touchIpodTouchmusicnoisesoundvideo Wed, 22 Sep 2010 04:24:00 -0400 21|19643595 <![CDATA[US government launches Distraction.gov, wants to scare you straight (video)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/01/us-government-launches-distraction-gov-wants-to-scare-you-strai/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/01/us-government-launches-distraction-gov-wants-to-scare-you-strai/ http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/01/us-government-launches-distraction-gov-wants-to-scare-you-strai/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments European countries may have long ago banished the use of cellphones while driving to the dark side of the law, but many of the United States persist in allowing their citizens to talk while driving. One reason for their reluctance may be that outlawing something that has become second nature to most people would be both unproductive and tough to enforce. So what do you do? The natural alternative to forcing people to drive attentively is educating them of the reasons why. Never mind the fact that we all kinda, sorta know the risks we undertake while operating a Droid and a Dodge concurrently. The newly minted Distraction.gov is chockfull of scaremongering statistics, topped by a truly epic video which we've handily stashed for you just after the break. Go get it while it's hot.

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]]> awarenessDepartment of TransportationDepartmentOfTransportationdistracted drivingDistractedDrivingdistractiondistraction.govdistractionsdrivinggovernmentNHTSAray lahoodRayLahoodroad safetyRoadSafetysafetystatetransportus governmentusaUsGovernment Fri, 01 Jan 2010 16:02:00 -0500 21|19300121 <![CDATA[Poll: Are you ready for the digital TV transition?]]> http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/03/poll-are-you-ready-for-the-digital-tv-transition/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/03/poll-are-you-ready-for-the-digital-tv-transition/ http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/03/poll-are-you-ready-for-the-digital-tv-transition/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments
Hard to believe that next month will mark the official (though not really) end of analog broadcast signals here in the US of A, but it's true. February 17th is within spitting distance, and we get the feeling that loads of voucher requesters will be filing into retail outlets in order to get their DTV converter box soon. Our question is simply this: are you already prepared, or have you yet to become DTV ready?

View Poll

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]]> 2009awarenesscutoverdigital tvDigitalTvdtv transitionDtvTransitionhdotapollsreadyswitchovertransition Sat, 03 Jan 2009 12:00:00 -0500 21|1415862 <![CDATA[Confusion still running rampant in run-up to DTV transition]]> http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/23/confusion-still-running-rampant-in-run-up-to-dtv-transition/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/23/confusion-still-running-rampant-in-run-up-to-dtv-transition/ http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/23/confusion-still-running-rampant-in-run-up-to-dtv-transition/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Oh, dear. You all point and laugh now, but as Richard Doherty, an analyst with the Envisioneering Group, has stated: "On February 18, there will be a tremendous amount of finger-pointing." Richard also makes another point that we certainly agree with in that "this transition is possibly one of the worst understood consumer education programs in modern times," with millions of Americans still unready for the impending change. 'Course, if you've ever attempted to help your grandmother troubleshoot a VCR over the phone (let alone in 30-second blips), it's somewhat easier to understand why this process is so difficult to grasp. As of today, legions of people are still perplexed at what's coming, and we believe that many are apt to simply sit around and do nothing. The government / NAB is ramping up advertising and sending out DTV transition-mobiles in order to get the word out, but one must wonder, is it too late to save those who have already delayed this long?

Read - Nielsen statistics
Read - Confusion in DTV Transition

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]]> 2009abcanalog shutoffAnalogShutoffawarenesscbsconfusedconfusionconsumerconverter boxConverterBoxcutoverdigital tvDigitalTvdtv transitionDtvTransitionfccfoxhdnbcotatransition Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:54:00 -0500 21|1409785 <![CDATA[Two-thirds of OTA households have requested DTV coupons]]> http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/21/two-thirds-of-ota-households-have-requested-dtv-coupons/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/21/two-thirds-of-ota-households-have-requested-dtv-coupons/ http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/21/two-thirds-of-ota-households-have-requested-dtv-coupons/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments
There's no doubt that the CEA and NTIA have been spreading the word about the 2009 digital TV transition as hard as they can, but some folks still aren't taking the time to listen. 'Course, 62% is way better than what we've seen in the past, but that still leaves a full third of OTA-reliant American households sans a government-issued voucher with under 100 days to go until analog slides under the guillotine. Currently, 17 million homes have requested 33.5 million coupons (in other words, most folks are requesting the maximum of two) and 13.5 million have been redeemed. For those with a strange curiosity to know even more, it's stated that a number of eastern cities have the highest coupon application rates, while folks in Hawaii and Alaska could apparently care less. Can't blame 'em given the scenery, eh?

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]]> 2009Antennaawarenessconvertercouponcutoverdigital tvDigitalTvdtv converterdtv converter boxdtv transitionDtvConverterDtvConverterBoxDtvTransitionhdotaswitchovervoucher Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:11:00 -0500 21|1375722 <![CDATA[New Blu-ray research says more of the same]]> http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/03/new-blu-ray-research-says-more-of-the-same/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/03/new-blu-ray-research-says-more-of-the-same/ http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/03/new-blu-ray-research-says-more-of-the-same/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments
The latest Blu-ray research from The NPD Group pretty much mirrors everything else we've heard through the course of this year: BD adoption hasn't skyrocketed since the demise of HD DVD. That being the case, Blu-ray is making gains in the industry, as some 45% of surveyed HDTV owners now claim to "be familiar with Blu-ray Disc," up from 35% a year ago. It's also noted that just 6% of all respondents stated that they were aiming to purchase a BD player, but the firm did find "purchase intent to be higher [9%] among the growing population of HDTV owners." We know, the general public is still generally satisfied with vanilla DVDs, but we still maintain that BD will have its day just as soon as prices sink down to more acceptable levels.

[Image courtesy of TheDigitalBits]

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]]> adoptionawarenessblu rayblu-raybluraydatahdresearchsurvey Tue, 03 Jun 2008 21:30:00 -0400 21|1214487 <![CDATA[Sony looking to stuff Blu-ray recorders in select LCD HDTVs?]]> http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/07/sony-looking-to-stuff-blu-ray-recorders-in-select-lcd-hdtvs/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/07/sony-looking-to-stuff-blu-ray-recorders-in-select-lcd-hdtvs/ http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/07/sony-looking-to-stuff-blu-ray-recorders-in-select-lcd-hdtvs/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Given that Sony has primarily used its PlayStation 3 console to snag market share in the home video sector thus far, it's not surprising to see it branching out now that Blu-ray stands alone. Nevertheless, the next logical step has already been hinted at by Ryoji Chubachi at a recent press event in Taipei. Reportedly, Sony is hoping to "increase the global market share of its BD products from 20-percent currently to 50-percent by the end of 2008," and in order to do so, it's looking to gift select LCD HDTVs with "BD recording functionality." Of course, it was only a matter of time before those DVD / LCD combos became Blu-ray / LCD combos, but giving users the ability to capture broadcast material without an external burner is certainly an interesting twist.

[Via Electric Pig]

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]]> awarenessblu rayblu-rayblu-ray recorderBlu-rayRecorderblurayhdintegrationlcdmarket shareMarketSharerecordersrumorsony Mon, 07 Apr 2008 11:52:00 -0400 21|1160548 <![CDATA[New research looks at Blu-ray awareness across the globe]]> http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/03/new-research-looks-at-blu-ray-awareness-across-the-globe/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/03/new-research-looks-at-blu-ray-awareness-across-the-globe/ http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/03/new-research-looks-at-blu-ray-awareness-across-the-globe/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments
It's something we've all been wondering about, and now we've got the numbers to satisfy our curiosity. Interpret has surveyed groups from a variety of regions around the globe in order to see how high (or low) Blu-ray awareness is now that it stands alone as the sole next-generation HDM format. Unsurprisingly, the UK and US were tops in knowing what's what at 56- and 60-percent, respectively, while Japan checked in at 45-percent; both France and Germany notched percentages that were slightly lower at 49-percent and 30-percent. Also of note, data from the UK and Japan showed that consumers that already own HDM players were still purchasing standard-definition DVDs at a higher rate than HD DVDs / Blu-ray Discs, but the opposite was (just barely) true for the US. Nothing too earth-shattering here, but check out the read link if you're lusting after some fun figures to toss around at the water-cooler.

[Via Audioholics, image courtesy of TheDigitalBits]

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]]> awarenessblu rayblu-raybluraydataglobalhdinterpretresearchstudyworldwide Thu, 03 Apr 2008 15:28:00 -0400 21|1157748 <![CDATA[Public awareness of DTV transition up 80% since 2006, some still in the dark]]> http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/08/public-awareness-of-dtv-transition-up-80-since-2006-some-still/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/08/public-awareness-of-dtv-transition-up-80-since-2006-some-still/ http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/08/public-awareness-of-dtv-transition-up-80-since-2006-some-still/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments
We've already heard the NTIA's plans to educate consumers as the digital TV transition draws ever closer here in America, and apparently, the efforts so far have been fairly successful. According to new research released by the Consumer Electronics Association, consumer awareness of the looming switchover is up 80-percent since 2006. The study also points out that 72-percent of respondents were schooled courtesy of ads seen on television, while 39-percent heard it through the grapevine (read: "friends and family") and 26-percent found out from the intarwebs. 'Course, we also heard that a whopping 22-percent of folks "had no plans" for the cutover last November, so we're sure there's still a few OTA-only homes out there that have a real shocker comin'.

[Via Widescreen Review]

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]]> advertisinganalog-to-digitalawarenessBest BuyBestBuyceacutoverdigital tvDigitalTvdtvdtv transitionDtvTransitionhdmarketingresearchstudyswitchovertransition Fri, 08 Feb 2008 23:42:00 -0500 21|1109830 <![CDATA[Circuit City steps up to educate customers about DTV cutover]]> http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/17/circuit-city-steps-up-to-educate-customers-about-dtv-cutover/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/17/circuit-city-steps-up-to-educate-customers-about-dtv-cutover/ http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/17/circuit-city-steps-up-to-educate-customers-about-dtv-cutover/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments It'd be too easy to just mark off Best Buy's earlier announcement regarding its decision to no longer sell analog TVs as a simple coincidence, but whatever the case, Circuit City is hitting back to let the whole world know that it cares, too. Aside from confirming that it plans on participating in the NTIA Converter Box Coupon Program, it also announced that it would be "incorporating DTV transition reminders and messages into the closed circuit videos that run on its TVs," include cutover advisory information in its advertising supplements, install store signage to inform customers of the impending change and train employees to be well-versed on the whole matter. Stay sharp, though, we can just hear the PSAs turning into sales pitches now.

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]]> awarenesscircuit cityCircuitCitycutoverdigital tvDigitalTvdtveducateeducationhdotaretailswitchovertrainingtransition Wed, 17 Oct 2007 22:48:00 -0400 21|1015787 <![CDATA[Many Xbox 360, PS3 owners unaware of HD abilities]]> http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/09/many-xbox-360-ps3-owners-unaware-of-hd-abilities/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/09/many-xbox-360-ps3-owners-unaware-of-hd-abilities/ http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/09/many-xbox-360-ps3-owners-unaware-of-hd-abilities/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments
Regrettably, the recent findings from an NPD Group survey aren't shocking in the least -- you know, considering how many people think all content is magically in high-definition with the purchase of an HDTV -- but the news is disheartening nonetheless. Reportedly, "only 30-percent of Xbox 360 owners were aware of the HD graphics capabilities of the machine," and while the figure did rise on the Blu-ray-packin' PS3, it still stopped at just 50-percent. Meanwhile, aficionados like ourselves are panicking over whether or not our new console actually includes an HDMI port. Regardless, this disappointing survey could be seen as proof that gamers still care about gameplay first and foremost (or simply ignore the extras), and while you aren't likely to find us letting up on Nintendo anytime soon for shunning HD on the Wii, maybe the world's not ready for all that, anyway.

[Image courtesy of Xbox360Fanboy, thanks Rob]

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]]> awarenessfeatureshdmicrosoftother hardwareotherhardwareothersps3sonysurveyxbox 360Xbox360 Thu, 09 Aug 2007 16:24:00 -0400 21|961912 <![CDATA[MILTRAK gives soldiers the down low on encroaching enemy forces]]> http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/15/miltrak-gives-soldiers-the-down-low-on-encroaching-enemy-forces/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/15/miltrak-gives-soldiers-the-down-low-on-encroaching-enemy-forces/ http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/15/miltrak-gives-soldiers-the-down-low-on-encroaching-enemy-forces/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments We've seen a variety of systems designed to better inform soldiers of what's truly going on around them, but a new setup devised by Thales UK weds an advanced GPS module, a digital magnetic compass, a microprocessor, and a "fully ruggedized display" to provide near-real time situational awareness information. Dubbed MILTRAK, this concoction equips field soldiers with a portable display which seems to work an awful lot like your basic top-screen radar (think Counter-Strike), as it displays the positions of "similarly equipped friendly (blue) forces overlaid on a relational display, raster map, or geo-referenced aerial photograph." Moreover, those in battle can purportedly share and follow routes, which enhances communication and keeps platoons from running astray. Heck, they may even forget that the bullets flying around them are real.

[Via TheRawFeed, image courtesy of Army]

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]]> armyawarenessmilitaryMILTRAKsoldierthalesuk Sun, 15 Jul 2007 00:50:00 -0400 21|940542 <![CDATA[Polaroid offers four pink digicams in support of breast cancer research]]> http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/28/polaroid-offers-four-pink-digicams-in-support-of-breast-cancer-r/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/28/polaroid-offers-four-pink-digicams-in-support-of-breast-cancer-r/ http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/28/polaroid-offers-four-pink-digicams-in-support-of-breast-cancer-r/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Just yesterday we hit you with Seagate's Pink Pocket hard drive, and now Polaroid is jumping on the (admittedly awesome) anti-breast cancer bandwagon and throwing down four new digicams in support of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. All four P&S models are available in pink, light pink, and magenta (similar to the trio of RAZR hues), house 16MB of internal memory, and support SD cards of all sizes. The a520M gets it started with a 5.1 megapixel sensor, 2-inch LCD, hardly useful 4x digital zoom, and an AVI movie mode, while the i533P steps it up by including a 2.5-inch display, much more worthwhile 3x optical zoom, AVI / MPEG-4 video capability, and video / audio outs. The i639M rocks 6 megapixels, a 2.4-inch screen, 3x optical zoom, video out, and an MPEG-4 movie (with voice recording) mode, while the top-end i733LP boasts 7.1 megapixels, a 2.5-inch TFT LCD, 3x optical zoom, movie mode with audio, and A / V outs. While pricing deets are currently MIA, these will only be available until next March, so you can pick up a delightfully colored digicam for that oh-so-special lady in your life (or one for yourself, ladies), and help out an excellent cause in the process.

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]]> a520Mawarenessbreast cancerBreastCancercancerdigicami533Pi639Mi733LPpinkpink cameraPinkCamerapolaroidresearch Thu, 28 Sep 2006 06:32:00 -0400 21|676076 <![CDATA[The Availabot hates your mommy]]> http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/27/the-availabot-hates-your-mommy/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/27/the-availabot-hates-your-mommy/ http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/27/the-availabot-hates-your-mommy/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments

This Availabot prototype, as the name implies, is a presence aware, instant messaging buddy-bot whose physical demeanor is meant to communicate the status of your little Internet friends. The Availabot stands erect when your buddy comes online and then drops to the table in a flaccid heap of despair when s/he goes away. The idea here, of course, is to show status in a "fun" and "physical" way. But unlike the cutsie wutsie Nabaztag, the Availabot can be made to look just like you and your creepy friend(s). Just think, a mini community of angry, exercising Sim dwarves guaranteed to haunt you in your dreams. Great.

[Via Pasta & Vinegar]

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]]> angyavailabotawarenesschatIMinstant messagingInstantMessagingpresence Tue, 27 Jun 2006 09:44:00 -0400 21|637300