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ICYMI: Farming indoors, realistic robot baby study and more
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-644584{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-644584, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-644584{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-644584").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: University of California San Diego researchers are using the creepiest baby robot you have ever seen (seriously) to compare how human babies get parents to respond with loving facial expressions. Canada is overhauling food production with LED lights, recycled water and conveyor belts in a way that could well be replicated in spaces across the U.S. And in a moment that makes us pause to marvel at technology, Bluetooth connected electrodes were used to help a paraplegic man walk for the first time since being injured.
City of Steam fires up the Colossus
There appears to be no shortage of interesting sights and sounds to experience in City of Steam, although one particular landmark looms above the rest. It's the Colossus, a slumbering defensive... thing that rests in the city proper, and Mechanist Games has an amusing post giving a bit of backstory to the machine. Apparently the Colossus was created a long time ago as a giant mobile fortress tasked with protecting the city in times of dire peril. As the city is more or less at peace, the Colossus is in stand-by mode -- although it could be woken at any moment. This mega-sized robot features cannons and an arm that's good for punchin' and aught else. The devs revealed that originally it had several more limbs, but revisions turned it into a walking fort instead.
Square launches in Canada, streamlines payments on the world stage
For all of Square's fast growth, it's been exclusively the domain of US shopkeeps; others had to scrounge for an alternative, if there was one at all. The payment pioneer clearly isn't content to isolate itself or anyone else, as it's making its international debut with support for Canada. Locals can immediately request the free Mobile Card Reader and swipe credit cards with an Android or iOS device at the same flat, 2.75 percent rate that more experimental American stores know very well. Complete equality isn't available to Canucks just yet, as Square Wallet won't be available until 2013, but the access remains a step forward for Canadian merchants that don't want to be tied down to a terminal any more than their southern neighbors.
Dell Voice offers VoIP, but only to Canadians
Dell's teamed up with Fongo to offer Dell Voice, a VoIP app that's available exclusively in Canada. It's currently available for Android, iOS and Windows (Desktop), enabling everyone to shoot the breeze about Dustin Penner without charges. You'll get a local phone number that'll let you call all the big cities (and most of the smaller ones), caller ID, voice-mail, 911 service and long-distance calling for no additional charge. Call credit costs 2c per minute, with each call averaging out to 1MB of data. Canadians clutching to their BlackBerries will be relieved to know that the app will roll out on RIM's handsets next month.[Thanks, Steven]
Holidaze 2008: Boxing Day deals, for Canadians only
Hey there, Canada. We've been told Boxing Day is a special day for consumerism for you guys -- something like the equivalent of Black Friday here in the US. Our Canadian comrade at X3F thought to remind us, and additionally pointed us towards the sales papers for several major Canadian retailers: Best Buy Future Shop Walmart Toys R Us HMV (Thanks, Tom) Additionally, we've got a list of deals Amazon Canada (after the break). Highlights include $28 off limited editions of Fable 2 and Gears of War 2, $40 off Spore: Galactic Edition, $20 off Grand Theft Auto IV for PS3 and -- here's the kicker -- $10 off Legendary! (We'll take 3, please.) Sale starts 3:00AM ET on Friday, December 26 and ends 2:59AM ET Saturday morning.... US readers, are you still here? We figured you might be. There's an accessories deal going on right now until January 10, with at least 10% off all listed items. Highlights include DualShock 3 for $41, Xbox 360 wireless controller for $37, Wii component cables for $15 and Guitar Hero 3 Les Paul wireless guitars (Xbox 360 and Wii) for $40.
Would you rather have your sports in stretch-o-vision or letterboxed?
Going back through the files, we noticed that Canada's The Score announced last week they were launching the nation's first HD sports channel that is widescreen 24/7. They're achieving this by stretching any 4x3 SD content to fit a widescreen frame, much like TNT does, no word if its the exact same technology.They will be unveiling native HD content (no stretch-o) during the NBA playoffs, but till then, do you prefer the way ESPN (and presumably TSN also?) does SD. or do you want full frame upconversion, no matter what the distortion?
