CRADLE
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Hyundai's new studio hopes to develop a 'transformer-class' vehicle
Hyundai is actively working on vehicles like this Elevate concept, while it try to create "the world’s first transformer-class vehicle, also known as the Ultimate Mobility Vehicle."
Hyundai's 'Elevate' concept is a four-legged first responder
Reaching victims of a natural disaster as quickly as possible is paramount for saving as many lives as possible but damage to the region's roads, bridges and other infrastructure often make that task nearly impossible. But with the new Elevate Ultimate Mobility Vehicle (UMV) from Hyundai's CRADLE division, first responders will be able to clamber, crawl, and generally cruise over even the most impassable obstacles with ease. Namely because each of the vehicle's four wheels is affixed to an articulated, extendable leg.
CryEngine-powered open-world RPG Cradle rocks onto Kickstarter
Cradle from Mojo Game Studios is an open-world RPG that features wars between gods, forgotten ancient cities and a proprietary combat system, among other things. And, being powered by the CryEngine, said things are very pretty. Mojo isn't quite finished with the game though, and just as every wizard needs his wand, every rogue needs her dagger, every paladin his shield, they need your money to fund development; $350,000 of it by February 20 to be precise. The team behind Cradle are promising an epic experience that engages the player instead of relegating them to to-do lists and fetch quests. "In Cradle, you'll never have to collect 15 boar skins or kill 25 beetles," reads the Kickstarter page. "This is an adventure for you to discover and explore, not a list of chores." The team also claims to have developed a patent-pending combat system. The system, dubbed "Realfight," changes animations depending on where players aim, as well as what their last attack was. If a player wanted to slash at an enemy's torso on the right side with a follow-up slash to the left side, they would need to aim at the right side, click the right mouse button, aim at the left side, and click the left mouse button. Weapons are unique to each character class, and can be augmented throughout the game. The game is slated to explore the mystical realm of PC in summer of 2016 if all goes well. You can learn more about Cradle by visiting the game's Kickstarter page, or by watching the video embedded above. [Thanks, Kurtis!]
Club Nintendo adds a rainbow of 3DS XL charging cradles
Those bored of staid black will find the selection of charging cradles for the 3DS XL handheld greatly expanded come Halloween, though none of these new colors will be available to you if you aren't a Club Nintendo member. Like the original, black cradle, this new line of more colorful cradles makes charging the 3DS XL slightly more convenient. Instead of having to plug a small cord into your handheld, the cradle allows players to charge their device by simply dropping the machine in place. The only new addition found in these new cradles is their appearance; new models are available in blue, yellow, red, green and white. Those of you who are already Club Nintendo members will be able to order the newly-colorful cradles for 500 points once they go on sale on October 31. If you aren't a Club Nintendo member, the process of signing up is quick and fairly painless, but keep in mind that those points are based on how many games you have purchased and redeemed through Club Nintendo. If you're only signing up to grab a new cradle, you'll need to buy at least six games to earn the necessary points.
iPhone biosensor cradle brings us one step closer to having tricorders (video)
It seems like every day we're getting a little bit closer to having tricorders, and today's no exception. Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have designed hardware and software that turns the iPhone into a powerful biosensor that's useful for toxin and pathogen testing as well as medical diagnosis. The package consists of a cradle that contains an assortment of lenses and filters which line up with the handset's camera, along with an app that guides the user through the testing process. At the core of the device is a photonic crystal slide which basically turns the iPhone into a high-resolution spectrometer. While the cradle only contains about $200 worth of parts, it's just as accurate as laboratory equipment costing tens of thousands of dollars, with the added bonus of being hand-held. The team just received an NSF grant to explore other applications for the device and is working on a cradle for Android phones. Hit the break for a demo video and a peek into the future.
Just Mobile's early-2013 range: AluCup, black HeadStand, AluFrame, AluPocket and Gum Max Duo
What we love about CES is that we get to see so many familiar faces in one week, and Just Mobile was one of them this year. Since our visit to its Taiwan office a few months ago, the award-winning accessory maker had been preparing several new products for CES: (from left to right in the above picture) AluCup, black HeadStand, AluFrame, AluPocket and Gum Max Duo. Starting in chronological order we have the black edition of the minimalistic aluminum HeadStand headphone stand, which will join its silver-colored sibling for the same $49.95 price tag at the end of this month. As before, the HeadStand's base comes in two layers for cable management, as well as a spun-metal finish. Check out the rest of the product range after the break.
US retailer pegs Nexus 7 dock release for January 10th, we remain wary
ASUS' official dock for the Nexus 7 has been an elusive beast, to put it mildly: Americans, at least, have had to sit tight for half a year if they weren't content with third-party hardware. We just might be reaching the end of that road, if B&H is right. The retailer is listing the audio-capable cradle as arriving January 10th for $40. The accessory could be tantalizingly close as a result, although we'll believe it when we're charging our tablets -- we've seen as many retailers take stabs in the dark on release dates as those that use real information, so we may still be left waiting in a week's time.
Nexus 7 dock hits Japanese ASUS shop with December launch window, ¥3,580 sticker price
Sick of propping your Nexus 7 up with books, backpacks and terrifying spider-stands? ASUS has something for you -- an official charging cradle. This wedge shaped slab dock was leaked in an accessory presentation back in July, flaunting a Micro USB connector and 3.5mm audio jack -- now it's back, flaunting a ¥3,580 ($42) sticker price on the Japanese ASUS shop. There's no word yet on international availability or official US prices, but the product page pegs the cradle for an early December ship date.
Nexus 7 dock and covers leak, promise high style in small sizes (update: source goes down)
There have been teases here and there that Google's Nexus 7 was going to get a full, official accessory treatment from ASUS, but actual details have been scarce. Consider ASUS' cover blown, almost literally. Presentation files finding their way to Nordic Hardware show the known Smart Case-like, $20 Travel Cover that's already lurking on the ASUS and Google websites, but they also spoil a leather Premium Cover that will reportedly cost $40. As for a cradle to round out the set? While the company had previously confirmed that a dock was coming, we're now getting a glimpse of the $50 Nexus Dock's super-simple wedge design and audio output. With the exception of the Travel Cover, the accessory bonanza is pegged by the slides as arriving in late August -- just in time for that last-gasp summer vacation. Update: Nordic Hardware has since taken down its original post "at the request" of an unnamed party.
Sony's Digital Link Sound System brings all-in-one iOS integration to your dashboard
Is your car yearning for more iOS integration? Sony's got you covered, with its new Digital Link Sound System. The company's new audio package is available in two models: the all-in-one XDP-PK1000 and the more compact XDP-MU110. The former consists of five components, including an iPhone / iPod Touch cradle (pictured above), wireless remote control, customizable digital sound processor, 12-inch box subwoofer and 300 watt Class D mono block amp. The XDP-MU110, on the other hand, is geared toward drivers who are already content with their amp / subwoofer setup, but simply want to outfit their ride with a fresh audio system, with the help of Sony's cradle, processor and remote. If you're interested in getting one, however, you'll have to wait a little longer; the XDP-PK1000 is expected to start shipping in September, for about $800, with the XDP-MU110 slated to ship in November, for $400. Cruise past the break for more information, in the full PR.
Ping iPhone cradle can lower your handicap, but you're still on your own with the gophers (video)
Finally, a reason to use your cellphone on the course that won't earn you icy stares around the old clubhouse. Golfing accessory manufacture Ping this week announced an iPhone / iPod touch cradle that clips onto your putter, using the company's iPing app to quantify your putting handicap number. The system measures your stroke type, impact angle, and tempo, comparing them against your friends and some pre-entered golfing pros. Al Czervik would be proud. The app itself is free, but the cradle will run you $30 -- both will be available online, later this month. It's certainly cheaper and a lot less bulky than systems we've seen, but don't take it from us -- listen to teaching professional Jeff Ritter in the clip below.
Cydle i30 cradle delivers digital TV to your iPhone, finally lands at FCC
Back in 2010, when we caught a glimpse of Cydle's M7 Android tablet at CES 2010, the company was also touting the i30, an iPhone cradle capable of delivering real-time digital TV to the smartphone. That cradle caught a little bit of air time at CES the following year, but still wasn't ready for market. Well, it looks like that's about to change -- now, just a few months shy of two years since the Mobile DTV standard was minted, the i30 is finally rearing it's antenna-sporting head over at the FCC. According to the User Manual, outed in the filing, the iPhone case uses its antenna to catch local mobile channel signals and shoots them to the iPhone via WiFi. The case is also packing a rechargeable battery, and when connected to the supplied AC adapter, pumps juice to both the dock and your iPhone. Of course, you'll need the Cydle ATSC M/H Mobile TV app (we know, it's a mouthful) to get the whole thing going, but getting your digital TV on is apparently relatively simple from there. For more photos of the Cydle i30 cradle, including shots of its exposed guts, follow the source link below.
Smart Car's Smart Drive Kit for iPhone demonstrated (video)
Daimler hasn't had a sales success on its hands lately with its line of Smart cars, with sales festering after an initial boom. To try to re-capture the imagination of we smartphone-loving Americans with short attention spans, Smart unveiled the Smart Drive Kit last month and now, at the NY Auto Show, is giving it a proper demonstration. The iPhone app effectively takes the place of an infotainment system like Sync, including internet radio, navigation, and hands-free calling. It's all demonstrated in a video after the break, and it looks cool -- cool enough to even warrant $9.99 for the app and, maybe, the $49.99 annual fee for maps and navigation. What we still needing clarification on is whether that cradle will actually be priced at a ridiculous €240 ($326) and, if so, from which precious materials it has been crafted.
Review: On the road with the Magellan Premium Car Kit
Magellan was nice enough to loan me a Premium Car Kit for the iPhone or iPod touch, so I put it in the car and drove around on both city streets and highways to get an idea how it worked, particularly with the excellent Magellan Road Mate software [iTunes link]. The Magellan kit is advertised to work with most other GPS apps, and can be used with many iPhone cases so you don't have to pull your iPhone out of a case to get it into the cradle. Setting up was easy: just plug in the cigarette lighter power adapter, plug the other end of that cable into the cradle, and using the provided suction cup to attach it to your glass windshield. I was able to do that without incident. When the unit powers up, it is automatically in pairing mode, and my iPhone found it quickly and paired. I have an InCase rubberized case for my phone, and even with the case, my iPhone seemed to fit into the cradle just fine, but more on that in a moment. The Premium Car Kit has a built in GPS receiver, and I found that signal acquisition seemed faster than using the iPhone built-in GPS. The product is advertised as working with any iPod touch (2nd generation or better) but since I don't have one of those laying around, I didn't get a chance to test that claim.
Magellan's GPS Car Kit for iPhone and iPod Touch: $130, coming next month
We heard earlier this month that Magellan was looking to one-up TomTom by outing an iPod touch / iPhone GPS car kit of its very own, but a few critical details were missing: namely, a price and a release date. Thanks to a new product listing on Amazon (capped after the break), we at least have a clue as to when this thing will be shipping stateside and for how much. If you'll recall, this one's compatible with the 2nd and 3rd generation iPod touch as well as the iPhone 3G and 3GS, and aside from providing a built-in speaker, charging capabilities and a noise-canceling handsfree speakerphone, it'll also work with any navigation or location-based app -- not just Magellan's own $79.99 RoadMate program. The unfortunate part here is that Magellan has somehow managed to produce a cradle that's actually more expensive that the ludicrously overpriced TomTom variant, but those willing to part with $129.99 can place their order now and look for a December 11th ship date. [Thanks, Mark]
TomTom Car Kit for iPhone review
Boy, TomTom sure has chosen the worst possible time to release its Car Kit for iPhone, and to make matters worse, its decision to not include the iPhone app is now set in stone. That's right, the hardware alone will set you back the cost of a TomTom ONE nowadays, and the $99.95 app works on the iPhone 3G and 3GS without it. So here's the question: is the car kit worth the extra $119.95? To find out, we got hold of a review unit for a sunny road trip around London. Surprisingly, the car kit uses Bluetooth to connect the GPS receiver and the hands-free function to the iPhone, even though there's a dock connector for charging. Bluetooth connectivity does have its advantages: according to TomTom it can work as a generic Bluetooth GPS receiver for any satellite navigation app -- including Google Maps -- on the iPhone, or any smartphones at all for that matter. TomTom even confirmed that the car kit could potentially compensate for the first-generation iPhone's lack of built-in GPS, but since its app won't run on anything but a 3G or 3GS we'll have to wait and see if that's actually useful. Meanwhile, the company is cooking up a compatible app for the original iPhone and the iPod touch, which could make the car kit more worthwhile. [Update: the app has now been updated to work with the iPod Touch and the original iPhone, but you'll need to get a separate (and slightly cheaper) model of the Car Kit for the iPod touch. Thanks, Philippe!] Read on for our hands-on impression and test videos. [Thanks for being our driver, Sam] %Gallery-76686%
Sony's official PSP cradle is a thing of beauty
Released in Japan, Sony's official PSP cradle is a magnificent thing of beauty. For those that want to use PSP as a mini-theatre of sorts will certainly want to snag this elegantly designed peripheral. The remote will allow you to turn on your PSP, and control every function of the XMB.For more images of the device, check out our friends at PSP GadgetZ.
The Wii crossbow: for fanatics only
Do you ever feel like your Wii accessories aren't niche enough? Does it seem like fitting your Wiimote into a simple gun-shaped cradle to play Link's Crossbow Training doesn't completely capture the realism you're after? Well you're in luck, because the Wii Laser Sight Crossbow is here! That's right, it's a crossbow meant to lovingly hold your Wiimote, and turn any game into a trip to the Renaissance Fair. C'mon, you've got the Nerf Blaster, lightsaber, and teddy bear add-ons, isn't it time to complete the collection? Available now for the totally odd price of $27.54.[Via technabob]
Sony announces the creatively-named PSP Cradle
It's been a while since the PSP Slim got all up on your TV, but Sony wasn't going to leave you hanging forever without a slick docking solution -- say hola to the new PSP Cradle. Apart from some of that old-time Sony design flair, there's not much else to it: you dock your PSP, images show up on your TV, and you control things with the included remote. On sale April 24th in Japan for ¥4,800 ($46), or ¥6,500 ($62) bundled with a D Terminal AV cable.
Sony announces new Bronze PSP and additional hardware for Japan
Along with the announcement that Japan will finally be getting Skype for PSP, Sony has announced a new PSP color. The Bronze PSP will be a limited edition and available, it seems, only in a value pack. Doesn't it look a bit familiar? Yes, it does. It's the same color as the upcoming Monster Hunter 2nd G limited edition PSP, but without all the fancy artwork. The only other difference is that it comes out on April 24th, almost a full month after Monster Hunter PSP's March 27th release date.Sony is also releasing a few other pieces of additional PSP hardware in the region. Namely, a docking cradle and a new D-Terminal AV cable for PSP slims. Both will go on sale on the 24th of April, along with the new PSP. The cradle itself will cost 4,800 ($47) yen and will come with a remote control. Alternatively, you can buy the hardware bundle pack for 6,500 ($63) yen and get the AV cable with it.Read - Bronze PSP press releaseRead - Additional hardware press release
