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BlackBerry 9650 Tour2 'Essex' shows up in Sprint's systems
Sprint appears to be taking a small step toward quashing the WiFi-less BlackBerrys in its product range here on news that the 9650 Essex -- quite likely to be called the Tour2 at retail -- has made its way into the carrier's internal systems. Besides the addition of WiFi, you can probably guess what else is going on in the new model: it'll swap out RIM's classic trackball for the more modern optical pad and likely carry over 99 percent of the original Tour's industrial design. No word on date or price yet, but considering that the first Tour is still just a wee tyke by BlackBerry standards, we wouldn't be surprised if it didn't hit for a few more months.
RIM's BlackBerry Tour2 9650 gets the hands-on treatment
There's practically zero doubt remaining that RIM has a next-generation Tour in the works, but if you're one of those tin foil hat wearers, you'll be glad to know that at least one of these things really, truly exists. Boy Genius just got his paws around the Tour2 9650 (shown left), and aside from the optical trackpad replacing the trackball (and the addition of a WiFi module), there's not much new here. Oh, except that presumably quicker CPU -- we're guessing to-be owners will dig that. We're told that the physical size is practically identical to the original Tour, and the keyboard is still phenomenal. Care to take a look? Sure you do -- hit the source link for a full hands-on gallery.
BlackBerry Essex sighted with Sprint branding (update: probably not)
Well, we've been seeing the BlackBerry Essex out in the wild for quite a while now, but this is the first time we've seen it with some Sprint branding, which we're sure is enough to get at least some folks plenty excited (or regretful as the case may be). As most BlackBerry fans are no doubt well aware, the Essex is a Tour refresh that, among other things, adds some much needed WiFi capabilities to the phone, and ditches the Tour's trackball in favor of a trackpad. Of course, this still isn't a done deal just yet, especially considering that the branding seen is only in the OS and not on the device itself -- not to mention the fact that the phone seems to have a curiously crooked trackpad. Hit up the link for a closer look. Update: As we'd mentioned, the trackpad looks vaguely weird -- and on closer examination, it looks downright uncool when you're zoomed in. We're thinking this probably nothing more than a Tour with a Bold 9700 pad 'shopped on; have to admit, though, the dude did a decent job. Thanks, Boy Genius!
BlackBerry Essex spotted, ready to add WiFi to Tour?
This looks an awful lot like an Onyx to us, but Salomondrin -- who has posted several blurry shots of this puppy -- claims it's the mythical Essex, a Tour refresh that should make CDMA BlackBerry fans very happy. Why? Well, first, there's the apparent addition of WiFi, something that we've heard was bound to happen sooner or later; secondly, the Tour's infamously finicky trackball has been tossed to the wayside in favor of a trackpad, yet another signal that RIM's looking to ditch trackballs altogether. It's also said to have a better camera, though the definition of "better" in this context remains unclear; also unclear is a release date, but considering that the Tour's still minty fresh on store shelves, we wouldn't realistically expect it until mid-2010. [Via CrackBerry]
BlackBerry Essex to bring WiFi on Tour?
We're starting to get the feeling they just didn't know about WiFi in Waterloo until now, because almost every BlackBerry hardware rumor we're hearing lately is all about how RIM's adding the wireless networking spec and everyone's oh-so-happy. Case in point: today we've got word of a new BlackBerry Essex, which is essentially... the Tour with WiFi. Seriously, that's the whole rumor, and we're guessing it has something to do with Sprint mandating WiFi on all of its future handsets, so it's not even particularly wild. Don't get us wrong here, we're glad to have WiFi -- it's extremely nice on the Bold, and it certainly improves battery life -- but considering the sorry state of the BlackBerry browser and the continued lack of real IMAP on the BlackBerry platform, we're just wondering when BlackBerry fans will have some real changes to get excited about.
University of Essex developing autonomous model car
DARPA's Grand Challenge certainly snags a majority of the spotlight when talking about autonomous vehicles, but researchers at the University of Essex are looking to tackle the idea on a (literally) smaller scale. Seeking to craft a "driverless model car," the project will reportedly utilize a standard remote control model vehicle, which will be flanked by a PC, camcorder, and a bevy of sensors. Supposedly, the software that will be riding on board will allow the vehicle to be "entirely autonomous" by recognizing obstacles, making tactical decisions, and driving itself around a test track. The team responsible for the prototype hopes that this small-scale, low-cost endeavor will "pave the way" for autopilot cars of the future, and considering the problems we mere humans are already having with newfangled technology, that day can't come soon enough.[Via Slashdot]
Emotion-tracking rings to assist in distance learning
Let's face it, not all of us will have the luxury of attending a school where we get to construct massive LEGO machines or learn how to become savvy in SMS, but a developing technology that tracks student emotions could help tutors and distance instructors alike in keeping kids focused while learning. Co-developed by Essex University's Vic Callaghan and Shanghai Jiao Tong University's Liping Shen, the emotion-tracking tutoring software can analyze physical signs to keep track of a student's attention span, their level of understanding, and even the amount of stress a certain lesson produces. Aimed to help tutors become more effective and to add another layer of "personal" to distance-based education courses, the software would receive information about a student's "heart rate, blood pressure and changes in electrical resistance caused by perspiration" via a sensor-laden, Bluetooth-enabled ring worn on one's finger. The information can then be assessed to determine a student's interest level and frustration level, but a decibel meter to measure snoring isn't likely to be included. If all goes as planned, the team intends on testing the system out in "real learning scenarios in China" to further tweak their creation, so it won't be too long now before an interest-tracking ring will become as necessary as pencil and paper a stylus and a tablet PC come class time.
