Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Taser's on-officer cameras catch you in the act, right to remain silent imperative]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/21/tasers-on-officer-cameras-catch-you-in-the-act-right-to-remain/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/21/tasers-on-officer-cameras-catch-you-in-the-act-right-to-remain/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/21/tasers-on-officer-cameras-catch-you-in-the-act-right-to-remain/#comments Taser International has released an update to its on-officer system, the AXON Flex. The new rig provides law enforcement officials with body-mounted cameras that capture video evidence "from the officer's perspective." These recording devices can be affixed to the hat, collar, shoulder or on specially designed Oakley shades and are ruggedized to IPX2 standards. That's all well and good, but what really gives this setup nerd-cred is what can be done with the captured video. Through a partnership with evidence.com, the Flex system can send footage to a "military grade" cloud-based storage system for safe keeping; there is also an on-site storage option for IT-savvy forces. As if that weren't enough, Taser and Looxcie have co-developed a smartphone app -- available for iOS or Android -- that will allow officers to review captured clips and add GPS coordinates, notes or timestamps. The system's goal is to protect officers from "false claims, enhance public trust [and] decrease litigation." AXON Flex is set to be released in Q1 and will have a base price of around $700. Don't tase film me, bro.

Continue reading Taser's on-officer cameras catch you in the act, right to remain silent imperative

Taser's on-officer cameras catch you in the act, right to remain silent imperative originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AndroidAxonAXON FlexAxonFlexcameracloudcloud storageCloudStorageevidenceEvidence.comFlexGPSiOSlaw enforcementLawEnforcementmobilepolicesmartphonestorageTASERvideovideo evidenceVideoEvidenceTue, 21 Feb 2012 00:01:00 EST<![CDATA[BodyGuard stun-glove leaps out of comic books, into the arms of LA Sheriff's Department]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/01/bodyguard-stun-glove-leaps-out-of-comic-books-into-the-arms-of/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/01/bodyguard-stun-glove-leaps-out-of-comic-books-into-the-arms-of/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/01/bodyguard-stun-glove-leaps-out-of-comic-books-into-the-arms-of/#comments What's better than a seasoned crime fighter? How about a seasoned crime fighter packing a 300,000-volt punch? A new prototype stun-glove is poised to make such Robocop-inspired dreams a reality, integrating a non-lethal taser, LED flashlight, and laser guided video camera into a fetching piece of futuristic armor. Activated by pulling out a grenade-like pin and palming an embedded finger pad, the Armstar BodyGuard 9XI-HD01 sparks a loud and visible arc of electricity between its wrist-mounted taser spikes, a sight that inventor David Brown hopes will encourage would-be crooks to surrender. The gauntlet's hard plastic shell is even roomy enough to add GPS equipment, biometrics, chemical sensors, or other embedded additions, as needed. The first batch of pre-production superhero gloves will hit the streets of LA later this year for testing and evaluation. Need more? Check out the via to see Kevin Costner (what field of dreams did he walk out of?) take the edge off this shocker in a surprisingly dull video.

BodyGuard stun-glove leaps out of comic books, into the arms of LA Sheriff's Department originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>720p9xi-hd01arms controlArmstarArmstar BodyguardArmstar BodyGuard 9xi-hd01ArmstarBodyguardArmstarBodyguard9xi-hd01BodyGuardBodyGuard 9xi-hd01Bodyguard9xi-hd01cameracopscrime fightingCrimeFightingcriminalcriminalsflashlightflashlightsglovegunLALA Sherrifs DepartmentLaSherrifsDepartmentlaw enforcementlaw enforcement cameralaw enforcement equipmentLawEnforcementLawEnforcementCameraLawEnforcementEquipmentLos AngelesLosAngelespolicerobocopsecuritystunstun gunStunGuntasertaserswargadgetWed, 01 Jun 2011 10:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Robot camel jockeys found packing illegal stun guns, Dubai police say 'Don't tase them bro!']]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/24/robot-camel-jockeys-found-packing-illegal-stun-guns-dubai-polic/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/24/robot-camel-jockeys-found-packing-illegal-stun-guns-dubai-polic/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/24/robot-camel-jockeys-found-packing-illegal-stun-guns-dubai-polic/#comments It's been awhile since we've talked about the remote controlled robot jockeys used in Arabian camel racing, but a recent scandal that has rocked the camel-racing world compels us to revisit the topic. The Dubai police discovered that some shady characters have been selling robot jockeys equipped with stun guns to "encourage" camels to run faster. We're pretty sure that the animals don't need any more incentive to run -- they already have a robot whipping them -- and it's good to see that the powers-that-be agree with us, as the two men selling the machines were arrested. Now that our dromedary friends need no longer fear being tased in the name of sport, we only have to worry about over-zealous peace officers using them on all of us.

[Image Credit: ZDNet]

Robot camel jockeys found packing illegal stun guns, Dubai police say 'Don't tase them bro!' originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 22:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animalanimalscamelcamel jockeycamel jockey robotcamel racingCamelJockeyCamelJockeyRobotCamelRacingcamelsrobotRobotsstun gunStunGuntaserMon, 24 Jan 2011 22:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Crapgadget CES, round two: TASER C2 now in pretty colors]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/07/crapgadget-ces-round-two-taser-c2-now-in-pretty-colors/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/07/crapgadget-ces-round-two-taser-c2-now-in-pretty-colors/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/07/crapgadget-ces-round-two-taser-c2-now-in-pretty-colors/#comments
The most disturbing part... are the smiles.

Crapgadget CES, round two: TASER C2 now in pretty colors originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 22:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cesces 2011ces2011crapcrapgadgettasertaser c2TaserC2tasersFri, 07 Jan 2011 22:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Axon head-mounted camera records what police see when they keep an eye on Mayberry]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/axon-head-mounted-camera-records-what-police-see-when-they-keep/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/axon-head-mounted-camera-records-what-police-see-when-they-keep/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/axon-head-mounted-camera-records-what-police-see-when-they-keep/#comments
Taser International, not content with zapping people with electricity, now wants you to be able to capture the action on video -- hands-free. Similar to the helmet cam used on television sports, the Axon system includes a Linux-powered tablet PC, an eye-level HeadCam that records audio and video (using IR in low-light), and a corresponding account on Evidence.com, an online, real time app for accessing and analyzing the data -- sure to become law enforcement's third favorite web portal (after Sprint's GPS data dispersal site and Garfield Minus Garfield). The system -- which will cost $5,700 per officer every three years -- made news recently when a Fort Smith, Arkansas officer was cleared of any wrongdoing in the death of a man who had threatened his wife with a handgun. The policeman was wearing an Axon camera at the time, which the county prosecutor said that the video allowed him to "observe what happened with complete objectivity." Currently officers in San Jose are using the system as part of a free trial, with other departments around the country expected to get in on the action in the near future. And who knows? At the very least we can hope that some hilarious law enforcement hijinks finds its way to YouTube. Get a closer look in the gallery below.

Gallery: Taser Axon head-mounted camera

Axon head-mounted camera records what police see when they keep an eye on Mayberry originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>axoncamcordercameragpshead-mounted cameraHead-mountedCameralaw enforcementLawEnforcementlocation awareLocationAwarepoliceTasertaser axontaser internationalTaserAxonTaserInternationalWed, 30 Dec 2009 00:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Taser International's six-shot Shockwave demonstration]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/30/taser-internationals-six-shot-shockwave-demonstration/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/30/taser-internationals-six-shot-shockwave-demonstration/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/30/taser-internationals-six-shot-shockwave-demonstration/#comments
If you're looking to incapacitate with electricity, Taser International is your go-to source. And while single-shot (or even triple shot) weapons have their place, what do you do when faced with a whole crowd of no-goodniks? For instance, take that Travis County, Texas constable who zapped a 72 year old woman this spring (she dared him, remember). What if he was confronted by a whole van full of Ragin' Grannies? That, dear readers, is what Shockwave is for. Each module holds six Tazers seated in a twenty-degree arc, and multiple units can either be stacked horizontally or daisy chained for simultaneous deployment. The unit is activated by a push-button control box that allows the operator to stand up to 100 meters away, and the maximum range is 25 feet. Never before has electrocution been this easy. Video after the break.

[Via Defense Tech]

Continue reading Taser International's six-shot Shockwave demonstration

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Taser International's six-shot Shockwave demonstration originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>defenseless lethalless than lethalLessLethalLessThanLethalnonlethalnonlethal weaponsNonlethalWeaponspoliceshockwavetasertaser internationaltaser shockwaveTaserInternationalTaserShockwaveWed, 30 Sep 2009 20:08:00 EST<![CDATA[TASER X3 video hands-on: watch out, baddies]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/31/taser-x3-video-hands-on-watch-out-baddies/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/31/taser-x3-video-hands-on-watch-out-baddies/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/31/taser-x3-video-hands-on-watch-out-baddies/#comments Like most rational human beings, we have a healthy fear of guns. We've never shot a man in Reno (just to watch him die), and we're even unlikely to tase a bro in Atlantic City, just to observe him become temporarily incapacitated. Still, the appeal of a "non-lethal" deterrent is understandable (and certainly preferable to the alternative variety), and TASER has made some big additions to its new TASER X3 triple-shot weapon -- things that serve to make it safer for parties on both sides of the barrel. Check out a video of us handling (and firing!) this beast after the break, along with a few tidbits we picked up from the TASER folks that should provide a small amount of comfort for the TASER-averse.

Continue reading TASER X3 video hands-on: watch out, baddies

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TASER X3 video hands-on: watch out, baddies originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>engadget videoEngadgetVideofeatureshands-ontasertaser x3TaserX3video hands-onVideoHands-onx3Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:24:00 EST<![CDATA[TASER X3 triple-shot stunner arrives, subdues population]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/27/taser-x3-triple-shot-stunner-arrives-subdues-population/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/27/taser-x3-triple-shot-stunner-arrives-subdues-population/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/27/taser-x3-triple-shot-stunner-arrives-subdues-population/#comments Right on schedule, Taser's launching the TASER X3 "force option," which allows "peace officers" the ability to shoot up to three probes in quick succession in order to "incapacitate" their "targets." Not only that, but the X3 can display a "warning arc" when loaded, allowing officers to "gain voluntary compliance" and "avert use-of-force" by putting on a light show. When it comes time to take down that unruly Trustafarian, however, it'll get done with style -- the probes are aimed with laser sights, and the new Pulse Calibration System actively monitors the perp to deliver a Precision Shaped Pulse(TM) that provides "consistent effects." Yeah, we want one. Video after the break.

Continue reading TASER X3 triple-shot stunner arrives, subdues population

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TASER X3 triple-shot stunner arrives, subdues population originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>defensegunnon lethalnon-lethalnon-lethal weaponnon-lethal weaponsNon-lethalWeaponNon-lethalWeaponsNonLethalprobestun gunStunGuntasertaser internationaltaser probetaser x3TaserInternationalTaserProbeTaserX3warning arcWarningArcweaponweaponsx3Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Triple-shot TASER X3 imminent, deranged employees celebrate with mock executions]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/21/triple-shot-taser-x3-imminent-deranged-employees-celebrate-with/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/21/triple-shot-taser-x3-imminent-deranged-employees-celebrate-with/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/21/triple-shot-taser-x3-imminent-deranged-employees-celebrate-with/#comments Sure, we love a good electric jolt to the face as much as the next guy, but perhaps the company is taking things a bit far with its new TASER X3 gun. The device has a multi-shot design that allows it to fire three probes in rapid succession, along with laser sights and other enhancements to do the deed with a modicum of accuracy and safety. The new weapon will be officially unveiled on July 27th, but in anticipation of that glorious day, TASER has kindly posted an employee demonstration video of shooting three entirely underpaid women in the back, to the applause of onlookers. Our word of advice? If somebody starts yelling "TASER TASER TASER," you and your two girlfriends might wanna duck. Horrific footage is after the break.

[Via gizmag]

Continue reading Triple-shot TASER X3 imminent, deranged employees celebrate with mock executions

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Triple-shot TASER X3 imminent, deranged employees celebrate with mock executions originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>defensegunlaw enforcementLawEnforcementmulti-shotsafetytasertaser x3TaserX3weaponx3Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:20:00 EST<![CDATA[TASER's AXON on-officer recording system could revolutionize COPS]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/23/tasers-axon-on-officer-recording-system-could-revolutionize-cop/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/23/tasers-axon-on-officer-recording-system-could-revolutionize-cop/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/23/tasers-axon-on-officer-recording-system-could-revolutionize-cop/#comments
Oh sure, technically COPS is still a current show, but seriously, the formula hasn't changed in eons. TASER International's AXON / EVIDENCE.com tandem is gearing up to change all that -- so long as officers agree to strap the hardware on their person, that is. In short, AXON is an on-officer recording system that captures audio and video of arrests, and after the scuffle is complete, it sends the data (encrypted heavily, of course) to EVIDENCE.com servers that are managed far, far away from the potentially dubious grasp of police departments. There are built in sensors to see if any data has been tampered with, and if all goes to plan, the entire system should be ready for deployment in Q3 of this year. In other words, go ahead and get all your stupidity out before the summer ends.

[Via Engadget Spanish]

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TASER's AXON on-officer recording system could revolutionize COPS originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 08:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AXONcopcopsevidencelegalpolicerecordingTASERTASER 3.0TASER InternationalTaser3.0TaserInternationalMon, 23 Mar 2009 08:12:00 EST<![CDATA[CBC / Radio Canada exposé finds Tasers are unreliable killjoys]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/05/cbc-radio-canada-expose-finds-tasers-are-unreliable-killjoys/http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/05/cbc-radio-canada-expose-finds-tasers-are-unreliable-killjoys/http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/05/cbc-radio-canada-expose-finds-tasers-are-unreliable-killjoys/#commentsThe CBC and Radio Canada have run a bunch of Taser tests recently, and the results aren't likely to reassure anyone. US-based testing lab National Technical Systems pulled 41 X26 units out of 7 random police stations across the nation, and fired each at least six times. What happened? Well, four of them threw off a current "significantly" higher than a stun gun is supposed to, including some that were 50 percent higher than normal, while three didn't fire at all. All the faulty units were manufactured pre-2005, but the company that makes them (which makes almost all US police employed stun guns), couldn't provide someone for the CBC to interview, so no one seems to be sure of the cause. Of course, it goes a long way toward explaining why so many people need to head to the hospital after getting a taste of the taser. Not cool guys, not cool.

[Thanks, Tony A.]

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CBC / Radio Canada exposé finds Tasers are unreliable killjoys originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canadacbclaw enforcementLawEnforcementpoliceradio canadaRadioCanadatasertaser investigationtaser probeTaserInvestigationTaserProbeFri, 05 Dec 2008 12:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Probe finds one-third of people shot by Tasers need medical attention]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/19/probe-finds-one-third-of-people-shot-by-tasers-need-medical-atte/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/19/probe-finds-one-third-of-people-shot-by-tasers-need-medical-atte/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/19/probe-finds-one-third-of-people-shot-by-tasers-need-medical-atte/#commentsWhile the last Taser study we came across found that the devices were safe and caused only a few trips to the hospital, a joint investigation by CBC News and the Canadian Press has now turned up some decidedly different findings, with about one-third of people shot by Tasers reportedly requiring some form of medical attention. Those numbers were drawn from the Taser-use forms that RCMP officers are required to fill out whenever they draw the device, which revealed that 910 of the 3,226 people shot between 2002 and 2007 had to go to a medical facility, and that "many more" people had minor injuries but never saw a doctor. Needless to say, we somehow suspect this won't be the last such investigation or study on the matter, especially with the lawsuits flying fast and furiously these days.

[Via Digg]

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Probe finds one-third of people shot by Tasers need medical attention originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>tasertaser investigationtaser probeTaserInvestigationTaserProbeThu, 19 Jun 2008 14:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Jury finds Taser accountable for man's death, awards $6m settlement to family]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/11/jury-finds-taser-accountable-for-mans-death-awards-6m-settlem/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/11/jury-finds-taser-accountable-for-mans-death-awards-6m-settlem/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/11/jury-finds-taser-accountable-for-mans-death-awards-6m-settlem/#comments
Oh Taser, your house of cards is about to come crumbling down, blown apart by the winds of US litigation and the righteous fury of your mostly innocent victims. Last Friday, a federal jury in San Jose, California found the stun-gun-maker responsible for the death of Robert Heston Jr., a 40-year-old man, and has awarded his family more than $6 million in damages. Sure, Heston had an enlarged heart due to long-term methamphetamine abuse, but it was the Taser shocks that sent him to a better place. Despite a 12 percent drop in stock value after the ruling, the company continues to pump the devices into the marketplace, but at the very least this should make folks pause before they start juicing people full of electricity... those things aren't toys you know.

[Via Wired]

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Jury finds Taser accountable for man's death, awards $6m settlement to family originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Jun 2008 03:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>federal juryFederalJurylegallitigationstun gunStunGuntaserWed, 11 Jun 2008 03:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Mischievous teen arrested for turning camera into taser]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/04/mischievous-teen-arrested-for-turning-camera-into-taser/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/04/mischievous-teen-arrested-for-turning-camera-into-taser/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/04/mischievous-teen-arrested-for-turning-camera-into-taser/#commentsRegardless of what the UN / Taser thinks, the fuzz around Clinton, Connecticut aren't too fond of taser-like weapons being in the hands of teenagers. Case in point: a 14-year old with a certain knack for wandering around the intarwebz and filling his brain with all sorts of hacktastic methodologies managed to stumble upon directions (what, these?) for transforming a vanilla disposable camera into something "capable of zapping people with an electrical charge." School Resource Officer Kyle Strunjo even said that the improvised weapon was "potentially capable of a 600-volt shock," though it wasn't actually used on anyone before it got swiped by the boys in blue. Chin up kid, you've got a future waiting for you yet.

[Image courtesy of DIYLive, thanks Ninad]

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Mischievous teen arrested for turning camera into taser originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Apr 2008 10:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arrestarrestedcameraconnecticutcopshackmodpolicetaserteenteenagerviolenceFri, 04 Apr 2008 10:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Thor Shield ensures you can't tase me, bro!]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/08/thor-shield-ensures-you-cant-tase-me-bro/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/08/thor-shield-ensures-you-cant-tase-me-bro/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/08/thor-shield-ensures-you-cant-tase-me-bro/#comments So Point Blank Solutions, Inc. and G2 Consulting apparently went right ahead despite the existing patent app and came up with an anti-Taser material called Thor Shield, which weighs two ounces per square foot and can be integrated into anything from a flak jacket to gloves (pictured) to a standard issue t-shirt. We totally can't wait to wear our hilarious / ironic Thor Shielded Threadless shirts to the next G8 summit, yo.

[Via Danger Room]

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Thor Shield ensures you can't tase me, bro! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Feb 2008 22:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>taserthor shieldThorShieldFri, 08 Feb 2008 22:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Taser reveals Music Player Holster for your C2]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/08/taser-reveals-music-player-holster-for-your-c2/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/08/taser-reveals-music-player-holster-for-your-c2/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/08/taser-reveals-music-player-holster-for-your-c2/#commentsSo yeah, Taser International is indeed introducing a leopard print C2 "personal protection device" here at CES, but honestly, that's not what caught our eye. Rather, the MPH (Music Player Holster) -- which is a 1GB DAP / C2 holster combination -- has absolutely and completely captured our imagination. Regrettably, little else is mentioned about the device, but the way we see it, it's all we needed to finally push us into ordering a C2 to call our own.

[Image courtesy of MSNBC]

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Taser reveals Music Player Holster for your C2 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>c2CESces 2008Ces2008Music Player HolsterMusicPlayerHolstertasertaser mphtaser music playerTaserMphTaserMusicPlayerTue, 08 Jan 2008 11:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon sells a "Don't tase me, bro" ringback tone]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/10/verizon-sells-a-dont-tase-me-bro-ringback-tone/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/10/verizon-sells-a-dont-tase-me-bro-ringback-tone/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/10/verizon-sells-a-dont-tase-me-bro-ringback-tone/#comments
We're not exactly certain how a clip of Andrew Meyer politely asking the University of Florida cops to refrain from Tasing him ended up on Verzion's ringback tone web shop, but you know a million phone lines just got that much more annoying.

[Thanks, Yamin]

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Verizon sells a "Don't tase me, bro" ringback tone originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andrew meyerAndrewMeyerdont tase me broDontTaseMeBromobileringback toneRingbackToneringtonestaserverizon wirelessverizonwirelessMon, 10 Dec 2007 16:37:00 EST<![CDATA[French Taser chief hints at flying shockbot]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/30/french-taser-chief-hints-at-flying-shockbot/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/30/french-taser-chief-hints-at-flying-shockbot/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/30/french-taser-chief-hints-at-flying-shockbot/#comments
According to a recent report, the French head of stun-gun maker Taser has plans to create a "mini-flying saucer like drone which could also fire Taser stun rounds on criminal suspects or rioting crowds." Antoine di Zazzo, fervent proselytizer of the electroshock weapon, is cutting through the is / isn't torture noise of recent UN reports with the news that the non-lethal device is about to make a serious splash in France, with president Nicolas Sarkozy promising to hand one to every policeman and gendarme. Of course, once di Zazzo's army of tiny, hovering stun machines take to the air -- sometime next year -- the police probably won't have to worry about brandishing their weapons.

[Thanks, Craig B.]

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French Taser chief hints at flying shockbot originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Nov 2007 10:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antoine di zazzoAntoineDiZazzoflying saucerFlyingSaucerfrancefrenchJean-Marie Le PenJean-marieLePennicholas sarkozyNicholasSarkozystun gunStunGuntasertaseringufoFri, 30 Nov 2007 10:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Tase me, baby: Taser responds to the UN, says tasers aren't torture]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/29/tase-me-baby-taser-responds-to-the-un-says-tasers-arent-tort/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/29/tase-me-baby-taser-responds-to-the-un-says-tasers-arent-tort/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/29/tase-me-baby-taser-responds-to-the-un-says-tasers-arent-tort/#commentsLooks like the Taser parties are back on -- Taser issued a terse rebuttal to the UN today, finding fault with its conclusion that being hit with a taser is equivalent to torture. Saying that the committee is "out of touch with the reality that confronts law enforcement officers every day worldwide," Taser also noted that the criteria used to define torture, "extreme pain," also rules out other common police implements like pepper spray and batons. Like some other reports we've seen, Taser says that since their products don't actually electrocute people, the main danger involved in being struck with a taser is an "unassisted fall," which seems to us like pretty much the only kind of fall there is -- but we're not getting in the middle of this one. Looks like this is going to be a long fight -- everybody got their popcorn?

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Tase me, baby: Taser responds to the UN, says tasers aren't torture originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Nov 2007 08:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>tasertortureunThu, 29 Nov 2007 08:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Don't tase me, bro! The UN says it's torture!]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/25/dont-tase-me-bro-the-un-says-its-torture/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/25/dont-tase-me-bro-the-un-says-its-torture/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/25/dont-tase-me-bro-the-un-says-its-torture/#commentsIn a month that has seen several people killed after being tasered, a UN committee of ten experts has ruled that tasers constitute torture and are capable of killing. This flies in the face of the manufacturer's statement, which is that any resulting deaths after a taser is used are "attributable to other factors." Intended to prevent officers from having to use lethal firearms, the taser has arguably become well established as just another tool in a regular officer's arsenal for use in scenarios where a firearm would never be considered. As for what effect this ruling will have on the sale of tasers, we're guessing "not much" until all the involved parties come into agreement about the lethality (or lack thereof) of the taser.

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Don't tase me, bro! The UN says it's torture! originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Nov 2007 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>tasertortureUNSun, 25 Nov 2007 16:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Taser parties all the rage these days?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/13/taser-parties-all-the-rage-these-days/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/13/taser-parties-all-the-rage-these-days/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/13/taser-parties-all-the-rage-these-days/#commentsWe realize tasers have been getting an awful lot of attention lately after that Gator down south got a bit too feisty at a John Kerry Q&A session, but we're trying hard to believe that this story is from a parallel universe and not our own. Apparently, some women in America are gathering around hors d'oeuvres and bottled water to hear taser plugs, which is quite a leap from the oh-so-innocent Tupperware parties of yesteryear. As expected, paranoid gals are snapping up the pink versions like they're going out of style, but considering that stun gun-proof garb is just around the corner, you should probably save your cash and just stick with the BlackBerry.

[Via TechDigest]

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Taser parties all the rage these days? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Nov 2007 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>defenseprotectionsafetytasertaser partiestaser partyTaserPartiesTaserPartyvideoweaponweirdTue, 13 Nov 2007 18:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Shock-proof jacket ensures a tasering to the face]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/02/shock-proof-jacket-ensures-a-tasering-to-the-face/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/02/shock-proof-jacket-ensures-a-tasering-to-the-face/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/02/shock-proof-jacket-ensures-a-tasering-to-the-face/#comments With non-lethal weapon manufacturers such as TASER International constantly finding new and insidious ways to incapacitate "non-compliant individuals," it's only natural that those folks who have frequent encounters with stun gun-toting authorities would want protection from their piercing, electrifying barbs. Well a gentleman from Arizona named Gregory Russell Schultz apparently empathizes with this demographic, and has filed a patent for an "energy weapon protection device" -- essentially a jacket embedded with alternating layers of conductive and non-conductive panels that complete an electrical circuit and leave the wearer impervious to the shocks of what would likely be a very surprised officer of the law. If they can retrofit our Members Only jacket in this manner, we're sold.

[Via Danger Room]

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Shock-proof jacket ensures a tasering to the face originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Nov 2007 12:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>shock-prooftaserweaponsFri, 02 Nov 2007 12:26:00 EST<![CDATA["Largest ever" study finds tasers safe]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/largest-ever-study-finds-tasers-safe/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/largest-ever-study-finds-tasers-safe/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/largest-ever-study-finds-tasers-safe/#commentsNot that you needed any kind of study to prove that your shiny new personal stun gun was safe to use, but Dr. William Bozeman and colleagues have just wrapped up an independent study that "suggests the devices are safe, causing a low occurrence of serious injuries." The research was conducted at Wake Forest University, and it showed that out of "nearly 1,000 cases, 99.7-percent of those subjected to a taser had mild injuries, such as scrapes and bruises, or none at all," while the remaining sliver received injuries severe enough to warrant a trip to the hospital. Granted, Dr. Bozeman did admit that tasers could "clearly cause injuries and even deaths in some cases," but insinuated that the risk was quite low. Tase on, we guess.

[Via Physorg]

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"Largest ever" study finds tasers safe originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Oct 2007 11:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>researchstudystun gunStunGuntasertasersuniversitywake forestWakeForestTue, 09 Oct 2007 11:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Taser International's C2 taser on sale now]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/24/taser-internationals-c2-taser-on-sale-now/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/24/taser-internationals-c2-taser-on-sale-now/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/24/taser-internationals-c2-taser-on-sale-now/#commentsWhile we're not exactly sure whether to be pleased or concerned that Taser International recently posted record quarterly sales, the firm's C2 consumer stun gun is nevertheless hitting the market. As of this week, civilians who fear for their life or have severely rambunctious children can snap up the C2 at a number of retail locations, and those interested can look forward to wires that fire 15-feet and carry 50,000-volts in order to "temporarily incapacitate a person." Interestingly, Taser must know that there's quite a few proactive ladies that are pondering a purchase as well, as the consumer C2 will reportedly be available in a variety of colors -- including pink. Hurry it up, grab one before your friends do!

[Via Wired]

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Taser International's C2 taser on sale now originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jul 2007 18:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>c2defenselaunchnonlethalon saleOnSalesalestun gunStunGuntaserTaser InternationalTaserInternationalweaponTue, 24 Jul 2007 18:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Taser's Shockwave 6-shooter makes Harry Callahan look like a princess]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/10/tasers-shockwave-6-shooter-makes-harry-callahan-look-like-a-pri/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/10/tasers-shockwave-6-shooter-makes-harry-callahan-look-like-a-pri/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/10/tasers-shockwave-6-shooter-makes-harry-callahan-look-like-a-pri/#comments
One of the bennies of working for the military industrial complex are the fat contracts paid to creatively kill, maim or otherwise incapacitate the evil-doers du jour. Here to answer the age-old question, "what if you could drop everyone in a given area to the ground at the push of a button?" comes the Taser Shockwave. The first (gulp) generation of Taser remote area denial systems consists of a Taser 6-shooter module covering a 20-degree arc at 25-feet. Best of all, they can be daisy-chained into an apparently endless array of hot neuro muscular incapacitation action. The Shockwave system will be released for pilot later this year with plans for field release sometime in 2008. Check the video link below for some of that sweet muscle convulsing fun.

Read -- Taser Shockwave
Read -- Video

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Taser's Shockwave 6-shooter makes Harry Callahan look like a princess originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Jul 2007 08:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>militaryshockwavetaserTue, 10 Jul 2007 08:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Details on Taser's XREP electric shotgun shell emerge]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/10/details-on-tasers-xrep-electric-shotgun-shell-emerge/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/10/details-on-tasers-xrep-electric-shotgun-shell-emerge/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/10/details-on-tasers-xrep-electric-shotgun-shell-emerge/#comments
We first saw Taser's XREP Extended Range Electro-Muscular Projectile shotgun shell when it was demoed to the military a little more than a year ago, and with the shells about to go into field testing, some more information is starting to come out. XREP projectiles fire out of a standard 12-gauge shotgun, deploying three fins for stability while they fly toward the target. Once they hit, the four barbs on the tip deliver enough juice to drop the unfortunate victim for about 20 seconds -- and if the perp tries to grap at the projectile and pull it off himself, the XREP's reflex engagement electrodes discharge through his hand, causing "overpowering Neuro Muscular Incapacitation." Field testing is expected to go on for six months to a year starting this fall -- would-be rioters had better get their kicks in soon.

Read - Taser XREP product page
Watch - Taser XREP promo video

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Details on Taser's XREP electric shotgun shell emerge originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Jul 2007 03:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric shotgunElectricShotgunnonlethaltaserxrepTue, 10 Jul 2007 03:49:00 EST<![CDATA[iRobot and Taser to produce (non)lethal bots]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/28/irobot-and-taser-to-produce-non-lethal-bots/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/28/irobot-and-taser-to-produce-non-lethal-bots/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/28/irobot-and-taser-to-produce-non-lethal-bots/#comments
Another day, another step towards the inevitable robotic resistance: iRobot and Taser announced plans today to collaborate on weapons-capable bots. The first model off the line will be the venerable Packbot Explorer, fitted with a Taser X26 stun gun, to be sold to police departments and the Pentagon. No plans are being made to develop robots capable of inflicting lethal force, according to the two companies, but given Taser's somewhat spotty reputation and the obvious demands of the military, we're beginning to trust our Roomba even less than before.

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iRobot and Taser to produce (non)lethal bots originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jun 2007 20:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>irobotnonlethalpackbottaserx26Thu, 28 Jun 2007 20:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Police fatally taser gasoline-soaked suspect]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/21/police-fatally-taser-gasoline-soaked-suspect/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/21/police-fatally-taser-gasoline-soaked-suspect/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/21/police-fatally-taser-gasoline-soaked-suspect/#commentsAs we've reported before, tasers might not be as safe as their makers like to claim. Juan Flores Lopez, a Texas man who had doused himself in gasoline, became the latest unfortunate taser-related casuality when police used the stun device (which sometimes emit sparks) during his arrest. "We don't know what ignited the fire," perplexed officers admitted. The case is currently being investigated by the Texas Rangers.

[Via Digg]

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Police fatally taser gasoline-soaked suspect originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Jun 2007 10:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>deathpolicesafetytaserThu, 21 Jun 2007 10:22:00 EST<![CDATA["Anti-violence" electrode shock gun brings the (non-lethal) pain]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/08/anti-violence-electrode-shock-gun-brings-the-non-lethal-pain/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/08/anti-violence-electrode-shock-gun-brings-the-non-lethal-pain/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/08/anti-violence-electrode-shock-gun-brings-the-non-lethal-pain/#comments
Although we've seen a variety of different non-lethal weapons come and go, all that choice has led to a dilemma for the riot-trooper on the go: what to pick? Skunkbombs? The laser rifle? The Taser shotgun? Techwise is hoping to eliminate all that decision-making with their "anti-violence" electrode shock gun -- a pistol-shaped not-a-weapon which accommodates cartridges for virtually every type of non-lethal force you can imagine: a 30KV pulse charge that can incapacitate a person up to 3 meters away, rubber bullets, paint capsules for marking offenders in a crowd, an "electric stick" stun gun mode, and a pepper cartridge, which Techwise claims causes extreme discomfort at up to 5 meters. Our favorite, though, has got to be the ultra-bright Xenon light used for "giddying," or assaulting a person's senses to make them dizzy and lightheaded -- something that sounds to us like they expect you to run up to the bad guys and shine a flashlight in their eyes. We'll stick with the pain gun, if you don't mind.

[Via RedFerret]

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"Anti-violence" electrode shock gun brings the (non-lethal) pain originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2007 01:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>non-lethalshock gunShockGuntasertechwiseTue, 08 May 2007 01:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Louisiana sheriff adds camcorders to taser lineup]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/02/louisiana-sheriff-adds-camcorders-to-taser-lineup/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/02/louisiana-sheriff-adds-camcorders-to-taser-lineup/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/02/louisiana-sheriff-adds-camcorders-to-taser-lineup/#commentsSure, it'd be ideal if taser-equipped police bots could clean up our streets without any human interaction whatsoever, but since we're not quite there yet, a Louisiana sheriff is upgrading his staff's lineup of Taser X26 stun guns with integrated camcorders. All 681 of the branch's devices are receiving a diminutive camera installation, which starts rolling the moment an officer switches off the safety and gets ready for action. We've certainly heard the critics who proclaim that taser guns aren't as safe as we're led to believe, and in Jefferson Parish alone a number of individuals have died after getting jolted by one. The move is being made to help protect citizens from unnecessary enforcements and to safeguard the force from illegitimate "police brutality claims," and each camera is designed to record up to 1.5 hours of monochrome footage regardless of the lighting situation. While we hope you never have to encounter one of these tasercams yourself, we imagine that Cops is already offering up big bucks to get ahold of this up close and personal footage, so you've probably got a surefire way to grab your 15 minutes if you're really that desperate.

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Louisiana sheriff adds camcorders to taser lineup originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Feb 2007 13:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>copcopscrimecriminalpolicestun gunStunGuntaserTasercamsFri, 02 Feb 2007 13:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Taser International unveils Taser C2 Personal Protector]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/08/taser-international-unveils-taser-c2-personal-protector/http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/08/taser-international-unveils-taser-c2-personal-protector/http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/08/taser-international-unveils-taser-c2-personal-protector/#commentsWhile we've yet to hear of any mishaps or hijinks, the folks at Taser International are apparently braving the crowds at CES to show off their latest bit of non-lethal weaponry, the Taser C2 Personal Protector. Available in your choice of black, silver, blue, or pink, the C2 has a range of up to 15 feet for long-range attacks and can also be used as a contact stun device if you fail to get the jump on your attacker. Those looking to trick out their Taser beyond the basics can also opt for a model with an integrated laser sight, although many of the other options available on higher-end Tasers, like the Taser Cam interface, have been eliminated from the C2 to keep costs down, with the base model starting at just $299. According to Taser, you should be able to get your hands on one sometime this April, though you'll have to wait 'till you complete a background check before they'll give you the code to activate it.

[Thanks, Richard D]

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Taser International unveils Taser C2 Personal Protector originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Jan 2007 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>defensenon-lethalnon-lethal weaponNon-lethalWeapontasertaser c2taser internationalTaserC2TaserInternationalweaponMon, 08 Jan 2007 16:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Super Taser sports extra electrode for double the fun]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/18/super-taser-sports-extra-electrode-for-double-the-fun/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/18/super-taser-sports-extra-electrode-for-double-the-fun/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/18/super-taser-sports-extra-electrode-for-double-the-fun/#commentsNothing get us going in the morning like a good tasering to the torso, but sometimes when we're getting our crime on during the winter months, it takes the cops two or three shots to penetrate our bulky Starter jackets. Well Taser International is fully aware of this problem -- apparently it happens not only with layered clothing but furry animals as well -- and has been furiously conducting government-sponsored R&D so that even the most padded criminal or woolliest feral cat can be dropped with just one round. To accomplish this lofty goal, experts in "non-lethal" weaponry have developed a projectile that, unlike traditional models, contains electrodes on both ends; if the first shock isn't enough to make the target lose control of his/her muscles and bodily functions, he/she will instinctively grab (or in the case of a malicious squirrel, bite) the barbs and try to remove them -- resulting in a second, unprotected shock from the electrode at the other end. Very clever stuff, really; there's nothing like turning people's own instincts against them in order to ensure compliance. We'll report back on the effects after we get stunned with one of these new devices for the first time, although if you're the type who prefers to pull off your capers without getting electrocuted, we suggest that you start wearing some thick ski gloves on your heists as well.

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Super Taser sports extra electrode for double the fun originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Dec 2006 18:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electrodespatentstun gunStunGuntaserMon, 18 Dec 2006 18:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Long-range stun guns en route]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/05/long-range-stun-guns-en-route/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/05/long-range-stun-guns-en-route/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/05/long-range-stun-guns-en-route/#commentsWe got a bit of a jolt out of the idea of a new longer range stun gun, as apparently inventors are hard at work on a 40-kilovolt shocker capable of reducing a subject as far off off as 450 feet to a mass of quivering child-like state. Unlike tethered Tasers that stick someone close up with wires, this new type of debilitating nonlethal weapon fires off a small dart that detonates piezeoelectric materials on impact, triggering a massive electric reaction, and thusly taking down -- but not out -- the target. It's really no mystery to us that a device like that's going to build a lot of buzz. (Sorry, had to!)

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Long-range stun guns en route originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Sep 2006 03:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>nonlethal weaponsNonlethalWeaponstaserTue, 05 Sep 2006 03:41:00 EST