Victor
Latest
Scrabble-playing robot learns how to sass its rivals
-- Transcript of staff appraisal for Robot PX31i Hey PX31i, thanks for coming in, please take a seat! So, I wanted to talk to you about your personal development today. No, don't look down, because you're great at moving heavy objects and scaring the visitors, but we're all worried about your work / life balance. Like, at the after-office party, you just sit in a corner, eyeing up the leftover filing and wishing you didn't have to talk to Dave. We think you, you know, could be a little more personable. Like Victor, have you seen Victor? He's a research project to get computers to be more chatty. Victor's amazing, he's even got his own Twitter account. People think they're playing Scrabble with him but actually he's just showing off his impressive range of smack talk. Maybe you could watch the Wall Street Journal video tonight and come back tomorrow with a little more personality? Either that or maybe wear a fruity hat or something. Okay, that's all for now! -- Transcript ends.
LG Optimus Sol gets a healthy dose of hands-on treatment
A phone known as the LG E730 made it through the clutches of the FCC three weeks ago, but little information could be discerned from the filings. Turns out we didn't have to wait terribly long for the big question mark to be erased, as German site BestBoyz was able to procure a pre-production unit of the E730, codenamed "Victor," and now known as the LG Optimus Sol. It's an Android 2.3.3 phone with a 1GHz CPU and 3.8-inch WVGA AMOLED display, and looks ready for a debut with Vodafone. Oh, and it'll come in silver and black and will retail for roughly $420. Need more quality time with the fresh device? Great news -- there's a video after the break.
Novero's Bluetooth headset doubles as neckwear, savings destroyer
Can't say we've ever heard of Novero before today, but after watching the undoubtedly mesmerizing homescreen loop linked there in the source, we can safely say we'll never (ever) forget about 'em. From what we can gather, this company specializes in overpriced jewelry, and given that Bluetooth headset use is rising stratospherically, seeing a new necklace-slash-BT headset hit the market just makes perfect sense. All sarcasm aside, the new Victoria line actually is fairly edgy, and if the light hits you right, it's actually palatable. The collection consists of the Victoria Lapis, Pearl, Stripes, Wave and Victor, all of which purportedly boast the same innards but different exteriors. Specifications are unsurprisingly hard to come by, but considering some of the more blinged out models are priced at around $120,000, it's not likely to matter. Video's past the break, richy.
JVC SP-FT is a drool-inducing, 31mm thin home theater speaker system
We know, life's tough. You want to buy the latest ultraslim HDTV, but find that your home theater speakers will look monstrously bulky sitting alongside it. JVC wouldn't want to cause you such headaches, which is why it's trotted out the above pair of 31mm thin speaker satelittes -- known as the SP-FT1 in black and SP-FT2 in their white garb -- and the AX-FT amplifier squeezed in between them. While you should probably not expect Telos 5000-like output, the amp will deliver 80W of total output over 4 independent channels, and has support for Dolby Digital, DTS and AAC formats. Prices are expected to be around ¥24,000 ($267) for the amp and ¥20,000 ($223) for the speakers when their black iterations hit Japan later this month, with the willowy white option showing up in November. %Gallery-75557% [Via Akihabara News]
JVC's NX-TC5 iPod dock with motion activated 4.3-inch LCD plays digital TV, not iPod video
Japan's home to some pretty impressive shelf audio systems given the preponderance of well-mannered neighbors living side-by-side in tiny urban apartments. Today brings another, JVC's latest addition to its NX-TV series, the 15 x 15 watt NX-TC5. Unfortunately, while the unit sports an iPod dock and 4.3-inch LCD, video playback is limited to its integrated 1Seg digital TV tuner or WMV video stored on USB media -- not from Apple's beloved. It does feature a swiveling front-panel for optimal viewing angle and motion-activated display in addition to 512MB of on-board storage for photos, an AM/FM tuner, and CD player with the ability to rip audio to MD or attached USB stick at 4x speeds. The TC5 is expected to hit Japan in late August for ¥62,000 (about $655) or ¥52,000 (about $549) as model NX-TC3 if you've finally kicked the MD habit. Looking pretty in white after the break.[Via Impress]
HTC 2009 lineup gets spec'd in detail?
Other than a few desperately-needed in-the-wild shots, we're getting close to knowing everything we need to know about HTC's 2009 lineup of devices -- or much of it, anyway -- and the latest leak certainly fills in some holes for us. The big news here might be the NVIDIA-powered SuperStar, featuring 512MB of ROM, 256MB of RAM, and a whopping 3.7-inch WVGA display that should be ready to take full advantage of the high-octane 600MHz chipset. That sucker will be running WinMo 6.5 out of the gate, suggesting it won't be out until later in the year; we've also got a couple Qualcomm-powered 6.5 handsets in the mix along with a plethora of 6.1 units that -- if HTC's current strategy holds up -- should be upgradeable to 6.5 when the time comes. The authenticity of the leaked spec sheet can't be confirmed here, but it certainly seems believable, doesn't it?[Via wmpoweruser.com]
Victor Multi-Kill trap electrocutes mice, hates liberals
Daaaamn... this Victor Multi-Kill Electronic Mouse Trap is serious business. Normally we prefer more humane, wired domes to cage our furry house guests as they grab for the rich dark-chocolate morsels that tempt the palate of elite city-mice. We then release them into wee puddle-boats with tiny parasols to enjoy a feast of truffles glazed in a bit of saffron sauce. But all the gadgety goodness of this Multi-Kill trap makes us want to electrocute our pests into smoldering puffs of lifeless mouse just as Victor promises. The high-voltage shock is said to kill the mouse in 3 seconds followed by a swivel of the "Shock N' Drop" chamber to dump up to 10 carcasses into the collection drawer. "Population annihilation in just one night -- 100% kill rate guaranteed." Oh boy. Video after the break.
$12 PC based on NES, not Apple II -- even cooler
The $12 PC project just got a little more interesting -- contrary to what the Boston Herald reported yesterday, the project is actually based around an off-license NES clone from China called the Victor, not the Apple II. The machine is entirely contained within a keyboard and accepts NES cartridges as well as Famicom software, so there's already a BASIC -- which might be what project members were referencing when they said that their generation had grown up programming Apple IIs. The Victor isn't quite the machine the Apple II was, obviously, but we're still totally intrigued by entire nations of budding console hackers -- you ready for the competition, Ben Heck? Read - Computerworld clarification Read - Project wiki
More details on HTC's Touch Diamond / Touch Pro for Verizon and Sprint
There's no doubt that both of HTC's forthcoming handsets (yeah, the Touch Diamond and Touch Pro) are coming to Sprint and Verizon. What we're still curious about, however, are the respective launch dates and the eventual names. phoneArena has it that the Touch Diamond will go by HTC Victor on Sprint and HTC Diamond on Verizon, with the former packing a slightly speedier CPU, an aluminum frame, accelerometer, 4GB of internal memory and EV-DO Rev. A support. As for Verizon's, expect it to boast half the RAM (128MB), a wimpier CPU, microSD expansion slot and a stainless steel frame. Moving on, we're told that the Touch Pro will be rechristined HTC Herman for Sprint and HTC Raphael (nice to re-meet you!) for The Network. Finally, we're clued in on a September 2nd release date for Sprint's Victor, while the Herman is expected a month later. As for Verizon? It'll probably be 30 or so days behind in both instances thanks to a presumed exclusivity agreement with its nemesis. Get all that?
JVC's HP-FXC50 earphones promise to get closer to your eardrum
They may not conduct sound through your bones, but JVC's new HP-FXC50 earphones at least promise to pump sound deeper into your ears than your usual earbuds. That's apparently done simply by using a longer and thinner sound driver than usual (measuring 5.8mm in diameter), which can be "installed in the sound channel" of your ear. According to JVC, that not only cuts down on sound leakage, but makes the earphones more comfortable to wear as well (assuming you can get them back out). If that's got you sold on 'em, or at least hasn't scared you off, you can look forward to them being available in Japan in early August for just ¥4,000 (or about $38).
HTC Victor gets de-glitzed, unboxed
We actually rather like the Tumbler-like stealth rear surface of the HTC Touch Diamond, but if you're trying to roll a little more Wayne, a more straightlaced edition dubbed "Victor" announced back in May with a flat rear end is now shipping. Apart from that it doesn't look like there's anything new going on here, so we'll see if any Stateside carriers offer this version any time soon.[Via Boy Genius Report]
Harvest Moon: Ostrich of Mobility
Natsume is celebrating the ten-year anniversary of the Harvest Moon franchise* in the best possible way: with new Harvest Moon games. They released new screens today of the Wii farming game Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility, which feature all the best parts of Harvest Moon: planting stuff, caring for animals, riding around on an ostrich -- wait, what? In case all the tomato-growing hadn't quite lured you into the world of Harvest Moon yet, maybe the allure of awkward livestock vehicles may do the trick. *They say it's the ten-year anniversary, but Harvest Moon came out in Japan in 1996 and the U.S. in 1997. It is the ten-year anniversary of the PAL release of Harvest Moon SNES, so it still counts! %Gallery-3745% [Via press release]
JVC's Everio GZ-MG740 adds 10GB more disk, calls itself king
We're not sure why JVC didn't announce their new Everio ¥100,000 GZ-MG740 (about $942) last week with all their other models. Nevertheless, the new 40GB peer to the 30GB GZ-MG730 was just announced in Japan. Other than the disk bump (and "Victor" not "JVC" badge), it's a spec-for-spec twin to the 7.38-megapixel model MG730 which shoots 720 x 480 pixel video -- right on down to that tiny 1.3-inch hard disk. That makes it the flagship model of their non-HD shooters. But you don't really care about non-HD camcorders anymore do you? No worries, we can respect that.
Suda's other assassin game hitting Japan in March
No More Heroes wasn't the only Goichi Suda game to cause our pulses to race in the last few weeks. With its Groundhog Day-esque hook and all-too-topical tale of airborne terrorism, we're anxious to hear whether or not Flower, Sun, and Rain will ever leave Japan. It doesn't strike us as the most import-friendly title, so unless you're one of those forward-thinking types who took the time to learn kanji, a western release might just be our best only hope.We know one thing, however: the game is scheduled to release in Japan on March 6th, and it has a shiny new official site to prove it. Poke around there, and you'll find a number of (tiny) new screens, character profiles for three of the game's fifteen primary characters (including protagonist and assassin Sumio Mondo), and a rundown on "Katherine," the suitcase-shaped instrument that Sumio carries to crack codes.[Via Go Nintendo]
Another Suda 51 classic coming to DS
Flower, Sun, and Rain, an adventure game released in 2001 for the Playstation 2, is being remade for the DS, according to the latest Famitsu. It's one of the earlier works of Grasshopper Manufacture, headed by Suda 51, and has a lot in common with later works.Like Killer 7 and No More Heroes, the protagonist of Flower, Sun, and Rain is an assassin. Sumio Mondo lives the same day over and over again until he can stop a bomb from exploding in an airport. To do this, he must also solve the problems of the people he interacts with during that repeating day. As time (fails to) pass, his hotel room starts changing to reflect his mental state.With The Silver Case's remake being done with an eye for international release, can we expect the same of Flower, Sun, and Rain? (Will The Silver Case actually be released outside Japan?) Is Suda 51 attempting to remake his complete works for the DS? That would certainly be welcomed by Suda fans and adventure fans. We've posted the magazine scan after the break.
JVC Victor gets official with 4k x 2k DLA-SH4K projector
Not even two months after JVC Victor showcased its (then unnamed) 4k x 2k projector at CEATEC, the firm has finally come clean and given said unit a proper title and release time frame. The DLA-SH4K, which obviously packs that awe-inspiring 4k D-ILA chip, touts a 4,096 x 2,400 resolution, 10,000:1 contrast ratio, 3,500 lumens, a dual-link DVI input, multiscreen mode, an Ethernet port for remote operation and RS-232 / USB connectors to boot. Additionally, this thing will even email its owner when the time comes to replace the lamp or if some error occurs within, and while it's still sporting the elusive "open price," interested consumers will have their chance to take one home in January 2008.[Via AkihabaraNews]
JVC's DLA-HD100 1080p D-ILA projector: twice the contrast, twice the price of 3LCDs
Nearly a year after the announcement of JVC's DLA-HD1 1080p projector come this, their DLA-HD100. The latest projector to sport a trio of 0.7-inch D-ILA devices doubles the reported contrast ratio to 30,000:1 while scaling back the lumens from 700 to 600 of the same 200W bulb. Inputs include 2x HDMI v1.3 supporting your choice of 1080/24p/50p/60p sources; component, S-Video and the ubiquitous composite connectors. A 2x zoom lens offers a 100-inch projection from a distance of 10- to 20-feet. This 24dB projector is expected in Japan mid November for ¥840,000 or about $7,312 -- right, about twice the price of the latest generation 1080p 3LCD projectors offering less than half the contrast. Decision, decisions. [Via Impress]
JVC showcases HD Everio GZ-HD3 HDD / SDHC camcorder
JVC hasn't shown off any of its fancy Everio camcorders in quite awhile, but it's making a noticeable return with the HDD / SDHC-compatible GZ-HD3. This handheld camcorder does it up right with a built-in 60GB hard drive, MPEG-2 HD recording (though not Full HD, reportedly), and the ability to capture onto SD / SDHC flash cards. Unfortunately, not a whole lot of details beyond that are readily available, but while you wait patiently for a release date and price, feel free to click on for a few more glamor shots.
Victor's single-sided 8.5GB DVD-RW coming in August
While everyone is up in arms over the Blu-ray vs. HD-DVD debate, Victor is creeping up from behind with some fresh DVD technology that you never even saw coming. The Japanese company has created a new variation on the DVD-RW format with a single-sided, two-layer disc that can handle up to 8.5GB of data on one side. Up until now, if you wanted to get that much onto a rewritable, you would have had to use a dual-sided disk, but it would appear that Victor has found a way around those problems. No telling if this opens the door for a double-sided, two-layer disc with 17GB of capacity, but it sure does seem to be heading in that direction.[Via Impress]
JVC Victor announces three new 120Hz 1080p LCDs
JVC is adding to the Victor line of LCDs with three new models, all of which include Clear Motion Drive 120Hz technology for the Full HD 1080p displays, and 10-bit panels for increased color reproduction capability. The LH805 series will also sport two HDMI 1.3 ports, JVC's 32-bit Genessa image processing chipset, and DLNA compatibility for home networking. The 47-inch LT-47LH805 will be available in late June, and the 42-inch and 37-inch LT42LH805 and LT-37LH805 will drop in early August, for an estimated price range of €2,140 to 2,840 ($2,800 to 3,800 US). Continue on for more pics of the panels.[Via Akihabara News]
