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EyeForcer wants to force your kids to sit up straight
The rise in smartphone use has created a new spinal condition that's called "tech neck," or "gameboy disease." All of that time hunched over our devices, shoulders forward, has caused people to develop serious spinal issues. Dr. Vahid Sahiholnasab is hoping to prevent a whole generation of tweens becoming incapable of looking upwards by developing EyeForcer, a wearable gadget that forces kids to maintain good posture. How can a gadget force good behavior in children? By threatening their play time if they don't behave.
Adventures with a homemade standing desk
I, Dan Cooper, am today going to review some cardboard boxes. Not Google Cardboard, nor Luckies' Cardboard Smartphone Projector (which is coming in a few weeks), but some honest-to-goodness cardboard. More precisely, the box for my Nintendo Wii + Wii Fit starter pack, the packaging for a Dyson DC19 T2 Exclusive and an Image Business five-ream printer-paper box. I should add that I haven't been paid by any of the above companies, and each one came with the implement it was purchased with -- oh, except for the paper box, which my wife brought home from her office one day.
Next gen PSP to have touch controls -- on the wrong side?
Touchscreen controls are nice for some applications but, until someone invents transparent fingers, they're a real bother for gaming. Many, including Apple, have toyed with the idea of putting the touch sensitive sections on the back of the device, and we have strong rumors coming out of Gamescom this week that this is the path Sony is taking for its next-generation PSP. Now, we've been hearing various rumors about this thing for just about as long as we've known about the first-gen PSP, but Sony is said to be quietly showing off a prototype unit about the size of a PSP-3000. While everyone agrees about the touch-sensitive portion 'round the back, it's unknown what (if any) physical controls will go along with it. A release date for the thing is also unclear, with some saying next year and others saying it'll be later than that. Whenever it ships we hope it'll do the right thing and finally put the UMD format out of its misery.
The Daily Grind: What would bring you back?
So you unsubscribed. It happens. Much as we'd like to think otherwise, no MMO entertains us forever, and whether it's a patch that changed a lot of fundamentals or just a general growing dissatisfaction with the game is largely irrelevant. What matters is that you stop and let the game drift out of your consciousness for a while, until you really barely remember your favorite times in the game. That is until something catches your eye and gets you reading about all the things that have changed; until you find yourself drawing out your credit card and eagerly re-subscribing. Just like no MMO keeps us forever, many games won't lose us forever, even if we take a break. The question is: what would spur you to start playing an old favorite again? A new expansion? Promises that the biggest problems you'd found had been fixed? A change in management? Or is it just a case where time heals all wounds and absence makes the heart grow fonder?
Breakfast Topic: What overcloak designs would you like to see?
We found out on Tuesday of the new ability to toggle customized overcloaks that replace the look of your cloak (but leaves the stats intact). As a dwarf priest, I would proudly wear the Ironforge colours of gold and red. But I wouldn't have a problem wearing something else that looks as slick as say the insignias of the Argent Crusade. From a guild perspective, I think the guild tabards in game are okay. The problem with tabards? My beard covers it up. I know for other classes and races, the tabard has that "tucked in" look. Many comments from the overcloak post mentioned overcloaks with guild tabard designs on them. Not a bad idea and that is something I hope we'll get to see. Now I have to ask, what cloak designs are you looking forward to wearing?
iPhone modded with titanium back
Everyone's saying that the next version of the iPhone will have a case upgrade, but Martin Schrotz couldn't wait -- he encased his iPhone 3GS in titanium, and Engadget has a gallery of pictures of the ubercool mod. I thought he had actually put the titanium cover over the plastic back, but apparently he went whole hog and actually removed the back cover and replaced it with this one. The design isn't quite perfect (though it looks great for a one-man mod, don't get me wrong) -- the logo is a tad too big, and the metal looks a little homemade to be Apple's actual brushed metal -- but it is much cleaner than the current plastic design. I wouldn't be surprised at all if the iPhone's next revision does take away a lot from the iPad. Hopefully not just in the hardware, either -- a cool metal back would be great, but I'd like to see the firmware overhauled as well.
Cataclysm: Stylish overcloaks!
The thing about our cloaks is that the ones that give us the most power for our characters aren't always the ones that look the best. Turns out that is about to change. Our friends over at MMO Champion have revealed a new Overcloak function. They're entirely cosmetic in appearance and allow you to slightly customize the look of your cloak. It appears there will be a toggle option of some sort for players who wish to display their cloak along with an overcloak. My guess is that these cloaks will be incentive rewards that come from reputation, limited seasonal drops or really rare drops (like mounts and companion pets). Ironforge represent!
iPosture annoys you when you slouch, does so because it loves you
Mama always said you'd regret slouching one day, and while you've still got a few decades left before ultimately determining whether the sage-like advice was right or wrong, why take chances? The iPosture does the same thing as wearable posture reminders that we've seen in the past, but this one does so in a much more discrete fashion. The diminutive nano-sensor detects when your angle deviates just three degrees from the optimal position for greater than a minute, after which it emits a warning to straighten you out. Users insistent on keeping it crooked can turn the device off by powering it down, removing it or flinging it furiously into a wall. Life's next big nuisance will be shipping soon for $99.95.[Thanks, Eric]
Phat Loot Phriday: Ruby Drape of the Mysticant
Who knew a piece of cloth on your back could be so badass?Name: Ruby Drape of the MysticantType: Epic CloakArmor: 105Abilities: +22 Stamina, +21 Intellect Improves spell hit rating by 18 (hot for a cloak) +30 spell damage and healing, which is even hotter, especially for an item from Karazhan. There are better caster cloaks in the game, but they're all from higher level raids, so get this one and you'll be set for a while. How to Get It: As Kirk might say, KarazhAAAAAAAANNN!!! Prince Malchezaar, one of the last bosses in Medivh's tower, drops this baby. In fact, getting there is only half the battle-- because this cloak is so great, you'll probably have a harder time winning the roll to get this than you will actually defeating the Prince. It's around a 10% drop, which ain't bad, but every Mage, Shaman, Warlock, and maybe a Moonkin or two are going to be after this cloak, so it's really more luck than anything.But the good news is that once you get it, you're pretty much set-- there are sidegrades coming up, but there's really nothing that matches up to it until you hit Kael'thas.Getting Rid of It: Disenchants into a Void Crystal, and sells to vendors for 3g 71s 96c.
Laptops are dangerous / not dangerous : back pain edition
Look out, laptop users -- your machines are out to kill you in more ways than one. Not only do you need to worry about exploding batteries, a new article in London's Daily Mail claims that "girls as young as 12 are being diagnosed with nerve damage" from slouching over laptop screens. The main problem appears to be bad posture when using the laptop on your, uh, lap -- hunching over in this way apparently causes chronic back problems in all sorts of people. While we've certainly put a crick or two in our necks after a long work session on an plane, the story strikes us as being classic scare-journalism: although a lot of frightening statistics are trotted out, no published research is cited and the two main sources quoted are chiropractors. On top of that, the article gets one very important aspect of laptop use incredibly wrong -- the reason integrated wireless has made laptops so popular is that you can stretch out on the couch and browse the web instead of slumping over a desk. Funny thing none of those chiropractors mentioned that, eh?
G-Tech kicks out Bluetooth-enabled iPod backpack
Similar to another company we're familiar with, G-Tech has hit it big by slapping iPod-compatibility onto an otherwise drab offering, and now the company has upped the ante by tossing in Bluetooth. Unveiled at CES, the self-proclaimed Next-Generation Messenger Bags with Bluetooth feature the same Eleksen ElekTex smart fabric controls right on the strap, but these controls now control the track / volume functions of your dock-connecting iPod as well as the volume / mute of your phone. The Bluetooth functionality simply allows users to easily mute their iPod to take an incoming call, and the built-in speaker can also pump out the jams (rather meekly, we assume) with any audio device that connects via a 3.5-millimeter cable. There's no word on price or availability, but if you're really dead set on owning an iPod-controlling pack, might we suggest one that doesn't look like an early '90s experiment gone awry?[Via Textually]
Wii box back claims console comes with startup disc
This snapshot of the back of the Wii box, found at an EB Games, has the whole of the Nintendo-lovin' internet collectively stroking their chin and raising a single eyebrow in silent contemplation. Some think this "startup disc" is none other than Wii Sports, while others claim it to be a disc controlling the OS of the system. Some have said it is none other than the Opera browser, however we feel that is likely untrue.What do you guys think?[Via Joystiq]
iTMS browser navigation and history works like Safari
A macosxhints post details how browsing the iTMS (as some might assume) works quite a bit like Safari. The poster discovered that clicking and holding on either the forward or back button in the iTMS will reveal a drop-down history menu. This ought to make browsing a bit easier for the chronic iTMS user (just don't blame us for the bill).I also noticed a little while ago that the standard Safari keyboard shortcuts of cmd + [ or ] will act as a back/forward command in the iTMS as well. Now all we need is bookmarking ability and a del.icio.us-like system for publicly marking and sharing albums for fellow users, and we'll be all set!
Back/Center Stage 0.6 released
CenterStage and BackStage make up a dynamic duo which gives FrontRow a run for its money. The free software suite reached version 0.6 today, bringing with it some exciting new features and Intel support. Media management app BackStage got madeover with a new unified UI, while FrontRow-esque component CenterStage now features support for the Apple remote, Elgato eyeTV, and Griffin RadioShark, as well as a new UI for photo browsing. While the programs might not be as polished and feature rich as MediaCentral, the price can't be beat, and new features are being added rapidly. Via HardMac
Phantom Hourglass pushed back?
Reports are rolling in that Link's latest adventure on the DS has been pushed back. Way back past the reaching arms of year 2006 and on into the future, almost certain to be an apocalyptic one, year 2007 is the date that is now when most are expecting to see The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass available on retail shelves, undoubtedly to be eagerly wrestled free from its noisy prison upon placement on said shelf to the quiet, almost romantic sanctity of your domicile. We're fairly sure you'll have some candles lit.This news stems from reports that the title was not present during the recent San Diego Comic-Con. When asked, the rep supposedly stated that their presence was to showcase DS titles available for 2006, implying once again that we would not see Phantom Hourglass until 2007. Stay glued to DS Fanboy for future updates as we await official word from Nintendo on this matter of great import.[Via NeoGAF]
Weird slots on Wii gamepad
A video posted over at You Tube shows the Virtual Console gamepad being flipped around and the back showing several odd slots. The top of the controller also shows a kind of release button, clearly showing that something is destined to plug into the back. Many are speculating that it could be some sort of SD card slot. I'd comment myself, but I honestly didn't get to play any Virtual Console titles at E3.What do you guys think?[Via Infendo]
