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Manuscriptum: the two-pound, Linux-powered mini PC
Manufactum, the same company who apparently produces a totally sensational espresso machine, is offering up something a bit different with the Manuscriptum. Not vastly unlike many of the diminutive alternatives already out there, this two-pound PC gets stuffed with a 500MHz AMD Geode LX800 processor, an 80GB hard drive, up to 1GB of RAM and a motherboard that handles four USB 2.0 ports, VGA / serial connectors, dual Ethernet jacks and audio out. Additionally, this little fella is passively cooled and sucks down just 12-watts of power when in operation. As for the OS, you'll find Debian Linux loaded on, and it also ships with OpenOffice, Foxit PDF Reader and Firefox to keep you busy right from the get-go. In the aforementioned configuration, the Manuscriptum will run you €449 ($650), but it sounds like you can pony up even more if you're craving a customized rig complete with a 32GB SSD.[Via LinuxDevices]
NXP supplying Germany with second-gen ePassports
Considering just how well the first round of RFID ePassports withstood subversion attempts from hackers, we're amazed that anything needs to be tweaked at all. Sarcasm aside, NXP is all set to make Germany the first country on the planet to utilize second-generation ePassports, as the EU-set deadline to migrate doesn't pass until June of 2009. The new passports will include a SmartMX chip that allows biometric data to be "securely stored on the passport," and the 80kb of onboard storage also holds the individual's photo, name, and date / country of birth. Of note, NXP even goes so far as to gloat about the chip's ability to "guard against attack scenarios," but we'll be interested to see how long it takes the oh-so-motivated hacking community to find a backdoor when these launch later this month.[Via TheRegister]
Leon Speakers to showcase elite on-wall Seven Series speakers
While not quite as niche as in-shower drivers, Leon Speakers is hoping to redecorate a few living room walls with its on-wall Seven Series. The lineup reportedly relies on two "hand-made German Eton 7-inch patented HEXACONE long throw woofers and a Raven R2 True Ribbon tweeter (all aluminum diaphragm) from Orca." Moreover, they can handle frequencies from 40Hz all the way up to 50kHz and sport a power rating of 250-watts per channel. Measuring in at 11- x 38- x 6-inches, these 75-pound beasts are slated to hit high-end audio shops sometime next month, and while we aren't apt to throw down the $17,000 required to pick up a pair, here's to hoping we get a listen anyway during CEDIA.
Discomfited German hurls PC from window, police sympathize
Trust us, there's been quite a few days in which a dysfunctional PC was kicked around at Engadget HQ for eating posts and intentionally inserting typos, but we've yet to become so flustered that we needed to launch one out of the building. Interestingly enough, a disgruntled 51-year-old German just couldn't resist, as he actually flung his PC out of a window during the middle of the night, which startled neighbors and garnered a visit from local police. Of course, the boys in blue did exactly as they should, and left the man with nary a warning after apparently sympathizing with his technical frustrations. Granted, the rattled PC hurler was forced to clean up the mess from the streets below, but we can safely assume he felt an awful lot better after showing that hunk of plastic who was really in charge.[Via TGDaily]
Getting married in a virtual realm
WorldofWar points us to this forum thread by Fabraz, in which he shows off a video of his WoW wedding. The video is all in German, but you can tell what's happening as two Night Elf druids stand together in Darnassus as onlookers kneel. They finish their vows, and then a party goes down, and gifts are even given.It's not the first time this sort of thing has been done, of course (that's another German vid, though-- are Germans more likely to do a virtual wedding?), but it is a strange little collision of our social gestures in the real world with the virtual one. Does it mean any less or more (in terms of social meaning-- of course it doesn't mean anything legally) when two people commit to each other in virtual space rather than physical space? We've seen funerals held for players before, and of course there's the famous Serenity Now incident, with my favorite music cues of any WoW video ever. It's interesting that it's these two rituals, perhaps our most important and symbolic, that have made it into Azeroth. I've never seen a virtual graduation, perhaps congratulating the recent class of 70s, but maybe that's the next big ritual to make the jump.As a player, it's not really my thing (I find social interactions like weddings and funerals much more meaningful in the real world, and would rather leave the virtual world for things like fighting dragons and melting faces), but there is obviously a draw for this kind of thing-- in almost every MMORPG, it pops up at one point or another. Do meaningful social rituals like this belong in the World of Warcraft, or are they just a waste of time?
Katamari-inspired indie game De Blob coming to Wii
German magazine Maniac! is reporting the student demo project De Blob will be making its way to the Wii sometime next year. The Katamari-inspired game (which PC users can download for free) puts you in control of a squidgy blob rolling around the city painting the buildings different colors. It's a simple 3D game that unfortunately has some hefty system requirements, but it's free, and it's quite a bit of fun. Blue Tongue Entertainment is working on the Wii port and THQ will publish the title in 2008. [Via Go Nintendo]
Leaky ratings board confirms Tetris Splash
Another game has lost its big announcement thunder as the USK (the German video game ratings board) posted confirmation that an XBLA game called Tetris Splash exists. What is Tetris Splash and why is it so splashy? We aren't sure, but we know that the game is coming to the XBLA and should be a relatively simple form of Tetris. Cheap Tetris rocks. And while we're at it, we should totally keep track of how many times the ESRB and USK have tipped us off to Arcade games before they officially get announced. The total has to be in the hundreds ... or at least it feels that way.[Thanks Game Stooge, Via Xbox-Archiv]
Porsche swerves to the power tool realm with P'7911 Multihammer
We've noticed that the folks at Porsche Design have been branching out to new endeavors of late, but this joint venture takes brand extension to an entirely new level. The group has apparently partnered with Germany's Metabo to unveil the Multihammer P'7911 power drill, which "combines all the essential functions of a drill with the power of a pneumatic hammer," sports a carbon fiber / aluminum housing, and includes an impeccably balanced grip that makes this bad boy easier to handle. The 705-watt device has no problem with scratches here and there from drilling through concrete, stone, wood, and steel, and the five different function settings allow you to tweak the tool for the job at hand. No word just yet regarding the (presumably lofty) price, but be sure to leap on through to see this luxury power tool hard at work.[Via Sybarites]
Xda terra becomes first WM6 Pro device to ship
Just over a month ago, O2 Germany came clean and announced the future availability of the Xda terra, and now the carrier will forever hold the crown of being the first major provider to offer up and ship a Windows Mobile 6 Professional handset. Sure enough, O2's Germany webstore proudly displays the dashing mobile, lists the specs that you've already memorized, and mentions that it now includes a two-megapixel camera to boot. Of course, being first in line always comes at a premium, and from what we can gather through the (admittedly sketchy) translation, the lowest price point you'll be reaching is €279.99 ($382) bundled with a contract. Additionally, O2 lists the handset sans agreement for a stiff €519.99 ($710), but it looks like those will only be available from retail locations -- decisions, decisions.[Via Unwired]
Lodenfrey's io-Jacket utilizes GPSoverIP tracking technology
Utilizing hybrid GPS tracking technology to locate things whilst inside a building has wandered over into the commercial realm a few times before, but Germany's Lodenfrey is hoping you'll keep said technology overtly near and dear to your heart. The io-Jacket, which had one unit built to raise money for the "Humans for Humans" foundation, doesn't differ too much from other gizmo-laced jackets that have come before at first glance, but if you look beyond the built-in Bluetooth, integrated MP3 player, touch-sensitive control pads, and dashing good looks, you'll notice the compatibility with GPSoverIP. This functionality enables the wearer to upload "real-time tracking data" via their cellphone to a website, where a paranoid parent or mission commander could keep watch on the situation regardless of buildings. No word on future pricing or availability options just yet, but the one unit that was auctioned off for charity fetched €2,960 ($4,019) -- which is reportedly about €740 ($1,005) less than the cost of construction.[Via The Raw Feed]
Software system to enable visual prosthesis learning
Years back, scientists at the University of Bonn reckoned a visual implant would cure blindness, but unfortunately, the results were less than positive. While many alternatives have surfaced in the meantime, gurus at the institution are hitting back yet again with another option of their own, as the researchers introduced a software system that enables visual prosthesis to "learn" how to interpret sights in a way that the brain can understand -- something the original implementation had difficultly accomplishing. Essentially, an artificial retina "must learn to generate signals that are useful for the brain," and while the group's software should assist users with "flexible" central visual systems to garner new abilities in sight, they warn against "expecting miracles" too soon.[Via MedGadget]
SmartWeb project to use P2P networks to keep drivers informed
Intelligent roadways are nothing new, as we've seen project after project (and even countries) look at varying ways to keep drivers informed whilst cruising about, but a new rendition showcased at CeBIT is looking to utilize P2P networking in order to spread pertinent information about road hazards to drivers behind the mishap. SmartWeb, which is being coordinated by the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence along with a myriad of other corporations, would allow vehicles to detect hazards (such as an oil slick or road block) and pass the information on to surrounding vehicles in order to hopefully prevent accidents and give motorists ample time to locate a detour. This doesn't mark the first time P2P has been used for the betterment of mankind, and the data would reportedly be conveyed via a "dashboard screen or through a mobile handset," potentially adding yet another distraction to overload our brains while trying to remain between the blinking yellow lines. Of course, those of you with real-time traffic updates are already on top of the game, but we could definitely see this technology being marketable to thrill-seeking cops looking to pinpoint information feeds coming from speeding criminals.
Germans get in Halo 3 beta with a preorder
Those lucky fellas in Germany have it easy trying to get into the Halo 3 multiplayer beta. To join this Spring's fun, all they have to do is plop down 10 Euros on Halo 3 and, like magic, they are in. Yup, that's mostly it. No hoops to jump, no waiting to register on a website only to find the server crashing in a minute, no purchasing of another game ... just a simple preorder. Though, to be fair, once they place a preorder they'll be emailed a code and then must register on this website. So, at least they have to do some (light) work to get in. Oh well ... German chocolates aren't that good anyway. [Via HBO]
Automatic waffle maker simplifies breakfast
With all the flowers starting to bloom and bunny rabbits (stuffed or otherwise) beginning to emerge, we're sure it won't be long before you're busting out the Wham-o Peeps maker, but if you've been pondering a way to make those hearty breakfasts pop out a tad quicker, we've got just the thing. Apparently, a group of waffle-lovin' kiddos have concocted an automated machine that not only opens and closes on queue, cooks and unloads the finished waffle onto your plate, and closes back for easy cleanup, it even boasts a tiltable pail filled with waffle mix and a funnel so that filling the hot iron is no longer your (messy) responsibility. The project was crafted at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and looks to be constructed primarily of wood, strings, and pulleys, and while we certainly wouldn't recommend that novice DIYers try this unaided, be sure and hit the read link for a look at waffles made easy.
Ankh and Luminator coming to British DS
Xider Interactive, who we previously reported as not actually bringing Sam & Max to the DS, have announced their real DS releases for the UK. The titles, which are probably familiar to German PC gamers but definitely not familiar to us, are: Luminator DS (May) Ankh 1 (August) Ankh appears to be the first in a series of Egyptian-themed adventure games-- and there's no part of that description we don't like. Luminator (PC version shown above), from what we can tell, is ... let's say a faithful tribute to Lumines.We don't know if either of these games will be headed to the US. Have any of our European friends played either of these? We need to know about the quality of Ankh before we get too excited about OMG ADVENTURE GAME.[Via Cubed3]
Austrians build concrete cast 5.1 speaker set
We've seen a bevy of interestingly designed speaker systems come our way, and we've even caught a few glimpses of concrete-based gizmos, but a few crafty Austrians decided to create their own nearly immovable 5.1 surround set by casting each speaker in pure cement. By measuring out the dimensions and constructing molds using wood and wax, the speaker enclosures were then placed in a wire cage and doused with concrete. After solidifying, the internal molds were removed and a custom etched logo was carved on the side, only to be further decorated with a few dashes of paint. Eventually, the electronics and drivers were all installed and sealed up, leaving a surround system that would be quite a burden if any thieves tried to relocate them. While there's no specific step-be-step guide available, the entire process was fairly well captured in photographs, so be sure and hit the read link if you're interesting in killing gobs of time creating a very bizarre set of speakers, or click on through for a few more snapshots.[Via HackADay]
Neues Licht offers up fiber optic lighting on UFO Chandelier
We've seen plenty of space-aged (and cosmically-influenced) lighting systems in our day, but a newfangled German operation is melding high-class style, energy efficiency, and whole lot of pizazz into one nifty lighting structure. Neues Licht's UFO Chandelier rocks strands of fiber optics arranged above a floating ring, which give off a colored glow depending on whatever light source you attach to it. The designer, Simon Bruenner, describes his innovative chandelier as "simplicity from another planet," and describes that its origin of light can be from the sun or in a different room altogether. Furthermore, the fixture is reportedly waterproof, making it feasible for use in your new spa / pool room, and considering the potential energy savings from pumping in sunlight, you shouldn't have too much trouble convincing your SO that this thing's worthwhile. Simon's masterpiece was on display lighting things up at last week's Cologne Furniture Fair, and while there's no set date for mass production, we can't imagine Lowe's not jumping all over this one sometime soon.[Via Inhabitat]
Macworld coverage in Second Life
There are a lot of ways to cover the keynote, but Mac-Essentials has a neat twist. They're using an island in Second Life shaped like the Apple logo to convene continuous coverage of the event in real time. I visited the island and found a cool mockup of the Apple glass cube store you find in Manhattan, plus a bunch of folks speaking German. Makes sense, as Mac-Essentials.de is a German website! Of course in Second Life, there are folks from all over the world. Even if you don't speak the language, the apfelland is a neat tourist site today! To find it, either search your map for apfelland or go to coordinates 128/128/0.[thanks geezer!]
Polymer Vision plans to commercialize foldable paper this year
If there's one thing the business-savvy CEOs of the world know, it's that you don't want your competition to get too far ahead of you, and just as Plastic Logic announced its plans to build the first electronic paper plant in Dresden, Germany, Polymer Vision is trying to make good on its nearly two-year old promise. During 2005's IFA expo, Philip assured us all that we'd be blown away by the firm's rollable, bendable displays in a mere two years, and now that 24 months have nearly elapsed, a company spinoff is looking to make it happen. According to a German report, Polymer Vision is still on track for "commercializing the foldable PV-QML5 display" that we've all grown quite fond of. Planning to use the technology in e-books and electronic map guides, the initial 4.8-inch display will tout a 320 x 200 resolution, 10:1 contrast ratio, support for four gray tones, and be only 100 micrometers thick. Sadly, no hard dates were passed down as to when we could expect the first production batch to head out to consumers, but now that there's some serious competition brewing just a few miles down the road, we'd bet a good bit of effort goes into making that 2007 date a reality.[Via I4U]
Art exhibit brings analog tech to digital games
We Make Money Not Art has an interesting interview with David Pfluger, one of the artists behind the "Game Arcade" art exhibit currently touring around Germany. The exhibit transforms digital video game concepts using analog components like slide projectors, super-8 film and mechanical buttons and switches. The examples sound more like Dadaist installations than games: Racer features a cardboard car that runs over a variable speed film of a road, and High Noon (pictured) uses a rotary dial phone to control film projections of old west duelists. More than just interesting gameplay experiments, Pfluger says the exhibit is a statement on the game industry's myopic focus on the latest and "best" technology. "Each technology has its own characteristics which makes it artistically unique.... Painters still use oil painting even though there is Photoshop." It raises an interesting question: Is the game industry sop focused on new technology and graphical "realism" that it's forgetting the unique aesthetic influences of the past?
