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Momenta necklace captures life's best, worst moments
Oh sure, there's a multitude of head-mounted cameras out there for devout lifebloggers to snap up and wear, but we're guessing the world looks a bit different when you're scaring everyone off while waltzing down the street. Granted, the Momenta necklace isn't a whole lot more attractive, but at least it's a touch less noticeable. This concept would reportedly capture anything and everything that happened in front of the wearer, and when it detects a sudden jump in heart rate, it'll log everything that happened five minutes prior and continue rolling until you tell it to halt. Kind of freaky, sure, but capturing the faces of folks who see you wearing this thing for the first time would undoubtedly be worth the price of admission.[Via Tech Digest]
EI introduces Life|point HD touch panel
Exceptional Innovation -- the same firm responsible for that quad-CableCARD media center -- is looking to give you a new weapon of choice to control your Life|ware home network. The new Life|point touch panel is available in 8.9- and 12.1-inch sizes, and both high-definition versions rock 16:9 formats, integrated stereo speakers / microphone and an ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts screen brightness depending on room lighting. Additionally, the panels are available in black, silver, cream, white and field-finish ready, and each one gives you in-wall control of your home theater, multi-room audio, lighting, security system(s) and temperature. 'Course, it's up to you to decide whether such a convenience is worth $6,000 (and up).[Via Electronic House]
Stay At Home Servers out to shatter the stereotype
We outright asked you how you'd alter Windows Home Server if you had the chance, and thankfully, none of you requested that these no good storage gizmos head right back to the office closet where "they belong." Unfortunately, it seems that not everyone has been able to overlook tradition and see how beneficial a home server can truly be. Legions of such devices are trickling into abodes as we speak, and while some families are rejoicing, others are apparently being torn apart at the notion of such a handsome device setting up shop within the residence. Stay At Home Servers: it's a debate sure to rage on long after the frosty months have passed, but just remember -- a family that stores together, (generally) stays together.Psst, check out the video in the read link if you're completely befuddled.
NBC's 'Life' investigates Prince of Persia
Writers -- the unsung heroes of television detective work! Sprinkling logic crumbs throughout the investigation and frequently bending reality to ensure those pesky crooks get captured, the behind-the-scenes scribes are the ones doing the real dirty work. Witness the investigative team of NBC "Life" being given a bona fide boon in the improbable decision of a drug dealer to hide incriminating files inside his console, which we're helpfully informed is "just a hard drive with games on it." Accessing the evidence requires an embarrassing plot device yanked straight from the zeitgeist: The detectives must dramatically reach "Level 10" in Ubisoft's Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones, preferably with the aid of a stealth gurrrl gamer.[Thanks, Hashbrown_Hunter]
Nintendo rethinks console life cycle
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo_wii/Iwata_comments_that_the_Wii_could_last_longer_than_the_usual_5_years'; Nintendo consoles have usually enjoyed a five-year life span, Iwata explained during a Japanese conference documenting the Q3 earnings of the company. During this briefing, Iwata spoke of the new gift-giving feature and TV guide Channel, but what was overlooked until now was his comments regarding how long of a life the Wii will have."As we continue our research and study for new hardware, when we will be able to launch a new kind of hardware will actually depend on when we can change entertainment completely, and so have a strong impact on people around the world," he said. "Or, there will certainly be a time when we have to say that we have done everything possible with the current machine, that we can never propose anything new." Iwata further explains that fresh hardware is often the result of the company needing a new weapon in the fight against other consoles. With the Wii, however, he feels that the company won't be needing any new weapons for quite some time, stating "But today's situation is such that we are not desperate for any new weapons at all."So, could the Wii be the first console to break the tradition of a five-year lifespan, even though its hardware is considered by the mainstream to be weaker than its competition? The way Iwata is talking, and the fact that it could be almost 2 years before the supply meets the demand for the console, makes it sound like it could very well be a reality.[Via Aussie-Nintendo]
Today's most delayed-and-ambitious video: TED Spore demo
Video of Will Wright's TED Spore presentation from March has recently appeared online. Wright expands on prior Spore demos, giving an overview of the game and explaining parts of his design process. The information-packed 17-minute video keeps us interested in the total life simulation -- from origins to galactic colonization -- but reconfirms how wildly ambitious the project has been. We've been trying to play over/under on the projected ship date window of April, 2008 and March, 2009, but nobody wants "under." But whenever Spore finally arrives, we hope Wright and the other designers can deliver on the unique concept. [Thanks, Guillaume and Kevin]
The DS Life: Leg Show
The DS Life is a new weekly feature in which we scour the known world for narrative images of Nintendo's handheld and handheld gamers. If you have a photo and a story to match it with, send both to thedslife at gmail dot com.This week's gam-filled shot comes from "Asianleggy," a professional photographer whose collections you might already be familiar with, depending on how deviant your tastes are. Step past the post break for the full image and some notes on his previous work.
Love Cat Life shows love for dogs, too
Specifically, Nintendogs. And more specifically, the cash generated by Nintendogs. Forgive us for being cynical, but Love Cat Life does look exceedingly familiar. But for our (hypothetical) pet simulator money, Love Cat Life wins over Nintendo's masterpiece, for mostly hilarious reasons: Simulated litterboxes Riding a little cat-sized truck over a ramp Meowing music game! We started off being sarcastic, but we just convinced ourselves. It was the music game that did it.
Apple announces iPhone now delivers up to 8 hours of talk time, new glass display
Talk about last minute upgrades: In a press release today, Apple has revealed a number of significant upgrades to both the iPhone's battery life and touch screen. Instead of what I believe was around 5 hours of video/talk and 16 hours of audio playback, Apple has updated the iPhone's battery life rating to the following numbers: up to 8 hours talk time, a whopping 250 hours of standby (over 10 days), 6 hours of internet use, 7 hours of video playback and 24 hours of audio playback. Of course, just like any other mobile phone, these numbers can vary depending on various factors like intermittent use and network configuration (whether features like Wi-Fi or the speakerphone are enabled, etc.). In addition, Apple has changed the spec of the original 3.5" plastic surface of the iPhone to "optical-quality" glass, which should bring some smiles to those who were concerned about the durability of the phone's primary feature and user interface.This is quite the update to drop on anxious customers less than two weeks from launch. I can only wonder what other tricks and unknown or upgraded features (PUSH email? HSPDA instead of EDGE?) Apple could be waiting to announce.Update: Interestingly, this latest press release also mentions the iPhone's pricing - again at $499 and $599 for 4GB and 8GB, respectively - but makes no mention of contracts being involved with those prices. Since Apple dropped the "2-year activation required" language from their ads after originally airing them, this might offer more hope to those who aren't able to renew a contract just yet to get the discounts.Update 2: Commenter Greg points out that Apple's competitive chart shows the Nokia N95 as a no-WiFi device, when it actually does do WiFi. We hope this error will be corrected in short order.
Camera Shutter Life Expectancy Database: feel free to chime in
We've seen all sorts of unscientific testing with regard to digital cameras, and while getting your facts straight about megapixels and dust-sensor effectiveness is just dandy, how's about knowing how many clicks your trusty shooter has left? An online database has apparently been created to track this very statistic, and while manufacturers will typically give you an estimate, we all know it's the real-world results that count. The site lists a smorgasbord of cameras and allows users to chime in and inform the world how many clicks their snapper has survived, and while we wouldn't lay our money on your device necessarily living up to the standards set by others, it's a fair judge nonetheless. Go on, we know you're curious, give the read link a visit and toss your experience on up to keep the data flowin'.[Via Core77]
CPR Teddy cuddles up nicely, teaches resuscitation
We've seen soft 'n cuddly teddies transformed into nearly every gadget imaginable, but the Save-A-Life Training Center is hoping to teach common individuals how to perform CPR with the use of a less frightening subject. The oh-so-adorable CPR Teddy looks a whole lot better than other CPR training bots that we've come across, and after squeezing one of his paws, "voice prompts walk you through the correct procedures for choking rescue and infant / child CPR." It gets a bit dodgy, however, when you have to submerse yourself in the moment and actually press down on his red heart patch as the bear's built-in metronome paces you. Subsequently, the creature's bow tie actually lights up in green or red to alert you of how you're doing, and his chest will actually rise up as you perform rescue breathing and simultaneously inhale mounds of fur. The basic CPR Teddy kit rings up at just $79.95, but we'd highly recommend picking up a few extra masks to avoid getting choked up yourself when performing mouth-to-mouth.[Via Uber-Review]
Video games: the most important part of college
Sure, college is a great place to learn about life and everything, but where does most of that learning really come from? Once you take away the classes you slept through, the boy/girlfriend that you never listened to, and the parties you were too drunk to remember, the only remaining answer is the obvious one. That's right: video games!At least one college professor realized this essential fact and crafted his commencement speech to the graduating class of Bloomsburg University around the theme of lessons from video games. The speech name drops everything from Carmen Sandiego to Halo 2 in selling the lifelong lessons of gaming, including resilience, problem solving and teamwork. Sure, some of the analogies to life are a bit labored, and the whole thing reads like the author has only a passing familiarity with games. Still, it's nice to see someone using a commencement address to acknowledge what is no doubt the most important part of college for many graduates. And hey, it beats some guy droning on and on about sunscreen.
Six years of Segway: the profound effect on the human race
We'll admit, every so often a certain well-constructed spoof just catches you right, and in the case of the always-witty Onion, a perfectly executed mini-newscast covering the "profound effect" of the Segway really demonstrates how much of a non-factor this thing has been. Since the original launch in 2001, a good amount of folks have avoided the two-wheeled human transporter for one reason or another -- you know, things like uncontrollably reversing, it being banned in their country, the astonishingly high pricetag, and the oh-so-critical embarrassment factor -- and the "revolution" that it was supposed to spark has still not lit a flame. Sure, Jackie Chan may have demanded that the cast members on the set of Rush Hour III all get to their places via Segway, but c'mon, we'd surmise that the vast majority of dignified individuals would rather gallop around in a horse hoof alerting hybrid than face public humiliation on one of these things. Regardless of its impact (or glaring lack thereof), be sure to hit the read link if you need a chuckle. [Warning: link contains mild profanity][Thanks, Ben]
Square Enix brings lifestyle titles to DS
Continuing its praiseworthy support for the Nintendo DS, Square Enix has announced DS Style, a new line of software for the casual gaming audience. According to the latest issue of Famitsu, the company is venturing away from its RPG franchises for a moment, focusing instead on leisure activities like yoga, classical music, and gardening. It might not sound as exciting as SRPG battles or Chocobo mini-games, but different strokes for different folks.Square Enix will also be releasing DS travel guides based on the popular World Walking tour book series in Japan. These guides will provide maps and other useful information for sightseers visiting countries like France or Thailand. Check past the post break for the full list of destination guides and verbose titles from Square Enix's DS Style lineup. [Via NeoGAF]
Battery-free pacemaker on the horizon
Having one surgery is plenty, and having some foreign object implanted in your being is really pushing things, but knowing you're going to be under the knife every ten years or so to get a new battery is just absurd. Thankfully, a group of researchers in the UK feel the same way, and are well on their way to developing a battery-free pacemaker. Reportedly, the device would use a microgenerator producing electricity every time the patient moves, effectively eliminating the need for an internal battery. The cost of the £1 million ($1.96 million) project is being shared by the Department of Trade and Industry and private companies, one being Zarlink Semiconductor who has a large role in the device's development. Other teams around the globe are also seeking to create such a unit, with ideas spanning from tiny generators that receive power from heat right onto "biological pacemakers" that would correct heart problems without the need for a mechanical device. While there's no estimate as to when these gizmos will even hit the testing and approval phase, it seems that things are moving along quite well, but we have to stop and wonder how well a pacemaker powered by motion will function when you, well, cease moving.[Via MedGadget]
EMI puts your medical history on a digital business card
While having your entire catalog of medical issues on your person at all times would sure come in handy if your GPS leads you into a body of water or you get mangled by a Japanese Land Walker, implanting an RFID data chip underneath your skin could (understandably) sound a bit extreme. While digital medical records and emergency panic buttons are certainly swell, EMI's 911 rCard places every quirk and prior health issue you've ever had onto a single wallet-sized card, which can be viewed immediately by any medical personnel that would need pertinent information statinum. The "vivid, full color LCD" can display everything from medical charts to photos / text describing the patient's history, and sports a built-in battery that can handle "about two hours" of constant viewing before it needs recharging. Boasting USB connectivity, users can continually update and upload new information from their EMI web portal onto the rCard, including any mild injuries sustained during last week's campouts. The 911 rCard is available now for $79.95, which includes a USB cable / charger and the first year of website access, while additional years of data storage and interfacing will run you $20.[Via EverythingUSB]
PS3 violence mirrors novel storyline
File this one in the "life imitating art" department ... or maybe in the "art predicting guerrilla marketing?" department. Max Barry's book Jennifer Government revolves partially around a Nike marketing plan to shoot the first ten buyers of a new shoe in an effort to build hype and street cred for the launch. Today, Barry posted on his blog about the similarities between his book's plot and the recent violence surrounding the launch of the PS3.Could the muggings and robberies surrounding Sony's new system be a carefully orchestrated marketing ploy to increase exposure for the PS3? Barry stops short of making such a serious accusation. "That would be unspeakably immoral," he said. "To rip off the opening of Jennifer Government so blatantly, I mean."We have to agree -- while Sony 's PS3 marketing has occasionally been disturbing, you have to admit that it's also been pretty original.[Via AeroPause, Thank Reddrive]
NPR interviews Steve Wozniak
Can this guy get around, or what? The Woz has been everywhere lately, from the Colbert Report to the It's Showtime event on a Segway, and he's on his way to the South Pole in a hydrogen Hummer. Now even NPR got their hands on the big W for an interview, waxing ecstatic about his life after Apple, and hopefully a bit more about his book than he got out on the Colbert Report. Check it out, though you'll need (*snicker*) Real Player or Windows Media support installed via Flip4Mac.Thanks phi
TGS 2006: It's a Wonderful World preview
During the Tokyo Game Show, 1up managed to get their hands on the demo build of It's a Wonderful World, the game coming from those Kingdom Hearts guys. Their impressions of the whole affair (or, at least, the whole affair available) is somewhat positive, although they comment that the language barrier is huge. Considering that the game is incredibly complex (we imagine in a good way), being able to speak and/or read Japanese goes a long way when attempting to play the TGS build of It's a Wonderful Life. We wonder why 1up would not have a person in their starting lineup at the show to fill this much-needed role. Thinking about it, there probably should be one of us there to play the build as well, since we are so not fluent in Japanese. Of course, this would require our staff not die off from starvation, which would in turn require that Joystiq actually open the dungeon door and toss us some grub. Seriously, can we get something to eat that is not made of plastic and USB 2.0 compatible? Guys? Hello?
Exceptional Innovation intros new Life|ware hardware
Modestly-named Exceptional Innovation went all out at CEDIA last week, announcing a complete line of hardware to go along with its Life|ware Media Center-based home control solution. The beast of the bunch is the the Life|storage digital media server, packing an ample 1.5 terabytes of RAID 5 storage in a rack mounted unit, with a Pentium D processor and 2GB of RAM to power the Windows XP embedded OS. The Life|vision digital TV server should compliment that nicely, also based on Windows XP Embedded with a Pentinum D and 2GB of RAM but, naturally, adding some TV tuners to the mix (up to four analog or digital to suit your prefs), as well as some basic DVR functionality. But to really give your home that dated-in-two-years look, you'll need to trick it out with touchpanels in every room, and EI will gladly hook you up there with its Life|point 16:9 in-wall touchscreens (available in 8.9-inch and 12.1-inch models), which'll let you control every connected bit of your house and access your stored media. Also announced were the Life|controller home automation system controller and the Life|link Web Services for Devices (WSD) module, both of which will allow for various other systems (like lighting and security) to be integrated into your setup. No word on prices for any of this gear, but it's really more the sort of thing you get a quote on instead of checking the weekend flyers for the cheapest prices.
