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Sony has cut the PS5's weight after raising its price
Sony has started to sell a new PlayStation 5 model that may not necessarily improve performance, but will be lighter and possibly easier to produce.
MIT’s sensor-packed glove helps AI identify objects by touch
Researchers have spent years trying to teach robots how to grip different objects without crushing or dropping them. They could be one step closer, thanks to this low-cost, sensor-packed glove. In a paper published in Nature, a team of MIT scientists share how they used the glove to help AI recognize objects through touch alone. That information could help robots better manipulate objects, and it may aid in prosthetics design.
The Hiiga-One is a mechanical bench press that doesn't need weights
The Hiiga-One workout system stands out immediately, even in the middle of a busy CES hall packed with flashing, swirling, blinking and thumping gizmos. It's a towering, weight-free, mechanical bench press machine outlined in white and with two strips of lights running down the supports on either side of the barbell. Hiiga-One is a friendly-looking, data-hungry beast, and it's designed to turn users into beasts as well.
The next Ford GT has a Gorilla Glass windshield
Corning, the firm that's famous for making the glass for your smartphone that never, ever breaks, has now signed a deal with Ford. The firms are teaming up to produce a new windshield glass for next year's Ford GT that promises to be thinner, lighter and tougher than anything that's gone before. The Gorilla Glass hybrid (two capital Gs, one lowercase h) will not only be seen up front on the new ride, but also to replace the glass that normally sits on the engine cover window.
Withings tracks your nutrition thanks to MyFitnessPal
Withings has a connected scale that tracks your weight and activity trackers that help you lose weight, but it doesn't have anything to measure the food contributing to that weight. However, the company just forged a partnership with MyFitnessPal that should fill in this gap. Withings' Health Mate app can now use MyFitnessPal's nutrition data, letting you know whether or not you're exercising enough in relation to your diet. If you lose a few pounds, it'll be clear just how much your meal choices played a part. The collaboration is a bit ironic for Withings given that it's effectively working with Under Armour (which has its own fitness gear), but it's hard to object if it gives you a better sense of your overall health.
Oaxis' health devices track your water, weight and workouts
You may not have heard of Oaxis, but it's determined to get on your radar if you're a health maven. The young firm is crowdfunding a Wellness Suite that includes not just the obligatory fitness bands (the O2 and Ji Cheng), but also a smart water bottle (the Vita) and a scale (the Glo). To us, the highlights are the non-wearables. The Vita helps track your hydration levels, and will tell you whether or not your water is both chilly and safe to drink. The Glo, meanwhile, keeps tabs on everything from your total weight to subtle factors like your body fat index and metabolic rate. Ironically, the bands are the most humdrum items here -- the Ji Cheng is a "fashion" band that measures daily activity, while the O2 is built for exercise with real-time heart rate updates.
Appetite 'pacemaker' tells you when you're actually hungry
For some, the biggest challenge of reaching a healthy weight isn't adjusting their diet or getting more exercise -- it's resisting pangs of hunger when they've already eaten enough. They might have a better time resisting that urge after today, as the US Food and Drug Administration has approved a first-of-its-kind appetite controlling device, EnteroMedics' Maestro Rechargeable System. Think of it as a pacemaker for your stomach. The device sits just under your abdomen and sends electrical pulses that both block hunger signals and send fullness signals more often. In theory, you'll lose weight simply because you have a better sense of when to stop.
These 'smart dumbbells' log your lifting sessions, call you out on your bad form
The "Internet of Things" basically now includes all the things: internet-connected slow cookers, tea kettles, baby onesies. And don't you think that also includes athletic equipment? Bowflex, the company best known for its all-in-one home-exercise machines, is showing off a pair of "smart dumbbells," which log your weight lifting sessions, and also use sensors to detect if you're moving your arms too fast (bad form, dudes). The SmartTech 560 dumbbells, as they're called, then send that data to an Android or iOS app over Bluetooth. Even then, there's a display on the weights, so you can glance at some of this info right there. Once you're in the app, you can view 70-plus video tutorials, courtesy of MyFitnessPal, as well as participate in a six-week training challenge.
Nutrino is a virtual nutritionist for iOS, we go hands-on
As a recovering food addict, I've been told on numerous occasions that washboard abs are created in the kitchen, not in the gym. That's why we were intrigued to take a look at Nutrino, an iOS app that promises a "virtual nutritionist" service to help slice away the adipose from our stomach. We spent some time putting the software through its paces, and if you're thinking of making the leap, head on past the break to learn more.
Genius Gila gaming mouse hands-on
What does it feel like holding a CES Design and Innovation nominee in your hand? If Genius is any indication, it feels an awful lot like a $100 mouse. A pretty nice $100 mouse, mind you -- one with all sorts of flashing lights and rubber-injected sides. The Gila GX Gaming Series fits nicely in the hand, as one might expect from a peripheral designed for extended MMO marathons. It's also got a nice weight to it already, but if that's not enough, that's no problem: there's a trap door in the bottom that opens up. Inside, you can slot a tray of watch battery-sized weights, which pop in and out to adjust the thing to a suitable level, up to 30 grams. Also cool is the DPI gauge on top of the mouse, to let you know where you currently stand in the 200 to 8,200 range. There are 12 buttons jammed into the thing, and as you'd imagine, there's button assignment and macro options, so you can set up to 72 keys on the thing. There's also a slew of color options for the various lights on the mouse, in case the glut of buttons aren't showy enough for your gaming needs. Sadly, Genius isn't quite ready to debut the second generation Ring Mouse, but we've been promised a glimpse in the very near future. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub. Jon Fingas contributed to this report.
Wahoo Balance Smartphone Scale: A first look and giveaway
From the brains at Wahoo Fitness, makers of a complete line of smartphone-enabled fitness devices, comes something new -- the Wahoo Balance Smartphone Scale (US$99.99). This scale was released today by Wahoo Fitness, and it's a new addition to the app-connected devices in the product lineup. We've looked at other Internet-connected scales before; for example, the Withings Wi-Fi Connected Scale ($159). Withings has also released the new Wireless Scale WS-30 ($99.95), which -- like the Wahoo Balance -- is designed to work over a Bluetooth connection and communicate with a smartphone/tablet app. Design The Wahoo Balance Scale is quite attractive. It's a slender slab of white glass marred by only a Wahoo logo and an LCD. The device is powered by a pair of AAA batteries; if history with some of the other scales is any indication, the batteries should last for quite some time. Compared to the Withings Wi-Fi Connected Scale, the Wahoo Balance is a snap to set up. The batteries are installed into easy-to-find location with an easily removable door, and there's no need to connect the scale to a computer through a USB cable to set up Wi-Fi connectivity. Here, you just open the box, and there's a piece of cardboard with a QR code printed on it. Scan that, and you get full details on how to set up the scale. Before you do anything with the Wahoo Balance, you'll need to download the free Wahoo Wellness app and also remove a tiny piece of plastic from the battery compartment that keeps the batteries from running down. Fire up the app, and it looks for the scale. Once it finds it, it establishes a link and you're ready to roll. The app then asks you to set up users for the scale by entering initials, a weight range, and a target range. The weight range lets the device "guess" who is standing on the scale on the assumption that if there are more users (i.e., spouse and kid), they will be in a different weight range. Wahoo Fitness notes that other apps will soon have the capability of pulling weight data from the Balance Scale. The company lists five other apps on its website that work with the Balance Scale. The scale works with iPhone 4S or newer and iPad third-generation and newer. Functionality As you can tell from the design section above, the Wahoo Balance is very easy to set up. As soon as you're set up, it's time to start tracking your weight. You'll want to put the Balance onto a flat, hard surface. My first weigh-in with the Balance was done on a flexible desk mat on top of a carpet, and showed my weight to be about twenty pounds less than it actually is. While that was a pleasant surprise, I knew it was off. Placing the Balance onto a tile floor brought my weight back to reality. The only sign you have that the Balance is connected to your phone is a tiny Bluetooth symbol. You don't need to have your iPhone or iPad near the scale when you weigh in -- it will remember your weight and transfer it when you launch the app. If the app isn't sure if one of the weights is yours, it will put it in a list that asks "Any of these yours?". Tap the weight (which is time and date stamped) to select it, and it will add the weight to your history. Note that the scale will also display your Body Mass Index, although I did not see where that information was stored in the app. Conclusion The new Wahoo Balance Smartphone Scale works flawlessly with the Wahoo Wellness iOS app, and it's an attractive addition to any workout room or bathroom. The easy setup means that you can open the box and be ready to go in a minute. Although it would make a perfect Christmas gift, you probably don't want to give this to a spouse or partner who is sensitive about his or her weight... Pros Low-profile, attractive design Runs off of two AAA batteries (included) Easy setup and pairing to newer iOS devices Can be synced to your iOS device at any time, and will hold up to 130 weight readings until synced Cons None to speak of Who is it for? Anyone who wants to start tracking their weight automatically with an app Giveaway TUAW and Wahoo Fitness want you to have one of the first Wahoo Balance Smartphone Scales! Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before December 14, 2012 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a Wahoo Balance Smartphone Scale valued at $99.99. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
GravityLight uses weight to illuminate without batteries or fuel (video)
The lack of reliable electricity in developing countries puts a damper on more than just technology use -- having to run kerosene lamps, or even those based on solar power, often involves recurring costs that whittle away at very modest incomes. GravityLight has built an LED lamp that just might lift the burden. As the name implies, a weight (usually the very bag that the lamp ships in) generates electricity through natural force: the few seconds it takes to lift the weight can generate 30 minutes of light without ever replacing a battery or fuel supply. The simple construction also has helpful side benefits, such as powering up other devices and a clip that can replace the bag with most anything that weighs around 20 pounds. The crowdfunded project's donation tiers ask $25 to donate a light to the developing world or $50 to also get one for yourself, but it's a small price to pay in the long run -- and when mass production should see prices fall below $5, the GravityLight might just change the lighting landscape for those who need it most.
NEC's LaVie Z Ultrabook has definitely lost weight: just 875 grams and priced from $1,600 in Japan
No one complained when we reported NEC's initial claimed weight of 999 grams (2.2 pounds) for its LaVie Z Ultrabook, but it turns out that statistic is brutally unfair. The 13.3-inch laptop actually tips the scales at just 875 grams (1.9 pounds) thanks to the magnesium lithium alloy used in its 0.59-inch chassis -- not bad when you consider that there are still 1.3kg netbooks wandering the planet. Of course, in line with Intel's official Ultrabook spec, you're getting a minimum Core i5-3317U processor (yes, that's Ivy Bridge) and 128GB SSD, plus USB 3.0, SDXC slot, HDMI out and a claimed battery life of 8.1 hours. There's no word on US pricing yet, but that base spec will set you back ¥130,000 ($1,600) in Japan, while the top model with Core i7-3517U and 256GB SSD will add another ¥30,000 ($375) to your bill.
Samsung launches S Health services: Monitors weight, blood sugar and graphs it all
Samsung mentioned its S Health app in passing during the grand unveiling of the Galaxy S III -- presumably due to the glut of similarly S-suffixed apps and services that were also unveiled. The service has now apparently launched in Samsung's homeland, alongside more details of what it'll offer. This includes a raft of metric-measuring charts, as well as the ability to connect through Bluetooth and USB to health devices like heart-rate monitors and connectivity-friendly scales. The app will record and even graph your health ups and downs, aiming to help "regulate" what you eat and gauge exactly how much you exercise. It has now launch on Samsung's App hub and will make its way to the US and five to-be-confirmed European countries soon. Let Samsung explain the "warm emotional experience" in a Google-translated release right after the break. Update: We've just received the English version of the PR, which adds that the app is now live in the UK, alongside an initial list of compatible health devices. Take a look after the break.
Withings WiFi scale syncs weight with BodyMedia site, won't let you hide from the truth
Are you using a Withings WiFi Body Scale to monitor your weight-loss efforts? Are you also using a BodyMedia FIT Armband to track your activity and calories burned? Get ready for a body-stat explosion, because now you can pair the two devices to streamline all that info on your progress. Instead of manually entering your weight into the BodyMedia activity manager, just step on the Withings scale and it will be imported into your BodyMedia online dashboard via WiFi. That's all well and good, but it reminds us an awful lot of Fitbit, which sells a less-expensive body scale that integrates with the company's wearable fitness trackers. The full Withings / BodyMedia press release is after the break, but shouldn't you be out running or something?
PSA: Fitbit Aria WiFi scale available now for $130
It's been three months since Fitbit got into the WiFi scale game, but until now Withings has remained pretty much the only option for weight watchers who actually intend to buy one. Now, though, the Fitbit Aria is finally shipping and, just like Fitbit said it would, it costs $130. That's potentially not a bad deal, seeing as how it matches the $160 Withings scale in a few key areas: it tracks weight, BMI and body fat percentage, gives you the option of tweeting your poundage, and can recognize up to eight different users. Like Fitbit, too, it allows you to access your data through a website, or an iOS / Android app. Of course, the main thing the Aria has that Withings doesn't is a fitness monitor to go with it. The Aria is designed to work with the company's Fitbit trackers, which log physical activity, calories burned, stairs climbed and, if you're diligent about data entry, the various meals you've consumed. Since all that information lives online in an alphabet soup of healthiness, it might paint a more complete picture of how fit you are. Then again, you'd have to commit to wearing the Fitbit day in and day out. And, you know, pay $100 for it. Your call.
Fitbit's Aria WiFi scale tracks weight, BMI and body fat percentage (hands-on)
We might never know the untold number of people who bought Withings' WiFi scale for tweeting their daily weigh-ins, but it must have been an impressive enough figure, as Fitbit just announced something very similar. The Aria Wi-Fi Smart Scale tracks weight, BMI and body fat percentage, only instead of sending those nuggets to Twitter, it all goes straight to Fitbit's own site. For people who have never bought any of the company's products, this website will understandably be a revelation, but in fact it's the same place where Fitbit Ultra owners go to see how many calories they've burned. Even if you're a newcomer, the website happens to be quite engaging, though we suspect you'll get the most out of it if you also have a Fitbit tracker to tally your hours spent on the Stairmaster. In any case, we got some hands-on time tonight (sorry, feet-on jokes are lame), and we've got hands-on shots below to prove it.
Withings intros WiFi-connected baby scale so you can tell your friends oh, how they've grown (hands-on)
Withings put itself on the map with its WiFi-connected scale, and though it recently took a detour into blood pressure readings, it's now returning to what it does best: tallying the weight of sweet, vulnerable, crying humans. The Smart Baby Scale is exactly what it sounds like -- a scale designed specifically for infants and toddlers -- and like its predecessor, it organizes all its data in charts that you can read on a PC or iOS device. The scale comes with a baby basket for infants, which you can remove once your little bambino outgrows it. According to the company, the weighing area was specifically designed to be just large enough for babies, but small enough that grown-ups likely won't be able to weigh packages, watermelons and other heavyweight items that might break the scale. Look for it in the second quarter of this year for $179 -- a twenty-dollar premium over the adult version. Check our hands-on after the break. Mat Smith contributed to this report.
Samsung: the LTE version of the Galaxy Nexus will be 'a little' thicker
We got it straight from the horse's mouth here at Samsung and Google's Galaxy Nexus launch event that the future LTE edition of the Galaxy Nexus will indeed be thicker than the HSPA+ model showcased today (and above). How much thicker? "A little," according to a company representative, but he wouldn't go so far as to talk millimeters. When asked if the additional size was there to hold the LTE package or just a larger battery, he also failed to elaborate. We'd be shocked if the LTE variant doesn't pack at least a bit more juice -- we've covered the damage that LTE does to a battery in great detail here -- but frankly, we'd rather have something a wee bit thicker than a phone that dies after four hours of use.
Brando's USB optical mouse doubles as a digital scale, for when you really need it
That shady character on the corner just sold you a plastic skull keychain with fiery orange eyes. He assured you it weighed 25 grams, but how do you know you're not being ripped off? Fortunately, Brando has come out with a USB optical mouse that has a built-in digital scale, designed, apparently, for this precise situation. Just lift up the cover, calibrate the reader and weigh away. Pencils, lint, small animals -- the list of measurable items is endless, as long as your goods don't exceed 500 grams. To get the good times rolling, hit the source link, where you can grab one for $22.
