world record
Latest
Chinavasion's "world's thinnest" MP4 player just may be accurate in name
Chinavasion isn't known for offering up cutting-edge gadgetry -- far from it, to be honest -- but the MP4 player known only as the CVSJ-1304-4GB is actually fairly notable. According to the dodgy specifications, the $39.55 device checks in at just 4.5-millimeters thick, which is certainly thinner than the other so-called "world's thinnest" DAP. Of course, this may only be true due to the "MP4" moniker, seeing as most units not created and sold exclusively in China are called "MP3" players. Semantics aside, the unit also includes a 1.8-inch display with a 160 x 128 resolution, a curious 2.5-millimeter headphone jack, a USB 2.0 port and a rechargeable battery. So, do any of you have a competitor that's a hair thinner? Our hunch is yes.[Via PMP Today]
Imation's Atom Flash Drive is remarkably easy to mislay
Imation's Atom Flash Drive may not be the most capacious USB key you've ever seen -- heck, it's probably not even the smallest -- but it is this company's most diminutive of all time, and that just has to count for something. Available in 1/2/4/8GB sizes, these units feature Vista ReadyBoost compatibility and support for passwords while measuring less than 1.5-inches long and .5-inches wide. Slip one of these sub-1-ounce drives into your pocket today for $17.99 to $99.99, depending on capacity.
JVC's 42-inch LT-42SL89 / 46-inch LT-46SL89 LCD HDTVs nab July ship date
Dust those cobwebs out and strain that memory, won't you? Surely you haven't forgotten about JVC's pair of "world's thinnest" LCD HDTVs; after all, they were just announced at CES. Whatever the case, the 42-inch LT-42SL89 and 46-inch LT-46SL89 HDTVs are both proud members of the outfit's Procision series and boast a cabinet that "across most of its width measures a mere 1.5-inches, with a maximum depth of just 2.9-inches at the panel's center." Of course, each set also includes a TV tuner, three HDMI inputs, two component jacks and one S-Video / VGA port to complement the USB picture viewer, illuminated remote and touch-sensitive buttons on the front panel. Both super-slim units will hit retail stores next month for $1,899.99 and $2,399.99, respectively.[Via FarEastGizmos]
ASUS LS221H: "world's slimmest" 22-inch LCD monitor
Just a day after we were graced with Mother Earth's "most energy-efficient monitor" comes the "world's slimmest" 22-incher. ASUS claims that its LS221H is just 248-millimeters (that's 9.76-inches) at its thinnest point, but unless this thing morphs into a CRT at a moment's notice, we're assuming (read: hoping) it meant 24.8-millimeters, or 0.97-inches. Beyond that, we're trusting that the 1,680 x 1,050 resolution, 2-millisecond response time, 300 nits of brightness, VGA / HDMI inputs and 4,000:1 contrast ratio are all there, but you can never be too careful when talking about the planet's thickest / thinnest LCD. No price is listed, but if we were betting souls, we'd wager that it'll be right around $3,500. Wait, we mean $350. Yeah.[Via NewLaunches]
NXP unveils world's fastest cellular modem with multi-mode GSM support
3G is so Monday. Today, NXP Semiconductors is getting down with the "world's fastest high-bandwidth cellular soft modem," which will obviously be aimed at smartphones, MIDs and other handhelds thirsting for WWAN. Notably, the PNX6910 supports multi-mode LTE / HSPA / UMTS / EDGE / GPRS / GSM capability, and it's reportedly capable of achieving data transfer rates of 150Mbits down and 50Mbits up. To put things in perspective, NXP suggests that users could download an "entire HD movie in less than 7 minutes," though we're not sure what constitutes an "entire movie." Oh, and before you get too excited in here, you should probably know that the chip won't even be available until Q2 2009 at the earliest.
Send in the cosplayers
Cosplayers are perpetual purveyors of entertainment. Die-hard fans never miss a chance to dress up, while some fans would rather die. Some do it so well that everyone becomes a fan, if only for a moment. Anyone grossly offended by the glory of cosplay should look away now (we're kidding, keep reading), as we present the new Guiness World Record for "Most Video Game Costumes in One Place."It is estimated over 600 fans showed up to A-Kon 2008 dressed in video game attire, easily besting the previous "record" of 80 Marios. Characters from all walks of Nintendo life were found at A-Kon, and we've gathered a few of the best to check out after the break. Cosplay done right looks rad.
Sharp trumpets world's thinnest 5-megapixel CMOS sensor
Every so often, we catch Sharp tooting its own horn in regard to sensor size. Needless to say, small is most certainly superior in this discussion, and the aforesaid outfit is patting itself on the back once more for the RJ63SC100. This 5-megapixel CMOS sensor is said to be the industry's thinnest at 9.5- x 9.5- x 6.6-millimeters, and it should fit snugly inside the already cramped innards of tomorrow's cellphones just fine. Samples are slated to ship out at the end of May for ¥10,000 ($96) a pop, while commercial production should get going a month later.[Via Impress]
QSTARZ intros "most powerful GPS receiver in the world"
Really, QSTARZ? You've actually had independent testers confirm that your BT-Q818 eXtreme is the most powerful GPS receiver on the entire planet? We're guessing not, but for what it's worth, the second incarnation of the BT-Q818 features 51-channel tracking, 32-hours of navigation time, -158dBm sensitivity, USB connectivity, built-in Bluetooth, adjustable 1 to 5Hz update rate and a 36-second signal acquisition time (when cold). Sounds pretty run-of-the-mill from here, but QSTARZ wouldn't fib about this thing's world ranking, now would it?[Via NaviGadget]
LG claims Scarlet 42LG61 is world's thinnest LCD HDTV with built-in tuner
Maybe our math is off, but we're fairly certain 44.7-millimeters equates to around 1.76-inches. Strangely enough, LG is claiming that its Scarlet 42LG61 is actually the world's thinnest LCD HDTV, and we all know Hitachi's definitively thinner 1.5-inch family just started shipping to US consumers last week. Of course, maybe it just meant the slimmest it has ever produced, but we digress. The set is apparently loose in South Korea, featuring a 1080p panel, 120Hz technology, a 600,000:1 contrast ratio and four HDMI ports. Granted, the previously veiled set won't run you cheap, as you'll walk away ???2.5 million ($2,427) poorer should you choose to take one home.[Via AVing] Update: LG clarified the situation. It's the slimmest out there with a TV tuner built-in. Nice.
University of Texas fires up petawatt laser, HERCULES weeps
Just two months prior, we all stood in awe of the mighty HERCULES laser housed at the University of Michigan. Now, however, those 300 terawatts of power look mighty puny compared to the one petawatt potential claimed by the Texas Petawatt. Hailed as "the highest powered laser in the world" by Todd Ditmire, a physicist at the University of Texas at Austin, the device has the "power output of more than 2,000 times the output of all power plants in the United States," and in case that wasn't impressive enough, it's also "brighter than sunlight on the surface of the sun" -- but alas, only for a tenth of a trillionth of a second. Aside from totally ganking the geeky gloating rights from the Wolverines, the Longhorns will use the laser to study astronomical phenomena in miniature (and probably take over the world in short order). [Via Physorg, image courtesy of University of Texas at Austin]
Cornell Ranger sets unofficial distance walking record for a robot
Think you could keep pace with Cornell's Ranger robot? Just last week, the robot walker set an unofficial world record by trotting nonstop for 45 laps (that's 5.6 miles, for those counting) around the university's Barton Hall running track. After reaching that mark, the creature presumably fell over from battery exhaustion, but the team of creators are investigating to find out the exact reason it finally collapsed. Although Guinness officials weren't involved due to too much "rigmarole," the team has quite a bit to be proud of -- after all, an earlier version of the creature only made it 0.62 miles before calling it a day. Aside from garnering bragging rights, the crew is hoping to use Ranger to better understand the "mechanics of walking," which could be used to improve rehabilitation procedures or even athletic performance.[Via Physorg]
Toshiba to showcase "world's smallest HDTV camera" at NAB
Granted, Toshiba Imaging's IK-HD1 3CCD HDTV Camera may not matter much to the consumer as-is, but we're all about the progress. Ready to make its grand, er, wee entrance at NAB Show later this month, the aforementioned unit touts the planet's "smallest" HD camera head (1.6-inches; 2.3-ounces), which should give program producers in tight spots one less reason to not capture content in high-def. In that vein, Tosh even notes that its ability to capture at 1,920 x 1,080 at 30fps makes it "highly suitable for reality TV (you getting this, producers?), specialty broadcast, sports, news and commercials." We know, this totally opens the door for an HD version of Punk'd, but hey, you can't win 'em all.[Via Engadget Spanish]
Chinese man builds fully functional 3-foot tall cellphone
Forget that "world's smallest" hokum -- how's about the world's largest? One particular Chinese man took on the challenge by constructing a fully functional cellphone some 620 times bigger than the handset that served as inspiration. The final result weighs in at 48-pounds, towers 3-feet up and has absolutely no qualms sending / receiving calls, text messages or browsing the internet. Unfortunately, the homegrown handset does require an AC outlet to function, and the real kicker is the omission of a vibrate function. Still, we bet the speakerphone is killer.[Via textually]
Swede used 40Gbps internet connection to dry laundry
Chances are, you could think of a million and one ways to totally take advantage of having a 40Gbps internet connection installed in your abode, but for one Sigbritt Löthberg -- who actually had such a setup -- she chose to take advantage of it in quite a perplexing way. Reportedly, the 75-year old dame wasn't too interested in downloading an entire HD film in two seconds or having ping times more minuscule than the brain can fathom; rather, she chose to use the excess heat emitted from all the kit shoved in her house to "dry her laundry." Unfortunately, the poor lady has had the gear removed from her domicile for further testing in another location, but according to Hafsteinn Jonsson, who is heading up the fiber network operation for Karlstad Stadsnät, they're considering "giving her a 100Gbps [link] in the summer -- then she'll be able to dry all her neighbors' laundry too."[Image courtesy of TheRedWoodMotel]
Tosog goes 0 to 70 in 28 and a half hours
Rumor has it that the record for leveling from one to seventy has been broken yet again. Tosog of EU Kil'jaeden has reportedly maxed out in one day, four hours, and twenty-nine minutes. This was posted in a thread where Athene boasted a (NSFW) new video (NSFW) on how he went from 1 to 70 in 1 day 19 hours 39 minutes.Both are inarguably amazing feats of power leveling. How did Tosog do it? Well, if you speak German, you tell me:
Tata rolls out "world's largest" commercial WiMAX network in India
It seems as if Tata Communications is out to one-up BSNL -- or at least claim its share of the limelight, anyway. More specifically, the outfit has teamed up with Telsima in order to roll out the "world's largest commercial WiMAX network" in India. Over 5,000 enterprise / retail customers are already connected in ten cities, and there are plans in place to secure nearly a quarter million customers in retail alone during fiscal year 2009. Furthermore, we're hearing that the services should be stretched to 110 cities for enterprise users and 15 cities for the retail segment by the year's end, but users in Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Cochin, Chandigarh, and Kolkata are the only ones celebrating at the moment. Not a bad way to grab a bit more market share from Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, eh?
Sharp develops "world's smallest" 1seg TV tuner
Do you ever wonder just how realistic all these coin / hand / White House-to-miniscule item comparison shots are? We certainly do, and while the ¥1 coin seen above could be the size of a frisbee for all we know (we jest, we jest), we suppose we'll believe Sharp when it says its latest 1seg tuner is indeed the world's smallest. The VA3A5JZ922 checks in at just 5.9- x 5.9- x 0.9-millimeters -- about 35-percent smaller than competitors -- and should cost around ¥20,000 ($185) when samples start shipping out next week. Don't get too excited just yet, however, as mass production isn't slated to get going until late September.[Via PMPToday]
Duke University: home to world's largest 802.11n wireless network
We know, most of you Blue Devil fans are still reeling from that recent loss to Wake Forest, but if it's any consolation, at least your campus is about to become home to the "world's largest" 802.11n wireless network. Last we heard, The Ohio State University held the crown for Earth's biggest WLAN with 1,700 access points lit, but according to Cisco, Duke's campus will soon house 2,500 Aironet 1250 Series APs. The installation will leave more than six million square feet of central North Carolina blanketed in WiFi, and will supposedly be the "largest planned 802.11n wireless network in the world by any organization to date." Watch out, Dukies -- we hear those folks in Chapel Hill have a thing for swiping unsecured signals.
University of Michigan creates most intense laser in the universe
Rest assured, we've seen some wicked frickin' lasers in our day, but apparently, even the two-kilowatt rendition that heats coffee in mere seconds can't hold a candle ray of light to HERCULES. Intentionally named in all caps by University of Michigan gurus in order to highlight its awesomeness, said laser contains 300 terawatts of power (or 300 times the capacity of the entire US electricity grid) and could "help scientists develop better proton and electron beams for radiation treatment of cancer." Still, we can't help but conclude with UMich's own description of this masterpiece: "If you could hold a giant magnifying glass in space and focus all the sunlight shining toward Earth onto one grain of sand, that concentrated ray would approach the intensity of [HERCULES]." Damn.[Via Physorg]
WoW in the Guinness Book of World Records
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/playable_web_games/WoW_is_in_the_Guinness_Book_of_World_Records_for_alcohol'; I'd like to propose a toast to WoW for setting a new world record. Yahoo News Canada has announced the first Gamer's Edition of the Guinness Book of World Records is due out on March 11, 2008. World of Warcraft's distinction? The world's largest virtual beerfest. Brewfest, in honor of Oktoberfest, is probably one of the most fun seasonal events in game. This event features festive food and beverages, along with fabulous rewards for participation. Every autumn, characters gather together from all over Azeroth to stoutly defend their treasured kegs from Dark Iron Dwarves. According to an informal Breakfast Topic poll, the most coveted prize for this event is the legendary (or at least epic) Brewfest Ram. Since WoW is hands down the most popular MMORPG on the planet it will like pop up all over the the Gamers Guiness Book of World Records. For now, here's to Brewfest!
