[Via Watch Report]
Seiko's Spring Drive Spacewalk watch for earthbound and spacelings alike
[Via Watch Report]
Screen grabs: David Rossi's top secret RAZR2 gets concealed
Screen grabs chronicles the uses (and misuses) of real-world gadgets in today's movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dt com.
Accordion-style USB drive actually solves a problem
[Via MAKE]
Datto Backup NAS brings off-site storage to the little guys
Jury says Microsoft owes Alcatel-Lucent $367M in patent damages
Hey, remember that Microsoft / Alcatel-Lucent patent fight from 2006? Yeah, we didn't think so -- but the two companies have been duking it out in court over about ten different patents for a couple years now, and a jury ruled today that Microsoft infringed two user interface-related patents and owes damages to the tune of $376M. The two patents both cover touchscreens, with one describing a system of form data entry, and the other describing stylus data interpretation. Sexy, we know. The jury also found that the Microsoft had not infringed two other Alcatel-Lucent video-decoding patents, but the rulings doesn't mean this is all finally over -- Microsoft is planning on immediately appealing the decision, and there are still several other video-related patents being litigated. Yeah, we're on edges of our seats here -- tune in next time for another excitingly dull installment of Marshall Justice.Scientists devise software that can interpret attractiveness
Believe it or not, this isn't the first time we've seen software created in order to determine whether a subject is drop-dead gorgeous, but scientists at Tel Aviv University have seemingly concocted a program of their own that can "interpret attractiveness in women." Before you ask, the researchers have yet to perfect the art of computing the beauty of males, but they're attributing said omission to the difficulty in "defining" attractiveness in dudes. Nevertheless, the software was purportedly able to reach nearly the same conclusion as humans about how lovely (or not) a hundred different ladies were, as it broke down features like face symmetry, smoothness of the skin and hair color. We're told the development could eventually be used in "plastic and reconstructive surgery and computer visualization programs," but c'mon, this is totally meant to automate the grueling Hot or Not process.[Via Physorg]
iriver E100 hands-on
Continue reading iriver E100 hands-on
How would you change the Dash Express?
GM cranks up battery tests for plug-in Volt
[Via CNET, image courtesy of Reuters]
Windows 7 to arrive next year, says Bill Gates
[Thanks, Jon]
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April fool: AbleComm forgets what day it is, retracts Panasonic plasma cellphone release
Alright everyone, let's review: If you're going to put out a joke press release for April Fool's Day, it's important to make sure it's actually April 1st. That's a little lesson the folks at AbleComm apparently didn't get, because the company's April Fools press release about Panasonic putting partially-Ablecomm-sourced plasma screens in cell phones went out yesterday, April 3rd -- and got subsequently picked up by a variety of news outlets, including us. Yep, we got punked, we'll admit it. Unlike us, however, AbleComm hasn't yet had the stones to issue its own retraction, instead ordering PR Newswire to completely pull the release and put out a new, PRNewswire-written three-line retraction elsewhere. Yikes. We'll probably live without plasmas in our cellphones, but c'mon, people, at least admit it when the joke goes bad. Check out the retraction and the original fake press release after the break.[Thanks, David]
Bioscleave House aims to maintain equilibrium, requires waiver to enter
We've seen plenty of houses of the future, but none quite like this so-called Bioscleave House by artists Madeline Gins and Arakawa, which promises to force people to "use their bodies in unexpected ways to maintain equilibrium." Those equilibrium-inducing measures include, as you can see above, a vast undulating floor (somewhat curiously made of concrete), as well as off-kilter power outlets, walls painted in about 40 different colors, and windows of varying heights, all of which is designed to keep occupants and visitors "on guard" at all times. That equilibrium also comes at some risk, however, with visitors required to sign a waiver before they enter (children aren't allowed in at all). What's more, while they seem quite pleased with their creation, the artistic duo didn't build the $2 million dollar house for themselves, and they're now looking for someone else to call it home.
[Image courtesy Eric Striffler / The New York Times, thanks TSM]
[Image courtesy Eric Striffler / The New York Times, thanks TSM]
Crapgadget: creepy angel phone, egg MP3 player, sucker web cam, more
It's taken a few months for our post-CES Crapgadget hangover to fade, but we're back, and we're falling off the wagon with gusto -- or at least fear, because this evil angel-baby phone is creeping us out. Check 'em all out in the links below, but don't linger too long before casting your vote for the crappiest -- this stuff's been known to take an eye out.
Read - USB card reader with clock and thermometer: Nothing hides a card reader like a crappy digital clock!
Read - Crystal ball USB hub: How are you supposed to see into the future when Nemo's in the way?
Read - Marble egg MP3 player: 1000 songs, awkwardly bulging from your pocket.
Read - Mini sucker web cam: Nothing ever happens in that part of the screen anyway.
Read - Angel baby phone: Someone sat down and decided this was worth making. That might be scarier.
Read - Vacuum cleaner mouse: Cleanest mousepads in town, guv'nor!
MSV shows off L-Series satellite phone prototype
Hauppauge HD-PVR shows itself, pre-order said to be coming soon
We'd already heard it was delayed, but that apparently hasn't stopped some pics of Hauppauge's much-anticipated HD-PVR from landing in the hands of a moderator of the SageTV forums, who has kindly posted them for all to see. As you can see, however, it isn't exactly much to look at, but the promised real-time H.264 compression of 1080i video from a component video source should be more enough to make up for any design quibbles. What's more, if that same SageTV moderator is to be believed, Hauppauge should be starting to take pre-orders for the device relatively soon, possibly as early as today (it's still expected to set you back about $250).
[Via TV Squad]
[Via TV Squad]
