Archive for December, 2009:
OmniTread: a terrifying, vibrating, go-anywhere snakebot
It’s not quite as endearing as the (also terrifying) BigDog, but the OmniTread robot does seem pretty useful. That is, if you don’t need to go fast. The bot is a specialist in navigating rubble and small spaces, and could help locate people trapped under collapsed buildings. There is a risk of them running in terror, but if they’re pinned it shouldn’t be a problem.
It’s designed by roboticists at the University of Michigan, and right now there aren’t any production plans. But if it were to prove itself in a quake or other disaster, they might find themselves with a government contract right quick.
[via Coolest Gadgets and TechEBlog]
Handheld PS3 device for fanbois to cuddle at night
So here’s a somewhat interesting gadget. Instead of converting a PS3 into a hand-held device, a crafty modder named techknott built a custom transmitter. The transmitter allows a player to not only control their PS3 remotely, but also to view the output on a small video screen.
Essentially, you’re combining a controller with a wireless video device, and a small LCD screen. Sounds simple right? Well, it’s might be simple, but looking at the fabrication quality in the video, it’s obviously something that required quite a bit of time and effort.
[via GEARFUSE]
Icoo M100HDC Portable Media Player
The M100HDC is the latest portable media player from Icoo that features a relatively small 4.8-inch LCD display. The gadget supports a wide variety of multimedia formats including MKV, RMVB, RM, AVI(DivX/XviD/H.264), FLV, MP4, MPG and 3GP. If you want to watch your favorite movies on a bigger screen, the M100HDC can also be plugged into your computer monitor via a TV out port. Too bad, there is no info on pricing so far. [zol.com]
Save $232.03 On Canon PowerShot SX20IS 12.1MP Digital Camera
Here’s your chance to grab one of this Canon PowerShot SX20IS for as low as $369 (regular price $601.03) at Amazon, which means you could save up to $232.03. Specs-wise, the SX20IS features a DIGIC 4 Image processor, a 12.1-megapixel image sensor, 20x wide-angle optical zoom with optical image stabilizer, a big 2.5-inch Vari-Angle LCD, a microSD card slot, a HDMI port and is able to capture 720p HD movies with stereo sound. [Product Page]
Art Lebedev’s Folderix USB Drive
The Folderix USB Drive is designed to look like a Windows folder icons that have made the transition from your display to your USB port. Available in yellow, blue or purple, the drive provides a read speed of 14 MB/sec and a write speed of 2.5 MB/sec. Each Folderix USB drive retails for $55. [Art Lebedev]
Onyx Boox 60 e-Book Reader Hits US
First introduced back in March, the Onyx Boox 60 is finally available for purchase in the US market via Dulin’s Books. Priced at $349, this portable device offers a 6-inch 600 x 800 Vizplex E-ink display with touchscreen capabilities, a 532MHz processor, a 512MB of internal memory, a microSD card slot, WiFi, a miniUSB port, a 3.5mm headset jack, a 1600mAh Li-Polymer battery and runs on Linux OS. Not to mention, the device also supports a wide range of file formats including EPUB, PDF, Mobipocket, Fb2, TXT, PDB, HTML, CHM, DJVU, JPEG, BMP, PNG, TIFF and MP3. [Product Page via Electronista]
Novelquest Emperor 1510 – A Scorpion-shaped Computer Chair
If you are a hardcore gamer, then you might need the Novelquest Emperor 1510, which is a Scorpion-shaped computer chair that is fully loaded with a built-in stereo system, LED lighting and designed to be as comfortable as possible with tilting capabilities. Its handmade Canadian Steel frame is able to accommodate either a single or triple monitors and a 5.1 Surround sound configuration. The Novelquest Emperor 1510’s standard configuration are a 3.2GHz Intel Core processor with an nVidia GeForce graphics processor, a 12GB of DDR3 SDRAM, a 500GB eSATA drive, the Razer Lachesis gaming mouse, and the Logitech diNovo Edge Wireless Keyboard. Priced at $4950, the Novelquest Emperor 1510 will be exhibited at 2010 CES in Las Vegas. [FayerWayer]
The World’s Smallest Travel Charger For Laptops By Innergie
The Innergie mCube Mini is claimed to be the world’s smallest travel charger for laptops. The gadget can be powered by either a 12V or a 15V outlet and supports netbooks or laptops that need up to 65W of power at 15-21V. The mCube Mini also has a USB port, so you can charge other portable gadgets at the same time. Measuring 60mm x 26mm x 18mm, the Innergie mCube Mini retails for $70. [Product Page]
Mophie To Launch Their Own iPhone Credit Card Reader
Between CES and Google’s press event, next week is bound to be a torrential mess of press releases. Looking to sneak onto the radar before every tech writer in the lands is pulled into cranking out post after post on the latest and great from the industry’s big guns, iPhone accessory maker Mophie has gone ahead and put their upcoming wares on the table.
Known primarily for their battery packs and cases, Mophie is about to jump into a whole new ball pit: credit card readers for the iPhone.
Considering that Mophie has thus far stuck solely to the hardware end of the iPhone add-on game, this seems like an odd market for them to dive into. So much so, in fact, that I initially thought they were just releasing the credit card reader (pictured above) as an alternative to typing your credit card into various applications by hand or, perhaps, as a more aesthetically pleasing piece of hardware for Jack Dorsey’s Square.
With a bit more reading, however, it looks Mophie might be prepping to square off (had to do it) against Dorsey’s service with a software solution of their own. Here’s what Mophie said on the matter:
Marking its first combination hardware and private label iPhone application device, mophie is launching its innovative new credit card reader, empowering users to complete financial transactions on the go.
The wording of that was just vague enough that it left things a bit unclear; they are indeed bringing their own software – but what was it for? Under that definition, this could still be little more than an easier (if a bit silly) way for consumers to input credit card numbers whilst ordering online. We prodded for more info – here’s the response:
The credit card reader works with an iPhone application and is meant for small business owners to conduct transactions easier.
So there we have it folks – Mophie’s getting into the transaction business. Whether or not they’ll be handling the payment processing themselves (as Square is) or simply acting as a middle-man for a service like Paypal or Authorize.net is still unclear. Look for more details to emerge during CES next week.
Crunch Network: CrunchBoard because it’s time for you to find a new Job2.0
Leaked: Swype For Android Beta Unofficially Available For Motorola Droid
When Swype was nice enough to give us the world’s first hands-on with their ultra-nifty alternative keyboard on the Android platform, I wasn’t about to leak the installation files. It’s just not my style. Now that someone else has gone and leaked them, though, I’m more or less obligated to show you how to get it up and running. I tell you, folks — this blogging thing is one endless inner conflict.
After coming up with an awesome name for their blog, the guys over at DroidMuff.in got their hands on a beta copy of Swype for Android and uploaded it for all to share. This specific installer won’t work on every Android handset — in fact, it won’t work on most. This one’s tailored to work with WVGA phones, so it’ll work fine on the likes of the Moto Droid and the Xperia X3, but not the Droid Eris or HTC Hero.
If you’re ready to dive in, here’s how to get it done:
- Download and install the Astro file manager from the Android Marketplace
- Download this zip file
- Unzip that file, which will give you a file called “[mfhs]Swype-SwypeReference-WVGA854-trial-release.0.35.3959.apk”
- Copy the APK file to your handset’s SD card
- On your Android handset, go to Settings > Applications > and check the box next to Unknown Sources
- Use Astro to browse for the apk file on your SD card, install it.
- Go to Settings > Language and Keyboard. Enable the Swype keyboard.
- You should now be able to switch between the standard keyboard and the Swype keyboard by tapping-and-holding on any text input field.
- Enjoy!
You’ve heard what we think of Swype, so be sure to tell us what you think down in the comments below.
[Thanks David!]
Crunch Network: TechCrunch obsessively profiling and reviewing new Internet products and companies
