Software

I’m not certain if you are aware of this, but Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*Star) has developed gender recognition system.

This picture here from CommunicAsia 2009 gives you an idea of the technology with the webcam and the mirror. You will note the surprise on this guys face as the computer knows that “You Got Male”.

The tech is some sort sophisticated algorithm in order to differentiate facial features between males and females. So its not looking at any anatomy below the neck or anything, otherwise Robert Paulson from Fight Club would be mislabeled. This is probably a good time for a joke about how this new technology would label an individual who has received a sex-change operation.

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Some of you might remember the Knight Rider GPS from Mio, but most drivers aren’t all men of action like David Hasselhoff. Some of us are the average working class guy like Homer Simpson.

Perhaps this is why TomTom invented the voiceskin of Homer Simpson for their GPS. Instead of a robotic, ersatz voice box telling you where to go, why not the most beloved cartoon dad of the last 20 years?

Homer says things like “whoo-hoo, you have reached your destination” and “at the end of the road, turn left, then take the motorway, hee-hee-hee”. I imagine that the studio had Dan Castellaneta in a recording studio for a day to make these vocal recordings. I hope he was sufficiently compensated, because I once heard that the Simpsons cast make about one million per episode.

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The iPhone 3GS was just unveiled by Apple last week at WWDC in San Francisco, and while it did not set the world alight like the original iPhone did a couple of years ago, we’re pretty sure that it is going to do pretty well on the sales front simply because it is an iPhone and bears the famous Apple trademark, being simple and intuitive to use in addition to its versatility compared to other more business-oriented smartphones. Well, one of the major drawbacks would be having to consign oneself to a 2-year contract if you want to get the iPhone 3GS for a cheap price, otherwise an unlocked unit will burn quite a big hole in your pocket. There is a method to circumvent this, however, with a new SIM card that will make unlocking the latest iPhone 3GS handsets a snap in a much simpler process than ever before.

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Considering the amount of online movies on Hulu and Cracke that I watch, it would appear that three studios (MGM, Paramount, and Lions Gate) are going to have a different approach to online films.

The films that Epixhd.com will show are the ones that you will want to see. These are the films that have already had their run in the theater, but haven’t come out on DVD just yet.

Wow, I could really access these films in Full HD (720p streaming) from my computer? That sounds too good to be true. Well, it sort of is. You see, Epix wants to use servers in IPS data centers, so you would have to sign up with TV distributors for it. So unless you have a TV cable provider that is also the same provider as that Internet service, good luck at seeing Epix.

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Microsoft has recently confirmed that they will be offering Windows 7 worldwide this October 22nd, which is pretty near, hence cutting short the life of the ill-fated Windows Vista operating system. Dell has stepped up to the challenge by allowing users to purchase Windows 7 factory installed on your favorite Dell configuration. This is the fruit of having worked with Microsoft over the past three years in order to come up with the best computing solutions possible, which means most of new Dell computers will have a Windows 7 option come this October.

Microsoft also confirmed that as with previous Windows launches, they are partnering with PC manufacturers like Dell to offer the Windows 7 Upgrade Option program. Later this summer, if you purchase select systems through retail or directly from Dell you may order a Windows 7 upgrade kit. It’s important to note that the Windows 7 upgrade kits will not be shipped until AFTER Windows 7 has officially launched (Oct. 22 as noted above). Once the Windows 7 Upgrade Option program is officially announced more details will be available including supported PCs, languages and countries.

Does this piece of news help you hold off your new computer purchase for at least a few more months, or you are fine with Vista running in your life?

Press Release

Phoenix Technologies has just announced the release of Phoenix Freeze, a patent-pending solution for laptops and netbooks that helps increase data security by providing users with a convenient, always-on Bluetooth proximity system which will lock down a laptop automatically whenever the user walks away from it. It will require a (naturally) Bluetooth-enabled cell phone and a Bluetooth-enabled laptop, and will be so easy to setup that you don’t have to worry about anyone snooping around behind your back on your computer anymore whenever you go off for a toilet or cigarette break. In addition, there is no need to waste time (hey, those few seconds add up over the years as a cubicle drone, you know) in constantly locking and unlocking the PC with passwords or finger swipes.

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Do you happen to be shopping for a cell phone at this point in time, and are looking forward to picking up an Apple iPhone 3G considering everyone else already has one (well, it looks like that basically anyways)? Folks who are thinking of doing so and yet not wanting to fall under AT&T’s contract have a choice - to pick an iPhone 3G up as a refurbished unit from eBay or some other online shopping site and use an unlock software solution. iPhone Unlocking Solutions has just the thing for you if you fall under that category thanks to their new one-click unlock software, where the software price has been temporarily lowered to a mere $29.95.

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I almost feel bad for reporting on this next product, as it is one of those that encourages a double-life. This is for all of those people out there who are addicted to Twitter, but have bosses who don’t approve of any personal use of computers on “company time”.

Yeah, as if any company can own time! On second thought, I highly endorse this product, because I know what it is like to work for “The Man”. The last time I was working for “The Man”, twitter hadn’t been invented yet, but I’m certain that he would have never let me do that.

However, if I had Spread Tweet, my Twitter life would appear on my monitor like an ordinary spreadsheet. As long as my boss didn’t look too closely, then he or she would be none the wiser.

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