Join Charles the GPS robot can read a driver’s expressions
This week, we are going to be at CES 2011 in Vegas, and we will be covering a lot of brand spanking new technology from a lot of real companies. I thought that I would get this conceptual product out of the way before I head down to Vegas tomorrow.
This is Charles, a GPS unit that is not a small box that suction cups to your dashboard. As you can see from the picture, Charles has a head along with shoulders. (He is the one on the right, by the way.)
Charles is designed from scientists at Cambridge, and it can read the user’s facial expression, voice tone, as other behavioral hints so it is “more sympathetic to your mood”.
Continue reading » Charles the GPS robot can read a driver’s expressions
Skype’s updated app one-ups Apple with mobile video chat
The new Skype app offers video chat over 3G
Skype has launched a video chat feature for their iPhone app which adds 3G capability, as well as being able to chat with iPhone 3GS users in a limited one way video basis.
Users who have the iPhone 4 or 4th generation iPod Touch can initiate video calls with friends who use the iPhone 3GS, iPad, and 3rd Generation iPod Touch, while 3rd Gen Apple device users can only receive the video chat and while talking audio only. Mac Desktop users can also jump into the fray using the Skype client.
But what’s really challenging to Apple’s Facetime dominance is that Skype can video chat over 3G, not just WiFi only. And according to Red Ferret, the data usage isn’t too bad, chiming in at about 1.3MB per minute.
Frankly, I’m amazed that Apple approved this update, but it may be that they’ll be announcing a “one more thing” update next month that will do the same.
The Skype App update is free can is available right now at the App Store.
Hat Tip – The Ferret
Just in time for New Years, Bill Murray rants about tech, in 1982!
When I saw that there was footage of Bill Murray ranting about tech from 1982, I just had to watch it.
After all, who wouldn’t want to hear the star of Ghostbusters, Stripes, and Groundhog Day speak about technology? I always thought he was a comedic genius, and to some extent, he still has it.
This is apparently some footage for a show called Wired In, which apparently never aired. The sound quality is poor, but you can hear what he has to say about technology. His rant was completely spontaneous, and it was done as the camera was prepping for what looks like a very short clip.
Continue reading » Just in time for New Years, Bill Murray rants about tech, in 1982!
Google Chrome OS – Stop worrying about your hard drive, you don’t need one anymore
I have a confession to make, I sometimes lay awake at night and worry about my hard drive. I write quite a bit and I am an addicted amateur photographer who has become so worried about losing all my stuff, I back things up two different ways, just so I can sleep.
Knowing I am not alone, I am excited to introduce you to Google Chrome, an operating system coming to you soon, on a laptop, with NO HARD DRIVE. That’s right, the new platform stores it all, your applications, your files and pretty much everything else you might need, on online servers rather than your PC. Continue reading » Google Chrome OS – Stop worrying about your hard drive, you don’t need one anymore
Bling Nation – soon it’ll be okay to lose your wallet
It’s no longer a prophesy, I’d say it’s a forgone conclusion, the cashless society is almost here…
Businesses like Bling Nation, based in Palo Alto California, are getting things rolling with stickers that will allow you to transfer your hard earned cash to stores, restaurants, or your friends with the tap of your mobile phone and all without giving anyone access to your personal information. No longer are credit cards, checks or cash necessary.
Bling Nation provides customers with free “Bling tags”, available from participating business locations, that are affixed to the back of your mobile phone, these tags transmit data using a unique mobile platform that enables tap-and-connect capabilities. Bling tag users can also earn and redeem loyalty rewards and receive text-messages confirming their purchases. Continue reading » Bling Nation – soon it’ll be okay to lose your wallet
Watch out at the scanner in Lagos Airport!
Take a look at these images here on the left. They aren’t really NSFW, but apparently some airport employees at Lagos airport in Nigeria are wanting to see them.
Yes, there are employees who will “sneak off to the cubicle where the 3D full-body scanner monitors are located during off-peak hours and enjoy themselves”.
This is disturbing, isn’t it? You can take comfort that these scanners tend to blur the face. So even though some airport employee at Lagos may have seen you naked, they have not seen your face. Unless they leave the cubicle, and do a compare and contrast with the other passengers. So if you have been to Lagos airport, you might want to ignore those people giggling at you.
Continue reading » Watch out at the scanner in Lagos Airport!
Toshiba recalls T Series Notebooks
Three versions of the Toshiba Satellite T130 series notebooks are being recalled.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of Toshiba Satellite T Series Notebook Computers due to potential burn hazards.
Continue reading » Toshiba recalls T Series Notebooks
Toshiba claims the mantle of world’s fastest SD card
Toshiba says their new SDHC cards are the fastest in the world.
Back in the golden age of ocean going travel, companies like Cunard, White Star and the like were involved in a travel style arms race, each vying for the fastest steam ship. And the winner was usually the one who travelled from London to New York in the fastest time (as signified by the Blue Riband Trophy). Well, tech companies are doing the same thing with SD cards, each vying for both the largest and fastest SD cards on the market. Toshiba is now claiming to have the fastest in the world … let’s take a look.
Continue reading » Toshiba claims the mantle of world’s fastest SD card
