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Archive for the ‘Offshore’ Category

This is an old chestnut of a post but it’s nice to look back and see just what kind of crazy garbage Apple tried to foist on the unsuspecting public way back when. Take this odd GPS unit, for example. It looks like a Newton had sex with an N-Gage and then the resulting child was strapped to a bike. Then there’s the old Pippin, the most famous Apple-made gaming console ever.

Pippin made it to the marketplace, but if you’ve heard of it, you’re among the minority. When the gaming console (and network computer) was released in the US in 1996, Sony and Nintendo already had a firm grip on the digits of gamers. Japanese toymakers Bandai made the console and reportedly sold a measly 42,000 before it was discontinued

I think the most telling thing is that the design aesthetic of all of these devices is all over the map and, now, if you look at the Apple product line it’s basically monolithically identical. Essentially you were dealing with a wild company back in the 1990s.

Check out more prototypes at UneasySilence.

It’s always good to see robotics applied to real-life problems. This time, we can show you the brain child of a team of researchers at Japan’s Kinki University (that’s really the name): a robotic rehabilitation device that helps paralyzed stroke victims regain dexterity. Not too surprisingly, the device is attached to the fingers of the patient in question.

Through built-in sensors and a servo motor, the device enables users to perform rehabilitation exercises and helps to move the finger joints of patients. The sensors constantly measure the user’s response to revise the regimen when needed. As all exercises are recorded, patients can use the device at hand after getting instructed by doctors.

The current prototype weighs 8kg, with the makers expecting to reduce the weight to up to 700g in the future. According to a recent report in Japanese newspaper The Nikkei, its makers now plan to commercialize the technology after gaining regulatory approval for medical use. The makers aim at offering each unit for $3,600.

Picture credit: Robonable

The only drawback as one Reddit’r points out is that unless you remove the center spindle, you’re going to have to cut a hole in your sandwich’s contents. But I must say that’s a small price to pay for such awesomeness. [imgur]

Nintendo apparently is working on something big. So big that that Metroid’s co-creator, Yoshio Sakamoto, recently stated that it’s going to surprise us all and, well, leave [us] all with our mouths open. Sounds great, but all I want is the Wii with proper graphics and better tracking. Oh wait, that’s the PS3 Move.

3DJuegos via Kotaku

“At Nintendo we always have the obligation to surprise users with a new game console. We have never done what others have. We prefer to create something new that catches attention, and I think this will continue this time as well. Surely the new Nintendo machine will leave you all with your mouth open.”

To their credit, he’s right. Nintendo does have a history of forging their own path in the gaming industry and rarely follows others’ trends. The 3DS is just the latest proof of that. Hopefully Nintendo’s next gaming console doesn’t skimp in the graphics department, though. Its Wii is looking a little sorry these days.

The never ending story between Apple Japan and the local government may have finally come to an end. Following months of disputes whether overheating first generation iPod nanos pose a security risk (some iPods caused fire) or not, Apple last month announced it will put up a special warning message on its Japanese company site and offer to replace batteries in all models affected for free.

And now Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry posted a PDF [JP] on its official website according to which big A had to replace a total of 5,527 batteries last month. The ministry also says in the 3 weeks in August after Apple issued that warning [JP] on its website (on August 11), the company replaced 4,994 batteries – a big plus compared to June (62 batteries) and July (232) this year.

I am not a security expert and 5,000 is not a small number, but it looks like the Japanese government is slightly overreacting in this case. In the PDF linked to above, the ministry is again asking buyers of the first generation nano to get in touch with Apple as fast as possible and also provides contact details.

Recently hacked your PS3? If you want to keep on playing those indie games, be aware that the next update will probably block you from doing that. This new update targets users who are using PSJailbreak and/or PSGroove. Sony’s severe actions against hacked consoles received mixed responses from the players; most of them of course hate the fact that Sony puts enormous effort in fighting hackers while they don’t listen to the users at all. Maybe it is time to focus on the Move that will be in the shops on the 15th and still looks like a dildo (the Move Shooting Attachment is cool though).

Sony, while reassuring that hacking will not be tolerated had no further comments on the matter.

“Since this is an overall security related issue, we will not be providing further commentary to this case. But as we always have, we will continue to take necessary actions to both hardware and software to protect the intellectual content provided on the PlayStation 3.”

[via]

TV remotes need a makeover and the Gesture Remote concept might be a step in the right direction. Currently there are too many buttons and functions spread across multiple remotes; it’s overwhelming at times and universal remotes only solve part of the problem. This is where the Gesture Remote helps. The entire remote is one trackpad, which allows for intuitive gestures and movement. Think the Apple Magic Trackpad molded for your hand.

Want the selector to move up in the EPG? Slide your thumb up. Want to select a given program? Tap with your thumb. It’s that easy, but admittedly, the remote lacks direct input buttons so it’s not exactly perfect. Besides, the gesture support would have to be wrote into the box’s programing so it’s anything but a turnkey product. But at least someone is thinking out of the box. Let’s see more of this, m’kay.

GSMA, the organizers of the annual, massive Mobile World Congress, have announced a couple of new developments this morning. For one, the organization is to expand the developer-focused programme at the event to include new elements such as Macworld Mobile and the Brand App Challenge.

In addition, the organization has announced new speakers, including Sir Martin Sorrell, chief exec of WPP and HTC head honcho Peter Chou.

At Mobile World Congress 2011, the GSMA is partnering with IDG World Expo, organisers of Macworld, to produce Macworld Mobile, a mobile developer-focused event that will center around the iOS platform. GSMA says the Macworld Mobile iOS Developer Conference will provide full-day, in-depth training on the platform, with technical sessions, targeting tools and applications specifically designed for mobile application developers and engineers.

The GSMA expects more than 10,000 developers to visit App Planet, the “event within an event” at Mobile World Congress that centers around the mobile applications market, during the four days of Mobile World Congress. At the next event, App Planet will also feature new elements, including the Brand App Challenge, which is essentially a competition / networking opportunity focused on mobile application developers creating “brand apps” for a select number of global consumer brands.

Finally, GSMA has expanded its line up of keynote speakers at Mobile World Congress, announcing today that the following speakers were added to the programme: Daniel Hajj, CEO, America Movil and Telcel; Peter Chou, CEO, HTC; Vittorio Colao, Chief Executive, Vodafone and Sir Martin Sorrell, Chief Executive, WPP.

They will join previously announced speakers like Randall Stephenson, Chairman, CEO and President, AT&T; Li Yue, President and CEO, China Mobile; Eric Schmidt, Chairman and CEO, Google and Evan Williams, CEO, Twitter.

The event will be held on 14th-17th February, 2011 in Barcelona.

We’re looking forward to it.

Well, it looks like Ricoh is still sticking to the if-it's-not-broke-don't-fix-it model with its CX series of cameras. Just as it found in its review of the CX3, Photography Blog says that the new CX4 model delivers some modest improvements over its predecessor, but likely not enough to warrant an upgrade -- or stand out from the competition, for that matter. The improvements this time around include some improved image stabilization, as well as a handful of new features like a multi-shot night landscape mode and subject-tracking AF, which both apparently work reasonably well. One of the other new changes also proved to be one of the camera's biggest drawbacks, however, as the reduced handgrip makes the CX4 harder to hold comfortably than earlier models. Hit up the source link below for the full review.

Ricoh CX4 gets reviewed: slight improvement over the CX3 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 07:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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