“We are burnin’ daylight” we got used to say as a proverb when we want to speed up someone and not lose time any more. A very high appreciation of the sunlight our ancestors put in this simple sentence sounds today in a totally new way. We should not only use sunny hours wisely, but to store energy from the sun when possible. Solar cells are now installed in many devices, buildings and gadgets to save energy. Even your had can become a part of it. This cap is also equipped with a solar panel. It is right on its peak. You will never feel it while walking in your baseball cap or draw any public attention (which you may someone find either good or bad) before you turn it on after sunset. Then you will get two LED light rays right in front of you.

Link to the original article…

Toshiba has been working on Serial ATA and Parallel ATA technology for a considerable time now, and this week Toshiba has presented some new devices in this domain. New gadgets are three hard disk drivers of the MKxx29GSG series and have SATA interface. They just only differ by their capacity: 120 GB, 160 GB and 250GB. HDDs are of 1.8 inch form factor which is not primarily used for PCs, but for smaller gadgets like portable mini PCs, portable media players, notebooks and mini notebooks or “netbooks” (notebooks that come with price limited by half a thousand dollars average scope and smaller dimensions). So we have a quarter of a terabyte – one of the largest capacities on a 1.8 inch hard drive of them all.

Link to the original article…

Sony Ericsson offers a solution for the moments when the ring of the phone is inopportune or when the phone is in the bag and it is not accessible: first collection of Bluetooth watches MBW-200. Watches with Bluetooth from Sony Ericsson assure elegant aspect of women which put emphasis on utility also.

Link to the original article…

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd, one of the world leaders on the mobile phone market and telecommunications presented for an international public new series of musical mobile phones: Samsung BEATb (model M3510) and Samsung BEATs (model M3200). These two phones represent promoters of the new line: The BEAT Edition.These two Samsung models offer a complete experience for users of musical mobile phones. Geesung Choi, the president of Samsung Telecommunication Business emphasized that music phones market is a market that is developing very fast and at the same time has a very big potential for growing.

Link to the original article…

We had seen many interesting watch gadgets. They have a great potential, because a) they are used every day by many people, b) they are a part of our life, and c) their features haven’t been changed for ages. There was many tries to bring some advanced functionality into this usual thing: watches with microphones and recording features, watches with MP3 players and built-in flash memory, even cell phone watches. However, it is a very rare case when some popular cell phone company makes an accessory for its mobiles in form of a watch! This time, Sony Ericsson presented a line of Bluetooth watches that are created to be connected with its latest mobiles.

Link to the original article…

DSLR Sony a900 camera sets a new standard for those who are excited with photos and who need an unsurpassed quality and creative photographing.The top product of aDSLR series benefits of the first CMOS full-frame sensor that has 24,6 mp. Specially developed by Sony this innovative sensor of a very high resolution and big dimensions equivalent with a movie frame of 35 mm offers an extraordinary image details and a wide dynamic range. Sensor of a new generation capture faultless images with an unprecedented loyalty in live colors, with very realistic textures and subtle color tones graduations. Filling a very high native resolution of a sensor, Exmor technology realizes on-chip analog/digital (A/D) conversion of a signal and reduces the noise in two steps. This guarantees an obtaining of images with an extremely low noise that benefit of high-precision lenses.

Link to the original article…

Looking as Apple making step after step to dominate the market with its upgraded iPhone 3G, companies like HTC and SonyEricsson decided to renew their device lineup and to produce some interesting iPhone rivals. And while HTC already made many attempts to compete with iPhone with its Touch lineup, many of them don’t came even close to the iPhone. They lacked iPhone’s sleek user interface, its big and bright screen and many more. Now, both HTC and SonyEricsson understood that to make a powerful iPhone rival they must focus on multimedia side of their devices. So, recent products from these companies, HTC Touch HD and SonyEricsson XPERIA X1, were made with all those things in mind. And in this comparison we would like to describe and compare all of those three touchscreen smartphones: iPhone 3G vs. HTC Touch HD vs. SonyEricsson XPERIA X1.

Link to the original article…

Sculptor Satoshi Yabuuchi is auctioning a limited-edition bronze statue of Sento-kun, the popular but controversial official mascot he designed for the Commemorative Events of the 1,300th Anniversary of the Nara-Heijokyo Capital (the upcoming festival marking 1,300 years since Nara’s establishment as Japan’s capital in 710 AD). The current bid on this 30.5-cm tall sculpture — one of only 130 created — is 185,000 yen (,750).

[Via: Yahoo! Auctions]

Link to the original article…

To NY-based architect-poets and “reversible destiny” philosophers Arakawa & Gins, comfort deserves only a limited role in the home. In their vision, a home that keeps its inhabitants young and healthy should provide perpetual challenges. A tentative relationship with your environment, they argue, is key to “reversing the downhill course of human life.”

This video takes a peek inside their Reversible Destiny Lofts in the Mitaka area of western Tokyo. Designed to stimulate the senses and force inhabitants to use balance, physical strength and imagination, the lofts feature uneven floors, oddly positioned power switches and outlets, walls and surfaces painted a dizzying array of colors, a tiny exit to the balcony, a transparent shower room, irregularly shaped curtainless windows, and more.

For the adventurous, two rental units are now available for 220,000 and 250,000 yen (,000/,400) per month, which is a bit pricey for Tokyo, but not outrageous. Short-term stays can also be arranged.

Link to the original article…

As Japanese consumers become ever more “fussy” over food safety issues, there is a growing demand for technology that improves food quality. To ease the minds of health-conscious meat-eaters, researchers at Japan’s National Institute of Animal Health (NIAH) have developed a convenient method for identifying cattle infected with mad cow disease, simply by measuring the brain waves they produce in response to audio stimuli.

To develop and test the new method, the researchers infected 11 healthy cows with mad cow disease and observed the onset of symptoms and changes in brain activity. Mad cow disease (a.k.a. Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, or BSE) is a fatal infectious disease that affects the central nervous system of cattle (and humans), turning the brain into a sponge-like substance. Symptoms of the disease include loss of muscle control, inability to stand or walk properly, agitation, and red eyes.

Approximately 24 months after infection, the 11 test cows began to exhibit the typical physical signs of BSE. However, at around 22 months after infection — before the physical symptoms became evident — the researchers discovered that the brains of the infected cows had a delayed reaction to sound. In all 11 mad cows, the brain waves elicited in response to audio stimuli were a few tenths of a millisecond slower than in healthy cows.

The researchers believe the acoustic nerves responsible for transmitting sound impulses to the brain became damaged as the disease progressed, resulting in a delayed response time. By using a device that measures this delay, ranchers can identify mad cows in their herds, the researchers suggest.

While the newly developed method is still less accurate than conventional lab testing of brain samples taken from carcasses, it does make it easier to detect possible infection at an early stage, before outward signs of the disease appear.

The researchers, who plan to study the data further and improve the accuracy of the test, eventually hope to develop a portable version of the device.

[Source: Mainichi]

Link to the original article…

*Updated with video:

Electronic parts maker Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., creators of the popular Murata Seisaku-kun (a.k.a. “Murata Boy”) robot bicyclist, have developed a self-balancing robot unicyclist named “Murata Seiko-chan,” it was announced on September 23.

The 50-centimeter (20 in) tall, 5-kilogram (11 lb) Seiko-chan — which Murata says is modeled after a female kindergartener — features a pair of gyro sensors that detect her posture angle. A single wheel moves the robot forward and back, and a rotating flywheel in the chest helps turn the unicycle left and right and maintain balance. In addition to ultrasonic sensors that detect and measure the distance to potential obstacles, Seiko-chan is equipped with built-in Bluetooth capabilities and an embedded camera that transmits live video.

According to Murata’s press release, Seiko-chan is described as Seisaku-kun’s younger paternal cousin. Born in Shiga prefecture on September 23 (and thus a Virgo), the “active but very shy” robot enjoys practicing her unicycle skills in the park. Her dream is to cycle the world with Seisaku-kun.

In her first public appearance, Seiko-chan will ride alongside Seisaku-kun at Japan’s upcoming CEATEC trade show.

(Video of cousin Seisaku-kun demonstrating his bicycling skills)

[Source: Nikkei]

Link to the original article…

Robots old and new are on display at the CEATEC 2008 home electronics trade show currently underway in Chiba, Japan.

Nissan BR23C Biomimetic Robot Car

Nissan unveiled the bumblebee-inspired BR23C Biomimetic Robot Car, which is equipped with a prototype collision avoidance system developed in cooperation with the University of Tokyo. The next-generation safety technology is modeled after the way that bees avoid crashing into each other.

* * * * *

Mechadroid Type C3

The Mechadroid Type C3 receptionist robot developed by Business Design Laboratory relies on face recognition technology, a touch panel display, speech, and facial expressions to interact with visitors and guide them to their destination.

* * * * *

ifbot

Ifbot — also developed by Business Design Laboratory — is a speech-capable robot that can identify emotions in the voice and word choice of the person talking. The robot can also communicate its own emotions with a range of facial expressions.

* * * * *

Murata Seiko-chan and Seisaku-kun (a.k.a. Murata Boy)

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.’s popular robot bicyclist, Murata Seisaku-kun (a.k.a. Murata Boy), was joined on stage by his recently-unveiled younger cousin, Murata Seiko-chan, who is well-balanced enough to ride a unicycle.

* * * * *

Nabaztag

The Nabaztag Wi-Fi Smart Rabbit manufactured by Violet is a bunny-shaped personal assistant that connects to your home wireless network.

Nabaztag

In addition to announcing the latest news, weather and traffic information, the rabbit can tell the time, light up when email arrives, stream Internet radio and podcasts, and respond to spoken commands.

* * * * *

Enon leads the way to the wine section

Fujitsu’s Enon robot demonstrated the ability to interact with customers and guide them to the wine section.

Enon takes a break

Link to the original article…

A new report regarding cell phone coverage in West Virginia has found that an overwhelming majority of residents feel that rural coverage is of utmost importance and is a pressing need that should be taken seriously by the local government.

Some of the statistics that were uncovered during a recent poll in the state include:

More than 90% of residents feel that rural cell phone coverage is important for both personal reasons and public safety reasons.
Almost 80% of people responding to the poll have problems with dropped calls or poor call quality in the state.
About 70% would approve of the use of USF funds for expanding and improving coverage in the state.
Approximately 50% of people would choose a quality wireless connection over a landline connection if they could only choose one or the other. And many would prefer a high quality wireless connection to a quality landline broadband connection.
More than half also oppose Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposals that would diminish support for rural wireless by nearly 50 percent, jeopardizing public safety and economic development in smaller communities.
read comment(s)

Link to the original article…

The heads of Australia s three major ISPs have caused some controversy by stating that network neutrality is only an American problem (and further suggesting that America s Internet companies may want to take a lesson from Australia if the U.S. net neutrality issue is ever going to be resolved).

Hackett and other Australian ISP leaders go on to say that the U.S. business model offering unlimited plans is the real problem and that the Australian pay-as-you-go model for Internet services is the appropriate way to deal with the issue.
read comment(s)

Link to the original article…

Internet radio webcasters like Pandora have been struggling to stay in business because exorbitant royalty revenues mandated by Congress last year are making it too difficult to keep on operating. However, they ve gained a small victory this weekend as the House of Representatives has approved a bill allowing them to negotiate a lower royalty rate with the entertainment industry. There had originally been strong opposition to this bill by the National Association of Broadcasters but that opposition has been dropped and it is believed that the Senate will likely approve the bill without problems. If the Senate does quickly approve the bill, it is believed that a deal for lower royalty rates could be worked out as early as next month.
read comment(s)

Link to the original article…