Only- Electronics

Filed under: Peripherals

There it is, Art Lebedev’s new Optimus Store in New York, NY. It’s not so much a store as it is a kiosk sitting inside of RCS Computer Experience at 575 Madison Ave. Guess they’re just waiting for demand of the $1,500 $1,877 keyboard market to pickup before busting out the trowel and mortar.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Portable Video

var digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/apple/Steve_Jobs_confirms_kill_switch_60M_iPhone_apps_downloaded’; Steve Jobs, presumably speaking from a hyperbaric chamber where he’s being nourished with an infusion of liquified developers-souls before his next public appearance, had a few interesting tidbits about the AppStore for the Wall Street Journal this morning. Namely, users have downloaded some 60 million programs for the iPhone representing sales of about $30 million since the launch last month — a 30/70 revenue split between Apple and developers, respectively. “The thing’s going to crest a half billion soon,” Jobs added, “I’ve never seen anything like this in my career for software.” He went on to say that phone differentiation is no longer about radios and antennas (or uh, battery life) but about software. Steve also confirmed the controversial iPhone application kill switch in the event that Apple inadvertently approves a malicious program for distribution. Jobs said, “hopefully we never have to pull that lever, but we would be irresponsible not to have a lever like that to pull.” As to the $999.99 I Am Rich application, the dubious download that displayed nothing but a glowing red gem, pulling that from the store was a “judgment” call. Sure, but that doesn’t explain how it made it through the vetting process to begin with.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Portable Video

var digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/apple/Steve_Jobs_confirms_kill_switch_60M_iPhone_apps_downloaded’; Steve Jobs, presumably speaking from a hyperbaric chamber where he’s being nourished with an infusion of liquified developers-souls before his next public appearance, had a few interesting tidbits about the AppStore for the Wall Street Journal this morning. Namely, users have downloaded some 60 million programs for the iPhone representing sales of about $30 million since the launch last month — a 30/70 revenue split between Apple and developers, respectively. “The thing’s going to crest a half billion soon,” Jobs added, “I’ve never seen anything like this in my career for software.” He went on to say that phone differentiation is no longer about radios and antennas (or uh, battery life) but about software. Steve also confirmed the controversial iPhone application kill switch in the event that Apple inadvertently approves a malicious program for distribution. Jobs said, “hopefully we never have to pull that lever, but we would be irresponsible not to have a lever like that to pull.” As to the $999.99 I Am Rich application, the dubious download that displayed nothing but a glowing red gem, pulling that from the store was a “judgment” call. Sure, but that doesn’t explain how it made it through the vetting process to begin with.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Portable Video

var digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/apple/Steve_Jobs_confirms_kill_switch_60M_iPhone_apps_downloaded’; Steve Jobs, presumably speaking from a hyperbaric chamber where he’s being nourished with an infusion of liquified developers-souls before his next public appearance, had a few interesting tidbits about the AppStore for the Wall Street Journal this morning. Namely, users have downloaded some 60 million programs for the iPhone representing sales of about $30 million since the launch last month — a 30/70 revenue split between Apple and developers, respectively. “The thing’s going to crest a half billion soon,” Jobs added, “I’ve never seen anything like this in my career for software.” He went on to say that phone differentiation is no longer about radios and antennas (or uh, battery life) but about software. Steve also confirmed the controversial iPhone application kill switch in the event that Apple inadvertently approves a malicious program for distribution. Jobs said, “hopefully we never have to pull that lever, but we would be irresponsible not to have a lever like that to pull.” As to the $999.99 I Am Rich application, the dubious download that displayed nothing but a glowing red gem, pulling that from the store was a “judgment” call. Sure, but that doesn’t explain how it made it through the vetting process to begin with.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Portable Video

var digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/apple/Steve_Jobs_confirms_kill_switch_60M_iPhone_apps_downloaded’; Steve Jobs, presumably speaking from a hyperbaric chamber where he’s being nourished with an infusion of liquified developers-souls before his next public appearance, had a few interesting tidbits about the AppStore for the Wall Street Journal this morning. Namely, users have downloaded some 60 million programs for the iPhone representing sales of about $30 million since the launch last month — a 30/70 revenue split between Apple and developers, respectively. “The thing’s going to crest a half billion soon,” Jobs added, “I’ve never seen anything like this in my career for software.” He went on to say that phone differentiation is no longer about radios and antennas (or uh, battery life) but about software. Steve also confirmed the controversial iPhone application kill switch in the event that Apple inadvertently approves a malicious program for distribution. Jobs said, “hopefully we never have to pull that lever, but we would be irresponsible not to have a lever like that to pull.” As to the $999.99 I Am Rich application, the dubious download that displayed nothing but a glowing red gem, pulling that from the store was a “judgment” call. Sure, but that doesn’t explain how it made it through the vetting process to begin with.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Portable Video

var digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/apple/Steve_Jobs_confirms_kill_switch_60M_iPhone_apps_downloaded’; Steve Jobs, presumably speaking from a hyperbaric chamber where he’s being nourished with an infusion of liquified developers-souls before his next public appearance, had a few interesting tidbits about the AppStore for the Wall Street Journal this morning. Namely, users have downloaded some 60 million programs for the iPhone representing sales of about $30 million since the launch last month — a 30/70 revenue split between Apple and developers, respectively. “The thing’s going to crest a half billion soon,” Jobs added, “I’ve never seen anything like this in my career for software.” He went on to say that phone differentiation is no longer about radios and antennas (or uh, battery life) but about software. Steve also confirmed the controversial iPhone application kill switch in the event that Apple inadvertently approves a malicious program for distribution. Jobs said, “hopefully we never have to pull that lever, but we would be irresponsible not to have a lever like that to pull.” As to the $999.99 I Am Rich application, the dubious download that displayed nothing but a glowing red gem, pulling that from the store was a “judgment” call. Sure, but that doesn’t explain how it made it through the vetting process to begin with.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Portable Audio

Like so many other devices made in China, we’re convinced this Bird’s Nest Stadium, um, “inspired” device is totally, completely authorized and legit. And hey, unlike Chinese bird’s nest soup, it not only comes in capacities up to 4GB, but doesn’t even appear to be assembled with avian saliva. Difficulty: 1.2, execution: 3.55.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Transportation, Wireless

Defcon already delivered by exposing California’s FasTrak toll system for the security hole that it is, but that’s not nearly all that’s emerging from the Las Vegas exploitation conference. For starters, a plethora of medical device security researchers have purportedly figured out a way to wirelessly control pacemakers, theoretically allowing those with the proper equipment to “induce the test mode, drain the device battery and turn off therapies.” Of course, it’s not (quite) as simple as just buzzing a remote and putting someone six feet under, but it’s a threat worth paying attention to. In related news, a trio of MIT students who were scheduled to give a speech on how to hack CharlieCards to get free rides on Boston’s T subway were stifled by a temporary restraining order that the university snagged just before the expo. Don’t lie, you’re intrigued — hit up the links below for all the nitty-gritty.

Read - Pacemaker hack
Read - Massachusetts Transit Authority sues MIT hackers
Read - Restraining order on said hackers

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Robots, Transportation

The UK’s National Oceanography Center in Southampton is prepping to launch a new autonomous underwater vehicle (also known as a robo-sub, landlubber) capable of exploring undersea volcanoes in the Cayman Trough up to 20,000 feet deep. It’ll only run for about a kilometer at a time though, so while it does have quickly replaceable lithium polymer battery packs, it still won’t exactly be roaming the briny deep for months on end without human supervision. And you know how we feel about unsupervised self-directing machines.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Displays, Misc. Gadgets

2008 has been somewhat of a banner year for 3D, but the brilliant minds at MIT are already working up a system that’ll put U23D to shame. Hailed as a “super-realistic image system,” the invention produces “6D” images that not only have a full three-dimensional appearance, but also “respond to their environment, producing natural shadows and highlights depending on the direction and intensity of the illumination around them.” Without relying on electronics or active control, the process could be used to produce images with an “unprecedented degree of realism” — resulting in something associate professor Ramesh Raskar calls the “ultimate synthetic display.” As expected, initial applications for the ultra-pricey ($30 per pixel, currently) system revolve around digital signage / advertising, but it’s really just a matter of time before Six Dimensions of The Jonas Brothers hits a cinema near you. Save us.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments