Archive for July, 2009
July 31, 2009
Researchers at the University of Utah have developed a new, more precise way of placing microelectrodes on the surface of the brain to enable patients to turn thoughts into action. Led by Bradley Greger, a professor of bioengineering, the “Brain Carpet” as it’s called, represents a “modest advance” in techniques already in use. The Brain Carpet makes use of smaller microelectrodes, and also employs many more than are usually used. The method involves sawing off the skull of the patient, then placing 32 electrodes about 2mm apart on the surface of the brain. Though they’ve conducted tests on just a handful of patients — all epileptics — the technique, they believe could also be used to help people control their prosthetic limbs much more effectively. The electrodes allow detection of the electric signals in the brain which control arm and hand movements. In the tests, patients have successfully controlled a cursor on a computer screen following the operation, and they see applications for brain-machine interface devices in the future. There’s no word on when the Brain Carpet will move from the research to reality phase, but the group’s findings have just recently appeared in the journal Neurosurgical Focus.
Filed under: Science
Brain Carpet microelectrodes could help translate thoughts into actions more effectively originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 20:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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July 31, 2009
Should the apocalypse ever come where you won’t have any more power routed to your home, perhaps the Time Your Light concept would be very much welcome. After all, it relies on pent-up wind-up energy just like how a windup doll does. All you need to do to get some light is give it a twist, and hopefully the irritating ticking noise problem would have been solved by then. It begs the question of whether this is a timer with a light attached, or is it a mechanical light that functions just like a timer? Love the color scheme it comes in though.
Permalink: Time Your Light from Ubergizmo | Hot: Wii, PS3 and Natal Motion Sensing
July 31, 2009
Continue reading Toyota’s humanoid robot was born to run
Filed under: Robots
Toyota’s humanoid robot was born to run originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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July 31, 2009
Still having doubts that an iPhone will ever come to China via legitimate means? Have a gander at this. According to the listing above, which was discovered on China’s State Radio Regulatory Commission (SRRC; basically the Chinese version of the FCC) website, we’re looking at a GSM / WCDMA cellphone complete with Bluetooth, an internal model number A1324, a little-known manufacturer called “Apple Inc.” and an approval date of May 7th, 2009. We’re also told that the certificate expires in five years, which should give China Unicom plenty of time to capitalize on its reported three-year deal to offer the phone in mainland China. So, all we need now is what’s we’ve needed for years: a handwritten note from El Jobs himself saying that this whole thing is more than some sick charade.
[Thanks, Joe]
Filed under: Cellphones
China Unicom’s iPhone gets regulatory approval originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 01:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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July 30, 2009
It’s not really that surprising given its investment in Clearwire, but Time Warner Cable is now ready to join in on the WiMAX fun. The company plans to resell the mobile broadband in four US cities by the end of the year, but so far it’s only revealed two of them: Charlotte, North Carolina, and Dallas, Texas. Meanwhile, cable competitor Comcast has already opened up its WiMAX shop in Portland, Oregon, and plans to hit Atlanta, Chicago, and Philadelphia by the end of this year. No word on prices, but we don’t expect it to stray far from the current $20 to $50 monthly fees. We’re also a bit in the dark as to when we can expect the rollout this year, so if you’re in one of those two markets and have a strong itch for 4G wireless, better start filling up that piggy bank now, just to be safe.
Filed under: Wireless
Time Warner Cable reselling WiMAX later this year in Charlotte, Dallas, and two mystery markets originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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In an effort to quell all sorts of kicking and screaming that resulted from an evidently erroneous report earlier in the week, an Acer representative has reportedly reaffirmed that an Android-based Aspire One is still on schedule for a Q3 release. If you’ll recall, we first heard of Acer’s intentions to dole out an Android-laden netbook during Computex, and now it seems as if those very plans are still perfectly on track. So there you have it, folks — no need to keep pounding those heart medications.
Filed under: Laptops
Acer reaffirms that Android-based netbook still coming in Q3 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 07:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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July 30, 2009
This week Gary Shapiro, chief exec of of the CEA (the trade group which puts on CES, and, full disclosure, for which I sometimes consult) held a private dinner with journalists in San Francisco. According to Dow Jones / WSJ reporter Ben Charny (whose first Google result is this page on shoddy journalism), a juicy morsel was revealed: “Apple plans to attend the show’s 2010 version, marking the first time in memory the Cupertino, Calif., consumer-electronics giant will be there.” Very interesting, indeed.
Unfortunately, it’s also specious and flatly wrong. I was seated directly across from Gary, and present for the entire conversation, wherein a dozen or so other journos chatted with with him and one another. When asked about the CEA’s ongoing contact with Jobs, Gary joked that every once in a while Steve might even return his email — to which we all laughed knowingly. Yep, that’s our Steve. Shapiro went on to mention that Apple was a great and long-standing supporter of the efforts of the CEA, but that their only direct involvement was sending a check each year to pay their membership dues.
At no point did Gary even remotely imply that Apple would be present at a future CES — let alone state flatly that Apple “will be there” in 2010. In fact, at one point, someone asked if, hypothetically, Apple did want to attend CES, whether the CEA could accommodate them. Gary said flatly that if pressed, they might be able to come up with a small 2,000 square foot booth, but they couldn’t do anything, say, Microsoft-sized on such short notice. Bottom line, though is that if Gary had even gotten remotely close implying Apple would be at CES, this shoddily sourced piece by Charny wouldn’t have been the earliest story with the scoop nearly 24 hours after the fact — laptops have would been immediately out for reports filed from the dinner table.
Now, I’m not saying Apple won’t be there. But Gary and the CEA certainly never said or implied that they would, and Charny certainly didn’t cite any other sources. Maybe by “Apple plans to attend” Charny meant one of Apple’s 32,000 employees would happen to be in Vegas next January. Of course, the greatest irony of this little dinner was was the lively debate at the end of the evening sparked by one particular old school BusinessWeek journalist who laid claim that tech blogs like Engadget publish first and ask questions later. Right.
Ryan Block is editor emeritus of Engadget, and co-founder of the recently-launched gdgt.
Filed under: CES
WSJ: Apple going to CES 2010. Reality: Nope. originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 01:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
If you’ve preordered one o’ them fancy new myTouch 3Gs, check your mailbox, front porch, back door, administrative assistant, or dirty, thieving neighbor — because it might be there. T-Mobile said that preorders would be shipping at the tail end of July, and sure enough, some folks are starting to get lucky; plebes without preorders will still need to wait until August 5, though, so, you know, either sit there and drool or shout nasty remarks about how you’d rather have a Hero in the meanwhile.
[Thanks, sun]
Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds
T-Mobile myTouch 3G preorders now shipping, arriving, being touched originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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July 29, 2009
Vudu, one of the best video-on-demand (VOD) service, has announced that its service will be integrated in a number of LG televisions. Previously, Vudu was selling its own set top box to deliver the videos. Licensing its technology is a great move for Vudu as it not only makes things cheaper for end-users (it’s integrated in the TV), but it will allow Vudu to (mostly) shed itself from making hardware. Making the Vudu box was a great way to get things started, but right now it is probably not helping the adoption rate. We think that Vudu will ultimately switch to a license-only business model. The following LG TVs will feature the Vudu VOD service: 60PS80, 50PS80, 47LH50, 42LH50 (60, 50, 47 an 42 inches, respectively). If you don’t know what Vudu is, read our Vudu review.
Permalink: Vudu and LG to offer video-on-demand in televisions from Ubergizmo | Hot: Wii, PS3 and Natal Motion Sensing
So, let’s recap. We’ve got Microsoft’s own Steve Ballmer on record saying that the company’s Project Natal is on track for a 2010 release, a redaction of said statement, and a slimy report from overseas noting that the motion-sensing accessory is slated for a 2H 2010 launch. Just in case you needed one more modicum of evidence that Natal is headed for Christmas trees far and wide next year, THQ CEO Brian Farrell has said as much on the company’s Q1 earnings call. To quote:
“With respect to the cycle itself, if you look at what’s happening in the industry, the fact that we have for example, Natal from Microsoft, a platform addition coming late next year.”
Of course, Mr. Farrell here may just be regurgitating news that he heard through the grapevine rather than inadvertently slipping the world a piece of insider knowledge, but hey, are you seriously going to question the insight of the guy who green-lit Bratz: Super Babyz? Exactly.
Filed under: Gaming
THQ’s CEO joins the fun, says Natal is coming “late next year” originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 04:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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