Microsoft Surface books the Lobby at the Sheraton

Topic: Other Stuff

Today Sheraton Hotels & Resorts and Microsoft Corp. announced that Microsoft Surface would be featured in the lobbies of select Sheraton hotels in Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle.
Sheraton will be the first hotel to offer Microsoft Surface, creating a new Sheraton brand experience that will bring interaction, connectivity and a social setting to the lobby, providing guests with a new way to explore local tourist highlights and enhance their hotel stay.

Microsoft announced the multi-touch table dubbed Surface over a year ago. Read more

Posted on Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:05:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Kingston Adds Super High Capacity 32 GB SDHC Memory Card

Topic: Other Stuff

It wasn't so long ago the 2 GB SD card was considered to be really large. Then we moved to 4 GB, then 8 GB, and finally 16 GB capacities. With many of today's digital HD camcorders being able to record to SDHC cards, even 16 GB wasn't enough capacity for some users.

To meet the demand for even more capacity Kingston Technology has announced a new 32 GB Elite Pro SDHC memory card. Kingston says that the new 32 GB card can capture more than 6000 full resolution 10 megapixel images or over eight hours of HD video at 6 Mbps. The card is rated as a speed class 4, guaranteeing 4 MB per second minimum data transfer rate. All that storage capacity doesn't come cheap though, the suggested retail price for the 32 GB memory card is $308. Read more

Posted on Wed, 13 Aug 2008 10:56:07 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Yahoo Launches Fire Eagle Platform

Topic: Other Stuff

Yahoo announced the launch of its Fire Eagle open platform today that allows users to display their location on the web, while giving them control over how their location information is displayed. The platform provides clear protocols on when location information can be updated or accessed.

Users can allow access to the location information with Web, mobile or desktop applications that update their location automatically. Users can also update the location information manually and hide themselves when wanted. Read more

Posted on Wed, 13 Aug 2008 08:54:01 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Flavor bending Miracle Tablets fool your Taste Buds

Topic: Other Stuff

ThinkGeek sells now miracle berry fruit tablets that mess with your taste buds. Sour foods will taste sweet all of a sudden. Apparently the miracle berries have been known since at least the 17th century.

ThinkGeek says that in their tests lemons suddenly taste like the best lemonade. ThinkGeek warns that you still should not drink pure lemon juice as if it were lemonade because it will harm your throat. Read more

Posted on Wed, 13 Aug 2008 02:49:22 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Autodesk announces Maja, Toxik and MotionBuilder 2009 at SIGRAPH 2008

Topic: Other Stuff

Autodesk announces a bunch of new 3D software releases in time for the SIGGRAPH 2008, which starts today in the Los Angeles Convention Center.
The new Autodesk software releases include the 10-Year anniversary release of Maya Software 2009. Maya 2009 includes a host of advancements in modeling, animation, rendering and effects that maximize productivity, optimize workflows, and provide new creative possibilities. Read more

Posted on Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:38:09 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

US Olympic Swimmers Use Technology to Trim Times

Topic: Other Stuff

A professor of fluid mechanics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute used experimental measuring techniques to help the US swim team gain precious milliseconds on their swim times. Professor Timothy Wei developed top-secret equipment and techniques that USA Swimming coaches used to train the Olympians.

The professor used a flaw measurement technique called Digital Particle Image Velocimetry to create a training tool that monitors the swimmers in real-time. The technique allowed the team to look at how swimmers move in the water, identify key vortices, and compute how much energy the swimmer exerts. Read more

Posted on Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:31:44 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Judge Finds SiRF Infringed Six Broadcom GPS Patents

Topic: Other Stuff

Broadcom announced that a Judge from the international Trade Commission has ruled that SiRF Technology Holdings has infringed on six Broadcom patents that relate to GPS processing and sensitivity. Global Locate, a Broadcom subsidiary, holds the patents in question.

The SiRF products infringing upon the patents include the SiRFstarIII and SiRFInstant GPS architectures. Broadcom says that a final ruling by the full six-person ITC panel is expected in December. Read more

Posted on Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:14:10 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Roxio Online PhotoShow Launches

Topic: Other Stuff

Roxio has launched a new online service called PhotoShow that allows users to create multimedia shows using both video clips and digital images. Roxio says that the online application allows you to make presentations with transitions, animations, and captions that also include a soundtrack.

The finished PhotoShows can be viewed on PC, DVD, TV, handheld devices, and social networking sites. A basic subscription is available free. Most features are only available to users with a paid premium account. The paid account is $39.99 a year and includes free personal web space. Read more

Posted on Mon, 11 Aug 2008 10:26:24 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Best Buy Announces Launch of Best Buy Express

Topic: Other Stuff

Best Buy announced today the official launch of its Best Buy Express automate kiosks in airports around the US. The launch of the kiosks is part of a pilot program to offer familiar products at the same prices found in stores.

Products that will be available in the kiosks will include computer accessories, digital cameras, flash drives, MP3 players, headphones, speakers, unlocked phones, portable game devices, gift cards, travel adapters, and chargers. The kiosks will be found in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and San Francisco. The kiosk rollout will continue through the beginning of September. Read more

Posted on Mon, 11 Aug 2008 08:13:15 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Watching the Olympics Online shows the invisible Borders of the Web

Topic: Other Stuff

The Olympic Games 2008 are underway in Beijing and you can actually watch the Olympics online in case you live in the right country.
Like with the movie services which are more and more becoming real alternatives to discs, the Olympic coverage is restricted to the boundaries of countries. If you believe that the web is supposed to link us globally and make us global citizens this country specific rights selling of media is really worrying and annoying me. I want to watch online what I want and not be limited by where my computer is located. Read more

Posted on Sat, 9 Aug 2008 10:33:39 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

SANYO C- and D-sized eneloop Batteries and Universal Charger unveiled

Topic: Other Stuff

Sanyo finally adds C and D cell eneloop batteries to their great pre-charged, rechargeble battery product line.
The AA and AAA eneloop batteries have been available for a while now and I have almost replaced all my batteries to use eneloop. I still have several gadgets that need the bigger C and D cell batteries, including the power hungry WowWee robot.
The new eneloop Universal Charger can charge all eneloop battery sizes from the smallest, AAA, to the largest, D. With advanced charging technology including voltage monitoring to prevent overcharging, the Universal Charger also has LED lights to indicate charge status. Read more

Posted on Fri, 8 Aug 2008 01:36:58 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr