3M 3D Displays Without Glasses Go Into Mass Production

Topic: Technology News

3M is already in volume production of auto stereo 3D displays.
The 3M 3D technology is actually an optical film that enables 3D display on LCD panels. the film consists of lenses on one side and prism structures on the other to reflect the corresponding imagery to our eyes to create a 3D effect - without wearing glasses. Read more

Posted on Tue, 3 Nov 2009 07:35:02 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

New Study: Pirates Buy The Most Music

Topic: Technology News

A new study from the UK (via The Independent) has shown what many piracy-advocates have been saying for years. While the average person spends around £34 a year on music, people who self-identify as pirates spend an average of £77. The pirates are also the ones buying music in greater quantities. For years, piracy advocates have claimed that most users only pirate as a way to 'test' new bands and seek out more music to buy.

While no study can prove that fact 100%, this is certainly more evidence in favor of it. More importantly, this news should be a sign to the labels that, by punishing pirates, they're only hurting their biggest customers. I'm no fan of illegal downloading, but it's not something any corporation of government entity is ever going to be able to erase. Pirates will always find a way.

Posted on Mon, 2 Nov 2009 10:20:51 CST | by Robert Evans

World's Biggest Multitouch Screen Makes Your iPhone Look Small

Topic: Technology News

If you want to experience the world's biggest multitouch and multi user screen you have to visit the newly revamped Nürburgring in Germany. The Formula One race track has transformed into a theme park.
The two-piece so called ring°wall consists of an LED display and a multitouch information wall with a total surface of 425 square meters, which equals more than 6,000 computer displays. Read more

Posted on Mon, 2 Nov 2009 06:00:00 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Microsoft And Samsung Partner On Green Computers

Topic: Technology News

Samsung and Microsoft announced plans to collaborate on efficient energy usage in computers.
Microsoft and Samsung aim to encourage PC users to purchase more environmentally friendly PC systems.
Samsung expects substantial energy savings when Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system and Samsung's 40nm class DDR3 DRAM are used together.
At the beginning of September, Samsung initiated its own global marketing campaign centered around 'Less Energy, More Speed', initially focused on its energy-efficient, 40nm-class, 2Gb DDR3 DRAM. Read more

Posted on Mon, 2 Nov 2009 01:00:00 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Creative Throws Their Hat Into The E-Book Ring: Zii MediaBook

Topic: Technology News

All the tech news sites (including this one) have dedicated an enormous amount of time, effort, and words discussing the Apple iTablet. Despite the fact that such a product may not and may never exist, every rumor and analyst speculation about it has been picked apart and discussed to death. While we were busy geeking out over this mythical gadget, Creative was busy actually building the damn thing.

That's right; Epizenter reports that, at their Annual General Meeting, Creative made a surprise announcement. They unveiled a working prototype of their very first e-reader, tentatively named the Zii MediaBook. This MediaBook isn't your standard black-and-white e-ink reader either. It's got a touchscreen, text-to-speech functionality, and an SD slot. Creative also says it will be 'Internet-enabled', but didn't elaborate if that meant 3G functionality or WiFi (or both).

Posted on Sun, 1 Nov 2009 02:39:25 CST | by Robert Evans

USB Wink Glasses Make You Blink

Topic: Technology News

I got through the all night Quake session phase of my life and learned to relax my eyes during my 12 or more hours in front of the big window into the internet. Japanese Masunaga Optical has glasses for you in case you do not blink when fragging your way through virtual worlds.
The USB powered Wink glasses have small sensor to monitor how often you blink and fog the lens when you are not blinking for five seconds. Apparently you blink when the lenses gets fogged by a plastic foil. As the photo suggest only one eye gets fogged. Read more

Posted on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

ICANN Approves Non-Latin Characters In Domain Names

Topic: Technology News

The Internet took a big step forward today with an announcement from the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names & Numbers that they would soon start accepting non-latin domain names. (via CNET) Currently all IP addresses and other web extensions must be written using latin characters. This isn't an issue for most of the developed world, but it's something that will need to change before the Internet can become truly international.

Starting November 16th, ICANN will start taking applications from various nations for new top-level domain names based on their country's character set. These Internationalized Domain Names, or IDNs, will only apply to local country codes at first. ICANN hopes to extend them to top-level domains like .com and .net sometime in the near future.

Posted on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:09:08 CDT | by Robert Evans

MIT Develops Witty Robot Sidekick (For Your Car)

Topic: Technology News

Finally. Since I was a kid I've longed for a super-smart robot sidekick to be my best friend and come with me on my adventures. MIT's Affective Intelligent Driving Agent isn't quite that awesome, but it's a big step in the right direction. The AIDA is being built as a smart driving assistant that will make people safer and help them to find more efficient routes.

Essentially an adorable little robot that sits on your dashboard and talks to you, the AIDA is being built to recognize human facial expressions and emotional queues. Basically, they're creating a robot that knows to shut up and back off when you start to get angry at it. If some stupid dashboard droid started criticizing MY driving in the middle of agonizing gridlock traffic, I'd be sorely tempted to bludgeon it to death with my laptop bag.

Posted on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:11:19 CDT | by Robert Evans

Nvidia's Fermi Renders Life-Like Faces, Launches Soon

Topic: Technology News

Today a leak from a Chinese forum has shown us the future of graphics rendering. Electronista reports that detailed advertising shots and information about Nvidia's upcoming Fermi hardware have now hit the web. Fermi should first see the light of day with Nvidia's Geforce 300 series, the first of which could be due out by the end of the year.

The Fermi appears to be capable of rendering hauntingly life-like faces, including realistic stubble and skin that looks almost, almost perfect. The fastest models of the 300 series will pack as many as 512 cores in order to bring this high level of detail to your computer. Notebook versions of the Fermi should also be out soon. The GeForce GTS 360 M is the only notebook chip leaked so far that will be built for high-end performance, but more are sure to follow.

Posted on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:16:46 CDT | by Robert Evans

Samsung's Profit Tripled, Sony Still Makes Losses

Topic: Technology News

Sony once again reported a loss for the last quarter. The loss was less ($287.5m) than the predictions of analysts though. The issues for Sony are still the high yen, bad economy, but also weak demand for Sony electronics.
In contrast Korean Samsung soars, tripling its net income to 3.72 trillion won for the quarter compared to last year.
Samsung is doing very well in chips and mobile phones, but also its LCD panel and TV business is thriving. Samsung also mentions that their bottom line was improved by increased sales of premium LED and 240Hz TV panels. Read more

Posted on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:35:40 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Samsung Says OLED To Compete With LCD In 40 to 50-inch TV Segment in 4-5 Years

Topic: Technology News

OLED TVs are still far from being widely available. Samsung's President Kim predicts though that OLED TVs will be able to compete with LCD technology in 40 and 50-inch sizes in 4-5 years.

Today OLED only thrives in small screen devices like mobile phones. Read more

Posted on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr