Recalls Issued on Battery Cases from Best Buy and Mophie

If you have purchased a battery case branded with Mophie Juice Pack Air for your iPod touch 4G or a Best Buy Rocketfish battery case for your iPhone 3G or 3GS you need to listen up. Best Buy and Mophie have both issued separate recalls on these products. Mophie is recalling 6,118 iPod touch cases.

The reason for the recall is 110 reports of the cases getting hot to the touch, deforming from heat, or causing burns. Mophie is replacing these cases at no cost to the consumer under the recall. Best Buy has a bigger issue on its hands with a recall of 32,000 iPhone 3G and 3Gs battery cases.

These cases are known to overheat when charging and pose a risk of fire. There have been 14 malfunctioning cases reported so far and of that number, three causes burns and four more caused slight property damage. Best Buy is offering US buyers a $70 gift card to return the case and Canadian buyers a $150CAD.

via TheVerge

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Portal 2 Turret Plush from ThinkGeek is Awesome

I like it when cool toys and gadgets come from video games into the real world. If you are a fan of Portal 2, you will recognize the turret standing below right away. The turret is one of the things that can give some players a hard time when they are playing.

ThinkGeek has announced an interesting plush toy that is a recreation of that turret from the game gone plush. It’s made out of your standard stuffed animal stuff with a glowing red eye and motion detection. It also has automated sayings inside that will activate when motion is detected.

When it senses motion, it will say, “target acquired” along with four other quips that the turrets in the game says. If you knock it over it will quip “I don’t hate you” and other things that you will recognize from the game. It will also ask if you are still there after 30 seconds of inactivity. You can get your own for right under $35 at ThinkGeek.

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Curly Cable For iPhone And iPad (Video)

This is one of those designs that you wonder why didn’t I think of that, the standard cable for your iPhone and iPad could do with being a bit longer, especially if you want to use your device whilst it is charging.

Curly Cable is basically a longer cable for your iPhone, iPad or iPod, and the designers obviously took their inspiration from old style telephones, as the cable can be extended easily.

The Curly Cable is a Kickstarter project, and it looks like the developers have already reached their target, so the device will go into production and each cable will retail for $15.00, you can find out more information over at Kickstarter.

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Samsung Galaxy Nexus Lands On Vodafone UK

We just got an email from the guys over at Vodafone UK, to let us know, that the new Samsung Galaxy Nexus is now available with Vodafone here in the UK, and the device is available from free on their £41 a month contracts.

As a reminder, the Samsung Galaxy nexus comes with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and it features a 4.65 inch HD Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels, processing is provided by a dual core 1.2GHz processor.

There is also a 5 megapixel camera which is capable of recording full HD video in 1080p, it also features and led flash and auto-focus, there is also a front facing 1.3 megapixel camera for video chat, there is also HSPA+, WiFi, USB 2.0, Bluetooth and NFC.

You can find out more information about the Samsung Galaxy Nexus over a Vodafone.

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Coffee From Thin Air: Scanomat Brewer Is Incredible

Okay, so it doesn’t serve coffee out of thin air. Great idea, but that’s just not the case with the Scanomat Top Brewer, which has a faucet-like neck jutting from a counter surface. The magic happens underneath via a turbine system that preps the coffee for your empty cup. The best part is it can be controlled via your iPhone. It’s one more step closer to the singularity, people!

Nah, kidding about that singularity part.

After further reading on this innovative product, turns out Scanomat first outed it in public during a fair at Milano. The reaction it inspired was so overwhelming that the company is going all out to promote the barely-there Top coffee brewer. From its iPhone functionality to space-age operating speed–an espresso in under 30 seconds, the Scanomat Top coffee brewer is shaping up to be something big.

Scanomat’s latest, however, won’t be out soon and official retail info is unavailable at the moment.

Source Uncrate

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Gingerbread Gobbled Up By 50% Of Android Devices

The Ice Cream Sandwich may be the latest toast among Android users, but for now, Gingerbread is king in terms of sheer number, with a little more than half of Android devices running on it. The latest figures show Gingerbread taking 50.6% of the Android pie, with Froyo running second with 35.3% followed by Eclair at just over 10%.

It is the first time Gingerbread broke the 50% barrier, based on Google data taken in November. It was a marked improvement as just the previous month, Gingerbread was running on 43.9% of Android tablets and smartphones.

It took almost a year before Gingerbread made its way to more than half of Android devices, but the 4.0 ICS may take lesser time than that, given the attention it is getting right now.

ICS, which recently came out in the open through Galaxy Nexus, is expected to get its own share going up soon, with some mobile phone companies already promising to upgrade their devices to the latest Android incarnation by next year.

Via: androidcommunity.com

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The Defibrillator Toaster Brings Your Breakfast To Life

Unorthodox perhaps, but toasters are so boring anyway. It’s about time someone came up with a fresh take on the vital machine that warms our bread every morning. If toasters weren’t around, gross people would probably stick their bread slices in armpits to warm them. Ugh! However, since this defibrillator is shaped like a defibrillator, don’t think you can put it on your chest and resuscitate yourself. Bad idea! Real life is a far cry from Battlefield 3, people.

Further research indicates the Defibrillator Toaster is the work of Shay Carmon, who has outed the concept to broaden her portfolio.

It’s really cool though. People having their breakfast will get a kick seeing their bread toasted by a defibrillator.

Source Boing Boing

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Samsung Galaxy Sale Gets Green Light in the US

US consumers looking to get a Samsung Galaxy tablet and smartphone in time for the holidays will be able to do so, at least for now, after a local judge turned down Apple’s bid to ban such sales in the US.

California District Judge Lucy Koh issued the ruling recently, rejecting Apple’s request for a preliminary injuction pertaining to the patent lawsuit that has seen the two companies go head on in the past few months.

Samsung said the judge’s decision was a step in the right direction, as the company seeks to prove that their devices did not violate any intellectual property rights held by Apple as the latter alleged.

“We are confident that we can demonstrate the distinctiveness of Samsung’s mobile devices when the case goes to trial next year,” the South Korean company said in a statement.

As expected, Apple frowned at the ruling, and insisted that Samsung is in violation of  intellectual property rights and that the sale of the said devices must be stopped. “This kind of blatant copying is wrong, and we need to protect Apple’s intellectual property when companies steal our ideas,” Apple Korea spokesman Steve Park said.

Via: news.com.au

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Ladder Climbing Robot Takes Robot Engineering To New Heights (video)

A new style of robot has been unveiled, which has been designed to climb ladders by itself, as is equipped with 5 motors that help it pull its 1.4m high frame, weighing 30 kg up specially created ladders.

The new robot named Dream Robo has been created by Osaka-based industrial equipment maker Muscle Corporation, together with a number of other Japanese companies. Watch the video after the jump to see it in action.

Muscle Corp.’s president Hirofumi Tamai explains:

“For example, if the robot suspends itself and moves to the next step, first of all, it raises its right hand. Then, it rotates its back. Next, it raises the hand a bit more, returns its back to the previous position, and pulls the hand downward. The force needed to grasp the pipe is transmitted in the motor, and after the motor has grasped it properly, the next motor is instructed to raise the left hand. So the robot’s motion involves that kind of dialog between the motors.”

Source: Tech Crunch

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Heavy Smartphone Use Alarms Health Experts

Having sore thumbs or aching necks lately? That could be a sign of using your smartphone too much, according to some health experts in Britain. Being able to do so many things on your smartphone has its perks, but the downside is that so many times are being spent on such devices that the body might start showing signs of wear and tear.

Tim Hutchful of the British Chiropractic Association and Sammy Margo of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy have expressed alarm on the growing trend. As smartphones become a major aspect of one’s activities, the tendency to overdo it is there.

“I had a patient who developed inflamed tendons in her thumb from using her smartphone and was unable to use her hand for weeks due to pain,” Hutchful noted.

Margo said users should not use their smartphones too much as, “the phones are far too small, with keys that are too small.” She said one of her patients had to rely on voice recognition software after having pain in the upper limbs.

Via AFP

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Another Setback Strikes RIM, Writes Off PlayBook Inventory

Things are certainly not looking good for Research in Motion Ltd., with its latest announcement adding to a growing list of setbacks for its first tablet. With lower than expected sales of PlayBook, RIM was forced to offer its first tablet at a cheap cost. And now, the Canadian company announced that it will write off its inventory of Playbook tablets.

Given the low price of $200 from $500, RIM said it will have a pre-tax charge of $485 million as the tablet’s value goes down.

The tablet’s sales have not skyrocket since its release, forcing RIM to lower prices and even offer generous packages to lure companies to adopt its new tablet.

While it remains to be seen if PlayBook will still be able to recover from poor sales, RIM Co-CEO Mike Lazaridis stressed that the company will stand by its first tablet, and continue to develop its full potential.

Via: news24.com

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Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Ban Continues In Australia

On Wednesday we heard that the ban of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 had finally been lifted in Australia by the Australian Federal court, and the device was expected to go on sale in Australia today.

Well it looks like Apple has appealed the decision of the Federal court, and now the Australian High court has decided that the tablet is still banned in the country and can’t go on sale as yet.

The next court case is scheduled for next week on December the 9th, so it looks like Australian Galaxy Tab fans will have to wait until then to find out if they can get their hands on the tablet.

Source Engadget

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Google Says They Have No Affiliation With Carrier IQ

The hot topic that everyone has been talking about over the last few days is the Carrier IQ data logging software hat has been found in Android and iOS smartphones, and many companies have spoken out in an attempt to distance themselves from the controversy.

The latest company is Google, who has confirmed in a statement that they do not use the Carrier IQ software, which you can see in the statement below.

We do not have an affiliation with CarrierIQ. Android is an open source effort and we do not control how carriers or OEMs customize their devices.

The software was originally discovered by software researcher Trevor Eckhart, who found the data logging software hidden in his Android smartphone, and since then the software has been discovered in a number of different handsets, which means it is installed on millions of peoples smartphones without their knowledge.

Source The Verge

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Mass Effect 3 Combat System Detailed (video)

Mass Effect 3 which will be launching next year on March 6th for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. Will bring a number of new gameplay styles with it. If you are thinking of purchasing, it might be worth you checking out the new developer video released by BioWare which shows a glimpse of the new combat and weapon system that will be featured in the game. To see the good stuff you need to skip past the sale pitch as the beginning of the movie.

BioWare has also confirmed that Battlefield 3 owners will receive early access to multiplayer before the demo launches in January.

BioWare’s Jessica Merizan explains :

“Redemption of the Online Pass for Battlefield 3 will unlock this early access. Owners of Battlefield 3, on any platform, who activate their Online Pass will automatically be granted early access to the multiplayer portion of the Mass Effect 3 demo. There is no need to enter any other codes, the early access will be applied to the EA Account associated with the Online Pass. This applies to all regions where the demo is released.”

Source: Kotaku

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My Robot Nation Lets You Design And Build Your Own Robot Army

Too bad the resulting robot army is miniaturized and completely harmless, thereby dashing your dreams of world conquest. At least you can still design them from head to foot. This is the ultimate appeal of novelty business My Robot Nation, which relaunched its website and is now accepting entries into their 3D modelling business.

My Robot Nation allows customers to use a design interface that lets them customize their little toys. My Robot Nation them creates a model depending on the size specifications the customer chooses. The model is a lightweight replica of the design and can reach six inches tall.

Beginning at $16.99 for the two inch variants, My Robot Nation ships to all corners of the world and promises customers that soon, it won’t be just robots that they’re printing.

Check out prices here.

Source Gizmag

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Modular Street And Snow Scooter Gets Outed

Capable of supporting 140 pound riders, the Street and Snow is currently available at a prominent online retailer. What makes it distinctive are the modular features incorporated unto its design. For starters, the twin polyurethane wheels designed for pavements and sidewalks are detachable. All that’s needed is a wrench and they can be replaced with short HDPE skis for the front and back. Like a lot of scooters for the teenage set, the handlebar is adjustable and folds down for backpack or handheld transport.

This might make a perfect Christmas gift since not only can it rock out in the snow, but is ready for the oncoming seasons next year as well. The handle bar’s height is adjustable thanks to a quick release lever and even when armed with sleds, the outdoor snow doesn;t need to be packed for this to perform well. All it needs is a gutsy rider to take it places.

It doesn’t come with bells and whistles but the retail price is a decent $99.95.

Source Hammacher Schlemmer

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Chinese Fanboy Builds Decepticon, Plans World Conquest

The scary part is the scale model he built transforms into a realistic-looking plane. Guess the lesson here is never doubt Chinese ingenuity, especially when inspired by a Michael Bay flick. Now if he can only manage to get his hands on an All Spark shard…the name of the artist/fanboy who built the menacing Decepticon is unknown, while speculation that he’s being financed by the Chinese Army may or may not be true.

Truth be told, however, other than a series of pics that have spread far and wide across the blogosphere the guy who built this Transformer is still incognito. A shadowy figure who’s probably showing his creation off to the neighbors right now.

Head over to the source link for a gallery.

Source Acid Cow

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ODDIO1 Cord-Free Shuffle Headphones (video)

A new project named ODDIO1 that consists of cord-free Apple Shuffle headphones, has started its journey on Kickstarter this week. The ODDIO1 has been designed to enable you attach your Apple Shuffle directly to a pair of headphones. Removing the need for you to carry your shuffle in your pocket or on your arm and also removing the possibility of the connecting cable snagging on things. Watch the promotional video after the jump for more details.

ODDIO1 designers explain:

“Like most of you, we like to stay active. We like to run, snowboard, go to the gym, all while listening to our favorite music. We started using our iPhones more and more for music but were hesitant to take them places where they could get lost or damaged, like the mountain or the beach.

This drew us back to the iPod Shuffle. It’s a perfect musical sidekick to the iPhone. Its minimal nature is great for exercise but we felt constrained adding headphones to something the size of a postage stamp.”

The new solution has been designed and created by Jeremy Saxton & Jacob Hall, two designers from Salt Lake City. Who are now looking for funding to get their project from concept to production. So if you think the ODDIO1 Cord-Free Shuffle Headphones could benefit you, don’t forget to make a pledge over on the Kickstarter website.

Source: Kickstarter

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Knobroom MIDI Controller Add-on Created For Adobe Lightroom 3 (video)

A free add-on for Adobe Lightroom called Knobroom is available that will allow you to control the creative adjustments of photos using physical sliders and knobs from a Midi controller with Adobe’s Lightroom  3 software.

The software add-on has been around for sometime but is a great way to add a new style of creativity to your photography and image creation. Watch the video after the jump to see it in action.

Unlike other software Knobroom is available for Mac OS X systems and has been created to provide a direct manipulation add-on for Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3.

If you fancy adding a little more creativity to your imaging and photography you can now download Knobroom for free.

Source: Wired

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Dijit Universal Remote iPad App Arriving Soon

The creators and developers of the popular Dijit universal remote application, which is currently available for the iPhone and iPod and Android devices. Have this week announced they are now working on an iPad version, that will arrive in the Apple iTunes Store very shortly.

The new Digit for iPad application has been designed to provide a more user friendly interface using the full screen size of the iPad. With controls positioned to provide easy access using thumbs while holding your iPad with two hands.

Jeremy Toeman, Dijit’s Chief Product Officer explains: “We’ve tried to think through all the nuance of what a full, 10? entertainment console sitting on a user’s coffee table should look like,”

However to be able to control your home entertainment system you will need to use a the Griffin Beacon to relay commands, due to the iPads lack of any IR communication. The new Dijit iPad iOS app is expected to arrive in the Apple iTunes Store within the next couple of weeks.

Source: Tech Crunch

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Impressive: SandyBox Uses Kinect For DIY Mini-Landscaping (Video)

There no single aspect of the XBox Kinect that is not a game changer in some way. Judging by the number of XBox hacks featured here at Geeky Gadgets, no game console comes close in terms of sheer applications. Now two enthusiasts from the Czech Republic have created a 3D geographic tool called the SandyBox. What it does is project geographical features over a miniature landscape. Don’t miss the video after the break.

If you’re wondering how the two geniuses accomplished this clever sandbox experiment, they used an overhead projector to ‘color’ the surface with topographical data. A little handywork resulted in an interactive map whose different shades revealed altitude and depth, including bodies of water. There’s even a river!

Now if they only had tiny figurines to play in the SandyBox…

Here:

Source Engadget

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Sony Adds More Reasons To Stay Glued To The Screen

Integration is the name of the game, and Sony is very much aware of that, making its 2011 Bravia TV line more appealing with its new firmware update that offers better implementation of YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook.

Watching your favorite movie or TV series on your Bravia TV and don’t want to miss out on your friends’ tweets? The new firmware now flashes those tweets at the bottom of the screen, a welcome change as they don’t get in the way of your viewing.

The YouTube widget also received a noteworthy upgrade, with HD videos now able to play on Bravia TVs, which is only fitting. Facebook users are not left behind, as their photos and videos also received a full-screen resolution treatment with the new firmware. Folks in Europe and Asia-Pacific, where the firmware upgrade was reportedly initially available, may also view URLs found in Facebook on the Bravia TV’s own browser.

Overall, the new firmware makes the Bravia TV more socially-connected, flexible, and appealing. Those who prefer all-in-one solutions to their media and social apps will surely put Sony’s Bravia TV series on their shopping list when hunting for their next set.

Via: digitaltrends

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Team Fortress 2 Fan Builds Life Size Sentry And Force a’ Nature (video)

Prop maker and Team Fortress 2 fan Zander Brandt, has used his model making skills to create a fantastic life size replica of the stage one, Team Fortress 2 sentry gun and Scout Force a’ Nature.

Brandt started developing his prop makings skills by scratch building Warhammer models that he could not afford when he was younger. Watch the video after the jump to see the Team Fortress 2 sentry in action.

Zander Brandt explains: “Although I have a degree in industrial design, I enjoy hands on work such as prototyping, prop making, and working on cars much more.”

The sentry was not a commission, he just woke up one morning and decided that he just had to make one. Great job!

Source: Kotaku
Photos: The Bright Lights

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Spotify iPad App Coming Soon

More news from the popular music streaming service Spotify this week, earlier we heard about Spotify’s new Apps platform and now Spotify has confirmed that the company is working on a dedicated iPad App.

MD of Spotify UK, Chris Maples, has confirmed to Pocket Lint that the company is working on Spotify for the iPad, and the app is apparently a priority for the company.

There are no details a yet on when the Spotify iPad app will launch and what features it will have, as soon as we get some more information we will let you guys know.

Source Pocket Lint

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Motorola Droid RAZR MAX Discovered?

The Motorola Droid RAZR went on sale recently, but now it would appear that a new version of the device has been discovered, called the Droid RAZR MAX, the name was found in the EXIF data in some photos taken with the device by the guys from Pocket Now.

It isn’t clear as ye exactly what difference the Droid RAZR MAX would have with the original Droid RAZR, possibly a larger battery, or maybe a larger display with a higher resolution.

As soon as we get some more details and some actual pictures of the Droid RAZR MAX we will let you guys know.

Source Pocket Now

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Weezy Bluetooth Speaker Connector (video)

Eikonsite have this week unveiled their new Weezy device, which has been designed to enable older home entertainment systems to be able to easily play music from smartphones and tablets.

Weezy simply plugs directly into your ageing music system, and then connects to your state of the art smartphone or tablet through Bluetooth, via a simply pairing feature. Watch the video after the jump to see it in action.

The Weezy is available in a range of different colours including: white, red, black and orange and is now available to purchase front he Weezy website for around $93 or €69.

Source: Ubergizmo

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Foursquare Adds “Save to Foursquare” and “Follow” Buttons to Websites

If you are an avid user of Foursquare the company has announce some buttons that can be integrated into websites on the web. I would bet that the buttons become more common as time goes by. The buttons include a Save to Foursquare and a Follow button. The Follow button allows you to follow a site or a person.

The content is saved to the Foursquare account for the user. The Save to Foursquare is more interesting. As people surf the web and run across the Save to button on web pages they can save the content to their foursquare page for later.

The Save feature grabs the content and saves with the publishers logo and branding. The link allows you to go back and read or see why you saved the link to start with. I have never used foursquare, what about you? Are you glad to see the new button options?

via LA Times

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Somewhere In Suburbia: The AT-ST Treehouse

Okay, so the ‘legs’ are too short. That hasn’t stopped whoever built this high rise crib from tricking out the exterior to resemble an AT-ST, those chicken walking battle mechs best known in Star Wars: Episode VI. Too bad this doesn’t come with the usual weapons complement. It would also look mean if it were painted gray.

Unlike the AT-AT, the AT-ST never got the same respect by virtue of its general flimsiness. A bunch of them got destroyed by Ewoks, remember? Oh yeah, Ewoks, the most annoying creatures borne from George Lucas’ imagination. The Battle of Endor ranks as one of the most lopsided fights in sci fi history, a rare event where giant booby traps managed to destroy a sizable Imperial force, even if this would be impossible in a ‘real’ battle. Also: Fighting Ewoks? Really?

Very much like the Forerunners of the Halo universe, little is known about the AT-STs builders, except that they live in the suburbs.

The AT-ST replica first appeared in Reddit, where much odd things in general are commented upon.

Source Reddit

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Battlefield 3 Back To Karkand DLC Arriving December 6th (video)

Battlefield 3 players wanting a few more maps to enjoy, will be pleased to know that next week EA and Dice are releasing their highly anticipated new DLC ‘Back to Karkand’.

The new Back to Karkand will include four maps from previous Battlefield games, all recreated in Battlefield 3's new Frostbite 2.0 game engine. The new DLC will be free if you purchased the Battlefield 3 limited edition version at launch, otherwise it will cost you an extra $15 to enjoy. Watch a video of the new Gulf of Oman map in action after the jump.

Back to Karkand will be arriving on December 6th for the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360. But unfortunately for PC gamers their DLC will not be arriving until December 13th.

Source: Joystiq

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Bose iQ Multi Device Docking Station Concept

Designer Jason Farsai, has imagined a fantastic Bose IQ multi device docking station concept, that would be perfect for parties. Allowing you to dock multiple iOS devices into one dock and then use them as a massive jukebox. Queuing songs from all the different devices and creating huge playlists, to keep the party alive.

The Bose IQ concept dock would include five OLED screens which would then cycle pictures of the next song’s album art for all to see.

Unfortunately due to Farsai’s design being just a concept, don’t expect to see it in your local Bose store anytime soon. But Bose if your reading this these are the sorts of devices you should be creating.

Source: TrendHunter : Oh Gizmo

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Carrier IQ Claims They Aren’t Logging Your Data

Earlier today we heard that Google had confirmed that they do not use the Carrier IQ software, and now the company behind the software has released a statement which they claim that they do not record your data.

You can see the statement below, although it isn’t clear as yet whether this is some sort of damage limitation attempt by the company or actually an explanation of what the software does.

While a few individuals have identified that there is a great deal of information available to the Carrier IQ software inside the handset, our software does not record, store or transmit the contents of SMS messages, email, photographs, audio or video. For example, we understand whether an SMS was sent accurately, but do not record or transmit the content of the SMS. We know which applications are draining your battery, but do not capture the screen.

You can find out more information about the Carrier IQ software, which was discovered by Trevor Eckhart, here, and what the software supposedly does.

Source Gizmodo

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Windows 8 Public Beta Coming February 2012

Microsoft is expected to launch the next version of its operating system, Windows 8, in the fall of 2012, and Windows 8 is designed to work on both PCs and tablets, and now it would appear that we may have a launch date for the public beta of Windows 8.

According to a recent report, Microsoft will launch the Windows 8 public beta in February of 2012, and we have heard previously that Microsoft may release Windows 8 RTM (release to manufacturing) around June of next year.

From what we have seen so far, Windows 8 certainly looks very interesting, especially on tablet devices , and we are looking forward to seeing what the final release of Windows 8 is like.

Source The Next Web

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Steam Workshop To Host Custom Made Skyrim Mods

Bethesda has announced that its new Creation Kit due to arrive in January 2012 together with Skyrim mod tools. Will be able to be used by gamers to create Skyrim mod scripts that can then be made available to other gamers via Steam’s Workshop service.

Once the new service is live it will allow Skyrim players to browser the available modes either via smartphone or PC. Any mods selected will then be downloaded the next time their copy of Skyrim is accessed. Bethesda also says that normal methods of acquiring and installing mods, via places like TES Nexus, will still work.

The Creation Kit that arriving in Jan 2012 will apparently bring even more versatility to gamers than the previous Oblivion’s tools, letting modders play with Radiant Story.

Source: PC Gamer

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LG Nitro HD Hits AT&T December 4th

The LG Nitro HD was announced recently, and the device was launched yesterday at an LG event in New York, and it will go on sale with US mobile carrier AT&T on the 4th of December for $250 when you sign up to a new two year agreement.

The device features a 4.5 inch HD IPS display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels and it is powered by Android Gingerbread 2.3 and features a dual core 1.5GHz processor and 1GB of RAM.

Other specifications on the LG Nitro HD include 4GB of built in storage, a microSD card slot which comes loaded with a 16GB card, an 8 megapixel camera which can record full HD video in 1080p and a 1.3 megapixel camera on the front for video chat.

The guys over at TechCrunch have some hands on photos of the device, as well as some more details.

Image Credit TechCrunch

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Not Exactly Mjolnir Armor, But The Tech Air Suit Can Take Serious Damage

It might not look like much, but the Alpinestars Tech Air Suit is designed to take a lot of damage. Sure, you can’t battle aliens with it (or can you?), the Tech Air however, is designed to withstand really brutal impact. See, the target market for this leather suit are those crazy motorcycle daredevils like Ghost Rider as well as the racing breed. In the unfortunate event that they’re thrown from the bike, the suit can take an unholy beating and still guarantee the wearer survives with nary a scratch. But wait, there’s more!

See, the Tech Air Suit has the word ‘Air’ thrown in for a reason. A computer program synced to the suit can determine whether to deploy embedded airbags in the shoulder area in the even of an accident. This cutting edge feature means that the chances of the rider surviving are not only improved, but that the future of such apparel now has a benchmark to overcome. It would be great if Alpinestars outed a fully modular racing suit that can be ‘adjusted’ according to the race’s safety requirements.

Source Popular Science

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Tamagotchi Releases 15th Anniversary Model

Ah, Tamagotchi, the most annoying game ever conceived that once took the world by storm. Other than the Sims, it’s the only other game that makes pooing look like fun. Tamagotchi sure had its day among the school-going set. Too bad it hasn’t transitioned beyond a specific age group; then again, it really fascinated the tween demographic during its apex a decade ago. It’s still big in Japan, which explains Bandai’s latest move. To celebrate its 15th anniversary, Bandai is outing the Tamagotchi iD L that has got a ton of neat features. Learn more after the jump.

The iD L is actually closer to a game console than the Tamagotchi’s of old, which were wickedly 2D and quite funny. The Tomagotchi iD L has characters to choose from, comes in Technicolor, and has device connectivity, allowing different players to sync their ‘pets’ with each other.

The Tamagotchi iD L is now selling for $113 plus shipping. Anyone susceptible to cute and cuddly have been warned—this might be too irresistible to avoid.

Source Chip Chick

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Apple Says They Will Remove Carrier IQ From iOS Devices

More news on the Carrier IQ data logging software this morning, first we heard Google say that they don’t use the software, then we had a statement from the company behind Carrier IQ, and now Apple has spoken out about the software.

We reported the other date that Carrier IQ has been discovered in Apple’s iOS devices, although to a lesser extent than other devices, and now Apple has confirmed they will remove the software in a future update.

We stopped supporting CarrierIQ with iOS 5 in most of our products and will remove it completely in a future software update. With any diagnostic data sent to Apple, customers must actively opt-in to share this information, and if they do, the data is sent in an anonymous and encrypted form and does not include any personal information. We never recorded keystrokes, messages or any other personal information for diagnostic data and have no plans to ever do so.

What is clear from all this news about Carrier IQ, is that smartphone manufacturers and mobile providers are doing as much as they can to distance themselves from the software,.

Source Mac Rumors, All Things D

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Slow News Day: Rare Interview Footage From Empire Strikes Back (Video)

Guess the title says it all, since tech news has gotten a little élan this weekend, might as well indulge the fanboys out there. A short video clip of rare interviews circa-The Empire Strikes Back has surfaced on a video sharing site. It’s pretty entertaining if you’re a Star Wars fan because it sheds light on the actors. Mark Hamill is such a normal guy, Harrison Ford was a carpenter before he signed up with George Lucas, and Carrie Fisher is pretty hot (when her hair isn’t done weird). Also, C3P0 speaks! The actor, not the droid. Catch the video after the jump!

For sheer nostalgia alone, the video is priceless. The tidbits are also fascinating, especially when the actors discuss the little known factoids that went into TESB production. Darth Vader’s helmet, for example, was altered and given a new color shade.

The British stage actor who played C3PO is also very candid discussing how he went about the job of being the uptight droid everybody loves. Turns out he wasn’t interested in the role at first and found the tedious preparation process before s hoot pretty…uncomfortable.

Enough spoilers, go watch it. Might make you want to go on a spur of the moment Star Wars binge.

Here:

Source Star Wars Blog

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With 2012 Looming, Apocalypse Kit Goes On Sale

Since bladed and pointy objects have always been cool things to have, outdoor gear purveyors Gerber did the smart thing and put a bunch of sharp knives in a single container. The resulting product is the Apocalypse Kit, a set of dangerous tools (includes a hatchet) for emergency situations. As pictured below, the kit has knives large and small plus a small axe to hurl at zombie skulls. Not sure if there’s a blade perfect for buttering your toast on a  post-Apocalyptic breakfast.

The Apocalypse Kit is supposed to be a promotional tie in with The Walking Dead, that rather popular zombie series that has the emotional depth of a teary soap opera. Even the product page is riding on the same hype:

What if it happens? What if our worst fears are realized? If the Dead walk, the continuation of the human race will become a daily struggle. Are you prepared to protect and defend your family and friends? Your best chance lies in the Gerber Apocalypse Survival Kit.

Enclosed in a super durable canvas carrying case with reinforced stitching, the kit is compact and packable. To beat the uprising we must work together. We must arm ourselves and organize.

The Apocalypse Kit contains seven different tools for a variety of applications–in the real world, not your smartphone.

Source Gerber

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Nokia Distances From Carrier IQ

Nokia was quick to stay clear of the ongoing frenzy surrounding the Carrier IQ data logging software snafu, stressing that its devices do not have the controversial software installed.  With tpotential privacy issues stirring up the mobile device environment, it’s no wonder a Nokia official quickly came out in the open and gave the company’s side of the issue.

Carrier IQ, in a nutshell, allegedly tracks text entry and other key presses made by the user. Software researcher Trevor Eckhart claimed to have found a number of mobile phones equipped with Carrier IQ and iPhone modder @chpwn also alleged that iOS3, iOS4 and iOS5 contained such software.

A Nokia spokesperson has been quoted as saying that Carrier IQ is not found on its devices, adding that reports linking the company to the software are inaccurate. Meanwhile, Nexus One, Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus are also said to be free of the Carrier IQ software.

Via slashgear

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Verizon Galaxy Nexus 4G LTE Speedtest (Video)

We still don’t know exactly when the Samsung Galaxy Nexus 4G LTE will go on sale in the US, but if you were wondering how fast the device is going to be, a video has now appeared with a Speedtest running on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.

The video below shows the Samsung Galaxy Nexus running Speedtest with only two bars of signal, and according to the video it was tested in a not so good signal area, and still managed speeds of 8MB.

Source Phandroid, Engadget

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Samsung Shows Off PM830 mSATA SSD for Ultrabooks

Intel is pushing the Ultrabook machines really hard. So far, there aren’t that many of them on the market thanks to the cost of some components and the fact that Intel wants the machines to sell for under $1000. Some Ultrabooks are under that number, but others are over. Samsung has a new SSD that is aimed at the Ultrabook and other compact high performance notebooks.

The PM830 SSD is an mSATA SSD that uses the 6Gbps SATA interface. The small SSD measures 50.96mm x 30mm x 3.8mm and packs in 256GB of storage in the largest version. It also comes in versions with 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB of storage as well.

The SSD has a sequential write speed of up to 260MB/sec and a sequential read speed of up to 500MB/s. The SSD has integrated AES encryption to protect the data from theft if the machine is lost or stolen. The SSDs are in production now.

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Microsoft Says Windows Phone Devices Do Not Use Carrier IQ Software

First Google, then Apple, and now Microsoft is the latest company that wants people to know that it has nothing to do with the data logging software, Carrier IQ that has been discovered on smartphones.

Microsoft is expected to release an official statement shortly confirming that they do not use the software, although it has already been confirmed by someone from Microsoft on Twitter.

Microsoft’s Joe Belifore, who looks after Windows Phone Program Management announced on Twitter that Microsoft does not use the software in any of their Windows Phone devices.

Source Win Rumors

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Ear Tentacles, Use Suction To Stop Your Headphone Cables Tangling

Storing smartphone earphones in your pocket or bag normally always ends in a birds nest of cable coming back out, which then needs to be frustratingly unravelled.

Designer Donghee Suh, is now looking to change this and has conceptualised a new innovative way to keep your earphones neat and tidy whilst not in use. The Ear Tentacles have been inspired by the suction cups on the octopus, and allow the earbuds silicon cone to flip back on its self, and become a suction cup when not in use.

Enabling you to wrap your headphone cored around your smartphone and secure it with dual suction. Preventing the inevitable tangling situation that normal would occur. Unfortunately the Ear Tentacles are still only a concept at the moment, so don’t expect to see them in stores for the holiday season.

Source: Yanko

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Samsung Latest Advert Calls The iPhone ‘Old School’

There certainly is no love lost between Apple and Samsung, the two companies are locked in a range of various court cases around the world, and Samsung recently released a new TV advert which poked fun at Apple fans.

Now Samsung is having a go at the iPhone, with the advert featured below, which appeared on Samsung’s Facebook page and describes the iPhone as old school, pictured along side an 80s mobile phone.

The advert implies that the iPhone is behind the times, just like the TV advert did, and you can see more of these adverts over at Samsung’s Facebook Page.

Source 9 To 5 Mac, iDownloadBlog

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Star Wars Death Star Trench Run Movie Sequence Recreated In Minecraft (video)

If you are a fan of all things Star Wars and Minecraft this combination of both, is sure to please. Minecraft gamer Grahame, aka Paradise Decay, who freely admits that “somehow Minecraft is taking over my life”.

Has put his Minecraft skills to great use and recreated the entire final trench run sequence from the first or fourth Star Wars movie, depending on your views. See the finished sequence after the jump.

After completing this amazing Minecraft creation, Grahame has now set his sights on creating a full-blown Star Wars/Minecraft adventure called ‘Rise of the Rebellion’ which is expected to arrive sometime in 2012. Watch the video below for more details.

Source: Kotaku

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New Tablet Tries To Lend A Hand To The Elderly

For every product, there’s a target audience. The key is to finding out exactly what that certain group of consumers want or need. For MemoTouch LLC, they figured memory-challenged seniors might need a helping hand to keep track of some daily tasks.

The new memory assistant tablet offers a tool that specifically reminds senior citizens, especially those with short-term memory loss, of their doctor appointments, when it’s time to drink their medicines, and other pertinent tasks.

The Memo Touch is based on Archos 101 but it has been stripped down to the basics and now centers on its main priority, which is to give constant reminders to the elders in the family. Using the tablet, which comes priced at $299, excluding the required half or full year subscription, is fairly simple, according to Memo co-founder Carrie Beia.

“If they can watch TV, they can use a Memo,” she said. Family members are also able to add calendar reminders and other stuff on the tablet, making it more personalised.

Via memotouch

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Verizon Launching Two New Droid Xyboard 4G Tablets This Month

Verizon Wireless has confirmed they will be launching two new 4G Droid tablets this month, there will be a 10 inch Motorola Droid Xyboard tablet and an 8 inch Motorola Droid Xyboard tablet.

Verizon has confirmed any exact specifications on these two new tablets, although they are expected to be similar to the new Motorola Xoom 2 and Xoom 2 Media edition tablets which were announced recently.

As a reminder the Xoom 2 2 which features a 10.1 inch HD display with Gorilla Glass and it comes with Android 3.2 Honeycomb and a dual core 1.2GHz processor, plus 1GB of RAM and 16GB of built in storage.

Whilst the Xoom 2 Media Edition comes with Android 3.2 Honeycomb, and a dual core 1.2GHz processor, this version features a smaller 8.2 inch HD display, a front facing 1.3 megapixel camera and a rear facing 5 megapixel camera with digital zoom, an LED flash and auto-focus.

Source Cnet

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