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ReWalk Exoskeleton Helps Paraplegics Walk (Video)

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 24th 2008 at 6:06PM


ARGO Medical Technologies' ReWalk has been out a few months now, but it's tough to really appreciate what this thing can do unless you see a patient utilize one on video. Hailed as a "quasi-robotic ambulation system," the wearable device was specifically created to assist those with lower-limb disabilities and give them back upright mobility.

In the video waiting in the read link, one particular individual relies on the ReWalk to stand up and move about after being stricken to a wheelchair for 20 years -- no need to take our word for it, though, real live proof is but a click away. [Source: Israel21c Via MedGadget]
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Zune Tattoo Guy Covering Up His Tattoos

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 23rd 2008 at 3:42PM


Say it ain't so! America's most loyal advocate for Microsoft's Zune is apparently throwing in the towel. Of course, we should warn you that this could very well be a simple ploy for attention, but if the man keeps his word, he will soon be covering his Zune tattoos with... something else.

Curiously, he didn't say whether or not he would be playing the traitor card and picking up some sort of iPod, but considering that more people have seen this guy's body art in the wild than actual Zunes, the general public should know soon enough. You fought a good fight, Zune Guy, but consider yourself expelled from The Social. [Source: zunescene]

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
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Salespeople Push LCD TVs More Than Plasmas, Study Finds

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 23rd 2008 at 12:25PM



For some strange reason, we can't say we're surprised by the latest J.D. Power and Associates report. Maybe it's how LCD HDTVs seem to be highlighted in most retail locations, or maybe it's just because the negative burn-in stigma attached to earlier PDPs has yet to wear off.

Whatever the case, said research firm has just produced an article claiming that "retail electronics salespersons are recommending LCD TVs instead of plasma TVs at a rate of more than three to one." The research focused on shoppers looking for sets 40-inches and up over the past six months, though it didn't specifically mention where it went undercover to source such data.

Really though, it's not shocking to hear that B&M salespeople aren't totally adept at explaining pros and cons -- after all, we'd recommend doing your own independent research and ordering online -- but hopefully this will beat the message home to those who've been blindly believing anything they hear when shopping for a new set. [Image courtesy of Exceptional Innovation]
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Megachurches Taking Sermons to HD

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 23rd 2008 at 10:12AM


High-def integration into churches is nothing new, but it's still far from commonplace. HD installers are now keying in on megachurches throughout the US, which typically have congregations in the thousands and could certainly benefit from HD projections.

According to Pat Thompson, senior vice president of engineering operations for broadcast and audio visual systems integrator TV Magic, there are around 10,000 megachurches in America today, with only 1,000 or so equipped with HD cameras, displays, etc. He also noted that some of the larger venues would spend between $500,00 and $4 million in order to completely convert to high-def, which would likely have some churchgoers fanning themselves and passing out in the aisles. Still, there's hardly a more suited place for HD than this, but you should probably tell your pastor to invest in some makeup if your church is planning on doing closeups at 1080p. [Source: Multichannel News]

[Image courtesy of Yucan]
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Tivo and Amazon Selling Books, CDs, and More on Your TV

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 22nd 2008 at 6:01PM


Back in May, TiVo's VP of product marketing got all of our hopes up that the next announcement involving it and Amazon would include HD Unbox content. As you can very clearly see, this is most certainly not the case. Instead, we have the immense pleasure of informing Internet-connected Tivo Series2, Series3 and TiVo HD owners that they can now buy wares from Amazon without leaving their couch.

If browsing through Amazon's extraordinarily huge store with just a remote sounds appealing to you, you're in luck (and mildly insane). Also of note, the new Product Purchase feature will enable advertisers to "market products sold through Amazon on any broadcast or cable network, any TV show, or via any of TiVo's extensive interactive advertising features." In other words, next time you see Dwight using that iconic shredder, you can buy that bad boy right then and there. Take that, Staples. [Source: Tivo via Zatz Not Funny]
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Electric MINI Hits US Streets in Summer 2009

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 22nd 2008 at 3:23PM



Not that electric MINIs are anything new, but unless you were willing to pay for all the mods yourself, procuring one wasn't exactly simple. Now, however, we're hearing that MINI itself will be bringing scads of these buggers to American streets in the summer of 2009. Yeah, like, one year from right now.

MINI USA VP Jim McDowell was the source of said statement (so it's pretty much official, yeah?), though he didn't mention whether all of them would be reserved for California or if they would be available sold out nationwide. Hey MINI, we'd say you've got a hit on your hands. [Source: Autoblog Green]
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Dr. Dre's Headphones Bring the 'Beats' for $350

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 22nd 2008 at 12:42PM


You can't put velvet in these earcups and call 'em nice headphones! As Mr. Chappelle would likely attest, there are no better headphones in which to drop the beat into than Dr. Dre's "highly anticipated" Beats. The master of chronic himself has slapped his all-but-forgotten name onto a set of cans (which we covered a few months ago), and is now ready to introduce 'em to the world.

Starting on July 25th, the crunk-inducing headphones -- which Switched reviewed back in January -- will be available exclusively at Apple and Best Buy (both online and in-store), though the buying experience would likely be way more gangsta if checking out at BeatsByDre.com. Still, for $349.95, we'd recommend looking at more respected names in sound, but if your street cred is sitting at rock bottom, you may have no other choice. Thug life, fool. [Source: Business Wire]

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Guy Stuffs Entire Video Game System Into Retro Controller

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 21st 2008 at 4:55PM


This one has been around the block a time or two, but considering you have absolutely nothing else to do on a Sunday, you might as well dust off that DIY kit and get to work. What you're looking at above is a genuine (albeit modified) NES controller playing a bona fide classic on a laptop.

Amazingly, all of the software required for such a marvelously good time is stuffed tight within the controller itself. Take a step back and digest that -- your very own NES emulator (with ROMs), shoved inside a Nintendo Entertainment System controller. Does it get any more awesome than that? Hit the read link to start building your own and let us know. Video of the action after the jump. [Source: Ed's How-To's Via Hack-A-Day]

Continue reading Guy Stuffs Entire Video Game System Into Retro Controller

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New Esquire Magazine Cover Features E Ink

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 21st 2008 at 11:01AM


Nary a month after an E Ink exec asserted that e-newspapers would be going commercial by 2009, in flies word that a forthcoming issue of Esquire will likely be the poster child for the change. According to David Granger, Esquire's editor in chief, rags have generally "looked the same for 150 years," but all that will change when 100,000 copies of the September issue arrive on newsstands with a flashing electronic cover.

The E Ink technology used will be exclusively available to Esquire until 2009, and the blinking "The 21st Century Begins Now" text will sadly fade after the battery runs dry in 90 days. Still, there's at least some chance the issue will wind up in the Smithsonian, and an even bigger chance magazine racks everywhere will require Kanye-approved sunglasses to even look at in just a few years. [Source: New York Times]
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Laser-Equipped Windshield Aims to Make Driving Easier

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 21st 2008 at 9:01AM


Apparently not everyone at General Motors is toiling away in an attempt to get the Volt ready for its 2010 debut, as another sector of the outfit's R&D division is busy creating a windshield that will, at its core, enable us to stop running stuff over. The futuristic glass would utilize lasers, sensors and cameras in order to help drivers see the road's edge better, recognize obstructions and enhance things ahead of us so we'll theoretically react faster.

Truth be told, the device is being designed with older drivers in mind, though we don't see why younger motorists won't benefit all the same. Unfortunately, it sounds as if you'll have to keep those toothpicks in your eyelids for a few more years, but at least we're one step closer to full-on autopilot. [Source: CNN]
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WhereverTV Brings International Channels To Your TV

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 20th 2008 at 12:03PM


Not only is this thing powered by Neuros, it even resembles the Neuros OSD. Announced today at the SINO Consumer Electronics Show, the brashly named WhereverTV acts as a liaison between your Internet-connected PC and TV, delivering "hundreds of live international television channels in more than 40 languages from almost 100 countries around the world."

The 5- x 5- x 1-inch box must be simultaneously connected to your router and TV, and once the tele is flipped on, you'll be able to browse, manage and stream scads of international TV channels from wherever you are in the world. Granted, we still prefer the flexibility of the ZvBox (which allows you to tap into all facets of Internet video, not just one segment), but for just $199.99 with no activation or recurring charges (available now at Amazon), this could be just the thing for foreign television junkies or folks currently living outside of their homeland. [Source: PR Newswire]
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Emotional Robot Has Empathy, Understands Your Frustration

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 19th 2008 at 1:37PM

Not that robots with emotions are anything new, but a project going on in Europe could perfect the art of crafting mechanical people that can "learn when a person is sad, happy or angry." The Feelix Growing project is getting even more advanced with software that gives robots the power to understand how a person is feeling based on feedback from cameras and sensors.

The bots look at a human's facial expression and key in on their voice and proximity to determine what kind of mood they're in. As with the recently announced UMass Mobile Manipulator, this creature too learns from experience, and there's a video explaining just what we mean waiting for you in the read link.

[Source: ICT Results via Physorg]
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'SmartBerry' Brings Portable Chat to Girls

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 19th 2008 at 10:31AM


We're guessing the naming scheme here was quite intentional, though we'll be the first to say Bandai's Smart Berry has very, very little in common with RIM's stockpile of handsets. Nevertheless, this "mobile communicator" joins the small crowd of other tween-centric chat handhelds with wireless capabilities that enable four of these things to talk to one another "for email, chat and online games within a 10-meter diameter."

For whatever reason, messages are limited to 64 characters (and you thought SMS was bad...), and in case that little tidbit grows increasingly frustrating, there's a virtual pet on board to take your mind to a more blissful place. Sure, we can see younger gals being entertained by this for a few weeks or so, but the ¥10,290 ($96) price tag just seems a bit outrageous, particularly when you consider the lack of a color screen. Yeah, for real. [Source: TechOn!]
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USB-Powered HEAT ME Stirrer: A Coffee Geek's Dream

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 18th 2008 at 3:01PM


We'll go ahead and squash your hopes before you waste time pulling out the plastic -- this thing's just a concept, at least for now. From what we can glean, the HEAT ME is a fantastic device just waiting to be snapped up by Brando (or similar) and turned into the next must-have USB-powered gizmo.

Put simply, the metal ends of this here stick warm up when plugged into your USB port, thus giving you a toasty wand to keep your hot tea / coffee at the proper temperature even when colleagues pull you away momentarily. Really though, is there any doubt this won't go commercial within the next six months? [Source: Kawamura & Ganjavian via Coolest-Gadgets]
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Texas Wind Power Initiative to Blow Other States Away

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 18th 2008 at 12:03PM


Oh sure, Rock Port, Missouri managed to snag the title of being "100% wind powered," but Texas' new plan will make the Show Me state's gusty initiatives look awfully weak. Officials at the Public Utility Commission recently okayed a plan to "build billions of dollars worth of new transmission lines to bring pollution-free energy from West Texas to urban areas."

The ginormous Lone Star state is already the nation's leader in wind power, but when said plan is fully implemented (pending final approval), it'll produce more wind energy than the next closest 14 states combined. Granted, customers will be paying a touch more ($4 per month is the current estimate) for all this clean energy, but pundits assert that the cost is minor when looking at just how much this will help out Mother Earth. Look for everything to go live in four to five years, barring any unforeseen setbacks. [Source: MSNBC]

[Thanks, Adam]
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