Switched http://www.switched.com Switched. http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com prods@weblogsinc.com (Weblogs, Inc. Producers) support@weblogsinc.com (Weblogs, Inc. Web Support) en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. View our terms of service here: http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/ Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ <![CDATA[HDTV Listings for May 31, 2009]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/31/hdtv-listings-for-may-31-2009/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/31/hdtv-listings-for-may-31-2009/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/31/hdtv-listings-for-may-31-2009/#comments What we're watching tonight:
  • ABC (720p) brings back Pushing Daisies at 10 p.m.
  • NBC (1080i) has Red Wings/Penguins NHL Stanley Cup Finals Game 1 at 8 p.m.
  • Fox (720p) has Cops at 8:30 p.m.
  • CBS (1080i) has Harper's Island at 9 p.m.
  • Sci Fi (1080i) airs The Book of Beasts at 9 p.m.
  • Discovery (1080i) has Nature's Most Amazing Events at 8 & 9 p.m.
  • ESPN (720p) broadcasts NCAA Women's College World Series action starting at 7 p.m.
  • ESPN2 (720p) has NHRA Summer Nationals at 8 p.m.
  • ESPNU (720p) has college baseball starting at 7 p.m.
  • TNT (1080i) has Cavaliers/Magic NBA ECF Game 6 at 8:30 p.m.

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HDTV Listings for May 31, 2009 originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 31 May 2009 19:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> hdtvhdtvlistinglistings Engadget Staff Sun, 31 May 2009 19:09:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[HDTV Listings for May 27, 2009]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/27/hdtv-listings-for-may-27-2009/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/27/hdtv-listings-for-may-27-2009/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/27/hdtv-listings-for-may-27-2009/#comments What we're watching tonight:
  • Discovery (1080i) has Time Warp at 8 p.m., Mythbusters at 9 and Pitchmen at 10 p.m.
  • A&E (720p) has the season premiere of Dog the Bounty Hunter at 9 & 9:30 p.m. followed by the series premiere of Tattoo Highway at 10 & 10:30 p.m.
  • ABC (720p) has the season premiere of Wipeout at 8 p.m., series premiere of The Goode Family at 9 p.m., Surviving Suburbia at 9:30 p.m. and The Unusuals at 10 p.m.
  • History (720p) has MonsterQuest at 9 p.m. and UFO Hunters at 10 p.m.
  • TBS (1080i) has Tyler Perry's House of Payne at 9 & 9:30 p.m. followed by the season premiere of Meet the Browns at 10 & 10:30 p.m.
  • NBC (1080i) airs Law & Order: Criminal Intent at 8 p.m.
  • Spike (1080i) has The Ultimate Fighter at 10 p.m.
  • Comedy Central (1080i) has Reno 911 at 10:30 p.m.
  • ESPN (720p) has Nuggets/Lakers NBA WCF Game 5 at 9 p.m.
  • ESPN2 (720p) airs Yankees/Rangers baseball at 8 p.m.
  • Versus (1080i) has Blackhawks/Red Wings NHL WCF Game 5 at 7:30 p.m.

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HDTV Listings for May 27, 2009 originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 27 May 2009 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> hdtvhdtvlistingslistingstop Engadget Staff Wed, 27 May 2009 19:15:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[HDTV Listings for May 26, 2009]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/26/hdtv-listings-for-may-26-2009/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/26/hdtv-listings-for-may-26-2009/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/26/hdtv-listings-for-may-26-2009/#comments What we're watching tonight:
  • CW (1080i) has the two hour season finale of 'Reaper 'at 8 p.m.
  • ABC (720p) has 'According to Jim' at 8 & 8:30 p.m. following by 'Diamonds 'Part 2 at 9 p.m.
  • Fox (720p) brings the series premiere of 'Mental' at 9 p.m.
  • TLC (1080i) has '18 Kids & Counting' at 9 p.m. and the series premiere of 'The Little Couple' at 10 & 10:30 p.m.
  • Sci Fi (1080i) has 'ECW' at 10 p.m.
  • Discovery (1080i) lines up 'Deadliest Catch' at 9 p.m. and 'The Alaska Experiment' at 10 p.m.
  • FX (720p) airs 'Rescue Me' at 10 p.m.
  • TBS (1080i) has the season finale of 'My Boys' at 10:30 p.m.
  • ESPN (720p) has Cardinals/Brewers MLB action at 8 p.m.
  • TNT (1080i) has Cavaliers/Magic NBA ECF Game 4 at 8:30 p.m.
  • Versus (1080i) has Penguins/Hurricanes NHL ECF at 7:30 p.m.

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HDTV Listings for May 26, 2009 originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 26 May 2009 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> hdtvlistings Engadget Staff Tue, 26 May 2009 18:45:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Blu-ray Releases on May 26th 2009]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/26/blu-ray-releases-on-may-26th-2009/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/26/blu-ray-releases-on-may-26th-2009/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/26/blu-ray-releases-on-may-26th-2009/#comments All catalogs, all the time this week as we slow down for the summer theater season. Not a big deal if you're a Blu-ray fan as there are plenty of great classics to check out for the first time on Blu-ray. Most notable is that Universal is still playing catch-up and obviously still has a few recent titles that were released on HD DVD, but have still not been released on Blu-ray. Warner has a few classics too, we can't even remember the last time we watched True Romance, but no doubt we're due. Expect much of the same for the next month or so, with a few big TV shows in between.
  • Children of Men (Universal)
  • Cinderella Man (Universal)
  • Field of Dreams (Universal)
  • Seabiscuit (Universal)
  • Spy Game (Universal)
  • Falling Down (Warner)
  • True Romance (Warner)
  • Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (Warner)
  • New in Town (Lionsgate)
  • Powder Blue (Image)
  • The Sky Crawlers (Sony)

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Blu-ray Releases on May 26th 2009 originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 26 May 2009 14:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> blu-rayblu-ray-releasesnewblu-ray Engadget Staff Tue, 26 May 2009 14:41:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[HDTV Listings for May 22, 2009]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/22/hdtv-listings-for-may-22-2009/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/22/hdtv-listings-for-may-22-2009/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/22/hdtv-listings-for-may-22-2009/#comments What we're watching tonight:
  • MyNetworkTV (720p) has WWE: SmackDown at 8 p.m.
  • Cartoon Network (1080i) airs Batman: The Brave and the Bold at 8:30 p.m.
  • Starz (1080i) has the season finales of Head Case at 10 p.m. and Party Down at 10:30 p.m.
  • Versus (1080i) has Red Wings/Blackhawks WCF Game 3 at 8 p.m.
  • TNT (1080i) airs Magic/Cavaliers ECF Game 2 at 8:30 p.m.

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HDTV Listings for May 22, 2009 originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 22 May 2009 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> hdtvhdtvlistingstop Engadget Staff Fri, 22 May 2009 18:20:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[HDTV Listings for May 21, 2009]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/21/hdtv-listings-for-may-21-2009/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/21/hdtv-listings-for-may-21-2009/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/21/hdtv-listings-for-may-21-2009/#comments What we're watching tonight:
  • ABC (720p) has the two hour season finale of 'Ugly Betty' at 8 p.m.
  • NBC (1080i) has the season finale of 'Southland' at 10 p.m.
  • TLC (1080i) brings 'American Chopper' at 9 p.m. and 'Street Customs' at 10 p.m.
  • A&E (720p) has the season premiere of 'Crime 360' at 10 p.m.
  • Spike (1080i) has 'TNA: Impact!' at 9 p.m.
  • Versus (1080i) has Hurricanes/Penguins NHL Eastern Conference Finals Game 2 at 7:30 p.m.
  • ESPN (720p) has Nuggets/Lakers NBA Western Conference Finals Game 2 at 9 p.m.

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HDTV Listings for May 21, 2009 originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 21 May 2009 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> hdtvlistings Engadget Staff Thu, 21 May 2009 18:45:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[HDTV Listings for Tuesday, May 19, 2009]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/19/hdtv-listings-for-tuesday-may-19-2009/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/19/hdtv-listings-for-tuesday-may-19-2009/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/19/hdtv-listings-for-tuesday-may-19-2009/#comments What we're watching tonight:
  • CBS (1080i) is all season finales with NCIS at 8 p.m. followed by The Mentalist at 9 p.m. and Without a Trace at 10 p.m.
  • CW (1080i) has Reaper at 8 p.m. and the season finale of 90210 at 9 p.m.
  • ABC (720p) brings the two hour season finale of Dancing with the Stars at 9 p.m.
  • Fox (720p) has American Idol at 8 p.m. and the series premiere of Glee at 9:01 p.m.
  • TBS (1080i) brings My Boys at 10:30 p.m.
  • Sci Fi (1080i) slides in ECW at 10 p.m.
  • NBC (1080i) has Law & Order: SVU at 10 p.m.
  • Discovery (1080i) has Deadliest Catch at 9 p.m. and The Alaska Experiment at 10 p.m.
  • History (720p) has Life After People at 10 p.m.
  • FX (720p) has Rescue Me at 10 p.m.
  • Versus (1080i) has NHL Conference finals action with Blackhawks/Red Wings at 7:30 p.m.
  • ESPN (720p) has the 2009 NBA Draft Lottery at 8:30 p.m. and the Game 1 of the Western Conference finals with Nuggets/Lakers at 9 p.m.

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HDTV Listings for Tuesday, May 19, 2009 originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 19 May 2009 17:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> hdtvhdtvlistings Engadget Staff Tue, 19 May 2009 17:56:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[HDTV Listings for Monday, May 18, 2009]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/18/hdtv-listings-for-monday-may-18/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/18/hdtv-listings-for-monday-may-18/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/18/hdtv-listings-for-monday-may-18/#comments What we're watching tonight:
  • Fox (720p) has the two-hour season finale of 24 at 8 p.m.
  • CBS (1080i) has Rules of Engagement at 8 p.m. followed by the season finales of How I Met your Mother at 8:30 p.m., Two and a Half Men at 9 p.m., Rules of Engagement at 9:30 p.m. and CSI: Miami at 10 p.m.
  • CW (1080i) has the season finales of Gossip Girl at 8 p.m. and One Tree Hill at 9 p.m.
  • Travel (1080i) has the season finale of Dhani Tackles the Globe at 9 p.m.
  • ABC Family (720p) has Greek at 8 p.m.
  • NBC (1080i) has Medium at 10 p.m.
  • ABC (720p) has Dancing with the Stars at 8 p.m.
  • Discovery (1080i) has Weaponizers at 8 & 9 p.m. and the season finale of Doing Da Vinci at 10 p.m.
  • History (720p) brings the season finale of Ax Men at 9 & 10 p.m.
  • TLC (1080i) brings the season finale ofTable for 12 at 9 & 9:30 p.m.
  • A&E (720p) has the season finale of Paranormal State at 10 p.m.
  • USA (1080i) has WWE: Raw at 9 p.m.
  • HBO (1080i) has In Treatment at 9, 9:30 & 10 p.m.
  • Versus (1080i) has NHL Playoffs action with Carolina/Pittsburgh at 7:30 p.m.
  • ESPN (720p) airs Twins/Yankees baseball at 7 p.m.

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HDTV Listings for Monday, May 18, 2009 originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 18 May 2009 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> hdtvtop Engadget Staff Mon, 18 May 2009 18:20:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[HDTV Listings for Friday, May 15]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/05/15/hdtv-listings-for-friday-may-15/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/15/hdtv-listings-for-friday-may-15/ http://www.switched.com/2009/05/15/hdtv-listings-for-friday-may-15/#comments What we're watching tonight:
  • CW (1080i) airs the season (series?) finale of The Game at 8 p.m.
  • Fox (720p) has the series finale of Prison Break at 8 p.m.
  • MyNetworkTV (720p) airs WWE SmackDown at 8 p.m.
  • CBS (1080i) lines up season finales of Ghost Whisperer at 8 p.m., Flashpoint at 9 p.m. and Numb3rs at 10 p.m.
  • History (720p) has Patton 360 at 9 p.m.
  • Starz (1080i) has Head Case at 10 p.m. and Party Down at 10:30 p.m.
  • TLC (1080i) has Wild Weddings at 7 p.m. and Say Yes to the Dress at 10 p.m.
  • ESPN (720p) has NCAA Softball Regionals with San Diego State/Arizona State at 8 p.m.
  • Speed (720p) has NASCAR Camping World Truck Series @ Charlotte at 8 p.m.

HDTV Listings for Friday, May 15 originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 15 May 2009 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> hdtvlistingstop Engadget Staff Fri, 15 May 2009 19:20:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[HDTV Listings for April 22, 2009]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/04/22/hdtv-listings-for-april-22-2009/ http://www.switched.com/2009/04/22/hdtv-listings-for-april-22-2009/ http://www.switched.com/2009/04/22/hdtv-listings-for-april-22-2009/#comments What we're watching tonight:
  • Fox (720p) has 'Lie to Me' at 8 p.m. and 'American Idol' at 9 p.m.
  • Discovery (1080i) brings 'Time Warp' at 8 p.m. and 'Mythbusters' at 9 p.m. and 'Pitchmen' at 10 p.m.
  • Comedy Central (1080i) has the spring finale of 'South Park' at 10 p.m.
  • CBS (1080i) has 'Criminal Minds' at 10 p.m.
  • ABC (720p) queues up 'Scrubs' at 8 p.m., 'Better Off Ted' at 8:30 p.m., a 'Lost' special at 9 p.m. and 'The Unusuals' at 10:02 p.m.
  • Sci Fi (1080i) has 'Ghost Hunters' at 9 p.m.
  • Spike TV (1080i) has 'The Ultimate Fighter' at 10 p.m.
  • TBS (1080i) has 'Tyler Perry's House of Payne' at 10 & 10:30 p.m.
  • History (720p) airs 'MonsterQuest' at 9 p.m. and 'UFO Hunters' at 10 p.m.
  • ESPN (720p) has Mets/Cardinals baseball at 8 p.m.
  • TNT (1080i) has Heat/Hawks at 8 p.m. and Hornets/Nuggets at 10:30 p.m.
  • NBA (1080i) has 76ers/Magic at 7 p.m.
  • Versus (1080i) airs Capitals/Rangers at 7 p.m. and Blackhawks/Flames at 10 p.m.
[From: Engadget HD]

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HDTV Listings for April 22, 2009 originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> hdtvlistingstop Engadget Staff Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:30:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Shouting at Your Computer Won't Make it Run Any Faster]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/01/03/shouting-at-your-computer-wont-make-it-run-any-faster/ http://www.switched.com/2009/01/03/shouting-at-your-computer-wont-make-it-run-any-faster/ http://www.switched.com/2009/01/03/shouting-at-your-computer-wont-make-it-run-any-faster/#comments
Here's a tip for everyone who hasn't made the jump to solid state: try to be nice to your disk drive. Brendan Gregg from Sun's Fishworks team wanted to see the effects of vibrations on his disk array, so he proceeded to shout at it. On video. Yeah, we bet that's pretty embarrassing for the drive in question, and what results is a sharp spike the number of I/O operations that take over 5ms to complete. Moral of the story? Yelling at your computer isn't going to make it run any faster. How about next time we see how it reacts to Ozzy, Mozart and warm, gentle nuzzles? We've placed video of Gregg's sadistic hardware taunts after the break. [Via Slashdot]

Continue reading Shouting at Your Computer Won't Make it Run Any Faster

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Shouting at Your Computer Won't Make it Run Any Faster originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 03 Jan 2009 23:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> brendan greggBrendanGreggdisk arrayDiskArraydisksfish worksFishWorkslatencyshoutshoutingsunyellyelling Engadget Staff Sat, 03 Jan 2009 23:15:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Microsoft Preparing for New Layoffs?]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/01/03/microsoft-preparing-for-new-layoffs/ http://www.switched.com/2009/01/03/microsoft-preparing-for-new-layoffs/ http://www.switched.com/2009/01/03/microsoft-preparing-for-new-layoffs/#comments A new report from Fudzilla claims that Microsoft is getting ready to lay off 15,000 employees, or about 17-percent of its worldwide staff. The axe will apparently fall on January 15th, exactly one week before its second quarter earnings report, and they expect MSN division to be hit hardest, while the successful Xbox crew will probably make it out relatively unscathed.

Meanwhile, an anonymous blogger who goes by the name Mini-Microsoft and claims to be an employee well-versed in the goings-on inside the company has been fielding questions from other purported Microsoft workers on recent cutback concerns. This past Monday he posted a handful of anonymous comments saying that the rumored layoffs aren't happening -- at least not in January -- although a re-organization might be in the cards. Both reports should be taken with a grain of salt, but one thing's for certain -- Windows 7 is gonna rule. [Via Joystiq]

Read - Fudzilla report
Read - Mini-Microsoft

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Microsoft Preparing for New Layoffs? originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 03 Jan 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> lay offlay offsLayOffLayOffsmicrosoftmsnrumorrumorsxbox Engadget Staff Sat, 03 Jan 2009 09:30:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[NFL Brings 3-D: Good Technology Overcomes Bad Entertainment]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/12/05/nfl-brings-3-d-good-technology-overcomes-bad-entertainment/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/05/nfl-brings-3-d-good-technology-overcomes-bad-entertainment/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/05/nfl-brings-3-d-good-technology-overcomes-bad-entertainment/#comments
Simmer down athletic supports, we didn't just call your beloved NFL boring. But Thursday night's matchup between the Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers wasn't going to generate this much interest on its own. As described by the LA Times who attended the 3D broadcast of Thursday night's "football" game at Burbank's 3ality Digital cinema,
"The experience wasn't jaw-dropping, but it was noticeably better than a conventional broadcast. The game was drama-free, yet the novelty of 3D made it hard for me to take my eyes off the screen... The effect was subtle at times, but just as compelling as in "U2 3D," 3ality's concert film of the Irish rockers. The most striking thing in both cases was how much more you could see in three dimensions than in two."
The event wasn't glitch free, however. Two hiccups caused the satellite feeds to go black in Boston, New York, and LA. and a few quick camera pans and poorly executed transitions had viewers convulsing behind their polarized glasses. As a proof of concept though, viewers generally seemed impressed which means more of this in the future.

[Via Yahoo]

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NFL Brings 3-D: Good Technology Overcomes Bad Entertainment originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> 3ality3ality digital3alityDigital3dfootballnflreal dreal d 3dRealDRealD3dsportstechnicolor Engadget Staff Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:47:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[USB-Powered Lunch Bag Keeps Your Meal Warm]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/11/29/usb-powered-lunch-bag-keeps-your-meal-warm/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/29/usb-powered-lunch-bag-keeps-your-meal-warm/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/29/usb-powered-lunch-bag-keeps-your-meal-warm/#comments
Hungry for a hot lunch at your desk every Monday through Friday, but don't want to stand in line for the microwave? The USB-powered heated lunch bag is probably something you'll want to look into, then. It apparently keeps your food at a steamy 140 degrees Farenheit all day, though it gives us pause that we're warned to "make sure the plastic container that you store your food in is of a certain grade and quality" to ensure that there's not "an adverse chemical reaction," but we figure that's probably a minor concern. We don't know if the bag will ever be available in the US, but we have a feeling that if it is, it'll be at least double the size of the current iteration.

[Via Everything USB]

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USB-Powered Lunch Bag Keeps Your Meal Warm originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 29 Nov 2008 13:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> foodusbworkplace Engadget Staff Sat, 29 Nov 2008 13:17:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Mobile Edge's 'For Her' TSA-Friendly Laptop Bags Are Not Very Inspiring ]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/11/18/mobile-edges-for-her-tsa-friendly-laptop-bags-are-not-very-in/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/18/mobile-edges-for-her-tsa-friendly-laptop-bags-are-not-very-in/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/18/mobile-edges-for-her-tsa-friendly-laptop-bags-are-not-very-in/#comments
We've seen Mobile Edge's ScanFast line of TSA-approved laptop bags before, so it was only a matter of time, we suppose, until there was a spate of the cases specifically for women. What does it mean, then, to be a laptop bag that is "designed for women by women?" Well, it helps to be pink or have faux alligator skin (or is that croc?) detailing, we can tell you that much. Regardless, the company is announcing three "fabulous" products: the Onyx Briefcase, the Onyx Backpack and the Element Briefcase, each coming in the three different color / style schemes. They're going to be available later this month, and sell for $99.99 each -- Chihuahua named Princess Sparklepants wearing a ballerina costume not included.

Mobile Edge's 'For Her' TSA-Friendly Laptop Bags Are Not Very Inspiring originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> airport securityAirportSecuritycheckthroughflightfor herForHerlaptop bagLaptopBagmobile edgeMobileEdgescanfasttraveltsatsa approvedtsa regulationsTsaApprovedTsaRegulationswomen Engadget Staff Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:30:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Artist Wants Webcam Installed In Her Prosthetic Eye]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/11/17/artist-wants-webcam-installed-in-her-prosthetic-eye/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/17/artist-wants-webcam-installed-in-her-prosthetic-eye/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/17/artist-wants-webcam-installed-in-her-prosthetic-eye/#comments

Tanya Vlach, a San Francisco-based artist, lost her eye in a 2005 car accident, and now keeps a blog chronicling the "monocular life." She's got a real-enough looking prosthetic peeper, but Tanya's a self-described "sci-fi geek," and, with the approval of her doctor, she's put out a call for engineers to build her a camera... for her fake eye. \

Likening her possible future self (the one with the eye-cam installed) to a cyborg, Tanya reasons that her aesthetic-only eye could become a source of "augmented reality," and she's got a list of possible specs up on her blog for would-be engineers to begin with. Just some of the things mentioned for inclusion are: DVR capabilities, MPEG-4 compression, a microSD slot, A/V out, and Bluetooth. In other words, Tanya Vlach is insanely cool. Emphasis on the insanely part. [Via Digg]

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Artist Wants Webcam Installed In Her Prosthetic Eye originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> artbloggercyborgmedicinemonocularone eyedOneEyedsan franciscoSanFranciscoTanya VlachTanyaVlachtopwebcamweird Engadget Staff Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:31:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Frightening Robot Ticketer Greets Amusement Park Visitor]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/11/16/frightening-robot-ticketer-greets-amusement-park-visitor/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/16/frightening-robot-ticketer-greets-amusement-park-visitor/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/16/frightening-robot-ticketer-greets-amusement-park-visitor/#comments
Manufactured by NEC, this new FeliCa payment terminal (seen here at iEXPO 2008 in Tokyo) is designed for amusement parks, arcades, or any place where a whimsical touch-screen device might trick you into spending more money than you normally would. And if handing control of your e-wallet to an android wasn't bad enough, in addition to selling tickets and dispensing data the device boasts integrated facial recognition for identifying and profiling park visitors -- a feature to be used for determining your demographic information and pointing you towards appropriate "amusement," such as a restaurant for Ma or a wave pool for the kiddies. What could possibly go "worng," you ask? Have you even seen 'Westworld?'

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Frightening Robot Ticketer Greets Amusement Park Visitor originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 16 Nov 2008 16:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> e-walletfelicanecrobotswestworld Engadget Staff Sun, 16 Nov 2008 16:11:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Plasma Plant Turns Your Garbage into Electricity]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/11/15/plasma-plant-turns-your-garbage-into-electricity/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/15/plasma-plant-turns-your-garbage-into-electricity/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/15/plasma-plant-turns-your-garbage-into-electricity/#comments
The transmutation of garbage into energy is a particularly modern form of alchemy. We've seen it done on a smaller scale in the past, but now a company called Geoplasma is assembling the country's first plasma refuse plant in St. Lucie County, Florida. Scheduled to go online by 2011, the plant will process 1,500 tons of garbage a day, adding 60 megawatts to the power grid -- enough energy to power 50,000 homes. The plant works by vaporizing refuse with a 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit stream of plasma. The organic components (food, fluids, paper) create a pressurized gas that is then used to turn a turbine, while any inorganic refuse (metals) that may be present condenses, later to be collected for industrial uses. But will it power a Flux Capacitor?

[Via Inhabitat]

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Plasma Plant Turns Your Garbage into Electricity originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 15 Nov 2008 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> alternative energyAlternativeEnergyelectricityfloridagarbageGeoplasmaplasmaplasma enginePlasmaEnginest. lucieSt.Lucie Engadget Staff Sat, 15 Nov 2008 15:45:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[American Airlines Getting In On That Cell Phone Boarding Pass Fad]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/11/14/american-airlines-getting-in-on-that-cell-phone-boarding-pass-fa/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/14/american-airlines-getting-in-on-that-cell-phone-boarding-pass-fa/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/14/american-airlines-getting-in-on-that-cell-phone-boarding-pass-fa/#comments

American Airlines has joined its peers at Continental in offering boarding pass barcodes that you can download to and display on your BlackBerry, iPhone, G1, or whatever have you. Presently the airline is only offering the option on domestic, non-stop flights departing from O'Hare -- LAX and Orange County will start on the 17th. Some eastern yanks might be asking, "What, no JFK or Logan? Where's the east coast love, AA?" Don't get too bent out of shape, boys and girls -- tech-savvy business travelers love their BlackBerrys, so we could see this pop up just about everywhere before long.

[Via Mobilitysite]

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American Airlines Getting In On That Cell Phone Boarding Pass Fad originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> airlineairplaneairportboardingboarding passboarding passesboardingpassboardingpassesbookingcellphonecellphone boardingcellphoneboardingcellphonesflightlaxmobileohareorange countyorangecountysanta ana john waynesantaanajohnwaynetransportationtravel Engadget Staff Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:51:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Philips iPill -- Like a Regular Pill, But With a Microprocessor]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/11/12/philips-ipill-like-a-regular-pill-but-with-a-microprocessor/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/12/philips-ipill-like-a-regular-pill-but-with-a-microprocessor/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/12/philips-ipill-like-a-regular-pill-but-with-a-microprocessor/#comments
It's been just about a year since we saw the patent for Philips' remote control "pill," and it looks like the thing is finally a reality. For those of you straining to remember that far back, the iPill (as it is now sadly known) is a miniature capsule that among its many charms contains a microprocessor, power supply, medicine reservoir and pump, and a radio so that it can remain in contact with external medical equipment. The pill's ability to accurately determine its position in the digestive tract enables it to deliver drugs precisely where they're needed, reducing dosage strength and side effects. According to Philips, the current design is a prototype, but it's suitable for serial manufacturing. Of course, this is not the first robot pill we've seen -- and it certainly won't be the last. Just the same, we think we'll refrain from swallowing any nanotech for the time being.

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Philips iPill -- Like a Regular Pill, But With a Microprocessor originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 12 Nov 2008 08:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> healthiPillmedicalmedicationphilipspill Engadget Staff Wed, 12 Nov 2008 08:10:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Gamer Overcomes Disability with Custom PlayStation 3 Controller]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/11/11/gamer-overcomes-disability-with-custom-playstation-3-controller/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/11/gamer-overcomes-disability-with-custom-playstation-3-controller/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/11/gamer-overcomes-disability-with-custom-playstation-3-controller/#comments
Yeah, we may be hardened cynics -- our cold, black hearts have closed off to all but the most extraordinary tech-related stories, and we don't talk about the triumph of the human spirit a lot, but PlayStation 3 forum user KitsuneYume has us stepping outside our usual box today. With the help of an engineer, he made an "adaptive controller" that allows him to game with the pros despite serious disabilities. 20 out of 25 functions are accounted for by the system, and he uses his fingers, toes, and even his tongue to play -- your regular, everyday controller mod it ain't.

The creator said he uploaded the pictures to make sure folks who might need it are aware the technology exists, as he contacted Sony a while back and they weren't able to tell him where to look. We hope this helps gets the word out, because we think everyone should have and chance to lie, cheat, and steal their way through 'Fallout 3.'

[Thanks, Jason]

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Gamer Overcomes Disability with Custom PlayStation 3 Controller originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> controllercontroller modcontrollermodcustomcustom controllercustomcontrollerdisabilityhackmodplaystationplaystation 3playstation3ps3sonysony playstation 3sonyplaystation3 Engadget Staff Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:14:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Target Holiday Gift Card Doubles as Digital Camera]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/11/11/target-holiday-gift-card-doubles-as-digital-camera/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/11/target-holiday-gift-card-doubles-as-digital-camera/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/11/target-holiday-gift-card-doubles-as-digital-camera/#comments

Okay, we don't know who came up with this idea, but we have to give them some credit for innovation, not to mention (in our opinion) some pretty attractive design sense. Yes, Target's new gift card gimmick this holiday season is that it doubles as a cute, disposable digital camera. The little device runs on two AAA batteries, has a self-timer, and is packaged with a USB cord, driver disc, instruction manual and a voucher for 40 free prints from Target. The camera itself is a 1.2-megapixel affair with 8MB of memory on-board, which means it can store about 50 images. Now, we know this just a ploy to get us to buy Target gift cards, but we're kind of smitten with this little thing. Oh, and: Bah! Humbug! [Via Coolest Gadgets]

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Target Holiday Gift Card Doubles as Digital Camera originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> disposablegiftgift cardgift guidegift ideasGiftCardGiftGuideGiftIdeasgiftshggnewsretailshoppingtarget Engadget Staff Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:30:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Caterpillar and CMU Team Up to Create World's Largest Robotic Truck]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/11/08/caterpillar-and-cmu-team-up-to-create-worlds-largest-robotic-tr/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/08/caterpillar-and-cmu-team-up-to-create-worlds-largest-robotic-tr/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/08/caterpillar-and-cmu-team-up-to-create-worlds-largest-robotic-tr/#comments
We're always hearing about some fantastical, nigh-mythical creation that Carnegie Mellon University is in the midst of cobbling together from spare parts, crazy ideas, and pure, simple genius, so maybe we shouldn't be frothing over the new robotic truck they've partnered up with Caterpillar to create, but this one promises to be the "world's largest." Adapting software CMU used in the DARPA Urban Challenge, the team hopes to end up with fully automated, 700-ton trucks capable of moving up to 42 miles per hour which will be used for mining. The trucks would theoretically reduce costs, increase productivity, and save lives.

The Frankenstein-ed vehicles will boast GPS, laser range finders to identify large obstacles, video equipment, and a "robotic driver." The scientists somewhat predictably foresee some (as of now) rather far-fetched consumer applications in cars and trucks over the "next five to ten years," but we're taking that with a few salt grains for now. The trucks aren't ready quite yet but we hear their arrival is imminent, and and we can only imagine that somewhere in the world, Grave Digger is crying to himself.

Update: We've changed the title to reflect the accurate arrangement, which is a teaming up of CMU and Caterpillar, not DARPA. Thanks to the commenter who pointed that out.

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Caterpillar and CMU Team Up to Create World's Largest Robotic Truck originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 08 Nov 2008 17:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> carnegie melloncarnegie mellon universityCarnegieMellonCarnegieMellonUniversitycmudarpadarpa urban challengeDarpaUrbanChallengeminingtrucksurban challengeUrbanChallenge Engadget Staff Sat, 08 Nov 2008 17:24:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[At Last, the iPhone Robot]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/11/06/at-last-the-iphone-robot/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/06/at-last-the-iphone-robot/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/06/at-last-the-iphone-robot/#comments

Robots are awesome, we can all probably agree on that. Robots made from iPhones are basically an extension of that awesomeness, crossed with an element of unimaginable, ludicrous fun, which is why we're pleasantly surprised to see that such a device finally exists. Using a jailbroken iPhone 3G running some Ruby code, an Arduino CPU, a TA7291P motor, and 4 AA batteries, the creator is able to pilot the bot via Wi-Fi from a nearby computer, all the while recording its view for later playback.

The results look pretty cool, and trust us, you're definitely going to want to check out the video after the break. As far as we can tell, by the way, the lyrics to the song in the video are "iPhone with keyboard," which seemingly refers to this, um... iPhone with keyboard we saw earlier today -- apparently from the hands of the same craftsman, who seems like a very busy guy. Especially if he wrote the song!

[Via iPhone World]

Continue reading At Last, the iPhone Robot

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At Last, the iPhone Robot originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 06 Nov 2008 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> applearduinohackhackedhacksiphoneiphone 3gIphone3gjailbrokenrobotta7291p Engadget Staff Thu, 06 Nov 2008 10:02:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Eco-Friendly Hybrid Yacht Can Be Yours for $600,000 ]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/11/04/eco-friendly-hybrid-yacht-can-be-yours-for-600-000/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/04/eco-friendly-hybrid-yacht-can-be-yours-for-600-000/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/04/eco-friendly-hybrid-yacht-can-be-yours-for-600-000/#comments

Yachts are usually pretty environmentally unsound, so the DSe Hybrid just debuted by Island Pilot at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show should be a real breath of fresh air (literally) if green is your thing. And apparently it's really about as eco-friendly as it gets -- using a combination of diesel, solar and electric power (when it goes into commercial production it will also boast wind turbines) the vessel can cruise at up to six knots on a sunny day for an indefinite period of time without any fuel and zero emissions. Possibly best of all (for those like us with delicate ears, anyway), it's virtually silent when not running on fuel. If you need to get somewhere in a hurry however, its Parallel Hybrid Propulsion System in diesel mode will move at up to 13 knots.

There are all sorts of "luxury" amenities on board including a 26-inch HDTV and totally ferocious Bose home theater system. Island Pilot is taking pre-orders now (you have to lay down $5,000 just to reserve one) for delivery in 2009, but fair warning: this thing has a price tag of $600,000. [Via gizmag]

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Eco-Friendly Hybrid Yacht Can Be Yours for $600,000 originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 04 Nov 2008 07:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> boatdieseldseeco-friendlyfloridagreenhybridisland pilotisland pilot dseIslandPilotIslandPilotDseluxurysolarsolar powerSolarPowerwind powerWindPoweryacht Engadget Staff Tue, 04 Nov 2008 07:51:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Marware Game Grip Provides Handles for iPhone Gaming]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/11/03/marware-game-grip-provides-handles-for-iphone-gaming/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/03/marware-game-grip-provides-handles-for-iphone-gaming/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/03/marware-game-grip-provides-handles-for-iphone-gaming/#comments
We've seen a few accessories for augmenting the gaming experience on the iPhone that would give the device awesome functions similar to a game controller, such as the elusive and yet-to-materialize iControlPad and the totally fake JoyPod.

Well, Marware's Game Grip is sort of like that -- silicone sleeves that your phone fits into -- except that it doesn't actually do anything beyond providing 'handles' for your phone while you game. Oh, and it exists. So let's refer to it as the 'enjoyment enabler' of your iPhone 3G or iPod touch 2G that can be used with headphones (just like normal), can be charged while gaming (just like normal), and has a 'cord management system' (kind of not normal).

If that's not enough to convince you to reach for your wallet, the "lifetime guarantee" and ludicrously zany look of the thing will probably get you to bite... it's $49.99 and available for pre-order right now.

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Marware Game Grip Provides Handles for iPhone Gaming originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 10:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> applegame gripGameGripiphoneiphone 3giphone accessoriesiphone gamesIphone3gIphoneAccessoriesIphoneGamesipodipod touchIpodTouchmarwaremobile gamingMobileGaming Engadget Staff Mon, 03 Nov 2008 10:19:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[New Technology Provides Greater Control to Paraplegic Pianists]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/11/02/new-technology-provides-greater-control-to-paraplegic-pianists/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/02/new-technology-provides-greater-control-to-paraplegic-pianists/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/02/new-technology-provides-greater-control-to-paraplegic-pianists/#comments

Technology allowing paraplegics to operate the right pedal of a piano has been developed by a team of scientists in Heidelberg Germany, trumping earlier systems which didn't allow for half pedal or flutter variations. The device consists of a tiny remote module that's placed inside the pianist's right cheek, and a wireless transmitter and motor attached to the pedals of the piano. A small battery in the left cheek of the user provides up to twelve hours of power. The player grits their teeth when they want to control the pedal -- the module is sensitive to different amounts of pressure, which allow the pianist greater control over footing than previous tools. From the sounds of it, this thing would work just as well on a wah pedal, right? [From: UPI.com]

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New Technology Provides Greater Control to Paraplegic Pianists originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 02 Nov 2008 10:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> assistive technologyAssistiveTechnologymusicmusicalmusical instrumentsMusicalInstrumentsparaplegiaparaplegicpianowireless Engadget Staff Sun, 02 Nov 2008 10:32:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[EA Planning a 'Wii Fit' Competitor?]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/11/01/ea-planning-a-wii-fit-competitor/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/01/ea-planning-a-wii-fit-competitor/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/01/ea-planning-a-wii-fit-competitor/#comments The Wii Fit might have some competition brewing, if Men's Fitness magazine is a publication worthy of the public's trust, that is. The details are vague, to say the very least but, here's what we "know": Dave Kushner, executive producer at EA Sports, told the magazine that the company is planning an 'unnamed fitness game' with a 'new peripheral' which will connect the Wiimote to the player's body, enabling all sorts of newfangled measurements, movements, and exercises barely dreamed of before. Sounds totally awesome, right? Well, if and when it materializes, we'll be sure to rush to the store, buy one, then sadly rue its unused, guilt-inducing existence every day thereafter.

[Via Nintendo Wii Fanboy]

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EA Planning a 'Wii Fit' Competitor? originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> breaking newsBreakingNewsdave kushnerDaveKushnereaea gamesea sportsEaGamesEaSportsexercisefitnessfitness gamesFitnessGamesmens fitness magazineMensFitnessMagazinenintendonintendo wiiNintendoWiiwiiwii fitWiiFit Engadget Staff Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:10:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[London's New Bomb-Proof Trash Cans Will Survive the Apocalypse]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/11/01/londons-new-bomb-proof-trash-cans-will-survive-the-apocalypse/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/01/londons-new-bomb-proof-trash-cans-will-survive-the-apocalypse/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/01/londons-new-bomb-proof-trash-cans-will-survive-the-apocalypse/#comments
London will be the first city to test out new bomb-proof garbage cans, which are also going to multitask as recycling bins with LCDs that stream travel info and news. Security concerns (AKA fear of terrorists dropping bombs in them) have kept rubbish bins out of subway stations and many of the city's streets since the mid-'80s, causing frustration among citizens, not to mention what amounts to forced littering. The new cans, developed by British company Media Metrica, weigh one ton each, and were tested in the lifeless deserts of New Mexico for five years to ensure they are completely, totally indestructible, can absorb heat from explosives, prevent shrapnel spread, and extinguish "fireballs." Eh. Put 'em in New York City -- someone will surely figure out how to utterly destroy them in 24 hours or less.

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London's New Bomb-Proof Trash Cans Will Survive the Apocalypse originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 01 Nov 2008 09:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> garbagegarbage canGarbageCanlitterlitteringlondonsecurityterrorismtrashtrash disposalTrashDisposalunited kingdomUnitedKingdomwaste disposalWasteDisposal Engadget Staff Sat, 01 Nov 2008 09:14:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Recon Scout Robot Gets New Job at Prison]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/10/31/recon-scout-robot-gets-new-job-at-prison/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/31/recon-scout-robot-gets-new-job-at-prison/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/31/recon-scout-robot-gets-new-job-at-prison/#comments

You may remember this little dumbell-looking Recon Scout drone we saw last year, when it had just been implemented in the military. If you'll recall, the robot selflessly allows itself to be thrown into wild and unpredictable situations deemed "too risky" for people, then transmits grainy video back to an Operator Control Unit.

Well, it turns out that the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) was interested in this rugged bastion of self-sacrifice, too. The CDCR can apparently envision all kinds of nightmare scenarios in which prisoners have weapons and no human wants any part of it -- which is why they've agreed to a rental contract where they get ten devices and developer ReconRobotics gets feedback from the Department in exchange.

Seriously though, aren't there any jubilant tasks we could set this guy to? He's getting to be such a killjoy.

Recon Scout Robot Gets New Job at Prison originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> california department of corrections and rehabilitationCaliforniaDepartmentOfCorrectionsAndRehabilitationdarpadronejailmilitaryprisonprisonersreconrecon roboticsrecon scoutReconRoboticsReconScoutrobotroboticssecuritysurveillancesurveillance videoSurveillanceVideo Engadget Staff Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:49:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[SMART Unveils Multitouch Table for School Kids]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/10/27/smart-unveils-multitouch-table-for-school-kids/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/27/smart-unveils-multitouch-table-for-school-kids/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/27/smart-unveils-multitouch-table-for-school-kids/#comments
Determined to make us jealous that our kids' childhood experiences are more marvelous than ours, SMART Technologies will tomorrow unveil the SMART Table, a primary education "interactive learning center" (we'd rather call it Surface Jr.). It'll be available Spring of next year, and will work out of the box with learning applications that can be operated by any number of kids and all their fingers. Other classroom multitouch devices are on the horizon, but most of them are a little further from market than this Canadian contraption, which includes custom lesson plans, gesture support and a (touted but unspecified) wide viewing angle.

At $8,000 we're not sure it's an option for public schools whose budgets only have room for essentials, but if you work at a school that's totally loaded with cash and think the kiddos would dig this, feel free to look at SMART's short promotional vid after the break.

Continue reading SMART Unveils Multitouch Table for School Kids

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SMART Unveils Multitouch Table for School Kids originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> childreneducationgrade schoolgradeschoolkidslearningmulti touchmultitouchprimary educationschoolsmartsmart tablesmart technologiestabletouchscreen Engadget Staff Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:25:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[German Scientists Think LEDs Are the New Botox]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/10/26/german-scientists-think-leds-are-the-new-botox/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/26/german-scientists-think-leds-are-the-new-botox/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/26/german-scientists-think-leds-are-the-new-botox/#comments
All of us here are young, beautiful, and vigorous, but we understand that time is not always as kind to everyone else as it has been to us -- that's why we're giving you the heads up that German scientists claim that they were able to reduce wrinkles by subjecting a test subject's skin to regular ol' LED lights daily over a period of several months. It seems that at a certain intensity the light dives into skin tissue and alters the molecular structure of water that would otherwise immobilize elastin, a protein that keeps skin healthy and, y'know, elastic. The researchers believe the tech can be "converted to deep body rejuvenation programs," which we assume entails more than just taping our faces to our LED-backlit screens -- but we'll try it just in case.

[Via The Earth Times]

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German Scientists Think LEDs Are the New Botox originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 26 Oct 2008 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> botoxdeep body rejuvinationelasticelastinhealthledledslightrejuvinationresearchskintreatmentwrinkles Engadget Staff Sun, 26 Oct 2008 08:01:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[TrueCall Fights Telemarketers and Unknown Callers]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/10/25/truecall-fights-telemarketers-and-unknown-callers/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/25/truecall-fights-telemarketers-and-unknown-callers/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/25/truecall-fights-telemarketers-and-unknown-callers/#comments Telemarketers-turned-inventors from the United Kingdom have started shipping TrueCall (£99.99), a device that acts as an automated secretary on your land line, either forwarding trusted numbers to your phone or answering untrusted numbers with an automated message and shooing them away. When an unrecognized number dials in, TrueCall asks them who they are and then rings you asking whether or not you want to take it. Sure, it's not the most fun way to automatically ditch unscrupulous callers, but we'd like to listen in on the conversation when a robocall reaches this baby -- it'd be like one wall talking to another wall.

[Via Slashdot]

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TrueCall Fights Telemarketers and Unknown Callers originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 25 Oct 2008 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> automated secretarybritainbritishgatekeeperlandlinelandlinesphonerobocallrobocallssecretarysilent callstelemarketerstelemarketingtelephonetruecallukunited-kingdom Engadget Staff Sat, 25 Oct 2008 15:50:00 EST Switched <![CDATA['Wii Fit' Set to Outsell 'Grand Theft Auto IV']]> http://www.switched.com/2008/10/22/wii-fit-set-to-outsell-grand-theft-auto-iv/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/22/wii-fit-set-to-outsell-grand-theft-auto-iv/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/22/wii-fit-set-to-outsell-grand-theft-auto-iv/#comments
Unafraid to incite elitist gamer geek unrest, respected video game industry analyst Michael Pachter has supported a prediction by GigaOM that Wii Fit will outsell 'Grand Theft Auto IV' this year. Yeah, you read right: the latest entry into what is arguably the biggest hardcore video game franchise around is gonna get whooped by an exercise tool -- we're not shocked, we're just laughing.

'GTA4' was dominating at first, but with time, interest has waned,while Wii Fit and its included Balance Board peripheral have stayed hot despite supply shortages. Nintendo's hardware-focused strategy seems to be working; the Balance Board install base is approaching 12 million, or roughly 30% of all Wii owners.

You can bet it'll be put to good use in future games and other, less mainstream applications even after folks have given up on losing weight and resigned themselves once more to lifelong loneliness.

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'Wii Fit' Set to Outsell 'Grand Theft Auto IV' originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> analystbalance boardexercisegrand theft auto 4grand theft auto ivgrand-theft-auto-4grand-theft-auto-ivgta4gtaivmichael pachternintendo wiiprojectionssaleswiiwii balance boardwii fitwiifit Engadget Staff Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:55:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[GE Creates OLED Printer]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/10/19/ge-builds-an-oled-printer-hopes-to-challenge-light-bulbs-in-201/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/19/ge-builds-an-oled-printer-hopes-to-challenge-light-bulbs-in-201/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/19/ge-builds-an-oled-printer-hopes-to-challenge-light-bulbs-in-201/#comments
Maybe the incandescent light bulb has been sitting in its socket-shaped throne for too many years -- GE thinks so, anyway. GE R&D guys have produced a machine that prints OLED materials newspaper-style onto 8-inch sheets of metal foil in hopes that the sheets -- which can be pinned to just about any surface -- will start the process of home lighting biz regime change in 2010. Picture, if you will, wallpaper or window blinds that provide soft, diffused lighting for the living room after dark -- no need for special fixtures, just a wall plug. OLED lighting isn't yet cost-efficient for the average consumer, but GE hopes that will change soon. In the meantime, expect to see these sheets in a trip-out Flaming Lips concert in the somewhat-near future. [From: CNN]

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GE Creates OLED Printer originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 19 Oct 2008 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> gehouseholdincandescent bulbslightlightingoledprinterprintingsheetsheets Engadget Staff Sun, 19 Oct 2008 10:45:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Nanovision's Mini Monitors Are Strangely Cute, Sort of Useful]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/10/18/nanovisions-mini-monitors-are-strangely-cute-sort-of-useful/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/18/nanovisions-mini-monitors-are-strangely-cute-sort-of-useful/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/18/nanovisions-mini-monitors-are-strangely-cute-sort-of-useful/#comments
They're not much more useful or cost efficient than a second or third regular-sized display, but Korean company Nanovision's soon-to-be-released 7-inch mini-LCDs -- model-named MIMO -- are novel, and probably a bit more convenient to hook up thanks to a USB interface.

Two models will hit the streets of Korea in just a couple of days, and they both work in either landscape or portrait mode at 800 x 480. The UM-750 (?183,000 or $152), has a Webcam, touchscreen, and TV tuner, but its feature-challenged brother the UM-710 (?98,000 or $81) doesn't.

Unfortunately, they're only planned for Korea at the moment, so everyone else will have to consider a smaller but considerably less adorable alternative. [Via Technabob; Thanks, Tom M]

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Nanovision's Mini Monitors Are Strangely Cute, Sort of Useful originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 18 Oct 2008 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> displaykorealcdmimomini displayminidisplaynanovisiontiny displaytinydisplaytouchscreentv tunertvtunerum 710um 750um-710um-750um710um750usbusb displaywebcam Engadget Staff Sat, 18 Oct 2008 11:59:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Rideable Robotic Triceratops Yours for Only $300]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/10/11/kota-the-triceratops-ships-from-the-land-before-time-to-your-hom/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/11/kota-the-triceratops-ships-from-the-land-before-time-to-your-hom/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/11/kota-the-triceratops-ships-from-the-land-before-time-to-your-hom/#comments
Playskool's Kota the Triceratops is a robot dinosaur that uses 11 sensors to respond to touch and sound by wiggling its horns, wagging its tail and turning its head. It also plays a few "adventure themed songs." Best of all, it can't stampede or impale anyone; like the animatronic Triceratops in 'Jurassic Park,' Kota can't get up and move around. That won't stop kids from adoring it though. Like Pleo before it, Kota's cuteness overpowers all. Don't believe us? Shipments have begun, so you can buy the cuddly robot and see for yourself. All you need is 300 bucks. Or you could just check out the video beyond the cut.

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Rideable Robotic Triceratops Yours for Only $300 originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> animatronicdinosaurfunkidskotakota triceratopskota-the-trceratopsplayskoolrobotshippingtoytriceratops Engadget Staff Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:22:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[London Restaurant Serves With Touch-Sensitive Tables, Menu Projectors]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/10/08/london-restaurant-serves-with-touch-sensitive-tables-menu-proje/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/08/london-restaurant-serves-with-touch-sensitive-tables-menu-proje/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/08/london-restaurant-serves-with-touch-sensitive-tables-menu-proje/#comments
A chic London restaurant and bar called Inamo is making patrons' dining experiences digital by projecting colorful menus and aesthetic patterns onto touch-sensitive tabletops. When browsing, patrons can preview the food as if it were on the plate in front of them -- only flatter, we suppose. They can also order their meals, look up neighborhood services, and select one of seven visual vibes without ever interacting with carbon-based lifeforms. Inamo isn't the first automated establishment we've seen, and this sort of table menu tech isn't new -- but the futuristic panache is hard to beat. Hit the read link for more pics.

[Thanks, Nvyseal]

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London Restaurant Serves With Touch-Sensitive Tables, Menu Projectors originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> ambiancebarinamoinamo restaurantlondonmenuprojectorrestauranttablestouchtouch sensitivewest end Engadget Staff Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:19:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[V2G Technology Will Turn Suburbs Into Power Plants]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/10/07/vehicle-to-grid-will-turn-suburbs-into-power-plants/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/07/vehicle-to-grid-will-turn-suburbs-into-power-plants/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/07/vehicle-to-grid-will-turn-suburbs-into-power-plants/#comments

We've been hearing about vehicle-to-grid (V2G) for quite a while, and now a team at the University of Michigan is conducting an extensive study on the technology as part of a national sustainable energy solution. While current electric plants are good at generating power, they often fall short when it comes to storage -- which can be a problem when there's a power surge or when demand increases. V2G will let hybrid-electric owners sell the power their car generates to the electrical power grid whenever the car is not in use.

The research team envisions a time when millions of hybrid vehicle owners will come together to create one large battery, allowing us all to play a small part in building our nation's energy independence. And sure, this all sounds good in theory. But wouldn't that mean relying on the neighbors to provide a key piece of the nation's infrastructure? Have you met the neighbors? Doesn't that seem a little... iffy? [From: Physorg.com]

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V2G Technology Will Turn Suburbs Into Power Plants originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> electric carElectricCarhybridhybrid carsHybridCarsJeff SteinJeffSteinplug-in hybridPlug-inHybridpluginhybriduniversity of michiganUniversityOfMichiganv2gvehicle to gridVehicleToGrid Engadget Staff Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:54:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Toshiba Powers Cell Phone With Methanol Fuel Cell]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/10/05/toshiba-powers-cell-phone-with-methanol-fuel-cell/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/05/toshiba-powers-cell-phone-with-methanol-fuel-cell/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/05/toshiba-powers-cell-phone-with-methanol-fuel-cell/#comments Toshiba continues to tease us with its prototype liquid fuel cell-powered gadgets: last year it was a Gigabeat media player, and at this year's CEATEC you can check out a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) that's been crammed inside a cell phone, lending it a robust six hours of talk time (compared to the paltry three or four hours of a traditional battery). Toshiba won't reveal the capacity of the DMFC, but they have said that a 50ml cartridge is good for about 15 refills. No release date yet, but the phone "might" be available "as early as next year." In the meantime, enjoy this picture of a woman holding a flip phone with "DMFC" clearly visible on the display.

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Toshiba Powers Cell Phone With Methanol Fuel Cell originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 05 Oct 2008 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> ceatecceatec 2008Ceatec2008cell phonecellphonedirect methanol fuel cellDirectMethanolFuelCelldmfcfuel cellFuelCellgigabeatmethanoltoshiba Engadget Staff Sun, 05 Oct 2008 13:02:00 EST Switched