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 2009 Weblogs, Inc. View our terms of service here: http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/ Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ <![CDATA[Carrier Pigeon Caught Trying to Smuggle Cell Phone Parts into Prison]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/04/16/carrier-pigeon-caught-trying-to-smuggle-cell-phone-parts-into-pr/ http://www.switched.com/2009/04/16/carrier-pigeon-caught-trying-to-smuggle-cell-phone-parts-into-pr/ http://www.switched.com/2009/04/16/carrier-pigeon-caught-trying-to-smuggle-cell-phone-parts-into-pr/#comments Back in late March and early April, when we first heard the terrifying tale of two shifty, hapless carrier pigeons intercepted while attempting to smuggle cellphone parts to inmates in a high-security Brazilian prison, we thought it was merely an isolated incident. Well, now that another pigeon has been caught -- this time outside a Colombian prison with a tiny suitcase full of cellphone components strapped to its back -- we have to face the truth: carrier pigeons are probably evil by nature. The Colombian authorities say that the pigeons are likely being raised inside the prison, then sent to the outside to collect the contraband handsets before doing what pigeons do best -- returning home. The officials also admit they are relatively powerless to combat the problem, though the intercepted bird is now imprisoned at a local animal shelter. So... how long until a different carrier pigeon is intercepted trying to sneak a teensy KRZR into the incarcerated, winged criminal?

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Carrier Pigeon Caught Trying to Smuggle Cell Phone Parts into Prison originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> carrier pigeonCarrierPigeoncellphonecellphonescolumbiacriminal birdsCriminalBirdspigeonpigeonsprison switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:01:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Beatles 'Rock Band' Bundle Will Boast Custom Bass and Drums]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/04/15/beatles-rock-band-bundle-will-boast-custom-bass-and-drums/ http://www.switched.com/2009/04/15/beatles-rock-band-bundle-will-boast-custom-bass-and-drums/ http://www.switched.com/2009/04/15/beatles-rock-band-bundle-will-boast-custom-bass-and-drums/#comments
Not really surprising to hear, but exciting none the less... according to a teaser email sent out to people on The Beatles: Rock Band mailing list -- the special edition bundle will include a custom branded Höfner bass and Ludwig drums. The e-mail also mentions other "custom" content, which we are hoping will be either a Rickenbacker guitar like the one Lennon often used or a gigantic Harrison-esque moustache / beard combo. We're just going to have to wait it out together guys -- it's not expected until September 9th -- so let's chill and enjoy the video after the break.

Continue reading Beatles 'Rock Band' Bundle Will Boast Custom Bass and Drums

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Beatles 'Rock Band' Bundle Will Boast Custom Bass and Drums originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 06:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> beatlesbeatles rock bandBeatlesRockBandgaminghofnerhofner bassHofnerBassinstrumentsludwigludwig drumsLudwigDrumsrock bandrock band instrumentsRockBandRockBandInstruments switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Wed, 15 Apr 2009 06:10:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Solar-Powered Boat Departing on Worldwide Cruise Next Year]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/04/13/solar-powered-boat-departing-on-worldwide-cruise-next-year/ http://www.switched.com/2009/04/13/solar-powered-boat-departing-on-worldwide-cruise-next-year/ http://www.switched.com/2009/04/13/solar-powered-boat-departing-on-worldwide-cruise-next-year/#comments

A group of engineers, scientists and sailors have banded together to form a team they call Solar Planet. The group is now building a 98-foot-long solar-powered boat for the express purpose of sailing all the way around the world using nothing but the delicious power of the sun. The $13 million dollar vessel -- which is currently in construction in Kiel, Germany -- will have 5,059 square feet of photovoltaic cells, and should be able to circumnavigate the earth in about 120 days, at a rate of about 10 knots. The project is being funded by Swiss company, Rivendell Holding AG, that has committed to investing in green technology. The group hopes to set sail sometime next year from Marseilles, France, with various stops along the way. They will undoubtedly tire of hearing that Daft Punk song long before they ever leave the shore. Check out a sweet rendering of the boat after the break.

Continue reading Solar-Powered Boat Departing on Worldwide Cruise Next Year

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Solar-Powered Boat Departing on Worldwide Cruise Next Year originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> around the worldAroundTheWorldboatboatingcircumnavigationplanet solarPlanetSolarsolarsolar boatsolar powerSolarBoatSolarPower switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:49:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[KTF's Remote Control Vacuum Cleaner Can Be Controlled via Your Phone]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/04/13/ktfs-remote-control-vacuum-cleaner-can-be-controlled-via-your-p/ http://www.switched.com/2009/04/13/ktfs-remote-control-vacuum-cleaner-can-be-controlled-via-your-p/ http://www.switched.com/2009/04/13/ktfs-remote-control-vacuum-cleaner-can-be-controlled-via-your-p/#comments
South Korean telecom firm KTF has just announced a cleaning robot which can be controlled by a 3G cellphone. The robot -- called the CW100 -- was built in collaboration with Microbot, and is a "smart" vacuum (much like a Roomba). The CW100 uses an onboard video camera to send live images of what it's "seeing" to the mobile phone, and the user can then remotely control it using the keypad. The bot will be sold for KRW 500,000 (about $370) in conjunction with a data plan that runs KRW 5,000 (about $3.70) per month. Sounds pretty affordable and awesome to us -- as long as it doesn't run over the family cat. Check out another photo after the break.

[Via Unwired View]

Continue reading KTF's Remote Control Vacuum Cleaner Can Be Controlled via Your Phone

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KTF's Remote Control Vacuum Cleaner Can Be Controlled via Your Phone originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 07:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> cleaningcw100ktfmicrobotmobile phonesMobilePhonesrobotrobotssouth koreaSouthKoreavacuumvacuum cleanerVacuumCleanervacuums switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Mon, 13 Apr 2009 07:12:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[MIT Researchers Show Off Wearable Blood Pressure Monitor]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/04/12/mit-researchers-show-off-wearable-blood-pressure-monitor/ http://www.switched.com/2009/04/12/mit-researchers-show-off-wearable-blood-pressure-monitor/ http://www.switched.com/2009/04/12/mit-researchers-show-off-wearable-blood-pressure-monitor/#comments We've seen some wild ideas when it comes to blood pressure -- including, yes, underpants -- but this newest device, a small monitor attached to the hand, which can be worn 24 hours a day for continuous monitoring, strikes us as having the potential for extreme usefulness. The monitor works differently than regular old blood pressure cuff, using a method called pulse wave velocity, which measures the pulse at two points along an artery. Built by a team of engineers at MIT, this prototype could boast a lot of advantages over monitors, including its portability, its ability to see long-term patterns of rises and falls in pressure, and of course -- you wouldn't have to be at the doctor's office to use it -- which is bound to take a little stress out of the equation. The device is moving toward commercial production and Harry Asada, leader of the MIT team, sees the possibility for monitoring conditions such as sleep apnea in the future as well.

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MIT Researchers Show Off Wearable Blood Pressure Monitor originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 12 Apr 2009 12:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> blood pressureblood pressure monitorBloodPressureBloodPressureMonitorharry asadaHarryAsadahealthmedicalmedical devicesMedicalDevicesmitscience switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Sun, 12 Apr 2009 12:05:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[New Microsoft Ad Shows How PCs Are Always Cheaper Than Macs]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/03/27/new-microsoft-ad-shows-how-pcs-are-always-cheaper-than-macs/ http://www.switched.com/2009/03/27/new-microsoft-ad-shows-how-pcs-are-always-cheaper-than-macs/ http://www.switched.com/2009/03/27/new-microsoft-ad-shows-how-pcs-are-always-cheaper-than-macs/#comments Microsoft's latest ad -- a companion-piece to its new "Laptop Hunters" website -- stars "real person" Lauren. Lauren's a little funky, a little folksy, and 100 percent real. She doesn't have an agenda to push, she's just out in the world, living in "reality" searching for a sweet laptop that's under $1,000. She admits to herself she's "not cool" enough for a Mac (though cool enough for a Volkswagen) and gets on with her life. She's a real American -- with an unpretentious, pragmatic life. The ad rather smartly puts the focus on our current economic climate, while expertly reinforcing that age old Apple-user-as-dick stereotype, pejoratively wielding the word "cool" as an underhanded insult -- odd, since the Microsoft portal it wants you to visit helps "socialites" pick a laptop. All in all? It's kind of a brilliantly mean piece of work -- check it out after the break.

[Via BoingBoing]

Continue reading New Microsoft Ad Shows How PCs Are Always Cheaper Than Macs

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New Microsoft Ad Shows How PCs Are Always Cheaper Than Macs originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> adadvertisementadvertisingappleim a pcImAPclaptop huntersLaptopHunterslaurenmicrosoft switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:41:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Artist 'Fingerpaints' Art on His iPhone]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/03/14/artist-fingerpaints-art-on-his-iphone/ http://www.switched.com/2009/03/14/artist-fingerpaints-art-on-his-iphone/ http://www.switched.com/2009/03/14/artist-fingerpaints-art-on-his-iphone/#comments
Portuguese artist Jorge Colombo's been working on a series of "finger-paintings" of cityscapes done entirely on his iPhone. Using only his finger and an application called "Brushes," he's done some fairly impressive scenes of New York City. Hit the read link for a full set of iSketches this fanboy's whipped up.

[Via Make]

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Artist 'Fingerpaints' Art on His iPhone originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 14 Mar 2009 10:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> artbrushesbrushes applicationBrushesApplicationiphoneiphone artIphoneArtisketchesjorge colomboJorgeColombopaintingpaintings switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Sat, 14 Mar 2009 10:07:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Create Your Own Musical Bra]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/03/13/create-your-own-musical-bra/ http://www.switched.com/2009/03/13/create-your-own-musical-bra/ http://www.switched.com/2009/03/13/create-your-own-musical-bra/#comments


The fine folks over at Instructables have posted some wild mods in their time, but the musical bra you see above inhabites its own realm in terms of weirdness and lack of usefulness... unless you really want a bra that makes music of course. The speaker is on the front, with a battery pack between the shoulder blades at the back, and each cup is equipped with eight different "sounds" culled from a small keyboard, which are triggered by custom-made buttons sewn into the bra. Hit the read link for the full rundown of how to make one of your very own, but fair warning: you're going to have to be pretty adept with needle and thread to get this project done, but the final result should be fairly priceless. After all, who doesn't want a clunky, hideous sports bra that makes noise? Exactly. [Via Music Radar]

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Create Your Own Musical Bra originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> braclothingdiyinstructablesmodmusicsewingweird switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:12:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Double-Amputee Gets Mermaid Tail]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/02/28/double-amputee-gets-mermaid-tail/ http://www.switched.com/2009/02/28/double-amputee-gets-mermaid-tail/ http://www.switched.com/2009/02/28/double-amputee-gets-mermaid-tail/#comments
New Zealander Nadya Vessey, who lost both of her legs to the knee when she was a child, has just received a prosthesis that's unlike anything we've ever seen, outside of 'Splash'. About two years ago, she approached Weta Workshop, which specializes in design and manufacturing of costumes and special effects -- their credits include The Lord of the Rings' trilogy -- to see if the company might be interested in making her a working, prosthetic mermaid tail. Turns out they were, and they've just completed the final product. The tail, which is composed of wetsuit fabric and plastic molds, has a custom paint job and digitally-imaged effects. Apparently, it enables Nadya to swim quite effectively and is an all around sexy piece of machinery. No word yet on what one of these slick dudes would cost in real life, but we have a feeling we couldn't justify the expense just to tool around in the kiddie pool.

Check out the video after the break!

[Thanks, Pyper]

Continue reading Double-Amputee Gets Mermaid Tail

Double-Amputee Gets Mermaid Tail originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 28 Feb 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> amputeedouble amputeeDoubleAmputeemermaidnadya vesseyNadyaVesseynew zealandNewZealandswimmingtailweirdwetaweta workshopWetaWorkshop switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Sat, 28 Feb 2009 10:29:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Netflix Streaming-Only Subscriptions Coming 'In the Future']]> http://www.switched.com/2009/02/26/netflix-streaming-only-subscriptions-coming-in-the-future/ http://www.switched.com/2009/02/26/netflix-streaming-only-subscriptions-coming-in-the-future/ http://www.switched.com/2009/02/26/netflix-streaming-only-subscriptions-coming-in-the-future/#comments
This news may not be a surprise, given the huge success of Netflix's Watch Instantly streaming service, which had been activated over 1 million times on Xbox Live the last time we checked -- accounting for about 10 percent of its subscriptions. Regardless, word has come from Netflix's CFO Barry McCarthy that the company plans to offer a streaming-only service "in the near future." The Watch Instantly service currently offers about 12,000 movies (around 100,000 titles are available if you order the physical discs), on a variety of devices, including Xbox Live and Roku boxes, so it seems like a smart move, though we don't know the timeline or pricing of the stream-only service. Here's to hoping they expand their offering a little before then... maybe 'Final Destination?' Just a suggestion.

[Via Joystiq]

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Netflix Streaming-Only Subscriptions Coming 'In the Future' originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> netflixstreamingstreaming mediaStreamingMediasubscription switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:01:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[House of Chanel Designs Rugged Segway]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/02/26/house-of-chanel-designs-rugged-segway/ http://www.switched.com/2009/02/26/house-of-chanel-designs-rugged-segway/ http://www.switched.com/2009/02/26/house-of-chanel-designs-rugged-segway/#comments

The Vivienne Tam-designed Mini 1000 was a cute foray of high fashion into the uber-geeky tech world, but not necessarily completely out of left field. Well, this one is. The word that Chanel has designed a Segway comes as a horrifying surprise to all of us. There's not too much information floating around about this one yet, so we have no idea how many they're making or what they're going to cost (the Ferrari model runs about $12,000), but we know they won't be cheap. Looking good never is...

[Via Born Rich, thanks Jody]

House of Chanel Designs Rugged Segway originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 26 Feb 2009 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> chanelcustomfashionsegway switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Thu, 26 Feb 2009 10:15:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[BERTI the Robot Plays Rock, Paper, Scissors]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/02/23/berti-the-robot-plays-rock-paper-scissors/ http://www.switched.com/2009/02/23/berti-the-robot-plays-rock-paper-scissors/ http://www.switched.com/2009/02/23/berti-the-robot-plays-rock-paper-scissors/#comments
BERTI (built by a partnership of the Bristol Robotics Laboratory and Elutmotion Ltd.) is a fully automated robotic torso designed to perform "credible conversational gestures." The robot is capable of quite complex hand movements, and, in the demonstration video above, plays a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors with a fine gentleman wearing a Goldfinger t-shirt, becoming another addition to the long line of gaming bots. Hit the read link to find out more info about BERTI and the project. [Via Robots.net]

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BERTI the Robot Plays Rock, Paper, Scissors originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> bertibribristol robotics laboratoryBristolRoboticsLaboratorygamespaperresearchrobotroboticsrobotsrockscissors switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Mon, 23 Feb 2009 10:29:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Fitness Guru Prepares to Launch Wii Fit Class Action Lawsuit]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/02/13/fitness-guru-prepares-to-launch-wii-fit-class-action-lawsuit/ http://www.switched.com/2009/02/13/fitness-guru-prepares-to-launch-wii-fit-class-action-lawsuit/ http://www.switched.com/2009/02/13/fitness-guru-prepares-to-launch-wii-fit-class-action-lawsuit/#comments

Well, this was probably bound to happen. A fitness "expert" named Michael Torchia says he's now preparing a class-action suit against NIntendo which will apparently seek to remove its Wii Fit from the shelves unless they add warnings to the product. The offense? Torchia claims that the Wii Fit actually contributes to obesity, essentially because it claims to be something that it's really not -- namely, a fitness tool -- and discourages people from doing more traditional exercise. He also, however, seems to be concerned that the Wii Fit is dangerous -- mostly because it doesn't stress warming up enough, and users can do the exercises wrong, straining or injuring themselves. Now, we're not going to delve into the validity of his claims (though, how do you explain this dude? Just saying), but we should note that Torchia is apparently getting ready to launch his airwave-rocking AM radio show, "Shape Up, America," and we figure he's looking to drum up some buzz for himself, so we'll be watching to see if he ever actually brings his suit against old Mario and Sons. Step on. [Via Joystiq]

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Fitness Guru Prepares to Launch Wii Fit Class Action Lawsuit originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 13 Feb 2009 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> class action lawsuitClassActionLawsuitinjurylawsuitmichael torhiaMichaelTorhianintendoshape up americaShapeUpAmericawiiwii fitWiiFit switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Fri, 13 Feb 2009 08:45:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[This Garbage Truck Runs on Rubbish]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/02/03/this-garbage-truck-runs-on-rubbish/ http://www.switched.com/2009/02/03/this-garbage-truck-runs-on-rubbish/ http://www.switched.com/2009/02/03/this-garbage-truck-runs-on-rubbish/#comments
The Brits get all the cool stuff -- Queen Elizabeth II, The Sex Pistols... and now a rubbish truck that runs on rubbish (sort of). That's right: up in Huddersfield they've just unleashed a modded three-and-a-half ton Smith Edison Ford Transit garbage truck that tools around, picking up garbage, hauls it to a nearby Energy from Waste power station and recycling center which then burns the 'bage to make electricity for the next day's route.

The garbage also produces about 10 megawatts of excess electricity per day which is dumped into the grid for added fun. The truck's got a top speed of about 50 miles per hour, and is apparently so quiet that the locals fear it could be dangerous to unsuspecting pedestrians. Maybe they could slap a speaker on there and pump some Oasis as a warning? Just a thought.

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This Garbage Truck Runs on Rubbish originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> electricityenergyenglandfordford truckFordTruckgarbagegarbage truckGarbageTruckhuddersfieldrecyclingsmith edisonSmithEdisonukUnitedKingdome switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Tue, 03 Feb 2009 10:58:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[LeapFrog Intros Smartphone for Kids]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/02/01/leapfrog-intros-smartphone-for-kids/ http://www.switched.com/2009/02/01/leapfrog-intros-smartphone-for-kids/ http://www.switched.com/2009/02/01/leapfrog-intros-smartphone-for-kids/#comments

LeapFrog's been very busy of late -- they recently added Tag Junior to their line of edutainment products for the wee ones --and now there's this. The Text and Learn children's "PDA" hasn't been officially announced yet, but details are slipping out from the U.K. Toy Fair, so here's what we know about the must-have device of the year: boasting a full QWERTY keyboard, the Text and Learn has a calendar (for learning dates), phonics functions (for learning... phonics) on the keyboard, and games to teach spelling and basic computer skills, as well. There's also some "texting" -- the child can interact with their onscreen buddy / guide, Scout. The Text and Learn is set to launch in August for about $30. Man -- armed with this and our totally sick laptop, we're going to be the talk of the town.

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LeapFrog Intros Smartphone for Kids originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 01 Feb 2009 13:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> blackberrychildreneducationedutainmentfunkidsleapfrogpdasmartphonetext and learnTextAndLearntoys switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Sun, 01 Feb 2009 13:11:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[British Airways Announces In-Flight Cell Phone Use]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/01/27/british-airways-announces-in-flight-cell-phone-use/ http://www.switched.com/2009/01/27/british-airways-announces-in-flight-cell-phone-use/ http://www.switched.com/2009/01/27/british-airways-announces-in-flight-cell-phone-use/#comments

British Airways has announced they'll start offering limited in-flight cell phone use on flights from London to JFK. Passengers will be allowed to send text messages and use data, but not to make actual calls (thankfully -- because we all know how annoying that would be). Several other airlines have launched similar trials, including BMI and Qantas (which has announced they will allow usage for all passengers on domestic flights), while Dubai's Emirates airline actually allows mobile voice calls on its domestic flights. The British Airways trials are set to start sometime this fall on its business class-only flights. Seriously, guys -- can you make it any more clear that you can't stand the sight of us proles? [From: Mobile Burn]


Related Links:

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British Airways Announces In-Flight Cell Phone Use originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> british airwaysBritishAirwaysbusiness classBusinessClassflightsin flightin flight cellphonein flight cellphonesin-flight communicationIn-flightCommunicationInFlightInFlightCellphoneInFlightCellphonesjfklondon switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:29:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Video: Teen Shows Off i-LIMB Prosthetic Hand]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/01/22/video-teen-shows-off-i-limb-prosthetic-hand/ http://www.switched.com/2009/01/22/video-teen-shows-off-i-limb-prosthetic-hand/ http://www.switched.com/2009/01/22/video-teen-shows-off-i-limb-prosthetic-hand/#comments
We've seen the i-LIMB plenty in the past, but we have to say that seeing it in action -- newly installed on teenager Evan Reynolds -- is pretty impressive. The prosthetic is so sensitive that Reynolds can grip a small bottle of water, no problem. We assure you: it's pretty cool.

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Video: Teen Shows Off i-LIMB Prosthetic Hand originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> evan reynoldsEvanReynoldshandi-limbilimblimbprostheticprosthetics switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:45:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Obama's Official Portrait Is the First Taken With a Digital Camera]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/01/15/obamas-official-portrait-is-the-first-taken-with-a-digital-came/ http://www.switched.com/2009/01/15/obamas-official-portrait-is-the-first-taken-with-a-digital-came/ http://www.switched.com/2009/01/15/obamas-official-portrait-is-the-first-taken-with-a-digital-came/#comments
You're now gazing at President Barack Obama's just-released official portrait -- the first of a U.S. president ever taken with a digital camera. That means we can peek at the EXIF data -- this fine specimen of portraiture was snapped with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II on January 13th, 2009 at 5:38 pm with no flash, using a 105mm lens stopped to f/10 at a 1/125 exposure, with an ISO of 100 by newly crowned official White House photographer Pete Souza. Nice work, Souza -- but we think it could use a few lens flares.

[Thanks, Penny]

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Obama's Official Portrait Is the First Taken With a Digital Camera originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> barack obamaBarackObamacanon eos 5d mark iiCanonEos5dMarkIiobamaphotographypoliticspresident obamaPresidentObama switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Thu, 15 Jan 2009 11:28:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[LEGO Announces Line of Digital Cameras for Kids]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/01/13/lego-announces-line-of-digital-cameras-for-kids/ http://www.switched.com/2009/01/13/lego-announces-line-of-digital-cameras-for-kids/ http://www.switched.com/2009/01/13/lego-announces-line-of-digital-cameras-for-kids/#comments
LEGO's just announced that it's teamed with Digital Blue to bring out a line of digital cameras, PMPs, and walkie talkies for children. As you can see, the products will have the familiar "LEGO" look to them (though not constructed out of actual bricks), and though we haven't heard anything in the way of specs yet, they're said to be arriving this summer with prices ranging from $19 - $60. Our opinion of these is currently hanging out in the "not really excited" file, but outfit these suckers with a set of wheels and we'll probably be sold. Second photo after the break.

Continue reading LEGO Announces Line of Digital Cameras for Kids

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LEGO Announces Line of Digital Cameras for Kids originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> childrendigital blueDigitalBluekidslegopmptoys switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Tue, 13 Jan 2009 08:45:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Retro DIY Super Nintendo Cartridge Wallet]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/01/02/super-nintendo-cartridge-wallet-you-probably-want-this/ http://www.switched.com/2009/01/02/super-nintendo-cartridge-wallet-you-probably-want-this/ http://www.switched.com/2009/01/02/super-nintendo-cartridge-wallet-you-probably-want-this/#comments
Sure, it might be a little more cumbersome than your current billfold -- but whatever -- this is awesome. This SNES cartridge has been modded so that it holds a photo ID on the front plate, but it's also been gutted of its internals and outfitted with a hinge so that there's storage space on the inside. Oh, and it's got an LED that can be powered on and off, plus it plays game music / noises! Crazy, right? Well, it's slightly complicated to build one of your own, but Instructables has the details, should you want to give it a whirl. Ask yourself this: what better project could you ask for in the new year? [Via Hack A Day]

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Retro DIY Super Nintendo Cartridge Wallet originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 11:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> cartridgediyfunmodsuper nintendoSuperNintendowallet switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Fri, 02 Jan 2009 11:08:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Edible, Gingerbread Mac for Serious Apple Heads Only]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/12/27/edible-gingerbread-mac-for-serious-apple-heads-only/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/27/edible-gingerbread-mac-for-serious-apple-heads-only/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/27/edible-gingerbread-mac-for-serious-apple-heads-only/#comments
Tech confections are nothing new: we've seen laptops, Kindles... heck, Martha Stewart even got in on the geek-baking action once upon a time. So maybe we shouldn't be impressed with this edible Mac, but the truth is, we love to eat, and the phrase "chocolate icons" really hooked us. So then... custard-filled pico projector in 2009? Yes. Hit the read link to check out more photos of this delectable desktop.

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Edible, Gingerbread Mac for Serious Apple Heads Only originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 27 Dec 2008 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> applefoodgingerbreadhgg-50mac switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Sat, 27 Dec 2008 15:03:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[9-Year-Old Girl Becomes Microsoft's Youngest Employee]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/12/24/9-year-old-girl-becomes-microsofts-youngest-employee/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/24/9-year-old-girl-becomes-microsofts-youngest-employee/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/24/9-year-old-girl-becomes-microsofts-youngest-employee/#comments
A nine year-old girl in India named M. Lavinashree has passed the Microsoft Certified Professional Exam, becoming the youngest person to ever pull it off (smashing the record previously held by a 10 year-old Pakistani girl). The youngster has a long history of making records in her short life -- including reciting all 1,300 couplets of a 2,000 year-old Tamil epic at the age of three -- and now she's now cramming for the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer Exam. We'll be honest, this really takes the zing out of our biggest accomplishment at the age of nine: figuring out where in the world Carmen Sandiego was. Hit the read link for a video.

[Thanks, Penny]

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9-Year-Old Girl Becomes Microsoft's Youngest Employee originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 24 Dec 2008 11:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> kidsmicrosofttopweird switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Wed, 24 Dec 2008 11:32:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[LG Prada Phone II Shows Up in Exhaustive Photo Spread]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/12/22/lg-prada-phone-ii-shows-up-in-exhaustive-photo-spread/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/22/lg-prada-phone-ii-shows-up-in-exhaustive-photo-spread/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/22/lg-prada-phone-ii-shows-up-in-exhaustive-photo-spread/#comments
We've gotten a few decent looks at the LG Prada II in weeks past, but the Daily Mobile Forum has happened upon a veritable treasure chest of views of the device in glorious detail -- which, if you didn't already know -- is now on sale in Europe. Lucky devils. We've included a few of our favorites after the break, but hit the read link for all 17 (Yes, seventeen!).

[Thanks, Daniel]

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LG Prada Phone II Shows Up in Exhaustive Photo Spread originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 22 Dec 2008 08:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> pradaprada phonePradaPhoneupcoming switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Mon, 22 Dec 2008 08:08:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Student's Tech Promises 12x the Battery Life In your iPhone, BlackBerry]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/12/19/students-tech-promises-12x-the-battery-life-in-your-iphone-bla/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/19/students-tech-promises-12x-the-battery-life-in-your-iphone-bla/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/19/students-tech-promises-12x-the-battery-life-in-your-iphone-bla/#comments Feeling the hurt of endlessly dying batteries on your BlackBerry (or iPhone, if that's what you're into)? Atif Shamim, a PhD student at Canada's Carleton University might have the medicine for that pain of yours. He's cleverly hacked such devices, removing all the wires that connect the electrical circuits to the antenna, and developed a module for the connection to operate wirelessly. The result, he estimates, is that his modified devices use almost 12 times less power than they normally do -- which of course means longer battery life. A paper about the device has won an award at the European Wireless Technology Conference, and Shamin has filed for a patent in both the US and Canada. There's no indication of when we might start to see tech like this on actual commercial devices, but we're pretty sure plenty of companies are going to want to get a hold of this technology like, yesterday.

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Student's Tech Promises 12x the Battery Life In your iPhone, BlackBerry originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> Atif ShamimAtifShamimbatterybattery lifeBatteryLifeblackberrycanadacarleton univeristyCarletonUniveristyhackiphonemod switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:59:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Japanese Foot-Massaging Machine Kills Three People]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/12/17/japanese-foot-massaging-machine-kills-three-people/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/17/japanese-foot-massaging-machine-kills-three-people/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/17/japanese-foot-massaging-machine-kills-three-people/#comments

So, we're not really sure what's going on here, but three people have been killed by mis-using a Japanese foot massager. We've only got specific details about one death, which happened when a woman removed the protective cloth cover from the machine -- called the Shape-up Roller 2 -- then strangled herself when it got caught on her collar as she tried to use it on her neck. The manufacturer, Matoba Electric, issued a warning against removing the cover or using the device other than as directed, but has not yet recalled the device, which seems to be powerful enough to massage the tension out of a T-Rex's feet. We've got a feeling there won't be a Shape-up Roller 3 anytime soon. Video of a Japanese news broadcast about the accidents after the break.

[Thanks, Mechelle]

Continue reading Japanese Foot-Massaging Machine Kills Three People

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Japanese Foot-Massaging Machine Kills Three People originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> accidentdeathfeetfootfoot massagerFootMassagerjapanmatoba electricMatobaElectricshape up roller 2ShapeUpRoller2weird switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:20:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Toasting Charger: For Batteries, Not Bagels]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/12/16/toasting-charger-for-batteries-not-bagels/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/16/toasting-charger-for-batteries-not-bagels/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/16/toasting-charger-for-batteries-not-bagels/#comments

Don't get too excited: the Toasting Charger is merely a concept, at least for now. Still, it always brightens our day to see products that call to mind this most beloved human food. Simply pop in the battery, push the lever on the side and well, that's the beauty of it... you already know how to use this little guy. There's also a helpful LED on the front to indicate the progress of the charge for the hopelessly impatient. "Toasting" your lithium-ion batteries is, at first glance, a little weird, right? Nope. Pass the jam, please.

[Thanks, Tony]

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Toasting Charger: For Batteries, Not Bagels originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> batterychargerconcepttoaster switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:25:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Stolen Xbox Recovered by Victim Using Controller, Sleuthing]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/12/16/stolen-xbox-recovered-by-victim-using-controller-sleuthing/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/16/stolen-xbox-recovered-by-victim-using-controller-sleuthing/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/16/stolen-xbox-recovered-by-victim-using-controller-sleuthing/#comments
People will go to great lengths to steal your gear -- no big surprise there. In a nice, semi-ingenious twist, though, one Xbox 360 thief on campus at Missouri State has gotten caught by the dupe himself. Thievery victim Ryan Kestenbaum was able to connect the controller (which the crook had left behind) up to the console, which of course meant that it was nearby. He then went on a fantastic journey with the controller, allowing the LEDs -- which flash if the controller is out of range -- to guide him to the room of the thief. Kestenbaum contacted the dorm's advisor, and the Xbox was recovered, although it had sadly been reformatted and all of Ryan's saved games were gone. He said he plans on prosecuting the thief "to the fullest extent of the law," which we hopes means he'll be getting back the thousands of bottle caps lost.

[Via Daily Tech]

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Stolen Xbox Recovered by Victim Using Controller, Sleuthing originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> 360crimemicrosoftryan kestenbaumRyanKestenbaumthievesxboxxbox 360Xbox360 switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:26:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Taiwan University Casts Robots in 'Phantom of the Opera']]> http://www.switched.com/2008/12/14/taiwan-casts-robots-in-phantom-of-the-opera/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/14/taiwan-casts-robots-in-phantom-of-the-opera/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/14/taiwan-casts-robots-in-phantom-of-the-opera/#comments

The University of Science and Technology in Taiwan's announced that they're putting on a very special performance of 'The Phantom of the Opera' on December 27th, in which the two leads will be played by robots. The lead bots (named Thomas and Janet) can both walk, and have silicon facial "muscles" that help them mimic human expressions and mouth movements. There will be two additional robotic thespians, Ringo, a jazz drummer, and Pica, a painter, that move on wheels. The Center for Intelligent Robots at the University says that while they've developed the robots for entertainment purposes, they plan to move toward applying them in service fields. As if upstaging Sarah Brightman with a robot isn't service enough already.

[Thanks, Tim]

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Taiwan University Casts Robots in 'Phantom of the Opera' originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 14 Dec 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> musicalsphantom of the operaPhantomOfTheOperaservice robotServiceRobottaipeitaiwanuniversity of science and technologyUniversityOfScienceAndTechnology switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Sun, 14 Dec 2008 13:30:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Nintendo Faces Class-Action Lawsuit Over Defective Wii Straps]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/12/14/nintendo-faces-class-action-lawsuit-hotter-than-ever-sales-for/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/14/nintendo-faces-class-action-lawsuit-hotter-than-ever-sales-for/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/14/nintendo-faces-class-action-lawsuit-hotter-than-ever-sales-for/#comments

Nintendo's fended off class-action lawsuits over "defective" Wiimote straps in the past, and if you remember, they also replaced about 3.2 million of the straps (a/k/a "all of them") around the same time too -- way back in December of 2006. Well, the same lawyer's back for round two with a new, nearly identical suit, but this one also alleges that Nintendo knew that the defect existed and was negligent in their failure to report the problem to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Nintendo's probably not stoked about the news -- but we've got a feeling that the company's record-breaking sales will balm the wounds a little. According to NPD data just released, the company sold 2 million Wiis and 1.56 million DS units in November, an all-time hardware sales record for a month other than December. Yeah, who cares about a few busted up TVs and black eyes in the face of those numbers?

[Via Gamecyte]

Read - Nintendo Slapped with Strap Lawsuit Once Again
Read - Wii and Nintendo DS Set Historic New US Sales Records

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Nintendo Faces Class-Action Lawsuit Over Defective Wii Straps originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 14 Dec 2008 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> class actionclass action lawsuitsClassActionClassActionLawsuitsinjurylawsuitsnintendonintendo wiiNintendoWiisaleswii switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Sun, 14 Dec 2008 10:01:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Used BlackBerrys Sold at McCain-Palin Blowout, Contacts and E-mails Intact]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/12/12/used-blackberrys-sold-at-mccain-palin-blowout-contacts-and-e-ma/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/12/used-blackberrys-sold-at-mccain-palin-blowout-contacts-and-e-ma/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/12/used-blackberrys-sold-at-mccain-palin-blowout-contacts-and-e-ma/#comments

It's pretty much common sense that when you're ditching your old cell phone you want to erase your personal data, contacts and emails -- or at least try to. Oh sure, there are plenty of examples of failing to do so, but this one's rather... shall we say, "special." Some operatives at Fox 5 in Washington, D.C. booked over to the McCain-Palin campaign headquarters' yard sale yesterday, and they saw some ultra cheap BlackBerry -- just $20 a pop, probably an inventor's discount -- so they picked up a few, undoubtedly thinking they'd make nice holiday gifts. They were kind of surprised to find that, after giving the 'Berrys some juice, one of them had 50 contacts for "campaign leaders, politicians, lobbyists and journalists" as well as hundreds of e-mails. When reached for comment, a campaign spokesperson said that "procedures are being put in place to ensure all information is secure," followed minutes later by a blank email CC'd to his entire address book with the subject line "We're so screwed."

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Used BlackBerrys Sold at McCain-Palin Blowout, Contacts and E-mails Intact originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> blackberrymccainmccain palinMccainPalinpersonal dataPersonalDatapoliticsrimsecurityyard saleYardSale switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:15:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Famous New York Hotel Offers Kindle During Your Stay]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/12/10/famous-new-york-hotel-offers-kindle-during-your-stay/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/10/famous-new-york-hotel-offers-kindle-during-your-stay/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/10/famous-new-york-hotel-offers-kindle-during-your-stay/#comments

Manhattan's Algonquin Hotel has a long tradition of nurturing the literary-minded -- Dorothy Parker, Robert Benchley, even Harpo Marx hung out there in its heyday. Keeping up with the times, the folks running the Algonquin today apparently still have literature on their minds, and are offering Amazon's Kindle pre-loaded with a book of their choice for guests of the hotel during their stay. If they don't have all seven volumes of À la recherche du temps perdu loaded up and ready for us when we get there we're totally heading to the Holiday Inn. [Via Kindle Boards]

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Famous New York Hotel Offers Kindle During Your Stay originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> algonquinalgonquin hotelAlgonquinHotelamazonamazon kindleAmazonKindlebookse booke readere-booksEBookEReaderhotelhotelskindleliteraturepublishingtravel switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:23:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Ads Coming Soon To a Paused TiVo Menu Near You]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/12/09/ads-coming-soon-to-a-paused-tivo-menu-near-you/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/09/ads-coming-soon-to-a-paused-tivo-menu-near-you/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/09/ads-coming-soon-to-a-paused-tivo-menu-near-you/#comments This should make a lot of people unhappy. According to a press release issued today, TiVo will now offer ad space on its pause menu. Designed to outsmart those who fast-forward through the ads (we assume that's almost everyone at this point, right?) buyers will be able to target viewers of a specific show, or they can opt to "cast a wider net" and advertise within genres or keywords of program descriptions. Even if this means we'll be seeing ads for Shrute Farms beets during 'The Office,' we're still going to hold out hope for the TiVo version of Adblock. [Via Zatz Not Funny]

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Ads Coming Soon To a Paused TiVo Menu Near You originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> adadvertisementsadvertisingtivo switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:01:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Tasers...Maybe Not So Safe After All]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/12/07/cbc-radio-canada-expose-reveals-tasers-inconsistent/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/07/cbc-radio-canada-expose-reveals-tasers-inconsistent/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/07/cbc-radio-canada-expose-reveals-tasers-inconsistent/#comments The CBC and Radio Canada have run a bunch of Taser tests recently, and the results aren't likely to reassure anyone. US-based testing lab National Technical Systems pulled 41 X26 units out of 7 random police stations across the nation, and fired each at least six times. What happened? Well, four of them threw off a current "significantly" higher than a stun gun is supposed to, including some that were 50 percent higher than normal, while three didn't fire at all. All the faulty units were manufactured pre-2005, but the company that makes them (which makes almost all US police employed stun guns), couldn't provide someone for the CBC to interview, so no one seems to be sure of the cause. Of course, it goes a long way toward explaining why so many people need to head to the hospital after getting a taste of the taser. Not cool guys, not cool.

[Thanks, Tony A.]

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Tasers...Maybe Not So Safe After All originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 07 Dec 2008 15:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> canadacbclaw enforcementLawEnforcementpoliceradio canadaRadioCanadatasertaser investigationtaser probeTaserInvestigationTaserProbe switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Sun, 07 Dec 2008 15:12:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Meet Reibi, the Japanese Floor-Cleaning Robot]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/12/06/meet-reibi-the-japanese-floor-cleaning-robot/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/06/meet-reibi-the-japanese-floor-cleaning-robot/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/06/meet-reibi-the-japanese-floor-cleaning-robot/#comments

It might not look like much, but this little... er, big guy is a robot recently developed and employed by Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd and Sumitomo Corporation in Osaka City, Japan to clean their floors. Now we've seen plenty of service robots that love to clean, some even professionally, but this one, operated by Reibi, is especially full-featured. Based on a robot developed in Tokyo in 2001, the updated version has laser sensors for detecting and avoiding obstacles. It's also been outfitted with light transmission devices which allow it to communicate with the elevators (also modified), so that it can travel between floors all on its own. As an icing on this deliciously fastidious cake, the robot can be equipped with cameras that record its entire shift, just to make sure its not falling asleep on the job. Should it ever miss a crumb on the floor or something, we also assume that it can fire itself, head out for a drinking binge, and spiral into an inevitable, lonely depression.

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Meet Reibi, the Japanese Floor-Cleaning Robot originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 06 Dec 2008 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> big in japanBigInJapancleanercleaningfloorjapanmetiofficeoffice buildingOfficeBuildingreibirobotsworkplace switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Sat, 06 Dec 2008 13:28:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[SnorePro Promises to Stop Snoring]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/12/04/snorepro-promises-to-stop-snoring/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/04/snorepro-promises-to-stop-snoring/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/04/snorepro-promises-to-stop-snoring/#comments
We'll level with you: the Snore Pro sets off a few snake oil alarms -- it does, after all, claim to fix a problem that has been seemingly incurable from time immemorial. The device (which is not exactly cool looking) apparently has a two-pronged approach to help snorers kick the habit: first, it delivers an "electronic stimulation" to the wearer's skin causing a sleep disturbance (which the company compares to a nudging spouse). Secondly, it claims to record each and every snore. The recorded data theoretically provides the user with feedback about their progress and gives them clues as to why and when they snore. We don't know when it's going to be available or how much it will cost, but we hope it's less expensive than the weight loss pills and the real estate pyramid scheme software we just ordered.

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SnorePro Promises to Stop Snoring originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> bedtimehbiusahealthsleepsleep aidsSleepAidssleepingsleeping aidSleepingAidsnoresnore prosnoreprosnoringstop snoringStopSnoring switchedtips@gmail.com (Laura June) Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:23:00 EST Switched