collective

Suzuki Stratosphere concept

2006-04-15T11:11:00.000-10:00

Suzuki's two-wheeled Stratosphere concept is built around an 1100cc six-cylinder with a "space-saving design" said to be as compact as a typical I4 of the same displacement. The centerpiece is a trick-looking multi-function display tucked behind an electrically-adjustable windscreen. We're all about being able to direct the airflow, but we also feel that the display might have been a bit closer to perfect if paired with a standard "mechanical" tach. The electronic wheel-lock and keyless engine start seem like good ideas, but we're not sure that the in-helmet speakers with "hi-fi sound" have any place on a proper sporting machine.

Four LED headlamps are parked up front, with hammered-look aluminum forming the fender, fairing, and fuel tank. If you're interested in a closer look, check out our other shots of the Stratosphere after the jump (click on any of them to bring up a larger high-res shot).

MacMini Portable: the next generation

2006-04-15T11:01:00.000-10:00

Instead of folding up his computer and going home like the negative comments had suggested, inventor, composer Peter Green to do when he first released his MMPrev.1, he has been hard at work on the second version of his MacMini Portable.

As you'll recall, MMP rev. 1 was basically Apple's diminutive PC stuffed inside a custom enclosure, attached to an LCD, battery pack, trackpad, and thumb board, and occupying a footprint smaller than even the most compact laptop. Green is back to silence the critics who questioned the utility of his first project with the MacMini Portable MkII, which makes numerous improvements upon its predecessor such as mounting the thumb board flush with the case, significantly reducing the overall size of the device, and generally making it look more like something you'd want to take out in public. So Mr. Green, we encourage you to continue ignoring the haters (and refine your creation to the point that they're forced to come around).

iRiver Japan announces 2GB T10

2006-04-15T10:58:00.000-10:00

iRiver Japan's got a 2GB version of their lime green T10 due out there for ¥19,980 (about $170 US). Doesn't look to different than the MP3, WMA, OGG, ASF playing, FM tuning, voice recording device, but it's still got that same single-cell AAA battery. Expect them to start selling the 26th of this month over yonder in the land of the rising sun.

How to hack your OS X login box

2006-04-15T10:56:00.000-10:00

Apple Matter's Chris Seibold, has written a fun how-to on tweaking the Mac OS X login window to display whatever image you want in place of the Apple logo and whatever text you want below. It's kind of an involved process, but doesn't look too tough if you follow the instructions.

300 freeware utilities for any task

2006-04-15T10:53:00.000-10:00

Burn a CD, manage your wallpapers, undelete a file, and keep a to-do list all found in this list. A big list of freeware apps for Windows that will help you do those things and about 300 other tasks. It's a pretty nice list hand-selected by humans. I've got it bookmarked for the next time I need an app for some one-off task but don't want to spend an hour browsing shareware sites.

Cindy & Mel Sushi Pillows

2006-04-15T10:52:00.000-10:00

These sushi pillows by Cindy & Mel have particular appeal, probably because they look almost edible. They also have the added bonus of being far more comfortable than non-pillow sushi, not to mention that they last longer. The pillows are painstakingly made out of high-quality fabrics, with hand-painted designs. They make great housewarming gifts for sushi-loving friends. Ebi Nigiri (shrimp) pillow: $58. Other pillows: $48.

Oliver Peoples Harlot Sunglasses

2006-04-15T10:50:00.000-10:00

Oliver Peoples' Harlot sunglasses, with oversized plastic frames scream 70's glam while keeping a modern line. Oliver Peoples makes all sorts of glasses available at many retailers worldwide. I found this particular pair at Saks.com for $340.

The Vinci Diamond

2006-04-15T10:46:00.000-10:00

Shlomo Cohen, creator of the 1982 Princess Cut diamond, has created a new cut known as the Vinci Diamond. Based on the "divine proportion," a golden ratio that was studied intensely by Leonardo da Vinci, who inspired the diamond's name, the diamond features a 62-facet pentacle cut. By contrast, a standard round-cut diamond has 57-facets. The perfect proportions of the diamond include three pentacle stars and give a stone with this cut unprecedented brilliance. The design is patented in Japan, Israel, Belgium, and the United States, and Cohen already has marketing plans in place.

Bridesmaid Gift: Pink Flask

2006-04-15T10:27:00.000-10:00

'In the season for brides--and bridesmaids' gifts. Here's an alternative: go unconventional and pick out something like this pink flask. Even if some of your bridesmaids aren't the kind of girls to be knocking back shots, at least it's original. And with the monogram, personal. At TheKnot.com; $19.95 (add $4.75 for monogram).

Kickin' back in the Chrysler 300 LWB

2006-04-14T12:05:00.000-10:00

Nothing says “Upper Middle Class” like the Chrysler 300 LWB and its six-inches of extra length, 10.2-cubic feet of additional interior space and whopping 46-inches of rear legroom. While the rear seats may not recline in place or offer a retractable ottoman like some multi-hundred-thousand-dollar luxury cars we know, on our middle-class incomes we’ll take what we can get.

Maingear's Prysma does Viiv Egyptian-style

2006-04-14T12:03:00.000-10:00

The new pyramid-shaped Prysma Media Center PC from game PC manufacturer Maingear has support for the ViiV spec, and though the $1752 base configuration has a mere 512MB of RAM, 80GB HDD, and integrated graphics, there's plenty of room to grow. Of course, in keeping with the Viiv spec, there is gigabit Ethernet, 7.1 Intel HD Audio, and a Pentium D 920 Dual Core 2.8Ghz processor, so the PC should at least be able to push around a bit of HD content if you can manage to find some. Maingear rounds out the Prysma with dual NTSC tuners and some pricey ($299) custom color options.

Gitaroo-Man set to rock the PSP

2006-04-14T12:00:00.000-10:00

Listings on Sony Japan's retail site has noted the rhythm-based title, called Gitaroo-Man Live!, will be released on the 25th of May. There is still no official word from the title's developer, Koei. There's also no news if the game will ever be released outside of Japan. However, if Gitaroo-Man on the PS2 was any indication, there's always a chance it could see some action on US soil.

Strange as the game may be, it does have its share of fans, all of whom we're guessing are already drooling at the thought of taking their Gitaroo on the road.

Wall o' 30-inchers

2006-04-14T11:58:00.000-10:00

The crown for largest pixel array goes to a man known only as Crazy Jon (trust us, that's no misnomer). Dude cobbled six NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GTX 512MB video cards and three 1,000-watt power supplies to take on a wall o' what appears to be Dell 30-inch 3007WFPs. Twelve, to be exact. By our math that's 49,152,000 pixels -- and about $26,400 just for the displays alone. Oh, and did we mention that Crazy Jon already had five Apple 30-inchers on his desk! We love you, Jon. Seriously though, can we come over sometime?!

Zagato Ferrari 575GTZ preview

2006-04-14T11:56:00.000-10:00

Zagato has released a preview photo of one-of-a-kind Ferrari 575GTZ. The new Ferrari GTZ was commissioned by Japanese car collector Yoshiyuki Hayashi (pictured), who specifically requested that Zagato make a unique 575 in the style of the famous 250 GTZ berlinetta. The aluminum-bodied car incorporates a host of styling cues from Zagato's classic custom sports cars of the '50s, including the two-tone color scheme of the 250GTZ.

Christian Louboutin Suede Cork-Heel Slings

2006-04-14T11:54:00.000-10:00

These understated sling-back pumps from Christian Louboutin are Suede Cork-Heel Slings made of soft suede in a warm, earthy tobacco brown. The base and heel of the shoe, but not the soles, are made of cork. These pumps don't have the same punch as, say, the black Balenciaga platform pumps, but the sky high heels will still ensure that all eyes are on you - not just on your shoes. Price $670.

Averatec's AHI UMPC concept device

2006-04-14T11:51:00.000-10:00

Mix one part OQO, one part Sidekick, and a touch of UMPC, you get Averatec's new AHI concept device. Expected to be launched this fall for as little as €500 or €900 ($600 or $1,090 US) depending on options including: windows XP, a touchscreen (which we assume will take advantage of Microsoft's Touch Pack UMPC suite), WiFi, GPS, 3G data, and a six hour battery life in a 7.3 x 3.5 x 1.3-inch 24 ounce package. So yeah, basically this device might single-handedly solve just about every complaint the UMPC community (and we) have: price, battery life, keyboard, and wireless data. So keep your eyes out for Averatec this fall.

Onkyo unveils HDC-7 Viiv media PC

2006-04-14T11:49:00.000-10:00

The Onkyo media PC now known as the HDC-7, is now ready for its close up, and comes packed with lots of goodies, including a Pentium D820 at 2.8GHz, 1GB RAM, 400GB drive, DVD burner and all the inputs and outputs you'd expect, including DVI, component, VGA, dual Firewire and dual USB. It's due out in Japan in late May, with pricing expected to run about ¥300,000 (about $2,500).

Clio NXT unleashed

2006-04-14T11:46:00.000-10:00

The Clio NXT was (is?) the successor to the cult 1998-released WinCE laptop/tablet which is said to feature Windows CE.NET 5.0 (yes, CE), a 10.4-inch, 800 x 600 touchscreen LCD with 180-degree pivot, WiFi, 64MB SDRAM and 64MB Flash memory, a near full-size QWERTY keyboard, and a smattering of connectivity and expansion options including SD card slots, PCMCIA, USB, a headphone jack, mic, and video out. Out of the blue a press release stating that Duke University's Fuqua School of Business is to serve as the "beta site" for the NXT and Data Evolution's other CE computing device, the Cathena ultra-light laptop. That's it -- no price (although we last heard $999 for the NXT), no expected start date for this beta program, let alone a revised ship date... nothin'.

AjaxAMP: Slick web-based Winamp control and streaming

2006-04-14T11:44:00.000-10:00

AjaxAMP is a Web-based interfaces for Winamp. It's a plugin that lets you control Winamp via a web browser with an Ajaxy interface. It features drag-and-drop playlists and a rearrangeable (though not skinnable) interface, and it can stream music over the web to any computer. It's also free and, at 445kb, a nice and small download.

Free screencast creator Wink 2.0 released

2006-04-14T11:43:00.000-10:00

Wink lets you make software tutorial or demonstration movies by recording whatever's happening on your screen, adding text boxes, buttons,and saves it as a Flash file. The new version features unlimited text boxes and buttons, image and shape objects, audio recording and editing, undo and redo, improved Flash output, and more available languages. No word on when the Linux version will be available.

JotSpot Family Site

2006-04-14T11:41:00.000-10:00

With JotSpot Family Site, a private wiki service is geared specifically toward extended families. JotSpot Family Site provides birthday and event calendars, Google-powered maps, family trees, polls, and a family blog. As someone who has a large extended family, it sounds like a great idea if they can make it easy enough for everyone to use. JotSpot Family Site is in beta and most appealing of all, free.

Japan launches effort to colonize moon with robots

2006-04-14T11:39:00.000-10:00

Reported by the Asahi Shimbun the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency are taking action on their earlier intentions to build lunar and inter-planetary exploration and colonization robots. Meaning they've gathered their team to develop robots with artificial intelligence to land on and explore the moon within 10 years, and independently colonize the joint within 20.

Intellitabs: Tabs for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

2006-04-14T11:37:00.000-10:00

Intellitabs is an addon for Microsoft Office putting a seamlessly integrated set of tabs to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for fast switching between documents. With Intellitabs you can customize what data is shown on the tabs and in their tooltips (e.g. author, word count, file size, etc.), and you can save a group of tabs as a "session" so all of the documents can be opened at once. Intellitabs isn't free--it will cost you $19 for the Standard edition of each flavor (Word/Excel/PowerPoint) or $29 for Professional, or you can get all three Pro addons in a $49 bundle.

Use up ink cartridges until they're (really) empty

2006-04-14T11:34:00.000-10:00

Here's some tips for Epson and HP owners: SSC Service Utility is a free Windows app for Epson printers that lets you freeze or reset your printer's internal ink counters to fool your printer into thinking the cartridge is full again. For HP owners things aren't so simple. Methods vary by printer and cartridge type and many of them require rolling up your sleeves and fiddling with the cartridge itself, but Mr. Ink Jet (an ink refill kit vendor) has some tips.

Put your screensavers on shuffle

2006-04-14T11:32:00.000-10:00

ScreenSaver Commander(is free) handles the task of randomizing your Windows screensavers, and its other distinguishing feature is that you can configure it to prevent the screensaver from running when certain applications are open. It does other things like letting you manually set your screensaver. Its makers, Badevlav Software, also sell a shareware app called System ScreenSaver that lets you run ordinary programs as screensavers (and minimize all other apps, if you want), but the full version will cost you $10.

Get rid of the Windows Update reboot nag

2006-04-14T11:28:00.000-10:00

There seems to be a solution for the Restart Now/Restart Later nag box that pops up after your install a patch from Windows Update, at least for folks with SP2. Using the Group Policy editor you can change the time between nags from 10 minutes to something more reasonable like an hour, or get rid of them entirely. Head over to The Code Project's forum, where a user called Daniel Turini describes the tweak.

Stopping the Automatic Updates service will make the nags temporarily go away(if you don't have SP2). Just go to Start > Run and type net stop wuauserv. Once you eventually reboot, the Automatic Updates service will start again by itself.

Sennheiser's Style, Sport, and Street range of headphones

2006-04-14T11:20:00.000-10:00

Sennheiser is set to drop 17 new headphone models: Style, Sport, and Street. A select few of these units like the MX 90 VC (pictured) will flaunt a new twist-to-fit ear securing system which relies upon a small rubber "stopper" you can twist securing the headphone around the outer ear. The Style range of headphones gun for optimum sound quality while remaining stylish and elegant via a "metal look" (and very German) design. The Sport range dishes out a healthy slathering of neon "fresh" green knowing that jocks everywhere secretly long for that color palette. These headphones are designed with max comfort and secure fit in mind and rock regardless of rain, sweat or low temps. Rounding things out is the Street line-up which conspicuously omits any old-school can designs and features unusual design, secure fit, and practical accessories with plenty of bass for use with both MP3 players and gaming systems. Expect to see all the new skull candy in stores starting next month.

BenQ's BW1000 3-in-1 Blu-ray burner

2006-04-14T11:17:00.000-10:00

BenQ's BW1000 three-in-one burner has shown up in both internal and external flavors, courtesy of AVING. In case you hadn't heard, the BW1000, or "Trio", can read from/write to 25GB and 50GB Blu-ray discs, dual-layer DVD±R, and of course, the reliable old CD. Write speeds for BD-R and BD-RE discs a bit slower at 2x, with DVDs clocking in at 12x (4x for DL, 8x/6x for DVD±RW), and CDs burning at a zippy 32x (24x for CD-RWs). Nothing new as far as pricing or availability.

The Monome Controller

2006-04-14T11:08:00.000-10:00

The developers of the Monome, a minimalist-but-clever button-covered box say, "The wonderful thing about this device is that is doesn't do anything really. It wasn't intended for any specific application. We'll make several applications, and others will make more. We hope to share as many of these as possible. Drum machines, loopers, 1-bit video transformers, physics models, virtual sliders, math games, etc."

This new interface, is almost impossible to describe, but check out the video, it seems to be surprisingly flexible and fast to use. A year ago, the Monome was the Bitbox, a crude wooden box covered in illuminated momentary push-button switches. It had some early software developed in MAX/MSP which triggered a different sample on each row. Now, there are a range of interesting applications using OSC and MIDI, and the box is going into small-time production.

In February, the Philly-based development team bought 13,000 diodes from Digikey, and they’re currently building the first batch of 200 units, 8 x 8 grids which will sell for $500 with a USB interface and a bundle of open-source software.

Audi's TT latest in auto erotic couture

2006-04-13T12:45:00.000-10:00

Audi's 2007 TT coupe received a suitably haute couture introduction in the fashion capitol of North America, New York City. The latest stylings of designer Doo.Ri Chung, the integrating of the questionable 'single frame' grille, along with the necessary increase in dimensions to accommodate everything from pedestrian safety regs to increases in space, they've done a fine job. It remains indisputably a TT including pretty rear light fixtures with rectilinear internal lenses with clandestine amber turn signals. Also well hidden is the retractable rear winglet, which increases downforce at speed without blighting the rump of the TT. The press conference also featured an appearance by German supermodel Tatjana Patitz.

Toshiba Matsushita intro world's thinnest 12-inch LCD

2006-04-13T12:42:00.000-10:00

Toshiba Matsushita Display has come along and introduced the world's thinnest 12-inch LCD panel, which will be seen on notebooks within a few months. Ranging from 2.9- to 4.5-millimeters thick, the new LED-backlit TFT display manages a 1280 x 800 WXGA resolution and 300cd/m2 brightness, packed into a light 183-gram design. TMD, a joint venture between two Japanese electronics giants, says that the display is already in production, although there is no mention of any specific products that will see the new tech, nor any info on when these presumed products will hit stores.

TakaraTomy's luxe nano channel audio player

2006-04-13T12:39:00.000-10:00

TakaraTomy's nano channel is the merged company's high-end, super-deluxe digital audio player. The flash unit, due out in Japan this July, comes in sizes ranging from a capacious 128MB to 1GB, and features a groundbreaking 1.2-inch display that can be used to actually display video! Not only that, but you can actually play your music on this gadget for six full hours on a single battery charge. It even comes in red, blue and silver. This marvel of modern technology goes for a premium price: ¥9,800 ($82) for the 128MB version. TakaraTomy is also launching a web site to download animations and play on the 1.2-inch screen, assuming they'll be able to squeeze all of 30 seconds worth of vid onto the 128MB version!

Nanaka Crash in flash

2006-04-13T12:38:00.000-10:00

Nanaka Crash has been around for a bit. You play a girl on a bike, trying to hit boys with your bike. The goal is to launch the boys as far as you can. If you're lucky, when they bounce, they'll hit another girl, who will hit them, and you'll get a nice bonus bounce.

Kapsel Media Center PC

2006-04-13T12:36:00.000-10:00

It's white and agreeably compact, looks like a Mac, but it is actually the Kapsel Media Center PC and runs Windows Media Center Edition. The tiny ceramic shelled PC can be hung on a wall and positioned either horizontally or vertically on a table. It will use the Intel ViiV platform and is designed to facilitate the use of online music and video services, TV viewing and recording and in general is designed to be a living room computer to work in conjunction with your plasma TV to watch video in high def, rent movies and watch TV over the internet. The Kapsel comes with a remote control and remote keyboard. It was supposed to launch in March and on the price either.

DS gets wordplay, Japanese-English dictionary

2006-04-13T12:31:00.000-10:00

Kanji Sonomama Rakubiki Jiten was released for the DS in Japan, an affordable electronic Japanese-English dictionary for the masses. KSRJ's major selling point is its stylus functionality, allowing users to input kanji (stroke-sensitive) and kana onto the touch screen. Japan Chronicles compared Nintendo's new toy tool to Canon's pricey ($299–$470) Wordtank V80 Chinese-Japanese-English dictionary, which also allows kanji inputs via a stylus. Here's what the site liked about KSRJ:

Price*
Same J-to-E and E-to-J dictionaries
Word search by kanji
English pronunciation
Very readable, especially on a DS Lite
Easy-to-use search history
Useful quiz modes
World
clock
Calendar

Here's what Wordtank V80 does better:

Vastly superior navigation
Superior Japanese dictionary (Super Daijirin vs. Meiky)
Includes Chinese dictionary, as well as dedicated English and Kanji dictionaries
Stylus-controlled navigation
Includes real (not virtual) keyboard

*We're not sure what the official retail price for the dictionary software is, but we found KSRJ for as low as $48 at goldenshop.com.hk.

Homebrewed Zelda DS in development

2006-04-13T12:29:00.000-10:00

Homebrewer, Lupi, is working hard on his first DS project, Zelda Platformer. While the game will undoubtedly undergo a name change, Lupi has already implemented the following items:

Level system
Collision system
Life system (with hearts!)
Lots of "Link sounds"
Title screen
Most of the sword attacks (including air and spin attacks)
Bombs
Arrows
8-direction boomerang

Lupi is currently coding the "enemy engine." Once that's complete, and a tutorial level has been designed, he'll release a demo.

Top Spring Sundresses

2006-04-13T11:53:00.000-10:00

Sundresses are on the casual end, largely sleeveless, and should be comfortable & easy to wear, but classy at the same time; sundresses are not too casual and should look good with strappy sandals or thong flats. This spring, there are a couple of trends that are showing, the biggest one is white. White is the must-have shade for spring dresses. Large print patterns and stripes are popular, too, but are definitely coming in second to the simple white dress. Other trends to look out for are dresses with empire waists and fuller skirts, as well as easy-to-wear shirt dresses, all of which can be very figure flattering.

This white Vintage Lace Shirtdress from ABS by Allen Schwartz has a lace overlay over an empire chiffon slip. It is flowy and flirty without being too revealing. Price $230.

This Carmen Mark Valvo White Linen/Cotton Shirtdress combines multiple trends. Sleveless and classy, and a flattering belted waist lets the dress skim curves without overemphasizing them. Price $310.

In an eye-catching bright blue silk and a big floral pattern, Marc Jacob's Rose Pop Silk Dress is great for making an entrance. The color will let you stand out in the sun. Price $348.

Horizontal stripes might have the edge over vertical in the style section, but the way they are used to emphasize the hourglass silhouette in this lightly-boned red and white Regatta Dress from Anthropologie is perfect. Price $148.

Michael Kors' cream-colored Broderie Anglaise Sundress has fine eyelet details and a hint of color. The tiered skirt will swish as you move and the fitted top is as flattering as the whole dress. Price $1495.

Elie Tahari's fitted cotton Print Dress has an abstract print and a fitted bodice with a flowing skirt. Price $448.

Anthropologie's long Aubrey Dress is white with black halter neck and sketched floral detail. Price $148.

Pink is never out in the Spring and this Pink Linen Dress from Lauren by Ralph Lauren is too classic. The pink is feminine and fun, sure to attract the right attention at parties - and probably a few flowers, too. Price $159.

A Strapless White Dress, like this one from Laundry by Shelli Segal, lets you tan while you are out enjoying the mild spring weather. A wrap can warm it up on chilly days and the white dress can be dressed up with any color accessories. Price $195.

Eyelet detail dresses up this casual, flirty Diane von Furstenberg Shirt Dress. The white dress has a full skirt and even has front pockets, so you don't need to carry a handbag. Price $465.

Two Clutch, Spade - D'Trick

2006-04-13T11:44:00.000-10:00

A good clutch can dress up any outfit - and Dior's D'Trick Jacquard Flap Clutch is perfect with ultra-soft white leather trim, bright with a seasonal feel, but the gold lame jacquard with the CD logo gives the clutch that extra boost into evening ware. It is accented with a gold D clasp. The clutch is also available in silver. Price: $365.

Kate Spade's spring line of handbags and clutches come in bright, preppy colors like pink, green, and white. But this cheerful yellow Lexington Ava clutch is inspired by the Kentucky Derby--and the lawn party social scene associated with the event--the clutch is made from raffia, a soft fiber that feels like grassy wheat. Calfskin leather accents the clutch, while the inside is lined with a paisly print. Price: $195.

07 Saleen/Parnelli Jones Limited Edition Mustang

2006-04-13T11:41:00.000-10:00

Perhaps Steve Saleen can light a fire under your seat with his new Saleen/Parnelli Jones Limited Edition Mustang. Harkening back to those past visuals inspired by Jones’ own Grabber Orange Boss 302 Mustang from the early ‘70s, and adding a 302 cid V8 that produces 370 SAE hp and 370 ft-lbs. of torque at a low 4,000 RPM. Further engine upgrades allow Steve’s new Stang to rev higher than most Mustangs ever will.

Other special touches include 302 valve covers, a black striped “shaker” hood, a 1970 replica rear wing and rear window quarter panels. There are even removable and reusable static cling decals included, one of Parnelli’s famous number 15 and the other a blue oval logo.

Suspension and brake upgrades as well as an interior tweak that invites the orange inside round out the 2007 Saleen/Parnelli Jones Limited Edition Mustang. While we don’t know how many units will be produced, we do know they’ll be sold in the mid-to-high $50,000 range.

Let It Wave introduces Super-Resolution Bandlet upconversion technology

2006-04-13T11:37:00.000-10:00

Let It Wave, a european image processing company, claims their bandlet (or bandelet depending which page of the site you read) technology allows them to upconvert SD sources to HDTV resolutions with no flickering or artifacts whatsoever. We won't try to decipher the mathematic reasons they give as to why this is possible, but you can check out their tech page for yourself.

Their press release includes an endorsement by the namesake of the Faroudja DCDi upconverter, now all we need to do is see some products and maybe watching standard definition won't hurt so bad anymore.

Exclusive inside PlayStation 3 Specs and OS

2006-04-13T11:20:00.000-10:00

The folks at PlayStation 3 Portal have been gathering news, that has been "validated by multiple sources that are involved in early PS3 development." Nothing is confirmed and Sony has time to alter these statistics, but here is what the Portal has learned:

A "'Blade' like pane that can appear on the right hand side of the screen" that represents the PS3's always-running OS (similar to the Xbox 360's Dashboard).
One will be able to use voice chat "across all games, even outside of the gamers own UI."
The OS will always utilize 1 of 7 SPEs on the Cell chip, and the option to "take" another when needed --"games have to give it up if requested." In terms of RAM, the OS will use 18.75% of all available RAM (32mb of GDDR3 memory from the RSX chip, 64mb of the XDR memory from the Cell).

For the Specs:

32MB of the 256MB of available GDDR3 memory off the RSX chip
64MB of the 256MB of available XDR memory off the Cell CPU
1 SPE of 7 constantly reserved
1 SPE of 7 able to be "taken" by the OS at a moments notice (games have to give it up if requested)

The information presented is interesting, this is about 23% of the total system power for the PS3. The new trend in consoles having a constantly running operating system blurring the line between console and PC gaming. Fortunately, it seems the PlayStation 3 should be more than powerful enough to run both the OS and a game simultaneously. Of course we still don't know what kind of applications Sony has in mind for this nearly-quarter allotment, or if that's even going to be the final specification!

Portable VLC and Winamp

2006-04-13T11:14:00.000-10:00

Portable VLC from PortableApps.com. is based on the excellent open source media player VLC that you install onto your removable drive, and use to play media. Then there's Portable Winamp 5.1 Lite with iPod support. The "Lite" means it includes the bare-bones audio player, eschewing video, media library, "modern" skin support, and so on, but as the name implies it'll connect to your iPod. Portable VLC is a 7.2MB download while Winamp is a scant 1.2MB.

Honda rocks the Element SC prototype box

2006-04-13T11:10:00.000-10:00

Honda is set to rock its Box with a production version of SC prototype. Lowered three-inches on a sport suspension and seen here on 21" wheels and tires (245/35R21), the 2007 Element SC prototype sports a full body kit, painted exterior paneling and trim, and most obviously, a reworked nose with blacked-out grille and projector-beam headlamps. The concept's 2.4-liter i-VTEC engine gets a ten pony bump to 166 horsepower, courtesy less-restrictive intake and exhaust systems, as well as high-lift cams. The throttle will henceforth be drive-by-wire, and the automatic sprouts a fifth gear.

In the safety arena, the Element gets a new seat belt design that eases entry and exit to the rear seat-- a common complaint among H-Box afficianados. This, along with a side curtain airbags, stability control, and anti-lock supervision.

YouTube Director program ditches limits

2006-04-13T11:06:00.000-10:00

YouTube had to start limiting videos to 10 minutes because folks were putting entire episodes of stuff online. That's not so fun for the lawyers of YouTube. So if you're a videoblogger or "legit" content producer (meaning original content) you can sign up for YouTube's brand new Director program. Resulting in no more 10 minute limits for your videos— if you are a legitimate content creator. For now, you have to go login or sign up, but they're promising dedicated pages and more info later, possibly even more features. For now, here's what you get as a Director:

Logo co-branding, company URL, and company description on all of your video pages
Ability to upload videos longer than 10 minutes
Customizable name & value fields for each of your videos (ex: "Price: $4.25" or "Show Time: 9 pm PST")
Ability to attach a per-video URL to each of your videos

That's a pretty good deal for free!

TDK hard at work on 8-layer 200GB Blu-ray Disc

2006-04-13T10:59:00.000-10:00

Since Sony has defined the Blu-ray Disc spec as to being 54Gig max on a dual-layer disc, there's been speculation, theorization, and discussion of an 8-layer 200GB disc. Sony even supposedly had some working 200GB BRD demos way back in 2004. Well, over at TDK, who apparently hope to commercialize, the first presumably quad-layered dual-sided discs (or possibly octo-layered single-sided discs) are now in the works. They're not giving it up as to when these discs could come out or how much they'll cost, or even if there's something to play them with.

Defrag on the cheap

2006-04-13T10:52:00.000-10:00

If you don't want to spend any money and you still aren't satisfied with Windows' built-in options, this thread on Lifehacker has some good suggestions. To begin with, DirMS is a free app that comes in GUI and command line versions. The GUI is, to put it mildly, austere, but it works. At the same web site you'll find an app called Buzzsaw that defragments "on-the-fly," i.e. it detects file fragmentation as it happens and undoes it when you've got spare processor cycles. Then there's Sysinternals' Contig, which is free and command line only, but if you need a GUI for it there's a free front-end for it called Power Defragmenter from eXcessive Software.

Installing a wireless card for Xbox

2006-04-13T10:50:00.000-10:00

Hacked.com has posted a how-to on getting your Xbox some 802.11 internet. From the article: "In this tutorial, I will show you how to install a wireless game adapter into your Xbox internally so that you can have a wireless connection, where available, without the extra hardware." This probably voids any warranty, but here's the needed items to get the job done:

* Xbox (Modded or unmodded)
* 1 - 8" 4-Pin Power Cable Splitter
* 1 - Netgear WGE-111 Network Adapter
* Torx-10 and Torx-20 Driver
* Soldering Gun
* Solder Braid
* Solder Patience

Follow the link for the full tutorial.

Pining for a new Cadillac roadster?

2006-04-13T10:48:00.000-10:00

Jerry Nickel's wooden-bodied car is powered by two Cadillac V8 engines, one driving the front wheels and the other the rears. The car was built from over four-thousand pieces of wood, gallons of glue, varnish and 60 pounds of screws. Nickel would have put his masterpiece up for auction at Barrett-Jackson this year, but missed the deadline.

ajaxXLS: Web-based spreadsheet from ajaxLaunch

2006-04-13T10:43:00.000-10:00

Michael Robertson's ajaxLaunch has launched ajaxXLS, a web-based spreadsheet app that looks promising, and will no doubt be familiar to Excel users, but having spent a few minutes with it I can already tell ajaxXLS is far from finished. In fact, it's downright hard to use and seems like it would be infuriating to anyone trying to switch from Excel. Some of its issues might just be due to high opening day user load, but much of it just seems buggy or incomplete.

Insane Spider-Man DDR dance routine

2006-04-13T10:42:00.000-10:00

Watch as Bruce Leroy performs Peter Parker's transformation into Spider-Man -- complete with camera and "spidey sense" -- through the medium of Dance Dance Revolution. We agree with our tipster: the best part is when the crowd suddenly realizes what the hell he's doing.

gotAPI: Slick web developer's reference

2006-04-13T10:41:00.000-10:00

gotAPI is a cool Ajaxy web app that gives you quick access to reference materials for a variety of web technologies. There's a list of languages including HTML, JavaScript, CSS, PHP, Java, Perl, and six others, and when you click on one of them the list of HTML tags, JavaScript objects, PHP functions, etc. pops up. There's a search box at the top for finding items quickly, and clicking on an item brings up a reference page at the W3C , MSDN, W3Schools, and the like. I wish there were more languages available (Ruby, Python, and XUL, for example), but it's a great one-stop resource of a lot of tasks.

Ace Combat X screenies online

2006-04-13T10:32:00.000-10:00

Get your fill of these screens from Famitsu for the upcoming title Ace Combat X on the PSP; for some portable flight sim-esque portable action. Eye-catching!

Matrox Triplehead2Go

2006-04-13T10:27:00.000-10:00

Gotta give the intrepid Wil Harris some props for pulling himself away from a few hours seated at a three monitor setup trying to gauge how "immersed" he felt in his favorite FPS titles, just to write up a review of the Matrox Triplehead2Go. Sounds like the device does works, in that it splits a VGA connection into three VGA connections and tells your computer it's hooked up to one big 3840 x 1024 display. All the software seems to work fine for the various desktop configurations, and while there aren't too many games that can handle 3840 x 1024 out of the box, the included software can help get most common games up and running, and can even be extended by users to cover other titles. As for gaming, the setup comes highly recommended if you've got the graphics power to handle the added resolution. For productivity, the analog connections and further signal degradation due to three-way splitting makes the Triplehead2Go not such a hot choice. So hold out for DVI if you must, or throw down your $300 (plus a few LCDs), jump in and get fragging

VELscope uses light to detect oral cancers

2006-04-13T10:25:00.000-10:00

If more tools like the VELscope come onto the market, we may all start checking in with the Dentist more often. The device, developed by LED Dental in Vancouver, uses fluorescent light that hones in on tissues that glow when abnormal cells show up. That can give the dentist an edge in fighting cancers early on, before they progress too far. The device isn't on the market yet, but is expected to sell for about $5,000 when it's released.

Early HD DVD flicks to be 1080p

2006-04-13T10:22:00.000-10:00

It looks like at least some of the first HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc releases will ship in 1080p. DVDActive has shots of the boxes from several HD DVD movies, including "Million Dollar Baby" and "The Last Samurai," and they're listed as being in 1080p. No word yet if this is an across-the-board thing, or whether the early BD titles are also 1080p (DVDActive only has the fronts of the BD boxes).

Scion's FUSE gets lit

2006-04-12T12:21:00.000-10:00

The Scion FUSE is being billed as the new Scion sports coupe icon and Scion’s keeping tight lipped on the vehicle’s prospects, but it seems to us as more of a flexing of the brand’s customizing muscle. Developed in-house by Toyota and built by Five Axis, creators of a host of craze Scion SEMA concepts, the FUSE has many fun bits, like the much talked about wheel-embedded turn signals, color programmable headlights and fog lamps and a large Scion badge that doubles as a video monitor on which downloaded images and video can be displayed.

The lambo doors swing up to reveal an interior that looks trek-ish. The steering incorporates drive-by-wire hardware with an interface aped from your favorite Gran Turismo steering wheel controller. The “media station” spans the vehicle's width and houses a double dose of 10.5-inch monitors. Though the FUSE is a four-seater, when parked the tailgate converts into a pair of outdoor seats.

To quote Scion brass, the FUSE is a “styling exercise that presents a discussion starting point for Scion owners and other Gen Y consumers with an eye towards a versatile sports coupe.”

Datel XSATA connects Xbox 360 to PC via USB

2006-04-12T12:19:00.000-10:00

Datel, the company that's carving out something of a niche with console storage peripherals, has what looks like a unique solution. The XSATA connects to your 360 and your PC, letting you back up your console data to the PC, freeing up space on the 360. Once your 360's content is on your PC, you can also email unlocked files. Oh, and it has a blue glowing LED base. Expect to pay about $40, which is a lot less than you'd pay for an external drive for your 360.

Acura is going to Le Mans

2006-04-12T12:16:00.000-10:00

The American Le Mans Series got a huge boost with the announcement from the Acura division of American Honda Motor and it's plans to enter the ALMS series with the ultimate goal of racing in the premier LMP1 class at Le Mans! The announcement marks the first factory motorsports program for the Acura brand in its 20-year history.

In the words of John Mendel, senior VP of Auto Operations for Acura, "Our entry as a full factory team in the American Le Mans Series will accurately reflect Acura's position as a leader in automotive performance and technology."

The Acura ALMS program features the first race engine developed from scratch by Honda Performance Development in California, which also supplies engines to the Indy Racing League. Acura powerplants will power multiple LMP2 chassis from Lola and Courage, as a prelude to development of a complete Acura LMP1 chassis and engine package to compete in the ALMS and ultimately at Le Mans. Testing will begin this summer.

Toshiba's Dynabook whale DAP

2006-04-12T12:15:00.000-10:00

The Toshiba Dynabook IPCZ100A sports 512MB of storage, stores a USB 2.0 connection in its tail, and has a small LCD display in its belly. There's no WMA DRM support or really much of anything, but it's a whale, so let's cut it some slack!

Guitar Hero hack - a sequencer is born

2006-04-12T12:12:00.000-10:00

By interfacing the Guitar Hero peripheral with a sequencing program, these students at the University of California have managed to turn the five-button guitar into something approaching a real musical instrument. From novelty sound effects to an almost orchestral piece, it's an impressive start which could spark off a whole series of musical Guitar Hero hacks.

"ROBO-ONE in the Space" promises low-orbit robot battles

2006-04-12T12:08:00.000-10:00

Happening on October 10, 2010 a little event called "ROBO-ONE in the Space" (actual title, not a machine translation). From the same enthusiastic folks who bring us the fascinating terrestrial robot battles and posedowns in Tokyo every year, ROBO-ONE in the Space is an ambitious project that was announced at this year's competition, in which the organizers plan to launch a 125,000-cubic centimeter "piggyback satellite" into polar orbit in conjunction with a larger payload-- all for the purpose of robot grudge matches in zero gravity. Although the 10/10/10 date of the premier competition is purely tentative (pending certain non-trivial steps as international approval for the launch and use of certain radio frequencies), the rules already seem to be set in stone: to simulate the sumo-style ring (or sphere, as it were) of play, the four bots sent up as cargo will each be attached to 5-meter long tethers, which will signal that the competitor has been tossed when they become fully taut. Definitely check out this animated "artist's conception" of what the battles will look like; we don't use the phrase lightly, but it really is the greatest thing ever.

Magnetic words ajaxy

2006-04-12T12:07:00.000-10:00

iSnoop's Fridge or (magnetic words) has gone all Web 2.0 on us and is using ajax now. No need to refresh your browser, as before. I'm glad the author didn't resort to flash. There are other versions of this on the web, some done in Java, some aren't using whole words, just letters, etc. But I like this one the best, because it looks like a fridge.

2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

2006-04-12T12:02:00.000-10:00

Jeep has released a spate of photos of its new 2007 Wrangler Unlimited four-door, which we should be seeing in the rough. The Unlimited boasts the same modular-style removable top that puts a lot of added flexibility, functioning as a t-top of sorts, a targa, and full-blown, wind-in-the-hair convertible.

OSCar - the open source car

2006-04-12T12:00:00.000-10:00

The OScar (man I hope they don't get sued over that name) is hardware, but applying the principles of open source software, yes, they need your help. Check out the forums and see if you or someone you know can help. For instance, it looks like they're still in the market for decent project management software.

Cl1p.net: The Internet clipboard

2006-04-12T11:58:00.000-10:00

Cl1p.net is a web site you can use to be a clipboard between two computers. Just surf to any URL starting with cl1p.net/ (e.g. cl1p.net/bobsnotes), paste some text and hit Save, and then anybody who visits that URL will be able to access what you pasted. It also lets you upload attachments up to 2MB. You can also password-protect your pastes, though that only keeps others from editing, not reading.

MusicIP: Free mood-matching mix software

2006-04-12T11:55:00.000-10:00

MusicIP Mixer is a free Windows app where you choose a song from your collection and it will generate a playlist of songs that it deems similar. While you can start generating playlists as soon as it's installed, the initial algorithm, is fast but seems to be lacking, and the subsequent (and presumably more accurate) algorithm takes a long time to analyze your songs. It does have some nice features, though, like integration with other players so you can send generated playlists to Winamp or iTunes, and compatability with portable devices. It also has a built-in music-recommender that will query the web for new music you might like. MusicIP Mixer has a nice polished feel and is worth checking out if you're sick of assembling playlists by hand.

Kensington laptop dock first to feature startup's multiple-monitors-over-USB tech

2006-04-12T11:53:00.000-10:00

Newnham Research CEO Michael Ledzion's assertion is that "connecting a graphics card to a PC is hard, and expensive," so you might be interested in his company's technology for connecting multiple displays to a PC through a standard USB connection, which will debut in a Kensington laptop dock in June. The Cambridge, England-based startup is able to achieve this rather amazing feat through a hardware rendering engine call NIVO, which can either be built directly into a monitor or incorporated into other peripherals, and which uses proprietary compression algorithms to deliver video up to 1280 x 1024 at 75Hz. As you could probably guess, this technology isn't designed for gaming -- the company suggests using it to display "largely static images" -- although it's supposedly capable of HD playback, which is something we'd definitely like to see firsthand.

Bentley drops top on 2007 Continental GTC

2006-04-12T11:51:00.000-10:00

Bentley has pulled the virtual sheet on their 2007 Continental GTC convertible. Based on the company's sensuous GT coupe, the new convertible will blow-dry hair all the way up to 195 mph, courtesy its V12 engine. Boasting AWD surety for foul weather, the GTC would appear to be a plutocrat's transport of choice for sun-and-snow belters alike. Shame it isn't a folding hardtop.

eMail for dumb millionaires

2006-04-12T11:48:00.000-10:00

How 'bout dropping another few hundie ($399 monthly) on an exclusive millionaires24.com "Upper Class" email address. For that you get such pedestrian features as 512MB of email storage with uh, "unlimited eMail traffic," 1GB file sharing, address book, antispam/antivirus, and just about every other feature (and less) available on your run-o-the-mill, free email service. But the service is limited to only 10k of your well-heeled peers. Oh, just so you know, that "24" tacked onto the name means, well, nothing apparently. The folks behind the service are just too cheap to buy the domain rights to millionaires.com.

New Super Mario: snowball fight!

2006-04-12T11:44:00.000-10:00

OnNintendo.com has posted 12 titillating images of the highly anticipated New Super Mario Bros. Included in the bunch, are some shots of several of the game's multiplayer mini-games — you may recognize them from Super Mario 64 DS. This time around, you'll be able to enjoy them with friends.

Also spotted, is a glimpse of one of the koopalings. Last month, we heard word that Bowser's demented offspring would stage a comeback in New Super Mario Bros., and this image seems to be the confirmation we were looking for. New Super Mario Bros. is currently scheduled for release on May 15 (North America) — June 30 in Europe.

Sony's new Vaio L series all-in-one desktop

2006-04-12T11:40:00.000-10:00

Sony is dropping something like 41 different Vaio models, including upgrades to the H, V, F and S series, and a whole new line called the VGC-L series. We'll start the show with the L, an all-in-one desktop with a either a 19-inch 1680 x 1050 or 15.4-inch 1280 x 800 LCD display. The line comes with a range of processor options, including a Core Duo T2300 at 1.66GHz or a Celeron M 420 at 1.6GHz. Sony also throws in a dual-layer burner, 200GB drive and FeliCa port (these are Japan-only models, remember). The keyboard is designed to fold up on top of the display, leaving just enough displayed to allow access to audio controls via the included remote. And although Sony's including XP Home, Sony is certifying these as "Vista Capable," making them among the first new boxes out of Japan to carry that shiny new sticker. Prices range from ¥160,000 (about $1,350) to ¥220,000 ($1,855), depending on configuration.

2007 Infiniti G35 sedan

2006-04-12T11:35:00.000-10:00

Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn personally unveiled the newly redesigned Infiniti G35 sedan. With the G accounting for approximately one-third of Infiniti sales, Nissan is clearly looking to maintain its position in the near-luxury market segment by improving not only the dynamic performance but also the interface between man and machine.

Nissan's VQ35 high-output V6 is back but with 80% new content, its redline increased to a screaming 7500 RPM, and power boosted over the 300 HP mark. Backing the motor is either a row-your-own 6-speed or a 5-speed autoshifter, the latter being equipped with magnesium shift paddles. Power can be delivered to the pavement via the rear wheels or Nissan's optional ATTESA AWD system.

The Washi-style aluminum trim is intended to duplicate the look of traditional rice paper, and in person it's quite striking. The system is a Bose "Studio on Wheels" system, with an "audiophile quality" headunit and a 3-way speaker arrangement - including a 10" woofer - tucked into the front doors. In fact, those doors are said to have been designed around the sound system rather than the other way around.

Total War, totally!

2006-04-12T11:33:00.000-10:00

Pro-G is reporting that Sega will soon be releasing Total War Eras, a comprehensive collection of the Total War strategy games. Featuring Shogun, Medieval, and Rome titles, plus their expansion packs. Bonus content will include a documentary DVD, soundtracks, and original artwork. Electronic Arts and Activision had published earlier entries in the series, but Sega acquired developer Creative Assembly last year and took over publishing rights. A European release date of May 12 is mentioned, although there's no word yet on a North American date.

$218 Trillion Phone Bill

2006-04-12T11:32:00.000-10:00

A man in Malaysia has received a phone bill for $218 trillion. To add insult to injury, the bill included a notice stating that he would have to "pay up within 10 days or face prosecution." The company, Telekom Malaysia Berhad, is reportedly looking into the case, but has not yet determined whether the bill was a mistake on their part or whether the phone line was used illegally.

I don't know how much your phone company charges, but I think that several entire countries would all have to be using the line illegally to get the bill up to $218 trillion in a month.

Panasonic shows off DMP-BD10 Blu-ray player final design

2006-04-12T11:29:00.000-10:00

I4U.com has got their hands on what Panasonic is claiming the final design of their first consumer Blu-ray player, the DMP-BD10, pictured here with the company's SA-XR700 receiver. Since the Prototype seen at CES panny has dropped most of the front controls, and implemented a cleaner look that more closely matches the design of their other home theater products. Unfortunately no new info is available concerning pricing, this product's scheduled for a September release.

Acura MD-X Concept

2006-04-12T11:25:00.000-10:00

Acura's new MD-X won’t be out til fall, but Acura has offered up this MD-X Concept that strongly hints at what the new ute might look like. The concept SUV features a wider track and longer wheelbase than the current MD-X and has a wide stance that rests on massively flared fenders. 20-inch five-spoke alloys are housed in those oversized wheel arches and the vehicle is tipped with a five-sided front grille and Xenon HID headlights.

Yahoo! Maps gets global satellite imagery

2006-04-12T11:22:00.000-10:00

Yahoo! continues its significant upgrades in the new release now with global satellite imagery with an emphasis on U.S. cities. They've also added medium-resolution maps for cities around the world, and developers will be pleased to know they've released Version 3 of the Yahoo! Maps API to take advantage of the new features.

First Harley-Davidson Dealership Opens in China

2006-04-12T11:20:00.000-10:00

The first Harley-Davidson dealership has opened in another rapidly growing market, China. The first Harley dealership is located in Beijing. The Globe and Mail describes the scene at the store which is located a 20-minute drive from the center of town. Visitors to the store where very excited to check out the gleaming Harley models and other Harley-themed merchandise. The shop will also offer rider training and organized rides. Unfortunately motorcycles are banned on Beijing's major streets. The bikes are also comparatively pricey and can cost more than the average yearly income in Beijing.

Blizzard bans 5,400 WoW cheaters & suspends 10,700

2006-04-12T11:18:00.000-10:00

Blizzard has continued its aggressive stance against World of Warcraft cheaters, following the release of patch 1.10. A Blizzard rep revealed that 5,400 accounts have been banned since the patch was introduced. In addition, 10,700 accounts have been suspended. Blizzard encourages players to report cheaters to hacks@blizzard.com.

In related news, a group of reputed gold farmers have launched a "Stop Snitching" campaign to protect their assets. T-shirts are on sale for $20.

Japanese movie theaters to get Internet-controlled "Smell-O-Vision"

2006-04-12T11:16:00.000-10:00

NTT Communications Corp will be installing fragrance-releasing equipment (think: giant Glade Plug-Ins) in several Japanese theaters that mixes different herbs and oils to create aromas that supposedly enhance key on-screen plot elements. According to Kyodo News, NTT "will use the Internet" to synchronize the scent generators -- which are located under what we assume to be more-pricey "aroma premium seats" -- during seven scenes of the multi-theater April 22nd premier. Colin Farrell lovers will be pleased to learn that the first movie to get this 21st century "Smell-O-Vision" treatment is the actor's 2005 film, 'The New World," whose tale of love between Pilgrims and Native Americans will no doubt result in a heavy odor of turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie lingering in the theaters for weeks.

BenQ launches a slew of Joybees

2006-04-12T11:12:00.000-10:00

BenQ-Siemens new Bluetooth-enabled Joybees players are (clockwise from top left): the E520 with Bluetooth / call features; their ET50 with the same Bluetooth call features, but also a data transmission profile, presumably for file swapping (so it'd probably be OBEX / FTP); the Game Boy Micro-esque EG10, which comes bundled with ten Sega Game Gear and Master System titles (like Sonic Blast and Columns) and an SD slot; and finally the E105 clip-on MP3 player. No word on when or if these'll be States-bound, so keep those fingers locked and loaded on your favorite importer.

Saturn PreVue concept

2006-04-11T12:32:00.000-10:00

Saturn's pre-show shots of the PreVue crossover concept are everywhere on the 'net today, so here they are. The PreVue is a glimpse of a possible future design direction for the Saturn brand as it tries to include sportier vehicles. Sharp-eyed readers will recognize the PreVue as a rebadged Opel Antara GTC concept. Powered by a transverse-mounted, twin-turbo Ecotec diesel, putting out 212 hp (156 kw) through a six-speed automatic.

Saturn's PreVue (above) and Opel's Antara GTC at the Frankfurt Motor Show (below).

Lausanne robot plane gets smaller, has 14-inch wingspan

2006-04-11T12:30:00.000-10:00

This tiny robot plane being developed by a group of Swiss researchers in Lausanne, latest edition has a 14-inch wingspan and weighs about a third of an ounce. Like its predecessor, it takes its inspiration from the insect world, and is able to fly indoors autonomously, and includes tiny wing-mounted cameras and a gyroscopic stabilizer. Now, the developers have set the bar higher for the next version: they're shooting for a housefly-sized flyer.

Life on Mars flash games

2006-04-11T12:29:00.000-10:00

Apparently once tied to a show on Australian TV, the Life on Mars site is up so you can still play the games— all 30 of them. They're Wario Ware type mini games, like slap the mosquito, and Talk Show Chair Smash. Each game is supposed to be a location on Earth (Finland has a hot tub game, India gets a Bollywood inspired one).

Commence rampant PSP part deux speculation!

2006-04-11T12:25:00.000-10:00

The reputable Shacknews claims the PSP followup is "a successor rather than a redesign of the current system" while acknowledging recent rumors of a redesign. They're saying hard drive is in, UMD is out, and the system is known simply as the "PSP 2." Oh yeah, they say it "may" appear "in the next three years." While this may be accurate information, that's like saying we're pretty sure there's gonna be a PlayStation 4.

The much more dubious source of New Tech Spy claims a shamelessly DS-esque touchscreen PSP (or PSi, for interactive, get it?) will introduce a smaller form factor, a bevy of wireless capabilities (WiFi, WiBro, UMTS, EVDO, WiMax).

Girl gamer recruitment good reality TV?

2006-04-11T12:20:00.000-10:00

Last summer when Eekers (one of Ubisoft's Frag Dolls) left the line-up, a nationwide search for her replacement commenced, everything from a gaming CV to glamour shots were required. Months later, the shortlisted candidates have been announced, and all eight of the finalists will be flown to San Francisco to "join the existing Frag Dolls in a weekend of playing games and interviewing". However this is no ordinary interview -- instead, the whole thing will be covered by Internet TV site GameTrailers, providing a reality TV glimpse into the mysterious world of girl gamers.

Gucci 85th Anniversary Bags

2006-04-11T12:19:00.000-10:00

Gucci's creative director Frida Giannini has taken the classic shape of the hobo bag and remodeled it in new materials. The new bags to celebrate Gucci's 85th anniversary will also have brass and enamel plates (meant to be worn on the inside) which are marked with the year. Other looks will include a patchwork of multicolored strips of reptile skins and "web tartan," which will involve a stylized velvet plaid with the double G logo in velvet. The bags will be sold only in Gucci stores from July through December.

Top 10 Women's Shoes for Spring

2006-04-11T12:03:00.000-10:00

What are the top trends in women's shoes this season? Think heels that are very, very high. Think wedges that tower. And think pointy heels that are super-aggressive. But the look isn't all tough, with feminine touches like bows, ribbons and polka dots softening the look for spring.

Look for plenty of fierce-looking, "Gladiator"-inspired footwear this spring, including Alexander McQueen's leather strappy sandal(pictured above). Price: $695.

Curved toe Pumps are still in season, but the toes aren't quite as round as last year. Plus, designers are adding details such as small buckles, seen here on a violet and white pump from Louis Vuitton. Price: $670.

Flats also continue to be in season this spring, appearing in metallic colors like gold and silver. These flats are from Jimmy Choo. Price: $295.

Look for sandals to have more ornate details this season; Calypso adds snakeskin as well as mother of pearl accents to its versions. Price: $205.

Wedges are going high this spring and take on elements of the espadrille, seen here in Christian Louboutin's ribbon-clad take on the wedge. Price: $375.

Spiky and strong, the blue leather Manolo Blanhik high-heel isn't for the shy. It comes with an ankle strap, another popular feature this spring. Price: $565.

Pink is everywhere this spring, including on sneakers. This pair by Adidas manages to be feminine and fun without being too sickly-sweet. Price: $50.

Prada combines the open toe (another big trend this season) with a Victorian-influenced short boot. Price: $780.

Expect lots of black and white this spring and summer, while Miu Miu's slide also includes a bow, making it feel a bit Daisy Duke. Price: $265.

Strong colors like blue, red and green dominate this spring. Here, Yves Saint Laurent offers up a metallic green pump with a chunky heel. Price: $495.

Loius Vuitton Speedy 30

2006-04-11T12:01:00.000-10:00

The Louis Vuitton Speedy 30 is the sort of roomy bag that is just the right size to hold a change of clothes for an overnight trip. In an update of the more stately Speedy 25 bag, designer Marc Jacobs has given the purse vivid pink and orange microfiber lining that can be seen through perforations on its exterior front and side pockets. The monogrammed canvas is trimmed in kidskin leather with comfortable, rolled leather handles. Price $1,200.

Lara Croft Crystal XBox 360

2006-04-11T11:59:00.000-10:00

This case was created to celebrate the Lara Croft game on Xbox 360. The Microsoft office in Germany is behind this masterpiece which contains 43,000 crystals. The case is worth about $11,000 and will be given away to a lucky gamer in Germany.

burnatonce: Versatile CD burning app for Windows

2006-04-11T11:58:00.000-10:00

burnatonce is a Windows front-end for the open source cdrdao and mkisofs CD burning tools. In other words, it's a free, fast, versatile, and minimal way to burn CDs. Though its interface may not be as polished as Nero's, burnatonce has most of the features you're used to, like support for bootable and multi-session discs, audio CD burning from MP3, Ogg, and FLAC files, ISO, TOC, and CUE image support, drag-and-drop, and more. Not bad for a 3.8MB free download.

DS gets "portable" TV adapter

2006-04-11T11:55:00.000-10:00

Can't classify this DS TV adapter as portable. But hey, we report, you decide.

JVC XA-F57, XA-F107 flash audio players

2006-04-11T11:54:00.000-10:00

JVC's two new flash models, the 512MB XA-F57 and 1GB XA-F107, both support MP3, WMA and PlaysForSure, and also include a line-in for direct encoding. They also include everyone's favorite feature, a lanyard with an integrated headphones. The players also have a mono LCD display, come in pink, silver, white and black, and support mass-storage mode for non-DRM'd files. The F57 is expected to sell for $99, and the F107 should go for about $149.

2007 Nissan Maxima

2006-04-11T11:51:00.000-10:00

Nissan President and CEO Carlos Ghosn will reveal the official world premieres of the 2007 Nissan Maxima and the all-new 2007 Nissan Altima at the New York International Auto Show Wednesday, but before that here's a sneek peek of the new Maxima.

SftpDrive: AccessSSH server in Windows

2006-04-11T11:49:00.000-10:00

SftpDrive is a commercial app (free six-week trial, $39 to buy) that lets you map remote SSH/SFTP servers to network drives in Windows, meaning you can access your remote files just like local files from any Windows program securely. In addition to mapping network drives, SftpDrive will do SSH tunneling.

Web SE: System 7 simulation in Flash

2006-04-11T11:48:00.000-10:00

MyOldMac.net has a Flash toy called Web SE that's a great little simulation of System 7 running on the venerable Macintosh SE. Of course, it doesn't do everything your old Mac did, but many of the little details are captured perfectly, like the Eyeballs in the menu bar, the AfterDark Warp screensaver, and classic sounds like "Eep" and "Quack". Web SE includes some apps like MacDraw and MacWrite, plus a handful of classic games, and it even has a simulation of Netscape 3.6 complete with screechy modem sounds.

AjaxTerm: A terminal in your web browser

2006-04-11T11:47:00.000-10:00

AjaxTerm is a Python app that uses the magic of Ajax to let you use a full-fledged terminal in any web browser. All it takes is a machine running Linux, UNIX, Mac OS X, or Cygwin on Windows and an Apache web server. It even supports terminal colors. It's only as secure as a regular terminal session, but the AjaxTerm web site has instructions for securing it with HTTPS.

Jumpcut - multi-clip clipboard tool for OS X

2006-04-11T11:44:00.000-10:00

Mac user are used to the old copy/paste one thing at a time routine, but Jumpcut might change that. It's free, open source, and incredibly easy to use, once you get the hang of it. Copy some text, and it's stored in Jumpcut's holding tank. Drop down the menu bar icon (or use a hotkey to activate a bezel view), choose which clip you want to paste, and go paste it. There are some idiosyncrasies, but those are mostly from other apps like Camino, and how they handle keyboard shortcuts or the clipboard.

Capcom Classics reloads on the PSP

2006-04-11T11:43:00.000-10:00

Capcom has announced they're continuing the nostalgia fest started by Capcom Classics Collection Remix with the coming release of Capcom Classics Collection Reloaded for the PSP. The new title will feature 15 old-school titles:

* Commando
* Eco Fighters
* Ghouls n' Ghosts
* King of Dragons
* Knights of the Round
* Street Fighter II

Features for the title include customizable controls, classic or widescreen presentation, game-sharing, and wireless play over Ad-hoc. Unlockable items will also be in plentiful supply via a Capcom-themed slot machine where you can swap game credits for stuff like tips, artwork, and secret codes.

Kingston 2GB U3 Data Traveler includes ACDSee, Pass2Go

2006-04-11T11:40:00.000-10:00

The U3 standard for mobile applications continues to gain steam, with the Kingston U3 Data Traveler 2GB, comes bundled with mobile versions of the Pass2Go password manager, the ACDSee image browsing application and the Zinio e-reader. It would be nice if Kingston could also throw in mobile versions of apps like Firefox and Thunderbird, but it's easy enough to download them from the U3 site. Kingston's a little vague on whether the software on the drive consists of free "lite" versions, or trials of the full-featured programs, so don't be surprised if you're hit with nags after using the drive for a while. The 1GB version has an MSRP of $47, while the 2GB goes for $75.