Zune HD gets Live Messenger and Games

Microsoft Zune HD now has Windows Live Messenger. The app is the Zune's first instant messaging app and supports most of the same features, up to Facebook chat as well as social feeds from Facebook, Flickr and MySpace. It doesn't truly multitask but will change status to reflect any currently playing music.

The new app comes in tandem with three action and puzzle games, Castles & Cannons, Dr. Optics and WordMonger.

Microsoft last gave the Zune HD a major non-game app through the Facebook client in March and is thought to be steering its attention away from the dedicated Zune HD player in favor of Windows Phone 7, which should have much broader app support.

[Via electronista]

Raytheon demonstrates XOS 2 – 2nd Generation Robotics Suit

After the first generation, now Raytheon is developing 2nd generation of exoskeleton suit which is lighter and stronger. The suit has been given the name XOS 2.

The suit which uses 50% less power than the previous generation can be used by the military in logistics since it would assist solders in carrying heavy supplies and armaments. Another version of the suit, which would cover just the legs, would help a soldier in the field to carry a heavy backpack over large distances.

Even with 50% less power draw the XOS 2 needs to be tethered for operation. Raytheon is working to create an untethered version, but that’s as much as 10 years away. We should expect to see the tethered XOS 2 in the field within 5 years, though.

[Via geek]

Denon Introduced The RCD-N7, Small Home Entertainment Center

 

Eloectronic company, Denon has introduced the RCD-N7, a new small home entertainment center that integrates a CD player and iPod  dock. This audio system supports the popular digital audio formats as well as Windows Media Player 11 for syncing through integrated Wi-Fi. It is also compatible with DLNA v1.5, along with Apple AirPlay support to push audio from an iOS device or iTunes.

AV Tuner lets users tune in to Internet radio stations, along with accessing Rhapsody, Napster, Pandora and Last.fm. AirPlay will be supported via a future firmware upgrade, letting users connect directly to the iTunes library. A USB port lets users connect other sources.

The RCD-N7 receiver costs $600 and the required SC-N7 Stereo Loudspeakers are priced at $200 for the pair and it will be available in October. 

[Via ipodnn]

Sony Ericsson LiveView Android Small Device

Sony Ericsson has introduced a new Bluetooth accessory for Android phones called LiveView. This device has a small 1.3-inch OLED display. With Bluetooth connectivity, the device allows you to check incoming calls like a cellphone, any calendar reminders you have and social networking apps like Twitter and Facebook.

Sony Ericsson LiveView can also be used on the arm as attached in a watch strap, on a keychain, user's clothing or a bag strap. Sony Ericsson has developed the Sony Ericsson LiveWare Manager application for this device. The LiveView accessory works with Android 2.0 and later smartphones, which is strange considering Sony Ericsson's own Android devices are stuck in Donut (Android 1.6) so far.

[Via cnetasia also sony-ericsson|]

RIM introduces BlackBerry Tablet - PlayBook

Research In Motion® (RIM) introduced the new professional-grade BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet.

The features are below:

• 7-inch LCD, 1024 x 600, WSVGA, capacitive touch screen with full multi-touch and gesture support
• BlackBerry Tablet OS with support for symmetric multiprocessing
• 1 GHz dual-core processor
• 1 GB RAM
• Dual HD cameras (3 MP front facing, 5 MP rear facing), supports 1080p HD video recording
• Video playback: 1080p HD Video, H.264, MPEG, DivX, WMV
• Audio playback: MP3, AAC, WMA
• HDMI video output
• Wi-Fi - 802.11 a/b/g/n
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• Connectors: microHDMI, microUSB, charging contacts
• Open, flexible application platform with support for WebKit/HTML-5, Adobe Flash Player 10.1,  Adobe Mobile AIR, Adobe Reader, POSIX, OpenGL, Java
• Ultra thin and portable:
• Measures 5.1"x7.6"x0.4" (130mm x 193mm x 10mm)
• Weighs less than a pound (approximately 0.9 lb or 400g)
• RIM intends to also offer 3G and 4G models in the future.

[RIM]

Sharp Announces 5.5-Inch And 10.8-Inch Android Tablets Called Galapagos

Sharp Inc. announced e-book reader with the name “Galapagos” in Tokyo yesterday. There are two versions: the smaller one, the “mobile type”, has a 5.5-inch LCD screen (1,024 × 600 resolution) that’s optimized for displaying paperback books (it will be available in red and black). It also comes with a trackball to scroll through pages.

The other model, the Galapagos “home type”, need you to turn pages just like you do on the iPad. It has a 10.8-inch LCD screen (1,366 × 800) for magazine content formatted across a two-page spread. By way of comparison: The iPad has a 9.7-inch LCD screen featuring 1,024×768 resolution.

The Personal Towel Warmer

This is the warming bin that heats up to three bath towels in five minutes for spa-like comfort at home. It gently heats towels to a soothing 135º F and maintains the temperature for up to 20 minutes to ensure a warm towel will be waiting after a shower. The towel warmer requires as little floor space as a small garbage can, it begins to heat as soon as the lid is closed and the button is pressed, and signals when the towels are ready with an illuminated LED. The device also warms bathrobes, blankets, or clothing. Plugs into AC. 17 1/2" W x 12" H x 9 1/2" D. (8 lbs.) Price $79.95, available at Hammacher Schlemmer.

Vivitek H9080FD LED Home Theater Projector

Vivitek introduces a high-end home cinema projector, the H9080FD with LED light source that offers 800 lumens of brightness and up to 20,000 hours of operation. The H9080FD features Full HD 1920x1080p resolution, 100,000:1 contrast ratio, 1.85 to 2.4:1 throw ratio, and 1.3:1 manual zoom ratio.

The Vivitek H9080FD utilizes Single 0.95-inch DMD DLP Technology by Texas Instruments and is equipped with Gennum 9450 video processor. You can find two HDMI 1.3, component, VGA, composite, S-video inputs as well as RS-232c port and two 12V Trigger.

[Via itechnews]

The Dogbrella Protects Your Dog From Rain

During rainy days it is often difficult to walk the dogs outside. But now there is no need to worry. The invention of Dogbrella makes everything simple.

This inverted bumbershoot forms a waterproof cocoon around a small dog, enabling canine and master to maintain a walking regimen in inclement weather. The umbrella's 29" diameter canopy is made from 8-gauge clear polypropylene that sheds rain, sleet, and snow while allowing an unfettered view of your walking companion. Not only does the umbrella eliminate the excuse "it's too wet for a walk" from a dog owner's lexicon (to the delight of most canines and the amusement of most spouses), it prevents moisture from getting spread throughout the home, along with the unpleasant scent of a wet dog. The tip of the umbrella hooks to your pet's leash to keep it from straying beyond its protective canopy. Sturdy stainless steel shaft and ribs with a white plastic crook handle. For leash-trained dogs up to 15 lbs. and less than 24" long. 24 3/4" L x 4" when collapsed. It sells for $29.95 at Hammacher Schlemmer.

Vintage Apple Computer Circuit Board Clocks

This is a real green creation! A creativity and sense of art. This is a clock made from circuit board of a vintage 1983 model Apple IIe computer.

This other clock above is from the ROM card of a 1978 Apple II model which by my calculations is not even a vintage Apple computer anymore, it’s an antique. You can pick up either one of these for under $50 at Geekware’s site.

[Via craziestgadgets]

MPE+ Field Tablet

Now you will understand how police look for evidence from a mobile communication. This is one of the tool used. AccessData's mobile phone analysis field tablet allows you to conduct onsite phone acquisitions and preview all data available on supported handsets, including the embedded file systems. The MPE+ Field Tablet integrates
seamlessly with Forensic Toolkit computer forensic software.

• Supports more than 2500 phones, because MPE+ enables viewing and acquisition of file systems on 80% of all CDMA handsets.
• Recover and document files that no other mobile solution can recover.
• Correlate mobile phone data with computer evidence and data from other phones.
• Analyze multiple phones within the same interface, simultaneously.
• Acquire phone data in a forensically sound container without altering mobile phone data.
• Analyze phonebook, last dialed numbers, missed calls, received calls, SMS messages, multimedia messages, photos, files, phone details, calendar, notes, tasks and more.
• An unsurpassed quantity of mobile phones are supported.
• Frequent updates and upgrades with new features and more phones.
• Direct SIM analyzer through SIM reader.
• Reads deleted messages from the SIM card.
• Generate reports.
• Hex viewer.
• MPE can be used as a stand-alone application for quick and easy acquisition in the field.
• Filters make it easy to find relevant data:

          o Call
          o Contact
          o Event
          o SMS
          o Files

•     HTML content viewer