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LiquidIce, master of Wii hacks, has listed an amazingly useful hack for the Wii that makes the game console a electronic control device for your home utilities. It allows you to control your homes temperature, security camera, music playback, Cable DVR, among other household objects.
In short, this hack makes your home a Smart Home.The real power behind this hack is the WACI NX server emulated through a Nokia 770.
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{jgxtimg src:=[images/stories/news/sunil/opt103kbl.jpg] width:=[450]}
The much hyped about keyboard, the Optimus-103, seems to be nearing the pre-order stages. Earlier reports indicated that pre-orders will start on 12 December but that didn't happen. But we strongly believe that Art. Lebedev will definitely open the pre-orders before the end of this year.
Meanwhile, a few more details about the keyboard have been revealed yesterday. When you press the CapsLock key, the keys automatically change case! Also based on the application in use, the keys change correspondingly. For example, if you are using Photoshop, the keys change to the images of the different tools in Photoshop corresponding to the letters.
Even the modifier keys like Shift, Alt, Ctrl can change the layout of the keys! Ain't that cool!! The keys' state also changes when certain ambient light conditions or specified time of the day occur or certain computer state (sleep, on, off etc.) occurs. Brightness fades to dark when keyboard is switched off and there is also a 'Starry night' screensaver for keys (we seriously don't know whats this gonna be!).
Users can change the brightness levels manually or let the software control it. There are several font styles and label positions to choose from. User also get the ability to show several layouts at the same time and last but definitely not the least, users can create their own layouts!
According to an Engadget article a few weeks ago, this masterpiece is going to set you back about $1200. Yes, you read it right - its $1200 and will be available in May 2007!! So if you are really crazy about buying this one, keep an eye on the Art. Lebedev site.
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In a move that will probably make Google more money (hey, that sounds familiar), Google and NASA have decided to join forces to make space data available to the public through Google services. Data about the moon, Mars, space shuttles, and the International Space Station would be available through Google Earth, and this could also be an opportunity to provide real-time weather forecasting and radar images.
Plenty of neat things could come out of this, so we'll have to wait and see what actually does.
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Samsung's definitely keeping up with the game: their Yepp T9 series of MP3 players, known as a formidable competitor in the flash-based MP3 player market, is now stepping up to an 8GB version. Apple has had an 8GB iPod Nano for a while now, but it's still not too late for Samsung to sell a few before we see another jump in capacities.
No details about pricing or availability have been released, but expect it soon, because Samsung has a new K3 model launching in just a few weeks.
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...Well, everything else these days can be plugged into USB, so why not an electric shaver?
This razor features a floating double-head system and an "ultra thin" outer foil, and claims it consumes little power. And hey, it's even got blue LEDs, to make that morning shave exciting. The USB plug revolves around (which I would probably take for granted, since I don't plan on shaving sideways), and you can turn it on or off. At $22, this shaver is a steal...but make sure your laptop's batteries don't run out.
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Microsoft has released a new firmware upgrade for their Zune player, version 1.2. The new version doesn't add any new functionality to the player, but it improves some performance issues with the player. Users have noted that many things have been sped up, such as scrolling through lists or viewing pictures with the Zune. Microsoft has said that it intends to continue providing performance tweaks such as this one throughout the product lifetime of the Zune.
To perform the update, simply plug your Zune into your computer, right click on the device and select "Check for Zune Device Updates." The new firmware version should download and install itself on your player, and you should be good to go.
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You have to hand it to Sony: they are determined not to give up on a failing product until the very end. While that may be good or bad, Sony is attempting to revitalize the Playstation Portable (PSP) with a new online service that will allow users to download videos that are playable on the PSP. They are hoping this new service will pose a threat to the iTunes video store, which started up a few months ago.
Users would download the movies, music videos, and other content through a system similar to that of the iTunes store, then use a MemoryStick to transfer to and play them on a PSP. To make this a little more viable, Sony will also be releasing a 4GB MemoryStick for the PSP, which can hold about 10 full-length movies.
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Suzuki unveiled the SXBox Concept, an SX4 modified with video game equipment and go-fast hardware in the form of a high-flow air intake, cat-back exhaust, and sport suspension.
This is one moveable feast for serious gamers. SXBOX looks like it jumped
right off the screen and onto the street, with an electroluminescent green
glow that envelops the body and announces its Xbox 360 capability. Engine
upgrades and high-performance wheels power it up for the real world.
Inside a
light-bending rear projection display screen and digital video system turn the
cockpit into a game room. The first Xbox 360 is right there front and center,
integrated into the dash. The controls? Docked on the steering wheel and
center console. There’s a 2,000-watt multi-speaker surround sound
system with wide frequency response and a thundering bass.
Door
panels and feedback-enabled seats have fiber-optic circuits to
keep the glow going. Backseat opponents stay in the game
with roof-mounted LCD screens mated to their own Xbox
360. The rear projection screen keeps spectators
in the action. And, of course, there is full
Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connectivity.
Get in. Game on.
Read on for detailed a detailed feature list and a LOT of pics...
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Here's something we've seen plenty of already: a wireless device claiming to have speeds just as good as wired devices. Well, these numbers are a lot more concrete. Shown at CES, this wireless USB hub by Belkin will let you keep the actual hub up to 30 feet away from your computer, without the need for a cable connecting it, and will still give you the 480Mbps of bandwidth that USB 2.0 has to offer.
This is the first product on the market that will use ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, and 480Mbps is definitely a lot of bandwidth for a wireless device. The hub has four ports, like most other hubs, and Belkin has promised it will ship within a couple of weeks (though they said it would ship in March before, so take that with a grain of salt) for $200. A bit pricey for a USB hub?
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The thing that was so great about optical mice was that there was no ball that had to roll around, collecting dust and getting harder and harder to move smoothly. The Hover Mouse by CrazyPC takes this concept one step further, with a mouse that (supposedly) floats one centimeter above the mousepad for the ultimate in friction-less movement.
If this indeed works as well as it says it does, it could make your gaming experience just a little bit better (probably not much, but maybe a little). But it's a little hard to believe, and having huge amounts of electromagnetic waves right next to your hand is probably not all that safe. And the $75 price tag is a little steep, too.
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