May 7, 2006, 10:35 PM CT

Mobile TV: The user experience

Mobile TV - The user experience (10:14 min, video Subtitled).

What do mobile TV users say about the service. What attracts them to using mobile TV and are they prepared to pay.

Watch video........

Posted by: Ryan      Permalink         Source

May 7, 2006, 10:14 PM CT

Knock Code Technology will open your door

The Israeli company E-lock has developed the first lock technology based on a Knock Code. This innovation is based on patented technology which uses a series of quick knocking sounds. The discrete mechanical knocks open the lock and are produced by a small device that can be carried by any authorized person. The device which opens the lock needs to touch the door (which can be made out of any material such as metal, wood, plastic or glass) to cause the lock mechanism to open. Since there is no keyhole or contact point on the door, this unique mechanism offers a significantly higher level of security then existing technology.

The device which produces the knocking sounds, also known as a 'KnocKey', includes a small keypad for entering a personal code, only when the correct code had been entered the device will produce the knocking sounds. The device can either be carried by hand or be attached to the door externally (but is not connected directly to the lock mechanism in any way). Each 'KnocKey' can be used to open up to 100 different locks using different codes. This can be particularly useful in offices with many restricted areas.

The knock code is the combination of the time intervals between knocks produced by the 'KnocKey', and the knock code itself is encrypted and has billions of different combinations. Even more importantly, if an unauthorized person tries to record the knocking sequence and play it back in order to open the door, the lock will not open since the knocking sequence changes every time. Another advantage of the technology is that all 'KnocKeys' are the same, if the 'KnocKey' is lost or stolen, it is possible to simply buy another 'KnocKey' and enter your personal code. Both the 'KnocKey' and the lock consume fairly little energy and operate using Lithium ion batteries which can last a very long time.........

Posted by: Ryan      Permalink         Source

May 6, 2006, 9:15 PM CT

Olde Worlde Calling

Straight out of the 1960s, these bright orange telephones from Uncommon Goods have been pieced together with bits and bobs from up to five vintage Siemens phones. As comforting as apple pie with extra custard, the retro restored blowers look just like the one Granny used to own.

What a shame you didn't have the foresight to pocket hers; these babies will set you back $160 (around £86). But hurry: they're being discontinued.........

Posted by: Ryan      Permalink         Source

May 6, 2006, 9:12 PM CT

Shocknife

A knife which looks like a real one, induces the same pain but is incapable of cutting. How is that possible? Well, Shocknife SK-1 makes it possible as it sends an electrical shock which enables it to induce the same pain.

Meant for training purposes, the company claims that it can make a trainee feel the same fear and stress. Shocknife's shock levels can vary with the well placed shock adjustment screw.........

Posted by: Ryan      Permalink         Source

May 6, 2006, 8:43 PM CT

Fuel Cells Savings

We've gone on the record saying fuel cells are at least 20 years away. But when will that make a big difference in our use of gasoline? A long, long time:.

"The potential for hydrogen fuel cells having an impact that you'd notice is a long way away," says John Heywood, professor of mechanical engineering at MIT. The estimates assume that competitive fuel cell vehicles will be available within 15 years, an achievement that will require improvements, for example, in hydrogen storage and production and fuel-cell costs. But even if and when fuel-cell vehicles come with the price and performance that consumers want, it will still take decades more before such new vehicles work their way into widespread use.

MIT is talking 60 years in regards to gasoline usage and nasty emissions before hydrogen makes a big enough difference for any of us to benefit from. So what to do?

Use less of the stuff. But MIT knows that's not the American way:

Heywood admits these ideas might not be rapidly adopted: "It's not American to conserve. We seem to have drifted into that attitude. Our culture doesn't bring us up to think about conserving. It brings us up to think about consuming".

We are totally diggin' the new subcompacts from the big 3 of Japan and are honestly hoping our big 2.5 from home announce competitors to those vehicles rather than announcing more of the same.........

Posted by: Ryan      Permalink         Source

May 6, 2006, 1:57 PM CT

DVR Commercial Skipping Could Threaten TV Advertising

JupiterResearch, a leading authority on the impact of the Internet and emerging consumer technologies on business, has found that 53 percent of online Digital Video Recorder (DVR) subscribers used their DVRs to skip commercials. If these DVR households skip commercials 100 percent of the time, the cable and broadcast TV advertising revenue potentially at risk in 2006 would be $8 billion of the $74 billion TV advertising market.

As per a new report: "The DVR Dilemma: Managing Consumer Behavior," DVR users who skipped commercials report watching an average of 18 hours of television per week - not significantly more than viewed in non-DVR homes.

"Claims that DVRs tend to increase television viewing are not true across the board," said Todd Chanko, Analyst at JupiterResearch and author of the report. "Only for those homes that record and watch a show the same day or week does DVR use boost overall TV watching, from 17 hours a week for non-DVR homes to 20 hours a week".

JupiterResearch recommends that television networks and advertisers rethink programming and advertising strategies to cope with how DVRs are being used.........

Posted by: Ryan      Permalink         Source

May 6, 2006, 1:52 PM CT

Sony KDE-W50A12U 50in plasma TV

In case you haven't heard, the KDE-W50A12U is the last plasma TV Sony is ever going to build. The Japanese megacorp announced recently that it was now going to focus exclusively on LCD. So let's just hope that Sony's plasma swansong turns out to be more a fond farewell than a case of good riddance.

The fond farewell option certainly seems more likely from the way the TV looks. It's truly a sight to behold with its sexy see-through glass strips to top and bottom, and bold blend of black and silver elsewhere. In fact, even though the set is already over 50in across, the design is so nice that we could happily have lived with even more of it!

This style-meister's connectivity is mostly good, with one big disappointment. The good stuff includes HDMI and component sockets for digital and analogue HD sources respectively, three SCARTs (all of which, superbly, can take top-quality RGB signals), and a slot via which you can add subscription services to the set's built in digital tuner. The bad news is that there's no sign of any PC connectivity, shattering our dreams of playing World of Warcraft on a 50in scale. This really does seem a bit of an oversight on what is, after all, one of the costliest 50in plasma TVs in town.

As you'd expect of a big flat panel TV costing in the region of £4k, the W50A12U is fully HD Ready, with its native pixel resolution coming in at 1,366 x 768. It can also handle the key HD format duo of 720p and 1080i, though 1080p is not an option.........

Posted by: Ryan      Permalink         Source

May 6, 2006, 1:49 PM CT

The Singing Keyboard Prank

This year I decided to go all out for April Fools and do something that could be duplicated across multiple computers without permanent damage - and so the singing keyboard hack was born.

Concept.

Take the musical element from a musical greeting card and connect it to the caps lock LED on the user's keyboard. Each time the victim presses caps lock the music plays (and quite loud too). This is a great sleeping prank.It might be found on the first day, or weeks from implementation. It's the perfect prank.

Why Caps?

True, most people don't use caps lock very often, if ever, but unfortunately not a number of other keys are linked to an LED. Also most keys are only pressed momentarily, which would require a solid-state bounceless switch; which I had trouble getting to work. The num lock LED turns on and off several times during boot time, so that's out and only leaves the caps lock as a viable solution.

Disclaimer.

If you decide to do this prank understand that it could be a career-limiting move if you do it to your boss and/or somebody without a sense of humor. I would also recommend to first experiment with a dummy keyboard that you don't mind destroying.

I will not be held responsible for your problems. ;o).........

Posted by: Ryan      Permalink         Source

May 6, 2006, 1:44 PM CT

TabletKiosk eo V7110 arrives in the US

Sure, it might be $900 bucks, but the TabletKiosk eo V7110 is not only the first UMPC to arrive in the States, but it happens to be the cheapest UMPC announced so far. It just started shipping today, but lucky reader Tomi B. got his hands on one already and snapped some unpacking pics to share.

Thanks Tomi! We can't say it looks quite as good as the marketing pics, but we're liking the white casing and we'll reserve any other judgements until people start snapping in the battery and firing this thing up. Click on for a couple more shots.........

Posted by: Ryan      Permalink         Source

May 6, 2006, 1:37 PM CT

A Portable Cubicle

Perhaps useful if you're managing a fleet of evil telemarketers and having a completely mobile, relocatable-in-an-instant "boiler room" can help you stay one step ahead of the law. Whatever you decide to do with these, they seem to me to have quite the potential for usefulness. They're modular cubicles-on-wheels called Standby Office, designed by the German studio Konig+Neurath.

These offices are made from steel, aluminum and wood and measure 190 x 146 x 74 cm. They come with an integrated WiFi access point, so all you have to do is add a chair and computer.

Your fleet of evil telemarketers better be good at separating grandma from her money though, cause each of these will set you back a cool 5,000 Euros. They'll hit the market in Spain in the next few months.........

Posted by: Ethan      Permalink         Source