Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

Well screw us — T-Mobile’s 3G network debut tomorrow? It’s going to be voice only. That’s right, you heard us, VOICE ONLY. So trepidatious is this company to actually get their 3G data rollout, um, rolled out, they’re launching first with kneecapped voice-only service, keeping only EDGE for those demanding data. Here’s the snippet from the memo we received:

“3G is the next generation of our wireless network, following our current GSM network. In this early phase of our network evolution, 3G is a new technology for carrying wireless voice calls and supporting existing data capabilities on our network. In future phases, this next generation network will power ‘high-speed’ (3G) products and services that connect customers in new and exciting ways. … Inform customers who are interested in high-speed data that the first phase of our 3G roll out supports voice only.” [Emphasis ours]

No word on when T-Mobile actually plans to turn on the faster data, but for everyone who was hoping he wait continues — for those that haven’t already jumped ship, anyway.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Storage

“Memristors” are one of several memory technologies that have been theorized and promised in the coming years. HP has made a real memristor, however, and the way solid state memory is created and stored could have just changed forever. First theorized in 1971, memristors are basic circuits like resistors, capacitors, and inductors. These circuits are able to store data by allowing their levels of electrical resistance to fluctuate between high and low, or 0 and 1 to a computer. Like flash memory, they retain that data without power — except they do it all on one circuit and at the speed of D-RAM. In the end, we could be looking at a whole new kind of storage, as long as someone can figure out how to get these things onto integrated circuits. Nerds hats off, return to your fanboyism — now.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Yamaha’s got a thing for making dreams into reality, and we must say, we’re crossing our fingers and hoping to all that’s good and merciful in this world that the above pictured device goes commercial. Little is actually known about the keyboard / notepad hybrid aside from the fact that it was showcased at the Milano Salone trade fair in Italy, and for what it’s worth, Yamaha christened the device “key for journey.” Look, there’s even slots in the leather-bound lid so the keys have room to breathe when it’s all closed up. Ah well, a boy can dream, can’t he?

[Via kanYe West Blog]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Gaming, Household

Highly modified foosball tables are a dime a dozen, but this contraption could easily be mistook for some sort of Martian gaming machine at first glance. Dreamed up and crafted by designer Chelpa Ferro, this Tota Treme Terra looks to be a vanilla foosball table with an artsy overhead light and a hodgepodge of speakers wrapped all around. Word on the street has it that the machine belts out sound effects based on the action up above, but sadly, the actual details about this potential ninth wonder of the world are being left to our imaginations.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

We first heard about this laser-guided wheelchair way back in 2006 but didn’t really have much more than promises from the team behind it about exactly what they had in store. As New Scientist reports, however, it seems that the folks from Lehigh University and Freedom Sciences are still hard at work at it, and they’re finally showing off some of their progress. The wheelchair is apparently still not entirely automated though, with it needing to be driven to the rear of the vehicle by remote control, after which the on-board LIDAR system kicks in and loads it onto the lift all by itself. Not surprisingly, the estimated price for the eventual commercial version has also gone up since we last heard from the team, with it now set to demand $30,000 (as opposed to $15,000 to $20,000) when it goes on sale later this year, assuming it gets the necessary FDA approval. Until then, you can head on over after the break to check it out in action.

Continue reading Researchers show off laser-guided wheelchair that docks with vehicles

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Digital Cameras

We’ve seen a number of cameras mounted on RC vehicles before, but if you’re looking for a more out-of-the-box solution, you may want to consider this so-called RC-12 camera now available from Japan Trend Shop, which is not only smaller than most, but able to be used underwater as well. Apparently, the 2.7 megapixel camera will work up to 30 meters away with the included 1.2GHz Morse typeS receiver, and last for about 45 minutes on a single charge, which is likely more than you’ll ever want to shoot in one go, unless of course you happen to be recording some first-person footage from your next robot laser battle, which we could never possibly get enough of. As you might have guessed, however, the pint-sized kit doesn’t exactly come cheap, with it setting you back $269, plus some fairly hefty shipping charges.

[Via OhGizmo]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Naim Audio, a name synonymous with high-end, has recently launched its very own hard drive-based music server, and on paper, it’s a fairly mesmerizing piece of kit. The HDX packs a pair of 400GB hard drives (one primary and a back-up) and claims to be a “fully integrated CD ripping and data storage system.” Aside from giving users a way to catalog their gargantuan CD collection in digital form, it’ll also play tracks back in the finest of detail. Packed within is a Burr-Brown PCM1791A DAC, 24 bit/192kHz internal architecture, ultra-low jitter re-clocking circuits and a built-in touch panel, too. Best of all, any tunes stored on network / USB drives can also be played through the device, and it can send up to six different streams of music simultaneously over a home network. The rub? At £4,500 ($8,772), you’re probably better off hiring Daft Punk to just play at your house.

[Via CNET]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments