Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Friday, March 21, 2008

Japanese Graves with QR Codes Link to Memorial Websites [Cellphones]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/255101082/japanese-graves-with-qr-codes-link-to-memorial-websites

In Japan, QR codes are everywhere. Little boxes of data that can be turned into web links, they're found on advertisements everywhere, allowing people to get more info by simply pointing their phone at it. Now, QR codes are being found in more unorthodox places: on graves.

Yep, now if you're interested in finding out a bit more about the dead person in question, you can simply point your phone at the grave and be automatically taken to a memorial website. The sites are generally small, simple collections of photos or videos formatted for the small screens of phones. Here's an example of one, although if I had a website address linked to my gravestone it would almost definitely link to this. It's my legacy! [J-Cast via Trends in Japan]

The Many Faces of the Tancher Transformer Concept Phone [Cellphones]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/255153305/the-many-faces-of-the-tancher-transformer-concept-phone

Once again we dip into the bin of impressive but implausible concepts with this Tancher Transformer phone design from Shkinder Maxim. The device can be configured in countless ways to act as a multimedia player and projector with support for holographic image projection and 3-D scanning.

If that wasn't outrageous enough, there are also ideas that involve a built in voice analyzer for lie detection and some drivel about a "present emotions" function that analyzes brain activity to record what you are feeling. Obviously, most of that is completely ridiculous, but the rotating axis design was intriguing enough to score a third place finish at this year's Tancher design awards. [Tancher via Gearfuse]

PufferSphere 360-Degree Display System Is Blow-Up Fabulousness [Pufferfish]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/255437453/puffersphere-360+degree-display--system-is-blow+up-fabulousness

Designed for trade fairs, stage shows and parties (yay!), the PufferSphere is an interactive digital spherical display that I want in my house. If my house was big enough, that is. The inflatable globe with a 360º field of view plugs into the mains, and can be wall-mounted, stuck on the ceiling or even used outside, if you think that standing it on its base is a bit infra dig. There's a video below of the PufferSphere in action.

[Pufferfish via DESIGNSPOTTER]

HTC's Dream again rumored to be first Android phone

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/254879885/

Filed under: Cellphones

We've been hearing about the HTC Dream (likely not pictured above) for what seems like an eternity on a tech timeline. Now "a person close to the situation" tells InfoWorld that the Dream is indeed HTC's Android phone. Remember, HTC is widely expected to be the first from the gate with a retail phone featuring Google's open source OS. The Dream is said to measure 3-inches wide by 5-inches long and feature a full QWERTY keypad that "either slides out or swivels." Right, exactly what Forbes told us 5 months ago. Still, it's always a good sign when the rumor mongers align. Whatever happens, we certainly expect the first Android phone to be exceptionally spec'd as a showcase of the OS' power and possibilities to come.

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ECS' Atom-based G10IL gets more attractive by the minute

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/254893118/

Filed under: Laptops

Upon initial inspection, we had a hunch the ECS G10IL would emerge as one of the most desirable of the low-cost lappies. Now that ECS has filled us all in on a few more pertinent details, we're feeling all the more sure of that assertion. According to new specifications loosed on the outfit's own website, we can look forward to a Diamondville, er, Atom CPU, Windows XP or Linux under the hood, a single RAM slot (up to 2GB), an HDD or SSD, 1.3-megapixel webcam, 4-in-1 multicard reader, a 8.2- / 10.2-inch glossy display and a 4- / 6-cell battery for good measure. Oh, and if you were wondering if Bluetooth and WiFi would tag along with the built-in HSDPA / HSUPA, the answer's yes (at least on the big fellow). So, does the G10IL have your attention now, or what?

[Via DailyTech]

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Scientists concoct material that superconducts at room temperature

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/254919762/

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

While the temperature at which superconduction has occurred has been steadily rising throughout history, a potential breakthrough could open up a whole new world of possibilities in the computing realm. Reportedly, a pair of ~~mad~~ scientists from Canada and Germany have developed a silicon-hydrogen compound that can superconduct at room temperature. The secret, they say, is that the silane-based matter is "super-compressed," and they were able to achieve such compression by "adding hydrogen to a compound with silicon that reduced the amount of compression needed to achieve superconductivity." Granted, the work done so far was classified as "theoretical," but hopefully it won't be long (read: during our lifetime would be nice) before such technology finds its way into gaming rigs (among other things) the world over.

[Via Slashdot]

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ASUS keeps things tiny with NOVA LITE Mini 2L PC

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/254964685/

Filed under: Desktops

Granted, the Nova P22 is probably small enough for the vast majority of folks, but if you weren't feeling the aforementioned machine for whatever reason, here's another option. The NOVA LITE Mini 2L measures in at 9.09- x 7.24- x 2.00-inches and weighs just a few raisins more than the X300 (3.3-pounds for those taking notes). Apparently, this box was designed to simply "meet everyday computing needs" while keeping noise to a minimum, and ASUS has three lovely flavors for you to choose from. Packed within, you'll find up to 2GB of DDR2 RAM, an 80GB / 160GB hard drive, a DVD burner, Ethernet, WiFi (on select models), built-in speakers, four USB 2.0 ports, DVI / VGA and audio in / out connectors. No word on a price, release date or any of that pertinent information, unfortunately.

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Screen grabs: disoriented, time-traveling Hodgman takes call on upside down iPhone

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/255028761/

Filed under: Cellphones

Our latest micro-series, Screen grabs chronicles the uses (and occasional misuses) of real-world gadgets in today's movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with a screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dt com.

Last night's Daily Show discussion on the nation's impending recession prompted John Hodgman (aka PC) to bust out his Uncle Rico-esque time machine to take a peek into our collective economic future. We're still trying to decide whether it's richer in irony that (not unlike Jon Stewart) Hodgman an iPhone, or that he pulled it out and used it upside down Charlie Sheen / Bionic Woman style. Video after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Update: The Hodg-man emailed -- it wasn't intentional. Apparently he was worried about breaking the antique stock-ticker and was distracted. Although we'd like to think it's because he just used a real life time machine -- for reals. Either way, there you go.

Continue reading Screen grabs: disoriented, time-traveling Hodgman takes call on upside down iPhone

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InnovaTek's hand-sized microreactor converts liquid fuel into hydrogen

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/255129498/

Filed under: Transportation

While oil prices continue to soar to new heights, the gurus at InnovaTek are peering into the future. After years of work, said company is finally testing its hand-sized microreactor that can reportedly "convert virtually any liquid fuel into hydrogen, producing a portable hydrogen stream for use in adjoining fuel-cells." In a perfect world, the technology would come built-in to vehicles, where we'd bypass the dangerous act of transporting hydrogen and instead convert biodiesel (or similar) right within the confines of the car. As it stands, the outfit has already signed a half-million dollar joint development agreement with Chevron to "pursue fuel processing technology for hydrogen refueling stations," and while this stuff isn't apt to be an option on any showroom models next year, InnovaTek is still aiming to commercially license the microreactors by 2009.

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MacBook Air reviewed... as a Windows machine

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/255251558/

Filed under: Laptops

There are a lot of reasons to pick another laptop over the MacBook Air -- especially if you're into little things like "useful ports" -- but the comparison to non-Apple hardware isn't even relevant unless you're willing to switch to OS X, right? Well, the crew over at Xbit Labs decided to even the slate and evaluate the MBA solely as a Windows machine, wiping the drive clean of Leopard and installing Vista Ultimate. Although actually getting Vista on the Air was a bit troublesome due to the lack of a built-in optical drive and the Vista installer's refusal to wipe out the OS X partition, once installed the OS performed fine, with Apple-provided drivers activating the media and brightness keys and even the multi-touch trackpad. The only major issues were over-aggressive activation of CPU power-management, which resulted in dramatic slowdowns during some tasks, and the fact that the case got fairly warm during use -- both issues MBA owners using OS X have reported. Overall, while the MBA was a solid if unspectacular Windows machine, the lack of support and nagging issues with running a pure Windows MBA mean you're probably better off going with laptop designed for Vista -- hmm, we can think of one that might spark your interest.

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