Video: President Obama Meets the Robots of Japan

Along with meeting heads of state and talking free trade, President Obama made some new friends at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit last week. Before entering a meeting in Japan, he met a Geminoid F robot and a group of yowling robotic seals.

In the video below, Obama bemusedly listens to a speech by a Geminoid, as robotic seals are heard mewling in the background. He talks to Takanori Shibata, the creator of Paro, and acknowledges the seal 'bots could be helpful in hospitals or other places in need of a pick-me-up. Is the commander-in-chief stressed out? He seems particularly taken with the seals.
Finally, Obama takes a spin in Toyota's i-REAL personal mobility vehicle. He drives about an inch forward and almost leaps out when the machine suddenly tilts back.
We don't care how much the trip cost — video of Obama caressing plush robotic seals is priceless.
[NECN via IEEE]

Taiwan To Build Tree-Like Skyscraper With Moving Exterior Observation Pods

This translucent tree of a building seems like something that might grace the cover of an old Popular Science as a concept for the very distant future. In fact, construction is set to begin in 2012. The design was selected out of 237 entries in the contest to design the Taiwan Tower, which, at 984 feet, will be the tallest structure in Taichung, Taiwan’s third-largest city.

Its pod-like leaves are mobile observation decks that glide up and down the trunk of the tower. The tree theme stems from the fact that Taiwan is shaped like a leaf, according to Romanian architect Stefan Dorin. He says the observation pods were also influenced by “sci-fi computer gaming culture,” and are made of lightweight materials “borrowed from the spacecraft industry.”

Dorin, of DSBA, in collaboration with upgrade.studio, received four million Taiwan dollars (approximately $130,000) in addition to the right to design the new landmark, financed by the Taichung government.

Not unlike a tree, the Taiwan Tower was designed to be eco-friendly. It has a small footprint at land-level, collects rainwater and purifies it for use as well as generating power from turbines and photovoltaic panels. It also uses a chimney-like system for natural ventilation, and has a geothermal power station in the basement for heating.

Upon completion, the tower will be the focal point for the Taichung Gateway Park, an area being developed after the relocation of the former Taichung Airport.

[PlusMood, EarthTimes]

Popular Science

Password Memory Keeper – Because some things are too easy to forget

How many passwords do you have. Do you remember all of them or do you use same password for all? The disadvantage of having one password for all is if someone hacks one password they have access to all your logins. Thats why it is always recommended and safe to have different passwords. If you are like me who can never remember more then i password then you need to get this Password memory device. It is secure and you can safely save and encrypt all your passwords. Its small and easy to carry around in your pocket.

I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve sat in front of my computer trying to pay my electric bill and a few credit cards and realize with horror that it’s due by midnight, it’s 11:59 and I can’t remember the password. Some sites require a capital letter and at least one number and others do not, so my brilliant, albeit, not very secure idea of just using the same darn password for everything has come back to haunt me more than it has helped.
Available on November 19th is the Password Memory Keeper, a little handheld device that easily fits in your pocket or purse that lets you store your usernames, PIN numbers and passwords for up to 50 accounts. I like it better than the numerous downloads available to keep track of passwords, because I never know what computer I’ll be using in order to take care of business. With the Password Memory Keeper on hand, I can take care of my bills anytime, anywhere.
All I am required to remember is one password and I have access to everything I will ever need. Battery operated and secure I can get rid of the 40 post-its I have all over my desk with passwords scribbled on them. For only $29.50 from Frontgate. Excellent!


Taken from: Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist.
[ Password Memory Keeper – Because some things are too easy to forget copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Facebook Vs Google....The War Of The Web Lords...

Everyone loves to read about the war between the Internet Giants "Google Vs Facebook". It is one of the most entertaining news in the internet. The fight to win has been escalating with continuous slaps as replies to each other which reminds us of the aggressive competitions between Virgin Media and Sky in the UK openly lashing each other. The heat between the web giants has been quite high in last few weeks.
It all started when google tweaked their Terms Of Service about importing Gmail contacts by Social Networking Sites. Google turned off the feature to import gmail contacts. Google thinks facebook is not being fair about sharing its users with other networks, whereas they freely import all google contacts during the time of registration. Without any doubt the fingers are directly pointing Facebook rather than any other Social Networking site.
In few hours Facebook responded back with a new method to get Gmail contacts of a user (the download contacts option). 

Google then expressed its "disappointment," as if Facebook were an old friend who had made poor choices in life. Then a facebook engineer slammed back Google in a heated TechCrunch post. The story doesnt end there..Yesterday Google added the digital equivalent of a cigarette-pack warning to the Gmail export contacts page which directly ask users to raise a complaint about their data loss and privacy. Check the hysterical message:

This was done yesterday and we are still expecting a better a reply from Facebook. 

The battle is not just limited to contacts and privacy, its also continued in acquiring talents and retaining employees. It is also believed that 25% of Facebook employees are former Googlers. The most recent attrition for google is the creator of Google Wave Lars Rasmussen who quit Google and Joined Facebook. Rasmussen was also one of the cretors of google Maps. 

Facing tough competition Google internally announced plans to boost salaries by 10 percent next year in a move widely viewed as an effort to stanch a stream of engineers and managers leaving the search giant for fast-growing rivals like Facebook...

Another field that is threatening Google is their Advertising market. Facebook's chase in advertisement world has been increasing tremendously with just few steps behind google. Facebook's recent contracts with Yahoo and Microsoft also ignited tension for Google who would definitely not like any competition in the world of Search Engines...

USB Photo Album Voice Recorder

You can now Add Audio Tags in your physical photo album using the new Handy USB Photo Album Voice Recorder

How it Works?

First simply attach a coded sticker (Comes with the device) near the photo , then scan it with the Story Teller and then record your message. To play back the message associated with the photo, just place the Story Teller back over the sticker.

You can use use it identify each person in a photo by recording their names, tell about the occasion when that photo was taken, record the memories of a special trip, record all the fun you had when that photo was taken..

However you use it, the Story Teller comes with over 500 special coded stickers, so you can share a lot of family stories alongside those treasured photos, preserving family history for the next generation. You can also back up your recordings to your computer via USB.

Product Specifications

• Bring your photo albums to life in a whole new way
• Record personalized messages to elaborate on the pictures you take
• Simply attach a coded sticker near the photo, scan it with the Story Teller and then record your message
• To play back the message associated with the photo, just place the Story Teller back over the sticker
• Comes with over 500 specially coded stickers
• You can also back up your recordings to computer via USB (included)
• Requires 3 x AAA batteries (not included)

The Photo Album Storyteller is available from the first STREET website for $99.95.

'Apocalypse Now' Director Francis Ford Coppola on Blu-ray Presentation, Studio Politics and Staying Passionate

As far as Hollywood's venerated filmmakers are concerned, Francis Ford Coppola is a force of nature. Gregarious and articulate, pragmatic and pretentious, his boundless energy is palpable in every word he utters, even in the wee hours of the morning, and he pulls no punches, whether he's making incisive observations about the movie industry or acknowledging the distance he's gone out on a limb to get his movies made. Because of his vast and accomplished body of work, it's difficult to stake a definitive claim as to which film is his crowning achievement; but in the interim, 'Apocalypse Now' is as suitable a choice as any, and its arrival on Blu-ray this week makes it a particularly worthy topic of conversation, if not celebration.

Navigating fuzzy reception and dropped calls, Coppola recently spoke to Cinematical via telephone in conjunction with the Blu-ray release of 'Apocalypse Now.' In addition to clarifying this collection's legitimate claim as the 'Total Disclosure' edition, Coppola reflected on the production and legacy of the film, and offered a few opinions on the future of the filmmaking industry, not to mention his place within it.

Tripping Technology

Tripping technology can change your life. Tripping technology is nothing but thinking technology all the time. Thinking technology can fill a dull mind with excitement. Technology has all the solutions to solve the complexities in a human mind. Xs group strongly believes technology can manipulate and divert your mind. Every section and part of the Xs group promotes and invokes technology wherever possible to increase technology awareness.

New Software Conveniently Integrates Your Heart Implant With Your Android Phone

The new Human++ system adds one very powerful new peripheral to Android smartphones: your own body.

It interprets electrocardiogram (ECG) readings, and can be used for medicinal or recreational purposes: Let your doctor know that you're having a heart attack, or let your Facebook friends know that you're playing basketball.

Created by Dutch research firm IMEC, Human++ is a type of wireless BAN (body area network). This particular version uses a dongle that actually plugs into your phone's microSD slot (which is one reason it's limited to Android--the iPhone, for one, doesn't have a microSD slot) and receives data over a low-power radio system. Though Bluetooth is more popular, the nRF24L01+ frequency was chosen for its low power requirements. IMEC says a Bluetooth connection would barely last the day, while the RF frequency can last a week.

The sensors from one of IMEC's low-power ECG systems are on a sort of transmitting necklace which communicates with this dongle. That dongle in turn can issue status updates as well as send alerts to a doctor via the smartphone's 3G or Wi-Fi connection--a major step up from the old system, which actually used landlines.

There are non-medical uses for the tech too--athletes and trainers are interested in the ability to remotely track the inner workings of the body in real-time. It's not clear how the system might work with phones, like iOS, Palm WebOS, and Microsoft Windows Phone devices, that don't have expandable microSD slots--maybe an external dongle, rather than a (neater, certainly) internal one.

Using consumer tech to monitor health seems to be a big trend these days: Webcam monitoring, infrared glucose tests, and all kinds of helpful machines are popping up, using gadgets we already have in new and helpful ways.

The Human++ system is still in development, but shows a ton of promise, as proven by the positive reaction it got upon its introduction at this year's Wireless Health Conference in San Diego.

[New Scientist]

Folding bike made to hold a briefcase

A Briefcase can transform to a Bike....Amazing...

There was a time when I rode a bike to work every day, but I worked in a factory and not as an executive. If I was one of those guys that sat in an office and worked behind a desk, I would gladly ride this particular bike.  

As you can see, this bike allows the user to put a briefcase right into the bicycle frame. Apparently, the briefcase is made of a fancy carbon fiber in order to keep the shape of the bike. I’m not certain if that increases the weight of the briefcase any. 

I’m not certain what you want to put in that briefcase, but I am told the bike can actually fold up. I’m certain that the folded-up bike is too big for the briefcase. 

The bike is designed by Marcos Madia, and is a finalist in the Seoul Cycle Design competition. It is still just a concept for now, but give it time, and I’m sure we’ll see a lot of businessmen on the road on bikes like these. 

 I might not want put a laptop because you could crash your bike and damage your laptop. Then again, if you are riding on a bike in a three-piece suit, there is a strong chance that you might get more than just a little bit of dirt on it.

Colorware ships its first original product: the $300 Grip for iPad (hands-on)

Colorware's been making the products you buy look better (or worse, if you'd like) for years on end, but up until now, it has never actually created a product from scratch. Enter the Grip for iPad, a simplistic new iPad holster that's less of a case and more of a handle. It's a metal frame that you bolt around the edges of your tablet, and as you can tell, it adds a major grabbing point to the side. But here's the rub: it's $300. Yeah, three Benjamins. We get that it's manufactured in Minnesota using that high-priced American labor, but seriously? The major problem is just how awkward that $300 price tag looks beside the $499 MSRP of the device it's supposed to hold; imagine buying a $13,000 set of tires for your $17,000 vehicle. It just doesn't sit well in the cranium. And then there's the problem of using it.

You see, as nice as it is to have a handle on your tablet at all times, it makes actually using the iPad in portrait mode practically impossible. You're constantly trying to figure out how to work around that bulge that's now there on the left side. Furthermore, it does essentially nothing for protection. The back is still wide open and susceptible to drops / scratches, and the front isn't recessed in the least. Adding insult to multiple injuries, there's not enough room to have a case wrapped around your iPad while it's inside of the Grip. Oh, and did we mention that the slightest bump against a rough surface will rip the paint right off of the device? We'd love to love the Grip -- it's mighty pretty and it's built like a tank -- but it simply makes no sense whatsoever at $300. Even at $100, you've got way better options when it comes to actually protecting your iPad.

Gallery: Colorware Grip for iPad press photos

Colorware ships its first original product: the $300 Grip for iPad (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:48:00 EDT.

Intel's Context-Aware Computing Will Let Your Smartphone Sense Your Mood

Through its various technological bells and whistles and the apps that you’re constantly updating with what you’re doing there, your smartphone already knows a lot about you. But don’t you wish your phone knew you a little more, you know, intimately? Intel’s chief technology guru says it will, and soon. The company is working up ways to help phones connect with users on an emotional level, sensing moods and feelings and reacting accordingly.

How will your phone climb out of your pocket and into your head? Intel’s CTO Justin Rattner thinks that, by combining the geo-location already standard in smartphones with data from sources (the microphone, the camera, the gyro, etc.), phones could figure out a lot more about you. For instance, gyro data could tell if you’re taking an easygoing stroll or if you’re rushing. Judging by time, noise levels, and even things like breathing, your phone could know if you are asleep or awake.

By logging this data, your phone could learn a lot about your routine: when you typically sleep and when you wake up, when you generally perform your morning and evening commutes, places you frequent, what news you like to read on your mobile device, or what coffee shop is your favorite. By learning how you live, it could then offer you advice, move your news apps to your home screen during your a.m. bus commute, or perhaps even notify you when that Starbucks near your office that you frequent is giving away free free non-fat half-caff lattes (because that’s your favorite, and your phone knows it).

Mood-sensing phones are pure concept for now, but Rattner has suggested publicly that context-aware computing will begin to emerge in Intel products in the “not-too-distant future.” The company has already demonstrated a television remote that knows who is holding it by learning how different members of a household grasp it, learning each viewer’s entertainment likes and dislikes as well.

Networked with a phone that knows where you’ve been, what news you’re already heard about, and how you’re feeling, soon your TV could know if you’re in the mood for Monday Night Football or a quiet night catching up on Gossip Girl. And stop trying to act like you don’t like Gossip Girl. Your phone told us so.

Please, Don't Let This Be the Future of Air Travel

Slouching toward JFK

On your last flight, did you stare with envy at the people sitting in the exit row? Did you get a charley horse from trying to cross your legs under your tray table? Consider yourself lucky, pal. Your next budget flight might ask you to fly horseback style, squeezed onto a saddle in just 23 inches of space.

This new airplane seat will be officially unveiled at a trade show next week, and the early buzz is that several airlines are interested, including some in the U.S. The thought makes us cringe — which, come to think of it, we will be required to do in order to fit into these seats.

The “SkyRider” is the latest innovation designed to save airlines money and, apparently, make passengers miserable. It is supposed to mimic the experience of riding horseback: “Cowboys ride eight hours on their horses during the day and still feel comfortable in the saddle,” says Dominique Menoud, director general of Aviointeriors Group, which will make the seats. Some cowboys might say otherwise, but there’s a larger point: In the future, do we really want to return to traveling Old West style?

Odds are pretty good that budget airlines will be the first to order the SkyRider, which Menoud says can be used in its own cabin class. Ireland’s Ryanair already wants to sell standing-room-only seats, and this could be an aviation-authority-approved alternative. Tickets will probably be cheaper, but airlines will reap rewards by packing more people on board. That is, until people give up and choose telepresence over sardine-style travel.

We’re all for future aircraft technologies that improve flight efficiency and design. By all means, give us airplanes with self-cleaning, shape-changing seats made of plant fibers. Please, just don’t make us sit 23 inches apart.

Shaadi.com Indian Matrimonials

Nokia Spec Advertisement – Really Funny

Here is a really funny video about the specs of a Nokia phone told in a very different way ! Totally worth watching


Nokia Spec Commercial from randyforeman on Vimeo.


Click Here!

iToot - new technology

Will you accept this USB rose?

Excellent love gift..A USB Rose....It’s powered by a USB port and is available in a variety of colors including: Red, Blue, Pink, Purple and White. Get one for $9 or buy a whole … [visit site to read more]

Will you accept this USB rose? originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 23, 2010 at 9:00 am.

Super Goat is coming!

VRX iMotion racing simulator adds more to racing fun indoors

Racing simulators are great entertainers solely because they create the racing environment, and for gamers who like to get behind the wheel, simulators surely do the job well. The latest entry in the field of advanced racing simulators is VRX iMotion from the house of VRX Industries.
Giving you a feel to sit behind the real wheel, VRX iMotion flaunts NVIDIA GeForce 3D Surround Vision for a unique experience across the three screens. It also takes in use D-BOX Motion Code that uses motion effects specifically programmed for each film, TV series or video game, which are sent to a motion generating system integrated within either a platform or a seat.
The other unique features of the simulator include carbon fiber base with locking wheels for easy simulator positioning and set-up, Sparco racing seat, CNC-machined aluminum bracket and parts, stainless steel reinforced tubing, fully adjustable display and PC rack mount placement.
Additionally, there are fully customizable Clubsport racing pedals for accurate clutch, brake and throttle inputs and Bose companion 5-speaker system designed for the 5.1-encoded movies, music and games. The VRX iMotion simulator is compatible with XBox 360, PS3 and Wii. And for all that in house racing fun, it comes with a price tag of US $27,995.




Via: BR

Gorilla goes hands-on with Nintendo DSi XL

Tech Fever Spreads

Looks like Nintendo's DSi XL has finally found its target audience.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Gorilla goes hands-on with Nintendo DSi XL at the San Francisco Zoo originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:20:00 EDT.

Safety Second: Novelty Motorcycle Helmets

Who cares if they're not DOT approved, they look cool. Safety can take a back seat to style any day, amirite? No, no that's a good way to die young and still leave a crappy looking corpse. Now I don't know how things work where you're from, but back in West Virginia it's considered an honor if Morty the mortician makes out with you after the embalming, and I come from a long line of the distinguish dead (we suspect he even stole my uncle's genitals).

Hit the jump for a bunch more, including slightly NSFW butt and breast helmets.

Nokia CEO: Nokia N8 is the savior

'We are approaching the end of this painful product transition at the high end of our product portfolio', says Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo. He continues with a prediction 'delivering the N8, with a high-quality user experience, will mark the beginning of our renewal. We will achieve our potential and regain high-end leadership in our industry.'

We absolutely want to give Nokia the benefit of the doubt, but at the moment, this seems like a very optimistic prediction from Nokia's CEO. Although the N8 looks very interesting, it has not generated "envy" and "desire" as other recent handsets did – although there are N8 clones already. More importantly, it is powered by Symbian 3, which we consider to be out of the smartphone operating system race at this point (the N8 is the last N-Series Symbian phone). The early N8 previews were not positive.