Author: Brian Barrett

We’ve seen augmented reality put ads on buildings and give cars superpowers. But when applied to a first-person shooter game like in this video? That’s taking the intensity up just a notch or ten. UPDATED:

As you can see, once the player puts on his augmented reality helmet and goggles his surroundings are suddenly populated by machine-gun-toting baddies wielding SWAT-level armor. It seems like there’s no penalty for shooting the “hostages,” but anyone who’s seen Speed knows that’s just how it should be.

This is just a demo, so no telling how long until it’s viable for mass use. But you know what I think? I think this technology and Duke Nukem Forever are destined for a simultaneous release.

UPDATE: Aw, nuts: according to readers more well-versed in Israeli television shows than I am, this is just a TV clip. That doesn’t mean I can’t still love it as a concept, though! [Nowhere Else]

Batteries are usually just a boring, blunt necessity, on account of being batteries and all. But HyperMac’s line of Apple-friendly lithium-ion battery packs are a colorful exception to the rule. Plus: battery babes!

HyperMac introduced three new aluminum-cased battery pack sets today in all, each available in the nine iPod nano colors (that’s black, silver, pink, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, for those keeping score at home).

The 1800mAh HyperMac Nano has a built-in charging cable and holds enough power to fully recharge an iPhone 1.5 times. There’s also the 3600mAh HyperMac Micro, which can recharge an iPhone three times, and the big poppa HyperMac Mini, whose 7200mAh can recharge an iPhone a whole six times. All three also have USB connections, so you’re not limited to charging only your Apple products with them.

The Nano, Micro, and Mini are available now at HyperShop for $70, $90, and $120 respectively.

New Candy Colored Pocket-Sized HyperMac Battery Packs For iPhones, iPods And iPad At Macworld 2010.

10 Hot Colors, 3 Different Capacities, Batteries Never Looked So Sexy!

02.11.2010 – MACWORLD 2010 SAN FRANCISCO, California – Sanho Corporation (Booth #948), the company behind the award-winning HyperMac External MacBook Batteries, introduces the HyperMac Nano, HyperMac Micro and HyperMac Mini – three pocket-sized, lithium-ion battery packs for charging iPhones, iPods, iPads and other USB-powered devices on-the-go.

All three models are exquisitely encased in aluminum and available in any of Apple’s nine iPod nano colors (black, silver, pink, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple) plus a darker (iPhone) black color. Users will be spoilt for choice when choosing the right battery pack to match their iPhone or iPod.

The 1800mAh HyperMac Nano is the world’s only iPhone/iPod lithium-ion battery pack with a built-in charging cable and holds enough power to fully recharge an iPhone 1.5 times. Unlike traditional battery packs with built-in rigid connectors, the HyperMac Nano features a flexible connector cable to allow the battery to move freely from the device, instead of simply sticking out of the base of the iPhone/iPod, which increases the chance of damage to the iPhone/iPod socket.

When not in use, the male iPhone/iPod 30-pin connector sits perfectly into the female 30-pin recharging socket, and with the cap closed, the HyperMac Nano is a sleek piece of metal without any exposed slots or buttons, reminiscent of a Zippo cigarette lighter. The HyperMac Nano’s patented design also features a magnetic base to hold the cap in place during charging.

The 3600mAh HyperMac Micro holds enough power to fully charge an iPhone up to three times, while the 7200mAh HyperMac Mini can fully charge an iPhone up to six times. Both output 5V/1A power through a USB port and the user can charge any iPhone, iPod, iPad or USB-powered device with the provided iPhone/iPod and USB cables. The batteries are rechargeable via USB or wall outlet with the provided USB cable and AC adapter.

Unlike most iPhone battery packs or iPhone cases cum battery in the market, HyperMac batteries works with virtually all iPhone cases, does not add bulk or affects the antenna of the iPhone.

“iPhone users have long suffered from the iPhone’s short battery life and dull utilitarian plastic battery pack solutions,” states Daniel Chin, President of Sanho Corporation. “HyperMac will no doubt breathe a fresh air to this tired industry,” he adds. “With its striking colors and attractive non-battery-like looks, for once there will be a battery pack that appeals to both women and men alike,” he concludes.

Like its big brother, the HyperMac Nano/Micro/Mini batteries uses the same “Grade A” high-end lithium ion cells that are supplied to the U.S. military, providing unsurpassed reliability, safety and longevity. It is rechargeable up to 1,000 times and comes with a ONE-year warranty – comparing to industry standards of only 300 recharges and 3 months warranty. All HyperMac batteries also support pass through charging so the user can charge both battery and device at the same time.

The HyperMac Nano, HyperMac Micro and HyperMac Mini are now available at HyperMac.com for $69.95, $89.95 and $119.95 respectively. As a launch promotion, there is currently a $20 discount on all HyperMac Nano/Micro/Mini batteries.

Specifications
Capacity: 1800mAh (Nano), 3600mAh (Micro), 7200mAh (Mini)
Battery Chemistry: Lithium Ion
Standby Time: Up to 450 hours (Nano), 900 hours (Micro), 1800 hours (Mini)
2G Talk Time: Up to 18 hours (Nano), 36 hours (Micro), 72 hours (Mini)
3G Talk Time: Up to 7.5 hours (Nano), 15 hours (Micro), 30 hours (Mini)
Wi-Fi Internet: Up to 13.5 hours (Nano), 27 hours (Micro), 54 hours (Mini)
3G Internet: Up to 7.5 hours (Nano), 15 hours (Micro), 30 hours (Mini)
Audio Playback: Up to 45 hours (Nano), 90 hours (Micro), 180 hours (Mini)
Video Playback: Up to 15 hours (Nano), 30 hours (Micro), 60 hours (Mini)
Dimensions/Weight
Nano: 3.4 x 1.5 x 0.55″ (85 x 38 x 14mm) / 2.4 oz (67 g)
Micro: 3.7 x 2.7 x 0.6″ (94 x 69 x 16mm) / 4.7oz (134g)
Mini: 5.2 x 3.1 x 0.55″ (132 x 79 x 14mm) / 8.4oz (237g)
Input Power: 5V/500mA (Nano), 5V/1A (Micro/Mini)
Output Power: 5V/1A

For more product information and specifications, please visit:
www.HyperMac.com

[HyperMac]

We know that TiVo’s hyping a major announcement on March 2nd, and now a tipster over at CrunchGear has provided some additional insight. It’s all still just a rumor, but the details about the UI and HD menus make sense:

According to the tipster, the announcement will center around moving to full HD menus, improved search, and phasing out the Series 2 software:

He describes the move as something akin to Microsoft’s redesign of the Xbox Dashboard – a surface refresh that plays better with larger, HD TVs. This could also include new methods for adding apps and content to existing boxes.

I’m not sure this would live up to the lofty expectations TiVo placed on itself with its “Inventing the DVR Was Just a Warmup” teaser. But as far as refreshes go this, combined with rumors of TiVo Premiere, would be a welcome one. Just not… you know… epic. [CrunchGear]

It’s hard to believe that it’s been over ten years since Toy Story 2. But watching this stunning full Toy Story 3 trailer, I know now that it was worth the wait.

It’s great to see old friends return, and to see the humans finally looking so lifelike. We’re still a few months away from the June 18th release, but this is enough to tide me over until I can watch it in glorious 3D IMAX. [MySpace]

Today Lenovo unveiled their C315 touchscreen all-in-one desktop. It may not be the peppiest system on the market, but $650 for a 20-inch touchscreen AIO PC sounds pretty good to me.

Full specs aren’t available yet, but we do know that the C315 houses an AMD Althon CPU, 4GB of memory, and ATI Mobility Radeon graphics. It also gets Lenovo’s suite of multimedia apps like PowerCinema and AutoCollage on top of pre-installed Windows 7. It’ll be available in the US beginning in April.

Full press release, including info on two new less-exciting G series notebooks, below:

New Lenovo Brand PCs Deliver Ultimate Performance and Reliability

Introduces First Lenovo Consumer Notebooks and All-In-One PC with the Latest Technology from AMD

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Lenovo (HKSE: 0992) (ADR: LNVGY) today announced three new PCs for consumers – the Lenovo G455 and G555 notebooks and the Lenovo C315 all-in-one desktop – all based on the AMD platform featuring innovative Lenovo software to improve the overall computing experience. Designed for mainstream consumers, they support up to the latest AMD Turion™ and Athlon™ processors and ATI graphics. With Lenovo applications such as OneKey™ Rescue System and Energy Management on the G455 and G555 and IdeaTouch multitouch applications on the C315, these new PCs deliver affordable, dual-core, worry-free computing.

“Our new G series notebooks and C series all-in-one desktop are designed for users who want a simple but powerful computing experience without any headaches,” said Dion Weisler, vice president, Business Operations, Lenovo. “By working closely with AMD engineers and leveraging AMD advanced technologies, we have created products that offer superior performance in the areas of graphics and power efficiency at an affordable price point.”

“These innovative Lenovo notebooks and all-in-one desktop solution are prime examples of how VISION Technology from AMD helps our key partners design compelling consumer products,” said Rick Bergman, senior vice president and general manager, AMD Products Group. “The expanded technology partnership with Lenovo demonstrates our commitment to deliver solutions that meet the evolving needs of the mainstream consumer market.”

Lenovo G Series Notebooks for Versatility and Reliability with Affordable Appeal

The Lenovo G445 and G555 notebooks include 16:9 widescreen High-Definition displays and support up to an AMD Turion™ II Dual-Core processor and ATI Radeon™ HD integrated graphics. Users can enjoy rich digital content with High Definition video and DirectX® 10 for running Windows 7 as advanced graphics features such as Aero Peek and Aero Flip. These stylish notebooks boast an ergonomic keyboard designed for rigidity and support to improve typing accuracy and key responsiveness. Both the G455 and G555 come with Lenovo Energy Management 5.0 which lets users select from several energy-saving modes to help decrease energy consumption and extend battery life. Energy Management 5.0 also protects the long-term durability of a PC’s battery by preventing unnecessary recharges. These notebooks also feature OneKey™ Rescue System, a one-touch backup, repair and recovery tool, as well as VeriFace™ facial recognition, which give users a fun and interactive way to log on to the PC.

Lenovo C315 All-In-One Delivers Multitouch and Entertainment for the Interactive Family

The new Lenovo C315 allows consumers to enjoy videos, music and games without sacrificing computing power and ease-of-use. The C315 comes with a large 20-inch, High-Definition 16:9 widescreen display and NaturalTouch touch screen technology, making it a great addition to any room in the home. With AMD Athlon™ dual core processors, 4GB of memory and ATI Mobility Radeon™ graphics, C315 offers dependable performance in a compact and stylish design. The C315 also features Lenovo IdeaTouch – a suite of touch-optimized multimedia applications, which includes PowerCinema, AutoCollage and VeriTouch™ software that adds a fun and interactive way to log in. In addition, AutoCollage automatically creates a collage from any selection of photos on the PC – an exciting way to enjoy photos of family and friends.

Pricing and Availability

The Lenovo G455 and G555 notebooks start at $449 and will be available in the U.S. beginning in March. The starting price of the Lenovo C315 all-in-one desktop is $649. It will be available in the U.S. beginning in April.

So how do you drum up publicity for a conceptually basic accessory to a product that’s not even out yet? You put “ballz” in the name! That’s Marketing 101. But actually, these shock-absorbing attachments could come in handy.

They’re actually pretty well conceived: four balls, connected by stretchable cord, protect your e-book reader from drops by absorbing the blow, and also keep a resting device elevated just high enough off of a table to save it from spills.

A set of four iBallz can be pre-ordered now for $15, and they’ll work just as well on a Kindle or Sony Reader as they will on the iPad. But “Sony Reader Ballz” just doesn’t quite roll off the tongue. [iBallz via Wired]

Brain chemistry questionnaires, genetic testing: online dating sites are going to pretty extreme lengths to prove that their methodology is the most advanced. Because hey, then they can justify higher rates! But does any of it actually work?

The NY Times gives a rundown of a few sites that embrace Cupid’s geekier side. For a $2000 lifetime membership, for example, ScientificMatch.com uses a DNA sample—from a cheek swab, sicko—to test for genetic markers in your immune system that may indicate compatibility. Chemistry.com employs a questionnaire developed by a biological anthropologist to match up temperaments for $50/month. And eHarmony, the granddaddy of them all, uses sociological variables to filter and sort its members for up to $46/month.

Online dating is a $976 million a year industry, so it’s either working for some people or singles are very persistent/wealthy these days. But success rates are hard to measure, even for dating sites with a scientific slant. And whatever successes are found may not stem from fancy questionnaires as much as the self-selecting, pre-screened pool of people ready to find that special someone:

The sites attract cohorts of people interested in slowing down the online dating and mating process, in finding out more information about potential partners – or in ruling out unlikely suitors – before they graduate to the meet-and-greet stage.

And while $50 a month might sound expensive for meeting someone, the Times also points out that it’s a heck of a lot less than a monthly tab at a single’s bar. [NY Times]

TechCrunch is reporting that an iPad-friendly version of Hulu is in the works, and may be ready in time for the tablet’s launch. Oh, sweet mercy, let it be true.

The bad news is that the rumor gets pretty vague “industry insider” sourcing. The good news is that the move would make perfect sense for Hulu, especially given that they’ve reportedly already had an iPhone app in the works for some time.

The barriers to entry for Hulu on the iPad aren’t as insurmountable as they may seem. All of Hulu’s videos are already encoded in H.264, which is supported by Quicktime and Safari. So Hulu could simply have its videos open in Quicktime (since the iPad and iPhone don’t support Flash). Or, more likely, they could build a custom app with its own player. Of course, since Hulu.com is built on Flash, the result might not look or act quite the way the site does, but as long as the content is there, I’m fine with that.

As with all rumors, time will tell. But this one’s got a shorter time horizon than most. The iPad launches in March, and having Hulu along for the ride would be a pretty sweet selling point. [TechCrunch]

Did you know that the music you’re listening to is literal torture for the sensitive ears of your pet? It’s scientifically probably true! My Pet Speaker filters out harsh animal-only frequencies, so you and Fido can jam together in comfort.

The speakers are made by Pet Acoustics, who have previously blessed us with an iPhone app dedicated to music explicitly written for the three most common household pets: dogs, cats, and… horses. Anyway! Their My Pet Speakers take a slightly different approach to serving your four-legged friend’s aural needs:

My Pet Speaker features an Omni directional speaker with a 4″ drive unit and cone reflector which disburses the music in 360 degrees recreating how animals hear in nature. By producing limited frequencies and featuring a soft bass design for listening comfort, your pets will not be startled or disturbed by jarring volumes and piercing sounds that put them on alert.

That’s right! Fido won’t be disturbed. Your friends and loved ones might be, though, after they find out you spent $250 on a speaker for your pet. [Pet Acoustics]

Controllers can be a hassle to keep track of, and often clutter up valuable home entertainment space. But here comes the Wall Clip, what Mary Poppins would surely have used if the Banks children had been gamers.

I’m sure the Wall Clip can be used to mount any number of non-video-game-accessory items to your wall, and it’s that flexibility that makes them so handy. You can mount anything from a Wii Nunchuck to a Guitar Hero axe by bending and shaping each Wall Clip as necessary.

They’re available in a range of ten colors, and you can pick up four for just ten bucks. And if anyone questions why you’ve got video game controllers hanging on your walls, explain to them that it’s part of the decor, and politely escort them from the premises. [Laboratory 424 via Unpluggd]

The $500 16GB, Wi-Fi only iPad costs Apple less than half that to build, according to a recent component breakdown from iSuppli. And for the 64GB 3G iPad, Apple clears nearly $500 in profit. Here’s how it breaks down:

Apple iPad Estimated Bill-of-Materials and Manufacturing Cost Analysis:
This will no doubt be updated once iSuppli and others are able to do a teardown of an actual device, but those estimated profit margins are pretty stunning, particularly on the higher-end models. iSuppli also points out that the 32GB versions of the iPad only cost $30 more to make than their 16GB counterparts, yet retail for $100 more—a good indication that that’s where they expect the sweet spot to be in the market.

Goes a long way to explaining why Apple’s so willing to be flexible on the price, no?[iSuppli]

A series of emails that surfaced in an old Microsoft antitrust case have come to light, the most interesting of which show Bill Gates admitting his company was “flat footed” in the wake of the 2003 iTunes launch.

Microsoft executive Jim Allchin responded to the Gates admission succinctly enough: “We were smoked.” You might remember Allchin as the guy who later took the fall for Vista and coped by, naturally, putting out a rock-n-roll album.

It’s not the first email that’s caught Gates owning up to his company’s faults, and I’m sure it won’t be the last. What’s interesting about this one, though, is his encouragement to “move quick and match and do stuff better.” Seven years later, and I’d say they’ve still got a ways to go.

——- Original Message ——-
From: Bill Gates
Sent: Wed 4/30/2003 10:46 PM
To: Amir Majidimehr; Dave Fester
Cc: Will Poole; Christopher Payne; Yusuf Mehdi; David Cole; Hank Vigil
Subject: Apple’s Jobs again.., and time to have a great Windows download service…

Steve Jobs ability to focus in on a few things that count, get people who get user interface right and market things as revolutionary are amazing things.

This time somehow he has applied his talents in getting a better Licensing deal than anyone else has gotten for music.

This is very strange to me. The music companies own operations offer a service that is truly unfriendly to the user and has been reviewed that way consistently.

Somehow they decide to give Apple the ability to do something pretty good.

I remember discussing EMusic and us saying that model was better than subscription because you would know what you are getting.

With the subscription who can promise you that the cool new stuff you want (or old stuff) will be there?

I am not saying this strangeness means we messed up – at least if we did so did Real and Pressplay and Musicnet and basically everyone else.

Now that Jobs has done it we need to move fast to get something where the UI and Rights are as good.

I am not sure whether we should do this through one of these JVs or not. I am not sure what the problems are.

However I think we need some plan to prove that even though Jobs has us a bit flat footed again we move quick and both match and do stuff better.

I’m sure people have a lot of thoughts on this. If the plan is clear no meeting is needed. I want to make sure we are coordinated between Windows DMD, MSN and other groups.

…. Original Message ….
From: Jim Allchin
Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2003 4:58 PM
To: Amir Majidimehr; Chris Jones (WINDOWS); Will Poole; David Cole
Subject: Apple’s music store

1. How did they get the music companies to go along?

2. We were smoked.

jim

[Groklaw]

An editorial in today’s Wall Street Journal argues that Apple’s love of strategy has overclouded its passion for products. Is Holman Jenkins right that Apple is the new Microsoft, and iTunes is the new Windows?

Obviously, the companies are so inherently different both culturally and strategically that it’s easy to dismiss Jenkins’ claim out of hand. But there’s at least one strong point here: Apple’s refusal to incorporate Flash may hamper the iPhone’s capabilities, but it forces users to go to iTunes for content they could otherwise get for free on Hulu. As Jenkins says:

Here’s the bigger worry. Apple may be succumbing to the seductive temptations of “network effects,” in which the all-consuming goal becomes getting its mobile devices into more and more hands simply for the purpose of locking more and more users into iTunes.

But has the focus on getting those mobile devices into more and more hands resulted in lower quality products? That’s the real issue, and I think the answer has to be no. Jenkins holds the iPad up as proof of an “increasingly junky” device, but I can’t think of anyone who’s actually had a hands-on with it who didn’t think it had serious potential.

Is there a chance that Apple will fall off like Microsoft did in the past? Sure. They’ve got a closed ecosystem, and they’ve shown a willingness to protect that at the cost of consumer benefit. But until that one example starts showing itself to be a systemic problem, it’s far too early for this comparison to hold water. [WSJ]

A Winnipeg man has been dumped by his girlfriend of two and a half years, after she found his phone riddled with sext messages. Only problem? He didn’t write any of them. Virgin Mobile did.

Apparently the cheeky monkeys over at Virgin Mobile had pre-loaded a number of suggestive text messages into at least one Samsung model, ranging from the relatively innocuous “Be there soon” to the crystal clear “Booty call.” When the wrongly accused man’s girlfriend found them, she naturally assumed she was a cuckolded Canuck.

The dumpee, identified only as “Darren P,” called Virgin Mobile to complain, and was told to put it in writing. So it sounds like if any action is going to be taken, it’ll be a while.

It’s not clear yet if he’s reconciled with his ex after these revelations came to light. But even if she comes crawling back, make sure to think it over, Darren P. She was looking through your phone! She thought you actually used the phrase “booty call” to make a booty call! Surely there are other fish in the frozen tundra of Winnipeg. [Metro UK via The DW]

Facebook and AOL have linked their instant messaging platforms. After downloading the beta software, AIM users can click a “Facebook Connect” button to set up Facebook chat. They’ll then have access to their Facebook friends on their buddy list.

It’s a quick right jab back at Google, whose announcement of Buzz yesterday heralded a clear intent to encroach on Facebook’s social networking playground. Adding AIM users gives Facebook instant traction in the instant messaging space that they haven’t been able to find yet on their own.

It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out in the long term, but clearly Facebook wants to get a jump start on nipping Buzz in the bud. [AIM via CNET]

In Afghanistan, Marines might soon be able to snap together a 6.5-feet tall wall of armor for themselves in under ten minutes, using no tools or equipment. Inside, they’ll be safe from bullets and frag from grenades, mortars, and rockets. Badass.

The Marine Corps has already spent $800,000 to buy 14 kits of McCurdy’s Armor, the portable wall system developed by Dynamic Defense Materials. The kits are named after Ryan McCurdy, a Marine who was killed in duty in 2006 while pulling a wounded friend to safety.

The walls are also stackable, making them as easy to transport as they are to assemble. Once in position, four soldiers can assemble an individual panel in less than ten minutes, after which multiple panels can snap together in a U-, V, or J-shape, depending on what’s preferable for the situation. The walls also feature ballistic windows that open and close, allowing Marines to fire back when necessary.

It’s not clear if and when these will be deployed widely in the field, but given that the current alternative is stacking a bunch of sandbags, hopefully Uncle Sam’s ready to put in another order. [DDM via National Defense via PopSci]

The smallest solar sensor in the world is 1,000 times smaller than standard systems, and under the right conditions, it could last forever.

According to electrical engineering professor David Blaauw, who participated in the project at the University of Michigan:

“Our system can run nearly perpetually if periodically exposed to reasonable lighting conditions, even indoors. Its only limiting factor is battery wear-out, but the battery would last many years.”

The measurements are an amazing 2.5 x 3.5 x 1 millimeters. The sensor uses an ARM Cortex M3 processor and consumes about 2,000 times less power in sleep mode than current commercial products. Its total average power consumption? Less than one-billionth of a watt. And while it needs a half a volt to operate, its Cymbet battery outputs close to 4 volts.

Not only is it an impressive feat of engineering, it could eventually find all kinds of practical medical uses, up to and including being placed in the body and running on heat or movement. For now, though, I’m impressed enough by the sheer tininess of it all. [PhysOrg via Inhabitat]