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- Video: Robotic Wheelchair Automatically Follows Human Companion
- Video: Intelligent Museum Guide Robot
- TiVo Premiere To Feature Cox’s “Vast” VOD Library
- Bag Week Reviews: Tenba Messenger Photo/Laptop Bag
- Doctor Says: No Eye Damage From 3D… Except Maybe Kids
- You And Your iPad Get Held In A New Way
- The Chewdriver (Tiny Hard Hat Not Included)
- R2D2 Edition Droid 2 Is The Star Wars Tie-In You’re Looking For
- BVLGARI Diagono X-Pro Watch
- The HDV-D350S Is The World’s First Projector/Camcorder
- Sony’s eReaders To Get Android?
- Borderlands Still Going Strong: More DLC Announced
- Ask Dr. Fitness and the Fat Guy
- 3D A Relative Flop, TV Manufacturers Talk Up Apps
- The Apple TV Is Dead: $99 Next-Gen Model To Be Called iTV, Run iOS, And Play Back At 720p
- Holstee’s Recycled Wallet: Green & Great
- DIY: Build Your Own Sound Activated Flash
- Apple releases iOS 4.0.2 for iPhone, patches PDF vulnerabilities (and sends jailbreakers back to the drawing board)
- Bag Week Reviews: The North Face On Sight Backpack
- The ‘N Word’ Found In Amazon Kindle Game [Update]
| Video: Robotic Wheelchair Automatically Follows Human Companion Posted: 12 Aug 2010 03:20 AM PDT
This is pretty cool: a robotic wheelchair that automatically follows a human companion without the person sitting in the wheelchair having to do anything. Just like the Museum Guide Robot we’ve shown you earlier today, the robo wheelchair is the brain child of Saitama University‘s Human-Robot Interaction Center. The way it works is that a built-in distance sensor and camera system tracks the position of the companion’s shoulders, anticipates the direction the person wants to go based on that, and follows him or her accordingly. As a side effect, it’s easier for the person sitting in the wheelchair to communicate with helpers as they can walk along instead of pushing the wheelchair from behind. The wheelchair can also automatically avoid obstacles, for example people coming the other way. What’s also cool is that, according to the makers, it’s even possible to let two of the wheelchairs follow a single companion. The video embedded below (provided by DigInfoNews in Tokyo) provides more insight:
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| Video: Intelligent Museum Guide Robot Posted: 12 Aug 2010 12:42 AM PDT
We’ve shown you multiple guide robots coming out of Japan in recent months, but this new one is specialized in helping out in museums. The unnamed robot was developed by researchers at Saitama University near Tokyo and is supposed to be more “intelligent” than similar models. Its makers say they managed to boost his communication skills by crossing robotics with sociology. The cute robot can explain objects or paintings by speaking pre-programmed sentences, but he’s also (to a certain degree) able to change his behavior, based on a human’s reactions. He can, for example, detect a human’s nods and facial movements (via a laser range-finding sensor and a 360 degree camera) to assess their interest in his explanations. Watch the Museum Guide Robot in action in the video below (shot by our friends at DigInfoNews in Tokyo):
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| TiVo Premiere To Feature Cox’s “Vast” VOD Library Posted: 11 Aug 2010 09:01 PM PDT
Full press release below… COX COMMUNICATIONS TO PROMOTE TIVO PREMIERE WITH COX VOD SERVICE TO ITS SUBSCRIBERS Cox Plans to Promote TiVo Premiere, Offer the TiVo Solution Through its Call Centers, and Provide Free Installation First-Ever Integration of Cox On DEMAND service in a Retail Device to Provide A Full Service Cable Solution Along with Broadband Content ALVISO, CA and ATLANTA, GA – August 12, 2010 — TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO), a leader in advanced television services including digital video recorders (DVRs) for consumers, content distributors and consumer electronics manufacturers and Cox Communications, the third-largest U.S. cable television company, today announced that they have entered into an agreement whereby the two companies will offer TiVo Premiere with integrated Cox On DEMAND service to Cox subscribers. This represents the first time that a cable operator will make its entire video on demand (VOD) library available via a retail DVR and TiVo Premiere will become the first retail product to fully integrate a cable VOD service, along with linear television and broadband content accessible through TiVo's user interface and intuitive search capabilities. As part of the agreement, Cox will promote TiVo Premiere to its subscribers, support TiVo Premiere as an optional set-top, and provide free installation for TiVo Premiere boxes purchased by subscribers at Best Buy and other retail and online outlets including TiVo's own website. Customers will need a CableCARD for access to Cox services. Cox will promote TiVo Premiere via its website, cross-channel advertising, and via direct marketing to its video and high-speed internet subscribers. "We recognize that consumers are attracted to a growing range of devices that enable them to access broadband content and interactive capabilities," said Pat Esser, President of Cox Communications. "With TiVo Premiere, Cox is providing consumers even more choice. Our subscribers will not only have access to TiVo's user experience but Cox's robust Advanced TV offering including On DEMAND service." "Making our video on demand library available to customers who are using TiVo Premiere ensures that they can continue to enjoy all of the great television and movie choices available through our offerings but now have it seamlessly combined with access to a myriad of broadband content in addition to what we offer today," said Steve Necessary, Vice President of Video Strategy and Product Development for Cox. "This is a major opportunity for TiVo, the cable industry and television viewers alike," said Tom Rogers, President and CEO of TiVo Inc. "We are extremely pleased that Cox has elected to integrate its VOD library into TiVo Premiere and offer it to subscribers along with simple and free installation. This is a terrific cost-effective solution for cable operators looking to deliver broadband content and over-the-top television to subscribers. We couldn't be happier than to be teaming with Cox to bring this fully integrated converged television and internet experience to our shared customers." In addition to having access to Cox's vast VOD library and Advanced TV content, subscribers using a TiVo Premiere box will also be able to enjoy TiVo's entire suite of advanced features including access to near infinite broadband content including movies and music, remote scheduling, multi-room viewing, interactive applications and TiVoToGo functionality. Cox plans to make its video on demand service available on TiVo Premiere boxes to subscribers in all its major markets. By the way, I put “vast” in quotes in the headline because it seems a strange epithet for a video library. “Vast” is a bit more… physical. I’d have gone with “extensive” or something.
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| Bag Week Reviews: Tenba Messenger Photo/Laptop Bag Posted: 11 Aug 2010 07:43 PM PDT
Short Version: Tenba’s Messenger Photo/Laptop bag is my favorite so far this week. It combines the two features I really need: a padded, secure way to transport my laptop, and somewhere to put my DSLR when I don’t want to pack all my camera gear with me.
Features:
Pros: Cons:     Review: Tenba’s Photo/Laptop Messenger is a combination bag, and can be used as a simple messenger just by removing the padded camera insert. The camera insert is large enough to hold a DSLR, a couple of average size lenses, and maybe a flash. You can rearrange the “walls” inside the insert as needed, simply by using the velcro stitched into the inside. This makes for an incredibly flexible stealth camera bag, avoiding the “steal me” factor that you get with some products. You can also remove the insert completely, and you have a simply cavernous messenger bag. With the insert in place, there’s room for your laptop, and you still have room for a few magazines, and maybe some paperwork or files. But once you remove the insert, Tenba’s messenger shows how versatile it really is. This bag would be ideal for putting textbooks in, and the internal organizer makes packing your iPod, phone, keys, student ID, or other small devices a snap. This bag also has a great feature in the fact that you don’t have to open the bag completely to access your stuff – there’s a zipper in the top of the front flap that allows you access to the main compartment, without needing to undo the buckles or open the main flap.
Build quality is outstanding, the zipper pulls are easy to grasp, and I noticed no problems with the stitching, zippers, or any of the other fail points that this type of bag has. Tenba has also rubberized the bottom of the bag, making it water and damage resistant. Tenba offers the Photo/Laptop Messenger in the following colors: black, olive, blue, burnt orange, plum, chocolate, and a rather sharp looking platinum. As well as being able to select your favorite color, you can request that Tenba personalize your bag with an engraved metal plate with your name, company logo, website, or whatever. Conclusion: In case you couldn’t tell, I really like this bag. I’m normally more of a fan of the Crumpler and Timbuk2 products, but this bag really hit a sweet spot for me. It’s versatile, well made, and (I think) reasonably priced. I’ve definitely taken a liking to Tenba’s products based on this messenger, and I whole heartily recommend this bag. I’d even go so far as to say then when we’re covering CES this year, I’ll probably be carrying this one. Don’t forget to check out the other bags we’ve reviewed this week.
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| Doctor Says: No Eye Damage From 3D… Except Maybe Kids Posted: 11 Aug 2010 06:40 PM PDT
That said, no one has done any long-term studies yet, so if you’re paranoid, just avoid it. I may defend 3D as a format, but I certainly wouldn’t defend many of the movies coming out these days. [via 1up]
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| You And Your iPad Get Held In A New Way Posted: 11 Aug 2010 05:52 PM PDT
Take, for example, this home theater chair from Elite Home Theater seating. They are taking iPad integration to the next level. Meet the Luxa2 H4 iPad holder. It mates your iPad to your chair. Just place the mount in the cup holder of the chair. The usual luxuries apply such as rubberized handles for your precious. But I would go for the gold and get some transducers mounted in the chair with a Crowson amp and really feel your newfound power. Premium, which adds the transducers, adjustable headrests and amp will lighten your load by $5995 per chair. Otherwise for you proletariats, you'll have to just make due with the $2495 chair. At least you'll get the motorized recline, auto footrest, dual-cushion package with plenty of lumbar support for TV marathons. Watch the video, just don't mind the overly dramatic sound track and awkward, well, everything. Yeah Dawg!
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| The Chewdriver (Tiny Hard Hat Not Included) Posted: 11 Aug 2010 05:45 PM PDT
[via 7gadgets]
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| R2D2 Edition Droid 2 Is The Star Wars Tie-In You’re Looking For Posted: 11 Aug 2010 05:15 PM PDT
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| Posted: 11 Aug 2010 04:49 PM PDT  Bvlgari, err... Bulgari always looks better in all caps right? While I have been seeing lots of confused designs from Bulgari as of late, this Diagono X-Pro is something I am not at all confused about liking (which is to say that I do like it). The cool masculine watch takes a few lessons from the polished looks of the Bulgari design play book, and adds a testosterone powered stamp of approval on it. When it comes down to it, while this is a great watch in and of itself, it feels like Bulgari's answer to the Hublot Big Bang. Not only in design, but also when it comes to the "fusion" of materials. Bulgari knows that with its performance over the last few years and the current economy, it can't dick around. It needs to give people what they want - which is apparently still luxury sport watches.
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| The HDV-D350S Is The World’s First Projector/Camcorder Posted: 11 Aug 2010 04:45 PM PDT
Here's something neat. It's the first camcorder/projector. The Ordro HDV-D350S seems like a pretty cool gadget, that is of course if this nearly $800 device works well. The Ordro is a full HD 1080p camcorder. Equipped with a 3.0" LCD capturing 12.0MP digital stills from a 10X optical zoom. Sounds nice, but I would say the downside would be the projector's resolution (854X480 or WVGA). Max luminance is 15 lumens. Not exactly stellar. Until we can get our hands on this and try it out, I might be a little skeptical about purchasing.
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| Sony’s eReaders To Get Android? Posted: 11 Aug 2010 04:30 PM PDT
I'm all for eReaders. I think the direction they are heading will again transform technology's role in media, communications and curriculum. No doubtedly Sony wants to go in the direction of having more people adopt their eReader lifestyle. As to how, we may have now received some enlightenment. This isn't the first time we find out what lies ahead for a company from their help wanted ads. There is an ad out on Linkedin for "Senior Staff Software Engineer (Android)." The job description was pulled but remains in Google's cache. It appears that the applicant will be working on "developing application software for digital reading and other consumer electronic devices" all on Android's platform. It's also speculated that the job would include applications for the reader and would include Sony Ericson's XPERIA phones. It looks like they might be a little late to the eReader+ market. Having applications is nothing new. What is taking so long?
[via SlashGear]
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| Borderlands Still Going Strong: More DLC Announced Posted: 11 Aug 2010 03:49 PM PDT
[via Rock, Paper, Shotgun]
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| Ask Dr. Fitness and the Fat Guy Posted: 11 Aug 2010 01:58 PM PDT
What’s the best way to tell if I’m fat? BMI, Waist size, Neck size? The gold standard for measuring body fat is a DEXA (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry) scan. A DEXA scan measures your body fat (and bone density) directly with a scan of your whole body with two different low-dose x-rays. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person’s weight and height. BMI is an indirect, inexpensive, easy to perform yet fairly reliable indicator of your body fat. There is also new research citing neck circumference as a measuring tool for obesity. A wide neck circumference is associated with obesity-related conditions such as sleep apnea, diabetes and hypertension. The absolute best way to tell if you're fat is the mirror. The mirror test is done by jumping up and down naked in front of the biggest mirror you have. If it takes more than 7 seconds for your body to stop jiggling then it's time to drop a few pounds. How do I avoid the Freshman 15 without giving up pizza, wings or pizza? Believe it or not most college freshman gain only 5 pounds not 15 (or 50 like the Fat Guy). The main reason freshmen struggle with their weight is because of the drastic change to their routine from life with mom and dad. College life is the beginning of many new freedoms especially in the eating and drinking department. The best way to avoid gaining added weight in college is by being more active. Sign up for intramural sports. Also, find out where the closest gym is on campus and put it on your daily routine. How can you tell the difference between a fad diet and a really good diet? A former client of mine would tell me that whenever he needed to lose some weight he would eat only protein and skip the carbs for a couple of months. This always seemed so odd to me. If this high protein – low carb diet worked so well then why would he ever stop doing it. A "good diet" is one that prioritizes optimal health before weight loss. Fad diets focus strictly on weight loss. There are many diets out there and many theories on why each diet is more effective in losing weight. However, there are very few that focus on maintaining health. Reducing caloric intake, increasing fiber content, increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables, increasing omega 3 fatty acids consumption, increasing the consumption of monounsaturated fats, and decreasing processed food consumption, should be the foundation of a "good diet." I have bad knees – what exercises can I do to burn calories? As we age the cartilage in our knees slowly degenerates. So as the condition worsens, you might have to switch activities from higher impact ones like basketball or running to lower impact activities like swimming or biking. The Fat Guy and I checked out some cool shoes to absorb lots of impact called Kangoo shoes. They look like snow boots and put you up about 8 inches in the air. You can walk or run in them as they absorb most of the impact. If you can handle all the added attention, check them out at www.kangoojumps.com.
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| 3D A Relative Flop, TV Manufacturers Talk Up Apps Posted: 11 Aug 2010 01:53 PM PDT
What do you do when you hype up a relatively nascent video technology that is intrinsically unpopular because of the anti-social tendencies foisted upon its customers as well as the perception that it’s “Just a gimmick?” Pretend it never existed and add on another gimmick! CES is coming up in January and expect the run up to include almost no talk of 3D TV and plenty of talk about “apps” for your TV. Why? Because rather than try to upsell on hardware, CE manufacturers can now gain through affiliate deals with content providers and try to create their own app stores.
Nary a mention of 3D. Just wireless capabilities, Pandora, and all the buzzwords you could desire. Sure the player technically plays back 3D but it can’t on the screen it uses and what they heck are you going to watch? The World Cup in 3D is over and Avatar is getting really boring. Content providers dropped the ball on 3D. After extensive backlash against titles like Clash of the Titans and garbage like G-Force in 3D, the assumption was that 3D was greasy kids stuff. Add in the anti-social nature of 3D and the multiple pairs of glasses needed to actually watch with a family of four or more, and you’ve got a pricey proposition. 3D is the LaserDisc of this era – it’s an interstitial technology that is good in some ways (3D solo PC gaming is amazing) and horrible in others. The widgets and apps (think weather widgets and porn streaming apps), on the other hand, will add features found in boxes from Roku and Western Digital as well as the new Apple TV to work right inside the TV without extra devices. This is a dangerous proposition: I’d never trust TV manufacturers to future-proof these “OSes” or app stores and I’d expect to see a graveyard of dead widgets appearing on TVs bought in the next five years as companies give up on maintaining their stores. Anyway, look for widgets and whoozits and whatzits to start popping up on TVs and – this will be hilarious – watch for app store wars among the various CE manufacturers. If they can’t get you to upgrade to watch blue monsters run around in 3D, maybe they can convince you with on-demand porn and Pandora.
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| The Apple TV Is Dead: $99 Next-Gen Model To Be Called iTV, Run iOS, And Play Back At 720p Posted: 11 Aug 2010 01:32 PM PDT
The next version of the Apple TV is coming soon. There’s been a few rumors over the last month that the next version will be around $99 and feature some sort of cloud-based streaming. But that’s about it. Well, the crazy kids over at Engadget apparently have it on good authority that those two rumors are correct and the next Apple TV, or as it will be called, the iTV, is right around the corner. Like it or not, this might be the device to finally spring media streamers from a niche market to the mainstream. Just in time for the Boxee box and the Popbox to swing in and steal the show. Heck, by the time the iTV comes around, most TVs will have their own app stores. Anything Apple produces these days see incredible sales numbers the first few weeks of its retail life. It’s crazy to think that Apple sold 3 million iPads in a mere months, but while the iPad is pretty darn complete device thanks to the wide range of apps, the Apple TV, or iTV if you will, likely will leave a lot of people wanting more. If these rumors are correct, the device probably will be centered around a modified version of iOS, redesigned for HD resolution. The interface will probably be superior to the GUI found on the current Apple TV. But the capabilities seem lacking. Engadget notes that the iTV will only be capable of 720p playback because of something with the A4 chip. However, it’s more likely that while the device is capable of 1080p, the device will be limited to playing-back iTunes content only — which is 720p. See where I’m going? The iTV will probably be nothing like the Apple TV. (e.g. no local or network file playback) As of late, Apple locks down their devices as tight as legally possible. That’s not the case with the older Apple TV platform. It’s about the easiest device to hack and mod imaginable. Users have found ways to get the streamer run all sorts of different operating systems, in turn creating a device some what like the first Xbox with people purchasing it with the sole intent of modding. This can’t sit well with Apple. Of course this is all speculation at this point. For all we know, Engadget’s report is wrong and there’s no such thing as the iTV. But when you look at all the rumors — iPhone size, iTunes rentals/streams, $99 pricetag — it all says mainstream device with very limited feature set. That’s fine. There are two fantastic media streamers hitting the market real soon. The Popbox and Boxee Box will be happy to pick up where the iTV leaves off. Both of these streamers offer very easy access to free TV content found around the web via beautiful interfaces. Plus, they offer local and network streaming, low prices, and in the Boxee Box’s case, a QWERTY remote. The $99 iTV will do nothing but open up doors for these two next-gen streamers.
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| Holstee’s Recycled Wallet: Green & Great Posted: 11 Aug 2010 01:30 PM PDT
I've written about plenty of green things in the past, but never a green wallet. That ends today! It's called the Holstee wallet, and it's made entirely out of recycled material from Delhi, India. Pretty neat, I think you'll agree. It's primarily made of recycled newspaper and plastic bags, again, from Delhi, India. The people who actually sew the wallet together are paid a "fair wage," and also get subsidized healthcare for their entire family. That's pretty huge. $25 for the wallet, and the feeling of actually having helped a few people out as well as the environment in the process. via swiss-miss
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| DIY: Build Your Own Sound Activated Flash Posted: 11 Aug 2010 01:00 PM PDT
Enthusiast “renkku” from the Let’s Make Robots forum built his own device, and was kind enough to include step by step instructions on how to build one of your very own. [via Make]
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| Posted: 11 Aug 2010 12:33 PM PDT
When the genius minds of the iPhone hacking community discovered that just about every iPhone around was vulnerable to a PDF rendering bug that allowed for one-click jailbreaking, the geek world celebrated — until someone pointed out that this was really, really scary. Deep running system controls, accessible via a browser exploit? As our Spanish-speaking friends around the world would say: No bueno. Fortunately, Apple didn’t just kick back and hope nothing bad would happen. Read the rest at MobileCrunch >>
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| Bag Week Reviews: The North Face On Sight Backpack Posted: 11 Aug 2010 12:32 PM PDT
Short version: The On Sight is a North Face backpack with a notebook compartment. What more do I need to say? You already know it’s well made, probably outlast you and feels great on the back. Yeah, well, do me a favor and click the link anyway. Features:
Pros:
Cons:
        Review I don’t think I can fully express how comfortable it is to wear this pack. It’s truly a thing of wonder. But that’s really nothing special when you consider it’s a North Face backpack. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, North Face makes great products and this bag is no different. I’m not alone in my opinion about how well the bag rides. The American Chiropractic Associations slapped their approval on it and those folks generally hate backpacks. The shoulder straps are contoured and nicely wrap around the arms and the sternum strap can be adjusted vertically eight inches. There’s even a hip belt that can cleverly be stored behind a false backpanel when not in use. Trust me, the whole thing feels great. The rest of the bag is just as nice, though. There’s plenty of room for just about anything in here. The notebook section is more padded than any other bag I’ve ever seen and not just on the backpanel, but also in the divider between the notebook section and the other large pocket, which is where books will probably be stored. There’s a good amount of internal storage spread out between the three front sections with the largest housing about a dozen or so little gadget pockets. The other front two pockets are great for notebook chargers, extra batteries, cell phones and the like. But this pack’s sale is made on comfort alone. That’s it. All the storage and organization are just bonuses in my book. If this backpack simply had one gigantic zippered section but the same type of comfort level, I would still give it an all-out endorsement. Highly recommended. Well done, North Face.
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| The ‘N Word’ Found In Amazon Kindle Game [Update] Posted: 11 Aug 2010 11:51 AM PDT
Amazon may want release an update to its "Every Word" Kindle game. It's been discovered that a variant of the "n word" is included in the game as a viable, points-scoring word. You really don't want to see that, no. The oversight was first discovered by Erik Deckers. He explains:
And that was the missing word. Oh dear… UPDATE Just got word from Amazon, and they’re going to stop distributing the game because “the dictionary it uses does not block some inappropriate words.” Once the offending words are expunged, distribution will resume and an update will be released for people who downloaded the old version. Fire, extinguished.
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Here’s another DIY project for you photography types out there. Did you know it’s possible to build your own sound activated flash? You can, building a box known as a “Picture-Axe”. This device uses a microphone to determine when the action happens, causing the flash to fire and the camera to take a picture. 
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