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The Aepel: For Those Who Use Their Voices A Lot

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 05:07 AM PST

Our buddy T to the Ricker found this charming device, a microphone and mobile compact amplifier. Although he pretends to not know what the heck this is, I suspect it’s one of those mics Asian tour guides carry to amplify their voices in public places so the entire group can hear about Stephanie Meyer on a Japanese Twilight Tour of the Northwest.

The best part is the press release, after the jump. To wit:

While the main users have been those who use their voices a lot, such as teachers and instructors, there is a trend that the users have become diverse, like those in outdoor events, military bases and large-scale marts.

Large-scale marts, indeed.

The AEPEL Phone is a Product, Developed for the First Time in Korea by AEPEL Inc.

December 7, 2010

The AEPEL phone is a product, developed for the first time in Korea by AEPED Inc specialized in sound equipment, to combine the functions of the wireless microphone and mobile compact amplifier.

The AEPEL phone uses the binary CDMA technology, making it possible to provide clearer sound compared with the existing Bluetooth technology and also to use the multiple units of the products in the same area almost without causing noise or interference.

In addition to it, the product uses lithium polymer battery, allowing the product to be run for 20 hours when used for the function of amplifier, and 8 hours when used for the function of wireless microphone. The diffuser-type design of the horn enables the sound to be delivered not only indoors, but also outdoors.

Due to the extremely compact size as well as the weight of 288g, it is easy to carry the product with everyone. The aux terminal will allow customer to use a computers or MP3 by connecting it. The product also provides simultaneous outputs from the wireless and wired aux functions.

There are two different types of models, FC-730, which provides wireless and wired functions, and FC-530, which provides only wired function, while both of them are certified for FCC and CE.

While the main users have been those who use their voices a lot, such as teachers and instructors, there is a trend that the users have become diverse, like those in outdoor events, military bases and large-scale marts.


Kinect Hacked To Support 3D Occlusions

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 04:59 AM PST

Some students at the École Polytechnique Fédérale De Lausanne in Switzerland have hacked two Kinect sensors to create a human tracking system that perfectly controls for occlussions in dark and light. Interestingly, it’s very much like the helmet tracking system I saw in Israel in August. Both track objects and people in real time but one costs $300 and the other one costs about $10,000 dollars.

Now they just need to militarize the Wii.

Video And Screenshots Of Android 3.0′s Surprise Appearance

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 01:18 AM PST


The video of Andy Rubin’s talk at the Dive Into Mobile event is up, and you can watch the juicy bit above, where he takes out the prototype Motorola tablet and toys with it for all to see, demonstrating the new Google Maps and “accidentally” teasing video chat capability and some other things.

The pad looks bigger than 7″, the size we heard about, but I can’t swear to it. If I had to take a guess at the screen resolution, I’d go with 8-9″ at 1024×600. It looks thin and rather unadorned right now, but this likely isn’t the final industrial design, so let’s just not worry too much about that. He seemed proud that it had no buttons on it, though, so I’m guessing that’s final.

Rubin mentions toward the beginning of his Maps demo that it’s running a dual-core NVIDIA GPU. So there’s that. I wonder what the CPU is — not an ARM SoC, since the graphics wouldn’t be discrete like that. A new dual-core Atom? Or something new, something custom? He does say a “new” processor, and for that matter a “new” screen, so it could be anything, and the screen might be different from the current crop.

Here are a few screenshots from the video. Sorry they aren’t very clear, but they’re better than the blurry ones from before.




As for the price? TBD. Unless you want to buy the prototype, about which Rubin said “literally, this thing is probably like ten thousand dollars.”

Video: Super-Fast Industrial Robot Genkotsu

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 01:07 AM PST


We don’t usually blog industrial robots on CrunchGear, but the so-called Genkotsu is too cool to pass up. For one, it’s one of Japan’s top robots of 2010, as selected by the government last month. But more importantly it’s flexible, precise, and amazingly fast.

Made by Fanuc, the Genkotsu is a parallel link robot for arranging components and assembling electronic devices, for example cell phones. The robot can be equipped with iRVision, Fanuc’s self-developed visual sensor, that makes the robot “see” objects about as well as human eyes.

As you can see in the video embedded below (shot by Diginfonews in Tokyo), Genkotsu is not only super-fast in differentiating between objects but also in picking them up gently:

Daily Crunch: Between Machines Edition

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 12:00 AM PST

Gift Guide: The 5 Best World Of Warcraft: Cataclysm Gifts

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 11:55 PM PST

Not sure what to get that World Of Warcraft player in your life? Here’s a list of 5 items (good or bad) that that’ll make that WoW player in your life happy (or sad). Either way, here’s a few things you can wrap and put under the tree.

5. World of Warcraft Cataclysm Dragon Art print poster. The artists at Blizzard have been working on new exclusive art as part of the Cataclysm expansion. As a result of that they have been auctioning off signed copies of the main image, as well as non-autographed versions of the main poster. Either way, the poster is an amazing image and would look great in any man-cave (or woman-cave). You can pick one up on ebay for about $10.

4. The Cataclysm Deathwing tshirt. Don’t be afraid to let your freak flag fly, there’s how many millions of people playing WoW now? They may not admit it, but odds are that Brenda in accounting? Yeah, she’s actually a blood elf warrior. So while you might might feel a little bit silly wearing a Deathwing tshirt, it might help you meet Brenda.

3. Eat Sleep WoW Vinyl sticker. Need something for the back window of your truck? Well here you go. Again, this is one of those “don’t be shy” about your Warcraft addiction things, but it’ll fit nicely in the back window of your car. The sticker runs about $4.00 plus shipping, and if you prefer, you can get get Horde or Alliance instead of the logo. Either way, great stocking stuffer.

3. World Of Warcraft 2011 Wall Calendar. Looking for a 16 month calendar with some custom graphics from Blizzard? Well, you can pick one up for the your favorite WoW addict for a mere $13.49 (on sale right now). Definitely worth your gold.

2. SteelSeries Warcraft:Cataclysm Mouse. Steelseries is famous for making custom mice and keyboards for World of Warcraft, and Cataclysm is no exception. The Cataclysm MMO mouse has customizable buttons, works with both the Mac and PC, and has custom paint job. The mouse is scheduled to be released today, with an MSRP of $99.99.

1. Without fail, Bradygames releases a guide with each expansion set. Once again, there’s a strategy guide coming out (not that you should buy it) and it retails for $16.49.

Super-cute USB Hub Robot

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 11:05 PM PST

Japan-based accessory specialist Sanwa Supply started selling the so-called USB Hub Robot [JP] yesterday. As the name suggests, it’s a USB hub (with two ports) that’s shaped like a cute robot robot.

The little guy’s LED eyes start to light up when you connect him to your computer, he can walk around your desk when you wind him up, and he can also hold a pen in his arms for you (see below). In other words, the thing is adorable (video on the top right of this page).

The USB Hub Robot is Japan only, but Geek Stuff 4 U already has it listed for everyone living outside this country (price: $57.12).

Andy Rubin Shows Off Android 3.0 On Prototype Motorola Tablet

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 08:17 PM PST


Andy Rubin is, as I type this, in the middle of a demo of Android 3.0 (AKA Honeycomb) at Dive Into Mobile. The rest of his talk I’ve got written up elsewhere, but this was too cool to pass up. The software is running on a prototype MOTOPAD that looks really slick, though it was only out for a moment and there are but few pictures at the moment. I’ll be updating this post as more information breaks.

First thing he showed off was a new lock screen and then what appeared to be a brand new “desktop” with widgets and buttons in the corners. Different UI aesthetic than earlier versions of Android. He then launched the new, 3D-and-vector-based version of Google Maps that should be coming to your phone in just a couple days.

Continue reading…

A Brand New Dreamcast Game From German Developers

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 06:30 PM PST

So you thought the Dreamcast was dead, huh? Not so fast! A German tech show, 3Sat, has an interview with a game developer who is putting together a whole new game, and it looks awesome.

The new game, called Sturmwind, is an arcade shoot-em-up, and is scheduled to be released in the middle of next year by Redspot Games and guaranteed to represent! It’s not some homebrew thing, it’s a full game with packaging and everything, and should run on your Dreamcast — you still have your Dreamcast, right?

The game is available for pre-order from Redspot, and will set you back about $46.

[via Kotaku]

More Supply-Line Chatter Has iPad 2 Shipping In February

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 05:57 PM PST

Just a few weeks after suppliers were nailed down for iPad 2 components and a Q1 ship date more or less confirmed, Digitimes has heard from Foxconn that they will be called on to ship some 400k-600k iPad 2 units in February. Though we expect an announcement in January, the actual availability date is subject to finalizing the firmware, quality assurance, and so on, all of which is ongoing.

It’s not exactly a surprise — we always felt if Apple didn’t unveil a new, smaller iPad for the holidays, then the updated iPad (likely the same size with a front-facing camera and a few hardware improvements) would come roughly on the one-year anniversary of the first in traditional Apple fashion.

We’ll be there, of course, whenever it goes down, but until then we’ll keep our ears to the ground for rumors and leaks.

Sorry Security On Car Key Fobs Means Your Ride May Be At Risk

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 04:30 PM PST


We all know keychain fobs are far from the most sophisticated devices in the world, but there’s a chance that their merely elementary security measures may put your car at risk. While it’s far from a widespread problem, it seems to be an issue most companies are willing to ignore.

A security expert has demonstrated that at least one popular immobilizer tool (which prevents your car from starting if you’re not nearby with the key) could be bypassed in just six hours. Not just one car, you understand, the entire system. Any car using it can now be safely driven away, assuming you can start the engine, of course.

The issue is that the encryption key on the wireless is of a relatively low order, and it’s possible to snag a few packets and work out the key using automated cryptographic techniques. Who knows what measure will be taken, if any, but in the meantime, let’s hope the carjackers don’t wise up.

[via Reddit]

Win Stuff, Make Friends With Steam’s Great Treasure Hunt

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST


Flickr’d

In walks Steam, trying to build an actual community around its handy little platform. It’s called the Great Steam Treasure Hunt, and it’ll have players doing all sorts of fun, community-type things, like earning achievements and jointing groups! Wheeeeee!

The deal is that between today and December 20 you’ll be able to win the top five games on your Steam wish list by participating in Steam community activities. For example, if you earn the Desert Fox achievement in the game R.U.S.E. you’ll have qualified for the drawing. If you create an avatar on your little profile you’ll have qualified. If you gain at least 1,124,400 points (easy mode) in the Chime level Paul Hartnoll you’ll have qualified.

There’s 20 winners per 48-hour content.

Or, far easier, you could just read the actual Web site that has all the details you could ever want.

So, the potential to win free stuff, and you’ll become part of the greater Steam community. Nothing wrong with that.

Playstation Phone controls spotted lurking in the Android Gingerbread SDK

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 03:40 PM PST

L1. L2. R1. R2. If those aren’t ringing any bells, you’ve really gotta spend some time with a Playstation. As any kid born in the last few decades could tell you without hesitation, those are the names given to the four shoulder triggers found on a Playstation controller.

And, hey, whatd’ya know: those same four buttons have managed to sneak their way into just-released SDK for Gingerbread, otherwise known as Android v2.3, right as an Android-powered Playstation Phone is making laps around the rumor mill.
Read the rest at MobileCrunch, where babies come from. >>

Best Buy Pins A Price On The Nexus S: $199 with contract, $529 without

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 03:38 PM PST

When Google unveiled the long-rumored Nexus S (don’t call it a Nexus 2) this morning, they left out one oh-so-important tid bit: the price.

Best Buy, who’s acting as Google’s exclusive distribution partner here in the US, has just gone and cleared that up.

Review: Creative ZiiSound D5 and D200 Wireless Speakers

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 03:36 PM PST

I first got the Creative D5 and D200 speakers way back in June and have just gotten around to cracking them open and trying them out. It’s hard to write about a 2.0 speaker set simply because it’s not extremely super-exciting on the surface. However, if you’re looking for a good, wireless speaker system for the bedroom or kitchen, these are two kids that are worth looking into.

The D200 costs $129 while the D5 is a bit more expensive at $300. The primary difference is that the D5 includes a miniature Bluetooth adapter for iPods and iPhones.

Both speaker systems offer approximately the same performance and both can really fill a room if necessary. The D5, the one I used most over the past few weeks, has a nice amount of bass and good clarity even at high volume. The D5 also has a slightly wonky touch-sensitive strip to control the volume which, incidentally, can also be changed from an iPod or iPhone. Both are A2DP compatible which means you can stream audio from your devices via Bluetooth. The D5, obviously, includes the dongle but you don’t necessarily have to use it. The best part is that the iPod itself becomes the remote control when you connect via Bluetooth. You can also charge devices using the D5′s dongle.

Creative has made good audio devices for years and well worth a look if you need a portable, light and simple-to-use speaker set.


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D200 Product Page
D5 Product Page

World Of Warcraft Cataclysm: Countdown To The Great Worgen Population Explosion Of 2010

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 03:00 PM PST

At midnight tonight (Pacific Standard Time, leaving those of us on the east coast looking like fools) Blizzard flips the switch on the World of Warcraft: Catalysmservers. It’s a pretty huge deal, and not just because it’s the latest expansion (leaks reports indicate at least two more expansions within the next three years) to the game that recently turned six years old. Consider this a sort of What To Expect™ post.

First: The actual game launch. Blizzard’s official launch event happens tonight at 9pm PT at the Fry’s Electronics in Southern California. There will be "the powerful music of The Artists Formerly Known as Level 80 Elite Tauren Chieftain, an epic /dance competition, autographs from the development team, and more." And, of course, you’ll walk out of there with a shiny copy of Cataclysm.

Other stores, including Best Buy and GameStop, have launch festivities planned, so be sure to check your local haunt to see if anything’s Going Down™. (I shall be sound asleep when all of this is going on.)

Second: Rather than adding zones as they did with the previous two expansions, Blizzard has decided to alter some of the existing zones courtesy of a giant cataclysm. It doesn’t just mean physical differences in the landscape, but also that quests for levels 1-60 have been fleshed out. I think we can all agree that that was long overdue. That said, it will be sad to see some of the lands that some of us spent quite a lot of time in (I’m almost certain I spent more of 2007 walking around Azeroth than I did walking around Planet Earth) go away forever.

(And yes, I know the patch that introduced the altered Azeroth has been live for several weeks now, but it doesn’t really "count," in my opinion, until tonight. You know what I mean.)

Third: There’s two new playable races introduced in Cataclysm: Worgen and Goblins. It’s pretty clear that Worgen are the "cool" race this time around (like Blood Elfs were back in Burning Crusade), so I fully expect their starting areas to be absolutely swamped for the first few days after Cataclysm’s release.

Fourth: There’s some sort of guild leveling system, but I’ve never been a very good guildie, so I can’t comment too much there.

I think those are the big bullet points this time around, a new Azeroth and the two new races.

The question now becomes what to roll tomorrow?

Well met, traveller. From Parts Unknown, Nicholas Deleon is debating between a Gnome Rogue and a Worgen Priest. He went Horde last expansion, so it’s only fair to see the war from the other side this time around. For more crises of conscious, consult his Twitter.

Echochrome II Hits PSN On December 21st

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 02:30 PM PST

Just a quick PSA, since this was one of the Playstation Move games that impressed me at E3. Like the original Echochrome, which bent your mind as you changed the perspective, this one makes you really think differently about how the game world works. You use the Move controller as a “flashlight,” casting a shadow for your guy to walk on and interact with.

It’s quite cool, and will be available on the 21st. Price not yet announced, probably ten bucks or so. A good stocking stuffer for the PS3 gamer in the family.

CX Swiss Military Watch “Hurricane” Review

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 02:14 PM PST

CX Swiss Military watches tend to be hit and miss for me, but I am usually impressed by their limited edition models. These are often much more interesting than their standard collection, and feature a lot more design and attention by CX. The newest limited edition watch that CX Swiss Military released after the 20,000 Feet diver is this Hurricane timepiece. Not a diving style watch, this one is pointed more at the skies. Aviator themed in most all regards, the watch once again is a little over the top, but in a fun way, and still has a lot of functional substance.


The Large Pocket Shirt, For The Tablet Enthusiast

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 02:00 PM PST


So the Galaxy Tab and a few other devices are just small enough to fit into a back pocket (some back pockets, anyway) but what about an iPad or similar device? Where are you supposed to put that, if you’re just going out to the store and don’t want to carry a bag, yet somehow still want to have your iPad with you?

My friend, allow me to introduce the Large Pocket Shirt.

It’s a white shirt with one big-ass pocket on it. What can you put in the pocket? Many things. iPads, notepads, bag lunches, baby kangaroos — the possibilities are so much greater than regular-size pockets. You could even put a spare Large Pocket Shirt in the pocket. That would blow some minds.

They cost $30 each — shipping is free and they’ll be available on the 10th.

[via The Awesomer]

Someone Paid Over $500,000 For This Leica

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 01:30 PM PST


As much as I’d like to say it’s ridiculous that someone has paid half a million dollars for this experimental 1958 MP2 Leica, it’s really no more ridiculous than paying for a piece of art by an old master or famous contemporary artist. In that case, you’re paying for a piece of art history, and in the Leica’s case, it’s a piece of photographic history. Try telling me one is more ridiculous than the other.

The camera itself, part of a camera lot that netted nearly a million euros total, is one of only six ever made (in this finish, at least), and more importantly, is the first of its kind ever offered for sale. It had an experimental electric motor drive and should work as well as the day it was assembled.

The auction house, WestLicht, congratulates the new owner: “The buyer now posses the most expensive Leica camera ever sold!” But the real winner is, of course, the auction house.

[via Leica Rumors]
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