Developages - Development and Technology Blog

Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals

This is it, soldiers. The day you’ve been anticipating has finally arrived. Okay, so maybe that’s a build up not deserved by the lowly Metal Gear Solid 4 Bluetooth headset, but seriously, we’ve been waiting ages for this thing to ship. Like, so long that the whole MGS4 aura has already come and gone. Those still firmly planted in Snake’s posse can choose to prove their fanhood by snagging this thing now for $39.98; if all goes well, it should be headed your way in a matter of business days. Over and out.

[Via LogicBuy]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Desktops

Surely you remember the Atom-based Shuttle X27 barebones kit — you know, that cute little nettop case that was selling for $189 with its insides all hollow? For those with no time to fill it up, the full-fledged X2700N is now on tap. Boasting a 1.6GHz Intel Atom 230 processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, a 120GB hard drive and a GMA950 integrated graphics set, this Linux-based box can be yours right now for $379.99. That’ll also buy you a dual-layer DVD writer, gigabit Ethernet port, 802.11b/g WiFi, a handful of ports (six USB, VGA, DVI, audio in / out) and a 1-year warranty. ‘Tis a shame it’s not housing one of those dual-core Atom 330s, huh?

[Via ComputerMonger]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Transportation

If the third time is the charm, yet you botch that attempt just like the earlier two, then what? That’s the problem facing NASA and its Space Elevator Challenge, which has for three successive years failed to live up to the vision of Arthur C. Clarke. Japan isn’t waiting for a fourth, announcing plans to spend $7.3 billion on its own lift to whisk passengers (and cargo) 22,000 miles aloft on composite cables. It’s the cables that are the problem, as they need to be 180 times stronger than steel and obviously much, much lighter. The Japanese are focusing on carbon nanotubes, and while they will need to be engineered four times stronger than current stock before they’re up to the task, their highly conductive nature means they can not only support the lift vehicle but also power it. Useful, that, because the ride up could take a couple of days or even weeks, and astronauts will need some way to recharge their PMPs.

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Original post by Tim Stevens

Filed under: Transportation

If the third time is the charm, yet you botch that attempt just like the earlier two, then what? That’s the problem facing NASA and its Space Elevator Challenge, which has for three successive years failed to live up to the vision of Arthur C. Clarke. Japan isn’t waiting for a fourth, announcing plans to spend $7.3 billion on its own lift to whisk passengers (and cargo) 22,000 miles aloft on composite cables. It’s the cables that are the problem, as they need to be 180 times stronger than steel and obviously much, much lighter. The Japanese are focusing on carbon nanotubes, and while they will need to be engineered four times stronger than current stock before they’re up to the task, their highly conductive nature means they can not only support the lift vehicle but also power it. Useful, that, because the ride up could take a couple of days or even weeks, and astronauts will need some way to recharge their PMPs.

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Original post by Tim Stevens

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

Previously, the ship dates for Rock Band 2 instruments ranged from “sometime within the next few months” to “sometime.” Now, however, we’re hearing that the standalone wireless drums ($90) and guitar ($70) will begin to ship out next week. Additionally, Mad Catz’s Fender P-Bass wireless guitar controller ($70) and the wired ION Drum Rocker set ($300) should clutter up floor space around the same time. RB2 party to celebrate the Q3 close? Sign us up.

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Original post by Darren Murph

It’s not all that often I get to step away from the world of technology and enter the kingdom of glamor. So when Sony invited me to a fashion show, I was more than game. A label called Band of Outsiders (which I believe is actually designer Scott Sternberg, not an entire band) decided that instead of a traditional runway show, it would shoot models slouching around artfully in the cloths ahead of time, then use Sony products to project and display them.

Considering that the Saturday event began right in the middle of New York’s dose of Tropical Storm Hanna, the turnout was impressive. (I did have a tough time feeling like a fashionista in sopping-wet clothing, but I was not alone in my dampness.) How well did the tech work? It looked really good; the novelty made the show fun; and the ability to thoroughly check out all the clothes was, I’d think, a boon for folks who actually follow this stuff. But it did seem people were more into chatting with one another and checking out Kirsten Dunst (the label’s main female model) than gazing at the videos for long. Still, it was a scene–and a lot of fun.

Pics and a few more tech details, after the jump.

Digital Kirsten Dunst models for Band of Outsiders. All the video was shot in HD and played back via Blu-ray disc players on Sony projectors.

Menswear: Shorts for all!

Showing off old-school bowties on the Sony XEL1 11-inch OLED television. (The bowties are cute, but I really crave the TV.)

Actual Kirsten Dunst, looking chic and very pretty.

Designer Scott Sternberg with Kirsten (apologies for fuzziness).

Band of Outsiders designer Scott Sternberg.

Original post by Carol Mangis

You remember Pudding Media, right? They offered ad sponsored phone calls in exchange for “listening” in on your phone conversations so it could target audio ads. Pudding Media essentially leverages keyword wordspotting using speech recognition. Well, today, I learned about Plumble from Telecom Monthly. The article seems giddy with what it thinks is some new revelation…

Once in a blue moon, a new product comes along with an idea so obvious that you just want to slap your forehead that you didn’t think of it first. For a couple of years, companies like Jajah and Skype have been offering “Free” phone service. But both still collect your credit card number and charge you for calls that you make off their networks. So they aren’t really “Free,” although they can come close if you call mostly other Jajah or Skype users.

Plumble, The Free Phone Service

A new beta service called Plumble offers actual free phone calls without collecting your credit card number or even your name.

Well, Pudding Media offers free ad-sponsored calls, so this is nothing new. Of course, I didn’t care for Pudding Media’s eavesdropping ad model. Plumble is limited to U.S. and Canadian calling, which isn’t that expensive anyway. Where’s the international free calling? Heck Jajah has been offering free international calling since 2006. Further, Plumble requires that you dial 818-742-0110. Um, that’s not toll-free - that’s a California area code. So I have to pay to dial long-distance to make a “free” phone call? Not to mention it is currently limited to 5 minute phone calls. Thus, this is only useful for short calls anyway and only for people where 818 is a local call.

Thanks, but no thanks.

Tags: free calls, international calls, Jajah, Plumble, Pudding Media, Skype, voip

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Original post by nafiz

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Although DISH Network’s previous quarter wasn’t anything to write home about, it sounds like the satcaster (EchoStar, technically) isn’t going to allow its set-top line to grow stale in the process. During the recent Team Summit in Nashville, Tennessee, DISH’s CEO Charlie Ergen reiterated that it would be beaming out “more than 100 national HD channels” by the end of 2008, and he also made mention that the EchoStar 11 satellite would lift off in July. Most interesting, however, was all the talk about the new STBs. The forthcoming ViP 722 will be the first HD DVR from the outfit with loads of Sling technology built in — not too shocking considering the recent acquisition. Additionally, the box is said to feature an all new interface and the ability to browse to (select) websites, double as a SlingCatcher and even handle Clip & Sling duties. There’s plenty more where this came from, so be sure and hit the read link when you’ve got some spare time for reading.

[Via GizmoLovers]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Cellphones, Transportation

Handset addicts traveling domestically through Houston’s Intercontinental Airport have likely utilized the paperless boarding option if hopping on a Continental flight, and apparently the initiative is going over so well that the aforesaid airline and the TSA are expanding it to three more venues. As of now, passengers traveling within the US can enjoy the same luxury at Boston’s Logan International Airport and Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C; later this month, the program should slide into Newark International Airport in New Jersey. As expected, only folks traveling alone can take advantage, as the airline feels that pulling up passes for an entire group would actually slow the flow of boarding. There’s been no word given on future expansion plans, but at this rate, we wouldn’t be shocked to see it hit even more airports in the not-too-distant future.

[Via WBZTV]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

We’re never going to give up the dream of wireless charging, but it looks like the high costs of developing the technology plus the battle to build it into portable devices has claimed early wireless pioneer Splashpower. We’ve been following the company since 2004, but we never really saw any commercial-ready products emerge from its labs, while companies like WildPower and eCoupled have managed to at least produce demo-quality gear. Here’s hoping an interested investor picks up what’s left of the R&D and runs with it.

[Thanks, John]

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Original post by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

So we’ve had a SanDisk Sansa Fuze hanging around the office for a few days and already we can tell you that fans of the Sansa line will find it a welcome addition to the line. The interface feels pretty snappy and it’s got all the geeky things you’re after (FM radio, microSDHC, 1.9-inch display) at a price $70 cheaper than the nano at the 8GB level. Plus, we know it sounds old school, but we’re really into the tactile scroll / click wheel, and the Fuze has the best one we’ve used in a long time. Check out the photos below, including a couple side by sides with a you-know-what.

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Original post by Ryan Block

Filed under: Portable Audio, Storage

SanDisk just dipped its toe into the digital content distribution waters with the launch of Sansa Sessions. Of course, this isn’t an on-line storefront, it’s flash-based naturally in support of SanDisk’s core business. As such, the US-based program relies upon microSD cards to distribute DRM-free tracks of unspecified quality from more than 50 “emerging artists” on more than 30 labels. At the moment, the featured artists include All Time Low, Ladytron, Magnet, Nada Surf, Of Montreal and The Coup. SanDisk has tied a free, 55 track microSD “sampler” card (of el cheapo 512MB capacity, presumably) to the purchase of its 8GB Sansa Fuze MP3 player. While the $0 cost and DRM-free aspects of Sansa Sessions are certainly appealing to us, this seems best fitted as a record / artist promotional tool than it does a replacement for web-based or over-the-air music distribution.

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Original post by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Remember that Sansa Fuze from yesterday? Well, we’ve gotten some sweet PR on it with a few more details we didn’t hear about yesterday. The device will come in 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB configurations, feature playback of MP3, WAV, Audible, WMA, MPEG-4, and JPEG files, and will be compatible with subscription services like Rhapsody To Go, Napster, and eMusic. As we mentioned in the previous post, the 4GB model will be available in black, red, pink, or blue, while the 2GB version only comes in black, and the 8GB is only available in silver. The models are priced at $79.99, $99.99, and $129.99, and will be available sometime in April.

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Original post by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Check it — HandStands isn’t just making kit for items not yet conceived. Oh no, SanDisk’s Sansa Fuze is indeed more than a figment of someone’s clever imagination. Judging by a product listing at Amazon, this media player is set to ship “within one to three months” and features a 1.9-inch display, FM tuner, built-in microphone for voice recording, a battery good for 24 hours (audio) / 5 hours (video) and a microSD / microSDHC expansion slot for good measure. As of now, we know that the 4GB unit in red, pink or black will sell for $99.99, but there’s no word on whether more (or less, for that matter) capacious / colorful models will eventually emerge.

[Via DAPreview, thanks Nick]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Gaming

It’s not the first we’ve heard of the Wii being used for rehabilitation context, but it would appear “Wiihab” is becoming increasingly frequent. According to the AP, hospitals in states like Missouri, Illinois, and North Carolina, and even Walter Reed Army Medical Center are all incorporating the Wii into physical therapy routines. Just in time, too, it would be really weird if Wiiitis or a nasty Wiinjury landed you in the hospital in the first place, your doctor used a Wii to hone his steady hand, and you didn’t actually get to use a Wii to get your ass well enough to be discharged. Ah, what a world.

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Original post by Ryan Block