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The Napoleon Dynamite problem is driving Len Bertoni crazy.

Bertoni is a 51-year-old “semiretired” computer scientist who lives an hour outside Pittsburgh. In the spring of 2007, his sister-in-law e-mailed him an intriguing bit of news: Netflix, the Web-based DVD-rental company, was holding a contest to try to improve Cinematch, its “recommendation engine.” The prize: $1 million. 

Cinematch is the bit of software embedded in the Netflix Web site that analyzes each customer’s movie-viewing habits and recommends other movies that the customer might enjoy.

Did you like the legal thriller The Firm? Well, maybe you’d like Michael Clayton. Or perhaps A Few Good Men.

The Netflix Prize goes to anyone who can make Cinematch’s predictions 10% more accurate. That sounds like an awfully big prize for such a small improvement. But, in fact, Netflix’s founders have tried for years to improve Cinematch, with only incremental results, and they knew that a 10% bump would be a challenge for even the most deft programmer.

They also knew that getting to 10% would certainly be worth well in excess of $1 million to the company.

The competition was announced in October 2006, and no one has won yet, although 30,000 hackers worldwide are hard at work on the problem. Each day, teams submit their updated solutions to the Netflix Prize Web page, and Netflix instantly calculates how much better than Cinematch they are. (There’s even a live “leader board″ ranking the top contestants.)

More at the New York TImes.

Tags: cinematch, netflix, netflix prize

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Copyright VoIP & Gadgets Blog

Original post by nafiz

Filed under: GPS

As with Jeep’s lackluster RT-300, Panasonic’s portable Strada CN-GP50U GPS is probably better left on the shelf. We know, it’ll be awfully tough to resist that magnificent 5-inch panel and the sleek black frame, but according to PC Mag, this thing is just so-so on its best day. For starters, the price premium over rivaling 4.3-inch units was tough for critics to justify, and coupled with a small POI database, sluggish performance and awkward destination / POI input, hope for success was pretty much extinguished. As if that weren’t enough to frighten you off, reviewers also noted that data fields in the map view were “small and difficult to read,” which probably should not ever be the case on — you know — a navigation system. We appreciate the effort, Panny, but we’d suggest nailing the basics next time before turning to pizazz.

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Gaming

We spotted this demo light gun on the floor of TGS2008. The cagey booth attendant wouldn’t tell us if it will ever hit retail shelves, but the frankensteined (see the external batteries?) device was certainly working with a PS3 and projector here in Tokyo. We’re all for some wireless light gun action, so bring it on, Light Gun Zero. That is, if you can. Oh, and if you can get rid of that unusual battery pack. Okay, thanks.

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Original post by Joshua Fruhlinger

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

According to recent statistics, girls can like, totally rock now. Thankfully, PDP has teamed up with Radio Disney mainstays Aly & AJ to create some seriously rockin’ game controllers for the PS2 and Wii. Due out mid-October and priced at a rockin’ $69.99, tweenage Guitar Hero and Rock Band fans can choose either the rockin’ pink Strat-looking guitar with red skull and crossbones motif, or the totally rockin’ pink heart-shaped guitar with purple zebra print. Check out the rockin’ video after the break. And rock on!

[Via Video Games Blogger]

Continue reading Rock Band and Guitar Hero now for girls, too

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Original post by Joseph L. Flatley

Filed under: Displays

Remember way back when everyone and their third cousin twice removed was hopping on the SideShow bandwagon? Yeah, those were the days. We’ll admit, we still think SideShow has had a lot of promise, but you know what they say about a technology without support. At any rate, Mini-Box has decided to offer up a (comparatively) inexpensive way for folks to indulge in a minuscule auxiliary display, and while the $49.95 PicoLCD 4≴-Sideshow won′t provide any looks at high-res widgets, the basic blue display is a real champ at showing off stock prices and birthday reminders. Worst case scenario? You can probably use it in a random DIY project that you’ve been meaning to get to.

[Via SideShowDevices]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Displays, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Remember that Freestyle Audio player that was supposed to blow folks away with its integrated color mirasol display? Yeah, that one that still hasn’t shipped? Qualcomm is apparently uninterested in that tiny little factoid, as it’s proudly pumping the MFM Pro headphones as the “second color mirasol-enabled design for the US market.” According to Jim Cathey, vice president of business development for Qualcomm MEMS Technologies, the deal with Skullcandy is being made to “move mirasol displays into the hands of more consumers,” but considering just how long we’ve been waiting for the aforementioned DAP, we’d say the burden of proof is squarely in its court. Oh, and the ship date for these cans? There isn’t one.

[Via Slashgear]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Peripherals

Not satisfied by the polished press shots of Microsoft’s new Arc and BlueTrack mice? Then you might want to head over to Maximum PC, which managed to snag each mouse for a quick hands-on look. According to the site, the Arc was unsurprisingly noticeably lighter and less solid than a standard gaming mouse, but that likely won’t stop it from winning its share of fans among those more concerned with portability. As for the BlueTrack, Maximum PC was especially impressed by its tracking accuracy, which apparently delivers as promised, as well as its stylish design and, of course, its “mesmerizing blue glow.” Be sure to hit up the links below for a closer look, plus some more technical details about Microsoft’s BlueTrack technology.

Read - Maximum PC, “Hands-on with Microsoft’s Fashionable and Futuristic Arc Mouse”
Read - Maximum PC, “Everything You Need to Know About Microsoft’s BlueTrack Mouse Technology”

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Original post by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Displays, Transportation

We’ll be honest — we still kind of prefer the days when hacking Wiimotes and other household gadgets was the preferred method for extracting more enjoyment from one’s vehicle, but we suppose there’s no stopping progress. Starting in 2009 (a few years too late for the Fast & Furious crowd), General Motors will begin to offer up a $295 Reconfigurable Performance Display option in the Cobalt and HHR SS. Said display will enable easily distracted drivers to quickly see how many Gs they’re pulling, enable / disable Traction Control, Stability Control and Competition Mode, and get a visual on boost, cam phaser angle, spark advance, engine torque, etc. Oh, and it totally adds 10-horsepower when installed alongside a spare NoS sticker.

[Via Autoblog]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Transportation, Wireless

Wait, wait. Something that was promised for next year is arriving… this year? Be still our hearts! Chrysler will reportedly offer up its in-car EV-DO solution (dubbed Uconnect Web) starting on August 25th, and owners of 2009 Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles (along with a few “earlier models”) will be able to have the $499 box retrofitted into their rides. Apparently the auto maker isn′t planning to install the units directly at the factory, so those who want it will be forced to pay an additional $35 to $50 installation charge, a $35 activation fee and a $29 monthly subscription fee. The service is said to provide download speeds between 400Kbps and 800Kbps with uploads hovering around 400Kbps, and provider Autonet Mobile has promised that you’ll “never lose the connection.” That’s a pretty bold claim — thankfully we’ll be able to test it out in just a few weeks.

[Via CrunchGear, image courtesy of Flickr]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Transportation

Nissan has a knack for pumping out novel safety advancements every few months, and the latest two are in the same vein as a few previous efforts. Two new technologies, Side Collision Prevention and Back-up Collision Prevention, fit into the auto maker’s Safety Shield concept to “help protect the vehicle and its occupants from potential risks coming from multiple directions.” As for the first, the tech utilizes side-mounted sensors to activate a warning if an approaching vehicle is detected in the drivers intended lane; from there, a yaw mechanism is “activated through brake control of individual wheels to help prevent a potential collision.” For the second, an array of sensors detect potential obstacles and triggers an alarm / puts on the brakes if a collision is about to happen. Per usual, there’s no mention of when these brilliant ideas will be implemented into production vehicles, but our insurance bills are pleading for “soon.”

[Via Gizmag]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Transportation

Your retinas have been treated to plenty of external shots of Tesla’s Roadster, but have you ever stopped to wonder what kind of excitement sat just southwest of the steering wheel? CNET’s UK branch managed to get their camcorder within a Roadster parked on display over in Britain, and what they found was a rather robust interface that enables owners to get all sorts of involved with how and when the car charges. The representative did note that typical navigation functions were controlled via the JVC head unit, but the small panel just under the gauges enables motorists to control a number of aspects in relation to charging. There’s even a guide that explains which choices are cheaper and more beneficial for the long-term life of the battery. Have a look at the video in the read link.

[Via Digg]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Dynolicious utilizes the accelerometer built in to your iPhone or iPod Touch to sense the motion of your vehicle to calculate performance statistics including 0-60 acceleration, 1/4 Mile Elapsed Time, Lateral G′s, and Horsepower. Is this not the coolest Apple App ever? I would have headed over to the Apple App Store to buy this app pronto, except I no longer drive a high-performance Dodge Viper - I now drive a pokey Volvo.

Here’s a photo of my beloved 2001 Dodge Viper at a Cape Cod motel before it was totalled by a 24-year old pharmacist one month after I sold it to him.

Anyway, the sampling data is sampled as many as one hundred times per second, to get a detailed picture of your car’s acceleration. This information is then used to determine the speed of the vehicle and the distance travelled. The site explains that due to the unique hardware integrated into the iPhone, this can all be done with no setup, wires, or extra equipment like traditional accelerameters.

According to their web site, “Unlike other accelerometer-based performance meters, Dynolicious uses the advanced data-handling and display capabilities of the iPhone to make the most of your performance testing.”

Further, Dynolicious maintains a history of test runs, showing you averages and trends in your results. Dynolicious also allows you to enter modifications performed to your vehicle, and will instantly show before-and-after results to easily identify gains or losses.

Here’s some screenshots:

Specification/Features breakdown…

Performance Measurements

• 0-60 MPH
• Other Speed Tests (0-10 MPH through 0-100 MPH in 10MPH increments)
• Quarter Mile Elapsed Time
• Quarter Mile Trap Speed
• Elapsed Time and Trap Speed for standard intervals (60′, 330′, 1/8 Mi, 1000′)
• Lateral G’s (current and peak)
• Braking G’s (current and peak)
• Wheel Horsepower
• Estimated Engine Horsepower

Results Presentation

• Realtime Speedometer and Graphs
• Realtime graphical skidpad display
• View results for latest test run or any saved run
• View averages based on vehicle, date, or modification
• Compare results between vehicles, dates, or before-and-after modifications

Configuration

• Rollout 0″ to 24″ (separate settings for 0-60 and Quarter Mile tests)
• Stores vehicle weight and drivetrain efficiency in your vehicle’s profile
• Calibration routine gets the maximum accuracy possible with the built-in accelerometers

Accuracy

• 0-60 MPH: +/- 0.08 sec*
• Quarter Mile: +/- 0.10 sec*, +/- 1.5 MPH*

*Results based on preliminary testing. A detailed accuracy analysis using professional timing equipment at a regulation dragstrip will be posted soon.

Tags: acceleration, accelerometer, app, Apple, Apple App Store, application, Dynolicious, iPhone, iPod touch

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Copyright VoIP & Gadgets Blog

Original post by nafiz

Filed under: Transportation

For those balking at the $2,000 price tag, you should really take a look at the competition before scrunching your nose up and walking away. That being said, two large is still a lot to drop on something that could still require at least some bodily exertion, but a recent video review over at Popular Mechanics could help you determine whether this particular bike is worth you while. The Giant Twist Freedom DX can roll up to 75 miles on a mixture of battery and human-powered pedaling, and the motor touts three different modes (Eco, Normal and Sport) to satisfy your mood / riding requirements. Nah, Ironman participants won′t want anything to do with this heap, but those looking for a greener (and oftentimes quicker) way to commute in the city may find lots to love. The video, as promised, is waiting in the read link.

[Via Digg]

Continue reading $2,000 Giant Twist Freedom DX electric bicycle gets pedaled on video

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Transportation

Well, would you have a look at that. That, dear friends, is Lightning’s immaculate GT — a £120,000 ($239,400) motorcar that is just one of two vehicles in the world to rely on lithium-titanate battery technology. Said innovation enables the vehicle to go from dead to fully charged in “just minutes,” though you will have to find a location that provides three-phase industrial power in order to see the benefits over traditional Li-ion cells. The firm′s Chris Dell asserts that the nearly exclusive quick charge tech more than justifies the exorbitant price tag, and he’s even looking to UK-based businesses to hopefully strike a deal in which motorists can swing by, juice up and be on their way while traveling. Anxious to take delivery? Looks like you’ll be waiting until sometime next year.

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Transportation

Not that electric MINIs are anything new, but unless you were willing to pay for all the mods yourself, procuring one wasn’t exactly simple. Now, however, we’re hearing that MINI itself will be bringing scads of these buggers to American streets in the summer of 2009. Yeah, like, one year from right now. MINI USA VP Jim McDowell was the source of said statement (so it’s pretty much official, yeah?), though he didn’t mention whether all of them would be reserved for California or if they would be available sold out nationwide. Hey MINI, we’d say you’ve got a hit on your hands.

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Original post by Darren Murph