That being said, the update for the MOTOACTV is available using a Mac or Windows based computer and can be found by simply connecting your watch to your computer using a USB cable. From that point, you will be prompted to download and install the update. And if for some reason you do not get that prompt, you can navigate to Device -> Check for Device Upgrade while in MOTOCAST USB. Otherwise, the updates will arrive as the following version numbers;

8GB

• Blur_Version.4.55.97.Motorola-F100.Retail.en.US
• Blur_Version.4.57.97.Motorola-F100.Retail.en.EU

16GB

• Blur_Version.4.56.97.Motorola-F100.Retail.en.US
• Blur_Version.4.58.97.Motorola-F100.Retail.en.EU

With that all out of the way, lets get into what users can expect to see once their device has been updated. And lets kick that list off with the details for the new and improved battery life.

Longer Battery Life: MOTOACTV’s indoor/outdoor battery life is now better than ever before with up to 9 hours of uninterrupted workout time outdoors.

From here we move onto the battery status bar, workout screen lock, enhanced auto-pause and auto-run and the ability to repeat a planned workout along with a few other goodies.

• Battery Status Bar: Now you can now see how long your battery will last via the handy Status Bar. Just monitor your percentage and make the most of your workout time!
• Workout Screen Lock: Ever activate your Workout Screen through accidental contact? Problem solved. Now you can lock it to prevent unwanted display activation. Just Double Press the Power key to lock and unlock your workout screen.
• Enhanced Auto-Pause and Auto-Run: Now you can take a break from the action and pause your workout manually, even if Auto-Pause is enabled. You can also choose between indoor/outdoor Auto-Run options.
• Repeat a Planned Workout: You’re now free to repeat a planned workout even if it had been previously started.

And for those other goodies, they arrive as follows;

• WAHOO BLE HRM Strap support has been added.
• Enhanced syncing planned interval workouts to MOTOACTV.com.
• Workout metrics have been reordered for easier searching.
• Improved WiFi syncing when multiple networks are configured.
• Optimized list of workout metrics so you can search for your favorites easier.
• Pressing the BACK key on any Home screen brings up the watch face.

You’re reading this right, folks: basically, doctors in Belgium printed off a new jaw for a patient. An 83 year old woman, found suffering from progressive osteomyelitis (which pretty much was set to destroy her entire mandible structure, or jaw for those of you who don’t remember your high school biology classes very well), had the entire jaw removed and replaced with a prosthetic. But it’s how the prosthetic was made that’s the really interesting part.

Using a combination of technologies from Xilloc and LayerWise, a medical implant maker and a metal additive maker respectively, doctors then used computer-aided design technology common in a variety of businesses today to create a new lower jaw using a 3D printer. And while most consumer-model 3D printers use plastic or resin, which would have been largely ineffective at replicating bone, these doctors used powdered titanium, which did the job just fine.

The end result was a jaw every bit as tough as a normal bone model, but weighing just a little more (it weighs in, reportedly, at 107 grams). In fact, the procedure went so well that the patient had full mandibular control again, including speaking and swallowing, in less than a day after the operation was completed.

The implications here are astonishing; custom-printed prosthetic devices, done in a doctor’s office, in such rapidity and so fluidly that it can almost be done on an outpatient basis? It’s the start of something amazing, I’d say, and it may well go a good way toward fixing some of the problems we find ourselves having as far as health care goes. But the process is still in the early stages; when we can print, say, an artificial heart or liver, then we’ll be in business. But a jaw is a great start, and hopefully one which will be built on.

So what do you guys think here? Figure the new jaws are a great start, or just a gimmick? No matter what you think, hit the comments section below and tell us what’s on your mind!

7. Grill N Chill

It’s no secret to folks who have been reading for a while that I love gadgets that serve multiple functions. I love it when the car packs a blender, or when the vacuum can send text messages, or when the refrigerator can show videos. And that’s why the Grill N Chill got my attention. One side of the Grill N Chill offers a two-layer grilling surface, while the other side offers up a draft system for hooking it into a keg. Grilled meat and draft beer in one place? How can that be better? How about they throw in a stereo? Now you can listen to some music, or the pregame show, whilst grilling meat and handing out beer. And that multifunctional joy makes this well worth looking into.

6. Cruzin Cooler

A great one for warmer environs where you can have part of your Super Bowl party outdoors, the Cruzin Cooler is again one of those great multi-function gadgets that I’m so enamored with. This time, they’ve figured out a way to combine a cooler and a scooter into one package, and yes, include an electric motor. You’ll be able to cruise around your party riding a beer cooler, and can pass out your payload at will, preferably before you’re the one passing out. Spectacularly awesome no matter how you slice it, but of course, drinking and driving is never recommended, as at least one operator discovered when he got a DWI charge for riding one of these around while drinking.

5. BeerTender

No multifunction gadgetry here, folks, but what this will do for your Super Bowl party cannot be expressed fully in mere words. See, sometimes, you want a keg, or you want draft beer, but you can’t get hands on one. Well, if you can get Heineken or Newcastle draught kegs, then you can get the BeerTender involved. The BeerTender will keep your beer at a constant 37.4 degrees, and keep said beer not only cold but also fresh for the almost disturbingly long time frame of 30 days.

4. The Grill Sergeant Apron

While it’s entirely possible to grill without the benefit of an apron, adding an apron to your grilling experience gives you the ability to carry a whole lot of extras: condiments, implements, and the like. But the Grill Sergeant Apron will not only allow for these things to be held, and in large quantities, but you’ll also get a bandolier of canister-sized holders to wear across your chest, capable of holding a full six-pack of your canned beverage of choice. And the whole thing comes your way in a jungle camo pattern, so when you need to storm the beach head that is your grill, the Grill Sergeant is ready to cover your six.

3. Blacktop 360 Grill

Sure, we just recommended a grill, and a magnificent one too, but this grill will actually take grilling up a notch even over the Grill N Chill. Not only is the Blacktop portable, but it can handle a variety of things that the Grill N Chill won’t. See, not only does this grill meat at temperatures of up to 650 degrees on an infrared grill, but it also offers up a flat griddle, a warming plate for buns and the like, but at the center of it all lurks a 20 ounce deep fryer. Thus, you can grill burgers, toast buns, melt cheese, fry bacon, and deep fry side dishes all in one shot, plus keep it all warm. No beer, sure. No stereo, sure. But all this takes is a small propane canister to turn it into a multifaceted grilling machine.

2. Bose Lifestyle V-Class Home Entertainment System

The plain and simple here, folks, is that you’re going to need big sound. Big. You want everyone to hear every hit, every grunt, and every word of the play by play when the whole thing is going, and one of the best ways to get really, truly choice home theater sound is from Bose. Just about everything I’ve ever heard of Bose is incredible, putting out huge, ultra-clear sound from speakers often no larger than your hand. I use the Bose Lifestyle V-class here, but most of Bose’s systems will do the job, and do it very well. You’ll get 5.1 channel surround sound, 1080p video upscaling for up to six sources, a dock for your iPod, and the capability to distribute audio to as many as 14 different sources. Pipe the pregame show audio outside. Run the game sound in the bathroom so no one ever misses a play, even when all those snacks and beer come back to haunt you. The options are endless, and Bose sound is a great way to watch.

1. Samsung UN60D8000Y LED Television

I sweated on this one. Believe me. I’m personally a projector kind of guy, so suggesting a television wasn’t easy. See, I went with a television on this one for a couple reasons. One, it’s got the number of ports you’ll need to get everything you need hooked up. The refresh rate is better to ensure the least amount of blurring in the playback possible. And this little beauty not only has a 240 Hz refresh rate for smooth images, but also 3D capability, full 1080p playback, and the crowning glory, a 60 inch LED display. There’s a reason this one’s part of Best Buy’s Magnolia collection, which is a mark of serious quality in the home theater market. And when the Super Bowl is over, you’ll be able to get a load of streaming content thanks to the Smart TV aspect of this. A great picture backed up by great sound is going to go a long way to making your Super Bowl party truly, well, great.

And there you have it folks, from pre-game to post-game, from food to drink and the necessary home theater gear to make the game look every bit as good as live, you’ll be needing a substantial quantity of gadgets. And from the functional to the fun, we’ve got a huge list of them right here.

But what do you guys think? Did we miss anything? What gadget makes your Super Bowl experience complete? No matter what you think, we always love hearing from you, so head on down to the comments section and let’s talk Super Bowl!

all pics copyright their owners.

Samsung plans to get these into volume production starting by the end of this month, which means you might well be seeing refrigerators with transparent LCD displays hit your electronics store of choice by, oh, Labor Day or so, possibly even earlier. The display itself, meanwhile, not only allows you to look inside the fridge without opening the door, but also offers up a 1366 x 768 resolution and a 4500 : 1 contrast ratio with a color reproduction range around 70 percent, making this not necessarily a home theater display but certainly more than good enough for basic information presentation, as that’s about the same resolution as some laptop displays offer.

We all know that opening the refrigerator door to study the contents is a move that wastes plenty of energy, but is downright necessary in order to actually use the device. However, with this technology, not only will you be able to look inside at will without need to open the door (however, based on the images, it seems some kind of light will be on at all times, though if that’s an LED light it may not be burning a lot of juice. Plus, having the LCD display allows you to do things like access recipes from your refrigerator, as well as perform a variety of other home automation tasks, assuming the necessary networking is in place. Though this fridge doesn’t seem to offer those capabilities, at least at present, it’s good to see that we’re getting a start down that road.

No prices or release dates are available as yet, though, but if they’re going to start production the end of January, I can’t imagine it taking too much longer to get them to market. You don’t just make stuff and let the inventory sit if you want to make money.

So what do you guys think here? Clever idea or a gimmick to sell refrigerators at inflated prices? No matter what your call, the comments section is waiting for you below!

The ThinQ and HeMS systems that LG will be showing at the big show bring out a variety of extra features for the home automation enthusiasts out there, like inventory management and power supply management. They actually announced these back at last year’s CES event, but now, they’ll be actually showing off some completed hardware with some new tricks too. They’ll be showing off how the devices can connect to your televisions, smartphones and computers to perform their various tricks. The HeMS (Home Energy Management System) allows you to not only monitor your home’s power usage, but actually–assuming you have a smart grid in your area, which most places don’t yet–schedule your devices to run on off-peak hours and thus save you a bit of cash when the electric bill arrives. The ThinQ system, meanwhile, allows for the wi-fi and ZigBee connections necessary to do all these nifty things, including checking on just how much food is left in the fridge without having to actually open a door to look.

But the clear winner has to be the Blast Chiller system, as evidenced by the fact that it actually took a Best of Innovations award. This is built into the door compartments of LG’s French door-style fridges and will chill a 12 ounce can from room temperature to rather cold in just five minutes, which is great for those of us who enjoy buying canned beverages in quantity but hate waiting for the fridge to make them cool, or don’t trust our memory to pull a can out of the freezer before it solidifies.

Seems like a pretty impressive set of options, even if some of them presuppose technology that doesn’t exist yet. Still though, I wouldn’t mind a Blast Chiller in every refrigerator. But what about you guys? Seem like some good ideas out of LG? Or does this look more like a waste of time and effort in development to you? No matter what you think, hit the comments section below and fill us in!

Basically, hospitals are setting up iPad kiosks with secure frames to hold the iPads in, and specialized software allowing patients to file their own information as part of the check-in process, or as a way to check on people already in the hospital’s systems. In turn, hospitals have discovered that, by not having a real person hand out that kind of information, they can reduce their labor costs, and in turn, hopefully cut down some of the massive price tags that we all have to pay whenever we go through the hospital system.

The use is steadily growing, and is worldwide thus far with hospitals from Changi General in Singapore to Massachusetts General Hospital using them at least for patient status and check-in procedures. New York Methodist, meanwhile, reportedly has a much broader use, using the iPad in relation to their diagnostic machines. And there’s word that the FDA has recently approved a new kind of mobile diagnostic program which will likely see some use as well.

It’s not surprising to see the iPad–indeed, the tablet in general–become more accepted for professional use. We’ve seen pilots trying to get these as replacements for their mammoth flight bags , and it’s probably a fair bet that plenty more industries are also considering ways to cut down on their paper and traffic, especially in a value-conscious economy like the one we’re in right now.

So what do you guys think here? Like the thought of your next hospital stay being at least partially controlled by an iPad and a series of professionally-tailored apps? Or do you think that this is an open invitation to disaster? No matter what you think, the comments section is the perfect place to tell us all about it!

And yes, this was the app that launched first for Symbian. But other platforms aside, this latest bit of news is for those sporting a Windows Phone device. And nicely done, the launch of Sports Tracker for Windows Phone comes with the potential of winning a Nokia Lumia 800 smartphone. But first the details of the app, Sports Tracker does just what the name implies — it tracks your workouts.

“Turn your mobile into a social sports computer with Sports Tracker and take your training to the next level! Track and analyze your performance, share workout data with your friends, and most of all – get fit and stay healthier.”

More specifically, the app uses the GPS of the phone to track goodies such as your distance, duration, speed, average speed and pace, max speed and energy spent (kCal). Some of the other features break down as follows;

• Training Diary for workout data analysis
• Diary sync to sports-tracker.com service for further analysis
• Sharing of workouts to Facebook, Twitter and the Sports Tracker community

In terms of the app itself, Sports Tracker arrives in the Windows Phone Marketplace as version 1.0.0, measures in at a 1MB download and requires Windows Phone 7.5 or higher for use.

With that, while we suggest giving this a shot if you are looking for a fitness app (other than Runkeeper) on Windows Phone — the comments seem to be a mixed set of results at this point. Some of the commenters have stated that this is the “best fitness app ever” and that it has a “really nice UI” and “great layout.” And then on the other hand, some are saying that it has “inaccurate GPS” and that the app is only posting to Facebook and Twitter using km instead of miles.

That being said, Archos has the 35 Home Connect priced at $149. The device can be found and purchased direct with Archos as well as with several retailers including Amazon, Newegg, J&R and Adorama “among others.” Also worth noting, Archos has this noted as being available in “limited” quantities on their website.

With the pricing and the availability aside, lets get into the features of the Archos 35 Home Connect. This device is being billed as the “most-advanced Android-based web radio.” And as that description implies, one of the features that you can expect with the Archos 35 is the ability to listen to online radio, which comes courtesy of the pre-installed TuneIn Radio Pro application. In addition, some of the other features include an alarm clock and real-time updates in terms of news, traffic and more.

In short, the Archos 35 Home Connect is a “clock radio” style device that is running Android and sporting a 3.5 inch touchscreen display. The feature set includes 4GB of internal storage space, a microSD card slot and 1GHz TI OMAP 3630 processor along with W-Fi 802.11 b/g/n connectivity, VGA quality front-facing camera, speakers and a 3.5mm headphone jack. And for those wondering, the Archos 35 is running Android 2.2 Froyo.

Otherwise, the breakdown of features is as follows;

• Advanced web radio and alarm clock powered by AndroidTM – Wake up the way you prefer with progressive Nature sounds, your MP3 playlist or your favorite web radio station. With just a click on the touch-screen, you will be able to stream over 50,000 web radio stations using the pre-loaded TuneIn Radio Pro application.  This alarm clock is also fully customizable; you can set as many alarms as you want or need.
• Android Applications – Easy to customize, the ARCHOS 35 home connect allows you to choose the apps and widgets that you want to see—weather, real time traffic, sports, social networking, movies, music, games and more.  You can also access up to the minute web content at the touch of a finger.
• High Quality Speakers – Web radio, music, videos and more are rendered like never before thanks to the exclusive technology of the two embedded high definition stereo speakers. The ARCHOS 35 home connect is a compact audio and video multi-tool: listen to web radios or watch videos out loud with the built-in speakers, or privately using a headphone jack.

Yup, the good news has arrived, the folks at Jawbone have offered up a press release detailing what the bracelet can do, when it will be available, how much it will cost and where you will be able to make a purchase. In short, the Jawbone UP will be available November 6th and it will come priced at $99.99.

And as the AT&T listing implied, they will be one of the places where you can make a purchase. The Jawbone UP will also be available with Apple, Best Buy, Target and direct with Jawbone.com. In addition, the bracelet will also be in 24 Hour Fitness locations “later this year.”

Before we get into the features of the bracelet, lets mention to colors and sizing. The Jawbone UP will be available in seven different colors including Dark Black, Dark Brown, Dark Red, Bright White, Bright Silver, Bright Red, Bright Blue and it will be available in a size small, medium and large.

With that all out of the way, lets get into what the UP fitness bracelet can do. To begin with, it marries up with an iOS app, which is currently available in the iOS App Store as a free download. But perhaps more important, the UP bracelet will track your daily activity, sleep patterns and eating habits and is aimed to help you “live a healthier life.” Some of the other features break down as follows;

• TRACK YOUR ACTIVITY: Steps, distance, calories burned, pace, intensity level and GPS routes.
• TRACK YOUR SLEEP: Hours slept, deep vs. light sleep, awake time and overall sleep quality.
• LOG YOUR MEALS: Snap quick photos to create a journal of what you eat; then respond to prompts about how each meal makes you feel.
• JOIN CHALLENGES: Join fun health challenges to keep you moving more, sleeping better and eating smarter. Challenge your friends, collaborate on goals, even create your own challenges.
• SMART WAKE UP ALARM: Program your UP wristband to vibrate on your wrist and intelligently wake you up at the ideal moment in your natural sleep cycle just before your desired wake up time; helps you feel as refreshed as possible.
• ACTIVITY REMINDERS: Program your UP wristband to vibrate on your wrist and remind you to move when you’ve been inactive.

That being said, Garmin has not offered up a specific release date just yet, however they have said that the FR70 would be available beginning next month (November 2011). In terms of the price, $129.99.

“A lightweight, comfortable and stylish watch that helps users accomplish their goals is what the FR70 is all about,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “Wear it as an every day time piece and keep it on during walks, runs or fitness routines to monitor these activities and progress.”

And just to kick things off, the Garmin FR70 is black in color, however there will be one model with blue trim and another with pink trim. As for features, the FR70 does what many would expect and/or require from a fitness watch — it will track your time, heart rate, calories burned and more. In addition, when the FR70 is combined with the some of the optional accessories, it can then be used both outdoors on the road as well as indoors on the treadmill.

Some of the accessories that will work include the ANT+ or wireless foot pod. In addition, it will also partner up with the Tanita BC-1000 scale which will track and record your weight, body fat, body water and six other measurements.

And lastly, as we mentioned with the Garmin Fit smartphone app, the FR70 fitness watch is also compatible with the Garmin Connect set-up which means all your workout and health data will be easily accessible and able to be analyzed.

The app comes priced at $0.99 and can be found in either the Android Market and/or the iOS App Store. And in addition to the app, those using Garmin Fit with an iOS device can also add in the optional Garmin ANT+ adapter. The ANT+ adapter is priced at $49.99.

“Garmin Fit is the ideal solution for users who are new to the fitness tracking landscape and for those looking to stay totally connected,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “To be able to utilize Garmin’s powerful fitness accessories with the same device that plays music, makes calls and uploads workouts automatically to share and analyze, makes Garmin Fit a must have app.”

And with that, lets get into the features of the Garmin Fit app. To begin with, this will bring integration with Garmin Connect, which should make those already using another Garmin product smile as their workout data can remain available in one location. Other features of the Garmin Fit mobile apps include being able to monitor your speed, pace, distance, time and calories. In addition, the app will allow users to control their music from within the app as well as still view and answer any and all incoming calls and/or text messages.

Moving over to the ANT+ adapter, again, this one is only available for those using the Fit app with iOS. As for what Garmin ANT+ will offer, this one brings your heart rate and cadence data in with the regular goodies that are monitored by the Fit app itself. And again, the data coming from the ANT+ adapter will be integrated into your Garmin Connect account.

And lastly, just in case you wanted even more optional accessories to go with your Fit app, Garmin also offers a footpod sensor which will allow you to track your speed, pace, distance and run cadence when working on an indoor trainer (treadmill).

Tony Fadell was among the designers of the original iPod way back in 2001. After the success of his brainchild, and after serving as apple’s senior VP for iPod, Fadell left the company and took a year-long vacation in Paris. During this time, he conceptualized his next big project: a learning thermostat.

Fadell’s new company, Nest, is involved in creating what is perhaps the home appliance world’s equivalent of the iPod. It’s beautiful, technologically advanced, and it just works. And the new device, the Nest Learning Thermostat, is already available for pre-order through Best Buy or Nest.com. The new thermostat promises to help save the world by reducing energy wasted from inefficient use of the HVAC system, both in households and commercial establishments.

Nest plans to rid the world of old thermostats, which are clunky, ugly, and difficult to program. The Nest Learning Thermostat has a simple interface — push it in to open the menu, and turn the knob clockwise or counter-clockwise to set. The thermostat has sensors to detect the presence of occupants in the house or office. After a few days of use, the Nest Learning Thermostat will adjust itself according to usage patterns, which negates the need to make constant adjustments that are often costly and energy-wasting.

Users can also control the Nest through their smartphones and through the web, as it is WiFi-capable. Once installed, Nest will also build up a profile of your electricity usage, and will help point out how you can save on energy from your home heating and air conditioning. You get a green “leaf” as a reward for setting the thermostat to power-saving settings.

In iPod fashion, all this comes in an interesting product, from the way the thermostat is packaged, to installation (even basic DIY-ers can install the Nest) to use. What else can we expect from someone who designed the iPod?

Or more importantly, without having to worry about missing out on a hot item and without having to use a credit card. Of course, many will likely realize where this is going — layaway. The information is coming from the fine folks at Walmart, who have just sent the details over to us here at TFTS.

“Today, Walmart launches its Christmas layaway program making it the top destination for Apple products as well as many other in-demand electronics and toys. Not only will Walmart’s layaway program allow parents to make bite-size payments on the latest iPad and iPods, they also don’t have to look for places to hide the coveted white boxes.”

That being said, those who wish to move forward just have a few details to consider — you must be able to put down 10 percent of the purchase price up front and you must have your item paid in full and picked up no later than December 16th. All things considered, this sounds like a good deal, not only are you not using credit cards but you are also being forced to get your shopping done early.

Otherwise, for those who plan to pass this little tidbit on to some non-techie friends or family members, rest assured in knowing that Walmart will also be “decking the aisles with special in-store displays to showcase the new devices, as well as allowing shoppers to test the products for themselves.” And perhaps a bit nicer for the non-techie, there will be trained staff members available on “pre-specified days” to demo the goodies and answer questions.

And lastly, some of the Apple goodies will be nicely priced including the;

• Apple iPhone 4S 16G (Verizon) – $188 ($10 price advantage over other major retailers)
• Apple iPad2, 16GB – $499
• Apple iPad2, 32GB – $599
• Apple iPod Touch, 32GB – $278.98
• Apple iPod Nano, 8GB – $129.86

Well, sadly most of the details are still missing, however judging from this recently launched coming soon style teaser page on the AT&T website — we suspect that the Jawbone UP will be available sooner rather than later. Of course, given it is already into October, we are running out of time for a later this year release.

For those who may have completely missed the original UP announcement, here is how the bracelet is being described from the folks at Jawbone;

“UP by Jawbone is a new system that tracks your movement, sleep patterns, and nutrition so you can live a healthier life. This new end-to-end system consists of a small wristband that monitors your activity 24/7, a mobile app that analyzes the activity, and an open platform that motivates you with personal and social recommendations and challenges tailored to your goals.”

Anyway, the page over on AT&T offers a few additional details as to what the device can do. Some of the details noted by AT&T include showing support for the iPhone and that the Jawbone UP will allow you to do things like track your movements including steps, distance, pace, intensity calories burned and active vs. inactive time. In addition, the app will also allow you to enter and track your meals as well as your sleep habits.

And for those in need of some additional motivation, the app has what they call “get up and move” reminders as well as the ability to challenge your friends and family members.

Or more specifically, it comes from Samsung and Lowe’s along with Jimmie Johnson on behalf of his Jimmi Johnson Foundation. That being said, this latest offer is not dealing with any LCD-equipped appliances, but rather the possibility of you getting a free Samsung Galaxy Tab tablet.

The offer seems simple enough, buy any “qualifying” Samsung appliance from Lowe’s and you will get the free tablet. The tablet is the Wi-Fi only 7 inch Samsung Galaxy Tab (a $349 value) and the offer is currently in effect and will run through October 3rd. Though, based on the fine print, that free does come with a catch — the tablet is actually free via mail-in rebate. In other words, it appears you have to buy the tablet up front and then get your money back. Not the end of the world, but something you should be prepared for upfront so you can head over to Lowe’s with the necessary cash in hand (or credit on the card).

And moving on, just so we can think of this as something more life changing than getting a free tablet, you will also be able to nominate your favorite school to win a $48,000 Team Up For Technology makeover from the Jimmie Johnson foundation.

Bottom line, while the free tablet offer is certainly not going to convince anyone to run out and buy an appliance they do not need, it should be enough to convince those already shopping to look at Samsung. Plus, the $48,000 makeover is going to be super nice for the school that wins.

According to the press release, the two leaders in charging technology will be forming a joint venture with a single goal in mind: to advance and globalize wireless charging technology. This new venture is to be dubbed Duracell Powermat and is slated to begin sometime early next year. Proctor & Gamble is also said to be making some type of equity investment in Powermat.

What this alliance will mean in the end, we’re not really sure. If it will improve the technology and help it to become more widespread, then it should be a good thing.

Anyway, the Freetalk Connect-Me adapter is described by Skype as being a “hassle-free, plug-and-play solution that lets you use your existing handset to make free Skype-to-Skype calls, as well as low-cost calls to landlines and mobile phones worldwide at our extremely low Skype rates.” And judging from what we can see, that is a fairly accurate description.

The Freetalk Connect-Me adapter needs to be hooked up to your home Internet connection and then plugs into your phone line and your regular home phone. And then once connected, you will be able to make free Skype-to-Skype calls or low-priced Skype-Out calls. You can also receive Skype-to-Skype calls from other Skype users.

The Skype Freetalk Connect-Me adapter is available by way of the Skype website and is priced as low as $39.99. This price comes with the adapter as well as 60 minutes of Skype calling. In addition, there is also two options for $59.99, both of which include the adapter. The $59.99 offers are then broken down into a USA/Canada and a World option. The USA/Canada option includes a 12 month unlimited calling subscription and the World option includes a 3 month unlimited calling subscription.

All said and done, if you find yourself relying on Skype and not wanting to be tied down to your computer, then the Freetalk Connect-Me adapter seems a good option to consider — especially considering it works with your existing phone equipment. That being said, the one issue that we can see is with placement in the home as this requires both an Ethernet and a regular phone line connection. And alternatively, Skype also has some cordless home phones available that do not require the adapter.

The Knock Clock is interesting because it only communicates via knocking. It looks like nothing more than a simple block of wood and sounds as if there’s a squirrel or woodpecker inside knocking. If you want to know the time, simply knock twice on the outside and it responds with a series of knocks corresponding to the current time, at least to the quarter hour. It even works as an alarm clock. Cover a sensor hole and knock out how many minutes until the alarm goes off (consisting again of knocking).

Although the Knock Clock would fill the simplicity void, it would probably work best as a novelty or conversation piece. There’s no clock face, winding nob, or even an alarm that fulfills even the basic needs a normal alarm clock would need to meet. Still, it makes a cool widget to show off to your friends.

Image courtesy: Weather.com

And trust me, I use the word easier as a last resort because there is really nothing easy about a hurricane. In fact, a better word may be bearable. That being said, first and foremost — prepare the yard and house by picking up the items which are usually laying around. And yes, that includes those that may seem big — including tables and chairs as those can sometimes be more dangerous than the little items.

You should also consider getting some extra food, a charcoal grill, some charcoal, water and batteries for when you lose power. And for those batteries, remember, if you lose power and have nothing that is powered by batteries you may lose that feeling of knowing what is going on and what to expect in the coming hours.

Pro tip, while gadgets are cool, in a time of a storm and limited or no power a simple AM/FM radio is a wonderful thing to have.

Another point to consider, get some gas in the car along with some extra gas in a can for those lucky enough with a generator. You should also take some time to think about the some other ‘in advance’ type of things. For example, if there is a branch or part of a tree that could blow and break a window you should cut it now. Remember, the more you do now, the easier it will be if you get hit.

With the big points out of the way, here are some goodies that you can do to help make things after easier. Keep in mind, a big storm can kill power for several days. Or worse, several weeks. With that, here are some geek tips — charge every gadget that you have that you may want to use — most important a mobile phone. And here, SMS will probably be king.

Also, download some content now — after all, the power goes out, the cable goes out and so does the internet. Plan ahead and have stuff to watch or keep yourself entertained after the fact — especially for those with kids. Maybe hit up your local retail outlet and buy an external battery or two and a car charger for your phone or laptop is always handy to have when you have no power in your home.

Your camera will also be handy for after the storm, and with that, I leave you with this thought and the below image — take this storm seriously as they can be really really dangerous. This image was my house in 2005 when Hurricane Wilma came across the southern part of Florida. All in all, it was a little over $40,000 worth of damage which came from winds of about 110 miles per hour.

It’s not just the cleaning robot part that’s a surprise; it’s just what the Smarbo is packing that will show you a lot more than you were probably expecting. The Smarbo is packing a matched pair of CPUs, which is no small feat in and of itself.

The Japanese version (and no one’s quite sure how this will translate into releases elsewhere, indeed, if there will even be releases elsewhere), is set to offer up a camera and fully 38 different sensors, including gyroscope, range detection, and accelerometer systems. All these sensors and cameras together add up to about 100 square meters (roughly 1000 square feet for those of you who favor the imperial), and it can perform this cleaning job in roughly an hour and a half, putting out about 52 decibels of sound (only slightly less than your average conversation, at about 60-70 decibels). Plus, when it’s done cleaning, it can even return itself to its charging station for a well-deserved break.

Oh, and assuming you want something to do with the process for a feeling of accomplishment, the Smarbo even comes with a remote control so you can operate it from where ever you happen to be at the time, like across the room watching television or surfing the web.

The down side to having your vacuuming done for you? The price tag, plain and simple. This little guy emerges in Japanese markets (and like I said, there’s no word on wider releases) October 1, and you’ll be shelling out $1175 to get one.

So what do you guys think? Is that way too much cash to cut down on your cleaning chores? Or do you call it money well invested? Either way, we want to hear from you, so hit the comments section and tell us what you think!

Well, this is one of those times when speculation and rumors seem to have been entirely misleading. Some had been suggesting that the Motorola KORE tablet would kill off the Xoom as it arrived with its quad-core processing power. Needless to say, the Motorola KORE is not going to be killing of the Xoom and its not going to have a quad-core processor.

In fact, thanks to a recently discovered trademark filing, we now know that the Motorola KORE is going to be a fitness gadget. Yup, those who like to spend time outdoors doing exercise will likely find this one appealing. And taking that into consideration, the name KORE suddenly sounds a bit more fitting. A core workout. Of, so that may be a bit of a stretch, however here is how the filing breaks down;

ELECTRONIC NON MEDICAL PORTABLE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY MONITOR AND FITNESS DEVICE FOR MEASURING MOVEMENTS, INDIVIDUAL’S ENERGY EXPENDITURE AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVEL AND ACCESSORIES THEREFORE, NAMELY, HEADPHONES; SOFTWARE FOR DEVELOPING AND MONITORING PERSONAL ACTIVITY AND EXERCISE PLANS, TRAINING PLANS, TRAINING GOALS AND GIVING FEEDBACK ON THE ACHIEVED RESULTS.

Bottom line here, it looks like the Motorola KORE will be something worn on your wrist that allows you to monitor your workout progress and also control your audio entertainment. From what we can see in the images, the KORE will have controls for your audio and be able to track (at least) the basics such as your workout time, total distance, average pace, calories burned and heart rate. All said and done, and maybe this is just the black and red coloring from the images, but this sort of looks like something that Nike would rollout as part of the Nike+ lineup.

Yup, Scosche has released a pulse monitor. The nice part here, the data is monitored on your iPhone and the monitor also has music controls built-in. But perhaps a but nicer as being able to control your music while exercising — the monitor is worn on the wrist, which anyone who has used a pulse monitor in the past may like — this one is not worn around the chest.

The Scosche myTREK works with the iPhone or iPod touch and is capable of keeping a connection at a distance up to 33 feet. The pulse monitor comes with a USB charging cable and has a battery that should be able to stay alive for up to 5 hours of workout time.

Furthermore, the myTREK pairs with an app, which is available for free by way of the iOS App Store. In addition to monitoring your pulse, the myTREK wristband and app also monitor and keep track of the type of training that you are doing as well as the distance you have ran (biked), the amount of time you have been working out and the amount of calories you have burned.

And for those familiar with heart-rate based training, here are some additional details about how the myTREK works;

Monitor With Comfort
The Scosche myTREK has no bulky chest straps or wires and easily attaches to your forearm for full wireless communication with your device. Integrated dual LED/optical sensors produce real time pulse monitoring.

Set Your Goals
Based on personal health information, each workout zone is represented in a different color. Customize your training sessions by adjusting the type of activity, target training zone and type of workout all within the App.

The myTREK Wireless Pulse Monitor will be available a bit later in the day by way of the Scosche website store. The monitor will be selling for $129.99.

Basically, UC-Berkeley put together a study bringing together 24 adults and subjecting them to 3D content. One was quickly excluded due to testing failures, but from there, 23 others, ranging in age from 19 to 33 years old  watched a series of dot stereograms, with their normal eye correction gear in place (glasses for those who wore them, and so on). The effects were then measured, and the UC-Berkeley team discovered that, basically, a goodish chunk of their sample set felt some kind of discomfort, ranging from eye strain to headaches, while watching. It didn’t seem to matter much, either, whether the content was close up or far away in terms of discomfort. What did make a difference, though, was where the content was placed. With closer 3D, objects in front of the screen are more uncomfortable, but farther away 3D is the opposite, with images behind the screen being most uncomfortable.

Of course, it’s hard to say just how valid a study with a sample size of 24 actually is, but it certainly does start an interesting course of logic. I know from personal experience that a 3D movie at the theater often leaves me with a good dose of eye strain, so it’s good to know that I’m not alone in this. Whether or not we can say it’s harmful is up for some debate, but a couple dozen experiments like that one, and I might well believe UC-Berkeley.

But what about you guys? Do 3D movies, games and television shows leave you all sore in the head? Or do you not notice no matter how much you watch? Either way, head on down to the comments section and tell us what you think about this one!

Whether it’s sorting socks, playing pool, or just fetching you a beer, the PR2 from the folks out at Willow Garage has been providing us with loads of entertaining news for a little over a year now. Well, we haven’t heard much out of the multifunctional dynamo these days, at least until just recently, when one of the little wonders emerged as part of a project called Robots For Humanity.

The robot in question was tasked to a gent named Henry Evans, who’d suffered a brain stem stroke at the age of 40, which in turn left him with control of his head and a finger, which as it turned out, were enough to control the PR2 thanks to a Kinect motion tracker. The PR2 allowed him to, essentially, shave himself via remote, as well as scratching an itch for the first time in fully ten years.

Robots for Humanity, made up in part of Georgia Tech and the Healthcare Robotics Lab, were one of the outfits that got a PR2 way back when they first came out for sale to a very limited number of outlets.

Naturally this will likely bring about plenty of jokes about how giving a robot a razor that close to a human throat will bring about the downfall of humanity, but frankly, I welcome this. Robots helping humans who need help is one of the great dreams of science fiction since the earliest days of same. Sure, we all like the thought of having a robot fetch our meals whilst we watch an expanded array of cable channels and then send our robots off to work in the morning so we can sleep in, but it’s this kind of thing, right here, that really makes the whole concept of robotics so worth exploring.

And what do you guys think? Is this the direction we should be sending our robotics studies in? Or do you have a different, even better, idea? Either way, hit the comments section and tell us what you think!

The new gadget is the UP wristband and it is dubbed as coming to “help people live a healthier life.” According to the details we received;

“UP by Jawbone is a new system that tracks your movement, sleep patterns, and nutrition so you can live a healthier life. This new end-to-end system consists of a small wristband that monitors your activity 24/7, a mobile app that analyzes the activity, and an open platform that motivates you with personal and social recommendations and challenges tailored to your goals.”

With that, while this endurance geek does have his eye on this, there are still several key details missing. Most important, how much this will end up selling for and when exactly it will be available. At present, the UP by Jawbone is noted as coming “later this year.” So far no hints as to the price.

Furthermore, while there was mention of a “mobile app” the details are rather sparse as to which platform that will be for. We suspect, if there is just one that it will be for iOS, however we are hoping to see at least two — one for iOS and the other for Android.

Bottom line, this is another way to help monitor and track your body and what it does during the day (and night) and could be a nice offering, assuming you are into that sort of thing. And for those looking for something similar and not feeling like they want to wait, there are other similar products such as the Fitbit. Me personally, I like Jawbone and think I may wait to see what happens when they officially launch this.

The folks out at the storied Oxford University developed these, and they’re currently on display at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition. Basically, the glasses use very small cameras built into the bridge pieces of the glasses, which in turn relay information to an LED array in the lenses. This LED array then displays said information, up close and extra personal, for the viewer. Plus, a variety of other sensors get involved–depth sensors, face detection systems, and tracking software, among others–to produce the image in question.

Admittedly, it’s not a one-for-one swap. The word is that the image displayed is a “simplified” version of what’s actually being recorded, which makes some sense being that these are prototype glasses only. But for people with, say, macular degeneration and other eye disorders who can barely see to begin with, even a “simplified” version of the world around them would likely be a blessing.

And what’s so thoroughly amazing about the whole thing is that the technology involved in the building of these glasses is really nothing more than off the counter camcorder technology, applied in a different way. Sure, there are some modifications going on here, but things like face detection systems and tracking software are stuff we find every day when we go look at cameras out at Best Buy.

The Oxford crew believes that the glasses in question will sell for 500 pounds sterling (around $800 US) when they clear the prototype stage, which may not be for some time yet.

So what do you guys think about this? Is this an exciting new way to use current technology in a way no one’s thought of? Or is this just a tempest in a teapot, of limited use to anyone? No matter where you fall in on this concept, we want to hear from you! So head on down to the comments section and tell us what you think!

What Media Lab Camera Culture (the group at MIT that’s working on this), lead by Ramesh Raskar and his crew, is up to is called the Catra system, an eyepiece that attaches to a smartphone (or similar device–an iPod Touch was actually noted at one point) that the potential cataract sufferer looks through. What they’re looking at is a series of lines shown on the device’s screen, and while they’re looking at the lines, the eye itself is being scanned. Meanwhile, the users then click a button on the device to identify when an image looks cloudy, and that allows the device to record at what points the images looked cloudy. And this information, in turn, can be processed to discover whether or not the person in question has cataracts.

So far, Raskar et al have tested the Catra out on 22 people, and actually managed to succeed where a doctor could not. The Catra system actually managed to find one case of cataracts that had gone undiagnosed by a doctor’s visit only a few months prior. Early diagnosis has been suggested to lead to better results for surgeries and improved overall recovery.

This isn’t the first time Raskar et al have been busy improving optometry worldwide; Catra comes hot on the heels of Netra, an entire portable eye test system to determine glasses prescriptions that can, once again, be contained entirely in a smartphone.

Making medical diagnoses by smartphone may sound like the stuff of science fiction, but as is so often the case, today’s science fiction is often tomorrow’s science fact. Hopefully Catra and Netra and the rest will be able to make it into wide use and help some people out.

So what do you guys think of the Catra system? Too good to be true or a benefit to all mankind? The comments section awaits, so head on down and give us your opinion on the smartphone eye tests!

In other words, you can now ride the Tour De France from the comfort of your own living room. And while indoor bike trainers are not new, this one from Pro-Form comes with some rather high-tech features. First lets begin with the Google Maps. This comes as part of the iFit Live technology and has 24 pre-mapped courses available. Plus, you can also create and ride just about any other course you can dream up. But given the Tour is currently in progress at this time, we suspect many would want to see how the pros are doing it and ride (or at least try and ride) one of their routes.

Other goodies that come along with this trainer include up to a 20 percent incline and decline — which means that the trainer will follow the pattern of the road. In addition, and following up on the road like experience that will come with the inclines and declines, the trainer also simulates the wind experience “for a more personalized experience.” Bottom line, this trainer comes with an almost road-like riding experience with a few exceptions — there are no potholes to worry about, no rain or bad weather to contend with and while a true-road riding experience cannot fully be matched — this one comes without having to worry about cars.

With that, the official Tour trainer and all of its high-tech features comes with a price — $1,299. Who would have thought, the service that many of us count of for directions would allow us to ride with such a realistic experience right from the comfort of your home. Nonetheless, at just under $1300 we believe this one will be for those with some commitment to riding already in place.

And while we should clarify that they are not suggesting you use your phone for anything other than a bedside alarm, we tend to think that if found close by — it will get used. That said, the first thing in my hand each morning (aside from a cup of coffee) is a smartphone. But before I digress any further, there is the WakeMate, which is a wristband that you wear while you sleep and it is touting the ability to “calculate the ideal wake time closest to your alarm setting” so you wake up feeling more refreshed.

Anyway, according to the details on the WakeMate website, you set your alarm to wake you at a latest possible time. For argument sake, say that wake time is 7AM. And from there, once you fall asleep, the WakeMate monitors your sleep cycle and judges the optimal time to wake you. But worry not because you will not be waking up hours in advance — its the perfect time in a cycle. But more specifically, it will be within a 20 minute period from your must-wake-by time.

In addition, there is also the web-based Wakelytics which will allow you to login online and check things such as your “nightly sleep score” as well as the number of nightly awakenings, the time it took you to fall asleep and more.

Bottom line, for $59.99 you can purchase a WakeMate and could potentially start waking up a little easier. And I only say could because I have yet to test this myself, though in some strange way — I really want one. Of course, I have also been sort of eyeing a Fitbit and really love tracking my runs and bike rides with Runkeeper. In other words, I may just like having data on myself.

That being said, as the name seems to imply, the app is used as a medication coach, and perhaps a little more important — designed to help make sure you never miss another medication.

“This easy-to-use app helps you remember to take the right medications, at the right time – every day. Stay on schedule with your medication regimen and even connect to your pharmacy to refill your prescriptions automatically. Whether you take multiple medications, or just want to remember your daily aspirin, MedCoach will assist you.”

Some of the features include getting reminders, keeping track of what you have taken and even the ability to call for help by shaking. Yup, “Shake for Help” is one of the features.

• It’s easy to create your personal medication schedule to make sure that you’re taking your medications at the right time – every time!
• Receive helpful reminders and alerts when it’s time to take your medications
• Keep a log of your personal medication history (when you took your meds), and share it with your doctors and pharmacists
• Easily connect to your pharmacy when it’s time to refill your prescriptions
• View a history of your daily medication usage
• A helpful medication lookup feature that accesses the First DataBank national drug database will help you select your medication and dosage
• “Shake for Help™” is a handy tool to always get an answer when you need one – just shake your phone at any time, and help will appear!
• Should you ever need more help, you can quickly email GreatCall’s customer care team
• The interactive and easy-to-use interface provides effortless navigation throughout the app

And touching back on that Shake for Help feature, that comes in addition to 24/7 access to live personal assistance via email, which is handled by GreatCall’s HIPAA compliant customer support team where they use GreatCall’s secure SAS70 Type II infrastructure to keep your data private.

Bottom line, while we can poke fun at the Jitterbug, this app seems like it could actually be of benefit for quite a few people. After all, your phone is often in your hand or close by so what better way method to use as a medication reminder.

First things first though, while a neat idea and something I would probably not turn away — its safe to say that it will not be in my kitchen anytime soon. That being said, the refrigerator is available in two models — one with two vertical doors and one with two vertical doors and two drawers on the bottom. In terms of pricing, the two door model is $2,699 and the two door and two drawer model is $3,499. And for those with that in their budget, the fridge can be found at national retailers here in the US including Lowe’s and Best Buy.

As for the fridge itself, it of course keeps your food cold and/or frozen and it will be able to dispense both ice and water from the door, however what makes this unique is sitting above the water dispenser — an 8 inch display. Plus, something that you cannot see from looking, built-in Wi-Fi.

Yup, these refrigerators pack and 8 inch display, built-in Wi-Fi and apps. The apps are currently limited to just a few including Photos, Calendar, Memos, Epicurious, WeatherBug, AP News, Twitter and Pandora. And in addition to the apps, the display also shows off highlights such as the current time and date, the temperature inside your freezer and the temperature inside the fridge.

Image credit: CrunchGear

As far as the app selection, these seem to make sense given the situation, especially considering a fridge is a common place to pass notes and messages between family member. But in this case instead of hanging a note with a magnet, it can be written on the built-in display using the Memo app. Otherwise, while we could not find anything on this, we have to wonder how good the sound would be when it comes time to crack some Pandora.

Bottom line, this is simply cool. But in the same breath I will say this, I would much rather buy a less expensive fridge and a tablet that I can take with me and use when I am not standing in front of the fridge. Of course, throw a barcode scanner on this and allow it to email me when I am running out of something then I may reconsider.

Image credit: CrunchGear

The news comes more as a teaser as compared to a full announcement, however we can tell you that Samsung is going to be unveiling the “Refrigerator with Apps” on June 21st at a special press event in New York City.

According to Samsung, the Refrigerator with Apps is able to “organize more than just food” and catchphrase aside, the fridge will come with features to include support for apps, Wi-Fi connectivity and an 8 inch LCD display. Oh, and how can we forget, the Refrigerator with Apps will be a side by side model with removable Slide And Go Shelves. Otherwise, some of the apps that Samsung have told us about include Google Calendar, Weather Bug, AP News, Epicurious, Pandora and a Picasa Photo slide show. And that about sums up the details that we have so far.

Of course, while interesting sounding — we are unsure of when the Refrigerator with Apps will come available or how much it will end up costing. And lastly, for those super into kitchen appliances, Samsung also plans to unveil some other goodies for their 2011 product showcase including;

• New ranges like the Flex Duo Oven, a CES 2011 Eco-Design Honoree,  and Samsung’s first-ever gas range
• A new laundry line-up with the high capacity front load washers with PowerFoam™ technology and Samsung’s first top-load washer with the largest capacity in its class

So, how about it — who wants their refrigerator to have a built in display, Wi-Fi connectivity and apps? Me, it sounds interesting and almost has me drawn in, but then again, I have a tablet that works well in the kitchen. Plus, while this sounds lazy, it sort of sounds like I would simply have another set of apps to update and manage.

The X-Prize Foundation, in association with Qualcomm, is bringing us the Tricorder X-Prize (and that’s actually the name of the competition). The goal of said competition–aside from the winning of said prize–is to yield a medical device, easily carried, that can “diagnose patients better than or equal to a panel of board certified physicians”. Basically, it’s to be the equivalent of having an entire room full of doctors in a device roughly comparable in size to your iPhone.

The best such device will win at least a share of a substantial $10 million pot, which may well end up split several ways among winners. The contest is currently in the planning stages right now, set for a 2012 start date, so if you’ve got a plan for such a device, better get the Legos and get on to construction.

Of course, actually creating such a device would likely do horrendous things to the world as we know it–general practitioners would be shown the door en masse and all health insurance would be catastrophic care and medication only–but at the same time it would likely save a whole lot of people a whole lot of cash. No more would people need an appointment to determine of a suspicious lump, for example, was malignant or benign, and no more waiting days for results, either.

Considering how many devices are already out there designed to make medical diagnoses and treatment easier and more accessible, rolling them all into one convenient package may not be out of line. And while this will prove to be only an early-model tricorder, it will still be head and shoulders above most anything else out there today.

So what do you think of the medical tricorder idea? You want one? Or will this be a horrible mistake that destroys the health-care industry as we know it? Hit the comments section and tell us what you think!

If you’ve heard of smart appliances, this initiative by Google goes further than just refrigerators calling in for milk delivery. Google’s Android @ Home project aims to connect just about anything in your house to your Android smartphone or tablet.

Launched at the Google I/O developer conference, the concept will involve making your home as smart as your smartphone. With Android @ Home, your house will be one giant connected device. Appliances can be controlled via Android. Lights, TV sets, air conditioning systems, and basically anything that can be controlled will be accessed via Android.

At Google I/O, company reps demonstrated controlling sets of lights using their smartphone. Moreover, they introduced Project Tungsten, which is a home entertainment system that lets users stream content from Google’s new music service to speakers connected with the Android @ Home network.

According to Google, it plans to release APIs and protocols for Android @ Home within 2011. The system is said to work on Android 3.1 Honeycomb and 2.3.4 Gingerbread.

The Let’s Chat tablet is geared toward people who can’t speak, or fully use their hands to render sign language an impossibility. What they can do now is use the Let’s Chat to press a couple buttons and have the tablet itself say whatever the person in question wanted to say instead. Not only will the tablet display said message in the screen above, it will also read the message out loud. The Let’s Chat can be used for fully 62 common phrases (one of which is, apparently, “get me water”). It also contains a buzzer to use as more of a general alert system, and can even be used as a simple television remote, since it’s actually compatible with most of the television made in Japan.

It’s an impressive idea, but seems a bit underpowered. Actually it looks like something of a misnomer anyway, but then, I don’t suppose “Let’s Chat Assuming How I Should Respond To Your Half Of The Conversation Is Part Of The 62 Phrases In This Thing’s Memory” would fit really well on the side of the box. And considering how many text to speech programs already exist, you think you’d just put one of those in a proper tablet and then be able to say whatever you want anyway.

Still though, it’s a fair start (this thing has “elder care” written all over it and if there’s one thing Japan has plenty of, it’s elderly people), and hopefully future versions of the Let’s Chat tablet will provide users with more utility, especially given that Panasonic wants to sell these at $1,980 each.

We’ve been following the RedEye saga for some time, from launch to recall to secondary launch, and now we’re about to follow perhaps the most drastic repurposing of a device in a long time. The RedEye Pro is set to work pretty much exactly like the original RedEye Mini, hooking into your PC or your iPhone, though now you’ll be able to patch in a group of eight infrared emitters / contact closure sensor ports to use that RedEye to control a variety of devices. Word is that you’ll be able to control most everything from lights to thermostat controls (and doesn’t it just suck, having to get up to turn up the heat or the AC when you’re cold or hot depending?), and word is that it can even tackle things remotely, like adjusting the temperature when you’re away from the house because it’s a built-in web server and can be accessed via a web browser. There’s even word that they’re working on versions for Android, so most anybody will be able to get in on this.

You can get the RedEye Pro right now, according to ThinkFlood’s website (I couldn’t actually find it available at their retailers listed, though) so for those of you looking forward to completely controlling your home environment from one laptop, well, you may be in for a bit of a wait. Frankly, I’ve seen horror movies that assume this kind of control over your home environment, which makes the whole thing just a bit on the scary side, but at the same time, I like the idea of having that kind of control. Being able to make it warmer or colder in the house when I’m not around and saving money in the process, then adjusting the temps on the fly to make sure the place is warmed or chilled to my liking just before I get home, now, that’s a downright delight.

So right now you’re likely asking the exact same questions I was, wondering how focused beams of light have absolutely anything to do with sound waves, but the research is oddly convincing. University of Utah researchers discovered that when exposing oyster toadfish hair cells (which are a lot like the ones we’re packing in our inner ears) to a low-powered infrared diode (which in turn is a lot like a laser pointer), the hair cells released neurotransmitters that, in turn, activated neurons nearby like the transfer of information.

This by itself doesn’t mean much, granted–shoot a laser pointer at some hair cells and brain gook goes pouring out of them–but when you take this bit of information and combine it with some proper engineering, you get a distinct possibility that lasers could take auditory data, process it into a beam form, fire said beam into inner ears and have the information get turned into another coded form that our ears could pass on and our brains can thus understand.

Naturally, this is still early-stage stuff. You’re not going to be able to get Grandma a new laser hearing aid at Walgreens’ next week. But what it does mean is the very real possibility that, in a few years, deafness may not be a condition you live with for the rest of your life but rather a treatable, fixable issue. And that is both scary and exciting, in its way. So keep an eye out–we may see a laser fix hearing problems in the not too distant future.

Image

Folks in Japan who own atomic watches might be surprised to find their clocks inaccurate. This is because the radio transmitter responsible for synchronizing atomic clocks throughout most of Japan is offline.

Mount Otakodoya hosts a transmission station for syncing  atomic clocks, and is 16 km from the Fukushima Daiichi power plant that almost had a nuclear meltdown after the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Because of the threat of nuclear radiation, engineers decided to shut down the station when news of the nuclear incident broke.

This is said to affect taxi meters, wristwatches, and other compatible clocks around the country. While most  systems can run on their own internal clocks, some might be inaccurate due to the lack of the syncing pulse.

Engineers are likely to resume broadcast once the threat of radiation has been reduced.

Optometrists say that the Nintendo 3DS can help detect certain eye disorders in children six years and younger. This, in turn, will be useful in determining whether kids need vision therapy.

In particular, playing with 3D games can help diagnose amblyopia, more commonly known as lazy eye. With this disorder, depth perception is poor because the brain is unable to process images from one eye as quickly as the other. This renders the 3DS’ autostereoscopic system useless.

Eye doctors also say the naked eye 3D system can help diagnose other problems. If your child becomes dizzy or disoriented after short periods of playing 3D games, better have his eyes checked.

It’s still debatable, though, whether the 3DS is helpful or actually more harmful in the long run. Kids should be playing more physical activities rather than spend all day playing video games. Aside from potential eye problems, console games are known to cause obesity. Still, anything that can be addictive can prevent kids from being well-rounded (mental, physica, emotional), and is bound to be bad.

Scientists believe that the magnitude 9 earthquake has shifted the Earth’s mass, resulting in a small change in the planet’s wobble and rotation. This means the Earth might have days that are 1.8 microseconds shorter. That’s about 0.0018 of a second.

According to the Richard Gross of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Labs, previous earthquakes have also resulted in similar changes. For example, the 2010 Chile earthquake reduced each day by 1.26 microseconds, while a 2004 earthquake in Indonesia resulted in a 6.8 microsecond decrease.

Humans might not notice the change in time, but computers will have to adjust. The ITU usually adds or subtracts microseconds to the official UTC time used by networks and computer systems by adding or taking out “leap seconds.” This helps reconcile the computer systems’ time with the actual solar time.

The UTC has introduced a total of 24 leap seconds since 1972 to offset the reduction in time due to a slowing-down of the Earth’s rotation. While computers worldwide will be able to adjust, it is said that this can be problematic for systems that require millisecond accuracy, such as systems involved in high-speed financial trading. However, for the rest of the world, this will probably mean just a millisecond difference for each year.