Robo-Bartender

Source: Popular Science

It is official; modern robotics has finally reached perfection because you sure as hell can't beat this!

Let me introduce you the Willow Garage Robot. This little champ has been successful at mundane tasks, and has even proven itself a proficient pool shark but it has now found it's primary directive: getting your lazy biomass housed!

Just place your order via a web interface, hit the "Beer Me" button and just sit back and wait for your Robo-waiter to deliver you a cold brew.

Enjoy perfection:

Hell, he'll even crack it open for you if you request it! Although I think the Beer-bot either hasn't quite mastered the technique quite yet, or he just shakes the beer up a bit as a general display of distaste for humanity.

It is a hot day here, and I know many of you can respect anything that can make hydration/inebriation easier is only a step forward for humanity ...

Until Skynet goes online, of course.

Roku News

Source: Home Media Magazine

You Roku owners might have noticed a new addition to your device over the July 4th weekend.

Roku is currently testing a news channel, dubbed Pod TV, that is a compilation of various news sources such as CNN, National Public Radio, PBS, BBC, CBS, NBC, ESPN, Fox News and HBO among others.

If you are a Roku user and this sounds like something you might be interested in trying out Pod TV is currently free. All you have to do is go to the Roku site and go to your account and click the "Add Private Channel" link and then enter the code: H9DWC.

Pod TV will provide more than just another way for you to stay up to date on the worlds happenings as other cool features are currently included and more are planned for the near future. Currently, besides checking out the news, you can listen to a selection of speakers, tune in for the always entertaining radio show A Prairie Home Companion and even get some shopping done through Woot.com (Use the code: BPPIM for special deals!).

JVC Facebook Contest

So JVC has begun a new contest on its Facebook Fanpage officially called "Like it to Win it".

Starting today through September 8th JVC will post some kind of product on Facebook and to enter to win that product all you have to do is click the "Like" button. There is a whole bunch of things that can be possible prizes from TVs, camcorders, laptops, stereos and whatever electronic gadgetry they decide to throw at us.

I know what you are probably all saying, "Is this some kind of fishing scam?" Well you can check out the official rules here, but as far as I can tell it seems legit.

So if you like the product of the day (Today it is a 19" LCD TV) or just want a chance at some free junk just click "Like" and you are entered! It is easier than stealing candy from a baby, and a hell of a lot quieter too!

Real Hovering DeLorean?! Great Scott!

Source: Jalopnik

You built a hovercraft out of a DeLorean?!

Mathew Riese figured if he was going to take the time to build a damn hovercraft he was going to do it in style! This labor of love has taken two years to get to the point it is at now, but it isn't complete yet!

Matt has run into a couple of problems during the development of this wondrous vehicle. The first being that DeLoreans aren't actually that aerodynamic so creating an actual flying car is out of the question until flubber is invented. So he settled on making a hovercraft, which is still pretty legit!

The second major hitch is like all good college students Matt is poor, and he needs financial help to finish what could easily be the coolest thing since news broke about the Back to the Future hoverboard a few weeks ago.

Except this will actually work!

If you can find it in your heart to help out poor Matt you can check out his page here: DeLorean's Kickstarter Donation Page. At the time of this writing he had almost half of his target $5,500. No word yet on if the donation would be tax deductable, but you would be making the world a better place!

Don't think I am pimping this project (Even though I kind of am, because it's awesome!) Matt has his own sales pitch:

Idiot-Proof Batteries

Source: Gizmodo

We have all been there, fumbling around with our positives and our negatives.

Sometimes it is the simplest of tasks that can suck out all of your patience. Replacing the batteries can be a real b*tch, but Microsoft has given us a glimmer of a future where it doesn't matter what end goes which way with the creation of its new InstaLoad batteries.

This newly patented technology uses a new contact design that will make having to remember which way the batteries go into your remote a unmissed pastime. InstaLoad batteries will come in all of the usual flavors: AA, AAA, D, C and even CR123 (What the hell are those used for?!)

Finally, Microsoft is thinking about the little guy!

UPDATE: CR123 are lithium batteries, man that was bothering me ...

Boobless Robot Lifeguard

Source: Popular Science

Nope, she isn't a Pamela Android.

No, she doesn't have boobs or run in slow motion.

But yes, she could save your life.

Her name is EMILY (Emergency Integrated Lifesaving LanYard ... that's a stretch) and she is a certified robo-lifeguard who is going to save riptide victims from undignified death by drowning.

This autonomous buoy operates in two ways. It can either be thrown from the shore, a helicopter, plane or boat manually by a human or it can just patrol the coastline looking for struggling swimmers. How the hell is she supposed to differentiate between the raucous splash fights and the truly drowning is where it gets interesting. EMILY uses sonar to hone in on movements associated with distressed swimmers such as panicked thrashing. Then she hits the throttle and shoots toward the drownee at upwards of 28 miles per hour.

Cool, you are drowning and a buoy shows up like an awkward red robo-angel, now what? Well she talks, giving you words of encouragement and instructions ("Hang the f*ck on!") that you should heed if you want hitch a ride back to the beach with minimal water in your lungs. If being comforted by software isn't really cutting it EMILY is also equipped with a camera operated by a lifeguard back on sure that can also give sage advise (Like, oh I don't know, maybe: "Hang the f*ck on!")

The EMILY 'bots will hit the beach sometime next spring and while each unit costs $3,500 you can't really put a price on saving a persons life, even if there are no slow motion boobs involved ...

Well, because I know you guys are thinking about it and are probably already Googling for Baywatch pics:

What did you expect? Don't hassel the 'Hoff!

Touchpad Vending Machines

Source: CrunchGear

Granted it is in Japan, but Coca Cola has created a new vending machine that uses a gigantic 46' LCD touch screen. Not only will thirsty patrons be able to get there Coke fix using the new sleek interface there are even more bells and whistles.

Some of the extras features include advertisement for those that rent the new machines, and maps and information of the surrounding area that will be able to download to your phone. Coke machines are everywhere, and if this map function was in all of them I doubt a person would ever get lost again ... unless they are in Pepsi country.

Again, the release of these high tech Coke machines are currently only planned for Japan , but I would not be at all surprised to see these hit our shores in the not to distant future.

DC Comics Goes Digital

Source: Kotaku

DC now stands for two things "Detective Comics" and now "Digital Comics" since they finally joined the digital comic’s movement. Like Marvel, Dark Horse and Image before them DC, the last major comics company holding out on digital comics, has realized that comic book readers and people that like technology are usually the same people.

The home of such iconic characters such as Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, DC Comics should have no trouble finding people who own iPads, iPhones and even the Sony PSP that want their comic fix without the paper cuts.

Each digital issue will cost you at most right now $2.99, and there are also many free comics. There is already a sizable catalog to choose from and even free previews to upcoming issues such as the milestone Superman#700. PSP digital comics can be found right on the Playstation Store while iPad and iPhone users will need to download the slick new DC Comics App.

Now all of the major comic companies have gone digital, and while buying your comics digitally does have its shortcomings (delays in release, no satisfying ink on your fingertips) it can only improve from here.

Do any of you read your comics digitally? I think it is perfect for something like the iPad, but the PSP and iPhone seem a little on the small side to make it worth my while.

Buy Solar, Get Free Boom-Stick!

Source: The Consumerist

You got to ask yourself one question; do you want to invest in solar power? Well, do you, punk?!

Question: What is more rewarding than investing in green energy?

Answer: Getting a free freaking gun!

In a world where traditional energy sources are becoming scarce solar energy may be the answer. But if being responsible early adapter isn’t enough incentive for you California and Colorado based Bland Solar and Air Inc. have an extra reward that is sure to come in handy in sustaining (or ending) life by way of a gun.

For every Bland customer who purchases a big enough solar system a $400 gun voucher is theirs! (I guess if you want to be lame you can opt out of the gun option you can just go for the $400 rebate, but free gun is so much more badass!)

This is ingenious business plan that could be incorporated everywhere to increase the speed of energy source adaption. Buy a hybrid car, get a Winchester repeater on the house! Buy energy efficient light bulbs, receive free set of throwing knifes! Build a windmill and enjoy your RPG gratis!

I am telling you, if more energy companies incorporated this America would become more energy efficient faster than it takes you to say, “Shop smart. Shop S-Mart.”

WTFriday?! - God Damned Batman Tweets!

Source: Twitter

So I messed up guys, two Fridays ago I promised a new running feature, one Friday ago it did not happen. I have failed something fierce but hopefully this awesomeness I am about to share with you can make up for the err of my ways ... hopefully.

There are tons of celebrities that now use Twitter for their own self aggrandizement (See Ashton Kutcher, Jim Carrey and formerly John Mayer) which is totally fine, because there are people who care about how big of a deuce you just laid or how amazing that bran muffin was, I just ain't one of them.

Now there are celebrities that Tweet responsibly and effectively, like Conan O'Brien who launched a nationwide sellout tour with one blurb, and then there are people that everyone should follow on Twitter.

Who? The God Damned Batman is who!

Upon reviewing some of the Dark Knights daily tweets we come to the realization that he is a dick, and not just in the detective sense of the word. But that is OK, because he has embraced that and made it work for him and his nocturnal crime-fighting escapades.

He gives us profound insight into many things that should concern us all. Such as:

• Cinema: "Saw the A-Team. Would've been better if instead of a 'team' it was one man. Dressed like a bat. Who drives a stealth tank."
• Sports: "I'm not saying these World Cup guys aren't in shape, I'd just like to see them play in 50lbs of body armor with limited head motion."
• And of course; Fighting Crime: "If the Joker is a dog chasing cars, I'm the a**hole driving the car who suddenly throws it in reverse."

I will allow you to peruse the rest at your leisure. No, I do not have a Twitter account, but upon discovering The Batman's profile I am seriously considering getting one.

Vinyl or CD? Why choose!

Source: Gizmodo

Let me start this off by acknowledging the fact that both records and compact discs are arguably dead in this online age where you can find anything for the price of free. I get it. But as someone who still buys CDs and collect vinyl this is technological harmony at it's purest.

And I feel it is something you have to see:

What you are looking at is a CD, no big whoop right? Wrong, let's flip this bad boy:

That is right! It is a flip disc just like those old widescreen/fullscreen DVDs and those new fangled Blu-ray/DVD hybrids but for music. This changes everything about obsolete media! What will we see next, 8-Tracks merged with cassettes? VHS infused with floppy discs? iPads fused with paperweights?!

This 50% record, 50% CD adding up to 110% awesome is the work of musician and technology enthusiast Jeff Mills. The album is fittingly titled The Occurrence and is a limited release from Axis Records.

The possibilities are about as endless as my joy about the existence of a vinyl/CD hybrid! And if this catches on I guess it means I am buying The White Album again ...

Free Starbucks WiFi

Source: Technorati

So you are sitting there with your mochafrappachinoventi (I don't drink coffee, sorry) and you have your netbook booted up and ready to check on your coffee bean stock portfolio and it dawns on you, Starbucks charges you $2 an hour for internet access!

Well starting July 1st not anymore!

Starbucks has just teamed up with Yahoo to offer free WiFi at about 60% of its coffee houses across America. Only airport, grocery store and other combination Starbucks locations will not get the free service.

For a business that is located almost literally everywhere in U.S. I am surprised it took them this long to offer this free service. God knows they can afford it! People will do unspeakable things to get their caffeine fix including paying exorbitant prices.

Better late than never Starbucks, maybe I will stop in for a cookie sometime.

E3: Microsoft's Monday

Source: Engadget

Today Microsoft has owned the E3 Expo. Here are the Monday highlights from the Microsoft E3 camp:

• Microsoft Kinect: (Pictured above left) Hey potential Project Natal users there are some solid facts in now for you to salivate over. First off it has a price tag now, looks like it will put you back $149 but there are some bundlle deals already popping up at retailers like Gamestop that will pair the Kinect with an Xbox Elite for $399. Microsoft Kinect will officially launch November 4th, along with a first wave of games that will utilize the motion tracking technology. The last Kinect related news for today involves video chatting. Yes. You will be able video chat while watching movies together for starters. Nifty feature that will be both Xbox Live and Windows Live Messenger compatible.
• New Xbox 360: (Pictured center) Yup, that is apparently what it is called "The New Xbox 360" no clever name yet, but man it looks pretty slick and it starts shipping out today! Major changes from the existing Xbox 360 models, besides actually looking cool, is that it has one internal fan. This is supposed to reduce the noise considerably which is one less distraction. The power source is internal, which means no more unsightly brick attached to your power cord. And it has integrated WiFi, so you essentially it takes some of the former Xbox accessories and just compiles them into one sexy package.
• ESPN3: No it isn't ESPN8 "The Ocho" but it is coming to an Xbox near you! Microsoft now has an exclusive deal with ESPN3 that will be available for no extra charge if you have an Xbox Live Gold Account and have a TV/Internet provider that will participate. You will be able to watch replays, highlights, participate in polls and will of course have Kinect capabilities.
• Xbox Netflix: The Xbox version of Netflix is finally getting an essential upgrade in November. You will now be able to search the entire Netflix Instant Watch and add videos to your instant queue, all directly from your console. Xbox is the first console to have this unrestricted Netflix access with out actually needing a computer. I would expect the other major consoles to follow suit eventually as well.

That about sums up Xbox news for the first day of E3; be sure to keep checking in for more updates from the E3 gaming front all week!

Apple's WWDC '10: iPhone 4G

Source: CrunchGear

As Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference completes its first day of festivities already there is overwhelming news on what is on the horizon.

Of course the star at the conference today was the iPhone 4G. Steve Job's himself was on hand to demonstrate some of the new features that you can expect to get if you upgrade to fourth, and newest, iPhone.

There is quite a bit of news surrounding the iPhone specifically so let's try break it down to the bare facts:

Hardware:

• It is sleek and sexy. Some of you may recall the whole iPhone "leak" that happened a few weeks back where allegedly one of the developers "accidentally" left a prototype in a bar, it looks like that phone.
• The new iPhone's display is 3.5" and sports the highest pixel rate on the cellphone market. It has 2X the resolution of its predecessor and boasts one of the sharpest pictures for crisp clean apps.
• New 5-Megapixel rear camera is a step up.

Software:

• iMovie is a premium application that will cost you $5 but should be completely worth it for the amateur film auteur or the home movie expert. It is a film editing room in the palm of your hand. Cut, splice and tweak your movies in glorious 720p high definition. This pocket version of iMovie will allow you to add titles, effects and even a musical score! If you are planning on laying down your money for this new iPhone it would be criminal not to pick up this app while you are at it.
• Netflix! Yes, it will be available on this version of the iPhone in a similar set-up to what you would see on an iPad. Finally, something to while waiting in line for the next version of the iPad.
• Video conferencing is the last revealed major addition for the new iPhone and man is it cool. The video chat program is called Face Time and it uses either the front or read camera to broadcast live video. Steve Jobs after making an actual video call during his demonstration hinted at other Face Time enabled devices, so stay tuned on that front.

That is about it on the details for the iPhone 4G up to this point. As for how much it will hurt your wallet to get one the 16 gig will cost you $199 and the 32 gig model will set you back $299 with a new contract. You will also have a choice between a sleek black or classic white version and you can expect to see it in stores June 24th.

The Apple World Wide Developer Conference runs all week, so updates are in store. Stay tuned for exciting Apple related news, and for those of you who don't care sorry but Apple is now the biggest in the tech business now didn't you hear?

Steve Jobs will not rest until he has converted everyone to all things Apple. And yes that means:

WTFriday?! - MicroMusic

So I feel that this blog has been fairly successful, if for no other reason for keeping me off the streets, so I am going to try something new. I am going to create a recurring feature on the blog I have cleverly christened "WTFriday?!"

Upon my ingenious inception of this idea I of course Googled "WTFriday" and, to my utter astonishment, found that other people had thought of this completely original and clever name ...

Screw it! I am doing it anyway and if they feel the urge to do something about it I usually have lunch at the local Taco Bell every Wednesday ... see you there, punks!

So my idea is to report to you something wackier, crazier, weirder or just plain scary that would otherwise go unmentioned on a usual day on the blog.

Let the madness begin!

Source: CrunchGear

Musical artist and gadget geek Tristan Perich has done something from out of left field, I never even thought about this let alone knew it could be done, he has released an album entitled 1-Bit Symphony entirely on one microchip.

Yes it sounds like something out of an old NES game and it is more likely to make your eardrums bleed than head bang but it is still an awesome concept. Enough of me talking, listen to Tristan Perich describe his Magnus opus and listen to it yourself!

(You may want to turn your speakers down a bit first for your own safety.)

Real Back to the Future Hoverboard?!

Source: Popular Science

Not really, but kind of ...

Seeing as it is kind of a slow news day (public holiday, or did you forget?) I figured sharing this would be alright.

French Artist/Purveyor of Awesomeness Nils Guadagnin has constructed a replica of Marty McFly's hoverboard in an exhibit he calls; wait for it, "Back to the Future".

Try to contain your excitement!

While it is only an art exhibit it does hover, thanks to a series of electromagnets and a laser stabilization system. No, it can't carry you around, but it can correct itself and be bumped around a bit which is still pretty cool I guess.

As cool as this whole hoverboard exhibit is, I can't help but picture it as a bitter reminder that I never got to have one and that we only have until 2015 to make hoverboards a reality. Get to it smart people! Don't make Back to the Future II a liar!

Watch you childhood dream become a reality ... sort of:

So the deaf may hear ...

Source: Gizmodo

There are a lot of misconceptions about what it exactly means to be deaf. Just because a person is deaf does not mean they can't register sound, they just do so in different ways such as by feel.

German designer Frederik Podzuweit is looking for a way to harness that method of feeling sound and he has done so in a most literally. His new device, which in a true German fashion, he simply calls "Music for deaf people" is a collar that is worn around the shoulders. This collar transmits the music to the listener via vibrations which allows the wearer to feel the music.

Just because you are deaf or severely hard of hearing should not prevent you from enjoying the experience of music. The concept collar has volume controls, tabs to switch between tracks and your standard inputs for MP3 players. It is made to be worn snugly around the neck and over the shoulders which would mean versatility and security.

Now everyone can all rock out to some Beethoven or, if classical music isn't exactly your jam, maybe some Evelyn Glennie who are only two of many accomplished deaf musicians.

Rock on!

Eye Tracking

Source: Popular Science

All of that head gear to the right is little bit of tech-wizardry import called a HeadCam. Developed in Germany the HeadCam has many possible applications, but how does it work?

There are four cameras built into the HeadCam, two of which are responsible for tracking your eye movements in 3D by following your retinas. Another camera uses that information to provide a zoomed in view of whatever your eyes are currently looking at and the final camera moves in whichever way your eyes move.

Utilizing this technology has practical benefits, such as studying the eyes in general. More advanced possible uses could be for surgeons, or other similar fields, to use the HeadCam as a teaching tool.

What does this technology mean for film?

You may recall the Robert Zemeckis movies such as The Polar Express, Beowulf and most recently A Christmas Carol. All of these films have used a version of the HeadCam to make the eye movements of the animated characters in an attempt to render them as realistic as possible.

While it is not perfect it is technology that has some serious potential both in movies and practically.

RIP Martian Lander

Source: Popular Science

One of the most successful unmanned missions to the Martian surface comes to a close with the end of the the Phoenix lander.

The lander, which essentially went into hibernation for the long Martian winter back in 2008 did not survive intact. As pictures from the Mars Odyssey orbiter proved last week that the solar panels had been damaged by ice buildup.

There was hope for continuing the Phoenix's mission if all had gone smoothly and while it is disappointing to see this conduit of information cease to function it has been invaluable in it's research. One of the most astonishing discoveries of the mission was that of the Martian soil, which is similar to what is found here on Earth and should have the ability to sustain life.

That is cool and all but many (me) deemed completely unsuccessful as it failed to find even one, not even one, little green man.

While scientists continue to study the findings of the Phoenix mission they have already planned for the future. NASA doesn't like to waste time as late next year yet another lander, called Curiosity, will arrive to Mars to set up a small unmanned laboratory on the surface.

The Martian lander is dead, long live the Martian lander.

Skynet's Coming ...

Source: Technology Review

Don't start looking for John Conner quite yet but technology just got one step closer to becoming self-aware with the creation of a software program that learns by watching. Thanks MIT nerds, you have given the machines the tools necessary for the destruction of humanity.

Could it get worse? Yes it can.

This new software, called KarDo, has been created to help IT support staff in the usual computer related problems. By watching a human solve the problem the program will then be able to replicate the process on across multiple computers and retains the knowledge of the problem for future problems and can use it in order to adept to new challenges.

Does it get any better? Maybe ...

The ultimate goal for Kardo is to "intervene completely automatically" and although the software is still in the infant stage and has not gone through enough testing time will only make it wiser, and more powerful.

I guess now is as good of time as any to move to the Alaskan wilderness and live off the grid. Prepare for the inevitable people, prepare ...