More often the object of dread than fascination, the humble water closet scale has been given a makeover by Withings, which has injected the Connected Body Scale with WiFi and an online progress tracking system not too dissimilar from that used by Nike+. This sleek metallic device is accurate to 100 grams — oh yes, it’s metric, enjoy it should be — and conducts a body mass analysis that can tell you the uncomfortable truth, should you care to know it. Accessing progress data can be done via a free iPhone app or the company’s website, which is also the best place to plop down the €129 ($184) entry fee. And don’t tell us you’re not interested, somebody is buying up all those Wii Fit boards and it sure as hell isn’t us. Video after the break.

Update: Withings tells us that pound measurements are also available for you eccentric old schoolers, and September should see a US release priced at $159, so good news all around.

[Via Chip Chick]

Continue reading Withings Connected Body Scale remembers what you’d rather forget

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Wireless

Withings Connected Body Scale remembers what you’d rather forget originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PS3 is the most advanced personal system that serves as a platform to enjoy next generation personal entertainment contents in the home, realized through the combination of Cell and RSX processors, in addition to the playability of a vast catalogue More

Gamasutra’s weekly column, “Saling The World”, covers the top five sellers for each available platform in the United States, Japan, and Europe, providing an important update of sales patterns worldwide. This week’s charts, with data taken from July More

Playstation creator Sony notched up a £231m loss as gamers refused to stump up for new consoles. The Japanese electronics giant saw sales drop 19.2% in the first quarter, latest figures show. Sales of the Playsation 3 fell to 1.1 million from 1.6 More

It’s long been common knowledge that the PlayStation 3 is a difficult platform to develop for. Just like the PlayStation 2 before it, the architecture of the system has a tendency to confound outside developers, and the Xbox 360 is often cited as a More

Follow us on Talking about the PS3 at the recent Sony analyst call, Daniel Ernst of Hudson Square Research asked Sony CEO and executive VP Nobuyuki Oneda, “Can you give us some metrics on how the profitablity on that product are tracking how More

Sony states it’s still aiming for a spring launch for its PlayStation 3 but also admits that a delay is possible. That acknowledgement comes after a Feb. 17 Merrill Lynch report that the video game console will face delays of between six and 12 More

When Microsoft decided to get into the current generation before the competitors, there was a lot of unknown variables. Sure the 360 would be the first system to market and usher in the “next-gen”. But there was always the unknown risk that the More

The manufacturing costs of the PlayStation 3 have dropped by 70 per cent, Sony Corp CEO and executive vice president Nobuyuki Oneda has revealed. Talking during a conference call for overseas investors following Sony’s Q1 2009 financials, Oneda More

Several reports have suggested that PlayStation 3 action-adventure sequel Yakuza 3 will not leave Japan. After the second game sold just 40,000 copies in the US, Sega stated that a western release has been ruled out, according to Examiner . However More

PS3 sales are slumping, but not as bad as the Wii’s sales which have been cut in half. (Credit: Sony) Sony latest earnings show that it continues to be hammered by the worldwide recession and strong yen, suffering a net loss of US$390.5 million in More

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Since barcodes are the sign of the devil (must be true, we read it on the interwebs) it’s no surprise that everyone wants to replace ‘em. QR codes have been quite popular, allowing people and companies to tag their stuff with colorful decals filled with bits and bytes, and of course RFID tags are still going strong, but a team of researchers at MIT has come up with something better: Bokode. It’s effectively a tiny little retroreflective holograph that is just 3mm wide but, when a camera focused to infinity sweeps across it, the Bokodes become clear and appear much larger, captured in the video below. In this way they have the ability to contain “thousands of bits” of data and, interestingly, show positional information too, meaning the camera knows where in 3D space it is in relation to the tag. This, of course, has hundreds of potential applications ranging from grocery shopping to augmented reality, and should lead to new and exciting ways for scholars to interpret/misinterpret Revelations.

[Via BBC]

Continue reading MIT’s Bokode tech calls out zebra stripes, QR codes for battle of barcode supremacy

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

MIT’s Bokode tech calls out zebra stripes, QR codes for battle of barcode supremacy originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: iPod Family, Apple, iPhone, App Store

With the recent kerfuffle surrounding the removal and rejection of Google Voice apps from the App Store, many developers are beginning to question the trust they have put in Apple to provide them with a reliable system for developing and distributing applications.

Generally, the major hurdle associated with iPhone development is getting approved by Apple. It’s no secret that this process is often quite frustrating, and sometimes downright arduous. Developers often wait several weeks without any response before they’re suddenly rejected, and then they must make the requested changes (if possible), resubmit their application, and again wait for a response.

But once they’ve put your app through the paces, and presumably have double and triple checked to ensure that you have complied with the terms, you’re safe, right? Your hard work has paid off, Apple has accepted your app, and now you can move on.

Wrong.

As the developers of GV Mobile and VoiceCentral recently discovered, Apple can take an app that was previously given the all-clear, decide that it now copies native functionality of the iPhone, and yank it from the App Store in a matter of minutes. Needless to state, there are some serious flaws in this process. First, the functionality provided by both of these apps isn’t actually provided by the iPhone, so there’s really nothing to copy, unless Apple is going to start expecting developers to predict future features and avoid replicating those too. Then you’ve the fact that the feature sets provided by the apps and the iPhone itself haven’t changed since Apple approved them in the first place, so if they truly are replicating native functionality, they should have been rejected from the start, not months after they were approved.

Now one might also argue that some features offered by Google Voice do overlap with the iPhone, such as the SMS and voicemail functions. But even if you concede that point to Apple, couldn’t they just ask the developers to remove those features and resubmit? What about the other apps — like Skype, TextFree, or iCall — that offer similar feature sets, are they going to disappear too? And if AT&T is really responsible for this, as has been recommended previously, why was the app pulled from the App Stores of other countries? Why not just honestly tell the developer that the app is being pulled at the request of the carrier?

Continue reading Yeah, there’s an app for that. But for how long, and at what cost?

Yeah, there’s an app for that. But for how long, and at what cost? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Yeah, there’s an app for that. But for how long, and at what cost? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony PS3 EyePet trailer - Stuff.tv
Sony is working on a new augmented reality game that’ll put Tamagotchis to shame. Using the PlayStation Eye camera, EyePet brings to life your own little critter in your surroundings through your TV screen. Responding to your movements, and playing

Sony quarterly loss $391 mln, anticipates more red ink - Lincoln Journal Star
Sony Playstation 3 game machines are sold at a game console department at a Yamada Denki electronics shop in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, July 30, 2009. Sony Corp. reported a 37.1 billion yen ($390.5 million) loss for the fiscal first quarter Thursday

Sony Takes $391M 1st Quarter Loss - CBS News
Photo Sony Playstation 3 game machines are sold at a game console department at a Yamada Denki electronics shop in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, July 30, 2009. Sony Corp. reported a 37.1 billion yen ($390.5 million) loss for the fiscal first quarter

Sony Posts Loss as Bravia TV, PlayStation Sales Slump (Update3) - Bloomberg
July 30 (Bloomberg) — Sony Corp. reported a second straight quarterly loss as the stronger yen pushed the company further behind Samsung Electronics Co. in television sales and the global recession drove down demand for video-game machines. The net

Sony Posts $390.5 Million Loss - New York Times
TOKYO — Sony suffered a net loss of $390.5 million (¥37.1 billion) in the first quarter, the electronics and entertainment giant stated Thursday, maintaining its forecast for a second straight year of red ink as the global economic slump continued

Sony reports quarterly loss, anticipates more red ink - Daily Herald
Sony Playstation 3 game machines are sold at a game console department at a Yamada Denki electronics shop in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, July 30, 2009. Sony Corp. reported a 37.1 billion yen ($390.5 million) loss for the fiscal first quarter Thursday

Sony Reports Loss, Anticipates More Red Ink - AOL
TOKYO -Sony Corp., maker of the hit PlayStation game console, reported a smaller-than-expected quarterly loss but maintained its forecast for more red ink as it takes a beating from the strong yen and slumping global electronics sales. The Japanese

Nintendo Wii Sales Fall for First Time, Games Push Sony to Loss - Bloomberg
July 30 (Bloomberg) — Nintendo Co. ’s sales of the Wii console fell for the first time and Sony Corp. ’s PlayStation 3 shipments tumbled to a two-year low, raising pressure on the world’s two largest makers of game players to cut prices. Sales

Article rated a - Waterloo Cedar-Falls Courier
Sony Playstation 3 game machines are sold at a game console department at a Yamada Denki electronics shop in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, July 30, 2009. Sony Corp. reported a 37.1 billion yen ($390.5 million) loss for the fiscal first quarter Thursday

Sony reports $391 million quarterly loss, keeps forecast for more red - Orlando Sentinel
TOKYO (AP) — Sony Corp. , maker of the hit PlayStation game console, ran up less red ink than expected last quarter but maintained its forecast for full year losses, underscoring the danger consumer spending will remain slack even as other parts of

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Right on schedule, Taser’s launching the TASER X3 “force option,” which grants “peace officers” the capability to shoot up to three probes in quick succession in order to “incapacitate” their “targets.” Not only that, but the X3 can display a “warning arc” when loaded, allowing officers to “gain voluntary compliance” and “avert use-of-force” by putting on a light show. When it comes time to take down that unruly Trustafarian, however, it’ll get done with style — the probes are aimed with laser sights, and the new Pulse Calibration System actively monitors the perp to deliver a Precision Shaped Pulse(TM) that provides “consistent effects.” Yeah, we want one. Video after the break.

Continue reading TASER X3 triple-shot stunner arrives, subdues population

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

TASER X3 triple-shot stunner arrives, subdues population originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Call Of Juarez: Bound In Blood has knocked Fight Night Round 4 off the top of the PS3 weekly chart. With the Western action title on top, Fight Night drops to second, while Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 remains third. Elsewhere in the top ten, UFC 2009 More

Killzone 2 has been one of the PS3’s premier titles of 2009, and Sony’s uppping the multiplayer ante even more today by releasing a collection of Killzone 2 DLC via the PlayStation Network. Killzone 2’s third DLC pack, called “Napalm & Cordite,” will More

Castle Crashers is just about the ideal thing to happen to Xbox Live Arcade. And soon, it’ll be just about the ideal thing to happen to the PlayStation Network as well. While there are no details on when the game is coming, how much it’ll cost or More

UFC 2009 Undisputed has done great things for THQ ’s bottom line, with 2.9 million duplicates sold making for a profitable quarter. Logically, the publisher plans to expand its MMA offerings to platforms that aren’t the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 . THQ More

It’s My Birthday (Wii) It’s My Birthday uses Wii technology to its full potential in this fun series of mini games that’ll have kids - and adults - amused for hours. Overlord II (PS3) I own the first Overlord game for the Xbox 360, and I found More

Two Fort Smith men police believe broke into a local business were arrested late Monday after a woman returned to the area to pay for the duo’s gasoline, a police spokesman said Tuesday. Nathan Ray Montoya, 24, and William James Phillips, 29, both More

What sort of digital content’s coming for PSP owners in 2009? For PlayStation 3 owners? Will Sony offer additional direct-download Blu-ray titles through its PlayStation Store? What about PlayStation Home integration? Will we ever see Home avatars More

Paramount Digital Entertainment, Bad Robot Interactive, CBS Consumer Products and Naked Sky Entertainment Wednesday announced that Star Trek: D-A-C will hit the PlayStation Network later this summer. The game is currently available on Xbox LIVE More

Sony states it’s still aiming for a spring launch for its PlayStation 3 but also admits that a delay is possible. That acknowledgement comes after a Feb. 17 Merrill Lynch report that the video game console will face delays of between six and 12 More

The Cell processor inside Sony’s PlayStation 3 is a powerhouse that lets the gaming console render highly detailed graphics at blistering speed. That same chip gives the PS3 all the processing muscle it needs to become a fully functional personal More

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We’ve seen every manner of touchpad — multitouch, gesture recognition, no touch, LCD trackpads — if you can think of it, somebody has probably done a version of it. Take this particular one for example, which just might rank below even the touchscreen GBA in terms of practical usefulness — though, it’s not as if utility is a prerequisite of joviality, right? If you’ve been neglecting that DIY muscle of late, you owe it to yourself to check out the video beyond the break, which shows that a humble touchpad can learn new tricks. Oh, and if you feel extra inspired, the read link contains another video plus the necessary code for making the light show happen. Don’t state we never gave you anything.

[Via Hack A Day]

Continue reading Video: Arduino-powered touchpad mimics iPod volume control

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Video: Arduino-powered touchpad mimics iPod volume control originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s not often that we take time to highlight the creativity and innovation involved in an artistic projection, but this one excited a few too many nerve endings to pass up. The latest in a long line of fantastical wall splashings comes to us courtesy of Urbanscreen, who has designed a downright mesmerizing 3D projection to “dissolve and break through the strict architecture of O.M. Ungers’ Galerie der Gegenwart. The project is entitled “How it would be, if a house was dreaming,” and it’s without a doubt one of the most breathtaking spectacles you’ll see in the next six to ten minutes. Hop on past the break to have your skepticism put to rest, your world view changed forever and your hope in humanity temporarily restored.

[Via freshome, thanks Hale]

Continue reading Video: life-altering 3D projection gets splashed on German building

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Video: life-altering 3D projection gets splashed on German building originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 09:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TOKYO— Japanese electronics and entertainment company Sony Corp. reports its fiscal first quarter earnings on Thursday. The following is a summary of key developments and analyst thought related to the period. OVERVIEW: Sony sank to its first More

Castle Crashers is just about the best thing to happen to Xbox Live Arcade. And soon, it’ll be just about the ideal thing to happen to the PlayStation Network as well. While there are no details on when the game is coming, how much it’ll cost or More

Sony exclusivity expires; Xbox 360, Wii, DS, and Personal computer versions hit shelves October 23. Though Playstation 3 gamers have been enjoying the delights of bustin’ ghosts since June, European gamers without Sony’s black box or a desire to import the title More

Killzone 2 has been one of the PS3’s premier titles of 2009, and Sony’s uppping the multiplayer ante even more this day by releasing a collection of Killzone 2 DLC via the PlayStation Network. Killzone 2’s third DLC pack, called “Napalm & Cordite,” will More

Sony has confirmed two impressive new features that are winging their way to the tech giant’s VAIO brand of desktops and laptops. In a current interview, Mike Abary, Senior Vice President of Sony’s Information Technology Products Division, revealed More

GLENDALE, Calif. - (Business Wire) Ignition Entertainment Ltd., a UTV Enterprise, a worldwide publisher and developer of videogames, and SNK PLAYMORE are excited to announce that The King of Fighters XII is now available nationwide for the Xbox 360 More

Paramount Digital Entertainment, Bad Robot Interactive, CBS Consumer Products and Naked Sky Entertainment Wednesday announced that Star Trek: D-A-C will hit the PlayStation Network later this summer. The game is currently available on Xbox LIVE More

From the developers of the critically acclaimed Dark Cloud series and Rogue Galaxy, Level-5 once again delivers an unparalleled role-playing game experience with the introduction of the first true Role-Playing Game (RPG) on PS3, White Knight More

The Cell processor inside Sony’s PlayStation 3 is a powerhouse that lets the gaming console render highly detailed graphics at blistering speed. That same chip gives the PS3 all the processing muscle it needs to become a fully functional computer More

San Francisco (CA) - John Carmack has opined that the Playstation 3 offers “a tiny bit more theoretical raw performance” compared to other consoles. Carmack - the founder of iD Software - also told GameInformer that more “sweat equity” was required More

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