Monthly Archives: March 2004

general March 18, 2004 posted by

Lifeline.

Konami is clearly thinking strategically about how to differentiate home video games from arcade. For instance witness LifeLine, the first ever ‘voice-activated’ console game for the PS2. Kid’s bedrooms could suddenly get a lot noisier if this sort of thing catches on. ‘Compatible with any USB headset peripheral, LifeLine’s unprecedented technology features voice-recognition of over 5,000 words and 100,000 phrases such as “Shoot!”, “Run!” and “Dodge and reload!” ‘

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general March 18, 2004 posted by

Paper crafts.

The PePaKuRa Designer is a program which creates 3D paper model templates from CAD graphics files. A poor man’s Origami?. $38.00.

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general March 18, 2004 posted by

Photopet.

Among the many announcements from Siemens at Cebit yesterday was one about a virtual pet game on the new C65 phone which is called PhotoPet. Basically a Tamogotchi type image junkie. ‘The Siemens C65 comes with the innovative photo application �Photopet� – a virtual pet on your mobile phone, which is fed photos to be kept alive.’

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general March 18, 2004 posted by

Rocket phones.

Alan Reitman is reporting that 2 megapixel cameraphones with optical (not naff digital) zoom are on their way. Even more astonishing is his suggestion that 3 megapixel cameraphones will be shipped in Japan and South Korea this year. He calls it a breakthrough, I call it amazing!

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general March 17, 2004 posted by

Siemens delivers.

The folk at Siemens have launched a bunch of new stuff at Cebit today, including the snappily named Gigaset SL740/SLX740isdn home landline phone, which is the first in the world to feature an inbuilt camera, and the ability to send MMS piccies to GSM recipients. Is that useful? Only time will tell. Other prototype stuff worthy of mention: A concept AssistGPS module, which looks as though it hooks onto the bottom of an SX1 to provide GPS type functionality on…

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general March 17, 2004 posted by

Micro Crystals.

Micro Crystals are photographs of materials taken with a polarization microscope. Beautiful stuff results. ‘MICRO-CRYSTALS are made by dissolving a chemical and evaporating the fluid by heating, or otherwise. During this process tiny crystals appear, which can be studied in polarized light. Almost every chemical crystallizes under the right circumstances in an endless variety of form and structure.’

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general March 17, 2004 posted by

Sat a phone?

Well apparently $750.00 now buys you the world’s smallest satellite phone, the ACeS R190. About the same size as a conventional cellular handset – but with a HuMonGous antenna! – dual mode (GSM900) operation and 2 hours 40 minutes talk time. Just right for the jungle-trotting path warrior.

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general March 17, 2004 posted by

Bag man.

Man-n-Bag. What with all the gizmos we’re now carrying around, do men really need a handbag? Answers on a paisley tissue along with $40.00 please to….

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general March 17, 2004 posted by

Phone secure.

Phone Secure for Series 60 smartphones. ‘In the event of your phone being stolen, PhoneSecure will allow you to remotely lock the phone by sending a special text message to you phone. Once locked, it will not be possible for the thief to operate your phone, and it can only be unlocked by sending another text message with a password to your phone. PhoneSecure can also be set to emit a high pitched siren when locked, even if the silent…

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general March 17, 2004 posted by

Zombie Alert.

The Zombie Alert Personal Protector is designed ‘for those who want a full time personal edge in case of zombie attack. [Thanks Ben!] ‘The personal version can be set to either emit a subtle but unmistakable alarm or cause a mild vibration on the wrist. This enables the wearer to be warned of zombie attack while at a movie or drinking down at the tavern without arousing the suspicions of those around him. When zombies attack the wearer can slip…

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general March 17, 2004 posted by

Net tools.

Bill’s Site has a neat collection of links to Net tools like download managers, speed up utils et al. Worth a visit if you’re in the vicinity. .

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general March 17, 2004 posted by

Four eyes.

Ever had an urge to view four web pages simultaneously on your screen? No? Well many people have, which is why they’ll be pleased with QuadraSite, a free custom browser with just that functionality (and a bit more besides).

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general March 17, 2004 posted by

RoboMop.

RoboMop. Like, this is a joke right? Right? Oh good grief, I don’t think it is! ‘The mop will not remove stains, sand, lego and socks, but this has never been the purpose of the RoboMop. The supplier says that mopping with the RoboMop will help You to delay the manual cleaning for a couple of days. But it is definitely not suitable for everybody.’

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general March 17, 2004 posted by

Who dat?

The new Philips 639 mobile handset has a rather narcissistic ‘magic mirror’ function built into the case courtesy of some rather clever OLED technology. Strictly one for the chronically insecure methinks! ‘Philips has applied PolyLED technology in the Philips 639�s sensational �Magic Mirror� display screen on the outside of the phone�s clamshell design. With the phone in standby mode, the display provides a clear mirror � ideal for consumers who need to check their appearance on the move. As soon…

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