Windows Mobile: more of what's going on in the next two versions

Publicly disclosable details about the future of Windows Mobile are still sparse, but we can let the door open a bit wider on what was shown at this year's Mobius with regard to the next two versions of Windows Mobile. We all know that 6.1 is around the corner, but it's the next two versions beyond that which are really interesting. Post-6.1, WinMo will indeed have its app suite revamped, including a desktop-grade port of IE to Windows Mobile, which Microsoft is replacing pocket IE with and directly targeting mobile Safari. Likewise, the rest of the consumer-centric apps (photos, media, etc.) as well as the messaging suite will be upgraded to be a bit friendlier. This whole experience won't be too foreign to long-time users, but is the next step in the right direction.

But it's really the Windows Mobile that's two versions out that's the game-changer. Significantly redeveloped, this WinMo will focus on an upgraded user experience with massive changes made to ease of use, as well as new features like global search and data correlation, meaning the device would, for example, know who you're talking to and give you instant access to email from only that person, or maybe a map with that pinpoints their address. Fingers crossed they'll execute on this stuff -- Microsoft's a big company with lots of wonderful ideas that seem to fall out of the truck on the way to the store.

Source- http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/14/windows-mobile-more-of-whats-going-on-in-the-next-two-versions/

Santa Gadget Is One Hawt Girl

Ok. we understand that tis the season to be jolly. Tis the season to give away love and good stuff!. Tis the season to enjoy hot chocolate and marshmallows... in front of the fire while being half naked with black leather frack-me boots and a tiny Santa Claws suit? For shame! First Macinstein and now i4u? Has everyone gone crazy? Can't people be a little more responsible and stop posting gratuitous pictures of models in "Santa" suits? Madness. What happened to the good old page-three models who used to wear just the hat?


Source- http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/hawt-santa/santa-gadget-is-one-hawt-girl-334208.php

Translating menus with your phone

Help could be at hand for millions of travelers who have previously ended up with some unexpected delicacy when ordering their meals in foreign restaurants.

Over at the Nokia Research Center in Helsinki they are looking at utilizing the camera in the phone to take a picture of the text on a menu and to translate it for you. A particularly challenging task will be the Asian market, where the literal translations often found on menus often offer no help at all.

Of course for some this would take the adventure and fun out of travel, but they don’t have to use the feature, whereas for many I feel it would be absolute godsend!


Source- http://www.gadgetell.com/2007/12/translating-menus-with-your-phone/

Lego Iron Man Must Be Seen to Be Believed

A masterful Lego builder that goes by the name of Arvo is the man responsible for this unbelievably awesome Iron Man figure. And with results like that, the dude doesn't even need a last name. Just whispering "Arvo" will get grab the attention of geeks the world over.

Source- http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/lego/lego-iron-man-must-be-seen-to-be-believed-334309.php

Wii, "Call of Duty" top U.S. charts in November

Nintendo Co Ltd's (7974.OS) Wii held on to its spot as the No. 1 video game console in the United States in November, selling 981,000 units, industry data showed on Thursday.

It was the Wii's best showing for the console since its November 2006 launch, topping last December's sales figure by 60%, according to market research firm NPD.

"Since there is still an evident inventory shortage at retail, it's difficult to say just how high sales could be if you took that issue out of the equation," NPD analyst Anita Frazier said.

Microsoft Corp's Xbox 360 console sold 770,000 units while Sony Corp's (6758.T) PlayStation 3 sold 466,000 units, NPD said.

Activision Inc had the top-selling video game, "Call of Duty 4," which sold more than 2.01 million copies for the Xbox 360 and PS3, NPD said.

Nintendo also sold 1.53 million of its DS handheld device while Sony sold 567,000 of its PlayStation Portable, the data showed.

Activision's "Guitar Hero 3" sold 1.9 million copies for the Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, and Sony's older PlayStation 2.

"Assassin's Creed" from France's Ubisoft sold nearly 1.36 million copies for the Xbox 360 and PS3, while Nintendo's "Super Mario Galaxy" for the Wii sold 1.12 million copies.

Source- http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071214/tc_nm/videogames_sales_dc;_ylt=Aj2pjTgOFh7bNBSufpsBKRAjtBAF

New TOYOTA Mobility Robot - Violin playing Robot

NEW TOYOTA ROBOTS ARE THE ULTIMATE FESTIVE SEASON ACCESSORY

- Mobility Robot can walk owners around, carry shopping
- Violin-playing Robot can perform Christmas carols

Toyota has unveiled two new robots, a “Mobility Robot” and a “Violin-playing Robot”, which could become very useful at Christmas in years to come.

The Mobility Robot provides transport in places where conventional wheeled vehicles would fail, including steps, making it the ideal aid for all those hours of Christmas shopping.

The Mobility Robot can move at speeds of up to 4mph – human walking pace – and travel up to a distance of 13 miles on one hour of battery charge. In addition to being able to transport its owner, it can also follow people and avoid obstacles, allowing it to function as a porter, leaving the owner’s hands free at the New Year sales.
The Violin-playing Robot is capable of performing a variety of tasks with its hands and arms. Its delicacy of movement is best demonstrated by the fact it can play the violin. It can achieve vibrato on a violin similar to that created by humans, enabling it to play all the classic Christmas carols.

The 1.5-metre tall Violin-playing Robot, equipped with a total of 17 joints in each of its hands and arms, uses precise control and coordination to achieve human-like agility. It could also be used to assist with domestic duties or nursing and medical care.

These newest additions to the Toyota Partner Robot family are being developed to support people’s everyday life but unfortunately you won’t be able to purchase them for this Christmas. Toyota hopes to have these and other Toyota Partner Robots on sale in the early 2010s.

Toyota Partner Robots are envisioned to assist people in four main fields: domestic duties, nursing and healthcare, manufacturing and short-distance personal transport.

Toyota is primarily focussing on technology that works in harmony with people, such as assistance devices that can help move heavy instruments in a factory, on mobility technology for autonomous movement, on full-body coordination for walking and jumping, and on tool manipulation.

Source- http://www.gadgetlounge.net/archives/2007/12/06/violin-playing-robot-can-perform-christmas-carols-new-toyota-mobility-robot/#comment-49340