Gadgets and New Technologies

Widely used in devices like the iphone, mini notebooks, digital cameras, Flash-based SSD hard disk drives and more, flash memory chips usually have a lifetime of about ten years. This is even being optimistic. When you are using applications that need a lot of repeat writing and rewriting however, this can cause the cells to wear out even faster, and you can find your flash device useless in only a couple of years. So, a flash memory chip that is purported to work for up to a century? Literally unheard of. But that is just what Japanese scientists say they have developed. Scientists from the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology and the University of Tokyo also claim that the new chips work at a lower voltage than conventional chips. (Read the full post about ‘100 year flash memory chip developed’…)

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Sports video games have gotten pretty fancy, but the real-life stadium experience hasn’t changed much in decades. In a post Wednesday, PopSci presented a video and photo tour of what the publication foresees the "stadium of tomorrow" will bring us. Astronomically larger stadiums, interactive display screens for ordering hot dogs and reading stats, environmentally greener designs — though optimistic, these predictions aren’t too far-fetched. Let’s hope they do something about making it easier to leave the parking lot, too. Like, say, opening more than two exits. That’d be high tech. (Read the full post about ‘PopSci Offers Tour on Futuristic Stadiums’…)

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Sports video games have gotten pretty fancy, but the real-life stadium experience hasn’t changed much in decades. In a post Wednesday, PopSci presented a video and photo tour of what the publication foresees the "stadium of tomorrow" will bring us. Astronomically larger stadiums, interactive display screens for ordering hot dogs and reading stats, environmentally greener designs — though optimistic, these predictions aren’t too far-fetched. Let’s hope they do something about making it easier to leave the parking lot, too. Like, say, opening more than two exits. That’d be high tech. (Read the full post about ‘PopSci Offers Tour on Futuristic Stadiums’…)

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Static advertisements and paper posters have just become things of the past with LCD advertisement displays on the horizon. Last July 14, Tokyo Station gets a taste of these digital posters courtesy of East Japan Railway Company and East Japan Marketing & Communications Inc. Ten 65-inch digital posters were placed at the station and will remain there until testing ends on September 30, 2008. The vertically-oriented posters are originally 150cm in diameter and 15 cm thick, although the columns add another 30cm of thickness to them. These digital posters display still images which change every minute at a 1920 x 1080 resolution. This specific test will evaluate people’s response to audio-less still image digital posters using lcd panels. (Read the full post about ‘Tokyo Station Gets a Taste of 65-inch Digital Posters’…)

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The battle of the press releases seems to be the theme behind the power for control of Yahoo! and a possible takeover in part or in whole by Microsoft. Earlier we reported that Yahoo! released a statement indicating that they received an offer from Carl Icahn and Microsoft to purchase Yahoo!’s search business on Friday. Yahoo! stated that the offer also included a demand that Icahn be able to seat his slate of directors and replace senior management immediately. Yahoo! also portrayed the offer by Microsoft and Icahn as a “take it or leave it offer” in their press release.

Microsoft retaliated on Monday by releasing their own press release accusing Yahoo!

(Read the full post about ‘Microsoft accuses Yahoo! of inaccuracies in statement’…)

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The Xbox 360 controllers are pretty bland to date, despite functioning perfectly fine, they aren’t the nicest things to look at in your living room as black and white colors rarely capture the eye’s attention at first glance. Good thing Microsoft has decided to introduce a little bit of color into Xbox 360 owners’ lives thanks to a bright red and equally flashy green controller hitting the market on September 30. The former will come bundled with a play and charge kit, while the latter is a standalone device, retailing for $65 and $55, respectively. (Read the full post about ‘Microsoft gets colorful with new controllers’…)

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The system of warning of allergic reactions from the Essential Sensix Jul 16, 2008 This device will glad everyone, for whom the word “allergy” - not an empty sound. Sensix is a monitoring system for children susceptible to serious allergic reactions. It includes three monitors, physically and aesthetically appropriate for each age group. When allergic reaction starts, the monitor immediately notify about that parents or guardians, while showing the location of the child and injects necessary medication. Automated epinephrine injection device is more compact and efficient solution than the existing analogues. Of course, and provided warning that the time had come to replace an injector. (Read the full post about ‘The system of warning of allergic reactions from the Essential Sensix’…)

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If you’re bored in the office (if you get a memo, don’t look at me!)  and you have nothing else to do, you can try to annoy your officemates and colleagues by sending them emails or instant messages using Flip Text! Flip Text basically flips your text upside down, haha. ¡buısnɯɐ ʎɹǝʌ ʇnq ‘ʍouʞ ı ’ssǝ1ǝsn Did you just flip yourself upside-down? Hahaha. [ Image source from IdentiFont ] Tags: Flip Text (Read the full post about ‘Website Fun: Flip Text Will Make Your Brain Bleed!’…)

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No, it’s not all playstation news for Sony today — the company also announced the new NWZ-B130F Walkman, a slender little stick of a player available in several colors. The latest entry in the B series of Walkmans sports a 3-line LCD, MP3 and PlaysForSure WMA support. 90 minutes of playback on a 3-minute charge, an FM tuner, and voice recorder in both 1GB and 2GB capacities. We’re hearing pricing will come at least $20 below that of the ipod Shuffle, but it’s a little moot — it’s scheduled for an Asia-only arrival in August at the moment. (Read the full post about ‘Sony’s NWZ-B130F Walkman makes its way to Asia’…)

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Recent speculation is calling for Amazon to have an updated Kindle available this fall. According to CrunchGear, an “insider” is calling for not one, but two new models of the popular e-book reader. The first sounds like it will be an improvement over the current model and is calling for the same size display with an overall smaller form factor. It will also have an improved interface and be available in several color options. The second model, which is expected to not come until sometime next year, will be a little different from the current form factor. This is going to be larger, more of the size of a standard size piece of paper, in the ballpark of 8.5-inches by 11-inches. (Read the full post about ‘Rumor: Amazon to release the Kindle 2.0 in time for the holiday season’…)

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