No much in the way of details but according the info you add a dash of salt in the water is all that’s needed for the clock to harvest energy and operate.

From the website:

This new clock has a set of metal electrodes inside that extracts energy from the compound particles that reside in water. It uses water (and a dash of salt) and turns it into energy to power the clock.

Sooo it’s like a chubby AA battery then. Not bad for $16 I guess.

http://www.bedolwhatsnext.com/clocks-waterpowered-clock-c-89_199.html

OK...wow. Slashdot always has something I like, once I sift through the venomous MS hating Tux worshiping articles...lol (just kiddin slashdot kids...sorta.)

From the project page:

To understand the Warcart requires one understand a bit of history first. Wardriving, that is, driving with a laptop computer and tracking WiFi access points, first became popular around 2001. Within a short time span, people invented warwalking, and millions flocked to walk the streets with a laptop and WiFi card in hand. Then the craze really took off when someone flew a Cessna airplane with a laptop and became the first warflyer. Within no time at all, the press and every tech blog on the internet was covering the latest war-something. There was warrocketing, warballooning, warbiking, and warboating. There were talks and seminars. News stories and blog posts. Television reports and radio shows. All about the latest in WiFi tracking. It soon became apparent to the larger community that most of these methods are highly elitist. Here are car-driving, personal-plane-owning, leisure-hot-air-ballooning, yachting aficionados armed with laptop computers. What the world needed was a low-cost, yet powerful alternative.

And thus, (mostly as a joke and for reasons that will be disclosed in this talk at Defcon 16), the Warcart was born.

Video after the break...

LiMo Foundation unveiled another wave of handsets using the LiMo Platform. The seven new devices from Motorola, NEC and Panasonic Mobile Communications were launched. The commercially shipping LiMo handsets being announced today are:

* MOTOZINE ZN5 from Motorola;
* FOMA N906i, FOMA N906i, FOMA N906iL and FOMA N706i from NEC and
* FOMA P906i and FOMA P706i from Panasonic Mobile Communications.

Several of the latest LiMo handsets include advanced enabling features that herald the forthcoming Mobile 2.0 experience for global consumers. These include international 3G/High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) roaming capabilities, Global Positioning System (GPS), mobile TV and advanced video streaming, secure payment and advanced mail functionalities - all presented through higher-resolution displays and intuitive user interfaces.

More details on the new LiMo devices can be found through the Handsets section of http://www.limofoundation.org

Vuzix Corporation just released the VR920 Version 2.2 Software, expanding the number of VR920 virtual reality supported titles to 62. The v2.2 software provides 3D compatibility for 11 new titles include:

* Halo: Combat Evolved
* Lord of the Rings Online
* Far Cry
* Falcon 4.0
* Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
* EverQuest II
* Final Fantasy XI
* PlanetSide
* Spore: Creature Creator
* Quake Wards
* X-Plane 9.0

Additionally, v2.2 software upgrade includes Vuzix 3D Stereoscopy and/or head-tracking expanded support for 20 previously supported games.

http://www.vuzix.com/support/downloads_drivers.html

EngadgetMobile informs us that Skype has laid down the bits for 2.2.0.45 or in other words support for Windows Mobile 6.1 Premium (Pocket PC) and Standard (Smartphone).

You need a minimum 12MB of free storage memory on your device to install Skype or 6MB free if you are installing from a memory card. In order to use Skype for Windows Mobile, your device must have a high speed wireless Internet connection over WiFi or 3G. Take carefull note that data usage costs apply for using Skype over 3G mobile networks (EDGE, EV-DO and UMTS), so better that unlimited data plan.

Download page:

Pocket PC: download the .cab file
Smartphone:  download the .cab file

Get those bits while they are hot.

Skype for Windows Mobile

Our friend Matt Miller over at ZDNet postulates some sort of a Nokia and Zune mashup. Here is a quote:

There have been rumors floating around of a Zune phone and I personally am not that excited about such a device and wonder if many people really are. The latest rumors about the Zune and phones though does seem to make a bit of sense. Zunescene reported that Nokia iw working with the Zune team on integration of Zune Marketplace content. Nokia has a music store, but it is not available in the United States yet and I think if Nokia could get their devices to support the Zune Marketplace they would have a fairly well established library of music content that actually may help sell more Nokia devices in the U.S.

http://blogs.zdnet.com/mobile-gadgeteer/?p=1330

Zunescene has a piece that seems to place this development into further relief with a comment from a well placed source.

Nokia is currently working with the Zune team on integration of Zune Marketplace content according to a well placed source within Microsoft. The joint development is directed at content delivery rather than a hardware device according to the source. It has long been assumed by many tech followers that Zune content and software would find it’s way onto Windows Mobile devices, thereby offering competition to the unfortunately popular iPhone. The interesting thing about the Nokia Zune partnership is that Nokia does not support Windows Mobile. It appears Microsoft may be developing a two front war against the iPhone, namely Windows based smart phones and more abundant “non-smart” phones.

http://www.zunescene.com/nokia-zune-phone/

ASUS announced the availability of two new finishes - lustrous pink and pearlescent white - for its popular Mini Stylish PDA phone, the ASUS P320. ...for India.

Despite the ‘softer’ colors, the pink and white iterations of the ASUS P320 still feature an impressive array of powerful features. Operating on the Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, GPS navigation, EDGE/GPRS and Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and USB connectivity.

Specifications

Networks : EDGE/GPRS/GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz Class B, Multi-slot Class 10
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional
Color: Black / Pink / White in Asia Pacific Regions
Dimensions: 99 x 54.5 x 13.35 mm
Weight: 105g (with battery)
Standby Time: 200 hrs (varies with different networking environment and scenario)
Talk Time: 4 hrs (vary with different networking environment and scenario)
Display: 2.6” TFT, Touch Screen 65K color, 240 x 320 pixels
Processor: TI OMAP 850 200 MHz
Memory: 128 MB Flash ROM + 64 MB DDR RAM
Expansion: Slot MicroSD
Connectivity: WLAN 802.11b+g, USB v1.1, Bluetooth V2.0+EDR

http://in.asus.com/news_show.aspx?id=12259

This has been popping up around the nets today. Nokia maker of my precious N810 that I am currently in a love hate relationship with has as Cheuvreux analyst David Hallden put it; “I think they’re doing a ‘Crazy Ivan’.” This of course referring to naval maneuvers when a submarine makes a sudden sharp turn; remembered notably in ‘The Hunt for Red October.’

With the mounting pressure from global economic woes and a diluted market share (thanks Apple and Samsung) Nokia’s hand has been forced and cuts have been made to the entire portfolio. Could this be a sign that Nokia is hell bent to keep it’s 40% market share?

Hmmm, well until my n810 gets a complete Bluetooth stack/client maybe they need to get knocked down a peg or two...it’s not the price it’s the features.

More Nokia info on canada.com via Reuters

Nomad’s new pistol grip, which attaches directly to the bottom of the Nomad handheld with four screws looks to make in-the-field bar-code scanning point and shoot. The black rubber overmolding provides a cushioned, lightweight grip, and the trigger is built to accommodate a variety of hand sizes. Note the attached lanyard to help prevent drops for all you butter fingers.

The Nomad’s new love grip doesn’t compromise that sexy ruggedness. The new grip maintains an IP67 rating agianst dust and moisture, and it still meets those stringent MIL-STD-810F military standards for drops, vibration and temperature extremes...splendid.

In addition, the Nomad retains its all-day usage of eight hours on a battery charge, offers a range of compatible battery options, delivers a rate of up to three scans per second and offers easy field-to-office connectivity. See our previous review of the Recon X Series.

The new pistol grip has a suggested retail price of US$109 and is available through Nomad dealers. For more information on the Nomad, visit http://www.trimble.com/rugged

Palm, Inc. today said it has sold its two-millionth Centro smartphone, confirming the $99 product’s growing momentum with traditional mobile phone users who want to move up to a phone that offers more functionality. Hmmm, OK.

Quote:

Recent data released by AdMob, the largest advertising network on the mobile web, further echoes the momentum of Palm’s smallest, lightest and most affordable smartphone. According to the company’s Mobile Metrics report (http://www.admob.com/s/solutions/metrics), Palm Centro leapt onto the list of mobile phones worldwide in May as the No. 8 device, and moved up in June to No. 7. AdMob cites the growth of inexpensive phones, such as Palm Centro, as a primary driver in mobile Internet usage.

Our comment: “Meh...”

http://www.palm.com/centro

Targus Inc., maker of laptop computer cases and accessories, announced today its Zip-ThruTM 15.4” Corporate Traveler Laptop Case, the first in Targus’ line of checkpoint-friendly laptop cases.

Targus’ Zip-Thru case is designed to meet guidelines established by Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which focus on the screeners’ ability to get a clear image of the laptop when properly secured in the bag. In developing the Zip-Thru case, Targus worked in conjunction with TSA authorities to test the product through an actual airport screening device.

Designed with the same features as the lightweight and durable Corporate Traveler laptop bags, the Zip-Thru cases’ patent-pending design splits the case down the middle, thereby isolating the laptop on one side to allow for clear x-ray scanning. The bag also provides ample space for accessories, files and other devices.

The first Zip-Thru case will be available in black and made of durable ballistic 1680 denier nylon. It measures 16.93” x 6.5” x 13.98”, weighs 3.74 pounds and has an MSRP of $99.99.

Jointech readies its Asus EEE killer by not actually making a EEE killer. The lappy certainly has the look of the Asus darling, however beating at the JL7100s heart is Windows CE 5.0 riding atop a Samsung processor. It’s cute and tiny and as the Asus crowd teases on it you just want to put in on your shoulders and buy it a balloon.

The ultra portable sports 7” LCD at 800x480 resolution with a typical cadre of RAM for an embedded WinCE device; 64MB of RAM for storage and 64 megs of RAM for program use. The specs indicate an for option 8GB storage expansion via USB which there are 3 of.

JoinTech does manage to bring this to us at a slim 1.5 lbs in a svelte 8.6 x 6.5 x 1.4 frame.

The usual selection of WinCE apps are there such as an MS word/excel/powerpoint viewer; MSN messenger, pocket IE, media player, ect.

Run time is placed at 4 hours with a 72 hour standby.

http://www.jointech.com.hk/jl7100.html
[via Engadget]

On Thursday, Sony will provide a software update to the Reader, a thin slab with a 6-inch screen, so the device can display books encoded in a format being adopted by several large publishers. That means Reader owners will be able to buy electronic books from stores other than Sony’s.

The International Digital Publishing Forum’s epub e-book standard received a big vote of support this morning when Sony announced that effective immediately its Sony Reader will now support the standard. Beginning in August, all new devices shipped will use epub, and right now owners of existing devices can go to http://esupport.sony.com to update their device’s software for epub support.

Publishers supporting Epub include Simon & Schuster, Penguin Group, HarperMedia, Hachette Book Group, HarperMedia and Harlequin Enterprises Ltd.

[Via Engadget]

http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6581363.html
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080724/ap_on_hi_te/tec_sony_reader

The majority of comments I’ve seen related to iPhone gaming is the lack of physical gamepad controls. True the iPhone does not have physical gamepad controls, but the accel/touch based controls should not be underestimated, they have great potential for certain game genres.

OS X Reality has posted up a their take on the whole iPhone Gaming thing:

No one controller type fits all game genres, take PC vs consoles for example. Console gamers can argue all they want, but a gamepad will never give you the level of precision a mouse will for RTS or FPS gaming. Case in point, in Shadowrun they had to nerf the PC gamers to keep the playing field even between Xbox and PC players, this is exactly why developers do not like mixing console with PC gamers, even though technically there is no reason they can’t, its really just a matter of fairness.

On the flip side, a keyboard will never give a gamer the level of control needed for racing/flight/fighting games. Imagine for a moment if you were racing around a track with a variety of turns that range from light bends to sharp turns, with a gamepad joystick you could adjust your turns easily by moving the joystick less or more in the direction of the turn, with a keyboard there is no middle ground, either you are doing a full turn or no turn at all, the closest you could get to adjusting your turn with a keyboard is by tapping the turn key, sounds fun doesn’t it?

Read OS X Reatlity: iPhone Gaming: Play to your Strengths

This past weekend, ‘The Last HOPE’ conference was held in the heart of New York City, at the legendary Hotel Pennsylvania. ‘HOPE’ of course stands for ‘Hackers on Planet Earth’, this latest iteration being the seventh, and also supposedly the ‘last’. The conference first launched in 1994 and proceeded to become a bi-annual affair in 2000. All but one conference was held at Hotel Penn, so over the years, the hotel itself has become an integral part of what makes HOPE the conference it is.

Quote:

The seventh HOPE conference was held this past weekend in NYC and I was there to take in the numerous talks. Such subjects covered were lock picking, Wikipedia’s evils, YouTube, FOIA, hardware hacking and a lot more. Special talks were also given by Steven Rambam, Steven Levy, Adam Savage and Jello Biafra.

http://techgage.com/article/hackers_on_planet_earth_2008_the_last_hope/