Japan continues to churn out the coolest robots, and they've done so again with the help of Duke University. A world's first according to the Japan Science and Technology Agency, researchers have figured out a way to control a humanoid robot with signals picked up in the U.S. from a monkey's brain via the internet. Scientists hope the discovery will lead to restoring motor functions in severely paralyzed patients. Read more here, then check out the YouTube video.
Now that the high definition war has appeared to turn in Blu-ray's favor, Sony's gamble to include the costly optical appears to be paying off. Helping matters even further, Sony is spending significantly less on each PS3 console, with Nikko Citigroup's Kota Ezawa estimating manufacturing costs to hover around $400, less than half of the $840.35 iSuppli estimated during the PS3's launch in November, 2006. As the costs of parts continue to drop, SCEI chief Kazuo Hirai is shooting for profitability in the next fiscal year.
More details have emerged regarding MySpace's agreement with legal authorities in 49 states on how to go about preventing sexual predators from misusing the social networking site. In addition to what we reported yesterday, MySpace has agreed to:
Texas was the only state not to sign the agreement over age verification concerns.
Though short lived, the iPhone briefly became the No. 1 mobile phone using Google's services despite claiming a relatively small share of the overall mobile phone market. A chart revealed by Google shows iPhone users starting to surpass BlackBerry customers in mid-November before taking the top spot on December 25th. Apple reported more than 1.3 million iPhones sold by the end of September, compared to 50 million Nokia N-series owners and 12 million subscribers using BlackBerry devices.
NotebookReview.com got their hands on an OLPC XO laptop and put the unit through their formal review process. Not surprisingly, they found the XO inadequate as a modern notebook replacement. But of more interest to geeks are the several snapshots taken of the internal componentry. For the full scoop, read the Review and Teardown.
The Macworld Expo kicked off today, and Steve Jobs used his keynote to announce a few new products. Rumors of the MacBook Air were confirmed, which Jobs called the "world's thinnest notebook," measuring between 0.16" and 0.76" thick at its thinnest and fattest points respectively. Jobs also confirmed that Apple plans to offer high-definition movie rentals through the iTues Store, with content to be provided by Miramax, Touchstone, MGM Lionsgate, New Line Cinema, Fox, Warner Bros., Paramount, Sony, and Universal. First run titles will be available 30 days after the DVD release, with over 1,000 titles available during the end of February launch.
Comments are closed on this article
rb3m
January 17, 2008 at 10:13am
Now we have to worry about giant killer robots controlled by crazed telepathic monkeys flinging robot feces.
Talcum X
January 16, 2008 at 10:15am
Once they figure out that they don't have electricity, the Rev.2 will come out with a solar panel (extra $50)
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Every morning is the dawn of a new error.
Shalbatana
January 16, 2008 at 9:40am
It sounds great, until one gets to the keyboard (but kids new to computers type with one finger anyway).
The internet performance is unacceptable however. Wasn't one of the primary purposes of the initiative to give 3rd world kids access to the vast store of PrOn...ahem knowledge that is the internet???
(sorry for that joke, I couldn't resist).
256 more memory would go a long way to fix this.
The rest of the concepts and implementations sound full of inginuity.
Anyone hear any word yet on how they're going to get electricity to all the locations where these are supposed to go?
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There's no time like the future.
popstop785
January 16, 2008 at 8:30am
I have an Eee PC. Dang little thing is awesome and great for new Linux users (like myself).
Talcum X
January 16, 2008 at 6:03am
Concept good. Price forecast bad. And what is with this "give one, get one" deal? Not explained anywhere. Sounds like a BOGO deal or a trade in scheme.
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Every morning is the dawn of a new error.
HeartBurnKid
January 16, 2008 at 2:10pm
The "Give One Get One" program means, basically, your $400 goes to pay for 2 laptops: one for you, and one for an underprivileged child in a developing country. The cost to build one of the laptops is close to $200, so OLPC makes no profit off the deal.
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