UnderTecher

Step Aside HD DVD’s, Its Time For Blu-Ray

Well the battle is over between which format our future media will be played in. Blu-ray (backed by Sony, Samsung, and sharp among others) have pushed to introduce Blu-ray as everyone’s main form of media. The recent avalanche of companies to side with Blu-ray (including Warner Brothers, Wal-Mart, Best Buy and Amazon) tipped the scales, and Toshiba, like Sony with its doomed Betamax players from the mid-’80s video wars, cried uncle and abandoned its format.  So the next time your rent a movie or video game, most likely everything will be blu-ray. Same thing is happening when DVD’s took over VHS I love technology.. always having us buy new stuff…..

Read the whole entire story of the battle between Blue-ray and HD DVD’s here!!

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Posted in Blu-ray, HDTV, Home Entertainment, News | 1 Comment »

computer controlled by tiny brain-like unit!

We all know that the most powerful computer out there is the human brain. Scientists have created a very tiny brain size of a few molecules large that copies how the brain works! This is amazing. If we can apply this kind of technology to robots, maybe we could have artificial intelligence. Would this be a good thing? Picture a robot walking down the street and out of no where “hey there John, how’s work!”. Hopfully these mini brains are used for other things such as better controll over robots in space or maybe just a faster processing unit for cars? So far the device can simultaneously carry out 16 times more operations than a normal computer transistor. Researchers suggest the invention might eventually prove able to perform roughly 1,000 times more operations than a transistor. The device is made of a compound known as duroquinone. This molecule resembles a hexagonal plate with four cones linked to it, “like a small car,” explained researcher Anirban Bandyopadhyay, an artificial intelligence and molecular electronics scientist at the National Institute for Materials Science at Tsukuba in Japan.

Read the whole thing here!

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Posted in Artificial Intelligence, Computers, Technology | No Comments »

Robot Ready for space! Dextre

Now when we travel to space, we can bring friends. Well not really a friend but a cool robot called Dextre. Canadian Space Agency’s Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, aka “Dextre,” is scheduled to be installed by Endeavour astronauts to the ISS later this week. Dextre was built to do maintenance tasks that were previously done during long and sometimes dangerous space walks.  This Canadian vistor will be traveling with astronauts on the space shuttle Endeavour to the International Space Station (ISS). Dextre is the third and final stage to the Mobile Servicing System and works with the Canadaarm2 which was installed on the ISS in 2001 and the mobile base which was installed in 2002.

Dextre has two identical 11.5-foot arms with seven joints each. The body can pivot at the waist and is equipped with lights, video equipment, a stowage platform, and four robotic tools. Jaws at the end of each arm allow Dextre to grab on to objects so that humans dont have to :). It has a retractable motorized socket wrench to connect or detach objects. Dextre also has sensors which can be used to give it a “gentle touch” when needed. Dextre can either be attached to the end of Canadarm2 or ride independently on the mobile base system.

Man, soon we can send robots to space instead of our own people. This is just one step closer to that idea

Read more about Dextre Here!

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Posted in Space Tech, Technology, Transportation | 1 Comment »

The Future of Clean New Efficient Energy

Energy and Clean air are important for todays enviornment. Technology already brought us many hybrids. But we need almost everything to be cleaner and more Efficient . At the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference Volvo displayed seven trucks that operate on seven renewable fuels, including biogas, biodiesel, and hydrogen. The company’s goal is to make trucks that are carbon dioxide-neutral, Jan-Eric Sundgren, senior vice president of environment and public affairs of Volvo, said in a presentation. Not only is transportation effected by technology but also energy harnessing.

Flexible solar cells from Global Solar Energy are used on its foldable solar panels, which can be used to power electronics. The company sells the panels to people and organizations, such as campers or the military, in need of portable solar panels to generate power in remote locations. The company also puts its cells into traditional hard-top solar panels.

Also Bio-Coal!
Biomass, which is burned for heating and electricity generation, is attracting more attention. It was featured in many talks at the WIREC conference. NewEarth is making what it calls E-Coal, made from a variety of materials, including seaweed, algae, agricultural waste, animal waste, coconut hulls, bamboo, and switch grass. The product is designed as a replacement for coal burned in power plants. The company claims that E-Coal is greenhouse gas-neutral or -negative, and that it eliminates sulfur and mercury emissions.

Get the rest of the whole Future energy stuff here!!

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Posted in Energy, News, Technology, Transportation | No Comments »

How Close Are You To Your Cellphone?

Some people can’t go one day without their phones. Some actually don’t need one (I know its hard to believe). Today the choice of cellphones have exploded. You can really get a phone exactly to fit your needs and specifics. So far, from studies it shows that manufacturers are pushed to produce phones consumers want that can really do everything. Mp3 plater, TV, Surf the web, Etc, that have a good style and at a price everyone can afford. Right now manufacturers are really focused on what people really want on thier phones. Is it a better style, reliability, features? According to Cnetnews, people are more attracted to cell phones with good styling.  Motorola’s Razr was a good example of this. The ultrathin phone came on the market in 2004 and was quickly deemed a hit. But it didn’t really do anything different from all the other cell phones on the market. What made it unique was its slim, new design. Not only did it look cool, but it was also functional from a design perspective. As cell phones became an item no one left home without, people loved the idea of a carrying a device that could easily slip into a pocket or a small purse.

Then along came the iPhone. I have to admit I had never before seen such a frenzy for any kind of consumer-electronics device. Even before the iPhone went on sale people were buzzing about it. Apple, which had hit home runs in terms of design and functionality with the iPod music player, was expected to come up with something cool. And it did. But unlike the Razr that simply packaged a standard cell phone into a different form, Apple combined both cool design with innovative features and functionality. And now it’s clear that Apple has set the bar in terms of what people expect in a cell phone. Cool design is a must, but functionality and services are also important.So how close are you to your cellphone? Does it really matter if it looks like a rock with some digits on it? or does it have to be as sleek and stylish like the  iPhone or Razr? Does it matter if it has good features? or is a good cellphone just good if you can call with it? Take the poll!!

Can you go one day without your cellphone?

• Yes
• No
• Could, but it would suck
• I would rather Die
• I dont use cellphones.

View Results

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Posted in Cellphones, Gadgets, News | No Comments »

Apple tv falls short of movie rental target

Apple has tried to make a TV box so that one can rent movies an easier and convenient  way through Apple iTunes Store. Apple TV was suppsoed to have 1000 movies available to rent. But the deadline came and Apple managed to only collect 400-500 movies.

Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs told shareholders at the annual meeting Tuesday that he’s “not happy” with the shortfall, according to the San Jose Mercury News. Jobs said it’s taking movie studios more time than expected to get approval from various rights holders, the paper reported. Apple spokesman Tom Neumayr on Wednesday said the company hopes to have 1,000 movies available “soon.”  When Apple launched the device last year, it did not connect directly to the Internet, but could play movies and music from the user’s computer. A software update in the middle of February gave users the ability to rent movies from Apple’s iTunes Store without going through a computer.
Apple was closer to meeting another of its stated goals: 100 high-definition movies available on Apple TV. On Wednesday, 98 were offered. ITunes had a slow start in offering music as well. It started out with 200,000 songs in 2003 and now has 6 million. 

The Apple tv box sells for $229. Its competitor Vudu Inc also had a Box with roughly 5000 movies for $295

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Posted in Home Entertainment, Misc. Gadgets, News | 1 Comment »

Microsofts Big Bid Buy-Out Has No Effect On Yahoo

Microsoft has recently offered Yahoo a big bid buy-out. Early Monday morning, Microsoft’s Chief Financial Officer Chris Liddell told attendees at Morgan Stanley’s Technology Conference that  Yahoo doesn’t want to budge, but wants to keep a close friendly relationship with Mincrosoft. “Microsoft’s management will choose how to respond to this in the next few days and update the board on how to proceed,” said a source familiar with the talks, noting that the software giant’s stance to date has been a desire to do a friendly transaction. Microsoft really wants to buy Yahoo.

And while Yahoo is taking a calculated risk in extending the deadline without being in formal talks with Microsoft, it’s a “smart move” on Yahoo’s part, said Stephen Jenkins, a director with Delaware law firm Ashby & Geddes, which has represented a number of clients in proxy fights.

“Although Microsoft needs to get its nominees together and will have 10-days notice to get its nominations into Yahoo, that buys Yahoo more time without the pressure of Microsoft’s nominees being made public,” Jenkins said. “(This) potentially signals to Microsoft that it is open to private discussions.” Microsoft keep preasuring Yahoo to hurry and give a final answer, and Yahoo seems to be softening up. Only time will tell if Yahoo finally decides to let go.

The whole Story is here

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Posted in Major Companys, News | No Comments »

I WANT MY GOOGLE PHONE NOW!

The 1st quarter of 2008 is almost over and yet the Google phone is not out in the market! rumors had it that it would be released by now.  I was so looking forward to this phone. I held back on buying the iPhone, and now im stuck with my old blackberry.  Perhaps you are wondering why im so excited about this phone. What makes it different from the ubiquitous iPhone? One good reason is that it used an open-source platform, meaning you can be signed up with Verizon or AT&T and still have the Google phone! It has been said that the Google phone would be in collaboration with Samsung, HTC, or Alpha Networks. I hope Google doesn’t keep us waiting too long. It will surly be interesting to see who will win the battle for supremacy.

Here is somthing interesting about the Gphone if you guys want to read.

Read More Here

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Posted in Cellphones, News | 2 Comments »