3D Maps You Only See in Video Games Now Real
April 1, 2008 Category: Technology No Comments »
UK company, General Dynamics, has developed a "near real-time" 3D mapping system to display buildings, along with the people and objects inside. Codenamed "Masthead", the system uses technologies like LIDAR, thermal imaging and backscatter X-ray, and is able to provide measurements of doors, windows, etc. down to the millimeter. At the moment this is not mobile enough for a soldier, but the company says it can be put in a military vehicles or even a plane. The military isn’t the only one that could use the tech. For example, General Dynamics believes Masthead could also assist the fuzz in security for large events. I think this tech is amazing, and really hope this gets to the troops ASAP. It really would help in urban environments, where concrete walls tend to hide and protect the bad guys. [Engadget > Physorg]
Self Inflating Tire of the Future Here?
March 31, 2008 Category: Technology, Vehicles 1 Comment »
The SIT (Self Inflating Tire) is designed to automatically inflate the tire while driving. It uses a tube, that when run over/compressed, forces air in until a cut-off is hit. The technology keeps your tires constantly at the recommended pressure. The new tires would not only lead to increased safety, but also extend the life of tires and improve fuel economy. Coda Development, the company behind the technology, claims that underinflated tires are costing Americans over $3.7 billion annually. I’d say this seems like something that needs to be implemented ASAP, especially with the oil addiction we are all feeling. I do have to point out what looks like the Porsche Twist wheel in the image. Yeah, I want a set for my car… [Gizmodo > SIT]
Finally WD Puts Out a Passport to Match My MBP, and It’s Elite!
March 25, 2008 Category: Technology No Comments »
Call me anal, but some times it is worth the extra money and patience to buy something that is aesthetically pleasing. In this case, it is a USB-powered 2.5" external hard drive to go with me and the Macbook Pro on my travels. I have been interested in Western Digital’s Passport for around a year, but the only drives they offered in a metallic finish were red, pink and lime green, not going to cut it. WD has just released bronze, titanium (finally!), westminster blue and cherry red colors, and they’re Passport Elites… Sure it’s a 30 to 40 USD premium over the usual Passport drives, but you get 4 LEDs used as capacity indicators, 128 bit encryption, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 compatibility and an easy to grip "soft-touch finish". Available for 220 and 190 USD for 320GB and 250GB capacities, respectively. [Engadget > Register Hardware > WD]
Washington Approves Sirius and XM Merger
March 24, 2008 Category: Entertainment, Technology 1 Comment »
The Antitrust division of the Department of Justice has just approved the 5 billion USD deal to merge satellite radio services XM and Sirius. Over a year after the two announced their plans to combine resources, the DOJ has decided the deal will most likely not harm consumers by essentially eliminating competition. I have been a Sirius listener for two months now, and I look forward to the addition of new content, provided there are no rate increases. As for hardware, there are no reports out there that say existing equipment will be capable of being updated, so this may be an SOL kind of situation. However, I would be surprised if both companies don’t offer some sort of discount or incentives for existing customers. Official DOJ statement after the jump. [Engadget]
Garmin and Kenwood Team Up for In-Dash GPS
March 24, 2008 Category: Technology, Travel No Comments »
Garmin is set to be Kenwood’s exclusive GPS supplier for the company’s 2008 line. The new multimedia units feature either built-in or optional Garmin navigation. Garmin has some University of Tennessee blood in the company, with UT grad Min Kao at the reigns. That, and the fact that Garmin is the worldwide GPS leader, shipping 31 million units, makes me happy because I have wanted an in-dash receiver for my GTI, but I have passed on similar GPS-toting options that did not have Garmin inside. All that is left to do now is get one of these companies to put out some information on the upcoming devices. [I4U]
EDIT: Kenwood and Garmin have actually been doing business since 2006. This year will actually be the first joint development and advertising of new products between the two companies. In the past, Garmin simply supplied its GPS chips.
Geotagging Made Easy
March 20, 2008 Category: Technology No Comments »
For those of you who would like geotagging info with the pictures you take, but don’t have the funds for those fancy new cameras with built-in feautures, the ATP PhotoFinder is for you. All you simply do is turn this device on while you are taking pictures. When you are done, insert your memory card and the PhotoFinder will sync the position data by matching the times. Not too bad for $90. [Uncrate]
AMD First Video Card to be DisplayPort Certified
March 20, 2008 Category: Technology 3 Comments »
AMD’s ATI Radeon HD 3000 series are officially the first graphics cards to receive DisplayPort certification. This is definitely good for Dell’s new 3008WFP lcd, which has been waiting for some DisplayPort love since December. Good to see AMD still alive and kicking. [Engadget]
The New Must-Have International Travel Translator
March 20, 2008 Category: Technology, Travel 1 Comment »
Wow, what a busy morning for M Dashboard. I must be distracted, with today being the end of the work week for me. Anyway, the Lingo Voyager 5 Talking Translator appears to have everything one could new when traveling to unfamiliar lands. Not only does it sport translation both directions, but it ’speaks’ over 46,000 common phrases used worldwide. Too in FM radio, voice/memo recording, currency converter, 200 city world clock with alarms, calculator, calendar and headphone jack, I’d say this is worth the current $250 price tag at X-Treme Geek. [Oh Gizmo!]
Intel’s New Larrabee: A New Sony-like Cell Processor? Maybe, Mac Too?
March 18, 2008 Category: Apple, Technology No Comments »
The new Larrabee chipset is set to launch as a graphics chip in the 4Q. But, what will this thing do by early next year? Well, it will act like a certain Sony console, which has a cell processor, that runs CPU and graphics functions from the same scalable processor. Could the Macbook lines see this update right before the holidays? I’d wager an early bet… [Engadget]
The 700 MHz Auction Has Ended
March 18, 2008 Category: Cell Phones, Internet, Technology No Comments »
$19.5 billion is what it took to buy all the blocks on the 700 MHz spectrum up for auction–except the D-blcok, which did not meet the public reserve. Verizon appears to be the 50-statewide c-block for almost $4.8 billion, as predicted, and the government has a D-block to dispose of. Hopefully Verizon will put up their 4G and possibly GSM-based, LTE network as well. Or, nationwide access to Wifi for us internet addicted folks. [Engadget]
