Video: Sony’s $10k Sountina glass speaker gets a production nod

May 27, 2008

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Remember Sony's non-directional, glass-tube speaker prototype we showed you back in 2007? Guess what, it's now slotted into a production run. On June 20th, our Japanese brethren with ¥1,000,000 (about €6,500 / $10,000) to burn can take home the 6-foot tall, 50- to 20,000Hz trembling monument to music now known as the Sautina Sountina aka NSA-PF1. Inputs include analog RCA and digital coax and optical TOS supporting up to 24bit/96kHz linear PCM (stereo). As to the sound quality from the 13-cm subwoofer, 7-cm mid, and organic glass tweeter... who cares? This is all about making a visual statement which you'll communicate loud and clear, poser.

Gallery: Sony's Sautina glass speaker gets a production nod


[Via Impress]

Continue reading Video: Sony's $10k Sountina glass speaker gets a production nod

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Nokia’s N95 8GB for North America gets v20 firmware as well

May 27, 2008

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It isn't hard to see to perks to Apple's "one size fits all" approach to software for the iPhone and iPod touch. After making N95-3 (the regular ol' N95 for North America) users wait months to get the software updates of their European counterparts, it took 'em another few days to get the N95-4 (the 8GB version for North America) up to snuff as well. Of course, the N95 8GB already had a few of the software improvements, but this seems to pull it in line with the v20 firmware all the cool kids are rocking. Unfortunately it's not all gravy, you're going to have to do all the heavy lifting of backing up and re-installing your apps, and we've been having trouble getting the update to work at all on our particular 8GB -- we'll let you know how that goes. Still, the speed gains are (probably) worth all the hassle, so fire that sucker up and get updating!

[Via Boy Genius Report]

Update: Problem solved, turned out to be a bum USB port on the PC we were using. You may also run into Vista compatibility issues using Nokia's Software Update app, though we had no problems when we told Vista to front like XP SP2 using the shortcut. Proceed at your own risk!
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Nokia’s N95 8GB for North America gets v20 firmware as well

May 27, 2008

Filed under:


It isn't hard to see to perks to Apple's "one size fits all" approach to software for the iPhone and iPod touch. After making N95-3 (the regular ol' N95 for North America) users wait months to get the software updates of their European counterparts, it took 'em another few days to get the N95-4 (the 8GB version for North America) up to snuff as well. Of course, the N95 8GB already had a few of the software improvements, but this seems to pull it in line with the v20 firmware all the cool kids are rocking. Unfortunately it's not all gravy, you're going to have to do all the heavy lifting of backing up and re-installing your apps, and we've been having trouble getting the update to work at all on our particular 8GB -- we'll let you know how that goes. Still, the speed gains are (probably) worth all the hassle, so fire that sucker up and get updating!

[Via Boy Genius Report]

Update: Problem solved, turned out to be a bum USB port on the PC we were using. You may also run into Vista compatibility issues using Nokia's Software Update app, though we had no problems when we told Vista to front like XP SP2 using the shortcut. Proceed at your own risk!
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Microsoft shows off “snippet” of Windows 7 at D6, reveals multi-touch support

May 27, 2008

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digg_url = 'http://digg.com/microsoft/Microsoft_shows_off_Multitouch_Windows_7'; Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer got on stage at D6 with Walt and Kara to talk... Microsoft, of course. While the company is still being rather coy about Windows 7 -- some have blamed loose lips early on in Vista development for saddling the OS with too high of expectations and making things difficult for developers -- they were nice enough to show off what Ballmer called "the smallest snippet" of Windows 7. The big reveal was multi-touch support, which utilizes technology developed by the Surface team. The taskbar seems to have been reworked a bit, and the demo was running live on a Dell Latitude XT tablet. Apparently Microsoft is reworking the whole user interface with a multitouch experience in mind. Steve reiterated the "three years after Vista" mantra for availability. Not exactly earth-shattering, but we'll take what we can get at this point.

Update: Video added after the break. Enjoy! [Thanks, Dan Z.]

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Live from D: Gates and Ballmer debut Windows 7

May 27, 2008

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digg_url = 'http://digg.com/microsoft/Windows_7_To_Be_Revealed_Tonight_3'; 6:16PM PT - The joint's filling up! Clearly no one's on stage yet, though, so don't go too far.

Continue reading Live from D: Gates and Ballmer debut Windows 7

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Cam-Trax is “coolest thing since ice,” can provide Wii-like controls with any webcam

May 27, 2008

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Hey, we've seen quite a few gimmicky game control schemes in our day. We thought we were jaded, believed that we could no longer be moved emotionally by a few dorks in a lab, promising to revolutionize video games with their insanity. Until we saw Cam-Trax. You'll get it in a moment by peeping the video after the break, but the basic gist is this: Cam-Trax offers highly accurate and responsive tracking of random colorful objects you hold in front of your webcam and tell it to track. Gameplay can be EyeToy-esque, but it can also be so much more, since the unit can track many objects in a full three dimensions. The video shows everything from a glorified game of pong to a FPS, and promises to control "any game" with "any webcam." Show us more, Cam-Trax.

[Thanks, Chen D.]

Continue reading Cam-Trax is "coolest thing since ice," can provide Wii-like controls with any webcam

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Windows 7 to be revealed tonight by Gates and Ballmer, we’ll be there

May 27, 2008

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Gates and Ballmer are down at the WSJ's All Things Digital conference to talk tech with Mossberg and Swisher, and it looks like tonight they'll be unveiling the first (official) glimpses of Vista's successor, currently known as Windows 7. We'll be posting live from the event, so be sure to check back at 6:15pm PT (9:15 Eastern) as things kick off.
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Windows 7 to be revealed tonight by Gates and Ballmer, we’ll be there

May 27, 2008

Filed under: ,


Gates and Ballmer are down at the WSJ's All Things Digital conference to talk tech with Mossberg and Swisher, and it looks like tonight they'll be unveiling the first (official) glimpses of Vista's successor, currently known as Windows 7. We'll be posting live from the event, so be sure to check back at 6:15pm PT (9:15 Eastern) as things kick off.
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Tesla finally finalized its single-speed gearbox, on track for completion in August

May 27, 2008

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Those Tesla folks are finally (almost) out of the woods on this whole powertrain nonsense. Its original two-speed design had many "durability, efficiency and cost challenges," but Tesla Motors decided to go with it in its first production run, and then swap in the new single-speed "1.5" powertrain once they get it just right. It's a bit funny Tesla 'fessing up to durability problems now, after denying them so vehemently before, but either way buyers of the first 40 cars that'll ship with the old powertrain won't have to wait long for an upgrade, since the 1.5 powertrain has been finalized and is slated for production in August. Telsa already has a 1.5 version they're driving regularly, and they're in the testing phase. 1.5 involves improvements to the motor, inverter and gearbox design, and improves torque among other things -- which gives that 3.9 second 0-60 spec they've always wanted.
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Tesla finally finalized its single-speed gearbox, on track for completion in August

May 27, 2008

Filed under:


Those Tesla folks are finally (almost) out of the woods on this whole powertrain nonsense. Its original two-speed design had many "durability, efficiency and cost challenges," but Tesla Motors decided to go with it in its first production run, and then swap in the new single-speed "1.5" powertrain once they get it just right. It's a bit funny Tesla 'fessing up to durability problems now, after denying them so vehemently before, but either way buyers of the first 40 cars that'll ship with the old powertrain won't have to wait long for an upgrade, since the 1.5 powertrain has been finalized and is slated for production in August. Telsa already has a 1.5 version they're driving regularly, and they're in the testing phase. 1.5 involves improvements to the motor, inverter and gearbox design, and improves torque among other things -- which gives that 3.9 second 0-60 spec they've always wanted.
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