Latest Gear Live Videos
Ladybag Alerts You to Missing Keys
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Wearables, Design, Misc. Tech,
Students at Canada’s Simon Fraser University have come up with an idea to remind you if you forgot your cell phone, keys, or other important items before you leave your home or office. Utilizing RFID technology, they have created the Ladybag. The handbag reacts by showing what is missing on its LED display. Taking it one step further, the bag reflects emotions via sensors. Grab its sides and it shows a happy face. Play with the zipper and it shows nervousness. While we are not sure that we like the second attribute, we can’t wait until this prototype is picked up by an enterprising backer.
Read More 
| Ladybag Project
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Dextre Goes Into Space
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech, Science, Transportation,
When Endeavor takes off this week, it will have more than a paper airplane and space boomerangs for the astronauts to play with. Dextre (for dexterous) will have to be built once he arrives on the ISS, for he is 12 feet tall with multi-jointed 11 foot arms. Costing about $200 million, he is tele-operated and will attend to some of the station repair jobs. Apparently the Canadian bot has a sensitive touch and precise control even without legs.
Read More | CSA
Last Week to Invest in OLPC Project
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, PC / Laptop, Wireless / WiFi,
Speaking of the OLPC Program, if you took back some of the gifts you received already or are feeling particularly beneficent, you can still participate in the Give One Get One Project if you live in the United States or Canada. The deadline has been extended through December 31. For your $399.00 donation, one XO laptop will be given to your child and one sent to a girl or boy in a developing country. Don’t forget that $200.00 is tax deductible. (Yes, it’s already that time again.)
Read More | OLPC
Canadian Receives Outrageous Cell Phone Bill
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smartphones, Internet, Movies,
If you think your cell phone bill is high, take a look at Piotr Staniaszek’s dilemma. Last month, he was billed nearly $85,000.00 from Bell Mobility in Canada. It seems he got so excited that he could use his phone as a modem with his $10.00 unlimited browser fee that he downloaded high-def movies and other large files. The man said he thought the first bill for $65,000.00 seemed a mistake and was amazed when it continued to climb. He claims that he will fight the $3,243.00 charges that Ma Bell gave him in a “goodwill gesture” because he felt they should have notified him when he was over $100.00, as they had done previously. We think he should be grateful for small favors
Read More | BBC
Blackberry Hits 10 Million Mark
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Handhelds,
Blackberry devotees, take heart. The Canadian firm Research in Motion claims a net profit of $287.7 million through September 1, as opposed to the same period in 2006, in which they made $140.2 million during the second quarter. The company claims that the jump was due to new global users that helped it beat the 10 million mark, as it added another 1.45 million subscribers. RIM believes that their profits will continue to rise and beat their market targets for the rest of year.
Read More | BBC
Canadian Gym Adds Nintendo Wii Workout Station
Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Video Games,
Who would have thought that The Next Big Thing would be the highly unlikely alliance of fitness and video games? We recently told you about Gamercize, which hooks up to your exercise machine and video game console, so the controller only works while your working out. Recently at E3, Nintendo intro’d Wii Fit, a fitness game due in 2008, composed of over 40 different exercise activities designed to burn calories. But Studeo 55, a Canadian gym, is currently incorporating the Wii as a “Workout Station”, which patrons can use as part of circuit training, warm-up or cool-down. Studeo 55 owner Nathan Mellalieu, inspired to utilize the Wii after seeing kids sweating during gameplay, says “It’s used here to break up the monotony of traditional workouts.” He claims clients are happy with results, but that the biggest result is “…the smile on their faces.” Mellalieu estimates a “session” of Wii boxing, bowling or tennis burns between 75 to 100 calories, although he did not specify how long a “session” is. A Nintendo Canada spokesman said Studeo 55 is the first gym they know of that incorporates the Wii. A sign of things to come? We hope so.
Read More | MSNBC
E3 2007: Microsoft’s Press Conference Recap And Impressions
Posted by Chris Pereira Categories: Accessories, Action, Activision, Adventure, Bungie, CAPCOM, Casual, Corporate News, Driving, E3, Electronic Arts, First Person Shooters, Hardware, Microsoft, Party Games, PC, Puzzle, Release Dates, Retro, Role Playing Games, SEGA, Simulation, Special Editions, Sports, Strategy, Survival Horror, Take2, Third Person Shooters, Trailers, Ubisoft, Xbox 360, Xbox Live, Xbox Live Arcade, Xbox Live Marketplace,
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to attend E3 this year – instead, I’m on vacation in Cape Cod, using awful hotel Wi-Fi to watch streamed press conferences. Not the most glamorous way to take it all in, but exciting announcements, great games and new details are welcome no matter how you hear about them.
Here’s my personal transcription (in very brief form) of all the announcements and showings, along with some reflection on what Microsoft had to show.
Click to continue reading E3 2007: Microsoft’s Press Conference Recap And Impressions
Parking Meter Reads Itself
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smartphones, Design, Internet, Misc. Tech, Transportation,
Suppose you are in the midst of a romantic meal and somewhere between the Merlot and the Camembert, you forget about the parking meter. Not to worry, in certain areas of Canada a Photo Violation Meter is being tested that will remind you to toss in another coin via your cell phone. Developed by Photo Violation Technologies Corporation, the gadget will also allow you to pay the coinage so that you don’t have to leave in the midst of the Beef Wellington. If you have turned your phone off, the meter will also let you pay the fine, assuming you have any money left after paying for the Crème Broulette and tip.
Read More | Gearfuse
EB Games Canada: Wii Pre-Orders Require $200 Canadian
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Corporate News, Nintendo, Wii,
While US gamers can start lining up to pre-order their Wii consoles tomorrow with only $50 in their pocket, it looks like Canadian gamers are going to have to lay out a little more. Not only do Canadian gamers have to wait until Monday for their pre-orders, but those pre-orders will require a $200 Canadian, unless they have $50 worth of stuff to trade. While this offer isn’t nearly as screwed up as the limited pre-order program in Hawaii, it does highlight the massive profit-taking enterprise that is the GameStop / EB Games software trade-in program. GameStop’s trade-in values tend to be extremely low and on top of that they seem think nothing of selling counterfeit merchandise. While GameStop seemed to be making strides at improving their pre-order program in the US, it looks like they took a few steps back in Canada.
Read More | GamesStop
Report: North America To Get One Million Wiis
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Corporate News, Nintendo, Wii,
A report from investment group Mackenzie Financial would have North America receiving one million Wii consoles on launch day. The report quotes Ron Bertram, Nintendo of Canada VP and General Manager as saying that they are “looking at a million (units) for North America at launch.” He then continues, “If we get what we’re supposed to get, this will be our most plentiful launch… in… 15 years…” The second qualifying statement makes the statement less firm. So, while nothing is completely confirmed for the launch numbers, at least Nintendo of Canada is aiming high. Launch numbers for the new console have ranged from a low of 400,000 to the current high, one million, and the actual numbers will probably fall somewhere in between. Still, it at least seems that Nintendo will be in a better position unit-wise than Sony in the US.
Update: Nintendo issued the following bizarre “correction” to this story at Gamespot.com:
A number of outlets have reported a misstatement about the number of Wii consoles that will be available in the Americas during the launch rollout. In fact, the truth is even better. After the Americas lead the worldwide launch on Nov. 19, Nintendo expects to sell 4 million Wii consoles globally by the end of 2006, with the largest allotment available in the Americas. Although we expect a huge demand for the consoles, we are working to ensure a plentiful supply and a consistent flow.
Does this mean more than one million consoles for launch, or is this just Nintendo being coy with the blogging world?
Read More | Mackenzie Financial via GameDaily
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