Passport Photo Creator

123 Passport Photo allows you to create a digital contact sheet of regulation-size passport photos in 4 simple steps.
------------

Bohemian Rhapsody On Slide Whistle

If the Clangers had performed Bohemian Rhapsody, it would have sounded a lot like this. What do you mean you have no idea what a Clanger is?
------------

Apple TV

Engadget has published a review of Apple's updated 'set top box'.

Excerpts follow:

"The first thing you'll notice about the Apple TV is just how small it is. The matte black box clocks in at just 3.9 inches square, stands just 0.9 inches off of your table of choice, and weighs a measly 0.6 pounds."

"Wiring options are minimal; around back you've got an Ethernet port, micro USB jack (for "service and support" they say), an HDMI port, an optical audio hook-up, and a spot for the power cable. Apart from the wired internet, the Apple TV also has WiFi."

"You can also set up multiple laptops or home computers on your home sharing network to stream to the TV, allowing for quick access to video, photos, and music you've got stored on your Mac or PC. After you flip on the appropriate settings (home sharing needs to be active on both your Apple TV and computer), grabbing your stuff remotely is clean and simple."

"There are a few other perks, like YouTube, the ability to flip through photos and internet radio."

"When streaming 720p content (particularly new movies) the clarity of video was impressive. There was some very minor compression artifacting, but far far less than you would see on HD video on demand from your cable provider, and considerably less than with Amazon's HD streaming. The video quality doesn't match up to the richness of full 1080p Blu-ray discs, but it looks good."

"Sound quality was also superb - standard stereo was rich and wide, while 5.1 was as crisp and encompassing as you'd expect. For a $99 box, it's more than pulling its weight in the sound category."

"As far as using the function for music, it worked without a hitch on our iPad running the iOS 4.2 beta, though there is that slight delay (say, for switching songs). Unlike video, you can sleep the device and have music continue to play, which makes sense given that iDevices also serve as iPods."
------------

Browser Asteroids

github reports: [edited]

Simply drag a bookmarklet [available on his site, Ed.] to your bookmarks bar and start having some fun!

Tip: It works great to vaporize annoying ads.

Remember: It's cooler if you make your own sound effects.
------------

Ninjabread Men Cookie Cutters

Perpetual Kid reports: [edited]

They're cut out for action! These stealthy shinobi warriors are set to sneak into your kitchen and stage a cookie coup! Cut, bake, decorate… and then watch them disappear! Add swords, nunchaku, and shuriken stars with icing and toothpicks for more ambiance!

Our Ninjabread Men Cookie Cutters are moulded from food-safe ABS plastic.

Price: $7.99, arriving mid-October.
------------

Looxcie

looxcie.com reports: [edited]

Looxcie is always on, continuously videoing – there's no record button. When you experience something you want to share, just click the Instant Clip button to save a clip of the last thirty seconds. And you can answer calls while videoing

Download the Looxcie App and use your smartphone [as long as it runs Android v.2, Ed.] to view, edit, and share Looxcie video.

Price: $199

Thanks to Conrad for the link
------------

True Grit

Apple Trailers reports: [edited]

Fourteen-year-old Mattie Ross's (Hailee Steinfeld) father has been shot in cold blood by the coward Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), and she is determined to bring him to justice.

Enlisting the help of a trigger-happy, drunken U.S. Marshal, Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), she sets out with him - over his objections - to hunt down Chaney.

Her father's blood demands that she pursue the criminal into Indian territory and find him before a Texas Ranger named LeBoeuf (Matt Damon) catches him and brings him back to Texas for the murder of another man.

- - - - -

Brett's 2p'orth: It will be fascinating to see what the Brothers Coen bring to this classic film.
------------

LaCie Wireless Space

LaCie reports: [edited]

The LaCie Wireless Space makes it easy for you to access your files, no matter where they are in your house. It has three pre-configured modes that allow you to create a Wi-Fi access point, a Wi-Fi Ethernet extender to connect your printers or computers, or even use it as a Gigabit router. If you already have a Wi-Fi network, you can use the LaCie Wireless Space as wireless storage.

With capacities of 1 and 2TB, it holds all of your music, movies, and photos, helping you to access and share them on any computer on your home network. You can even stream movies from the Wireless Space to any UPnP/DLNA compatible device, and it works in tandem with iTunes & Time Machine. Now, it’s simple to organize your files in a central location and play them on all your devices.

Use it as your network router - with static and dynamic port forwarding and PPoE connections, the Wireless Space performs even better than most cable routers, thanks to Wi-Fi n and Gigabit Ethernet performance.

Price: 1TB: £179.90 · 2TB: £249.90

- - - - -

Brett's 2p'orth:

Apple Time Capsule:

Price: 1TB: £234.00 · 2TB: £388.00
------------

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Digital Photography Review reports: [edited]

Panasonic has announced the DMC-GH2 Micro Four Thirds camera. The successor to the GH1 continues with its 'hybrid' stills/video philosophy but adds a host of tweaks and improvements, foremost of which is a brand new 18Mp multi-aspect ratio sensor offering 16Mp output and an ISO range of 160-12800. The GH2 also inherits many features from the DMC-G2, including a revised control layout and touch-screen control.
------------

Etch A Sketch iPad Case

Pocket Lint reports: [edited]

If you've got an iPad, how many times have you heard the wisecrack, "It's just a glorified Etch A Sketch"? Well you can now turn your iPad into an Etch A Sketch [well, looks-wise anyway, Ed.] with a little help from a new iPad case from getaheadcase.com

The $39.00 case is made of impact resistant plastic with rubber feet and a felt backing to gently cradle your iPad. Strategically placed windows allow for easy use of all your iPad's switches, ports and buttons.

There is also a retractable kick stands allow you to either lay your iPad flat, or angle it for easy use of the iPad keyboard. Disappointingly those buttons don't seem to do anything other than look the part.
------------

Fujifilm FinePix X100

Digital Photography Review reports: [edited]

Fujifilm has announced the X100, a large-sensor compact camera aimed at professional and enthusiast photographers. Based around a 12Mp APS-C CMOS sensor, Fuji EXR processor and 23mm F2 Fujinon lens (equivalent to a 35mm semi-wideangle), the classically-styled camera features traditional analogue controls for shutter speed, aperture and exposure compensation.

Of particular note is the new 'hybrid' viewfinder system which allows the user to switch between optical and electronic viewfinders and project detailed shooting information into the OVF. The spec is rounded off by 720p HD movie recording, a 460k dot 2.8" LCD, flash hot shoe, and magnesium alloy top and base-plate castings. The camera will be available from early 2011.
------------

Plastic Surgery Preview

FaceTouchUp reports: [edited]

This tool's intended purpose is to help you visualize difference cosmetic procedures on a photo. It does not take place of a consultation with a physician. The photos you produce here are for illustrative purposes only and do not guarantee an actual surgical outcome. For an accurate evaluation based on your unique facial structure, please consult a qualified physician.

- - - - -

You don't need to login or register, simply click on one of the sample images.
------------

Spiderpodium

breffo.com reports: [edited]

Spiderpodium has been designed to accommodate virtually every handheld portable device available. The hole in the body is designed to allow most proprietary chargers to fit.

Available in White or Black. £14.99 + £2.75pp

Thanks to Mel for the link.
---------

World's Simplest Cell Phone?

John's reports: [edited]

John’s Phone Snow is the world’s simplest white cell phone: no frills and no unnecessary features such as a camera, text messaging and an endless number of ringtones. You call, you hang up, and that’s it.

John’s Phone is compatible with any type of SIM card. Pay as you go and SIM-only contracts, both national and international. John’s Phone offers global roaming, except on the 3G networks in South Korea and Japan.

With its standby time of more than 3 weeks, John's Phone is perfect for use while travelling or driving.

The back of the phone features a small opening with an address book and pen – two unique features you can use even when your phone is switched off.

In addition, it includes an earphone that allows you to call hands-free while driving.

Price: €70
------------

10 iPad Wallpapers

Michael Paukner has created a range of tastefully faded iPad wallpapers. They will, of course, work fine on your iPhone or iPod touch.
------------

Linq

Incipio reports: [edited]

This durable and rugged iPod nano carrying option is a perfect solution for users who want to keep all functions of the nano close at hand. Now you can wear your 6th generation iPod nano all day, every day.

The Linq is expected to release towards the beginning of October for $24.99. Additional watchbands may be purchased for $9.99 each.
------------

Electronic Artificial Skin

boingboing reports: [edited]

Researchers at Stanford and UC Berkeley have developed ultra-sensitive artificial skin. The Stanford group's elastic polymer skin detected a fly and butterfly on it, expressed by a change in the amount of electric charge the materials could hold.

The UC Berkeley researchers constructed their skin from a grid of semiconductor nanowires laid out on pressure-sensitive rubber. Each nanowire intersection functions as a transistor "pixel" that changes current based on the pressure.

Fully working artificial skins will need to do more than detect pressure and bend. "The ultimate prosthetic skin should behave like our own skin," says Stephanie Lacour, a materials scientist from the University of Cambridge, UK.

That would mean the skin being able to detect sideways shear forces — such as those produced by scratching a twig down your leg — as well as pressure. "This is one of the most difficult things to implement," she says.

UC Berkeley's Ali Javey agrees that there are many challenges to overcome to make a fully functional artificial skin, not least integrating that skin with the brain. But applications in robotics could come much sooner, he says. The next step is to scale up production so that enough artificial skin can be made to cover an entire robot's body.
------------

Most common words unique to 1-star and 5-star App Store reviews

marco.org reports: [edited]

I wrote a script to crawl U.S. App Store customer reviews for the top 100 apps from every category (minus duplicates) and compute the most common words in 1-star and 5-star reviews, excluding words that were also common in 3-star reviews.

Keep in mind that the results are not representative of overall user opinions: most users don’t review apps, and people who dislike an app are more likely to leave a review than people who like it.

These are the top words by rating, with descending frequency:

★★★★★:
awesome, worth, thanks, amazing, simple, perfect, price, everything, ever, must, ipod, before, found, store, never, recommend, done, take, always, touch

★☆☆☆☆:
waste, money, crashes, tried, useless, nothing, paid, open, deleted, downloaded, didn’t, says, stupid, anything, actually, account, bought, apple, already

Some are obvious: people like awesome apps and dislike those that crash. A few words are more interesting, though:

It’s promising to see simple in the top-positive list, which says a lot about user expectations on the platform.

Both positive and negative reviews seem unusually obsessed with price. This seems odd, given the relative cost of the hardware, accessories, and cellular service where applicable.

The negative words are most interesting to me: in addition to complaints about the price, one word is especially telling of a prevalent attitude I’ve seen for a while: useless. More than any other adjective, reviewers condemn apps they don’t like as “useless”.

via daring fireball
------------

Concrete Wallpaper

++++++++ reports: [edited]

concretewall.no reports: [edited]

Concrete Wall is a high-quality vinyl wallpaper. It is available in 2 widths: 62cm (2’) and 124cm (4’). Rolls can be made to up to 25m (82’) in length. The wallpaper is produced to your precise requirements and can be applied with regular wallpaper paste.

The wallpaper is washable and UV-resistant. Depending on your personal wishes, we can make the wallpaper either lighter or darker, or even add a specific colour cast.

Concrete Walls uses photographs by Norwegian photographer Tom Haga.
------------

LaCie MosKeyto

LaCie reports: [edited]

The LaCie MosKeyto [Geddit? Ed.] measures less than 20mm and weighs 10 grams, making it one of the smallest USB keys on the market. It offers capacities up to 8GB, and becomes nearly invisible when plugged into your computer, and can even travel alongside it in a protective sleeve or briefcase – just plug it, and forget it.

Since it lies flush against your device, you’ll never lose it, and there is no risk of damage to the USB port, computer or key if the drive is knocked or bumped.

Additionally, LaCie has integrated an extra 4GB secure online storage from Wuala into the MosKeyto, making storage and sharing your files, photos, or videos easier than ever.

Price: 4GB: £15.90 · 8GB: £24.90
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$1500 3D Printer

The nearest thing to magic I've seen for a while. Let's hope they don't start building themselves...

For a review, click here.

For the manufacturer's website, click here.

For opensource stuff on 3D printing, visit RepRap and/or MakerBot.
------------

Canon up the hi-def ante...

Engadget reports: [edited]

You're looking at Canon's new 4k 'Multipurpose' concept, an amalgamation of still and video cameras pumping 60 frames per second at 4k resolution out of an 8 megapixel 2/3-inch CMOS sensor.

Yep, we said 4k video, approximately quadruple the resolution of 1080p. We had a chance to go hands-on with the prototype at Canon Expo 2010, and believe us when we tell you that it's really, really sharp, both in terms of hardware and the images it produces.

The hardware is essentially a giant SLR body packing a fixed video-style lens complete with zoom and focus controls and a high-def flip-out LCD viewfinder.

Although the 4k Multipurpose camera will never come to market, it certainly sends a bold message to an industry content with 1080p that higher resolutions like 4k are coming down the pipe and aren't just the realm of boundary-pushing cinema nerds.
------------

Pro HDR

EyeApps reports: [edited]

Thanks to Pro HDR, you no longer have to choose between a blown-out sky or a hopelessly dark foreground. Bringing high dynamic range photography to your iPhone, Pro HDR lets you capture an image exposed for the highlights and another exposed for the shadows. It then automatically aligns and blends the images, giving you a 3-megapixel HDR image.

- - - - -

Brett's 2p'orth: I uploaded this £1.19 App to my iPhone 4, and it works surprisingly well. The image below was taken using the iPhone's Camera App. I used the spot focus facility to choose the most neutral area I could find...


The image is OK, but the highlights on the coffee machine, and the wall behind it, are blown-out.

Using Pro HDR results in a more balanced image...


For best results use a tripod, although the program does its best to align the two images it takes.
------------

iPod Nano

Apple has updated the iPod shuffle (it now looks more like its previous incarnation) and added a hi-def screen and camera(s) to the iPod touch. But the jewel of the bunch is the iPod Nano.

Only a little larger than the iPod shuffle, and weighing less than an ounce, it features a 240x240 pixel colour touch-screen. 8 & 16GB versions are available in a range of colours, starting at £129.


For more information, visit the Apple site.

And/or visit Engadget's hands-on review.
------------

ViewPad 7

Register Hardware reports: [edited]

Viewsonic has introduced its 7in Android 2.2-based tablet. It claims the gadget is a world first - thanks to the device's 'phone functionality'.

The tablet's full specs have still to be published, but Viewsonic did say the device will sport front (0.3Mp) and rear (3Mp) cameras; have WiFi, 3G and Bluetooth connectivity; assisted GPS; and Micro SD storage.

Viewsonic hasn't specified the ViewPad 7's screen resolution - at 7in, 800 x 480 seems most likely.

The device will ship in October for £350.
------------

Seashore

seashore.sourceforge.net reports: [edited]

Seashore is an open source image editor for Mac OS X's Cocoa framework. It features gradients, textures and anti-aliasing for both text and brush strokes. It supports multiple layers and alpha channel editing. It is based around the GIMP's technology and uses the same native file format.

However, unlike the GIMP, Seashore aims to serve the basic image editing needs of most computer users, not to provide a replacement for professional image editing products. Also, unlike GIMP, Seashore has an all-new Cocoa UI that will fit right in on Mac OS X. Seashore was created by Mark Pazolli who led the project until the end of 2009.

For a designer's perspective on the program, click here
------------

Sony SLT Alpha A55

Digital Photography Review has published an in-depth review of Sony's latest 'mini-DSLR'.

Excerpts from the conclusion follow:

The A55's 16.2MP CMOS sensor is new, and in collaboration with the camera's image processing, it offers excellent image quality. JPEG image quality is promising, and - for normal viewing magnifications, remains useable up to ISO 12,800.

At lower ISO settings the A55 is able to resolve almost the same amount of visible detail as the Canon EOS 550D, which is currently the highest resolution camera in its class. Dynamic range is excellent too, at almost 9EV, which matches the best of the competition.

In use, the A55 feels like a cross between a good midrange DSLR and a high-end 'bridge' model, but its focus system and large, high-resolution viewfinder surpass our expectations of both types of camera. Because the A55's EVF is so large, it easily matches most optical viewfinders for clarity.

Price: US: $749 • EU: €850
------------

First Digital Camera

pluggedin.kodak.com reports: [edited]

In December of 1975, after a year of piecing together a bunch of new technology in a back lab at the Elmgrove Plant in Rochester, we were ready to try it. “It” being a rather odd-looking collection of digital circuits that we desperately tried to convince ourselves was a portable camera.

It had a lens that we took from a used parts bin from the Super 8 movie camera production line downstairs from our little lab on the second floor in Bldg 4. On the side of our portable contraption, we shoehorned in a portable digital cassette instrumentation recorder.

Add to that 16 nickel cadmium batteries, a highly temperamental new type of CCD imaging area array, an a/d converter implementation stolen from a digital voltmeter application, several dozen digital and analog circuits all wired together on half a dozen circuit boards, and you have our interpretation of what a portable all electronic still camera might look like.


It took 23 seconds to record the digitized image to the cassette. The image was viewed by removing the cassette from the camera and placing it in a custom playback device. This playback device incorporated a cassette reader and a specially built frame store. This custom frame store received the data from the tape, interpolated the 100 captured lines to 400 lines, and generated a standard NTSC video signal, which was then sent to a television set.
------------

Samsung Galaxy Tab

An excellent illustration of 'Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery'.
------------

Trufocals

Trufocals reports: [edited]

Seeing clearly everywhere, from up close to infinity, is finally possible.

With just a simple finger motion on a small slider on the bridge, you can go from reading a newspaper to viewing a TV set to scanning a distant vista. That’s a major improvement over multifocal glasses that are in focus only at certain fixed distances so your vision between those zones is blurred.

And, with TruFocals, the whole lens is in focus so your entire field of view is sharp, not just a portion as with bifocals or progressive glasses. That means:

- no distortion, lines or blurriness anywhere in your field of vision. Vision is as good on the edges as it is in the centre.

- being able to read an entire newspaper page without having to fold it or bob your head up and down to find the right part of the lenses.

- greater safety on stairs and curbs where an out-of-focus step can lead to a bad misstep.

Watch our informational video and learn more about how TruFocals can change your view of the world forever.
------------

One of the many things I didn't know...

Greek statues were painted, and with really nasty, gaudy colours!

io9.com reports: [edited]

Although it seems impossible to think that anything could be left to discover after thousands of years of wind, sun, sand, and art students, finding the long lost patterns on a piece of ancient Greek sculpture can be as easy as shining a lamp on it.

The colors may fade over time, but the original materials – plant and animal-derived pigments, crushed stones or shells – still look the same today as they did thousands of years ago.

Infrared and X-ray spectroscopy can help researchers understand what the paints are made of, and how they looked all that time ago. Spectroscopy relies on the fact that atoms are picky when it comes to what kind of incoming energy they absorb. Certain materials will only accept certain wavelengths of light. Everything else they reflect. Spectroscopes send out a variety of wavelengths, like scouts into a foreign land.

Inevitably, a few of these scouts do not come back. By noting which wavelengths are absorbed, scientists can determine what materials the substance is made of. Infrared helps determine organic compounds. X-rays, because of their higher energy level, don't stop for anything less than the heavier elements, like rocks and minerals. Together, researchers can determine approximately what color a millennia-old statue was painted.
------------

Sofa Bunk

Resource Furniture reports: [edited]


The DOC Space Saving System consists of a comfortable sofa that becomes a practical, sturdy bunk bed with one simple lifting motion. It includes a completely integrated ladder which also functions as a bed support and a safety rail for the top bunk.


------------

Nikon D3100

Digital Photography Review have published a preview of Nikon's major update to the entry-level D3000.

Snippet:

"The D3100 is built around a 14.2 megapixel CMOS sensor (quite possibly the one seen in Sony's NEX cameras), bringing not only live view but also Full HD video capture to Nikon's entry-level model. This not only makes it the company's second-highest pixel-count SLR (after the D3X) but also makes it the first to offer 1920x1080 movie recording."

Price (Body + 18-55mm VR Lens): £580
------------

Smells Like Rockin' Robin

Excellent mashup of The Jacksons' 'Rockin' Robin' and Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'.

Via Kottke
------------

Vintage Calculators

Vintage Technology reports: [edited]

1970s Vintage desktop and pocket calculators listed by company (128 identified brands, 583 calculators). I am slowly revamping the images and descriptions - and have another 100+ calculators to put on.
------------

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

Edgar Wright’s adaptation of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s graphic novels looks like it is going to be a lot of fun. Think 'Dude Where's My Car' meets 'Kick Ass'.

To view the trailers, click here.

LG 50PK990 Infinia 50in plasma TV

Register Hardware reports: [edited]

With edge-lit LCD sets redefining what slim means when it comes to TVs, many of today’s plasmas are starting to look rather chunky in comparison. Or at least they were until LG’s 50PK990 put in an appearance. Despite packing in a Full HD 50in panel and oodles of features, its chassis is a mere 52mm deep making it one of the slimmest plasmas on the market right now.

But it’s not just the svelte chassis that impresses, as the set’s Infinia design also means that the front of the TV is made from a single sheet of glass, so that the edge of the screen blends seamlessly with the outer bezel. Simply put, this set looks absolutely gorgeous.

Around the back you’ll find plenty of connections for hooking up your AV gear. Alongside the four HDMI ports, you find a set of component sockets and a Scart input. There’s also a CI slot, two USB ports and a digital audio output for feeding audio from the Freeview tuner to a surround sound system. Naturally, Ethernet is present too and, as LG includes a Wi-Fi USB dongle in the box, you can also hook the set up to your router wirelessly, if you like.

The 50PK990 puts the Ethernet port to good use as it features built-in DNLA media streaming, so you can stream photos, movies and videos from a connected PC or Nas drive. Unlike many of its rivals, it actually has good format support and will happily play high definition MKV files as well as Divx and Xvid videos.

The set has a Freeview HD tuner so it can pick up the HD services from ITV, Channel 4 and BBC, as long as HD signal are being broadcast in your area. These channels are tuned alongside the usual standard definition Freeview stations and also appear alongside them in the easy to use eight-day EPG.

Some LG plasmas have appeared to struggle to deliver really deep blacks, but the 50PK990 is noticeably better in this department. The screen has LG’s TruBlack filter which, as well as reducing some screen glare, also helps to deepen the apparent black level. What’s also impressive is that it manages to work its magic without any apparent loss of shadow detail or brightness.

Colour reproduction is also excellent and more natural looking than some of LG’s previous plasma offerings. Motion is also silky smooth and the set’s impressive scaling means it flatters standard definition material rather than drawing out its weakness, as some lesser models do.

Price: £1500
------------

Muro

Muro is an HTML5, Flash-free painting app from Deviant Art. Which means it plays nice with the iBrigade. It even accepts input from Wacom drawing tablets.
------------

Sharpie Liquid Pencil

Via: sharpie.com

Available September 2010.
------------

Devour

Devour reports: [edited]

Around 25 hours of video is uploaded to YouTube every minute. It would take you approximately 1700 years to watch all those millions of videos. So good luck trying to find something worth watching on your lunch break.

Devour is here to help. Using a scientifically technologically artificially intelligently awesomely robotically humanly system (we hand-pick every video on the site), Devour sifts out the best videos and posts the well-curated collection every weekday. Fewer cute kittens, fewer skateboarding nutshots, fewer tween heart throbs, and lots more awesome.

Oh, and did we mention that every single video on Devour.com is in HD? And that every single video plays on the iPhone and iPad? Yep. We did, however, leave out one thing — comments. So enjoy the peace and quiet of not having to wade through all the brilliant critiques from this great nation's junior high masterminds.

via Daring Fireball
------------

Hawk Eye RC Helicopter

Gizmodo reports: [edited]

Flying an RC helicopter? Sure, that's fun for a little while. Flying an RC helicopter that can shoot both video and still photos? That's good for a lifetime of creepy stalking memories.

The Hawk Eye RC chopper will be coming out this fall, and while the length and quality of the video it shoots — up to five minutes at 320×240 — might be lacking, it's still pretty incredible for the $65 price tag.

You can also take a few hundred 620x480 still photos. Files can be transferred from the Hawk Eye to your computer with a USB cable.
------------

Salamander Genes Builds New Mouse Muscle

Wired reports: [edited]

By temporarily turning off a pair of genes identified in research on limb-regrowing newts, researchers turned back the biological clock on mouse muscle cells, allowing them to divide anew and form fresh tissue.

In most animals cells stop dividing when they’ve attained their mature, tissue-specific form. Chop off a limb or carve up an organ, and it doesn’t grow back. A few creatures, however, including newts and axolotl salamanders, break those rules. They can regrow new limbs, even organs.

Katz (one of the researchers, Ed.) cautioned that much remains to be determined about regeneration, and that it likely requires a complex, varying and as-yet-unknown mixture of cell types and stages. “There are enormous numbers of possibilities,” she said.
------------

Nintendo 3DS

Register Hardware reports: [edited]

The 3DS is like nothing I've seen before with 3DTV. For starters, no glasses are required. The screen employs an autostereoscopic parallax barrier.

The difference was immense - it really felt like I could reach into the screen. As opposed to the 2D layer effect that comes with its television counterparts, the 3DS has an almost true 3D effect with excellent depth.

On Pilot Wings Resort, a franchise you may remember from SNES days, the depth when flying through hoops was remarkable and definitely adds to the game.

Metal Gear Solid was by far the most impressive demo. The sense of depth through the long grass was second to none. When the snake pounced at the screen, I jumped out of my skin.

The size and weight is similar to the DS, and the 3DS is backward-compatible with DS games. There is a switch to turn the 3D effect on and off.

The 3DS is scheduled for release early 2011.
------------

Just Mobile UpStand

Just Mobile reports: [edited]

Precision engineered from aluminum, the UpStand’s supporting grips are finished in rubber to hold your iPad firmly in place and keep it pristine. It's compatible with most iPad cases, too.


The UpStand holds your iPad at just the right height for desktop use - it's perfect for working with a Bluetooth keyboard, watching movies or using the iPad as a digital picture frame.

Price: c. £50.00
------------

Miniature Pencil Sculptures

Telegraph reports: [edited]

Many artists have used pencils to create works of art - but Dalton Ghetti creates miniature masterpieces on the tips of pencils. Dalton, who works as a carpenter, has been making his tiny graphite works for about 25 years

Dalton uses three tools to make his incredible creations - a razor blade, sewing needle and sculpting knife. He refuses to use a magnifying glass and has never sold any of his work, only given it away to friends. A standard figure will take several months.

The longest Dalton has spent on one piece was two and half years on a pencil with interlinking chains.
------------

Intel promises affordable optical

Register Hardware reports: [edited]

Intel has announced the development of an integrated, end-to-end, silicon-based optical system that it says may drive down the cost of high-speed, error-free interconnects to under a dollar per port.

The prototype "concept vehicle" that Intel unveiled Tuesday is essentially a two-chip system that can optically transmit and receive data at 50Gbps.

A transmitter chip uses four hybrid silicon lasers running at 12.5Gbps each and operating at different wavelengths, modulates them into data-carrying pulses, then multiplexes those pulses into a single stream of light that it beams through an optical-fiber cable.

At the other end of that cable, a receiver chip demuliplexes the photon stream, distributes it to four germanium-silicon photoreceptors, which convert the pulses to electrical digital signals and sends that data on its way.
------------