Augmented Google Earth animated with real time human and vehicular traffic

Researchers from Georgia Tech have devised methods to take real-time, real-world information and layer it onto Google Earth, adding dynamic information to the previously sterile Googlescape.

They use live video feeds (sometimes from many angles) to find the position and motion of various objects, which they then combine with behavioral simulations to produce real-time animations for Google Earth or Microsoft Virtual Earth.

They use motion capture data to help their animated humans move realistically, and were able to extrapolate cars' motion throughout an entire stretch of road from just a few spotty camera angles.

From their video of an augmented virtual Earth, you can see if the pickup soccer game in the park is short a player, how traffic is on the highway, and how fast the wind is blowing the clouds across the sky.

Up next, they say they want to add weather, birds, and motion in rivers.



VIA - POPSCI.COM

An overview of the new Nokia N97

Nokia has launched its new N97 smart phone (Nokia calls it a mobile computer) with 3.5-inch tilting touch screen and QWERTY keyboard. Nokia N97 key features are:

* Tri-band HSDPA/quad-band GSM
* Sliding QWERTY keypad and touchscreen display
* 3.5-inch TFT (16:9 widescreen); 640 x 360 pixels
* 32GB onboard memory + microSD card slot
* Series60 5th Edition
* 5-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss Tessar optics
* MPEG-4 VGA video recording at 30fps
* Multiple music, video and image formats supported
* 802.11b/g; USB; Bluetooth with A2DP; GPS with A-GPS
* 3.5mm audio jack
* 117.2 x 55.3 x 15.9mm
* 150gm weight




The Nokia N97 is powered by the Nokia BP-4L Battery with 6.6 hours talk-time and 430 hours standby.Along with all major features like 3G, GPRS, GPS, HSDPA, Java, Bluetooth, A2DP, USB and WiFi ,the Nokia N97 has a 5-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics,32GB memory(up to 48GB) and the latest Series60 5th Edition OS.It has a slide-out QWERTY keypad and a large 3.5-inch touchscreen display.



The Nokia N97 is a high-end multimedia phone with 3.5-inch 640×360 pixel resolution display.The N97’s 32GB of internal memory with microSDHC support will hardly let any space shortage in it.The tilt-up display is a comfortable typing position than the flat sliding phones.The QWERTY keypad and the touchscreen will make sure that there is no restriction in writing text.The 5-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss Tessar optics is nothing new or big thing but anyway you are not buying just a camera phone.Overall the Nokia N97 is a sexy high-end multimedia phone.

Toyota Crown hybrid using noise canceling tech - quieter ride at head height

Toyota has taken the principle behind noise-canceling headphones and applied it to its Toyota Toyota Crown Hybrid. The company’s ‘Active Noise Control’ system uses three microphones located on the roof of the interior of the car to detect the muffled noise of the engine and then generates antiphase signals from three speakers – two located on the right and left front doors and one rear woofer on the rear shelf – to counter the noise. The system http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System , which was implemented after the car’s engine was found to be noisier than expected, reduces the interior engine noise by about 5 to 8dB, the company said.

Although equipped with the same hybrid system as the Lexus GS, the engine of the Crown Hybrid has a lower rotational frequency at low speed which results in better mileage http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_economy_in_automobiles , but also more noise. The acoustics inside a car also made getting the system right difficult. Unlike headphones http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headphones , the in-car system not only has to deal with both direct noise, but also its echo bouncing off the car’s interior walls. Toyota ended up implementing the system so that it cancels out the engine sounds around head height - or rather ear height.

"We collected the data such as the distance between the microphone microphone and the head of a passenger, the distance between each speaker and the head of a passenger, and the shape of a car interior," Toyota said. "We designed the vehicle so that the wavelengths of the system's sound and the muffled noise cancel each other out over the heads of passengers and that the car interior becomes as quiet as possible." The system, which is always in operation when the car is running and cannot be manually switched on or off, does not interfere with the car’s music system.

Via gizmag

lenartstudios -- Surf Radio

Lenartstudios, a San Francisco based firm headed by Chris Lenart, creates brand-building products for a variety of industries, including sports, lifestyle and medical. They've released a product that will ensure surfers are always connected--whether on land or in the water.

Through radio and GPS technology, the Surf Radio provides surfers an edge no other board can offer. The device works like a walkie-talkie, with a two-way radio system that allows surfers to communicate with each other no matter where they are. Besides this, the Surf Radio's GPS system gives surfers updated information about their location, rip currents, and building swells. If the wave hits too hard, the system can send out an emergency beacon, pinpointing the exact location of injured surfers.

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SMK Develops Power Line Communication Module with Maximum Communication Speed of 14 Mbps

SMK Corp. has announced the development of the 14 Mbps PLC Module, which is a power line¡¡communication module for domestic use with a maximum communication speed of 14Mbps.

Targeted application is equipment with Ethernet port. The module is compliant with power lines of 100 and 200 V AC. To achieve easy installation into equipment, the module is as compact as a business card. Incorporating the noise-reduction circuit reduces noise leak. Shipment of the module samples will be started in September 2007.

The module has a supply voltage of 5 V DC with 10Base-T/100Base-TX Ethernet as an interface.

KONDO KHR-2HV Humanoid Robot Kit

The all new improved Kondo KHR-2HV Humanoid Robot Kit is presented to the robot fans. It is the 2nd version of KONDO KHR-1. The upgraded robot features more controls, gears, servos, and software, adding more tricks and skills to the memory. Designed with a well-balanced body with a bigger chest for a muscular look. With ultra light weight aluminum alloy frames for the body, Kondo KHR-2HV is faster and lighter for jumps. Adopts 17 adjustable joints, it is capable of doing back flips and cartwheels, and more human-like motions. It is easy to assemble and program Kondo KHR-2HV. Kondo introduced one of the best robots in Japan. Available in silver. Check out KHR-2HV Robot's videos below for more information.

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Announcing PIMP, the world's first high quality LED watch using 72 LED lights. Pimp it with PIMP's Pimp Ain't Easy LED watch with polished or black st

Announcing PIMP, the world's first high quality LED watch using 72 LED lights. Pimp it with PIMP's Pimp Ain't Easy LED watch with polished or black stainless steel body straight from Japan. This unique LED watch utilizes 72 blue LED lights for time display. Polish silver or black brazel with high quality matching metal strap. As reported by major Japanese fashion magazines. Also displays date in PIMP's way. Special Pimp feature: the LED lights up in a spiral pattern every 2 minutes between 6PM to 1AM (cannot be turned off) for the ultimate neck-breaking pimpy attention. Limited production item only. Made in Japan.

TIME READING:
Field on the left displays the Hour in dots bottom-top (1-12). The remaining 60 boxes indicate minutes (bottom-top).

Product Info

Hitachi 7K1000 1TB Hard Drive

We have with us the world’s first Terabyte or 1000 GB internal hard drive - the Hitachi Deskstar 7K1000. There are a couple of firsts with the 7K1000 and one of them is the 32MB buffer or cache memory used with the 7K1000. A hard drive cache stores the most recent reads requests made to the disc and also pre-fetches the information that is most probably going to be requested like the sector or the sectors succeeding the information just requested. This improves performance as the number of accesses to the hard drive are reduced.

And finally this is the first drive from Hitachi in the 3.5-inch category (3.5-inch is the form factor of desktop hard drives whereas 2.5-inch for laptop hard drives) that features PMR (Perpendicular Magnetic Recording). PMR is used to increase the areal density of the storage media to meet such a large capacity. Perpendicular recording is capable of giving up to 10 times the storage density of the conventional longitudinal recording. Seagate first used PMR in their 750GB hard drive.

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Nethrone entertainment station

The Nethrone is the latest advancement in personal digital
entertainment environment engineered with comfort & style
in mind. The end result is a sleek, relaxing & space efficient
gaming and work environment. If you are dealing with heavy
paperwork or Just checking mail, the Nethrone is probably
not for you.



The Nethrone is perfect for those who envision the optimum
station for serious work & intense play. Incorporation of the
Nethrone into virtually any setting position is simple with the
unit's five electric actuators. The unit nestles users in a multi-
positional cradle-like environment, complete with an adjustable
reclining vibrating seat, keyboard/joystick, dual mouse position
armrest, neck cushion and dual footrest position. Each unit is
equipped with an adjustable monitor lift and tilt support as well
as frame support for a VGA box, Apple's Mac mini and Sony`s
PS2, users can insert their units into a slot behind their LCD
monitor. A frame support compatible with Xbox 360 is coming
soon. The Nethrone's aluminum & chrome plated steel framing
was engineered to readily stand up to conventional daily use.

Product Info

How Lunar Design Made PC Games More Tactile

Here's a trick question (or two): How do you design a consumer-electronics device that has no precedent in the marketplace? Say, a miniature robot that can be used by both players of entertainment PC games and doctors? In other words, a controller for on-screen simulations, from shoot-'em-up war scenes to surgical practice sessions.

And what if you're challenged to design this mini-robot so that it can also provide a sense of 3D touch and texture, such as moving through liquid or passing over bumps? Finally, what if your last task as a designer was to ensure that this ultra-sophisticated game controller could be made from materials and mechanisms so affordable that the device would cost approximately $200, qualifying it as a mass-market item?

This is exactly the challenge that the design team at Bay Area-based Lunar Design faced when creating the Falcon, a new type of haptic, or tactile, PC game controller that was released last week by Novint Technologies (NVNT), a maker of 3D touch products and a Lunar client.

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Test Drive a Porsche Cell Phone

Since 1948, the Porsche brand has been synonymous with sleek and fast. Cars, that is. Yet in 1972, the German automaker began designing luxury accessories, a lineup that now includes luggage, eyewear, watches, and ties. Now comes Porsche's boldest foray outside its comfort zone: On June 12, Porsche Design Group unveiled its first mobile phone, in France of course. And there are plans for more Porsche phones.

Designed by Porsche, but engineered and manufactured by France-based Sagem, the $1,600 handset will debut in Britain, Dubai, and other overseas markets later this year. The phone is expected to reach the U.S. in early 2008, possibly through Porsche auto dealerships and the five U.S. Porsche Design stores.




This is not the first time a cell phone maker has partnered with a world-renowned automotive brand. In 2003, Motorola (MOT) unveiled two Harley-Davidson (HOG) versions of its V60i phones for the U.S. market. Detailed with leather or chrome to achieve a tough Harley look, the gadgets were engraved with the motorcycle maker's 100th anniversary logo. Similarly, Sharp teamed with Ferrari in 2005 on a red GX25 Ferrari phone that was sold by wireless service provider Vodafone (VOD) in Britain. Earlier this year, Vodafone also launched the McLaren Mercedes GX29, a square, metallic phone for fans of the Formula One racing team co-sponsored by Mercedes-Benz.

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Intel Unveils Core 2 Duo E6750

Intel today lifted the performance non-disclosure agreement, or NDA, for the first product of its Core 2 Duo E6x50-sequence lineup—the Core 2 Duo E6750. Despite being the first refreshed Conroe-based processor since the original Conroe debut, excluding Kentsfield, the Core 2 Duo E6750 clocks in below the dual-core flagship Core 2 Extreme X6800. Intel clocks the Core 2 Duo E6750 at 2.66 GHz, identical to the E6700.

New to the Core 2 Duo E6750 however, is a faster 1333 MHz front-side bus to match the new Bearlake chipset-family, including the new P35 Express. Besides the faster front-side bus, the new Core 2 Duo E6750 has an identical feature set to the E6700 including 4MB of shared L2 cache. Other Core 2 Duo E6x50-sequence processors have the same shared 4MB L2 cache configuration and Intel has no plans of releasing a 1333 MHz front-side bus processor with 2MB of L2 cache.


Intel Virtualization, Enhanced Intel SpeedStep, Intel 64 and Execute Disable Bit technologies make a return on the Core 2 Duo E6750 and E6x50-sequence processors. Intel Trusted Execution Technology, formerly known as La Grande, sneaks its way into the new Core 2 Duo E6750 and E6x50-sequence processors.

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AL-MD1 Digital Picture Frame

The ALITY AL-MD1 PIXXA is the ultimate icon of the digital lifestyle.

With the AUTO TILTING DETECTION technology, the Pixxa can detect whether you have placed it in a landscape or a portrait and it will adjust automatically to display the image accordingly.

Can't decide on which picture to display, you can use the MULTIPLE PICTURE DISPLAY function to display several at the same time.

From simple digital image viewing to explosive video playback and slideshow capability with musical accompaniment, all this and more packed are packed into an ultra sleek body which comes in four flavours to suit any home decor.as long as it's sleek and futuristic


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Jaguar - XKR Convertible

Introducing the breathtaking XK and XKR, Jaguar´s latest, most muscled athletes. Shouldered and powerful as always, but sleeker now with aluminum bodyshell drawn taut across the chassis, these dramatic sports machines are purposefully trimmed and tuned for heart-pounding performance. Exhaust song, power, control and comfort await notice with bold assurance. Inside or out, coupe or convertible, there´s not an ounce of excess. But there is anticipation...because on the road, the XK commands.



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Robotic Vehicles to Look for Life in Arctic Depths

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution has designed three new robotic vehicles for a rare expedition to look for life on the floor of the Arctic Ocean. A 30-member research team will depart with the new vehicles on July 1 to study the Gakkel Ridge, an area that is believed to have been mostly cut off from other ecosystems for at least 26 million years.

Three new robotic vehicles designed by researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution will embark on an expedition next month to search for life on the Arctic Ocean floor.

The vehicles -- two autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and a tethered, remote-controlled sampling system -- were designed specifically for the challenges of operating in Arctic ice, which can easily crush most small vehicles.

"Anyone can deploy an AUV in the Arctic; the trick is getting it back," said Hanumant Singh, the lead Woods Hole engineer and vehicle developer on the project. "In order to have a good day with autonomous vehicles, the number of recoveries must equal the number of launches."


Icy Depths
The vehicles were successfully tested in May and June with trials in which they were lowered through the Arctic ice and driven underwater, while engineers simultaneously tested acoustic communications techniques. Such maneuvers can be risky because of moving floes that can quickly close the openings in ice around an icebreaker, but the researchers were able to recover their vehicles from beneath the ice.

On July 1, a 30-member research team will depart with the new vehicles from Longyearbyen, Svalbard, for a rare expedition to study the Gakkel Ridge, the extension of the mid-ocean ridge system that separates the North American tectonic plate from the Eurasian plate beneath the Arctic Ocean.

The Gakkel Ridge holds particular interest for scientists because it is believed to have been mostly cut off from other ecosystems for at least 26 million years. Scientists on the project hope to discover exotic ocean-floor life and submarine hot springs in the region.




40 Days

The 40-day expedition, which was funded by the National Science Foundation and NASA , will be conducted on the Oden, a 354-foot icebreaker operated by the Swedish Maritime Administration. It will take researchers close to the geographic North Pole.

The research team includes scientists and engineers from the United States, Norway, Germany, Japan and Sweden.

"This is an exciting opportunity to explore and study a portion of Earth's surface that has been largely inaccessible to science," said Woods Hole geophysicist Robert Reves-Sohn, who is the chief scientist on the project.

"Any biological habitats at hydrothermal vent fields along the Gakkel Ridge have likely evolved in isolation for tens of millions of years," he said. "We may have the opportunity to lay eyes on completely new life forms that have been living in the abyss beneath the Arctic ice pack."



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Dash Express

Dash Express is the smartest, most Internet-connected navigation system on the road. In fact, it's the first and only automotive navigation system with two-way connectivity. Which means it gets you where you want to go—in the fastest time possible—and delivers the most relevant information—right to your dashboard. Plus, Dash Express is the only device on the market that automatically and wirelessly updates its maps and software, so all you have to do is drive.

With Dash Express you can:

Select from up to 3 routes for any destination based on accurate travel time forecasts with Network Traffic.

Find any place—nearby or near your destination—with Destination Search.

Send an address from any computer to your car with Send to Car.

Product Info

Newest Bluetooth® Headset Designed by Bang and Olufsen – WEP 420

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a leading provider of mobile phones and telecommunication system showcased the high-class Bluetooth® Headset (WEP 420), designed by Bang & Olufsen, for the first time at CeBIT 2007 in Hanover , Germany .

Samsung has demonstrated its versatility in the mobile industry by targeting the rapidly-growing mobile accessory market with the launch of new Bluetooth® headsets. The latest Bluetooth® headsets are elegantly designed and have superb sound quality. At CeBIT 2007, Samsung's designated a special booth do showcase Bluetooth® headsets, including the new products WEP 420 and WEP 500.

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Stowaway Keyboard

The Stowaway Ultraslim Bluetooth keyboard is one of the coolest accessories around. It is one of those products that sound great in theory, but require near-perfect execution -- and that's what they accomplished.

It folds up to a remarkably slim, pocketable slice of metal. When unfolded, it automatically turns on and connects to a paired Bluetooth device. It is comfortable to type on, and works with a huge array of products including plug-n-play with any Bluetooth-enabled PC (especially nice with the OQO, Sony UX, etc.) and also smartphones/PDAs (Windows Mobile, Palm, and Symbian S30 3rd like the Nokia E-series).

Even the detachable stand integrates seamlessly with the device, and is sturdy enough to support the 1.2-pound Sony Vaio UX. Stowaway also offers an even larger Bluetooth keyboard called the Sierra and a Bluetooth mouse that even works with Windows Mobile PDAs.)

Product Info

Get in shape with Nike+iPod

The functionality of the Nike+iPod kit while running, the device gives you a good deal of on screen information. Shown on the screen at any given time is your pace-per-mile, total time, and the distance you have already run. When I first started running again, all this on screen information appealed to me, but it wasn't until recently that I discovered that the information was more of a distraction than a motivator.

When I first picked up my kit, I have to admit that I took a look at the Nike armband hanging in the same display. For me, I just couldn't bring myself to spend $30 on something to hold my iPod to my arm, especially when I wouldn't be able to see all the statistics. It wasn't until recently that a friend of mine told me that the Nike armband was on sale at TJ Maxx for a mere $15.00. At the time, I dismissed the information knowing that it was the first-generation armband--the one without the clear window.

About a week or two later, I found myself in TJ Maxx, face-to-face with the aforementioned armband. However, I had forgotten that it was the first-generation model. It wasn't until I got home when I realized what I had bought. I considered returning it, but honestly, heading back to TJ Maxx seemed like too much work so I decided to give it a try.

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Identify Music with Verizon's V CAST Song ID

Verizon Wireless announced the availability of V CAST Song ID, an enhancement to the V CAST Music service that allows users to easily identify songs. With V CAST Song ID, when users hear a song, they can capture a sample of what they are listening to on their phone and the service will identify the song. V CAST Song ID also lets consumers purchase the matching full-track song, ringtone or ringback tone over-the-air right from the cell phone.

To use the service, customers only need a V CAST Music-enabled phone to start identifying recorded music playing on the radio, in a club, on the street or from virtually any music source. V CAST Song ID can identify more than four million songs, spanning almost all music genres, from the latest chart toppers to ‘80s rock classics. When the user places the phone near a music source and records a 10-second clip, V CAST Song ID names the artist, song and album title. After successful recognition, the application will determine if the song is available as a full-track song, ringtone or ringback tone and directly launch the Verizon Wireless’ V CAST Music store where the consumer has the option to purchase and download the track.

Mike Lanman, Verizon Wireless chief marketing officer, commented: "Launching V CAST Song ID is yet another reason why Americans who want the best mobile music experience are switching to Verizon Wireless. At a time when some of our competitors won’t even allow you to download your music over-the-air, Verizon Wireless is pushing forward by offering Song ID for free. We’ll help you find the music you love, then make it easy for you to buy."

V CAST Song ID is available as a free download on V CAST Music-enabled phones in the Music and Tones section of the Get It Now virtual store. Once downloaded, consumers can use the application for free to identify songs.