Gadgety News

Tut-tut Microsoft!

Recently voted most desired console, nay, present this Christmas Microsoft has kept a major failing under its hat.

Whilst the big M has said that their Xbox 360 was capable of scratching discs and offered a fairly limited exchange program for damaged games there seems to be documentation that proves that Microsoft has known about the problem since the 360 was released!

According to The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Microsoft first discovered the problem in September or October of 2005 - they even sent a “team of engineers” to stores across the US to determine the best course of action.

It sounds like they came up with three options, two impractical non-starters, which left the expensive action of installing small bumpers in each and every console.

So Microsoft offered the disc exchange instead.

These unsealed documents apparently also revealed that some Microsoft employees thought that the warning labels on the console weren’t enough, and that the company has received complaints about the problem from more than 55,000 customers as of April 30th of this year!

There’s no word of any movement just yet in theses lawsuits but one, filed back in July of 2007, is seeking class-action status on behalf of everyone that’s bought an Xbox 360.

I’ll keep you 360ers informed!

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AI Professor, Noel Sharkey from Sheffield University (that’s in South Yorkshire folks!) has announced his findings after spending two months looking at trends and the evolution of robotics around the world.

At the centre of his predictions is the vast amounts of data that robots could store on-board and their ability to access databases containing all manner of information to almost instantly identify people.

In addition robots could go out armed with sensors to detect weapons, sniff out explosives and, with their super-human strength, kick human ass make arrests.

He reckons that in about 30 years time you’ll be seeing bots loitering in strategic locations, monitoring crowds and using audio/visual systems be able to pick out drunks, fights and other anti-social behaviour and in the event of larger scale crowd problems fire RFID darts into the trouble makers and track them down later.

This really can’t come soon enough - although with the current politically correctness I can’t see them being allowed to do half of what they could.

Anyone else read this in the Telegraph?

Read more about the Police Robots at Electric Pig

The Police riding mountain bikes.

The Police on roller blades.

The Police riding scooters.

Now, none of the above really strikes fear into me, a law abiding citizen. 

So I’m guessing that hardened criminals would just point and laugh at that selection quite openly.

Until, that is, they realise that the scooter is the Lamperd Less Lethal’s new T3 Mobile Defender.

The scootery transport comes equipped with a high powered air gun that is considered non-lethal in a body shot, but could potentially kill someone if they were to take a synthetic bullet to the head.

To avoid killing anyone by accident the gun has a holographic sight system to ensure accuracy.

“An eyepiece shows a red target dot, and then transmits an image of the target to a monitor, which relays the information to the gun.”

According to creator Barry Lamperd, if the holographic sight is on target, you can’t miss.

Now, the Americans coined the phrase “friendly fire” so let’s hope that the targetting is that good as it’s due to be rolled out to the US military and then to the police forces for crowd control.

Some rather interesting facts have just been released from Jabra research today.

On the plus side first; apparently 93% of UK drivers realise that you can end up in the slammer for 2 years if you’re caught using your mobile phone handset whilst driving and that 68% think that the penalty should be even stronger.

I know that many of you here (me included) could be classed as a nomophobe but there’s so many hands-free gadgets out there that we shouldn’t get caught out when behind the wheel.

Now the scary bit: 24% of people that still use their handsets in the car stated that they couldn’t miss that call and 25% reckon that it’s ok as they’re unlikely to get caught - so that’s alright then?

Personally I’d rather have the police be worrying about killers, rapists and the other freaks out there than have them watch stupid drivers attempting to dial a pizza on the way home from work………..and don’t get me started on the prats that text whilst driving!!

Let’s face it - with Bluetooth headsets looking as fine as the JX10 Cara above - there’s no reason not to go hands-free.

Jabra

One Romek Figa claims to have patented a caller ID system that has been infringed by the iPhone.

Figa’s patent, which was granted in 1990, refers to a two-line LCD screen and external caller ID equipment and describes a way to associate incoming numbers with stored contact names.

He is ultimately looking to halt sales of the iPhone and have Apple cough up some hefty wedge and license his patent.  Apple have obviously said………….errrr…no.

According to statements by Figa’s attorneys Moto, Nokia and Samsung have already licensed the patent but Apple “refused to take a license on the terms offered.”

Apparently Figa sent his demand letter directly to Steve Jobs.  Do you reckon that’s the best way to win Apple over?

Living in London I see a lot of ‘Green’ policies - the latest of which is the fine for high-polluting vehicles; so it’s of no surprise to see the steady increase of those funny little G-Whizz electric cars.

What’s next?  The police using golf-carts???!!!??

Eerrrrrrm……

An Electric Police Car is just what this seems to be. 

Obviously to patrol the futures Segway lanes and assist in the pursuit of powered wheel-chairs or perhaps just to patrol Toys ‘r’ Us and Hamleys.

It has a Max speed 40 km/h!  Give me a MKII Jag for the best London police chases - either that or a Ford Zephyr, Lotus Cortina or now, thanks to Ashes to Ashes (set in ‘81) the Audi Quattro :0)

For you rodders out there - the base specs are:  350kg Motor power: 3.0kw Non-brush Battery: 48v 190Ah Max. Speed: 40km/h Loading capacity: 680kg Travel distance: = 80km Climbing ability: 25° Charging time: 7-10 hours

If amendments go ahead you will no longer be flaunting the law each time you transfer your choonz from computer to a digital player or copy a CD for your own use.

Most of us have been breaking the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 each time we’ve copied tracks from CDs to our PC or digital player, or made an extra copy to play in the car,  but soon we will be able to do so legally as long as it’s purly for private use.

Record labels accept that consumers should not be punished for shifting music from one format to another, but some are concerned it will increase the perception that music can be freely copied with impunity.  The law will still be enforced for file sharing and copying for others whether to sell or not - this is still very naughty and will see you on the wrong side of a fine or worse.

The minister for intellectual property, Lord Triesman, said:

“In an increasingly digital world we need to be sure that our copyright system keeps up with the times and works effectively. This consultation … explores where the boundaries lie between strong protection for rights-holders and appropriate levels of access for users.”

Last year’s Gowers review of intellectual property recommended that the law be relaxed to reflect the march of technology, but also suggested that punishments for large scale piracy be toughened.  You have been warned!!