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All the high-end phones coming out these days match up pretty closely on features. So how about something totally different -- a phone that doubles as the guts for a full-sized laptop? View the full article

It isn't hard to picture the scenarios -- banks, hospitals, pharmacies, etc. -- where you need to spill out some private (and probably embarrassing) details in public, but on the other hand, it's no good whispering in a noisy environment. The solution? Yamaha thinks adding more noise is the way forward. Announced earlier this month is the VSP-1 noise generator, which is essentially just a speaker box that masks conversations in your desired direction. With its eight specially tuned ambient noise recordings from the seaside, forest, or river, the VSP-1 managed to mask between 47 percent and 89 percent of the conversations in four Japanese pharmacies, and the customers on the other side of the sound wall even enjoyed the soothing sounds. Alas, Yamaha's little box doesn't come cheap -- you'll have to cough up a hefty ¥105,000 ($1,267) for one when it comes out on April 20th.Continue reading Yamaha VSP-1 ambient noise generator shields your voice, water cooler gossips Yamaha VSP-1 ambient noise generator shields your voice, water cooler gossips originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 14:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. <h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6>Permalink OhGizmo!, Akihabara News | Yamaha | Email this | Comments</img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> View the full article

Okay, so they still look like Depression-era bath toys, but Maurizio Porfiri's robot fish have come a long way from the coconut-and-tin-foil look they were sporting last summer. In an attempt to further "close the loop" between robotics and nature, Porfiri has continued to tinker with the little leaders by incorporating diving and surfacing into their aquatic repertoire, and it seems to be working: real fish have shown interaction patterns including tracking, gathering, and following in the presence of the pesci-bots. Now if they could just do the same with the the feral ferret living in our bedroom walls...Robot fish get upgraded, keep schooling real-life counterparts originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 14:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. View the full article

Wirelessly-powered TVs are nice, and transparent displays are cool and all, but what about an ambient light-powered transparent LCD? Well, that's nothing short of awesome. Samsung showed off just such a device at CeBIT 2011 last week -- a prototype 46-inch display with 1920 x 1080 resolution and ten-finger touchscreen capability. We aren't sure what kind of black magic Sammy put in this thing, but it's an incredible.... View the full article

Everything about Logitech's new solar-powered keyboard screams "green" â€" except maybe its black-and-white case. Constructed of PVC-free plastic, packed in recyclable packaging with no included paper manual, and using only available light to power itself, it's as friendly to the environment as a piece of computer hardware is likely to get. View the full article

A lot of companies -- including heavyweights like Microsoft -- believe that motion control is the future of the human-machine interface. But it's an awful lot of work to wave your hands around every time you want to change windows, isn't it? Swedish firm Tobii, which specializes in eye control, teamed up with Lenovo to craft a run of 20 prototype Windows 7 laptops with eye control sensors built-in, and we had a chance to check out the setup here at CeBIT today. The verdict? It works extraordinarily well -- Tobii clearly knows what it's doing, because even with our sloppy calibration at the start of the session, the system still detected where we were looking with pinpoint precision. One demo the company had set up was an Expose-style layout of all open windows, and we were able to target the smallest of the bunch (Calculator in this case) consistently and naturally -- we never felt like we were "staring" to make something happen. Clearly this is a capability that'll require some UX thought and research, because you don't want the computer to just start doing things as you look around; most of the eye-controlled capabilities they'd baked into the laptop here were triggered with a key command, though one feature we really liked -- a quick bar to access frequently-used media -- was pulled up just by looking beyond the left side of the screen. It also worked very well and never came up when we didn't want it to. The level of precision was further verified with a simple game they've created where you blow up asteroids before they impact Earth just by looking at them; the smallest rocks were only a few pixels wide, and we could consistently blast 'em. As for commercialization, they're still a ways off -- they're thinking two years if they can team up with the right partner. Tobii says that there's a trade-off between sensor size and accuracy; the prototype has a sizable hump on the back and a roughly inch-wide strip running directly below the display, both of which are pretty impractical for a truly portable machine. The sensor must be below the display, we're told, though it could be made quite a bit thinner -- no wider than the bezel you've got below your notebook's current display. Follow the break for a full video demo! Gallery: Tobii and Lenovo's eye-controlled laptop at CeBIT 2011 Continue reading Tobii and Lenovo show off prototype eye-controlled laptop, we go eyes-on (video) Tobii and Lenovo show off prototype eye-controlled laptop, we go eyes-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 05:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. View the full article

Finally Motorola gives us a chance to say something positive about its pricing of the 10.1-inch, Tegra 2-powered Xoom tablet. UK electronics retailer PC World has just put up its Xoom pre-order page, which will surprise many waking Brits with an extremely reasonable £450 ($730) asking price. That's £60 less than the direct competitor 32GB WiFi-only iPad -- the Xoom only has one storage option of 32GB and the model listed here comes without 3G -- and perhaps more importantly, is only £10 more than the 16GB version of Apple's tablet. It's common knowledge that to take on the iPad empire you'll have to at the very least match its price, and Moto is doing even better than that in the UK. There's only one worrying sign, we haven't been able to place a Xoom into our shopping basket yet, as the "Pre-order today" button seems to be malfunctioning, but we're guessing that's a temporary glitch that will be fixed without the price shooting up skywards. Update: T-Mobile Germany has also revealed its Xoom pricing, this time for the 3G model: €699.95. Distribution will begin at the end of April and T-Mo will have a three-month exclusive on the tablet in its native land. The pricing positions the Xoom a mere 95 Euro cents above the 32GB-equipped iPad WiFi + 3G, meaning that your choice will truly come down to preference and not economics. See T-Mobile's full press release after the break. [Thanks, John]Continue reading Motorola prices WiFi-only Xoom at £450 in the UK (update: €700 in Germany with 3G) Motorola prices WiFi-only Xoom at £450 in the UK (update: €700 in Germany with 3G) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 05:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. View the full article

This ain't your grandma's sewing machine -- unless nana owns a 10-needle, $14,000 embroidery robot that blasts through complex designs like a thread-loaded AK-47. View the full article

We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Simon, who seems to be not-so-secretly hoping to drown out his entire office. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "I need a headset which can block out the background from a busy office. I'm talking repetitive noises such as drilling, background chatter, keyboard clattering, computer fan whirring and the endless static from our building's air conditioner. I would love if this headset had a fair to good quality of sound for MP3s, and it would of course have to have a good microphone for IP phone telephony and Skype. If it didn't look like something from Radio Shack that would be a bonus, and if the microphone was a bit discreet for street and airplane use that would be an added benefit. Lastly the connection to a workstation could be both USB and Bluetooth, with a preference for wireless. Thanks!" Bluetooth headsets have evolved quite a bit since the last time we had this discussion, so we're curious what you're currently using to make work a wee bit more bearable? No need in keeping secrets, right? Speak out in comments below!Ask Engadget: best (non-ugly) noise-cancelling Bluetooth headset for drowning out office noise? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 23:59:00 EDT. View the full article

Perhaps it bore repeating for the shock value to sink in, but Nokia CEO Stephen Elop missed nary an opportunity to defend his company's choice of Windows Phone as its future smartphone foundation. Nokia, he said, was making "a big bet" on Microsoft and vice versa. However, Windows Phone is only one leg of Nokia's strategy moving forward. Its "next billion" initiative is tied to handsets in which Nokia and Microsoft interests do not meet. And Nokia's third task, creating or planning for the next disruption, will keep the company tethered to the MeeGo operating system. Indeed, the Wall Street Journal's behind-the-scenes look at how the Microsoft-Nokia alliance came to be, revealed how close it came to not being at all. Nokia seriously considered Android as the operating system of choice for its smartphones, and was only persuaded differently by a big check and an exceptional flexibility to make changes to the Windows Phone 7 operating system. Because, for all the attention around Nokia's selection of Windows Phone, it ultimately neither guarantees Nokia's success nor dooms it to failure in the US smartphone market. Here's what will:Continue reading Switched On: Nokia's Windows of opportunity.... View the full article

You get what you pay for, right? That's why the knockoffs Wired tested, like Ray-Ban and iPhone wannabes, never rate higher than 5 out of 10. View the full article

Listen up New Yorkers, those hot nuts you just swallowed could be used to light the signs on Broadway. Okay, so that's a stretch, but the city's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) just issued a plan to turn the stuff you flush, along with rest of its wastewater, into renewable energy. New York City produces about 1.3 billion gallons of wastewater daily, yielding 1,200 tons of biosolids that can be harvested to procure methane -- already accounting for 20 percent of the city's energy -- and butanol, a clean gasoline alternative. The plan, which also includes wind and solar projects, aims to use gas, converted by large digesters, to "power wastewater operations, meet on-site heat and electricity needs, and, where feasible, sell excess energy to the market." As the DEP points out, the plan isn't far fetched -- we've seen a couple of solutions for turning human excrement into usable energy, and a project already under way in Greenpoint is estimated to procure enough methane over the next year to heat 2,500 homes. Now, if that doesn't give you a newfound respect for the porcelain throne, we don't know what will.New York City turns to sewers for energy solutions originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 16:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. View the full article

That's right, that little green blob in the upper left hand corner of that built-in touchscreen is indeed the Android logo, and that display does indeed belong to a tablet of unknown origin, currently riding around on the back of a headrest on a bus somewhere in India. We're not entirely sure who's funding this project or which bus line the tablets can be found on, but the login screen you see here does give us a little bit of insight: "As per government policy, we need to record details of the person using the Internet on this device." The service is apparently free and unlimited, and if this is a government program, it would be right in line with India's democratic outlook on technology. Sure, Indian college students are still awaiting the storied $35 tablets, but we suppose if they have enough scratch to ride the bus all day, these headrest slates could do in a pinch. For a look at what Android tablets look like on public transit, check out the video after the jump. [Thanks, Kartik]Continue reading Android tablets bring touchscreen connectivity to Indian bus riders -- still no $35 slates in sight (video) Android tablets bring touchscreen connectivity to Indian bus riders -- still no $35 slates in sight (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 16:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. View the full article

Claiming to be the "world's first" single chip solution with 3G UMTS and China's fave TD-SCDMA (with HSPA support), Marvell's using its MWC 2011 time to unveil the PXA978 chip with 1.2GHz clockspeeds and a 40nm size. Alongside that, the company's announced Kinoma Play as a barebones, no-nonsense platform with Android underneath the skin. A developer SDK is in the works, and if you're so inclined, video and press releases are after the break. Rest assured, we'll be swinging by Marvell's booth this week to see it for ourselves... View the full article

The tractor of the future will look like an ant. Or a Mars rover. Or maybe something out of Halo. Whatever it is, it’s nice to see automakers aren’t the only ones who go nuts designing wild concepts that may never see production. To mark its 60th anniversary, the designers at Valtra came up with a concept vehicle that would make even the guys at Peugeot and Citroen look twice. The machine is called ANTS, an acronym based on actual models in the Finnish company’s lineup...... View the full article

The glasses are goofy and the prices are high, but we're betting your living room will soon house a 3-D television anyway. Listen to the podcast to find out why. Plus: Get a look at the future of tablets and more info on the phone that could kill netbooks. View the full article

Researchers at Harvard University's Center For Brain Science have successful manipulated nematode C. elegans worms by genetically modifying a select few of their 302 neurons. Not to be confused with magnetically controlled invertebrate, these creepy-crawlies are controlled by the CoLBeRT system (a nod to the comedian but no other relation), controlling locomotion and behavior in real time. The scientists can manipulate movement of the worms, induce paralysis, and even cause them to lay eggs all by shining a laser that turns on and off the modified cells at will. The laser hits the worm and causes it to react as if it were being touched. According to the researchers, the reaction is similar to when light is shined in a human eye -- the protein found in the worm and eyes are sensitive to different variations of rays and will respond based on the color shined. Peep past the break for some squiggly mind- er, light-controlled action.Continue reading Harvard University controls worm with laser, we wait for choreographed dance moves (video) View the full article

It just wouldn't be CES without a gaggle of new products from iHome, now would it? Kicking things off in this year's line of audio-related gadgetry from the company is the iDM12 (shown above), a rechargeable portable Bluetooth speaker that's described as something like a mini-soundbar. It'll stream tunes from any Bluetooth-equipped phone or PMP, but naturally, it's being aimed at iPad, iPhone and iPod owners. Moving right along, there's the iDM15 rechargeable portable BT speakers. Here, you'll find two diminutive speakers that can stream in a similar fashion as the iDM12, but with the addition of speakerphone support. Lastly, the iDM70 'Sound Sleeve' is both a protective shell and a speaker setup for your iPad; it relies on rechargeable NXT flat speakers to improve the audio experience, but mum's the word on price. You'll find these guys, as well as the iD9, iD28 and iD85, on sale "later this year." View the full article

It wasn't easy, but we finally managed to spot a few differences between the old Beo5 remote control and Bang & Olufsen's new Beo6 that just appeared on B&O's pages. To start with, the hyperbolic product page for the controller is a word-for-word copy of the old, only with each instance of a "5" replaced with a "6." The user guide doesn't provide much assistance either stating that the "Beo6 is fully compatible with Beo5" right down to using the exact same menus and controls. So what's new? Well, the new "wireless setup" chapter seems to be a clue indicating that the Beo6 can connect to your WiFi network to enable 2-way control with other Bang & Olufsen products supporting 2-way communication -- naturally, these aren't listed and any configuration of the controller will have to be done by a B&O retailer. We did manage to dig up an old article from BeoWorld claiming that the Beo6 would feature a touch (not pressure like the Beo5) sensitive widescreen display to show information like cover art and tag data just as soon as B&O's BeoSound 4 Encore and BeoSound 5 could support it. While this kind of product perplexity would be a knock against any other mainstream consumer electronic remote, B&O owners can rest easy knowing that their man servant will sort it all out..... View the full article

It's back, baby! Google's Nexux S is a hearty dose of pure Androidy goodness that'll cure even the most diehard Apple fans from a crippling iPhone addiction. Let’s get this out of the way first: The Nexus S is an excellent phone. It’s not as nice as an iPhone 4 as a complete package. But it’s a great phone on its own merits, and it does even do many things better (connectivity, media-sharing, background processes and notifications). You very well may prefer this to an iPhone, but it is not an iPhone. If you want an iPhone; you should buy an iPhone. Phew. Now g’head flame away. View the full article

You can get Wi-Fi in everything from your bathroom scale to your fridge these days, so why not put it in your thermostat, where it might actually come in handy? Filtrete has done just that, coupling an advanced programmable thermostat with a Wi-Fi add-in that lets you control it from your computer or with an iPhone app. This makes more sense than you might think. That’s because even on a touchscreen thermostat, configuring a weekly program is never easy. Like most programmable thermostats, Filtrete’s lets you set four temperature changes, four times a day, every day of the week. That’s 56 individual data points to configure on a small display with a minimum of input options. Now connect that thermostat to your computer and the world opens up: Configuration becomes easier, and adding multiple programs (summer, winter, vacation, girlfriend at home and so on) is no longer a pain. Unfortunately, setting up the thermostat is a bit of pain. I didn’t have power running from my furnace to my thermostat, which meant I had to connect an ugly, wired transformer to wall power in order to power the Wi-Fi module (otherwise the thermostat can be configured from the control screen only). Overcoming this hurdle — which isn’t documented in the manual — took considerable effort and was complicated by the device’s truly arcane setup routines..... View the full article

Your always-on-the-run pals will be flocking to you, if they find out you're gifting the likes of Shure earbuds this year. View the full article

Denon AVR-A100 Although it celebrates the past, Denon's 100th-anniversary box is straight out of the future. The 9.2-channel receiver uses digital processing to measure, analyze, and correct for room acoustics. Optional AirPlay support means it can talk to iTunes, and a remote app for your iPhone lets you control it.... View the full article

iPad 3G The laptop is at its end. You may have already purchased your last one. We’ve touched the future, and it feels a lot like the iPad. The gesture-based interface is instantly understandable and better than anything else we’ve tried—ever. It’s addictive, and we find ourselves attempting to swipe and tap and stroke the displays on our desktops and are disappointed when they ignore our caresses. But the deep hotness here is the Internet everywhere—3G flowing through a rich, eyeball-friendly screen on a device lighter than, well, some issues of this very magazine. After just a few months, we already feel genuine affection. We loved it when we checked into our flight from the taxicab, navigating drop-downs that would have been too tricky on a phone. When we used it to sidestep the hotel’s exorbitant Wi-Fi fees. When we carried it to our brother’s hospital bedside, where the Netflix app helped him forget his pain. We love it every time we bring up a map at the trailhead, every time we find a new recipe on Epicurious, every time we watch a game on MLB at 35,000 feet. Sure, it could be improved: Give it a camera, a supersharp Retina display, and more data-plan options, please. But don’t copy everything iPhone; we’re fine keeping the antenna on the inside. And seriously: Liberate us from AT&T. But for now, this is it. If you don’t have one yet, you will soon enough..... View the full article

Videogame publishers used to scramble to license automobile brands for use in their games. Now the tail’s wagging the dog. Chrysler said Wednesday that it will produce a 2011 Jeep Wrangler Call of Duty: Black Ops Edition that will arrive in dealerships this November. Activision will release the highly anticipated first-person shooter Call of Duty: Black Ops Nov. 9 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii and PC. Based on the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon model, the vehicle will feature a black exterior, massive 32-inch off-road tires and Call of Duty: Black Ops graphics on the roof and front quarter panels...... View the full article