R.I.P. SanDisk’s TakeTV, Fanfare Shut Down

TakeTV, we hardly knew ye. Unveiled just last October, SanDisk’s USB PC-to-TV video device along with Fanfare, its accompanying content portal, were both shut down on May 15th, a SanDisk spokesperson has confirmed.

The official party line is that TakeTV was no longer a priority for SanDisk as the company focuses on being at the hub of mobile entertainment. Translation: No one bought the device. It’s easy to understand why; SanDisk was outgunned and outnumbered on this set-top bet.

Though Om liked it, and SanDisk billed the device as an easy way to transport content from the web to your TV, it had two things going against it:

1.) It was kludgey. You had to plug a USB device into your PC, download content, then put that USB device into another device that hooked up to your TV. Yeah, that’s easy.

2.) Lack of content. If you want people to buy a device that downloads TV content, you’d better offer lots of TV content. TakeTV’s Fanfare portal had deals with CBS, Jaman, Showtime, the Smithsonian, The Weather Channel and TV Guide Broadband. No ABC, no FOX — not even The CW. TakeTV had announced a deal with NBC, but it looks as though that never got implemented.

Not to mention the fact that SanDisk was facing heavy competition from better-known companies like Apple, TiVo and Xbox — all of which provided more content and an easier solution for downloading shows to your TV.

TakeTV’s demise is a good lesson all around. For consumers, don’t be fooled by a company’s promise of what’s to come — especially for first-generation products. If it doesn’t have the content you want, don’t buy it (even Apple TV flunked at first). And Silicon Valley — quit making set-top boxes! With services like tru2way on the way and with Internet connections built right into TVs, you’re going to lose a lot of money as cable companies and consumer electronics companies eat your lunch.

TakeTV’s site is still up, but Fanfare has been shut down. The devices will still work, their owners just have to find video files elsewhere...

via newteevee 

Wii Rock Band Drum Kit Pics

Though few suspected otherwise, it was confirmed a while ago that the Wii was destined to receive its own set of drums upon the upcoming launch of Rock Band on the console. Early pictures revealed the drum kit to be composed of Wii-matching white plastic, but exact details as to possible differences with the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions remained unknown. Today we got the chance to put the new Wii drums side by side with an original-release Xbox 360 version to see exactly how they compare.

In truth, the Wii Rock Band drums are composed of the some components used in the remodeled kits now supplied with 360 and PS3 versions of Rock Band. This means they're rocking the newly strengthened kick pedal and the somewhat softer drum pads. Compared to the original drum kit that shipped with the early units of the game, the changes are relatively obvious, as the much thicker spring in the Wii drums' kick pedal illustrates.
 

Wii owners planning to adopt Rock Band on their Nintendo machine should be glad that they'll be receiving the upgraded drum kit, as owners of the early shipments of Rock Band on the PS3 and 360 must wait until their drum kits break to upgrade to the new and better components. Those who have yet to buy Rock Band for any system shouldn't fret, as at this point, any new Rock Band stock for any of the systems will include the new drum kit. As such, if you have the option, buy Rock Band for any console that's not the Wii, as you'll get the same drums (in black) and have access to downloadable content.

via gear.ign 

Creative Vado Pocket Video Cam

When it launched last September, Pure Digital's Flip video camera single-handedly revolutionized the camcorder world. With a sub-$200 price point, an extremely portable design, and a simple camera-to-Internet upload process, the device quickly captured an astonishing 13 percent of the market and has maintained a spot atop Amazon's best-seller list ever since. The device's unprecedented success ushered in a new class of gadget: the YouTube camcorder. The extremely familiar form factor suggests that Creative got its inspiration for the Vado Pocket Video Cam from Pure Digital. In the process, the company designed a camcorder that improves upon the Flip Ultra in a number of ways but still falls short in a few key areas.

(Editor's Note: Pure Digital's new Flip Mino, a follow-up to the Ultra, was announced on June 4. Check back soon for a full review.)

via pcmag 

RAmos V8 Released, first real images

Looks like the RAmos V8 has been released, looks like it was made with a smaller screen, not a 4.3″, but 3.0″ (or at least this is what the article shows). Looks pretty slick, has TV out and uses the RK2706 chipset.

via mp4nation 

Dior phone has a high-end model, for $26,000

Bits and pieces of information about the first Christian Dior phone have been circulating for months, but apparently it has finally made an official showing in Europe. Created by ModeLabs, the Parisian phone designer to the stars, the "My Dior" clamshell comes in two versions, both come with a 2.6-inch touch screen and a 2-megapixel camera. The difference between the two? The higher-end model is draped in crocodile skin and festooned with 640 Swarovski crystals--totaling 3,251 carats--and goes for $26,000, Newlaunches reports. The lesser sibling is a mere $5,000, for more frugal shoppers.

via crave.cnet 

HTC Touch Diamond Concept Store at Low Yat Plaza

Finally, the new toy from HTC is release in Malaysia===> HTC Touch Diamond



This long waited & expected model just came into Malaysia market on 06 June 2008.I have wanted to feel & touch the diamond for months, and finally, there is a Touch Diamond Concept Store in Low Yat Plaza allow me to feel it.



Guys,i guarantee you after "feel" or "touch" the diamond, you'll know that HTC had just step into a new level of technologies.

*For those who interested in visiting this concept store, you can refer to this address:
PDA Expert Sdn. Bhd.
Lot G-27A, Ground Floor,
Low Yat Plaza, No. 7 , Jalan 1/77,
Off Jalan Bukit Bintang,
55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tel: +603 2144 8446

via worldofpda 

[Computex] Qisda's Smartphone Supports WiMAX, WLAN, EDGE

Qisda Corp of Taiwan displayed a smartphone that supports IEEE802.16e mobile WiMAX and wireless LAN as well as GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks at 2008 WiMAX Expo Taipei, an event taking place alongside Computex in Taipei, Taiwan, June 2, 2008.

This smartphone is a test handset used in the "M-Taiwan" project where the Taiwanese government promotes the WiMAX industry, Qisda said.

The handset uses Windows Mobile 6.1 as an OS. It also supports WiMAX via SIP and VoIP networks as well as voice calls via wireless LAN. Effective WiMAX speed is "about 2Mbps with the current handset, but can be up to 8 to 10Mbps after tuning," a company spokesperson said.

"We will also develop a dual handset for 3G and WiMAX," the spokesperson added...

via techon.nikkeibp 

Levitating train from L.A. to Las Vegas gets boost

WASHINGTON (AP) - Plans for a levitating train from Las Vegas to Disneyland can move forward under a transportation bill signed by President Bush on Friday that frees up $45 million for the futuristic project.

Derided by critics as pie in the sky, the train would use magnetic levitation technology to carry passengers from Disneyland to Las Vegas in well under two hours, traveling at speeds of up to 300 mph. It would be the first MagLev system in the U.S.

The money is the largest cash infusion in the project's nearly 20-year history. It will pay for environmental studies for the first leg of the project.

The money had been delayed by a drafting error in Congress' 2005 highway bill, which was corrected along with some other changes by the legislation signed Friday by Bush. The delay had allowed a competing and cheaper diesel-electric plan to emerge as an alternative, but with the money now freed up supporters hope to move forward with the MagLev plan.

The train is meant to ease traffic on increasingly clogged Interstate 15, the main route for the millions of Southern Californians who make the 250-plus-mile drive to Las Vegas each year. There is no train on the route—Amtrak's Desert Wind between Los Angeles and Las Vegas was canceled in 1997 because of low ridership.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., praised passage of the law, saying the MagLev project "will safely and efficiently move people between Southern California and Las Vegas."...

via breitbart 

BehindTheMedspeak: Talking CPR Flashlight

Now here's a mashup to conjure with.

As well as raise the dead, if you follow the instructions.

From the website:
....................

Talking CPR Flashlight

Hear CPR instructions at the touch of a button.

Talking flashlight prompts you through the CPR process with a clear female voice.

Easy-to-use with adult, child and baby instructions and handy pause button.

Compliant with AHA 2005 guidelines, it’s an effective rescue aid and CPR skills refresher.

LED flashlight emits super bright beam.

Uses 2 AAA batteries (included).

4" long.

$35.98.

via bookofjoe 

About RIKEN BSI-TOYOTA Collaboration Center

The Center was born on the basis of long, productive dialogues between Brain Research Institute, RIKEN and Toyota Motor Company to challenge the huge possibility opened by the integration of brain science and engineering. The two organizations, RIKEN and Toyota, embody totally different objectives, senses of values, histories, cultures and
management customs, and have contributed the society in different ways.
It is expected to give a great impact to Japanese science community if the collaboration will establish a powerful deep liaison between these two organizations, through which a new scheme of collaborations is created.

The BTCC is composed of three research domains: 1) neuro-driving, 2) neuro-robotics, 3) health protection. The nine collaboration units are formed to carry out the R&D in these domains, which are listed below.
The BTCC has a branch in Nagoya, in addition to the headquarter inside the RIKEN main campus at Wako. Each collaboration unit includes adjunct researchers from Toyota in order to smooth transfer of technology established in BTCC...

via btcc.brain.riken