FocuSoft Tech Blog |
| CMU researchers control microbots with mini magnets Posted: 07 May 2009 04:52 PM PDT
Pardon the alliteration, but we’re excited about the proposition here. For years — millenniums, even — scientists have been trying to figure out how to manipulate minuscule devices with magnets, and at long last, we’ve got a breakthrough in the field. Metin Sitti, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, is credited with creating a new control technique that could allow microscopic machines to “one day deliver drugs directly to a sickly cell or a tumor.” Essentially, the diminutive bots glide across a glass surface covered with a grid of metal electrodes, and you’re just a click away (it’s the Read link, just so you know) from seeing a live demonstration on how they can be used to “anchor one or more microbots while allowing others to continue to move freely around the surface.” Good times. See more here:
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| Acer says US smartphones won’t arrive until 2010 Posted: 07 May 2009 04:11 PM PDT
Acer has been busy showing off one smartphone after the other over the past few months, and making promises about at least one Android-based device, but it now looks like folks in the US will have to wait a bit longer than expected to actually get their hands on ‘em. While complete details are a bit light, according to Gearlog, the phones are being held up as a result of some snags with US carriers, and the first phones now likely won’t make their debut until some unspecified point in 2010. Presumably, that means the phones are still on track for a release overseas this year, and there’s no doubt at least a slight chance that the situation could change over here before the year is out. [Via Phone Scoop] Here is the original post:
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| Japan’s Akihabara Vstone Robot Center Sells Robots and Robot Kits [Japan] Posted: 07 May 2009 04:00 PM PDT
Akiba’s Vstone Robot Center is the nerd-friendly destination’s first robot store, selling robots as well as robot kits and parts for robots. If it’s as otaku as other parts of Akiba, expect a lotta dudes. [Dvice] Read original here:
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| It’s 3.0 Or Die For New iPhone Apps Posted: 07 May 2009 03:53 PM PDT Apple has just sent out an email alert to iPhone developers that any new app submitted to the App Store will have to be ready for the iPhone 3.0 software, which is due shortly (probably around Apple's WWDC event in June). Beginning today, any app submitted that isn't 3.0 compatible will be rejected. Here's the key parts of the email:
I've emailed Apple asking if there are any features specifically that developers should be careful about making sure work in the new 3.0 firmware. Google recently outlined some of the key points of the new Android firmware that developers should watch for in order to maintain compatibility. One potential issue as outlined by our tipster Nick is as follows:
[thanks nick] Crunch Network: CrunchBoard because it's time for you to find a new Job2.0 See more here:
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| AT&T choses Jasper for 3G device help Posted: 07 May 2009 03:52 PM PDT
This move should make it easier for devices like MIDs, GPS, ebook readers and game handhelds to hit AT&T’s 3G network and in a shorter period of time. And even though we don’t know what sort of devices will be brought over first, it is likely we’ll see their first efforts in a few months. All of this makes a lot of sense, especially since AT&T has been adamant about their desire to expand their 3G past the smartphone limit and bring in more devices to the fold. And with a possible 3G MacBook in the future, these efforts seem to fall right in line. Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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| Nvidia Says They Won’t Screw Up Windows 7 Launch Like They Did Vista [Nvidia] Posted: 07 May 2009 03:45 PM PDT Remember how badly Nvidia’s drivers screwed up the Vista launch? They’re so confident they won’t mess up Microsoft’s Windows 7 launch, they’re issuing press releases NOW touting how ready they are. [Yahoo via ZDNet] More here:
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| Clickfree rolls out Clickfree Traveller, DVD Transformer backup devices Posted: 07 May 2009 03:39 PM PDT
Clickfree just kicked out a whole host of backup options at CES earlier this year, but it looks like it’s already rolling out a few more additions, including the Clickfree Traveller automatic backup device and the Clickfree DVD Transformer. The former of those is a slim, credit card-sized hard drive available in sizes from 16GB to 64GB, which will automatically backup all your most important data as soon as you plug it into your Mac or PC. The DVD Transformer, on the other hand, works much like the company’s Transformer Cable, but makes use of the DVD burner in your laptop or desktop for backups instead of a USB drive — which, incidentally, can also function just fine without a $40 peripheral. It’s available right now if you’re in need of a little assistance though, as is the Clickfree Traveller, which’ll set you back between $80 and $240. Go here to read the rest:
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| Swine flu jumps to ThinkGeek server; gives away free stuff! Posted: 07 May 2009 03:34 PM PDT
Since we’ve always said that our customers are t3h awesome and we love you all so much, we let a bunch of the free orders go through. Heck, you deserve it, you had a rough day too, right? So enjoy your free–nay, priceless–goodies if you were lucky enough to get here in time. Since we plan on not letting that happen again, we hope you enjoyed our one-time only Swine Flu sale. And since we did such a good job today both breaking and fixing the site, we’re going to treat the staff to Star Trek tomorrow afternoon, though the database plans to stay at home to recuperate. View post:
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| Avatar Startup FUHU Raises $6.25 Million, Strikes Deal With Acer To Put Widgets In PCs Posted: 07 May 2009 03:32 PM PDT
FUHU, a startup that produces virtual avatars and identity cards and rich media web widgets, has secured $6.25 million in Series B funding from The Acer Group (which produces Acer, Gateway, eMachines and Packard Bell computers). FUHU also signed a 10 year contract to distribute FUHU products in all Acer computers and smart mobile phones. FUHU raised $1.5 million in Series A funding in February 2008 from John Hui (co-founder of eMachines), VIA Technologies, UMC Capital, Industrial Bank of Taiwan, Alorica, and several angel investors. FUHU's urFooz product, an embeddable virtual identity card, allows users to create an avatar and portable profile that contains music, photos, feeds, and videos. The widget then lets users syndicate their profile on social networks (MySpace, Facebook etc.). Through the deal, FUHU will collect computer users' information with out-of-the-box registration for Acer computers. Users will be given the option to create a urFooz avatar and account upon registration. Here's one for Britney Spears: Filling out a profile is similar to filling out a profile on a social network—you are asked for the essential information you would share with a friend, including hometown, employers, relationship status, and education. You can link your profile/avatar to your accounts from Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, FriendFeed, blogs and more. You can also dress your avatar in designer clothes through purchases at urFooz's virtual mall. And you can embed your urFooz card on any social network, blog or site. The card is dynamically updated on these sites when you update your profile. Currently urFooz has about 20,00 users but CEO Jim Mitchell says that the startup could add 1 to 2 million users a month through the integration of urFooz with Acer computer registration. Whether users will actually feel compelled to keep using the profile is another question. The idea of an embeddable avatar is interesting but you can also share photos, videos, and music within your social networks without the help of a widget, Another FUHU widget that will be integrated with Acer computers is the Spinlets widget, which is a rich media widgets that let users place favorite music, videos, links, pictures, MP3s, ring-tones, news and more on social networks, sites and blogs. Currently, the Spinlets site only lets you embed music widgets on sites but the video, pictures and additional functionality will be coming soon. FUHU says there will be some sort of pre-loaded mashup of the Spinlets widget already downloaded on the computers but would not reveal more details about what this will look like. One of the advantages for Acer in this deal is that the company will have access to data and information about users who set up a urFooz profile, including hobbies, activities, interests, says Mitchell. Acer is also planning to integrate FUHU's widgets into its smart phones, which are already out in Asia. Acer plans to unveil its smart phones in the U.S. in 2010. Competitors in the rich media widget space include Slide and RockYou. Crunch Network: CrunchBase the free database of technology companies, people, and investors Continued here:
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| Tonium Pacemaker Pocket DJ Unboxing Posted: 07 May 2009 03:30 PM PDT I'll admit, I had no idea what I was getting into when I opened up the Pacemaker. The functionality and the features of the device are astounding. The Pacemaker Pocket DJ system is a 60 GB portable turntable and mixer that allows you to store your music, beats, and mixes on the internal storage, and spin your music on the go. The Pacemaker features the ability to play two tracks side by side, allowing fading and mixing between the two tracks. Cross fading and mixing is an easy task since you can select any two tracks on the device and have one playing while the other is cued up. Whatever track is active will play through the speakers, while you can have the preview of the cued track playing through the headphones.
The Pacemaker is a compact, sleek device that features a beautiful display and easy to learn controls. I'm a music lover and musician myself, but I called in my DJ buddy to come and play with the device and show me some tricks. In just a few minutes, he was mixing and playing tracks off of the Pacemaker. The device is basically a very powerful, very portable DJ station. The audio out allows you to share your creation with others at a performance venue, or you can even publish your mixes online through the included Pacemaker song editor software. The functionality of this device so far is astounding. Tone modification, treble reducing, beat matching, and any other song-mixing function you can think of are all features of the Pacemaker. Set up was a breeze, and in no time, I was being assaulted by trance beats and heavy bass. The Pacemaker is $499.00 out in the US now, and it includes all the fixings you'll need to get started: cables, chargers and quick start guides. All you need to bring to the table is something better than the 30-second previews of techno songs you got off of iTunes and a pair of cans to hear your creations. I'll be playing with the Pacemaker more in the coming days, and will have a full review for you soon.
Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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![robots Japans Akihabara Vstone Robot Center Sells Robots and Robot Kits [Japan]](http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/gizmodo/2009/05/robots.jpg "Japans Akihabara Vstone Robot Center Sells Robots and Robot Kits [Japan]")
AT&T is now 
ThinkGeek HQ is ground zero for the first-ever biological virus to make the leap to computer hardware. That’s right–today we had an outbreak of H1N1 in our database, and it caused our monkeybots to go crazy and give away some orders for free!Ok, so we didn’t really have swine flu, but we definitely had a glitch that caused some orders so go out at zero cost. You can bet that for a few minutes, the ThinkGeek staff were hoping to jump on the free product train, but we thought better of ourselves and decided to actually fix the problem instead. 
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