Apple, We Have A Problem: NASA Says iPhone Is Not A Suitable Business Tool
NASA has declared the iPhone not ready for business use by their employees. Instead, they're planning on supporting the Blackberry 8800 or PalmTreo 750. [InformationWeek]
Image via Wired
More: continued here
Baby On Board: Baby Alert Child Minder Remembers Your Kids When You Forget
It's better to be safe than sorry: Baby Alert's Child Minder system (baby not included) replaces the generic strap on your kid's car seat, causing a keychain alarm to sound every time you move more than ten feet from the buckled fastener that ties your tot down. $64.95 for peace of mind. [The Child Minder System via Sci Fi Tech]
More: continued here
Breaking: Mac Event at Apple HQ Next Tuesday
Next Tuesday, August 7th, at 10am PDT, Apple's holding an event which will be focused on the Mac. It'll take place at Apple's Cupertino HQ in the Town Hall. Guess those iPod nano rumors were wrong. My best guess is that it's for new iMacs that Kasper at Appleinsider has been speculating on for awhile. But we'll all find out for sure next Tuesday when we liveblog it. For those curious, the Town Hall looks like this:
More: continued here
Pro Sports Schedule Watch
For sports buffs who want to catch every single game their team plays, the Pro Sports Schedule Watch definitely comes in handy, containing your favorite NFL or MLB team's season schedule while displaying complete results for every Super Bowl and World Series. Additional features include a backlight display, a USB connector, and an alarm function. I think such a watch is pretty ironic - if you're a sports fanatic in the first place, you won't need a measly watch to remind you of your team's games throughout the season as you'll already have all the dates and schedules down pat in your memory. Still, if you want to have a backup device that helps you remember all those important dates (and I don't mean your wedding anniversary), the Pro Sports Schedule Watch fits the bill for $129.
More: continued here
In Brief: Philippe Khan, of Borland and Camera Phone …
Philippe Khan, of Borland and Camera Phone fame, won the Transpac sailing race in the double-handed class, with and without handicap factored in. Congrats to team Pegasus. [Pegasus via Giz]
More: continued here
Super Sky Cycle takes flight
Looks like flying is the best way to beat traffic jams (planning your route properly and waking up earlier than everyone else comes a close second), and the Super Sky Cycle is the latest homebuilt aircraft that is capable of flight. Coming in the form of a trike, it can achieve a top flight speed of 100mph and a highway speed of 55mph. I wouldn't recommend hitting the top speed with this since there aren't exactly any crumple zones, roll cages, or airbags to provide adequate protection. You can pick up the Super Sky Cycle for $37,195. This is where your cumulative knowledge of D.I.Y. comes in handy.
More: continued here
Block GPS signals with this
If you're paranoid of somebody tracking your every movement through a GPS bug planted somewhere in your vehicle, there is the Anti-Tracking GPS Blocker that will scramble and jam and signal broadcasting within the 1450 to 1600MHz range. All you need to do is plug it into the vehicle's cigarette lighter socket and you're good to go, as it encompasses you in a 4 metre "bubble" to prevent any GPS tracking device installed in your vehicle. While 4 metres works with virtually all cars, it falls short when it comes to lorries, trucks, trailers, and buses.
More: continued here
Solar cells now in technicolor
We are all accustomed to the fact that solar cells come in just one color - blue, since they tend to absorb as much green light as possible which is the strongest part of the solar spectrum. Technology has now enabled us to choose our solar cells thanks to the development of Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSC). Instead of relying on just metal oxides inside the DSSC, different dyes and sensitizers have been included for reduced cost and added color. Guess this development will enable us to include some artistic sense in future solar-powered products by absorbing different sections of the solar spectrum. Care bears, shine!
More: continued here
New Milestone: iPhone Reverse Engineering Opens New Door to Total Unlock
The iPhone Dev Team keeps closing up on their total unlocking target: they just announced that they have reverse-engineered the software which controls the iPhone's radio communications. The team has now a new way to search for the key to make the JesusPhone work with other carriers. Jump for all the naughty bits.
Here is how this works: the iPhone's radio communications are handled by the Infineon S-Gold2, an ARM-based chip which also controls the JesusPhone's multimedia abilities. Its low-level functions are handled by the Nucleus Real Time Operating System which, according to iPhone Dev rebel forces, is one of the fronts that could give them a chance to try to "access or disable the lock from within the system." By reverse engineering and documenting Nucleus, hackers have reached another milestone towards freeing the phone from the AT&T network. From here, one of their objectives is to be able to manipulate the baseband's memory, so they can also change communication parameters.
Unlocking the iPhone is still not going to be an easy task, however. This work also shows that the iPhone has two layers now that need to be explored to achieve the total unlocking. First, the one running in the main CPU, the main operating system (Mac OS X). Second, Nucleus running on a secondary chip controlling the access to the baseband's memory. In other words: two doors, two locks, but also one more front to crack this Pandora's Box open.
The iPhone Dev Team is saying that total unlocking is the priority N?ɬ?mero Uno for most of its members and they are all working around the clock to achieve it. We still don't know how the new iPhone firmware update will affect them, but their determination seems unlimited.
If you are an expert, enlist in the Rebel Forces using their IRC Channel.
More: continued here
Adventurometer watch for outdoor buffs
If you absolutely love heading to the great outdoors and spending time with nature, the Adventurometer watch will definitely be a valued companion compared to an incessantly chattering partner who whines about soggy bread and mosquitoes. This special timepiece incorporates an integrated altimeter, digital compass, thermometer, and barometer in a single lightweight device. Time signals are received from the Atomic Clock and updated automatically for the most accurate time in the world. In fact, it can even synchronize with an atomic time signal up to 2,000 miles away. The a fully charged solar powered battery can run for up to five months without additional exposure to light, so you won't need to worry about running out of batteries even in the wilderness. The Adventurometer retails for $299.95 a pop.
More: continued here