‘Official’ iPhone firmware 2.0 now available for download, seriously, for real

Filed under: Cellphones

So yesterday we posted a link to a version of the 2.0 iPhone firmware which was supposedly the release version of the new system software. After getting weirded out by some buggy behavior, then discovering that there were number differences between our version and the version shipping with new iPhone 3Gs, we got a little suspicious. Today, we noticed that the file which Apple made available for upgraders via iTunes sported a slimmer file size and separate designation (1,1 as opposed to the 1,2 of the previous iteration). The new version (supposedly the “official” version) is now available from Apple’s servers — so if you had any misgivings about that initial update, you can snag this and get a do-over. We’ve updated and restored on our phone, and we’ll be honest — it does seem a little bit snappier. Hit the read link for the file, and let us know if you notice any differences.

[Via MacRumors]

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We Must Have Space Sex For Moon and Mars Astronauts, Says Scientist [Space]

In a move that’s been obvious since the film Barbarella hit the planet, a scientist’s research is pointing to the need for sex in space. But it’s for a scientific and sensible reason: avoiding frustration on long-term space missions, when crew-members are crammed into a spacecraft, and living in ridiculously close proximity with no possibility of escaping outside for a spot of fresh air.

Dr Jason Kring, from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, is pressing Nasa to investigate sex in space, and possibly even zero-g pregnancy. Apparently there are potential issues like excessive sweating and low blood-pressure effects that might affect zero-g sex, as well as potential difficulties with the pill (like some other medications) which may not work as well in space.

He’s also arguing for private spaces to be planned into crew quarters on the next Moon missions. Like drinking and eating, he points out that sex is a basic human function and “It doesn’t make sense to assume that these men and women are going to have no thoughts of it for three years.” That’s an approximate timescale for a round-trip mission to Mars.

His suggestion, in an upcoming Nasa publication is that, like polar explorers, crew members should take a colleague as a temporary lover. Can you predict Nasa’s fun-killing response? “We don’t study sexuality in space.” [The Telegraph]

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TiVo 9.4 Summer Update Hitting Boxes This Month [TiVo]

It looks like TiVo’s 9.4 Summer Update has been released ahead of schedule and will supposedly be hitting every box by month’s end. This update brings six new features, two of which actually seem really useful for most TiVoers. Folders will now have the option to be played or deleted, and the guide can be viewed at any time (while watching live TV, a recording, or even a download, but obviously not during menus). Since TiVo’s 9.4 priority page hasn’t been posted yet this update should hit your box as a total surprise while you’re sleeping. [Zatz Not Funny!]

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Filed under: Robots

While some DIY bots understandably creep us out, there’s just as many that bring a smile to our face, and this so-called BiPed robot V-3 from Alex V of Instructables definitely falls into the latter camp. Further adding to our appreciation is the fact that this one is built almost entirely from scratch, right down to the custom made framework cut by a CNC machine. You’d be hard pressed to pick it out from line-up of kit robots, however, with it boasting a full range of movement designed to mimic the human lower body which, as you can see above, even extends to it being able to stand on one leg with ease. Be sure to hit up the link below for a couple of videos and, of course, the instructions for building your own.

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Via [Engadget]

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Review: Generation Kill—The Iraq War, Batteries Not Included [Military Tech]

We cover a lot of high-end military gear here on Giz, but just one of the things that Generation Kill, a great new miniseries that premiered on HBO last night, does well is remind everyone that in the real world, the military is not all UAVs and lasers just yet. Instead of morphing robots to peer under doors, microwave insanity guns or even current-gen tech like Blue Force GPS consoles in every Humvee, the Marines of the First Recon Battalion depicted in the show are lucky if they can get batteries for their nightvision goggles.

The first episode opens with tons of booms and fire—Michael Bay-esque even—with Humvees streaking across the shimmering dessert strafing enemy tanks with 50-cal. machine guns and calling in support from Cobra helicpoter gunships. Then you realize it’s all just a training mission, and that the tedious desert hours that follow are the real meat of this show.

On the tech side, these Marines are struggling. Yes, there is in fact a Blue Force tracker console in the lead Lieutenant’s truck, showing satellite maps of the battlefield and tracking friendlies and enemy units via GPS. But at the same time he’s showing it off, other drivers are bargaining for salvaged hoses and gaskets for their busted Humvees, and grabbing smuggled batteries brought in by an embedded reporter from Rolling Stone for their NVGs. “It’s like Gilligan’s Island—they’re giving us rocks and coconuts to make radios with,” says one. Yes, recon Marines are legendary for gettings things done quick and dirty, but when low-rank Marines are spending $500 or more of their own money for parts for their own trucks—damn. That may come as no surprise to anyone who has been or knows someone who has been deployed, but for us sitting here watching HBO in our living rooms, it’s something we can’t be reminded of enough.

Generation Kill was created by David Simon and Ed Burns (based on the book of the same name), the minds behind the just plain fucking brilliant The Wire. To Iraq they bring their same absolutely no bullshit treatment they gave to the Baltimore streets, with no clean-cut, by-the-book plots, practically no background music, and no warm and fuzzy morals or bleeding heart polemics. Just the straight stuff, which unfortunately includes Marines ordering titanium armor for their Humvees’ turrets off of eBay and hoping they’ll get Fedexed to the Kuwaiti desert. With all the far-out DARPA concepts you see online every day, it’s important for everyone to remember that despite a lot of leaps forward, here in the 21st century, the shit is still the shit.

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Wii MotionPlus Brings More Accurate Motion-Sensing to the Wii [Breaking]

Nintendo just announced the Wii MotionPlus, a small peripheral that plugs on to the bottom of the Wiimote to give greatly improved motion sensing, allowing for games to truly use your motion on screen for, say, a lightsaber game.

Nintendo’s upcoming Wii MotionPlus accessory for the revolutionary Wii Remote controller again redefines game control, by more quickly and accurately reflecting motions in a 3-D space. The Wii MotionPlus accessory attaches to the end of the Wii Remote and, combined with the accelerometer and the sensor bar, allows for more comprehensive tracking of a player’s arm position and orientation, providing players with an unmatched level of precision and immersion. Every slight movement players make with their wrist or arm is rendered identically in real time on the screen, providing a true 1:1 response in their game play. The Wii MotionPlus accessory reconfirms Nintendo’s commitment to making games intuitive and accessible for everyone. Nintendo will reveal more details about the Wii MotionPlus accessory and other topics Tuesday morning at its E3 media briefing.

Now let’s watch and see how Nintendo tries to spin a fix to underwhelming motion sensing as a new feature. Adventures in marketing, ahoy! [Nintendo]

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Filed under: Robots

While some DIY bots understandably creep us out, there’s just as many that bring a smile to our face, and this so-called BiPed robot V-3 from Alex V of Instructables definitely falls into the latter camp. Further adding to our appreciation is the fact that this one is built almost entirely from scratch, right down to the custom made framework cut by a CNC machine. You’d be hard pressed to pick it out from line-up of kit robots, however, with it boasting a full range of movement designed to mimic the human lower body which, as you can see above, even extends to it being able to stand on one leg with ease. Be sure to hit up the link below for a couple of videos and, of course, the instructions for building your own.

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Via [Engadget]

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Sony VAIO hands-on extravaganza

Filed under: Laptops

Sony really bumped out a whole lot of laptop today, but we got a chance to handle each and every one, and came away impressed — perhaps not blown away, but Sony certainly doesn’t seem to be planning on letting the likes of Lenovo run away with the PC laptop design crown. None of the laptops felt astounding light, but they did all feel rather solid to handle, as if crafted out of a single element, instead of cobbled together — particularly the magnesium alloy-built BZ. We’ll have to get some more time with the keyboard to get a real read on them, but we like the shape of the keys and the depth of the action. Something that sort of flew under the radar in Sony’s announcement is a new sort of OS X-esque dock at the bottom of the screen, with a row of icons that can be clicked on, or activated by a row of hard buttons above the SR’s keyboard. The worst thing we can say about the whole lineup is how particularly chunky the Z looks in profile, despite its 1-inch thickness, but that’s just because we’ve been spoiled by the likes of Lenovo, Apple and Voodoo, and all those ultralights aren’t packing near what the Z is. Oh, and let it be known: the glowing power button thing is pretty sexy.

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iPhone lines cut off on East Coast and Midwest, west side still rockin’

Filed under: Cellphones

This’ll come as no surprise to those of you that’ve been following our worldwide line / stock watch, but with lines hitting six hours long, Apple’s started capping them so that stores can close and prepare for tomorrow. Reports of line capping are coming mostly from larger stores in the East Coast and Midwest, but the Glendale Apple store in California is reportedly capped as well. Interestingly, while carrier stores worldwide have all sold out, we’ve heard that most Apple stores have had more than enough inventory — one tipster reported that delivery trucks were being used to store overflow, since the main stock rooms were full at his local store — so we’re guessing the lines have more to do with the slowness of the activation process catching Apple off-guard. It certainly wasn’t smooth sailing today, but eventually things started working, and it seems like anger’s turned to love for a lot of folks. And isn’t that the basis of every good relationship? Oh, right. So who’s going to get up and do this all again with us tomorrow?

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MSI Wind starts arriving, gets unboxed

Filed under: Laptops

Sure, the MSI Wind’s taken its sweet time to start shipping here in the States, but it looks like a few units finally started trickling out last week, and that means its time for a torrent of unboxing pictures and videos to flood the tubes. Adam Smith has the first video we’ve seen — head on after the break to watch his very-visible hands pull a black Wind running XP blinking into the world for the first time.

[Thanks, Cameron]

Continue reading MSI Wind starts arriving, gets unboxed

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