DVDX Homebrew Hack Brings Full Wii DVD Playback, Doesn’t Require Modchip [Wii Homebrew]

All you need is the Homebrew Channel to add your Wii to the hundreds-long list of devices in your house that can play DVDs. Previous DVD hacks required a modded console, but now you can grab a .DOL file and install a DVD-capable version of mplayer without opening the hood. It should also play video files off of an SD card, although this is still experimental. We haven’t tested yet, but if you do, let us know if it works. [Hackmii]

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Bill Gates Predicts the Future, Again [The Future, Conan?]

If you thought you were going to stop hearing about Bill Gates after his farewell, check out his latest predictions about what’s going to be cooking in the next decade, straight from Microsoft Asia research arm’s 10th Anniversary forum:

• The Internet will lead to a software revolution.

People often talk about this as the Internet service revolution. That will eventually lead to machines that have lots of server capacity, lots of low-cost computing, low-cost storage. And that will let us write software in an even more ambitious way, eliminating the last constraints we have.

• Computer interfaces will include touch, speech, and vision

They [computer interfaces] are fairly developed in the labs, I can say that in 10 years will be widespread.

• Artificial intelligence in robots. Maybe.

You might get artificial intelligence or robotics, but those are still so undeveloped, at least in terms of widespread impact.

Is that it? Google apps, iPhones, and halfwit robots? That’s the future? Didn’t all this nothingness actually happen in this decade? Oh the humanity. [CNN]

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Filed under: Robots

Sure, it’s not uncommon to see one robot arm take a break from productivity to engage in some shenanigans potentially fraught with peril, but two robot arms slacking off and wielding weapons? Well, that’s cause for some sort of celebration. As you can see in the video after the break, however, whomever was responsible for this madness didn’t completely let the arms loose on each other, which we can only hope means they’re saving the arms for the inevitable Wiimote-controlled version.

[Via Boing Boing Gadgets]

Continue reading Robot arms do battle… Medieval Times-style

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Via [Engadget]

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How would you change HTC’s Advantage X7510?

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

There’s no denying that HTC’s Advantage X7510 fills a narrowing niche — after all, how many of these things have you seen out and about in the subway / underground? Still, there’s just something very enticing about a 5-inch VGA display, built-in GPS, HSDPA, WiFi, Bluetooth and a full-blown QWERTY keyboard, is there not? For you folks who plunked down quite a few bills in order to bring this home, how has your experience been? For you folks in America who have just recently decided to bite the bullet and jump in, was it worth it? How would you tweak this do-it-all conglomerate (besides making it way more affordable)? Here’s your shot to get it out, don’t let it pass you by!

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How the Name “Wii” Saved This Dude’s Social Life [Wii]

When the Wii console first came out, everyone and their mother commented on how stupid the name was. It still is to be perfectly honest, but after a couple of years we have grown more accustomed to hearing it. But imagine what it would be like if your legal name was Wii? Believe it or not, a guy named Wii Yatani has had the now famous moniker since birth, and he claims that Nintendo’s console has changed his life for the better.

“When I was growing up, I had a pretty difficult time,” he said. “I just found when I was introducing myself to people, it was a little awkward.”

No kidding.

He isn’t the first guy with the name though. An MTV Multiplayer article points out that there were several uses of the name in the past. However, as far as anyone can tell, he is the only person mentioned in the English-language media with the name. Not surprisingly, when the console first came out, all of his friends got back in touch with their inner Jr. High School student and began opening up old scars with “wee-wee” jokes and the classic “Oh, Wii, are you going to go home to play with yourself?” Hahaha…ahem. It’s a serious problem.

Despite these setbacks, Wii Yatani has grown comfortable with his unique name and its association with the popular Nintendo console. He claims that it has helped people say and spell his name correctly for the first time, not to mention the fact that is has resulted in a fair amount of notoriety. Wii’s friends have even suggested that hey try and score some deal with Nintendo as a spokesman. While I doubt that Nintendo is looking for some sort of video game version of Jared to hock their products, he is still getting his 15 minutes for doing nothing—which is admirable. But here is the really amusing part—he didn’t buy a Wii until 2 months ago and he still hasn’t played it yet. Two months? What the hell man? [MTV]

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Indiana Jones 4 Blu-Ray Details Released With Cool Extras, Movie Still Poop [Blu-Ray]

The Blu-ray edition of the biggest letdown in movie history, also known as Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Whatever Crystal Something will be released on October 14, just in time not to buy it for this holiday season. The two-disc Blu-ray comes in the obligatory 1080p and comes loaded with extras that don’t make the movie any less crappy:

The Special Edition Blu-ray is presented in 1080p High Definition with THX Certified English 5.1 Dolby True HD, French 5.1 Dolby Digital and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese subtitles. The two-disc set includes the following special features:

Blu-ray Disc 1:

Indiana Jones Timelines— Explore the movie through interactive timelines that include video featurettes, in-depth information and unique imagery. Your adventure begins with one of these three timelines:
Story Timeline: Showcases the key events of the “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” storyline.
Production Timeline: A Making-of chronology for “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”.
Historical Timeline: Dives into the real-world historical influences that are referenced in the film.
The Return of a Legend—The evolution of the new film and a tribute to the legendary hero and his creators. (HD)

Pre-Production—Follows Steven Spielberg as he creates animatic sequences, Shia LaBeouf as he learns to swordfight and captures the reunion of filmmakers and cast on the soundstage. (HD)

Disc 2:

Production Diary: Making Kingdom of the Crystal Skull—Join filmmakers, cast and crew for a complete look at the making of the film.
Shooting Begins: New Mexico (HD)
Back To School: New Haven, Connecticut (HD)
Welcome to the Jungle: Hilo, Hawaii (HD)
On-Set Action (HD)
Exploring Akator (HD)
Wrapping Up! (HD)
Warrior Makeup (HD)

The Crystal Skulls (HD)

Iconic Props (HD)

The Effects of Indy (HD)

Adventures in Post Production (HD)

Closing: Team Indy (HD)

Galleries

The Art Department
The Adventure Begins
Cemetery and Jungle
Akator
Stan Winston Studio
Corpses, Skeletons & Mummies
Aliens & Crystal Skulls
Production Photographs

Portraits

Behind-the-Scenes Photographs

[Latino Review]

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Steve Jobs: 60 million iPhone apps downloaded, confirms kill switch

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Steve Jobs, presumably speaking from a hyperbaric chamber where he’s being nourished with an infusion of liquefied developers-souls before his next public appearance, had a few interesting tidbits about the AppStore for the Wall Street Journal this morning. Namely, users have downloaded some 60 million programs for the iPhone representing sales of about $30 million since the launch last month — a 30/70 revenue split between Apple and developers, respectively. “The thing’s going to crest a half billion soon,” Jobs added, “I’ve never seen anything like this in my career for software.” He went on to say that phone differentiation is no longer about radios and antennas (or uh, battery life) but about software. Steve also confirmed the controversial iPhone application kill switch in the event that Apple inadvertently approves a malicious program for distribution. Jobs said, “hopefully we never have to pull that lever, but we would be irresponsible not to have a lever like that to pull.” As to the $999.99 I Am Rich application, the dubious download that displayed nothing but a glowing red gem, pulling that from the store was a “judgment” call. Sure, but that doesn’t explain how it made it through the vetting process to begin with.

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Microsoft’s “Unwrap Mosaics” Add Moustaches (and More) to Video [Virtual Mustaches]

Imagine being able to put a handlebar mustache on Grandma in a home video as easily as you could with Photoshop and a digital image. Microsoft showed off new technology called “Unwrap Mosaics” at the SIGGRAPH trade show in Los Angeles that could make this dream a reality without the need for fancy professional equipment.

By “unwrapping” or flattening a 3D image, the program simplifies the editing process, making it possible to add artifacts and other special effects with greater ease. The project is only in the research phase at the moment, but the long term goal would undoubtedly be to slap a UI on there and deliver it to a mustache hungry public. Hit the link for a videos and documentation on the Unwrap Mosaic technology. [Unwrap Mosaics]

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Filed under: Robots

No matter how much we do it, video conferencing is still one of the most awkward internet-related tasks we undertake on a regular basis. Nokia hopes to bring a more casual air to the event with its Jeppe video conferencing robot pet concept. Similar to most telepresence bots, Jeppe can be controlled remotely — through a Nokia interface, conveniently — and zips through the home with its digital compass and sound sensors seeking humans to bother. Unfortunately, the video is at a fixed angle and there’s no option wipe that creepy grin of its face, but obviously Nokia has some refining to do before it brings Jeppe to market, if ever. There’s video after the break of a couple Finnish engineers proving once and for all that there’s no solving the awkward video conferencing problem.

[Via Core77]

Continue reading Nokia’s Jeppe video “pet” concept

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Via [Engadget]

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Dell adds $450 SSD option to XPS M1330 and M1530

Filed under: Laptops

It’s not as momentous as the new enterprise-focused Precisions and Latitudes, but Dell’s got a tiny little treat for consumers today as well: an available $450 Samsung SSD for the XPS M1330 and M1530. Sure, the benefits are debatable, but c’mon — you know you want it.

[Thanks, Justin R.]

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