It’s been a controversialdecision, but it looks like the OLPC XO has completed its transition from revolutionary education project to just another tinyWindowslaptop with a useless keyboard — albeit one with a pleasantly whimsical design. Yep, it’s official: Microsoft and OLPC just put out a joint press release saying that XP-loaded XOs will be available starting in August or September, with some countries to get the machines as soon as next month. Users will get all the regular functionality of XP — it’s basically the same build as on the Eee and other ultraportables — but Microsoft’s spent over a year developing specialized drivers for the XO’s various features like e-book mode, the writing pad, and camera. (We’re pretty certain that doesn’t include mesh networking, but WiFi is supported.) XP is too big for the built-in 1GB flash chip, so it’ll come preloaded on a 2GB SD card, leaving just about 1.5GB free total for apps and media. It seems like Microsoft is thrilled about this partnership, but it’s a not going to make NickNeg’s search for new vision at the top any easier. As for Sugar? You’ll still be able to get it, but we have a sinking feeling about its future. Demo video after the break.
Remember yesterday’s drooltasticMotion Pro II racing simulator? Here’s how it works and how much it costs. We talked with Chris Considine—CXC Simulations head honcho—who tells us that yes, people actually buy these things even if they cost more than a car: the Motion Pro II starts at $25,995, but he said that a client spent $45,000 on one, after add-ons. See the complete shopping list—and high definition pictures from a real system—after the jump.
Base model: $25,995 (one screen)
Add-ons
Panoramic display system: $12,995 Six-speed gated shifter and progressive clutch upgrade: $1,049.95 Sequential shifter and hand brake: $1,049.95 Mobility System: $529.95 Carbon fiber bodywork kit: $1,799.95 Advanced on-site setup and training: $2,995
The other options, like the custom paint for the bodywork, are listed as “Call.” And then you have to add the software, like Rfactor for $450 or Race for $195. Too expensive to buy? You can rent one: six hours for $1,400 or a week for $12,200, plus two operators at $750 for half a day. And shipping. [CXC Simulations—full video at Inside Sim Racing]
Rest assured, this won’t be the firstorlast time you hear of insects and mammals being used as inspiration for robotic creatures. Nevertheless, a recent MIT mechanical engineering course saw students craft bots that could handle “beaver-like tasks” such as “knocking down trees and gathering food in the form of street hockey balls” while fending off competitors in 45-second rounds. Separately, the EU-funded SPARK endeavor is seeking to “develop a new robot control architecture for roving robots inspired by the principles governing the behavior of living systems and based on the concept of self-organization.” There’s plenty more material to make your skin crawl in the read links below, just don’t feed the mechs, okay?
Microsoft has officially announced that Windows XP is coming to the OLPC XO with trial runs beginning as early as June. This comes after months of discussion and speculation of when the move would happen. The operating system has been specially modified to run on the computer and support its ebook reading mode, writing pad and camera. And according to the press release, the plan is to have both Windows and Linux running on the machines, to let users decide what’s best.
The price increase for the OLPC loaded with XP will be about $3 on top of the $200 price tag. Users who want a dual boot version to the OLPC will pay $7 extra. The XP operating system will come preloaded on an additional 2GB flash chip, offering 3GB of storage space total (1.5 usable after OS install).
After months of opposition by Bill Gates, talks of the joint venture began at CES 2008, where both men were attending. Widespread distribution of the machines is expected to happen in August or September. Check out the video demo below. [Microsoft and NY Times]
RINGBO put a song in our hearts the other day, and now that we’ve pretended to sit in its little robotic seat, we can assure you that the experience is just as magical as the video makes it out to be. In case you’re curious, the bumper-mounted IR sensors work great for stopping Junior from knocking over another vase, and the controls really couldn’t be simpler. We heard a price somewhere in the ballpark of a few hundred dollars, but there’s really no telling until it lands Stateside for reals. Check out our best approximation of the original music video after the break — and be amazed.
Over the last month or so, residents of Tilburg in the Netherlands have bore witness to artist John Körmeling’s bizarre artistic vision. The project, nearly a decade in the making, involves a rotating house sitting smack dab in the Hasselt roundabout—a spot that has been designated to showcase works of art (not to mention acting as one of the most important gateways to the city).
Powered by solar panels, the full-scale model house makes one complete rotation every 20 hours—which results in a rather disorienting experience for commuters who frequently travel in and out of the city. The house is uninhabited, but if a drunken bum should ever wander in there to sleep one off, he is in for one hell of a hangover. [Project Page via Flabber via RGS]
Stand down oh gentle readers and defenders of the flesh, we’re getting reports from Detroit that the baton wielding ASIMO did not direct the human race to its doom. Instead, Yo-Yo Ma is safe and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra concert went off without a hitch while netting the DSO a cool million for the musical education of Grosse Pointe’s children. Of course, the Honda-built robot wasn’t so lucky as he got “keyed” on his walk back through the parking lot. We kid, we kid.
Samsung has developed a new technology for LCD panels called Blue Phase, which it claims improves picture quality on its high-end LCD TVs. Called Blue Phase, the cost-efficient design eschews liquid crystal alignment layers, instead making its own, bringing production costs down. Current video image quality is driven at 120Hz, but the new technology will effectively double that to 240Hz. A 15-inch model will be unveiled in LA next week, and Samsung expects mass production to begin in 2011. Full press release below.
Samsung Develops World’s First “Blue Phase” Technology to Achieve 240 Hz Driving Speed for High-Speed Video Seoul, Korea - May 14, 2008- Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world’s largest provider of thin-film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panels announced today that it has developed the world’s first “Blue Phase” LCD panel - which will offer more natural moving images with an unprecedented image-driving speed of 240 Hertz. Samsung is planning to unveil a 15″ model of its Blue Phase LCD panel at the SID (Society for Information Display) 2008 international Symposium, Seminar and Exhibition, which will be held in Los Angeles from May 18 to 23. Executive Vice President Souk Jun-hyung, the head of LCD Business’ Display R&D Center, said that “Our Blue Phase mode is a major evolutionary development beyond conventional liquid crystal modes. Samsung’s development of the technology provides a tremendous opportunity to move image quality of LCD screens much closer to that of a real moving image.” Developed with an extremely cost-efficient design, Samsung’s Blue Phase mode does not require liquid crystal alignment layers, unlike today’s most widely used LCD modes such as Twisted Nematic, In-Plane Switching or Vertical Alignment,. This new Blue Phase mode can make its own alignment layers, eliminating the need any mechanical alignment and rubbing processes. This reduces the number of required fabrication processes, resulting in considerably savings on production costs. Additionally, Blue Phase panels will reduce the possibility of bruising the LCD panel interface whereby pressure on the screen can impair uniform brightness. Overdrive circuits are currently applied to each LCD panel to improve the video image quality in premium LCD TVs, which are driven at 120Hz. The Blue Phase mode features a superior response rate, allowing images to be reproduced at 240Hz or higher without the need for any overdrive circuit. The term “Blue Phase” was coined when the technology’s developers observed bluish hues while watching their new liquid crystal mode in operation. Since many academic and corporate institutions researched this new liquid crystal mode, Samsung has become the first to unveil a commercially viable product prototype using the “Blue Phase” technology. Samsung expects to begin mass producing its Blue Phase LCD in 2011. The LCD panels will be mainly used in TVs that require high-speed video reproduction.
Cymbals! That’s what was missing from the Rock Band drum kit. Not missing, since some of the pads changed to cymbals whenever necessary, but it didn’t have two upper pads dedicated explicitly to them. No more. Game Informer says the upcoming Guitar Hero IV will have a six-padded drum set, but a custom-designed guitar due to the legal problems Activision had with Gibson. You’ll supposedly be able to create your own songs as well, but we’re not sure if you can just import an existing MP3 and go from there, or if you have to create it from scratch. And by “scratch,” we mean copying your favorite songs as best you can. [Primo Technology]
Why is this child so happy? It’s because he’s taking RINGBO the riding robot by the horns! See his glee as he cruises around for an entire hour at a blazing 2MPH? Hey, it only took six hours to charge up. RINGBO is controlled by those horn-like joysticks, and we can only hope that front panel contains an IR receiver — one that might give parents hours of pleasure as they override their kids’ intended direction. RINGBO will be shown by Airrobot at this week’s Koreannovation Trade Show in NYC, so we’ll be sure to bring our offspring, as it’s meant for children aged 2-3 and up to 66lbs. We just want to know two things: how much, and can we cheat the 66lb weight limit? Maybe just a little? C’mon. Want to have your mind totally blown? Please watch the video after the break. Please.
Remember yesterday’s drooltastic 
Rest assured, this won’t be the 
Microsoft has officially announced that Windows XP is coming to the OLPC XO with trial runs beginning as early as June. This comes after months of 
Over the last month or so, residents of Tilburg in the Netherlands have bore witness to artist John Körmeling’s bizarre artistic vision. The project, nearly a decade in the making, involves a rotating house sitting smack dab in the Hasselt roundabout—a spot that has been designated to showcase works of art (not to mention acting as one of the most important gateways to the city). 
Samsung has developed a new technology for LCD panels called Blue Phase, which it claims improves picture quality on its high-end LCD TVs. Called Blue Phase, the cost-efficient design eschews liquid crystal alignment layers, instead making its own, bringing production costs down. Current video image quality is driven at 120Hz, but the new technology will effectively double that to 240Hz. A 15-inch model will be unveiled in LA next week, and Samsung expects mass production to begin in 2011. Full press release below.
Cymbals! That’s what was missing from the Rock Band drum kit. Not missing, since some of the pads changed to cymbals whenever necessary, but it didn’t have two upper pads dedicated explicitly to them. No more. Game Informer says the upcoming Guitar Hero IV will have a six-padded drum set, but a custom-designed guitar due to the legal problems Activision had with Gibson. You’ll supposedly be able to create your own songs as well, but we’re not sure if you can just import an existing MP3 and go from there, or if you have to create it from scratch. And by “scratch,” we mean copying your favorite songs as best you can. [
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