Found this on New Scientist: “Three mechanical bipeds, built by researchers from Cornell University, the University of Michigan and Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US and Delft University in the Netherlands, respectively, walked along in an amiable, if somewhat awkward fashion.

“The most advanced commercial robots, including Honda’s humanoid bot, Asimo, typically require a multitude of motors and sensors in each joint - as well as powerful adaptive software - to remain steady while walking. But the new bots instead use simple mechanical dynamics and minimal motorisation to stride along. The shape of each robot’s frame and joints naturally enable them to walk along without requiring much exertion. A similar fundamental simplicity underlies the way in which humans walk.”

Wonder why that took so long to figire out?

Here’s one for anyone with cats (there’s a dog version too) interested in letting the pet in, but keeping the racoons out. (We have 5 racoons on our back porch every night and they will kill cats whenever possible.)

Notes from the catalogue: “Give your cat the freedom he desires by installing a cat door that will allow admittance to him and him alone. Your pet will be able to come and go as he pleases without interrupting your schedule, and you’ll never have to deal with strays entering your home with the Infrared Locking Cat Door, which communicates with a key worn on your pet’s collar. The collar key is powered by the included button-cell batteries. Four AA 1.5V alkaline batteries are required for the door but are sold separately.” $94.99

By Alice Hill
This will probably be the one time we break our very steadfast tech-and-only-tech rule. About an hour ago I found out that Hunter S. Thompson was dead of what they believe to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

You can find many places online that will detail his controversial career and life, but I just want to say this: HST taught me how to write or at least write in a more edgy and fearless way, and that is not a small thing when you string words together for a living. I didn’t really get his obsessions with guns, and Aspen, political campaigns, sports and hardcore drinking and drugs, but I loved the way the man wrote a sentence. Even Richard Nixon loved the way he covered football and wanted to talk sports alone with him, despite the fact that Thompson was not exactly a fan. Anyway, the weird thing was, I was reading an old book of his this weekend. Just decided out of the blue to re-read some of his work, and then found this out before turning in tonight.

Thanks for letting me use this place to thank someone who helped me write the Hard Edge in a harder and edgier way than I might have. That was not a small act when you are just starting out. To that above all I give thanks.

Carly may be gone, but HP is rolling out some nice new digital cameras this week. Feast your eyes on this…

“The Photosmart R717 will be HP’s high resolution camera at 6.2 megapixels. Other features include 3x optical zoom, 8x digital zoom, 1.8 inch LCD screen, and a burst rate of 3 frames per second with a buffer of 3 frames.

“The Photosmart M417 will also sport a high resolution sensor at 5 megapixels. The camera will also include 3x optical zoom, 7x digital zoom, 2 shot per second burst mode for up to 3 pictures, and a 1.8 inch LCD screen. This camera has a slimmer and smaller design than the R717 perfect for the first time photographer.

“The Photosmart M23 starts off HP’s affordable camera line. The M23 will feature a 4 megapixel sensor with 6x digital zoom (no optical zoom), 1.5 inch LCD screen, movie mode, and a slim water resistant metal body with a sliding cover to protect the lens. The camera is estimated to hit streets in spring of 2005 for $169 USD.

“The Photosmart M22 is basically the same as the M23 model except with a few scaled down features. It sports the same slim water resistant metal body as the M23, but features 6x digital zoom.

“The Photosmart BMW Williams.F1 Team Special Edition will feature the almost the same body as the R717 except its blue! The camera will have scaled down features from the R717; 4.1 megapixel sensor, 3x optical zoom, 7x digital zoom, 1.5 inch LCD screen, and 4 shots burst mode for 5 frames. The camera will also come with a BMW WilliamsF1 Team CD.” Source: MobileMag.com

By Alice Hill
We cover this here not for the fact that someone created a pretty life-like replica of the creepy hotel from “The Shining” but for the fact that it was done for the all but forgotten but incredibly fun multiplayer 1st person shooter game, Duke Nukem 3D.

I have to say that poor Duke got the shaft when Quake came out back in the day. Quake was intricate and textured, but Duke was cartoony and fun. I can still hear the screams of co-workers when we would play an after hours round of Duke and the Jet Pack and laser trip bombs would never stop catching them off guard. If you’re feeling nostaligic, post something here. Would love to fire up old Duke again.

Heeeeresss Johnny….

This is one of those great discoveries that keeps you tinkering all day. I discovered Konfabulator and the rest was history. Here’s why:

“Konfabulator is a JavaScript runtime engine for Windows and Mac OS X that lets you run little files called Widgets that can do pretty much whatever you want them to. Widgets can be alarm clocks, calculators, can tell you your WiFi signal strength, will fetch the latest stock quotes for your preferred symbols, and even give your current local weather.

“What sets Konfabulator apart from other scripting applications is that it takes full advantage of today’s advanced graphics. This allows Widgets to blend fluidly into your desktop without the constraints of traditional window borders. Toss in some sliding and fading, and these little guys are right at home in Windows XP and Mac OS X.”

The screenshot is a snippet of my actual desktop. I now have a cool RSS reader, battery gauge, live weather forecast, Wifi signal meter, calendar, and so many others, it’s just hard knowing what to keep on the desktop at all times, and what to pull up when you need it. (Like the very cool flight tracker.) There are web-cams and picture frames and everything can be dragged and placed on the desktop and then customized to be solid or almost invisible. Anyway, I could go on and on, or just try it yourself. The download is free and the graphics are extraordinary.

Why haven’t these guys gotten more press?

Feeling lost when rappers start talking the old “Fo Shizzle ma mizzle?” Thanks to technology and a website I can assure you will slapped around by lawyers faster than you can say Booble (the search engine for porn that Google went after big time), it’s Gizoogle.

I ran RealTechnews through the Gizoogle “Translatin’ Page” and my earlier post about attending the DEMO confernce came out like this:

“So I finally gots ta attend tha famous Demo conference this pizzast wizzy as it celebrated 15 years of white-knuckled 6-minute-only live demos wit no Powerpoints permitted. This is where Tivo made its debut, n where over 75 lucky young companies git ta showcase they new technolizzles fo` tha VCs n journalists circl’n tha room like edgy sharks .

“My personal take: I am sorry ta say T-H-to-tha-izzat nuttin’ really grabbed me. There wizzle rappa ta install internet security cams, n coo` presentizzle tools, 3D audio fo` 3G cizzay phone gam’n (uh…hello?) n a bunch of shiznit thizzay didn’t work when tha internet connection went dizzy.”

Word to the street!

True, this guy looks more than a little bit dorky, but the concept is pretty cool for any racing/driving game lovers.

According to Gadgetshop.com in an even a dorkier write-up: “Are you a speed fiend? Do you hanker all day to get home to your PS2 or Xbox and conquer the next world famous racing circuit? If you do then you’ll know how annoying it is to be setting a blistering pace round the track, only for your pedals to slip just as you’re going into a tight corner. Every second counts – and no one knows that better than the people who designed the Race Pac. It’s a completely unique system, compatible with both PS2 and Xbox games stations incorporating an adjustable racing wheel with an adjustable racing seat and pedals.

“When it’s not in use, the Race Pac simply folds away and can be transported to a friend’s house or stored with ease under a bed or in a cupboard. The wheel has a sensitivity adjust feature enabling gamers to alter the responsiveness while playing, plus a cruise control feature to set the car’s acceleration level. Pro Style racing paddles for quick shifting and fully adjustable metal frame construction round out this high tech piece of professional driving gear.”

Price is about $200. Zoom Zoom.