Apple has gathered gadget bloggers and tech journalists to unveil an update to the iPhone. Gizmodo , GDGT , and Engadget have boots on the ground and/or liveblogs in the ether (some are covering remotely). Ars Technica and MacWorld liveblogs are down at the time of this blog post. Oh, wait, Gizmodo and GDGT liveblogs are down intermittently too. Geez.

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Exciting Silicon Valley startup to launch new ‘telecommunications’ device

A group of Belgian university students from the Expertise centre for Digital Media (EDM) at Hasselt University created the Twoddler: a Fisher-Price busy-board connected to an Arduino that transmits toddlers’ play into reassuring tweets for their parents (it’s a real project, but the idea is a gag, no one really thinks that parents need to have “Jimmy hit the red button” tweeted to them) (this last to pre-empt the inevitable humorless comments about how this is emblematic of some kind of crisis in parenting). Twoddler: Twittering Toddlers from Bart Swennen on Vimeo . I am a toddler and want my mommy and daddy to know how I am doing while in nursery. They are so busy, but are thinking of me all the time. I want to let them know I am also thinking about them. I can’t phone them, I can’t mail them and I can’t write letters, but I CAN twitter! They love to feel my presence and know that I am active. And that’s not all: I can also twoddler with my friends; we have our own way of communicating that is way cooler than sending text messages. We are showing off what we are doing with our activity boards. When I play, my friends can see this! The best thing is: it doesn’t have to make sense, no stupid boring grown-up logic — just playing! Twoddler: Twittering Toddlers ( Thanks, JP! ) Previously: Learn how to use the Arduino microcontroller with Make's tutorial … Getting Started with Arduino - Boing Boing Make's gift guide to Arduino - Boing Boing Arduino starter project video - Boing Boing Open source handheld game kit: Meggy Jr - Boing Boing

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Toddlers + Fisher Price + Twitter = Twoddler!

I love this simple wooden orrery from Muji’s gift lineup. Sadly, their ecommerce-fu is about as terrible as it gets, but if you’re near a Muji store, it’s ?16 well-spent. Wooden Solar System ( Thanks, Alice ! )

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Wooden orrery

This is a sneak preview of the 3rd generation Kindle robot book . It’s pretty much exactly what I expect to see Amazon roll out next year. And speaking of rolling out — transform! I said transform! *touching breast* Stupid mannequin. The Kindle 3 [collegehumor] Thanks to Julian, who never learned to read and is already on the waiting list.

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Sneak Preview: The Third Generation Kindle?

Filed under: Aftermarket , Gadgets , Etc. , I.C.E. AT&T is starting to work with pockets of customers to test its CruiseCast satellite-based entertainment service before officially putting the TV/radio service on wide offer. When the whole clan is on the go, it may work to keep everyone calm and quiet, and when your Prevost motor coach is loaded up with everything else, you might as well go for the TV service, too. Truckers sticking DBS dishes on their rigs would likely be pleased with the CruiseCast system, especially since AT&T is using some new technology developments by RaySat that defeats the typical issues with line of sight obstacles and underpasses. For comparison’s sake, Sirius is cheaper and offers much more variety than AT&T’s 20 music/talk radio stations, but their optional Backseat TV service only offers three television channels, and they are all geared for the kiddies. Conversely, AT&T’s CruiseCast hardware must be professionally installed and will set you back $1,299, and the monthly payment is $28. Once the service is available for all customers in early June, they’ll have 22 television channels to choose from. All that for the price of a used car and more than $300 bucks a year in subscription costs. Official press release posted after the jump. [Source: Engadget ] Continue reading Eyes on the Road: AT&T bringing CruiseCast in-car satellite tv to market Eyes on the Road: AT&T bringing CruiseCast in-car satellite tv to market originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 May 2009 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read ?|? Permalink ?|? Email this ?|? Comments

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Eyes on the Road: AT&T bringing CruiseCast in-car satellite tv to market

Filed under: Gadgets , Etc. , Tech , Volkswagen Vehicle infotainment systems, those all-inclusive interfaces controlling the myriad electronics on today’s modern cars and trucks, can make or break the driving experience. CNET is offering us a sneak-peek at Volkswagen’s latest iteration from the company’s Electronic Research Laboratory (ERL). Developed with Intel, the new system uses Global Open Research Infotainment Architecture, or GLORIA. Most systems today us a joystick-like device, touch screen, or hard buttons on the edge of the display (or a combination of the three) to control the inputs. Volkswagen’s new GLORIA system takes it one step further by making Apple iPhone-like “gesture control” possible. This means that users are able to navigate quickly by simply tracing single letters across the pressure-sensitive display. Another unique feature may allow users to import third-party widgets for the system, much like consumers currently load apps from iTunes onto their iPhones. As cool as it sounds, GLORIA is still under development and she isn’t expected to see showrooms for a few more years. [Source: CNET , Photo by CNET] REPORT: Volkswagen’s next-gen nav system to get Apple iPhone-like gestures originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 May 2009 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink ?|? Email this ?|? Comments

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REPORT: Volkswagen’s next-gen nav system to get Apple iPhone-like gestures

Filed under: Gadgets , Etc. , Euro , Tech Google has already faced plenty of issues with its Street View technology, not the least of which has been angry Japanese citizens and invasion of privacy lawsuits from Americans whose driveways were mistaken for a roads. Beyond these unforeseen issues, there’s also the rather obvious problem of taking images of places a Chevy Cobalt just can’t reach. Consider that problem (at least partially) solved with the new Google Trike. The three-wheeled, human-powered overgrown tricycles carry 250 pounds of ballast in the form of “a mounted Street View camera and a specially decorated box containing image collecting gadgetry,” says the internet giant. All that extra heft reportedly requires a “specially trained super fit” rider. Google’s new trikes will be deployed first in Genoa, Italy, this spring. Assuming that launch proves successful, Google will send its pedal-powered cameras to the United Kingdom, where they’ll point their lenses towards a slew of famous British landmarks. Have a good one in mind? Google says its open to suggestions and will be working with VisitBritain to pick the most desirable locations to shoot. To assuage those averse to getting their pictures taken, Google promises to “apply our face-blurring and license plate blurring to all these images to protect people’s privacy.” [Source: Google via Wired ] Continue reading Google Street View switching to trikes for roads less traveled Google Street View switching to trikes for roads less traveled originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 May 2009 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink ?|? Email this ?|? Comments

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Google Street View switching to trikes for roads less traveled

Filed under: Gadgets , Etc. , Porsche Porsche owners have long reveled in their ability to smoke the competition on track and street, but now Porschephiles can also leave their marque’s mark on the backside of burgers, hotdogs and ribeyes. Grill marks, of course. Barbeques Galore and Porsche Design Studio have burned the midnight oil for two years while working on the the new X-Series Grill. Under its sleek, German-styled exterior lies some fairly hot grilling technology. Instead of the standard gas burners found in most grills, the X-Series uses four infrared burners that can crank out 52,000 BTUs using 50% less fuel with 80% fewer flare-ups. By our very rough shadetree estimates, that should be good for a zero to steak time of about 10 minutes. Or so. With a starting sticker price of $5,999 Porsche Design’s first grill comes with a motorized rotisserie, an LCD temp display with remote probe, and an insulated double-walled hood. Step up to the X-Series Island (above) for $8,499 for a stainless steel finish and concealed cupboards and gas cylinder storage. All models are covered under a lifetime warranty for service, parts and repair. Also included is the right to brag to your numbers that you have a Porsche in your backyard. Car-B-Q: X-Series Grill by Porsche Design Studio originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 May 2009 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read ?|? Permalink ?|? Email this ?|? Comments

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Car-B-Q: X-Series Grill by Porsche Design Studio

Filed under: Gadgets , CES , I.C.E. , Ford Click the image above to view a video of the new SYNC system after the jump At the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show ( CES ) Ford announced that three new features would be included on the next iteration of the SYNC system: traffic data, GPS-guided directions and the ability to snag information from the web through the user’s data/GPS/Bluetooth-enabled smartphone to display or read weather conditions, sports scores and other information through the stereo. On May 26th, the upgrade will be made available to all current 2010 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury owners (you download the update to your PC, then transfer it to the SYNC system through a thumb drive) and all new 2010 models will be equipped with the upgrade from the factory. But as Ford CEO Alan Mulally promised, there’s more on the way. Ford and Microsoft plan to continually update SYNC, and according to Charlotte Fisher from Ford’s Design and Technology team, “every six to eight to twelve months we’ll be delivering new services.” One of the possible features Ford could include on future iterations of SYNC is streaming internet radio, and Fisher confirmed that Ford is currently “talking with Pandora .” Can you say XM-killer? Hit the jump to watch a video of the new system in action. Continue reading Future Ford SYNC upgrade could include Pandora streaming Future Ford SYNC upgrade could include Pandora streaming originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 May 2009 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink ?|? Email this ?|? Comments

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Future Ford SYNC upgrade could include Pandora streaming

Filed under: Gadgets , Etc. , Tech , Audi , Lifestyle Audi is obviously looking forward to being in the coming Gran Turismo 5. After all, the Quattro company has created a website to promote its car on the N?rburgring in real life and in the game, and it interviewed GT5 mastermind Kazunori Yamauchi about what fans can expect. Yamauchi-san revealed that the game is going to offer not only more vehicles, more online features, and increased detail, but it will also include night racing, damage rendering (previously confirmed), and weather changes. If you watch the Audi R8 Meets Gran Turismo 5 video, one of the game developers even talks of one day providing weather reports for an entire 24-hour race, and you can read the interview with Yamauchi-san by clicking on a PDF link here . The graphical and gameplay additions are surely welcome and long overdue, and could return GT5 to the head of the racing sim pack - whenever it finally gets here… View Poll [Source: GT Planet ] REPORT: GT5 to get weather changes, night racing - and yes, damage rendering [w/POLL] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 May 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read ?|? Permalink ?|? Email this ?|? Comments

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REPORT: GT5 to get weather changes, night racing - and yes, damage rendering [w/POLL]