| Small, wearable cameras could help keep an eye on cops
As leaders in Seattle and elsewhere call for stronger police accountability, three former Seattle officers hope to cash in on that movement with an action cam for police. The officers' fledgling company, VIEVU, has developed a small, wireless digital camera that could be a tool to record officers' interactions during an arrest or traffic stop. The camera is lightweight, about the size of a pager, and waterproof -- the latter feature being something that officers on Seattle's rainy beat know is paramount, said Chris Myers, who ended his 18-year police career in January to join VIEVU. The PVR-LE easily clips onto an officer's lapel or belt. Four gigabytes of flash memory record up to four hours of video. If someone accuses an officer of wrongdoing, the camera should reveal the truth.
Intel peddles pie in the sky
INTEL'S PAUL OTELLINI gave a CES keynote that had one new codeword, some tech that is much farther off than he hopes and a lot of older process technology news. We will skip the older stuff. The technology is based on the idea of a Star Trekish communicator, a little PDA that will translate voice on the fly. This may not surprise you, the tech is close to real, and probably will be available in the not hugely distant future. It may even be in PDA form before we all die of old age and ennuis. The part less likely to happen before the sun dies a heat death is the camera on the back translating everything that you take a picture of. The Chinese writing on the store menu might be possible, but tossing in contextual info based on pictures? Overlay it intelligently on video in realtime? Ummm, call me a skeptic......
Toshiba Showcases Latest Advanced Technologies at CES 2008
LAS VEGAS and TOKYO, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Toshiba Corporation today announced the diverse line-up of advanced technologies and systems that the company will bring to the Consumer Electronics Show, CES 2008, in Las Vegas from January 7 to 10. At CES, Toshiba will look toward tomorrow, and demonstrate the total commitment to innovation and excellence in digital products that it brings to realizing Digital Life Innovation for consumers, the main theme of the company's CES2008 showcase. (Toshiba booth: Central Hall #12814) Digital Life Innovation Digital Life Innovation will take the consumer experience of digital technology to new heights, a level where advances in digital equipment create new products, shape new services and offer new lifestyle experiences. At CES, Toshiba will introduce the latest advances in technologies and systems that realize Digital Life Innovation, and do so with the wizardry of New York based magician Marco Tempest, who will introduce Toshiba's latest technologies on the presentation stage.
The fragile superpower
The US Federal Reserve has cut the federal fund rate by 75 basis points to 3.5 per cent, the biggest cut in 25 years, while President GeorgeW. Bush has combined with the US Congress to approve an urgent $150 billion package to boost spending and combat the loss of consumer confidence. Consider the dismal story of the Bush presidency. After the 9/11 attack, the folly of the Iraq war, the tribulations of the so-called war on terrorism, the reliance upon China's savings and its choice of high budget and current account deficits, the US now confronts the certainty of an economic downturn and the uncertainty about its depth and duration. The unmistakable message concerns American fragility. This fragility, exposed in Iraq, now centres upon its domestic economy. In a visceral yet multifaced way it feeds into a new political mood on display in the early primaries - that the US is heading in the wrong direction and needs an injection of fresh leadership, inspiration and ideas.
Body material on dSLRs
I was supposed to buy a dSLR last December but decided to hold for a while because of the PMA event, so I could see if there would be new models of dSLRs I could choose. Since there are none for the moment, I've narrowed down my choices to the Nikon D80 and Canon EOS 40D. I know both of them have 10mp sensor. I just want to know what is the relevance of the body material used in these dSLRs (EOS 40D using magnesium alloy; D80 using high-grade-quality plastic)? Do they affect the longevity/lifespan of the unit?
I'm more exposed to nature photography and often go to places where the weather changes everyday. Submitted by ppcfan15, Philippines Answer: .
Dell shuts 140 retail kiosks in US
Dell on Wednesday announced the shutdown of retail kiosks in malls throughout the U.S. as it adjusts its evolving product distribution strategy. The closings comes at a time when Dell is repositioning its retail strategy to attract more customers by selling products through its Web site, retail outlets and over the phone. Dell had over 140 kiosks, called Dell Direct stores, for customers to buy products, including PCs, TVs and printers. Dell representatives staffed the kiosks and assisted buyers in choosing products and placing orders. The kiosks didn't actually carry inventory so products were shipped to buyers. This change does not impact Dell Direct stores in Canada, Asia-Pacific and Japan, said Lionel Menchaca, digital media manager at Dell in a blog entry.
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