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Filed under: Robots

WowWee goes out of its way to make one thing very clear about the Rovio: “this is not a toy.” That being said, it doesn’t make the patrolling sentry any less fantastic, as critics over at Robots-Dreams proclaimed that it was “intuitive and a pleasure to use from the moment you first open the box.” From the painless setup process to the unparalleled mobility, reviewers sounded like they were grinning from ear-to-ear during the entire writeup process. It performed its robotic sentry duties with vigor and valor, and the review crew couldn’t help but note that this bugger was “positioned to be the hottest robot for the upcoming holiday season, and for a long time to come.” In other words, if you’ve been on the fence about dropping three bills on this thing, all your worries about it potentially sucking just got thrashed.

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Source: Darren Murph

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

Minox, we knew you wouldn’t let us down. We’ve seen a few bland cameras released by you over the years, but it warms our hearts to see you haven’t forgotten why we love you. This latest line of miniature cameras comes in three flavors: yuck, meh, and totally badass. The DC 1033 looks like every other camera known to man, with the slight improvement of being a mere 94 x 55 x 24mm with 10-megapixels of firepower. The DCC Leica M3 Gold Edition is nothing more than a rerelease of the silvery edition - tiny, cute, but no match for the classic 30s style DSC (Digital Spy Camera) — 86 x 29 x 20mm, 5-megapixels — to be showcased next week at Photokina in Germany.

[Via Studio Lighting]

Read - Minox DCC Leica M3 Gold Edition
Read - Minox License to shoot

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Source: Stephanie Patterson

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

Okay, let’s get this straight. If D-Link is marketing its new $499.95 Internet Surveillance Starter Kit (and $399.95 Expansion Kit, for the hardcore snoopers) as a method for spying on someone residing within your domicile (save for your infant), you probably need a family counselor — not a gimmicky IP camera. Now, if D-Link is hoping to tickle the fancy of geeks who’d rather check out a room in low resolution rather than taking four or five steps down the hall, we’re pretty terrified about the fate of humanity. Still, the weird(est) part about this thing is the D-Life website which it ties into. Video of your home piped through someone else’s servers — need we say more?

[Via eHomeUpgrade]

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Source: Darren Murph

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

Around this time last year, we got wind of CCD-based projectors and cameras from Olympus that were outfitted with a curious “axial symmetrical free curved surface lens.” Now, said company is finally providing a few details about its current prototype, which essentially enables 360-degree photographs to be taken. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on perspective), the sensor isn’t quite ready to be pushed out into the world, but as you can certainly imagine, it’ll likely make a B-line for surveillance outfits just as soon as it’s ready.

[Via AkihabaraNews]

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Source: Darren Murph

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Looks like we’ll be able to watch first hand as the US attempts to blast its failed spy satellite from the heavens on Thursday as rumored. That’s the first picture of the tumbling spacecraft as taken from the Kumamoto observatory in Japan. That picture was taken with a 20 second exposure but it may still be visible with the naked eye. A certainty if that thousand-pound, hydrazine fuel tank lands in your backyard.

[Thanks, Kaztm]

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Source: Thomas Ricker

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Filed under: Cellphones

Tape up those mitts and put on your thinking caps kids, it’s time for an intellectual rumble. Today’s subject: the Senate’s overwhelming reauthorization of Gee Dubs domestic spying powers with a new measure giving phone companies retroactive immunity from lawsuits. Good thing too (for them) since our AT&T, VZW, and Sprint collaborators have racked up about 40 lawsuits accusing them of violating USitizen’s privacy rights. The bill now goes to the House. If they reject it or fail to pass the measure this week, then the temporary surveillance powers activated after 11 September, 2001 will expire on the House floor. So what’s it going to be, live free or die or give up some civil liberties in good faith to your government? Your state representatives would like to know.

P.S. For those following the election: McCain voted for telco immunity, Obama against, and Clinton didn’t vote at all even though she was in the area for Tuesday’s primaries.

Voter Roll-call (a “Yea” is a vote to strike the immunity provision)

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Source: Thomas Ricker

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Filed under: Wearables

We’ve certainly seen our share of wearable cameras and CCTV gear, but a company in England called WCCTV is aiming to combine the worst qualities of each with the 3G Covert Backpack, a torso-mounted vest with built-in camera and 3G modem. We’re not exactly sure how “covert” a giant vest with a camera sticking out of it is, but assuming you make it into your mark’s back-alley lair, the vest will transmit audio and video over 3G to your handlers, as well as your GPS-tracked location. If things get hairy, there’s a panic button — but it’s located on the right shoulder, so smacking it is just about as discreet as yelling for help into the camera. Of course, you could always just chuck the enormous waist-mounted battery pack and control unit at your assailants while you wait for help to arrive — or you could slip any number of video-capable cellphones into your shirt pocket and, you know, actually be discreet.

[Via picturephoning]

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Source: Nilay Patel

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Filed under: Digital Cameras, Robots

Granted, this here project isn’t nearly as inexpensive as the $100 underwater ROV from years back, but at least this one is propelled by something a bit more advanced than a pull string. Regardless, the ROV-in-a-Box Project Kit — created by folks from Carl Hayden High School for use in the National Underwater Robotics Challenge — is a $249.95 package that “includes all the parts needed to build a working underwater robot: a frame, motors, underwater light, camera, 50-foot tether, operator control box, and a dry-cell battery.” Of course, you’ll still be required to provide your own tools and TV monitor, but to take a closer look at exactly what a nickel under $250 will buy you, click on through for a detailed video (but do tap Mute beforehand, okay?).

[Via GoRobotics]Continue reading Build your own underwater ROV for $250

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Source: Darren Murph

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