2008 Woodie Awards
Technews
Arseny Lebedev
Issue date: 10/19/06 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
The SETI Institute was set to make a major announcement this week. The SETI project monitors transmissions from around the galaxy in hope of finding extraterrestrial intelligence. Part of the project uses distributed computing software to allow anyone's computer to process signal data. Data from individual computers is sent back to SETI and the idea is that this distributed supercomputer can process all this data much faster and undiscovered intelligent life in the universe will finally be found. However to the people's dismay, the actual announcement was about methods to obtain funding since NASA has cut SETI's budget in half. Apparently, a new Carl Sagan Center for Study of Life in the Universe will open, which will study Astrobiology. Exactly what life other than Earth's there is in the universe is beyond this columnist's scope.
Toshiba's TDP-FF1AU has debuted an ultra-portable projector; we can even call it tiny. The device runs on batteries for two hours and plays audio out of its built in speakers. The projectr comes with a 23-inch screen onto which it projects an 800x600 pixel image. Using its inputs, one could watch a TV show from his/her iPod on the subway. This device can be very useful for ad-hoc business meetings. It costs $700 and is available now.
Another tiny appliance more appropriate for college students is the Snack-Size Deep Fryer, which is guaranteed to prove the "Freshmen 15" theory. The gadget has an adjustable thermostat from 175 to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and an odor reducing filter. It costs about $40 and can be purchased from improvementscatalog.com.
According to AppleInsider, an Apple rumor-mill, the music giant plans to introduce two iPod-based cellphones next year. The more technical smart phone version will have the ability to play video and music, as well as have a keyboard. Integrated WiFi is also rumored. Still puzzling is why or how a phone can be iPod based; is it not just like any other phone that can play music or video? The WiFi integration might suggest that Apple will finally also release WiFi enabled iPods.
Toshiba's TDP-FF1AU has debuted an ultra-portable projector; we can even call it tiny. The device runs on batteries for two hours and plays audio out of its built in speakers. The projectr comes with a 23-inch screen onto which it projects an 800x600 pixel image. Using its inputs, one could watch a TV show from his/her iPod on the subway. This device can be very useful for ad-hoc business meetings. It costs $700 and is available now.
Another tiny appliance more appropriate for college students is the Snack-Size Deep Fryer, which is guaranteed to prove the "Freshmen 15" theory. The gadget has an adjustable thermostat from 175 to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and an odor reducing filter. It costs about $40 and can be purchased from improvementscatalog.com.
According to AppleInsider, an Apple rumor-mill, the music giant plans to introduce two iPod-based cellphones next year. The more technical smart phone version will have the ability to play video and music, as well as have a keyboard. Integrated WiFi is also rumored. Still puzzling is why or how a phone can be iPod based; is it not just like any other phone that can play music or video? The WiFi integration might suggest that Apple will finally also release WiFi enabled iPods.