Missed Church? Download It to Your IPod.

By TANIA RALLI
Published: August 29, 2005
NY Times

Kyle Lewis, 25, missed going to church one Sunday last month. But he did not miss the sermon.

Mr. Lewis, who regularly attends services of the National Community Church in Alexandria, Va., listened to the sermon while he was at the gym, through a recording he had downloaded to his iPod. Instead of listening to the rock music his gym usually plays, he heard his pastor's voice.

"Having an iPod is a guaranteed way to get the sermon if you're going to be out of town," Mr. Lewis said, adding that he listens to the pastor's podcast at least once more during the week, usually while driving to work, even during weeks he makes it to services.


The Rev. Roderick Vonhögen has 10,000 listeners.

Read article: Missed Church? Download It to Your IPod

Wakamaru Bot at Your Service

SAN FRANCISCO -- Pretty soon, a robot named Wakamaru may become a fixture in the homes of elderly Japanese who have no one else to look after them.

The robot, which recently wheeled around to greet guests at the Embedded Systems Conference, is still in development. But it has the potential to replace a human caretaker in Japan, where robotic technology is embraced and the graying of the population has left many young people wondering who will care for their parents.

Read article: Wakamaru Bot at Your Service

Your Mickey Phone

Source: AkihabaraNews

New Canon cameras

This could be good news for photography enthusiasts. Canon has released three new digital cameras.

The big 5D, a 12.8MP D-SLR fits between the 20D and the 1Ds MARKII. As with all D-SLR's, you can either buy the body on its own or get a complete pack with a CANON EF LENS 24-105mm 1:4 L lense. The good news is that this unit boosts the performance of the 20D, but the bad news is that the lenses of the 20D and 350 are not compatible with this 5D...






























The IXY DIGITAL 700, a 7MP camera with a 2.5" LCD, an SD card slot and 3x optical zoom (7.7-23.1mm 1:2.8-4.9).




























The Canon IXY DITIGAL 60, that has a 5MP sensor, 3x optical zoom, a 2.5" screen and a 5.8-11.4mm 1:2.8-4.9 lens.
















Source: Akihabaranews

Google to Offer Instant Messaging and Voice Communications on Web

By JOHN MARKOFF
Published: August 24, 2005
NY Times

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 23 - Google, the Internet search innovator, will make its first direct challenge to the broader communications industry on Wednesday when it introduces an instant-messaging and voice communication service for personal computers.

The program, Google Talk, will allow its users to exchange text messages and converse through their computers with others at remote locations. Other instant-messaging services offer similar capabilities, but Google said the appeal of its system would come from its voice quality, based on audio technology it has developed.

Read article: Google to Offer Instant Messaging and Voice Communications on Web

Related article:
MOST WANTED; Popular Demand

Bluetooth audio headphones

Even if Bluetooth is not the hottest technology in Japan, there are
manufacturers that believe in it. Princeton is one of them and they
prove their love for Bluetooth by unveiling the BTST-9000D, a
Bluetooth audio headset with audio adapter. It is Bluetooth 1.2
compatible and has a battery life of 6h in use and 320h in standby.
the design is quite mediocre though, so it's not with products
looking like this that the Japanese will be converted to the Bluetooth
technology...

Source: Akihabaranews

A Pink Telephone

If pink works for you then this pink phone might be just what you're looking for.

Source: Akihabaranews

New Partner for Yahoo Is a Master at Selling

If you're an entrepreneur looking for new markets, you may want to check out a site called Alibaba.com. Here's an interesting article from NY Times I stumbled upon regarding this Internet company.

By DAVID BARBOZA
Published: August 15, 2005

HANGZHOU, China, Aug. 13 - Everything you hear about Jack Ma is improbable. But today, he looks like one of China's smartest high-tech entrepreneurs.

Yahoo's far-reaching deal with him on Thursday has turned his company, Alibaba.com, into the largest online operation in China, where Internet use is growing at an explosive pace.

Jack Ma learned technology as necessary, often on an improvised basis.

Ryan Pyle for The New York Times

Read full story: New Partner for Yahoo Is a Master at Selling

iSHAVER, the USB... well, shaver

Another Thanko Japan product announced by ASCII24. If your dream is to shave AND play Doom 3 at the same time, look no further, this is your new toy. Spend 30 EUR and look no longer like a hermit but like a fresh, clean geek

Source: Akihabaranews - iShaver

The vacuum cleaner of the lazy geek

Now, here's a vacuum cleaner for busy people or lazy geeks.

At 350 EUR this vacuum cleaner by Sanyo only needs a new filter
every six years! Also, the filter just requires a paper tissue and it
needs to be washed once a year! How's that for convenience?

























This is the end bit, quite special because you use it to clean futons.








Source: Akiharbanews