Two robots provide information to customers at a URC (Ubiquitous Robotic Companion) demonstration in Busan’s Jungang-dong Post Office on Wednesday.The Ubiquitous Robotic Companion (URC) is a conceptual vision of ubiquitous service robots that provide users with the services they need, anytime and anywhere in ubiquitous computing environments.

More...

GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. unveiled the diesel version of their Tosca passenger car at the Papertainer Museum in Olympic Park, Seoul. The new diesel version model has a 2,000 cc variable turbocharger commonrail diesel injection engine, a 0-100 km/h acceleration rate of 11 seconds and can reach speeds of up to 206 km/h. The GM Daewoo diesel Tosca passenger car uses a combination of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) technology and a diesel particulate filter (DPF) to meet the emission limits of Euro IV, a set of emission standards applying to vehicles sold in the EU since 2005.

More...

Seiko Epson Corp., Epson Sales Japan Corp. and Sammy NetWorks Co., Ltd. have announced that they have agreed to cooperate to build an environment in which to download a literary work on a mobile phone, transmit it to Epson's home-use printer via infrared radio, and charge fees in line with the amount of printing. The companies said this environment will enable providers to sell magazines and books by page or article unit, distribute books out of print, and deliver contents expected only for small sales, which are not enough to publish them.

More...

The Thanko VIGLBL01 Head Mounted Display (HMD) is a portable, high resolution video monitor with built in lithium ion battery. Weighing in at only 130g, the Thanko HMD glasses are lightweight, comfortable, and fully adjustable. Designed to accept either NTSC or PAL input from nearly any video source, the video glasses provide a unique, cost effective alternative to standard monitors. Unlike ordinary video monitors, the Thanko video glasses work well in both indoor and outdoor settings without the "washing out" from sunlight or bright overhead lights. The advanced optical design delivers a giant screen image equivalent to a 37 inch picture viewed from a distance of 2 meters.

More...

Korean scientists are working on creating the first android capable of walking and dancing like an entertainer. A mobile model is expected to be developed by 2010. Beginning next January, researchers from Korea Institute of Industrial Technology plan to upgrade the country’s first female androids EveR-1 and EveR-2 to EveR-3 by 2008 and EveR-4 by 2010.By then EveR-4 will be able to walk and dance as well as sing a song with substantially improved intelligence. There are several humanoids that can move with a human-like gait, including Hubo of Korea and ASIMO of Japan, but scientists have yet to develop a walking android.Humanoids have thick legs because of the many modules, motors and actuators incorporated in them. Thick legs are OK for humanoids, but researchers must cram all of them into the thin legs of androids since the latter should look like real flesh and blood human beings.

More...

Nokia and Yahoo today extended their partnership to offer Yahoo! branded services including Yahoo! Mail and Messenger on Nokia's wide range of mobile phones operating on the Series 40 platform. Yahoo! services will initially be available on the newly announced Nokia 6300, the Nokia 5300 XpressMusic and the Nokia 5200. Moving forward these services and the ability to synchronize Yahoo! contacts, tasks and calendar on the PC and phone will be added to an even wider range of Nokia's Series 40 devices.

More...

The new MP3 player HD10GB7 from Kenwood is the world’s smallest player with a 10GB HDD. The player boasts a new improved "clear digital amplifier” for clear digital sound. Sound quality is improved to a great extent in the new player. Noise inside audio zone is decreased with the high-speed over sampling conversion digital amplifier. Beside the enhanced digital amplifier, improvements include a built-in lithium ion battery with superb battery life (approximately 24 hours (MP3), 20 hours (WMA).) and a 1.5" color organic display.

More...

The portable media player "XR003 X-REX" from Seagrand has continuous play back time of 168 hours (1 week).This is the idle player when you are on a holiday to a remote place. If the player is used for 4 hours per day, there is no need to charge this tiny player for one full month. The Seagrand MP3 player XR003 X-REX is available in 1GB and 2GB capacity in three different colors-red, black and silver. The built in lithium ion battery takes approximately 4 hours for a full charge. Other features include-built in FM radio, Mic,7 type custom equalizer settings, frequency zone 20Hz - 20 kHz, Signal-noise ratio 90dB, SRW WOW and play back speed adjustment between 0.4 - 1.2 times.

More...

The satellite speaker system "KSC-SS10" from Kenwood Japan for car audio uses natural mineral charcoal for the diaphragm. Natural flat charcoal with high hardness minimizes distortion to a very great extent. The speakers produce high treble quality playback. The 2 way speaker system with sealed 66mmBINCHO-TAN Plus PP Hybrid cone woofer and 20mmPEI balance dome tweeter with playback frequency 120Hz - 70kHz, 83dB impedance at 4Ω measures 110W×115H×122D and weighs 0.42kg (1) speaker.

More...

Guys, its winter time… and we bring to you an array of options to make you feel HOT! As for garbs, the Heated Cargo Pants and the Snow Shoe Grippers take care of you when you are out in snow spell. For once a fridge calls out to all you guys - The LG Bar Fridge is the latest hit amongst men. Call a all-guys party and enhance the drinking hole theme with these Color Changing Glasses or the Pub Optic Drink Dispenser or 19th Hole Pub Set Pint Glasses. Throw a couple of Do-Nuts on the floor and allow your friends to plunk on them and just chill! Its not that we encourage alcoholism, but a little bit of it now and then will only help to keep you warm in this frosty weather! For the tee-totallers we have the Dunk mugs too hold your biccies as you sip on your hot beverage! For the music buffs who cant exist without music even in their bath, this MP3 Shower Mirror is a must for their bathroom. Finally, keep a tab on time the Bond style with this Omega Seamaster Planet sported in Casino Royale.

I-O Data Corporation Japan has come out with water proof and crash proof 1 inch 8GB and 12 GB HDD. The HDMC-U series 1 inch HDD’s are compatible with OS Windows 98/Me/2000 (SP4) /XP/Vista and Mac OS 9.1 - 9.2.2/Mac OS X 10.1 - 10.4.8. The water/crash proof jacket for HDD protects the mini HDD and your important data from harsh situations. The rubber cover is made of special water proof and shock resistant rubber and is enclosed in a special plastic case. The four sides of the cover are surrounded with the USB cable for more protection. The case confirms to IPX7 and MIL-STD-810F specifications. An IPX7 designation means the case can withstand accidental immersion in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes.

More...

The Jabra C820s stereo music headphones are specially designed for music lovers who want to make the most of their music wherever they are. The Jabra C820s are high performance headphones that deliver full-range (20 Hz to 22 kHz +/- 3dB) compensated sound through high quality 40 mm neodymium speakers – guaranteeing premium audio, straight from your mobile phone or other music source. The headphones incorporate the Active Noise Cancellation technology, offering one of the best ambient noise cancellation (up to 22 dB) systems available today. So, no matter how noisy your environment is, you can still enjoy your music undisturbed. On the move: the Jabra C820s folds flat for compact and easy transportation.

More...

Balmuda Limited Japan has launched 2 new models of Highwire LED desk lamp. Both the desk lamps- Highwire 900 LHW-0901S-BK and Highwire 1100 LHW-1101S-BK uses 4 LED lamps. Generally 300 - 700lx brightness is needed for a desk, the new Highwire LED desk lamps gives a comfortable 1000lx equivalent brightness with color temperature above 5,500K. Unlike standard incandescent or fluorescent bulbs, this LED lamps won't burn out for 50,000 hours! Modulated light function decreases light intensity to 50%.

More...

Alps Electric of Japan has developed the first compact detector switch for digital cameras and other compact digital devices that when depressed automatically triggers an “off” state. Named the SPVS Series, this two-way operation-type normal-closing detector switch offers strong potential in a variety of applications, and boasts compactness coupled with a long-stroke. Today’s digital cameras, digital video cameras and other digital devices while certainly small and thin, also boast remarkably increased functionality. This has placed growing importance on accurate detection to prevent data loss caused by operational error, such as when opening and closing the lid on a device’s battery or memory card slot. Compact detector switches, therefore, are essential in detecting movement in these mechanisms. The SPVS Series of compact detector switches detects both vertical and horizontal movement and boasts a great variety of functional options.

More...

Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. today announced it has succeeded in developing Iris Recognition Technology for Mobile Terminals. This technology is based on OKI's original iris recognition algorithm using standard optical cameras that are equipped in mobile terminals. OKI plans to commercialize this product worldwide starting March 2007. As mobile terminals become more sophisticated, new services such as payments by mobile phone and enterprise information management are becoming commonly used. Users and equipment manufacturers have been drawing attention to the incorporation of personal authentication in such equipment to prevent misuse when the terminals are lost or stolen. While biometric authentication has attracted users and manufacturers, iris recognition is an authentication technology using the iris pattern in the eye. This iris pattern is complex and random, which makes it difficult to find a recognizable rule. Thus, it provides authentication with high accuracy. OKI has been providing its iris recognition technology-based equipment to government agencies, financial institutions and other enterprises in Japan and overseas. While these devices require a dedicated infrared camera, the new Iris Recognition Technology for Mobile Terminals can use a standard camera that is embedded in a mobile terminal, because of the original algorithm OKI has developed.

More...