Emotiv's headset gives users mind-control over digital objects

I've just made a small orange cube disappear with my mind. No hands necessary.

I'm testing out the San Francisco company's so-called brain control interface, the latest iteration of technology it first showed off a year ago, but which, unlike last year, is now almost ready for primetime.

The idea is a blending of hardware and software: A headset that seems a little like the one from the James Cameron-written 1995 film, Strange Days, complete with a set of sensors that are built to read your brain waves.

The software then is designed to interpret those brain waves in such a way as to allow users to manipulate objects onscreen with nothing but their mind.

So that's why I've come to this office in downtown San Francisco, where I'm face-to-face with this little orange cube. It's kind of mocking me, daring me to make it disappear.


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Lessons learned from the new Knight Rider

Knight Rider returned last weekend in a made-for-TV movie/pilot with a new car, the Knight Industries Three Thousand (still K.I.T.T.), and a new, young driver. Of course we watched it, and would like to say we learned a lot about the world and ourselves. But the lessons we took away from the new Knight Rider were more specific to driving a high-tech car while fighting crime, something we do at CNET Car Tech almost every day (except for the fighting crime part).

If you owe a gangster US$90,000, it's a good idea to get a cash advance on your credit card and play Texas Hold 'em in a Las Vegas casino. FBI agents prefer the Ford Escape. A Ford Edge can keep up with a Ford Shelby GT500KR Mustang. Because of its excellent brakes, the Ford Edge is a pretty good car if you are about to get in a head-on collision with a big rig. Real-time satellite imagery is a great addition to GPS. A solar addon can boost the mileage of the Ford Shelby GT500KR Mustang to 167mpg.

If someone is shooting at you, make sure the computer is on. Don't bother shaving, even if you are going to your mother's funeral.

The new Knight Rider telecasts on America's NBC February 23, at 9pm/8pm. Central.

Via Crave CNET

An AAA battery for your Philips Xenium

Three hours--that's the amount of extra talktime you're getting with an AAA-sized battery on the Xenium 9@9j phone. The keyword is extra, as the upcoming handset that was showcased earlier this month at the Mobile World Congress will still come with the standard Lithium-ion battery. It's kind of like old school meets new school. The difference is the AAA backup power juices up the rechargeable cell once it knocks out, without the need to plug in any external peripherals. As far as I can remember, this implementation could be the first of its kind and should be useful for people who are away from A/C power outlets for extended periods of time. We'll post the availability details once we get them.

Update: The Xenium 9@9j is expected to be available from April 14 in China and Hong Kong and from May 12 in Southeast Asia.

Via Tech Digest

Images of HP's rumored UMPC appear on the Web

Earlier this week, we first wrote about HP launching its first UMPC in late spring, but it seems that gadget blog site Engadget has posted what it claims are pictures of the actual machine. The UMPC, named HP Compaq 2133, comes with a scratch-resistant 8.9-inch WXGA screen and weighs just 1.13kg. According to the specs posted, it also features a 95-percent full-sized QWERTY keyboard, wireless LAN, ExpressCard slot, anodized aluminum casing and an optional SSD drive. It can be configured to run either Windows Vista or Linux.

From the images, it seems that the UMPC will also be equipped with an onboard Webcam and two-button trackpad. No information yet on prices or availability but we are expecting to get more updates from HP soon.

Via Engadget
Picture credit: Engadget

iRiver's scuba-friendly MP3 player

Waterproof MP3 players aren't novel, but iRiver's iFP-380T caught our eye not just for its rather unusual design but that it can go scuba diving with you. At depths of up to 200ft (about 61m) underwater, this device lets you take your music not just into water, but underwater.

The full kit comes with the player as well as a waterproof case and headphone. A removable clip helps keep the headphone securely fastened to the strap of the scuba mask. It's a pity that this can store only about 30 songs due to its limited 128MB storage, but at US$99, it's a small price to pay to have Beyonce or Bon Jovi accompany you on your next dive trip.

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