Arm wrestling + Tetris = Tresling

First, the movie. Now, the arena? This one, however, is more real than reel since there's even an official Web site with video to promote the idea of Tresling, a game combining arm wrestling with a board game setup and the puzzle game Tetris. Lockjaw concentration and grunts optional. To play, each hook, toproll and press equates to a turn of a block. Clearly, wimps need not apply, since failure to maintain your position will send your blocks tumbling all over the place. Talk about a bashup of a mashup.

Via Engadget | Photo credit: TomGerhardt.com

Two new Nokia XpressMusic devices unveiled

Just announced are two new models from the XpressMusic lineup. The 5320 XpressMusic comes with a dedicated audio chip onboard and HSDPA connectivity, while the 5220 XpressMusic features a built-in lanyard. A built-in what, you say? Anyway, we're not sure how this looks since this is probably the first time we've hear of a phone with a lanyard that's not removable, though we suspect it's probably the eyelet Nokia is referring to. Both handsets sport dedicated music keys, 3.5mm audio jacks, deliver up to 24 hours of playback time and are expected to be available in Asia end June or July.

AES 256-bit encryption on Fujitsu hard drives

On Monday, Fujitsu Computer Products of America announced the Fujitsu MHZ2 CJ series for business notebooks that features full disk encryption. The new 2.5" 7,200RPM SATA hard disk drive (HDD) incorporates the AES-256 encryption standard at the hardware level without the need for additional software. Unlike encryption with Windows Vista BitLocker, which requires the operating system to be present, the new Fujitsu drive performs its encryption entirely within the BIOS during power on. Encryption performed within the BIOS prevents the keys from being stored in the clear anywhere on the drive. According to Fujitsu, "the key used to encrypt and decrypt data is cryptographically regenerated at power-on, and is not known even to the HDD when the system is powered off." Also, since all the encryption generation is done as the laptop is being powered up, there is virtually no performance hit whenever the 256-bit password key is generated. Fujitsu plans to ship the MHZ2 CJ series starting this summer. http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9924529-1.html

Harnessing brainwaves with solar power

With all the development of alternative energy today, it was bound to come to this: Introducing solar-powered brainwaves.

Well, not exactly. But this electroencephalogram device does use sunlight as well as body heat as a power source for a variety of functions, which researchers hope will include everything from playing video games to monitoring hospital patients, according to Dvice. The lightweight headset, developed by Belgian scientists at the Interuniversity Microelectronics Center, tracks electrical impulses generated by thought or action.

There are many other systems in development to monitor brainwaves in a similar fashion, but this one is focused on portability because no one, especially gamers, wants to be tied down while exercising their telepathic rights. New Scientist says an earlier prototype relied on natural heat from the head alone but sometimes ran out of power--which could be unfortunate on any number of levels, not to mention embarrassing. But no matter what, it's got to be an improvement over stationary gaming headgear we've seen.

Via Crave CNET

Take back your yard like Dirty Harry

Let's say you have a backyard rodent issue. A big one. So big that you can't watch Caddyshack anymore without getting a tic.

The Mega-Sonic Scatter-Cat device supposedly "repels dog, cats, squirrels and other nuisance animals without harming them", according to Pocket-lint, using sonic and ultrasonic waves instead of buckshot. But who are we kidding here? Rather than something like the passively situated Solar Chaser, the real reason to get one of these is to pretend you're aiming Harry Callahan's .44-magnum at the dastardly four-legged vermin up to 65ft away.

In a perfect world, perhaps this technology will be developed for bi-pedal pests as well.

Via Crave CNET

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