Toyota Introduces The Human Support Robot

With the advances in robotic technology nowadays, time will come when robots would become normal personal assistants around the home. They might someday be designed to help humans in some of the mundane daily tasks such as cleaning the home, guarding it as well as helping keep the home a happy place to live in. But in some other ways, robots would be tasked to assist people in order to help them accomplish things faster and better. Future robots might even be designed to help assist the disabled such as what the new Toyota Human Support Robot is designed to do.
Toyota has recently introduced the Human Support Robot or the HSR, designed to help the elderly and the disabled. Its concept is to aid the disabled do simple and yet challenging tasks in relation to their own personal capacity such as picking up things when a person may not be able to do alone.  The prototype robot stands 2.7 feet tall with a body that lets it extend up to 4.3 feet. It also has a 2.5 foot arm with a grasping claw that can pick up things carefully and easily.
The Toyota HSR is designed for indoor use and has the ability to adapt slight changes in the height of different floor areas when moving about. It can be controlled either by voice recognition or by using a generic tablet device. The Toyota HSR is scheduled for public exhibition at the Tokyo International Exhibition Center on September 26 and 28. Toyota has not provided any details on its price or even battery life so far. But it is believed to be targeted for public healthcare. But it is quite possible that it would take a bit longer before this robot becomes an affordable consumer product that everyone can have at home.
Image Source: Toyota

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Sony Unveils External Batteries for Mobile Devices

China Battery Case

 Sony has introduced a new line of flat external batteries for smartphones and tablets. These power boxes come in 3,500mAh and 7,000mAh capacities; measure 130.6mm x 12.9mm (about the size of a smartphone); and weigh around 198 grams.

The batteries charge your devices via USB and can be recharged up to 500 times, providing power to your smartphone in 90 minutes tops.

If portable batteries as big as your smartphone are not your thing, Sony has announced it will also be releasing smaller, “stick-type” external batteries in various color choice. Think flash drives, but batteries.

Both the flat-type and stick-type external batteries for Sony are set to launch this fall, with prices ranging from 2,300 yen (about $30) to 7,000 yen (about $90).

Source: TechHive, via Engadget

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4Moms Breeze Playpen Now Shipping

The most ingenious playpen in the market is now available for purchase. The 4Moms Breeze incorporates simple robotics for an easy-breezy set-up and fold mechanism. Just push the playpen downward and it comes fully installed; pull the center strap upward and it is completely folded and ready to store underneath the bed or into the car’s trunk. No need to lock and unlock the sides! We know other playpens also have this one-push mechanism, but not as smooth as the Breeze.
This playpen comes with a bassinet for infants, a leak-proof portable changing pad, and a travel bag to take it everywhere you and your baby go.
The 4Moms Breeze is available online for $299.

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Genius Traveler 9010LS Wireless Laser Mouse

The computer mouse is still an essential peripheral for those who use the computer. Even with the arrival of laptops or tablets that may have made the mouse a redundant device, still people’s old habits die hard. Many still long for the experience of using the mouse for navigating on the screen. The way to make them relevant for today’s portable trend is by making the mouse mobile and handy to travel with. That is why they now have become wireless like the new Genius Traveler 9010LS Wireless Laser Mouse.
The Genius Traveler 9010LS Wireless Laser Mouse is a new computer mouse designed for travel and mobile use. It features a precision 1600 dpi laser engine for improved navigation on a wide range of surfaces, including glass with its DarkEye technology. It also comes with 2.4GHz wireless connectivity for added convenience in connecting with devices such as laptops. The double injection grip provides extra handling comfort while the contoured shape makes it ideal for use with either hand. It can be powered using either an AA or AAA battery. There’s also a compartment to store its mini receiver when not in use. The Genius Traveler 9010LS Wireless Laser Mouse is available now in the US and Canada for US$40.
Image Source: Genius

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Motorola S11 Flex HD Wireless Headphones

With devices like portable music players becoming the preferred means of listening to music, the same convenience should be given to accessories such as stereo headphones. But with wired varieties, this can still be a problem. But as the portable devices also getting better and more advanced, the headphones that are used to listen to them fortunately also follow the same path. Headphones like the new Motorola S11 Flex HD Wireless Headphones give people that convenience that they look for.
The Motorola S11 Flex HD Wireless Headphones features wireless connectivity to compatible devices to allow it to be used without the hassles of wires. But this pair of wireless headphones is still able to provide crystal clear HD quality audio comparable to even its top quality wired counterparts. It is also designed for comfort as it comes with a total of 5 adjustment points to make it stay in place and adjusted to fit perfectly when used.
Bluetooth connectivity makes the Motorola S11 Flex HD Wireless Headphones compatible with a wide range of portable audio devices in the market. It is also designed to be durable and sweat proof, making it a good choice for active people. Its one touch EQ setting feature makes it convenient to adjust audio settings to one’s preference in an instant. The Motorola S11 Flex HD Wireless Headphones is expected to come out sometime in late October for around US$130.
Image Source: Motorola

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Nokia Releases Asha 308, Asha 309 Handsets in Emerging Markets

If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” That’s what the saying goes. But in the case of Nokia surviving in the tough mobile phone market, it sounds like, “If you can’t beat them, find another niche.” With Nokia taking a beating trying to compete against the like of the iPhone and Samsung in the tough smartphone market, it has actually done well in trying to continue making its presence felt in emerging markets where the high end smartphones are not that popular. This is where Nokia is introducing its new addition to its Asha line of phones, the Asha 308 and the Asha 309.
The new Nokia Asha 308 and Nokia Asha 309 phones feature the same design, with the only difference is that the former comes with a dual SIM feature while the latter as a single SIM phone. Being part of the Asha Touch line of mobile phones, the new additions aim to provide users with a richer Web experience by featuring a new Nokia Xpress Browser for a 90 percent more efficient mobile browsing.
Unlike the high end Nokia Lumia that runs on the Windows Phone OS, the Nokia Asha 308 and Nokia Asha 309 runs on the Nokia Series 40 OS. Both phones are 2G enabled devices that come with a 3 inch WQVGA capacitive touch display. They also feature stereo radio, loud speakers as support for an external 32GB microSD.
The Nokia Asha 308 comes with a dual SIM feature with Easy Swap technology that allows for switching between different SIM cards without turning off the phone. The Nokia Asha 309 on the other hand is a single SIM smartphone but comes with WiFi connectivity. Both smartphones are expected to be available sometime in the fourth quarter of 2012. But one of the reasons that may make many people eagerly anticipate its release is its price. The Nokia Asha 308 and the Nokia Asha 309 will just cost around US$99, one of the most affordable touchscreen smartphones around.
Image Source: Nokia

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The Simpsons Tapped Out iOS Game App

For fans of the Simpsons animated series, there are now quite a number of things that they might want to try out instead of just watching it on the boob tube. There are toys to collect as well as games on smartphones to play with. One of the engaging game apps to come out that fans should try out is the Simpsons Tapped Out iOS game app.
The Simpsons Tapped Out iOS game app is an enjoyable and fun game that features the different characters fans come to love from the long running cartoon series. In this game, Homer accidentally caused a meltdown that destroyed the whole area of Springfield. The player’s objective is to rebuild the city from scratch.  Players can tap into buildings that they want to construct as they try to rebuild the city. As the city slowly levels up each character in the Simpsons family is unlocked until they are complete again. The characters can also be sent to complete zany quests to earn donuts and collect cash.
The Simpsons Tapped Out iOS game app is similar to SIMS in terms of gameplay. But it’s more fun having those hilarious Simpsons characters populating Springfield to play with. The HD graphics and the Retina display give the visuals with richer colors, sharper and brighter details to make the game even more enjoyable. The Simpsons Tapped Out iOS game app is available at the App Store for free download.

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