journal: toy

iPhone SDK to arrive in February

By Nick, October 17, 2007

Seriously.

Today Apple posted one of Steve Jobs’ now-famous open letters (his fourth this year). This one addresses third-party development for the iPhone, and I think this is an answer that most of us wanted to hear:

Let me just say it: We want native third party applications on the iPhone, and we plan to have an SDK in developers’ hands in February. We are excited about creating a vibrant third party developer community around the iPhone and enabling hundreds of new applications for our users. With our revolutionary multi-touch interface, powerful hardware and advanced software architecture, we believe we have created the best mobile platform ever for developers.

It will take until February to release an SDK because we’re trying to do two diametrically opposed things at once—provide an advanced and open platform to developers while at the same time protect iPhone users from viruses, malware, privacy attacks, etc. This is no easy task. Some claim that viruses and malware are not a problem on mobile phones—this is simply not true. There have been serious viruses on other mobile phones already, including some that silently spread from phone to phone over the cell network. As our phones become more powerful, these malicious programs will become more dangerous. And since the iPhone is the most advanced phone ever, it will be a highly visible target.

Some companies are already taking action. Nokia, for example, is not allowing any applications to be loaded onto some of their newest phones unless they have…
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DT @ Digital Life 2007 - Novint Falcon Game Controller

By Nick, October 8, 2007

Deep Thought staff writer Uchendu Nwachukwu (AKA UnnDunn) recently visited Digital Life 2007 in New York City to test out the latest wares from major technology companies. He also had the opportunity to speak with representatives from some of the exhibitors. Previous interviews we have posted discuss the FordSync in-car entertainment system and the Gateway One all-in-one PC. In this interview, UnnDunn discusses the Novint Falcon game controller.

The Novint Falcon is unlike other input devices on the market. It’s not a mouse, trackball, or joystick. Instead, it is described as being a “small robot” that provides “three-dimensional force feedback,” according to Novint’s web site. The Novint Falcon is currently available, and is now also available at CompUSA stores.

Anyway, enough of me writing about it; let’s listen in as UnnDunn gathers details about the Novint Falcon, including information on pricing, availability, compatibility, and more.

Click here to listen - MP3 format; 1.6 MB

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Random Geek Toy: The WiFi T-shirt!

By Nick, October 7, 2007

Some ideas take “geek” to a whole new level, I swear.

ThinkGeekhas a new T-shirt out. Ah, this is no ordinary T-shirt, though. The WiFi Detector T-shirt, as its name suggests, includes a Wifi detector that will show the signal strength of local Wifi networks as you walk around. The T-shirt is powered by three AAA batteries, and ThinkGeek notes that it should :last for hours” before needing fresh batteries. Sizes range from small to extra-extra large, and the shirt will set you back $29.99. The shirt will be available later this month. With the Holiday shopping season approaching, this T-shirt might just make the perfect gift for the geek in your life.

Whatever you do, though, please do not try and wear this shirt on an airplane, lest you want the Transportation Safety Administration to think that you’re a terrorist, like this unfortunate soul.

(via Digg)

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UC Berkeley now on YouTube

By Nick, October 4, 2007

Now you too can become a UC Berkeley student without maintaining high grades, taking the SAT, or forking out thousands of dollars each semester, just like somebody I know did.

Myself.

Okay, all kidding aside, UC Berkeley has made over 300 hours of course and special event video available for anybody to see on YouTube. In the past, Berkeley has posted lectures and events via its webcast.berkeley.edu site, as well as through iTunes U.

Visit http://www.youtube.com/ucberkeley to check out all the videos. While it may not mean that you can get a degree from UC Berkeley, you can see what it’s really like (See? people in Berkeley do more than protest ). I am, however, disappointed that not one lecture posted is an English course!

And might I suggest some?

Crossing the Digital Divide: I’m a little biased because I used to work with these guys (hi Gabe and Ben!), but it’s a useful primer to computer basics.
Lunchtime Poetry: There may not be any English courses posted, but here’s a little English major nerdery to hold you over.
Physics 10: Physics for future Presidents: did you sleep through Physics classes in college? If so, this may be worth a look; it’s a physics class geared toward non-science students.
The Play: The ending of the 1982 Cal-Stanfurd* football game. “And the bears! The bears have won! The bears have won!”
Enjoy!

*"Stanfurd" is an alternate spelling for Stanford University, used by Cal students and alumni like myself.

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Verizon unveils “iPhone killer”

By Nick, October 4, 2007

Quick show of hands: how many of you are sick of hearing about the iPhone?

Yes? Thought so. Let’s instead talk about purported iPhone killers!

On Wednesday, Verizon announced LG’s Voyager, which, like the iPohne, features a large touchscreen and is geared toward the higher end of the cell phone market. Unlike the iPHone, however, its internet connectivity uses Verizon’s faster EVDO service (as opposed to EDGE) and includes a keypad. Mike Lanman, Verizon’s Chief MArketing Officer states, “We think it’ll be the best phone ... this year. It will kill the iPhone.”

The Voyager was one of three new phones released by Verizon today.

Reuters has the full scoop for your reading pleasure.

Deep Thought’s Take:You know, there is one thing that bothers me about all these iPod killers and now, iPhone killers. I’m sure most of them are solid products on their own accord, so why not market them on their own merits? Why does it have to kill the iPhone? All this sort of marketing speak seems to do nothing. People say that a product is an iPhone- or iPod-killer like what they’re saying actually means something, but as of now, little has been able to stop the iPod/iPhone juggernaut. Until some product can find a chink in Apple’s armor and take some substantial market share, this iPhone/iPod killer rhetoric is a waste of energy.

If there’s any force that can bring down the iPod or iPhone, it’s still Microsoft. Sure they may not have quite the clout…
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