Robosapien creators build live talking sapien heads!
The guys (Wow Wee) who created Robosapien are at it again. I noticed on Engadget that they have a couple of shots of the V2 of the new Robosapien, but PCMag has an article that show one of their new products slated for release in 2006 whcih is a robotic monkey head! Rumor has it, that it moves around your desk by rolling its head in the direction it wants to go! 
Now that’s an endangered species…….
NB: You have to register on the site to see the video, but that is highly recommended!
Microsoft playing it smart with Windows Media.
When I was working for Microsoft I introduced the first version of Windows Media into Asia Pacific. Back then it was pushing the proverbial up hill against the Real Media saturated market.
It is amazing to see how far the technology has come and prolific it is in media products. Russell Beattie comments on the decision by MS to work with, instead of going up against, Tivo’s product market dominance.
This technology will not take off unless typical end users are able to easily move their personal media content from one medium to another.
Now these are looking a hell of a lot more viable with the financial controller… 
2005 International CES coverage.
Wow, forgot the 2005 International CES was on so early this year. This would have to be one of the greatest events for viewing the ultimate geek gadgets around and hearing about what is coming down the pipeline. The Engadget Guys have got some great coverage of the show.
My Home theatre is obsolete!
Mobile video eyewear! You too can have a big screen view of your personal movie collection while on the train or in the plane.
The funky glasses allow you to view the video in a virtual big screen form factor. So your eyes are fooled into believing they are watching a large screen projection.
Although this technology has been around before, Icuiti are taking it to the mobile market now and at a reasonable price of US$499 too.
Yet another reason for me to purchase a personal media device….
Project Entropia – Virtual world with a virtual economy
I’ve been playing MMORPGs for many years now. One thing all have endeavoured to emphasise strongly is that there is no real world monetary value for virtual merchandise or characters. Even though there are thousands of Ebay like auctions for these virtual characters, items and even virtual currency.
Then comes along "Project Entropia". Their goal is the opposite. To create a virtual world with real world economy values. The infommercial on their site describes it like you are travelling to another country and convert your cash to use its local currency. As the virtual economy goes both ways, you can exchange your virtual currency back to real money…can you say "virtual gold rush"? 
They even have an in-world stock exchange!
Already there have been some ridiculously large investments in the game by players, but it looks like he may even make a buck out of it yet…
I’m going to sign up and see what is like. Stay tuned……
Control Christmas lights website a fake!!
This is brilliant! 
I "computer specialist" called Alek Komarnitsky in the US setup a website with webcams looking at the Christmas lights on his house. His site mentions that you can turn the lights on and off while viewing. This site has been up for years, but this Christmas he got so much press about it he had to come clean…
As one reporter put it… "it turns out he was naughty and nice!"
Christmas Day!
Merry Christmas, one and all! 
Hope you got heaps of 
and ate lots of 
!
Christmas Eve @ the inlaws!
Track Santa!
Ahhhhhh, the wonders of modern technology! You too, can now abuse American tax payer’s money by using the NORAD monitoring systems to track Santa Clause as he leaves the North Pole on Christmas Eve.
NORAD tracks Santa by "..using four high-tech systems to track Santa – radar, satellites, Santa Cams and jet fighter aircraft."
Good thing he leaves the same time every year kids or he may be accidentally blown away.
It takes that long to print a book!?!?!?
JK Rowling has completed the sixth Harry Potter book (Harry Potter and the half-blood Prince) this week and the publishers, Scholastic and Bloomsbury, have announced it will be available in July 2005 !?!?!
I have it on good authority that they could have the books out in February. So why the long delay? Article here
Oh and if you are waiting for the next Harry Potter films……
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, based on the fourth book, is due out in theaters on November 18, 2005, and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, based on the fifth book, is eyeing a June, 2007 release date.
Universal Convergence 