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GPS For Your Letters

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GPS has been a technology that has redefined how people are living. That trend will continue as GPS is being put in everything. Now, a new company even wants to implant a tiny GPS system into letters. The device is known as the Letter Logger, and should help ensure that people never again lose their mail.

The U.S. Postal Service commissioned Burlingame-based TrackingTheWorld to create the world’s first letter-tracking GPS device that will ensure letters never again are lost in the postal Bermuda Triangle. Dubbed the Letter Logger, the device stores GPS coordinates throughout its journey and stores information on its micro-SD flash memory card so the post office can keep tabs on the letter’s location.

The Letter Logger weighs just two ounces and is 3.9-by-1.5 inches. It is placed inside a regular No. 10 envelope and can operate for two weeks. The recipient of the chip can then upload the GPS data onto their computer and see the envelope’s route on Google Earth.

The tiny device only costs about $6.75 a letter, so it’s possible that the technology could end up on high priority packages in the near future. Plus, the company is working on a number of other applications for the technology.

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Core Muscle Balancer

With summer just weeks away, it might be time for a crash course in fitness to get in shape for the beach and pool.

If you want to shape and tone your abdominal and oblique muscles, the Core Muscle Balancer is just the tool you need to get it done. The core muscle balancer looks like a skateboard and moves while you’re standing on it, forcing you to balance and work out your midsection.

It has a non-slip cover, so you won’t slide off unexpectedly. With three speeds and an optional cross training program you can work your way to be thinning in the middle.

It supports up to 250 pounds and costs $479.95 at Hammacher.

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Motorized Monocycle

Are you looking for a trendy way to get around town that’s sure to turn heads and save you money on fuel?

The Motorized Monocycle was designed in the Netherlands and has a max speed of 25 MPH for a single rider. It’s powered by a 31cc, four-stroke 1 1/2-hp engine and the wheel operates by using a centrifugal clutch on its inner steel frame to engage the larger 67″ diam. The outer flywheel actually makes contact with the ground with a rubber tire. Steering is done by leaning the direction you want to go.

The Motorized Monocycle is priced at around $13,000.00 (not including shipping) and can be purchased at Hammacher.

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Mobile Games Innovation Challenge

Nokia today announced the Mobile Games Innovation Challenge. This challenge is aimed directly at game developers, and is intended to spur them on to greater achievements. Nokia is hoping that such development will move mobile gaming into the mainstream. At stake for developers is EUR 70,000 of prizes.

“Nokia enthusiastically presents this Mobile Games Innovation Challenge as a unique opportunity for the best and brightest mobile game developers worldwide to really rock the industry with innovative, one-of-a-kind concepts that showcase what you can do with our mobile platforms,” said Dr
Mark Ollila, director of games publishing, Nokia. “The pre-production contracts and EUR70,000 in cash prizes toward development of the winning game concepts is only part of the excitement - the Challenge also gives developers a chance to truly make their mark on global mobile gaming
through unique and positively disruptive gaming concepts never seen before.”

There is a special fate in store for the top three entires. Nokia will attempt to publish and distribut their games on Nokia phones.

For more information, or to enter: N-Gage Developer.

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Motorola RDX Series Two Way Business Radios

Motorola has announced the new RDX Series two-way business radios.

“The Motorola RDX Series was designed specifically to meet the rigorous demands of business users for whom two-way radios are a critical tool for day- to-day efficiency and overall profitability,” said Steve Young, director of subscriber operations, Motorola Government and Commercial Markets. “Affordable and easy to use, the new radios enable employees to maintain communications in workplace environments, keeping operations on schedule, maximizing job shift productivity.”

“The RDX Series builds upon the strengths of the Motorola XTN and AX models and delivers the performance customers need to drive their business success, starting with exceptional audio performance down to the durability and dependability our customers expect,” added Young.

These bad boys are designed for industrial use, and are made out of heavy duty components. For more information: Motorola RDX.

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Cellfire Wins E-Tech Award For Innovation

Cellfire Inc wins an award for their Cellfire 3.0 mobile solution. The Cellfire 3.0 software is a couponing solution for mobile phones.

“We are honored to have the innovation and hard work of our engineering and product teams recognized by the CTIA,” said Brent Dusing, CEO of Cellfire. “Cellfire 3.0 represents an important milestone for us as a
company but, more importantly, represents an opportunity for consumers to have even more ways to save money on their everyday purchases using their mobile phone.”

Cellfire 3.0 is an entire system that allows consumers to store, find, and manage coupon offers on their cell phones.

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XBox Cheaters To Be Spanked

Cheating has always been a big part of video games. XBox players have been getting away with quite a bit lately, but a new plan may thwart many of them.

Better watch out, says Xbox Live’s Major Nelson, the well-known public face of Microsoft when it comes to all things Xbox. Starting today, Xbox is punishing Gamerscore cheaters with some pretty heavy penalties. If you’ve used a cheat on your account, better check it out to see if you’ve been affected. How will you know?

Well, your Gamerscore will be reset to zero. You won’t be able to regain any Achievement you previously unlocked (legitimately or otherwise), though you will be able to gain new Achievements. And your account will be permanently labeled as a cheater account (see blurry pic above for an example). At least you still get to keep your account.

It looks like cheating will become just a little bit more difficult on XBox.

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PS3 Update 2.20

The Playstation 3 Update 2.20 has been released!

This update adds the following features to PS3:

* “Resume play” will enable PS3 system to start playing a Blu-ray disc and DVD at the point it was stopped, even if the disc had been removed.
* “Audio Output Device” will be a new Remote Play setting, enabling PSP to serve as a remote control for music played through PS3.
* PS3 system’s Internet browser will be enhanced: Video files directly linked from a Web page will be able to be streamed, and the browser’s view speed will be improved.
* DivX and WMV format videos that are larger than 2GB will be playable.
* “Mosquito Noise Reduction” will be added as an AV setting in the control panel of the DVD/BD player for improved movie playback.

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Stystem Software Update Makes Playstation 3 Blu-Ray Interactive

Sony recently announced that an upcoming system software update will make Playstation 3 compatible with interactive Blu-Ray menuing. The update is scheduled to be released in late March, 2008. This update will add Blu-ray Disc(TM) (BD) Profile 2.0 or BD-LIVE, enabling PS3 owners to experience interactive features, such as downloadable video content, ringtones, games, and more. In addition to BD-LIVE, the system software update (v. 2.20) will enable photo and music playlists on PS3 to be copied to PSP(R)(PlayStation(R)Portable) handheld
entertainment system.

“With Blu-ray established as the high-definition optical disc standard, more consumers are ready to jump in and take advantage of everything the format offers,” said Scott A. Steinberg, vice president, product marketing, SCEA. “Whether you want to download movie extras, send ringtones to your phone, or play interactive games, BD-LIVE will offer exciting new ways to enjoy a Blu-ray movie. With these regular firmware updates and future-proofed technology, SCEA is making the 10-year lifecycle of PS3 possible.”

Other features this update will make available:

• “Resume play” will enable PS3 system to start playing a Blu-ray disc and DVD at the point it was stopped, even if the disc had been removed.
• “Audio Output Device” will be a new Remote Play setting, enabling PSP to serve as a remote control for music played through PS3.
• PS3 system’s Internet browser will be enhanced: Video files directly linked from a Web page will be able to be streamed, and the browser’s view speed will be improved.
• DivX and WMV format videos that are larger than 2GB will be playable.
• “Mosquito Noise Reduction” will be added as an AV setting in the control panel of the DVD/BD player for improved movie playback.

Look for this update for Playstation3 coming soon!

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Dell Planning Special PCs for China And India

Dell is planning on turning out a new version of PCs for users in China and India.

Dell said the company grew consumer sales in China by 54% and the company plans on increasig sales this year.

When we look at the potential for expansion, we do see enormous opportunity ahead,” Dell said. “As far as the U.S. goes, I think the U.S. will be OK, but not the fastest-growing. We expect more growth in Asia.”

The company last month reported its fourth-quarter profit fell 6.4 percent and cautioned that more cautious spending by U.S. customers could hurt its business.

Dell says it has about 18 percent of China’s market by revenue and 10 percent by number of units sold. Worldwide, it has a 16.1 percent market share, according to consulting firm Gartner Group.

Dell is also selling computers through retail channels in the two emerging markets.

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