Geek News: Latest Technology, Product Reviews, Gadgets and Tech Podcast News for Geeks


New GoDaddy Customers Save 25% on First Order!

Posted by geeknews at 11:52 AM on May 19, 2012

Sponsor Message: I have a 25% off deal for new GoDaddy customers that runs through the end May that can be used to on their first order use Promo code 25MAY3. This is a fantastic was to get a huge savings upon opening your account. So load the shopping cart up with a domain and hosting account to save big at GoDaddy.

Don’t worry though if you are a GoDaddy customer already we have a pile of GoDaddy Promo Codes that do not expire that can be used at anytime.

Disclaimer: GoDaddy has been a sponsor of GNC since early 2005. There continued sponsorship of this show is largely responsible for us being able to keep the lights on and moving things forwards your support of them is appreciated.

Implant Uses Brain Waves to Move Robotic Arm

Posted by JenThorpe at 11:26 PM on May 18, 2012

A team of scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and computer scientists at Brown University and Harvard Medical School have created a specialized brain-computer interface. It is called the BrainGate Neural Interface System. The project has been going on for more than a decade. It was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The scientists have created an implant that is designed to enable people who are paralyzed to move a robotic arm and hand by using their mind. It is quite remarkable! The implant consists of a sensor chip that is about the size of a baby aspirin. It is implanted directly onto the motor cortex of a person’s brain. This is the part of the brain that controls movement.

The sensor picks up signals that are generated by a person’s brain cells while the person is thinking about moving his or her own arm and hand. Those signals are sent through a wire to a device that connects with a computer. The computer has been taught to read the signal it receives and to translate that signal in order to tell a robotic arm what to do. Together, this allows a paralyzed person to move a robotic arm and hand on their own, just by using their brainwaves.

Here is a video created by the BrainGate Corporation that shows a woman who is paralyzed using the BrainGate Neural Interface System to move a robotic arm and hand. The video also explains more of the science behind the system.

Image: Brain by BigStock

TV by Apple-A Rant

Posted by KL Tech Muse at 4:27 PM on May 18, 2012

Sometime this week, if not today there has been a rumor published about the imaginary TV that Apple is building. Most of these reports are assuming the new TV by Apple is a done deal and it is just a matter of time. From the time these rumors started the question that has run through my brain has been why?

I am really not looking for a TV made by Apple. I have no doubt that Apple has the technical know how to make an awesome TV, including retina display and Siri integration. That is not where the problem lies, the problem lies as always with content. Apple somehow has to convince the various content providers to allow their content to be used. Something that Google has been unable to do with the Google TV. Let say they get the content providers to agree to an arrangement, that is just the first problem. Then they have to get the content to the consumer through cable companies like Comcast, which has already shown that they will favor those who have an agreement with them over independent content. Third, it will have to convince consumers that purchasing a new HD panel is worth it. A panel which will probably be over 1,000 dollars if Apple’s history is any indicator.

Instead of creating a whole new TV, I wish Apple would improve the Apple TV they already have. They need to open it up to more third-party video platforms like Plex or XMBC. That way I could watch content not only from providers such as PBS or Aljazerra or HBO Go, but also live streaming from Ustream, Justin TV or YouTube to name a few. Second open up the platform to games and allow third-party vendors to create wireless controllers. Yes, I know a lot of this can be accomplished by jail breaking the Apple TV, but I shouldn’t have to do that. Plus if you do jail break the Apple TV, than you are always in this constant game with Apple. They do an update and you have to wait for the new jailbreak to come out, they do another update and it’s another jailbreak and on and on.

I know I am probably wrong the current Apple TV will continue to remain what it has always been for Apple just a hobby and this fall just in time for the holiday season, there will be an Apple TV monitor for sale in the Apple Store. The Apple pundits will write about it like it is the next coming.  I and all the other Mac fans will be drooling over it, wishing we could afford it.  Meanwhile the hobby which could be so much more will continue to be ignored, I just wish it wasn’t so.

GNC-2012-05-18 #766 BSD Kind of Night

Posted by geeknews at 1:38 AM on May 18, 2012

Congrats to Steve Jensen for winning a iPod Nano.. Fill out the survey to win tonight. I think you will have a lot of fun with me in the show today, as every computer in my studio was out to get me it seemed today. Plus I have a stack of tech news that you are not going to want to miss as we break the tech scene down for you.

To Qualify for Show 767 Contest Take This Survey!

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TGP # 57 – TRENDNET Powerline AV Wireless N Access Point

Posted by Gadget at 9:13 PM on May 17, 2012

Welcome to The Gadget Professor’s NetCast. Show #57 hosted by Don Baine.

The 200Mbps Powerline AV Wireless N Access Point, model TPL-310AP, allows users to create a wireless network from any outlet on their electrical system.
Connect one adapter to your network and plug in up to 15* other adapters for high speed network access. Connect adapters quickly using the convenient one-touch Sync button. Advanced AES encryption provides optimum Powerline security, LED displays convey device status for easy troubleshooting, and Quality of Service technology prioritizes video, audio, and online gaming.
The built in 300Mbps*** wireless n access point offers Access Point, Client, WDS, and Mesh mode functionality. One-touch Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) connects wireless clients quickly. Advanced features include 4 SSIDs, different encryption for each SSID, WMM Quality of Service data prioritization, WPA2-RADIUS encryption, MAC Access Control, and Spanning Tree support.
We also feature our weekly free software picks.

Sit back and relax while you watch The Gadget Professor.

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The Gadget Professor is produced on the Tricaster. For more information on the TriCaster call 480-422-1645. Make sure to visit www.gadgetprofessorpromo.com for special pricing on great gadgets!

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Octa Whale Tail Vacuum Dock

Posted by Jeffrey Powers at 8:08 PM on May 17, 2012
Octa Vacuum dock with Whale Tail

Octa Vacuum dock with Whale Tail

If you are looking for a way to hold your iPad, maybe your hand hurts after a while, then this dock might be something you want to look at. Octa has an iPad Vaccum dock that puts your hand in the middle of the iPad. Best part – you can use this for your iPad, Macbook Air, Kindle, Nook, or any other device 3 1/2 inches in circumference.

The Octa is a half-ball with a suction cup affixed to the flat end. Affix the suction cup to the device, and press the button. The suction technology affixes the Octa to the iPad. You can even attach to an iPad case, if the surface is flat and non-porous.

Place the cup on the back side of the tablet, then push the button 5 times. That will create a suction to the device. To remove, you lift the rubber tabs to let air into the surface area (make sure you have a good hold on the tablet).

Octa Whale Tail

Octa on Wall

Affix the Octa on a non-porous wall to hang your iPad

The Octa Whale Tail is an adapter you can connect to the Vacuum Dock. It looks exactly like a Whale tail. This allows your iPad to sit upright. It also lets you set your iPad at a better angle when you are sitting in a reclined or feet up position. You can also reverse the Vacuum dock and use the tail as an iPad holder. Attach the dock to a non-porous wall (or the back side of an airplane tray in its upright position), then bend the tail so it holds the tablet.

I’ve been using the Octa Whale Tail for a couple days now, and I am really impressed. By putting my hand in the middle of the iPad, my hand doesn’t get tired. The tail can also mold around your hand for an ergonomic feel. This would be perfect for someone that has to hold a tablet all day – maybe a poll taker, a wait staff (if they have an iPad POS), a teacher, a speaker and more.

The Octa Vacuum with Whale Tail is $49.95, and available now.

 

Comcast Discontinues its 250GB Data Cap

Posted by KL Tech Muse at 5:20 PM on May 17, 2012

Comcast I am a Comcast subscriber and although I have never gone over the data it’s always something that is the back of my mind. Today Comcast announced that they are discontinuing the 250 GB month data Policy and are looking for other alternatives. The two alternatives they are looking at are as follows

*Customers of Comcast’s least-expensive Internet plans (Internet Essentials, Economy, and Performance) would receive 300GB of data per month. Those who subscribe to faster plans would get “increasing data allotments for each successive tier of high-speed service.” Anyone who still exceeds the limit could purchase more data—$10 for 50GB.

*All Comcast customers would get 300GB data caps and could purchase extra data for $10 per 50GB

If you are a heavy user than of course you would want to for them to go with the first plan which would allow you to choose a plan for the amount of data that you use. Comcast will be testing these options in various locations this summer. Comcast says they’re doing this because of the increase use of devices such as the Roku, Apple TV, iPad and many other devices. Comcast said that the reason they had the usage threshold was they wanted to make sure that all users were treated fairly. Comcast also insists that it treats all video coming thru the public Internet equally no matter if it comes from Netflix, iTunes, YouTube or any other source. Critics of Comcast are quick to point out that Comcast videos that are streamed to the Xbox doesn’t count against the cap, although the same video from Netflix would, which means that they are still favoring themselves over third-party vendors.

This is a good first step and one that is necessary in today’s world where more and more people are cutting the cord and streaming their videos off the Internet.