Get your checkbooks ready: Virgin Galactic made its first successful attempt at a manned free flight over the weekend, paving the way for commercial space flights in the future. In a test run performed on Sunday, the SpaceShipTwo was successfully released from its “mothership” at 45,000 feet, and afterward, glided safely back to Earth.
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Space Geeks Rejoice! Virgin Galactic Makes First Manned Flight
I have written about Lord of the Rings Online when it was announced that it would be free-to-play, when it actually launched , and included it in a review round-up as well. It is an excellent MMORPG … and apparently it has done extremely well in the transition from subscription to free-to-play. Turbine, the developer, noted at GDC Online that the game has doubled both the subscriber base and revenue since the game became free to play. The game’s Executive Producer, Kate Paiz, noted that the revenue had doubled in spite of removing the subscription fee. But there is even more good news for Turbine: 20% of LotRO’s former players have returned to the game since the switchover, and that the game has seen a 300% increase in peak concurrency, with three times the number of players online simultaneously, and a 400% increase in active players total
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Gear Games News: Lord of the Rings Online Doubles User Base, Revenue With ‘Free to Play’ Model
When I think of multi-function pens, I think of pens that have multiple ink colors and a mechanical pencil. I think of a pen with a flashlight or a stylus inside. I’ve never thought of a pen whose fifth function is to protect me from germs. This retractable ballpoint pen, from PM Company, LLC , has a cushioned grip, and writes in red, green, blue, and black acid-free ink. The PM Preventa offers antimicrobial protection with built-in AgION technology. You can purchase these pens from Discount Office Items for $1.69 each. Cold and flu season is coming – better stock … [ visit site to read more ] Filed in categories: Gear , News , Spotlight Gadgets Tagged: Antimicrobial , Multi-function pen PM Preventa Antimicrobial Four-Color Multi-Function Pen originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 11, 2010 at 3:00 pm.
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PM Preventa Antimicrobial Four-Color Multi-Function Pen
It’s unclear if the tiny, little shot posted on French carrier SFR’s Club SFR pour Palm blog is in fact the rumored upcoming Pre 2 or just an old Pre shot, but let’s put it this way: considering that we can’t readily tell the difference, it better be an old one. At any rate, the sparse details in the blog post line up with everything we’re expecting so far, namely that the new model will use a 1GHz processor — presumably a TI OMAP3630 — and will sport a full half gig of RAM on board. Between those two spec bumps, we’d fully expect the refreshed webOS 2.0 to scream… but we won’t really know for sure until Palm gives us something to work with. In the meantime, SFR, thanks for the teaser.
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France’s SFR jumps gun, announces Palm Pre 2: 1GHz processor, 512MB RAM, webOS 2.0
It completed its first flight with a crew on board back in July , and Virgin Galactic’s VSS Enterprise (a.k.a. SpaceShipTwo ) has now crossed what’s unquestionably its biggest hurdle to date: the first solo glide flight. That happened early Sunday morning at the Mojave Air and Spaceport in California, where the VSS Enterprise took off attached to the mothership and then separated at an altitude of 45,000 feet, after which it was freely piloted by Pete Siebold and co-pilot Mike Alsbury for a full eleven minutes before safely landing on the runway (another first for the spaceship). Oh yeah, there’s a video — head on past the break to check it out (along with the official press release). Continue reading Virgin Galactic’s VSS Enterprise completes first solo glide flight Virgin Galactic’s VSS Enterprise completes first solo glide flight originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 14:57:00 EDT.
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Virgin Galactic’s VSS Enterprise completes first solo glide flight
Microsoft finally unleashed all their Windows Phone 7 news today, which we will be sharing in a bit. They also put out their first Windows Phone 7 ad, and we’ve gotta say, we think it’s a good one.
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WIndows Phone 7 ad is brilliant, really
We told you a few weeks ago about Scottevest’s ad rejection by Delta . Of course, Delta is far from the only airline with restrictive baggage fees. It seems like every company has extra charges for heavier bags, less room for carry-ons, etc. So what do you do if you’re a voracious reader? John Naughton of the Guardian UK stumbled on this particular issue
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Yet Another Reason To Switch to eBooks: Airline Fees!
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer unveiled a plethora of new Windows Phone 7 devices this morning at a press conference in NYC. Steve took the stage to detail the sleek WP7 operating system and outline the upcoming phones, which will be available in 30 countries through 60 wireless providers. Microsoft has its hands full with the sheer volume of phones it’s set to release this year, but Steve Ballmer says he likes them so much that he’ll be using them all
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Windows Phone 7 Launch Guide: The Devices
UK maker Nick Thatcher’s pistol-sized coilgun is a mere 15cm (5.9″) long and uses 5 caps taken from disposable cameras. I think the brass bars are just to make it look like a raygun. On my last coilgun the charging unit was built in, this resulted in a rather hefty box slung underneath the main gun, on this mini coilgun however in order to save space and improve looks I decided that this wasn’t necessary. instead when the gun needs to be charged the gun can be plugged into the holster (under construction) which will charge it up and then be removed when ready to fire. Alternately a charging cable can be continuously attached to the gun, perhaps with the help of a backpack this may even facilitate rapid fire
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Mini coilgun
Interesting news from General Motors today that’s resulted in some puzzled expressions at Engadget HQ. We’ve learned that the Volt , which Chevrolet has been making quite a fuss about calling an “extended range electric vehicle,” is actually just a traditional hybrid with some… potentially misleading marketing behind it. Since the concept stage the company has been saying how the onboard internal combustion engine was just to charge the batteries, that only the electric motors (there are two) are actually connected to the drivetrain. Indeed that’s what we were told in person when we test drove the thing back in March.
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Shocker: Chevy says Volt’s gas engine can power the wheels, it’s just a hybrid after all
Bumped into one of my new neighbors at the mailbox last week, and when I mentioned that I work for MAKE, she mentioned that her teenage son builds puzzles. Mechanical puzzles. Complicated ones. Turns out, he doesn’t just build them–he designs original configurations and sells them to people all over the world. He’s got a following.
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Twisting puzzles designed, built by my 15-year-old neighbor
HTC is the handset maker that announced the highest number of Windows Phone 7 devices today: 5. Alongside the HTC Surround for AT&T and the HTC HD7 for T-Mobile , the Taiwanese carrier has also unveiled the HTC 7 Mozart , HTC 7 Trophy and HTC 7 Pro. All WP7 handsets from HTC feature HTC Hub, which includes unique applications and “complements the Windows Phone 7 Hub and Tile experience.” The HTC 7 Trophy (pictured below) comes with a 3.8 inch WVGA display, HSDPA, Wi-Fi, SRS WOW HD audio technology, 5MP autofocus camera, HD video recording, 576MB RAM, 512MB ROM, and 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. The HTC 7 Mozart (seen below) is made out of a single piece of anodized aluminum and offers a 3.7 inch WVGA display and an 8MP autofocus camera with Xenon flash. Its other features are similar to the ones of the Trophy.
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Windows Phone 7: HTC 7 Trophy, HTC 7 Mozart and HTC 7 Pro (for Sprint) announced
For some people the launch of a new phone can be something to look forward to, until you hear that a network you are not with gets the exclusive of a handset you’ve been patiently waiting for. What do you do? Jump ship, or stick with what you’ve got? It’s not an easy decision, all networks are not the same, and it leaves consumers with a difficult decision to make.
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Windows Phone 7 Network Exclusives
The most complex thing I ever built out of a set of LEGO bricks was a police station, and I did that following the directions. Real hard-core LEGO fans don’t need no stinkin’ instructions, and can turn their Mindstorms LEGO sets into robots that do things I won’t do for myself, like fold a t-shirt. I am not the folding stuff up sort of guy. I tend to cram things in drawers so they come out looking like one of those packing noodles when I want to wear them. Sometimes you can’t even iron all the wrinkles out, but at least I don’t have to fold crap
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geek builds lego mindstorms t-shirt folding robot
I use an iPhone, but I am not a huge fan of Apple’s computers. I prefer Windows, but I will admit to being jealous of the cool MagSafe connector that MacBooks have. I have snagged my deckchair on the cord to my notebook before and ripped the thing off the desk damaging it in the process, so I can appreciate a breakaway cable
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apple patent hints at magsafe connector for iphone and ipad
I don’t’ spend much time looking at trash around my house thinking about ways I can reuse the stuff. I mostly just worry about the bag of trash leaking a line of milk or Dr. Pepper on the floor as I sprint to the door to take the bag to the can outside. Some folks look at garbage and see something more
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creative mom + milk jugs = stormtrooper mask of awesome
Microsoft today have given the official seal of approval to the new Windows Mobile Operating System, Windows Phone 7 . Along with the official announcement of the new OS came detail of a whole host of new handsets from the likes of Samsung, HTC and LG.
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Microsoft Officially Launches Windows Phone 7
Remember the scene (that I so lovingly screencapped) from Willy Wonka where Wonka shows those ungrateful little turds the gum that has a three-course meal packed inside ? Well apparently a non-nutritive version of the gum is on it’s way. Damn girl, your breath be kickin’. *sniff* IS THAT ROAST BEEF?! Researchers have developed a technology that allows different flavours to be captured inside microscopic capsules, which can be designed to release the flavours at different times. Some of the capsules could be filled with flavouring for tomato soup that would break open on contact with saliva, while tougher capsules would contain the flavour for roast beef that would break open as the gum is chewed
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Willy Wonka ’3-Course Meal’ Gum A Reality?
It is time for this weeks Geeky Gadgets giveaway, and as usual we have a really cool prize for our readers, a Win A MiLi PowerSpring4 iPhone 4 Battery Case. The contest is free to enter and open to Geeky Gadgets readers from anywhere in the world, just follow the instructions below to enter
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Win A MiLi PowerSpring4 iPhone 4 Battery Case
Not to be outdone by AT&T , T-Mobile have also announced that they will be carrying Windows Phone 7 devices, two to be precise – the HTC HD7 and the Dell Venue Pro. The HTC HD7 was officially unveiled today and is exactly the handset has been leaked numerous times , sometimes even being called HD3 . The HTC HD7 has the biggest screen size of all the different WP7 phones announced today at 4.3 inches.
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T-Mobile gets some WP7 love too: the HTC HD7 and Dell Venue Pro
Pogoplug has added a new version of the Pogoplug, available today. We have covered the Pogoplug updates in the past as they added p rinter support and a wireless adaptor , and added the Pogoplug Biz . This appears to update and replace the Pogoplug, with the following features: Built-in wireless capabilities All-Black Same $99 retail place as the Pogoplug I recently bought a pogoplug, and will post a review soon. I liked it so much, I’ve already bought a second. I think the built-in wireless is a great add, and I couldn’t stand the pink, so I am a fan of the all black design
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Pogoplug Pro Available