MEEP! tablet for kids now available

If product releases are anything to go by, it seems that almost every child is going to be getting a tablet computer for Christmas this year. There's the VTech InnoTab 2, the Leappad 2, the Toys"R"Us Tabeo, and that's before you consider the myriad of child-centric add-ons for iPads. Also jostling for position on your little one's Christmas list is the newly released Android-toting MEEP! from Oregon Scientific.

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When the MEEP! was announced back in February, we knew it was going to run Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), feature a rugged silicone sleeve and be Wi-Fi-enabled. Now that it's been released, we can fill in a few of the technical blanks and also see how Oregon Scientific is dealing with the all-important issue of parental controls.
Aimed at kids aged six years and above, the device boasts a recessed 7-inch zForce touch screen (800 x 480 pixels) which won’t shatter when dropped. It's powered by a 1.0GHz Cortex A8 processor with 512MB RAM, features 4 GB of internal storage along with an SD card slot, and has a 0.3 MP camera for taking photos and videos.
While it's running Android 4.0, the MEEP! has been given a simplified menu system, with kids scrolling to navigate through their apps, games, books and multimedia content. Pre-loaded content includes Angry Birds, UNO, Toon Goggles, along with various educational art and learning apps.

A cloud-based "Parents Portal" on MEEPTablet.com means parents don't need to pry the tablet out of their child's hands to change settings and controls. They can remotely set what websites kids can access, or add words to a “bad word” list which stops them being used in chats or searched for.
Parents can also monitor their child’s online activity, limit play time duration and set a "virtual allowance" – in the form of MEEP! coins – for their child to spend on content from the MEEP! Store. All of the paid or free games, books, videos and apps in the store have been cleared for kid-friendliness by Oregon Scientific.
Content which can be installed isn't limited to MEEP! Store offerings, however. Google Play can also be accessed, but only from the Parents Portal, meaning that parental permission is needed before downloading.
Accessories available for the MEEP! include music-oriented add-ons such as a portable piano, drum pad, headphones and microphone, and game-focused items such as a joystick, steering wheel or the dualplay Game-Pro Case. The MEEP! is available now for US$150.

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MEEP! tablet for kids now available

If product releases are anything to go by, it seems that almost every child is going to be getting a tablet computer for Christmas this year. There's the VTech InnoTab 2, the Leappad 2, the Toys"R"Us Tabeo, and that's before you consider the myriad of child-centric add-ons for iPads. Also jostling for position on your little one's Christmas list is the newly released Android-toting MEEP! from Oregon Scientific.

• 
• 
• 

When the MEEP! was announced back in February, we knew it was going to run Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), feature a rugged silicone sleeve and be Wi-Fi-enabled. Now that it's been released, we can fill in a few of the technical blanks and also see how Oregon Scientific is dealing with the all-important issue of parental controls.
Aimed at kids aged six years and above, the device boasts a recessed 7-inch zForce touch screen (800 x 480 pixels) which won’t shatter when dropped. It's powered by a 1.0GHz Cortex A8 processor with 512MB RAM, features 4 GB of internal storage along with an SD card slot, and has a 0.3 MP camera for taking photos and videos.
While it's running Android 4.0, the MEEP! has been given a simplified menu system, with kids scrolling to navigate through their apps, games, books and multimedia content. Pre-loaded content includes Angry Birds, UNO, Toon Goggles, along with various educational art and learning apps.

A cloud-based "Parents Portal" on MEEPTablet.com means parents don't need to pry the tablet out of their child's hands to change settings and controls. They can remotely set what websites kids can access, or add words to a “bad word” list which stops them being used in chats or searched for.
Parents can also monitor their child’s online activity, limit play time duration and set a "virtual allowance" – in the form of MEEP! coins – for their child to spend on content from the MEEP! Store. All of the paid or free games, books, videos and apps in the store have been cleared for kid-friendliness by Oregon Scientific.
Content which can be installed isn't limited to MEEP! Store offerings, however. Google Play can also be accessed, but only from the Parents Portal, meaning that parental permission is needed before downloading.
Accessories available for the MEEP! include music-oriented add-ons such as a portable piano, drum pad, headphones and microphone, and game-focused items such as a joystick, steering wheel or the dualplay Game-Pro Case. The MEEP! is available now for US$150.

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"Smart INSECT": Toyota's cloud-enabled, single-passenger electric vehicle

Automakers have been toying with the idea of single passenger vehicles in an attempt to reduce emissions in urban centers, and Toyota's Coms is one such example. The company is showing off a new concept version based on this ultra-compact, single passenger electric vehicle dubbed the "Smart INSECT" at CEATEC JAPAN 2012 this week. Short for "information network social electric city transporter," it would connect the home, vehicle, and people in new ways through Toyota's cloud services.

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The Smart INSECT's cabin features flashy gull-wing doors, and incorporates new features like face and voice recognition. Motion sensors and cameras recognize pre-registered drivers as they approach, and will greet him or her with blinking lights, sounds, and messages from the instrument panel. It also anticipates the driver's intentions by tracking body movements, such as opening doors automatically when the driver reaches for them.
The interior features a large display above the steering wheel, which provides a detailed GPS navigation system. This is connected to the cloud-based Toyota Smart Center, which hosts a virtual agent that can provide navigation instructions via voice command.
As user data accumulates in the cloud, the system learns the driver's preferences and common destinations, such as "home" or "office." It could also make suggestions – from restaurants to playlists – based on personal tastes, and allow owners to lock up their house or activate the home's air conditioner on the way there.

The Smart Insect is just a concept for now, but the regular Coms gives us an idea of its capabilities. Priced at approximately US$10,000, it can achieve a top speed of 37.5 mph (60 km/h) and has a range of about 31 miles (50 km). Toyota says it's sold around a thousand of them so far, but it seems we'll have to wait until a breakthrough in battery technology before vehicles like this become practical outside of Japan's dense urban centers.

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"Smart INSECT": Toyota's cloud-enabled, single-passenger electric vehicle

Automakers have been toying with the idea of single passenger vehicles in an attempt to reduce emissions in urban centers, and Toyota's Coms is one such example. The company is showing off a new concept version based on this ultra-compact, single passenger electric vehicle dubbed the "Smart INSECT" at CEATEC JAPAN 2012 this week. Short for "information network social electric city transporter," it would connect the home, vehicle, and people in new ways through Toyota's cloud services.

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The Smart INSECT's cabin features flashy gull-wing doors, and incorporates new features like face and voice recognition. Motion sensors and cameras recognize pre-registered drivers as they approach, and will greet him or her with blinking lights, sounds, and messages from the instrument panel. It also anticipates the driver's intentions by tracking body movements, such as opening doors automatically when the driver reaches for them.
The interior features a large display above the steering wheel, which provides a detailed GPS navigation system. This is connected to the cloud-based Toyota Smart Center, which hosts a virtual agent that can provide navigation instructions via voice command.
As user data accumulates in the cloud, the system learns the driver's preferences and common destinations, such as "home" or "office." It could also make suggestions – from restaurants to playlists – based on personal tastes, and allow owners to lock up their house or activate the home's air conditioner on the way there.

The Smart Insect is just a concept for now, but the regular Coms gives us an idea of its capabilities. Priced at approximately US$10,000, it can achieve a top speed of 37.5 mph (60 km/h) and has a range of about 31 miles (50 km). Toyota says it's sold around a thousand of them so far, but it seems we'll have to wait until a breakthrough in battery technology before vehicles like this become practical outside of Japan's dense urban centers.

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Prototype explosives-detecting boarding gate keeps passengers moving

With pat downs, metal detectors, X-ray machines, and “puffer machines,” catching a plane can see you and your belongings scanned and probed more thoroughly than a trip to the doctor. Yet another explosives-detecting device may soon be added to the airport screening arsenal. However, because the explosives-detecting equipment is integrated into a boarding gate, the developers claim it won’t disrupt the flow of passengers boarding a plane.
Developed by Hitachi, in collaboration with Nippon Signal and the University of Yamanashi, the prototype boarding gate collects minute particles that have affixed themselves to integrated circuit (IC) cards or mobile devices used as boarding passes. Hitachi says high sensitivity mass spectrometry technology integrated into the gate can detect the presence of explosive compounds within one to two seconds, enabling it to inspect 1,200 passengers an hour.
This is much faster than puffer machines, (aka explosives trace-detection portal machines), that analyze puffed air samples to detect trace amounts of explosives and illegal drugs. According to a 2005 New York Times article, puffer machines are capable of screening up to 180 passengers an hour.
While the prototype boarding gate was developed with airport scanning in mind, Hitachi says the equipment can easily be adapted to other public spaces, such as train stations, stadiums and event halls.
The prototype boarding gate will be displayed at the Special Equipment Exhibition & Conference for Anti-Terrorism (SEECAT 12), which runs from October 17 to 19 in Tokyo, where it will be operating continuously as part of a pilot test. Additional pilot testing is planned for public transport facilities in the next financial year.

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Prototype explosives-detecting boarding gate keeps passengers moving

With pat downs, metal detectors, X-ray machines, and “puffer machines,” catching a plane can see you and your belongings scanned and probed more thoroughly than a trip to the doctor. Yet another explosives-detecting device may soon be added to the airport screening arsenal. However, because the explosives-detecting equipment is integrated into a boarding gate, the developers claim it won’t disrupt the flow of passengers boarding a plane.
Developed by Hitachi, in collaboration with Nippon Signal and the University of Yamanashi, the prototype boarding gate collects minute particles that have affixed themselves to integrated circuit (IC) cards or mobile devices used as boarding passes. Hitachi says high sensitivity mass spectrometry technology integrated into the gate can detect the presence of explosive compounds within one to two seconds, enabling it to inspect 1,200 passengers an hour.
This is much faster than puffer machines, (aka explosives trace-detection portal machines), that analyze puffed air samples to detect trace amounts of explosives and illegal drugs. According to a 2005 New York Times article, puffer machines are capable of screening up to 180 passengers an hour.
While the prototype boarding gate was developed with airport scanning in mind, Hitachi says the equipment can easily be adapted to other public spaces, such as train stations, stadiums and event halls.
The prototype boarding gate will be displayed at the Special Equipment Exhibition & Conference for Anti-Terrorism (SEECAT 12), which runs from October 17 to 19 in Tokyo, where it will be operating continuously as part of a pilot test. Additional pilot testing is planned for public transport facilities in the next financial year.

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BodyFloat puts shocks under the seat for improved riding comfort

Looking for a way to make his frequent bike journeys a little less arduous while assisting rural village development in Kenya and Uganda, veteran frame builder Paul Barkley found that existing spring seats just didn't offer the kind of action, adjustability, performance and comfort he was looking for, so he set about designing one that did. When he discovered that the first prototype worked much better than expected, he set about refining the design. After spending more than a year riding, testing, racing and tweaking, he teamed up with keen cyclist Charlie Heggem to form Cirrus Cycles and bring the BodyFloat to market. The seatpost suspension system is claimed to smooth out the terrain below by levitating the rider above the bike, resulting in a comfortable ride and allowing for a smooth, comfortable and efficient pedal stroke without bounce, flex or wasted energy.

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"BodyFloat works by levitating a rider over their bike and terrain via our patent-pending undamped dual spring (meaning no elastomers, oils, air or other substance), dual parallelogram system," Heggem told Gizmag. "No damping and the horizontal configuration allows for straight vertical travel over a controlled sweet spot that is tunable to any rider, bike or terrain. Vertical travel allows the BodyFloat to actively isolate the rider while maintaining critical frame fit geometry. Minimal vertical compliance of the rider allows natural movement that we believe aids in bio-mechanical performance, improves comfort and aids in energy conservation within the body."

"The concept is not new ... as Softride pioneered the 'Suspend the Rider' idea in the late 80s and 90s with the 'Beam Bikes'. Many other companies followed suit. Both myself and my business partner Paul Barkley (the inventor of the BodyFloat) came from a Softride lineage, with him being the original frame builder and I was a pro-level mountain bike rider. Our goal isn't to suspend the rider, however, it is about isolating the rider within the controllable sweet spot (the ideal combination of spring rate and pre-load). Tuning the BodyFloat allows it to perform over any terrain and under any rider on any bike."
Two versions are currently being offered to backers via a Kickstarter funding campaign. BodyFloat 3.0 is primarily constructed using 2021 aluminum machined in-house with a carbon seatpost. Steel springs and sealed bearings round out the main parts. BodyFloat 2.0 uses 6061 aluminum, a highly efficient bushing system and an alloy seatpost. Both models will ship fully assembled and pre-configured to the customer's weight and stated riding style.
The suspension system allows up to 1.5 inches (38 mm) of true vertical travel, with the option to pre-load down to less than a quarter of an inch (6.4 mm). Pre-load can be user-adjusted for fine tuning on the fly, and springs swapped out if desired.
Future versions of the system are in the works to cater for mountain-specific applications and will have over three inches (76.2 mm) of available travel. Current models are available in 27.2 mm and 31.6 mm seat post diameters (with shims for other sizes), making it compatible with most bikes, but are supplied without a saddle – although a model with seat included is very much on the "To Do" list.

The funding campaign on Kickstarter has been successful ahead of schedule but, you can still get in there and back the project if you're quick. Otherwise, BodyFloat will be available for US$349 (version 3.0) or $199 (version 2.0) after the campaign closes. Heggem told us that "additional models (1.0 and 4.0) are in the works to be released in 2013. Our 3.0 will begin shipping in December 2012, followed by Model 2.0 in February 2013."

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BodyFloat puts shocks under the seat for improved riding comfort

Looking for a way to make his frequent bike journeys a little less arduous while assisting rural village development in Kenya and Uganda, veteran frame builder Paul Barkley found that existing spring seats just didn't offer the kind of action, adjustability, performance and comfort he was looking for, so he set about designing one that did. When he discovered that the first prototype worked much better than expected, he set about refining the design. After spending more than a year riding, testing, racing and tweaking, he teamed up with keen cyclist Charlie Heggem to form Cirrus Cycles and bring the BodyFloat to market. The seatpost suspension system is claimed to smooth out the terrain below by levitating the rider above the bike, resulting in a comfortable ride and allowing for a smooth, comfortable and efficient pedal stroke without bounce, flex or wasted energy.

• 
• 
• 
• 

"BodyFloat works by levitating a rider over their bike and terrain via our patent-pending undamped dual spring (meaning no elastomers, oils, air or other substance), dual parallelogram system," Heggem told Gizmag. "No damping and the horizontal configuration allows for straight vertical travel over a controlled sweet spot that is tunable to any rider, bike or terrain. Vertical travel allows the BodyFloat to actively isolate the rider while maintaining critical frame fit geometry. Minimal vertical compliance of the rider allows natural movement that we believe aids in bio-mechanical performance, improves comfort and aids in energy conservation within the body."

"The concept is not new ... as Softride pioneered the 'Suspend the Rider' idea in the late 80s and 90s with the 'Beam Bikes'. Many other companies followed suit. Both myself and my business partner Paul Barkley (the inventor of the BodyFloat) came from a Softride lineage, with him being the original frame builder and I was a pro-level mountain bike rider. Our goal isn't to suspend the rider, however, it is about isolating the rider within the controllable sweet spot (the ideal combination of spring rate and pre-load). Tuning the BodyFloat allows it to perform over any terrain and under any rider on any bike."
Two versions are currently being offered to backers via a Kickstarter funding campaign. BodyFloat 3.0 is primarily constructed using 2021 aluminum machined in-house with a carbon seatpost. Steel springs and sealed bearings round out the main parts. BodyFloat 2.0 uses 6061 aluminum, a highly efficient bushing system and an alloy seatpost. Both models will ship fully assembled and pre-configured to the customer's weight and stated riding style.
The suspension system allows up to 1.5 inches (38 mm) of true vertical travel, with the option to pre-load down to less than a quarter of an inch (6.4 mm). Pre-load can be user-adjusted for fine tuning on the fly, and springs swapped out if desired.
Future versions of the system are in the works to cater for mountain-specific applications and will have over three inches (76.2 mm) of available travel. Current models are available in 27.2 mm and 31.6 mm seat post diameters (with shims for other sizes), making it compatible with most bikes, but are supplied without a saddle – although a model with seat included is very much on the "To Do" list.

The funding campaign on Kickstarter has been successful ahead of schedule but, you can still get in there and back the project if you're quick. Otherwise, BodyFloat will be available for US$349 (version 3.0) or $199 (version 2.0) after the campaign closes. Heggem told us that "additional models (1.0 and 4.0) are in the works to be released in 2013. Our 3.0 will begin shipping in December 2012, followed by Model 2.0 in February 2013."

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Lockitron turns your smartphone into a house key

Lockitron is an awesome new piece of technology designed to let you unlock your house using your smartphone. Technology like this has been around for a little while with the UniKey, but what makes Lockitron so interesting is that it installs on existing locks in a user's home. This means the installation process take less than a minute.

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Lockitron installs over almost any deadbolt, so users do not need to add anything special in their door. Besides installing more quickly, this also allows renters to put the device on their door. The part of the deadbolt that turns slides inside the Lockitron, and it unlocks at the user's request.
The device is always connected to the internet using Wi-Fi, which allows users to get access to it from anywhere in the world.
Lockitron can be used differently depending on what device the user is using. For iPhone 4S and iPhone users, the locks can open automatically as the user approaches them, thanks to Bluetooth 4.0 technology.
For Android phones with NFC, they can simply wave their device in front of the Lockitron, and it will turn the deadbolt. Other internet-enabled phones can use it via their mobile web browser. Even users without smartphones can send a text message to Lockitron to unlock their door, for a monthly fee.
The main user can grant access to guest, so they can come and go freely for a time period defined by the owner. This is great if friends are coming over or if someone is house sitting while the owner is away.
The device has a knock sensor. If someone knocks on the door, the homeowner will receive a notification informing them of an arriving guest. It also has an unlock sensor, so if someone uses a traditional key to gain access to the house, the main user will be notified.
Lockitron runs on two AA batteries which should last about a year. It will send an alert when the batteries are running low. Obviously, having the device die when a user is away would end poorly, so this notification is quite important.
Prospective buyers can get a Lockitron at an introductory price of US$149 including shipping and handling to the United States. The Lockitron will retail for $199 when it officially goes on sale next year.
The developer's video below shows the Lockitron in action.

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Lockitron turns your smartphone into a house key

Lockitron is an awesome new piece of technology designed to let you unlock your house using your smartphone. Technology like this has been around for a little while with the UniKey, but what makes Lockitron so interesting is that it installs on existing locks in a user's home. This means the installation process take less than a minute.

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• 
• 
• 

Lockitron installs over almost any deadbolt, so users do not need to add anything special in their door. Besides installing more quickly, this also allows renters to put the device on their door. The part of the deadbolt that turns slides inside the Lockitron, and it unlocks at the user's request.
The device is always connected to the internet using Wi-Fi, which allows users to get access to it from anywhere in the world.
Lockitron can be used differently depending on what device the user is using. For iPhone 4S and iPhone users, the locks can open automatically as the user approaches them, thanks to Bluetooth 4.0 technology.
For Android phones with NFC, they can simply wave their device in front of the Lockitron, and it will turn the deadbolt. Other internet-enabled phones can use it via their mobile web browser. Even users without smartphones can send a text message to Lockitron to unlock their door, for a monthly fee.
The main user can grant access to guest, so they can come and go freely for a time period defined by the owner. This is great if friends are coming over or if someone is house sitting while the owner is away.
The device has a knock sensor. If someone knocks on the door, the homeowner will receive a notification informing them of an arriving guest. It also has an unlock sensor, so if someone uses a traditional key to gain access to the house, the main user will be notified.
Lockitron runs on two AA batteries which should last about a year. It will send an alert when the batteries are running low. Obviously, having the device die when a user is away would end poorly, so this notification is quite important.
Prospective buyers can get a Lockitron at an introductory price of US$149 including shipping and handling to the United States. The Lockitron will retail for $199 when it officially goes on sale next year.
The developer's video below shows the Lockitron in action.

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Razer moving forward with Project Fiona gaming tablet

The sky is the limit for tablet gaming. As technology advances, the devices can eventually combine the power of PC/console gaming with (nearly) the portability of a PS Vita. More often, though, we see Angry Birds and Tiny Wings: great casual titles, but a far cry from Skyrim or Batman: Arkham City.
That may soon be changing. Enter PC gaming accessory vendor Razer. At CES 2012, the company showed off a concept model of a gaming tablet dubbed Project Fiona. Razer acknowledged that it was merely a concept – far from release – but it still turned enough heads to be granted the "Best of CES" People's Voice award.
Today that release moved one step closer to fruition. In a clever PR move, CEO Min-Liang Tan wrote on his Facebook page that he wanted to "see the level of interest" in Project Fiona before proceeding. His promise: 10,000 Likes would give the project the green light. Was there ever any doubt? The post received the 10,000 Likes in roughly a day, and Tan confirmed the advancement of Fiona on Twitter.

Potential

Project Fiona was one of the most memorable new devices at CES 2012

So why all the fuss? The CES demo model featured dual handlebar controllers on either side, a 10.1" 1280x800 display, Windows 8, and enough power to play Skyrim on Ultra-high settings. Razer says that the final design is still being worked out, and is calling on fans to help with final decisions.
Project Fiona is a geek's wet dream, but there are still question marks. With that much power in a portable form factor, battery life could be a concern. The rapid advancement of PC gaming could also cause problems; if the tablet doesn't have upgradable components, will it be worth the investment? Speaking of which, the biggest question of all will be its pricing: if this baby costs the equivalent of two iPads, it may be limited to a fringe existence.
Still, if Razer can hit all the right marks with the final version, this device can potentially push the envelope of tablet gaming. Imagine lounging in bed or riding shotgun in a car, playing the highest-end games available.
What do you think? Are you psyched about Project Fiona, or will it be a pricey novelty reserved for a select few? Let us know in the comments!

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