Toyota introduced Winglet, Segway competition
Toyota Motor on Friday showed off a new stand-up scooter that could one day be seen zipping alongside the Segway on the personal-transporter superhighway. The “Winglet” has a body the size of an A3 sheet of paper that houses an electric motor, two wheels, and internal sensors that constantly monitor the rider’s position and make adjustments in power to ensure stability. A parallel link mechanism lets riders go forward, backward, and turn by shifting body weight, making the Winglet potentially useful for maneuvering in tight spaces or crowded urban environments. Riders can cruise around at a leisurely 3.7 mph–not ideal for rushing to a meeting, but nice for scooting around a shopping mall, perhaps. (The Segway, by comparison, can hit 12.5 mph.)
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LG introduces Blu-Ray player with Netflix support
On Thursday, LG Electronics launched the LG BD300 Network Blu-ray Disc player, a DVD player that will play both Blu-ray and standard definition discs. As a bonus, the player will also allow consumers to instantly stream any of the 12,000 movies and TV episodes available to Netflix subscribers. With a wired broadband connection, Netflix members can access their account information and “Queue” via the BD300. Once there, customers can browse movie selections, read synopses, and rate movies. They will also be able to pause, fast forward, and rewind their film choices with the BD300’s remote control.
The player also features LG’s BD Live functionality that provides bonus content, real-time extras, and special picture-in-picture access for selected Blu-ray discs. This is not Netflix’s first foray into the set-top box arena; their streaming capabilities can be found in theNetflix Player by Roku, a product that offers Netflix account access and content streaming without a PC but is not a disc player. The company also recently announced that they will partner with Microsoft’s Xbox Live service for the Xbox 360 this fall. Xbox Live Gold members can already buy and store content on their consoles, but those who also have Netflix accounts will be able to stream Netflix movies to their Xbox as well.
Source: PC Mag
Yahoo Music ends, paying customers screwed up
You have one more reason to be a warez user now: In a move reminiscent of MSN Music, Yahoo is warning folks who purchased tunes through Yahoo Music to burn them to CD by Sept. 30…or lose’em forever. In a move eerily reminiscent of MSN Music’s recent decision to shut down its DRM authorization servers—only much faster—the Yahoo Music Store has alerted customers they will no longer be able to download songs or albums as of September 30, 2008. But it doesn’t stop there: once Yahoo shutters the music store, it will no longer be authorizing DRM keys for music customers legitimately purchased through the store. That means after September 30, paying customers won’t be able to move that music to new systems or devices in the future. Once an authorized PC or device dies, the music will die with it.
In a move which we’re sure makes the music industry feel warm fuzzies, Yahoo is actually recommending its customers burn DRM-protected tracks to CD, then re-import them into their computers in an unprotected, DRM-free format. “For any user who purchased tracks through Yahoo Music Unlimited, we highly recommend that you back up the purchased tracks to an audio CD before the closing of the Store on September 30, 2008,” the company wrote in an email message to customers. “Backing up your music to an audio CD will allow you to copy the music back to your computer again if the license keys for your original music files cannot be retrieved.” The shutdown serves as another example of how digital rights management technology often interferes with customers’ ability to use media they legitimately purchased…and why illegally acquiring free, hassle-free music from file-sharing services appeals to many. Yahoo is shutting down Yahoo Music Unlimited in favor of a partnership with Real Networks’ Rhapsody.
