Dodge Adds Crossover Model to Its Lineup
August 26, 2007
Boston - Dodge has finally unveiled the Journey, a new crossover from the crosshairs brand that will debut early next month at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany. Why the international debut? The 2009 Journey will be an international vehicle, sold both in the U.S. and Canada, as well as markets outside North America.
The new Journey, looks like an SUV, hauls like a station wagon and rides like a passenger car.
“The all-new Dodge Journey gives our customers the entire package,” said Michael Manley, Executive Vice President - International Sales, Marketing and Business Development, Chrysler. “With its unique combination of purposeful versatility and bold, youthful styling, this new vehicle from Dodge delivers safety, quality and reliability at a great value. Journey also blends innovative technology, entertainment features and useful storage, all wrapped together with an attitude that can only be Dodge.” Read more
Nintendo Wii Knocks Out Competitionn In July
August 25, 2007
Boston (dBTechno) - According to NPD, sales of the Nintendo Wii console topped both Microsoft’s Xbox 360, and Sony’s PlayStation 3 for the Month of July.
Since its release last year, the Nintendo Wii has sold 3.46 million units in Japan and 4.24 million units sold in the US and Canada.
For the month of July, Nintendo sold 425,000 units — considerably more than industry insiders initially thought possible.
The Xbox 360 sold 170,000 units, a slight decrease from the 198,400 units sold for June, but not a week over week decrease because of the 5-week month.
And as for the Sony’s PS3, U.S. retailers sold 159,000 units last month, compared to 98,500 in June –an increase no doubt do to a recent price cut. Read more
Teen Unlocks Apple’s iPhone
August 25, 2007
Boston (dBTechno) - Well everyone knew it was only a matter of time. It has been revealed that a teenager has written a software application that unlocks the iPhone restrictions limiting use of the much hyped cellphone to the AT&T network in the US, according to media reports Friday.
George Hotz, 17, said he has unlocked the phone and was using it on T-Mobile’s network in the United States.
The development could represent a serious blow to the US phone giant AT&T, which had been hoping to leverage the popularity of the sexy new phone into a dominant position in the US market. The hack would also allow the phone to be used on networks in countries outside the US.
The iPhone works on Global System for Mobile telecommunications (GSM) networks, which more than 80 per cent of the world’s wireless carriers use. With a typical GSM phone, the user can open it and swap the subscriber identity module (SIM) card provided by the carrier for one from another operator. Read more
New Soap Offers Sun Protection
August 24, 2007
Boston (dBTechno) - Now there’s a new way to protect yourself from the damaging effects of the sun. Amazing Soap, LLC, offers an all-natural sunscreen solution.
The new product comes on the heals of an increased awareness and demand for better sun protection products.
“People are really beginning to understand the importance of skin protection from the sun,” explains Rick Garloff, the company sales manager. “Yet there are downsides to sunscreen. People don’t like the messiness of applying it, some don’t like the smell of it and, most importantly, they often forget to put it on.”
The new soap which has no harsh detergents and artificial dyes, contains Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) which is used in sunless tanning products. This will help give added colour to the skin, without the damaging effects of the sun, said Garloff.
The soap has an SPF rating of 4.3. Read more
Microsoft Recalls Xbox 360 Wireless Wheel
August 24, 2007
Boston (dbTechno) - Microsoft has stated that they have recalled all Xbox 360 Wireless Wheel controllers and will fix them per customer request.
There have been over 50 reports of the Xbox 360 Wireless Wheel overheating. Reports state that when it was plugged in it would actually smoke at times.
Microsoft stated it is going to provide customers with the Xbox 360 Wireless Wheel a free retrofit. This announcement of the retrofit is not that clear though as no one actually knows what it is.
They stated they would also send instructions if it were necessary. There have been no reports of fire, injury or damage due to the defect yet.
Microsoft has stated consumers should stop using the power supply with the wheel until a retrofit is given. This is the second big problem with the Xbox 360 for Microsoft just this summer as they are already spending over $1 billion to replace Xbox 360 consoles which are defective.
Scientists Develop Out-Of-Body Experience
August 24, 2007
Boston (dbTechno) - Scientists have managed to induce an out-of-body experience in healthy volunteers using some very innovative and unique technology.
They use virtual-reality-style cameras which are linked to a head-mounted video display. This allows the researchers to be able to watch the brain and body and see how it responds to everything.
An out-of-body experience occurs when a person wakes up to see him or herself still laying somewhere. This means they are basically outside of themselves. Researcher Henrik Ehrsson stated that “Out-of-body experiences have fascinated mankind for millennia - their existence has raised fundamental questions about the relationship between human consciousness and the body, and has been much discussed in theology, philosophy, and psychology.”
Volunteers were wearing googles which had one video screen for each eye. The screens were sent images from a different camera. The two images were then combined to form one single image in the brain and they were able to have the out-of-body experience induced as a 3D image was created and sent back to them.
The volunteers stated they saw a body which belonged to someone else after they had moved.
Video Game Sales Way Up In July
August 24, 2007
Boston (dbTechno) - A report has come out showing that US video game sales were up 37% for the month of July with the PlayStation 3 garnering major sales thanks to its price cut Sony announced.
The sales for video games in July hit $925.5 million compared to $675.6 million the same month one year ago.
Markert research firm NPD showed that the rise in sales of video games was due to a lot of interest in the three major consoles the Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, and Microsoft Xbox 360.
Sony topped out at 159,000 PS3 units sold in the month of July which was a huge month considering since launch it has barely topped 100,000 units sold each month.
This came after the PS3 price was cut to $500.
This was the best month for the PS3 since January when Sony sold 244,000 PS3 consoles.
Microsoft Brings Windows Live to Nokia
August 23, 2007
Boston (dbTechno) - Nokia and Microsoft have announced that the Microsoft Windows Live services are hading to Nokia handsets.
These services include Windows Live Hotmail, Messenger, as well as other tools.
The Nokia Series 60 handsets will be getting these new tools this year if not very early next year.
The service is also going to be available on Series 40 phones. The service will be free to start but a price tag will be placed on them over time with Nokia and Microsoft splitting the revenue.
Microsoft stated that “Nokia is the largest handset maker.” This fact alone makes it a no brainer as to who they would side with to put the Windows Live technology on a handset.
Nokia and Microsoft have been working on this deal for over a year and it is something which appears to be only the beginning.
YouTube Ads Hint At Google Phone
August 23, 2007
Boston (dbTechno) - Analysts are stating that adding ads to YouTube videos is a step in the direction of an ad-supported Google Phone.
Google made the announcement on Wednesday that they are adding advertisements to the bottom of certain YouTube videos. The ads are going to be semi-transparent and are designed to be relevant to the interests of the viewers of the video.
The ads only appear for a few seconds if they are not clicked on.
The belief is that this same type of ad-supported site could lead to a free monthly phone service which would be paid for in full by advertisers.
The idea is to have ads on the phone, such as while dialing, in order to get them on there and pay for the service.
This could make for unobtrusive ads on cell phones which make the Google Phone a one-time charge type thing. Once you buy the phone, the service may be free.
Microsoft Shows Off Sidewinder Gaming Mouse
August 23, 2007
Washington (dbTechno) - Microsoft has announced its foray back into gaming hardware with the SideWinder gaming mouse for PC gamers.
The new SideWinder gaming mouse has its own LCD, an adjustable weight try, as well as adjustable DPI settings and macros.
To say this is the ultimate gaming mouse may be an understatement as Microsoft is taking their jump back into the PC hardware market for gaming very seriously apparently.
Bill Jukes of Microsoft stated that “We’re taking gaming mice to a new level with a mouse created in direct response to gamer feedback from all over the world; it offers superior customization and performance handling.”
The SideWinder mouse will be available in October for an MSRP of $79.99.
