katmai - Unplugged, Unmatched, Unleashed

Somnus suggests we check out the latest issue of MIT’s Technology Review, where researchers describe how they can dramatically boost engine output and efficiency by preventing pre-ignition, or “knock.” How they do it: “Both turbocharging and direct injection are preexisting technologies, and neither looks particularly impressive… by combining them, and augmenting them [...]

“Despite the good news out of GDC last week, it still seems like Sony’s new console has some image management to do. CNET says that the PlayStation 3 is ‘the most unwanted console in recent memory’ and asks ‘why is the PS3 so undesirable?’ They specifically question the company’s wisdom in emphasizing the power of [...]

The recently-announced CAT-iq standard doesn’t exactly have the greatest name recognition just yet, but Hong Kong-based Binatone looks to be doing its part to help get it off the ground, announcing its first CAT-iq compliant phone at CeBIT. CAT-iq, for those not up to speed, is a new standard for VoIP cordless phones developed by [...]

We’ve known that LG has had an internal Blu ray burner / HD DVD player combo drive in the works for some time now, but the company has just now let loose the first pics of the format-agnostic device, as well as presumably final release date, in anticipation of its official unveiling at CeBIT. Of [...]

What? You still only play video games on your NDS? It’s time to look and learn from these restless DS owners who’ve promoted their trusty handhelds to robots on a mission. Natrium 42’s homebrew kit is an open robot platform that lets you control your RoboDS (pictured right) with an NDS WiFi connection through a [...]

Sharp-eyed readers will no doubt remember this image from a certain FCC filing from Microsoft, which some had speculated to be evidence of a forthcoming Zune phone. That possibility seemed to be unlikely at best at the time, and it looks like the filing was indeed for something else entirely, with The Washington Post now [...]

The game composer behind the growing concert series takes time after his GDC-closing performance to talk about VGL’s growth.SAN FRANCISCO–GameSpot News caught up with Video Games Live cocreator Tommy Tallarico after the concert for a short chat. Having just closed out the Game Developers Conference with a performance of his touring game-music concert series, Tallarico [...]

In a note to developers, Sony confirms 15,000-user beta in April, 50,000-user beta in August; company trying to make Home under 500MB.
Home, sweet Home. That was the reaction from PlayStation 3 owners to Sony’s keynote address at GDC 2007, where Phil Harrison unveiled the 3D online community for the PS3.
However, the sampling demonstrated that day [...]

After a Xacti 2.0 teaser campaign initiated last week, Sanyo finally got to the business of releasing their latest Xacti, the DMX-CG65. The first of their new Xacti II cams maintains the pistol-grip profile the Xacti name is synonymous with only this time with Sanyo’s new Pure Fourth III image processor and optical image stabilization [...]

Apple finds itself in a peculiar situation after a MacBook in Australia catches fire, apparently from a malfunctioning battery. However, the battery was not on the list of recalled units.
The report, first posted on the Australian Mac enthusiast site MacTalk, indicates that the user awoke in the middle of the night to find the [...]