Filed under: Gaming, Robots

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/xbox/A_Guitar_Hero_bot_that_watches_the_game_VIDEO'; We've seen a lot of Guitar Hero bots in our time, but we're pretty certain that Mechanized Rock's take on shredding automatons is something special. The system -- dubbed DeepNote -- actually watches the on-screen action with "eyes" that it uses to analyze notes, which the bot then plays in real-time. Using photodiodes aimed at the screen, the components pick up changes in light within eight nanoseconds, then convert that information to brazen, parent-shocking, full-throttle rock n' roll. As you well know, pictures say a thousand words (and video is prone to run-on sentences), so watch DeepNote in action in the clip after the break.

Continue reading DeepNote Guitar Hero bot 'watches' the game, rocks you within an inch of your life

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Gaming

We know you're all dying to find out Engadget and Joystiq's annual joint-live coverage schedule for the Big Three keynotes, so here's what you need to know. It all starts later this morning with Microsoft's Xbox 360 press conference -- but you'll be waiting until Tuesday for the big N and Sony to kick off. Links and approximate times we'll get started are listed below, we'll see you back shortly live from E3!

P.S. -Don't forget your press conference bingo cards.

Monday, July 14th
~10:30AM PT / 1:30PM ET - Live from Microsoft's E3 2008 keynote

Tuesday, July 15th
~9:00AM PT / 12:00PM ET - Live from Nintendo's E3 2008 keynote
~11:30AM PT / 2:30PM ET - Live from Sony's E3 2008 keynote

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Thinking of quitting cold turkey? Good on you. Finding it a bit harder than advertised? Enter Ruyan America, the same folks who delivered the e-cigarette just over a year ago. The new Vegas is based on the same concept -- delivering nicotine to smokers without the harmful toxins that typically follow -- yet it's obviously shaped like a cigar. This disposal product provides around 1,800 mouthfuls of vapor and comes pre-loaded with a 16mg nicotine cartridge. Granted, Ruyan America doesn't claim that this thing will help you quit, but those who'd like to feel suave or give it a go anyway can grab one now for $45 (or a box of five for $200).

[Via I4U News]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Hey France, we've got one more for your sophisticated UFO archive. Dreamed up by artist Peter Coffin and crafted in conjunction with London-based Cinimod Studio, this 7-meter structure was built from aluminum and covered with 3,000 shockingly bright programmable LEDs. Furthermore, there's an on board 6kW generator to provide power, and the overall UFO can be remotely controlled via SMS. There are even assertions that this thing flew along the coast of Sopot, Poland on July 4th (and even a video to "prove it," posted after the jump), but we all know how dubious such proclamations can be.

[Via Hack N Mod]

Continue reading 3,000 LEDs used to build glitzy SMS-controlled UFO

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Laptops

If you've been tearing your hair out, pacing wildly around the room, and sweating bullets over the availability of the ASUS Eee PC 1000 (and we know you have), you'll be pleased to know that the grown-up sized version of the company's mini-laptop is now available for pre-order on Amazon. The site doesn't provide specific release dates for the systems (the $699.99, 40GB SSD equipped 1000, and the $649.99, 80GB HDD equipped 1000H), though we're figuring it can't be too long till these models hit shipping centers. In the meantime, we recommend going for long jogs.

Read - ASUS Eee PC 1000 40G
Read - ASUS Eee PC 1000H 80G

[Via I4UNews]

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Once the first spoonful of corn starts flying, forget about it, you’re on your way to a full-fledged food fight. And you know what they say. It’s always better to be prepared. Our recommendation? For every meal you sit down to, you must have a Zing! spoon on standby.

You never know when some little punk is going to get a little to excited about gobbling down his Jello. All it takes is one fling for a rage packed food brawl to unleash in your local cafeteria or delicatessen. The Zing! is a great tool to have handy. A spring-loaded spoon, ready for those far food launches you’ll need to survive the art of the food fight.

The Zing! is a spoon mutated to work sort of like a catapult. Pull pack on the spoon to gather some spring tension and let it fly. And BAM, you’ve got a splattering that would make any janitor cringe or any laundry service drop you from their customer list.

You can buy your own Zing! from The Spoon Sisters for just short of $10. But trust us when we say, you won’t be sorry. Once the food fight starts, it’s every person for themselves, and there are no rules in the war of food. Well, except for not flinging burning hot soup at your enemies. Third degree burns just aren’t worth the risk, you know?

Product Page via CrunchGear
[ The Zing Food Fight Spoon: Coolest Gadget Since The Spork? copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
<hr noshade /Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.

---

My girlfriend refuses to marry me until I can save up enough cash to get her a decent sized diamond engagement ring. I’ve thought about trying to sneak a cubic zorconia under her eyes, but something tells me she would know. Women have a built-in diamond radar or something, I swear. It’s science.

While I sure as hell don’t have the financial know-how to budget myself for the amount of savings I would need for diamonds, there’s another little gadget that my girl might like just for fun. Her love of diamonds and jewels is evident. So why not give her what she wants with something like this Jewel Ice Tray?

Forget about diamonds sweetie. Ice cubes can now be a girls best friend. Sure, they’re worth pennies on the dollar when compared to the precious gems, but how many diamond shaped items can cool your fruity beverage while still glittering (and then promptly melting) in the sunlight?

Ok, so my secret is out. It’s not that I’m cheap, per se, I just know what’s worth the money and what isn’t worth it. To her diamonds could either mean a symbol of an everlasting union, or just another pretty finger ornament, but to us as a couple, it’s food out of our mouths. Now this $7 tray? I could spring for.

Product Page via Zedomax
[ Jewel Ice Cube Tray: Because diamonds are too expensive copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
<hr noshade /Gift Ideas: The Coolest Gadgets Gift Guides.

---