The Geek Church

We’ll start with what to expect at E3, which is where I am this week.

Michael Jackson is getting his own video game, again.

This is the Communication Gadget Concept. Just see what it is.

See these mechanical bugs that can inspect power lines? Weird, aren’t they?

I’m not certain why you would need this, but this Papervore is both coffee table and paper shredder.

This Dynabook Qosmio V65 from Toshiba has a laptop with Blu-ray and DTV.

ESPN provides Live Sports Access in HD on the XBox 360.

X-Box Live gets a Zune Music Availability feature.

Check out this camera for Sea Life.

The HTC Aria from AT&T is on sale this Father’s Day.

The Nokia X6 8GB is unveiled in Singapore.

This is the Pantech Ease, designed for senior citizens to text.

Starbucks is finally giving customers free WiFi at all locations. Hooray!

This is the USB Typewriter, which is nicely compatible with the iPad.

This is the iPhone 4, up for pre-order come June 15.

Tired of dropping your cellular phone? Perhaps the MyPhoneLeash is for you.

Here is a Bluetooth headset that is also a digital watch.

Check out the NEC LifeTouch tablet, due out in Japan in October.

This is the Genos CYCLOPS Universal Remote.

GoodReader for the iPad is improved.

This is the Advanced Ruler Pro App for Android.

If you consistently follow the latest news in conceptual and recently developed technology, then you’re probably familiar with the idea of an electric-powered bicycle. Many electric bikes have been developed in Japan before. But according to Crunch Gear, the design of most of those models usually end up being ugly or unattractive. However, Yamaha just unveiled a new model called the PAS Brace-L, which is intended for young and older male consumers.

According to Yamaha, this new model was conceived for guys who want an electric bike for their personal enjoyment but never got one since most designs for existing models are physically unappealing. Furthermore, a truly desirable electric bicycle could serve as a trendy way to exercise or get to work.

The PAS Brace-L runs on an 8.1Ah/25.2V lithium-ion battery and features options such as an assisted travel range of 47km in its standard mode and 37 km in its power mode. The battery itself takes at least four hours to fully charge. This new electric bicycle will be available in Japan on July 15 for $1,630.

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As the E3 2010 conference in Los Angeles gets underway this week, Microsoft is already grabbing people’s attention with the recent demonstration of their new motion control system, Kinect (previously named project Natal). There were several games for children, groups and adults shown at the event and you can expect game developers such as Konami, Lucas Arts and Turn 10 Studios to be involved with the launch of Kinect as well. Popular titles like Star Wars and Metal Gear Solid are scheduled to arrive on the new controller system in the near future.

The Kinect device itself consists of a RGB camera, 3D depth sensors, and a multi-array mic and it also has a motorized tilt function. Microsoft intended for it to be a new kind of dashboard interface controller for the X-Box 360. In order to use it, you first log-in by waving your hand. Then your hand movements will control a cursor on the screen, allowing you to make selections on the displayed menu and browse through featured content. This new motion control system is designed to respond to your voice as well. According to Crunch Gear, Kinect might be the closest thing resembling the technology seen in the film, Minority Report so far.

With Kinect, Microsoft is taking a more direct approach to the concept of motion control than Nintendo or Sony. On the Wii and the PS3, motion control relies on the use of an actual hand-held controller. While the absence of a more conventional controller could lead to some problems in gameplay, there is definite potential with the user interface for Kinect. Thus, Microsoft’s new game control system may spark the beginning of a new age where hand-held controllers for PC and console gaming would be obsolete.

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