As a publication whose bread and butter is handheld gadgets, we’re obviously more than a little excited about ‘ upcoming LEGO-style DIY electronics kit, which allows users to affix various modules to a small, open-source computer and create such magical products as a GPS-enabled digital camera with built in 3G modem and motion detector. While we’ve — including the BUGbase and current BUGmodules — founder and CEO Peter Semmelhack invited us over today to check out some of the very first working applications, including the Linux-based PIM software you see running in the photos. Apparently we can expect pricing details shortly, as well as a demo of the final system in action, all leading up to an official launch before the end of the year. (Content Read …)

San Francisco - Nokia Siemens announced an energy-efficient mobile network equipment package, the first announcement of more to come that show a commitment to improving the energy consumption of its network gear, the company said. The package includes software that can reduce the energy used by base stations by setting some components to enter a power-saving mode at night, a time when network traffic dramatically decreases. Another feature changes the minimum temperature requirement for a base station. While base stations are typically stored indoors where the air is cooled to around 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit) Nokia Siemens found that increasing the temperature to closer to 40 degrees Celsius can reduce energy consumption at the site by as much as 30 percent. (Content Read …)

San Francisco - Mozilla has released a beta version of , moving its next-generation browser one step closer to general release. ADVERTISEMENT
Close to 75,000 developers have been testing early "alpha" versions of Firefox 3.0 code for several months now, but this first beta release of the code, unveiled Tuesday, should open up the software to a much larger group of testers, said Mike Schroepfer, Mozilla's vice president of engineering. "The move from alpha to beta typically means that we've hit a point of quality where we believe the browser is usable as a daily browser," he said. (Content Read …)

The online for the just quietly went live on our side of the world with two downloadable PSP titles, 16 PSone titles, and a handful of themes, wallpapers, and videos. Wipeout Pure and Syphon Filter: Combat Ops are the first two $10 PSP games out of the gate, and highlights of the PSone list include Twisted Metal 2, Crash Bandicoot, and Tekken 2, all for $6. The store requires the download of a Windows-only loader app to transfer files to your PSP — and now, after waiting all this for PS3-free downloads, we’re kinda wondering why we can’t sync up over WiFi. (Content Read …)

We’ve already seen and (er, an avid fanboy) get down with their bad selves and celebrate with cakes that represent their respective milestones, but Solid Alliance is out to make sure no one gets shunned from the festivities. That’s right kids, even the USB obsessed can find a reason to party down, as the limited edition four-port USB cake enables you to connect up a of to keep your person toasty while surfing through the cold, blustery days that lie ahead. Additionally, the cake comes with four strawberry flash drives, each of which pack a full gigabyte of delicious storage space. (Content Read …)

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - MTV's "Rock Band" video game took the stage on Tuesday, a new entrant in the fast-growing genre of musical games that could boost the fortunes of the flagging music industry. ADVERTISEMENT
More a rock band simulator than a game, the title takes on the hit "Guitar Hero" series that has sold millions and become a cash cow for publisher Activision Inc (ATVI.O). Many retailers opened their doors at midnight so gamers could plunk down $170 for a "Rock Band" bundle that includes the game software and controllers shaped like a guitar, drum set and microphone. (Content Read …)

Today we got an exclusive look at that unit we spotted last week, and it seems to do exactly what it says on the box. If you missed it, the miShare is a little Linux-based device with a pair of iPod docking ports that can shuttle files from one iPod to another. We got to see it in action with a pair of nanos, and the operation was pretty painless — if a little sluggish, they’re claiming about 500K a second, at the low end of the USB 2.0 spectrum. The process involves plugging your iPods in and pushing the center button once they’re both mounted. You can select on the miShare whether you want pictures movies or music, and the device will automatically transfer the last played or viewed item of that type. (Content Read …)

So last night at midnight Harmonix — former developers of the Guitar Hero series — and MTV’s new rock and roll simulator, , had its first ever gigs. Of course, fans have been shredding for weeks, and probably aren’t about to sell one faux guitar for another (especially if it’s ). So which are you buying (or asking for)? What’s that, you want our take? Ok, well, since you asked, when the talent (Harmonix) left the Guitar Hero series, we thought the new game suffered big time. Plus we’re WAY more into the tracks on Rock Band — c’mon, they’ve got Bowie and The Clash! — but we kind of think the Guitar Hero Les Paul is better than the Rock Band Fender. (Content Read …)

THE PROBLEM: ADVERTISEMENT
Porsche this month revealed it had made EU3.6bn from share options in the year to July, compared with about EU1bn from sales of its cars. The news provoked comments from some analysts that the German luxury marque was acting more like a hedge fund than a carmaker. Yet many managers regard derivatives as essential tools to manage the risks of volatility in exchange rates, interest rates and commodity prices. When is it acceptable for manufacturers to place big bets on the market? Should investors be pleased or dismayed when an industrial enterprise makes money from financial speculation? (Content Read …)

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