A Via Nano Single-Core Chip HKEPC (in Chinese) has reported that Via was working on a dual-core version of its ultra-low power Nano processor. According to them, the new chip would be released in the second half of 2009. If you missed it, the Via Nano competes with Intel’s Atom in the low-power category and could be used to build Netbooks or Set Top Boxes. The new Nano would use a 1333Mhz memory bus and have more embedded cache memory (128KB L1 + 1MB L2) to reduce latency. At the moment, this is a rumor, but it is most likely true. Via and other CPU makers have nowhere to go, except continue to improve frequency slightly and add more cores. All of the above sounds very plausible. (Read the full post about ‘Via Working on Dual-Core Nano? Hum… Most Likely’…)

Christmas might have come and gone, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t find that as an excuse not to gift your little one another educational toy! The Spark Talking Globe is a full color 3D spinning globe that features seven touch-sensitive areas, where each touch will kickstart the computer within to provide more information about the selected area narrated by a cheerful character. You (or rather, your child) will find a total of 10 activity buttons to get the little ones started, and with hundreds of facts concerning people, music, clothing, customs, geography, food, animals, inventions and languages, this is a treasure tome of interactive information! (Read the full post about ‘Spark Talking Globe’…)

It takes an awful lot of of confidence for an up-and-coming company to introduce a media player in a market chock-full of ravenous brand name companies. This is especially the case when the brand names are lowering the price of their best gadgets to compete in the tough economy. But Verismo Networks is eager to compete with its new VuNow pod. The VuNow is a hand-sized set-top box with a familiar UI that picks out channels across the net and sends them straight to your TV. The channels include one solely for YouTube content, another for CinemaNow, a BitTorrent codec option (yeah!), and a "Global’ select channel that takes in choice clips from around the world. (Read the full post about ‘Hand-sized VuNow Pod Jumps Into Heated Set-Top Box Battle’…)

by Donald Melanson, posted Dec 29th 2008 at 9:11PM The handset itself is hardly anything new, and we had a pretty good indication that Android was heading its way, but there’s still nothing like a few good ‘ol fashioned blurrycam shots to make a plan really come together. From the looks of it, the handset doesn’t appear to have gone under any major changes for its new Google-fied incarnation, with it still packing the same 2.8-inch VGA display, 400MHz Samsung 2442 processor, GSM and GPRS connectivity as before, plus the usual built-in WiFi, Bluetooth, and AGPS, among other standard fare. (Read the full post about ‘OpenMoko’s Android-running Neo FreeRunner makes its blurrycam debut’…)

Bill Nye’s paper recycling factory toy (right) looks like a promising way to teach kids environmental friendliness while they’re ripe and impressionable. The kit includes an assortment of colorful, plastic tools to mash, dye, hydrate and mold old paper into new stuff like notebooks and post cards. Potentially gives the word "greenwashing" new meaning, doesn’t it? Product Page [via Boing Boing gadgets]  Photo: Discover This Tags: wi-fi, MP3, tech, ipod (Read the full post about ‘Bill Nye Brainwashes Kids Into Recycling’…)

This ingenious device is EXACTLY what every camera needs. It looks like an ordinary wrist strap for your camera, but when the time comes to download your photos onto your computer, the wrist strap opens up and becomes a USB cable. I can’t believe ALL cameras aren’t equipped with this feature. Ziotek makes the strap in two sizes: wrist strap and neck strap: Ziotek USB Camera Lanyard, Wrist Strap at Amazon.com Ziotek USB Camera Lanyard, Neck Strap at Amazon.com Each of them cost as much as a normal camera lanyard would cost, so they are inexpensive as well. Try them out! (Read the full post about ‘Ziotek USB Camera Wrist Strap’…)

It’s been a while since I’ve been sledding, and I’d imagine that’s the case for most adults, unless they have kids.  I do remember the last time I went, I came to the conclusion that snow is cold and wet and I’d rather be inside.  Also, trying to find a semi-comfortable position on a sled when you’re no long a small child is close to impossible.  Sleds were just made for smaller people and eventually they aren’t so easy for our adult bodies to use.  Well this Slegoon is made for those that want to make sledding a little more interesting. (Read the full post about ‘Slegoon brings the fun back into sledding’…)

Those who have already seen what the G-Dog can do will be disappointed to know that this robot cannot be purchased in the US. Below is an excerpt on its capabilities and a little bit of its technological background. Nine small RS304MD servos (new command TTL/ PWM system) are used for the G-Dog. The G-Dog is a high performance and reasonably-priced four-leg robot coming with Processing Unit and Motion Editor. The G-Dog comes with 9 command-type robot servos and each servo has its own command ID. More servos can be added using a hub and no complex wiring is required. Command-type Control Servo contains a built-in CPU. Since servos receive commands for speed and directions for each movement and operate according to the commands, there is less load on the Processor. (Read the full post about ‘G-Dog Robot Kit’…)

Just as Samsung let slip their 2009 HDTV range before CES, we have news on a great new LED LCD HDTV range from LG. The LG LH95 series looks set to claim the title for the world’s slimmest LED backlit LCD HDTV at only 24.8mm (0.976 inches) thick. LG willl present the LG LH95 series at this years CES in Las Vagas. Few details are currently known about the LH95’s but we do know it will feature LED backliting, boast a 2,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, and the new 240Hz TrueMotion Drive, doubling their previous offering. Making everything flow nicely without judder or motion blur effects. No release date or price or currently known for the LG LH95, but we assume the first half of 2009. (Read the full post about ‘LG LH95′…)

We’ve heard of the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) program, but the brains behind the upcoming Gdium netbook decided to have a go at their new program known as “One Laptop Per Hacker.” The whole idea behind this play on the OLPC program is to build a more robust developer community around the company’s netbook platform. The Gdium is pretty unusual as it is powered by a custom version of Mandriva Linux that operates via a removable USB flash drive known as the G-Key. Since the operating system is portable, you can tote your desktop environment just about anywhere you go. Developers who have been selected will receive a pre-release version of the Gdium netbook, a G-key and an opportunity to work with the Gdium develoment team. (Read the full post about ‘One Laptop Per Hacker’…)