Filed under: Transportation

If you thought a solar-powered ferry was far out, get a load of this. Reportedly, a 132-meter long vessel will be making its maiden voyage next month, but rather than chugging copious quantities of diesel while traversing the Atlantic, it’ll be sipping down fuel and receiving a good bit of help from the computer guided kite attached to its bow. The $725,000 device will be tethered to a 15-meter high mast and will fly some 300 meters above the ship in order to catch enough wind to actually aid in its movement. It’s suggested that the SkySails kite propulsion system will slash fuel consumption by “up to 20-percent or more,” saving the operator some $1,600 per day and reducing carbon emissions all the while. ‘Course, all the company has to do now is make sure the January trip is a success and it’ll have a list of to-be owners a mile long.

[Via Slashdot]

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Filed under: Wireless

When you’re the co-founder of Microsoft there’s always that nagging question of what to do with your millions billions. How ’bout bidding for some of that hot 700MHz action in the sweetspot of US spectrum? Seems that Paul Allen has filed to bid in the FCC auction with an entity called Vulcan Spectrum LLC — an investment company. Hint: Allen is also the majority shareholder of cable operator Charter Communications. Other notables on the list include Google and Verizon Wireless, naturally, as well as Qualcomm — protector of patents, MediaFLO mogul. Remember, Qualcomm already holds 700MHz licenses obtained in a June 2003 FCC auction. It all goes down on January 24th when the bidding begins.

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Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

While Microsoft is quick to downplay XP when comparing it to Vista, the legacy OS continues to shackle the hearts (and systems) of many. Fortunately, Microsoft just opened up their XP service pack 3 release candidate for general download — that means you. SP3 RC was previously only available by invitation. Now get going, you’ll need time to download all 336MBs of the last major update to the six-year old OS.

P.S. This is a “release candidate.” The final SP3 release isn’t expected until the first half of 2008.

[Via PC World]

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Despite our best attempts at trashing the planet in hopes that Al Gore will grow a beard again, we can’t help but love repurposed electronics. The Plink Jet, spotted at NYU’s ITP Winter Show 2007, uses the back-and-forth mechanisms out of four old ink jets to slide up and down four guitar strings, with various knob-controlled settings to control pitch and strumming patterns. The resulting noise is nice hybrid of robotic clicking and analog twang, but we hear HP charges a fortune for the strings.

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

It may be too late to snag one, get it delivered and wrap it with heaps of love before next Tuesday (or not), but if an IOU will do, we’ve found a stunning candidate for a last minute gift. Creative’s long awaited 32GB Zen has finally moved beyond the pre-order stage, which means anxious to-be owners can at long last place an order and expect shipment shortly thereafter. $349.99 and it’s yours, all yours.

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