Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Gurus at Purdue University have conjured up a prototype device which, when injected into a tumor, can actually track the “precise dose of radiation received and locate the exact position [of the tumor] during treatment.” Currently, the needle-sized device is held within a hermetically sealed glass capillary, contains a miniature radiation dosimeter, operates without batteries and instead relies on “electrical coils placed next to the patient” for activation. As small as the RFID-enabled unit is, engineers are still hoping to create a version that is around the size of a grain of rice, and hopes are to have it in clinical trials in 2010.

[Via Physorg]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Cellphones

The folks at ZiPhone spotted some code in the brand new 2.0 beta iPhone firmware that could point to the chip to be used in the upcoming 3G iPhone. The code makes mention of “SGOLD3,” which could very well refer to Infineon’s followup chip to the S-GOLD2 which powers the current iPhone. Infineon’s less fancy name for the S-GOLD3H chip is the PMB8878, a 7.2Mbps HSDPA chip with all the video acceleration and media playback features iPhone users have come to expect. Advantages over its predecessor include higher resolution camera support (5 megapixels instead of 2), a 2x speed MMC / SD interface and DVB-H module support, but that doesn’t necessarily mean any of those specs will end up in the ensuing iPhone 3G — S-GOLD2 has plenty of features the current iPhone doesn’t take advantage of. The processor speed, however, remains the same.

[Via ZiPhone; thanks Adam B.]

[Warning: PDF link]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Peripherals

Aside from shamelessly tooting its own horn, Microsoft is proudly announcing that the “number one best-selling notebook mouse in the US” now comes in five more adorable hues. The special edition Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000 will be available in Pomegranate (red), Dragon fruit (dark pink), Aloe (green), Milk chocolate (brown) and Creme brulee (khaki), all of which sound entirely more delicious than attractive. Nevertheless, the world famous travel critter will otherwise remain unchanged and should hit Best Buy stores in May (everywhere else in June, Engadget store notwithstanding) for $29.95.

[Via Electronista]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Quincy on your mobile could soon liven up your afternoons at work

Sony launches seven new dictation devices