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Japan Broadcasting Corporation has developed a prototype ultra-high-definition digital video system that displays 4,000 horizontal lines of resolution for a total of 16x more detail (pixels) than any current HDTV system. The image is 7,680×4,320 pixels. The UHDTV standard call for up to 22.2 sound.

Engineers report having difficulty managing the massive storage requirements for so much data. Apparently, 18 minutes of UHDTV requires about 3.5 tera-bytes of HD space.

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Replay Music captures online streaming music to MP3 files.
The software sells for $30 and can record almost any streaming audio from radio stations on the internet. Examples are
-Rhapsody
-Napster
-Shoutcast

Can also automatically tag each MP3 with artist and song name.

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Morgan Stanley has released a 217-page report entitled The China Internet Report. The report is intended to inform potential investors on the “status, and potential evolution, of the Internet in China”.

After the crash of tech stocks in the late 1990’s, many people view these types of reports on new investment opportunities, with caution and skepticism. This is especially true of those reports (such as the current one) that are authored by Mary Meeker, who was closely associated with the excesses of the technology bubble of the late nineties.

Nevertheless, this report, which is available in PDF format at this location, makes for interesting reading.

The main message of the report seems to be:
1) The worldwide importance of the Internet continues to be underestimated. With an estimated 750million users online for at least 30min per day and growing at 15% annually, leading Internet cos should be able to generate double-digit growth rates.
2) China offers very good investment opportunities in general, and in the TMT (Technology-Media-Telecommunications) sector in particular.

The report claims not to offer stock picks, but rather provides profiles for eight public and twenty private Chinese Internet companies, such as Sina, NetEase and Sohu. Readers of the report are left to choose one of the companies listed, presumably 3721.com and then to phone in their buy orders to Morgan Stanley. Alexa currently ranks 3721.com as 7th.

This report, and reports from other investment advisors, typically list the following caveats as being associated with subject of investing in China:
-Low levels of average disposable income in the country
-Lack of transparency in government and the legal system
-Cultural and language barriers
-Strict limits on foreign ownership and investment

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VR Tour provides 360degree virtual tours of perhaps 100 or so locations in Africa, Asia and Europe.

These virtual tours work well and look nice, but I guess I’m still waiting for the ability to move forward in a scene eg drive a car down a road and then stop and walk over to look at something interesting.

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The Wheelman is a kind of motorized 2-wheeled skateboard.

The 43cc engine pushes it to 20MPH with a 30mile range. The rider stands upright with the feet inside the hubless wheels. Steering is foot-controlled and speed is via a handheld wire throttle. Time mag selected it as one of the “Best Inventions of the Year”. Exhibited at Wired magazine’s NextFest event in the “Future of Transportation”. About $1500 from WheelManWorld.

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The SolidDrive converts almost any solid surface into a speaker by shaking it at the right frequencies. The audio signal is converted into vibrations that are transferred into a solid material such as glass, drywall, granite, wood, etc.

The advantage is in de-cluttering your room by eliminating the need for speakers and their wires. The disadvantage is the limited frequency response of 150-5,000Hz.

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Details of Sony’s first wireless, Internet-enabled TV were announced 2 days ago. The product had been called the AirBoard. Two models will be available in fall 2004: the LF-X1 (12.1-inch, 800 x 600 SVGA LCD panel) and the LF-X5 (7-inch 800×480). Link is here.

These units receive their signals from a base station supporting 802.11a/b/g and WLAN, range 100ft. The unit also provides basic web and email functionality, provided the base-station is connected to the Internet.

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The Nicosphere 3000 is a kind of plastic helmet ostensibly designed to isolate smokers from their environment and thus circumvent public smoking bans.

Intended as an elaborate practical joke, it seems to have got out of hand, with over 350 seemingly serious references to it on Google. Others, however, have gotten the joke and refer to the device as a “breath-taking” gadget.

The funny guarantee reads: “The Nicosphere should remain fully operational for the rest of the user’s lifetime. Should a malfunction occur before the user’s death or even up to ten years after purchase, we guarantee to provide the latest Nicosphere model as a replacement along with 200 cigarettes of your choice.”

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Recreational 14ft high inflatable raft. From Aviva Sports.

Price is about 5K.

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This is a pedal-less scooter that resembles a bicycle.

The KickBike seems to be big in Europe.

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