AT&T Hires 2,000 Extra Employees For iPhone Launch

Sweden is different: Guy is awarded unemployment benefits because he’s addicted to Rock Music! - “Gonna have to face it I live in my parents’ basement!” Ananova: A heavy metal fan has been awarded sickness handouts after doctors said his addiction to music was a disability. The ruling means Roger Tullgren, 42, will pocket thousands of pounds in state benefits to help finance his 36-year obsession. Roger will get a £65 a week top [...] [Dvorak]

Vision Robotics' harvesting machines edge closer to the farm -

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

In just eight short months, the automated harvesting machines at Vision Robotics have apparently come quite a ways. Currently, funding is flowing in from growers' associations who are "very nervous about the availability and cost of labor in the near future," which has allowed the company to move forward in developing a pair of robots to pluck fruit from trees or vines. The duo would work in succession as the first robotic "scout" would scan the area and construct a 3D map with the location of each item that needs captured; the "harvester" would follow behind and pick the fruits that its eagle-eyed teammate mapped out. The firm has reportedly reached the build phase on the complex machines, and while a prototype or two should be ready to rock by next year, we're unlikely to see these go mainstream before the next decade.

[Via Wired]

Gallery: Vision Robotics' harvesting machines edge closer to the farm

 

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

[EnGadget]

La Fontenna Extends Range Of FON Wireless Goodness -

This is simple really: FON lets you share your wireless Internet connection with FON community members (called Foneros) and in return you get to hop on any other member’s wireless connection free of charge, anywhere in the world. The La Fonera is the specially designed $39.95 Wi-Fi access point that lets you securely share your wireless connection. The $19.95 Lafontenna is a directional antenna that extends your FON Wi-Fi coverage area up to five times farther than the Fonera’s standard range.

Any questions?

[CrunchGear]

Just as I was about to hit the sack for the night, more gPhone rumors surfaced. This comes from F. Colton, the editor over at India Street, and a fellow who tends to do his research fairly well, in my experience. He reports this morning that Chinese mobile handset manufacturer e28 is going to be a gPhone handset manufacturer.