Thu, 10 Nov 2005

High Tech Toys

Knows Your Name Elmo

Introducing the "Knows Your Name" Elmo doll! It features a USB interface and allows the parent to fully configure the doll with all sorts of parameters. Right now, the doll talks about her favorite foods, animals, and important people in her life (Its programmed to: Daddy, Mommy, Aaka right now). The crazy thing also knows what time it is, and starts talking about bed time when its..you know..time for bed!

So a talking elmo doll with a USB jack in its back is begging to be hacked. While I just bought it tonight, it does show up as a HID (Human Interface Device) with no drivers needed. It has load a lot of audio files on your drive during CD installation (it actually installs all 15,000 names and phrases onto your freaking hard drive, making the install long and painful). The audio files are in "RBF" format, with the magic header of "WDMdM". Looking at the files with a binary editor, it is likely a raw format.

Hacking Knows Your Name Elmo or ELMO_SAYS+[100MSEC]+I_AM_WATCHING_YOU+[20MSEC]+#CHILDSNAME

There is another file in the base directory called "temp.inf". This file contains a script of various commands. Here's a snip:

PL_012:
      PLAY HI+[50MSEC]+#CHILDSNAME+[150MSEC]+LETS_PLAY
      RTS
PL_013:
      PLAY HI+[200MSEC]+LETS_PLAY+[220MSEC]+SQUEEZE+[100MSEC]+ELMOS+HAND
      RTS
PL_014:
      PLAY HI
      RTS
PL_015:
      PLAY HI+[50MSEC]+#CHILDSNAME
      RTS
PL_016:
      PLAY ELMO_LOVES_YOU+[50MSEC]+#CHILDSNAME
      RTS

PL_246:
PLAY
ONE_DAY+[100MSEC]+ELMO+HAD_A_QUESTION+[200MSEC]+ELMO+ WANTED_TO_KNOW+[50MSEC]+WHAT_DO_YOU+[20MSEC]+ LIKE_TO_EAT+[300MSEC]+FIRST+[100MSEC]+ELMO_ASKED+[20MSEC]+ #FRIEND1+[100MSEC]+WHAT_DOES+[10MSEC]+#CHILDSNAME+ [20MSEC]+LIKE_TO_EAT+[300MSEC]+#FRIEND1+SAID+[20MSEC]+ YOU_LIKE_TO_EAT+[50MSEC]+#FAVFOOD1+[500MSEC]+ELMO+ WANTED_TO_KNOW+[20MSEC]+MORE+[100MSEC]+SOOO+THEN+ [60MSEC]+ELMO_ASKED+[20MSEC]+#FRIEND2+[100MSEC]+ WHAT_DOES+[20MSEC]+#CHILDSNAME+[20MSEC]+LIKE_TO_EAT+ [300MSEC]+#FRIEND2+SAID+[20MSEC]+YOU_LIKE_TO_EAT+ [30MSEC]+#FAVFOOD2+[500MSEC]+ELMO+WANTED_TO_KNOW+ [20MSEC]+MORE+[80MSEC]+SOOO+FINALLY+[100MSEC]+ ELMO_ASKED+[20MSEC]+#FRIEND3+[130MSEC]+WHAT_DOES+ [20MSEC]+#CHILDSNAME+LIKE_TO_EAT+[300MSEC]+ #FRIEND3+SAID+YOU_LIKE_TO_EAT+[50MSEC]+#FAVFOOD3+ [500MSEC]+SOOO+[50MSEC]+NOW+[40MSEC]+ELMO+ KNOWS_THAT+YOU_LIKE_TO_EAT+[50MSEC]+#FAVFOOD1+ [100MSEC]+#FAVFOOD2+[100MSEC]+AND+[30MSEC]+ #FAVFOOD3+[200MSEC]+MMMMMM+[150MSEC]+ELMO+ LIKES_THAT_TOO+[50MSEC]+SFGIGGLE1+[400MSEC]+ NOW+[100MSEC]+ELMO+WANTS_TO_KNOW+[100MSEC]+ IS_IT_TIME_TO_EAT_YET+[300msec]
RTS

From first glance, this script file is compiled into some sort of binary data file which links to a glob of audio. The unit has limited space, as i can only upload 3 songs...a bulk of this space is taken up by speech fragments.

It looks like this Elmo is nothing more than an overgrown audio player in shuffle mode, along with a motorized mouth. It is very, very hackable. Maybe if I have more time alone with the thing, ill be able to get it to something really cool besides its default factory speech routines. I am going to have to work on my elmo voice though.

ChatNow

Move slightly over to the left Cybiko, make way for the ChatNow communication system. These 900MHz handsets feature 10 digit voice dialing, text messaging, digital camera, multiple ringers, push-to-talk button. You can even send pictures to other handset users, or assign them to entries in your phone book. 30 ringtones are available...

Wow, thats gotta kick FRS's ass. I'm going to buy a pair.

[/gadgets] permanent link

Google Maps Mobile

*DAMN*

After downloading Google Maps Mobile for my SprintPCS Sanyo MM7400, I immedately run this app.

My screen goes completely blank, and suddenly, I have a full screen satellite view of north america. I can zoom in and out, go to vector map mode, with the same look, feel, and smoothness as google maps. The 1xRTT network makes it load as fast as it does on the desktop.

After zooming in over my office building, I decide to start messing around with its local search functionality. I type in "Coffee", and 3 Google Map-isk dialog boxes pop up showing me where I can get coffee in Bellevue. It also tells me to hit 1-9. As I hit these numbers, the app quickly pans and centers over the item of interest -- even if they are on the screen or down 5 blocks. The dialog boxes even dynamically point and shape as they swish on and off the screen.

Need directions? No problem. Click "Directions" and you get a nice green dot you can position on any city street. You then position the end dot. If you do not want to visually describe your start and stop locations, it also accepts addresses.

After you place your start/stop points, it routes and gives you real-time directions.

The only downside is that, since it is a third party application without a signed GPS API certificate, it cannot pull location data from Sprint. I am sure that once that is functional, this will be one killer LBS app.

[/cellular] permanent link