The 914 PC-BOT
The 914 PC-BOT ($4,995) is the closest you're ever going to get to having your own R2D2. It's a mechanized, motorized PC (complete with drive bays, webcam, and Windows XP) that bears more than a passing resemblance to C3PO's little buddy. It supports both the Microsoft Robotics Studio and Linux platforms, meaning serious hobbyists can program it to their hearts' content. The only thing it can't do is erase our memories of Star Wars Episodes I, II, and III. Maybe next year's model...
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Nabaztag
See, it's a rabbit. A Wi-Fi rabbit. Called Nabaztag. And it talks. Ah, hell, we can't explain it. But it's impossible not to love this little desktop gizmo, with its flashing lights, oscillating ears, and built-in voice synthesizer that announces news, weather reports, RSS feeds, and text messages. It also notifies you when friends come online or you've received new mail. And it can play music and sound effects. You can even "marry" it to another Nabaztag (and without the risk of a population explosion; they're not real rabbits, after all). The price for the existing model is $150; the not-quite-shipping Nabaztag/tag (which offers WiFi support and an RFID scanner, among other goodies) had not been set at press time.
ThinkGeek USB Snowbot
Cross one of Battlestar Galactica's Cylons (the robot kind, not the sexy blonde kind) with Frosty the Snowman, add a USB cable, and what do you get? The creepy-cute ThinkGeek USB Snowbot ($13), a perfect accessory for any office cube. It features a scanning LED eye (you can switch between menacing red and calming blue), articulating metal arms, and a decidedly Cylon-like sound effect (which, mercifully, you can turn off). At $13 apiece, they're cheap enough for every geek on your list -- yourself included.
--Rick Broida
The new HPE Aruba 730 series Wi-Fi 7 access points tout high performance, enhanced security, location tracking capabilities, and more.
Verizon is demoing crowd analytics technology that uses 5G along with AI and mobile edge computing to give stadium operators insights into the flow of fans throughout a venue.
As we move closer to fully realizing the potential of Wi-Fi 7, it becomes evident that the RF, signaling, and throughput tests are not merely procedural checkpoints but the pillars of excellence in wireless communication.
