Sony Rolly - WTF?

I'm really not sure what the hell this is and who (apart from maybe me) would buy it. It's sort of like a noise, high-tech Matmos toy. Wikipedia describes it as:

a personal electronics device combining music functions with robotic dancing.

which is a little dry perhaps for what must be one of the weirdest ideas ever. It's an MP3 player that, erm, dances. Not really portable, practical or even that pretty, one can't but help but wonder what the meeting was like when some senior Sony execs approved this. But it's kinda-cute and I bet my cat would like it. Actually scratch that, George the cat would ignore it and go sleep in a cupboard somewhere, as is his want.

The official website for it doesn't seem to work for me, but there's a fan site called Rolly.tv with lots of info except where to buy the bloody thing.

Specs

• 1GB internal flash-memory,
• Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity for receiving and streaming music,
• Editable dance moves via user programmable and pre-set software,
• Battery specifications:
  • 3.7V 1560 mAh rechargeable battery
  • Battery life: 5h music playback, 4.5h streaming music over Bluetooth, 4h of music and motion combined, and 3.5h for streaming music over Bluetooth with motion
• USB 2.0 conection for transferring music and charging the batteryge
• Supported audio formats: MP3, ATRAC, AAC up to 300+ kbps
• Dimensions and weight: 104×65×65mm, 300g
• Price: US $360 - $400 depending on retailer.

Enjoy

Dave

Update: Check it out there's an ad too!

A past disaster

Amstetrdam, May 2002 - I was cycling down the Prinsengracht when a 14 year old French tourist stepped out from the Anne Frank museum right into my path.



Ouch! See the photos.

Dave

Woah, ahh fuck!

That was about as articulate as I got when, Thursday night, a concrete manhole cover gave way underneath me and I plunged through it and tipped ungraciously onto the pavement in front of me, landing on my camera bag (luckily) and spraining my left ankle and bruising my right elbow and forearm.



Luckily was was a mere block away from my hotel (The Orchard Hotel on Bush street) and the doorman came and rescued me with a wheelchair. My dear friend Julie was with me and she was just fantastic. Many thanks Jules... We caught a cab to St Francis Memorial Hospital on the advice of the doctor the hotel contacted for me. There I was quizzed, x-rayed, bandaged and dosed up with pain-killers. If you ever injure yourself in San Francisco I recomend the ER at St Francis. They were wonderful.

So for the last few days I've been lolling about in my hotel room, not the way I'd planned on spending my time while here, but hardly the worst way to spend a few days. I've not really been too productive alas as the pain-killers make me very woozy and my right arm/hand is still far too sore to write or type properly. This left-handed typing is for the birds I tell-ya. I have thrown a few photos up into Flickr for your amusement.

Dave.

Burning Skies over Canberra

Check out the sky over my house. There is ash falling in the garden like hot snow, my eyes are stinging and the upstrairs of the house is thick with smoke.





After dinner we may start hosing down the outside of the house. — Dave

My Tarrot Card

You are The Fool

The Fool is the card of infinite possibilities. The bag on the staff indicates that he has all he need to do or be anything he wants, he has only to stop and unpack. He is on his way to a brand new beginning. But the card carries a little bark of warning as well. Stop daydreaming and fantasising and watch your step, lest you fall and end up looking the fool. [Get your own card.]

*NOTE: I don't really believe in any of this stuff, but it's nice to see my tarrot thinks I am a fool too.

Floating dog

Omar Attacked

Two Willy Wagtails defend their back yard from a vicious predator.

Enjoy Dave

Paul and Sandy's Christmas Gig

For the last 8 years Paul Champion and Sandy Cenin have teamed up to play a Christmas show for their friends at the Prince Albert Hotel. Having been living overseas for all of that time I never got a chance to see them until this year.



The above vid was shot on my mobile phone, hence the rotten quality, but hey - that's what blogging is all about eh.

Enjoy

Dave