Geekly Update October 27

The AskBobRankin Geekly Update

A man trying to steal a Chevy Tahoe was stopped by OnStar after they used GPS satellite technology to locate it then remotely disable the gas pedal. File this under Cool But Creepy. I always feel like somebody's watching me...

The Rolltop computer is one of the coolest gadgets I've seen in a long time. It's a laptop that literally rolls up like a newspaper, and unrolls into either a 17-inch flat screen or a tablet configuration. There's just one problem, it only exists as a design concept. But the video is worth a look.

Barnes & Noble has finally unveiled their Nook, due out in November but available for preorder at a price of $259.00 now. This is the first ebook with both WiFi and 3G (from AT&T) technology. The Nook can access more than a million books, magazine and newspaper from their online store as well as free reading from Fictionwise and Google Books.

Tokyo's Digital Contents Expo took place this week and included a 3D exhibition. While many of the companies are not well known in the states, expect lots of activity as they scramble for a piece of the 3D pie, many viewable without glasses.

Want to be a pop star? uPlaya Artists is waiting to discover you. Upload your tune and the site will use its Hit Song Science technology (algorithms) to see if you will have your 15 minutes of fame. They also offer to help you market your big hit, for a price, of course.

NASA is all a-twitter and invites its followers to the next space shuttle launch. Atlantis will be taking off Nov. 12 to deliver goods to the ISS and will hold a Tweetup during the event. Although astronauts have been Tweeting since the spring on Earth and in orbit, the launch will be a first of its kind.

Acer is the latest company to release a Windows 7 all-in-one. The Aspire Z5610 features a 23-inch 1920x1080 multitouch display, a 2.6GHz Intel Pentium Dual Core chip, 4GB of DDR3 SDRAM and a 320GB hard drive. Due out for the holidays, expect an $899 price tag.

Lexar has released Rescue 4 Software that allows recovery of lost or deleted video or still from memory cards. It utilizes a simple 1 step recovery interface, automatic updates, multiple language support and is compatible with both PC and MAC. The $33.99 price is tiny compared to the ability to recover your lost work.