May 21 2008Promo Vid: How Not To Sell Microcontrollers
I found this promotional video for Texas Instruments' new MSP430 Ultra Low Power Microcontroller particularly funny because I used to work for the company. *TI stock plummets* Basically it's two monster geeks showing how you can run the thing on different fruits (just like the potato clock you made when you were six). However, the main reason I posted it is because it has an awesome scene that starts at 1:20.
Blue Guy: Now if you're watching this on Youtube feel free to respond with your own interesting power sources for the MSP430.
Red Guy: I can tell you a martini works wonderfully.
Blue Guy: But you didn't drink that martini right?
Red Guy: Nooo, of course not, that would violate TI policy. *smile disappears, looks down and contemplates killing himself in the middle of a Texas Instruments promo video*
Freaking classic.
Fruit-Powered Chip Promo Vid Shows Why Geeks Don't do PR [gizmodo]
Reader Comments
1. mike11 - May 21, 2008 10:59 AM
Yea, power an entire city on fresh fruit that is already scarce and ridiculously expensive to begin with.
2. SF Record - May 21, 2008 11:15 AM
Power the Golden Gate Bridge using oranges .... er .. they footage they used is the SF/Oakland Bay Bridge and NOT the Golden Gate Bridge. What a couple of A55HAT5!
3. Mr.Anderson - May 21, 2008 11:44 AM
@1 Yea but see...at least they made you think about how scarce BOTH fruits and energy is didn't they? Ah tech people...how awesomely clueless they are.
4. MTK - May 21, 2008 12:35 PM
Wait, rewind - what's this about a voiceless cell phone? You can think and the words appear? Has this newsflash already been covered in Geekologie?
5. Momboelitist - May 21, 2008 12:42 PM
I'm waiting for the Texas Instruments Chainsaw Massacre video.
6. BulletTooth Tony - May 21, 2008 2:59 PM
Now robots can run on grapes? Damn-it! I used to love fruit too...
7. Grover - May 21, 2008 4:03 PM
Im with #4, what the hell is this about a cell phone you can use with your mind?
8. BlightedArt - May 21, 2008 4:26 PM
#3. Mr Anderson, welcome back.
#4 & #7. Just youtube'd:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=xyN4ViZ21N0
The sound quality of the video is kind of annoying ironically, also the pause between translating the bioelectrical signal into "speech" is gigantic. XD
9. Derek - May 21, 2008 7:38 PM
I agree with one.
Why not just power them with very very small batteries, and stop adding to the hunger crises.
10. emily - May 21, 2008 7:47 PM
It's not classic. It's core.
11. guate6 - May 22, 2008 12:40 AM
Haha, good one writer. Yeah I found it interesting how they casually slide the voiceless phone into the mix. True, it's slow, but wait for it to be developed...computers and internet was slow once...
Anyway, I'm not sure what the whole deal with the fruit was (aside from the "simple battery" thing), but I'm glad they raided the fruit salad bowls and thought "hey, let's make batteries!" It's good the microprocessor uses low energy, now let's start making bigger versions that can run cars on...solar energy!
12. Mr.Anderson - May 22, 2008 7:44 AM
#8 Were you expecting me?
:P
13. The Dude - May 22, 2008 4:22 PM
Here's the website for the voiceless technology.
http://www.theaudeo.com
Turns out it is going to be used in all types of new technologies. The creator is trying to help people that cannot speak due to illnesses. Now they will be able to just think and the works will appear. There is also a mind controlled wheelchair....pretty sweet
14. Ken - May 22, 2008 4:27 PM
I want to see these nerds try to sell cars.
I think they would fit perfectly on beauty and the Geek reality show