Byte size news: Microsoft Kinects with keen gamers

Microsoft has hit a new high score with the Kinect, and they've got the Guinness World Record to prove it.
The Kinect sensor, which allows gamers to play selected Xbox 360 games without a controller, has sold 10 million units worldwide.
Noting this phenomenal sales success, Guinness World Records has officially named Kinect for Xbox 360 the fastest-selling consumer electronics device. It sold an average of 133,333 units a day for a total of eight million units in its first 60 days between November 4, 2010 and January 3, 2011.
The record confirmation comes just after the latest release of the Guinness World Records 2011 Gamer's Edition, which has other sections dedicated to the Kinect. "The sales figures here speak for themselves," said Guinness World Records gaming editor, Gaz Deave.
"According to independent research, no other consumer electronics device sold faster within a 60-day time span, which is an incredible achievement considering the strength of the sector."
New age at Nivea

Speaking of the Kinect, it's the motion-control sensor being utilised to continue a rather unique partnership between gaming powerhouse Ubisoft and beauty company Nivea.
Owners of the Your Shape: Fitness Evolved game can now download workouts developed in collaboration with Nivea's fitness and lifestyle expert, Sarah Maxwell.
"Nivea Tone-up with Sarah Maxwell" delivers six new exercises aimed at helping women tone their bodies, a new in-game Nivea room and audio tips that are available during the workout.
The free download also has advice on how to use various Nivea products, such as Q10 Firming Body Lotion and Good-bye Cellulite Gel Cream.
"Your Shape: Fitness Evolved is the most advanced, most popular fitness game available for the Kinect for Xbox 360, and today, thanks to our partnership with Nivea, it's reinvigorated and stronger than ever," said Ubisoft EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Asia), sales and marketing VP, Geoffroy Sardin.
"At Nivea we are very enthusiastic about this new and innovative partnership," said Nivea's Global Business Unit body care director, Jean-Francois Pascale.
Bugs inspire 'bots

Cave-dwelling crickets could hold the secret to creating super-secret spy robots.
The African cave cricket, Phaeophilacris spectrum, fires vortex rings of air by flapping its wings to spread its declarations of love to potential mates.
Unlike other crickets, who rub their legs to create a distinct chirping sound, the rings create no sound - meaning there's less risk of the infatuated insect being snapped up by a predator.
Now a bright-spark engineer, Andy Russell, has cooked up a way to get a pair of robots to communicate using coded sequences of rings created in a similar manner.
"Like the cave crickets, there may be times when a robot does not want its communications intercepted," Mr Russell said.
Got any news, gadgets or queries? Contact lindsay.harvey@apn.co.nz