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Gadgets
Solar Ink To Save World, and Money
I'm gonna give Inovalight some credit for working on this fascinating new energy idea called Solar Ink. Based on a solvent-based silicon nanomaterial platform, this ink uses what can only be referred to as "quantum dots" that can be printed using the same technology as printing on paper. So, put these dots on any flexible surfaces—like clothing or portable chargers—and you're good to go. The company also claims that by controlling the size of the dots, they can also tailor what part of the light spectrum gets captured, meaning everything from infrared to ultraviolet. Not bad, considering conventional technology can only absorb the visible spectrum. More »
Cellphones
Cellphones to Further Ruin Airplane Travel
As if flying wasn't miserable enough already, soon you'll have to cope with the cell phone yell up close and personal on airplanes. Starting in December of this year, the US feds will allow onboard satellite uplinks on airplanes, threatening to eliminate that last bastion of chatter-free existence. If you thought that crying, pooping baby kicking the back of your seat from New York to L.A. was bad, now you'll have to cope with the ring tones and yackety-yak of fellow passengers, surrounding you with a vengeance only heretofore seen inside THX-certified theaters equipped with Dolby 7.1. Never mind that 61% of business travelers are against cell phone use on planes, according to a CWT Business Travel Indicator survey. Tough. There's money to be made; get out of the way, peon traveling cattle. So now, you get to pay premium prices to wedge yourself inside an uncomfortable sub-sonic tin can, with about 20% of the oxygen you need and 150% of the noise. Videoconferencing, anybody? More »
5:30 PM on Tue Jan 31 2006
By Charlie White
234 views,
7 comments
Latest by Mike Haney: It's that damned push-to-talk that will send me over the edge. Potential upside: wonder if an EVDO connection will work more »
Robots
Need a Robot to Boss You Around?
Yes, the HiTec RoboNova 1 is ready to make you his plaything. It s 12 high and is controlled by 16 digital servos built specifically for this bad boy. Its rugged plastic casing protects all its sensitive inside parts, such as the five-cell NiMH rechargeable battery, which can power it for one hour. So just part with $1,299 and you can have your very own walking, running, flipping and dancing machine all to yourself. More »
Gadgets
Dog-e-tag, Digitalness for Fido
This isn t a Rambo style dog tag—even though Stallone would look cute with it on—this is a high-tech version of traditional dog tags. This tag is able to store a ton of information including: name, phone numbers, addresses, e-mail addresses, medical information, favorite dog food, etc. It even comes in a variety of colors to match whatever abomination of a sweater your dog is wearing against it's own will. This is available now for $39.95. More »
Peripherals
MyMio - Multifunctional Household Use Machine - Does No Dishes
Brother just announced two high-end models in the "multi functional household use machine" series called the "MyMio." Both the MFC-840CLN (17.2x 14.5x 6.4 inches, 13.6 lb) and the MFC-820CN (14.6x 13.6x 6.4 inches, 13 lb) function as printer, color copier, photo media capturer, scanner, fax, PC fax and more. They feature a 2.5 inch color LCD, Ethernet LAN and work for both Windows and Mac. There are slots for different memory cards to print images directly from a camera or other device. The received fax can be read on the display without printing. The scanned data can be out put to a memory card as PDF form. Estimated market price is between $315 and $340.Production Page [Brother]
Product Page [Brother]
Deals
Want to be Sexy like JB? Buy a Scottevest!
Check out this stud—easily the best dressed blogger out there. And now you can be like him and save some bling while you are at it. This is JB sporting his Scottevest Sev 4.0. Scottevest is celebrating their 5th anniversary by offering a 50% off sale that lasts until this Sunday. Buy, buy, buy! More »
Gadgets
Chocolate Thongs—Need We Say More?
Hidden among a book about female bottoms and the Mr. T in Your Pocket keychain on the website BoysStuff are these chocolate thongs. Milk chocolate, in case you were wondering. And once again, I must give the sound, feminine advice that although they look like fun in a box, many women may not feel the same, um, excitement about wearing them as you may have in thinking about them wearing them. I would opt for a cadre of delicious chocolates that can be eaten safely out of a box. That said, if your girl is a huge fan of Willy Wonka, it may play out better than I thought. More »
Gadgets
Anal-less Thermometer, Hooray!
Ebara Jitsugyo Co (EJK) out of Japan will be releasing this contactless thermometer. The worst part of getting sick as a child was getting my temperature taken—maybe my family was too Midwestern, but they stuck that thing where the sun doesn t shine. Boy, was it embarrassing when they took my temperature during my sixteenth birthday party because I had the croup! More »
Home Entertainment
Xbox Uno Modless Hacking
A forum jockey over at Xboxhacker has developed a way to playBasically, all you have to do to get the xbox 1 to 'authenticate' a disc is to feed it the correct sector FD021E contentsThis still isn t a fully developed hack though, it is just a proof of concept so don t go flooding their forums asking how to do this, just be patient and eventually the finalized documentation will surface. More »
Software
Googlester?
It is time for our weekly buyout/merger rumor. Today the New York Post is reporting that Google is looking to align with Napster, possibly buy them completely outright. With Google's recent foray into the downloadable video service it is only a matter of time before they push something in the audio world. Representatives from Google and Napster denied any announcements, but these rumors come from sources within the music industry. Last week a Napster spokeswoman did tell Reuters that they were looking to be bought out. iTunes possibly getting some competition? More »
Design
Screw Toilets! Pee Tree is Here!
Coming to a bar district near you, the Pee Tree. This was designed by Joa Herrenknecht for use in public spaces. It is big, bright and ceramic, just pee on the tree itself and lets the urine run down, or pee directly into the receptacle around the base of the tree. The urine is then flushed down to the sewage canal in regular manner. The tree is in a contemporary design that could easily double as a fecal slingshot, sweet. More »
PCs
Turtle Beach Easy Audio Adapter
Turtle Beach makes PC surround sound a snap with its Audio Advantage Roadie USB Audio Adapter. Just a regular little USB sound card that snaps into your USB port, it'll hook you up with instant 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound connectivity, as well as all kinds of outputs to connect your computer or laptop to a bunch of different audio devices (like surround-sound headphones or portable speakers). Built-in stereo mics and a 10 Band EQ are also included, all for just $80. Oh, and looks like if you place your order before February 8th, you'll get a free 5.1 folding headphone worth $40. More »
Telephones
Skype Gets Good Ringtones
Just a small heads-up to let you know that if you have a Skype phone, you'll soon be able to buy any of Warner Music Group's songs to use as ringtones. Labels include Atlantic, Asylum and Rhino so get ready for your fave Bjork and Black Sabbath songs to ring in your ears. It's always been a dream, I know. No specific details yet, but we'll keep you updated. More »
Portable Media
iRiver to Quit European Market?
Looks like the iPod has claimed another victim in the European arm of iRiver. According to sources, the continent's PR team have all been given the boot and the marketing department is being moved to Korea. That's a hell of a hint, I'd say. The company, which puts out digital audio players and was one of the first to show a PMP in the US, is still going strong in its homeland of Korea, where it has a 30.8% marketshare compared with Apple's 1.8%. What a difference a continent can make. More »
Cellphones
French GSM Phone in US
Never really heard much about the French cellphone company Sagem, but it looks like its my400L GSM phone was just approved by the FCC to arrive here in the US. A candybar phone with Bluetooth and a camera placed on the left instead of centered (not sure how many MP), it includes a mirror for taking self-portraits and an interesting "Flight mode" which lets you use it without the SIM card, like a PDA without the calling functions. Supports GPRS and comes with an integrated WAP 2.0 browser as well as J2ME games, Calculator, Converter, Alarm, To Do and Timer. No price just yet. More »
Portable Media
Tiny DJ, Music Controllers Go Worldwide
QWERTY keyboards are for email, not music. Laptop musicians and DJs should look instead to the Faderfox Micromodul line of boutique German MIDI controllers, designed specially for DJ apps and live music software Ableton Live. They'll even fit right over top of your laptop keyboard— unless you planned on hitting AIM during your all-night set. Previously Europe-only, creator Mathias says he'll soon be shipping them worldwide. Stick them in an aluminum case, and you can go worldwide, too—once you explain to airport security that they don't control explosives. More »
Portable Media
This is getting pretty deep down the chain, but we have some reports on what the DS Lite is like. All of this is coming from a friend of a friend that works at the peripheral company, Hori. Hori is only manufacturing basic stuff, like screen covers, but they did get a demo unit. Here it is, straight from the horse's mouth:
Well, from initial word it seems that Nintendo has fixed the complaints previously associated with the DS—if it doesn't turn on, the games can't suck! HAR! No, really: it's more sturdy, solid and small. Good job, Nintendo. More »
DS Lite Hands-On (Kind Of)
This is getting pretty deep down the chain, but we have some reports on what the DS Lite is like. All of this is coming from a friend of a friend that works at the peripheral company, Hori. Hori is only manufacturing basic stuff, like screen covers, but they did get a demo unit. Here it is, straight from the horse's mouth:He tells me the surface feels smooth. The buttons click like the DS s current buttons, though the D-pad feels like that of the Gameboy Micro. It feels solid. I ask about the screen. He says, It doesn t turn on. There s nothing inside it. Well, that s to be expected, I guess.
Well, from initial word it seems that Nintendo has fixed the complaints previously associated with the DS—if it doesn't turn on, the games can't suck! HAR! No, really: it's more sturdy, solid and small. Good job, Nintendo. More »
