Monday, July 30, 2007

World's Smallest Single Chip Camera Is REALLY Small











TDC's new OV6920 CameraChip is the world's smallest CMOS chip at just 1/18-inch (1.4mm). This means that the attached camera setup is just 3.2mm in total size—or in layman's terms—never change outside of your own bedroom again. Shooting at a low resolution of 328 x 250, the chip is configurable for NTSC output and can automatically control color saturation, exposure and gain. Sipping from a low 3.3V DC power supply, the chip will be useful in low power applications—from medical pills to spy gear to toys. While the practical applications for tiny cameras are limitless, technological breakthroughs like this just reinforce the inevitable future: We will all be on camera all the time...and that Futurama's fabled UltraPorn is on its way.

Source: TDC via therawfeed

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Bullet Mouse



Another PC accessory for those who like unusual gadgets has arrived. Bullet mouse does not mean it is as small, but it definitely looks like a bullet.

It has a shiny chromed metal surface just like a bullet. It is even colored like one. I wander if it is made out of metal, because if it is then this would be another indestructible mouse. About the buttons: it has two buttons and a scroll which makes it a pretty basic one.

It looks unusual and will attract people's attention however I wonder how handy this mouse will be. And it will cost you about $ 25 if you really decide to buy one.

Source: Gadget-Reviews

Sony SZ Laptops Soft Launched

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Sony is updating its SZ5 laptops to SZ6 designation. The laptops have Santa Rosa chips, 13-inch LED backlight LCDs, and up to 200GB hybrid HDDs (which have 256MB of flash).

Saturday, July 28, 2007

Ambient Umbrella will Warn you from the forthcoming Rains





Wish I could have an Umbrella that could alert me whenever precipitation is expected. Doing away with the need of carrying an umbrella unnecessarily!
Ambient Devices has introduced its latest product, Ambient Umbrella that informs if today is the day to carry an umbrella with you or not. It’s a weather forecasting umbrella. According to the company, the Ambient is developed in such a way that it automatically receives weather data from Accuweather.com through Ambient’s Infocast Network. The network reaches over 90 percent of U.S households and is able to penetrate in area where wireless technologies are defunct.

“The Ambient Umbrella perfectly demonstrates Ambient’s ability to embed the intelligence of the Internet in everyday objects,” said Nicholas Negroponte (the MIT Media Lab Man), member of Ambient Devices’ Board of Directors.

Ambient Umbrella can alert when it is going to rain in the next 12 hours. This technology is been fitted onto the umbrella handle that suggests “today is the day to take me with you.”

With long lasting battery, Ambient Umbrella carries a retail price of $125 and is available in US.

First Flight of X-48B Blended Wing Body Aircraft Prototype














Here's a pic of the new X-48B, Boeing's Blended Wing Body research aircraft in flight for the first time. The prototype, developed by Boeing Phantom Works with cooperation from NASA and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, flew for 31 minutes, reaching an altitude of 7,500 feet.








Boeing is at it again with one of their fantabolous X-designated planes. The plane flew from NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California. This X-48B is only the second prototype that Boeing has built and the only one tested in flight; it was created to test the "structural, aerodynamic and operational efficiencies of the BWB concept," according to Bob Liebeck, the BWB program manager, especially during take off and landing.

BWB planes don't have a tail, the wing itself blends into the fuselage, giving more lift and less drag than a traditional circular fuselage. This means 30% less fuel consumption than a normal plane and also less noise, both inside and on the ground.

The composite-skinned aircraft uses three turbojet engines that enable it to fly up to 10,000 feet and 120 knots in its low-speed configuration. This X-48B prototype is "remotely piloted from a ground control station in which the pilot uses conventional aircraft controls and instrumentation while looking at a monitor fed by a forward-looking camera on the aircraft" making it the coolest RC/Plane and flight simulator videogame in history - in addition to being a kick ass machine, period.

Boeing's Tom Koehler said to us via email that "the X-48B that flew on July 20 is a small-scale unmanned prototype of the BWB concept" Still, it's quite a feat - and one that will hopefully develop into better, more efficient aircraft in the future. Who knows, maybe even beyond military uses, this design will find its way into cool commercial airplanes.

Source: Boeing Phantom Works and NASA

Friday, July 27, 2007

Halo 3 Scarab Toy is the Best Stroller Ever

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If playing with Halo replica guns is quite beneath you, then check out this battle-damaged Halo 3 scarab. It measures 24 x 24 x 20 inches (large enough to put a small baby on), is covered in Covenant-purple paint, and is the biggest miniature that WizKids has ever made. In the game, it's "highly resistant to human and Covenant weapons", so don't go trying to use that replica gun on it. One lucky Comic-Con attendee got to walk away with this $250 replica. We could recommend using this as an actual stroller, but if some stroller company made one just like this, it'd make baby-having that much more enticing.

Source: WizKids

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Shoe Pure 100, Glowy Smell Protection

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Sweaty feet + shoes = smelly. The Shoe Pure 100 hopes to...balance that equation...by drying out your shoes to prevent bacterial/fungal growth. Shaped like an egg, the Shoe Pure unfolds to reveal two drying hooks. Place your sweaty shoes on, and warm ozone will dry them in about 30 minutes. But what about that light—is that alien glow some sort of UV for extra germ protection? No, it's a sad LED that will do little more than add ambiance to your otherwise drab, stinky Keds, powerless in the battle for sock hops against evil smellies. So for $68, the Shoe Pure might not be worth our money, but we'll gladly encourage your splurge if it saves us the stench.

Source: product via newlaunches

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Fabric Wireless Keyboard


Thin, Light, Wireless. It just got easier to work anywhere.Introducing the G-Tech Wireless Blue Tooth Fabric Keyboard with ElekTex Technology Transform your smartphone, PDA into a mobile office with the 1st full-size Keyboard that fits in your pocket. It rolls up for storage in a small pouch, and opens up to a lap-top size keyboard. A perfect tool for people on the go and busy professionals with smartphones and PDAs. Download the driver, link up and go.

Platform Driver & PDF Instructions:
Symbian Smartphone S60 (v3, Beta)
Symbian Smartphone S60 (v2.0, 2.1)
Symbian Smartphone UIQ (v2.0, 2.1)
Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 (smartphone)
Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 (pocket PC/PDA)
Microsoft Windows Mobile 2005 (Smartphone, Pocket PC, PDA)
Microsoft Windows XP
Palm OS Smartphone
Palm OS 5.4.9(v1.4)
RIM Blackberry

Specifications:
Format: International English Qwerty
Dimensions open: 306 x 114mm (12" x 4.5")
Dimensions stowed: 126 x 48 x 32mm (5" x 2" x 1.2")
Weight: 68gms (2.4oz)
Power: 2 standard AAA (Included)
Bluetooth: Yes
Package included: Keyboard, 2 AAA Batteries, Phone Stand, Nylon Stuff Sack, and Phone Support Card .

Source: g-techworld.com

Japanese WiFi Train Clock

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People say the Japanese public transit system is fantastic, and it's stuff like this Japan Railways Wi-Fi clock that makes it so. This clock shows you exactly which stop your train is at, so you can plan ahead to see how long it will take for it to reach your stop. Best of all it's Wi-Fi enabled, which means you get live updates when your train happens to be late. If they sold one of these for the BART here, well, you'd probably get a letter from your internet provider about using too many resources.
Source: Hobidas via Maochan

Monday, July 23, 2007

Ball that measures how Far it was thrown

Virtual Distance Football

This is a cool idea, a football (American) that can measure and display how far it has been thrown, so next time you throw a great touch down pass you can brag about the distance accurately (rather than saying it went really really far).

Known as the Virtual Distance Football, the distance thrown is calculated by using sensors to detect when the ball is thrown and then the impact of a catch or fumble (though how it knows the distance between the two is beyond me).

The virtual distance football is available from Discovery for $19.95.

Hidden Camera Detector

The Hidden Camera Detector gives you 24 hours of privacy protection. Its unique pen-shaped design saves power and prevents mobile phone interferences. It can easily be attached to your keys, car, bag, purse, or briefcase. This Hidden Camera Detector automatically detects all wireless signals. Whenever an unknown wireless signal is detected, the lights at the tip of the pen will flash according to the signal strength. You can also simply press a button on the pen to check for counterfeit currency. Its blue light allows you to detect the watermarks on most bills. With a detection radius of 10 Meters and the ability to precisely detect wireless signals of 900/1200/1300 and 2400 /2600/3000MHz, the Hidden Camera Detector is a convenient, proven way to ensure your privacy anytime, anywhere.

Specification

- Battery: 4.5V, using LR-44 x 3 pieces (3 sets included)
- Detection Output: LED flashing (Color light LED)
- Detection Induction Degree: 100MHz~3GHz
- Working Current: 30uA
- LED Flashing Current: 1mA
- Detector Dimension:146x X 10mm . compact size
- Package Dimension: 178 x 38 x 18mm compact size

Saturday, July 21, 2007

Oryx Bicycle Looks Hard to Sit on, Probably Isn't

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Viewed from the wrong angle, this Oryx bike could look like something from the perv-o-licious Sex Museum in Amsterdam. Designed by a guy called Harald Cramer, it's a custom-made time-trial cycle with all sorts of weird and wonderful innovations...

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Made of carbon composite, the handlebars, stem and fork are all one piece, with the ergonomic seat post and saddle integrated into the frame. Handlebars connect to frame via a pivot, and the seat even has a hole in it in case you get taken short while cycling to keep you cool while you work the pedals.

The Y-frame shape means that the Oryx is shock-proof and keeps you in contact with the road at all time, and there is a one-sided fork and chain-stay. The crank is designed like a ring and mounted inside the frame on a couple of ball bearings, and the wheels detach from the bike at the push of a button, a useful time-saver for competitions.

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Source: Yanko

Friday, July 20, 2007

FLYINGCAR Now in your market soon will cost between $90,000-$125,000

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Moller International, creators of that stunning red flyingcar prototype seen web-wide, has started production on the M200G, the consumer-ready derivative of the M200X volantor, and is readying the machine for the open market. Depending on engine costs, the M200G will cost between $90,000-$125,000. Video:

According to the press release, the machine can hover 10 feet off the ground and cruises at a speed of 50 mph. Because the M200G is classified as a recreation device and not an aircraft, it is not subject to FAA regulations and anybody can operate one. No official release date has been announced.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Italians Launch Sonic Attacks With Labor Limae Speaker Gun

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The pole-mounted speakers from Hi-Fi Center in Italy look loud and probably sound loud. It's a two-way bass reflex loudspeaker that looks like a speaker gun, and includes carbon fiber enclosures and red elastic suspension to keep it pointed in the right direction—namely, your face. It's got a recommended power of 100 watts per side, with a 7-inch woofer, an impedence of 6ohms, and a frequency response of 45Hz to 22kHz. I'm sorry, did you say something?

Source: AudioJunkies

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

get great pictures of lightning without sitting outside all night

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Want to get great pictures of lightning without sitting outside all night? Check out this DIY lightning activated camera shutter trigger. It works by detecting really fast changes in light—which is either a lightning flash or your 2-year-old going nuts with the light switch—and triggers the camera shutter. The result is a convoluted way to automatically capture lightning without doing work yourself. Unless you count building the thing as work, which may actually be more work than sitting outside.
Source: Solorb via DIYLive via Make

Light Drop Liquid-Looking Luminescence

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By Brazilian designer Rafael Morgan, the Light Drop is a lamp you operate like a faucet, controlling the intensity of light with the knob. The striking silicon bulb is lit by an LED to ensure you aren't just pouring your money down the drain (though we're not so certain that one LED will achieve a perfectly even glow).

For some odd reason, all of the greatest designs in the world aren't for sale. From futuristic cars to lamps that look like liquid, we are obviously not worthy of real genius in our homes. Besides, someone like Target would mass produce the Light Drops and you'd be embarrassed to own one in a season anyway.

Source: design via gearfuse


Tuesday, July 17, 2007

The Decider Watch Carries Infinite Wisdom on Your Wrist


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Instead of just flipping a coin, let The Decider watch make the call, giving you a yes or no answer to any question. Wow, it's like having George W. Bush, the best doggone decider of them all, right there on your wrist 24/7. Just make a snap judgment with a quick glance at this $161 watch from Mr. Jones Watches, and you're on your way to achieving world peace and guaranteeing safety from those pesky evildoers.

The Decider



If you want a more permanent and definitive answer to any quandary, pull on the watch's winding crown, freezing in a yes or no position and leaving little room for doubt. It's quick, easy, and requires very little thought.

The timepiece's only downside is that it's available only in a limited edition of just 100 watches, and it looks like they're going fast. Mr. Jones should manufacture lots more of these, because we're going to be needing them as soon as we lose our Decider, which could happen sooner rather than later. But who knows, maybe a watch like this is behind his celebrated decision-making technique, so the next Decider can wear one too!

Source: Mr. Jones Watches, via Designcentre

Monday, July 16, 2007

Alarm Clock Thinks It's a Light Bulb

Here's an alarm clock that mocks those old-timey incandescent bulbs, packing LEDs inside to show how those tiny diodes can run circles around antiquated tungsten filaments. From a Korean company called 10x10, its LCD panel in front shows you the usual time and temperature info, but it's that glow emitting from within that makes this cheap little trinket a thing of tacky beauty.
It's a good thing there are LEDs lighting up this $12 clock, too, because it runs on four AA batteries, and the energy-saving characteristics of LEDs will come in handy in the power saving department. The device's main trick is cycling through all those colors, and of course, waking you up in the morning. But then, with such a glorious light show going on, who would ever want to go to sleep?

Source: Sci Fi Tech

TuneBuckle - iPod Nano Belt

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The TuneBuckle protects your iPod nano by encasing it in a convenient and fashionable belt buckle made of aircraft quality aluminum. The buckle is machine crafted, in the US and is beautifully finished. Sleek design, high quality belts and multiple styles allow you to carry your Nano in your TuneBuckle to the grocery store, to the club, or to the board room.

Source: TuneBuckle

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Guitar Hero for Mini Mes

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If your manhood is less than 2cm; (yeah, I went metric on you), chances are your hand span is not too great either. Help is not far, Frodo, as XFPS have entered the niche market with their super-tiny Guitar Hero controllers.

Not only could this possibly be the cutest accessory to date that didn't have the Hello Kitty branding across it, it will also brighten the little lives of all those in Middle Earth. Screw the ring, throw this around your neck friends and rock on! Though it may at first seem to be somewhat of a gimmick, these tiny guitars are expertly crafted from real wood and the whammy bar is genuine metal, no less. The controllers are fully functioning with backlit buttons and are currently available for the PS2 and XBOX 360 at $69.90 each. The XBOX 360 version isn't compatible out of the box; you'll have to invest in an adapter at $69.90. The price of small time gaming, unlike the size, will be daunting to all but the most serious enthusiasts.

Source: [Product Page via technabob]

Saturday, July 14, 2007

Speed Meter + GPS Navigator Head-Up Displays

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GlobalTop Technology’s GPS HUD Speed Meter projects your speed and other navigational info on the windshield so your eyes don’t need to drop down to the dashboard for those crucial split seconds. You can set up an alert function for further warning before approaching a red-zone speed. GlobalTop Technology will be showcasing the GPS HUD Speed Meter at CeBIT so this should be in stores quite soon.

Source: Digital Reviews

Usurfer - Urban Mover

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No more kicking on that skateboard to get you around! This is electric power board. This thing is fast, quiet and environmental friendly. The Usurfer is hand controlled, you get full control of the throttle and brake.

Source: ExtremeToysForBoys.com

Friday, July 13, 2007

Switchblade: Shape Shifting Plane

Switchblade Supersonic Bomber
we might see (probably hear) a blueprint of the first unmanned plane that can attack its enemy at super sonic speeds. The Switchblade will be designed by Northrop Grumman and funded by a US government $10.3 mSwithbladehe Swithblade is named for it wings that ’swivel around 60 degrees’ transforming it from a normal looking plane to more of a missile. Repositioning the wings allows for greater stability by appropriately distributing the sonic waves that build up in front of the plane. A similar design was attempted back in ‘79, but proved too difficult to control by humans. The UAV’s computer will be able to make the necessary calculations and changes rapidly enough to manage the sonic speed. Darpa says we might see a working prototype by 2010.

USBTV From SanDisk: Just Copy, Paste and Plug it in to the TV

SanDisk USB TV
If you’re aren’t willing to bare network configuration to stream your recorded shows or movies from your PC to your media center, then the SanDisk USBTV has the quickie fix. From what we gather you essentially transfer up to 2GB of data/media (expect actual capacity with firmware to be lower) to the thumb drive like device and then plug it into the included USB-to-video out dongle, which also includes the necessary video decoder. Control looks like it can be harnessed from the cradle portion of the device (almost an all in one device) which includes, from the looks of it, your standard DVD controls – pretty slick. According to EverythingUSB many LCD TVs now include a USB input – I’ll have to inspect next time I visit my local electronics retailer – thus making the dongle not necessary. No word on release or availability, but apparently SanDisk will be giving out free devices for testing and feedback.

Wine Thermometer

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“This unique thermometer clips around a wine bottle and within a minute or so, the temperature of the wine appears on the heat-sensitive band. If the temperature is within the range for the type of wine indicated on the part of the band, the wine is at its prime temperature and ready to be served.”

Source: Nova68

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Peltier USB Can Cooler/Heater is a Cup Holder Too

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The Peltier USB Can Cooler/Heater will make drinks frosty or toasty, and hold onto them as well. You would think this feature would come standard, but sadly very few are actually functional cup holders. We've seen precarious tray designs, a fridge mock-up (which, while it does technically hold your drink, doesn't provide the easy access a cup holder should), and some other interesting ideas, too. Despite looking like a big blob of plastic with an area for a cup punched into it, this one's cup holding prowess gets the USB Can Cooler/Heater an easy thumbs-up.

According to its press guff, the USB Can Cooler/Heater will take your cans and bottles and cool them down by 18 or 20 degrees, or warm up their native temperatures by 20 to 22 degrees. The site doesn't specify whether that's Fahrenheit, but if that were Celsius it would be a miracle. No word on how long it takes for the drink to change 20 degrees in temperature, either. At 32 bucks, the gadget is a little more expensive than some units that can both heat and cool, but it's a small amount to pay for keeping your drinks upright next to your rig.
[USB Geek]

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

World’s Thinnest DVD Disc

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Using an innovative nanoimprint technology, Hitachi Maxell have succeeded in creating the world’s thinnest DVD media at unbelievable 0.092mm thick. This makes the new disc approximately 1/13th the thickness of existing DVD media, yet allows it to retain the full 4.7GB capacity. Just imagine your collection of 100 DVD’s can be fitted in a box not thicker than 1cm.

These things will be priced somewhere around $4 when they hit the stores.

UV Light Tattoo’s

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With this new technique you can cover yourself in body art and no one will ever know, unless they see you in the dark, which is the only time these tattoos are visible. This new technique uses blacklight reactive ink, which is reactive to UV light.

Source: Tattoo Artists

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Cool Wrist Phones - Concept Phone-Revolutionizing the designing of mobile phone world

BenQ-Siemens

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Nec Tag

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LiteON

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Nokia Icon

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Monday, July 9, 2007

42-String Guitar

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Let me introduce to you the Pikasso, a 42-sting guitar that was borne out of a challenge to make a guitar with “as many strings as possible.” The guitar has four necks and two sound holes. The body is tapered so that the side closest to the player is thinner than the side that rests on the players knee, thus leaning the top back towards the player for a more aerial view.
Created by luthier Linda Manzer for guitarist Pat Metheny, the instrument took 2 years to build. It weighs 6.7 kg or 14 3/4 lbs.

Saturday, July 7, 2007

Nokia 888 - A new Concept Mobile

Nokia 888This is a new concept mobile communication device which looks funny but is a serious thingy newly released in the mobile world. A new launch by Nokia, this slim paper-like phone has a lot of features which people just used to imagine about.
The piece is designed by “Tamer Nakisci”, who has already won “The Nokia Benelux Design Awards” and now is a jury member of Apple iCan 06.

The phone is completely flexible and can be carried any where and in any form. It can be bended in any shape, or can be rolled up round the wrist, or if at all you are not comfortable with this, then you can just use the phone as a clip for your shirt. Never ever was there a concept of this kind… and is already in huge demands prior to the release of this piece.

Nokia 888This phone can change it’s own shape whenever you need to talk like a normal phone. Talk without words, but with emotions which can be sent and recieved by other Nokia 888 users.
Things like liquid battery, speech recognition, flexible touch screen, touch sensitive body cover and extremely new ones into the world of Nokia Mobiles.
The color can be changed along with the shape of the phone. What else you need? Everything is unique and new… so you will really enjoy using it… not just a mobile, but it is Fun!

Nokia 888

500 GB Optical Discs, is it possible?


After we have seen Blu-ray and HD DVDs out on the market 500 GB might not seem that much. However, this number is very difficult to achieve by just adding layers and creating new formats. According to last optical disc researches there is a technology that can cram that amount of data on to a usual HD DVD or Blu-ray disc.

"Microholas" project is what they call it, after these researches we will be able to use regular HD DVDs and Blu-ray and record much more information on them. They want to make such discs not just for stacking movies and forgetting about them. It has been created for secured data storage, moreover long term data storage.

Microholographic is a longer version for "Microholas" and this is the technology they use to make those discs. This technology involves nano structures inside the disc work for us and fit as much information on one disc as possible. There supposedly will be no need for several layers as most of people thought.

Besides, problems with reading scratched discs are resolved already by TDK so we only need to know how to squeeze the amount of data needed on one single disc. The researches are not satisfied with their gadget so far. They are going to try to make capacity limit up to 1 TB.

Big hard drives will become too expensive to buy when you can use "Microholas" technology.



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