Whirlpool Body Box-Weirdest Cleaning Device Ever January 17, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets
Um, this may be a really futuristic design, but I’m a little freaked with the Whirlpool BodyBox. And it’s not just the name, though that does help considerably. Labeled as a piece of “technological furniture,” this unit has a couple of functions. First, it cleans, collects, sorts, conditions, tumbles, and steams your clothes (for all things gentle, in case you’ve got some silk underoos lying around). The sorting is done by an odd tagging and logging system, which puts each item into a different bin, then analyzes the fabric and care data stored in the label to see how it should be washed. There’s an 18-inch touch-screen panel and all data can be input through this or remotely though a home network. The system also self-updates through the Internet.
The second part of this gorgeous monstrosity is actually body care. So once you’ve done your laundry, just step right into the adjacent shower/steam bath or use the sink to wash-up. Like I said…freaky but ingenious, right?
Body Box – An Automated Washing Machine with the Luxury of Bathroom [Bornrich]
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You’re Click-Happy, But Who’s Counting? January 17, 2006
READ MORE Peripherals
OK, fellow digi-addicts, here’s a new mouse from Japan that acts like that mousy little colleague sitting across from you at the bar counting how many drinks you’ve had. Every time you click, the number gets higher on this mouse’s LCD display. For $26, you can show your boss just how hard you’ve been working, clicking away over that hot workstation all day, or keep track of just how many shots it took you to frag those pesky Strogg. Looks like the thing will count up to a million clicks before it turns over to zero again, but then who’s counting?
Click Counting Mouse [Oh Gizmo]
Cellphone For Kidnapping Fears January 17, 2006
READ MORE Mobile phones
If you’ve got an innate fear of kidnapping (and, even worse, kidnapping by plush toy), you’ll be happy to hear that Nokia has a patent for a cameraphone that would instantly alert the authorities in the case of your being abducted. Basically, the phone would look like its off, but by hitting a recessed panic button, you’d be able to send an emergency alert with images, sound and even a GPS location. Holy cellphone Batman! You might think there would be a problem if reception is lost during your duress. But if you do go through a tunnel or something, the phone will store images and sound in its memory and transmit everything as soon as a signal is regained. Sure to be a hot seller in South America. Um, has anyone told the CIA about this yet?
Invention: Cellphone distress beacon [Newscientist]
Aigo Tiny PMP January 17, 2006
READ MORE Portable Media
Lovin’ the form factor of Chinese manufacturer Aigo’s newest PMP called the E858 MP4 player. Extremely small and square, it comes with a 2-inch color TFT display and up to 2GB of flash storage—always nice for a portable media player. It also supports MP3, WMA, OGG and MPEG4 files and uses USB 2.0 to transfer data up to 480MB per second. Battery life is ok, with up to 3.5 hours for video and 5 hours for music. And it weighs just 2.8 oz. Runs about $300.
Aigo E858 Tiny Flash Portable Media Player [i4u]
Remote Control Beads Could Be TV Future. Or not. January 17, 2006
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Imagine, instead of holding a remote control to surf channels, you have a set of beads. Each bead is embedded with a different set of instructions for controlling your TV. The concept is called Remobeads and its designed by Dima Komissarov. As you can see, it would certainly look better in the living room than all those nasty black remotes. All you have to do is slightly press the bead to change a channel, and you can even add sound (though I’m not sure why in God’s name you’d want to do that). Anyhow, think of all the nifty things you could do with these beads, and please, for the sake of all things holy, get your mind out of the gutter. These things go on the coffee table!
remote control - beads [plusminus]
iPod… Baby Stroller? January 17, 2006
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Just when you thought you’d seen every iPod accessory in the known universe, scientists discover a new one. This is the iPod baby stroller. I mean, I guess it could be nice to listen to music when walking your baby, but doesn’t that kind of nix the whole baby bonding thing? Kolcraft has no care for this kind of emotional baggage, because its iBaby stroller (enough with the “i” prefix already people!) comes with a built-in iPod (no mention of which one), iPod mini adapter, holder and speakers. So get that Metallica on your playlist and crank it up for junior next time you’re heading to the playground. I’m sure the other parents will totally appreciate it.
Kolcraft iBaby Stroller [Uber-Review]
Never Be Without Electricity Again January 17, 2006
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Should, for some reason, you find yourself away from a source of electricity—thus, unable to charge your essential survival items such as an iPod, DS, or PSP—this little number will surely be of use. From Sundance, the PowerFilm 10-Watt solar battery charger promises to harness the power of HUITZILOPOCHTLI for all your battery needs. Once available only to the military, the PowerFilm is only 10.3 inches long and 3.5 inches wide when folded. Unlimited energy is yours to own (provided HUITZILOPOCHTLI’s not angry or obscured or anything) for a mere $299.
PowerFilm Foldable Solar Battery Charge [Cool Hunting]
PowerFilm 10-Watt Foldable Solar Battery Charger [Sundance Solar]
Micro battling tanks January 17, 2006
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Remember when you were a kid how much fun it was to make those sound effects noises when you played with your toys? Nothing's changed, at least not when you get these little micro battling tanks. Go ahead and cause all kinds of disruptions and receive exasperated sighs from those colleagues of yours that are trying to get on with their work, but who cares, they're just jealous and uncool.
For the young and young at heart. You're never too old to have toys! It's £34.99, and tank it out (hahahahahahahaha, we know your sides are splitting) here.
ICUITI Video Glasses January 17, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets
Video glasses have never grown past the novelty stage (with consumers at least). But since people will apparently buy anything that is an iPod accessory, manufacturers are trotting out these gadgets and marketing them as a way to watch (mobile) video. Enter the DV920 from ICUITI. The 640 x 480 pixel resolution glasses support both 2D and 3D stereoscopic viewing. Two AA batteries power the 42” virtual screen for 2.5 to 4.5 hours. The glasses themselves weigh only 3.8 oz., but as with any visor, it’s a question of comfort. This pair will set you back some $549. No word on whether the pictured model is included.
ICUITI DV920 Video Glasses Shipping - Work with iPod Video [I4U News]
Shocking Development: Live Wire You Can Wear January 17, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets
Here’s a 21st-century lighting idea that’s a real eye opener. Lytec electric thread glows like neon and can be used in lengths of a few inches to thousands of feet. Even a 1000-yard piece only uses the energy of just one ordinary light bulb. The thinnest of these cool-to-the-touch wires is about as wide as thick piece of thread—1.3mm—and can be woven into clothing. Hook it up to a small battery and light yourself up like a Christmas tree. Available in a variety of colors, the stuff can also be used as accent lighting throughout the house, to trick out the interior of a car or computer, or to create some funky signs, too.
Lytec Electric Thread [Elam USA]
Hi-Yaaa!! JVC's kung fu bot January 17, 2006
READ MORE Robots
Robots that dance are such a nice change from those that turn on their masters and twist their heads off. That's us, always looking on the bright side. We met JVC's high-kicking, mini bot (20cm) in 2004, but apparently the company is still rolling it out to the masses even now. So what is it? You control it via Bluetooth, it has 26 degrees of freedom, it has a couple of CMOS cameras in its wee head for recoding video in MotionJPEG and a running time of about 90 minutes on a lithium ion battery. It sings, dances and will record your house being robbed. JVC says that it has no plans to make this available to consumers – despite hawking it about the globe for the best part of three years. That’s just mean. Via Engadget
Wireless streaming from Hauppauge January 17, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets , Wireless
Streaming is good. Streaming is also a dark art. Hoping to dispel some of the mystery and dodgy implementations is Hauppauge, which makes a lot of PC-based TV tuners and video capture thingies. The MediaMVP, a wireless set-top decoder device for home 802.11G networks that will enable TV sets to access PC-based music, video and pictures (hence the MVP bit) wirelessly. For about £80. Apart from music streaming and viewing your naughty holiday snaps on your big 42in plasma screen, the MediaMVP is touted as being suitable for home cinema. It supports playback of MPEG-1/MPEG-2 and DivX videos. Support for other audio and video formats – including Windows Media Center Edition recordings – will be released in the coming months via updated software. Like I said is streaming is good. When it works.
iPod Idiots Pay £65 For 'Lessons' January 17, 2006
READ MORE Digital Audio
After spending much of the Christmas answering dumb questions from my father-in-law about his new mobile phone, someone at Selfridges has had the bright idea of making some cash from the seemingly endless hordes of techno-idiots. For a cool £65, the Oxford St. store in London will offer you a 40-minute tutorial on how to use your iPod, which will probably be nicked on the underground on your way home from the High St. There are hookers that charge less for more, and will probably know how to use an iPod too. The iPod Survival lessons come in response to confused older buyers that should have bought the iPod from the Apple store just down the street. They show you how to use it for free. Via The Inquirer.
Fail at Conversing with the Conversation Table January 17, 2006
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Lira Nikolovska has developed this table for proper conversation analysis. Here is the low-down: two microphones are on either end of the table with a string of LED lights in the center. At regular intervals the microphone will pick up a duration of the speech and analyze the duration and volume of the conversation and begin flashing lights towards the end of the table of the dominant speaker. Lose the conversation and be greeted with a electrical shock—just kidding. Don’t worry, it isn’t listening in on the conversation either, so yes, you and your significant other will be the only ones knowing about your recent acquisition of the clap.
Conversation table [We-make-money]
Hypnos TV Bed January 17, 2006
READ MORE Home Entertainment
Everyone loves watching some TV in bed now and then, well Hypnos is making it a bit easier with this bed. It has a Loewe TV stored at the foot of the bed and can rise up to eye level with a simple push of a button from a remote control. There is a bedside panel that can also house DVD player, satellite receiver, gaming consoles, etc. A small £14,000 later you can be on your way to becoming the ultimate lazy bastard.
Hypnos ultimate TV Bed [Tech Digest]
Apple Trademark Alert January 17, 2006
READ MORE Portable Media
Two new Apple iPod trademarks could mean more iPod products coming soon. Looks like the term “iPod Hi-Fi” is one of these terms, and could possibly reference the Video iPod, but hopefully means something that can reproduce sound, images and video at a better rate than the products out now. The description Apple uses for the Hi-Fi in the filing is “”Computers, computer hardware, computer peripherals, hand held computers, personal digital assistants, electronic organisers, electronic notepads, apparatus for recording, transmission and reproduction of sounds, images, or data.” We’re also hearing rumbles of an iPod model with a higher-resolution display and about an inch more of viewing area. But that’s it folks. No other information—like when we might see it.Then there’s the iPod Boombox, which has been rumoured to be called the iBoom and was planned for release sometime this year (we certainly didn’t see it at MacWorld). The description is the same as the iPod Hi-Fi in the Apple filing. And take note, these Trademarks were only filed with with Hong Kong’s Intellectual Property Department for trademarks, not in the US.
Apple files for iPod Hi-Fi, iPod Boombox trademarks [Appleinsider]
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