Smarthome Solar Security Camera: Zero-Wire Surveilance August 9, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets , Home Entertainment
It isn't as fancy as an IP based camera from D-Link. But this security camera keeps an eye on your property, using only power from the sun. The solar driven device only transmits A/V when it senses movement (up to 26 feet away.) Its video stream transmits over the crowded 2.4Ghz range, which means it might bite into your WiFi network, or receive interference from your microwave. And its receiver only has basic A/V outputs, you might want to get a time-lapse VCR to catch the action. But with zero wires and a 250-foot range, you can set this thing up right next to a hot neighbor's bathroom window...or, um, in your backyard.
Smarthome Solar Security Camera[via sci fi tech]
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Fujifilm 2GB xD-Picture Card August 9, 2006
READ MORE Portable Media
Fujifilm's announced a 2GB xD-Picture card for digital camera and camcorders—mostly Olympus and Fujifilm cameras, plus Olympus's voice recorders. The press release says the 2GB card can store 1,640 5-megapixel pictures of sorority girls gone wild, or up to 58 minutes of drunkenly filmed 320x240 resolution movies. Add to that hours and hours of your Anthropology professor's lectures, and you've got your whole college experience in something the size of a penny.
Press Release [Businesswire via Mobile Whack]
Mobile Phone Jump Starter August 9, 2006
READ MORE Peripherals , Portable Media
This dual-ended cellphone power connector from Korea seems a bit weird. You plug one end into a cellphone that's run out of power, and the other end into a cellphone full-up on juice. Once you hook it up, the downed phone will draw current from the other phone to immediately power it up.
Other than the possible problems with drawing current the wrong way through a cellphone, there's the practicality of it. If your phone is dead, wouldn't it be better to carry around a portable AA charger, or even a spare battery, instead hoping your girlfriend's cellphone is juiced up enough to jump yours?
First aid medicine(?) for handset [AVING via ]
Credit Card-Sized Wrench For Your Wallet August 9, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets
If you're always looking to loosen bolts wherever you go, but hate that bulky wrench-pocket look, here's the credit-card sized wrench substitute. Easy to carry and easy to use (sort of), the card works on metric sizes ranging from M6 to M14. If anything, carrying around a stainless steel card in your wallet means one more weapon you get to fling at would-be muggers. Available for
£7.99.
Product Page [The Dog House via Shiny Shiny]
Sharp MP-S700 and MP-S800 Flash-Based MP3 Players August 9, 2006
READ MORE Digital Audio , Portable Media
Sharp throws out some more flash-based MP3 players as if this was 2002. The MP-S700 has 512MB of storage, is powered by an AAA battery, and supports MP3/WMA/WMA-DRM. The S800 is the same except for having 1GB of storage.
Other than being available in black, red, and white, the players are sort of lackluster and are only good as a cheap introductory MP3 player for people who aren't quite ready for the iPods and Creative players.
2 New DAP from SHARP [Akihabara News via Mobile Mag]
Real-Time Airport Plane Visualisation August 9, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets
Reader Michael sent in this link to some web-based Java airport monitoring app. Just go to the site, pick an airport, and see a real-time display on planes flying in and out of your local hub. So far only major airports like Boston Logan International, LaGuardia, LAX, and my local San Jose International airport have plane tracking up. Pretty sweet app nonetheless.
AirportMonitor [Java.com - Thanks Mike!]
The Litter Robot Turns Cat Litter Into Easter Eggs August 9, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets
If you've got a cat that weighs more than 5 pounds, this Litter Robot will turn his waste into little pre-packaged eggs for you to easily throw away—no more pee covered hands.
Your cat goes into the spaceship-like ball to do his business, steps out, and his droppings automatically get turned into little red and yellow balls of delight. A few caveats though. A cat more than 15 pounds most likely won't fit into the sphere, and diabetic cats make urine clumps that are too large. Then there's elderly and skittish cats, who won't like to get in the sphere in the first place.
If your cat meets all the qualifications, you can pick up a Litter Robot for
£299.
Product Page [Litter Robot via Apartment Therapy via Coolest Gadgets via Random Good Stuff]
iSkoot Allows Skype Calling On Regular Cellphones August 9, 2006
READ MORE Mobile phones
Skype and iSkoot just launched a new co-marketing agreement to
allow Java-enabled phones and higher-end smartphones to make Skype
calls through the regular cellphone network. While it's true that using
iSkoot will allow you to make calls on the Skype network by going
through an iSkoot gateway first, it does not eliminate
cellphone fees that you incur when you're calling iSkoot. This means
you're using up your minutes, tunneling through the Skype system which
adds delay to your system. Plus, if you're calling through the SkypeOut
system, you'll be charged for SkypeOut usage as well.
The practical uses we can see for iSkoot is if you want to call a user on Skype that's located in another country. This will save international charges and just use up your standard minutes. Another idea would be to add the iSkoot gateway number as your "unlimited dialing" entry, say, on T-Mobile's upcoming 5 plan. This way you get unlimited free calling to the iSkoot gateway, which then pipes out your call to anybody in the world. In that situation all you pay is SkypeOut. Anyone see any other money-saving uses for iSkoot and Skype?
Press Release [iSkoot via PC World]
Nokia 8800 Sirocco Edition August 9, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets
Not content with just the Aston Martin Edition
of their 8800, Nokia is producing a Sirocco Edition of it as well.
Besides having a 2 megapixel camera and a 831.20 Euros ($1069) price
tag, there's a redesigned keypad and a new grooved sliding cover.
Available in silver and black, the phone should delight heiresses and people with way too much money everywhere.
8800 Sirocco Edition [Mobile Burn via Tech Ticker Blog]
Xbox 360 HD DVD Showcase Roundup August 9, 2006
READ MORE Consoles
Microsoft's still being coy about the HD DVD drive they showed off
at the DVD Forum in Los Angeles. Despite the tight-lipped policy about
not giving out price or launch date, we do know a few more things.
The drive is about the size of a large hardcover book, and around half the size of the 360 console. The preliminary UI design was shown on Monday, and all guesses point to having a release date before Christmas time.
Microsoft threw in a little bit about not including the HD DVD inside the Xbox 360 because they wanted to give the consumers a "choice" between two formats. Or most likely, they didn't want to pick a side before a winner was decided.
Xbox 360's HD-DVD Gets Displayed [Kotaku]
Microsoft's HD-DVD drive for the Xbox360 takes centre stage [Pocket Lint]
Microsoft unveils HD-DVD drive for Xbox 360 [Uber Gizmo]
Microsoft displays HD-DVD drive for the Xbox 360 [Krunker]
HD DVD for the Xbox 360 [CNET]
Nine-Bladed Shredding Scissors August 9, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets
Five bladeded
scissors just wasn't enough for the Japanese. They've went and upped
the ante to NINE. Nine blades to help you shred your papers nine times
as fast as a normal pair, and 1.8 times as fast as the five-bladed
model. Available for $19.80.
Do kids these days know who Lorena Bobbitt is?
Product Page [via Seihin World]
Zune + XM, the Confusing Link August 9, 2006
READ MORE Portable Media
A recent Associated Content article is suggesting that XM and
Microsoft are working together on some kind of satellite radio
functionality for the Zune. Unfortunately their logic is a bit flawed.
The WiFi antenna also will help Microsoft to support XM radio on the Zune, something they've been looking into.
Both XM and Sirius have the ability to stream online. So if the
Associated Content is suggesting that the Wi-Fi antenna will be used to
stream satellite radio, then it doesn't really matter which big player
is involved, because they will both be able to be used over Wi-Fi on
the Zune.
But on the optimistic standpoint, are they suggesting that the
Wi-Fi antenna will double as a satellite radio antenna? Is that even
possible? Any smarty engineers want to shed some light on this? Drop a
comment or shoot me an e-mail personally, the link can be found over on
the left.
Zune: iPod Killer? Or yet another victim? [Via Orbitcast]
Edit: I realized that the commenter, werk, is right. I have gotten so caught up in this Zune nonsense I assumed it had a browser integrated, which is doesn't or if it does we don't know about it yet. But regardless, if it has Wi-Fi it will be hacked or have a browser released for it, it would just be stupid not to—re: Nintendo DS. But the question remains, will the Wi-FI antenna double as a satellite radio antenna? I've had some people say yes, some people say no.
Ford to Ditch Gas Cap in 2008 August 9, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets
Ford has announced their Capless Fuel Filler. Basically meaning
that stupid cap that you have to unscrew will be no more. No more
forgetting to screw it back in. Their new Capless Fuel Filler
eliminates the need for a cap and prevents gas fume escapes. The new
filler will be deployed in the 2008 Ford GT and Lincoln MKS with more
models to come in the future.
(The Capless Fuel Filler is a) tangible example of howAww, it is nice to see Ford is finally thinking of the needs of the consumers. <3 Ford.
Ford is developing innovative product solutions to satisfy the unmet
needs of consumers.
Ford to deploy Capless Fuel Filler across model line [Leftlanenews]
Design Concept: Comfort Sphere for Captive Audiences August 9, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets
The Comfort Sphere was designed by Volkswagen for trade shows, but
might be a great idea to enhance the work and concentration required of
writers, think-tankers, and hey, maybe even a blogger or two.
Winner of a RedDot Design Award for 2006, it's a self-contained audio and video womb which invites you into it innocently enough, and then once you're sitting down, it wraps around you and practically forces you to stare at only the highest-end audio and visual entertainment. Certainly not for the claustrophobic.
Looks like a perfect environment in which to brainwash somebody. It was designed for trade shows, and we say, good. If they're going to brainwash us anyway, they might as well make us comfortable and show us some decent-quality video while they're at it.
Comfort Sphere [RedDot design awards, via Sci Fi Tech]
Griffin Apple Hi-Fi Carrying Case August 9, 2006
READ MORE Portable Media
Hot off our 18-hour Apple ban—it
was a long and rough night without Apple—I would like to present you
with the most highly anticipated Apple accessory ever made. Remember
the Hi-Fi iPod speaker system
from Apple? Yeah the same speaker system that caused riots in Apple
stores nationwide. The one that was being hocked for thousands of
dollars on the black market because they were in such demand. Yeah,
that one. Well, Griffin has released a carrying case for this speaker
dock. The Griffin Hi-Way (how cute) carrying case can protect the Hi-Fi
from all the elements. It includes a flap for iPod docking and pockets
to hold iPod gear and batteries—you're going to need a lot if you plan
on taking it away from AC power. 50 bones.
The Apple Hi-Fi takes to the Hi-Way [Gadgetell]
CaddyAid: PDA Golf Cheats August 9, 2006
READ MORE Software
Suck at golf? I sure as hell do—except for Tiger Woods golf for
Xbox, I can kick all of your asses at that. The Caddy Aid can help your
weak golf game. This gadget will provide aerial images of the links,
GPS-powered distance guides, rules, regulations, flyovers and any other
golf information you could want. It is powered by a Fujitsu Siemens
Pocket LOOX N520 PDA. The entire system costs 380 pounds, or roughly
$724, just don't get caught using it on the tour or your face will be
introduced to a 4-iron in the clubhouse.
Product Page [Via Ubergizmo]
Sony TA-DA3200ES Receiver Brings Serious Power August 9, 2006
READ MORE Home Entertainment
As the HDMI spec filters throughout the home theater landscape,
more and more receivers fall into line supporting that high-definition
audio and video I/O scheme, and now Sony's TA-DA3200ES receiver joins
the crowd with the ability to move 1080p video from one place to
another with plenty of power to spare.
The thing that will really rock the Casbah is its sheer brute force, where it's able to spit out 120 watts per channel, rather unremarkable until you consider there are seven channels involved in its 7.1 output. Imagine that, 840 watts. We haven't seen the back of this monster yet, but it's got to look like one of those old patch panels the telephone company used in the early part of the previous century.
Tipping the Kangol to one of our astute commenter's remarks from earlier today, maybe one day there will just be one input and one output, all HDMI. We're not holding our breath.
Product Page (Japanese) [Sony]
Disney D100 Cellphone Gets The FCC's Green Light August 9, 2006
READ MORE Mobile phones
The FCC approved the D100, a Disney-branded, quad-band GSM
cellphone sure to be a hit on the playground. Interestingly, the
12-button keypad can be switched a a more simple four-button one since
kids have be proven to be unable to operate more than four buttons at a
time. The usual parental controls are here as well, so stressed out mom
and dad can be slightly less stressed out. Who knows when it'll be
available and for how much, though.
FCC Documents [FCC via phoneArena]
Toshiba TDP-TW100U: Good for Conference Room or Bedroom August 9, 2006
READ MORE Portable Media
Toshiba's cranking out some pretty good projectors lately, and its
latest is the TDP-TW100U, a DLP projector aimed at mobile professionals
and shining a white-hot 2700 ANSI lumens—that's enough light to
mesmerize a whole roomful of people with your presentation even if it's
brightly lit in there, better to keep everybody from falling asleep.
A couple of neat tricks in this model are the integrated WiFi (802.11g) interface that makes it easy to hook it up to the network without having to string extra wires, and it also has a One-Touch auto setup to adjust its output to true white no matter what wall color you're using as a "screen." Plus, its 1024x768 native resolution isn't exactly HD, but it looks good enough if you want to take the projector home after work to watch a couple of movies. Available now, it's $1699.
Product Page [Toshiba, via MobileWhack]
Memory Card Reader, Calculator August 9, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets
Efficiency is the name of the game with this gadget. I don't know
how many times I have been desperately trying to transfer photos from a
memory card while balancing my checkbook at the same time, but this
could solve that problem. This memory card reader supports a kajillion
different memory types and includes a basic calculator. Even if you
don't have any calculations to do, you could kill time while
transferring by spelling out BOOBS on the calculator.
It also has a calendar, timer and alarm. Damn, MacGyver eat your heart out.
Product Page [Via Red Ferret]
Bad Idea? You Bet August 9, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets
Before you react with horror and disgust, the dangerous toy
pictured above is part of a Photoshop contest for the worst toy ideas
ever. We had a hearty laugh just looking at the picture. Crayon
firecrackers, Manson dolls, scissor running kits—the whole gamut of bad
ideas awaits your perusal. Please, don't try this at home.
Misfit Toys 2 [Worth 1000, via The Consumerist]
Logitec LDS-Ri700 iPod Dock August 9, 2006
READ MORE Portable Media
Given that the WWDC
was pretty much a flop for anything iPod or portable media related, we
present to you more and more iPod accessories to feed that need until
Apple gets off their lazy asses to give us something new. Logitec—note
the lack of the "h" at the end—has released the LDS-Ri700 iPod speaker
dock. It has a DBSS for bumpin' and thumpin' along with a AM/FM radio,
LCD screen, alarm clock and TV-out for use with the video iPod. Should
be available later this fall for around $170, which is a bit pricey for
an off-brand iPod dock if I do say so myself—whatever, it is an iPod
accessory and that is all that really matters.
Logitec LDS-Ri700 iPod Dock [Newlaunches]
Buffalo 19-Inch Widescreen Display August 9, 2006
READ MORE Peripherals
The oddly-named Buffalo is set to release the FTD-W924ADSR/SV
(yeah, sorry), a 19-inch widescreen LCD with a 16:10 aspect ratio. Yes,
16:10, or 1,440x900-pixel resolution. Other stats include a contrast
ratio of 800:1 and a 5ms response time. One of the big questions is
whether or not the display supports HDCP, but seeing as though Sony buckled and won't cripple their Blu-ray titles on non-HDCP monitors, it's not quite as big a deal as it could have been.
Look for Buffalo's monitor by mid-month in Japan for an "open price." How thoughtful of Buffalo.
Product Page (in Japanese) [Buffalo via Akihabara News]
Who Owns the iPhone.org Domain? Who Do You Think? August 9, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets
While we patiently waited for our self-imposed moratorium on Apple
posts to be lifted, a tenacious tipster tossed us a tantalizing tidbit:
guess what well-known computer company owns the domain known as
iPhone.org? Well, it's easy enough to look it up.
After a quick trip to InterNIC we did a Whois search, and what do you know? The domain belongs to some fruit company in Cupertino. Proof that the next phone from Apple will be called iPhone? Naw. But it's a clue, just a little clue.
Thanks, Mohammed!
Genus Type-R Vintage DAB Radio August 9, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets
I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for vintage. I put wood paneling on
everything I own to give it that classic 1970s and 1980s look. That is
why this Type-R DAB radio is tickling me pink. Even though DAB is
non-existent here in the states, it is still a pretty radio. It is an
average DAB radio, but the outside has classic anodized aluminum and
walnut wood-panel ends. The red backlit panel and carrying handle/stand
is the cherry on top of this melted retro sundae. It should be
available later this fall—over the pond—for 150 or approximately 268
U.S. buckaroos.
Beautiful Genus Type-R radio [Retrothing]
Dell Retail Store Peepshow August 9, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets
Dell opened up their first retail store in Dallas and here are some of the first shots via the guys over at Gadgetell. Looks pretty nice, but unfortunately they don't sell anything there. Let's hope they at least have a sign at the entrance saying "Warning, Exploding Laptops
Present, Proceed with Caution." Hit the linkage for the full-blown racy
photo shoot. Unfortunately this photo shoot lacks any kind of beautiful
models, unless you consider overweight Dell salesman beautiful. Dell
has also opened a store in West Nyack, NY.
Peep Show: Dell's first retail store - Dallas, TX [Gadgetell]
Breathalyzer Wrist Watch August 9, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets
When you are plastered into an oblivion time doesn't really matter,
does it? So put your wristwatch to another use by determining precisely
how sloshed you are. This cheap-looking wristwatch has an integrated
breathalyzer—give it a little blow to see if you are legally sound to
drive, or give it a blow to prove to your friends that you can indeed
hit the .30 level and still remain conscious. It will be available
later this month for around $100 from A&A Products of Hong Kong.
The Alcowatch wristwatch alcohol tester [Gizmag]
Homebrew Coffee Table PC August 9, 2006
READ MORE PC
Forget a coffee table book about coffee tables, Stephen Johnson has created a coffee table PC mod (not the only one, mind you)
sure to be welcomed in any geek's home. The coffee table houses a
computer with a 160GB hard drive, TV tuner and an LCD for weather
forecasts. It's water-cooled, too, which is the international symbol of
a computer nerd. Built-in Wi-Fi rounds out the package, so streaming
downloaded TV shows syphoned off the Dark Net is entirely possible.
Looks like Johnson found a clever way to integrate a computer into the
home theater.
This coffee table mod will cost around $4,772. So, yeah, somewhat on the pricey side.
Stephen Johnson's Coffee Table PC [Chip Chick; original article found in the August issue of T3 magazine]
Corvette Z06 for 2007: 0-60 in 3.7 Seconds, But Pricier August 9, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets
We're thinking the Corvette counts as just one big gadget, and when we saw the first pictures of the 505hp Z06 model for 2007, we couldn't resist sneaking you a peek. The newest version of America's Sports Car doesn't add a whole lot of new gizmotronics, with its main addition for the 2007 model year being OnStar, a subscription-based tracking and monitoring service that will call for help if your 'Vette breaks down or is stolen.
Another minor piece of newness for the Z06 is the Atomic Orange Metallic color shown here, a similar hue the likes of which we've seen on other Corvettes preceding it. GM has also added better damping of outside noise, which, from personal experience we can tell you is pleasingly voluminous. Going 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds has to be a bit noisy, no?
A little piece of bad news is the new price for the Corvette Z06, whose base price was formerly $65,690, but now it's risen by $4310 to a lofty $70,000. Oh, well, you get what you pay for. Of course, you can get the stock, non-Z06 Corvette for about $20K cheaper. Look for all the new Corvettes to hit the streets in October.
Retractable iBud Headphones From Thanko August 9, 2006
READ MORE Peripherals
The iBud is a pair of headphones that attempts to solve the problem of inappropriate cord length, an idea that a few companies are starting to get behind.
The in-ear headphones are connected to a small reel where unused cord is stored. Need more length? Just give 'em a little tug and away you go. Thanko also promises that the headphones don't completely sound
like trash, and given the in-ear design, a reasonable level of external noise isolation can be expected.
The iBud should retail for around $85.
Product Page (in Japanese) [Thanko via Digital World Tokyo]
Mobile Edge SecurePack: Keeping Thieves at Bay August 9, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets
We're always looking for the Next Big Thing in backpacks, and this Mobile Edge SecurePack has an innovative design that may keep those sneaks with sticky fingers from stealing your valuable stuff. Milling
around in a crowded situation, it's all too easy for thieves to slip something out of your pack without you even knowing it, especially when you have lots of pockets on the outside with large zipper pulls that are almost inviting miscreants to help themselves.
How does the SecurePack keep those prying hands to themselves? First of all, there are no pockets on the outside. The only way you can get into it is via a zipper that's located right next to your back and out of sight. The backpack's big enough for a 17-inch laptop, and has a special pocket for your music player along with a pass-through slot for your headphones. Looks comfy, too, with its ventilated and ergonomically-padded design. Get it in black with yellow trim or urban camouflage for $80.
Product Page [Mobile Edge, via Bios Magazine]
Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro UVIR Digital SLR: Infrared and Ultraviolet Camera Sees the Unseen August 9, 2006
READ MORE Digital cameras
Fujifilm introduced its FinePix S3 Pro UVIR digital SLR camera,
which the company calls the world's first production DSLR that can take
photos in the ultraviolet and infrared light spectrum. Fujifilm is
marketing the 12.3-megapixel camera to law enforcement agencies, who
can use ultraviolet and infrared photography to visualize evidence
that's hard to see with the human eye, such as bloodstains and gunshot
residue. The S3 Pro UVIR lets those cops and detectives preview all
this stuff live in its smallish two-inch viewscreen.
Fujifilm is also targeting science, medical and fine art disciplines with the camera, but doesn't mention that infrared photography gives you the ability to see through people's clothes. Available next month, it'll cost you $1800 to become a private eye, or perhaps find your way into the poky for taking high-tech up-skirt shots. It's the first digital SLR camera that may require new legislation to be introduced along with its rollout.
Product Page [Fujifilm]
Flip Style Flash Drive Pivot Imation USB Flash Drive August 9, 2006
READ MORE Storage
Japanese
Minnesota-based storage outfit Imation is coming out with a USB flash
drive that has more in common with the familiar Swiss Army Knife than
the typical flash drive (well, to an extent). Part of the Flash Drive
Pivot series, the flash drive will be available in sizes ranging from
256MB to 4GB. All drives come with Imation's 128-bit data encryption
program, which, of course, only works with Windows. (The drive itself,
sans encryption, works with all operating systems. But then you
probably already figured that.) The main draw—its ninja-like flip
action—isn't just for show: the lack of a cap means there's no cap to
lose. A big problem, apparently.
The Flash Drive Pivot goes on sale in Japan on August 21. Though the price is listed as open, expect to see the 4GB version selling at around $190.
Product Page (in Japanese) [Imation via Digital World Tokyo]
Yamaha RX-V2700 and RX-V1700 HDMI Receivers August 9, 2006
READ MORE Digital Audio
Yamaha introduced its RX-V1700 (130 watts per channel) and the
RX-V2700 (140 watts per channel ) 7.1 channel A/V receivers, both able
to pass through and switch 1080p video via HDMI, as well as up-convert
any composite, S-Video or component video signal to 1080p. Nothing new
there so far, where there are plenty of receivers that can already
handle that sweet HDMI high-definition video and audio format,
including units from Pioneer, Onkyo, Denon, and JVC. But the fun with
both of these receivers starts when you plug in the Yamaha YDS-10 iPod
dock and crank your tunes, controlling them from the receiver.
The higher-end member of this pair is the RX-V2700 (pictured above), bringing Ethernet connectivity to the feature list, where it's able to hook up with PCs on your network and stream their music files, or it can let you listen to Internet radio stations right in your home theater. Both expected to be available next month, the 130-watt-per-channel RX-V1700 will retail for $1,300 while the 140-watt-per-channel RX-V2700 will be $1,700.
Press release after the jump.
WedAugust092006 August 9, 2006
READ MORE Digital cameras
It's a big day for Nikon fans, where the Nikon D80 digital SLR
camera is finally taken out of the misty darkness and rolled out into
the white-hot lights. The successor to the Nikon D70 and D70s, it
brings a 10.2-megapixel CCD to the party, along with more powerful
image processing, a bigger viewfinder that's brighter, too, and it even
has the higher-capacity battery of its more-sophisticated and expensive
brother, the Nikon D200.
Nikon's been teasing us for days, and it looks like every camera site on the Web has been holding one of these D80 DSLRs for a while now. Our tipbox was full of links to their extensive reports this morning, so let's give you a link roundup. If you're interested in every possible detail about this hot shooter from Nikon, you'll be able to bask in the glow of this much-anticipated release. Full spec list and maximum linkage after the jump.
Robot Man Takes Cripple To the Mountain August 9, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets , Robots
So, what makes a friend? A real friend, that is? Someone that'll take a bullet or blade meant for you? Someone who always buys his round in the pub? Someone who won't shag your wife when you're in prison? Or maybe someone that will give you a piggyback up one of the tallest mountains in Europe?
Thanks to a robotic exoskeleton, quadriplegic Seiji Uchida almost managed a life-long dream when his friend - wearing the hybrid assistive limb (HAL) robot skeleton, carried him to within 1500-ft of the summit of the 13,741-ft Breithorn mountain in Switzerland.
HAL was developed by Tsukuba University engineering professor Yoshiyuki Sankai, who created it to help us normal folk carry out tasks that are beyond our puny capabilities. For instance, someone that could lift 220lbs at a leg press machine could lift nearly 400lbs with HAL.
Now all you need is around £7,000 and you can dump that gym card forever. Via MSNBC
news technology robot tech geek
Tacky iPod Accessory of the Day: iDiamond Earphones August 9, 2006
READ MORE Digital Audio , Gadgets , Home Entertainment , Peripherals
There are a few ways to guarantee you’re going to get mugged. Owning an iPod is usually a good one, followed closely by bling on display. So, what do you get when you combine iPods and jewellery, apart from a one way ticket to the Emergency Room?
You get something like the iDiamond earphones that every undesirable desires. White gold, diamonds, tacky, all wrapped in one little, shiny pair of easily snatchable ‘earphones. If you like crying a lot then please, buy these things and make some Chavette very happy indeed. Yours for just £500. Via Red Ferret
jewellery music ipod bling accessory gadgets
Photo Messaging On The Up August 9, 2006
READ MORE Digital cameras , Gadgets , Mobile phones , Peripherals , Smartphones , Wireless
More and more people are sending photos via their mobile phones, and not just the dodgy sort either.
Research from M:Metrics claims that photo messaging in the UK, France and Germany has risen between 16-20% and in the US by 32% since February. Why? Better quality cameraphones, it seems. The RAZR is the most popular cameraphone in the UK and the US while the Nokia 6230 tops the German market. The French favour the Sagem my X-5. In terms of those phones used most for sending pics though, Nokia rules the roost: in the UK it’s the Nokia 6111, France the 6630 and Germany the 6280.
"At 50.7%, the number of mobile subscribers in France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States owning cameraphones has grown 22 percent since February of this year," said Mark Donovan, vice president and senior analyst, M:Metrics. "We also see a direct correlation between camera resolution and propensity to use photo messaging, as 44.3 percent of subscribers who own phones with cameras with resolutions exceeding one megapixel sent a photo over the network, versus a global average of 30.5 percent."