Solar Powered Netbook
May 18th, 2009
Netbooks are good to have around, aren’t they? And solar-power, that would save us a lot of energy if we used it on more of our mobile devices, wouldn’t it? Okay, enough of the rhetorical question lead-ins, what am I getting at?
A solar-powered netbook, of course. A European technology company known as iUnika has perfected one, and this product, also known as the GYY, is certainly nice enough to be the first solar powered netbook.
Actually, I don’t know if the GYY is the first solar-powered netbook, but it is certainly energy efficient enough, not to mention light. Please chime in with a comment if you know for sure that the GYY is the first, and feel free to check out the specs after the jump.
With something new like this, you can’t expect too much memory. The user will find about 128MB of RAM, plus a 64GB SSD drive. The CPU is 400MHz, and the operating system is some “proprietary version of Linux”. The screen is a 8-inch WVGA with an 800 x 480 resolution.
The iUnika GYY will be available in the European market in June for about 160 euros. Assuming it will come to the United States, that price would probably translate to about $200.
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Filed under: Computers, New Tech | 15 Comments »
Gadget Watch - Tap with face recognition
May 18th, 2009
If there’s one thing in your house that you thought they’d never computerize, would it be a tap? Well, the guys at iHome have decided that a touchscreen tap with face recognition is the future in household gadgetry. I have to admit, this is pretty cool. The SmartFaucet recognises your face and then remembers exactly what water temperature and pressure you like. And if you get bored while you soak? Just use SmartFaucet to catch up on a few emails or find out how your calendar’s shaping up for the weekend.
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Filed under: Home Gadgets, New Tech | 9 Comments »
The New Tesla Model S
April 30th, 2009
With a range up to 300 miles and 45-minute QuickCharge, the Model S can carry five adults and two children in quiet comfort – and you can charge it from any outlet, without ever stopping for gas. World’s first mass-produced electric vehicle offers performance, efficiency and unrivaled utility for a base price of $49,900*, making it the only car you’ll ever need.
Three battery pack options offer a range of 160, 230 or 300 miles per charge. With the 45 minute QuickCharge or a 5 minute battery swap, you can drive from LA to San Francisco, Washington to New York or take even longer road trips in about the same time as in a conventional car.
With seating for five adults and two children, plus an additional trunk under the hood, Model S has passenger carrying capacity and versatility rivaling SUVs and minivans. Rear seats fold flat, and the hatch gives way to a roomy opening, so you can stow a mountain bike, 50-inch flat-screen TV, full drum set or futon frame – more than ample for the entire family and their gear.
Model S offers 100 percent torque, 100 percent of the time without jerky shifting and a fraction of the noise and harshness of internal combustion engines. This smooth and constant power delivery, combined with the sporty handling of the chassis and suspension, leads to a superior driving experience.
The Model S powertrain features a liquid-cooled, floor-mounted battery pack and a single-speed gearbox, delivering effortless acceleration, responsive handling and quiet simplicity — no fancy clutchwork or gear-shifting required. Model S costs about $4 to fully charge – a bargain even when gasoline is $1 per gallon. You can listen to Pandora Radio or consult Google Maps on the 17 inch touchscreen with in-car 3G connectivity.
Filed under: Battery, Cars, New Tech | 28 Comments »
SMHeart Link turns iPhone and iPod into Heart Rate Monitor
February 11th, 2009
iTMP Technology, Inc. is one of the pioneers where the iPhone hardware and software developer scene is concerned, and the company has just rolled out its SMHEART LINK technology that is touted to offer unparalleled health and fitness capabilities to both the Apple iPhone and iPod touch owners. This technology turns your iPhone from a communications device to one that can actually monitor your heart rate as well as track your fitness levels. It does so by listening to your heart (something it does better than what guys do, eh ladies?). Not only that, SMHEART LINK works not only with the iPhone and iPod touch, but it will also function with a range of other smartphones, PCs or other Wi-Fi enabled devices.
What does the SMHEART LINK do actually? It functions as a wireless bridge that collects data from distributed health and fitness sensors including heart rate monitors and cycling sensors, sending these information over to the iPhone via Wi-Fi. iTMP’s suite of iPhone fitness apps will then get to work on the data received, letting users track their fitness data on the iPhone’s display in a user interface that is so simple to use, it puts other fitness tracking devices to shame where ease-of-use is concerned. In addition, SMHEART LINK is compatible with an ever expanding list of heart monitor chest straps which include those from fitness leaders such as Polar, Garmin, Nike, Reebok, Timex Ironman, New Balance and Numetrex. You can also use it with biking sensors to track speed, cadence and power (watts) during your workout.
Once your workout is complete, you upload your data to the Internet and it will then churn out an analysis of the results for you. Currently, there are three iPhone fitness applications over the App Store, and they are iRPM+, iSPINNING and iNewLeaf. Interested parties can pick up the SMHEART LINK for $154.95 a pop.
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Filed under: Apple, New Tech, Sports | 3 Comments »
Wear Ur World with the New Sixth Sense
February 11th, 2009
I have been seeing this new device all over gadget blogs everywhere called the Sixth Sense. It has nothing to do with an M. Night Shyamalan movie, but I’ve seen numerous comparisons between this gadget and Tom Cruise’s gesture-based computer from Minority Report.
It appears some guys at MIT have come up with a way to turn any flat surface (even a hand) into a touchscreen.
Their concept device is known as Wear Ur World (WUW), and, as you can see from the photo, it uses a tiny projector and webcam. What you don’t see is that the WUW uses a mobile phone to presumably merge these devices together, forming the brains of the Sixth Sense.
I believe that the MIT students who designed this concept product don’t intend that their final version of their product to require a cap. Instead, they intend to market the WUW as a device for the wrist.
This way, if you need some information, you can simply project it on the wall, at least until holographic technology is perfected. That last sentence was my little suggestion for the MIT students, by the way.
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Filed under: Computers, New Tech | 3 Comments »
Foxit’s eSlick Reader
January 29th, 2009
Despite its ugly appearance, Foxit’s upcoming eSlick Reader will get a close look because of two key things: Its $230 price makes it attractive against the more expensive Kindle and Sony Readers and because, according to rumors coming out today, it might be the first large hardware eInk device to play eReader files.
In the comment for a post at JKontherun, a rep from Foxit announced they’d be offering support for eReader software around the time of the device’s release. eReader freeware program files are well regarded by users in the digital community because they can be played on a number of different devices like iPhones, Windows Mobile phones, and any Symbian handset. This would allow people who already own large libraries of eReader books (like the G-Lab’s own Charlie Sorrel) to play them on a larger display and on the easier-to-read eInk tech. If this move works for Foxit, it could open up other eInk hardware makers to allow other file formats on their own devices.
Currently, one of our biggest gripes with the current generation of readers is their unfair DRM content stranglehold they have on content. Amazon’s Kindle can only play downloaded books from its site, and Sony’s Reader works the same way. While eReader files also have DRM properties, the fact you can play them on more than once device makes them valuable and user friendly. Plus, DRM is going out of style, right?
The eSlick Reader will also come with a PDF creator that converts doc files, powerpoints, and XLS files to the eInk format. Like we mentioned previously, the eSlick Reader won’t include a wireless feature like the Kindle, but the company has said it will probably add this in an upcoming version.
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Filed under: Home Gadgets, New Tech | 38 Comments »
LG GD910 3G Watch
January 28th, 2009
LG has come up with a futuristic treat from the past with the GD910 – a wrist watch phone. But if you thought it was going to be a second-rate mobile, it’s actually packed full of features you wouldn’t expect. There’s a pretty low-grade camera but its 3G HSDPA compatibility, 1.43” touchscreen, MP3 player and text to speech functionality makes it a decent phone and a pretty hot watch.
It also packs in bluetooth (so you can look even more spy-like with a headset), MMS and it’s water resistant. Want one? They’re due to be released in Europe later on this year.
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Filed under: New Tech, Phones, Watches | 35 Comments »
Samsung P3
January 8th, 2009
Samsung’s P3 media player, an iPod Touch-challenging capicitative PMP with "desktop" widgets, haptic feedback, extensive video and audio format support and a sleek metal case is heading to the US.
I believe this is the successor to the P2, it comes in 8, 16, and 32GB sizes. It should be available the first part of 09. It does not have wi-fi
The Specs:
• Haptic feedback technology for new levels of tactile connectivity between the P3 and the user
• 3-inch WQVGA TFT LCD display with Samsung’s EmoTure™ touchscreen user interface, and widgets-type menus / icons
• True 16:9 widescreen video playback at 30fps
• Samsung’s Music Hot Touch Key for direct navigation of key features and options
• Bluetooth™ connectivity for wireless listening with headphones and speakers, mobile phone interactivity with incoming / outgoing calls, wireless file transfers and more
• Built-in microphone for voice recording, and built-in speaker for easy audio sharing without headphones or tangled wires
• DNSe 3.0 true sound enhancement technology upconverts audio to overcome the inefficiencies and limitations of compressed audio, earphones and speakers
• Multimedia playback including MP3, MPEG4, WMV (DRM included), WMA (DRM included), FM radio, FM recorded audio, JPEG and text files
• Available in 8GB, 16GB or 32GB of flash memory
• Durable metallic casing available in matte black or matte silver
Filed under: New Tech, Uncategorized | 4 Comments »
Top 10 Gadgets of 2008
January 3rd, 2009
10. Yes we are going to start this list off with one of my personal favorites. The Beer Bottle Opener Counter. This little gadget will always let you know how many beers you have consumed. So if you and your buddies ever have the urge to find out who can drink the most this will help prevent any cheating. I just think this is one of those little things everyone needs. Its a great conversation starter also.
9. Clocky lets you snooze once before he runs away. He can jump from up to 3 feet, and can move on wood or carpet. In case he gives you too much trouble you can disable his…wheels. Yes, we are talking about a machine, not a pet, although the characteristics are quite animal or maybe even human like. He loves playing hide and seek, and catch me if you can. He is not that great to look at, but the cute face makes the owner laugh at a critical time of the day…waking up time.
8. The Potenco PCG1 pull-cord generator creates electricity for portable gadgets with far greater efficiency than hand-cranked devices. The PCG1 is the geek-chic version of a generator for the developing world. It weighs 14 ounces, has both an internal NiMh battery and a mini-USB output jack and can convert 2 minutes of effort into 40 minutes of cellphone talk time.
7. The wii fit was and still is one of the most popular products anywhere. Its new style of playing games and interaction is why it made this list. You can play all kinds of games with the balance board, from hoola hooping to snow boarding. The wii fit is even fun with a group of friends. This is one item I think a lot of people enjoy and will keep enjoying for many years to come.
6. If you’ve got a Netflix account, the decision to buy this is a no-brainer. Connect the Roku box to your TV and it automatically finds your home’s Wi-Fi network and you’re good to go. It streams 12,000 movies and TV shows for free and you can hold on to them as long as you want. Netflix is constantly adding more programming. One day, video-on-demand streaming through devices like the Roku box will completely replace DVDs.
5. Amazon unveiled its digital-book reading device at the end of 2007, but in such small quantities that you couldn’t really get one until 2008. While it definitely takes some getting used to — the awkward placement of the page-forward and page-back buttons makes it easy for newbies to lose their place — this is simply a terrific tool for people who love to read books. Travelers will especially enjoy the luxury of taking a veritable library on the road, and the Kindle can connect to a high-speed cellular network that delivers books ($9.99, even for new titles) on demand.
4. This iPod-sized camcorder shoots high-definition video. That means you get an image crisp enough to view on your HDTV, which is a pretty cool feat in such a small, easy-to-use package. Mino’s product line stresses one-button simplicity, and the MinoHD comes with its own editing software on board. The first time you connect it to your Mac or PC — via a flip-out USB plug — you install the software, which automatically lets you post your videos to YouTube and other places. The bitty viddy has 4 GB of internal memory, or enough for about an hour of video, and an internal rechargeable battery that provides two hours of shooting time.
3. It doesn’t handle email as well as the cheapest BlackBerry, and as a telephone, it’s no better than most cell phones. But this is the gadget that launched the era of mobile computing, and what an epoch that promises to be! With 10,000 free and paid applications, tethered to on-board GPS and utilizing an array of sensors that include a motion-sensing accelerometer, what can’t the iPhone do?
2. Of all the gadgets on this list, this is the one that James Bond is most likely to carry. That is, it’s one of coolest gadget of the year. It’s a pocket projector — meaning you plug the 4.1-inch gizmo into your iPod or iPhone, and it projects your movies on a wall, or even on the seat back in front of you on the plane. It displays images crisply on a surface as close as 8 inches away and as distant as 8 feet away, even in daylight. The super-bright Pico weighs 4 ounces and is smaller than many cell phones. Two cautionary notes: The sound output is dinky, so you’ll want to use it with headphones, which makes it less fun for the whole family, or an external speaker, which makes it bulky.
1. ARCHOS, award-winning for its constant technology innovation and leadership in portable media players now introduces a new concept: the Internet Media Tablet.
The ARCHOS 5 is the flagship of the new range, bringing the customer a new way to enjoy Internet, Media and TV…in a handheld device.
Uncompromised Web surfing in the palm of your hand
With its built-in capabilities, your Internet Media Tablet becomes the ultimate way to surf the web. The amazingly sharp and high-resolution screen lets you navigate effortlessly through the web just like you would on a PC.
Browsing becomes almost seamless with the ARM® Cortex™ processor and the Adobe Flash™ 9 video support. Surfing on a handheld device has never been so fast and smooth.
The full email application lets you read, write, download and send attachments, and manage your contacts.
Your entire digital library in a thin handheld tablet
The ARCHOS 5 features a very high capacity internal hard drive from 60 GB to 250 GB, in slim and sleek enclosures.
You can thus download a vast number of songs and videos from the unique selection of renowned movie and music partners assembled in the Media Club.
You can play movies in HD or DVD quality for the richest media experience on the go.
The ultimate TV experience at home or on the go
Enjoy your ARCHOS contents played directly back to your TV, with the DVR Station. Schedule TV recordings from any channel on your cable or set-top box in just a few clicks. Then choose when and where you want to watch them.
Play back all your digital content from your ARCHOS 5 to your TV, even in HD quality, at 720p.
Filed under: Apple, Computers, Home Gadgets, New Tech, Phones, Top 10 | 3 Comments »
The Flip Mino HD
December 17th, 2008
Pure Digital Technologies, the company behind the popular Flip Video camcorder, wanted to design a "shy" product. Jonathan Kaplan, chief executive and founder of the San Francisco-based startup, describes the playful, inviting look of the device.
The Flip Mino HD comes in only one color, black. Unlike the Flip Ultra, that comes in black, white, green, orange, and pink. It is only 1.97" wide, .63" thick, and 3.94" tall, and only weighs 3.3oz which would be perfect for a shirt pocket. It has a 1.5" screen so you can see what you’re shooting. The Flip Mino HD can record up to 60 minutes of video in 1280 x 720 HD, and has 4 GB of storage. The battery life is pretty good for shooting in HD, it will last about 2 hrs of recording between charges. As you may know the Flip has a built-in flip-out USB arm, so you can just plug it right into you computer.
As of right now there are only a couple of accessories you can get. You can use a Flip Video mount that will attachs to helmets, handle bars, etc. for all of your outdoor activities. They also have a tripod so you can record anything, even yourself for all you blog, and youtube videos, and you can get USB cables for those hard to reach USB slots, they come in pink, orange, and white.
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