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.

Love all your 8-bit video games, especially those classics on the NES with an unnatural amount of affection? Well, thanks to ThinkGeek, you can now realize your portable 8-bit gaming dream with the Retro Mini Handheld NES System.

The Retro Mini Handheld plays all the classic 8-bit NES games you grew up with and looks pretty darn sweet with the old style giant cartridge protruding from the top. Simply pop in 4 AA batteries and jack in your favorite original NES cartridge. The built in hi-res LCD screen looks a hell of a lot better than your old crappy TV, plus the Retro Mini comes with AV out cables to connect with your newfangled flatscreen if you so desire.

It is important to note that the $49.99 Retro Mini will not be accompanied by any game, so make sure you dust off the boxes in the attic containing your NES cartridges if you want to get started. No idea if this will catch on though, since other more powerful handheld consoles like the Sony PSP does come with an NES emulator.

This isn’t just a timer, it actually shackles to your leg until the set time is up. On the shackle itself it lists how much time you have left, so you can count the minutes down until you’re finally free again. The ball weighs 20.95 pounds, which is possible to move, but still a bit on the difficult side. So if there’s an emergency, you can still pick it up and run. It can’t be set for over 4 hours at a time and they suggest that minors not use this without adult supervision. It runs on 3 AAA batteries and will cost you 85,45€ or about $115.

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.

This is what you will find if you look up "Swine Flu " in Google.  Now that does not make a ton of sense to me because, well I dont have a medical degree.  I want to find out what "Swine Flu " really is, where it started, how it spreads, and what we can do to help prevent it.

Swine influenza (also called swine flu , pigfluenza , hog flu , and pig flu ) Swine influenza is common in pigs in the midwestern United States (and occasionally in other states), Mexico, Canada, South America, Europe (including the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Italy), Kenya, Mainland China, Taiwan, Japan and other parts of eastern Asia.

Transmission from pigs to humans is not common, when a transmission to a human results in influenza its called zoonatic swine flu .  People who work with pigs, especially people with intense exposures, are at risk of catching swine flu . However, only about fifty such transmissions have been recorded since the mid-20th century, when identification of influenza subtypes became possible. (Importantly, eating pork does not pose a risk of infection.)  Rarely, these strains of swine flu can pass from human to human. In humans, the symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of influenza and of influenza like illness in general, namely chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness and general discomfort.

The 2009 flu outbreak in humans that is widely known as "swine flu" is due to an apparently virulent new strain of influenza A virus subtype H1N1 that was produced by reassortment from one strain of human influenza virus, one strain of avian influenza virus, and two separate strains of swine influenza. The origin of this new strain is unknown, and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) reports that this strain has not been isolated in pigs.  It passes with apparent ease from human to human, an ability attributed to an as-yet unidentified mutation.  This 2009 H1N1 strain causes the normal symptoms of influenza, such as fever, coughing and headache.

On a side note I found this little advertisement gem. Its pretty funny. Its a one question survey about swine flu. Yeah an ad about swine flu. Check it out! Swine Flu Survey

The VW Bluesport Roadster may only be a concept, but it’s sure to pique the interest of drivers looking for top-down fun and diesel power on the same chassis.

As we mentioned last night, the Volkswagen Bluesport concept is powered by a 180 HP turbodiesel motor mounted amidship. Despite its concept status, VW is promising fairly realistic performance. This includes a 0-60 MPH time of 6.2 seconds and a top speed of 140 MPH. Though not Prius-killing, the 42 MPG combined mileage (we’re guessing in the European cycle) is impressive for a sports car and would surely top any known competitors.

As for production, there’s no definite word though the design looks closer to a production vehicle than most we’ve seen. The highlight of the VW press conference? Listening to President and CEO of Volkswagen of America Stefan Jacoby pronounce Chatanooga was high on the list. But the breakdancers who introduced the car, followed by the dozens of carnation-wielding kids, take the cake.

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.

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.