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June 30, 2007
We Have iPhone
Ladies and gentleman, cats and dogs, tigers and bears. Both Selectroclash and I have iPhones. We have been playing all night. We'll write up full reviews later. So far, everything works as advertised and AT&T's EDGE speed boost has been awesome. There's hardly any wait time loading web pages and YouTube videos.
Goodnight!
Posted by tranism at 2:22 AM | Permalink
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June 29, 2007
My Card Says I'm Out Of Money
I have a bad shopping habit, REALLY BAD. I buy heaps (Aussie word of the day) of video games, toys, clothes, and the most costly - electronics. My shopping addiction is enabled by my refusal to use cash since cash is a very tangible and visible way to gauge what you can and can't afford. Thats why I'm an ATM/credit card swipin' fool.
Enter Jacob Palmborg's, "Card" concept. The RFID enabled card links to all of your money accounts and displays them on a screen. The whole thing is biometrically secured so no worries about someone else getting your info. You can even use it to shop like an ATM card but here's the catch. It tells you how much money you have left and forecasts what kind of situation you'll be in if you buy "said item". OMG, it's like having a pocket sized conscience! Since it's just a web enabled screen, the card can also double as ID, any ID.
So lets see, this "card" basically consolidates a lot of what I carry in my wallet. Now if it were a phone too, I'd be set. Speaking of phones, where was this when I contemplated on throwing down $600 for an iPhone. I think my checking account went from a disconcerting smile to an all out sad face.
via Yanko Design
More pics after the jump.
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Help, I've Fallen And I Can't Get Up v.2
This is the medic alert device of the future. Dubbed "VITAL", you wear it around your wrist like a watch. It monitors your vitals and syncs up information with medical staff or your physician's office. You can measure your blood pressure and temperature by swiping it across your forehead. That's way better than a stick under your tongue or even worse, a stick up your arse!
The cool thing is all the information transmits wirelessly. Your vital readings could also indicate how your daily life affects your health. Imagine receiving customized reports on how to relax. It could tell you you're not getting enough sleep. Most importantly if can notify someone if you've fallen and can't get up.
It does all this but doesn't tell time. Go figure.
via Yanko Design
Hit the jump for another picture.
Posted by tranism at 4:27 PM | Permalink
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June 28, 2007
I'm Gonna Bathe My Mouse
As I lift up my mouse I can see it's filthy, like really gross. Some kind of balled up lint/dirt thing all along the bottom edge. And then I come across this post on Slashgear about a new washable mouse by Belkin. Why didn't anyone think of this before. It's brilliant. No longer will I have to fidget with alcohol and Q-tips. I can just dunk the sucker in a sink full of hot water.
Okay so a washable mouse is pretty cool but is it any good? By specs alone it seems it is. It's bus powered and has an optical sensitivity of 1200dpi. Instead of a scroll wheel, there's a scroll pad that lets you scroll both vertically and horizontally. Pretty good considering it's only $29.99.
Hit the jump for another picture.
Posted by tranism at 2:40 AM | Permalink
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June 25, 2007
The Mickey Player Touches Down
Finally it's here! The iriver Mplayer I so lovingly gushed over in February hits stores all over South Korea today. Designed in conjunction with the Magic Kingdom, this pong sized Mplayer sports the famous Mickey head silhouette. The ears act as your basic player controls with the main power button on the side of the head. Between the ears is a standard headphone jack and on the bottom is a mini USB port for syncing. Although screenless it more than makes up for it in cuteness factor.
The Mplayer comes with 1GB of memory and barely weighs 18 grams. MP3, WMA, and ASD formats are supported as long as they're unprotected. No word yet on when or if ever the rest of the world will see the player in stores. For now, it's South Korea only selling for $60.
Tons more pictures after the jump. 56k users, don't even think about it.
Posted by tranism at 2:44 PM | Permalink
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That's Alcohol!
I'm in love with David Boardman. He comes up with the craziest things and they all serve a purpose. The "That's Alcohol" installation is a unique ethylometer he and his team plan on proposing to the Italian police. A sensor detects the level of alcohol in a users breath triggering a series of servos and pistons that pull down string puppets . The drunker you are, the harder they fall.
Of course a device like this seems to encourage drunken behavior. After all, the only way to get the puppets to react is to be drunk off your ass. A flash based video in the installation even tells you how to reach a better "drunkenness" level. Even Boardman's project synopsis is a bit - drunk-like in its composure.
"Have another beer. Go ahead, you’ve already had what…5?…8?…13?
Just keep on drinking. You hate these student exhibits. Don’t these kids know that no one is a designer unless they have a line of cutlery and a villa in Tuscany? Hey look, those puppets did something…hmm…don’t know how they did that….oh well…where’s that fresh beer?"
I really want to meet his man.
Thanks Greg
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Poop If There's A Fire
Smoke detectors are usually boring round things everyone tries to make as unobtrusive as possible. But the Chick-A-Dee smoke detector by Mooi Uit De Brand is just so darn cute, you'll have to display it for all to see. It's attached to a clamp you can place almost anywhere. When it sense the first signs of smoke, it poops sings you a warning.
You really thought it would poop huh? Now that would be an interesting smoke detector.
via Notcot
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June 21, 2007
iriver W10
The iriver W10 is the latest of iriver gadgets spilling out of the company's magic hat. Like the other iriver newbies, it sorta does everything with primary expertise in one area. In the case of the W10, it's media. It supports pretty much every non-DRM's format out there and displays it beautifully on the 3" LCD boasting a 480 x 272 resolution. If you have a PSP, that's the screen resolution. Other features are a mini-SD card slot and built in FM turner with recording capability.
However 3 features make it unique. This thing supports flash - so games and YouTubing are a go. It also has WiFi and an integrated positioning system. Obviously browsing the internet are within its grasp but the more interesting application for its WiFi ability is VOIP. Yes, apparently the W10 can make phone calls via the internet. Hot ain't it?
Lots more pics after the jump.
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Prehistoric Destiny Comes Full Circle
The time is here. Those of you who want what could quite possibly be the next Aibo replacement is available for pre-order direct from UGOBE. Of course I'm talking about the cute and dare I say cuddly Pleo robotic dinosaur. One can be had for $349, nearly 1/3 the cost of an Aibo. Sure, it doesn't come with all of the really cool do-dads but it's not supposed to either. Pleo is supposed to simulate what a baby dinosaur may have been like. Turn it on and watch Pleo imprint you as his/her mother/father.
Just remember, baby dinos grow up to be big dinos. You all saw Jurassic Park right?
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June 20, 2007
iriver's Life Unit Does EVERYTHING
It's GORGEOUS. I can hardly contain myself. Very few electronics manufacturers understand the need for high design in ordinary gadgets. iriver is one company that gets it. What's more is they have their own design language and to their credit, it looks nothing like Apple's. One thing that really separates them from Apple is format ubiquity. They're not about choosing which formats will be supported. They support and include them all. They're not about deciding what customers want in terms of features. They include them all and let us decide.
This is why the Life Unit is so interesting. First off, it's designed by the famed Nakamichi. You can tell from it's perforated exterior and very Japanese profiling where it's origins are. Secondly, it wants to be at the center of your entertainment hub. It has a DVD player, a TV, PMP capabilities, wireless connectivity, SD slot, a port to charge and sync with iriver players, a touchscreen controller that unfolds into a 78-key QWERTY keyboard, and an LCD screen which can turn into a PMP device. Now that's entertainment on the go!
No word on pricing yet but damn this thing isn't just functional, it's also gorgeous. Hell, they should have made it a phone too and just called it a day.
BIG pictures after the jump.
Posted by tranism at 5:24 PM | Permalink
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$15 Million Bounty, DARPA Wants Self Healing Invisible Shield
Flashback from the movie Predator. We see our protagonist move invisibly across a room impervious to bullets. That's the goal of DARPA. They've moved on from computer driven all terrain vehicles to some serious Star Trek sh*t. They've set aside $15 million to anyone who can create shields that not only render a soldier invisible, but will also somehow self heal.
Pssshhh, my Happy Potter cloak can do all that and more.
via Danger Room
Posted by tranism at 1:49 PM | Permalink
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June 18, 2007
The iriver NV is Just Sic
First off, this device is South Korea only. I had to preface with that to save any disappointment experienced after reading what all the iriver NV can do.
It's billed as a multimedia navigation system and by far the most featured packed. The design is just sic. The 7", 800 x 480 screen is just sic. It supports every video and audio format - that's just sic. Like FM music? No problem, this sic device has it. The jog dial has an embedded OLED screen to indicate function and directional icons when in navigation mode. My god that's sic! Last but not least, the slick sic remote makes it easier than ever to push buttons in style.
I'm spent. . . More pictures after the jump.
UPDATE: Akihabara has a bunch of real live NV pictures.
Posted by tranism at 2:36 PM | Permalink
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June 15, 2007
Hey Europe, A Cocoon Is Coming
If you happen to live in Europe and you happen to have O2 as your mobile provider, then you might like the new music centric Cocoon. The phone earns its name from the all white and rounded body. Similar to the AU NEON concept phone last year, the surface hides embedded LEDs that light up to indicate different functions. It can even be used as a clock/radio!
The Cocoon comes with 2GB of internal memory with microSD expansion, 2 megapixel camera with auto focus, all running on a 3G network. Open the stylish clamshell to reveal a bright 2.1" 240 x 320 screen. The most compelling feature is the phone will sync with BOTH MACS and PCS!
Damn It's sexy. I think I might import one. Hit the jump for more pics.
via Electronista
Posted by tranism at 4:13 PM | Permalink
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BeoVision 7, Too Expensive For My Blood
I appreciate the design aesthetics of Bang & Olufsen, even if it at times seem a little stark. If one thing can be said about them, it's their dedication to hardware design complimenting functionality. This is the case with their American bound BeoVision 7. You get the top of the line 40" LCD TV with one of those cool simulated 7.1 channel surround audio experiences. All this wrapped in the obligatory high gloss metals and glass rising from a motorized floor stand.
How much? Try $13,250 for the basic package. My my, it must be nice to burn hundred dollar bills so easily. Oh btw, I WANT THIS!
Posted by tranism at 3:36 PM | Permalink
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June 13, 2007
16 Million Colors At Your Beck And Call
That's what the LivingColors lighting system is. Philips first showed off this ingenious lighting system last year and I immediately knew I had to have it.
First off, it's not as big as it looks but don't let that fool you. You're totally playing with power here. A wireless remote controls the LED substrate in the glass orb producing 16 million colors. One controller can control up to 6 different lighting units. You can choreograph each unit to work separately or in tandem to really set a color filled atmosphere. Another huge plus is the ability to fix the illuminated direction, be it ambient or spotlight.
It goes on sale this summer for $200.
via Technabob
Posted by tranism at 2:47 PM | Permalink
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June 6, 2007
The Ghetto Blaster For The iPod Generation
Ghetto blasters never really made a comeback because audio sources have moved to external devices, not to mention how ungodly they looked. So an industrial designer name Dirk Winkel (love his name) envisaged a new ghetto blaster, comfortable to wear and compatible with any iPod-like device called the Nu Blaster.
The head of the blaster provides space for a large bass speaker while the long narrow end serves as a bass reflux tube. The curved shape makes it ergonomic to sport on your shoulder while the strap makes transport easy.
Too bad it's concept only. Hit the jump for another picture.
via Yanko Design
Posted by tranism at 1:31 AM | Permalink
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June 5, 2007
HTC Touch Ready To Rumble With iPhone
Last week rumors trickled in about one of my favorite phone OEMs HTC prepping an iPhone challenger. It seems all the hoopla was true. Today HTC unveiled a new phone called the HTC Touch. So lets get to the good stuff.
The HTC Touch is a Windows Mobile 6 smartphone. Its name derives from its 2.8" touchscreen and what's most interesting is the entire WinMo 6 interface has been custom designed to work with fingers but a stylus is still there for you old schoolers. It's devoid of any buttons except a 4-way navigation pad, some soft keys and a couple of rocker switches on the side. Spec-wise it's pretty matched up to the iPhone; 2 megapixel camera, WiFi and EDGE support. The main differences are the inclusion of microSD memory in lieu of built-in flash memory and the smattering of WinMo software enhancements like Office Mobile.
Pricing is unconfirmed but you can expect this challenger sometime in the second half of 2007. Hit the jump to see the Touch in action.
Posted by tranism at 9:21 PM | Permalink
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June 3, 2007
Oh My Damn, Apple iPhone June 29th
An iPhone ad just aired tonight on 60 minutes. It describes the phone as an iPod thats never been like any other iPod before. Way to leverage your iPod brand Apple! Nonetheless, the commercial rekindled my desire for the $600 device. In fact, the commercial does something most commercials don’t do now-a-days; it shows how it actually works. Best part is the end, iPhone hits stores June 29th.
Go to Apple’s website to watch 2 other new iPhone ads in HD glory.
Posted by tranism at 7:20 PM | Permalink
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June 1, 2007
Manoi Now Dances To Your iPod
When the original Manoi came out, people everywhere fell in love with it but all asked the same question; what does it do? Other than walking and striking a pose, the next Manoi can add dancing to its repertoire. Custom built software will give Manoi the ability to act spontaneously in movement when you hook up an iPod to it. None of the dancing is pre-programmed unlike the ill-fated Sony QRIO.
It goes on sale later this year but will set you back $1,640. For that kind of money I demand videos. I wanna see Manoi krump!
via Nextlust
Posted by tranism at 5:56 PM | Permalink
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