« techness: August 2007 | Main | techness: October 2007 »
September 18, 2007
A Laptop With Holographic Tendencies
This Sony Vaio Zoom notebook concept is hot! Made from glass and plastic, it employs holographic technology to display images and controls. When off, the screen is totally transparent and the keyboard is opaque. Turn it on and holograms come to life. The technologies involved are a ways off but here's hoping they come sooner than later.
Another pic after the jump.
via Yanko Design
Posted by tranism at 4:37 PM | Permalink
| Comments (6)
|
|
|
Have You Seen Toyota's Smart Car Competitor?
It's called the IQ and tho it's just a concept, Toyota wants it to be the most affordable car ever. The design is sound and all the components are real. However safety is a key concern for the company as is reliability and they refuse to release a super compact car until those concerns meet with their standards. In the mean time, check out how short the the IQ is. Only when superimposed on Toyota's smallest car in the U.S., the Yaris, can you see how tiny it is.
More pics after the jump.
Posted by tranism at 1:25 PM | Permalink
| Comments (3)
|
|
|
September 13, 2007
He'll Replace Your Kids Someday
It's like Spielberg's movie A.I. all over again. Roboticist David Hanson just unveiled his cool and very Jet-ex Saturday morning looking robot boy called Zeno which just so happens to be named after his real live 18 month old son.
The 17" tall robot is capable of expressing emotion thru a range of servos and a skin he calls "frubber". Tho the idea may seem a little sinister, Hanson only designed Zeno to be an edutainment bot. This could be the next big Christmas toy. Expect to shell out 200-300 dollars once it hits store shelves.
Mmm hmm, that's how it all starts.
via Yahoo
Posted by tranism at 12:22 PM | Permalink
| Comments (1)
|
|
|
September 6, 2007
BOOM! Steve Jobs Gives Back $100
I know tons of early iPhone adopters stomped away in disgust yesterday when Apple announced a $200 drop on the iPhone, moving the $600 price tag down to $400. Although I was not upset because I know the price of being an early adopter, I'm very happy to hear Steve Jobs has decided to soothe the wounds of his legions by giving them a $100 store credit. In an open letter (that's class), Steve describes navigating tech waters where prices can fluctuate like ripples in the ocean is very difficult. He still believes the $200 price drop was necessary but understands that many early iPhone adopters felt shafted and so he wants to try and make things right.
Read the open letter after the jump.
To all iPhone customers:
I have received hundreds of emails from iPhone customers who are upset about Apple dropping the price of iPhone by $200 two months after it went on sale. After reading every one of these emails, I have some observations and conclusions.
First, I am sure that we are making the correct decision to lower the price of the 8GB iPhone from $599 to $399, and that now is the right time to do it. iPhone is a breakthrough product, and we have the chance to 'go for it' this holiday season. iPhone is so far ahead of the competition, and now it will be affordable by even more customers. It benefits both Apple and every iPhone user to get as many new customers as possible in the iPhone 'tent'. We strongly believe the $399 price will help us do just that this holiday season.
Second, being in technology for 30+ years I can attest to the fact that the technology road is bumpy. There is always change and improvement, and there is always someone who bought a product before a particular cutoff date and misses the new price or the new operating system or the new whatever. This is life in the technology lane. If you always wait for the next price cut or to buy the new improved model, you'll never buy any technology product because there is always something better and less expensive on the horizon. The good news is that if you buy products from companies that support them well, like Apple tries to do, you will receive years of useful and satisfying service from them even as newer models are introduced.
Third, even though we are making the right decision to lower the price of iPhone, and even though the technology road is bumpy, we need to do a better job taking care of our early iPhone customers as we aggressively go after new ones with a lower price. Our early customers trusted us, and we must live up to that trust with our actions in moments like these.
Therefore, we have decided to offer every iPhone customer who purchased an iPhone from either Apple or AT&T, and who is not receiving a rebate or any other consideration, a $100 store credit towards the purchase of any product at an Apple Retail Store or the Apple Online Store. Details are still being worked out and will be posted on Apple's website next week. Stay tuned.
We want to do the right thing for our valued iPhone customers. We apologize for disappointing some of you, and we are doing our best to live up to your high expectations of Apple.
Steve Jobs
Apple CEO
Posted by tranism at 2:41 PM | Permalink
| Comments (0)
|
|
|
September 5, 2007
A Cat And An Apple
Jaguar's Design Director Ian Callum let it slip the company's latest offering, the XF, is a direct result of working with Apple. I'm not talking about the look of the car. I'm talking about the interface and if you know anything about Apple, you know they are applauded for creating some of the most intuitive and sexiest interfaces in the industry. A big portion of this "collaboration" is the XF's new start button. It's a giant knob that takes the place of a standard stick. When activated, it "pulses and vibrates" as if the car is breathing. Once running, the hidden vents rise up and the "Jaguar Drive" digital interface initializes.
Wow, I know this is sorta old news but I wanted to find out as much as I could before posting, particularly this "Jaguar Drive" interface. Unfortunately, looks like I'll have to wait for the XF's to arrive at my local dealership. Another interesting tidbit is Callum's comment about simplifying. One of Apple's trademarks is eliminating buttons; this in an age when cars are getting more buttons with every revision. I can't wait to test drive this car.
Posted by tranism at 3:22 AM | Permalink
| Comments (1)
|
|
|
Shaving The High-Tech Way
Triple blades, rotary blades, self cleaning mechanisms - electric shavers have come a long way and one of the industry's leading brands is taking the best from its toothbrush line and merging it with its shavers to create the electric razor of the future. It's called the Braun Pulsonic.
So what makes the Pulsonic so revolutionary? Not only do the blades lift and cut facial hair from the base, but the incredibly fast microvibrations make sure every wisker is thoroughly taken care of. It comes with Braun's very unique charging/cleaning dock station to keep your razor in tip top condition and also achieves another first by qualifying for the government's Energy Star program, consuming 64% less energy than competing shavers.
Gentleman, $235 buys you a shave your lady (or guy) friend will appreciate.
Posted by tranism at 2:59 AM | Permalink
| Comments (2)
|
|
|