Amazon’s Kindle eBook Reader

November 20, 2007 by Leave a Comment

the Kindle Book Reader
The Kindle from Amazon is a new eBook reader which has an e-paper display providing a sharp high res screen which reads like real paper. The device is wireless allowing it to connect up and get books in less then a minute. It does not need syncing die to the wireless features. More then 88000 books are available right now as well as news papers and other popular magazines. The Kindle can hold over 200 titles in it’s memory which is plenty to keep the avid reader going. The wireless features are not wifi though. Instead they have opted for an EVDO connection which means you do not have to be in a wifi hotspot to download books. As long as you have a cell phone signal then all should be good. If wireless is on all the time then you need to charge the book every other day. If you switch off the wireless features then the battery will power the device for over a week.

It looks like a nice eBook reader with some handy built in tools. I have yet to compare the screen to that of the page on a book, but from what reports say, it is supposed to be just as easy on the eyes. Will it convert you away from paper books?

Product Page

Filed Under: Computer Gadgets

WaterBuoy – Miniature Automatic Flotation Device

November 19, 2007 by 2 Comments

WaterBuoy
The WaterBuoy is a new device which attaches to your key ring and is capable of keeping afloat up to 1 kilo in weight. Inside the WaterBuoy you will find a few components which make the device activate when it comes in contact with water. The first part of the key ring holds the gas which fills the balloon. Above that is the trigger which does not set off when splashed, but when fully submerged the trigger sets off the gas which fills up the strong balloon bringing the keys or other dropped (attached) items up to the surface.

WaterBuou Insides

This makes dropping your keys in the water a less problematic adventure. For those regular water users this could save a ton of hassle for a small price.

The WaterBuoy costs £12.99 and is available over at the Water-Buoy site.

Filed Under: Cool Gadgets

Asus P527 with Journey Logger

November 19, 2007 by Leave a Comment

asus-p527
The new Asus P527 runs on the Windows Mobile 6 Pro OS and has a unique tracking feature which allows you to visually log your journey. To accomplish this the device has built in GPS which can log where photo’s are taken and also allows a diary of events to be logged. Mixing this with their GPS information create a travel log. The information is exportable to Google Earth allowing for an interesting view of where you have been and what you did.

Another interesting feature I spotted on the device is a tracking tool which can send reports to pre defined friends in your contacts list and provide them details of where you are.

Other features on this device are a 2 mega pixel camera, FM receiver, Windows Media Player, Windows Live/Hotmail/MSN etc… and MS office applications such as Outlook so you can keep in contact via email.

Overall a nice looking and powerful device which I look forwards to seeing.

Via: TrendyGadget and ASUS

Filed Under: Cool Gadgets

GTXC Shoe tracks you with GPS

November 19, 2007 by Leave a Comment

gtx-xplorer-gps-shoe
GPS is a great system which can track receivers anywhere in the world to just a few meters. It allows for sat nav software to trace where you are and tell you where to go, it can track how fast you are moving and in what direction. GTXC now has integrated a GPS receiver in to one of it’s shoes. The idea behind this is the ability to track where people are should they be out somewhere and go missing. Ideal situations would me missing climbers as it would allow them to easily be tracked (assuming they haven’t lost a shoe). The GPS receiver and transmitter is small too. It weighs just one ounce and can relay information of it’s location via a GSM network. Someone else can then track where you are with software over the internet. There is a cost for this service though and it runs in at $10/month for tracking. For situations where safety is a problem then this could be ideal though.

Via: gopaultech

Filed Under: Tech News

Evergreen DN-DRK72 Disc Repair

November 19, 2007 by 1 Comment

Evergreen_DN_DRK72
Scratched CD’s, DVD’s and any other type of CD sized disc’s do not like it when they are scratched. The Evergreen DN-DRK72 is a disc repair kit which apparently repairs discs for you by removing the scratches and making the disc look as good as new. I do not know how many times it can repair a disc and I am yet to find out how it actually works. My guess is that it probably just fills in the scratches with liquid that hardens. Anyone got any ideas?

Via: TodayGadgets

Filed Under: Computer Gadgets

Worlds First Computer Mouse

November 19, 2007 by Leave a Comment

Firstmouseunderside
40 years ago a patent was applied for which described a wooden shell with two metal wheels. The device quickly received the nickname of a mouse due to it having a tail (wire) coming out of it. The patent described an X-Y position indicator for a display system.

Due to the patent expiring 20 years later in 1987, Engelbart did not receive much in the way of royalties as a computer mouse wasn’t too popular before that. Also this was partly due to the new mice using a different mechanism which did not infringe on the patent.

For an interesting read of this mouse and how it came about check over at Wikipedia. The original patent with drawings can be found over here.

Filed Under: Computer Gadgets

25 Years of Nokia Phones

November 18, 2007 by 1 Comment

Nokia Phones
Above is an interesting picture which shows 25 years history of Nokia creating mobile phones. It starts off with the huge case type phone back in the analogue days and then moves through the years. It is interesting to see how phones have progressed and had more features packed in while continuing to shrink down in size. How many of these phones have you had? I have had a fair few Nokia’s.

To see the full picture, check out Flikr.

Filed Under: Cell Phones

DVIEW – Business Card sized PC

November 17, 2007 by 2 Comments

ddl_display
The DVIEW is a business card sized PC which uses a used mobile phone LCD panel. It is built by Hokuto Systems Co Ltd in Japan and is capable of working by it’s self and displaying data on the screen with out the use of other peripherals. The screens are 2.2 inches running at QVGA (320 x 240). The processor is an ARM7TDMI core CPU which can run at 81Mhz. On the memory side it has 40k SRAM and can play back audio at MP3, MIDI and ADPCM.

There are plenty of good uses for a device like this and adding a touch screen to the device could expand it even further. I look forwards to seeing where this one goes.

ddl_display_a

Via: Gizmowatch

Filed Under: Computer Gadgets

WIBRAIN B1 UMPC

November 17, 2007 by Leave a Comment

5dda-wibrain_b1_umpc
The WIBRAIN B1 UMPC is an interesting prototype which has a full QWERTY keyboard split around the screen. The screen measures 4.8″ and has a resolution of 1024 x 600 as well as being touch screen. Connectivity is plentiful on this device as it sports Bluetooth 2.0, Wi-Fi on 802.11b/g, quad band GSM/GPRS/EDGE and HSDPA. Overall I am not too interested in the keyboard although having it each side does actually look quite comfortable to hold. It’s just a shame it doesn’t slide away like an HTC QWERTY keyboard.

Via: Funponsel

Filed Under: Computer Gadgets

Digitus Ring Concept

November 16, 2007 by Leave a Comment

digitus
Digitus is a concept idea which uses 1400 spheres which are magnetic with decorative material on one half. By magnetising various spheres it forces them to spin and an image can be built up. Examples of usage could be time, a calendar, caller ID, SMS messaging displayed and a number of morphing unique patterns spinning around your finger. Although the idea is concept I do think it has great potential and hopefully technology will allow it to happen.

Via: GeekAlerts

Filed Under: Concept Gadgets

Automatic Projection Calibration

November 16, 2007 by Leave a Comment

Automatic Projector Calibration
Johnny Chung Lee headed up a team which created a cool projection calibration system which could work out where a small screen is and adjust the image to match the perspective. It works by having 4 or more sensors in a small plate which detect light. Once the position of the sensors is determined the image is then adjusted. The process takes just seconds to find the new location of the screen and once found, adjusts immediately to match. This is ideal for presentations where you need to quickly line up a screen but cannot find a place directly in front of the screen. If you put the projector to the side then it will adjust automatically to straighten out the image.

On the video below you will see a VW Beetle that has a number of sensors added and the wheels are projected in to the right place regardless of what angle the car is turned.

It’s excellent stuff with a lot of potential.

Filed Under: Displays

LEGO Advent Calendar

November 15, 2007 by 2 Comments

lego_city_advent_calendar
Advent Calendar’s are used each year to count down to Christmas. LEGO have created their own advent calendars which feature 24 days of LEGO building fun. Each day you will find a new small set such as a tree, mini figures a fire place and other items. The LEGO City version pictured above includes LEGO city type LEGO.

lego_bellville_advent_calendar
Another version is the LEGO Bellville calendar which includes animals and accessories.

Each costs £12.99 in the UK and are available here and here.

Also available at Amazon.

Via: Babble

Filed Under: Cool Gadgets