Latest Gadgets, Tablets and Smartphones
As gadgets around the world continue to get more complex there will be a cry out for simple ideas to come back. One of these ideas will be the old fashioned circle type phone. Yankodesign now bring us the Circle Phone concept which has just 3 buttons and a rotary type dialling pad. I am baffled on how you actually hold this thing to your head, but simplicity is always good.
Via: Yankodesign
Sun and Moon Jars are a unique way to create some nice warm lighting in your home. Each jar features a solar cell with rechargeable battery which can power the low power LED lamps for several hours. When placed in sunlight the batteries will charge allowing the glow to shine at night. The jars are frosted allowing the light to be diffused and look more realistic. There are no switches or controls for the lamps as they feature light sensitive switches inside which switch the LED’s on and off when needed. However, if you really really want to switch them off then you can flip the lid and switch them off manually. If the battery gets worn out over the years then you can replace it with another rechargeable AA battery.
The Sun and Moon jars cost $29.99 – $34.99 each and are available below.
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This retro webcam may look old, but it packs in a good number of features which make it perfect for any computer users desk. The retro webcam can fit on top of a flat screen, or a tripod and has a glass lens, hidden microphone built in and can record both video and still shots in 24 bit colour. The focus of the camera is 5cm-infinity and resolution (VGA) of 640 x 480. Exposure on the images is controlled automatically or manually. It connects to your USB port and is compatible with Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP or Vista.
The Retro Webcam will set you back £24.99 in the UK (about $45 USD)
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The old pixel has been a slave to the monitor and LCD for years. Thousands of them can be seen on your screen. The PixelBlock has broken away from the screen on to your desk. With PixelBlocks you can create 2D and 3D images on your desk by slotting little pixels together in 3 different ways. They come in an assortment of colours which have little peg and hole systems which allow them to be linked up.
You can create anything you want in 8-bit style from Mario or Sonic, to self portraits. Speaking of self portraits… if you decide to make a 2D representation of your own face then on-line software makes this task a lot more simple for you. The software is called PixelBlocks Digital Stained Glass Creator. You simply upload an image of your self to the website which when they receive it they send you back PDF instructions which tell you which pixel to place where. Keep the software side a secret and you will be able to amaze your friends with your skills.
PixelBlocks come in 3 sets which cost $19.95, $29.95 or $59.95 from Firebox.
The Valeswood Pearl is a hydrogen fuelled power assisted bike which can take you about 80 miles on one charge at about 15MPH. The bike is foldable allowing for it to be easily stowed away and carried around. Although a great idea, I think the $4K price tag is a little off putting. Maybe when these bikes come in under $1k people might start looking.
Via: GeekieGadgets
This cool laser projector was created by those over at instructables. It uses a green laser and a few various parts which when bundled together project an image from a photo frame. The projected image also requires no focusing and can be perfectly clear where ever it is projected on to. The sample image above is about 30 meters away. All we need now is a video laser projector mixed with red, green and blue lasers. Maybe that will come another day.
More details after the jump.
The Wide Touch 7″ sat nav (W-700) comes from Inkel who are based in Korea. As the name suggests, it has a touch screen which is 800×400 WVGA. Inside you will find a Dual Core CPU running at 360MHz+300MHz as well as a SiRF III chipset for the GPS. On the memory side it has 128MB DDR SDRAM and has a text viewer as well as digital photo frame functions. The sat nav software installed is Mappy United map software.
The price will be $506 when released.
Via: TechFresh
The Dattoo is a DNA based personal technology that uses the skin of your body as an interface. Yep, it’s concept and one I don’t see coming out any time soon. It is designed by Hartmut Esslinger
To achieve absolute personal identification, the hardware would capture DNA from the user’s body, enabling direct participation in the political and cultural landscape. The technology would link remote users through engagement with their areas of interest…
Users view, test-drive, and select their product from a variety of options, both functional and aesthetic. They also set the life cycle of the product, to be utilized for a few hours or a much longer amount of time. Once users are satisfied with their specific configurations, they have this fully-functioning circuitry – including all UI-interactive and display functions – ‘printed onto recommended areas of their skin. Energy would be pulled from the human body to run the programs. At the end of the day, users would simply wash the Dattoos off, beginning anew the following day.
The idea does seem a little crazy, but I guess it could have it’s uses such as quickly accessing information that you know you will definitely have attached to you (literally). Also IBM a few years back tested using living skin to transmit data across. This could mean you transfer music from a camera in your left hand to the PC you are touching with your right hand. I’d prefer to stick to BlueTooth.
It all sounds too freaky to me and I’d be scared to see a BSOD on my arm.
Via: Technovelgy
This Hummer is RC and petrol powered. It’s a massive 1/5 scale which dwarfs most other radio controlled cars. The engine that powers this beast is a 26cc DZY and can make the Hummer shift at up to 50MPH which is flippin quick for a car this size.
The RC Hummer is made of aluminium and has a centrifugal clutch and differential. The RC hummer runs on 2 stroke oil mixed with regular unleaded petrol found in all UK petrol stations. By mixing 5 litres of unleaded with 250ml of 2 stroke oil, you get just the right mixture to make it go.
By travelling at 50MPH it can quickly go out of range if you are not careful. If this happens then having the failsafe option will simply shut down and the Hummer will roll to a stop, which might not be good, but better then slamming in to a wall at full speed. At least your wall will now be a bit safer 😉
The RC Hummer will set you back just short of £350 with the failsafe option costing £12.99.
Specifications:
1 ) Scale: 1/5
2 ) D/W: Rear 2WD system, differential with built-in gears
3 ) Brakes: Rear Disc
4 ) Speed: 80km/h
5 ) Engine: Single cylinder, two stroke, air-cooled, 26cc
6 ) Torque: 1.8N.m
7 ) Power: 1.58kw / 2.15 bhp
8) Fuel: Petrol / engine oil (25:1)
9 ) Fuel tank capacity: 40 minutes
10) Start method: pull start
11) LxWxH: 700x530x350mm
12) Tires: 190mm
13) Wheelbase (F/R): 480mm
14) Tread: 340mm(F)/370mm(R)
Features:
1 ) Fully assembled
2 ) Powerful pull start 26cc engine
3 ) Heavy duty parts (many metal)
4 ) Differential with built-in gear
5 ) Fully adjustable oil-filled shocks
6 ) Disc brake system
7 ) CE/ROHS approved controller
8 ) Strong 15kg/cm OEM Futaba servo
9 ) Sealed electronics box for use on wet days
10 ) Aluminium chassis
11 ) Waibro Carburetor
12 ) NGK spark plug
13 ) 80 km/h top speed
The London Underground has been around for a lot of years. Most of you will have seen an underground map with the different colours for each line showing you what goes where. If you cannot bare to not see a map first thing in the morning then a tube map mirror could save you. It measures 75cm x 52cm and has 6mm thick glass. Behind that glass is a fully fledged underground map which allows you to plan the quickest route to work while brushing your teeth.
The Tube Map Mirror costs £59.95 from alt-gifts.
The ASUS Eee PC is a small computer which comes with either Linux or Windows XP installed. Many have commented that Vista will not fit on it. Paul over at MoDaCo managed to squeeze vista on there and has provided instructions on how to do it. He used an Eee PC (unmodified) with 4GB of storage and 512MB RAM. An SD card was needed as well as a Vista DVD and a 1GB USB stick. For full instructions on how to get Vista on your Eee PC check out the full instructions over at MoDaCo.
Nokia have come up with some interesting concept ideas over the last few years. With “green” being the subject being discussed by many, a number of electronics creators are pushing this theme in to their creations. The Nokia Eco Sensor Phone is one such phone which Nokia want to have that green theme. The concept is that the phone comes with a separate wearable sensor unit which monitors the environment, your health and reports the weather. These features are optional and you can use the ones which suit you.
This is the question I was asking at first. With this phone having environmental sensors built in to the wrist strap it can transmit information back to the phone via NFC (near field communication) and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). Information about the environment is displayed on the screen which makes you more aware of the pollution around you. If you constantly see high levels of carbon monoxide, ozone problems and such, then you are more likely to take action to reduce these outputs in your own life. This part of the Eco friendly phone seems more psychological. Luckily the green theme doesn’t stop there. This phone will be built on what is called the three Rs. That means reduce, reuse and recycle.
