Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:40:24 GMT

Samsung L210

Samsung has taken another trek into digital camera territory with the L210, a point-and-shoot job.

The L210 has lots of great features including a 2.5 inch LCD display, as well as a 10.2 megapixel sensor with 3x optical zoom. It also has two of Samsung's programs with Digital Image Stabilization and Intelligent Face Recognition technology. All of this is included with 10MB of internal flash memory as well as the ability to record MPEG-4 movies.

I don't have a source or availability date as yet, but the Samsung L210 should hit the market soon.

Source Posted by: Mark Rollins      Read more     Source

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 22:56:02 GMT

Dropclock

Dropclock is an aesthetically intriguing motion clock screensaver. Every minute of real time is numerically expressed with heavy Helvetica dropping into water in super slow-motion. Posted by: Gerard      Read more     Source

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 01:50:18 GMT

Paper weighing scale is a featherweight

If the concept design for the paper weighing scale designed by Duck Image Studio sees the light of day, then I will no longer have to worry if someone else is looking down at the embarassingly high figures on my scale while I am standing on it.

Ask how? Because the paper weighing scale is different from other weighing scales - it is inconspicuous, almost like paper, and can be placed anywhere in the house as it is ultra-thin and flexible. The figures are depicted via large numerals flashed on an e-paper display - easy enough to let you steal a sly glance as you are walking down the hallway, for example. And you can leave the paper scale out on the floor through the day since it is waterproof and easy to clean. The flexibility aspect ensures that you can even roll it away for storage if you are not comfortable being reminded of your weight so many times in a day. Methinks this is a great design for something as simple as a scale.

Via Yanko Design. Posted by: Sarah      Read more     Source

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 23:42:20 GMT

Are Booth Babes Really Worth the Money?

I'm pretty sure that getting attractive women to spend time in a place full of geeky men takes some money. MyTreo.net calls it the "oldest consumer electronics marketing trick." Whatever the case, I don't think booth babes are effective marketing tools (pardon my objectification of women), for the same reason why I think giving away free phones on The Ellen Degeneres Show is a waste of money.

Do we honestly think that the products and services featured by booth babes will be more memorable than the hotness of the booth babes themselves? The "promotional models" do attract attention, but not the right kind. Instead of drawing customers genuinely interested in the offering, these women catch the attention of any one on the market for some fleshy eye candy.

It's unfortunate that once upon a time, booth babes became a requirement for a "successful" convention booth. Not because I'm against looking at attractive women mind you, but because companies and businesses find themselves under pressure to spend money on what's becoming an increasingly ineffective marketing gimmick. Remarkable products are easy to recall and attract attention like fresh flowers attract bees. And not even Helen of Troy can reverse the fortunes of what's forgettable. Posted by: Rico Mossesgeld      Read more     Source

January 21, 2008, 9:24 PM CT

Health effects of wireless technologies

A new National Research Council report chaired by University of Colorado at Boulder Distinguished Professor Frank Barnes calls for a stronger research effort on the potential health effects of exposure to radio frequency energy tied to the global explosion in wireless technology like cell phones, laptops and hand-held Web-surfing gadgets.

Requested by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration from the National Research Council last year, the report was released Jan 16. The authors did not evaluate potential human health effects of radio frequency, or RF, exposure from wireless devices, but rather made recommendations on how to meet research needs regarding the technology, said Barnes, a distinguished professor in the electrical and computer engineering department.

"This is a very, very complex issue," said Barnes. "Obviously we are not seeing immediate short-term effects of such exposure, like people dropping dead on their cell phones. But in the long term -- 10, 20 and 30 years out -- we have a lot less information about potential effects from these types of wireless devices."

The NRC committee chaired by Barnes hosted a three-day conference on the topic last August in Washington, D.C., reviewing scores of studies and hosting testimony by more than a dozen researchers from nine countries. Barnes briefed the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy in Washington, D.C., on the 66-page report earlier this week. The NRC is the main operating agency of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering......... Posted by: Ryan      Read more         Source

January 17, 2008, 9:27 PM CT

Contact lenses with circuits

Movie characters from the Terminator to the Bionic Woman use bionic eyes to zoom in on far-off scenes, have useful facts pop into their field of view, or create virtual crosshairs. Off the screen, virtual displays have been proposed for more practical purposes -- visual aids to help vision-impaired people, holographic driving control panels and even as a way to surf the Web on the go.

The device to make this happen may be familiar. Engineers at the University of Washington have for the first time used manufacturing techniques at microscopic scales to combine a flexible, biologically safe contact lens with an imprinted electronic circuit and lights.

"Looking through a completed lens, you would see what the display is generating superimposed on the world outside," said Babak Parviz, a UW assistant professor of electrical engineering. "This is a very small step toward that goal, but I think it's extremely promising." The results were presented today at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' international conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems by Harvey Ho, a former graduate student of Parviz's now working at Sandia National Laboratories in Livermore, Calif. Other co-authors are Ehsan Saeedi and Samuel Kim in the UW's electrical engineering department and Tueng Shen in the UW Medical Center's ophthalmology department......... Posted by: Ryan      Read more         Source

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 05:08:50 GMT

Leap Frog Products

I realize that the holidays are over, and most parents have already bought wonderful toys for their children. However, I still recommend these products from Leap Frog.

The LeapPad is a pretty neat thing that uses cartridges and spiral notebooks for both education and fun. Just use the digital pen to touch the words, and the LeapPad reads to your children. Also on the LeapPad books are little games your kids can play as well.

The Leapster is a similar device that uses cartridges, and is a lot like a handheld gaming system like the DS or PSP. The difference is the games are always educational, and there are even some games preloaded, so cartridges don't have to be even purchased to start the fun.

The LeapPad is available for $19.99 and the Leapster is for $59.99. Both of them are available on the Leap Frog site, and I highly recommend them. Posted by: Mark Rollins      Read more     Source

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 05:14:37 GMT

Combimouse

The left unit of the Combimouse is stationary and provides the function of the left hand side of a conventional QWERTY keyboard.

The right unit has a similar mass and centre of gravity to a conventional mouse. It can be moved around on a support surface like a conventional mouse. Posted by: Gerard      Read more     Source

Sun, 16 Dec 2007 14:15:09 GMT

Fisheye lens, anyone?

A photo taken with a fisheye lens has a certain appeal. The price of a fisheye lens isn't that appealing, however. It's a little expensive.

Thanks to Photojojo.com for sharing with us this DIY Fisheye Lens. All you need is an old eyeglass, some tape, and your camera.

So, without further adieu, here is a do-it-yourself on building your own fisheye lens.

Image courtesy of Photojojo.com Posted by: Dominic Rivera      Read more     Source

Sun, 16 Dec 2007 13:55:19 GMT

Fun and unique gift ideas

I'm all about the giving of Christmas presents and in fact, I live giving better than receiving. I like trying to find the perfect gift for a person's personality and I really put some thought into it. Well, I am here to make your shopping a little easier. I have some hilarious and sure to please presents. Don't go with the usual scarf or cuff links, really go for it this year!

Probably one of the most hilarious alarm clocks I have ever seen. You get one chance to hit the snooze button, then it rolls itself off your night table and rolls around so you have to get up and find it to turn it off. GENIUS!! The Runaway Alarm Clock, $50 at Hammacher Schlemmer Eco-friendly, collapsible and excellent sound quality. Yes, they are speakers made out of cardboard. Cardboard Speakers from MUJI, $42 at MoMA My dog is like my child and I always love when people give me gifts for her. Sparkle Charms gift box, $20 from Calling All Dogs I may be all about the fashion but deep down inside, I'm a super nerd. These Ecospheres are real ecosystems living and thriving in a glass sphere. Small 4" Ecosphere, $65 at Brookstone I so want one of these. Posted by: Ryan      Read more     Source