Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:06:57 GMT

Leapfrog's New Handheld

Handheld gaming systems are a great way for kids to pass the time on summer afternoons. Kids use them in the car, on airplanes, and even outside when they should be playing. If the kids are playing with them, why not trick them into learning a little bit. That is Leapfrog's plan with their new handheld edutainment device The Didj Custom Gaming System.

What is the point with another handheld gaming system (especially since it educational)? The Custom in the Didj Gaming system title comes from an adults ability to load custom information and learning goals into the system. For example, if your child is playing a spelling game, and they have a spelling list from school, you can connect the Didj to your PC via a USB connection and load their spelling list into the game for playing. You can load all sorts of custom content including math, spelling, and reading. This way you can use the gaming system to support what is going on in the classroom. Users can also custom design games, color schemes, and avatars. This actually sounds pretty cool.

The Didj Custom Gaming system features a 3.2 inch TFT display, a 393 MHz Arm Processor, 32MB or operating RAM, and 256MB of storage NAND flash memory. It is available for pre-order now, and will ship in August. It costs $89.99.

Source. Posted by: Chris Matier      Read more     Source

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 22:07:10 GMT

The Sarniematic 6 Cheddar-O-Meter

The Sarniematic Cheddar-o-meter, produced by West Country Farmhouse Cheesemakers, will utilise a newly discovered formula to ascertain the Sarnie Strata Ratio for your perfect cheese sandwich based on your choices of filling and calculate the optimum thickness of the slice of West Country Farmhouse Cheddar you should use. Posted by: Gerard      Read more     Source

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 03:57:22 GMT

Mobile Bluetooth presenter mouse

You may not get excited by mice, but I have quite a collection of the cute critters. There''s the Logitech multi-media zoomer, my pink Kensington travel model, the Kensington travel model ergonomic version, not to mention the drawer full of reject mice that weren''t up to my exacting standards.

The Kensington travel model Presented Mouse by Kensington is my newest pet. It combines a full-function laser mouse and presenter in one sleek device, and is still small enough to fit in your pocket.

Bluetooth connection; switch to go to presentation mode; goes to sleep when your notebook does; ultra-thin design for traveling - what''s not to love? $59.99 at Kensington travel model. Posted by: Sarah      Read more     Source

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 02:27:31 GMT

Sony Ericsson wins the Green Peace Award

Sony Ericsson is going through a rough time lately but finally there is some good news for Swedish-Japanese mobile giant. It has won the Green Peace Award to become the greenest electronics company in the world. This is definitely a milestone for the struggling mobile giant as it is the only company that has secured 5 out of 10 points. Nokia came second followed by Samsung, Dell, Toshiba and other companies.

This is the result of environment friendly measures taken by Sony Ericsson to ban the usage of PVC and other harmful chemicals from its phones that were launched since January 2008. The Greener Electronics Guide by Green Peace rates electronics companies based on their recycling programs, their use of harmful chemicals and their energy waste.

Source: Gizmodo Posted by: Umair Khalid      Read more     Source

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 04:09:32 GMT

Canon's Tiny Personal Digital Photo Printers

Do you want or need the convenience and speed of a quality home digital photo printer with a small footprint?

If so, then a dedicated 4X6" digital photo printer may be the answer, and there are plenty of them from which to choose.

These small printers turn your digital camera into a sort of "Polaroid" instant camera and work wonders for parties and get-togethers because of their portability. In fact there are several models that operate off a battery pack so they can be used anywhere.

The drawback is that the per print cost is a bit on the high side but even so it's about the same as most "instant" print kiosks but you have the convenience of printing when and where you want.

Here are the latest compact Canon digital photo printers to get you started on your search.

Take a camera with you whenever possible, and look around, you'll find a picture somewhere.

Source:www.letsgodigital.org Posted by: jim      Read more     Source

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 02:07:54 GMT

Balanzza luggage scale

Have you ever been at the airport and seen a parade of dazed and elderly Asians, trailing bags that could easily have held a couple of large humans? You were witnessing an immigration, and those bags held every single earthly possession of those people. Seeing one of those sarcophagus-shaped bags always chokes me up because they become a bit of a legacy- those bags live in the homes of immigrant families forevermore. Most often, they''re used to pack several tons of blue jeans and Maybelline makeup, treasures from America, to take back to the homeland for a visit.

Of course, these days, it would be really hard to pack up one of those giant bags without incurring baggage overage fees that exceed the price of a trans-pacific flight. These days my family members use regular luggage and struggle to weigh the unwieldy suitcases on bathroom scales. I want to get everyone a Balanzza luggage scale, so they can use those body bags again without fearing the baggage counter. The Balanzza is a small, 10 oz. device that you simply hook to the handle of the bag, then lift. You hear a beep and then you can read the weight. That''s it. The Balanzza is accurate up to 100 lbs., which is a whole lot of mascara and Jordache.

The Balanzza luggage scale is $25, or you can get a 12-pack for $250. Posted by: Sarah      Read more     Source

May 20, 2008, 9:50 PM CT

Biomedical Imaging in Palm of Hands

Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed a narrowband filter mosaic that will expand the uses and functionality of multispectral imaging-a technology that enables subsurface characterization. The new, single-exposure imaging tool could significantly improve point-of-care medical and forensic imaging by empowering front line clinicians with no specialized training to detect and assess, in real-time, the severity of bruises and erythema, regardless of patient skin pigmentation or available lighting.

In addition to this application, the filter could potentially offer a reliabile, low-cost method to instantaneously classify military targets, sort produce, inspect product quality in manufacturing, detect contamination in foods, perform remote sensing in mining, monitor atmospheric composition in environmental engineering and diagnose early stage cancer and tumors.

The technology was developed in Georgia Tech's Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access (CATEA) as part of a project to design a portable erythema and bruise-detection technology that will enhance early prevention and diagnosis of pressure ulcers, a secondary complication for people with impaired mobility and sensation.

Currently, clinical assessment of bruises is subjective and unreliable, especially when on persons with darkly pigmented skin. Improved imaging can lead to earlier intervention which is vital in cases of suspected physical abuse. Similarly, early detection of erythema can trigger preventive care that can stop progression into pressure ulcers......... Posted by: Ryan      Read more         Source

Mon, 19 May 2008 00:24:51 GMT

Orb Audio Speaker Systems

We live in an age where every person wants the coolest sound system at the lowest possible price, and Orb Audio is ready to play.

Orb Audio produces speakers with a very distinct shape. They are stylish and round at about 4 inches in diameter. That's about the size of a baseball, and they produce sounds that hit out of the park.

The basic set, the Quick Pack, includes two of these speakers, and they cost about $239. You can also buy sets with an included subwoofer for a larger price, but not as much as you would pay for other major brands of speakers.

Source Posted by: Mark Rollins      Read more     Source

Fri, 09 May 2008 01:52:43 GMT

A Slightly Old New Camera

New models of anything, cars, cameras, appliances, and computers, e.g. are always appealing and hold the promise of better performance.

Usually that is the case, but sometimes the new isn't any better than the old, and many times the old is still able to hold its head up among the newest competition.

If you need or simply want a new digital camera and your budget is limited, or you simply don't want to spend more than X amount of dollars, and it's not enough to buy the latest gee-whiz digital camera, try this.

Check out the previous models and research those that appeal to you. After a camera has been with us for a year or so there are bound to be dozens of both professional and consumer reviews on it.

Now that these older models have seen significant real world use you can get tell if there's a real overlooked gem out there selling at a heavily discounted price.

Even though new digital cameras are introduced all the time this time of year is when the bulk of the new cameras are unveiled.

If you want a 10 MP camera, and don't have the bucks for the best, consider what was the best a year ago, and check out the specs.

It could be that last year's top of the line 8MP camera, that you couldn't afford then, is better than some of the newest models with 10MP imaging devices that you can afford now. You probably can't afford the very best 10MP camera now, just as you couldn't afford its predecessor last year. But, last year's best 8MP is probably better than all but the very best new 10MP cameras, and now you can afford that previously unattainable camera.

Keep in mind that while lots of megapixels is nice, the lens and processing engine are important too. Fewer pixels with better processors and lenses can produce better pictures than more pixels and lesser glass and processing.

Check out this useful article with recommendations for great bargains on last year's better digital cameras.

Take a camera with you whenever possible, and look around, you'll find a picture somewhere.

Source:www.loopygadgets.com Posted by: jim      Read more     Source

April 30, 2008, 6:55 PM CT

Graphene-based gadgets may be just years away

Scientists at The University of Manchester have produced tiny liquid crystal devices with electrodes made from graphene an exciting development that could lead to computer and TV displays based on this technology.

Writing in the American Chemical Societys journal Nano Letters, Dr Kostya Novoselov and his colleagues from The School of Physics and Astronomy and The School of Computer Science, report on the use of graphene as a transparent conductive coating for electro-optical devices and show that its high transparency and low resistivity make it ideal for electrodes in liquid crystal devices.

Graphene was discovered at The University of Manchester back in 2004, by Professor Andre Geim FRS and Royal Society Research Fellow Dr Kostya Novoselov. This incredible one-atom-thick gauze of carbon atoms, which resembles chicken wire, has quickly become one of the hottest topics in physics and materials science.

Graphene is only one atom thick, optically transparent, chemically inert, and an excellent conductor, says Dr Novoselov, from the Manchester research team.

These properties seem to make this material an excellent candidate for applications in various electro-optical devices that require conducting but transparent thin films. We believe graphene should improve the durability and simplify the technology of potential electronic devices that interact with light......... Posted by: Ryan      Read more         Source

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:37:25 GMT

Black and Decker Pocket Power

While I've been using the Solio H1000 as my in-transit charger for the past several months, I found a good deal on Woot recently for the Black and Decker Pocket Power-two for $20, shipped to my door.

While I like the option of solar-power charging that the Solio provides, in practical terms, it's not something I can use. However, the Black and Decker Pocket Power just stores power from your mains and gives you up to 16 watts of juice for up to four hours. Also, unlike the Solio H1000, the Pocket Power sports a US-style AC plug, allowing you to use whatever kind of AC charger you want. Pocket Power also sports a USB connector for USB-style charging as well. And yes, provided the total power draw is less than 16 watts, you can use both ports simultaneously.

The name is somewhat misleading, though. The manual specifically states that the Pocket Power should not be used in a pocket. Not that you'd want to put it in your pocket, given how big the device is. Posted by: Dameon Welch-Abemathy      Read more     Source

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 02:26:46 GMT

Solar Bicycle Rider Lamp

This is one must-have cute home accessory - the solar powered bicycle rider lamp. The cuteness factor is propped up by the fact that whenever this lamp is exposed to sunlight, the bicycle rider within starts pedalling, turning the lamp into a delightful piece of art. The solar panel itself is on a rotatable base so that you can easily catch the source of sunlight. During a cloudy day or at night, you can use it as a conventional lamp (40W) by connecting to a power source. There you go - eco-friendly art that you can use as well.

It''s a bit pricey at $49, but then it''s difficult not to succumb to the rider''s charms. Available from Gaiam.

Via Eco Fling. Posted by: Sarah      Read more     Source

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 00:54:52 GMT

Lynda.com online tech courses

Lynda.com, which offers very affordable online training courses for learning software and Web design - for geeks as well as ordinary people - has introduced closed captioning to their learning library. Because Lynda.com courses require that you follow the instructor''s voice as he takes you through various pages on your computer screen, up until now, they weren''t accessible to the hearing impaired.

The other benefit of closed-captioning is that it enables users to search within specific lessons as well as across the Lynda.com website. As a user, I sometimes find that I want to go back to a very specific topic wthin a lesson, but don''t always remember which section contained that topic. The ability to search closed-captioning text would make this kind of review much simpler. Lynda tells us that the conversion to closed-captioning throughout the library is well underway and should be completed in a few months.

Check out their list of 412 lessons. Posted by: Sarah      Read more     Source

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 00:38:27 GMT

Sony HDR-TG1

Gadget blogs everywhere are buzzing about how Sony has created the world's smallest handycam with the HDR-TG1.

This particular model can shoot 1080i video as well as 4 Megapixel stills. It has a 2.7" touch panel LCD display, along with a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 10x optical zoom lens. It also has a 2-megapixel ClearVid CMOS sensor, as well as face detection technology.

All of this was somehow crammed into a 1.3 x 4.7 x 2.5 inch titanium body that weighs in at only 10 ounces! Of course, tech this small has its price, and this one is at $900 USD.

Source Posted by: Mark Rollins      Read more     Source

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