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11.30.2004
Barbie's RFID Kitty: Serafina
Serafina, Barbie's "life-size" cat companion, is an RFID-equipped plush doll that speaks 75 phrases in response to cues embedded in Serafina audio CDs and the Barbie DVD The Princess and the Pauper. Serafina also sings, meows, purrs, wags her tail, and tosses her head. She also looks a little homicidal, I think I'm going to have nightmares.
Serafina is one of many new toys that will interact with tv shows and movies.
The Batwave TV-activated Batmobile responds to cues in the animated The Batman series.
When the Batlink is attached to the Batmobile, the vehicle reacts to action on the TV screen with transformations, lights and sounds. The Batmobile has a speaker and holds one figure. With the removable Batlink, kids can hear secret messages from Batman and download villains, weapons and upgraded Batmobile features from the TV. Later, those can be used in customizable adventures, Batman missions, and much more!
From the Washington Post.
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11.30.2004
OneDerWear Disposable Undies
Frequent travelers who don't want to do laundry in the sink or pay for expensive hotel laundry services can just take along several packs of OneDerWear disposable underwear. OneDearWear is 100% cotton, 100% biodegradable, and comes in several styles for men and women, from boxers to thongs. The fabric is very thin, so they won't last through more than a couple of wash cycles, but a 5-pack of thongs is just $7.99. There are also disposable socks.
Available online at the OneDerWear shop.
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11.29.2004
Phone Triggered Pleasure
One of the most annoying things here in Italy is the population,Aeos ostentatious use of cell phones. If you are one of the many Italians that rely on public transportation to get to work and back home, you might find yourself trapped in an overfilled bus at rush hour. You will be surrounded by passengers that are engaged in some mobile phone activity or other, the most annoying one of them all being the (un)usually loud private phone conversation.
,AeP and now you will probably wonder what this all has to do with the VibraExciter, a new and unique product that enables you to send and receive pleasure, through your mobile phone ,AeP in a very discrete way as VibraFun, the manufacturer of this product, states.
While reading over the product,Aeos description I found out that the VibraExciter is activated every time you receive or make a phone call and every time you receive or send an SMS, but when I came across the following paragraph, I just couldn,Aeot help imagining myself in the overcrowded bus at rush hour.
Will anything else activate it?
If close to other [mobile phones], they could activate the device. Depending on how you choose to have fun this can be a good or bad thing. Choose the right place to use it.
So while we are approaching the era of mobile communication and while Italians seem to have adapted pretty well to this particular technological revolution, I am convinced that the VibraExciter could make the ride on the crowded bus a lot more enjoyable.
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11.29.2004
The Seinfeld Dictionary
Please don,Aeot hate me if I admit that I refused to watch Seinfeld for the longest time ever and that I couldn,Aeot really understand its humor for just as long. After all, I am not a New Yorker and I am not even a native English speaker, but most importantly I am kind of on the slow side when it comes to understanding sarcasm. When I first met my husband, who is a big Seinfeld fan and who shares a similar kind of humor, he had to signal by raising his hand whenever he was actually making a joke or simply making fun of me. Well, a couple of years later, not only I do enjoy watching Seinfeld, but I also understand its humor -- and my husband,Aeos--, and therefore I welcome the Seinfeld dictionary with just as much enthusiasm as the newly released DVD set of the series.
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11.29.2004
Kataburera Hands-free Umbrella
Perhaps there are some people who will think that holding an umbrella is not a difficult enough task to require a special hands-free model, but it makes sense if you have to carry a baby (or two, Phinnaeus? Hazel? Seriously, Julia?) in your arms in the pouring rain. It's also a lot less unsightly than one of those umbrella hats.
Or the umbrella can be attached directly to your little one.
The hands-free umbrella appears only to be available in Japan right now. Thanks Dennis!
Up
DATE:
The umbrella, called the Kataburera (shoulder umbrella) was developed by holistic physician Daryn Peterson not only for people carrying lots of bags and/or children, but for the elderly and infirm, who are prone to accidents in bad weather. The Kataburera is extremely lightweight, so it shouldn't affect balance or put too much pressure on fragile bodies. You can read more about the umbrella and Daryn Peterson in the Japan Times.
The company's website is kanarazunaoru.com (in Japanese). Peterson is seeking to distribute world-wide but so far the umbrella appears only to be available in Japan.
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11.29.2004
Snowman Paint
Snowman Paint looks like a great shortcut to actually rolling all that snow and finding accessories like carrot noses: just draw the snowman on a natural heap of snow, much easier! Or you could use the eight spray-on snow paints to draw faces and clothing on your snowman. I'm assuming that the paint will not leave permanent marks on sidewalks, or maybe that's part of the fun, seeing the designs that watery paint muck leaves behind.
$18 for a set of 8 colors at PlumParty.
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11.29.2004
An Email From the Laundry Machine
Sanyo Electric Techno Clean has developed a laundry system that allows coin operated machines in launderettes to send email to users when, for example, their washing is over.
Users can also know the location and availability of the laundries via mobile phone or PC.
Owners are provided with information such as the work rates of their washing machines, when to refill supplies, and sales figures. They are also notified by email when a machine is out of order and if a machine breaks down during use; the owner can provide the user with access to another machine by remote control.
Don't worry if you love to hang around in launderettes, waiting for Mr Right to come and exchange washing tips with you, the system will first be implemented in Japan.
Via NE Asia.
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11.26.2004
Nice Smell Kaori-Chan Perfumed Cell Phone Straps
"Hey do you smell.... curry?" "Yeah, that's my phone!" Nice Smell Kaori-Chan phone straps emit a fragrance when the phone rings. You can also get more traditional scents like grapefruit, rose, or jasmine, but that's so boring, I say curry is the way to go. The Nice Smell straps are $9.51 at Strapya.
You can also carry a vial of your favorite perfume on your cell phone, or carry a small diffuser of an essential oil. Okay, I can't make links to the individual products, you'll have to do a search on the main page as there are hundreds of cell phone straps and ornaments.
From The Mobile Technology Weblog. Thanks Russell!
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11.26.2004
Little Tikes RFID Kitchens
Little Tikes has a whole new series of kids' toy kitchens full of interactive technology. The MagiCook Kitchen comes with pretend food embedded with electronic tags (RFID) that can be read by sensors on the stovetop which then respond with the appropriate comment in three languages (English, French, and Spanish). The kitchen comes with 5 food items and 100 phrases but additional food accessory packs can be added to increase the responses to 700 phrases. I like the birthday pack myself. The MagiCook Kitchen is $90 and the additional packs are $13-$15.
The Cookin' Fun Interactive Kitchen is for budding gadgetphiles. There's the same RFID technology, but the Cookin' Fun kitchen is focused on the tools of cooking, like the microwave and coffeemaker, all of which make realistic sounds when the motion detectors are triggered. It comes with thirteen kitchen accessories and you can buy more, like the Cookin' Fun Blender for making pretend smoothies. The kitchen is $120.
The other available playsets are the Cookin' Sounds Gourmet Kitchen for the junior non-felon Martha Stewart or Emeril; the Electronic Home Kitchen (this is going on my Christmas list, I think); and the Tender Heart Tea Party Kitchen.
These sound like really fun, and educational toys for little girls and boys. They're all intended for children 2 and up.
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11.26.2004
PursePal Light
Honestly, I can't even find things in my purse in broad daylight, but normal people who don't tote their occasional packratty tendencies in their bags may be helped by the Purse Pal, a small light that clips to the inside of your purse. The bright light will illuminate the inside of your bag with the touch of a button.
$20 for a set of three (in pink, blue, and black) at ShopIntuition.
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11.24.2004
Customized Phone Covers
If you've ever worried about accidentally switching cell phones with a friend who has an identical model (I sometimes worry about this, my sister and niece have the same phone as I do) then you can always get a customized cover like this lovely example of a custom metal plated Nokia 3310. Seriously, NOBODY will want to take your phone home if it looks like this.
You upload up to three images, specify what finish and design you like, and Customizedphonecovers will send you a laminated, scratch-resistant metallic cover that snaps onto your phone. They can also customize just about anything, including your toilet seat or temporary tattoos.
The mobile phone covers are about $8.
From DailyCandy.
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11.24.2004
Bathroom Mirror TV
The recessed mirror tv looks like a regular bathroom mirror until you turn it on and an LCD TV appears as a windowed "picture in picture" so you can keep shaving, grooming, gluing on your toupee, etc...
$3349 at Smarthome.
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11.24.2004
Protect Your Laptop With Style
Careful, this is not yet another ,Aeutrendy laptop case,Aeu. The Knomo bags are not only elegant and stylish, they do in fact offer something more. Each bag includes a tracking-tag system, the Knomo Tracker, which makes it possible to track your bag online in case it gets lost or worse, stolen. Each bag has a unique owner code and by registering it online you will be able to track your bag and its contents at www.knomobags.com.
You can fit a 14/15 inch laptop inside a quilted, removable document pouch. The bag also comes with a smaller pouch for cables and peripherals ,AeP and of course it has inner pockets for PDAs, mobile phones and/or iPods. You can purchase one directly on the site, prices range from -# 150,- to -# 235,-.
Via gadgetryblog.
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11.24.2004
Anyone for Steamed Purple Carrots?
Researchers with the US Agricultural Research Service are breeding carrots that come in a palette of flashy colors to entice us to eat our greens.
According to them, these mutant veggies are full of pigments with health-promoting properties. Xanthophylls in the yellow carrots have been linked with good eye health. Red ones contain lycopene that's believed to guard against heart disease and some cancers. Purple carrots owe their color to anthocyanins, a powerful shield against free radicals.
Despite their nutritional and culinary appeal, Simon's carrots haven't yet caught on in growers' circles (how strange!!!). But that could change as consumers create a demand for these strange, but good-for-you veggies. Thanks but, no thanks, I'd rather stick to boring orange carrots.
Via ScienceDaily.
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11.23.2004
Inflatable Sculpture
You have a large living room that looks a bit empty? Why don't you spice it up with AIRFORM 01, an inflatable structure made up of textile "patches" sewn together in a repeating pattern.
It looks great and the website claims you can inflate it in c. 5 minutes. Now, maybe I'm suffering from a severe lack of imagination but, after having inflated it, what can you do with an Airform?
Costs: 7980,- ,C .
Via Elastico.
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11.23.2004
The Y-string
Thongs are great for avoiding panty lines, but it's very easy to get "thong butt" if you lean over or favor low-low-low rise pants. The Y-string solves the problem by using straps that fit over the hips and join at the bottom, where they are tightened to fit with an adjustable band. No straps, no panty lines.
It's not available yet, just one of the ideas in development at IOL.
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11.23.2004
Stroke Detecting Phone
The Japanese company KDDI has developed a cell phone that they claim can help detect strokes via transmitted CT scans with as much accuracy as scans viewed in hospitals.
The new system immediately sends diagnostic images of patients to the cell phones of neurosurgeons, located away from their hospital, via KDDI's high-speed data transmission service. Neurosurgeons can receive 30 computerized tomography (CT) images in one minute via the Internet, allowing them to detect small thrombi as accurately as when they are at the hospital, a company official said.
KDDI will conduct demonstrations of the system with the Tokyo Women's Medical College starting in the spring. I thought for a moment that the phone actually was the CT scanner, which would really have been something considering the size of those things.
From Nikkei.net.
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11.23.2004
Ice Cream Yo-Yo
Urawaza Spin Ice looks and works like a yo-yo, but there's a small container inside which makes ice cream as you spin the toy-like device. It's basically a tiny miniature of the inexpensive home machines that use an insulated freezer bowl and a crank to make mushy but delish home-made ice cream. You put cream, sugar, and whatever flavorings you like into the container, insert it into the yo-yo, and after about ten minutes of spinning, you should have something at least semi-solid to eat.
Needless to say, I want one. It's only out in Japan right now, for about $15.
From Nikkei.net.
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11.22.2004
The Scented Video Mirror
A scented video mirror, manufactured by Impart Inc., includes an on-demand scent option, in addition to a video commercial.
As a customer moves closer to the mirror, s/he sees not only the reflection of her/his image but also a video. The video mirror explains why the sunglasses s/he's just picked up are so light, comfortable and durable. The "fragrance scent option" can be customized to meet specified requirements.
The "scented aura" technology offers a dry fragrance, eliminating oil and alcohol, which allows consumers to sample multiple scents without the risk of the fragrance sticking to the body.
Via dexigner.
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11.20.2004
The Stress Watch
The Avidus watch accentuates the way time seems to pass more quickly or more slowly depending on our mood.
If we are in a hurry, time seems to pass so fast. But when we are relaxed (or bored), it appears to slow down.
Two metal contacts on the watch face measure your stress level. If you're stressed and touch the watch, then the hour displayed runs forward, the more stressed the faster. If you're totally relaxed, the time can even run backwards.
Avidus is one of the 7 amazing Mr Jones Watches that were designed by Crispin Jones. They were produced as one-off working timepieces, but a possible commercial production is under study.
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11.20.2004
The Collabowobble
"Collabolla" (aka collabowobble) is a videogame where you have to sit astride an inflatable ball (like the '70s "Spacehopper" balls), bounce, rock back and forth, roll or jump around to send commands to the computer.
The two players don't play against each other but have to join forces and co-ordinate with each other to control the same character's movement and combat a common enemy.
The joystick is replaced by the balls: one for the x axis and one for the y axis, one moving pacman up and down, and the other left and right.
This is only a prototype, by Jennifer L. Bove, Simone Pia and Nathan Waterhouse, but I'll cherish the one who would manufacture and sell it.
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11.19.2004
Acme Made iPod Cases
More iPod accessories, yay. Acme Made makes really nice, lightweight laptop bags that aren't the usual black and boring, and they've just announced new iPod cases in custom-dyed luxe textiles.
The iPod wallet, available for the Mini and the standard sized iPod, is made of Italian leather with a cashmere and microsuede lining. Both ends are open so you don't have to unplug any cords when you store your iPod. There's a strap for your headphones. Available in pink, blue, or lime. $49 for the Mini size, and $59.99 for the standard size.
The iPod Traveler provides more heavy-duty protection. There's a zipper flap that protects the iPod from scratches when opening and closing the case. The traveler is available in red or black, same prices as the iPod wallet.
From Playlist.
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11.19.2004
Leonids Peaking RIGHT NOW
The Leonid meteor showers, spectacular these last few years, are peaking today, at about 1:40 AM EST in North America. This may be the last time the Leonids are visible this century. While less intense than the Leonids of 1999-2002, you could see 15 meteors an hour. Leonids are particularly bright, so if you get to a dark area, you should see a good show.
It's cloudy where I am, but I'm going to take a drive out to somewhere dark and remote to see if I can find some falling stars.
From National Geographic.
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11.18.2004
Move Over Spork, Here Comes the Knork
Lazy eaters rejoice, no longer will you have to spend time cutting your food and then picking up a fork to eat it, the knork will end two-handed eating tyranny forever. A student in Wichita developed the knork when he was frustrated at how long it took to eat pizza with a knife and fork. The knork has edges sharper than a regular fork's but won't injure the eater's mouth.
Knorks are available in steel or reusable plastic at Knork.net.
From Bookofjoe.
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11.18.2004
SimMan Medical Teaching Aid
George Mason University's College of Nursing and Health Science has been using these computer-controlled anatomical models to teach students how to handle high-pressure medical emergencies. SimMan can have a hypertensive crisis, hyperventilate, and make heart, lung, and bowel sounds. SimMen can be programmed to complain about vague symptoms and rudely ask,
"do you really know what you're doing?" I hope there are SimWomen too.
From the Washington Post.
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11.18.2004
Pyramat Sound Lounger
If you're one of those people that really likes to feel the bass thumps when you're listening to music, then the Pyramat Sound Lounger may appeal. The ergonomic lounge chair has an 80 watt subwoofer in the head rest for pounding audio. The embedded three speaker system (the subwoofer plus two 80 watt coaxial side speakers) connects to any music source, game console, or tv/dvd. And the whole thing vibrates, of course. I guess it would be good for lazy gamers or narcoleptic movie watchers.
$146 at Target.
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11.17.2004
The Wake-Up Pillow
Two Chilean engineering students have designed ,AeuBuen Despertar,Aeu (Good Awakening") a pillow for waking up deaf people (or those who simply don't want to hear the alarm clock).
You can programme the pillow to wake you up at any time. The pillow gently shakes your head by inflating and deflating, providing a feeling similar to hair massage.
Via Noticiasdot and Ananova.
And if this is not enough, you could also try Looph light sleeper duvet. The illuminating alarm integrated into the bedding wakes you up by slowly glowing brighter and brighter over a 15 to 20-minute period, mimicking the slow creep of ambient sunlight at dawn. The system uses electroluminescent technology allowing textile surfaces to become a reactive light source.
P.S. Check also the "Wave Pillow" the surfers' best friend.
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11.17.2004
Dear Santa, this Christmas I would like to get a portable Photo Booth
Wish granted! This year every child will be able to get his/her personal and portable Photo Booth, the My Photo Booth,Nc. And who says that it,Aeos just for kids, I would love one of these myself. All I need to do is figure out how much I want to spend for it ,AeP prices range from $62.00 to $39.00, but you can also get it for $45.00 or for $49.99! It usually comes with 1 roll of Polaroid i-Zone film and uses ,AeuAA,Aeu batteries. Now go photo-booth your Christmas away!
You can watch the My Photo Booth,Nc TV commercial at girltech.com.
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11.17.2004
Pacman - Loose on the Streets
New York has Pac-Mahattan, Singapore has Human Pacman.
The Mixed Reality Lab is also setting Pacman loose on the streets with an augmented reality game.
This one is using wifi, Bluetooth and GPS, head-mounted displays and inertia sensors (to sense a body's position and head orientation); the system allows players to turn into the yellow cookie-muncher or one of the ghosts. Pacman's efforts to find cookies and avoid his enemies can also be influenced by online helpers who can see a visualization of the game on a computer screen and send messages to the player, or to his pursuers.
"We're looking at next generation soldier platforms where they'll have kind of a smart suit," said Dr. Adrian Cheok of the Mixed Reality Lab. "As the soldier moves out into the battlefield he'll get live information directly into his viewpoint using these specialized head-mounted displays." The team is now working on a mobile-phone based commercially-available version of Human Pacman.
"We're aiming to take Human Pacman to more mobile devices," he explains. "Within two years we'll be able to see full commercial Pacman-type games on the mobile phones." (Via Blueserker.)
The interaction between online and offline players reminded me of "Can you see me now?", a game by Blast Theory that I tested last month. In Summer- Fall, 2005, Blast Theory will install an interactive multi-player game in Lower Manhattan. We'll keep you posted as soon as we get more details so you'll have no excuse to miss it if you're around. It's a fantastic experience, though I admit that you sort of look silly running in the street trying to catch an invisible opponent.
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11.16.2004
Logitech Play Link Wireless Extension
I admit that I'm not always sympathetic when people can't program their VCRs or network their computers, but simplicity is always appreciated even if you're not a technophobe. Logitech's new Play Link Wireless Extension makes sharing a broadband Internet connection with a Playstation, Xbox, or second PC beautifully simple. There are two boxes, one plugs into your router or modem and the other into your game console or PC. That's it, the second PC or console is now connected to the Internet.
Play Link will be available later this month for $99.
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11.16.2004
Hitachi Table Top Display
Hitachi has developed a touch-panel display that can be used as a tabletop. Hitachi envisions its new display as a unique tool for collaboration, allowing multiple users to input data during meetings.
Hitachi's new offering uses the company's projector and image recognition technologies. A projector built into the device shows images on the transparent acrylic top plate while an infrared camera embedded within recognizes the shape and movement of the shadow created by a user's hand. For example, a simple gesture such as drawing a circle on the screen can be programmed to zoom into the section encircled by the hand movement.
Hitachi is working with Namco to develop a table based on this new technology that will be used to develop strategies for network gaming. That table should be ready in early 2005 and cost roughly $20,000 (yes I double checked this time, you can trust me).
From Nikkei Net.
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11.16.2004
Wave Your Hand to the Lamp
Remember the Astro LavaLamp that graced trendy 60s interiors?
The company that created them, Mathmos, has just released Airswitch, a new lamp controlled by motion detection. Just pass your hand horizontally through the air above the Airswitch and the lamp turns on or off. Raise your hand vertically and the Airswitch will brighten or dim.
Only available in the UK. So far.
Via Gizmo.
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11.16.2004
High Tech Toupee - Propia Hair Contact
Hair Contact, a new type of wig technology, may make embarassing toupee flapping a thing of the past. The fake hairs are so thin (30 microns, less than a 1/3 of the thickness of a sheet of paper) that they meld into the skin without the use of heavy glues. Hair Contact adheres so well that even pulling or contact with water or heat doesn't cause it to start sliding off.
I can't tell exactly what's going on during the application process, but it looks like a huge hatful of hot air is necessary to meld the wig to your head.
From Japan Today.
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11.16.2004
The Central Heating Carpet
Panasonic / National in Japan has developed a heating carpet using PTC technology (Positive Temperature Coefficient).
In a nutshell, such technology allows the "carpet" to regulate the temperature of the room and save energy. For example, if you want a constant cozy 26 degree Celsius in you room , the carpet will adapt its temperature accordingly. And as it is totally flexible, you can just place it wherever you want, even on non-flat surfaces, like a stair.
But can you put this central heating in a washing machine?
Via Sorobangeek.
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11.16.2004
Yummy Dresses
New York celebrated this week-end the 7th Annual Chocolate Show, which kicked off with a chocolate fashion collection pairing fashion designers --including Nicole Miller, Sylvia Heisel, Olga d'Gallegos and Patricia Field-- with chocolate masters and pastry chefs.
Two questions: how come the clothes didn't melt under the spotlights? Even more crucial: how did the girls resist the temptation to eat the dresses?
The proceeds of the gala went to DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS).
Via Fluxuries.
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11.15.2004
Exhale Warm Air Gloves
These athletic gloves by 180s may not be the most fashionable choice of handwear, but they have a unique feature: a little port you exhale into which blows warm air onto your hands. The gloves were developed in response to a report that said 82% of snow sport participants regularly removed their gloves in frigid air in order to breathe on them for warmth. Exhale Gloves let you do this without exposing hands to the cold.
The women's "Flurry" style is $40 at 180s.
From Gizmag.
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11.14.2004
USB Glowing Snowman
This little guy is powered by USB, so you can feel festive as you slave away at your computer.
Be prepared for an onslaught of light-up holiday-themed gadgets in the weeks ahead.
$12.99 at Thinkgeek.
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11.14.2004
Table Top Fireplace
If you're not lucky enough to have a real fireplace, this tabletop fireplace by Carl Mertens can create the warmth and ambience you crave on a cold winter's night.
Unlike any other oil lamps around, this faux fireplace creates a focal point and radiates light and warmth for the table top. the 18/10 stainless steel logs are sleek and contemporary and are further highlighted by the natural feel of the slate base. Base dimensions are 10 by 14 inches.
$320 at Unicahome.
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11.14.2004
Airzooka - The Airball Gun
The Airzooka is an air slingshot that shoots a harmless poof of air onto annoying co-workers or puzzled dogs. Harmless, remember, harmless! It's non-electric, and uses a manual elastic air launcher so you can do it all day.
$15 at Wishingfish.
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11.12.2004
Spikey: Tamper-Proof Bottle Stopper
When Ray Lockett's 21-year old daughter Marilyn had a drink spiked with a heavy sedative earlier this year, he decided to do something to help prevent this kind of abuse. He invented the Spikey- a bright glow-in-the dark bottle stopper that is inserted by the bartender and cannot be removed, leaving only a straw hole for sipping. Lockett hopes that the bright, conspicuous appearance of the Spikey will also make it difficult for anyone to furtively spike a drink in the darkness of a bar.
Something could still be poured through the straw, I think, so you should probably keep a drink detective handy too. Better still, buy your own drink, and keep your eye on it.
From News-Leader.
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11.12.2004
Mogu Sleep System
Mogu, makers of the best squishy stress-relief pillows and the peace-love-earth-loving Mogu People, have come out with a pillow that's specially designed to be conducive to a good night's sleep. Mogu Sleep System Titanium pillows have the same powder beads as the other Mogu products, making them very moldable, but also keep your head in its "S" shape (the same as when standing) for the most comfortable sleep posture. The special "titanium weave" cover fabric absorbs heat from your hot head so you can stay asleep longer. As a life-long insomniac, I've often read that a cooler bed and bedroom temperature helps you fall and stay asleep.
Available at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, starting at $99.
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11.12.2004
The Phone That Measures Your Fat Level.
Samsung Electronics presented in Korea the SPH-E3330, a cell phone that can measure your fat level. After entering your name, weight, and height, with a slight touch of the finger on the measuring device, you get your body fat level. The measured data can be estimated by daily, weekly, and monthly units in a graphical chart. Well, thank you, I already hate that nasty piece of technology!
It seems to be an upgrade of the company's SGH-T500, which already featured a "Health" menu divided into "Pink Schedule" to help manage the menstrual cycle, "BioRythm" to inform the user where she is in her physical, emotional and intellectual cycle, "Fatness" to tell her how flabby she's getting and "Calorie" to calculate how many calories are burned during a series of activities.
Via The Mobile Technology Weblog < Chosun Ilbo.
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11.12.2004
Liquid Health for Your iPod
These drops promise to bring back the acrylic's original factory shine of your iPod, iBook, eMac and iMac G5.
$14.95 for 1.7 ounces.
Despite my obsessive blogging about iPod accessories, I'm still using a plastic walkman (to listen to German lessons, so there's no reason for me to splash on an iPod), but I'm sure it will feel pampered when I rub it with these healthy drops.
Via The Apartment.
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11.11.2004
Seating Arrangements
Now that it seems harder than ever to get an upgrade, I've started checking SeatGuru.com when I book flights online. It's a bit of a pain to toggle back and forth between SeatGuru and the reservation sites, but worth the trouble if it's a long flight, or you're a control freak, or both. This free site gives you the skinny on the best seats on the plane, broken down by carrier and airplane model (configurations differ by airline). Even if you can't book the seat you want online, you'll be armed with the good row and seat numbers when you bargain at the gate.
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11.11.2004
Energizer 15-minute Recharger
Rechargeable batteries are better for the environment, but have so far been a bit of a hassle to use because the charge times were so long (sometimes 24 hours). Now there's no excuse not to switch: Energizer has come out with a 15-minute charger that will recharge any brand of renewable NiMH batteries, up to 4 AA or AAA batteries at a time.
The charger, plus a 4-pack of AAs is available for $35 at eEnid.
From MetaEfficient.
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11.11.2004
Gmail To Add POP3 Access
Google will at last be adding POP3 access to Gmail; rolling out the new protocol over the next few weeks. POP access is great, you'll be able to check your Gmail account with your regular email program (I highly recommend shedding Outlook/Outlook Express and moving to Thunderbird) without needing a Gmail hack, but IMAP would be even better. What use is the gig of storage if you're downloading all the mail to your hard drive?
Is it time to renew the Gmail invite frenzy? Let's see, email me a holiday gadget tip and I'll send you a Gmail invite.
From PC World via Yahoo.
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11.11.2004
Skiing on Asphalt
Easy Glider is an electrically-powered wheel with a handle that promises to re-create the invigorating sensation you feel while you are water-skiing or on a mountain slope. The wheel acts like a water-ski boat, pulling you along behind, but with the accelerator and brake hand-controlled by the 'skier.'
Cost is around $1000.
Via The Apartment
And if it rains? Protect your locks under the carbon fibre monocoque shell of this recumbent tricycle, designed by Michael Goretzky. Go-on features a luggage box, headlight, backlight and turn signals. By the end of the year, it will also come with an optional 800w electric assist motor. Around $9,500 (but it's cheaper if you buy the self buildup kit). In yellow, grey, black, red and blue .
Via Treehugger.
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11.11.2004
Apple iPod Socks
It's freezing outside but you can now order the i-Pod socks promised last month!
Each iPod Socks package includes six colors so you can pick the one that matches your shoes or eyeshadow ($29.00 .)
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11.10.2004
Look Out 007, I've Got My Bic E 3 - Pen Pencil Stylus
There are a lot of writing instrument aficionados out there who know about and collect fine pens like a collector of fine wines or historic cars. As for me, I'm not so discerning. I enjoy my not so fine pens and pencils and writing instruments probably as much as the fine ones (but for different reasons of course). While I do appreciate the elegance of a Mont Blanc or a Waterman I don't discriminate against your everyday Pentel, Bic or the trusty No. 2 pencil. Maybe it's nostalgia for the tactile days when we put pen to paper instead of fingers to keyboard to ones and zeros on the screen, but I love carefully picking out a pen or pencil out of the giant cup on my desk to hand write something down.
The latest addition to my collection is a 3-in-1 pen/pencil/stylus made by Bic. It has a thick barrel that you can really grab your hand around. While the pen and pencil work just fine, the stylus is what makes this pen worthwhile. It has a thick broad tip so when I have had too much coffee I don't have to worry about being super precise with that dainty stylus that came with my Sony Clie'. The top piece twists, allowing you to choose which instrument you want to use, but there are no markings to let you know which way to twist for each instrument. So, I twist around and back until I find what I need. Granted this isn't a huge issue, but it is annoying. Maybe the only solution would be to have three different buttons at the top like in those multi-colored Bic pens.
There's a huge pricing discrepancy on the E3. Ace Hardware of all places sells a pack of 6 for $35.05 plus shipping while, Office Storeroom sells it for under $5 and has refills for under $3.
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11.10.2004
Face Transplants - No Longer Sci-fi
Doctors in Cleveland have just been given the go-ahead to conduct the world's first face transplant. Gwendolyn Arrington, pictured here, was severely burned in a gas explosion 15 years ago and has undergone more than 30 surgical procedures to correct the damage. She hopes to become the first face transplant recipient.
The surgery is not for people who are trying to look their favorite celebrity. It is a true transplant, complete with the complications of tissue rejection, and life-long immunosuppressant drugs. Face transplants will only be considered for people with extremely severe disfigurements, ones that leave them unable to make facial expressions, or impair their sensory abilities. Why bother then? The transplant of an entire face could potentially greatly increase the chances for the recipient to have better aesthetic and functional results than from attaching small skin grafts a bit at a time.
It's an ethically touchy issue, as most transplants are conducted only for people with life-threatening conditions, when survival becomes impossible without a new organ. There have been, however, more than 20 hand transplants since 1998, a total tongue transplant, and a larynx transplant that restored a patient's ability to speak.
From the Washington Post (bugmenot).
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11.10.2004
Per Aquum Underwater Spa Treatment Rooms
To tell you the truth, I'm a little squeamish about most spas. I go for the surrounding scenery and to spend time with stressed out friends, but rather dread the experience of entering into those massage and hydrotherapy rooms that look like clinics, all white and antiseptic. I don't know how I'm supposed to relax in a treatment room that resembles a gynecologist's office. My spa phobia became most acute after a nightmarish experience of watching my best friend running naked and screaming down the hallway of a spa after being poisoned by aromatherapy oils she was wildly allergic to. She survived, but we don't speak of it.
Still, I'd have no trouble at all going into one of these underwater treatment rooms at the new Per Aquum Spa on the island of Huvafen Fushi in the Maldives. These rooms are actually built below the Indian Ocean, so what you look out at isn't a mere fish tank made to give you the impression of being surrounded by the sea. You're thirty feet below, looking at whatever sea life happens to wander by the windows. The Huvafen Fushi Spa Menu includes full day and half day programs, as well as spa partner treatments and treatments designed especially for men. I could go for everything on the menu (minus the aromatherapy), but especially the Japanese Silk Booster Facial With Eye Zone Therapy.
As for accommodations, it looks like pure luxury at the Huvafen Fushi resort, which offers bungalows on the beach, lagoon, or ocean. I just love the idea of rolling out of bed and into the warm sea.
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11.10.2004
High-tech for our pets
There's a growing trend of electronic gadgets meant to make the owning of pets easier and funnier: from the bark "translators" Bowlingual to a "pollyvision" DVD for parrots' viewing pleasure or the Talk to Me treatball, a virtual pet sitter which, when nudged, dispenses treats and electronic reassurance via a prerecorded message that says ,Aei in your voice ,Aei "Good dog!"
Self-cleaning litter-maids have sensors that detect when a cat has entered the box, and "tell" the rake to collect and deposit the waste into a plastic dispenser and the Thirst alert bowl emits a series of flashing red lights around the rim when water or food is gone.
To keep your friend pampered and perfumed, the ionic pet brush releases small amounts of ozone and stays clean-smelling ,Aei no matter what your friend rolls in. And why don't you treat doggie to a facial ? (via an article in Journal now where I read that 28 percent of pet owners spend more on Christmas presents for their pets than they spend on their spouses!)
But for the pleasure of you and your dog, nothing could beat the charm of the rubber Humunga Tongue! (via core77)
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11.10.2004
How Much is Your Personal Library Worth? ...
$15 Will Tell You.
For about a year now I've been trying to figure out where my copy of The War of Art went. I'm sure I lent it to someone but I can't remember who or when. I love books and I tend to value them tremendously. In fact, I was one of the few people in college who almost never sold books back. So you can imagine how much I'm bothered by this missing book. Unfortunately this isn't the only missing book in my personal library. At first I considered never lending a book to out again but quickly decided against that in favor of just keeping a spreadsheet listing any books I leant out.
Then I started thinking maybe I should list all my books but that was just too much work, or so I thought.
Booxster, a personal librarian program, is the most fun piece of practical software I've used in a long time. It's great not only because it creates an index of all your books but it has a great interface which makes it super easy to use, it,Aeos cheap as all heck ($15), and is jam-packed with all sorts of great features including a way to track checked-out books. Forget about weeks of data entry, one of the best features of Booxster is its bar code reading functionality. We hooked up our video camera to the MAC and with a simple wave of the ISBN in front of the camera we heard a nice little tone to let us know that the number was captured. Booxster then sucks in all sorts of relevant information including book cover images and price from your choice of web sources including Amazon and the Library of Congress.
An insurance agent once told me that more and more insurance customers are creating video inventories of their belongings to make it easier to keep track of their valuables. If only Booxster could keep track of all your belongings it would make it easier to inventory all your valuables, not just your books.
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11.10.2004
The Drink Detective
Doubts about that guy down the bar? Did he spike your Martini? No stress, here comes The Drink Detective, a chemistry kit that uses acid/base reactions and an antibody test similar to those used in pregnancy kits to find traces of GHB, Ketamine and Rohypnol, the infamous "date-rape drugs".
Place five drops of a drink on all three test pads (one for each drug) and, if after 30 seconds, a chemical reaction occurs, like pads changing color or the dipstick turning pink, please put that Martini away.
Mind you, if you get the kit out of your bag and start to play the chemist in front of the guy, he might not stay by your side to see the result of the test.
Costs $5.
Via Popular Science.
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11. 9.2004
Cylindrical Video Display
DynaScan Japan has developed a 91 inch cylindrical LED screen that lets you see the image within from any angle. The display works with both still images and motion video, either transmitted through the Internet(s) or a DVD/video source.
Pretty cool, if you have about $93,000 (correction here oops, I'd thought it said 98 million yen, not 9.8)
From Nikkei.Net (subscription required).
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11. 9.2004
Sprint PCS Treo 650 Pre-order
The Sprint PCS Treo 650 is now available for pre-order from PalmOne, and current owners of the Treo 600, or other PalmOne handhelds are eligible for a free Jabra Bluetooth headset (sure hope this means that Sprint won't be disabling Bluetooth). The price is $449 IF you are willing to sign a new 2-year agreement with Sprint PCS and you don't mind switching to a new, most likely much more expensive new plan, and $599 if you aren't.
As much as I love my Treo 600, I'm not as excited about the 650 as I thought I'd be, especially not for $600. I'm waiting for the Treo 900 rumors/pictures to surface although I'll be interested in hearing what Peter, over at Engadget, thinks when he gets his 650; he'll probably have the first review.
Sprint PCS pre-order page.
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11. 8.2004
"Ugg" Booties
Sorry to blog about something so low-low-tech, but I couldn't resist. I suspect the Ugg Boots madness is on the wane in the US. Here in Europe it has only started.
If you really like them, you might want to knit baby Ugg booties to match your own furry-trimmed suede boots.
Via Crafster.
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11. 6.2004
Anti-Molestation Jacket
Kumar Roshan and Shilpi Vaish, two students at the National Institute of Fashion Technology in India have developed a prototype for a jacket that protects women from attacks by shocking the offender. The metal circuitry is cleverly hidden as part of the decorative embroidery. There's a button on the waistband that will release a 100 volt shock onto to the unwanted toucher-feeler when pressed. Heavy insulation protects the wearer from the shocking mechanism.
It's not yet commercially available but the students are working on getting a patent. Maybe they'll make a pants version too, perfect for crowded subways.
From The Tribune, India.
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11. 6.2004
The Watch That Sprays
It took a year and a half for Munich watch company Venexx to come with the Perfume Watch. Yes! - a watch that carries a flacon inside.
At the back of the watch case, there's a tiny tank to be filled with your favourite scent by using a funnel (comes with the watch). The content will last for approx. 60 uses.
Supreme sophistication: Venexx even made a special perfume that comes with each Perfume Watch.
The guys who secretly read this blog might turn green with envy. No stress, mates, all watches are unisex!
From Wristfashion.
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11. 5.2004
Hello Kitty Goes to War
Hello Kitty is getting more and more techno-savvy. She has a blog, a robot , a credit card, but now she's entering the male dominated gaming world of Warhammer 40K!
Katherine , a fan of the Sanrio character, wanted to bring a little color (and a bit of snappy fashion!) into gaming miniatures. Her Hello Kitty warrior figurines have stirred much interest in the gaming community - and there are growing hopes among many gamers that where one girl blazes a pink trail into the gaming world - others may follow.
Via Pasta & Vinegar.
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11. 5.2004
Buy Music From Your Mobile Phone
Napster To Go will be available on the new Audiovox smartphone SMT5600 from AT&T Wireless. For $14.95 a month, you can download whatever is available on Napster, but you are "renting" the songs, while you have a subscription, they are not yours to keep. In theory, ahem.
The Audiovox has a whopping 28.5 mb of memory so you can download about 6 songs. The memory can be expanded with mini SD cards, however.
AT&T is also offering mobile downloads of songs through their mMode music store. I'm not sure I understand the point of this. You can purchase the music through your phone, but you can't listen to it, not even a sample. Why wouldn't you wait until you got home?
From NewsFactor.
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11. 5.2004
Gadget Addiction - A Real Sickness?
Uh oh, Pravda is reporting that gadget addiction is a real affliction, not unlike an addiction to alcohol or gambling. They rather dramatically state that gadget love is ruining families.
As a rule, wives strongly object to their husbands' wishes to buy a new plasma TV-set, a super slim laptop or a recordable DVD player, for instance. Women would rather enjoy new clothes or a week on holiday somewhere in a warm country.
As a rule? So glad they're not making generalizations about what women want. It gets worse.
...people forget about everything else, including food and sex. Gadget addiction can bring a lot of trouble to family couples: a gadget-addicted spouse - usually a man - stops paying enough attention to his wife and even tries to avoid intimacy with her.
Gadget-addicted people have a bouquet of psychological symptoms, such as: euphoria and ecstasy from buying a new gadget, inability to stay away from appliances for long, the feeling of emptiness and depression that develops when a person does not purchase gadgets on a regular basis, disregard for family members and friends. Gadget mania can be harmful to health too: addicts suffer from dryness in the eyes, headaches and sleeping disorder.
There's more but my eyes are all dry, I'm tired, and I have a headache.
From Pravda.
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11. 4.2004
Wireless Flower Pot for the Romantics
Cian Cullinan and Stefan Agamanolis, researchers at the MIT Media Lab Europe , are working on the One2One project, a technological infrastructure to create or reinforce a sense of presence and togetherness between two distant persons.
Their Floral Display is a plastic flower pot with a pink flower that blooms when Cian's girlfriend, Ciara, logs into her computer, and closes when she leaves.
The pot hides a simple radio transceiver and some motors that allow the flower to be opened and closed on command. The pot communicates wirelessly to a nearby computer that checks Ciara's login status at regular intervals.
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11. 4.2004
Acumag Eye Massager and Vision Therapy
I used to be a sucker for any non-surgical treatment that claimed to be able to correct my life-long myopia. After trying various cockamamie ideas over the years - the latest one started with the suggestion that I can't see because my brain is trapped by the tunnel vision caused by years of corrective lenses - I pretty much gave up on the notion of reclaiming the 20/20 vision that was my birthright. I don't know if I'm a victim of a conspiracy between the optical industry and the medical profession, as suggested by the International Myopia Prevention Association; all I know is, no matter how much I believe deep down in my heart in the true clarity of my natural vision, I just plain can't see with my naked eyes. I may as well believe I can jump off my roof and fly.
Still, I paused when I came across this Acumag Eye Massager, which claims so many wondrous benefits for only $14.99, and looks so ridiculous, that it's got to be worth a try. The massager works by pressing on acupressure points to reduce eye strain, stress, headaches, and fatigue. The pinholes supposedly train the eyes to focus and coordinate better. Pinhole vision therapy, along with other forms of alternative vision therapy, has its ardent critics (see, for instance, Eye-Related Quackery on the Quackwatch website). If it doesn't work, either to correct my vision or to get rid of my headaches, I'll give it away as a door prize at my next party, along with the no-detergent, ion laundry balls that failed to wash my clothes.
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11. 4.2004
The Hokoton menagerie
The Hokoton Rhythm animals, by Japanese toymaker Tomy, can learn several rythms and dance to them. The Hokoton (seems that it means intelligent) Rhythm figures are 60mm tall and come in 7 colors and 6 different animal shapes.
Sold on Audio Cube for $22.00. At that price, I'd buy Tokoton the Bear, Pekoton the Dog, Kikiton the monkey, Chichiton the Chihuahua, Booton the pig and Nyanton the Cat and organize a lovely cheezy ballet.
Via I4U.
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11. 3.2004
Talking to (and Like) the Blender
Being a complete disaster in the kitchen, it's a real pleasure to me to read that other girls have thought about "interesting" ways to use their household appliances.
Blendie, is a voice controlled 1950's Osterizer blender which has been altered, by design engineer Kelly Dobson, with custom made hardware and software for sound analysis and motor control.
If you manage to make your voice sufficiently blender-like, Blendie will begin to pitch-track and power-match your voice with its own motor body. Low pitch blender-like sounds will induce Blendie to spin slowly, while higher pitches speed it up.
By speaking the language of the machine, you understand and connect with it better. This may also bring about personal revelations in yourself, because in sounding with the blender one is likely to perform gesture and sound expressions not previously accessed which may open up unfound emotions or thoughts or feelings.
It is slow to download, but don't miss the video.
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11. 3.2004
Olympus m:robe: Camera/MP3 Player
I don't generally think too much of devices that try to do everything, instead of just doing one thing really well, but yesterday, as I walked around with three mobile phones, an mp3 player, and two cameras, I thought maybe I should reconsider.
The Olympus m:robe 500 sounds promising: it's a 20 GB hard drive-based mp3 player with a built-in 1.2 megapixel digital camera and a 3.7 inch high res touch screen. While it doesn't look like the m:robe (what a stupid name, unless the cleverness is just escaping me) supports video, there will be something called "remix mode" where you can make slideshows set to music. You can also upload images taken with other cameras (probably just via a USB connection) so you can go all out with those "mini movie productions" and show people your vast digital photo album.
The m:robe will be available in January 2005 for $500.
From USAToday.
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11. 3.2004
On My Scooter Among Dolphins and Giant Squids
The US$17,000 Scuba-Doo underwater scooter is number one on my wish list for Christmas. It has been completely redesigned, comes in five girly colors and is now part of a range of marine leisure engines that includes the Diver-Doo mobile launching and diving pontoon, the Adventure-Doo boat with underwater glass viewing area and a beach launching platform that enables the Scuba-Doo to be launched by one person.
As an external compressor is floating above water, you don,Aeot need to wear a mask, a mouthpiece or a bulky tank as in diving; you just sit on the craft, with your head and shoulders within a clear dome filled with air.
(via gizmo)
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11. 3.2004
The Modern Chastity Belt
Wherewear underwear, a concept designed by Theo Humphries, sends a text message to the mate of the wearer if they are removed in a location that hasn't been pre-approved. There's also Timewear, underwear that keeps track of how long they've been off, and sends a warning if they've been off for longer than a bathroom trip necessitates. Snapwear takes a photo right before they're removed by sensing the light conditions.
These are just concepts (and obviously conceived with a lot of humor, watch the videos) but should someone make these for real one day, and you are tempted to outfit your partner with a pair, or they give you a set for your birthday, dump them and RUN.
From sexblo.gs.
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11. 3.2004
The Best Mobile Phone Service Carrier?
The Washington Post has just published their annual cell phone guide. They reviewed the services from Nextel, AT&T/Cingular, Sprint PCS, T-Mobile, and Verizon. The Post concluded that Nextel had nearly flawless coverage, at least in the DC metro area. Ditto for Verizon. They praise T-Mobile for greatly improving their coverage, and they kind of like Sprint PCS too. Guess what? THEY LIE!
I am conducting my own cell phone carrier test and here are my results, left to right:
Verizon Wireless, free cheap phone of unknown make: Like the Post, I tested the signal in many many locations, inside and outside, all over DC, MD, VA. In my house, about two minutes off the Beltway, I get no signal at all. At my sister's place, also two minutes off the Beltway, no signal. On the Beltway, two-four bars, fairly solid. Solid all through DC, suburbs bad.
Cingular/AT&T, the super-fabulous Nokia 6820: This phone folds out into a mini QWERTY keyboard that makes text messaging and instant messaging really easy. The weird thing about the Cingular service is that you can take one step and lose the signal completely, take one more step and get five bars. This happens everywhere.
Sprint PCS, my beloved Treo 600: No signal in my house, lots of dead zones, and the previously strong signal in my sister's house has gone down to one bar.
I am obviously not going to keep all these phones, but I think I'm going to add a Nextel and a T-Mobile so my testing can be complete. Is anyone totally happy with their mobile phone service?
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11. 3.2004
UPA Voting and Usability Project
UPA (Usability Professionals' Association) is conducting a Voting and Usability study that will work to create an easier voting process for future elections by improving the usability of ballots and procedures.
Through education, advocacy, and participation in standards and design projects, we focus on people within the election process. We believe that usability and the voting experience should be the starting point for the design of any voting system, and are the key to creating ease of use, efficiency and confidence in democratic elections worldwide.
I voted in Maryland, one of the few states to switch entirely to touch-screen machines. The process was easy: you slip in a smart card like you're going to the ATM, pick your candidates, then you have an option to review your choices before you submit your vote. I was puzzled by one thing, though; when I selected a candidate, a big red check mark appeared on the touch screen by that candidate's name. While the instructions clearly state that the red check designates your choice, it still made me uneasy for a second since red generally means "stop" or
"your payment is LATE" or various other negative things.
If you encountered anything during the voting process that you believe could be improved, please do report it to UPA by using their online form.
Related:
Campaign for Verifiable Voting.
Are Electronic Voting Machines Reliable? - From National Geographic.
Electronic Voting Machine Woes.
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11. 3.2004
Popgadget in Popular Science - "From the Blogs"
Popular Science magazine reprinted a popgadget post on Future Car in its November issue (Letters section, page 14, "From the Blogs"). In that post, our own Mia Kim talked about the September issue of the magazine, which was devoted to "The Future of the Car." Though I still frown upon her making light of the importance of black ice detectors, it's exciting to see popgadget in print.
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11. 2.2004
Wearable Squeezed Lemons
Fuji Spinning Company's vitamin-infused shirts are made out of a fiber called V-up , which contains the equivalent vitamin content of two lemons (the recommended daily dose) and remains effective after 30 washes.
The emulsified provitamin dissolves upon contact with sebum and sweat on the skin's surface, absorbs into the skin and changes into vitamins inside the body. The company also sells a t-shirt containing vitamin E, in addition to the vitamin C, and plans to market vitamin-enhanced lace underwear.
(CNET Asia)
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