06.23.2009
They are cute, have an astute sense of melody and can be your faithful dancing partners for the weekends, given that you - the geek - haven't been particularly successful in building many meaningful relationships since you got outta college. They are - Tengu - and these hugely popular USB devices which were earlier quite plain-jane, now make a comeback in their funky, All Stars avatar.
These three brand new characters - Rotten, Stardust, and Woodstock - are all decked up versions of the modest Tengu underneath, done-up with abundant stickers to produce the rock-star effect. Which means, lovers of the original Tengu can retain the original threadbare looks by just removing the stickers. All yours, if not sold out yet, for a well-spent $40.
Via Chip Chick.
Posted by kanchana
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06. 9.2009
Just in time for summer, Philips, consumer electronics company, has unveiled their latest mp3 player, the Philips GoGear SA018. Compact, sleek and cute to boot, the GoGear is also wearable. Simply clip it onto your outfit and you're good to go.
GoGear has 4GB and can hold up to 450 songs for 12 hours of playback. It also has an integrated FM tuner. The mp3 player employs a drag and drop system eliminating the need for software and allowing for quick and easy operation.
To enhance the sound Philips has included FullSound, a new technology that has been patented by Philips. FullSound restores compressed mp3 files, enhancing it so the music is heard without any distortion.
Set to retail at $39.99 and $49.99 for the 2GB and 4GB versions, the SA018 might be the coolest clip-on accessory ever.
Posted by sherri
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06. 1.2009
In 2008, we reported on indie rock musician Jill Sobule's experiment with a new way to create and fund music. After multiple contracts with major and independent record labels, Sobule decided to make music on her own. She launched a website asking her dedicated fans to donate money before the CD came out to finance the recording and production costs. Tiered donation levels gave devoted fans the chance to appear in a song (US$500,) to singing on the CD (US$10,000.)
One year and US$80,000 of donations later, Sobule has released "California Years." The title and songs, like "Palm Springs" and "San Francisco," are inspired by her move to LA. The CD also closes with a track called "The Donor Song," which lists some of the people who contributed money. Aside from Sobule being the writer of the first "I Kissed A Girl" song in the 90s and now pioneer in innovative music business models, Sobule is a talented singer, song writer, and guitarist. While the funding the album through donation via PayPal is notable, it would mean less if she didn't make great music that people want to hear. And now, they have that opportunity.
Posted by Ray
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05.22.2009
Drive-in theaters had mostly died out by the time I was born, and the closest I ever got to going to one was seeing that scene set in a drive-in from the movie Grease.
But now it seems that the drive-in is being reborn, eco-style. The Harvest Moon theater in Gibson City, Illinois claims to be the world's first wind-powered drive-in (although the website proclaims, "The show goes on even in the Rain, Snow or No Wind!"). Company Angel Wind Energy provides the technology and it only costs the moviegoer $6. Looks like I'll be planning a trip to Illinois...
Via Treehugger.
Posted by Diane
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05.11.2009
We'll have to wait and see what customers think of Amazon's new model of Kindle, the DX, but we can take a look at the specs right now. Unlike past models, the DX is designed to make it easier to read newspapers and magazines on a digital device.
Of course, this new gen e-reader can also be used for books - up to 3500 of them, in fact - that's 2000 more than its predecessor (275,000 books are available for the Kindle so far - and counting). But while it's very slim (just over 1/3 of an inch) and the new screen allows for more reading space, it does take up a bit more room.
Whether you'll be splashing out on a $489.00 pre-order or not, we'd be interested to know if you are willing (in theory) to give up a little more room in your travel bag (and a few more dollars) for a bigger screen... or do you prefer the original shape of the Kindle?
Amazon is obviously hedging its bets on that one, as both will be available for a while. (Although not outside America, darn it.)
Posted by Diane
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04.30.2009
The best iPod recorder of its kind is just around town and we don't want you to miss it. Blue Microphones, the makers of studio mics, are out with their latest offering for the iPod and it is an iPod recorder aptly named - Mikey. And it can help you record your lectures, voice notes, live music, interviews, or just about any audio that you want to tuck away on your iPod.
This mini stereo microphone attaches nicely to the bottom of your iPod and can be rotated upto 180-degrees around its connected end to catch the appropriate direction of sound. Though Mikey leaves a lot to be desired in the looks department - it is unflatteringly square and almost boring - the excellent stereo quality sound that it can capture more than covers up for that deficit. This detailed unboxing from CNET places Mikey a level higher than even its higher-priced competitors such as the Belkin GoStudio as far as the quality of recorded audio is concerned. That said, more control on your recording comes via the three gain settings that you can tweak to your satisfaction and are indicated on the mic via three LED indicators.
You do not need any software to use Mikey, and it records without a fuss for upto 4hrs on the iPod Nano 2G, 3G, and 4G; the iPod Classic, and the iPod 5G. Which is to say that the Touch and iPhone are out of consideration for the moment. For the rest of us, it is a $80 well-spent.
Via Gearlog.
Posted by kanchana
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04.23.2009
iLuv, the accessory company built off the shiny, silver back of the iPod unveiled it's latest must have accoutrement for your mp3 listening pleasure. The iSP100 Mini Portable Speaker have arrived just in time for spring, summer, and any impromptu bouts of dance fever.
Continue reading "iLuv these Speakers"
Posted by sherri
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04.23.2009
One of the complaints of British (and non-British) citizens not resident in the UK is that they are not allowed access to any of the BBC's online output, or to its fabulously popular catch-up service, BBC iPlayer.
But now it seems that the BBC is taking some steps to correct the imbalance, with the launch of its first ever online show... that everyone is allowed to watch. Yay! Released under a Creative Commons licence, the first episode of a technology show called R&D TV is available to download now from this BBC FTP server.
Via Ars Technica.
Posted by Diane
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04. 1.2009
Don't you hate when nerves get the best of you during a big presentation and no matter how well-prepared you are, the "likes" and "you knows" start falling out of your mouth along with a spatter of silly giggles? Really unprofessional. Or maybe your use of corporate buzzwords that mean nothing like "value added service" and "mobile social network extranet" has gotten so extreme that even the bigwigs with C in their titles (CEO, COO, CTO, CSO- Chief Synergy Officer) have started to wonder if you really know what your company does. Well your troubles are over. The Buzzword shock bracelet, which works a lot like the electric shock collars we put around dogs with boundary issues, can detect when you use those words, and will emit a mildly painful shock. Of course, it can't predict when you use those words, so it won't stop you from saying them, but soon you'll associate those words with pain, numbing, and embarrassing yelps, so you'll soon learn to find alternatives, or better yet, you'll just stop talking and start nodding every time you're in a meeting.
The included software lets you program your own problem words and lets you track your progress. For example, when "think outside the box" falls from 600 shocks in June to just 1 in August, you might be ready to turn that phrase off to leave room in the wristband's memory for the ever-increasing new bank of words which mean absolutely nothing.
Just $39.99 at Think Geek.
Posted by Mia
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04. 1.2009
The currently ongoing retrospective of Jenny Holzer at the Whitney Museum, entitled "Protect Protect" is a dizzy display of control over text and messaging. The show contains two sections. The first half contains pieces which are a continuation of Holzer's now famous explorations of slogans and marketing communication. Brightly glowing LED signs broadcast messages such as "Abuse of Power Comes As No Surprise" in her work "For Chicago." At first glance the signs seem like not much more than the signage in New York delis which display the current jackpot of the state lottery. However, the subversive phrases make the viewer feel uneasy. The signs are often embedded into the wall, allowing the text to hang in the air above the viewer.
Much of her recent work, which comprises the second half of the show, uses text from declassified documents made public from the ACLU and the National Security Archives. The work of blown up military documents uses otherwise unaltered text and images that have been partially blacked out because what lies beneath was deemed too sensitive for the public. The pieces of enlarged photocopies offer an interesting and poignant contrast to the hi-tech LED signs. The connection between the two halves is the use of the simplest of forms and material to convey caution and danger.
Posted by Ray
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