05.16.2008

Try clothes on a virtual online model of the real you

You know those shopping sites where you have the option to view clothing you're thinking of buying "on a model?" Of course, everything looks great on the model, but for all you know, she's six feet tall and weighs 90 pounds. Some online shopping sites have a virtual model feature where you pick a model based on body type (for instance, you might be given a choice of triangle, upside triangle, or hour glass - but what if you're more of a rectangle?), height, skin tone, hairstyle, etc. I've never found this kind of feature to be useful because the model never looks anything like me.

In Japan, Avielan Company has developed software for a virtual fitting room called Awaseba that lets you create an online model of the real you rather than a cartoonish avatar. The software application is sold to online merchants who provide the service for free to their customers. To use it, you simply upload a photograph of yourself in the designated pose (face forward, standing straight up, arms at your sides not too close to your body).

Continue reading "Try clothes on a virtual online model of the real you"

Posted by lydia    Category: on the web | shopping | software | wearables
Tags: avatar  clothing
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05.16.2008

ClearBoost - iPhone antenna case

Most of the so-called antennas for cell phones are just gimmicks and not worth the money, but we've finally found one that works. The Griffin case conceals a built-in booster antenna that captures more of the available wireless signal and sends it to the internal antenna of your iPhone. This should result in a better signal, especially in drop-out areas — which translates to fewer dropped calls, wider coverage areas, and faster downloads when browsing.

I gave it to a friend of mine to test, who seems to know ALL the drop-out areas in LA and he put it through its paces. His report: "Seemed to get better signal strength in known areas where I would get completely knocked off or very low signal." He was pleased with it but had one complaint - that the little "antenna stub" made it difficult at times to retrieve the iPhone from his pocket.

If you want to test the effectiveness of the ClearBoost, Griffin has page where you can do a "field test." Or do your own field test. For $29.99, it's definitely worth it.

Posted by Evan    Category: accessories | cell phones
Tags: cases  iphone
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05.16.2008

Hello Kitty sushi plush cell phone charms

Over the years, we've seen Hello Kitty dip her paw into just about every industry there is. At this stage in her plot to take over the world, you'd think that masquerading as a piece of sushi was a little beneath her, right?

Ah, your childlike innocence! It's all part of her genius, people. Because although rolling herself up into some plush rice, allowing herself to be restrained by a strip of nori, and diving through the middle of a slice of futomaki look like amateurish tactics on the surface, it's the element of surprise that the crafty feline is banking on here. By the time we tire of the novelty of being able to separate the Kitty-fied rice from the salmon, shrimp, and tuna or "cut" the kappa maki (cucumber roll) -- ah, the magic of velcro! -- Agent HK will have already infiltrated our homes, cars, and work places. Why else do you think she'd want to be attached to our mobile phones?

If you think you can take her, each Hello Kitty Fresh Sushi cell phone charm sells for about $7 from Strapya World.

Posted by Jenn    Category: accessories | cell phones | novelty
Tags: hello kitty
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05.15.2008

Don't write off the TextCu.be social networking keychain

Our fellow gadget bloggers over at Crave are extremely sceptical about the merits of the TextCu.be, and I admit the self-consciously wacky spelling turns me off: we get it manufacturers, you're so modern and funky. Now can we go back to proper spellings?

But I still think this little keyring with social networking capabilities (the little keyring that could, if you will...) has promise. For starters, it could appeal to anyone who is banned from using social networking sites at work (just don't tell them I told you that!). The ability to send Twitter messages and communicate via Facebook could prove cheaper and more convenient than text messaging (although I haven't checked out how the pricing system for Internet access works, so don't quote me on that).

Finally, as it's customizable, the Textcu.be sounds like the ideal gift for an online networking-obsessed teen. (You might even get them to come to a family dinner if they feel confident they can leave their computer for a couple for hours without missing anything!)

At $100, it's a lot to pay for a gimmick, but I'll be very interested to see what version 2 can do.

Posted by diane    Category: devices | portable media
Tags: social networking
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05.15.2008

Have a Parrot Party with Parrot PARTY Soundbox

You've heard the expression "More fun than a barrel of monkeys? " I know, I never understood it either, but how about "Party with your Parrot?"

Now this makes sense since it's a mobile soundbox that you can take anywhere. And it's Bluetooth so it works with any Bluetooth stereo (A2DP) source: Bluetooth A2DP mobile phone, Bluetooth-enabled PC computers, or Bluetooth MP3 players. Just send your playlist - it automatically detects the music source whether its Bluetooth or line-in (let's say you have one of those ancient analogue music devices such as a CD player.)

Light and compact - only 21 ounces - the Parrot PARTY is only 9 inches long but packs a punch, thanks to the Class-D amplifier and two wide-band speakers whose response curve was reconfigured especially for the Parrot PARTY.

Equipped with a built-in rechargeable battery, it gives you more than 4 hours of uninterrupted music wherever you use it – at home or out at a party, the beach, work, . . . So party down with your Parrot. $139 at Parrot.

Don't miss your chance to win a Parrot PARTY in today's Popgadget Drop email. Not a subscriber yet? just SIGN UP now.

Posted by Evan    Category: accessories | devices | portable media
Tags: speakers
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05.15.2008

Don’t waste that banana, go for the (ba)NANA Saver

Eating only half an apple is easy, but eating half a banana isn’t. Well let me rephrase the statement. Preserving a left-over apple is easy, but preserving a left-over banana isn’t.

Which is why the NANA Saver Banana Holder seems like a good idea. The plastic banana holder can be clipped to the exposed end of a sliced banana to minimize air contact. So that the slice remains fresh for a longer duration – just don’t ask how long as it is not mentioned on the site. What the heck, it is definitely innovation at $2.98.

Via Random Good Stuff.

Posted by kanchana    Category: eat/drink | home | misc gadgets
Tags: food storage
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05.15.2008

Creative bumps MuVo T200 MP3 player to 4GB

Unless every single song on your MP3 player is something you'd be happy to hear when you're working out at the gym (good luck on staying "in the zone" when a sappy Michael Bolton ballad follows a round of rock tunes), your low-capacity gym companion needs a built-in screen.

That, of course, rules out both generations of the iPod shuffle. Consider instead the Creative MuVo T200, which so happens to have just received a flash memory upgrade. Previously offered with only 2GB of internal storage, the lightweight player that features a built-in USB plug, FM radio, 65K-color 128 x 32 display, voice recorder, and 9-hour battery life is now available with double the gigabytes.

Creative Japan has priced the 4GB MuVo T200 at 6980 yen (about $67), so you can probably expect to pay a similar amount in the US. The new capacity is already up on the Creative USA site, where the 2GB version can be had for $50, so it's only a matter of time before that drop-down menu lists the 4GB as well.

Via SlashGear.

Posted by Jenn    Category: devices | portable media
Tags: mp3 player
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05.14.2008

SmartCapture Lite - Tiny USB device captures and shares video

If you take tons of video, as I do, and want to send it to all the relatives, or are making funny YouTube videos to embarass your friends, then you'll love this SmartCapture Lite ($99) which digitizes and compresses the data, making it simple to transfer to your PC or laptop. The size of a USB stick, SmartCapture Lite comes with its own playback software, weighs less than 0.3 oz. and does not require an external power source.

By far the best feature is the one-click settings for popular Apple TV, iPod, iPhone, Sony PSP, and more. High quality and low bitrate video make uploading videos to your favorite site easy.

Posted by Evan    Category: devices | peripherals
Tags: video
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05.14.2008

Young woman wins award for stair aid for elderly

My home town of Sheffield, England has become the unexpected new home of young women with quirky yet ingenious design ideas. A couple of months ago, I shared Rachel Gilbert's design for feline false teeth with Popgadget readers, and now I've just read about Ruth Amos, an 18-year old student from Sheffield who has invented the StairSteady handrail, a simple but brilliant idea.

The StairSteady is a rail that attaches across any flight of stairs and moves in front of you as you walk - so that someone with problems staying upright can hold on to this to help them get up and down stairs safely. It costs £329.00 ($642) plus the cost of fitting, so it isn't cheap, but it is a lot more affordable than moving to an apartment because you're scared of falling over!

Miss Amos told the BBC that she was inspired to create the device to help the father of one of her teachers - who had suffered a stroke.

When I was 18, pretty much all I cared about was where I'd go to college and whether I'd over-plucked my eyebrows (I invariably had). Something tells me she'll go far...

Posted by diane    Category: current affairs | design | devices | home
Tags: assistive technology
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05.14.2008

Spoil yourself with Cake Royale flash drives

Okay, they've done it again. Created some more “foodie” flash drives, I mean. And this time around, it's a tribute to cakes – say hello to the Cake Royale Series of USB drives.

Targeted at budding geeks - age 14 upwards - the USB 2.0 series has some really gorgeous-looking cakes. Black Forest, Strawberry Torte, Fruit Plate Cake and the French Mille-Feuille. In case you're wondering where the USB tip is (I was too), the flash drive is actually the knob-like structure with the crown stamped upon it, and lodges itself completely into the body of the cake. The drives will be available in capacities up to 4GB sometime this month, no word on pricing yet.

Via Fosfor Gadgets.

Posted by kanchana    Category: computers | novelty | peripherals
Tags: flash drive
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