Gadget News

Kyosho Inferno MP7.5 Sports 2 RC Buggy RTR

2007-08-06T15:40:00.000+07:00

The Kyosho Inferno TR15 Stadium Force 4WD Gas RC Buggy is fitted with the powerful GX-21 nitro engine and pull start system. The Inferno line of off road buggies have earned six consecutive world championships and now this world beating performance is available in ready to run form in the Inferno MP7.5 Sports 2.

The Kyosho Inferno MP7.5 Sports 2 comes complete with pistol grip remote control, and is fully assembled and ready to race. This is a super competitive nitro RC buggy well suited to high performance remote control 4WD buggy enthusiasts. Check it out and see what you think.

Kyosho Caliber 30 Nitro RC Helicopter ARF

2007-08-06T15:38:00.000+07:00

The Kyosho Caliber 30 Nitro RC Helicopter is one of the smoothest running gas RC helicopters due to it's 2-step belt reduction system. This is a highly professional model that incorporates 47 full race bearings in it's design. You will get truly responsive precision control with this high performance stunt flying Gas RC Helicopter.

The Kyosho Caliber Nitro Remote Control helicopter comes fully assembled and includes everything you need to get flying. You need only fit the required radio control system and you will be up and running in no time. This is a well designed and built model that would suit the more advanced radio controlled helicopter-modelling enthusiast. More information.

RC Aerial Eagle B-52 Electric 2CH RTF AirPlane

2007-08-06T15:35:00.000+07:00

This Aerial Eagle B-52 Electric RC Airplane 757-B52 comes with everything you need to fly. This model is designed based on the real B-52 Super Fortress Bomber, which has high fidelity of the real plane both in appearance and performance. It is a great plane for all including first time electric remote control airplane flyers, and has a 5-6 minute flight time between charges.

The Aerial Eagle radio controlled electric airplane comes complete with 2-channel remote control, NiMH rechargeable battery and quick charger, 8 AAA batteries, spare propellers and full instructions. This is the ultimate in RC model airplane flying fun.
More information.

Roboraptor Interactive Robot Dinosaur

2007-08-06T15:33:00.000+07:00

The Roboraptor Robot is one astonishing, programmable RC dinosaur. He is fully controllable and programmable by radio control but also fully autonomous in free-roam mode.

Multi-sensors allow this 32" bipedal robot beast to see, hear and feel the environment around him. He has multiple touch sensors in his head and tail, while sonic sensors detect sound and direction. He even has three distinct robot moods: hunter, cautious and playful.

Rated Toy Of The Year 2005, this must-have biomorphic robot masterpiece provides endless entertainment, and makes an ideal Christmas gift for the discerning robot master. More information.

2007-08-06T15:31:00.001+07:00

Robosapien V2 Robot From WowWee

2007-08-06T15:24:00.000+07:00

The Robosapien V2 Robot is going to blow you away! This new generation robot has all the original features of the Robosapien and stands 10" taller than the original, making it 2 foot tall! And it can even talk, not just to you, it can also command the Roboraptor and the Robopet!

The V2 is a fully functional remote control robot that will also roam freely about his environment. He is equipped with an array of sensors, including infrared vision sensors, foot sensors, gauntlet sensors and stereo sonic sensors. These allow the robot to react in extremely amusing ways, and to a variety of things.

This must-have biomorphic robot masterpiece provides endless entertainment, and makes an ideal Christmas gift for the discerning robot master. More information.

Roadmate 2000 GPS System Review.

2007-08-06T15:20:00.000+07:00

The Magellan Roadmate 2000 GPS System comes pre-loaded with maps Of 48 contiguous US states, Canada, And Puerto Rico. This Pocket sized, full-featured vehicle navigation system with built-in battery has simple touch-screen menus, turn-by-turn visual and voice guidance, Sirfstar III chipset and nearly 1.3 million pre-programmed points of interest. It also has advanced features like SmartDetour™ and Multi-Destination Routing.

The Magellan Roadmate 2000 GPS Unit comes complete with windshield mount and in-vehicle power adapter. With SmartDetour Technology you avoid traffic and get where you want to be fast with this Intelligently designed mobile GPS unit.

Spring Sniper Rifle FPS-220 Bipod Scope Light Laser Silencer Airsoft Gun

2007-08-06T15:19:00.000+07:00

This Spring Sniper Airsoft Rifle includes a laser, scope, flashlight, strap, bi-pod, silencer, and safety goggles. It uses 6 mm ammunition and has semi-automatic action. The corners of the sight are smooth for use in holsters.

If you're looking for a fun, reliable Airsoft Gun that'll look great and perform even better, you've come to the right place. More information.

Spring Warrior AK 47 Sniper Assault Rifle FPS-200 Airsoft Gun

2007-08-06T15:17:00.000+07:00

The Warrior AK-47 Airsoft Spring Sniper Rifle is an awesome gun. Comes complete with scope, laser sight, adjustable bipod and detachable sport stock. This airsoft rifle shoots fast and accurate, Approx 200 FPS. The Warrior AK-47 Airsoft Spring Sniper Rifle is a full size airsoft rifle and even comes with a starter pack of BBs.

This realistic airsoft gun is one of the most popular, detailed and high capacity airsoft weapons available. More information.

Electric Desert Eagle Pistol FPS-180 Laser Blowback Airsoft Gun

2007-08-06T15:14:00.000+07:00

The Desert Eagle Electric Airsoft Pistol Semi Auto Blowback is an electric powered Airsoft gun that has an automatic blowback and a laser sight. Simply point and shoot.

At a full 7 inches, this realistic Airsoft handgun is one of the most popular and inexpensive Airsoft weapons available, and comes complete with 45 practice BB's. More information.

Honda Civic Nitro RC Car 2-Speed 4WD 1/10

2007-08-06T15:12:00.000+07:00

The Honda Civic 1/10 Scale 2-Speed 4WD Nitro RC Car is fitted with a large .18 size pull start engine and 2-speed gearbox. Together they propel to Civic to over 60mph! This model is 90% part compatibility with other brands such as Traxxas, HPI & etc. You can change the body kit into Skyline, Mustang, Viper & more! You can upgrade/modify the engine. You can also add new tires, suspension & more!

The Honda Civic 2-Speed 4WD Nitro Remote Control Car comes complete with Gun-Style Remote Control System, is fully assembled and ready to race. This is a budget priced gas RC car well suited to first time 4WD remote control car racing enthusiasts. Take a closer look and see what you think.

Traxxas Nitro 4-Tec 3.3 RTR Nitro RC Car Review.

2007-08-06T15:08:00.000+07:00

The Traxxas Nitro 4-Tec 3.3 RTR Nitro RC Car is in a word fast! The incredibly powerful TRX 3.3 racing engine and EZ-start electric starting system, combined with the lightweight compact 4-Tec chassis results in jaw dropping acceleration and top speed. The Traxxas 4-Tec has a top speed of over 75mph! Peg the throttle and all four tires claw for traction as the Nitro 4-Tec 3.3 re-writes the record books.

The Traxxas 4-Tec 3.3 Nitro RC Car comes complete with TQ-3 pistol grip remote control, and is fully assembled and ready to race. This is an incredibly fast nitro RC racing car well suited to all 4WD remote control car racing enthusiasts. See video of the Traxxas 4-Tec in action here.

tub, White iPod Speaker

2007-08-06T15:07:00.000+07:00

Yesterday we write about B&W Zeppelin iPod speaker. Now there's another iPod speaker, but in white color. This tub speaker system is a unique dock that will keep your iPod upright while you play music and charge it. With easy access to your playlists, two speakers, and rubber feet to keep it nice and stable, this versatile speaker offers a cylindrical shape in a world of boxy speakers. It works with any MP3 player that has an audio jack. Priced at $40. Wouldn't this sleek iPod accessory look great in a bathroom or white bedroom?

O2 Cocoon Phone with Hidden LED Display

2007-08-06T15:06:00.000+07:00

Swedish gadget blog, Fosfor, got their hands on the svelte O2 Cocoon phone, and were gracious enough to produce an unboxing gallery. Not only is the phone simple and elegant, but so is its packaging. We're big fans of this newcomer, from its clean lines to the incorporation of a hidden LED display. Hopefully this will spur some better design into the industry.

Crate's Portable Guitar Amp Features USB Output for Easy Recording

2007-08-06T15:05:00.000+07:00

A new portable guitar amp has been announced by Crate. It has a USB outlet for direct computer recording. The Crate Profiler 5 seems useful for those who want to quickly record a riff without taking the time (or spending the money) to hook up a mixer or interface box. The 5 watt amp features digital effects processing and can run off 6 AA batteries or AC power. It is shipping now with a $159.99 price tag.

Fast, Eco-Friendly Electric Motorcycle

2007-08-06T15:04:00.000+07:00

What have your lithium-ion batteries done for you lately? Forget powering those handheld gadgets, the king of lithium-ion batteries is sitting in the heart of the Zero X electric motorcycle. Named for its lack of emissions and noise, the 120-pound Zero X still pumps out 20 horsepower and tops out at around 50 miles per hour. A single charge of the battery will take you 40 miles, but the battery packs can be hotswapped in mere seconds and fully recharge in about three hours. Though the engine is roughly equivalent to that of a 250cc gasoline-powered bike, the lightweight electric motor makes the Zero X accelerate much faster. If it's too fast for you, plug the bike's brain into your PC via the USB port to access the bike's virtual control panel.

The ZBrain computer opens up a host of customizatin options for the electric bike, including the ability to create multiple riding profiles for different users. You can blaze to work at full throttle all week, then tone down the acceleration and top speed and make the younglings run errands for you on the weekend. While the bike is suitable for on- or off-road adventures, it isn't street legal just yet. Zero Motorcycles is hoping to put a modified commuter version with lights and blinkers on the market in a few months. You can pick one up by joining Zero's fan club for a $2,000 fee, which is then credited against the purchase price of $6,900 when you place your order.

What iPhone Has And What It Doesn’t

2007-08-03T15:35:00.000+07:00

Following up our list of features the iPhone was finally confirmed not to have, here's a comprehensive list based on the four reviews currently out detailing everything we know about the iPhone so far: what it has, what it doesn't have, its known problems and what we still don't know.

What it has:
• Built-in iPod with Video playback
• Intelligent predictive typing
• Multi-touch interface (fast)
• Great scratch resistant screen (easily cleaned with your sleeve)
• Tilt sensors that lock the screen when up to your face, but unlocks it when you lower it to type numbers
• Screen that's visible in direct sunlight
• Software upgrades over time
• Decent voice quality
• Call and song control from its headphones
• Viewing Word, Excel and PDF documents
• Free live traffic in Google Maps
• Turn by turn directions that simulate a GPS (need to tell the phone when you're turning)
• Dedicated volume control and mute switch
• Microsoft Exchange support if your IT staff enables a setting on the server
• Push email via Yahoo Mail
• Syncing via Outlook calendar and contacts through iTunes (works even on Vista with the latest Outlook)
• Ability to play with other applications while you talk
• Good battery life
• A "real" browser
• Yahoo, Gmail, AOL, EarthLink, and various other email support
• Visual voicemail (support for rewinding, fast forwarding like a song)
• YouTube support
• Decent 2-megapixel camera
• It's thin
• Lots of eye candy
• Conference call with up to 5 people
• Built-in speakers if you don't want to use headphones
• Quicktime support in Safari
• Activating the phone requires iTunes and internet access
• A speakerphone

What it doesn't have:
• Support for all iPod accessories—doesn't support all car adapters for playing back, only charging
• An easy way to transfer phone numbers, via AT&T, from an existing phone
• Copy and paste support
• MP3/iTunes music ringtones
• Built-in game support
• Flash support anywhere (including browser)
• Instant Messaging
• Picture messaging (MMS)
• Video recording
• Voice recognition or voice dialing
• Wireless Bluetooth Stereo Streaming (A2DP support)
• One-size-fits-all headset jack (May have to buy an adapter for certain headphones)
• 3G (EV-DO/HSDPA)
• A hardware keyboard
• GPS
• Removable battery
• Expandable Storage
• Direct iTunes Music Store Access (Over Wi-Fi or EDGE)
• BlackBerry support
• Flash or zoom on the camera
• Windows Media support

Known Problems:
• Can get a little warm after use
• Battery will need to be replaced by Apple after 300-400 charges
• Levy had problems with one of his email accounts, due to his ISP blocking port 25. Apple's engineers "suggested a fix and said that this was something that would probably be addressed in an update."
• EDGE data is very slow
• AT&T's signal is lousy
• No hardware playback buttons (on the phone itself) make you go back to the iPod app to change songs or stop music
• Takes more taps to reach the phone interface than other smartphones
• Getting your contacts onto here from your old phone may be a hassle
• No real-time navigation
• The few web-app programs Mossberg tried weren't' impressive
• Camera is only good with ample light and no motion
• Only 200 text messages included on any calling plan
• Playing back music through an iPod dock may cause interference, so the iPhone "offered to switch to airplane mode". Doing so means you get no calls.

What we still don't know:
• How fingerprinty/face greasy it gets
• Whether Bluetooth file transfer works
• When and how often software updates (with new features) will appear

Paul Allen's $12 Million New Submarine

2007-08-03T15:33:00.000+07:00

Inside the Exomos showroom at the Jebel Ali Free Zone, customers in the market for a personal submarine can choose from 14 luxury models.

Currently there are about 100 wealthy individuals around the world who own their own submarines, and there are 26 clients awaiting delivery on subs at the Dubai-based Exomos alone. A 10-passenger model costs $15 million, and prices rise from there.

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen recently paid $12 million for his 40-foot long sub. (It’s yellow. It’s a yellow submarine.) More economical models that seat only three-people are available for as low $350,000.

Google Mapplets add data layers to your map

2007-08-03T15:27:00.000+07:00

A new feature in Google Maps, Mapplets, places data overlays onto your map - like movie times, crime rates and real estate prices. We've covered dozens of Google Maps mashups since Maps launched, and Mapplets just makes those mashups available on Google Maps proper, instead of having to go to another site to see them.

Mapplets have graduated from the developer preview and are now live on Google Maps. To add multiple layers of data points to your maps - like information about real estate prices, weather, earthquakes and movie showtimes - from the "My Maps" tab hit "Add content," and watch all those third-party Google maps mashups get consolidated onto GMaps proper.

Ultra-thin, Ultra-light MacBook Pro coming by year end

2007-08-03T15:24:00.000+07:00

Trusted sources informed MacScoop that Apple is headed towards the release of a notebook that is so small and light that it could redefine the standards of ultra-portable computing.

The new notebook is likely to complete the MacBook Pro line-up with a smaller version featuring a 12 inch display — a form factor that was formerly used on the PowerBooks' entry-level but was discontinued when the line-up made the switch to the Intel architecture in 2006.

Compared to the original 12 inch PowerBook, which is Apple's smallest notebook released so far, the new notebook is said to be half as thick, or something between 0.6 and 0.7 inch (15 to 18 millimetres). It will also be, by far, the lightest computer Apple ever released, or less than 3 pounds (<1.36Kg), sources told MacScoop.

The company's current MacBook Pro line-up features 15 inch and 17 inch models with respective weights of 5.4 pounds (2.44Kg) and 6.8 pounds (3.08Kg). Both of the current form factors offer 1 inch of thickness (25 mm). The 12 inch PowerBook weighted 4.6 pounds (2.02Kg) and was 1.18 inch thick (30 mm).

One thing MacScoop's sources did not clearly specify is whether or not the new notebook will include an optical drive. One hint for the answer to this question is another question: Can any currently available drive fit into such a slim notebook? Well, maybe!

Apple's MacBook Pros currently include a 0.37 inch (9.4 mm) thick drive, which was the thinnest optical drive in the industry until earlier this year, when Panasonic Communication, Ltd. announced an optical drive which is 0.27 inch (6.8 mm) thick and weights 0.218 pounds (99g). It can play or record CDs and DVDs and could be a good candidate for inclusion in new the notebook.

MacScoop was the first to report last year that Apple has been developing an ultra-thin 12 inch laptop. Further reports MacScoop obtained described what appeared to be an ultra-thin but full featured notebook.

Release timeframe remains, as always, quite vague, but sources feel certain that the new notebook will be released before the end of this calendar year.

YouTube-enabled LG KU990 shows up online

2007-08-03T15:22:00.000+07:00

Similar to LG Prada phone, the KU990 is a keypad-less phone with a big 3" touch screen. While it is not sure if it is the next LG Prada phone, the new KU990 support HSDPA data connection now. Inline with the recent LG announcement on YouTube support, this phone will let you watch YouTube on your phone or submit video to Youtube from your phone directly.

The LG KU990 has a giant 5 megapixel camera with built in flash module (Xenon Flash?). It looks like you can switch between macro or normal mode on the camera itself, but the best feature on this camera will be the capability to record video at 320 x 240 resolution and 120 fps. Memory storage will be supported by the microSD card slot. The phone will also let you listen to FM radio, or use the Muvee video editor to edit your recorded video.

Other than the nice features, the site dislike the thickness of the LG KU990, which make it un-comfortable to slot into your pocket.

Linux Inside BJ Robotic Dog

2007-08-03T15:19:00.000+07:00

Robot dogs these days seem to be experiencing a resurgence, and the BJ dog robot is yet another addition to a growing list of electronic pups. For those who want to take care of an electronic pooch without the hassle of sending it to the vet for jabs, bathing it, and even cleaning up after its poo, the price of such convenience would be $4,900. Then again, it won't do much good when there's a thief trying to break into your home.

In the robotic era, everything needs to go robotic, even your lovely puppy. Keeping a robotic dog, such as the BJ would be very much easier to handle than a real dog. As you don’t have to be tied down with the hassle of having to clean its waste and mess. For a robotic dog such as BJ, maybe you’d be worried that it’d go malfunctioning one day due to the infection of virus or failure of its operating system. But, no worry, BJ should be quite safe from virus attack or any common OS failures, as it runs on Linux instead of Microsoft Windows.

3-in-1 Gadget: Digital Microscope + Webcam + USB 2.0 Hub

2007-08-03T15:02:00.000+07:00

Here is another all-in-one gadget, it’s a combination of a digital microscope, web cam and also a USB 2.0 hub. Of course this three-in-one gadget takes power from your PC’s USB port. So, when you miss some of the Biology classes that you’d attended during school time, and feel like acting as a Biologist for just couple of minutes or you simply have too much curiousity about those circuit boards of any unused PC peripherals.

Then just pick up this gadget to scan and capture some high quality images and videos for another great collection. Once you get bored with all these overly geeky stuff, you can then switch it to a web cam, start streaming your cool look, socializing and even flirting around over the Internet. Again, fed up with the web cam? It’s got two USB ports for you to hook up more USB gadgets to have more fun.

Samsung’s 3G Blogging Cellphone, SGH-L760

2007-08-03T14:57:00.000+07:00

You always want that you can use your mobile phone to post your blog. So, anytime and anywhere you have little free time then you can write posts and record down on your blog the very fresh idea that just flashes across your mind. This is possible by using the newly introduced Samsung’s cellphone, SGH-L760. It’s a cellphone that lets you post directly to your blog without the need of a computer.

The handset supports 3G high-speed network, equipped with a 2 Megapixel camera, Bluetooth and UMTS connectivity. Of course, it supports all the necessities for blogging such as RSS and compatibility with sites including YouTube, UBlog and Buzznet. Well, it wouldn’t be fun at all having to blog using its small screen and keypad. So, patience is a must or keep your blog post short.

Nearly invisible watch face engraved on a silver bracelet

2007-08-03T14:56:00.000+07:00

Watch with artistic design definitely fails to tell time properly, at least kind of confusing or simply hard to find where the moving arms or the digital display are. Here is another designer watch, Veiled Watch, which the idea is probably to let guys enjoy wearing those shiny things.

As it doesn’t look too outstanding while worn on your wrist so you wouldn’t be considered as one from the non-manly group. The Veiled Watch was created by the designer Philippe Starck, which is a continuous silver bracelet that has a nearly invisible analog watch face concealed on it. It’s definitely not a reliable source for telling time during emergency. Perhaps, it is a bit of fun to deceive your friends that you can tell time so precisely as if you’re not wearing a watch or carrying any gadget that tells time.

Olympus's 360 Degree Camera Lens

2007-08-03T14:54:00.000+07:00

Every now and then, R&D departments spew out prototypes that look promising enough that we can imagine them making their way into finished products one day. Recently, Olympus has announced the development of an “Axial symmetrical free curved surface lens”. This lens is capable of gathering light from 360 degrees horizontally and 45 degrees vertically, and focusing it on a CCD without the use of other lenses. While only a prototype at the moment, possible uses for the lens include security cameras… and extreme sports.

Yeah, there are other 360 cameras on the market. But if our understanding is right, the innovation in this case is that the one lens does all the focusing, negating the need for extra lenses, and allowing the manufacturing of more compact devices. Of course, we’re gleaming this from a Spanish article, and a translated Japanese page. So if any Japanese native speakers can help us out, you’d enlighten a whole bunch in the process.

Nanotech + aromatherapy = brain-boosting fragrant pencil lead

2007-08-03T14:51:00.000+07:00

This Ain Supplio pencil lead from Pentel uses nanotechnology to release allegedly mind-expanding aromas, letting you smell your way to smartness while you scribble your meandering prose on a piece of paper. The pencil leads sell for two bucks a bag, and you can get them in three different scents, Refresh, Healing and Positive, which aromatherapists say can deeply affect you with just a few whiffs. Yeah?

The fragrance is encapsulated using nanotechnology, where microscopic bubbles containing the fragrance are blended in with the lead. When you write, the fresh fragrance pops out of those tiny nanocapsules, filling the room with sweetness and enlightenment for all within noseshot. The company says the fragrances are shelf-stable for three years unopened, two years in the plastic case you see above, and three months out in the open.

But aromatherapy? That's a great idea: Make up a word, "aromatherapy," and then build an entire industry around it. It just sounds so effective and soothing. But whether these pencil leads actually have any therapeutic value or not, it might be pleasurable to have a pleasant scent wafting about as you write your missives. Maybe someone will make an aromatherapeutic keyboard to sweeten up our skeptical and curmudgeonly Gizmodic diatribes.

Logitech’s MX Air Mouse Is Real, Spectacular

2007-08-03T14:50:00.000+07:00

No, it’s not a concept. This is the production model of the Logitech MX Air mouse, a dual mode laser gyroscopic mouse. Excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor. This mouse is built of beautiful curves accented in black and chrome, but it doesn’t have to rely on its looks to win your heart… On your desk, it works as a conventional cordless laser mouse, but pick it up, and its Freespace motion control technology lets you mouse in midair from up to 30 feet away. The Air Mouse includes built-in support for midair mouse gestures; for example, to increase the volume on your computer, just push the volume button on the mouse and flick your wrist to the right. It’s got a bunch of backlit media on top along with a touch sensitive scroll pad, and an integrated rechargeable li-ion battery.

Now, I do (of course) have some legit quibbles with this piece of candy… Firstly, it’s targeted at the PC home theater market with a dedicated play/pause and volume buttons. Although the buttons are programmable, I would have preferred a more standardized layout, especially with forward/back buttons along the sides of the mouse. The scroll panel is cool, but I prefer the utility of a ratcheting scroll wheel. Also, there’s no on-mouse control over the responsiveness of the gyroscopic action, which may make it hard to do midair precision work. And finally, the charging dock is AC powered (as opposed to USB), and the RF receiver is a separate USB unit. That’s, like, two separate things that have to be plugged in.

Black Box DVR may be the world's smallest DVR

2007-08-03T14:49:00.000+07:00

Have you been hankering for a really tiny DVR with a wired, hidden camera attachment? Have you had trouble finding one for less than three large? Well fret no more, because Mini Gadgets Inc. has got you covered -- and by covered, we mean they make what you're looking for, buddy. The Black Box DVR is a personal video recorder which features a tethered camera, and can utilize a miniSD card up to 4GB.

The company's website claims it's the world's smallest DVR under $3000, and we're inclined to agree -- at 2.28 square inches, it doesn't get much smaller. The device can record 640 x 480 video at 30fps, and includes a "long lasting" Li-Ion battery, for when you're on the go... shooting secret videos. Available right now for the shockingly low price of $499.95.

Dosh Waterproof Chic Wallet Keeps Everything Safe

2007-08-03T14:47:00.000+07:00

A waterproof wallet that isn't plastic-looking like the Jimi and even has a certain space-age suaveness to it (which I think appeals to women too). The brainchild of Australian designers Henri Spalle and Mark Armstrong, the Dosh wallet is made of a blend of flexible and semi-flexible polymers that makes it not only waterproof but also fairly hardy. At the same time, its sleek design proves that form doesn't have to be sacrificed for function.

As if that those weren't sufficient selling points, the wallet also carries not only (as one would expect) credit cards, notes and coins, but also an integrated compartment that's designed to hold a lot of the odds and ends we tote around in the modern age: SIM cards, keys and security keycards. Plus the billfold area is supposed to be able to fit all currencies, including US dollar bills and Euro notes.

Happily, the Dosh wallet is constructed from recyclable materials. It comes in four certifiably modern colours: white, red, chocolate and charcoal. Made in Sydney, it's available online for AUD49.95 or at various New South Wales stores.

The Official iPhone Accessories

2007-08-03T14:45:00.000+07:00

Now that the iPhone is out, and some of you lucky ones might have even gotten your hands on one, let’s take a look at the accessories you can get for your new baby.

Apple USB Power Adapter
Charge your iPhone even without a computer with this USB Power Adapter. This is already included in the iPhone package. It comes with an Apple Dock Connector to USB Cable.
Price: $29

iPhone Bluetooth Headset
Bluetooth headset. How can we ever live without one? It keeps your hands free for PSP’ing, blogging, putting on make-up, or even picking your nose. It offers 5.5 hours of talk time and up to 72 hours of standby time with its built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
The headset comes with a iPhone Dual Dock and an iPhone Bluetooth Travel Cable.
Price: $129

iPhone Dock
Docks are great. They allow you to put your phone in an upright position to easily glance at who called or sms’ed. They allow you to simply slot your phone in instead of fumbling with cables. The iPhone Dock also has built-in powered speakers for playing the tunes on your iPhone.
Price: $49

Apple Dock Connector to USB Cable
For connecting your iPhone to your computer or through a Dock. One is included in iPhone’s package.
Price $19

iPhone Dual Dock
Also included in the iPhone Bluetooth Headset, the iPhone Dual Dock allows you to charge both your iPhone and your Bluetooth Headset at the same time. Another difference between this and the iPhone Dock is that this one does not has built-in powered speakers.
Price: $49

iPhone Universal Dock Adapter 3-Pack
Do you have products that make use of iPod’s Universal Dock system? If so, you may want some of these to allow them to work with your iPhone too.
Price: $9

iPhone Stereo Headset
Just like our favorite iPod headphones, but with a mic. It allows you to answer and end calls, and control basic music functions. It is already included in the iPhone package.
Price: $29.

iPhone Bluetooth Travel Cable
Instead of using the iPhone Dual Dock, this is another way to charge your iPhone and your Bluetooth Headset both at the same time.
Price: $29

iPhone TTY Adapter
TTY stands for Text Telephone. It is a technology that allows the hearing or speech impaired to communicate through telephone by texting. The iPhone TTY Adapter lets you plug your iPhone to any TTY devices.
Price: $19

Color-Call: Red Light Means Don't Answer

2007-08-03T14:44:00.000+07:00

Caller ID is a great feature, but if your phone is across the room it still makes you get up and walk over to see that it's your ex calling and you don't want to answer. The Color-Call system lets you see who's calling from afar by assigning different people specific colors that flash when a call comes in. So you can have it flash green if it's a member of your family, red if it's someone from the office, or blue if it's the delivery guy downstairs with your pizza.

If it's a number you don't have stored it'll display a bunch of colors, letting you know to just let the machine get it. Someone should combine this with the phone that lights up, then you'd be able to see who was calling from across the room and not even hear the phone ring. Boy, wouldn't that be something? The Color-Call is available online now for $30.

FC-AQEL: Yamaha Fuel Cell Scooter

2007-08-03T14:43:00.001+07:00

For the sake of the environment, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd is announcing development of a 125cc fuel cell scooter called the "FC-AQEL". Using a hydrogen fuel cell system, it will include a pair of 35 MPa high-pressure hydrogen tanks, a Lithium ion secondary battery and more. This technology will be compacted in an ultra flat brushless DC motor. The transmission will be neatly contained in the hub section of the rear wheel. Now of course we know that hydrogen is really only a storage medium for energy. We will really have to work on green ways to create energy to make some gains and reduce the use of fossil fuels.

Uvex Uvision Magic Ski Goggles With LCD

2007-08-03T14:41:00.002+07:00

While changing light conditions can be an issue in most sports it’s particularly problematic when you’re out skiing or snowboarding since all that white snow works like a giant reflector. It usually means you have to carry a second pair of ski goggles or even sunglasses for when things get too bright but Uvex has now made that unnecessary with their Uvision line of goggles.

The ‘magic’ used in the pair pictured above is actually liquid crystal technology that is applied to a double lens allowing the goggles to instantly switch between a high-contrast or darker setting with a simple push of a button. The goggles are powered by an easily replaced single AAA battery providing up to 200 hours of use which will probably keep working well after the snow has melted.

The Uvex Uvision Magic goggles will be available starting in September for $230 and there other slightly cheaper versions also available.

Go Holiday with Wireless Outdoor Solar Speaker

2007-08-03T14:41:00.001+07:00

Not so long ago the only way to share your music with the great outdoors was to lug a ghetto blaster around the garden or buy a really long cable for your stereo speakers and pray for dry weather. But not any more, because the nifty Wireless Solar Speaker renders the aforementioned practices obsolete.

Simply plonk this discreet device on the grass or hide it in the hedge and its 5w speaker will pump out up to 70dbs of punchy music al fresco. How? Easy, because the speaker itself contains an eco-friendly solar panel to charge the onboard battery directly from the sun's rays and an accompanying mains-powered transmitter plugs into your MP3/CD player/radio and beams the music to the speaker from up to 150ft away. Brilliant!

Whether you're chillin' in the garden, partying on the patio or boogie-ing round the barbecue, the Wireless Solar Speaker is bound to become an indispensable outdoor accessory. Yes, you can listen to your MP3s outside via headphones but that's no good when friends come a visiting. With the small but effective Wireless Solar Speaker you and your pals can listen to whatever playlist/CD you fancy without having to crank up the stereo in the kitchen and fling open all the doors.

As you've probably guessed from its name this smart device is wireless, so you won't keep tripping into the tulips when you're raving around the lawn. It even comes with a handy remote control so you can adjust the volume without having to put down your pina colada and get off the sun lounger.

Just think, with a Wireless Solar Speaker lurking in the backyard you can prune to Pink, dig to Dizzee Rascal and sunbathe to System of a Down. You can even barbecue to Billy Ray Cyrus. If you want. Musical preferences (and rubbish alliteration) aside, this smart little speaker system is guaranteed to add ambience to any garden soiree. Who says there ain't no cure for the summertime blues?

Toshiba's New Dedicated 3D Graphics Chip for Mobile Phones

2007-08-03T14:29:00.000+07:00

First we had desktops that we played games on. When they couldn’t keep up with the demanding needs of the current games we put in dedicated GPUs. Then the same happened with laptops, we wanted to take our gaming on the go, so we put dedicated graphics cards in our laptops too. Now Toshiba wants to put a dedicated graphics chip inside of cell phones.

The new chip is made up of the separate processors, one is the 3D GPU, another is Toshiba’s Media Embedded Processor for sound and the third is a WVGA LCD controller for the nice big mobile phone displays. It is promised to bring more realistic graphics that previously possible to the mobile phone platform.

We’ll start seeing the first of these produced in October of this year. They won’t, however, be mass-produced until sometime in Q2 of 2008

Earthtech's Solar Laptop Charger for Your Camping

2007-08-03T14:27:00.002+07:00

Do you take your laptop camping with you? Or live in fear of a blackout? Either way, Earthtech Products is offering a solution: a combined Solar Laptop Charger and Portable Power Kit. The foldable solar panel takes about 11-12 hours to charge the 300W PowerPack, which can then provide up to six hours of laptop runtime. Ahh, clean energy.

And it's not just for laptops, of course; according to the website, PowerPack can run a "hand-held blender"--one can only imagine why you need to do this in an emergency-or jump-start a car. Excellent. Other uses come to mind: charging cameras or cell phones, for example. All for only $478.95.

iPod Video Speaker from Altec Lansing

2007-08-03T14:27:00.001+07:00

Video iPods are all well and good, until you actually try to watch a video on them, I find. Then, you dice with losing your eye site, headaches and other fun things, as you try to squint. As much as I bemoan the lack of feature films on the UK version of iTunes, I really couldn't sit through a whole one.

Unless you've got some way of making them bigger... such as the inMotion speaker screen from Altec Lansing. Essentially, it's some top quality speakers combined with a screen on the front, which will play which ever video you've got on your iPod (I'd recommend the Take That music video 'Shine').

This system comes with a remote, and unlike several similar systems, you can navigate your way around the entire iPod menu with it, which means you can change from a song to a video, rather than just skip forward and backwards between songs. Very useful.

The speakers are also top notch, with some proper bass (you really feel it if you put it on the floor!) and the fact that they wrap around the unit means you get pretty equal sound around the room. The screen is also clear and crisp, with any bad quality likely stemming from the MP4 clip itself, rather than the screen.

Its piano black surface is lovely to look at, but is one of the worst I've seen for getting fingerprints over it (although I could have just been having a particularly sticky fingered day I suppose...). There's also the slight question mark over where you'd use this. The screen is about the size of a paperback book, so too small to use as a dedicated viewing screen. And for £250, it's slightly too expensive to use just as a speaker.

Xbox 360 Controller with QWERTY Keyboard

2007-08-03T14:26:00.000+07:00

Gamespot just nabbed a first hands-on with the Xbox 360 Messenger Kit. It's essentially a QWERTY keyboard add-on for the 360's controllers, offering better support for Xbox Live's MSN Messenger update. Here are their impressions of the product, in brief.

- "...snaps on with a satisfying click..."
- "The keys provide adequate, clicky feedback and are spaced well enough for fast typing..."
- "...the pad also has a messenger button that can open up the messaging window onscreen..."
- It doesn't work with PC users with USB controller (yet at least)
- "...solid product..."

A new headset comes free with the package since the old headset is not compatible. For $30, we just might try it out. Though we're curious as to how much (if any) battery life the glowing keyboard will drain from our frag time.

Oryx Bicycle, The Bike from Future

2007-08-03T14:25:00.000+07:00

Viewed from the wrong angle, this Oryx bike could look like something from the perv-o-licious Sex Museum in Amsterdam. Designed by a guy called Harald Cramer, it's a custom-made time-trial cycle with all sorts of weird and wonderful innovations.

Made of carbon composite, the handlebars, stem and fork are all one piece, with the ergonomic seat post and saddle integrated into the frame. Handlebars connect to frame via a pivot, and the seat even has a hole in it to keep you cool while you work the pedals.

The Y-frame shape means that the Oryx is shock-proof and keeps you in contact with the road at all time, and there is a one-sided fork and chain-stay. The crank is designed like a ring and mounted inside the frame on a couple of ball bearings, and the wheels detach from the bike at the push of a button, a useful time-saver for competitions.

Kanguru's Eco Drive: World's Most Energy Efficient External Hard Drive?

2007-08-03T14:23:00.000+07:00

Kanguru claims that by reducing power consumption by up to 75%, it can both extend the life of your hard drive and be eco-conscious at the same time. The Eco Drive works by going into an idle mode after three seconds of inactivity, which has 80% of normal power consumption, and standby mode after three minutes of inactivity, which works at 10-20% of normal power consumption. And when you don't touch it for five minutes, it goes into power-down mode and uses 5-10% of the normal power. Even if you don't care about the environment (who does?), this is a good way to preserve your laptop's battery while you're on the go.

Moller's M200G, UFO Like Flying Hovercraft

2007-08-03T14:22:00.000+07:00

Moller Industries, the brainchild of inventor Dr. Paul Moller, announced recently that production would begin on the company's M200G volantor, a UFO-esque hovercraft that apparently can "glide over terrain at 50 MPH." Moller, long known for his work in both hovercrafts and flying vehicles (see the dubious Skycar), has been working on alternative forms of transportation for 40 years.

The futuristic looking craft is driven by the company's Rotapower engines, and can allegedly operate up to 10 feet in altitude. Of course, while Moller Industries offers lots of exciting talk about the future of transportation (as well as t-shirts, models, and investment options) to its customers, the company has never brought a vehicle to market. Clearly, the announcement of a "Jetsons-like" craft may fuel enthusiast's hope (and pull in some escrow cash), but the actual production and sale of the $90,000+ vehicle has yet to be seen. Check the video after the break to see Dr. Moller's invention at work.

Japanese Wooden Car

2007-08-03T14:19:00.000+07:00

This car is made entirely out of wood, except for the engine and other mechanical parts. This car is produced by a local furniture maker in Maniwa city - and like all small companies in Japan, they don't have a website. The "Wooden Supercar" is 1.3 meters wide x 2.5 meters in length x 1.1 meters high and has a max speed of 80km/h. This wooden car costs $32,000, and is probably the most dangerous car ever.
See video after the jump.

Megatouch Gametime Home Version

2007-08-03T14:18:00.000+07:00

These bartop arcade machines are usually relegated to pubs and greasy cafes where the selection of entertainment is limited at best. But apparently they’ve become popular enough to warrant a home version too and I’m sure kids will gladly put down their Wiimotes or 360 controllers to fight over who gets to play the Megatouch Gametime first.

In fact the system comes with 100 built-in games and who wouldn’t walk away from Grand Theft Auto for a chance to play titles like Strategy or Quiz & Word? On the plus side though the home version of the Megatouch Gametime offers similar network functionality as the pub versions and even allows you to surf the web and send emails as long as you have an existing broadband connection.

But what’s sure to guarantee the Megatouch Gametime’s runaway success is the $3,795 price tag at Frontgate. You read that right, this thing costs more than the Nintendo Wii, XBox 360 and PS3 put together.

Western Digital's Dual-drive My Book External Hard Drive Gets Bigger

2007-08-03T14:16:00.000+07:00

Western Digital has just unveiled its dual-drive My Book external hard drive that comes with a mammoth 2TB of storage space, more than enough to appease even the most hardcore downloader. It will be available in My Book World Edition II, My Book Pro Edition II, and the My Book Premium Edition II models. These dual-drive systems can be set up for RAID 1 data mirroring, giving you the advantage of real-time data redundancy by sacrificing half its space. In addition, the World Edition II lets you access your files remotely over the Internet without the need for a host computer. The Western Digital My Book II 2TB series will retail between $749 and $799, depending on where you pick yours up.

Halluc II, Insect Like Eight Legs Robot

2007-08-03T14:14:00.000+07:00

Robotics fans who are also entomologists should get a kick out of the latest high-tech machine from Japan – a shiny multi-legged robot that can walk like an insect.
Although the Halluc II from the Future Robotics Technology Center (Furo) at Chiba Institute of Technology and Leading Edge Design in Tokyo has eight limbs, one of its three modes of locomotion is based on the way some insects walk. The other two see it move on wheels like a car and in a way similar to a quadrupedal mammal, albeit with twice the complement of limbs.

The point of developing a robot that can get around in such differing ways is to create machines that can traverse any kind of surface. Halluc II can’t handle stairs when trundling around on its wheels, but break out the crawling insect legs or stepping mammalian feet and it can scurry or stomp with the best of them.

If all that sounds a little esoteric, we advise you to check out the excellent videos over at Japanese site Robot Watch, particularly the insect mode here and the transition between insect and mammal here.

Future applications for such technology could also see, for example, cars that can park in tight spaces by sprouting legs and simply stepping sideways into the gap.

Laptop for Everyone

2007-08-03T14:12:00.000+07:00

Imagine a brand new laptop that retails for just $150 - that's less than a Sony PSP, and it can certainly do more than the latter. An Intel Celeron 1.5GHz processor takes charge of the proceedings, where you view information on the 14" LCD display while chugging along on a Fedora Linux operating system with 256MB RAM running in the background. In addition, you also get wireless connectivity to keep you hooked up to the Internet. Touted to be a "laptop for everyone", this laptop has been christened "Celebrity". I suppose this is great for just basic word processing and casual surfing, but anything more than that and you'll have to look elsewhere.

Taser X-Rep Shotgun

2007-08-03T14:10:00.000+07:00

Taser X-Rep Shotgun

The embedded video (after the jump) makes this look so awesome I can’t even qualify for words. The person’s face after getting zapped? Priceless. I can only hope that he was compensated justly for being shot at with electrified bullets while being videotaped.

He is being shot at with the brand new X-Rep, a self contained arrow-taser-bullet with a range of up to 100 feet. Popular Mechanics says “The XREP punctures the target with multiple probes, and then unspools to dangle from the unfortunate belligerent’s body, all the while applying Taser’s infamous rapid-fire electrical pulses. As an added bonus, any helpful passerby trying to yank the XREP out of the target before the 20-second discharge cycle is finished will also get zapped, thanks to a ‘hand-trap wire’ that’s nestled in among the other hanging cables.”

Changing Color Chairs to Meet Your Mood

2007-08-03T14:08:00.000+07:00

Anyone who doubts Japanese technology isn't more than a few years ahead of the rest of the world had better think again. Color-changing furniture? A done deal, as the "Fuwapica" table & chairs set to be unveiled at this year's SIGGRAPH 2007 in San Diego. Fuwapica, which means "soft and flashy" in Japanese, was developed several years ago by staff and student's at the curiously named Mongoose Studio at Japan's Osaka University.

Early designs for inflatable chairs incorporated weight sensors that acted to change the color of the chair in response to the weight and positioning of the user. One wonders, though, if those who are a little self-conscious about their weight might be put off by a weight-sensitive chair. The studio's "Ice" chairs are things of beauty that resemble glowing ice cubes suffused with fruit syrups of various colors, er, flavors. Yummy!

The new Fuwapica Suite takes the concept even further, into the realm of thoughts and emotions. The centerpiece, literally, of the suite is a round table that features a computer, an LCD display screen and light sensors that link to each of the four inflatable chairs. Place a vase of red roses on the table, for example, and the sensors will determine their color and instruct the chairs to complement the romantic red hue. If this doesn't impress your date, what will?

Sources at Mongoose Studio say that Fuwapica's interactive technology is more than just a design exercise and will be available commercially within one or two years. For those who can't wait, Fuwapica Honeycomb (¥417,000) and Ice (¥179,000) chairs are available now from the Proto-Type Inc. in Tokyo.

USB Mouse Plus Calculator

2007-08-03T14:06:00.000+07:00

While there have been computer mice that include the functions of a numeric keypad in the past, Prezzy Box offers something different by taking out the numeric keypad while throwing in a calculator instead. A scroll wheel is located right above the LCD display, but one glance at this USB Mouse Calculator tells me that ergonomics isn’t at the top of the designer’s list.

The calculator can also double up as a numeric keypad should the situation calls for it, making this a notebook-centric peripheral. If you’re interested in being different from the rest, the USB Mouse Calculator can be yours for US$30.

Research: Growing Gasoline from Bacteria

2007-08-03T14:05:00.001+07:00

Some scientists at a company called LS9 claim to have figured out a way to grow petroleum from bacteria. The exciting prospect could shoot us to energy independence in a matter of years, as LS9 says their tech will be ready for the prime time in just a few years.

How does it work?
The company is employing tools from the field of synthetic biology to modify the genetic pathways that bacteria, plants and animals use to make fatty acids, one of the main ways that organisms store energy. Fatty acids are chains of carbon and hydrogen atoms strung together in a particular arrangement, with a carboxylic acid group made of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen attached at one end. Take away the acid, and you're left with a hydrocarbon that can be made into fuel.
What does that all mean? I don't know, I'm no doctor. I just know that if we could grow our own gas it would solve a lot of problems.

Simply Ingenius Corn Stripper

2007-08-03T13:59:00.000+07:00

The OXO Good Grips Corn Stripper ($12) makes removing corn kernels from cobs a fun and easy task. Simply push it down the length of the cob and the kernels collect in a convenient 1/2 cup capacity container.

Features:
* Easily strips corn kernels off cobs
* Kernels collect in a ½-cup capacity container (approximately one cob)
* Convenient top opening for emptying kernels
* Container separates for easy cleaning
* Stainless steel blade Soft, non-slip grips

In-Flight Ethernet, USB, 110v Power and Doom

2007-08-03T13:55:00.000+07:00

Artur Bergman of Six Apart and O'Reilly got a tour of the new Virgin America planes and found some some amazing geek amenities. Every seat includes 110 volt AC current, ethernet, USB ports for charging iPods and phones, but will also accept a QWERTY for the linux-based, thin client, in flight entertainment system. And, it has Doom. But I'm not sure if it has internet.

I wonder if that ethernet is actually internet-active. Probably not, which could be the killer, esp when American Airlines rolls their WiFi, but as a random aside, check out that purple mood lighting. More cool facts: The servers have about 3000 MP3s, and if you create a playlist, it links it to your profile, and the next time you book a flight, your playlists will reappear on your new flight, at your new seat. And, the system, called "Red", was developed in house and does the standard movies, sat TV, mp3s, and games. But it also has a plane wide chatroom, per-channel chatrooms, and private messages.

Super Mario Sound Effect Stylus Pen from Nintendo

2007-08-03T13:53:00.000+07:00

You do not want to touch the button of this pen when sitting in a meeting. Or that is probably exactly what you want to do since you really shouldn’t.
The Nintendo Sound EFX Stylus Pen ($10) is both a traditional ball point pen and a stylus pen for your Nintendo DS. Each push on the button will play 1 out of 6 different sounds from the Super Mario games.

B&W Zeppelin iPod Dock

2007-08-03T13:48:00.000+07:00

High-end speaker producer Bowers & Wilkins (known on the street as B&W) is going all Hindenburg on your iPod dock. Named after its obvious inspiration, B&W's Zeppelin is a two-foot-long black ellipsoid with a bundle of goodies hidden inside, including a 5-inch subwoofer, four speakers and an amp that can pump out 100 watts of power. It'll also handle the classic iPod dock jobs like streaming pictures and videos to a TV. For $599, the least B&W can do is guarantee that it won't burst into flames and crash land in your living room.