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This Elmo Doesn’t Want to be Tickled

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Mods / Hacks, Toys, Videos,

We thought that the new Elmo Live was a bit eerie, but it turns out that an “Elmo Knows Your Name” really did get spooky after 2 year-old James’ mom changed the batteries. Although the toy is programmed to say over 100 phrases, we don’t believe that “Kill James” is one of them. Fisher Price has offered to replace the child’s companion, but we are thinking if mom is smart, she should hang on to it and pass it on to someone who could figure out why Elmo has such rage. Then again, she could probably make a killing on eBay.

Read More | RealTechNews

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Recording Pen Takes Secretive Notes

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech, Portable Audio / Video,

Recording PenYour competition may think that you are just taking notes, but you will know you are actually playing James Bond. Spycatcher has unveiled its new pen that records 18 hours of long play, 9 hours of high quality, or 4.5 hours of extra high. The built-in batteries, which take 3 hours to charge, give you 12 hours of record time or up to 8 of playback. To switch from standby to record you only need move the clip. The device also has voice activation and can be left in sleep mode in case you want to purposely

accidentally leave it behind. The Recording Pen carries an MSRP of £148.99 (~$293.00) and comes with earpiece, remote, USB cable for downloading info, and software.

Read More | Spycatcher

Electronic Plant Traps Unsuspecting Flies

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Science, Toys,

Electronic Venus Fly TrapWe never could get Venus Fly Traps to stay alive long enough to chomp down on all the nasty summer visitors. Now, with Discovery’s motion activated Trap, just feed it 3 AA batteries (not included) and its sensor will close its “mouth” on bugs without you having to tend it. Add bait if the flying creatures don’t want to go for the pseudo plant and, after they are captured, you can release them or study them for a bit. At a size of 4.25 x 4.25 x 9-inches, the plastic VFT will set you back $19.95.

Read More | Discovery Channel Store

Oceanic Capsule Glider Runs on Heat

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Misc. Tech, Science,

Robotic GliderU.S. scientists from the Wood’s Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOi) in the UK have been researching an underwater robotic glider that harvests heat energy from the Caribbean. Tested since December, the device has gone thousands of kilometers without batteries. The team feels that the capsule could undertake surveys for up to six months, although it still needs batteries for data retrieval, sensors and its satellite communications system. Still, we applaud the WHOi in its green efforts and hope the fish and tourists don’t mind.

Read More | BBC

How About a Coleman Road Trip?

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smart Home, Misc. Tech,

Coleman BlenderColeman, our fave traveling companion, has decided that we might need a blender on our next outing. The Road Trip portable device chops and mixes 20-30 pitchers on one full charge of two 6V and 4.5AH rechargeable batteries. With a rubber, non-skid base, push button on/off control, it features an LED battery level indicator. While we might not turn it into a bassomatic, we think maybe all that sleeping on the ground will entice us to make a pitcher of margaritas which Coleman claims only takes 30 seconds. Available with a one year warranty, it carries a MSRP of $77.49.

Read More | Coleman

Unboxing: eneloops Are Awesome!

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Accessories, Misc. Tech, Portable Audio / Video, Product Reviews,

eneloopsThe results are in. If you want some decent rechargeable batteries, Sanyo’s eneloops are the way to go. We do a lot of Flipvideoing and lately have been doing some extensive audio interviews, so it came down to purchasing a gazillion batteries from our local dollar store or finding some decent rechargeables that would last more than 12 hours.

While we found plenty of them for very little bucks, we learned a long time ago not to rely on any name in electronics that was unfamiliar. That being said, on a budget less than $39.95 we had our choice of Sony or the eneloops. Since Sony doesn’t have the greatest track record for batteries, we decided to test drive the latter, which comes with four AAs. Full details after the jump.

Click to continue reading Unboxing: eneloops Are Awesome!

Read More | Sanyo eneloop Product Page

CES 2008 Video: ZPower silver-zinc battery power outshines the rest?

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Gizmatic, Short Bytes, CES, CES 2008, Design, Features, Misc. Tech, PC / Laptop, Podcasts, Science, Videocasts,

While power technologies tend to be less glamourous than gadgets consumers shouldn’t forget the impact and importance of having solid battery technologies in the slim and trim electronic toys and tools they buy. ZPower was pleased to show off their new Silver-Zinc batteries at – potentially a revolutionary new product. These new batteries can be interchanged with Lithium Ion batteries but offer more power for longer periods all while reducing the environmental impact. Available soon from a yet-to-be-named laptop manufacturer.


Bleeding Edge TV 134: The Nine Hour APC Notebook Battery

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Gizmatic, Short Bytes, Accessories, CES, CES 2007, Features, PC / Laptop, Videocasts,

Greg from American Power Conversion gives us a look at their universal laptop battery that lasts for nine hours. Yeah. Nine hours. These are fairly cool, and sit below your laptop. It takes about 16 hours to charge, so an overnighter is smart with these - but seriously, nine hours of extra power is fantastic. This battery runs about $199 USD. The company also has a battery for portable devices that provide about 55 hours of power for $69.99 USD.


Nyko Announces Wireless Sensor Bar, Charge Station for Wii

Posted by Michael Cardiff Categories: Accessories, Hot Deals, Wii, Wireless,

Description
Nyko announced two products for the Wii at the CES this week, one that will help you save on battery costs, and one that probably won’t. The first (and most exciting) is a set of battery packs and a charging station for those AA-draining Wiimotes. But even though you’re not wasting AA’s in your Wiimotes, you’ll probably go through them just as fast thanks to Nyko’s wireless Wii “sensor” bar (which is, in truth, just two infrared lights on a stick)

Prices haven’t been announced yet (or at least, we can’t find them!), but we’ll stay updated as more information becomes available.

Click the jump for more pics…

Click to continue reading Nyko Announces Wireless Sensor Bar, Charge Station for Wii


Bleeding Edge 072: CES 2007 Video: PowerStick Provides Juice On The Go

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Gizmatic, Short Bytes, Accessories, USB, CES, CES 2007, Features, Portable Audio / Video, Videocasts,

At CES this year we got a chance to meet with Andrew Kular, CEO of Ecosol Technologies. Ecosol has won the CES Innovations award this year for their Powerstick, a portable power solution for gadgets. The Powerstick is a small device that looks like a thick USB memory key, but does something far more valuble to the geek on the go: provide power for empty gadgets quickly and efficiently.

The Powerstick features a standard USB plug on one end, and a custom multi-port on the other. When you plug the Powerstick into a powered USB port it’s internal Lithium-Polymer battery charges up (and it’s LCD fuel gauge fills up) enabling you to plug a gadget into the other end via an adapter to power it up later.

According to Andrew the Powerstick will nearly double the life of most cell phones, iPods, portable media players, and other gadgets.  If you have ever run out of power at the worst of times the Powerstick sounds like it’s for you - the convenience of disposable charging solutions, but reusable for 500 charges. Check the video for the full scoop.


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