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Caffeine and Tech Combine in Yuno
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Microsoft, PC / Laptop
For those who check their e-mail before their first cuppa java (you know who you are,) the Yuno is the perfect answer to allow you to fulfill your quotas in both areas. While you are getting your caffeine fix you can check your e-mail, see a traffic report, or find out how much Google stock is worth now with its touchscreen. It measures 6.25 x 3.75-inches and has a detachable CPU bottom so that you can pop it in the dishwasher. This is a finalist in Microsoft’s Next-Gen PC Design Competition. We like this prototype over most of the others even though we hope that they also make it insulated. Our e-mail takes forever to wade through sometimes. The contest runs through March 15, in case you want to vote for one of the contestants.
Read More 
| Next-Gen PC Design Competition Finalists
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MoMA Features Online Exhibit
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Internet, Science
Speaking of MoMA, not only are they exhibiting the likes of AT&T and Nokia at the museum, there is an incredible display online. Combining science with design, there are over 300 concepts in Elastic Mind that are translated into physical objects. The purpose, they say, is to “combine research with attentive consideration of human limitations, habits, and aspirations.”
All we know is that spending a couple of hours on the site may not have the impact of seeing the show itself, but it certainly is worth the time. For example, in Collection for the Lonely Man, it includes the Sheet Thief, which winds up the bed clothes to the other side. Others are Cold Feet, Heavy Breather, Plate Thrower, and Hair Alarm Clock that will run hair across the user to wake him.
Read More | MoMA Elastic Mind
Morph: Future of Technology?
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Design, Mods / Hacks, Science
Nokia’s researchers and the University of Cambridge have come up with the “Morph.” On display at MoMA this month through mid-May, the concept is meant to display the flexibility of future mobile devices. Morph’s technology is pliable, self-cleaning, and transparent, and can be ergonomically rearranged. For example, a folded design would fit in a pocket or on a wrist, while an unfolded one could become a handset. In addition, Morphing will less expensive, take up less space on the planet, and be eco-friendly. We are all for any idea that we can wear instead of forget when we are in a rush.
Read More | Nokia
Make a Splash With VAIO
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, PC / Laptop, Wireless / WiFi
For those who want to stand out in the professional realm, Sony has released a set of 1200 limited editions of their VAIO Graphic Splash Expression Collection. The FZ series notebooks come in three designs of Victorian lace, flora, and leaf, and colors of black, pink, and blue with custom engravings available. All of them feature Windows Vista Home Premium OS, 2GB memory, 120GB HDD, and NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GT graphics. Each has a 15.4-inch widescreen LCD display, Sony’s trademark XBRITE technology, and are Bluetooth enabled. Prices start at $1,279.99
Read More | Sony Style
Runner Hub is Functional, Stylish
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Accessories, USB, Design, Misc. Tech
For someone who is always on the go (or on the run,) the Runner Hub may be your answer. The 4 ports hub will work with either 1.1 or 2.0 USB, has a transfer speed of 480 Mbps, and will work with either Windows 98/ME/2000/XP, or Mac OS 8.6 or above. At a size of 100 x 60 x 123mm and a weight of 71g, the device, with its rotating connection, comes with its own USB cable. Find it at Brando for a mere $12.00.
(Thanks, Fanny)
Read More | Brando
Chute is Smart and Green
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Cell Phones, Design, Handhelds
Smartphones are expensive but more desirable all the time, so why not get one that is also eco-friendly? The Chute, created by Industrial Designer Michael Laut, works like any other phone but is made of bamboo, which is not only biodegradable, but lighter and stronger than plastic. It probably won’t dent or crack if you drop it and if a friendly panda comes strolling by and looks hungry, perhaps he/she would appreciate the green gift. Contact Michael Laut for price and availability.
Read More | Yanko Design
Time for New Wallpaper?
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Internet, PC / Laptop
If you don’t have enough money for a decent gift, do something nice for the spouse/partner in your life. Send an electronic greeting card, clean her/his monitor and keyboard, toss a few rose petals on the desk, and grab some new wallpaper. There are many links to sites for you to explore and download to your desktop. We particularly admired this simple rabbit and Chinese Summer. Select from calendar art, Apple, Microsoft, and Firefox themes, cartoons, minimalist art, and illustrations.
Read More | Smashing Magazine
Remake Cubes Spell Creativity
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Household, Misc. Tech
The French company Remake Design has created light-up cubes that you can put together, modify, and rearrange to get your point across. Each module has a 10W Xenon bulb and can be screwed to the wall or attached to each other by magnets. They offer a set of four for $300.00 and you can do your own thing depending on your mood or business. Suggested designs vary from a simple hello, to a business name, to Pac-Man, if you can’t get past the game.
Read More | Remake Design
Games With Online Multiplayer Sell More
Posted by Paul Hamilton Categories: Corporate News, Downloadable Content, Internet, Microsoft, Nintendo, PlayStation 3, Sony, Wii, Xbox 360
A research paper from Electronic Entertainment Design and Research has been released that suggests that games with online support can be crucial to a game’s retail success. Not surprisingly, another way to boost sales is to create a quality game (defined as those with a 90+ score on Metacritic), with these well-reviewed titles outselling the average release well above 5-to-1.
While making good games typically means making good money, naturally, it is a bit surprising to see the report indicate that sales can be doubled by dropping in an online mode. With online games selling twice the number copies that offline titles do, it’s curious to note that over half of games released don’t offer even basic online support.
Read More | Ars Technica
Nokia Takes Another Stab at the N-Gage
Posted by Paul Hamilton Categories: Hardware, Portable/Mobile
Apparently Nokia is nothing if not persistent. This week Nokia plans to introduce a third cell phone to bear the name N-Gage and try yet again to gain some traction with its cell phone/game device hybrid. This time they spent some time with the design firm Ideo to research what consumers wanted in such a device and think they have it right this time. “The graphics problem has been removed. And phones today are always connected and you always carry them with you. Phones are now the perfect device for gaming,” says product manager Tomi Huttula.
Most curious perhaps is the decision to stick with the name N-Gage, which at this point carries some pretty negative baggage. The idea of a cell phone that plays half decent games isn’t particularly bad on the face of it but the Finland-based company learned the hard way in 2003 that gamers, who are likely to be the early adopters and initial market for such a device, won’t jump on board just because an idea has potential but lacks proper execution. There’s no reason to stick with the brand name when it has already failed twice.
Still, Nokia seems undaunted by past disappointments and is focusing this time around on the multiplayer features and streamlining the experience to be more attractive to casual gamers. Also Nokia isn’t focusing on a single model this time around but will offer N-Gage games on a few of its Series 60 smartphones, presumably as a trial run, before gradually expanding to all Series 60 models. The prices have yet to be announced, but more details should be available later in the week.
Read More | New York Times via Game | Life
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