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Macy’s To Bring In iPod Vending Machines
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Corporate News, Misc. Tech, Portable Audio / Video,
In an effort to keep up with the swankiest of swanks, Macy’s has entered into an agreement with Zoom Systems, makers of iPod vending machines. The Macy’s machines will be called Zoom @ Macy’s, and is an attempt to provide consumers with the ultimate in impulse buys. Luckily, these things accept credit cards, because we have more important things to spend the $299 USD (plus tax) in quarters that we carry around on. You can expect about 180 of the Zoom @ Macy’s iPod vending machines to be in stores by fall.
Read More 
| UPI
Wicked Lasers Launches Blue and Green Spyder Line
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Design, Misc. Tech,
If you are into messing around with lasers, you should really check out Wicked Lasers latest product. The Spyder Series is the next generation of portable laser technology. Available in two colors, green up to 300mW, and blue up to 40mW, the products will definitely make you the cool guy at the party. Here are some of the features:
- Water-proof to 5 meters
- Constant On/Off button
- Compact design with built-in heat sink
- High Efficiency lithium power cells
- Ultra Efficient power consumption
- No duty cycle – 100% Continuous Operation
- No heat buildup
- Very Stable Output
- BrightLife™ Technology
Of course, with high-grade electronics like this, you can expect to pay a premium. The green Spyder starts at $999.99 USD, and tops out at $1999.99. The blue one will really hit you hard, ranging from $2499.99-3499.99 USD. We hope to have one of these in-house soon for a few demos, much like we did with the Fusion lasers a few months back.
Read More | Wicked Lasers Spyder Series
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We realize that lost golf balls are no fault of your own, and are entirely the fault of the club and golf ball manufacturer’s poor design and craftsmanship. To help correct the injustice of golf balls gone astray comes the Ballfinder SCOUT. Just as the name implies, the SCOUT helps you locate your errant golf balls provided 3 dimples (less than 1 percent) of the ball’s surface are visible. This of course rules out balls buried completely in sand or grass, or submereged in a water hazard, but should still help with the majority of them. The SCOUT uses a 3.2 megapixel sensor, and with a range of 35 feet can scan an area up to 600 square feet in one second.
You’ll have to be the judge on whether you lose enough golf balls to make the $260 Ballfinder SCOUT economical, but it’s pretty cool regardless of the price.
Read More | Sanderson Golf via OhGizmo!
Latest Gear Live Videos
Panasonic’s New Core Duo Toughbook
Posted by Jared Hislop Categories: Design, Misc. Tech, PC / Laptop,
Panasonic is rolling out its next generation of Toughbooks, which feature Intel Core Duo processors, and a surprising resistance to water. Specifically, the Letsnote CF-Y5 features a 1.5 GHz Intel L2300 Core Duo processor, a 14.1-inch 1,400 by 1,050 pixel display, up to 1 GB of RAM, 802.11a/b/g wireless networking, up to 60 GB of hard disk storage, built-in Ethernet, a DVD burner, a PCMCIA slot, SD expansion, and VGA output. Since this is a Toughbook, Panasonic claims that the notebook can withstand an impact of up to 220 pounds, and features a water proof sheet which protects several key system components from small amounts of water or other liquids. This impressive little notebook is only available in Japan right now, but we should see some of these features made available in American Toughbooks pretty soon. The CF-Y5 retails for ¥265,000 which is about $2,300 US. It is interesting to see stock features that help protect against “accidents,” and might help to make up for the more expensive price tag on this notebook.
Read More | Digital Trends
Loremo AG’s Solution to High Gas Prices
Posted by Jared Hislop Categories: Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Science, Transportation,
German company Loremo AG has introduced a new vehicle which they claim gets 157 miles per gallon. The new car uses state-of-the-art aerodynamics combined with a lightweight body to combat gas guzzling. While some of the fuel efficient cars use smaller engines that deliver less power, this car doesn’t play around in the power department. The base model uses a 2 cylinder 20 hp turbo diesel engine that reaches a top speed of 100 MPH with a 0 to 60 time of 9 seconds, and the GT model boasts a top speed of 135 MPH. Loremo has a new technology that they call “linear cell structure” that makes the car light without sacrificing strength. Both models meet static/dynamic requirements for crash safety. Standard features on both models include airbags, particle filter, dashboard computer, and air conditioning. Loremo AG plans to sell the Loremo LS for less than 11,000 euros and the GT for 15,000 euros. With the rising costs of gas in the US we would like to see a vehicle like this available. Unfortunately this car is still dependant on gas, and we doubt its strength in a crash, as tiny car + low weight = death.
Read More | If Energy
Our boy, David Ponce, over at OhGizmo has just posted up a review of the Wicked Laser Nexus. This is the green laser that we featured in Episode 4 of The Bleeding Edge, and in our quick review of Wicked Laser products. These things are, um, Wicked in every sense. Check out the full review over at OhGizmo.
Read More | OhGizmo
SpokePOV: Pimp Your Bike
Posted by Jared Hislop Categories: Design, Misc. Tech, Mods / Hacks, Science, Transportation,
POV uses LED lights on a spinning device to create an image. There have been several devices recently that demonstrate this technology, but none as awesome as the do it yourself SpokePOV kit. Basically, SpokePOV turns the wheels of your bike into fancy LED displays. The kit comes with all of the parts needed including a circuit board, electronics, 60 bright LEDs (30 for each side of the wheel), and 1K of memory (enough for one static image). The memory can be upgraded to 4K for use in an animated display. The documentation appears to be quite good and even a beginner should be able to complete this project. The kit retails for $37.50 here.
Read More | SpokePOV
Matterinc Solar-Powered LED Numbers For Your Crib
Posted by Jared Hislop Categories: Design, Smart Home, Misc. Tech,
We have all been there when driving to an unknown home late at night. Most house numbers are hard to see in the dark. Matterinc has set out to change that with new solar LED address numbers. Each number is laser cut out of anodized aluminum. The solar arrays on top of each number provide power to the included batteries, and two white LEDs shine in the darkess, lighting the number below. On a full solar charge, the LEDs provide eight to ten hours of light - enough to last a full night just about anywhere. Matterinc recommends placing the device in full sunlight for best results. The numbers are available in either black or silver, and are viewable up to 40 feet away. They retail for $17.99 USD and come with all of the necessary hardware for mounting.
Read More | Digital Toys Review
Read More | Product Page
Astone’s Ultra-Portable Washing Machine
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Design, Smart Home, Misc. Tech,
For anyone constantly on the go, we know that doing laundry can get in the way. Apparently, Astone knows that as well, as they are set to start selling this portable washing machine this June. Weighing in at about four-and-a-half pounds, this puppy can hold up to 1.7 gallons of water once it’s inflated. The word is that it will do everything a standard washing machine can do, just at a much smaller scale. At $70 USD, it doesn’t sound like too bad a deal.
Read More | NewLaunches
What is it about Tetris that still fascinates so many people to this day? Brought to life in 1985 by a Russian programmer, the game has spawned innumerable clones, as well as offshoot products like the Tetris Kitchen Timer we’re looking at today. As with a traditional timer you can let it perform the countdown with a display of digital numbers, but that sucks all the fun out of things. No, the quirky nature of the timer comes into play when you can put it into Tetris mode. In this mode the familiar little shapes work their way down the screen, and when the screen is completely filled up, your time (and that of your food) is also up.
Provided you can read Japanese, the timer is available for approximately $42 USD.
Read More | Amandana via Gizmodo
