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Just When You Thought You’d Seen It All - iAttire iPod Costumes
Posted by Kristin Wenzel Categories: Apple, Wearables, Design, Misc. Tech, Portable Audio / Video, Toys,
We really thought we’d seen just about everything - we were wrong. We came across iAttire, a company devoted to outfitting…your iPod. Their selection ranges from the feminine to the masculine, from the cute to the absurd, and there’s a costume to fit any iPod - even the Shuffle and Nano. These aren’t the silicone wetsuits you’re used to - these are actual, honest-to-goodness costumes for the iPod, including a whole line of “Valentines Day” themed outfits like a chiffon negligee, boxer shorts, or even a corset.
The rest of the line covers just about every fashion you’d think to, er, dress your iPod in, from Pop Diva to Fairy Princess. And for the boys (is your iPod a boy or a girl?) there are a variety of manly disguises, like the Pirate, Cowboy and even Santa Claus - and here we were, thinking the iPod madness couldn’t get any crazier. We’ll give points for creativity and good fit, however, who’d have thought to make iPod costumes?!
The best part? They’re planning on releasing a series of iPod Portraits painted on velvet. Oh, the cheese of it! While my iPod is perfectly happy lounging about naked (that perverted iPod!), we’ve got to admit, iAttire has a great idea - it sure brought a smile to our faces.
Read More 
| iAttire
ID Pilot Wire Management Labels
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Misc. Tech, Mods / Hacks, Peripherals,
Here in the Gear Live labs, you wouldn’t believe how many charger cables, power cords, and other random-yet-generic black plugs we have laying around. Even for the average technophile, attempting to unplug the correct component from the wall when you have eight black cords protruding from the wall can be risky. ID Pilot wire management labels look to be a great answer. Rather than relying on a color-coding scheme, you actually get little icons on small stickers that give you an idea as to what your different cords are for. There are three different sets of stickers available:
“Office” contains 22 office computer labels & 10 office equipment labels; “Electronics” has 16 home computer labels, 16 audio/video equipment labels & 8 charger labels for wireless devices; “Household” has 8 kitchen basics labels, 8 gourmet kitchen labels, 24 household labels & 8 workshop labels.
At a price of just $5.95 USD each, this one seems to be a no-brainer.
(Thanks, Babe!)
Read More | ID Pilot
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Aptera 330 MPG Hybrid Vehicle
Posted by John Goulden Categories: Design, Misc. Tech, Transportation,
It’s pure speculation as to what would cause three engineers to create a startup company whose current focus is creating a hybrid vehicle that they claim will get 330 MPG (miles per gallon). Maybe they have a grand vision of the future as a place with little dependency on fossil fuels or possibly they just saw dollar signs. Regardless, their goal is admirable even if it seems a bit hard to swallow. Their company, Accelerated Composites, is hell-bent on mass-producing this lightweight (850 lbs), aerodynamic, two-seat vehicle that will combine incredible fuel efficiency with a high safety factor. Oh, did I mention that all of this can be yours for under $20,000? While I remain doubtful of the vehicle ever achieving large scale production numbers, I’m hoping they can achieve some success with their product.
Read More | Accelerated Composites via Gizmag
Latest Gear Live Videos
Running On Sunshine - Scientists Develop Tiny 4-stroke Solar “Nanomotor”
Posted by Kristin Wenzel Categories: Misc. Tech,
Meet the recently developed 4-stroke nanomotor. It’s so tiny (five nanometers in length) that it takes nearly four million set side by side to equal the diameter of a penny, it’s shaped like a macaroni noodle, is fueled by solar energy…and they create absolutely no waste.
The process is quite similar to the operation of a standard automotive four-stroke combustion engine, on a infinitely smaller scale, and the exhaust is an electron, rather than pollutants. It will also continue operating — individually or with others — as long as energy is available, and has been proven, under mild environmental conditions, to remain stable for at least 1000 cycles. While it’s only 2-12% efficient, the advantage is that sunlight is free, and there’s no need to refuel.
Here’s how they work:
Energy, in the form of photons from sunlight, excites one end of the molecule, which sets off a four-step process. Electrons are transferred along the molecule until they reach the ring structure, causing it to slide 1.3 nanometers forward on the molecule. As the electron continues its path, it reaches a section that recycles it back to the beginning. This causes the molecule to “reset,” and the ring returns, piston-like, to its original position.
The whole process takes about 100 microseconds.
What is the future for these tiny motors? It’s too early to put them to practical use, but as gas prices rise and the need for power soars as we collect more and more electric devices, alternative fuels always warrant a mention.
Read More | LiveScience
Here’s something for doggie lovers around the world. Snackshotz Pellet Gun is a plastic pistol that fires disc-shaped treats up to 12 feet away. The idea behind this product is to help your lazy dogs get their exercise in a fun way for both of you. I suppose the ever increasing obesity problem in canines sparked the concept. The dog is supposed to react to the sound of the trigger, triggering his need to find the disc treat. Comes in beef, chicken, MightyMint flavors. The site features a funny video of a fat bulldog chasing a few of these in someone’s apartment.
Read More | Snackshotz via Boing Boing
Are you scared of the dark…or more importantly, what can be hiding in the dark under your bed? Does the morning light bring the sweet relief of being able to sprint into the bathroom because you were too frightened to get up during the night? If so, then Solutions may have the answer to your problem (no, not a porta-pottie). It’s the diminuative (5” diameter) Blue Moon Night Light. This UFO-shaped object is comprised of 14 blue LED’s (because red LED’s would have made it look like hell was under your bed), and has a clear ABS bottom for the light to radiate around your room. If you’re only slightly scared of the dark (instead of insanely petrified by it), then you’ll appreciate the ability to dim the intense blue light to a softer, more soothing glow. It can be yours for $29.95.
Read More | Solutions via Strange New Products
Have a nefarious
reason to know the whereabouts of your spouse, teenager, or wayward employee? Introducing the WorldTracker SMS by Security Concepts. The WorldTracker SMS is a small GPS device powered by the SiRFstarIII chipset (which includes WAAS for signal correction/accuracy) and includes a built-in tri-band GSM module for sending tracking messages via SMS to as many as seven cell phones or PDA’s. With Security Concepts’ monthly service offerings, you can also track your target using Google Earth – a first in the industry for real-time trackers. The device can run for up to 24 hours on its own internal lithium-ion battery, or with the inclusion of an external battery pack anywhere from 4 to 15 days. For those extended tracking sessions the GPS can also be hardwired to any 12-volt power source. Street level pricing appears to be $600-700 depending on where you shop.
Read More | WorldTracker SMS Product Page
We love insanely odd gadgets from the Orient. Today, Sega’s iFish has caught our attention. The iFish is basically a toy fish that “swims” across your desk on two wheels. It plays 50 “healing” sounds (read: nature, oceans) and reacts to movement with light effects built into it’s head. Hook it up to a music source, and the iFish will move and groove to the beat, similar to the way the iDog does it’s thing. If you want to import, check out Brando where you can pick one up for $64.90 USD. The iFish hits stores in Japan later this month.
Read More | iFish Product Page (Japanese)
You know, some products are just better explained by an image rather than with words, this being one of them. I mean, a knife block shaped like a human head, with slots for the knives located all over the scalp? Pure genious. When they start taking picture submissions so that they can re-create the head of the guy who stole your prom date, let us know, kay?
Read More | Baas via BoingBoing
CES 2006 Video: Delphi Eye Tracking Driver Drowsiness and Distraction System
Posted by Chris Cardinal Categories: CES, CES 2006, Features, Misc. Tech, Transportation,
Dephi introduced their revolutionary drowsiness and distraction detection system as part of their “cocoon of safety” set of auto safety-based integrated technologies. The system automatically locks onto your eyes and monitors them for signs of drowsiness. Long before you actually begin closing your eyes for prolonged periods, your pupil and eye movement activities let them system know that you may be getting drowsy and allows it to prepare to alert. Further, when the system detects that you’re distracted for a period longer than that required to say, check your blind spot, or change a lane, it can also issue an alert.
Check out our video interview with one of the Delphi developers as he walks us through the technology, explains its future implementations and lets us see exactly how it works. (And enjoy a psuedo-infrared shot of me, seeing just how flexible the system is.)
With integration into other safety systems, like adaptive cruise control and assisted braking, the eye-tracking won’t necessarily just alert the user, but can instead proactively help to prevent or reduce the severity of an accident. As someone who’s nearly killed himself a few times on the I-10 to Tucson at 1 am, I can hardly wait.
A few notes about the video demo, after the jump.
