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Canada’s local phone companies were hoping that VOIP services would be left unregulated similar to other Internet services. Instead, what is expected to happen is that the CRTC will bring VOIP under its umbrella which would mean that the large telcos like Bell Canada and Telus Corp. would need to seek CRTC approval for their prices. This means that if they want to slash prices to compete with VOIP services like Vonage and Primus Telecommunications, they need to go through the proper channels to do so. This gives startup VOIP services and easier time of gaining footing, as well as giving cable companies like Shaw, Rogers, and Videotron the ability to compete.
Read More 
| The Globe and Mail
Airports sure know how to cater to their visitors, don’t they? It seems that in Atlanta, you have the opportunity to be overcharged for more than just the food. Check out the Zoom Shop vending machine. Instead of your favorite candy treat, you will find batteries, phone cards, and - get this - iPods housed inside the glass case. It seems that iPod mini’s and shuffles are the flavor of the day. Let’s get to work on developing a music-type vending machine with a dockable interface.
Read More | BoingBoing
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Clive Solari and David Francis of D3 Designs have developed the Vase Deferens. As you can see, it holds a single flower upright in a chic sort of manner. What u don’t see is the 35ml of water housed inside of the Vase Deferens. For all intents and purposes, this is a flower vase which allows the flower to enjoy a more natural posture, using its own strength to stand.
(Thanks Cin!)
Read More | Vase Deferens
Latest Gear Live Videos
Man, I wish they had these when I was a kid. The Cup-A-Cake was designed to hold a frosted cupcake in place by firmly gripping it at the base. It encases the cupcake, and the internal grip keeps it from moving. This way your frosting artwork skills don’t get ruined, even if the container is bounced around in your gadget bag. As the mothers of the world would say, no muss, no fuss!
Read More | Cup-A-Cake via BoingBoing
Designed at Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, DETECT can tell if it is necessary to pull a player out of a game - or if it is okay to send them back in - as it can identify a concussion in a matter of minutes. It is certainly revolutionary, as it can be hard to tell right off hand. Its creators also hope to start testing it at the Georgia Tech football games next season. The DETECT devices will likely run between $500 to $1000.
Read More | CNN
This is the kind of place I would image just about every Gear Live reader would love to spend an extended vacation. It’s the Emerates Palace, where some staff get around on Segway units, and their private beach is Internet ready - and check out the amenity list:
- The most advanced hotel multimedia system, including touch screen control panel, will allow guests full control of all room appliances such as lights, air-conditioning and in-room entertainment
- Interactive TV provides high speed Internet, games, access to room bill, shopping, room service, telephone directory, videos on request, instant rewind and pausing of programs
- 50-inch plasma screens in all rooms
- 50 and 61-inch plasma screens in the suites
- All suites equipped with a laptop and a scanner/printer/fax unit
- Language preferences are set at reception upon check in which can be easily operated as soon as the guest reaches the room
The cheapest room is 2,000.00 AED, which comes out to about $545 USD per night. Spendy!
Read More | USA Today
Another strange twist on the everyday alarm clock has emerged. This time it comes in the form of a rumbling sea anemone shaped device. Similar to the Clocky which rolls away when it goes off, Aaron Tang’s Sea Anemone clock does the same. The difference here is that the Sea Anemone clock rumbles much like that of a child’s toy. Due to its shape, it moves in random directions which means you must chase it down to turn it off. Once you find it, the device continues to rumble until you find the hidden button to turn it off.
Read More | Aaron Tang Sea Anemone Clock via Gizmodo
Over in Japan, they have no problems slapping RFID tags on the kids. Using these tags, the SECOM Security System can track a child’s whereabouts on, and off, school property. Parents can receive updates on their cell phones via SMS if they so prefer. These robots patrol school grounds, and can even scare
perps
kids who are doing wrong with smoke, sudden movements, and lights. Check out the frightening video.
Read More | SECOM (Google translated) via NearNearFuture
The guys over at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a plastic which changes shape depending of what wavelength of light it is exposed to. An example of this technology would be a plastic flower which would “bloom” when exposed to light. Shining a different wavelength of light on the flower would cause it to close up. Now, the goal here is that these plastics would be able to provide significant medical advancements. On example might be to insert a thin piece of plastic into an artery, and have it change its shape into a corkscrew to keep it open.
Read More | ScienceBlog
When we put up the story on Bust Up Gum last month, we certainly didn’t expect our inbox to be filled with questions from women wanting to know more about the product. Most of them wanted the information to give to their “friend”. Well girls, you can tell your friends that Bust Up Gum is available for order in the United States. A supplier will have 1000 units on hand to ship out shortly, so act fast. They don’t know when they will get the next shipment after this first allocation sells out. It costs $50 for a bottle of 100 pieces of gum.
Read More | Product Page
