iPhone Says Hello During Academy Awards

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Apple, Smartphones, GPS, Internet, Misc. Tech, Portable Audio / Video,

iPhone’s first commercial was released during Sunday’s Academy Awards, featuring the likes of Lucille Ball, Clark Gable, Robert Redford, Betty Rubble, and Bogey. Apple has cleverly managed to reveal absolutely nothing about their product in an entertaining kind of way. When we first saw it, we were hoping that they might release the iPhone with ringtones of one of our fave actors. Think what those around you would do if your iPhone chimed out Eastwood’s, “Make my day, Punk” or DeNiro’s “You talking to me?” in the middle of a crowded room. The iPhone is expected to make its debut this June.

Read More | Apple

DishMaker Means Never Having to Clean Your Plate

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

Yesterday we introduced you to an artist who designed a machine to toss beer. Today we have found Leonardo Obonanni, researcher at MIT’s Medialab, designer, and artist, who has created the DishMaker. Beginning with an acrylic disc, his gadget can create plates and different sizes of bowls and cups out of the same material. When you finish your meal, you simply melt it back to its original shape so that it can be recycled when you need another kitchen vessel. Obonanni claims the same disc can be recycled up to 100 times. We assume that you have to actually rinse it first, but imagine the colorful designs you can create out of pizza crust and orange peel.

Read More | Leonard Obonanni

The Titanic Rises in Tennessee

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Home Entertainment, Misc. Tech, Movies,

If you think owning the Ultimate Outdoor Theatre is a little opulent, maybe you would prefer watching your movies in this Titanic Home Theatre. A collaboration between interior designer Donny Hackett of Casa Cinema Design and AV engineer Mike VanParys of PAVE (Professional Audio Video Engineering,) the room was created for a local Parade of Homes showcase in Tennessee.

The dome features 1,230 fiber optic lights for a night sky effect and acoustic panels have been placed around the room to account for its echo. The 20 x 4-foot theatre comes with a custom-made 120-inch Vidikron Model 30 ET projector screen and Tru Audio surround sound. The owners even added a Titanic replica to the mix. Casa Cinema Design had previously built a Mann’s Chinese Theatre Entertainment Center, which we are thinking could better sustain us during this year’s hurricane season.

Read More | Electronic House

Beer Launching Fridge Forgoes Need to Refill

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

With a spark of creativity, or maybe just out of plain laziness, couch potato John Cornwell has managed to invent a gadget that can aim and toss him a beer from his automated, remote controlled, mini-fridge. Directed by keyless entry, and with a capacity to hold 10 brews and 14 more in reserve, he can keep a case of the brew and not have to get up between football quarters. We’re hoping that John can also create a device that can toss us another can of Pringles.

Read More | John Cornwell

Gamer Builds xBot to Level Up

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech, Mods / Hacks, Science, Video Games,

Gamer/car mechanic David Harr got a tad frustrated at topping off a remaining 60 points on Perfect Dark Zero, which would enable him to unlock more game matches. Investing $60.00, 10 hours, and a lot of ingenuity, he created the xBot to push the two buttons needed on his Xbox to finish off the final 40 hours of play. While we admire his talent and find this a better alternative to game sweatshops, we would have to concede that we find this just another, albeit kinder, deception.

Read More | BBC News

Sony to Release Cheaper Blu-ray Player

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Misc. Tech, Movies, Video Games,

Sony has decided to release a less expensive Blu-ray disc player early this summer. The BDP-S300 will retail for $599.00 and will still do everything that their BDP-S1 $999.00 player can do in an attempt to lure other customers into adopting their HD format. Toshiba has already released a rival HD DVD for $499.99. Fickle consumers, with the exception of heavy PS3 players, seem to be waiting to purchase either of them, hoping that the market will decide to choose one technology over another. We think Sony and Samsung (who also uses Blu-ray technology) may have their price points a bit too high considering you can now buy a HD DVD player for around $50.00.

Read More | USA Today

ISI Creates Modular Bots

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

The Information Sciences Institute at USC has developed a new type of bot, that of the modular kind. This Superbot system pairs cubes to function alone or combine with others. Each pair contains a microprocessor and six sides so that it can connect with others. When attached to its fellow modules, the Superbots can walk, run, creep, climb, and become a vehicle with wheels included, all while adapting to their environments.

ISI is hoping that the robots will be useful to NASA since they can reconfigure and therefore less parts are needed. They are also compatible with NASA’s other robotics. Check out the Superbot’s cool caterpillar, snake, and butterfly actions, and witness the space race’s next wannabe astronauts.

Read More | ISI

Tesla-Coil Protects Cars

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

We have always dug the Plasma Sphere that has become a mainstay at Spencer’s Gifts for as long as we can remember. This Tesla-coil automobile protector makes that phenomenon look like a mere toy. Australian Peter Terren placed a ring of electricity (which has been nicknamed “The Lord of the Rings’” Eye of Sauron) around the car by attaching a 4-inch coil to a boom on the roof of a rented vehicle since he doesn’t own one. We know it’s just a concept, still it is an awesome piece of work.

Read More | Tesla Downunder

Doom Video Projected on Sarajevo Hotel

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Misc. Tech, Video Games,

In a situation that we believe has life imitating art, Italian designer Damiano Colacito has created “Face of Doom,” a video that has been projected on the ruins on Sarajevo’s Hotel Europa as the opener for the XXIII International Festival this month. It stars Taggart Flynn, commonly known as the “Doom Guy” amongst gamers of this 1993 first-person shoot-’em-up.  As Flynn’s energy level decreases, his face becomes more distorted and distraught and is used as a metaphor for the city that suffered during the war. Fortunately, he regains his energy level to 100% by the end of the video. 

Read More | Trendhunter

Spyke Alerts You to Home Intrusion

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: CES, CES 2007, Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Science, Toys, Wireless / WiFi,

Meccano’s foot tall, remote controlled Spyke is not exactly the scariest security guard we have seen, but at least he is trying. Unveiled at the CES 2007, he will feed you images via his live webcam feed from a Wi-Fi router. He can also receive and play streamed music through his built in speakers, and is Skype capable.

One of the bot’s best attributes is that when his batteries run low, he will head for his charging station. Sounding like a cross between R2D2 and a toy machine gun, Spyke is being sold under the Erector brand in the U.S. and can be yours for £199.95 (~$391.00) this April.

Read More | Spykeworld via Uber-Review