Furutech Is Honored For deMag

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: CES, CES 2007, Misc. Tech, Movies, Music, Video Games,

Furutech has won a CES 2007 Best of Innovation award for its deMag, which demagnetizes LPs, CDs, DVDs, game and photo CDs, SACDs, and MDs. It also works on power cords and their connectors, as well as interconnects, to prevent distortion. The deMag measures 19 x 2.7× 18.5-inches and weighs 24 lbs.

The company claims that pigment added to plastic during the manufacturing process causes a minute amount of ferrous material which causes discs to become magnetized. At a price of $1,800.00, check with Furutech for availabilty of its Limited Edition deMag.

Read More | Furutech via CES 2007 Awards

Government Awards Honor Japan’s Labor-Saving Robots

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

Ten robots have become honorees of prizes given by the Japanese government to encourage robotics research and development. Among the prize winners are a factory worker hand robot, an automatic vacuum-cleaner-on-wheels, “My Spoon,” a bot designed to aid the elderly to eat, and Paro, a furry seal which responds to human interaction. Japan sees robots as a method of dealing with its increasing labor shortage and rapidly aging population. Released forecasts indicate that the country’s 127 million population will decline by 30% by 2055 with those 65 or older comprising 40% of it.

Read More | MSNBC

ROMI, the Giant Furby, is Unveiled

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

ETRI has developed ROMI, a Korean bot that will make its debut at next week’s CES 2007. The robot transmits video with its Wireless/CMDA connection, sees through a camera, and can relay information to your PC or phone. He obeys commands by voice activation of its name. While you can probably give it the most basics of demands such as, “ROMI walk roll” and “ROMI gimme five

none” we have a hunch that this bot is not much more than a glorified Furby.

Read More | Akihabara News

Visteon Plugs In Its Wireless Charger

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Cameras, Smartphones, CES, CES 2007, Misc. Tech, Portable Audio / Video, Transportation,

Primarily known for providing various products to car manufacturers, Visteon has now ventured into the realm of car accessories. The in-vehicle wireless gadget sits in your cupholder, plugs into your car lighter socket, and can charge MP3 players, PDAs, cell phones, and digital cameras. It also contains an AI that can determine if the object to be charged is in close proximity and if it can be charged.

The device will be officially featured at next week’s CES 2007 where it has already received Design and Engineering honors. With the recent glut of cupholder products, we may get a bigger car just for all the new accessories.

Read More | Visteon In-Vehicle Recharger

Sex Sells iHolic HTV-200 TV/PMP

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech, Movies, Music, Portable Audio / Video,

Korean company iHolic has unveiled its HTV-200 DMB TV and PMP. The device features a 2.4-inch color TFT display, a SD-Card slot, USB 2.0, 512 MB/1 GB/2 GB internal memory options, MP4 video and MP3 audio support, and a JPG photo viewer. Getting touted with the sexiest of ad campaigns, the black HTV-200 has dimensions of 82 × 50 × 18.5 mm, weighs 76 g, and comes with a remote control and docking station for 188,000 WON on (~$203) iHolic’s website.

Read More | iHolic via I4U

A Look Back At 2006’s Most Popular Gear Live Stories

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Announcements, Apple, Features, Microsoft, Misc. Tech, Product Reviews,

A few people have asked for it, so we figured we would deliver. We put out a lot of posts in 2006 here at Gear Live, and we want to shine a light on those that rose to the top of the pack. These are the most read stories on Gear Live in 2006, figuring in our entire back catalogue of posts:

• Sleeptracker Watch Review
• Google Maps Helps Fight Traffic Tickets
• Mod Your Xbox Without a Mod Chip
• HTC Wizard Windows Mobile 5.0 Review
• Video: Microsoft Gives Us a Windows Vista Preview
• Video: TiVo Series 3 Interview and First Look
• The Logic 3 PSP Keyboard
• How To Download YouTube Videos
• BumpTop Alternative Desktop Interface
• Video: A Look At The Zune

Now don’t think we would stop there. We have also created another Top 10 list, this one consisting only of articles that we published within the 2006 calendar year. For the full list, hit the jump.

Click to continue reading A Look Back At 2006’s Most Popular Gear Live Stories

Germ-Eliminator Caters to OC

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

For all of you OC (obsessive/compulsive) types, this handheld Germ-Eliminating Light is the perfect device. While emitting UV rays, it seeks to destroy any germ in its path. Use it with your cellphone, laptop, MP3 players, or your kitchen counter. It even beeps when the process is complete. The Light utilizes the same technology as those that sterilize surgical instruments, and claims to kill 99.99% of E-Coli, staphylococcus, salmonella, and germs that cause the flu and a common cold. It’s available online at Hammacher Schlemmer for $79.95. Just think of the possibilities. We can begin eating at Taco Bell again.

Read More | Hammacher Schlemmer

Furniture That Is Literally a Piece of NYC

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

One-up your buds who bring you back an “all I got was this lousy t-shirt” souvenir with a NYC Walk/Don’t Walk chair that actually works. The chair, designed by artist John Carter, comes with optional stains of the city or it can be cleaned it up for you with a glazing of resin. With dimensions of 33 x 24 x 35-inches, it plugs into a standard 115V AC outlet and comes with replaceable bulbs (included) and remote. You can get your piece of The Big Apple for a whopping $3,700.

Read More | uncommon goods

Tri-Fold Mirror Outs Shower Rock Stars

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Music, Portable Audio / Video, Wireless / WiFi,

We have already given you a possible solution for attaching your iPod in your car. Now we suggest a way you can keep it close to you when you have the urge to sing in the shower. The Tri-Fold Wireless MP3 Shower Mirror is an FM transmitter which attaches wirelessly to your iPod, TV, or other CD or MP3 player and projects a signal up to 100 feet. It also has a LED clock, a lighted, fogless mirror to watch yourself performing, and waterproof speakers so you can hear what others would probably like to ignore.

At dimensions of 6.25 x 3 x 9-inches and a weight of 9 lbs., the mirror attaches with included tape or suction cups,  requires four AA and two AAA batteries (not included,) and can be found at the Discovery Store for $99.00.

Read More | Discovery Channel Store

The Bleeding Edge 066: The Chris Pirillo and Ponzi Wedding

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features, Misc. Tech, PC / Laptop, Videocasts, Videos,

Read More | The Bleeding Edge