Find Our Latest Video Reviews on YouTube!
If you want to stay on top of all of our video reviews of the latest tech, be sure to check out and subscribe to the Gear Live YouTube channel, hosted by Andru Edwards! It’s free!
A 2004 World Robotics Survey claimed that 600,000 robots were being utilized in homes. Four million are expected by the end of 2007. They are being used for basic chores, such as the Roomba, to caregiving, as in the case of the 914 PC-Bot. But bots still face some obstacles as they make their way into our lives and researchers claim it will be another decade before they become commonplace.
“You can tell it to go to an X and Y co-ordinate on a map and it will understand. But ask it to `Go to my left’ and it won’t,” says Maria Bualat, leader for the intelligent robotics group at the NASA Ames Research Centre California. As for now, we are content just to have them just as pals.
Read More 
| Toronto Star
Maintain Your Manly Face With the USB Rechargeable Shaver
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smart Home, Misc. Tech, PC / Laptop,
Here’s another reason to never have to leave your computer. The USB Rechargeable Shaver will keep you looking your natty best while you are commuting to your next business meeting. Plug it into your laptop and the blue LED indicates NiMH battery charge status. At dimensions of 10.9 x 5.3 x 1.5 cm with a weight of 74 gm, the shaver features a floating double-head system, an ultra-thin outer foil, a rotating plug, and is available for $22.00 at USB Geek (cleaning brush included.)
Read More | USB Geek
Advertisement
Clocky Pesters You Into Wakefulness
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Music,
We have written about Clocky before - over a year and a half ago when he was just a concept. He is now here. While most alarm clocks awaken you with annoying chatter or strains of the latest hit by Beyonce, Nanda’s Clocky runs around your nightstand, jumps off up to 2 feet, and randomly scampers around the room emitting beeps with a flashing screen.
In order to have his freedom to scuffle, he utilizes 4 AAA batteries which should last 6 to 8 months. If you catch him before he jumps, you can set the snooze button and if he becomes a little too frisky, you can disable his wheels. Clocky measures 5 x 3.3 x 3-inches and is available in three colors (and in shag in the future) at Nanda for $49.99, although the aqua and mint models will not be available until after the holidays.
Read More | Nanda
Latest Gear Live Videos
No need to worry that your Christmas tree may overheat if you keep it up a little too long this season. DuPont has devised this innovative smoke detector that screws into ceiling-mounted sockets and rids you of that bothersome chore of replacing the battery. Its AngelEye technology contains an internal self-charging power pack, so that all you have to do is turn on the light in its own socket on the bottom. It also sounds an alarm if the charge is low.
When fully charged, it will operate for 30 days and can even be used in unheated garages or workshops. The smoke detector measures 3 x 5 x 3-inches, is available at firstStreet and various retailers at a MSRP of $34.95, and comes with a 10 year warranty.
Read More | DuPont
USB Missile Launcher Designed for Cubicle War
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Toys,
This kewl gadget will cover all those in your office that you have neglected in your gift-buying spree this holiday season. The USB Missile Launcher moves 180º horizontally and 45º vertically, is moveable with your mouse, and even makes sound effects when you launch your missiles. Windows 2000 and XP software is included as are 3 foam missiles, and it requires 3 AA batteries (not included.)
The launchers are available at one of our favorite online shopping sites, Latest Buy, and although they are not the cheapest toy you can find at AU $54.95 (US $44.51,) grab a twinpack for $80.96, give one to your boss, and maybe he/she won’t care about the extra long lunch you took last week.
Read More | Latest Buy
Mr. Spock’s Watch Made Available to Trekkors
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Misc. Tech, Science,
We have found yet another gift for Star Trek aficionados this Christmas. This Biohazard watch attempts to simulate Mr. Spock’s own timepiece. The LCD readout counts colored segments to tell time and date, and a push of its button places it into scan mode for panels and readouts to check for Tribbles or other alien DNA. The display discontinues after a few seconds, or with a second button push. Crafted of stainless steel, the watch is 37 x 38 x 12 mm, weighs 150 g, and is available at TokyoFlash for ¥15900 (~$134.00) with free shipping.
Read More | Tokyoflash
Spend the Holidays with the Virtual Boy/Girlfriend Game
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Handhelds, Misc. Tech, Toys,
If you are unattached for the holidays this year, Aria’s Virtual Boyfriend/Girlfriend games provide you with a choice of up to 8 different dates with distinct personalities. Keep them happy by buying them gifts, complimenting them, taking them out, and even engaging in, what Aria refers to as “a night of hot passion.” The more points you amass, the better the relationship becomes. Available for £13.49 (~$27.00,) they measure 7 x 5 cm, fit on a keyring, and come with batteries. Practice enough, and perhaps next year you will be ready for a real relationship with another human.
Read More | Aria
WowWee, creators of the Robosapien series of toys, has released their first winged bot, the Fly Tech Dragonbot. This robot actually flaps it wings, flies around in the air in a 150 foot range, and manages to stay airborne for about 15 minutes. It recharges by settling itself on its remote control. Due to be released in the UK in early 2007, it may be too late to add the winged creature to holiday lists this year, but after viewing the demo, we plan to add it to the top of ours next year.
Read More | Techopolis
This new bot can be controlled by thoughts alone. Rajesh Rao, the University of Washington researcher who heads the project, claims that brainwaves make it perform with 94% accuracy. An electrode cap is placed on a human who watches its movements on a monitor through two cameras installed on and above the robot. When the bot “sees” the object that the human brain wants to be picked up, it receives the information and does as it is mentally instructed. The bot can also move the object to another location. Check out its performance and hope that it is going to be a while before Little Brother is available to the public.
Read More | LiveScience
Togo Reveals Portable Reader for Braille
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Science,
The Chinese company Togo has unveiled a new gadget that will allow the blind to slide, scan, and translate text into Braille. The portable reader also has the capability of saving text to a built-in hard drive for later perusal and folds out for oversized tomes. It works by translating the images into analog electrical signals with an optical-to-electrical transducer, then changes the analog into digital. Although still in the planning stages, we applaud Togo for creating this amazing reader.
Read More | Yanko Design
