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At some point in time, everyone has been locked out of their home at least once. It’s a frustrating feeling as you stand there pondering what part of your domicile to break (window, door?) to gain admittance. To avoid this kind of scenario, Tychi Systems presents the BioKnob. The BioKnob works on the principle of biometrics in that it uses your fingerprint for verification. The BioKnob will allow up to 100 users to be programmed for entry and uses a rechargeable battery that lasts for approximately 1000 openings. When battery power gets low (less than 50 entries left), the knob will alert the user who can then plug an AC adapter into it for charging. Additional features include the support of temporary users, choice of two colors, and adaptibility to practically any standard door. Sounds like a great product as long as Tychi Systems has taken steps to counteract the Play-Doh problem wherein biometric devices could be fooled 90% of the time with a fake, Play-Doh finger. No word yet on pricing or availability.
Read More 
| Tychi Systems via Gizmag
Art Lebedev Optimus Mini Three Officially Announced
Posted by John Goulden Categories: Accessories, Features, Peripherals,
Imagine if you will a keyboard that changes the look of its keys to fit the software you are using. Such a keyboard could be used in any country with no modification as the keys could display whatever character set is required by the local language. The possibilities are endless. Gear Live first reported on such an amazing device back in July, 2005, and the concept was met with equal amounts of curiosity, disbelief, and a passionate
want to have one. Time passed and eventually we were rewarded with a tidbit of information that “Good things come in small packages”, a few sample pictures of a 3-key device and a teaser date of February 1, 2006. The date has finally arrived and product availability and pricing have been announced although its not quite what everyone was hoping for…yet. The initial concept was for a full-sized keyboard with tiny OLED (organic light-emitting diode) screens replacing the top of each key at a price “less than a good mobile phone”.
Every company with a great idea has to start somewhere, and Art Lebedev Studio chose to start with a smaller scale device - the Optimus Mini Three. The Mini Three will utilize 3 keys, each with a 20x20mm (96x96 pixels) OLED display capable of a 5 second refresh rate. The tiny OLED displays have a lifespan of 5000 hours (roughly 208 days if used non-stop) and will have a screen saving mode to extend their life. Although the Optimus Mini Three is currently shipping with Windows-based configuration software only, the company expects to release versions for MacOS and Linux shortly thereafter. Three keys is a bit limiting (six would have been better), so shift states have been implemented which will allow the keys to display other functions. Even though shift states aren’t going to speed up the use of shortcuts (what normally would take one hand will now take two), they will make the Mini Three more useful to some extent.
The keyboard will be available for pre-order later this week at a price of $100 with an expected ship date of May 15th. Modders, early-adopters, and gadget freaks rejoice.
Read More | Art Lebedev Studio
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Feeling the urge to immerse yourself in more Nintendo nostalgia? The linked original 1984 Nintendo Entertainment System commercial may just do the trick. The commercial features R.O.B., the Zapper (Nintendo’s gun), and Duck Hunt. While I owned an NES, I never got my hands on a R.O.B. so I was a little surprised when I saw it in the commercial - it honestly was a smaller than I pictured it. I was also amazed to see how many bonuses the machine came with - two controllers, a Zapper, Duck Hunt, R.O.B., and more. All of a sudden, the Xbox 360 Premium and Sony PSP Value Pack don’t seem to pack that much value.
Read More | techeblog
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As of this morning, Apple slashed the price of its 20-inch 2.1GHz PowerPC-based iMac. Pricing for the G5 based iMac dropped $199 from $1699 to $1499. Pricing remains the same on the 17” iMac model. If you really want to grab a bargain basement price on either of these machines, head over to Amazon where you can pick up the 20” G5 iMac for $1349.99 or the 17” model for $1174.99. Although the new Intel based iMacs are smokin’ hot machines, the G5 based models are still more than adequate for most average users needs. Don’t miss out on this great deal!
Read More | Compare iMac Pricing
For you podcasters out there making gobs of money, and those that have to have the latest and greatest, Sony has just announced its new PCM-D1 portable recorder. This thing just oozes with a techno-geek sexiness that any audio junkie will appreciate. Sony claims that the PCM-D1 will “quickly become popular among audio pros, recognized as much for its distinctive styling as for its exceptional sound recording quality.” Well, we don’t know about becoming that popular, with a price tag of $1,999.95 USD, it’s going to be the far and few podcasting elite like Adam Curry or Leo Laporte who can afford this puppy.
Read More | Podcasting News
So you don’t feel like paying those high prices for “real” PBX systems? Maybe your just an uber nerd like most of us, and want a totally kick-ass wicked phone system for your crib. We’ve got the answer for you. Ward Mundy over at Nerd Vittles has been writing about geeky things like this for quite some time. I’d say it’s safe to say he has perfected the art of installing and tweaking Asterisk, the PBX system for nerds. He has written the most comprehensive guide to installing Asterisk@Home that I have seen anywhere on the net. Head over to Nerd Vittles and get your uber geek fix for the day.
Read More | Nerd Vittles
For those of you looking for an automotive fix today, Left Lane News brings us the scoop that General Motors will present the all-new 2007 Opel GT to the public for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show (March 2 to 12, 2006). With exciting, sharply-cut lines, rear-wheel drive, and a potent four-cylinder turbo engine with gasoline direct injection, the new sports car “echoes the successful concept of the original GT, which was built between 1968 and 1973,” the company says. The GT is based on the same platform as the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky. It also borrows heavily from the design of both cars. The original Opel GT owed much to the USA, as well. Its lines were inspired by a new American design style, the so-called “coke bottle shape”, which also defined the Corvette Stingray.
Read More | Left Lane
Special Edition Blue iPod nano For The UK
Posted by Frank Bisono Categories: Apple, Portable Audio / Video,
UK residents be advised, here’s a chance to get a totally customized blue iPod nano. NamesCo is giving away 5 free iPod Nano’s during the month of February. All you have to do is answer a simple question - How heavy is the iPod nano? Once again, prizes are limited to UK residents only. Rock on you Brits, and enter today.
Read More | NamesCo
Apparently Bill Gates has so much money, the standard IRS computers can’t handle crunching his numbers. Get this, the IRS has a specially dedicated computer that exists for the sole purpose of dealing with the massive fortune of Billy Gates.
“My tax return in the United States has to be kept on a special computer because their normal computers can’t deal with the numbers,” he said at a Microsoft conference held in Lisbon.
“So I am constantly getting these notices telling me I haven’t paid something when really it is just on the wrong computer,” he added in comments broadcast on television.
“Then they will send me another notice telling me how bad they feel they that they sent me a notice that was a mistake,” he said
Now doesn’t your heart just bleed for Bill? If we only had his problems.
Read More | News.com
Altec Lansing AHP712i Headphones Review
Posted by Edwin Soto Categories: Accessories, Features, Portable Audio / Video, Product Reviews,
Altec Lansing is known for giving audiophiles the quality in detail that they seek. The AHP712i headphones were designed with those of us that love ear-cupped style headphones and refuse to migrate to the possibly more comfortable and stylish earbuds. Considering you can get a semi-decent pair of headphones for about $30 these days, we decided to put these through a rigorous amount of testing to determine whether or not they are truly worth $150. Check out the review after the jump.
Click to continue reading Altec Lansing AHP712i Headphones Review
