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Latest Gear Live Videos
OMFC Runs on Methanol
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Design, Handhelds, Portable Audio / Video,
One of Toshiba’s latest prototypes is a portable media player that runs on a nearly 100% methanol fuel cell. Filled by the side face of the console, it features an indicator that shows the fuel level. Vapor that is created as a byproduct simply evaporates. The OMFC can run for about 10 hours with 1 seg playback. After debuting the PMP at this year’s CEATEC 2007, Toshiba says it will be available commercially sometime next year and is working on a fuel cartridge and a notebook equipped with a cell as well.
Read More 
| Tech On
Gallery: OMFC Runs on Methanol
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JVC’s Clap On, Clap Off Television
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Design, HDTV, Home Entertainment,
JVC’s latest entry into the world of electronics is their “hand clap & gesture recognition” TV. Unveiled at the CEATEC 2007, you clap 3 times into its mic for a menu. A cam sitting atop the screen tracks your hand, thereby turning it into a tuner. Hook your finger and you click a button. There are also different clapping patterns for such features as volume control. There is no target date set for this prototype’s commercialization. While this is a definite advantage if you are one of those who had a “clap-on” signal for your remote control when it got lost, we are curious as to its response to a televised concert when the applause rolls around.
Read More | Tech On
Gallery: JVC’s Clap On, Clap Off Television
Tiny Capsuli Emits Bright Light
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Transportation,
The Capsuli is an LED Emergency Kit designed by Ukseop Jeong and Hanna Son. The capsules are palmsize and emit light with a simple twist. They are housed on a pad containing solar cells, so there is no worry about running out of batteries in the middle of a hurricane. Only a prototype, we hope that this will eventually become a staple of home and car first aid kits, since we never seem able to keep flashlights working when we really need them.
Read More | Capsuli
Gallery: Tiny Capsuli Emits Bright Light
Pillow Decreases Snoring
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Software,
Daryoush Bazargani snores. How convenient that he just happens to be a computer science professor at the University of Rostock in Germany. He has come up with a special pillow and attached it to a computer on his nightstand that analyzes the noise. The computer then creates or takes away pockets of air within the pillow. The result that it eases nasal airflow to minimize snoring. Still in the prototype stage, we are up for any solution that results in less noise pollution when we are trying to crash.
Read More | Reuters via Blog Cadre
Gallery: Pillow Decreases Snoring
Hacoa, a Japanese company that makes wooden peripherals by hand, will soon be releasing a DIY USB keyboard kit. Announced at the recent CEATEC 2007, the Ki-Board DIY Kit is strictly for users who can use a saw and have assembly capability. We figure that since it takes the company an entire day to create one, they have decided to let us do all the work, and feel the pride while keeping Band-Aids in business. The kit will be available for JPY 34,800 (~$300.00.)
Read More | Hacoa (translated)
Gallery: DIY Keyboard For Carpenter Geeks
For those of you that play chess into the wee hours of the morning, Dutch designer Daan Van Tuldur has created a set that is lit by LEDs that are located in the 4 corners of the board. Black and white are replaced by matte and transparent squares, and all the pieces basically have the same shape. Besides this prototype, Van Tuldur has worked on many designs, including HotSpots, arcade-size retro systems geared for the next generation of Atari gamers.
Read More | Judag
Gallery: Play Chess at Night
This timepiece is for those that believe that the cup is half empty or maybe for those who know that time keeps on ticking, ticking away. Crispin Jones designed his Accurate watch in what he refers to as Critical Design, “using the language and tools of design to articulate a critical perspective.”
Created with a mirrored dial like the original analog with rotating discs, his watch is available in a Limited Edition of 100 for ~$163.00. To see more of Jones’ concepts with messages, check out his website.
Read More | Cool Hunting
Gallery: Accurate Watch Remade With a Message
Coca-Cola Intros Self-Chilling Soda Bottles
Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Design, Misc. Tech,
Don’t your taste buds hate it when you open a soda…and it becomes warm after leaving the top off for awhile? Well the folks at Coca-Cola have heard your cries. It’s about to intro a new bottle with technology that keeps your soda cold, even with the top off. No more ice, which means no more watered down soda. Cool. What’s interesting is that the self-chilling bottles will have to be stored at a certain temperature, which means Coke will have to dispatch new vending machines specifically for them. No word on when the guinea pig
first product, “Sprite Super Chilled,” will be available.
Read More | Mirror
Gallery: Coca-Cola Intros Self-Chilling Soda Bottles
Armani Opens Boutique in Second Life
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Wearables, Corporate News, Design, Internet,
Giorgio Armani has certainly been active of late. He has just teamed with Samsung, and now he has opened a virtual shop on Second Life. Modeled after his showplace in Milan, he will be sending an avatar of himself during its grand opening. Users of the site will be able to buy his wares with Linden Dollars or can connect to his Emporia Armani. The designer had this to say about the concept, “Finally, I can really be in two places at once.”
Read More | Reuters
Gallery: Armani Opens Boutique in Second Life
Vaja iVolution Top SP Flip Holster for the iPhone reviewed
Posted by Sparky Categories: Accessories, Apple, Smartphones, Design, Portable Audio / Video, Product Reviews,
Surrounding the release of Apple‘s iPhone there was a flurry excitement surrounding various cases to protect and showcase a consumer’s shiny new obsession. A number of cases including simple cloth slipcovers, protective rubber enclosures, and elaborate leather constructions flooded onto the market, each with different plusses and minuses.
Gear Live has previously reviewed several of the high-end leather cases by Argentinean case manufacturer Vaja, and given our extremely positive experiences in the past, we jumped at the opportunity to check out their new iVolution line of iPhone cases. The iVolution line has a number of different styles of cases and holsters, and we selected the fully-enclosed protection offered by the iVolution Top SP Holster. Click through the jump for the full in-depth review.
Click to continue reading Vaja iVolution Top SP Flip Holster for the iPhone reviewed
