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Latest Gear Live Videos
Speecys Breaks Up Your Day
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Misc. Tech, Science, Videos,
They say laughter is the best medicine. That must have been the thinking behind the creators of Speecys SPC-101C. At a height of 33 cm and a weight of 1.5 kg, the guffawing bot features a 22+LED display, 2 stereo speakers, a 270,000-pixel CMOS Color Video cam, and wireless capability. We think that perhaps he is laughing and dancing because someone was dense enough to shell out the $3,000. And yes, for the record, we realize the Speecys is a cleverly disguised homophone.
Read More 
| Speecys
Gallery: Speecys Breaks Up Your Day
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Toyota Unveils Green iQ
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Design, Transportation,
Toyota’s new iQ concept car was recently introduced at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show. The vehicle is only 2.98 meters in length yet has room to seat up to three adults and 1 child with its innovative 3+1 system which allows the fourth seat to be utilized for luggage space. We could not find any information concerning what type of fuel the vehicle will use, leading us to believe that this is not a plug-and-play automobile. All the same, we are hoping we will get a glimpse of it at the NAIAS early next year. The iQ will make its formal debut in Europe probably in 2009.
Read More | AutoblogGreen
Gallery: Toyota Unveils Green iQ
If you want to add a bit of pizzazz to your music, MediaReady will provide you with a 2GB BLINGPLAYER that is portable and ready-to-wear. Available in polished or brushed chrome or Skull ‘n Crossbones models, the device supports both MP3s and MPEG-4s, as well as housing an FM tuner. It will store about 30 hours of music, up to 16 hours of video, and has enough space for 30 FM stations. If you would like to own a piece of the bling that is being promoted on hip hop artists’ necks everywhere, contact MediaReady and get ready to sing to the tune of $119.00.
Read More | MediaReady
Gallery: BLINGPLAYER Can Sing
Belkin’s new iPod Cases Support Breast Cancer Research
Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Accessories, Design, Portable Audio / Video,
What’s not to like about Belkin? Not only do they make quality accessories for seemingly all our assorted gadgets, now they‘ve introed iPod cases for which 10% of sales will go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Own an iPod Shuffle? Check out their new Sport Armband, which you can also wear on your wrist. It’s also water-resistant and has nighttime reflectors. Very cool. If you have an iPod nano, there’s a Sport Armband for that too, and yes, it’s water-resistant. Also for the nano is the Remix Acrylic, a clear case made of, yes, acrylic. But our favorite is The Statements, a leather case with a ribbon pattern, a wristband, and a mirror/picture frame! Each comes in Pink (natch) or Bone, and will be available from the Belkin website and exclusively at Target stores on September 15. Prices range from $20-$25 USB.
Read More | Belkin
Gallery: Belkin’s new iPod Cases Support Breast Cancer Research
UFS to Be Standard for Memory Cards
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smartphones, Design, Handhelds, Misc. Tech, Portable Audio / Video, Storage,
Micron Technology, Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Spansion, STM, and TI have announced that they get together to standardize removable memory cards and the technology embedded in them. The chore will be in the hands of JEDEC Solid State Technology Association with the new specification to be called Universal Flash Storage (UFS.) The aim here is less access time for memories, higher speed for large files and reduction of power.
The company claims that while 90 minutes (4GB) takes 3 minutes today to access, UFS will take only a few seconds. Handhelds, digital cameras, and other consumer electronics will be able to handle the new technology which should be finalized in 2009.
Read More | Post-Bulletin
Gallery: UFS to Be Standard for Memory Cards
Microsoft and Tmsuk To Unite in Robotics Bliss
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Design, Microsoft, Science,
Microsoft has teamed up with former factory automation and now robotics company Tmsuk to develop what they feel will be cutting edge technology. As of now, there are many different systems being used and the company would like it if they were more standardized and used one, preferably their Robotics Studio.
Professor Atsuo Takanishi at Waseda University mentioned that it remained to be seen if Microsoft can make their dream a reality. “But I don’t think it is very difficult to modify the existing technologies developed with other operating system—such as Linux—into a Microsoft version.”
We like the idea that companies are getting together and don’t really care who is in charge as long as they just keep those bots coming, hopefully at a price everyone can handle.
Read More | Space Daily
Gallery: Microsoft and Tmsuk To Unite in Robotics Bliss
While we are on the subject of creepy things that go bump in the night, take a peek at Harold Ilano’s Mercury, named for the light-seeker. Made from an old Playstation, a Li-Poly 3.6 V cell phone battery, and a few analog components. The robotic bug zig-zags across your floor, seeking the light via its sensors, and pauses occasionally to regroup. Red LEDs were added to keep people from tripping over it in the dark and because it, in Ilano’s own words, “makes him look cool.” The designer was kind enough to post instructions if you want to make your own horde of robotic insects.
Read More | Make
Gallery: Mercury, Robot Seeker of Light
Rugs Vividly Portray Earth and Moon
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Smart Home, Science,
Instead of projecting our planet and moon on your ceiling, why not walk all over it? These rugs are created out of virgin wool in six colors. The Earth Rug has a diameter of 98.5-inches with a huge price of $2752.80 while the Moon is 47.25-inches and can be yours for $824.60. At prices like that, perhaps it would be best to offer the rugs to traveling aliens who are looking for souvenirs to take back to their planets instead of the usual t-shirts.
Read More | The Magazine.Info
Gallery: Rugs Vividly Portray Earth and Moon
Prototype Toaster Leaves Tasty Messages
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Smart Home, Misc. Tech,
We’ve seen plenty of toasters that imprint dinosaurs, skulls and crossbones, and even Hello Kitty on bread, but this is the first one we have found that sounds practical. With designer Sasha Tseng’s Messenger Toaster, you can write a quick note on top so that when your significant other awakens he/she will have a honey-do list and breakfast. This prototype might also serve as an excellent excuse. “Sorry dear, I guess I ate the grocery list.”
Read More | Yanko
Gallery: Prototype Toaster Leaves Tasty Messages
Apple Announced 3rd Gen. iPod nano - Plays Video, Cover Flow
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Design, Portable Audio / Video,
Continuing with all of today’s iPod announcements, Apple has announced the new third generation iPod nano. This time it gets a complete redesign, starting with the size - just 6.5mm thin. It also sports a new 2-inch QVGA 320x240 screen that is 65% brighter than the second generation nano, and is 204 dpi - the highest pixel density screen that Apple has ever shipped. The new iPod nano also has a new UI which includes Cover Flow, has support for playing videos, and ships with three games as well (Vortex, iQuiz, and Klondike.) Battery life has been extended as well, as Apple says the nano will play music for 24 hours, and video for 5 hours. It will be available in five colors: (PRODUCT) RED, light blue, black, pastel green, and silver. As far as price goes, the 4GB model (only available in silver) will retail for $149 USD, while the 8GB version will sell for $199. Both will be in stores by this weekend.
