Never mind paying absurd quantities of cash to have some swing analyzer tell you how you'll never be like Tiger -- just pick yourself up one of these concoctions. E Ball's inflatable golf simulator not only consumes your entire backyard, it takes you back to those glory days of frolicking at the fair with your BFF, and it even allows you to practice your game in less-than-flawless weather. The device enables amateurs to work on their driving and putting, all without having to fetch balls afterwards or deal with the embarrassment of completely hacking it up in front of your more seasoned pals. It looks as if you'll have to ring up E Ball in order to get pricing details, but we don't envision this one coming in cheap.
It's definitely not for everyone, but if you fashion yourself an amateur MythBuster, you may do well to add Comfile's new rugged Windows CE-based CuWIN3500 touchscreen controller to your homebrew arsenal, which will let you control an array of sensors, motors or just about anything else you can plug into it. Up front and center on this one is a 7-inch 800 x 480 touchscreen, which gets backed up by a 32bit ARM9 266MHz processor, 64MB of SDRAM, 64MB NAND Flash, built-in Ethernet, and an SD card slot for further expansion. If that sounds like the piece of kit you've been waiting for, you can get your hands on one of these right now for $600.
Oh yeah, we've seen dedicated battery pack extenders for a plethora of the most popular gizmos, but IOGEAR's looking out for the run-of-the-mill crowd with its GearJuice Rescue Charger. Essentially, the wee device accepts any 'ole AA cell, and upon plugging it into your mini-USB-equipped PDA / mobile / DAP / fish tank, it provides an infinitesimally small boost of power. Okay, so it's said to give you an extra 15 minutes of talk time, but we'd probably go in with even lower expectations just to be safe. It's available now for $11.99 (battery not included).
Taking the top out of desktop, the XYZ Computer Desk is actually the computer itself, a table made of chromed legs and some kind of polycarbonate top, with ports and optical drive on the side, with plenty of room for expansion and clutter. And while the screen is too small for my liking, it's oh-so-pretty. [BornRich]
Anybody else out there a big Top Chef fan? Because The Smoking Gun is a product right out of Richard Blais' arsenal. Packable with any wood chips you like, the gun lets out a steady stream of smoke that can "marinate" foods in flavor when the grill just won't do. I'm not sure that I subscribe to the idea that Saran Wrapping some smoke around food for a few minutes while setting the table will rock one's palate, but you can give it a try yourself for $50. [Cuisine Technology via ShinyShiny]
If you're like me, there is urine all over your house. You know how crazy life can get, what with trying to juggle a career, a social life and a family. Sometimes you just don't know where that pee will end up! For a guy on the go like me, there's Urine-Off. It's spray that gets rid of pesky piss from wherever you spray it. It also comes with a helpful black light to help you find those "party stains," as they're known in my household. Finally, you can stop feeling guilty about peeing all over the place! It's a weight off my shoulders, let me tell you. Don't wait, buy yours today! [Product Page via NerdApproved]
Remember how steampunk is the next big thing? Yeah, apparently that includes pop idols and USB drives. Because one guy hand-crafted his USB drive from brass and copper in meticulous celebration of an era that never quite happened—unless you count Wild Wild West. And before you do, you should remember that Will Smith is a Scientologist now. How depressing. Here's a bonus shot to ease the sting:
Not to be a double-downer, but am I the only one who would like steampunk gadgets to start including, I dunno, something like actual steam? [topmods via technabob]
Brando's latest USB gizmo is an 8.5-inch high plasma tube that's an adjustable-brightness desk lamp. But flick a switch, and it pulses mesmerically in time to the sound of your music... or to the sound of you making "Vwummmm. Vwummm.... Cssshhsh!" noises as you sit there wishing it was four feet longer and had real cutting power. Sadly it doesn't, but this piece of desktop lighting fun is available now for $15, in blue, green or red. [Brando]
While recent attempts to create a perpetual motion machine somehow, inexplicably didn't pan out, a physics professor from Osaka University now claims to have made a scientific breakthrough of another sort, with him now touting nothing less than a supposedly successful demonstration of cold fusion. That was apparently done by forcing deuterium gas under pressure into an evacuated cell containing a sample of palladium dispersed in zirconium oxide, which caused the deuterium to be absorbed by the palladium sample, resulting in a denser, or "pynco" deuterium, with deuterium nuclei that are close enough together to fuse. That process also supposedly resulted in a rise in temperature to about 70° Celsius, and a temperature in the center of the cell that remained "significantly warmer" than the cell wall for 50 hours after the test. Of course, there doesn't appear to be any other scientists ready to back up the experiment just yet, so you'll have to rely on your own armchair science expertise to get your hopes up or down accordingly on this one.
If you're having trouble keeping track of what pill to take and when, you might want to turn your attention to the Dispense-A-Pill. Now look, we know that name isn't exactly pure gold, but when you've got a system that lets you store up to 90 days worth of medication and then automatically doles it out on a pre-programmed schedule -- naming conventions can probably take a backseat. The machine -- designed by Dr. Gazi Abdulhay -- can hold eight different types of medication, and the manufacturers plan to rent the units for less than the cost of an emergency call button. Now, if they can just create a system like this for making us lunch, we'll be all set. Check the video after the break to see the device in action. [Thanks, Yossi]
Joining the elite club of intelligent lighting solutions that are sophisticated enough to not be laughed at is NeuroLED. Truth be told, we're pretty far from understanding exactly how this contraption works, but we are told that the system is controlled by software written in Java and that it can be altered to react in different ways via toggle switches or wall-mounted touch panels. From what we can tell, the system can be used for pure entertainment, educating or even spicing up a nightclub, and considering that it can play nice with WiFi, remote access is also within the realm of possibility. That's about all the explaining we can do -- click on through to let the vid do the rest of the yappin'.
We're no strangers to out-there bathroom fixtures, but the $47,000 Red Diamond bathtub from Water Games Technologies is probably a new low high in powder room decadence. The screaming-red tub features multicolor lighting, a computer-controlled heating system that maintains your desired water temperature, an automatic disinfection system and built-in massager. Of course, that's what any peasant's tub offers -- the real action is in the two retractable HDTVs, Swarovski-encrusted champagne holder, and built-in GSM module that lets you call your bathtub and get things ready for some splashy time from afar. No word on availability, but if you're in the market we're certain your butler can figure it out for you.
We've already seen some attempts to create a tricorder-likedevice, but this latest crack it at by some researchers at Georgia Tech looks like it could well be the closest to the real thing to date -- if it ever turns into an actual device, that is. The big advance with this one, it seems, is the use of a new mosaic narrowband filter, which includes photosensitive pixel sensors that can observe different wavelengths and allow for multispectral imaging. According to the researchers, the filter could also be laminated with standard imaging sensors used in digital cameras, making an all-in-one handheld device possible. That would apparently let individuals use the device to detect everything from the severity of bruises to contamination in food, or even perform remote sensing in mining, to name but a few applications. The researchers still have quite a bit more work to do on it before any of that's possible, however, and they're now seeking collaborative or financial support to further develop the device.
Cheng Luo, an engineer from the Univeristy of Texas at Arlington, has created a self-propelled microboat based on the toy boats he played with as a child. When an object -- say, a toy boat -- floating on water has a drop of oil on it, the change in surface tension propels that object in the opposite direction. With this principle in mind, Luo has created a microboat that measures just millimeters, contains its own reservoir of isopropyl alcohol as a propellant, and cruises at around 30 cm per second. "But, why?" you ask. Luo explains that these tiny boats could be used to deliver drugs in blood vessels or even to diagnose and treat ailments. Sounds good to us -- wash one of these down with some self-healing goo and you could be all set. But before we go, try saying "toy boat" three times really fast.
HP is doing its part to help you feel good -- or bad -- about your carbon footprint with its new Eco Highlights label. The sticker will list a product's enviro-friendly "ingredients", much like those FDA labels you see at the grocery store that tell you how much fat and sugar you're consuming. The program's launch products will include printers such as the Deskjet D2545 ink-jet printer, LaserJet P4015x, LaserJet P4515x and LaserJet P4515xm which are made mostly of recycled parts. Other Eco Highlights label attributes will include recycled cartridges, recyclable packaging, and auto-on/auto-off with deep-sleep modes. Finally, a new HP Carbon Footprint Calculator for Printing and HP LaserJet Power Calculator will most likely make you feel really bad about the printer you're currently using, send you into a shame spiral, and ultimately force you to buy an HP Eco Highlight printer.
Like a vivid fever-dream Michael Bay might have after a night of pounding Sparks, this video of our nation's darkest hour and greatest triumph will have you screaming for a sequel. Confirming our belief that the out-of-control spy satellite which the Navy shot out of the sky in February really did contain a planet-destroying plague of zombie juice and / or Aliens, this roller coaster ride of a film retells the whole drama -- replete with swelling strings and in-your-face rage rock. Enjoy the epic video after the break, as well as a recap of our extensive coverage of the event, and rest easy knowing that once again great disaster has been averted... or has it?
Read - Out of control satellite "weeks" away from slamming into Earth Read - Pentagon to shoot down renegade spy satellite Read - Disabled spy satellite photographed over Japan Read - US to shoot down failed satellite at 10:30pm ET tonight Read - Alien or zombie threat averted: the spy satellite has been destroyed... probably Read - Video proof of the renegade satellite's destruction
The scientific and engineering possibilities of carbon nanotubes are hard to overestimate, but a study out of the UK might put a damper on the small-scale party for a while: mice injected with certain lengths of nanotubes developed lung problems similar to those caused by asbestos. Apparently the long, straight shape of the nanotubes causes problems for the lining of the lungs designed to deal with particulate matter, which can cause scarring, inflammation, and "probably cancer in the long term." That's a big "probably," however -- researchers say they're a long way from actually proving the link between long nanotubes and cancer, but no one's denying that it's troublesome, including the Nanotechnology Industries Association, which told the BBC that "there could be reason for concern... but it needs to be validated." It also seems like the focus is on handling the tech correctly, which is promising -- we'll keep an eye on how this plays out.
We don't know what's going on here exactly, but we're fairly certain they need a load of these on Arrakis, ASAP. Sure, Muad'Dib may be able to summon sandworms and lead an army of Fremen into battle, but he can't make drinkable water out of thin air, can he? That's where the Xziex comes in. Basically, this intimidating "atmospheric water generator" siphons moisture out of the air and converts it into water -- delicious, clean, healthy water. It may not actually live up to the company's claim of "The Most Exciting Product Ever," but if it does what they say, it's a pretty amazing device. Honestly, the Xziex website does cause a little concern, with its calls for readers to "lock in" their "position," and excited passages about earning potential -- but hey, who can blame them for trying to make a buck?
Having trouble keeping your fingers, thumbs, or eyeballs on the pulse of modern science? Do you find yourself in the throes of panic due to misunderstandings in molecular goings-on? Did the latest aircar, split atom, or robotic insectoid go buzzing over your head before you had time to ready a response? Don't worry friends, The Professor is here to help. Though not an actual scientist, professor, or even a college graduate, he can help guide you through the cascading, complicated, and spasmodic visionary vistas of human invention and achievement as smoothly as a hot knife descending into softened butter.
Scientists theorize that in addition to causing cancer and decreasing sperm count, cellphone radiation may also cause changes in your behavior. Researchers discovered that exposure to the typical electromagnetic radiation which cellphones give off caused test subjects to experience short-term bouts of insomnia, and could affect other brain functions to greater or lesser degrees. Finally you can blame your late mornings on something other than a night of heavy drinking. Read - Mind Control by Cell Phone
Common flies may contribute to the robots of the future, thanks to their complex eyes. Scientists at the Naval Air Warfare Center and University of Wyoming have created a fiber-optic sensor which resembles the pest's eye structure. Apparently, the overlapping fields of view generated by a fly's compund-eye photoreceptors create a more thorough picture of its surroundings. Future droids might be able to use the data to build a more accurate image than the kind that can be gleaned with simple cameras or crazy hunches they get late at night.
In the future, medical tests may be available in cheap and disposable "lab on a chip" solutions -- made of nothing but paper. Scientists at Harvard's Whitesides Research Group have created microfluidic testing technology which uses a hydrophobic polymer coating to direct fluid to separate "nodes" on a tiny scrap of paper. The design does away with expensive components from traditional testing equipment, and can help bring affordable medical diagnostics "to the masses." [Via: Engadget ]
Not quite sure what's up with the recent influx of bicycle-related DIY jobs, but nevertheless, we've another one on our hands here with Mike's Flying Bike. Essentially, Mike utilized a SunSPOT as well as a plethora of other sensors in order to modify his mountain bike for use as a Google Earth controller. In ET-like fashion, he's now able to pedal around various locations in the world, simultaneously burning through excess calories, opening his mind to new locales and monumentally inflating his ego. If you've got seven minutes to spare, you can check this thing out in action just beyond the break.
Besides being absolutely beautiful, this Sync Desktop concept from designer Gareth Battensby features a fold-away widescreen monitor and keyboard, a built in USB hub, scanner, mouse, webcam, easy-to-access DVD unit, and plenty of storage space. And because it is all seamlessly integrated into the design, the Sync can be converted into a standard desk for other projects whenever necessary. The only problem is that I doubt that it could ever become a commercial product unless there was a way to upgrade the hardware. [Gareth Battensby via Born Rich]
Apparently HP's gotten so desperate to connect with the youth market that they've actually hired on a "teen council" to help design a new line of products -- likeliest PCs -- from top to bottom. Will it be another bomb like the hip-e? Guess we'll find out when the line launches this fall.
Bags that charge your gadgets aren't exactly a new concept, but that apparently hasn't stopped Philips from trying to patent the idea, as evidenced by its recently-revealed application for a so-called "Smart Handbag." This bag is somewhat unique, however, in that it has separate compartments for your various gizmos, each of which contain their own electric conductive circuit that's used to top off the devices as needed (the bag itself is apparently charged simply by plugging the strap into a power outlet). As if that wasn't enough, the other end of the strap would apparently be outfitted with a USB connector, which'd let you plug the bag into your computer and instantly have access to all the devices contained within it. Of course, that's assuming computers still have USB ports whenever this thing actually makes it off the drawing board.
It looks like Angstrom Power is working on more than just fuel cells for MOTOSLVR L7 prototypes, with the company now also touting its G2 portable fuel cell power source that promises to keep a whole range of gadgets charged up. This one packs eight V60 Fuel Cell Modules that combine to provide a full two watts of power, which can be used to top off any device that charges via a USB connection. According to Angstrom, the G2 itself can also be replenished "in minutes," either by using an Angstrom P2 Portable Refueling Cartridge or an R1 Refueling Station, though it can apparently withstand "several charges" before it needs to be refueled. No word on pricing or availability just yet, but it seems safe to bet that it'll show up before those fuel cell-powered cellphones, which are apparently still on track for a release somewhere in the neighborhood of 2010.
We know that the Spritzer Cup—a $14.95 cup with built-in face spritzer—has separate chambers for your drinks and your water. But all we can imagine is somebody filling this whole thing up with artificially red high fructose corn syrup beverage and spritzing away. The resulting mental image of eyelash stickies coupled with the distinct possibility of interested picnic ants is, quite honestly, more than our pasty homebodies can tolerate without breaking out in hives. [Via: Gizmodo, The Gadget Blog ]
We've been huffing the vaporous promise of methanol fuel cells for so long now that we sold all our furniture and live in a cardboard box. Nevertheless, Sharp's in a tizzy over its direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) prototype. Sharp's cell is able to provide 0.3 Watts of power per cubic centimeter making it the world's most powerful DMFC cell for its size. Availability? Sharp has no idea but "it won't be commercialized soon," according to a spokesperson. Kudos for honesty, but that gnawing angst for a refillable battery replacement for traditional lithium-ion batteries continues to taunt us. P.S. Sharp didn't offer any photos with the press release so we tossed in an old Toshiba concept just to annoy them.
Chicago residents are no strangers to the city's many CCTV cameras by this point -- if anyone knows exactly how long to stop at Roosevelt and State to avoid the red-light cam there, you let us know, okay? -- but it looks like this summer is going to bring a new twist to the city's surveillance racket: automated camera monitoring. Video from the several thousand cameras in Chicago's Operation Virtual Shield project currently comes into the city's Office of Emergency Management and Communication's ops center, but starting this summer, it'll also be watched by an IBM-developed autonomous system that can be programmed to watch for specific activities or objects, like certain cars or unattended backpacks. Since the video is stored on a 60TB storage array for 30 days, law enforcement can also do retroactive searches using the tech. That's a huge step up from San Francisco's useless CCTV system, sure, but we've never really believed any of this stuff is actually effective at deterring crime -- hopefully we'll be proven wrong. Check out the the full news vid at the read link.
It looks like we could one day be buying our OLED displays by the jar or the bucket-full, at least if some researchers from Sumitomo Chemical and Mitsubishi Chemical have their way. They're now working on what they describe as "spreadable" OLEDs, which could either be spread or "painted" on virtually any surface, leaving an OLED screen that would be just 100nm thick. As if that wasn't enough, the spreadable concoction would also double as a solar panel that'd keep the OLEDs powered, something that's apparently possible due to the "similar, but opposite, principles" that OLEDs and solar cells work on. What's more, while the two companies are apparently still in the early stages of research, they say they're aiming to have usable prototypes ready within the next two years.
We can't say we've ever felt the need to experience an accurate sensation of drilling through bone, but if you've always wondered what that was like (or, you know, are actually training to become a surgeon), you may want to take Medic Visions new Mediseus Surgical Drilling Simulator for a spin, which makes use of SensAble's PHANTOM haptic device for that added sense of realism. That'll apparently not only give you force feedback that's able to "distinguish between the feeling of different parts of the temporal bone drilling procedure," but some audio cues as well to round out the entire quease-inducing process. The system also comes equipped with a telelearning system that'll let a surgeon in one location show a trainee in another how it's done but, unfortunately, it doesn't appear to include an updated version of Operation to help residents put in those downtimes.
We've seem some impressive wind power tech, but a new breed of small, high-power wind turbines could potentially bring efficient wind power home. Developed by an inventor named Doug Selsam, the new turbines have rotors just 14-18 inches in diameter, but can produce 200 watts in a 20MPH wind, and much more than that at higher wind speeds. The trick is using high-strength carbon-fiber materials that allow several rotors to be hooked up as one -- in strong winds a thirteen-rotor system can produce enough juice to blow out a bank of car headlights "like flashbulbs." That's pretty impressive -- especially since the system is light and balanced enough to be held up with one hand. No word on when or how we might see these hit the public, but we can see some pretty sweet applications -- laptops in the park, anyone? [Via: Engadget ]
We've seen some pretty far-fetched efforts meant to capture the sun's rays and convert 'em into energy, but this one holds a special place in our hearts. Rather than consuming acres upon acres of desert land or simply placing a plethora of panels atop some roof, ZM Architecture has an idea that would land a slew of large lily-shaped solar panels in the River Clyde. After winning the International Design Awards Land and Sea Competition, the concept has been passed on to the Glasgow city council in hopes of a trial going forward in the near future. Essentially, energy gathered by the discs would be transformed and exported to the national grid, and integrated motors could rotate the pads in order to "follow the sun for maximum output." Just gotta watch for those sunbathers sure to swim over and kick back on a panel of their own. [Via: Inhabitat ]
When I look at the classic Nintendo Zapper I think of my younger days as a screaming, hot-headed 8-bit gamer, but not Fluffypants. No siree. The enterprising DIY lamp artist looked at the orange and gray plastic and saw a lamp. A few hours and one fabricated cardboard NES cartridge stand later, that laughing dog was back in action, ready to haunt my dreams once again. If this model played the level intro music I'd be tempted to break out the glue gun, but for now I'll just marvel at its brilliance from afar. [Craftster via Boing Boing Gadgets] [Via: Gizmodo, The Gadget Blog ]
E-Ink has a new display made available last week, based on segmented display cell (SDC) technology. Apparently the new screens are 40% thinner and have increased flexibility over E Ink's previous displays, and can now be formed in "organic non-rectangular unique shapes, including holes, curves, and other non-standard designs". Delphi's already picking up use of the display for future keyfob products -- always good to know there are consumer applications right around the corner. [Via: Engadget ]
Not only is Gizmondo coming back, Carl Freer says you can expect to see a new version of the handheld console by the end of the year—this time without the whole defrauding investors and crashing Ferraris schtick, supposedly.In an interview in the Gizmondo forums, Freer claimed that, "There is still incredible value in the Gizmondo. And with the enhancements we're adding... we feel it's only the beginning of where we can go with the product."Gizmondo version 2.0 will include a new graphics chip, Windows CE 6.0 (which comes with "a lot of 'new' goodies," Freer says), and a bunch of original content to be downloaded off the gizmondo.com website. It'll be ready by Winter 2008, and the developer community can expect more announcements soon.Left unanswered by the interview was why Freer thinks anybody is going to trust him with anything a second time around. Maybe he hasn't heard the adage: "Fool me once, your CEO gets sent to jail for three years and your company gets liquidated. Fool me twice... well, you ain't ever gonna fool me twice." [Via: Gizmodo, The Gadget Blog ]
It's a tough call -- are you willing to get your eyeballs within the driver's seat of your remote-controlled vehicle, even if it means looking freakishly like Geordi La Forge? If you've thrown aside your pride and confidently answered "yes," you should certainly have a gander at the Pilot View FPV 2400. Designed for use in radio-controlled aircraft and cars, the system places a wireless camera in the cockpit and then beams back live first-person footage to those horrifically unsightly goggles you see consuming the face of that poor gal above. In all seriousness, we'd bet the experience is fairly novel, if not a touch fantastic, but we could probably think of more enthralling ways to spend $549 if we were really pressed. [Via: Engadget ]
Far from being the first at-home biofuel kit we've seen, E-Fuel is hoping to target consumers with a hankering for fueling up their vehicle with homegrown goodness. The Micro Fueler claims to be the first backyard Ethanol brewer made specifically for use at one's abode, and according to the outfit's CEO, the premise behind it is quite simple. By mixing water, sugar and yeast, individuals can receive E100 Ethanol in a matter of hours. More specifically, it's noted that a gallon of fuel can be derived from ten gallons of sugar, and while that may not sound like the most efficient conversion rate in the world, the company is quick to point out that costs can be lowered via federal, state and local credits along with carbon trading coupons. Those eager to start fueling up before they even leave the house can order one now for $9,995, though we're told not to expect shipments until Q4. [Via: Engadget ]
Watch out, battery-powered MAVs -- your viability could be seriously in danger. Based on a patent application from University of Florida aerospace engineer Subrata Roy, he's reckoning that a micro air vehicle could be propelled by plasma. Scientists have known that passing a current or magnetic field through a conducting fluid generates a force, but exploiting it for use in moving an aircraft has proven futile thus far. The phenomenon, simply known as magnetohydrodynamics, has typically been tested on larger crafts, but Mr. Roy's invention would boast a wingspan of less than 15-centimeters and resemble a flying saucer more so than a 747. Of course, this fantastic idea has yet to become much more than just that, but for armed forces and entities obsessed with surveillance, this could undoubtedly be big. [Via: Engadget ]
Gear4 has been known to unleash a few unorthodox speaker systems, but the forthcoming Duo is particularly impressive -- in finding a way to somehow differentiate itself in the expansive pool of alternatives, that is. At first glance, it doesn't appear to differ much from every other one out there, but give that front panel a tug, and off comes a portable speaker system with its own rechargeable batteries, auxiliary port and power supply. When you arrive back, just reattach the magnetically-held panel and listen as the bass kicks in without missing a beat. Apparently the unit is set to go on sale on June 1st for ?150 ($290), though we haven't heard if it'll ever arrive on US soil. [Via: Engadget ]
PingMag did an interview with the creators of the Tenori-on that was overlooked when published, but there are a few interesting tidbits from the interview, like the fact that neither of the creators are musicians. Yu said it took three years to develop the Tenori-on, and another three to get Yamaha on board with the production process. When throwing around design ideas, shapes like triangles were considered, but appeared too difficult to make usable, so they stuck with the square shape. Other interesting design aspects include making the Tenori wide enough so that the thumbs of the average adult hand meet in the middle of the tenori when grasped, and that it was never intended to be a user friendly music machine; it kind of just happened. Read the full interview over at [PingMag].
It's no secret that desk-based jobs (such as blogging) provide a lifestyle for people that quickly turns them into quivering, rotund masses of gravy-scented putty, which is why it's no surprise that this whole "exercising while you work" thing piques people's interest. But really, do you want to jog on a treadmill all day while you work, or bounce up and down on a yoga ball?We're not talking about 20-minute stints here, we're talking about replacing your desk with exercise equipment. There's no leaning back in your desk chair with this Trek Desk, people. It's balls-out commitment.And while I don't doubt for a second that you'd lose weight if you did light exercise for eight straight hours every day, who the hell wants to do that? Why don't you just, you know, go to the gym for 45 minutes after work so you aren't disgusting and sweaty during meetings. You don't want to get a reputation for that stinky, out of breath guy who doesn't know the meaning of the word "moderation," after all.
We have seen crank powered chargers before, and even one that involves pedaling, but this bizarre contraption really has it all. With a little pedal power you can juice up a wide range of gadgets—and even use the built-in LED on the battery as a flashlight. But what about the health benefits?
Sure, it is Earth-friendly and it could come in handy during a power outage, but the product site is also billing the device as a great upper and lower body workout. And let's face it, there is nothing more satisfying than turning on your MP3 player and knowing that each song was powered by your own sweat and tears. Available for around $141. [Rakuten via TFTS]
Tivoli's awaited NetWorks Radio is finally going into production this week and it's looking quite different from what we saw previously. The $600 unit features a Global Portal accessible via the system's Ethernet and Wi-Fi, allowing you to listen to music from all over the world. In addition, the unit can interface with PCs (for DRM-free WMAs, MP3s and Real Audio) and features USB for reading music off of various mass storage devices. The inclusion of a stereo speaker or CD drive will cost extra—which is a Tivoli standard. And while we're sure it sounds great, $600 is still a lot to pay for an internet radio...even if it comes in various "furniture grade" styles of wood casing.
At this point we have seen iPod docks fitted to just about everything under the sun, so it should come as no surprise that a company decided to develop a sink capable of playing tunes from your MP3 player. Fortunately for designer Jan Puylaert and the guys at WET, their X-Light Surround Basin should be considered as more than just a gimmick—it actually looks really cool with the transparent, light-diffusing acrylic polymer (PMMA) basin revealing the speaker system underneath. Throw some LEDs on this thing and it would be like a party in your bathroom.
The Pilot View FPV 2400 is a (wireless) camera system that can strap on any R/C plane and stream images to the pilot, who wears video goggles below. Range is about 1 kilometer over the 2.4Ghz spectrum, and the video quality from such systems really isn't so bad (hit the jump for an example clip). At $550, it's a commitment, and seemingly a tad risky to strap onto an even more expensive, properly-weighted R/C plane.
We'll be honest, we don't even care that we'd be wearing video glasses. It looks like incredibly fun. [Product via Gearfuse]
