2006-03-30

Anti-gravity Effect? Gravitational Equivalent Of A Magnetic Field Measured In Lab

Anti-gravity Effect? Gravitational Equivalent Of A Magnetic Field Measured In Lab: "Scientists funded by the European Space Agency have measured the gravitational equivalent of a magnetic field for the first time in a laboratory. Under certain special conditions the effect is much larger than expected from general relativity and could help physicists to make a significant step towards the long-sought-after quantum theory of gravity.

The Electric Violin

The Electric Violin: "March 26, 2006 The violin is one of the oldest of instruments with roots going back 7000 years, arriving in its current form 500 years ago. So classically trained musician Tricia Ho felt that it was time to redesign the classical instrument with 21st century ergonomics and an interchangeable frame system that allow the player to customise the violin to suit their style and reduce musculoskeletal disorders in player’s necks and shoulders. “Coming from a background of classical violin training I have many friends who experienced problems gripping a traditional violin”, said Ho, a student at the University of New South Wales...

Megaphone Helmets & the astonishing power of blogs

Megaphone Helmets & the astonishing power of blogs: " A week ago, Richard mailed me about some funny hats he'd seen on eBay, and I wrote this post about them, which Mark at Boing Boing kindly linked to. Today, the auction finished. The pair of hats, which had failed to get a starting bid of £45 when Richard spotted them, sold for £820. That's $1,434, and the winning bidder has a feedback score of 119.

2006-03-29

BUSlink's 64GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive PRO 2 Series

BUSlink's 64GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive PRO 2 Series: "Filed under: Storage

We're not exactly sure when BUSlink launched a 64GB -- that's gigabyte, yes -- flash drive, but it's right there on their site, plain as day, handily and smugly smacking down even the largest of flash drives, available for purchase for $5,000. Apparently they've also got a 32GB (not shown) and 16GB drive for $1,500, but seriously, if this isn't some kind of sick joke catering to our obsession with solid state memory, you know exactly which one it is we'll be promptly devouring as soon as we can sell off enough excess gear and internal organs to afford it. You can run an OS off a flash drive, right? Ok, good.

2006-03-27

iPod Ad Visibile From Space

iPod Ad Visibile From Space: "

So you people might have laughed at the idea of rooftop advertising, but some say Apple is taking it seriously and is launching an ad that will be visible on Google Earth and Google Maps. From Boakes.org: 'The sheer size of the publicity stunt is difficult to comprehend. It covers 893240 square metres; roughly equivalent to eighty football pitches. The ad, which depicts Apple’s flagship iPod product has been constructed on the site of an abandoned mineral mine in remote western Australia. It has been in development for almost two years.' The image shows what it looks like on Google Maps.

Choxpics Print on Chocolate

Choxpics Print on Chocolate: "

If you liked Choco Logo, you will love Chocpix. They say, 'In every bar of tasty white chocolate is a hidden, detailed picture - revealed by simply holding it up to any bright light. All kinds of images can be captured in a Chocpix bar... detailed photographs, artwork, cartoons, logos. The intricate photographs are made up solely from the finely detailed thicknesses of chocolate.'

Programmable Liquid Container lets you customize your cola

Programmable Liquid Container lets you customize your cola: "Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Household


We used to think it was pretty sweet that we had two flavor options in each package of Nerds candy, so the idea of a customizable soda with an almost infinite combination of fragrances, flavors, and colors has us understandably excited. Massachusetts-based IPIFINI (the bold is part of the branding) has exceeded our wildest dreams with their Programmable Liquid Container, which contains small, flavor additive-filled (or paint-filled, for the home improvement set) 'buttons' around the periphery of the plastic container. Consumers press the appropriate buttons to create different flavors from a common base, such as cherry vanilla cola or raspberry tangerine lemonade, or get even wilder with aroma and food coloring options. IPIFINI claims to already be licensing the technology around various industries, so don't be surprised to see sodas and coffees (and probably some alcopops too) in the near future that let you choose your level of buzz

2006-03-24

How to set up free VPN

How to set up free VPN: "A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a great way to share files and access remote machines. Over at Computer Networking Help there is a tutorial that'll show you how to set one up.

I've had numerous members here email me about writing an article on setting up a secure, inexpensive, home VPN solution that they could use to share files between their home and office computers while they were at work. After speaking with many different people on the subject, I decided that most of them were running Windows XP for their operating systems and Linksys brand routers. That being said the following article is based on the above specifications and will involve no extra cost in setting up the VPN connection.
Configuring a free VPN solution in your home [Computer Networking Help]
Comment on this post

How to set up free VPN

How to set up free VPN: "A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a great way to share files and access remote machines. Over at Computer Networking Help there is a tutorial that'll show you how to set one up.

I've had numerous members here email me about writing an article on setting up a secure, inexpensive, home VPN solution that they could use to share files between their home and office computers while they were at work. After speaking with many different people on the subject, I decided that most of them were running Windows XP for their operating systems and Linksys brand routers. That being said the following article is based on the above specifications and will involve no extra cost in setting up the VPN connection.
Configuring a free VPN solution in your home [Computer Networking Help]
Comment on this post

eBay of the day: Megaphone Helmets

eBay of the day: Megaphone Helmets: " Just look at the picture. There's really nothing more to say. A pair of immeasurably awesome megaphone hats from the 1950s. Includes a pair of shoulder-mounted battery packs which can also be used to transmit morse code through the hats. Ebay item #6045938976, 5 days to go, £45 starting bid. Awesome. (Thanks Richard)

2006-03-23

Linux-based iSetBox from Media Systems does it all

Linux-based iSetBox from Media Systems does it all: "Filed under: Home Entertainment, Media PCs

It might sound a bit more like an Apple fanboy wish list than an actual product from a Bulgarian company named Media Systems, but the iSetBox looks like it'll turn a few heads either way if ever makes it to market. The device claims to be an all-in-one entertainment center, and we really can't find much that isn't in this box. It includes a CD and DVD writer, can record analog and digital TV, offers a web browser and email client, and can even has a 6-in-1 card reader to further its media inputs. If that wasn't enough, the Linux-based unit can listen to and record digital and analog radio, sports Ethernet networking, and has a myriad of digital and analog inputs and outputs to further its reach into your home's media devices. If you find the unit still lacking, you can add WiFi, Bluetooth or other niceties via a PCI card. The whole box is controlled via a single remote control, which can create playlists of the numerous media formats supported. It's hard to imagine something this feature-filled ever making it to market, but we sure wouldn't mind if it did.

Whale song reveals sophisticated language skills

Whale song reveals sophisticated language skills: "Humpback whales' complex crooning has its own syntax – similar to human language's hierarchical structure – a new analysis reveals

Samsung aims to bring solid disks to market

Samsung aims to bring solid disks to market: "Filed under: Storage


Not that it should come as much of a surprise that the largest flash memory manufacturer in the world would be dabbling in solid state disk drives (SSD), but once Samsung gets their legal ducks in a row we don't have any reason to believe they won't make good on taking that 32GB NAND SSD we saw appear at CeBIT to the consumer market. The demand is obviously there for a laptop drive that, according to Samsung, would consume less than 5 percent of the juice of regular hard drives, and weigh less than half, not be nearly as susceptible to shock or climate, or emit the same heat or noise. No, it won't be cheap (yet), but sooner or later flash memory will be the only thing anyone uses, and Samsung really wants to get this show on the road already.

2006-03-22

Gigabyte's GN-BT06T Bluetooth Media Adapter

Gigabyte's GN-BT06T Bluetooth Media Adapter: "Filed under: Home Entertainment, Wireless

We spied this little GN-BT06T device from Gigabyte while browsing the FCC today and like what it has to offer. Basically it's a Bluetooth media receiver, but it works both ways. Not only does it take music from your audio player and pump it to your Bluetooth headphones, but it can also use music from your computer and jack into your stereo. We're not sure when this will be available or what it'll go for, but we like where it's headed.

2006-03-21

Scientists synthesize plastic suitable for printing electronics

Scientists synthesize plastic suitable for printing electronics: "Filed under: Displays
A team composed of academic and corporate scientists from the US and UK have succeeded in creating a conductive plastic that could soon lead to the cheap printable electronics that we're often promised but have yet to see. Researchers from Merck, PARC, and Stanfords University and Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory were able to tweak the structure of a regular organic polymer to create a so-called 'semi-conducting polythiopene,' which improves upon standard silicon in that it can be laid down using simple inkjet printing techniques while at the same time producing less waste. Although the new material will never replace silicon as the choice for hardcore computing applications, the fact that this team has already created transistors with the new technology may mean that the promised land of ubiquitous, disposable e-paper is closer than we think.

2006-03-20

IBM's Magic Block: voice recorder with speech recognition

IBM's Magic Block: voice recorder with speech recognition: "Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Portable Audio


If IBM is ever able to manufacture it's Magic Block voice recorder, it'll make just about every other recorder obsolete overnight. The Magic Block is a concept for a digital voice recorder that includes a few handy features -- such as biometric security and an intriguing design that limits accidental recordings -- and one function that makes it unique: built-in voice recognition software that can recognize both spoken words and the actual speaker, allowing a user to search for text as well as for comments from specific speakers. Since IBM already makes speech recognition software, we assume this is something that may be more than just some pie-in-the-sky design. Then again, given that a top IBM exec recently declared that there's 'no such thing as the next big thing,' maybe the company has already given up on actually bringing new products like this to market -- though we really hope not.

2006-03-17

Fore-Edge Painting

Fore-Edge Painting: "

Add 'fore-edge printing' to the collection of interesting things you can do with print.

Martin Frost, who has produced more then 3000 such paintings since 1970, explains, 'Unlike the spine and covers of a bookbinding, the page edges are not usually decorated, however…

A fore-edge painting is where the page block is fanned and an image applied to the stepped surface. If the page edges are themselves gilded or marbled, this results in the image disappearing when the book is relaxed. When refanned, the painting magically re-appears.'

2006-03-15

Sharp DC2J1DZ115 - world's smallest WiFi module

Sharp DC2J1DZ115 - world's smallest WiFi module: "Filed under: Wireless
Is there a reason for Sharp to boast that its DC2J1DZ115 is the world's smallest WiFi module? After all, unlike the world's smallest MP3 player, this isn't a product consumers can actually buy. However, smaller WiFi modules mean smaller, cheaper (we hope), lower-power WiFi devices, so as far as we're concerned, the smaller the better. Now let's get these modules into cameras, phones, PDAs and DAPs ASAP!

Inveneo Communications Systems IT hardware uses alternate energy sources

Inveneo Communications Systems IT hardware uses alternate energy sources: "Filed under: Wireless, Networking
An entire IT infrastructure powered by alternative energy sources has completed testing in Uganda and is now available for deployment to developing countries or areas where power and broadband options are limited. Inveneo intends their Communications Systems, which are composed of a Hub Station with satellite, cellular, or wired Internet connection and Communications Stations for local use by end users, to be adopted by governments, NGOs, and charitable organizations in conjunction with cheap PCs for delivering ubiquitious networked computing access. Communications Stations are connected to the Hub through long-range WiFi connections, with all the hardware cheap to maintain thanks to open-source software and hydro, solar, wind, or bicycle generator options for power. The Inveneo gear is supposedly available immediately, although their online store is closed as of this writing, so pricing remains a mystery. [Warning: PDF link]

Curvy experimental keyboard from Israel

Curvy experimental keyboard from Israel: " Remember the Samchillian Tip Tip Tip Cheeepeee - the crazy looking MIDI keyboard system built from a hacked, painted ergonomic QWERTY keyboard? Eitan Shefer, an industrial designer from Jerusalem, liked the concept so much that he redesigned it as his final year project. He's made a really great video [google video link] which explains the whole thing, including the relative keyboard layout - you don't press a key to get a specific note, but to get one relative to the note playing at the moment. Great for widdly guitar solos, not (I think) so great for chords. Full details of the project are on Eitan's website. Also on the Samchillian tip (ha!), this page has some interesting videos of Leon (the inventor) playing a $$$ Yamaha Disklavier grand piano with the Samchillian.

PSP gets price cut, GPS, camera, VoIP and future media download service

PSP gets price cut, GPS, camera, VoIP and future media download service: "Filed under: Gaming, GPS


Looks like those GPS add-on rumors were true. Now that Ken Kutaragi's PlayStation business briefing has ended we can tell ya that a new GPS receiver (PSP-290) with game support will indeed drop this “autumn” with a new GPS-enabled Hot Shot Golf title loaded-up for first release. Sony also let fly a new USB-attached PSP-300 EyeToy camera add-on for September launch which will support a new video and VoIP chat service coming in October. Also of note is the announcement of a new digital distribution system (HUB?) allowing users to download “games and applications” directly to Memory Stick – an early use will be for downloading and playing PSone games (via new emulator) directly off your memory cards, although specifics around that service have yet to be announced. Rounding things out are the announcements that a future firmware release will bring Macromedia Flash compatibility and a new RSS Channel function to save and playback internet radio and video content. All this and the PSP base-unit price will be cut to $199 by the end of the month. Still no mention of that rumored Sony Mail client or NAND drives, but then that’d just be greedy at this point, eh?

2006-03-13

For The First Time: Longevity Modulated Without Disrupting Life-sustaining Function

For The First Time: Longevity Modulated Without Disrupting Life-sustaining Function: "Within a hormone-triggered cascade of molecular signals that plays a crucial for a wide range of physiological functions, researchers for the very first time have identified a protein that functions specifically to extend lifespan and youthfulness -- without disrupting fertility, immunity or the organism's response to stress.

Easy Up, Not-So-Easy Down: Builders Replace Bridge In Only Days Using Lightweight, ...

Easy Up, Not-So-Easy Down: Builders Replace Bridge In Only Days Using Lightweight, ...: "Using new fiberglass-polymer materials, contractors in Springfield, Mo., have just subjected a decaying, 70-year-old bridge to a makeover that was as quick as it was dramatic. Instead of snarling traffic for two to three weeks while they repaired the crumbling deck, girders and guardrails by conventional methods--laying plywood, tying steel rebar and pouring concrete--the workers used pre-fabricated plates and cages developed by a National Science Foundation (NSF)-supported university-industry partnership to finish the job in a mere five days.

Doodle Search: New Software Can Hunt Through Online Catalogs Using Only A Sketch

Doodle Search: New Software Can Hunt Through Online Catalogs Using Only A Sketch: "Working with support from the National Science Foundation's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, Imaginestics, a company located in West Lafayette, Ind., has created 3D-Seek: a new kind of search engine that lets users find items in an online catalog without ever needing to know the items' names, part numbers or keywords.

Live from CeBIT: Hands-on with the Samsung Q30 with solid-state disk

Live from CeBIT: Hands-on with the Samsung Q30 with solid-state disk: "Filed under: Laptops, Storage


Things are drawing to a close (for us) here at CeBIT. However, we just couldn't pass up the chance to run our fingers over that modded, Samsung Q30 laptop which tosses out the traditional hard disk drive (and fan) in favor of a solid-state disk (SSD) throwing down 32 mad GBs of heat and vibration-free storage. After all, it's not everyday we get to hold a silent, 2.5-pounds light, 0.7-inch thin, laptop with 12.1-inch display in our mits. Click on for a few shots including the SSD nekkid, next to its mechanical brethren.

Held comfortably in one hand -- hardly any torque on the wrist.


Yeah, we know, it says 16GB...must have plugged all the thirty-two's into the prototypes.

2006-03-10

TomTom Buddies lets you track your friends on the road

TomTom Buddies lets you track your friends on the road: "Filed under: GPS


Back in the day, if you wanted to gather a group of drivers into a convoy, you kept in touch by CB radio. With TomTom's new Buddies feature, you can finally toss that relic and stay in contact with Sodbuster, Pig Pen and Rubber Duck via GPS. Once you add a Buddy, you can track each other in realtime, share points of interest and send instant messages (though we really hope you don't do a whole lot of IMing behind the wheel). And if you need a little privacy as you roll into Chi-town, you can hide your twenty and tell your good buddies they can catch you on the flip-flop.

2006-03-09

Matrox TripleHead2Go gives your laptop 3 more screens

Matrox TripleHead2Go gives your laptop 3 more screens: "Filed under: Displays, Laptops, Peripherals


Just when we thought adding a second external display to our laptop would be the ultimate in desktop luxury, Matrox has thrown us for a loop with the TripleHead2Go, a box that -- you guessed it -- lets you add up to three external displays to almost any Windows PC. Like Matrox's earlier DualHead2Go, the device connects to your computer's VGA port and tricks the PC into believing that the three 19-inch displays now gracing your desk are actually one mammoth 3840x1024 display (and, yes, you can still use your laptop display, giving you a total of four screens). The TripleHead will be available in April for $299, which seems like a small price to pay to get behind three screens. Of course, that price doesn't include the actual displays themselves -- or the bigger desk you'll need to buy to hold them.

2006-03-08

NEC's "KotoHana" LED flower knows how you feel

NEC's "KotoHana" LED flower knows how you feel: "Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

We were just saying to ourselves the other day, 'man, if we just had an LED flower that could sense our emotions... then we'd be happy.' Well dreams do come true, because NEC is going to be presenting their KotoHana (the talking flower) at CeBit this year. It's pretty hard to tell what's going on here, but there seems to be a 'Sensibility Technology' that recognizes the user's feelings, and then tells the flower over a wireless connection. The system works over the internet, so that even from far away the flower's LEDs can light up to reflect your true feelings to that special someone.

UltraCell's UC25 / XX25 two-day laptop fuel cell

UltraCell's UC25 / XX25 two-day laptop fuel cell: "Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Laptops
We've been hearing the siren's call for fuel-cell laptops for what already seems like too many years now, but we'll admit nothing whets our appetite like the promise of two day run time, which is exactly what UltraCell claims they're showing off in their UC25. It's only a pre-production model designed for military purposes right now, but UltraCell apparently had it going on at IDF in SF this week, and hopes to commercialize their products by the second half of this year. Hot, as always, but until we've got them powering our respective Vaios, PowerMacBooks, and OQO / UMPCs, we're gonna have to continue wearing the skeptic's hat and hoping for a real product and not just a whole lot of hydrocarbon-free smoke, so to speak.

Ipodmame brings Pac-Man to the iPod

Ipodmame brings Pac-Man to the iPod: "Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds, Portable Audio, Portable Video


Love it or hate it, you've got to admit that the iPod would certainly be a lot more fun if you could play Pac-Man on it. And now, thanks to the ipodMame project, you can. A subset of the iPodLinux project, iPodMame aims to bring the MAME game emulator to iPods, allowing owners to play classic games on their audio players. Currently, the emulator is confirmed to be able to run Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man on the nano and iPod with video. Other classic games supported by MAME are also supported, so you should be able to play Pengo and -- yes! -- Joust on your iPod.

2006-03-07

Citizen rolls out (literally) Eco-Be mini-bot

Citizen rolls out (literally) Eco-Be mini-bot: "Filed under: Robots
Now this is more like it! Unlike more agressive and downright frightening bots such as the BigDog (and if you don't think it's frightening, be sure to check out the video!), Citizen's Eco-Be is an inch-tall robot powered -- of course -- by a watch battery. Looking for all the world like a shrunken Zippo, Eco-Be is capable of rolling back and forth, executing side-to-side turns, and very little else. Bring it on, Citizen! We'll tackle this one with one pinky. Just don't let it call BigDog in for help!

2006-03-06

Advertising On Chocolate

Advertising On Chocolate: "

If you liked the chocolate business card, you will love all this other wonderfully sweet branded stuff from Choco Logo. 'Due to the special printing technology very fine details can be printed. We can even use artworks with grayscales and therefore practically print any black & white photo.'

2006-03-03

Custom Photo Pencils

Custom Photo Pencils: "

Nothing groundbreaking here, just a bunch of really nice pencils with custom photo imprints.