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IDAPT Universal Desktop Charger

2010-03-31T01:30:00.001-07:00

So, it probably goes without saying that everyone here at Popgadget can safely be classified as a geek (though I think there may be a nerd or two among us, but a deliberation on the differences between the two is for another time). Anyway, as geeks go, there is a tendency to have significant charging needs to keep all of our gadgets up and running.

I've personally been a fan of the universal adapter for a long time. One in the house, one in the car, and only to buy a new tip on occasion to fit the latest mobile device. Only problem is the unsightliness of the cords. IDAPT provides an elegant, desktop solution to this dilemma. Easy-in device tips allow you to simultaneously charge up to three devices without all the clutter. Perfect for your nightstand, kitchen counter, desk, or wherever you charge.

The IDAPT comes with the six most common tips, including iPhone / iPod, Samsung, Nokia, and USB mini and micro. Additional tips can be purchased online. Available starting in May, the IDAPT has an MSRP of $59.99 and will come in black and white models.

Let it be your single cord solution.

Urbanears Plattan Headphones

2010-03-30T14:45:00.001-07:00

Though I'm normally partial to in-ear headphones, I decided to give the Urbanears Plattan headphones a whirl and was very impressed.

I admit to being a sound snob. I usually go toting around in $600 professional headphone gear, so I was skeptical about anything with a $60 price tag. I'm pleased to report, however, that these stylish, full-sized headphones delivered great sound that was music [pun intended] to these audiophile ears. I plugged into my iPhone and cranked some thumping dance tunes. Clear, rich sound with no bass breakdown or muddiness. Their adjustability even made them start off comfortably on my fat head and their light weight made them stay comfortable.

The Plattans feature an in-line microphone and remote compatible with the iPhone and Nokia, HTC and Blackberry phones along with two extra cable extensions making the headphones compatible with a majority of all devices. Also featured is the “zound plug” which allows you to daisy-chain another set of headphones to let a friend listen in. This set also folds up to a neat, compact size for convenient transport. And, finally, the best part… 14 fashionable colors to choose from, with everything from basic black to ocean blue and salad green.

Great listening at a great price.

iSkin Solo FX iPhone Case

2010-03-25T22:35:00.001-07:00

Oh the ubiquity of the black iPhone case! Leather, pleather, rubber, plastic… I want something more fantastic!

Leave it to the geniuses of iSkin to give me the exciting cover my 3GS deserves! The iSkin Solo FX builds on the original Solo case by adding a designer pattern and a mirrored screen protector to the glossy case that gives you the look of a hard shell while offering the protection and gripability of a rubber skin. There is also a special edition of the FX that adds even more excitement to the texture and pattern.

The glamorous FX is made with Microban antimicrobial protection that inhibits the growth of all the nasty bacteria that tends to collects on one's phone – another plus for me, the resident Popgadget germophobe. Color choices for the FX are Breeze (translucent blue), Lush (translucent green), Passion (translucent red), Sunset (translucent orange) and Vive (translucent purple). Like the perfect designer dress, the FX is low profile and cut out in all the right places (dock, camera, headphone jack, and ringer switch) while covering the essentials (volume and power controls). It's also compatible with the iSkin revoClip for those that want fashion and dare I say it… functionality… in one.

Show your iPhone style with the FX (and your fear of germs… oh, nevermind, that's my fear of germs).

Barbie Gets Geeked

2010-02-15T23:10:00.001-08:00

A few weeks back, I reported that Mattel was holding open votes to decide Barbie's 126th career. Among the choices were News Anchor, Architect, and Computer Engineer. I'm happy to announce that the people have spoken and we now have Computer Engineer Barbie.

According to Mattel's site, the doll's designers worked side by side with the Society of Women Engineers and the National Academy of Engineering to design realistic clothing and accessories. Barbie will be decked out in a tee with a binary code pattern and some black knit skinny pants. She'll also be equipped with all the latest tech including a smartphone, Bluetooth headset, and even a travel bag for her laptop. Speaking of the laptop, Barbie's will of course, be a pink affair which will match her prerequisite glasses.

Nokia 5800 Navigation Edition

2010-02-15T00:40:00.001-08:00

This variation of the popular Nokia 5800 Xpress Music edition makes the most of Nokia's Ovi Maps that was recently re-vamped into a free 'forever' app.

The Ovi Maps app features coverage for over 70 countries and combines with the 5800 to maximize its abilities to give you turn-by-turn, voice-guided navigation for both driving and walking. Ovi Maps also features free updates, more than 6,000 3D landmarks, free event guides, and free Lonely Planet and Michelin travel guides.

As for the hardware, the bright 360x640TFT touchscreen displays the excellent features of the easy-to-read Ovi Maps and features tactile feedback. The 5800 Navi also features 3.5G (3.6 Mbs); Wi-Fi; 3.2 MP camera with video recording, autofocus, and LED flash; 81MB of internal memory; hot-swappable MicroSD slot that can accommodate cards up to 16GB; very respectable battery life of 8.8 hours talk time and 16 days of standby time; and all the music features of the original 5800 Xpress Music edition including dedicated menu button and even respectable built-in stereo speakers.

The 5800 Navi includes an auto power adapter and a windshield mount right in the box, so it's ready to jump in the car and hit the open road with you. The windshield mount was a little tricky to put together and seemed rather large upon assembly, but actually is quite usable once installed in the car. It's very adjustable and was long enough to put the phone right at my fingertips, even in my huge (read: non P.C.) SUV.

Currently on sale at the Nokia Online Store for $299.

PSP Gets Fashion Forward

2010-02-11T15:10:00.001-08:00

You seen fashion PCs, catwalk-worthy phones, and even haute couture-inspired cars. Now meet the fashion handheld console. A Japan-exclusive, Sony is releasing the “Jill Stuart Sweet Limited Package” a blossum pink PlayStation Portable. This special edition console was created in conjunction with designer Jill Stuart

The limited edition set includes the pastel-colored PSP a pouch with a beaded pearl strap along with a matching pink cleaning cloth. There is also a 4GB Memory Stick Pro Duo all packaged in a cute pink box.

The “Jill Stuart Sweet Limited Package" becomes available on March 4 for $230. Interested gamers should start looking for a good import site.

Via TechCrunch

Cosmetic Mirror Lets You Try on Makeup Virtually

2010-02-11T02:10:00.001-08:00

It's not a magic mirror, but it's still pretty cool. The Digital Cosmetic Mirror allows women to try on make up without having to go through the time consuming step of applying the makeup. Created by cosmetics company Shiseido, the interactive display allows users to check out new products using augmented reality.

Users simply stand in front of the computer's camera and let it scan your face. The image is then loaded into the computer and it gives you a number of colors to try out. Users then select a color via touchscreen and the computer applies the makeup to the virtual image. If you like what you see, you can print out the photo and pick up your new cosmetics.

The Digital Cosmetic Mirror can apply eyeshadow and lipstick as well as recommend different products and makeup techniques. So far this is a Japan-exclusive but I would love to see this in my favorite cosmetic store in the near future,

Via Japan Trends

iPhone App Makes Sure Your Date is Safe

2010-02-08T15:35:00.001-08:00

Even though dating should be about having fun and meeting new people, it's also about finding out if this person is potential mate material. I mean you want to know if the person sitting across from you has had serious run-ins with the law or has picked their nose since age seven. Thanks to this new iPhone and Android app, you might not be able to check about the nose picking habit, but you can get the deets on just about everything else.

Created by information commerce company, Intelius, Date Check does what the company does best, dig up dirt.Date Check is an app that lets users pull up all those juicy secrets that you want to know, but might be too shy to ask on the first or second date. With a flick of the wrist you can find out if a person has a criminal history via the sleeze detector. You can also see if they own real estate, or if they're living with someone -- say a spouse they might have forgotten to mention.

The app is currently available for free on the Android Marketplace and the Apple App Store.

Via Gadgetwise

Is the Apple iPad "magical"?

2010-01-27T21:20:00.001-08:00

Today was 2010's first iDay- the announcement of a new or updated Apple product, predictably following months, or in this case years of feverish speculation. Steve Jobs gave the gathered press the first glimpse of the super-tablet himself, proudly declaring the new iPad not just revolutionary, but magical. It is undeniably sleek, beautiful, and impressive to look at but is it necessary, especially for people already toting around iPhones or iPod Touches, along with a MacBook or a MacBook Air?

Here are the specs:

-9.7" LED backlit, fully multi-touch display, with IPS technology (IPS provides wide viewing angles and good color reproduction, important for a tablet that you may use both laptop-style, and as a media player). There's also a special fingerprint-resistant coating, obviously good for a screen with a touch interface.

-Up to 10 hour battery life for video, music, and wifi surfing.

-Half an inch thick, weighs 1.5 lbs, 9.5" high, 7.5" wide.

-Wifi, Bluetooth, and optional 3G through AT&T (yay, not). Assisted GPS on 3G models only.

-On-screen keyboard only- but wide enough, apparently for something approaching touch-typing. Jobs typed with all his fingers, not just thumbs during the demo. There's also an optional hardware keyboard which also charges the iPad.

-The iPad will run all current iPhone/iPod Touch applications, plus have its own iPad-only apps.

-The iPad is an advanced e-book reader, using the iBooks app for reading and the iBookstore app for browsing and buying books. iBookstore has licensing deals with some of the biggest publishers so book selection should quickly get competitive with the Amazon Kindle's, plus iBook supports the EPUB standard, which offers thousands of free books. The best part? The Amazon Kindle and BN Nook use low-powered e-ink displays which are easy on the eyes and give great battery life, but they are not backlit or in color. The iPad is both, and while battery life is sure to be less than the Kindle's, 10 hours is still really, really good.

-iWork, Apple's answer to MS Office will be available for the iPad. Pages, Numbers, and Keynote (Apple's versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) will be $9.99 each, a great price for a full featured app.

What are the advantages of the iPad over the iPhone or iPod Touch? The screen, obviously is almost three times the size, a huge improvement for web surfing, watching videos and viewing photos, email, and working on documents. The on-screen keyboard, which will surely elicit much discussion, won't please everybody, but will surely be more comfortable for typing longer docs and emails, and there is the optional hardware keyboard.

LG's Lotus Gets Elite

2010-01-26T21:50:00.001-08:00

LG and Sprint are continuing their partnership with the release of the successor to the stylish Lotus phone. The LG Lotus Elite has all the looks of the original Lotus, but has stepped it up a notch with a few exclusive features.

One of the new features on the Elite is the 2.4-inch external touchscreen that allows users to easily navigate all their pertinent information without having to open the phone. The screen has a 320x240 resolution which makes for a vibrant phone experience. Other features include the new three dedicated shortcut keys for social networking, email, and text. The social networking button, dubbed Social can be mapped to a person's favorite social network.

Sony Wants You! $10,000 Scholarship up for Grabs

2010-01-26T00:55:00.001-08:00

Contrary to popular belief, there are more than a few girl gamers out there, serving up their own brand of pwnage with a smile. When it comes to game development, women continue to be an underrepresented segment of the industry. Sony Online Entertainment is doing their part to remedy the situation with the G.I.R.L. scholarship.

The G.I.R.L. (Gamers In Real Life) program was created to affect how women are portrayed in video games. And there's no better way to change the machine than to work from within. In conjunction with the program there is also a scholarship was created with the express purpose of recruiting into the fields of video game production and design.

Cast Your Vote for Computer Engineer Barbie

2010-01-20T17:15:00.001-08:00

Now that geeks are considered sexy, we techies are finally being appreciated for our sparkling intellect, and almost obsessional love of tech. In my mind, we were always sexy, but it just took mainstream society awhile to catch on. Now one of our most treasured mainstream childhood icons might be getting in on the geek sexy angle.

Mattel creator of the iconic Barbie doll is asking people to vote on the dolls next career. Since her debut in 1959, Barbie has had over 120 careers. She's been an astronaut, a rock star, and a veterinarian. Hey, she has to pay off the mortgage for that dream house and Ferrari somehow.

Listed among the possible careers is computer engineer. I can think of no better way to show the next generation the coolness of tech than presenting some lucky youngster with a shiny ne "Computer Engineer" Barbie. Please lend your vote and let's initiate Barbie into our ultra-cool society of tech.

The results on the voting will be available on February 12. So vote and keep your fingers crossed.

Via CrunchGear

Ritmo Advanced Pregnancy Sound System

2010-01-19T03:10:00.001-08:00

Any expectant mother can tell you, it's never to early to start communicating with your child. Besides having extended conversations while baby is in-utero, music has been proven to assist with positive fetal development including displaying "advanced intelligence, coordination, and learning abilities."

Nuvo Group's new device helps deliver soothing sound to your baby with the Ritmo Advanced Pregnancy Sound System. Kind of like a speaker system for your unborn bundle of joy, Ritmo is a lightweight belt that fits comfortably around mommy-to-be's tummy. The belt has four built-in speakers that utilized patented Safe&Sound Technology to make sure that the sound level is perfectly safe for baby's ears. The belt also comes with a controller used to plug in an mp3 player.

Reebok's new Easytone shoe: Does it really tone muscles?

2010-01-11T10:40:00.001-08:00

Reebok recently started selling a walking shoe, called Easytone, that is supposed to tone your leg and butt muscles while you walk.

And the buzz machine swung into action. The Easytone shoe has made a huge splash--TV appearances, newspaper and magazine articles, buzz, buzz, buzz.

If the shoe fits, does it really firm up those muscles? Does the Easytone shoe work?

Dan Ariely is James B. Duke Professor of Behavioral Economics at Duke University is skeptical. He points out that the scientific evidence is thin. Reports of Easytone effectiveness may, he speculates, may be due to the placebo effect. (Placebos are inert pills or any item that can't possibly be of direct medical benefit, but still makes people get better.)

The placebo effect is enormously important in medicine. When a new drug is tested on people and turns out to be effective, a notable number of people in the control group, who received a sham pill rather than the real thing, always get better too.

As it turns out, the placebo effect contributes heavily to the positive effects of exercise too. When people are told (falsely) that a particular activity is good exercise, many of them believe it so strongly that they lose weight and body fat and their blood pressure even goes down. Which has me wondering how I can convince myself that reading in bed, sleeping late, and taking long hot showers will make me thinner.

Denim jeans protect you from snakebite

2010-01-10T23:20:00.001-08:00

You've always loved your jeans, and now here's another reason: denim protects you from snakebite.

Of course, to be fully protected, you may need to give up those skinny jeans that show off your, um assets. Go shopping instead for something like the technology breakthrough fabric invented in the 18th century but still beloved in the 21st: Armor-like heavyweight denim fashioned into Mom jeans.

Moshi Clock is a Gadget that Does What It's Told

2010-01-10T12:30:00.001-08:00

You know how you hate the sound of the alarm clock in the morning? Maybe you sullenly get out of bed and begin you morning routine, maybe you mumble things so foul it would make Lisa Lampanelli blush. if you're the owner of the Moshi Voice Control Travel Clock, you might want to watch what you say, you might just hurt its feelings.

Okay, it's only a machine so it doesn't have feelings, but it does understand what you're saying to a certain degree. Instead of fumbling to set the alarm or engaging in a knock out, drag out fight to turn it off in the morning, you simply utter a key phrase and the Mochi clock hears and obeys thanks to the advanced voice recognition technology. Through the combination of "Neural Net and Hidden Markov Modeling (HMM) Phonetic Speaker Independent (SI) Recognition Software", the clock can understand over 1,000 different recorded voices. I wonder how this works when you have laryngitis? Commands include:Time, Set Time, Set Alarm, Turn off the Alarm, and Snooze.

Even though it's marketed as a travel clock, I see no reason why this couldn't be your main clock. It's got a cute rounded body and at 3.75" x 2.75" x 1" it doesn't take up much space. There are three alarm sounds to choose from and is powered by three AAA batteries. And for $24.99, it's a steal.

Interested in owning a Moshi? You can purchase one on their site or just check out the video for more information.

Via Gearlog

Jenny McCarthy and Ubisoft Team Up For New Fitness Game

2010-01-09T23:20:00.001-08:00

First Jillian Michaels, now Jenny McCarthy, it seems like everyone is trying to get in on the fitness gaming craze. Started by the highly successful Wii Fit, fitness games appeal to people that may not have the time to get to the gym or don't want to spend their hard-earned dollars on a gym membership.

Your Shape
, Ubisoft's addition to the fitness genre hopes to surpass Wii Fit's impressive sales numbers with more precise exercise movements, a little innovation, and a little help from funny woman Jenny McCarthy filling the spot of your in-game workout buddy. The Nintendo exclusive game features over 400 exercises including strength training, toning, and cardio. Unlike other fitness games, Your Shape is totally Wiimote free. So how does the game make sure your doing the exercise? Simple. Your Shape will be debuting the first ever camera for the Nintendo Wii.

The included camera will scans your body and detects your movements. After the initial scan, it projects your image onto the TV screen so you can watch your movements. As you exercise, the camera will be monitoring your motion to ensure you're not phoning it in and have the correct form. If you're slacking, or just not getting the movement down, Jenny will help you correct your form in real time.

Get Couture on the Cheap

2010-01-09T12:40:00.001-08:00

If you're a lover of haute couture but don't have the finances for that killer Dior gown, you're in luck. According to NYTimes.com, your fantasy frock is tantalizingly within your grasp. Thanks to the enterprising smarts of two women named Jennifer you can rent the your favorite designer's clothing for pennies of the cost of purchasing it outright.

Using a system similar to Gamefly or Netflix, Harvard Business School graduates, Jennifer Hyman and Jennifer Carter Fleiss have created Rent the Runway. The site allows users to rent that showstopping outfit for four days. The dress is delivered directly to your doorstep, just like a Netflix movie. And just like the movie site, when the four day rental period is over, simply place the dress in the included prepaid envelope and send it back. No muss or fuss.

Featuring a tagline of "love. wear. return.", rentals run from $50-200, which includes dry cleaning fees. There's an additional $5 for outfit insurance -- just in case there's staining or structural damage to the clothing. If you totally wreck the dress, however, you will be charged the full retail cost so you'll have to be sure to handle the piece with serious kid gloves.

Flare Dress Has Techie Flair

2010-01-08T22:55:00.001-08:00

After the gorgeous Galaxy Dress, I've been keeping my eyes open for more awesomely fabulous fashionable tech. Lo and behold, there's the Flare Dress from Dutch designer Stijn Ossevoort. The dress in itself is lovely, a light and breezy number perfect for a spring day. What makes this frock a talking point is the dandelion detailing.

When a breeze hits the dress, the dandelions come to life, glowing in all their gentle LED glory. That's right the Flair dress is a wind-activated number that lights up in a pattern of lights when the wind or a human blows on it. A whimsical affair, I can't wait to see what other innovative designs will come from this talented designer.

Via Born Rich

The Complete Guide to Google Wave, information that really wants to be free

2010-01-08T09:40:00.001-08:00

What is Google Wave? The latest from Google Labs, for now available only as a limited-distribution preview, Google Wave is---what? The ultimate collaboration tool? Really superior e-mail? The most ambitious (and confusing) web application ever created? These things and more, according to The Complete Guide to Google Wave.

The Guide itself is a free, ever-changing experiment in publishing that seeks to explain one of the most elaborate and bewildering Google inventions of all. Sample:

"Google Wave treats an email conversation with multiple recipients and senders as a document with multiple editors and writers. If you can make the conversations-as-documents and documents-as-conversations leap along with Wave, the system makes 100% more sense. "

The Guide is written by Gina Trapani with Adam Pash, both of Lifehacker fame. And it's also written by you, if you care to join.

The online version of the Guide will remain free and be updated continuously. The Guide will also be available eventually as a DRM-free PDF and an independently published softcover print book, due out early next year. (These will presumably not be free, but no details about specifics yet.)

Are you--or someone you care about--addicted to the Internet?

2010-01-07T20:30:00.001-08:00

Rehab is now available for addiction to social networking and online gaming. For only $14,500, Internet addicts can spend 45 days kicking the habit at the first US Internet addiction rehab center.

If you don't happen to have $14,500 handy to help you swear off Facebook and/or World of Warcraft permanently, maybe you could just move to an obscure corner of the US where wi-fi has not yet arrived.

The new Internet addiction rehab center is located in aptly named Fall City, Washington, oddly close to headquarters for one of the Internet's chief pushers, Microsoft. Still, the rehab center is a start at closing the yawning Internet addiction rehab gap with China, which is said to have declared Internet addiction its number one health problem and opened 400 Internet addiction rehab centers to combat it.

The sole US rehab center's founders claim that as many as one in 10 of us is an Internet addict. I'm wondering if that isn't an underestimate. If you consult a list of Signs and Symptoms of Internet/Gaming Addiction, you'll see that "Being dishonest with others" is one of them. Since nearly everybody lies to somebody sometime about something, does that mean nearly everybody is an Internet addict?

Dotz cord organizers clear cable confusion with color and tact

2010-01-07T09:55:00.001-08:00

We have all been there and suffered that - the asinine need to peer around devices, trying to identify and classify loops of anonymous cable so that we can get the required ones to perform. Along comes somebody who gives us this elegant solution with the cool mantra "The best ideas are always simple" and we cannot help but pinch ourselves for having forgotten. Ofcourse, the best ideas have to be simple and the Dotz Cord Identifiers are perfect proof. These colorful little plastic identifiers snap around your cables and carry a picture of the device that the cable belongs to. You can even reuse the same identifier with another device - just change the device icon within the case and you are ready to go. There are different categories of identifiers for your office, home, or even gaming needs. Is that brilliant or what.

Dotz also offers a couple of more solutions for cable organization, again pretty elegant and worth giving a try - the Cord Straps (set of 8 at $9.99) which help tie up cables in a neat bundle, and the Cord Wrap ($9.99 each) which can help hide all the unwanted lengths of cable within its case. The Cord Identifiers are available in sets of 10 at $9.99. Plus there are 24 ready-to-go punch out icons and 12 do-it-yourself punch out icons included with every kit.

Via The Gadgeteer.

Gravida Nurse Puts Prenatal Education in the Palm of Your Hand

2010-01-06T23:05:00.001-08:00

The Gravida Nurse Prenatal Education Device is a great gift for first time mothers. Instead of spending a small fortune on parenting books, expectant mothers can turn to this handy gadget. The device is a small handheld device that features helpful articles focused on providing good prenatal care for both baby and mom.

There are also voices recordings and pictures to help reinforce the information. Everything can be accessed via the large touchscreen. There's also a slot for a memory card and it can be hooked up to a computer via USB. No word on if additional information can be added to the Gravida using these means.

The Gravida Nurse is small, cute, helpful and going for $22.65

Via UberGizmo

Diamond Weather Station

2010-01-06T12:05:00.001-08:00

So, it's officially winter and, therefore, as important as ever to keep a close eye on the forecast. Now you can do it with style!

Sparkling away with dozens of Swarovski Crystals™, the Diamond Weather Station from Oregon Scientific adds a bit of glamour to the world of otherwise… shall we say… 'conservative' electronic weather forecasters. The crystals light up brightly in one of three different patterns / colors – red sun, blue cloud, or green rain – to clue you in to what to expect from the sky in the coming hours.

This beautiful unit Features a remote sensor to transmit outdoor temperature to the display and a digital clock that auto-syncs with the Naval atomic clock for precision time. A quick wave of your hand over the top of the unit switches the display between time, indoor temperature, and outdoor temperature, or you can put it in an automatic mode.

But wait! We've saved the best feature for last… If you utter the enclosed incantation while waving your hand over the unit, you can change the weather to… well… okay… not really on this one. You can still be prepared and be stylish, though.

Tiny LaCie Rikiki Lives up to Its Name

2010-01-06T00:10:00.001-08:00

LaCie's newest hard drive is tiny, cute, and functional just how I like it. At 4.3 x 2.9 x .5 in.the LaCie Rikiki portable hard drive is one of the smallest hard drives around. The name Rikiki is French for tiny. The diminutive drive is big on storage space however, with storage capabilities starting out at 250GB and maxing out at 640GB. Being that this is a newly released product, I wouldn't be surprised to see terabyte versions of the Rikiki in upcoming months.

The USB 2.0 device is decked out in brushed aluminum and has a transfer speed of 60MB/s. According to the website, the included USB Boost software enhances speed and performance up to 33%. Unfortunately, this is software is a Windows-only deal. Other software includes the LaCie Backup Assistant and the LaCie Setup Assistant.

The Windows and Mac-friendly Rikiki is on sale on LaCie's site starting at $74.99 for the 250GB version, $109.99 for 500GB, and $149.99 for 640GB. I wonder if they're throwing in that cute little monkey with the deal?

AViiQ's laptop stand is the most portable ever--and gorgeous too

2010-01-05T12:30:00.001-08:00

The AViiQ laptop stand is the most portable I've ever seen--and also the most gorgeous. At 12 3/4" long, unfolded and supporting your laptop, the AViiQ laptop stand is only a little bigger than a sheet of paper. Folded, it's not much bigger than a No.10 envelope and weighs just 5.5 oz, so it fits easily into your laptop bag or even just a laptop sleeve.

I'm a veteran laptop traveler and for years carried a (relatively) lightweight plastic laptop stand that kept the thing from sliding off my lap and folded to provide a decent typing angle. But the fold didn't change its outer dimensions--bigger than my laptop's footprint, which dictated which bags I could carry. The AViiQ laptop stand, said to fit laptops up to 17", is a dream by comparison.

The AViiQ folks, like other laptop stand makers, claim their laptop stand will dissipate heat and prolong battery life. I can't evaluate that claim, but I can tell you that the 12% slope the AViiQ laptop stand achieves is, as they claim, the perfect typing angle. I was actually kinda startled by how much it improved typing ease. All of a sudden I can race along almost as quickly on my less-than-optimum laptop keyboard as I can on the classic IBM keyboard I use with my desktop.

And did I mention gorgeous? The AViiQ laptop stand is a tech beauty worthy of Apple. The stand is four lightweight plates made of Hylite, a composite of aluminum sheets bonded to a polypropylene core. The material is milled to be both flexible and rigid. AViiQ says that in testing the stand was folded more than 5000 times and showed no wear.

With all that perfection, you knew there was some bad news coming, right? Here it is: the price. $80.

Smart Umbrella Tells the Weather

2010-01-04T22:40:00.001-08:00

Ever missed the weather report and got caught in a torrential downpour? With this handy gadget you'll never have to worry about the rain again. The Ambient Umbrella is an intelligent accessory from Ambient Devices. A series of flashes in the handle indicates whether it's preparing to rain or snow and whether it will be a light drizzle or a heavy thunderstorm.

The umbrella receives local updates from Accuweather.com. Not sure how the umbrella itself will hold up in rough weather. The website says that it was constructed with a "top-quality "gust-buster" umbrella canopy design." If you're interested in owning a smart umbrella, you can pick one up for $129.

Via Technabob

iPhone Wall Dock is minimalistc, fits right into power socket

2010-01-04T09:55:00.001-08:00

Forget those complicated iPhone docks and marvel at this totally amazing invention - the iPhone Wall Dock, which is pretty simply, a dock that neatly plugs into your existing power socket on the wall, and charges your iPhone in the most unobtrusive manner ever. And that also means no cable clutter, and faster charging because of its higher power output compared to other charging units. The Wall Dock also rotates around a pivot to hide the connector when not in use and provides a cushioned top to secure your iPhone or iPod when charging. Totally worth the $24.99 that it quotes.

Via Gadget Lab.

Sony Vaio P is Pocket Friendly

2010-01-04T00:00:00.001-08:00

Though netbooks couldn't get any smaller? Guess again. Sony just released the Sony Vaio P in Korea. The 1.3 lbs. netbook has an eight inch display and is small enough to fit in your pocket. There are currently two models, the VGN-P35LK and VGN-P33LK.

The VGN-P35LK is available in Gold, Green, Black, White, and Red. It features a 64GB SSD and an Intel Atom Processor. The VGN-P33LK has a 80GB HDD and 2GB of DDR2 memory and is available in black or white. Both models will have an integrated webcam, Windows 7, and Bluetooth capability.

No word on whether or not these minis will make it stateside.

Via AVING USA

BodyGuard Pro helps you shield your camera even with the lens on

2010-01-03T10:15:00.001-08:00

The situation is this. You are not completely done with your shots, but you just want to set down your camera for a while, and still not worry about getting it scratched or even detaching the lens. The solution comes in the form of this handy accessory called the LensCoat BodyGuard Pro - a smart body cover that protects your camera so that you get quick storage when you want to stow it temporarily, and hassle free removal when you want to use the camera again.

The BodyGuard Pro is made from soft shock-absorbing neoprene and slides over the camera body even with the lens left in place. It fits almost all the major pro SLR and semi-pro SLR cameras - even those with extended power winders or with L-brackets mounted. For an extra $5 on the base price, the cover is also available as a variant with grips attached - which means you can slide your fingers through the grips and use the camera without removing the cover.

The BodyGuard Pro is available in five different designs at a price range between $28.95 and $44.99.

Via The Red Ferret.

Kind Reminder Gives Comfort to Alzheimer's Patients

2010-01-03T00:25:00.001-08:00

It's never easy caring for someone with Alzheimer's. It can be a devastating experiences watching a loved one slip in and out of lucidity. One can only imagine the confusion, anger, and fear a person affected by the disease experiences during these moments. A daughter of an Alzheimer's sufferer wanted to lend some comfort to her parent and created this ingenious device.

The Kind Reminder is a recorder that can be worn around the neck as a necklace or just kept close by. When the patient has a moment of disorientation, they can press the button on the recorder and the voice of their caretaker will play. The website says the product is designed for people with early to mid-stage Alzheimer's or memory loss related to age.

Top Ten--er, Nine--Best Tech Ideas for 2009

2010-01-02T12:55:00.001-08:00

Yet another year-end Top Ten list, this time a Top Ten list--Top Nine list, actually--of 2009 tech ideas that get a gold star from David Pogue, technology columnist for the New York Times.

I have experience with a couple of his choices and think they are indeed worth recommending.

One is the cute trick found only on WebOS phones, at the moment the Palm Pre and Palm Pixi. The phones can collect. consolidate, and color-code data from various calendars and Facebook events, all on a single calendar, plus also data from your contact and messaging lists. At last a way to bring together much of your data, online and off, into something like a genuine personal information manager for your phone. And you hardly have to exert yourself at all; the process is mostly automagic.

The other fine tool is Readability, a marvel of a bookmarklet for your browser toolbar that nearly always can figure out what text you want from any old Web page and make it simple, handsome, and free of surrounding clutter. You don't have to use the Select command, and the result is readable--and easy to copy, mail, and/or save to your hard drive. The Readability folks are calling it an experiment, so don't expect perfection. But they are attentive to your needs. I had a problem using Readability on particular pages, dropped them a note, and in their update they fixed the problem. The only response to that is: Wow.

The Times site is free, but requires registration. Happy New Year! We certainly need one.

Turn A Window Into a Garden

2010-01-01T23:55:00.001-08:00

The Windowfarms project turns your window into an urban farm, using inexpensive and recyclable parts. The results are a "curtain" for any window that is also a year-round, high-yield, vertical, hydroponic, modular, low-energy, edible garden. The open designs are free to download and easy to implement. The project also encourages the community to innovate and share improvements.

Britta Riley and Rebecca Bray started this project in February, 2009 during their artist's residency in New York's Eyebeam Art and Technology Center. Their mission is to encourage sustainable solutions that can be implemented today by anyone. Recently, Riley presented developments of Windowfarms at the New York chapter of http://dorkbot.org/dorkbotnyc/04.nov.2009/Dorkbot.

A great free source for H1N1 (Swine flu) updates in your choice of languages

2010-01-01T11:10:00.001-08:00

H1N1 (swine) flu activity has gone down a bit in the US, which is good news for Thanksgiving travelers this week. Some are even predicting that the disease may have peaked in the US. But even if that's true (which nobody knows), a great many people still are going to get sick. Meantime, there's lots of flu sufferers, and some deaths, everywhere else.

Here's a terrific free site for keeping up with the flu everywhere: HealthMap, the global disease alert map. This is the link to the English version. But from this link you can also get the flu map in Portuguese, Spanish, French, Chinese, Russian, and Arabic.

You can also download HealthMap's iPhone app that will bring your mobile a map and news of disease outbreaks near you, including swine flu. The app is interactive, so you can also report local outbreaks that are not yet in the HealthMap database.

Greenhouse's New Camera Puts Ladies First

2010-01-01T00:05:00.001-08:00

Japanese electronics company Greenhouse recently unveiled a camcorder designed with the ladies in mind. The GHV-DV30HDLXW/P comes with 128MB of internal memory that can be expanded to 32GB with a SD/SDHC memory card. It also features ports for miniHDMI and USB. The camera also has a 3-inch TFT LCD screen and can record video at 30fps in 1,280×720 resolution.

The device is currently a Japan only product, but if you're interested in importing one, it's selling for $190. As a result of the collaboration between Greenhouse and fashion brand GAUDI (ah, so many jokes, so little time) the camera is available in pink and white. A matching bag comes with the camera to complete the ensemble.

I'm personally not a fan of pink tech on principle, but I wouldn't mind owning the white version. What are your thoughts on these cameras and pink tech?

Via CrunchGear

Harman Kardon GLA-55 speakers will leave you cold and broke

2009-12-31T13:25:00.001-08:00

Okay, now that the idea of putting up an iceberg on the mantle was your battle won, all you need is to win another one and convince your family to loan you one grand. After which, you can remain assured that the Harman Kardon GLA-55 speakers can grace that coveted spot you fought so hard for.

Though the only observable uniqueness of the GLA-55 seems to be the artistic cut-glass motif which gives the appearance of the speakers being embedded in ice sculpture, Harman Kardon claims that they deliver "stunning sound" as well. That too minus subwoofer, and "numerous proprietary technologies to provide the highest audio quality". Apparently, the Atlas AL woofers and CMMD tweeters that the speakers are built on, deliver a great bass response and accurate high frequencies. Add to that DSP processing and touch-sensitive volume controls, and you just heard of the most expensive speakers ever. Instinct must be given its due while it still struggles to get you away from this $999.99 eye candy.

Via Coolest Gadgets.

Casio Celebrates Hello Kitty's 35th Anniversary

2009-12-31T00:40:00.001-08:00

Hello Kitty, the fictional character that adorns everything from purses to laptops is beloved around the world. The iconic kitty is turning 35 and to celebrate, Casio is unveiling this limited edition Hello Kitty Casio EX-Z90 digital camera.

The camera is available in two versions of pink. The area surrounding the lens is decked out in Swarovski crystals and of course features the face of Kitty and her trademark bow. Spec-wise, this is a a solid camera. It has 12.1 megapixels and 3x optical zoom. There's also intelligent Auto Focus that can detect any subject and automatically adjust exposure and focus. In addition, the Dynamic Photo function has been tweaked making it both easier and faster to create animated greeting cards or any other digital creations.

Unfortunately, this camera is a Korea exclusive, so you'll have to find an import site. But that shouldn't be too big of a hurdle for Hello Kitty fans.The price tag, however, might be a little much to swallow. Expect to pay $500 to satisfy your Hello Kitty lust.

Via Aving.net

Freecom struts out world's only USB 3.0 external hard drive

2009-12-30T12:25:00.001-08:00

No frills, sauciness, or eye-candy here. Instead, it is a hard drive that claims to hold enough raw speed to help you cruise to USB 3.0 readiness, supposedly to become a worldwide standard by 2012. It is XS 3.0, the world's first USB 3.0 external hard drive announced by Freecom. The hard drive guarantees rapid transfer speeds thanks to its 'SuperSpeed USB' technology, and what you will see on the grounds as proof of that claim is currently the quoted 130MB/s speed. Freecom is expected to launch a USB 3.0 "controller" to allow users to take advantage of the USB 3.0 speeds on the XS 3.0, though they don't promise that anytime soon.

To get into the specifics, the XS 3.0 is rather boringly clad in a black rubber enclosure and claims an almost silent operation as it is designed with a fanless cooling system. With looks that resemble pretty much a leather bound book, it weighs in at around 1.9 pounds. It is backward compatible with all USB 2.0 systems and sports AES 256 bit encryption standard. The pricing is quite reasonable too, with the 1TB drive priced at 119 Euro (about $175 US). Expect the numero uno to hit the market by mid November in 1TB, 1.5TB and 2TB sizes.

Via PCLaunches.

Harlequin Brings Romance to the World of Gaming

2009-12-30T01:15:00.001-08:00

What can you say about romance novels? If you've read one plot involving heaving bosoms, rippling pectorals, and furtive sighs with a physical attraction fueled by dislike which eventually turns into lust and love, you've read them all. The question is, would you play a game based on the same premise?

Leading romance publisher Harlequin Enterprises has teamed up with casual game producer Big Fish Games to create Harlequin Presents: Hidden Object of Desire. I could spend a good half hour making jokes about the title alone, but I digress. The game is a mash-up of a romance novel and you guessed it, a hidden objects game. Based on the Harlequin mini-series "The Royal House of Karedes", premise is simple:

Allie`s on a quest to find some breaking news in the Kingdom of Adamas, but must now choose between her friend`s well-being and true love! The bachelor Prince of Aristo is the most enchanting man she has ever met, but she must fend off his charming advances long enough to figure out what is going on. Help Allie find valuable clues in Harlequin Presents: Hidden Object of Desire, an exciting Hidden Object game.

Black Hello Kitty PMP is Techie Catnip

2009-12-29T11:00:00.001-08:00

I haven't had anything Hello Kitty since I was a little girl, but iriver is really making me backtrack on that decision. Their new black Hello Kitty PMP is sleek and stylish enough that I wouldn't feel silly using it public. From the gold-accented bow to the whiskers, I just can't stop looking at it.

Available in 2GB and 4GB versions, the player is still a Japanese exclusive. It come packaged with earbuds and a USB cable. Volume and playback controls are located on the back of Kitty's head. Weighing in at a mere 16g, you just want to take it everywhere. The silicon cases are a cute touch, not only can you dress your Hello Kitty up, it keeps it safe from scratches.

It's set to release in Japan in time for the holidays. No word on when or if its coming stateside, but if you're a Hello Kitty fanatic you might want to look into importing this pretty mama. It's retailing for about $90.

Via Engadget

Smart Baby Case Diasterproof and Travel-ready

2009-12-29T00:30:00.001-08:00

Traveling with a baby can be challenging. You need to make sure there's a solid supply of diapers and food as well as lug around that bulky stroller. Sure it comes in handy when you're transporting your little one, but it becomes the instrument of the devil when it encounters some stairs. It's even worse with the initial setup. I've seen too many parents struggle with getting the blasted thing set up while trying to comfort a crying infant. Whew!

Luggage company Samsonite, held a competition a few months back looking for designers that could design a better way for parents to transport their children. One such concept came from Iranian designer Pouyan Mokhtarani. Called the Smart Baby Case, the design is a hard case pod that borrows design cues from the humble egg, a shape already familiar to a child. The case would keep baby safe and comfortable while the parents navigate the hustle and bustle of pedestrian traffic or get to safety in the case of an emergency.

Square Enix Wants You to Smell the Final Fantasy

2009-12-28T10:40:00.001-08:00

Star Trek has its own line of fragrances, why not a video game? Courtesy of game publisher, Square Enix, Final Fantasy XIII heroine Lightning, now has her own perfume line. The fragrance shares the same name as the character and will be available in 50 ml bottles for about $83.

Lightning Eau de Toilette is described as having notes of peach, followed by rose, and then a feminine musk -- whatever that means. While it's a little outlandish to have a video game-inspired fragrance, considering the wacky merchandising that we've seen attached to video games (energy drinks, life-sized sculptures, and the legions of fans that dress up like their favorite character at any comic book/anime convention), this is one of the classier promotions.

The fragrance is set to hit Japanese shelves one month after the game release, just in time for spring. Now loyal gamers can look and even smell like their favorite video games. What's next, a cologne for Solid Snake?

Via Technabob

Find True Love with an App

2009-12-27T12:05:00.001-08:00

For those of us in the hunt for that special someone, being thorough is important, especially when it comes to dating. They say dating is supposed to be a fun experience, but for a lot of us, it's an interview process where one wrong answer can send a potential Mr. or Ms. Right crashing and burning into the reject pile. Now there's an app, to alleviate a little bit of the pressure.

The app is named iRateMyDate and its exactly what it sounds like, a way for daters to keep track of a date and track various qualities the user is looking for in a potential mate. According to the press release, the the iPhone-exclusive app's goal is to answer the question "Is my date worth having my legs waxed" or "Was she worth missing the game?"

Developed by Yollswa, the app allows you to do side by side comparisons of potential mates, for those of us lucky enough to have that many candidates to choose from. You can choose up to 20 of must-have or important traits that "The One" should have and rate them. You can upload their photos, add their horoscope and take notes on the date, as well as schedule the next date -- if there will actually be a next date.

Play Your Child a Lullaby with Lullabelly

2009-12-26T23:05:00.001-08:00

It's been proven that babies do hear and respond to noises in the womb and do enjoy an nice tune every now and then. For those parents that want to provide your child with some soothing tunes while still in the womb, the Lullabelly iPod speaker belt is just for you.

The Prenatal Music Belt wraps comfortably around pregnant bellies and has a front pocket to store your mp3 player or other accessories. Simply plug your player into the Lullabelly into the built in speaker and let the concert begin. You can play soothing sounds or read your unborn child a story via an audio book. There's also a dual adapter included in the deluxe edition so mommy and baby can both listen as well as a speaker volume control so you can protect baby's sensitive ears.According to the site, the highest decibel Lullabelly can reach is the equivalent of a telephone ringing.

Pre-order the inPulse BlackBerry Bluetooth watch, wait until 2010 for shipping

2009-12-26T13:20:00.001-08:00

The wait is longer than we imagined, and it is now official. Allerta is offering its limited, first-edition inPulse Bluetooth watch for the BlackBerry on pre-order, but you will have to hold on until February 2010 for the shipping to begin.

The watch sports a 1.3-inch color OLED display and functions as a virtual, display-only accessory for your BlackBerry while wirelessly communicating with it via a Bluetooth 2.0 connection. So that, based on the email, SMS, Twitter previews or call alerts you see on your wrist, you can choose to flip out your smartphone or not. The magic is made possible through a custom BlackBerry background application which runs on the watch to keep track of your received messages/calls and also provides the ability to customize the watch itself.

Powered by a 150mAh Li-Ion battery, the watch has a micro-USB jack for charging - with a single charge going approximately into 4 days while you get an average 20-30 updates per day. The inPulse has a built-in vibrating motor to alert you of incoming calls and boasts the ability to pull in new text messages directly. All the settings on the watch (time, alarms, alerts) are controlled through the BlackBerry itself, with the wireless connection also facilitating over-the-air firmware updates.

Part with $149 (shipping extra) and book your seat for some great wrist candy. And much more.

Via SlashGear.

S&J's Incredible, Non-edible Speakers

2009-12-26T00:00:00.001-08:00

Computer peripheral manufacturer, S&J Co., Ltd, proves that sometimes to get great sound you have to break a few eggs. Their new line of ultra portable speakers are egg-shaped and awesome hence their name, Eggy.

The little speakers pack decent sound thanks to their 2W output and digital amps. They're USB-powered so there's no need to worry about batteries. The coolest thing about these speakers is that the magnetically lock. Once you're done using them, just put them together and you've got a shiny egg that can be easily slipped into a bag or pocket. These speakers would be an awesome peripheral for all those netbooks and laptops out there.

No word yet on price or availability, but they will be showing at this year's CES, so hopefully there will be more information in January.

Via Coolest Gadgets

Free shipping on December 17!

2009-12-25T14:15:00.001-08:00

Not that we want you to postpone your holiday shopping any more than you already have, gulp. But this is just a friendly reminder that Thursday, December 17, is Free Shipping Day!

Free Shipping Day is, duh, the day when online merchants, some 700 of them, will ship your orders for free and vow to get them delivered by December 24.

Thanks to Consumer Reports, which kindly provides details here.

Cool and Unique watch by phosphorwatches

2009-12-25T00:25:00.001-08:00

So your looking for a new cool LED watch, one that is both unique but subtle. Well take a look this way at a new watch by phosphorwatches.com. This unique and styleish time piece sports technology that is rare in watches and is sure to turn heads with its sleek look. Based on “E-Ink” the same type of technology used in Amazon Kindle and Sony ereader the display has a very book like font to it, unlike regular LCD watches that have an absolute streight edges.

An elegant curved watch case houses a distinctive digital display that fits comfortably on your wrist. The bright, high contrast E Ink electronic paper display insures readability day or night and allows you to select between differing watch dial modes to match whatever style fits your mood.

The Phosphor watch also has a contured case that wraps around your wrist to give a great fit and feel. If you are looking for a great Christmas gift this year thetechnologyblog.net highly recommends the Phosphor E Ink Digital Hour Clock Watch Stainless Steel

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Cool and Unique watch by phosphorwatches

CO2 Dress Senses Pollution, Owns the Runway

2009-12-24T11:45:00.001-08:00

The pretty frock in he picture is more than the latest piece of haute couture. Thanks to the efforts of Forster Rohner, Alexandra Institute, diffus.dk, and The Danish Design School this dress is not only fashion-forward it's also eco-friendy.

The LEDs embroidered into the dress actually show the levels of CO2 in the room. The dress monitors CO2 levels and transmits the information to the LEDs which flicker in response to the data. I wonder if the decision to make the dress a charcoal gray a purposeful one made by the collaborators to symbolize our declining air quality. At any rate, this is another example of how technology and fashion can come together to create something that's beautiful and functional both on and off the catwalk.

Via Fashioning Tech

Zlico's System Might Spell the End for Pap Smears

2009-12-23T23:15:00.001-08:00

We have witnessed steady strides in the fight against cervical cancer. Vaccines Gardasil and Cervarix are now available for girls to protect them from the human papilloma virus (HPV), the main cause of cervical cancer. Unfortunately the vaccines are only given to young girls. They also don't protect women from every form of HPV which means there's still a need for Pap Smear testing to attempt to catch the disease early.

Every year, millions of women visit their gynecologists and endure the discomfort of the Pap Smear. After the test is complete, there's often weeks of waiting for the results, leaving women to wonder if they'll become part of the frightening statistics on cervical cancer. British medical diagnostic, Zilco is working to alleviate some of the stress with its new device that can conduct a relatively quick and painless pap.

Ideeli's Big Deal

2009-12-23T09:55:00.001-08:00

Finding a good sample sale is has to be like hunting prey in the wild. It's illusive, secretive, and gone in a flash. You have to keep your ear to the ground and be willing to hit the pavement at a moment's notice, but once you've found one and saved bundles on that designer purchase, you leave feeling like a mighty lioness ruler of all she surveys. Okay i might be taking it a little far, but there's something crazy thrilling about sample sales.

Online shopping community ideeli, packages that excite and sends it to your inbox daily. The online sample sale site has been up and running since 2007, hawking designer wares in limited-time sales to fiscally-minded fashionistas. A members-only site, you have to receive an invite to play in this arena of shopping champions. And while it may seem counterproductive to have a closed community of shoppers, it seems to be paying off. According to TechCrunch, ideeli has just raised 20 million in funding to keep their members decked out in the exclusive fashions we love so well.

In addition to the big payday, ideeli has also reached the million member mark. Kudos, to ideeli and sites like it that realize that just because we're living in a recession doesn't mean wie have to dress like it.Id

Domyos Gym in a Box

2009-12-22T22:15:00.001-08:00

For those of us out there that don't have a Nintendo Wii and still want to get our fitness regimen from a video game, there's hope thanks to fitness company Domyos. The French company recently raised the curtain on the Domyos Interactive System (DIS) a potentially serious competitor to Wii Fit.

A complete gym in a box, the DIS is serious business. Instead of encouraging players to lower their "Fit Age", the system challenges you to an intense workout via an exercise mat, gloves for martial arts challenges, and a bike attachment. For those seeking a group sweat, fitness fanatics can attach more exercise mats.

The best part about the DIS is that it's console-less. Players simply plug the DIS into their television, insert one of the cartridges and viola, you're doing Olivia Newton John and Richard Simmons proud.

Retailing for £ 39.95 or $58.92 in U.S. dollars, the Domyos Interactive System is ready to whip you into shape.

Via Coolest Gadgets

Picnic by Juicy Couture

2009-12-22T08:10:00.001-08:00

Juicy Couture new product is putting a fresh coat of paint on the old picnic theme. Available for pre-order, the Staycation Kit has everything you need to have a fun day at the park. The kit comes in a logo-themed leather tote bag that contains two mp3 speakers. There's also cutlery, dishes, and tumblers which are diswasher safe. There's even a blanket and cloth napkins that are machine washable.

The speaker dimensions are 12"H x 13"W x 6"D. There's no word on the wattage, so the sound quality is anyone's guess. The kit is available for $248. Just like the tagline says it's "everything you need to take your beau or bestie out for a picnic."

Via UberGizmo

New Site Promises to Help in Search for Perfect Gadget

2009-12-21T03:25:00.001-08:00

The holidays are coming up and you're eager to find the perfect gadget as a gift to someone special or yourself. The problem is with all the different brand names, specifications, price differences, and hype, how do you find the right product for the job? Let's face it, tech can be expensive and there's nothing worse than shelling out hundreds of dollars on the a piece of equipment that you either don't know how to use or worse is the absolute wrong product for the job.

There's a new search engine that can make the decision-making process a little easier. Measy is a website that helps the not-so-tech savvy locate the correct gizmo. The site is pretty simple to use. Choose the type of gadget you're shopping for (smartphone, digital camera, etc.) and you're given a quick quiz that narrows down your choices. If you're looking for a smartphone, you'll be asked about budget, texting, and carrier and their level of importance.Through the process of elimination, Measy picks the best device based on your answers.

The site displays general specs and features of each product. There are also links to reviews from reputable tech sites to help bolster the choice and give you a little reassurance so when you go into the store you know exactly what you want. That way you won't part with more money than necessary because a smarmy salesperson sold you more gadget than you actually need.

Measy is currently in beta, so the amount of products to choose from in some categories is a little small, but hopefully with a little more time and elbow grease, the site can be a go-to resource when shopping for tech.

Via Mobile Crunch

Ammonia-free hair coloring is here

2009-12-20T16:10:00.001-08:00

Here comes a "revolution" in hair coloring, according to scientists. That would be scientists at L’Oréal, who say they have found a way to replace stinky ammonia with a new, odorless, substitute.

You are probably dying to know that ammonia has been a part of hair coloring since L’Oréal's founder invented it a century ago this year. The new dye is called INOA for Innovation No Ammonia, which seems sensible. L’Oréal claims that, in addition to being free of ammonia smell, INOA feels more like a thick skin cream than regular hair coloring products.

INOA is already used in salons in Europe. It will be available at salons in the US and Canada early next year and eventually in home hair dye, the company says.

LED flashing umbrella

2009-12-20T02:35:00.001-08:00

I am really not a big fan of umbrellas, they always seem to be in the way, keep one hand constantly occupied and if they are not small and vulnerable to the weakest of winds, I forget them everywhere. For me to use an umbrella it really has to rain pretty hard, the kind of heavy rain you can’t fence off with good waterproof outwear clothing.
This LED flashing umbrella on the other hand, would almost make me wish for a rainy day, because it would make me look like Luke Skywalker and for me that would be a cool thing.

This “Lightsaber-umbrella is available at gadget.brando for $44,- in five different colors. The LEDs are placed inside the umbrella tube and have four different light modes: dim light, light, flashing light and dim flashing light.

The new PBS NewsHour: Pick and choose the news to use

2009-12-19T12:55:00.001-08:00

The PBS NewsHour is undergoing major remodeling. That's good news for US newshounds who need more than a flood of celebrity gossip followed by 20-second snippets of real news but don't have time to watch an hour-long broadcast every evening.

The NewsHour has beefed up its online presence in a major way and also embraced podcasts, RSS feeds, Facebook, and Twitter. Even if you don't own a TV, you can keep up with the NewsHour's in-depth treatment of the day's news automagically.

Listen to interviews with movers and shakers and the smart folks who analyze their moves and shakes, Paul Solman's lucid explanations of what's up (and down!) in the financial world, international news from all over, plus thoughtful looks at current issues like health care reform, the environment, the arts....life, the universe, and everything.

There's way more here than the NewsHour folks are able to cram into their daily hour on TV, but it's served cafeteria-style, so you can pick and choose just what news you can use. And there are extras like special material for teachers to bring to their classrooms.

LED Kimono Takes the Stage

2009-12-19T01:05:00.001-08:00

There's something about LEDs and clothing that really gets me, provided it's done well. You won't catch me within 100 feet of one of those cheesy light-up holiday sweaters, especially those garish Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer deals. This kimono however, has class and sophistication that negates the gimmicky feel of the LED lighting.

The kimono was created by performing artist/composer Miya Masaoka. The garment's sleeve has 444 LED that are individually controlled. The lights respond primarily to sound and the movement of the wearer. Future iterations of the kimono will allow it to function more as a smart garment with the ability to improvise, listen, and react to its environment.

It looks a little bulky with the lights on, but once the lights are dimmed, this piece of performance art becomes a fluid showcase of captivating light and movement.

Via FashioningTech

How to be a planetary scientist--and a Martian too. For free.

2009-12-18T11:35:00.001-08:00

Want to live on Mars and even study it as a scientist? Then move to this amazing new Web site

Drawing on observations from the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Mars missions, the "Be a Martian" Web site is designed to help the public to participate as citizen scientists to improve Martian maps, take part in research tasks, and assist Mars science teams studying data about the Red Planet, according to NASA. The site was put together by NASA and Microsoft and is just opened.

Among the possibilities, NASA says, participants will be able to explore details of the solar system's grandest canyon, which resides on Mars. Users can call up images in the Valles Marineris canyon before moving on to chart the entire Red Planet. The collaboration of thousands of participants could assist scientists in producing far better maps, smoother zoom-in views, and make for easier interpretation of Martian surface changes, the agency says.

By counting craters, the public also may help scientists determine the relative ages of small regions on Mars. In the past, counting Martian craters has posed a challenge because of the vast numbers involved. By contributing, Web site users will win game points assigned to a robotic animal avatar they select.

And if you're a software developer, you can win prizes for creating tools that provide access to and analysis of hundreds of thousands of Mars images for online, classroom and Mars mission team use.

It's not clear to me whether doing this stuff will actually help NASA out--although in these parsimonious days, who knows, maybe your contributions will actually count. And even if they don't count, this site is just incredibly cool.

New Samsung Camera Has 14.2 Megapixels, Wi-Fi Capability

2009-12-18T00:05:00.001-08:00

I'm chomping at the bit for the new year to arrive. New beginnings, renewed focus, and most of all shiny, new tech. According to Boy Genius Report, Samsung is bringing the new year in a grand fashion with the unveiling of their latest camera. The Samsung ST5500 is a vision of beauty in silver, but it's what's under the hood that will have camera geeks grinning from ear to ear.

ST5500 features include 14.2. megapixel sensor, 7X optical zoom, and Wi-Fi capability so you can upload pics almost instantaneously. There's also 3.5-inch LCD touchscreen, 100MB internal memory, and a microSD slot. The camera also takes video in 1280 x 720 resolution at 30 fps.

We're still waiting for a press release or announcement from Samsung, so no word on pricing and availability as of yet. The only piece of information is that it's set to debut sometime during Q1.

Aimat gun camera makes point-and-shoot serious fun

2009-12-17T10:10:00.001-08:00

Franziska Dierschke was definitely having "fun" while creating the Aimat digital camera. Taking no assumptions of structure from the concept of a traditional digital camera, the Aimat carries forward its point-and-shoot functionality by creating the ability to take small, pinhole-shaped images without the aid of a viewfinder. And by being shaped like a gun.

Oops. Did I say "gun"? And that's supposed to be "fun"? Okay, I am going to shake off the skepticism and allow the playfulness that the designer had in mind while creating this concept camera. The intent behind which was to "put less emphasis on picture quality, and more on the playful act of taking the picture" itself. Cool. No word on when this one is going to find its way into production.

Via Toxel.

Manhole information-point

2009-12-16T12:20:00.001-08:00

I have always had a fascination with urban furniture projects, especially as today’s fast and ever evolving technology allows for endless creativity. I am loving this manhole-redesign environmentally friendly manhole-redesign, that is powered by rainwater. Step on it and it will display information about the nearest subway station or bus stop.

Via Yanko Design

How to find a Christmas tree farm near you? Google Maps

2009-12-16T01:15:00.001-08:00

Another innovative use for Google Maps: how to find a Christmas tree farm near you. Just plug "Christmas tree farms" plus your Zip code into the Google Maps search box, and there they are. Round up the kids, climb into the SUV or pickup, and get chopping.

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, how lovely are thy branches, but where art thou?

Now you know.

Thanks for the seasonal tip to Wendy Boswell, About.com's Queen of Search.

Speakal iPom Givea Floral and Aural Delight

2009-12-15T13:35:00.001-08:00

Sometimes gadgets and their designers can take themselves a little too seriously. In the need to show that their new product is worthy of geek worship, tech gets painted in the utilitarian colors of black, white and silver. I'm not a huge fan of tech painted pink and marketed towards women either, but a little color wouldn't hurt some of these devices.

IPod speaker manufacturer Speakal has always been one to buck the trend, giving us speakers in the shape of cute little piggies, loveable ghosts, and playful pandas. Their latest speaker follows the same irreverent design cues and puts the "aw" in awesome.

The Speakal iPom is an shaped like an apple and has two flowers perched on top acting as speakers with the third hiding out in the apple-shaped base. This pom has a little punch with its 2.1 stereo speaker system, adjustable bass, and 12W subwoofer. In addition to being iPod compatible, the iPom can also play music from USB memory sticks and SD card. It also works with any mp3 player that has a 3.5mm output.

The flower speakers are removable so they can be placed around the room. Retailing for $99, the iPom is a cute change in pace from the black and silver, slick design gadgets have become.

Via SlashGear

Green Tech: Green jobs outlook, hope or hype?

2009-12-15T03:55:00.001-08:00

Is the promise of green jobs all hype, or are more and more green jobs on the way in the US? Popular Mechanics has just published an extensive report on green jobs that is mostly optimistic.

At the moment, green jobs account for a minuscule proportion of US jobs--just under half of 1%. But between 1998 and 2007, green jobs grew at a rate of 9.1% annually , compared with overall job growth of 3.7%. That initial burst may help cushion job green job decline during the current recession, experts hope.

Among the green jobs growing fastest, Popular Mechanics reports, are fuel cell engineers, smart-grid engineers, green architects and builders, and energy auditors. A few states have taken the lead in green job growth. In Oregon, for example, green jobs are already 1% of total Oregon jobs, the highest in the nation. Other states on the move are Idaho, California, Colorado, Minnesota, Ohio, Massachusetts, and Maine.

iPhone App Store pulls 1000+ apps in fake 5-star review scandal

2009-12-14T14:20:00.001-08:00

The iPhone app developer Molinker has been accused of faking reviews for a number of its 1000+ iPhone apps, and Apple has pulled all of Molinker's apps--nearly 1% of all iPhone apps--from the App Store, according to PC World.

Brennon Slattery, who wrote the PC World report, speculates that Molinker's apps aren't the only ones with bogus 5-star reviews. Slattery urges Apple--and its App Store customers--to be more diligent in exposing fraudulent reviews.

LED Dress Lights Up Your Wardrobe and the Night

2009-12-14T04:00:00.001-08:00

One look at this dress and I was blown away by its beauty and innovation. The Galaxy Dress is a one of a kind of creation put together by two designers. Comprised of 24,000 LED lights, 4,000 Swarovski crystals and quite a lot of iPod batteries, this dress is being called "the largest wearable display in the world." While it's a breathtaking creation in still images, video is the only medium that really does this light-up gown any justice.

Designers Francesca Rosella and Ryan Genz, creators of a "fashionable technology company" called CuteCircuit, reached out to Wired.com to give some background story to the dress.

“We used the smallest full-color LEDs, flat like paper, and measuring only 2 by 2 mm,” say designers Francesca Rosella and Ryan Genz in an e-mail. “The circuits are extra-thin, flexible and hand-embroidered on a layer of silk in a way that gives it stretch so the LED fabric can move like normal fabric with lightness and fluidity.”

Dell Pulls Bait and Switch with Adamo Laptop

2009-12-13T06:40:00.001-08:00

Imagine my joy to see the news about the new Adamo XPS from Dell. At an astonishing 9.99 mm, it looks like it will definitely be a sight to behold whenever Dell stops being coy with the details. My morning techie glow was dashed to pieces when I went over to Engadget and read about Dell's other news.

Apparently, the powers that be at Del thought it would be a great idea to team up with nail polish maker OPI to create 26 new colors and patterns for the Dell Design Studio. I mean it's great that you can coordinate your laptop with your favorite nail color, but with news of the Adamo scares, this seems like a total letdown.

Holiday card snailmailed for free from Google

2009-12-12T20:25:00.001-08:00

A free holiday postcard, and snailmailed free too! We keep reading that Google has more money than it knows what to do with, and here's further evidence. Not that I'm complaining.

So, go here, write your 255-character message, add the recipient's address, pick out your card from a selection of six, and Google says it will do the rest: stamp it, snailmail it, the whole deal. Thanks, Google.

Limit 1, US only, no naughty content. Google says the supply is not endless despite its riches, so better not tarry. If you want to send more than one--a couple of the designs are particularly nice--you can download and print Google holiday cards and mail them yourself.

LoJack for Your Lingerie

2009-12-12T07:50:00.001-08:00

"Find Me If You Can" is the name of the latest line of lingerie at lingerie.com. The name, meant to be cute, kind of loses its meaning once you discover the skimpy bits of cloth meant to get pulses racing has a GPS tracker sewn-in to the ensemble.

Designed by Lucia Lorio, the sexy outfit is comprised of a lace bodice, bikini-cut panties, and a huge pacemaker-like contraption included on the bodice. The purpose of the lingerie is to make the wearer feel safe. (Um, huh?) The GPS has a login and password for the wearer's partner so they can track the object of their desires every move on the internet.

I guess I get it. It can be sexy to have that always being watched feeling...not! Personally this is a little too close to cyberstalking for my taste. Even though the woman has the choice to turn the GPS on and off as she please, I still can hear the delighted sighs of jealous partners everywhere.

Amazingly the sexy tracking device has been selling in Sao Paulo, Brazil for $1200. The more advanced GPS model costs $1650. No word if this little get-up will make it to the states, but I hope not.

Via Gizmodo, GizmoWatch

Robocalls are banned. Sort of.

2009-12-11T05:30:00.001-08:00

The US Federal Trade Commission says there will be no more of those infuriating prerecorded telemarketing solicitations, known not so fondly as robocalls, unless you're so lonely you want them. Telemarketers, the government says, will now need written permission from the callee before setting the robots loose.

So, great, no more robocalls at dinnertime. Oh, wait. Except for the exceptions. Which include calls from charities, banks, politicians, insurers, phone companies, surveys--and, best of all, debt collection agencies.

Also permitted are telemarketing calls from actual humans--unless the phone number is on the National Do Not Call Registry. Find the Do Not Call registry here.

Nikon Pro Battery Grip cranks up your Nikon DSLR like a determined soldier

2009-12-10T05:25:00.001-08:00

Consider yourself lucky if you own a Nikon D200 DSLR. Atleast on one count - more battery power.

This clever Nikon Battery Grip can attach itself to your camera and give you the much needed juice - it holds within 6 AA batteries or two EN-EL3E Li-ion batteries, which means double shooting time. There is also provision for improved vertical shooting as the grip provides functions for additional shutter release, main dial, sub-main dial, AE lock/FE lock.

And as always there is the price to consider. The grip costs around $170, and can be a worthy investment if you are a serious photographer. Well, we assume you would be, with the DSLR and all.

Via The Red Ferret.

Gifts for the geek home, under $50

2009-12-09T18:00:00.001-08:00

More gifts under $50, this time geek gifts rounded up by Unplggd. And therefore more home decor than tech toys.

Yes, a plethora of coasters, posters, and pillows, to say nothing of laptop decals. But a selection of more intriguing stuff too, including a shower radio designed to look like shampoo bottles, sure to puzzle houseguests who only want to wash their hair.

My favorite is the emoticon shower curtain from Bed Bath and Beyond for a fairly reasonable $14.99. Brush up while you bathe.

Yahoo Class Action Settlement Is Bad News For Domainers!

2009-12-09T05:45:00.001-08:00

DirectNavigation.com wrote today about a notice that went out to anyone who advertised with Yahoo or the its prior service GoTo.com, on its PPC program(s) anytime from May 1, 2000 until September 22, 2009.

That’s a lot of advertisers.

The class action arose out of a suit by advertisers against Yahoo, alleging that Yahoo:

“””breached its contract with its customers by allowing Yahoo! ads to be displayed in spyware, domain name parking sites (also known as bulk registration sites), pop-ups, pop-unders, and typosquatting sites. Plaintiffs brought claims for breach of contract, unjust enrichment, misrepresentation, civil conspiracy, and unfair business practices.””

According to the settlement each advertiser is entitled to receive the earth shattering sum of $20.

Right $20 USD.

The lawyers, well they are getting only $4,170,000.00, in fees, plus reimbursement of expenses of approximately $100,000.

But I digress.

Back to how this settlement is bad news for domainers.

In settling this case, Yahoo basically agrees to allow advertisers to basically opt out of the domain channel starting sometime next year:
“””Yahoo! has agreed to develop and offer a new ad placement option that will enable Yahoo! Ad customers to control where their Yahoo! Ads appear.””

“”The Ad Placement Option will allow Yahoo! Ad customers to specify that their Sponsored Search ads should be displayed only on websites and other Internet properties owned or operated by Yahoo!, and the websites of certain “Premium” distribution partners.””

“”Yahoo! has agreed to make best efforts to launch the Ad Placement Option as early as the first quarter of 2010, but in no event later than September 30, 2010.””

“”Yahoo! will maintain the Ad Placement Option for at least two years from the date of its launch.”””

Moreover Yahoo says this change will carry over to its deal with Microsoft.

“”Microsoft will agree to implement ad distribution controls on the Microsoft paid search platform””

The problem is that there is general perception that the domain channel is full of typo traffic and generally undesirable traffic, as alleged in the lawsuit.

Unless Yahoo ad executive are trained to understand and educate their advertisers as to the difference between opting out of the domain channel completely, rather than selectively, keeping ads up on generic domains geared toward their business, all domains will suffer.

By the way, if you were an advertiser and want to check in on that $20 windfall, you need to submit a claim online by March 22, 2010.

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Joey Roth's Ceramic Speakers up for pre-order now

2009-12-08T20:00:00.001-08:00

Joey Roth's Ceramic Speakers will surely blow you away with their looks, if not with their music, considering that these low powered speakers are made to design perfection using porcelain, cork and birch wood. The Ceramic Speakers have a low 15W output per channel and custom-made 4-inch sound drivers neatly housed within a porcelain and cork enclosure. A combination, that apparently promises to reveal every fine nuance of the music that the speaker belts out. The design is elegant to the last detail - so much so that even the usually plain-looking connectors have a distinct radiant finish and are left open to enhance the system's chic looks.

With the designer tag however comes the designer price - the first 200 speakers are up for pre-order now at a price of $495 a pair, and will be shipped out in early November. Sigh. During my childhood, all fairy tales had a happy ending.

Via Boing Boing Gadgets.

USB TurboCharger 3400 keeps your mobile devices from giving up

2009-12-08T07:35:00.001-08:00

Living within a "connected" planet where mobile devices almost define our identities, it becomes imperative for them to have (if possible) zero downtime. I sometimes wonder if the companies which make chargers for these mobile devices make more money than those that develop the devices in the first place. Hmm...

That said, the USB TurboCharger 3400 is another portable charger that can be used exclusively to crank up your mobile devices - mp3 players, cellphones or smartphones. The TurboCharger itself stores juice (3400 mAh storage) while it is connected to your PC/laptop's USB port and can decently charge several of your devices before it runs out completely. The device is sleek and compact, with an attractive LED display that shows the level of charge remaining. It comes with a retractable cable and range of interchangeable connector heads for different mobile devices. Will cost ya $57.

Via The Red Ferret.

10,000 gifts under $50

2009-12-07T21:40:00.001-08:00

OK, I exaggerate. It's actually only 9,195 gifts under $50.

But still.

That's the number I got when I plugged HolidayUnder50 into the Search box at Etsy.com. Don't know Etsy? Etsy's tag line is "Your place to buy and sell all things handmade," and that says it all.

What can you get at Etsy? What can't you get there? Yes, there's hand-thrown pottery and handknits and handmade jewelry in unique designs. But there are also slightly naughty panties and monogrammed dish towels and Hello Kitty custom soap. And I haven't even mentioned Vintage items like the Polaroid Land camera (I remember those magical photos!) and the Lenox china Christmas angel brooch, and the wooden desktop paper sorter.

And several thousand more. And there's also a page of gift guides organized by price and category--stocking stuffers, food gifts, personalized items, and more.

Pictured above, a handmade iPhone/iPod case recalling the old Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) control pad. If you plug iPhone into the Etsy Search box, the number of items you get is, wait for it, 3,820.

Acer's 3D notebook Aspire 5738DG gets the official nod

2009-12-07T08:40:00.001-08:00

Acer has finally come out with the real specs for its much flaunted 3D laptop - the Aspire 5738DG - and gathering from first hand experiences, it remains pretty much a normal laptop except for a moderately satisfying 3D gaming experience.

The Aspire 5738DG boasts a 15.6-inch screen specially designed for 3D effects, and carries within a 2.2GHz Intel Core2 Duo T6600 processor, running Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit OS. The gaming uses TriDef's software which provides the 3D environment, and according to the folks at PC Magazine, the 3D effects will not make you fall off your chair. Take your 3D glasses off and the princess gets back to being Cinderella. That's then the basic Aspire laptop with 4GB of RAM, 320GB HDD, ATI Radeon HD 4570 graphics, and 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi. Suitable for gaming enthusiasts looking for an inexpensive laptop. Acer's shipping the laptop this week at a pretty unassuming $779.99.

Via SlashGear.

Green tech: How to find the best green products

2009-12-06T20:30:00.001-08:00

Save $1500 on your energy bill this year. The latest on plastics and canned foods that contain Bisphenol A. Green ratings of electronics, cars, and other products. What green consumer goods should you buy, and how can you find them?

It's one-stop shopping for that information, plus green news too, at the Greener Choices web site, free from the respected publication Consumer Reports. You can sign up for free newsletters, too.

Water-powered Can Clock tells time using juice from water

2009-12-06T07:55:00.001-08:00

Sound pretty complicated? But not the principle behind this one-of-a-kind eco-friendly Water Powered Clock from Green Stamp. The idea is, simply, to use energy from water to keep the clock alive and ticking.

Judge it not yet. Because the Water Powered Clock is a small, albeit hugely significant, indicator of how modern electrochemical technology can be used to create electronics without emission or additional burden on existing "non-green" energy sources. And the clock is very conveniently designed for that very same purpose - a can into which you have to pour water once every 6 months to keep it running. A great product to introduce kids to green tech.

The can-shaped clocks are available in 4 colors at £9.99 (around US $17). And yes, the results maybe unexpected in case you decide to get creative with the choice of liquid. We guess.

Via Shiny Shiny.

Kingston's MobileLiteG2 card reader is mean and tiny

2009-12-05T22:05:00.001-08:00

Good things, little packages. So it is with the MobileLiteG2 card reader from Kingston. This second generation portable card reader supports almost all the formats (SD, SDHC, microSD, microSDHC, Memory Stick PRO Duo, Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo and Memory Stick Micro), and is small enough (2.45 x 1.16 x 0.646 inches) to fit into a pocket. Make that a really tiny pocket, like the one on your kid's teddy bear.

That apart, the MobileLiteG2 has retractable covers on each side to protect the USB connector and the flash memory cards from damage. The chipper is available standalone at $11, or bundled with a 4GB ($28.50) or 8GB ($46) Class 4 SDHC Kingston card.

Via Engadget.

All about diets, weight control, and the glycemic index

2009-12-05T08:15:00.001-08:00

A lot of what you need to know about the glycemic index is here. Like what IS the glycemic index, anyway? (Short answer: a system of ranking foods according to how much they raise blood sugar.) Why is the glycemic index controversial? Can eating low glycemic-index foods really help prevent diabetes and colon cancer and heart disease? And control my weight?

But not quite everything you need to know about the glycemic index is in that one blog post. Among other things, you need an actual glycemic index that lists foods according to how much they raise your blood sugar. I couldn't find a really complete glycemic index, and maybe there is no such thing. But Diabetes.net has a good one here. (Scroll down past the book-selling stuff.)

And Wikipedia has a brief table summarizing categories of high. medium. and low glycemic-index foods. Keep in mind, though, that you can't always easily estimate the glycemic index of a food. Those bagels up there are actually high glycemic-index items.

As with any topic related to diets, almost any search engine will garner you a ton of stuff. There's an enormous amount of detail about the glycemic index out there, much of it useful. But there is also an enormous amount of salesmanship, so beware.

Samsung Presents the "Diva Collection"

2009-12-04T19:25:00.001-08:00

2010 marks the year of the Diva...phone that is. Samsung has announced that two new phones will be hitting the market and they "will satisfy every woman’s fascination and desire for mobile phones." Named the Diva and the Diva Folder now called the Samsung Olivia, both phones are decked out with quilted back covers, because nothing says haute couture like quilts.

The dynamic duo also come with some unique features including a "Beauty Effect", a retouching function that makes photos "flawlessly beautiful. There's also the "Lomo Effect" that makes makes plain pics look like works of art (umm, okay). The phones also have a wish list, etiquette mode, and security features like "SOS Message" and "Fake Call" to save ladies for those uncomfortable bad date situations.

Gemei is Gem of a Bargain

2009-12-04T07:00:00.001-08:00

Nothing makes me smile like great tech at a great price. It's like finding those killer designer boots for a fraction of the price. So when I saw the Gemei HD8800 portable media player, my bargain senses started tingling.

Retailing for $122, the Gemei PMP comes with 1080p support meaning it plays back your media in glorious HD quality which comes in handy when you want view your favorite videos or images through your HDTV. The device also features a 4.3-inch screen with 800 x 480 resolution, which unfortunately has no touchscreen capability, but at such a great price, it's hardly something to gripe about.

The HD8000 supports a ton of different formats including RMVB, MOV, AVI, VOB, MKV, MP4, and Flash. It may not be as flashy as some of the more popular media players, but with such solid features at such an awesome price, I'm not complaining.

Via Gizmodo

Western Digital's Elite Passport

2009-12-03T09:00:00.001-08:00

Western Digital has launched its newest external hard drive, the Passport Elite. The latest in the Passport series features and illuminated capacity gauge so users can easily vie how much storage space remains, There is also a drive lock indicator to let users know whether or not their precious data is secure. Another cool feature is the new dock. A grab and go number, users can place the Elite on the dock for fast and convenient synching and charging while using minimal disk space leaving room for all your other essential gadgets.

Available in 320 GB, 500 GB and 640 GB capacities, the slim Elite has a metallic finish that is available in red, blue and charcoal. In addition, the Passport Elite comes with the WD SmartWare software which provides continuous and automatic file backup whenever the drive is connected to the dock. There's also a customizable control center where micromanagers can run diagnostics, set up security features and toggle anything else their heart desires.

With a three year warranty the Passport is an affordable investment with the 320GB retailing for $119.99, and the 500 and 640GB going for $159.99 and $169.99 respectively.

H1N1, swine flu, Bill Maher, and U

2009-12-02T21:00:00.001-08:00

Comedian/pundit/talk show host Bill Maher has reportedly tweeted that folks who get vaccinated against the new H1N1 ("swine") flu are idiots. Medical wisdom in 140 characters? Or is Maher, the twit, the real idiot?

Before you get swept away in an anti-vaccine frenzy, you might want to consult what www.flu.gov has to say. That's the US government's official take on the imminent flu season, complete with characters from Sesame Street. There's plenty of stuff for grown-ups too: what to do if you get flu-like symptoms, what pregnant women should know, places to get vaccinated against both seasonal flu and H1N1, and lots more.

This is a two-flu year, with H1N1 piling on top of the regular old seasonal flu that kills plenty of people on its own. There are different vaccines against these different diseases. Each flu tends to attack different groups, as I explained a few weeks ago.

IBM boosts ‘09 guidance again even as sales slump

2009-12-02T10:25:00.001-08:00

SAN FRANCISCO — IBM Corp. has jacked up its profit guidance for the second time this year, a sign of the company’s confidence that it can uncork more profit from its business despite falling sales.

The company’s third-quarter results, reported after the market closed Thursday, show that corporations are still reluctant to spend on some kinds of technology. IBM’s sales fell 7 percent, and all its major divisions suffered declines.

But IBM keeps making more money — net income was up 14 percent — largely because it has been focusing on outsourcing and other services that save clients money and are more profitable for IBM than selling hardware. That has been the key element of IBM’s transformation from a hardware company on the brink of collapse in the 1990s to a one-stop technology shop that rivals are trying to emulate.

Nearly a fifth of the company’s revenue still comes from hardware, however, and IBM’s chief financial officer, Mark Loughridge, said in an interview that a significant help in the quarter came from market share gains in servers at the expense of Sun Microsystems Inc.

IBM has exploited uncertainty about Oracle Corp.’s proposed $7.4 billion takeover of Sun, the world’s No. 4 server maker, to steal customers. That deal still needs antitrust approval in Europe.

IBM says 2009 earnings should be at least $9.85 per share, ahead of analysts’ forecasts for $9.78 per share, according to Thomson Reuters. IBM had raised its guidance before, in July, to at least $9.70 per share.

Despite IBM’s optimistic forecast, some investors apparently expected an even greater increase. IBM shares fell 3.7 percent in extended trading after closing the regular session at $127.98, down 37 cents.

“A lot of us thought you might get even better than this,” said Peter Misek, an analyst with Canaccord Adams. “But these results are solid.”

The recession has made it hard to win new business. Corporations have coped with evaporating revenue by canceling or delaying big technology projects. Indeed, the value of services contracts that IBM signed in the quarter was $11.8 billion, a decline of 7 percent from the same period in 2008.

One sign of the lingering distress came this month in disappointing guidance from the Accenture consulting firm, an IBM competitor. It hesitated to predict the timing for a full recovery in business spending. Another technology bellwether, Intel Corp., has been talking up a recovery in personal computer sales, but warned this week corporate spending would likely remain weak until the new year.

In IBM’s third quarter, which ended Sept. 30, net income was $3.2 billion, or $2.40 per share, ahead of analysts’ expectation for $2.38 per share. In the same period last year, IBM’s profit was $2.8 billion, or $2.04 per share.

Sales were $23.6 billion, slightly better than the $23.4 billion expected by analysts polled by Thomson Reuters. Revenue would have been down 5 percent instead of 7 percent if it were not for currency fluctuations. A weak dollar means deals IBM does in other currencies translate into more greenbacks.

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Wear Your Favorite Celebrity's DNA

2009-12-01T08:00:00.001-08:00

Some people pine to look like their favorite celebrities while others just want to dress like them. Now, you can actually smell like your favorite celebrity. Perfume company My DNA Fragrance is taking scents to decidedly creepy level. Using DNA from your favorite celebrities, they are creating custom fragrances using your favorite celebrity's hair samples.

Selling under the "Antiquity" line, the list of famous hair donors include Marilyn Munroe, Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Kathrine Hepburn, Joan Crawford, and Albert Einstein. Thanks to a promotional sale. each cologne or perfume costs $59.99 with a percentage of the proceeds going to the celebrity's estate as well as the charities they supported. If the celebrity did not have a charity, My DNA Fragrance will donate to one on their behalf.

If smelling like someone else just isn't your thing, you can send in your own genetic code via a cotton swab and have your own scent made into a perfume or cologne. Or you can gift a bottle of
"Eau de You" to someone special in your life. It's a 50/50 shot of generating an "awww" or and "ewwww" repsonse.

Via Born Rich

Green tech: At the beauty salon, be the girl with green hair

2009-11-30T07:10:00.001-08:00

You can be the eco-conscious girl with green hair if you patronize beauty salons that use green hair-care products.

Hair dyes, shampoos, and other such products have traditionally contained synthetic chemicals that can harm the user and the environment. But an increasing number of hair care salons are saying "no" to that tradition. They're stocking environment-friendly products and using them on their customers.

It's a trend that first took hold--of course--in California. But the trend is spreading to other parts of the US. An article in Scientific American advises you to just Google "green hair salons" plus your state abbreviation and you may be surprised to find one--or more--near you.

And if you can't find a local green hair salon, you can nag your favorite salon into turning green. Urge your hairdressers to use the increasing number of hair-care options that are safer for their clients and the world. Some brand names to look for: EcoColors, Aveda, Modern Organic Products or Innersense

Blockbuster OnDemand lands on TiVo

2009-11-29T18:40:00.001-08:00

Broadband-connected TiVo DVR subscribers have access to Blockbuster’s long-awaited OnDemand rental service, TiVo announced on Tuesday.

The service is available to owners of TiVo Series2 and TiVo Series3 digital-video recorders (including the TiVo HD and TiVo HD XL).

According to the company, users will be able to stream films ranging from new releases to classics. Users will be charged $2.99 for classic hits and $3.99 for new releases. Blockbuster will be adding more films over the coming weeks, including “select HD titles.”

As part of the agreement, Blockbuster will also begin selling TiVo DVRs in “thousands” of participating Blockbuster stores around the United States.

Blockbuster OnDemand’s arrival on the TiVo (and TiVo’s arrival in Blockbuster stores, for that matter) has been a long time coming. The partnership was first announced in March.

Whether Blockbuster will enjoy success on the TiVo is up for debate. The company’s main competitor, Netflix, is already streaming films and television shows to TiVos for no additional fee beyond the company’s unlimited-plan charges. Amazon Video On Demand is also available to TiVo users, and like Blockbuster, it, too, allows them to purchase individual videos, rather than pay a monthly subscription fee.

TiVo owners can also access content from YouTube, as well as films through Jaman and CinemaNow’s Disney.

To access Blockbuster OnDemand, users will first need to create a Blockbuster account. Once complete, they can access Blockbuster OnDemand content from the TiVo’s video-on-demand menu.

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Beaba BabyCook: Easy on Baby's Stomach and Parent's Wallets

2009-11-29T07:10:00.001-08:00

I don't have to tell you that having a baby can be expensive. The food, the clothes, the toy, not to mention the seemingly unending need for diapers can drain even the most solid of finances. This new gadget from Beaba might be the must have gift this holiday for parents with toddler-aged children.

Leave it to the French to make an awesome food-based gizmo. The Beaba Babycook is a handy device that makes baby food right before your eyes. The Babycook is a food-processor, stove, steamer, and defroster all in one. The device is simple enough to use. Take those peas, peaches, or beets into the cooking basket. The process starts by steaming your raw materials for 15 minutes, sealing all the nutrients and flavors in place. After the freshly steamed food is blended and pureed into yummy and healthy food ready for baby's sensitive stomach.

The Babycook makes up to two and a half cups of food per use. It also comes with a spatula, bowl, and containers for freezing servings so food can be prepared in advance. Thanks to the gadget's defrost function, there will never be a long wait to defrost precooked food and there's no worry of over-nulking it in the microwave. There's also a recipe booklet just to give parents some inspiration when preparing their baby's meal.

BPA-tested, Parents with kids from six months to two years will be using this thing constantly.Luckily, the : 11 x 5½ x 8-inch device doesn't take up too much counter space. And to make things even more convenient, everything included with the Babycook is dishwasher-friendly.

Video of the Beaba Babycook in action

Via Coolest Gadgets

IREX's Digital Reader is Ready for its Closeup

2009-11-28T05:40:00.001-08:00

The battle of the e-readers is really heating up with the addition of yet another contender. The new reader, the Irex DR800SG hails from IREX Technologies. According to the press release, 8.1-inch touchscreen e-reader uses electronic paper display technology that will give users the feeling that they're reading a traditional paper better than tablets and netbooks, It also boast faster page turning speeds and customizable read settings.

Equipped with 3G multi-mode functionality, the Irex is unloading the big guns, able to access 3G networks worldwide. In addition, the device has some big name companies backing it up including world's largest book seller, Barnes & Nobles which means that greedy bookworms will have over 750,000 titles to devour and that includes new releases and bestsellers. Verizon Wireless will be on hand to provide the 3G connectivity while Qualcomm, wireless telecommunications company will be providing its mobile broadband technology via the Gobi multi-mode 3G embedded module.

Mood Chair determines your emotional state from your hind quarters

2009-11-27T17:30:00.001-08:00

Ladies and gentlemen, this is "interactive" furniture of the most useless kind - a concept called the Mood Chair by UK based designers Aether & Hemera. And after some more wasted minutes spent in trying to understand its utility, I fail to find one.

The Mood Chair apparently has sensors that take cue from the user and the environment to determine his/her emotional disposition. That's not all. After the internal circuitry - consisting of "LEDs, embedded micro-chips, appropriate sensors and custom software" - can take stock of your mood while you are on it, the chair changes color to broadcast it to anybody who's around, and interested. Guess how infallible that can be.

For the others who jumped up in anticipation, we have no clue when this thing might get into the stores. If ever.

Catch a video after the break.

Via technabob.

Kiss the QOOQ: A New PC for the Kitchen

2009-11-27T04:10:00.001-08:00

If you've ever had dreams of embracing your inner Julia Child a la "Julie & Julia", here's your chance. Thanks to a nifty new gadget from France, you can throw away all those tattered recipes and cookbooks.

The QOOQ (pronounced "cook"), is a kitchen computer that might be able to make cooking a pleasurable experience for those of us that are a little gun shy around the oven. QOOQ comes with video recipes as well as 500 preloaded dishes. And if that's not enough, users can sign up for a monthly subscription and have new recipes and sent to device. The digital recipe box can get internet access using WiFi or Ethernet. There's no web browser to speak of, but you can check the weather and update recipes as needed.

In addition to the recipes and videos, the QOOQ also serves as a meal planner and can help create a shopping list, so you don't off track with the impulse buying when you hit the grocery store. And when you need a little entertainment, QOOQ doubles as a digital picture frame and receives internet radio stations.

The 10.2-inch touchscreen tablet PC has a glass screen that makes for easy clean up as a precaution against those unexpected splashes and spills. Unfortunately, QOOQ is currently a French exclusive, but if there are plans to bring the device stateside, I'm sure it will sell like hotcakes (pun totally intended) to the burgeoning foodie movement.

Via Coolest Gadgets

Video game controller ornaments make for a true geek's Christmas

2009-11-26T17:05:00.001-08:00

How to veer Santa away from giving you those girly gifts (like hair curlers, eek!) and bring on the really useful ones (like gadgets, yum!) instead? Well, let why not let the tree scream for your cause this Christmas? So, get plentiful of these acrylic gaming ornaments designed by Dave Rollins, and we bet your decoration will be the talk of the geek town. They are sold together as a set of seven and contain laser cut-out versions of Wii, N64, Xbox 360, Dreamcast, NES, PS2 and Sega Genesis controllers. That said, calling this "geek-chic" would only be an understatement.

The ornaments are available in six different colors and are currently selling on Etsy and Digits’ Ponoko for $25.

Via Slippery Brick.

Touch Stick can help hygiene freaks step an inch away from germ threats

2009-11-26T07:25:00.001-08:00

You've been giving that nasty little germ buggers a miss quite often, but always have the nagging feeling that they are all ready to creep over you each time you use the keypad at the ATM, or the elevator buttons. Well one thing's for sure - you are a certified hygiene paranoid. And there are companies that live by people like you - for sure the one that makes these little plastic keys called the Touch Sticks.

These keys have a special design - wide, flat round ends for pushing mechanical buttons such as those on ATM terminals, or gas stations. So that you can stay a safe distance from the little microbes. Just add a couple of them on your key chain before you leave home and the halo of protection walks out with you. But then again, what about the germs that get on to the Touch Stick itself while you are using it? Hah, never mind. Gotta be insane to spend $2.99 on this one.

Via The Red Ferret.

JVC’S new pocket camera, the PICSIO GC-FM1

2009-11-25T18:05:00.001-08:00

About a week ago JVC launched its first pocket flash memory camera, the PICSIO GC-FM1. The PICSIO is cellphone-sized and comes in three funky colors, Blue Steel, Purple Passion and Black Ice. It’s small and portable and able to capture high quality stills and movies. The funky camera can shoot true eight-megapixel stills and 1080p Full HD video and thanks to its image stabilization that minimizes camera shake, your videos will maintain a good quality even when the 4X digital zoom is used. The recorded videos, stored on SD/SDHC memory cards , are saved as .MOV files and can therefore easily be shared without the need of any conversion.

PICSIO controls are easy and intuitive and the camera’s main functions can be selected using the dedicated buttons therefore avoiding to scroll through long menus. The camera charges via USB connection.

The PICSIO is available for $199.95, included in the price are a USB cable, an AV cable, hand strap and PC software loaded into the camera’s internal memory.

Wardrobe Made Simple by Shmotter.com

2009-11-25T04:50:00.001-08:00

Okay, it's almost time to start switching from our fall gear into our winter wear. Are you wondering whether those slouchy boots clash with that bag or if you can get away with wearing leggings under that dress? Before you shell out a small fortune making potential fashion faux pas, mayhaps you should pay a visit to Shmotter.com.

A new web startup, Shmotter is your own personal lookbook. Populated with clothes and accessories from a large selection of retailers, the site allows fashion mavens to put a look together without the hassle of running from store to store like a mad woman. Just select the piece of clothing or fashion accoutrement you want to sort through using the available tab to select from tops, dresses, bags, etc.

When you've find the piece you're looking for simply drag it over to the left side of the screen to add to part of your look and rinse, wash, and repeat until you've created your look. And since sometimes you really need a second opinion, you can save your outfit to your profile and have the Shmotter community vote on your wardrobe to determine whether it's a fashion hit or miss. (The outfit that you're viewing in the pic is one I put together. I call it Dark and Stormy. Thoughts?)

Rabbit Ear Chairs

2009-11-24T18:30:00.001-08:00

I am not sure whether I am being influenced by my daughter’s obsession with bunnies here, but I really like the Rabbit Ear chair designed by the Sanaa Architects group and I sure wish they would make them kid-sized as well.

The Rabbit Ear Chair comes in six different colors and can be purchased from this site. The price varies from 30,000 yen (roughly $335,-) to 33,000 yen depending on the color.

This year the chairs were also displayed at the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion in London.

Via Hypebeast

Go Gaga for Karaoke on Your iPhone

2009-11-24T05:50:00.001-08:00

Fans of Lady Gaga and karaoke can rejoice. There's now an iPhone/iPod Touch app that satisfies both of those cravings. The Lady Gaga iOKi features four songs from the oddly compelling pop star including new single "Bad Romance" from her upcoming album "Fame Monster". The app turns yours your Apple device into a mini-karaoke machine complete with themes, images, and video of Lady Gaga.

Lady Gaga’s manager Troy Carter said, "The Lady Gaga Karaoke app is a great way for her fans to experience the music in a non-traditional way. We constantly look for new ways that allow her community of fans to interact with each other with the music as the centerpiece, and gridMob nailed it."