Ferrari F250 Concept is Bio Fuel Powered

Ferrari may be adamantly against the development of a new entry-level model – or so it says - but that hasn’t stopped avid designers from around the world creating their own impressions of what they think a baby Ferrari could look like. This latest design is the creation of Idries Omar, and is a modern day version of the legendary 250 GTO appropriately labelled the F250 Concept.

Omar set out to create a design that was simple, fast, aerodynamic and beautiful, while at the same time integrated styling cues from Ferraris of the past. In keeping with the ‘250’ in its title, the proposed engine for the concept is a mid-mounted 2.5L V6 capable of running on biofuel.

Whether or not Ferrari actually builds the Dino still remains to be seen, but in the meantime enjoy the pics of the stunning F250 Concept.

Source: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/concept-cars/designer-creates-his-own-ferrari-f250-concept/

Feature: "Night Hunter" Attack Helicopter has Fully Armored Cabin

Built by the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, the Mi-28N Night Hunter comes equipped with energy absorbing landing gear, a fully armored cabin, anti-tank missiles, an integrated surveillance/fire control system, and an infrared (FLIR) system. It's powered by two TV3-117VMA turboshaft engines. Video after the break. Click here for first picture in gallery.

Source: http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/feature-night-hunter-attack-helicopter-has-fully-armored-cabin-video-

Zeiss does video glasses with the 'Cinemizer'

There are so many makes and models of video glasses on the market that we lost count of them long ago. But one that was launched at Macworld this week may be worth mentioning, for the famous name associated with it if nothing else.

Expert photographers may debate the quality vs. hype of Carl Zeiss lenses, but the companies that use them in their products clearly think the brand packs plenty of marketing muscle--just ask Sony, which touts them every chance it gets for its cameras. So it makes sense that the German company would want to cash in on that reputation directly with its "Cinemizer."

The video glasses, which come with a wired remote, plays video from iPods and other media devices while projecting the virtual equivalent of a 45-inch screen from 78 inches away. But the best feature, as far as we're concerned, is that you can wear them over a pair of eyeglasses--turning us four-eyed individuals into six-eyed viewers. If they would just add a built-in media player, we'd be first in line.

Source: http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9853478-1.html

Handshake Ring - exchange your contact details via a handshake

Check out this social network concept device with a difference. The ‘Handshake’ operates when the users are shaking hands and exchanges basic contact information between the users. The rings exchange and store the information automatically for you to browse through later via the card. The power need to operate the ring is generated from the users body temperature so no plu is required.







Source: http://www.gadgettastic.com/2008/01/18/handshake-ring-exchange-your-contact-details-via-a-handshake/

EyeClops BioniCam portable microscope

If microscopes like those from Celestron are a bit more than you need, you may want to keep an eye out for JAKKS Pacific's upcoming EyeClops BioniCam, which is obviously aimed at kids but, as we've seen in the past, will no doubt appeal to more adventuresome users out there as well. A follow-up to the company's EyeClops Bionic Eye, this one ups the features considerably with the addition of an LCD screen, which you can use to peek at things at magnification levels of 100x, 200x or 400x. Also like that considerably higher-end Celestron, this one packs a built-in digital camera (no word on the resolution) and an included USB thumb drive to make transfers to a computer as easy as can be. No word on a price just yet, unfortunately, though you can look for it to hit stores sometime this fall.


Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/18/jakks-pacific-announces-eyeclops-bionicam-portable-microscope/

Bluetooth coming to football stadiums

Bluepod Media has partnered with 8 football teams — including Blackburn Rovers, Birmingham City, West Ham, Portsmouth, Wigan Athletic, Wolves, and Celtic — to install around 15 Bluetooth units in stadiums. The idea is to enable fans to get hold of free audio/video contents and SMS about club profiles and club fixtures embedded with ads.

First results are impressive - the dry run at Portsmouth resulted to over 6,000 downloads of movie trailers out of 20,000 fans present during the game. And to make this look even more impressive, we’ll only add the service works on the opt-in basis, meaning only people who wanted the free ad-supported content, got it. Wow!

Source: http://www.intomobile.com/2008/01/18/bluetooth-coming-to-football-stadiums.html

340mph Acabion GTBO Motorcycle Now In Production

Forever settling the "Which is faster? Bikes or cars?" debate is the Acabion GTBO. With a top speed of 340mph, it's a full 90mph faster than a Bugatti Veyron. It accelerates from 0 to 300mph in 30 seconds. Oh, and that top speed is limited, not what it'd actually be capable of reaching in perfect circumstances. Best of all, Acabion are ready to start production.

The GTBO is capable of more than just jaw-dropping performance figures. By employing low aerodynamic drag, low weight, and low rolling resistance, it's extremely economical, too. Cruising at 100mph it achieves 100mpg. At 250mph, 25mpg.

The GTBO is the brainchild of Peter Maskus, who sees it as the ultimate long-distance transport solution. In the world Maskus envisions, we'll all be using solar-powered, electric mass-transit for short commutes, creating a need for ultra-fast, ultra-efficient, individual, inter-city, rapid transportation. The GTBO fills that need.

Maskus realizes that the GTBO could never exist in mass quantities in today's world; instead, he pictures the development of an integrated transport network making extremely high speeds both practical and safe. In the meantime, he's prepared to produce the GTBO in extremely limited quantities to further both innovation and awareness of his transport solutions.

If you want a GTBO now, it'll cost you. €1.87million to be precise. Then there's the three-year wait--that's how long Maskus says it'll take to build one.


Source: http://jalopnik.com/346625/acabion-gtbo-the-750bhp-340mph-enclosed-motorcycle-enters-production

[PS3, Xbox 360] New Iron Man Screenshots

SEGA today released a brand new set of screenshots for their upcoming Iron Man game for the PS3 and Xbox 360. The screenshots are all in-game and serve as a teaser, showing off two different Iron Man suits that will be used in the game as well as the featured film.

Check out the rest of the new screens in the gallery below.

Source: http://www.411mania.com/games/news/67227/%5BPS3,-Xbox-360%5D-New-Iron-Man-Screenshots.htm

Alone in the Dark in May for 360 and PC, PS3 in 2008

Atari has confirmed that their Alone in the Dark revival has been delayed into May for the Xbox 360 and PC (as well as Wii and PS2), reports CVG. And what about the PlayStation 3 version? No specific date was mentioned other than "this year," indicating it may be yet another troubled PS3 version of a multiplatform game.

The delay rumors kicked off when our own Games for Windows magazine listed Alone in the Dark's release date as September in a feature on infamously delayed games appearing in the latest issue. The game's release was originally supposed to be in March, and Atari initially denied it would be pushed back.

In an interview with French newspaper Les Echos (translated by MCV), Patrick Leleu, chairmen and CEO of Infogrames (which owns a controlling stake in Atari) said the game was the delayed to have time for extra polish. "I have made a decision to release the new Alone in the Dark opus in May. Its development is nearing completion but some scenes in this fully immersive game deserve to be more polished and we will not take any shortcuts," he said.

So buck up, fans of classic survival horror -- May is at least better than September, right?


Source: http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3165503

[Xbox 360, PS3] FIFA Street 3 Demo Now Available

Today marks the release of the FIFA Street 3 demo on both the Xbox LIVE Marketplace and PlayStation Network. The demo allows you to choose between England and Brazil and play in the Samba Arena.

The full version of FIFA Street 3 will be available for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Nintendo DS on February 15th, 2008 in Europe and February 18th in North America.




Source: http://www.411mania.com/games/news/67241/%5BXbox-360,-PS3%5D-FIFA-Street-3-Demo-Now-Available.htm

Levitation Furniture - Hoverit Floating Lounger

This is not a prop from “Future MD” or the classic “Barbarella.”

It’s a Hoverit magnetic lounger. The chair levitates because of the magnets in the base and on the lounger. You know - the magic of Perez Hilton: repelling. It’s made of clear acrylic and a bunch of custom options are included. If you wear a lot of chains, you might want to avoid this lounger.

British Company, Hoverit Ltd, introduce ‘The Lounger’, which is the first of their revolutionary magnetic ‘hover’ furniture range. British design, precision engineered and British built by hand. Deying gravity with the use of repelling magnetic forces in both the bed and base this contemporary lounger is comfortable, practical and stylish. Permanent magnets can also help back, muscular problems and headaches, so our furniture not only looks good - it may make you feel good too. The sensation that you feel as you lay back and close your eyes is totally different, like floating on a cloud. (hoverit)


Source: http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hoverit-floating-lounger-made-possible-by-the-magic-of-magnets

Electronic Contact Lenses Give Future You Crazy Eyesight

Researchers at the University of Washington managed to embed an electronic circuit and LEDs directly into contact lenses, which seemed to look good on rabbit eyes. Though the circuit is not functional and the lights don't light up, the development shows that future applications like direct video to the eye may indeed be possible.



The prototype device contains an electric circuit as well as red light-emitting diodes for a display, though it does not yet light up. The lenses were tested on rabbits for up to 20 minutes and the animals showed no adverse effects.

Ideally, installing or removing the bionic eye would be as easy as popping a contact lens in or out, and once installed the wearer would barely know the gadget was there, Parviz said.

Building the lenses was a challenge because materials that are safe for use in the body, such as the flexible organic materials used in contact lenses, are delicate. Manufacturing electrical circuits, however, involves inorganic materials, scorching temperatures and toxic chemicals. Researchers built the circuits from layers of metal only a few nanometers thick, about one thousandth the width of a human hair, and constructed light-emitting diodes one third of a millimeter across. They then sprinkled the grayish powder of electrical components onto a sheet of flexible plastic. The shape of each tiny component dictates which piece it can attach to, a microfabrication technique known as self-assembly. Capillary forces -- the same type of forces that make water move up a plant's roots, and that cause the edge of a glass of water to curve upward -- pull the pieces into position.

The prototype contact lens does not correct the wearer's vision, but the technique could be used on a corrective lens, Parviz said. And all the gadgetry won't obstruct a person's view.

"There is a large area outside of the transparent part of the eye that we can use for placing instrumentation," Parviz said. Future improvements will add wireless communication to and from the lens. The researchers hope to power the whole system using a combination of radio-frequency power and solar cells placed on the lens, Parviz said.

Source: http://www.medgadget.com/archives/2008/01/electronic_contact_lenses.html

Electric Mini Shoe City Complete With Godzilla...What?

From Freedom of Creation, a design firm, comes this meter-long light-up shoe for Onitsuka Tiger, a Japanese shoe manufacturer. It's more than just a funky shoe — all aspects of it are meant to symbolize Onitsuka Tiger's presence in Japan. How does a light-up shoemaker do that? First, fill the toe area of the shoe with Japanese symbols. Them pay special attention to the bands around the shoe: they're meant to look like roads, with the tongue of the shoe being a runway. Finally, within the actual shoe itself is a detail-rich and well-crafted cityscape, complete with the the obligatory city-terrorizing Japanese monster.

Freedom of Creation is producing miniature versions of this shoe for smaller stores and as well as replica USB flash drives to be sold along with shoes. Overall, this is a really magnificent visual campaign by Onitsuka Tiger. The actual sneakers being sold may or may not be junk, but the design of its advertising and marketing campaigns sure is beautiful, and isn't that what really matters in the long run?

Source: http://dvice.com/archives/2008/01/giant_light_up.php

OneLessDesk Is an Efficient, Futuristic Workspace

Furniture folding into other furniture is the theme of the future, but this OneLessDesk desk brings that compactness to the present. It's one desk, essentially, but divided out into two sections that hold your input devices and your monitor. Heckler Design made sure it was sturdy enough to hold a 24-inch iMac, yet compact enough to shove into itself when you're done working. We prefer a gigantic flat space for all our papers and USB junk, but if you live in a 400-sq-ft basement rat hole, this $900 desk could be just the thing for you.


Source: http://gizmodo.com/345677/onelessdesk-is-an-efficient-futuristic-workspace

Wii Fit Mat Soaks Up Non-existent Sweat From Wii Fit Workout

Our colleagues from Kotaku have played with the Wii Fit balance accessory for the Wii and give it a unanimous "hate it," but we still have high hopes for the thing. Joining us in our wishful thinking is the entirety of Japan, which bought 1 million of these things already, and Japanese peripheral makers, who made a yoga mat-ish mat to cushion your knees while you're exercising on the hulk of plastic. The mat only costs $32 when you do the conversion, which isn't all that bad considering it comes in a box that says "Wii Fit" on it and says "Wii Fit" directly on the mat itself, something that much cheaper yoga mats do not. Yes, these are both wonderful reasons why you should purchase the Wii Fit Mat.


Source: http://gizmodo.com/345759/wii-fit-mat-soaks-up-non+existent-sweat-from-wii-fit-workout

Who Has More Gadgets, Men Or Women?

This Tuesday, Apple CEO Steve Jobs will once again take the stage for his celebrated keynote address at the Consumer Electronics Show.

After the unveiling of the iPhone last year, there's much anticipation among the tech-savvy about what Jobs will have up his sleeve this year.

You might picture young guys with too much money lining up for the newest fad to impress their friends. After all, it's not unusual to see men comparison shopping at electronics retailers. But who is really buying into technology?

When Paul Douglas dropped by Best Buy to gauge the consumer demographic, he noted that many of the men had come of their own volition, where some of the women admitted they were accompanying their husbands and boyfriends reluctantly.

A recent survey found that the difference, though, isn't as pronounced as the anecdotal evidence would suggest. Men have an average of 6.9 productivity gadgets, whereas women aren't far behind with 6.2 on average.

Furthermore, an informal poll performed by Oxygen Network, which caters primarily to women, found that over three in four women said they would prefer a plasma TV over a diamond necklace.

"Men are relatively linear thinkers, or are thought to be. They're interested in how it's put together," said psychiatrist Dr. Abraham Verjovsky. "Women are more interested in relationships or how the whole comes together."

Still, Verjovsky said it's important not to pay too much attention to stereotypes, and that, as those survey results suggest, the differences between the sexes may not be as pronounced when it comes to gadgets.

During the recent holiday season, women accounted for more than half the money spent on high-tech products.

And though you might think young boys are the biggest video game players, a study done last year found they only make up one-quarter of all gamers. Adult women make up 30 percent.


Source: http://wcco.com/goodquestion/high.tech.gadgets.2.629966.html

Apple MacBook Air Is World's Thinnest Notebook, Looks Absolutely Amazing

It's real. The fabled MacBook Air actually exists. It's ultra-thin, can have a normal hard drive or a solid state one and, except for a couple ports, it's all about wireless connectivity. It's a stunning .16 inches thick at the bottom and .76 inches on the top. The black keyboard (reminds me of some of those black-over-aluminum Braun designs) is LED backlit, sightly recessed MacBook-style, with rounded edges all around. The latch is magnetic and has a gorgeous 13.3-inch screen with ambient-light sensor and, get this, multitouch trackpad.

The MacBook Air is all "green": bromide and PVR free, packaging is 56% smaller and mercury and arsenic-free glass. Looks like Al Gore will be getting one to fly in his private jet.

Amazingly enough, it's only $1,799.

Technical specs

• .16 to .75-inch thickness on top
• 12.8 x 8.94 inches
• 3 pounds
• 5 hours of battery life with everything running

• Intel Core 2 Duo Processor at 1.6 or 1.8GHz, motherboard the length of a pencil.
• 800MHz frontside bus.
• 2GB RAM 667MHz DDR2 standard.

• 13.3-inch screen, LED backlit.
• 1,280 x 800 pixels
• Micro-DVI adapter (for DVI, VGA, composite and S-Video output)
• Intel GMA X3100 Graphics processor with 144MB RAM shared

• 1.8-inch 80GB HD or 64GB Solid State Drive (no moving pieces, but for a stunning $1,300 price increase!)
• Multitouch trackpad with gestures. Pans, zooms, rotates, etc.
• 802.11n and Bluetooth 2.1.
• Optional external HD for $99, USB-bus powered.
• Full backlit keyboard.
• One USB 2.0, one audio port, one Micro-DVI

Source: http://gizmodo.com/345051/apple-macbook-air-is-worlds-thinnest-notebook-looks-absolutely-amazing

Apple's sold 4 million iPhones since launch

Today Apple announced that it's sold 4 million iPhones in the 200 days since launch, at a rate of roughly 20,000 a day. The phone apparently attained a 19% share in the smartphone market in the first quarter of its existence, and Steve Jobs says the phone bested Palm, Motorola and Nokia put together in the space in the first 90 days. It sounds like a pretty impressive pace, especially given the fact that only 1 million had sold by September of last year, but Apple still has a ways to go to compete with the likes of RIM.


Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/15/apples-sold-4-million-iphones-since-launch/

Hydrogen-Powered Cell Phone Doubles Battery Lifetime

A Canadian company has taken a significant step in the development of hydrogen-powered cell phones. Unlike previous attempts at hydrogen-powered phones, Angstrom Power´s prototype allows the fuel cell to fit comfortably inside the phone, and can last twice as long between refueling than phones powered with lithium ion batteries.

Angstrom Power's hydrogen-powered Motoslvr cell phones were on display at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. The fuel cell version looks identical to the battery version, but another advantage of the new technology is that it can refuel in as little as 10 minutes.

As Paul Zimmerman of Angstrom Power explains, the key advantage of the technology is the ability to fit the fuel cell into the phone itself, rather than being hooked up to an exterior device for power. With the design of "Micro Hydrogen" technology, Zimmerman hopes that the company will launch its first commercial fuel cell phones in 2010, and grow from there. If fuel cell phones live up to their promise of better power, the market could be in the hundreds of millions of devices.

However, there are a few obstacles confronting fuel cell phones, including safety and convenience. Angstrom Power - and other companies in the market - will have to provide strong evidence that the phones are not vulnerable to explosions. Angstrom Power says it has tossed its phones into a burning barbecue, and they were able to survive the heat intact.

Another concern about fuel cell phones is the fact that users can´t simply plug in their phones to recharge them. Rather, they´ll have to buy hydrogen fuel - meaning stores will have to sell it. Or, convenience stores and gas stations would have to provide hydrogen kiosks. Angstrom is trying out another idea, though. The company is developing a home-based water-powered unit, where users simply pour in water to activate the refueling.

Angstrom is currently collaborating with world-leading battery manufacturers, portable electronic device makers, and mobile service providers toward the commercialization of its Micro Hydrogen technology.


Source: http://www.physorg.com/news119544735.html

Download allows PC games to be played on PS3

A website has announced the release of a free download that allows any PC game to be played on a PlayStation 3 console.

StreamMyGame.com allows PC games to be played on a PS3 by sending it over a home network to a second computer - or a PS3. It can then be played using the free StreamMyGame player.

"Playing the latest PC game on the PS3 is now a reality at HD resolution and fast frame-rates," said Richard Faria, CEO. "I have a PS3 in my living room and PC in my office and my two kids both have old PCs in their bedrooms," he said. "Now we can play games anywhere around the home. StreamMyGame's technology networks the power of a main PC so it can be used to play high end games on other PCs, PS3s and Linux devices".

The StreamMyGame Player is compatible with Windows XP, Vista and Linux with resolutions up to Super HDTV 3200 x 2400. Compatible Linux installations include Ubuntu and Yellow Dog Linux, recommended by Sony for the PS3.


Source: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/gaming/a85105/download-allows-pc-games-to-be-played-on-ps3.html