Electronics market of Japan: Marching ahead like never-before

Electronics gadgets have transformed our lives in numerous ways and this can be evident from the fact that the modern day life is relatively simple than it was a decade ago. The development in Electronics can be attributed to many nations of the world, but Japan clearly stands out at the top of the contributors list.

Japan is a leading name in the world of LCD Television, PDP Television, Air conditioner, Refrigerator, Washing machine, Portable music player, Solar battery, Mobile phones and DVD player. Some of the leading names in the present day market such as Panasonic, Sony, Daikin, Pioneer and Sony are integral parts of Japan's booming economy. These Japanese companies have made a distinct mark for themselves delivering consistent high-end solutions.

Some of the biggest factors for Japan's continuing performance have been a rock solid infrastructure and brilliant minds backed by the continuing flair for innovation and unmatched quality.


As per a research conducted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, 2006, the expected growth of 97 products and materials using the "True Nano" technology for the year 2030 (18,014 Billion Yen) will be almost 9.3 times more than the growth of 2005 (1,935 Billion Yen).

It would not be wrong to say that Japan has been an indisputable pioneer in the introduction of many electronics devices such as Television, music players and washing machines to name a few. These electronics devices have considerably reduced the burden on the shoulders of mankind. Moreover, the quality of products from Japan is simply unmatched and even though many nations of the world have tried to come up with cheap replicas they have failed miserably in living up to the expectations of the customers worldwide.

The Japanese market is likely to witness some more positive things in the near future and with a bright future for its electronics goods in the years to come, there is nothing which can elude the economy from marching on its sustained path of success and development . The favourable policies of the government is also one of the biggest reasons behind the success of Japan, post-Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings.

The Electronics market in Japan is also on a high these days with bulk orders being placed by many countries around the world and with such an unprecedented rise in the demand for electronics devices, there is nothing which can come between the success of Japanese electronics market in the coming years.

wii light gun gets laser sight for precision aim

In the last year, we’ve gone from nary a Wii gun controller to a veritable plethora of available shooter accessories for Nintendo’s little white box. Still, with all the variety that’s to be found these days, this is the first time I’ve seen one with a built in laser sight to help you aim your shots.

The WiiMax (not to be confused with WiMAX) is one substantial light gun controller, designed to flip between “machine gun” and “rifle” modes thanks to a folding front grip. It’s got a fitted slot for holding your Wii-mote, and lets you plunk your Nunchuk into the handle. The laser sight runs on a pair of AAA batteries, and can be easily removed if it gets in your way.

Sure, if you’re willing bring out your inner MacGyver, you could just duct tape a cheap laser pointer onto any light gun. But for about $21, you might as well just pick up one of these, all ready to go. You can grab the WiiMax Wii Light Gun from DealExtreme.


Source: http://technabob.com/blog/2008/02/29/wii-light-gun-gets-laser-sight-for-precision-aim/

Italdesign Giugiaro Quaranta Concept

This is the Italdesign Giugiaro’s Quaranta concept, powered by a mid-mounted hybrid powerplant (3.3L V6 + Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive) which produces 268hp and 212 ft-lb of torque, boosting from 0-60mph in 4.05- seconds. As you can see the roof are all black, that is the solar panel which power the interior electronics and charge the batteries. It has a pair of fuel tanks that carried 16 gallons of fuel which can be use to 621-mile range. More pictures after the break.



Source: http://www.2dayblog.com/blog/2008/03/01/italdesign-giugiaro-quaranta-concept/?lang=en

Drummer for iPhone and iPod Touch

It’s finally here. I knew there will be drum application for iPhone. MooTheCow has developed this homebrew drum machine application called “Drummer” for the iPhone or iPod Touch. You can play up to 15 unique audio samples, playing 5 sounds at once. You can also let you MP3 play in the background while playing this drum. There are several pre-installed sound sets which include Rock, Dance, Electro and two Jazz. The application is still under private BETA, so there’s no copy for your jailbroken iPhone yet. Video after the break.

Source: http://www.2dayblog.com/blog/2008/03/01/drummer-for-iphone-and-ipod-touch/?lang=en

Movie Gadget Friday: TRON

Ariel Waldman contributes Movie Gadget Friday, where she highlights the lovable and lame gadgets from the world of cinema.

Previously on Movie Gadget Friday, we traveled across war-torn galaxies in the 1978 version of Battlestar Gallatica. Moving forward a few years to 1982, we'll take a look inside the computational arcade culture of TRON. Saturated with neon suits and Pac-Man blips and bleeps, the sci-fi cult Disney film has achieved pop culture status over the years.

The ENCOM Digitizing Molecular Laser
Using a matter transform sequence and a grid matrix, the ENCOM Digitizing Laser is able to transport physical matter into a digital space. The laser is able to lock on a target and dismantle the molecular structure on a cubic grid. When used for its original intentions, the molecules remain suspended in the laser beam. However, the Master Control Program is able to deviate this sequence into transporting the restructured molecules into a digitized computer game world where TRON resides. The molecules can then be shifted back safely into the physical world by selecting the run mode through the laser system. Surprisingly, the only side effects the laser has on humans is minor disorientation and temporary memory loss. Phew. More after the break.



Edward Dillinger's Executive Touchscreen Desk
This mammoth of a desk is featured as the main text-based control panel access the Master Control Program. With a sleek glass surface, the table top doubles as a dynamic touchscreen, doing away with the need for a bulky keyboard (we can only hope it would do away with a lot of other devices for a desk that size). The MCP that runs within the desk was originally programmed as an artificial intelligence chess game, but over time was able to increase its intelligence and conversational abilities through an internal audio input / output system. If the size and MCP weren't intimidating enough, the desk also comes equipped with embedded monitors, capable of displaying multiple CCTV feeds at any given time for spying on potential intruders.


Aside from lasers and computer desks, it's hard not to notice all the virtual devices that are featured throughout Flynn's digitized journey. Since most are bits of software, they're able to take on any form and function despite the usual laws of physics and mechanics. But from Light Cycles and Identity Disks to hovering Recognizers, we tend to have more lasting wonder about the necessity of men in TRON-tights, and less to do with the electrical output levels of Logic Probes.


Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/29/movie-gadget-friday-tron/

250KM/H Peraves MonoTracer planned for Geneva

Swiss company Peraves first revealed its MonoTracer at last year’s Geneva Motor Show but back then the enclosed bike was still in the early stages of development and it hadn’t even undergone official testing. For this year’s Geneva Motor Show, Peraves is back and this time ‘round officials have some exciting numbers to boast about.

The final production version of the MonoTracer will now sport a 96kW four-cylinder petrol engine capable or revving to 8,750rpm. Peak torque of 117Nm arrives at just over 6,000rpm and at full tilt the MonoTracer will accelerate to 100km/h from rest in just 4.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 250km/h. Mileage comes in at 65mpg (3.6L/100km) and at this level the MonoTracer emits just 85g of carbon per km.

Key to the MonoTracer’s design is its ‘knee’ (a retracted stabilizer tire), which skims the road and allows the vehicle to lean up to 52 degrees around corners. Peraves is now planning to expand its factory and hopes to build up to 100 units of the MonoTracer per year with pricing to start at €52,000.

Source: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/concept-cars/250kmh-peraves-monotracer-planned-for-geneva/

Mercedes-Benz bringing first Li-Ion hybrid to market

Despite their position as technology leaders, hybrid cars have spent the last decade in relative torpor. Battery, motor and design technology are all fundamentally the same as they were when the first Prius debuted over a decade ago. Many car makers have been working on new hybrid technologies, but so far very little has actually made it to the market place. Daimler hopes to change that with its new S400 BlueHYBRID, powered by lithium-ion batteries.

Most of us are familiar with lithium-ion technology - we’ve been carrying it around in our laptops for years. But the perils associated with lithium-ion batteries, from spontaneous flame-ups to excessive heat generation and temperature sensitivity are equally well-known. Those difficulties, in addition to the high cost of the batteries themselves, are what has kept lithium-ion batteries from coming to market in hybrids so far. But Daimler believes it has engineered solutions to all of these problems, and will be introducing the S400 BlueHYBRID in 2009.

The petrol-powered hybrid posts some impressive figures for such a large and luxurious car: 7.9L/100km (29.8mpg US) fuel consumption and 190g/km CO2. And performance is still more than adequate - with 375Nm of torque and 220kW (299hp) on tap, the dash to 100km/h takes a mere 7.3s. Top speed is limited to 155mph.

There are still some limitations on the battery technology, however. It will work optimally only between temperatures of 15 and 35 degrees Centigrade (59 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit) meaning the energy storage capacity of the batteries above and below that range will be compromised. However, when it is working at full capacity, the battery system stores an impress 1.9kW per liter of storage space, and offers excellent longevity, which means fewer expensive battery replacements over the life of the car.

Although other manufacturers are exploring the use of lithium-ion technology, if Mercedes sticks to its release schedule as planned, it will be the first to market in a series-production road car.

Source: http://www.motorauthority.com/cars/mercedes-benz/mercedes-benz-bringing-first-li-ion-hybrid-to-market/

Microsoft phone makes in-call lookups easier

The latest mobile-phone research from Microsoft may be bordering on bizarre, but it does something we don't normally associate with the Redmond leviathan by turning a familiar technology practically on its head.

Patrick Baudisch of Microsoft Research is currently tackling that perennial problem of retrieving information from a phone when you're already using it to make a call.

Hang on a minute...

Instead of breaking off the conversation to access an onscreen schedule, he wants to use audio feedback to allow the phone to quickly reveal the information without interrupting the call.

The 'blindSight' prototype phone he has built looks like an upside-down handset and features buttons on the rear side of where the screen would normally be. This makes them easy to press with the hand that holds the phone during a call.

Hands-free anyone?

As for what those presses achieve, that's where things get a little sketchy. Baudisch's demo video shows how requests for data made through certain button pushes result in a sequence of ticks and beeps that describe busy and free slots on the schedule.

It's a nice idea, especially as only one end of the call can hear the audio feedback, but it does seem that focusing on and deciphering the sequence of sounds might require one to, well, stop talking and concentrate.

The world will find out more at the Computer-Human Interaction conference in Italy in April.

Source: http://www.tech.co.uk/gadgets/phones/mobile-phones/news/microsoft-phone-makes-in-call-lookups-easier?articleid=1853583466

iView - The Curved iMac Concept

Many things come to mind when I imagine new features that might be useful on my Mac; a touch screen, integrated 3G connectivity, pop-out remote control, integrated LCD projector, and maybe even a ninja bear defense radar system… I had an incident, let it go. Designer Nuno Teixeira believes every computer should be two faced and with more curves. I dated that girl for a while and it was a hot nightmare, but his “iView” iteration of an Apple’s iMac definitely has a lot more appeal. Taking a cue from the 1950’s CINERAMA wrap-around movie theatre screens, this iMac iMock-up features a giant curved screen(for better orientation to the natural curvature of the human eye) and a second built in LCD screen on the back(useful for students and graphic designer.) While shooting for the stars, Nuno also included two webcams(front and back). The likelihood this will ever be made? 0%, the likelihood I would really like one of these? 100%


Source: http://www.yankodesign.com/index.php/2008/02/29/curved-imac-has-your-back/

Sony Vaio Graphic Splash Expressions Collection Makes You, Your Laptop Pretty

Have you been waiting for a Sony Vaio range that will allow custom font selection for keyboard lettering? Well, the new Graphic Splash Expressions Collection is here to answer your prayers. Yes, you can finally choose the font of the keyboard lettering when you order—we're so excited. The lappies are available in various designs, including Leaf and Victorian Lace in either black, blue or pink colors. The entry level configuration includes Intel Core 2 Duo 2.1GHz processor, 2 GB RAM, 120 GB HDD, Windows Vista OS, wireless and Bluetooth, all for $1279. Excuse us whilst we fall asleep.


Source: http://gizmodo.com/362199/sony-vaio-graphic-splash-expressions-collection-makes-you-your-laptop-pretty

New PlayStation 3 Bundles Coming To Europe

Two new PlayStation 3 bundles are headed to European gamers, one containing Gran Turismo 5: Prologue and the other including Blu-Ray copies of Casino Royale, 300 and Spider-Man 3.

Both bundles will feature the system's 40GB version, a single SIXAXIS controller and will retail for €399 ($601).

The Gran Turismo bundle is slated to hit European stores on Mar. 28, while the movie bundle is set for a Mar. 19 release.

So far it's still unknown as to whether Europe will also receive the recently announced Metal Gear Solid 4 bundle that will reach U.S. retailers on June 12 and include an 80GB PS3, a Dual Shock 3 rumble-enhanced controller and a copy of the latest Metal Gear Solid.

Source: http://blog.wired.com/games/2008/02/two-new-ps3-bun.html

Army orders 24 new sentry-bots, Judgment Day moved up two months

Sure, you laughed yesterday when you heard professor Noel Sharkey warn against the impending, apocalyptic man vs. machine battle that was to come, but this news may have you singing a different tune. A pilot program in Nevada which employed robotic sentries to patrol Hawthorne Army Depot is getting an upgrade: 24 brand new drones called MDARS, or "Mobile Detection and Assessment and Response System." The $40 million purchase will nab the Army diesel-powered robots which operate at speeds up to 20 MPH, use RFID tags to keep track of locks and barriers, and can run for 16 hours without refueling. Though the bots have been tested with automatic weapons, these new versions will be equipped with non-lethal armaments, thus making them considerably less deadly when Skynet goes online.


Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/29/army-orders-24-new-sentry-bots-judgment-day-moved-up-two-months/

Iron Man New Full Trailer Shows Why It's Going to be the Best Hi-Tech Superhero Movie Ever

I don't know about you, but any trailer that starts with the greatest gadget genius of all time having a morning whisky on the rocks, while traveling through the desert in a humvee to the beat of AC/DC's Back In Black, says to me: BEST SUPERHERO MOVIE EVER. Which is precisely what you can see in the new Iron Man full trailer, along with everything you would expect Robert Downey Jr's perfect Tony Stark to do, from tinkering with his armor while mixing cocktails to playing with a multitouch holographic display to crashing through his amazing mansion on the edge of a cliff (Bruce Wayne is a wimp) to kissing the redheaded goddess that is Gwyneth Paltrow playing Virginia "Pepper" Potts, his personal assistant.


Source: http://gizmodo.com/362195/iron-man-new-full-trailer-shows-why-its-going-to-be-the-best-hi+tech-superhero-movie-ever

Home-made tilting V-Max three-wheeler

We’ve been going on a bit lately about three-wheelers, I know, and I promise I’ll give them a rest for a bit after this one, which is the first I’ve seen with any decent horsepower. Looking like a V-Max with an old-school lawnmower bolted to the front of it, it’s the latest bike from Tilting Motor Works.

The tilting three-wheeler concept has well and truly broken onto the market in the last 6 months - before that, few of us had seen anything like it. But as early as 2005, Bob Mighell from Stanford, WA, USA, was searching for a way to combine the lean-in cornering of a bike with the front-end stability and grip of a 4-wheeler. He quickly decided on the idea of a three-wheeler with tilting twin front wheels, and made a prototype out of his son’s Lego.

Two prototypes using small-capacity Hondas were built and tested, and finally, in September last year, he put together the V-Max we see today.

Mighell’s home-made front end bolts straight into the engine mounts down low. A new set of rigid fork tubes connects the steering arms to the bike’s stock steering head, and the two theels are independantly suspended from the new front end. Braking forces are fed back low into the bike’s frame, instead of at the headstock like on a normal bike, so stability under the Buell-style rim-mounted disc brakes is very good.

There’s no MP3-style tilt lock yet, although Bob’s working on the idea, and he’s planning conversion kits for Harley and Goldwing donor bikes. A very nifty bit of home craftwork from a guy who makes a living refurbishing surgical operating room equipment.

There’s a slightly tedious 4-minute video of the Tilting Motorworks V-MAX available that doesn’t do much for Mighell’s cred as a rider, but shows he knows how to pick a pumpin’ workout soundtrack. Photos are from TheKneeslider.

Source: http://www.thebikergene.com/custom-bikes/home-made-tilting-three-wheeler-v-max/

PENTAX to present its entry-level 10.2M DSLR 'K200D' in Korea

PENTAX presented its entry-level 10.2M DSLR 'K200D' in Korea market, which is equipped with a high-performance 23.5mm x 15.7mm CCD image sensor.

Adopting a 2.7-inch 230,000 pixel LCD monitor, the K200D supports new Dust Alert function to pinpoint the exact location of dust particles, Shake Reduction(SR) system to reduce camera shake, and ISO 1600.

It is expected to be available on March 1st for 898,000(KRW)

Source: http://aving.net/usa/news/default.asp?mode=read&c_num=74584&C_Code=01&SP_Num=0

Solar Powered Notebook Concept

This solar notebook concept is a laptop with complete power independent. Its independence is due to powerful batteries that are recharged by wide Solar Panel attached to the computer. Equipped with satellite link GPS, internet access, and satellite telephone which makes this device not only power independent but also universal tool for communication and exchange information literally from any spot on the planet.

The solar panel may be completely detached from the main body to be put away for recharging, then smaller battery inside the computer is on. This small battery is recharged with solar power too when DC is plugged in.

This sure do will come in handy for scientists or researchers who work far away from civilization and power source.

Source: http://www.tuvie.com/solar-powered-notebook-concept

Shuttle’s Mini Gaming PC Powerhouse

With Cebit Show madness set to kick off next week, wee PC specialist, Shuttle, is hoping to beat the rush with news of a gaming PC that manages to be small too.

The mini-powerhouse is the XPC P2 3500G, built inside the aluminium XPC Barebone SP35P2 Pro chassis, sports an Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 processor, 4GB of DDR2-800 Dram and a fast 750GB Serial-ATA 2 Samsung hard disk drive with 32 MB of cache. You can also fit another HDD if you need. There’s a serious amount of cooling and noise reduction technologies employed too so that it doesn’t sound like a plane taking off under your desk every few minutes.

Graphics come courtesy of the HD-capable ATI Radeon HD3870 graphics card with 512MB of dedicated graphics memory and support for the latest DirectX 10 games.

The system comes pre-loaded with Windows Vista and there’s an integrated fingerprint scanner for those extra security conscious gamers among you. In terms of connectivity, there’s two FireWire and seven USB 2.0 slots. It also supports Wi-Fi, has a 25-in-1 card reader and a 16x DVD burner. It comes with a price tag of around £1,100 and a 24-month pick-up-and-return warranty.-Martin Lynch

Source: http://uk.gizmodo.com/2008/02/28/shuttles_mini_gaming_pc_powerh.html#more

Zen concept PC caters to visually impaired

There's hardly a shortage of pocketable devices for the blind, but the Zen is lookin' out for the visually impaired who crave a more full-fledged computing experience. Essentially, the Sandbox PC (hardware) and Zen (operating system) would team up to "create a computing environment that could be used with eyes closed." More specifically, it would utilize an Active Surface for displaying text in Braille and producing images, windows and icons that could be felt. No word on whether this contraption would handle other tasks such as reading one's e-mail aloud or enabling the blind to still participate in Hot or Not, but nevertheless, it's definitely a step in the right direction.


Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/28/zen-concept-pc-caters-to-visually-impaired/

Professor decries robotic killing machines, clearly prefers to do killing himself

So the military is continuing down the totally inevitable path of computer-controlled autonomous robo-warriors capable of fighting deadly human battles on our behalf -- and out come the naysayers like U of Sheffield prof Noel Sharkey, who, at The Ethics of Autonomous Military Systems conference in London, decried the bots' self-determined killing abilities as "a threat to humanity" -- especially if they're captured and re-purposed by terrorists to do their evil bidding. Sharkey exclaimed that he's "worked in artificial intelligence for decades, and the idea of a robot making decisions about human termination terrifies [him]," but -- and we're just gonna throw this out there -- what if being oppressed by a race of automatons run amok were actually an improvement over our corrupt governments of men? Isn't that a possibility, too? We're certainly going to keep telling ourselves it is, thankful we've somehow managed to not be overthrown by our own creations. Thus far.


Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/28/professor-decries-robotic-killing-machines-clearly-prefers-to-d/

Samsung announces two gamer plasmas for Korea

Want to jump into the 3D madness? Well suit yourself with these 2 new PAVV TVs from Samsung in Korea, available in 42 and 50” which are “3D Ready PDP TV” (PDP = Plasma). Samsung worked in collaboration with Electronic Arts in order to make sure that these TVs will give you the best game experience possible and to tweak the 3D display rendering. It is also important to note that our TVs receive the DNIe+ (Digital Natural Image engine+). On a side note we have here the USB 2.0 Support, and the HDMI 1.3 and are Full HD

Now if 3D PDP TV was not MAD enough, Samsung announce a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1… Well I am not sure if this is a typo here from the Samsung PR documents but WOW.


Source: http://www.akihabaranews.com/en/news_details.php?id=15598

GeigerCars Corvette Z06 Black Edition

When Germany’s GeigerCars decided to modify one of America’s top performance cars, designers looked to an Italian carmaker, specifically Ferrari, for inspiration for their latest kit. The new car is the GeigerCars Corvette Z06 Black Edition, and it features a custom rear end that draws obvious styling cues from Ferrari’s 599 and F430 supercars. The back now sports a new bumper with an integrated diffuser, LED taillights and chrome exhaust tips.

The rest of the car maintains the factory look with only a few subtle pieces added including a custom front lip and forged alloy wheels. Underneath the hood is where most of the modifications take place. Engineers have bumped power up to 542hp (389kW) by adding a sports air-filter, custom exhaust manifolds, steel bed catalysts and remapped the engine’s ECU. The sprint time from 0-100km/h is reduced to about 3.7 seconds, while maximum speed is increased to about 327 km/h.

GeigerCars also offers a high performance brake system and suspension set-up with new springs replacing the standard transverse units. Multi-piece chrome wheels measuring 19in can also be specified. Inside, developers added carbon-fiber panels, and handcrafted leather trim. Pictured below is GeigerCars’s 2006 edition Corvette Z06, which you can compare directly with GM’s own Corvette ZR1 supercar.

Source: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/supercars/geigercars-corvette-z06-black-edition/

Google lays down fiber, capable of 7.68 terabits per second

Fiber: it’s a major part of communication. Google: a super search engine that is a part of most everyone’s life. Combine the two and what do you get? A Pacific subsea fiber optic cable with the ability to transfer up to 7.68 Terabits of data per second between the United States and Japan. In a press release, Google announced that, along with six international companies, a $300 million undersea fiber-optic cable is going to be routed from the West Coast, including Los Angeles, to Chikura, located near Tokyo.

“The Unity cable system allows the members of the consortium to provide the increased capacity needed as more applications and services migrate online, giving users faster and more reliable connectivity.” -Jayne Stowell, a Unity spokesperson

The Unity Group includes Bharti Airtel, Global Transit, KDDI Corporation, Pacnet. SingTel, and of course, Google. The undersea cable is to provide more bandwidth for the growth demand expected in the coming years and will have construction begin immediately. The cable is expected to be operational in it’s first state by 2010.


Source: http://www.gadgetell.com/tech/comment/google-lays-down-fiber-capable-of-768-terabits-per-second/

Bluetrek BiZZ - Bluetooth headset with built-in data storage

Bluetrek has found yet another way to sell a Bluetooth headset, offering the BiZZ headset with flash memory.

The lightweight headset (10g) offers up to 6 hours talk time, runs for up to 10 days on standby and has four sixes of fitting. But once you remove the headset’s speaker cover, the BiZZ is transformed into a USB key. No actual storage in the unit though - you need to add your own MicroSD or SDHC card, which will offer storage of up to 8GB whenever you need it. And as one final bonus, if offers charging via USB.

You can pick one up now, priced £39.99.


Source: http://techdigest.tv/2008/02/bluetrek_bizz_b.html

Getac B300 Rugged Laptop Plays Nice With Night Vision Goggles

The B300 is one hell of a rugged laptop, just checkout these specs: 13.3-inch XGA display, Intel Core 2 Duo 1.6GHz processor, a maximum of 4GB RAM, Super-Multi DVD ROM, WiFi, Bluetooth, 12-hour maximum battery life, rugged magnesium alloy case, Biometric Fingerprint Reader, as well as options for 3G and GPS. The lappie with a thick skin incorporates Sunlight Readable Technology, which does exactly what is says on the tin; it ensures the screen is readable in extremely bright conditions. Additionally, the Night Vision mode will allow users to operate the B300 even whilst wearing night vision goggles. It is just as well Getac's offering is wind, dust and rain resistant, too, as we very much doubt you will be needing that night vision mode in your bedroom. (Unless you do, you complete, extreme perv.)


Source: http://gizmodo.com/361232/getac-b300-rugged-laptop-plays-nice-with-night-vision-goggles

Bi-Color LED Blow On-Off Candles

Lasers and super-bright flashlights are quite prevalent sources of illumination in science fiction. But fantasy has always chosen a more classical approach to light. Torches and magical fireballs and candles are what dispel the shadows and blackness of the night. Candles light Great Halls in schools of magical learning; they burn bright in the chambers of Elven Kings; they even sit on the birthday cakes of Norse Gods (or so Dirk Gently tells us). But candles can be dangerous ("Fire bad" and all that), so we've stirred a mix of science fiction into our candles of fantasy and these awesome LED candles are the result.

The LED Blow On-Off Candles are solid wax (except for some electronics) and feature a natural-looking, flickering light just like normal candles, but they have a couple of extra techno enhanced powers. Regular candles will blow out if you blow on the flame, but these LED candles will also blow on. All you have to do is use the master on/off switch on the bottom, and these candles will turn on and off with just a puff at the "flame". Even better, each candle has a switch to select either a cool blue flame, or a more realistic yellowish flame. From the proper distance and height, these candles will fool everyone into thinking they are the real thing; they are a fantastic way to put candles where it is too dangerous to have open flames. And, they won't drip wax all over your mithril armor either.

Candles are approx. 3" in diameter (4" or 6" tall, your choice). The 4" candle uses button type batteries (included. plus we give you an extra set to be nice) while the 6" candle takes 3 AAA batteries (not included). The candles will "burn" for 300 hours on a single set of batteries.

Please Note:
The 4" candle features a pushbutton on the bottom to change from blue to natural yellow color, while the 6" candle has a three position switch (left = blue color, center = off, right = natural yellow color).


Source: http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/lights/94ce/

Halo 3 Plasma Weapons

Two weeks ago the sky was ripped open by a horrible sound. A Covenant supply freighter crashed right behind TG HQ - there were no survivors. What did survive was crates of weapons. We scavenged them and (after an unforeseen plasma discharge accident) we decided to convert them into a laser tag-esque game. They are mean, they are heavy, and now you can own your very own working (except for the death aspect) Covenant Plasma Pistol and Plasma Rifle.

Ok, all that was a lie - these are toys. But they are the most unbelievable toys you'll ever have the pleasure to hold. Each one feels like you plucked them straight out of Halo 3. Words cannot convey how awesome it is to hold your own Plasma Pistol or Plasma Rifle, with all its lights and sounds, palpable recoil, and overheating sounds and action (parts literally pop out). Clip the target/shield generator to your belt and just like in the game, if you stay safe, your shields will regenerate. Prepare yourself for the ultimate Halo 3 experience with your very own Plasma Pistol and Plasma Rifle. Master Chief would be jealous.

Halo 3 Life-Size Plasma Weapons

• Plasma Pistol
  • Features: Game accurate lights and sounds; overheat function with pop up panel; regular and super shot; LCD ammo counter; force feedback recoil with each shot fired; separate target/shield generator unit with belt clip
  • Batteries Pistol: 4 AA (included); Shield Generator: 3 AA (not included)
  • Dimensions: approx. 11.5" x 8.5" x 3"
• Plasma Rifle
  • Features: Game accurate lights and sounds; overheat function with pop out panel; rapid fire shooting; LCD ammo counter; force feedback recoil with each shot fired; separate target/shield generator unit with belt clip
  • Batteries Rifle: 4 C (included); Shield Generator: 3 AA (not included)
  • Dimensions: approx. 21" x 12" x 5"

Source: http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/warfare/a1f7/

Toshiba's 815T PB on Softbank threatens humanity

We kind of wish this was fake -- and we're tentatively overjoyed that it's not -- but we can't help but feeling a little freaked at the Toshiba 815T PB on Softbank, developed to coincide with a new show featuring (you guessed it) robo-phones called Ketai Sousakan 7. Yeah yeah, QVGA, 3G, 3.2 megapixel camera, that's all well and good, but our latent fear of cellphone brain cancer kind of just went out the window.


Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/27/toshibas-815t-pb-on-softbank-threatens-humanity/

Force-Feedback Vest: Xbox 360 & Sony PS3 gamers, would you

If you own a PC and like to play games like

Call of Duty 2 or 3rd Space Incursion then you will be able to have a much better gaming experience than ever before, with the use of the Force-Feedback Vest. To make this possible inside the vest is an impact-generating device, so when you get shot you will get to feel the impact.

There are eight active zones built in to the Force-Feedback Vest, which is great if you get shot from many different angles. However there is one problem with this vest and that is that it is not available for use with the Microsoft Xbox 360 or the Sony PS3.

However if it was available on these consoles would it be something that you would purchase? I know that I would

Source: http://www.product-reviews.net/2008/02/26/force-feedback-vest-xbox-360-sony-ps3-gamers-would-you/

Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on to be discontinued

Microsoft has announced it will no longer produce the HD DVD add-on drive for the Xbox 360, although support will be continued for existing customers. A statement on the company's Gamerscore blog reads:

"As a result of recent decisions made by Toshiba, Hollywood studios, and retailers, Microsoft plans to withdraw from HD DVD."

"Xbox will no longer manufacture new HD DVD players for the Xbox 360, but we will continue to provide standard product and warranty support for all Xbox 360 HD DVD Players in the market."

"As we stated earlier, we do not believe this decision will have any material impact on the Xbox 360 platform or our position in the marketplace."

"HD DVD is one of the several ways we offer a high definition experience to consumers and we will continue to give consumers the choice to enjoy digital distribution of high definition movies and TV shows directly to their living room, along with playback of the DVD movies they already own."

It was recently announced that Paramount movies would join the existing line-up from Warner via Xbox LIVE - giving Microsoft a high-def movie route to market that bypasses next-gen hardware.


Source: http://news.sky.com/skynews/xml/article/tech/0,,91221-13011,00.html

Sony's $500 headphones to hit U.S.

We spend a lot of time on Crave complaining about all the cool gear that gets released in Japan but never makes it to the U.S. Sometimes, however, we see things from Japan that are so out there, we suspect the Japanese kept quiet out of sheer mercy, preventing our fat American heads from exploding. The Sony PFR-V1 personal field speakers (ie. headphones) are just such an item, and they're coming to America.

Available in April for around $500, the Sony PFR-V1 are a bizarre-looking solution to an age-old audiophile headphone dilemma: How do you recreate the superior sound stage characteristics of listening to full-size speakers, in a portable product that fits on your head? The problem with typical headphones is that they unnaturally point sound towards the center of your skull and don't take advantage of the sound-collecting properties of your outer ear. Most people can live with the sonic compromise offered by headphones, but if you're not one of them, then Sony has a new solution.

The PFR-V1 personal field speakers are a set of 1-inch, die-cast aluminum speakers that are draped over your head and placed near your temples, about a half-inch in front of your ears. While the speakers take care of mid and high frequencies, low frequencies are driven directly into the ear canal through extended bass reflex tubes. A small, AA-battery powered headphone amplifier powers the whole thing for about 200 hours..

Seems like a long way to go (and a lot of money) to achieve personal audio nirvana, but we have to admit we're curious to try these out. These things must bleed sound like crazy.

Source: http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9878674-1.html

Is hydrogen still a viable solution?

Only a couple of years ago a hydrogen future was all the rage with both car companies and lawmakers alike but in more recent times we’ve seen many of the same supporters back away from the clean fuel. We saw dozens of hydrogen powered fuel-cell concept cars rolled out at car shows around the world and even saw BMW produce a limited run of hydrogen powered 7-series limos, which it leased to a number of celebrities to promote the technology, but the idea of a hydrogen economy still fails to ignite significant interest.

One of the main reasons for the movement away from hydrogen is because of the tens of billions of dollars required to develop the fuel infrastructure. The other major problem is that there are so many alternatives drawing research dollars, such as methanol, all-electric power, hybrids, fuel cells, ethanol and now plug-in hybrids, that it has become extremely difficult to focus on just a single technology, reports Automotive News.

The U.S. government hasn’t completely given up on the hydrogen society. The U.S. Energy Department, for example, has set a 2015 deadline for the commercial viability of hydrogen powered vehicles but even this is considered false hope. A new report from the Government Accountability Office, a congressional watchdog agency, says that deadline will have to be pushed back.

It’s not all bad news for hydrogen fans. Despite the negativity there has been some significant progress. The cost of mass producing a fuel-cell powertrain has fallen from about $3,000 per kilowatt of output in the early 1990s to about $107 in 2006, and the Detroit 3 are still spending billions of dollars on fuel-cell R&D. Then there’s Honda, which beat everyone to the table when it unveiled the FCX Clarity last year.




At the end of the day, the success of a hydrogen fueled society ultimately depends on the fuel being readily available and sold at a reasonable price. We have the technology, what we need now is the infrastructure, but with carmakers focusing on biofuels and rechargeable electric vehicles it appears the hydrogen society will remain just a pipedream


Source: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/industry/is-hydrogen-still-a-viable-solution/

Nokia's nanotech Morph goes on display, signals melting devices in our future

Why is Nokia always trying to outdo everyone with its fancy-schmancy concepts and designs? Why can't they just get in line and keep it simple? We may never know the answer to those questions, but what we do know is that the company is presenting a new concept device called the Morph that would be right at home... in the year 3000. The unit is included in the MoMA's "Design and the Elastic Mind" exhibition catalog, and boasts the ability to stretch and flex to almost any shape a user could think of. The nanotechnology-based device would deliver transparent electronics, self-cleaning surfaces, and the malleability to transform into any number of configurations. Of course, the actual technology required to put this together is years or even decades away, though Nokia expects to see some of these innovations making their way into high-end products within seven years. See the device doing its thing in some photos after the break.

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/25/nokias-nanotech-morph-goes-on-display-signals-melting-devices/

Sungjut TangoX Nano UMPC Comes With Integrated, Detachable Skype Phone

Checkout the new Sungjut TangoX Nano UMPC, which will have a VIA CPU C7-M ULV at 1.2GHz, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, 40 or 80GB HDD, HD Audio, 7" WVGA (800x480) touch screen, 4 in 1 Card reader, Ethernet Port , WiFi a/b/g, USB 2.0 (2 ports), DVI output and a detachable, integrated Skye handset. Do you hear the Eee PC running a little scared? Jump to the gallery for some more tasty images.

How Sungjut managed to squeeze all those features into a case measuring 230 mm x171 mm x 29.4 mm and weighing in under 1 kg is quite beyond us, but if the keyboard doesn't completely suck and pricing is reasonable, the Sungjut TangoX Nano UMPC looks like a solid winner. There is no word on pricing or availability yet, but stay tuned for further announcements.




Source: http://gizmodo.com/360731/sungjut-tangox-nano-umpc-comes-with-integrated-detachable-skype-phone

Sony squirts out new iPod dock, Bluetooth gear

Yeah, just like that and Sony's got a new iPod dock / clock radio -- the ICF-ClipMK2 -- which comes in both black and white with line-in for $100 this May. Also announced, the clippable DRC-BT15 Bluetooth A2DP / AVRCP receiver and SRS-BT100 30 Watt A2DP speakers. The Bluetooth gear is out March for $130 and $160, respectively.




Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/26/sony-squirts-out-new-ipod-dock-bluetooth-gear/

We say "no comment" to Sony's six new voice recorders

What, they're voice recorders, exactly how much do you want us to say about 'em?

• ICD-UX70, ICD-UX80 (pictured) - 1 / 2GB, stereo MP3 recording, USB mass storage. April release for $100, $150.
• ICD-SX68, ICD-SX68DR9 - both have 512MB and are designed to work with Dragon NaturallySpeaking for voice to text; the DR9 includes Dragon. April release for $150 and $200.
• ICD-P620 - 512MB, USB mass storage, includes Digital Voice Editor software. April release for $60.
• ICD-B600 - 512MB low-ender. April release for $40.

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/26/we-say-no-comment-to-sonys-six-new-voice-recorders/

Sony debuts A820, A720 and S710F series Walkman players in the States

Remember all that Walkman hotness that Sony hit Japan with last week? Well, as anyone might've guessed, it's headed Stateside soon for your earbud consumption. In addition to the new NWZ-A820 series flagship (pictured), Sony has the NWZ-A720 series, which cops the looks and specs, but loses the Bluetooth of the A820 players. Both players have roughly 10 hours of video battery life, and 36 hours for audio, with 2.4-inch QVGA screens and capacities ranging from 4GB to 16GB. Meanwhile, the new NWZ-S710F skimps on the sexy looks, and only sports a 1.8-inch QVGA screen, but adds built-in noise canceling. Codec support for all the players includes protected WMA, unprotected AAC, MP3 and H.264 video. The full model rundown is as follows, everything will be available in March:

• NWZ-A828K - 8GB, black, Bluetooth, DR-BT21G Bluetooth wireless headphones, $270
• NWZ-A829 - 16GB, black, Bluetooth, $320
• NWZ-A726 - 4GB, black and pink, $150
• NWZ-A728 - 8GB, black and pink, $200
• NWZ-A729 - 16GB, black, $300
• NWZ-S716F - 4GB, silver, red and black, $150
• NWZ-S718F - 8GB, black, $200

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/26/sony-debuts-a820-a720-and-s710f-series-walkman-players-in-the-s/