Toyota unveils Hi-Ct green-friendly mini-tank

Not to be outdone by the antics at the New York Auto Show, the Bangkok International Motor Show had a couple of surprises as well. The Toyota Hi-Ct concept car made its debut during the event with a decidedly tank-like profile. Despite the car's bulky looks, this is in fact a green hybrid vehicle that can charge from an external power source via an AC100V accessory socket.

The car also features a removable trunk and bicycle/surfboard deck for those granola-chomping weekends us city dwellers are always hearing about. As going green becomes ever more stylish it seems like just a matter of time before we stop relying on prehistoric fossil fuel to power our horseless carriages.

Source: http://dvice.com/archives/2008/03/toyota_unveils.php

College students want Macs more than ever

Even though Apple holds only a small slice of the operating system market, college students want Macs more than ever. And, according to a report from Morgan Stanley, Mac OS X may eventually command a significant portion of the market because of it.

A recent higher-education survey conducted by Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty reveals that almost 40 per cent of college students claim their next computer purchase will be a Mac. And while that news may be enough to make Steve Jobs celebrate, the analyst had even more good news to share: the 40 per cent jump in expected market share far exceeds Apple's current 15 per cent share of the demographic.

'Aging phenomenon' is underway

"Longer term," Huberty said, "we see an 'aging phenomenon' that will put Apple in a more mainstream market share position as students enter the work force, much like Linux adoption in the 1998-2003 time frame."

Morgan Stanley did not say how long it will take for Apple to significantly increase its market share, but it did contend that as college students enter the work force and positions of prominence, the cascading effect could have a positive lasting impact on Apple's bottom line.

Source: http://www.tech.co.uk/computing/mac/news/college-students-want-macs-more-than-ever?articleid=2091916085

Mini Video Player

Check out these mini video players which are small on size but are big on features with full-size bright high-res screens and 8 hour battery life. They’re perfect for playing your favorite movies and music. Choose from the Neon M3 with heat sensitive glowing buttons and a 2.4 inch LCD screen or the Ice with a brushed aluminum finish and a slightly larger 2.8 inch display. Both have 2GB of storage built-in and can be expanded via memory card.

Product Features

• Mini Media Players Handle Video, Audio and can do Voice Recording
• Keys on Neon M3 are heat sensitive and glow when touched
• Built in FM Radio
• Integrated Speaker, or use the included Headphones

Product Specificatons

• Built in Storage: 2 GB
• Support USB mass-storage mode for easy transfer of videos on any OS
• Expandable Memory Slot - ICE (TransFlash/MicroSD), Neon M3 (T-Flash)
• Video: AVI, MPEG
• Voice Record: WAV
• Image Viewer: JPEG
• Video Playing Time: 3-4 hours
• Audio Playing Time: 6-8 hours
• Charges Via USB
• FM Radio, Text Viewer, Picture Viewer, Game
• Built-in External Speaker
• 3.5mm Stereo Earphone Output

Available for $99 about £49 from ThinkGeek.com


Source: http://www.gadgettastic.com/2008/03/27/mini-video-player/

Stretchy silicon circuits wrap around complex shapes, like your wife

The first "completely integrated, extremely bendable circuit" was just demonstrated to the world. The team behind the research is led by John Rogers of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The process bonds circuit sheets measuring just 1.5 micrometers (50 times thinner than human hair) to a piece of pre-stretched rubber. That allows the circuits to buckle like an accordion when pulled or twisted without losing their electrical properties. Unfortunately, the materials used thus far are not compatible with human tissue. In other words, no X-ray vision implant for you. X-ray contacts perhaps... quantum-computers please Mr. Scientists? Watch a circuit buckle in the video after the break.


Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/stretchy-silicon-circuits-wrap-around-complex-shapes-like-your/

BMW’s ConnectedDrive in action

Chrysler may end up being the first to market with an in-car internet solution, but BMW’s ConnectedDrive, announced in advance of this year’s Geneva Motor Show, is the first to bring us video of the system in action.

An interesting point covered in the videos is that the internet service is routed through BMW proxies - meaning both that no anti-virus or other protective measures are needed, and that all traffic on your annual subscription will be going through a BMW computer before being relayed to your car. BMW insists that surfing is not limited nor restricted in any way, however. Unlike Chrysler’s system, BMW’s ConnectedDrive does not require a separate mobile phone subscription.

Source: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/videos/video-bmws-connecteddrive-in-action/

Army tests of Land Warrior high-tech uniform successful, soldiers request more

We knew the Army's supposedly-dead Land Warrior high-tech uniform program still had some life in it, but now it appears that good marks from tests in the field might mean it's going to make a full recovery. The Army sent the 4/9 Infantry (aka the "Manchus") off to war loaded down with the 16-pound Land Warrior kit, and after some on-the-fly adjustments that made the gear lighter and more functional, the soldiers had talked Land Warrior up to the point where the 2nd Infantry Division's 5th Combat Brigade Team has now officially requested 1,000 more Land Warrior rigs. The main change is the removal of six pounds of inessential gear, but the crew in the 4/9 also requested and added in a "digital chem light," which allows buildings and waypoints to be marked in green on an electronic map, and restricted Land Warrior deployment to team leaders and above. There's still some tricky funding problems to solve -- some $102M needs to be set aside for the request -- but the Land Warrior project managers say it's looking promising. Now if we could only get some of that HUD monocle action on the civilian side, our morning coffee run would be a lot more interesting.


Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/

Sanyo Claims XGA LCD Projector World's Smallest and Lightest

This is the PLC-XW60, the world's smallest and lightest XGA LCD projector—according to its maker, Sanyo. Weighing in at just 3.6 pounds, the projector can beam a 1024 x 768-resolution, 100-inch image on a wall just nine to 11 feet away and is aimed at teachers and travellers. Find out what else the compact little blighter can do below. As well as automatic keystone correction and automatic input signal detection, the XW60 has an adjustable color mode for projecting onto different surface colors, and there's no cool-down cycle thanks to its easy-off function, which means you can just unplug it and shove it back in the cupboard straight away. Available in April, the PLC-XW60 will cost $795.


Source: http://gizmodo.com/373279/sanyo-claims-xga-lcd-projector-worlds-smallest-and-lightest

Steampunk “von Slatt Original" keyboard for a retro look

If you have about $1000 and more in your piggy bank and they are begging to be used then here’s the most idiosyncratic keyboard that you can buy of it. If retro is your style mantra then the "von Slatt Original" keyboard will fit well on your work table. Mr. Jake von Slatt cleverly manages to pimp up the old-styled keyboards in to most extraordinary good-looking functional one. You can opt for keyboards made of brushed aluminum, polished aluminum, polished brass, antiqued brass, polished copper, antiqued copper. Obviously prices vary accordingly. Using authentic keys from antique Royal typewriters, he settles for the simpler "table leg" style foot for the brass and copper keyboards. However the triangular foot tends to look better on the aluminum models. As of yet you can place the order and get a completely bespoked keyboard but later the designer plans to offer ready to pick up models like "The Sojourner" and "The Aviator". Check out the one that features a black felt faceplate, chrome keys, and a polished brass frame that is left unvarnished to develop a deep, rich patina as it ages.

Exclusively handmade, a lot of effort and handwork goes in to its making. Hence it’s get pricey.




Source: http://www.luxurylaunches.com/gadgets/steampunk_von_slatt_original_keyboard_for_a_retro_look.php

Sky unveils 5 new concept phones to drool over

Korean phone purveyor Pantech (also known as Sky Premium) is teaming up with universities there to design the "Phone of 2010." We dig it, and what they came up with so far look mostly like units for the home, though the device pictured above may be something of a smart phone. Hate to say it, but in this post-iPhone world, it's hard to be wowed by pretty curves and tactile buttons.

Source: http://dvice.com/archives/2008/03/sky_unveils_5_n.php

ASUS' 9-inch Eee PC 900 hits the FCC with full teardown, gets multi-finger gesture support

Eee fans, your second-wildest dream has just come to pass. ASUS' next version of the mini-laptop has hit the FCC, and we've got the pictures to prove it. Yes, as we speak (possibly, but maybe not) inspectors from the agency are poring over details of the 9-inch, second generation system -- referred to here as the Eee 900 -- desperately hoping that none of its radio waves do anything funky to anyone else's radio waves. There's no secret-sauce WiMAX or drastic changes we can see, though the manual does make mention of "multi-finger gesture input," which will apparently provide the ability to zoom in, zoom out, and do familiar two-finger scrolling on the newly resized trackpad. Check the pictures in the gallery for loads of looks at the new entry, including a view of its insides that'll make your eyes water.


Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/26/asus-9-inch-eee-pc-900-hits-the-fcc/