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Tilting Vase Lets You Know When It Needs Water
2007-08-23 02:09:00
If you have trouble remembering when to water your plants, you might be interested in this self-tilting vase design concept that gets horizontal when its plant gets thirsty. Once it's properly hydrated, this pewter container stands up?albeit at a somewhat tilted angle?held up by the weight of the water within. Simple, yet elegant. [Yanko Design]
More About: Water , Tilt , Needs

Sony Europe Releases PlayTV PVR for PlayStation 3
2007-08-23 02:05:00
Just as we reported before, Sony 's just announced a personal video recorder (PVR) add-on system for the PlayStation 3 in Europe an/PAL territories. Starting early 2008, the dual HDTV DVB-T tuner setup and the PVR will be available in the UK, France, Italy, Germany and Spain, and you will have the ability to store shows on your PS3, watch them via Remote Play on your PSP, and auto-choose between HD and SD depending on your hookup. No US launch is planned as of yet, but we'll update if there's more info. [SCEE - Image via Joystiq]
More About: Playstation , Playstation 3 , Rope

CulinaryPrep May Let Me Eat Raw Chicken 'Til The Cows Come Home
2007-08-23 02:03:00
Although the press release doesn't mention my beloved chicken sashimi, it does say that the CulinaryPrep home unit, which went on sale today for $400, "removes e.coli, listeria, salmonella and other dangerous impurities from food." Still, something about it smells fishy.The key to the patented Grovac bacteria-killing process is some kind of "all-natural" antimicrobial "neutralizer" solution invented by a pharmacist named Bill Groves who wanted to remove the "muddy" taste from his catfish. I hope it's not lemon juice, because I can get that without spending $400.The other element to the process is a plastic food tumbler, essentially a fancy version of the $150 vacuum-sealed marinade machine you may have seen last time you grabbed a SkyMall catalog.Together, the $400 combo supposedly spells out culinary peace-of-mind:The process and technology reduce the level of pathogenic and spoilage bacteria found on meat and produce by up to 99.5% - making it safer to eat and extending its shel...
More About: Home , Chicken , Cows

GM Source: 60,000 Chevy Volt Electric Cars To Be Built In First Year...When
2007-08-23 02:01:00
Bloomberg's Jeff Green is reporting that a super-secret source at the General is claiming that they could build up to 60,000 Chevy Volt electric cars in their inaugural year of production -- which GM product czar "Maximum" Bob Lutz is hoping will be 2010. It's partly because they believe the demand's going to be there and it's partly in order to drop the price on the plug-in electric sled to under $30,000 per unit. To put the number of units in perspective, that's twice the number of Prius hybrids sold in the first year they were on sale here in the US -- which of course makes sense as gas prices are now twice as much as when the Prius first went on sale. Of course, there's still a couple of hurdles for the big automaker from the D to overcome, like the battery technology that doesn't quite exist yet and completion of product development and all the other stuff that'll help determine what year they'll be introducing it in. Nevertheless, according to Green's source, they'l...
More About: Cars , Source , Electric , Year

Thin Film Solar Market to top $7 Billion
2007-08-23 01:58:00
In the next ten years we can likely expect the thin film solar market to explode. The low cost and easy "printable" manufacturing could finally bring the technology out of it's infancy. The first commercial plants are just going online now, but an industry analyst predicts that by 2015, thin film photovoltaics could rise from a 5% market share to a 35% market share while the value of sales would grow 700% to over $7 billion.DANG!The growth is being spurred by a shortage in silicon, which is keeping prices of traditional photovoltaic cells higher. Thin film solar cells, which can be created in a variety of ways, but are not dependent on silicon, are thus comparatively cheap and will remain so until polysilicon becomes cheap again. But even then, the report said, thin film solar would still increase it's market share because its light and flexible, and so can be applied to curved surfaces. Good news for investors, good news for mother earth...good news for us all.Via GreenBiz
More About: Film , Market , Solar , Billion

And ANOTHER Solar Charger
2007-08-23 01:55:00
We're starting to wonder when these things are going to stop being news. But the Boblbee solar iPod charger does have a couple of features that recommend it. Most importantly it is shock proof and water proof, which makes it a lot more convenient for use in the field. For those of us who like to work and play in outdoors, but also don't mind snuggling up to a recent episode of Heroes in the tent, this gadget becomes pretty attractive.Also, because the charger has rounded panels, it can keep voltage relatively high throughout the day, no matter where the sun is in the sky...no tilting required.Unfortunately, the device is only available in Japan, and I can't figure out how much they're charging for it.Via: Good Clean Tech
More About: Solar , Charger , Char

Mazda's Sustainable Zoom-Zoom
2007-08-23 01:51:00
Remember those old Zoom ... Zoom ... Zoom ads? Well, Mazda plans on making them a sustainable reality with their Sustainable Zoom-Zoom technology development vision. This includes plans to begin commercially leasing of the Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid in 2008. The Premacy will offer a hydrogen range of over 120 miles. The target is an "all-new Hydrogen RE with dynamic performance equivalent to a 3.0-liter gasoline engine and a range of 400 km."Mazda's vision:"Mazda is committed to working towards a sustainable future that brings continued happiness and excitement to people in a global society, by developing vehicles that never fail to excite, visually capture the customer's heart and provide a fun driving experience that keeps bringing them back to Mazda."Mazda's "drive toward a sustainable global environment" will include development of lighter weight vehicles, hydrogen fuel technolgoies ("with particular emphasis on internal combustion engine applications, as part of the goal of ...

Transformer-Themed Bearbricks Protect The All Spark, Steal Food From Camper
2007-08-20 12:03:00
Considering that we love Transformer s and toys, it's no surprise that we're drooling over these Transformer-themed Bearbricks. The foursome of Optimus Prime, Megatron, Bumblebee and Barricade were spotted at this year's Wonder Festival in Tokyo. The specialty toys from Japan come in various themes and colors, and this batch is to commemorate the Transformers Movie. They will be sold in packs of two, with the choice of Optimus Prime/Megatron or Bumblebee/Barricade. Sadly, these are Japan only, selling for 1,890 Yen. [ToysREvil via Hype Beast]
More About: Food , Steal , Spark , Camper

DVD Boom Box Is Booming Marvellous
2007-08-20 12:00:00
I was talking to a friend earlier, but that is quite enough showing off from me. Check out this DVD boom box from Go Video. The device packs in a 7" LCD along with CD and DVD playback capabilities. To wow you even further it has an AM/FM radio too.The features themselves may not be something to shout about, but all compiled into this little package and you have our attention. Who cares if the screen is puny, it is big enough to do the job. (Insert willy joke here. Oh, sorry your willy is too small to qualify). Coupled with the fact you will be able to control your movies and music in stereo sound via the packaged remote and you have a solid little performer. I cannot remember this much functionality all in one device since...since, oh, I really cannot think of a decent multi-functioning gadget, Apple fan-boy that I am. Well, not at $159.99 anyway. [Krunker].
More About: Boom , Ming

Self-modeling Robot
2007-08-20 11:58:00
A reader sent along this link, complete with a video that is simultaneously cool and rather creepy. The page/video showcase a "self-modeling" robot, created by a student at the University of Vermont. What makes it self-modeling is the fact that it essentially teaches itself to walk--if you can really use that term in this case. The page plays it a big safer, opting for the more generic, "performing tasks like locomotion."The best way that I can think to describe the thing is as something akin to a robotic starfish teaching itself to move in a manner not too unlike that of a newly born baby calf. And, in case that image wasn't upsetting enough, the researchers damages robo-starfish-baby-calf's right arm, and watch as it struggles to overcome adversity like a particularly tenacious wounded animal. The footage is interspersed with images of brightly colored geometrical shapes performing the same tasks.Worth checking out for people who like robots or just enjoy watching things stagger...
More About: Robot , Modeling , Robo , Deli

Brando's MP4 Watch II
2007-08-20 11:56:00
Novel? Maybe. Fashionable? Not so much. But let's face it, when we took at the new Timex Ironman i-Control for i-Pods, isn't this what we had been secretly hoping for, all along? It's something that may finally free us of that great burden of the modern world: having to take your MP3 player out of your pocket, in order to change songs.Brando's MP4 Watch II put a 1.8-inch color and speakers (plus the obligatory speaker jack, naturally) onto your wrist. The player supports MP3, WMA, and the MP4 (video) formats. There's also a voice recorder, an FM radio, a picture viewer, and best of all, the thing even tells time.The MP4 Watch II comes in 2 and 4GB models, running $92 and $118, respectively. Stick a few math rock albums on this thing, and you'll have the modern day equivalent to those 1980s calculator watches. Watch out, ladies.For more geeky digital watches, check out the Weird Hunter's top 10 list!

Spare Photomasks used to create coaster set
2007-08-20 11:55:00
There's nothing like replacing a mundane trip to the store with a DIY endeavor, and creating a simple conversation piece that still serves a purpose just makes it all worthwhile. The latest geekish creation to come our way is the photomask coaster, which essentially utilizes "clear templates used in semiconductor manufacturing" to keep condensation from ruining your furniture. Better still, you can apparently locate unwanted versions of these things at certain electronics surplus stores, and considering that most feature different patterns within, you can create a whole set of coasters that each sport their own unique identity. We know, we just got way too Home & Garden for some of you to handle, but you'll survive.[Thanks, Chris]
More About: Create , Coast , Spar , Pare , Aster

Blinged out iPod Shuffle doesn't come cheap
2007-08-20 11:54:00
For the small price of 120,000 Norwegian Kroner (around $20,000) you can pick up a concentrated mix of gold, diamonds, and... iPod Shuffle . There's not a lot more to this blinged out creation: why anyone would want to place twenty gees worth of precious carbon on a $99 gadget, we'll never know.[Thanks, Eirik S.]
More About: Ipod , Cheap