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Novel $100 Laptop: Better Than a Real One
2007-01-04 17:10:01
The $100 laptop for children in developing countries has been an interesting journey. Kicking off this year, there is the XO machine using Novel software - a version of Linux - for the One Laptop Per Child project. Through mass production, the computers should reach the $150 mark and will begin distribution in Thailand and Libya. Nicholas Negroponte started the project two years ago within the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Media Lab before taking it off the leash and starting the non-profit One Laptop organization. “In fact, one of the saddest but most common conditions in elementary school computer labs [when they exist in the developing world], is the children are being trained to use Word, Excel and PowerPoint,” Negroponte wrote in an e-mail interview to CNN. “I consider that criminal, because children should be making things, communicating, exploring, sharing, not running office automation tools.” “I have to laugh when people ref...
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Apple.com 2007 Teaser
2007-01-04 17:10:01
Ringing in the new year, Apple .com have put this little teaser on their website: “The first 30 years were just the beginning. Welcome to 2007.” I’m touched by the greeting, but what does it mean? Last time we had teasers like this from Apple was in 2002 which led up to the release of iPhoto and OSX, the flat panel iMac and the 14″ iBook only weeks after the teasers. Is 2007 the year of the iPhone? iTV? A new OS? We’ll keep you updated. Read [Apple] Apple, mac, Miscellaneous
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Honda readys fuel-cell car for 2018
2007-01-04 17:10:01
Honda President Takeo Fukui says that he fully expects his company to offer a vehicle powered by hydrogen fuel-cells by the year 2018 (start saving now). With Nissan already committing to having a fuel-cell powered vehicle ready by the early 2010s, perhaps the race to adopt a new form of power has begun. 2018 may seem like a long way off, but I’d rather the production and storage of hydrogen be perfected long before we start driving around in cars fueled by hydrogen (anybody remember the Hindenburg?). The price of the hydrogen technology is going to have to come down as well before any normal person seriously considers ponying up for a futuristic car like Honda’s. Fukui has said that Honda’s research has shown that $84,000 is the limit for most people for buying a fuel-cell powered car. Whoever those people are, I want their jobs. $84,000 is pretty steep if you ask me, but I could be wrong. I just want to know when we can expect a Kia fuel-cell powered car. ...
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Saving Quicktime Movie Trailers from Apple
2007-01-04 17:10:01
I love movies, but my favorite part about going to the movies is, of course, the previews. And I love the fact that there are numerous sites on the web that offer movie previews to watch in the comfort of your own home without paying $10 to see them in the theatre. I’m a Mac user, so I frequent the trailers provided by Apple , and now I know how to save those trailers so I can watch (drool, anticipate) my favorite ones over and over again, without having to wait to download the 120 MB 1080p HD files. You’ve got 3 options for getting the job done. Use Quicktime Pro and save the trailer (Quicktime Pro costs $29 from Apple) Visit the iTunes Music Store Movie Trailer section and download the trailer for free (but in iPod format) Use this tip by Krunk4ever to dig into the HTML code of the trailer web page and use a little command line action (not easy and probably downright scary for some) You decide how you want to save your trailers, easy and free, easy and $29, or not-...
More About: Time , Movie Trailers

Stay Sober with the Cell Phone Breathalyzer
2006-12-31 23:06:02
The Japanese company, KDDI, has come up with a breathalyzer attachment for mobiles phones, targeted to cab and bus companies. It’s a good idea to target businesses but I see great potential in the consumer market for something that makes sure you drive legal. What happens is before the driver can begin his or her trip, they must use the device and make sure they are under the limit. This verification is then sent to a computer at ‘headquarters’, with a snapshot of the driver to ensure no foul play, plus GPS can tell the boss their location also. Why is the guy at his laptop testing himself? Japan had over 14,000 drink driving accidents last year so the Alc-Mobile isn’t such a bad idea. Product [Alc-Mobile] Via [TokyoMango] alcohol, Cell Phone s, Communication, Gadgets, mobile phones
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Computers to match your furniture
2006-12-31 05:05:02
If there’s one thing that computers don’t do well it’s integrating well into your home decor. I think that’s mostly because most computers have a decor of their own, something along the lines of I’m-a-computer-not-an-armoire chic. But for those of you who may be concerned about your Feng Shui and keeping everything in alignment, there is hope. Now, you can add a touch of the outdoors to your home office by adding a mouse, keyboard and monitor made from wood. In fact, these beauties are made from one piece of wood, and you get to choose from several different varieties. Wood Contour, the company behind these items, claims that no two items will ever be exactly alike, given the nature of wood. I wonder what it would feel like to use a wooden keyboard and mouse? I’m not quite ready to find out, since one of Wood Contours products will set you back quite a few dollars. But, if you have the money and are sufficiently Martha Stewart-minded, you m...
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United?s First Class - now with XM
2006-12-31 05:05:02
If you’re like me, any time you fly you’re in coach. First class is just too expensive and, frankly, there’s not enough bonuses to tempt me to fork over the extra cash. All that is about to change for international flights on United Airlines. No longer need you suffer for seemingly days on end, you can kick back, relax, and enjoy your gadget-enhanced ride in the new First Class Suite. If the picture isn’t enough to make you want to buy a ticket overseas, take a look at this list of goodies packed into each and every one of these technological wonders of transportation comfort. Recline in mulitple angles Lay flat in a 6 foot, 6 inch bed 15.4-inch widescreen flat panel monitor Digital on-demand video and music 50 channels of XM branded content 110-volt universal laptop plug USB port iPod connector Noise-cancelling headphones Multiple storage compartments United has put together a great package for international travelers with the First Suite. You can loo...
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Remember the I-Dog? Now there is I-CY
2006-12-31 05:05:02
A techno toy for the ladies, the I-CY dances to any type of music, flaps its wings and more. If you leave it unattended for a while, it will let you know that it is still there by trying to attract your attention. The I-CY will also let you know when it is happy. Is it a cunning plan to collect all of those people who did not have a Furby during the early nineties? The cost. A cheap and affordable $20. Product Page [Hasbro - Tiger] Gadgets, new gadgets, new toys, Robots/AI, shopping, tech toys
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Control your Phone with your Watch - Sony Ericsson MBW-100
2006-12-30 17:04:01
In September Sony Ericsson announced this watch, the MBW-100, which is able to control various functions on your mobile phone with Bluetooth. The watch will notify you of incoming calls [with vibration] and you are able to reject the call from the watch itself. Text message alerts are enabled as well as music player control [play, pause, forward, back] for your phone’s MP3s. Analogue time is set separately to digital, which syncs with your phone’s clock. Range may be an issue, as well as compatibility, but this is definitely a great idea for those who want to handle call notifications a little more discreetly. Also note the MBW’s weight: 187.5 g / 6.61 oz Product [Sony Ericsson] Via [Techeblog] bluetooth, Cell Phone s, Gadgets, mobile phones, sony, timepiece, Wireless
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GM to introduce collision warning system
2006-12-30 11:03:01
The system is named V2V, which stands for vehicle to vehicle, and it enables cars fitted with this device to communicate with each other. Speeds, direction, and of course location, this enables the system to evaluate the levels of warnings according to the data it has. The system has been called ?Sixth Sense? which is quite apt really as this is exactly what it is, a sixth sense where car and driver can get information in advance. The system predicts what a car is doing in speed and direction, and can give the driver a clear warning of another vehicle on the freeway that is slowing down ahead or pulling across from the side. The system uses a clever mix of GPS receivers, LAN networks and establishes communication with other vehicles within a few hundred meters, where the system obtains the information of speed, location, direction and acceleration. Product Page [GM] Cars, GM, GPS, LAN, News, sixth sense, Transportation, Vehicles
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ATEC?s new 42-inch LCD - in glorious 1080p
2006-12-30 11:03:01
ATEC announced a new 42-inch LCD that they’ll be showing off come January at CES. The new set will be using LG-Philips’ Super-IPS panel, also used in a 47-inch version already announced by ATEC. I love to see new TVs, and this one is no exception. This model will support full 1080p resolution and accepts input from not one but two HDMI sources. You’ll be able to watch your HD broadcast shows and get the best resolution possible from you brand new PS3. For your listening pleasure, the TV offers two other nice features. “Surround function” lets the viewer get a better sense of realism from the TV, apparently simulating surround sound without additional speakers. And for those of you like me who just seem to think that all the commercials are louder than the actual programs, ATEC has included an “automatic volume control function” that will monitor and adjust the volume being cranked out by the new pay-per-view commercial. Thank goodnes...
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This Pen Needs No Ink
2006-12-30 11:03:01
After reporting the tablet pen that has done away with the tablet, we’ve come across a more ‘old school’ gadget that the grand illusionists at Grand Illusions have come up with. It’s the pen that requires no ink, only the metal nib that will write on almost anything. The solid metal ‘nib’ consists of a metal alloy, that leaves a mark on most types of paper. If you use the sort of paper typically used in printers and photocopiers, the pen leaves a mark that looks as if it was made by a pencil. However the line will not smudge, and cannot be rubbed out. The metal will eventually wear down, but with no ink or graphite to wear off you can rest assured no sharpening will be required while you write upside down with this pen. Read [Grand Illusions] Via [Popgadget] Gadgets, new gadgets, pen
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The LaCie Hub.
2006-12-29 23:02:02
Peripherals are quite boring and to be frank messy, but laptop users are required to use the USB ports more than ever now as the mouse, printer and other essential tools require to be plugged into the laptop via the USB ports, unfortunately the laptop manufacturers appear to be reducing the amount of ports available to users which creates problems and a need for a USB hub which is something else sticking out of the side or the back of the laptop! LaCie have developed an interesting USB hub which not only gives you an addition of four USB ports, it has two firewall ports, a light, fan and an extension, all in one package and finished in a brilliant white Apple type effect. The price of the device is around $80. Product Page [LaCie] Apple, Household, Miscellaneous, Peripherals, sale

StumbleVideo
2006-12-29 23:02:02
Stumble Video is a new service from StumbleUpon. It automatically finds videos of your interest from other video hosting sites such like MySpace Video, Google Video and YouTube. It functions similarly to StumbleUpon, but does not require a toolbar. Videos can be rated by giving it a ?thumbs up? or ?thumbs down? directly from the page and your previous history will determine the types of videos you will come across in the future. StumbleVideo also allows you to share your favorite video through email links and get connected to other Stumblers of similar interests. Via [StumbleVideo] Web, Web 2.0
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Laptop Help!
2006-12-29 23:02:02
Sometimes you may find that using a laptop all the time for work and play can have an effect on your health, you may find that you get back pain, headaches and even problems with your hands, that is apart from the spelling mistakes from using the small keyboard, yet most of us would not use anything, the laptop is the best thing around, we can work anywhere and at anytime, so what can be done to make things easier. The guys at Logitech have developed a cool idea that may help with these problems, it is called The Alto, and it is similar to a docking station, but with more features including a full size keyboard, the screen is raised to eye level, hot keys and up to three USB ports which is really handing for the mouse and for printing etc. The Alto works with Windows and Mac OS and will start with a price of around $100; the Alto will become available in the early part of 2007. Product Page [Logitech] computer gear, docking station, Household, mac, Peripherals, windows
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Google?s Newspaper Advertising Success
2006-12-29 17:01:01
A few months ago Google began a pilot program that put 100 advertisers in 66 daily newspapers and their unsold ad space. Much like brokers who buy and resell ad space to last-minute advertisers, Google is allowing businesses to bid online for a paper’s excess ad inventory. “The volume [of ads sold] is tripling where we thought it would be,” said Tom Phillips, director of print ads at Google. “I think we’ll have real impact next year” on newspapers’ bottom lines, he said. “We open the medium to a whole new class of advertisers.” The idea is to give small advertisers a chance to get into the daily newspapers, that generally price ad space to larger companies. Google is looking in good form to expand the program. With a huge directory of online advertisers, many of whom would be more than interested in beginning an affordable print campaign, the system is in place to allow newspapers to boost their revenue. Advertisers choose the...
More About: News , Advertising , Success , Paper

Wire free everything.
2006-12-29 05:00:02
Being used to some wireless equipment for some has become a godsend, yet we still need wires for other devices, and as with all technology that we have now we still appear to accumulate wires of sort or another, or we end up with having to place several USB adapters into to ports or into a hub, which is clearly not very practical and certainly looks almost as untidy as having the wires again. No worries, Belkin have developed a new product named the Cable Free USB Hub, in short you only require one USB port because you will only have one adapter for your wireless needs, such a printers, scanners and other devices, with a range of around 30 feet, the wireless hub is great for the home office and comes with a cool price of around $200. Product Page [Belkin] device updates, internet telephony, Peripherals, Wire less
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HD-DVD announcements set for CES - possible price drops
2006-12-28 22:59:02
With the buzz around CES already starting to build, Toshiba thought it was a good idea to throw a hornet in the nest with an announcement about a pre-CES news conference on January 7th. Toshiba will be joined by other members of the group supporting the HD-DVD format to update everyone on their plans for 2007. Toshiba introduced the first generation of its HD-DVD players at CES 2006 and recently released second-generation players, drawing speculation that price drops are coming soon. Which is a good thing. Sales for both HD-DVD and the competing Blu-Ray format have been sluggish at best, due to the low availability of titles for either format and the price of the players themselves. For Toshiba, the first generation HD-A1 and HD-XA1 entered the world at $500 and $800 respectively. The new HD-A2 and HD-XA2 show no signs of relenting on your wallet with their $500 and $1,000 price points. Have hope and don’t fear, Toshiba president and CEO Yoshihide Fujii provided some light...
More About: Men , Announcement , Rice , Dvd , Price

Guitar Hero Vs Guitar Freaks: Lawsuit Settled
2006-12-28 22:59:02
In August manufacturer, The Ant Commandos, sued Activision and RedOctane for the controller on the PS2 game, Guitar Hero, which bears close resemblance to Konami’s arcade game, Guitar Freak s. The companies recently settled out of court in an undisclosed settlement. Good news for fans of the PS2 game, and good news for Konami? How much would the similarity be worth? Read [GameIndustry.biz] arcades, Gaming, News, Peripherals, playstation
More About: Lawsuit , Laws , Settle

uPlusPen - PC Tablet Pen without the Tablet
2006-12-28 22:59:02
The Koreans at uplusnote.com have come up with something magical, the uPlus Pen. A tablet pen for your PC that doesn’t require the tablet. Just a USB connection and any surface to write on. This is especially great for illustrators and designers who can ‘draw’ directly over any picture - the ultimate in tracing! No word yet on pricing or availability. Read [Gadgetell] Design & Architecture, Gadgets, PC, Peripherals
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Epson MovieMate 30s: Better Than A Date
2006-12-28 10:58:02
You may not always have a date to take with you to events but you can take your Epson Movie Mate 30s anywhere you go. This nifty little gadget is a combination CD/DVD player with built-in speakers, but more importantly it is also a portable projector which can project images of over ten feet on to nearly any space. The Epson MovieMate 30s is easy to carry around with you which gives you the chance to take it to pretty much any location which might have a space wide enough for you to project images on. It can tag along to parties to show off your latest home videos or to conferences to aid you in presenting your business material. Of course, if you want more than just the simple machine, there are optional accoutrements available, including a projector screen, extra speakers and tools for wireless capability. It?s an attention getter, so you might be able to get that date after all! And if not, at least you?ve got your entertainment. Read [SlipperyBrick] Audio/ Video, built in ...
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WebCam and USB Flash Drive in One
2006-12-28 10:58:02
True gadget collectors tend to appreciate items which combine more than one tech toy in to a single new product. It reduces space and gives them that much more room (and usually money) to play around with other gadgets. Such people should keep their eye on the Volvox USB WebCam. It?s a USB flash drive. No, wait, it?s a WebCam. No, actually, it?s both. Designed for use primarily as a USB flash drive, it has the capability to take photos at 1.3 Megapixels and a rate of 30 frames / second. As you can see, it?s webcam abilities are not outstanding, but for times like travel, when you?re trying to pack the most that you can in to a limited amount of space, it just might be the thing that?s right to meet your needs. Read [SlipperyBrick] Camcorders, Digital Cameras, flash drive, gadget, Gadgets, megapixels, new product, tech toys, usb, usb drive, usb flash drive, volvox, webcam, web cam
More About: Usb , Flash , Flash Drive , Drive , Webcam

Windows Vista Security Flaw is Nothing to Worry About
2006-12-28 10:58:02
The first recorded security flaw in Wind ows ’ new OS, Vista , was discovered and reported on a Russian website recently. No attack was made. “The bottom line is you couldn’t use a vulnerability like this to write a worm or hack a Vista system remotely,” Mikko Hypponen, chief research officer for Finnish security research company F-Secure Corp. said. “It only has historical significance in that it’s the first reported vulnerability that also affects Vista. It’s a nonevent in other ways.” The flaw, which may allow a hacker access, should be easily fixed with a software patch next week. Microsoft is still touting Vista as the most secure operating system to date. Read [CNN] hacker, microsoft, Security , vista
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Not Happy With Your Presents? Why not try Swap-A-Gift?
2006-12-28 10:58:02
Swapagift.com is an online service that allows you to recycle those unwanted gift cards you may have gotten over Christmas. There is a huge selection of gift cards available to buy at a discount on the site; but what you can also do is either sell the one you’ve got, or swap it with someone who isn’t happy with theirs. The good thing is you don’t need to register to get buying. You can search for the merchant card you want and then choose the right price. Likewise you are able to see what the ‘giver’ is willing to swap his/her card for in return. Not bad. Particularly good if you just want to turn that gift into cash. Read [IT Professionals] Christmas, Household, shopping, Web
More About: Presents , Wap , With , Your , Gift

Online Photo Editing with Fauxto
2006-12-28 10:58:02
Fauxto is an online photo editing web application that has considerable functionality. It loads quickly and is fully web based. Fauzto offers some basic photo editing tools like drawing shapes, text and opening multiple images in a tabbed interface. It also filters and supports layered functions similar to Photo shop. If you are familiar with Photoshop, you should not have a problem using this web application. Otherwise a useful tool, the downside of it is that it does not have an undo button. Via [Fauxto] Fauxto, photo editing, Web 2.0
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Panasonic wants you to buy a Plasma TV
2006-12-28 10:58:02
But they won’t mind if you buy one of their LCD models, either. Panasonic , the world’s biggest seller of plasma TVs, has begun a campaign to convince you (and everyone else) that plasma is the way to go for your home entertainment needs. However, Panasonic also sells a full line of LCD TVs as well, just in case you don’t believe what they have to say about plasma. It’s curious to see Panasonic take this stand as several other manufacturers (Sony, Sharp, Samsung, and LG) have walked away from the plasma game to concentrate on the LCD market. But it’s not so curious when you think about the fact that since there are now so many competitors in the LCD market that profit margins have dropped significantly from times past. Panasonic points out that LCDs are great for viewing in rooms with flourescent lighting or just more lighting in general, say a kitchen or for a few of you folks, a bathroom. But for viewing in a dark environment, like a living room or ...
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Rechargeable Batteries Make Christmas Comeback
2006-12-26 22:56:01
One of the most-often forgotten items at Christ mas is always the package of batteries. Although times are changing and many of the tech toys being given to kids nowadays come with their own charging systems, there are still going to plenty of items under the tree which require batteries. And most of the time, they won?t come in the package. When you go to buy the ones that you?ll need this holiday season, consider looking in to the rechargeable options. For a long time, rechargeable batteries have been off of the radar of use. They?ve been considered ineffective, with long charging times for limited length use. This has made most people feel that the added cost of purchasing rechargeable batteries is not worth the money. However, reports are coming in from consumers which suggest that the newest options in rechargeable batteries are different from those of Christmas past. Longer staying power due to improved technology just might be making these batteries an item which ought ...
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Wikipedia founder?s new endeavor
2006-12-26 22:56:01
Jimmy Wales, founder of Wiki pedia , is looking to join forces with Amazon.com and start a new revolution in search engines. He is planning to make a user-driven search that will pick articles by the popularity that the general web audience have given them. This will be the same user technology he has used in Wikipedia. The search engine may even become a rival to Google and Yahoo in no time at all. Wales gives credit where credit is due - to the users. He, unlike the other search giants, realizes the importance of having the users involved in the development of a great search engine. Mr Wales believes that Google?s computer-based algorithmic search program is no match for the editorial judgment of humans. The engine has been named Wikiasari which is a combination of wiki, the Hawaiian word for quick, and asari, which is Japanese for ?rummaging search?. It will be running a for-profit ads system on top of the promising user Wikiasari is set to launch sometime in the first quarter. [Re...
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MediaFire : Unlimited File Hosting
2006-12-25 10:54:02
Media Fire is a free, ad supported file hosting service. MediaFire lets you upload 10 files at a time and the best part is, there is no file size limit to worry about. Once you upload the file, an Antivirus program will scan your files. After that, you can share the file via email, Yahoo Messenger or AIM by giving out the download link, HTML link code or forum link code. There is no need to signup, but they highly recommend it so that you can manage your file once it?s uploaded. There is no time limit, so you file will stay there forever, but if it becomes necessary for them to remove your file that is too long unused.You also get absolute freedom to use Download Managers of your choice and ?resume? function is also supported. Via [MediaFire] Downloads, file hosting, free, MediaFire, Software
More About: Hosting , File , Host

Myprogs
2006-12-25 10:54:02
Good things are meant to be shared together. Why keep to yourself about what types of software that you are using? If you want to show off to your friends about what type of programs that you have on your computer system, then you should consider joining Myprogs. If you are looking for a piece of software to make your life easier, then Myprogs is where you can browse around and find out what other geeks are using. Since it is community based, you will be able to share just about any software that you think might be useful to others. You can view anyone else?s programs and they can view yours. All you have to do is just come up with a list of programs into your unique lists once you signed up. Via [Myprogs] computer system, geeks, Networking, Software
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