Monthly Archives: July 2003

general July 23, 2003 posted by

Eek..a mouse!

Well it’s quite clear that you need a new mouse. And the mouse you need is not some fawn plastic abomination, but a Groomy Mouse. That’s right a cute, cuddly little dog type mouse (er? – Ed). It’s optical, it’s USB and it barks at strangers (OK just kidding). Thanks to Max at Japan Inc for the info.

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general July 22, 2003 posted by

Snappy snaps

Came across this little doozy of a machine in a Heathrow airport Dixons the other day – a FujiFilm Digital Photo Center. Insert your digicam memory card and print out instant photos at 6×4 inch or 6×8. These types of photo machines are going to start spreading like mushrooms, you mark my words. Hopefully, of course, they’ll soon look like this.

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general July 22, 2003 posted by

Not long now

NotLong.com is a Web service which shortens URLs. But it also contains a great round-up of alternative services in this genre. ‘The following free web sites can take a long URL and give you back a shorter URL without requiring registration’ Definitely worth a bookmark.

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general July 22, 2003 posted by

The Shortchange Machine

The Shortchange Machine. Put 10p in the top and moments later be astounded as 2p emerges at the bottom. From a delicious range of nonsensical gizmos from artist Biggles the Designer.

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general July 22, 2003 posted by

Digital cameras in focus

A rather thoughtful piece on the potential uses of digital cameras now and in the future. Really quite perceptive. This is part one, with more to come apparently. [via gizmodo]

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general July 22, 2003 posted by

Try before you buy

Cool idea from Canon UK. A free service ‘allows you to upload one of your own personal digital images and we will print it out on the printer of your choice and post it to you free of charge.’ A sort of ‘test out our printers’ offer. Nice one.

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general July 22, 2003 posted by

NEC TV phone

Fresh from me slagging off NEC for not producing interesting products comes news – sheesh! – of a new prototype mobile phone which will incorporate a television tuner. Yes that’s right, a TV. Watching Survivor on the bus, the mind boggles don’t it? Apparently it won’t be out for another couple of years or so, and then initially only in Japan. Phew!

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general July 22, 2003 posted by

Pay it forward

SpreadMsg Lite is a free software proggie that lets you set up automatic scanning of things like email accounts or Web sites, after which you can forward alerts to a pager, mobile phone, PDA et al. It’s kind of a neat data push service. ‘* If you are waiting for an important response from a business associate, SpreadMsg e-mail agent can alert you to its arrival, and even send you the message itself. * If you want to monitor weather…

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general July 22, 2003 posted by

Am I rich or not?

Checkmyfile.com is a new service which lets you check your credit rating online…‘see what lenders see’. They will also find a lender who is likely to say yes to you based on your score. Great eh? Just one more way to get into debt faster and more efficiently. Long live the Net.

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general July 22, 2003 posted by

WiFi Detector

Smart ID’s WiFi Detector lets you know whether you’ve got a good enough WiFi signal where you’re at. Saves you firing up your PC see? [via gizmodo]

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general July 21, 2003 posted by

NEC-tastic

You’ve got to love those clever bods at NEC Corp. Try as they might, they simply can’t stop coming up with stunningly designed concept products, and try as they might they can’t stop launching very me-too products onto a saturated market. Can anyone spell Xerox PARC over there in Tokyo House? Witness this P-ISM concept. It’s a five function gizmo incorporating cell phone, handwriting data input pen, virtual keyboard projector, camera scanner and personal ID key cum electronic wallet. Is…

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general July 21, 2003 posted by

Battery lore

If like me you’ve been getting increasingly suspicious about the longevity and robustness of current portable device battery technology, then you should definitely read the stuff at the Battery University. It’s chock full of really useful tips like ‘getting the most from your batteries’ and even a section entitled ‘how to prolong lithium based batteries’. Frequent full discharges should be avoided when possible. Instead, charge the battery more often or use a larger battery.

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