Very interesting article on The Consumerist about the increasing difficulty of selling a laptop computer on eBay without it being ‘won’ by Nigerian scammers. It looks as though eBay is suffering from a growing problem in terms of fraud and criminal activity. The worst aspect of the whole sorry tale is the pathetic user support this chap received from what is supposed to be one of the wealthiest web sites in the world. If that’s all they can offer, then things will continue going…
Read MoreMonthly Archives: May 2008
Sony XEL-1 OLED Television – sparkling new tech is apparently a short lived beauty?
A new report out from Display Search suggests that Sony’s groundbreaking new OLED display television, the XEL-1, may have a significantly lower lifespan than the manufacturer claims. We’re talking 17,000 hours as against 60,000 hours for a typical LCD or plasma flat screen TV. The report also says that the product suffers from what it calls ‘differential aging’, with differing degradation rates for each of the primary colours. Oh and the screen doesn’t look so bright in sunnier conditions. Still, at least the technology is…
Read MoreOrbitSound T3 – the portable sound aura box
The OrbitSound T3 is supposed to bathe your body in a lush and vibrant aura of musical bliss using amazing technology gleaned from the ancient writings of the alien based Mayan civilisations of Saturn. Ah sorry, wrong press release. Right…ah yes, you shove this thing round your neck, plug in your iPod and get some sound out. Sounds more reasonable, don’t it? More here. With the orbitsound T3, the music is literally in the air, all around your head. This means…
Read MoreDummy IR Bullet Camera with Working LED – fake, but probably good enough to fool ’em once
This Dummy IR LED Bullet Camera comes with some real light-up infra-red type LEDs which are guaranteed to glow like that nasty robot in Terminator 23 or whatever it was. The lights are activated by photo cells, so the robbers will really think they’re on Candid Camera if they see this thing pointed their way. Of course if it’s pointed at the back wall, you’re probably in trouble. $34.99. Criminals are less likely to enter an area if they know that there is a chance…
Read MoreMTI Mobion Micro Fuel Cells – power when you need it
These new Mobion Fuel Cells from MTI are methanol powered and are still at the demonstration stage, surprise surprise. The company has produced some interesting prototypes though, including these two for smartphones and digital SLR cameras, so it’s probably only a matter of time before this stuff starts to hit the street in earnest. To demonstrate MTI Micro’s Mobion technology as an attached power source, MTI Micro developed a direct methanol fuel cell camera-grip prototype for digital single-lens reflex (DSLR)…
Read MoreBigScreenLive – the web browser for computer-phobics
BigScreenLive is a web browser for those who prefer simple to complex. The developers are billing it as a browser for ‘families’ (i.e. old people) but I reckon it has value as something that a lot of computer intimidated folk would like to use in place of the disparate tools we currently have for accessing digital content. The front screen interface is clear and uncluttered and offers access to the most common ‘family’ tasks like photos, , shopping and games…
Read MoreTwitterfone – send messages to Twitter with voice
Twitterfone. Send messages to Twitter using your voice and a suitably arranged telephone handset. In beta invite-only mode at the moment. That is all. TwitterFone transcribes what you’ve said from voice to text, and posts it to your Twitter feed for you. The service is free and just uses regular minutes from your regular phone plan. There are TwitterFone numbers in many countries, so you should always have a TwitterFone number near you. When TwitterFone answers, just speak your…
Read MoreWordHustler – the automated online personal assistant for writers
WordHustler is a really interesting new online application created by a couple of writers for writers. The idea is that writing is hard enough, without all the hassle of having to deal with markets and submissions, so they’re trying to take all that stuff away. The normal process of submitting your prose usually revolves around lots of photocopying, stamp licking and market research, which WordHustler claims to do for you. So all you have to do is focus on writing that…
Read MoreSuissa Enlighten Computer – my my, technology never looked so good…
The Suissa Enlighten PC shows what you can do when you really try and think outside the box…um…circle…er…whatever. We’re talking limited edition, wood case, Intel or AMD engine, 1 TB drive, Radeon/Nvidia video, 4 GB memory. Price? Well let’s just put it this way, you don’t exactly buy this lush Canadian piece of fine art tech, as much as commission it. Get the picture? Enlighten’s design dissipates heat through the use of aluminum around the power supply and DVD drive…
Read MoreLaser Target Alarm Clock – aim, shoot, miss, wake…
Laser Target Alarm Clock. Place clock on the other side of your bedroom. Close eyes. Sleep. Wake to the sound of alarm annoying your teeth. Pick up laser ‘gun’ take aim and try to shut it off. Stagger out of bed. Open window. Sling clock into neighbour’s fish pond. Return to bed. £19.58. While most alarm clocks will get you out of bed at the allotted time (give or take a few hits of the snooze button) – the Laser Target Alarm Clock not only…
Read MoreUrban Tool Groove Rider – the iPod shirt
Groove Rider from Urban Tool is a unisex fashion top with built in iPod controls. Just plug your music player into the socket, and you’ll be able to change tracks, volume and stuff just by flicking your fingers over the special sections on the side of the fabric. It’s machine washable, made of a breathable poly-something and costs $169.99. Wear your sound and operate your iPod directly through a smart fabric interface shirt. Store your iPod in a secure pocket…
Read More104 driving techniques to help you conserve fuel – easy with that right foot, partner
104 Driving Techniques to Help You Conserve Fuel. Wanna eke out your precious mileage? Then practice a few of these tips and see how you do. Drive with load (DWL) AKA “target driving”. Put most simply, this technique is accomplished by choosing a “target” rate of fuel consumption and ensuring you don’t fall below it on hills (or in very strong winds, or any conditions which cause load to vary for a given speed). In other words, you will back off the…
Read MoreLaptopLock – freeware security program protects your laptop if it is stolen
LaptopLock. Windows freeware (at the moment!) which you install and configure on your hard disk to protect your notebook computer if it’s stolen. Once the machine is connected to the Internet it will connect to a central server and then either delete files, encrypt them, execute a program or go ‘yah boo sucks’ to the thief. Or something. How does The LaptopLock work? If the computer is stolen, login into your account, mark the computer status as stolen. As soon as…
Read MorePicLens – 3D browser plugin delivers cool image viewing interface
PicLens is a web browser plugin which turns image lists into a glorious 3D interface. I wouldn’t call it an absolutely essential piece of software, but it could be pretty useful if you do a lot of photo browsing or research. It also now includes support for YouTube, so you can get the same kind of drag and swoop views for video. It’s nicely done, works well and is definitely worth a download. Think beyond the browser PicLens instantly transforms…
Read MoreTurntable Ring – real vinyl and a moving needle shows some real retro cred
Turntable Ring. Let’s face it, there’s not many ways to demonstrate your crucial cool apart from a few rabid T-shirts and a tattoo here and there. Except now you can really flash it with a finger piece that says who you are, man. With a real vinyl topping and a moving needle. But no sound alas. A$350.00. Real vinyl, and a moving needle. Hand crafted by Darkcloud Silver. You know you have to have it. Tags: gadget, turntable+ring
Read More
