This Mini Scooter E concept from car maker BMW is the company’s new take on eco-transport. The scooter sports a rear wheel electric motor, an on-board charging cable stowed in a rear compartment and an innovative security system. Basically your smartphone is the key. Plug it into the console socket and the thing will start up. The phone also operates an integrated Bluetooth powered entertainment and communications system, as well as a rather twee sounding social networking application based around Google…
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Wikitup – freeware brings a global knowledgebase to your fingertips
Wikitup is a freeware program which gives you CTRL-Right Click access to an instant dictionary and search engine, from any Windows program, browsers, word-processors, spreadsheets et al. The cool bits include a live YouTube search and video player, and instant access to Wikipedia definitions for any word you highlight. I can’t say I’m hugely in love with the interface, it’s a little too fussy and olde style for my liking, but there’s no question that the utility of the program…
Read MoreMoodTurn – online service relaxes your mind with ambient music and sound effects
MoodTurn goes one step beyond traditional desktop wallpaper by delivering moody images, ambient music and sound effects through your web browser across a range of different themes. Feel like you need a bit of rainforest to cool you down, or perhaps Beach, Bonfire or Dolphins are more to your liking? No problem. Cubicle dwellers beware, screeching forest birds may annoy neighbours. It is a free web service, developed by Ramunas Geciauskas, that provides ambient music and soothing landscapes to help…
Read MoreAmprius Super Electrode Batteries promise double the run time
New electrode technology from battery technology company Amprius promises to improve battery run times by more than 40%. By replacing conventional carbon anodes with the new nanowire silicon material, the new silicon electrode batteries are able to store much more energy, resulting in a beefier and more powerful battery in the same sized package. It’s early days yet of course (isn’t it always?) but the company hopes to have products on the market within two years, probably initially powering electric…
Read MoreLevel of bacteria on elevator buttons 3x higher than on public toilet seats? Peeew!
photo The folks at Microban have just released the results of some research done by the University of Arizona which suggests that the level of bacteria on elevator buttons is three times higher than the amount found on public toilets. Yes, Microban are trying to sell anti-bacterial stuff, but still. Yeeeww?!? Research carried out in hotels, restaurants, banks, offices and airports, showed that the level of bacteria on lift buttons averaged 2,200 colony forming units per square centimetre, compared to 8…
Read MoreExcalibur Smartphone with Android 2.1 – Mini hands on review
Chinavasion have recently added instructions for upgrading their cool Excalibur smartphone to Android 2.1. for anyone who purchased it early and got the 1.6 version missing the Android Marketplace. We quite liked the Excalibur when it was running 1.6, and 2.1 is definitely an improvement. The instructions are fairly simple however they didn’t work for me, I had use the second lot of directions further down the page and reflash it using the ROM Update Tool (RUT) but 20 minutes…
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The Zambulance is saving lives in Africa
It’s not only high tech gadgets that make a difference. Low tech devices like the Zambulance is playing a critical role in saving lives in Africa. The Zambulance, a bicycle-mounted portable ambulance made by Zambikes of Zimbabwe, has begun providing basic, life-saving ambulance services in early trials throughout Zimbabwe. A simple bicycle trailer stocked with a waterproof mattress that lets patients lie flat comfortably and a curtain for privacy as well as shelter from the heat and rain, the Zambulance…
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Nationite Rocktab 7″ Android Tablet – super cheap tablet features some upmarket style
Normally we wouldn’t bother with yet another Chinese tablet computer, but this Nationite Rocktab 7” Android Tablet looks rather interesting. For one thing it’s very cheap, for another it’s apparently running a ‘customised and optimised’ version of Android 1.5 which actually looks pretty cool in operation. From the video it seems at least as fast as many of the higher priced mainstream models (cough…Samsung Tab…cough). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsuXJX6Z9mQ For a price of $129.50/£82.00 for the 2GB version (with microSD support note) which will accept…
Read MoreVerbatim Clip-it USB Drive – introducing the digital paperclip
The new Verbatim Clip-it USB Drive combines the utility of the humble paper clip with the state of the art digital storage of a flash drive. So now you can clip up your parole papers together with an audio file of you singing “Daisy, Daisy…” in a slightly menacing monotone and send them to your mother-in-law on her birthday. Win! Available in 2GB and 4GB capacities at prices starting at £6.99. “Clip-it USB Drive” can easily be attached to documents…
Read MoreDoorBell Fon – answer the door with your telephone
With this DoorBell Fon pack, you’ll be able to answer the door simply by picking up the phone. When a visitor presses the doorbell, the system will ring the phone with a distinctive tone (or give you a caller waiting tone if you’re already on the phone). The really cool thing is if you add the optional electronic door kit, you’ll be able to open the door by pressing the * key on the handset. Ooooh…automation. $132.00. When a visitor presses the…
Read MoreDave The Cheeky Monkey – shoulder fun for all the family
I so want one of these Dave the Cheeky Monkey robot things, if only to become the hit of the kid’s parties in my neighbourhood. He’s got 30 moves programmed in, as well as a super cute barrel of phrases and sounds. I’m guessing that becoming adept at controlling the little critter will take some time though. Watch the video. £25.00. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHUwxK8O7zs Dave, the cheeky monkey, will safely sit on the operator’s shoulder with the special harness provided. He is built with…
Read MoreMP3 Splitter – freeware lets you trim audio files quickly and easily
MP3 Splitter is a totally useful little freeware program which lets you trim and chop your audio files at will. It’s easy to use, and more to the point, the file quality doesn’t seem to suffer too much after the edit. If you’ve got audio files that could do with some love and attention, try this, it works. Oh and strangely enough it supports lots of different audio formats as well as MP3. Now you can split any part of any…
Read MoreiRadeo – start your own online radio station for free
iRadeo. Minimalist interface, live streaming of unlimited MP3 files to unlimited listeners, player customisation and web embedding, stream downloading option. They don’t do the hosting, so you’ll need to have web addresses for the files you’re streaming. There’s also a Pro version for $9 a month. iRadeo provides unlimited streams and with the ability to support unlimited listeners – all free. Unique features such as complete customization of player types, favorite reporting and digital delivery are just a few great tools…
Read MoreFive Ways to Download Torrents Anonymously
Lifehacker has an interesting little article up entitled Five Ways to Download Torrents Anonymously. What it says on the tin. With anti-piracy outfits and dubious law-firms policing BitTorrent swarms at an increasing rate, many BitTorrent users are looking for ways to hide their identities from the outside world. Here’s an overview of five widely used privacy services. Tags: 5+ways+to+download+torrents+anonymously, lifehacker
Read MoreVeebeam HD – from computer to HD television with no wires
This Veebeam HD device offers the same kind of cool wireless computer to television video streaming as the QWaves product we wrote about a while back. Unfortunately QWaves wireless USB proved to be less than valuable in real life, suffering from the unstoppable stutters when streaming even modestly high resolution video over USB. I still think the tech is excellent, but let’s hope this product – which I’m assured doesn’t use the same DisplayLink wireless USB tech as the errant…
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