May 2015 - Page 3 of 6 - The Red Ferret JournalThe Red Ferret Journal

Reviews May 19, 2015 posted by Nigel

FLIR FX – the first multi-purpose action, car and home security camera [Review]

[UPDATE: We can no longer recommend this camera due to problems with the camera’s account management and a lack of response from customer support] Cameras are a big deal nowadays. We’ve got phone cams, cameras for security, dashcams for the car, action cams for the sporty types, spy cams… and the list goes on. Everyone needs a camera. Now an interesting new product from a major player in the camera arena has hit the shelves and it’s really offering something…

Eco Friendly May 19, 2015 posted by Nigel

Luka EV – 20,000 euros, 130 kph top speed, 300 km range, electric hub motors, open source

You have to be some special kind of crazy to try and create your own electric car. Lots of people have tried, and lots have come unstuck, because at the end of the day there’s an awful lot that can go wrong with your design and plans. For example almost all the electric cars featured on this page are no longer in existence. It’s a tough world out there. Especially with the major manufacturers like Nissan and BMW engaged in…

but is it art? May 19, 2015 posted by Nigel

Lawn Paint Pros – beat the drought blues in California with some clever artwork

Are you suffering from the horrible Californian drought? Your front yard starting to look a little sorry for itself? Then perhaps you need to think outside the box. Even though the state is about to enact legislation prohibiting counties from fining residents who let their lawns go brown in the heat, for some people that’s simply not enough.

Free Software May 19, 2015 posted by Nigel

Wemp Locator – collaborative crime map helps you protect your smartphone in risky areas [Freeware]

Over 3.1 million smartphones were stolen in the US in 2013, and according to the statistics the problem is growing. As our phones become more sophisticated and more expensive, it’s logical to expect them to become more desirable targets for street villains and others. Despite all the talk of kill-switches and suchlike, there appears to be no way to avoid the increasing crime wave at the moment. Or is there?

Gadgets May 18, 2015 posted by Nigel

Couchmaster Pro – the ultra comfortable PC gaming accessory for ultra couch potatoes

Are you the kind of person who prefers your entertainment soft and cushy? If so, you’ll be pleased to know that you can now buy the perfect living room gaming accessory for your needs. Why put up with being uncomfortable and inhibited by a bad control surface when you can sit back in comfort as you frag your enemies.

cool tech May 18, 2015 posted by Nigel

ParcelHome – the smart letterbox you control with your phone

All this online shopping is all well and good, but it can definitely make life more of a hassle. We’re talking about arranging things so you’re there to accept the delivery, and avoiding having to reschedule deliveries because the couriers can’t get the delivery time right. Now there’s a clever new solution which uses your phone to keep control of deliveries. And returns.

Awesome May 18, 2015 posted by Nigel

Google Autonomous Cars – they’re real, they’re coming and they’ll transform our cities completely

In the scant six years (yes that short) since Google first sprung the idea of self-driving cars onto the world stage, things have moved on significantly. Their vehicles have now racked up around 1 million autonomous miles of driving on test tracks and roads, and during that time only 11 minor accidents – caused by other people, and mostly from rear end shunts at traffic lights!

reprise May 17, 2015 posted by Red

Ferret posts this week

Here’s a quick round-up of Red Ferret posts from the past week for those who missed them. Enjoy.

Gadgets May 16, 2015 posted by Nigel

X15 Personal Flamethrower – so really, am I hot or not?

OK look, there’s crazy, and then there’s three bats out of the belfry nutz. How else to explain why someone would want to a) buy or even b) sell a product which has no other purpose than to incinerate nearby objects in the fastest possible time? From a position of safety.

Gadgets May 15, 2015 posted by Nigel

Tens – sunglasses turn your world into a real time Instagram image

OK, we’re voting this the world’s stupidest product of 2015 so far. The Tens sunglasses are shades which are designed to turn your whole life into some garish Instagram photo. Yep, that’s right. You get all the artificial boosted arty colors you previously got with your phone app, but now in real time. Are you awesomed yet?

Cool Web Apps & Sites May 15, 2015 posted by Nigel

Meerkat Android – live Twitter streaming app finally reaches Android phones. Addictive Much? [Freeware]

We can definitely understand all the fuss and bother over the new Twitter live video streaming apps, Meerkat and Periscope. Yes, they were horribly over hyped at first (especially Meerkat), but actually they’re very interesting apps in their own right. The idea of live streaming brief glimpses of time from across the world can be incredibly addictive, especially when you throw in the chat interaction.

Cool Web Apps & Sites May 15, 2015 posted by Nigel

Shoptsie – super easy way to sell stuff in your own online store

We’re often asked by friends and strangers how they can set up a quick and easy online store to sell something they’re making or would like to make. Usually there’s no really good answer, except to try a place like Etsy or hire someone to create a simple ecommerce website. But now there’s a rather nice little service which aims to make it so easy to create an online store that even your grandma could do it.

Awesome May 15, 2015 posted by Nigel

Tabby EVO – the $4000 open source electric car you can build yourself in an hour

Do you want to know what’s keeping car industry execs awake at night right now? It’s not oil prices, it’s the convergence of open source and 3D printing technologies. Sure, right now the whole idea of DIY cars is a pipe dream, but look forward a decade or so and you can easily see a situation where car production goes completely local.

Gadgets May 14, 2015 posted by Nigel

Vertical Paper Shredder – save precious desktop space and keep your data safe too

Don’t know about you, but from where we’re sitting desk space is definitely at a premium nowadays. There’s the laptop, the laser printer, the lamp, the monitor, the gold embossed silk lined pizza cutter, all stuff competing for our precious desk inches. Which makes it hard to justify sticking yet another gadget on there. Unless it’s friendly!

Eco Friendly May 14, 2015 posted by Nigel

Peugeot 208 fuel consumption world record shows how peak oil is having a real effect

A standard 1.6 liter BlueHDi Peugeot 208 car has just set a new long distance fuel consumption record by clocking up an astonishing 141.2 mpg. That’s a miserly 2.0l/ 100km. The car drove for a total of 2,152 kilometers (778 miles) on a test track in France using just 43 liters of diesel fuel. That’s got to be less than a tank full!

Monthly Archives: May 2015