Debra Atlas, Author at The Red Ferret Journal - Page 25 of 26The Red Ferret Journal

Gadgets July 11, 2009 posted by Debra Atlas

The Soyuz Laptop Backpack – a weatherproof pack that’s leading the way

The Soyuz Laptop Backpack by Chrome is a step forward in backpack tech. This medium-size weatherproof roll-top pack has a fully waterproof padded urethane main section, weatherproof urethane coated YKK zippers, an ergonomic EVA compression molded back panel, industrial metal cam lock under arm compression buckles, four weatherproof external cargo pockets, and an 11″ x 15″ side access, padded laptop compartment with a separate file section. Measuring 14″ wide x 21″ high x 6″ deep, it’s unique design means a…

future tech July 10, 2009 posted by Debra Atlas

The ATNMBL car – see Ma, no hands!

The ATNMBL car – a concept vehicle by the design team of Mike and Maaike – is one step closer to the cool car I grew up seeing on the Jetsons. You control the vehicle with simple voice commands. It’s the ultimate future car – with a flat screen, electric glass sliding doors with a standing-height entryway, but no steering wheel, brake pedal or drivers seat. The engine is four in-wheel electric motors and the batteries are augmented by solar…

general July 9, 2009 posted by Debra Atlas

Bedol Eco-Friendly Water Powered Clock – no batteries needed

Take a little water and lemon juice and what do you get? A Bedol Eco-Friendly Water Powered Clock, that’s what. This unique 4″ x 3�” clock has no batteries, no chemicals, no electricity AND creates no pollution. And it doesn’t even need winding. Just fill it with water, add natural lemon juice, and your clock will run accurately for 6 to 8 weeks. The built-in memory chip even keeps time during refills. Available in 4 distinctive colors, this cool clock…

Fun & Games July 8, 2009 posted by Debra Atlas

Beer bottles into beer tumblers – upcycling made stylish

Taking “paper, plastic or glass” one step further, the Green Glass Company turns old beer bottles into beer tumblers, labels and all! Whether it’s Mexican Sol, Corona, Rolling Rock or Red Stripe Beer, these sturdy tumblers will be a great conversation starter. More into wine or soda? You’ll have plenty of choices too! Bartender, set ’em up please!

Gadgets July 4, 2009 posted by Debra Atlas

Kinetic Road Plates – Green power from the parking lot

Kinetic road plates will soon power checkouts at a Sainsbury supermarket in Gloucester in the UK. Each time a vehicle drives over the plates in the parking lot, kinetic energy is converted into electricity and transferred back into the store. The plates are expected to produce 30 kWh of green energy every hour. Alison Austin, Sainsbury’s environment manager, said: “Not only are we the first to use such cutting-edge technology with our shoppers, customers can now play (an) active role…

Gadgets July 2, 2009 posted by Debra Atlas

Bamboo Keyboard – a green alternative

It may sound odd, but Jiangqiao Bamboo and Wood Industry Co., Ltd, a Chinese company, is manufacturing bamboo keyboards made completely of bamboo. Since launching last October, they’ve received orders for 40,000 finished units. China’s sole bamboo keyboard producer, Jiangqiao swears these wooden keyboards are as strong and long-lived as their plastic counterparts. “You needn’t worry that it might crack even if it drops from a one-meter-high table. Its user-life is no shorter than a plastic one,” says Zhang Lina,…

Fun & Games June 26, 2009 posted by Debra Atlas

A Living Green Lawn Chair – does it come with bugs too?

The Chaise Lawn Chair has come a long way from that plastic-covered contraption we grew up with (and some of us still have!). This whimsical 21st century chair designed by Deger Cengiz is great for city dwellers wanting to get back to nature. And it’s wheelbarrow functionality makes it easy to take where you want to go. This living furniture is made of wheelbarrow parts, wood and sod. For those with green thumbs, try your luck with herbs or flowers….

hmm..interesting June 25, 2009 posted by Debra Atlas

Scania Concept 18-wheeler – spy truck tells all

This sleek looking Scania Concept diesel-electric hybrid engined 18-wheeler comes with LED wheel covers that notify onlookers (and the company) about the driver’s driving behavior. The high tech hubcaps are designed to deter drivers from breaking the law and the real time data feed also checks to see whether they’ve taken their mandatory rest break for safety. Traffic laws in different countries are automatically downloaded to the vehicle via the built-in sat-nav, and if a driver breaks the speed limit…

cool tech June 25, 2009 posted by Debra Atlas

Orange Solar Tent – if you go down to the woods today…

For camping lovers who can’t live without their eco-friendly gadgets, the solar tent is a must have. UK mobile company Orange has created this cool tent with photovoltaic fabric – specially coated solar threads woven into conventional fabric – plus a heated groundsheet that triggers heat automatically once the interior temperature falls below a set level. There’s also a magnetic induction charging pouch and a wireless hub which displays energy generated and consumed and provides a wireless internet signal. All…

future tech June 16, 2009 posted by Debra Atlas

Nokia works to eliminate cell phone chargers

Nokia is working on the cell phone of the future – one that won’t need recharging. The Nokia Research Centre in Cambridge, UK is designing a prototype that harnesses ambient radio waves (aka electromagnetic radiation from antennas, TV masts, WiFi transmitters). This new tech will convert electromagnetic waves into electric signals which it harnesses for power. A current prototype can grab 3 to 5 milliwatts of electricity,although it seems you need 50 milliwatts to recharge a real life cell phone….

Eco Friendly June 15, 2009 posted by Debra Atlas

Wind powered motorbike helmet helps you power your way through traffic

(image – Flickr) In the “so wacky it just might work” category, Taiwan students at Cheng Shiu University have invented a motorcycle helmet with five integrated wind turbines to power the bike’s headlights, turn signal lights and tail lights. The helmet starts generating energy when the bike’s running and distributes the power using a Bluetooth transmitter. Four batteries embedded into the helmet store the electricity generated by the fans. The gadgets in this bizarro product will cost around 1,000 Taiwan…

Eco Friendly June 9, 2009 posted by Debra Atlas

FILEminimizer Office compresses files and creates space

Need more space on your jammed up computer? Balesio’s FILEminimizer Office helps you do just that by compressing all Microsoft Office files mightily. The software compresses pictures and embedded objects up to 98%, including PowerPoint presentations, Excel spreadsheets and Word documents. The makers claim you can reduce a 50MB file to less than 1MB while keeping the file format intact and easily readable. Best of all, folks receiving files via FILEminimizer Office don’t need to have the software to view…

Gadgets June 9, 2009 posted by Debra Atlas

3-in-1 Digital Compass – find thyself, pilgrim…

This 3–in-1 Digital Compass delivers not just a way of finding your way home, but also a thermometer to keep track of those occluded fronts and a digital clock to know when you’re late for tea. Such a thoughtful device. Comes with a bracket for fixing in your igloo or Chinese Hummer and a string for hanging around unicorn necks. Or something. $25.00. 3-in-1 Digital Compass is a combo tool with compass, clock and thermometer. Based on the technology of…

Bookmark This! June 9, 2009 posted by Debra Atlas

Futz.me – send stuff from your browser address bar to your phone or email

Futz.me is a new online service which lets you send stuff to your email address or mobile phone (US only) via a URL command in your browser address bar. Copes with images, links, text and to-do notes etc. So instead of firing up your email client to send a photo to your cell, just type in futz.me/username and then the web address of the pic. Simple, fast and effective. No more futzing around indeed! Whatever you send from your address bar…

Bookmark This! June 9, 2009 posted by Debra Atlas

5 Useful Free Uninstallers – how to remove stuff you don’t want from your computer

Sometimes removing software from your computer can be a real pain, which is why I’ve gathered together a bunch of free and hopefully useful uninstallers which should cope with many sticky software situations. Revo Uninstaller. Very cool free tool not only removes programs fast, but also provides a set of 8 additional useful Windows utilities including a Windows startup optimizer. Great. Norton Removal Tool. Uninstall those sticky Norton products from your machine with a click. McAfee Removal Tool. Uninstall those…

Author Archives: Debra Atlas