FEPY

It was well over a year ago
when we first heard word about the super crazy wireless USB contraptions that were coming out. Since then, Belkin has tried to push out a wireless USB device and it has had never-ending delays. Finally someone has managed to win this race and make a wireless USB hub available. Y-E Data Inc., a Japanese company will make a wireless USB hub available to the public in October.

This hub uses UWB (ultra wideband) wireless technology. The data transfer rate can get as fast as 100 mbps over a 10 meter distance without any obstacles in the way. This hub will be available in Japan and expect to pay at least $200 for her. – Travis Hudson

UWB Hub coming in October [Newlaunches]

Origin: from Gizmodo

Posted by Fepy on Aug 31, 2006, 2:16PM

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An old Star Trek episode comes to life with the Panoptic Systems C-Thru 3D Video Surveillance System, a way for Big Brother to get a “god’s-eye view” of everything going on inside a building or plane. Taking input from numerous 360-degree cameras placed throughout any location, the system combines all those images into one “auto-stereoscopic” display.

But wait, it gets better. The company has also implemented facial recognition software into the system, so it can not only keep track of where people are, but who they are, too. The surveillance system hasn’t been implemented anywhere yet, but if this is actually practical and not just some pipe dream, let’s just hope it’s used for good rather than ill. – Charlie White

Product Page [Panoptic Systems, via Sci Fi Tech]

Origin: from Gizmodo

Posted by Fepy on Aug 31, 2006, 3:56PM

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The USB flash drive has now come full circle, where now it even looks like you can shoot up your data with the Syringe USB Flash Drive. Available in capacities from 128MB to 1GB, it’s not hardly voluminous enough to give that warez mule operation of yours a shot in the arm but it might be just big enough for Flat Top to shoot Coca-Cola. I know, I know, the whole thing makes no sense. – Charlie White

Syringe USB Flash Drive [I4U News]

Origin: from Gizmodo

Posted by Fepy on Aug 31, 2006, 5:15PM

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Cory Doctorow:
Kami-robo (paper robot) is a hot new toy line in Japan — whimsical, childish papercraft robots that also come as plastic replicas of papercraft robots. Their designer, Tomohiro Yasui, came up with the idea when he was an obsessive toy-collecting 11-year-old who made paper “play-copies” of his metal robots so that he could leave the originals in mint condition. Now it’s a commercial success, with cartoon and card-game being spin-offs.

Tomohiro Yasui started crafting them in 1982, at age 11, because he couldn’t bear the thought of playing with his precious store-bought bots – what if the paint chipped or an arm fell off?! So he used cardboard, scissors, wire, tape, and markers to construct his own durable automatons.

Link

Origin: from Boing Boing

Posted by Fepy on Aug 31, 2006, 2:29PM

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Using my cell phone to Google is one of my favorite cool tools. When I’m on the road or out of my house, and want to find the phone number to a restaurant, movie times, or the Oakland A’s score I use my cell phone to ask Google (# is 46645). I even used it in a class to find the capital of Bhutan (Thimphu) and win a prize. My cell phone company charges me to send and receive text messages, but this is WELL worth the 20 cents to me. It answers back quickly (sometimes almost immediately after you send it, but usually within a minute or two), and accurately. You can convert currency, get directions, translate words, get weather forecasts, get word definitions. Without having to talk to anyone. A lost or confused introvert’s best friend.

– Matt Salazar

The steps (given by Google):
1. Start a new text message and type in your search query
2. Send the message to the number “46645″ (GOOGL)
3. You’ll receive text message(s) with results

Try it out here:
http://www.google.com/sms/

Origin: from Cool Tools

Posted by Fepy on Aug 31, 2006, 1:00PM

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Cory Doctorow:

You can make a glowing pickle-lamp by jamming power-boards into either end of a pickle that’s resting atop a non-conducting surface and then plugging it in. No idea whether this will burn your house down, but it may be worth it.

Link

(via Digg)

Update: Sputnik sez, “Where can I see this without getting my fool self electrocuted? As always, YouTube to the rescue!”

Update 2: Mike sez, “Years ago when I worked at Digital Equipment Corportation, this hilarious ‘research paper’ from DEC’s Western Reseach Lab was widely circulated. Entitled Characterization of Organic Illumination Systems, it details arcing pickles and other assorted vegetables.”

Update 3: Wayne sez, “I conducted this experiment years ago as my final high school chemistry project, trying to figure out why only one end of the pickle glows. I came to the same conclusions mentioned about the sodium, but was unable to figure out the polarization. Useless-knowledge.com makes reference to this scientific mystery of pickle polarization:”

Why does only one end of the pickle light up and glow? Look at the amazing electrical storm jumping through the pickle. (Results are best viewed in a dark room. This is better than Star Wars! Don’t worry the pickle will make all the light you need.) Unplug the pickle; reconnect the wires on the opposite side and it still only glows on one end. There is yet no definitive scientific answer to explain the polarization of a pickle connected to AC current.

Update 4: Dan sez, “Years ago, I figured out that if you buy one of those hot dog cookers that runs current through the meat to cook it, you could use it as a (somewhat) safe version of the glowing pickle lamp.”

Update 5: Pat sez, “Penn and Teller cover the glowing pickle trick in the 1992 book How to Play with Your Food. It’s a great resource for all kinds of food related mischief.”

Origin: from Boing Boing

Posted by Fepy on Aug 31, 2006, 4:02PM

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David Pescovitz:

Over at Street Tech, BB buddy (and old-school bOING bOING contributing editor) Gareth Branwyn explains how to build this beautiful twin-enginer solar-powered robot that rolls around on a pair of hard disk platters. The robot was designed by Zach DeBord who exhibits his elegant mechanical creations here on Flickr. DeBord’s bots were all built using a design approach called BEAM (Biology, Electronics, Aesthetics, and Mechanics). In most BEAM robotics, simple analog circuits are used in lieu of microcontrollers, eliminating the need for programming. Gareth says, “If you built my beginner solarroller from the cover story in MAKE: Vol. 6, this could be a perfect follow-up project.”
Link

Origin: from Boing Boing

Posted by Fepy on Aug 31, 2006, 5:34PM

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Whether you’re out in the wilderness or just hanging in the urban jungle, you’ll love the Press-Bot. The first coffee press to fit into Nalgene outdoor bottles, you’ll have your coffee your way, anwhere. With a hinged shaft and plunger, the Press-Bot folds neatly into a wide-mouth Nalgene, popping nicely back to full size once engaged. (Remember to put coffee grounds in BEFOREhand!) Unlike the traditional french press, the Press-Bot has an integrated pour spout that allows you to drink directly from the bottle, or if you are with friends, share. An absolute boon to coffee addicts, this allows you to bring a bit of civility into any situation and in the most remote places.

Origin: from Popgadget: Personal Tech for Women

Posted by Fepy on Aug 31, 2006, 10:50AM

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Sony’s NW-S200 series is the latest music player to join the Walkman fold. It’s a compact little player that’s been styled especially for crazy running types who can strap it to their toned arms and use all the special sports features. According to Sony it’s the first digital music player to be “completely water resistant” (I’m sure the likes of Oregon Scientific and Ministry of Sound would have something to say about that) to protect if from sweat and rain. There are also sports features like the Sony G-sensor (step count, distance travelled and calorie usage) and Music Pacer, which automatically picks up what pace you’re running at and changes the music to fit an appropriate tune that matches the beat.

Shuffle Shake is a new feature that lets you control your playback mode by shaking the Walkman three times and saying “there’s no place like home” (I made that last bit up). Available in silver, black and pink, with built in FM tuner and sizes of 512MB, 1GB and 2GB capacities. Just a shame it still uses the evil SonicStage software which always crashes my computer.

Available September 2006.

Origin: from Shiny Shiny

Posted by Fepy on Aug 31, 2006, 10:29AM

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Hang on, didn’t PodGear have an iPod speaker set called the HouseParty? As if all these millions of iPod speakers don’t confuse me enough already, Gear4 has to release one with the same name.

GEAR4’s HouseParty 24/7 is apparently an ‘around-the-clock mood enhancer’. It does all the usual iPod dock, charger and speakers business we’ve come to expect, plus it will apparently enhance your mood, which is no mean feat. Also includes an AM/FM radio and comes in white or black. There are two 6W speakers
plus a 12W subwoofer and ActiveBass 2.1 technology and it costs £99.99.

GEAR4 Website

Origin: from Shiny Shiny

Posted by Fepy on Aug 31, 2006, 10:56AM

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