The final Google trends for 2007 were officially announced yesterday, with the iPhone and the late plastic buxom wonderkid Anna Nicole Smith bracketing the Top 10 fastest-rising search terms. If you compare this to the first Google ranking ever, you will either conclude that the world is a better, calmer place now or that the human race is getting dumber by the year: More »
This is a smart idea from Buffalo: USB memory sticks that your kids can stick in your computer without causing wanton destruction to the files inside — or your reputation when they inadvertently download your skinflicks onto a memory stick and present Belladonna’s tattoos to their nonplussed classmates. Gallery and more info below.
Plug the Logitec LDT-1S30X4U into the USB port of your PC and you will be able to watch two TV shows at the same time. Connect a second one, thanks to its double USB, (see below, along with a screen grab) and you get to watch four shows. All sorts of features make the LDT-1S30X4U worth a closer look, however. More »
We attended OQO’s launch party on Monday evening, during which they showed off their updated e2 UMPC with embedded HSDPA. Unfortunately, the revised e2 will only be made available to European and Asian markets. However, do not feel out of love, my US inhabiting buddies: More »
Tokyo Flash’s latest addition to its Twelve 5-9 watch range, the Q, is an interesting timepiece. And by interesting, I mean that you probably need a PhD in disco-light time-telling to be able to work out just what it is you’re late for. (May I just add that, by the time you’ve worked out the time, you’re going to be even later than you originally were.) “How-To” masterclass is after the jump.
Low resolution, slow and almost totally useless: this homemade mobile phone-based surveillance camera is one of the best inventions ever. I don’t know if it’s the Gilliamesque looks, the 80s phreaking flavour or the fact that the solenoid relays—which control the mobile phone keys—make it feel like an Old West telegraph machine, but I would definitely snatch it after seeing it in action: More »
LEDs are becoming pretty commonplace in clothes these days, but Willy Bogner has come up with an idea that is actually useful rather than decorative. He has come up with solar-powered ski suits with LED trim on them to keep you visible on the slopes. The thin film technology lights were designed by Osram, and Bogner unveiled them at an event in Munich last month. There’s another pic after the jump. More »
Ars Technica is reporting further details on Nokia/Universal’s supposedly “free” all-you-can-eat one year music subscription service, and if you thought this plan seemed too sweet to be dreamed up by a bunch of music biz suits, you thought right. Not only are the Nokia tracks DRM’ed to prevent you from using other devices or even burning CDs, the DRM scheme in question is our sad old friend PlaysForSure. On top of that, the only way to renew your subscription for more free music after a year is to buy a new device. And for all of you who voted in the poll, it looks like Universal is billing Nokia around 5 bucks a month per device sold for the sub, which Nokia is I’m sure more than happy to pass on to you. [Ars Technica] More »
For the waistline concious teetotaller, we present this calorie-counting beer mug. Sure you could just keep track in your head, but this way at least honey knows you’re trying. [Product Page (Japanese) via Tokyomango] More »
The “business environment virtualisation” software NEC is currently developing may masquerade as a way for companies to keep track of their competitors online (see pie charts, etc), but we here can see it for what it really is: a scheme to create an unlimited army of lifeless tech-blogging drones. With its “cruising of RSS and web pages” for “product features” and algorithmically processing press releases for “conducting a comparative analysis of products,” this software could probably crank out some pretty solid posts when it wasn’t working to crush its master’s rival companies, all without the requisite Mountain Dew and Cheetos breaks. We’re not too worried here, though. We know you guys come for the gadgets, but stay for the red-blooded passion, right? Some relevant bits from the press release after the jump. Oh the irony! More »
