Friday, December 28, 2007
Home
SmartSink Uses Height-Calculating Software to Save Your Back
11:45PM Addy Dugdale | MIT student Leonardo B has come up with an idea for a sink that positions itself depending on the height of the user and adjusts its temperature depending on what you are putting in it. (This is useful when you are nudging 6′0″, whilst your husband struggles to hit the 3′6″ mark*, even when he is wearing what he refers to as “gypsy shoes.”) Video, plus explanation of how the sink works, below. More »
Phones
This Is What a Nokia E90 Blasted With a Shotgun Looks Like
9:00PM Addy Dugdale | Someone blasted their Nokia E90 with a 12-bore shotgun. And then decided to put the bent and twisted piece of telephony up for sale on eBay. As you do. And then someone decided to buy the remains of the smartphone for $US20.50. As you (or I) probably wouldn’t. Gunshot gallery is below. The eBay blurb describes it as Bluetooth Enabled, Calendar, e-mail, GPS Navigation, Internet Browser, MP3 Player, PDA-PC Sync, SMS-Text Messaging, Speakerphone, Unlocked, Video, Smartphone. And then he goes and tells us it doesn’t even turn on. Tsk. [eBay via Just Another Mobile Phone Blog] More »
Deals
Dealzmodo USA: T-Mobile Waiving Activation Fee Until 12/31
1:49PM Jason Chen | A hot little birdie just told me that T-Mobile is waiving all activation fees (usually $US35) for new customers from tomorrow (12/28) until the end of the year. If you’ve been waiting for whatever reason to switch to the Tee Mobe, now’s the time (to save thirty-five bucks). In addition to that, the Samsung Beat music phone is free with contract, if you’re into phones with a big green speaker on the front. Merry post Xmas! [T-Mobile] More »
Press
Are Apple Stores a Retail Utopia?
1:20PM Sean Fallon | Is going into an Apple Store like entering some sort of Plesantville where everyone is happy and things are always perfect? The New York Times seems to think so. According to a recent article, customers are enchanted by “relentlessly smiling employees,” interesting architecture, and an atmosphere that feels like more of an event than a retail store. While I’m sure that there will be some differing opinions on those points, some of the figures are hard to argue with. Apparently, 20% of Apple’s revenue is derived from its physical stores –which represents a 42% increase over figures from the 4Q of 2006. They also generate sales at a rate of about $US4000 per square foot a year. Just a few of the reasons why their stock is up 135% overall. So, the question is do your experiences visiting or working for Apple stores support these claims and figures? [NYT] More »
Gadgets
Lightning Review: Belkin 2-in-1 HDMI Switch
1:00PM Jason Chen | The Gadget: Belkin’s 2-to-1 HDMI Switch that’s not only small and IR-remote controlled, it’s also self-powered—meaning you won’t have to take up another slot on your already crowded home theatre power strip. More »
Gadgets
Chair Lifts and Separates Your Butt Cheeks For Maximum Comfort
12:30PM Sean Fallon | The makers of this unique looking Ayur Chair claim that it can provide “perfect lumbar support while ergonomically lifting and separating your butt checks for optimum comfort.” Since I have never sat in one, I can’t really back-up this claim. However, I can see how it would be beneficial when you have a serious beefer on deck and you need to do a little “lifting and separating” to ensure that everyone else in the office doesn’t hear it. Is that worth the $550 price tag? Probably not, unless you have some serious gastrointestinal issues. [Product Page via Electro Plankton via Geekologie] More »
Gadgets
Digital Foci Set To Launch 3 New “Image Moments” Digital Frames
12:00PM Sean Fallon | Digital photo frames might not be the most exciting gadgets on the planet, but it is one of those products everyone can get into —even Grandma. So lets get to the newness shall we? Digital Foci is set to introduce three new frames at this years CES. The best of the bunch is definitely the Image Moments 15 with a 15″ XGA (1024×768) digital LCD, a high contrast ratio of 700:1, an AV input, and an interchangeable frame and mat design. It also features 200MB of storage, USB 2.0 connectivity, and a memory card reader that can handle all popular cards. More »
Computers
How To Install an Internal 3G HSDPA Card in the Asus Eee PC
11:41AM Jesus Diaz | Hardware hacking genius and electromagician JKK has published a video tutorial showing how to add an internal 3G HSDPA card to the Asus Eee PC, allowing you to connect at high speeds to the Internet from anywhere. We talked with JKK and according to him “the hack is doable by any amateur with a solder iron”: More »
Gadgets
GPS Jesus Nabs Christmas Thief
11:00AM Sean Fallon | Just before Christmas we learned that a baby Jesus statue in a Bal Harbor Florida nativity scene was being equipped with GPS to ensure that a theft earlier in the month would not be repeated. Apparently, a similarly equipped statue from a nativity in Wellington Florida actually resulted in the arrest of 18 year old Danielle Santino after she stole the statue on December 26th. She has since been charged with grand theft. So what is going on here? Is there some sort of underground baby Jesus crime ring terrorizing southern Florida? [Local 6 via Fark] More »
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