These roof tiles by designer Lambert Kamps feature built in LEDs powered by series of self contained solar-photovoltaic cells. Owners can program the lights to display static or animated mosaics of text, pictures, and other graphics in multiple colors. It appears that these tiles are only concept pieces at this point, but it is not hard to imagine the kind of fun you can have signaling aircraft and telling the whole neighbourhood that the guy who lives next to you is a prick. You could even pick up a few extra bucks advertising for local businesses. [Lambert Kamps via Make via Coolest Gadgets]
The Alpha Liege lounge chair helps yoga hippies wind down from a long day of smoking weed and eating granola by syncing vibrations, celestial sounds, and a gentle rocking motion with the rhythms of their breathing. Apparently, this will result in a state of deep relaxation–somewhere in the limbo between being asleep and awake. Tension melts away, the senses are heightened, and the user finds his inner self. I don’t know about the chair but that sounds like the weed kicking in to me. Available for 6,790 Euros ($9,623). [Trendhunter]
According to Panasonic, their new RP-WF5500 headphones are “the world’s smallest and lightest wireless surround sound headphones.” Believe it or not, each unit packs 5.1-channel Dolby Surround support over a 2.4GHz connection, a 20 to 22,000 Hz frequency band, 30-meter (98-foot ) operating range, and six hour battery life into a 250g (.56-pound) frame. They can also automatically determine and adapt to multi-channel digital, DTS and MPEG-2 ACC audio formats via 2 optical digital audio inputs, one analogue audio input, and music/movie mode selections. Pricing details have not been announced, but you can expect to see the RP-WF5500′s ship November 20th in Japan. [i4u via TFTS]
After two years, Apple’s updated the Universal Dock to accommodate the Brady Bunch of iPods out in the market—it now comes with five adapters. Also thrown into the box is an Apple Remote, which can be used with the dock’s infrared sensor. One thing that’s missing is S-Video output, which has been booted in favour of “authenticated video” from the dock connector port through Apple’s sold-separately AV cables. It’s sitting in the window at the online store now for 49 bones. [Apple via iLounge]
Airbus A380 double beds remove all the charm, naughtiness from Mile High Club. Solo flyers division still open for business in all classes.
Asus Eee PC specs announced. Price and specs here for US… but we’re still not getting a general release here.
Apple OS X Leopard confirmed for October 26. Some of the 300+ “new features” discussed here in the post.
Terpstra MIDI keyboard for musicians from another planet. I could see muso teams getting together around one of these.
Acme laptop does a three-way with fold out triple screen. Still won’t help the Coyote defeat the Roadrunner.
The R2D2 iChat Video fx is not making it to final build. Whyyyyyyyyyyyyy? I’m upset, but my girlfriend thanks you for saving her from hours of Princess Leia impressions over iChat. Drop your petition signatures / curses / cries / conspiracy theories in the comments.
Although this Home Theater in a Box (HTiB) doesn’t have as many features as Onkyo’s DTX-8.8, it still gives you an all-in-one solution for your entertainment needs in a relatively affordable package—and it’s Onkyo’s top of the line HTiB. The receiver in the HT-SP908 and HT-SP904 models has 7.1-channel audio, two HDMI 1.3a ports, 1080p output, and is XM/Sirius ready. Not only that, it also includes a 1080p upscaling DVD player, a 10-inch sub, and a remote-interactive iPod dock. Quite a nice package for $1099 for the 908, with the 904 coming in at $899 with slightly less features (like no HDMI and component upconverting). [Onkyo]
Local news on Leopard is that we’ll be paying $158 for the software, or $249 for a single-residence, 5-user license. Buyers of new Macs since October 1st will be eligible for an upgrade at a shipping cost of $12.95. Available Friday, October 26, at 6.00pm. -SB
newVideoPlayer("ET_Kathy_Woz.flv", 475, 376);These two are milking all this “did they, didn’t they” press for all it’s worth, but apparently the latest status is that Woz and Kathy G. aren’t engaged. Is this true, or is this just one of her wonderful “jokes” that propelled her into the Z-list along with Pauly Shore and Stephen Baldwin? In either case, colour us disgusted. The thought of these two “doing it” goes beyond seeing your parents doing it into the realm of seeing your parents doing it on a tape that your grandparents made. [E!]
Olympus is dropping three new SWD (Supersonic Wave Drive, their proprietary AF tech) Zuiko lenses and a plethora of new accessories to go with its newest DSLR flagship, the E-3. First up is the ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD lens, which Olympus claims “delivers the fastest autofocus speed in the world” when paired with the E-3.
