newVideoPlayer("n810.flv", 476, 286); The Nokia N810 was launched this week, and among the main details, I’ve got a few more impressions for you. (What few impressions I could draw from the quirky device.) • Screen is A+ in sharpness, color, brightness and res (800×480). It’s not multitouch, though, and you’ll need a stylus. • The keyboard’s clicks are a bit shallow and the space between each is not so well defined, but it is something you could get used to. • The Linux apps were not readily available yet, and some. • An app I missed in my video walkthrough is that Gizmo has video conferencing support using the front-mounted cam. (And there is no app for using it to take straight- up photos.) • Would I buy it? I’m not sure I need it. But the dev community for Nokia tablets is pretty popular (although not as popular as s60) so I’m sure there are untold uses for many inside of this thing. • When WiMax hits, an upgraded device like this could be very useful. Right now, it’s a Wi-Fi or tethered over Bluetooth device.
The next time you’re with a woman for a romantic evening at home, turn down the light on this 13 Amp Fuse lamp to get the mood going. That will turn her on. Then explain how these fuses were used in the BS 1363, an AC socket commonly used in homes in the UK. Then you will be in for sure. Each replica lamp measures 13″x3″x3″ and features the classic brown and white label and brushed steel end caps. Available for $100 (currently sold out). [Firebox via Retro to Go]
According to the product page, the Franklin Digital Cooler uses “a tiny NASA microchip” that allows the device to go from “hot to freezing cold in a matter of minutes.” So, theoretically, you can keep you hot dishes hot and your cold dishes cold when traveling. There is even an LED thermometer and thermostat that allows the user to set the exact temperature, and a car adaptor kit to keep things fresh—even on long drives. Let’s just hope that NASA builds their cooler microchip better than they build their shuttles. The last thing I need is a piece of foam or something breaking off and smacking me in the face while I’m driving. Available for $49.95. [Product Page via TRFJ]
Nearsighted nerds may soon have one less reason to personally interact with the outside world thanks to a technology that allows users to “virtually” try on glasses via their cell phones. Here’s how it works: customers take a quick snapshot of themselves and then combine it with images of glasses downloaded from the merchant’s mobile website. This “Mobile Fitting” service is currently being utilized in Japan’s Megane Top (“Top Glasses”) superstore, and there are no plans to branch out beyond that as far as we know. If it is effective, perhaps the same sort of technology could be employed for clothing as well. That way, I won’t have to stand idly by when my girlfriend wants to spend 2 hours trying on one pair of pants. [alook via Digital World Tokyo]
A simple but brilliant design–build an arcade style cabinet for Guitar Hero with a real Marshall subwoofer acting as the base, a marquee and speakers on the top, and connect it to a hacked PS2 with every Guitar Hero game loaded on the hard drive. Then go ahead and deck out a couple of guitar controllers to top it all off. Needless to say, I wouldn’t mind sucking so much arse at Guitar Hero if I was playing it on this thing. [Arcadecontrols via Arcadeheroes via Gearfuse]
Straight from the pages of teen dream magazine. Earlier in the year JB Hi-Fi took to the stage with Blu-ray to announce they were going steady. This was exclusive dating. There would be no two timing. They even wore Blu-ray’s swim team jacket.
About eight months later, it now seems JB Hi-Fi has told Blu-ray “it’s not you, it’s me” and “maybe we should be open to new experiences for a while”. Sure, they’ll still be friends, but they’ll just also be spending a little time with the guys from the track team. Of course, the captain of the track team? HD DVD! Oh man!
No doubt Blu-ray will be putting on the “that’s fine” and “we understand”, but I know I just heard a heartstring breaking. -Seamus Byrne [The press release]
newVideoPlayer("ledhat_gawker.flv", 475, 376);We applaud the craftsmanship of this homemade LED hat, especially the nerd-core Space Invaders and Pac Man animations, but seriously, I think there’s a reason the digital milliner is never shown actually wearing the hat. [Hacked Gadgets via Make]
Tosh is ramping up the HD DVD push this festive season, with the announcement of price drops across their range. The entry point for the HD-E1 is now $599 ($50 off), and drops to $499 with a cashback scheme through the Toshiba website. For $100 more you can have the HD-EP10 ($180 off) which steps up to full 1080p output and upscaling. The high-end HD-XE1 is now priced at $1299 ($100 off).
On top of this, the site where you claim your cashback also gives you a batch of HD DVD discs too. It shows five discs – Ant Bully, Superman Returns, Troy, V for Vendetta, and Batman Begins – but specifics could well be different on count and titles received. But there’s also an in-store promo offering up to six discs with every Toshiba player sold. Things are looking up and up for HD DVD – they’ve really lucked out with the general disinterest in HD to date having been at a time when Blu-ray held a big advantage. [Toshiba AV]
Sharp’s new ANPR1000H home theatre system does a lot more than just hold up your TV. This bad boy can pony up 300W of power and 2.1 channel surround sound, plus it has “Audistry” sound reproduction technology by Dolby, DTS, and Dolby Digital and Dolby Pro Logic II Decoder. It’s stylish, compact, and a great platform to display that big-ass plasma you spent a fortune on. Hopefully you didn’t break the bank on it, though, because picking up the ANPR1000H will set you back another $1099. [Sharp via Tech Digest via Uberreview]
Since we’re such breast fans here at the Giz, we wouldn’t think of letting Breast Cancer Awareness Month pass by without a mention. The best news is you can celebrate boobies, get yourself a 30GB limited edition pink Zune, and fight breast cancer at the same time. Unlike some other charitable music-player-selling schemes that only donate a measly 5% of their proceeds to charity, when you buy a 30GB Zune from Warriors in Pink, 100% of the purchase price goes to Susan G. Koman For the Cure, thanks to the generosity of Ford and Microsoft. Breast cancer is no laughing matter, and we figure anything we can do to promote and preserve breasts and the lovely women on which they reside is time well spent. The pink 30GB Zune is $250 ($50 more than retail for a 30GB Zune), but it’s for a worthy cause. [Warriors in Pink]
