Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Gadgets
Mobile Internet Device from BenQ—Shake It Like a Polaroid Picture
11:17PM Addy Dugdale | We’ve already seen a video of BenQ’s imaginatively named “mobile internet device” (you can call it MID) in action, but more details have been emerging about the touchscreen device, with its customized UI, in Barcelona this week—including the intriguing news that you can shake it, rather like an Etch-A-Sketch, to minimize open windows. More deets, plus a press shot, below. More »
Gadgets
Collapsible Surfboard Concept Brings Meccano Fun to Water Sports
10:25PM Haroon Malik | So, you like surfing, but your apartment and car are not big enough for a full-sized board. What’s the solution, I hear you ask. Sure, you could take up a new sport, or you could get yourself a Collapsible Surfboard. Designed by Nicholas Notara, who wanted to achieve portability without compromising functionality, the frame is made of carbon fiber, and the whole board is taken apart in three easy moves: More »
Phones
Nokia Recycles Old Stuff With An Eco-Friendly Remade Mobile
10:17PM Gizmodo US Edition | As well as showing high-tech mobile phones at MWC 2008, Nokia also demoed their green tech concept, the “Remade.” The clamshell phone has an outer shell made from recycled aluminum cans, a chassis made of plastic from drink bottles and rubber parts made from old car tires. Even its screen and circuit board use techniques like printed electronics to minimise environmental impact. Vincent from Phonemag got some hands-on time and shot a video—find it below the gallery.
Games
Wiimote Nerf Blaster Shoots Foam Darts, Adds Meaning to Life
8:24PM Haroon Malik | Every now and again a product comes along that makes us question how we ever managed without it. Well, the Wiimote Nerf Blaster has us asking ourselves the same question. Details are light at the moment, but the most amazing technology combination since the touchscreen/phone will include a fully functioning Nerf blaster, as well as providing on-screen controls via the docked Wiimote. The peripheral is probably intended for EA’s upcoming Nerf N-Strike title, but whatever the use, it will certainly enrich many, many lives. Bless you, EA Sports. [Kotaku] More »
Peripherals
E-Light Brings Light, Entertainment, Ugliness to Your Garden
7:18PM Gizmodo US Edition | Designed to clamp onto your garden umbrella pole, the E-light is an LED lamp and MP3-speaker combo for outdoor music and moody light action. It’s got a standard headphone jack to connect up your audio player, and its AA batteries will run both the six LEDs and stereo speakers for around six hours. Sounds like just enough time to really chill your bones if you’re going to try some alfresco Valentine’s Day dining. Available for US$99.50. [Red Ferret] More »
Entertainment
Apple TV Guided Tour
4:47PM Jason Chen | Those of you who aren’t quite sure whether the free software upgrade is worth your while (it is) or if it’s time for you to invest in an Apple TV (stick around for the review) should take a look at Apple’s Guided Tour of the new UI. It’s not as thorough a video as a nerdlinger would produce—we’d take you through every function, every UI element, every single menu selection—but it does give you the gist of what the device is all about. They spend most of their time on the video functionality, which is most likely what you’ll be using this for as well, so it’s a good intro for a family member who hasn’t ever heard of Apple TV before. AU: Worth checking out, but remember that we don’t get the full content availability over here in Australia. [Apple - Thanks Justin!] More »
Entertainment
Cineversum BlackWing Three Projectors
1:10PM Sean Fallon | Cineversum has unveiled a trio of awesome looking HD projectors that feature full 1,920 x 1,080 HD resolution, 900 ANSI lumens brightness, a 30,000:1 contrast ratio, and two HDMI 1.3 inputs (and that is only the base model). More »
Phones
BlackBerry Outage: An Upgrade Was to Blame
12:15PM Sean Fallon | It took longer than expected, but it appears that RIM has finally figured out what went wrong with yesterday’s three hour BlackBerry outage. The company is blaming an upgrade failure that was intended to increase capacity. Naturally, RIM was quick to apologise and noted that no email messages were lost during the outage. The question is, will this incident hurt the BlackBerry image? [Yahoo] More »
Random Stuff
Weird Combo of the Day: Microsoft Surface Model is Also an American Gladiators Contestant
12:10PM Jason Chen | Has it really been that long since we’ve had a Weird Combo of the Day? Well, it’s back, and we’ve got an especially weird Weird Combo of the Day for you today. Do you remember Monica, the woman that’s in all the press photos and web videos for Microsoft’s Surface table? Turns out she’s a contestant on American Gladiators as well. Don’t believe us? Hit the jump. More »
Entertainment
