Samsung’s latest introduction, the SCH-W420/W4200 in the video below, is a slender, iPhone-like handset with a 3.2″ touchscreen, a lively user interface, and the kind of force feedback that the LG Prada phone could only dream of.
Lina Fischer’s coffee maker design is scrumptious and works rather like an espresso maker would, but is better looking (although less iconic than those little moka pots caffeine heads go bubbly over). It comes with its own induction-powered table station, but what really sets the Kahva apart from other coffee makers is what happens to the Joe when it’s brewed.
Sometimes simple is best: the ABC3D pop-up book is just wonderfully captivating, and does exactly what it says on its transforming cover. You may think more “coffee table, guest amusement” than “give to kids” but it’s only US$19.95, so why not let the little tykes appreciate its good design too? By Marion Bataille, due out October 14th. [Amazon via Geek Dad]
We like strange USB gadgets: Brando’s new gizmo plugs into a USB port and gives you accurate temperature and humidity measurements, on a second-by-second basis, if you like. It even logs the data for you, in a spreadsheet-friendly fashion. So that you can, you know, predict if it’s going to rain on your laptop. Maybe you put a long lead on it, and dangle it out the window? I don’t know. For those of you really into that kind of microclimate data collection, it works between -40ºF and 120ºF, measures humidity 0-100% and works with XP/Vista. Available now for US$24. [Geek Alerts]
The Silbervogel Gravity Car concept, by Jakob Hirzel from the Pforzheim University Of Applied Sciences in Germany, has no engine, but still wants to grow up and be a real racing vehicle. The racer relies solely on, you guessed it, gravity to pick up speed. We’re thinking the whole exempt engine thing is going to give the Gravity Car a little handicap in conventional races, but as a play thing, it would be pretty great. [Jakob Hirzel via Tuvie] galleryPost('mercedesgravitycar', 6, '');
It’s not just the iPhone that’s being cloned: now this black 8GB Nokia N95 clone has joined the party. With dual slider keypads, a two megapixel camera with flash, another small camera, media player, Bluetooth and microSD card slot, it’s actually not all that bad. It doesn’t have the 8GB, of course. But you’ve got to admire the brazen advertising: “STRAIGHT FROM THE CLONING GODS OF CHINA! WE BRING YOU THE ALL NEW N95 DUAL SLIDE VERSION!” It gets worse. galleryPost('n95clone', 3, '');
Mizumori Ado’s exclusive iPod nano case, called the Factron Quattro, sure as hell has the street cools about it, but unfortunately, it looks like its going to be a limited run in Japan only. The designer, Mizumori Ado used a full aluminium construction to match the iPod nano’s housing, and we have to say, the Factron Quattro is the only way to protect your fat PMP. After all, the hefty clunker sure does have a tough time getting in and out of pockets and bags without scratching itself. Available in green, red, silver or gold and with the option of various scrawled patterns adorning the rear face plate, the case does look quite unique. No pricing details are available, but we’d guess you’ll be paying a pretty penny if you are able to get Mr Importer on the case. [Akihabara News]
In a move that seems more than a little reminiscent of the Stasi, the NSW Police have announced that they are setting up a Web site that encourages people to take and send in footage of lawbreakers in action, or so News.com.au is reporting.
The story is a little light on details, but it appears that since the Cronulla riots, the NSW Police have been working on Project VIEW, which is a plan to develop ways of harnessing the vast amount of AV material and pictures that are out there, but unsorted, unmanaged and unknown. They’d like to get the help of people who run CCTV cameras, have taken film or photos with mobile phones or otherwise have access to evidence of criminal behaviour. They plan to set up systems so that the cameras are catalogued and the footage accessible to the police.
It’s a scheme that I find more than a little worrying (as you might have guessed by the opening sentence of this post), although I also believe that it is possible to strike a balance. Here’s hoping that the NSW Police Force can do just that. [News.com.au]
At the end of last week, Qantas revealed that it would be offering in-flight Net access on domestic flights by the end of the year. The service will appear first on domestic B767-300 and A330-200 aircraft.
It also revealed the technology it would be using for its service. You’d think Wi-Fi would be the sensible choice, right? Apparently, you’d be wrong. It’s using a mobile phone base station designed by AeroMobile to provide GPRS connectivity to mobile phones. The base station will also provide text messaging support, but no voice call support (the technology is capable of voice, but Qantas isn’t turning it on).
To access the Net while you’re on-board, you’ll need a mobile phone with international roaming and GPRS support. Of course, if you want to access the Net from a PC, you’ll also need a PC connection kit for your phone.
We have no idea of the pricing as yet, but given it’s based on an international roaming profile, we expect it to be very, very expensive. We’ll keep you posted as more details come to light. [apcmag.com]
FYI, PS3 Firmware 2.2 has just been made available for download. The update adds the Blu-Ray 2.0 standard, otherwise known as BD-Live, and will enable downloadable movie content, such as games, wallpapers and ringtones. [Thanks, Brian]
