Thursday, May 1, 2008
Phones
Benq C36 Mobile Phone Thinks it’s a Webcam and Radio Recorder Too
11:50PM Gizmodo US Edition | Benq’s new C36 mobile phone is labelled a “Music Phone” but it also squeezes in a 1.3 megapixel webcam function and has a built-in FM radio with a recording function. This last even has a scheduling function, so you won’t miss your shows. It plays MP3s, WAV, MIDI and AMR, has a 2-inch colour LCD, built-in speakers, records voice notes, has microSD memory expansion and 180 hours standby and 2.4 hour talk time. The phone even has a “Health management” option, dealing with BMI and menstrual matters—we’d love to have been at the design meeting where they dreamed that up. The little 77 gram phone is available in blue, in Indonesia in May at first, with other countries to follow. No info on pricing. [Benq via TFTS] More »
Gadgets
Elaborate, Handmade Japanese Marble Mazes are Awesome
11:34PM Adam Frucci | There’s not a ton of info out there on these amazing, handmade marble mazes other than what’s to be found in these Japanese YouTube videos, but we think they’re cool enough to share with you anyways. Apparently, there’s a subculture in Japan that makes really elaborate marble mazes that look like models from a train set or something. Check out the first one above, then hit the jump for two more. More »
Gadgets
DOT Says Fuel Cells Can Fly; FAA Still Afraid They Might Fry
11:23PM Wilson Rothman | The US DOT has approved transportation of methanol fuel cell cartridges in your baggage and carry-on luggage, according to one fuel-cell maker. If you’re lucky enough to own a fuel-cell system, you’ll definitely be able to fly with it come October, when the ruling goes into effect. But this ruling only allows you to carry the cells, not use them on the plane. I looked into it, and the FAA, a division of the DOT, is still apparently evaluating the fire hazards associated with in-flight operation. More »
Entertainment
Apple to Sell Movies on DVD Release Day, Confirmed
10:44PM Jesus Diaz | It’s confirmed. Apple will release all new movies from 20th Century Fox, The Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Lionsgate, Image Entertainment and First Look Studios on the same day as their DVD release, for US$14.99. Full press release after the jump. More »
Science
Video of Space Boomerang Is Exactly What You Expect
10:06PM Jesus Diaz | We knew that boomerangs work in space because Takao Doi tried one in the International Space Station last month. Now, thanks to JAXA’s obsession with cameras we have proof on video. The usual skeptics who think that Elvis is really the only human that ever went to the moon—and still lives there—will be happy. [JAXA via Pink Tentacle] More »
Peripherals
DigiFi Digital Opera Earphones Use Wireless Kleer Tech
9:49PM Gizmodo US Edition | DigiFi’s new Digital Opera headphones use the high-efficiency, high-quality Kleer wireless tech to get your tunes from your iPod to your ears. We’re also digging the neat over-ear design with curly cable, which looks like it’ll be good non-tangler, and the fact that up to four people can listen to the same feed, as long as they have the earphones too. They have over 10 hours play time, and have “CD-quality” audio, or so says DigiFi. We’re not sure about the “iPod adapter” part though, since it looks a lot like there’s just a headphone jack there but no iPod socket, doesn’t it? Hey ho. It’ll be available worldwide, starting in Korea from now, for about US$98. [Aving] More »
GPS
Paper GPS May Be Simplest “SatNav” System Ever
9:20PM Addy Dugdale | Available on the Perpetual Kid website, this paper GPS is the perfect sat-nav system for technophobes, or people who lose the chargers to their GPS. No, don’t look at me like that. Here’s how it works. 1. Go to Google Maps and type in your journey. 2. Write out the search results on the Paper GPS, filling in the turns and mileage in the correct boxes. 3. Bring to car. 4. Turn on ignition. 5. Drive. Cost is US$6.95 for 40 sheets. [Perpetual Kid via TechnaBob] More »
Entertainment
R2-D2 Projector in Action Video (Verdict: A Must Have)
9:10PM Jesus Diaz | We knew that there was a motorised, fully-articulated R2-D2 projector with built-in DVD, iPod dock, all kinds of digital media inputs, and Millennium Falcon remote control, but we never—EVER—imagined it would be so amazingly drooltastic as this video shows. Time to put on your LEGO-made Han Solo jacket or Leia bikini, and buy this thing—because after watching it in action, I don’t care about the lack of Full HD support: this thing is absolutely I must have, caress, fondle, and lick all over material. Reaching nerdgasm, however, still costs US$2,995. [Star Wars Shop via Star Wars Blog] More »
Home
ZeeVee: One Box to Broadcast PC’s HD Video All Over the House
9:00PM Wilson Rothman | Today, a startup called ZeeVee is launching the ZvBox, a three-part plan for getting all the good HD video content from your PC out to all the TVs in the house: • The box itself converts the video from the PC’s VGA port into a high-def channel and sends it out to your home’s coax cable network. • A PC app acts as a launcher for all the good PC-based internet video clients, like Hulu, Joost and even Microsoft’s own Media Center. • The remote controls not just your TV, but the app on the PC too, giving you decent control over the otherwise PC-locked experience. More »
Gadgets
