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Low-End Korean GPS is Basically High-End 7-Inch Screen PMP, for US$190
Posted by Kit Eaton at 11:40 PM on August 15, 2008
The normally navigation-focused guys over at Navigadget have spotted something interesting: The "low end" Easycar U7 GPS system heading for Korean drivers at the moment is basically a pretty high-end media player with a 7-inch touchscreen. As well as helping you navigate, the 1.9cm deep gizmo plays audio and video files, has a text reader, photo-viewer and accepts digitally-broadcast TV. Check out the gallery to see it in action, and go mad when you learn it costs the equivalent of just US$190.
These Daan air purifiers from Coway are some of the best looking air purifiers we've ever seen. The ones we've had are like Danny Trejo: workmanlike in its ability to get the job done, but very very ugly. The Daans are the opposite of ugly, and can cover a 161 sq. ft. room with a single unit, or more if you stack a few together. There's even a bonus mood lighting function in case you somehow trick a lady into coming home with you, which seems as likely as you importing one of these from Korea. [
Korean scientists are one step further in reaching sustainable fusion reactors. In an experiment for the National Fusion Research Institute, scientists were able to achieve a form of supercharged plasma for 249 milliseconds, almost two and a half times longer than they had anticipated. It's a new form of plasma that can be used to generate electricity in a manner similar to conventional nuclear plants but with far less radioactive waste. We think that's cool. So do bears. [
The JATY DR7200 could be the most absurdly feature-packed 
cRadia's portable laptop fan could be the perfect on-the-go solution for 
Korean researchers have developed POMI, a penguin-looking robot that is able to see, hear, touch and smell. But even cooler, are its R2D2 qualities, which include flashing LEDs and a built-in projector for video playback. In addition, the robot has rudimentary facial expressions, a camera, a display screen, and the ability to speak in short phrases. To top things off, POMI has a mechanism to replicate a heartbeat that can be felt when you touch its case, and also emits "scent sprays to express happiness, sadness, and joy." Um, is there a difference between happiness and joy? [
This "Mask of Emotion" was made at the Hongik University in Korea, which explains why their emoticons are very Asian, as opposed to the more :'( style us westerners use. It's supposed to be hide your personal emotion while displaying whatever one you choose, which is limited to happy, kinda happy, very happy, sad, another kind of sad, and angry. Don't expect to see anyone wearing this on the street unless you're roaming the streets of Hongik University. [
When Bill Gates met South Korea President Lee Myung-bak earlier this month, he didn't come with a free copy of Vista in hand. Instead, he gifted Lee Myung-bak with 1 of 100 similar hand-crafted Xbox 360s entitled "Peace." The work of the head of a Korean company named Gookbo, each Xbox is decorated with mother-of-pearl ume flowers and butterflies to represent patience and perseverance. And it's all just touching enough for us to refrain from the predictable 360 reliability jabs. [
We showed you the 
We know all the toilets in Japan that have built-in bidets, but how many come with remotes? With Blooming Bidet, you activate all the functions of the toilet, even adjust the intensity of water spray or hot air aimed at your posterior, from the handset. Note the big STOP button, in case things get out of hand. And it's no accident you don't see any FLUSH button—flushing happens automatically. (The downside there is that you'd have to trick it into a mercy flush.)
