Gadget Access

Posted Mar 24th 2008 6:56PM by Nilay Patel
Filed under: Misc. gadgets
Sure, we’ve got devices that can see through concrete walls, but why get all complicated when there’s some good ol’ fashioned bashing to be done? That’s the poetic question posed by the Controlled Impact Rescue Tool, developed by Raytheon as part of a Department of Homeland Security program. The 100-pound rescue device uses specially-designed ammunition to create shock waves that can shatter through concrete walls in just 13 minutes, compared to nearly half an hour for conventional methods. Although the rig can create a hole big enough for a person to crawl out of, it’s designed to be held up and operated by just two people, and as the video below shows, it doesn’t look like it’s too much of a bear to handle. Raytheon hasn’t set a price for the CIRT yet, but it’s aiming it at fire departments, rescue services and the military — but we’re always ready for a demo if anyone’s interested.

Virgin Mobile has just announced the availability of pre-paid calling plans. With Virgin Mobile’s new affordable pre-paid plans, consumers will now be able to choose between two options – the Pay As You Go plan or the Go Unlimited plan.

Virgin Mobile’s new Pay As You Go plan has the value of Roll Forward Minutes wherein up to 5,000 unused minutes from the plan can be rolled forward to the new Minute Pack that customers would buy. In order to roll the minutes forward the new minutes must be purchased within 30 days of their last purchase. Virgin Mobile’s per-minute pack is priced at 5-cents per minute ($50 total) when a customer buys the 1,000 minute pack.

Likewise, Virgin Mobile has also enhanced its monthly plans by offering a nights and weekends rate of $49.99 which includes an unlimited calling that begins at 7:00 pm. Additionally, Virgin Mobile is also offering a $34.99 monthly plan with 300 anytime minutes per month and 1,000 minutes during nights and weekends starting at 7:00 pm.

Read [Virgin Mobile] Via [I4U News]

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If Friends taught us anything, it’s that broke New York twenty-somethings have lives of unparalled luxury, and proposing via a big screen is really old hat. Instead, the hot new way to propose is over free micro-blogging facility Twitter.
Last week, Wired reported on what they thought was the first ever Twitter proposal, popped by web designer Max Keisler to his girlfriend Emily Chang in the early hours of Thursday morning. Twitter limits messages to just 140 characters, including spaces, so the tech-minded romantics had to be quick. Max’s proposal of marriage read:

“To @emilychang - After fifteen years of blissful happiness I would like to ask for your hand in marriage?”

“@maxkiesler - yes, i do,” was the short and sweet reply. (I’d be too jittery to capitalise, too!)

Later Wired reader Stephanie Sullivan told the site that her fiance Greg Rewis actually got there first, with the following exchange on March 2nd:

“@stefsull - ok. for the rest of the twitter-universe (and this is a first, folks) - WILL YOU MARRY ME?”

Sullivan’s reply: “@garazi - OMG - Ummmmm… I guess in front of the whole twitter-verse I’ll say — I’d be happy to spend the rest of my geek life with you.”

Posted Mar 24th 2008 12:33PM by Donald Melanson
Filed under: Household It may not boast any fancy or slightly terrifying measures to haul you out of bed in the morning, or pack the DIY flavor of some clocks we seen, but if you just want to keep things simple and stylish you could certainly do a lot worse than one of these new LEXON jet clocks from designer Theo Williams. Available in wall/desk clock (pictured above), clock radio or travel alarm clock versions, the clocks each boast an electroluminescent backlit display, which lights up all your vital information (including the temperature) dot-matrix-style. You can also get the clocks in your choice of gold or brushed aluminum finishes, although it seems that only the wall clock model is available right now, with it setting you back €45 (or just under $70).

Communicating with your family and friends over an instant messaging program is one of the cheaper (or even free) ways to keep in touch across a few thousand miles. Unfortunately, technology hasn’t exactly caught up with the high definition craze that is sweeping across living rooms in Europe and the US - until now, at least. Quanta and ooVoo have teamed up to offer high-quality, real-time video communication over the Internet, as long as you have a HDTV or notebook . Guess girlfriends who are talking to their boyfriends over this new technology will have to put even more foundation on their faces in order to hide the zits that seem to sprout up like nobody’s business.

CC Leung, vice chairman and president at Quanta Computer said, “The world is just beginning to realize the promise of high definition video as more and more HDTV sets are sold and more HD programming and content becomes available. Quanta is delivering the highest-performing computer hardware platforms since 1988. We are now looking to the day when the benefits of high definition will move from a passive, entertainment-driven technology to one where connecting with friends and collaborating with colleagues is possible in HD. Whether at home, work or on the go, the promise of high definition video opens new possibilities when it is put in a social context. HD video chat is just the first step.”

Quanta and ooVoo’s collaboration has resulted in a system that merges both the latest in video compression/decompression technologies so that users will be able to experience HD delivery in a multipoint environment. High-throughput H.264 codec is used here to great effect, requiring a mere minimum of 512kbps bandwidth for one-way 720p video transactions at 30 fps. Not quite full HD (1080p) at this point in time, but it sure as heck beats 640 x 480 resolution that most people settle for these days anyway.

Press Release

Have you ever thought that your mouse was just too large to use comfortably? Perhaps if you sliced it down the middle it would be the perfect size. Honestly, I can’t say that I’ve ever had such a thought cross my mind. Rather there have been some mice which I thought were almost too slim for my tastes. If you’re very much unlike myself, you might enjoy this Super-Slim USB mouse.

This mouse measures only 0.94 inches wide, which is really thin. I dug out one of my old plain-Jane Logitech mice and measured it for reference, and it came up at just over two inches, making this mouse less than half the width of an ordinary mouse. Mind you that you don’t get your buttons cut in half, as the single button functions as two. The front is a left click, while the rear is a right. Some might say this is a good mouse for taking on the road, however, there are much better ones on the market for just that. On the bright side, you won’t break the bank with this $11 mouse.

Source: GeekAlerts

Don’t you just hate it when you’re busy concentrating on a home improvement job, only to find that your screwdriver has just dropped into the toilet bowl, plunging into depths previously unknown to mankind and inviting you to perform the most unsavory of extraction operations. The DMXTB Deluxe Marine Tool Kit ensures that won’t happen, with its four Nut Drivers, two Screw Drivers, two Open-ended Wrenches and a Prop Wrench being 100% corrosion resistant and floatable. Just make sure you rinse them with mild soap/water and dry completely after each use in order to maximize its life.

Overview

Bose lets people change the definition of entertainment devices. The audio/ video components have now become trendier. Give your Music System a stylish look with the new Wave Music System Multi CD Changer. This easy-to-use CD changer lets you slide multiple CDs at a time allowing you to enjoy uninterrupted CD music. This multi-CD changer also provides you with an additional connection offering you to connect with another audio source.

Features

• Two stereo audio connections.
• Measures 14-1/2”L x 10”W x 2-1/2”H.
• High performance changer that is made in Mexico.
• 1-year Limited Manufacturer’s Warranty.

Incorporating great features, Wave Music System Multi CD Changer can be easily installed anywhere in the room. Wave® Music System Multi CD Changer is available in two colors, platinum white and graphite gray. With Wave® Music System Multi CD Changer you get a spared remote for emergency purpose.

Box content

The box comprises of Wave® Music System Multi CD Changer, Battery, Wave Music System update disc, Remote Control, and User’s Manual.

Price

Wave® Music System Multi CD Changer is available at a price of $ 748.00.

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Posted Mar 24th 2008 11:03AM by Darren Murph
Filed under: GPS, Handhelds
Can’t say it’s likely that you’ll find MD Sound products on just any ole store shelf, but for those that look hard enough, they can procure the firm’s latest PND, the KO-GPS4, right now. Carefully watching his words, the outfit’s head of product development notes that “as far as [it] can tell, [this unit is] the first personal navigation device to include the popular e-book capability.” Beyond that, you’ll find a built-in MP3 / video player, photo viewer, Li-ion battery good for three hours on a full charge and a 4.3-inch touchscreen. Yeah, the $249.99 sticker may be tempting at first glance, but we’re pretty confident you can still do better for two and a half bills. Full release after the jump.

MD SOUND RELEASES PERSONAL NAVIGATION DEVICE WITH E-BOOK CAPABILITY

Los Angeles CA, March 18, 2008; MD Sound announced the release of the KO-GPS4 PND. “The KO-GPS4 is, as far as we can tell the first PND (personal navigation device) to include the popular e-book capability,” according to Sharam Tabibnia in charge of product development at MD Sound.

Full featured including a touch screen user interface the KO-GPS4 allows the user to listen to mp3 files, view pictures, view videos, navigate the continental United States and read e-books. The built in Lithium-ion battery provides up to three hours use time away from the 12 volt (car) or 110 volt (home) power source.

The 4.3 inch touch screen is the perfect size for visibility and portability. The graphic user interface is so intuitive that most users will not find it necessary to consult the owner’s manual for operation instructions in any of the operation modes. With millions of points of interest a user can find transportation related sites; from airports to auto repair facilities; shopping; entertainment; tourist attractions; restaurants; government and community services; emergency services and hotels.

At a Suggested Retail Value of $249.99 the MD Sound KO-GPS4 will fit comfortably into the budget of even the most value minded consumer.

MD Sound, perhaps the fastest growing consumer electronics brand is becoming well known for providing consumers with high quality, high performance, great reliability and terrific value.

Distributed by 7 Elephants, a very well established brand maker in the consumer electronics industry for over 17 years, the MD Sound brand has very quickly established a reputation for delivering consumer electronics products such as full featured personal navigation devices and high performance mobile electronics to market that meet the demands of the increasingly sophisticated consumer. The MD Sound brand is delivered to market through a network of service oriented retailers who understand the value of long term relationships with consumers.

For more information visit www.MDSound.net or call 800-977-9779

Here’s set of toys Osama Bin Laden or Saddam Hussein might have fallen in love with. Brickarms is a company that sells LEGO-reminiscent testosterone-inspired mini figures complete with their own sets of custom weapons and weapons packs. The minifigs are custom made with LEGO parts themselves and BrickArms just serves as supplier of accessories - an arms dealer, if you will - and offers custom-built weapons of mass destruction for your murderous and sadistic pleasure. I believe they ship to almost any country (as long as it’s on the map!) in the world, and they also give away free weapons with every order. Continue reading for a few more pictures of BrickArms minifigs, custom-made arsenal, and items that are proudly made of SOLID GOLD.

Via [Gizmodo]

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