Gadget Access

If after reading CG you still find yourself craving for even more gadget news check out gadgets.alltop.com, an aggregation of all the top gadget blogs.

Along with gadgets Alltop has sections for other popular blogging niches (Gaming, Politics, Photography etc.). Though why you’d want to stray away from gadgets and tech I don’t know.

This post maybe somewhat on the biased side, as Alltop is a project by Guy Kawasaki and I’m currently sat in a room listening to him.

I don’t know if you ever notice our “categories” for Coolest gadgets, but many of them are pretty descriptive. One of them is “Cool Clocks”, and when I saw the Bulbdial clock, I knew I just had to write about it under that category.

As you can see, the Bulbidal is an electric clock that thinks it is a sundial. Instead of using the natural energy of the sun, it uses miniature streetlights that spin around the post. There is an hour hand, a minute hand, and a fast moving second hand. All these combine to give you a time that is a lot more accurate than your everyday sundial.

This design was created by a DIY creator/blogger David on Ironic Sans. He says that it can be used horizontally, like on a table, or vertically on a wall. The biggest irony is that the Bulbdial clock won’t work in the sun, because the sunlight will outshine the electric lights.

I don’t know about you, but I can think of some other uses for this device, other than a clock. For example, a player for old school LPs. I mean, look at it, it has a post right in the center. Make it spin and give it an arm with a needle, and you’ll be playing all your pre-80’s hits.

I can also think of another unconventional use: a cat toy. Any cat owner who dares to place this on a table will find that their tabby will be mesmerized and will undoubtedly be pawing the little lights like a catnip mouse.

No word if this one is becoming a reality, but I personally think it is quite aesthetically pleasing.

Source

Considering that every mobile device needs to be charged, it would be nice to have something that you can use just in case you get into a pinch. After all, I can’t begin to count the times where my cell phone is about to die, and there isn’t an outlet handy that I can use for the next hour.

Enter the iGo, a mobile device charger that is mobile. The kit comes with two Duracell AA batteries that allow a user to plug into a mobile device in order to recharge and/or power it.

That is, it can charge any mobile device provided you have the proper tip for it. I have seen the tip, and it looks like a mini-USB, but I can’t confirm that. However, the iGo has a lot of tips sold separately, such as the A61 for the ipod.

The iGo also has other accessories, including the wall charger, a $20 dollar device that works like the iGo, but you just plug it into the wall and then to your mobile device. There is also the power splitter, which allows for charging two devices at the same time, such as your cellular phone or iPod, two very often used devices.

Although the iGo is about $16, you might spend more on accessories. You might want to figure that in your budget if you want to purchase it.

Source

Trapster is a new mobile phone application that may subliminally encourage drivers to speed. Why subliminal? Well Trapster comes under the guise of being a speed trap sharing system, which means they, or actually the other users are helping you in not getting caught while driving fast. Using Wi-Fi or GPS, Trapster lets drivers report the location of speed traps, red light cameras and other locations that may be of interest to other drivers. Once you get into the Trapster system, you’ll automatically get an audio alert when you’re approaching a location with existing ticket threat. Then it’s up to you how you can avoid that threat. Likewise, Trapster users can also customize the alerts that they receive, say just the existence of red light cameras on specific locations or just the speed traps currently present on certain locations.

Although Trapster works best on GPS enabled phones such as Nokia’s Symbian based handsets, Windows Mobile and Blackberries. Users who don’t have any of those models can still take advantage of the Trapster service using Jott’s voice to text service. Finally, the Trapster site did not mention pricing for the service. But I suspect that charges will be incurred by users depending on their network providers.

So, if you are ready to become traffic enforcement’s public enemy no. 1, why not take Trapster for a spin and see how it goes. While I am not sure how much I agree with this system, I am also not sure this could be considered as anything other than a “Web 2.0 style” radar detector.

Via [Switched] Read [Trapster]

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AT&T’s new mobile TV service won’t just get new phones on the next update to its handset lineup, but possibly new Panasonic cellphones with low-voltage plasma technology under the hood as well. Details about this move were revealed by the consumer electronics product maker in a recent press conference, where it announced a few revamps to their telecom and HDTV divisions.

Mark Balsama, a Group Manager of the Communications Systems Division, says that these new cellphone plasma displays will “rival OLED displays for brightness, contrast and thinness, and can be manufactured for much less money.” For much less money, eh? But how come they can’t even do it with their Plasma TVs in the first place? Anyway, Panasonic seems really keen on putting this technology to work on cellphones, and claims that they’ve been working on this for about 10 years now. One piece of advice that I’d like to offer, is that they make these cellphone displays touchscreen-enabled. And then strike at deal with Apple. That ought to help them “revolutionize the consumer electronics business.”

Via [PR Newswire]

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The Census Bureau will not be going as high-tech in 2010 as originally planned, instead holding firm to the good old fashion pen and paper method. The lack of the GPS for census worked was due in part to “numerous glitches” that included the need for more workers as well as “recent increases in gas prices, postage, and printing.” That means that Congress is having to find an additional $3 billion to cover the cost, which could now rise as high as $14.5 billion.

The 2010 census, which will begin in March 2010 when the Census Bureau sends out a mailing to all US households, the 580,000 census workers will then be going door to door in an attempt of speaking with those that failed to return the form.

While the handheld devices will not be in the hands of all workers as hoped, it will not be entirely low-tech, the GPS-enabled Harris computers will instead be used prior to the actual census to compile what they are calling “the most accurate and comprehensive address list in the census’ history.” Here’s hoping to a better more tech-friendly 2020 census.

Read [CNET]

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Verizon Wireless has started redesigning its retail stores located in around 280 locations US-wide. Verizon has refurbished the old look of the its stores with bright colors and engaging layout. The redesign was implemented to provide their customers with a new and worthwhile experience while getting their fix of the latest Verizon gizmos.

“With these stores, Verizon Wireless takes the next step in wireless retailing. We are committed to providing customers with a unique and engaging shopping environment as well as easy access to support services,” said Jack Plating, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Verizon Wireless.

The new Verizon stores will have features that include; a demo zone for exploring, experimenting and learning about Verizon’s new products, samples of working handsets, PC cards and other devices, a greeter and bill payment kiosks as well as customer service and technical support departments. However, all of these features will not be carried out in every store due to limitations with space.

So, don’t be surprised with the new look of your favorite Verizon stores the next time you visit them. If you don’t see any difference, you may have to wait for a little while as Verizon has only finished redesigning around 100 Verizon stores. The remaining 180 stores will follow soon. Unfortunately, there’s no Microsoft Surface in the Verizon retail locations, for that you still have to visit an AT&T store.

Via [IntoMobile]

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Posted Apr 3rd 2008 11:07PM by Paul Miller
Filed under: cellphonesScreen grabs chronicles the uses (and misuses) of real-world gadgets in today’s movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dt com.

Poor Matt, this guy has it so hard. If he isn’t having relational trouble with Julie Taylor, he’s disappointing his dad, his coach (Julie’s dad, conveniently enough), his team, or the entire town of Dillon, Texas. Last thing the guy needs is an iphone telling him he’s wrong, so we’re going to pin this Friday Night Lights upside-down incident on Zach Gilford, the man behind the cute-shy quarterback legend that is Matt Saracen. You disappoint us, Zach.

[Thanks, EJ]

Ever wanted to feel like you were floating on air, in more than the metaphorical sense? Well, a revolutionary new lounger lets you get as close as science currently allows to doing just that - and it’s all thanks to magnets (understandably, they are a little bit larger than these babies).

Made by British Company Hoverit, this lounger appears to be defying gravity thanks to the clever use of repelling magnetic forces. The makers say it feels like floating on a cloud - and who wouldn’t like to try that?

The company’s website points out that magnets have been found to help people with all kinds of health problems, so you could even justify the expense (each lounger is custom-made) by saying it will have therapeutic benefits.

But beware: electronics and magnets do not mix well. So you’ll need to find some way to levitate your laptop in midair or perhaps only use the lounger when - gasp! - you’re not surfing the net/using your ipod/texting your friends.

I’ve never owned a sun-lounger because I’m British and would never be able to justify the cost-per-use ratio. I think I could justify the Hoverit however, on a happiness-per-use ratio. And because it can be used inside or out.

Via The Gadget Show.

LifeAt.com is a funny but interesting online social networking concept. Rather than trying to connect you with people in distant places, people you would never expect to run into in real life, this site connects you with people who you might see in the elevator in your apartment building or bump into in the parking garage on your way home - people who are already around you but with whom you may not have any immediate natural occasion to connect. This New York-based business attempts to make your neighborhood (your apartment building, that is) feel . . . neighborly. It’s a “modern twist on the community bulletin board, the self-proclaimed neighborhood gossip, the welcome wagon, and the earmarked local business guide.”