Gadget Access

by Darren Murph, posted May 14th 2008 at 10:16PM
Just in case it wasn’t official enough already, mega-corps have ridden this green bandwagon way too far. Like, the wheels have fallen clean off. Nevertheless, NEC is hoping to guilt you into picking up its VersaPro VE with the dedicated “ECO button,” which seems to act as a macro for activating the Energy Saver mode within Windows. Beyond all that, you’ll find a 2GHz Core 2 Duo T7250 processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, a GMA X3100 graphics set, 15.4-inch WXGA panel, an 80GB hard drive, CD burning combo drive, gigabit Ethernet and a pretty typical arrangement of ports. Those not satisfied with the listed specifications can customize the unit somewhat, but those happy as a peach with the base configuration can secure one for ¥186,000 ($1,770).

[Via ShinyPlastic]

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Filed under: Laptops

OH MY GOSH, MAN, DON’T CUT YOUR WRISTS! LOOK, IT’S NOT WORTH IT! JUST PUT THE KNIFE DOWN, AND WE’LL TALK, OKAY? WE’LL TALK. PLEASE?

Seriously, this article has nothing to do with cutting yourself, but it is about preventing yourself from being cut. Yes, this article is all about the gloves. Kevlar gloves, to be exact.

These particular Kevlar gloves are made from lightweight 7-gauge Kevlar, which is just good enough to shield the hands from scrapes and cuts. Considering that Kevlar is good enough to stop bullets, your hand should be safe from any sharp edges.

These gloves can be “worn by themselves or as liners”. I don’t really have a lifestyle that would be in need of Kevlar gloves, but if I were say, a knifethrower, Kevlar gloves would be completely practical.

If you ask me, I believe these Kevlar gloves should be mandatory for all teachers of Shop class. I mean, those stories about their missing fingers are legendary. Maybe they should make these Kevlar gloves in Juvenile sizes and make all the students wear them.

Perhaps you’re in a similar profession that should require Kevlar gloves, like being a butcher, for example. If so, feel free to go to the SkyMall site and put down $19.98.

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by Donald Melanson, posted May 14th 2008 at 1:58PM 3M has been touting its mini-projectors for some time now (along with many others), but it looks like they’re now finally a bit closer to landing in an actual product, with Samsung reportedly set to begin offering them later this year. What’s not clear, unfortunately, is whether the projectors will actually be built into the cellphones (and if so, which ones), or simply offered as an attachment of some sort, but either way you can apparently expect to pay between $200 and $400 for the chance to spread a bit of visual pollution.

[Via Unwired View]

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Filed under: Cellphones, Displays

Pirates beware – angels are out to get you.

Following New York’s lead and the urging of the MPAA and the RIAA, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has declared that piracy “substantially interferes with the interest of the public in the quality of life and community peace, lawful commerce in the county, property values, and is detrimental to the public health, safety, and welfare of the county’s citizens, its businesses and its visitors.”

The five-member Board of Supervisors of the City of Angels likened piracy to other troublesome activities and as such, preserves the right to secure a property for up to a year for violating ordinance 13.90.010. The ordinance also empowers local authorities to bring a civil action to “temporarily restrain, preliminarily enjoin, and/or permanently enjoin the person or persons intentionally conducting, or knowingly maintaining or permitting the public nuisance from further conducting, maintaining, or permitting such a public nuisance.”

The authority to declare a property that has been allowed to become a center of drugs, gangs, prostitution, and gambling as a ‘public nuisance’ has long been in the purview of local governments in the United States and California. 

The LA County Board is adding a new category to the list: music and video piracy.  Aside from having their properties closed, owners who deliberately sanction such activities can also be fined $1,000 for each counterfeited work produced on the property. 

Via [Wired]

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The latest notebook coming from NEC is touting a new green feature, the VersaPro notebook lineup has just had the Type VE series added. The notebook will feature a 15.1-inch display with a 1280 x 800 resolution, 80GB hard drive, 1GB of RAM and is powered by a 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7250 processor. As for its green features, those are limited to a special “Eco Button” that will, when pushed lower the CPU speed and screen brightness, which will in turn decrease the overall energy consumption by 20 percent. While the Type VE series is not as green as many may have hoped, its still a nice option for users to get a little extra battery life.

Via [Akihabara News]

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by Donald Melanson, posted May 14th 2008 at 1:01PM It’s far from the first to turn a standard issue Mac laptop into entirely different, but Munk Bogballe has gone a bit further than most with its new Workstation laptop, which turns an otherwise modest MacBook into a full-fledged slab of excess. That includes an anodized aluminum surface, European aniline leather on the underside, and even a specially designed leather bag (which costs a hefty $640 on its own if you want a second one). As for the hardware itself, you get a standard 2.4GHz MacBook under that shiny exterior, right down to the MagSafe adapter, although it is at least topped off with 4GB of RAM and it apparently comes with Windows XP pre-installed for your convenience. If that sounds like the laptop you wish Apple had made, you can get your order in now for £3,500 (or just over $6,700), which also generously includes a donation of one OLPC XO laptop to make you feel a bit better about your ridiculous purchase.

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Filed under: Laptops

This is great for those sleepers who hit the alarm clock over and over again. You know what I am talking, the people that are running around throwing their clothes on trying to get to work on time because they have over slept. They didn’t have time to really brush their hair or their clothes looked like they have been through the wringer a few times too many. You have seen one, you have been one, or you still are one. These are the people that need to have this creative invention.

Chasing your alarm clock around will definitely get your blood flowing early in the morning. No more worry about over-sleeping and not making it your meeting on time. This little guy will not turn off until you find it. You can not just lay there and hope that it will turn off on its own like some other alarm clocks.

In our previous article on this little gadget, we talked about where this thing originated. This other article on this invention shows an older look of the Clocky, but it now has a nice pretty and stylish chrome finish to it.

Gimme!

More info from the manufacturer

Price: $59.95
(Please note prices are subject to change and the listed price is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of posting)

Posted in Gizmo of the Day, Miscellaneous, Tools, DIY, Home, Office

by Joshua Fruhlinger, posted May 14th 2008 at 8:57AM
In the latest of a series of when-can-I-get-the-Triac false starts, the three-wheeled electric car of obscene cuteness has a real launch date. No, really. According to AutoblogGreen, Green Vehicles is accepting pre-orders for July delivery of the Triac, which means you could actually be silently cruising the beaches in this thing come summer. For those concerned about safety and all that “not dying” stuff, Green Vehicles has assured the press that a safety cage designed by race car fabrication experts has been integrated into the car’s design. Also, they promise that the lithium-ion batteries are good for at least 2000 cycles, which should last you about 5 years. We’re being told that the Green Vehicles site will be updated today with reservation info, so keep an eye out.

[Via AutoblogGreen]

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Filed under: Transportation

Lingerie can be used for a variety of tasks. It can improve a woman’s confidence in her body. It can spice things up in the bedroom. But one thing which lingerie isn’t particularly known for is promoting environmental awareness. At least, not yet.

The eco-friendly Solar Power Bra integrates a whole lot of green into one complete sexy package. Aptly colored with a green shade, the Solar Power Bra features a waist-mounted solar panel which powers a small, chest-mounted electronic billboard, or pretty much any other gadget you feel like modding onto the bra.

Not to be outdone in other eco-friendly categories, the bra even offers a pair of reusable drinking cups (no pun intended), which not only offers a way for the wearer to reduce the amount of aluminum cans and plastic bottles they use, but also adds to the woman’s (or man’s, if you’re into that sort of thing) bust size. These reusable containers can be hidden away in a special pocket on the bra’s cups.

The overall goal of the Solar Power Bra is to ignite a flame under environmental thought. If women were to actually wear such a contraption, you might have a few more scientists showing a new found interest in eco-friendly technology. Or at least some very happy eco-activists.

I mean, wouldn’t you take a sudden interest if your lady-friend were to strut into your room wearing something like this? I know I would. Now, if only I can convince my girlfriend to wear one of these. For strictly scientific reasons, of course.

Press Release (translated from Japanese) via Pink Tentacle

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Perhaps there will come a day when all of our electronic devices, mobile and stationary, will be linked by Bluetooth. Until that day, companies such as Spracht are ready with products like the Aura Mobile BT.

The Aura Mobile BT is a small handheld device that allows a Bluetooth sync with your mobile phone. It was built to take conference calls, and it works right out of the box with no software to install. All a user needs to do is press the sync button, and then prepare his or her mobile phone or other Bluetooth compatible device for pairing.

In addition to Bluetooth Mobile phones, the Aura Mobile BT also works with cordless phones, as well as PC and Macs for VoIP calls. There are some wires required for that particular function, but the setup is just as simple.

One of the best features of the Aura Mobile BT is its portability. Users can charge the device with AC power or car adapter, and then take it with them on the go. The device isn’t quite pocket-sized, but it does not take up too much space for travel.

The Aura Mobile BT is available at the Spracht website for approximately $129.95.

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