Does hip, techy lingo confuse you? Do you wish you were more techno-savvy without delving into the realm of motherboard circuit confusion? That’s why I’m here. This blog focuses on testing the waters. I’ll share what cool, new gadgetry I’ve come in contact with and bridge that learning gap with ideas on what’s really useful, what’s cool and what’s really not.
MP3 Aloud
The Imo Resonance Speaker is kind of false advertising, it is, for one, not a speaker at all. The Imo is an MP3 player with 2GB of memory. The speaker part of its definition is understandable though, with its one special gimmick.
The Imo can play music aloud whenever it is placed on a solid surface. Pick it up and the sound goes away, but it back on your desk and the music begins again. Pretty novel actually. At a little over $45 it’s kind of pricey for only 2GB, but that doesn’t diminish the fun factor.
Window Directions
I’m terrible with maps, in part because I’m much more used to GPS. But it’s true, most GPS navigators for cars are rather similar today and it’s about time they started to distinguish themselves. If maps had attempted that maybe they’d still be popular.
Springteq has introduced the WeGo HUD GPs for your car. It’s a GPS direction center just like all those GPS attachments that came before, but this time the directions are projected on your windshield. No more squinting at a baby screen that’s blocking part of your view of the road anyway, now they’re right there in front of oyu. I think it’s a good design, if it ever makes it to the marketplace.
TV in the Tub
TV’s are everywhere now, including bathrooms. I’m a personal fan of the TV’s that come built into mirrors. You don’t even know they’re there until you’re ready to watch. But they’re usually small, and size makes a difference.
Whirlpool wants to change all that with its sub-tub concept. The OLED TV (the size to the tub it stands over) folds down into the tub providing later access to a sink and mirror above. I like it. It’s compact and fun. It’s only a concept so who knows how much it would cost if it ever got made. Here’s hoping it gets made at all.
Walking Power
Do you like to dance? Or just walk, that’s fine too. Now you can help your athleticism (sort of) and your affinity for gadgets all at the same time.
Power Wellies are lovely black and orange rain boots that absorb heat through their souls all day and then convert it to energy later in the day to charge your cell phone. That’s pretty energy friendly isn’t it? The problem is it takes a lot more movement to make one hours worth of charge in these boots than you’d think, so maybe their just good for camping battery emergencies.
A Shot Less Painful
I have a phobia of needles. I hate them, I always have, shots are the worst. I’ve even been known to pass out. That’s why I’m excited about the possibilities that technology offers, because I think their should be a better way to keep people healthy that doesn’t involve torturing them.
So that’s where P.L.E.A.S.E comes in (or the painless lased epidermal system). The device is meant to deliver drugs (like a shot) but with a laser instead of a needle. I’m not talking about the Star Wars burns through your skin painful kind of laser, but the painless kind. The idea is a tiny laser blasts tiny holes in your skin to absorb the medicine. It is not supposed to hurt. This possible medical marvel is definitely an update to the plastic tubing and needles we’re used to, it comes with its own touch screen controls.
Gambling with Your Future
The newest trend in online gambling? GPA. That’s right, grade point average. But it’s not gambling, at least that’s the claim, because on this site you can control the outcome.
The idea with Ultrinsic is for students to bet on their grades. Obviously you’ll earn more if you bet you’ll get all A’s and then succeed, but you’ll still pull some cash for B’s, as long as you bet that’s what you’ll get in a given semester. It’s an interesting idea, especially if it motivates students. Oh the wonders of the internet.
All in the Wrist
I don’t wear cufflinks but I know people who do and I’m always jealous, I think they’re awesome, and they’re also so varied and stylish. Now they can be useful too.
There are now USB cufflinks, storing 2 GB of memory each. When closed they look like very classy silver squares on the end of your wrists, pull off the cap and you have fully functional memory storage. Talk about convenience. I’m surprised no one thought of this sooner.
Well Dressed
The iPad is almost old news now, even it’s iSkin type cases and holders are old news, but that doesn’t mean that the storage innovation is over.
Mohan Custon Tailors of New York is offering custom suits with built in interior iPad pockets. That’s right, pockets in your suit jacket the size of an iPad. The suits look pretty snazzy in the pictures, but I wonder if the iPad protrudes at all or causes a less than classy lump to appear along the otherwise trim frame of the wearer.
The Force of Blu Ray
Maybe it is time to get a Blu Ray Player. I don’t own one yet, I have to admit. It’s expensive, the movies are ore expensive, but if I needed a reason I think I have one now.
George Lucas has announced that in 2011 Star Wars, all six films (although I probably only need the original trilogy) will be released on Blu Ray. I didn’t even know they weren’t available yet, but again, I haven’t been paying attention to that particular market. Anyway, if there were a movie I’d want to watch with crazy clarity, Star Wars would be it. Now all I have to do it find the money for a Blu Ray player.
An Entire Comics Section
Everywhere people are saying that the newspaper is dying. The younger generation won’t read it accept online and that’s not even true, usually we like to read blogs and other sites more than the New York times online. Japan at least is trying to change things.
Recently the Anime News Network has been released online. It’s an online newspaper specifically targeted at a younger audience as it is created in manga format rather than that of an every day wordy newspaper. Not a bad idea, I’d read it in English.
