New Home Gadgets

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 1st 2008 at 4:43AM
Around 1.5 years ago, we got wind of researchers in the UK working up a battery-free pacemaker. Fast forward to now, and we’ve got yet another breakthrough in the field. Purportedly, a crew of Osaka University scientists have created the “world’s first optical pacemaker,” and in an article published in Optics Express, the team details how “powerful, but very short, laser pulses can help control the beating of heart muscle cells.” In theory, this discovery provides the means for dictating said cells within a controlled setting, which could help researchers “better understand the mechanism of heart muscle contraction.” As amazing as we’re sure this is to the science world, throwing “lasers” and “heart” into the same sentence just doesn’t elicit warm / fuzzy feelings.

[Via Primidi]

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Filed under: Misc.

(Read the full post about ‘Osaka University scientists create world’s first optical pacemaker’…)

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Apparently there are still places in the world where the brains of a product matter for less than the looks.  I prefer my gadgets to look nice just as much as any girl and this product is indeed cute.  However, it is a whopping 4GB, which has its uses of course.  You could always have it tossed in your purse for those very random emergency situations.  Beyond that, 4GB just seems like far too little to keep me happy.  I don’t know, maybe you only save one document at a time then erase it, if that’s the case then you might be interested in this little USB drive.

Nothing is really wrong with the drive, it has cute little flowers and a cute even smaller storage space, yet I’m not sure it’s worth paying more than $20 for.  Seriously, it’s a tiny USB drive that they slapped a pretty sticker on.  Engraved flowers, maybe, but a sticker, sorry it’s just not worth the $60 they have it priced at.  Not all women want just pretty gadgets, some of us prefer them to be cost effective and useful.  Weird I know.

Source: Gizmodiva

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by Paul Miller, posted Jun 1st 2008 at 12:09PM
Now that our wheelchair-ridin’ pals can rock the virtual drums, the natural next step is fire breathing electric conveyances. Built by Lance Greathouse out of golf cart parts, a Marine rescue helicopter seat and, of course, a flame thrower, the “wheelchair” can zip along at 22 miles per hour, burninating whatever might cross its path. (Read the full post about ‘The firebreathing wheelchair is the best worst idea on four wheels this year’…)

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by Ryan Block, posted Jun 1st 2008 at 1:16PM Those that know Rahul Sood, founder of VooDoo PC and CTO of HP’s global gaming business, might not be so surprised to hear he used a working macbook air to cut his thick, rich, chocolatey birthday cake. While wearing an HP shirt. And then posted it to his site. (Read the full post about ‘HP exec cuts birthday cake with MacBook Air’…)

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Miss anything good on Gadgetell this past week?  Here’s your chance to catch up!

• Next-gen iphone pricing still set, says AT&T;CFO
  “ AT&T CFO Rick Lindner has let slip a semi-confirmation regarding the arrival of the much anticipated next-generation iPhone.  Widely believed to be announced during Steve Job’s keynote address at the Apple Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) on June 9th, the next…” MORE »
• Firefox 3 RC 1 has ten critical Flaws
  “ Firefox 3 Release Candidate 1 users, listen up.

(Read the full post about ‘So Hot Right Now: Top Gadgetell posts for the week of 5-25-2008′…)

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by Darren Murph, posted Jun 1st 2008 at 8:57AM
Realities:United has created a device that will likely bring back fond memories of Coldplay’s X&Y tour a few years ago, particularly if you were there for the first 60 or so seconds when a gigantic timepiece such as the one seen above counted down the show’s start. Without getting too reminiscent up in here, the artistsspace commissioned project not only keeps track of time impeccably well, but it also replaces those mundane fixtures that have become an unfortunate mainstay in corporate offices. Now, if only the workday would whiz by as quickly as the one shown in the demonstrative video located in the read link, you’d be all set. (Read the full post about ‘Colossal overhead clock tells time, replaces boring light fixtures’…)

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Products with interesting and unusual designJun 01, 2008 If the producers want their product to be sold, it needs to be useful, handy and qualitative, and have interesting design. There are a lot of different goods on the market nowadays.

So, the majority of people prefer to buy things that have both beauty and utility. That’s why here is top 10 of products whose design and features really impress. Not all of them are already available, but some of them you will be able to get very soon.

Number 10. Way Out Fridge Magnet is a funny product that looks like an exit sign, but, actually, shows the way to the fridge. (Read the full post about ‘Products with interesting and unusual design’…)

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by Darren Murph, posted Jun 1st 2008 at 2:27AM
Converting residual industrial heat into something usable (read: electricity) has proven to be more than a novel concept on more than one occasion, and ElectraTherm’s giving the process one more vote of confidence by installing its Green Machine at Southern Methodist University. (Read the full post about ‘ElectraTherm’s Green Machine converts waste heat into electricity’…)

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The Sidekick LX OTA is going to open up quite a few new features for Bluetooth on the Sidekick LX. All of these features are of course software based so everything that the LX is getting, the Sidekick Gekko will also have. Here’s a list of the bluetooth features: * Phone calls - Use either a Bluetooth hands-free headset or car kit. Read more in Bluetooth Hands-Free Headset (Mono/Stereo) or Hands-Free Car Kit. * vCard exchange - Send your vCard or any of your contacts’ vCards using Bluetooth. Read more in Set and Send My vCard and Send and Receive vCards. * Listen to music and videos - Listen to your music or videos using a Bluetooth stereo headset or speakers. Read more in Listening Choices. (Read the full post about ‘Bluetooth upgrades for the Sidekick LX and Sidekick Gekko’…)

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During CES 2008, iriver announced many new and exciting PMP’s; one specifically was called the iriver Spinn. At that time, there was not that much known about it, but they have recently released some more details on it. The Spinn will come in three different models, the 4GB, 8GB, and 16B. Additionally, it will come with a 3.2-inch AMOLED screen with a 480 x 272 pixel resolution, DAB radio in the UK, Bluetooth integration, support for Adobe Flash video, and a 3D acceleration chip. It supports a bunch of formats including MP3, OGG, WMA, MP4, and WMV. The battery life is pretty good too, you can listen to audio for 25 hours, 5 hours for video, and 4 hours for digital radio. (Read the full post about ‘iriver releases more info on their new PMP, the Spinn’…)

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