Tech, Phone & Gadget

Pantech Impact

2009-11-21T06:32:00.002+07:00

AT&T will be offering the Pantech Impact from this Sunday onwards, where you get a “high-gloss faceplate” with haptic-enabled keys alongside a full QWERTY keyboard. You get an internal and external display alongside 3G support, GPS navigation, a built-in music player, AT&T's HTML mobile browser, a camera with video recording capability alongside easy access to IM and email. Available in bright blue and soft pink colors, the Pantech Impact will retail for $99.99 with a 2-year contract after a $50 mail-in rebate. [Press Release]

CarterCopter, Personal Flying Vehicle

2009-11-21T06:23:00.003+07:00

Sometime in the near future, will we all own one of these as personal transportable devices? If you’re attracted to the scene in that pretty picture, maybe we will be having such a future, eh? Carter Aviation technologies, which has been trying for 15 years to win acceptance for its radical gyrocopter/aeroplane technology seems to have finally gotten a good deal, as it has partner with successful military robot make AAI. There isn’t any mention on the estimated cost of building/buying such a device, but you have to admit it’ll certainly be something to show off with.

Lightsleeper Will Help Your Insomnia

2009-11-17T06:28:00.002+07:00

Counting sleep in order to fall asleep might not be for everyone, so if you need modern tech to help you sleep, the LightSleeper will probably fit the bill. It works by projecting a light onto the ceiling in a controlled, circular motion, and following it with your eyes should encourage the mind to relax, helping you get the shuteye that you want. It’ll switch off automatically after 30 minutes, but you’re free to reactivate it by tapping it gently. It’ll set you back £125, but that’s well worth the price of a good night’s sleep, right?

Wink 16GB: Smallest Flash Drive

2009-11-17T06:22:00.001+07:00

Wink claims that their 16GB flash drive is the smallest on the planet, and check out just how small it is in the comparison image which shows it sitting nicely beside a standard dice. Perhaps, just perhaps, this could be a gamble that pays off, but carrying something that small always lends a risk of one losing all the precious data stored within.

Citroen C-ZERO: Minimum Emissions

2009-11-17T06:06:00.002+07:00

Citroen wants to go green with their C-ZERO car, where it delivers "triple zero" with zero fuel consumption, zero CO2 emission and zero engine noise. Running on a permanent magnet synchronous motor that pumps out 47kW or 64bhp EEC from 3,000 to 6,000rpm, Citroen claims that this ride is able to hit a top speed of 130kph (80mph), while boasting an acceleration rate from 0-100kph (0-62mph) in 15 seconds and 60-90kph (37-56mph) in six seconds. Each full charge is expected to last for approximately 130km (80 miles). Expect to see the Citroen C-ZERO launch in Q4 2010, with no word on pricing just yet.

Foldy Laundry Robot

2009-09-09T20:18:00.002+07:00

Are you a lonely bachelor who for the life of you, can't fold your clothes properly? The Foldy robot ought to help you out though, as it will work out commands entered into a computer program while relying on a properly positioned ceiling-mounted camera that helps it locate and fold your laundry the right way each time. Once several folding instructions have been entered, you're free to do other stuff while Foldy gets the job done in a satisfactory manner. Kudos to Professor Masahiko Inami and his team at Keio University for dreaming up of Foldy.

Sèvres Vase Clock

2009-08-25T20:47:00.002+07:00

Check out the Sèvres Vase Clock by Georgios Maridakis at the Royal College of Art, where it will tap the vase (gently, we presume) at each hour. Depending on your preference, you can always adjust the tone to a level of your choice simply by varying the level of water within. Definitely not something you would want to have when there are kids running around.

Phasma Remote-Controlled Robot

2009-08-25T20:44:00.000+07:00

Takram Design Engineering built the six-legged Phasma remote-controlled robot that is able to scurry about rapidly and dynamically just like an insect. This engineering marvel aims to mimic a living organism in terms of movement instead of shape, where it will reproduce some physics involved whenever an insect runs. Components used in its make up include sliding cables, stainless steel springs and rubber joints, allowing the designers to replicate the smooth and efficient locomotion seen in insects. It would be interesting to see what kind of practical, real world applications such a robot can offer, although chances are the military will find a destructive means to utilize it in the first place.

Bird Identiflyer

2009-08-25T20:35:00.002+07:00

Are you an avid bird watcher? Want to take the easy way out instead of using your aural capability to figure out just which feathered friend is out there, chirping away merrily? The Bird Identiflyer ought to be of great help, as it is able to identify bird songs quickly with but a press of a button. The use of advanced digital technology in this device allows nature lovers to quickly and accurately identify up to 120 birds and 10 frogs simply by their songs and colors. In addition, you can add to your general knowledge by searching by region, color, habitat or alphabetically whenever you're waiting in the shed for your favorite warbler to come along.

Universal Phone Caters to Sighted and Blind

2009-08-16T08:07:00.002+07:00

We've seen phones that catered to the blind in the past (mostly concepts) while the majority of handsets out there are meant for the sighted, so how does this Universal Phone differ? Well, it is more than capable of handling both blind and sighted folks, thanks to thousands of micro pins that are dynamically raised and lowered to form a tactile surface so that the blind can always read incoming text messages in Braille. As for sighted folks, this surface can be used to experience tactile feedback that normally do not come with touchscreen handsets. Would be interesting to see who will be the first manufacturer to release such a handset in the future.

Suzuki Release A Netbook

2009-08-16T07:50:00.002+07:00

Suzuki might be more commonly associated with motorcycles, but their latest release doesn't have anything to do with a 2-stroke engine - the Neutron 701 MNI netbook instead comes with a 7.1" touchscreen display which can be folded down to function as a tablet in that position. Expect the usual suspects underneath the hood with this, including an Intel Atom Z520 1.33GHz processors, up to 4GB RAM, a trio of USB 2.0 ports a 5-in-1 memory card reader, an ExpressCard slot, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity, a 1.3-megapixel webcam and get this - a 56K modem. We wonder what the heck is that part doing in a modern machine, guess it could always be used in developing areas where broadband is still not popular.

OpenChord V1 Plugs Guitar into Wiimote

2009-08-09T15:11:00.002+07:00

Those Guitar Hero and Rock Band games have certainly caught the attention of many people over the years and for good reason, as it allows one to escape into the world of fantasy being adored by millions sans the money. There's a new DIY method of playing Guitar Hero now, where it involves plugging in an actual guitar into the Wiimote itself. It definitely will add a whole new level of challenges with this since you have actual frets to worry about instead of just color-coded buttons, but it definitely ranks up there in terms of coolness, eh?

Lamborghini Gallardo Hybrid 2015

2009-08-09T13:52:00.001+07:00

Lamborghini is jumping on the hybrid wagon by announcing that the Gallardo would be available in Hybrid form in 2015. It will work in the same way that a Prius does: at slow speed, the electric engine will take over (traffic, city...) and the gas engine will be used in more demanding situations. Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann confirmed that his company would not produce an all-electric car at the moment without saying why. Interestingly, Ferrari has already announced a Hybrid model, schedule to appear in 2015 as well.

Cassette iPod Nano Case

2009-08-06T20:50:00.003+07:00

Sick and tired of the numerous iPod nano cases out there that do not seem to offer anything different? How about merging the past and the present with these cassette nano cases? Made from actual cassette tapes, they are able to hold your iPod nano 4G securely within, and with two dozen (!) color options to choose from, you're literally spoilt for choice. We wonder which were the unfortunate cassettes to meet their end in this manner - then again, it is a good way to recycle your older (and unwanted) cassettes.

New Handset from Telus and Fido

2009-08-06T20:45:00.002+07:00

Canadians can benefit from a couple of new phones from Telus and Fido who have just rolled out the Motorola Rival A455 and Nokia 1661, respectively. The former has already been in existence in the US for some time now via Verizon, featuring a full QWERTY keyboard, a 2.2" LCD display at 176 x 220 resolution, Bluetooth connectivity, a 2-megapixel camera, 130MB of internal memory and a microSD memory card slot. It will retail for $99.99 with a 3-year contract, alongside a “chance to win a day with Universal Recording artist Shiloh” with a trio of free Shiloh songs for a limited time only. As for the Nokia 1661 from Fido, this entry-level candybar handset comes with a 1.8" TFT display with 128 x 160 pixels, an integrated FM radio and a flashlight. You can get it for free on a 2-year contract or $55 on prepay.

iPhone DJ Mixer

2009-08-06T20:29:00.001+07:00

Egad! From vinyls to MP3s, could the future of raves at clubs go beyond the iPod? The iPhone DJ Mixer could potentially usher in a new era of how DJs spin their music, where it will combine music from a couple of iPhones, iPods or MP3 players, or one of each if you prefer. It comes with a spin option, a couple of effects programs with reverb, flange and filter and cross-fade slider and recording option, alongside a speaker system connection and microphone jack. While you're busy mixing up your tracks, the iPhone DJ Mixer will also double up as a charger when in action. Sounds like $120 well spent if you decide to bring this bad boy home.

iRiver Running on Android OS

2009-08-02T19:22:00.004+07:00

Word on the street has it that iRiver is currently developing a new portable media player that will be powered by Google's Android operating system, and this device is touted to tackle the high and mighty iPod touch. Apparently, this unconfirmed unit is known as the K2 where it will feature Wi-Fi connectivity, a 3.5" touchscreen display, Bluetooth support, an integrated accelerometer and a built-in digital TV tuner. There is no confirmation from iRiver's side just yet, but hopefully it will see the light of day in the near future. As iron sharpens iron, surely a new and improved portable media player might help make the next iPod touch out of this world for consumers as Apple attempts to create a whole new envelope instead of pushing the old one beyond its seams.

Acer Aspire G Predator

2009-08-02T19:12:00.003+07:00

Acer recently announced their latest M-Series desktop PC known as the Aspire G. In other circles, it is also known as the Predator, and judging by its innards, it will surely live up to its billing as you take a look at the specifications below.

Intel Core i7-950 3.06GHz processor
6GB DDR3 RAM (up to 12GB)
Intel X58 Express chipset
1TB SATA hard drive @ 7200rpm
Two Nvidia GeForce GTS 250 (1GB VRAM)
Blu-ray disc drive
11 USB 2.0 ports
Two eSATA ports
Multi-memory card reader
Four DVI-D ports
Two Gigabit Ethernet ports

Powered by a copy of 64-bit Windows Vista Home Premium operating system, this €1950 won't leave you with any excuses the next time you lose a deathmatch by virtue of being bundled with the Logitech G15 keyboard and the G9 Laser mouse as well.

Window W26 Sorcerer's Stone Portable Media Player

2009-08-02T18:55:00.003+07:00

Strange to see this portable media player being named as the Window W26 Sorcerer’s Stone. There isn't any listing of its specifications available online, but it sure as heck looks more conceptual than being a real device. Hopefully the real thing will come with a decent set of features, although we're pretty sure there's one thing this won't do - that is, to give you eternal life.

Time Your Light

2009-08-02T18:48:00.001+07:00

Should the apocalypse ever come where you won't have any more power routed to your home, perhaps the Time Your Light concept would be very much welcome. After all, it relies on pent-up wind-up energy just like how a windup doll does. All you need to do to get some light is give it a twist, and hopefully the irritating ticking noise problem would have been solved by then. It begs the question of whether this is a timer with a light attached, or is it a mechanical light that functions just like a timer? Love the color scheme it comes in though.

iiView A2 Looks Like MacBook Air

2009-08-02T18:42:00.002+07:00

If you happen to be in Singapore some time next week, then you might be interested in checking out the iiView A2 that will be powered by Windows 7 Release Candidate alongside a price tag of $468. No idea on whether we'll ever see this machine Stateside, but it bears a striking resemblance to the MacBook Air, where features include:

Intel Atom 1.6GHz processor
2GB RAM
Intel 945 chipset
12.1" 1,280 x 800 resolution display
320GB hard drive
Two USB ports, mini-HDMI port, 2-in-1 headphone/mic jack
802.11b/g, 10/100 Ethernet

HP to Update Its Netbooks

2009-07-30T20:28:00.003+07:00

While Asus and Acer are holding back on releasing new models of netbooks, HP is going the opposite direction by working on an updated 10.1" model that will enter production at the end of September, which will probably result in an October release coupled with Windows 7 alongside the possibility of a next-gen Intel Atom Pineview processor. In addition, HP has asked Quanta to construct a new 11.6" netbook, although it remains to be seen whether it will be another Intel Atom-powered netbook or run on a beefier Intel CULV or AMD Neo processor. What do you think of HP's business acumen - is this the right move considering the current economic climate around the world?

HTC Touch Pro 2 from T-Mobile USA

2009-07-30T20:20:00.001+07:00

T-Mobile USA just announced yesterday that they will be making the HTC Touch Pro 2 availalbe from August 12th onwards. This handset is more than ready to take over where the HTC Touch Pro left off, and the US release comes quite late long after the handset was made available to folks living across the Atlantic as well as in Asia. Powered by Windows Mobile 6.1, the HTC Touch Pro 2 will come with a 3.6" WVGA tilting touchscreen display, Wi-Fi connectivity, a 3.2-megapixel camera to capture those impromptu shots, a full QWERTY keyboard as well as 3G support and GPS navigation to help you get around. Too bad when it comes to color choices, the Touch Pro 2 in the US will only come in mocha. There is no word on pricing as at press time.

Motorola T215 Bluetooth Car Speakerphone

2009-07-19T07:46:00.003+07:00

Talk till you drop with the Motorola T215 Bluetooth car speakerphone, where it boasts three days of talktime and was specially designed to work with other hands-free car kits. Features include a 2W speaker with noise cancellation functionality. While the Motorola T215 might feature the latest technology, sadly the design seems stuck in the past. It does make us wonder whether this will ever become a classic or not, but chances are with the Motorola label on it, the answer would sadly be in the negative.

SimpleTOUGH Portable USB Drive

2009-07-18T11:22:00.002+07:00

Hitachi has jumped aboard the rugged bandwagon by rolling out its SimpleTOUGH portable USB drive which can shrug off 3 meter drops, alongside the ability to handle the pressure of a 1-ton truck. The unit also comes with an integrated, flexible, foldaway USB cable, making it a snap to power and tuck away in a jiffy. Useful for both local and online backup, the SimpleTOUGH Comes with Hitachi’s Local Backup software alongside the Hitachi Ultimate Backup service that offers free, secure online backup of up to 2GB. You can pick up the SimpleTOUGH in 250GB, 320GB and 500GB capacities, where they will retail for $99.99, $109.99 and $139.99, respectively.