Archive for November, 2008
Sunday, November 30th, 2008
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I have always had some problems when it comes to buying Christmas presents for my beloved ones, even if I dare to say that I know them all very well. It’s a hard task to accomplish, as it requires a particular kind of inspiration, which has to refresh every year. It doesn’t matter, after all, the present itself, as people always say that the intention is what counts, but it’s something that I like to do, and I’d rather do it well.
A couple of days ago I ran into a weird type of portraits, made by DNA 11, the creators of DNA Art, launched on the market under the name of DNA Mini Portraits. This new line of portraits is based on something that wouldn’t cross your mind in a million years and I could bet all my money on this, that’s for sure!
If there were occasions when, taking pictures of your friends, you were promising them a genuine piece of art, able to reveal their soul, well, the DNA Mini Portraits are the perfect way to put their inner world in a frame. This is the affordable version of the previous DNA Art line, which consists of a mixture between art, ground-breaking technology, beauty, and, according to its creators, pop culture.
Now let me explain what these DNA Minis are. Being, as I said before, the miniature of DNA Art, a large version of custom portraits, the Minis are DNA-based portraits. Yes, you read it right, DNA-based. After placing the order, the customer will receive a collection kit which has swabs and instructions. The swabs are for you to extract a DNA sample from your cheek. You have nothing to do but to follow the instructions and to express your preference as far as the 25 color combinations are concerned. In addition, you are given the chance to put your name or a personal message to the bottom of the image. If you’re afraid of having in your house something that isn’t unique and that you could easily find in a couple of other places, worry no more, there’s a certificate of authenticity that comes with the portrait.
Adrian Salamunovic, the co-founder of DNA11, said that “we are now able to offer an ideal price point for our DNA portraits, allowing more people around the world to enjoy the true personalization and beauty of DNA Artâ€. Therefore, having their customers’ request in mind, who were asking for an affordable version of the DNA Art, they’ve made it possible with this new line.
The result is a portrait in a modern glass frame that measures 8×10 inches (20×25 centimeters) that will cost you $169. Still expensive, if you ask me, even if my DNA is priceless. I’d rather keep it on my cheek!
(Source: Dvice)
Posted in Funny Gadgets | No Comments »
Saturday, November 29th, 2008
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Even if everyone in my country says that we’re passing through a transitional period for some time now, this doesn’t seem to reflect on the streets, where some of the most expensive and luxurious cars of the world can often be seen, being quite common nowadays. I remember the times when having a BMW was one of the most exciting news you could ever give to your friends and family, and why not, to your envious neighbors. However, today nothing seems to impress anymore, because BMWs are almost everywhere.
And if you don’t get to see the cars, because in many cases the whole point of buying such a vehicle is just another way to impress people, as they can’t really afford having them on streets, but parked deep in their garages, you will surely see the keys.
But what about a multifunctional key, that not only sets your car going, but also pays for the dinner you’ve just had with a bunch of friends. BMW Group Research and Technology came up with a prototype for a multifunctional care key that is designed to enable payments.
Hans-Jörg Vögel, project manager at BMW Group Forschung und Technik, said that “as part of our research project we first integrated a security chip into the key casing, which communicates across short distances by radio with a card readerâ€. Therefore, this is a very quick and convenient way, not to mention secure, for you to make electronic payments for whatever you might consume.
Another audacious purpose of the BMW team is to make the key work in other areas, such as the transport systems. This means that the integrated chip will also store electronic tickets for bus, train and air travel.
If you think about it, this credit card function does more than just paying your restaurant bill. To be more precise, the key is this way personalized and linked to a certain person. This means that the person who holds the key can benefit the secure in-car access to all sorts of personal information. That is possible because the key is actually the authorization the driver needs for online access to his personalized Connected Drive services inside a BMW.
This is a very clever key, alright, that does everything in order to make you happy, remembering the individual settings and automatically adjusting, for example, the seat and mirror positions. I could bet all my money on the fact that you’d like to have something like this in your pocket. Oh yeah, you’d need also a BMW in your garage!
(Source: Dvice)
Posted in News, Techno gadgets | No Comments »
Friday, November 28th, 2008
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I love taking pictures and since the day I’ve bought my own camera, I enjoy every minute I get to spend in nature, capturing moments of life that most of us would love to remember over the years, but they can’t, due to the fact that the memory plays tricks on people all the time. So, no matter how hard they try to bring back images from the past, they’re sentenced to oblivion.
That’s the reason why one of the things I hate most in this world is when I run out of batteries. Another aspect that really gets on my nerves is that my camera works with four batteries, which means more money on power sources, because I wasn’t smart enough to buy two pairs of rechargeable batteries. Even so, when they are depleted, there’s nothing you can do about it.
Or maybe things aren’t as bad as they look at a first glance. Keeping in mind the fact that people are obsessed with having their batteries charged and ready to go, Eclipse Solar Gear came up with “innovative solar charging cases for all your mobile personal electronicsâ€. Being part of a patented line, the mobile cases this company designed and developed include backpacks, messenger bags, camera bags, bicycle bags, which are all meant to charge your devices whenever you need them charges. These devices include “cell phones, PDAs, iPods, GPS units and rechargeable AA batteriesâ€.
The Fusion Messenger Bags are the new products that you are offered and that are meant to solve one of your biggest problems. Made of durable 1680D, 800D nylons and recycled materials, these bags also feature natural heavy canvas with leather trim.
And if this weren’t enough, just wait a little bit, until you find out how the bags are divided. There is a main compartment, which is larger than the others, and then, there are different compartments for a laptop, files and pockets for organizer, accessories. We should not forget, of course, the solar charging module, which is flexible and needs no more than a 12V auto adapter.
Available in gray, black and natural canvas with leather trim, the Fusion Messenger Bag – a solar powered bag – can be purchased online from EclipseSolarGear.
(Source: coolest-gadgets.com)
Posted in Electronic Gadgets | No Comments »
Friday, November 28th, 2008
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I know lots of people who are crazy about the karaoke nights that take place every once in a while in some clubs, here in my hometown. Maybe they are all passionate about singing and they think this is a great way for them to make an old dream come true, or maybe they enjoy a little bit too much the feeling of being up on a stage, with the lights on them, receiving the applause of an enthusiastic audience.
Whatever might be their reasons, these karaoke nights are indeed a tremendous success, there’s no doubt about it. Segatoys, a Japanese company, knows how to make people happy with the products they release, especially those who can easily be called karaoke-obsessed. Therefore, last year, Sega introduced a karaoke service designed for cell phones, which was known under the name of Hitokara (which means “karaoke for oneâ€). This is a free cell phone service that was based, at the beginning, on almost 35,000 free downloadable songs, but that number has increased to 43,000, which is impressive, you have to agree.
But Sega has no intention of behaving itself, so it’s now trying to convert, or maybe just to complete somehow the service’s cell phone karaoke label, with a brand new accessory, called the Hitokara for Home.
The device is no more, no less than a karaoke box that comes equipped with a microphone, built-in speakers and a disco mirror ball which is provided with blinking LED lights. The ball spins and shines brightly while you sing along with it your greatest hits. The disadvantage is that the system only connects to special karaoke-enabled mobiles in Japan, so there’s a pretty good chance for you to never see such a thing. Once you’ve downloaded songs from the Hitokara online collection, lyrics will appear on your phone’s display, so that you can get the words right.
The Hitokara Home Karaoke system is expected to retail for approximately $75 in Japan, starting this December.
(Source: Dvice)
Posted in Funny Gadgets, Music Gadgets | No Comments »
Thursday, November 27th, 2008
Pink gadgets are driving me crazy. I don’t know about you, but as far as I’m concerned, they’re something like the most ironic manifest aimed at women and establish the weirdest connection between pink and the fair sex.
And when I read an article about a wacky gadget, the “pinkiest†I’ve ever seen in my whole life, called the “Keyboard for Blondesâ€, it really made me scream at the top of my lungs. If you ask me, this is nothing but a joke made manifest in pink plastic. The name isn’t cynical slur on the fairer haired members of the community, at least this is what the guys who came up with this idea say.
I wouldn’t buy such a thing, not in a million years! The all-pink computer keyboard swaps out standard keys with funnier, dumber key names. Several of the keycaps have jokes silkscreened on top – the Enter key, for example, is “Yes! I want it!â€, the Backspace is “Oops!â€, while the Tab is an “Useless keyâ€. Not to mention the Caps Lock which says “WARNING! Size XXL lettersâ€.
Though this fully functional keyboard might seem a great gift in order to make fun of your blonde friends, regular computer users may find it a bit challenging. Not to mention the fact that the Keyboard for Blondes might help poor typists improve their skills, since the keys are a distracting pink and no longer have the standard labels.
But wait to hear this: the keyboard comes with proprietary software that adds functionality, fun and trendy new features to traditional keys. It talks, it takes text messaging to a totally new level and it allows you to access cool, constantly changing sites with a push of a button. The interactivity is made possible by downloadable proprietary software that was specifically created for this product.
Here’s a quote from the site: “something about it will remind you of the Reese Witherspoon’s characterâ€. This is one relevant argument, isn’t it?
According to the manufacturer, European Trends, the keyboard has already been released in the UK to some success, and at $49.95, probably only a true blonde would purchase this pink computer keyboard which is compatible with Mac, Windows and Linux.
(Source: gadgets.boingboing.net)
Posted in Computer Gadgets, Office Gadgets | 1 Comment »
