Archive for the ‘Green Gadgets’ Category
Saturday, December 13th, 2008 |
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I can’t say that sweeping out, dusting the rooms and furbishing the furniture is something that I enjoy doing, but I’m obsessed with having my house clean, so all of these activities have become something like must do’s. Maybe I exaggerate sometimes and I make my brother go crazy with my pretensions, but I can’t really help myself. Not to mention the fact that I strongly believe that the way your home looks like says a lot about the type of person you are.
The only problem with this desire of mine is that vacuum cleaners, for example, are included in the list of numerous factors that increase significantly the carbon footprint of any household. For those who are not familiarized with the term, the carbon footprint is a measure that takes into consideration the impact that all human activities have on the environment. Yes, you all know that vacuum cleaners are meant to clean your homes, but one thing that no one seems to think about is that they use so much power, that they’re nothing but a jeopardy factor for the environment. Keeping this in mind, Electrolux decided to develop another ingenious device, a green vacuum cleaner, which was called Airmax Öko.
The energy-efficient vacuum that has been recently launched is said to be the world’s first green vacuum cleaner. AirMAX Öko consumes only 1.250 kilowatts of power, which is approximately 33% less than other similar devices that are available on the market. Another aspect that distinguishes the Electrolux vacuum from other machines is that it’s made of 55% recycled materials, while 90% can be recycled again. Not to mention the fact that the packing material is also environment-friendly, being made of 56% recycled paper.
The main disadvantage is that reducing power could mean that the suction isn’t the same as any other vacuums might feature. Still, the company claims that the performance of the AirMAX Öko wasn’t affected by their attempt to reduce power.
If you want to make your wife a nice green present for Christmas (I’m sorry you can see how my eyebrow suddenly raised), then you can consider this green vacuum cleaner, which is sold for $270.
(Source: Dvice)
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Friday, December 12th, 2008 |
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I’m not sure how many people are interested in purchasing groundbreaking portable media players, now when people have at their disposal a wide range of devices that allow them to store and play digital media, but there are more and more people who give attention to the environment, therefore to eco-friendly devices.
Shiro Corporation is a subsidiary fully owned by the Aztech Systems Ltd, a Singapore-based company, and came up with an innovative device that is meant to make you become conscious about the environment, or at least more than you already are. The Shiro SQ-S PMP helps you experience a better audio experience that is so lightweight that is what you could call a pocket-friendly device. The MP4 digital audio player allows you to download music, as much as you want, or to use it as a voice recorder.
As far as the main features are concerned, they include a 1.8-inch CSTN 65K colors, compatibility with a variety of format files, including MP3, audio WMA, WAV, M4A, APE and OGG for music, SMV for videos and BMP, JPG, GIF for pictures. There are also an integrated microphone that enables digital voice recording, FM radio equipped with FM recording and RDS, a feature that displays lyrics while you’re listening to your favorite music, USB 2.0. The bad thing is that you’ll have to content yourself with the internal memory of the device, as there is no expansion card slot. When it comes to the power supply, the SQ-S PMP works with a Lithium polymer battery for music listening, USB bus powered between 4.0 to 5.0V (this is for accessing data and charging) and solar cell for charging.
Therefore, the characteristic that distinguishes the Shiro PMP from other similar music players is the large solar cell that is placed on the entire back of the device which gives you the possibility to charge the internal battery with the help of the sun, for those moments when you can’t do it via USB. The charging duration is up to 4 hours (via USB bus) and up to 6 hours (via solar cell when the sun is full).
Making its way in the realm of the solar-powered devices, the SQ-S PMP weighs 40 grams with the battery included and measures 11 x 42 x 86 millimeters (with the solar cell) and 9.8 x 42 x 86 millimeters (without it).
There is no information on the price and the availability date for this brand new device, but I’m sure it will completely change the PMP market.
(Source: coolest-gadgets.com)
Posted in Green Gadgets, Music Gadgets | No Comments »
Wednesday, December 10th, 2008 |
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Everything has to be green nowadays. I’m kind of getting tired of repeating this sentence over and over again, but I can’t help it. This is the truth, the whole truth, so help me God. And what a coincidence! Even my ball pen is green, just that it’s not in the manner “everything†else is.
Alarm clocks consume power, there’s no doubt about it. Now, how about a green clock radio that is able to wake you up in the morning using no batteries or electricity whatsoever? The ingenious Minute Glass is the device that brightens your day from early hours and makes you think a little about the environment. The clock radio, designed and developed by United States-based designer Colin Roberts, brings a novelty in the realm of such devices, as it is powered by the magnetic induction that results from shaking it for a little bit.
The best thing is that this green clock radio wakes you up with the music you most enjoy, coming from your favorite radio station, and it won’t turn off until you open your eyes, get up and shake it, providing it with enough energy for the next day. Impressive, right? More than that, the alarm clock doesn’t come with a snooze button, so there is no other choice for you but to rise and shake the thing.
Designer Colin Roberts also tried to make this green clock radio a multifunctional one, so the Minute Glass can be used as a bedside LED flashlight. The Minute Glass is based on the inverted version of the classic hourglass, having glass on the outside and a solid structure on the inside. Due to the cylindrical shape and the fact that there is no cord in order to plug it in, you can either set it flat or make it stand on the end you prefer.
What else could you ask for? This could easily be the best clock radio, as it does its job efficiently. There is no way for someone to wake up, shake the Minute Glass and make it shut up, and then going back to sleep. It seems rather impossible, if you ask me. Not to mention hilarious.
(Source: Dvice)
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Monday, December 8th, 2008 |
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Everybody’s making plans for the Christmas holidays. There’s nothing else to be more discussed these days than where and how each and every one of us decided to spend this special time of year. It’s understandable, if you get to think about it, because the Christmas spirit is too powerful for people to put up resistance to.
That’s why companies of all sorts try to somehow take advantage of customers, tempting them with irresistible offers. “I’ll make you an offer you can’t refuseâ€, if you know what I mean.
Besides the romantic aspect, which is already well known, fireplaces represent the perfect decorative work when it comes to completing this winter scenery. Arkiane is a French fixture manufacturer that brings two beautiful wall mounted fireplaces. You might laugh in your sleeve and I somehow agree, because this isn’t something new whatsoever. Still, we’re talking about Icoya and Yà n-Li, which are more elaborate than anything you’ve ever seen before.
It seems that Icoya is based on the Inca civilization, where people worshiped several Gods, one of those being queen “Icoyaâ€, representing nature, rebirth and beauty. The symbol of Icoya was a butterfly flapping its wings and preparing to fly. That’s why she was called “the flower that fliesâ€. This model comes in two different versions, one fixed in the wall while the other one is a mural fireplace. As far as the Yà n-Li model is concerned, this one recreates the image of a stylized flame that evokes the movement and the heat spread by the fire. Due to its very good combustion, the fireplace protects the environment as the emission of CO2 (carbon dioxide) is very weak.
These efficient fireplaces feature an eco factor, the fact that they’re non-electric and work with wood, which is a renewable energy source. Unfortunately for those who are interested in purchasing these wall mounted fireplaces and don’t have anything to do with the Gavroche land, these designs seem to be available just in France.
(Source: Dvice)
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Monday, December 8th, 2008 |
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More and more eco-friendly vehicles make their appearance for some time now. It’s a good thing that people started to think about the environment, rather than giving their best to destroying every chance that we’ve all been given in order to spend a healthy life. The solution is in our hands, as a matter of fact.
People in my town were “threatened†some time ago with closing main streets, due to an overwhelming traffic that made (and still does) the center some kind of a labyrinth that you can get out of under no circumstances. A crowded place stuffed with angry individuals, brought to the highest level of despair in just a couple of minutes, and all sorts of vehicles, some of them driven by those angry people, some of them abandoned in the middle of the street, is far from being what is supposed to: the most important tourist point of the city.
Biking is a perfect solution, as far as I’m concerned. It gives you the chance to exercise a little bit, taking care of your physical shape, but it is also a good way for you to become conscious about the environmental issues the world is now facing.
Grasshopper is a foldable electric powered bicycle that can be used by anyone. Not to mention the fact that it folds up into a compact size (it turns into a trolley for easy storage and transport), being perfect for those who don’t have enough space to store it. The best thing about it is the fact that this bike is different from any other vehicle you’ve ever seen, as it doesn’t use energy, like other similar bikes, but it actually generates energy. The surplus can be used for other purposes.
The bicycle is made of composite materials which make it not only rigid, but also very strong and resistant to all sorts of shocks. The design is aimed at satisfying people who love to bicycle on a regular basis and confront harsh natural conditions, due to the severe configuration of the terrain. Therefore, the target market consists of active people who live their lives in urban centers , always concerned about the environment and health. The Grasshopper is provided with a regenerative braking that helps the battery to charge. In addition, the bike can easily be converted into a stationary exercise bike.
The electric powered bicycle was created by designer David Miguel Moreira Gonçalves (if the name doesn’t ring a bell, maybe the Scarab Electric Concept does), who decided to enter his product in the 12th International Bicycle Design Competition, 2008, where he won a Merit Prize.
(Source: Dvice)
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