Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Monday, June 18, 2007

Oregon Scientific Crystal Weather Station brings some flair to the forecast

from Engadget by Nilay Patel

Oregon Scientific has been busting out some pretty slick gear lately, and its new BA900 Crystal Weather Station is no exception. The acrylic block features three laser-engraved 3-D icons that light up in color to represent sunshine, precipitation, or cloudy skies, while the radio-controlled atomic clock in the base switches to a temperature readout with just a wave of your hand. We're hearing this thing will ship in December for about $60 -- just in time for that rain icon to be rendered totally inaccurate. [Via Red Ferret]

WildCharger wireless charger poised for pre-order

from Engadget by Evan Blass

With MIT's recent breakthrough in wireless electricity, we've been pretty hyped up on cutting the final cord that keeps our gadgets tethered to the wall and one another, so our ears certainly perked up when we learned that WildCharge's WildCharger powerpad is set to go up for pre-order. First revealed late last year, the multi-device induction charging surface is finally poised to begin taking orders come July 7th -- or 07/07/07, if you're into the whole numerology thing. Curiously there's no word yet on how much these things will set you back, but as usual, we're willing to pay through the nose to be the hippest kids on the block.

Hybrid Mini offers 640 hp, 0-60 in 4.5 seconds

07/21/06, 06:08pm, EDT

A British engineering firm has put together a high-performance hybrid version of BMW's Mini Cooper. The PML Mini QED has an output of 640 horsepower, according to PML. It has a top speed of 150 mph, a 0-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds. The car uses a small gasoline engine with four 160 horsepower electric motors on each wheel. The car employs a brake-by-wire system to recoup some lost energy under braking. The motors are able to provide ABS and traction control with guidance of the car's onboard computer. The Mini QED is a plug-in hybrid, meaning it can be charged directly from a power outlet. The car will "not be generally commercially available," according to its creators. However, the company is "interested in discussing possible one-off orders and collaborations."

[PDFs: General Info | Specs]

Check out the Immersive Media street-scanning car

Posted May 31st 2007 10:09PM by Ryan Block

It looks like Immersive Media wanted to remove all doubt about what that street-traversing fleet of theirs really looks like. There's obviously more than one vehicle scanning in streets across the US, but now you know what to look out for -- and you little punks in the audience now realize just how tantalizing a target that little 11 camera orb on the roof really happens to be.

Launch: Edit your videos with the YouTube remixer

from Lifehacker by Gina Trapani

YouTube releases a video editing tool which remixes your 'tube clips using a Flash-based in-browser application.

Drag and drop your clips to a timeline (much like iMovie) and add music, effects, graphics, captions and borders. The remixer is throwing a couple of "still working out the kinks" hiccups here and there this morning, but it's still a fun and easy way to splice, slice and dice your clips together.

YouTube Remixer [via CNET]

iPhone vs Nokia N95, BlackBerry, Treo and Samsung BlackJack

from Digital Inspiration by Amit Agarwal

Just ten days ahead of the much-hyped iPhone launch, Apple has released a smartphone matrix comparing the physical dimensions, talk time and battery life of some of the most popular smartphones that are available in the market today.

As per the matrix, Apple iPhone is the thinnest smartphone (half the thickness of N95 or Treo 750) with the largest screensize and Wi-Fi capabilities. [pdf]

apple iphone nokia n95 treo blackberry curve

While there's no option to swap the drained battery of an iPhone with a full recharged one, the promised eight hours of talktime and 250 hours of standby time should bring enough cheers to those who are planning to queue up outside the Apple stores at 0600 hours June 29, 2007.

In related news, a new report has suggest that 19 million Americans have strong interest in buying the iPhone, 67% of who are subscribers on other carrier networks.

Gmail Tip: Reformat your Gmail address with dots

from Lifehacker by Kyle Pott

You can reformat your existing Gmail address by inserting dots (periods) anywhere within your Gmail username. The Gmail Help pages explain:

Because Gmail doesn't recognize dots as characters within usernames, adding or removing dots from a Gmail address won't change the actual destination address. Messages sent to yourusername@gmail.com and y.o.u.r.u.s.e.r.n.a.m.e@gmail.com are all delivered to your Inbox, and only yours.

We've talked about how you can create unlimited Gmail addresses using the "+" sign before - a technique lots of people use to automatically filter messages. Periods could be used for the same purpose. (Note that Google Apps for Your Domain does NOT ignore dots in addresses.) Thanks, 3xSteve!

Dell selling unlocked high-end Nokia phones online

from Engadget by Conrad Quilty-Harper

In a welcome, yet odd, development, Dell has started selling several high-end Nokia phones in an unlocked state via its online store. So far searches reveal that Dell is selling the Nokia N80, E61i, and E61 for around $400, and the N95 for $732. Those prices don't sound too great when compared to in-contract prices, but compared to similar unlocked offerings from high street stores they're pretty damn competitive. Besides, it doesn't look as if Dell is partnering with any mobile operators, and is instead highlighting the unlocked prices. Unlocked cellphone price war, anyone? If Dell's in the game, then you can bet that others will join.

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Good Copy, Bad Copy: superb copyright documentary on the remix wars

from Boing Boing by Cory Doctorow

I just watched Good Copy, Bad Copy, a stunning Danish documentary on remix culture and copyright, available as a free download. The film skips around the world, showing the changing attitudes toward art and culture in Nigeria, Sweden, Brazil, the UK, and the US, answering statements about incentives and creativity by the MPAA and IFPI by showing us real artists (like Danger Mouse and Girl Talk) making wonderful art that, according to the gangsters in the entertainment industry, no one will make without copyright.

The movie has a very light touch, and a lot of humor. This has been a banner year for copyright documentaries, but this is the best looking of the lot, with superb production values. This is a masterclass on the copyright wars crammed into 58 minutes of video -- a must-see. Link

Nokia's BH-803, BH-602, and BH-604 Bluetooth cans

from Engadget by Thomas Ricker

Nokia just busted out three Bluetooth headsets this morning: the BH-803, BH-604 (pictured), and BH-602. The most interesting of the bunch are the big, "quick to charge" BG-604 stereo cans with AVRCP remote control over your Bluetooth 2.0 equipped audio device. Expect 'em to go global in Q3 for a bit less than €140/$187. The wee 11.3-g, BH-803 and the 11-hour talk (5-hours after a 15-minute charge) BH-602 headsets are priced for less than €160/$214 and €90/$121, respectively.

Gallery: Nokia's BH-803, BH-602, and BH-604 Bluetooth cans

Friday, June 15, 2007

Late with your car payment? ON TIME system equipped cars won't start

from Blogging Stocks by Tom Barlow

Filed under: Products and services, Competitive strategy

If the American economy tanks, look for car loans to follow the same pattern as house loans, right into the dumpster. However, Sekurus Inc. may have a tool to help subprime car lenders such as AmeriCredit Corp. (NYSE:ACF) fight defaults, help the repo man reclaim the assets, and protect against car theft.

Sekurus' ON TIME system patches a legal wireless-controlled device into the car's electrical system. The consumer is given a wireless control that he must push before he can start the car, which sends a signal to Sekurus. The company verifies that financing is up to date before authorizing the car to start. The customer begins receiving a countdown three days before the vehicle is disabled.

The system also serves as a theft deterrent, since car thieves won't be able to start the car without the wireless remote.

The product is especially useful for sub-prime car loans, a $75 billion market. The company claims that, because lenders can depend on this system to increase pay rates and reclaim vehicles, it will result in more borderline drivers receiving financing that otherwise would not. ON TIME also can be used by new dealers who have problems with cars being stolen off their lots.

Featured Windows Download: Change folder and file names in bulk with Flash Renamer

from Lifehacker by Kyle Pott

Windows only: Shareware application Flash Renamer renames your files and folders in bulk.

Flash Renamer doesn't just flat-out rename; it can change the case (UPPER and lower) of file names, search and replace strings within file names, rename MP3s based on tags, clear read-only attributes and add counters to files that are related (like photos).

The unregistered version of Flash Renamer is not limited in any way whatsoever - except for the popup at launch reminding you that you haven't registered. A license will set you back $19.99 and buys you free lifetime upgrades and free tech support over email. Flash Renamer is shareware for Windows only. Thanks, Jeremy!

Flash Renamer [rl vision]

Jingle Awarded Patent For Advertising-Supported 411 Calls

from TechCrunch by Michael Arrington

Jingle Networks, operator of the free directory assistance service that has been emulated by AT&T, Google and others, was awarded a U.S. Patent “for providing telephone directory assistance service in which a telephone user calls to the system and the system will, based on the requested number or type of service, hear a recorded advertisement.” The patent was issued in May and is being announced by the Company today.

If the patent is enforceable, and Jingle has the stomach to try, it will be a significant hurdle for their competitors. The company has raised significant capital (over $60 million), but that is nothing compared to the resources of Google and AT&T. If those companies are serious about this business, it could get ugly in the courtroom.

When we last heard from the company, they claimed to be receiving 17 million monthly calls and had grabbed over 6% of the U.S. market for directory assistance calls.

Google Zeitgeist -- keeping the pulse of the world

Zeitgeist this Month: April 2007

Jetsetters

I'm feeling sporty

Spring babies

Financial matters

Google News Queries: April 2007

Headline makers

Mais oui

Middle East related

Spring fitness

Google Image Queries: April 2007

Newsmakers

Getaways

At the cineplex

Global consciousness

Archos gets set to unveil Gen 5 products

from Engadget by Donald Melanson

We knew they were coming, and now Archos really wants you to know that they're coming, with the company's website now replaced with a teaser page counting down to the imminent launch of its new fifth generation PMPs. Don't get too entranced by those decreasing digits though, we'll have complete coverage of whatever it is the company has in store before you know it. [Thanks, Mike]

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