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Panasonic has partnered with Harajuku fashion brand Beams on an electric bike sure to be embraced by commuters in Japan. Roughly 200 of the bikes have been manufactured and are only available online. The bike uses nickel metal hydride batteries and will net about 20 miles per charge. Alternately, you can also use the pedals. Ahem, let's just call this bike for what it really is: Does anyone remember the moped?
We love energy conservation but Jack Godfrey Wood's concept "House-off Switch" takes energy saving to the extreme. The light switch shuts off ALL the power in your house. This switch can cause a few problems, for example, having your food spoil in the refrigerator and disabling your home alarm. Perhaps, Wood will need to slightly rethink his approach to this switch and take into consideration that there are some crucial things that have to remain on! Heaven forbid if one uses a respirator!
What can be horrible than living in an area where the pollen and rag-weed counts are in full bloom during the spring and summer time? The answer to that would be to have an allergy! And for some, the only way to escape the terror of sneezing and avoiding red eyes and other allergy causing ailments is to safely be in an indoor environment.
Well Ford motors wants to change that with their allergy free car. Dubbed, the Mondeo, this automobile was designed to specifically protect one from the harsh outdoors in terms of allergies. By abolishing the chrome and nickle from the cockpit, and using low-emission adhesives and allergen-tested textiles and leathers, this equates to one being able to breathe better, thus avoiding those allergy causing ailments. The Mondeo will be making its debut in the European market and no word as to when or if this automobile will be available in the States.
The advent of personal on the go video recording has been making its way to the consumer market for sometime now, and with Sony's VRD-MC5 DVD Burner that will be a reality soon (at least if you're in Japan). There have been many incarnations of portable formats, but the VRD-MC5 DVD Burner (which is made to go with its AVCHD line of tech), ushers in a myriad of features such as one-touch cam to optical disk transfer of high definition recordings. Also, the S-Video and fire-wire inputs as well as a host of various card slots (SD, xD, CF, Memory Stick), makes this device a truly top and able contender for PC-free dubbing of almost any kind of video imaginable. Also, Sony is throwing in a 2.5" LCD screen and mini DVD-compatible tray to sweeten the deal! The VRD-MC5 DVD Burner will cost $247 and be available in August 10th in Japan. Let's hope that the U.S. is next on the list!
Google Maps has added a pretty cool feature that enables one to actually view the streets that they're getting directions on. Thus, one will see an actual street level 3-D view of the surroundings. At present, this feature is currently available only on some streets in San Franciso, New York City, Denver, Las Vegas and Miami. This will take allot of the guess work out of finding where you are exactly to go. Google is mum on its plans on when this technology will be made available for more cities. Now envision this this sort of feature on a GPS! The possibilities are endless!
Nissan announced that its wireless intelligent keys (also called I-Keys) which are entry devices that are used to open the auto maker's car doors are subject to a complete wipe-out or alteration of the electronic code stored in them if these keys touch a cellphone. This issue is only related to cell phones in the United States. Also, outgoing or incoming calls have the potential to alter the electronic code inside of the I-Key too. Thus, the car won't start and the I-Key cannot be reprogrammed. Nissan will be releasing a new version of the I-Key this fall and until then, victims will have to obtain replacements from their dealer. This comes to show you, that technology is so wonderful when it works, and can be a bear when it doesn't!
It's amazing what some ingenuity, imagination and creativity will do to harness the re-creation of ancient tech, such as this phonograph record player which was made from the innards of a disassembled CD player. Designer, Yong Jieyu turned the laser upside down and placed it inside of an appendage thats shaped like an old-fashioned tonearm. The device is completely self-contained, with speakers located underneath the opening that leads to the trumpet shaped speaker. Thus, the music spins around continuously from a spinning CD and sound is emitted through the flower shaped speaker. Pretty nifty, eh?
For those of you who do quite a bit of international travel, then you know how daunting and challenging it can become using a myriad of adapters for all of your tech gear. Well, the All-In-One AC Universal travel Adapter ($17) stakes claim to be the only adapter that you'll need for your devices no matter where in world you travel. A quick twist of the base of the adapter sprouts prongs for the electrical outlets of virtually any country (over 150 countries is claimed). Suffice it to say, its very nice to find a very useful and practical utility for your gadgets that will not cost a small fortune!
Never wanting to be a follower, Sony, introduces their first "HD Radio". Officially named "XDR-S3HD, this device takes on a rather old-school look and charm with its rich cherry wood enclosure and charcoal speaker covers. The LCD screen is simple, but expressive-looking and has two knobs. The XDR-S3HD also offers a remote control, sleep timer, alarm, and an AUX socket to hook up an mp3 player. The "HD Radio" moniker can be a bit misleading because it actually stands for "Hybrid Digital" and is a backronym crafted to make this device appear that it offers superior definition audio to current standards. And while digital radio in theory is just fine, it suffers from compression artifacts. Perhaps, Sony's $200 asking price for the XDR-S3HD is a bit too expensive.
Oh no, have the folks at LG gone stark raving mad? What gives with a patent application for an iPod docknestled on top of a washing machine? Well, the patent application does not specifically refer to an iPod dock, but what other mp3 players do companies manufacture accessories for? This application details a washing machine with a USB connection for mp3 players. A display is shared between the mp3 player and the washer. Thus, the washing status and information as well as the current track adorn the displays. There's also a set of controls for the iPod and some built in speakers for both music as well as the washing display which enable one to see just how far their clothes are along in the cycle. There's also mention of a remote control which will start the whole process (with the exception of schlepping and putting your clothes inside of the machine). This remote would also send a signal via the power lines. Is this what happens when you run fresh out of ideas and innovation?
