Sunday, May 20, 2007

Global Radio Controlled Travel Projection Clock


We jet-setters whether off to Taramasalata for a week of the three S's, or a business executive travelling the world never sure what day of the week it is, or indeed which country we are in, we also need to know the time as it is so easy to get in a muddle – managed to do it myself not so long ago, family were not to keen to have a chat with me at 5.30am! What we cutting edge jetsetters need is the Atomic Projection Travel Alarm Clock.

This is a very clever clock that magically picks up (actually it is a radio signal but you know what we mean) radio-controlled clock signals from the US, UK, European and Japanese atomic clocks.

The clock knows where it is even if you don’t and will be able to tell you what time it is. In addition this stylish grey version projects the time in either 12 or 24 hour format onto the wall or ceiling with a precise focus dial.

It is a compact size for travel and can be set with two daily alarms with that all important eight minute snooze function. It will also display the days of the weeks in up to five languages so it can be classed as educational too!

Main Features
Receives atomic clock signals
Selectable Multi-band RF clock (DCF, MSF, JJY and WWVB)
Projects current time on any flat surface/wall
Compact size
Focus dial allows for clear projection anywhere
HiGlo electroluminescent backlight
Approx 10cm wide and 7cm tall
Two daily alarms with eight minute snooze function
Key Lock function for travel use
Displays day of the week in up to five languages
12-24 hour clock format

You can buy it Here for only £39.95

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

IBM Shopping Buddy


IBM has a new product in a few select grocery stores called Shopping Buddy. Basically Shopping Buddy is a Wi-Fi enabled, GPS equipped laptop.

That’s right grandmothers and housewives everywhere can get their technical shop on. The item is slated to save you time. How does it do that?

Let’s say you need to know where the peanut butter is. You type in peanut butter and up pops a map. The GPS shows your position and how to get to the exact location of peanut butter in the store. The sounds pretty cool seeing as how I always run up and down the isles looking for that last thing we forgot to get as my wife is checking out in line. This would save me from knocking over small children and display items in my mad dash to find the stupid chopped almonds.

Another thing the Shopping Buddy does is it tells you what you have bought on that isle in the past. So while you’re buying crackers on isle 4 up pops a little note reminding of that time you bought those double stuff Oreos and then went home and ate them all at once. Damn Shopping Buddy that was 3 months ago, let it go, let it go.

One more feature that the Shopping Buddy offers is a recipe suggestion tool. You pick up an item and scan it and up pops some recipes. If you like them you can email them to your house. I mentioned scanning the items. You do this so you don’t have to go through the hassle of having the checkout person scan them at the register.

I’m not sure how much time Shopping Buddy will save you, but it does seem very interesting. Besides everyone needs more friends. No more lonely nights sitting around playing solitaire. Now I can play poker with my Shopping Buddy.

Wednesday, April 4, 2007

Logitech MX518 Gaming-Grade Optical Mouse


If you are a gamer playing at the highest level, you will definitely not want to miss this. The Logitech MX518 Gaming-Grade Optical Mouse will provide you with the extra cutting-edge between an endless winning spree and a runner-up position. Equipped with ultra-high resolution of 1600-dpi Logitech MX Optical Engine, the mouse delivers a lightning-fast response and mirror-smooth tracking function. In addition, you get instantaneous on-the-fly adjustment that allows effortless switching from pixel-precise targeting to fast-twitch acceleration without any software intervention. Designed with a contoured grip, the Logitech MX518 ensures peak performance and comfort, even during the most intensified gaming sessions.


The Logitech MX518 Gaming-Grade Optical Mouse has also collected several awards and fans around the world for its great characteristics with highlights involving its adjustable sensitivity of up to 1600-dpi, and flawless movement on most type of surfaces. Bundled with Logitech’s advanced software management, it allows end-users to custom-tune their Logitech MX518 with five different sensitivity settings.

Some of the features of MX518 are:

* Award-winning Logitech MX Optical Engine
* Sensitivity switching to 1600, 800 and 400-dpi resolution
* 5.8 megapixels per seconds image processing
* Up to 15 ‘g’ of acceleration
* Supports blazing fast movement with pure precision
* Bundled with advanced gaming software
* Super slick gaming feel for effortless and precise tracking
* Contoured grip feel ensuring peak performance and comfort
* Three years warranty

System requirement:

* Windows XP (to take advantage of the software tool)
* One USB port
* CD-Rom drive

Specially designed for intense gamers, this Logitech MX 518 has certainly lived up to its reputation. As a priceless piece of “weapon”, it is one that every gamers wished to own. Check out the Logitech website for more information.

Tuesday, April 3, 2007

Uber Shades


This is a very interesting (let alone odd) accessory. Have you ever questioned yourself saying: “Wow, I paid $400 for these trendy shades and all they do is give a false sense of importance and occasionally keep the sun out of my eyes… what a total rip off! If only my sunglasses had more to offer, maybe I wouldn’t be in this predicament.”

If so your problems have come to an end! Produced by a German company called Not-So-Bright Sunwear (I could not have come with a more suitable name myself!) the Uber Shades are a comfortable, stylish and (very) useful pair of sunglasses.

Swiss Army Knife you say? Well, the Uber Shades can be customized with more than 260 different tools, ranging from paint brushes to scissors, from pliers to rasps. “Whether it’s applying make-up in the car while driving to the mall or simply repairing a toilet flapper valve for your sister, Uber Shades has the tools to do it all with style and class. No task is too big and no problem too small for these sunglasses of the future. Uber Shades just may forever change how we view the world.”

Alright for the guys who were ready to buy the Uber Shades, unfortunately you will need to wait some time because the concept is still on the drawing board! Joke or not those glasses would certainly draw attention upon entering the market, if nothing else for the uniqueness!

Now that’s what I call a knife


Coming in at 2lbs 11oz this is the king of all Swiss Army knives and is even available to buy for £499.95 (a shade under $1,000). I haven’t counted the number of blades and other useless implements but they include:

2.5″ 60% Serrated locking blade
Nail file, nail cleaner
Corkscrew
Adjustable pliers with wire crimper and cutter
Removable screwdriver bit adapter
2.5″ Blade for Official World Scout Knife
Spring-loaded, locking needle-nose pliers with wire cutter
Removable screwdriver bit holder
Phillips head screwdriver bit 0
Phillips head screwdriver bit 1
Phillips head screwdriver bit 2
Flat head screwdriver bit 0.5mm x 3.5mm
Flat head screwdriver bit 0.6mm x 4.0mm
Flat head screwdriver bit 1.0mm x 6.5mm
Magnetized recessed bit holder
Double-cut wood saw with ruler (inch & cm)
Bike chain rivet setter, removable 5mm allen wrench, screwdriver for slotted and philips head screws
Removable tool for adjusting bike spokes, 10mm hexagonal key for nuts
Removable 4mm curved allen wrench with philips head screwdriver
Removable 10mm hexagonal key
Patented locking philips head screwdriver
Universal wrench
2.4″ Springless scissors with serrated, self-sharpening design
1.65″ Clip point utility blade
Philips head screwdriver
2.5″ Clip point blade
Golf club face cleaner
2.4″ Round tip blade
Patented locking screwdriver, cap lifter, can opener
Golf shoe spike wrench
Golf divot repair tool
4mm allen wrench
2.5″ blade
Fine metal file with precision screwdriver
Double-cut wood saw
Cupped cigar cutter with double-honed edges
12/20-Guage choke tube tool
Watch caseback opening tool
Snap shackle
Mineral crystal magnifier with precision screwdriver
Compass, straight edge, ruler (in./cm)
Telescopic pointer
Fish scaler, hook disgorger, line guide
Shortix laboratory key
Micro tool holder
Micro tool adapter
Micro scraper - straight
Micro scraper - curved
Laser pointer with 300 ft. range
Metal saw, metal file
Flashlight
Micro tool holder
Philips head screwdriver 1.5mm
Screwdriver 1.2mm
Screwdriver .8mm
Fine fork for watch spring bars
Reamer
Pin punch 1.2mm
Pin punch .8mm
Round needle file
Removable tool holder with expandable receptacle
Removable tool holder
Special self-centering screwdriver for gunsights
Flat philips head screwdriver
Chisel-point reamer
Mineral crystal magnifier, fork for watch spring bars, small ruler
Extension tool
Spring-loaded, locking flat nose-nose pliers with wire cutter
Removable screwdriver bit holder
Phillips head screwdriver bit 0
Phillips head screwdriver bit 1
Phillips head screwdriver bit 2
Flat head screwdriver bit 0.5mm x 3.5mm
Flat head screwdriver bit 0.6mm x 4.0mm
Flat head screwdriver bit 1.0mm x 6.5mm
Magnetized recessed bit holder
Tire tread gauge
Fiber optic tool holder
Can opener
Patented locking screwdriver, cap lifter, wire stripper
Reamer/awl
Toothpick
Tweezers
Key ring
You’ll have to have big pockets in more ways than one to own this Swiss feat of engineering.

Toshiba’s revolutionary helmet… sorta


The concept of this product had been announced last year already, but given the creativity behind the product I thought that this was a must-read (perhaps a must-laugh) for the CG readers.

Now before people start to get the wrong idea by looking at the picture “No, that girl is not wearing a Cathode-Ray-Tube television on her head”. Toshiba developed that helmet to allow users to experience a 360-degree view while watching television or playing video games.

The bulky helmet weights about 6 pounds, but people commented that this version is actually much smaller than previous prototypes…

It is an interesting idea (insert sarcasm here), however a few questions pop into my mind by looking at it:

1. Do the manufacturer includes oxygen cylinders for people to breath inside the device?
2. Will Toshiba sign a partnership with some insurance company to provide medical treatment for the neck injuries to come?
3. What if your old grandpa gets a heart attack by entering suddenly on a room where you are using the device, who are we to blame?

By the way, did you watch SpaceBalls?

R2-D2 Unit Has a Trash Can


I’m crazy about Star Wars, and one of my favourite characters is R2-D2, that little droid that plays a vital role in this great story. Now Think Geek is selling this incredibly detailed R2-D2 replica from Japan, which is not at all what it seems. This R2 unit doesn’t have any sounds or lights or special effects, but if you’re looking for a trashcan, this is one of the coolest I’ve ever seen. When you step in to his central “foot”, it swings the dome open to reveal a trash bin, making it the perfect companion to your office.

With the R2 wastebasket you’ll find that throwing things away can be also fun, just be careful not to dispose of anything important. The droid stands 24″ tall, and it costs US$ 149, which may be a little expensive for a trashcan, but is a small price to pay to get all your friends jealous. If you want one you can buy yours now from Think Geek, but hurry up, because this Star Wars R2-D2 Trash is a limited edition Japanese imported collectable and when it sells out there will be no replacement.

Islamic Gadgets


I know personally that many Muslims are feeling under siege, both mentally and physically, and believe they are getting a bad press. Relations between our two cultures seem to be deteriorating, so I hope I’m not trivialising events when I discuss this Quranic clock gadget: I’m trying to clear up a few myths and find some common ground.

The Taliban banned television, video and satellite shortly after seizing power in Afghanistan in 1996. The ban was probably academic as not many people had electricity after years of fighting between Afghan warlords, but it did perhaps reinforce for many who didn’t know better that Islam was a backward-looking religion – myself included at that time I have to say.

These days I think judging Islam as a religion by the behaviour of a fanatical cult like the Taliban is like trying to judge Christianity by people who don’t let their children have blood transfusions.

The Muslims I know are crazy about gadgets, buying mobiles with alarms to tell them when it’s time for prayers, and adding Quranic ring tones for example. Recently, when an Indian cleric reportedly called the use verses from the Quran as ring tones un-Islamic they were horrified that the view of another crank cleric was reported in the Western media as somehow being representative of mainstream Muslim opinion.

Anyway, I’m sure my friends would love this gadget. It’s a Quranic wristwatch with flash memory and an MP3 player. It comes with a USB port for transferring files and for re-charging. You can install the Quran as an MP3 file, taking up 70 MB of the available 256 MB memory. In fact, thinking about it I wouldn’t mind one myself.

The Quranic clock was found via PC Magazine.

Sunglasses,, that are so cool, they’ll eat your face,, Parasite


These are from the French design team at Parasite. They have a line of super cool sunglasses.

I’m sure however you could easily figure that out after looking at the images here.

Check out their site for a full look at all the lines they have. I’ve been wearing my pair of toasters for waay too long and I think it may be high time to trade out for a pair of these (then again, they’re probably a fortune, ahh, what the heck, I only have these two eyes).

Click through their press pack for more info on these guys. They’re really going about their business well. They’ve got a solid design philosophy, amazing branding, and well, those glasses are awesome!

The real advantage here is that they’ve developed their eyewear holding system in a way that makes every frame of theirs very unique as well as functional. It grips in two areas referred to as the fronto-parietal zone as the upper arm, and the temporal bone area as the lower arm.

The best thing about them, is they don’t just make sunglasses, but they do prescription frames as well. That of course means, once my eyes drop below 20/15, I’ll be picking up a pair of those too (umm, I don’t wanna know what that’s gonna cost!)

Thanks to Core77 for being on the lookout again!

Fold Away Keyboard


This is cool a full size bluetooth keyboard that folds up to just 5″ x 3″.

It folds up to a remarkably slim, pocketable slice of metal. When unfolded, it automatically turns on and connects to a paired Bluetooth device. It is comfortable to type on, and works with a huge array of products including plug-n-play with any Bluetooth-enabled PC (especially nice with the OQO, Sony UX, etc.) and also smartphones/PDAs (Windows Mobile, Palm, and Symbian S30 3rd like the Nokia E-series).

The stowaway keyboard is available from dynamism for $149.99.

Move over, motion controls


What’s this motion controls you talk about? Rumble feature? All those pale in comparison when it comes to the gaming controller of choice, especially when faced with Emotiv’s Project Epoc. This spunky start-up from Down Under has developed a brand new gaming peripheral that makes the world of video and computer games accessible to virtually anyone and everyone with a head. How is this possible, you ask? The answer is simple - this helmet like device is placed on top of your nogging, while a processing unit will interpret the information garnered from a series of detection suites that are located all over the helmet. It will be able to detect and measure the player’s discreet emotional states and conscious thoughts, eventually translating those signals into a command that controls your on-screen avatar.


The Project Epoc helmet, when fully functional, will be compatible with a whole slew of gaming platforms without discriminating against either console or computer. This means those who are disabled will be able to duke it out with current Masters of Mice on an even platform, and don’t be surprised if your friend in a wheelchair manages to trounce you over and over in Warcraft or Quake due to his/her superior cognitive ability that was enhanced after suffering from paralysis.

There is no word on when a commercial version will be available, but if you have some time, do scurry over to the Gamers’ Developer Conference in San Franciso as the Project Epoc helmet will be on display.

Harley Davidson TV Lantern Boombox


Harley Davidson may make some pretty decent bikes (well to pose on at least) but some how I don’t think this Harley Davidson TV Lantern Boombox is going to get quite as many admiring glances.

You can probably tell exactly what it comes with by the name and it does feature a CD player along with the tiny TV and lantern.

If you want to impress all your biker chums, I’m sure carrying this on your shoulder and wearing fake tattoo sleeves is a sure way to lose teeth test your running shoes.

You can get this crap Harley Davidson tat from Target.

Gold Necklace Earphones


Jewelry has always been an object of desire (though Gems TV are trying to change that). With iPods starting take over the role of most desirable item (people are getting mugged based on what headphones they sport) Stockholm jewelry designer Anna Tascha Larsson has come up with the idea of a gold plated iPod earphone necklace (so now you can get robbed for your jewelry and iPod).

If the earphones actually worked this could be a cool product but as they don’t it kind of reminds me of a charm bracelet for the neck, though I’m not renowned for my taste in fashion or Jewelry.

Via Vulture Droppings via Neatorama.

Personal Alarm Watch Helps the Hearing Impaired


Designer Nikita Golovlev has come up with an innovative idea for a watch that could be a real life saver. The Personal Alarm Watch will detect important events like fire alarms and alert the wearer by vibration and flashing lights.

How does it work?
The personal alarm watch is a concept product at the moment but it has been shrewdly thought about on how it could actually work, so far there are two solutions:

It could use an internal antenna to detect special signals given off by smoke detectors and fire alarms (this would require an expensive modification to appropriate alarm systems).
A microphone in the watch could monitor sound levels, if it detected a severe increase or heard a known danger sound again a warning could be issued
As product ideas go I think this is really great and Nikita Golovlev(found via the Product Design Forums) is certainly a designer to look out for in the future (thanks Nikita for the extra images).

Animated Pong T-Shirt


This has got to be the geekiest T-shirt ever, what better way to show your love of retro gaming than displaying an animated game of pong on you chest.

The only thing that’s lacking is the fact you can’t move the paddles and the score never changes, so we might have to look out for that in Animated Retro Table Tennis Shirt version 2.0.

You can get the shirt from Think Geek for $24.99, go on show off your inner nerdiness [via Coolness Roundup thanks Charlie].

Contest Entry #8 - The LCD Mouse Picture


Jani the editor in chief of Metku has provided the eighth entry into our $600 gadget raffle courtesy of LogiNoki, the mouse with inbuilt LCD screen.

I must admit it’s the first time I’ve seen the CG logo (if you can call it that) on a mouse but it does look remarkably cool (though I must admit I can’t really see the need). You can learn how to embed an LCD into a mouse over at Jani’s excellent LogiNoki tutorial.

Wireless 2.0 Hub from Icron released


Icron Technologies has finally lifted the curtains on the first wireless USB 2.0 hub in the world which is based on an industry standard 802.11g radio. This hub is known as the WiRanger Cable Free USB 2.0 Hub, and it takes standard USB connectivity to the wireless realm, enabling you to hook up a myriad of USB devices such as printers, scanners, hard drives, digital cameras, and MP3 players to either PC or Macs throughout a building without going through the hassle and headache of connecting wires.


The WiRanger Cable Free USB 2.0 Hub features a quartet of hubs along with a dongle set to enable transparent wireless connectivity for virtually any USB-capable device without the need for installing special software or tinker with user configuration. The WiRanger comes with a range of up to 30 meters, making it the perfect device to place in SoHo setups and even a single user computer, be they PC or Mac platforms. The WiRanger utilizes Icron’s very own ExtremeUSB technology to make this possible, and is compatible with both USB 1.1 or 2.0 connections over virtually any media, ranging from wireless, cable, power line, or fiber optics.

Rest assured, the WiRanger Cable Free USB 2.0 Hub will be the first among many of such devices from Icron, and the company will be working on different wireless technologies in order to meet a whole range of application requirements across different industries and sectors such as the military, prosumer, medical, and commercial markets. Interested parties will be able to pick up the WiRanger USB 2.0 Cable Free Hub for $395.

The Wristwatch Television Set



Are you one of these people that just must not miss your favorite television show or sports event on TV? Are you missing all kinds of events such as office parties, dinner parties, even your own child’s play performance because you are addicted to a certain television show that you just dare not miss?

If you can relate to any of the above then you need the Wristwatch Television Set. This ingenious invention is perfect for watching all of your favorite shows or sports events, you can always turn down the volume and watch in silence when it is necessary and then run to powder your nose to hear the score or the nasty fight that is happening on your day time soap.

The picture that you will see on this wristwatch television is very clear and vibrant. It has a special micro tuner and headphone antenna which connects to the television for reception. You will enjoy both UHF and VHF channels and the display has Thin Film Transistor technology which will give you a clear 280 x 220 resolution color picture on a 1 ½ inch screen.

The digital display will also give you the time and date. The watch will give you one hour of viewing when it is on full charge or if on battery power, up to three hours. You will need 4 AA batteries which are not included. The docking station will plug into AC or into a car power port, the adapter is included. This will give you unlimited viewing and the capacity to recharge. Recharging will take around 3 hours. The watch will receive NTSC signals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It is a very nice size of ¾ inches high by 1 ¾ inches wide and 1 ¾ inches long.

This televisions wristwatch would be the perfect gift for only $199.95 online.

Night Reader Hardcover


For those of you who can’t sleep without doing a bit of reading this Night Reader Bookcover is a must have so that you can continue your reading without bothering anyone around! Just slip this attractive bookcover onto your favorite novel, pull up the periscoping light, and you will have the luxury of a night lamp to read in peaceful privacy. Besides, Night Reader’s white light is restful on the eyes and its adjustable neck and pivoting head allows you to shift your position just as you wish. The Bookcover light contains energy-efficient LEDs that last an incredible 100,000 hours, never needing replacement! The Night Reader Hardcover sells for $80.

Sony VGN-UX1XN Ultra portable


I may be a bit late to the party on this, but I’ve just come across Sony’s new VGN-UX1XN Ultra portable PC. What can I say - I want one! It’s similar in concept to the oqo line, but Sony have upped the spec considerably.

For your £2000 ($4000 - yikes!) you get:

* 4.5in, 1024 x 600 widescreen
* 1.3Ghz Intel Core solo CPU
* 1GB RAM
* 32GB flash memory storage
* Bluetooth, Wifi, USB and 2 cameras (front/back)
* Windows Vista
* A slide out backlit keyboard

The flash storage is cool, but the screen and CPU are the things that stand out for me. With that resolution and chip this might be a UMPC that’s actually usable in real world day to day life. Unfortunately with that price tag most of us are never going to get the chance to try. Sob.

Luminous Fabric


I’ve seen a few animated T-Shirts and clothing but this is the coolest looking one yet, luminous fabric.

Instead of using LEDs luminous fabric uses fibre optics in the thread of the garment, this is said to lead to a more subtle and mysterious lighting, me I just think it looks cool. But now I can’t decide whether I want an luminous pillow or a bluetooth phone pillow.

Further info and availability over at LumiGram, found via freshome

Digital Hour Glass Watch


This is a cool looking idea, the sand + time watch, an egg timer for your wrist.

The watch would function in two ways, the first as a conventional watch displaying the time (hours at the top, minutes at the bottom) but in the more interesting other mode the display will take on the form of an old fashioned egg timer and display the sand falling from the top screen to the bottom.

I do like how the old and new technologies are merged in the sand + time watch, shame it’s just a concept for now.

Guard that Bedroom


Does your kid brother or sister like sneaking into your room when you’re asleep or not there. What are you going to do about it, well now you can alarm the room the geeky way using lazer trip wire just like you see in the movies. Unless you have a sister like
Miss Jolie you can sleep safely in the knowledge that nobody will enter your enclosure without a gut wrenching buzzer sounding.

In the US this is available for under 30 bucks from our friends at ThinkGeek.com

The Amazing Flying Dutch Car



f you hate being stuck in traffic jams, don’t worry, because the new flying car PAL-V is on it way. This Dutch project is a hybrid 3-wheel vehicle that can fly as a gyrocopter and also be driven as a regular car, or to be more precise, like a motorcycle.


When riding on the road, the PAL-V will use the patented technology Dynamic Vehicle Control (DVC™), originally designed for the Carver One, that should make tilting in corners a piece of cake. The flying apparatus is based on the original idea for the “autogiro”, developed in 1923 by Juan de la Cierva, and will have the capability to land practically anywhere. Combining the best of both worlds, the PAL-V ONE will use a foldable rotor fixed on the roof, a foldable propeller, and a slidable tail. The motor used for driving is the same that will power the propeller. The same controls are used in both flying and driving mode, but with different functionalities between them.
The PAL-V will fly only under 4,000 feet and will use a highly fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly engine that can run on petrol, but also on biodiesel or bio-ethanol. The vehicle will reach up to 200 km/h both on land an in the air.
Flying and riding with the PAL-V will be a breeze, and I can’t wait to get my hands on one of those.

Check out the PAL-V site for more information and images. You can read the press release here.

Via Bright.

Sony VGN-UX1XN Ultra portable




Home consoles aren’t exactly the most conducive environment to play a first person shooter, no thanks to clunky controls despite having two analog sticks to thumb around with. Until today, there is no thing more natural to playing a FPS than using a keyboard and the mouse, but SplitFish GameWare aims to level the playing field by offering the patent pending FragFX controller which consists of a separate right hand mouse controller and a detachable left hand grip controller. Granted, this solution isn’t as comfortable as the computer’s setup, but at least it offers a greater degree of freedom to the discerning gamer and makes those of us who fumble with analog sticks smile.

Droid could enter healthcare workforce in future




A human-sized android was paraded in a public demonstration in the middle of last week in Tokyo, and it was proudly showing off its weightlifting skills to everybody by picking up a 30kg package from a desk as well as lifting a 66kg humanoid doll out of bed. I suppose this droid would definitely be a boon to nurses and healthcare providers worldwide, since plenty of patients these days are from the obese and overweight categories, leaving nurses no choice but to call for help when transporting these patients out of bed.

Professor Yasuo Kuniyoshi from the University of Tokyo is at the helm of this project, and his team of engineers were the ones who developed this 70kg robot that stands a proud 155cm tall. Recently, a software upgrade enabled it to move in a more human-like manner, courtesy of adjusting its arm movements based on data received from more than 1,800 tactile sensors embedded within its artificial skin. This sensor-based control system replaces older technology that uses large motors for a robot’s strength, enabling it to be used for household tasks safely.

The droid is capable of performing different maneuvers for various situations, using one arm to slide a 30kg package to the edge of a desktop and using the other arm to pick it up. When removing the 66kg dummy, it slid both arms under the body, applied a little pressure to lift it slightly, and backed away in a manner any normal human being would. All this and not a drop of sweat, although it would be mandatory to oil its parts once in a while. Professor Kuniyoshi has dreams that this robot’s ability will land it a job in the nursing care or moving industries sometime in the future.

Moppel - The Bendy LED People


Moppels are cartoon character like lights that you pose and direct as required, so there’s no need to hold a flashlight between your teeth whilst you’re fiddling round the back of your PC under the desk. Simply position your Moppel in a super hero like pose and let him do the torch holding for you.

And there’s not just one Moppel there’s a whole load to collect (though I must admit I’m not sure what sort of person would collect bendable LED figures), including: Mars Moppel, Dino Moppel, Space Moppel and the list goes.

You can get your own Moppel army from Lights and Knives, found via a review on the gadgeteer, now where’s my free Moppel .

Monday, April 2, 2007

Cool Design MP4 Player - 1GB - 1.8 Inch Screen


Very cool looking MP4 Player. Combining 65000 OLED screen, easy to use design, a playback function in MP3 or WMA, digital picture slideshow function, and USB 2 with Plug and Play, this wholesale MP4 is easily worth more that its low price.

Video playback: AMV - conversion software supplied for converting normal video e.g. from MPG
Music playback: MP3 / WMA
Displays digital photos in GIF or JPG
FM Radio
Voice recording - built-in mic.
Graphical colour menu
USB 2.0 - plug and play music transfer under Win 2000 / XP
65,000 full-color OLED display
ID3 tag readout
7 Equalizer settings
18 languages supported:
English; Chinese; German; Japanese; Korean; Dutch; Portuguese; Denmark; Polish; French; Italian; Spanish; Swedish; Czech; Russian; Thai; Turkish; Hebrew
Built-in Li-Ion rechargeable battery gives up to 8 hours playback


Notes On Ordering This Product Wholesale From China
Register free with Chinavasion to order using the online shop.
Please login for full wholesale quantity discounts.
Once logged in you can use the online shopping cart to create on-the-fly shipping quotations.
You can order single items as samples. No MOQ.
Drop-shipping available. (Verification phone call required for first time dropshippers.)
If you have any queries about this product you are welcome to open a Chinavasion support ticket.

Current Reviews: 7

This product was added to our catalog on Friday 17 November, 2006.

Saturday, March 31, 2007

Zero Gravity Wall Climber R/C Car


Talk about amazed, jaws were dropping lower than Jade Goodie's IQ when we tried this latest radio controlled car out here in the office. Not just another run of the mill super buggy with bigger wheels, but a whole new concept in remote controlled driving. This mean machine actually drives straight up vertical surfaces, driving those of an easily shocked nature quite literally up the wall with it.

This is the Air Hogs Zero Gravity Radio Controlled Wall Climber, and it does exactly what it says on the label. It defies gravity by being able to go from ground racing, to vertical wall climbing at your command.

The wall climber works using a powerful vacuum like suction system. When the vehicle reaches a 45° incline, special fans are automatically engaged, which create a powerful down-force that keeps the car glued to the wall. It has flexible skirts around the chassis and these ensure that the vacuum created remains sealed.

So this machine isn't going to make for sticky residues on the wall, if that is what you were thinking, it employs a state of the art air flow suction system, that gives the Zero Gravity wall climber its incredible vertical climb and other unique abilities.

Adults and kids think it's the coolest thing ever, and the house proud love the fact that its smooth rollers leave walls unscuffed and clean. Control the action via a stylish twin toggle transmitter and perform feats that other radio-controlled vehicles can't even begin to dream about.

You can buy it Here for only £79.95










You can buy it Here for only £79.95

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

PicoZ Micro Helicopter


We only sell the original and best PicoZ. Our delivery costs are also less than other websites (£2.95, or free delivery if you buy 2 or more).

The PicooZ is available in three channels (A/B/C) , so you can fly up to three at once! If you order more than one from us we will make sure we send you different types so you can fly them together.

A four word sentence can sum up this amazing mini remote control helicopter: Awesome, Awesome , Awesome, Awesome. You'll be all smiles as you pilot this mini marvel...

Flying a real helicopter requires many flight hours and the sort of ambidextrous skill normally reserved for contortionists. Foot pedals, joysticks, knobs, dials, buttons and switches enough to baffle a nuclear physicist make it something that only very ‘special’ people are capable of mastering.

Still, if you hanker after the joys of dual-rotored flight and want to hover like a hummingbird in the blue yonder we can help. We’ve taken delivery of this unique PicoZ Micro Helicopter, you see and we’re sharing it with the world via this very website.

At just 17cm long and weighing in at just 10g, the PicoZ isn’t likely to cause havoc should you lose control. That said, losing control isn’t particularly likely, since it’s a doddle to pilot and will see you performing aerial stunts that’ll put the Red Bull Air Racers to shame. It really can perform some awesome manoeuvres, and is built to withstand a few wipe outs.

It’s controlled via a traditional two-stick controller, although this is a controller with a difference: it’s also a charging unit for the chopper’s batteries. Simply clip it onto the controller after a death-defying flight and it’ll be juiced and ready to go. A half-hour charge gives you a solid 10 minutes’ worth of play.

Once you've mastered your Picoo Z, you may like to try challenging another two of your mates to a PicoZ race or trick challenge, made possible due to tri-band technology. Each colour helicopter is a different band, so you can fly up to 3 at the same time. If you order more than one from us we will make sure we send you different types so you can fly them together.

Ready-to-fly straight out the box, this palm-sized IR flying machine is perfect for indoor flights.

Let others get their kicks on terra-firma. You were born to fly, my son…

You can buy it Here for only £24.95

Monday, March 19, 2007

BUSlink Bluetooth Hands Free Car Kit w/Caller ID


Experience freedom like never before with this BUSlink Bluetooth car kit! This BUSlink Bluetooth hands free kit for your car is an easy and safe way to use your Bluetooth enabled mobile phone while driving!
With features like superior speaker sound, large LCD caller ID display, built in microphone, built in full function keypad, and Bluetooth v1.2 connectivity, this BUSlink Bluetooth hands free kit is a steal at this price!


Features/Specifications:
BUSlink Bluetooth Hands Free Car Kit w/Caller ID (Caron Autosound Ltd.)

General Features:
Caller ID
Dial Key Pad
Call Transfer
Speaker volume and gain control
Support voice dialing
Incoming call voice
Echo Free Sound
Low Battery Indication
Mounts on car sun visor

Technical Information:
Standard: Bluetooth V1.2 Specification
Range: 33 ft (Free Space)
Connection: Point to Point
Talk Time: 4 Hours
Standby Time: 100 hours
Memory: 30 Calls
Battery: Rechargeable Li-Ion Polymer

Regulatory Approvals:
FCC
CE
Package Includes:
BUSlink Bluetooth Hands Free Car Kit (Caron Autosound Ltd.)
Li-Ion rechargeable battery
Sun visor clip
12V car power adapter
Users manual
Additional Information:

Notes:
Model: BCS-1000
UPC: 6 77891 51314 0

Sunday, March 18, 2007

T-Qualizer T Shirt Original


Do you want a T Shirt that is unlike any you have seen before? The T-Qualizer is a T Shirt with a built in graphic equalizer panel that is sound sensitive. As the music beats, this special T Shirts equalizer lights up to the beat of the music.

A bit like having a heart monitor on your chest really, except all you will have to worry about is partying! You will have to party in the T-Qualizer or its full dazzling appeal will not become known. What a great excuse, the T-Qualiser is great for concerts, raves, parties anywhere that music plays.

The T-Qualizer is made from 100% cotton. It has a fully functional EL (Electro Luminescence) panel with a battery pack that snuggles discretely into a pocket inside the shirt. The end result is an awesome sound sensitive music T-Shirt that commands attention.

Each frequency of music will activate a different equalizer bar, just like the equalizer on your home stereo! You will be setting the beat in this T-Shirt, so be ready to attract the crowds on the dance floor. The T-Qualiser is a T-Shirt with power, pulling power!

Size: Medium or Large



Main Features:
100% Cotton T Shirt
Sound sensitive graphic equaliser panel
Battery pack included

You can buy it Here for only £13.95

Glow Shot Glasses (4 Pack)


Brighten up your party, and stand out in a crowd with these super bright Glow Shot Glasses. Packed in sets of four assorted colours Red, Green, Yellow and Blue with two activators, these plastic liquid shot glasses are guaranteed to light up any drink.

They are fantastic for parties, BBQ's, or any special occasion. Each cup holds 1.5oz or 12ml. Simple to activate, and the glow lasts for up to 6 hours. The only question is how many shots could you drink in the six hours they are lit? Supplied in a stunning colour gift box. For cold drinks only.

You can buy it Here for only £3.95

Rimax Virtual Vision Glasses 4.0 (Virtual cinema)


Until now, most people have opted for the portable DVD option to give them TV or Films when out and about, but now that the Virtual Vision Glasses 4.0 Professional have been introduced there is a much better option. All you do is plug these futuristic glasses into your laptop or media player, and instead of watching your film or TV clip on a tiny screen, these glasses give you the equivalent of watching a 40” screen. To further improve the viewing experience the glasses have built in double channel stereo headphones.

They also represent a brilliant option for viewing TV at home if you want a massive quality picture, but cannot afford the massive price tag of a plasma sceen. lets face it a 40" plasma screen can also take over your sitting room unless you live in a huge mansion, whereas you can put these glasses in a draw when you've finished with them.

You should adjust the glasses to the contour of your face so that the minimum amount of light filters in through the side of the eye pieces. The darker the surrounding environment, the better the effect. When you first put the glasses on, wait between two and three minutes for your eyes to adjust to the sensation. After this time you will see that the picture becomes clearer. It is recommended not to use the glasses for more than three hours at a time. For further information please consult the user manual.

You can buy it Here for £199.95



Main Features:
Mini LCD display, no radiation, no damage to eyes
Unique optical system is adopted to replicate a 40-inch screen 2 meters away
Broad adaptability; can be connected to DVD players, Game Consoles or other standard AV products
Supports PAL + NTSC video signals
External battery for complete freedom - up to 8 hours maximum per charge
Easy operation and convenience of portability
Variable volume, brightness and contrast
Can be worn over conventional glasses

Box Contents:

Virtual Vision headset with built-in Stereo Earphones
In-Line remote control
Power adapter
LP900 Lithium battery
Audio Video cable
Junction cables
Triple RCA female to female converter
User manual

You can buy it Here for £199.95

Friday, March 16, 2007

Genius Look 313 Media Speakers/Webcam/USB Hub


Entertainment on the go!

This Genius Look 313 Media 32200074101 is perfect for people on the go! Combining a webcam, multimedia speakers, USB hub and a microphone with a headphone jack this amazing gadget handles all your entertainment needs while on the go!

Another great feature of the Look 313 Media 32200074101 is its swivel speakers; the swivel motion allows you to adjust the speakers to get the best sound. Plus the Look 313 Media is USB bus powered so no more carrying around a power adapter for your speakers.


Features/Specifications:
Genius Look 313 Media Speakers/Webcam/USB Hub

General Features:
Stylish silver design
Portable design
USB powered
Headphone and microphone jacks

Web Camera Specifications:
Image Sensor type VGA (640 x 480) CMOS Image Sensor
Manual focus lens
USB 2.0 interface
JPEG / AVI file format
Still Image 1280 x 960 (Maximum)
AVI Capture 640 x 480 (Maximum)
Frame rate Up to 30 frames per second

Speaker Specifications:
Interface USB 2.0
RMS 2 watts (THD 10%; 1 KHz, 8)
Driver unit 36 mm Neodymium magnet micro driver
Frequency response (THD 10%) 20 Hz ~ 20 KHz
S/N ratio 98dB
Power source USB bus power, max 5V, and 500 mA
Built-in digital amplifier

HUB Specifications:
Interface USB 2.0 (backward compatible to USB 1.1 / 1.0)
Ports 2 downstream ports

Regulatory Approvals:
FCC
CE
Package Includes:
Genius Look 313 Media Speakers/Webcam/USB hub
USB cable
Carry bag
User’s manual
Software CD
Additional Information:

Notes:
Model: Look 313 Media
UPC: 0 91163 70556 7
EAN: 4 710268 705567

Product Requirements:
Windows 98SE / ME / 2000 / XP
MAC OSX operating system
CD-ROM drive
Available USB port

GE Portable Book Light (Translucent Blue)


This GE Portable Book Light is perfect for night time reading. When you lift the top portion, the lamp comes on and when you're finished it folds down to shut off the light. It clips on easily to any book or magazine and provides a reading light just about anywhere without disturbing others!




Features/Specifications:
  • GE Portable Book Light

  • General Features:
  • Translucent blue design
  • Portable light
  • Attaches to a book or magazine
  • Lift top portion and lamp will light up automatically
  • Fold down to shut off light
  • Operates on two (2) AAA batteries (not included)
Website: Enter

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Robomop, robot that will clean your house, amazing!!!


New model: The original Robomop has been updated to include a softbase for easy cleaning of corners, and also has a more powerful motor (RRP £44.95). Just take a look at the black coloured model.

We all know what it is like in the busy, busy world we live in..... too cream crackered when we get in at night to do the domestic bit; we just want to have fun. Life is too short, we work too hard, we HATE housework. With this thought in mind a clever chappy from the Nordic part of the world conjured up the wonderful idea of inventing a robotic dusting machine, you watch it do the work.

The RoboMop will run across your floor, and clean a 60 square metre surface with 98% accuracy in 1 hour. The 8.5 centimetre low mop actually cleans areas where you usually do not clean yourself like under sofas, beds and cupboards. (Where the real amounts of dust piles up).

If you've got rooms with laminate, lyno, tiled, or wooden floors (in fact anything hard, so not carpet) this helpful little chap will save you hours and hours of cleaning each month leaving you free to enjoy life to the max. Just watch the video clip at the above link to see the Robomop in action.

This clever little ball of tricks AKA the Robomop is charged up and a special electrostatic pad is placed on the bottom. It is then placed in the cleaning area and is good to go. You stipulate how long it scoots about your floor collecting dust. When the time is up simply pick up and put the cloth in the bin complete with all that yucky dust (99% of which is human dead skin – aaagh).

This reminds us of those funny hamster balls we used to have as kids with the poor long suffering hamster running around the lounge carpet; this is way more useful and much nicer to our furry little friends.

For a PDF instruction sheet of how to use the great gadget just Click here.

You get 5 free cleaning pads with each Robomop (that you simply attach to its underside), and you can also buy extra pads from us by clicking on the drop down menu above. A pack of 24 extra pads costs £4.95.

You can buy it Here for only £29.95




You can buy it Here for only £29.95

USB Missile Launcher


USB technology takes on new horizons with this missile launcher. We all love a good laugh in the office (too much on occasions according to He Who Must Be Obeyed! AKA the MD) so you can imagine the pandemonium and chaos that ensued when we got these in to play with.... Nearly as bad as when we got the fart machines in and they were all confiscated and we were all put on detention for being just silly.

The missile launcher is controlled from your keyboard or mouse..... After plugging it into your USB port, you get a mini program on your PC (see screenshot in images below) that enables you to aim your missiles and press the RED fire button when you're happy your victim is targeted.

So, just take aim and fire and wait for the squawk! Being sensible, mature, grown-ups (well on some rare occasions), we can confirm that the missiles are made of foam and so there is practically no danger of causing any harm to anyone or thing during your office war games.

Uses:

We have come up with the following uses to justify the purchase of this latest must have item, - can you come up with any more?

- Catching the eye of the dishy new boy or gorgeous new girl in your office
- Attracting attention to get a Malteser
- Exacting revenge for the kidnap of your Gonk/Teddy/Picture of your dog
- Just winding up the boss
- To be naughty
- Just for the shear hell of it

You can buy it Here for just £19.95









You can buy it Here for just £19.95