News about Miscellaneous Gadgets:
Satellite view reveals 17 lost pyramids in Egypt
When it comes to discovery, technology has essentially “been there, done that”. Thanks to satellite imagery, there are no more lost islands, and there are very few civilizations that have been untouched by civilization. However, technology played a huge part in uncovering 17 lost pyramids and thousands of ancient tombs, not to mention other structures in an infrared satellite survey of Egypt.
Casa De La Flora makes certain everyone gets a seaside view
In case that Star Trek Resort that is opening in Jordan isn’t enough luxury for you, you might want to check out this one under construction in Thailand.
University of Chicago to get a mechanized library
Just yesterday, I reported on the Yobot, a robot arm that will be stationed at a Yotel near Times Square New York, and its job is to take ones bag for safekeeping and file it with others.
Bargain Deal at woot – Samsung Galaxy Android Tablet for $260
If you’re in the market for a cheap tablet there’s a great deal over on woot for refurbished Samsung Galaxy Tab (full spec: “1 Samsung Galaxy Tab 7″ 16GB Android 2.2, Wi-Fi + 3G (Sprint), microSD, BT, GPS, 3.0 & 1.3MP Cams”). As with all woot specials it’s only available today or until stocks run out. Happy wooting 
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Jacko Steps are straight out of Billie Jean video
I was listening to the radio in the car yesterday, and Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean came on the air.
While my wife and I were questioning the lyrics, I couldn’t help but think of the video for the song. I swear, Michael Jackson’s videos took music videos to a whole new level back in the 1980s.
lightRadio – There’s a lot of Jack in this Box
I’m probably dating myself, but I actually owned one of the first cell phones, admit it, some of you remember… It came attached to a darn suitcase, and seemed to weigh about 5 pounds. I was pretty proud of it, and come to think of it, the reception was pretty good too! But look how far we’ve come…
Star Trek resort coming to Jordan in 2014
Some of you might remember how we reported on a Chinese amusement park that is based (loosely) on World of Warcraft and Starcraft. I suppose it was time that someone made a decent Star Trek theme park, and this one will be in Aqaba, Jordan.
President Obama’s stuck limo is hopefully not an omen for the United States
I think we all know that the president, being very vulnerable while in transit, has a limousine designed especially for him. This vehicle is bulletproof, but it has one vulnerability: bumps.
SkyScreamer at Six Flags St. Louis takes you for a real ride
Now that summer is here, I’m sure that people will be heading to amusement parks in droves. The SkyScreamer at Six Flags St. Louis should bring a crowd.
Swiss Advance Retractable Fork and Knife
Go covert the next time you pack your lunch from home – with the Swiss Advance Retractable Fork and Knife that will certainly bring out the James Bond in you. Never mind about your plastic picnicware that you are used to love to loathe, and neither do you need to tote around clunky metal cutlery. Swiss Advance, masters of the compact tool market, has just released their Swiss Advance Retractable Fork and Knife.
WorldTV 1.0 – Your 15 Minutes of Fame Awaits
WorldTV is a web application that enables its users to create, manage and operate their very own TV channel for publishing to the web or to television. Now being a TV star is an option for all of us, because almost anyone can be a TV broadcaster with WorldTV.
Stay to the right with the Lenticular floor pattern
This strange pattern on the floor that you see in the photo is a product of research from people at the Tokyo University of Electro-Communications. The arrangement of the tiles has nothing to do with an art-deco or seventies aesthetic, but it sends a subliminal message.
Bye-5: Turn off the lights by slapping it some skin
I have no idea of who invented the high-five, but this hand-to-hand slap has become one of the first things we learn. We are always so proud when our little babies can high five. Yes, there is something very positive about this hand slap, and designer Da Deng has channeled this positive energy into a device that can save energy.
This ride gets more thrilling as you get more scared
So what is it that we are looking at here, some sort of swing that doubles as a torturing device?
You are close. Imagine if there was a thrill-park ride that got more thrilling as you were thrilled. I realize that there was way too many variations of the word “thrill” in that last sentence, but here is what people at Nottingham University are attempting:
Jetman soars over the Grand Canyon
Some of you might remember our old friend Yves Rossy. This man, who is also known as “Jetman” has used this personal rocket pack to fly across the English channel, is now handling some Evel Knievel territory with the Grand Canyon. There is a video after the jump if you want to check it out for yourself.
Waterskiing Chair for the adventurous
Do you have a penchant for adrenaline rushes? If the answer is in the affirmative, then you would do well to check out the Waterskiing Chair. The name itself is somewhat an oxymoron – have you ever seen anyone go water skiing sitting down in a relaxed position? Well, this patented chair will be mounted to a pair of waterskis, where it paves the way for both beginners and experts to ski from a stable seated position.
Perplexus 3D Game Maze – Kill Time, Not your Kids
I need to take a trip to North Carolina in a few weeks, and from NYC, we’re talking just under 10 hours in the car. Keeping my kid entertained for a 20 minute trip to the mall is a little tough, 10 hours is going to be insane.There are only so many times “I spy with my little eye…” can keep ANY kid entertained and let’s face it by the 5th time I have to guess “is it an indicator light on the dashboard?” I just want to kill myself. To keep the “are we there yet” questions to a minimum, PlaSmart Inc. suggests that parents can keep their kids occupied and entertained while on the road with their new Perplexus 3D game maze challenge.
Computer Algorithm will determine grouping of names on 9/11 Memorial
This year marks the tenth anniversary of 9/11, and there is a memorial planned to be unveiled on September 11th of this year.
Like most memorials, such as the Vietnam War memorial, this one will be a list of names. These particular names will not be in alphabetical or chronological order, but will be grouped by affinity.
Easy Cap could change the way we open soda bottles
It seems like technology always finds us better and simpler ways of doing things, even if it only saves us a few precious seconds of labor.
Remember when ring tabs used to be on soda and beer cans? I guess people would just carelessly litter by tossing the ring tabs over their shoulder. Someone in the early eighties figured out that you can attach the tab to the can itself. Now, this easier method of manufacture is a standard.
The Prism 200c Backpack can see through walls
Before I begin this posting, let me put an image in your mind that is straight out of a spy thriller. It starts with a guy like the one in the image, wearing a backpack and leaning up against a brick wall. He then takes out a cell phone and Bluetooth earpiece and looks like he is texting and talking on the phone at the same time. However, this is not the case.
The Icon Link: A bright light in a small package
There is no end to miniature flashlights, and since we will always need them, there will always be a market for them. I got a chance to try out the Link from Icon, and it is quite a light.
Augmented Reality Tattoos work well with the Nintendo 3DS
About one year ago, I did an article about augmented reality tattoos. It was a Beunos Aries-based software producer who had the AR marker on their flesh, thanks to a company known as ThinkAnApp.
DaGeDar Supercharged Battle Balls Started Rolling In Today…
Cepia LLC, the makers of everybody’s favorite ZhuZhu Pets, have taken the age old game of marbles and brought it into the new millenium. DaGeDar supercharged battle balls combine speed, skill, competition and encourage strategy all in a collectible racing game that lets kids set the rules. DaGeDar just launched in Phoenix but won’t be hitting a store near you until this summer.
Fanbrella provides both shade and wind
The umbrella is one of humanity’s oldest inventions, and there is evidence of it in Ancient Egypt. I would imagine that back in Egyptian times, it didn’t get used for blocking the ran, but sunshine.
Strandbeest now available on 3D printers
Some of you have never heard of the Strandbeest, which are creations of Theo Jansen. They are kinetic powered sculptures that appear to walk on their own. The last time we mentioned them was last year.
The Wave Jet – High Tech Hang Ten
Today was National “Take Your Child to Work” day, so here we sit, writing an article together. In actuality it was “Get your Stuff Done in Twice the Time it would Normally Take” day… but heres our spin on this thing anyway…
Pepsi unveils its new Social Vending program
Pepsi has figured out a way to tie-in social networking with their product once again with their Social Vending program.
I believe that this idea actually requires some special soda vending machines that have touchscreens and have to be connected to the Internet or a phone line of some type. Not only will these new machines let you buy a Pepsi product, but you will be able to send one to another location.
Washable RFID Tags – Soon to be Tracking your Hotel Towels
Imagine this if you will, it’s about a week after your fabulous vacation to Miami, and you just finished washing your clothes, and all the really cool towels you stole form the pool area, when there’s a knock at your door, as you put the last towel on the shelf, the towel police take out your front door and rush up your front staircase.
The last typewriter company is no more, as is the typewriter
An India-based typewriter manufacturing company known as Godrej and Boyce has just closed its doors, which means that no typewriters will ever be on the market again.
Tout.com – Share the Moment
First there was Twitter for instantly gratifying text-based communication, but now there is Tout… delivering the same instant gratification, only this time, via video, So let’s call it “instant visual communication.” The ability to update your Facebook friends and Twitter followers with short video status updates that can be captured with your smartphone.
PooPoo Paper Company – Adds to the Crap on your Desk
Let me introduce you to the PooPoo Paper Company, manufacturing recycled and odorless paper products made from elephant poo, the company also makes a load of other paper products, all from poo derived from large fiber eating animals. Think horses, cows and the very exclusive, panda poo.
Financial Padding shows you have money to stuff more than your mattress
As someone who is doing business on Ebay constantly, I find that I am constant need of packing material so I can send buyers their items.
I tend to use anything I can find, such as wadded-up newspaper, crinkled-up 8×11 inch paper, and Styrofoam peanuts, if I have any left over. Can you imagine my buyers’ surprise if their stuff came in boxes with all this cash?
Drive-thru Funerals? You want flowers with that?
You have so many things you need to do in a day and only so many hours to do them in. Many businesses know this, and try their best to keep you moving, we have fast food, drive thru dry cleaners, drive-up bank tellers, drive in movies and curbside grocery delivery and now… wait for it… the drive thru funeral parlor.
Fraunhofer IPMS OLED microdisplay-based eyetracking HMD
For those of you that don’t know what HMD is, it is an acronym for Head Mounted Device. This particular HMD has a microdisplay, like the Lumus PD-20 that we reported on a while ago.
Brazilian police can scan hundreds of faces per second with a pair of sunglasses
The 2014 World Cup is going to be in Brazil, and preparations are already underway. Security is going to be tight at this event, and I have heard that the police will have something to protect the innocent like Robocop.
Sony Ericsson’s MW600 Stereo Bluetooth Headset, and a Radio too
Sony Ericsson introduces the MW600 Stereo Bluetooth Headset with both amazing sound quality and a built in FM Radio. You can access FM radio stations directly from the headset. It is quick and easy to tune in your favorite stations with the new integrated FM, which also features RDS to display radio station information like the artist and song names.
Get “Bizzy” – Real Time Reviews and Suggestions
Bizzy, the personalized local business recommendation engine powered by people with similar tastes, launched a new mobile location-based “Check Out” feature, which lets you quickly and easily denote your response to every business you visit. Then the sentiment that you have shared about the business that you visited will let others know what you thought about the place and it will help Bizzy give YOU recommendations for the next time you’re out and about.
Billboard is powered by oranges
There is a popular science lesson that every high school physics or chemistry teacher must perform. It involves using foods to power a small light bulb, along with some nails and wire.
Even Paul Bunyan would be threatened by the Jawsaw
You know how a lot of chainsaws have the giant exposed blade that is a definite occupational hazard? The JawSaw by Worx is a safer alternative to this, but doesn’t exactly work on the biggest of trees.
Opera Stage is one of the creepiest ever
I will have to say that I am not a fan of opera, and can honestly say that I have never even seen one. However, this particular stage for a French Revolutionary opera called Andre Chenier makes me want to go (at least to this version).
I have found my dream job, and it is in Inventionland
You might look at these photos to the left and think that this is some sort of amusement park, but it is actually a place of business.
Apparently, this company manages to put out 2,000 inventions every year, which is enough to make Thomas Alva Edison green with envy. The creator, George Davison, made Inventionland as a 70,000 square foot office with various themed areas like a pirate ship, tree house, castle, and even a giant robot.
WISeKey – Joining the Fight against Counterfeits
I really can’t be certain how it is in the rest of the world, but counterfeit stuff is very commonplace here in the New York area, and it’s not just in back rooms in Chinatown, it’s on the street in broad daylight and in storefronts… Heck, I’ve even seen a counterfeit “party” with luxury label handbags, complete with wine and cheese. It didn’t seem like a big deal, until I wanted an elegant bag of my own, and wondered if everyone would just assume it was a fake. It really isn’t a victimless crime is it?
