Gadgets Future

Maths can be a serious problem for some kids, and to make the learning process more fun and easier, there is the Robot Calculator.

Basically it is a calculator shaped as a robot that has legs, arms, and hands that are able to hold different objects. There are other two great features that make it an unique gadget: the inclusion of a night light, and a magnet so you can place paper clips. In the end you’ve got a 3-in-1 product, right?

The Robot Calculator costs $15 and is available in three colors: green, blue, and white.

Stands up or lays down flat—the hardest working calculator on the planet.

Product Page

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Sony is not content with winning the high definition format war with its Blu-ray emerging as the victor, as they company wants to hedge against virtually delivered content taking over the world of physcial media. Word has it that Sony is working on an Apple TV competitior, and this new device will also provide access to the playstation Network. Till it is released, it would be best to keep all speculation to yourself and hope that something comes along to nudge Apple TV awake from its slumber.

If you have an enemy who’s threatening to you with anthrax, the last culture of smallpox, and the likes, you definitely need this.

Developed by the scientists in MIT, PANTHER, which stands for PAthogen Notification for THreatening Environmental Releases, could detect pathogens in the air for a mere 3 minutes while machines of similar function take up to 20. Its licensor Innovative Biosensors has released a product called BioFlash with the PANTHER technology last January. PANTHER could detect up to 24 pathogens in the air including anthrax, E. coli, tularemia, plague, and, if you know someone who happened to keep a culture of it somewhere after its eradication, smallpox. The PANTHER technology is especially useful in congested and depressed areas where contaminants are rampant, although it could also be used for medical diagnostics.

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Lenovo has announced a “green” computer that sounded like it’s ultra-small, until you see the photo.

“Lenovo today announced the ThinkCentre M57/M57P “Eco” ultra small desktop PC, the first desktop PC from any manufacturer to receive GREENGUARD certification”

Unless the monitor in the picture is a 7” one, I really do not see where “ultra-small” comes from. Of course, it might just be an inconsistency, another page shows a smaller computer, but it’s still not “ultra small”. Who at Lenovo let the marketing guys loose again?

Didn’t we tell you $500 was going to be the price to beat for entry-level digital SLRs? Nikon got there first with deep discounts on the D40X, and now Olympus is jumping in with the new E-420, selling out of the gate for five Benjamins (body only, avaiable in May). Besides price, the 10-megapixel shooter is being touted as one of the smallest and lightest SLRs ever, weighing in at a neck-saving 13.4 ounces.

You also get the usual face detection, image stabilization, Live View LCD and shadow/highlight balancing. And what of the value we and others have been harping on, image sensor size? Olympus remains wedded to the 4/3" format, providing about a third less real estate than competitors. But it’ll still be clarity nirvana for anyone stepping up from a point-and-shoot.

Olympus E-420: World’s Smallest And Lightest Consumer Digital SLR Delivers Enhanced Autofocus Live View
[Olympus]

There are so much mobile phone news that we have a site dedicated to them: UberPhones.

• Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 interface hints at AT&T link
• Samsung Anycall L258 announced for Hong Kong
• Asus M536 PDA with GPS
• Fake Sony Ericsson W990 Looks Fake
• iphone launching on Swisscom on April 4th?

And don’t forget to check what industry insiders have to say on UberPulse:

• Intel Could Exit NAND Flash Business. Focusing on Four New $10 Billion Markets
• Rock Bottom Prices at Microsoft Employee Store
• Microsoft Pushing “Software+Services” in the Enterprise
• Scott McNealy on Post-CEO Life, Yahoo/Microsoft, Open Source, KKR

Excuse the animated gif, but it’s the best way to see how this “innovation” works. Instead of eschewing the junk and gunk that inevitably fills up your keyboard, the Keyboard Organizer positively embraces it, although it swaps toast crumbs and cigarette ash for pens, paperclips and, er, some old fashioned silver disc.

A look at the product blurb shows us that even the manufacturers are hard pressed to list any real features. The spec sheet actually lists “Makes use of space” and “Blister Packed” as Key Benefits. And sorry, Mac Users: You’ll have to find another way to waste $25. This one is PS/2 only – no USB.

Product page [BB Trade Sales via Coolest gadgets]

The Nkryptor Puzzle
It might only be the size of a cassette tape, but beneath its hand-crafted exterior of high grade aluminium, there lies a bonus PC game. The challenge is not just to win the game and enter the prize zone beyond, but to find a way into the Egyptian-themed box in the first instance…

See price

Few people working in the games industry would disagree that having Capcom as your employer would make them very happy. You only have to look at its recent back catalog of games to see why.

Now, the chance of working for the Japanese developer has increased significantly, as it goes on a large recruitment drive in the U.S. Positions are available across a wide range of disciplines, including standard development disciplines (art, QA, and production), mobile and interactive arts, marketing and P.R., sales, and administration. There are even positions available on the Internship program the company runs.

There is also good news for people who play the games, but don’t work in the industry; and that’s because of the reason behind the recruitment drive. The company needs so many new people, because–as the U.S. Capcom blog states–”We’ve got 15 different projects cooking right now (and more to come).”

Capcom performed really well the last couple of years with hit titles on all platforms. It certainly is a place you would love to work at, as much out of curiosity as a need to work with the IP you love.

Good luck to anyone who applies.

Read more at MCVUK.

We are up, waiting and trying to control our excitement, just what details will we get today about the long awaited iphone (and ipod Touch) SDK. Today’s event will also be including some news about the ”exciting new enterprise features.”

The event, which is taking place at the Apple HQ in Cupertino begins today at 10PST, which is not until 1PM EST for us, makes it seem like we still have so long to wait.

Our guess, a date will be announced, but we will not be getting anything new to play with just yet. We do hope (in the case only) that we are proven wrong.

Check back here at Gadgetell for the highlights and don’t forget to check our sister site Appletell for the full and in-depth details.

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