Gadgets Future

Torrenting is used by many, and I’m sure everyone who torrents has used or at least heard of, TorrentSpy. The website has been closed down since March 24, 2008, and after the latest news its safe to say that it will remain down. Basically, their reason for shutting down is that they had lost too much money from court cases, and according to the statement on their site the “legal climate in the USA for copyright, privacy of search requests, and links to torrent files in search results is simply too hostile.” Now in the latest blow, the MPAA has come out victorious after going at TorrentSpy and not only did they win the court case, but also $110 million. Looks like this will keep them down.

Via [CrunchGear]

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The Zune has some reason to celebrate, and while they are still far from Apple and the iPod, they have just reached the respectable 2 million sold mark. This new level comes just about one year from when Microsoft announced they sold the first million Zune’s, and with the increased sales some increased market share comes as well. Microsoft has been (albeit small) affecting the market share of some others such as Creative, who recently saw a two-percent drop. While the Zune has still not been able to affect the ipod with any major significance, its seems to be in the game for the long haul and has only been improving since its initial launch back in November 2006.

Via [electronista]

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Remote controlled toys on CG are a-plenty, but this time round we have something which requires a wee bit more skill to fly compared to your regular RC helicopters, as it boasts a higher degree of precision and control. Behold, the Bladez 3D Helicopter! Looks like the perfect toy to irritate your pet with, chasing it around the home. Check out a description of the device right after the jump.

If you’ve had a wild time flying our indoor helicopters (and you really should have) then it’s time to step-up to the big time with Bladez 3D, our annoyingly spelt, but immensely enjoyable, indoor and outdoor monster RC Helicopter. It’s tough, it’s cool, it’s 3 channel and even has an intelligent RC system that avoids interference with other RC users - but won’t stop them pestering you to have a go. A twelve minute charge will give you about eight minutes of flying time, and it’s best suited for intermediate to advanced heli flyers. Unlike our lighter and simpler indoor models it has more precision and control, which of course requires more flying skill, but ensures a whole heap more fun. We got it up and running straight from the box, and despite not being ace heli flyers ourselves, managed to zip it around the office without sending anyone to casualty. However, it’s a pretty powerful beast, so if you’re flying it indoors make sure you have a fair amount of space, and as few household pets as possible.

You will be able to get up and flying for £49.99. I’d make sure that all ceiling fans are turned off first if I plan to fly this thing indoors. I think bachelor pads would welcome it more than a regular household…after all Mother’s Day is just over so it would best not irk the missus so soon, eh?

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Developed exclusively for the Japanese market, Mazda Motor Corporation today announced its newly developed eight-seat minivan, the Mazda Biante. This car features best-in-class interior space, distinctive, athletic styling and superior dynamic performance. The car will go on sale in Japan during summer 2008.
[ Source ]

Top 10 of useful supplements for mobile computingMay 11, 2008 Mobile computing is a kind of necessity nowadays for the majority of people. I bet you have your laptop, iphone, blackberry, etc. This list of handheld gadgets can be endless. So, here are another 10 useful devices that will help you to work more productive.

Number 10. It is often not very handy to carry your laptop, especially, when at least one of your hands is busy. With the help of LapStrap you will be able to solve this problem.

It is a shoulder strap made of durable nylon and neoprene shoulder pad for your comfort. It attaches to your laptop and is a nice solution in order to forget about heavy laptop case.

Number 9. WiFi Finder Plus can become you’re the most comfortable and the easiest way to find connections you can access. This is a very compact gadget that attaches easily to laptop carrying case or key chain.

Thus, you don’t waste your time and solve the problem very fast.

Number 8. USB Port Blocker is a device that physically blocks access to a USB port. Why do you need it? The answer is simple: to prevent users from connecting flash cards, MP3 players and other USB mass storage gadgets to your computer or laptop to copy data, introduce viruses etc.

The gadget is very comfortable for the situations when you should leave your PC unattended for a period of time.

Number 7. Solio Solar Charger is a solar powered gadget that will be able to recharge your cell phone, ipod and other handheld devices. Its features are great, for example, one hour of sun is equal to 15 minutes of talk time or 40 minutes of MP3 music, but this fully charged device can charge two standard mobile phones.

Number 6. The world’s smallest network-attached server the LinkStation Mini is a data storage gadget. The advantages of this palm-sized device open you the following possibilities: it is a great addition to your entertainment center, where you can keep music, videos, photos, movies, documents.

Moreover, it lets you access your files anytime via a Web browser from anywhere. It means that if the device is at home, you can use the stored data whenever you are.

Number 5. The IronKey is one of the most secure USB flash drives. Thanks to the newest technologies it locks down your sensitive files and passwords.

Even if your IronKey is lost or stolen, your information is still protected, but you can restore it from an encrypted backup to a new IronKey and use it again. As a reliable device it is also waterproof.

Number 4. DiskGO™ USB Watch Drive is a great combination of convenient portable storage and stylish watch. With the help of this device it is really easy to transfer your data. The built-in secure password protection software is one more advantage of the gadget.

Number 3. Samsung Ultra Slim Mouse is the greatest variant for you if you don’t prefer touch pad on your laptop or usual bulky mice. It is just 8 millimeters thick, so it won’t cause any discomfort. The gadget has modern elegant design and implements all the functions you need.

Number 2. Canon Compact iP100 Mobile Printer is very small, and, as a result, portable. It is the first mobile printer that offers 9600×2400 dpi resolution. It works rather fast; for example, the gadget prints a full-color 4′x6′ photo for 50 seconds.

If you want to make a photo from your digital camera or mobile phone, you may connect it directly to the device, so the laptop is not necessary. The device corrects the quality of your pictures.

Number 1. RFID Security Mobile Disk provides you the maximum security for saving your personal files. It allows you to lock and unlock the hard drive with the help of RFID key recognition.

Related:

• USB Drumming Santa drums your mood!
• 4 applications to carry your PC on portable device

The Clip Stik Ultra-Slim Fan is one interested household gadget that offers an instant cooling breeze, no matter where you are. I guess with global warming and weird weather patterns happening all around, it makes perfect sense to keep a cool and calm head with this.

Thanks to a slim “tower” design, this Lasko clip-on fan is easy to use anywhere. Clip it on a shelf or bookcase…or take off the clip and use it freestanding. Even a crowded desk or busy kitchen has room for this fan! Just clip it to a shelf, and you’ll be cooled and refreshed quickly and quietly. Two speeds—quick cooling or gentle breeze. Just adjust the swivel-action clip to direct the air flow where you need it, or away from paperwork. This slim fan also can be used on a kitchen counter or side table. Patented, fused safety plug.

The Clip Stik Ultra-Slim Fan will set you back by $39.95.

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Two studies done into the affects of mobile phones on brainwaves have found the electromagnetic signals emanating from a phone can alter brainwaves.

The first study is entitled, “The effect of mobile phone electromagnetic fields on the alpha rhythm of human electroencephalogram” and was lead by Rodney Croft at the Brain Science Institute in Melbourne, Australia. It took 120 healthy men and women and strapped a Nokia 6110 to their heads. EEG data was then collected on all participants, but neither the researchers or the subjects knew which phones were actually receiving transmissions in a double-blind test scenario.

That test showed that alpha waves in the brain were boosted by the phone. This was also backed up by the fact the alpha wave boost was most significant in the brain tissue directly beneath the mobile phone. Alpha waves are generally associated with sleep and shifts in the attention of a person. Therefore, changes in alpha waves could also see changes in a person’s behaviour.

A second study carried out entitled, “Mobile phone ‘talk-mode’ signal delays EEG-determined sleep onset” was done at the Loughborough University Sleep Research Centre in England. This time a Nokia 6310e was strapped to 10 healthy, but sleep-deprived men, and then the phone was placed in different modes including standby, listen and talk. The results showed that the talk mode dampened delta waves for up to an hour after the phone was removed. The sleep-deprived men were staying awake twice as long as usual.

Overall the research found that mobile phones use frequencies that are good at affecting brainwaves and that the effect is the equivalent of drinking half a cup of coffee. It was also pointed out these results in no way show a health risk from using mobile phones.

Read more at Scientific American

Matthew’s Opinion

It’s interesting to see research happening outside of the scope of “are phones bad for your health?”. In fact it turns out they can stimulate your brain and even suggests talking on a mobile phone can help you stay awake longer. I am in now way suggesting people start strapping phones to their heads when they need to stay awake, but if you have ever felt a bit rejuvenated when speaking on your mobile when tired; it could be in part due to the phone. I would suspect it is 99% to do with the interaction on the phone call, however.

In some ways this should act as a warning to research involving implanting electronic devices in our heads for whatever reason. The likelihood is that people who undergo such a procedure may end up having more trouble sleeping or be prone to more frequent behaviour changes, however small those changes are.

Just in time for the summer holiday season comes British based company Devotec, with their entry in to the portable Solar charger market.

Devotecs offering comes with a solar board & a neat brown leather slip case. Followed by a selection of adapters for all the major mobile phone brands (Nokia, Motorola, SonyEricsson etc. plus mini USB for HTC style smartphones), as well as mini jacks for MP3/4 players (including the Apple custom iPod connector) and similar portable equipment. To cover all other bases there’s a standard USB port adapter for plugging in your specific USB charger cable you may have with your digital camera.

The blue and white box with magnetic fastener flap gives you an initial feel of something a little better than the usual Made In China tat you find on ebay. The glossy box and compartments inside with ribbon to open them almost feels like the more recent LG Mobile phone and Apple’s well known packaging style.

However inside the box you’re brought back to reality with the pigeon English User Manual - not that you need much instructions for using the solar charger! What I did find interesting is the conflict of facts between the outer box and the instructions. The box claims a “high capacity” 1800mAh battery, whilst the user’s manual claims only 1350mAh. UPDATE: Confirmed from Devotec that the device has been upped to 1800mAh.

Of further note is that the solar charger is not compatible with current generations of Apple iphone, iPod Touch, and the new Shuffle. Further specifics about iPod compatibility can be found in the Devotec FAQ.

Usage is obviously straight forward. Charge up the battery pack - either by USB on your PC (or via the 3 pin UK plug provided), or by leaving it out in the sun.

Select the correct adapter from the selection, plug it in to the solar charger, and the other end in to your gadget. Watch the juice drip out in to your devices battery, slowly.

With the current hot summer weather we’re getting in the UK it was a perfect time to test the recharging capabilities of the solar panel.

As soon as you approach an outside door or window you’ll notice the bright blue LED light up to indicate solar charging has activated. It’s incredibly sensitive compared to the Freeloader (29.95 from Firebox.com) I tested previously.

The internal battery charged reasonably well over a period of 3 hours worth of British summer weather. It didn’t charge up fully within this time. I tried powering a flat mobile direct from the solar charger, as it was charging, but the power just wasn’t enough. However I did manage to boost the battery from 0% to 50% charged over the 3 hour period.

Real time charging of devices isn’t going to work at any speed, so it’s best to leave the charger in the sun on its own before you really need it.

The supplied 3 pin USB plug adapter is a great fall back when the sun just isn’t around and you’re on holiday. A much cheaper option to charge your ipod than Apple’s 25 plug.

Overall the Devotec Solar Charger is an affordable charger with all the right bits for less than the Freeloader. Definitely a worthy alternative.

The Solar Charger is available now direct from Devotec for 19.99

Wireless companies are always looking to take care of coverage dead zones in an attempt to keep and attract new subscribers but building new cell phone towers is not always an option due to the lack of available space or zoning. That’s why many companies have begun to lease roof space on buildings. One such plan seems to have the residents of one community up in arms. Of course, this is no regular residential or commercial building–it’s St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Rockville Centre, NY.

According to Fox News, some residents are against the building of a cell phone tower on church property, but the church’s pastor is all for it. That’s because the tower will bring in an additional US$1470 a month to the church budget. At a Board of Zoning Appeals meeting many local residents came out to speak out against the plan, the most vocal reason against the plan being possible health effects associated with the cell phone tower and the resulting reduction in property values around the church as a result.

Like the director of St. Mark’s Nursery School points out in the article, some of the parents who are speaking out against the tower are carrying cell phones. If there is such a concern over the possible health effect of a cell phone tower then these same people need to be hanging up their cell phones as well. In the end, some opponents of the plan seem to be missing the point that this is an easy way for the church to raise funds on a monthly basis to do even more good for the community.

If you believe being near a cell phone tower has an effect on your health then I would expect you to speak out against the construction of one near your property just don’t use your cell phone to drum up support for your opinion.

Read more from the Fox News article.

It seems like companies are always looking for new and innovative ways to advertise. Sure, in the old days they could get away with the usual ads in magazines and on TV and radio. However, these days you’ll see advertisements in movies, video games, on your coffee cups and just about anywhere you can imagine. One area that is largely untapped is the sky. However this device aims to change that.

We’ve all seen the Goodyear blimp hovering over sporting events, but thats really all we see in the way of sky-high advertisements. This machine churns out a logo made of specially formulated soap bubbles. These floating logos (called Flogos) range from 24 to 48 inches in size, and will hold their shape for a great distance. Depending on weather conditions they can travel 20-30 miles and reach altitudes of 20,000 feet. Environmentalists need not worry, these bubbles are 100% safe.

Source: OhGizmo

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