When it comes to video conferencing, I pretty much stick to Skype. For me, it’s proven itself to be the best cross-platform software for video chat out there. Starting next week, it’s going to get even better. While we have been limited to one-on-one conversations until now, that will no longer be the case.
Next week Skype will roll out 5-way video calling to users. It will be a free service for the time being, but don’t get too attached to that price. Later in the year they plan to charge for the new 5-way video calling service. No word on just how much it will set you back to video chat with four of your friends at the same time.
Since they obviously despise the term ‘bling’ as much as I do, French silverware maker Christofle have dubbed their Space Invaders creation a ‘fashion accessory’ that’s “suitable for use by both men and women” and “may be worn as a necklace, used to provide a nice accent to a favorite handbag, and displayed in a variety of other ways.” I’m not entirely sure how large it is (though the metal ball chain in the product shot does provide some sense of scale) but I do know since it’s made from fine French silver it will set you back about $130, while boosting your retro gaming street cred.
It may never make as much money as The Million Dollar Homepage did, but Adverputt, which cleverly combines an addictive flash-based minigolf-like game with blatant corporate sponsorship is ok by me! Not only does it look great, but it also has a brilliantly simple control scheme and decent physics, making it highly replayable. To celebrate its launch there’s a promotion to win free advertising space, but after that sponsorship will primarily be based on a monthly bidding system.
Oh and do I have to mention it’s not iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad friendly?
The new I:Virt M Series from Citizen, including the TM84-0351V and TM84-0352V models pictured above, are far from being the first Bluetooth equipped cellphone friendly watches on the market, but I suspect they’ll be just as ignored by the average consumer as their predecessors have been. I’m not entirely sure why Bluetooth watches like these haven’t caught on, but I’m sure it’s partly due to the fact that cellphones have become so compact, yet so capable, that it’s not that much of a chore to dig it out of your pocket to see who’s calling.
However, Citizen does make a strong case as to why a watch like this would be handy. Besides being able to see who’s calling, answer or reject incoming calls and read txt messages or emails while your phone is elsewhere, it also allows you to remotely control the phone’s camera shutter (that’s a good thing, right?) monitor your phone’s battery or signal strength and even receive breaking news updates, kind of like Microsoft’s MSN Direct service used to. But, those living outside of Japan probably shouldn’t even bother thinking about importing the watches, which only differ by the inclusion of a leather or metal band, since they’re only compatible with select SoftBank or Disney Mobile handsets.
Popular Science has an interesting article on Fire Pistons, which use nothing but compressed air to produce a flame, making them seem like the perfect fire starter to bring along the next time you’re camping. The model pictured above ($49.95), with its heavy aluminum rod inside a clear acrylic tube, is actually designed to be used for science demonstrations so you can see the materials inside igniting under pressure. You just quickly push down on the plunger, and the rapid increase of air pressure inside the tube produces more than enough heat to create a visible flame.
Air gets very hot when compressed under high pressure. If you have ever pumped up a bicycle tire, you have noticed the heat generated. The Unit has a “compression ratio” of approx. 18:1 (the volume of cylinder is 9ml and reduces to .5 ml when the plunger is compressed).
When the air in the Fire Piston Demo Unit is compressed, it is done so fast and efficiently that it results in a temperature increase to well over 210°C (378°F), the “flash ignition temperature” of cotton. In fact it can reach instantaneous temperature of over 260°C (500°F) inside the cylinder!
But if you’re actually thinking of replacing your Zippo with a Fire Piston, there are considerably smaller versions available for roughly the same price made of wood, aluminum, plastic and other materials that use something called Char Cloth to produce a glowing ember that can be used to ignite whatever fire starting material you have on hand.
With April having passed, one generally lets down their guard about products that might be too silly to be true. Every now and then a missed April Fool’s joke will pop up, so I do try and stay on my toes. Needless to say this fart-absorbing blanket immediately made me skeptical. A silly video and a name like “The Better Marriage Blanket” couldn’t possibly be real, could it?
I’m afraid that it seems quite real. This blanket promises to use a carbon fabric to absorb any unpleasant odors from your nighttime emissions. This will be the thing that saves your marriage, as we all know most divorces begin with a Dutch Oven. The blanket ranges from $40-$60 (depending on the size you choose), and despite what they claim will not make for a good wedding or anniversary gift. Seriously, this should never be purchased as a gift unless you’re intending it to be a joke, especially for your spouse.
I can’t vouch for the sound quality of these portable speakers, but when you consider they’re from MUJI, you can rest assured that plenty of attention has been put into their design. They’re powered by 2xAAA batteries so they should have a little bit of oomph, at least when compared to a non-powered speaker this size, and the clever folding design even includes a place for the short line-in cable to hide. $37.50 from MUJI’s online store.
Apple already sells a compact Bluetooth keyboard that I think is a perfect iPad accessory for those who don’t like using the on-screen option for prolonged periods. It’s extremely thin and lightweight, but since it provides a relatively full-sized QWERTY layout, it’s not necessarily the smallest option.
So as an alternative, Brando is also touting their own ‘slim’ Bluetooth keyboard as the perfect iPad accessory since it manages to cram 52 keys into a form factor no larger than the iPhone. At just over half an inch thick I wouldn’t necessarily call it slim, but it’s slim enough given there’s a rechargeable battery stashed in there. And at just $37 it easily beats out Apple’s own Bluetooth keyboard when it comes to price.
MS Arc Keyboard seems to have something for everyone. Whether you need a miniature wireless input device for your HTPC or an easy-to-carry laptop keyboard replacement, the Arc looks like it can serve these roles just well enough to get by. The keyboard itself has a familiar layout for touch typists, and has acceptably low latency to satisfy casual gamers. Though, the D-pad is a pain to deal with during text selections. There’s also no built-in mouse controls which may not be particularly important in a home theater PC environment.
The lightweight Arc keyboard measures just 12″ x 6″, making it extremely portable especially with the bundled nylon pouch. A tiny USB receiver can be quickly stowed into an open compartment on the underside of the keyboard. It’s a shame however that the keyboard and the Arc mouse couldn’t share the same nano USB dongle, unlike Logitech’s Unifying receiver. As the Arc is primarily made to save precious desktop space and to minimize carry weight for road warriors, the miniature keyboard with a slight curvature lacks a lot of advanced features found on similarly priced alternatives yet it should fit nicely in various environments.
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