It’s nice to see when innovations in science and technology trickle down to the grade school level where they can directly benefit students. No longer will hoodlums have to settle for Kleenex-based spit balls since they can now take advantage of advanced polymers to rain down terror on their fellow classmates. Available from Edmund Scientific for $4.95 a pack, these Spit Balls will grow to 200x their original size and according to the packaging will “Slip, Slide, Bounce & Explode” which are essential qualities when it comes to spit ball engineering.
It first surfaced last week, but today Peek officially announced the availability of the TwitterPeek, a version of their handheld device designed exclusively for accessing and publishing content on Twitter. Now Twitter power users might find the device a bit limiting since the lack of a web browser prevents you from following links, and the lack of a camera prevents you from uploading your own photos, but you can pretty much do everything else including viewing twitpic images, following other Twitterers and posting replies or direct messages.
At the moment the TwitterPeek is available in a $99.99 version that includes 6 months of service followed by a $7.95 per month fee, or the previously rumored $199.99 version that includes a lifetime of service.
By now most of you have probably already forgotten about the Philips Tapster Bluetooth headphones we first wrote about way back in February. But that’s a good thing, because according to CNET’s Crave blog, the device will never be hitting store shelves.
While Philips apparently didn’t have any official comments as to why, Jasmine France chocks it up to the device… well… sucking. “The major draw of the Tapster is the playback and volume controls, which are manipulated via light tapping and swiping on the ear modules. In theory, this is a sweet idea, because pressing tactile buttons on an in-ear headset has a tendency to dislodge the earbuds. Unfortunately, although we tested the Tapster with four different devices, it never worked completely as advertised.” Oh well…
Borderlands sets you down on the desolate planet of Pandora. Here is a world that few people would ever want to set foot on, save for the prospect of treasure. It has been rumored that a vault lie hidden somewhere in the vast wasteland which contains riches beyond measure. Treasure hunters, mercenaries and even large corporations want to get their hands on whatever is contained within.
The world of Pandora seems like a barren wasteland, yet the art styling makes the landscape seem rich and exciting. The prominent black lines and shading remind me very much of a comic book, while at the same time it feels like something entirely different. The overall landscape doesn’t change much from zone to zone, but each has its own characteristics that makes it seem unique.
Remember last month how we told you about the Alex Dual Screen eBook Reader? I wouldn’t be all that surprised if it doesn’t stick out in your mind, as it was easily overshadowed by the Nook from Barns & Noble. Well the two had one very distinct feature in common, namely their extra color LCD screen. It seemed a little coincidental that two readers would come out so close together with this feature. Apparently Spring Design thinks it’s not so much of a coincidence.
Spring Design filed suit this week against Barnes & Noble, accusing them of misappropriateing trade secrets and violating a non-disclosure agreement. Apparently Spring Design had shown off their device in hopes to work with the bookstore giant. Sure, it’s possible that both companies just happened to have the same great idea, but not very likely. Barnes & Noble have not yet responded to these claims, but it will be interesting to hear their side of the story.
There are lots of ways to charge USB devices on the go using disposable or rechargeable batteries, but none of them are as small or as cheap as this DIY one. It’s basically just a female USB connector stuck to the top of a 9v battery, with a voltage regulator in the middle to make sure that there’s only 5 volts coming out. Total cost? If you have a soldering iron and a scrap female USB cable, the voltage regulator will run you about $1.59 plus tax at RadioShack (which I refuse on principle to call “The Shack” like they want me to). The real beauty of this thing is that you don’t have to use a 9v battery. You could use a whole series of D batteries, for example, and go on vacation for a month with your iPod.
Now, yes, you do have to know how to solder if you want to make one of these yourself. But seriously, soldering is easy. And it’s fun! You get to MELT METAL! You can pick up a basic soldering set at The Shack for all of eight bucks, and there are a bazillion beginner guides online (try Instructables or even YouTube). So, have a fun afternoon and learn a useful skill while making a handy little gadget at the same time. Or, you can always just do it with glue, you wimp.
Punch cards and fingerprints are so passe, if you want your business to look like it’s on the cutting edge of security technology you need to install one of these facial recognition time attendance systems. Using a set of digital cameras that can even see in the dark (I assume that’s a ring of IR LEDs around the lenses) the CVJB-G107 will keep track of the comings and goings of your employees, or prevent or provide access to certain doors, using facial recognition technology that takes “a fraction of a second” to make a match. And since the dual cameras create a 3D image of each face in the database, the software can’t be tricked by simply holding a 2D photograph of someone up to the lens.
The system can be setup to recognize and log information like attendance, overtime and even late arrivals for up to 500 different employees, and records can be downloaded to a USB flash drive or accessed via TCP/IP when the console is connected to a network. The system also comes with software allowing you to easily organize and sort through the information contained in the logs (hopefully they’re Excel friendly too) and is available from Chinavasion for just over $480.
The HomeFinder screw-in light controller from Westek might seem like a simple idea, but if you live with family members who may one day need the assitance of paramedics, it might end up being an invaluable tool.
It screws into a light socket and accepts a standard bulb, and when the light switch is flipped twice the unit will flash for 20 minutes making it easier for emergency assistance to find your home, or even someone less vital like the pizza delivery guy. The flashing can be cancelled at any time by simply turning the switch off, and there’s a sensor to ensure it only turns on after dusk. $10.91 from Amazon.
And here’s a little known fact, I actually spent three weeks as the prime suspect in a ‘porchlight flasher’ case, but I was eventually exonerated when the police realized I never actually leave this computer. So not only does blogging pay the bills, but it also turns out to be a pretty solid alibi!
Typography is most definitely an art, but instead of having to wade through various settings in clumsy software interfaces to find the perfect layout, the LAIKA font was designed be dynamic and interactive and can adjust itself based on everything from weight to motion to the behavior of the stock market. But to be honest, I’d just love to have the console interface seen at the start of this video included with the next version of Photoshop or Illustrator.
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By Andrew Liszewski
