Boeing 797: the future of air travel?

According to NewTechSpy, Boeing is developing the 797 to compete directly with the massive, but more traditionally built, Airbus A380. Featuring a blended wing/body co-developed with NASA, it introduces a completely new design, looking more like a stealth bomber than a 747. Able to hold 1,000 passengers on two levels, the new design increases the efficiency of the aircraft by 33% while increasing its speed to mach 0.88, or 654 mph — a significant bump from the A380's speed of 570 mph. This speed increase is a result of the 25% weight reduction and improved aerodynamics that the new body design features. The wingspan of 265 feet is over 50 feet longer than the 747's but only 3 feet more than the A380's. There's no word on when the 797 will be hitting runways near you, if ever, but it certainly has the potential to herald in a new era of commercial air travel. If it features improvements in airplane food as drastic as its improvements in energy efficiency, it might actually get us to travel more, too.

Read the rest of this entry »

Everyone's happy with Sharp's two-way LCDs

Sharp has begun showing off its two-way LCD screen, which shows different images depending on what angle you view it from. The company plans to use the technology in things like car navigation systems, allowing the driver to see a map in the center console while the passenger sees the Easy Rider DVD playing from the disc in the trunk. The main problem with two-way screens is that when you look at them straight on you see a combination of both images, meaning you have to view the screens at an angle for them to really work. However, the technology could be a real lifesaver for those road trips where the kids fight over what to watch in the back seat, although you'd presumably need two DVD players hooked up to service both the right-side people and the left-side people.
— Adam Frucci

Read the rest of this entry »

Honda: fuel-cell vehicles on the road by 2010

Hydrogen fuel-cell cars may be hitting the streets sooner than everybody thought if Honda lives up to recent promises. Despite predictions that the prohibitively expensive nature of hydrogen fuel-cell technology meant that consumer vehicles would be over a decade away, Honda has announced that it plans to produce a consumer model "in three to four years." Hydrogen fuel-cell cars by 2010? Hot damn! It's not clear if Honda has figured out a way to make the vehicles more affordable or if they're just going to charge $100k+ for them, but in any case the cars will run on simple hydrogen and emit nothing but clean, safe water. Honda is also working on an energy station for the home that creates hydrogen out of natural gas, allowing drivers to fill up in their own garage and wave bye-bye to gas stations forever.

Read the rest of this entry »

Datamancer's Steampunk Laptop

This may look like a Victorian music box, but inside this intricately hand-crafted wooden case lives a Hewlett-Packard ZT1000 laptop that runs both Windows XP and Ubuntu Linux. It features an elaborate display of clockworks under glass, engraved brass accents, claw feet, an antiqued copper keyboard and mouse, leather wrist pads, and customized wireless network card. The machine turns on with an antique clock-winding key by way of a custom-built ratcheting switch made from old clock parts.

Read the rest of this entry »

Lynx Concept comes from in-depth analysis and statistics

The Lynx Concept comes from an amazing level of analysis and studies, which we have not seen in many concept designs. Designer Manuel Schneider teamed up with Mario Weiss, and the duo collected data on things like future visions, prognoses, statistical changes and technical possibilities to generate a timeline for a hundred years. This information was then used to create a car of the future – Lynx.

Lynx is equipped with electrical axle motors, large interiors, with no option for a gasoline engine. Gadgets in the car include an automatic distance controller, personalized entertainment system, and anti-collision and collision avoiding systems. One cursory look at the features, and we see most of them are already available, or in some stages of commercial deployment. If cars, one hundred years down the line use the same systems we have now, the future is going to be so boring.

Read the rest of this entry »

S.T Dupont teams up with Pantech for a blinged cell phone

You have seen exclusive cell phones from Prada, D&G, Armani, Gucci and Tag Heuer on Luxurylaunches. We have also covered S.T. Dupont’s lighters and USB flash drive. And now this company, that is renowned for its exclusive lighters, is joining hands with Pantech Korea to roll out a high-end cell phone. Inspired by the company's famous lighter design, the new handset will support the 2G CDMA network. Boasting of a18 carat gold-coated rim, it sports a 3-inch display and supports the 2G network. All set to hit the shelves with Pantech's SKY brand, the DuPont cell phone is touted to be the most expensive Pantech mobile phone model for about 1 million won ($830).

Read the rest of this entry »

Concept car coordinates color with driver's mood

The Beast

If it’s just an electric car with a motor, chassis and wheels, one would rather stick to the existing gas-guzzling four-wheeler. And this is where the EVE concept steps in. Apparently, the panels (almost enveloping the car) change their color, based on your mood. When the wheels roll, the friction generated triggers a reaction with the polymer material of the panel, thus leading to a change of color.

The Machine

The EVE concept is a passenger car that runs on both electric and solar power. The windshield carries a coating for solar energy storage, while the electric energy serves as the primary power option.

The Thrill

A color changing car is always cool. And with an eccentric design thrown in, the appeal is further enhanced. The EVE concept may not sound like a car you would see anytime soon, but when it does see a market launch, rest assured you aren’t going to get enough of it.

Read the rest of this entry »

Mobile Cyber Box packs up the day’s work with style

Just last week, we brought to you a mobile, ergonomic workstation that could be compacted in to one unit. Following closely on its heels, we have the Cyber Box. The trend of present day’s workstations is moving on wheels, literally. And to call off the day’s work, users can simply close down their office into a well-designed structure. Designer Jacky Nicolas too has focused on these two elements and fabricated the Cyber Box. Since we cannot chuck the computer out of our lives, Jacky allows us to lock it up in an elegant cabinet-like case when not in use. Aptly designed for working from home, it has room for all that is needed to be labeled as the most efficient and organized worker.

From the images it can be noted that apart from housing a desktop unit (monitor, keyboard and CPU), it also has space for a printer and shelves to place folders, files and CDs. There is enough leg space under the monitor too. All you got to do is unlatch the case, slide in your chair and work to glory.

Crafted out of beechwood and chromium metal parts, it can move about easily with the help of heavy duty castors on the base. If only Jacky could find a way to fit in a pull-out kinda chair. That would make it a complete workstation.

Read the rest of this entry »

Modular Office Furniture: Wood Box Storage, Desk & Chair

Have a small house can not necessarily work in comfort and optimal, is not it?
Modular Office Furniture This one is very suitable as a desk for you who have limited space or a lot of work to move the location

The ultimate office furniture to-go: a single space-saving solid wood storage case contains everything you need for an office – and a smaller accessory box unfolds into a comfortable chair to go with it. Whether you are a digital nomad or a nine-to-five office worker this would be a handy mobile addition to any office layout

This creative Trunk Station office furniture set comes with plenty of storage space, a fold out miniature desk surface and laptop area, shelving units with a built-in filing system as well as other shelves for odds and ends. Best of all, the whole furniture system is set on wheels and split into two parts that can be shut, shipped and stored with ease – and from an interior design standpoint they would look as great as closed-up office decor as they when folded open and transformed into functional furniture.
[dornob]

Read the rest of this entry »

Phone That Shames The Weather Bureau

I don’t know about your city, but the weather bureau of my hometown is often sniggered at, for their in-accurate predictions. When they say it will rain (like they predicted a couple of days ago) you can be sure it will be bright and sunny. I would like to gift them this “Window Phone”, that makes accurate predictions and even changes its display to reflect the climatic conditions outdoors. Maybe I should keep the phone for myself and bug the bureau with my updates.

Read the rest of this entry »

Forget Lasik, Get Eye Power!

This reminds me of a do-it-yourself lasik kit I saw as a gag once. However, given this is coming from Japan, and I can't read Japanese, I have no idea if this Eye Power thing is real. The theory goes, you stare into this machine for 10 minutes and "ultrasonic technology" restores your myopic, near-sighted self to perfect 20/20 vision.

Sounds too good to be true, if you ask me. However, 88,000 yen (about $800 USD) is a bit cheaper than lasik surgery. I suppose if you're brave and you can navigate a Japanese web site to order the device, you could give it a try. But hey, I'm expecting the device to be a waste of money.

Ratuken via DVICE, DVICE.

Read the rest of this entry »

Buying a Projector Online

So you need to purchase a projector? Why not go online and get the job done? I found an article that is just right for getting real advice on buying a projector. How to Shop Online for Projectors


Some important steps to take in buying a projector that you should read and digest before embarking on the job of buying a projector.

Just make sure that you have a budget that can get the best you need for your space. When buying a projector you do not get the best results in buying a cut-price projector. Buy well to get what you need.

Read the rest of this entry »

Geek fill in the blank t-shirt

Technology moves fast so you have to keep up, and this black write-on, wash-off
100% cotton t-shirt will help keep you updated with the latest saying. Packaged with its own washable marker, it features white lowercase text and fill-in-the-blank style boxes for ur fill-in-the-blank pleasure.

Imagine the fun you can have! Say you''re in a good mood, " im in ur computer upgradin'' ur RAM." Bad mood? Well, you can think of a few.

$16.99 - $18.99 from those crazies at ThinkGeek.

Read the rest of this entry »

Just Another Bugatti?

Sometimes it seems that every high-end classic car auction has to have a Bugatti on the block. Considering that the French marque was a low-volume sports/racing machine, one wonders how so a number of survived. (Conversely, would you have kicked Ava Gardner out of bed?) So let's show due respect to this 1937 Bugatti 57SC Atalante Coupe, which will be auctioned by RM in Arizona Jan 17, 2009 with preview Jan 16. Finished in its early 60s restoration colours of Patrol Cream and Lemon Oxide, it is one of the few 'estimate on request' cars in the sale. This Bug was once part of the mammoth Harrah collection in Reno, Nevada where it was retro-fitted with a supercharger. It is said to have a 120 mph top speed, which must have been exciting, to say the least, on those skinny period tires. And how much will it bring? A similar car went for a mere $7,920,000 at a 2008 Monterey sale. But that was before the recession.

Read the rest of this entry »

Is a paperless postal service possible?

Is this what the postal service of the future could look like? If so, frankly, my mind is blown. Thanks to Zumbox, Businesses and organizations can now send mail for free - without the use of paper.

So how does it work? Well, unlike email, Zumbox is based entirely on street addresses, just like regular mail. Each address has its own log in, and when people have sent you paperless mail, you can read it via your computer. Businesses can still set up databases and secure mailing lists, and the system is quashing any junk mail it comes across.

If cutting down on use of paper is a goal for you or your business, you might want to give Zumbox a try. You only have your postage costs to lose.

Via Treehugger.

Read the rest of this entry »

Rugged outdoor tablet netbook computer

Rugged PC makers, Trimble, have just released another go-anywhere PC. The Yuma is an outdoor, high reliability portable tablet PC designed for the more rugged and outdoorsy type jobs or for people who are a little more clumsy than most. The Yuma can survive most types of punishment. It has an ingress protection rating of 67, so it’s pretty much dust and waterproof and it can handle temperatures from -30C to 60C.

It’s powered by the ubiquitous Atom processor with the usual 802.11 b/g, USB slots, Bluetooth and the Yuma adds GPS and 2 built-in cameras. The screen is a smaller 7″ model however it runs at 1024 x 600 so you can still see everything. You can add functionality via the SDIO or ExpressCard slots and it has a 32Gb SSD for reliability. Oh and just for giggles, it runs Vista.

There’s no keyboard but it has a stylus and an on-screen keyboard and function keys scattered about the bezel. It doesn’t have built-in 3G mobile broadband, but where it’s going there’s probably no service anyway. With a battery installed it weighs a little over 1kg and lasts about 8 hours. The dock is optional. No prices yet, but it launches in April, 2009. Just don’t drop it on your foot. More info here

Trimble, the world leader in outdoor rugged computing, brings you the new Yuma rugged tablet computer, able to withstand even your challenging work environment. Safeguard your software and data in the face of dust, sand, mud, humidity and extreme temperature.

Read the rest of this entry »

All in one electric hub powers up your old bicycle

The boffins at MIT are working on an all-in-one electric wheel hub called the GreenWheel which when retrofitted to old bicycles converts them to electric power. There are plenty of Chinese electric wheels on the market, but this one goes a stage further by folding all the technology, including batteries, into the single hub, making it easier to install and use. The development prototypes still need to have the wheel spokes rejigged, but they’re working on an alternative so it can become more DIY friendly. What’s more, the single wheel should be able to power the bike for 25 miles, which is astonishing when you think of the size of the battery enclosure. Fascinating. [Via]

A GreenWheel equipped bike is a smooth ride, as Discovery News found out during a recent afternoon test ride around MIT’s campus. Turning the handle mounted throttle, like any motorcycle, just a few small degrees produces a noticeable increase in power and a light electric hum. The handle-mounted throttle is connected wirelessly to the electric motor in the wheel. The GreenWheel is also durable. The team estimates its range at 40,000 miles, or about eight years work of travel at an estimated 20 miles per business day.

Read the rest of this entry »

Infrared Nighttime Camera

Camouflaged, waterproof, silent and heat sensing, this Infrared Nighttime Camera grabs 3 megapixel stills and/or video and stores them onto an integrated 1 GB SD card. We’re talking 2800 photos or 500+ 10 second video clips. The rechargeable battery lasts for around 14 days and charges up in 2 hours, and the whole thing hooks up to a USB port to allow downloading onto your computer. A great way to capture scavengers, ne’er do wells and the next door neighbour stealing your hubcaps. £219.00.

Cameras like this are often used by professionals such as hunters, forestry workers, zoologists etc. There is no shutter noise and no flash to disturb the observations. 40 infrared diodes sense the body heat and motion of humans and animals: Inside a 12m (36ft) perimeter and within an angle of 110°. If both are detected the weatherproof camera silently releases the shutter and the data is stored to the internal memory, or optionally to the supplied 1 GB SD card.

Read the rest of this entry »

Samsung Rogue coming to Verizon soon

Another Samsung touchscreen handset known as the Samsung Rogue is about to hit Verizon Wireless soon. The Samsung Rogue will feature an AMOLED touchscreen display and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard.

Here are the details known so far:

Network: Verizon EVDO Rev A data network
OS: Samsung OS with TouchWiz 2.0 UI
Display: AMOLED Touchscreen display
Camera: 3MP with Geo-tagging and Flash
Connectivity: EVDO, 3.5mm headphones jack, Bluetooth 2.0
Others: MP3 Player, GPS

Checkout more images after the jump:

Read the rest of this entry »

Bayer's Contour USB Meter Empowers Patients

Simple to use, the patient simply insert a test strip into the meter and take their test as usual. The Contour gives the test results on the easy to read color OLED display and logs it for later use. Able to hold up to 2,000 test results, the devices is a great way to track blood glucose patterns which can be a boon to both doctors and patients. Based on Bayer"s CONTOUR system, the meter utilizes the incredibly accurate No Coding technology for results patients can trust. Bayer also added the AutoLog feature that allows users to mark their tests as Before Meal or After Meal for more detailed records.

Read the rest of this entry »

Weather Alarm Clock Photo Frame

Weather Alarm Clock Photo Frame – triple function combo keeps you dry, happy and on time

The Weather Alarm Clock Photo Frame crams a lot into a mini desktop sized package. You’ve got yourself an indoor outdoor weather temp station thingy, a 16MB digital photo frame and an alarm clock. Wake up, check the weather, remember the wife and pop down for breakfast in the seedy motel dining room. Perfect. £49.95.

Weather station, clock and photo frame in one. The first of its type we’ve seen, this neat little gadget combines 3 useful functions to free up space on your desk, worktop or bedside table. * Clock with alarm and indoor temperature/humidity * Weather station with weather icons and temperature trend indicator * 1.8″ digital photo frame with 16Mb memory stores up to 120 pictures. * Mini USB port for importing images.

Read the rest of this entry »