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Jack Martin
TAG Heuer’s MERIDIIST mobile communication instrument
By Jack Martin
08:43 September 6, 2008 PDT
TAG Heuer is best known for its exclusive watches and involvement in time-keeping and sponsorship of elite sporting events, so it’s a logical step for the company to move into the mobile telephone area now that a lot of people are dispensing with their wristwatch and monitoring the hour of day with their phone. The result is the MERIDIIST, a communication instrument that is the culmination of all the company’s experience and “the complete modern expression of everything for which TAG Heuer stands”. Apart from top-shelf everything, a stunning visual impact, master craftsmanship, remarkable battery life and superb acoustics, it’s just like any other mobile phone. Oh, except for the dual display screens and the TAG Heuer switch, which allow for discreet checking of the time and call management in meetings, and then there’s the … Read More
IQinVision's IQeye 4 offers cost-effective 2-megapixel IP Video
By Jack Martin
08:37 September 6, 2008 PDT
September IqinVision specialises in high-performance network cameras, smart IP cameras, and network video recording systems, and the range-topper in its new IQeye 4 series of IP video cameras is both simple and ever-so-powerful with 2-megapixel resolution. Whatsmore, it sends power, video and camera management over a single network cable making it ideal as a cost-effective solution that can integrate seamlessly with all leading network video recording systems and video analytics systems. Read More
The first Kitahaus relocatable living and office pods
By Jack Martin
02:41 September 6, 2008 PDT
As technology evolves, our ability to create remarkable, sustainable temporary living and working environments has grown considerably, as can be evidenced by Gizmag stories on relocatable structures such as the off-the-grid home, the Sphere House, the Nackros Villa, the Free Spirit Sphere, the LoftCube and the first mobile hotel room. Two years ago we wrote about the KitaHaus Pod which is designed as a stand-alone accommodation or temporary office and can also be interlinked to create unique temporary or permanent living and working environments. The KitaHaus legs are adjustable so it can be situated in almost any site including normally unusable sloped and wooded areas. The first built Kitahaus pods are currently going into Elleray Prep School in Windermere, UK as three classrooms and the designer is now seeking JV partners wishing to create eco-tourism resorts. Read More
Limited Edition MotoGP-inspired Suzuki GSX-R1000
By Jack Martin
02:14 September 6, 2008 PDT
September Suzuki has had a relatively lean run in MotoGP since the four-stroke era began but since the 800cc limit was introduced, the Suzuki GSV-R has been slowly pegging back the frontrunners and is reliably at the front of the front of the rest, after Messrs Rossi, Stoner, Pedrosa and Lorenzo have decided the podium order. To celebrate this newfound competitiveness, the company has launched a Limited Edition MotoGP-inspired Suzuki GSX-R1000. Read More
Honda offers Motion Adaptive Electric Power Steering (EPS)
By Jack Martin
01:04 September 6, 2008 PDT
Honda’s new Legend, which went on sale in Japan yesterday, features a new technology which has been dubbed “Motion Adaptive Electric Power Steering” (EPS). It’s a new driving stability technology which initiates steering inputs that prompt the driver to steer in the correct direction during cornering and in slippery road conditions. Motion Adaptive EPS is also planned for implementation on other models such as the new Odyssey and the new Accord series, both scheduled for release in Japan in the near future. Read More
3-D complex document visualization
By Jack Martin
00:42 September 5, 2008 PDT
Xerox has been responsible for some of the most important innovations of our time and graphic artists the world over will almost certainly count this one as equal to any that have come before. Preparing detailed brochures and flyers with special folds can be an incredibly exacting, time-consuming and costly process. The company’s latest is a new technology that uses 3-D software to view the entire layout of a piece before it goes to print. Aimed at eliminating one of the most costly bottlenecks in printing, the new technology will speed document preparation and approval – a process that costs six dollars for every one dollar spent on the print job itself, according to InfoTrends. With Xerox’s 3-D visualization software, users can see what prints will look like – texture, gloss, folds, binding and all – before any ink or toner is put to paper. Read More
New Boxer Diesel Forester And Impreza
By Jack Martin
00:20 September 5, 2008 PDT
We’d been looking at pictures and static displays of Subaru’s horizontally-opposed diesel engine for several years before seeing it in the Legacy and Outback earlier this year. The engine is exceptionally compact, very light and has a low centre-of-gravity which benefits handling agility and makes best use of the all-wheel drive system. Throw in gobs of torque (the 2.0 litre version produces 258 lb ft at 1,800 rpm), class-leading fuel economy and emissions and the refinement, smoothness and sharp throttle-response it has already displayed and it makes the coming Forester Boxer Diesel which goes on sale in later this month and the Impreza Boxer Diesel (January 2009) very enticing indeed. The Forester will be unveiled in Paris next week. Read More
Game Console Online Content set to boom
By Jack Martin
20:58 September 4, 2008 PDT
It’s a wireless world we are living in, and the next decade will see countless changes in the way we access, consume and pay for what we want. Further evidence of this arrived today in the form of Parks Associates’ forecast revenue streams for online content and services for Internet-connected game consoles. The research company expects the three game console manufacturers (Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo) to be generating over US$8 billion in global revenue by 2013. The anticipated increase in revenue is expected to come from digital video distribution, downloadable games and content, virtual worlds and avatar-based microtransactions, multiplayer gaming services, and dynamic in-game advertising. Read More
The spell-binding Citroen Hypnos Concept
By Jack Martin
17:41 September 4, 2008 PDT
With the Paris Motor Show just a few weeks away, the world’s oldest automotive industry is getting set to strut its stuff on home ground. Not surprisingly, the French like to save the best for the Paris Show and this year, Citroën is unveiling the Hypnos. An elegant cross-over vehicle, Hypnos draws on a range of creative technologies to deliver performance and environmental efficiency, combined with subtle but powerful motoring sensations. Powerful, flowing and expressive, the exterior styling identifies the car as one to rouse the emotions. If you’re wondering about the image, that’s the interior – pretty amazing heh what? Read More
New stem cell tools to accelerate drug development
By Jack Martin
05:46 September 4, 2008 PDT
U.K. Scientists have designed, developed and tested new molecular tools for stem cell research to direct the formation of certain tissue types for use in drug development programmes. A collaborative team of scientists from Durham University and the North East England Stem Cell Institute (NESCI) has developed two synthetic molecules which can be used to coax stem cells to ‘differentiate’ - that is, transform into other forms of tissue. Their use could also help reduce the number of animals used in laboratory research. Read More
Experimental study of hallucinations as they occur
By Jack Martin
05:34 September 4, 2008 PDT
A hallucination is a perception in a conscious awake state, in the absence of external stimuli, that has qualities of real perception in that they are vivid, substantial, and located in external objective space. For most of us, hallucinations are a normal, fleeting, brain glitch; yet for a few they are persistent, distressing and associated with a range of psychiatric, neurological and eye conditions. In the September Issue of Cortex, Dominic H. ffytche at the Institute of Psychiatry in London reviews what we do know and moves the field forward, by introducing a new experimental approach to studying hallucinations as they occur. Read More
Happy tenth birthday to the smart fortwo
By Jack Martin
05:14 September 4, 2008 PDT
Ten years ago the smart fortwo was launched to a world market decidedly unsure about the highly unusual two-seater that was just two and a half metres in length. It could fit into less than half a parking space, took two people and their luggage quite comfortably and had impressively low fuel consumption and minimum carbon dioxide emissions. The degree of foresight in the design will be judged most kindly by history given the issues of global warming, road congestion, and the effect the laws of supply and demand have had on fuel pricing. Throw in the car’s safety and technical innovations and a design that combines functionality with joie de vivre and the smart fortwo deserves a warm round of applause on its automotive coming of age. Read More
Project Veloce - 130 metre 40 knot Pentamaran Super Yacht
By Jack Martin
05:02 September 4, 2008 PDT
Now here’s one sure to make the shopping lists of the world’s richest marine enthusiasts. BMT Nigel Gee has announced a high-speed Pentamaran concept aimed at the large yacht market. Developed for high-speed applications, the patented Pentamaran hull form is a derivative of the stabilized monohull concept featuring a long slender central hull, hydrodynamically optimized without the constraints of needing to be stable as stability is provided by two pairs of outriggers or ‘sponsons’. Project Veloce is truly an innovative application of technology in the large yacht market and is based on a 130m platform capable of over 40 knots. The beam of 30m offers significantly more internal area than on an equivalently sized monohull leading to exceptional internal spaces with true flexibility in configuration of the layout. Read More
smart electric drive continues the ten year smart success story
By Jack Martin
04:40 September 4, 2008 PDT
In a carefully choreographed move, the one millionth smart fortwo rolled off the production line at the plant in Hambach, France to coincide exactly with the tenth birthday of the iconic ultr-compact. Quite appropriately, the millionth vehicle was a micro hybrid drive (mhd) in the passion equipment line. On the occasion of the production anniversary and the tenth birthday of the smart brand, Daimler presented the new smart electric drive. In Hambach Dr. Dieter Zetsche, President and CEO of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars said "The smart electric drive makes zero emission driving in an urban environment a reality." Read More
Why some men cheat – genetic link to relationship difficulties
By Jack Martin
04:02 September 4, 2008 PDT
Comedian Robin Williams once defined the key issue of fidelity as being that men had a brain and a penis and only enough blood to run one at a time. We all know some guys are faithful, and some are not, but until now, it all appeared random behaviour. Now new research suggests that men who carry a certain gene behave differently in relationship. The incidence of the gene has been statistically linked to the incidence of a marital or relational crisis in the past year ,how strongly the man felt he had bonded with his partner, and what their respective partners thought about their relationship. One wonders if perhaps one day we’ll see genetic screening for prospective partners? Read More
DVR now indispensable technology
By Jack Martin
03:53 September 4, 2008 PDT
Anyone who has ever owned a DVR will attest to the usefulness of the device, so we were interested to see the results of a new survey commissioned by global digital pay-TV technology solutions provider NDS. Though such surveys are often clearly contrived to generate obvious promotional fodder for the benefit of the commissioning company, the responses from the UK, US, Australia and Italy clearly demonstrate that the DVR has moved into the indispensable household technology category for those who have experienced it, and equally, that it improves family harmony. The vast majority of respondents would rather give up their landline phone, dishwasher, radio or MP3 player than their DVR due to how much it has improved their enjoyment of television. Read More
Trident’s 200mph 100mpg Iceni biodiesel sports car nears production
By Jack Martin
07:19 September 2, 2008 PDT
British manufacturer Trident Performance Vehicles has produced a remarkable set of figures to go with its new Iceni two-seater sports car. It's a diesel sports car and will run any kind of biodiesel without any invalidating the warranty, adjusting the engine or affecting the performance. The car’s 6.6 litre turbo diesel V8 develops 550bhp@3800rpm and an arm-stretching 950lb/ft of torque at just 1800rpm, meaning it can be leisurely potter around short-changing at ballistic speeds. Not only does it get to 60 mph in under four seconds (a serious supercar time), it’ll do 200 mph, deliver 70 mpg at 70 mph, and if you treat the throttle very gently, it’ll deliver 100 mpg. At UKP75,000 it ain’t cheap, but it is special, and very exclusive. Read More
Aston Martin to revive Lagonda Marque
By Jack Martin
06:35 September 2, 2008 PDT
2008: Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez has confirmed his intention to revive the Lagonda marque. The Lagonda name is one of the British automotive greats of the pre-WW2 period, founded in 1906 (by American Wilbur Gunn who named the company after a river near his home in Springfield, Ohio). The company was integrated into Aston Martin in 1947. Aston Martin will use the name to develop cars of “a different character than a sportscar, and therefore offer a perfect synergy” with the existing range. Lagonda will use a new and unique design language using “elements of DNA from the past” but the new marque will be “very future orientated” and offer “exclusive, luxurious and truly versatile products with high quality and usability.” The first concept will be shown during the marque’s 100th anniversary year (2009) and will be brought to market as early as 2012. Read More
Peugeot 888 Concept Car
By Jack Martin
19:57 September 1, 2008 PDT
The Peugeot 888 Concept was conceived as the personal vehicle for the future Metropolis by Oskar Johansen (Norway). The all-electric two seater is designed to shorten its wheelbase for city driving by an ingenious hydraulic tilting system. This raises the driver in the cockpit for a better view, increases manouverability in narrow places making the car able to take a sharp u-turn, and enable the car to fit into smaller parking spaces. The 888 is one of the 23 finalists in the Fifth bi-annual Peugeot Design Competition which is now open for voting via the internet. Previous winners include such remarkable concepts as the Moonster (2001), 4002 (2003), Moovie (2005) and the Flux (2007). The competition is truly one of the highlights of the Motor Show season every second year because the winning project actually gets built by the team at Peugeot. Check out the full 23 finalists here. Read More
Vinturi – the instant wine aerator
By Jack Martin
07:28 September 1, 2008 PDT
The world will consume 25 billion litres of wine this year, which makes the Vinturi a very important invention. That’s because most wines needs to “breathe” – a bottle of wine drunk within a half hour of opening will not taste as good as one which has been allowed to aerate for an hour or more. Decanting wine speeds up the aeration and oxidation process, but not like a Vinturi – operating on Bernoulli's principle (as the speed of a moving fluid increases, the pressure within the fluid decreases), the Vinturi does what decanting will do in an hour in the time it takes to pour a glass. At US$40, the tiny Californian invention may well destroy some time-honoured rituals, but it’s a killer product in a thriving industry Read More
Snobootz - a viable alternative to snow chains
By Jack Martin
04:44 September 1, 2008 PDT
September When ice and snow cover the roads, people have been turning to snow chains for a hundred years in order to get traction. Now there’s no denying they work, but there’s also no denying that there has to be a better way. A new alternative for ensuring winter traction has been announced and the initial claims make the Navimetrix Snobootz look pretty good. Snobootz consist of a durable fabric boot which wraps around the tire. Rubber traction pads are bonded to the fabric which are embedded with steel cleats to offer aggressive ice-clawing traction. Independent university tests show the Snobootz are about 20 percent faster than snow chains from zero to 20 mph on a full-size SUV, 66 percent faster to install and at one-third the weight of chains, Snobootz are easier to handle and store. At US$250 a pair, they’re not cheaper than chains, but they are faster, easier and safer. Read More
The Gorenje SmarTable - beautiful, functional and a killer wow factor
By Jack Martin
03:54 August 31, 2008 PDT
Emanating from a small Slovenian village of the same name in 1950, Gorenje is quickly forging a name for itself in the manufacture and design of quality and innovative household goods. Its SmarTable will not harm that cause. The SmarTable is a unique prestigious table with a remotely controlled refrigerator and lift, integrated in the table's central cylinder foot.The SmarTable's fundamental value is in freeing the table from its direct environment of the kitchen, in the common sense of the word, and in paving the way for its placement into any room of choice. If your guests were not aware of its capabilities, the SmarTable is capable of a spectacular entrance when its platform raises up with the next course. Showtime indeed, and very clever, and an innovation certain to find its way into some of the world’s most exclusive dinner parties. Read More
The Olympus LS-10 Linear PCM Recorder gets some compelling accessories
By Jack Martin
03:32 August 31, 2008 PDT
August The Olympus LS-10 is a pocket-size Linear PCM compact recording device that captures audio in the highest quality. It perfect for use on the go, and enjoys a fine reputation with musicians, journalists and podcasters (gotta be a joke in there somewhere). Olympus trotted out an infrared remote control and an exceptionally effective windshield for the LS-10 at IFA this week that make it even more attractive to these oft maligned professionals. The mandatory introductory stunt at IFA was to have a guitarist record a song in a sound proof phone box (pictured) and then play it backed - it worked ... impressive sound reproduction meeting promised CD quality. Read More
The weather really does have weekly cycles
By Jack Martin
03:13 August 31, 2008 PDT
Impirical evidence gathered by countless millions of people chained to a desk indoors during weekdays would suggest that the weather on the weekends is different to that during the week. As much as it might seem like a nonsense that the weather could possibly fall into a cycle based on an arbitrary human measurement of time, Spanish researchers have found evidence that in some parts of Europe the weather really does follow a weekly cycle. Evidence has been mounting over the years that the weather in certain parts of the world, including the US, Japan and China, can be driven by the weekly cycle of human activity. This is because we tend to produce more air pollution during the week and less at the weekend. Evidence that such an effect occurs in Europe is controversial and has been harder to come by. Read More
The Prinics 8 inch photo frame that prints pics too
By Jack Martin
03:09 August 31, 2008 PDT
Gizmag editor Noel McKeegan was quite bullish about the prospects for the Korean Prinics photoframe he saw at IFA in Berlin this week. “How many times does someone say, “can I get a copy of that?”, said Noel. “Photoframes are where digital imaging meets the real world – it’s where you put you most special pics on display, and quite rightfully, you don’t want to necessarily give away the original digital file. So this is the ideal solution!” The top-of-the-line model boasts an eight inch LCD screen and produces borderless 6” x 4” pictures, and can even produce ID photos at the touch of a button. Read More
rob yates
- November 26, 2009 @ 12:49 UTC
