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Jeff Salton
Dyson DC31: looks cool and sucks at the same time
By Jeff Salton
02:48 September 14, 2009 PDT
Looking more like a power tool that just transported from the Starship Enterprise, the latest hand-held vacuum from Dyson has a 10-minute battery life and a digital V2 motor that delivers constant, strong suction - ideal for small cleaning tasks around the home or in a car, boat or caravan. The DC31 has a dual power mode that gives the operator a six-minute burst of power for higher suction at the flick of a switch. Dyson demonstrated its two models, the DC31 and the DC31 Animal to our team at IFA this month, and gave Gizmag's Kate Seamer an exclusive interview. Read More
Graffiti-proofing our history
By Jeff Salton
01:09 September 14, 2009 PDT
Graffiti is not only ugly, it costs society millions of dollars to remove it. But graffiti on historic landmarks is worse because it often can't be removed using basic caustic solutions without damage to the underlying surface. Now a new, breathable coating could help preserve some of our most beautiful and priceless links to the past by providing them with an efficient, all-round protection against attacks by taggers. Read More
Astronomers like what they see from rejuvenated NASA Hubble Space Telescope
By Jeff Salton
23:39 September 13, 2009 PDT
New images from the rejuvenated, more powerful Hubble Space Telescope have universally delighted astronomers. Last week, observations from four of its six operating science instruments were released by NASA. They include colorful, multi-wavelength pictures of far-flung galaxies, a densely-packed star cluster, an eerie ‘pillar of creation’, and a ‘butterfly’ nebula. Read More
Philips Robust Collection – kitchen appliances and warranties that impress
By Jeff Salton
01:09 September 11, 2009 PDT
Our crew on the ground at IFA, though not exactly master chefs, still know a good kitchen appliance when they see one. And they were very impressed by a demo of the Philips Robust Collection, five premium kitchen appliances fashioned from modern materials such as shockproof glass, plastics and metal die cast, with couplings made of Zytel plastic, a light metal replacement used by BMW and Mercedes for their sports cars. The result is a blender, food processor, hand blender, juicer and mixer that Philips says proved virtually unbreakable in drop tests, as well as looking good in any modern kitchen. Read More
Motorola’s Android phone, CLIQ, has clear social benefits with MOTOBLUR
By Jeff Salton
00:09 September 11, 2009 PDT
Motorola is boasting the first and only solution to sync contacts, posts, messages and photos from sources like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Gmail, work and personal e-mail through MOTOBLUR, which automatically delivers the services via easy to manage streams to a live home screen. Motorola is hoping MOTOBLUR will help differentiate its product portfolio of Android-powered devices from its competition by appealing to social networking fanatics who need to keep up to date with information from a variety of sources. Read More
Close shave with Thanko USB Electric Razor
By Jeff Salton
20:04 September 10, 2009 PDT
Got a last-minute hot date? Meeting with the boss? Getting snide comments about your ‘porn star mustache’? Or just couldn’t be bothered? Whatever your reason for needing a quick shave at work, the Thanko USB Electric Razor is your savior. Just plug it into the USB port on your computer, and whiskers-be-gone. And if your monitor’s nice and shiny, who needs a mirror? Read More
Solar panel roads to power our homes
By Jeff Salton
01:09 September 10, 2009 PDT
Idaho-based Solar Roadways founder Scott Brusaw is excited that his company has a received a USD$100,000 U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) grant to develop further his prototype that turns roads in giant electricity-generating solar panels. Apart from providing energy to power our homes, street lighting and so on, the roads could contain thousands of embedded LEDs to provide better street signage and make driving safer. He also believes the solar panel roads could last up to three times longer than the current petroleum-based asphalt surface and even be heated in winter to discourage dangerous ice build ups. Read More
REVA unveils two new electric cars with emergency roadside recharging
By Jeff Salton
17:19 September 9, 2009 PDT
Indian electric car company REVA will unveil two new electric cars at the forthcoming Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA) on September 16. The REVA NXR is a four-seater, three-door hatchback family car aimed at urban drivers while REVA’s showcar, the NXG, is a sporty two-seater with a targa roof that was designed by Dilip Chhabria of internationally-renowned automotive design company DC Design. REVA says it has added a unique technology to its cars that addresses ‘range anxiety’ – worrying about running out of charge mid-journey. The REVive telematics technology acts like an invisible reserve fuel tank. Drivers telephone or SMS REVA for an instant remote top-up should they run out of charge. At present, details are scarce about how REVive actually works but REVA assures us all will be revealed at IAA. Read More
Never forget where you were with the JOBO photoGPS
By Jeff Salton
01:55 September 9, 2009 PDT
What’s worse than having to watch Aunt May’s and Uncle Stan’s ridiculously long digital ‘slide show’ of their recent European vacation? Listening to them argue over where each photo was taken, and what it is. If they’d had a JOBO photoGPS attached to their camera's hot-shoe, your saga would be over in six hours, not 16! The JOBO photoGPS fits most cameras and captures the geo-data of each photo's location. This allows photographers to know the location of each shot and automatically search, sort and organize their pictures according to country, city, street using the Organizer software that comes with the unit. Read More
All aboard the Cruzin' Cooler for the ride of your ice
By Jeff Salton
00:20 September 9, 2009 PDT
Generally, ice chests are easy to move … until you fill them with drinks and ice. Then they weigh a ton and are more likely to put your back out than help you kick back and enjoy the great outdoors. Hence, Kevin Beal created the Cruzin' Cooler for those of us who take our ice chests seriously (and want to race them!). The Cruzin' Cooler is a motorized ice chest that can carry around 200lbs of cargo (including the rider), tow a cooler trailer (or three) and carry just about everything from drinks to dogs. Read More
Sharp DK-AP8 docking system adds the right touch
By Jeff Salton
01:37 September 8, 2009 PDT
Sharp has designed its new iPod docking system to match the look and feel of an iPod or iPhone. Finished in glossy piano black, the DK-AP8 has a removable touch panel that controls the system button-free via infrared. Something a little different, the Sharp unit has various ports including AUX input and video (FBAS) output on the back which enables it to be connected to a TV for viewing photos or videos stored on the iPhone or iPod. Read More
Altec Lansing's 200W Expressionist Ultra MX6021 computer speaker system
By Jeff Salton
19:29 September 7, 2009 PDT
Some people like their PC gaming experiences big. They spend big money on big games, big monitors and big gaming accessories but suffer from SSS (small sound syndrome). Well, listen up! Altec Lansing has released the Expressionist™ Ultra (MX6021), a distinctively styled and powerful three-piece home speaker system for computers, MP3 players and more that delivers 200W RMS. And with this quality of sound, it won’t be just the gamers taking advantage of all that power. Consumers who keep their music on their PC will greatly benefit from these speakers. Read More
Aiptek projectors are pocket rockets
By Jeff Salton
16:23 September 7, 2009 PDT
Aiptek International has been busy adding to its already impressive V10 mini projector with three new models, the T20, T30 and the PocketCinema D10. What we liked most about the Pico Projector T30 when we witnessed a demo of the new device at IFA in Germany was the ease in which you can extract those great images and video from your iPod, iPhone – no apps, no drivers - with a special cable. Just find a blank wall and gather your friends around. And the PocketCinema T30 instantly connects to any device like a camcorder or media player with a 3-in-1 AV output. Read More
Toshiba unveils JournE touch home multimedia tablet
By Jeff Salton
00:25 September 7, 2009 PDT
Toshiba’s JournE touch is a portable, wireless home multimedia tablet with a 7-inch (17.8cm) color touch screen display, which serves as a communication and infotainment center for every member of the household. Users can browse the Internet and download digital content anywhere in the house in a flash, because the device boots instantaneously. However, with its small size (only 14mm/0.5in thick) and great user-interface, we say families better get ready for a fight over who gets to use it. Read More
LG’s 11kg washing machine – big load, small space
By Jeff Salton
04:30 September 5, 2009 PDT
If you have to wash for a large family or find that you’re constantly in charge of the whole team’s soccer uniforms – or if you’ve ever tried to wash king-size bedding - then you should be interested in what LG has to offer. And while it mightn’t be as sexy as 108-inch flat screen TV or the latest 12-megapixel smart phone, an 11kg washing machine that still fits inside a standard 24-inch cabinet should delight consumers who are burdened by laundry tasks. Read More
Altec Lansing MIX - digital boombox with multi music input
By Jeff Salton
21:48 September 3, 2009 PDT
Get one of these and become the life of the party, that seems to be the message from Altec Lansing with the launch of its new MIX (iMT800) digital boombox for party-goers and ‘unofficial DJ’s’. The MIX lets users connect three music players at once through its inputs – a 30-pin dock connector for the iPhone and iPod and also two front-facing 3.5mm jacks. No more plugging and unplugging devices during songs or arguments over whose music is on next. The unit has a built-in subwoofer, a seven-band graphic equalizer, FM radio and heavy-duty carry handles to enable you to take the MIX from party to party. There’s also a remote control with clip-on carabiner. Read More
RIBA the friendly robot nurse
By Jeff Salton
08:39 September 3, 2009 PDT
It might look like a cross between a snowman and a badly-designed toy polar bear, but the nursing fraternity should appreciate RIBA, a robot that can lift patients in and out of beds and wheelchairs on command, while at the same time saving nurses’ backs and improving patient care and safety. Read More
Gold nanoparticles used in early detection of lung cancer
By Jeff Salton
21:44 September 2, 2009 PDT
Gold nanoparticles are being used by researchers in Israel in a new type of breath test to detect lung cancer in patients. Breath particulate analysis isn’t new but the scientists say this is the first time a technique has been used without the need to pre-treat the exhaled breath, delivering a quicker and less expensive diagnosis. Early detection can result in faster treatment and hopefully save lives. Around 25 percent of all cancer-related deaths are lung cancer sufferers, with estimates put at around 1.3 million people dying from the disease each year. Read More
Sony's ICF-CL75iP combination alarm clock, photo frame and iPod dock
By Jeff Salton
21:33 September 2, 2009 PDT
Alarm clocks (uncool), digital photo frames (ho-hum), and iPod/iPhone docks (seen ‘em all). Three pretty bland objects, right? But give them to Sony and what you get back is one smooth-looking piece of equipment. The Sony ICF-CL75iP has beautifully melded three boring CE products to deliver an item that would easily grace any horizontal surface at home or at the office. Read More
New solar battery technology offers household power at 2.5c per kWh
By Jeff Salton
00:14 September 2, 2009 PDT
As part of man's ongoing quest to extract the greatest benefits from solar power, Salt Lake City-based company Ceramatec, the R&D arm of CoorsTek, has made what it believes to be a massive breakthrough in batteries for storing energy harnessed from the sun. The company is making impressive inroads on the prototype of a deep storage battery, the size of a small refrigerator, that safely operates at room temperature, consists of everyday materials, and can output household power at 2.5c per kWh. What’s more, Ceramatec says it will be cheap to purchase. Read More
Mini Coupe Concept revealed for 50th birthday celebrations
By Jeff Salton
19:19 September 1, 2009 PDT
Mini celebrated its 50th birthday on August 26, 2009 with BMW announcing it will unveil the very sleek Mini Coupe Concept at the forthcoming Frankfurt Motor Show (17-27 September). This two-seater will happily take the most powerful engine currently available in the Mini range (the 1.6-liter twin-scroll turbocharged power unit carried over from the 2010 Mini John Cooper Works), with a maximum output of 155kW/211hp and peak torque of 260Nm/192lb-ft. Through the Overboost function, this increases to 280Nm/206lb-ft. for a short burst. Add to that its improved aerodynamics and it’s no wonder BMW is confident that this model Mini will deliver the best ever performance. Read More
Men-only RV on show at Caravan Salon Dusseldorf
By Jeff Salton
21:01 August 31, 2009 PDT
Attention all males! When you were young, did you ever dream about being given the keys to the toy shop? Well, for four very lucky men that dream was realized when they won a competition to help design the red-blooded man’s recreational vehicle (RV). They chose to incorporate a bar, disco, outdoor theater, rooftop sundeck, two plasma screens, sound system, poker table and barbecue – and no needless devices in the kitchen. Read More
Mercedes-Benz announces first series-produced fuel cell car
By Jeff Salton
19:57 August 31, 2009 PDT
After much discussion about the latest iterations of battery-powered hybrid vehicles, you’d be forgiven for thinking that fuel cell technology had been left behind. Not so. Mercedes-Benz is launching what it says is the world’s first series-produced fuel cell car: the new B-Class F-CELL. This electric car has zero emissions, has a range of 400km, takes three minutes to refuel with hydrogen and consumes the equivalent of 3.3 liters of diesel per 100km in the NEDC (New European Driving Cycle). Read More
Never again run out of gas with see-through bottle
By Jeff Salton
01:15 August 31, 2009 PDT
From everyone who’s ever run out of gas half-way through an important barbecue – thank you. From every forklift operator who’s paid extra for keeping a truck driver waiting when the gas ran out during loading/unloading – thank you. And the list goes on. Thank you to Composite for the company's new see-through gas bottle that shows exactly how much gas is left and when it needs replacing or refilling - it's a godsend for every red-faced backyard cook and warehouse worker. Read More
TOOB dome screen delivers IMAX experience at home
By Jeff Salton
23:12 August 27, 2009 PDT
Alexander McDonnell, founder of TOOB (Think Out Of Box) confesses to a fascination with the Mugar Omni Theater in his hometown, Boston – so he decided to build a mini-version for himself. The result is much smaller plastic half-dome screen that’s big enough for a couple of people to sit in front of to watch a movie or enjoy a video game. Read More
John M
- November 25, 2009 @ 17:19 UTC
