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MOBILE TECHNOLOGY

MoGo Talk Bluetooth headset for iPhone set for release

By Mick Webb

15:14 September 27, 2009 PDT

The MoGo Talk for iPhone Blue tooth Headset

The days of misplacing those little Bluetooth headsets may well be coming to an end. Having previously presented us with a Bluetooth enabled mouse and a headset that charges on a laptop, Newton Peripherals is releasing the MoGo Talk for iPhone - an uber-thin Bluetooth headset can conveniently be stored and charged on the back of an iPhone. Read More

URBAN TRANSPORT

Old meets new in the form of the YikeBike

By Paul Ridden

15:10 September 7, 2009 PDT

The upright riding position allows the rider to see more and be better seen by others

So what do you do when you challenge yourself to come up with a design to make traveling around busy, congested cities as easy and stress-free as possible? According to the folks behind the YikeBike - which was officially launched at Eurobike 2009 trade fair in Friedrichshafen Germany this month - you start with a blank sheet of paper, throw a good-sized front wheel in for stability, swap pedals for a brushless electric motor and abandon the familiar forward-leaning riding position of the bicycle altogether. Read More

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Contortionist: cleverly designed full-size folding bike

By Jeff Salton

22:20 August 10, 2009 PDT

The Contortionist folding bike with its unique styling and chainless drive

Folding bikes make a lot of sense for the urban commuter, and at Gizmag we've been busy keeping up with a steady flow of impressive designs that look to marry the convenience of a small folded footprint with the usability of a full-size bike. Some of our favorites include the Switch Commuter Bike, Airnimal, Mercedes-Benz folding bike, IF MODE and Onyerbike, and we can add the Contortionist prototype from 24-year-old UK inventor Dominic Hargreaves to this list of ‘shrinking’ bikes. Read More

MOBILE TECHNOLOGY

Samsung’s folding wings keyboard design for mobile devices

By Darren Quick

17:55 July 13, 2009 PDT

Samsung's folding wing keyboard patent application

The ever-decreasing size of mobile devices might be a godsend for the pocket, but it poses problems for keyboard input. There have been a variety of solutions looking to solve the problem, from the iPhone’s onscreen keyboard to the Virtual Keyboard (VKB) that projects a keyboard onto any flat surface. One of the problems with these kinds of keyboards, however, is the lack of tactile feedback afforded by pressing actual buttons. Shrinking the keyboard down to fit on a mobile device of course presents its own problems and manufacturers must weigh size against usability by the chubby fingered. Samsung may have a solution with a folding wing design that would allow a reasonably sized keyboard to fold out from the rear of a mobile device. Read More

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The fast-folding Switch Commuter Bike

By Noel McKeegan

18:10 June 4, 2009 PDT

Switch Commuter Bike

Using pedal-power to get to work makes sense - get fit, reduce your carbon footprint, save money and probably time too - but for many cyclists, negotiating the urban sprawl often means using other forms of transport like trains for part of the journey. That's where the folding bike comes in. We've seen some cracking designs in recent times that incorporate large wheels and make the bike easier to handle when folded, and this award winning example from student designer Robert Dumaresq ticks all the boxes. Called the Switch Commuter Bike, Dumaresq's lightweight, fast-folding design takes up only the footprint of one wheel when collapsed so it can easily be maneuvered in crowded environments. Read More

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Mercedes-Benz shows a (very clever) folding bicycle

By Mike Hanlon

04:53 May 31, 2009 PDT

Mercedes-Benz's latest bike collection includes a clever Foldingbike with a choice of fold...

Mercedes-Benz pushbikes are always special but the latest collection, released this week, includes a very clever Foldingbike with two different folded positions. Fully folded, it’s a very small package, while the “shuttle” position allows the bike to be pushed and steered - ideal for easy carriage using public transport. Read More

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The highly-desirable 1000 watt Limited Edition TidalForce M-750 x2.0 electric fold-up bike

By Mike Hanlon

18:11 May 12, 2009 PDT

The highly-desirable 1000 watt Limited Edition TidalForce M-750 x2.0 electric fold-up bike...

Military-funded projects often pave the way for a much better consumer product, and although the original DARPA funding of the development of the Tactical Electric No Signature (TENS) Mountain bike for Marines and paratroopers is now over a decade old, hold onto your hats folks, because the design has been upgraded and will be sold in limited quantities with a 1000 watt propulsion system. The TidalForce M-750 x2.0 is based around the commercially available (and ingenious) Montague Paratrooper folding bike but has a top speed of over 30 mph and range on a single charge is 25 - 28 miles, using the electric power only. The E+ advanced propulsion system features nine forward power modes, nine resistance (exercise) modes, cruise control and anti-theft. It folds to 3 x 3 ft, so it fits in the boot, and the componentry is first class with RockShox Tora 302 Forks, Shimano XTR brakes, FSA Gossamer 30/38/52 tooth crank set, Crane Creek Thudbuster ST seat suspension and a WTB Speed-V Seat. Like we said - highly-desirable. Read More

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The Airnimal folding bike suitcase that becomes a bike trailer

By Mike Hanlon

17:08 April 18, 2009 PDT

The Airnimal folding bike suitcase that becomes a bike trailer

April 19, 2009 There are more than 130 folding bike manufacturers and all of them produce bicycles designed as supplementary transport – designed to be carried in a vehicle for last mile transport, or on a train, plane, boat or bus as ground transport on arrival. Accordingly, most come with their own carry bag, but the latest prototype concept from Airnimal promises a new level of functionality. The concept involves the hard carry case doubling as a bike trailer with a significant carrying capacity. It's a perfect solution for the traveller … almost. We'd like to see another suitcase which clips onto the trailer so you can carry your other stuff. Read More

 
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