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mPower Emergency Illuminator lights up after 20 years
By Jeff Salton
22:58 November 15, 2009 PST
Perhaps the best piece of advice I never got was "leave your flashlight in an obvious, easily accessible place”, because the one time you’ll really need it will be during a power outage or a blown fuse and the last thing you want at that time is wonder where the heck you put it. Oh, and keep it fully charged (you know why). While the mPower Emergency Illuminator won’t insist you keep it close by, it does have some impressive features – battery technology that will last up to 20 years (though not if you use it continuously) and a USB outlet which lets you charge other devices. Read More
Implantable Silicon-Silk electronics could mean LED tattoos
By Darren Quick
22:52 November 11, 2009 PST
Tattooing dates back to at least Neolithic times and has experienced a resurgence in popularity in many parts of the world in recent years. Advancements in tattoo pigments and the refinement of tattooing equipment has seen an improvement in the quality of tattoos being produced. Today it’s possible to get ink that glows under UV light, but a new technology could see tattoos that emit their own light. Researchers have been able to build thin, flexible silicon electronics on silk substrates that almost completely dissolve inside the body, paving the way for embedded LED tattoos that offer much more than just aesthetic appeal. Read More
The lamp that runs on free electricity – from the phone socket
By Darren Quick
22:54 November 5, 2009 PST
If you’re looking to shave every last cent off your next electricity bill then this gooseneck lamp is for you. The lamp is so energy efficient its eight white LED lights are powered by the trickle of electricity flowing from a RJ11 socket – or garden-variety telephone socket. This means that, even if you’ve fallen behind on your electricity bill and the power has been cut off, you can still enjoy some late night reading. Read More
Dosun J-1 LED safety pedal for bicycles
By Paul Ridden
16:25 October 28, 2009 PDT
Taiwan's Dosun Solar Technology has added a flashing LED bike pedal to its range of safety lighting gadgets. As well as sporting the familiar orange reflective plastic strips on the front and back, each outer corner of the J-1 Pedal Light holds four bright LEDs which start to flash when the rider begins to pedal. Read More
Award-winning ReNu personal solar-powered storage system
By Mick Webb
20:51 October 27, 2009 PDT
Solar power is being harnessed and applied in ever more interesting and creative ways, and the ReNu personal power generation and storage system is certainly no exception. The device features a freestanding modular solar panel that, once charged, can be slotted into a number of extensions to make use of the collected energy, including an iPod dock and an LED desk lamp. Read More
Acer announces Aspire One AOD250 netbook with Android and Windows XP dual-boot option
By Mick Webb
22:41 October 19, 2009 PDT
Acer has delivered on its promise to develop a netbook incorporating the Android operating system with the release of the updated Aspire One AOD250. Featuring a dual-boot option, the model operates with both Android and Windows XP. Read More
Feature: What is an LED TV?
By Jeff Salton
04:06 October 19, 2009 PDT
Buying a TV has become as complicated as selecting the right mobile phone plan. Before large flat panel displays invaded our lives, the only real question when purchasing a CRT (cathode ray tube) TV was how big did you want it and how much space did you have in your room to house it? Sure, there were some quality issues but mostly it was dictated by how many diagonal inches you could get for your buck. While some of that justification still rings true with today’s TVs, now there’s the issue of plasma versus LCD to contend with, and just when you had that sorted out, LED TVs have entered the arena as an option. However, there still seems to be a fair bit of confusion surrounding what exactly an LED TV is. Well, basically, it’s another form of LCD TV that uses LEDs to provide its light source. Read More
Toshiba's Cell Regza 55X1 is the pinnacle of LED TVs
By Jeff Salton
21:05 October 5, 2009 PDT
Toshiba has upped the ante in TV technology by unveiling its flagship model, the Cell Regza 55X1. This new 55-inch LED unit has the TV junkie in mind with many features not seen before, including the ability to record up to eight channels at once, a 3TB hard drive (record and store up to 26 hours of HD programs), a powerful processing chip identical to the one found in the PS3, a dynamic contrast ratio of 5,000,000:1, 240Hz scanning, a display divided into 512 distinct areas (each with individually-controlled lighting and luminance that deliver an industry high 1250cd/m2 – 2.5 times higher than typical TVs, and a seven-speaker sound bar. All for a lazy ¥1 million (US$11,500 approx). Read More
New advances in excitonics promise faster computers
16:44 October 1, 2009 PDT
Much of today's research in electronics is geared towards obtaining faster computing and higher communication speeds. Researchers at UC San Diego are no exception, and have recently announced they have made another important step towards achieving exciton-based computation at room temperatures. Excitonics exploits the unique properties of excitons instead of the usual electrons, and promises much faster performance by interfacing more naturally with optical communications such as fiber optics. Read More
Time to connect with the iXP3 Internet Messaging Clock
By Mick Webb
04:15 September 24, 2009 PDT
When communicating via the typed word, sometimes a text or regular instant message just won’t do the trick. Here to take personal communication to a quirky new level is the iXP3 Instant Messaging Clock, which, through a simple Internet connection, changes from a mild-mannered clock to a personal messaging device that projects messages in the air. Read More
Nachteule makes night-time reading more 'enlightening'
By Jeff Salton
20:14 September 20, 2009 PDT
Reading at night can be problematic. Firstly, there can be arguments in bed between partners – one who wants to sleep with the light off, the other who wants to read with a light on. Then there’s the issue of inadequate bedside lighting or the shadows on your pages cast by an overhead light. Well, if you wear glasses, the Nachteule (night owl) light may help solve your night-time reading problems. Read More
HP unveil sleek (and familiar looking) Envy notebooks
By Mick Webb
17:18 September 20, 2009 PDT
If ya can’t beat 'em, look like ‘em. That seems to be the ethos at HP with the unveiling of its slim new Envy line of notebooks, which take a fair few visual cues from Apple’s MacBook Pro – not that there’s anything wrong with that. Read More
Samsung releases P410M and A600 projectors
16:42 September 16, 2009 PDT
Samsung recently added two new projectors to its lineup, both featuring high image quality and a wide range of connectivity capabilities at a very interesting price. The very portable P410M is compact and lightweight, with direct USB connectivity for games and devices, while the high-end A600 offers full HD 1080p video suitable for home theater projection. Read More
USB Posture Alert Reminder will set you on the straight and narrow
By Darren Quick
01:25 September 10, 2009 PDT
As a person who isn’t getting any younger - and finds himself behind a desk for most of the day - I am starting to appreciate the advice of teachers and parents imploring me to sit up straight. Now that my school days are behind me and I live alone, my back is constantly reminding me that there’s no one left to admonish me for my terrible posture. The USB Posture Alert Reminder could be just what I need to get my spine back on the straight and narrow. Read More
LG’s flagship SL9000 ‘BORDERLESS’ LED TV
By Darren Quick
03:53 September 8, 2009 PDT
LG unveiled its flagship SL9000 ‘BORDERLESS’ LED TV to a string of 'ooohs' and 'aaahs' at IFA 2009 this week, where it stood out from the pack with a uniform, seamless surface from edge to edge, with no visible frame. By using a special sheet of laminate film LG was able to eliminate the gap between the screen and the bezel and also reduce screen glare. The SL9000 is also extremely thin at just 2.9cm, with the end result being a TV that appears to be a continuous sheet of smoked glass. 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
Look, no hands: the Qlocktwo from Biegert & Funk
By Paul Ridden
17:16 August 26, 2009 PDT
What's so great about numbers anyway? And why is it that the circular form seems so sought after? After all, the Qlocktwo from proves beyond reasonable doubt that it's cool to be square and words are what matter most. The familiar rounded clock face is abandoned in favor of a stylish and elegant, cornered design where illuminated letters spell out the time at set intervals. It's time-signal receiver ensures this quartz-driven timepiece is always accurate and its interchangeable faces offer numerous color coordination options. Read More
Arty sunflowers look good and provide power, too
By Paul Ridden
17:38 August 24, 2009 PDT
A boring and unattractive loading area at the rear of a retail development in Austin, Texas is now hidden from view by a collection of 15 huge blue sunflowers, the petals of which collect energy from the sun to power the artwork's LED lighting and generate funds to help towards costs. Whether driving past or walking through the Electric Garden, onlookers will be treated to an awe-inspiring panorama where art meets functionality. Read More
Gorillatorch shines light wherever you need it
By Alan Brandon
20:51 August 21, 2009 PDT
Joby, creator of the bendy Gorillapod camera tripod, has announced a hands-free flashlight called the Gorillatorch. Consisting of an LED lamp unit mounted on a Joby flexible tripod, the Gorillatorch’s design lets you twist and bend the legs around to position the light just where you need it. Read More
Spooklight signals your cycling intentions with a wireless indicator and brake light
By Darren Quick
22:20 August 13, 2009 PDT
City cycling is an activity fraught with danger but cyclists’ safety can be enhanced by increasing their visibility and also by signaling their movements to fellow road-users. Options such as the Safe Turn Indicator help in that department but now there’s a new product called the Spooklight that could achieve the same feat without the need to strap LED lights to your wrists. Read More
Retsu watch changes the face of telling the time
By Darren Quick
21:38 August 9, 2009 PDT
Not so long ago anyone in the market for a new watch was faced with a relatively easy decision – analogue or digital? Those simpler times are but a distant memory with the release of more and more watches that set themselves apart with weird and (not always so) wonderful ways of telling the time. The latest to join the party is the Retsu watch from TokyoFlash, which uses a column of ten LED lights to indicate time instead of the traditional hands and numbers. Read More
LG unveils new slimline LCD and LED HDTVs
By Darren Quick
00:24 July 31, 2009 PDT
LG has unveiled its newest LCD and LED HDTVs at its annual Summer Line Show in New York. It sounds more like a fashion show than a platform for launching consumer electronics, but given that the new TVs’ main selling points are more in the looks rather than the specs department, perhaps it is. Both the SL80 (LCD) and SL90 (LED) series comprise FullHD 1080p resolution units featuring a single edge-to-edge panel of glass over a slim bezel, which incorporates an Invisible Speaker design to give the units a clean seamless look. Read More
Off the grid street lighting: coming soon to a street near you
By Paul Ridden
23:12 July 21, 2009 PDT
It provides light where there is darkness, it gives a sense of safety and security, but it's also a power leech. The humble street light. Thankfully, the move away from the grid is already well underway with companies like Urban Green Energy busy transforming these familiar towers of light into self sufficient beacons that harness the power of the elements - in this case, it's a hybrid solution that uses both the wind and the sun. Read More
Eternaleds' liquid-cooled LED light bulb
By Darren Quick
18:10 July 21, 2009 PDT
Liquid-cooled PCs are a mainstay for PC enthusiasts looking to eek every last bit of performance from their beloved machines and now it seems this approach has reached the world of the LED light bulb. A company called Eternaleds has introduced the HydraLux-4 LED Bulb, the world’s first LED light bulb to use "liquid-cooling technology" to give a true 360-degree light like a regular incandescent light bulb. Read More
New GE LED outdoor lighting helps banish danger in parking lots
20:30 July 20, 2009 PDT
If you’ve ever crossed a parking lot at night and found yourself nervously hurrying from one reassuring pool of light to the next, you’ll be pleased to learn GE believes it has come up with a way to banish lurking shadows from large outdoor areas. The GE Evolve LED area light produces less glare and a more uniform level of light, reducing hot spots and dark spots. And, as an added bonus, it’s 30% more energy-efficient than traditional outdoor lighting. Read More
John Wassner
- November 27, 2009 @ 01:40 UTC
