Archive for September, 2008
USB Hollywood Film Kit: Lights! Webcamera! Action!
I’m sure most have you have seen the film Cloverfield, the J.J. Abrams monster movie that was filmed in the style of a handheld movie camera. Contrary to what is depicted in the film, the camera used for shooting that film was a very fancy high-definition camera, not a Best Buy handheld.
I only bring this up because I have also had a great idea for a movie that is filmed in the style of a webcam. I don’t exactly have a plot just yet, but I noticed in my test filming of potential action that webcams produce shotty image quality.
This is why the USB Hollywood Film kit is pertinent to my future indie blockbuster. This kit comes with a webcam that looks like a real movie camera, and a separate spotlight for more lighting, which has the Hollywood-style flaps.
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The Electro Puff Lamp Dimmer
I have to say, sometimes people scare me, or in this case specifically some parents scare me. I keep waiting to listen to the news to hear about a child sent to school in a giant roll of bubble wrap. There are just some parents that see danger lurking around every corner even with the smallest of things. One thing I never ever even considered dangerous was a dimmer switch. I mean seriously, who finds a dimmer switch dangerous?! At first I prayed that the Electro Puff Lamp Dimmer was just a bizarre concept design, but no such luck.
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Handheld Aquarium from Sega Toys: Nemo would be proud
The Handheld Aquarium by Sega Toys could best be described as a Virtual Pet, which haven’t been popular since the early nineties. In fact, I think that is when Sega Toys peaked with their Sega Saturn.
The full color graphics are certainly better than anything the Tamagotchi had back in the day. In this case, the user gets to take care of a fish, or some other marine animal like a dolphin.
The underwater pet will grow, and there is an extra bonus as well, because the virtual pet’s space will somehow expand. I am assuming this is a virtual expansion, because there is a tiny screen on this handheld aquarium.
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Cute Butterfly Speakers iPod Dock with interchangeable faceplates
If you’re looking for an iPod dock that is a little more feminine, you’ll love these Butterfly Speakers. Although frankly, after staring at them for a few minutes I don’t see a single butterfly. I thought for a second maybe it was the overall shape, but even that is just curved nicely but not necessarily modeled after a butterfly. If anything this should be called Flower Speakers or something equally descriptive. Alright, they’re cute so I suppose I can let it slide that the product name doesn’t quite describe the product.
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Synaptics introduce ChiralRotate and Two-Finger Flick
Synaptics has announced new gestures to join its expanding portfolio of gesture recognition capabilities, with the ChiralRotate and Two-Finger Flick taking the limelight. Just in case Synaptics rings a bell, that’s because its TouchPads are often found in popular notebook brands as well as peripheral keyboards, and in light of Apple’s multi-touch capability on its iPhone and iPod touch, it makes perfect sense for Synaptics to do something about the situation and shore up their portfolio. For the uninitiated, ChiralRotate allows users to move one finger in a circular motion to rotate images and graphics within applications, quickly and easily while Two-Finger Flick enables users, depending on the application, to either use two fingers to flick horizontally to navigate back-and-forth through images, documents and objects, or to flick vertically to minimize and maximize an application.
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Mitsubishi NR-HZ001 series of car navigation systems
Mitsubishi has just rolled out its new NR-HZ001 series of car navigation systems that will be fitted into the remainder of its 2008 lineup, featuring an integrated hard drive to store all your navigational data. One of the models will boast the ability to watch “full segment” terrestrial digital broadcasts, although that is not recommended if you’re driver – leave the watching to your passengers while you concentrate on the road. I tend to find that distractions such as in-dash DVD players and what-nots add to a less safe driving experience, as my roving eyes tend to concentrate more on what’s happening on the screen instead of the vehicles behinds’ that I am fast approaching.
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Oxo-biodegradable plastics to the rescue?
Since young I was always taught to reduce the use of plastics and styrofoam containers/cups as those are non-biodegradable, not to mention that turtles often mistake them for jellyfish only to be conned into swallowing plastic bags, leaving them to die shortly thereafter. Biodegradable plastics are the way to go it seems – but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t continue living out other green lifestyles.
Thanks to an additive that slowly breaks down the disposable plastic items that we use, plastic can be biodegraded and become part of the soil that nourishes the plants that keep our planet’s atmosphere in balance. The addition of this additive turns ordinary plastic into oxy-biodegradable plastic. BioGreen Products sells disposable items made of oxy-biodegradable plastic.
Hopefully oxy-biodegradable plastics will become the norm in the near future for the sake of our planet and our children’s future.
Multi-Function Digital Mobile Solar Charger
With everyone making a conscious effort to go green these days, have you ever paused to consider doing so with your chargers for multiple devices as well? Brando has an option with the Multi-Function Digital Mobile Solar Charger, relying on the power of the sun to keep your most commonly used gizmos all juiced up. This gadget features an intelligent automatic voltage regulation technology that is able to monitor the discharge voltage and current. Inside you will find integrated large-capacity rechargeable lithium polymer batteries that are not only durable but cost-effective. The Multi-Function Digital Mobile Solar Charger is perfect for keeping devices such as digital cameras, MP3 players, cell phones, DS Lites and PSPs juiced up no matter where you are, all for $69.
