If you are in construction, TV reporting, or any other job that requires you to bring expensive tools to another location, then you know the frustration of leaving tools behind. On a somewhat related note, I left a camera behind at a wedding that I went to last week, and all I could think was: “oh, I should have done a quick inventory of my things before I just drove off”.

DeWalt is thinking the same thing when it created Tool Link, a way of keeping track of tools with RFID tags. The system comes with an RFID scanner with software for a truck’s dashboard computer, as well as two RFID antennas for a truck’s bed.

It also comes with 50 RFID tags that can be attached to any tool. So when you leave the job, you can check the computer and see if any tools were left behind, and track down the ones that are missing.

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I realize that normally we devote our articles to products you can actually buy, but the story behind this man’s helicopter is flat-out amazing and inspirational to us all.

Wu Zhongyuan is a 20 year old farmer who, ever since he was a child, dreamed of not needing to climb mountains anymore. It would appear that he found his remedy by creating his own flying machine. Wu used principles that he learned in middle-school physics and other relevant knowledge by surfing the Internet on a mobile phone to create this helicopter.

The blades are made from Elm tree wood, and a motorcycle engine provides the power. The frame is reinforced with steel pipes, and he claims that his single-seat copter can fly up to 2,600 feet! Believe it or not, he assembled this DIY helicopter for just $1,600.

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I have seen fold-up bikes before, and none of them were very impressive. The first I ever saw was back in the eighties, in the Sharper Image Catalog. If I were to find a picture of that particular bike, then I would post it here so you could have a good laugh.

A student name Dominic Hargreaves has won the James Dyson Award for his innovative folding bike that is appropriately named The Contortionist. As you can see, the whole frame fits within the wheel’s 26 inch circumference.

The rest forms a convenient handle that can be dragged around by the rider when the bike is not in use. It reminds me of modern luggage that you see now, which seems to require a retractable handlebar and tiny wheels.

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What’s the point of having a high revving sports car if you can’t push it to the limit on ordinary roads? Of course, most supercars can also be driven slowly to cruise past busy spots so that majority of working class folks would look on in envy, but paying off a speeding ticket (or tickets, depending on your luck) just because you wanted to let ‘er rip down that straightaway is a bummer. Escort hopes their Redline radar detector ought to prevent that from happening to you ever again since it features dual antennas that make the range a whole lot longer compared to other radar detectors. So long, in fact, that Escort proudly claims for it to recognize radar and laser signatures from as far as 13 miles away. No idea on how much truth is there, but the $499.95 investment you make here could save you thousands in speeding tickets sometime down the road.

Source: Slippery Brick

I’m not certain how this pedal-powered monorail system got to be called the Shweeb, but I don’t really care. And you got to admit, it is a very cool invention for something that rhymes with “dweeb”.

I mean, who wouldn’t want to travel in a transparent monorail car that moves not by machine, but by the user’s command? So go ahead and make those phone calls and text messages while you are behind the wheel. All you have to worry about is the car in front of you, and you can stop anytime. By the way, the Shweeb “car” moves faster than an ordinary bike.

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Have you ever seen a concept device of some gadget, and wished that all gadgets of its type were like it? Okay, that was a little bit of a confusing opening, but this is what I was feeling when I saw designer Ryan McGinley’s Amur Leopard. I wished that all bikes were like it.

Of course, not all bikes have to be electric, but this one is. The electricity is needed for the navigational and communication unit that you can barely detect just below the handlebars.

The big selling point for me was that it opens up like it does. I’m told that space is wide enough to accommodate a laptop, briefcase, or a six-pack. It doesn’t look like it can keep the beverages cold, though.

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Navman Wireless has recently rolled out an announcement concerning the M-Nav 750 commercial-grade GPS/dispatch/messaging device which was specially designed for in-vehicle use. It will function as an upgrade to the first-generation M-Nav 650, bringing all-new ruggedized hardware for long life, an exclusive five-year warranty, vehicle class-based routing, and other industry-first that ultimately aims to keep operating costs at a minimum while increasing driver productivity. As with its predecessor, the new and improved M-Nav 750 allows fleet drivers to receive dispatch instructions, view maps to their next stop, and send messages back to the office on a mobile unit which rests atop the vehicle dashboard or windshield. Whenever the driver accepts a job, relevant maps and turn-by-turn directions will show up automatically for added convenience, further reducing drive time, decreasing fuel costs, minimizing paperwork and improving customer service by providing accurate ETAs.

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ProClip USA has recently announced a bunch of device holders which were specially designed to securely mount the recently released iPhone 3G S to car, truck and SUV dashboards alongside consoles. These were specially custom made to connect to vehicle-specific ProClip dashboard mounts, giving superior viewing and easier access. Of course, you can always attach the ProClip holders to other flat surfaces. Below are the new products available for your perusal.

The Padded Holder with Tilt Swivel is custom made with a neat and discreet design. It tilts 15 degrees in any direction for optimal viewing. Your iPhone 3G S easily slides in and out of the holder.

The Padded Holder with Tilt Swivel and Charging/USB Cable has a cable permanently attached to the base so when your device is slid into the holder it connects to the cable. Then the cable can either be plugged into your car’s 12V power outlet or any female USB connection. You can easily slide your iPhone in and out of the holder. The Holder angles 15 degrees for optimal viewing.

The Holder with Tilt Swivel and Pass-Through Connector will make docking and undocking, your iPhone 3G S, easier and more convenient. Attach your stereo cable, charging cable or any other iPhone compatible cable, to the bottom of the holder, to create a docking station. Your iPhone 3G S is conveniently on the dash within easy reach and slides in and out of the holder with one hand. The holder is custom made with a neat and discreet design and tilts 15 degrees, in any direction, for optimal viewing.

The Adjustable Holder with Tilt Swivel and Pass-Through Connector has all the benefits of the above Holder with Tilt Swivel and Pass-Through Connector plus it is designed to accommodate your encased iPhone 3G S. This Adjustable Holder will adjust from a width of 2.3″ (60mm) to 3.2″ (82mm).

The ProClip Vehicle Mount provides the mounting platform to attach any of the ProClip holders. The ProClip Vehicle Mount is the only vehicle specific, consumer installable mounting bracket in today’s global market. The mount clips into the dashboard seams, providing a very sturdy and tight fit. Average installation time is 2 minutes. No dismantling of the dashboard is required and there is no damage to the vehicle’s interior!

Guess there is a little bit of something for everyone, unless you don’t own a vehicle, of course, then you’ll just need to stash your iPhone 3G S into your pocket while you get about on public transport.

Press Release