Garmin is a well known name when it comes to GPS navigation systems, and their latest foray into the market includes expanding its relationship with BMW Motorrad, where both of them have joined forces to develop the next generation BMW Motorrad Navigator known as the Navigator IV. This is a motorcycle-friendly GPS navigator which will be based on Garmin’s zūmo 660, where it aims to bring out the level best of Garmin’s navigation technology, merging that with exclusive, BMW specific features including a customized mount, preloaded BMW dealer database, unique audio and Bluetooth handling capabilities, and more.

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Now this is one vehicle that ought to get the neighbor to sit up and take notice – even if he already owns a fleet of vehicles and take exotic holidays all over the globe, but chances are he’ll never be able to own this Fiat Cinque Tank right in his garage for one simple reason – it is custom built using an old Fiat 500 (preferably unwanted) body that has been mounted onto caterpillar tracks of a secondhand tractor. You won’t break any land speed records with this as it plods along to a maximum speed of 3km/h, but it will definitely boast a look that is guaranteed to turn heads. Also, it can do its fair bit in a yard thanks to the working power shovel.

Source: Pink Tentacle

Everyone looks back on their college days with fondness, as we tend to be involved in some really crazy antics back in the days. Well, students who go to MIT are different not just because of their intellect, but for their enterprising spirit that has consistently placed the institution’s name at the very top of universities to attend worldwide. This time round, a bunch of MIT students decided to take an unwanted shopping cart and throw on new, more durable wheels and a chunk of NiCd aircraft batteries to power 15hp brushless motor, helping this shopping cart move at speeds of up to 45MPH. They have dubbed this shopping cart the LOLrioKart – in honor of Mario Kart.

Source: Gizmodo

Just when I thought I was finished covering space tourism for the day, along comes a device that can simulate space tourism. I guess the $200,000 price for a ticket is just too much for some people, like me.

The Soyuz Chair is able to take the experience of a Soyuz rocket, and put it in the user’s living room. When the user sits in the chair, it can recline and I would imagine there would be some shaking and rumbling for blastoff. I believe the headphones are there for added realism.

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Sometimes I forget what an age of science fiction that we live in. Virgin Galactic has just recently broke ground on Spaceport America, the very first commercial space sport.

Spaceport America is going to be built in New Mexico, and this 110,000 square foot facility is designed by Foster and Partners. The runway is 10,000 feet long and 200 feet wide. It will cost about $200 million to complete, and should be done by 2011.

So it should be two years before the average person will be able to fly into space as a tourist. By “average person”, I mean anyone who has $200,000 to spare. Yeah, I didn’t think this whole tourist space travel thing would be cheap, either.

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VirtualHud gives heads up display to the private pilot

Like every private private pilot, I have a dream of enjoying a flight with a heads up display so I can spend most of my time looking outside the window, rather than having my head buried in the instruments. And now, the technology for a HUD is now available which utilizes the plane’s propeller as a projection screen, and it’s called VirtualHud.

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Harnessing the power of the wind to travel is nothing new. America was discovered thanks to it, goods travelled all over the world for eons as a result of it, there’s even a super bowl of sailing in the world’s oldest athletic competition (the America’s Cup) which couldn’t happen as a result of the wind. And cargo ships are even considering using giant kites to travel on the wind as a green way to cut costs and save the environment while sailing the seas. So it’s nothing new. But toss in the ability to travel from the road straight into the ocean on the wind, and suddenly the “coolness factor” asserts itself. Especially when you can see an opening scene of a new Bond movie in it’s future.

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The Porta Pizza Oven. Great for RVs, bad for rush hour

If I had an RV or camper and was looking to bake a pizza or cake while camping, the Portable Pizza Oven might possibly be a good option to add to my camping gear. But if I was stuck in rush hour and was a tad hungry, using this while driving would be a recipe … for disaster.

The Porta Pizza Oven plugs into the 12 volt cigarette lighter receptacle. It has heating elements above and below for all around cooking and can handle a small cake pan or pizza. It folds out like a typical toaster oven and has two settings – high and low – for cooking and warming up.

As I said, if you’re looking for something to free up some plug space on your portable generator, and have spare counter space on your RV counter or camper, this could be a good option – just make sure you start up the engine from time to time to keep from killing the battery.

But if you’re looking for a hot food option while your commuting to work on the freeway, you may find that this oven turns your vehicle into a car-be-que by sitting on the passenger seat while operating.

Cost is $36.00 from Stupidoholic. http://www.stupidiotic.com/product_info.php?cPath=9_15&products_id=193

Hat Tip – D’Vice http://dvice.com/archives/2009/06/theres-no-way-t.php