Join DVR Hidden Cameras for budding spies
Ever wondered whether the maid you hired actually brings in her boyfriend to your apartment when you’re not around? If you’re thinking of catching a secret tryst on video, there are these DVR hidden cameras to consider – it comes in the form of an alarm clock like what you see on the right, but is connected to a special receiver and is smart enough to work only when it detects the presence of another human in the room.
Users can employ the cameras to watch nannies taking care of their children, office or business employees, inventory control at a warehouse, and many other types of covert use. With the SD card allowing anywhere from 8 to 144 hours worth of recording time, the user need not worry about running out of tape as with VHS tape, or space as with a DVD. The hidden camera’s DVR is completely contained within the system, therefore relieving worry of anyone noticing that they are being video recorded – no clicking noises, no lights on – the self recording hidden cameras are completely discreet.
These hidden cameras come in many form factors, ranging from a clock radio to an air purifier, an air freshener, or even a boom box. I’d be more wary about receiving these as gifts in the future.
MIMO Monitors available in US
MIMO monitors might have been out elsewhere in the world for some time already, but they’re finally arriving on US shores. These 7″ displays are able to function as instant secondary or tertiary displays, connected via USB 2.0 to provide you with additional viewing real estate. I do think that getting a larger monitor in the first place would be a better solution since I don’t like to deal with bezels found on a multi-display setup. It is a novelty to have on your desktop though, and practical applications include dragging your instant messaging and email clients there, stock tickers, streaming media and even design tools within programs – the choice is yours. The MIMO UM-710 will feature 350 cd/m2 brightness and 400:1 contrast ratio, retailing for $129.99, while the MIMO UM-740 shares everything found in the MIMO UM-710 in addition to touchscreen capability, webcam and a microphone, retailing for a more expensive $199.99.
Pumgo Scooter powered by…you’ve guessed it, humans
Remember the panic that gripped many parts of the world last year when oil hit record high prices of nearly $150 a barrel? Taking your car out for a spin then was a much slower affair from the days where fuel prices were dirt cheap (or at least, more affordable), as you realized that your foot is not made out of lead after all and there is no need to floor the accelerator each time the traffic lights turn green. Well, many people have even resorted to taking the public transport at that time as well, while others decided to go green with a bicycle instead. Human-powered transport seems to be the way to go forward, but with lower fuel prices right now as things go back to normal, will the Pumgo Scooter be able to stand a chance? It will be introduced at the New York International Toy Fair on February 15 -18, 2009, so if you’re interested to take a first hand look at it, head on to the Javits Convention Center during those dates.
Continue reading » Pumgo Scooter powered by…you’ve guessed it, humans
Samsung Memoir rolls out from T-Mobile USA
Folks living in the US have yet another cell phone to choose from this time round, and T-Mobile USA will be the carrier of choice if you are interested in bringing home an 8 megapixel shooter that comes with a built-in phone, or is that a phone that has an integrated 8 megapixel camera? The lines are clearly blurred with the Samsung Memoir, which is a full touch screen handset that boasts premium multimedia features and the mentioned camera as its main selling points. Megapixel count has increased by a bunch since the early days of VGA cameras in cell phones, and seriously, unless the lens technology is improved, most of the time a higher megapixel count doesn’t really help as you would be better off with an real dedicated digital camera in the first place. More on the Samsung Memoir right after the jump.
Continue reading » Samsung Memoir rolls out from T-Mobile USA
Rubik’s 360 promises hours of frustrating fun
Like most other kids, at some point during my childhood I owned a Rubik’s Cube. That thing frustrated me for hours on end. Finally after weeks of working at it, I figured out the trick to solving it. Well now Professor Erno Rubik has created a new contraption that looks even more confusing than his cube.
Continue reading » Rubik’s 360 promises hours of frustrating fun
Congress votes to delay digital TV transition
Listening to the sage words of the wise one, Congress has stepped up and voted heed the Obama Administration’s council and delayed the proposed digital TV transition. Originally scheduled for next week, the digital TV transition in the United States would shut off most analog broadcast signals (except those from stations that are so small they can’t afford to make the switchover) and go completely digital. The plan, which has been in place for several years and prompted a multi-million dollar ad and voucher campaign to help viewers make the switch, drew concern from the incoming administration as there are still thousands of people waiting for digital converter vouchers and no money to pay for them. It seems that the free $40 voucher, which is meant to help absorb the cost of a digital to analog converter box, was so popular that the entire program funding was depleted with a month to go, leaving thousands in the lurch until the more then 40% of unused vouchers were recycled and reprocessed for redistribution. And that’s where the perceived problem came.
Continue reading » Congress votes to delay digital TV transition
Star Trek Communicator to finally become phone for VoIP crowd?
A few years back, an upstart cell phone company announced the holy grail for geeks to great fanfare … a cellphone that looked like a Star Trek Communicator. Everyone signed up to get word of when this cool homage to sci-fi geekery would ship and it was destined to be a very popular product. I mean, who wouldn’t want to indulge in a little “beam me up Scotty” fantasy while making a call to work? But alas, it wasn’t to be as a few months later, the company announced they couldn’t make it work, nor would Paramount/Viacom play ball if they did. Ready for round two? Only this time, it’s a VoIP/Skype platform that has the eye of Captain Kirk’s favorite method communication. Will geeks finally get their due? Or is it just another interstellar carrot on a stick?
Continue reading » Star Trek Communicator to finally become phone for VoIP crowd?
Blooming Buds: Fashion for the earbuds
Even though I promised not to, I can’t help but constantly report on some sort of product that I discovered at CES 2009. I guess what happens in Vegas doesn’t stay in Vegas after all.
For those who don’t know CES, the Sands Expo is where a lot of the newer and concept companies tend to have their displays. This is different than the Las Vegas Convention Center, which usually has all the bigger electronics companies taking up as much floor space as possible.
Yes, it is often at the Sands that features products like the Blooming Buds, which is probably the best collision of technology and accessorizing that I have ever seen. The Blooming Buds are earphones that don’t really give better sound than normal iPod earbuds, but the thing that makes them unique is the user can add on “blooms” that allow the user to make a statement.
These blooms attach to the earbuds, and they come in all forms including dollar signs, sports balls, national flags, and many other symbols. There was even one for Barack Obama inauguration.
Continue reading » Blooming Buds: Fashion for the earbuds
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