Cool Gadgetz
Hot Gadgets and Technology
Rocket Grenade Smashed to Bits In Flight By Quick Kill Defense System [Explosions]
[ Comments Off ] Posted on 11.21.08 under Anti-tank, Army, Demo, Explosions, Military, Quick kill, Quick kill vehicle defense system, Radar, Raytheon, Rockets, Tank, gadgets
We've written about the sci-fi sounding Army's Future Combat System before, but the Army's just demonstrated a successful test of one of its components: the Quick Kill vehicle defense system. Check it out: the Raytheon system uses an electronically-scanned radar array to detect an incoming anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade, then vertically launches a countermeasure missile that blows the round to smithereens in mid-flight, saving the RPG's intended target. It's a very simple test setup, and, of course the real system will have to deal with complications like vehicles in motion, but it's an important first step. And it goes boom. [Danger Room]
iPod Touch Users Left Out of Google Maps Upgrades in Firmware 2.2 [IPhone]
[ Comments Off ] Posted on 11.21.08 under 2.2, 3G, APPLE, Cellphones, Gmaps, Google Maps, IPHONE, iPod, ipod touch, itouch, street view
Our testing has confirmed that iPod Touch users do not get updates to their Google Maps app with firmware 2.2, which, at least on the iPhone, includes the addition of Street View as well as public transit and walking directions. The updated browser interface, podcast downloading and assorted other tweaks are all there, as was the requisite sacrificing of any jailbreak apps. Of course there may be a perfectly reasonable explanation for this, but that's given, Apple, it's all pitchforks and torches. Or iPods and forums posts, I guess. [MobileCrunch]
Fiio’s E5 Headphone Amp Steals iPod Shuffle Form Factor [Audio Amp]
[ Comments Off ] Posted on 11.21.08 under Amplifier, Audio, Audio amp, Fiio, Fiio e5 headphone amplifier, Music, Personal audio, e5, gadgets
This little headphone amplifier unit from Fiio is a pretty much exactly the same shape as an iPod shuffle, presumably so you can clip it to a lapel or bag strap for convenience while it's in use. It'll push out 150mW of audio power into 16-ohm headphones, with a USB-rechargable lithium battery that's good for about 20 hours, and it weighs a mere 26g. There's no release date info yet, though there's an expectation that it's price may be around $20, which may interest those of you with portable audio amp requirements. [GenerationMP3 via OhGizmo]
Winsome Leaf Keychain Speakers are Almost Certainly Irritating in Real Life [Speakers]
[ Comments Off ] Posted on 11.21.08 under Accessories, Headphones, Leaf, Leaf speakers, Speakers, Unamplified speakers, leaves
At first glance, this leaf from Bird Electron doesn't seem like such a bad idea: Provide people with a small, unamplified, discreet speaker that can hook up to pretty much any MP3 player, wrap it in a cute little leafy shell and clip it to a keychain. But then, please, consider the uses. When can't you just give you friends an earbud to share a song? When you're 13, on a bus with five friends, all of whom are on a pretty hard Chingy kick. That's when. Japan can keep this one. [Akihabara]
Have a Cow With Creative’s Zen Moo Moo-sic Player [Zen Moo]
[ Comments Off ] Posted on 11.21.08 under Creative, Creative Zen Moo, Dap, Digital Audio Player, MP3 Player, Mp3, Music, Music player, Zen, Zen Moo, zen stone
Holy cow! Just in time for the upcoming Year of the Ox, Creative has released its Zen Moo line of mp3 players and speakers in China. Based on the Zen Stone, you can get either the Zen Moo or the Zen Moo Plus. Both come with 2GB storage, support for MP3 and WMA, a 20 hour lithium battery and a built-in speaker. The Plus adds a translucent blue OLED display, FM radio reception, MIC voice recording and an alarm clock. Prices weren't available on the site, but I bet it wouldn't be too hard to find if you hoof it to China. [iMP3.com via Epizenter] galleryPost('zenmoo', 3, '');
Asus All-In-One Eee Top Touches Down In Taiwan [EEE Top]
[ Comments Off ] Posted on 11.21.08 under All-In-One PC, All-in-one, Asus, Asus Eee Top, Asustek, Desktop, EEE top, PC, Taiwan, Touchscreen, Touchscreen PC
Asus' long awaited all-in-one touchscreen PC, the Eee Top, is now out in the wild... at least in Taiwan. The 15.6-inch display “nettop” runs Windows XP and holds an Intel Atom N270 processor with 1GB of memory and a 160GB hard disk drive within its chassis. It also comes with a 1.3MP webcam, two integrated 4W speakers and a nifty little dimmable LED keyboard light.
The Eee Top will definitely not please gamers, Photoshop pros or their ilk, but the simplified custom interface (made for touching!) and clean design make it a decent option for more casual, social PC users. As for pricing, the desktop is going for about $565 in Taiwan, but I'm willing to bet it'll be closer to the $400 to $500 price point when it comes to the U.S. [Engadget Chinese]
OrbLive 2.0 iPhone App Keeps Your Devices File- and Embarrasment-Free [IPhone App]
[ Comments Off ] Posted on 11.21.08 under Orb, OrbLive, Orblive 2.0, Orblive 2.0 iphone app, Phone applications, Touch app, iPhone App, iPhone applications, iTunes, ipod touch app, itunes App store
Today, the media streaming service Orb announced their official iPhone application, OrbLive 2.0, allowing you to stream your media files across multiple devices via 3G, EDGE or Wi-Fi. The last incarnation of OrbLive was launched before the App Store was introduced; thus requiring a jailbroken iPhone. The official application allows for a more intuitive and streamlined experience instead of the traditional browser interface. It'll save you time from syncing all of those files that you claim don't exist buried in the dim recesses of your hard drive, giving you just a lil' more "special time." Eh, let's try not to forget special time doesn't mean it's "share-with-everyone-around-me" time, shall we? Not unless it involves physical interaction. [MarketWatch]
iPhone 2.2 Update Available Now [Iphone 2.2]
[ Comments Off ] Posted on 11.21.08 under APPLE, Cellphones, IPHONE, Iphone 2.2, Top, iPhone 3G
That was fast. It's barely Nov. 21 and the iPhone 2.2 update is here, all 246MB of it, as promised. Included in the update, according to the release notes and as we'd heard, are all the new Google Maps features we've been waiting for like Street View (which is so far butter smooth and delicious over Wi-Fi, slightly less magical over 3G), public transit and walking directions, as well as over-the-air podcast downloads, mail enhancements, Safari tweaks, improved sound quality for visual voicemail, fewer dropped calls (again), and more. But you know, not MMS or copy and paste. Grab it now.
Verizon Staff Accessed Obama Cellphone Data, Became Ex-Verizon Staff [Ways To Get Fired]
[ Comments Off ] Posted on 11.21.08 under Barack Obama, Cellphone, Cellphone security breach, Lowell McAdam, President, President-Elect Barack Obama, Verizon Wireless, Ways To Get Fired, obama, security breach
Several Verizon Wireless employees stumbled upon the Pandora's Box of personal cellphone accounts, that of President-Elect Barack Obama, and couldn't help sneaking a peek. Luckily, the account was old and out-of-use, there's no indication that email records, voicemails or call contents were monitored, and at the very most the employees only got to see billing records, according to Verizon Wireless CEO Lowell McAdam. Oh yeah, and the employees are now fired.
PERSONAL CELL PHONE ACCOUNT OF PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA ACCESSED BY UNAUTHORIZED EMPLOYEES
BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Wireless President and CEO Lowell McAdam made the following statement today:
"This week we learned that a number of Verizon Wireless employees have, without authorization, accessed and viewed President-Elect Barack Obama's personal cell phone account. The account has been inactive for several months. The device on the account was a simple voice flip-phone, not a BlackBerry or other smartphone designed for e-mail or other data services.
"All employees who have accessed the account – whether authorized or not – have been put on immediate leave, with pay. As the circumstances of each individual employee's access to the account are determined, the company will take appropriate actions. Employees with legitimate business needs for access will be returned to their positions, while employees who have accessed the account improperly and without legitimate business justification will face appropriate disciplinary action.
We apologize to President-Elect Obama and will work to keep the trust our customers place in us every day."
Nab A PS3 Bundle For $200 in Amazon.com Contest [Dealzmodo]
[ Comments Off ] Posted on 11.21.08 under 80GB PS3, Amazon, Console Gaming, Dealzmodo, Gaming, PS3, Playstation, Playstation 3, Playstation 3 bundle, Sony, Videogames
Looking to get a Playstation 3 for as low as $200? Who isn't! Amazon is hosting a pretty amazing deal which could land you an 80GB PS3, a PS3 game and Bluray movie set for either $199 or $229, depending on which of three sets you choose. But there's a catch: You have to vote on which of the three sets Amazon should offer to get a chance at the discounted price. If your vote made it into the majority, you'll be put into a 500 person draw to snag the PS3 at its bottom of the barrel pricing. So it's not the easiest deal to score but hey, voting costs you nothing, right? Might as well give it a go. Round one of voting ends on Wednesday, Nov. 26.[Amazon via PS3fanboy]