Fans of the the American TV series Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles, might have noticed that TV version of John Connor has a very different kind of relationship with Cameron, his cyborg protector, than the Arnoldbot from the movies. Cameron even puts on nail polish in John's bedroom while they share secrets (season 1, episode 8).

Is there some human/robot love in John Connor's future? If he needs help sparking a robot romance, maybe he should try some Cszar's Terminator pornography. Cszar posed and photographed his T-800 robots having sex in various positions before sharing them on flickr.com.



Cszar's flickr album is titled "Make Love Not War." It's basically the Terminator Karma Sutra. His family must be proud.


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Labels: gadgets, offbeat

Although the James Bond movie series began with a surprising lack of gadgetry and big-budget fireworks, who would the Bond we've come to know today be without all his gadgets?


Here's a list of some of our favorite James Bond gadgets and how realistic/functional they'd be in the real world.

• Robot Dog (A View To A Kill, 1985)
  Remember in the 1980's when robots were cool? Every movie or TV show from Short Circuit to Small Wonder had a robot in it and Bond was no different. In A View to a Kill, Q has a small dog sized surveillance robot that he operates by remote control. You might remember how Q used the robot to spy on Bond girl, Stacy Sutton, when she was coming out of the shower. Could it work? Yes. After 9/11, hundreds of robots were used to scourer the wreckage of the World Trade Center's collapsed twin towers and help diffuse road side bombs in Iraq.
  
  
• X-Ray Glasses (The World Is Not Enough, 1999)
  These blue sunglasses from Q's lab are both stylish and functional with X-ray ability that allow Bond to wander though a casino viewing concealed weapons and inspecting ladies' lingerie. But could it work? No. These glasses stretch the barriers of X-ray technology a little too far. X-rays are most widely used in medicine to visualize bones and organs and requires the subject to stand stationary for a few seconds in order to work properly.



• Jetpack (Thunderball, 1965)
  One of the most spectacular gizmos, the jetpack, only appears for a moment. Bond straps it on and escapes over a high wall to his waiting Aston Martin DB5. The jetpack is real and was originally developed for the US Army by Bell Textron Laboratories. High pressure nitrogen gas is released through the nozzles to give a powerful burst of rocket propulsion. The military jetpack prototype could carry a person over a 30-foot-high wall at a speed of 7-10mph. Having just 30 seconds flight time, however, the jetpack was scrapped by the army. These days, it's reserved for novelty value and was used in the 1984 Olympic Games opening ceremony in Los Angeles.
  

There are plenty more Bond gadgets. These were just some of my favorites. Thanks to a remastered DVD collection of the James Bond movie series fans can relive all their favorite gadget scenes over and over again.


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Labels: gadgets, movies, review

Leave it to those crazy Dutch (no offense ;-)) to create a motorized monocycle that isn’t even street legal! This wheel operates by using a centrifugal clutch on the inner steel frame to engage the 67″ diameter outer flywheel which makes contact with the ground using a rubber tire. A single rider can achieve speeds of 25MPH as the monocycle is powered by a 31cc, four-stroke 1 1/2-hp engine and steered by the passenger leaning to one side or the other. The frame is made of fiberglass which encloses the engine, drive train and fuel tank and provides a cushioned seat for riders up to 275 lbs.

This crazy gadget can run up to 2 hours on a full tank (1/2 gallon) of gas but to own this ultimate single wheeled vehicle you’ll have to pull out your credit card with a high credit limit as this impractical, albeit cool, vehicle is more expensive than Hyundai Accent which comes with a different kind of tilt steering wheel, seat-mounted and side-impact airbags, heating and air and a roof.
You can get your very own for only $12999 + $800 shipping!

Source: Gizmos for Geeks

Labels: dutch, gadgets, monocycle

The USB Duplicator by Nexcopy is an interesting product to say the least. Granted it wouldn't apply to the average consumer, but it does have it's place. In addition, I would say USB flash drives are the #1 most under-rated promotional item business' have missed out on, so I can see why this product is coming to marketing. Get your company logo branded on there, load her up with data, sales material, promotional videos, tutorials...I could go on and on...



Even if a customer deletes the data off the flash drive, the company logo is still branded on the device. Always in the customers face, always reminded them where they got the drive.

Maybe it's the process of data loading the information onto the drive on why flash drives haven't become more popular with companies for handing out information. It's a very viral gadget. The USB duplicator is an obvious choice for making such a life, much easier. The Nexcopy USB duplicator is a 20 target system and the company says a 5 minute mpeg video (about 30MBs) can be copied in about 40 seconds. This means the USB duplicator can churn out [estimated] 1,200 drives in about 1 hour. I'll have to back that number down considering swapping the drives, the OS identifying the drive etc. But even so, the USB duplicator turns a miserable task into an easy process.

USB music albums are becoming a much bigger hit these days as well, and having a USB duplicator to make your album definitely speeds up the process from a hub and copy-n-paste. I know you can put the following information onto a CD or DVD, but for the groupies, something unique like a flash drive is just ideal. Putting your band video, back story interviews, lyrics etc. onto USB is a new way to give a bands fans something unique. The other advantage with making a USB album is increasing a bands margin on selling promotional items. Your 20% margin is a lot more in dollars with a $25 USB drive than a $10 T-shirt or $7 CD.



So again, the USB duplicator concept isn't for the masses, but is a great idea for the select few. Speaking of which - are you [or someone you know] part of the select few? If so check out the USB duplicator from Nexcopy.

Source: GetUSB.info


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Labels: gadgets, usb

We love our kinetic energy here at Inhabitat, and we are excited to announce inventive use of human kinetic power: The brandnew 2 GB Eco Media Playeris hand-crank portable media player can play music, video, and even charge your cellphone, all from a few seconds of cranking! What’s more renewable than human power? We love that someone finally had the brilliant idea to mix renewable energy generation with music & video - all the best things in life in one cute little package.

Created by well-known British inventor Trevor Baylis, (the inventor of the hand-crank radio), the Eco Media Player does pretty much everything that you would expect from a modern media device, and makes it ten times better with green renewable energy. It lets you play music, tune into the radio, and view photos and video. The Eco Media Player also can charge through USB plugged into your computer (though sadly, for Windows users only) and comes with it’s own software. It even comes with a LED torch! It’ll give you about 40 minutes of power per every minute of cranking, which may not seem like a lot - but it is pretty good for a small hand-crank device. The Eco Media Player will even allow you to charge your cell-phone, not something that is not commonly see as a feature in other players.

While we cannot attest to the usability of the player, we prefer to think of devices such as these more of a proof of a great concept. The thought that if these small companies can create devices that require no real electricity input, well then, isn’t it time for the big boys to step up to the plate?


[Read: inhabitat]

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Labels: gadgets

If you like the idea of solar power, but aren’t convinced by expensive, clunky solar panels just yet, here’s a more manageable option: print your own on an inkjet! Konarka Technologies has just debuted a printable solar panel film that uses a common inkjet printing process to manufacture paper-thin photovoltaic solar cells. Using the existing and very simple technologies of your office inkjet printer, Konarka has essentially replaced ink with the solar cell material, and paper with a thin flexible sheet of plastic.

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:
Essentially, the head of an inkjet printer deposits a material (ink) into a substrate (paper), and does so in a fairly cheap and quick manner. Konarka’s technique uses the solar cell material as ink, and a thin flexible plastic as paper. According to the company, the process creates solar cells which are almost as good as the clunky silicon ones, created with much more advanced technologies. However, these inkjet babies are much much cheaper.

“Demonstrating the use of inkjet printing technology as a fabrication tool for highly efficient solar cells and sensors with small area requirements is a major milestone,” stated Rick Hess, president and CEO at Konarka.
Unfortunately we probably won’t be seeing the Inkjet-solar-panel option flying off the shelves of Office Depot just yet, as it is currently only feasible for large productions of solar cells. However, it does mean that if the uptake of this technology happens relatively quickly, you will be seeing solar cells of different sizes and price-points appearing everywhere soon.

[Via: inhabitat]

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Labels: gadgets

Not that you've noticed... but the finest restaurants on Tatooine all feature R2-D2 pepper grinders.

Usually after you order your salad of Dagobah greens a Wookie will come around and offer you some fresh ground pepper from one of these handy droid-based mills. Word to the wise... never refuse a Wookie.

Simply twist R2's head and he deposits pepper onto your food.

Hey, it's not a glamorous job for a droid... but much better than being abducted by Jawas.


Product Features

• Pepper Grinder that Looks Like R2-D2
• Twist R2's head and pepper comes out the bottom
• Licensed Star Wars collectible imported from Japan
• Peppercorns Not Included
• Stands 4.75" Tall

You can purchase the R2-D2 Peppermill for $19.99 from ThinkGeek.com.


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Labels: gadgets, review

If you're a gamer (particularly one with some history or if you just like retro items), take a look at the Classic Nintendo Themed TV Remote. It's actually a TV remote control. If you want some exercise than pressing buttons while seated on your couch, the Nerf Maverick is is next-gen Nerf gun (hit the link for a funny vid game-inspired video).

Onto the multimedia scene, there are at least two cool gadgets to check out – the Credit Card Size Digital Video Player and the return of M&K Sound. The former is a mini video player that has a 2.8-inch high resolution LCD multimedia player that lets you play video continuously for 4 hours or audio for 8 hours. M&K Sound is back! This is great news to all audiophile geeks, as this professional speaker manufacturer has bounced back into the market complete with new owners.

We also featured a coupple of reviews this week. First up is the Honestech's VHS to DVD 3.0 Deluxe which sounds just like its name, but essentially lets you take a video/audio signal from your VCR/camcorder/turntable/whatever and capture it on your computer for storage there or eventual burn to CD/DVD. No Starch press has put out a new edition of the book Hacking, The Art of Exploitation.

Are you a camper or a world traveler? Then the iStraw Emergency Water Filter is perfect when you need instant potable water on the go. The straw is created with several special micro-filters that can clean water and eliminate harmful organisms in it.

Amphibious cars were a novelty that you may have seen in 60s TV shows or James Bond movies, but the Rinspeed sQuba looks like it'll be a reality soon. Only question is how practical this really is.

Lastly, in case you haven't seen the news regarding the slew of unlimited cell phone plans, everyone including Sprint is in on it now too and Sprint may just have the best deal out there.

Source: Gizmos for Geeks

Labels: audio, autos, gadgets, games, toys, video

Notable this past week was the release of the latest Mvix Media Center, the Mvix MX-780HD. The MX-780HD has HDMI out, supports up to 1080p and can now take either an IDE or SATA drive in its case. Still in the multi-media world, the Kaossilator Touchpad Synthesizer doesn't need keys or buttons to play musical notes.

A peppermill gadget? Yup. And get this, it's modeled on Star Wars' R2-D2. If you're into toys, check out the Mini Rubber Band Artillery. Take your basic rubber band finger gun to the next level!

USB has really revolutionized computer accessories; there's a USB gadget that does everything. Here's one for aromatherapy fans – the USB Aromatherapy Oil Burner. Now, you can get aromatherapy-relaxed while computing. Just plug this device into your USB port, add some oil and you're good to go.

For you retro-gamers, MAMEUI, the latest MAME for Windows was announced last week. Still in gaming, it appears that Mac gaming is making a comeback. Windows and console games have dominated the gaming world for years, after Macs showed how great games could look on a computer. Let's hope

Of course, arguably the biggest tech news this week was that Toshiba has dropped out of the DVD format war, with the HD-DVD format being pronounced dead. Sony's Blu-Ray format is what you'll be getting used to for the next 5 years at least.

Source: Gizmos for Geeks.

Labels: dvd, gadgets, games, HDTV

Need some help rounding out your classic Nintendo collection?

Old NES somewhere in the basement... CHECK. Purchased every Classic Console game on the Nintendo Wii... CHECK. But do you have a cool universal TV remote that looks just like a NES controller? No? ThinkGeek.com does and it's ready for immediate delivery via winged turtle shell.



This NES style remote controls most TVs allowing critical gaming functions like power on/off, changing the channel and even volume adjustment. Now you can amaze your friends by pretending to play classic NES games while watching old Thundercats re-runs.

These controllers are limited editions from Japan. Once they are gone, they are gone.

The Nintendo Controller Universal Remote works with the following brands of TVs:

• Sony
• Panasonic
• Sharp
• Sylvania
• Sanyo
• Aiwa
• Hitachi
• Philips
• NEC
• JVC
• Toshiba
• Mitsubishi
• Fujitsu

By the way, this remote does not control cable boxes, DVD players or anything else. Strictly TV sets. Also the Nintendo Controller Universal Remote may not work if your TV is super ancient.

You can pick up the Nintendo Controller Universal Remote for $12.99 from ThinkGeek.com.


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Labels: gadgets, games, review

Lots of gadgets featured this past week on Gizmos for Geeks. First off, the Five Device Recharging Station is an all-in-one charging device that can simultaneously refresh the battery level of your iPod, Treo, Blackberry, and all other mobile devices. The folks in your household don't have to take turns any more to charge their mobile phones and MP3 players. If ever you want to turn your old photographs into digital images instantly, just get the Photograph to Digital Picture Converter, and preserve your golden memories shot on film and printed on paper. It is equipped with a 5 Mega pixels CMOS sensor working at a 1800 dpi resolution.

Do you need to logon to the Internet fast and easy? Then check your watch for Internet access! The Wi-Fi Detecting Watch will tell you if there's a good wireless signal around. It will also tell you how strong the signal is so you can move closer towards it for better reception. Are you a home theater system addict? Do you love watching movies at home or blasting your music, but you have entirely too many remote controls? Then take a look at the MX-980 Universal Remote Control. It's programmable, including macros that can do multiple things in quick succession at the touch of a button. Its 2.4" LCD color screen alone is pretty drool-inducing.

The Rubik's cube gets a makeover in the form of the Rubik's Revolution. It's more of a game, than the puzzle that's the Rubik's cube, but kids will love it. Green thumbs and gardening addicts must have loved the Thirsty Light feature last week. With this gadget, you'll easily know if you need to water your plants or not. It is especially helpful for indoor gardeners who want to take care of plants at home but don't necessarily have enough time for it.

Some major tech news last week include the the 3rd beta release of Firefox 3, the upcoming release of the animated Star Wars Clone Wars Movie, and a useful entry jam packed with 100 iPhone Applications, Tools, and Guides for all you iPhone users/addicts.

Labels: gadgets

This half-scale reproduction of the Leg Lamp from the 1983 movie A Christmas Story isn't completely accurate, but for a mere $40 bucks it's probably close enough for most Christmas Story fans. And honestly, it's smaller scale will be more apt to blend in with the average living room. It certainly does with mine, never failing to draw smiling comments when a new guest first sees it.

I wonder how long it would take for HR to give me a call to "talk" if I brought my Leg Lamp to work?

My friend has been saying for years, in jest, how he'd love to have the Leg Lamp to place in the window of his house, for all the neighbors to see. And his wife has sworn that it would never happen... now she is going to kill us for getting him this for Christmas!




If only Amazon.com would mark the outside of the package "Fragile" so you too can become "The Old Man" for a nostalgic moment when the Leg Lamp arrives at your door.


Via: methodshop

Labels: gadgets, holiday, video

When I first got a fish tank, one of the things I didn't really think about was - what happens when I go on vacation?

The first time I went away on vacation after getting a fish tank I wasn't really sure what to do. So before I left, I overfeed my fish hoping they'd be OK for a couple days without food... not so much.. Unfortunately my algae eater was cannibalized by the other fish while I was away. He was my favorite and I felt terrible.


So if you own a fish tank and are going away for the weekend or on vacation, you basically have 3 options if you really care about your fish:

1. have a neighbor come feed them
2. buy special vacation fish food
3. buy an auto feeder
   

Personally, I'd rather not give someone access to my house. So I prefer options 2 and 3.

If you are looking for a low-cost solution to feed your fish while you are away, then you might want to research special "vacation food" for your fish. For example, you can feed 1-3 betta fish for up to 7 days with Pro Balance Betta Blocks. Each food block releases tubifex worms, bloodworms, daphnia, and white shrimp... a regular smorgasbord for your betta fish.



Different types of fish require different types of food so do your research first.


Another option is get an auto feeder. The Eheim 3581 "Feed-Air" Digital Automatic Feeder is by far my favorite auto-feeder because it's so straightforward and easy to use. The Eheim 3581 lets you program up to 4 daily feeding cycles of flake food or granules, choose between single portion, double portion with 1-minute interval, or manual override. And all your programmed choices are presented on an easy-read LCD screen. I also really like the transparent reservoir. It lets you see your fish food allowing you to monitor food level "at-a-glance."



One thing you really need to consider when buying an auto feeder is "dampness" of the food. Cheaper auto feeders lack an integrated ventilator. Moist fish food will spoil and clog the unit. The Eheim 3581's ventilator prevents these moisture issues.

Whatever you decide to do, make sure your fish are taken care of and stay happy and healthy while you are gone.


BeSocial: methodshop

Labels: gadgets

TV Guide and mobile content provider Helio introduced a new service offering TV show information, program listings, search functions and daily recommendations to Helio users.



Text-based program alerts can be set to remind yourself and friends of what's coming on the tube. TV Guide Mobile is available to Helio subscribers for $2.99/month, in addition to carrier data charges.


BeSocial: methodshop

Labels: gadgets

Mom always said don’t play ball in the house, but no one ever seems to say much about a good paper airplane. In fact, our story on how to to build the best paper airplane in the world, was one of the most popular items on RealTechNews.

Today, we have one for those who want to move beyond paper folding and get serious. It’s called “The Butterfly” and it is billed as “The Living Room Flier” a full radio controlled mini plane you can indeed fly around your living room. The only catch: it’s $239. Don’t step on it!

“The Dream of an R/C airplane that can be piloted in the living room has been realized. This is the world’s lightest and smallest ready to fly R/C Model Fly “missions” during TV Commercials, Indoors, In ANY WEATHER!

“Full Proportional radio control enables you to fly with precision in any room 12′ X 16′. Just add 4-AA batteries to the combination transmitter/charger and you’ll be ready for action anytime Take the Butterfly with you ANYWHERE in it’s own protective aluminum briefcase (included!) You can safely take your Butterfly with you to work, school, holidays - anywhere.”

Source: RealTechNews


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Labels: gadgets, review

Are you a low-end junkie? Do you normally turn down the treble and crank up the bass in your car? Is your favorite iPod EQ setting "Bass Boost?" If you answered yes to any of these questions then you'll want to check out the SkullCrusher mega bass headphones.




The company behind these headphones is called Skullcandy. They make everything from helmets and backpacks to headphones like the Crushers. Knowing one's target audience is critical to the success of a business and SkullCandy has this down cold. All of their products feature enhancements specifically tailored to the active audio lover. For example, Skullcandy's helmets even have built-in headphones.

Review: Skullcandy Crusher Headphone.


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Labels: gadgets, music, review

The iPhone was one of the most