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The Best weblogs on the globe. Have a look.
While standard bottle openers can look cool, there's always been something a little awkward about their design.
The Ribbon Bottle Opener ($18) will make sure you look as good opening your beer as you do pouring it thanks to a continuous loop design.
Plus, since it's made from stainless steel, it's a whole lot more likely to match your kitchen decor than that plastic one
that plays your team's fight song every time you use it.
No question that is what we expect from Porsche - style meets performance:
The powerful SUV has
340 hp, performs 0-60 in 6.8 seconds, and has a top speed of 150 mph. The body of the new Cayenne model has surfaces painted
with Titanium Metallic accents, a lower stance and a 4-tube chrome-plated tailpipe. On the inside, it's got 12-way adjustable
leather sets and the Porsche Communications Management system, featuring a 6.5-inch color screen, GPS navigation system, trip
computer, MP3-compatible CD radio, and Bose Cabin Surround Sound.
build your own Porschevia uncrate
No Gadgets On-Board Flights? Here's an Idea...
 As you now know, electronic devices, including iPods, laptops, and cell phones have been banned from being carried onboard British flights after the latest terrorist
plot unfolded. It's really just a matter of time before all electronics end up joining the rest of the luggage down below,
especially with recent reports of exploding notebooks. The fear of terrorists using cell phones to detonate a bomb in mid-flight
are quite real, and the safest thing security officials can do is to ask flight passengers to check in all carry-ons items
until further notice.
As of this posting, gadgets are still allowed onboard U.S. flights, and even on flights to the U.K., but it's not guaranteed they will travel onboard with you on the way back.
CNN's Gerri Willis has also warned the public "not to use your cell phone within 15 feet of any suspicious object, you could
unexpectedly detonate something." Oh great, one more thing to worry about.
But let's suppose for a moment, that someday, we're all required to check in our gadgets with the rest of
our luggage, what will we do then? I for one am not willing to check in my MacBook Pro so it ends up all mangled like this poor lady's notebook.
So I'm gearing up. I decided to check out some heavy-duty cases, and was pleasantly surprised to see that
the prices are not that bad. I was expecting to see astronomical prices in these times of uncertainty when we have to part
from our gadgets, but maybe reality hasn't kicked in yet, so I better make a move.
 I searched online for crush-proof laptop cases, and it seems Pelican is one of the only companies that makes plenty of rugged, watertight, crush-proof, corrosion-proof, shock-absorbing,
heavy-duty laptop cases. You could probably throw these suckers from the top of your second-floor apartment with no harm done
(not that I recommend that). That's the kind of design I like. My favorite is their i1010 iPod case (under $30) that lovingly protects your iPod inside a crush-proof cocoon. If you have to pack it, do it
right.
I also found this Laptop Armor aluminum case—which looks like those silver cases filled with $100 bills in Hollywood movies—that
claims to protect your laptop from a 10-foot drop onto concrete (they have a video). The case is roomy enough to hold power
adapters, mobile phones, iPods, or other tech-necessities, and is padded on the inside for extra protection against bumps.
 But if these CIA-looking cases cramp your hipster style, check out the MacTruck. This "work-in" enclosure is for Mac users only since it functions as a shell that protects any Powerbook or
Macbook. It's claim to toughness is that it is "rugged enough to drive a truck over it." Apart from protecting your precious
notebook, it also cools it and provides full access to all ports. Once you pack it, it can be stowed away inside your own
backpack or tote bag.
There's no need to get one just yet—unless you're traveling to the U.K.—so keep this in the back
of your mind, just in case you ever need one.
If you have any other suggestions, share them with me in the comments below.
From: Gina Hughes
 THE WORLD'S COOLEST INDOOR SPA |
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"Simon, Tahiti sounds nice! ". At first sight, it reminds you of the Imperial Leather T.V ad from the
early 80's, where the family (along with a baby duck) are bathing in their spa on a jet. This is about fifty times cooler!
The
new Seaside from Italian Spa maestros Teuco takes the indoor spa to a whole new level. What is great about the Seaside is not only the way it looks, but
the ideology behind it. Named after the four elements, the Seaside's features are as follows. Water:
The illuminated waterfall flows in a ribbon of light Air: The delicate blower disperses
millions of tiny bubbles Earth: The seating area is raised and enjoys a gentle intrusion
of subtle waves
Fire: The underwater light and temperature controlled heater keeps
the spa cosy in colder climates.
Aside from these fundamental elements, you would be hard pressed finding a spa that
is more seamless in its design and more luxurious in its form. Come on in, the water is fine! by
Lisa Evans
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Just like the monstrous HDTV displays, the world is equally mad at behemoth monitor panels. Remember, we have
earlier told you about Zenview’s six-screen monitor that features six 24 inch screens interlocked together to form one big display of a whooping 41.8 inches apart
from Sharp’s 65-inch LCD monitor. Now, the Radius 320 incorporates three 20.1″ LCD panels into a continuous display system to forms a 50″ diagonal screen
with a total resolution of 5.76 million pixels. The seamless display provides an ergonomically-friendly viewing experience
across a 50-inch diagonal and can be used on Windows, Macintosh and Linux operating systems. The impressive LCD panel does not need special
drivers beyond those provided by your video card manufacturer. The impressive display is available for online purchase, but,
no information regarding the price can be had from the site.
Snap! A Motorhome With a Built-in Garage
 Some people live in them. Some just rent one for vacation. And the rest of the country just dreams about
them. Motorhomes have this universal appeal, and we all love seeing the latest innovations to them. It looks like the newest
idea now is having a built-in "garage" that looks like it can store most compact cars.
Most of these huge RVs don't
get very good gas mileage, so after you make your way to a destination city, you can take out your Lorema for more casual cruising. An added bonus is that it gives you extra capacity space for those relatives you want
to bring with you but don't want running around the inside of the RV.
Germany's Volkner Mobile company is displaying the RV at the International Caravan Fair in its
home country, at Dusseldorf, Germany, and will be on display until September 3.
Via Born Rich
Uono, a Köln-based coffin manufacturer, offers The Cocoon, designed by Andreas Spiegel. Lightwight (20kg) and made
from a soy-based resin and lined with jute, the coffin decomposes in 10-15 years and can also be used for cremation.You'll
rest comfortably in the white cotton or silk liner. It features a water-based varnish and is CO2 neutral. The coffins are
finished by hand are available in 14 colors, or use their Haute Couture program to design custom color of your choice. 
Fortunately you can pre-order your coffin so your loved ones won't have to lay you to rest in something less
aesthetically pleasing. Delivery is 3 days in Germany, and shipping elsewhere will take more time. The Cocoon will set you
(or your loved ones) back $3,500.
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 Embarrassed by wire clutter? Want to freak out your next dinner guests?
Then do so with Amina Technology Ltd’s In-Wall Loudspeakers. Utilizing NXT SurfaceSound technology, the In-Wall speakers provide excellent
surround sound while remaining completely concealed inside your walls to avoid unnecessary clutter of your electronic equipment.
For the first time in the U.S., the loudspeakers will be introduced at
CEDIA Expo 2006 starting September 13, 2006 in Denver, CO.
The heart of the Amina Plaster In-Wall speaker lies within "its acoustic engine, which can include from one to four
(depending on power levels) rare earth, magnet-based, high power vibrational excitation drivers. This allows the Model AIW5
in-wall speaker to handle 80 watts of continuous power, generating 105 db of sound with plaster applied."
Amina In-Wall loudspeakers are said to be specifically designed to fit
within standard 16-inch centers of wood or metal stud-work. However, special sizes can also be requested.
There are three models you can choose from:
- Model AIW1: 20 watts, 8 ohms, 82db lm/1w sensitivity
- Model AIW3: 40 watts, 4 ohms, 84db 1m/1w sensitivity
- Model AIW5: 80 watts, 8 ohms, 87db 1m/1w sensitivity
Pricing and further information is available from www.amina.co.uk.
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The SnoreStopper: Stop Snorers Once and For All
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 I'm not a snorer. Well, at least I don't THINK I am. But, Mom, if you're
reading this, sorry but you DO snore!
There have been many scientific approaches to prevent people from snoring.
Most of us think of snoring as a pain-in-the-neck, when we have to hit our loved ones with a pillow to get them to stop making
such a ruckus. But snoring can actually be warning signs for stroke, diabetes, and heart disease.
One way to help those snoring fits is the SnoreStopper. It's a wrist-worn device that you wear while you sleep, and the device's biosensors
will detect the frequency and volume of your snoring. The unit "then issues a gentle electronic wave of light stimulation
onto superficial skin. Rather than waking the snorer, this 5-second impulse merely causes a reflex—either a change in
body position or an increase in throat muscle tension—much like the nudging of a spouse." Finally, a solution!!
Other benefits to using the SnoreStopper include better breathing during
sleep and less sleepiness, headaches and irritability.
Measuring 10.5-inches (L) by 2.0-inches (W), the SnoreStopper ships with
a carrying case, self-adhesive electrode pads (3 pairs), moist alcohol wipe, screwdriver, and wrist belt with magic tape and
hook. It shuts off automatically after 8 hours and is powered by one 1.5V AAA batteries (included).
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Sony Transparent TVNo kidding! This “transparent”
TV really exists, and it’s from Sony. Look at the screen, it’s like floating…and the speakers, freaking
awesome!
[Click On thumbs for larger view]
    
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Wi-Spy™ is the
world's smallest 2.4 GHz spectrum analyzer*. Wi-Spy is perfect for troubleshooting interference from the following devices:
Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n)
Microwave Ovens
Cordless Phones 
Zigbee
Bluetooth
"Wi-Spy is probably
the cheapest and easiest to use of all budget wireless analyzers out there."
The air around your office is likely clogged with wireless networks and devices like cordless phones and microwaves. That
invisible traffic jam can cause interference problems with your Wi-Fi system. Spectrum analyzers are tools that help you suss
out the sources of interference and choose a Wi-Fi channel that will give you a cleaner signal. Until recently, spectrum analyzers
were somewhat pricey investments. But now, MetaGeek is bringing a spectrum analyzer to the masses with the $99 (street) Wi-Spy for the 2.4GHz band.
Wi-Spy comes as a kit with an installation CD and a small USB device. We plugged it into a Windows XP laptop to check out
our 802.11g network. Installation is straightforward, and the program opens to show a graphical analyzer view. You can immediately
see which Wi-Fi channels are full of activity. You can also switch over to a frequency view and check which frequencies are
busy or subject to interference. After that, you can set your wireless network accordingly. |
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| NEW FACE: The front of the Iroc is dominated by a huge
trapezoidal grille. |
Hot
sports car concept from VW
Berlin, Germany – Volkswagen's Iroc sports
car concept, first shown at a special event in the German capital, marks the return of the iconic Scirocco sports coupé, which
made its debut at the Geneva auto show 33 years ago.
Even the Iroc's metallic green paint recalls the Scirocco –
this exact shade was available in the 1976 model range.
Like the Scirocco, the Iroc has a long roof and steeply sloping
rear, making space in the back for two adults plus luggage. At 4240mm, it's 36mm longer than a Golf V and 41mm wider at 1800mm,
but 79mm lower at 1400mm.
It rides on 19" alloy rims, set on a 2680mm wheelbase, more than 100mm longer than that of
the current Golf
Motivation is supplied by Volkswagen's new TSI petrol
engine with turbocharger and supercharger |
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The front of the
Iroc is dominated by a huge trapezoidal grille, accentuated by a heavy brushed-aluminium surround, with a "honeycomb" insert
as on the Golf GTI.
The Iroc has four seats and a 300-litre boot, which can be increased if the rear seats are folded,
but it's clearly designed as a sports car with front bucket seats and five-point seat belts with central buckles.
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USABLE SPACE: Like the Scirocco, the Iroc has a long
roof and a blunt rear to make it a practical coupé. |
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| SIGNATURE FEATURE: The driver looks into two large
cylinders, each with 12 illuminated bars creating a three-dimensional effect. |
The instrument panel is the car's signature feature, however; the driver looks into two large cylinders, each with
12 illuminated bars creating a three-dimensional effect. Motivation is supplied by Volkswagen's new TSI petrol engine with turbocharger and supercharger. The concept has a 155kW TSI engine
but a range of similar engines starting from under 112kW could be used.
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| NOT A SHOPPING TROLLEY: The Iroc has sports front seats with five-point seat belts. |
 Pop Cling makes art. Kick-ass, adhesive-backed art. You peel it off the backer and stick the image on any smooth
surface. Try putting images on your concrete floors, or the sliding glass door leading to your balcony, or on your shower
door, or on your kitchen cabinets. You don’t need a frame, you just need a blank space. Voila, you have fresh pop art
on your wall from new, favorite, and cutting edge artists. They really are limited edition. They really come with a Certificate
of Authenticity signed by the artist. Pop Cling really is new and completely different.
Kind of like the moon appearing after the sun goes down, these Solar LED Address Numbers illuminate at night making
the numbers easy to read. The unit turns on automatically and lights up using two bright white LEDs. Mounting is simple (no
wiring or timers) with the included hardware. The number plate itself is spaced 1" from the wall causing the LEDs to provide
a backlighting effect. The numbers are made from anondized aluminum and the entire unit is weather resistant. The lights run
on for about 8 to 10 hours (direct sunlight, of course, producing the best results).
 Simply select from the dropdown the numbers needed to create your address.
- Mounting hardware included
- Solar powered - can run 8 to 10 hours on a full charge
- Numerals are 3.5" high and cut into 3/32" anodized aluminum
- Dimensions: 6 1/8" H x 3 1/2" W x 1 3/8" D
- Choose the numerals to form your address
- One year manufacturer warranty
- Note: Listed price is per number
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The
Challenge
We are currently working on what
we call the "Office of the Future". This work is based on a unified application of computer vision and computer graphics in
a system that combines and builds upon the notions of panoramic image display, tiled display systems, image-based modeling,
and immersive environments. Our goals include a better everyday graphical display environment, and 3D tele-immersion capabilities
that allow distant people to feel as though they are together in a shared office space. |
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3D tele-immersion testbed, Summer 2000 |
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The
Approach
Our basic idea is to use computer vision techniques, in real time, to dynamically extract per-pixel
depth and reflectance information for the visible surfaces in the Office, such as walls, furniture, objects and people (see
image below). Using this depth information one could then display (project) images on the surfaces, render images of captured
models of the surfaces, or interpret changes in the surfaces. We are primarily concentrating on the display and capture aspects.
Our approach to the former is to designate everyday, irregular surfaces in a person’s office to be part of a spatially
immersive display, and then project high resolution graphics and text onto those surfaces. Our approach to the latter is to
capture, reconstruct, and then transmit dynamic image-based models over a network for display at a remote site.
There are several specific sub-projects under the umbrella of the Office of
the Future. Our Tele-Immersion work (a collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania) involves data acquisition of a distant
office using a miniature “sea” of seven cameras; modeling of that data; tracking of the local user’s eye
positions, using UNC-developed HiBallTM Wide-Area tracking technology; rendering the dynamic model of the remote scene based
on the tracked user’s positions; and a stereo presentation to display a remote collaborator, all dynamically in real-time.
The approach aims to make distant collaborators feel as if they were in an adjoining room, and could see each other through
a large “window” in the connecting wall. Our PixelFlex team is developing an automatically reconfigurable, wide-area,
high-resolution display wall. Eight projectors, each with computer-controlled pan, tilt, and zoom adjustments, seamlessly
display one image that is geometrically and photometrically correct. We will eventually incorporate this into the Office of
the Future, to vastly increase the amount of the “adjoining room” that can be seen.
Our "Being There" team is exploring a new projector-based
approach to visualizing re-creations of real or imagined places. Rather than using a planar display wall, we use display surfaces
that closely approximate the virtual scene geometry in size and shape. The effect is a virtual environment that is both visually
and spatially realistic, providing the user with a strong sense of immersion. We envision museum spaces with re-creations
of famous places such as Monticello, President Thomas Jefferson’s home. Finally, our "Electronic
Books" team (in collaboration with researchers at Brown University) is exploring the use of 3D capture and display to help
train trauma surgeons. The idea is to create life-sized, high-fidelity, three-dimensional, dynamic, and annotated graphical
reconstructions of surgery related to rare, but often fatal, trauma events. telecollaboration; tele-immersion; spatially-immersive
displays; image-based modeling.
From: www.cs.unc.edu/Research/stc/ |
Oakley and Motorola have managed to combine a small, great sounding, Bluetooth headset 
with a light weight and good looking pair of sunglasses to make device that is perfect for top-down driving
use.
The hinge is specially designed for the Oakley's triangular shaped metal frame. All of the controls
are on the bottom of the headset. We have the same user interface complaint with the button design as we had with the
O ROKR. The main "answer phone" button should be separated from the other button to make it easier to remember.
Ideally, it should be a LARGE button...perhaps the "O" on the side???
With that issue aside, this combo is pretty close to perfect in design and implementation for our
top-down driving needs. Not having the headset stuck into and resting on the ear is actually quite a relief during extended
wear.
WHY Hot Gadgets?
Because we want to show the world, the newest - hotest gadgets?
 CEC Corp in China specially made this wrist watch phone for one of China’s most famous
ping pong players, the GSM F88 Watch. It is available to the market at the price of 8,888Yuan which is about USD1,111. F88
is a watch with built-in mobile phone capabilities which have 26K colors CSTN display. It boasts a built-in microphone, speakerphone
for conferencing, voice dialing, 4 minutes of voice recording, IrDA connectivity and organization tools such as schedule,
alarm clock and reminder note. You can even play the pre-installed world cup games on the phone. The keypad number is located
on the strap. Video conferencing could be done by the watch because it has a built-in 3 megapixel 180-degree rotating camera.
Amazing isn’t it? Almost everything that can be found on normal mobile phones is included in the F88 Watch. It weights
100gram with the size of 38.3 × 76.7 × 17cm.
[Via PCOnline] - Chinese
Bathroom lights can be painfully bright in the middle of the night. So why switch them on?..
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When the seat is down, the LavNav shines a gentle green light across the seat. When the
seat is up, the LavNav's shines a red light directly into the bowl. | |
Guys, is the girl in your life always complaining that she has to go paddling after you're been
to the loo in the middle of the night? Does she moan when she falls into the toilet because you left the seat up during the
evening? Incorporating a nightlight, visual targeting system, and "Put the damned seat down!"
reminder technology, the LavNav is a practical solution to those familiar issues.
The LavNav turns on when you approach in the dark, and turns off after you leave, shining gentle
yet sufficient light where you need it, when you need it.
Better yet, the LavNav uses RED or GREEN
light to cleverly show the position of the seat.
Asus shows it new series of Tablet PC the R1F Series. It features an Core Duo / Core 2 Duo Processor, up to 2GB of
DDR2 RAM, 80-120GB of HDD, an 13.3″ WXGA Color Shine & Crystal Shine LCD. It
supprts 10/100/1000 Ethernet, 802.11a/b/g, Bluetooth V2.0 + EDR connectivities and has 3 USB ports, an 8-in-1 Card-Reader and a Fingerprint
Reader. No words yet on price and availability.
While most of us would rather a nicely padded sleeve, 'do-it-yourselfer'
Voxphoto sewed a laptop sleeve out of a soft pocket teeshirt.
End result: a soft pouch with three compartments, plus a pocket
for the power brick. Keeps the dirt off your shiny white laptop and confuses potential thieves.
A fun way to save an old t-shirt and add a little bit more
scratch protection for your laptop.
iShirt. Found via Make.
 A perfect way to end the day and transfrom your bathroom into your very own relaxing spa. Spa Lights are the
perfect mood enhancers in a low lit bathroom. With the bathroom lights on you can see the different colours of the Spa lights
casing, but once you turn the room lights out all the spa lights will give off the same ambient orange/yellow haze.
Each
spa light is totally waterproof and comes with a removable sucker, so you can stick them to the bathroom tiles, the sides
of the bath or even the bottom of the bath to light up the water. Spa lights also float so you can also just place them on
top of the water.
The new revolution is on the streets.
 Piaggio launched the first Vespa model - and with it the scooter phenomenon -
in the spring of 1946. The scooter revolutionised personal transport, giving Europeans a sense of utter freedom. Sixty years
on, Piaggio has come up with another revolutionary product: the Piaggio MP3, a totally innovative three-wheeler with two front
wheels. The MP3 provides safety, road grip and stability levels that no two-wheeler can match. Power, performance and ease
of use make for a very entertaining ride.The two front wheels of the MP3 re-define the very concept of ride stability to provide
an unprecedented riding experience. The front assembly, with two independent tilting wheels, is far more stable than any scooter.
The MP3 grips the road even when tailing other vehicles, providing top performance in total safety.
The MP3 has innovative, eye-catching styling while maintaining a clear resemblance
to the Piaggio GT (Gran Turismo) range. The new two-wheel front assembly doesn’t detract in the least from the MP3’s
sleek styling. Its size and proportions are those of a normal compact GT scooter, with an overall front-end width of only
420 mm. As a result, the Piaggio MP3 can be type-approved as a standard two wheeled motorcycle. CAD-designed down to the last
detail, the Piaggio MP3’s body offered excellent protection starting from the wind tunnel, where it was extensively
tested. The front-end design is genuinely innovative in terms of technical features and the overall concept, with car-style
bodywork treatment.
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