CoolStuff: February 2007

SOLSUNO - LED Watch ($159.95- $169.00)

Features

Stainless Steel
Hardened mineral crystal glass
Double security clasp
Case & Band: Stainless Steel
50M water resistant
CR2032 battery included
Deluxe Presentation Box
Complete Instructions

Samsung YP-Z5 in 18K Gold ($1,040)

Samsung upgrades its YP-Z5 player with 18K gold casing. Limited to just 10-units worldwide, the YP-Z5 features a 1.8-inch TFT display, an FM tuner, DNSe 3D equalizer, and a voice recorder. Supported formats include MP3, WMA, ASF, and JPEG. Fully charged, it has an amazing 35 hour battery life.

BenQ MusiQ Dog Tag MP3 Player (512MB [$88] & 1GB [$TBA])

This BenQ MusiQ dog tag MP3 player will be available in 512MB and 1GB capacities, and it also accommodates a microSD card. Best of all, its earphones are incorporated into a matching chain to complete the militaristic illusion. Available December 4, the 512MB player will be $88, no pricing was announced on the 1GB yet.

Walletex Wallet MP3 Player (1GB [$80] & 2GB [$150])

Features

Support for personalized full color printing
Memory capacities up to 2GB
Earphone plugs into USB connector
Double sided USB 2.0 easily connects with host computer
Rechargeable battery - charges while connected to the computer
Waterproof version available

Walletex also showed me an interesting WiFi finder prototype device designed as you can expect in the form of a credit card sized format. It’s called the “Wallet Fi” and it features:

Indicated signal strength for all 802.11b/g networks within range
Locate and map WiFi hot spots as you go
Fits in a pocket or wallet
No software or computer needed

Tesla Roadster 2007 ($89,000)

Performance

The Tesla Roadster’s specs illustrate what it does (0 to 60 in about 4 seconds) — as well as what it doesn’t (zero emissions, zero motor oil). With one moving part in the motor, no clutch, and two gears, it’s not only a joy to drive, but to own as well. There is no motor oil to change; no filters, belts, or spark plugs to replace; no oxygen sensors to mistrust before an emissions test — in fact, no emissions test required ever. Other than inspection, the only service we recommend for the first 100,000 miles is brake and tire service.

Specifications

Transmission

Manually Interactive Manual Transmission
2-Speed Automatic Interactive Manual Transmission

Steering

Power Rack and Pinion Steering

Suspension

Independent Double Wishbone Front Suspension With Coil Springs and Shock Absorbers
Independent Double Wishbone Rear Suspension With Coil Springs and Shock Absorbers
Front Stabilizer Bar

Electrical

Battery Warmer
Micro-Processor Controlled Lithium-Ion Battery Pack
Drive-By-Wire Control For Brakes, Shifting and Throttle
Audio and Navigation Prewiring

Braking & Traction

4-Wheel Anti-Lock Brakes
Front Power 300-mm Ventilated Disc and Rear Power 310-mm Ventilated Disc Brakes
Regenerative Braking System
Traction Control

Safety

Trunk Anti-Trap Device
Driver Airbag
Passenger Airbag
Safety Rollbar
Front and Rear Crumple Zones
Front 3-Point Seatbelts
Side Guard Door Beams

Anti-Theft & Locks

Power Door Locks
Vehicle Anti-Theft Via Alarm and Engine Immobilizer
Wheel Locks

Remote Controls & Remote Releases

Keyless Entry Operated Via Key Fob
Multi-Function Remote Operates Anti-Theft and Door Lock/Unlock
HomeLink(R) Universal Garage Door Opener

Seats

Front Dual Heated Bucket Seats With Integral Headrests
Leather Seats

Storage

Lower Console Storage

Instrumentation

Tachometer
Trip Computer With Average Speed, Average Power Consumption, Miles To Empty and Instantaneous Power Consumption
Service Interval Indicator
Tire Pressure Monitor
Interior Temperature Gauge
Battery Gauge
Digital Clock
Compass
Cruise Control
Audible Warnings Include Seatbelt Unfastened
Exterior Temperature Gauge

Exterior Lighting

Low Beam Xenon High Intensity Discharge Headlights and High Beam Halogen Headlights

Entertainment, Communication & Navigation

Radio Antenna
iPod Adapter
AM/FM Radio With 4 Speakers Total

Sunroof/Moonroof & Removable/Convertible Top

Manual Soft Convertible Top

Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning

Manual Air Conditioning

Interior, Design, Decor & Floor Covering

Carpet Located In Passenger Cabin
Alloy Trim Located On Dash and Shift Knob
Leather Steering Wheel

Wheels & Tires

Front SBRP175/55R16 Yokohama Neova Tires and Rear SBRP225/45R17 Yokohama Neova Tires
Alloy Wheels, Front 16-In. X 5.5-In. and Rear 17-In. X 7.5-In.

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers

Dual Body Color Manually Adjustable Exterior Rearview Mirrors
Power Windows
Front Tinted Glass
Front Dual Sunvisors
Intermittent Windshield Wipers

Exterior, Design, Paint & Finish

Front and Rear 2.5-MPH Impact-Absorbing Bumpers
Front Air Dam

NEC Blu-ray / HD DVD Drive ($TBA)

Blu-Ray & HD DVD All-In-One

A truce between the Blu-ray and HD DVD worlds is still probably a way off, but NEC has come up with a chip that could help companies bridge the gap.

The chip, essentially a controller, works in both Blu-ray and HD DVD players. One chip that works with both standards could cut the cost of building a player that accomodates Blu-ray and HD DVD discs.

The chip will start shipping in April 2007, NEC said.

The appearance of a combination player, however, could still take time. Companies such as Pioneer and LG announced plans to come out with combination players, but later backed away.

Cost is the main culprit. Blu-ray players cost about $1,000, and the player/recorders, which won't be coming to the U.S. immediately, run about $3,200. HD DVD players start at around $500, but the recorders cost about the same.

The high price, in part, is due to components. Since mass manufacturing has just begun, the parts still cost a lot, although prices will decline in 2007. Sony, in fact, had to stagger the release of the PlayStation 3 because of shortages of lasers. Nonetheless, Stan Glasgow, president of Sony Electronics, recently said that Blu-ray players could drop to $500 by the end of next year.

Even with the expected price declines, building a hybrid player would involve redundant components. Other components that can handle both standards would also likely have to be developed to bring the price of a hybrid player down.

But royalties are also a factor. The companies that invented the standards could make millions in licensing fees over the next decade if their standard gets adopted widely. Building a combo player, therefore, would require paying royalties to both camps.

Further complicating the matter are the high emotions generated by the dispute. Last week at the Ceatec trade show in Japan, reporters asked Kazuhiro Tsuga, an executive officer at Matsushita Electric, a firm member of the Blu-ray camp, about the possibility of Blu-ray/HD DVD combo players hitting the market.

"That is stupid, stupid," he said, noting that the cost would be high. Matsushita sells products under the Panasonic name in the U.S.

Still, other manufacturers are intrigued by the idea, especially if the format wars hurt sales. Hitachi, which is concocting a camcorder that will record directly to Blu-ray discs, said it will study the issue of a combo recorder after Blu-ray is established in the market.

Philips 3D TV

Philips: 3D TV to appear in 2008

The 3D TV experience, without the red and blue paper glasses, is likely closer than you think

Philips is selling 3D LCD monitors to the commercial market and will try to bring the technology to consumer TVs by 2008. The TV is a standard LCD with an additional layer of lenses aligned in rows. These lenses create separate images of the material that, when received by your eye and brain, get interpreted as 3D imagery. The 42-inch screen is meant to be viewed from about four meters away. The 3D effect of the 20-inch screen can be viewed about 60 centimeters away. (If you stand closer, the 3D effects disappear and the image begins to blur.)

Philips Electronics hopes in about two years to introduce a high-definition television that can play 3D content, CEO Rudy Provoost said in an interview at the Consumer Electronics Show. The technology is in the labs at Philips and not yet being shown publicly.

Although movie studios don't produce movies in 3D yet, consumers will be able to get a 3D experience from a 2D high-definition disc and these TVs, he said. As the technology catches on, studios will likely produce movies made from the beginning with 3D in mind, he added.

The 3D experiments are part of an overhaul at the European electronics company. Historically, Philips has been a large company with a sprawling product line that bounced in and out of profitability. It did well in Europe, but often struggled in other parts of the world.

Since becoming CEO last year, Provoost has trimmed the company's product lines and re-emphasized upscale features on many products. The Ambilight lighting system on its TVs, for example, match the light coming from the TV with the ambient light in the room. The company has been reorganized into two groups: one that concentrates on premium products and another that works on DVD players and other established product categories.

Sales have begun to rebound in North America, Asia and Latin America. "Before were we running on one cylinder (Europe). Now we are running on four," he said.

Provoost also shed more light on the acrimony behind the HD DVD and Blu-ray dispute. Although the two standards differ technically, the participants behind each of the standards stand to collect substantial revenues.

"They all look for return on investment," he said. Philips backs Blu-ray and contributed some of the intellectual property behind it. (The company also garnered substantial royalties from CD). The company will come out with its first Blu-ray player in the second half.

Fathom Z

Concept Innovation

Today’s commercial subs are very inconvenient and very expensive to operate. Having only limited range and virtually no sea keeping capability, they require a vessel for their transport and, once in the water, for their support. This support costs tens of thousands of dollars per day. It increases logistic complexity and is slow to implement, resulting in a very limited demand and a very limited number of ways that they can be used.

Hyper-Submersible powerboats solve these problems by eliminating the need for transport/support vessels. Hyper-subs are craft that will have excellent sea keeping characteristics, high surface speed and long range but are also very capable submersibles.

Hyper-Sub Design Advantages

Surface speed

Shallow draft and high power to weight ratio allows for the utilization of a planing hull.

Long surface range

Large fuel storage capacity

Rough weather capable

Sealed hull prevents flooding by wave action
Passenger cabin provides significantly more safety since it is a pressure hull

Self contained

On board systems recharge air and batteries after each dive allowing Hyper-Subs to remain deployed as long as fuel allows

Expanded Submersible Capabilities

Large variable displacement allows for a high degree of flexibility in payload volume and weight

Hyper-subs only require fuel, the turn of a key and a destination in order to be deployed and then utilized, in their submersible role

Historic Economical Impact

Because Hyper-Subs eliminate the need for the cumbersome and expensive transport/support vessel system, they will significantly impact the “when, where, and how” considerations of submersible ownership and/or use.
This revolutionary affordability will allow for Hyper-Subs to be constantly deployed (verses seldom/reluctantly deployed) and will allow for them to be used in many other ways that would not have been reasonable to consider before.

Fathom hyper-submersible powerboats will be the world’s first, “deploy from the dock” production submersibles and they will revolutionize the sub-surface industry as we now know it.

Aigo F029 (512MB [£79.99], 1GB [£99.99])

Features

1.3" ultra high quality, 26,000 colours, OLED screen
Plays AVI video & MP3, Secure WMA, OGG audio files
Last-song-playback memory
Up to 1GB memory
SRS (WOW) 3D sound effect
Default time and date display
Photo browser
Voice record notes and meetings
E -book function (in TXT format)
Portable digital data storage
Built-in rechargeable Li-ion battery
Hi-Speed USB 2.0

Technical Features

Built-In Memory : 512MB - 1GB
Memory Media/Type : 1GB
Expandable Memory : No
Expandable Memory Type : n/a
Data File Storage : Yes
File Transmission Speed : USB 1.1
Player to PC Connection : Mini USB Cable

Playback

File Formats Supported : MP3 - WMA - OGG
SNR : 85db
Bit Rate Supported : MP3: 32Kbps - 320Kbps; WMA: 32Kbps - 320Kbps; OGG: 32Kbps - 320Kbps
EQ : 7 presets
Customised EQ : No
Play Modes : All
Auto Resume : No
Track Search : No
Playlist Supported : No
Playlist Editing : No
ID3 Tag Supported : Ye
ID3 Tag Language : English - French

Display

Display Type : OLED LCD 26.000 colours
Display Size : 1.3
Language Supported : English - French

Accessories

Remote Control : No
Headphones : Yes
USB Cable : Yes
Line-in Cable : No
Docking Station : No
AC Adapter : No
Driver CD : Yes
User Manual : Yes

Power

Battery Type : Built-in Li-ion battery
Battery Life (Maximum) : 2.5 hours video playback; 4.5 hours music playback

Recording

Voice Recording : Yes
Recording Type : WAV
Recording Sampling Rate Adjustable : Yes
Recording Sampling Rate Range : n/a

Digital FM Tuner : No
Number of Tuner Presets : n/a
FM Encoding : No
File Type of FM encoding : n/a

Apple iPhone ($499-$599)

iPhone Specs:

Screen size : 3.5 inches
Screen resolution : 320x480 at 160 ppi
Input method : Multi-touch
Operating system : OS X
Storage : 4GB or 8GB
GSM : Quad-band (MHz: 850, 900, 1800, 1900)
Wireless data : WiFi (802.11b/g) + EDGE + Bluetooth 2.0
Camera : 2.0 megapixels
Battery : Up to 5 hours Talk/Video/Browsing, 16 hours Audio Playback
Dimensions : 4.5 x 2.4 x 0.46 inches / 115 x 61 x 11.6mm
4.8 ounces / 135 grams

See More iPhone

Etc. iPhone!!!

Eye Theatre (£150)

The next level of entertainment!
Experience your movies and games in an exciting new way, with a resolution of 320x240 pixels, the Eye-Theatre is suitable for all video sources with a Video-Out connector such as the iPod with Video, DVD players and games consoles.

Specification

Aspect Ratio : 4:3
Resolution : 320x240
Contrast ratio : 200:1
Viewing Angle : 25(diagonal)
Image size : 50 at 2,5m
Video system : NTSC/PAL/SECAM
Power adapter : 4,5-5,0 VDC/500mA
Power Consumption : Max.430mW

GOA WAVE - Binary LED Watch ($149- $159)

Featuring 10 blue leds in classic binary code time. Crafted in high quality stainless steel with superior brushed finish and black dial; complimented by comfortable genuine leather strap. This sexy chrono gadget is as sleek as stealth aircraft and as sci fi as Asimov. The perfect accessory for the discerning geek. Get one for yourself...or buy for someone else. You will not be disappointed!

Features

Case Dimensions- Width 38 X height 40 mm
Case Material- Stainless Steel
3 ATM Water Resistance (90 ft)
Genuine Leather band
Low power consumption (12 to 16 months - CR2032)
Presentation Box

Sooloos ($12,000)

The ultimate music streaming system

LPs gave us big, beautiful artwork. CDs gave us digital clarity. Computers gave us massive music libraries. Sooloos gives you all those things and then some. Music isn’t simply something you hear; it’s the soundtrack to your life. Explore and enjoy your music in every way you ever thought possible and in ways you never dreamt of.