Tapi: Easily drink or rinse your mouth straight from your tap, without using your hands!

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A lot of people uses their hands to rinse their mouth when brushing their teeth. It's kind of hard for tall people to bend over especially if it's the type used for washing hands. So I guess, the designer/inventor (probably stands 7 feet tall, and doesn't have enough money to buy a bathroom accessory set), thought of designing Tapi, a tap squeeze drinking fountain. Dreamfarm's Tapi is made of water-safe rubber that is safe and doesn't change the taste of the water. A simple, yet interesting invention, Tapi can fit to almost any tap and only costs USD $5.95. 

 

To use Tapi all you have to do is squeeze the lower portion to use the fountain feature, release to use the faucet faeture.

See more pictures on how Tapi is used.

Sources: Dreamfarm, INewIdea

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47-in touchscreen vending machines with embedded cameras!

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47-in touchscreen panel installed on vending machines!? With cameras?  What for!? All the user has to do is push a button representing the item he/she wishes to purchase and that's it! So again, what for?

Well, as we all know, Japan is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the whole world. Japan is famous for their wild, crazy, and innovative ideas on basically anything (gadgets, game shows, animes, etc). So, Advanced country + Wild ideas = 47-in touchscreen panel on vending machines with embedded camera. 

The first touchscreen vending machine was installed two weeks ago at Tokyo's Shinagawa Station. This replaces the quintessential vending machines we have, that has a poster image/logo of the product and uses a physical button to select the item. Instead, users just have to "tap" on the screen to select. 

47-in Touchscreen Panel 

(it would've been more useful if this is used as my computer monitor)

After selecting the item, there's a confirmation screen, as shown below.

"Happy" customer! (Fake smile if you ask me :|)

Besides the breathtaking 47-in touchscreen panel, this futuristic vending machine has an embedded camera. As you take time to decide on what to get, the camera will scan and recognize your gender and age, which will allow the machine to recommend a beverage/item using stereotype rules based on what the machine scanned (you).  Neat! Just like how search engines use your browsing history to show tailored ads, the vending machine also stores your purchasing history to show tailored ads on your next visit. Well, at least this super vending machine is not all looks, but is also expected to bring more revenue. Ka-ching!

Problem is, what if people started "shaking" or "beating" the vending machine up because their item won't fall down just like what most of us do today?

Source: Engadget

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Sony Ericsson concept phone: A new breed of mobile phone form-factor

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Mobile phones have 5 basic form-factors: Bar or "candybar", Slate or "touch screen", Flip or "clamshell", Slider, and Swivel.  Using these basic form-factors, a lot of phone manufacturers have mixed and matched possibilities of combining two or more form-factors into one phone . We've seen successful phone models with mixed form-factors like Nokia's N90, N92, and N93 (Flip + Swivel), Sony Ericsson's P series (Flip down + Slate), and newer models that incorporate Slider QWERTY with Slate form-factors. The purpose of combining these form-factors is to innovate and improve the capabilities and user-friendliness of mobile phones. Nokia N90's Swivel feature is to enable users to watch videos horizontally (widescreen) and conveniently (you can tilt the screen and sit the phone on your desk). 

A new breed of form-factor is being conceptualize by Sony Ericsson. It breaks the laws of mobile phone design, although it doesn't combine form-factors, it's way better! It uses the Flip form-factor concept, but instead of flipping vertically or horizontally, it flips... eerrr.. verizontically! Not only that, it can be split into two, serving as a walkie-talkie! Design is by Master Du Jun.

Sony Ericsson F-H is a dual-screen phone just like the Toshiba Libretto W100 that was released last week. It's basically a flip phone (before transforming).

After flipping the phone vertically just like an ordinary clamshell phone, one screen is used as its display, and the other one is used as a virtual keypad. 

From its flip opened state, you can flip it sideways to combine the screens into one display panel for widescreen display.

And best of all, you can dismantle the two screens from its pivotal hinge and each screen unit serves as a walkie-talkie using bluetooth technology. 

Sony Ericsson F-H, transform!

It even comes in different colors. Not bad!

Take a closer look on the bread and butter of this concept, the pivotal hinge. 

If they could turn this wonderful phone concept into reality, who knows what other inventions will be built out of this technology. Also, judging by today's technology growth, I bet this isn't far from being a fantasy. 

Source: Yanko Design

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Introducing, Samsung's Android "iPod Touch Killer"

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When it comes to digital audio players, Apple has pummeled every single one in the market with their iPod series. The iPod has gained its reputation and position as the most popular portable music device. Here in the Philippines, media players, in general, are often called "iPod" already. Many have attempted to dethrone the King, and yet all have failed. Although some of them have put on a good fight like Creative's Zen series and Microsoft's Zune series. 

In 2007, next generation audio players (now called portable media players) were introduced by Apple. Portable media players are not only used for music playback but for games and video playback. Apple's iPod Touch is a PMP (Portable Media Player) that is running on the famous iPhone OS. Its practically an iPhone without camera and phone services but sold in a much lower price than the iPhone. Because of this, the reign have extended until present time. Apple was able to give birth to a lot of generations for the iPod series and still entice a lot of consumers. Basically, because the iPhone OS is one of the best mobile operating system in the market, and it's packed in a PMP that is sold in a low price. 

Unfortunately for Apple, Google has started to make his move. Yes, I'm pertaining to the Android Mobile Operating System. As mentioned in my other post, Android-based devices is today's fastest growing mobile platform, and Samsung has extended its reach by developing a PMP using Android as its OS. Introducing,  the Samsung Galaxy player. 

 

The device is said to inherit the Samsung Galaxy series' design. Aside from the fact that it will run on Google's Android OS, it will be packed with a 4-in AMOLED screen, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a 3 megapixel camera.

More pictures of the "iPod Touch Killer"

Will the Samsung Galaxy player be enough to overthrow the iPod Touch from its 3-year reign? Stay tune to find out!

Source: Tech Radar

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Toshiba Libretto: A Nintendo DS-like dual screen Tablet PC

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Toshiba's newest innovation, Libretto W100, is a cross breed between a traditional laptop and a tablet PC that has two multi-touch LCD screens. One screen is primarily for display and one serves as a virtual keyboard since the 7in, 1.5lbs machine doesn't have a physical keyboard. The dual screen design can also function as a touch screen tablet PC, pretty neat!  So I guess, Apple's iPad now has a worthy competitor. The Libretto W100 runs on Windows 7, so it pretty much could do what other laptops/netbooks could do. You can extend displays between two screens, so its so much easier when surfing the internet, or even reading e-books. 

In my opinion. the dual screen design somewhat resembles what Nintendo did to their Nintendo DS. And I commend Toshiba's idea on implementing this design on a Windows 7 device. The Libretto also offers 6 clever virtual keyboard modes to choose from, which proves that the Libretto is designed to cater to the user's accessability and full control of the device. Toshiba was able to combine mobility, user-friendliness, large screen display, speed without sacrificing basic computer functionalities since it's running on Windows 7.

Closer look on the Libretto W100:

The technical specifications are as follows:

- Intel Pentium U5400 (1.2 Ghz)

- 2GB DDR3 RAM

- 62GB Solid State Drive

- 802.11 b/g/n

- 802.16e-2005 WiMax

- 1 megapixel Web Camera

- Bluetooth 2.1

- MicroSD card slot

- USB 2.0 port

- Internal Mic

- Stereo Earphone jack

- Dual 7.0 inch multi-touch displays

- 6-mode virtual keyboard

- Weight: 1.55 lbs

- Battery Life: Approx. 2 hours

By compacting all these features into one ravishing device, we'll be expecting the price of the Libretto W100 way higher than the Apple iPad. It's more of a PC than a multimedia device. You can do a lot more with the Libretto than the iPad. So expect the price to be on par with market Tablet PCs.

WoW-Pow has made a video review of the Toshiba Libretto W100. 


Part 1:



Part2:

Source: WoW-Pow, Gizmodo

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Motorola Droid 2 R2-D2 Special Edition brings nerds and geeks to tears

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The ultimate success of Motorola's Droid has earned its spot as iPhone's number one contender.  And its about time Android-based mobile phones challenge Apple's iPhone to a cage match. Now, Motorola is about to give birth to the Droid's successor, Motorola Droid 2.  Motorola has kept the world waiting for the birth of the new and improved Droid 2. 

But wait, don't get too excited. There's more good news! 

To all Star Wars nerds and geeks out there, R2-D2 is coming to our galaxy! In the form of Motorola's Droid 2. Motorola's shipping a Droid 2 Special Edition in honor of Star Wars' dependable droid, R2-D2.

Comparison between the real R2-D2 and Motorola Droid 2 R2-D2 Special Edition

According the Verizon's teaser poster, looks like the pocket size R2-D2 will be available on September 30, 2010. 

Verizon has gone live with the Droid 2 R2-D2 Special Edition teaser web page. You can follow this link to the whereabouts of Artoo. 

Source: Android Central

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Sony Ericsson plans on developing PSP-Go Android Smartphone

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Google's Android mobile operating system has muscle its way into the mobile industry, waging a war with Apple's iPhone OS. And Google is doing great, in terms of sales (according to Google CEO Eric Schmidt, about 200,000 new Android devices are being sold each day), and addressing the problems that developers and consumers encounter on "close-sourced" mobile devices. Unlike any other commercial application/operating system, as soon as you buy an Android-based mobile device, you also get full control of its source code. Android is today's fastest growing mobile platform and in two or three years time, I think the market will be filled with Android-based phones and even netbooks. By this time, tons of Android applications will be available and its high time that Apple gets to dance with a formidable opponent. 

With Nokia's success story on Symbian-based mobile devices, they made a bold move on introducing a Symbian s60-based handheld gaming system, the N-Gage. Among their objectives, is to invade the Game Boy Advance market since Nokia N-Gage is a mobile device and a gaming console. Unfortunately, the design didn't entice gamers. The N-Gage 's design is not well-tailored for gaming and as a mobile device. 

And now it's time for manufacturers to play on the Android platform. Nokia has done its part on the Symbian-based N-Gage and it didn't go quite well. Now Sony wants to take a bite on developing a Mobile gaming device. Sony, the company who brought us countless innovations like the Walkman, Betamax, Compact discs, Discman, Memory Stick, Playstation, Playstation Portable (PSP), is now on the road to a new innovation with their partner Ericsson (now Sony Ericsson). Combining Ericsson's expertise on the mobile communications sector and Sony's technological prowess, we introduce to you the PSP-Go Android-based Smartphone by Sony Ericsson. 

Engadget's Mock-up of the PSP-Go Smartphone

Sony Ericsson will be building this baby on Android's 3.0 platform.  With the capabilities and freedom that Google's Android mobile operating system provide, the PSP-Go Smartphone will definitely be running 3D games, thus will create a space for game developers for the Android market. The PSP-Go Smartphone is envisioned to be a cross between the Samsung Captivate and the Playstation Portable Go version. 

The PSP Go's slider game controller will  most likely replace the typical slide out QWERTY keyboard on touch screen mobile devices. This way, the device will be able to handle large QVGA touch screen displays. Probably, the device will carry Sony's Cyber-shot brand in it's back. And since it's a PSP-Go-like Smartphone, we'll see classic PSP game titles like God of War and Call of Duty. Sweet! 

What more could you ask for? Large QVGA touch screen displays, slide out PSP game control pad, running on Google's Android mobile operating system, sharp Cyber-shot camera features and quality, and the best of all, 3D Gaming, all in one device. Engadget revealed that we'll possibly see the device and the whole Android gaming platform this October. 

Gamers, time to save those moolah for this baby.

Source: Tom's Guide

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Case that turns your iPod Touch to an iPhone, now comes in white

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Remember Yosion Technology's Apple Peel 520? The adapter case that packs your iPod Touch with an extended battery life (4.5 hrs), and turns it to a "Phone" now comes in stylish white. Yosion released a teaser image of the white Apple Peel 520 although there are still no reports on when this magical case will be available in the market. In just a few weeks, Yosion has already shown us their white version of the Apple Peel 520, unlike Apple, who keeps on delaying the release of the white iPhone 4. 

Just stay tune for updates!

Source: CNMO, Engadget

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Web browsing competition: Surfing the web without using keyboards

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Google has made a huge impact on the lives of web surfers. With the best search engine by our side, all the information that the internet hold is within our grasp. It even gave birth to the term "googling", which generally means searching for something using google. 

Surfing the web without search engines is like finding a book in the U.S. Library of Congress (Biggest library in the world), blind-folded. So nowadays, surfing the web pretty much = googling. 

Trailblazers, a web browsing competition, challenges web surfers to surf their way from a website to a destination website without using Google (or any other search engine), and keyboards. So how are you going to surf? By using hyperlinks that are available on websites. For their inaugural contest, Trailblazers participants were challenged to browse their way from Amazon to Pirate Bay.

Video highlight of the recent Trailblazer competition:

Here are Some Trailblazers challenges:

1. [www.apple.com]
http://get.adobe.com/de/products/flashplayer/


2. [web.mit.edu]
http://icanhascheezburger.com/

3. [imdb.com]
http://thepiratebay.org

4. [www.4chan.org]
http://www.scientology.org/

5. [brockhaus.de]
http://de.wikipedia.org/

6. [www.bundestag.de]
http://www.bigbrotherawards.de/

7. [pleaserobme.com]
http://polizei.de/

Are you up to the challenge? Try out some of the challenges and post your answers.

Source: Gizmodo, Trailblazers

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Keyboards and Mice made from bamboo?

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The endagered Giant Panda's favorite food is now used to manufacture keyboards, mice, and even LCD monitor panels in China. Jiangxi Bamboo Technology Development Co. Ltd. has over 20 years of experience in research, innovation, and usage of bamboo materials. Their objective has always been to use bamboo as an alternative to plastic materials. And now, they are putting their concept into reality by manufacturing electronic products made from bamboo. 

In 2008, they first tried to break through the European and US market before offering these eco-friendly to the local market (China). These "green" and stylish peripherals have penetrated the local market quite well. Their products are popular in Europe, US, and Southeast Asia. According to their website, their planning to expand their product lines and work their bamboo-magic on computer casings, speakers, flash disks, mobile hard drives and a lot more.

Bamboo-nized Desktop Computer (LCD, Keyboard, Mouse)

Two bamboo mice, two bamboo mice, see how they scroll

Bamboo key-boo-rds  

Bamboo mice in production

Just like on automobile dashboard, now we have "wood-panel" themed computer systems. 

Can't wait to have bamboo notebook computers and mobile phones in the market.

Source: JiangXi Bamboo Tech, OddityCentral, ImageChina

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Major cellphone makers signed agreement to "Universal" charger on mobile phones

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USB or Universal Serial Bus has paved the way to a standardized connector for computer peripherals (mouse, keyboard, printers, flash drives, media players, etc) to computers. Unlike those days where we have different connectors for each peripheral: mouse (mouse PS/2 connector,)  keyboard (keyboard PS/2 connector), modem/media players (RS-232 serial port), printers (LPT1 parallel port).

So why not apply this concept to mobile chargers? When your battery is dead and you forgot to bring your charger, it is kind of hard to look for a friend who owns a phone with the same manufacturer as yours. But nowadays, handset companies even create different connectors for different models of the same brand. So when your phone dies on you, same goes with your charger. Talk about marketing strategy. 

With the help of the European Commission, starting 2011, most mobile phones sold in Europe will have a one-size-fits-all charger. 4 major cellphone makers namely: Apple, Motorola, Samsung, RIM (Blackberry) have signed to this agreement that will save Europeans from their dead batteries.


Talks of having a universal microUSB connector for chargers started during 2009,which was initiated by the European Commission. And we are pleased that it is already taking effect.


Source: CNN


"Universal" chargers
It took years for a country as advanced as Europe to come with a solution for different connectors in mobile phone chargers. But believe it or not, here in the Philippines, years ago we already have "universal" chargers. CDR-King, a one-stop shop for gadget accessories and computer stuff, has a "10-in-1 multifunction usb/car/desk charger". It's basically a swiss knife for mobile chargers.

It supports 10 charger connectors for:
1. Old Nokia models (big round connector)
2. New Nokia models (small round connector)
3. Devices using miniUSB connectors (Blackberry, HTC, Palm, etc)
4. Selected Motorola models
5. Selected LG models
6. Selected Sony Ericsson models
7. Selected Samsung models
8. iPod/iPhone/iPod Touch (Any model)
9. Sony Playstation Portable or PSP
10. Nintendo DS Lite


These connectors can be plugged using:
1. Universal Serial Bus or USB
2. Car charger (Car cigarette lighter plug)
3. Desk Charger

10-in-1 Multifunction USB Charger Package by CD-R King

10 charger connectors for a variety of phone models that can be plugged to your PC through USB

Car charger that accepts the 10 connector-USB cable and other types of USB cables

Desk charger that accepts the 10 connector-USB cable and other types of USB cables
 

30 chargers in one! (10 usb chargers, 10 car chargers, 10 desk chargers) And guess how much this multifunction charger costs? CDR-King is selling it for Php250 or roughly $5.56! They have other interesting products like USB-powered vaccum cleaners, shaver, aquarium, sharpener, and more!

Techno Bacon <3 CD-R King!

For a variety of innovative accessories at low low prices, you can visit CDR-King, your one stop media provider.

Source: CDR-King 10-in-1 Charger

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Bad Ass iPhone Cases for Real Men

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Since the release of the 1st generation iPhone, people have been crazy over iPhone cases. Cases that were meant for protecting the iPhone have become a "fashion" statement for many users. While female iPhone users love heart-themed, red/pinkish iPhone cases, here are some iPhone cases for Bad Asses: via Oddee.com

1. Phoneballs Case

What could be manlier than an iPhone case with "balls"! It even protects your data connector from dirt. Give the bad ass iPhone some "balls" for only $15. Not only that, 10% of all proceeds will go to the Sean Kimerling Testicular Cancer Foudation.

Source: Phoneballs

2. Revolver Case

Remember playing police/robber/cowboy as a kid? Or even secret agents that hide their handgun in their jacket with shoulder holsters? Here is an iPhone case you can tuck into your shorts (front or back), socks (ankle holsters) and answer calls with a really nasty look on your face. Unfortunately, it's not for sale. Fortunately, you can make one. For instructions, click on the link.

Source: Thingiverse

3. Dexter Case (Evidence Envelope)

"Dexter" TV Series fans will be thrilled to get their hands on this Dexter-themed iPhone case by Speck. Now you can play detective with the Revolver Case and Dexter Case.

Source: TechFresh

4. Undercover Case

Hesitant on leaving your new iPhone 4 on your desk? Afraid some rotten co-workers might get their hands on your new iPhone 4? Introducing the Undercover Stealth Cellphone Case. It's made of rip-proof, water-proof, writable material with Velcro straps to keep it secure. The authenticity is amazing! Just make sure nobody mistakes it for a real mail and send it to Mega Byte Co. Inc.

Source: PerpetualKid

5. Carbon Fiber Case

Who said expensive carbon fiber accessories and upgrades can only be applied to your ride? To all rich bad asses who have tons of money to burn, here's the iPhone case for your bad ass iPhone. Featuring the iPhone iWallet. Made of your choice of carbon fiber, a mix of carbon fiber and Kevlar (both $600), or a lower-cost fiberglass model for a relative bargain price of $299. The iWallet has an alarm that goes off if you are 30 feet away. Cool!

Source: Telovation

6. Bacon Case

An iPhone case especially made for Techno Bacon! The Fabric Bacon Case comes in different sizes, and one size fits the iPhone. It costs 25 Euro. Truly, everything's better with bacon! Techno Bacon <3 it!

Source: DaWanda

7. Heineken Case

Enjoy your Bacon case with the Heineken case, the iPhone case for Real Men! The iPhone case from Etsy called the Heinecell is a Heineken-themed iPhone case that shows chicks your toughness and manliness. Etsy sells it for $25, pretty decent price for a bad ass iPhone case.

Source: iPhoneSpies

8. $108,000 Gold Case

Just like there are mobile phones covered in jewelries (i.e. Vertu Signature Cobra) that costs from $100,000 up to $3,200,000, we now have a $108,000 Gold iPhone case. Germany-based designers from GnG have now revealed what could possibly be the most expensive iPhone case. The Gold Delicious (dubbed by GnG) is only 1mm thick, is made from a special high-tech carbon fiber inlay, is covered with 140g of gold (18-carat) and packs nothing less than 600 diamonds. No wonder it costs a fortune!

Source: GnG

9. Cassette Case

Go retro and relive your youth with ThumbsUp's Cassette iPhone Case. Instead of making mix tapes of all your favourites back in the days, the protects your iPhone (which may contain all your favourites back in the days, up to 32gb of bad ass mp3). This bad ass case can also serve as a stand for watching videos when fully opened. 2 thumbs up for ThumbsUp's Cassette Case!

Source: ThumbsUp

10. Recycled Cardboard Case

Even with the whole world under a financial crisis, Case-Mate took advantage of the situation and designed iPhone Recession Cases that cost only $7.99/10 cases or 30 cases for $14.99! You can get it personalized (using permanent markers), and on top of that it's environment friendly.

Source: Case-Mate

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Turn your iPod Touch to an iPhone. What?!?

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What!?! Is that even possible? Well, Yosion Technology has developed an adapter case that will turn your iPod Touch to an iPhone. Yes, you heard me! An iPod Touch that can send SMS, make calls, and has extended battery life. According to M.I.C. Gadget, Yosion Technology's Apple Peel 520 would probably cost around $388 RMB (about $57) and has an one-year warranty.

You can watch the review conducted by Chinese technology website PConline.

Thanks to M.I.C Gadget for translating the review in English.

The Apple Peel 520 adapter case has 6 main components: SIM card slot, vibration motor, speaker for voice calls(ear piece), extended removable battery, Infineon baseband chip, and dock connector. 

The Apple Peel 520 up close.

800mAh removable battery (adds up to 4.5hrs talk time)

Power button and speaker (ear piece)

Dock connector

To be able to make calls and send SMS, we need both applications installed to the iPod Touch. So the iPod Touch must be jailbroken to allow these iPhone default application to be installed. 

Screenshot: Home Screen showing Yosion (iPhone's Phone App) and YsSMS (iPhone's Messages App)

Screenshot: Yosion Calling App

Screenshot: Inbox

Screenshot: Edit Messages

Screenshot: Add contact/View contact list

The 3.5mm headphone jack located on the bottom-right of the iPod Touch has been modified to be used as the antenna with the dock connector. With the Apple Peel 520's antenna design, users will have access to the 3.5mm headphone jack on the bottom-left of the adapter case.

Sadly, this marvelous adapter case is not yet officially available. Although sources say that Chinese customers can visit Taobao online store to pre-order it. Pre-order deposit will cost you around $100RMB or $15.

In my opinion, this innovation is really worth investing on. In the Philippines, an iPhone 3GS 32gb costs around Php37,500 or $835, while an iPod Touch 3rd Gen 32gb costs around Php13,400 or $300, and the Apple Peel 520 will cost around (Php2,500) or $57

Comparing Php37,500 to Php15,900 ($835 to $357), 'nuff said.

Kudos to China's Yosion Technology. If everything goes well, this will probably make a huge impact to the iPhone/iPod Touch world.

Just stay tune for updates and more reviews.

Sources: M.I.C. Gadget
  

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