Kind Reminder Gives Comfort to Alzheimer's Patients

It's never easy caring for someone with Alzheimer's. It can be a devastating experiences watching a loved one slip in and out of lucidity. One can only imagine the confusion, anger, and fear a person affected by the disease experiences during these moments. A daughter of an Alzheimer's sufferer wanted to lend some comfort to her parent and created this ingenious device.

The Kind Reminder is a recorder that can be worn around the neck as a necklace or just kept close by. When the patient has a moment of disorientation, they can press the button on the recorder and the voice of their caretaker will play. The website says the product is designed for people with early to mid-stage Alzheimer's or memory loss related to age.

More on e-books: Project Gutenberg and Barnes & Noble

And while we're on the subject, David Pogue has just done a thorough job of comparing Amazon's and Barnes & Noble's e-book services.

B&N won't introduce a Kindle-like reading device until next year. Meantime you can not only read B&N books on your iPhone, you can read them on your computer--a first for commercial e-book services.

Of course, for many years that service has been available--free--from Project Gutenberg, always on my Top Ten list of 'Net freebies. If you don't always have your computer with you but do have a Palm PDA or Smartphone, there's a free app, called plucker, for reading any of the thousands of free Gutenberg books. Get plucker versions of e-books from the Gutenberg site.

Women had The Right Stuff to be early astronauts, but their timing was lousy

Who are these women? They're women who had hopes of being among the first US astronauts some 50 years ago. And we all know how that turned out.

It wasn't that they didn't have The Right Stuff. They passed all the psychological tests and took the same physical as the guys. And (are you surprised?) they often did better. But they were not among the Mercury astronauts, and in fact never really had a shot at being part of that illustrious team.

Henry Spencer, amateur space historian, wants you to know that what kept the women out of space was not the rampant sexism of the time. No, it was just that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) had decided to recruit only military test pilots for the program. And it just happened that all military test pilots were men. Because in those years, the US military didn't accept women into pilot training programs.

So it definitely wasn't sexism.

In fact, it was really the women's fault. They had no sense of timing.

For an update on how the women did on the tests, see here. There are also links to a new paper describing the process in more detail.

The 1995 NASA photo above shows some of the women who might have been among the original astronauts if only the times--or their pesky X chromosomes--had been different. They had gathered to watch Eileen Collins' launch as the first female pilot of a space shuttle mission. It only took a quarter-century. From left to right: Gene Nora Stumbough Jessen, Wally Funk, Jerrie Cobb, Jerri Sloan Truhill, Sarah Gorelick Ratley, Myrtle ("Kay") Cagle, and Bernice ("B") Steadman.

Gemei is Gem of a Bargain

Nothing makes me smile like great tech at a great price. It's like finding those killer designer boots for a fraction of the price. So when I saw the Gemei HD8800 portable media player, my bargain senses started tingling.

Retailing for $122, the Gemei PMP comes with 1080p support meaning it plays back your media in glorious HD quality which comes in handy when you want view your favorite videos or images through your HDTV. The device also features a 4.3-inch screen with 800 x 480 resolution, which unfortunately has no touchscreen capability, but at such a great price, it's hardly something to gripe about.

The HD8000 supports a ton of different formats including RMVB, MOV, AVI, VOB, MKV, MP4, and Flash. It may not be as flashy as some of the more popular media players, but with such solid features at such an awesome price, I'm not complaining.

Via Gizmodo

iPhone App Store pulls 1000+ apps in fake 5-star review scandal

The iPhone app developer Molinker has been accused of faking reviews for a number of its 1000+ iPhone apps, and Apple has pulled all of Molinker's apps--nearly 1% of all iPhone apps--from the App Store, according to PC World.

Brennon Slattery, who wrote the PC World report, speculates that Molinker's apps aren't the only ones with bogus 5-star reviews. Slattery urges Apple--and its App Store customers--to be more diligent in exposing fraudulent reviews.

The new PBS NewsHour: Pick and choose the news to use

The PBS NewsHour is undergoing major remodeling. That's good news for US newshounds who need more than a flood of celebrity gossip followed by 20-second snippets of real news but don't have time to watch an hour-long broadcast every evening.

The NewsHour has beefed up its online presence in a major way and also embraced podcasts, RSS feeds, Facebook, and Twitter. Even if you don't own a TV, you can keep up with the NewsHour's in-depth treatment of the day's news automagically.

Listen to interviews with movers and shakers and the smart folks who analyze their moves and shakes, Paul Solman's lucid explanations of what's up (and down!) in the financial world, international news from all over, plus thoughtful looks at current issues like health care reform, the environment, the arts....life, the universe, and everything.

There's way more here than the NewsHour folks are able to cram into their daily hour on TV, but it's served cafeteria-style, so you can pick and choose just what news you can use. And there are extras like special material for teachers to bring to their classrooms.

Speakal iPom Givea Floral and Aural Delight

Sometimes gadgets and their designers can take themselves a little too seriously. In the need to show that their new product is worthy of geek worship, tech gets painted in the utilitarian colors of black, white and silver. I'm not a huge fan of tech painted pink and marketed towards women either, but a little color wouldn't hurt some of these devices.

IPod speaker manufacturer Speakal has always been one to buck the trend, giving us speakers in the shape of cute little piggies, loveable ghosts, and playful pandas. Their latest speaker follows the same irreverent design cues and puts the "aw" in awesome.

The Speakal iPom is an shaped like an apple and has two flowers perched on top acting as speakers with the third hiding out in the apple-shaped base. This pom has a little punch with its 2.1 stereo speaker system, adjustable bass, and 12W subwoofer. In addition to being iPod compatible, the iPom can also play music from USB memory sticks and SD card. It also works with any mp3 player that has a 3.5mm output.

The flower speakers are removable so they can be placed around the room. Retailing for $99, the iPom is a cute change in pace from the black and silver, slick design gadgets have become.

Via SlashGear

Casio Celebrates Hello Kitty's 35th Anniversary

Hello Kitty, the fictional character that adorns everything from purses to laptops is beloved around the world. The iconic kitty is turning 35 and to celebrate, Casio is unveiling this limited edition Hello Kitty Casio EX-Z90 digital camera.

The camera is available in two versions of pink. The area surrounding the lens is decked out in Swarovski crystals and of course features the face of Kitty and her trademark bow. Spec-wise, this is a a solid camera. It has 12.1 megapixels and 3x optical zoom. There's also intelligent Auto Focus that can detect any subject and automatically adjust exposure and focus. In addition, the Dynamic Photo function has been tweaked making it both easier and faster to create animated greeting cards or any other digital creations.

Unfortunately, this camera is a Korea exclusive, so you'll have to find an import site. But that shouldn't be too big of a hurdle for Hello Kitty fans.The price tag, however, might be a little much to swallow. Expect to pay $500 to satisfy your Hello Kitty lust.

Via Aving.net

Smart Baby Case Diasterproof and Travel-ready

Traveling with a baby can be challenging. You need to make sure there's a solid supply of diapers and food as well as lug around that bulky stroller. Sure it comes in handy when you're transporting your little one, but it becomes the instrument of the devil when it encounters some stairs. It's even worse with the initial setup. I've seen too many parents struggle with getting the blasted thing set up while trying to comfort a crying infant. Whew!

Luggage company Samsonite, held a competition a few months back looking for designers that could design a better way for parents to transport their children. One such concept came from Iranian designer Pouyan Mokhtarani. Called the Smart Baby Case, the design is a hard case pod that borrows design cues from the humble egg, a shape already familiar to a child. The case would keep baby safe and comfortable while the parents navigate the hustle and bustle of pedestrian traffic or get to safety in the case of an emergency.

Picnic by Juicy Couture

Juicy Couture new product is putting a fresh coat of paint on the old picnic theme. Available for pre-order, the Staycation Kit has everything you need to have a fun day at the park. The kit comes in a logo-themed leather tote bag that contains two mp3 speakers. There's also cutlery, dishes, and tumblers which are diswasher safe. There's even a blanket and cloth napkins that are machine washable.

The speaker dimensions are 12"H x 13"W x 6"D. There's no word on the wattage, so the sound quality is anyone's guess. The kit is available for $248. Just like the tagline says it's "everything you need to take your beau or bestie out for a picnic."

Via UberGizmo

Bayer's Contour USB Meter Empowers Patients

If you're living with diabetes or knows someone who is, you know how vital keeping track of every test and every shot of insulin can be -- it's the ultimate case of knowledge is power. For those that with the disease that must test their blood sugars levels regularly, Bayer has released the Bayer Contour USB Meter. The first of its kind, the USB meter is the first blood glucose meter that plugs into a computer for quick and accurate data management for optimal diabetes management.

Simple to use, the patient simply insert a test strip into the meter and take their test as usual. The Contour gives the test results on the easy to read color OLED display and logs it for later use. Able to hold up to 2,000 test results, the devices is a great way to track blood glucose patterns which can be a boon to both doctors and patients. Based on Bayer's CONTOUR system, the meter utilizes the incredibly accurate No Coding technology for results patients can trust. Bayer also added the AutoLog feature that allows users to mark their tests as Before Meal or After Meal for more detailed records.

S&J's Incredible, Non-edible Speakers

Computer peripheral manufacturer, S&J Co., Ltd, proves that sometimes to get great sound you have to break a few eggs. Their new line of ultra portable speakers are egg-shaped and awesome hence their name, Eggy.

The little speakers pack decent sound thanks to their 2W output and digital amps. They're USB-powered so there's no need to worry about batteries. The coolest thing about these speakers is that the magnetically lock. Once you're done using them, just put them together and you've got a shiny egg that can be easily slipped into a bag or pocket. These speakers would be an awesome peripheral for all those netbooks and laptops out there.

No word yet on price or availability, but they will be showing at this year's CES, so hopefully there will be more information in January.

Via Coolest Gadgets

Aimat gun camera makes point-and-shoot serious fun

Franziska Dierschke was definitely having "fun" while creating the Aimat digital camera. Taking no assumptions of structure from the concept of a traditional digital camera, the Aimat carries forward its point-and-shoot functionality by creating the ability to take small, pinhole-shaped images without the aid of a viewfinder. And by being shaped like a gun.

Oops. Did I say "gun"? And that's supposed to be "fun"? Okay, I am going to shake off the skepticism and allow the playfulness that the designer had in mind while creating this concept camera. The intent behind which was to "put less emphasis on picture quality, and more on the playful act of taking the picture" itself. Cool. No word on when this one is going to find its way into production.

Via Toxel.

LED Kimono Takes the Stage

There's something about LEDs and clothing that really gets me, provided it's done well. You won't catch me within 100 feet of one of those cheesy light-up holiday sweaters, especially those garish Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer deals. This kimono however, has class and sophistication that negates the gimmicky feel of the LED lighting.

The kimono was created by performing artist/composer Miya Masaoka. The garment's sleeve has 444 LED that are individually controlled. The lights respond primarily to sound and the movement of the wearer. Future iterations of the kimono will allow it to function more as a smart garment with the ability to improvise, listen, and react to its environment.

It looks a little bulky with the lights on, but once the lights are dimmed, this piece of performance art becomes a fluid showcase of captivating light and movement.

Via FashioningTech

Wear Your Favorite Celebrity's DNA

Some people pine to look like their favorite celebrities while others just want to dress like them. Now, you can actually smell like your favorite celebrity. Perfume company My DNA Fragrance is taking scents to decidedly creepy level. Using DNA from your favorite celebrities, they are creating custom fragrances using your favorite celebrity's hair samples.

Selling under the "Antiquity" line, the list of famous hair donors include Marilyn Munroe, Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Kathrine Hepburn, Joan Crawford, and Albert Einstein. Thanks to a promotional sale. each cologne or perfume costs $59.99 with a percentage of the proceeds going to the celebrity's estate as well as the charities they supported. If the celebrity did not have a charity, My DNA Fragrance will donate to one on their behalf.

If smelling like someone else just isn't your thing, you can send in your own genetic code via a cotton swab and have your own scent made into a perfume or cologne. Or you can gift a bottle of
"Eau de You" to someone special in your life. It's a 50/50 shot of generating an "awww" or and "ewwww" repsonse.

Via Born Rich

iPhone Wall Dock is minimalistc, fits right into power socket

Forget those complicated iPhone docks and marvel at this totally amazing invention - the iPhone Wall Dock, which is pretty simply, a dock that neatly plugs into your existing power socket on the wall, and charges your iPhone in the most unobtrusive manner ever. And that also means no cable clutter, and faster charging because of its higher power output compared to other charging units. The Wall Dock also rotates around a pivot to hide the connector when not in use and provides a cushioned top to secure your iPhone or iPod when charging. Totally worth the $24.99 that it quotes.

Via Gadget Lab.

New Site Promises to Help in Search for Perfect Gadget

The holidays are coming up and you're eager to find the perfect gadget as a gift to someone special or yourself. The problem is with all the different brand names, specifications, price differences, and hype, how do you find the right product for the job? Let's face it, tech can be expensive and there's nothing worse than shelling out hundreds of dollars on the a piece of equipment that you either don't know how to use or worse is the absolute wrong product for the job.

There's a new search engine that can make the decision-making process a little easier. Measy is a website that helps the not-so-tech savvy locate the correct gizmo. The site is pretty simple to use. Choose the type of gadget you're shopping for (smartphone, digital camera, etc.) and you're given a quick quiz that narrows down your choices. If you're looking for a smartphone, you'll be asked about budget, texting, and carrier and their level of importance.Through the process of elimination, Measy picks the best device based on your answers.

The site displays general specs and features of each product. There are also links to reviews from reputable tech sites to help bolster the choice and give you a little reassurance so when you go into the store you know exactly what you want. That way you won't part with more money than necessary because a smarmy salesperson sold you more gadget than you actually need.

Measy is currently in beta, so the amount of products to choose from in some categories is a little small, but hopefully with a little more time and elbow grease, the site can be a go-to resource when shopping for tech.

Via Mobile Crunch

Mood Chair determines your emotional state from your hind quarters

Ladies and gentlemen, this is "interactive" furniture of the most useless kind - a concept called the Mood Chair by UK based designers Aether & Hemera. And after some more wasted minutes spent in trying to understand its utility, I fail to find one.

The Mood Chair apparently has sensors that take cue from the user and the environment to determine his/her emotional disposition. That's not all. After the internal circuitry - consisting of "LEDs, embedded micro-chips, appropriate sensors and custom software" - can take stock of your mood while you are on it, the chair changes color to broadcast it to anybody who's around, and interested. Guess how infallible that can be.

For the others who jumped up in anticipation, we have no clue when this thing might get into the stores. If ever.

Catch a video after the break.

Via technabob.

LG releases XD3 minimalist, portable HDDs

It seems LG has sent out its portable HDDs for a facelift and ended up with a luscious makeover - the XD3 slim, portable HDDs announced for the Korean market.

And the results are appreciable in a single glance - a high-quality, brushed aluminum casing that comes in four colors (red, gold, black and silver) and with rubber padding for shock absorption, plus an enviable 13mm thickness. While it comes to specs under the hood however, there aren't many to make you blush - as with earlier storage drives from LG (XD1 and XD2), the XD3 is available in capacities of 320GB and 500GB, with the same USB and SATA II connectivity. It retails in Korea at a price of 110,000 Won (US $90).

Via Engadget.

A great free source for H1N1 (Swine flu) updates in your choice of languages

H1N1 (swine) flu activity has gone down a bit in the US, which is good news for Thanksgiving travelers this week. Some are even predicting that the disease may have peaked in the US. But even if that's true (which nobody knows), a great many people still are going to get sick. Meantime, there's lots of flu sufferers, and some deaths, everywhere else.

Here's a terrific free site for keeping up with the flu everywhere: HealthMap, the global disease alert map. This is the link to the English version. But from this link you can also get the flu map in Portuguese, Spanish, French, Chinese, Russian, and Arabic.

You can also download HealthMap's iPhone app that will bring your mobile a map and news of disease outbreaks near you, including swine flu. The app is interactive, so you can also report local outbreaks that are not yet in the HealthMap database.

Scoring Karaoke sniffs out Sinatras in hiding

For all those who secretly think of themselves as rock stars in the making, but are unsure of voicing that thought out loud, maybe you should hold the secret in a bit longer. And consider getting an honest opinion on your singing skills from this silent judge - the Scoring Karaoke Game system.

This karaoke machine has a built-in pitch detector that determines whether your singing is in sync with the song that is being played out, and accordingly gives out a score for your benefit. The microphone communicates wirelessly with its control box, which plugs directly into your television with the included AV cable, freeing you from a typical microphone's cord that may constrict your movements. The system comes pre-loaded with 100 songs and you can download new songs by plugging the microphone into your computer using the included USB cable or using an SD card (not included).

That's not to say that great singing is only about pitching or sounding like another person, but you can make a start, nevertheless. And the best part? The secret is always between you and the microphone. Available from Hammacher Schlemmer for $199.95.

Via OhGizmo.

Are you--or someone you care about--addicted to the Internet?

Rehab is now available for addiction to social networking and online gaming. For only $14,500, Internet addicts can spend 45 days kicking the habit at the first US Internet addiction rehab center.

If you don't happen to have $14,500 handy to help you swear off Facebook and/or World of Warcraft permanently, maybe you could just move to an obscure corner of the US where wi-fi has not yet arrived.

The new Internet addiction rehab center is located in aptly named Fall City, Washington, oddly close to headquarters for one of the Internet's chief pushers, Microsoft. Still, the rehab center is a start at closing the yawning Internet addiction rehab gap with China, which is said to have declared Internet addiction its number one health problem and opened 400 Internet addiction rehab centers to combat it.

The sole US rehab center's founders claim that as many as one in 10 of us is an Internet addict. I'm wondering if that isn't an underestimate. If you consult a list of Signs and Symptoms of Internet/Gaming Addiction, you'll see that "Being dishonest with others" is one of them. Since nearly everybody lies to somebody sometime about something, does that mean nearly everybody is an Internet addict?

Find True Love with an App

For those of us in the hunt for that special someone, being thorough is important, especially when it comes to dating. They say dating is supposed to be a fun experience, but for a lot of us, it's an interview process where one wrong answer can send a potential Mr. or Ms. Right crashing and burning into the reject pile. Now there's an app, to alleviate a little bit of the pressure.

The app is named iRateMyDate and its exactly what it sounds like, a way for daters to keep track of a date and track various qualities the user is looking for in a potential mate. According to the press release, the the iPhone-exclusive app's goal is to answer the question "Is my date worth having my legs waxed" or "Was she worth missing the game?"

Developed by Yollswa, the app allows you to do side by side comparisons of potential mates, for those of us lucky enough to have that many candidates to choose from. You can choose up to 20 of must-have or important traits that "The One" should have and rate them. You can upload their photos, add their horoscope and take notes on the date, as well as schedule the next date -- if there will actually be a next date.

Philips Introduces Crystalize Your Skin's New Best Friend

Skin care is a billion dollar industry worldwide. Obsessed with keeping our skin as young and healthy as possible we spend an inordinate amount of money on the latest cream that promises to stop the aging process, help our combination skin, or simply fend off adult cases of acne. But with all the different skin types out there, how do you know if you're purchasing the product that is the best fit for your unique skin type?

Electronics maker Philips may have the answer to the billion dollar question. According to the New York Times, has a new way of analyzing skin. The Crystalize system uses a special video camera to take an extreme close up of clients skin. The camera is set up to scan certain parts of the face to compile an accurate assessment of the viewer's skin. Once that happens, a list of products that would best suit your skin is displayed starting with the cheapest product going to the most pricey purchase.

When the system displays your ideal products, you shouldn't have to worry about Philips trying to pawn off strategically placed products. Philips does create products in the health care industry, but does not make any skin care products. They also aren't receiving any incentive to recommend one company's product over another's, so the system should be corruption free for now. Let's hope it stays that way. It's far too easy to go down that slippery slope with an ad or a featured product.

Black Hello Kitty PMP is Techie Catnip

I haven't had anything Hello Kitty since I was a little girl, but iriver is really making me backtrack on that decision. Their new black Hello Kitty PMP is sleek and stylish enough that I wouldn't feel silly using it public. From the gold-accented bow to the whiskers, I just can't stop looking at it.

Available in 2GB and 4GB versions, the player is still a Japanese exclusive. It come packaged with earbuds and a USB cable. Volume and playback controls are located on the back of Kitty's head. Weighing in at a mere 16g, you just want to take it everywhere. The silicon cases are a cute touch, not only can you dress your Hello Kitty up, it keeps it safe from scratches.

It's set to release in Japan in time for the holidays. No word on when or if its coming stateside, but if you're a Hello Kitty fanatic you might want to look into importing this pretty mama. It's retailing for about $90.

Via Engadget

All about diets, weight control, and the glycemic index

A lot of what you need to know about the glycemic index is here. Like what IS the glycemic index, anyway? (Short answer: a system of ranking foods according to how much they raise blood sugar.) Why is the glycemic index controversial? Can eating low glycemic-index foods really help prevent diabetes and colon cancer and heart disease? And control my weight?

But not quite everything you need to know about the glycemic index is in that one blog post. Among other things, you need an actual glycemic index that lists foods according to how much they raise your blood sugar. I couldn't find a really complete glycemic index, and maybe there is no such thing. But Diabetes.net has a good one here. (Scroll down past the book-selling stuff.)

And Wikipedia has a brief table summarizing categories of high. medium. and low glycemic-index foods. Keep in mind, though, that you can't always easily estimate the glycemic index of a food. Those bagels up there are actually high glycemic-index items.

As with any topic related to diets, almost any search engine will garner you a ton of stuff. There's an enormous amount of detail about the glycemic index out there, much of it useful. But there is also an enormous amount of salesmanship, so beware.

Zlico's System Might Spell the End for Pap Smears

We have witnessed steady strides in the fight against cervical cancer. Vaccines Gardasil and Cervarix are now available for girls to protect them from the human papilloma virus (HPV), the main cause of cervical cancer. Unfortunately the vaccines are only given to young girls. They also don't protect women from every form of HPV which means there's still a need for Pap Smear testing to attempt to catch the disease early.

Every year, millions of women visit their gynecologists and endure the discomfort of the Pap Smear. After the test is complete, there's often weeks of waiting for the results, leaving women to wonder if they'll become part of the frightening statistics on cervical cancer. British medical diagnostic, Zilco is working to alleviate some of the stress with its new device that can conduct a relatively quick and painless pap.

Cineman Swivel: A Sweet Tech Treat

Wow wee, a new pico projector! No, seriously WowWee Technology just announced that its latest product is available for pre-order in the U.S. and Europe. The Cinemon Swivel, their new pico projector is just as sweet as the name suggests.

Like most pico projectors, the Swivel is a portable multimedia device that allows users to watch everything from movies to slide shows anytime or anywhere. What sets the Cinemon apart from the pack is its ability to pivot on a 90 degree angle making it easy to project on almost any surface. It also uses DLP projection technology courtesy of Texas' Instruments which is supposed to give t a clearer, crisper picture than using LCD.

Manhole information-point

I have always had a fascination with urban furniture projects, especially as today’s fast and ever evolving technology allows for endless creativity. I am loving this manhole-redesign environmentally friendly manhole-redesign, that is powered by rainwater. Step on it and it will display information about the nearest subway station or bus stop.

Via Yanko Design

Harman Kardon GLA-55 speakers will leave you cold and broke

Okay, now that the idea of putting up an iceberg on the mantle was your battle won, all you need is to win another one and convince your family to loan you one grand. After which, you can remain assured that the Harman Kardon GLA-55 speakers can grace that coveted spot you fought so hard for.

Though the only observable uniqueness of the GLA-55 seems to be the artistic cut-glass motif which gives the appearance of the speakers being embedded in ice sculpture, Harman Kardon claims that they deliver "stunning sound" as well. That too minus subwoofer, and "numerous proprietary technologies to provide the highest audio quality". Apparently, the Atlas AL woofers and CMMD tweeters that the speakers are built on, deliver a great bass response and accurate high frequencies. Add to that DSP processing and touch-sensitive volume controls, and you just heard of the most expensive speakers ever. Instinct must be given its due while it still struggles to get you away from this $999.99 eye candy.

Via Coolest Gadgets.

Pre-order the inPulse BlackBerry Bluetooth watch, wait until 2010 for shipping

The wait is longer than we imagined, and it is now official. Allerta is offering its limited, first-edition inPulse Bluetooth watch for the BlackBerry on pre-order, but you will have to hold on until February 2010 for the shipping to begin.

The watch sports a 1.3-inch color OLED display and functions as a virtual, display-only accessory for your BlackBerry while wirelessly communicating with it via a Bluetooth 2.0 connection. So that, based on the email, SMS, Twitter previews or call alerts you see on your wrist, you can choose to flip out your smartphone or not. The magic is made possible through a custom BlackBerry background application which runs on the watch to keep track of your received messages/calls and also provides the ability to customize the watch itself.

Powered by a 150mAh Li-Ion battery, the watch has a micro-USB jack for charging - with a single charge going approximately into 4 days while you get an average 20-30 updates per day. The inPulse has a built-in vibrating motor to alert you of incoming calls and boasts the ability to pull in new text messages directly. All the settings on the watch (time, alarms, alerts) are controlled through the BlackBerry itself, with the wireless connection also facilitating over-the-air firmware updates.

Part with $149 (shipping extra) and book your seat for some great wrist candy. And much more.

Via SlashGear.

Beaba BabyCook: Easy on Baby's Stomach and Parent's Wallets

I don't have to tell you that having a baby can be expensive. The food, the clothes, the toy, not to mention the seemingly unending need for diapers can drain even the most solid of finances. This new gadget from Beaba might be the must have gift this holiday for parents with toddler-aged children.

Leave it to the French to make an awesome food-based gizmo. The Beaba Babycook is a handy device that makes baby food right before your eyes. The Babycook is a food-processor, stove, steamer, and defroster all in one. The device is simple enough to use. Take those peas, peaches, or beets into the cooking basket. The process starts by steaming your raw materials for 15 minutes, sealing all the nutrients and flavors in place. After the freshly steamed food is blended and pureed into yummy and healthy food ready for baby's sensitive stomach.

The Babycook makes up to two and a half cups of food per use. It also comes with a spatula, bowl, and containers for freezing servings so food can be prepared in advance. Thanks to the gadget's defrost function, there will never be a long wait to defrost precooked food and there's no worry of over-nulking it in the microwave. There's also a recipe booklet just to give parents some inspiration when preparing their baby's meal.

BPA-tested, Parents with kids from six months to two years will be using this thing constantly.Luckily, the : 11 x 5½ x 8-inch device doesn't take up too much counter space. And to make things even more convenient, everything included with the Babycook is dishwasher-friendly.

Video of the Beaba Babycook in action

Via Coolest Gadgets

Video game controller ornaments make for a true geek's Christmas

How to veer Santa away from giving you those girly gifts (like hair curlers, eek!) and bring on the really useful ones (like gadgets, yum!) instead? Well, let why not let the tree scream for your cause this Christmas? So, get plentiful of these acrylic gaming ornaments designed by Dave Rollins, and we bet your decoration will be the talk of the geek town. They are sold together as a set of seven and contain laser cut-out versions of Wii, N64, Xbox 360, Dreamcast, NES, PS2 and Sega Genesis controllers. That said, calling this "geek-chic" would only be an understatement.

The ornaments are available in six different colors and are currently selling on Etsy and Digits’ Ponoko for $25.

Via Slippery Brick.

Square Enix Wants You to Smell the Final Fantasy

Star Trek has its own line of fragrances, why not a video game? Courtesy of game publisher, Square Enix, Final Fantasy XIII heroine Lightning, now has her own perfume line. The fragrance shares the same name as the character and will be available in 50 ml bottles for about $83.

Lightning Eau de Toilette is described as having notes of peach, followed by rose, and then a feminine musk -- whatever that means. While it's a little outlandish to have a video game-inspired fragrance, considering the wacky merchandising that we've seen attached to video games (energy drinks, life-sized sculptures, and the legions of fans that dress up like their favorite character at any comic book/anime convention), this is one of the classier promotions.

The fragrance is set to hit Japanese shelves one month after the game release, just in time for spring. Now loyal gamers can look and even smell like their favorite video games. What's next, a cologne for Solid Snake?

Via Technabob

BodyGuard Pro helps you shield your camera even with the lens on

The situation is this. You are not completely done with your shots, but you just want to set down your camera for a while, and still not worry about getting it scratched or even detaching the lens. The solution comes in the form of this handy accessory called the LensCoat BodyGuard Pro - a smart body cover that protects your camera so that you get quick storage when you want to stow it temporarily, and hassle free removal when you want to use the camera again.

The BodyGuard Pro is made from soft shock-absorbing neoprene and slides over the camera body even with the lens left in place. It fits almost all the major pro SLR and semi-pro SLR cameras - even those with extended power winders or with L-brackets mounted. For an extra $5 on the base price, the cover is also available as a variant with grips attached - which means you can slide your fingers through the grips and use the camera without removing the cover.

The BodyGuard Pro is available in five different designs at a price range between $28.95 and $44.99.

Via The Red Ferret.

Rabbit Ear Chairs

I am not sure whether I am being influenced by my daughter’s obsession with bunnies here, but I really like the Rabbit Ear chair designed by the Sanaa Architects group and I sure wish they would make them kid-sized as well.

The Rabbit Ear Chair comes in six different colors and can be purchased from this site. The price varies from 30,000 yen (roughly $335,-) to 33,000 yen depending on the color.

This year the chairs were also displayed at the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion in London.

Via Hypebeast

Wardrobe Made Simple by Shmotter.com

Okay, it's almost time to start switching from our fall gear into our winter wear. Are you wondering whether those slouchy boots clash with that bag or if you can get away with wearing leggings under that dress? Before you shell out a small fortune making potential fashion faux pas, mayhaps you should pay a visit to Shmotter.com.

A new web startup, Shmotter is your own personal lookbook. Populated with clothes and accessories from a large selection of retailers, the site allows fashion mavens to put a look together without the hassle of running from store to store like a mad woman. Just select the piece of clothing or fashion accoutrement you want to sort through using the available tab to select from tops, dresses, bags, etc.

When you've find the piece you're looking for simply drag it over to the left side of the screen to add to part of your look and rinse, wash, and repeat until you've created your look. And since sometimes you really need a second opinion, you can save your outfit to your profile and have the Shmotter community vote on your wardrobe to determine whether it's a fashion hit or miss. (The outfit that you're viewing in the pic is one I put together. I call it Dark and Stormy. Thoughts?)

How to find a Christmas tree farm near you? Google Maps

Another innovative use for Google Maps: how to find a Christmas tree farm near you. Just plug "Christmas tree farms" plus your Zip code into the Google Maps search box, and there they are. Round up the kids, climb into the SUV or pickup, and get chopping.

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, how lovely are thy branches, but where art thou?

Now you know.

Thanks for the seasonal tip to Wendy Boswell, About.com's Queen of Search.

Greenhouse's New Camera Puts Ladies First

Japanese electronics company Greenhouse recently unveiled a camcorder designed with the ladies in mind. The GHV-DV30HDLXW/P comes with 128MB of internal memory that can be expanded to 32GB with a SD/SDHC memory card. It also features ports for miniHDMI and USB. The camera also has a 3-inch TFT LCD screen and can record video at 30fps in 1,280×720 resolution.

The device is currently a Japan only product, but if you're interested in importing one, it's selling for $190. As a result of the collaboration between Greenhouse and fashion brand GAUDI (ah, so many jokes, so little time) the camera is available in pink and white. A matching bag comes with the camera to complete the ensemble.

I'm personally not a fan of pink tech on principle, but I wouldn't mind owning the white version. What are your thoughts on these cameras and pink tech?

Via CrunchGear

Flare Dress Has Techie Flair

After the gorgeous Galaxy Dress, I've been keeping my eyes open for more awesomely fabulous fashionable tech. Lo and behold, there's the Flare Dress from Dutch designer Stijn Ossevoort. The dress in itself is lovely, a light and breezy number perfect for a spring day. What makes this frock a talking point is the dandelion detailing.

When a breeze hits the dress, the dandelions come to life, glowing in all their gentle LED glory. That's right the Flair dress is a wind-activated number that lights up in a pattern of lights when the wind or a human blows on it. A whimsical affair, I can't wait to see what other innovative designs will come from this talented designer.

Via Born Rich

T-Mobile introduces Nokia 3711 clamshell phone for the budget conscious

So who isn't budget conscious in these times? Well, excluding those lucky-buckies who raised their hands, the Nokia 3711 from T-Mobile suits the more uneasy wallets to the T. By just retaining the basic functionalities - QVGA screen, 2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, FM radio and microSD memory slot in a neat clamshell. Though T-Mobile’s AWS 3G comes included, features such as GPS, picture-messaging and email may cost you more than what's on the deal offered. Which happens to be a really affordable $69.99 on a basic Even More plan. Or for the more optimistic is the alternative Even More Plus plan at $159.99.

Via Newlaunches.

Holiday card snailmailed for free from Google

A free holiday postcard, and snailmailed free too! We keep reading that Google has more money than it knows what to do with, and here's further evidence. Not that I'm complaining.

So, go here, write your 255-character message, add the recipient's address, pick out your card from a selection of six, and Google says it will do the rest: stamp it, snailmail it, the whole deal. Thanks, Google.

Limit 1, US only, no naughty content. Google says the supply is not endless despite its riches, so better not tarry. If you want to send more than one--a couple of the designs are particularly nice--you can download and print Google holiday cards and mail them yourself.

Why won't new technologies translate?

Why do personal technologies that take off in Asia fail in the US? One reason may be commuting differences.

People in both locales have long commutes. But Asians tend to do their commuting via public transport. That's conducive to silent button-pushing and steady focus on learning the complexities of, say, a new mobile phone.

In the US, folks stick doggedly to car commutes. In a car, steady yakking may be OK. But visual distractions and concentration on something other than traffic is dangerous. Hence all the recent alarm over texting while driving.

Which means, according to Bill Moggridge, founder of the design consulting firm IDEO, that even the spiffiest new technology may not translate.

Thanks to Erica Naone, blogging at EmTech09.

Serio glass loudspeakers from Waterfall Audio can blend into a bookshelf or a wall

Good-looking, minimalist speakers made exclusively from glass and aluminium, and carrying versatile placement options - summarizes the latest Serio speakers released by Waterfall Audio.

Waterfall quotes a 150Watt peak power, with 30-80Watts recommended amplifier for the 2.25 Lbs (each) Serio speakers which can apparently deliver exceptional sound quality thanks to their patented "Acoustic Damping Tube" system.The speakers are compatible with both Hi-Fi and AV applications and use a patented heat dissipation technique which can effectively withstand and handle high power levels - thereby giving the option to place the speakers even within the frugal space granted on your bookshelf. But ofcourse, other placement options are available too - hang them on a wall, or just place them on a convenient stand and they are good to go.

All said, figure if you can really afford the £179 (around $300) price tag that each unit carries. Then, take your pick from plain black, white and silver or the fashionistas in orange and green (all with matching grills).

Via Shiny Shiny.

How to be a planetary scientist--and a Martian too. For free.

Want to live on Mars and even study it as a scientist? Then move to this amazing new Web site

Drawing on observations from the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Mars missions, the "Be a Martian" Web site is designed to help the public to participate as citizen scientists to improve Martian maps, take part in research tasks, and assist Mars science teams studying data about the Red Planet, according to NASA. The site was put together by NASA and Microsoft and is just opened.

Among the possibilities, NASA says, participants will be able to explore details of the solar system's grandest canyon, which resides on Mars. Users can call up images in the Valles Marineris canyon before moving on to chart the entire Red Planet. The collaboration of thousands of participants could assist scientists in producing far better maps, smoother zoom-in views, and make for easier interpretation of Martian surface changes, the agency says.

By counting craters, the public also may help scientists determine the relative ages of small regions on Mars. In the past, counting Martian craters has posed a challenge because of the vast numbers involved. By contributing, Web site users will win game points assigned to a robotic animal avatar they select.

And if you're a software developer, you can win prizes for creating tools that provide access to and analysis of hundreds of thousands of Mars images for online, classroom and Mars mission team use.

It's not clear to me whether doing this stuff will actually help NASA out--although in these parsimonious days, who knows, maybe your contributions will actually count. And even if they don't count, this site is just incredibly cool.

PS3 Goes "Slim", Announces Price Drop

Since the start of the next-gen wars, Sony has taken a consistent trouncing from Nintendo and Microsoft, sinking wistfully sinking into the mire of third best selling console. But from the announcements made at GamesCom in Germany, It's seems that Sony isn't ready to throw i the towel, in fact it looks they're ready to come out swinging this holiday season.

Sony just unveiled a smaller, sexier PlayStation 3 dubbed the PS3 slim. The Slim cuts the fat in some substantial ways. It's 36% lighter, 32% smaller and uses 34% less power than the standard PS3. But where it loss the extra weight it gained some serious muscle in the form of a 120 HDD. For a mere $300, gamers can get their hands on the Slim on September 1st, with stores like K-Mart and Sears.

In anticipation of the new arrival, Sony has dropped the prices on all existing PS3, but it seems kind of crazy to shell out $300 on a 80GB unit when you have a better version retailing at the same price in a few weeks. The question still remains, will this be enough to turn Sony's fortune around?

Nokia E71x Smartphone

This recent update to the popular E71 rings in (pun intended) as the thinnest smartphone available. Featuring a slim, sleek, ergonomic design packed with advanced features, it's got beauty and brains all in one!

The E71x, exclusive to AT&T, is perfect for the busy executive, socialite, or about-towner that wants powerful e-mail, contact, calendar, and multimedia features with the utility of a full keyboard but without the bulk or less-than-sexy lines of most smartphones. It's the perfect non-BlackBerry.

The endless list of features includes: Symbian S60 3rd Edition FP2; 2.4" QVGA display with excellent readability / light sensor control; stellar battery life (13 days of standby and 5 hours of talk time); 3.2 MP still / video camera with flash; full media player functionality; Navi-key with kinda-creepy-but-ultimately-very-cool glowing status light that 'beats' like a heart; handles up to 8GB microSD cards giving you lots of storage capacity for music, photos, and video; also includes Wi-Fi, voice-guided GPS, Quickoffice for working on-the-go, and, of course, HSDPA and Java-enabled browser to make internet surfing zippy.

The E71x is a power executive hiding inside a little black dress, and it's price is hard to beat – just $99.99 with a two year contract on AT&T.

Terracycle makes eco-friendly speakers from orphaned snack bags

Someone apparently doesn't believe in the word "waste". And you bet they are bound to have a few creative genes when they can defy such a powerful word. Well, apparently such creative genes must total much more than one can imagine, for these geniuses from TerraCycle have created the most unique products in their effort to turn waste into something useful.

The company, founded by Tom Szaky, collects waste from groups across the country and turns it into over 100 useful products, in addition to donating money to charities for each "waste" item that it receives. Consider the Frito-Lay Speakers, for example. These funky speakers are made from discarded chip bags. And they are functional. They are foldable speakers that don't require batteries and plug into your mp3 or other portable audio player with a 3.5 mm universal plug. TerraCycle sells them online at $19.99.

So the next time you toss out that used chip bag, think new and send it to over to these sensible folks at TerraCycle - you would have earned $.02 for a non-profit organization or school of your choice, plus the right to brag that you helped create the world's cleanest speakers.

Via Crave.