The outgoing Linux Australia group president of a Web application development company called Internet Vision Technologies has a technologically pimped out home, in which just about anything from watering the lawn, to opening his blinds, or checking the mail can be controlled through a software environment. Jonathan Oxer is an electronics and coding whiz who apparently has an RIFD tag implanted in his arm that opens his front door and his front gate is hooked up with gigabit Ethernet...
Changing the lighting in your home isn't as easy as it may seem, especially when you buy that new massage chair beside the TV. You may need to move the lights all the way around the room or the house for that matter. In any case, since the wiring has to be embedded beneath the surface of the wall and the wall has to be plastered over and repapered or painted. Change your mind about where the light fixture...
The ultimate gizmo to repel an attack isn't one that can destroy the opponent but rather make him immobile yet be left alive. For riots and chaotic situations, police often use tasers, rubber bullets and pepper spray to try and control the crowd. But there could soon be a new weapon in their arsenal: a hi-tech flashlight with a big punch. Nausea and a feeling of disorientation soon follow. The device is called the "LED Incapacitator." Intelligent Optical Systems...
I was totally overwhelmed by the concept of Feng Shui when I visited Hong Kong last year. I was amazed to see how big business houses and financial institutions employed grand masters to work with their architects when they built their offices. The mysticism associated with such practices may seem trivial to us, but it holds an important place in the East. In Feng Shui importance is given to the placement and arrangement of space so as to achieve...
Having the latest home security system isn't enough to stop determined thieves; you have to have something that will repulse their instincts. Something even Bond wouldn't want to experience. Inferno is a "sonic barrier," a long metallic speakerbar that generates a sound made of four frequencies between 2 and 5 kilohertz. The sound itself is 125dB, which is the typical sound made by an alarm. Extreme reactions that this sound will cause if you are exposed to it for...
Texas Instruments had the honor of showing a white-label phone operating on Android with working internet. Finally the first mobile phone operating on this platform is shown to the public. Android as an operating system will end up in the same section as where the Symbian and Windows Mobile systems are. We think, there is not much news in comparison with other platforms, but it could be the software developers that are working on the software for Android will...
Skuku is the first soft phone roaming solution independent of and unrelated to any cellular operator. EIM Telecom has introduced it. The solution combines GSM technology with the Internet and allows you to make VoIP and IM calls via the Internet and PC. It works this way; the Skuku stick (a USB device) turns a PC into a mobile phone once a SIM-card is inserted. So essentially you pay only the local airtime charges when making and receiving calls...
Panasonic is gearing up to intro new stuff at the NAB show this April and as a prelude, it's gone ahead and announced the AG-HMC150, an AVCHD SD card-based camcorder. Panasonic has also announced the reasonably priced pro HD options, which includes the HDV-based AG-HVX200. Besides borrowing the older, standard def AG-DVX100's design factor, the HMC150 will slot in a trio of new 1/3-inch CCDs with native 16:9 aspect ratios, and support all the various 1080 and 720 progressive...
With terrifying tales told over the net finally a messiah is coming to our rescue. Most of here at Newlaunches have a Wii and know of the dangers of smashing the TV with the Wiimote. In spite of constant reminders and checks, someone always manages to chuck the Wiimote out of the hand! The last time my son let slip the Wiimote, he broke a China Vase (replica) instead. Thankfully Panasonic is coming out with a Wii-proof TV. Since...
The only reason I am writing about the USB Traffic Light is because it is so lame. Even the features are so lame…get this, the thingie actually tells (rather indicates) whether you are Busy, Out To Lunch or Available! Damn! And I thought that if the boss had a look at my work-area he would know that I am away for lunch. Also my secretary will need to check with the indicator to see if I'm busy!...
Many dispute that the ROKR brand of Motorola is not so hot. In fact many believe that ROKR's brief stint with iTunes and reworked design attempts did not help either. But with the ROKR E8, it looks like that the tide is about to turn. Apparently it hosts 2GB of internal memory, A2DP and 3.5mm audio port, full HTML browser, "Real Audio (RA) v10 Microsoft music ecosystem" and of course the extremely unique keypad. The E8 features Motorola's first...
LG strutted its booty at the London Fashion Week, and showcased the new LCD range. The lineup includes LG6000 and PG6000 series. The flagship LG6000 is the HD ready 1080p with a slim silhouette and a unique red-colored back while a round LED light orifice gives the set a "soft red pulsating glow". The plasma PG6000 features a slim, frameless design whose single-layer design replicates a pane of glass creating a sleek, sophisticated look. The traditional speaker drivers and...
No, this is not a confectionary site, but since we love Japan and their innovative methods of introducing tech-stuff into everyday things like chocolates, we are covering this one. In this new chocolate twist, there is a net connection involved, some serious binging and of course good (or bad) fortune. Kit Kat Japan has turned the transient snack into an online game that keeps your interest - long after the candy is gone! With their new Kit Kat Lucky...
From Sony Japan comes the SRS-BT100 Bluetooth speaker, it supports Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP and includes support for EDR which makes the connection with the source more stable. Continuing its support for anti piracy the speaker corresponds to SCMS-T copyright system. The SRS-BT100 has a built in digital amplifier and delivers an output of 30 watts. Also included is a stereo mini jack for connecting non Bluetooth devices. The speaker goes on sale in Japan from March 10 for...
Piracy is an ugly word in the legit world, but we don't comprehend its repercussion till it bites us. Nintendo has cope with losses up to $975m worldwide (2007) all thanks to piracy. Nintendo's recent filing with the US Trade Representative state that the fame of the Wii and DS makes Nintendo an "attractive target" for piracy. With "proposed solutions and regulations", Nintendo plans to hit back at the counterfeiters. Way to go Nintendo, because that's a lot of...
