Electric bikes are not new, but the Thunderbolt Scooter Concept by Henrik Björkman is definitely worth a second take. The technology inside isn’t new, but the main focus is on its design. The Thunderbolt Electric Scooter uses an electro-magnetic power train that is carefully contained in the rear wheel itself, while the lack of a petrol tank provides enough storage real estate to hold a fair bit of picnic material. A 3-hour charge for the Thunderbolt Scooter is said to provide up to 70km of travel, making this the dream metropolis vehicle. When will it roll out of a manufacturing plant? Keep your fingers crossed and hope an angel investor will actually pick this idea up and turn it into a money-spinning business.

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Posted Feb 26th 2008 2:22AM by Nilay Patel
Filed under: Misc. gadgets
We’ve seen quite a few efforts to use gardens and terrariums in cities to order to bring down overall CO2 emissions and reduce temperatures, but Tokyo’s earthquake-prone location means that structures there have to meet strict load requirements — so a company called Suntory Ltd., has developed a synthetic dirt substitute called Pafcal it says weighs less than half as much as real soil. The fake dirt, which is made of urethane, can reduce the internal temperature of a building with a roof garden up to 10 degrees Celsius (18 degrees Fahrenheit). Of course, there’s considerable irony in trying to save the planet by covering concrete buildings in fake plastic dirt, but then again, such a solution is about as Japanese as it gets, no?

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Just like SD and its improved format, the SDHC, CompactFlash fans have something to cheer about with the new and improved CFast CompactFlash card standard developed by the CompactFlash Association. Word on the street has it that these new cards ought to make an appearance from 18 months to two years’ time, and all parties involved will soon begin to flesh out prototype samples once the specifications are finalized. The use of an SATA interface is the cards’ biggest advantage, offering a superior transfer speed of up to 375MB/sec in theory. Better put aside some extra dough to not only get the new CFast CompactFlash cards, but a compatible memory card reader and camera as well.

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Loewe, the luxury TV makers, have brought a new piece of hi-tech kit to the UK market. The new ‘Connect TV’ line comes with 1080p HD, a 160GB PVR and built-in Wi-Fi so that you can stream videos, music and other content from PCs and media boxes.

The device also has an Ethernet and USB connection, so peripherals can be added and networking configured. It promises a new dimension to watching TV as your whole collection can be played at the touch of a button, on a 32-inch, 37-inch or 42-inch screen. All of this technology doesn’t come cheap, with the prices starting at £1,949 (about $3,900) in the UK.

Via [Gizmodo]

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USB Calculator Keypad Mouse Combo

The ultimate solution for mobile professionals - maximize productivity with this three-in-one combination of a calculator, a USB mouse, and a numeric keypad - all in one unit!Great for spreadsheets and business applications, use the calculator for quick calculations and send the result to your document, or use as a conventional keypad with your spreadsheet document. Optical USB MouseIntegrated 12 digits calculator. USB Numeric Keybpad Compatible with Windows 98/98seMe/XP/2000/Mac 

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Unfortunately, the adjective used here is not in a positive manner. Samsung’s P10 is hot - so hot that its battery actually burnt a bed and charred the floor a wee bit, although thankfully no lives were lost or harmed during the ordeal. Apparently, the P10’s battery decided to perform a Guy Fawkes performance after being rested on a pillow for three and a half hours. No idea on the battery’s producer, but does anyone dare say it is not Sony? Well I think I’ll stop using my notebook on my lap anymore - can’t really afford to get those family jewels toasted as I’ll need to pass on the family name.

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Dubbing and duplicating has just gotten extremely easy with the new DX-20A4PU that comes with dub and files buttons. Opening the drive automatically starts the burning software. All you have to do is press the dub button, insert a blank CD/DVD and you’re all set. The burner does DVD±R in 20x, DVD-RAM in 12x, and DVD±DL in 8x. No idea on pricing, all I can say is this is a DVD burner that can make anyone look smart.
[Source]

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Photo: midnightcomm/Flickr

Sunnyvale startup Wirama announced that they’ve finished the most precise RFID reader available yet, with the ability to locate passive RFID tags to within 6 inches (through the EPC Class 1 Gen 2 standard).  Up to now, only the most expensive RFID readers could locate a precise passive tag at that accuracy and used (wasteful) batteries for power. This means that the ability to track inventory through an RFID system will soon lower the entry costs into the tech, likely replacing barcodes, and may allow small businesses to save cash by keeping precise, real-time track of their wares.

As long as it doesn’t lead to a crunchy, RFID-filled strawberry that will stick to the insides of my stomach, remotely track my whereabouts throughout the world, and lead to a vast history bank sorting my directional choices like a lab rat, it seems like a cool breakthrough.

At the moment, the reading range of the software algorithm within RFID tags is about 15 feet, long enough for your own version of Michael Scott to read your emails and know when you’re going to the bathroom too much. 

A couple of months ago, Rob Beschizza talked about the use of short-range-capable RFID badges to track attendees at CES 2008 and decided he was fine with it.

Source: Wirama

Photo (right):  Chaparral [Kendra]/Flickr

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Apple is now allowing anyone to recycle their no-longer-used mobile phone for free. Simply bring your mobile phone into any Apple retail location or complete the process online and ship the phone in. The phone recycling program will allow any brand phone to be turned in with no charge to the person, Apple will even pay the shipping costs for those being mailed in.

In addition to phone recycling, Apple will also accept any iPod for recycling. The ipod program is also free free, similar to the setup for the mobile phones. There is a program for CPU recycling, but in order to have your old computer or monitor recycled you have to purchase a new computer or monitor from Apple.

Via [textually.org]

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Nokia’s Morph concept phone offers an image of the future. It is a future where, despite nanotechnology being so advanced we can fabricate integrated circuits, displays and physical interfaces that are able reconfigure themselves in a dynamic freeform substrate, we are still making phone calls. Here are 7 alternative uses for a form so advanced it makes its own function seem comically obsolete.

Breaking into your own house

Locked out? The Morph proves more than a match for basic home defenses. Slide it between the door and jamb to wedge open an angled bolt. Use its finely honed edge to remove putty from around windows without breaking them, or simply cut a hole in the glass through which to enter. And if anyone challenges you, you can decapitate them with a flick of the wrist.

Defending oneself from ninja attack
Fend off hordes of agents sent by the evil merchant Echigoya to kidnap the noble Lord’s daughter! Prevent neighbors from stealing the newspaper! Kill squirrels! With its blade-edged design possibilities and aerodynamic form, the Morph is the equal of even the finest steel in a shuriken battle.

Chopping onions
When cooking up a bolognese sauce, the limitations of traditional cellphones become readily apparent. Even ultrathin models like the Samsung Upstage and Motorola RAZR make poor culinary implements. With the Morph, Nokia changes the game.

Removing snow and ice from cars
Obviating the need for an expensive dedicated ice and snow scraper, the Morph’s keen edge cuts through even the most inclement weather: It is the phone of tomorrow for residents of Buffalo. It may also be duct taped to a pole and used to remove sticky detritus from high windows, or as a jousting lance.

Opening bottles
That Nokia thoughtfully provided a bottle opener demonstrates the doughty Finns’ commonsense approach to even the most advanced designs. After disposing of the ninjas and onions, polish off a Coors to relax. Did I say Coors? I meant Penn Dark.

A Magic: The Gathering card
It’s tiny, it depicts something fantastical, and is based on the notion of selling something vaguely worthless with an extravagant markup. The difference between a Nokia concept phone and a collect-em-all card game card is as immaterial as its chances of existing within the next 20 years.

Kinky shackles
In American’s eco-friendly Aquarian future, leather will be the sole province of meat-transgressive throwbacks. Pleather, as a petrochemical derivative, will be an expensive luxury. PVC will have been revealed as the worst carcinogen since AM radio waves (banned by the Franken-Nader administration of 2016). They’ll have to make bondage gear from something, and nanotech will have to do. And it’s green, the sexiest color since red.

Special bonus job
Saving the Earth. Duh!

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