Cool toys and Gadgets

Here is a great use for an empty soda can. Just be careful of those extremely sharp edges when working with any thin metal, especially aluminum.

Soft drink cans are easily recyclable as scrap metal, but I fancied trying something a little more direct - a simplified form of tinwork.

All that's needed for this project is a strong pair of scissors, a cork-backed table mat, a pointed object (a scriber or just a ballpoint pen), a little bit of tape and some fine abrasive paper. Plus of course an empty aluminium drink can.....

More about How-to: Tin box made from a can [Vintage Glam]

Now this is just plain strange. Apparently the latest Apple MacBook line is showing off some seriously unusual behavior. In fact, the entire system gets bogged down when the battery is removed. How’s that for strange?

It seems these new unibody systems cut back on the processor performance whenever relying on AC power alone. The idea behind this is doing so will protect the system in case a shutdown occurs when the user does not want it to when, let’s say, the notebook is trying to pull too much power from an outlet.

And if this were just a small performance dip, it would be no big deal. However, it drops the system down to 63% of its supposed performance. This is definitely not good. If the battery dies, then what? Your computer will always run at 40% the capacity it’s supposed to? Correct me if I’m wrong, but this is big, right?

Relevant Entries on SlashGear

• Rumor : Slim Aluminum MacBooks Coming Soon?
• New MacBooks get speed bump in more than just the processor
• Mtron SSD’s Reach Record Speeds
• Apple upgrades MacBooks and adds 2.6Ghz CPU option for MacBook Pros
• Apple Announces Core 2 Duo MacBooks

Mac computers are gaining popularity all of the time. it hasn’t been too long since Apple announced the newly updated aluminum clad MacBook and MacBook Pro computers. If you dropped the coin needed to grab yourself one of these sexy new notebooks, you probably want to be sure it stays scratch free and protect it from drops.

Speck offers up a new case for the aluminum 13-inch MacBook and 15-inch MacBook Pro that uses a hard shell design for extra protection. The case uses what Speck calls a soft touch See Thru Sating design. The exterior of the case is translucent allowing you to see the Apple logo and some of the case though the protective covering.

In addition to being see thru, the case also has a soft touch rubberized feel that looks cool and offers additional grip to help prevent drops. At launch, the case is available in black, purple, and red colors. Additional colors will be offered in January. The case is available now for $49.95.

Speck

We, at CellphoneBeat, are big fans of concept phones and recently, we introduced you to the Best concept phones of 2008. Hardly a day passes when we don’t hear of a new concept phone. Some of them are conceptualized with the stunning form factor, while some are thought of as high-end multimedia phones. The recent trend has made it clear that designers and mobile phone makers have now turned their attention to the very familiar buzzword – Green. With the passage of time, we are coming across more and more eco-friendly concept phones. Let’s take a look at the Top 12 Green Concept Phones spotted till date.

(more...)

Remember the $99 cable Apple require you to buy if you ever want to use a new MacBook or MacBook Pro with your existing 30-inch Cinema Display?  Scheduled to ship 4-5 weeks after the new unibody aluminum laptops themselves, it was tough for people to decide whether to be most annoyed by the cost, the necessity or the ugliness of the solution.  Now Apple have added a fourth possibility: huge delays.  Those who pre-ordered the Mini DisplayLink to Dual-Link DVI cable have just been contacted to tell them that their adapters won’t be delivered until December 23rd.

That’s in excess of two months after the MacBook and MacBook Pro began shipping.  The letter from Apple does not explain the reason for the late arrival, aside from calling it “an unexpected delay” and thanking customers for their patience.  Alternatively the order can be cancelled, leaving the Cinema Display and the laptop forever parted (or at least until a third-party begins to make their own version of the adapter).

It’s a small issue, probably affecting a minority of people, but it’s an example of Apple dropping the ball with their shipping schedules.  I’m curious as to how many people have preorded the adapter?  Are you waiting to use your Cinema Display with your new MacBook?  Let me know in the comments.

Relevant Entries on SlashGear

• Apple new MacBook & MacBook Pro HDCP frustrating iTunes users
• Apple Mac mini getting Mini DisplayPort, SATA and RAM bump claims expert
• Apple 30-inch Cinema Display needs $99 cable to play with new MacBooks
• Apple dismiss iMac, Mac mini update rumors: ‘Holiday line-up is set’
• Mac mini gets a processor upgrade, is not being killed off

VIA Technologies announced today the new VIA VIPRO VP7710 touch-screen panel PC – a full featured fanless PC panel system designed for industrial and commercial applications. The VIPRO VP7710 comes with a 10.4 inch TFT LCD and resistive touch-screen display housed in a heavy steel and aluminum chassis providing shock and vibration protection.

Key features and specs to the VIPRO VP7710 include the following:

• Fanless and ultra-low power consumption
• Built-in VIA Eden ULV 1.6 GHz or C7 1.0GHz processor
• 10.4 inch 800 x 600 TFT LCD panel with touch-screen
• IP65 front panel compliant against water and dust
• Integrated VIA UniChrome Proll 3D/2D AGP graphics with MPEG2/4 and WMV9 video decoding acceleration
• Gigabit Ethernet and optional Wi-Fi
• Two USB 2.0 ports, three COM ports, external VGA port
• Internal CF sock and 2.5 inch internal HDD drive bay
• VIA CX700M2 all-in-one system processor
• Up to 1GB DDR2 memory
• Measures 11.82″ x 8.1″ x 2.17” and weighs 7.9 lbs

No word on pricing but VIA states that the VIA VIPRO is available now to system developers. You can read more in their press release or product information page.

Technorati Tags: VIA Technologies, VIPRO VP7710 fanless touch-screen panel PC

A review of How to Build With Grid Beam @ The Citizen Scientist. Sheldon writes-

How to Build With Grid Beam is a guide to a clever and flexible system of construction for a wide range of home-built projects, from storage units to work spaces to furniture, vehicles, and structures. The system relies on the use of “sticks” or beams of square tube steel or aluminum or wood with holes placed at regular intervals along the length of each stick. Using lag bolts or other fasteners, these sticks can be assembled quickly and easily into structures that are quite robust and easily adapted and reconfigured. And when you are finished with a project, you simply disassemble the project and use the components for something else. By using adapters and add-ons, most of which can be found in hardware stores, industrial supply houses, or fabricated in even a modestly-equipped shop, the system can be expanded to encompass a staggering array of applications.

Artist John Knott, aka Bent Fabrication, created this baby carriage out of hand-shaped aluminum panels and antique baby stroller parts. You definitely would NOT want to leave baby inside this thing on a hot day.

The Pramulator [via Finkbuilt]

Section: Computers, Mobile Computers, Laptops

HP has officially unveiled the Mini 1000 netbook, which serves as a follow up to the Mini-Note 2133.  And a nice follow up it seems to be, based on the specs and available options for the Mini 1000 it seems HP has taken some of the disappointing factors from their original 2133 netbook and made some notable improvements.

To begin with, the Mini 1000 will eventually be available in three models: you have the Windows XP based model that will start at $399, the Ubuntu-based Mobile Internet Experience ("MIE") model that will start at $379, and the limited edition Vivian Tam model which will start at $699.  As of now, the Windows XP model is available for purchase, while the MIE model is expected in early January.  The limited edition Vivian Tam model will be available “in time for the holidays.”

The Mini 1000 features a plastic outer shell as opposed to the aluminum casing found on the 2133, which may make it slightly less durable, but should also save some weight.  The Mini 1000 weighs in at a nice lightweight 2.25 pounds.

Otherwise a few of the other big changes will be found with the display, the Mini 1000 will be available with either an 8.9 or 10-inch display.  The 10-inch option is a nice addition, however the display resolution is now 1024 x 600 as opposed to the 1280 x 768 found on the 2133.  The 1024 x 600 is pretty standard with netbooks, but as someone who has used the 2133 pretty regularly, the 1280 x 768 will be missed, especially on the 10-inch model.  The display for both sizes will be LED backlit and made of flush glass.

Another change found in the Mini 1000 will be in the processor, gone is the VIA processor, and as you can most likely guess, HP has decided to use the more netbook-familiar Intel Atom processor, which clocks in at 1.6GHz.

The Mini 1000 comes standard with 512MB of RAM, with an option to upgrade to 1GB in the Windows XP model and 2GB in the Mobile Internet Experience model.  As for storage, you will have the option of either an 8GB SSD, 16GB SSD, or 4200RPM 60GB hard drive.  Additionally you can also add some secondary storage which includes either a 2, 4 or 8GB “HP Mini Mobile Drive.” The HP Mini Mobile Drive is a removable USB drive that sits flush in the netbook.

The Mini 1000 also features an SD card reader, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, built-in webcam, Ethernet, two USB ports and the option to add Bluetooth.  Unfortunately the VGA out seems to have been left off.  Initially, the Mini 1000 will be shipping only with a 3-cell battery, however the 6-cell is expected to come as an option beginning in January.

Finally, and perhaps one of the most important features of the netbook—the keyboard.  HP has retained the very nice keyboard found in the original Mini-Note 2133, which means it is a nearly full size (92 percent) keyboard with a nice protective coating finish.

Product [HP Mini 1000]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Section: Computers, Mobile Computers, Laptops

“The time to experience the most shocking realism in gaming is NOW!” Yes, that’s how MSI wants us to experience with their new gaming notebook dubbed the GX730. 

Its display alone via a 17-inch LCD monitor coupled with an ATi Mobility Radeon HD 3650 graphic card already sends a signal that the GX730 is out to conquer the gaming notebook market.  The GX730 also features multimedia functionality with a Dolby Theater Class 5 speaker system.

But what makes this gaming notebook special is its one touch CPU speed boosting functionality via a “turbo button.” This was made possible by a “Turbo Drive Engine Technology” that MSI embedded on the GX730 and its AMD Turion X2 Ultra Dual-Core Mobile Processor. 

On the aesthetic side, the MSI GX730 sports your typical flame design common among MSI G-series gaming notebooks.  In addition to this design, the GX730 features an aluminum base for its exterior which gives it a sense of fashion and makes the notebook a delight to carry around where ever you go.

Other notable features of the MSI GX730 include a HDMI out, E-SATA support, a built-in 2.0 megapixel web camera, WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, and a touch sensor that lets you change power settings to preserve battery.

From its specs alone, the MSI GX730 will probably makes a lot of gamers excited.  Sadly, though there is no word on its release date or pricing. 

Read [MSI News]

Full Story » | Written by Arnold Zafra for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »