Mercedes-Benz to build SLR roadster and more
 WhatCar Magazine is reporting that DaimlerChrysler chairman Dieter Zetsche says Mercedes is investigating the feasibility of small production runs of SLR models with different body styles, possibly including a roadster. Zetsche hinted that production runs of 50 to 100 specialized variants of the SLR could be forthcoming from partner McLaren's Techology Center production line. WhatCar believes the SLR variants would be in addition to the rumored new McLaren road car, thought to be positioned lower on the supercar scale, opposite Ferrari's F430. Read more..!
Samsung's Q1 ultramobile PC & UI
 Samsung's Q1, called an ultramobile PC, or Origami, whatever, it's a 779g (1.7 pound) 9 x 5.5 x 1-inch mini-tablet with a 7-inch touchscreen LCD, Celeron M ULV processor, 40GB drive, 512MB RAM, 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.0, GPS and DMB options (of course), and Windows XP Tablet with Touch Pack. We still don't yet know a price or expected release on this.
According to CeBIT News, the Origami will include a circular virtual keyboard as part of its user interface. The Origami Touch Pack Interface, as the virtual keyboard will be known, is designed for thumb-typing, and is sure to guarantee tons of fingerprints on your Origami display. CeBIT News also confirms that a range of external peripherals will be available for the Samsung Q1, including a GPS unit, DMB TV tuner (which will be internal for units sold in Korea), Bluetooth keyboard and DVD drive. CeBIT News also says that you'll be able to rip DVDs to the hard drive, though we assume that this doesn't include CSS-protected movies.
Read more..!
Animated LED Pac-Man bicycle wheels
 Using LEDs and a "persistence of vision" technique, ladyada has created an animated Pac-Man scene on the spokes of her bicycle. She directs us to her tutorial for SpokePOV, an "easy-to-make electronic kit toy that turns your bicycle wheel into a customized display." Using a free schematic, some open source software, and a kit that goes for about $37.50, you can make your own custom bicycle light show. Read more..!
Charming Kitty Fujifilm Pivi Camera Phone Printer
 The Charming Kitty Fujifilm Pivi Camera Phone Printer, which features the favorite little kitty in her new "come hither" pose, that was designed for slapping her likeness onto items. The $159 printer itself is nothing to write home about, allowing you to turn your cameraphone shots into Polaroid-like pics through IrDA transfer. Read more..!
Know Where jacket phones home with GPS data
 The Know Where jacket from Germany's Interactive Wear has an integrated GPS unit that can phone home with realtime tracking data. The point of including the epaulet-based GPS unit in the jacket is either to allow an employer or parent to track the jacket's wearer without forcing them to carry a separate GPS device. Read more..!
Gerald Genta Octo Black Spirit Tourbillon
 Gerald Genta, part of the Bulgari Group, will be debuting this unique watch the Octo Black Spirit Tourbillon, which has a platinum octagon-shaped case with double sapphire crystals. The case measures 42.5mm has a tantalum bezel and the crown features a cabochon sapphire. The 18K white gold dial is embellished with a dramatic geometric configuration of 22 black sapphires and 14 rubies.The automatic movement is exclusive for Gerald Genta by Bulgari, caliber GG99051 with 54 jewels, a sapphire tourbillon bridge and a power reserve of 64 hours. The watch is also available in rose gold. Read more..!
Salvatore Ferragamo Gancio Anaconda Continental Wallet
 Salvatore Ferragamo Gancio Anaconda Continental Wallet could easily be worn as a clutch. Made of anaconda, the color scheme is highlighted even more so by the golden Gancini lock closure. Unfortuantely, the interior is more functional as a wallet than a clutch, as it fits credit cards and money. There is no space for lip gloss. But if you can handle the evening without the other necessities, this would be an elegant clutch. Price: $495. Read more..!
Drakedog's deletion on Google Video
You probably didn't know Drakedog. You never will, as he was stripped naked and killed by his meatspace doppleganger user earlier this year in a fit of nihilistic rage. I watched this video with a mix of horror and envy. Horror as loot that took hundreds of hours to accumulate was destroyed in a few mouseclicks. Envy that only a former MMOG addict can feel as he watches a fellow addict come clean, permanently. The video reminded me of a certain quote from Trainspotting, which I'll paste here, three words strategically replaced: "The down side of coming off WoW was that I knew I would need to mix with my friends again in a state of full consciousness. It was awful: they reminded me so much of myself I could hardly bear to look at them. Take Drakedog, for instance, he came off WoW at the same time as me, not because he wanted too, you understand, but just to annoy me, just to show me how easily he could do it, thereby downgrading my own struggle." Drakedog also made a string of less spectacular PVP videos. Here's one. Here's another. Read more..!
Picking a font for your Web 2.0 logo
 Logos of Web 2.0 at Stephen Coles' FontFeed blog has dissected a few dozen Web 2.0 logos that you might recognize from this image that's been floating around and picked out some font trends. If you need a logo for your newest start-up, it's veritable guide to making a modern web site logo. VAG Rundschrift and Arial Rounded Bold are particularly popular in the "softies" category, but Coles has you covered if you're looking for a futuristic or classical look instead. Read more..!
Peripheral is a magnifying glass?
 A new peripheral for the PSP has been released, and it's a magnifier no less. Providing 1.6 magnification, this thing makes you wonder about who felt compelled to create such a device when the PSP screen is already over four inches. However, to its credit, the price is a meager $8. Read more..!
 Pharos's new iGPS-500 was officially announced alongside Microsoft's big UMPC push at CeBIT as the GPS receiver to complement that mini tablet of yours. Basically it's a super tiny SiRFstar III-based modular GPS device that can connect either via Bluetooth (shown left), or SDIO / CF / PCMCIA adapter (right, sans PC card adapter, of course). What doesn't really come across here, however, is the size of this receiver. It's basically compared to like $1.25 worth of quarters stacked up. Expect to lay down $100 for a serial / USB version, and $200 for the Bluetooth version come April, when they're intending to ship. Read more..!
Samsung digital picture frame stores pics, movies, music
 Samsung is entering the digital picture frame market with a 7-inch, full-featured model that includes both local storage and networking capabilities. The frame has a 800x400 display, 32MB of internal memory, support for SD, CF and USB devices for memory expansion, and built-in Ethernet for networking. Formats supported include JPEG, MP3, and MPEG-4. According to Samsung, the frame -- which will debut in Korea before being rolled out worldwide -- will support internet-based photo sharing, though the company hasn't supplied details about what services will be supported. Unfortunately, the display doesn't currently support WiFi, so all connectivity has to be handled through a wired Ethernet connection. Read more..!
Fujitsu's PalmSecure reads your palm: outlook good
 If you're not yet satisfied with iris scanning, fingerprint reading, and voice recognition, it looks like Fujitsu's finally bringing a new smaller 35 x 35 x 17mm version of their palm-vein scanning PalmSecure biometrics system to a laptop near you. Read more..!
MapQuest releases open API
 Following Goolge and Yahoo!, MapQuest has released an open API that third-party developers can use to integrate mappingservices into their own web sites. The new "OpenAPI" supports most of what Google and Yahoo!'s APIs do, like push-pin markers and pop-up info boxes, with the addition of route-planning that competing APIs lack. For free users, OpenAPI has a limit of 50,000 maps and geocodes (combined) and 5,000 routes per day (compare to Google's 50,000 and Yahoo!'s no limit). To get an idea of what can be done with the API take a look at the sample mash-up, Mapzierge. You can also check out the OpenAPI developers' blog, and if you come up with something cool you should enter their Developers Challenge. Read more..!
Goowy adding web-based IM, file storage
 Goowy, a personalized homepage site whose main distinguishing feature until now has been its Flash-based interface, is planning to add some more compelling features soon, namely instant messaging and online file storage. According to TechCrunch's Michael Arrington the file storage feature will be through Box.net using its new API and include up to 1GB storage (with a crappy 5MB-per-file limit), and the IM component will work with all the major IM networks (a-la Meebo). Head over to TechCrunch for a screenshot of the new IM feature. Read more..!
 Just when you thought there weren't any further ways to craft a laptop form factor after the desktop replacement, widescreen, ultraportable, detachable screen, detachable tablet screen, tablet convertible, tablet, and ultramobile, then Intel goes and shows off the long necked Montavello 1 at IDF this week (and a whole lotta other devices, too). Read more..!
Siemens Gigaset M34 USB adapter for Yahoo! VoIP calls
 Siemens Gigaset C-class-and-above cordless phone owners who purchased their units after fall 2004 will soon have an option to use their formerly landline-only handsets for free and reduced-rate VoIP telephony as well. The Gigaset's new trick is achieved through the use of a USB adapter called the M34, which plugs into a PC and transfers packets with select Gigaset base units using the DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telephone) standard. Siemens has teamed up with Yahoo! to offer the search giant's Messenger w/ Voice service for use with the M34, which will allow Gigaset owners to enjoy Skype-like benefits and even listen to Internet radio right from their cordless handsets. The M34 USB adapter should be available in Q3 of this year, although no price has been announced as of yet. Read more..!
Nokia Wireless Audio Gateway AD-42W gets real
 Nokia is getting official about its Wireless Audio Gateway, a Bluetooth device designed to stream audio from any A2DP device to a set of speakers. The unit comes with standard RCA jacks, and can be connected to a home stereo or powered speakers. Nokia expects to ship the AD-42W during the second quarter of this year; pricing has yet to be announced. Read more..!
Laser-powered glider tested in Japan
 Developers at Japan's Kinki University have demonstrated the ability to use lasers as a source of power for a small airplane. The 30-inch glider, which had a 20-minute test flight around the Osaka Dome, used a battery to assist with take-off, and then switched to laser power, with a ground-based laser firing at the glider's photoelectric cells to keep it aloft. The developers envision using laser-powered gliders for automated applications, such as surveying areas hit by natural disasters. Read more..!
Dell's 2007WFP appears online
 After Dell introduced their mammoth 30-inch 3007WFP and upgraded their standard monitors, all that really looked left was for them to update their 20 and 24-inch flagship 2005FPW and 2405FPW monitors. Well, no word yet about the 2405FPW, but the new 2007WFP has officially appeared on their support site, and is sporting an 800:1 contrast ratio, 300 cd/m2 brightness, 16ms response time, and all the same ports we're accustomed to (four USB 2.0 port hub, VGA, DVI, S-video, composite, etc.). In fact, this monitor looks nary any better than its predecessor but for some marginal image improvements and an upgraded enclosure. Read more..!
Western Digital displays its soft side with MyBook
 Literally shaped like a fat tome, the new MyBook series of drive draws its design cues from "in-depth consumer research". These same consumers also must have told WD engineers that they want plug-and-play capability (no CDs required for install, check), easy-to-use file maintenance software and capacity indicators (also check), and finally, a heat dissipation system disguised as book page ends (checkmate). Drives that the whole family can agree on are available immediately, and range from $150 for the 160GB Essentials edition (USB 2.0) to $329 for the 500GB Premium version (Firewire 400). Read more..!
TomTom Buddies lets you track your friends on the road
 With TomTom's new Buddies feature, you can finally toss that CB radio and stay in contact with fellow drivers via GPS. Once you add a Buddy, you can track each other in realtime, share points of interest and send instant messages. And if you need a little privacy you can hide your twenty. Read more..!
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-Lytir1
