We the Brits were crazy about tea, but some French aficionados are giving them a run for their money. Two young French designers have created a self-stirring teacup. It’s a glass, actually, and it has a ceramic ball at the bottom that mixes around and mixes the tea as you lift the cup or swirl it gently. The base of the glass protrudes enough so that when you lift the glass to drink, the ball never falls out and hits you in the teeth.

Cute idea guys, but we have a couple of suggestions. First, make a disposable version. The real waste when it comes to tea stirring has to do with plastic spoons and wooden sticks at places like Starbucks. Second, if you were as into tea as the Brits, you’d know that tea tastes far better when you drink it from a porcelain cup, not a glass. Maybe the next prototype should be ceramic, with a glass mixing ball.

Official URL Link

If you’re unfortunate enough to be stuck in the middle of the country, away from the coasts, you probably don’t get too many chances to see the ocean, let alone surf in it. But hey, that doesn’t mean your dreams of surfing need to die in the flat Missouri sun! Just get yourself a Banzai Skimboard Surfer and live your dreams of having an endless summer.

Essentially, the Skimboard Surfer is a souped up slip n slide: a long, slick piece of plastic that fills with water via your hose. But rather than sliding on it face first, you use the included skimboard to surf down its slippery length. Oh, summer fun, you’re right at hand! And one doesn’t have to live on a coastline to enjoy it!

Official URL Link

This shiny, pretty phone is a heavily-modified Nokia N95 that’s been decked out head-to-toe with Buddhist iconography and characters. It’s got gold everywhere, a Buddha on the back, and fancy imagery all over. It even has custom wallpapers and ringtones onboard to complete the theme.

It’s slick, to say the least, especially if you’re Buddhist, I’d assume. Sadly, it’s been spotted in China but is currently unavailable to any of us silly westerners. But hey, if you’re handy with a paintbrush and have a spare N95 kicking around, you could probably whip up something similar, right?

Official URL Link

Suddenly your $40-$50 bill to fill up gas every other week isn’t so bad: the North American Eagle jet car costs $18,000 every single run. That’s because it uses a 42,500 horsepower engine from airplane manufacturer Lockheed’s retired 1957 F-104 Starfighter, which uses up 160 gallons of fuel each minute. The car needs that kind of power though, because partners Ed Shadle and Keith Zanghi want to break the 800 mph land speed record for the US. All they need now is a driver.

Shadle, a former USAF pilot and amateur racer himself, would love to drive the North American Eagle. “It’s a lot of fun to drive,” he told the Times Online, “But if my age is stopping us getting sponsors, we have to remove that barrier. We’ll put some hotshot in the driving seat who looks like Robert Redford and see how that works.”

So Shadle and his Boeing engineer partner Zanghi are looking for someone between 20 and 40 years of age who is photogenic and entirely cool with the idea of, essentially, riding their $150,000 rocket, built over the last 10 years in a rented Seattle hangar. Just don’t forget to buckle up: the North American Eagle is projected to break the 800 mph record in around 20 seconds.

If that sounds like you, send a 400-word email detailing why and a photo to landspeedracing@gmail.com.

Official URL Link

Just to dash that first thought of yours: Nope, not a concept. This is real, my friend.

The MonoTracer is an enclosed motorcycle or “cabin cycle,” a style of vehicle which experiences a lot less drag than your average motorbike and keeps you from having to pick the bugs from between your teeth later. Its aerodynamic design and 130 horsepower engine get the MonoTracer from zero to 60 in about 5.7 seconds, and it has more speed than you’ll ever need, topping out at 155 mph.

The MonoTracer is built by vehicle and engine construction company Peraves, and rolls off the factory floor starting at $82,350. Unless you’re drooling gold right now, you may have to wait for Christmas for this one.

Anyway, I know what you’re here for. Click through that gallery for more views of the MonoTracer. Oh, yes. Oh, oh yes.

Official URL Link

If there’s anything the Segway needs, it’s someone to make it look cooler. Like a hot girl wearing baggy clothes and nerd glasses in a teen comedy, it needs a hunky football player to take a bet to take the Segway to the prom, only to discover its true beauty within, take off its glasses, and make it the most popular girl in school. Or something like that.

This concept vehicle adds a set of back wheels to the Segway, giving it some speed and perhaps some more stability. It features a “skiing-like steering mechanism,” and hey, skiing is cool! Could this be the redesign the Segway needs? Is this even a Segway, as it seems like it eschews the fancy balancing mechanism that defines the Segway experience? Does anybody really care about these glorified scooters in the first place?

Official URL Link

Filed under: Displays 3D baby, that’s what we want. Now it’s yours… if you live in Japan anyway. Introducing the world’s first 46-inch 3D stereoscopic television. Built by Hyundai, the 1,920 x 1,080 set is capable of grabbing BS11 3D broadcasts pumped by Nippon BS in Japan. The ¥498,000 (about $4,857) LCD brings 2x HDMI and 3x composite inputs (to name a few) and apparently works fine for traditional 2D broadcasts. Unfortunately, you’ll have to wear what appears to be 2-foot long, 3D glasses judging by the image provided above. Perhaps they’re meant as a radiation shield since the set is also the world’s first TV with built-in “nuclear reactor” according to the machine translated text. Be careful out there kids, it’s just television.[Via Impress] Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Official URL Link

This huge remote control hawk looks and flies like the real thing. It goes fairly quickly at 70 kph and has a wing span of 1.06m. Schiphol airport is running tests with it to see if they can use it to get rid of birds in the vicinity of the airport, as birdstrikes are extremely dangerous and damaging to jet engines and cockpit glass.

Many of you have heard of the Viera Link, AQUOS (Sharp), and REGZA (Toshiba) system that allows you to control any of these devices with one remote…

Things are a little different today as these manufacturers understand the importance of being open. Behold the very first fully compatible Viera Link (or AQUOS/REGZA equivalent) Onkyo AV amplifier on the market!

Our AV amplifier is of course compatible with Dolby NRs True HD and DTS-HD Master Audio, supports x.v.Color, has a 1.3a HDMI port, and offers a generous 185Wx7ch at 6Ω.

This XO Movie scooter looks like an extra from the Transformers movie, able to fold down and lock itself up when not in use and featuring all of the curves and angles of our favorite robots in disguise. It can carry one or two people and has a variable wheel base to make it more stable while you’re cruising down the highway.

I’d like to see more products inspired by the Transformers. I mean, why can’t my cellphone transform? Or my MP3 player? Sure, you could just build a camera into a phone, but wouldn’t it be more fun to have your phone transform into a camera? Let’s make this happen, designers.

Official URL

Samsung has decided to boldly go where no other touch-sensitive phone manufacturer has dared to go: doors. During the ISC West show in Las Vegas, Samsung unveiled Luce, a touch-sensitive door security system. The big seller here is that the Luce has replaced the traditional security keypad with a touch-sensitive display.

The touch-sensitive nature of Luce also makes it the most slim door security product available at 2.1 cm thick. The Luce just shows a glossy black finish when the door security is not in use, which can slightly minimize security problems. Also included in the system is a fire detector. If it sense temperatures above 131 degree Fahrenheit, it will automatically unlock so all individuals can escape.

Official URL

Around the size of a shoebox, it uses 2 lensens to create a 3D image quickly of just about anything. It then uploads the image to a PC using wifi.

The Cheetah gaming keyboard is one in a series of powerful gaming devices for serious gamer. Cheetah provides programmable Game-Keys. So hardcore users can easily control macros.

The Cheetah Game Wheel has 17 convenient keys. The 17 keys are fully programmable allowing customized PC Game playing. Included software allows for programming the keys and setting up macros. Cheetah has an A / B profile change key to quickly load a second set of macros.

The Cheetah keyboard%u2019s keys use patented Backlight Technology. During the backlit hotkey is toggled on ( this hotkey’s backlit is closed ), These keycaps are blue when the PC is in sleep mode. For normal mode, these keycaps are orange. The faster you type, the orange will turn to red.

Oh, and it’s shit hot.. love it! looks cooler than my g-15

Welcome to BTC

And after a glut of information, suddenly everyone and their dog is launching them. First EPOC end of feb, now OCZ technology is launching their thought mouse. They will be pricing at around $150,- in the US.

Here’s the press release

Via TG Daily

MindwireV5 Shocking Game Accessory: Rumble is for the Weak

mindwirev5.jpgYou know what would make gaming even more fun? Pain. Or at least that is what the folks at Mindwire would like you to think. Their new MindwireV5 unit helps you get into the action with sensations ranging from a “crashing car to the blast of a machine gun’s multiple bullets hitting you; a sharp zap all the way through to a soft massaging feeling.” Five self-adhesive pads are connected to the arms, legs and stomach that administer a range of electric shocks to create sensations that mimic in-game action.

The system works with most PS2, Gamecube, and XBox games as well as PC games that support force feedback. Next gen consoles are also supported%u2014in certain configurations (a full list of compatible games is available on the website). So, I’m not sure about all of this electric shock business, but tell me more about this “soft massaging feeling?” The Mindwire is available for £99.99 (or $200). [Mindwire via PocketLint via Geeky Gadgets]

MindwireV5 Shocking Game Accessory: Rumble is for the Weak

Researchers tout progress with maglev joystick, aim to bring it to market

Posted Mar 5th 2008 1:57PM by Donald Melanson
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Peripherals

Maglev technology may be best know for its use in trains (and the odd wind turbine), but a group of researchers led by Carnegie Mellon University’s Ralph Hollis have some ideas of their own for it, with them now touting a so-called “maglev joystick” that they hope to bring to market. That, they say, can provide increased feedback compared to a standard joystick, and offer an alternative to complicated gloves and robotic interfaces. Key to that, obviously, is a whole bunch of electromagnets, which are concealed in the bowl pictured above and allow the “joystick” to levitate, while also providing resistance when it’s moved in any direction. Needless to say, there’s no indication as to when the joystick might actually be available, but Hollis has recently formed a company, Butterfly Haptics, with just that as its goal, and it’ll apparently soon be shipping six of the joysticks to a consortium of US and Canadian universities for testing.

Researchers tout progress with maglev joystick, aim to bring it to market – Engadget

Simtrix trots out radically designed Swiftpoint mice

Posted Mar 5th 2008 2:26PM by Darren Murph
Filed under: Peripherals

Sure, we’ve seen input peripherals stretch the core meaning of the word “mouse,” but few have done it better than Simtrix. First up in the Swiftpoint series is the TriPed (on left), which was designed to be held much like a pen if needed and is aimed primarily at tablet PC / tabletop computer users; according to the firm, it “provides seamless transitioning between mouse, pen, and text entry.” Moving on, we’ve got the equally zany Slider, which looks to grab more attention by being able to operate when sliding over a keyboard. Granted, folks with ergonomic / split boards are probably out of luck there, but that’s not to say your thumb still wouldn’t love this critter on a traditional mouse pad. Mum’s the word on pricing and availability at the moment, but we’ll keep an ear to the ground for whispers of either.

Simtrix trots out radically designed Swiftpoint mice – Engadget

Mobile Digital Scribe is the first device ever to capture natural handwriting from any surface, and store it in the receiver for future use. Based on a revolutionary electronic pen that uses ordinary ink refill to write on any paper, the Mobile Digital Scribe stores handwritten notes, memos or drawings for easy upload to any computer at your convenience. No special digital notepad is required.

Additionally, if the Mobile Digital Scribe is connected to a computer, handwritten text and drawings are displayed directly on the computer screen.

IOGEAR – GPEN200N – Mobile Digital Scribe

The main point here is the ‘from any surface’ thing: all the other pens need special (and expensive, you have to order them from internet and it’s difficult to find etc) papers to write on for them to work.

Yup, you can pass current through USB. So… you can light them up!

This goes for $ 22.99 per 6 feet

These Cable to Go ones go for between $ 2.38 – $ 9.59 depending on colour and length (look around a bit for different lengths than 2m

These green, blue and red gold plated connectors aren’t too expensive either.
These go for around $12.99

This pack of 7 port aluminium hub and 5 cables goes for $51.99

There are more possibilities with flashing heads when data is transmitted through them, with different colours at either ends, etc etc…

But you may have realised: the cable itself isn’t illuminated! AFAIK there is only one manufacturer for cables like that:

The Soundtech Lightsnakes

They can be found for around $20,- – $30,-

This lightweight piece of kit you can make yourself encases your head in a mysterious glow on security camera’s. Engadget makes the point that you’re going to have to explain yourself a lot to security guards, but hey – it’s your right to wear what you like and be private when you like!

NTT is launching a card which when you’re wearing it makes you communicate data by touching stuff.

Now I have an idea that this might be RedTacton technology – That’s been hanging around since 2005 without me having seen any practical application of it…

Back in May 2007 I had a look at brain controllers, one of which was promising to launch in October 2007. They are now accepting developers to use and program for their unit, but still not on the commercial market.

This is about the Epoc from Emotiv Systems though. The picture of the brain controller has changed quite a bit, but they are taking pre-orders (if you live in the US) and say they will be out towards the end of this year. Their software can recognise emotions, expressions and thoughts and intents.

If you work with HDs a lot, then this hard drive dock to usb2 thing might be usefull to you

This system, built for bikers, allows others to communicate with each other over a range of 500m.

G-tech/Pro is famous for its accelerometers or g-meters. They measure how fast you accellerate, how many G’s you’re pulling, how fast you brake and how that compares to your turns. Their SS ($199) / RR ($299) series are the top of the line, but it’s a bit unfortunate that you need to spend an extra $100,- to be able to export to your PC.

Of course, you could hook up your wii-mote to a laptop and let Excel do the number crunching 🙂

The Expandable Gauge System (EGS) is a real piece of engineering with shift lights, a rev meter, a digital display with loads of measurements all easily plugged in through your cigarette lighter and a controller. You can buy extra modules for it and expand it as much as you like. Starts at around $279

Link to G-Tech/Pro Homepage

Of course there is also the DashDAQ Series II which allows you to set your own gauge layouts on the screen and plug loads of third party elements into it.

But pricing at $695 is a bit steeper

PLX Devices has digital gauges you can customise and skin from your computer starting at $79,- per piece. The DM-200 ODB is full colour, 60mm and OLED.

Many more gadgets of to be found on Racergadget.com