Gizmodo: Bird

Leather Manila Macbook Air Sleeve Resurrects Old Joke In Style

Elaine Chow — Sat, 24 May 2008 10:00:00 EDT

Though nothing quite says "I have the thinnest computer in the world" like a manila envelope, the tan paper sleeve doesn't add much in terms of protection... or ostentatiousness. Perhaps it's time to upgrade to this leather version, which will keep your Macbook Air snug and (supposedly) safe while still giving a knowing wink to a promotional gimmick that got old ages ago. Priced at $38.50 and available imported from Japan from Bird Electron. [UberReview]

Music Video Is Complete Mac OS X Leopard Tour

Jesus Diaz — Tue, 13 May 2008 08:40:00 EDT

Whether you like the song or not—Addy says technically this is called Wimp-Pop, but it sounds more to me like Foux Da Fa Fa*—I've got to say that this music video made using The Bird and the Bee's Again and Again is mesmerizing. Or at the very least, a really cool musical tour through 40 Mac OS X features and applications: it starts slow and boring with Word, but it ends being a complete explosion of synchronized eye candy using everything from Photo Booth to Stickies to Spotlight to Dashboard widgets to Stacks. See if you can distinguish each and every one of the features and apps featured, then compare it to the list after the jump (I think we are missing a few.)

• Capture
• iTunes
• Microsoft Word
• Photo Booth
• iChat
• Stickies
• Photoshop CS3
• iPhoto
• Fast User Switching
• Mac OSX Zoom Tip
• Finder
• Spotlight
• Quicktime Player
• Stacks
• Quick Look
• Desktop
• Screensaver
• Dashboard
• Dashcode
• Illustrator
• Final Cut Pro
• Exposé
• Time Machine
• iMovie
• Spaces
• Windows Media Player for Mac
• Flip4Mac
• Flash CS3
• VLC Media Player
• Shake
• Mplayer
• DVD Studio Pro
• Real Player
• iDVD
• Color
• Screenflow
• Cinematize
• Safari
• iTunes Store

[YouTube, The Bird and the Bee—Thanks Kalle]

* It's FOTC day.

Bird-Electron EZISON 0 is Chunky Portable Speaker Bliss, Almost

Haroon Malik — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 07:22:49 EDT

The EZISON 0 speaker has Bird-Electron written all over it; it's pricey, utterly ridiculous and has a design that makes us swoon. Available in white, red, gold, blue or silver aluminum finishes, the EZISON 0 is quite the looker whatever color you should choose, but we just cannot get our heads around the 7350 Yen ($73) price tag. After all, a portable speaker that relies on your MP3 player for juice via the 3.5mm jack connection isn't going to pump out the tunes. In fact, standing in at only 73×76×32mm, the EZISON 0 probably sounds just as good as an electron sized bird. (See what I did there with the old semantics? Please, stay seated.) [NewLaunches]

Bird Flu Detection by "VereFlu" Disposable Lab-on-a Chip

Kit Eaton — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:10:45 EDT

You thought avian flu was so 2006, didn't you? Not so STMicroelectronics, which has been quietly working away to build a new lab-on-a-chip device to detect the virus. Dubbed VereFlu, it's actually able to detect many strains of influenza virus, including human type A and B, and the killer avian H5N1 strain. Better yet, the disposable chip takes just two hours whereas traditional tests take much longer, increasing its life-saving potential. Having passed hospital trials in Singapore last year, its launch means you may expect to see it pop up in hospitals and airports over the coming years. [Reuters]

iBird R/C Toy Looks Like Flapping Good Fun

Kit Eaton — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 05:55:46 EST

The new iBird comes from the same makers as our favourite R/C microcopters, but this time takes a leaf from Mother Nature's design book. Controlled with the same kind of infrared remote and charging system as the Picoo Z's, the flapping wonder is supposed to look and fly like a real bird. Real, hey? I'd say really cybernetic, but what the heck: check out its "realistic flapping motion" in the video.

It looks easier to control than the choppers, but is apparently made to be "ultra tough" in case you still manage some high-speed collisions when playing with it. Available in three color schemes, it's out now for around $50. [Geekalerts]

Mini Speaker Add-On Recycles Your iPod Shuffle Box

Kit Eaton — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 03:00:42 EST

Plug this tiny stereo speaker system into your iPod shuffle's plastic box, and you get a mini boom box plus the satisfaction of using something that you'd normally have thrown away. This (slightly) eco-friendly system from Bird Electron also fits inside a first- or second-gen iPod nano box and costs just $40. [Geek Alerts]

Desktop Charger Shows Your Status, Cleanses Filthy Birds

Sean Fallon — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:00:12 EST

With a design this unique, you know it has to be a concept. Still, Sun Kyung Kim's idea to combine a birdbath theme with a charge status indicator composed of radiating rings works —despite being a little out there. As the device charges, the rings expand toward the birds perched on the edge of the bath. Once fully charged, the birds will glow. I don't know if it will ever see the light of day as a commercial product, but an iPhone would look good on it. [Yanko Design]

Bird-Electron Kodak Speakers Produce Kicking Sounds For Ants

Haroon Malik — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 10:30:00 EDT

Bird-Electron is as crazy as their name, also proven by this diabolical excuse for a set of portable speakers.

The Kodak Speakers are constructed from recycled 35mm plastic film cases. The set does not require any power source other than the energy it draws from the connected MP3 player. The sounds are projected as "omni-directional sound waves." We are guessing that, basically means, they sound like crap. Still, if you have $55 burning a hole in your pocket and you want to buy some speakers that will win you some brownie points with the green crowd, by all means go for it. If wasting your cash in this manner is just not satisfying enough, equally pointless wastes of cash include; throwing your money in a bin, burning your cash or burying your Benjamins in a remote location you are unlikely to recall. [Product Page via Technabob].

Hand Gesture Watch Needs No Buttons

Mark Wilson — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 10:53:40 EDT

In a case of divine irony, the smaller and more desirable our gadgets become, the harder they would be to use. That's why researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a watch that can be controlled by gesturing, eliminating tiny controls not meant for our mortal caveman hands.

Measuring movement through five infrared sensors, four of these sensors are used for two-dimensional hand controls occurring over the watch face (like up/down, left/right and circles). The fifth sensor seems to be designated for movements of the watch itself, though that aspect of control is less clear.

With embedded Bluetooth, users could control a host of objects through a wrist interface, promoting seamless-designed devices á la The Future. As a child I was always fascinated by buttons, but I guess that my own children will laugh at such antique novelties. [discovery via technabob]

Crazy RC Chopper Piloting Could Probably Chop Heads

AddyDugdale — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 04:15:21 EDT

When it comes to piloting RC helicopters, Alan Szabo Jr is King, an earthbound Stringfellow Hawke. Here he is putting a whirlybird with a Trex 600 motor through its paces. Observe. Learn, And then go back to piloting your pencil in the privacy of your work cubicle. [Dethroner]

DJ4: Two-Source Mixer Has Two Big Knobs, Doesn't Go Up to 11

Addy Dugdale — Fri, 25 May 2007 07:36:59 EDT

For some reason, that headline sounds just wrong, but whatever. Here's the Bird Electoron DJ-4, "the passive type micro mixer of power source unnecessary." In other words: Yes, it's from Japan and yes, it's a very simple passive mixer with two mini-stereo inputs and one output. The seller for me is the two big analog knobs: VOLUME and VOLUME. For just $70 you will be able to connect your two MP3 players and touch your own two big knobs until your audience's ears bleed. Or they throw you into the river inside a sack full of rocks after you play the same Black Eyed Peas track for the 28th time. – Jesus Diaz

Bird electron, outdated future mixer of design - Adopting the electricity guitar and the isomorphic volume knob (Thanks Google Translate!) [Impress AV Watch]

Desk Cable Organizer For the Rich and Anal

Jason Chen — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 15:50:42 EST

Given that the cables on our mesk (combination of desk and mess) has more knots than a speedboat, we're not exactly the target market for this Bird-Electron cable organizer. But if you're truly anal about keeping your desk clean (ahem), then you're going to want to invest in this little beauty.

Costing $55 straight from Japan, this cable organizer takes in various iPod, RCA, Zune, USB or charger cables through one of its many pre-drilled holes. Sure, it'll brighten up your desk so that you can actually work, but is it worth it? After all, messy desk, creative mind, and all that. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Audiocubes via Slashgear]

Solar Hummingbird: Worse than the Real Thing

Mark Wilson — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 13:25:54 EST

The Takaratomy Kotoridayori Humming Bird proves that solar power is not just for calculators and the hopeful/naive who believe it's not too late to stop global warming anymore. Solar technology has found a greater purpose in this world than determining the order of operations or allowing our children to "live" and "eat".

Solar power allows the Humming Bird to sing sporadically through the day, adding a general sense of peace and well-being to co-workers. Plus, the bird senses vibrations from those walking by, and serenades them into tranquility. For a mere $25, you can teach the world to sing, one cubical at a time.

In short, solar technology can torture your coworkers when you are not around. –Mark Wilson

Product Page [via shinyshiny]

Top 5 Early Bird Luxo-Gift List

Charlie White — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 13:33:18 EST

As soon as Halloween is done, it's a sprint until Christmas. Never mind all that talk about Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving that launches the holiday shopping season. If you're planning to buy a luxo-sport gift for that special someone this year, you'll want to avoid that herd of sheep, and get your shopping done early.

That's why we've put together this quick list for the smartest shoppers of all: The Top 5 Early Bird Luxo-Gift List, with gifts priced from $1300 down to $200 listed in descending order. Start now. Avoid those maddening crowds, the relentless pressure, and avoid that sinking feeling when you hear that clock ticking, counting down the minutes until Zero Hour.

After the jump, pick out one of the top 5 luxo-gifts you can get right now, and get it all done ahead of time.

5. Nikon D80 Digital SLR
This is looking like the hot digital SLR for the season, with its 10.2-megapixel CCD, bigger and brighter viewfinder and excellent lenses from Nikon. It has an 11-area through-the-lens autofocus system, improved color metering, smaller size than its predecessor, and we don't even mind that it uses SD memory cards instead of CompactFlash. You get your money's worth for $1300.

4. Garmin Nuvi 660 GPS
We're big fans of Garmin's Nuvi series of GPS navigators, and this latest model stretches that screen out to 4.3 inches, the perfect compromise between portability and readibility. Like its brandmates, it gives you hands-free mobile phone calls and then there's that outstanding Garmin user interface, easy enough to use in traffic but powerful enough to get you where you want to go. With its integrated FM traffic receiver that will warn you about heavy traffic or construction, and an FM transmitter that sends its navigational commands through your car stereo, it's tough to beat for $999.

3. TiVo Series 3 HD Personal Multimedia Recorder
We've had one of these babies in-house for the past two months, and it's the best digital video recorder we've ever seen. It's the only THX-certified PVR and its video and audio consistently demonstrate that fact, plus it has that famed TiVo user interface that has no equal. Too bad it's so damned expensive, at $800, but you can find one for $680.

2. Canon PowerShot SD900 10MP Digital Elph Camera
The form factor of the Digital Elph cameras from Canon is hard to beat, and this is the best one yet, the PowerShot SD900, with its 10 megapixels of quick-starting goodness and 3x optical zoom, you'll see it all clearly now on a 2.5-inch LCD viewscreen. Sure, you can't use many manual settings with this camera, but one of those digital SLRs can be awfully hard to fit in your shirt pocket, too. Best of all, you can find one of these trinkets for $383.

1. Motorola KRZR Cellphone
We know you want the latest smartphone, but that special person in your life is probably looking to simplify her cellphone situation. The KRZR is the way to go, fitting easily in the pocket 'cause it's a lot smaller than the mainstream-popular RAZR, and will only set you back around 200 bucks with a two-year contract. – Charlie White

Inflatable Fist Flicks the Bird

Brian Lam — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 23:45:57 EDT

This window mounted fist sits on your rear windshield, just waiting for some jackass to flash you his high beams or honk his horn. At this point in time, you can slam on your brakes, let him rear end you, and sue him into oblivion. Or you can pump up the rubberized middle finger, and get revenge without risking whiplash. –Brian Lam

Flickin the Bird Pump up Finger [Boy's Life via Gadgetizer and Jalopnik]

Panasonic Air Filter Removes Bird Flu Virus

Gizloco — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 09:01:11 EDT

Remember how bird flu was supposed to be the next great pandemic, sentencing humanity to an unfortunate, if not untimely, end? Fear not, for Panasonic has created a filter that they claim is 99.999 percent effective in removing the virus (plus others like SARS and "normal" influenza) from the air we breathe. It uses what Panasonic has christened Super Alleru-Buster technology to do the dirty work of removing pathogens from the air.

Panasonic also hinted that the Super Alleru-Buster technology can be applied to other materials, not just limiting it to traditional air filters. – Nicholas Deleon

Press Release [Panasonic via Digital World Tokyo]

Bird-Electron EZ-TAKEGTF2 Electricity-Free Bamboo Speaker

Charlie White — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 13:16:35 EDT

No need to worry about batteries when you take along the Bird-Electron EZ-TAKEGTF2 electricity-free portable bamboo speaker ($199). Just plug the stereo miniplug into your MP3 player and you can rock the bamboo, off-grid style.

And bamboo, is, you know, sustainable. Get yourself a solar power unit for that iPod, and you'll be set to hunker down all the way through The End Times, where the definition of "sustainable" may mean lasting into the next day. What song will you listen to during the upcoming apocalypse? – Charlie White

Bird-Electron EZ-TAKEGTF2: Electricity-Free, Portable Bamboo Speaker [Treehugger]

Zombie Hand Holds Leash, Flips Bird for You

Charlie White — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 00:55:22 EST

If you get lonely walking that dog by yourself, why not get a genuine Zombie Hand to hold, keeping you company while you're out for a stroll? The hand has been carefully butchered from the decaying body of a vintage zombie in Haiti, and sanitized for your protection. Let the Zombie Hand do the work for you, holding onto the leash, gesturing approvingly to your pet, or even slowly and ominously flipping the bird to that annoying neighbor.

You don't have to worry about angry reprisals—tell them to talk to the hand, as it cracks through their sternum as if their chest is a gravy-filled pinata.

Correas de perros para dueños solitarios [valebestia]

M-bird Player Gets a Makeover

Travis Hudson — Tue, 21 Mar 2006 11:01:21 EST

The M-Bird music player that we reported on back in May has gotten a well-deserved upgrade. This upgrade includes the addition of a larger screen for movie playback. The M-Bird player also supports a wide variety of audio and video formats and includes a 40GB hard drive. No word on pricing yet, but this little birdie probably won't be migrating to the states anytime soon.

M-Bird Pocket Movie Player [Techeblog]

Birds on the Move: But Is It Art?

Charlie White — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 12:30:37 EST

Get away from all those electronics for a minute and get yourself a Flensted Birdie Feeder Mobile, a $49.50 moving sculpture that dangles bird feed in a nicely balanced arrangement. Take your yardbirds for a ride, where they get a free lunch and you get to watch, lowering your blood pressure along the way. Birds not included.

Product page [via popgadget]

More crazy Flensted mobiles [Amazon]