Gizmodo: breast cancer

Breastlight: A Light for Breasts

Jesus Diaz — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:00:00 EDT

OK, no tit jokes on this one because breast cancer is a serious matter. This is Breastlight, a home appliance that will help women monitor bosoms for lumps.

While the manufacturer claims that Breastlight is not a substitute for a professional mammogram screening, the $125 device could be a potentially lifesaving device, as it could be used as a monitoring and early warning gadget at home. Women are advised to use their hands to feel their breasts for lumps in the shower, but with this light they can actually see what is going on and see changes through time. In the case she finds something weird, they can go to the doctor for an expert opinion. And if it's nothing, great. But better be an alarmist than sorry.

The Breastlight—which comes with a temperature sign to warn about overheating and has rechargeable batteries—only activates at full power when the lens get in contact with the skin. And yes, you may be able to do the same with a really powerful flashlight, but I will advise against that. [Breastlight via Medgadget]

Cue Shower-Timer Prompts Women To Health-Check For Breast Cancer

Kit Eaton — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 08:15:41 EDT

As well as letting you keep an environmentally-friendly eye on your time in the shower, Cue from Avie Products is specifically designed to remind women to check their breasts each month. Like those cheapo shower radio designs, it suckers on to the wall of your shower cubicle and then each month, seven days after your period, it'll ping you. It can also cope with reminders for up to four women. So it's pretty basic, but also sounds pretty darn useful in terms of reminding you to check your health: currently it's available for just $25 since it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month—regular pricing is $30. Update: we contacted Avie, and they've confirmed that a less "flowery" version is in the works, to remind men to check for testicular lumps. [Chip Chick via Coolest Gadgets]

Robot Prototype Finds, Attacks and Kills Breast Cancer Cells

Jack Loftus — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 14:30:00 EDT

Here's one in the plus column for the looming robot uprising: a prototype developed by University of Maryland professor Jaydev Desai could one day diagnose, hunt, and destroy breast cancer cells all in one sitting, and in a much more efficient manner than we ham-handed human beings.

The beauty of this prototype is that it can work inside an MRI thanks to its titanium and stainless steel construction. Everything from biopsy, to diagnosis to cancer-hunting is all completed within the MRI, making for a convenient one stop trip for patients.

The robot kills cancer cells by way of a probe that is inserted into the breast until it reaches the tumor. The probe then burns the cells until they're all dead. Researchers say the robot, if successfully deployed into the medical field, could consolidate three months of hospital trips into a single visit. Better yet, the robot will also be able to access parts of the human body that human surgeons can't, although researchers didn't elaborate much on that point.

Unfortunately, the robot is a prototype, and trials are estimated at four years out, if they happen at all. "We're not just governed by technology," said said Rao Gullapalli, a collaborator on the robot from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. "We're governed by bureaucracy as well." [Diamondback Online via Slashdot]

Pink Ribbon DS Lite Is an Insult to Cancer Funding

Mark Wilson — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 08:59:00 EDT

To those who'd like to support a real world cause while defending the princess from Bowser's latest kidnapping, this limited edition Pink Ribbon DS Lite raises money for the cancer charity Susan G. Komen for the Cure. For every unit sold, Nintendo passes $5 to the organization. $5!!! Whoa. That's big money!

I know, how can I talk bad about someone giving money to cancer research? So ungrateful! So taboo!

The sad fact is, as big of a failure as RED products may be (some projections show more money spent on advertising than goes to cancer research), most RED-participating companies are giving a lot more money per product to charity than Nintendo is here. Gap has passed on 50% of their profits on RED items and Apple has given 10% of the total price (probably their entire profit) on iTunes gift cards. And they're just the tip of the iceberg.

Meanwhile, the company that is making $1.6 million per employee is slapping a ribbon on a device, tossing spare change in the face a cause and probably netting more money because of it.

$5 doesn't even come close to Nintendo's profits per DS.

This isn't a donation. This is exploitation. Nintendo, you can do better. [Amazon via Kotaku]

Apple Pushes Pink iPod nano in Time for Your Valentine

Wilson Rothman — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 08:39:12 EST

It seems like an obvious move: Apple's little pink 8GB iPod nano ($199) comes out in time for Valentine's Day, and perhaps before most pink second-gen nanos have kicked the bucket. But there's a problem: if you're trying to impress your lady friend by buying her a nano that contributes money to some worthy cause, you're going to have to stick with the (PRODUCT) RED one, which fights against AIDS and tuberculosis in Africa and around the world. As pink as this nano is, there's no mention of an accompanying breast-cancer charity benefit, in an industry where pink gadgets usually mean precisely that. Let's get it going, Apple! [Apple]

Apple Adds Pink to the iPod nano Lineup
CUPERTINO, Calif., Jan. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Apple(R) today announced that it is adding a gorgeous new pink iPod(R) nano to the lineup of the world's most popular music player. The much-requested pink iPod nano is available immediately in an 8GB model for $199. iPod nano features a two-inch display which lets users watch the brand new iTunes(R) Movie Rentals, or TV shows and music videos purchased from the iTunes Store. iPod nano delivers up to 24 hours of audio playback or five hours of video playback on a single charge* and is encased in a beautiful all-metal design made with anodized aluminum and polished stainless steel, which is also available in silver, black, blue, green and a (PRODUCT) RED special edition.

"Customers are going to love the gorgeous new pink iPod nano," said Greg Joswiak, Apple's vice president of Worldwide iPod Product Marketing. "The pink iPod nano is perfect for people who want a great new color this spring, or who are searching for a special Valentine's Day gift."

iPod nano features an enhanced user interface that shows off album artwork and photos like never before and includes Cover Flow(R), so you can scroll through your entire music collection by album cover artwork using the Click Wheel. Customers can also buy music, video and games for their iPod nano from the iTunes Store or check out the latest iTunes Movie Rentals.

Pricing & Availability
The new pink 8GB iPod nano is available worldwide immediately for a suggested retail price of $199 (US) and joins the other 8GB models available in silver, black, blue, green and a (PRODUCT) RED special edition. The 4GB iPod nano in silver is available for a suggested retail price of $149 (US). Both the 4GB and 8GB iPod nano for Windows or Mac(R) are available through the Apple Store(R) (http://www.apple.com), Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. All iPod nano models include earbud headphones, a USB to 30-pin cable and a Universal Dock Connector.

iPod nano requires a Mac with a USB 2.0 port, Mac OS(R) X v10.4.9 or later and iTunes 7.6; or a Windows PC with a USB 2.0 port and Windows Vista or Windows XP Home or Professional (Service Pack 2) or later and iTunes 7.6. Internet access is required and a broadband connection is recommended, fees may apply. The iTunes Store is not available in all countries. iTunes Movie Rentals are available in the US only.

*Battery life and number of charge cycles vary by use and settings. See http://www.apple.com/batteries for more information.

Like Breasts? Get a 250GB Pink WD Passport Drive to Celebrate

Charlie White — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 10:20:00 EDT

In addition to being one of our favorite holidays, today is the last day of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Besides squeezing a ripe pair of tittles, what better way to celebrate than picking up a pink Western Digital Passport drive with 250GB of storage on board? We've been testing one of these USB drives, and its performance is respectable, quietly cranking out a read speed of 17MB per second and write speed of 14MB per second. Plus, its minimalist design appeals to us, sporting an icy blue pilot light that sets off its odd, angular shape. Pink-thinking Western Digital's not saying what percentage of the drive's $200 price goes toward fighting breast cancer, but it's the thought that counts. [Western Digital]

Buy a Zune, Fight Breast Cancer

Charlie White — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 18:50:00 EDT

Since we're such breast fans here at the Giz, we wouldn't think of letting Breast Cancer Awareness Month pass by without a mention. The best news is you can celebrate boobies, get yourself a 30GB limited edition pink Zune, and fight breast cancer at the same time. Unlike some other charitable music-player-selling schemes that only donate a measly 5% of their proceeds to charity, when you buy a 30GB Zune from Warriors in Pink, 100% of the purchase price goes to Susan G. Koman For the Cure, thanks to the generosity of Ford and Microsoft. Breast cancer is no laughing matter, and we figure anything we can do to promote and preserve breasts and the lovely women on which they reside is time well spent. The pink 30GB Zune is $250 ($50 more than retail for a 30GB Zune), but it's for a worthy cause. [Warriors in Pink]

ATP Petito Turns Flash Drives Pink, Nuzzles Up to Breast Cancer Foundation

Charlie White — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 09:15:08 EDT

What do you do if you sell USB flash drives that have quickly turned into commodities, and you need a fresh sales angle for one that's been on the market for well over a year? Why not paint it pink, and exploit those unfortunate ladies suffering with breast cancer?

That's just what ATP Petito has done, selling its mini flash drives in a limited-edition Pink Ribbon version, available in 512MB ($39.99) and 1GB ($59.99) capacities. Being huge breast fans ourselves, we think getting into the tit-saving (and life-saving) business is a nice racket for a company with a product named Petito, but we're just wondering why there's no indication of how much of each drive's price will benefit the Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer Foundation. Is it one cent? Is it five dollars?

Any time a company is contributing a percentage of sales to a worthy cause, we think buyers have a right to know the exact portion of the money that will actually be contributed. If that number is not readily available, something smells fishy. [ATP, via Get USB]

Casio Exilim Coming out in Pink - Again. This Time for Breast Cancer

AddyDugdale — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 10:57:59 EDT

Pink is a four-letter word—as is cancer. This October, Casio is bringing out a rose-tinted version of its Exilim EX-Z75 in order to raise awareness for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. How nice, I thought, a big corp doing something for lady-bumps. And then I remembered that the EX-Z75 was already out in a blush-colored hue.

Hmm, I thought. Is this just a chance for Casio to perk up an already-launched camera and inject some new sales whoomph into an old product? It seems that the pink camera is the same old same old, but the camera case is "embossed with the pink ribbon and a pink lanyard." Great, I've always wanted a pink lanyard. Hasn't everyone?

But that's just me being Princess Cranky-Pants on a Friday morning. If repackaging a oldish product for charity means that money will be raised for a shitty little disease ("a portion of the proceeds will be going towards the NBCF" said the nice PR person without specifying exactly how much) then one should suspend one's cynicism and applaud Casio for doing something a bit nice.

Hopefully the money is going toward research, rather than the awareness side of the NBCF, but I'll shut up now. The NBCT Exilim costs $179.99 and you could make a breast very happy indeed.

CASIO, INC. THINKS PINK IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER Casio Partners with the National Breast Cancer Foundation to Offer Special-Edition EXILIM Digital Camera Bundle DOVER, NJ, JULY 20, 2007 - Breast cancer affects hundreds of thousands of women and their families each year. It's a disease that can strike any one at any time - no one - man or woman is exempt. National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is devoted to building awareness and finding a cure while sharing stories and information about breast cancer. This October, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Casio, Inc. will release a special-edition camera bundle, featuring a pink EX-Z75, a camera case embossed with the pink ribbon and a pink ribbon-clad lanyard to show their proud support of the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF). The EX-Z75, a 7.2 megapixel digital camera which is part of Casio's highly-regarded zoom line of EXILIM cameras, will be available as a special bundle in the month of October to help raise awareness of NBCF's mission - Help for Today...Hope for Tomorrow. "The National Breast Cancer Foundation was founded to give help, support and hope to those facing breast cancer," said Janelle Hail, Founder and President of the National Breast Cancer Foundation. "We thank Casio, Inc. for joining us in helping save lives through education and early detection." The EX-Z75 is packed with a 2.6-inch wide LCD display, Anti-Shake DSP for reducing photo blur due to shaky hands or moving subjects and eBay mode which allows for photographs to be easily uploaded at the appropriate size for selling on eBay or for personal web use. "We are proud to be a sponsor of the National Breast Cancer Foundation," said Bill Heuer, Vice President of Casio's Digital Imaging Division. "We hope that by purchasing the EX-Z75 in honor of breast cancer patients and survivors, users will capture every valuable moment with their friends and family." The special-edition pink EX-Z75 will be available beginning October 2007 and can be purchased at Staples, Sears, Adir, Fred Meyer, BJ's, Nexcom and AAFES. The bundle package will have an MSRP of $179.99, and will proudly sponsor the National Breast Cancer Foundation. For more information, please visit www.casiousa.com.

Belkin's iPod Cases Support Fight Against Breast Cancer

Jason Chen — Fri, 04 May 2007 21:28:28 EDT

If you or your lady were going to buy an iPod Nano armband or an iPod Nano case anyway, why not buy a pink one and support breast cancer research at the same time? These aren't pink because Belkin's trying to appeal to ladies (though that could be a side benefit), they're pink because of the breast cancer connection. Please, protect your iPod and the boobies. Especially the boobies. Steve Jobs doesn't come out on stage and whip a new one of those out of his pocket every year. – Jason Chen

Press Release [Belkin]

Buy a Pink DS Lite from Target, Help Fund Breast Cancer Research

Travis Hudson — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 12:49:14 EDT

A lot of companies are fighting the good fight and releasing gadgets in pink that help fund breast cancer research. So as on on-going part of breast cancer awareness month, Target will be donating 100 percent of the profits from pink DS Lite purchases to breast cancer research. Now is a better time than ever to pick up a pink DS Lite—remember guys, you can use pink stuff now because it is an "in" look. – Travis Hudson

Product Page [Target]

Fight Breast Cancer with the 6GB Seagate Pink Pocket Hard Drive

Charlie White — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 10:14:01 EDT

Get yourself a 6GB pocket drive from Seagate and fight breast cancer at the same time with this Pink Pocket Hard Drive, a portable hard drive with a retractable USB 2.0 interface. Buying this Seagate "Backing Up the Cure" drive sends 10% of its $99 price to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

The drive joins the Pioneer Inno XM radio receiver we mentioned a couple of weeks ago, also saving the tits with a contribution of around 10% its cost to that same foundation. Let's help the gals out and fight breast cancer with gadgets. Well worth $99 in our book. We dig this kind of stuff, because, after all, we are the tits. – Charlie White

Seagate Pink Pocket Hard Drive aids Cancer Institution [Gizmodiva.com]

Buy A Pink Sanyo 3100 To Benefit Breast Cancer Foundation

Jason Chen — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 15:10:32 EDT

If you purchase a pink colored Sanyo 3100, 10% of the sales will go to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Sanyo and Qwest are partnering together for this program, and the phone is available to use on Sprint.

To recap, the phone has a VGA camera, two displays, Sprint PCS VisionSM and Picture MailSM compatible, voice activated dialing, 3.6 hours of talk time and weighs 3.5 ounces. Pick one up today to support a worthy cause. Or should we say, two worthy causes. Oh yeah, we're going to hell. – Jason Chen

Sanyo 3100 - Pink Phone To Benefit Breast Cancer Foundation [Mobilewhack]