Gizmodo: electronic

USB Cigarettes

Odelia Lee — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:30:00 EDT

We've seen electronic cigarettes before, but not one that charges via USB.

It's no surprise that this handy device shows up on Thanko's website, since they're guys who usually satisfy our cravings for wonky USB gadgets. The USB version of the electronic cigarette provides inhaled doses of vaporized nicotine, so smokers can puff away without all the harmful effects to second hand smokers. The kit comes with 11 filter butts and an atomizer. You can pick yours up for about $33. But beware, you might still look pretty goofy standing in public sucking on a plastic cigarette. [Thanko via Newslaunches]

Grand HD Cinema Converts USB to HDMI

Mark Wilson — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 11:40:00 EST

Before the Grand HD Cinema, I honestly didn't know that a USB to HDMI converter was possible. (Though in truth, it's still really only half possible.)

The Grand HD Cinema does indeed take USB video (along with audio) and upconvert the stream to a 720p HDMI signal that can drive six different HDMI devices. As a means to get clips from PMPs to TVs it certainly makes a lot of sense.

But what you'd consider an impossibly calculation-intensive process really is. The converter requires an XP or Vista rig with a 2.4GHz (or better) processor. So while the Grand HD Cinema is still a pretty interesting device, it's by no means some convenient little adapter that will play your iPod on your HDTV.

The Grand HD Cinema is available for $140 imported from Japan. [Lancerlink via Crunchgear]

Drum Kit Shirt Turns You Into a Robotic Bobby McFerrin

Sean Fallon — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:30:00 EDT

Remember the '80s? You know, the decade that playing a beat on your chest passed as music? Just me? Wow...I am getting old. Anyway, you can relive those days with a high-tech upgrade thanks to this electronic drum kit shirt from Think Geek. That's right, you can actually play seven different drum sounds through a built-in speaker by tapping on different areas of the shirt. As you can see in the video, the effect is awesome—but the whole thing has reminded me of Bobby McFerrin, which has reminded me of that God-awful Don't Worry Be Happy song, which is now deeply entrenched in my head. Damn you, Bobby McFerrin...damn you to hell. [Think Geek]

Electronic Contact Lenses Give Future You Crazy Eyesight, Heads-up Display

Jason Chen — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 15:18:03 EST

Having the internet be constantly displayed no matter where we look is a dream we've had for years, but having to shove an electronic contact into our eyes makes us think twice. This prototype device, which has red LEDs and can be worn for up to 20 minutes (tested on rabbits) with no adverse effects. The contacts beam images directly into the eyes, which means you can have either superhuman vision by feeding a zoomed-in image to the device, or even heads-up displays like Arnold had in T2 or RoboCop had in RoboCops 1, 2 and 3. [MedGadget]

Crown7 'Electronic Cigarette' Delivers All the Nicotine with None of the Smoke

Adam Frucci — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 17:00:05 EDT

Do all these smoking bans have you feeling down? Do you miss being able to puff away on your death sticks with impunity, no matter where you were? Well, this Crown7 "electronic cigarette" will allow you to enjoy some piping-hot nicotine wherever you are, be it a place that allows smoking or not. It's basically a nicotine vaporizer, using nicotine cartridges to give you the drug you so badly crave. They market it as an answer to smoking bans, but it seems just as suitable for helping you quit your disgusting habit as well. [Product Page via Coolest Gadgets]

Infiniti's Around View Camera System, When Looking Out Your Window Just Won't Do

blongo3 — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 15:40:07 EDT

Infiniti's unreleased 2008 EX35 has lots of fun new features like self-healing paint and automatic folding rear seats. It even has something called the Around View camera system. It basically works just like those backup cameras that started showing up a few years ago, but now you can see to the right, left and front of you as well. I'm pretty sure that I'm the only person that could actually benefit from something like this. Since my garage is so narrow that I have to pull both of my side mirrors in just to fit, which makes pulling out just a bit trickier. [AutoSpies]

Electronic Bread Maker Looks, Acts Like a Rice Maker

Jason Chen — Thu, 24 May 2007 20:20:42 EDT

We've never made homemade bread ourselves, but if we had these Japanese National automatic home bakery systems we just might. It looks just like a rice cooker, and allows you to pour in all the ingredients at once, press a button, and JIGGITY JAM, you've got bread.

If you don't like bread, it also makes pasta, cake, mochi, and raisin bread. Though raisin bread is still bread. But much, much more delicious. You know what else is delicious? Raisin bread. Oh wait, I just said that. – Jason Chen

Product Page [National via Tokyo Mango]

Start The Kids Off Right with the Mini Horse Racing Track

Travis Hudson — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 11:42:42 EST

Some of my fondest memories as a kid included spending time at the horse track while my father gambled away all of my college savings. Man, those were the days—all of the second hand smoke I could handle, for free! This toy is for those less adventurous parent types that still want to expose their children to the basics of gambling. The Mini Horse Racing Track comes with six horse and six interchangeable jockeys, all of which have varying weights that can change the outcome. $120. – Travis Hudson

Product Page [Via OhGizmo!]

Electronically Heated Vest

Jason Chen — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 15:35:44 EST

A northern cousin of the Electronically Heated Pants, this heated vest keeps your core warm so that your extremities will stay toasty as well.

Remember that scene in Batman Begins where Bruce Wayne is told to warm his chest so his fingers and toes won't fall off? Yeah, now Batman carries one of these under his suit at all times. And at a price of $129.95, he can afford about ten million of these. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Hammacher via Gearlog via uber gizmo]

Milan Hosts Electronic Culture Gathering

rhbaby — Mon, 27 Mar 2006 08:59:00 EST

Musicians and artists will be congregating in Milan on April 6,7 and 8 for a cornucopia of events surrounding digital music, culture and technology. Moving through 9 different venues, there promises to be something interesting for anyone involved. Art exhibitions will flow into designer showcases and the evenings will be filled with the OONTS! OONTS! OONTS! of electronic and club music. The event is tagged as a celebration of electronica and club culture, so BYO-glowstick.

Elitamusic [elitamusic.com]