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Inevitable: The Bastard Offspring of a Fridge Magnet and Digital Photo Frame
Digital picture frames are deepening their grip on society... they're bored with being on your keychain and desk, now they've got designs on your fridge door. Meet fridge magnet digital picture frames and try not to scream. Expensive fridges with built in LCD screens? No... just chuck a couple of these up and you can have cycling slideshow of all the family members. 2.4-inch LCD screens, 32MB memory, 11 hours of pics from the USB-rechargeable battery and a built-in clock display. What more could you ask for? $60. [Redferret]
science
Sour Milk Detector Saves Your Olfactory Receptors
Boffins have developed a smart chip that indicates whether milk has turned sour at the checkout, saving you the potentially unpleasant task of deciphering the health of the white stuff when you get home. The device will be sensitive to the thickness of the container's contents, and when it passes by the cashier's scanner it will begin to vibrate. If the contents is too thick, the vibration will be slower than expected and visa versa. Any detection of irregular speed vibrations will lead to an alarm being set off at the checkout, saving you cash and hassle. More »
haptics
Gadget Lab got a hands-on demo with a prototype magnetic levitation haptic control unit at Carnegie Mellon University, where they experienced the artifical feel (via magnets) of 3d rabbits, hard surfaces and vinyl records. In addition to simulating the general shapes of objects, the technology can accurately reproduce qualities like texture and elasticity using an interesting dual joystick set up.
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Maglev Haptic Control Technology Could be Used for Microsurgery, Robot Control
Gadget Lab got a hands-on demo with a prototype magnetic levitation haptic control unit at Carnegie Mellon University, where they experienced the artifical feel (via magnets) of 3d rabbits, hard surfaces and vinyl records. In addition to simulating the general shapes of objects, the technology can accurately reproduce qualities like texture and elasticity using an interesting dual joystick set up.
More »
home decorations
I can't say that I've seen too many great innovations in the world of curtains lately, but these Magnetic Curtains actually get me excited about something I previously thought only moms cared about. They're big ol' curtains, but they have small magnets embedded throughout, allowing them to be bunched up and stay together. If I had gigantic windows in a hip loft like the example above, I would be all about these. I somehow don't think they'd be as cool on normal-sized windows though. Oh well, they seem to just be a concept design anyways. [Product Page via MoCo Loco]
Magnetic Curtains Retain Whatever Shape You Put Them In
I can't say that I've seen too many great innovations in the world of curtains lately, but these Magnetic Curtains actually get me excited about something I previously thought only moms cared about. They're big ol' curtains, but they have small magnets embedded throughout, allowing them to be bunched up and stay together. If I had gigantic windows in a hip loft like the example above, I would be all about these. I somehow don't think they'd be as cool on normal-sized windows though. Oh well, they seem to just be a concept design anyways. [Product Page via MoCo Loco]
furniture
Hoverit Lounger: Relaxation Through Levitation
The latest in relaxation technology comes to us from British company Hoverit in the form of a handmade acrylic lounger that can hover in mid air. As you might have guessed, the gravity defying aspects of the chair derive from repelling magnetic forces in both the bed and base. Hoverit also suggests that the magnetic forces can "help back, muscular problems and headaches" in addition to delivering a relaxing sensation akin to floating on air. More after the break.
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gadgets
Our cooking experience barely goes beyond "Fire. Bad. Keep. Away," but these GE Monogram and Profile induction cooktops have the highest wattage element from an induction cooktop ever. The 3700-watt cookers use magnetic fields to heat up your food, as opposed to gas or electric cookers. Induction cooking's been around for a while, but as evidenced by the small shot of a bunch of ice cubes sitting on the same plate as a tray of boiling water, this technology is fancy. Just cause they're as close to Star Trek as you're going to come in the kitchen, save for the microwave or something. [GE]
New Induction Cooktops from GE Are the Highest Wattage Ever
Our cooking experience barely goes beyond "Fire. Bad. Keep. Away," but these GE Monogram and Profile induction cooktops have the highest wattage element from an induction cooktop ever. The 3700-watt cookers use magnetic fields to heat up your food, as opposed to gas or electric cookers. Induction cooking's been around for a while, but as evidenced by the small shot of a bunch of ice cubes sitting on the same plate as a tray of boiling water, this technology is fancy. Just cause they're as close to Star Trek as you're going to come in the kitchen, save for the microwave or something. [GE]
i can fly!
Embotec Magnet Keyboard Floats Keys
Embotec has just revealed a new concept keyboard that breaks the mold of traditional typing devices, accepting the crush of our fingers with either a spring or rubber base. Instead, the Magnet Keyboard levitates the keys from the board, and regulates the levitation through electromagnetism. More »
nerd magnets
Steampunk Robots are Totally Awesome
We have a well-documented steampunk fetish here at Gizmodo, which is why we totally popped some tents when we saw these amazing steampunk robots by sculptor and animator Stephane Halleux. They're beautiful in their detail, although unfortunately, unlike real robots, these guys don't move. I could see these fetching some pretty high prices as pieces of art, however. Nice work, Stephane. [GadgetLab]
putting magnets where?
Magnetic Contact Lenses Keep Tabs On Where You Look
By slapping magnetic contact lenses onto your eyeballs, sensors can track where you're looking. This could have important applications for the disabled, especially for those who rely on their eyes for control instead of disabled body parts. Right now, however, the Office of Naval Research is the largest sponsor, so you can probably file this patent under Helping Us Blow Shit Up. More »
japan
Magnetic Pajama Buttons Get You From Clothed to Naked in 0.5 Seconds
If you're anything like us, your major complaint about pajamas is that they're just too hard to take off. That, and how urine stains never seem to wash out completely. These magnetic pajama buttons don't do much about problem #2, but they totally take the clothing-removal equation to the next level. More »
magic magnets
Magnets Might Chase Those Blues Away
We've been hearing wild stories recently about researchers using magnetic stimulation of the brain to make a sleep-on-demand machine, and now here's a magnetic brain stimulator that psychiatrists might use to treat clinical depression. It's supposed to send an electromagnetic pulse 3cm into your brain, and somehow stimulate the prefrontal cortex, that part of the brain responsible for making you a civilized human being. More »
gadgets
Here's a cool trick Eric Stroud and and Michael Herrmann discovered: Sharks hate magnets. And the thing is, anyone who is a shark geek and a magnet geek can kind of mentally put it together. With the shark being able to sense weak currents in the water, this has GOT to feel like chewing tinfoil to Jaws. Next up: Magnets sewn into wetsuits.
How To: Repel Sharks with Magnets
Here's a cool trick Eric Stroud and and Michael Herrmann discovered: Sharks hate magnets. And the thing is, anyone who is a shark geek and a magnet geek can kind of mentally put it together. With the shark being able to sense weak currents in the water, this has GOT to feel like chewing tinfoil to Jaws. Next up: Magnets sewn into wetsuits.
gadgets
Magnetic Clothes Hangers Give Your Closet Freedom
gadgets
Never Lose a Screw Again with Magnogrip
Whether you are a gearhead or a computer repair monkey, dealing with small metal parts is inevitable. The Magnogrip is a powerful, wrist strap that can hold all things metal with the help of magnetism. It may not hold a sandwich (unless you enjoy an aluminum hogie), but the Magnogrip will make sure you never lose a screw, nail, bolt or nut again. $15. More »
gadgets
How To Make a Strong Refrigerator Magnet
If those dinky Pizza Hut magnets don't have the OOMPH to actually hold up Pizza Hut coupons, you'll want to try this DIY project to make your own fridge magnet. All you need is an old hard drive, some wire, and a few minutes. More »
peripherals
CrazyPC Hovering Mouse ... Hovers, Likely is Carcinogenic
It's a fake. Still neat, though. More »
gadgets
