The childproofing is really pretty simple: When you're done cooking, or when the stove top is not in use, simply remove the magnetic discs from their holders and the unit is effectively impossible to turn on. Presto change-o, no toddlers running around your kitchen screaming to child services that they have third degree burns on their hands and arms.

And as the picture implies this is an induction unit that's the perfect fit for your eclectic collection of cut in half skillets and other cookware. [Press Release via Born RIch]

The core of the regime's online efforts is a process called deep packet inspection, which essentially scans nearly all internet traffic for offending material and can give authorities the ability to block the offending communications or, more importantly, identify where they came from. As you can imagine, this is quite a terrifying prospect for protesters, journalists and dissidents.

Here's how it happened: In 2008, the Iranian government contracted Nokia Siemens Networks, among others, to help update its communications infrastructure, predictably requesting power to monitor and control internet traffic. With the government's full monopoly on the industry and poor human rights record in full view, Nokia Siemens Networks obliged, installing a cutting-edge "monitoring center", which the WSJ calls one of the "most sophisticated" in the world.

Obviously Nokia and Siemens couldn't have foreseen this exact outcome, but honestly, what did they expect? For a government to use powers like this for good? [WSJ]

Isha Jain, who netted the individual title (bagging herself a $100,000 scholarship in the process) acknowledges that women are under-represented in those disciplines. "The guy-to-girl ratio in math and science competitions is absolutely ridiculous," admitted Isha, above, a student at Freedom High School in Bethlehem, Pa. "It's usually seven or eight guys to one girl."

So what does her win mean in the general scheme of things? "[That girls are] finally stepping up to the plate and are more than capable," she suggests. "And I'm proud to be a part of that."

The team prize, another $100,000 scholarship, was shared by Janelle Schlossberger and Amanda Harinoff, seniors at Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School in Plainview, N.Y., for their research into tuberculosis. [BusinessWeek]

An announcement, last Friday, set 2009 as the expected year for the first devices to be made commercially available. Specific details are not available yet, but it's early days yet. Now, here's hoping your car's system does not encounter fatal error 08 around the time you usually take your involuntary—"I think I have narcolepsy, I am too stubborn to see a medical professional"—daily driving nap. [Reuters]

Whispers abound that Playboy is about to launch itself into the mobile phone market, with LG, Motorola and Siemens (well, whaddaya know?) most likely front-runners to carry the iconic bunny badge on their mobiles. Anyone have any questions? I know I do...

1. Is the Playboy phone aimed at anyone else apart from tweenagers and 25-year-old male virgins?
2. Will it come in pink?
3. Will it have a larger-than-normal earset?
4. Just how seismic will the vibrate mode be?
5. Are you going to have "ringmoans" instead of ringtones?
6. How about free calls to sexy chat line operators?
7. Why didn't you just stick a keyboard on a dildo and have done with it?

– Ad Dugdale

Playboy looking to enter cellphone game? [Electronista]

A 60-watt light bulb emits 730 lm, while a 50-watt halogen lamp has an output of approximately 900 lm

If only we had a price or release date. – Mark Wilson

Ostar (old model) [via devicepedia]

One step in the right direction comes from the Siemen's serve@Home Home Management System. Designed for mobile and remote interaction, this system can let you control various systems and appliances around your home wirelessly and via cell phone or internet.

And unlike similar systems cropping up, the serve@Home communicates wirelessly with appliances via encryption (VPN tunneling) to help alleviate some security concerns.

The system works by networking appliances equipped with a small slot in which a retrofit-able System Interface card is inserted. Using a 230 volt power supply and an Ethernet interface, this home management system can communicate with appliances via a wireless network. Using the home automation portal dubbed "cockpit" you can interface with your devices via PC, tablet PC or PDA. All features of your appliances can be changed or checked via this interface, as well as providing normal PC information functions such as email, web, music and television.

The serve@Home can you let you control pretty much everything in your home, from kitchen appliance, heating/air conditioning, lights and blinds to webcams and security systems. Preheat the oven from your office, turn on your AC on the ride home, check to see if you really switched off the oven—the possibilities are endless.

The system can also integrate switchable power sockets, which would be helpful if you wanted to disconnect your expensive LCD during a thunderstorm when away from home.

Since the infoModule was released in 2005 there are now 15 Siemens products integrated with this system and more on the way. You can easily add appliances at a later date thanks to the existing infrastructure and standard wireless protocols. According to Siemens, networked appliances carry an additional charge of around $66, while the system starter solution including infoModule is available from $330 to $1,322, depending on the options selected.

Still no word as to whether or not it puts your pants on for you. –Dana Bushman

Siemens serve@Home Home Management System [Siemens via Appliancist]

It is obvious what we would do. Owning a failing company like BenQ-Mobile would finally allows us to pursue an invention that has been lingering in our minds for years. BenQ-Mobile would finally allow us to produce the ... Jizzmondo! Remember the Gizmondo? This is that and more. The

Jizzmondo is a touchscreen mobile phone that can do GPS, media playback, Internet, e-mail, toasting, and more. It includes a 600GB hard drive, Bluetooth, push-to-talk and runs off a hybrid Windows VistOS X. It comes in a minimalistic white shell with Apple logos plastered all over it (it's okay, we can afford the lawsuits).

Oh, and did I mention the significance behind the name? Yeah, it will also be a unisex sex toy (think about it). The Jizzmondo will put the RAZR, iPhone, BlackBerry and Treo all to shame. Can any of those phones be crammed in various orifices for pleasure? I think not.

–Travis Hudson

Bankrupt BenQ Mobile Germany assets head for eBay [Reuters]

The thing even functions as a vertical steamer to take wrinkles out of that sportcoat you slept in last night. Plus, there's no need to use distilled water because it has an anti-calc system. This iron looks so radical you might want to store it in your trophy case for all to see. By the way, for $133 it ought to do more than heat and steam; it shouldn't be called "automatic" unless it actually irons all your clothes for you and hangs them in the closet. – Charlie White

Siemens automatic iron [Appliancist]

Product Page [Siemens, via BornRich]

Here's Jason's take on it. Because Jason was too stupid to realize Charlie already covered this, and wrote it up anyway.

Used only for monitoring nuclear power plants and a prop for my weekend "Learn to Point" learning annex class, this Seimens LCD is the craziest monitor this side of Leibermann's photoshop files.

Actually made out of eight separate, Voltron-esque LCDs, this monitor is undoubtedly out of everyone save for the richest Bond villains. But just imagine playing Gears of War on this baby. Duck and roll baby. Duck and roll! – Jason Chen

Product Page [Via Josh Spear]

Siemens knows that driving is really hard with a phone, PDA, GPS and stereo to worry about, so they've invented a system to read signs for you.

A camera scans the field ahead while an onboard computer searches for patterns. In the case that a speed limit sign is detected, a windshield display will place the new speed limit next to your current rate of travel. The system can also be configured to automatically adjust your cruise control accordingly if you are a "slowpoke".

Look for it in 2008 - after you're too poor from moving violations to ever afford it. – Mark Wilson

Product Page [via therawfeed]

Oh well, no more BenQ phones. – Travis Hudson

BenQ Bankruptcy Causes Furor [Spiegel Online]

Edit: It was just the German BenQ-Mobile division that was canned. Asia's market is still going strong, so yes there will still be BenQ phones, but none for the U.S., as usual. Bloops.

Ignoring potential usability issues with a vertical dial pad, the phone's features seem pretty top notch. It's got a VGA display, 3-megapixel camera, MP3/AAC/WMA/WAV playback and a microSD slot for expandability. It won't be released until sometime in 2007, but we're pretty stoked already. – Jason Chen

BenQ-Siemens' Secret Project - Oxyon Cellular Phone [Hand Cell Phone]

This BenQ-Siemens handset is sweet piece of kit, with its 3.2-megapixel camera, and 240 by 320 pixel screen. But it's more remarkable for its dock — a mighty throne that acts as a charger, PC sync cradle, speakerphone, and alert system that glows when you've missed a call or received a text message. Europe only, although it's tri-band GSM signal should work in the US if you can import one.

– Brian Lam

BenQ-Siemens SL91 [Slashphone]

This merger will be a 50-50 joint venture of Nokia's Networks Business Group and Siemens' carrier-related operations for fixed and mobile networks. So what the hell does that mean? Well hopefully it with improve the global phone service and technology between the two companies. So, better technology, and better service all around for Nokia and Siemens users across the globe. All-in-all this doesn't seem like that big of a deal, but maybe we will be surprised and Nokia and Siemens will do something pretty groundbreaking, but probably not. – Travis Hudson

Nokia and Siemens to Merge Their Communications Service Provider Businesses [PR Newswire]

Much like the Windows Live Messenger phones that have been popping up lately, this Siemens Gigaset S450 is a cordless phone that connects to the PC via a USB adapter. But instead of Windows Live Messenger, this phone works on Yahoo! Messenger—oh yes!

Now you can walk around the house, provided your house only goes 50 meters in each direction from the phone, and make calls through your landline or through Yahoo! Messenger. Pretty snazzy, if you're into the whole VoIP thing, and know people who use Y!M. – Jason Chen

Siemens Gigaset S450 Y Cordless Phone [Slashphone]