Gizmodo: smelly

Japanese Site Asks You to Track Your Sniffs

Elaine Chow — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 03:00:00 EST

A Japanese site has found an odorous purpose for Google Maps—using it to track down weird and stinky smells they encounter in the Land of the Rising Sun. Get a whiff of something sour? Go to Nioibu.com and tell everyone.

Users sign up on the site and enter reports on what they encounter, kind of like Gawker Stalker—but for odors. According to the lists of encounters though, it doesn't seem like it's only for bad smells—watermelon and curry make the list too. [Japan Probe]

Asus F6 Comes With Webcam, 13-inch Screen, Eau de Asus

Elaine Chow — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 11:00:00 EDT

Looks like Asus is sniffing out the next big thing now that it's found heaps of success with its EeePC concept, and has decided that what the world really needs is a notebook that can function both as a mid-range computer and an Air Wick. The Asus F6 boasts a 13.3 inch screen, an integrated webcam, an Intel Core2 Duo processor, up to 4GB of DRAM support, up to 320GB of HD space and comes in four scents – Floral Blossom, Musky Black, Morning Dew and Aqua Ocean. Asus doesn't say how long the fragrance is supposed to last, or whether you can reapply it. But for a couple of days at least, when the patrons of your local coffee shop wrinkle up their noses and ask “What's that smell?” you can proudly say “Me.” [Asus via Far East Gizmos]

P.U. Smelly Board Game Begs for an Adult Version

Jack Loftus — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 15:00:00 EDT

Sure, the kids will have a blast filling their nostrils with various scents while playing PU: The Guessing Game Of Smells, but what about the grown ups? Where is our late-night olfactory adventure, made physical by a $28 game board? While the kids search for the mischievous skunk in P.U., using their noses to hunt for clues, what are we adults going to do to pass the time? These are the things I need to know. Meanwhile, I'll be playing P.U., by myself, trying to guess which cards are peppermint, burnt rubber, cut grass, or "the dreaded doggie doo doo." [Lighter Side via Random Good Stuff]

This Eco-Friendly Oven Stinks (Because It Runs On Garbage)

Benny Goldman — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 13:58:01 EDT

In the Kenyan slum of Kibera, outside of Nairobi, an oven fueled by garbage is now in testing. At its heart is a superheated steel plate that vaporizes drops of water. The oxygen released burns discarded sump oil from vehicles, reaching even higher temperatures up to 930° Fahrenheit. Garbage is then used to maintain the heat.

Residents can use the oven to cook hot meals or make hot water for washing. The system's added benefit is that it reduces waste in the area, a problem that has gotten so bad that it is beginning to destroy Kenya's plains.

Recognized as the first of its kind, the concept has caught on quickly, and plans for 20 more are already in the works. As people are increasingly drawn to urban areas, excess waste is rapidly becoming a critical problem. There are still some obvious kinks to be worked out, such as containing the fumes from the burning garbage.

The oven was built with the help of a $10,000 grant from the United Nations Environment Programme. Advocates of the oven hope that the technology works well enough to be employed in large cities everywhere. [Christian Science Monitor via Treehugger]