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Virtual keyboards aren’t exactly a new concept, but Nokia’s patent describes a cellphone with integrated equipment, which allows a virtual keyboard to be set up more rapidly. The patent, titled, “Mobile device with virtual keyboard,” does away with the need for a separate projector entirely, by instead using the onboard camera and optical sensors that…
Move over Optimash Prime and Darth Tater, because here comes Indiana Jones in Mr. Potato Head form factor: the Tater of the Lost Ark, complete with whip, fedora, leather jacket, gold idol and Harrison Fords’ Very Own Cheeky Smirk™. It will be announced next month, at the Toy Fair 2008 in New York. [Star Wars…
The Globus Mobile is a complete office workstation and chair hidden in a large ball. The concept by designer Michiel van der Kley can be moved to any place using its hidden wheels. When you want to work, you just swivel it open and bingo: you can slot in a laptop, perch on the padded…
We are not strangers to a crazy BBQ design or two, but this BFG BBQ—think Doom weapon, not friendly giant—takes the proverbial biscuit. Spotted on Flickr, and the work of an unknown Texan, the grill stands 19-feet long, has a 36″ x 60″ primary grill and a 12″ x 36″ secondary grill. The handle houses…
The Voz Sports Multy LYNK is a multiple-impact proof helmet packed with radio and Bluetooth communications gear. It’s also submersion-proof, so it’s suitable for a whole bunch of action sports where you need to protect your head while keeping in touch with pals at all times. In fact, this thing is more loaded with tricks…
Nokia’s 7900 cellphone, which we told you about previously, just got set for release this quarter. The 3G handset will have a 2-inch OLED display, 2MP camera, 1GB internal memory and a customizable keypad, where users will be able to select the backlight color from 49 different possibilities. The 7900 will retail for €375 ($547.)…
We brought you the fantastic news that Skype would be coming to a PSP carrying pocket near you soon, but it seems the plans have been disrupted. Sony Japan has just released information detailing an indefinite delay, as they screwed up on the headsets that were required—Sony’s microphone/speaker units failed to meet Skype certification standards.…
Plug this tiny stereo speaker system into your iPod shuffle’s plastic box, and you get a mini boom box plus the satisfaction of using something that you’d normally have thrown away. This (slightly) eco-friendly system from Bird Electron also fits inside a first- or second-gen iPod nano box and costs just $40. [Geek Alerts]
This awesome photo of Bell Aviation’s Rocket Pack, demonstrated at the 1964 New York World’s Fair, is featured in the book Exit to Tomorrow: World’s Fair Architecture, Design, Fashion 1933-2005. See also: Jet Flying Belt is Devised to Carry Man for Miles (New York Times, 1968) Jet Pack Video (1966) Where’s My Jetpack? (2007) How…
RCR Wireless News claims AT&T will launch their own mobile TV service as early as February 5, and the 3G, touchscreen LG Vu (better known as the LG Prada) will be the first phone to support the service. The service will use the same Qualcomm MediaFLO backbone as the Verizon V Cast TV video service,…
iPhone dev Nate True took a looksy inside the iPhone’s most recent firmware, and found that version 1.1.3 is already ready for SDK-developed applications, including widget support. Makes sense, but it’s good to know, too. [Cre.ations.net]
What do you get when you develop a digital camera that lacks one of the most important benefits that digital cameras provide? This EazzzY USB camera concept from designer Sungwoo Park that’s what. The device is stripped down to its bare functions—only one button, a pinhole sized viewfinder, and USB connectivity. Plus it is small…
You know, that beater car of yours would be infinitely cooler if it had a push-button ignition. Fortunately, HAL 9000 from Instructables has put together a comprehensive step-by step guide that teaches you how to install one. If you have some skills with a soldering iron and a basic knowledge of the equipment involved, it…
If all the talk of HD DVD’s demise wasn’t enough to actually convince you that it’s all but over for HD DVD, take a look at these numbers from the research group NPD. The two formats sold almost neck and neck in the week leading up to CES, but Blu-ray completely knee-to-groined HD DVD in…
Basically, Safe Turn is a wrist-mounted indicator light that automatically flickers to life whenever a cyclist raises his/her arm to signal a turn. In order to prevent the device from lighting during normal actions, like reaching for a water bottle or scratching the nose or ass, the device incorporates a “delayed start” feature that only…
A few months ago, Wizard Universe released a 50 Greatest Fictional Weapons of All-Time list and, as you might have guessed, geeks were up in arms. There were some glaring omissions (Wolverine’s claws?) and a serious mixup in the top 10 (He-Man’s power sword beat the lightsaber). Thanks to a survey delivered to 2000 moviegoers…
Cesar from Zune Insider says that the Zune 2.3 software update will hit today, bringing bugfixes a-plenty (but no new features). [Zune Insider]
Holy crap, Apple made a lot of money this quarter: $9.6 billion in revenues for $1.58 billion in profits. Or, in English, the most bank ever in Apple history. But it wasn’t enough to appease Wall Street’s insatiable hunger for green, ’cause the stock is bombing out in after-hours trading.) Contributing to that massive pile…
Adam of Lifehacker points us to this Voice Dial application for the iPhone, which allows you to record voice samples for any contact on your address book and bring it up just by talking. You can activate voice dialing with the two-press home button trick introduced in iPhone 1.1.1, but you can even put tags…
The Olympus SP-570 10-megapixel camera isn’t a DSLR, but it’s got fairly pro-level features, which means it’s perfect for the Gizmodo reader who’s just getting into photography. There’s a 20x zoom (520mm focal length equivalent), a macro-mode (26mm focal length equivalent) that allows you to shoot at up to 0.39 inches away, and wide angle…