DVICE Atom Feed tag:,2009:/3 2009-07-03T19:00:01Z We love technology. We want to know about it, write about it, and shake it till it breaks. Part of the SCI FI Network, DVICE has a worldwide team of writers who constantly immerse themselves in the tech world, distilling the sometimes-excessive information out there to bring you only what you need to know. Movable Type 4.24-en Fireworks projector simulates pyrotechnics any day of the year tag:dvice.com,2009://3.26275 2009-07-03T20:58:55Z 2009-07-03T19:00:01Z Missing the fireworks display this weekend? Never mind that, you can have fireworks every night of the year with this Sega projector, letting you design your own fireworks display by mixing and matching 55 different pyrotechnic simulations. This $160 doodad... Charlie White http://www.charliewhite.net/bio.htm ]]>Missing the fireworks display this weekend? Never mind that, you can have fireworks every night of the year with this Sega projector, letting you design your own fireworks display by mixing and matching 55 different pyrotechnic simulations.

This $160 doodad won't do you any good this weekend, though, because this fireworks projector won't be available until July 25. One other problem: this little light show is unlikely to provide that visceral thump in the gut you get from real world aerial bombs, known in the industry as "salutes."

That said, don't settle for a projector or a televised view of a fireworks display this year — get out there and see the bombs bursting in air first-hand, celebrate our nation's independence, and don't forget the bug spray.

Here's a video of the projector's output, underscoring why fireworks must be experienced in the real world:

]]> Felt PlayStation cover adorably transforms your iPhone tag:dvice.com,2009://3.26276 2009-07-03T19:55:55Z 2009-07-03T18:59:50Z Sony may be looking to make a phone to compete with the iPhone, but Etsy crafter "rabbitrampage" has already come up with an adorable way to make your Apple product a little more Sony-ish. It's a classic PlayStation cover for... Kevin Hall ]]>Sony may be looking to make a phone to compete with the iPhone, but Etsy crafter "rabbitrampage" has already come up with an adorable way to make your Apple product a little more Sony-ish. It's a classic PlayStation cover for your iPhone made of felt, complete with an accompanying controller.

The PlayStation case runs for $20 whenever Rabbit has them in stock, and the controller will set you back $7. There are also although covers for other gadgets, including penguin and floppy disk covers for an iPod.

Here's how it slides into the PlayStation case (click the image to make it bigger):
Etsy-rabbitrampage-PlayStation-iPhone-cover.jpg

Etsy, via Geekologie

]]> One hand free: Cocktail party plate, version 2.0 tag:dvice.com,2009://3.26274 2009-07-03T18:39:46Z 2009-07-03T17:17:08Z Solutions to the problem of human beings only having two hands are always welcome around here. Here's an improved plate idea for cocktail parties, the Mantara Dish. This crockery design solves that problem of having a drink in one hand,... Charlie White http://www.charliewhite.net/bio.htm ]]>Solutions to the problem of human beings only having two hands are always welcome around here. Here's an improved plate idea for cocktail parties, the Mantara Dish.

This crockery design solves that problem of having a drink in one hand, and a plate of food that requires utensils in the other: designer Gabriel Contino envisions a mini dish with a place to park your wine glass that also includes a secure slot for that necessary spork.

Now you can have that right hand free to shake hands, working the room properly. Too bad this little invention is not ready for those Fourth of July cocktail parties where your humble DVICE narrators are often spotted.

Via Yanko Design

]]> ObamaBot added to robot presidents exhibit tag:dvice.com,2009://3.26273 2009-07-03T17:35:27Z 2009-07-03T17:01:50Z Walt Disney World just modernized its Hall of Presidents attraction, adding a new likeness of our current president, Barack Obama. Take a look at the video above and see if you think it captures his essence. We're thinking it looks... Charlie White http://www.charliewhite.net/bio.htm Walt Disney World just modernized its Hall of Presidents attraction, adding a new likeness of our current president, Barack Obama. Take a look at the video above and see if you think it captures his essence. We're thinking it looks pretty good, but does not quite make the trip across that proverbial "Uncanny Valley."

Not only did they add Barack Obama to the collection of 42 other presidents (remember, Grover Cleveland counts as two presidencies), but the Disney "imagineers" upgraded the exhibit with digital sound, projection and lighting.

We've seen the previous version of the Hall of Presidents, and although the robots move a bit slowly to be perfectly realistic, it's still an impressive tableau. Here's a video of President Obama recording the audio track for this new version:

]]> Coming this year: paper-thin batteries tag:dvice.com,2009://3.26272 2009-07-03T16:44:12Z 2009-07-03T16:39:35Z Better batteries are popping up regularly these days, and this one's on its way to the real world within six months. Some German smarty-pants researchers figured out how to slather together reactive layers that can magically create power, but the... Charlie White http://www.charliewhite.net/bio.htm ]]>Better batteries are popping up regularly these days, and this one's on its way to the real world within six months. Some German smarty-pants researchers figured out how to slather together reactive layers that can magically create power, but the trick is that all the necessary components put together are less than a millimeter thick.

The secret? They're using manufacturing techniques that are similar to printing.

Imagine the devices that this 1.5 W power source could enable. Sure, you might need a few of them to power a cell phone, but there could be outlandishly flat handheld gadgets in our future if these batteries really are ready to go before the end of this year. Amazing. Maybe they should call them "flatteries".

Via CrunchGear

]]> Michael Jackson to be buried in 14-karat gold coffin tag:dvice.com,2009://3.26271 2009-07-03T15:57:39Z 2009-07-03T17:32:42Z Michael Jackson's final flamboyance will be the vehicle in which he's delivered to his final resting place: This 14 karat goldplated custom casket that will be the center of attention at Tuesday's memorial service at the Staples Center in... Charlie White http://www.charliewhite.net/bio.htm ]]>
Michael Jackson's final flamboyance will be the vehicle in which he's delivered to his final resting place: This 14 karat goldplated custom casket that will be the center of attention at Tuesday's memorial service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

The $25,000 container from Batesville Casket Company ("because every family deserves a Batesville") is made of solid bronze, plated with 14-karat gold, and polished to a mirror finish. It's the same model in which James Brown was buried. No question about it, it'll be the fanciest coffin in the graveyard.

With all due respect, sorry, this is nuts. Sadly, it's perfectly normal for the insane funeral industry in the United States. Maybe it befits such a wacko as Jacko. Perhaps those gravediggers will exclaim to each other — as they did in the old joke where a man was being lowered into his grave in the driver's seat of a shiny new Cadillac — "Now that's really living."

Might we suggest an Ecoffin instead?

Via Born Rich

]]> Ultra Lead a travel plug, albeit a bulky one tag:dvice.com,2009://3.26270 2009-07-03T13:05:51Z 2009-07-03T11:33:54Z Georges Moanack, a graduate from London's Royal College of Art, is the designer behind the Ultra Lead "electrical management system." It's basically a glorified travel adapter, but a lot better looking than the ones you buy at the airport (if... Addy Dugdale http://dvice.com ]]>Georges Moanack, a graduate from London's Royal College of Art, is the designer behind the Ultra Lead "electrical management system." It's basically a glorified travel adapter, but a lot better looking than the ones you buy at the airport (if you're like me, you've got about 15 of them sitting at home with nothing to do but file their nails and bitch about how their owner never takes them on holiday, because you forgot to pack them in your case) before jetting off somewhere.

There are British, European, USA and USB modules which you can buy separately, and they link together courtesy of the bright green adaptor. And if you're really bored, you can probably stick them together and revisit your childhood obsession with Sticklebricks.





Via Dezeen

]]> BMW Halbo concept: tiny motorcycle, hugely unsafe looking tag:dvice.com,2009://3.26264 2009-07-03T12:21:58Z 2009-07-03T00:16:00Z The conceptual BMW Halbo is one tiny motorcycle. According to the designer, it only takes up half as much space as your average bike. It's got your standard wheel up front with a motor built into it, and the rear... Kevin Hall ]]>The conceptual BMW Halbo is one tiny motorcycle. According to the designer, it only takes up half as much space as your average bike. It's got your standard wheel up front with a motor built into it, and the rear wheel is actually spherical, mounted on an arm that can move from side to side to help keep the whole thing balanced. That's good, because falling off this thing or getting in a collision looks like it'd be fatal.

Designer Pierre Yohanes Lubis reckons the bike would be good for "eco-minded young individuals," though he should probably add thrill-seeker in there somewhere. Check out the gallery below for more of the Halbo.



]]> Self-Portrait Machine is artistic, masochistic tag:dvice.com,2009://3.26268 2009-07-03T11:03:38Z 2009-07-03T11:06:39Z Wave hello to Jen Hui Liao's self-portrait machine, a robotic artwork that snaps a picture of you before manacling you to a drawing board and forcing you to sketch your own likeness. Unless, of course, you're strapped into the machine... Addy Dugdale http://dvice.com Wave hello to Jen Hui Liao's self-portrait machine, a robotic artwork that snaps a picture of you before manacling you to a drawing board and forcing you to sketch your own likeness. Unless, of course, you're strapped into the machine and unable to raise your arms from the paper.

Jen Hui Liao claims that he was inspired by the fact that "our personal identities are represented by the products of the man-machine relationship." Are we beginning to see a trend in artist-machine collaborations? British artist David Hockney has been using his iPhone to produce simple-yet-beautiful images. Now, that kind of art I understand.

Via Engadget

]]> ATNMBL concept vehicle offers the ultimate green geek, voice-controlled chariot tag:dvice.com,2009://3.26266 2009-07-03T07:57:11Z 2009-07-03T08:11:28Z The design team of Mike and Maaike created this concept vehicle to lead us into the future of environmentally friendly, technology forward urban vehicles. The ATNMBL car would be summoned by phone and allow you to control the vehicle via... Adario Strange ]]>The design team of Mike and Maaike created this concept vehicle to lead us into the future of environmentally friendly, technology forward urban vehicles. The ATNMBL car would be summoned by phone and allow you to control the vehicle via a set of simple voice commands.

Because the vehicle would not require you to actually drive, the ATNMBL is billed as a car that would allow passengers to drink, read its flat screen display, or simply relax and watch the scenery pass by through its large, panoramic windows. In addition to the style and comfort features, the vehicle would also be electrically powered, thus it would be the ultimate green machine chariot of the future. More specs and detailed information on the concept can be found here.

Via Core77

]]> SHIFT: Should cellphones work on planes? tag:dvice.com,2009://3.26263 2009-07-02T22:26:56Z 2009-07-02T22:26:33Z I recently had the misfortune of being in a grocery store with someone who felt the need to shout into her phone. From half an aisle away, I could catch up on her old roommate, who tricked her boyfriend into... Leslie Shapiro ]]>I recently had the misfortune of being in a grocery store with someone who felt the need to shout into her phone. From half an aisle away, I could catch up on her old roommate, who tricked her boyfriend into marrying her. Two aisles away, I heard about her weekend plans. Ice cream aisle, the foot fungus plaguing her mother. It felt like she was broadcasting to the entire store that she was important.

There are currently debates raging about whether cellphones should work mid-flight. Every time I hear about an airline possibly extending the network to planes, I think about my "friend" in the grocery store.

But there are a few more things to consider. My take on the in-flight conversation after the jump.

]]> Archos 9 PCtablet netbook runs Windows 7 tag:dvice.com,2009://3.26261 2009-07-02T19:58:58Z 2009-07-02T18:32:07Z Archos follows its competent media players — the Archos 5 and Archos 7 — with the Archos 9 PCtablet. Instead of a 5- or 7-inch screen, this one has a 9-inch touch-sensitive display, and its new-found versatility makes the 22-ounce... Charlie White http://www.charliewhite.net/bio.htm ]]>Archos follows its competent media players — the Archos 5 and Archos 7 — with the Archos 9 PCtablet. Instead of a 5- or 7-inch screen, this one has a 9-inch touch-sensitive display, and its new-found versatility makes the 22-ounce unit more netbook than mere media player.

It's packing more power than its brandmates, employing the latest Intel Atom Z515 processor, with storage choices consisting of either a 60GB or 120GB hard drive. Thankfully, instead of Archos's own clumsy operating system, this one comes loaded with Microsoft Windows 7.

We're hoping Archos has improved that touchscreen, which we found a bit cumbersome in the Archos 5 and Archos 7. Whether its resistive touch system will be as responsive as other advanced capacitive touchscreens remains to be seen. The company hasn't announced pricing yet, planning to ship the PCtablet this Fall. Here's the Archos press release:

]]> Anti-paparazzi device flashes lewd photographers right back tag:dvice.com,2009://3.26260 2009-07-02T19:14:16Z 2009-07-02T21:24:03Z Whether you're camera shy or too famous to look bad in a photo, Adam Harvey's flashy anti-paparazzi purse will return fire at snooping cameras (and blind anyone around you to boot). The device is equipped with a photo cell that... Kevin Hall ]]>Whether you're camera shy or too famous to look bad in a photo, Adam Harvey's flashy anti-paparazzi purse will return fire at snooping cameras (and blind anyone around you to boot). The device is equipped with a photo cell that — once it detects a bright, sudden flash — will trigger an LED-controlling circuit to let off a burst of light of its own. The result? A good majority of the owner of the purse will be obscured by a flash, and the photo will be useless. Obviously, this works best at night.

So far, a purse is the most accommodating and portable conveyance for the anti-paparazzi device, though Harvey is looking at ways to make it smaller so that it might work just as well on a necklace or tie.

PDN Gear Guide, via CrunchGear

]]> Samsung announces first cellphone with night vision video tag:dvice.com,2009://3.26259 2009-07-02T18:28:00Z 2009-07-02T17:57:09Z Samsung, the company that feels good about brand-spamming its customers with untold hundreds of barely-different cellphones, finally differentiates itself with the first cellphone equipped with a night vision video camera. Samsung says the SCH-W760's infrared camera is perfect for users... Charlie White http://www.charliewhite.net/bio.htm ]]>Samsung, the company that feels good about brand-spamming its customers with untold hundreds of barely-different cellphones, finally differentiates itself with the first cellphone equipped with a night vision video camera. Samsung says the SCH-W760's infrared camera is perfect for users to videoconference in the dark.

We weren't aware the kids these days are calling those nocturnal interactions "videoconferencing," but hey, we do our best to keep up. Like you see in the pic above, this technology might be great for shooting videos of owls, and other night creatures.

Other than that 3-megapixel night shooting trick, this 3G slider is fairly conventional, using a 2.8-inch AMOLED display with 240x400 resolution. Available in Korea first, Samsung isn't saying if it will find its way Stateside, but we're guessing this see-in-the-dark cellphone tech will soon be widely available.

Akihabara News, via Electronista

]]> How do fireworks work? tag:dvice.com,2009://3.26258 2009-07-02T17:44:59Z 2009-07-02T17:23:38Z There's only a couple of days until we gaze at explosive eliminations, jaws agape while vocalizing ooos and aaahs rivaling those coming out of a streetwalker's boudoir. But what makes them work? The fireworks, that is. Those colorful detonations are... Charlie White http://www.charliewhite.net/bio.htm There's only a couple of days until we gaze at explosive eliminations, jaws agape while vocalizing ooos and aaahs rivaling those coming out of a streetwalker's boudoir. But what makes them work? The fireworks, that is.

Those colorful detonations are chemical-laced bombs, carefully configured for explosive effect, and launched with lift charges from mortars, with fuses lit by brave souls wearing fire suits. Sometimes, they're lit by computers and remote controls.

We got to see 10,000 of these bombs lit, fired and launched, up close and personal last year. It was unforgettable.

Via Gizmodo

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