Mobile Devices

Posted Jan 31st 2008 2:18AM by Thomas Ricker
Filed under: GamingAfter bleeding red for months, Sony’s games division finally turned a profit last quarter. This after Sony slashed prices on consoles, boosted game titles, and cut production costs internally. Of course, we’re sure Wii shortages aren’t hurting Sony’s bottom line either. Sony did lower its annual sales goal of PS3s from 11 million to 9.5 million (citing a slow start) while increasing projections of PSPs to 13 million from 10 million as originally expected. Sony’s fiscal year ends in March. Overall, Sony’s profits rose 25% for the quarter. Welcome back to black Sony, it’s been a long time coming.

Sometimes it’s a bit of a challenge to tell the exact time on an analog clock. Sure, you can say “it’s about quarter-to-three”, but it really might be 2:47. This intricate wall clock tries to solve that problem by displaying every individual minute as a separate point on the dial.

Looking like a cross between a clock and a Sputnik satellite, the TikTak clock by Dutch designers Niels van Eijk and Miriam van der Lubbe makes a strong visual statement. Each number on the dial is represented by at one or more metal arms with digits of varying sizes hanging on their ends. Numbers are arranged in interleaved layers of powdercoated metal in varying shades of grey to create depth, while a red second hand really stands out when in motion.

While it’s a bit overwhelming to read, I do really dig the clock’s retro-modern design sensibility. The substantial timepiece measures almost 24-inches in diameter, making it a bold addition to any wall. You can find the TikTak clock at Habitat UK for £89.00 (appx. $177 USD).

[via pan-dan]

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Posted Jan 30th 2008 8:32PM by Joshua Topolsky
Filed under: Cellphones, Features, GPS
Well, ask and ye shall receive. We wrangled some of the Garmin folks to get a better view of the nuvifone, and wouldn’t you know it… we did! Check the gallery below for some close-up action with a non-working model, and comparison shots of the device with the iPhone. The phone feels light and lean in your hands, we should note, and we’re told that the model we were handling was close to what the final weight will be — it’s a pretty impressive and clean design once you see it up close. Enjoy some pictures you can actually see.

Gallery: Hands-on with the Garmin nuvifone

If you’re a fan of the Simpsons and have a crush on Mr. Burns, this webcam available at ThinkGeek and priced at $50 can become the next item on your wish list.

While the camera has basic features, the important detail is being shaped exactly like the Simpons character.

In terms of specifications, the webcam can record/display video at the usual 30 frames-per-second, with a 640×480 resolution. As expected, it comes with a built-in microphone and is compatible with most Windows versions, as well as Skype, MSN, Yahoo, and AOL messenger services.

To make the placement of the webcam easier, there is a clip that can be “connected” to a laptop, or LCD monitor.

Product Page

Via GeekAlerts

Yup, if you guessed this was a UFO, crazy new portable grill or drug paraphernalia, you are wrong.  This funky looking Gizmo is called the Swiss Hot Steam Humidifier.

This compact humidifier boils water eliminating waterborne bacteria and viruses before pouring hot steam into the air improving air moisture in warm but very dry winter homes. The unit fits just about anywhere and is a conversation piece but actually works and can produce steam in as little as three minutes. You can adjust the output from one to two gallons per day and adjust the power consumption from 150- to 300-watts at the touch of a button. An LED illuminates when the humidifier requires additional water and the reservoir removes for ease of filling under a faucet.

Gimmie!

Suggested Price: $99.95

Don’t you just hate it when your neighbor’s dog starts to bark in the middle of the night for no sane reason at all? With the PetSafe Bark Control System, you can reign in just about any canines who seem to have a case for incessant barking no matter what time of the day it is. This tiny box emits a pulse that only a dog can hear, disorientating it so that the said pooch will learn to associate barking with aural discomfort. Theoretically, this ought to make them shut their trap, but I’m afraid it might make them mute forever - what happens when there really is a baddie trying to break into your home, and through months of PetSafe Bark Control System treatment, your neighbor’s rotty remains silent? You can pick this device up for $29.99.

I remember when I was in Jr. High. My PE teacher needed me to take something to the office. He didn’t have a hall pass handy, so he wrote it on the palm of my hand. How many of us have written down brief notes on our hands so as not to forget them? Now there’s a clever To-Do Tatoo which puts a to-do list where you’ll never lose it.

From a fun company called FRED, the dozen or so To-Do forms can be applied to your body anywhere you want it, and it also includes a skin-safe, washable-ink gel pen. Other cool items they sell include the “Cool Shooters Shot Glass Mold,” “Ice Kabob Swizzle Sticks,” “Chopstick Kids” (chopsticks for kids), a hub cap shaped flying disc called the Studebarker, and the “Batter Finger,” which is a handy silicone spatula in the shape of a finger so testing of the cake batter can ensue without sticking a dirty finger in the mix.

But my favorite? A watch with the face of the Almighty called “Jesus, look at the time!” Most of Fred products seem to be very kid friendly and run under $20. Many are also available at online retailers including Amazon.com

Looks like the $4.99 iPatch is now available for both the MacBook and MacBook Pro notebooks, working in the same way as the one meant for the iMac. Basically, this is a piece of plastic that slides over your iSight whenever your private life in front of the computer contradicts your public life and beliefs, or you could just want that added bit of privacy for yourself. Heck, the manufacturers are so up-to-date with the iPatch, there will even be a MacBook Air version rolling out this week.

So you’ve always wanted to head off into space since you were young, but somehow you weren’t too hot in maths and physics, hence landing a job that’s more down to earth. Relive those childhood dreams with the ZFlyer Hand Command R/C Astronaut that is basically the same kind of toy as those helicopters we’ve seen in the past, save for the fact that the helicopter model has been replaced with the image of an astronaut instead. Of course, it has one advantage where his flight can be controlled via hand gestures, following the lead of your hand instead of flying all over the place and being a nuisance to everybody else. This £24.99 toy takes 10 minutes to charge, yielding seven minutes of air time. Now that’s diminishing returns if I ever saw one.

Apple announced today that the AppleTV “take 2” update will be delayed. According to Apple the new “software will be available as a free automatic download to all Apple TV customers within two weeks.” Of course we were told two weeks during Macworld which would have meant yesterday. While its not a reason to hold off on purchasing an AppleTV, it is annoying to those of us who cannot wait to start renting HD movies.

Read [Apple]