Wii Fit Bulks Up

Nintendo has announced that it will be releasing the new Wii Fit Plus on October 4th to the joy of Wii Fit Fanatics and couch potatoes everywhere. The new, improved Wii Fit has some new features that will have players scrambling to get back on that balance board including new yoga activities and strength training as well as new games like "Rhythm Kung Fu".

Gamers can also create their own specialized workout sessions based on the amount of time they have to spare at the moment. Health nuts will also be able to see the amount of calories they've burned during the session. And they've also added a way to weigh your pets so you can make sure that Fido and Kitty aren't packing on the pounds. Users can seamlessly use activities on the original Wii Fit and the upgrade to work up a digital sweat with the goal of bring your Wii Fit age closer to your actual age.

The Wii Fit Plus bundle comes packaged with the game and the trademark Balance Board will set you back $99.99. If you were ahead of the curve and already own the original Wii Fit, you can pick up the upgrade disc separately for only $19.99.

Via Coolest Gadgets

Freecom struts out world's only USB 3.0 external hard drive

No frills, sauciness, or eye-candy here. Instead, it is a hard drive that claims to hold enough raw speed to help you cruise to USB 3.0 readiness, supposedly to become a worldwide standard by 2012. It is XS 3.0, the world's first USB 3.0 external hard drive announced by Freecom. The hard drive guarantees rapid transfer speeds thanks to its 'SuperSpeed USB' technology, and what you will see on the grounds as proof of that claim is currently the quoted 130MB/s speed. Freecom is expected to launch a USB 3.0 "controller" to allow users to take advantage of the USB 3.0 speeds on the XS 3.0, though they don't promise that anytime soon.

To get into the specifics, the XS 3.0 is rather boringly clad in a black rubber enclosure and claims an almost silent operation as it is designed with a fanless cooling system. With looks that resemble pretty much a leather bound book, it weighs in at around 1.9 pounds. It is backward compatible with all USB 2.0 systems and sports AES 256 bit encryption standard. The pricing is quite reasonable too, with the 1TB drive priced at 119 Euro (about $175 US). Expect the numero uno to hit the market by mid November in 1TB, 1.5TB and 2TB sizes.

Via PCLaunches.

LG releases XD3 minimalist, portable HDDs

It seems LG has sent out its portable HDDs for a facelift and ended up with a luscious makeover - the XD3 slim, portable HDDs announced for the Korean market.

And the results are appreciable in a single glance - a high-quality, brushed aluminum casing that comes in four colors (red, gold, black and silver) and with rubber padding for shock absorption, plus an enviable 13mm thickness. While it comes to specs under the hood however, there aren't many to make you blush - as with earlier storage drives from LG (XD1 and XD2), the XD3 is available in capacities of 320GB and 500GB, with the same USB and SATA II connectivity. It retails in Korea at a price of 110,000 Won (US $90).

Via Engadget.

Cheat sheets galore for free, just print and go

Oh, boy, here's a treasure. TechPosters offers hundreds of printable cheat sheets for nearly any piece of software, and some hardware too.

For free.

Lots of this stuff is nerd nirvana, but there's plenty for lesser mortals too: everyday programs from Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, you name it. Also an incredibly deep trove of all things Google. You can even brush up on elderly classics like ASCII.

Look in the right-hand column for links to all this and more.

TechPosters says it's technical posters and cheats for IT guys. But apparently any visitor is automatically one of the guys.

Vivienne Tam and HP Unveil Digital Clutch at Fashion Week

Apparently renowned fashion designer Vivienne Tam and computer giant HP have found the sweet spot in fashionable tech. The two have joined forces once again to create the 2010 Vivienne Tam Digital Clutch. The eye-catching tech hit the runway at Tam's Spring 2010 show during Mercedes-Benz's Fashion Week.

According to the press release on HP's website, "The new look in digital clutch chic marries two cultures – fashion and technology – to reflect a transformative spirit and sophisticated lifestyle. It fuses high fashion, small form factor and innovative function to take the personal computer from a necessity to a lifestyle statement for modern-day women on the go." I don't know about all that, but I will say that I appreciate the toned-downed aesthetics on this notebook unlike last year's blaring pink number.

The butterfly motif on gold background is based on the classic Chinese love story concerto "Butterfly Lovers." No word on yet on actual release date or pricing, but if the Tam 2009 netbook is any example, expect to shell out an extravagant amount of cash for a basic setup in a pretty shell.

iTwinge helps the keyboard obsessed get around their iPhones

It is probably the most whispered device in the geek blogosphere, and we wouldn't be exaggerating if we were to place it right behind the recent Apple event, in the order of importance. Only because the placement happens to be quite literal - the iTwinge is the world's first keyboard designed to work with the iPhone 3G and 3GS. Now you see?

The iTwinge is sympathetic towards those with "two left hands" - a terminology we just made up to describe those of us who are never comfortable with the idea of using a touchscreen to its fullest extent and long for the luxury of a real, tactile keyboard. This QWERTY keypad attaches itself to the bottom of your iPhone and works like it came along with the device when you bought it. Nah, we are not so sure if the user experience is so seamless, but we sure hope it leads the way for more (and better) options to show up.

The iTwinge is available for pre-order now and will ship on November 19th at a price of $29.99.

Via Chip Chick.

Gadget Makers Can Find Thief, But Don’t Ask

For decades, when an item was lost or stolen, a consumer went through three stages of grief: anger, mourning, and acceptance. You would be miffed, then sad and then you would move on, in large part because moving on was the only option. Then came the Digital Age and with it, gadgets that manufacturers can keep tabs on–and even profit from–when they wind up in the hands of someone who has found or poached them. Which, in turn, has led to a fourth stage of gadget-related grief: rage. Specifically, rage at the gadget makers, which often know exactly who has a missing or stolen device, because in many instances it has been registered to a new user. But many tech companies will not disclose information about the new owners of missing devices unless a police officer calls with a search warrant. Even a request to simply shut down service–which would deter thieves by rendering their pilfered gadget useless–is typically refused.

The problem, which nobody had to deal with before smartphones and satellite radios, has reached new heights with the Kindle reader from Amazon, with its ability to download books wirelessly and store hundreds of titles on a single device. On Web sites devoted to the e-book reader, including Blog Kindle and Amazon’s own Kindle Community board, many customers have been in a snit over Amazon’s policy on stolen Kindles. Samuel Borgese, for instance, is still irate about the response from Amazon when he recently lost his Kindle. After leaving it on a plane, he canceled his account so that nobody could charge books to his credit card. Then he asked Amazon to put the serial number of his wayward device on a kind of do-not-register list that would render it inoperable–to “brick it” in tech speak.

Amazon’s policy is that it will help locate a missing Kindle only if the company is contacted by a police officer bearing a subpoena. Borgese, who lives in Manhattan, questions whether hunting down a $300 e-book reader would rank as a priority for the New York Police Department. He began to see ulterior motives when he twice sent e-mail messages to Amazon seeking an address to send a police report and got no reply. “I finally concluded,” Borgese said, “that Amazon knew the device was being used and preferred to sell content to anyone who possessed the device, rather than assist in returning it to its rightful owner.”

Related Posts:

• Dell Currently working on Android gadget
• Facebook Tweaks Its Terms To Address Ads, Privacy
• Open Social Gadgets Now Available On iGoogle
• AT&T Denies Squelching Google Voice For iPhone
• Features Of The New Nokia Booklet 3G Mini-Laptop

MovieWedge brings mini theatre to your lap

Often attribute your stiff neck to the long, arduous hours of movie watching on your portable media player as you cradle it within your palm? Try the simple solution - prop it against a small stack of books. Or balance it upright against a wall. Or rummage around and create a makeshift stand. Not simple enough? Well then, you could stop watching movies on your PMP altogether, dammit. Or...

Get yourself a MovieWedge - the ingenious little stand that can comfortably cradle your iPod, iPhone or virtually any media player. The MovieWedge is a triangular soft stand that can hold up on uneven and unsteady surfaces, or assume different angles based on requirement. The stand itself is a body of microsuede fabric that can also double up as a screen cleaner for your device. Plus, the stand can work irrespective of the case or covering that your device is in. Totally effective.

In all, imagine how much pain you can dispel by shelling out just $9.95.

Via Slashgear.

A Television that Cares

Usually I'm not a fan of gadgets that are pink just for pinks sake, but NuVision's Lucidium FX5 Series LCD HDTV is doing it for a good cause. The limited edition, 32-inch pink-framed television will be shown at CEDIA (Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association) 2009. A portion of the proceeds from the sale will be donated to aid breast cancer research.

"We loved the idea of a pink-framed unit because it's not only an alternative to traditional 32" displays, but because of the obvious ties to breast cancer research. It's not only important for us to manufacture high-end LCD's, but we'd like to be known as a company that gives back as well" said David Hester, NuVison Vice Chairman.

The set still comes with all the Lucidium FX5 Series standards including the Film Times Five (FX5) and Frame Forward Motion (FFM) technologies that combine to create a legitimate 120Hz picture as well as clear, crisp motion shots which come in handy for sporting events and the like.

No word on when the pretty in pink LCD will hit the market or pricing, but it's a nice way to fight breast cancer and get some kick-ass tech.

Via ecoustics.com

Remote controlled candle is wax-free, flame-free

When principal household appliances such as the TV, DVD player, or home theatre dance to your tunes via that indispensable authority called a remote control, why should it not be possible to extend the luxury to other aspects of your home too? Well now, how about a remote controlled candle?

Strange as that might sound, you might soften your stand once your hear out the benefits. The Mooncandle has no wax or flame to get it going. Instead, it is a safe, color-changing LED candle controlled by a remote. What role does a remote play in the life of a candle you ask? It can switch the candle on/off, change the color, and best of all - make the candle accessible even when you place it in hard-to-reach corners of the house. You can even set a 4-hour or 8-hour timer for the candles to automatically switch off. Each LED candle has a shelf life of over 50,000 hours. And ofcourse, there are 3 x AAA batteries per candle that you've gotta consider. Only after you have convinced yourself of the $50 (per candle) price tag.

Via Gear Diary.

+Eco Clima Control Weather Station

It seems intuitive that predicting the whims of Mother Nature's should be environmentally friendly. The folks at Oregon Scientific have seen to that with their new solar-powered weather station from their +Eco collection.

The +ECO Clima Control monitors current outdoor and indoor temperatures and humidity and includes an atomically-controlled clock. It also features a graphical at-a-glance weather forecast. And, it's all powered by the built-in solar panel which, when fully charged, will power the unit for up to three months. Includes a remote sensor and is capable of monitoring conditions in up to four separate locations inside or outside your home. Backlighting helps you see the easy-to-read display at night and a mold alarm helps you keep tabs on one of the less-than-welcome whims of Mama Earth.

The Clima Control lets you go green and stay on top of the forecast with ease. Now if only we could get one that controls the weather…

Roll Film Clock is a sentimental tribute to that relic called film roll

You would want your grandchildren to know what a meaningful role that analog roll of film played in your life before the cruel world of digital cameras shoved it to retirement, wouldn't you? Now, we know all you need to do to accomplish that would be to set aside a film roll or two. Or, you could make a more interesting demo by getting a Roll Film Clock, which not only resembles an analog film roll, but can blend into your everyday life because it happens to be a digital clock in disguise.

Ironical as it may seem, this digital device is a pretty good tribute to the memories of the analog world that it aims to keep alive. By ticking in the current time in hour, minute, second, date, month and year like any good digital clock. And being snobbishly expensive at $62.

Via Coolest Gadgets.

Olympus announces µ TOUGH-6010 for the adventure hungry

Expect the new Olympus baby - Stylus Tough 6010 (µ TOUGH-6010 in Europe) - to perform just as bravely as it sounds while on rough terrain. This new member of the Olympus rugged and compact series is waterproof upto 3-metres, shockproof upto 1.5-metres and freeze-proof upto -10 degrees Celsius. Which makes it good enough to carry on your next adventure trip without the usual jittery feeling that you get with a normal digital camera.

The technical specifications include a 12-MP sensor, a 2.7" LCD screen with Tap Control, 3.6X optical zoom, 45MB internal memory with xD/microSD card options. The other new features thrown in - an i-Auto intelligent mode which "uses advanced automatic detection technology to allow the camera to recognise the five most commonly used scenes automatically", and Magic Filters which "enable special artistic effects to be created directly in the camera".

While you wait to lay your hands on one this month, we daresay you will need more than just spare change to pamper yourself with this beastie - it costs a whopping $488.

Via Digital Photography Review.

Daihatsu: Are you Loco for this Cocoa?

Japanese car maker Daihatsu recently pulled back the curtain on its latest creation. Dubbed the Mira Cocoa, this cute mini-car is specifically being marketed to women. The type of woman being targeted according to the press release jargon are in pursuit of a "fun and laid-back" lifestyle.

The name Cocoa was chosen to reflect how the car gives passengers that warm and fuzzy feeling that occurs when drinking hot cocoa heaping with whipped cream and drizzled with caramel and chocolate (okay, I added the whipped cream, caramel, and chocolate, but it's a great image right?). The design language for the Mira, includes catch phrases like "friendly modern" and "carefree". With it's rounded edges it's definitely non-threatning, but I'm not sure if I would describe the thinly veiled attempt to have the headlights and turn signals resemble eyes all that "lovable", but to each her own. The car's interior is designed to resemble a "well-loved bag." The Cocoa Plus features suede seats that has a deodorizing feature that keeps the car smelling fresh.

Rumor & Qix: an Eco-Sci-Fi book for Young Adults

Kathleen S. Wilson's Rumer & Qix: The Race to Terra Incognita traces the adventures of Rumer, a outgoing and curious 16 year journalist, and her robotic animal companion, Qix. Set in Nanjing in the year 3010, Wilson creates a world which has become entirely synthetic, until nature tries to make a comeback. In this eco-themed science fantasy story, we find our heroine bored of her beat covering Alfa, the largest and most successful company on the planet. However, Rumor quickly finds herself stumbling onto an adventure where she takes on global corporate conglomerates, as well as, solving secret family mysteries.

Although Rumor & Qix is Wilson's first novel, her is writing style is crisp and straight forward. Wilson is able to move the story swiftly move across many themes and sub-plots without losing the reader, even younger ones. Adding a strong female lead character and an eco-message, that avoids heavy handedness, is greatly appreciated and bodes will for Wilson future books.

The book is perfect for young people (girls and boys,) who have an interest in the sci-fi genre in these waning days of summer.

Rumor & Qix is available at amazon.com.

Robocalls are banned. Sort of.

The US Federal Trade Commission says there will be no more of those infuriating prerecorded telemarketing solicitations, known not so fondly as robocalls, unless you're so lonely you want them. Telemarketers, the government says, will now need written permission from the callee before setting the robots loose.

So, great, no more robocalls at dinnertime. Oh, wait. Except for the exceptions. Which include calls from charities, banks, politicians, insurers, phone companies, surveys--and, best of all, debt collection agencies.

Also permitted are telemarketing calls from actual humans--unless the phone number is on the National Do Not Call Registry. Find the Do Not Call registry here.

Domyos Gym in a Box

For those of us out there that don't have a Nintendo Wii and still want to get our fitness regimen from a video game, there's hope thanks to fitness company Domyos. The French company recently raised the curtain on the Domyos Interactive System (DIS) a potentially serious competitor to Wii Fit.

A complete gym in a box, the DIS is serious business. Instead of encouraging players to lower their "Fit Age", the system challenges you to an intense workout via an exercise mat, gloves for martial arts challenges, and a bike attachment. For those seeking a group sweat, fitness fanatics can attach more exercise mats.

The best part about the DIS is that it's console-less. Players simply plug the DIS into their television, insert one of the cartridges and viola, you're doing Olivia Newton John and Richard Simmons proud.

Retailing for £ 39.95 or $58.92 in U.S. dollars, the Domyos Interactive System is ready to whip you into shape.

Via Coolest Gadgets

Digital black-and-white clock is a milestone in minimalism

It is sometimes so frustrating to see a thing of beauty locked up inaccessibly with the tag "prototype". Well, life's not always fair now, is it? So it is with this beauty called the "black-and-white" digital clock from Kibardindesign. And designer Vadim Kibardin has created a totally new concept of a digital clock with this one.

The "clock" is actually a collection of four translucent white figures each of which can display a numeral from 0-9, can be independently controlled, and is powered by a self-contained power supply. The figures are made up of a polycarbonate material with the luminous part being an Organic Light- Emitting Diode (OLED). The figures are white in darkness and black at daytime. They can be fixed to any surface, to an alignment of your choice, and voila - you can proudly show off the most elegant clock in the neighborhood. Well, not quite. Remember us mentioning earlier that it is still a prototype? Boo-hoo.

Via Swissmiss.

Vaccines against swine flu, aka H1N1, ready next month

Four vaccines against the new infuenza, the one we used to call swine flu but now is known as H1N1, will be ready for distribution next month in the US.

This according to the government, which also issues another piece of good news: it appears that a single vaccination will keep this more-serious-than-usual flu at bay. For a while it was thought that immunity to H1N1 would require at least two shots, but the experts now say not. These findings apply to adults, though. It's still not clear whether children may need more than one dose.

Health authorities have worried that the coming Northern Hemisphere flu season will be worse than usual. A pattern with new flu viruses like this one is that they tend to be particularly severe the winter after they first surface. Hence the hurry to make a vaccine available quickly.

And of course we'll still have with us the regular old seasonal flu, which kills several thousand in the US every year. There's a vaccine against that one too, as usual.

Dealing with the flu this year will be particularly tricky because H1N1 and seasonal flu tend to attack different populations. The young are particularly vulnerable to H1N1, while seasonal flu mostly preys on the elderly and infirm.

Aiptek's PenCam Trio HD is Small, Real Small

Just when you thought mini-camcorders couldn't get any smaller, here come's the PenCam HD Trio from Aiptek. The 130 x 35 x 19mm PenCam has a an equally tiny 1.1-inch OLED screen that will probably ruin your eyes. But date with the opthamologist aside, the PenCam has some pretty cool features including the ability to shoot high definition video (1280x720p) that can capture up to 30 fps.

The mini-cam can also take some decent stills thanks to the five megapixel lens. The Trio can also upload directly to YouTube and has a digital voice recorder for taking notes. There's also 4GB of memory, plenty to store all the videos, notes, and stills you can throw at it.

Available in silver, black, blue, red, and purple, the PenCam is a Windows-compatible deal. No word on pricing yet, but we'll keep you posted.

Via Engadget

Vanity, Thy Name is Ad Notum

Let's face it. Sometimes we look so good its hard to stop checking ourselves out in the mirror. Ad notam, creator of the LCD mirror is about to make the dilemma that much harder, thanks to it's new Vanity line of mirrors. Shaped like a halved oval or a subtly curved "V", the Vanity is a stylish way to admire oneself.

The mirror is an ample 23.3" h. 11.2" w. 1.3", making sure there's more than enough view to go around. It also rotates horizontally and vertically so users can always find the right angle. The 5.6" patented LCD Mirror Image is nestled near the bottom of the mirror to further entertain the beholder.

The Mirror Image screen can support a number signal sources including DVD, PC, TV, and HD. It's customizable, so there's always a reason to peer into the looking glass. Prospective buyers can also choose from a number of mounting and sound options.

Easy to clean and pretty to look at, the Vanity mirror from ad notum is a cool place to say your daily affirmations.

Wallets by Petra in a bag

Whoda thunk that there was any use for the paint chip samples they have by the dozens in every home store other than to… well… pick out paint?

The creative talent behind Petra in a bag, has made sure there is an answer to that question… wallets.

Woven from recycled paint chip sample cards, Petra's wallets are not only unique, but the available choice of colors puts your latest J. Crew catalog to shame! The wallets are available in various styles as part of Petra's line of eco-friendly, hand-crafted goods that includes handbags, eye pillows, and newly-to-market cup cozies.

The wallets feature a clear, protective outer layer that adds durability. The larger models also have a color-keyed elastic to keep everything held in place.

If you like unique and like exclusive, a Petra wallet might be just the accessory you have been looking for.

Tweeting toilet proves that you don't have to be human to be a geek

Apparently it was a joke by this gentleman which got him hooked to Twitter. And his toilet too. Seth Hardy, a researcher for an anti-virus company, wasn't too fond of Twitter and decided to point out what he terms "very mundane stuff" on the site by hooking up his toilet (Twitter handle - @hacklab.toilet) with help from some microcontrollers, wires and Arduino boards to answer Twitter's "What are you doing?" question. But Twitter's subsequent explosion got him 580 followers and he says he is now hooked into doing something useful with his DIY experiment - to test out the Arduino boards.

And the trend has caught on pretty fast. Many home appliances are apparently substituting for humans on Twitter - @mytoaster has about 200 twitter followers, with only two alternating messages “Toasting” and “Toast is done.” If you find that a tad boring, there is also the popular Tweet-a-watt open source hardware kit from Adafruit Industries which let users post the daily energy consumption of their refrigerator or TV set to a Twitter account. There's more - @Pimpy3wash and @mattsoffice are a washing machine, and an array of home light and temperature sensors. More in this interesting read from Wired on how non-humans are invading this much-loved, much-hated social networking site.

And you thought only we humans feel the need to be noticed.

Rumer & Qix: an Eco-Sci-Fi book for Young Adults

Kathleen S. Wilson's Rumer & Qix: The Race to Terra Incognita traces the adventures of Rumer, a outgoing and curious 16 year journalist, and her robotic animal companion, Qix. Set in Nanjing in the year 3010, Wilson creates a world which has become entirely synthetic, until nature tries to make a comeback. In this eco-themed science fantasy story, we find our heroine bored of her beat covering Alfa, the largest and most successful company on the planet. However, Rumer quickly finds herself stumbling onto an adventure where she takes on global corporate conglomerates, as well as, solving secret family mysteries.

Although Rumer & Qix is Wilson's first novel, her is writing style is crisp and straight forward. Wilson is able to move the story swiftly move across many themes and sub-plots without losing the reader, even younger ones. Adding a strong female lead character and an eco-message, that avoids heavy handedness, is greatly appreciated and bodes will for Wilson future books.

The book is perfect for young people (girls and boys,) who have an interest in the sci-fi genre in these waning days of summer.

Rumer & Qix is available at amazon.com.

Wii Fit Bulks Up

Nintendo has announced that it will be releasing the new Wii Fit Plus on October 4th to the joy of Wii Fit Fanatics and couch potatoes everywhere. The new, improved Wii Fit has some new features that will have players scrambling to get back on that balance board including new yoga activities and strength training as well as new games like "Rhythm Kung Fu".

Gamers can also create their own specialized workout sessions based on the amount of time they have to spare at the moment. Health nuts will also be able to see the amount of calories they've burned during the session. And they've also added a way to weigh your pets so you can make sure that Fido and Kitty aren't packing on the pounds. Users can seamlessly use activities on the original Wii Fit and the upgrade to work up a digital sweat with the goal of bring your Wii Fit age closer to your actual age.

The Wii Fit Plus bundle comes packaged with the game and the trademark Balance Board will set you back $99.99. If you were ahead of the curve and already own the original Wii Fit, you can pick up the upgrade disc separately for only $19.99.

Via Coolest Gadgets

Kingston creates record, releases monster 256GB thumb drive

Seven years down the memory lane, I still remember the times when at the end of a day's work at office, I would have to erase the paltry few MB of data on my 256MB thumb drive to accommodate a few files that I would take home to complete pending documentation. That seems like eons ago as I sit here, seeing a picture of this monstrous 256GB thumb drive from Kingston - the first ever in the world - with shivers of excitement down my spine.

Kingston has just released the Kingston DataTraveler 300 - a 256GB thumb drive which will allow a whopping 51,000 images, or 54 DVDs, or 365 CDs, or a database of documents which in an analog world would translate into a 1km paper tower. This beast is plug-n-play, has a 20 MB/sec. read and 10 MB/sec. write speeds, with a "Password Traveler" security software for Windows, and supports Windows ReadyBoost on Windows Vista systems.

Well, not everyone can rejoice just yet though since the release is only for Europe and the UK. And for those of you who can, it won't be unreasonable if you expect to win a lottery to be able to buy one - it is priced an equally monstrous $924.

Via Engadget.

Project your Creativity with Nikon's Latest Camera

Nikon has just lifted the curtain on their latest camera and if it lives up to the specs, it promises to be one of the coolest cameras to debut this year. The Nikon Coolpix S1000pj is the world's first camera that has a built-in projector.

Without the brand new feature, the S1000 is a great camera. It has12.1 megapixels with a 5x zoom NIKKOR lens with up to 4x digital zoom, ensuring high quality, high-resolution photos. it also includes the Smart Portrait System with Skin Softening, Subject Tracking, and Quick Retouch to ensure the proper balance and contrast. You can check out all the photo action via the 2.7-inch Wide Angles LCD monitor.

Street Fighter IV Kicks Butt Diva Style

For all those gamer girls that have been kicking butt and taking names in Street Fighter IV Capcom has unveiled the "Femme Fatale" fightstick. Decked out in a pink and white casing with the standard arcade-style buttions, this fightstick is definitely a sight to behold. But this fightstick is more than eye candy featuring some of our favorite Street Fighter heroines, Rose, Sakura, Cammy, Crimson Viper, and of course Chun Li.

There is a catch however. The divalicious controller is a limited edition model with only a thousand being made with 650 being made for the Xbox 360 and 350 for the PlayStation 3. So if you're interested in owning one, you'll need to pony up that $159 before they're sold out. The Femme Fatale is currenlty retailing at the Capcom Store and Gameshark.

Via Technabob

Frost solar-powered air-conditioner makes your electricity bills lighter

Isn't it a smart idea that you make use of the scorching sun itself to keep you cool during harsh summers? Why not. And it just seems so perfectly logical, I wonder why solar-powered air-conditioners haven't made themselves loud enough (not literally) to be heard by folks like us who spend shameful amounts on our electricity bills all summer.

The Frost is a concept solar-powered air-conditioner designed by industrial designer Philip Stankard that uses stored solar energy to power its fans, and refrigerator freezer energy to provide a source of low temperature for the fans' breeze to circulate into your home. While the unit itself soaks up the sun and converts that into power to operate the fans, there is a removable freezer pack that you can put into the refrigerator's freezer unit for soaking up the ice. All you then need to do is switch on the unit and insert the freezer pack to get some cold wintry breeze.

Apparently it's not only a breeze on your electricity bill, but also an air-conditioner that looks swell. As there aren't more details available yet, one would assume that since this device doesn't seem to have the luxury of temperature regulation, it would perhaps be more appropriate to term it an air-cooler. Which still doesn't take anything away from how cool a concept this is. This time, literally.

Via Ecofriend.

Make Solar-Powered Robots with MzTek

Last February, I reported on MzTek, when they started their first workshop on introducing Wordpress. Now, the London-based women's media arts organization is upping the ante with their new workshop, Solarbots. For a mere £15, you can build your own solar-powered robot, which includes the costs of the electronics. Although you do need to bring extra ornamentation like fabric or feathers as the site suggests. The workshop is designed for novices, and both men and women can register.

Solarbots will be held on September 12th, from 11am - 5pm, at SPACE, 129-131 Mare Street, London E8 3RH. Get more information at info at mztek.org.

Go Girl can pull you through emergencies in pink elegance

While I am quite unsure of how many women amongst us would really look forward to prospect of peeing standing up, a "female urination device" (FUD) can sometimes be a saving grace when one is faced with hostile bathroom environments (herd-in the long queues, and unhygienic public toilets) or the lack of one altogether. And into this category, butts-in (pun unintended) a washable reusable FUD called the GoGirl.

The GoGirl is made of flexible, medical-grade silicone and comes with its own underwear (optional) to help you take perfect aim during those absolute emergencies. Need we say more? Only that we just gotta give it to their punch line. Don't take life sitting down.

You betcha. A single pack (one GoGirl, tissue and biodegradable bag) costs $6.99 while a pack of 3 costs $18.99.

Via ChipChick.

Nokia N79

Falling into the category of a smartphone-that-doesn't-look-like-a-smartphone, the Nokia N79 very nicely fills a niche in the vast array of mobile communication devices by packing robust PDA features into a sleek, fashionable candybar style phone.

The N79 is perfect for the busy executive, socialite, or about-towner that wants powerful calendar, contact, e-mail, and multimedia features without the bulkiness and utilitarian qualities of a Palm or BlackBerry… or the ubiquity!

Essentially an update to the Nokia N73, the N79 feature list is long. Standouts include: Symbian S60 3rd Edition FP2; 2.4" QVGA display with accelerometer and excellent readability / light sensor control; XpressOn covers - box includes several different shells that allow you to easily switch the color of your phone – switching the shell automatically switches the screen's color scheme to match; 5MP still / video camera with flash that is protected by a slide cover (which also activates the camera); secondary front-facing camera for video calling; Navi-wheel - lets you scroll through menus or lists iPod style; FM radio with integrated FM transmitter lets you listen to your music on your car stereo without additional hardware; handles up to 8GB microSD cards giving you lots of storage capacity for music, photos, and video; also includes Wi-Fi, voice-guided GPS, Quickoffice for working on-the-go, built-in stereo speakers, and, of course, HSDPA and Java-enabled browser to make internet surfing zippy.

The N79 is power in a small package and gets the thumbs up. The only real drawback is the keys. They are, indeed, a vast improvement over the N73 and one must take into account that there needs to be a balance between the relatively large screen and the keyboard size (and that I have large fingers), but it's definitely something to make sure you check out when considering this little beauty.

Currently on sale at the Nokia online store, so take advantage of the price drop now!

In Case of an Emergency, C.Y.A. with the Sterling Multi PowerStation

In case of a natural disaster, the Red Cross suggests that we have a couple of emergency kits prepared for each possible event - tornado, hurricane, fire, etc. Each kit should have basic survival fare like water, food, tools, and a first-aid kit. But what happens if you need to call for help and your cell phone has gone dead.

If you're smart enough to seek out this device, you'll never have to answer that question. The Sterling Multi PowerStation 5600 is a functional and practical gadget to have around in case of an emergency. The PowerStation is a hand-cranked, solar-powered gadget that can solve your power problems with a turn of the wrist. The device can fully recharge the included 3 AA rechargeable batteries, play FM/AM radio, and light a LED flashlight.

The best part of this potential lifesaver is its ability to charge cell phones and other mobile device through the packaged adapters. Unfortunately, this is currently a Japan-exclusive, so if you want to add this handy gizmo to your emergency kit, you'll have to export it over. But at $65 plus shipping fees, this isn't a bad piece of tech to have in the collection, especially when disaster strikes.

Via Gizmodo

HTC Tattoo does another Android, allows for custom tattooing

If the HTC Hero made you happy, just hang on until you see its hotstepper sibling - the HTC Tattoo. The Tattoo has just been announced and should we say, the specs are quite impressive too.

This 2.8-inch touchscreen device is pretty compact (106 x 55.2 x 14-mm / 113 grams) inspite of the features it carries. So count in a 528MHz Qualcomm MSM7225 processor, 512MB ROM, 256MB RAM, a 3.2MP autofocus camera, 3.5-mm headset jack, microSD slot, internal GPS, 900/2100MHz HSPA/UMTS and quad-band GSM/EDGE, 802.11b/g WiFi, digital compass, accelerometer, and Bluetooth 2.0. Yes, you will not miss the trademark Sense UI experience as HTC has extended it to this device as well. The covers are apparently fully customizable - and hence the device flaunts the name "Tattoo".

While the pricing is still under the wraps like a mystery tattoo in the making, the HTC Tattoo is expected to hit European shores this October, and then spread to the other markets in the months following.

Via Engadget.

Wallets by Petra in a bag

Whoda thunk that there was any use for the paint chip samples they have by the dozens in every home store other than to… well… pick out paint?

The creative talent behind Petra in a bag, has made sure there is an answer to that question… wallets.

Woven from recycled paint chip sample cards, Petra's wallets are not only unique, but the available choice of colors puts your latest J. Crew catalog to shame! The wallets are available in various styles as part of Petra's line of eco-friendly, hand-crafted goods that includes handbags, eye pillows, and newly-to-market cup cozies.

The wallets feature a clear, protective outer layer that adds durability. The larger models also have a color-keyed elastic to keep everything held in place.

If you like unique and like exclusive, a Petra wallet might be just the accessory you have been looking for.

New iPod Nano and iPod Touch Announced

Most of all what we predicted about the new iPods in our previously post has come out to be true, except for the rumor that claimed that iPod Touch would get a camera module.

Though we are pleased to see that Apple has made a fine improvement to the iPod Nano and it’s something that makes this little thing, bigger and enhanced. On the core, they have added a new camera module which takes photos and make videos on-the-go. Apart from that, Apple has added the Genius functionality to the iPod Nano, along with a FM-transmitter at last.

As for the new iPod Touch, its mostly the same at the guts, except that it will now be available in storage capacity up to 64GB and the 32GB and 64GB models will have support for OpenGL for better Graphics and performance, its quicker and improved. And for the pricing, the 8GB model of the iPod Touch will now be available for only $199.

Related Posts:

• iPhone 3.1 Firmware is Now Available For Download
• How to Update iPod Touch to Firmware 3.0 for Free?
• Dell Currently working on Android gadget
• iPhone 3.0 is currently accessible for Download!
• Unlock the Firmware 3.0 with Redsnow on iPhone 2G

Accordian cooler carries its own music to the beach

One of my greatest treasures while I was a school-going sun-burnt kid was a cheap, portable cassette player that disguised its actual origins by sporting the famous brand name "Sony" on its dull-gray body. Only, the "y" actually was a cleverly manipulated "v". But that didn't stop my first "PMP" from being my constant companion, inside the house and on all family outings - which also meant I carried loads of audio tapes on all journeys, much to the frustration of fellow travelers.

And I see that you might have quite a few memories of your own to make if you manage to lug around this Accordian Expandable Music Cooler the next time you are out on the beach or camping. Even as the collapsible cooler can hold can hold 16 cans for cooling, it promises to cater to your musical inclinations too - it carries a built-in AM/FM radio and an MP3 plugin. At just $25. Cool. But pack along some(?) extra batteries if you don't want to get disappointed - the specs don't say how many are required to run this thing. Or stay safe and be contented with your iPod.

Via Crunchgear.

Sandisk Sansa Clip+ mp3 player looks pretty, plays awesome

The successor to the Sansa Clip mp3 player - the Clip+ - is here and stands every bit as tall as its predecessor did, only, the changes will make you dance even without listening to the music. We swear.

The Sansa Clip+ packs a cute punch with its great looks and almost flawless design. It is sleek, uber compact (2.1 x 1.3 x 0.4 inches), and at 0.9 ounces, weighs a feather. The 1-inch OLED display maybe a little cramped for space, but can be forgiven considering the petite form factor. As regards the functionality, expect great sound quality, support for most audio formats (except AAC), 15-hour battery life, a built-in mic for voice recording and an FM tuner with an autoscan mode and 40 preset slots.

But the greatest gift of all is the microSD card slot which can accomodate preloaded slotMusic and slotRadio cards as well as your own music cards. So what you can look forward is creating your own vast library of portable music that is not even a great burden on the wallet.

Speaking of which, another aspect totally in its favor is that the Sansa Clip+ is unbeatably priced for a player that packs so many features - the 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB options (black, red, and blue) are available at $39.99, $49.99, and $69.99 respectively. The Clip+ is available at Best Buy or SanDisk now, but will move into retail stores in the US starting September 13th. Releases in Europe and Canada are slotted for end-of-year.

Check out a detailed review on CNET.

Cineman Swivel: A Sweet Tech Treat

Wow wee, a new pico projector! No, seriously WowWee Technology just announced that its latest product is available for pre-order in the U.S. and Europe. The Cinemon Swivel, their new pico projector is just as sweet as the name suggests.

Like most pico projectors, the Swivel is a portable multimedia device that allows users to watch everything from movies to slide shows anytime or anywhere. What sets the Cinemon apart from the pack is its ability to pivot on a 90 degree angle making it easy to project on almost any surface. It also uses DLP projection technology courtesy of Texas' Instruments which is supposed to give t a clearer, crisper picture than using LCD.

The Incredible Folding Vase

It's always good to have a vase or two around for all those random flowers from our many admirers, but more often than not, those big elaborate vases can monopolize a lot of space. Ohio-based company VazuUSA has come up with a clever and environmentally friendly solution. Unlike like traditional glass vases, the Vazu vase is an expandable piece of furniture.

Created from layers of heat-welded Polyethylene and Polyester, Vazu vases have the unique ability to be folded for easy storage and transport. By heat-welding the layers, the result is a material that has a bright glossy look similar to glass, but is virtually unbreakable. The manufacturing process used to make Vazu is less taxing on the environment than a regular glass vase.

The Vazu vase comes in a variety of colors and styles. With prices starting at $4.99, they make great gifts and are a inexpensive way to decorate the home.

Via Craziest Gadgets