Hasta La Gadget!

The WB250 Smart camera, Samsung’s $179 WiFi-enabled point-and-shoot, just scored a major sharing boost. The pocketable cam can now boot images directly to Evernote. After downloading a software update, WB250 owners will be able to sync their images with the service seamlessly — shots can then appear on connected smartphones, computers and tablets simultaneously. Users will also be able to tap into a 3-month Evernote Premium trial, bringing a 1GB monthly upload allowance and additional sharing options. Update your software to get started.

Filed under: Cameras, Samsung

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Source: Samsung (download link)

There are plenty of electric bikes these days, but from time to time, one comes along that sets itself apart, like this one from Germany’s Smart. Smart is best known for their ultra compact city cars, but I’m impressed with this e-bike too.

The Smart Ebike provides 250 watts of power from its front-mounted motor, and can reach speeds up to 15.5 mph. It’s supposed to be able to go even faster when you use the 3-speed gear hub. Its chain has been replaced by a carbon tooth belt, which is supposed to be more efficient and last longer than a normal chain.

It’s been designed to work for urban travel. Its rechargeable battery can cover up to 62 miles on a charge. It takes about five hours to charge it up, and there’s also a regenerative system that will top off the battery when coasting, braking or riding downhill.

[via designboom]

Remember SmartThings, which was on Kickstarter a few months ago? It was understandably a huge hit with backers who wanted to make their homes smarter. At the end of the campaign, $1.6 million had been raised and the first batch of kits had sold out.

Now here’s a bit of news about the system that will make its 6,000-strong backers (and countless others who are interested in it) happy: SmartThings has now released their Developer and Inventor Toolkit.

Perhaps the reason why so many people are drawn to SmartThings is its promise of an open-source platform for developers. This openness makes it a flexible option, especially for those who are looking for fully-customized home automation systems. And if they know programming, then they could even build it themselves (or ask some pros to do it for them.)

This sort of technology has been around for a while, but SmartThings has come up with something novel out of it. Of course, if you want to live in an automated home now rather than later, then there are other options out there that you can try out.

People who have had a chance to work with SmartThings has come up with a bunch of pretty interesting stuff so far, and you can look out for more since they’ve already released the toolkit:

So far the open community has created a SmartThings-controlled pet feeder, a baby mobile controlled via voice sensor, a movie theater remote to dim the lights and start the popcorn, and many more. The SmartThings Developer & Inventor Toolkit includes everything needed to create and rollout new SmartThings, such as an open community at build.smartthings.com that enables collaboration with other developers and inventors around the world.

[via AllThingsD via Engadget]

Being able to grow a garden if you’re a shut-in is pretty much impossible considering how much light plants need on a regular basis. But a new garden called the Smart Herb Garden may allow those of you who completely shun the daylight to finally be able to grow those “herbs” you’ve been dying to have.

The Smart Herb Garden uses an LED growing lamp to grow your herbs and a few select vegetables without any need for that dastardly sun. All you need to do is snap in your plant cartridges, fill in the water reservoir, and sit back to have the Smart Herb Garden do all of the actual growing for you. The garden doesn’t even use soil as it uses a nanotech material that’s been specifically engineered to supply the plant’s roots with the amount of oxygen, water and other nutrients it needs to grown. (more…)

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Walmart Considers Using In-Store Customers To Deliver Online Shoppers’ Packages, V12-Inspired Espresso Volce Coffee Maker Is A Work Of Art,

You say you want a revolution? Too bad, because this Galaxy smartphone update is just that… an update. Samsung’s newly unveiled Galaxy S 4 is an incremental step up, an evolution less “inspired by nature” and more by last year’s GS III. Don’t believe us? Just take a look at the two handsets side by side to see the overtly obvious heritage. Samsung’s staying the course with the overall design language, though it’s expanded the screen size to five inches — now powered by a Full HD Super AMOLED display with 441 ppi (and yes, it’s still PenTile).

On the inside, it has a processor setup that we’re told will be either an Exynos 5 or Snapdragon depending on the region, along with 2GB of RAM, 16, 32 or 64GB of internal storage, a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 2,600mAh battery. Starting to see the bigger picture here? Samsung had a good thing on its hands with the GS III and it’s not willing to compromise much of the tried-and-true with the GS 4. It will launch globally in Q2, with a stateside debut on T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular and Cricket. Until then, join us past the break for our detailed first impressions.

Check out our event hub for all the action from Samsung’s Galaxy S 4 event.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Samsung, Google

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