The Scariest Gadgets Around

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With Halloween just around the corner, what better time to examine some of the scariest technology around. I’m not talking about all of the electronic vampires and ghost that tend to pop up in the holiday section of your local drugstore chain–these are gadgets that can actually maim you, light you on fire, or worse.

We asked the PCMag staff to pull together some of the creepiest, scariest, and generally worrisome gadgets around.

I’m Homeless and This Is Why I Have an iPad [Life]

After yesterday’s images of vagabonds using notebooks, two homeless people told us about their lifestyle, why they chose it, and why technology is so important every single day. This is the story of one of them.—JD More »

3,000,000 iPhones to Ship for June 29th Launch

This article was written on June 08, 2007 by CyberNet.

Apple is either really confident in their new iPhone, or they’d rather just be safe and have plenty to go around should this take-off. Apple is said to be shipping 3,000,000 iPhones, according to Business Week, for the June 29th launch. Given that, if you plan on going out to buy one, don’t worry, there should be one available.

Analysts have said that Apple would be able to sell about 3 million iPhones for all of 2007, and yet they’re shipping them all in one day. This would mean that Apple wouldn’t have to worry about shipping anymore iPhones until 2008 when they’re expected to sell another 10 to 12 million of them.

The tone in the media today is a bit critical of Apple because they are shipping so many right off the bat, however, you know they would have been criticized even more if there weren’t enough to go around come June 29th.

Source: The Boy Genius Report

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CyberNotes: Ultimate Computer Monitor Set-ups

This article was written on October 16, 2006 by CyberNet.

CyberNotes
Million Dollar Monday

Just when you’ve bought yourself a 24″ monitor and you think you have the biggest and the best computer monitor available, they come out with a 30″. The size of single monitors has reached new levels, and now so has the multiple monitor set-ups by using 6, even 7 monitors! These ultimate monitor set-ups using the latest flat-panel technology comes at quite the hefty price as well (although much more affordable today versus 5 years ago).  Those who are already using such a set-up will tell you it’s worth it! Take a look at these set-ups from digitaltigers.com – we’ll start with the cheapest and most affordable first (which also means smallest).

The first set-up, the Zenview Arena 21s has six screens total with a 21.3″ center panel. It includes:

  • (1) 21.3″ arena panel with 1600×1200 resolution
  • (2) 17″ wing panels with 1024X1280 portrait resolution
  • (3) 17″ top panels with 1280×1024 resolution
  • Price – around $3,700.00

 

The second set-up, the Zenview Arena 24s also uses six screens total with a 24.3″ center panel screen.  It includes:

  • (1) 24″ arena panel with 1920 x 1200 resolution
  • (2) 17″ wing panels with 1280X1024 resolution
  • (3) 19″ top panels with 1280X1024 resolution
  • Price – around $4,599.00

 

 

With the third set-up, the Zenview Arena Elite, you’ll be viewing 7 screens with a 24.3″ center panel. This one is huge! It includes:

  • (1) 24″ arena panel with 1920×1200 resolution
  • (2) 21.3″ wing panels with 1600×1200 resolution
  • (4) 19″ top panels with 1280×1024 resolution
  • Price – around $6,899.00

 

The last set-up is the largest and most expensive Zenview Arena Ultra HD and utilizes six gigantic screens! It includes:

  • (1) 30″ arena panel with 2560×1600 resolution
  • (2) 20.1″ wing panels with 1200×1600 portrait resolution
  • (3) 20.1″ top panels with 1600×1200 resolution
  • Price – around $7,499.00

 

These are undoubtedly huge “ultimate” monitor set-ups, perhaps a little excessive for the average Joe. So, who would actually purchase such a set-up? Maybe a hardcore gamer, or a stock trader would want the massive display. For most people, one monitor will do the trick, and if not one monitor, two at most. These set-ups take you to a whole new level. You can check them out at digitaltigers.com.

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CyberNotes: Creative Live! Cam Notebook Pro

This article was written on November 04, 2006 by CyberNet.

CyberNotes
Weekend Warrior

Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, at times you might want to get in contact with or keep in touch with someone while you’re away.  Of course you could always call, but when calling just isn’t enough, many people turn to webcams.  They provide that face to face conversation that a cell phone doesn’t bring, and now they’re being made even smaller and more compact – perfect for the traveler.

One such small and compact webcam that clips right onto your laptop is the Creative Live! Cam Notebook Pro. If you’re traveling for business it can certainly make your trip more effective, and if you’re traveling for pleasure it could make the trip more enjoyable. The size of the webcam is probably one of the features that makes it most appealing for the traveler.  Being able to communicate with others while you roam the world, and see their facial expressions is what having a webcam is all about.

– Features –

  • No matter how much you’re moving around, the Live! Cam Notebook Pro will make sure you’re looking good.  It has a high quality VGA sensor that will give you a natural look and a smooth video.
  • If flexibility is important, this webcam is for you. You can rotate it 180 degrees and it has an auto image flip feature.
  • Capture high quality 640×480 video
  • Snap pictures at up to 1.3 Megapixels
  • Includes headset for VoIP

The Creative Live! Cam Notebook Pro will cost around $49.99 and can be purchased here.

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Gadget Genie: Because Youre Gonna Drop Your iPhone in the Toilet Sooner or Later

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It’s probably just a personal prejudice on my part, but I’m a bit hesitant to embrace any product with the word “genie” in its name–expect for the Game Genie. Well played on that one, Galoob.

For those of you who don’t harbor such hesitancies, meet the Gadget Genie. It’s a little Ziplock Bag-like product that promises to remove all of the moisture from your electronics, should you get caught in a sudden downpour, accidentally drop the thing in a toilet, or become a surprise contestant on reboot of Nickelodeon’s You Can’t Do That On Television (though, for the record, the company makes no claims about the device’s ability to work with slime).

If you find yourself in one of the aforementioned pinches, turn off the device, towel it off, pull out the battery (unless, of course, you purchased an Apple product), drop it in the Gadget Genie, seal it up, and leave it overnight. Then the beads will get to work.

But wait, there’s more. The company is giving you three products for the price of one ($14.95 plus $3.95 shipping), and it’s offering a $100 money back guarantee if the thing doesn’t work for you. But how could it not? There’s an “As Seen on TV” logo on the site. They don’t give those out to just anyone, you know.

So, who wants to be the first person to see if the Gadget Genie works any better than a bag full of dried rice? Anyone got an extra iPhone lying around?

The spokesman in the informercially video on the site puts in best when he says, “Liquids are the enemy to all personal electronics.” The enemy, people! Product is not available in stores, operators are standing by, blah, blah, blah.

Microsoft’s Mobile Mouse Flash Drive Combo

This article was written on September 13, 2007 by CyberNet.

mobile memory mouse Microsoft just introduced a new mouse "with a mind of its own" -the Mobile Memory Mouse 8000. What’s unique about it is that the transceiver which you’d normally have to plug in via USB anyways to use the mouse includes 1GB of Flash Memory. It’s not going to be on the shelves until about October, and the price is set at $99. While it’s a great idea, especially for college students, the price seems a little high for only including 1GB of flash memory – especially when you take into consideration that you can buy a 4 GB Flash Drive for $35 and a 16 GB Flash Drive for $100.

Despite the fact that it may be a little pricey for the amount of memory you get, it’ll definitely be convenient for those who usually carry a mouse with them as well as a flash drive. Giga Om reviewed this mouse yesterday and said the mouse "doesn’t make much sense. I mean, who carries their mouse without a laptop?" I’m not sure the point of this mouse is for those who only want to carry a flash drive with them. When I was a college student, I always had my laptop, a mouse, and a flash drive with me. While a flash drive certainly doesn’t take up much room, using the Mobile Memory Mouse would just mean one less thing I had to carry, and one less USB port I’d have to use.

Other features that this mouse has besides the transceiver with 1GB of Flash memory include:

  • 2.4 GHz wireless technology
  • USB rechargeable with magnetic connectors
  • High definition laser technology
  • Battery life indicator

While the idea of a mobile mouse that includes storage is new, I think there will definitely be a group of consumers willing to snatch up the Mobile Memory Mouse 8000 for $99 bucks. If by chance you’d like to pre-order this mouse, you can do so at Amazon.

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CyberNotes: World’s Most Expensive Limousines

This article was written on January 08, 2007 by CyberNet.

CyberNotes
Million Dollar Monday

 

Years ago, it was usually the millionaires, executives, and celebrities that were chauffeured around in fancy limousines, too busy to drive a car for themselves. Today, there are a plethora of different styled limousines that can be rented for a night out on the town, prom, a wedding, or a trip to the airport.  It doesn’t matter how many zero’s are added at the end of your salary because limos are an affordable option to rent. Of course, just because you can rent them doesn’t mean that they aren’t expensive! Limousine companies pay a hefty price for some of these luxury vehicles, and they come in a variety of styles, and colors with features you may not even have in your home.Sometimes these limos have features or amenities that really aren’t practical (like a hot tub), yet those features suck people in to choose it over the simple no “bling” classic stretched town car. Limousines have evolved from an extension of a large sedan to the gigantic ultra luxury, ultra stretched exotic limos we see today.

–Stretched Hummers–

 

 Stretched Hummer limos come in all colors and models from the H2 to the H3 (also known as the baby Hummer). They also come with some pretty sweet features, some capable of holding 25 passengers. Wow! This is what your limo would include:

  • Lighted dance floor
  • Chrome Rims
  • Full chrome mirrored ceiling
  • 2 Plasma TVs
  • Laser light show
  • 20 speakers with subwoofers
  • 8 bar areas
  • Lightening disks in the bars
  • Fiber Optics

And of course, if a Hummer isn’t big enough, you could always opt for the Party Bus capable of carrying 40+ passengers! Party busses have the typical seating arrangement that you’d find in a limo with bench couches down the sides and an open center section. They usually have all of the electronic gadgets that you’d want including TV’s, and Xbox or Playstation gaming systems.

– Pink Limousines–

So if the ordinary black or white limo isn’t doin’ it for ya, try pink! One company I found out of the UK has a whole line of pink limos. They offer a Hummer model, a Pink Jeep Limo, and a Pink Chrysler Hire. They’re typically rented by women, and according to the website are a pretty popular pick.

–Guinness World Records Highest Limousine–

On November 13, 1998, the Guinness Book of World Records deemed a limo made by Gary Duval as the Highest Limousine.  From the ground to the roof it measures 10 feet 11 inches. It has an 8 wheel independent suspension system and utilizes eight monster truck tires.  It also requires two separate engines! Looking at it makes me wonder how on earth someone gets inside! It took over 4,000 hours to complete this monster limo! I wonder if we’ll be seeing it at the monster truck races anytime soon?

 

 

– Guinness Book of World Records Longest Limousine–

 

Next, for the records is the Guinness World Records longest car every built! It measures 100 feet long and has 26 wheels!

It includes:

  • Swimming pool
  • Diving board
  • King-sized waterbed

Now, you’re probably asking yourself how this thing is able to drive on any normal road? Well, it doesn’t hit the streets very often because it’s typically used in films and exhibitions. If by chance it does need to take a real road trip, it can be made to bend in the middle. I don’t think I’d want to be the driver on this one!

There ya have it, a collection of some of the most expensive limousines in all styles and colors. They’ve certainly evolved from the plain town cars of the past, and it doesn’t require a six-figure income!

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Steve Jobs Attacks Kindle Android

This article was written on January 16, 2008 by CyberNet.

Mac Geek The New York Times managed to get some time with Steve Jobs yesterday after his keynote, and there were some interesting remarks in the interview from Jobs. Apparently his mother never taught him that if he didn’t have anything nice to say, not to say anything at all.

First up was the Amazon Kindle (review). This is portable reading device designed by Amazon that is able to download digital books without ever needing to be connected to a computer. Amazon can’t even keep the device in stock, but Jobs said that:

It doesn’t matter how good or bad the product is, the fact is that people don’t read anymore. Forty percent of the people in the U.S. read one book or less last year. The whole conception is flawed at the top because people don’t read anymore.

Then he went on to talk about the Google Android (review) mobile operating system which is expected to be released later this year. Interestingly enough Apple has worked with Google to provide specialized services on the iPhone, such as mapping and YouTube videos, but that didn’t hold Jobs back from expressing his true feelings:

Having created a phone its a lot harder than it looks. We’ll see how good their software is and we’ll see how consumers like it and how quickly it is adopted. I actually think Google has achieved their goal without Android, and I now think Android hurts them more than it helps them. It’s just going to divide them and people who want to be their partners.

The thing is that Google isn’t actually creating phones, instead they are developing the software to run on the phones. It’s likely that there will be dozens of different devices running Android when it is released, and that will help speed up the adoption rate. Particularly if they are more affordable than the iPhone.

I can’t wait to see what the future holds for both Kindle and Android, and to see just how accurate Jobs’ predictions are.

New York Times [via Gizmodo]
Thanks to “Google” for the tip!

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June 11th is the Big Day for the iPhone!

This article was written on March 30, 2007 by CyberNet.

There hasn’t been much to say about the iPhone recently, it’s just been a matter of waiting patiently for the big launch. The big news today? If Declan McCullagh from News.com is correct, the iPhone will be released on June 11th!

Iphonecomic

This effort didn’t require digging deep for an answer, all it took was calling Cingular and asking a Customer Service Manager when the launch would be. No prying, no fighting, they simply responded June 11th. Who woulda thought it would be so easy?

As Declan also points out, June 11th is the start of Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference. Coincidence? Probably not.

Image source: Sheldoncomics.com

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