Archive for January, 2010

Wasabi Fire Alarm Awakens You With a Slight Burning Sensation [Fire Alarms]

Posted by DesignShrineHost in Gadget News on January 31st, 2010

In this case the burning sensation is "delicious," not "first degree and could result in your death." And apparently it really works too, although the advertised "time to awaken" period seems a bit too long for my taste.

Effective over an area of 50 feet, the Wasabi alarm can typically wake people up within two-and-a-half minutes. Update: This is a non-traditional fire alarm, for the deaf community. With that in mind, this could certainly save lives.

Two years ago this alarm was but a concept. Now it's a $560 (?!?!) reality. [CNET via Technabob]



Go to Source

No Comments

Amazon Gives In, Will Sell eBooks On Macmillan’s Terms [Amazon]

Posted by DesignShrineHost in Gadget News on January 31st, 2010

Amazon has given in to Macmillan, and will switch to a pricing model that sees eBook versions of bestseller and new hardcover releases offered to customers at $12.99 to $14.99. The official statement is as follows:

Dear Customers:

Macmillan, one of the "big six" publishers, has clearly communicated to us that, regardless of our viewpoint, they are committed to switching to an agency model and charging $12.99 to $14.99 for e-book versions of bestsellers and most hardcover releases.

We have expressed our strong disagreement and the seriousness of our disagreement by temporarily ceasing the sale of all Macmillan titles. We want you to know that ultimately, however, we will have to capitulate and accept Macmillan's terms because Macmillan has a monopoly over their own titles, and we will want to offer them to you even at prices we believe are needlessly high for e-books. Amazon customers will at that point decide for themselves whether they believe it's reasonable to pay $14.99 for a bestselling e-book. We don't believe that all of the major publishers will take the same route as Macmillan. And we know for sure that many independent presses and self-published authors will see this as an opportunity to provide attractively priced e-books as an alternative.

Kindle is a business for Amazon, and it is also a mission. We never expected it to be easy!

Thank you for being a customer.

Well, that was quick. [Kindle Community]



Go to Source

No Comments

DACport USB Amp and Digital to Analog Converter for Audiophiles On the Run [Audio]

Posted by DesignShrineHost in Gadget News on January 31st, 2010

If you're serious about your music and are looking for a portable DAC that will keep your digital audio sounding crystal clear even when you're out and about, the USB-powered DACport might be just the ticket.

Does the mere thought of listening to MP3s makes your ears hurt? But do you still like to enjoy your music on the go? Then the DACport is a combination headphone amp and digital to analog converter to check out.

It natively plays 24-bit/96 kHz, powers over USB, and is fully plug and play compatible. The $500 DACport claims that it will eliminate the cable jitter and background noise that is typical of USB DAC devices.

If you're still with me, you can check out a thorough review at Head-Fi or check out the manufacturer's site for more info. [CEntrance via Technabob]



Go to Source

No Comments

The Star Wars Opening Crawl Finally Reaches Earth [Comedy]

Posted by DesignShrineHost in Gadget News on January 31st, 2010

I took two astronomy classes in college, and one of the few things I retained is that in space stuff just keeps floating. Thus, the Star Wars opening text, though originating galaxies away, will eventually make its way to Earth...

That catastrophic eventuality is the subject of this video, which was was filmed over a couple of hours but ultimately took weeks to complete due to all the post-production and editing. And it shows; the effects are pretty impressive throughout.

Though I guess if you're gonna do a high concept YouTube like the Star Wars text raining down on Earth, it's best to do it right. [Reddit]



Go to Source

No Comments

Play Game Boy On Your Palm Pre With VisualBoyAdvance [Emulation]

Posted by DesignShrineHost in Gadget News on January 30th, 2010

If you're a Palm Pre owner who's been craving some old-school distraction, rejoice! You can now play Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games on your smartphone.

Game Boy Advance games, like Mario Kart Short Circuit, aren't quite running at full speed yet—about 60% of normal speed with sound or 90% without—but Game Boy and Game Boy Color games work just fine, and, as they say, emulators can't be choosers.

The VisualBoyAdvance for WebOS project only started two weeks ago, so hopefully updates and improvements will be quick to follow. As shown in the video, the emulator can already switch between portrait and landscape and supports custom skinning.

Check out the project's page on Pre Central for information on how to install. [Pre Central via Engadget]



Go to Source

No Comments