Best Gadgets World

by Ryan Block, posted Jun 1st 2008 at 5:54PMIf you were looking to snag a Dash Express, perhaps saving a Benjamin could be the excuse you’re looking for. We don’t know if it’s because these things aren’t selling well or if there was just some kind of pricing error, but the Dash Express — was originally set to debut at $600, but then dropped to $400 at release — is now on Amazon for $300. (And yes, it’s still going for $400 on Dash’s own site.)

[Via Gear Diary]

• Read
• Permalink
• Email this
• 24 Comments

Filed under: GPS

The Korean company, Homecast, recently came out with a device that is both a Portable Media Player as well as a Portable Navigation Device. The GPS portion of this device is housed in the car cradle, and when you take it out of the car cradle, the device becomes the PMP.

The physical device itself comes with a 4.3-inch TFT LCD screen, boasts a T-DMB receiver, plays a variety of formats including AVI, MPG, ASF, WMV, OGM, DAT, MKV, DivX 3.11/4/5, MP4, WMV 7/8/9, H.264, MPEG 1/2/2.5 Layer 3, WMA, OGG Vorbis, and AC3. As you can see it comes with a plethora of formats, guaranteeing you can find a way to get your videos on it.

Now, once it goes into the cradle, it delivers GPS maps from Mappy’s GPS software. It comes in two different models, the 8GB or 16GB. It it set to cost 389,000 KRW ($378) and 419,000 KRW ($406), respectively.

Via [NaviGadget]

Keep up with the latest gadget goodness! - Subscribe to our feed →

There really isn’t too much of this information available today and we’re going to do our best to spread the word that ecycling is absolutely necessary. The government agency, the EPA, has a good list of local programs, links and vendor resources listed conveniently on a page on their website.

Please don’t throw your electronic waste in the trash. Take 15 minutes this weekend and donate or recycle it.

You may also wish to take a look at the GCycle website which provides you with even more local resources.

Posted in Miscellaneous

One of the newest releases from Imation is the “USB Nano flash drive”, which is essentially a tiny memory stick that is available in 1GB, 2GB, 4GB or 8GB storage sizes. It comes in 100% environmentally friendly packaging and is enhanced with Vista ReadyBoost. However that doesn’t explain the $20+ price tags, when you can get them for was less nearly everywhere, but by taking a ‘closer’ look it is fairly obvious.

The reason for the price is that this is the smallest flash drive you can get, and just 44mm x 15mm x 10mm you have to wonder if you can get any smaller. This size is quite practical as it not only means that you can carry it around on nearly everything (you could probably wear it as an earring) but it can also fit into the smallest of spaces behind your computer, meaning you can finally use all of your USB ports at the same time. However the smaller your gadgetry is, the easier it is lost, and it is really worth buying something you know your going to loose?

Read [Imation]

Keep up with the latest gadget goodness! - Subscribe to our feed →

Miss anything good on Gadgetell this past week?  Here’s your chance to catch up!

• Next-gen iPhone pricing still set, says AT&T;CFO
  “ AT&T CFO Rick Lindner has let slip a semi-confirmation regarding the arrival of the much anticipated next-generation iPhone.  Widely believed to be announced during Steve Job’s keynote address at the Apple Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) on June 9th, the next…” MORE »
• Firefox 3 RC 1 has ten critical Flaws
  “ Firefox 3 Release Candidate 1 users, listen up. Mozilla has stated that RC1 contains ten “high-priority” bugs, which have been marked as “critical.” Released almost two weeks ago, RC1 was thought by the developers as a possible final product, but now that these flaws…” MORE »
• Apple to unleash two new iPhones?
  “ Rumors are flying fast and hard as we all gear up mentally for the big Apple party coming June 9 at 10 am.  One I really like is the idea of 2 iPhones being introduced.  Isn’t it more like Apple to whip out something…” MORE »
• Teenager faces felony charges for posting nude pics of underage ex on MySpace
  “ We never claim that these criminals are smart, but they always seem to be hitting a new low for stupidity. Recently a 17-year old from Wisconsin has been charged with felony child porn after he posted nude pictures of his…” MORE »
• Yet more ‘leaked’ 3G iphone live images
  “ With just a few weeks left until the rumored June 9 launch date, it seems the sightings and details are only going to come at us even faster. The latest is another sighting, along with three…” MORE »
• Samsung announces the 256GB flashSSD ealier than planned
  “ It was only a couple of months ago when we said that Samsung was planning to roll out a new 256GB SSD by 2009. And look what we have here right now, Samsung just announced its…” MORE »
• Appletell Review: Griffin iPhone cases; ClearBoost, Wave case
  “ Product: Griffin Technology ClearBoost and Wave case Price and Availability: Both currently available, the ClearBoost is $29.99 and the Wave case is $24.99 Rating: ClearBoost 5/10…” MORE »
• Mozilla to release an RC2 before the final Firefox 3
  “ We have seen numerous reports, those even coming directly from Mozilla about how we can expect the final release of Firefox 3 to land this June and up until now it looked like it was right on…” MORE »
• Alienware launches Area 51 m17x gaming notebook
  “ Gamertell’s Pulkit Chandna is reporting that Alienware has again pushed the envelope, producing one of the most powerful notebooks known to us Homo sapiens. The Area 51 m17x notebook is Alienware’s newest addition to its lineup…” MORE »
• The $10 pre-paid GSM handset from Hop-On
  “ The latest low-cost, practically disposable handset to hit the market comes courtesy of Hop-On in the form of the $10 HOP1800. The handset will be available to use worldwide as it will come in two models, the…” MORE »

Keep up with the latest gadget goodness! - Subscribe to our feed →

Security flaws in Apple’s Safari web browser are nothing new. Apple has been very good at keeping quiet about security issues regarding Safari, but its giant rival, Microsoft, has been taking a different and more vocal approach. Last Friday, Microsoft released Security Advisory (953818) that warns users of a “blended threat” caused by the combination of a security hole in Safari and the way Windows XP and Vista handles executables located on the desktop.

The Safari bug being referred to is called a “carpet bomb” attack, which was disclosed on May 15 by Nitesh Dhanjani. Essentially, the Safari hole would allow an attacker to automatically download malware to a user’s desktop by tricking the victim into visiting a website specifically crafted to exploit the vulnerability. When combined with the flaw in Windows, which has been linked to Internet Explorer by security researcher Aviv Raff, the malware could be executed without any sort of prompt or user permission on all XP and Vista machines with Safari installed. Therefore, in its security advisory Microsoft suggests that users “restrict use of Safari as a web browser until an appropriate update is available from Microsoft and/or Apple.” In the meantime, Microsoft recommends that Windows Safari users change the default downloaded files location in Safari to a location other than ‘Desktop.’

This revelation wouldn’t be such a big deal considering Safari’s measly web browser market share, but with Apple “forcing” the install of Safari through its automatic update on Windows, attackers may find this worth while to exploit as the Safari install base slowly increases. Although Microsoft states that it is “unaware of any attacks attempting to exploit this blended threat,” that could only be a matter of time.

Read [Microsoft] Read [ComputerWorld]

Keep up with the latest gadget goodness! - Subscribe to our feed →

Apparently there are still places in the world where the brains of a product matter for less than the looks.  I prefer my gadgets to look nice just as much as any girl and this product is indeed cute.  However, it is a whopping 4GB, which has its uses of course.  You could always have it tossed in your purse for those very random emergency situations.  Beyond that, 4GB just seems like far too little to keep me happy.  I don’t know, maybe you only save one document at a time then erase it, if that’s the case then you might be interested in this little USB drive.

Nothing is really wrong with the drive, it has cute little flowers and a cute even smaller storage space, yet I’m not sure it’s worth paying more than $20 for.  Seriously, it’s a tiny USB drive that they slapped a pretty sticker on.  Engraved flowers, maybe, but a sticker, sorry it’s just not worth the $60 they have it priced at.  Not all women want just pretty gadgets, some of us prefer them to be cost effective and useful.  Weird I know.

Source: Gizmodiva

• Email to a friend
• Leave a comment

by Paul Miller, posted Jun 1st 2008 at 12:09PM
Now that our wheelchair-ridin’ pals can rock the virtual drums, the natural next step is fire breathing electric conveyances. Built by Lance Greathouse out of golf cart parts, a Marine rescue helicopter seat and, of course, a flame thrower, the “wheelchair” can zip along at 22 miles per hour, burninating whatever might cross its path. Lance says it best: “It was made for the disabled person looking for something a little different, why drive something that looks like a medical device when you can drive something lethal?” Exactly.

[Via AutoblogGreen]

• Read
• Permalink
• Email this
• 24 Comments

Filed under: Transportation

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 1st 2008 at 2:27AM
Converting residual industrial heat into something usable (read: electricity) has proven to be more than a novel concept on more than one occasion, and ElectraTherm’s giving the process one more vote of confidence by installing its Green Machine at Southern Methodist University. Just this past week, the firm flipped on its first commercial waste heat generator at the Dallas-based institution, with hopes to generate “fuel-free, emissions-free electricity at three to four cents per kW/hr during payback period and under a penny/kW hour thereafter.” The 50kW rig has so far exceeded expectations, and the firm is now forecasting that its units will have a “subsidy-free payback period of three years or less.” Of course, we aren’t told exactly how many zeros reside on the right of the decimal or anything, but folks in the area can get a tour of the installation later this month.

[Image courtesy of Jetson Green]

• Read
• Permalink
• Email this
• 1 Comments

Filed under: Misc. gadgets

by Ryan Block, posted Jun 1st 2008 at 1:16PM
Those that know Rahul Sood, founder of VooDoo PC and CTO of HP’s global gaming business, might not be so surprised to hear he used a working macbook air to cut his thick, rich, chocolatey birthday cake. While wearing an HP shirt. And then posted it to his site. Good luck, Rahul — we’re totally sure the Apple fanboys of the world are going to give you a pass on this one.

• Read
• Permalink
• Email this
• 42 Comments

Filed under: Laptops