Advanced Driver Assist System (ADAS) from Honda
January 31, 2006
Honda UK’s Advanced Driver Assist System (ADAS) only works on highways, but it’s still very cool.
ADAS features two main components: The radar-based cruise control senses nearby cars and adjusts speeds accordingly; The Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS) monitors the white lines and controls steering.
The Honda Accord ADAS will cost 25,880 pounds ($46,500 USD) and be on sale in the UK starting in March.
Sources: Engadget, Newsfactor.
Red Hat Supports Negroponte’s $100 Laptop
January 31, 2006
Macworld reports that Red Hat will officially become a corporate member of the initiative to bring laptops to developing nations. Though no official numbers were given by Red Hat, an independent report cites the initial pledge to be at least $2 Million. Full Article.
Akai Professional EWI4000S : electronic wind controller
January 31, 2006
The Akai Professional EWI4000S is a newly designed electronic wind controller.
“With the sound module and the instrument all in one product, players no longer need to be tethered to a module. By using MIDI and audio wireless transceivers, EWI4000S players can move freely on the stage as they are playing.”
Perhaps best of all, it’s “shaped like some kind of futuristic spacecraft,” according to Gizmodo.
Flower Printer — print directly onto flower petals (!)
January 31, 2006
Want to do nifty things with your flowers? If so, the Flower Printer is for you.
With this thing, you’ll never need to bother with another Hallmark card again — just say what you want to say with the flowers themselves. The printer places words and images directly onto the flower petals without damaging or ripping them.
(If you don’t want to drop the $1,250 it costs to obtain one of these devices, why not ask your local florist to make the investment?)
Source: Engadget
Nokia 770 Rocks!
January 30, 2006
If you haven’t checked out the Nokia 770 as a potential laptop replacement, give it a thought. It’s a linux-based tablet device made by the folks at Nokia. It’s a wireless data device, and retails for $349 in the US. Here’s a great site covering lots of the details of what you can do with/to one. There’s a great article here about whether to replace your laptop for one. BargainPDA also has a great review.
This will likely be my next gear investment.
O2’s XDA Atom
January 30, 2006
Here is the Atom, a nearly iPod-sized Windows Mobile 5 device with a 2.7″ QVGA screen and quad-band phone functionality. It’s got stereo speakers, a headphone jack, and a battery that can hold its charge for up to three days of moderate/heavy use.
MTekk really liked the XDA Atom, and their Atom review is very in-depth — check it out. Overall, MTekk gives “O2’s XDA Atom a well deserved 8.5/10.”
Sources: Engadget, Pocket PC Thoughts.
USB Tricks: Anonymous Browsing from Any Windows Computer
January 30, 2006
Looking for something interesting to do with that new USB drive stick you got over the holidays? How about giving yourself anonymous web browsing from any Windows computer. Torpark is an implementation of Tor (The Onion Router), a Mozilla standard for anonymizing by moving the request through a series of servers.
Simply go to the site, download the software to your shiny new USB drive, and give it a go. If you don’t already use Firefox, I’d also recommend getting Portable Firefox 1.5 from PortableApps.com to go with it. It’ll give you the best of everything, all on one stick.
