I remember back in the days when I was still a wee lad who's wet behind my ears, I used to have rubber band fights with the rest of the gang during class. Those were fun days - at least not until my mates and I were hauled up to the principal's office, only to receive a hiding from my old man back at home. If only I had the Metal Rubber Band Gun back then - nobody would want to go up against me (or my team), as this stainless steel projectile shooter is able to store up to 12 rubber bands at once, with an infrared sight and light sight to help you aim better.

Nintendo has yet another variant of its popular DS Lite handheld console, and this time round it is the Pink Ribbon model. Basically, this is a polar white console with a pink ribbon logo superimposed on the front cover, lending itself to the breast cancer awareness and research causes. Each purchase will see Nintendo part with $5 for the cancer charity Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and the Big N has already promised a guaranteed minimum donation of $100,000. That roughly equals to 20,000 Pink Ribbon DS Lites - not too challenging an amount considering an average of 50,000 DS Lites are sold in Japan alone each week.

Toshiba recently lifted the curtain on its 2.5" 256GB SSD that targets UMPCs as well as other handheld devices, and that would lead me to wonder whether future iPhones will surpass the 100GB mark. Heck, no point thinking about that when the current iPhone 3G won't even venture beyond 16GB. Users will be able to glean read and write speeds of 120MB/s and 80MB/s, respectively with this new 256MB SSD. Measuring a mere 3mm in thickness, it connects to your computer via a 3Gbps SATA connection.

Folks who were wondering what the Black Gold mystery was can now revel in the real thing - it is a basic trim package and not an upgrade as many had thought. All changes made are listed below :-

• The box has three "black gold edition" labels on it
• The neck strap comes with an additional "gold edition" logo on it
• Both strap lugs come with a shiny golden coating
• Shutter button also coated with gold
• Mode dial features gold colored icons
• D60 badge gets Midas treatment

Would you fork out $50 for this "upgrade"?

Alps Electric Co. Ltd. has displayed their very own "minute capacitance sensing technology" which makes providence to sense the electric capacity of a hand or fingers moving approximately 3cm above the sensors, and in a demonstration Alps Electric showcased a hand moving right above the touchpad of a notebook, and the cursor on the display moved in tandem as well. In a movie application, it was possible to select the movie you want to watch simply by moving your hand from side to side, while fast forwarding or rewinding required one to rotate a hand in the right direction (clockwise or anti-clockwise). I can't wait for this technology to be commercialized ASAP - at least I don't have to wipe my fingers each time before I type when enjoying a glazed doughnut from Dunkin' Donuts.

BenQ's S6 has finally launched in Italy, and it surely deserves all the excitement surrounding it since this is the first Atom-based MID to roll out in the Western world, accompanied by the following features :-

• Intel Atom UL11L 800MHz processor
• 512MB RAM
• 2GB SSD
• 4.8" 800 × 480 262k color TFT touch screen
• Linux Midinux operating system
• Connectivity: HSDPA 7.2/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth 2.0
• microSD memory card slot

It will cost you 429 Euros to bring this puppy home, and will likely prove itself to be a fierce competitor to the Archos 5G.

Sagem is a rather obscure name when it comes to quality cell phones, but this time round they have gotten the help of Porsche Design to come up with the P9522. This candybar handset comes with the following features :-

• 2.8" display
• 5 megapixel camera
• GPS navigation
• Wi-Fi connectivity
• Fingerprint reader
• microSD memory card slot

You gotta fork out $875 for this puppy, and it doesn't even come with 3G? No thanks, I'll pass.

Samsung has just launched its AnyCall Haptic 2 touch screen phone that features updated specifications over its predecessor that was released just in March :-

• Customizable vibration mode
• 5 megapixel camera with flash
• Image stabilization
• 4GB/16GB internal memory
• 3.2" touch screen display
• Internal DMB tuner

The Haptic 2 will probably arrive in US via AT&T, but those in Korea can pick up the 4GB and 16GB models for $605 and $691, respectively. A mere $80 difference for a four-fold increase in memory? I'll take the latter, thank you very much.

Griffin is back with yet another iPod dock known as Simplifi. It retails for $70 and does more than what a regular iPod dock has to offer, that's because it features a memory card reader as well as a USB hub. Good thing it has an AC adapter bundled just in case you decide to charge your iPod sans computer or plug in some other USB devices. Some people might find the blue LED in front to be rather distracting especially at night when one is trying to get some sleep, only to be bathed in a soft, blue glow.

I'm going out on a limb here when I say that Ferrari will never make motorcycles, but then again who can tell the future? Assuming I am wrong, could the Ferrari motorcycle look like this? This fire engine red beast on two wheels comes with a control board as well as handle bars with more dials and meters on it that you can shake a stick at. Inside you will find a Ferrari V4 Integrated Drive Unit, hand controls that receive inspiration from the throttle quadrant of a F-16 jet fighter, and a touch screen computer that helps you manage the entire vehicle. How much do you think a Ferrari motorcycle will co

Here's a novel way to find out whether cows are infected with mad cow disease or not - simply measure the brain waves that they produce whenever an audio stimuli is played. This test is able to determine whether a bovine has the dreaded disease before the physical symptoms manifest, with a standard delayed reaction to certain sound being the common denominator. With this method being used daily, ranchers have it easier to identify mad cows mingling around their herds, reducing the risk of humans consuming infected beef.

LG's Xnote Mini has been announced in Korea, and just like every other netbook, the specifications rarely differ from one another. Inside this you will find :-

• Intel Atom 1.6GHz processor
• 160GB hard drive
• 1.3 megapixel camera
• 10" LCD display

The 3-cell battery might need some looking into though - you won't get very far with that. No idea on pricing or availability though.

Asus will be rolling out a gold version of its Eee PC 900A netbook - I suppose everything else underneath the hood remains the same as a regular Eee PC 900, other than the fact that its exterior has been painted in a layer of gold, not the real stuff to, mind you. This means you can't pawn this off during times of dire need in the future, but even if you could, the obsolesence of the device will offset any capital gain made by rising prices in gold.

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Ubuntu comes in different forms, and the latest of these would be Ubuntu Mobile that is specially concocted to target UMPCs as well as smaller notebooks. This is different to Ubunto Netbook Pro (which made its debut earlier this year), since Ubuntu Mobile targets devices that lack a keyboard and rely on touch screen displays for navigation, ruling netbooks out. The interface has been changed to cater for plenty finger use, where buttons are slightly larger while applications are launched in full screen glory at 1,024 x 600 resolution. Firefox has been taken out though, replaced by a default browser known as "Midbrowser" - it will be interesting to see how the user experience turns out, will it be similar to that of the iPhone?

For folks who tend to spend plenty of time behind the computer screen, it would be wise to invest in a green PC so to speak, after all, it will help reduce your monthly power bill while reducing the strain on mother nature. The Advent Eco is a green computer that runs on just 25 watts, featuring a fan-less cooling system while being made out of recycled materials - at least three quarters of the machine fall under the green category. Don't expect to play Crysis on this though, since it offers just enough juice to run casual computing tasks like email, surfing and word processing. Specifications include :-

• Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 processor
• 2GB RAM
• 160GB hard drive
• Wi-Fi connectivity
• Windows Vista Premium

The Advent Eco PC will retail for £599, and depending on the configuration, the price can only go north from there.

Gaming peripherals for the computer, especially mice are often limited to the domain of a few companies like Razer, Logitech and even Microsoft. Nova has a new gaming mouse that wants to challenge the established echelon with their Slider X 600 which relies on claimed indestructible adamantium - I kid, ceramic mouse feet with a maximum sensitivity of 3,200 dpi. In an unconventional move, Nova has moved the mouse cable to come out from its side instead of the front, making me wonder what the logic behind that is. Will the cord get in your way during those frantic gaming moments? Forking out $99.99 to find out is a definite no-no for me. Other features are three mouse profiles, eight programmable buttons and five color options for the lighting.

The Oppo Muse Smart G11 portable media player (PMP) still looks like a concept to me, since the design is rather surreal what with old school remote control-style buttons which are revealed when the display is slid sideways in a landscape manner. No idea on the complete specifications, but it would be nice to see at least a 16-bit emulator thrown in as NES games just won't make the grade these days even for casual gaming.

The Draganflyer X6 is a miniature helicopter that is able to shoot videos from above, and the beauty of this is you need not be limited to a single type of camera since it uses interchangeable modules that allow you to switch between high definition video, still images, low light and thermal imaging cameras. This remote controlled wonder relies on a 6-rotor design so that a smooth, balanced flight can be achieved, while the integrated GPS system makes sure that your precious X6's location is at hand at all times. There are 11 on-board sensors as well as a custom application code that will stabilize the flyer automatically according to the wind conditions around, and should you lose the remote signal, it will land itself automatically (and safely, I hope) while transmitting its position to your via GPS. Be prepared to break the bank for this as the Draganflyer X6 costs a whopping $14,995.

Panasonic a donné un prix à son APN Lumix G1 Micro Four Thirds qui est à un niveau similaire à un reflex numérique entrée de gamme, et selon l'éxécutif de la firme, Yasunori Takase, l'APN avec objectif 14-45mm coûtera près de 800$ quand il arrivera aux US. On ne sait pas combien coûtera l'objectif 45-200mm en option. Je suppose qu'avec la convergence, le Lumix G1 va gommer la ligne entre un camescope et un APN reflex, s'asseyant confortablement entre le Nikon D90 et the Canon EOS 5D Mark II.

Quickoffice has released its new application for the iPhone/iPhone 3G/iPod touch known as MobileFiles. This free (yes, I can see all you coupon savers perking up right about now) application lets one access MobileMe iDisk files directly from an iPhone or iPod touch, something that was previously unavailable to current users. Just like the iPhone's user interface, MobileFiles is a snap to use and comes with a very low learning curve. It also boasts access to Google Docs accounts and will be available in Q4.

If part of your daily routine includes uploading tons of images to multiple photo sites, then it would be prudent to check out Pixelpipe. This program is compatible with Flickr, Picasa, Blogger and nearly 50 other sites, and a single upload routine will move your content across all those compatible social networks, photo/video and blog services. The amount of time saved could be best used for other things - definitely a productivity enhances, but remember not to burn out by taking on even more tasks than you can chew. Just hope Pixelpipe doesn't shut down anytime soon.

Amazing! Adobe Systems has released its famous Photoshop software on a platform I never thought possible - the cell phone. Photoshop.com Mobile is touted to be the "easiest way to upload, view, and share photos online from your Windows Mobile phone", and is currently available as a free download in beta format. This download is restructed to folks living in the US only though, and functions with a handful of Windows Mobile-powered smartphones. Would be interesting to see when a mobile Photoshop version is able to hit handsets that allow for various adjustments such as cropping or auto-fixing exposure though.

The Slingbox PRO-HD has started to ship after its initial hiccup, and you can bring one home by dropping $299. With this, all your high definition fantasies in any room will come true as it streams 720p or 1080i high definition video into just about any room you desire. Features include an integrated digital tuner and a plethora of inputs that won't shy away from devices such as a DVR, digital cable, satellite receiver and DVD player. Not only that, the Slingbox PRO-HD's release couldn't be timed any more perfectly as a major software revision for Windows XP and Vista users has just rolled out as well, where SlingPlayer 2.0 boasts a bunch of updates and new features such as live video buffer that enables viewers to pause, rewind and fast forward live streams a la DVR.

What can you get for £69.99 these days? How about the tiny iDect Z10i Wireless Conferencing System that doesn't look as though it amounts to much, but in reality is a full-blown hands-free telephone conferencing device that features a 10 hour talk time, polyphonic ringtones and integrated answering machine? Definitely a convergence device that is not to be sneezed at at such a price point. Also, it looks cute enough to be on anybody's desk without being a burden, and I swear it is actually a hidden Autobot that's biding its time to reveal itself to humanity.

Night vision used to be an ability that everybody wished they had while growing up, and when we're all adults now, night vision is just as cool since it allows us to move about in darkness from our bed to the bathroom without having to turn on the lights and wake our partner up. Thanks to IR technology, this pair of EyeClops Night Vision Goggles let you see up to 50 feet in pitch black darkness, and has a flip up eye piece just in case the lights get turned on. Best to have a cache of rechargeable AA batteries handy as it takes up to 5 of those buggers at any one time. The asking price for a cool piece of tech? $90.

China Mobile is tipped to roll out the iPhone 3G in China (where else), but without one of its most useful feature - the ability to go online, no thanks to a request for Apple to supply a customized version with Wi-Fi and W-CDMA connectivity disabled. The whole idea behind this bizarre move is to prevent customers from picking up the iPhone 3G and unlocking it for use on more capable networks. I say they might as well just stick to the original iPhone if that's the case. Would Apple bow down to this demand in the name of a potential customer base that's the largest in the world, or will they stick to their guns with a "take it or leave it" ultimatum to China Mobile?

Art Lebedev is not a name synonymous with affordable electronics as well as products that are released on time, but this Russian design house ain't too shabby when it comes to drool-worthy products, assuming they don't get delayed long enough for me to grow a nice, long beard that rivals the resident guru on a nearby mountain. This concept of a cell phone follows the iPhone route very closely, with most of the touch screen display taking up the entire front segment of the handset. Other purported features include :-

• WiMAX support
• Wi-Fi connectivity
• Tri-band GSM
• microSD memory card slot
• USB connectivity
• 3.5mm headphone jack
• 850 x 480 resolution touch screen display
• Dual camera setup

No idea if this will ever make it to production lines though.

TomTom and Renault will be working together to roll out a fully integrated navigation system that will retail for approximately 500 Euros - that's pretty affordable by any means since most fully integrated GPS systems will cost in the region of $1,500 to $2,000. This new navigation solutions will be available to Renault customers across a handful of models, with maps provided courtesy of TeleAtlas. You won't find these newly equipped vehicles available this year though as they will only be out sometime in 1H next year.

Many old folks do not die of old age naturally, but more often than not from a fall-related injury. Hence, Japanese manufacturer Prop has started to sell wearable airbags for this segment of the population as well as for other people who cannot stand up for too long by themselves without any aid. The personal, wearably airbag weighs 2.4 pounds and is able to spring into action within 1/10 of a second whenever the built-in sensors detect that you're about to hit the ground. Too bad the $1,400 price point will put plenty of people off, making them rely on grace from the Almighty instead.

There are people who prefer to be practical and do away with the aesthetics of a device, but on the other hand, other folks prefer a little bit of extra bling-bling to go along with their gizmos. I suppose the latter group would prefer to kill two birds with one stone, and the Pretec i-Disk Vogue USB flash drive is one such device. This USB drive comes with painted gold and some cheap crystals to make it look like a necklace, and it looks more tacky rather than classy. The 1GB of storage space inside doesn't win any brownie points with me either as that's just too skimpy by today's standards. You can pick one up for $29.99 if you've run out of accessories to go along with that little black number.

Samsung's officially in the 8 megapixel camera phone race by announcing the M8800 Bresson, a full touch screen handset that looks set to challenge the LG Renoir for position of top jock. Features and specifications found within this beauty include :-

• Quad band GSM, tri-band HSDPA
• Qualcomm MSM6281 chipset
• Native Samsung OS
• 3.2? TFT Display at 240 × 400 resolution
• 8 megapixel camera with VGA video recording at 30 fps
• FM Radio with RDS
• Built-in accelerometer
• 100MB internal memory
• microSD memory card slot

Strangely enough, it misses out Wi-Fi connectivity as well as GPS support - and these two ommissions could very well return and bite it in hardware comparison tests. The M8800 Bresson is tipped to retail for 550 Euros or so when it ships next month.

Samsung's officially in the 8 megapixel camera phone race by announcing the M8800 Bresson, a full touch screen handset that looks set to challenge the LG Renoir for position of top jock. Features and specifications found within this beauty include :-

• Quad band GSM, tri-band HSDPA
• Qualcomm MSM6281 chipset
• Native Samsung OS
• 3.2? TFT Display at 240 × 400 resolution
• 8 megapixel camera with VGA video recording at 30 fps
• FM Radio with RDS
• Built-in accelerometer
• 100MB internal memory
• microSD memory card slot

Strangely enough, it misses out Wi-Fi connectivity as well as GPS support - and these two ommissions could very well return and bite it in hardware comparison tests. The M8800 Bresson is tipped to retail for 550 Euros or so when it ships next month.

I never really realized that one could get three and three quarters serving of 3G for a netbook, but here we are with the Asus Eee PC 901 3.75G netbook which boasts convenient and high speed access to the Internet no matter where you are, 24/7. It will feature downlink speeds of up to 7.2Mbps, while uplink speeds stand at 2Mbps. This new Eee PC 901 variant will hit the market from next month onwards, where its new 6-cell battery is able to offer up to 7.5 hours of working time on a single charge. No word on pricing though, so stay tuned.

People power FTW! T-Mobile originally intended to slow down folks who eat up more than 1GB of their wireless bandwidth even though one is subscribing to an unlimited data plan, and have backtracked on that decision with the following statement :-

“Our goal, when the T-Mobile G1 becomes available in October, is to provide affordable, high-speed data service allowing customers to experience the full data capabilities of the device and our 3G network. At the same time, we have a responsibility to provide the best network experience for all of our customers so we reserve the right to temporarily reduce data throughput for a small fraction of our customers who have excessive or disproportionate usage that interferes with our network performance or our ability to provide quality service to all of our customers. We removed the 1GB soft limit from our policy statement, and we are confident that T-Mobile G1 customers will enjoy the high speed of data access over our 3G network. The specific terms for our new data plans are still being reviewed and once they are final we will be certain to share this broadly with current customers and potential new customers.”

Well, the term "abuse" has many gray areas, so hopefully T-Mobile will have a definition that leans more towards the customers' advantage than theirs.

Casio could have stumbled upon a display that could yet bring HD video onto mobile devices. How so, you ask? For starters, don't let the 2" (measured diagonally) size fool you as it relies on a new hyper amorphous silicon LCD that has an extremely small pixel structure along with a 15.5 micron dot pitch. The final result is a resolution of 960 x 540 at a dense 546 dots per inch, making the final image look like near-print quality. It will still carry 16.7 million colors as well as a 160-degree viewing angle just like regular 320 x 240 LCDs. No idea on when these new 2" LCDs will ship with products, but expect next generation phones, cameras and PMPs to feature ever crisper and sharper displays.

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Carmel is a consumer-oriented PC application that can enhance digital video footage. It works by gathering data over many frames to "rebuild" information missing or damaged on any given frame. For example, to "fix" one frame, Carmel might have to investigate 5 to 10 frames before and after. Users can select how many frames the data gathering happens on. This is how performance will be tweaked.

This process is usually slow, so to boost performance, Carmel uses GPU acceleration via CUDA, NVIDIA's general C-like programming language. In practice, you can expect a real-time "clean-up" of a YouTube video (320x240) in real time, assuming that Carmel analyses 10 adjacent frames using a GeForce 280 GTX (our review). Using a GPU makes the processing about 5x faster than current CPUs, according to Motion DSP, the company that makes the software.

Even though the examples shown by Motion DSP feature pretty bad video (watch the demos, it's compelling), this technology could also apply to better-quality video. In fact some effects featured such as frame interpolation are done in real-time in edgy 120hz televisions, although in a different from. But don't be fooled by the screenshot above, Carmel should be able to re-construct pixellated video or help stabilize shaky footage. The algorithms used come from the "forensic" version of the software called IkenaReveal (follow the link for cool demos).

It is technically possible to use Carmel as a real-time filter on existing videos (like YouTube's) where the quality still has a long way to go. However, that will require additional software. This is a very interesting possibility for video users and for NVIDIA.

Carmel will be sold and distributed by NVIDIA, who has recently become an investor in Motion DSP. The exact price has not been announced, but we have been told that it would be "consumer-friendly". Let's wait and see. In the meantime, you can sign up at the Carmel product page. Motion DSP also has a related web service called fixmymovie.com. Again, watch the demos - this is cool!

Continue Reading"Carmel, a GPU-accelerated video enhancement application by Motion DSP and NVIDIA"

Panasonic ain't only going to rough it out with their notebook design for Toughbooks, but have taken on a more alternative role with the Toughbook T8 tablet PC alternative. What can you find inside this touch-screen capable hardware?

• Intel Core 2 Duo SU9300 1.20GHz processor
• 1GB DDR2 SDRAM (max. 4GB)
• 120GB shock-mounted hard drive
• 12.1" 1,024 x 768 XGA anti-glare TFT active matrix color LCD with touchscreen
• TPM Security Chip v1.2
• Intel WiFi Link 5100 802.11a/b/g/draft-n
• Genuine Windows Vista Business (with XP downgrade option)
• Display Image Rotation software
• Bluetooth v2.0 + EDR connectivity
• Optional integrated Gobi 3G global mobile Internet (EV-DO and HSPA)

I'd recommend getting a screen cleaner to go along with this since you won't be using the stylus all the time, and sometimes finger swiping tend to soil the display more often than you think. The Toughbook T8 is tipped to arrive in markets this November for $2,099 upwards.

list is the W8 that comes with a long lasting battery without compromising on performance, making it equally useful on the airline tray (make sure you're flying Business Class if you want to have enough elbow room) as it is in the board room. Some of the specifications are :-

• Intel Core 2 Duo SU9300 1.20GHz processor
• 1GB DDR2 SDRAM (max. 4GB)
• 120GB shock-mounted hard drive
• Integrated DVD Multi drive
• 12.1" 1,024 x 768 XGA anti-glare TFT active matrix color LCD
• TPM Security Chip v1.2
• Intel WiFi Link 5100 802.11a/b/g/draft-n
• Genuine Windows Vista Business (with XP downgrade option)
• Bluetooth v2.0 + EDR connectivity
• Optional integrated Gobi 3G global mobile Internet (EV-DO and HSPA)

If you fancy picking up the Toughbook W8, it will be available this November from $2,099 upwards.

Panasonic's famous for their range of Toughbook notebooks that are much more hardy compared to regular models which crack even under the slightest pressure. The Toughbook F8 is the latest model to hit the streets, offering desktop-class performance in a notebook form factor. Touted to be the lightest 3G-ready notebook in the world, the F8 will be endowed with the following :-

• Intel Core 2 Duo SP9300 2.26 GHz processor
• 1GB DDR2 SDRAM (max.4GB)
• 160GB shock-mounted hard drive
• Integrated DVD Multi Drive
• 14.1" 1,280 x 800 WXGA anti-glare TFT active matrix color LCD
• TPM Security Chip, v1.2
• Intel WiFi Link 5100 802.11a/b/g/draft-n
• Genuine Windows Vista Business (with XP downgrade option)
• Bluetooth v2.0 + EDR
• Optional integrated Gobi 3G global mobile Internet (EV-DO and HSPA)

It will hit the market this November from $2,499 upwards.

Toshiba's MKxx29GSG series of hard drives might not look like much from outside, but within this diminutive 1.8" hard drive you will be able to store up to 250GB worth of data, spinning at 5,400rpm - specifications that place it firmly at the top of the food chain where 1.8" hard drives are concerned. Measuring a mere 8mm thin, this 3Gbps SATA hard drive targets ultra portable laptops (or maybe netbooks, even) that require zippy data access by your applications. It will be mass produced from November onwards, so we ought to see this in action sometime next year.

It has been a while since the MobiBlu brand name has cropped up, and this time round we have the T20 portable media player (PMP) that comes with a round tactile navigation controller to help you go through your list of media files while you're on the go. This is no Apple Click Wheel, but it is functional to say the least. Features of the MobiBlu T20 include :-

• 2.4" WQVGA display
• RM/RMVB, AVI, MP3, WMA, FLAC, AAC, APE, JPG, BMP and TXT file formats supported
• 1GB, 2GB, 4GB and 8GB capacities

No point gunning for the smaller capacity models as the 8GB T20 will retail for a mere 140 Euros, making the rest absolutely not worth it.

Many people use their cell phone as an email device, a watch and more importantly, an alarm clock. The HappyWakeUp phone alarm application targets the S60 platform, waking you up only when you're in a light sleep cycle. You must be scratching your head and wondering how this software is able to know that - it relies on your handset's microphone to analyze your sleep habits based on noises you make, and when placed right under your pillow, it will determine the current sleep phase of yours. It will still go through your normal alarm clock to make sure that you wake up when you want to though, but it is there to help you roll out of bed if you're in a lighter sleep state before your actual wake up time.

Just like a supermarket offer, Garmin will be making available a special edition of their Edge 705 for a limited time only, known as the Team Garmin Edge 705. This device will be accompanied by a heart-rate monitor, speed/cadence sensor and detailed street maps with turn-by-turn directions and tons of POIs to help you get around, tracking your wife's heart palpitations as she realized just how many bargains there are around town whilst traversing through the shopping centers via the POIs. I jest - this is a special edition cycling computer, so the heart-rate monitor is more for the rider than an avid shopper. You can pick up the vanilla Edge 705 for $500, so expect to fork out more for this special edition.

Calculate your carbon footprint with Ecorio, an application for Android-powered phones. This goes to show how focused Google is on the environment as well as our impact on it, and Ecorio will rely on the G1's GPS system to track your total carbon footprint as you move about. It is also able to provide you with ideas to reduce the impact of travel, hoping that your heart will be moved to try out greener options. Alternatively, you can also pick up carbon offsets through Google Checkout but I'm not too sure just how many people will opt for that. In addition, Ecorio is smart enough to recommend public transport thanks to Google Transit. Guess Google is really taking over the world, teaching us how to move about even now.

Japan isn't the only country with vehicles that help drivers see what's going on around them, as Swedish vehicle manufacturer Volvo is offering an Overview Surveillance System in conjunction with Toshiba, enabling drivers to view their vehicle as well as its surroundings from above. Perfect for those who want to park in a tight spot but lack the confidence to do so, while driving through narrow and slow speed situations are made easier to prevent scratches onto other people's paintwork. Fisheye cameras are mounted on each side of the vehicle, and the electronic eye system will merge all four images into one that looks down from above. Truck drivers are an excellent lot when it comes to judging space, but with the Overview Surveillance System, their job is made all the more easier.

Not only does this Zippo-esque lighter keep puffers happy, it can also carry around 8GB of data within, courtesy of a retractable USB connector located at the bottom, sliding out only when it is required. Good thing the flame is adjustable as well for you to conserve lighter fuild, but there is no mention whether this is wind-proof or not. ThinkGeek is currently selling the USB Flash Drive Lighter for $59.99, but frankly I wouldn't want to place my sensitive data so near something combustible.

Word on the street has it that the Palm Treo Pro will begin to ship from today onwards according to their pre-orders. For folks who can't believe this good news, it is slated as "In Stock, usually ships in 1 - 2 full business days", so happy days are here for folks who have already placed their pre-orders and looking forward to a new smartphone! Too bad the Treo Pro won't be able to pull Palm out of its financial quagmire, as hardware these days just don't quite make the cut when it comes to the bottom line.

The I-MU Vibro Speaker has some pretty rock solid claims, promising to turn just about any hard, flat surface into external speakers for your iPod or compatible audio players thanks to its ‘patented super-energy crystals’. Super energy crystals, eh? Well, I sure as heck would hate working on a 'loud' desk, and will all those vibrations cause harm to my precious hard drive in the notebook? If you're interested in giving one a shot, don't hesitate to part with £29.99 for it.